(AN: Chapters 33 through 36 are based on a HP story 'Game of the Century'
by Crookykanks. Read that story, it kicks $$. There will also be a bit
from 'Harry's Aunty' by im-so- innocent.)
Chapter 33
Dumbledore's Announcement
As Harry made his way down to breakfast the next day, he began thinking about just how much he would miss playing Quidditch when his time at Hogwarts was done. Harry's musings were interrupted when he spotted his friends, Ron and Hermione waving him over, and as he sat himself down, Professor Dumbledore rose to his feet, signaling all for their attention.
"Good morning. First, I would like to congratulate the Gryffindors Quidditch team for their exciting, yet stunningly quick, victory in yesterday's match," he began.
Everyone from Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Gryffindor tables cheered and clapped wildly. The Slytherin table was oddly quiet, the students, as well as Professor Snape, sullen and moody. Dumbledore seemed not to notice, and continued merrily along with his say.
"Most interestingly enough, as I was enjoying the match, I was privy to some rather disparaging remarks---that I shall not dignify by repeating--- about the flying skills of those involved with the match," Dumbledore told them all, then directed his gaze rather pointedly toward his right, where Professors Snape, Bat, and McGonnagal seemed to shrink into the chairs, trying very hard not to be noticed. Dumbledore looked on a moment or two longer, then continued. "In light of this, I---as Headmaster of this fine institution---have decided that this year there shall be one further Quidditch match, a very unique one."
The students, as well as their teachers, were all abuzz at this announcement. Harry turned to Ron and Hermione. "Another match?" he questioned.
Ron looked back and shrugged. "Why not? I'm game," he answered. Harry nodded, and Hermione nodded too a moment later.
"What sort of match, do you say, Professor? You might ask. Why, I should be quite honored to tell you then, one and all. The match I speak of shall pit the best of Hogwarts House players against a squad made up of the most talented of this school's faculty. Sounds like great fun, wouldn't you all agree?" Dumbledore beamed much like a proud father at his idea.
The reaction to his second announcement of this young day was split: nearly every student cheered enthusiastically; while the faculty reacted with...shall we say, distinctly less enthusiasm. The fact of the matter was that the assembled professors had much the same look they would have had had Dumbledore announced mandatory full-body tattoos for his staff members.
After the cheering and muted complaining resided somewhat, Dumbledore continued. "Tryouts for anyone wishing to participate on the Student Team shall be held this next Saturday afternoon," Dumbledore said. "And...as for the Faculty Squad, well those most talented souls have already been decided upon."
Hermione looked over at her friends, then tapped Harry's arm. "I wonder which professors will be competing?" she asked, curious.
"Not a clue, Hermione," Harry answered. "But, it's going to be great!"
"Just a moment longer, if you please," Dumbledore pleaded, as the conversation level grew louder once more. They stilled, and the elderly Headmaster, continued. "The teams shall be announced in the Great Hall next Sunday. That is all. Oh...and have a nice day, one and all..."
After Harry had completed his lessons for the day, he decided to head over to Dumbledore's office and see if the Headmaster was available.
Approaching the monolithic phoenix, Harry stood proudly before it, and said, "Hogwarts"...and then rode the spiraling stairs to the dark wood door. He knocked politely, then entered.
"Ah, hello, Harry," Dumbledore said, getting to his feet, his blue eyes pleased. "What may I do for you, my boy?"
"Professor...I was, well, just wondering if you had told the rest of the professors about this new match of yours before you made your announcement this morning?" Harry said. Harry moved over to softly stroke Fawkes' scarlet chest, waiting for Dumbledore's answer.
As he waited, there came another knock at the door, and this one was anything but polite. Harry moved off on to the stairs leading to the small library upstairs, just as Professor McGonnagal stormed inside. Apparently, she did not see Harry, a fact of which Harry was quite pleased.
"Albus! Just what the bloody hell is going on?" she demanded. It had to be the first---and only time---Harry had heard McGonnagal swear. He understood that to mean that Dumbledore was about to receive a tongue- lashing of some sort from his deputy headmistress.
"What were you thinking? A Quidditch match pitting students against their teachers?" McGonnagal questioned acidly. "This must be the craziest idea you have ever come up with yet! Hmmph! And, to think, I thought the craziest idea you ever had was to putting Potter with those insufferable Muggles, the Dursleys."
"And you didn't stop him?" Harry chose that moment to speak.
