Chapter 11 – Firebolts, Dementors and Magical Beasts

Avalon felt better later on and joined them for dinner.

"I'm sorry I gave you a fright," she said pushing her food from side to side.

"It wasn't your fault," Hermione said. "We understand. Dumbledore explained it to us."

"Don't be angry at him," Harry said quickly. "He wanted us to understand what you were going through."

Avalon looked shocked for a moment. It was quickly replaced with a smile. Thanks to Ron.

"Just tell us if Snape starts to treat you like Neville just tell me and I'll put donkey ears on him before he could say bat wings!" Ron told her. They laughed.

The rest of the time, before term started again, they spent flying on their brooms. At first Ron and Harry wouldn't let her out of their sight. Afraid she'd fall again. That changed when Hermione and Avalon lectured Ron after he nearly crashed into her. Harry laughed. Then they turned on Harry and lectured him also. That was one thing Avalon and Hermione did well. They could make you feel guilty for breathing if they wanted to.

When everyone came back it was quickly all over the school that the four had gotten Firebolts for Christmas. Harry had to pry his away from Oliver. Fred and George were all over Ron's broom begging him for a chance to fly it. Ron was soaking it up. Avalon and Hermione had everyone else in Gryffindor drooling over theirs.

"I'll be announcing you three soon," said Lee Jordan, the Weasley twin's best friend.

"Yeah," agreed George. "They'll be giving Oliver a run for his money." Everyone who heard laughed.

To the utmost excitement to Hermione, and displeasure of the others, the new term started. Ron pointed out that they didn't have to start with potions and Snape. To that they all agreed it was good.

After Care of Magical Creatures, which was warm because Hagrid had a bonfire with salamanders. Draco had picked up a piece of wood on fire when Hagrid had his back turned. He threw it at Avalon's hair. Luckily Harry saw it and knock in down before it could put her hair on fire. Ron picked it and threw it back at Draco. It caught Draco's cloak on fire. A commotion started as Crabbe and Goyle tried to put it out. A Slytherin ended up throwing a bucket of ice-cold water at him. Draco didn't say anything as he was excused to change clothes. The four friends laughed watching Draco walk away like a wet rat.

Divination turned out to be more boring.

"Palmistry," Professor Trelawney said, "is a very ancient way of predicting one's future." She continued on about the lines. Harry half-heartedly listened. He saw his friends doing the same.  Only Lavender Brown and Pravati Patil seemed to enjoy the lecture.

Trelawney started to describe the line and what they meant. She gave them basic instructions on how to identify the lines.

"Now I want everyone to get a partner and identify each other's life line. Tell them what you see in it."

Sighs were heard from all over the class. It quickly turned to chatter as everyone started to talk.

"Lets see your hand, Harry," said Ron. Harry held out his hand. Ron looked at it. "Hmm. It looks like you'll have a scar on your head, since it's a bit crooked, and a person in a dark cloak after you because of the lint ball at the end." They laughed.

Trelawney, who had recently corrected Neville about reading the lifeline, came over to them.  "What do you see in Mister Weasley's life line?" She asked Harry.

Harry looked at Ron's hand. "Uh. It curves, that means change. And it goes up, so it means he'll be happy."

Trelawney shook her head at him. "You're doing it all wrong. Let me see yours." She grabbed his hand and turned if from side to side. Then took in a deep breath. "Oh dear, oh dear," she said.

"What?" asked Ron concern on his face as he looked at Harry.

"Potter, you have a very short lifeline. It looks like where it ends that you may be dead very soon."

Harry snatched his hand away. The class looked at him with pity on their face. Except Avalon and Hermione, who just rolled their eyes.

After that was Defense Against the Dark Arts. It was surprisingly uneventful and even bordered on boring.

There was a Ravenclaw and Slytherin game a week later. Everyone groaned, except Slytherin and Oliver Wood, when the former team lost. Wood later explained it was a good thing and it gave them a chance at winning the Quidditch Cup. Which, after hearing that, made everyone brighten up and made Fred and George put away their dung bombs for another day.

This also meant that Avalon was working twice as hard to teach Harry the Patronus Charm.

Then Wood sprung on the team extra practices. Good naturedly he invited Hermione, Ron, and Avalon to join them. If only to try and get them to let the others ride their Firebolts. While letting someone ride their brooms the three would talk about the game. Eventually they came up with their own plays (from the promptings of Avalon). They even ventured to present one to Wood. At first he seemed offend. He quickly realized that they might just help the team. The Gryffindor Quidditch team jokingly called them the Experts.

Wood informed Harry that the Ravenclaw Seekers, Cho Chang, had a Comet Two-Sixty. His Firebolt would easily out strip her broom. Harry just nodded his head at the information. He knew it'd be good to try his out against other types of brooms.

Then came the day. Winning this match would decide if Gryffindor had a chance at winning the cup or not. Harry was nervous. He barely ate his food, just pushed it from side to side. No one seemed to notice.

"No pressure, right Harry?" joked Fred. They team laughed.

"Don't worry," reassured Ron.

"You'll do fine," said Avalon. She smiled at him.

Harry couldn't help but smile back, even though his stomach flipped. He didn't think it was because of nerves though.

Ginny Weasley was asking him something when she was interrupted.

"Careful of those dementors, Potter," said Draco Malfoy flanked by his goons, Crabbe and Goyle. "You might just fall off your broom. Don't want that happening now do we?"

"Go away," said Ginny. She glared at him a Malfoy gave her a look back but didn't say anything to her.

"Yeah, bug off, Malfoy," added Avalon, glowering at him. It must have taken Malfoy by surprise; he seemed to falter before recovering.

"And what are you going to do? Have his fan club come after me?" He laughed, looking smug.

"You wish it were that. It'd be far better that you deserve, Fittz."

