The Fourth Game


The first game had been a surprise to most. When Ravenclaw and Gryffindor had taken to the pitch, with Lee Jordan commentating, the stands had been mostly empty. No one had expected it when Quidditch had been called off for the year. The commentary soon drew a crowd of cheering students though, interspersed with their visitors as well.

But coming off a victory the year before, the Gryffindors had proven why, dominating the match from beginning to end. Harry had smiled at Cho as she shook his hand post-game, but when Hermione had nearly knocked him off his feet afterwards, the grin on his face could have lit the entire UK.

Never had she had a better idea than simply arranging for the Quidditch teams to show up at the pitch as they'd have normally been scheduled. Slytherin had of course refused, but the Claws had been thrilled. And so the new draw had been hashed out. The Tournament be damned.

After the match, a gruff-looking Durmstrang student had stepped out and the crowd had gone silent. Viktor Krum made a suggestion, and it had sent shockwaves throughout the school. Whoever took the Quidditch victory for the year, he'd arrange an exhibition match. Against the Bulgarian team.

As a result, the second match was no surprise to anyone. When Hufflepuff and Gryffindor took to the field, it was the most intense game ever seen between the two teams. The previous year was clearly on the minds of all playing, and this time there were no Dementors.

But now there was the added tension of the two seekers being Champions in the Tournament as well. The match was gruelling and Gryffindor's new keeper had struggled against the reformed chaser lineup of the badgers, but the Flying Foxes had proven their mettle, keeping the match to within two goals throughout.

Cedric had smiled and shaken hands with Harry gleefully afterwards. Though Harry had taken the Snitch from him, Hufflepuff had made a resounding showing for their part, keeping the scores nearly level until the seekers decided the game for good. Both Champions seemed very content with their performances, and the lack of any bad blood between them brought a lot of the school around where Harry and the Tournament were concerned.

But Harry had seemed impervious to their desire to apologize, as he had one last thing on his mind that needed doing. He wrapped the charging Hermione up in his arms as she leapt at him in her usual post-game hug, but this time she nearly fell off him in shock as he whispered something in her ear.

No one else heard what was said, but Hermione went bright red and nodded profusely before the two vanished for the rest of the afternoon.

The third match for Gryffindor was brutal. Slytherin had learned of the exhibition and had played their dirtiest season to date. None could recall a more vicious showing as more penalties were given out than in any non-professional match any of the crowd had ever seen.

Blood dripped all over the green grass far below from bludger wounds and bloodied noses. There were two broken arms on the Gryffindor team and Harry smirked at the odd way three of the Slytherins were mounted on their brooms, having been subject to swift reprisal from the Twins' aim. The odd seating slowed those players to the point they were basically a non-issue, but still, the battle raged.

Twice Draco had shown an ounce of ability at his role and had nearly taken the snitch, but Harry had managed to keep him from succeeding so far. Now he was on his own mission as he had seen the glint from the far end of the field. On a straight-out sprint, Draco would never hope to catch his Firebolt, but the annoying prat was between Harry and the ball. He just needed the right distraction…

At exactly the right moment, a bludger cut across Draco's face, ruining his pompous nose and giving Harry the break he needed to swerve around the fool. Now, centimetres above the deck of the pitch, Harry roared along, eyes fixed on the tiny glimmering ball that would end the suffering, and bring them the victory.

The Slytherin keeper noted his approach and dived to ruin his chances, but the other boy was no seeker and had totally missed the fact that their move had spurred the snitch to climb. By the time Harry was closing on the goalposts, the snitch was well above the falling keeper, and the Gryffindor Chasers had capitalised on the foolish move as well.

If they scored, and he nabbed the snitch… Harry's fingers closed on the tiny ball as Lee Jordan screamed that Gryffindor had scored, meaning they had officially garnered enough points to take the Championship for the second year straight. The two close matches with Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff had made a points victory a requirement.

Harry didn't bother landing this time, he headed straight for the person he most wanted to see and she launched at him the moment he was in range. Hanging there, toes barely grazing the stands amidst a sea of red and gold, Hermione wrapped her arms about Harry and snogged him hard. The cheers that rose dominated even the cheering that had been heard through the match.

Ever since the Yule Ball, Harry had wanted to do that, and now their relationship was in the open for all to see. Harry lifted Hermione up onto the broom, side-saddle in front of him as he waved to the crowd and the pair soared off, heading for the Astronomy Tower. When they joined the others in the common room several hours later, the party was still going strong, and the pair looked very dishevelled.

The fourth match was tinged with sorrow. Cedric Diggory was dead. Lord Voldemort had returned from his wraithlike exile. At least the Ministry had taken Harry seriously, and were working to move against the revived Dark Lord. But Krum had been adamant. They would play in Cedric's honour.

As a concession, Hogwarts had fielded a mixed team. Hufflepuff's iron-handed keeper had joined a mostly Gryffindor lineup to begin, but throughout the match against the Bulgarian national team, several others were subbed in and out throughout. The match was fairly one-sided regardless. A bunch of kids weren't going to dominate a professional level team. But the event itself was enough for most. A reprieve of normalcy after the Tournament and the bittersweet ending it had received.

Harry had the most challenging match of his life. Krum on a broom was a very different beast to the one he'd sparred with on the ground. It had been a pure chance shot by George that had allowed him to repeat Viktor's effort from the summer before, snatching defeat by grabbing the snitch while the Hogwarts squad was twenty goals down.

The crowd went ballistic. Loss or not, their man had caught the snitch. He had beaten world-renowned Viktor Krum. His fellow seeker immediately offered his congratulations, the pair shaking hands in mid-air. An image that would cover the front page of every magical newspaper in the world for the next month, until it would be removed to make way for news about the battles and deaths.

But for one brief moment, those who were first to feel its touch for a sign that life might turn out ok after all.