Chapter 41 – The One We've Been Waiting For

Gryffindor Common Room

Harry collapsed onto the couch closest to the hearth and slumped to his side, head falling on Hermione's lap. It had been a very long day.

Life at Hogwarts was never dull and this year was crazier than most. For that to be true of Harry Potter and Hermione Granger was quite a feat. While the tournament was fun and entertaining, it also meant that every weekend was jam packed with something. Saturdays were almost exclusively dedicated to some tournament event while Sundays were for leftover homework, dueling practice, academic tournament research or quidditch practices. Harry's family were also adding animagus training, and battle magics. OWL testing would begin the very next week, NEWT testing would be the week after. All other students would have their end of year exams the week before the final task, so Hermione had them all reviewing constantly.

To make matters worse, the final quidditch match of the season was two days away and Oliver Wood was the coach of his team. Harry, Fred and George were mostly used to Oliver's obsessive, pre-final match insanity, the rest of their teammates were not. Despite knowing it was coming, Oli had still managed to physically and mentally exhaust Harry and the twins. The only bright side was that the team had never played better than they had during their final practice of the season; hopefully they would be ready to face Viktor Krum and the Dragons.

"One of these days, Oli is going to kill me," Harry grumbled. He didn't really want to move as he had been hit by one too many Bludgers. While he had put bruise salve on the welts before leaving the locker room, they were still tender.

"That bad?" Hermione asked while carding her fingers through his messy hair.

"Worse," Fred moaned as he gingerly lowered himself to the floor.

"I never want to do another sit up again," George slid into one of the empty chairs. "Who thought it was a good idea to let Oli be a coach? I need to prank them for at least a year."

"Do you really think that is a good idea?" Hermione wondered. "It was probably Professor McGonagall. No one loves quidditch as much as she does and she was rather fond of Oliver Wood because of his skill and how good the Gryffindor team was under his direction. While Oli is crazy, his methods did produce favorable results."

George frowned, "Fine, I won't prank McGonagall but I will be pranking someone. Maybe we can come up with a line of mail-based pranks," he looked thoughtful. "It could be interesting, but not nearly as funny because the sender wouldn't be there."

Nicole bumped his shoulder and then squeezed herself onto the chair with him, "I think you should leave the plotting for when you aren't quite so tired and sore," she kissed his cheek. "Let's not have a repeat of the potion fiasco right after your birthday."

Fred moaned again, that had not been a good day. He and George hadn't gotten a lot of sleep on their birthday, mostly because they were so excited by the utter success of their Macarena birthday dance success. Sometime around three in the morning, with no sleep at all, they had this brilliant idea to make joke candy that exploded in your mouth. They hadn't really thought it out and had ended up blowing up the potion when they went to stir it. Both had ended up with green skin and purple spots all over their bodies. The electric pink hair had added another layer of ridiculous to the incident. They had been like that for three days because madam Pomfrey had refused to fix their mistake as it was not life threatening and it was their own fault. She had told them that if they couldn't figure it out in a week to come back and she would reverse it; luckily, Nicole had taken pity on them and helped them brew the counter potion on the third day

"Fine," George sighed. "I will think of revenge pranks after the game and after I sleep for three days straight."

"It's cute you think you will get that much rest before the end of the school year, but I will let you keep your delusions for now."

"Your girlfriend is mean, Georgie."

"I thought that was your girlfriend, Freddie boy."

"I think you should both shut up before said girlfriends hex one or both of you," Hermione suggested.

Harry yawned loudly, "I am going to agree, without really knowing what is going on, in the hopes that you all will start talking quieter so I can try to fall asleep right here." He pulled off his glasses, passed them to Hermione and burrowed his way into the couch and his girlfriend's lap.

"Not yet, Love," Hermione set his glasses aside, "How is training going with Sirius and Aunt Cissy?"

He looked up in the general direction of his girlfriend, even if he couldn't really see her clearly, "I think it's going well. Sirius is really focused on making sure we understand the consequences if we perform the spell for less than pure reasons. There is something he is hesitant to tell us and it is making Draco and I nervous. The wand movements are easy enough, it's the emotion behind the casting that really makes it possible."

"Have you cast it yet?"

Harry shook his head slightly, "That's the thing, this isn't a spell you can practice. You can practice the wand movements, you can discuss the emotions needed, you can talk about acceptable reasons for casting, and you can practice to ensure two or more Blacks perform the movements at the same time, completely in sync, but you can't cast it because that would bring about consequences. Sirius has actually never cast the spell himself."

"You mean the first time Narcissa and Andromeda cast that spell was that day in Diagon Alley?" Neville spoke for the first time since Harry and the twins joined them.

"Yeah, as far as they are aware, no one had actually cast it in over a hundred years before that day." Harry sat up and reached for his glasses so he could see his friends. "It was decided after the last failed attempt that it would only be taught to some of the family, not all. The only real condition considered was the ability to determine right from wrong based on the laws of life and magic. In Sirius's generation, three of five children were taught the spell but in their parent's generation only one child of house Black was taught the spell and that was Sirius's uncle Alphard, who most thought was a bit of a black sheep, which got him blasted off the family tree by Sirius's mother."

