Disclaimer – Refer to pervious chapters...
Chapter 18 – Gryffindor vs. Slytherin.
It was a bright, sunny morning when Harry walked into the Gryffindor changing-room before the match. He felt confident as the wind brushed against his school robes.
The changing-room was a hive of activity. Ron and Seamus were discussing on ways to hit Malfoy with the Beater club. The three Chasers, Hermione, Colin & Dennis Creevey were finalizing their moves.
"Hey Harry." Ron said as he walked past him. Everyone had already changed into their red and gold robes, with Ginny's name and her number 5 on everyone's back. Harry put on his robes and called his team for the last- minute pep talk.
"OK everybody." Harry started, "You guys all know what to do. Seamus and Dean," pointing at the two of them, "Aim your Bludgers at the Slytherin Chasers; I heard that they can't dodge properly."
"Gotcha, boss." Dean replied.
"Hermione, you, Dennis and Colin keep making short passes among yourselves so that they can't intercept."
"No problem!" Colin replied enthusiastically.
"Remember, this might be your one and only try and the Cup, so let's all give our best for our own good!"
"And don't forget Ginny." Ron said quietly.
The room became quiet. No one could forget the reason why they were wearing Ginny's name and number on their backs.
"Good morning, everyone!" Lee Jordan's voice boomed through the tunnel as the Gryffindor team stood side-by-side with their huge rivals, the Slytherin team.
The gate opened. Harry felt butterflies in his stomach as he mounted his broom and flew out of the gate.
"And here's the Gryffindor team!" Lee Jordan half-shouted into the microphone. "Potter, Ron Weasley, Granger, Finnigan, Thomas, Colin Creevey, Dennis Creevey, wearing Ginny Weasley's number 5 shirt as a sign of respect. Widely known as the best team in Hogwarts in the last 50 years!"
That comment was drowned by boos from the Slytherin end.
"And now the Slytherin team, led by Captain Draco Malfoy! Know to be a very physical side, and many people have said that they are huge cheaters!"
More boos sounded from the Slytherin end.
Harry looked up. He saw about the whole school, bar the Slytherins wearing red and gold. He knew that everyone wanted, and expected them to win.
"And now, the school will observe one minute of silence, in respect of... Ginny Weasley, tragically killed 2 weeks ago."
The Gryffindor team landed and put their hands around each other's shoulder, the whole school suddenly lost the loudness of a typical Quidditch match and became deadly quiet, bar the Slytherin end, who kept up the loud noise. The Slytherin team also stayed in the air, as if in defiance.
"Someone use a Silencing Charm and shut them up!" Ron whispered.
The minute ended. Everyone got on their brooms expect Harry.
"Potter, Malfoy, shake hands." Madam Hooch barked.
Harry grabbed Malfoy's hand so tight that he almost screamed in pain. Malfoy tried to return the favour but was too much in pain to do so.
"Madam Hooch throws the ball in the air, and Granger grabs it! She takes a long shot from the half-way line... AND SHE SCORES!!!! Gryffindor take the lead!"
Harry watched in awe as Hermione, fueled maybe by anger; put a lightning bolt of a shot past the Slytherin keeper from the halfway line.
The match got even better for Gryffindor. The Slytherin Chasers had no chance against the fast-flying Creevey brothers, who intercepted everything thrown at them. Even if they got past them, they could not beat Ron, who was having a fantastic game. Hermione was at her stunt-flying best too. Her passes were from anywhere. In between her legs, behind her back, under her broom etc. Even scoring became such a fun thing to do. The Creevey brothers could do no wrong when it came to shooting. Every shot just whizzed past the Slytherin keeper. Hermione even saw a pass coming from Colin, held her broom with one hand, jumped off and headed the Quaffle past the shell- shocked into the hoop.
"You could play football, man!" Dean said.
20 minutes flew by. Gryffindor were leading 130-0. Harry felt quite safe. The way they were playing, even if Malfoy caught the Snitch, they would still win.
"Malfoy's seen something!" Jordan shouted into the microphone. Harry turned and saw Malfoy diving down onto the ground.
"Damn!" Harry cursed as he chased after Malfoy. Everyone stopped to look at the two Seekers chasing after the Snitch.
Harry was closing in. Malfoy jerked his broom and it accelerated. However, Harry's Firebolt was too fast for it. Soon, they were neck to neck.
"Give it up, Potter!" Malfoy said as he gave Harry a huge bump on the side. Harry fell back. Not wanting to lose to Malfoy, he flew slightly under Malfoy, trying hard to avoid his eyes.
Malfoy stretched out, trying to grab the Snitch. At the same time, Harry jerked his broom up and stretched out at the same time. He felt something warm in his hand as he closed it.
"Harry Potter's got the Snitch!! GRYFFINDOR WINS!!!"
Harry dived down and collapsed on the pitch. In a flash, Hermione swooped down on him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Ron and the rest swooped down and shouted "We've done it!!!" Turning his head, Harry saw Malfoy chuck his broom on the ground in disgust.
In the midst of the huge noise, Harry led his victorious team up the steps, past a grinning McGonagall. They had inflicted the biggest ever score-line in a Hogwarts Quidditch game, 380-0.
Dumbledore handed Harry the huge Quidditch Cup. "For Ginny." Harry said as he raised the huge trophy.
It's not the end yet! Read about what happened after Hogwarts in the next chapter! Pls R&R thanks.
