Lessons and Quidditch

"Hermione did you finish that quote assignment for Defense?" asked Ron over breakfast on Friday.

"Ron the assignment is due today, of course I have finished it," sighed Hermione.

Ron and Hermione started their daily fight about whether Ron was actually procrastinating or not. "It isn't procrastinating until you actually doing the homework in class." stated Ron

"No you're procrastinating when you wait until the last day to do your project," replied Hermione.

Harry smiled and continued his breakfast. Some things will never change, though Harry as he watched his friends fight.

The week had been really quite because of the attack at Godric's Hollow. The whole ordeal had brought everything into focus for the students and they no longer doubted that Voldemort was back. Now if only the rest of the wizarding world would realize what is going on things might get better. "Ron, Hermione, let's go to class."

* * * *

"Students, it's nice to see that everyone has completed their assignments. Now instead of continuing on with curses and hexes like we have been for the past few weeks we are going to take a break and everyone is going to share one of their quotes and explain to the class what your quote means to you. Dean you're first." announced Professor Figg.

Student after student shared one of their quotes. Hermione talked about integrity and Ron talked about loyalty. Finally after Ron it was Harry's turn. Reaching the front of the class Harry took a breath, " Vittorio Alfieri once said that often the test of courage is not to die but to live. It's the easy way out when a person gives up, crawls into a corner and dies. When you take the hard road you prove how brave you are by getting up and move on after your world has ended. Getting up and living your life day after day knowing that things in the world suck because of you or that it was your fault that so and so died is the strongest form of courage in my opinion. Anyone can fight a monster but not many people can get over their grief."

"Very true Mr. Potter. Miss Patil you are next." said Professor Figg.

"Great individuals are not only popular themselves, but they give popularity to whatever they touch…….."

While Pavarti talked about her popularity Harry looked at his friends, Ron smiled at him and gave him a thumbs up sign for his presentation but Hermione and Icicle were looking at Pavarti with a shocked/disguised look on their faces. "I knew she was shallow but not that shallow," whispered Icicle to Hermione who muffled a laugh.

"May ask what you find to be so amusing Miss Granger," snapped Professor Figg.

Icicle spoke up for her embarrassed friend, "It was my fault Professor, I made a comment to Hermione and it was kind of humorous."

Professor Figg raised an eye brow, "Oh and what did you have to say?"

"It isn't really appropriate for certain people to hear but if you would like to know I would not mind telling you after class." replied Icicle trying to steer away from having to share the comment with the class.

Professor Figg raised an eyebrow at Icicle, "After class Miss Vera. It is your turn to present anyway."

"Accept the pain, cherish the joys, resolve the regrets; then can come the best of benedictions... If I had my life to live over, I'd do it all the same," Icicle stopped to gather her thoughts, "That is what I want to be able to say at the end of my life, that life was fun and I enjoyed it. I have seen both the highs and lows of mankind and have faced pains, joys and regrets of my own but the bottom line is…….. I am happy and I would live this life again if offered."

The bell range, "Very good class pick up the hand out on my desk for the next part of your project, Miss Vera I still want to talk to you."

* * * *

Where is that snitch thought Harry as he flew over the field.

They were in the middle of their last quidditch Practice before the big Ravenclaw vs. Gryffindor match. The team was really shaping up this season and the new recruits were picking everything up pretty fast. Harry spotted the snitch floating above the stands. Maneuvering past a few players Harry caught the snitch with ease. Angelina blew her whistle and the whole team landed. "You all looked great today, Ravenclaw seems to be the worse team this year." The team whooped but Angelina held up her finger, "Don't get cocky and play like crap. Second line you can watch the match but if something happens I want you sprinting to the locker rooms to join the game. Now everyone get some sleep."

Ron was busy talking to the chasers so Harry walked back to the common room with Aggy who was really nervous not to mention nothing like her father, "You'll be fine. It is a fairly easy match compared to some of the others we will have. Ravenclaw is known for always playing clean."

Aggy nodded meekly and started a conversation, "So how are you doing?"

"Pretty good, I'm ready for break. No school, no work." sighed Harry as they entered the castle.

"Are you going home for break?"

Harry snorted, "You couldn't get me to go back to the Dursleys on my own free will. I'd do almost anything to stay here."

