Chapter Four

They weren't really going to be able to play a game because they were lacking enough players. No, this Quiditch match was just for fun, just a little fooling around and practicing before the school year started. Fred and George took their roles as Beaters with their clubs while Ginny and Harry teamed up as Chasers against Ron, who stood guard as the chaser in front of a trio of hoods. The pitch was only half as large as a normal Quiditch field, but it was just the right size for such few players.

Harry sped on his Firebolt toward Ron, the large red Quaffle under his right arm. He was making straight for the middle goal, which Ron stayed in front of protectively. Ron didn't seem the least bit intimidated against Harry and his broom, which startled Harry, because the last he had seen, Ron had zero self confidence. Harry rolled the ball out from under his arm and pitched it.

Ron sped right into its trajectory and prevented it from going in with brilliant speed for the broom he was using. He smiled and tossed the ball back in. Ginny caught it with an outstretched arm, rolling with the momentum of the ball and turning around. She flew toward Ron now, palming the ball carefully as she soared. A large, heavy black ball came right at her from her right, sent by Fred with a wave of his hand like a salute.

She rolled over it, holding on with just her left hand. Simultaneously she found herself facing down a second Bludger in a head on game of chicken. She hadn't time to maneuver around it. While still coming out of the spin, she flipped off of her broom, raising from it by at least five feet while still rolling. She threw the ball as she fell again, and she landed safely on her own broom again a second later. Harry stopped flying in a dead halt and stared at the girl as Ron, who had caught the brilliant shot, threw it back to him.

The ball lightly hit him in the chest, and he fumbled it until he had control. He stared at Ginny again. "I told you I was better," she said with a smile. "I practice as well."

"That was awesome!" said Harry. "Did you make that up?"

"Yeah," said Ginny, blushing. "It was just sort of a spur of the moment thing."

"You're a shoo-in for the Chaser spot this year," said Harry. "I'd be frightened if you were going for Seeker. You'd be tough competition with flying like that."

"Oh come on, I've heard all about your surfing style from your first year," said Ginny. "I can't do that."

"Maybe I'll teach you some time," said Harry. A Bludger nearly knocked him off his broom, and he came out of a tight turn, reminded that they were still playing. "Let's score already."

"It requires teamwork," said Ginny. "Fred, George and I tried all month, and we have yet to score on him."

"Well, he has to let one in some time," said Harry. He sped forward, and Ginny followed. Another Bludger came from behind Harry and barely missed him by passing on the side. Harry increased his speed and hauled back to throw, but allowed it to slip out of his hand as he reached back. It floated in the air for half a second as Ron briefly wondered were the ball had disappeared to. Harry was still charging at Ron, eclipsing Ginny behind him.

Ginny punched the ball with her fist, and it rocketed toward Harry's back. Harry knew just when to swerve, and turned away at exactly the moment before it was about to cruise past Ron's right. He had barely the time to react, so he stretched off of his broom, reaching wildly for the ball. He barely deflected it before it hit the rim of the goal post and fell away.

"Holy cow," said Ron. "That was close."

"I can't believe you still blocked it," said Harry, amazed at how his friends had improved.

"I almost didn't," said Ron.

"Nice try Harry," said Ginny. "It was almost a score."

Ron gave the Quaffle back to Harry, who backed away with the ball quickly before George's Bludger could hit him. It hit the ground, causing a crater to appear, and it rebounded into the air. Harry rose up high like a rocket on his broom, the hair on his head being thrown wildly. He slowed his speed so that he would soon stop, caused by gravity, and he began to fall backwards, maneuvering his broom into a half flip, facing the ground as he descended. He was falling.

He was falling very fast, too fast for Ron, Ginny, or the twins to feel comfortable. "What's he doing?" asked Ginny, her voice quivering with just a hint of fear.

"Either showing off... of falling," said Ron. He watched carefully. "…He's showing off," said Ron. "You better be ready. I have to get to goal tending." Ginny flew towards the area where it seemed Harry was going to fall. Harry increased his speed to get the maximum boost from his gravity. If he pulled up at the right time, he'd be flying probably faster than a hundred miles per hour, maybe a hundred twenty.

