Chapter 6: What a Team!
Harry and Ginny found that they made great study partners and soon began studying together every chance they got. Harry felt that Ginny was able to give fresh insight to his lessons, and if they needed a break, they could go to the Quidditch field for a little Seeker practice.
November blew in soon, and along with it, the first Quidditch match of the year: Gryffindor versus Slytherin. Katie was keeping up the tradition of running her team ragged with daily practices. The Slytherins, in their usual form, were trying to sabotage the Gryffindor team whenever they could. Malfoy however, seemed oddly quiet. In fact, now that Harry thought about it, all Malfoy had ever done this semester was glare at them.
"Well of course!" Ron said when Harry commented upon it the afternoon before the match. They were sitting in the common room with Hermione and Ginny, trying to concentrate on their studies despite the noise and excitement of the other Gryffindors. "The tables are turned! Now my Dad's the one with the power and his Dad's lost all distinction in the wizarding community. It's perfect!" He turned to cast a sullen glance at Hermione. "I just wish I could enjoy it..."
Hermione didn't even look up. "It's not right to abuse a person when he's down," she said resolutely.
"It never stopped him, did it?" Ron retorted. "Have you forgotten the hell he put all of us through? What he used to call you? And it wasn't just bullying either! He actually tried to do serious damage!"
"I know Ron--"
"He tried to get Hagrid sacked! Then he destroyed Harry's reputation! And don't get me started on the Inquisitorial Squad--"
"I KNOW!" Hermione shouted over Ron's tirade. "But does that mean we should stoop to his level? We're above that kind of behavior!"
"Who said anything about stooping to his level? I just want to take a crack at him now and then! Is that so bad?"
Harry grinned at Ginny as Ron and Hermione started picking up steam. "Well I figured this wouldn't end," he said.
"Are you kidding?" Ginny laughed as she dug through her book bag. "If they stopped arguing, they wouldn't have anything to talk about!" Her grin changed to a look of concern as she dug deeper into the bag. "That's funny; I could've sworn I put my History of Magic essay in here." She thought for a moment and then stood. "I must've left it in the library."
"I'll come with you," Harry said as he got up. "There's a book I need for Potions."
The halls were empty as Harry and Ginny walked to the library, discussing the prospects of the next day's game. Suddenly, they were enveloped in a cloud of ash.
Coughing, Harry looked up to see Peeves cackling as he flew away with a bucket in his hands. Frustrated, he tried to dust himself off.
"Ow!" Ginny cried, grabbing her eye.
"What is it?"
"I think I've got something in my eye!"
"Well here, let me take a look." Harry put the fingers of one hand under Ginny's chin and tilted her face up as he searched his pockets for his handkerchief. "Hmm, I don't see anything...oh wait, hang on--" he gently pulled at the side of her eyelid. "Yeah, there it is--" he shook out his handkerchief, folded up a corner, and picked a cinder out of her eye.
Ginny pulled away and blinked a few times. "Thanks," she said as she wiped away excess tears.
"No problem," Harry said. "Maybe you should let Madam Pomfrey look at that real quick..."
"Oh don't be silly! I'm fine," Ginny laughed, waving him away.
"No, seriously, it looks red," he insisted. He turned around and took Ginny's arm.
"Harry, I'm okay!" she said with annoyance as she unwillingly turned around. Then she stopped.
Harry looked up and froze. Snape was standing at the end of the hallway. He looked away and grunted in frustration. I wonder what he'll try to pull this time, Harry thought. Maybe he'll dock points because we're shaking ashes all over the floor or something. However, when Harry turned back to face Snape, he was caught by surprise. Snape didn't say a word. In fact, he didn't look sinister at all. He looked sad.
In all the years Harry knew this man, all he ever saw on his face was anger or a sneer. Never in his entire life would he have expected this. Yet there was mean old Snape, looking as if he was going to cry.
Harry and Ginny stood there for several minutes staring at him. Then Snape lowered his eyes, sighed, and walked away.
Ginny turned to Harry with a bemused expression on her face. "What was that about?" she asked.
But Harry was just as bewildered. "I have no idea," he said. He turned back to Ginny. "Oh; your eye," he quickly said and led her to the hospital wing as she protested the entire way.
The next morning dawned cool and bright as Harry and the rest of the Gryffindor team suited up and walked out onto the field to thunderous applause. "And here are the Gryffindors!" yelled Dennis Creevey, who had taken over the position of commentator. Colin was standing next to him, snapping as many pictures as he could. They were practically quivering with excitement. "Potter, Bell, Weasley, Pomeroy, Kirke, Sloper, and Weasley! Back-to-back winners of the Quidditch Cup..."
