Chapter 29

Disclaimer: Harry Potter etc still belongs to JK Rowling, plot still belongs to me.

Author's Note: I think this chapter's going to be a bit of an interim one, while I gather my thoughts ready for the Big Push (which will in some way involve Voldemort, though I'm not sure what he'll do yet). Well here it is.

A/N: I'm running out of material! And I'm trying to plan my triumphant return to writing new stuff with A Silver Locket and Solitatire.

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Due to the events of Saturday, Harry had no time to worry about the Quidditch match. This meant he was not noticeably nervous on Sunday morning, which turned out to be a blessing, as the rest of the Gryffindor team seemed to draw courage from his 'quiet confidence'.

In the end, it had been decided that it was not wise for Sirius to make his first public appearance quite yet, so he was not present. Lupin, however, was up in the teachers' box, wearing red and looking almost deliriously happy.

It was another clear day, this time with a slight threat of drizzle. This did not dampen Harry's spirits, though. As the teams filed onto the pitch in their Quidditch robes, Harry caught the intense grey eyes of Draco, who was sitting on the front row of the Slytherin stands, and they shared a smile. Harry shook hands with the yellow-robed Hufflepuff captain, and the game began.

Within five minutes, Harry had to concede that Hufflepuff had improved since last year. They scored the first two goals, proving that they were not the losers they had once been thought to be.

Hufflepuff were up forty points to zero when something finally happened in the Gryffindors' favour. Two of the canary-yellow Chasers entered the scoring area at once, and a penalty was awarded to Gryffindor. Ginny took the Quaffle and scored Gryffindor's first goal effortlessly. This gave the team new courage, and they soon pulled back to forty – thirty. This was when Harry first saw the Snitch.

It was only a glimpse, a small flash of gold out of the corner of his eye. Harry glanced at Summerby, the other Seeker; he had not seen it. Harry turned to look for the Snitch properly, and established for certain that it was there, just above the ground in front of the Ravenclaw stands. He shot after it, dodging a Bludger as he went. He was only metres away from the Snitch when he suddenly became aware of the other Bludger, whistling in his direction. Harry swerved, and when he regained complete balance, the Snitch had gone.

He cursed himself as he returned to normal flying altitude. His mood was soon lifted, though, as Gryffindor scored four more times, placing them in the lead seventy – forty. At this point, the scarlet Beaters began to work a lot harder, leaving Harry free to search for the Snitch unhindered.

The task did not take long. It was only about five minutes later when he saw it again. This time, it was above his height, not too far away. He chanced a quick glance at Summerby, then headed for the Snitch. As he pursued, the Snitch's tiny wings fluttered and it sped away, towards the ground. Harry had no great desire to hit the ground at high velocity again, so he forced his Firebolt to go even faster. About three seconds later, his fingers closed around the Snitch. He drew it in closer to his body, and descended slowly. The Gryffindor supporters were going wild. When he landed, even Summerby congratulated Harry.

In order to celebrate their comfortable first place in the Quidditch Cup, the rest of the day for the Gryffindors was devoted predominantly to partying in the common room. Several people left mysteriously, reappearing ten minutes later carrying food and drinks, and telling Harry that Dobby said hello.

The party broke up for dinner, although few of the Gryffindors were actually hungry by then. It was only after dinner that Harry managed to escape the revels. He exchanged a significant glance with Draco as he left the Great Hall, and set his course for the Room of Requirement.

"Escaped your adoring fans, then?" Harry had been in the room for several minutes when a sarcastic voice alerted him to the fact he was no longer alone.

"Hi, Draco," he replied, as the blond entered. "I wish they'd leave off, actually. It's getting a little annoying."

"Well, I'm beginning to understand it, to be honest," Draco told him as he sat down. "I was watching you fly today and, much as it galls me to say this, I mean with you being my rival and that, you're seriously good on a broom."

"Aww, thanks, deadly rival," Harry said, grinning.

"Ha ha. Well done today. Slytherin are going to have some catching up to do if we want a chance of getting the Cup."

"Not a hope. You forget Gryffindor have got me."

"You think you're so witty, don't you?" Draco said, but he was smiling.

"Yes, I do rather."

They grinned at each other. At moments like this, Harry felt all their bad times slip away.

It was a happy evening that they whiled away together. All too soon, it was late, and they had to leave.

Harry, Ron and Hermione were a little disconcerted by something on Monday: Snape was almost smiling.

"I've got it!" Ron said suddenly, halfway through breakfast. "He's smiling because someone's died!"

"Ron, don't be stupid," Hermione frowned. "I mean-"

They never did find out what she meant, though, because at that very moment, the post arrived. Hundreds of owls swept into the Great Hall and began dropping parcels and envelopes on people's heads and into their breakfasts.

A package fell in front of Hermione. She seized it and ripped it open, pulling out a copy of the Daily Prophet newspaper. She let out a strangled cry when she read the headline.

"What?" Harry asked. "What is it?"

In response, she simply brandished the paper at him and Ron.

Harry read the headline. "'Sirius Black cleared in shock revelation.' At last, he's free!" He squinted at the corner of the page. "And there's our answer vis-à-vis Snape's smiling fit." He pointed to a tiny piece of writing, about a square centimetre or two in size. "'This would not have been possible were it not for the dedication and skill of Severus Snape, now a member of the Order of Merlin, Third Class.' Good God, they gave him an Order of Merlin for this!"

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Author's Note: Sorry, but I really don't feel like writing more. It's kind of weird around here right now, I can't account for my moods.

A/N: I wonder what was going on when I wrote this... I'll have to find out. Anyhoo, hope you like.