Sorry for the long wait. I'm sorry if this chapter is not that good. It's just that I've had a lot on my mind lately. Homework-piles of it and the ever growing school project added with a writers block have forced me to take a break from this. I was almost losing my grip on this story. Anyway, please review. I downed two mugs of coffee just to get this done.

IMPORTANT NOTE!

The next chapter will take a long time. My exam finals is killing me and I have to study to get into the A class next year. My exams are going to take about a month and my studying is left for about 3 1/2 weeks.

Disclaimer – Harry Potter and its other characters are not mine. I don't own them. It is J.K. Rowling's copyright. This is written completely in my view. Why do I bother typing this up? It's just a matter of copying and pasting it. Sighs.

Warning – very, very, slight swearing and cursing which I don't even appear to have been using in all my life.

This one is a revised chapter of the 9th chapter I had put up on the 28th of August 2004.

Chapter 9

Match of the Day

A breeze rushed through the window in the boys' dormitory. Harry Potter was lying on his four poster bed, evidently plagued with recent outcomes. He had been preoccupied by the recent happenings around the school. Surprises kept coming. The first one was his powers, then, Draco's confession. After that, his dreams where his parents explained all about the recent turn of events though not everything as he hoped it would be.

Sure, he's coping well enough with his new abilities, but he couldn't help feeling that something is missing. After racking his brain for what could be considered as a long time, he eventually decided to leave this matter. After all, it would eventually come to him.

He sighed as he got up from his bed. He was heading to the door when Ron came right in. A look at Ron for a moment told him that Ron is in a bad mood. He needn't have to guess what it is about for he knew what had happened a while ago.

"Hey, Ron," said Harry.

"Hey," was the only response from Ron. Apparently he had been really upset about the fight he just had with Hermione.

Harry, upon seeing that he wouldn't get anymore answers out of Ron made a wise decision to stay away from any mention of Hermione because he knew that it would wreak havoc because Ron could turn nasty when he is in a bad mood these days. Instead he made up his mind to go and meet Ginny and her friend from Hufflepuff, Laura.

"I guess I'll go and see Ginny now. By the way, remember to be at the pitch for the quidditch practice this evening by five. Well, I'll see you then," said Harry as he made his way out of the boys' dorm.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Harry was just stepping down the last step of the staircase when he spotted Ginny. He went up to her and gave her a gentle kiss right on her lips.

"Well, how about hanging out together with your friend today for a change. You know, to let Ron and Hermione have some time to think," said Harry.

"Sounds great. I really need that. Not that you're a boring person but I really need you to hang out with my friends. At least you'd know my friends," answered Ginny, grateful that Harry didn't mind spending time together with her friends.

They walked out of the common room and went to the grounds. There, they met Laura, Ginny's friend. They started talking about schoolwork that began when Laura asked Harry how the sixth years are holding up with their work. The conversation then turned towards their family histories.

"Well, mom and dad are both purebloods, but I don't believe in those ridiculous fights about mudbloods. I mean, we won't even last if we are to marry only purebloods. We'd probably be extinct right now if half of us weren't even halfbloods," said Laura.

"I think I remembered someone saying that to me once but I couldn't put my finger on it," said Harry.

"So, tell me more about your parents, you know, since we never got round to knowing each other that well," said Ginny.

"My father is Andrew Christopher Springs. He's a book writer but maybe you haven't read any of his works yet."

"My mom on the other hand is Jennifer Cecilia Josephine Springs. She's a housewife and she's a great cook. Trust me when I say this because her dishes are mouth watering and you wouldn't get enough of it. Well, maybe after you get out of the toilet after getting sick because you eat too much," said Laura.

"That's really interesting. I guess I'll need you to find me a book written by your father next time, huh?" said Ginny.

"Oh, I really forgot to tell you this. Sorry but it slipped my mind. You remembered the first time we met when you asked me my name?" said Laura. Ginny nodded in response.

"Well, I didn't give you my full name. My full name is Laura Christabelle Springs. You guys call me by the name Laura. But you can call me Elsie. It's what my parents called me. Elsie, LC, short for my name," finished Laura.

"Interesting combination of names, Elsie, is it?" Elsie nodded. "Well, as I was saying, interesting combination of names," said Ginny, Harry nodded in agreement. Elsie went on about her family name and history.

"The name Laura is what my mother picked for me. Christabelle is my Gram's name. It's a tradition in my family to name the daughter with a name that came up from her mother and a second name in honour of the Grandmother," explained Elsie.

"Your family history is really fascinating," said Harry after a few moments while glancing at his watch.

"It is, isn't it," agreed Ginny.

"Well, we'd better get going. Quidditch practice would begin in a few minutes. The rest of the team would have our head if we weren't there on time," said Harry.

"Yeah, it looks like it," said Ginny.

"Sorry, but we really have to go. Guess we'll see you later then," said Harry and Ginny to Elsie.

"Well, you too. Next time, we'll talk about both of your families. It's kind of fascinating to know about other families," replied Elsie.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Quidditch practice went on well. The team were doing well and they played fairly good. By the end of the day, Harry had no comment whatsoever about it.

"All right, team. If you all continue with this tomorrow, we'll do just great at the match against Slytherin," announced Harry.

The team made their way to the tower and had their dinner at the Great Hall. When it was around ten o'clock, the team had their very much needed rest after a rigorous practice when Harry said, "alright, team. Off to bed."

