A/N: Okay, now this chapter came too short. Damn! So where do I get those
chapter-cutting classes?? Huh, huh? Anyone?? *sighs* I hope you people are
still hanging on out there because it gets pretty low sometimes when I'm
typing all this-you can just imagine the beating my poor fingers get. HO-
HUM. Enough crap. Just try to read and review. I really appreciate it!!!
Disclaimer: All of this belongs to J.K. Rowling except for the plot, which is mine!!
Chapter 10 - Hermione's Gift
Next day came faster than Harry had hoped and the anticipated match was making breathing a lot of a problem for him. He munched his breakfast distractedly and hurried on to talk to Professor McGonagall.
"No Potter, I can't let you and the team skip classes to practice."
"But Professor, we didn't know we were playing against Slytherin 'till today!"
"That is beyond my responsibility, Potter."
"But if you won't let us have the day off, we will lose!"
At this, Harry thought he saw Professor McGonagall's face do the sort of twitch she always does when she was nervous. But all the same, she didn't let them be excused off their classes.
Harry stomped angrily to his Herbology class. He was so angry he couldn't hear a single word Professor Sprout was saying. He continued on with his distracted mood until their next class, Advanced Transfiguration. Professor McGonagall was in the middle of demonstrating how to transfigure into another animal when Hermione came bounding inside the room. She was panting very hard and there was a very tired look in her eyes.
"S-sorry P-Professor McGonagall!" She wheezed, still trying to catch her breath.
Harry dropped out of his daze and stared disbelieving at Hermione. He hadn't noticed that she wasn't in their classes but now that he did, he found it very difficult to explain.
"I-I woke up late and I.." Hermione stammered furiously.
"First, Granger, take a seat and we'll talk about this later."
"I am so sorry, Professor."
"Perhaps you are. But it doesn't change the fact that you are extremely late and for that I take five points from Gryffindor."
"That's all?" Hermione spat shrilly.
"Yes, Ms.Granger and only because this is your first offense." said Professor Mcgonagall, the stern look still imprinted on her face.
Harry watched Hermione take a seat beside him and didn't wait for her to catch her breath.
"Hermione! Where have you been? You were out of Herbology and you are late for this class."
Hermione looked as though she was in the middle of answering a very difficult exam. She fumbled inside her bag for a parchment and held it out to Harry.
"Here, I stayed up 'till morning to finish that. I thought it might come in handy. Now, will you please let me listen to the rest of our lesson?"
Harry nodded numbly. What was with Hermione? She was never late for classes before. That definitely came as a surprise. Harry was thinking as he opened the neatly-rolled parchment. He couldn't believe what it was.
"Hermione! You made a game plan for me?"
Hermione whirred at him, looking annoyed but smiling at the same time.
"Harry, later okay? I'm trying to catch up here.."
He saw her return to her focused stare. He grinned a grateful smile at her back before laying the parchment flat at his lap. The parchment had complete illustrations and labels of the Gryffindor players. He was surprised at just how much Hermione knew about Quidditch. Although she never played it, he was sure she researched about it. There were some terms that even he didn't understand. But by looking at the diagrams, he understood what she meant with them. It was almost like the gameplans Wood came up with, only better.
After their Advanced Transfiguration class, Harry rushed to Hermione beaming from ear to ear.
"Hermione, thank you for this. This is one heavy load off my shoulder."
"No problem, Harry, Just lend me your notes in Herbology." she said smiling.
And with that, they went through their classes. It was not long after Harry was finally out in the field with a very glum-looking team. They didn't even stir when Harry stood up to start his pep talk. They all looked drained of energy but at the sight of Harry unfolding a parchment, they all sat up straight and tried to see if it was any better than the absurd one he presented them yesterday. And even before Harry was done explaining it, they were all chatting excitedly about the coming match.
"This is unbelievable! I think we actually have a chance against Slytherin." beamed Lavender to the team.
"I knew this was coming, of course. Professor Trelawney told me that a very nice thing will happen to me today." she added.
It took quite a while before the prattles died down. But when it did, everyone listened with amazing attentiveness at Harry as he gave out their parts.
"Now remember team, we need this cup and we are going to get this cup no matter what. We are going to pull Slytherin down and give them a hard lesson about playing fair. We won't let them get away with this!" Harry barked furiously.
