A day later Harry had to stop Quiditch practice early because the
beginnings of a blizzard were starting to show. They had begun practicing
in a light flurry, which didn't bother them at all. But now rough winds
were starting to blow the Quaffle off-course. However before that, everyone
was doing superb. The chasers had their formations down pat, Fred and
George hit every bludger that came toward them, Anna saved every shot, and
Harry caught every golf ball that was thrown (which was very hard to do in
the snow because they blended in so nicely). Harry knew that if Oliver Wood
had been captain still, he would have used this as an excuse to keep
playing.
While walking back to the common room with Anna, his mind strayed to something he had totally forgotten about until now. He didn't have a date to the Yule Ball. His mind instantly darted to Cho Chang, a very pretty Ravenclaw girl a year above him but didn't know if he had the courage since her date last year (Cedric Diggory) died in a tragic accident with Voldemort. Harry was present for the whole thing and felt somewhat guilty about it. At least this year he was not a tri-wizard champion and would be made to lead the dancing, so he would look much less stupid without a date this year.
When they got back into the common room Ron and Hermione who were sitting at a table in the corner greeted them cheerfully. Harry and Anna started to brush off their snow-encrusted robes then sat down.
"Cold out there?" Ron asked sarcastically.
"Just a little." Harry said, his teeth chattering. "So Ron," He continued slyly. "Got a date yet?"
"No." Ron said quickly and then busied himself with homework again.
Harry decided not to get into anything and leave it at that.
***
The next day was Gryffindor's first Quditch match of the season. It was against Ravenclaw and fortunately for both teams, last night's blizzard had subsided during the night. Harry met Anna down in the common room after changing into his scarlet Quiditch robes. This would be Anna's first ever Quditch match and she sure did look nervous. From what Harry could see she was shaking all over and kept biting her nails.
"Calm down Anna." He said clapping her on the shoulder.
"Can't!" She said shortly.
"Yes you can, just relax." He said soothingly.
"Good luck guys! You'll do fine Anna." Hermione called from across the room.
"Yeah good luck!" Ron called after them.
"Weren't you nervous before your first game Harry?" Anna asked when they stepped out of the portrait hole.
"Well, yes." Harry said truthfully. "But I wasn't shaking all over!."
Anna left it at that.
They opened the great oak doors of the castle and stepped outside into a full foot of snow. This was why Harry had wanted to make his way out to the Quiditch pitch early, the snow was untouched and they would need to plow their way through it. Harry and Anna trudged through the snow side by side for nearly twenty full minutes until they reached the Quiditch pitch.
"Harry?" Anna looked at him quizzically. "Why didn't we just fly on our brooms over here?"
Harry looked stunned for a moment. "Why didn't I think of that? Oh well, to late now."
Harry mounted his broom and kicked off for a warm up lap. As he rounded the far end of the field he saw the other members of the team flying across the grounds toward them. He landed in front of the locker room and waited for them to go in and he followed them after. They all sat down on the benches in front of him and waited for him to say something.
"Ummmmm," He started uncertainly. "How about we just go out there and do what we did in practice yesterday?"
"Ok!" said George. "That's good enough for me."
"Three cheers for Harry! Our brilliant captain!" Yelled Fred.
Harry blushed and sped out of the locker room before Fred made fun of him further. Then the team lined up and marched out into the center of the field opposite of the Ravenclaws to where Madam Hooch was waiting. Harry could hear Anna hyperventilating beside him.
"Just relax." He whispered to her. Her breathing seemed to slow and she was now drawing very deep breaths.
"Alright! On my whistle!" Madam Hooch shouted over the roar of the crowd. "THREE! TWO!" The whistle sounded and they kicked off into the air.
Before looking around for the Snitch, Harry glanced over at Anna. She was hovering in front of the Gryffindor goal posts exactly where she should be.
Harry diverted his attention back to the game. Lee Jordan was giving very graphic commentary, so Harry knew exactly what was going on at all times. Gryffindor was now in possession and were heading for the Ravenclaw goals.
Harry looked over his shoulder for the snitch but saw Cho there instead. Harry immediately looked away, not wanting to make eye contact and continued flying around searching for the golden snitch.
"KATIE BELL OF GRYFFINDOR SCORES!" Lee roared. "THE SCORE IS TEN TO ZERO!"
