Chapter 6: Sore and Soaring

A/N: Okay, I've finally managed to make a chapter devoted to Quidditch (this is the chapter I was going to write about two chapters ago)! As for the Quidditch captain, Katie, I dunno if she'd still be there in Harry's 6th year- but I couldn't find anything on what year she's in. So, I just went for it...besides, I wouldn't know who else to make as Quidditch captain! So bear with me, read and enjoy...If any of ye know what year she is in, please tell me! I could always make change..Now presenting to you: Chapter Six!

Summer's warm rays were fading and changing into the chill of fall. The Forbidden Forest was a spectacular view of oranges, reds, and yellows. The grass was still an emerald green, while the sky was fading into a purplish-blue hue. Harry looked at the view wearily, as he was still in the Quidditch pitch with his other fellow teammates, practice had been from the start of afternoon to evening. Katie looked into each and everyone's eyes with a piercing look.

"Look, do any of you want to win that Quidditch Cup? The way it's goin' today, it will never happen! None of us are going ANYWHERE until we get the Transylvanian Tackle down! I don't care what it takes, but we've all got to nail it!" There was a load moan of protest.

"Why do we have to learn it? We'd probably end up punching the bloke in the nose anyway!"

"It's nearly impossible to put that move into play!"

"No kidding, we had to send poor Ginny up to the office after Andrew broke and bloodied up her nose!"

"It was only an accident," Andrew replied huffily.

"I think it was on purpose, since she said no when you asked her on a date," Emma Sorensen sniffed. She was a third year, and one of the newer players, taking up the position as a Chaser.

"IT WAS AN ACCIDENT!" Andrew roared, face turning a bright red.

"My, my, what an agressive blighter you are."

"ALRIGHT! Enough! All of you are only wasting your time complaining while we could've learned that tackle!" Katie yelled, but then continued in a more even tone, "Now, let's all kick off in an orderly manner and start practicing this move. Harry, I want you to try to learn the Plumpton Pass, though I don't think it'll be all too difficult for you, would it? You are by far the best Seeker this team has ever had." Katie beamed at him for a few seconds, then returned to her usual state of being on the verge of frustration. "Okay, let's do this! By the way, don't any of you forget that we have a match this weekend! We MUST NAIL THIS MOVE! It'll definitely help to win!"

Ron looked over to Harry. "I didn't know Katie possessed the same spirit Alicia and Oliver had, but I wish she didn't."

Harry nodded in recognition. "Me too. That energy she has is starting to scare me, I'm almost certain I wouldn't want to become captain, somethin' changes you."

It had been around ten o'clock that night when Ron and Harry finally emerged into the common room, Hermione looked up at them from her knitting. "Eh, she's still making those things! She takes it much too seriously, this...spew thing. What would she say if she knew that Dobby has been collecting those things each night?"

"It's about time you two have shown up! Where have you both been for the whole time?" A look of suspicion came upon her face. "You haven't been eating in the kitchens being served by those poor souls bound by the dreaded bonds of wizards! Have you?"

"Nah, we've been at practice for the whole time, though I reckon me 'n Harry should go to the kitchens, since we missed dinner. What do you say, mate?"

"Yeah, I reckon that's about the right thing to do," Harry agreed. He just caught his smile before Hermion could see it- he knew this would greatly bother her.

A bitter look flashed onto Hermione's face. "After a whole afternoon and night of practice, all you two can think about is food! What about your homework? I haven't seen either of you working on that!"

"Ah, that's 'cause we've been practicin' for the match against Ravenclaw this weekend." Ron added, "You'll be there to see me play, won't you?"

Hermione's face softened. "Of course I will." Harry turned his head away and sighed. It was still awkward to have your two best friends seeing each other. After a brief silence (and Hermione and Ron smiling rather fondly at the other), Hermione sighed and continued, "All you two can think about is your stomachs and Quidditch. Why is that? I don't know how I am even friends with you both! You know, I could always stop helping with your homework!"

Ron said indignantly, "You couldn't bloody well do that to us! I mean, look at us! A man has to feed himself when he is hungry, and play aggressively in sports! Especially Quidditch! And if you stopped helping us with our homework, we would get an incredibly low score on our O.W.Ls and never succeed in life! Is that what you want to do, 'Mione?"

