Maddy- thanks for letting me know about the format on my chapters- I really
didn't know that was happening. Anyway, I don't know what's wrong with it
as I am useless when it comes to things like that, so I just hope this one
uploads properly.
Michelle, I'd just like to say that I've thought about your request and decided that it won't fit in with this story at all, and besides, I'm sure there's a cure for that at Hogwart's that would clean it up straight away. But, he does get injured in this chapter, so I hope that makes up for it a little.
Disclaimer- Not mine!
Chapter twenty (oh my God): Gryffindor v Hufflepuff (An original title, I know)
Daphne, Lara and Jake jumped up and cheered with the rest of the crowd as Katie Bell scored. Gryffindor sixty, Hufflepuff nil! It was the first match after the Christmas break, and the Gryffindor team had been out nearly every night for the past three weeks training for it. It showed. They were only five minutes in and the chasers were doing brilliantly. Hufflepuff's keeper, Rachel Jenkins, was very good, but even she couldn't stop them.
However, Gryffindor were in danger now- Rachel had thrown the quaffle to Terry Boot, who was tearing down to the other end of the pitch. Fred and George raced towards the bludgers, but they were too late- the Hufflepuff beaters already had control of them. As soon as Terry Boot was in the scoring area, they both hit the bludgers in perfect unison- this was obviously a well-planned attack.
Daphne was nearly knocked over as Hermione and Ginny, who were sitting behind her, jumped up and screamed "Ron!" in perfect unison. Not that he could hear them or anything, and even if he could it would have been too late- WHAM! WHAM!
The bludgers hit his stomach one after the other, and Ron keeled over on his broom, leaving the way perfectly clear for Terry to get an easy ten points. The Hufflepuff stand erupted, but in the Gryffindor stand, all eyes were on Ron. Ron was obviously winded. How he managed to stay on his broom was a mystery- not when he couldn't even breathe.
Angelina and Alicia were at his side in a second, helping him sit up, Katie had retrieved the quaffle and was flying towards them, Harry was frantically calling a time-out and Fred and George, well, they had both sped up to one of the bludgers each, and whacked them hard at the Hufflepuff beaters, who both had to swerve dangerously to avoid them.
The Gryffindors all watched anxiously as their team conferred. Hermione and Ginny were almost crying and Neville, Seamus and Dean, who sat near them, were yelling out vicious diatribes about the 'sleazy Hufflepuffs'.
Ron was sitting up again and speaking, though he still looked very pale and seemed to be in pain. Unsurprisingly. Harry was speaking to him in an undertone, Ron was shaking his head, and the next minute Harry signalled to Madam Hooch for play to continue.
The Gryffindor chasers were fiercer than ever. They scored five more goals, taking the score up to one hundred and ten to ten, leaving the Hufflepuff chasers with no chance to score again. Or so they thought. Terry Boot broke free once more, tearing down the field like a bat out of hell. Luckily though, this time Fred and George had control of the bludgers down near the other end.
The Gryffindors watched with bated breath as Boot passed to Neill, and Neill back to Boot, who was within scoring range. He threw the quaffle, and looked sure to score until, at the last minute, Ron stretched out his hand and batted it towards Katie Bell.
The save, though a good one, didn't seem to do much for his injury. Most of the crowd were following the game, but many of the Gryffindors watched as Ron clutched at his side, leaned forward and lost his balance. Hermione and Ginny were screaming again, but Ron managed to hold onto his broom and sit upright again. He looked green.
~*~
Harry had seen Ron almost fall off his broom, and was at his side in two seconds flat. "Ron, you're injured." He said angrily. "You shouldn't be playing." Ron rolled his eyes. "We're in the middle of a match Harry." He said, as if he didn't know that. Harry frowned. "I'll call a time out. You can't do any good like this."
"I just saved that one, didn't I?" Ron said indignantly, suddenly coughing. Coughing hurt, though, and Ron almost fell off his broom again, clutching his side. Harry flew up right next to him. "Get on the broom." He said. "I'll take you down to the ground."
Ron frowned through the pain. "I can still fly you know." He said crossly, wobbling on the broom again. Harry glared at him. "Get on the broom." He repeated coldly. Ron made a growling noise in his throat but nevertheless did as Harry told him and climbed awkwardly onto the Firebolt behind Harry. He pushed on his own broom, which started to lower to the ground.
