Chapter Five: Let the Games Begin!
"Who's coming down to watch the Quidditch trials?" Harry asked his friends at breakfast on Saturday. "They won't take long. We're only looking for a reserve Seeker and Chaser, we've already got a reserve Keeper, and Kirke and Sloper'll step in if we're desperate for Beaters."
Ron, Hermione and Mark said they would be watching, but Neville said that Professor Sprout was expecting him in the greenhouses to help with repotting the Devil's Snares that she was growing in Greenhouse Ten, the seventh years had been responsible for the seedlings the year before, but Neville was one of only three students that Sprout would trust with the job now they were approaching maturity.
Once they'd finished eating, they returned to Gryffindor Tower to get what they needed for the day's activities and headed down to the Entrance Hall. After dropping Neville off at Greenhouse Ten, where Susan and Megan Jones, the other two students that Sprout had assigned the task, were already waiting, they headed towards to the Quidditch pitch.
They were just coming in sight of the pitch when Ginny spoke up. "Was it my imagination, or did Neville have the key to the greenhouse?"
Harry shook his head. "No Ginny, it wasn't," he assured her. "Professor Sprout made Neville her assistant over the holidays. He asked me not to mention it, I'm no sure why."
"Neville doesn't like attention, Harry," Ginny reminded him. "He was probably scared we'd make a big deal about it."
"That's probably it," Harry agreed. "I can certainly sympathise."
When they finally reached the pitch, Harry was a little disappointed to see that although the rest of the team, including the two reserve players, were present, only four other people had turned up (three if Colin wasn't trying out): Emma Dobbs, Natalie McDonald, Dennis Creevey, and Roberta Sommers, one of Jamie's classmates. At Harry's nod, Jamie went to join them.
Harry waited until Hermione, Mark and Civis the crow were in position in the stands before speaking. He scanned the pitch and noticed for the first time that Corinne Anderson and two of Shi Ngau's students were placed at strategic points nearby.
"Hello everyone, and thank for coming," he began. "Just in case the notice didn't make it clear, we will be only taking a reserve Chaser and a reserve Seeker today. We already have enough Beaters and Keepers for this year." Here he paused. "Because we have most of the team already, we're going to do things a little differently today. I'd like to see how you play as a team, so I'm going to split you into two teams: Team A, will be lead by Ron Weasley, and will have Connor David as Beater, Wilhelm Whisp, Sharon Skelton and Emma Dobbs as Chasers, Ron as Keeper, and Dennis Creevey as Seeker; Team B, will be lead by Ginny Weasley, and will have Henry Shaw as Beater, Ginny Weasley, Roberta Sommers and Natalie McDonald as Chasers, Harvey Johnson as Keeper, and Jamie Potter as Seeker.
"Normal rules apply, play continues until one of the Seekers catches the Snitch, or you've been playing for an hour. I won't be awarding penalties, but if any of you do commit a foul you will be off the team."
Harry released the Bludgers and the Snitch and then tossed the Quaffle into the air to begin the game. Ginny's team quickly took control of the game, Ginny and Roberta - who were both flying Firebolts - instantly clicked and cut through the disjointed defences presented by Whisp, Sharon Skelton and Emma to attack Ron's goals. Harry noticed that Natalie McDonald and Emma Dobbs were both having problems keeping up, when he looked closer he realised that this was because they were flying Comet Two-Nineties, which Harry thought was a mistake as the Comet didn't have the speed or acceleration to keep up with a Firebolt. Looks like it'll be Sharon and Roberta then, they've both got Firebolts so they've got the speed and manoeuvrability we need, and Roberta seems to be gelling well with Ginny.
At that moment, Roberta managed to put one past Ron, giving Team B a ten-to- nothing lead, but a bit of fancy flying from Whisp got the Quaffle into Team A's hands and Sharon Skelton headed for the goal, with her team-mate Emma Dobbs struggling to get into position to help her. But she was too late, and a Bludger from Shaw distracted Sharon long enough for Ginny to snatch the Quaffle and allow her team to extend their lead to twenty points.