"Is anyone else immensely relieved that Bellatrix Lestrange never learned the spell?" Neville asked.

Harry nodded, "It's a good thing but mostly because it meant that magic couldn't take her need for revenge out on the family. I get the impression it isn't just the caster that suffers when they cast for ill intent, it's the whole family in one way or another."

"It would make sense," Hermione agreed. "Magic would have to have a failsafe against using the spell for personal gain. It would not want one family to gain too much power to the point of world domination." She grabbed Harry's hand, "Do you think you can cast it when the time comes?"

Harry frowned, "If I have enough time, yes. It isn't difficult if you feel justified and, in this case, I think I am. Tom Riddle is an enemy of life and magic as well as my enemy. The only problem is, it takes time to cast and you need a clear path between you and the one you intend to hit. While casting, we will be sitting ducks."

"So, if the time comes, we will have to give you time." Fred lifted his head off the floor to look at everyone around them. "You won't be alone, not if the professors and the Blacks can help it, so we will come up with a signal that lets all of us know that you or one of the others is going to try to cast Atonement. When that happens, we will all rally around the casters and protect them so they can get the spell off without dying in the process."

"I'm in," Neville agreed. "While he may not have cast the curses himself, he is the reason my parents don't recognize me."

"His followers killed our uncles," George nodded, "and that made our mom just a bit crazy."

"We all have a reason to fight," Harry sighed, "I wish we didn't have to, but I will take all the help I can get as long as you all promise to be careful."

"Same to you, mate," Fred threw a pillow at him. "If I have to be careful, so do you."

"We will all be careful and if we can, we let the adults handle it," Hermione swept her gaze over the other Gryffindors in the group. "We are facing fully trained wizards who aren't afraid to kill anyone who stands in their way. Our training may keep us alive longer than most our age but that does not mean we are ready for the likes of Tom Riddle or Tiberius Nott."

"We do what we can, and stay alive," Neville agreed.

"The best defense is to not be there," Harry added.

"GET TO BED!" Oliver Wood boomed from the entrance to the common room.

"Who told him the password?" George asked with a moan.

"I'm guessing Professor McGonagall," Harry gulped, seeing the overzealous coach storm over to them.

"Your final game is tomorrow and you need a good night's sleep." Oliver pulled Harry to his feet and started marching him toward his dorm.

"But dinner doesn't start for an hour," Fred whined, still laying on the floor.

"If you want to eat, have a house elf deliver it to you, in bed. I want lights out for you three in an hour, no later."

"Are you harassing our teammates who are in different houses too?" George grumbled as his girlfriend started helping Oliver herd them to their dorms. "Why are you helping him?"

Nicole snickered, "Because it's funny."

"Yes," Oli grinned. "Marcus let me into the snake pit first, our alternates were already eating a meal before heading to bed. Strange common room. The green is just creepy." He shook his head, "The puffs didn't like it but they followed directions, and the claws saw my logic and agreed readily. Now off to bed!"

"They probably just agreed so you wouldn't march them up to bed," Harry grumbled. When he reached the bottom of the stairs to his dorm he paused and looked over his shoulder, "I guess this is goodnight, Hermione."

"Good night, Harry. You needed the rest anyway." Hermione shook her head as he disappeared, Oliver right behind him. She really did miss having the quidditch fanatic around, he lightened the mood in the most entertaining ways.

Quidditch Pitch

"This is it," Oliver Wood began, his eyes surveying his team. Though they weren't all lions, he thought they were the best Hogwarts team he had ever seen. "This is the game we've been waiting for." He ignored the smirking looks Fred, George, and Harry were exchanging. He should probably change his pregame speech in the future.

"You are the best team Hogwarts has to offer and you have proven that so far by being undefeated in this tournament. Today, you face your greatest opponent, the equally undefeated Durmstrang Dragons. The Dragons are a different kind of challenge. They are big, they are fierce, and they play just a little bit dirty." He saw some of them gulp. The Dragons may not be the well-oiled perfection that this team was but they played rough. This team wasn't used to that. "But just because they play like the Slytherin teams from when I played here, doesn't mean you can't beat them. We have something they don't."

"Harry Potter?" Cho wondered with a cheeky grin.

"Pretty sure they aren't that worried about me; they have Viktor Krum."

Oliver shook his head, smiling, "Harry is right, unfortunately. He may be the youngest seeker in a century, but Viktor Krum is the youngest professional seeker to make it to the quidditch World Cup in nearly three centuries. No, what you have is heart." He looked at his team, one by one, "Hogwarts can be divided but you have worked past that. You come from all four houses and I know you would fight for each other, not with each other. Harry and Theo aren't going to hex each other on the pitch or in the halls anymore. Roger and the twins aren't going to scream at each other. Malcom and Grant aren't glaring at each other and Micah isn't trying to hex anyone who isn't a pureblood."

