Chapter Twelve: Potter v. Malfoy
"Everyone better get a good night's sleep to-night, tomorrow's going to be hard day." Harry warned his team, when they finished Quidditch practice the night before the big match against Slytherin. Ron and the Beaters were only half listening as they were busy wrestling the Bludgers back into their box.
"Will you, Harry?" Ginny asked him gently.
Harry nodded, and shouldering the Lightstrike, he headed out of the changing room. Ginny followed a few seconds later, and Jamie, Mark and Civis - who was currently in his terrier form - caught up with them before they left the stadium.
"Are you looking forward to watching your first Quidditch match, Jamie?" Harry asked as entered the castle.
"Yeah, I am," Jamie told him. "You'll give Malfoy a pounding for me?"
"That's the plan," Harry assured her. "Don't worry. Malfoy's not much of a Seeker and he's probably a worse team captain. Plus, all three of their Chasers and their Beaters are new too and if I know Malfoy, he'll pick replacements for size and obedience, not talent."
"Malfoy's the new Slytherin Captain?" asked Ginny.
"Yeah," Harry confirmed. "No surprise there. Apparently Malfoy used his dad's money to hire a professional coach for the team in return for the badge."
"Who?"
"Heinreich Bern," Harry told her. "He was canned by the Falcons two years ago, when his dirty tactics cost them the third season in a row in penalty points."
"So Slytherin'll have a whole load more dirty tricks up their sleeves tomorrow then."
"Uh-huh," Harry agreed. "Why do you think I've been drilling you, Katie, Wilhelm and the Beaters so hard? I want you to be ready."
"Do you think we are?"
Harry nodded. "As long as you say sharp and play smart, you'll be fine."
They reached the common room a few minutes later. "Do you want to play a game of chess before bed?" Harry asked Ginny. "Venomous Tentacula."
The Fat Lady's portrait creaked open and the group climbed into the common room. "Sure, Harry."
Fortunately, the common room was quite empty, and Harry and Ginny were able to snag their favourite chairs by the fire. Jamie and Mark took seats on the floor leaning against the armchairs, Mark opened up the copy of Quidditch Through The Ages he'd borrowed from Jamie, who settled herself down to watch the chess game.
Ron and Hermione returned to the common room about half-an-hour later, and headed for an empty study table to work on their Charms assignment, a three- foot essay on concealment charms. By the time Harry and Ginny had finished their game (which ended after two hours when Harry pinned Ginny's king into a corner with his king and both his rooks) they still hadn't finished so Harry decided he would have to drag Ron up to the dorm and got up. "'Night, Ginny. Jamie, Mark."
"Good night, Harry."
Ten minutes later, Harry and Ron were both undressed and in their respective beds. "Ron, is there anything you'd like to tell me about you and Hermione?"
"No, Harry. Is there anything you want to tell me about you and Ginny?"
"You like Hermione, don't you, Ron?"
"Go to sleep, Harry," Ron replied with a yawn. "We've got a game tomorrow."
"I know that," Harry told him, and turned over to try and get to sleep. Soon, the only sounds in the room were Neville's snores.
----
"Good morning, everyone. And welcome to the first game of Quidditch season." announced Euan Abercrombie, the Gryffindor second year that had been appointed to replace the departed Lee Jordan. "Today, the defending champions - Gryffindor -" The majority of the spectators cheered loudly. "Will take on their fiercest rivals, Slytherin!"
A small minority of supporters, all clad in Slytherin green, cheered loudly but were easily drowned out by the boos from the Gryffindor supporters.
"Both teams have many substantial changes to their line-ups after the departure of several key players. So, without further ado, I present. for Gryffindor. David, Shaw, Bell, Whisp, Weasley, Weasley, and the new team captain. Harry Potter!"
This time it was the cheers of the Gryffindor supporters that vied for dominance over the boos of the Slytherins.
"And for Slytherin, another line-up chosen for size rather than skill."
"Abercrombie."
"Crabbe, Goyle, Baddock, Nott, Pritchard, Bletchley, and. Malfoy!"
Harry walked to the centre circle of the pitch for the traditional handshake, he resisted the temptation to match strength with Malfoy, when Malfoy squeezed a little too hard.
"Why did you come back?" hissed Malfoy, under his breath as they parted.
"Unfinished business," Harry told him calmly.
"We'll finish it for you."
Bring it on, Malfoy.
