Chapter Fourteen

Quidditch Season Begins

The start of November came and with the colder weather came the start of Quidditch. Harry and Ron were kept busy with practice everyday, but they also had the advantage since Malfoy had his detention extended until Christmas break. The day after the dementor attack on Hogsmeade, Professor Dumbledore made an important announcement after the morning post arrived with an article on the attack on Hogsmeade, "In light of what happened at Hogsmeade, no student will be allowed outside the castle after dinner and Aurors will be patrolling the grounds day and night. All students visiting Hogsmeade on any visiting weekends will be escorted to and from Hogsmeade by Aurors. Furthermore, I would like to congratulate all students who had helped prevent the dementors from hurting anyone by producing a corporal patronus. I award each student who had participated in preventing any lose of life fifty points." The Great Hall erupted into cheers for the first time in three hundred years; Slytherin had fallen behind by over two hundred points putting them in last place. Harry could see Malfoy's face as he was fuming that Dumbledore had awarded points for the preventing any lose of life.

Harry and Ron had just entered the Gryffindor common room after a long and wet practice in the sheet of rain that had brewed outside for the past two days. Hermione had been doing her Arithmancy homework as they walked in to warm themselves by the fire. Ginny had joined them later by the fire since she looked like she had a hard time moving since the cold wind made it worse outside in the air.

Harry left to change into some dry robes and then to start on his homework that he had not started on since Quidditch practice started daily. Harry pulled out his essay for Professor Pierce so that Hermione could check it before he could call it complete. Ron and Ginny left to change in their dormitory and returned to start on their homework. Hermione had just finished her Arithmancy homework to start on her Ancient Runes essay just as Harry had finished his first draft of his essay for Professor Pierce.

"Very good Harry, but you just need to reword parts of your essay since it looks like you said it out of the book," Hermione said returning his essay with editing marks on it. "Harry, if you don't mind me asking? You are doing better at keeping up with your homework since you told us what the prophecy said."

Ron, who said writing his essay, scribbled on his parchment since Hermione spoke about the prophecy, "Are you still going on about that… phrase you read about?" he spat out.

Hermione refused to answer Ron's question and returned to her Ancient Runes essay.

The date of the first Quidditch match, Gryffindor vs. Slytherin, drew closer and there had been fights between the two houses. There had been several second year Gryffindors sent to the hospital wing due to the fact that several seventh year Slytherins failed to hit Katie Bell, who had been talking Ginny over some last minute plays. Those seventh year Slytherins earned themselves a month's worth detention by Professor McGonagall, thanks to the efforts of Professor Pierce and her Prior Spell Charm. Harry could also tell that he was a target by the Slytherins, but since he was surrounded by other Gryffindors; the Slytherins had no chance. Malfoy tried to curse Harry but he ended up missing him and hitting a suit of armor that fell, unfortunately, on Professor McGonagall ending with her taking fifty points from Slytherin plus detention when he returns for the next term and a possible detention during a Slytherin match; if he doesn't straighten up his attitude. With that threat from Professor McGonagall, Malfoy didn't try anything that would make Harry miss the match, but that didn't stop him from making insults and from trying other attempts to make in him miss the match.

The night before the match, the Gryffindors held a party after dinner celebrating a victory since the Slytherins could not practice since they didn't have the pitch and Malfoy couldn't practice due to his detentions. There was something rapping at the window of the tower. Seamus Finnigan opened the door and a eagle owl flew in and all eyes were on the owl as it landed on the rug near where Crookshanks was laying. It had a small box in its talons and after dropping its parcel it flew out the open window.

"Who do you think it's from?" Seamus asked.

Harry rose out of his chair to read the note attached to the parcel. He read it; then reread it allowed:

Here is something to annoy the Slytherins during the first match.

Fred and George Weasley

"What would we need to annoy the Slytherins for?" Hermione asked while she tried to study her Ancient Rune notes.

"Whatever it is; they must have used a Shrinking Charm on that parcel in order to carry it here," Katie Bell said making her way towards Harry and taking the parcel from Harry then give it a tap with her wand.

The parcel quivered and she dropped it as Crookshanks backed off hissing as he made his way toward Hermione. The parcel came to the size of a crate as Neville slowly made his way towards the box knowing what the twins were capable of. He opened it and there were hats with what looked like lion heads on the top; there was also another note on top of the hats.

"These hats will roar every time Gryffindor makes a great play, but be warned we only made these to work for the Slytherin game only. Don't let them see them until it's time for the game so that they will not criticize them," Neville read the note, but everyone didn't speak on what to do with them.

"Do they think we don't know what those two are capable of?" Hermione asked.

"I don't know but since I was made the new commentator by Professor McGonagall," Seamus Finnigan said crossing over to the crate picking up a hat before clearing his throat, "GRYFFINDOR SCORE!" After he said this all of the hats let out a realistic roar making everyone in the room jump.

No one spoke for several minutes until Ron spoke, "That's bloody brilliant! They go through the trouble of making something that is almost as annoying as Malfoy's failed attempt to make us look bad with that song of his."

Harry could recall the song that Malfoy made in an attempt to make Ron miss his goals, but it failed when the rest of the school tired of the song reversed it to turn in favor of Gryffindor making them win the Quidditch Cup for the second year. Katie Bell called an end to the party owning that they needed some rest for the big game the next day.

