Chapter 9: The Basics of Quidditch

I don't own Digimon or Harry Potter

Daisuke, Harry and Ron entered the Great Hall the next morning for breakfast, across at the Slytherin table they spotted Malfoy sitting in between Crabbe and Goyle, his eyes wide as he gazed at the three of them, almost as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing. Daisuke, being polite, smiled and waved at the blonde boy who only glared at her and looked down at his breakfast.

"Think he's mad that we didn't get expelled?" Ron asked as they sat down at their table away from the other students.

"Probably, but he can't say anything to the teachers." Daisuke answered. "Doing that would reveal that he challenged Harry to a duel last night. He would get in just as much trouble as we would, regardless of if he turned up or not."

"Good point but meeting that three headed dog was cool." Harry admitted with a small smile.

"I know that look." Daisuke said, poking his side with her finger. "We are not going back to the third-floor corridor anytime soon, we almost got eaten alive last night. I'd prefer if we can keep our heads down for a while."

Harry and Ron reluctantly agreed, they did not want to push their luck again after narrowly avoiding being caught by Filch out of bed and escaping with their lives from the three headed dog. As they ate their breakfast, Harry filled Ron and Daisuke in on the package that had seemingly been taken from Gringotts by Hagrid that time he and Harry had gone to Diagon Alley before the start of term.

"It's either really valuable or dangerous, maybe both." Ron muttered, noticing Hermione walking past them without a word spoken.

Daisuke raised an eyebrow before noticing Neville shuffling down the table. "Hey Neville, care to sit with us?" she asked, making the shy boy squeak and shake his head quickly.

"Um no thanks…after last night, I don't want to get into any more trouble around you guys." He said apologetically before hurrying off to sit beside Seamus and Dean.

"At least Hermione isn't going to bother us anymore, that's a bonus." Ron pointed out with a shrug. As he continued to eat his breakfast, a paper airplane flew down the length of the table until it hit him gently in the forehead.

The paper airplane then unfolded itself and landed in his hands. "Who is it from?" Harry asked.

"Um from Daisuke's cousin…" he answered, as he read the letter he groaned. "Oh man she's reminded me not to forget about her tutoring me this afternoon."

"Best not forget then, otherwise she will find you and drag you off to the lesson herself if you try to flunk out." Daisuke advised her friend; she had heard stories of how scary her cousin could be when others wasted her time after asking for her to tutor them in potions only to not show up on time or to skip the session all together.

Ron nodded slightly, glancing down the table over at Jun who waved with a bright smile at the youngest Weasley before going back to her breakfast.

Later that same day, after that day's lessons Ron was walking through the castle corridors trying to find the classroom Jun told him from the note she gave him that morning. He turned the corner and almost cried out in shock when Nearly Headless Nick floated through the wall. "Ah Mr Weasley, what're you doing here, the Gryffindor Common room is on the seventh floor."

"Um, I'm looking for Jun, she's meant to be tutoring me on potions right about now, have you seen her?" Ron asked, nervously looking up at the ghost who smiled brightly and nodded.

"Of course, follow me." The ghost said, floating off down the hallway and Ron hurried after the ghost.

Meanwhile Jun was busy in an empty classroom preparing a cauldron along with setting out the ingredients for the potion she would be teaching Ron how to brew, she opened her old worn down first year potion textbook just as Nearly Headless Nick flew into the room through the door. "Ah good afternoon Sir Nicholas, did you need something?" she questioned the Gryffindor House ghost.

"Do pardon the interruption but I was simply escorting a student." The ghost said as the door to the room opened and Jun smiled as Ron walked in.

"Ah Ron, you made it." She said brightly.

"Yeah, um sorry if I'm late. I got lost." He said only for Jun to shake her head.

"Nonsense, you're right on time." She then turned to the ghost and smiled. "Thank you for helping him, Sir Nicholas."

"It is my pleasure to help any young Gryffindor find their way." The ghost said with a smile, turning to Ron, he bowed slightly before floating off back through the wall.

Jun clapped her hands and smiled. "Right then, put your things over there. We're going to be practicing brewing the Cure for Boils potion." She told him.

"That's what Snape had us make in our first lesson." Ron said, putting his things down on an empty desk.

