At last it was time for the Quidditch match, and Harry walked out holding
his Firebolt. He looked at Mike.
"Do you know how to play?"
"Yeah, my family is obsessed with the game."
"What position do you play?"
"I can play Chaser and Beater." They joined the others, who were already waiting for them. Draco sneered at the Firebolt and clutched his Nimbus 2001 tightly. Harry looked at the other two students. Damon had a Nimbus 2000, and Jennifer was riding one of the school's Comet Two-Sixties. Harry then turned to the professors. He was pleased to see that no one else had a Firebolt, but Snape and McGonagall were both holding Nimbus 2001s. Dumbledore and Lupin had 2000s and Trelawney had taken a Comet as well. Mike retrieved one and soon Dumbledore addressed the group.
"I have chosen one student and one teacher to each be a Captain. Harry, since you are the Captain of the Gryffindor team, you will head Team 1. Remus will captain Team 2." Dumbledore pulled his wand and muttered a word and Lupin's robes changed from red to blue. "Don't worry, I'll fix them all when it's over."
"Harry, you pick first."
Harry nodded, "Draco, Beater" he said simply, and Draco stood behind him, dressed in a red robe.
"I'll get you for this Potter. Imagine, me wearing red." he shook his head and laughed.
Remus chuckled a little, "Mike, why don't you join me? I could use a good, young Chaser." Remus winked at the youngest student, and the boy smiled. He thought he would have been picked last. Remus laid a hand on his shoulder and leaned in. "I know what it feels like to be picked last," he whispered. Harry crinkled his forehead and turned to Draco.
"What do you think?"
"Definitely Snape. He's the youngest teacher, and he's got a Nimbus 2001."
"What about Damon? He's on his house team, and he's a pretty good Keeper. Besides, what from I hear, Snape is a Seeker, and we don't need another one."
"Actually, don't believe everything you hear Potter. Snape was a Keeper, not a Seeker."
Harry smirked, "Right then," he turned to the group, "Professor Snape, Keeper." Dumbledore smiled.
"Very good use of resources Harry." Snape shook his head in disgust as his robes were changed from black to a vibrant red. He joined the two fifth years and gave a small sneer at Harry's proud face.
Remus cleared his throat and looked a little taken aback, but shook his head. "Albus, Keeper." Harry nearly choked. He couldn't picture the old wizard playing anything but Seeker. But then who --? He caught the twinkle in Moony's eyes and groaned. This was not going to be an easy game.
"Damon, Chaser."
"Jennifer, Beater."
"Professor McGonagall, Chaser."
"That leaves you, Sybil. Would you please join my team as a Chaser?"
"Very well, Lupin. But that was a lousy cover-up for having been chosen last," For the second time, Harry was speechless. She actually had a sense of humor. He turned to his team, but saw the same reactions on their faces.
Snape and Dumbledore rose to the hoops and Harry and Remus grabbed the balls. Since they were Seekers, they both grabbed the Quaffle and held it with both hands. Together, they launched the ball up in the air and released only one Bludger (as each team only had one Beater). They let the Snitch go and waited ten seconds, then mounted their brooms. Harry kicked off the ground and followed Lupin up above the action.
In ten minutes, Harry's team had scored five times, and Remus' hadn't at all. Not only was Snape a Keeper, but he was apparently a really good one. Damon and McGonagall worked well together, and Draco was an outstanding Beater. He soon noticed that Moony was following him, and smiled to himself. He looked around at the others. Damon and McGonagall were running one more time at the goals, and Snape was looking all together bored. Draco was flanking McGonagall, and Harry suddenly wished he had a camera. Draco protecting McGonagall and a Ravenclaw was priceless. He barely missed the Bludger Jennifer sent his way, and he spun in the air and sent it toward Draco with the end of his broom.
"Draco, heads up!" Draco pulled back and sent the Bludger sailing towards Remus. Jennifer blocked it and sent it back towards McGonagall. She passed the Quaffle back to Damon just as she had to duck. Harry was right behind her, and smacked it back and forth between himself and Draco. Once they reached the goals, Harry slammed it back to Draco, who smacked it at the Headmaster. Jennifer wasn't fast enough, and Dumbledore had to duck, giving Damon plenty of room to send the Quaffle sailing through the tallest hoop with ease.
Harry smiled, and was genuinely enjoying himself for the first time in a while. He soared high, looked for a flash of gold. He caught it, hanging just behind Snape's goals. He dove for it, knowing Moony was on his tail. But his 2000 was no match for the Firebolt, and Harry lengthened the distance between them in a short time. Harry reached out and closed around the Snitch, but something caught his eye. He turned to the shadow coming closer and stopped. Remus slammed into his broom, sending the young boy falling to the ground. Remus ricocheted off and tried to regain control. Snape dove for the falling boy and scooped him up well before he hit the ground. Harry thrashed around and held out his wand.
"Accio Firebolt!" His Firebolt hit his hands and he jumped on. Then Snape saw what he was afraid of; a hoard of Dementors was gliding straight for the pitch. Students and teachers alike pulled their wands and gathered around each other. They were outnumbered two to one, but they had no intention of backing down. Snape looked behind him for Harry, expecting to see him flying for the tallest tower. Considering his past with Dementors and the unfortunate fate of his godfather, surely Harry didn't wish to face them.
Instead, he didn't have to look far. Harry glided up beside him with his wand drawn and a scowl that would have rivaled his own.
