Harry Potter and the Deathday Curse

Harry Potter and the Deathday Curse

Chapter 23 The Quidditch Match and the Valentine's Dance

"Let me at him!" Ron hissed. He had attempted to launch an attack at Draco, but Harry and Hermione had held him back.

"Ron, you'll get in trouble!" Hermione said, looking thoroughly upset herself. "Besides, I don't think Mr. Malfoy would be very happy. Just think of what he could do to you!"

"I don't care!" Ron barked. "Let him do his worse!"

Harry and Hermione dragged Ron away.

"I don't understand why you're not upset about this Harry," Ron said.

"I am," Harry said hastily. "I guess I'm just used to death threats. We really need to get to work on looking for more info about that book. We can't let it get into Voldemort's hands."

About two days before the Quidditch Match, everyone was excited, for the match was to take place on the day of the Valentine's day dance. Harry and Ginny were going to be wearing the same dress robes that Harry had bought when they first got together. Ginny was sending notes to Harry everyday, saying that she couldn't wait for the dance and that it would be wonderful. Then she would sign the letters with a loopy signature and the eyes dotted with hearts. Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione would spend their evenings in the common room together (after Quidditch Practice) talking happily about the dance and what was in store for the match. The Gryffindor Quidditch team had been having practice every night for two hours. This was a very important match, as it decided who would go into the Quidditch match. If they won the match then they would be playing against the Ravenclaw team.

The Hufflepuffs had been training hard too. Before they used to be pretty easy to beat. In Harry's fifth year they had been so bummed out because of the loss of their Seeker that they lost every match. During Harry's sixth and seventh year so far, they had been almost unbeatable. Slytherin had obviously lost to them and Ravenclaw had barely defeated them. Now it was Hufflepuff against Gryffindor and Ravenclaw against Slytherin, the winners from the two games would play in the final match.

Harry got a letter from Remus the day before the match saying that he would be able to come to the match, but Sirius wouldn't be able too.

Well at least Remus is coming, Harry thought bitterly. Then he pulled on his Quidditch robes and went out to practice.

Harry hadn't slept much that night, and even if he did he dreamed about what would happen if they lost, Draco Malfoy laughing and pointing at the defeated Gryffindors, Professor McGonnagal's crestfallen face, Remus shaking his head in disappointment…

Harry finally just stayed up, not being able to go back to sleep. Much to his surprise, Ginny was pacing down in the common room. She looked up when Harry walked down the spiral staircase.

"Hey Gin," He said, smiling. "What are you doing up so early?"

"Couldn't sleep." She replied. "I'm really nervous. I always get really nervous right before something big is going to happen."

"Don't worry," Harry said soothingly. "You're the best Keeper I've ever seen."

"You're just saying that because I'm your girlfriend," Ginny said, smiling anyway.

"You're also the cutest Keeper I've ever seen." Harry said, leaning over and kissing her on the cheek.

"And you, Harry Potter, are the most charming, not to mention handsome Seeker on the face of this planet," Ginny said. Harry took Ginny's hand in his and led her over to a small couch before the fire. They both sank into it and just stared at the embers for a little while, Harry with his arm around Ginny's shoulders and Ginny resting her head on his shoulder. They fell asleep a few minutes later.

"Hey! Wake up!" Someone was prodding Harry in the head. "Harry! Ginny! Wake up!"

Harry opened one eye, David was standing over them.

"Hey! Only two hours till the match," David said. "We need to go eat breakfast and go over last minute tactics."

"I was just about to say the same thing," Harry said sleepily. He woke Ginny, and then went to his dorm to collect his Firebolt and to change into his robes. He and Ginny met up in the common room and walked down to breakfast together.

"All right team," Harry said an hour and forty five minutes later. They were all in the locker room, sitting on benches except for Harry who was attempting to give a motivational speech.

"We can do this. We know the moves, we've played this team before, and we can beat them again. Just keep telling yourselves that we are the best damn Quidditch team at this school, and that we can beat anyone in this school that we want to."

"Yeah," Allison said. "We can do this! Hufflepuff is a pushover, we can beat them with our eyes closed."

"Well, perhaps you should keep your eyes open just in case."

"Are you ready?"

"YEAH!"

The Gryffindor team walked to the doors to wait for their team to be announced. Ginny meanwhile, held Harry back.

"Harry," she said.

"Yes Gin?" She leaned forward put her arms around his neck and kissed him on the lips. The whole Gryffindor team started to whoop and whistle loudly. When Ginny pulled away, Harry said, "What was that for?"

"Good Luck," Ginny replied, smiling. Suddenly, Mara Jordan's voice reached their ears.

