Chapter 9 ~ Gryffindor vs. Slytherin: The Final Conflict
It was the morning before the huge Quidditch match against Slytherin and Harry was getting jumpy. It was the biggest game of his Quidditch career – the one that will determine whether he had done his job this season. Ani was sitting beside him at the table. She looked at him, worried, as he poked at his breakfast.
"Harry," she began quietly, "please eat something. You have been like this all week. I am worried about you – we all are."
Harry shook his head, and Oliver, who had heard what Ani said, patted Harry on the back.
"I remember my first championship as captain," he said, "It was against Ravenclaw. I was nervous about it from the time I found out Gryffindor was going to play in it. The night before the game, I hit rock bottom. Couldn't eat, couldn't sleep – hell, I could hardly talk or hold myself up! The team carried me to the Hospital Wing and Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Pomfrey forced me to eat, settled me down and got me to sleep. Trust me Harry, it was a nightmare! You don't want to end up like me that night."
Harry looked up, "Did you win?"
"Is that all that matters," Oliver asked, but a glint in his eye told Harry that he had.
"Watch out!"
"Coming through!"
"Hey, Harry! Come help us with these!"
Harry turned to Ron, Fred and George and took a couple of boxes from them.
"Are these…" Harry began.
"Yup," Ron replied, opening one of the boxes.
Inside there were small quaffle shaped balls. Anistasia's face was printed on each of them, including her name and position. She picked one up and rolled it in between her fingers.
"So this is what you guys have been spending endless nights inventing…this is what you three made my boyfriend's time on when he could have been keeping me warm and safe ---"
"That, I need to hear no more of," Ron interrupted.
George smiled, "Don't look too flattered, Ani. You have to share the wealth with the rest of the team."
Six more boxes were opened, revealing small bouncy balls that sported the names and faces of the rest of the Gryffindor team. The Weasleys were in Bludgers, Harry on a Snitch and the three Chasers, like Ani, occupied Quaffles. By this time, most of the Gryffindor students and some students from both Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff had gathered around. Fred stepped up onto a bench and announced to the people around:
"The newest Wizard Wheezes from Three Weasleys and a Potter have arrived. Get your Gryffindor Quidditch Team bouncy balls and support your favorite player! Not only do these balls hold the image of your chosen player, but also when bounced on the floor, a quote, cheering on your team member is yelled! Get them while they last, only four sickles each!"
A mob of people began lining up. No sooner had the first ball been sold than the hall filled with a chorus of voices, cheering on the Gryffindors and bringing down the Slytherins.
"Alicia Spinnet scores! Ten more points to Gryffindor!"
"Beater Fred Weasley knocks a Bludger in Flint's direction…and it makes contact! Nice hit, Weasley!"
"Angelina Johnson ducks under Malfoy, weaves a pattern between the four Beaters on the field and shoots…SCORES!"
"Anistasia Willow, the newest team member, looks like a pro as she dives and swoops to block the Gryffindor hoops!"
"A Bludger is sent in Potter's direction, but George Weasley acts quickly – nice save!"
"Katie Bell catches a quick pass from Spinnet and glides effortlessly towards the Slytherin goals…"
"Harry Potter sees the Snitch…he dives…but no! He fakes Malfoy out with the Wronski Defensive Feint and Malfoy sprawls to the ground!"
The Great Hall filled with these voices and the Slytherin students' faces grew grave. Soon, all of the Wizard Wheezes had been sold, yet there was still a demand for more.
"To those of you who haven't received your fill," George began, "There will be more to sell at the game tomorrow. Just see Ron in the Gryffindor stands."
There were cheers and the students went to their proper table, bouncing the balls around the Slytherins as they went.
"Come on, guys! Faster, smoother – lets move!"
Ani blocked another Quaffle as Harry was yelling commands at the Chasers. It was Sunday – the day before their final Quidditch match of the season. The team had been on the field since eleven (they had a strategy meeting from eight to ten). It was now two in the afternoon and Harry showed no signs of letting up.
"Weasleys! Hit those Bludgers harder! Let them have it! I want to see terror on Slytherin's face! Pure terror! Laura, don't make it so obvious where you are going to shoot. Run AF 3 again! Ani, don't let up. Be fierce! Be strong!"
