A/N: "I
like cheese!" I think I'm cooled down enough, good for me.
"Look at the balance on it! If the Nimbus series has a fault, it's a
slight list to the tail end- you often find they develop a drag after a few
years. They've updated the handle too, a bit slimmer than the Cleansweeps, reminds me of the old Silver Arrows - a pity
they've stopped making them. I learned to fly on one, and a very fine old broom
it was too."
She continued on until Oliver said, "Er - Madam
Hooch? Is it okay if Harry has the Firebolt back? We
need to practice."
"Oh - right - here you are, then, Potter," said Madam Hooch.
"I'll sit over here with Weasley."
She and Ron Weasley, who came to watch went and sat
in the stadium.
Oliver began his final instructions for tomorrow's match. "Harry, I've
just found out who Ravenclaw is playing as Seeker.
It's Cho Chang. She's a fourth year, and she'd pretty
good.I really hoped she wouldn't be fit, she's had some problems with injuries. On the other
hand, she rides a Comet Two Sixty, which is going to look like a joke next to
the Firebolt," he said. "Okay, everyone,
let's go -"
When Harry flew that Firebolt, he turned it so
sharply that Alicia actually screamed!
"Harry, I'm letting the Snitch out!" Oliver called.
Within ten seconds Harry caught the Snitch, and we all went wild. He let the
Snitch go again and gave it a head start. It was lurking near my knee. Harry
was speeding straight toward me but he caught it, without crashing into me.
It was probably out best practice ever, we were all inspired with the presence
of the Firebolt.
We all landed and Oliver said, "Excellent practice everyone!"
George's jaw dropped, pretending to be shocked. "Not a single criticism?
Not one? That's a first, Wood!"
"I can't see what's going to stop us tomorrow!" said Oliver. Not
unless - Harry, you've sorted out your dementor
problem, haven't you?"
"Yeah," said Harry.
"The dementors won't turn up again, Oliver. Dumbledore'd go ballistic," said Fred confidentally.
"Well, let's hope not," said Wood. "Anyway - good work, everyone. Let's get back to the tower.turn
in early - "
"I'm staying out for a bit; Ron wants a go on the Firebolt,"
said Harry.
Alicia and I went up to our dorms quickly and put or jimjams on pretty quickly.
Alicia was taking out her earrings, and putting them in the jewelry box that we
shared when she asked, "Er - Katie? Where your little.broom?"
"Oh!" I said startled. "I gave it back to Oliver."
Alicia screwed up her face, "But why???"
"Don't get me wrong, it was beautiful. But, I just thought that if I
didn't hold on to 'things' I might be able to get over him easier. Does that
make sense?"
Alicia shrugged, "Mmm, I guess. I still woulda kept it. Why didncha give
it to me?"
"Oh, oops, I didn't think of that. Maybe because it said
my NAME on it?" I said, sarcastically.
"Then we could have switched names," said Alicia snottily.
I laughed. "Sure we could. Anyway, I plan on buying one with my own money,
no strings attached."
"Oh, I'm sure."
Next morning, I walked up to the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall at
breakfast to hear Draco Malfoy giving Harry a hard time, no doubt. "Shame
it doesn't come with a parachute - in case you get too near a dementor." He was talking about Harry's Firebolt.
The large, gorilla like boys standing behind Malfoy sniggered.
"Pity you can't attach an extra arm to yours, Malfoy," said Harry.
"Then it could catch the Snitch for you."
I almost choked on my muffin! Malfoy stalked away as I went on laughing, and
coughing on food that went down the wrong pipe. Angelina had to pat me on my
back, to stop me coughing.
"Breathe, damn you!" she said dramatically, laughing.
"It wasn't THAT funny," said Harry, ripping apart a piece of toast.
At quarter to eleven it was time to get set for the match in the locker rooms. When I
was at my locker, Angelina patted me on the back again and mumbled something
about "muffin breather."
I yanked one of her braids, "You evil angel, Angelina."
Oliver cleared his throat calling the teams attention.
"You know what we've got to do. If you we lose this match we're out of the
running. Just -" he said, and glanced at me mid-sentence. "Just fly
like you did in practice yesterday, and we'll be okay!"
He didn't say much, but it was enough. Strong and silent in a
Cedric-ish way.
We walked out onto the pitch to a great applause. That was another thing that I
absolutely love about playing Quidditch, the first applause. It makes you
alert, and gets your heart pumping, and fills you with so much pride. Today
couldn't have been anymore different than the Hufflepuff
match. It was a clear, crisp day with a light, pleasant breeze.
Oliver and Roger Davies walked up to each other at the center of the pitch.
