Chapter 21
The Quidditch Cup
I woke up the next morning and went straight for my Quidditch robes. I pulled them on quickly and went into the bathroom to brush my teeth and pull my hair up.
Today was very important. Today I was playing Ravenclaw for the Quidditch Cup.
I slid down the banister to the common room and waited for Pansy to get downstairs.
"PANSY HURRY UP!" I yelled up the stairs "I WANT TO EAT BREAKFAST BEFORE THE MATCH!"
"CALM YOURSELF, I'M COMING!" Pansy yelled running down the stairs "Let's go."
…
Pansy and I were greeted by a clear buzz of the school. Everyone was anxious for a good match.
I plopped myself in between Monique and Draco and grabbed a piece of toast "Hey, Blaise." I said to my team mate.
"Hey, Han." Blaise replied grabbing a piece of bacon.
I followed suite and turned to Monique "Well?"
Monique squealed and hugged me "YOU LOOK GREAT! I taught you well!"
"Whatever." I said, biting hard into my bacon.
Draco grabbed my upper arm "Nervous?" he asked.
"Yeah."
"Don't be, Han." Rose said biting into her toast "You're pretty good."
I smiled "Thanks Rosie." I said, finishing my bacon.
"POTTER!" Flint yelled "Let's go, we have a match to win!"
I got up "Let's go, Blaise." I said, getting up behind Rose. "I'll finish that." I added, taking Rose's toast and biting into it.
"LUCK HAN!" Ivy, Hermione and Ron shouted. Harry was nowhere to be seen.
Probably still in bed. I thought.
"THANKS, GUYS!" I yelled back as I left the Hall.
…
Flint started with the usual pre-game pep talk.
"All right, we're here. The final match. If we win, we win the Quidditch Cup. And I know we'll win. We have three great Chasers." he said, pointing to Selwyn, Dolohov and me. "My perfect Seeker." he stated, beaming at Higgs "A superb Keeper." he nodded to Black "And us." he gestured to Blaise and himself.
"So together, we can obviously win! So let's do that!" Flint finished, flashing us all a look as if to say "or else."
We walked out onto the pitch and I looked up into the crowd. Ivy, Hermione and Ron were sitting together. I tried to look for Harry, but we were told to mount, so I didn't have time.
Hooch released the balls and we were off. Some Ravenclaw Chaser had the Quaffle first, and lost it to a well aimed Bludger by Blaise.
"Nice whack, Blaise!" I said, turning to him.
"Thanks, I try!" Blaise replied.
I flew up to Selwyn, who now had the Quaffle.
"LUCY!" I yelled.
Selwyn passed me the Quaffle and I headed for the Ravenclaw Keeper and threw it.
"POTTER SCORES!" Jordan yelled into the intercom "Ten-nil Slytherin!"
The Slytherins roared as I clenched a fist in triumph.
"Good going, Han." Blaise said, patting me on the back.
"Thanks!" I said, flying over to another Ravenclaw Chaser, who had the Quaffle "Blaise!" I said, pointing to her.
"Right!" Blaise said, whacking a Bludger going for Dolohov and aimed for the Chaser, nearly knocking her off her broom, and the Quaffle out of her hand.
I swiped it into my hands and yet again threw it at the Ravenclaw Keeper. The Keeper tried to block it, but he missed.
"POTTER AGAIN!" Jordan yelled "Twenty-nil!"
…
Another half hour of this, with virtually no sign of the Snitch. Ravenclaw was coming back with a vengeance, but we were a stronger unit, Dolohov, Selwyn and I.
The score was, however close. One hundred and eighty for us, and one hundred and sixty for the Ravenclaws.
I was right where Flint's game plan said I should be, to the right of the Ravenclaw hoop when I saw a flash of gold flutter past my ear.
"TERRY-ANNE!" I hollered "THE SNITCH!"
Higgs jolted up from the action and looked at me "WHICH WAY!"
I pointed towards Flint "THAT WAY!" I yelled.
Higgs was off like a rocket, flying past Flint and Dolohov before the Ravenclaw Seeker, I think her name was…Cho Chang, caught on and started after her.
Chang caught on too late. Higgs took a graceful dive and swiped the Snitch in her hand.
"HIGGS CATCHES THE SNITCH!" Jordan yelled miserably through the intercom "SLYTHERINS WIN!"
I screamed in triumph as I dismounted. I pulled Higgs into a large hug.
"WAY TO GO!" I yelled.
The Slytherins were ecstatic, flooding the pitch as I let go of Higgs and gave her to Flint.
Flint kissed her.
I gaped "FLINT KISSED-!" I started.
"Shut up!" Flint said, wrapping a hand over my mouth, his face blushing.
Draco pulled me off of Flint, picked me up and spun me around.
"You played GREAT!" Draco yelled as he hugged me.
Just as I was about to say something, Flint nudged me and handed me the Quidditch Cup.
"You redeemed yourself from that first match, Potter." he told me, smiling.
I smiled back and took the Cup from his hands "WOO!" I yelled.
I was elated. I got my name on the Quidditch Cup.
…
My elation was cut short when Ivy, Hermione and Ron came up onto the pitch after much celebration in the change room.
"Hey guys!" I said, hugging each of them in turn.
"Hi, Han." Ivy said solemnly "Congrats on winning the Quidditch Cup."
"Thanks." I said, still smiling "Where's Harry?"
Nobody said anything.
"Where's Harry?" I asked again.
This time it was Ron who spoke.
"I hate to put a damper on your celebration, but…Harry's in the hospital wing, Quirell tried to kill him."
The smile was wiped off my face "What?" I asked.
"Come on, we'll take you to him, then let you go celebrate in your common room."
…
Our walk to the hospital wing was silent, I was still in my Quidditch robes, I hadn't gotten around to change during the celebration. But there wasn't a need to celebrate until I saw:
"HARRY!" I yelled, relieved.
Harry was sitting up in bed, a large pile of candy on a bedside table.
"Hey, sis." Harry said weakly, then glancing at my Quidditch robes "How was the match?"
"We won!" I said, suddenly celebratory again, running up and hugging my brother.
"Congratulations!" Harry said.
"Your brother is right. Congratulations are indeed in order." The voice of Professor Dumbledore said behind me. I was patted on the back.
"Oh, hello, sir." I said, turning around "What's happened to Harry?"
"I think I and I alone can answer that." Harry said "Have a seat, Han."
I pulled up a chair and lounged in it "Ok, I could use a good story."
Then Harry explained how wrong he was about Professor Snape. He wasn't trying to nick the Stone, it was Professor Quirell, who had been possessed by Voldemort. But Quirell couldn't touch him, well he could, but it caused him a lot of pain.
"So Quirell's dead?" I asked.
Dumbledore nodded "And the Stone has been destroyed."
I gasped "But, professor, don't Nicholas and his wife need the Stone to stay alive?"
Dumbledore nodded "But they really are ready for death. It's like to them going to bed after a very, very long day. But now isn't the time for that. Don't you have a celebration to go to in the Slytherin dungeons?"
