Chapter 32
Gryffindor versus Slytherin
The day of the much anticipated Gryffindor versus Slytherin match found nearly everyone feeling excited or anxious---depending upon whether one was watching or playing, respectively. The Gryffindor team all assembled quite early for the match down at the Great Hall where they ate their breakfast before Harry called them all down to the lockers.
Once everyone was there, Harry tried to say something inspirational...but failed miserably at it, and therefore put on a Hogwarts Sisters CD instead. He looked over at all his teammates, one at a time. He found Hermione and Ron sharing a kiss for luck. Ginny, Ron's sister and his best Chaser, was hugging Dean in an attempt to bolster her nerves. Erek, it seemed, decided to pray for his part, his eyes closed and mouth moving silently. It was when Harry chance to look over at Kitty that he finally found something to catch his interest.
"What's that, Kitty?" Harry asked, noticing she was holding a necklace of some sort in her hands.
"Oh, this? It´s my lucky necklace, Harry," Kitty replied. "I picked it up one year when my family and I were on a trip to Denmark. We happened upon this place where they made things just like they did back in the Middle Ages. You know the sort of place. Anyway, this man sat there at his booth, making these old pewter necklaces...like this one, and I bought it because it kind of caught my fancy."
Harry saw that the necklace had a very strong resemblance to a some sort of four-leaf clover.
"Nice, Kitty. It's very pretty," Harry said kindly.
Kitty only smiled and slipped the necklace beneath her sweater, so no one could see it plainly.
Harry was about to continue his inspection, when a student ducked her head in, indicating that they were needed on the field, which was difficult over the overwhelming din coming from the field. "Right then, everyone. I don't know what to say other than just beat the Slytherins!" Harry finally managed to roar to his team as they walked out on to the field. Everyone nodded to him, and followed him out.
They all could hear Amelia's voice magnified manyfold at once. "Welcome, one and all, to the Quidditch Finals...Gryffindor against Slytherin!" She then paused a moment then boomed, "GO GRYFFINDOR!"
"Miss Hooch!" McGonnagal chided her, clamping her hand over the magical microphone a moment.
"Erm, sorry 'bout that one, Professor," Amelia apologized weakly once she could again. "Oh, and I love your sweater." McGonnagal glared at her, but still managed to look down at her own sweater, working hard to smother a small smile.
The Gryffindor team looked quickly at each other. "I think she liked the sweater, Ron," Harry managed with a grin. Ron grinned back, but his ears were quite pink.
Amelia then continued with her spiel. "You'll notice that on both teams, the Captains are well-known Sixth years, and that both are each of their Team's Seekers!" Amelia grinned in excitement before mentioning, "...and it's gotten a bit quiet all the sudden, don't you think?"
Madam Hooch then whisked on to the field with an impressive spot of flying, flaring a moment, then landing between the Captains.
"Knock 'em dead, Mum!" Amelia bellowed, following up with a shrill bout of whistling.
Madam Hooch looked up to her enthusiastic, yet well-intending daughter, and sighed visibly. "Captains, shake hands," she thundered, trying to salvage what remained of her dignity.
Harry and Malfoy eyed one another savagely before crushing one another's hand a moment, and releasing. "Ready to lose, Potter?" Malfoy sneered, his pale eyes glittering maliciously.
Harry's heart leapt. "You wish! The day we lose to Slytherin is the day your father admits publicly that Dumbledore's been right all along!" Harry retorted with satisfaction.
Malfoy scowled back at him furiously.
Madam Hooch somehow managed to keep a straight face while looking at the two. "Mount your brooms!" she called out before she blew her whistle.
Both sides swooped down in streaks of Gryffindor scarlet or Slytherin green, as she tossed the Quaffle up and the game began!
Harry climbed like an angel on his Firebolt, barely hearing Amelia's hurried commentary. "Quaffle's taken by Gryffindor! Chaser Petro sends it over to Ginny Weasley, who sends it back to Petro, who then wings it over to Granger! Amazing game this!"
The Gryffindors swooped down then up again, Amelia obverving, "Ooh! The Gryffindor Chasers've move into an impressive rendition of the Irish National team's Hawkshead Formation, neat bit of---"
"Miss Hooch!" McGonnagal barked.
"Oops! Right you are, Professor!" Amelia jumped, but kept right on talking.
Harry grinned on his Firebolt at that, but then brought himself right back to the game at hand, rocketing past Malfoy on his Nimbus 2001 in search of the ever-elusive the Golden Snitch. Then he spotted it!