Chapter 18 – Gryffindor vs. Slytherin.
It was a bright, sunny morning when Harry walked into the Gryffindor changing-room before the match. He felt confident as the wind brushed against his school robes.
The changing-room was a hive of activity. Ron and Seamus were discussing on ways to hit Malfoy with the Beater club. The three Chasers, Hermione, Colin & Dennis Creevey were finalizing their moves.
"Hey Harry." Ron said as he walked past him. Everyone had already changed into their red and gold robes, with Ginny's name and her number 5 on everyone's back. Harry put on his robes and called his team for the last- minute pep talk.
"OK everybody." Harry started, "You guys all know what to do. Seamus and Dean," pointing at the two of them, "Aim your Bludgers at the Slytherin Chasers; I heard that they can't dodge properly."
"Gotcha, boss." Dean replied.
"Hermione, you, Dennis and Colin keep making short passes among yourselves so that they can't intercept."
"No problem!" Colin replied enthusiastically.
"Remember, this might be your one and only try and the Cup, so let's all give our best for our own good!"
"And don't forget Ginny." Ron said quietly.
The room became quiet. No one could forget the reason why they were wearing Ginny's name and number on their backs.
"Good morning, everyone!" Lee Jordan's voice boomed through the tunnel as the Gryffindor team stood side-by-side with their huge rivals, the Slytherin team.
The gate opened. Harry felt butterflies in his stomach as he mounted his broom and flew out of the gate.
"And here's the Gryffindor team!" Lee Jordan half-shouted into the microphone. "Potter, Ron Weasley, Granger, Finnigan, Thomas, Colin Creevey, Dennis Creevey, wearing Ginny Weasley's number 5 shirt as a sign of respect. Widely known as the best team in Hogwarts in the last 50 years!"
That comment was drowned by boos from the Slytherin end.
"And now the Slytherin team, led by Captain Draco Malfoy! Know to be a very physical side, and many people have said that they are huge cheaters!"
More boos sounded from the Slytherin end.
Harry looked up. He saw about the whole school, bar the Slytherins wearing red and gold. He knew that everyone wanted, and expected them to win.
"And now, the school will observe one minute of silence, in respect of... Ginny Weasley, tragically killed 2 weeks ago."
The Gryffindor team landed and put their hands around each other's shoulder, the whole school suddenly lost the loudness of a typical Quidditch match and became deadly quiet, bar the Slytherin end, who kept up the loud noise. The Slytherin team also stayed in the air, as if in defiance.
"Someone use a Silencing Charm and shut them up!" Ron whispered.
The minute ended. Everyone got on their brooms expect Harry.
"Potter, Malfoy, shake hands." Madam Hooch barked.
Harry grabbed Malfoy's hand so tight that he almost screamed in pain. Malfoy tried to return the favour but was too much in pain to do so.
"Madam Hooch throws the ball in the air, and Granger grabs it! She takes a long shot from the half-way line... AND SHE SCORES!!!! Gryffindor take the lead!"
Harry watched in awe as Hermione, fueled maybe by anger; put a lightning bolt of a shot past the Slytherin keeper from the halfway line.
The match got even better for Gryffindor. The Slytherin Chasers had no chance against the fast-flying Creevey brothers, who intercepted everything thrown at them. Even if they got past them, they could not beat Ron, who was having a fantastic game. Hermione was at her stunt-flying best too. Her passes were from anywhere. In between her legs, behind her back, under her broom etc. Even scoring became such a fun thing to do. The Creevey brothers could do no wrong when it came to shooting. Every shot just whizzed past the Slytherin keeper. Hermione even saw a pass coming from Colin, held her broom with one hand, jumped off and headed the Quaffle past the shell- shocked into the hoop.
"You could play football, man!" Dean said.
20 minutes flew by. Gryffindor were leading 130-0. Harry felt quite safe. The way they were playing, even if Malfoy caught the Snitch, they would still win.
"Malfoy's seen something!" Jordan shouted into the microphone. Harry turned and saw Malfoy diving down onto the ground.
"Damn!" Harry cursed as he chased after Malfoy. Everyone stopped to look at the two Seekers chasing after the Snitch.
Harry was closing in. Malfoy jerked his broom and it accelerated. However, Harry's Firebolt was too fast for it. Soon, they were neck to neck.
"Give it up, Potter!" Malfoy said as he gave Harry a huge bump on the side. Harry fell back. Not wanting to lose to Malfoy, he flew slightly under Malfoy, trying hard to avoid his eyes.
Malfoy stretched out, trying to grab the Snitch. At the same time, Harry jerked his broom up and stretched out at the same time. He felt something warm in his hand as he closed it.
"Harry Potter's got the Snitch!! GRYFFINDOR WINS!!!"
Harry dived down and collapsed on the pitch. In a flash, Hermione swooped down on him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Ron and the rest swooped down and shouted "We've done it!!!" Turning his head, Harry saw Malfoy chuck his broom on the ground in disgust.
In the midst of the huge noise, Harry led his victorious team up the steps, past a grinning McGonagall. They had inflicted the biggest ever score-line in a Hogwarts Quidditch game, 380-0.
Dumbledore handed Harry the huge Quidditch Cup. "For Ginny." Harry said as he raised the huge trophy.
It's not the end yet! Read about what happened after Hogwarts in the next chapter! Pls R&R thanks.