Chapter 12
Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff
That Saturday everyone on the Gryffindor Quidditch team was excited...as well as nervous. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were finishing their breakfast with the other Gryffindors when suddenly a bevy of owls arrived.
"The post," Harry observed eagerly, looking up, somewhat expectantly. It didn't take long for him to spot what he was looking for. A large majestic Horned Owl of olympic proportions swooped in, a long plainly-wrapped parcel in its huge talons. "Look! There, Hermione!" he said smiling.
Apollo, McGonnagal's choice as a courier, smoothly glided over the table, dropping his package deftly to Hermione, who fielded it nicely. "My broom! I can hardly believe it's already here," she said in a hushed voice.
"Come on! Not in front of everyone. Let´s go outside," Harrry suggested. Hermione and Ron nodded, gesturing for Amelia and Mariah to follow them outside. Once they had found a secluded courtyard, they opened the package. The Firebolt 2 was a marvel.
"Crikey! That's bloody wicked," Ron gushed. "If this doesn´t wipe that smarmy grin of Malfoy's face, nothing will!"
"Congratulations, Hermione. Wait a moment, okay, though. I´m going to get the rest of the team," Harry said. Harry dashed back into the Great Hall, and quietly gathered the remainder of the Gryffindor Team together and lead them away.
That act didn't go unnoticed by Draco Malfoy and his sister. "Crabbe. Goyle. Come along, follow me," he instructed, following after the quickly departing Gryffindors.
Once outside, Harry gathered them all together about Hermione and her new broom.
"So...you've gotten a new broom, have you, Granger? Big deal, that! Just how long do you think will last out there, Mudblood? Even against the pathetic Hufflepuff squad?" Malfoy's voice said.
Harry blinked, looking over in surprise to spot the Malfoys and their goons. "Oh, I rather imagine she'll do right fine, Malfoy. Hermione, could you come over here a minute?"
Hermione came over, frowning when she saw the Slytherins...at least until she figured out just what Harry was up to. She held her broom tightly in her hands.
"Seen the newest broom for the Gryffindor's yet, Malfoy?" Hermione asked sweetly, and held up her new broom, showing them that it was no cheap broom, but a top-of-the-line Firebolt 2.
"So? Which Gryffindor owns that?" Opaleye asked since her brother was too stunned to say anything at the moment.
"Oh, that? Well, it´s mine, thank you," Hermione told her with a clever grin. "Oh! We have to go, Harry," Hermione said looking down at her watch. "Our match is in fifteen minutes!"
"Right. Gryffindors! Come on, down to the lockers!" Harry commanded, leading them away from the stunned Slytherins. Once dressed and prepared, Harry led through the tactics they'd employ, and what his strategies might be.
"All right then. Here's what we going to do. Chasers: Ginny, Kitty, and Hermione. If you can, get the quaffle to Hermione...she's got the fastest broom on the field. But, if you get the chance to score...then for goodness sake, do it!" The three girls nodded, agreeing what he had said.
"Ron and Dean," Harry then said. "You know your stuff. Keep their Chasers ducking, okay? Oh, and do what you can to keep our Chasers free, right?"
"Got it, Harry!" Ron and Dean answered, nodding confidently.
"All right, then. Erek, have at 'em, mate!" Harry added last. "Okay, Gryffindors! Broomsticks in hand, and let's have at it!"
Each player picked up their brooms, and waited for the commentator---Amelia Hooch---to introduce them. Harry grinned at his squad as the Hufflepuffs were introduced to the crowd, which cheered. Then, it was their turn, and Harry ledt hem out on to the field, to the cheers of the Gryffindors in the crowd. Banners of red and gold waved madly, causing Harry's heart to pound proudly.
The Hufflepuffs were already up and flying, when they heard Amelia try out the microphone. She rapidly warmed to her role, her growing excitement garnering her a reproof from Professor McGonnagal, who warned, "Ms. Hooch, if you do not calm down, your mother will hear a thing or two from me!"
The crowd cheered again as Madam Hooch entered the Quidditch field, her equipment case in hand. She stopped at the midpoint of the field to greet both teams which now had landed, and stood across from one antoher. "Captains, shake hands," Madam Hooch commanded in her gravely voice. Harry and a strapping seventh year fellow Harry didn't reconize looked each other over professionally.
"Good luck," Harry said, thrusting his hand out to shake.
"Thanks, you too," the Hufflepuff boy said, shaking Harry's hand firmly.
"Right then! Mount your brooms!" Madam Hooch announced. "When you hear my whistle then, the game shall begin. Three, two, one..." and then she blew her whistle shrilly.
