Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter; just the garden gnomes on my lawn.

Chapter 6: The First

Harry passed the Quaffle to Vivian, then dodged as Maurice sent a Bludger flying at his head. Vivian scored, and Wood blew his whistle. "Switch off!" Harry sighed within himself. That meant that he had to go against both Draco and Vivian, instead of he and Vivian going against Draco by himself.

Wood was having a very heavy practice. It was two days before their first real game, and he had everybody playing as though it was an actual game. Hermione had to try to block every shot; and considering only three shots had gotten by her so far, she was doing well. The Beaters were to try to knock as many people off of their broomsticks as possible, and Jean was having to try to beat Ron in finding the Snitch. Ron didn't really want to be there, but had been talked into helping. Wood had tempted him with money, but Hermione had to threaten him with going weeks without a kiss from her; which ended up making his mind. He was actually giving Jean a run for her money; as he thought everything was a Snitch glare and flew after it; she had to stay on her toes.

Draco tried to pass to Vivian for a score, but Harry was able to grab it. He made a U-turn and saw both Vivian and Draco flying toward him on either side. He blew through the middle of them, and got knocked off his course by Johnny. Johnny smiled to himself as Harry and Draco both dived for the Quaffle; just as Wood yelled "Switch off!" Now it was Harry and Draco against Vivian. Draco pulled off, and Harry grabbed the Quaffle. He circled back around the goals and came up to see Hermione watching him, and Vivian covering Draco quite fiercely. He was going to have to make the shot. He threw; Hermione dove; and just barely missed it. Then, Wood blew his whistle three times in short succession. Everyone flew slowly to where Wood was standing with Ron and Jean. Jean had the Snitch, and was looking very tired. Harry remembered that feeling well.

When they landed, Professor Cook passed around ice-cold lemonade, and fresh fruit. While she was doing this, Wood started lecturing. "Nice job today. I'm proud of all of you. I knew you would do well in the places I put you. If we had been keeping score, I believe that Vivian alone was the main scorer. And Hermione did a very good job on blocking and defending our goals. I believe tomorrow will be a full rest day; no practice." The team sighed happily at this. Wood cleared his throat for silence before going on. "We will leave the day after, at 10 o'clock, and be there at about 10:30 to play. Stay out of trouble," then with a knowing grin, "and off each other. I don't want any problems going to our first Quidditch match against Madrid Magical College's Red Devils. MICM Dragons dismissed." Everyone quickly hurried off the field to the Grubbery for dinner; everyone that is except for Professor Cook and Wood.

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The next day was one of the longest ever known to Harry, Hermione, Jean, and Draco. In Professor Calvro's class they started talking about the significance of numbers; unlucky and lucky. Professor Valkrys gave them a report due by the next week on the basic theory of alchemy. All the plants had sprouted, and only Neville was right. They were all Brazilian Terror Flowers from deep in the Amazonian Jungle. Professor Nelson kept them in a separate greenhouse than his medicinal plants, even though they were classified as medicinal. When asked about them even Hermione didn't know anything about them. Neville had sheepishly raised his hand, and given a five minute speech on them and their uses which included: perfect protection against intruders, the four different kinds, classified by their colors of: red, blue, white, and orange; and the power of the powder of the petals. When he was done, Professor Nelson shook his hand, and said, "A for the rest of this unit. You know everything there is to know. Would you help me with this section?" Professor Franz had laid on the homework with a research paper, on any subject, requiring everyone to know enough about their specific topic to debate with her, and be graded by Headmaster Zelgrave. And in Aquatics, Professor Meno was teaching everyone the basics of sailing; with real sails and sailboats.

"Slack off on that sail Mr. Malfoy!" shouted Professor Meno.

"Aye, aye Captain!"

"Mr. Granger!"

"Aye Captain!" shouted Hermione.

"Four degrees to port, and slack the speed."

"Aye."

Professor Meno looked at a clipboard in his hand, and with a quick motion of a quill looked up. He was quite impressed with this lot. Mr. Gwen, his first mate, was on another sailboat, and was not fairing as well from Meno's view. "Allright. Fall in, and prepare to return to dock." Several voices returned, "Aye!"

They all filed into a single line, and Professor Meno waved his wand for magic to take over the ship. He walked up and down inspecting the line. They were definitely well used to being close for a sailing life. He was even impressed with how well Mr. Longbottom was on the ship. He had expected him to get motion sick and spend the rest of this unit in sickbay, but he pulled his own weight.

"I'm proud of you. You have demonstrated that you're not afraid to work, and you've also demonstrated to me a lack of selfishness. In order for anything to work, in life, let alone on a ship, everyone must help. Now, when the ship docks, I want you all to impress me even more by being in complete sailor mode."

The ships pulled into dock, and Mr. Gwen's students were running off of the ship trying to get away. Professor Meno came out of his cabin and found them all standing at attention. He smiled and noticed that Mr. Gwen was impressed as well. "Company dismissed." In single file, and in perfect unison, they left and walked to the Grubbery.