Harry was watching the game at the other end of the pitch. "I think Alicia's about to score. Hang on- wait until she does and then I'll call a- " Harry never finished his sentence, because something else had caught his eye. It was small, gold, and twenty feet below them. "Hold on!" He yelled to Ron, who was still looking green.
~*~
"Oh, thank God, Harry's got him- he'll be alright now." Hermione said. She and Ginny had been watching what had been going on for the past ten minutes with increasing concern. When Ron had almost fallen off his broom Hermione had screamed and Ginny had started to cry. Now, Ginny was hiding her face in her hands while Lisa tried hopelessly to reassure her and Hermione had a hand on Daphne's shoulder in front of her. Daphne could no longer feel her right arm.
Ginny looked up and gave a relieved sigh. "Oh g- aaaaahh!" She screamed, as Harry suddenly went into a very steep dive, Ron barely clinging on. Hermione was now clutching Daphne's shoulder so tightly that Daphne's eyes were watering with pain. Those in the crowd who had been watching Alicia Spinnet score a great volley turned and gasped as they saw Harry Potter diving.
The next second the stands erupted with cheering as Harry held the snitch in his hand.
~*~
Harry got to the ground as quickly as he could and climbed off his broom. Ron was grimacing in pain, and holding on to the broom handle for support. "Are you OK?" Harry asked worriedly. "I'm so sorry about that- I."
"Ow." Ron said weakly, placing a hand on his ribs and looking up at Harry. "Nice catch though." He said in an oddly strained voice. Harry grinned. The rest of the team were on the ground now, and a fair few supporters were flooding the pitch as well. "You need to go to the hospital- Ow!" Harry rubbed the back of his head and stared round to see who had hit him. It was Ginny Weasley.
"What was that for?" He demanded. Ginny glared at him. "For going into that dive with my INJURED BROTHER on your BROOM!" She yelled. Ron had started to laugh, and then found this hurt as well, and had managed to fall of the broom onto the snow-covered pitch. He stopped laughing immediately. Harry swallowed and turned back to Ginny. "Er, sorry, but I- OW!"
Harry rubbed the back of his head again, glaring at Hermione. She smiled sweetly at him. "Good catch." She said, before crouching down next to Ron, who was laughing again, though trying not to, while clutching at his side. Hermione took out her wand and conjured up a stretcher. "Get on." She said. Ron glared up at her. "No way." He said slowly and deliberately. "You'll have to stun me first."
Hermione pointed her wand at him. "I could do that." She said calmly. Ron looked at the wand, then at the stretcher, swore under his breath and got onto it with a dark look on his face. The supporters on the pitch saw the stretcher and all started to gather round it, making progress to the castle very difficult. Ron sat scowling at everyone who dared to ask him if he was OK, while Harry and Hermione fought through the crowd in front of him. Lisa had grabbed Ginny and held her hostage on the pitch so she couldn't follow her brother- she would be too worrisome to be any help.
~*~
Daphne, Lara and Jake were standing near the edge of the pitch, watching what was happening with interest. The Slytherins in the crowd had already gone back up to the castle, most of the Hufflepuffs were heading that way, while the Ravenclaws and Gryffindors were crowded round the Gryffindor team, offering congratulations. A huge group of them were moving towards the lawn heading up to the school, and Daphne, Lara and Jake could just make out a stretcher among them, which they knew held Ron.
Daphne was just about to suggest that they went to see what was going on when she spotted Lori on the other side of the pitch, near the Ravenclaw stands, walking round the edge of the lawn, heading for the exit. Daphne had hardly seen her at all during the past three weeks.
Lori was the first to wake up in the morning and disappeared to God-knows- where until their first lesson, when she would arrive last and sit as far away from everyone as possible. She was always first out of the classroom. Daphne didn't know when she ate- she never saw her at meals. And then, at the end of the day, Lori was the first to bed, and seemed to be asleep by the time anyone else got up to the dormitory.
Daphne didn't have a clue what was going on with her- Lori wouldn't speak to anyone, especially her. But now she had the perfect opportunity to speak to her, and she wasn't going to waste it. Saying goodbye to Lara and Jake, Daphne ran across the pitch, dodging various supporters and catching up with Lori just as she reached the exit.
"Lori!" Daphne called, skidding to a halt in front of her. Lori's eyes widened and she quickly stared down at the floor, though she didn't say anything. And now that it came to it, Daphne didn't know what to say either. "Um, how are you?" She asked, while at the same time thinking; 'That is the stupidest thing I've ever said.'
