Chapter 19
Quidditch Returns to Hogwarts
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. DO I LOOK LIKE JK ROWLING TO YOU?!?!?! *suddenly realizes that people reading can't see her* Uh, sorry about that.
Author's Note: Hey people, for the 19th time. But hang on, PLEASE! OK, recap? So, Harry, Ron and Hermione went to visit Joy, and then they went to visit Glory. During their visit, Harry and Ron got to see Glory's collection of potions and inventions. While looking, they found a hidden dungeon that had a certain chest that contained 'the Potion of the Undead', which was a potion, like the potion of Flesh, Bone and Blood... (or something like that)... that brought a spirit or person back to its original state or energy, and Harry and Ron realized that was the potion that Voldemort would be using to get back to life. They didn't know why Glory created it though (yeah, she invented it), but then they realized a quarter of it was gone! Voldemort was already using it! And now we're off to the 19th chapter, "Quidditch Returns to Hogwarts", which is pretty self-explanatory.
After a long period of reconstructing the Quidditch pitch before and during the long winter season, the Quidditch field was finally ready to be played on by the end of March. As the Quidditch season continued, the Quidditch fans were getting excited for the game with Hufflepuff against Ravenclaw. Sadly, Cho couldn't play as Seeker for the game. The Ravenclaw team had quickly picked a new Seeker for their team to play. If Ravenclaw lost, she wouldn't be able to play another game for the school. Harry was very sad about that.
For a whole entire week, there was talk of nothing other than Quidditch, which Hermione thought quite annoying With all the talk of Quidditch in the common room and pretending to play Quidditch, it was hard for Hermione to concentrate on her schoolwork.
A few weeks before, Harry, Ron and Joy watched the Chudley Cannons game on Joy's teleview while Hermione went to Glory's rooms to update her SPEW website and see who visited it. Of course, the Chudley Cannons played triumphantly and had won the game. Ron's face was full of tears of excitement and happiness by the end of the match. Even if they were all in separate places, they had met each other again for the Defence Against the Dark Arts N.E.W.T. Club, where they had learned about battle and protection techniques that Aurors used against vampires.
The Quidditch match was on a Saturday afternoon, as usual. Unfortunately, the Defence Against the Dark Arts N.E.W.T. Club had to cancel their meeting.
Many students and all the teachers rushed to the benches and bleachers that Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, Harry went to the game with his friends and many of the other Quidditch-crazed Gryffindors (which were many).
Harry had wondered if Cho would be watching the Quidditch game. He looked around into all the bleachers to see if he could spot Cho. It would be easier if I had an omnocular, thought Harry. He squinted to look at the Ravenclaws across from him. Huddled with her friends in the middle row of the bleachers was Cho. He tried waving his hands so she could see him, but after he thought there was no use. Luckily, Cho spotted Harry from the other side of the Quidditch field. She waved back at him and blew him a kiss, which made Harry feel warm inside.
He also tried to look around and find Glory, but she was nowhere to be seen. She obviously remembered the last Quidditch game, thought Harry, recalling the last Quidditch game when a Bludger had hit Glory in the stalls and she had started beating up Crabbe, who was one of the Slytherin Beaters.
A minute after Harry had waved back at Cho again, Lee Jordan started the game.
"Hello, Hogwarts staff and students, and welcome to the second game of the Quidditch season," announced Lee Jordan. "I am, as you already know, your volunteer commentary speaker for the game. As you also know, I am now working at a Quidditch radio station-"
"JORDAN!" scolded Professor McGonagoll. "You may have graduated from this school, but that doesn't give you the right to go off topic!"
"Sorry, Professor McGonagoll!" apologized Lee Jordan. "Back to the game. It's a wonderful day for a Quidditch game, and today we'll be watching the Ravenclaw-Hufflepuff Quidditch match. Our teams are ready to come into the pitch. Everyone, please welcome the Huffelpuff team!"
In yellow robes, the Hufflepuff Quidditch members flew up onto the Quidditch pitch mounted on their brooms. Rounds of cheers from those supporting the Hufflepuffs were echoed all over the field.
"And now, please welcome the Ravenclaw Quidditch team!"
The Ravenclaw players clad in blue robes flew out into the pitch on the opposing side of the Hufflepuffs, clutching the tips of their brooms. Madame Hooche, in her referee outfit, came from the stands with the box containing the Quidditch balls.
"Madame Hooche has come out into the field with the Quidditch balls. Wow, she's aged from the last time I saw-"
"JORDAN!"
"Sorry about that, Professor McGonagoll."
"I want a fair game today, all right?" said Madame Hooche. She opened the Quidditch chest and released the Quaffle, Bludgers and Snitch.
"The Golden Snitch is released, and the game has begun!"
It was a wonderful and exciting game. That moment was one of the few Quidditch experiences that Harry enjoyed a Quidditch match without worrying about Gryffindor winning. By the middle of the game, both houses were tied. The team whose Seeker caught the Snitch would determine who the winner was.
"Ravenclaw Chaser Joey McFeen has the Quaffle, passes it to Henderson and throws it- Ah, the Hufflepuff Keeper caught it. The Hufflepuff Seeker is close to the Snitch, she's getting closer - closer - and she's caught it! Hufflepuff wins 250 to 100!"
All the Hufflepuff supporters cheered as their Seeker, Susan Bones, flew around the pitch with the Golden Snitch. Sighs were heard all around the field from the Ravenclaw supporters. Harry could see Cho, in the stands, frowning and looking quite glum.
