A/N: I'm getting better and better – it's been less than one day since my last update, so there's not much that's new to say. I suppose I should do the old disclaimer thing again since I haven't done it in a while: Umbridge, the Sloth Grip Roll, and everything Potter – except the characters I made up – belong to J.K. Rowling. Whew, glad I got that done. Okay, I know I said that we'd get a little fluff in the "next chapter", but the Gryffindor-Slytherin Quidditch match ended up taking up a whole chapter's space, so we'll get to the fluff later.
totallystellar: You make me laugh. Look how well that truckload of inspiration dust worked! I don't know if it was the sheer volume or the strawberry flavor. You know, it's funny you should mention the Harry/Luna thing. I've heard several people say that they think Harry is going to end up with her. I didn't get that vibe from Phoenix, but who knows. Unfortunately Luna isn't really in this story (I put her on the Ravenclaw Quidditch team), but she might show up more in the sixth year.
PhoenixTearsp322: I'm glad you're not upset about the ire thing! Funny, but you're not the only person who thinks that Harry and Hermione have a budding romance in the works. I hope your friend likes the story, too.
chuckleseviltroll312: Hmm, another person who doesn't believe this best friend thing between Harry and Hermione. They don't like each other like that right now. If Harry were interested in Hermione, he wouldn't have found it so easy to ask her to the Gala. They both freaked out a bit when they got to the subject of mutual interest. At fifteen, you wonder if everyone likes you, even people you're not really interested in, so that was an awkward thing for them to surmount – naturally. I don't want to rule out any possibilities and thus lock myself in, but Harry and Hermione aren't romantic at this point.
Jedi Buttercup: I'm so glad you liked that little exchange. I loved the whole thing, myself. It just flowed so smoothly; I didn't have to do much editing there at all. Harry's turning out to be a mixed bag, isn't he? He's picking up these little skills here and there, all because he's been on the receiving end of some pretty strong spells. Harry will soon be making the mistake of thinking that dancing isn't masculine. Women LOVE men that can dance.
Chapter 28: The Dirtiest Quidditch Match
It was a cold, clear day in the heart of February. Harry Potter was sitting in Gryffindor's locker room beneath the Quidditch stadium, listening to the sound of hundreds of feet on the stairs above. He brushed a bit of dust from his robes that had come down from the rafters.
"Stop thinking about the dratted Ministry Gala and pay attention!" snapped Angelina. Fred and George's heads whipped around in surprise; their thoughts had clearly been elsewhere.
Harry sighed; he was having no trouble paying attention. Angelina's voice had become increasingly louder as her pep talk went on, and it had taken on quite an edge when she suspected the twins of drifting off. Harry had no idea how Fred and George could possibly ignore such a tone. Next to him, Ron rolled his eyes and tugged his padded gauntlets on tighter.
Angelina put her hands on her hips. "I don't know how you can let your minds wander at a time like this," she barked. "This may turn out to be the most important match of the season! We haven't lost to Slytherin in four years, and I'm not about to start now because our Beaters were thinking of snogging their girlfriends!" Katie and Alicia laughed softly. Angelina blushed a bit when she realized what she'd said; she was Fred's date to the Gala.
"Look. If we lose, we've lost any chance of vying for the Cup," she said. "Just play it like we practiced, and we should be fine. I don't think anyone else has seen the Sloth Grip Roll yet." A clarion sounded from the field. "It's time."
They left the locker room and headed for Gryffindor's gate. "Nervous, Ickle Ronniekins?" said George, falling into step beside his brother.
"A little," Ron admitted. "This is a big game, after all. And the Slytherins always play dirty."
"They'll try and knock you off your broom like the Ravenclaws did," said Fred.
"That was an accident," said Ron.
"Yeah, but they'll have thought it was a good idea. Just keep your seat, and if the Slytherins give you any trouble, imagine them naked," said George.
"Ugh!" Harry and Ron chorused together.
"The fans too," said Fred.
"But not Snape," said George, winking at Ron. "We don't want you going blind in the middle of the match."
