Chapter 12
Harry woke up the next morning and looked up at the clock it was 8:45. Harry pulled back the curtains on his bed and climbed out. He got dressed into his quidditch robes, and walked over to Ron's bed. He pulled back the curtains on Ron's bed but he wasn't there, his quidditch robes were gone to. Harry picked up his firebolt and headed down to the common room to look for Ron. He walked slowly down the stairs until he entered the common room, Ron was in there sitting nervously in front of the fire.
"First match nerve's huh?" Harry said taking Ron by surprise.
"I woke up at eight and couldn't get back to sleep." Ron told him." I'm excited, nervous and scared all at the same time."
"I had the exact same feeling the first time I played, you'll be fine." Harry reassured him." Com'on lets go down to the great hall and get a early breakfast."
"Good idea, I didn't notice it before but now that you mention it I'm starved." Ron replied standing up. Just before they left Hermoine came down the girls stairs.
"Hi." Hermoine said brightly.
"Hi, you want to come and get breakfast with us?" Harry asked.
"Sure." Hermoine said. The trio climbed out of the portrait hole and walked down to the great hall. They were the first ones there, but there was already food on the tables so they sat down and began to eat. They had just started when Fred and George entered the room with their best friend Lee Jordan; they came and sat down beside the Ron.
"How you feeling?" Lee asked Ron.
"A bit nervous." Ron admitted, they didn't have time to continue their conversation because Malfoy came up behind them with Goyle and Crabbe.
"You couldn't save a shot if it went straight to you Weasly." Malfoy sneered." But that's probably because your family's so poor that you can't afford a broom to practise on. Ron, Fred and George jumped up and out of their seats and balled their hands into fists.
"That's it Malfoy, your gonna pay for that remark." Fred said through gritted teeth.
"So you'll have some money for a change." Malfoy laughed at him, Ron was saying something about falling for the wronski feint but Harry wasn't listening. He was looking at Malfoy with a look of pure hatred on his face and before he knew what he was doing he dived at Malfoy. Malfoy feel to the floor with Harry on top of him, Malfoy tried to get Harry off but he couldn't. Harry swung his fist and caught Malfoy right in the nose, when Harry looked up he saw that the others were all fighting. A force hit Harry and pushed him off Malfoy, Malfoy climbed on Harry and pulled back his fist.
"STOP THAT THIS MINUTE!" A voice boomed across the hall, it was Professor McGonagal. She marched across the room were they were all frozen in there fighting positions. Harry looked at the others, it appeared that Crabbe and Goyle had been having the advantage over the others.
"I AM OUTRAGED TO SEE THIS. MALFOY, CRABBE, GOYLE GET OFF THEM AT ONCE!" Professor McGonagal demanded. Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle climbed up and walked over to each other. The Gryffindor students got up and stood together." Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle that's a detention for starting fights and fifty points off Slytherine, you may leave now."
"But tha…" Malfoy started to protest but was silenced by a stern look from Professor McGonagal. He walked out of the great hall with his friend by his side.
"Now, why don't you explain what happened." Professor McGonagal said to Harry.
"Well, they came over to us and started saying things about Ron's family and then they started fighting with us, so we defended our selves." Harry lied; full well knowing it had been him that had started the fight.
"Ok, I believe you. You may continue eating, but I shall take ten points from Gryffindor for retaliating." Professor told them and walked away quickly. When she was out of earshot they began talking.
"That was awesome." Lee exclaimed." We kicked their arses."
"And we didn't get a detention and they did." Hermoine added." But I didn't fight."
"Are you guys all alright? When I looked at you it looked like Crabbe and Goyle were beating you." Harry told them.
"Yeah, were fine. We spotted McGonagal before she spotted us and we made it look like they were beating us up." George explained." We tried to tell you but before we could McGonagal saw us. They talked about the fight all breakfast, finally it was time to go and get changed into their quidditch robes. Lee headed up to the commentator's box, Harry, Ron, Fred and George when to get changed and Hermoine went to find Neville. Katie and the other chasers were already changed and up in the stadium waiting for the match between Slytherine and Hufflepuff. They got changed in silence and went to find the chasers. As they arrived at their seats the match started, they sat down and watched the game and listened to the commentary.
