Chapter 25: The Quidditch House Cup
'' Harry wake up, your going to be late for the match, '' Ginesa said attempting to wake the Element Mage.
'' I'm up already, Ginesa, '' Harry said as he rushed about getting dressed, '' Come on let's go. ''
Harry ran out of the Gryffindor tower and down to the Quidditch pitch. He went into the locker room where the rest of the team waited.
"Sorry guys…" Harry began.
"And girls," Angela added.
"Okay and girls, now I know that this is the final, but it is against Ravenclaw. We are a much better team, with brilliant chasers, an unbeatable keeper, and brutal beaters. Let's go out there and show those Ravenclaw wanna be's who's the best," Harry said.
The team began cheering as they each grabbed their brooms and headed to the middle of the pitch. Ron and Colin were nervous as they looked upon the crowd.
"Hey Colin, Ron just do what you have been doing in the past games," Harry told them as he mounted his broom.
"Sure thing Harry," Colin called as he kicked off into the air.
"No prob," Ron said as he flew to his position in front of the goals.
"Captains, shake hands," Madame Hooch called.
Cho Chang gripped Harry's hand tightly before letting go with a look of disgust. Harry flew back to his position, waiting on the match to begin.
"Potter, your going down," Cho called her words dripping venom.
"Welcome Quidditch fans to the final match of the season… Ravenclaw - vs.- GRYFFINDOR!" Lee Jordan said beginning his commentary, "The quaffle is up and Ravenclaw chaser Justin Nikels catches it and races towards the goal. Beater Weasley hits the bludger at him causing him to drop the quaffle into chaser Creevey's hands.
Creevey now races towards the Ravenclaw goal. He passes to Johnson who passes it back to Creevey. He shoots, he scores…Gryffindor 10 - Ravenclaw 00. Chaser Susan Sanchez now has the quaffle she races towards the Gryffindor goal, she shoots she scores. I don't think anyone could of stopped that shot…Gryffindor 10 - Ravenclaw 10.
Alicia Spinnet now has possession of the quaffle. She dodges two bludgers, but it looks like Ravenclaw has taken a page out of Slytherin's book and one of their beaters has hit Spinnet with their bat, THOSE DIRTY, ROTTEN…"
"Jordan comment fairly or else I will be forced to…" McGonagall began, but Jordan cut her off.
"Alicia Spinnet takes the penalty shot, she scores. It's Gryffindor 10 - Ravenclaw 10. Susan Sanchez takes possession once more as she races down to the Gryffindor goal. She passes to chaser Nikels who passes it to Ryan Massey. He shoots, and Ron makes a bloody brilliant save.
Colin Creevey takes possession once again, he races quickly towards the goal, but OH NO! He is knocked from his broom…"
Harry watched as the bludger hit Colin in the back, causing him to fall from his broom. Harry hurried down to his fallen teammate concerned for his safety. As he landed he called for a time out. The rest of the team came in just as it began raining.
"How is Colin, can he play?" Alicia Spinnet asked.
"Um… Madame Pomfrey is checking him now," Harry said.
"Hey Harry," Hermione said running up to him, "Impervious."
The rain began to be repelled from the surface of his glasses, "Thanks Hermione."
Madame Hooch walked over to where the Gryffindor Quidditch team waited, "Mr. Potter, Mr. Creevey has a bad concussion and will not be able to play. Do you have a reserve player to take the field?"
"No Madame Hooch, can we have a minute?" Harry asked.
"One Minute," Madame Hooch said as she walked away.
"What now, none of the reserves are ready yet," Angelina commented.
"So do you guys really want to forfeit to Ravenclaw?" Harry asked.
"Well no," Fred answered as the rest of the team mimicked his response.
"Then we will play with one man down. The weathers on our side right now, with the torrential rain blinding nearly everyone," Harry began, "I will keep Cho busy while Angelina, Alicia you try to score as many points as possible. Fred, George knock every bludger you get at their chasers. Ron keep up the good work on blocking. I will try to catch the snitch as soon as possible, but it is going to be difficult in this rain. Are we ready?"