Everyone who heard went silent. The Weasleys all had the same expression; open mouth, jaw dropped. Wood blinked a few times before he stopped all together. Angelina, Alicia, and Katie sat in shock. Harry and Hermione exchanged looks of confusion.

Malfoy's face turned red. Harry wasn't sure if it was from embarrassment or anger.  The Slytherin turned on his heels and left, followed by Crabbe and Goyle.

"I wish I had said that a long time ago," Ron said finally, patting her back triumphantly. So it seemed everyone was doing the same. Soon everyone was speaking at once.

"What's a Fittz?" Hermione asked in a brief pause.

Ginny giggled at hearing the word again. "She just called Malfoy common blood. Meaning he and his family is no better than, even below, Muggles."

Harry could see why them it made Malfoy angry. It was widely know that they hated Muggles. To be categorized as one was an definite insult. He figured it was just as bad as being called a Mudblood.

He wondered if Avalon knew what she had done, because Draco wasn't going to take it lightly.

Soon Harry didn't have enough time to think about that. He was whisked away from the house table to the locker room.

"You have your problem under control?" asked Wood before they stepped out onto the field.

At first he wasn't sure what he meant. Then he knew; the dementors. "Yes," replied Harry. At least he hoped so. He knew Dumbledore would be furious if they came on the field again. His Patronus Charm was strong enough though. Professor Lupin had helped him and Avalon when they were struggling along. Lupin said for a wizard his age it was amazing that he could do even a weak Patronus. It was a hard charm to work. He noticed that neither of them said that Avalon could work it, amazingly powerful too. Yet Harry knew that she wasn't the average witch, as she appeared to be.

He was called back to the Quidditch Pitch as they moved on to the field. There was a cheering all around him.

Harry looked around the Ravenclaws in their blue robes to find Cho Chang. He did and he felt his gut clench as she smiled at him. He had had this feeling before but couldn't place it.

Madam Hooch blew the whistle and before he knew it the game had begun. In the distance he heard Lee Jordan announcing the game. At least he should be. He sounded more like and advertiser talking about the Firebolt broom more than a Quidditch announcer. Professor McGonagall, as usual, was scolding him.

"Welcome! It's Ravenclaw versus Gryffindor today! Look at the broom the Gryffindor Seeker has. Fastest one on the market, you know. And the Quidditch team-"

"Mister Jordan!"

"Professor I must inform the audience-"

"It is your job to report about the game," McGonagall replied.

He noticed Cho near by him. She looked reading to chase after him if he took off. So, he did. He flew to the other side of the pitch, pretending to see the Snitch. Cho tried to follow as fast her broom permitted. He zigzagged all over, and then pretend his lost it. Lee just them announced that Gryffindor scored. The crowed cheered (minus Slytherin).

Harry looked all over the field for the Snitch. "C'mon," he prompted it.

Mean while Ravenclaw scored twice and Gryffindor another three times.

Then he spotted it. It was near the Slytherin stands. He was speeding towards it. A Bludger grazed by him as Harry narrowly ducked his head. Cho Chang followed. The golden ball dashed off.

"Look at that Snitch go!" Lee said. "I give my wand in saying that Potter's broom will out fly Ravenclaw's Cho Chang's Comet Two-Sixty."

"I'd stop that right now Mister Jordan."

"What?!"

He was lead all over the field. The Snitch seemed to be dangerous today and led him near the stands. Cho kept up with him pretty well. That was until Harry and his broom went faster.

The Snitch took a dive towards the ground near the Ravenclaw goal. A Bludger nearly hit him. Luckily he ducked.

Reaching out his arm Harry grabbed for the Snitch.

"Go Harry!" he heard George yell as he caught the Snitch. Harry heard the crowed cheer at his catch. Harry smiled broadly, happy that the Gryffindors would be going on to the Quidditch Cup. Then it died out as everyone turned their attention to something else. Harry looked around to see what was happening.

Dementors were on the field. Harry's felt his stomach clench. They weren't going to ruin this day for him. He pulled out his wand and pointed it at the dementors. "Expecto patronum!" He yelled as he pointed his wand at them. At the same time out of the corner of his eye he spotted movement. He turned and was pointing his wand then saw what it was. It was Crookshanks, Paddy, and (to Harry's amazement) Hedwig coming towards the dementors. Before he could think Katie and Fred pulled him to the ground. His teammates were still excited, despite the fact that dementors were present.

The Ravenclaw team had already landed and was staring at the dementors and the animals. The dementors started to run away from the small brigade of magical beasts. While teachers made their way on the field, lead by Professor Dumbledore.

"Way to go Harry!" Wood said thumping him on the back. Soon his whole team was around him. Even the Ravenclaw team came to congratulate Harry and his teammates.

"Congrats Harry!" Roger Davies, the Ravenclaw captain said. Harry smiled and said thank you but was quickly turned around to be congratulated.

"Oh Harry!" Hermione said throwing her arms around him and hugging him. "I'm so glad that you won!"

Ron came up from behind him grinning from ear to ear. "Now we get to show those Slytherins what we're really made of." He thumped Harry on the back.

"You did it Harry!" Avalon said hugging him also. Harry smiled and gladly hugged her back. She pulled away and made a face, teasing him. "You need to change out of that uniform."

Harry laughed in reply, trying not to sound self-conscience and started to head for the locker rooms.

"Whoa, Potter, where you going?" asked Alicia and pulled him back to the crowed.

After everyone left the field and the Gryffindor team was heading back to the locker rooms did Harry learn that the dementors were just Malfoy and his friends trying to scare Harry.

"You weren't suppose to tell him!" said Angelina when George let it "slip". He narrowly missed the hit up side the head from her.

"Doesn't matter," Oliver said, still smiling. "Harry would have caught it anyway!"