Somehow, Whisp and Sharon, with support from their Beater, managed to keep it together long enough to level the score, but then Ginny and Roberta retaliated and scored three times in rapid succession before Jamie dived towards the ground apparently spotting the Snitch, Dennis accelerated towards her pushing his Nimbus Two Thousand to its tolerances. Six inches from the ground Jamie pulled out of her dive and ascended, Dennis didn't manage it though and rammed into the ground, his Nimbus flipped end over end, tossing him into the side of one of the stands. Jamie shot off in the opposite direction and five seconds later, she raised her hand to show the Snitch fighting to escape.
Harry called a halt to the game and asked Ginny to take a look at Dennis. After a minute, she reported he had sustained only bumps and bruises and revived him with the Ennervation Charm.
"Okay, everyone gather round," Harry told them. "I was watching you all, AND I've made my decision. The new Chaser will be Sharon Skelton, and Roberta Sommers will be the Reserve. The new reserve Seeker will be Jamie Potter. Congratulations to those who made it. The first full practise will be in one week."
Everyone nodded to show they understood, and the group broke up. Jamie, Ron and Ginny went to join Harry, Hermione, Mark and Civis by the Gryffindor stand, while the others disappeared up the path to the castle. Jamie was the first to reach them, and flung herself on Harry so violently that it was only the wooden post at his back that stopped him from falling over. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she exclaimed. "You're the best, Harry."
"You're welcome, Jamie," Harry told her. "You were great, with a bit of practice you could be better than me." This last statement was said in such a matter-of-fact tone that it didn't sound at all arrogant. It also helped that it was true.
"Thanks Harry, but it was all the Firebolt you got me. Without that I won't have been anywhere near as good."
"That's not true and you know it, Jamie," Harry told her. "You've got pure natural talent. You'd be great matter what you were flying. The Firebolt just allowed you to show what you could do."
"Harry's right, Jamie," Ginny told her. "I didn't know how good I really was until Harry gave me his old broom either."
"Thanks, both of you," said Jamie. "That means a lot, I just hope I don't have to play this year, I want to get used to playing with the team first."
"I hope you don't play to either," Harry told her. "'Cause if you do, that means I'm not, which probably means I'm in the Hospital Wing again, and I'd like to avoid that this year if possible." "Amen to that," said Ginny, with feeling as they arrived at the main gates and entered the castle.
----
The next few days were the usual flurry of activity, but nothing out of the ordinary occurred. Harry attended classes and training sessions with Shi Hu and some of the other Shengming, ran a couple of practise sessions with the new Gryffindor team, and held the first DA meeting of the new year. Two days into the third week of term, Dumbledore contacted him while he was in the middle of his dawn workout and asked him to join the Council in the War Room for a meeting. Harry agreed, and after changing into his robes and leaving a message with Civis to the effect that he would meet his friends at breakfast, heading downstairs towards the Room of Requirement.
Two minutes later, he entered the War Room and slid into his usual place between McGonagall and Professor Ambrose and waited to see what Dumbledore had to say. He didn't have to wait long.
"I'm sorry to call you all here at such an early hour, but I have just been apprised of a situation which I felt should be brought to your attention immediately." Dumbledore paused, looking very grave. "Kingsley Shacklebolt contacted me an hour ago with some disturbing news. Apparently, when the relief guard of Aurors arrived at Azkaban this morning, they found their comrades dead and the cells empty."
"All of them?" Harry asked. "Malfoy. Nott. Avery. MacNair.?"
"All of them, Potter," said Snape, not sounding any happier about the fact than Harry was himself. "Voldemort's most loyal followers have rejoined his ranks. Along with every single Dementor in Azkaban."
"Yes, and now Voldemort will be ready to strike," said Dumbledore. "Hogwarts will not be his first target. He will not attack us in force until he believes that he as a strong hold on the Ministry, but I expect there will be at least a probing attack very soon."
Harry nodded, that certainly fit with his own thoughts on what Voldemort planned to do. Dumbledore continued: "We should all be on our guard and be prepared to fight at a moment's notice. I am trying to find extra guards, but both the Order and the Ministry are stretched rather thin, so we may have to make do with what we've got for now." With that, he dismissed the group, but asked Harry and Shi Hu to stay behind. "How goes it?"
