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'