Chapter 7 - The quidditch match
"Oh come on Ron" Harry was sat with Ron in the hospital wing' "You have to play we don't have any substitute"
"Harry there's no way I'll be able to fly my leg's still too bad."
"I won't hear of it" madam Pomfry butted in, "There is no way you're can play in that match, your still bed-bound" Ron looked at Harry and shrugged, they both knew there was no point in arguing.
"Looks like I'm gonna havfta find a substitute." Harry sighed. The quidditch season was starting the following day and Harry was the captain of the gryffindor team. "Where on earth am I going to find a chaser at this late notice, we're playing slytherin as well"
Ron looked at Harry with a funny glint in his eye, "Have you asked Kathy?" He said,
"No" Harry replied, "She's had a strange couple of days I don't think she'll want to."
"Do you have any other choice?" Ron said plainly. Harry looked down rather defeated.
"I'll go find her" with that Harry left the hospital wing.
It was easier than he thought Kathy was over the moon and was really excited about playing. In fact she couldn't wait.
It was the day of the match. Kathy and Ginny were stood outside of the Potions classroom waiting for their first lesson after lunch. Kathy's stomach was gurgling uncontrollably.
"I here your taking Weasaly's place on the quidditch team, you'll loose of course but you wouldn't stand much more of a chance than with him" It was Malfoy's drawling voice echoing through the corridors. Kathy turned and saw him standing with a smug look on his face. Her eyes narrowed and she looked furious, her lips narrowed and she shot pure daggers at Malfoy. Ginny looked at her and gulped she hated it when Kathy got angry she was the exact double of Professor McGonagall. At least now she knew why. The same thought seemed to have crossed Malfoy's mind for the smirk disappeared off his face for a minute then he added "You can't scare me by putting on the McGonagall face" he said, looking a lot more confident than he sounded, "I bet you'll be just as bad at quidditch as she is" Ginny almost giggled at the comment, Professor McGonagall had been very good at quidditch, after all she should know she'd seen.
"Malfoy!" it was Snape " I would prefer it if you would not antagonize other students, and I do not expect to hear you making fun of other staff members." Kathy and Ginny both stood there slightly shocked at Snape's comment, (Snape was still being uncharacteristically kind to Kathryn, he hadn't even got angry when she missed her appointment with him. But now he was defending her.), Malfoy appeared to be slightly taken aback as well for he just stuttered a sorry professor. Snape seemed not to notice and continued. "I'll have you know that professor McGonagall was an excellent quidditch player in her day. She may not have played for many years, but she was captain of the gryffindor team when she came here and was even offered a place with the tutshill tornados, but decided to teach instead." The three students appeared even more shocked at this news. Snape then yelled at Malfoy to get to class and told Ginny and Kathy the same.
"A professional quidditch player" Ginny said in disbelief. "McGonagall, i would never have guessed." Kathy looked just as surprised.
"Yeah, but I got an unnerving feeling that Snape knew about her and me"
"Don't be stupid" Ginny said quickly " he can't know that." but she didn't look very convinced.
Later that night Kathy was standing in the gryffindor changing rooms with her heart beating extremely fast. Her senses were on high alert. Harry had told her she'd be alright but now she felt she had something to live up to. Her mum a fantastic quidditch player. She had of course shared this news with Harry who had seemed just as shocked as herself at the news but had then gone on to tell her that there wouldn't be any problem as it WAS in her blood. This had calmed her nerves a little but not much.
As they ran out onto the pitch Harry gave her a wink. She looked over to the gryffindor stand and saw Professor McGonagall and Ginny cheering and winking at her she smiled back at them and decided then and there that she was going to prove to her mum that she was just as good at quidditch as any one else. Then Ron caught her eye and yelled good look Kathy across the ground. Hermione pulled him back to sit down, Madam pomfry had let him out of the hospital wing providing he took it easy, she wished she could tell them who her mum was but didn't want any one else to know. It was hard but she'd tell them eventually. Suddenly Madam Hooch blew the whistle and they were off.
Her heart seemed to stop pounding now, she felt free, as if this was where she was meant to be. Every time she got the quaffle she streaked up the pitch with amazing skill, speed and accuracy. Passing it to a fellow chaser right at the last minute. Nearly every run ended in a goal. She couldn't believe her luck. Maybe she was good at this after all.
Down in the crowd no-one could believe the skill that she was showing gryffindor were winning 50 points to nil and they'd only been playing ten minutes. Professor McGonagall looked extremely proud and Ginny was jumping up and down ecstatically.
A huge cheer roared up from the Slytherin stand. They had just scored. Kathy gave a sigh of disappointment but Harry who was suddenly hovering beside her gave her a cheeky wink and she was off.