The Snitch was streaking down by the Gryffindor stands, a tiny golden speck, really---when he brought himself around in a chandrelle and dove down on it in corkscrew fashion, Malfoy screeching around to come in right behind him.
"Ron! Dean! Don't be daft! Take him out! Both of you! With your Bludgers, you prats!" Harry screamed, keeping his eyes on the evasive path of the Snitch.
They wasted no time, racing over to belt the iron Bludgers at Malfoy, who took one on each side, knocking him completely off his broom!
"Yes!" Harry whooped triumphantly---until he remembered that Malfoy was still fifty meters up in the air, and didn't stand a a ghost of a chance of surviving unless he did something!
Harry grimaced—--almost in physical pain, mind you---though that didn't prevent him from looping his broom back over and down to grab the unconscious Malfoy by the front of his robes to thump him rather firmly, yet safely, down on the ground before going on after the Snitch once more.
"Whoa! Harry Potter just saved the Slytherin seeker, Malfoy, from a very quick and very messy demise! Which I---personally---wouldn't of done! Just kidding, Professor McGonnagal! Gah! Potter's off and he´s going after the Snitch!" Amelia professed, leaning artfully away from McGonnagal as she snatched at the mike once more.
Harry dove like some sort of speeding Gryffindor dart, and ten seconds later---"HE'S GOT THE SNITCH!" Amelia yelled, leaning out of the commentator's booth, and bouncing up and down---"HARRY POTTER CATCHES THE SNITCH! GIVING HIM and THE GRYFFINDORS A WELL-DESERVED VICTORY---ONE-FIFTY TO NOTHING! GRYFFINDOR WINS! THEY WIN THE QUIDDITCH CUP, AND ONLY AFTER TEN MINUTES TIME! Why that must be a new school record that!" Amelia triumphed, and this time she was sharing a hug with Professor McGonnagal, who was whooping like some sort of schoolgirl.
Professor Dumbledore then came out on to the field, watching patiently as the rest of the team gave Harry a sort of group hug, settling as one big gold and scarlet ball on to the field. Just hehind Dumbledore, a pale Professor Snape came down from the stands, looking as if he'd like to explode at any given moment.
Ron and Hermione let go of Harry just then, looking over to where Professor McGonnagal had just come down on to the field as well, whistling what was unmistakably the song "We are the Champions". They grinned at one another, nudging Harry with an elbow.
It was then that Professor Snape did explode, well not literally, but verbally, and started screaming at Professor McGonnagal as well as the Headmaster in a very loud and very animated fashion.
Professor McGonnagal's face paled, and her eyes flashed. She then stood tall, and answered back. Precisely what they said, Harry couldn't really tell, but on second thought, that was perhaps a very good thing...as Snape had to be restrained from pulling his wand free from his flowing black robes a moment or two later.
"Congratulations, Gryffindors!" Dumbledore said, his voice unmistakeably enhanced by a "Sonorus" spell, as it boomed about the Quidditch pitch. "I believe this is what you've all been working so hard toward achieving, no doubt." Dumbledore waved his wand, and the Quidditch Cup appeared in his hands.
Harry looked upon it, grinning madly, his emotions in a roil. He had been looking forward to this day for ages. He hastily wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, and moved over to before Dumbledore.
"Gryffindor wins the Hogwarts Quidditch Cup!" Dumbledore announced, then handed over the large golden ornate cup to Harry. Harry looked over at his team. It was the team that had won...not him, he realized.
"C'mon! Everyone, gather round," Harry called out, and the team circled him and the Cup. They then each placed a hand upon the Cup, and Harry raised it high above his head. The audience---with the obvious exclusion of the Slytherin supporters---burst into wild applause and loud cheering. "Go, go, Gryffindor!" came the chant from the stands.
Harry let it go on for a while, grinning at his ebullient team, who beamed back at their Captain, eyes shining. Harry finally relented and lowered the Cup. The thing was not light, not by any stretch of the imagination.
Kitty then grinned then laughed. "Say, Harry? What do you say we say our motto? You know, one last time, for good time's sake, eh?" Kitty suggested.
"Why not?" Harry replied, then looked around his circle of friends, new and old. Everyone nodded their agreement, and wands were out a moment later, putting themselves under the "Sonorus" charm once more. Harry led them in their now-famous chant:
Lions, Lions, One, Two, Three! We will win, Wait and See!