"And here is the Gryffindor team!!" She was yelling. She called them one by one and they ran out onto the field. The Hufflepuff team was already out there, in robes of canary yellow as always.

"Now, I want a fair game," Madame Hooch was saying to both of them. "On my whistle… TWWWWWWWEEEEEEEEEETTTTTTTT!"

Everyone shot off in different directions. All of the Chasers from both teams immediately went for the Quaffle. Allison Dehoscas got there first and flew madly toward the goal posts. She threw the Quaffle, but it was blocked by Ernie Macmillian, who was playing Keeper. He threw the Quaffle to one of the Hufflepuff Chasers who was instantly hit in the face with a Bludger. He dropped the Quaffle and David Korbin had caught it.

"Yesssssss!" Cried Mara over the microphone as David scored. "10 to zip!"

The game continued for an hour or so. Hufflepuff had clearly gotten better then they had been before. At 6:30 p.m the score was only 30-10. They had been playing for 9 hours. It had started to rain, and Harry had been almost knocked off of his broom twice by speeding Bludgers. Harry called a time out so that their team could rest for a few minutes.

Ginny, who was soaking wet, came splashing over to Harry.

"Harry, if this doesn't end soon, we're going to miss the dance," She said. "It starts at seven doesn't it?"

"Yeah," said Harry. "Okay, let's get back in the air and I'll try and catch the Snitch as fast as I can."

The next minute they were airborne again. Allison scored again, making the score 40-10.

Harry suddenly spotted a glint of gold flash past him. The Snitch! He zoomed after it, narrowly missing a Hufflepuff Chaser. Suddenly out of no where, a Bludger came speeding along and Harry rolled over in mid-air to avoid it. The Snitch disappeared.

Harry glanced at his watch. It was seven-ten. No one from the stands seemed to be leaving, they wanted to see the end of this game. Everyone was soaking wet, but they were as enthusiastic as ever.

An hour went by, two hours… It was soon so dark that Harry could hardly see where he was going. The rain wasn't letting up. Eventually, Dumbledore lit water-proof fires all around the Stadium so that the players could still see.

Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, Harry saw a flash of gold. He sped after it, gaining on the Snitch. He was getting closer, he was twenty feet away, ten, five… He lifted his hand off of his broom and caught the Snitch tightly in his hand.

All of the supporters for Gryffindor started to yell happily as Harry raised the Snitch into the air in triumph. The Gryffindor team was speeding toward him and pulled him into a giant group hug. They fought their way to the ground, all yelling happily. Ginny kissed Harry happily on the cheek and hugged him tightly around the neck.

Madame Hooch rounded up the Quidditch Balls, but no one left the stadium. The rain had let up a little, and the loud crowd was suddenly silenced when Dumbledore started to speak.

"Congradulations Gryffindor!" He cried. "Now, I know that you all would like to go to the Valentine's day dance, so we made a little change in plans."

Madame Hooch and Professor McGonnagal, who were both soaking wet, with their hair in disarray, were setting up giant magical speakers on either side of the stadium.

"We are bringing the dance to you!" Suddenly, the stadium was illuminated with light, and the air seemed to twinkle. Music blared from the speakers, a slow dance.

Harry turned happily to Ginny and said, "May I have this dance?"

"Oh," Ginny said, turning red, and looking around at everyone in the stadiums. "In front of everyone?"
Harry nodded. Ginny grinned, "All right then." Harry put his hands on her waist and pulled her closer, while she put her hands on his shoulders. The revolved slowly on the spot, and after a few seconds of cheering from the crowds (making Ginny turn even redder) they weren't the only ones on the field. The whole school was out there dancing, even Remus Lupin, who had been watching with the other teachers, was dancing with Professor Perry (much to his delight). He winked at Harry as they passed. Harry and Ginny grinned back. Harry looked into Ginny's beautiful brown eyes and said. "This is the most wonderful day I've had in a long time."

"Me too," Ginny said shyly. "Even though we are soaking wet from the rain."

"I've had worse," Harry said, smiling. They revolved on the spot for a few more minutes, just staring at each other happily. Then Ginny lifted her head so it was level with Harry's (for he was now nearing six feet) and kissed him passionately on the lips. Harry lifted one hand off of her waist and brushed her soaking wet hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ear, their lips still together. Harry pulled away after a moment and said, "I couldn't have asked for a more perfect end of a day." Ginny simply smiled, rested her head on Harry's chest and they continued to dance…

A.N. * sigh * I hoped you loved this chapter, I'll try and get the next chapter up as soon as possible. In the meantime, please review, they are really appreciated.

Malena