" The Slytherines are in possession and they're doing some ok passes, what's this a bludger its hit the new Slytherine chaser. Now Hufflepuff are in possession, oh and that's a dirty cheat by a dirty player from Slytherine." Lee commentated, Professor McGonagal who was supervising his commentary gave him a stern look." Just kidding Professor. It's a Hufflepuff penalty, AND IT'S A GOAL." But Harry didn't hear any of this; he was concentrating on Malfoy who was circling high up in the sky like an eagle while Martin was searching lower down. An hour went by and Harry had no idea what the score was but it looked like Hufflepuff was winning. About half an hour later Martin started to fly high up in the pitch, Malfoy noticed his move and flew closer to him so he could keep an eye on him in case he dived for the snitch. When everyone had begun to think that Martins rise was just a change in strategy he dropped himself for the sky and soared down towards the ground with, Malfoy close behind.
"Go on Martin." Harry yelled above the cheers of the crowd, but as Malfoy had been boasting he had made his broom as fast as possible by renewing the twigs at the back. Malfoy over took Martin and grabbed at something that the crowd couldn't see, then he landed on the floor and raised his hands in triumph. The rest of his team landed next to him, but they weren't looking so happy.
"I don't believe it." Ron shouted to Harry as the whole crowd except the Slytherines erupted into applause, but Harry was confused. Why was everyone cheering? Were they happy that Slytherine had won? Harry thought to himself.
"Why is everyone cheering? Slytherine won, Malfoy got the snitch." Harry called back to Ron.
"Weren't you paying attention? Hufflepuff were winning by one hundred and fifty points and Malfoy caught the snitch." Ron explained. It then hit Harry what had happened, it had finished up as a draw and the new rule that was just introduced to quidditch was that if it was a draw, then the team with the most fouls lost. As Harry realised that Hufflepuff had won he began to cheer with the rest of the crowd, except the Slytherines, and take joy in watching the rest of the Slytherine team shout at Malfoy.
"And what a win it was." Lee shouted over the magic microphone." Just think, it's all because the Slytherines are such rotten cheats." Then suddenly a strange noise was heard over the microphone, like two people fighting. Then a voice was heard from it.
"Sorry for the interruption, but Lee has now been relieved from his duty as commentator. There will no longer be a commentator." Professor McGonagal's voice was heard throughout the stadium. "Will Ravenclaw and Gryffindor please get into the ready position." The two teams walked to their starting places in a very good mood. Professor Hooch blew her whistle and they took off, Harry took off next to Fred and George.
"Hey. Fred, George if were one hundred and fifty points down tell me not to catch the snitch." Harry told them.
"Sure." They replied at the same time. Now without worrying about that Harry could focus fully on the snitch, He flew up higher than the rest of his team. He looked across the looked up and saw Cho had done the same and was flying around searching for the snitch with her beautiful black hair flowing elegantly behind her. She also looked up and when she looked at Harry she smiled and winked at him, Harry felt himself go red in the face as he turned away from her and looked for the snitch. Ten minutes later Harry saw it, a trail of glistening gold, He pulled into one of his infamous dives. Cho mirrored his acted and dived, but it looked as though she was still looking for the snitch. Harry dived deeper and Cho followed, her broom was faster than his because of how new it was. As the ground came nearer Cho caught up with Harry and over took him, she was looking around desperately. Then she did something unexpected she turned her broom and stopped right in front of Harry. Harry stopped as quickly as he could and nearly crashed right into her.
"Hi." Cho said in a flirty voice.
"Hi." Harry panted back over his heart, which was still pounding from the adrenaline rush.
"I was just wondering, your not going out with anyone are you?" Cho asked coolly.
"WHAT?" Harry said taken by surprise." Err no."
"Good, maybe we can get together sometime, think about it and get back to me." Cho replied, then flew back up to the top of the stadium and began looking around again. Harry did the same but slower. A long time went by and Harry didn't know how long the game had been going on for, when Fred flew up to speak to Harry.
"If there was ever a time to catch the snitch, its now. I don't know how but were one hundred and forty points ahead. Wait we just scored, that's another ten points. Fred told him. Harry started to fly up again when he saw Cho dive, he tried to reach were she was headed but there was no chance. She was too far away, her hand's clasped around the snitch. The crowds erupted into applause and cheers once again, the game was over it was a draw. They all landed and congratulated each other, Harry made sure that he stayed as far away from Cho as he could, then they all went into get changed. Harry got changed quickly and crept out of the changing rooms and before anyone could see him. He slumped up to the dormitory on his own and got into his sleeping clothes. He got into bed feeling ashamed that they had been one hundred and fifty points a head and drawn because he couldn't get the snitch. Harry was thinking about what Cho had said but his thoughts quickly changed to the quidditch matches, before he fell asleep he had one last comforting thought. Slytherine were last without any points in the quidditch cup.