"Mr Potter and his friends are doing as well as I would have expected," Shi Hu replied. "Three of the group - Mr Potter, Mr Moon and Miss Weasley - are showing some signs of progress, and I anticipate that most of the others. expect perhaps Miss Granger, Mr Longbottom, and Miss Lovegood, will begin to progress by Halloween. If everything goes according to plan, and the battle is delayed beyond Easter. then I believe they will be as ready as I expected to make them without years of dedicated study."
"Excellent." said Dumbledore. "And the DA.?"
"It's fine," Harry told him. "We held the first DA meeting two nights ago, the old members are really getting it together, I had Hermione practise the Patronus Charm with them and fifteen people have some sort of a Patronus, although only Hermione, Romulus, Blaise and I have fully corporeal ones at the moment. Ginny and Ron should get the hang of it soon though, and Neville, Luna and a couple of others aren't much further behind."
"What about new members?" Dumbledore asked. "Have you got any?"
Harry nodded. "I've recruited another twenty-two, which brings us to a total of sixty members. Most of them are fifth, sixth and seventh years - and almost half are Gryffindors - but we have eight or nine Slytherins, and the rest are about an even split between Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. Incidentally, we've added enough people so that all the Prefects are now members."
"Excellent," said Dumbledore. "What about younger students?"
"We have a few third and fourth years," Harry admitted. "They're mostly from the Quidditch teams, plus we also have three second years."
"Who?"
"Jamie, Mark and Anita," Harry told him. "We decided that we had to include Jamie, because she needs to be with us to cast the Spell of Destruction, we included Mark because virtually everyone he's close to here. Jamie, me, Civis, Ginny. will be on the frontline anyway and so it didn't make sense to leave him out. We included Anita for much the same reason."
"I see," said Dumbledore. "Much as I dislike the idea of children that young being placed in such danger. I understand and accept your reasoning. Just try to keep them safe."
"Oh I will, Albus," Harry assured him. "You can be certain of that."
----
When Harry joined his friends his friends at the Gryffindor table for dinner, he wasn't in the best of moods. Ginny, who had always been rather good at reading him, was the first to say anything. "What's wrong, Harry?"
"It's nothing, Gin." When Ginny's expression made it clear she didn't believe him, he elaborated. "We were covering Dementors in class today. Using the Patronus Charm on more than one Dementor is. tiring."
"There are Dementors in the castle?!" exclaimed Ginny.
Harry shook his head. "Professor Ambrose conjured up some flesh golems and imbued them with a very powerful Bogarus Charm. Their effects were very, very, similar."
At this point, Ron, Hermione and the other seventh year Gryffindors trickled into the Great Hall. Not surprising, Hermione was the healthiest looking, with Lavender and Parvati the worst off.
"I need a lot of chocolate after that," commented Ron, as he started on his dinner. "I still can't get the hang of that charm."
"Don't worry, Ron. It took me months to get it right," Harry reminded his best friend. "You'll get it eventually. You managed the Gatekeeper Charm and that's more complex magic."
"Yeah, but it's not the spell that's the problem," Ron said darkly. "It's finding a happy enough memory while those. things are broadcasting your worst ones in your head."
"You'll be fine, Ron," Hermione told him, and gave her boyfriend's arm a reassuring squeeze. "I believe in you."
"Thanks, 'Mione," said Ron. "That helps. That helps a lot."
----
"Okay, people," said Harry. "Here we go again."
"Gryffindor against Slytherin," Ginny confirmed.
"Now, I know you think this is all going to be easy. and it probably will be," Harry admitted. "But we can't afford to be complacent, Summersby and Turpin and have both got strong sides together, so we need as many points from this match as we can get."
"Don't worry, Harry," Ron told him. "We'll flatten them. Crabbe and Goyle are the only real threats and."
"We'll handle them," finished Connor David, his face twisting into an expression that strongly reminded Harry reminded Harry of Viktor Krum's attempt at the Venificus Mutato Charm during the Second Task of the Tri- Wizard Tournament three years before.
"That'd be great, boys," Harry told them. "Let's go have fun."
With that, he led the seven senior players out on to the field. The team mounted their brooms and ranged around their half of the centre circle. When the Slytherin team took their places opposite, and their captain moved forward, Harry scowled, but held his tongue. "Missing someone, Nott?" he asked with a grin.