And it was true. There were eleven of them with the alternates. Two puffs, three claws, three snakes, and three lions and not one hex had been cast between them. The team also wasn't sitting by house, they were all mixed together. Cho sat next to Tamsin; Harry next to Theo. Roger Davis sat next to Malcolm and Fred while Micah sat next to George. His keepers, Grant and Miles sat on the other side of Harry.

"We are a team no matter our houses, and it doesn't matter if we win or lose, we will do that as a team. I don't know if we can win, but I know we have a chance. I know that Grant is a better keeper than that guy on the Dragons, can't remember his name. Don't tell Harry's girlfriend because I don't want another lecture about learning names." That got a chuckle out of the whole team, "Our chaser line has better plays and are better fliers, you just have to watch out for them to get physical."

"And we all know that no one can outmaneuver the twins," Micah, the alternate beater added, "I've tried many times."

Oli grinned again, "Even Marcus Flint would agree with that, the only reason that we have them is that he refused to work with them."

"Hey," Fred gasped in mock affront.

"How dare he," George sniffed as though about to cry. "We are perfect angels."

"When you're asleep," Tamsin stage winked.

Harry shook his head, "No, they have never been angels, they can prank in their sleep."

Before anyone could ask about that statement, Oli started up again, "The point is, Marcus gave up the best beater team I have ever seen because he didn't understand their value or how to work with them. I think we lucked out, don't you?"

It was clear they all agreed. "Lastly, we have Harry Potter. Like I said, he is the youngest seeker in a century. He has never lost a game he's played in; he even caught the snitch when he got hit by lightning." Oliver looked at Harry, "Seriously, kid, when I said get the snitch or die trying, I didn't really mean you should try to kill yourself!" Some of the others snickered while Harry just grinned at him cheekily. "He has flown against Krum before, not in a game, but it means that he knows what it feels like to fly against the living legend."

Oliver looked down at his watch, the game was going to begin in a few minutes. "Make me proud out there. I don't care if you win or lose," he scanned all of their faces, "but seriously, it would be wicked if you beat VIKTOR KRUM!"

"I feel the need to warn you," George cleared his throat, "that if you tell Harry to catch the snitch or die trying again then Hermione will murder you."

"I wasn't going to say that," the former Gryffindor grumbled, looking more than a little guilty.

"We need you on the field, Mister Wood," Madam Hooch stuck her head into the room. "I will come back for the team in a few minutes."

Oliver nodded and stood, "Good luck, Griffins. Play your hearts out today."

Roger stood, taking Oliver's place. Harry also stood, taking a place just behind him in his position as the assistant captain. "You know the plan," the Ravenclaw began. "We play our way. We play as a team. We make substitutions as we get tired and to confuse our opponents. The only position we will not substitute for this game is seeker."

"Sorry, Cho," Harry gave her a small smile.

"If you had even tried to make me face Krum, I would have hexed you both and then tortured Wood for weeks afterward."

They all chuckled, "The only way we would put you in the game is if they took Krum out but I doubt they will do that. Rumor is, Krum has been looking forward to this match all year."

"I will also not be running as much interference this match," Harry once again looked apologetic. "I can't let Viktor get the drop on me so I have to be completely focused on the snitch. If the snitch happens to show up underneath you, I will gladly get in the way of their chasers but don't count on me helping out too much on that front."

"You can count on us to be annoying though," Fred threw his hands up in the air in triumph. "No one is more annoying to chasers than we are."

"He's not wrong, but he was supposed to be quiet and let Roger talk."

"Oops, sorry," Fred pretended to look contrite at his twin's comment, "that's why he's the smart one, he remembers these things."

Roger rolled his eyes, "And on that note, grab your brooms. They are going to start announcing the lineups in a minute. Let's go out there and show the world that we are just as good as Viktor Krum and his team."

The game had been a blur so far. Harry could barely follow what was happening with his team because he was so busy trying to not only keep up with Viktor but to also challenge him. He thought he was doing a decent job so far.

Both exceptional seekers had been feinting, periodically. The only problem was, they were both so intent on the snitch that neither fell for it completely. The first time Viktor dove straight down toward the ground Harry followed but the whole time he wondered if it was a Wronski Feint. He had been right; Viktor had tried to trick him the same way he had tricked the Irish seeker at the world cup. The only difference here, Harry didn't fall for it. When Harry had pulled up just as smoothly as Viktor, the crowd had gone absolutely crazy.

The second time Viktor had dived toward the ground Harry knew it was a feint because he had seen a flash of gold flitting around the section of the stands that his family was sitting in. He had just happened to get stuck looking in that direction because his eye had caught sight of Luna's latest creation. The third year Ravenclaw was always doing something special to show her support for the Hogwarts team that happened to be competing, this time she had made herself a Griffin suit. Her head and arms were dressed as an eagle while her body and legs looked like a lion's hind quarters, including a tail that moved on its own. It was while he was mesmerized by Luna's outfit that he noticed the snitch dancing around behind Remus and Aria. While Viktor dove through the field of play, disrupting the current play and drawing everyone's attention, Harry had flown quickly and yet still casually toward the stands.