Holding the quaffle in her hand. Dodging two of the Slytherin chasers as she went. Speeding past Malfoy who was desperately searching for the snitch. She came close to the goal posts and realised that there were no other chasers around for her to pass to. At the last moment she threw the quaffle with surprising strength and accuracy, catching the slytherin goal- keeper off guard. It sailed easily thought the post. A loud cheer came up from the crowd. Followed by an even louder cheer. Before she knew what was happening Harry had swooped up beside her and given her a huge hug. Kathy instantly noticed the snitch gripped tightly in his hand. They'd won. The game was over. Harry leaned over and gave her a gentle kiss. This time Kathy didn't even notice the shouts from the crowd even louder than before.
Back down in the stands Professor McGonagall couldn't help smiling. Hermione, Ron and Ginny were cheering loudest of all.
Later that evening Kathy was walking down to the kitchens to see if she could rustle up something to eat (she hadn't eaten anything at dinner as she had been far to nervous to be able to eat it). She allowed her mind to drift back to the party in gryffindor tower after the match where both she and Harry had been the centre of attention. Then to the wonderful feeling she got when she had been playing the game. She just thought about how wonderful it would be to fly freely around the countryside without the restraints of the quidditch pitch. To feel real freedom, dodging trees, skimming water, trying stunts.
"Kathryn" she whirled around in the hall and saw Professor McGonagall standing there. She could do nothing but grin. "May I have a word with you in my office." Kathy followed her into the room to their left her mother motioned for her to have a seat as she closed the door.
"I'm very proud of you, you played exceptionally."
"I couldn't help it, it's in my blood." replied Kathy still smiling. McGonagall looked at her intently.
"That's what Albus said to me the other day when we were down at the quidditch pitch. But you didn't know that, you could know about that, you'd have no idea......would you?
Kathy smiled again "Professor Snape told us that you were a great quidditch player when you were at school and that you were even asked to join the tornados."
Professor McGonagall seemed to blush slightly. "That may be so, but I decided to teach instead, now I think you should get back to Gryffindor tower, people will be wondering where you've got to." She gave another smile and then moved over and opened the door. Kathy looked her intently in the eye and swallowed hard before saying "Yes professor" and left, she fancied that she heard Professor McGonagall give a light sigh as she shut the door.
"Oh come on Ron" Harry was sat with Ron in the hospital wing' "You have to play we don't have any substitute"
"Harry there's no way I'll be able to fly my leg's still too bad."
"I won't hear of it" madam Pomfry butted in, "There is no way you're can play in that match, your still bed-bound" Ron looked at Harry and shrugged, they both knew there was no point in arguing.
"Looks like I'm gonna havfta find a substitute." Harry sighed. The quidditch season was starting the following day and Harry was the captain of the gryffindor team. "Where on earth am I going to find a chaser at this late notice, we're playing slytherin as well"
Ron looked at Harry with a funny glint in his eye, "Have you asked Kathy?" He said,
"No" Harry replied, "She's had a strange couple of days I don't think she'll want to."
"Do you have any other choice?" Ron said plainly. Harry looked down rather defeated.
"I'll go find her" with that Harry left the hospital wing.
It was easier than he thought Kathy was over the moon and was really excited about playing. In fact she couldn't wait.
It was the day of the match. Kathy and Ginny were stood outside of the Potions classroom waiting for their first lesson after lunch. Kathy's stomach was gurgling uncontrollably.
"I here your taking Weasaly's place on the quidditch team, you'll loose of course but you wouldn't stand much more of a chance than with him" It was Malfoy's drawling voice echoing through the corridors. Kathy turned and saw him standing with a smug look on his face. Her eyes narrowed and she looked furious, her lips narrowed and she shot pure daggers at Malfoy. Ginny looked at her and gulped she hated it when Kathy got angry she was the exact double of Professor McGonagall. At least now she knew why. The same thought seemed to have crossed Malfoy's mind for the smirk disappeared off his face for a minute then he added "You can't scare me by putting on the McGonagall face" he said, looking a lot more confident than he sounded, "I bet you'll be just as bad at quidditch as she is" Ginny almost giggled at the comment, Professor McGonagall had been very good at quidditch, after all she should know she'd seen.