"I wish they'd won," mumbled Harry to himself. "That way, Cho could have had another chance to play."
"I think that was an exciting game," stated Joy as they all stepped off the bleachers and headed to the castle.
"It still wasn't as good as the Chudley Cannons game," said Ron, who was still replaying the game in his head.
"Let's just hurry up to go into the castle," moaned Hermione. "I want to add a few extra inches to my Astronomy essay, and I don't think I'll be able to concentrate nor sleep tonight from the looks of all the Gryffindor Quidditch fans."
*****
The Easter season came quickly, and Easter Sunday was the first week of April. It was planned that there would be an Easter Ball that Sunday, and afterwards there would be the Easter holidays. Harry wouldn't be able to leave Hogwarts for the holidays, since the Dursley family had gone to Manchester for Uncle Vernon's business trip. All his friends weren't going either because their parents were too busy.
Everyone was getting ready for the evening of the Easter Ball. Harry had ordered a few cards and chocolate eggs for his friends and had received them a couple of days before the big night. He wrapped them quickly in colourful Easter wrapping (which gave him a hard time) and put them under his four-poster bed.
Not too many people were fussing about presents, although some of the Princesses' fans (such as Ginny Weasley and Seamus Finnigan) tried finding wonderful gifts for them. Princesses Joy and Glory would be giving everyone an Italian Easter pastry accompanied with a finely-decorated porcelain egg.
Harry was going to the ball with Cho Chang and was extremely excited about it.
Not many people were invited; just the Hogwarts staff members, the students and a few of their parents. Lucius Malfoy would be attending, which made Harry and his friends a bit anxious. There would be very high security there, even more than the finding of the plans of the attack on Dumbledore. Everyone was on high alert; the incident of the Princesses' Birthday Ball was still fresh in their minds.
At last, the day of the Easter Ball had come. Gryffindors passed a few gifts amongst their friends and ate the chocolate their families had given them. Aunt Petunia had sent Harry an Easter card and a small Easter cake with delicious icing. It was the third batch of good gifts he had received from the Dursleys in his life. He had also received an assortment of multi-coloured sugar-coated chocolate eggs from Remus, a few chocolates from Hermione and the Weasleys, and a porcelain egg and Easter pastries from Princesses Joy and Glory.
Before the ball, Harry put on the nice shoes he had received from the Dursleys, the cologne he got from Hermione for Christmas, the nice chain he got from Joy, the watch he received from Glory and the leather dress robe that he had received from Hermine during the summer. He hadn't worn it all year, so the Easter Ball was his chance to try it out. He quickly went down into the common room where all his friends were.
"Harry, come down!" shouted Ron. "We don't want to be late!"
"I'm coming, I'm coming!" said Harry, as he ran down the steps into the common room.
Ron was wearing the green dress robe Harry had given him at the last ball, Hermione had a nice, red dress robe with gold lace trimming with her bushy hair in a braid, and Joy was wearing a marvellous purple dress robe that was nicely embroidered in a floral design with a strip of jewels around the waist with lace around the edges and a v-neck collar sewn with gold fabric around it. She had her hair in a high ponytail and wore a diamond necklace with a large amethyst stone.
"You all look wonderful," said Harry. "Joy, you look magnificent! I can see you're covered up a lot more."
"I decided not to look so... revealing this time," answered Joy.
"Are you still hurt by what Glory said to you?" asked Ron.
"What she said was true. I need to cover up."
"Oh, Harry! You're wearing the dress robe I bought you!" said Hermione, as she marvelled at how nice and sharp it looked on him.
"You got him a dress robe?" said Ron angrily at Hermione.
"I didn't know what else to get him! Besides, it was for his birthday."
"You look wonderful, Harry!" complimented Joy. "Those robes are absolutely in!"
"Are we all set?" asked Hermione.
"I think so," said Joy.
"Yep!" answered Ron.
"Yes," responded Harry as well. "Are any of your parents coming?"
"Mine obviously aren't," said Hermione.
"My parents are visiting my brother Charlie in Romania," said Ron.
"My parents are both busy," said Joy.
"The Dursleys are obviously not coming, and Remus is probably busy doing his Auror work," said Harry.
"Are you going to meet Cho in the Great Hall?" asked Joy.
"Yes, I'm going to meet her at the entrance."
"That's great. Let's go!"
They all left the common room and went down to the Great Hall. There were the royal guards stationed at every corner, watching everyone and everything. The Entrance Hall was decorated in Easter decorations: bouncing bunny pictures, Easter eggs that had either a rabbit or a chic popping out every 5 minutes, swirling streamers, etc.
Harry saw Cho, who was wearing a pink dress robe, waiting at the entrance of the Great Hall for him. He waved at her, and once she saw him, she waved back. Harry rushed over to Cho and gave her a hug.
"Finally, you're here!" said Cho. "Do you want to go in?"
"Of course!" said Harry.
They both entered the Great Hall, which was nicely decorated in Easter decorations with large statues of eggs around the room. Up in the ceiling, there was a small flock of phoenixes flying around, and there were the Weird Sisters at the front of the Great Hall playing music while the students danced. There were tables of pumpkin juice fountains and sweets, with house-elves serving hors d'oeuvres to the guests. Harry could see Glory in an embroidered red-fitted robe with a high lace collar and a split which showed an orange ruffled petticoat underneath, and also wearing her tiara, royal ring and jewels, and her cross necklace. Malfoy, on the other hand, was in a dark blue robe beside Crabbe and Goyle who were wearing orange dress robes (which made them look like two suns). Glory and Malfoy were chatting with Malfoy's parents, Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy.