Harry entered with the Great Hall the next morning with the rest of the team to applause from the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables. He sat down with the rest of the team and started to try to eat some breakfast before the big game. The team ate in silent and Harry could see the Slytherin team in deep discussion and Harry knew that they were planning something foul to do during the game.

Harry left with the rest of the team with applause from the rest of the school and jeers from the Slytherin table. The team changed silently as they prepared for the game. Katie Bell gave the team one last pep talk, "Okay, we practiced longer and harder than those blokes and since they have not been able to practice as a team with their Seeker in detention; we have this game won. Just remember what we went over during practice and shall we give them all we've got." The team cheered and went in single file toward the field.

They entered the pitch and the cheers of the crowd could be heard. Three-fourths of the crowd wore scarlet red and chanted "GO, GO, GRYFFINDOR!" The Gryffindor team made their way toward the center of the pitch where the Slytherin team awaited. Madam Hooch, a woman with eyes like a hawk, stood with a chest near her feet as she waited for the Gryffindor team.

"Captains shake hands," she said as Katie and Montague approached to shake hands. Harry could tell that he was trying to crush her hand as they shook. They both backed off toward their respectful teams.

"On my whistle, one, two, three," she blew her whistle and kicked open the trunk releasing three balls and using her wand tossing a red ball into the air.

"Okay we are off, Katie Bell of Gryffindor is in possession," Harry could hear Seamus Finnigan commentating as Harry flew above the action as he took a last look at Malfoy before searching for the minuscule Golden Snitch. "She passes it to Simpson, who passes it to Ginny Weasley; OUCH, nice Bludger hit by Crabbe, intercepted by Warrington and passes it to--NO! Intercepted by Bell; passes it to Weasley; now to Simpson; back to Weasley who passes it to Bell. She shoots-SHE SCORES!"

After Katie's score Harry heard a loud roar from the crowd, and Harry saw that Fred and George not only sent the hats to Gryffindor; but to Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff too. There was a groan from the crowd and Madam Hooch's whistle. It turned out that Goyle had sent a Bludger toward Katie after she scored earning Gryffindor a penalty shot.

The crowd remained silent, "SHE SCORES!" The crowd cheered as their hats roared as Gryffindor lead 20-0.

"Now Bletchley passes to Pucey; who passes to Warrington back to Pucey; OUCH, nice Bludger hit be Colin. Now Gryffindor in possession with Ginny who passes it to Bell; back to Ginny; to Simpson; now back to Bell; to Ginny; she shoots--SHE SCORES!" there was another groan and both Crabbe and Goyle had sent both Bludgers at Ginny who was hit in the chest but was able to dodge the second one. Gryffindor was awarded with another penalty shot.

"SHE SCORES!"

The game was now starting to get very reckless with the Slytherin Beaters hitting the Bludgers at the Chasers who scored and hitting the Chasers with their bats. Harry ran into Malfoy who was also facing him. They looked at each other with extreme hatred. Harry wanted to hurt Malfoy badly but fearing a foul; he didn't do anything, but there was something he could do.

He faked a look to the ground and dove with Malfoy following. Harry deliberately slowed down giving Malfoy a chance to catch up. They were now even as they came closer to the ground; Harry pulled out of the dive. CRUNCH; Malfoy had hit the ground hard as Madam Hooch's whistle blew giving Slytherin a timeout. As Harry landed with the rest of the team; he was congratulated for pulling that feint.

"Brilliant move Harry!" Ron shouted as he looked to see Malfoy standing clearly fuming for following for that trick.

"Only if Wood was here to see this!" Katie Bell shouted who was referring to the former Gryffindor team captain and Keeper, Oliver Wood.

Madam Hooch's whistle blew once again and the teams kicked off. Gryffindor now was leading 70-0; thanks partly to the efforts of the Creevey brothers and Katie's brilliant Chaser plays.

"You think that I would fall for a move like that Potter!" Malfoy shouted clearly angry that Harry had pulled out of an International Quidditch maneuver. Then Harry saw it, the Golden Snitch, zooming below them and toward the ground. Harry dove again with Malfoy shouting, "I'm not falling for that again!" Harry placed himself as flat as he could on his broom as he closed on the Snitch. The Snitch was now zooming along the ground as Harry closed in on the Snitch and he clamped his hand around the Snitch as the crowd cheered themselves hoarse over the roaring of their hats.

Harry felt a Bludger hit him on the side of his face knocking his glasses off then he felt himself hit the ground. He slowly rose to his feet just when he felt the second Bludger hit him in the back of the head. He felt his kneels touch the ground before darkness set in.

Harry woke up with his head throbbing and his vision blurred. Harry felt his glasses being put on by someone; it was Hermione with tears in her eyes. The look on her and the rest of the team's face was pure terror that he was able to survive being hit.

"What happened?" Harry whispered since he couldn't speak normally at the moment.

"Well," Ron began, "for once mate; you were hit in the head by two Bludgers. Crabbe and Goyle both got detention for what they did, and Montague was fuming at Malfoy for not following you into a dive for the second time."

"Did we win?" Harry said weakly.

"We did mate," Ron said smiling.

Madam Pomfrey came with a goblet, "He needs rest since he was hit by both Bludgers," she said briskly as she helped Harry drink the contents of the goblet. "This will help quell any swelling and help you sleep." She them shooed his guest out of the hospital wing muttering of the dangerous Quidditch brings.