Next morning, Megan woke up to a bright sky. As nervous as she was about the match, she was also excited, like she always was at the prospect of playing. She didn't think there was anything she loved more. Except perhaps music and her friends. She got up, dressed quietly to not wake the others, and headed downstairs to the common room, where the rest of her team mates were already gathered.

"Morning, guys," she smiled.

Everyone greeted her. Wood invited her to sit down.

"Okay." he said when silence fell. "We've all been waiting for this moment. This is our moment. Our..."

He seemed to hesitate at how to put it.

"Our swan song," Megan put in. "It's our last game together, so let's make it our best yet."

"Exactly."

Wood held out his hand.

"Who's with me?"

"I am!" they all said, placing their hands on his.

They all exchanged looks full of determination.

"Ooh, we have to take pictures!" Katie said.

So, they did. And about eight o'clock, they made their way down to breakfast. There was a deafening round of applause and cheering as Megan and the other Gryffindor team members entered the Great Hall. Cedric, the Hufflepuffs and the Ravenclaws were all clapping too. Cedric smiled at her and Megan smiled back, her heart hammering as she sat down where she could see him without having to turn around. The tension and excitement was so thick you could taste it.

"All of you, eat up, and no excuses!" Wood said.

So, the team fought their nerves and swallowed toast, cereal, milk and fruit. Megan almost had to force food down Wood's throat, for he was urging them to eat without touching anything himself. She eased their tension slightly when she pointed out that Malfoy was looking paler than usual. Then, they headed off under a new round of applause. Megan tied her hair in a ponytail.

"No wind to speak off… sun's a bit bright, be careful of it…" Wood said.

Megan was glad. Her hair wouldn't be blown into her eyes, it would be blown backwards as she sped towards the Snitch.

"Strong, hard ground, that's good, we'll get a fast kick off."

Then, the school began pouring into the grounds to head to the stands.

"… Changing rooms, team." He said.

There was utter silence as they changed. Wood tried speaking. Megan got up and hugged him.

"We can do this, Wood. We all want this."

She turned to the others.

"Right, guys?"

"Yeah!" They shouted, punching the air.

He nodded.

"Okay… it's time. Let's go."

The noise as they entered the pitch was incredible. Megan didn't think she'd ever heard the crowd this wild. But then, she hadn't ever played in a final match yet. She had been unconscious the first time and the match had been cancelled the second. The boos and hisses of the Slytherins were barely noticeable next to the cheering and chanting of the Gryffindor name. Megan's red and gold robes flew about her, her broom firmly in hand. She glanced around at the crowd above them. Several banners proudly read "GO GRYFFINDOR!" and "LIONS WIN THE CUP!" Of course, there were the two hundred or so Slytherins, wearing green and silver, but red and gold ruled.

"And enter the proud Gryffindors!" Lee Jordan announced. "Potter, Bell, Johnson, Spinnet, Weasley, Weasley and Wood! Easily and widely acknowledged as the best team Hogwarts has seen in years."

Boos from the Slytherins answered his comment.

"And here comes the Slytherin team, with Flint as Captain. He seems to have changed his line-up in favour of size rather than skill."

More booing from Slytherin. Madam Hooch, the flying instructor, came marching towards them, crate in hand.

"Captains, shake hands."

It was brief and firmer than was necessary, but they obeyed.

"Mount your brooms!" Madam Hooch ordered.

Megan, heart hammering harder and harder with each passing second, swung her leg over her broom and waited. All the players had done the same. Malfoy sneered at Megan, but she ignored him.

Focus on the game. That's all that matters. The game. That'll wipe that sneer off his face.

Wood hadn't needed to tell them to focus. They all wanted to win, and they knew Slytherin would not hesitate to "forget" some of the rules to win.

"Ignore them if they speak, but be ready for anything." Wood had said.

"Ready? Three, two...!"

Madam Hooch's whistle blew. And the game began.

Megan and her team mates soared up into the air amidst the roars. Megan's nerves vanished as the wind coursed through her. Flying always had that effect on her, which was probably why she loved it so much. She glanced around and began searching for the snitch, Malfoy on her tail. But it was nowhere in sight.