"Do you want to dance?" asked Cho.
"Sure," said Harry, even though he didn't like to dance very much.
They walked into the dance floor and danced to the Weird Sisters' songs. At a slow song, Harry wrapped his arms around Cho so they would be close to each other. He was actually enjoying dancing, and he danced amusingly until they served dinner.
At dinner, Harry and Cho sat with each other near Dean and Lavendar on Harry's side and a Hufflepuff couple on Cho's side. They had a delicious meal, consisted of a mushroom strudel as an entrée, followed by a buffet of turkey, vegetables, ribs, fresh bread, sausages, fruits, cheeses and other foods for the main course. That followed a buffet of various kinds of salads, which Cho greatly enjoyed. Afterwards, tons and tons of pastries appeared on the table, including a large cake-replica of the castle of Hogwarts. The slices of cake were passed around, and Harry dug his fork into the slice quickly. Cho giggled at the sight of Harry gobbling down the slice. He looked up at her and saw her giggling, so he smudged some icing on her nose, and they both started to fool around with the pastries. Harry quickly wiped the pastry off his face, and wiped Cho's face of the icing too.
Once everyone had eaten their meals, the Weird Sisters started to play again. Harry and Cho got up from their seat and danced with each other. It was a lovely, starry night, which they could see from the bewitched ceiling.
After a while of dancing, Cho left to go to the washroom. During her absence, Harry walked around the Great Hall and found Princess Joy, Ron and Hermione talking in a spot on the side of the dance floor.
"Hello, Harry!" said Joy. "How's your evening with Cho?"
"Lovely," he responded. "She had to go to the washroom though. Mind if I join you?"
"No, not at all!" said Hermione.
"So what are you all talking about?" asked Harry.
"We were just talking about the Weird Sisters and our favourite songs," said Ron.
"I personally like their ballad, 'One Lonely Hallowe'en Night'," said Hermione, "although Ron likes the song, 'Rocking on my Broom' and Joy likes the song, 'I Thought You Were a Phoenix, but You're Actually a Bat'."
"Interesting," said Harry, who had no idea what to say because he didn't really listen to the Weird Sisters.
"What did you and Cho talk about during the night?" asked Ron.
"We talked a lot about Quidditch, and about the decorations," said Harry.
"- and I believe you've met my dear sister, Joy, before," said a voice from behind them.
They all turned around and found out the voice had come from Glory, who was standing with Malfoy and his parents. Crabbed and Goyle were at the sweets buffet table, stuffing their mouths full of pastries.
"Yes, I do believe I've met her before," said Lucius Malfoy as he looked at Princess Joy. "Hello, Your Royal Highness. Are you enjoying your evening?"
"Indeed, I am," she said with a fake smile spread across her face.
"And these are your friends?" asked Narcissa.
"Yes, they are," she replied.
"That's strange," said Narcissa. "You'd think a well brought-up girl like you would have better friends."
"It's rather sad, Mother," said Malfoy, smirking at them in his evil way. "She could have all the friends in the world, yet her best friends are a famous orphan, a cheap weasel and a Muggle-born!"
All of the Malfoys laughed cruelly at the comment, which gave a sharp pain in Harry's heart. How ruthless can you get? thought Harry. He glared at Princess Glory, whose face was blank of emotion or expression. It didn't look like she felt sorry for them, nor did it seem like she laughed at them either.
"Ronald Weasley, is that your name?" asked Narcissa Malfoy to Ron.
"Yes it is," answered Ron quickly.
"I heard your father got a raise," said Mr. Malfoy slyly. "Lucky for him. I suppose now he can pay off the cardboard box your family lives in, right?"
A few cackles came from the evil three, and suddenly Joy's forced smile became a thin lip.
"And to think, that boy is the Princess Joy's friend?" remarked Narcissa.
"He's more than my friend," stated Joy proudly. "He's my boyfriend."
A burst of laugh came from Malfoy's parents.
"Really? You're not expecting the relationship to go far, are you?"
"Actually, I do," answered Joy. "I think he'd make a wonderful husband."
Ron's eyes almost popped out of their sockets at hearing what Joy said, and his ears became so red they completely matched his hair.
"A husband?" questioned Mr. Malfoy. "Princess, you do know that if you marry this cheap, odious wizard he will be King?"
"Yes, in fact I do," said Joy, revealing a smirk.
"Wouldn't that be a horrible reign?" chuckled Mr. Malfoy.
"I don't really take into thought your opinion on that," stated Joy. "Considering that you thought Lord Voldemort was a marvellous wizard, I don't think your opinion would matter much to me."
Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy's jaws dropped at that remark, and looked at her in an odd way.
"I should also recommend that you learn how to show respect to those ranking higher than you," continued Joy. "You sure know how to boss around those smaller than you, but you surely forget that you are only a little person compared to me, Mr. Malfoy. You may forget this, but one day you will have to bow to me, and if I do marry Ron Weasley, you will have to bow down to him as well."
Ron almost choked at hearing that, and just when Harry thought his ears couldn't get any more red, they did.