"Lucky duck, I wish I could stay but of course dad insist that I come home over break so he can parade his family around his Christmas parties. I am such an outcast at home."

Harry looked at her, "Really?"

"Yeah, I am the Gryffindor who's her parents problem child. Just because I find putting frogs on my gorgeous sister's bed…. And setting off a few fireworks at parties doesn't mean that I am horrid." said Aggy with false sincerity on her face.

Harry smiled and shook his head, "You are horrible."

Aggy flashed a smile, "I know, what's the password?"

"Gryffindor rocks."

* * * *

"It's a cloudy morning for the first match of the season Johnson is the new coach of the Gryffindor team and has been personally training Potter to take over the position next year. We are about to see how this team composed mostly of 7th years will perform for this season. Cho Chang is the captain of the Ravenclaws and word on the street says that she has a few tricks up her sleeves. Well Chang you'll have to get up pretty early to even have a remote chance of beating Potter with his broom." Lee jumped out of McGonagall's reach, "Sorry Professor just stating the facts."

Finally, thought Harry, I haven't played a game in over a year.

Harry was down in the changing rooms with the whole team. Angelina was giving a pep talk trying to get the team to focus, which at the end, didn't really work. Fred and George ended up taking turns beating each other with their clubs, (AN: Believe it or not I have seen guys do this for fun) Kate and Alice were securing their hair while nodding here and there at what Angelina had to say while Aggy fidgeted. "You'll do great, just do what you do every day at practice," soothed Angelina, "Let's go you guys"

"And now entering the field we have Potter, Bell, Johnson, Spinnet, Weasley, Weasley and Fudge for Gryffindor. For a bit of information both Potter and Fudge have Firebolts which are still the top of the line broom and are expected to be for quite a long time. Angela and Cho are meeting at the middle of the field and there is the handshake and they're off! Boot has the quaffle, he dodges one bulger, two second buglers. He is approaching Gryffindor's goals, let's see if Fudge is going to stop it. Oh this doesn't look good, save! Gryffindor's new keeper Aggy Fudge has stopped the goal!"

She'll be fine now thought Harry, once you make that first break everything isn't as nerve wreaking.

Harry blocked out the game and focused in on finding the snitch. Visibility was getting worse as the game continued. A big storm was on the horizon and because the temperature had to be in the 30's it could very well snow. Cho had taken up the technique that most of the other house's seekers had picked up. Follow Harry around until he sees the snitch and try to catch it before he does. Cho was exactly as Harry remembered, stunningly gorgeous, and a great flyer but she didn't make his stomach flop anymore. Hours ticked by and there was still no sign of the snitch. At one point Harry saw Icicle wander in from the front gates to the game. If she was out of dance that meant it had to be about 6. That is when she said that she would be able to come out at watch the match if it wasn't over already.

"It's 10-120 Gryffindor is still in the lead. Those brainiac's are being massacred." yelled Lee, "Gryffindor's new keeper hasn't let anything by since that one goal, go Aggy!"

The temperature dropped when the sun started setting and to make things worse it started to sleet. Harry mentally thanked Hermione and put a repelling charm on his glasses. As Harry flew around the field he saw that his teammates were exhausted and looked as cold and miserable as Harry felt. I have to find the snitch now.

Scanning the field Harry saw a glimmer in front of the Hufflepuff stands. There in the yellow fluttered the snitch, it could have been sitting there the whole game since it was so hard to see against the stands. Taking a quick glance to see that Cho was further away, Harry dove. "There goes Potter, is he faking I don't see the snitch," asked Lee.

Dodging a bulger Harry started to wonder how he was going to catch the snitch. If I go strait for it I will end up going through the stands, I'll have to fly parallel. Pulling himself right next to the stands Harry tucked his feet but his knees still skimmed the surface. Reaching out he caught the snitch, and fell the whole two feet to the ground. That little bogey! It was right against the stands.

"Gryffindor wins!" shouted Lee as students started to flood the field.

Someone offered their hand to help Harry up. When he got up he saw that it was Cho. She smiled at Harry, "Amazing catch."

Harry smiled back, what he would have given to hear that a year ago. "Thanks, and good job with the team they have come a long way from the last time I saw them play."

Cho flashed another one of her dazzling smiles and went off to join her team. She would always be Cedric's. They belonged together and I am going to respect that.

* * * *