When Viktor pulled out of his dive, Harry pushed his broom to its max speed, laying down on his broom and rocketed toward the snitch that had shifted to the left and was now right over Sirius's head. Luck was not on Harry's side. The snitch had instantly fled at top speed, zipping around the stands and flying toward the center of the field where the Griffin chaser line was flying circles around their burlier opponents who, for the most part, liked to rely on brute strength. Harry had managed to stay with the snitch but it remained just out of reach as it flew erratically around the field.

When Viktor caught up to him, he was reaching for this snitch. Viktor had instantly started reaching for the tiny winged ball, his arms longer so even though his broom was slightly behind Harry's, their hands were even, just behind the snitch.

Suddenly, Harry sensed something coming up on him. He took his eyes away from the snitch for a second and saw a Bludger headed directly for him and Viktor. With a jerk and a roll, Harry peeled off to the right while Viktor peeled off to the left mere seconds before a Bludger careened through the spot they would have been in had they continued to follow the snitch. One for the snitch, zero for the seekers.

Harry and Viktor had three other chases for the snitch since and all of them had been interrupted by a Bludger or a chaser getting in the way.

Aiden Lynch, the volunteer referee for the match, blew his whistle. "Time," he shouted. "Hogwarts Griffins are requesting a substitution. Alternate chaser Theodore Nott is going to replace Malcom Preece. Durmstrang Dragons are also putting forth substitutions," he flew over to the Dragon's young coach, "Alternate keeper Valka Buresh will replace Andrew Volchenkov and alternate beater Sasha Stanislavski will replace Yuri Davidov." Lynch flew to the center of the field and grinned at the two seekers who were breathing heavily. "Merlin Potter," he chuckled, "Don't you dare try out for a team for at least a few years. If you do, there will be no hope for me or any other seeker in the British Isles!"

Harry grinned at him and accepted the water that Cho flew out to him. She handed a second one to Viktor. "I will take that as a compliment. You don't have to worry though; I won't be eligible until I'm of age and I want to finish school before I even think about a career."

"Thank you, Cho," Viktor nodded to the Chinese girl. He was familiar enough with Cedric's girlfriend. "I can't wait for him to join the international leagues," Viktor grinned viciously, "he is the best competition I have ever faced."

"That hurts, Viktor," Lynch scowled, "it's true, but it still hurts." He looked around and saw that everyone appeared to be in place again. "Time to get off the field, Miss Chang," he said before flying off to his position above the general field of play.

Harry took this time to check out the scores and was amazed to see that his team was clearly in the lead. "Wow," he blinked.

"Your team is better," Viktor sighed. "Our coach does not believe in teamwork, only in brute force. He would not listen to me and I am the captain. Some of the team wishes to change how we play but most think that he will get them on the international circuit if they listen to him. I have already told them they must pass trials to make any team so they are trying to win their way with him." He nodded toward the chaser line, "Alek is furious. He is a skill player. Speed and outmaneuvering his opponents are how he prefers to play, like your chasers, but none of the others will even try to work with him. We have only won so far because he goes rogue and I am a better seeker than the others. Your team deserves to win this overall, but I will not let you win so my team, as bad as it is, may just win after all."

Harry blinked, he hadn't really paid too much attention to the other games because tactics change game to game but now, thinking back, he could see what Viktor was talking about. The Dragons had only gone undefeated because of Viktor catching the snitch and Alek pulling off crazy plays on his own. In all honesty, the keepers for the Dragons were the worst in the tournament and they had allowed the highest point totals.

The Griffins were currently ahead 210 to 70.

The younger seeker nodded, "Our coach loves quidditch too much to rely on just one player. He pushed the team hard, trying to make them as strong or stronger than the professional lines. Plus, when he was at school, he was the captain of the team with the best chaser line the school had. The Gryffindor girls were unstoppable when they were at their best."

"Your twins don't hurt either."

"No, they really don't." Harry smirked looking at the twins casually passing both Bludgers back and forth while the two teams got into position so the game could restart. "With the way things are going, we may just end this game the way you ended the world cup."

Viktor rolled his eyes and scowled, "With the way things are going, I may just lose my first snitch in six years."

"If it makes you feel any better, I may just lose my first snitch in four years."

"It does not. I know you have only been playing for four years so that means you have never been beaten to the snitch."

Instead of answering, Harry grinned broadly.

"Seekers and beaters to your positions," Lynch called, his wand pointed at the Bludgers that were now positioned at either end of the pitch. Harry and Viktor took up positions above the chasers, facing each other on either side of center field. "We will begin with another tossing of the Quaffle in three, two, one."

The teams played for another half hour before another time out was called. One of the Dragon chasers had been hit hard by a Bludger (sent by his own team's beater) and was being replaced. Oliver decided to give Grant a break and was bringing Miles in to replace him at keeper, in that half hour of play, Grant Page had not let a single Quaffle through the hoops while his opponent had allowed five goals.

Hogwarts was ahead 260 to 70.