"Wood, Davies, shake hands," Madam Hooch ordered briskly. "Mount
your brooms.on my whistle.three
- two - one -"
When we all kicked off, the Firebolt zoomed up higher
and faster than anyone else's brooms. When the Quaffle was released, I was the
one who caught it. I heard Lee Jordan's commentary.
"-Gryffindor in possession, Katie Bell of Gryffindor heading for
goal."
After I got past the Ravenclaw Keeper a great roar
came from the Gryffindor side, and it was for me!
For awhile, the most interesting action was the Beaters beating Bludgers back
and forth at each other.
"Gryffindor leads eighty points to zero, and look at that Firebolt go! Potter's really putting it through its paces
now, see it turn - Chang's Comet is no match for it, the Firebolt's
precision-balance is really noticeable in these long-"
"JORDAN!" came McGonagall's voice.
"ARE YOU BEING PAID TO ADVERTISE FIREBOLTS? GET ON WITH THE
COMMENTARY!"
Ravenclaw had now scored three goals, meaning we were
only ahead by 50 points, Ravenclaw could still win.
Cho and Harry raced for the snitch. "HARRY, THIS
IS NO TIME TO BE A GENTLEMAN! KNOCK HER OFF HER BROOM IF YOU HAVE TO!"
Wood yelled across the field. I didn't know whether I should laugh at the
remark or be offended by it. It was such a pratty
thing to say!
Harry dived down toward some dementor type looking
things and pulled his wand out and shot some white stuff at them. But, I really
didn't think they were dementors, because I was still
feeling happy.
Harry closed his fingers around then Snitch, right after, securing the game for
Gryffindor! In a flurry of hugs and kisses and that's-my-boy!s,
we all swarmed around Harry.
When I landed, Percy gave me a high five, "Ten Galleons to me!"
Tricia and Karina both yelled so loud that I couldn't
understand them, but I'm sure they were all very positive things.
Fred picked me up and spun me around. Then he dropped me. But that's okay.
"Brilliant! Ruddy Brilliant!" exclaimed Hagrid.
"Party! Gryffindor common room, now!" called George.
I was about to follow him, when something was tapping on my shoulder. It was
Danton!
"Little Bell, you are ruthless!" he said before pulling me into a
hug.
"I'm so glad you came!" I exclaimed.
I pulled him around with me, greeting people until he said that he had to go
and that he would come for the final, also.
I felt another tap on my shoulder. I turned around to see a woman who I had
never seen before. "Um, hello," I said, trying to be friendly.
"Ms. Katie Bell?"
"Yes?"
"I'm Catriona McCormack-"
My jaw dropped. She was one of the best woman Quidditch players in the U.K! She
used to be the Captain, as well as Chaser of the "Prides." She played
for Scotland thirty-something times!
"-of the Pride of Portee," she said in her
Scottish accent.
"I know who you are!" I exclaimed exasperatedly, and excited.
"You're only one of my heroes!"
She smiled widely. "I'm afraid I don't play anymore, so I've decided to
buy and manage the team. But my daughter, Meghan
currently plays Keeper."
Why is this great Quidditch figure talking to me?! "I wanted to
congratulate you on your win, and say that you have the most professional moves
of any student player I've seen in a while."
I could have died right there! "Gee! Thanks! Wow, really?"
"Mhm, if you are interested in training with us
over the summer months, at our training facilities in Portee,
you are more than welcome to come. And may I say, if you keep your work up, you
may be playing for the Pride of Portee."
She slipped me a card with a seal of deep purple and a gold star on it. It said
"Pride of Portee; since 1292," and had her
name on it.
I could barely speak. "Th-thanks!" I
stuttered.
"Good luck," McCormack said with a nod and walked off.
I was screaming inside. My dreams are all coming true!
"Katie?" I heard, and I turned around.
Oliver was standing there, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Hey!" I said, more brightly than usual.
"Great game," he said.
"Yeah! Brilliant work on your part, too," I said. He grinned.
There was a very short, awkward silence, but I barely noticed it, me being
elated.
"Come on. Let's go to the party," I said to him in my great mood, and
he began walking next to me.
When we were in the castle I took the card out of my pocket to make sure, I
wasn't imagining anything.
"What's that you got there?" Oliver asked.
I shoved the card in his face. "Look at it! Look at it!"
"Lemme see that," he said, taking the card
from me.
"The- the Pride of Portee????" he said in
disbelief.
I shook my head fervently. "Right in one, Oliver, old boy! I wish this day
would never end!"
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A/N: Good? Bad? What! Lol. Ummm...yeah very bookish
huh?
Resources: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
by J.K. Rowling, copyright 1999, Arthur A. Levine Book, Scholastic Press. pgs.
254-263 'Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw'