The roars of the Gryffindors deafened Harry ears, as he looked this way and that. Harry dodged a bludger that ruffled his already messy hair and he sped up higher for a better view of the field. He looked across the field and squinted his eyes looking for the snitch.
"SAVED BY THE NEW GRYFFINDOR KEEPER! ANNA POTTER!" Harry heard Lee yell. But instead of the usual cheers that they would get from at least half the school, a hush fell over the whole stadium. No one but the Gryffindors knew of Anna's relation to Harry until now.
The game went on, Gryffindor scored twice more and Ravenclaw had another shot but once again Anna saved it.
A light snow started to fall twenty minutes into the game and Harry continued to buzz about the stadium.
A glint of gold caught Harry's eye just as he heard Lee Jordan yell, "OH! THAT HAD TO HURT! BUT NO WHISTLE IS BLOWN!"
Harry ignored this comment hoping that it wasn't a Gryffindor team member down and flew at top speed after the snitch. He could see Cho coming at him from the opposite direction in a steep dive. Harry pulled himself into a steep dive himself and flew straight at her, the wind whistling madly in his ears. He gained on the snitch and he stretched out his had. Harry's firebolt was no match for Cho's broom. Inches away...centimeters away....and Harry's hand grasped the cold metal of the snitch. He raised it high above his head triumphantly in the snow. Cheers rang out from the crowd.
"AND THE FINAL SCORE IS GRYFFINDOR ONE-HUNDRED AND EIGHTY! RAVENCLAW ZERO!" Lee's voice sounded throughout the stadium.
Harry turned a corner as he was flying around the stadium and a heap of scarlet robes surrounded by teachers near the Gryffindor goal posts. He sped toward them all and soon discovered that his suspicions were confirmed, it was Anna.
"What happened to her?" Harry asked Professor Mcgonagall. Who was kneeling down by Anna side next to Madam Pomfrey, who was holding an ice pack on Anna's forehead.
"Bludger." She replied simply. "It's not that big a deal, she'll be fine."
The rest of the team had now tramped through the snow and joined the circle around Anna.
"Heh heh. Sorry I missed that one Anna." Fred smiled.
She waved him off, "It's all right. I'm just a bit dizzy." She got up, teetered for a moment, and then stood solidly on the ground. "I'm all right." She said.
The team walked her off with the applause from the Ravenclaw team and the crowd in the background.
'Maybe we should have practiced how to dodge bludgers.' Harry thought to himself as he led her back to the locker rooms.
***
Harry and Anna stepped out of the locker rooms ten minutes later and joined Ron and Hermione. They both congratulated each of them and asked if Anna was okay.
The light snow was still falling as they made their way back to the castle. They were about halfway back when Harry heard a voice over his shoulder.
"Harry!" It was Cho who was calling, as she caught up with them she said, "Harry could I have a word?"
"Er...Yeah." He said hesitantly. Then he turned toward the three others. "I'll meet you back in the common room, shall I?" he asked them.
"Alright." They agreed, and continued walking to the castle.
Harry watched them step inside the door, and then he turned back to Cho and looked at her. She was more beautiful than ever, standing there in the snow. It dotted her hair, and the light breeze blew her hair about.
They stood there for an awkward moment, until Cho broke the silence. She cleared her throat and said, "Um......Harry, I wanted to ask you," She paused, "Would you got to the Yule Ball with me?"
Harry stood, absolutely stunned in silence, unable to say or do anything.
Cho looked very awkward. "If you don't want to I absolutely understand, with last year and all......" She trailed off.
Harry pinched himself, and at the instance of the little pain he caused himself, he regained 'consciousness'. "A-are-are you s-serious?" He stammered.
"Of course." She looked slightly taken aback.
"Yes-yes, I-I'd love to go with you, absolutely yes." He said hurriedly.
"Great." Cho said smiling. Harry loved her smile, her teeth were absolutely gorgeous....
They both turned and walked back into the castle together. The silence went on for many long minutes until Cho stopped.
"I have to go now Harry. I'll see you later?" She said.
"Yeah." Harry said, not sure what else to say.
Before turning to head to the common room she leaned over and kissed Harry on the cheek.
Harry ran into the common room. Ron, Hermione, and Anna were all sitting at their usual table. Ron was playing chess with Anna and Hermione was reading her usual book.