Lori stared up at the stands. "I'm fine." She said shortly. "But I've got a lot of work to do, excuse me." She said starting to step round Daphne. Daphne put a hand out to stop her. "Don't! Lori, we need to talk." She pleaded. Lori finally looked her in the eyes. "No, we don't." She said icily, shaking off her hand. "I've already told you Daphne, leave me alone."
And she walked off. Just like that. Daphne watched her walking away, making a single track through the snow, trying desperately to think of some way to get her to talk. What was going on?
Suddenly realising that she was one of the last people on the Quidditch field, Daphne hurried up to the castle.
~*~
There was a large, boisterous party in the Gryffindor common room that morning. The match had only lasted fifteen minutes, so it was still before twelve when they started on the butterbeers and cakes supplied by the Weasley twins. The team had brought back news from the Hospital Wing that Ron had broken two ribs, and the fact that he had managed to stay on his broom and make such a good save just made the party more celebratory.
Daphne had got up to common room a long time after everyone else- it had started to snow again. Lori was nowhere in sight, and she wasn't in the dormitory either- Lara had checked. Daphne didn't enjoy the party much- her encounter with Lori had left her very confused and hurt. Lara and Jake tried their best to cheer her up, but they were as confused as she was.
Harry, Ron and Hermione arrived back in the Common room at about two in the afternoon, which was quite early considering how much Madam Pomfrey liked to keep her patients in the Hospital Wing for as long as possible. Everybody cheered as they entered, and there was a rush to bring them drinks and cakes. Hermione separated herself from the crowd as quickly as possible and went to sit with Ginny and Lisa.
At about three, there was a series of taps on the window and four owls swooped in, carrying copies of the Daily Prophet. The newspaper owls were always late when it was snowing badly, so nobody was surprised. Hermione was the only subscriber who actually bothered to open her paper- the others; Angelina Johnson, Colin Creevey and Naomi Watson were all too busy watching Fred and George juggle empty butterbeer bottles.
Hermione opened her paper, scanned the first page and felt her jaw drop open. "What's wrong Hermione?" Lisa asked her, concerned. Hermione barely heard her. She jumped up and fought through the crowd to where Ron and Harry were sitting by the fire.
"Ron! Look!" She said, thrusting the paper at him. He picked it up curiously and opened it to the front page. Harry watched as the look on Ron's face turned into one of complete shock as he read. He looked up at Hermione. "Blimey." He said weakly.
Hermione suddenly grinned and hugged Ron tightly. "Isn't it great?" She said happily. Ron didn't seem to notice Hermione hugging him- he was staring straight ahead, still in shock. "What?" Harry demanded. By this time, Ginny and Lisa had followed Hermione across the room, and Ginny echoed Harry's question.
Ron looked up at Ginny. "Dad's been nominated for Minister of Magic." He told her. Ginny's face was suddenly the mirror images of her brother's as she also went into shock. Lisa hugged Ginny, laughing, and Harry gasped, snatching the paper from Ron.
Harry started grinning wildly. "Yes!" He said happily. "That's perfect- he'll be great!"
Lee Jordan suddenly came bouncing over- he had an eye for seeing any important developments. "What's going on?" He asked curiously. Harry answered him. "Ron's Dad has been nominated for Minister of Magic." He told him, holding out the paper. Lee took it, read the front page, and then suddenly jumped up onto the table.
"Hey everyone! Listen up!" He yelled. Fred and George stopped juggling and everyone turned towards Lee. He grinned as Ron tried to take the paper back off of him. "The nominees for Minister of Magic are in!" Most people made a face and turned away, including Fred and George, which Lee noticed. "Hey, clones- you might want to hear this." He said to them.
"The nominees are Gertrude Vialli, Amos Diggory." There were mutterings from everyone who had met the late Cedric's father. "And," Lee said, the room now silent. "Arthur Weasley!"
Fred and George's faces were a picture- their jaws almost hit the floor. There were gasps from everyone in the room, and then a sudden rush of cheers, yells and applause as everyone rushed towards the fire to offer the Weasley children their congratulations, all four of whom were still in shock. Harry and Hermione could not stop laughing, though they did not know why, and even Daphne, on the other side of the room, perked up a little.
The party went on far into the night. They had flattened Hufflepuff at Quidditch, there were no lessons the next day and there was the prospect of finally getting a useful Minister of Magic. It was pretty impossible to feel sad right then.
Please review! The next chapter will be up within a few hours most probably, and then after that. THE NEXT SEVEN CHAPTERS ARE ALMOST FINISHED! I can actually see myself finishing this story, which will be amazing, I'm telling you!
