A/N: Well, hello folks, and welcome to a new edition of A Fond Flashback! I won't put all the people who reviewed, as I am doing this in a rush so thanks if you reviewed anyway!
A/N: Sorry if you think this chapter is bad because I found it really hard to write a Quidditch match. Oh yeah, here's a quick guide to the Gryffindor team if you get confused….
Chasers
Ginny Weasley
Billy Boden (6th year)
Harriet Delcatrez (4th year)
Keeper
Ron Weasley
Beaters
Cameron Jacobs (5th year)
Holly Short (5th year)
Seeker
Duh, Harry!
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"Hello and welcome to this year's House Cup Quidditch Final with Gryffindor and Slytherin! My name's Dean Thomas and I'll be your commentator today for what is bound to be a tense and exciting match…"
The entire Gryffindor team were sitting in the dark changing rooms, listening to the cheers and roars of the crowd, who were being revved up by Dean for the day's match. Ginny, Harriet, Ron, Billy, Cameron and Holly were all looking at me as I tried to think of encouraging words of advice.
"Well…ur…today just do your best, and Harriet, remember that move we practiced, duck and weave, duck and weave; use it ok?"
Harriet, a slim fourth year Chaser, nodded and looked at Ginny and Billy, her fellow Chasers, who grinned at her giving her encouragement that she would succeed. Her problem was nerves like Ron, but the Gryffindor's team spirit told her she could do it.
"Right…" I said slowly. "We'd better line up in the tunnel, it's nearly time to start." My stomach churned as I surveyed my team. We had been practicing loads and we were the strongest we had ever been, but Slytherin had the best team money could buy.
Malfoy's father had bought the entire team new brooms, the Storm3000, the latest and fastest racing broom but in my opinion, it isn't a patch on the Firebolt.
I nodded encouragingly at Ron as he passed me on the way out of the doors into the tunnel, looking rather green. Ron always had a problem with performing in front of large crowds, but I was hoping he would overcome his fear today and play his very best.
The rest of the team filed out of the doors until Ginny and I were the only ones left; me, tying up my laces and Ginny looping her hair up into an elegant ponytail.
Ginny…. My stomach leaped as I looked over at her. Even in her red and gold Quidditch robes and boots, she looked fantastic. She always did.
"Well Harry, this is it!" she said smiling, catching my gaze, "We'll flatten Slytherin, we always do; they haven't got a chance. Good luck!"
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. Why couldn't I say something? Anything? How I felt, good luck or even a simple 'thanks'. 'Come on Harry say something!' I urged myself.
I looked up and began, "Ginny, I-"
But she was already gone, her red hair swinging as she passed through the doors into the light rain.
I sighed, irritated with myself. It was my last chance to win the Quidditch Cup for Gryffindor, and here I was, lusting over Ginny!
'Focus, Harry, focus.' I thought.
But even as I pulled on my other boot, thoughts about Ginny strayed into my mind. If we won, Seamus would undoubtedly hold one of his after-Quidditch parties either in the common room or in the Room of Requirement. It would be the perfect time to tell her how I felt…
I tightened my grip on my trusty Firebolt as I headed out of the door. I had a new incentive to win.
As I stepped into the tunnel underneath the stands with the rest of the team, light drops of rain fell softly onto my face, dripping down my cheeks. The team parted as I walked to the front of them and they lined up behind me. The cheers of the crowd was getting louder and louder and I could hear Holly, one of the Beaters, muttering the theory of a Hecklesfield Hit to her partner Beater, Cameron. Cameron and Holly were a great team and were perfect Beaters. Cameron could whack a Bludger all the way up a Quidditch pitch without even breaking a sweat. I had a fine team, handpicked myself, and I knew they wouldn't let me down.
Suddenly the gates at the end of the tunnel open and I heard Dean yelling into the microphone, "And here come the teams!"
I had time for one last shout of good luck over my shoulder before I zoomed out of the tunnel into the bright sunshine of the pitch (the rain had finally stopped! Maybe luck was on my side after all).
I could see Malfoy and the Slytherins coming out on the other side of the pitch on their shiny new brooms.
Malfoy smirked at me as he drew alongside me, carefully displaying the Storm3000 logo.
"Ready to be humiliated, Potter?" he drawled, gesturing at his broom, "Your Firebolt is no match for the Storm3000, but then again, you prefer cheap things don't you? The Weasley girl for example…"
"Why you little-"
"Harry, no he's not worth it!" Ron was holding me back, as I was trying with all my might to leap on Malfoy and rip him to shreds.