HHHHHHHHHHHHHH

The grounds were fairly hard and good for the quidditch match that day. Harry and the rest of the team were at the Great Hall during breakfast. He was urging his team mates to eat their breakfast while touching nothing himself. He was feeling nervous as this is the first time he'd be leading the Gryffindor teams to a match. Meanwhile, the others who had just got into the team this year were more nervous than Harry. It is their first match of the season and they didn't want to bear the humility of losing to Slytherin on the first match.

When it was ten minutes to the game, Harry led his team to the changing rooms and before giving them an encouraging prep talk before the match. He needn't check the weather and grounds because he did that before heading to the hall. Seeing that his team mates are assembled, he stood in front of them. Taking a deep breath, he began.

"Team, we've done rigorous training. Now, I don't want that to be put to waste. Do your best in the match today. Beaters, keep an eye on the bludgers and other players from both opposing teams and our team. Chasers, you've done your moves so let's show them what you've got and Ron, as the Keeper, just do your best. Block the quaffle and do your best. I know you could do it. This is it. Let's show them what we've got. Come on!" said a determined Harry.

"Yeah!" yelled the team.

The stands were full of spectators with three quarters of them wearing scarlet rosettes supporting Gryffindor. There were only a third of them supporting Slytherin led by Professor Snape who had a nasty smile on his lips, looking as horrible as ever. The announcer replacing Lee Jordan who had left Hogwarts was Dennis Creevey. Harry was beginning to like feel that the match would be interesting indeed because the Creevey brothers are so obsessive about him being the Gryffindor quidditch captain.

"Welcome to the first quidditch match of the season. Today's match is, Slytherin versus Gryffindor! And here comes the Slytherin team led by the Captain and Seeker, Malfoy, Parkinson, Montague, Blaise, Nott, Crabbe and Goyle. The worst side we have ever seen in the history of quidditch."

"Dennis!" said Professor McGonagall sternly.

"Oh, sorry professor. And here comes the Gryffindor team led by the Captain and Seeker, Harry Potter, Weasley, Weasley, Creevey, Patil, Granger and Finnigan. The best side we've ever seen in our history. Good Seeker too. He only failed to catch the snitch only once. I've been told that even Charlie Weasley couldn't have done it."

"Dennis! Are you paid to do a commentary about the players?" said Professor McGonagall.

"Sorry, Professor. Won't happen again. Oh, here comes Madam Hooch."

"Captains, shake hands. Now I want a nice, clean game. If I see one player brutally injured, you'd get your sorry asses off the pitch and you'd be banned before you can say quidditch," said Madam Hooch with a warning tone in her voice.

"The bludgers are released, followed by the Golden Snitch. Remember, the snitch is worth a hundred and fifty points. The person who catches the snitch, end the game. In this case, you'd never know what might happen. The quaffle is released and the game begins!"

"The quaffle is immediately taken by the Gryffindor Chaser, Ginny Weasley. Look at how she flies. Absolutely superb. Ouch! A bludger was sent to Weasley, but the quaffle was taken by Colin Creevey. Ha! You'll have to do better than that to beat Gryffindor! He's flying over to the goal post, last minute throw to Patil and she scores! Ten points to Gryffindor."

What happened next was in a blur. Both teams were ruthless and the Slytherins kept pelting bludgers towards the Gryffindor players in a dangerous way despite warnings from Madam Hooch to have a clean game.

The score is now a hundred and fifty to zero in favour of The Lions. Luna's Lion hat was roaring and the Gryffindors knew that Gryffindor would win if Harry catches the snitch now. The Slytherins vented their anger by trying to knock off the other players off their broom but it didn't go unnoticed. The Gryffindors were awarded penalties for the fowls conducted by the Slytherins.

The score now stands at two hundred and sixty to Gryffindor. The game got nastier by the second and a fowl from Crabbe nearly knocked Colin off his broom. Gryffindor was rewarded another penalty for it and Ginny scored in next to no time making the score two hundred and seventy to nil.

"Take that you dirty cheating son of a bitch scumbag! Don't fool around with the Gryffindors you rotten stale..."

Professor McGonagall didn't even try to hold him back. In fact, she was shouting furiously and her hat had fallen off. Her face was beet red and she was more than angry.

Suddenly, Harry saw the snitch, darting around Ginny. He pelted after it and he was thankful that Malfoy didn't even see it. It was only when he managed to grasp the snitch in his palms that Malfoy realised his mistake. He thought Harry was fooling him with another Wronski Feint. The stadium erupted.

"Harry potter catches the snitch after a spectacular dive making the score four hundred and fifty. Gryffindor wins!"

Everybody came rushing down the pitch and hugged the team. Ginny was beaming at him while the others were saying "we won, we won!" Harry went over to Ginny and kissed her passionately and everybody started whistling. Draco Malfoy went over to Harry. "Nice game, Harry," said Draco. "Yeah, you too," replied Harry.

Harry turned his attention back to the team mates. "Team, party!" was all he needed to say.

A/N:

That thing about mudbloods and purebloods is a cliché right? If you read the books, then you'd probably know that it's about the same lines. But what can I say, it inspires me.

If this chapter is not that good, please don't sue me. I stayed up from eleven p.m. to three a.m. just to finish this after finishing my other story, Magic and Mortality. It's really tiring and my muscle joints are screaming like hell after hours of typing and thinking. Yawns.

Responses to reviews:

HgandRHrforever – Thanks.

Bananagirl1991 – Thanks for reviewing.

DracoMalfoylover108 – Thanks. Your review helps.

Ginevra Potter – Thanks for your review.

Dhania – Thanks, too.