"That's right, he has every first-year class do that for their first lesson, it's a simple enough potion." Jun replied with a shrug. "Now then, let's get to work." She told the boy.

Ron nodded and the two began to brew the potion quietly, Jun instructing the boy every so often and answering questions he had about certain ingredients or methods of brewing the potion.

Soon, Jun peered over the cauldron looking at the bubbling liquid inside before she flicked her wand and a vial appeared in her hand. "So how is it?" Ron asked, peering over the rim of the cauldron as Jun filled the vial with some of the potion.

"Hm not bad, obviously there can be improvements made. But this just shows you aren't as useless at potion making as you thought." Jun told him which brought a smile to his face. "Now then, we should head back. It's almost dinner time too."

"Right." Ron said, helping Jun pack up before gathering his things and they left the classroom together.

About a week later, that Thursday morning the students were in the Great Hall enjoying breakfast when the owls began to swoop in with their usual post deliveries. Hedwig flew down towards the Gryffindor table and landed in front of Harry, the young boy smiling and stroking the bird's feathers gently.

"Hey Hedwig, how have you been?" he asked, feeding her some of his bacon, the owl gobbling it up happily with a hoot. Harry then saw a note on Hedwig's leg and removed it and quickly read it.

"What it's say?" Ron asked, shuffling through some of his chocolate frog cards, tossing a few into a pile before sliding them over to Daisuke who began checking through them, taking ones that she didn't have in her own collection.

"Professor McGonagall wants me to meet Oliver Wood after classes today at seven o'clock on the Quidditch pitch. She says I'll get a broom then; she doesn't say what kind it is." Harry answered. "I hope it's a good one."

"Don't worry mate. McGonagall wouldn't make you Seeker and then give you a shoddy broom, it'll probably be the latest Cleansweep model." Ron reassured his friend with a smile.

"Right, um Daisuke, do you want to come with me?" Harry then asked Daisuke who nodded.

"Sure thing." She chirped, Demi-Veemon sitting in front of her as the Digimon nibbled on some toast.

Harry smiled before he stood up. "I'll be right back, I forgot one of my books for class." He said, his friends nodded, and he jogged off out of the Great Hall. He jogged across the Entrance Hall, only to find the stairs barred by Crabbe and Goyle.

He looked at the two bullies and tried to walk around them, only for them to move in front of him. He tried to push past them only for both to grab him and push him against the wall. "Hey let me go!" Harry demanded, struggling as Malfoy walked over and ripped the note from Harry's hand, having noticed him reading it earlier.

"What's this Potter?" he asked, reading the note before scowling. "You've done it this time, first year students aren't allowed broomsticks."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Harry replied. "All the note says is that I'm going to be given a broom for Quidditch, probably one from the school or something."

Malfoy frowned before nodding to Crabbe who grunted before punching Harry in the stomach, the blow forcing the wind from his lungs and he fell to his knees when the bullies let him go, he coughed and held his stomach in pain as his glasses slipped off his face hitting the ground with a clatter. "Don't try to be funny Potter, it'll only make things worse." He warned.

"Hey!" a voice called out to them, the three Slytherins jumping and turning around to see another student, one wearing Hufflepuff robes walking towards them. "What is going on over here?"

"Nothing." Malfoy answered quickly, Crabbe and Goyle pulling Harry to his feet, the shorter boy groaning in pain. "Just having a chat with Potter here."

"Really? It didn't look that way when I was walking over here." The Hufflepuff replied, crossing his arms, and looking down at the three Slytherins. "I suggest you move along before I tell Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall about this."

"When my father hears about this." Grumbled Draco as he stormed off, Crabbe and Goyle letting Harry go and following the blonde quickly.

Harry rubbed his stomach before the other student bent down to pick up his glasses. "Here you go." He said, Harry smiling and taking back his glasses and putting them back on.

He blinked a few times before looking at the student who helped him out, he had dark brown hair, grey eyes and had a burly, well-built physique. "Th…thanks." Harry stuttered shyly, looking down at his shoes.

The student smiled and chuckled. "I believe this is where we introduce ourselves. I'm Cedric, Cedric Diggory." He said, holding out his hand.