The trumpet call sounded again; the team mounted their broomsticks, and the gate flew open. Harry soared out into the stadium to the sound of Lee Jordan's echoing voice. They did a lap around the stadium and flew into formation at the center where the Slytherins were already waiting. Harry took his place several feet above his teammates, directly across from Draco Malfoy. For an instant their gazes locked. Absent was Draco's usual arrogant sneer; in its place was only cold determination. Harry gripped his broomstick a little tighter. This was not going to be an easy match.
Madam Hooch released the Snitch. Harry tried to follow it, but it was quickly lost in the vast stadium. Moments later she was tossing up the Quaffle, and the game erupted.
It was down and dirty right from the start. All three of the Slytherin Chasers made to collide with the Gryffindor girls; only very quick thinking saved them. Katie emerged from the scuffle with the scalloped ball and streaked for the Slytherin goal.
"Katie Bell scores – ten points to Gryffindor!" shouted Lee. The crowd roared its approval. Harry began to fly around the stadium, searching for the tiny Snitch. On the opposite side, Draco was doing the same.
"McGavick takes the Quaffle, he's heading for the Gryffindor goalposts, STOP HIM, RON –"
"Yes, stop him, Weasley!" cried Professor McGonagall.
"Minerva!" barked Snape.
"Excellent save by the Gryffindor Keeper!" called Lee.
Harry whooped with the rest of the fans but never took his eyes off the field.
"INCREDIBLE MOVE BY JOHNSON!" roared Lee, and Harry knew that Angelina had unveiled the Sloth Grip Roll. "She avoids the Bludger by rolling and passes to Spinnet at the same time! What genius! And Spinnet SCORES! It's Gryffindor twenty, Slytherin zero!"
At this moment, one of the Slytherin Beaters flew right in front of Harry's nose. Harry heard him – Crabbe, he thought – grunt viciously as he swung his club. There was a loud CRACK and the Bludger rocketed right for the Gryffindor Chasers, who were back in possession of the Quaffle yet again.
"KATIE, LOOK OUT!" shouted Harry. Katie rolled just as the Bludger blasted through the space where her head had been.
After that, the game quickly degenerated. Slytherin was trying everything possible to take out the Gryffindor team. The Gryffindors avoided most of the attacks with ease, but they were so numerous that the odds were against them. As the game progressed the Slytherins managed to score a few hits. A Bludger grazed Alicia's leg, tearing off her shin guard. Two Slytherin Chasers deliberately collided with Ron, knocking him out. Madam Hooch awarded Gryffindor three penalty shots, but it took Ron a full ten minutes to come around. Harry, Fred, and George did their best to cover the hoops while he was out, but they were no Keepers; Slytherin still managed to put several in.
Once Ron was back, the game was back in Gryffindor's favor. Overall the Gryffindor team had the superior flyers, and it was starting to show. Katie, Alicia, and Angelina lengthened the lead to a full hundred points before Slytherin pulled its dirty fight back together. Just as Angelina tossed the Quaffle through a Slytherin hoop for the umpteenth time, Crabbe and Goyle fired both Bludgers at her. There was a sickening crack and Angelina was knocked clean off her broom. She didn't fall far before George caught her. Harry knew that his work as Seeker was more important than seeing to her, so he stayed where he was, but he could clearly hear her moans of pain. Lee's mutters about a possible dislocated shoulder didn't help much.
Alicia was the next to go. She was in the middle of a mad dash for the Quaffle that included all three Slytherin Chasers, so no one clearly saw what happened. A split second later she was fluttering down to the pitch, cradling a broken right arm.
"Find that Snitch, Harry, or before long you'll be the only one left!" called Lee over the loudspeaker.
"Yes, end this game, Potter!" shouted McGonagall.
"Again I make my case that the announcement of this game is grossly prejudiced!" Snape's voice was magnified for the whole field to hear.
"It's your team that's resorting to martial law!" shouted McGonagall.
"There are almost no rules in Quidditch!"
"MALFOY DIVES FOR THE SNITCH!" shouted Lee, cutting off the broadcasted argument.