Madame Hooch walked into the centre of the pitch, and turned first to Harry, then Malfoy. "Remember, I want a nice, clean game," she warned them and released the Snitch and Bludgers, which quickly zoomed off. "Let the game, begin!"
"Gryffindor are in possession, Bell, with the Quaffle. reverse pass back to Ginny Weasley, who ducks a Bludger, hit her way by Beater Goyle of Slytherin. she closing in for the goal. Chaser Nott tries to intercept, but is blocked by a Bludger from Beater David of Gryffindor. Weasley shoots. and scores! Gryffindor are ten points ahead and still in possession."
Over the next twenty minutes, the fledging Gryffindor team clearly showed their superiority over the almost entirely new Slytherin team, scoring six times in rapid succession. Only a rare piece of teamwork by the Slytherin Beaters, Chasers and Keeper enabled them to capture the Quaffle long enough for three attempts at the goal. Ron saved two of them.
"And Chaser Whisp of Gryffindor makes another run at the Slytherin goal - that Firebolt of his is really running rings around Slytherin's Nimbus Two Thousand and One's -"
"Stick to the script, Mr Abercrombie."
"Sorry Professor," said Abercrombie, not sounding sorry at all. "Slytherin Chasers Baddock and Pritchard are closing in on Whisp at an angle. It looks like they may be attempting a Parkin's Pincer." Abercrombie declared. "Wow! That had to hurt! Gryffindor Chaser Whisp jumps up off his broom and Baddock and Nott collide with each other. Whisp lands safely back on his broomstick, but Baddock and Pritchard appear to be knocked out." There was a pause for a moment. "Yes folks, it's official. Chasers Baddock and Pritchard are out and Slytherin must continue two men down. Play resumes, Chaser Whisp of Gryffindor still has the Quaffle. He approaches the shooting circle, takes aim. Heh! That was deliberate! Beater Goyle hits Whisp in head and that's a penalty for cobbing to Gryffindor!"
Catching his Chaser's eye, Harry signalled to Whisp to drop back. The skinny fourth-year nodded and passed the Quaffle to Katie, who had no difficulty in slipping it past Bletchley to give Gryffindor a comfortable seventy-point lead.
It wasn't until Gryffindor had extended their lead to a hundred and ten points to Slytherin's twenty that Harry first saw the glittering gold that was the Snitch. It was fluttering down by the one of the hoops of the Gryffindor goal. Glancing around, he noticed with a grin that Malfoy was looking in completely the wrong direction, and was busy watching Crabbe, Goyle and Nott - the only remaining Chaser - try and stop another push for the goal by Gryffindor's Chasers, this time led by Katie Bell. Grinning to himself, Harry turned his broomstick towards the goal and drifted over, looking for all the world as if he just wanted to have a chat with his Keeper. "How's it going, Ron?"
"Fine, Harry," Ron told him. "Haven't had that much to do to be honest. It's been a bit boring compared to last year."
"Well, I've no problem with that. Do you?" Harry asked and thrust out his hand.
"What the.!" exclaimed Ron, then he grinned as Harry held up the tiny, struggling ball for all to see.
"Gryffindor Captain Harry Potter catches the Snitch!" announced Abercrombie. "Gryffindor wins!"
----
When Harry reached the ground, he was almost bowled over by a short, dark- haired and decidedly female person barrelling into him at high speed. Harry grinned and wrapped his arms around his young friend to steady her.
"Harry, that was brilliant! Especially the way you completely caught Malfoy by surprise!"
"Thanks, Jamie," Harry said, still grinning widely. "So you liked your first Quidditch match, then?"
"Yeah, I did," Jamie admitted. "When's the next one?"
"Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff are playing next weekend," Harry told her, sneaking a glance at Luna, who had just arrived arm-in-arm with Neville, followed by the Creeveys. Luna was wearing the same roaring lion hat as last year, but this time she had - with Civis' help - managed to add a serpent for the lion to chew. "We could go to that if you want?"
Jamie looked at Harry with narrowed eyes, as if to say, I may be young but I'm not stupid. "When are Gryffindor playing next?"
"Not until after Christmas, I'm afraid," Harry admitted with a sigh of his own. "You're always welcome at practices though."
"Where are Ron and Hermione?" Ginny asked, when she joined them a few seconds later.
Harry shrugged, "I don't know."
