Chapter Twenty-Four- Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff
Harry did not know whether to speak to Ron and Hermione and tell them what Malfoy had given him, or whether to stay silent and not jump to conclusions. After all, last year, Voldemort had tricked Harry into going to the Department of Mysteries after showing Harry that Sirius was being tortured. Could Voldemort be making Harry think that he was planning an invasion of Hogwarts?
He did not know, but he did decide on something during dinner that evening. He sat down with Ron and Hermione at the head of the Gryffindor table, and began to help himself to pork chops.
"I've decided to start the training after the Easter holidays," he said.
"Sorry?" Ron asked, tearing his eyes away from his food.
"Quidditch," Harry said, as he now took a serving of green peas. "I'm going to start once the holidays are over. Better start early so we can have an advantage over Hufflepuff"
Hermione looked up. Harry looked at her, but he quickly looked away because she was staring at him with a look he had seen once before. A look when she detected he was hiding something.
"You're hiding something, Harry" she said slowly.
Harry did not look up. He did not want to look into her face. "What?"
"Oh come on! What is it? Is it Cho? Is it Pansy? What is it?" she asked in a dangerous voice.
"Its nothing," Harry lied. "Look, I'm not hungry. I'll see you back in the common room,"
He stood up, and strode out of the Great Hall. His brain was reeling with too many thoughts at the moment, and the largest one seemed to far out weigh the others. If Voldemort really was planning an invasion of Hogwarts, when would he do it? He wouldn't do it when there were loads of people there, especially Dumbledore. However, a tiny voice spoke to Harry from inside his head.
"You know, you've got a Quidditch Match, Some Studies, and exams coming! Don't you think you better focus on that stuff?"
"I know, I know," Harry said. "But, I'm just concerned. Is that a bad thing?"
"No, but remember, you cant solve everything. Voldemort wont dare come inside this school with Albus Dumbledore here, so you really have nothing to worry about" said the voice.
Harry seemed to agree. He couldn't worry anymore. However, that's all he had been these last few days; worried. Perhaps the voice in his head was right. Perhaps he did need to keep his mind on the present.
He arrived at the portrait of the Fat Lady, and delivered the password. ("Chocolate Fairies"). She swung the portrait open, and Harry climbed into the common room, which was deserted. The Fireplace was roaring with a strong fire, and Crookshanks was curled up on the sofa. Harry walked over and sat beside him, staring into the fire. However, before he could even dive into his thoughts, the portrait hole opened and Ron and Hermione clambered through.
"Harry, we know something is wrong with you, and we're not leaving you alone until you tell us!" Hermione said, breathing hard. Her face was very read, and she seemed to be out of breath. Ron looked disgruntled.
"I told you, I was fine. I've just been thinking, that's all," said Harry.
"HARRY JAMES POTTER! DON'T YOU DARE SIT HERE IN FRONT OF MY FACE AND LIE! TELL ME WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!" Hermione bellowed. Her voice seemed to become loud and strong. Ron nearly toppled over due to Hermione's yell. Harry was amazed that she even had it in her to yell.
"Well, I can't pretend I can hide it any longer." He said. He pulled the map from the pocket of his robes, and handed it to Hermione, who took it and her eyes began to scan it. Ron stood up, and looked over her shoulder, seeing as he was much taller than her.
"What is this?" she asked, looking up at him as Ron snatched it away from her to look at it closer.
"Map of Hogwarts. Voldemort had it."
"V-Voldemort? What on earth is he doing with a map of Hogwarts?" Hermione asked slowly, before she caught onto her words. Her eyes dilated widely, and she looked as though she had just inhaled a fly, which was caught, in her throat. "Harry, you're not saying that he is planning something, are you?"
"That's what me and Malfoy think."
"Malfoy? He gave you this?" Ron asked.
"Yeah. He nicked it during the summer holiday, but he didn't know what to make of it."
"Harry, you've got to tell Dumbledore! He'd want to know about this!" Hermione said urgently.
