Chapter 6: The Return Of Quidditch
Harry woke on Sunday morning as happy as he could remember being in a long time. He rushed down towards the locker room, eager to get back on his Firebolt for the first time in the season... But as always, the wrong person appeared at the wrong time... Malfoy. He and Potter were notorious for hating each other, and this year, Malfoy seemed determined to get Potter expelled from the moment Harry crashed into him running downstairs.
"Freeze Potter!" He called out as Harry tried to hurry on. Harry turned back reluctantly. It was bad enough that he was losing airtime, but because of Malfoy was even worse.
"Where are you off to in a hurry?" He asked, fully knowing the answer, he wore a smug grin as if to say **Run all you want, Snape's going to get the pitch for us anyway** Harry lied.
"I'm going to breakfast." And with that he sped off again, leaving Malfoy confused.
He reached the locker just as Marcus was leaving it, carrying a brand new Firebolt.
"What's that?" Harry asked stupidly...
"I told my parents I'd try out for the England team at the end of the year if they got me one, so here it is... I just have to figure out how to get out of being killed by the other England potentials..."
"Wow! I thought I was the only student who had one." Harry was stunned, but at the same time pleased. **Wait until Malfoy sees this...** Harry thought to himself, as he picked up his own Firebolt and headed out with Marcus.
To their surprise, Ron and Hermionie had turned up to watch the practice. Harry thought nothing of it, except that Ron would be pleased that he and Hermionie could talk a bit alone.
Harry and the rest of the team (only five of them after most of the team graduated last year) had been practising for about hour when Harry noticed that Ron and Hermionie had left. He didn't have a chance to think about it before Marcus directed another bludger at him. Marcus was an excellent beater, and Harry only narrowly avoided his attacks. **Thank goodness he's on our team!** Harry thought to himself as someone appeared on the ground below... It was Ron. Harry flew down to meet him.
"Ron! What are you doing?"
"What does it look like I'm doing?" He asked. Harry wasn't in the mood to argue over this... They needed the players...
"We could use another beater..." He suggested.
"Harry, this is going to be great!" Ron exclaimed as he took to his broom and left the ground. He saw Hermionie had taken up position in the stands, and so waved to her, nearly falling off his broom. Harry sighed. Ron was probably just nervous, but still, he really could use a new broom...
A few minutes later, the team was in shock again... The youngest Weasley, Ginny had decided to give the position of keeper a try... Everyone was understandably nervous about this (seeing as how the keepers often seem to come away with numerous bumps and bruises, but Ginny was more than capable, and it took some serious effort for the team to score...
Next came the nominations for team captain, since Oliver Wood had left the position open... It was decided almost unanimously that the senior player should captain the side, and so the responsibility fell to Michael Murphy. Another bonus for the side was that Michael was Irish, so he was put in charge of the team's luck, as well as humour and (in Ron's words) "Most references to the Irish World Cup side in a single minute!"
As it turned out, Ron was in fact another excellent beater, just as his brothers had been. The only real downside was Marcus getting hit by a bludger from Ron, who was still protesting it was an accident in the common room later. Harry, however, detected a slightly better Humber in Ron after the incident...
On the way down to dinner, Harry finally ran into Cho. Like Hermionie, Cho had become even more attractive over the summer. Harry wondered how this was possible, but was soon wrestling with his mind over weather to talk to her or not. His mind was quickly made up for him as Cho saw him and ran to him, obviously delighted to see him.
"Harry!" she shouted as she hugged him.
"Hi Cho..." was all Harry could manage, slightly taken aback by her mood.
"I'm so glad to see you again..." she said as she let him go.
"You too... Are you going to dinner?" **What a stupid question** he thought.
"Yeah... Want to walk with me?" Harry could hardly contain himself, but tried to remain calm.
"Okay, sure..."
They began to walk slowly, Harry managing to keep the pace to a minimum so they didn't have to say goodbye too soon.
"Do anything interesting over the holidays?" Harry asked, to start a conversation.
"Not really, just studying and chilling out. How about you?"
"The same really..." Harry lied, not wanting to mention the Dursleys if he could possibly help it... The conversation followed the same lines for the majority of the short walk to dinner, both of them avoiding Cedric's name, though it was clearly on their minds. When they reached the hall, Cho spoke first.
"Harry, I want you to know that I don't blame you for what happened to Cedric... I think you were really brave to face Voldermort after what happened." Harry was again shocked. He didn't expect Cho to call Voldermort by his name, but he also didn't expect her to talk about Cedric, especially to him.
"Thank you for telling me that." He replied sympathetically. "It means a lot to hear you say it."
"We better eat something..." she stated, and they walked to their separate tables, saying a quick goodbye in the process... Hermionie and Ron were sitting already, laughing.
"What's so funny?" Harry asked as he sat.
"I was just reciting the story of Marcus and the bludger." Ron said proudly.
"Oh, I haven't heard that one in the last five minutes..." Harry teased.
"Let him boast for a bit Harry" Hermionie replied. "It's not every day that he gets to show off." Harry agreed, but began a quick summary of his conversation with Cho.
"Ooh, Harry, looks like you're becoming quite the lady's man now..." Hermionie jested.
"One can only hope!" Harry quickly responded, secretly hoping that what Hermionie said was true...