Harry then looked to them all, and they all nodded again, stepping away from him. Harry concentrated and turned into his lion form, and roared which echoed about the Pitch. The stands then emptied as Harry transformed himself back, and soon the Gryffindor team was awash with cheering congratulatory fans.
Mariah and Amelia came running towards them, their hair ruffled and their faces shining. Both excited girls slammed into Harry at once, giving him a fierce hug, which made Harry grunt from their efforts.
"Oh, I just knew we were going win!" Amelia crowed, wiping tears from her hawk-like eyes. "Oh, and get this, you all...Opalyeye is simply furious with her brother! You know, because he was saved by Harry and all, lost the match, and looked like the prat he really is!" The team exploded in laughter, that news capping off an already perfect day. Harry then noticed that Madam Hooch approaching them all.
"Congratulations, Potter. Nice bit of Quidditch," she observed, hand on her hips. "You know, haven't seen anything like it...well, since the Autumn of 1942, that is. That's when Minerva caught the Snitch, beating Slytherin, after only six minutes into the match. Ah, those were the days..."
"Crikey! Speak of the devil, and there she comes," Ron whispered to Harry, who then saw Professor McGonnagal walking over towards them.
"Ah, nicely done, Mr. Potter. I daresay you've made my day, my boy. No, make that my week! Congratulations," McGonnagal said.
"Thanks, Professor," Harry said. Then he looked over to his teammates and winked. "But we couldn't of done with you, you know."
"Why, that's very kind of you, Potter. But---" she began, only to be cut off by Harry a moment later.
"Now, Gryffindors!" Harry barked, and all the team rushed toward McGonnagal and surrounded her, hugging her as one.
"Thanks, Tabby," Harry said quietly into her ear, grining.
"You´re welcome, Harry," McGonnagal said quietly back.
Any further conversation was delayed as the enthusiastic Gryffindor fans and other supporters took it upon themselves to hoist each member of the team, and the Head of Gryffindor House into the air upon their shoulders, and marched them all up towards the castle once more, cheering all the way.
"Again, children!" McGonnagal was heard to whoop. "Lions, Lions...One, Two, Three! We will win, wait and see!" This chant was repeated again and again until the good Professor and all the throng of Gryffindor supporters were finally all inside the walls of Hogwarts Castle.
Gryffindor versus Slytherin
The day of the much anticipated Gryffindor versus Slytherin match found nearly everyone feeling excited or anxious---depending upon whether one was watching or playing, respectively. The Gryffindor team all assembled quite early for the match down at the Great Hall where they ate their breakfast before Harry called them all down to the lockers.
Once everyone was there, Harry tried to say something inspirational...but failed miserably at it, and therefore put on a Hogwarts Sisters CD instead. He looked over at all his teammates, one at a time. He found Hermione and Ron sharing a kiss for luck. Ginny, Ron's sister and his best Chaser, was hugging Dean in an attempt to bolster her nerves. Erek, it seemed, decided to pray for his part, his eyes closed and mouth moving silently. It was when Harry chance to look over at Kitty that he finally found something to catch his interest.
"What's that, Kitty?" Harry asked, noticing she was holding a necklace of some sort in her hands.
"Oh, this? It´s my lucky necklace, Harry," Kitty replied. "I picked it up one year when my family and I were on a trip to Denmark. We happened upon this place where they made things just like they did back in the Middle Ages. You know the sort of place. Anyway, this man sat there at his booth, making these old pewter necklaces...like this one, and I bought it because it kind of caught my fancy."
Harry saw that the necklace had a very strong resemblance to a some sort of four-leaf clover.
"Nice, Kitty. It's very pretty," Harry said kindly.
Kitty only smiled and slipped the necklace beneath her sweater, so no one could see it plainly.
Harry was about to continue his inspection, when a student ducked her head in, indicating that they were needed on the field, which was difficult over the overwhelming din coming from the field. "Right then, everyone. I don't know what to say other than just beat the Slytherins!" Harry finally managed to roar to his team as they walked out on to the field. Everyone nodded to him, and followed him out.
They all could hear Amelia's voice magnified manyfold at once. "Welcome, one and all, to the Quidditch Finals...Gryffindor against Slytherin!" She then paused a moment then boomed, "GO GRYFFINDOR!"
"Miss Hooch!" McGonnagal chided her, clamping her hand over the magical microphone a moment.
"Erm, sorry 'bout that one, Professor," Amelia apologized weakly once she could again. "Oh, and I love your sweater." McGonnagal glared at her, but still managed to look down at her own sweater, working hard to smother a small smile.
