Chapter Eighteen
"The Quidditch Cup"
By the time the weekend rolled around, and everyone had finished taking their exams, the only thing people were talking about was the Quidditch Cup. Harry held a team meeting in the common room on Friday night. He gathered everyone around the fire. He paced back and forth for a few moments, collecting his thoughts. "All right, team. We won the Cup the year before last. Last year we didn't have Quidditch, so it didn't count, but I bet we would have won last year too if we had the chance." Harry's green eyes gleamed in the firelight. "Now, the only thing that the Slytherins have are a stack of fancy broomsticks. They don't have any real talent on their team, just people who have paid their way onto the team." Harry watched as his teammates nodded in agreement. "Their seeker, Draco Malfoy, isn't any real danger to us. I'm sure he'll be far too preoccupied yelling obscenities at me to notice a golden snitch flying around. He's too thick to pay attention long enough to find the snitch anyway. But I'm the one who has to worry about him. Fred, George- I want you two to keep the bludgers working for us! The Slytherins play dirty, they will want to have the bludgers attacking Dennis, and me I'm sure. It's imperative that we keep the bludgers working for our team. Ron, Katie, Alicia- keep the Quaffle moving. As long as the three of you keep that ball in motion, the Slytherin chasers won't be able to touch you. Their keeper is the only player on their team with any real talent. He'll be hard to beat, but with the addition of Ron to our team, I'm sure we'll be able to score some points on him, but not many- that's why I must find the snitch as soon as possible." Harry spoke to them with confidence. He felt like a man instead of a skinny little boy. His team was behind him. After he finished his talk, they clapped for him. He pulled out his broomstick servicing kit and they all trimmed and polished their broomsticks. Hermione sat in the corner watching. Ron kept looking over at her. Finally, we went over to talk to her. "Hermione?" he started. She looked up at him frowning. "Listen, I just wanted to apologize about the other night, I was just so stressed out from the exam. Everything you said was right. I deserve whatever marks I receive. I should have studied all along." She put her hand on his and forgave him. Ron leaned over and kissed her forehead. "So, are you going to watch the match tomorrow? Harry thinks we have a real shot at winning this thing." Ron said proudly. "I wouldn't miss it! Dean and I have been making enchanted posters and banners all week!" She smiled proudly as she held up a Gryffindor Lions' banner, it depicted a lion roaring with a loud roar each time. He grinned down at it. "All right, you lot! All Quidditch players are to go to bed now, we're going to get up early for breakfast and stretching!" Harry yelled over the common room. He and the rest of the team went up to bed. Harry pulled on his pajamas and lay down. He took his glasses off and lay them on his nightstand. "Good night, Ron and good luck tomorrow." Ron pulled his curtains back. "Good luck to you too, Harry, good night." He pulled his curtains shut again. Dean, Neville, and Seamus all said good night and good luck, and they all fell asleep. Harry woke up the next morning with Ron shaking his arm. "Come on, Harry! Wake up then! We have the Quidditch cup today! Wake up! Come on, Harry!" "All right, all right, I'm up!" he pulled his glasses on and looked at his watch. It was already nine thirty. He yelled out and jumped out of bed, he had planned on waking up much earlier that this. He pulled on his scarlet and gold Quidditch robes, grabbed his Firebolt and ran downstairs. Everyone in the common room cheered as Harry and Ron entered. They both grinned at each other. Harry really felt like he had a brother with Ron. Harry was amazed as they entered the Great Hall and saw that every single person at the Gryffindor table was wearing scarlet and gold. He led his team into the Great Hall and they each took a seat near the front of the table and began helping themselves to breakfast. Harry was peculiarly hungry, he didn't feel like his nerves were bothering him at all. He scooped porridge into his mouth and took a bite of bacon and washed it down with a gulp of orange juice. "Hiya, Harry!" Harry looked up at Colin Creevey. "Hi, Colin," Harry said quietly. "What's up?" "I just wanted to ask you if I could take a team picture before the match? You know, down on the Quidditch pitch?" He asked nearly calm, well.calm for Colin. "Sure, Colin, I think that would be a brilliant idea." Harry said taking another