Chapter 21

Note: Hey guys! I'M SO SORRY IT TOOK ME SO LONG TO POST ANOTHER CHAPTER! I've missed writing this story so much! I will post more often from now on I promise! Thank you so much for reading! 3

(Madam Hooch had to go to her office for a few moments) "Or what, Potter?" Malfoy retorted, a smug grin clear on his face.

Harry's emerald eyes flashed angrily, and Malfoy said "Well if you want this toad, you can have it," as he threw it as hard as far as he could.

Neville gasped in horror, tears streaming down his slightly chubby face, while Hermione and Mary held onto each side of him, both trying to comfort him as well as trying to control their nerves.

Mary suddenly had a flashback to her youth:

"Mary!" her mother shrieked as eight year old Mary came into the house from riding her broomstick.

"Yes Mum?" she asked, looking nervous.

Her mother hissed at her, saying "I thought I told you that you can't ride your broomstick until after you cleaned the kitchen!"

"B-but Mum! I did clean the kitche-" but she was interrupted, as her mother said "NO YOU DID NOT! I still see spots of dirt on the sink, and you didn't put the dishes away!"

"B-but M-mum! I can't reach the cupboards, I-" then her mother slapped her across the face, saying "DO YOU HAVE A BRAIN IN THAT SMALL HEAD OF YOURS? You can use a ladder like the rest of us do when we can't reach things!"

Mary had tears in her eyes, and now a red mark on her cheek as she said "Y-yes, Mum."

Her mother sighed and said "Now get out of my sight, no more flying your broom for today."

Mary ran to her small bedroom, and closed the door behind her before bursting into tears. She cried for a few minutes, wishing she could get away from her awful mother, and wishing that she could fly away, and be free.

A few tears flowed down her cheek, and Hermione noticed, causing her to put her hand on Mary's shoulder, asking quietly "Are you alright?"

Mary looked surprised, and nodded before quickly wiping away her tears as she said "Yes, I'm fine, thanks."

Hermione didn't believe her, but decided not to press anymore questions, as now she was also concerned about Harry and how many school rules he was currently breaking.

Harry zoomed past Malfoy! He felt his heart pounding so rapidly in his chest, that he could also feel it in his ears! He saw the poor little toad, flailing its little webbed arms and legs as it flew, and slowly started falling!

Harry reached out his hand, and he got closer and closer to it until he finally caught it! He stopped on his broom in mid-air (little did he know he was right in front of the window to Professor McGonagall's office!), and looked down at Trevor, who seemed to be relieved he was no longer flying through the air.

Harry then gave a large grin as he descended towards the ground slowly, and the whole class was running towards him, cheering.

He landed on the ground, and was surrounded by smiles, high-fives and pats on the back.

He grinned as he saw Neville, whose face was pink from crying, smiling as Harry handed him Trevor carefully.

"T-thank you, Harry." Neville said as he looked gratefully at him, and Harry said "Sure," with a smile in return.

Just then a strict voice said "Harry Potter!", causing Harry to cringe, as he recalled that tone of voice from his childhood.

He turned around to see Professor McGonagall approaching the class, wearing an unreadable expression as she hastened.

"Mr. Potter! Please come with me." She said sternly, and Harry bowed his head in shame as he obeyed. As he left, he heard snickers coming from Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle, and groans coming from the other students.

Harry started to say "Professor McGonagall, I-"

But she interrupted, saying "Not a word, Harry. I don't want any explanations at this time."

Harry began to feel nervous as they walked through the castle, and when McGonagall finally stopped in front of a classroom, she said "Wait here," as she walked inside.

He heard her ask "Pardon me Professor Flitwick, but would you mind if I borrowed Mr. Wood for a moment?"

He then heard a slightly squeaky voice reply in return "No trouble at all Professor McGonagall! Go ahead, Wood."

McGonagall then seemed to have a small smile as she said "Both of you follow me to my office."

Once they reached her office, she motioned for them to sit down, and said excitedly "Oliver, I have found you a Seeker!"

Oliver looked giddy, while Harry looked confused.

Two hours later in the Dining Hall…

"Bloody Hell, Harry! You're the new Seeker for the Gryffindor Quidditch team? Wicked!" said Ron excitedly, stuffing his mouth with a ham sandwich.

Hermione said "Well really you're lucky she didn't give you a detention, you broke at least five school rules! But congratulations, Harry."

Mary grinned as she said "Oh I'm sure you'll be a wonderful Seeker!"

Harry grinned sheepishly at all the compliments from his friends, and said "Thanks guys, I hope I'll be decent enough at it, Oliver said he was going to teach me the basics about Quidditch tonight."

Ron said "Oh come off it Harry! You will be a great Seeker! You should have seen the look on Malfoy's face earlier when you caught Neville's toad!"

Mary nodded with a grin as she said "He looked so horrified!"

They all started to laugh, when suddenly Hedwig swooped in, and dropped a letter in Harry's lap!

Harry said "Thanks, Hedwig." As he stroked her feathers gently, and opened the letter. It read:

"Hello sweetie!

Oh congratulations dear! Auntie owled me as soon as she could about you making the Gryffindor Quidditch team! I'm so proud of you! Your father would have been so proud too! He was on the team in his time at Hogwarts! I'm sure you'll do us all proud dear! I'll be there for your first game!

Love,

Mum"

Harry smiled, and Ron asked "What is it?" Harry said "Mum wanted to congratulate me, and she said that my Dad was on the team when he was here too!"

Ron's eyes widened as he said "Whoa!" and Hermione said "It must run in the family, then!"

Harry nodded with a grin, thought "I hope I'll be as good as my Dad was!"

That evening, Oliver explained the basic points of Quidditch, as well as Harry's duty as the Seeker.

A week later…

"Harry, you really should eat SOMETHING. You can't play Quidditch on an empty stomach!" said Mary.

Harry, who was feeling nervous for the big game today, said "Sorry, I'm just not very hungry."

Hermione said "Oh, you'll be fine, Harry! I know you're nervous, but-"

Ron interrupted, talking with a mouthful of bacon "You have nothing to worry about! You know Fred and George will be there too, right? And plus if your Dad was a great Quidditch player, you will be too!"

Harry smiled at his friends, and said "Thanks," but then a snide voice behind them said "Mr. Potter, I would wish you luck for today's game….but it seems you don't need it."

The students all looked questioningly at Professor Snape as he said this, then continued, saying "If you can take on a Mountain Troll, a little game of Quidditch should be comparatively….easy, shouldn't it?"

As he walked away, Ron snorted as he said "Ignore him, Harry. He's just being stupid. You'll do great."

Harry gulped nervously as he said "I hope you're right…"