"But how do we know its true, Hermione? I mean, we can't jump to conclusions, like last year, remember? I nearly took you all to your deaths rushing off to the Ministry thinking Sirius was trapped in the Department of Mysteries. Maybe Voldemort wants us to think he's planning something, to side track us or whatever." Harry said, anger rising in him. However, that anger was not connected with the emotion he was feeling at the moment. The anger was coming from his scar.
He clutched his head, and screwed his eyes against the pain, which died down seconds later.
"Harry? What's the matter?" Ron asked.
"Its Voldemort. He's angry about something. I have no idea what it was, but I can tell he was angry."
"I wonder if he know's about the map?" Hermione asked.
Harry stared at the map. Could Voldemort be upset about the map missing? Could he know that Harry, Ron, Hermione and Malfoy were on to his plan?
* * * * * *
The Easter Holidays finally arrived, and many of the Sixth years were happy about it. They were up to their necks in work, and finally they would have some time to relax. Hermione on the other hand was not all for relaxing. She stayed in Gryffindor Tower for hours at a time, finishing Homework, and looking up different spells. Ron and Harry spent time with Ginny, Cho, Luna, and many other D.A members swimming in the warm lake. The weather was much warmer than it had ever been, and the lake was at comfortable swimming temperature. The Giant Squid occasionally rose, to mess around with people, but on the whole, it was quite fun.
Harry did not even think about the map while enjoying the holidays. All he thought about was enjoying himself, and trying to keep his spirits up. There was even a day when Harry and Ron opted to help some of the fifth years prep for their O.W.L's.
Mrs. Weasley sent a large basket of Chocolate filled eggs, and some homemade mince pies as well. Hermione on the other hand had not been seen for days, and Lavender Brown told Harry she was in the library pouring over books. Harry did not even feel the need to interrupt her.
Finally, the holidays were over, and the sixth years settled back in to their usual daily lives or work, and studies. Harry only focused on one thing; the Quidditch Final. He and the team were practicing extraordinarily hard right up to their last practice the night before the match.
.Ron, Ginny, Dean, Lavender, Parvati and Hermione were ranged around Harry in the team room.
"I'm glad Slytherin aren't playing against us," Dean said.
"Hufflepuff's a breeze." Said Ron.
"But we can't let that throw us off. We've still got to train hard. Now, I want to get a good practice all right?" said Harry. Everyone stood up, and headed out onto the field, and to Harry's immense surprise, several Slytherin's stood in the stands.
"Look, it's Potty!" Pansy Parkinson yelled. The four Slytherin's behind her roared with laughter.
"Ignore them," Harry muttered, as the team got on their brooms. "Lavender, could you and Ginny go and get the balls?"
"Sure," said Lavender. She and Ginny went back inside the changing room.
"We're going to try-"
"Its Potty! It's Potty! And the Mudblood Granger-"
"-a few rounds of passing-"
"-Weasley is our King! He cannot block a thing-"
"-and then we'll try one practice game-"
"-WEASLEY IS A LOSER! -"
Ginny and Lavender returned with the ball case. Hermione took the Quaffle out of it.
It was the worst practice Harry had ever witnessed for Ron. Ron kept dropping the Quaffle, and he had even hit Hermione in the head three times. During the practice match, he dived for the Quaffle and managed to knock right into Lavender, who received a bloody nose, and that was when Harry thought the practice should end. The Slytherin spectators left once the practice ended.
"I don't know what was wrong with me," Ron said apologetically on their way back to the Castle.
"Its okay," Harry said, clutching Lavender as the walked her to the hospital wing. They bid her good night, and headed to Gryffindor Tower, where Harry told them team he was going to go to bed early. Ron followed still saying he wasn't going to be like that the next day. Harry told him it was all right, and changed into his pajamas. Harry instantly fell asleep, and for the first time, his scar was not prickling.