McGonnagal wheeled on Harry, her face pinched with her ire. "Never you mind, Mr. Potter. Now, you may go until the good Headmaster and I are quite finished. Don't make me repeat myself, Potter," McGonnagal instructed.
"Harry...you may stay," Dumbledore said quietly. McGonnagal rounded on him, her face a storm of disapproval. "Please, don´t mind her, Harry," Dumbledore told him. "You see...my dear wife is prone to taking such things a bit too seriously, my boy."
"Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore!" McGonnagal growled in a voice that made Harry grimace.
"Yes, Minerva?" Dumbledore said, nonplussed.
McGonnagal could only sigh. "Very well...be like that then. But, why are you doing this, Albus?" she asked.
"Now is the time when the faculty and students must bond together in solidarity. Especially now. Besides...I also wanted to show our students precisely what our teachers are capable of," Dumbledore said.
"That's all very well, Albus...but couldn't' we of shown them this come the First of April?" McGonnagal questioned.
Dumbledore didn't get a chance to answer, as his door swung open quite suddenly, admitting Proffesors Snape, Flitwick and Sprout into the office, which was now becoming just a bit crowded.
"Headmaster, I demand to know what is going on!" Snape thundered, his cheeks pink with his anger. "You know very well that the only person on the faculty who has been flown in the the last decade is Xiomara Hooch. We don't stand a chance against the students!"
"I agree with Severus, Dumbledore. I want to say that I shall not be playing," Flitwick announced.
"Oh, do relax, Professor!" Professor Sprout soothed. "Now, Headmaster...have you thought about who´s going to be judge for the match...as well as the commentator?"
"Not to mention what colors our robes might be, and everything else besides?" threw in Flitwick.
"The whole idea is pure madness, Dumbledore," McGonnagal continued.
Harry jumped from his watching the irate memebers of the faculty as Dumbledore slapped his desk with his hand. "Enough! I have arranged everything. Our students are all for the idea, and that is why I suggest it. The Staff team has already been selected, and I have recruited a judge and a commentator as well. The decision has been made. The match shall go on precisely as planned."
"I am most likely going to regret asking this," McGonnagal said. "But who is it that you've hired as the judge and commentator?"
"Fred Weasley has graciously agree to officiate and his brother, George Weasley has signed on as commentator," Dumbledore said.
Harry looked over at Dumbledore. "Excuse me, Professor...but are you sure they're going to be impartial, you know against the teachers, I mean?"
"Not too worry, my boy. They have given me their word," Dumbledore said.
"The Weasley twins have given their word. Well, now I can relax, knowing that," McGonnagal said sarcasticly, and began to rub her fingers against her temples.
"You worry too much, Minerva. Whatever the case, what is done is done," Dumbledore said.
"Potter," McGonnagal said, turning towards Harry. "Tell me...why do the students want do this?"
"Well, look Professor...we all would like to play Quidditch another time this year," Harry said. "But, also, to be fair mind you, I think we'd also like a chance to beat our teachers."
Minerva looked on Dumbledore with a "told you so" face.
"Such a face," Dumbledore observed, patting her hand. "It´s the same with us, Minerva, admit it."
"Perhaps. But..." Minerva started to protest once more.
MINERVA TABITHA EVANS MCGONNAGAL!" Dumbledore roared.
Minerva winced. "You needn't yell, Albus...it's not good for your blood pressure," she said.
"Hold on. Wait one minute," Harry exclaimed in a tremulous voice. "Professor...did you just say 'Evans'?"
"Yes, Potter...is there something the matter with that?" McGonnagal asked a bit frostily.
"You mean, as in Lily Evans?" he continued in that same voice.
"One moment. Do you mean no one has ever told you?" McGonnagal asked.
"Told me what?" Harry almost screamed.
"Don't take that tone with me, Potter. Let me explain it to you then. You see, I was married to a man before Albus here. Together we had a son...a Squib." She made a face at that. "He grew older, married, and had himself two children: Lily and Petunia."
"Then...?" Harry breathed.
"Yes, yes. My fool son didn't tell us about his offspring because he and his wife thought that they were squibs too. Fortunately, Lily was found to be a witch, received her letter from Hogwarts, and her parents---as well as I---were very proud. Petunia, on the other hand, became furious at this...as she didn't trust magic or magic folk."
"Wait a minute then," Harry said, putting two and two together. "That would make you my..."
"Great grandmother, yes," McGonnagal said.