Malfoy simply laughed delightedly and flew off to wave and pose for the Slytherin supporters.
I was breathing heavily, seething with rage at Malfoy. How dare he insult Ginny! I glanced at her, who was avidly discussing last minute game plans with Harriet and Billy. She apparently hadn't noticed the commotion, for which I was extremely grateful.
Madam Hooch blew her whistle and shouted, "Captains shake hands please!"
Gritting my teeth, I flew over to Madam Hooch and Malfoy.
Malfoy wasn't smirking anymore, he looked deadly serious and when we shook hands (each of us trying to break the other's fingers). We stared menacingly at each other until he said in a low dangerous voice,
"Scared Potter?"
"You wish." I replied, (A/N: Hooray for movie quotes!) before turning to Madam Hooch who was about to start the game.
"Ok…" she said, as the crowd fell silent, and the players got into position, "3, 2, 1…" she threw the Quaffle up into the air, it rose up and then began to plunge down, "GO!"
And the game had begun.
The Quaffle was taken almost immediately by Billy, his nimble hands quickly lunging for it. He rapidly passed to Ginny, who zoomed speedily down the pitch, dodging several Slytherin players. Goyle, the Slytherin Beater, sent a Bludger hurtling towards her, but she dodged it and carried on. I stopped in mid air and started shouting encouragement at her. I wasn't the only one either.
The crowd was cheering her on and I could hear Ron shouting from the other end of the pitch, "Come on Ginny!"
Frederick Tatum, a Slytherin Chaser, dived at Ginny and tried to grab the Quaffle off her, but just at the right moment, Holly swung her bat and a Bludger knocked straight into Frederick's stomach. He fell back, clutching his stomach and cursing.
Ginny now only had the Keeper to beat, her ponytail flying behind her and Dean was cheering her on, all thoughts of fair commentary forgotten. She drew level with the post and dived to the right hand side. The Keeper, a big muscly not-very-bright Slytherin, quickly flew to the right, but realized too late that Ginny had only been feinting and that she had just threw the Quaffle through the middle of the left hoop.
"YES! GRYFFINDOR 10-0!" yelled Dean, punching the air as the crowd went wild. He quickly backtracked under Professor McGonagall's stern glare. "Well, I'm sure Slytherin will catch up soon…"
The rest of the game passed in a blur. The match was fairly equal, it was fast and furious play. Penalties were given, jeers and taunts were given by Malfoy to all the Gryffindor team and every time we scored, the crowd did a rousing chorus of 'Weasley is our King'. Ron was playing well, he let in a few easy saves to begin with, but after a spectacular save around half time, he got more and more confident.
I meanwhile, was desperately trying to find the Snitch. We were level with Slytherin 50-50 and Malfoy and I were looking harder than ever.
All of a sudden, I saw a tiny glimpse of gold directly underneath me. With a surge of adrenaline, I pushed my Firebolt down and plunged vertically after the Snitch.
"And Potter's seen the Snitch!" yelled Dean, as the crowd turned their attention to me. "But- wait, oh no Malfoy's seen it too!"
I raised my head a fraction as I plummeted down towards the Snitch. Malfoy was coming straight towards me, his hand outstretched, he was so close, I was so close, just one more inch…
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Harry paused. Ron cleared his throat as an indication that Harry should continue. All the children were staring at him, Sirius and James' mouths were wide open.
Harry yawned and stretched. "I'm just going to the loo," he said, standing up.
"What! You can't just leave it there!" said Jane horrified, "Cliff-hangers are so annoying!"
"Dad! I want to know what happened!" said Sirius, "Did you win or not?"
"I'm going to the loo!" said Harry, a hint of a smug grin on his face. Ginny looked up at him, grinning.
"Fancy saying I look good in Quidditch robes!" she said blushing a little, "They're so unflattering!"
"Ginny," said Harry matter of factly, "You look gorgeous in anything, be it a ball gown or a potato sack."
"Yuck!" said Sirius. "I hate it when Mum and Dad are all lovey-dovey like this!" he said to Ron and Hermione.
Harry laughed and went out of the room.
"We'll just have to wait and see what he says when he comes back!" said Ginny, her eyes twinkling as she watched him go.
A/N: So, you likey? I love that quote from CoS, it's so funny! Anyway, REVIEW! PLEASE!