The Next morning dawned warm and bright. The Sun was shining through the windows of the castle brightly, and it felt like another warm day. The Great Hall was buzzing about the last match of the season, and at Breakfast, Harry was pleased to see that the Gryffindor's were being very supportive, even the Ravenclaws, who were usually neutral in matches between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff.
The Team ate in silence, while others talked and gossiped. Finally, several Minutes before eleven, Harry and the rest of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team stood up, and went to exit the hall. Monstrous cheers and applause rang from the Gryffindor Table. Harry smiled, and continued out onto the warm sunny grounds.
The Grass was soft, and green as they made their way across the slopping lawn towards the Quidditch Field. They changed into their robes, and could now hear the footsteps of hundreds of students filing into their seats. Excitement and nervousness arose inside Harry's stomach. However, Ron was looking very pale, and had not even looked at Harry since they awakened.
"Alright everyone. This is it, the big one. The one we've been hoping for. Let's go out there, and win this cup!" Harry said. Everyone cheered, and headed out for the field.
They flew off around the field, which was loud. Many Gryffindor's were shouting out cheers to several players. Someone in the crowd said if Dean scored, she'd give him a kiss. Cho was commentating.
"Today's Match is the last match of the season! Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff!" she said into the megaphone. "The players take their positions, as Madam Hooch emerges onto the field to start the game!"
Madam Hooch walked onto the field, and stopped directly in front of the ball case. "Now, I want a good, clean game!" she said, as she opened the case.
"The Bludgers are up, followed by the Snitch! And here comes the Quaffle, and the game begins!" she shouted. "Granger takes possession of the Quaffle and flies off toward the goals. She passes it to Ginny Weasley, a very superb Chaser by the way. She's also a good friend of mine!"
"Ms Chang!" said Professor McGonagall.
"Sorry Professor. So, uh, Ginny has the Quaffle, she throws and SHE SCORES! Ten points to Gryffindor!"
The Gryffindor end of the field erupted into loud cheering and applause. The Slytherin's booed. Harry threw a fist into the air. They had to at least score sixty points before he caught the snitch.
"And now Smith takes the Quaffle, he dodges a bludger from Brown. Aw, tough luck-OH! Thomas retrieves the Quaffle! Nice Move! He heads back down the field, dodges a bludger from summers, and-SCORES! Another ten points to Gryffindor!"
The Gryffindor's screamed louder than before, and it sent birds from the forbidden forest flying into the sky. Harry grew happier, but kept his eye out for the Snitch.
"Jones takes the Quaffle, and passes it to Smith, who dodges another Bludger. Smith shoots, and-Scores! Ten points to Hufflepuff"
The Slytherin's and the Hufflepuff's roared with cheers. The Gryffindor's groaned. Ron failed to catch the Quaffle in time.
Harry continued to scan the field, looking for any sight of the gold spec that might be the Golden Snitch. He could see the Hufflepuff seeker doing the same. For the next ½ hour, Harry watched Ginny score two goals, and Dean scored two as well. However, Zacharis scored four goals, and a chaser by the name of Summers scored one goal, which made the score an even sixty. However, the snitch was nowhere in sight.
"And summers catches the Quaffle and dives toward the goal. BLOCK IT RON- Hufflepuff scores! The score is now Gryffindor Sixty, and Hufflepuff Seventy."
Harry was watching Ron, when some shouted.
"HARRY! GET AFTER THE SNITCH!"
It was Hermione. She pointed to the Hufflepuff Seeker who was diving for something. Harry spun around and pelted toward him, stretching out his hand. The Hufflepuff seeker pushed Harry to one side, but that gave Harry the advantage he needed. Harry swerved off course, but quickly turned his broom toward the seeker, who stopped mid air, and Harry closed his hands around the snitch.
"HARRY POTTER CAUGHT THE SNITCH! GRYFFINDOR WINS THE MATCH!"
The Gryffindor end of the field exploded with cheering and applause. Harry did it. He managed to win the Cup. Professor Dumbledore was standing in the stands, holding the Silver Cup in his hands, beaming as Harry flew closer.