Michelle, I'd just like to say that I've thought about your request and decided that it won't fit in with this story at all, and besides, I'm sure there's a cure for that at Hogwart's that would clean it up straight away. But, he does get injured in this chapter, so I hope that makes up for it a little.
Disclaimer- Not mine!
Chapter twenty (oh my God): Gryffindor v Hufflepuff (An original title, I know)
Daphne, Lara and Jake jumped up and cheered with the rest of the crowd as Katie Bell scored. Gryffindor sixty, Hufflepuff nil! It was the first match after the Christmas break, and the Gryffindor team had been out nearly every night for the past three weeks training for it. It showed. They were only five minutes in and the chasers were doing brilliantly. Hufflepuff's keeper, Rachel Jenkins, was very good, but even she couldn't stop them.
However, Gryffindor were in danger now- Rachel had thrown the quaffle to Terry Boot, who was tearing down to the other end of the pitch. Fred and George raced towards the bludgers, but they were too late- the Hufflepuff beaters already had control of them. As soon as Terry Boot was in the scoring area, they both hit the bludgers in perfect unison- this was obviously a well-planned attack.
Daphne was nearly knocked over as Hermione and Ginny, who were sitting behind her, jumped up and screamed "Ron!" in perfect unison. Not that he could hear them or anything, and even if he could it would have been too late- WHAM! WHAM!
The bludgers hit his stomach one after the other, and Ron keeled over on his broom, leaving the way perfectly clear for Terry to get an easy ten points. The Hufflepuff stand erupted, but in the Gryffindor stand, all eyes were on Ron. Ron was obviously winded. How he managed to stay on his broom was a mystery- not when he couldn't even breathe.
Angelina and Alicia were at his side in a second, helping him sit up, Katie had retrieved the quaffle and was flying towards them, Harry was frantically calling a time-out and Fred and George, well, they had both sped up to one of the bludgers each, and whacked them hard at the Hufflepuff beaters, who both had to swerve dangerously to avoid them.
The Gryffindors all watched anxiously as their team conferred. Hermione and Ginny were almost crying and Neville, Seamus and Dean, who sat near them, were yelling out vicious diatribes about the 'sleazy Hufflepuffs'.
Ron was sitting up again and speaking, though he still looked very pale and seemed to be in pain. Unsurprisingly. Harry was speaking to him in an undertone, Ron was shaking his head, and the next minute Harry signalled to Madam Hooch for play to continue.
The Gryffindor chasers were fiercer than ever. They scored five more goals, taking the score up to one hundred and ten to ten, leaving the Hufflepuff chasers with no chance to score again. Or so they thought. Terry Boot broke free once more, tearing down the field like a bat out of hell. Luckily though, this time Fred and George had control of the bludgers down near the other end.
The Gryffindors watched with bated breath as Boot passed to Neill, and Neill back to Boot, who was within scoring range. He threw the quaffle, and looked sure to score until, at the last minute, Ron stretched out his hand and batted it towards Katie Bell.
The save, though a good one, didn't seem to do much for his injury. Most of the crowd were following the game, but many of the Gryffindors watched as Ron clutched at his side, leaned forward and lost his balance. Hermione and Ginny were screaming again, but Ron managed to hold onto his broom and sit upright again. He looked green.
~*~
Harry had seen Ron almost fall off his broom, and was at his side in two seconds flat. "Ron, you're injured." He said angrily. "You shouldn't be playing." Ron rolled his eyes. "We're in the middle of a match Harry." He said, as if he didn't know that. Harry frowned. "I'll call a time out. You can't do any good like this."
"I just saved that one, didn't I?" Ron said indignantly, suddenly coughing. Coughing hurt, though, and Ron almost fell off his broom again, clutching his side. Harry flew up right next to him. "Get on the broom." He said. "I'll take you down to the ground."
Ron frowned through the pain. "I can still fly you know." He said crossly, wobbling on the broom again. Harry glared at him. "Get on the broom." He repeated coldly. Ron made a growling noise in his throat but nevertheless did as Harry told him and climbed awkwardly onto the Firebolt behind Harry. He pushed on his own broom, which started to lower to the ground.
Harry was watching the game at the other end of the pitch. "I think Alicia's about to score. Hang on- wait until she does and then I'll call a- " Harry never finished his sentence, because something else had caught his eye. It was small, gold, and twenty feet below them. "Hold on!" He yelled to Ron, who was still looking green.