"Malfoy may not be here, but it won't make any difference," Nott told him angrily.
"You're right," Harry admitted with a smile. "It won't."
Before the Slytherin captain could respond, Madame Hooch moved out on onto the pitch. "Remember, I want a nice, clean game."
Predictably, Gryffindor took possession within two seconds of the game beginning, and with Whisp leading the charge they shot towards the Slytherin goal. Whisp passed back to Ginny, who feinted right and then with the new Keeper - second year John Creel - distracted, she sent the red leather ball flying towards the left hoop.
"Ginny Weasley scores!" declared Abercrombie a second later. "Taking Gryffindor to ten points to zero! Chaser Whisp takes possession for Gryffindor."
Harry nodded to Ginny, then returned to looking for the Snitch. He wasn't too worried missing it - if what he'd heard about Mandy Flint was true, the only way she would catch the Snitch would be to do an accidental Plumpton Pass or by the method that Harry had won his first match - but he wanted to win on his own terms.
The next two hours were a rather one-sided affair, Slytherin managed to gain possession of the Quaffle long enough to snatch a single goal, but this was dwarfed by the sixteen goal tally clocked up by Gryffindor. Harry was watching Ginny and Whisp manoeuvring for a seventeenth goal when he spotted the Snitch about ten yards from the Slytherin goal. Harry frowned when he saw that Crabbe and Goyle were between him and it. "Connor, David!"
The two Beaters flew over. "Yes?"
"Cover me, okay?" Harry asked. "I'm going to finish this game."
The two three years nodded, tightened their grips on their bats, and began scanning the pitch for the Bludgers.
Harry grinned, then dipped the Lightstrike in a dive. By the time he got within arm's length of the two Slytherin Beaters, he was only a blur. When he straightened out of his return climb near the Gryffindor goal a minute later, his hand was clutched tight around the Golden Snitch.
A/N: That's it for another chapter, folks. I've got a reading week next week so I should have the next chapter up a bit sooner than usual, it'll probably be up by midweek. As always please review.
"Who's coming down to watch the Quidditch trials?" Harry asked his friends at breakfast on Saturday. "They won't take long. We're only looking for a reserve Seeker and Chaser, we've already got a reserve Keeper, and Kirke and Sloper'll step in if we're desperate for Beaters."
Ron, Hermione and Mark said they would be watching, but Neville said that Professor Sprout was expecting him in the greenhouses to help with repotting the Devil's Snares that she was growing in Greenhouse Ten, the seventh years had been responsible for the seedlings the year before, but Neville was one of only three students that Sprout would trust with the job now they were approaching maturity.
Once they'd finished eating, they returned to Gryffindor Tower to get what they needed for the day's activities and headed down to the Entrance Hall. After dropping Neville off at Greenhouse Ten, where Susan and Megan Jones, the other two students that Sprout had assigned the task, were already waiting, they headed towards to the Quidditch pitch.
They were just coming in sight of the pitch when Ginny spoke up. "Was it my imagination, or did Neville have the key to the greenhouse?"
Harry shook his head. "No Ginny, it wasn't," he assured her. "Professor Sprout made Neville her assistant over the holidays. He asked me not to mention it, I'm no sure why."
"Neville doesn't like attention, Harry," Ginny reminded him. "He was probably scared we'd make a big deal about it."
"That's probably it," Harry agreed. "I can certainly sympathise."
When they finally reached the pitch, Harry was a little disappointed to see that although the rest of the team, including the two reserve players, were present, only four other people had turned up (three if Colin wasn't trying out): Emma Dobbs, Natalie McDonald, Dennis Creevey, and Roberta Sommers, one of Jamie's classmates. At Harry's nod, Jamie went to join them.
Harry waited until Hermione, Mark and Civis the crow were in position in the stands before speaking. He scanned the pitch and noticed for the first time that Corinne Anderson and two of Shi Ngau's students were placed at strategic points nearby.
