Chapter 14
Gryffindor versus Slytherin
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November meant the first Quidditch match of the school year Gryffindor against Slytherin. Both teams were busy training. Team captains were discussing moves and game positions with their teams. As the game got closer tempers began to fly within the teams.
"Fine!"
"Fine!"
Katie and Angelina shouted at each other as they left the pitch.
Tempers began to rise outside the teams also.
"Watch your back on the pitch Scarhead. Don't fall off your broom Weaslebee."
"Shove off Malfoy, maybe this year you'll remember that you're the Seeker and you might actually go for the little yellow snitch instead of watch it fly by."
Angelina wanted to train every night but Hermione had to remind her that some of the team were doing O.W.Ls and NEWTS and needed to study. Harry was glad Hermione had intervened because he had his Occlumency training with Snape aswell and there was no way Quidditch would be a good enough excuse to miss it.
By the time the weekend finally arrived the team found themselves with so much homework and so exhausted that even the Weasley twins were too tired to make jokes.
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The week of the Quidditch match the weather was going from bad to worse. The rain started Sunday night and the wind got the stronger. Wednesday morning the students and teachers woke to their third day of heavy rain and gale force winds. The castle whistled and as the students went from class to class cloaks were being wrapped tighter and tighter around their bodies.
"That rain better go by Saturday" Ron said as he left the transfiguration classroom, "Its going to be hard enough without the rain and wind distracting us."
"Er! Hermione" Harry asked, "What was that spell you gave me before for keeping the rain off my glasses?"
"Impervius" she answered
"Brilliant, thanks" Harry smiled
The dungeons were freezing, the wind howled and the rain banged off the window of the Potions lab. All the students were shivering but Snape just continued to walk up and down the aisles oblivious to the room tempeture.
Harry felt Snape was more unfair to Gryffindors when his house were playing against them the following Saturday. In one class alone Snape had taken points from Neville because his teeth were chattering too much, from Seamus because he sneezed and he had given his own house points because Malfoy's potion was done faster than Hermione's.
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Everyone thought the week would never end and the weather was making it longer. Angelina was annoyed because training had to be cancelled, she was constantly up and down to the window in the Common room hoping the rain had eased or the wind had died down. This was her first game as Captain and she wanted to make a good impression, Fred pulled her aside and told her to relax,
"When has Harry left the team down?" he said
Harry looked up from his potion's essay when he heard his name mentioned. George looked over to him winked and said,
"No pressure Harry, just catch the Snitch or you'll have Angelina to deal with."
Shaking his head he returned to his essay, but in the corner of his eye he saw Ron doodling on his parchment opposite him.
"Ron, you've been doodling for five minutes, what's the problem?"
Ron stopped scribbling and looked up but didn't raise his head.
"What if I mess up I've never played for the school before, what if it all goes wrong?"
"You wont" Harry whispered back, "You're a brilliant Keeper, just keep focused. Don't leave anyone distract you and you'll do a great job. Trust me. Now you'd better get a clean piece of parchment Snape won't take that piece with your art work on it"
"Yeah! You're right Harry. I have nothing to worry about"
"Anyway" Harry grinned, "It's only the whole school watching, Ginny and oh of course Hermione!"
Ron spilt his ink bottle over the rest of his potions essay.
"Now look what you made me do" he flustered.
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Match day arrived the rain had finally stopped. The weather was cold and a weak sun shone.
"Perfect match day" George said as he sat down for breakfast, "You alright little brother? You look a bit peaky"
"Pre-match nerves" Ginny answered, "He won't eat a thing."
"I'll see you on the pitch" Ron mumbled to Harry as he left the table.
Ron was gone so fast he didn't hear Hermione wish him luck. As Harry went to join his friend he heard someone call his name.
"What does she want?" Hermione said with sharpness in her voice.
"Harry, wait up" the voice called again
"He doesn't need any distractions" Angelina shouted from the table.
Harry turned around and glared at Angelina.
"Hi Cho" he said, "I'm going out to the pitch, walk with me"
Flicking her hair Cho linked Harry's arm and left the hall.
"I don't know what he sees in her" Ginny said and when she felt all eyes were on her she blushed she continued, "Well I don't he could do with someone much better" and returned to her cereal.
Cho and Harry were in deep conversation when the rest of the Gryffindors came out to support their team. Hermione and Ginny tool their seats. The changing tents were just over a bit to the left of where the girls sat and they could hear Cho laughing after every little thing Harry said.
"Well good luck Harry" she said loud enough knowing the other two girls were listening. "I'll see you after the game."
Before walking off to join her classmates she gave Harry a goodluck kiss on the cheek. Harry just stood open mouthed and held his cheek.