But as it turned out moments later, the team didn't need prepping. When everyone mounted their brooms, Harry swore he had never seen them fly like that before. They were all moving in sync with each other as if scoring a goal was all they ever did. Everyone was just burning with optimism and urge to win. Hermione's game plan worked far more efficient than Harry thanked her for.
Disclaimer: All of this belongs to J.K. Rowling except for the plot, which is mine!!
Chapter 10 - Hermione's Gift
Next day came faster than Harry had hoped and the anticipated match was making breathing a lot of a problem for him. He munched his breakfast distractedly and hurried on to talk to Professor McGonagall.
"No Potter, I can't let you and the team skip classes to practice."
"But Professor, we didn't know we were playing against Slytherin 'till today!"
"That is beyond my responsibility, Potter."
"But if you won't let us have the day off, we will lose!"
At this, Harry thought he saw Professor McGonagall's face do the sort of twitch she always does when she was nervous. But all the same, she didn't let them be excused off their classes.
Harry stomped angrily to his Herbology class. He was so angry he couldn't hear a single word Professor Sprout was saying. He continued on with his distracted mood until their next class, Advanced Transfiguration. Professor McGonagall was in the middle of demonstrating how to transfigure into another animal when Hermione came bounding inside the room. She was panting very hard and there was a very tired look in her eyes.
"S-sorry P-Professor McGonagall!" She wheezed, still trying to catch her breath.
Harry dropped out of his daze and stared disbelieving at Hermione. He hadn't noticed that she wasn't in their classes but now that he did, he found it very difficult to explain.
"I-I woke up late and I.." Hermione stammered furiously.
"First, Granger, take a seat and we'll talk about this later."
"I am so sorry, Professor."
"Perhaps you are. But it doesn't change the fact that you are extremely late and for that I take five points from Gryffindor."
"That's all?" Hermione spat shrilly.
"Yes, Ms.Granger and only because this is your first offense." said Professor Mcgonagall, the stern look still imprinted on her face.
Harry watched Hermione take a seat beside him and didn't wait for her to catch her breath.
"Hermione! Where have you been? You were out of Herbology and you are late for this class."
Hermione looked as though she was in the middle of answering a very difficult exam. She fumbled inside her bag for a parchment and held it out to Harry.
"Here, I stayed up 'till morning to finish that. I thought it might come in handy. Now, will you please let me listen to the rest of our lesson?"
Harry nodded numbly. What was with Hermione? She was never late for classes before. That definitely came as a surprise. Harry was thinking as he opened the neatly-rolled parchment. He couldn't believe what it was.
"Hermione! You made a game plan for me?"
Hermione whirred at him, looking annoyed but smiling at the same time.
"Harry, later okay? I'm trying to catch up here.."
He saw her return to her focused stare. He grinned a grateful smile at her back before laying the parchment flat at his lap. The parchment had complete illustrations and labels of the Gryffindor players. He was surprised at just how much Hermione knew about Quidditch. Although she never played it, he was sure she researched about it. There were some terms that even he didn't understand. But by looking at the diagrams, he understood what she meant with them. It was almost like the gameplans Wood came up with, only better.
After their Advanced Transfiguration class, Harry rushed to Hermione beaming from ear to ear.
"Hermione, thank you for this. This is one heavy load off my shoulder."
"No problem, Harry, Just lend me your notes in Herbology." she said smiling.
And with that, they went through their classes. It was not long after Harry was finally out in the field with a very glum-looking team. They didn't even stir when Harry stood up to start his pep talk. They all looked drained of energy but at the sight of Harry unfolding a parchment, they all sat up straight and tried to see if it was any better than the absurd one he presented them yesterday. And even before Harry was done explaining it, they were all chatting excitedly about the coming match.
"This is unbelievable! I think we actually have a chance against Slytherin." beamed Lavender to the team.
"I knew this was coming, of course. Professor Trelawney told me that a very nice thing will happen to me today." she added.
It took quite a while before the prattles died down. But when it did, everyone listened with amazing attentiveness at Harry as he gave out their parts.
"Now remember team, we need this cup and we are going to get this cup no matter what. We are going to pull Slytherin down and give them a hard lesson about playing fair. We won't let them get away with this!" Harry barked furiously.
But as it turned out moments later, the team didn't need prepping. When everyone mounted their brooms, Harry swore he had never seen them fly like that before. They were all moving in sync with each other as if scoring a goal was all they ever did. Everyone was just burning with optimism and urge to win. Hermione's game plan worked far more efficient than Harry thanked her for.