Chapter 5: The Boarder War
Everyone loves Quidditch season especially the folks who attend the Wyoming Academy of Advance Witchcraft and Wizardry. However, when it comes to the infamous Border War with the CSWU Rams, (Colorado State Witches University) tempers usually rise high, and it usually ends up in a full-scale riot. Harry finds he has never seen such a hostile rivalry. Will he make it out alive?
A/n I dedicated this chapter to the University of Wyoming Cowboys Football team who beat UCLA 24-21 in the Las Vegas Bowl, winning their first bowl game in 38 years! WAY TO GO POKES! The song mentioned is Dirty Deeds Done With Sheep, which is performed by Weird Al. A very special thanks goes out too Sunchilde, and Jaislin for your hard work. Contains some mild language.
Harry and Hermione, after going back to Britain to retrieve their animals and other personal belongings, returned in high spirits. Harry had decided that he was going to get a degree in Defense Against the Dark Arts. Afterward, with that degree, he had decided that, once he returned to England, he would go back to Hogwarts and be the permanent DADA teacher. Hermione decided she would like to become a healer.
It was well into the first semester at the Wyoming Academy of Advanced Witchcraft and Wizardry. The first home Quidditch game against CSWU was drawing ever so close; only one day away. The hostile atmosphere was drawing even more unity amongst the students in support for their beloved Cowboys.
The cool autumn weather was ever present, the leaves started to turned a brilliant yellow, orange, red and fell off the trees. Hermione often found herself outside their trailer just to take in the beautiful fall scenery.
Coaches Buckland and Windall wanted to have a light practice, to avoid the risk of injuries. Unfortunately however, the team's primary seeker was gravely injured during a previous practice due to a freak broomstick accident, and Harry was going to play for him.
The next morning, Harry awoke early to the wonderful aroma of fried bacon and eggs that Hermione was cooking for him. He got dressed and walked out into the kitchen and saw Hermione standing over a stove.
Hermione had her hair rolled up in a bun, and she looked very pretty. She was wearing a long-sleeved green and gold shirt that said Beat the Sheep and blue jeans.
"How are you doing this morning, love?" Harry asked as he wrapped both arms around Hermione, and kissed her.
"I'm doing great; how are you? Are you ready for the big game today? Oh, I can't wait to see what the big fuss is all about," Hermione said, a hint of excitement arising in her voice. Harry nodded.
"I'm a bit nervous; I haven't played a game of Quidditch for a while. I heard that games with this team are often ten times worse than the games Gryffindor had with Slytherin."
"Well you better eat and get going," Hermione interjected. "It's bound to be a rough day. I'll see you after the game," Hermione kissed him before he Disapparated to the Quidditch locker room. Darryl and Ernie were already dressed in their brown and gold Quidditch robes.
"Hey Potter, are you ready for this? It's a big game," Darryl said.
"Yep it's time to beat the sheep," Ernie said.
"You two are gits! Of course I'm ready," exclaimed Harry.
"What do you mean get?" asked Ernie laughing, "Or do you mean get-on-outta-here?"
Harry opened his mouth to retort, but was interrupted when Coach Buckland came through the door.
"Alright gather around need to have a word," he began, "Last year, this team flattened us, 270 to 0, but that was on their home turf. This year, I can't stress how important this game is. Do you realize that just about every newspaper in this country has picked us to finish last? What they don't know is that we have two great beaters, Lee and Lee, and one hell of a good seeker. Now let's go out there and give those columnists a nice big shit burger to eat!" the team hooted and hollered with excitement as the coach began his strategy talk. "Chasers! Moore, Morris, Fieldman: You have got to score and you have got to score often! Potter! As soon as you see that snitch, go after that sum of a buck! As for keeping, Wiley you know your job, you're damn good at it! You ready?!"
"Yes Coach!" the team exclaimed, in unison.
"Let's do it." Again the team hooted, hollered, and mentally pumped themselves up for the match.
Harry and the rest of the team strode out of the tunnel to the Quidditch pitch. This was the first home game against the CSWU Rams. Harry strained his ears trying to hear a song blaring over the loud speaker.