Harry looked around at every teacher around him, his head swimming with the news. He looked back once more at his great grandmother, and then everything went black.
Chapter 33
Dumbledore's Announcement
As Harry made his way down to breakfast the next day, he began thinking about just how much he would miss playing Quidditch when his time at Hogwarts was done. Harry's musings were interrupted when he spotted his friends, Ron and Hermione waving him over, and as he sat himself down, Professor Dumbledore rose to his feet, signaling all for their attention.
"Good morning. First, I would like to congratulate the Gryffindors Quidditch team for their exciting, yet stunningly quick, victory in yesterday's match," he began.
Everyone from Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Gryffindor tables cheered and clapped wildly. The Slytherin table was oddly quiet, the students, as well as Professor Snape, sullen and moody. Dumbledore seemed not to notice, and continued merrily along with his say.
"Most interestingly enough, as I was enjoying the match, I was privy to some rather disparaging remarks---that I shall not dignify by repeating--- about the flying skills of those involved with the match," Dumbledore told them all, then directed his gaze rather pointedly toward his right, where Professors Snape, Bat, and McGonnagal seemed to shrink into the chairs, trying very hard not to be noticed. Dumbledore looked on a moment or two longer, then continued. "In light of this, I---as Headmaster of this fine institution---have decided that this year there shall be one further Quidditch match, a very unique one."
The students, as well as their teachers, were all abuzz at this announcement. Harry turned to Ron and Hermione. "Another match?" he questioned.
Ron looked back and shrugged. "Why not? I'm game," he answered. Harry nodded, and Hermione nodded too a moment later.
"What sort of match, do you say, Professor? You might ask. Why, I should be quite honored to tell you then, one and all. The match I speak of shall pit the best of Hogwarts House players against a squad made up of the most talented of this school's faculty. Sounds like great fun, wouldn't you all agree?" Dumbledore beamed much like a proud father at his idea.
The reaction to his second announcement of this young day was split: nearly every student cheered enthusiastically; while the faculty reacted with...shall we say, distinctly less enthusiasm. The fact of the matter was that the assembled professors had much the same look they would have had had Dumbledore announced mandatory full-body tattoos for his staff members.
After the cheering and muted complaining resided somewhat, Dumbledore continued. "Tryouts for anyone wishing to participate on the Student Team shall be held this next Saturday afternoon," Dumbledore said. "And...as for the Faculty Squad, well those most talented souls have already been decided upon."
Hermione looked over at her friends, then tapped Harry's arm. "I wonder which professors will be competing?" she asked, curious.
"Not a clue, Hermione," Harry answered. "But, it's going to be great!"
"Just a moment longer, if you please," Dumbledore pleaded, as the conversation level grew louder once more. They stilled, and the elderly Headmaster, continued. "The teams shall be announced in the Great Hall next Sunday. That is all. Oh...and have a nice day, one and all..."
After Harry had completed his lessons for the day, he decided to head over to Dumbledore's office and see if the Headmaster was available.
Approaching the monolithic phoenix, Harry stood proudly before it, and said, "Hogwarts"...and then rode the spiraling stairs to the dark wood door. He knocked politely, then entered.
"Ah, hello, Harry," Dumbledore said, getting to his feet, his blue eyes pleased. "What may I do for you, my boy?"
"Professor...I was, well, just wondering if you had told the rest of the professors about this new match of yours before you made your announcement this morning?" Harry said. Harry moved over to softly stroke Fawkes' scarlet chest, waiting for Dumbledore's answer.
As he waited, there came another knock at the door, and this one was anything but polite. Harry moved off on to the stairs leading to the small library upstairs, just as Professor McGonnagal stormed inside. Apparently, she did not see Harry, a fact of which Harry was quite pleased.
"Albus! Just what the bloody hell is going on?" she demanded. It had to be the first---and only time---Harry had heard McGonnagal swear. He understood that to mean that Dumbledore was about to receive a tongue- lashing of some sort from his deputy headmistress.
"What were you thinking? A Quidditch match pitting students against their teachers?" McGonnagal questioned acidly. "This must be the craziest idea you have ever come up with yet! Hmmph! And, to think, I thought the craziest idea you ever had was to putting Potter with those insufferable Muggles, the Dursleys."
"And you didn't stop him?" Harry chose that moment to speak.
McGonnagal wheeled on Harry, her face pinched with her ire. "Never you mind, Mr. Potter. Now, you may go until the good Headmaster and I are quite finished. Don't make me repeat myself, Potter," McGonnagal instructed.