"I cannot believe you!" said Lucius Malfoy. "You, of all people! Mark my words, your sister and my son will rule and their reign will outwit and outshine yours and will become such an amazing one that you will never forget it, and that the world will never forget. When that day comes, your life will be turned upside down!"
After saying this, Mr. Malfoy turned on his heel and left the scene, with his wife following him. Malfoy looked at Joy fearfully and gulped down hard. Glory tried to break the silence and nudged Malfoy.
"Come on, let's go get something to eat," she said. "I'm hungry."
"You just had a large meal!"
"We'll go where Crabbe and Goyle are," she said.
Glory grabbed Malfoy's arm and led him to the snack table where Goyle and Crabbe were stuffing their faces.
"Glory, you literally eat as much as Crabbe and Goyle, and yet your figure and weight is nothing compared to them!" commented Malfoy, as he was dragged away.
Harry shook his head, not being able to believe the scene that had just occurred.
"You completely told him off," complimented Hermione. "Great job!"
"Thanks," said Joy. "I appreciate the compliment."
"Y-you, m-m-me, m-m-married?" stuttered Ron. "You really think so?"
"Dreams come true, you know," she said, winking at Ron.
"I cannot believe how rudely Lucius Malfoy talked to you," said Harry.
"I think this just proves it more that he's a part of that awful scheme with Lord Voldemort and his son," said Joy. "He's completely going for their relationship!"
"Oh, I can see Cho," said Harry. "I'll see you later."
Harry rushed over to where Cho was, and Cho greeted him with a smile.
"Harry, I'm so sorry that I took so long," said Cho. "What did you do while I was gone?"
"Long story," he said. "Why don't we dance?"
For the rest of the evening, both of them danced the night away and had a wonderful night. Harry still giggled to himself about the comments and comebacks Joy gave Lucius that night, and the look on the Malfoys' faces.
*****
"It's a perfect day for Quidditch!" stated Harry, as he brought all the Gryffindor Quidditch team members onto the pitch which its green grass gleaming like emeralds in the open sun and fresh air. "Ah... Stepping on the lush green grass of the pitch and looking up at the high goal hoops; I missed it all."
"Harry, you're starting to scare me," said Ron. "You sound like Oliver Wood, or even Angelina Johnson. You're like a crazed Quidditch maniac!"
"I'm not a crazed Quidditch maniac!" said Harry. "It's just a great day for Quidditch and I've missed playing on it."
"You're right," said Joy. "I missed the Quidditch pitch too."
"Ginny? Do you have the Quidditch balls?" asked Harry, turning his head to Ginny behind him.
"The chest is right here," said Ginny, carrying the giant chest which held the Quidditch balls.
"Wonderful. Ginny, you can leave that chest right there. I'll take the balls out. Everyone, spread out where you're supposed to be positioned!"
The players kicked up their brooms and flew up in the air above the field. Harry opened the chest. First, he threw up the Quaffle to the Chasers: Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan and Danielle Ringum. Ducking before, he released the violent Bludgers into the open air to the Beater: Princess Joy and Ginny Weasley. Finally, he opened up a little lock in the chest, and pulled out the Golden Snitch. He let out the little flying ball which sped quickly off into the field. After he let it loose in the pitch for a while, he kicked off his broom and flew up above the field.
As he looked around the area for the Snitch, he spotted Dean passing the Quaffle to Seamus, then to Danielle, who shot the Quaffle but was caught by Ron, who was humming to himself, 'Weasley is Our King'. He also saw Joy and Ginny hitting the Bludgers away from the four players and passing it to themselves. All the players were doing well. He looked down at the yards of grass, and spotted Cho Chang who was watching him from the side. He waved at her, and she waved back and blew him a kiss. It was an absolutely wonderful practice.
Once he caught sight of the Snitch, he sped quickly to follow it and in a few minutes had caught it right above one of the hoops on the other side. While the Snitch was battering its wings inside his palm, he had remembered the wonderful times he had had playing Quidditch. He had missed the game so much those past few months. As he gripped onto the Snitch, he could see in the corner of his eye Cho clapping at Harry's catch. Harry winked at her, and released the Snitch again. As he waited a while for the Snitch to fly around before he went to retrieve it, he spotted two other people near the sides of the Quidditch pitch.
Looked closely, he could see Draco Malfoy and Princess Glory, who were talking to each other and walking along the sides of the Quidditch field. Malfoy had his arm around her shoulder, and was talking proudly to her. They stopped to look at the Gryffindor team playing, and Malfoy scowled at the sight of them. He could have had a chance to win the tournament, but his scheme to win had backfired and his team was disqualified from winning the Cup.
Malfoy looked up at the players high in the sky, and his eyes met Harry's, which were glaring back at him. Malfoy scrunched his nose and loured at him, as Harry did back to him. Glory started to become a bit frightened at the Bludgers circling in the sky, and nudged Malfoy for them to walk away from the pitch. Malfoy, who had turned away from scowling at Harry, walked away with his girlfriend.
"To think that Malfoy had become a bit nicer near the middle of the year with Glory's influence," mumbled Harry to himself. "I wonder what changed Malfoy to make him go back to his normal, horrible self."
Author's Note: Next chapter is called - "Relationship Vs. Friendship". Harry gets a hard time balancing his life with Cho and his life with his friends, and he starts spending more time with Cho than his buddies, which gets them ANGRY!!. Read on, it's good! OH, and PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!