Harry had seen it too; a millisecond after Draco began to move, he was streaking toward the golden glimmer. Too late he saw Crabbe and Goyle flanking him. They zoomed in from both sides, intending to drive him into the wall of the stands. Thinking as fast as he could, Harry dropped straight down. Crabbe and Goyle collided with each other and plummeted in a tangle of broomsticks. Harry had avoided a wreck from three sides, but it was too late to keep from smashing into the wall. He barely managed to keep hold of his broom.
Something was broken in his left arm; he just knew it. Better his arm than his leg, though; at least he could still sit on his broomstick, and he could catch the Snitch one-handed. He'd done it before.
"Harry!" said Fred, soaring up to him. "Are you all right?"
"No," Harry said through gritted teeth, holding his left arm close to his body.
"You sound bad," said Fred. "Maybe you should –"
"No!" The vehemence in Harry's voice even startled him. "The only way I leave this field early is unconscious."
Fred nodded. "I'm on Chaser with Katie. Find that Snitch if you possibly can! We're still up by eighty, so if Malfoy gets it now, we'll lose!"
Harry nodded grimly and resumed his search for the Snitch. Since the game was still going on, Draco must have lost sight of it in the triple collision. Harry soared around the stadium, taking stock of their situation. Gryffindor and Slytherin were both down by two players; neither Crabbe nor Goyle had returned to the field, and one of the Slytherin Chasers had taken up a Beater. Slytherin had the advantage, though; Harry was injured and Draco was not.
The game seemed to crawl forward. Katie and Fred were managing to increase the score ten points at a time, and Slytherin fell behind, but it happened very slowly. Ninety... one hundred... one hundred ten points ahead... Harry's arm ached terribly and his head was swimming. When he flew past the staff box, he caught sight of Professor Thornby. She looked just about ready to leap into the air and bring him down herself. Harry ignored her worried eyes and flew on.
One hundred twenty... thirty... forty! The crowd roared in anticipation as the score crept upward. Harry and Draco tore around the stadium as fast as they could, still searching for the Snitch.
They saw it at the same time, languishing in the middle of the field. Harry barely heard Lee announce Gryffindor's one hundred and fifty point lead as he rushed toward it, every sense focused on the ball that would end the game. He and Draco hurtled toward it on a collision course while the students in the stands cheered madly.
The Snitch changed course sharply. Harry and Draco veered at the same moment and found themselves tearing side by side toward the fluttering ball. Neither looked at the other; both stretched out their arms and reached.
Harry was unprepared for Draco's sudden movement. He couldn't stop the cry that burst from his lips when his opponent veered sideways, slamming into his injured arm. Harry saw spots; the world spun crazily. He dimly heard Draco's cry of triumph as he closed his hand on the Snitch. The air was full of the sound of students going wild, but all Harry could focus on was the searing pain in his arm. Somehow he managed to land and found himself surrounded by Fred, George, Katie, and Ron.
"I'm sorry," Harry said thickly. "Malfoy ran into me... I couldn't..."
"Harry, we won!" cried Ron.
"We... what?"
"Katie scored at the last second!" George crowed. "Their Keeper wasn't paying attention!" Harry looked at Katie; she was being thumped on the back by all three Weasleys and was grinning from ear to ear. Finally Harry noticed what the Gryffindor fans were cheering.
"KA-TIE! KA-TIE! KA-TIE!"
They had won by ten points. Before long Katie found herself being hoisted on the shoulders of the Gryffindors who were storming the field. Harry quickly backed out of the way to avoid being jostled. It didn't take long for Hermione to find him.
"Oh, Harry! Are you all right?" she said breathlessly, stretching out a hand.
"Don't – touch," Harry gasped.
"Sorry," she said softly. "You'd better get Madam Pomfrey to look at that."
"Oh, she's not going to be happy," moaned Harry. "Can't we just nick the Skele-Gro from her medicine cabinet? I don't want to spend the night in the hospital wing."
"Don't be silly," said Hermione. "Chin up, Harry. At least you'll have lots of company." Harry groaned, and she laughed.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione headed off for the school, leaving Katie and the twins behind with the celebrating crowd. They were still ten feet from the doors to the hospital wing when Madam Pomfrey's voice rang out. "Barbaric sport!" she yelled. "If Dumbledore doesn't ban it after this, he may just have to find a new matron!"