"Malfoy!" it was Snape " I would prefer it if you would not antagonize other students, and I do not expect to hear you making fun of other staff members." Kathy and Ginny both stood there slightly shocked at Snape's comment, (Snape was still being uncharacteristically kind to Kathryn, he hadn't even got angry when she missed her appointment with him. But now he was defending her.), Malfoy appeared to be slightly taken aback as well for he just stuttered a sorry professor. Snape seemed not to notice and continued. "I'll have you know that professor McGonagall was an excellent quidditch player in her day. She may not have played for many years, but she was captain of the gryffindor team when she came here and was even offered a place with the tutshill tornados, but decided to teach instead." The three students appeared even more shocked at this news. Snape then yelled at Malfoy to get to class and told Ginny and Kathy the same.
"A professional quidditch player" Ginny said in disbelief. "McGonagall, i would never have guessed." Kathy looked just as surprised.
"Yeah, but I got an unnerving feeling that Snape knew about her and me"
"Don't be stupid" Ginny said quickly " he can't know that." but she didn't look very convinced.
Later that night Kathy was standing in the gryffindor changing rooms with her heart beating extremely fast. Her senses were on high alert. Harry had told her she'd be alright but now she felt she had something to live up to. Her mum a fantastic quidditch player. She had of course shared this news with Harry who had seemed just as shocked as herself at the news but had then gone on to tell her that there wouldn't be any problem as it WAS in her blood. This had calmed her nerves a little but not much.
As they ran out onto the pitch Harry gave her a wink. She looked over to the gryffindor stand and saw Professor McGonagall and Ginny cheering and winking at her she smiled back at them and decided then and there that she was going to prove to her mum that she was just as good at quidditch as any one else. Then Ron caught her eye and yelled good look Kathy across the ground. Hermione pulled him back to sit down, Madam pomfry had let him out of the hospital wing providing he took it easy, she wished she could tell them who her mum was but didn't want any one else to know. It was hard but she'd tell them eventually. Suddenly Madam Hooch blew the whistle and they were off.
Her heart seemed to stop pounding now, she felt free, as if this was where she was meant to be. Every time she got the quaffle she streaked up the pitch with amazing skill, speed and accuracy. Passing it to a fellow chaser right at the last minute. Nearly every run ended in a goal. She couldn't believe her luck. Maybe she was good at this after all.
Down in the crowd no-one could believe the skill that she was showing gryffindor were winning 50 points to nil and they'd only been playing ten minutes. Professor McGonagall looked extremely proud and Ginny was jumping up and down ecstatically.
A huge cheer roared up from the Slytherin stand. They had just scored. Kathy gave a sigh of disappointment but Harry who was suddenly hovering beside her gave her a cheeky wink and she was off.
Holding the quaffle in her hand. Dodging two of the Slytherin chasers as she went. Speeding past Malfoy who was desperately searching for the snitch. She came close to the goal posts and realised that there were no other chasers around for her to pass to. At the last moment she threw the quaffle with surprising strength and accuracy, catching the slytherin goal- keeper off guard. It sailed easily thought the post. A loud cheer came up from the crowd. Followed by an even louder cheer. Before she knew what was happening Harry had swooped up beside her and given her a huge hug. Kathy instantly noticed the snitch gripped tightly in his hand. They'd won. The game was over. Harry leaned over and gave her a gentle kiss. This time Kathy didn't even notice the shouts from the crowd even louder than before.
Back down in the stands Professor McGonagall couldn't help smiling. Hermione, Ron and Ginny were cheering loudest of all.
Later that evening Kathy was walking down to the kitchens to see if she could rustle up something to eat (she hadn't eaten anything at dinner as she had been far to nervous to be able to eat it). She allowed her mind to drift back to the party in gryffindor tower after the match where both she and Harry had been the centre of attention. Then to the wonderful feeling she got when she had been playing the game. She just thought about how wonderful it would be to fly freely around the countryside without the restraints of the quidditch pitch. To feel real freedom, dodging trees, skimming water, trying stunts.
"Kathryn" she whirled around in the hall and saw Professor McGonagall standing there. She could do nothing but grin. "May I have a word with you in my office." Kathy followed her into the room to their left her mother motioned for her to have a seat as she closed the door.
"I'm very proud of you, you played exceptionally."
"I couldn't help it, it's in my blood." replied Kathy still smiling. McGonagall looked at her intently.
"That's what Albus said to me the other day when we were down at the quidditch pitch. But you didn't know that, you could know about that, you'd have no idea......would you?
Kathy smiled again "Professor Snape told us that you were a great quidditch player when you were at school and that you were even asked to join the tornados."
Professor McGonagall seemed to blush slightly. "That may be so, but I decided to teach instead, now I think you should get back to Gryffindor tower, people will be wondering where you've got to." She gave another smile and then moved over and opened the door. Kathy looked her intently in the eye and swallowed hard before saying "Yes professor" and left, she fancied that she heard Professor McGonagall give a light sigh as she shut the door.
