Disclaimer: Do not own the Wonderful World of Harry Potter… not making any money from my writings…DO NOT LIKE that Rowling has killed Sirius Black and have chosen to pointedly ignore that certain part, allowing him to make an appearance here…
Note to readers: your reviews are only welcome in these types of formats: praise, gushing, skepticism, flames, anger, denial, repulse/disgust, and I suppose constructive criticism can be entertained as well…
A/N: Warning: Snape/McGonagall appearance starting from this chapter, will get worse as story progresses, or as worst can be without increasing the ratings. Also be prepared for unorthodox reaction of Harry towards Snape and Snape's unSnapeish behavior
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No more was said on the matter of the offending pictures because by the time the next day rolled into view, the school was buzzing with new expectation and excitement for quidditch season had officially begun. Captains of Gryffindors, Slytherins, Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws alike were locked in a battle for possession of the field, a battle, one could say, was worse than the match itself. This also meant that Harry and Ron spent most of their free time at the field, leaving the girls to their own devices, which was either working in the library, (yes, Hermione finally managed to get Jessica to enter a library willingly) or watch the boys practice. And a fortnight later, the quidditch field was made ready for the first match that year;
Ravenclaw vs. Gryffindor.
Jessica, Hermione and the rest of the Gryffindors were seated on the raised platforms, eagerly waiting for the players to come onto the field. Jessica could feel a rush of adrenaline pump through her. In truth, this was her first school quidditch match.
"Excited?" asked Hermione, who noticed Jessica's rosy parlor.
"Yeah, I hope Gryffindor wins," she said, smiling widely.
"Of course we'll win. Ravenclaws are just big pushovers," piped in Seamus from the back row. Suddenly the students began to cheer and clap loudly pulling the girls attention back to the field. The players had entered the field, the crimson and gold marching from one side and the navy and silvers proceeding from the opposite end. The fourteen players then mounted their brooms and did the customary lap around the field. Ron and Harry stopped briefly in front of Jessica and Hermione and saluted them before flying back to the middle of the field, where Madam Hooch was. Jessica felt a sudden elation when she noted in that split second that on the left side of Harry's robes was an embroidered prancing lion and the word CAPTAIN at the bottom. Ron flew away from Harry and took his place by the three goal posts, Harry shook hands with the Ravenclaw captain, and with the blow of a whistle, the quaffle was released. The speed and intensity of the game initially stunned Jessica that she completely missed an excellent shot from Dean Thomas, but before the second Gryffindor scored, she caught her wits and was into the game as the rest of the students.
Harry was hovering about 20 meters above the rest of the players, where he could see the game at a better view. The Ravenclaw seeker was flying around near him, casting his shadow over Harry's form. Harry knew the boy was keeping a close watch on him, ready to make the move should Harry show any sign of spotting the snitch before he did. No, chance of that, buddy, Harry thought as he gave a silent yell of joy when Dean scored Gryffindors fifth goal. They were leading 70-20 and Harry had completely forgiven Dean for taking Jessica to the dance the second he put in the first goal. He let his gaze drift away from the game to the stands. More specifically, the Gryffindor stand. There she was, looking radiant with her cheeks glowing red form excitement and the cold. She looked at him and their gaze held for a while before she waved and continued watching the match. Hermione had followed Jessica's gaze and gave Harry a smug look. Harry smiled to himself. Nothing got past her.
He focused back to the game just in time to see Ron make an excellent save. Harry made a mental note to buy Ron all the sugar quills he wanted. Harry gave a small sigh, and slowly began to feel a little bored, his eyes scouting the area for the snitch. Still nothing and judging by the lazy demeanor of the rival seeker, he too was starting to feel the effect of the no action scenario. A complete contrast to what was happening below them, as quaffle passed from speeding chasers and bludgers weaved in and out of the players.
"This game was too easy" mumbled Harry softly to himself as Michael Fox put in Gryffindors eighth goal. So, he decided to fly around and search for the snitch. Twenty minutes had passed into the game and no sign of the snitch. But Harry knew better than to believe that just because he didn't see it doesn't mean the Ravenclaw seeker didn't either. He flew around, one eye on his surrounding, the other on his opponent, who had decided to give Harry some space, thought not too much. Suddenly Harry felt the familiar rush of adrenaline course through him. There is was! Shit! He cursed. He had seen the snitch but the thing was, it was just off the Ravenclaw seekers shoulder. No way could Harry get there before the other seeker once that seeker had seen it, and the thing had decided it was quite happy there, hovering amiably near the rival seeker. Harry was lucky the boy was too busy watching Harry and not the snitch.