Quidditch Returns to Hogwarts
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. DO I LOOK LIKE JK ROWLING TO YOU?!?!?! *suddenly realizes that people reading can't see her* Uh, sorry about that.
Author's Note: Hey people, for the 19th time. But hang on, PLEASE! OK, recap? So, Harry, Ron and Hermione went to visit Joy, and then they went to visit Glory. During their visit, Harry and Ron got to see Glory's collection of potions and inventions. While looking, they found a hidden dungeon that had a certain chest that contained 'the Potion of the Undead', which was a potion, like the potion of Flesh, Bone and Blood... (or something like that)... that brought a spirit or person back to its original state or energy, and Harry and Ron realized that was the potion that Voldemort would be using to get back to life. They didn't know why Glory created it though (yeah, she invented it), but then they realized a quarter of it was gone! Voldemort was already using it! And now we're off to the 19th chapter, "Quidditch Returns to Hogwarts", which is pretty self-explanatory.
After a long period of reconstructing the Quidditch pitch before and during the long winter season, the Quidditch field was finally ready to be played on by the end of March. As the Quidditch season continued, the Quidditch fans were getting excited for the game with Hufflepuff against Ravenclaw. Sadly, Cho couldn't play as Seeker for the game. The Ravenclaw team had quickly picked a new Seeker for their team to play. If Ravenclaw lost, she wouldn't be able to play another game for the school. Harry was very sad about that.
For a whole entire week, there was talk of nothing other than Quidditch, which Hermione thought quite annoying With all the talk of Quidditch in the common room and pretending to play Quidditch, it was hard for Hermione to concentrate on her schoolwork.
A few weeks before, Harry, Ron and Joy watched the Chudley Cannons game on Joy's teleview while Hermione went to Glory's rooms to update her SPEW website and see who visited it. Of course, the Chudley Cannons played triumphantly and had won the game. Ron's face was full of tears of excitement and happiness by the end of the match. Even if they were all in separate places, they had met each other again for the Defence Against the Dark Arts N.E.W.T. Club, where they had learned about battle and protection techniques that Aurors used against vampires.
The Quidditch match was on a Saturday afternoon, as usual. Unfortunately, the Defence Against the Dark Arts N.E.W.T. Club had to cancel their meeting.
Many students and all the teachers rushed to the benches and bleachers that Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, Harry went to the game with his friends and many of the other Quidditch-crazed Gryffindors (which were many).
Harry had wondered if Cho would be watching the Quidditch game. He looked around into all the bleachers to see if he could spot Cho. It would be easier if I had an omnocular, thought Harry. He squinted to look at the Ravenclaws across from him. Huddled with her friends in the middle row of the bleachers was Cho. He tried waving his hands so she could see him, but after he thought there was no use. Luckily, Cho spotted Harry from the other side of the Quidditch field. She waved back at him and blew him a kiss, which made Harry feel warm inside.
He also tried to look around and find Glory, but she was nowhere to be seen. She obviously remembered the last Quidditch game, thought Harry, recalling the last Quidditch game when a Bludger had hit Glory in the stalls and she had started beating up Crabbe, who was one of the Slytherin Beaters.
A minute after Harry had waved back at Cho again, Lee Jordan started the game.
"Hello, Hogwarts staff and students, and welcome to the second game of the Quidditch season," announced Lee Jordan. "I am, as you already know, your volunteer commentary speaker for the game. As you also know, I am now working at a Quidditch radio station-"
"JORDAN!" scolded Professor McGonagoll. "You may have graduated from this school, but that doesn't give you the right to go off topic!"
"Sorry, Professor McGonagoll!" apologized Lee Jordan. "Back to the game. It's a wonderful day for a Quidditch game, and today we'll be watching the Ravenclaw-Hufflepuff Quidditch match. Our teams are ready to come into the pitch. Everyone, please welcome the Huffelpuff team!"
In yellow robes, the Hufflepuff Quidditch members flew up onto the Quidditch pitch mounted on their brooms. Rounds of cheers from those supporting the Hufflepuffs were echoed all over the field.
"And now, please welcome the Ravenclaw Quidditch team!"
The Ravenclaw players clad in blue robes flew out into the pitch on the opposing side of the Hufflepuffs, clutching the tips of their brooms. Madame Hooche, in her referee outfit, came from the stands with the box containing the Quidditch balls.
"Madame Hooche has come out into the field with the Quidditch balls. Wow, she's aged from the last time I saw-"
"JORDAN!"
"Sorry about that, Professor McGonagoll."
"I want a fair game today, all right?" said Madame Hooche. She opened the Quidditch chest and released the Quaffle, Bludgers and Snitch.
"The Golden Snitch is released, and the game has begun!"
It was a wonderful and exciting game. That moment was one of the few Quidditch experiences that Harry enjoyed a Quidditch match without worrying about Gryffindor winning. By the middle of the game, both houses were tied. The team whose Seeker caught the Snitch would determine who the winner was.
"Ravenclaw Chaser Joey McFeen has the Quaffle, passes it to Henderson and throws it- Ah, the Hufflepuff Keeper caught it. The Hufflepuff Seeker is close to the Snitch, she's getting closer - closer - and she's caught it! Hufflepuff wins 250 to 100!"
All the Hufflepuff supporters cheered as their Seeker, Susan Bones, flew around the pitch with the Golden Snitch. Sighs were heard all around the field from the Ravenclaw supporters. Harry could see Cho, in the stands, frowning and looking quite glum.
