Chapter Twelve: Gryffindor Versus Ravenclaw
The start of the quidditch season was eagerly awaited by all. The first match was between Slytherin and Hufflepuff. One thing, about which everyone was curious, was the new commentator. Lee Jordan had graduated the previous year. For this Professor McGonagall held a small audition. Very surprisingly Luna Lovegood was selected. Nobody expected the dreamy looking girl to be a good commentator. But she herself was elated. Harry and Hermione congratulated her but they were among the few who did. Nobody thought that she was an ideal replacement for Lee. Some students requested Professor McGonagall for a re audition. Of course she refused. Luna however was unfazed by all these controversies surrounding her.
As expected Slytherin flattened Hufflepuff in the first game. Their new captain Draco Malfoy was very pleased. Luna turned out to be pretty good after all. Not as hilarious as Lee but certainly worthy of her position. Many people apologized to her for reacting without actually seeing he performance. He gave Harry a cold stare as the two of them passed each other.
'Scared about facing us Potter, especially with that mudblood girlfriend of yours in the team. Do you think her broom would rise?' he asked sniggering.
Harry caught Malfoy by the collar. 'I'm warning you Malfoy, if you dare use that name to call Hermione once more, I'll make sure you end up with your good for nothing dad. As for the match, we'll see the result when the day arrives. Now get out of my sight before I lose control of myself'
Malfoy was stunned. He had never seen Harry this angry. There seemed to be fire in his eyes. For the first time he felt really scared of Harry. Before he could think of anything to say he was running off like a scared puppy. Harry was still fuming. First Cho and now Malfoy. He just could not tolerate anyone insulting Hermione. He angrily walked away from there. There was one thing though, he was happy about. By what he'd seen he could safely say that Gryffindor had a far more talented team than Slytherin. So a victory against Ravenclaw would almost ascertain the quidditch cup.
Two days remained for Gryffindors' first match. They were having their final training session. Harry was pleased the way his team had gelled. The chasers had wonderful coordination between one another. Harry was astonished to see Dean's performance. He had never known Dean to be such a good player. Then it struck him. He felt sure that Ginny had something to do with this. This thought brought him back to the memories of him teaching Hermione. He had started to have feelings towards her during that time though he hadn't realized it.
Since it was late he called the team together and gave them a little pep talk. 'Unlike Oliver and Angelina I will not be saying anything to you before the match. I feel that you need to be with yourself during that time and such talks only make you nervous. However if any of the five new joiners have any queries you are welcome to ask me. Remember that the quidditch cup depends on this match. The Slytherin team as you saw was nowhere close to ours while Hufflepuff are just making up the numbers. We have a superb team with tremendous team spirit. You have to play for the team and not for yourself. Anybody found to be cheating the team for personal glory would be harshly dealt with. Do not be nervous before the match. Eat properly. You would need all your strength. Be at the stadium by ten to eleven. Here are your new robes. I have high expectations from all of you and am confident of victory'
This was longer than any speech Oliver had given. However none of the players present had ever heard Oliver's speech. So they didn't mind. They felt proud to be owners of Gryffindor quidditch robes.
Everybody followed Harry's orders on the day of the match. They ate well, tried not to be nervous and reached the stadium in time. They changed into their scarlet robes. Dean came up to Harry and whispered in his year.
'Harry, I hope the bludgers won't take my head off'
'Don't worry Dean. That was exactly the question I'd asked Oliver before my first match. Colin is as good a beater I've seen and Seamus plays the supporting role to perfection', Harry replied encouragingly.
They walked out to a loud reception. Luna's voice boomed.
'HERE COME THE GRYFFINDORS...CREEVEY, FINNIGAN, WEASLEY, THOMAS, GRANGER, WEASLEY AND POTTER!!! NOW THE RAVENCLAWS FOLLOW... PATIL, BOOT, SMITH, CORNER, STEWART, BROCKLEHURST AND CHANG!!!'
It was now that Harry realized that Cho was the captain of Ravenclaw. He shook hand with her without catching her eyes but noticed Hermione staring defiantly at her. Harry realized what was going through her mind.
'Don't let her presence distract you Hermione. She's as bad as Malfoy. Concentrate on the game' he whispered so that no one else could hear. Hermione nodded.