bite of bacon. Colin grinned largely at Harry. He went to the other end of the table fiddling with his camera. After they had finished breakfast, they stood up and made their way to the entrance hall. Harry looked behind him to make sure the entire team was with him and he saw all of Gryffindor following them excitedly. Suddenly, Cho ran up to Harry. "Harry! I wanted to give you something for good luck," she said. Harry nodded to her and she stood on her tiptoes to give Harry a drawn out kiss. Afterward, he grinned dumbly. "I'll see you out at the Quidditch pitch, Harry," she smiled at him. Once the team reached the locker room, Harry told them that he didn't have much more to tell them than what he had said in the common room the night before. So they all walked out onto the field. Colin came running over with his camera. The team gathered around each other, and Colin took the picture. "Thanks," he said as he hurried out of the stadium to find a seat. They all mounted their broomsticks and began to fly around the stadium. Harry hovered next to Dennis near the goal hoops, sizing things up. He saw Malfoy grinning menacingly in Harry's direction. Madam Hooch blew her whistle and called all the players down to the field. "Now, I want a nice clean game from all of you," she said. "No dirty stuff, understand?" Both captains nodded. Then the players mounted their brooms and got into their positions. Madam Hooch released the bludgers, and then the golden snitch, then she threw up the Quaffle before she mounted her broom and joined the players in the air. Harry stayed above the play, high above the play, looking for the snitch. He watched the play going on below. Fred and George were sending bludgers at the Slytherin chasers left and right. Alicia got possession of the Quaffle. She, Katie and Ron shot in the direction of the Slytherin's goal hoops. They flew together splendidly, tossing the Quaffle back and forth, finally Katie sunk the Quaffle giving Gryffindor a ten point lead. Harry looked up and saw Malfoy shadowing him. Harry shook his head and looked back down at the play. Suddenly, Malfoy shot toward Harry and ran him from the side. Harry nearly fell off his broomstick. There was a loud boo from the crowd. Fred found the nearest bludger and sent it buzzing toward Malfoy, it pounded him in the stomach and he doubled over on his broom trying to catch his breath. He glared down at the Weasleys and then at Harry. Ron flew right beneath Harry, he had the Quaffle. He tossed it over to Alicia, but Alicia dropped it and Montague of Slytherin picked it up. Montague shot in toward Dennis, Harry could see the fear in his eyes as Montague threw the Quaffle toward the middle goal hoop. Dennis did a flip and knocked the ball away with the tail of his broom. Alicia caught the ball and flew the other direction. She tossed it to Katie, Katie threw it to Ron, Ron faked a throw to Katie, and Derrick and Bole (the Slytherin beaters) went toward Katie, so Ron threw the Quaffle to Alicia and she scored. The Gryffindor fans all screamed with excitement. Harry was starting to circle the stadium nervously, trying to see the snitch. He hoped that Malfoy didn't see it before him. "I'm staying with you, Potter, where ever you go, I go. And I'm not falling for any of that Wronski Feint rubbish either!" Malfoy yelled to Harry. Harry scowled at Malfoy, but thought at least he wasn't looking for the snitch. Harry thought he'd have a little bit of fun with Malfoy before he really went looking for the snitch. Harry shot like a bullet toward the middle of the field, Malfoy followed. Harry went left and right and left again, Malfoy still on his tail. "What are you doing, Potter!" Malfoy yelled. Harry just kept right on zigzagging across the field. Harry was hoping that Fred or George would catch his signal soon. They had discussed that if Harry was flying around trying to lose Malfoy that one of the twins if not both, would shoot a bludger directly at Harry, Harry would duck and Malfoy would get a face full of bludger. Harry shot straight upward and then curved down and zoomed low to the field before rising up toward the sky again. Malfoy was still trailing Harry. Finally Harry made eye contact with George. George smiled and hit a bludger directly at Harry, Harry leaned himself flat against his broomstick and the bludger hit Malfoy right in the chest. He was winded and almost fell off his broom. Harry sniggered. He flew high above the stadium again, looking for the snitch. Soon, Malfoy was following close behind him again. Harry watched as Katie scored a beautiful goal and the Gryffindor crowd cheered. Bole sent a bludger buzzing past Harry's