Harry woke on Sunday morning as happy as he could remember being in a long time. He rushed down towards the locker room, eager to get back on his Firebolt for the first time in the season... But as always, the wrong person appeared at the wrong time... Malfoy. He and Potter were notorious for hating each other, and this year, Malfoy seemed determined to get Potter expelled from the moment Harry crashed into him running downstairs.
"Freeze Potter!" He called out as Harry tried to hurry on. Harry turned back reluctantly. It was bad enough that he was losing airtime, but because of Malfoy was even worse.
"Where are you off to in a hurry?" He asked, fully knowing the answer, he wore a smug grin as if to say **Run all you want, Snape's going to get the pitch for us anyway** Harry lied.
"I'm going to breakfast." And with that he sped off again, leaving Malfoy confused.
He reached the locker just as Marcus was leaving it, carrying a brand new Firebolt.
"What's that?" Harry asked stupidly...
"I told my parents I'd try out for the England team at the end of the year if they got me one, so here it is... I just have to figure out how to get out of being killed by the other England potentials..."
"Wow! I thought I was the only student who had one." Harry was stunned, but at the same time pleased. **Wait until Malfoy sees this...** Harry thought to himself, as he picked up his own Firebolt and headed out with Marcus.
To their surprise, Ron and Hermionie had turned up to watch the practice. Harry thought nothing of it, except that Ron would be pleased that he and Hermionie could talk a bit alone.
Harry and the rest of the team (only five of them after most of the team graduated last year) had been practising for about hour when Harry noticed that Ron and Hermionie had left. He didn't have a chance to think about it before Marcus directed another bludger at him. Marcus was an excellent beater, and Harry only narrowly avoided his attacks. **Thank goodness he's on our team!** Harry thought to himself as someone appeared on the ground below... It was Ron. Harry flew down to meet him.
"Ron! What are you doing?"
"What does it look like I'm doing?" He asked. Harry wasn't in the mood to argue over this... They needed the players...
"We could use another beater..." He suggested.
"Harry, this is going to be great!" Ron exclaimed as he took to his broom and left the ground. He saw Hermionie had taken up position in the stands, and so waved to her, nearly falling off his broom. Harry sighed. Ron was probably just nervous, but still, he really could use a new broom...
A few minutes later, the team was in shock again... The youngest Weasley, Ginny had decided to give the position of keeper a try... Everyone was understandably nervous about this (seeing as how the keepers often seem to come away with numerous bumps and bruises, but Ginny was more than capable, and it took some serious effort for the team to score...
Next came the nominations for team captain, since Oliver Wood had left the position open... It was decided almost unanimously that the senior player should captain the side, and so the responsibility fell to Michael Murphy. Another bonus for the side was that Michael was Irish, so he was put in charge of the team's luck, as well as humour and (in Ron's words) "Most references to the Irish World Cup side in a single minute!"
As it turned out, Ron was in fact another excellent beater, just as his brothers had been. The only real downside was Marcus getting hit by a bludger from Ron, who was still protesting it was an accident in the common room later. Harry, however, detected a slightly better Humber in Ron after the incident...
On the way down to dinner, Harry finally ran into Cho. Like Hermionie, Cho had become even more attractive over the summer. Harry wondered how this was possible, but was soon wrestling with his mind over weather to talk to her or not. His mind was quickly made up for him as Cho saw him and ran to him, obviously delighted to see him.
"Harry!" she shouted as she hugged him.
"Hi Cho..." was all Harry could manage, slightly taken aback by her mood.
"I'm so glad to see you again..." she said as she let him go.
"You too... Are you going to dinner?" **What a stupid question** he thought.
"Yeah... Want to walk with me?" Harry could hardly contain himself, but tried to remain calm.
"Okay, sure..."
They began to walk slowly, Harry managing to keep the pace to a minimum so they didn't have to say goodbye too soon.
"Do anything interesting over the holidays?" Harry asked, to start a conversation.
"Not really, just studying and chilling out. How about you?"
"The same really..." Harry lied, not wanting to mention the Dursleys if he could possibly help it... The conversation followed the same lines for the majority of the short walk to dinner, both of them avoiding Cedric's name, though it was clearly on their minds. When they reached the hall, Cho spoke first.
"Harry, I want you to know that I don't blame you for what happened to Cedric... I think you were really brave to face Voldermort after what happened." Harry was again shocked. He didn't expect Cho to call Voldermort by his name, but he also didn't expect her to talk about Cedric, especially to him.
"Thank you for telling me that." He replied sympathetically. "It means a lot to hear you say it."
"We better eat something..." she stated, and they walked to their separate tables, saying a quick goodbye in the process... Hermionie and Ron were sitting already, laughing.
"What's so funny?" Harry asked as he sat.
"I was just reciting the story of Marcus and the bludger." Ron said proudly.
"Oh, I haven't heard that one in the last five minutes..." Harry teased.
"Let him boast for a bit Harry" Hermionie replied. "It's not every day that he gets to show off." Harry agreed, but began a quick summary of his conversation with Cho.
"Ooh, Harry, looks like you're becoming quite the lady's man now..." Hermionie jested.
"One can only hope!" Harry quickly responded, secretly hoping that what Hermionie said was true...