"I wish they'd won," mumbled Harry to himself. "That way, Cho could have had another chance to play."
"I think that was an exciting game," stated Joy as they all stepped off the bleachers and headed to the castle.
"It still wasn't as good as the Chudley Cannons game," said Ron, who was still replaying the game in his head.
"Let's just hurry up to go into the castle," moaned Hermione. "I want to add a few extra inches to my Astronomy essay, and I don't think I'll be able to concentrate nor sleep tonight from the looks of all the Gryffindor Quidditch fans."
*****
The Easter season came quickly, and Easter Sunday was the first week of April. It was planned that there would be an Easter Ball that Sunday, and afterwards there would be the Easter holidays. Harry wouldn't be able to leave Hogwarts for the holidays, since the Dursley family had gone to Manchester for Uncle Vernon's business trip. All his friends weren't going either because their parents were too busy.
Everyone was getting ready for the evening of the Easter Ball. Harry had ordered a few cards and chocolate eggs for his friends and had received them a couple of days before the big night. He wrapped them quickly in colourful Easter wrapping (which gave him a hard time) and put them under his four-poster bed.
Not too many people were fussing about presents, although some of the Princesses' fans (such as Ginny Weasley and Seamus Finnigan) tried finding wonderful gifts for them. Princesses Joy and Glory would be giving everyone an Italian Easter pastry accompanied with a finely-decorated porcelain egg.
Harry was going to the ball with Cho Chang and was extremely excited about it.
Not many people were invited; just the Hogwarts staff members, the students and a few of their parents. Lucius Malfoy would be attending, which made Harry and his friends a bit anxious. There would be very high security there, even more than the finding of the plans of the attack on Dumbledore. Everyone was on high alert; the incident of the Princesses' Birthday Ball was still fresh in their minds.
At last, the day of the Easter Ball had come. Gryffindors passed a few gifts amongst their friends and ate the chocolate their families had given them. Aunt Petunia had sent Harry an Easter card and a small Easter cake with delicious icing. It was the third batch of good gifts he had received from the Dursleys in his life. He had also received an assortment of multi-coloured sugar-coated chocolate eggs from Remus, a few chocolates from Hermione and the Weasleys, and a porcelain egg and Easter pastries from Princesses Joy and Glory.
Before the ball, Harry put on the nice shoes he had received from the Dursleys, the cologne he got from Hermione for Christmas, the nice chain he got from Joy, the watch he received from Glory and the leather dress robe that he had received from Hermine during the summer. He hadn't worn it all year, so the Easter Ball was his chance to try it out. He quickly went down into the common room where all his friends were.
"Harry, come down!" shouted Ron. "We don't want to be late!"
"I'm coming, I'm coming!" said Harry, as he ran down the steps into the common room.
Ron was wearing the green dress robe Harry had given him at the last ball, Hermione had a nice, red dress robe with gold lace trimming with her bushy hair in a braid, and Joy was wearing a marvellous purple dress robe that was nicely embroidered in a floral design with a strip of jewels around the waist with lace around the edges and a v-neck collar sewn with gold fabric around it. She had her hair in a high ponytail and wore a diamond necklace with a large amethyst stone.
"You all look wonderful," said Harry. "Joy, you look magnificent! I can see you're covered up a lot more."
"I decided not to look so... revealing this time," answered Joy.
"Are you still hurt by what Glory said to you?" asked Ron.
"What she said was true. I need to cover up."
"Oh, Harry! You're wearing the dress robe I bought you!" said Hermione, as she marvelled at how nice and sharp it looked on him.
"You got him a dress robe?" said Ron angrily at Hermione.
"I didn't know what else to get him! Besides, it was for his birthday."
"You look wonderful, Harry!" complimented Joy. "Those robes are absolutely in!"
"Are we all set?" asked Hermione.
"I think so," said Joy.
"Yep!" answered Ron.
"Yes," responded Harry as well. "Are any of your parents coming?"
"Mine obviously aren't," said Hermione.
"My parents are visiting my brother Charlie in Romania," said Ron.
"My parents are both busy," said Joy.
"The Dursleys are obviously not coming, and Remus is probably busy doing his Auror work," said Harry.
"Are you going to meet Cho in the Great Hall?" asked Joy.
"Yes, I'm going to meet her at the entrance."
"That's great. Let's go!"
They all left the common room and went down to the Great Hall. There were the royal guards stationed at every corner, watching everyone and everything. The Entrance Hall was decorated in Easter decorations: bouncing bunny pictures, Easter eggs that had either a rabbit or a chic popping out every 5 minutes, swirling streamers, etc.
Harry saw Cho, who was wearing a pink dress robe, waiting at the entrance of the Great Hall for him. He waved at her, and once she saw him, she waved back. Harry rushed over to Cho and gave her a hug.
"Finally, you're here!" said Cho. "Do you want to go in?"
"Of course!" said Harry.
They both entered the Great Hall, which was nicely decorated in Easter decorations with large statues of eggs around the room. Up in the ceiling, there was a small flock of phoenixes flying around, and there were the Weird Sisters at the front of the Great Hall playing music while the students danced. There were tables of pumpkin juice fountains and sweets, with house-elves serving hors d'oeuvres to the guests. Harry could see Glory in an embroidered red-fitted robe with a high lace collar and a split which showed an orange ruffled petticoat underneath, and also wearing her tiara, royal ring and jewels, and her cross necklace. Malfoy, on the other hand, was in a dark blue robe beside Crabbe and Goyle who were wearing orange dress robes (which made them look like two suns). Glory and Malfoy were chatting with Malfoy's parents, Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy.
