Chapter 8

The morning dawned bright and clear, which was odd given the time of year, several students had said in the DA meeting that it was likely to rain, even snow.

"Nope, it will be sunny all day, promise." Harry said, Ginny beside him nodded.

The team gathered in the changing rooms.

"At this point Oliver would probably launch into a long speech which most us would tune out." Harry said "Katie would look at everyone with a manic gleam in her eyes."

"Me, I am just going to say that you are one of the best teams in the world." Harry paused. He added "and since I could beat these guys by myself, this is just fun and games, alright" Harry said, the others cheered. He grinned and said as if as an afterthought "Besides I would hate to have to give the beer back."

The team grinned and trooped out.

"Welcome ladies, gentleman and Slytherins" begin Arthur 'Art' Deacon, a sixth year Gryffindor, to loud boos from the other end of the pitch, completely ignored by the muscular DA member who thought rules where used to draw straight lines.

"This is the first game of the Quidditch Cup, the Slytherin team once again captain by Draco Malfoy, still haven't changed their size versus skill ideas, and are trying to win yet again with the 'if you can't beat them, Beat them tactics' but I predict a short match tonight."

"For Gryffindor, Weasley, Weasley, Smith, Deacon, Bradley, Bradley and POTTER."

Seven red and gold blurs circled the pitch several times before lining up.

"For Slytherin, Bulstrode, Flint, McNair, Hanson, Crabbe, Goyle and MALFOY." Six large and one smaller, green and silver players lined up opposite the Gryffindors.

"Captains, shake hands." Harry shook hands with Malfoy, who paled even more and wrung his hand, Harry just grinned.

"LET THE GAME BEGIN."

The ball was still rising when it was grabbed by Ginny. "Gryffindor in possession, Weasley scores, 10-0 Gryffindor, and Weasley puts in another one, 20-0 Gryffindor."

Several minutes and seven more goals later, Slytherin got possession and scored three goals, Mark Bradley immediately downed the offending chaser Hanson, with a well-placed bludger.

Gryffindor got possession and scored six more times and Slytherin scored two more.

"Gryffindor 150-50, this is shaping up to be the most uneven game I have ever seen, the Slytherins size totally outmatched by the faster and more skilled Gryffindor, it depends on the captains now, if Slytherin could catch the snitch, they will win but since Harry Potter has a virtually unbeaten record as seeker, at this point, Slytherin had better come up with something pretty special if they want to win."

Harry circled the pitch, his senses showing him everything on it, he saw a bludger speeding towards him, he dived almost to the pitch itself, he frowned as he felt the bludger change direction and come after him again, he turned hard and dropped, weaving around the goals but the bludger was still behind him.

Hermione spied the manoeuvres. "Professor, we have a rogue bludger."

"Yes, and after the same person, correct." McGonagall said "Potter can handle it, but it is suspicious, Miss Granger." McGonagall said and Hermione nodded in agreement.

Harry spied a glint of gold.

I have to stop that bludger and fast, Harry thought as he sped towards the snitch, the bludger came at him, He snapped out a hand and grabbed it out of the air.

Malfoy sped towards the snitch; he glanced back to see Harry catch the bludger.

Impossible, no one could do that, not even that oaf Hagrid is that strong.

Malfoy glanced back again, Harry wasn't there, and Malfoy turned round just in time to see a scarlet blur rocket up from below and grabbed the snitch.

"Wow. Gryffindor wins 320-60."

The crowd cheers.

The Gryffindors and most of the DA returned to the common room, only to stop short and gape at the sight that greeted them.

All the normal chairs and furniture had been removed, the room now contained three long tables.

On the far right was a table covered with drinks including punch, butter beer, several barrels of actual beer, boxes of glass bottles bearing the Weasley's Wizard Wheezes logo and more.

The central table was piled with steaming food, similar to the start of term feast but also included chocolate fudge cake (in the shape of the Minister), pies, tarts, cream cakes and other desserts.

The third and last table was visibly groaning under the weight of the largest array of sweets anyone had ever seen, every possible favourite from Honeydukes was there as were dozens of sweets from the twins new and old lines.

"Two questions how did you get McGonagall to agree to this and where did it all come from?" Ron asked.

"Because she had no choice, I outrank her and Reasal Hall was the home of the Gryffindors."

"What Hall?" Seamus asked, eyeing a bottle of fire whiskey.

"Reasal Hall was the original name of this castle when it was built" Hermione said.

"Let me guess, you read about it in Hogwarts: A History." Harry said, many people laughed.

"Yes, but I don't know why that allows you to have a party?"

"I own Hogwarts as the Lord Gryffindor, as long as I live I have last say what does or doesn't happen here, and that's the law."

"So where did all this come from?"

"The food is from here, Swanstone Manor, Ravens Reach and Gold Heaven Tower."

"The drinks are from Swansdraft Breweries and the sweets are from the twins."