Harry turned around. "Oh, no, I'm not going in there!"
Ron and Hermione each seized him by a shoulder. "Oh, yes you are," said Hermione.
Harry tried to dig in his heels but his friends spun him around and pushed him forward. "Somehow this is going to be all my fault," said Harry, glancing at his broken arm. "Just wait and see."
They entered the vast room. Four of the snow-white beds were already taken. Crabbe and Goyle were still unconscious, Alicia was drinking a glass of Skele-Gro, and Angelina was white as a sheet, holding her injured arm close.
"Not you too, Potter!" shrieked Madam Pomfrey. Harry, Ron, and Hermione all jumped. "I am tired of seeing you here! I vow, I may just leave you on the field after the next match!"
"Don't blame me!" Harry said angrily. "Instead of banning Quidditch, why don't you just forbid the Slytherins from playing?"
"What happened to you, Harry?" said Alicia.
"Let's just say that those two got what they deserved," Ron answered, pointing at Crabbe and Goyle.
"You look like you're doing better," she said.
Madam Pomfrey looked up sharply. "What do you mean? What happened to you?" she said, advancing on Ron.
"N-nothing," said Ron, backing away. "I think I'll just head back to the common room –"
He wasn't fast enough. Madam Pomfrey seized him and began examining him. She gently touched a large red patch on Ron's left temple, and he hissed and flinched away.
"Bludger to the head," she muttered. "You're lucky it didn't crack your skull!"
"He was out for ten minutes," said Alicia.
"Don't TELL her that!" Ron shouted.
"If we're going to be stuck here overnight, then so are you," she replied.
"Get in bed, Weasley," said Madam Pomfrey. Ron glowered at her, but he sat down and began pulling off his protective padding. "Miss Granger," she continued, her tone softening a bit, "would you run and fetch Professor Bellaton, please? I am going to need his assistance."
Hermione left and returned a short time later with Bellaton in tow. By this time, both Harry and Ron were sitting morosely in their hospital beds. Harry was gagging from the awful taste of Skele-Gro, and Madam Pomfrey was pouring Angelina a glass of bright green liquid.
"Thank you, Miss Granger," she said. "This way, Ardoc." She led him to Angelina's bedside. Poor Angelina was holding her arm tightly, trying not to cry, but now and then a tear would escape her tightly closed eyes.
"Dislocated shoulder?" Bellaton said gently. Madam Pomfrey nodded. "And you want me to…?" She nodded again. "Right," said Bellaton.
Madam Pomfrey got Angelina to drink the green potion, and she immediately began to relax. They stood her on her feet with Bellaton behind her. Madam Pomfrey stood on a chair and tied a sling beneath Angelina's injured shoulder. Bellaton took her arm with his free hand. When Madam Pomfrey counted to three, she pulled up and Bellaton pulled down. Angelina whimpered slightly, and they let go of her. "Done," said the matron, and she gently helped Angelina to sit once again.
"Good heavens!" said a voice from the doorway. Madam Hooch and Professor McGonagall stood there, just in time to see the remedy. Katie and the twins were behind them. "Is Miss Johnson going to be all right?" said Professor McGonagall.
"Yes," said Madam Pomfrey. "I had to give her something rather strong to ease the reduction. She would have screamed bloody murder otherwise. It should keep her out for an hour or so." Behind her, Harry could see Bellaton helping a very sleepy Angelina to lie down.
"Disgusting tactics!" Madam Hooch said briskly. "Gryffindor shall have won by more than ten points by the time I'm through. I've half a mind to disband the Slytherin team entirely!"
"Disband the team?" said a cold voice. Snape had joined the fray. "I hardly think that will be necessary. Rest assured that I will speak to the team about proper sportsmanship."
"Sportsmanship?" shrieked Professor McGonagall. "Your players do everything short of killing off the Gryffindor team, and you talk of sportsmanship? You have gone round the bend, Severus!"
"Quidditch is a violent game!" said Snape. "The team was merely aggressive, though perhaps too much so."