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "So you boys, or I'm sorry- men, can feed yourselves and play aggressively in sports, but you can't show some responsibility and do your own homework? Wow, you both are quite manly."

Even Harry had to laugh after seeing the look on Ron's face, Hermione was barely holding in her own mirth. Ron jutted his chin out, and said airily, "Well, no need to stick around and hear both of you laughing. I say it's quite the right time to go and eat." With this Ron sharply turned around and stalked out of the common room, the tips of his ears a bright red. As he left, the Fat Lady said angrily, "How many times must I unhinge myself? You just walked in naught but ten minutes ago!" Ron said nothing, but the tips of his ears (if even possible) became an even brighter red.

It was two days later, a beautiful, chilly Saturday morning in the Great Hall. Harry ate nothing but a bite of toast, as he felt a fluttering sensation in his stomach, which was usual with an upcoming Quidditch match at hand. Harry looked across the table at Ron, to see that Ron's face had taken a pale green hue. He ate nothing, as he said to Hermione, "-best if I don't eat something, or I'll chuck it up. I hope I've improved with my Keeper skills, I wasn't all that good the previous year. You think I'll do fine?" Hermione said nothing, but put on an encouraging smile, taking Ron's hand and squeezing it tightly. It made Harry wish he had someone to encourage him that way too. In speaking of which, where was Jacoba anyway? He looked over to the Ravenclaw table, and scanned everyone down. He couldn't spot her. He wondered where she was.

"Hmm..." Harry murmered. He looked around the whole of Great Hall, but still didn't see her.

"I suppose you're looking for that new Jacoba girl? If you are, she's in the Quidditch pitch, perhaps in the changing rooms. She's a Quidditch player, you know." Harry turned his head to the person sitting next to him, it was Lavender Brown, along with Parvati Patil giggling in the background.

Although he was surprised that Jacoba was in the Ravenclaw Quidditch team (great, now what!), Harry was still slightly annoyed by how those two happened to know who he was looking around for. He didn't show it, however. Or at least tried not to. "How do you figure I'm looking for her? Maybe I just like to...look around a bit." It irritated him more as Lavender and Parvati giggled even harder. "It helps by keeping your mind off of Quidditch, you know. You get a lot of nerves." He added this lamely.

Still giggling, Parvati said, "Oh, so you're not another one looking around for her like half of the other boys in the school, are you?" Harry was saved an answer, for Katie stood up and nodded to the other Quidditch players, meaning it was time to head on out. Harry got up and then caught up with Ron, his face still a bit pale. He had a distant look on his face. "Are you okay?" Harry asked.

"I'm fine! Hermione and I- er- just...had our first kiss." Ron turned a bright red in the face.

Harry opened the entrance hall door, stepping out onto the grounds. "I see, that's great, mate! How d'you feel?"

"Do you really mean that? Anyhow, I felt- still feel...pleasant-like. You know that feeling?"

"I've..felt that way once." This was followed by an awkward silence, as they neared the Quidditch pitch.

Reaching their destination, they entered the locker rooms and silently changed into their scarlet and gold uniforms. The colors of a bold Gryffindor. Although, none in the room felt brave at that particular moment- all felt nervous. Katie stood tall, standing with no expression to appearance. She said, "Alright, this is our first match of the year. It's against Ravenclaw, we've beaten them time after time- but they can prove to be a formidable bunch. But if we stick to our forms, and play like we've been practicing, then we are sure to win! No doubt! So let's go out there and show who we Gryffindors are known to be!" This rousing speech made everyone a bit more confident.

Walking out into the breeze, Harry could see the familiar tremendous crowd. Madam Hooch stepped up to Katie and Michael Corner, the Ravenclaw Captain. "Captains shake hands," Madam Hooch implied, then, after they had, "Mount your brooms." On the shrill cry of her whistle, all the players and balls flew up into the air. Harry looked at the players, noticing for the first time that Jacoba was a Beater. He didn't really think she was Beater material, but that thought was blown away after she struck a Bludger with a loud THWACK! and zoomed all too close to Harry's liking as it narrowly missed his head.

After that excitement, Harry flew around, scanning the sky for a glint of gold, occasionally dodging bludgers and listening to the new commentator- who happened to be Colin Creevy.