"Cool."

Harry went to stand in the middle of the room.

"I don't how many of you know this but for my childhood up to getting my letter. I had nothing to share and no one to share with. So when I became Lord Gryffindor I decided that I would hold a party here and now."

"This party is dedicated to a number of people, first to Ron Weasley my first ever friend, second to Hermione Granger for showing that its okay to be smart, third to Neville Longbottom for making me see we are only as weak or strong as our belief in ourselves, fourth to Luna Lovegood because nothing is stranger than the truth and Fifth to Ginny Weasley my heart and soul."

Cheers all round.

Ron came up to Harry some time later with a couple of glasses.

"Nice Speech, thought of running for Minister?"

"No, I like being able to change what I like."

"Nice bit about Ginny, I don't think I understand you two though."

"Ron, there is no word in any language spoken by humankind for how close I am to Ginny, and no way to describe it that doesn't fall far short of the truth."

"Is she in any danger?"

"No, we will be here long after the unborn sons and daughters of wizard kind are nothing but fading dreams."

"Can you die?"

"Yes, everyone dies eventually, however unless Tom and his lackeys get really lucky we will live farlonger anyone else here."

"Cool, nice beer by the way, I hadn't had it before."

"It is good." Harry noticed Art Deacon take a drink from a WWW bottle and instantly turn into a pumpkin.

Harry chuckled and headed over, there was a bang from near the sweets, six students heads vanished, then after a few moments reappeared.

"I told you they didn't work right." A man in an acid green suit said, the Twins nodded.

"Yes, but other things work perfectly." Fred said, as if in agreement a student belched live fairies.

"Fred, Ethan, George." Harry paused "Did I invite you."

"No, so we came." Ethan said smiling.

"Blown anyone up yet?"

" We have had no accidental explosions in quite some time."

"Good, I don't like accidents."

"Toffee?"

"Certainly." Harry removed the bright red wrapper and popped the sweet in his mouth.

After several minutes Harry finished it and turned to the three jokers.

"Good."

"It didn't work."

"No, my personal magic is too powerful but it's a good wheeze, a fakkna/jublis/solumo triple-cross charm."

"Yes, I have a weakness for spell hybriding." Ethan admitted.

"Go with your strengths, isn't that right Remus" Harry directed to Lupin behind him.

"Yes, I don't know how you chose between yours." Remus said

"Instinct."

"Good Party."

"Thanks."

"Nice speech."

"I have been dreaming about having a party like this since I was eight years old. I am glad that I finally get it."

"Yes, I would have paid to come to a party like this at Hogwarts when I went here."

"Can't help there. But I don't intend this to be the last victory party, I am planning at least two more."

"Two?"

"One for when we beat Ravenclaw and the other when we win the Quidditch Cup."

"What if someone else wins?"

"They won't, we have the best team on the best brooms, Slytherin were the only problem and we beat them easily."

"Well have a nice party. I have an meeting with a group of new friends later, I have to set some stuff up."

"Take a couple of bottles of whiskey, a crate of beer, we won't miss it."

"Thanks." Remus said and grabbed what he wanted from the table before leaving.

"Hi, Harry." Ginny walked up with a couple of bottles in her hands, looking flushed.

"Great party, I mean the parties at the Burrow are amazing but this is different."

"No Supervision, several dozen types of alcohol, yeah that's why I did this party."

"A chance for people to relax and let their hair down." Ginny said, taking several gulps from the bottle in her right hand.

Harry took the half full bottle in her left and drained it, eyes not leaving Ginny's.

"What would Molly say if she found out about the party?"

"I can handle my mother, Harry believe me."

"Good." Harry took Ginny's hand and drew her out of the common room.

Ginny found herself on a balcony overlooking the grounds, Ginny gasped at the sight.

It's the most beautiful sight have ever seen she thought.

I couldn't agree more Harry said looking her in the eyes.

I can't tell you how amazing this whole experience is.

You don't need to, I know what you are feeling just as you know what I am thinking.

If you had told me when I first meet you that this was coming I would have asked what you had smoked so I could stay away from it

At ten I couldn't imagine that people like your family existed, let alone that it was possible to feel what I feel for you and not die from the sheer joy of the experience

Harry held Ginny in his arms, red and gold light shone from their forms, body, mind and soul joined in ways few others in history could imagine let alone experience.

Without knowing they vanished from the Balcony and reappeared in Harry's rooms, the proper place both thought to discover the limits if any of their bond.

In the early hours of the next morning the party broke up with those still able retreating to their beds for the blessed gift of sweet oblivion.

As dawns first light crept over the horizon, two friends stood and bade good night.

One was tall, clad in acid green suit, a mop of scarlet hair and a ready grin.

The other was shorter, white haired and wore a form that was not her own.

Two eternal pranksters whose friendship was older than the castle in with they stood, unbroken in war or peace.