Chapter 13:

Quidditch Again

The week of the first Quidditch match came. The Gryffindors walked out onto the pitch for the last practice before the game. Harry beamed at the other Gryffindors, "Now, I know that the Slytherins have been taunting all of you the last couple of weeks. I want you all to continue ignoring them. Let's save every bit of animosity for the game. I want to wipe the smirks off of their faces. Let's bury them on Saturday."

The team cheered and then took to the air. The technique of the team was flawless. Harry called time to the practice after one hour. "Now, I want everyone to rest and relax for the rest of the week. I don't even want you to think about Quidditch until the game. We're going to win, and we're going to do it with smiles on our faces. The Slytherins can go crawl back into their stinking holes after we're done with them."

The night before the match, Gryffindor tower was in high spirits. It seemed like the entire house was bouncing around the common room. People clumped together to chat, and then dispersed and collected into different sets. Harry sat quietly with Ginny by the fire. Ron and Hermione were nearby, but the four didn't speak. Harry had come to enjoy his silent musings, and none of the others saw fit to interrupt him. Around ten o'clock, Harry finally got up and said, "Team, get to bed." No one seemed to have heard him amidst the commotion. So, Harry drew his wand, and pointed to his throat, "Sonorus." Ginny, Ron, and Hermione saw him and knew what was coming, so they covered their ears. Harry yelled, "Quiet." Then, he tapped his wand against his throat again and muttered, "Quietus." The entire common room fell silent. Harry continued, "As I said before, team, its time for bed."

The Gryffindor Quidditch team immediately scattered and fled up the stairs to their dormitories. Ginny came over and kissed Harry lightly and then followed them. Only, Ron stayed in the common room. Harry looked pointedly at him until Ron responded surlily, "I don't have to go to bed just because you tell me to, Harry."

Hermione sensed danger as Harry raised his eyebrows expectantly at Ron. Ron's ears turned slightly red and he said again, "I'm not going to bed this early on a Friday night, and you can't make me."

Harry's eyes flashed, and Hermione groaned. Harry smiled icily, "If it comes to making someone do something, Ron, you would be surprised at what I can do. However, if you would like to play Quidditch tomorrow as Gryffindor's keeper, I suggest you get to bed." Harry turned and walked from the common room.

Ron pounded his fist into the chair arm, "Who does he think he is? Ordering me around like some servant."

Hermione replied, "He thinks he's the Gryffindor Quidditch Captain. I would do as he says. I think he meant it when he said you wouldn't play."

Ron snorted, "He wouldn't keep me off the pitch."

Hermione shook her head, "I think he would. Ron, just think about some of the things that you have done because you were mad at Harry. You ignored him for a month before the first task of the Triwizard Tournament."

Ron gritted his teeth, "Alright, I'll go to bed, then." He got up from his chair and made his way up the stairs.

The next morning, Harry was up at dawn to go down to the Quidditch pitch. He walked back and forth along the length of the pitch breathing deeply. He began speaking out loud to himself, "I can do this. We're going to win today." Truth be told, Harry was feeling somewhat nervous over the prospect of his first match as captain. He bottled it up, and used the fear he was feeling as a tool. Then, he walked slowly towards the Great Hall. The rest of the team was there eating together. The Slytherins were shooting them nasty glares from across the room. Harry cleared his throat noisily, "I presume you all slept well."

The Gryffindors nodded enthusiastically except for Ron. He continued to look surly. Harry continued, "Well, the match is at eleven. Enjoy your morning, and report to the changing rooms at 10:15 for pre-match. Then, we'll go out and see who's laughing at the end of the day." Harry sat down beside Ginny, who smiled at him sunnily. Harry grinned back, and then dug into his breakfast. The rest of the morning passed quickly, and soon it was time to head down to the pitch.

Harry and Ginny walked in and sat in the captain's office. The rest of the team filed in shortly behind them. They changed quickly, and then settled down for the pre-match pep talk and strategy. Harry stood in front of them, and began to pace back and forth. "Okay, Dean and Seamus, I want the two of you to hammer their chasers like there is no tomorrow. Don't worry about Malfoy. I can handle him. Katie, Natalie, and Ginny, the three of you just work your magic. You know your jobs well. I'm not worried. Ron, you know your job. Guard those hoops, like you think that if someone scores Hermione's going to go to the ball with Malfoy."