"Harry...you may stay," Dumbledore said quietly. McGonnagal rounded on him, her face a storm of disapproval. "Please, don´t mind her, Harry," Dumbledore told him. "You see...my dear wife is prone to taking such things a bit too seriously, my boy."
"Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore!" McGonnagal growled in a voice that made Harry grimace.
"Yes, Minerva?" Dumbledore said, nonplussed.
McGonnagal could only sigh. "Very well...be like that then. But, why are you doing this, Albus?" she asked.
"Now is the time when the faculty and students must bond together in solidarity. Especially now. Besides...I also wanted to show our students precisely what our teachers are capable of," Dumbledore said.
"That's all very well, Albus...but couldn't' we of shown them this come the First of April?" McGonnagal questioned.
Dumbledore didn't get a chance to answer, as his door swung open quite suddenly, admitting Proffesors Snape, Flitwick and Sprout into the office, which was now becoming just a bit crowded.
"Headmaster, I demand to know what is going on!" Snape thundered, his cheeks pink with his anger. "You know very well that the only person on the faculty who has been flown in the the last decade is Xiomara Hooch. We don't stand a chance against the students!"
"I agree with Severus, Dumbledore. I want to say that I shall not be playing," Flitwick announced.
"Oh, do relax, Professor!" Professor Sprout soothed. "Now, Headmaster...have you thought about who´s going to be judge for the match...as well as the commentator?"
"Not to mention what colors our robes might be, and everything else besides?" threw in Flitwick.
"The whole idea is pure madness, Dumbledore," McGonnagal continued.
Harry jumped from his watching the irate memebers of the faculty as Dumbledore slapped his desk with his hand. "Enough! I have arranged everything. Our students are all for the idea, and that is why I suggest it. The Staff team has already been selected, and I have recruited a judge and a commentator as well. The decision has been made. The match shall go on precisely as planned."
"I am most likely going to regret asking this," McGonnagal said. "But who is it that you've hired as the judge and commentator?"
"Fred Weasley has graciously agree to officiate and his brother, George Weasley has signed on as commentator," Dumbledore said.
Harry looked over at Dumbledore. "Excuse me, Professor...but are you sure they're going to be impartial, you know against the teachers, I mean?"
"Not too worry, my boy. They have given me their word," Dumbledore said.
"The Weasley twins have given their word. Well, now I can relax, knowing that," McGonnagal said sarcasticly, and began to rub her fingers against her temples.
"You worry too much, Minerva. Whatever the case, what is done is done," Dumbledore said.
"Potter," McGonnagal said, turning towards Harry. "Tell me...why do the students want do this?"
"Well, look Professor...we all would like to play Quidditch another time this year," Harry said. "But, also, to be fair mind you, I think we'd also like a chance to beat our teachers."
Minerva looked on Dumbledore with a "told you so" face.
"Such a face," Dumbledore observed, patting her hand. "It´s the same with us, Minerva, admit it."
"Perhaps. But..." Minerva started to protest once more.
MINERVA TABITHA EVANS MCGONNAGAL!" Dumbledore roared.
Minerva winced. "You needn't yell, Albus...it's not good for your blood pressure," she said.
"Hold on. Wait one minute," Harry exclaimed in a tremulous voice. "Professor...did you just say 'Evans'?"
"Yes, Potter...is there something the matter with that?" McGonnagal asked a bit frostily.
"You mean, as in Lily Evans?" he continued in that same voice.
"One moment. Do you mean no one has ever told you?" McGonnagal asked.
"Told me what?" Harry almost screamed.
"Don't take that tone with me, Potter. Let me explain it to you then. You see, I was married to a man before Albus here. Together we had a son...a Squib." She made a face at that. "He grew older, married, and had himself two children: Lily and Petunia."
"Then...?" Harry breathed.
"Yes, yes. My fool son didn't tell us about his offspring because he and his wife thought that they were squibs too. Fortunately, Lily was found to be a witch, received her letter from Hogwarts, and her parents---as well as I---were very proud. Petunia, on the other hand, became furious at this...as she didn't trust magic or magic folk."
"Wait a minute then," Harry said, putting two and two together. "That would make you my..."
"Great grandmother, yes," McGonnagal said.
Harry looked around at every teacher around him, his head swimming with the news. He looked back once more at his great grandmother, and then everything went black.