Harry did not know whether to speak to Ron and Hermione and tell them what Malfoy had given him, or whether to stay silent and not jump to conclusions. After all, last year, Voldemort had tricked Harry into going to the Department of Mysteries after showing Harry that Sirius was being tortured. Could Voldemort be making Harry think that he was planning an invasion of Hogwarts?
He did not know, but he did decide on something during dinner that evening. He sat down with Ron and Hermione at the head of the Gryffindor table, and began to help himself to pork chops.
"I've decided to start the training after the Easter holidays," he said.
"Sorry?" Ron asked, tearing his eyes away from his food.
"Quidditch," Harry said, as he now took a serving of green peas. "I'm going to start once the holidays are over. Better start early so we can have an advantage over Hufflepuff"
Hermione looked up. Harry looked at her, but he quickly looked away because she was staring at him with a look he had seen once before. A look when she detected he was hiding something.
"You're hiding something, Harry" she said slowly.
Harry did not look up. He did not want to look into her face. "What?"
"Oh come on! What is it? Is it Cho? Is it Pansy? What is it?" she asked in a dangerous voice.
"Its nothing," Harry lied. "Look, I'm not hungry. I'll see you back in the common room,"
He stood up, and strode out of the Great Hall. His brain was reeling with too many thoughts at the moment, and the largest one seemed to far out weigh the others. If Voldemort really was planning an invasion of Hogwarts, when would he do it? He wouldn't do it when there were loads of people there, especially Dumbledore. However, a tiny voice spoke to Harry from inside his head.
"You know, you've got a Quidditch Match, Some Studies, and exams coming! Don't you think you better focus on that stuff?"
"I know, I know," Harry said. "But, I'm just concerned. Is that a bad thing?"
"No, but remember, you cant solve everything. Voldemort wont dare come inside this school with Albus Dumbledore here, so you really have nothing to worry about" said the voice.
Harry seemed to agree. He couldn't worry anymore. However, that's all he had been these last few days; worried. Perhaps the voice in his head was right. Perhaps he did need to keep his mind on the present.
He arrived at the portrait of the Fat Lady, and delivered the password. ("Chocolate Fairies"). She swung the portrait open, and Harry climbed into the common room, which was deserted. The Fireplace was roaring with a strong fire, and Crookshanks was curled up on the sofa. Harry walked over and sat beside him, staring into the fire. However, before he could even dive into his thoughts, the portrait hole opened and Ron and Hermione clambered through.
"Harry, we know something is wrong with you, and we're not leaving you alone until you tell us!" Hermione said, breathing hard. Her face was very read, and she seemed to be out of breath. Ron looked disgruntled.
"I told you, I was fine. I've just been thinking, that's all," said Harry.
"HARRY JAMES POTTER! DON'T YOU DARE SIT HERE IN FRONT OF MY FACE AND LIE! TELL ME WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!" Hermione bellowed. Her voice seemed to become loud and strong. Ron nearly toppled over due to Hermione's yell. Harry was amazed that she even had it in her to yell.
"Well, I can't pretend I can hide it any longer." He said. He pulled the map from the pocket of his robes, and handed it to Hermione, who took it and her eyes began to scan it. Ron stood up, and looked over her shoulder, seeing as he was much taller than her.
"What is this?" she asked, looking up at him as Ron snatched it away from her to look at it closer.
"Map of Hogwarts. Voldemort had it."
"V-Voldemort? What on earth is he doing with a map of Hogwarts?" Hermione asked slowly, before she caught onto her words. Her eyes dilated widely, and she looked as though she had just inhaled a fly, which was caught, in her throat. "Harry, you're not saying that he is planning something, are you?"
"That's what me and Malfoy think."
"Malfoy? He gave you this?" Ron asked.
"Yeah. He nicked it during the summer holiday, but he didn't know what to make of it."
"Harry, you've got to tell Dumbledore! He'd want to know about this!" Hermione said urgently.