ear, but Harry stayed nicely on his broom. Harry looked over at Malfoy with hatred on his face. Suddenly, Harry heard Lee Jordan shout out and curse that Montague of Slytherin had just scored to make it thirty to ten. Malfoy sneered at Harry. Harry just happened to look down and he saw the snitch at ground level. He took off like a bullet heading straight for the ground. He heard Malfoy laugh at him and say that there was no way he was going to fall for the Wronski Feint. Harry smiled and thought, have it your way. He dove directly down toward the snitch. He pulled out of the dive right before he hit the ground, he reached his arm out and firmly grasped the snitch in his right hand. Harry heard Malfoy cry out in anguish. He looked up and saw Lucius Malfoy in the teachers' section, he looked disgusted. He could hear the cheers of Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw. He saw the Slytherins with their heads hung in shame. The rest of the Gryffindor team landed by Harry. Madam Hooch walked over to them with the Quidditch Cup. They were all so happy. Harry could see Malfoy and the rest of the Slytherins behind Madam Hooch. They were all yelling angrily at Malfoy for being so thick. Harry watched as Lucius Malfoy walked out to Malfoy and pulled him up by the collar of his Quidditch robes, and he began yelling at him in front of his team. Harry didn't feel sorry for him one bit. Colin was taking pictures of the Gryffindor team with the Cup. Suddenly, Harry asked Madam Hooch if he could make an announcement. She said yes. Harry pointed his wand at his throat and said, "Sonorus." "Excuse me, can I have your attention, please?" Harry's voice boomed out over the crowd. "I just wanted to thank my team for such a wonderful season, and." he looked over at the Malfoys who were glaring at him. "I want to dedicate our undefeated season and our win today to Patrick Malfoy, who we lost earlier this year. It was a tragedy that could have been avoided." Harry raised the Quidditch Cup and said, "To Patrick!" He heard all of Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw shout out, "To Patrick!" Harry looked over at the Malfoys with a satisfied grin. They looked as though they could kill him. And Harry knew that that is exactly what they planned on doing the very next day when they would be allowed to go to Hogsmeade.
By the time the weekend rolled around, and everyone had finished taking their exams, the only thing people were talking about was the Quidditch Cup. Harry held a team meeting in the common room on Friday night. He gathered everyone around the fire. He paced back and forth for a few moments, collecting his thoughts. "All right, team. We won the Cup the year before last. Last year we didn't have Quidditch, so it didn't count, but I bet we would have won last year too if we had the chance." Harry's green eyes gleamed in the firelight. "Now, the only thing that the Slytherins have are a stack of fancy broomsticks. They don't have any real talent on their team, just people who have paid their way onto the team." Harry watched as his teammates nodded in agreement. "Their seeker, Draco Malfoy, isn't any real danger to us. I'm sure he'll be far too preoccupied yelling obscenities at me to notice a golden snitch flying around. He's too thick to pay attention long enough to find the snitch anyway. But I'm the one who has to worry about him. Fred, George- I want you two to keep the bludgers working for us! The Slytherins play dirty, they will want to have the bludgers attacking Dennis, and me I'm sure. It's imperative that we keep the bludgers working for our team. Ron, Katie, Alicia- keep the Quaffle moving. As long as the three of you keep that ball in motion, the Slytherin chasers won't be able to touch you. Their keeper is the only player on their team with any real talent. He'll be hard to beat, but with the addition of Ron to our team, I'm sure we'll be able to score some points on him, but not many- that's why I must find the snitch as soon as possible." Harry spoke to them with confidence. He felt like a man instead of a skinny little boy. His team was behind him. After he finished his talk, they clapped for him. He pulled out his broomstick servicing kit and they all trimmed and polished their broomsticks. Hermione sat in the corner watching. Ron kept looking over at her. Finally, we went over to talk to her. "Hermione?" he started. She looked up at him frowning. "Listen, I just wanted to apologize about the other night, I was just so stressed out from the exam. Everything you said was right. I deserve whatever marks I receive. I should have studied all along." She put her hand on his and