'MADAME HOOCH BLOWS THE WHISTLE AND THE GAME IS UNDERWAY!!! WEASLEY HAS THE QUAFFLE...PASSES TO GARNGER...THROWS IT TO THOMAS...BACK TO GRANGER, WHO SCORES!!! WHAT A POWERFUL THROW THAT WAS. GRYFFINDOR LEAD 10-0'
Having scored her first goal so quickly Hermione's confidence rocketed. She was no longer nervous. Ravenclaw though were on the move.
'SMITH HAS THE QUAFFLE...PASSES TO STEWART...NOW WITH CORNER...SHOOTS...WHAT A SAVE BY WEASLEY!!! THREW HIS BROOM TO HIS RIGHT TO CATCH THAT ONE. GRANGER NOW...PASSES TO THOMAS... INTERCEPTED BY STEWART...MOVES TOWARDS GOAL...BLOCKED BY WEASLEY...GIVES IT TO THOMAS...WATCH OUT FOR THE BLUDGER BY BOOT!!! CREEVEY COMES OUT OF NOWHERE TO SAVE THOMAS...PASSED TO WEASLEY...SHOOTS...SCORES!!! GRYFFINDOR LEAD BY 20'
Gryffindor were dominating the match. They scored five times before Ravenclaw scored. Harry however was not taking things lightly. He had his eyes wide open for the Snitch. He once caught sight of it but it was lost before he could make a dash for it. He constantly shouted words of encouragement to his players without knowing if they could hear.
'CORNER HAS THE QUAFFLE...THROWS TO STEWART...GREAT CATCH...DODGES A BLUDGER THROWN BY FINNIGAN...SCORES... RAVENCLAW FIGHTING BACK, 50-20'
Just as she had finished saying Harry caught sight of the snitch for the second time. But it was too near Cho for comfort. Cho was looking in the opposite side. But if she caught sight of Harry diving for the snitch, she could easily reach the snitch first as it was so near her. As luck would have it she started to fly in the opposite direction leaving the coast clear for Harry who needed no second invitation.
'HARRY POTTER CATCHES THE SNITCH AND GRYFFINDOR WIN 200-20'
The Gryffindor team gathered in a huddle together celebrating victory. It was a unique thing in Hogwarts and was a sign of tremendous team spirit.
The start of the quidditch season was eagerly awaited by all. The first match was between Slytherin and Hufflepuff. One thing, about which everyone was curious, was the new commentator. Lee Jordan had graduated the previous year. For this Professor McGonagall held a small audition. Very surprisingly Luna Lovegood was selected. Nobody expected the dreamy looking girl to be a good commentator. But she herself was elated. Harry and Hermione congratulated her but they were among the few who did. Nobody thought that she was an ideal replacement for Lee. Some students requested Professor McGonagall for a re audition. Of course she refused. Luna however was unfazed by all these controversies surrounding her.
As expected Slytherin flattened Hufflepuff in the first game. Their new captain Draco Malfoy was very pleased. Luna turned out to be pretty good after all. Not as hilarious as Lee but certainly worthy of her position. Many people apologized to her for reacting without actually seeing he performance. He gave Harry a cold stare as the two of them passed each other.
'Scared about facing us Potter, especially with that mudblood girlfriend of yours in the team. Do you think her broom would rise?' he asked sniggering.
Harry caught Malfoy by the collar. 'I'm warning you Malfoy, if you dare use that name to call Hermione once more, I'll make sure you end up with your good for nothing dad. As for the match, we'll see the result when the day arrives. Now get out of my sight before I lose control of myself'
Malfoy was stunned. He had never seen Harry this angry. There seemed to be fire in his eyes. For the first time he felt really scared of Harry. Before he could think of anything to say he was running off like a scared puppy. Harry was still fuming. First Cho and now Malfoy. He just could not tolerate anyone insulting Hermione. He angrily walked away from there. There was one thing though, he was happy about. By what he'd seen he could safely say that Gryffindor had a far more talented team than Slytherin. So a victory against Ravenclaw would almost ascertain the quidditch cup.
Two days remained for Gryffindors' first match. They were having their final training session. Harry was pleased the way his team had gelled. The chasers had wonderful coordination between one another. Harry was astonished to see Dean's performance. He had never known Dean to be such a good player. Then it struck him. He felt sure that Ginny had something to do with this. This thought brought him back to the memories of him teaching Hermione. He had started to have feelings towards her during that time though he hadn't realized it.