"Ron!" Harry said.
Ron turned around instantly, as did Hermione and Anna as well, and before Harry could say anything else he asked, "What did Cho want?"
"Ron, she just asked me to the ball!" He told Ron in an excited whisper so that only the three could hear.
Hermione rolled her eyes.
While walking back to the common room with Anna, his mind strayed to something he had totally forgotten about until now. He didn't have a date to the Yule Ball. His mind instantly darted to Cho Chang, a very pretty Ravenclaw girl a year above him but didn't know if he had the courage since her date last year (Cedric Diggory) died in a tragic accident with Voldemort. Harry was present for the whole thing and felt somewhat guilty about it. At least this year he was not a tri-wizard champion and would be made to lead the dancing, so he would look much less stupid without a date this year.
When they got back into the common room Ron and Hermione who were sitting at a table in the corner greeted them cheerfully. Harry and Anna started to brush off their snow-encrusted robes then sat down.
"Cold out there?" Ron asked sarcastically.
"Just a little." Harry said, his teeth chattering. "So Ron," He continued slyly. "Got a date yet?"
"No." Ron said quickly and then busied himself with homework again.
Harry decided not to get into anything and leave it at that.
***
The next day was Gryffindor's first Quditch match of the season. It was against Ravenclaw and fortunately for both teams, last night's blizzard had subsided during the night. Harry met Anna down in the common room after changing into his scarlet Quiditch robes. This would be Anna's first ever Quditch match and she sure did look nervous. From what Harry could see she was shaking all over and kept biting her nails.
"Calm down Anna." He said clapping her on the shoulder.
"Can't!" She said shortly.
"Yes you can, just relax." He said soothingly.
"Good luck guys! You'll do fine Anna." Hermione called from across the room.
"Yeah good luck!" Ron called after them.
"Weren't you nervous before your first game Harry?" Anna asked when they stepped out of the portrait hole.
"Well, yes." Harry said truthfully. "But I wasn't shaking all over!."
Anna left it at that.
They opened the great oak doors of the castle and stepped outside into a full foot of snow. This was why Harry had wanted to make his way out to the Quiditch pitch early, the snow was untouched and they would need to plow their way through it. Harry and Anna trudged through the snow side by side for nearly twenty full minutes until they reached the Quiditch pitch.
"Harry?" Anna looked at him quizzically. "Why didn't we just fly on our brooms over here?"
Harry looked stunned for a moment. "Why didn't I think of that? Oh well, to late now."
Harry mounted his broom and kicked off for a warm up lap. As he rounded the far end of the field he saw the other members of the team flying across the grounds toward them. He landed in front of the locker room and waited for them to go in and he followed them after. They all sat down on the benches in front of him and waited for him to say something.
"Ummmmm," He started uncertainly. "How about we just go out there and do what we did in practice yesterday?"
"Ok!" said George. "That's good enough for me."
"Three cheers for Harry! Our brilliant captain!" Yelled Fred.
Harry blushed and sped out of the locker room before Fred made fun of him further. Then the team lined up and marched out into the center of the field opposite of the Ravenclaws to where Madam Hooch was waiting. Harry could hear Anna hyperventilating beside him.
"Just relax." He whispered to her. Her breathing seemed to slow and she was now drawing very deep breaths.
"Alright! On my whistle!" Madam Hooch shouted over the roar of the crowd. "THREE! TWO!" The whistle sounded and they kicked off into the air.
Before looking around for the Snitch, Harry glanced over at Anna. She was hovering in front of the Gryffindor goal posts exactly where she should be.
Harry diverted his attention back to the game. Lee Jordan was giving very graphic commentary, so Harry knew exactly what was going on at all times. Gryffindor was now in possession and were heading for the Ravenclaw goals.
Harry looked over his shoulder for the snitch but saw Cho there instead. Harry immediately looked away, not wanting to make eye contact and continued flying around searching for the golden snitch.
"KATIE BELL OF GRYFFINDOR SCORES!" Lee roared. "THE SCORE IS TEN TO ZERO!"
The roars of the Gryffindors deafened Harry ears, as he looked this way and that. Harry dodged a bludger that ruffled his already messy hair and he sped up higher for a better view of the field. He looked across the field and squinted his eyes looking for the snitch.