During this break, Harry and Viktor did not chat. Their battles were getting more intense and both were getting tired. Harry had gone off to stretch while Viktor tried to lecture his chasers. Only time would tell if they would listen.

Lynch surveyed the field, making sure everyone was in position and blew the whistle starting the game once more.

While their teammates took control of the Quaffle and attempted to score, Harry and Viktor immediately dove toward the ground. The snitch had decided to appear, this time mere inches off the ground. Its appearance was too much of a thrill for any seeker to ignore, let alone two who loved the chase so much.

Harry and Viktor flew with a grace and efficiency that only birds found effortless. They swooped through the field of play at speeds their teammates were not capable of. Zigging and zagging as the snitch randomly flitted around the stadium. The crowd screamed with enthusiasm seeing the miraculous flying but the seekers did not hear them.

The snitch took a swift left and then instantly switched direction and headed up toward the sky. Harry and Viktor followed; Harry's turn sharper due to his smaller size giving him a slight edge over his professional opponent.

It was this edge that allowed Viktor to catch up. The snitch changed direction again, taking a hard left and heading for the Slytherin section of the stands just as Harry was reaching for it, throwing the young man slightly off course. Because of his skill and instinct for the game it did not delay him for long but it did remove any advantage he had over Viktor Krum. When he got back on course, he was nose to nose with the older seeker.

As it traveled forward, the snitch flited side to side ever so slightly, placing itself in front of one seeker for a moment before sliding in front of the other. Just before it reached the beginning of the stands, the snitch fell into a deep dive, headed straight for the ground once more. Both seekers made the turn expertly, Harry's back to the audience while Viktor rotated while diving, leaving the seekers facing each other as they chased the elusive golden ball.

The snitch had no intention of being caught, as Viktor was reaching out with his long arms to grab the winged ball, it made another sharp turn, taking it toward the center of the field. Harry pushed with his feet, making the turn while upside down. Viktor, because he rotated his last turn, pulled hard with his arms so that he was right-side up while following the snitch's random path. The younger seeker rolled to put himself on top of his broom, all while bumping Viktor as they fought for the direct path for snitch.

This time, the snitch was oscillating up and down instead of side to side. It would go a foot in either direction at random intervals throwing both seekers off as they tried to reach for the little ball. Taking a chance, Harry fell into a sloth role, dropping his altitude just enough to slide underneath Viktor while reaching out as far as he could. As luck would have it, the snitch chose that moment to zip down away from Viktor's reach and right into his path. Harry Potter reached out, lying flat on his broom and tried to close his hand around the ball. All he felt was a brush of one frantically beating wing on the tip of his finger before seeing Viktor's larger hand close securely around the snitch as it jumped out of his reach.

Sound returned to the seekers as Viktor slowed and raised his hand in the air, a true smile gracing his face for once. Harry slowed as well and drew himself even with Viktor looking at the replay of the catch and checking the score.

"I thought you had me, Harry," Viktor held out his hand.

Harry took it, "I thought I had you too," Harry grinned. He turned his attention to the scoreboard again, "I may not have gotten the snitch, but we still won the game."

Viktor swore. While they had been chasing the snitch for the last few minutes the teams had gone on a score fest. In less than five minutes Hogwarts had scored three additional goals while Durmstrang had scored four. Hogwarts Griffins won the game by twenty. "I am cursed," he sighed with a shake of his head. "The two biggest games of the season and in both I catch the snitch but lose the game because my team is so far outclassed."

The two made their way to the platform that had been moved to the center of the field. "Have you ever won a game but lost the snitch?" Harry wondered. "I am kind of disappointed in myself but am happy for my team. Does that make sense?"

"You should be proud of your performance, Harry," Viktor placed a hand on his shoulder as they landed. "You are the best seeker I have ever faced and you nearly beat me. Had you been a second sooner, the snitch would have been yours. As it is, the only reason I caught it when I did was because you managed to touch the snitch."

At that moment, the twins landed and jumped on the young seeker. "YOU ALMOST BEAT KRUM!" they screamed as one.

"Yeah he did," Alek stepped up next to Viktor. "Better be careful, Vik, or the kid is going to dethrone you."

"He's already better than I am," Lynch also landed next to them. "Seriously kid, give me a few more years before you join the league."

The rest of the players landed on the platform. The Griffins were hugging and celebrating while the majority of the Dragons were standing off to the side sullenly. Alek made a point of going up to the Griffin chaser line and congratulating them on their superior plays. Roger Davis commented on his spectacular flying.

Bagman landed on the platform next, "Wasn't that an amazing game?" The former seeker allowed the crowd to show their appreciation. "Let's hear it for the undefeated Griffins of Hogwarts! Captain Roger Davis was responsible for fourteen of their twenty-nine goals. Reserve, Theo Nott managed five goals in the second half of the game. Malcom Preece ended up with three while Tamsin Applebee had the other seven." The Hogwarts contingent cheered loudly while the other students clapped politely. "And what about those Weasley twins? I am certainly glad I never had to face them!"