Since it was late he called the team together and gave them a little pep talk. 'Unlike Oliver and Angelina I will not be saying anything to you before the match. I feel that you need to be with yourself during that time and such talks only make you nervous. However if any of the five new joiners have any queries you are welcome to ask me. Remember that the quidditch cup depends on this match. The Slytherin team as you saw was nowhere close to ours while Hufflepuff are just making up the numbers. We have a superb team with tremendous team spirit. You have to play for the team and not for yourself. Anybody found to be cheating the team for personal glory would be harshly dealt with. Do not be nervous before the match. Eat properly. You would need all your strength. Be at the stadium by ten to eleven. Here are your new robes. I have high expectations from all of you and am confident of victory'
This was longer than any speech Oliver had given. However none of the players present had ever heard Oliver's speech. So they didn't mind. They felt proud to be owners of Gryffindor quidditch robes.
Everybody followed Harry's orders on the day of the match. They ate well, tried not to be nervous and reached the stadium in time. They changed into their scarlet robes. Dean came up to Harry and whispered in his year.
'Harry, I hope the bludgers won't take my head off'
'Don't worry Dean. That was exactly the question I'd asked Oliver before my first match. Colin is as good a beater I've seen and Seamus plays the supporting role to perfection', Harry replied encouragingly.
They walked out to a loud reception. Luna's voice boomed.
'HERE COME THE GRYFFINDORS...CREEVEY, FINNIGAN, WEASLEY, THOMAS, GRANGER, WEASLEY AND POTTER!!! NOW THE RAVENCLAWS FOLLOW... PATIL, BOOT, SMITH, CORNER, STEWART, BROCKLEHURST AND CHANG!!!'
It was now that Harry realized that Cho was the captain of Ravenclaw. He shook hand with her without catching her eyes but noticed Hermione staring defiantly at her. Harry realized what was going through her mind.
'Don't let her presence distract you Hermione. She's as bad as Malfoy. Concentrate on the game' he whispered so that no one else could hear. Hermione nodded.
'MADAME HOOCH BLOWS THE WHISTLE AND THE GAME IS UNDERWAY!!! WEASLEY HAS THE QUAFFLE...PASSES TO GARNGER...THROWS IT TO THOMAS...BACK TO GRANGER, WHO SCORES!!! WHAT A POWERFUL THROW THAT WAS. GRYFFINDOR LEAD 10-0'
Having scored her first goal so quickly Hermione's confidence rocketed. She was no longer nervous. Ravenclaw though were on the move.
'SMITH HAS THE QUAFFLE...PASSES TO STEWART...NOW WITH CORNER...SHOOTS...WHAT A SAVE BY WEASLEY!!! THREW HIS BROOM TO HIS RIGHT TO CATCH THAT ONE. GRANGER NOW...PASSES TO THOMAS... INTERCEPTED BY STEWART...MOVES TOWARDS GOAL...BLOCKED BY WEASLEY...GIVES IT TO THOMAS...WATCH OUT FOR THE BLUDGER BY BOOT!!! CREEVEY COMES OUT OF NOWHERE TO SAVE THOMAS...PASSED TO WEASLEY...SHOOTS...SCORES!!! GRYFFINDOR LEAD BY 20'
Gryffindor were dominating the match. They scored five times before Ravenclaw scored. Harry however was not taking things lightly. He had his eyes wide open for the Snitch. He once caught sight of it but it was lost before he could make a dash for it. He constantly shouted words of encouragement to his players without knowing if they could hear.
'CORNER HAS THE QUAFFLE...THROWS TO STEWART...GREAT CATCH...DODGES A BLUDGER THROWN BY FINNIGAN...SCORES... RAVENCLAW FIGHTING BACK, 50-20'
Just as she had finished saying Harry caught sight of the snitch for the second time. But it was too near Cho for comfort. Cho was looking in the opposite side. But if she caught sight of Harry diving for the snitch, she could easily reach the snitch first as it was so near her. As luck would have it she started to fly in the opposite direction leaving the coast clear for Harry who needed no second invitation.
'HARRY POTTER CATCHES THE SNITCH AND GRYFFINDOR WIN 200-20'
The Gryffindor team gathered in a huddle together celebrating victory. It was a unique thing in Hogwarts and was a sign of tremendous team spirit.