"Do you want to dance?" asked Cho.
"Sure," said Harry, even though he didn't like to dance very much.
They walked into the dance floor and danced to the Weird Sisters' songs. At a slow song, Harry wrapped his arms around Cho so they would be close to each other. He was actually enjoying dancing, and he danced amusingly until they served dinner.
At dinner, Harry and Cho sat with each other near Dean and Lavendar on Harry's side and a Hufflepuff couple on Cho's side. They had a delicious meal, consisted of a mushroom strudel as an entrée, followed by a buffet of turkey, vegetables, ribs, fresh bread, sausages, fruits, cheeses and other foods for the main course. That followed a buffet of various kinds of salads, which Cho greatly enjoyed. Afterwards, tons and tons of pastries appeared on the table, including a large cake-replica of the castle of Hogwarts. The slices of cake were passed around, and Harry dug his fork into the slice quickly. Cho giggled at the sight of Harry gobbling down the slice. He looked up at her and saw her giggling, so he smudged some icing on her nose, and they both started to fool around with the pastries. Harry quickly wiped the pastry off his face, and wiped Cho's face of the icing too.
Once everyone had eaten their meals, the Weird Sisters started to play again. Harry and Cho got up from their seat and danced with each other. It was a lovely, starry night, which they could see from the bewitched ceiling.
After a while of dancing, Cho left to go to the washroom. During her absence, Harry walked around the Great Hall and found Princess Joy, Ron and Hermione talking in a spot on the side of the dance floor.
"Hello, Harry!" said Joy. "How's your evening with Cho?"
"Lovely," he responded. "She had to go to the washroom though. Mind if I join you?"
"No, not at all!" said Hermione.
"So what are you all talking about?" asked Harry.
"We were just talking about the Weird Sisters and our favourite songs," said Ron.
"I personally like their ballad, 'One Lonely Hallowe'en Night'," said Hermione, "although Ron likes the song, 'Rocking on my Broom' and Joy likes the song, 'I Thought You Were a Phoenix, but You're Actually a Bat'."
"Interesting," said Harry, who had no idea what to say because he didn't really listen to the Weird Sisters.
"What did you and Cho talk about during the night?" asked Ron.
"We talked a lot about Quidditch, and about the decorations," said Harry.
"- and I believe you've met my dear sister, Joy, before," said a voice from behind them.
They all turned around and found out the voice had come from Glory, who was standing with Malfoy and his parents. Crabbed and Goyle were at the sweets buffet table, stuffing their mouths full of pastries.
"Yes, I do believe I've met her before," said Lucius Malfoy as he looked at Princess Joy. "Hello, Your Royal Highness. Are you enjoying your evening?"
"Indeed, I am," she said with a fake smile spread across her face.
"And these are your friends?" asked Narcissa.
"Yes, they are," she replied.
"That's strange," said Narcissa. "You'd think a well brought-up girl like you would have better friends."
"It's rather sad, Mother," said Malfoy, smirking at them in his evil way. "She could have all the friends in the world, yet her best friends are a famous orphan, a cheap weasel and a Muggle-born!"
All of the Malfoys laughed cruelly at the comment, which gave a sharp pain in Harry's heart. How ruthless can you get? thought Harry. He glared at Princess Glory, whose face was blank of emotion or expression. It didn't look like she felt sorry for them, nor did it seem like she laughed at them either.
"Ronald Weasley, is that your name?" asked Narcissa Malfoy to Ron.
"Yes it is," answered Ron quickly.
"I heard your father got a raise," said Mr. Malfoy slyly. "Lucky for him. I suppose now he can pay off the cardboard box your family lives in, right?"
A few cackles came from the evil three, and suddenly Joy's forced smile became a thin lip.
"And to think, that boy is the Princess Joy's friend?" remarked Narcissa.
"He's more than my friend," stated Joy proudly. "He's my boyfriend."
A burst of laugh came from Malfoy's parents.
"Really? You're not expecting the relationship to go far, are you?"
"Actually, I do," answered Joy. "I think he'd make a wonderful husband."
Ron's eyes almost popped out of their sockets at hearing what Joy said, and his ears became so red they completely matched his hair.
"A husband?" questioned Mr. Malfoy. "Princess, you do know that if you marry this cheap, odious wizard he will be King?"
"Yes, in fact I do," said Joy, revealing a smirk.
"Wouldn't that be a horrible reign?" chuckled Mr. Malfoy.
"I don't really take into thought your opinion on that," stated Joy. "Considering that you thought Lord Voldemort was a marvellous wizard, I don't think your opinion would matter much to me."
Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy's jaws dropped at that remark, and looked at her in an odd way.
"I should also recommend that you learn how to show respect to those ranking higher than you," continued Joy. "You sure know how to boss around those smaller than you, but you surely forget that you are only a little person compared to me, Mr. Malfoy. You may forget this, but one day you will have to bow to me, and if I do marry Ron Weasley, you will have to bow down to him as well."
Ron almost choked at hearing that, and just when Harry thought his ears couldn't get any more red, they did.