He came out of the dive, as expected, at break neck speed, flying straight for Ron. He easily outstripped a Bludger behind him and was about to catch up with Ginny, flying toward Ron also ahead of him. He threw the ball, which was going too fast for Ginny to be able to properly see. She had to use her instincts and intuition to guess where it was going to end up.

She turned around into a three-sixty spin and hit the ball back to Harry, who was rapidly approaching. She instantly regretted it, as it stung like hell where she had to hit it with her wrist like a volleyball, just not straight up. It went right back to Harry as he grasped his broom tightly with one hand and jumped, similar to how Ginny had. He twisted himself into a three sixty degree spin of his own, lashing out with a roundhouse kick as he passed Ginny.

The speed of the air passing her almost threw her from her broom as Harry's foot caught the Quaffle, kicking it straight towards Ron. Whether by design or fluke, though, the ball had a rough spin on it, and it spiraled around and around, not flying in a straight line. Ron had no idea where it would end up, and he simply didn't have the speed to catch it. He nicked it barely with his fingertips as it passed, and it soared straight through the center hoop. The ball went flying a hundred yards away into the deep woods in the back.

"And you just go done telling me I was good!" yelled Ginny. "Holy crap! You killed that sucker!"

"Wow Mate," said Ron, looking pale in the face. "I had no idea what to make of it. I didn't have a chance of getting to it in time."

"You still got a few fingers on it," said Harry. "I didn't think you'd even get that. I've been saving that play for a long time. It was a good thing Gin was able to interpret it fast enough. Ginny, you'd make a great strategist as well."

"She thinks quick alright," said Fred, coming to a hover on Harry's right. George descended to his left.

"Brilliant play Mate," he said. "We could barely see you. Did you realize you beat the Bludger? It gave up after about half a second."

"I've never been that fast before," said Harry. "That was fun."

"You scared the hell outta me!" said Ginny. "I thought you were going to fall to your death."

"Oh no, not me," said Harry with a grin. "It was all part of my design."

"Relax Gin," said Fred. "He's fine. Aren't you Harry?"

"I'm not used to that speed," said Harry truthfully. "I need to have a sit for a few." He wiped the sweat off his brow and looked back at Ginny. She still looked both impressed and slightly angry. "I didn't mean to scare anyone," he said quickly.

"Well, don't do it again," said Ginny with a quirked smile. She flew back toward the house, muttering something that sounded like, "boys".

Harry and the others exchanged glances. "Well, I think we're done for now," said Ron.

"Aww, is little Ronnie upset that Harry got the ball past him?" teased George.

"No," said Ron quickly. "It's just that we've lost Gin now, and Harry needs a rest anyway. Besides, it's time for dinner by now I'm sure. Plus, we lost the Quaffle."

Harry took his wand from his pocket and pointed it in the general direction of the forest. "Accio Quaffle!" The red ball rose from the woods and started to soar at him. He caught it gently and handed it to Ron.

Back in the house, Harry, Ron, Ginny, the Twins, Mr and Mrs Weasley, and Dumbledore were seated for dinner. Harry had never been at the dinner table with Dumbledore before, who had recently changed back into his wizard robes, an emerald green with blue details on it.

"It's very good Mum," said Fred as he ate. "I'd almost forgotten how good you cook."

"Yeah, what with Ron and Ginny cooking," said George with a laugh. "They're just not up to snuff."

"Well, I can't help it," argued Ginny. "I've not cooked much, have I?"

"Well, we'll save it for later," said Molly. "Now eat up everyone. Harry, Dumbledore, feel free to take a second helping if you wish."

"That's quite alright Molly," said Albus with a great sigh and a smile. "It was very good, but also very fulfilling. I daresay that, should I attempt to consume anymore, I would burst, and I don't intend to go down like that."

"I'm still hungry Mrs Weasley," said Harry.

End Chapter Four

Okay, so I guess it's a bit of an abrupt end. Sorry, but I just didn't want to get any further without starting a new chapter. As for the exchange students, we'll find out a bit about the situation next chapter, but I'm not sure whether we'll be meeting them or not before chapter six. You'll just have to wait.

Or, I might just get another couple chapters in before the night is through. CIAO!