Harry lit off, hearing Amelia's voice in his ears. "Welcome to the first Quidditch match of the season! The quaffle is taken by the Gryffindor Chaser Hermione Granger, who---by the way---is riding her new broom...the one and only FIREBOLT 2! Granger to Weasley, to Petro, back to Granger. Oh, there! She shoots...and scores! Ten to nothing, Gryffindors!" The Gryffindors cheered and Harry looped his Firebolt in joy. They got back to the game, Harry searching diligently for the Snitch, pausing once in a while to see how his team was doing. He had yet to spot the elusive Snitch, but was heartened by Amelia's continuing commentary. "Gryffindor is now up Fifty to nothing. Ooh! There goes Abbott towards King! Wonderfully done, King saves yet again!"
It was then that Harry saw finally spotted the Golden Snitch, which was hovering just behind the Hufflepuff goals. As Gryffindor was already up by fifty points, he didn't hesitate to dive straight toward it. The Huffflepuff Seeker, Silva, was a bit late in noticing, but dove after him...but he was caught too far away, well over on the Gryffindor side of the field. Harry swooped down on the unsuspecting Snitch, and nabbed the fluttering golden sphere tightly in his grasp. Madam Hooch blew her whistle, ending the match. Harry landed, hearing Amelia's voice triumphantly boom, "GRYFFINDOR WINS! GRYFFINDOR WINS THREE HUNDRED TO NOTHING!" Harry was soon surrounded by his exultant team. Ron, Erek, and Dean pounded him on the back in congratulations, just before the three girls hugged him simultaneously. Not too be outdone, Hermione grabbed Ron and most thoroughly kissed him. Ginny repeated that congratulations with Dean, who just happened to be her new boyfriend.
Harry waved his arms to get everyone's attention. "Great job, everyone!" he told them all. Kitty then whistled shrilly at them all. "Hey! What about our team motto, eh?" Harry and the others grinned gamely, and took out their wands in unison, pointing them at their throats, muttering "Sonorus".
It was then that the crowd then heard a thunderous, "Lions, Lions, One Two Three! We will win, wait and see!" Then, much to the assembled Gryffindors' amazement and surprise, transifugured himself into his lion form, and roared, such that it was heard all about Hogwarts.
Harry quickly tranfigured himself back a moment later, as the stadium emptied itself of Gryffindors who converged on their winning Quidditch squad, carrying them about on their collective shoulders. Harry could only grin all the more as he spotted a sulking, brooding Draco Malfoy and his sister, pointing them out to both Ron and Hermione, who laughed along with him.
Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff
That Saturday everyone on the Gryffindor Quidditch team was excited...as well as nervous. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were finishing their breakfast with the other Gryffindors when suddenly a bevy of owls arrived.
"The post," Harry observed eagerly, looking up, somewhat expectantly. It didn't take long for him to spot what he was looking for. A large majestic Horned Owl of olympic proportions swooped in, a long plainly-wrapped parcel in its huge talons. "Look! There, Hermione!" he said smiling.
Apollo, McGonnagal's choice as a courier, smoothly glided over the table, dropping his package deftly to Hermione, who fielded it nicely. "My broom! I can hardly believe it's already here," she said in a hushed voice.
"Come on! Not in front of everyone. Let´s go outside," Harrry suggested. Hermione and Ron nodded, gesturing for Amelia and Mariah to follow them outside. Once they had found a secluded courtyard, they opened the package. The Firebolt 2 was a marvel.
"Crikey! That's bloody wicked," Ron gushed. "If this doesn´t wipe that smarmy grin of Malfoy's face, nothing will!"
"Congratulations, Hermione. Wait a moment, okay, though. I´m going to get the rest of the team," Harry said. Harry dashed back into the Great Hall, and quietly gathered the remainder of the Gryffindor Team together and lead them away.
That act didn't go unnoticed by Draco Malfoy and his sister. "Crabbe. Goyle. Come along, follow me," he instructed, following after the quickly departing Gryffindors.
Once outside, Harry gathered them all together about Hermione and her new broom.
"So...you've gotten a new broom, have you, Granger? Big deal, that! Just how long do you think will last out there, Mudblood? Even against the pathetic Hufflepuff squad?" Malfoy's voice said.
Harry blinked, looking over in surprise to spot the Malfoys and their goons. "Oh, I rather imagine she'll do right fine, Malfoy. Hermione, could you come over here a minute?"
Hermione came over, frowning when she saw the Slytherins...at least until she figured out just what Harry was up to. She held her broom tightly in her hands.
"Seen the newest broom for the Gryffindor's yet, Malfoy?" Hermione asked sweetly, and held up her new broom, showing them that it was no cheap broom, but a top-of-the-line Firebolt 2.
"So? Which Gryffindor owns that?" Opaleye asked since her brother was too stunned to say anything at the moment.