The Gryffindor team looked quickly at each other. "I think she liked the sweater, Ron," Harry managed with a grin. Ron grinned back, but his ears were quite pink.
Amelia then continued with her spiel. "You'll notice that on both teams, the Captains are well-known Sixth years, and that both are each of their Team's Seekers!" Amelia grinned in excitement before mentioning, "...and it's gotten a bit quiet all the sudden, don't you think?"
Madam Hooch then whisked on to the field with an impressive spot of flying, flaring a moment, then landing between the Captains.
"Knock 'em dead, Mum!" Amelia bellowed, following up with a shrill bout of whistling.
Madam Hooch looked up to her enthusiastic, yet well-intending daughter, and sighed visibly. "Captains, shake hands," she thundered, trying to salvage what remained of her dignity.
Harry and Malfoy eyed one another savagely before crushing one another's hand a moment, and releasing. "Ready to lose, Potter?" Malfoy sneered, his pale eyes glittering maliciously.
Harry's heart leapt. "You wish! The day we lose to Slytherin is the day your father admits publicly that Dumbledore's been right all along!" Harry retorted with satisfaction.
Malfoy scowled back at him furiously.
Madam Hooch somehow managed to keep a straight face while looking at the two. "Mount your brooms!" she called out before she blew her whistle.
Both sides swooped down in streaks of Gryffindor scarlet or Slytherin green, as she tossed the Quaffle up and the game began!
Harry climbed like an angel on his Firebolt, barely hearing Amelia's hurried commentary. "Quaffle's taken by Gryffindor! Chaser Petro sends it over to Ginny Weasley, who sends it back to Petro, who then wings it over to Granger! Amazing game this!"
The Gryffindors swooped down then up again, Amelia obverving, "Ooh! The Gryffindor Chasers've move into an impressive rendition of the Irish National team's Hawkshead Formation, neat bit of---"
"Miss Hooch!" McGonnagal barked.
"Oops! Right you are, Professor!" Amelia jumped, but kept right on talking.
Harry grinned on his Firebolt at that, but then brought himself right back to the game at hand, rocketing past Malfoy on his Nimbus 2001 in search of the ever-elusive the Golden Snitch. Then he spotted it!
The Snitch was streaking down by the Gryffindor stands, a tiny golden speck, really---when he brought himself around in a chandrelle and dove down on it in corkscrew fashion, Malfoy screeching around to come in right behind him.
"Ron! Dean! Don't be daft! Take him out! Both of you! With your Bludgers, you prats!" Harry screamed, keeping his eyes on the evasive path of the Snitch.
They wasted no time, racing over to belt the iron Bludgers at Malfoy, who took one on each side, knocking him completely off his broom!
"Yes!" Harry whooped triumphantly---until he remembered that Malfoy was still fifty meters up in the air, and didn't stand a a ghost of a chance of surviving unless he did something!
Harry grimaced—--almost in physical pain, mind you---though that didn't prevent him from looping his broom back over and down to grab the unconscious Malfoy by the front of his robes to thump him rather firmly, yet safely, down on the ground before going on after the Snitch once more.
"Whoa! Harry Potter just saved the Slytherin seeker, Malfoy, from a very quick and very messy demise! Which I---personally---wouldn't of done! Just kidding, Professor McGonnagal! Gah! Potter's off and he´s going after the Snitch!" Amelia professed, leaning artfully away from McGonnagal as she snatched at the mike once more.
Harry dove like some sort of speeding Gryffindor dart, and ten seconds later---"HE'S GOT THE SNITCH!" Amelia yelled, leaning out of the commentator's booth, and bouncing up and down---"HARRY POTTER CATCHES THE SNITCH! GIVING HIM and THE GRYFFINDORS A WELL-DESERVED VICTORY---ONE-FIFTY TO NOTHING! GRYFFINDOR WINS! THEY WIN THE QUIDDITCH CUP, AND ONLY AFTER TEN MINUTES TIME! Why that must be a new school record that!" Amelia triumphed, and this time she was sharing a hug with Professor McGonnagal, who was whooping like some sort of schoolgirl.
Professor Dumbledore then came out on to the field, watching patiently as the rest of the team gave Harry a sort of group hug, settling as one big gold and scarlet ball on to the field. Just hehind Dumbledore, a pale Professor Snape came down from the stands, looking as if he'd like to explode at any given moment.