When they got to the Grubbery, a loud wall of voices hit them. From what the Rookies gathered when everyone had sat down, a small number of the Master students had just been accepted as Unspeakables, the hardest jobs to get. Everyone finished dinner fast, and then was rushing to congratulate the new Unspeakables. After that, a large low energy group of students all retired to the dorms.

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Jean woke Hermione up. "Come on, hurry up!"

Jean was dressed in her Quidditch robes, and her hair was done up in a light pony.

"What are you talking about?"

"You overslept!"

"What!" Hermione sat up straight in bed. She looked out the window to find lots of sunshine, and Cheyenne and Maria had already gone. She looked to see her alarm clock in bits.

"Why did my alarm clock not go off?" Hermione asked.

Jean looked away before answering. "Cheyenne toasted it. It went off at six, and she wasn't ready to get up, and instead of turning it off with the charm she used, it disintegrated. Everybody almost forgot you. Now come on! You've got like five minutes to dress and then we need to book it to the bus."

"Wait! We're taking a bus?"

"Dress, then we'll talk."

Hermione quickly readied herself, and they were off. They got to where the team was meeting them, and an embarrassed Cheyenne was hiding behind Harry.

"It's okay Cheyenne," Hermione called. "You just owe me another alarm clock."

"You're not mad?" Cheyenne asked.

"Nah."

"We have a game to go to, if you've finished," Wood said. He was very much a college coach. He had a schedule, and he kept it. While everyone was getting on the bus; coincidentally the Knight Bus; Wood handed Hermione a brown bag. "Professor Cook heard about what happened, and she made you a quick breakfast. I think you owe her a serious thank you."

Once there, everyone took in the view of Madrid Magic College's grounds. The school itself was a converted monastery, and the Quidditch field looked like a converted farm field. Everyone quickly went to the field, and prepared themselves mentally. Sammee Wilt, their referee, came in and explained his views on Quidditch. With both teams ready, the coaches led the teams out. The other team was dressed in a bright red, with black as their secondary color. Jean remarked under her breath, "They're midgets." And she was right; their tallest person was shorter than Hermione, smallest of them. Vivan stopped the line, and looked at her. "Size means does mean a lot. That means they will have almost no wind resistance, and they will be fast. Regulation may state that everyone on Junior team ride only 2000's, but Harry beat Draco on one against a 2001. They can be faster than us, so don't get cocky."

"Thank you for that lecture Vivian. I'm sorry for offending you."

Wood came over, and all talking ceased. "I see you've analyzed the competition, and Vivian is right. They will be faster. So play better, and you'll win. Now, get ready, because Mr. Wilt is about to start the match.

Everyone mounted, and Mr. Wilt rose into the air, but nobody kicked off. He threw the Quaffle up from there, and the game began. The Bludgers and the Snitch were released from nowhere, and Vivian had to duck to avoid being impailed by one; but was still able to grab the Quaffle for possession. She passed to Draco, and then signaled to Harry that she was going to get in position for the shot. He raced to match up with Draco, and then had to reverse direction as two Madrid Chasers had stolen the Quaffle. He banked up, and dove on one causing them to panic and drop the Quaffle. He quickly grabbed it, and passed long to Vivian. She caught it and scored.

Another thirty minutes into the game, Wood called for a time out. He tossed everybody some water, and began his advice. "Good job so far. 80 points to 50, is a good start. Let's keep it. Jean we need you to catch that Snitch."

"I'm doin' my best. But their Seeker is just like Ron, he goes after everything."

"Well beat him like you did Ron."

"That won't work. But, I have another idea."

"Well, let's hope it works. Dismissed."

Everyone was back in the air, and the Madrid Chasers were speeding toward the goals. Harry was able to steal the Quaffle from a pass, and raced for the other goal posts. Both of their Beaters sent the Bludgers flying at him. He spun between them, barely missing them. He passed up to Vivian, received a pass back, and then scored. While flying back to their side, Harry noticed that Wood was talking to some woman in black robes with silver streaks down the sides. Her hair was done up very eloquently, and she was deep in conversation with Wood. He didn't have time to notice anything else, because a Bludger smacked him in the back, sending him downward in a rush. He pulled up, but oh did his back hurt. Johnny noticed this, and sent the Bludger flying at the Beaters head, knocking him completely off his broom to fall and hit the ground twenty feet away.

Mr. Wilt blew his whistle. Hermione sighed; she knew what was coming, a penalty shot. And she was right; but for both sides. Vivian took the shot, and made it. Hermione got ready, and grabbed the Quaffle just in time. She booted it down to Draco, who made a mad dash for the goals. Hermione noticed Jean and the Madrid Seeker fighting to get to the Snitch first, and just as Jean grabbed it, Hermione felt like she was watching a movie. Draco had just put the Quaffle by the Madrid Keeper; Jean had caught the Snitch; and a giant flash of light had all happened at the same instant. After Hermione eyes straightened she saw Harry hit the ground, and not move another muscle.

N/A: You can relax; he doesn't die. But it's called the first for a good reason. But, unless you know me personally, you won't know why for a while.

oesn't die.