"Yeah!" the team yelled.
Madame Hooch headed back to the Gryffindor team, "Have you decided?"
"We will play with one man down," Harry told her.
"Very well then," She said as she mounted her broom.
The Gryffindor team kicked off the ground and back into the air. Madame Hooch approached the center of the pitch and got ready to release the quaffle once more. There was a sudden flash of lightening that illuminated the whole pitch.
"Gryffindor team will play with six player," Madame Hooch said, "Now Let's Play!"
She threw the quaffle up and Alicia Spinnet caught it. She tried to race towards the goal, but the quaffle was knocked loose by a bludger. Susan Sanchez caught it and began towards the Gryffindor goal. She threw it, but Ron caught it easily.
He threw it to Angelina who took up possession. She flew towards the goal, squinting through the heavy sheets of rain for signs of a incoming bludger. She ducked just as one came at her. She threw the quaffle through the right hoop scoring ten more points for Gryffindor.
Harry was racing through the players making it seem as if he had spotted the snitch. Cho paced him twist for achingly painful twist. Harry was hit by a bludger, but thankfully it only glanced off his shoulder, leaving a throbbing pain it its wake.
Harry continued this pattern for quite a while. The rain seemed to come down harder and faster making it difficult to see. He couldn't hear the crowd at all and occasionally he could catch bits and pieces of Lee Jordan's commentary. He knew that they were all going to collapse from exhaustion if the snitch wasn't caught soon.
Just as Harry finished another pass around the pitch he caught a glimpse of the snitch as the lightening flashed. He raced towards it hoping Cho was still preoccupied. He saw Cho coming up next to him also chasing the snitch. Harry quickly ducked under two of his teammates as the snitch cut a path straight down the pitch.
As Harry came up behind Cho thinking she had the snitch. Just as she made a grab for it the snitch rocketed straight up. Harry followed urging his fire bolt to move faster in the straight ascent.
He stretched his fingers outward hoping to feel the cool metal of the golden snitch. His finger tips brushed the metal before the snitch made a downward spiral towards the Quidditch pitch and the ground. Harry pushed his firebolt downward passing by Cho.
The ground was coming up fast and he knew he had to pull up soon or else crash into the ground. He was just feet away when he made a desperate grab, catching the snitch securely into his hand. He pulled up quickly feeling his toes brush against the soggy ground.
Harry hopped off his broom waving the snitch in his hand. Madame Hooch blew her whistle signaling the end of the game. Harry was surrounded by his teammates and housemates. Cho landed and scowled at Harry before stalking off.
Dumbledore came down from the stands carrying the Quidditch cup. He handed Harry the cup and everyone began cheering wildly. Professor McGonagall was grinning like a madwoman.
Madame Pomfrey headed the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw teams into the hospital wing where she handed each person a pepper-up potion. Soon all thirteen team members had steam coming out of their ears.
"Great job Harry," Fred and George said together.
"Hey Colin, how are you feeling?" Harry asked their injured chaser.
"Madame Pomfrey said I can leave as soon as the room stops spinning," Colin said, "And congratulations on winning the cup. I wish I was there."
"This is for all of us. If it wasn't for you then we wouldn't of won this," Harry said as he set the cup on his table, "Keep it here with you."
"Thanks Harry," Colin said.
"See you later," Harry called as he was led outside and up to the Gryffindor common room.
As he came in, the room exploded with wild cheering. Fred, George, and Lee Jordan set off some Dr. Filibuster's wet-start, no-heat fireworks. Soon the room was full of people eating, dancing, and celebrating Gryffindore's win.
It was close to two in the morning when Professor McGonagall finally came into the common room telling everyone to go to bed. As everyone in the room said good-night to Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Jade, they left to head to their own room.
As they entered into their common room they saw Draco asleep on the couch. Ron, Hermione, and Harry headed to their rooms where their guardians already slept.
Jade conjured up a blanket and covered Draco before going to bed herself. As she got ready for bed she felt a sudden burst of pain. She crawled into bed hoping to sleep it off. Quill watched with concern knowing why she was in pain.