"But how do we know its true, Hermione? I mean, we can't jump to conclusions, like last year, remember? I nearly took you all to your deaths rushing off to the Ministry thinking Sirius was trapped in the Department of Mysteries. Maybe Voldemort wants us to think he's planning something, to side track us or whatever." Harry said, anger rising in him. However, that anger was not connected with the emotion he was feeling at the moment. The anger was coming from his scar.
He clutched his head, and screwed his eyes against the pain, which died down seconds later.
"Harry? What's the matter?" Ron asked.
"Its Voldemort. He's angry about something. I have no idea what it was, but I can tell he was angry."
"I wonder if he know's about the map?" Hermione asked.
Harry stared at the map. Could Voldemort be upset about the map missing? Could he know that Harry, Ron, Hermione and Malfoy were on to his plan?
* * * * * *
The Easter Holidays finally arrived, and many of the Sixth years were happy about it. They were up to their necks in work, and finally they would have some time to relax. Hermione on the other hand was not all for relaxing. She stayed in Gryffindor Tower for hours at a time, finishing Homework, and looking up different spells. Ron and Harry spent time with Ginny, Cho, Luna, and many other D.A members swimming in the warm lake. The weather was much warmer than it had ever been, and the lake was at comfortable swimming temperature. The Giant Squid occasionally rose, to mess around with people, but on the whole, it was quite fun.
Harry did not even think about the map while enjoying the holidays. All he thought about was enjoying himself, and trying to keep his spirits up. There was even a day when Harry and Ron opted to help some of the fifth years prep for their O.W.L's.
Mrs. Weasley sent a large basket of Chocolate filled eggs, and some homemade mince pies as well. Hermione on the other hand had not been seen for days, and Lavender Brown told Harry she was in the library pouring over books. Harry did not even feel the need to interrupt her.
Finally, the holidays were over, and the sixth years settled back in to their usual daily lives or work, and studies. Harry only focused on one thing; the Quidditch Final. He and the team were practicing extraordinarily hard right up to their last practice the night before the match.
.Ron, Ginny, Dean, Lavender, Parvati and Hermione were ranged around Harry in the team room.
"I'm glad Slytherin aren't playing against us," Dean said.
"Hufflepuff's a breeze." Said Ron.
"But we can't let that throw us off. We've still got to train hard. Now, I want to get a good practice all right?" said Harry. Everyone stood up, and headed out onto the field, and to Harry's immense surprise, several Slytherin's stood in the stands.
"Look, it's Potty!" Pansy Parkinson yelled. The four Slytherin's behind her roared with laughter.
"Ignore them," Harry muttered, as the team got on their brooms. "Lavender, could you and Ginny go and get the balls?"
"Sure," said Lavender. She and Ginny went back inside the changing room.
"We're going to try-"
"Its Potty! It's Potty! And the Mudblood Granger-"
"-a few rounds of passing-"
"-Weasley is our King! He cannot block a thing-"
"-and then we'll try one practice game-"
"-WEASLEY IS A LOSER! -"
Ginny and Lavender returned with the ball case. Hermione took the Quaffle out of it.
It was the worst practice Harry had ever witnessed for Ron. Ron kept dropping the Quaffle, and he had even hit Hermione in the head three times. During the practice match, he dived for the Quaffle and managed to knock right into Lavender, who received a bloody nose, and that was when Harry thought the practice should end. The Slytherin spectators left once the practice ended.
"I don't know what was wrong with me," Ron said apologetically on their way back to the Castle.
"Its okay," Harry said, clutching Lavender as the walked her to the hospital wing. They bid her good night, and headed to Gryffindor Tower, where Harry told them team he was going to go to bed early. Ron followed still saying he wasn't going to be like that the next day. Harry told him it was all right, and changed into his pajamas. Harry instantly fell asleep, and for the first time, his scar was not prickling.
