Chapter Thirty Seven

The Wish, The Snitch & The Fool

April 1st came like a whirlwind before anyone knew it fourteen players were heading out to the Quidditch pitch for what they hoped would be a promising game. The stands where filled with supporters, both students and professors alike. Madam Hooch was refereeing. She stood in the middle of the field waiting for the two teams, her broom in her hand.

"Now, I want a nice fair game, all of you," she said, once they were all gathered around her. Harry noticed that she seemed to be speaking particularly to the Slytherin Captain. "Mount your brooms, please."

Harry climbed onto his Nimbus Two Thousand Five. Madam Hooch gave a loud blast on her silver whistle. Fifteen brooms rose up, high into the air. They were off.

"The Quaffle is taken immediately by Ginny Weasley of Gryffindor, she's really moving along up there, passing to Katie Bell, back to Weasley, BLOODY HELL, the Slytherins have taken the Quaffle, Slytherins Captain gains the Quaffle and off he goes, he's going to score, no, stopped by an excellent move by Gryffindor Keeper Ron Weasley and the Gryffindors take the Quaffle. A clear field ahead for Demelza and off she goes dodging a speeding Bludger heading for the goal posts. Slytherins Keeper dives and misses, GRYFFINDOR SCORES!"

Gryffindor cheers filled the air, with moans from the Slytherins. When Demelza had scored, Harry had done a couple of loop-the-loops to let off his feelings. Now he was back to staring around for the Snitch. A Bludger decided to come pelting his way, more like a cannonball than anything, but Harry dodged it and Jimmy came chasing after it.

"All right there, Harry?" he had time to yell, as he beat the Bludger furiously toward Draco

"Slytherin in possession," Jordan was saying, "Wait a moment, was that the Snitch?"

Harry saw it. In a great rush of excitement he dived downward after the

streak of gold. Slytherin Seeker Draco Malfoy had seen it, too. Neck and neck they hurtled toward the Snitch. Harry dodged another Bludger, which went spinning dangerously past his head, that when it happened. For a split second, he thought he was going to fall. He gripped the broom tightly with both his hands and knees. Lee was still commentating but it was too late the Snitch had disappeared.

"Slytherin in possession"

Harry put on a burst of speed and zoomed toward the other end of the pitch. Higher and higher Harry climbed; he looped and swooped, spiraled, zigzagged, and rolled. Searching for the lost Snitch, He soared around the stadium, squinting around for the Snitch, listening all the while to the commentary.

"Gryffindor in possession, Katie Bell of Gryffindor, heading for goal, Score!

She slams it past Slytherins Keeper making the score Gryffindors thirty to Slytherins Twenty."

Harry dropped lower, narrowly avoiding a Slytherin Chaser, scanning the field for a glint of gold. He saw it, the Snitch was circling the Gryffindor goal. Harry accelerated, his eyes fixed on the speck of gold ahead, gaining on the Snitch with every second. Harry could see Draco out of the corner of his eye. He was right behind him also in pursuit of the golden ball. They were no more then five feet from the ground when they both came up only a few feet from the Snitch. Harry adjusted himself on his broom slowly standing up on it with his arms out for balance. Edging forward he reached his hand out coming up only inches short of his goal. Draco was gaining and he was not about to let him win. Taking a deep breath he dived forward off his broom, closing his hand around the tiny golden ball before landing on the ground in a roll. Pulling himself to his feet he held his hand high, a smile upon his face. Jordan was yelling over the screaming crowd that Gryffindor had won. His teammates where landing around him, slapping his back and congratulating each other. Harry looked at Draco, he was near tears as he was ushered away with his team. They felt like fools and everyone knew it. Harry could not help letting out a whoop of joy, Ron had got his wish.