"Hello everyone, and thank for coming," he began. "Just in case the notice didn't make it clear, we will be only taking a reserve Chaser and a reserve Seeker today. We already have enough Beaters and Keepers for this year." Here he paused. "Because we have most of the team already, we're going to do things a little differently today. I'd like to see how you play as a team, so I'm going to split you into two teams: Team A, will be lead by Ron Weasley, and will have Connor David as Beater, Wilhelm Whisp, Sharon Skelton and Emma Dobbs as Chasers, Ron as Keeper, and Dennis Creevey as Seeker; Team B, will be lead by Ginny Weasley, and will have Henry Shaw as Beater, Ginny Weasley, Roberta Sommers and Natalie McDonald as Chasers, Harvey Johnson as Keeper, and Jamie Potter as Seeker.
"Normal rules apply, play continues until one of the Seekers catches the Snitch, or you've been playing for an hour. I won't be awarding penalties, but if any of you do commit a foul you will be off the team."
Harry released the Bludgers and the Snitch and then tossed the Quaffle into the air to begin the game. Ginny's team quickly took control of the game, Ginny and Roberta - who were both flying Firebolts - instantly clicked and cut through the disjointed defences presented by Whisp, Sharon Skelton and Emma to attack Ron's goals. Harry noticed that Natalie McDonald and Emma Dobbs were both having problems keeping up, when he looked closer he realised that this was because they were flying Comet Two-Nineties, which Harry thought was a mistake as the Comet didn't have the speed or acceleration to keep up with a Firebolt. Looks like it'll be Sharon and Roberta then, they've both got Firebolts so they've got the speed and manoeuvrability we need, and Roberta seems to be gelling well with Ginny.
At that moment, Roberta managed to put one past Ron, giving Team B a ten-to- nothing lead, but a bit of fancy flying from Whisp got the Quaffle into Team A's hands and Sharon Skelton headed for the goal, with her team-mate Emma Dobbs struggling to get into position to help her. But she was too late, and a Bludger from Shaw distracted Sharon long enough for Ginny to snatch the Quaffle and allow her team to extend their lead to twenty points.
Somehow, Whisp and Sharon, with support from their Beater, managed to keep it together long enough to level the score, but then Ginny and Roberta retaliated and scored three times in rapid succession before Jamie dived towards the ground apparently spotting the Snitch, Dennis accelerated towards her pushing his Nimbus Two Thousand to its tolerances. Six inches from the ground Jamie pulled out of her dive and ascended, Dennis didn't manage it though and rammed into the ground, his Nimbus flipped end over end, tossing him into the side of one of the stands. Jamie shot off in the opposite direction and five seconds later, she raised her hand to show the Snitch fighting to escape.
Harry called a halt to the game and asked Ginny to take a look at Dennis. After a minute, she reported he had sustained only bumps and bruises and revived him with the Ennervation Charm.
"Okay, everyone gather round," Harry told them. "I was watching you all, AND I've made my decision. The new Chaser will be Sharon Skelton, and Roberta Sommers will be the Reserve. The new reserve Seeker will be Jamie Potter. Congratulations to those who made it. The first full practise will be in one week."
Everyone nodded to show they understood, and the group broke up. Jamie, Ron and Ginny went to join Harry, Hermione, Mark and Civis by the Gryffindor stand, while the others disappeared up the path to the castle. Jamie was the first to reach them, and flung herself on Harry so violently that it was only the wooden post at his back that stopped him from falling over. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she exclaimed. "You're the best, Harry."
"You're welcome, Jamie," Harry told her. "You were great, with a bit of practice you could be better than me." This last statement was said in such a matter-of-fact tone that it didn't sound at all arrogant. It also helped that it was true.
"Thanks Harry, but it was all the Firebolt you got me. Without that I won't have been anywhere near as good."
"That's not true and you know it, Jamie," Harry told her. "You've got pure natural talent. You'd be great matter what you were flying. The Firebolt just allowed you to show what you could do."
"Harry's right, Jamie," Ginny told her. "I didn't know how good I really was until Harry gave me his old broom either."
"Thanks, both of you," said Jamie. "That means a lot, I just hope I don't have to play this year, I want to get used to playing with the team first."
"I hope you don't play to either," Harry told her. "'Cause if you do, that means I'm not, which probably means I'm in the Hospital Wing again, and I'd like to avoid that this year if possible." "Amen to that," said Ginny, with feeling as they arrived at the main gates and entered the castle.