~*~
"Oh, thank God, Harry's got him- he'll be alright now." Hermione said. She and Ginny had been watching what had been going on for the past ten minutes with increasing concern. When Ron had almost fallen off his broom Hermione had screamed and Ginny had started to cry. Now, Ginny was hiding her face in her hands while Lisa tried hopelessly to reassure her and Hermione had a hand on Daphne's shoulder in front of her. Daphne could no longer feel her right arm.
Ginny looked up and gave a relieved sigh. "Oh g- aaaaahh!" She screamed, as Harry suddenly went into a very steep dive, Ron barely clinging on. Hermione was now clutching Daphne's shoulder so tightly that Daphne's eyes were watering with pain. Those in the crowd who had been watching Alicia Spinnet score a great volley turned and gasped as they saw Harry Potter diving.
The next second the stands erupted with cheering as Harry held the snitch in his hand.
~*~
Harry got to the ground as quickly as he could and climbed off his broom. Ron was grimacing in pain, and holding on to the broom handle for support. "Are you OK?" Harry asked worriedly. "I'm so sorry about that- I."
"Ow." Ron said weakly, placing a hand on his ribs and looking up at Harry. "Nice catch though." He said in an oddly strained voice. Harry grinned. The rest of the team were on the ground now, and a fair few supporters were flooding the pitch as well. "You need to go to the hospital- Ow!" Harry rubbed the back of his head and stared round to see who had hit him. It was Ginny Weasley.
"What was that for?" He demanded. Ginny glared at him. "For going into that dive with my INJURED BROTHER on your BROOM!" She yelled. Ron had started to laugh, and then found this hurt as well, and had managed to fall of the broom onto the snow-covered pitch. He stopped laughing immediately. Harry swallowed and turned back to Ginny. "Er, sorry, but I- OW!"
Harry rubbed the back of his head again, glaring at Hermione. She smiled sweetly at him. "Good catch." She said, before crouching down next to Ron, who was laughing again, though trying not to, while clutching at his side. Hermione took out her wand and conjured up a stretcher. "Get on." She said. Ron glared up at her. "No way." He said slowly and deliberately. "You'll have to stun me first."
Hermione pointed her wand at him. "I could do that." She said calmly. Ron looked at the wand, then at the stretcher, swore under his breath and got onto it with a dark look on his face. The supporters on the pitch saw the stretcher and all started to gather round it, making progress to the castle very difficult. Ron sat scowling at everyone who dared to ask him if he was OK, while Harry and Hermione fought through the crowd in front of him. Lisa had grabbed Ginny and held her hostage on the pitch so she couldn't follow her brother- she would be too worrisome to be any help.
~*~
Daphne, Lara and Jake were standing near the edge of the pitch, watching what was happening with interest. The Slytherins in the crowd had already gone back up to the castle, most of the Hufflepuffs were heading that way, while the Ravenclaws and Gryffindors were crowded round the Gryffindor team, offering congratulations. A huge group of them were moving towards the lawn heading up to the school, and Daphne, Lara and Jake could just make out a stretcher among them, which they knew held Ron.
Daphne was just about to suggest that they went to see what was going on when she spotted Lori on the other side of the pitch, near the Ravenclaw stands, walking round the edge of the lawn, heading for the exit. Daphne had hardly seen her at all during the past three weeks.
Lori was the first to wake up in the morning and disappeared to God-knows- where until their first lesson, when she would arrive last and sit as far away from everyone as possible. She was always first out of the classroom. Daphne didn't know when she ate- she never saw her at meals. And then, at the end of the day, Lori was the first to bed, and seemed to be asleep by the time anyone else got up to the dormitory.
Daphne didn't have a clue what was going on with her- Lori wouldn't speak to anyone, especially her. But now she had the perfect opportunity to speak to her, and she wasn't going to waste it. Saying goodbye to Lara and Jake, Daphne ran across the pitch, dodging various supporters and catching up with Lori just as she reached the exit.
"Lori!" Daphne called, skidding to a halt in front of her. Lori's eyes widened and she quickly stared down at the floor, though she didn't say anything. And now that it came to it, Daphne didn't know what to say either. "Um, how are you?" She asked, while at the same time thinking; 'That is the stupidest thing I've ever said.'