forgave him. Ron leaned over and kissed her forehead. "So, are you going to watch the match tomorrow? Harry thinks we have a real shot at winning this thing." Ron said proudly. "I wouldn't miss it! Dean and I have been making enchanted posters and banners all week!" She smiled proudly as she held up a Gryffindor Lions' banner, it depicted a lion roaring with a loud roar each time. He grinned down at it. "All right, you lot! All Quidditch players are to go to bed now, we're going to get up early for breakfast and stretching!" Harry yelled over the common room. He and the rest of the team went up to bed. Harry pulled on his pajamas and lay down. He took his glasses off and lay them on his nightstand. "Good night, Ron and good luck tomorrow." Ron pulled his curtains back. "Good luck to you too, Harry, good night." He pulled his curtains shut again. Dean, Neville, and Seamus all said good night and good luck, and they all fell asleep. Harry woke up the next morning with Ron shaking his arm. "Come on, Harry! Wake up then! We have the Quidditch cup today! Wake up! Come on, Harry!" "All right, all right, I'm up!" he pulled his glasses on and looked at his watch. It was already nine thirty. He yelled out and jumped out of bed, he had planned on waking up much earlier that this. He pulled on his scarlet and gold Quidditch robes, grabbed his Firebolt and ran downstairs. Everyone in the common room cheered as Harry and Ron entered. They both grinned at each other. Harry really felt like he had a brother with Ron. Harry was amazed as they entered the Great Hall and saw that every single person at the Gryffindor table was wearing scarlet and gold. He led his team into the Great Hall and they each took a seat near the front of the table and began helping themselves to breakfast. Harry was peculiarly hungry, he didn't feel like his nerves were bothering him at all. He scooped porridge into his mouth and took a bite of bacon and washed it down with a gulp of orange juice. "Hiya, Harry!" Harry looked up at Colin Creevey. "Hi, Colin," Harry said quietly. "What's up?" "I just wanted to ask you if I could take a team picture before the match? You know, down on the Quidditch pitch?" He asked nearly calm, well.calm for Colin. "Sure, Colin, I think that would be a brilliant idea." Harry said taking another bite of bacon. Colin grinned largely at Harry. He went to the other end of the table fiddling with his camera. After they had finished breakfast, they stood up and made their way to the entrance hall. Harry looked behind him to make sure the entire team was with him and he saw all of Gryffindor following them excitedly. Suddenly, Cho ran up to Harry. "Harry! I wanted to give you something for good luck," she said. Harry nodded to her and she stood on her tiptoes to give Harry a drawn out kiss. Afterward, he grinned dumbly. "I'll see you out at the Quidditch pitch, Harry," she smiled at him. Once the team reached the locker room, Harry told them that he didn't have much more to tell them than what he had said in the common room the night before. So they all walked out onto the field. Colin came running over with his camera. The team gathered around each other, and Colin took the picture. "Thanks," he said as he hurried out of the stadium to find a seat. They all mounted their broomsticks and began to fly around the stadium. Harry hovered next to Dennis near the goal hoops, sizing things up. He saw Malfoy grinning menacingly in Harry's direction. Madam Hooch blew her whistle and called all the players down to the field. "Now, I want a nice clean game from all of you," she said. "No dirty stuff, understand?" Both captains nodded. Then the players mounted their brooms and got into their positions. Madam Hooch released the bludgers, and then the golden snitch, then she threw up the Quaffle before she mounted her broom and joined the players in the air. Harry stayed above the play, high above the play, looking for the snitch. He watched the play going on below. Fred and George were sending bludgers at the Slytherin chasers left and right. Alicia got possession of the Quaffle. She, Katie and Ron shot in the direction of the Slytherin's goal hoops. They flew together splendidly, tossing the Quaffle back and forth, finally Katie sunk the Quaffle giving Gryffindor a ten point lead. Harry looked up and saw Malfoy shadowing him. Harry shook his head and looked back down at the play. Suddenly, Malfoy shot toward Harry and ran him from the side. Harry nearly fell off his broomstick. There was a loud boo from the crowd. Fred found the nearest bludger and sent it buzzing toward Malfoy, it pounded him in the stomach and he doubled over on