Then Harry got an idea. He lowered himself and began speeding to the other side of the field, in the opposite direction of the snitch. As he had thought, the other seeker had been watching him more than the snitch and was immediately on Harry tail. Harry slowed down a fraction, and when the seeker was in par with him, he did a 180-degree turn and sped off towards the snitch. The Ravenclaw seeker was caught completely by surprised and by the time he got his bearings back, Harry had already neatly wrapped his fingers around the snitch.
The Gryffindor stands were rocking with students jumping up and down, screaming their lungs out. They had won!! It was truly fortunate that the stands were supported by magic or it would have come crashing down under the stamping on the students. Jessica wasn't among those screaming and jumping like a Mexican bean, mainly because she and Hermione were scurrying down the steps to the quidditch field. Once the two stepped onto the field they broke into a run and Hermione ran straight into Ron's arms, knocking him onto the ground. Jessica skidded to a halt just a little in front of Harry and gently hugged him.
"Harry, you were great!" she cried.
"You don't have to sound so surprised Jessica," he replied but his tone was joking. They hugged again, but then the other Gryffindors had followed Hermione's and Jessica's lead and begun accosting Harry, so Jessica stepped back, and looked at the scene enfolding in front of her. Hermione joined her seconds later, as Ron too had been pulled into the small crowd of worshippers.
"He seems really happy doesn't he?" said Jessica. Names were redundant as Hermione knew whom she was talking about. The only person she's been talking about.
"Quidditch is his heart and soul," she replied, and so are you, she added silently. They looked at Harry and Padma Patil, Ravenclaw captain shake hands once again under good sportsmanship.
"He looked so … complete, riding on his broom. Like he was born to play quidditch. Does that sound silly?" she asked, looking at the other girl.
"Not at all," was all she answered. Who would've thought Harry finally did something right when he fell in love with Jessica. Harry's problem had always been that girls never really understood his passion for the sport. Well, it used to be his problem. Soon, the two boys joined the girls and together they went to the Great Hall for a victory dinner.
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The next couple of weeks flew by them. Quidditch practice became more frequent for the Gryffindor team players as Harry didn't want to take any chances even against Hufflepuff. When any of the players complained that they hadn't lost the cup in three years, and they weren't going to start now, Harry would rebuke them by saying don't count your chickens before they hatch! [Harry, if you continue to use that phrase five times within an hour, I'm going to demand some royalty as being the one who taught you that phrase (Jessica)], that in the end no one said anything.
But the Hufflepuff match came and went and it was an easy win for Gryffindor, even though Justin tried his best to bring his team to victory. This left only one team left, their longstanding nemesis, the Slytherins. It was these days, the days before the match against Slytherin, that Harry went crazy with quidditch practices. For him there wasn't weather too extreme to cancel trainings or a sickness to terminal to be an excuse for missing practice. Early morning, half an hour after lunch and most of the afternoons and evenings. If he and his team weren't on the field then they'd be in the common room, going over strategies and frankly these new and intense practice sessions were beginning to show its colors. Not on the players but on Hermione. She was beginning to loose her patience with Harry and it had nothing to do with missing Ron.
Due to the odd hours, the boys had no time to do their homework and would rely on Hermione and Jessica to 'help' with their work. Only divination had to be done without help, but the boys had figured out a long time ago that by throwing a death in April, a tragedy in August and a calamity in December, they'd be able to get away with satisfactory marks. After the third time, Hermione wouldn't help them anymore, and absolutely forbid Jessica from helping, so they'd sneak into the girl's room late, late at night and 'borrow' the books that had been conveniently placed on the dressing table. (Hermione found out much later that Jessica had been in alliance with the boys the whole time, in return for bags of peppermint frogs and sugar quills.).
"I'll be glad once this stupid match is over," grumbled Hermione, as she watched Ron copy her history homework on the night she had felt charitable enough to let them "compare answers" with hers. Jessica smirked then pointed out to Harry that maybe he shouldn't copy her work word for word especially since it was Potions homework.
"Herm, its not a stupid match. The pride of Gryffindor is at stake," explained Ron, not taking his eyes of his work. Hermione sighed. Oh, yes she knew all about upholding the Gryffindor pride. She's lived it for seven years, hasn't she? But she didn't like abandoning her principles just for that. Ah, that's right, she didn't abandoned it for pride; she abandoned it when Ron came to her with puppy dog eyes. Those things should be made illegal, she griped inwardly, continuing to glare at Ron.
"You've won all matches so far, why should this be any different?" remarked Jessica, not truly understanding the fuss. From her angle of perception, Gryffindor team was unbeatable. The three exchanged glances.
"Slytherins aren't exactly known for playing fair. They have mastered the art of subtle fouls," said Harry.
"Subtle fouls?" she asked. What the hell was that?
"Slytherins can foul a player and make it look like an accident," explained in Ron. Jessica made an 'oh' sound, finally understanding, then went back to her book and left the boys to finish their work.
A/N: Ummm… I have nothing to say here… oh well to the next bit then!