The announcer turned his attention to the seekers, "I will say that I don't think I have ever seen a more fantastic display from a pair of seekers. I think Harry Potter is perhaps the biggest challenge Viktor Krum has ever faced. If he continues playing, Harry Potter will have a bright future in quidditch. For the second time this year, Mister Krum catches the snitch but does not win the game! Amazing!"

Viktor, Alek, Roger and Harry stepped forward as the team captains and assistant captains and shook hands. Oliver and the Bulgarian coach also shook hands though the foreign pro seemed very reluctant and irritated that he had to acknowledge anyone.

With a flick of his wand, the quidditch cup floated up to the platform and into Bagman's hands. "It is my honor to give the quidditch cup to your hosting Hogwarts Griffins." Bagman walked over and put the trophy into Harry's hand, skipping Roger in the process. Harry smirked, shaking his head, and held the trophy out so that both he and Roger were holding it between them. Together, they raised the cup high as the audience roared.

Greenhouses

Harry slid into his seat next to Hermione, trying not to disturb anyone.

"How is he?" Hermione whispered as she took his hand. They were in the newly erected stands surrounding the greenhouses. While the organizers of the main tournament didn't seem to care about the weather conditions when they planned out events the academic team did. The last two academic competitions were planned to take place outside because of their subject matter so they were placed in the nicest months, May and June. The Care of Magical Creatures event had taken place on May 6th, with no rain. Herbology was the final event and was currently underway.

Harry shrugged, "Nervous." The question portion of the event was in progress and Hogwarts was holding their own. None of the teams appeared to have a clear advantage at the moment. Hogwarts and Beauxbatons were tied and Durmstrang was only a few points behind. The true tests would come next. "He seems to think that he is under qualified."

Hermione scoffed, "Neville Longbottom is perhaps the most qualified person in Hogwarts. If it was allowed, they would have had him participate in all three sections of the event but because only one person was allowed in more than two, they chose him for the identification and care portions." She shook her head, "Quinn, Samantha and Wendell all agreed that Ashley and Neville were better with plants. Ashley flat out refused to take on the identification portion and for good reason. During practice Neville beat them all every single time. Honestly, the main reason he isn't in the trivia instead of Quinn is because of his lack of confidence. He does fine with the plants in front of him but tends to freeze with an audience and no plants."

"I know," Harry smiled at her. Hermione had been working with Neville almost continuously for the last week to make sure he was ready. For once, it was Hermione who demanded they stop because they had been at it too long. If Neville had his way, he probably would have skipped meals and hours of sleep to study. "We both tried to tell him that he was good. It should have been obvious after he managed to work his way through three books from the Black library in two days and then claimed they were too easy."

"I know," Hermione shook her head in disbelief, "I had never heard of half of those crazy plants. One of them is known to eat people and I can't for the life of me remember if it was the yellow and pink flower or the purple one."

"So, either stay out of remote areas of Africa or take Neville with us?" Harry joked.

"I thought it was South America," Hermione frowned and reached for her bag.

Harry grabbed her hand, preventing her from finding the books buried in her bag. "Not now, they are about to transition to the care portion."

It was time to see just what Neville was capable of.

Things were going well.

Sam, Quinn and Wendell had held their own in the quiz portion of the competition. They weren't in first place, but they were only a few points behind Beauxbatons and had a considerable lead on Durmstrang. Now he and Ashley were working through their task easily.

Each portion of the competition was scored evenly with points awarded depending on accuracy. Neville could already tell that they were in the lead for this portion. The Durmstrang pair, a boy and girl, had repotted a carnivorous snapdragon when all the plant really needed was a hunk of rabbit meat. The Beauxbatons team had not fallen for this but the male part of that team had almost lost his finger when he went to tickle a teenaged mandrake.

Neville turned his attention back to Ashley and nearly swore as he dove to her workstation, grabbing her hand and pulling it back before she could water the plant in front of her. "You can't water that," Neville spoke quietly. "Watering that flower right now would kill it, at least if you use water."

"It's just a lily, isn't it?"

He shook his head, "No that is a rare fire lily. They can only be watered with straight water when they aren't flowering. If you use just water right now it will burst into uncontrolled flame and then die. To keep a flowering fire lily alive, you need to water with a mix of water and ethanol," he grabbed a container of ethanol from under the table and poured some into a beaker. Then he poured water into the beaker until it reached the proper level. "When a fire lily is flowering it is supposed to burn but it requires fuel. If you feed it water it will burn itself out trying to keep the inner flame going, but if you give it ethanol," he poured his mixture onto the soil surrounding the fire lily, "the petals will flame."

Before them, the flame colored petals sprouted a gentle blue toned flame. The flames did not spread and only seemed to add to the beauty of the plant. "That is what a fire lily is supposed to look like."

Ashley smiled, "I have never even heard of a fire lily, let alone seen one. How did you know that?"

"I have some at home. My mom used to grow them," he gave her a crooked smile, "they were a gift from her best friend, Harry's mom."

"I'm glad you were here," she looked away from the still softly burning flower, "I would have hated to have killed it. Is there anything else I missed?" She asked, looking around and seeing that everything at their station appeared to be complete.