The Next morning dawned warm and bright. The Sun was shining through the windows of the castle brightly, and it felt like another warm day. The Great Hall was buzzing about the last match of the season, and at Breakfast, Harry was pleased to see that the Gryffindor's were being very supportive, even the Ravenclaws, who were usually neutral in matches between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff.
The Team ate in silence, while others talked and gossiped. Finally, several Minutes before eleven, Harry and the rest of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team stood up, and went to exit the hall. Monstrous cheers and applause rang from the Gryffindor Table. Harry smiled, and continued out onto the warm sunny grounds.
The Grass was soft, and green as they made their way across the slopping lawn towards the Quidditch Field. They changed into their robes, and could now hear the footsteps of hundreds of students filing into their seats. Excitement and nervousness arose inside Harry's stomach. However, Ron was looking very pale, and had not even looked at Harry since they awakened.
"Alright everyone. This is it, the big one. The one we've been hoping for. Let's go out there, and win this cup!" Harry said. Everyone cheered, and headed out for the field.
They flew off around the field, which was loud. Many Gryffindor's were shouting out cheers to several players. Someone in the crowd said if Dean scored, she'd give him a kiss. Cho was commentating.
"Today's Match is the last match of the season! Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff!" she said into the megaphone. "The players take their positions, as Madam Hooch emerges onto the field to start the game!"
Madam Hooch walked onto the field, and stopped directly in front of the ball case. "Now, I want a good, clean game!" she said, as she opened the case.
"The Bludgers are up, followed by the Snitch! And here comes the Quaffle, and the game begins!" she shouted. "Granger takes possession of the Quaffle and flies off toward the goals. She passes it to Ginny Weasley, a very superb Chaser by the way. She's also a good friend of mine!"
"Ms Chang!" said Professor McGonagall.
"Sorry Professor. So, uh, Ginny has the Quaffle, she throws and SHE SCORES! Ten points to Gryffindor!"
The Gryffindor end of the field erupted into loud cheering and applause. The Slytherin's booed. Harry threw a fist into the air. They had to at least score sixty points before he caught the snitch.
"And now Smith takes the Quaffle, he dodges a bludger from Brown. Aw, tough luck-OH! Thomas retrieves the Quaffle! Nice Move! He heads back down the field, dodges a bludger from summers, and-SCORES! Another ten points to Gryffindor!"
The Gryffindor's screamed louder than before, and it sent birds from the forbidden forest flying into the sky. Harry grew happier, but kept his eye out for the Snitch.
"Jones takes the Quaffle, and passes it to Smith, who dodges another Bludger. Smith shoots, and-Scores! Ten points to Hufflepuff"
The Slytherin's and the Hufflepuff's roared with cheers. The Gryffindor's groaned. Ron failed to catch the Quaffle in time.
Harry continued to scan the field, looking for any sight of the gold spec that might be the Golden Snitch. He could see the Hufflepuff seeker doing the same. For the next ½ hour, Harry watched Ginny score two goals, and Dean scored two as well. However, Zacharis scored four goals, and a chaser by the name of Summers scored one goal, which made the score an even sixty. However, the snitch was nowhere in sight.
"And summers catches the Quaffle and dives toward the goal. BLOCK IT RON- Hufflepuff scores! The score is now Gryffindor Sixty, and Hufflepuff Seventy."
Harry was watching Ron, when some shouted.
"HARRY! GET AFTER THE SNITCH!"
It was Hermione. She pointed to the Hufflepuff Seeker who was diving for something. Harry spun around and pelted toward him, stretching out his hand. The Hufflepuff seeker pushed Harry to one side, but that gave Harry the advantage he needed. Harry swerved off course, but quickly turned his broom toward the seeker, who stopped mid air, and Harry closed his hands around the snitch.
"HARRY POTTER CAUGHT THE SNITCH! GRYFFINDOR WINS THE MATCH!"
The Gryffindor end of the field exploded with cheering and applause. Harry did it. He managed to win the Cup. Professor Dumbledore was standing in the stands, holding the Silver Cup in his hands, beaming as Harry flew closer.