"HARRY POTTER" Angelina screamed, "WILL YOU GET IN HERE"
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Finally the teams arrived on the pitch. As Lee Jordan called out the players names the houses cheered. There was a rainbow of red and green scattered all around the stands. Madame Hooch blew her whistle and the Quaffle was released, the game had begun.
Slytherin caught the Quaffle first and as it was passed throughout the team Katie Bell from Gryffindor intercepted.
"It's Knott with the Quaffle, he's got it past Johnson of Gryffindor. He's heading towards Gryffindor's newest Keeper Ron Weasley. Can Ron stop Knott?"
As Lee continued with the commentary Ron began to sweat as he watched Knott fly towards him. He remembered what Harry had said,
"Just remain focused and you'll be fine."
Knott flew closer he had gotten past the rest of the team and there was only Ron left. He took aim and released the Quaffle. Ron waited and as if it was in slow motion he saw the Quaffle and saved the goal. Gryffindor cheered as Slytherin booed Ron's save.
"Great save from Ron, those Weasleys are the best Quidditch players," Lee said, "Of course Gryffindor have a great team, hope they win the House Cup"
"Jordan" McGonagall shouted, but turned away grinning.
"It's Bell heading towards the Slytherin goal, great player, Cute too!. Sorry Professor! And it's a goal. Ten points to Gryffindor."
The crowd erupted Gryffindor had scored.
Harry was hovering higher than the rest of the team, watching out for the tiny golden coloured Snitch. He tried to hear Lee's commentary but the wind made it impossible. He looked to the stands to see if he could spot Cho. He scanned the crowd and his vision suddenly blurred as if he had removed his glasses but they were still there resting on his nose.
"Whoa" he said running his hand through his hair but losing his balance slightly. Harry couldn't focus and he felt dizzy and fear hit him. He had to do something and nervously he rubbed the back of his neck.
"Relax, you're okay, focus. What's the matter with you?" he said to himself. "Stop looking for Cho and concentrate on the game"
He shook his head and everything came back into focus, he heard Angelina call a time out and saw her flying over to him.
"What are you doing?" she yelled, "You've just been hovering there not doing anything, it's only by luck Malfoy hasn't caught the Snitch yet. Will you please hurry up and catch the Snitch; the team are waiting for you so we can end the game."
"Eh..Yeah sorry Angelina, I lost my concentration for a few minutes it won't happen again"
Madame Hooch restarted the game and it wasn't long before Harry caught the Snitch. The crowds cheered, clapped and called out Harry's name but the Gryffindor team were tired and weren't in the party mood they thought Harry could have tried to finish the game sooner.
Back at the changing tents Ron pulled Harry aside,
"What happened out there, you looked totally out of it?"
"I don't know" Harry replied rubbing the back if his neck again as if something was irritating him. "I think I got a panic attack. I couldn't see below me, it was all blurry and I felt as if I wasn't able to fly"
"But you're the best flyer on the team; you showed us that in First Year"
"Yeah, I know Ron; I just don't know what happened. Look I'm fine now, we won the game let's not tell anyone I lost it for a few minutes. If anyone asks I'll make something up, like I saw Cho in the crowd and I got distracted, then I'll promise it won't happen again and everyone will be fine"
Ron looked worried at his friend but nodded his head in approval.
"You sure you are alright?"
"Never better" Harry lied.
Ron grinned, "Now what's all this about you and Cho?"
The two boys laughed as they headed towards their victory party.
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That night in the Common room Dean was telling everyone a story about what Malfoy would have said to his team about the game.
"It happened so fast" Dean continued his dark hair combed back to make it look more like Malfoy and putting on a false posh accent. "I flew towards the golden object, I remained focus, swooped and dived and I desperately thought that I had out smartened Potter. I looked behind me and thought what's going on as I slowly realised Potter had the Snitch. The game was over but I thought I had it"
Seamus interrupted Dean and pretending to be Goyle said, "Had what?"
"The Snitch of course Goyle" Dean answered
Ron crouched his legs and made his voice huskier and pretended to be Crabbe.
"But Draco, you were nowhere near it"
"I realise that now you fool" Dean spat back. "After the game I looked around the stadium to where the teachers were seated and talking about the game and I saw the fleck of gold that I had thought was the Snitch and realised that it was in fact Dumbledore's ring glittering in the sunlight"
Harry burst into applause the three actors took a bow and the common room were in fits of laughter. This continued well into the night and every so often someone would say something about Malfoy being the worst Seeker ever and the room would once more burst into laughter.
It was coming up to one o'clock when McGonagall came through the door dressed in her nightdress and her hair was down compared to during the day when she tied it up in a very tight bun. Ron was sitting on the chair still giggling when McGonagall looked down her nose and said,
"That'll do Mr Weasley."
Ron immediately stopped laughing and the rest of the room knew the party was over.
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end of chapter