Ron and Hermione let go of Harry just then, looking over to where Professor McGonnagal had just come down on to the field as well, whistling what was unmistakably the song "We are the Champions". They grinned at one another, nudging Harry with an elbow.
It was then that Professor Snape did explode, well not literally, but verbally, and started screaming at Professor McGonnagal as well as the Headmaster in a very loud and very animated fashion.
Professor McGonnagal's face paled, and her eyes flashed. She then stood tall, and answered back. Precisely what they said, Harry couldn't really tell, but on second thought, that was perhaps a very good thing...as Snape had to be restrained from pulling his wand free from his flowing black robes a moment or two later.
"Congratulations, Gryffindors!" Dumbledore said, his voice unmistakeably enhanced by a "Sonorus" spell, as it boomed about the Quidditch pitch. "I believe this is what you've all been working so hard toward achieving, no doubt." Dumbledore waved his wand, and the Quidditch Cup appeared in his hands.
Harry looked upon it, grinning madly, his emotions in a roil. He had been looking forward to this day for ages. He hastily wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, and moved over to before Dumbledore.
"Gryffindor wins the Hogwarts Quidditch Cup!" Dumbledore announced, then handed over the large golden ornate cup to Harry. Harry looked over at his team. It was the team that had won...not him, he realized.
"C'mon! Everyone, gather round," Harry called out, and the team circled him and the Cup. They then each placed a hand upon the Cup, and Harry raised it high above his head. The audience---with the obvious exclusion of the Slytherin supporters---burst into wild applause and loud cheering. "Go, go, Gryffindor!" came the chant from the stands.
Harry let it go on for a while, grinning at his ebullient team, who beamed back at their Captain, eyes shining. Harry finally relented and lowered the Cup. The thing was not light, not by any stretch of the imagination.
Kitty then grinned then laughed. "Say, Harry? What do you say we say our motto? You know, one last time, for good time's sake, eh?" Kitty suggested.
"Why not?" Harry replied, then looked around his circle of friends, new and old. Everyone nodded their agreement, and wands were out a moment later, putting themselves under the "Sonorus" charm once more. Harry led them in their now-famous chant:
Lions, Lions, One, Two, Three! We will win, Wait and See!
Harry then looked to them all, and they all nodded again, stepping away from him. Harry concentrated and turned into his lion form, and roared which echoed about the Pitch. The stands then emptied as Harry transformed himself back, and soon the Gryffindor team was awash with cheering congratulatory fans.
Mariah and Amelia came running towards them, their hair ruffled and their faces shining. Both excited girls slammed into Harry at once, giving him a fierce hug, which made Harry grunt from their efforts.
"Oh, I just knew we were going win!" Amelia crowed, wiping tears from her hawk-like eyes. "Oh, and get this, you all...Opalyeye is simply furious with her brother! You know, because he was saved by Harry and all, lost the match, and looked like the prat he really is!" The team exploded in laughter, that news capping off an already perfect day. Harry then noticed that Madam Hooch approaching them all.
"Congratulations, Potter. Nice bit of Quidditch," she observed, hand on her hips. "You know, haven't seen anything like it...well, since the Autumn of 1942, that is. That's when Minerva caught the Snitch, beating Slytherin, after only six minutes into the match. Ah, those were the days..."
"Crikey! Speak of the devil, and there she comes," Ron whispered to Harry, who then saw Professor McGonnagal walking over towards them.
"Ah, nicely done, Mr. Potter. I daresay you've made my day, my boy. No, make that my week! Congratulations," McGonnagal said.
"Thanks, Professor," Harry said. Then he looked over to his teammates and winked. "But we couldn't of done with you, you know."
"Why, that's very kind of you, Potter. But---" she began, only to be cut off by Harry a moment later.
"Now, Gryffindors!" Harry barked, and all the team rushed toward McGonnagal and surrounded her, hugging her as one.
"Thanks, Tabby," Harry said quietly into her ear, grining.
"You´re welcome, Harry," McGonnagal said quietly back.
Any further conversation was delayed as the enthusiastic Gryffindor fans and other supporters took it upon themselves to hoist each member of the team, and the Head of Gryffindor House into the air upon their shoulders, and marched them all up towards the castle once more, cheering all the way.
"Again, children!" McGonnagal was heard to whoop. "Lions, Lions...One, Two, Three! We will win, wait and see!" This chant was repeated again and again until the good Professor and all the throng of Gryffindor supporters were finally all inside the walls of Hogwarts Castle.