Chapter 29
It was the perfect day for a Quidditch match. No wind, no clouds. The Gryffindor team was sitting in the locker rooms, waiting for Harry's pep talk. They could hear the stands filling up. Harry paced around in front of them.
"Ok, we've got great conditions today. There should be no problems. We've trained hard. So, let's get out there and show Slytherin that they still can't beat us."
Fred and George banged their clubs together.
"No worries Harry. They won't know what hit them!"
Fred smiled and George nodded. Harry grabbed his broom.
"Ok, let's go everyone."
Everyone nodded and followed Harry out onto the field. They stood opposite the Slytherin team. Malfoy smirked.
"Ready to be humiliated Potter?"
Harry glared at Malfoy.
"Not today Malfoy."
Madam Hooch raised her hand, ending their conversation.
"Now, I want a clean game. No funny business."
She glanced over at Malfoy.
"Mount your brooms. 3...2...1"
She blew her whistle and both teams rose into the air. The keepers took their places. She kicked open the trunk that contained the Quidditch balls. The snitch and bludgers took flight. A moment later Madam Hooch tossed the quaffle into the air. Lee Jordan's voice could be heard announcing the game.
"It's a lovely day at Hogwarts. Perfect Quidditch conditions. For the Gryffindor team we have: Bell, Spinnet, Weasley, Weasley, Weasley, Reese and Potter. For Slytherin we have Jacobs, Harrison, Johnston, Petersen, Matthews, McNeil, and Malfoy. Katie Bell is first with the quaffle. She passes to Alicia Spinnet who scores. Ten points to Gryffindor."
The crowd cheered. Harry and Malfoy hovered high above the pitch, looking for the snitch. Malfoy glanced over at Harry.
"Might want to keep an eye on your keeper Potter. You're not going to get the snitch anyway."
Harry looked at Malfoy.
"And what's that supposed to mean? You better not do anything to her Malfoy."
Malfoy smiled.
"I'm insulted. I would never hurt a hair on her head. I'm just saying, you never know when those druids will show up."
Harry rolled his eyes and took off to look for the snitch. Malfoy followed him.
The Slytherin chaser had gotten hold of the quaffle. Lee was dancing away from Professor McGonagall. He had been swearing again.
"Sorry Professor. Ok, Slytherin chaser Jacobs, who used dirty tactics to get the quaffle, is heading for Gryffindors new keeper Alex Reese. Let's hope she can block him."
The chaser glared at Alex as he circled around the back of the goals. Alex kept her eyes on the quaffle. He tossed it very hard at her. She swung her broom and sent it flying to Ron, who caught it and headed for the other end of the pitch. Lee jumped up and down, as did most of the Gryffindors.
"Superb save by the lovely Miss Reese. Ron Weasley now in possession of the quaffle. Barely missed that bludger, and score!!!! Another ten points to Gryffindor."
It was now twenty to zero. Harry smiled and looked back at Malfoy. He then turned his broom sharply downwards, into a steep dive. Malfoy followed.
"It appears Potter has seen the snitch. Can't tell from here. Ouch, that had to hurt."
Harry had waited until the last second and sharply pulled his broom out of its dive. Malfoy crashed into the ground and lay on his back. Harry smirked and went back to looking for the snitch as Alicia scored another goal.
"Seems Slytherin is without a Seeker now. Miss Spinnet has just scored another ten points for Gryffindor. No fair. Foul! That was totally uncalled for!!"
One of the Slytherin beaters hit a bludger at Alicia out of frustration, nearly knocking her off her broom. Loud boos came from the crowd. The Slytherin end, however, erupted into applause.
McGonagall tried to take the megaphone away from Lee.
"Mr. Jordan, please give an unbiased commentary!"
"Sorry Professor, only telling it like it is."
The game was quickly becoming dirty. The Slytherin beaters launched both bludgers at Alex, Fred was able to hit one away just in time. The other caught her across the shoulder. Slytherin chaser Harrison shot straight at Harry, nearly colliding with him. Malfoy had finally come to and was back following Harry closely. Several times, Malfoy tried to unseat Harry from his firebolt, but he managed to stay on. Gryffindor was given two penalty shots for the attack on Alex and Malfoy's attempt to push Harry off his broom. Katie took one and Ron the other, Slytherin keeper McNeil blocked both shots. Harry suddenly caught the glimpse of something gold, right near the Slytherin goal post. Malfoy saw it as well. They both raced down the pitch, chasing the snitch.
"Gryffindor is now leading thirty to zero. What a game. Potter certainly knew what he was doing by putting Reese in as keeper. Oh, looks like the snitch has been sighted. Potter is in the lead! Go Harry!"
Malfoy was quickly catching up to Harry and the snitch was still just out of his reach. It dove sharply, both Harry and Malfoy followed. Harry was still slightly ahead of him. He barely heard Lee say that Katie scored another goal. The snitch rose quickly into the air, both seekers still close behind it.
"This is going to be close. Come on Harry, knock the little git off his broom!!"
"Lee!!!"
McGonagall was reaching for the megaphone again.
"Sorry Professor. Potter and Malfoy are neck and neck. The snitch staying just out of their reach. Oh and another ten points to Gryffindor, wonderful toss by Spinnet. Oh no! Now that was just not right."
Petersen had come up behind Alex and held her broom as Matthews hit a bludger at her. The bludger hit her in the stomach. She leaned forward on her broom, wincing, quickly getting to the ground and falling to her knees. Jacobs sped up the pitch and made a shot at the open goal posts. Followed quickly by Johnston, who also scored.
"That should be a penalty! Jacobs and Johnston weren't even within scoring range and they held her broom!!!"
McGonagall was shouting at the beaters, while Lee uttered a few choice words.
No one noticed that Malfoy had shoved Harry off course, but it was a good thing he did. The snitch changed direction at the same time and hit Harry in the chest. He quickly grabbed it and held it over his head. Madam Hooch blew her whistle.
"Potter's got the snitch! Gryffindor wins two hundred points to twenty!"
Harry landed and then noticed Alex on all fours by the goal posts. He and the rest of the team ran over to her as Professor Clearwater, McGonagall's assistant, was helping Alex to her feet. She was having a hard time breathing. Clearwater looked her over.
"You have a few broken ribs and a dislocated shoulder. Minor injures for a Quidditch match. Best get you up to the hospital wing."
Alex winced and looked at Harry, wheezing as she spoke.
"Sorry...Harry."
Harry couldn't help but smile.
"Alex, we won. It's ok. Go to the hospital. We'll celebrate as soon as you get back."
She smiled and nodded. Kagato and the rest of Gryffindor were arriving to see what was wrong.
"Alex, you ok?"
Kagato went to hug her and she stepped back, shaking her head. Ron raised an eyebrow.
"Her ribs are broken. I wouldn't touch her if I were you."
Kagato frowned, then gently picked Alex up into his arms.
"Well then, off we go to the hospital."
He smiled and they all started walking to the castle.