"SAVED BY THE NEW GRYFFINDOR KEEPER! ANNA POTTER!" Harry heard Lee yell. But instead of the usual cheers that they would get from at least half the school, a hush fell over the whole stadium. No one but the Gryffindors knew of Anna's relation to Harry until now.
The game went on, Gryffindor scored twice more and Ravenclaw had another shot but once again Anna saved it.
A light snow started to fall twenty minutes into the game and Harry continued to buzz about the stadium.
A glint of gold caught Harry's eye just as he heard Lee Jordan yell, "OH! THAT HAD TO HURT! BUT NO WHISTLE IS BLOWN!"
Harry ignored this comment hoping that it wasn't a Gryffindor team member down and flew at top speed after the snitch. He could see Cho coming at him from the opposite direction in a steep dive. Harry pulled himself into a steep dive himself and flew straight at her, the wind whistling madly in his ears. He gained on the snitch and he stretched out his had. Harry's firebolt was no match for Cho's broom. Inches away...centimeters away....and Harry's hand grasped the cold metal of the snitch. He raised it high above his head triumphantly in the snow. Cheers rang out from the crowd.
"AND THE FINAL SCORE IS GRYFFINDOR ONE-HUNDRED AND EIGHTY! RAVENCLAW ZERO!" Lee's voice sounded throughout the stadium.
Harry turned a corner as he was flying around the stadium and a heap of scarlet robes surrounded by teachers near the Gryffindor goal posts. He sped toward them all and soon discovered that his suspicions were confirmed, it was Anna.
"What happened to her?" Harry asked Professor Mcgonagall. Who was kneeling down by Anna side next to Madam Pomfrey, who was holding an ice pack on Anna's forehead.
"Bludger." She replied simply. "It's not that big a deal, she'll be fine."
The rest of the team had now tramped through the snow and joined the circle around Anna.
"Heh heh. Sorry I missed that one Anna." Fred smiled.
She waved him off, "It's all right. I'm just a bit dizzy." She got up, teetered for a moment, and then stood solidly on the ground. "I'm all right." She said.
The team walked her off with the applause from the Ravenclaw team and the crowd in the background.
'Maybe we should have practiced how to dodge bludgers.' Harry thought to himself as he led her back to the locker rooms.
***
Harry and Anna stepped out of the locker rooms ten minutes later and joined Ron and Hermione. They both congratulated each of them and asked if Anna was okay.
The light snow was still falling as they made their way back to the castle. They were about halfway back when Harry heard a voice over his shoulder.
"Harry!" It was Cho who was calling, as she caught up with them she said, "Harry could I have a word?"
"Er...Yeah." He said hesitantly. Then he turned toward the three others. "I'll meet you back in the common room, shall I?" he asked them.
"Alright." They agreed, and continued walking to the castle.
Harry watched them step inside the door, and then he turned back to Cho and looked at her. She was more beautiful than ever, standing there in the snow. It dotted her hair, and the light breeze blew her hair about.
They stood there for an awkward moment, until Cho broke the silence. She cleared her throat and said, "Um......Harry, I wanted to ask you," She paused, "Would you got to the Yule Ball with me?"
Harry stood, absolutely stunned in silence, unable to say or do anything.
Cho looked very awkward. "If you don't want to I absolutely understand, with last year and all......" She trailed off.
Harry pinched himself, and at the instance of the little pain he caused himself, he regained 'consciousness'. "A-are-are you s-serious?" He stammered.
"Of course." She looked slightly taken aback.
"Yes-yes, I-I'd love to go with you, absolutely yes." He said hurriedly.
"Great." Cho said smiling. Harry loved her smile, her teeth were absolutely gorgeous....
They both turned and walked back into the castle together. The silence went on for many long minutes until Cho stopped.
"I have to go now Harry. I'll see you later?" She said.
"Yeah." Harry said, not sure what else to say.
Before turning to head to the common room she leaned over and kissed Harry on the cheek.
Harry ran into the common room. Ron, Hermione, and Anna were all sitting at their usual table. Ron was playing chess with Anna and Hermione was reading her usual book.
"Ron!" Harry said.
Ron turned around instantly, as did Hermione and Anna as well, and before Harry could say anything else he asked, "What did Cho want?"
"Ron, she just asked me to the ball!" He told Ron in an excited whisper so that only the three could hear.
Hermione rolled her eyes.