his broom trying to catch his breath. He glared down at the Weasleys and then at Harry. Ron flew right beneath Harry, he had the Quaffle. He tossed it over to Alicia, but Alicia dropped it and Montague of Slytherin picked it up. Montague shot in toward Dennis, Harry could see the fear in his eyes as Montague threw the Quaffle toward the middle goal hoop. Dennis did a flip and knocked the ball away with the tail of his broom. Alicia caught the ball and flew the other direction. She tossed it to Katie, Katie threw it to Ron, Ron faked a throw to Katie, and Derrick and Bole (the Slytherin beaters) went toward Katie, so Ron threw the Quaffle to Alicia and she scored. The Gryffindor fans all screamed with excitement. Harry was starting to circle the stadium nervously, trying to see the snitch. He hoped that Malfoy didn't see it before him. "I'm staying with you, Potter, where ever you go, I go. And I'm not falling for any of that Wronski Feint rubbish either!" Malfoy yelled to Harry. Harry scowled at Malfoy, but thought at least he wasn't looking for the snitch. Harry thought he'd have a little bit of fun with Malfoy before he really went looking for the snitch. Harry shot like a bullet toward the middle of the field, Malfoy followed. Harry went left and right and left again, Malfoy still on his tail. "What are you doing, Potter!" Malfoy yelled. Harry just kept right on zigzagging across the field. Harry was hoping that Fred or George would catch his signal soon. They had discussed that if Harry was flying around trying to lose Malfoy that one of the twins if not both, would shoot a bludger directly at Harry, Harry would duck and Malfoy would get a face full of bludger. Harry shot straight upward and then curved down and zoomed low to the field before rising up toward the sky again. Malfoy was still trailing Harry. Finally Harry made eye contact with George. George smiled and hit a bludger directly at Harry, Harry leaned himself flat against his broomstick and the bludger hit Malfoy right in the chest. He was winded and almost fell off his broom. Harry sniggered. He flew high above the stadium again, looking for the snitch. Soon, Malfoy was following close behind him again. Harry watched as Katie scored a beautiful goal and the Gryffindor crowd cheered. Bole sent a bludger buzzing past Harry's ear, but Harry stayed nicely on his broom. Harry looked over at Malfoy with hatred on his face. Suddenly, Harry heard Lee Jordan shout out and curse that Montague of Slytherin had just scored to make it thirty to ten. Malfoy sneered at Harry. Harry just happened to look down and he saw the snitch at ground level. He took off like a bullet heading straight for the ground. He heard Malfoy laugh at him and say that there was no way he was going to fall for the Wronski Feint. Harry smiled and thought, have it your way. He dove directly down toward the snitch. He pulled out of the dive right before he hit the ground, he reached his arm out and firmly grasped the snitch in his right hand. Harry heard Malfoy cry out in anguish. He looked up and saw Lucius Malfoy in the teachers' section, he looked disgusted. He could hear the cheers of Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw. He saw the Slytherins with their heads hung in shame. The rest of the Gryffindor team landed by Harry. Madam Hooch walked over to them with the Quidditch Cup. They were all so happy. Harry could see Malfoy and the rest of the Slytherins behind Madam Hooch. They were all yelling angrily at Malfoy for being so thick. Harry watched as Lucius Malfoy walked out to Malfoy and pulled him up by the collar of his Quidditch robes, and he began yelling at him in front of his team. Harry didn't feel sorry for him one bit. Colin was taking pictures of the Gryffindor team with the Cup. Suddenly, Harry asked Madam Hooch if he could make an announcement. She said yes. Harry pointed his wand at his throat and said, "Sonorus." "Excuse me, can I have your attention, please?" Harry's voice boomed out over the crowd. "I just wanted to thank my team for such a wonderful season, and." he looked over at the Malfoys who were glaring at him. "I want to dedicate our undefeated season and our win today to Patrick Malfoy, who we lost earlier this year. It was a tragedy that could have been avoided." Harry raised the Quidditch Cup and said, "To Patrick!" He heard all of Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw shout out, "To Patrick!" Harry looked over at the Malfoys with a satisfied grin. They looked as though they could kill him. And Harry knew that that is exactly what they planned on doing the very next day when they would be allowed to go to Hogsmeade.