"You can think whatever you like, but I supervise sport around here," said Madam Hooch. "That was the filthiest game I have ever seen, Severus, and I have refereed for the Berkshire Bashers! I'm giving your team one last chance to play it straight. Any shenanigans in the Ravenclaw match and Slytherin will not be competing for the Quidditch Cup next year."
Snape's eyes glittered. "I understand you perfectly," he said, and stalked out.
Professor McGonagall swept into the room, followed closely by Fred, George, and Katie. "Well played, all of you," she said briskly, taking them all in. Angelina was the only one who didn't hear; she was sound asleep in her bed. "I can barely think how you managed to pull off a victory in the face of such conduct, but you did it." She turned to the bedridden team members. "Potter, Weasley, Spinnet. Are you all well?"
"Well enough not to be stuck in here," Ron pouted. "You saw me flying around out there, can't you do something?"
"Far be it from me to question Madam Pomfrey's judgment," said Professor McGonagall. A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth when Ron sighed. "You will stay until she releases you. Now I suppose I should leave you all to celebrate. Excellent work, Miss Bell," she said as she left.
"Thank you, Professor," said Katie, grinning broadly.
"Do you think you'll be better soon?" Hermione said to Harry and Ron. "There's a notice posted on the front doors – surprise Hogsmeade trip tomorrow."
"What rotten luck!" Ron grumped. "With Madam Pomfrey, who knows?"
"Why is there a Hogsmeade trip?" said Harry.
"Shopping," said Fred. "All of a sudden there are a lot of students who need new dress robes. Including us."
"Are you selling your jokes or what?" said Ron. "You have to be. There's no other way you could have the money."
"We'll not be revealing our secrets to you just yet, Ickle Ronniekins," said George. "We'll have our own joke shop yet." He winked at Harry.
Ron shook his head. "Mum won't like it."
"So?" said Fred. "What Mum doesn't know won't hurt her."
"One day she'll see the value of having pranksters in the family," said George.
"I don't see the value myself," sniggered Ron.
"Watch it, little brother, or we'll take back those lovely navy blue robes we bought you," said Fred.
"Just try it," said Ron. "I'd rather die than go to another ball in that lacy maroon thing."
"Then don't go prying where you've got no business," said George.
"Fine," said Ron. "Keep your stupid secrets."
"Well, we're off to the party," said Fred. "Don't worry, we'll bring you down some sweets ASAP."
"Bring me a butterbeer, won't you?" said Alicia.
"Yeah, me too," said Ron.
"What makes you think we'll have butterbeer?" said George. "To get that, we'd have to sneak into Hogsmeade."
"You'll find a way," snorted Alicia. "You always do. Get me that butterbeer, George, or you'll be looking for another date to the Gala."
"Yes, ma'am," said George, grinning and bowing.
The twins were as good as their word. Within two hours they were back, bearing sweets of every kind and bottles of butterbeer that they hid beneath the beds so Madam Pomfrey wouldn't see. They also brought the remnants of a cake. Harry got a piece that had the letters "Wi" on it in messy red icing.
"It used to say "Wish You Were Here," said Fred, "but we weren't able to get it out of the tower before the students ate some of it."
Eventually Katie came back down, Angelina woke up, and the whole Gryffindor team had a little party right there in the hospital wing. At first Madam Pomfrey objected, but their good mood was infectious, and they weren't disturbing Crabbe and Goyle. Eventually George took a leap of faith and offered the matron a butterbeer. To Harry's very great surprise, she accepted with pleasure and left them alone for the rest of the night.
"If we can win the dirtiest Quidditch match ever, we can beat Hufflepuff," said Alicia as she unwrapped a bar of Honeydukes chocolate.
"I'll bet everyone wishes Katie were on their team now," said Ron.
"Yeah, and if the Slytherin Keeper is still alive tomorrow, I'll be really surprised," she replied.
"Great match today, everyone," said Angelina. "To us!" She raised her butterbeer, and they all clinked bottles.
"If a dislocated shoulder is what it takes to get you to relax, we'll make sure you get one in the next match," said Fred.
Angelina sent a pillow flying at his head, and everybody laughed.