Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

Author's Notes:  Thanks to the readers!  Enjoy!  Please review, too!

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Chapter 12

Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff

"Gryffindor is going to cream Hufflepuff," Ron said on the day of the match.  It was a chilly October day.

"What is today?" Hermione asked Ron.

"October twenty-sixth," Ron told her.

"You know," said Neville Longbottom, "Hufflepuff has five knew players, and we only have three."

Harry looked over at Zoe, who was talking to Ginny Weasley, Ron's sister, and Kadri.  Zoe and Harry had practiced a lot, with Madame Hooch watching over of course.  Harry looked up and saw Phebis Malfoy talking to Fleur.  Pan, who had never been to a Quidditch mach, was overly excited that she kept jumping out of her seat once in a while.

"Welcome to the first Quidditch game of the year, Gryffindor verses Hufflepuff!"  The Weasley twins' friend, Lee Jordan, was doing the announcements.  Harry watched McGonagall scold Lee for having the volume turned up so loud.  Everyone was on their brooms waiting anxiously for Madame Hooch to arrive.

"And Madame Hooch finally arrives.  The whistle blows and they're off! 

Johnson takes the quaffle, oh no, McKendle has it now, passes to Fisher who ducks a bludger, but drops the quaffle.  Now back to Johnson who passes to Rhodes ducks Archibald, and… GOAL!  Rhodes scores!  Ten points to Gryffindor!"

"Yes!" Harry.

"McKendle in position now, no wait, Johnson again, no Fisher, back to Rhodes, passes to Berry, OH!"  Kadri who had been heading for the goals had been hit in the face by a bludger sent by Dexter Genius, a Hufflepuff beater.

"And it's a time out as Berry is pulled off the field.  And it's a foul.  Rhodes takes the quaffle and scores!  Ten points to Gryffindor!  Quaffle taken by Horton-Thomas…  Whoa, was that the snitch?"  Harry had seen it and had pulled into a dive and so had Cortez.  Harry stretched out his hand and…

"He's got the snitch!  Harry Potter gives Gryffindor one hundred and fifty points.  Gryffindor wins!"

Harry figured there had never been a shorter mach.  Angelina came down and hugged him so tight he felt he'd fall apart into two pieces.  Dustin shook his hand and slapped hard on the back saying, "Oh ya, we won! We won!" Fred and George did a high five, and Zoe came over and kissed him on the cheek.  Harry could feel his face burning.  Ron, Pan, and Hermione all came rushing over to him.

"Way to go Harry."  Harry turned and saw James and Lily looking at him.

"Thanks," Harry said.

"Look, it's Kadri!" Dustin shouted.  Kadri was being wheeled over by Madame Pomfrey on a stretcher.

"Did we win?" asked Kadri.

"Yes.  We won by one hundred seventy points thanks to Harry here," said Dustin.

Later that night, when everyone except Harry, Ron, and Hermione had left the common room and Harry was climbing the stairs, Ron made his move.  Harry was about to turn the corner when he heard Ron speak.

"Hermione, I have to tell you something."

"Yes Ron, what is it?"

"Well, you see, it's like this: you and I have been very good friends for a long time, so…  Can I trust you to keep a secret?" Ron asked.

"Well, I guess.  Can I tell Harry?"

"No.  Not even Harry."

"Well will you tell me or not?"

"Okay, okay.  Promise?  Good.  Well, you see, Hermione, I sort of have a crush on you."

"Ron!  You do?  Why, that's no surprise.  I figured that as soon as I woke up in the hospital and you said you carried me here.  I figured only Harry would have done that."

"You think Harry likes you?  Because he likes someone else."

"I know that."

"Not Cho Chang."  "Then who?"  "Ask him yourself."