In answer, Neville lit a piece of wood on fire with the flame of the lily and then dropped the wood into a dish. It burned quickly and then he picked up the dish and sifted the ash. "Fire lilies need ash mixed into the soil after each burning. No matter how much ethanol you feed it, it will burn for just under five minutes. When the flame goes out, you need to spread the ash around the stalk."

"I really want to be you when I grow up," Ashley sighed.

"You're a seventh year."

"But I don't know half as much about plants. You have a gift, Neville." She would have continued but stopped when she saw Neville all but running to one of the other groups.

"Don't touch that!" Neville grabbed the hand of the Durmstrang girl who was about to grab a leaf to prune it. "Not only will it burn your skin but it will also inject poison into your bloodstream. We may have the antidote here but it will be painful and keep you in the hospital for fifteen days."

The girl's eyes widened in surprise, "I thought it was just a breed of Japanese maple," she gulped, backing away slightly.

"It is but it is also a poisonous breed. It was created by a wizard who was tired of people touching his bonsai. He interbred it with a Venomous Tentacula. Somehow the cross breeding made it even more poisonous than the Tentacula but not sentient in any way."

Ashley, having seen the Beauxbatons team also about to move to the little maple, told them to put gloves on before they touched it and stopped the male partner from using water on their fire lily.

"Time is up," the stern-faced judge said, walking up to the group. "Full points to Hogwarts for their work and additional credit for saving the other pairs and the fire lilies." She turned her attention to Neville, "Owl me if you are ever in need of a job. I could use you at my greenhouses."

Ashley gapped at the retreating woman, "That was Ingrid Michaelson. She owns the largest nursery in the world. Her plants are known for their quality and she is known for being impossible to please."

"Yes, it was." Neville shrugged, "She used to do business with my grandfather before he died and we had to close the greenhouses. Now we just have personal greenhouses. My gran doesn't like her because she was always trying to get my grandfather to leave gran for her."

"I don't even know what to say about that," Ashley shook her head. "Are you ready for the identification round?"

"I think we should just hand this round over to Hogwarts now," the male from Beauxbatons groaned. "I don't want to go against him!"

"Agreed," the Russian female from Durmstrang nodded, "He just saved me from a hospital visit because I didn't identify that maple correctly."

"He saved my finger."

"And stopped me from killing that lily."

"What is with these Hogwarts fourteen-year-olds?" The Beauxbatons boy asked. "First Potter, then that Zabini kid who was in the DADA portion of the competition and now Longbottom! What are they eating around here? Is it the water? Where can I get whatever it is?"

Ashley snorted and shook her head, "I have been asking myself that all year. It is both amazing and irritating to be shown up by a fourth year!"

"Contestants competing in the final portion of the Herbology competition, please come to greenhouse four," called Michaelson.

"Hopefully they added something new in there," Ashley said as the three left, "otherwise those two are going to be really embarrassed. Neville spends a lot of time in greenhouse four."

"They're doomed either way," the remaining member of the Beauxbatons team conceded, "that kid has a gift and he deserves to win this event."

Gryffindor Tower

To say that the Gryffindors like to party would be an understatement. When the house of lions was stressed or bored, they could always find a reason, any reason to party. Fred and George once managed to convince their fellow lions to celebrate the birthday of Filch by throwing a party and conveniently forgetting to invite him. Surprisingly, that party had been impressive at the end, including having it broken up by Professor McGonagall at nearly one in the morning.

A party celebrating the achievements of one of their own, that was an epic party that was only overshadowed by quidditch celebrations.

The lions had spent a lot of time partying during the Triwizard Tournament. Every task required a party in the common room following whatever celebration was in the great hall. The fact that there were Gryffindors on each of the two quidditch teams meant they got to celebrate a victory after all except one of the games Hogwarts played that year. Surprisingly, the party following the Herbology academic competition was one of the biggest.

Due in large part to the fact that lions were the house of the brave, they rarely led the way in academics. The fact that Neville Longbottom, one of their fourth years, was the sole reason for a Hogwarts academic victory meant they went all out. Neville was never the center of attention, even if he was best friends with Harry Potter, so much of their house didn't really know him. In fact, most only knew him as Harry's friend who liked plants. It was assumed, correctly, that he was kind of shy and rather quiet. These facts did not sway the house of lions into throwing a quiet affair to celebrate his victory. No, it inspired them to throw the ragger of all raggers in the hours proceeding the competition.

To say that Neville was embarrassed by all the attention, pomp and circumstance would be an understatement. For once in his Hogwarts life he was the hero, the one everyone wanted to know.

And he kind of hated it.

"I am so sorry," Neville moaned as he sank into the couch next to Harry after escaping Seamus and Ron. "I completely get why you hate all the attention now."

Harry snorted and took a sip of his butterbeer. "Except you will only have to live with this for a few hours, at most a day."

"And then it will be back to normal," Hermione stole Harry's glass and took a sip as hers was empty.

"If it's too much for you," Harry's expression changed to one of concern, "I can sneak you out under my cloak. It won't fool the twins for long but it would give you about a twenty-minute head start before they found my map and started chasing you down."