"You might want to look over there," said Mark with a look of disgust on his face, pointing towards the now unwatched Gryffindor goal hoops.
Harry did, then smiled, and then taking Ginny's left arm in one of his, and keeping a hold of Jamie's right, he steered the group back out of sight towards the Gryffindor changing rooms. "I think they want to be alone," he told the group. "I'm sure they'll catch up later."
Just before he disappeared into the changing room, he turned to Colin. "Please tell me you got a picture of that?" he asked him. Colin nodded vigorously. "I want copies. Lots of copies."
----
Thanks to Ron and Hermione's late arrival back at Gryffindor Tower, and the boisterous celebrations that began as soon as the team returned to Gryffindor Tower - Harry had sent Civis (in his Charles Goodfellow disguise) down to Hogsmeade to pick up a large selection of goodies from Honeydukes and the Three Broomsticks earlier that day, and had also recruited the services of Dobby the house elf to liberate food from the kitchens - Harry wasn't able to talk with Ron about the change in his two best friends' relationship straight away but he was fine with that. After saying goodbye to Luna at the Fat Lady's Portrait, he got himself some Butterbeer and some food and joined Ginny in the best chairs near the fire, Mark and Jamie, also well supplied with goodies sat on the rug between them. Civis, in his crow form, perched on the back of Harry's chair.
"You did well today, Gin," Harry told her. "You were right when you said you'd make a better Chaser than Seeker, though you were pretty good at that too."
"Well of course I am, Harry," Ginny said with a grin. "I chased you for three years didn't I?"
"So you did Ginny, " Harry conceded. "So you did."
"Can we change the subject?" asked Mark.
Ginny giggled and turned the conservation to more comfortable topics, and the evening passed quietly until Katie called an end to the party at about eleven o'clock. Harry waited until Jamie and Mark had disappeared up the stairs and then drew Ginny into a dark corner of the common room. Taking his friend's chin in one hand, he tilted her head back so she was looking him directly in his eye. "May that game begin again."
A/N: The quote: "Why did you come back?" "Unfinished business," "We'll finish it for you." is taken from D3: The Mighty Ducks, starring Emilio Estevez and written by Kenneth Johnson and Jim Bernstein. As always please review. Chapter 13 will up as soon as I can manage it.
"Everyone better get a good night's sleep to-night, tomorrow's going to be hard day." Harry warned his team, when they finished Quidditch practice the night before the big match against Slytherin. Ron and the Beaters were only half listening as they were busy wrestling the Bludgers back into their box.
"Will you, Harry?" Ginny asked him gently.
Harry nodded, and shouldering the Lightstrike, he headed out of the changing room. Ginny followed a few seconds later, and Jamie, Mark and Civis - who was currently in his terrier form - caught up with them before they left the stadium.
"Are you looking forward to watching your first Quidditch match, Jamie?" Harry asked as entered the castle.
"Yeah, I am," Jamie told him. "You'll give Malfoy a pounding for me?"
"That's the plan," Harry assured her. "Don't worry. Malfoy's not much of a Seeker and he's probably a worse team captain. Plus, all three of their Chasers and their Beaters are new too and if I know Malfoy, he'll pick replacements for size and obedience, not talent."
"Malfoy's the new Slytherin Captain?" asked Ginny.
"Yeah," Harry confirmed. "No surprise there. Apparently Malfoy used his dad's money to hire a professional coach for the team in return for the badge."
"Who?"
"Heinreich Bern," Harry told her. "He was canned by the Falcons two years ago, when his dirty tactics cost them the third season in a row in penalty points."
"So Slytherin'll have a whole load more dirty tricks up their sleeves tomorrow then."
"Uh-huh," Harry agreed. "Why do you think I've been drilling you, Katie, Wilhelm and the Beaters so hard? I want you to be ready."
"Do you think we are?"
Harry nodded. "As long as you say sharp and play smart, you'll be fine."
They reached the common room a few minutes later. "Do you want to play a game of chess before bed?" Harry asked Ginny. "Venomous Tentacula."
The Fat Lady's portrait creaked open and the group climbed into the common room. "Sure, Harry."
Fortunately, the common room was quite empty, and Harry and Ginny were able to snag their favourite chairs by the fire. Jamie and Mark took seats on the floor leaning against the armchairs, Mark opened up the copy of Quidditch Through The Ages he'd borrowed from Jamie, who settled herself down to watch the chess game.