"Oh, that? Well, it´s mine, thank you," Hermione told her with a clever grin. "Oh! We have to go, Harry," Hermione said looking down at her watch. "Our match is in fifteen minutes!"
"Right. Gryffindors! Come on, down to the lockers!" Harry commanded, leading them away from the stunned Slytherins. Once dressed and prepared, Harry led through the tactics they'd employ, and what his strategies might be.
"All right then. Here's what we going to do. Chasers: Ginny, Kitty, and Hermione. If you can, get the quaffle to Hermione...she's got the fastest broom on the field. But, if you get the chance to score...then for goodness sake, do it!" The three girls nodded, agreeing what he had said.
"Ron and Dean," Harry then said. "You know your stuff. Keep their Chasers ducking, okay? Oh, and do what you can to keep our Chasers free, right?"
"Got it, Harry!" Ron and Dean answered, nodding confidently.
"All right, then. Erek, have at 'em, mate!" Harry added last. "Okay, Gryffindors! Broomsticks in hand, and let's have at it!"
Each player picked up their brooms, and waited for the commentator---Amelia Hooch---to introduce them. Harry grinned at his squad as the Hufflepuffs were introduced to the crowd, which cheered. Then, it was their turn, and Harry ledt hem out on to the field, to the cheers of the Gryffindors in the crowd. Banners of red and gold waved madly, causing Harry's heart to pound proudly.
The Hufflepuffs were already up and flying, when they heard Amelia try out the microphone. She rapidly warmed to her role, her growing excitement garnering her a reproof from Professor McGonnagal, who warned, "Ms. Hooch, if you do not calm down, your mother will hear a thing or two from me!"
The crowd cheered again as Madam Hooch entered the Quidditch field, her equipment case in hand. She stopped at the midpoint of the field to greet both teams which now had landed, and stood across from one antoher. "Captains, shake hands," Madam Hooch commanded in her gravely voice. Harry and a strapping seventh year fellow Harry didn't reconize looked each other over professionally.
"Good luck," Harry said, thrusting his hand out to shake.
"Thanks, you too," the Hufflepuff boy said, shaking Harry's hand firmly.
"Right then! Mount your brooms!" Madam Hooch announced. "When you hear my whistle then, the game shall begin. Three, two, one..." and then she blew her whistle shrilly.
Harry lit off, hearing Amelia's voice in his ears. "Welcome to the first Quidditch match of the season! The quaffle is taken by the Gryffindor Chaser Hermione Granger, who---by the way---is riding her new broom...the one and only FIREBOLT 2! Granger to Weasley, to Petro, back to Granger. Oh, there! She shoots...and scores! Ten to nothing, Gryffindors!" The Gryffindors cheered and Harry looped his Firebolt in joy. They got back to the game, Harry searching diligently for the Snitch, pausing once in a while to see how his team was doing. He had yet to spot the elusive Snitch, but was heartened by Amelia's continuing commentary. "Gryffindor is now up Fifty to nothing. Ooh! There goes Abbott towards King! Wonderfully done, King saves yet again!"
It was then that Harry saw finally spotted the Golden Snitch, which was hovering just behind the Hufflepuff goals. As Gryffindor was already up by fifty points, he didn't hesitate to dive straight toward it. The Huffflepuff Seeker, Silva, was a bit late in noticing, but dove after him...but he was caught too far away, well over on the Gryffindor side of the field. Harry swooped down on the unsuspecting Snitch, and nabbed the fluttering golden sphere tightly in his grasp. Madam Hooch blew her whistle, ending the match. Harry landed, hearing Amelia's voice triumphantly boom, "GRYFFINDOR WINS! GRYFFINDOR WINS THREE HUNDRED TO NOTHING!" Harry was soon surrounded by his exultant team. Ron, Erek, and Dean pounded him on the back in congratulations, just before the three girls hugged him simultaneously. Not too be outdone, Hermione grabbed Ron and most thoroughly kissed him. Ginny repeated that congratulations with Dean, who just happened to be her new boyfriend.
Harry waved his arms to get everyone's attention. "Great job, everyone!" he told them all. Kitty then whistled shrilly at them all. "Hey! What about our team motto, eh?" Harry and the others grinned gamely, and took out their wands in unison, pointing them at their throats, muttering "Sonorus".
It was then that the crowd then heard a thunderous, "Lions, Lions, One Two Three! We will win, wait and see!" Then, much to the assembled Gryffindors' amazement and surprise, transifugured himself into his lion form, and roared, such that it was heard all about Hogwarts.
Harry quickly tranfigured himself back a moment later, as the stadium emptied itself of Gryffindors who converged on their winning Quidditch squad, carrying them about on their collective shoulders. Harry could only grin all the more as he spotted a sulking, brooding Draco Malfoy and his sister, pointing them out to both Ron and Hermione, who laughed along with him.