----
The next few days were the usual flurry of activity, but nothing out of the ordinary occurred. Harry attended classes and training sessions with Shi Hu and some of the other Shengming, ran a couple of practise sessions with the new Gryffindor team, and held the first DA meeting of the new year. Two days into the third week of term, Dumbledore contacted him while he was in the middle of his dawn workout and asked him to join the Council in the War Room for a meeting. Harry agreed, and after changing into his robes and leaving a message with Civis to the effect that he would meet his friends at breakfast, heading downstairs towards the Room of Requirement.
Two minutes later, he entered the War Room and slid into his usual place between McGonagall and Professor Ambrose and waited to see what Dumbledore had to say. He didn't have to wait long.
"I'm sorry to call you all here at such an early hour, but I have just been apprised of a situation which I felt should be brought to your attention immediately." Dumbledore paused, looking very grave. "Kingsley Shacklebolt contacted me an hour ago with some disturbing news. Apparently, when the relief guard of Aurors arrived at Azkaban this morning, they found their comrades dead and the cells empty."
"All of them?" Harry asked. "Malfoy. Nott. Avery. MacNair.?"
"All of them, Potter," said Snape, not sounding any happier about the fact than Harry was himself. "Voldemort's most loyal followers have rejoined his ranks. Along with every single Dementor in Azkaban."
"Yes, and now Voldemort will be ready to strike," said Dumbledore. "Hogwarts will not be his first target. He will not attack us in force until he believes that he as a strong hold on the Ministry, but I expect there will be at least a probing attack very soon."
Harry nodded, that certainly fit with his own thoughts on what Voldemort planned to do. Dumbledore continued: "We should all be on our guard and be prepared to fight at a moment's notice. I am trying to find extra guards, but both the Order and the Ministry are stretched rather thin, so we may have to make do with what we've got for now." With that, he dismissed the group, but asked Harry and Shi Hu to stay behind. "How goes it?"
"Mr Potter and his friends are doing as well as I would have expected," Shi Hu replied. "Three of the group - Mr Potter, Mr Moon and Miss Weasley - are showing some signs of progress, and I anticipate that most of the others. expect perhaps Miss Granger, Mr Longbottom, and Miss Lovegood, will begin to progress by Halloween. If everything goes according to plan, and the battle is delayed beyond Easter. then I believe they will be as ready as I expected to make them without years of dedicated study."
"Excellent." said Dumbledore. "And the DA.?"
"It's fine," Harry told him. "We held the first DA meeting two nights ago, the old members are really getting it together, I had Hermione practise the Patronus Charm with them and fifteen people have some sort of a Patronus, although only Hermione, Romulus, Blaise and I have fully corporeal ones at the moment. Ginny and Ron should get the hang of it soon though, and Neville, Luna and a couple of others aren't much further behind."
"What about new members?" Dumbledore asked. "Have you got any?"
Harry nodded. "I've recruited another twenty-two, which brings us to a total of sixty members. Most of them are fifth, sixth and seventh years - and almost half are Gryffindors - but we have eight or nine Slytherins, and the rest are about an even split between Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. Incidentally, we've added enough people so that all the Prefects are now members."
"Excellent," said Dumbledore. "What about younger students?"
"We have a few third and fourth years," Harry admitted. "They're mostly from the Quidditch teams, plus we also have three second years."
"Who?"
"Jamie, Mark and Anita," Harry told him. "We decided that we had to include Jamie, because she needs to be with us to cast the Spell of Destruction, we included Mark because virtually everyone he's close to here. Jamie, me, Civis, Ginny. will be on the frontline anyway and so it didn't make sense to leave him out. We included Anita for much the same reason."
"I see," said Dumbledore. "Much as I dislike the idea of children that young being placed in such danger. I understand and accept your reasoning. Just try to keep them safe."
"Oh I will, Albus," Harry assured him. "You can be certain of that."
----
When Harry joined his friends his friends at the Gryffindor table for dinner, he wasn't in the best of moods. Ginny, who had always been rather good at reading him, was the first to say anything. "What's wrong, Harry?"