"Do you know how to play?"
"Yeah, my family is obsessed with the game."
"What position do you play?"
"I can play Chaser and Beater." They joined the others, who were already waiting for them. Draco sneered at the Firebolt and clutched his Nimbus 2001 tightly. Harry looked at the other two students. Damon had a Nimbus 2000, and Jennifer was riding one of the school's Comet Two-Sixties. Harry then turned to the professors. He was pleased to see that no one else had a Firebolt, but Snape and McGonagall were both holding Nimbus 2001s. Dumbledore and Lupin had 2000s and Trelawney had taken a Comet as well. Mike retrieved one and soon Dumbledore addressed the group.
"I have chosen one student and one teacher to each be a Captain. Harry, since you are the Captain of the Gryffindor team, you will head Team 1. Remus will captain Team 2." Dumbledore pulled his wand and muttered a word and Lupin's robes changed from red to blue. "Don't worry, I'll fix them all when it's over."
"Harry, you pick first."
Harry nodded, "Draco, Beater" he said simply, and Draco stood behind him, dressed in a red robe.
"I'll get you for this Potter. Imagine, me wearing red." he shook his head and laughed.
Remus chuckled a little, "Mike, why don't you join me? I could use a good, young Chaser." Remus winked at the youngest student, and the boy smiled. He thought he would have been picked last. Remus laid a hand on his shoulder and leaned in. "I know what it feels like to be picked last," he whispered. Harry crinkled his forehead and turned to Draco.
"What do you think?"
"Definitely Snape. He's the youngest teacher, and he's got a Nimbus 2001."
"What about Damon? He's on his house team, and he's a pretty good Keeper. Besides, what from I hear, Snape is a Seeker, and we don't need another one."
"Actually, don't believe everything you hear Potter. Snape was a Keeper, not a Seeker."
Harry smirked, "Right then," he turned to the group, "Professor Snape, Keeper." Dumbledore smiled.
"Very good use of resources Harry." Snape shook his head in disgust as his robes were changed from black to a vibrant red. He joined the two fifth years and gave a small sneer at Harry's proud face.
Remus cleared his throat and looked a little taken aback, but shook his head. "Albus, Keeper." Harry nearly choked. He couldn't picture the old wizard playing anything but Seeker. But then who --? He caught the twinkle in Moony's eyes and groaned. This was not going to be an easy game.
"Damon, Chaser."
"Jennifer, Beater."
"Professor McGonagall, Chaser."
"That leaves you, Sybil. Would you please join my team as a Chaser?"
"Very well, Lupin. But that was a lousy cover-up for having been chosen last," For the second time, Harry was speechless. She actually had a sense of humor. He turned to his team, but saw the same reactions on their faces.
Snape and Dumbledore rose to the hoops and Harry and Remus grabbed the balls. Since they were Seekers, they both grabbed the Quaffle and held it with both hands. Together, they launched the ball up in the air and released only one Bludger (as each team only had one Beater). They let the Snitch go and waited ten seconds, then mounted their brooms. Harry kicked off the ground and followed Lupin up above the action.
In ten minutes, Harry's team had scored five times, and Remus' hadn't at all. Not only was Snape a Keeper, but he was apparently a really good one. Damon and McGonagall worked well together, and Draco was an outstanding Beater. He soon noticed that Moony was following him, and smiled to himself. He looked around at the others. Damon and McGonagall were running one more time at the goals, and Snape was looking all together bored. Draco was flanking McGonagall, and Harry suddenly wished he had a camera. Draco protecting McGonagall and a Ravenclaw was priceless. He barely missed the Bludger Jennifer sent his way, and he spun in the air and sent it toward Draco with the end of his broom.
"Draco, heads up!" Draco pulled back and sent the Bludger sailing towards Remus. Jennifer blocked it and sent it back towards McGonagall. She passed the Quaffle back to Damon just as she had to duck. Harry was right behind her, and smacked it back and forth between himself and Draco. Once they reached the goals, Harry slammed it back to Draco, who smacked it at the Headmaster. Jennifer wasn't fast enough, and Dumbledore had to duck, giving Damon plenty of room to send the Quaffle sailing through the tallest hoop with ease.
Harry smiled, and was genuinely enjoying himself for the first time in a while. He soared high, looked for a flash of gold. He caught it, hanging just behind Snape's goals. He dove for it, knowing Moony was on his tail. But his 2000 was no match for the Firebolt, and Harry lengthened the distance between them in a short time. Harry reached out and closed around the Snitch, but something caught his eye. He turned to the shadow coming closer and stopped. Remus slammed into his broom, sending the young boy falling to the ground. Remus ricocheted off and tried to regain control. Snape dove for the falling boy and scooped him up well before he hit the ground. Harry thrashed around and held out his wand.
"Accio Firebolt!" His Firebolt hit his hands and he jumped on. Then Snape saw what he was afraid of; a hoard of Dementors was gliding straight for the pitch. Students and teachers alike pulled their wands and gathered around each other. They were outnumbered two to one, but they had no intention of backing down. Snape looked behind him for Harry, expecting to see him flying for the tallest tower. Considering his past with Dementors and the unfortunate fate of his godfather, surely Harry didn't wish to face them.
Instead, he didn't have to look far. Harry glided up beside him with his wand drawn and a scowl that would have rivaled his own.