"I cannot believe you!" said Lucius Malfoy. "You, of all people! Mark my words, your sister and my son will rule and their reign will outwit and outshine yours and will become such an amazing one that you will never forget it, and that the world will never forget. When that day comes, your life will be turned upside down!"
After saying this, Mr. Malfoy turned on his heel and left the scene, with his wife following him. Malfoy looked at Joy fearfully and gulped down hard. Glory tried to break the silence and nudged Malfoy.
"Come on, let's go get something to eat," she said. "I'm hungry."
"You just had a large meal!"
"We'll go where Crabbe and Goyle are," she said.
Glory grabbed Malfoy's arm and led him to the snack table where Goyle and Crabbe were stuffing their faces.
"Glory, you literally eat as much as Crabbe and Goyle, and yet your figure and weight is nothing compared to them!" commented Malfoy, as he was dragged away.
Harry shook his head, not being able to believe the scene that had just occurred.
"You completely told him off," complimented Hermione. "Great job!"
"Thanks," said Joy. "I appreciate the compliment."
"Y-you, m-m-me, m-m-married?" stuttered Ron. "You really think so?"
"Dreams come true, you know," she said, winking at Ron.
"I cannot believe how rudely Lucius Malfoy talked to you," said Harry.
"I think this just proves it more that he's a part of that awful scheme with Lord Voldemort and his son," said Joy. "He's completely going for their relationship!"
"Oh, I can see Cho," said Harry. "I'll see you later."
Harry rushed over to where Cho was, and Cho greeted him with a smile.
"Harry, I'm so sorry that I took so long," said Cho. "What did you do while I was gone?"
"Long story," he said. "Why don't we dance?"
For the rest of the evening, both of them danced the night away and had a wonderful night. Harry still giggled to himself about the comments and comebacks Joy gave Lucius that night, and the look on the Malfoys' faces.
*****
"It's a perfect day for Quidditch!" stated Harry, as he brought all the Gryffindor Quidditch team members onto the pitch which its green grass gleaming like emeralds in the open sun and fresh air. "Ah... Stepping on the lush green grass of the pitch and looking up at the high goal hoops; I missed it all."
"Harry, you're starting to scare me," said Ron. "You sound like Oliver Wood, or even Angelina Johnson. You're like a crazed Quidditch maniac!"
"I'm not a crazed Quidditch maniac!" said Harry. "It's just a great day for Quidditch and I've missed playing on it."
"You're right," said Joy. "I missed the Quidditch pitch too."
"Ginny? Do you have the Quidditch balls?" asked Harry, turning his head to Ginny behind him.
"The chest is right here," said Ginny, carrying the giant chest which held the Quidditch balls.
"Wonderful. Ginny, you can leave that chest right there. I'll take the balls out. Everyone, spread out where you're supposed to be positioned!"
The players kicked up their brooms and flew up in the air above the field. Harry opened the chest. First, he threw up the Quaffle to the Chasers: Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan and Danielle Ringum. Ducking before, he released the violent Bludgers into the open air to the Beater: Princess Joy and Ginny Weasley. Finally, he opened up a little lock in the chest, and pulled out the Golden Snitch. He let out the little flying ball which sped quickly off into the field. After he let it loose in the pitch for a while, he kicked off his broom and flew up above the field.
As he looked around the area for the Snitch, he spotted Dean passing the Quaffle to Seamus, then to Danielle, who shot the Quaffle but was caught by Ron, who was humming to himself, 'Weasley is Our King'. He also saw Joy and Ginny hitting the Bludgers away from the four players and passing it to themselves. All the players were doing well. He looked down at the yards of grass, and spotted Cho Chang who was watching him from the side. He waved at her, and she waved back and blew him a kiss. It was an absolutely wonderful practice.
Once he caught sight of the Snitch, he sped quickly to follow it and in a few minutes had caught it right above one of the hoops on the other side. While the Snitch was battering its wings inside his palm, he had remembered the wonderful times he had had playing Quidditch. He had missed the game so much those past few months. As he gripped onto the Snitch, he could see in the corner of his eye Cho clapping at Harry's catch. Harry winked at her, and released the Snitch again. As he waited a while for the Snitch to fly around before he went to retrieve it, he spotted two other people near the sides of the Quidditch pitch.
Looked closely, he could see Draco Malfoy and Princess Glory, who were talking to each other and walking along the sides of the Quidditch field. Malfoy had his arm around her shoulder, and was talking proudly to her. They stopped to look at the Gryffindor team playing, and Malfoy scowled at the sight of them. He could have had a chance to win the tournament, but his scheme to win had backfired and his team was disqualified from winning the Cup.
Malfoy looked up at the players high in the sky, and his eyes met Harry's, which were glaring back at him. Malfoy scrunched his nose and loured at him, as Harry did back to him. Glory started to become a bit frightened at the Bludgers circling in the sky, and nudged Malfoy for them to walk away from the pitch. Malfoy, who had turned away from scowling at Harry, walked away with his girlfriend.
"To think that Malfoy had become a bit nicer near the middle of the year with Glory's influence," mumbled Harry to himself. "I wonder what changed Malfoy to make him go back to his normal, horrible self."
Author's Note: Next chapter is called - "Relationship Vs. Friendship". Harry gets a hard time balancing his life with Cho and his life with his friends, and he starts spending more time with Cho than his buddies, which gets them ANGRY!!. Read on, it's good! OH, and PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!