Ron looked stunned. The other team members laughed at his consternation. Harry smiled merrily, "Sorry, mate. I couldn't resist. To continue, we're an excellent team. Those stinking Slytherins don't have anything on us. We have won the Quidditch Cup the last two years that it was held, and I see no reason not to repeat that this year. So, when Madam Hooch calls us out, we'll head for the pitch and do our thing. I want to see a clean game. If we need to retaliate against something they do, we'll handle it after the match. I don't want to see them getting any penalty shots."

The team nodded in enthusiasm. The Creevey brothers piped up, "You're awesome, Harry."

Harry chuckled, "I appreciate the sentiment, guys, but in the future tone it down a little."

They nodded meekly, and the others laughed, even Ron. There was some light chatter for a few minutes before it was time for the match to begin. They stepped just outside the changing rooms to await their names to be called.

"This is Owen Cauldwell speaking. I will be your new announcer this year. I would like to introduce the teams for our match today. Here is the Slytherin team." Harry didn't pay much attention to the names being called until he heard, "and their captain and seeker, Draco Malfoy!" Harry shook himself out of his reverie, and exchanged glances with Ron. Ron shrugged his shoulders in response. Apparently neither of them had known that Draco had been made captain. Although they should have realized he was the obvious choice for Snape to make.

"Now, onto the Gryffindor team. Your keeper, Ron Weasley!" The Gryffindors cheered for him. They remembered that it was Ron that had cinched the Cup for them last year. "Your Chasers, Katie Bell! Ginny Weasley! Natalie McDonald!" There was a storm of applause for the three girls. "Your beaters, Dean Thomas! Seamus Finnigan!" Another round of thunderous applause. "And finally, last but definitely not least, your captain and seeker, Harry Potter!" Harry flew out onto the pitch amid the loudest round of applause yet. Here was their hero. The Boy Who Lived.

Harry settled down to the ground in the center of the pitch with Malfoy across from him. The two teams arrayed behind their captains. Madam Hooch came over, "I want a clean game, gentlemen. Captains, shake hands." Malfoy and Harry grasped each other's hands and tried to break the other ones hand. Neither gave and Madam Hooch spoke again, "Take to the air." The teams flew up into a loose circle. Madam Hooch released the Snitch and allowed it to zoom out of sight. Then, she blew her whistle, and released the Quaffle and Bludgers.

Katie immediately took the Quaffle and zoomed for the Slytherin goal. She aimed for the right goal, but then at the last second, reverse passed to Ginny, who neatly tucked it into the left hoop before the Keeper could respond. "Its ten-zero to Gryffindor." Owen shouted.

Malfoy flew alongside Harry, as the two searched for the Snitch. "Its time for you to lose, Potter."

Harry smiled benignly over at Malfoy, "Let me think, Malfoy. You've said something similar to that three times before, and I believe on all three of those occasions, I caught the Snitch. So, I think that I'll just have to catch it, today."

Malfoy merely sneered back at Harry, but didn't comment. The two continued to circle the pitch with Malfoy marking Harry closely. It was apparent that Gryffindor was the superior team, but not by much. Crabbe and Goyle were doing a good job of keeping up with Dean and Seamus. The match had been going on for nearly an hour, and the score was 60-40 to Gryffindor. Harry finally caught sight of the Snitch out of the corner of his right eye. He grinned, and took off to his left. Malfoy was hot on his heels, thinking that Harry had seen the Snitch. Once Harry was sure that Malfoy was near top speed, Harry quickly rolled into a corkscrew maneuver, and changed direction to head for the Snitch. Malfoy had no hope of copying the maneuver, and by the time he had turned around Harry was on the Snitch. A moment later he had caught it.

Madam Hooch blew here whistle signaling the end of the match. Owen Cauldwell announced, "Harry Potter catches the Snitch. Gryffindor wins 210-40." Three quarters of the crowd cheered while the Slytherins booed and left the pitch. The Gryffindors swarmed onto the pitch to celebrate. Harry raised his hands, "Party tonight. I'll handle the food and drink." The Gryffindors continued to cheer all the way back up to the castle.

The rest of the day passed with casual and sporadic cheers from the Gryffindors whenever a member of the team passed. As dinner was ending, Harry leaned over to Ginny and asked, "Do you want to go down to the kitchens with me?"