For two more hours they worked, but Harry seemed not one bit satisfied.
"Alright. It is about four now. I want you back in the Common Room at six for a meeting and then we'll come back out at seven thirty."
The tem flew to the castle. Fred went to get everybody food while they collapsed in random places around the Common Room.
"Harry has gone Quidditch crazy," Katie said, "He is worse than Oliver. Ani, you have to do something."
"I cant," she explained, "There is more at stake in this game than just the Quidditch Cup. This game means everything to Harry and I will not say anything to ruin it for him."
"You mean the position on the All Star team," George asked, "Oh, you know he's got that spot already."
"He and Malfoy are almost tied in Seeker statistics ---"
"Angie, Malfoy is a moron. There is no way he is going to catch the Snitch tomorrow. Harry has been training all summer and all this year," George said, "The Snitch is Harry's best friend. It might even come to him when called. Look, my point is, I don't know what Harry's beef is. Nothing is going to get past Ani, Fred and I are going to let those Bludgers know who's boss and our Chasers are mad with those new attacks we've been practicing. Tomorrow's game will be perfect. We have nothing to worry about.
"Good morning, Quidditch fans, and welcome to the last game of the Hogwarts season. I regret to inform you that Professor McGonagall has a cold, so she will no be co-commentating with me. We hope you get better soon, Professor! Anywhoo, playing today for the Quidditch Cup are the defending champions in scarlet, Gryffindor, lead by Seeker Harry Potter, and in green, Slytherin, lead by Chaser Marcus Flint. Gryffindor has beaten the Slytherin team in the past three tournaments. Now that they have a new captain, is Gryffindor liable to defeat? Throughout the season, it hasn't been likely and today, there is no chance. Flint, you ought to pack up your team and leave the Pitch now because with Harry Potter, the youngest Seeker for a century and greatest of all time, leading the legendary Gryffindors, there is no way you are going to win," Lee Jordan, a Gryffindor seventh year and the accommodator, said.
Ani ran out onto the field beside Harry. She saw that he was nervous.
"Relax," she said to him, "Everything will be fine."
He smiled and kissed her on the cheek, "Thanks, love."
"I want a nice, clean game," Madam Hooch told both of the teams and pulled a golden galleon out of her pocket, "Flint, since your team is the underdog, I would like you to call it in the air."
She flipped the coin.
"Tails," Marcus called.
"It is heads. Harry, will you be receiving the Quaffle?"
Harry nodded.
"Slytherin lost the galleon toss – in your face, Flint – and Gryffindor shall be receiving the Quaffle," Lee announced.
The Gryffindor side cheered and Madam Hooch blew her whistle. A huge mass of scarlet and green rose into the air. The Bludgers and the Golden Snitch were released. A moment later, Madam Hooch released the Quaffle. Once Angela had possession of the Quaffle, the game was underway.
"Angela Johnson has the quaffle…she dodges Malfoy and sinks under the Bludger…passes it laterally to Katie Bell who swerves a little…jumps clear over Flint…goes for the shot…AND SCORES! GRYFFINDOR IS UP TEN TO NOTHING!"
Lee's last sentence was drowned out by the roaring of the Gryffindor crowd. Not five minutes had gone by and Gryffindor was already winning. Harry flew high above the game; Draco was right on his tail.
"Fred Weasley gets a hold of that Bludger and sends it flying…flying…HARRY WATCH OUT!!!"
By the time Harry ducked, it was already too late. The Bludger hit him and he went down and his broom with him.
"HARRY," Ani yelled as she almost slipped off the front of her broom, "TIME OUT! MADAM HOOCH, TIME OUT!"
Madam Hooch blew her whistle and the Gryffindor team flew down to Harry.
"Assistant Captain Anistasia Willow calls for a two minute time out as her boyfriend and the Captain, Harry Potter, goes down after a Bludger that Fred Weasley hit knocked Harry off his broom."
As Lee was announcing what was happening, Ani fell to her knees beside Harry and stroked his forehead. As Fred landed, Ani looked up at him with flames in her eyes.