Ron and Hermione returned to the common room about half-an-hour later, and headed for an empty study table to work on their Charms assignment, a three- foot essay on concealment charms. By the time Harry and Ginny had finished their game (which ended after two hours when Harry pinned Ginny's king into a corner with his king and both his rooks) they still hadn't finished so Harry decided he would have to drag Ron up to the dorm and got up. "'Night, Ginny. Jamie, Mark."
"Good night, Harry."
Ten minutes later, Harry and Ron were both undressed and in their respective beds. "Ron, is there anything you'd like to tell me about you and Hermione?"
"No, Harry. Is there anything you want to tell me about you and Ginny?"
"You like Hermione, don't you, Ron?"
"Go to sleep, Harry," Ron replied with a yawn. "We've got a game tomorrow."
"I know that," Harry told him, and turned over to try and get to sleep. Soon, the only sounds in the room were Neville's snores.
----
"Good morning, everyone. And welcome to the first game of Quidditch season." announced Euan Abercrombie, the Gryffindor second year that had been appointed to replace the departed Lee Jordan. "Today, the defending champions - Gryffindor -" The majority of the spectators cheered loudly. "Will take on their fiercest rivals, Slytherin!"
A small minority of supporters, all clad in Slytherin green, cheered loudly but were easily drowned out by the boos from the Gryffindor supporters.
"Both teams have many substantial changes to their line-ups after the departure of several key players. So, without further ado, I present. for Gryffindor. David, Shaw, Bell, Whisp, Weasley, Weasley, and the new team captain. Harry Potter!"
This time it was the cheers of the Gryffindor supporters that vied for dominance over the boos of the Slytherins.
"And for Slytherin, another line-up chosen for size rather than skill."
"Abercrombie."
"Crabbe, Goyle, Baddock, Nott, Pritchard, Bletchley, and. Malfoy!"
Harry walked to the centre circle of the pitch for the traditional handshake, he resisted the temptation to match strength with Malfoy, when Malfoy squeezed a little too hard.
"Why did you come back?" hissed Malfoy, under his breath as they parted.
"Unfinished business," Harry told him calmly.
"We'll finish it for you."
Bring it on, Malfoy.
Madame Hooch walked into the centre of the pitch, and turned first to Harry, then Malfoy. "Remember, I want a nice, clean game," she warned them and released the Snitch and Bludgers, which quickly zoomed off. "Let the game, begin!"
"Gryffindor are in possession, Bell, with the Quaffle. reverse pass back to Ginny Weasley, who ducks a Bludger, hit her way by Beater Goyle of Slytherin. she closing in for the goal. Chaser Nott tries to intercept, but is blocked by a Bludger from Beater David of Gryffindor. Weasley shoots. and scores! Gryffindor are ten points ahead and still in possession."
Over the next twenty minutes, the fledging Gryffindor team clearly showed their superiority over the almost entirely new Slytherin team, scoring six times in rapid succession. Only a rare piece of teamwork by the Slytherin Beaters, Chasers and Keeper enabled them to capture the Quaffle long enough for three attempts at the goal. Ron saved two of them.
"And Chaser Whisp of Gryffindor makes another run at the Slytherin goal - that Firebolt of his is really running rings around Slytherin's Nimbus Two Thousand and One's -"
"Stick to the script, Mr Abercrombie."
"Sorry Professor," said Abercrombie, not sounding sorry at all. "Slytherin Chasers Baddock and Pritchard are closing in on Whisp at an angle. It looks like they may be attempting a Parkin's Pincer." Abercrombie declared. "Wow! That had to hurt! Gryffindor Chaser Whisp jumps up off his broom and Baddock and Nott collide with each other. Whisp lands safely back on his broomstick, but Baddock and Pritchard appear to be knocked out." There was a pause for a moment. "Yes folks, it's official. Chasers Baddock and Pritchard are out and Slytherin must continue two men down. Play resumes, Chaser Whisp of Gryffindor still has the Quaffle. He approaches the shooting circle, takes aim. Heh! That was deliberate! Beater Goyle hits Whisp in head and that's a penalty for cobbing to Gryffindor!"
Catching his Chaser's eye, Harry signalled to Whisp to drop back. The skinny fourth-year nodded and passed the Quaffle to Katie, who had no difficulty in slipping it past Bletchley to give Gryffindor a comfortable seventy-point lead.
