Game day..
" Good morning fellow Quidditch Crazies.
Welcome to the game that is already the most remarkable Quidditch game ever played, even before the opening whistle has been blown.
We have on one side the greatest team of Hogwarts. With Wood the super keeper, Weasley twins who together are the synonym of mayhem, Roger Davies with his precise aggression, Marcus Flint with his aggressive aggression, Cedric Diggory who has such a good record that some people have started suspecting that he is not a 'seeker' but a 'seer'.
Oh yeah, and Derrick too, who has gone back to his original role of Chaser for this match. Some players have contested his inclusion in this team, but well he has in a way made this match possible, and make no mistake when it comes to Quidditch he is no pushover but very much a, ahem, heavyweight.
On the other side, we have perhaps the most interesting team of Hogwarts.
Harry, Draco, Hermione, Neville, Padma, Parvati and Goyle. None of whom have ever played a match.
And yet, if that betting site that came on Floo Book would have been still active, I am willing to bet that there would have been plenty of folks here betting on the victory of the first year team. It might have been tough to even tell if they would have been the underdogs or the favorites.
For they are all what we honor the highest.
They are all the real troublemakers.
And even though I was one of those for whom the trouble was made, its not an issue since one prankster has got to appreciate the art of another.
And meanwhile, its time for the game to begin."
The whistle was blown. Both teams flew to take their positions.
And the stadium was stunned silence.
What the hell was Harry doing?
"Oh Boy!" Lee said. " It always had to be that kind of a match. One where the commentator gets speechless.
Harry has started with his weirdness already.
Right in the middle of the field, not up in the air, but almost touching the ground, he is hanging on his broom.
Upside down."
" That's right baby." Harry said to himself as even the opposition stayed for a moment to absorb this novelty. " That's where the enemy's gate is. Down, Down, Down. "
Lee continued his own commentary" The entire first year team is entirely unaffected, maybe they are so used to the craziness by now that looking at their captain hanging upside down near the ground looks entirely sensible. So they don't question why isn't their captain not flying high, seeking the snitch and generally trying to win the match.
Talking of which, its not like the team is behaving usually either. Thanks to Harry's weird tactic, Hermione's very off 'take off' went virtually unnoticed. There is no way that she is going to be flying around.
In fact, she and Goyle have gone and taken still position in the air near their own goal post.
What is going on with this team?"
...
"Their formation has two anomalies. The seeker and the beaters are being unorthodox." Six members of senior years heard the voice of Wood in their ears.
Wood was thankful to Harry, for having taken away the commentary from Lee earlier. It showed a perfect way of communicating with the players. Ventriliquo.
And he knew that in this match, against the tactics of Harry, co-ordination and quick response would be the most crucial change.
" Roger, Davies and Derrick, check Hermione and Goyle to see what they have got.
But our clear priority is Harry. We don't know what is going on with him and we can't afford surprises with snitch.
I will try to figure out his plan, meanwhile Fred and George, start with your attack on him. Have fun."
The three chasers began tussiling with the Draco and Patils. It was surprising to see them play decently. At least, it wasn't going to be a cake walk.
Davies took the first hold of quaffle and he flew fast forward.
The field was clear, there was Neville keeping at the end and before that there were Goyle and Hermione just idling lazily in the air a little distance ahead, bouncing off a bludger between them.
They had taken a bludger? When? And was it legal to shuttle it between themselves like that?
When accelerating, something happens to the brain, Davies believed. As if the thinking process accelerates too.
He knew that they will be attacking him with the bludger they seem to have kidnapped by their tactic. They must have practiced hard for this. Matching their hand speed and broom distance to ensure that bludger doesn't change direction midway.
It was sort of innovative to control a bludger like that. But all he had to do was dodge.
It was too simple.
Davies moved with grace and furious elegance. Goyle and Hermione didn't budge an inch from their spots.
Hermione pointed wand somewhere in other direction and said something.
Distraction. Davies noted. Using wand was not illegal in a match if it wasn't being used on other players. Harry must have devised some distracting tactic out of it.
Do not look there but at the bludger, Davies reminded himself.
And when the shuttling bludger reached Goyle, he this time shot it in the direction of Davies.
Good aim. Too close.
Davies swerved. He was used to such attacks.
The bludger travelled harmlessly behind him.
And then..
...
Weasleys hunted down a bludger in no time, just as the bludger was trying to hunt them down.
And their first strike began.
" Bad choice Harry" George said.
" Being so steady. " Fred said.
" And so near the ground." George completed and hit a bludger towards him.
The bludger traveled with murderous speed towards Harry. George hadn't held anything back.
Harry kept watching them from his upside down position near the ground.
Entire Hogwarts in the ground was watching to see who would draw the first blood. And if Harry didn't move soon, he would be the first blood.
Harry did move, his hand. And he snapped his fingers.
...
Davies was rushing towards the goal post as only bludgerless beaters remained in his way. No more obstacles.
And then.. something hit him hard. The bright blue sky in front of him suddenly discovered night. Everything blacked out.
...
There was a collective gasp in the stadiums.
" Unbelievable." Lee was shouting without raising his voice " What did we just see? What on earth was that?
George shot the bludger towards Harry. And the bludger stopped midway. And then turned back.
It turned back on its own. As if it was scared of Harry or something.
Just what kind of magic is going on here?"