"You idiot," she screamed, coming to her feet and charging towards Fred, "You injured your own Seeker! Do you have any f---- "
"Willow looks like a beast as she tears up Weasley. Boy, she's going to let him have it. Things could get ugly between these two teammates," Lee said, enjoying the violence.
"Ani, I --- "
"No, don't even start apologizing," she yelled, grabbing his robes, "That won't do any good right now. Malfoy is going to catch the Snitch and Slytherin will win the game and the Cup. Do you have any idea what this is going to do to Harry? He has worked so hard for this – and his first year as Captain, too."
Ani pushed Fred to the ground. He looked up at her from his position on the ground as she chewed him out.
"Willow has pushed the Beater to the ground and, yes, Angelina is pulling Ani away from Weasley."
"Ani, calm down," Angie whispered in Ani's ear, "You are making a scene."
"Ani pulls away from Angelina," Lee began, "It looks like…Anistasia is kneeling back down beside her unconscious boyfriend once again."
"Here's how it all stands – we don't have a Seeker and the only way a game can end, as we all know, is if a Seeker catches the Snitch. Nobody else can even touch the Snitch. Malfoy is still in the game. You know what we are going to do? Katie, lead the Chasers to do anything, and I mean, anything, in your power to get possession of the Quaffle, score and try to get possession again. I will keep Slytherin from scoring at all costs. Fred and George, do anything possible to keep Malfoy away from that Snitch. I want this game to go on as long as possible in the chance that Harry might wake up and be able to come back. Since our Beaters are going to be preoccupied, I need you guys, Chasers, to keep an eye out for those Bludgers. I can't risk another injury on this team. Understand? Good. Break! "
"The team breaks from their circle around their fallen Seeker and take to the air. Anistasia gives Harry a gentle kiss on the forehead as Madam Pomfrey comes to take him off the field," Lee said, "It looks like Gryffindor is going to try to stay in the game."
Ani took her spot in front of the goals and watched what was happening. Fred and George kept a close eye on Malfoy as well as the Bludgers. The Chasers launched all of the attacks they had practiced the day before.
Hours went by. Anistasia didn't allow a Quaffle to pass through her goals and the Chasers were doing an unbelievable job scoring. The Weasleys were keeping an eye out for the Snitch, but it was nowhere to be found.
"Gryffindor scores another goal! The score is now twenty to two hundred twenty, Gryffindor's favor! Who needs a Seeker to win? Not Gryffindor, obviously, who looks unaffected by the loss of Captain and Seeker, Harry Potter! Willow isn't even breaking a sweat as the guards those goals. Oliver is intimidated, no doubt."
A faint smile spread across Oliver's face as he sat on the sidelines at this last comment. The game dragged on for quite some time.
"Goal number seventeen for Gryffindor Chaser, Johnson this game," Lee was yelling above the cheers of the Gryffindor crowd, "That brings Gryffindor to three hundred sixty and Slytherin is trailing by twenty. I believe that this is the perfect time to recite the poem that Fred, George and I wrote Saturday during Potions. Their robes are green, they remind me of puke, Monday is the day their asses will be douched. Slytherin, you've come to your end! Gryffindor, I am sure we'll win…"
Laughter broke out in the Gryffindor stands while Slytherin booed at Lee's poem. Fred and George gave each other a high five and thumbs up to Lee. Despite everything that she had been feeling – nervous, anxious and fearful – a smile swept across Anistasia's face.
"Fred Weasley gets a hold of one of the Bludgers…it flies in the direction of the – OH, NO! ANISTASIA!"
Anistasia didn't see the Bludger, but the Quaffle that was thrown by Flint towards the goals. In one smooth motion, Ani dived for the Quaffle, but was hit by the Bludger and was knocked off her broom. Slytherin scored.
"Slytherin scores and Willow is down," Lee exclaimed, "She is moving and, yes, signals a time out. Fred, don't go near her. I am warning you."
The team flew down to her.
"Where…is…FRED," she asked, through the pain of a broken arm and a sprained ankle.
"Staying as far away from you as possible," George answered.
"He is smart, though he has nothing to worry about – I cant walk, much less attack him…yet," Ani said, "Get him and bring him to me."