"And we begin with Gryffindor in possession, Alicia Spinnet heading through the pitch to the goalposts, looking good, an-argh, no, intercepted by Slytherin chaser Warrington, tearing off the other way… nice bludger work from Weasley there, Warrington loses the Quaffle and Angelina Johnson catches it and speeds off, slips through Slytherin defense and…"

"ANGELINA! WATCH OUT!" Megan yelled. "ON YOUR LEFT!"

A bludger narrowly missed her and she sped off.

"…she scores! TEN-ZERO TO GRYFFINDOR!"

There was uproar in the stands. Megan beamed at Angelina, who gave her a high five as they met. Just then, Martin came smashing into Angelina, claiming he hadn't seen her, causing Fred to shove his bat in the back of his head, earning each team a penalty. Alicia took the first penalty.

"Come on, Alicia…!" Lee said in the speaker. "And… YES! SHE SCORES! TWENTY-ZERO!"

Megan watched Wood nervously. She eyed the Slytherins, in case they tried to get in the way.

"Wood's turn to defend his colours, and Flint takes the shot… a titans' clash, ladies and gentlemen. Flint shoots… AND WOOD SAVES IT! GO, WOOD!"

Megan sighed with relief. She was concentrating hard on both analysing the commentary and keeping an eye on Malfoy. It was essential to keep him off the Snitch until the time for her to catch it came. Right now, they still had thirty points to make. But she had faith in her team.

"And Gryffindor back in possession – no, Slytherin, and back to Gryffindor… yes, Katie Bell in possession, streaking on, flying very nicely indeed, and – HEY! THAT WAS DELIBERATE!"

A Slytherin, Montague, had cut her off and caught her head instead of the Quaffle, which she lost, luckily staying on her broom. She then scored a new penalty for Gryffindor.

"THIRTY ZERO! Take that, you cheating scumbags!"

"Jordan, if you cannot be unbiased…"

"I'm telling it as it is!"

Megan felt her heart jump. She had seen the Snitch. She kept a careful eye on both it and Malfoy. It was by the Gryffindor goalpost. If Malfoy saw it… she knew she would be at a disadvantage in speed. But Malfoy didn't appear to have noticed it yet, too busy grinning at his team mates. She needed to buy her own team some time. She pretended to see it the other end of the pitch and headed in that direction instead. Malfoy took the bait and tore after her…

"MEGAN!" yelled Wood.

She heard a whoosh as a bludger sped near her left knee.

"WATCH OUT ON YOUR RIGHT!" Fred bellowed.

Another whoosh and the bludger grazed her right shoulder. She looked around as the two Slytherin beaters, Bole and Derrick, closed in on her. She stayed still.

I can't out speed them, but I can outsmart them.

"MEGAN! WHAT ARE YOU DOING? MOVE!" Wood roared.

At the last moment, Megan sped backwards, and the two beaters collided with a nasty crunching noise. Megan darted around them, carefully making sure she wasn't too near the Snitch.

"Too bad, boys, takes more than that to beat Potter!" Lee said. "And Gryffindor in possession. Johnson has the Quaffle, Flint tearing up behind her… no, Slytherin in possession, Flint soars to the goalpost, look out, Wood!"

But Slytherin scored. Megan bit her lip. This meant she would have to keep holding Malfoy off. This was fast becoming the dirtiest match she had ever played. Slytherin were enraged of Gryffindor's early lead and were stopping at nothing to strike back. Bole hit Alicia and tried to pretend he thought she was a bludger, and Fred elbowed him in the eye in retaliation. Two more penalties and a new spectacular save from Wood later, the score stood at fourty-ten for Gryffindor.

"Nice, Wood!" Megan shouted.

He nodded and she glanced around. The Snitch was not in sight. She spotted Malfoy instead and kept an eye on him. He was looking at her instead of around him, probably waiting for her to spring into action. He seemed to think he just had to wait for her to find the Snitch, and then catch it before she could with his better broom. Katie scored, fifty-ten. Fred and George circled around her to protect her from any attempts at revenge. But Bole and Derrick took advantage of that to aim both bludgers at Wood.

"Wood, look out!"

Megan soared in front of him and caught the first one in the stomach while the second hit Wood in the shoulder.

"Gryffindor penalty!" screamed an outraged Madam Hooch. "You do not attack the Keeper if the Quaffle is not in the scoring zone!"