Ginny looked at him quizzically, "What are we going down to the kitchens for?"

Harry grinned, "I ordered Butterbeers for everyone from Madam Rosmerta a week ago. I had her send them up to the castle, and they have been stored in the kitchen. We've got some sweets from Honeydukes as well. I told Dobby that I would come down to the kitchen to tell him when they needed to be brought up to the common room."

Ginny stared at Harry in amazement, "You planned all of this a week ago?"

Harry nodded, "I had faith."

Ginny smiled, "I can tell. Sure, I would love to go down to the kitchens. I've never met Dobby."

Harry chuckled, "That's probably a good thing. He tends to be a little bit excitable. He could give the Creevey brothers a run for their money in the biggest Harry Potter Fan competition."

Ginny laughed as the two left the Great Hall and headed for the kitchens. Harry stopped in front of the portrait of fruit. He tickled the pear and it turned into a doorknob. He entered the kitchen, and the instant he stepped in, he was almost knocked from his feet by Dobby. "Harry Potter came to see Dobby. Harry Potter came to see Dobby." Harry managed to extricate himself from the House Elf's embrace. Ginny smiled at him. Dobby looked over to Ginny and asked, "Harry Potter, sir, who is you bringing with you? Who is this Missus?"

Harry smiled, "Dobby, this is my girlfriend, Ginny Weasley."

Dobby almost bounced up and down in excitement, "Harry Potter is a great wizard, Missus Wheazy must be a great witch to be Harry Potter's girlfriend."

Ginny blushed at the praise being heaped on her by the overenthusiastic House Elf. Harry almost laughed at her discomfiture, but managed to contain himself. "Dobby, I came down here to tell you that we need the Butterbeers and sweets that I had sent up from the village. Would it be possible for you and some of the other House Elves to take the stuff up to Gryffindor common room."

Dobby stopped for a moment, "I is doing it gladly, Harry Potter, sir. The other elves is insulted by the clothes that were being left last year."

Harry smiled, "You can tell them that no one is going to offer them clothes. They are welcome in Gryffindor tower at all times."

Dobby nodded, "I is getting to it right away, Harry Potter, sir. Dobby is glad to meet you, Missus Wheazy." Dobby ran off to get the stuff, and Harry shook his head in amusement.

Harry and Ginny then left the kitchen, and headed for the tower and the party. By the time that the two had gotten to the common room, Dobby and the other elves had delivered all of the party goods. The other Gryffindors were ecstatic. Dean looked at Harry, "How did you pull this off?"

"I have to have some secrets." Harry replied mysteriously.

The party got into full swing before Hermione came over to him and asked, "Harry, did you break rules to go get this stuff?"

Harry snorted, "Hermione, you worry about the rules entirely too much, but to ease your conscience, no I didn't break any rules. I placed the order with Madam Rosmerta a week ago."

Hermione looked relieved. Harry just shook his head in exasperation and walked away from her. She looked hurt for a moment, but Ron walked up beside her. The party carried on well into the night. Finally, Professor McGonagall showed up to yell at everyone and get them to bed.

The entire tower grumbled, but finally made their way up to the dormitories, and the tower settled down for the night.

A/N: Sorry for the short chapter, but I just really couldn't come up with anything that went along with the theme of the chapter. The next chapter is the Ball, so it ill be decently long.

Pug320: Thanks for the review.

Hp4all: No, I'm not French. I'm actually German and Irish mixed. I have previously told you that it is permissible to use improper grammar in dialogue to reflect the misuse of the language. For the other typos and errors, I don't have the benefit of a professional editor. My Beta reader and I are bound to miss some things. My apologies.

Captuniv: Very perceptive about the attack. It's coming in a few more chapters. As far as Snape is concerned, I feel that he has been smacked around enough. It is still going to take awhile for him to come around, but it will happen.

Blue-Eyed-Baby91090369: I'm glad that you are enjoying it. Expect me to post on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays until I finish the book. Then, its onto the sequel.

Me222: Feel free to use anything that I come up with. I took some of my ideas from other people. Thanks for the review.

Mel B: Ron is going to have his jealous moments in the story. They don't last long though. The deal with Snape offering his sword is actual dueling protocol. I have been fencing since I was eight years old. If you are defeated in a duel to first blood, you are supposed to offer your weapon to the victor. It is up to them to decide whether or not to take it.