"Harry Potter." Harry replied, shaking his hand with a small smile. He scratched his cheek shyly before he noticed his glasses had cracked from when they fell to the floor, he sighed and grumbled. "Great…"

"Here, lemme fix that for ya." Cedric said, whipping out his wand and waving it. "Oculus Reparo." He pointed his wand at Harry's glasses which repaired themselves and Harry's eyes widened, and he grinned.

"I definitely need to learn that one." He said to himself, smiling up at Cedric. "Thanks again, um see you around."

"Of course, best hurry up. Classes start soon." Cedric told him before he walked off into the Great Hall, Harry quickly hurried up the stairs towards Gryffindor Tower still needing to fetch his book before classes started.

Later that day, after dinner Daisuke and Harry were walking out of the castle together down towards the Quidditch pitch to meet Oliver. "I can't believe Malfoy had the guts to pick on you this morning." Daisuke grumbled.

"Don't worry about it." Harry told her softly. "He's not so tough when other people are around, besides, I've dealt with bullies before."

"That's no excuse not to tell Professor McGonagall." Daisuke said softly, a frown on her face which morphed into a look of concern for her friend. "If he does something like that again, tell her right away. Alright?" she asked.

"Okay, I promise." He replied, making her grin and nod. Soon they reached the Quidditch pitch and were in awe of the sheer size of the place.

"There you are Potter, you're here already. That's good." Both turned to see Oliver Wood walking onto the pitch carrying a large wooden crate in one arm and two broomsticks in his other arm. He then took notice of Daisuke and blinked. "Who are you?"

"Daisuke Ainsworth." She chirped with a wave. "Hiya."

"Ah, Jun's cousin, right?" he asked, and she nodded.

"I asked her to come with me tonight, I hope that's okay." Harry told Oliver who nodded.

"Of course. Now then." He set down the crate at his feet before handing one of the two brooms to Harry. "This is your new broom." He told him, Harry blinked in surprise and his mouth opened and shut a few times. "Well go on take it." Oliver instructed.

Harry took the broom quickly and ran his hand along the broomstick slowly. It was sleek and shiny, the handle was made from mahogany wood, it had a long tail of straight, neat twigs and Nimbus Two Thousand written in gold near the top.

"A Nimbus Two Thousand?" Daisuke gasped in awe.

"Only the best for Gryffindor's new Seeker." Oliver said. "Now don't tell anyone about this yet, you're our secret weapon okay Potter?" he whispered, and Harry nodded.

"Not much of a secret since the whole school knows he's been made Seeker." Daisuke mumbled.

"But they don't know the broom he's using." Oliver replied with a grin. "Now then, enough chit-chat. Onto the basics of Quidditch for tonight, then you'll be joining practice three times a week with the rest of the team."

Harry and Daisuke nodded as Oliver opened the crate, inside were four different sized balls. "Quidditch is easy enough to understand, even though it's not easy to play. There are seven players on each team, three Chasers, two Beaters, one Keeper and one Seeker, which is you." He told Harry who nodded.

Oliver picked up a bright red ball about the size of a football. "This ball is called the Quaffle." He tossed it to Harry who caught it in his arms. "The Chasers throw the Quaffle to each other and try to throw it into one of those three hoops to score a goal, ten points for each goal scored." He explained, gesturing to the three fifty-foot-tall poles with rings on them at either side of the pitch. "The Keeper, which is me, defends the hoops. With me so far?"

"I think so." Harry said, tossing the Quaffle to Daisuke who then tossed it back to Oliver who caught it.

"What're those?" Daisuke asked, noticing the two jet black iron balls that were slightly smaller than the Quaffle strapped down in the crate.

"Ah." Oliver said, picking up a wooden club and handed it to her. "Better take this." He said, she took the club and blinked.

Oliver then released one of the two balls, it shot into the air with a sort of mad cackle, it zipped around the pitch for a moment. "Careful now it's coming back." He warned.

"Watch out." Daisuke said, gripping the club with both hands she waited until the ball was close to her, she swung with all her might and left her feet for a moment, she landed on her bottom as the ball flew to the far side of the pitch.

Oliver's eyes widened and he grinned. "Not bad Ainsworth, you'd make a fair Beater." He praised making her smile. The ball flew right back towards them and Oliver's eyes widened. "Uh oh." He said, catching the ball with his arms as it flew into his chest, he dived to the ground and wrestled the ball back into the crate and strapped it down.

"What was that?" Harry asked.

