Chapter 7: A Daring Maneuver
The Gryffindor-Ravenclaw Quidditch match had become more and more anticipated as students learned of the relationship between the seekers. The match was about to start, and the players made their way onto the freshly cut grass of the pitch. The goals loomed high in the air.
"Don't go easy on her because she's your girlfriend," said Ron, the new keeper this season.
"I won't," said Harry."
Cho winked at Harry, and he winked back.
The whistle blew, and the players shot up into the sky. The seekers hovered in the air, their eyes scanning the field. Suddenly, the snitch appeared, right in the middle of the field, amongst the players. The seekers darted for it, knifing through the heated action. The players didn't slow a bit to accommodate Harry and Cho. The seekers dodged rogue Bludgers and oblivious players and whooshing Quaffles.
The snitch flew through a small opening between the two Ravenclaw chasers near the Gryffindor goal post, and Harry went after it. He pressed his body close to the broom to make himself as small as possible, and then he wove through a rapidly shrinking space between a Gryffindor beater and chaser. He heard a whooshing sound overhead, and as he emerged from the space, barely avoiding contact, he saw the Snitch hovering a few feet in front of him. Then he spotted Cho above the Snitch. She had been the one who had whooshed over his head, arcing above the Gryffindor players to get closer to the Snitch. She dived for it, but Harry got there first, beating her to it by a few seconds. He barely got out of the way as Cho, flew past him, trying to stop her descent abruptly. Harry had been paying attention; the score had been tied, so his capture of the Snitch had solidified the win.
He turned around and grinned at her, and she smiled back weakly.
"You could have hurt yourself, Harry," she said. She flew towards him. "Trying to squeeze between two oblivious players."
"Cho, they saw me." And they had. "Really, I'm not one to take stupid risks," he assured her. He was overcome with a sudden tenderness.
She finally smiled. "All right."
"You don't seem so upset about losing," said Harry.
"When I fly, I feel like I'm one with the wind, Harry. How can anyone feel sad after that?"
The other players crowded around, and the Gryffindors celebrated.
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