Don't ring 976-BAAA That kind of love's a crime.
Hey Dirty Deeds Done with Sheep,
Dirty Deeds Little Bo Peep,
Dirty Deeds done with Sheep Dirty deeds
and they're done with sheep
Baaa
Dirty deeds and there done with sheep
Baaa.
Merlin, these people are weird, Harry thought as he shook his head in disbelief, but it was certainly a funny way to insult the CSWU Rams. The team mounted their broomsticks, took off from the ground, and zoomed around the pitch.
"Velcro gloves, Knee pads, Late night dates
Done with sheep
Warning signs, Electric fences, HIGH VOLTAGE!
Done with Sheep.
The student section for the Wyoming Academy of Advanced Witchcraft and Wizardry of the stadium broke out into a war-like chant.
"SCREW YOU, CSWU!"
The CSWU Students retaliated with a similar chant.
"DOWN YOU GO, WYO."
The tension between the teams was mounting to the boiling point. Harry zoomed around, and looked for Hermione. He spotted her on the top row, watching him through the omnioculars that he had given her at the Quidditch world cup a few years ago. She blew him a kiss as he flew by, which raised his spirits.
The announcer for the game got on the loud speaker, and began to speak.
"Welcome to another Quidditch season for the Wyoming Academy of Advanced Witchcraft and Wizardry. This game is brought to you and proudly sponsored by Mag-Lax. The potion to help you with the digestion of our stadium food," there was a rumble of laughter through the stands.
"Playing for the Colorado State Witches University: Donald Gold, as Keeper. Chasers: Trent Darien, Paul Press, and Ted Siever. Playing Beaters are George Franklin, and Eric Lipshyts. Seeker is John Whiteman," there was a string of catcalls, and boos from the Wyoming Fans.
"And now your Wyoming Cowboy Quidditch team!" The song Ragtime Cowboy Joe followed the introduction of the team. "Playing as Keeper: Jeff Wiley. Your Chasers: Harry Moore, John Morris, and Joe Fieldman. The team Beaters are: Darryl and Ernie Lee. Now for your seeker -- Harry Potter."
The referee walked to the middle of the field. The teams took their starting positions on the ground.
"Team captains shake hands. Let's have a clean game."
The captains, Moore and Darien, shook hands; both looking as if they wanted to strangle each other. Harry Moore looked at Darien with a gleam in his eyes.
"Baaa," he blurted, in a mocking sheep impression. Darien flipped Moore a rather rude finger gesture.
"DING...DING... DING…. LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLEEEEEEEEE," blared the loud speaker. The crowd cheered as the opposing teams rose off the ground. The referee let the golden snitch take off, and it disappeared somewhere off into the pitch. Then the referee let the bludgers go and threw the quaffle into the air. Both teams snapped into motion.
"And it's Darien with the quaffle. He passes to Press.To Siever. Back to Press; he shoots -- and it's blocked by Wiley."
There was a loud cheer from the Wyoming section followed by the sacred CSWU war-chant.
"Wiley passes it to Moore, Moore flies up the field. Oh, that was one close shot by that bludger. Moore passes to Fieldman, he shoots and. No! It's blocked by Gold," was followed by a loud series of groans from the Wyoming fans.
"Gold passes to Siever, he flies quickly up the field. Oh, Good shot from Ernie Lee. But he still has the quaffle, he passes to. Yes! Intercepted by Fieldman. He flies up the field, and he shoots and he scores! It's 10-0 Wyoming!"
"W-Y-O" echoed through out the stadium
Harry was watching from high off the ground, he threw a fist up in triumph at the score. He quickly scanned the ground for the snitch. It felt wonderful to be back up in the air again flying.
"It's now CSWU has the quaffle, Gold passes to Siever, Siever to Darien, Darien back to Siever, He shoots, and he scores. The score is now tied at 10." The crowed groaned.
Harry continued to scan the pitch for the snitch, and he thought he saw something gold glimmering just off the goal post on the CSWU's end. He watched CSWU's seeker, Whitman. CSWU scored again.