"Bludger, nasty little buggers." Oliver panted, their goal is to try and knock the players off their brooms, the Beaters use those clubs to protect the other players. The Weasley Twins are our pair of Beaters, they're like human Bludgers themselves." He explained.

"But you are a Seeker, Potter. And the only thing you need to worry about is this." He continued, taking out the last ball, a small walnut sized ball that was bright gold. "The Golden Snitch." He placed it in Harry's hand and two tiny wings unfurled from the ball.

"I like this ball." Harry said.

"Ah you like it now, but just wait. It's wicked fast and damn near impossible to see." Oliver explained.

"What do I do with it?" Harry asked.

"Catch it, before the other team's Seeker, it's worth a hundred and fifty points if you do. Catch this and the match is over, and whichever team catches the Snitch first almost always wins." Oliver explained with a smile, the Snitch's wings began to flutter before it flew out of Harry's hand, he quickly caught it before it could zip off. "Nice catch, we can't afford to lose that ball tonight. Madam Hooch will have my head."

"So how is Harry gonna practice?" Daisuke asked, Oliver smiled and pulled out of his pocket a bag of golf balls.

"With these." He chirped. "Mount your broom Potter." He instructed. "I'll throw this here and there, your task is to catch them, get used to your broom and focusing on such a small object."

"Right." Harry said, mounting his new broom and he kicked off easily. A bright smile came to his face as he flew around in the air for a moment.

"Ainsworth, first throw is yours." Oliver said, tossing a golf ball to Daisuke.

"Right." She said, catching the ball and throwing it into the air and Harry flew off after it, a moment later he caught the ball in his left hand.

"Nice catch Potter." Oliver praised, throwing another golf ball into the air and Harry flew off after it. They continued the exercise for a while until eventually Oliver motioned for Harry to come back down as the sun had almost completely set, the sky nearly pitch black.

"You did amazing Harry." Daisuke praised as he hopped off his broom with a smile before the three began heading up to the castle.

"That Quidditch Cup will be ours this year, I can see it now." Oliver said, patting him on the shoulder. "You might become almost as good as Charlie Weasley, and he could have played for England had he chosen not to go and study dragons in Romania."

Nearly two months had passed since the start of the school term began, the castle was beginning to feel almost like a second home to Daisuke and the other first years, Harry feeling more at home at Hogwarts than he had ever done living with his relatives.

It was a few days before Halloween, Daisuke was asleep in her bed before letting out a groan as she tossed and turned. Salem, woken by her discomfort, walked across the bed towards her. "What?" he whispered, seeing her eyes open a moment to show they were glowing gold.

Inside Daisuke's dream, she saw floating feathers in a classroom, jack o'lanterns, then her dream shifted to show the girl's bathroom, inside the room she saw Hermione's tear-streaked face looking up terrified as a giant hand raised a wooden club above her.

Daisuke bolted up in her bed, her eyes snapping open, and she panted heavily. "Daisuke!" Salem gasped, jumping into her lap, and trying to calm her down as Demi-Veemon woke up and hopped over to his partner.

"It happened again?" he asked softly, Daisuke nodded and began to cry. She scooped up her Digimon and Salem as she cried.

"It was so terrible. At first it felt normal, feathers floating, jack o'lanterns."

"So, it will take place on Halloween?" Salem asked softly.

"I guess so." Daisuke answered.

"What changed?" Demi-Veemon asked gently, concerned for his partner as she took a deep breath to calm down.

"I then saw the girl's bathroom and Hermione was in tears, then some giant hand was lifting a club about to hit her." Daisuke answered, she peeked out of her bed's curtains to see Hermione peacefully asleep in her bed.

"Well, she's alright now." Demi-Veemon said with a small smile.

"Yeah…but what if it comes true?" She asked her partner softly.

"Then tell Professor McGonagall or Professor Dumbledore if you can. Or tell your parents in a letter and see what they say about it." Salem told her.

She nodded and both Salem and Demi-Veemon smiled. "Now get some sleep, you need it." Demi-Veemon chirped nuzzling her cheek and she giggled.

"Okay." She whispered, kissing his forehead before kissing Salem's forehead as well. "Goodnight." She laid down and went back to sleep, her partner and pet watching her sleep for a while before they went back to sleep as well.

The end of the chapter

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