Disclaimer: I do not own anything excpet several made-up chracters and the plot. J.K. Rowling owns everything else.

Author's Note: This chapter is longer, enjoy!

Chapter Four

The First Game

The next few months passed with difficulty. The homework pile for the trio was increasing in height and difficulty. When December arrived, Harry was spending all of his spare time doing homework or practicing Quidditch, since the first match was drawing near. He went to bed exhausted every night, the though of another bad day ahead of him fresh in his mind.

On the morning of the first Quidditch came. Many Slytherins jeered at him as he passed them on the way to breakfast.

Harry was greeted at breakfast by cheering from the Gryffindor table. Even the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs joined in. Ignoring the booing coming from the Slytherin table, Harry walked to the table with a new spring in his step.

Harry was very confident in the team. Ron was getting over his fear of crowds. Ginny, Dean, and Katie were working great together and Victor and Walter were excellent, but not as good as the Weasley Twins.

Harry at his breakfast exceptionally fast and walked over to the Quidditch Pitch with Ron, who looked paler than usual. After changing, Harry went over the strategies and plays with team. He also gave a little prep talk. Then it was time to go down to the field.

It was a cool crisp day. The skies were cloudy and a little sun was peeking through. Not ideal conditions, but it would do. He went forward to shake the captains, Randolph Claude, hand. It felt like Claude was trying to break his hand, but Harry didn't flinch.

At Last, it was time to play. At Madame Hooch's whistle, they were off. Felling the wind whistle through Harry's messy hair made Harry feel like he was right where he supposed to be. He stopped in mid-air to watch the game.

((A/N: Here is the list of players for the Slytherin and Gryffindor team.))

Slytherin:

Keeper: Randolph Claude (Captain)

Seeker: Draco Malfoy

Beater: Vincent Crabbe

Beater: Gregory Goyle

Chaser: Timothy Schwartz

Chaser: Andrew Gander

Chaser: David Esters

Gryffindor:

Keeper: Ronald Weasley

Seeker: Harry Potter (Captain)

Beater: Walter Punning

Beater: Victor Fleming

Chaser: Dean Thomas

Chaser: Ginny Weasley

Chaser: Katie Bell

((Okay, back to the story.))

Gander had the Quaffle and was streaking towards Ron. He threw it and… Ron saved!

Harry looked behind at Malfoy, who was tailing him. Malfoy's usual smirk was gone. He was watching Ron coldly.

Fifteen minutes later, it was fifty to thirty, Gryffindor. Harry was confused. Why hadn't he seen the Snitch yet?

The crowd cheered and booed. Ron had let yet another Quaffle in. Fifty to forty, Gryffindor still in the lead.

Harry could see Ron was getting nervous. Ron was making jumpy motions on hi broom. Schwartz had the Quaffle now and threw it at Gryffindor's hoops. Ron… missed again. Fifty to fifty, tied.

But Katie had the Quaffle now and was racing towards the Slytherin's hoops. She was about to throw the Quaffle in…

WHAM!

A Bludger had hit her right in the stomach. Thoroughly winded, Katie somersaulted messily off her broom and fell down below.

Still with shock, Harry watched in horror as Katie landed on the ground. His best Player was unconscious. Watching people take Katie to the hospital wing, Harry knew he had to find the snitch. Fast.

Looking around, he saw something golden, but, with disappointment, found that it was only Dean's watch. Harry flew a little lower with Malfoy right on his tail. He saw no sign of the Snitch.

And there it was, flying gloriously at the tips of the grass below. Harry dived right at it, but remembering Malfoy, he streaked right past it.

At about twenty feet away from the snitch, Harry swerved into a sharp turn and raced toward the Snitch, leaving a confused Malfoy behind. Then Harry did a somersault very similar to Katie's onto the ground, catching the Snitch in the progress.

"AND A SPECTACULAR PLAY BY HARRY POTTER!" the unfamiliar voice rang throughout the stadium. Cheers erupted around Harry. The Gryffindor team landed around Harry and starting jumping up and down, cheering. The Slytherin team landed. Most of them threw down their brooms in disgust and disappointment.

In the Great Hall, Harry had received many compliments on his performance while he was eating his dinner.

And then, to his shock, Hailey came up to him, beaming. "That was an amazing save, Harry."

Blushing Harry attempted a smile. It felt more like a strain. "Twanks."

Hailey looked at him strangely.

"I meant thanks, thanks." Harry said, flushing in color.

"Oh." Hailey said. "You know, I don't play Quidditch, afraid of heights. I probably wouldn't be good at it even if I wasn't." She looked at the ground.

"I'm sure-"

"Hailey, "Hermione interrupted." I haven't seen in so long!"

While they caught up, Harry looked down at his plate in disappointment and annoyance. Hailey and Hermione finished their conversation. "Well, see you around." Hailey said, waving at them.

"See you…" Harry said, but Hailey was already walking off into the distance.

Draco Malfoy was looking at the Gryffindor table. He saw Potter Boy talking to a girl he didn't know. He saw her walking off. He saw Potter goggling at her as she went away. Draco was thing. Thinking of a plan…

Ooh! What is thinking of? Review!