Katie pulled Fred over to the group; for a big, tough Beater, he looked awfully scared.
"Fred," Anistasia began slowly with a forced smile on her face, "Let me tell you a bit about Quidditch. A team consists of seven players – two Beaters, three Chasers, one Keeper and One Seeker. Do you know what happens to the team when you take away the Keeper and the Seeker?"
Fred nodded.
Ani continued, "A team can work with one Beater. A team can work with two Chasers. Team cannot work with only two beaters and three Chasers. Do you understand what I am getting at?"
Fred, again, nodded.
"Guys, you have to hold them now. I will try to summon my broom and get back into the air. Chasers, get the Quaffle. Take it from them at all costs. Beaters, hit the Bludgers like you have never hit them before. I swear, if you injure another one of our players, Fred ---"
"Don't worry, Ani. What's the probability of me hitting another one of our players?"
"Five out of twelve, and that is including yourself."
"Exactly," Fred exclaimed as Madam Hooch blew her whistle to signal the end of time out.
Madam Pomfrey walked over to Anistasia with a stretcher floating beside her, "Come, onto the stretcher. Lets get you to the hospital wing."
"No," Ani objected, "I want to stay. I am fine. I'll be up in the air in a minute. How is Harry?"
"Awake. His bones are mending."
"Can he come back?"
"He wants to, but I wont let him."
"Madam Pomfrey, we need him back," Anistasia told her, "We need to win this game."
Madam Pomfrey shook her head and gave Ani a potion to help her bones, "You can stay but I refuse to let Harry back out here."
Anistasia leaned back against one of the goals as Slytherin scored, bringing them to forty. Ani winced as the potion kicked in.
"Are you okay," Madam Pomfrey asked her.
"I'll be fine. This is an important game for Harry. You can't allow yourself to ruin it for him."
Madam Pomfrey nodded and left. Ani pulled out her wand.
"Accio Thunderclap!"
Her broom didn't come to her and Slytherin continued to score. Fifty…sixty…ninety…one hundred twenty. Gryffindor stayed at a solid three hundred sixty. The team was falling apart and Slytherin was moving in on their weaknesses. One hundred sixty…one hundred ninety…
"Accio Thunderclap," Anistasia screamed as she watched Slytherin reach two hundred points.
"The last three hours of the game have consisted of Slytherin gaining points. The Snitch has been spotted on several occasions, though Malfoy is waiting to make his move," Lee explained.
Anistasia had about given up on her broom as a figure swooped low above her head and landed beside her.
"Looking for this," Harry asked, smiling down at her.
Anistasia looked up at Harry, who was hovering above her, holding her Thunderclap in his hand. She nodded, mounted her broom and they both took to the air through a mass of excited yells.
"Bloody hell! The dominating duo is back in the air and looks determined to finish this game," Lee yelled, barely being heard over the noise of the Pitch, "It has been seven hours and two minutes since this game began and we know that Harry cant wait to finish it."
Ani looked towards the west. The sun was setting.
"Harry, how much time do you think we have before nightfall," she asked.
"About five minutes," he answered.
"Do you think ---"
"Yes, I will catch the Snitch before then. No worries."
Anistasia took her post in front of the goals and waited. Gryffindor looked more hopeful.
"The score is three hundred sixty to two hundred twenty, Gryffindor's favor. This is anybody's game. Slytherin trail by one hundred forty with three minutes left until night --- wait! Potter's got the Snitch!"
It all happened so quickly. Hardly anybody saw the Snitch enter Harry's hand. Though, he had it. Madam Hooch blew her whistle to end the game.
"After seven hours and four minutes, Gryffindor Seeker Harry Potter ends the game, awarding his team with one hundred fifty more points," Lee announced, "The final score is Gryffindor, five hundred ten and Slytherin, two hundred twenty."
Harry landed upon the Pitch and the team, as well as the crowd, bombarded him. He broke through the crowd to Anistasia. With the Snitch in one hand, he reached out with the other and touched her face. She smiled up at him as he came closer. She embraced him as their lips joined together. To Gryffindor Tower they were carried where they partied the night away.
