(A/N - This chapter is for Danny and Greg, who want to see some action in the story, and I can't find anything more exciting than a Quidditch match! Enjoy, guys!)

Chapter 10 - The Quidditch Match

"This sucks," Ron groaned, sipping his butterbeer; in deep conversation about Quidditch with Harry. "How the bloody hell are we gonna beat Ravenclaw this weekend?! Especially since Wood is gone..." Harry ran his hands through his jet-black hair.

"I dunno, Ron. Our team is getting a lot better with some extra practice, and I've almost got the Wronski Feint down..."

"But good enough for a match THIS weekend? And don't forget Cho is playing," said Ron, rolling his eyes. "You always lose your head when you're around her."

"Ugh...I know. But if I want to win badly enough, I think I'll be okay. C'mon Coach, we need to call an emergency practice."

"Right, Seeker," replied Ron, grinning.

The days passed and it was finally time for the Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw match.

"You will come to watch us, won't you, Mari?" questioned Ron.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," replied Mari, her eyes twinkling. Mari walked down to the Quidditch pitch with Harry, Ron and Hermione, all under the Cloak.

"I'll be in the locker room, Harry. We're gonna meet real quick before we start, okay?" said Ron.

"I'll be there," said Harry. "Mari, can you come here?" Harry beckoned softly, so nobody could see that he was speaking to an invisible person. He's turning RED, thought Mari as she followed him to the side of the pitch where nobody could see them.

"I'm really glad you are here to see me fly," Harry whispered, looking down. "This is a really hard game for us, and with a new team and all..." He looked up into Mari's eyes. "I want you to have this," he said as he pulled a cloth from beneath his cloak. "It's my shirt; the one I was wearing when Hagrid came and told me that I'd come here. It's my lucky shirt. I wear it to every Quidditch match, to remind me how I came here, and how lucky I am to simply be here."

Mari's heart pounded. Harry was giving her his shirt? Not ANY shirt, but his lucky shirt? He handed her the worn red-and-yellow polo shirt and she took it with trembling hands.

"YOU belong here," he said, gripping her hand. "That's why this is yours now."

"Harry...I--"

"Pray for me, Marielle." For a fleeting second, Marielle lost touch with reality. When she returned from oblivion, she found herself in Harry's arms.

The stands were crowded with students and faculty as Marielle tried her best to follow Hermione up to a seat without bumping into people under the Invisibility Cloak. The chatter of the crowd subsided as Lee Jordan's voice thundered across the packed stadium.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the first Hogwarts Quidditch match of the year; Ravenclaw against Gryffindor!" A whistle blew, and 15 robed figures zoomed off into the sky. Marielle gripped Harry's shirt tightly. Please be safe, Harry, she prayed.

"...And the Quaffle is immediately taken by Ginny Weasley of Gryffindor team. You can tell she's an experienced flyer by the way she swerves around the best of Ravenclaw, and she's going for the goal...and she scores!! The score is now 10 - 0, Gryffindor..."

Harry soared high over the game, looking for any sign of gold, when quite a bit of skin flashed past him. Cho Chang looked back and winked. Oh no, thought Harry. You've got to concentrate... He searched the stands for Hermione and found her, his shirt lying next to her. He smiled and remembered the day with Marielle at the lake. I can do it, and no temptress is going to stop me! At that moment, a flash of gold shot past him. Cursing himself for spacing out, he bolted after it like a shot out of a cannon.

Cho was on his tail, and she knew his weakness -- herself. She accelerated up towards him and flashed a provocative grin at him. Harry narrowed his eyes, smiled, and flew even faster, darting past her. Startled that her tactics weren't working, she sniffed and flew back beside him. He went into a spectacular, swift dive and showed no sign of slowing as he sped towards the ground, following the Snitch.

The two teams stopped what they were doing to watch in awe the most difficult and dangerous maneuver to ever be done in Hogwarts Quidditch history. Absentmindedly, Ginny picked up the Quaffle and scored twice out of reflex, still staring at Harry.

50 feet...30 feet...20 feet...10 feet... Harry flew, Cho on his tail, looking horrified. Just remember everything I did at practice...remember Krum, and what he did... Harry waited a millisecond, and, like wings were carrying him, he pulled up on his broom handle, lifted his hand and felt the cold, smooth golden sphere lock in his sweaty hand. Cho Chang crashed to the ground with a sickening thud.