Lori stared up at the stands. "I'm fine." She said shortly. "But I've got a lot of work to do, excuse me." She said starting to step round Daphne. Daphne put a hand out to stop her. "Don't! Lori, we need to talk." She pleaded. Lori finally looked her in the eyes. "No, we don't." She said icily, shaking off her hand. "I've already told you Daphne, leave me alone."
And she walked off. Just like that. Daphne watched her walking away, making a single track through the snow, trying desperately to think of some way to get her to talk. What was going on?
Suddenly realising that she was one of the last people on the Quidditch field, Daphne hurried up to the castle.
~*~
There was a large, boisterous party in the Gryffindor common room that morning. The match had only lasted fifteen minutes, so it was still before twelve when they started on the butterbeers and cakes supplied by the Weasley twins. The team had brought back news from the Hospital Wing that Ron had broken two ribs, and the fact that he had managed to stay on his broom and make such a good save just made the party more celebratory.
Daphne had got up to common room a long time after everyone else- it had started to snow again. Lori was nowhere in sight, and she wasn't in the dormitory either- Lara had checked. Daphne didn't enjoy the party much- her encounter with Lori had left her very confused and hurt. Lara and Jake tried their best to cheer her up, but they were as confused as she was.
Harry, Ron and Hermione arrived back in the Common room at about two in the afternoon, which was quite early considering how much Madam Pomfrey liked to keep her patients in the Hospital Wing for as long as possible. Everybody cheered as they entered, and there was a rush to bring them drinks and cakes. Hermione separated herself from the crowd as quickly as possible and went to sit with Ginny and Lisa.
At about three, there was a series of taps on the window and four owls swooped in, carrying copies of the Daily Prophet. The newspaper owls were always late when it was snowing badly, so nobody was surprised. Hermione was the only subscriber who actually bothered to open her paper- the others; Angelina Johnson, Colin Creevey and Naomi Watson were all too busy watching Fred and George juggle empty butterbeer bottles.
Hermione opened her paper, scanned the first page and felt her jaw drop open. "What's wrong Hermione?" Lisa asked her, concerned. Hermione barely heard her. She jumped up and fought through the crowd to where Ron and Harry were sitting by the fire.
"Ron! Look!" She said, thrusting the paper at him. He picked it up curiously and opened it to the front page. Harry watched as the look on Ron's face turned into one of complete shock as he read. He looked up at Hermione. "Blimey." He said weakly.
Hermione suddenly grinned and hugged Ron tightly. "Isn't it great?" She said happily. Ron didn't seem to notice Hermione hugging him- he was staring straight ahead, still in shock. "What?" Harry demanded. By this time, Ginny and Lisa had followed Hermione across the room, and Ginny echoed Harry's question.
Ron looked up at Ginny. "Dad's been nominated for Minister of Magic." He told her. Ginny's face was suddenly the mirror images of her brother's as she also went into shock. Lisa hugged Ginny, laughing, and Harry gasped, snatching the paper from Ron.
Harry started grinning wildly. "Yes!" He said happily. "That's perfect- he'll be great!"
Lee Jordan suddenly came bouncing over- he had an eye for seeing any important developments. "What's going on?" He asked curiously. Harry answered him. "Ron's Dad has been nominated for Minister of Magic." He told him, holding out the paper. Lee took it, read the front page, and then suddenly jumped up onto the table.
"Hey everyone! Listen up!" He yelled. Fred and George stopped juggling and everyone turned towards Lee. He grinned as Ron tried to take the paper back off of him. "The nominees for Minister of Magic are in!" Most people made a face and turned away, including Fred and George, which Lee noticed. "Hey, clones- you might want to hear this." He said to them.
"The nominees are Gertrude Vialli, Amos Diggory." There were mutterings from everyone who had met the late Cedric's father. "And," Lee said, the room now silent. "Arthur Weasley!"
Fred and George's faces were a picture- their jaws almost hit the floor. There were gasps from everyone in the room, and then a sudden rush of cheers, yells and applause as everyone rushed towards the fire to offer the Weasley children their congratulations, all four of whom were still in shock. Harry and Hermione could not stop laughing, though they did not know why, and even Daphne, on the other side of the room, perked up a little.
The party went on far into the night. They had flattened Hufflepuff at Quidditch, there were no lessons the next day and there was the prospect of finally getting a useful Minister of Magic. It was pretty impossible to feel sad right then.
Please review! The next chapter will be up within a few hours most probably, and then after that. THE NEXT SEVEN CHAPTERS ARE ALMOST FINISHED! I can actually see myself finishing this story, which will be amazing, I'm telling you!