It wasn't until Gryffindor had extended their lead to a hundred and ten points to Slytherin's twenty that Harry first saw the glittering gold that was the Snitch. It was fluttering down by the one of the hoops of the Gryffindor goal. Glancing around, he noticed with a grin that Malfoy was looking in completely the wrong direction, and was busy watching Crabbe, Goyle and Nott - the only remaining Chaser - try and stop another push for the goal by Gryffindor's Chasers, this time led by Katie Bell. Grinning to himself, Harry turned his broomstick towards the goal and drifted over, looking for all the world as if he just wanted to have a chat with his Keeper. "How's it going, Ron?"
"Fine, Harry," Ron told him. "Haven't had that much to do to be honest. It's been a bit boring compared to last year."
"Well, I've no problem with that. Do you?" Harry asked and thrust out his hand.
"What the.!" exclaimed Ron, then he grinned as Harry held up the tiny, struggling ball for all to see.
"Gryffindor Captain Harry Potter catches the Snitch!" announced Abercrombie. "Gryffindor wins!"
----
When Harry reached the ground, he was almost bowled over by a short, dark- haired and decidedly female person barrelling into him at high speed. Harry grinned and wrapped his arms around his young friend to steady her.
"Harry, that was brilliant! Especially the way you completely caught Malfoy by surprise!"
"Thanks, Jamie," Harry said, still grinning widely. "So you liked your first Quidditch match, then?"
"Yeah, I did," Jamie admitted. "When's the next one?"
"Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff are playing next weekend," Harry told her, sneaking a glance at Luna, who had just arrived arm-in-arm with Neville, followed by the Creeveys. Luna was wearing the same roaring lion hat as last year, but this time she had - with Civis' help - managed to add a serpent for the lion to chew. "We could go to that if you want?"
Jamie looked at Harry with narrowed eyes, as if to say, I may be young but I'm not stupid. "When are Gryffindor playing next?"
"Not until after Christmas, I'm afraid," Harry admitted with a sigh of his own. "You're always welcome at practices though."
"Where are Ron and Hermione?" Ginny asked, when she joined them a few seconds later.
Harry shrugged, "I don't know."
"You might want to look over there," said Mark with a look of disgust on his face, pointing towards the now unwatched Gryffindor goal hoops.
Harry did, then smiled, and then taking Ginny's left arm in one of his, and keeping a hold of Jamie's right, he steered the group back out of sight towards the Gryffindor changing rooms. "I think they want to be alone," he told the group. "I'm sure they'll catch up later."
Just before he disappeared into the changing room, he turned to Colin. "Please tell me you got a picture of that?" he asked him. Colin nodded vigorously. "I want copies. Lots of copies."
----
Thanks to Ron and Hermione's late arrival back at Gryffindor Tower, and the boisterous celebrations that began as soon as the team returned to Gryffindor Tower - Harry had sent Civis (in his Charles Goodfellow disguise) down to Hogsmeade to pick up a large selection of goodies from Honeydukes and the Three Broomsticks earlier that day, and had also recruited the services of Dobby the house elf to liberate food from the kitchens - Harry wasn't able to talk with Ron about the change in his two best friends' relationship straight away but he was fine with that. After saying goodbye to Luna at the Fat Lady's Portrait, he got himself some Butterbeer and some food and joined Ginny in the best chairs near the fire, Mark and Jamie, also well supplied with goodies sat on the rug between them. Civis, in his crow form, perched on the back of Harry's chair.
"You did well today, Gin," Harry told her. "You were right when you said you'd make a better Chaser than Seeker, though you were pretty good at that too."
"Well of course I am, Harry," Ginny said with a grin. "I chased you for three years didn't I?"
"So you did Ginny, " Harry conceded. "So you did."
"Can we change the subject?" asked Mark.
Ginny giggled and turned the conservation to more comfortable topics, and the evening passed quietly until Katie called an end to the party at about eleven o'clock. Harry waited until Jamie and Mark had disappeared up the stairs and then drew Ginny into a dark corner of the common room. Taking his friend's chin in one hand, he tilted her head back so she was looking him directly in his eye. "May that game begin again."
A/N: The quote: "Why did you come back?" "Unfinished business," "We'll finish it for you." is taken from D3: The Mighty Ducks, starring Emilio Estevez and written by Kenneth Johnson and Jim Bernstein. As always please review. Chapter 13 will up as soon as I can manage it.