Angelina scored again. One more and Megan could catch the Snitch. She knew she had to find it fast, before Slytherin scored again, or impaired Wood. Fred then got Alicia the Quaffle by shooting a bludger at Warrington. Seventy-ten. Megan soared around the pitch, Malfoy not far behind. But Malfoy, as good a flyer as he was, couldn't fully use his speed because there were too many players speeding in front of them or between them. So Megan managed to put a little distance thanks to her smaller build and better master of her broom. And then, she saw it, above her. She flew upwards… but suddenly jerked to a halt. Malfoy had caught up and was tugging at her broom!

"Get off, you –"

But she didn't even want to stoop to insults for that was lowering herself to his level.

"Penalty to Gryffindor!" Madam Hooch screamed angrily. "I've never seen such lowly tactics!"

"YOU CHEAT!" Lee bellowed in the speaker. "YOU GREASY, SLIMY, BAS-"

McGonagall didn't even tell him off. She was yelling at Malfoy too! Megan almost couldn't believe her eyes. Alicia took the penalty but missed because of her anger. Gryffindor was losing confidence and Slytherin were feeling inspired to lower evils.

"Slytherin in possession… heading for the goal… No! Montague scores…

Seventy-Twenty to Gryffindor. Megan tagged Malfoy so closely their knees kept touching each other.

"Get out of it!" Malfoy snarled when Megan blocked him in a turn.

Oh, no you don't. You're not getting anywhere near the Snitch, Megan promised.

"Angelina has the Quaffle… come on, Angelina, COME ON!"

But then Megan realised that all the Slytherin players, except for Malfoy who was bugging her, were heading in Angelina's direction. They would block her, and possibly knock her off her broom! Megan then saw Malfoy heading diagonally with a look of glee on his face. Megan glanced at Angelina and then Malfoy. She then got an idea.

"Angelina, behind me!"

Angelina followed suit and soared behind her. Megan sped forwards, yelling as the Slytherins split up as she pelted through them, Angelina right behind her.

"GO, ANGELINA!" Megan yelled before speeding towards Malfoy with a superb turn. She dived down. Malfoy was several feet in front her, and her broom may not be fast enough… something warm boiled up inside her. It was like wings had grown on her making her go faster. She was level with Malfoy… ankle… knee… elbow… she knocked his arm out of the way and…

"YES!"

She soared back upwards, yelling and brandishing the Snitch tightly in her hand as the stadium exploded. She headed to the ground where Wood threw his arms around her, sobbing into her shoulder. She managed to free herself to hug the three Chasers and the twins. Cedric came running towards her and she darted to him as well, heart thundering.

"Congratulations!" he called as he spun her around.

"Thanks! It's all thanks to you, if you hadn't been there…"

"What are friends for?" he smiled, making her heart run even wilder than it was.

Just then, someone bumped into Megan, pushing her forwards, causing her lips to brush Cedric's…

"Oops, sorry…" she baffled, embarrassed.

"It's okay," he smiled.

She smiled back and then, Cedric and the others lifted her up onto their shoulders to carry her back to the castle.

The celebrating lasted over a week. Even the weather was improving, as if to celebrate too. The sun was out, and despite everyone wanting to just laze about in the sun, the coming exams forced them to stay indoors. Megan even saw the twins working for their OWLs. Cedric was busy studying as well, even if he never refused to help them with their exams, saying it helped him go through his own knowledge at the same time. Percy, of course, was buried in his books for his NEWTs, which students took in their seventh year. As he was hoping to enter the Ministry, it was necessary he have excellent scores. And the only one more nervous than him was Hermione. Megan and the boys had given up trying to figure out how she did it all. Then, one day, in the midst of revision, Megan saw Hedwig flutter in with a note.

"It's Hagrid," she informed the others. "The execution's set for the sixth…"

"The day we finish our exams…" Hermione said.

"They're coming here to do it," Megan went on fighting the choke in her throat.

Malfoy of course, was overjoyed, and over his loss at the final. Megan was fighting as hard as she ever had to keep from slapping him as well. And the most annoying was not being able to go see Hagrid because of revision and the tight security. But she sent Hagrid a note of support and Cedric a note to wish him good luck.