"Now it's Sorensen, she whizzes past Corner- and throws it to...Harry Potter is flying slowly around the pitch, on the search for the Snitch, wait? Does he see it? Nope, he only dodges a flying Bludger, hit by Dregon. Close call Harry! Now he continues to look about, and look! He's flying downwards- I think he's seen it- WAIT! He's feinting! He even got Ravenclaw's Seeker pelted into the ground! Haha, nice one! Now wha-"

"CREEVY! This game is more than about Harry! Start commentating about MORE than him!" McGonagall said hotly.

Colin said in protest, "But Harry's the most interesting player on the field! No one wants to hear about-"

"GIVE ME THAT MICROPHONE!" After a short while, McGonagall wrestled the microphone out of Colin's hands.

"The Quaffle goes to Goldstein, who makes it to the hoops...he shoots- and Ron Weasley blocks the goal! Well done! Score is still 20-10!

Harry averted his attention back to the field. They were still ahead of Ravenclaw, but he didn't want to take any chances. He searched for the Snitch with much more vigor. What was that noise? Harry scanned the crowd- and knew right away what it was. It appeared that Luna had made another hat- this one the shape of a raven cawing boldly aloud. You could even tell that it could fly and zoom around her head. "But who knows with Luna, she could've just gotten a real raven and perched it atop her head."

"Ravenclaw scores, 20-20." It was Colin Creevy back as commentator, after a few stern words with Professor McGonagall.

"Now it's Bell with the Quaffle, she's almost nearing the goal hoops...OUCH! That's gotta hurt! Bell pulveriszed by a Bludger, hit by Lawrence...Quaffle intercepted by Corner, look how he flys! That guy has some skill! He nears the goal hoops, Weasley stops at the middle hoop- but misses." A groan in the Gryffindor crowd, cheers in Ravenclaw. "S core is now 30-20.

Harry's keen eyes finally found the speck of gold he was looking for, it was hovering above Michael Corner's shoulder. Harry cautiously flew forward. Once Corner turned away from him, Harry instantly put on an extra burst of speed. Jacoba noticed Harry and the Snitch, so finding a Bludger, she swung and let it fly. Harry turned just in time and swerved- but the Bludger collided into his stomach, taking the wind out of him.

"NO! Harry Potter is winded out by that Bludger, hit by Lawrence! Evil bloody little-"

"COLIN!"

"Er, yeah- but look! What is that bulge moving around in Harry's sleeve? HE'S GOT IT! HE GOT THE SNITCH!"

Sound erupted from the Gryffindors. Everyone flew down, and then ran and hugged Harry. "Ouch! Er, please don't hug tightly," Harry held onto his stomach, it felt bruised, and it looked like he had broken a few ribs as well.

"Blimey, Harry! You did it, you nailed the Plumpton Pass! AND you did it while attacked by a Bludger!" Ron said this, impressed.

"I did-"

"HARRY! Well done! Are you okay? Great job! It's hard to do the Plumpton Pass, I think you're the first to do it after Roderick Plumpton himself! Excellent!"

"But-"

"Nice job, Harry," Jacoba said, managing a small smile. "Sorry for knocking you around with that Bludger so hard. Nice pass, by the way."

"It was...nevermind. Thanks," Harry said, weakly. Jacoba merely nodded and headed toward the locker rooms. After awhile, Harry managed to escape all of the appraises people were giving him. He hadn't even done it on purpose, more of a...once in a lifetime thing. "Oh well, if Jacoba was impressed herself, then what's wrong with a bit of lying? Not like I was bragging or anything..." He had completely forgotten being hit by the Bludger, until up in the common rooms had Ron reminded him.

"Not only are you skillful with a broom, but you're invincible, too! You haven't mentioned once how bad you must be hurting.."

"What? Oh, thanks, I was quite content without that reminder. Come to think of it, I may need to go to the hospital wing."

"And you made it all this way without remembering how much you hurt?" Hermione asked, eyebrow raised.

"Er...yes," Harry said, lamely.

Hermione sighed. "Well come on then, let Ron and I take you down there. Great job today, by the way- you too, Ron! You got be- eh, have been playing as well as last year!"

"I hope that's a good thing," Ron muttered, under his breath.

"Trust me, it is."

A/N: Alrighty, I will TRY to get the next chapter done faster! (heh, I always say that, so don't hold me over it . )