"It's nothing, Gin." When Ginny's expression made it clear she didn't believe him, he elaborated. "We were covering Dementors in class today. Using the Patronus Charm on more than one Dementor is. tiring."
"There are Dementors in the castle?!" exclaimed Ginny.
Harry shook his head. "Professor Ambrose conjured up some flesh golems and imbued them with a very powerful Bogarus Charm. Their effects were very, very, similar."
At this point, Ron, Hermione and the other seventh year Gryffindors trickled into the Great Hall. Not surprising, Hermione was the healthiest looking, with Lavender and Parvati the worst off.
"I need a lot of chocolate after that," commented Ron, as he started on his dinner. "I still can't get the hang of that charm."
"Don't worry, Ron. It took me months to get it right," Harry reminded his best friend. "You'll get it eventually. You managed the Gatekeeper Charm and that's more complex magic."
"Yeah, but it's not the spell that's the problem," Ron said darkly. "It's finding a happy enough memory while those. things are broadcasting your worst ones in your head."
"You'll be fine, Ron," Hermione told him, and gave her boyfriend's arm a reassuring squeeze. "I believe in you."
"Thanks, 'Mione," said Ron. "That helps. That helps a lot."
----
"Okay, people," said Harry. "Here we go again."
"Gryffindor against Slytherin," Ginny confirmed.
"Now, I know you think this is all going to be easy. and it probably will be," Harry admitted. "But we can't afford to be complacent, Summersby and Turpin and have both got strong sides together, so we need as many points from this match as we can get."
"Don't worry, Harry," Ron told him. "We'll flatten them. Crabbe and Goyle are the only real threats and."
"We'll handle them," finished Connor David, his face twisting into an expression that strongly reminded Harry reminded Harry of Viktor Krum's attempt at the Venificus Mutato Charm during the Second Task of the Tri- Wizard Tournament three years before.
"That'd be great, boys," Harry told them. "Let's go have fun."
With that, he led the seven senior players out on to the field. The team mounted their brooms and ranged around their half of the centre circle. When the Slytherin team took their places opposite, and their captain moved forward, Harry scowled, but held his tongue. "Missing someone, Nott?" he asked with a grin.
"Malfoy may not be here, but it won't make any difference," Nott told him angrily.
"You're right," Harry admitted with a smile. "It won't."
Before the Slytherin captain could respond, Madame Hooch moved out on onto the pitch. "Remember, I want a nice, clean game."
Predictably, Gryffindor took possession within two seconds of the game beginning, and with Whisp leading the charge they shot towards the Slytherin goal. Whisp passed back to Ginny, who feinted right and then with the new Keeper - second year John Creel - distracted, she sent the red leather ball flying towards the left hoop.
"Ginny Weasley scores!" declared Abercrombie a second later. "Taking Gryffindor to ten points to zero! Chaser Whisp takes possession for Gryffindor."
Harry nodded to Ginny, then returned to looking for the Snitch. He wasn't too worried missing it - if what he'd heard about Mandy Flint was true, the only way she would catch the Snitch would be to do an accidental Plumpton Pass or by the method that Harry had won his first match - but he wanted to win on his own terms.
The next two hours were a rather one-sided affair, Slytherin managed to gain possession of the Quaffle long enough to snatch a single goal, but this was dwarfed by the sixteen goal tally clocked up by Gryffindor. Harry was watching Ginny and Whisp manoeuvring for a seventeenth goal when he spotted the Snitch about ten yards from the Slytherin goal. Harry frowned when he saw that Crabbe and Goyle were between him and it. "Connor, David!"
The two Beaters flew over. "Yes?"
"Cover me, okay?" Harry asked. "I'm going to finish this game."
The two three years nodded, tightened their grips on their bats, and began scanning the pitch for the Bludgers.
Harry grinned, then dipped the Lightstrike in a dive. By the time he got within arm's length of the two Slytherin Beaters, he was only a blur. When he straightened out of his return climb near the Gryffindor goal a minute later, his hand was clutched tight around the Golden Snitch.
A/N: That's it for another chapter, folks. I've got a reading week next week so I should have the next chapter up a bit sooner than usual, it'll probably be up by midweek. As always please review.