Neville chuckled under his breath and shook his head, "I'm fine, Harry. It's just one night and they will forget about me in about ten minutes anyway. Fred and George will do something or Ron will start regaling them with a play by play of your last quidditch match and I will be forgotten."

"Not by us," Hermione smiled at him. "We are really proud of you."

Harry nodded emphatically, "You really did an amazing job. Not only did you outperform everyone but you also saved fingers and possibly a life."

"And proved that Herbology isn't just plants."

"Yeah," Ginny popped up from behind Harry and Hermione's couch, "plants can kill." She grinned, and handed Hermione and Neville a butterbeer. "You did great, Neville."

And then she was gone.

Neville shook his head. Ginny Weasley was a completely different person than she had been in the months following the chamber incident. No one was really sure what it was that caused the change but she had been a bright, vivacious girl all year.

A loud whistle sounded over the sounds of merriment. All eyes turned to the fireplace, where Fred and George were both standing. "Before things get too crazy, we would like to congratulate one of our own for proving once and for all that Gryffindors aren't just brainless idiots who leap before they look," Fred said, his face as serious as it ever got.

Beside him, George frowned, "I thought Hermione proved that years ago?" He scratched his head, "Come to think of it, Bill proved that years before that. Fred, are you trying to get us hexed?"

"I am trying to give Neville the recognition that he deserves, brother mine."

"While I agree that he has done our house proud, I don't think insulting the intelligence of the rest of the house is the way to go." He looked around the room and cringed, "Quinn, Hermione and Nicole in particular will have found that statement insulting. Nicole basically won the potions competition and Quinn is the captain of the academic team after all."

"I suppose you're right," Fred conceded. "Now, what was I saying? Oh, right. Neville, our resident herbology genius did us proud today and I think we should give him a round of applause before things deteriorate like they usually do."

"I thought we had already done that," George added at the end. "I distinctly remember asking for a round of applause while Neville was standing on a chair before we called for the celebration to begin."

Fred shrugged, "I figured we would do one more before the crazy stuff starts happening."

"What craziness do you speak of brother?"

"Well, there will inevitably be a drinking contest," he looked out at the students, "sixth year and up, I am talking to you Seamus!"

"Right," George agreed, "There is always one of those. Then there are the fireworks, for some reason people like to set them off indoors."

"Again, Seamus we are talking to you!"

"OI," Seamus shouted, "You are the ones who make them!"

The twins just ignored him, "And at least one couple will end up having a major fight and breaking up," George continued. "Do you think that will be you and Angelina or Ron and Lavender this time?"

Fred frowned, "Maybe it will be you and Nicole."

"Not going to happen," Nicole threw a sock at Fred. It was not her sock, in fact she wasn't entirely sure who it belonged to, she had found it on the floor and had banished it at Fred so as not to touch the smelly piece of clothing. "My money is on you; Angelina is looking at you like she wants to hit you and Ron and Lavender are in the corner snogging again."

"HEY," Fred shouted, affronted.

George looked at his younger brother and frowned, "Can't he use a broom cupboard like everybody else?"

"Are you two done yet?" Harry shouted. "I would personally like to get on with things and I really don't need to know that Ron is doing, or what Seamus might do."

"How about this," Hermione stood and picked up two butterbeers from the table. She handed one to each of the twins as they didn't have drinks in their hands. "Let's all raise a glass and toast the great House of Godric Gryffindor. This year we have proven to the school that we are a force to be reckoned with." She raised her glass, smiling when the rest of the house followed suit. "To us!"

The house of lions took a drink, tossing their achievements, and then all burst in to uproarious laughter at the sight before them.

In place of the twins, stood Dr. Suess's Thing 1 and Thing 2.

Hermione took a dramatic bow, "Thank you, thank you." She turned back to the twins, smiling sweetly. "I believe that is two for me and zero for you."

For their part, Fred and George didn't know if they had ever been prouder.

"PRANK WAR!" they shouted as one and then the spells began to fly.

The Gryffindor party/prank war was broken up near midnight by the combined efforts of Professor McGonagall, Lupin, Flitwick and Snape with a timely appearance from a very irritated, and visibly pregnant Narcissa Black. It was not the stern looks of McGonagall or Snape's faces, nor the giggles from Flitwick or the outright laughter from Lupin that stopped the house of lions. No, what finally cowed the house of the brave was the dark look that was painted on Narcissa's face. Each and every member of Gryffindor house would later admit that they had never been more scared in their life than when the lady of House Black had threatened them. None would remember exactly what she threatened them with, but they would all fear the wrath of one small noble lady.


And here it is. I want to have the next chapter written this week so possibly posting in a week and half or two weeks if things go well. I did start a complete rewrite so we shall see. That said, once 42 is written, 43 is done save some editing and making sure I don't need to add anything so hopefully two chapters in the next two weeks!

Wolf

Oh, and if you see this on other sites under this name that is fine - I finally started posting on AO3 with the account I haven't used in like two years.