Harry scanned the crowd. As usual, one-quarter of the crowd was dressed in green in support of Slytherin, while the other three-quarters of the crowd were dressed in scarlet in support of Gryffindor. A huge, red banner was stretched across one of the stands with a drawing of a golden lion that actually reared up on its hind legs and roared.
The Slytherin team marched onto the field, led by Montague. Malfoy, as before, did nothing but glare. Harry didn't know what was more unnerving--Malfoy continually throwing insults at him, or Malfoy looking like a snake waiting for the moment to strike.
"Captains, shake hands!" said Madam Hooch.
Montague stepped up to Katie with a sneer and squeezed her hand as hard as he could. Katie didn't flinch.
"Mount your brooms!" said Madam Hooch. "Three...two...one..."
She blew her whistle, sending the two teams into the air. Harry flew high above the field, positioning himself so he could search easily for the Snitch. Across the field, Malfoy was doing the same.
"And it's Gryffindor in possession, Katie Bell with the Quaffle, heading straight for the Slytherin goal posts, looking good Katie! Argh, no--Quaffle intercepted by Montague, Montague tearing up the field--WHAM!--nice Bludger work there by Sloper, Montague drops the Quaffle, it's caught by--Pomeroy, Gryffindor back in possession, come on--SHE SCORES! TEN-ZERO TO GRYFFINDOR!"
The crowd cheered as Pomeroy took a victory lap around the field, when--
"WHOA!"
Goyle flew at Pomeroy, taking a swing at her with his club. She barely had a chance to roll out of range as his club grazed her arm. Katie took the penalty shot and put it through. A Slytherin caught the Quaffle next, but Ron, in excellent form, blocked the goal. Harry grinned as he flew back up to continue looking for the Snitch.
"Ginny Weasley gets the Quaffle for Gryffindor, she's heading for goal--COME ON! YOU CAN BEAT THEM!"
Harry's eyes widened as he whirled around. Crabbe and Goyle were flanking their Keeper as they streaked toward Ginny with their clubs raised. It was obvious they had more in mind than just blocking her.
Harry kicked forward, bending so low he was lying flat along the handle. Like a bullet, he shot toward the Slytherins. Their eyes bulged as they scattered to get out of Harry's way, clearing Ginny's path.
"SHE SCORES! Gryffindor leads thirty to zero!"
Gryffindor scored two more goals and Slytherin scored a goal when Harry finally saw it--the Snitch was fluttering on the ground on the other side of the field. Unfortunately Malfoy, who was just above it, saw it at the same time.
Harry kicked as hard as he could, urging his Firebolt forward as he sped toward the other end of the field. He watched in horror as Malfoy, grinning triumphantly, dived closer and closer, his hand outstretched. "Come on! Come on!" he pleaded with his broom. I can't lose to Malfoy, I just can't, he thought desperately, but try as he might, it was becoming painfully clear that there was no way he could catch up. He watched in agony, halfway across the field, as Malfoy's hand came within a foot of the Snitch. For the first time since he joined the team, Slytherin was going to beat Gryffindor.
Just as he made this realization though, a scarlet blur flashed across Harry's field of vision and suddenly, Malfoy disappeared. Harry hesitated for a moment, wondering what just happened, but at the sight of the Snitch he flew forward without a second thought. He threw himself forward and tumbled off his broom onto the grass as he snatched up the Snitch. Harry leapt to his feet as Madam Hooch's whistle blew, holding the gold ball up in triumph as the crowd roared its approval. He turned around to see Ginny, the first of his teammates to land.
"We did it Harry! We did it!" she yelled as she ran to him and flung her arms around his neck. Harry threw his arms around her and swung her around in a circle as they laughed with excitement. Then Ginny pulled back and beamed up at him. Harry stopped for a moment. Wow, he thought, she has such a pretty smile.
Just then the rest of the team landed and ran toward them. "Knew you could do it, mate!" Ron yelled as he slammed his hand on Harry's shoulder, pulling him abruptly from his reverie. The crowds poured out of the stands, cheering as they engulfed the team.
"Ruddy brilliant Harry!" boomed Hagrid as he made his way over. "Ye make quite a team!"
"Yeah I know!" Harry yelled back, beaming. "We've really pulled together since last year--"
"I meant you and Ginny," Hagrid interrupted. "The way ye scattered those Slytherins so she could score, an' the way she knocked Malfoy out of the way so ye could get the Snitch--"
Harry stopped for a moment and thought back. Then he remembered. "That was Ginny?" he exclaimed. He turned around in time to see Ginny hoisted up on the shoulders of the crowd. She turned to him and grinned as she waved excitedly. Harry's hand slowly rose to wave back as a grin spread across his own face.Yeah, he thought wistfully, yeah, I guess we do.