"20-10 CSWU." The announcer began, "NO. It's 30-10 CSWU," as the Rams scored once more. The Wyoming fans were starting to become disgruntled with their beloved team.
"It's Moore with the quaffle, he passes to Fieldman. Fieldman flies up the field, closely pursued by Siever. FOUL! Now that's unsportsmanlike conduct if I've ever seen it." Siever had brutally punched Moore in the face causing him to drop the quaffle, and a penalty was awarded to Wyoming. "Moore takes the penalty shot, and he scores. 30-20!" Darryl flew up to Harry, and spoke with fervor in his voice.
"Find that snitch! This game is starting to get out of hand."
"I can see it; it's right over there," Harry replied, pointing over to the snitch. "But I want to wait and see if we can't pull ahead."
CSWU scored one more time and Wyoming scored twice, to bring the score to 40-40. It was quickly followed by another three goals from Wyoming, bringing the score to 70-40. The Wyoming fans were growing even more excited. The game was starting to turn into a full-scale war.
Now is the time to go and get the snitch, Harry thought as he headed for CSWU's side of the pitch. Whiteman saw him zoom off in the direction of the snitch. He went after Harry, having no trouble catching up to him. Whiteman threw an elbow out and hit Harry in the neck causing him to gasp for breath through eyes full of tears. Then, WHAM! Harry was hit in the back of the head with a bludger, and he fell off his broomstick. Bleeding slightly, Harry swore loudly as he got aboard on his broomstick. The snitch had gotten away.
CSWU had scored four more times, and was now back into the lead, 80-70. Wyoming then retaliated with another 20 points, charging ahead to 90-80. The Wyoming fans were on the edge of their seats now, thunderously cheering on their team. Harry was feeling the pressure to catch the snitch and end this game. It was now starting to turn into a riot amongst the players. Ernie Lee was given a penalty for biting Darien. Several small fights were starting to break out in the stands among the fans.
Finally after frantically searching for the snitch, he saw it fluttering 20 feet above the Wyoming goal post. Illusionary tactics, Harry thought, I'll fly fast toward the enemy's goal post. That should get Whiteman to follow me. Then, I'll dive and pull up just before I hit the ground. Watch him crash!
"It's CSWU's chaser, Press, with the quaffle now. He passes to Siever, Siever shoot, and. YES it's blocked by Wiley. Oh what's this? Wyoming Seeker, Potter, is flying fast. I think he sees the Snitch! He is closely pursued by Whiteman. Potter dives quickly to the ground. OH! That's gotta hurt! Even through this loud crowd, you could hear that crunch. Potter now flies up, he dodges one bludger, and now the other, I think he really sees the snitch this time folks." The crowd had stopped fighting, and was now on the edge of their seats. "Yes, he does see the snitch! Oh My God, he's lost his marbles! Potter is standing on the end of his broomstick, 20 feet in the air! Oh my word, he just jumped off his broom. How did he manage to land back on?" Harry threw his fist up in the air in triumph. Finally the announcer caught Onto Harry's gestures.
"What's this? HE GOT THE SNITCH! OH MY GOD, HE GOT THE SNITCH! Wyoming WINS, and the score -- OH THE SCORE is Wyoming 260, CSWU 100."
The crowd cheered incredulously loud, and began rushing off the benches onto the pitch. Some had climbed to the top of the goal posts, and with the help of other fans, they tore them down. The story was the same on the other end of the field. The posts came crumbling down to the ground, and the Wyoming fans tore off the pitch carrying all six goal posts. Harry landed on the field, and the first person waiting for him with open arms, was Hermione. She was smiling brightly, although she had several red streaks down her face where she must have been covering her eyes. He then ran up to her, gave her a very tight hug, and then followed up with a kiss that turned his knees into liquid. His fellow team members grabbed Harry and Hermione, hoisted them up onto their shoulders and carried them off the field. They finally reached the locker room, where a large celebration awaited them.
The Quidditch season would continue on, and for the first time in Wyoming Academy History, the team finished the season undefeated and won the national championship.
a/n not my best chapter, but I hope you enjoy.
