Beta: None
Original Release Date: 6/18/16
Disclaimer: I do not own anything in the canon Harry Potter universe or any other universe.
Chapter Fifty – End of Third Year Part One
Entering through the portrait hole, Harry takes just a few steps into the common room before being confronted by Wood, "Potter, you're watching the Ravenclaw and Slytherin game this Saturday."
"Is that a question or a statement?" answers Harry confused.
"I'm merely telling you what is happening" answers Wood before ascending the stairwell to the men's dormitories.
Sighing, Harry takes a seat in one of the armchairs near the fire and begins work on his Potions essay, briefly noting the sparse amount of students in the room.
/*days later on Saturday*/
Sitting beside Wood, Harry feels his watch vibrate and checks it, seeing a black dot labeled 'SS' nearing the red dot with 'HP' above it. Watching the numbers as they slowly go from 45 to 40, with the single word 'meters' beside the number.
"Potter, watch Chang, Ravenclaw's seeker" states Wood nudging Harry in the ribs, bringing Harry's attention back to the game.
Turning his attention back to the newly started match, Harry watches as Ravenclaw takes control and starts flying towards the Slytherin goal posts. Dutifully listening to Wood's running commentary regarding the play style of Ravenclaw, Harry finally exclaims, "Alright, I get it Wood. We're going to keep on our toes when we play Ravenclaw in a month or so. Just stop obsessing over everything."
Forty some minutes later as Ravenclaw wins fifty points ahead of Slytherin, Wood speaks tersely to Harry, "Have a chance to win the House Cup at least", before striding out of the box seats, and quickly descending the circular staircase to the ground.
Rolling his eyes, Harry makes his way alone back to the common room, grabbing his school bag and sitting down in a corner to begin studying.
"Divination is so boring" moans Ron taking a seat across from Harry.
"I agree with you Ron, but there isn't much we can do at this point to get out of it at this point. Just have to survive through fifth year and then we can leave Divination alone" answers Harry, withdrawing his History of Magic essay out of his bag.
"I wish we had less work to do" remarks Ron also retrieving his History of Magic essay.
"It just gets harder from here on oh lazy brother of mine" chimes in a familiar voice from behind Ron.
Rolling his eyes and sighing, Ron skims over his essay, thinking over how to continue. Several long and nearly silent minutes later, Ron remarks quietly, "Might need some help. What do you think, Harry?"
Without looking up from his work, Harry answers, "I suggest the library and reading the textbook. You might find more on Goblins there."
"Can't I just take a look at yours and get some ideas?"
"No. Just look over yours, read a few books, take notes on what you read and where to find interesting tidbits, and then continue with your essay. That's how I write mine" answers Harry firmly.
"Not even a peek?" asks Ron meekly.
"Nope. I'll talk with you about similar points we might have however, once you've finished writing it" answers Harry finishing up his essay.
Later that evening Harry scrolls through the multiple screens of applications for several moments before muttering, "Need a way to group similar applications together."
As the days pick up speed and fly by, the final Quidditch match of the year looms ever closer, bringing Wood to a demanding practice schedule for the Gryffindor Quidditch team.
"Nightly practices…he's a maniac. Especially with our O.W.L.s coming up" mutters Fred to George as they head back to the castle, faint light from the stadium coming from behind.
"He probably wants to leave Hogwarts with the Quidditch Cup for his last year" remarks Harry arriving at the twins side.
"Doesn't mean he has to be so gung-ho about it. Doesn't he have N.E.W.T.s to study for?" adds Harry.
"Sure does. But when does he have time to study for them? Does he even sleep?" answers George thoughtfully.
"I'm not certain. He could have access to muggle drinks that have caffeine, but I don't think he knows how or where to obtain them at. Although…Sirius could be a source of them. We could check the sales records to see what is being purchased and see if there are a lot of sales of drinks like RedBull" remarks Harry.
"And if that hasn't been explored as an option for sales, it might be an interesting one" suggests Fred.
"But remember there are limits to how many you should have per day. I think that finding new outlets of money for the business should be on the back burner. Let's focus on our education and helping others out before worrying about finances" states Harry as he and the twins enter the Entrance Hall.
/*game day of Gryffindor vs Ravenclaw*/
Carrying his Firebolt over his left shoulder, Harry enters the Great Hall setting it down beside him on the wooden bench before finally, and somewhat reluctantly, on the table at Wood's insistence.
"Right there Potter. Exactly " states Wood with a smile as students begin to gather around the Gryffindor table.
"This feels somewhat like gloating Oliver, and I don't really like it" states Harry firmly exchanging a look with Wood.
"I understand Potter, but it's harder to hex it in plain sight than if it is sitting beside you where it is much harder to keep an eye on it" answers Wood firmly but neutrally.
Exhaling somewhat loudly, Harry says nothing and continues to eat a moderate meal. Twenty or so minutes later Wood stands up, beckoning the rest of the team to follow him. A few minutes later in the locker room, Wood paces back and forth in front of the team. After a few minutes of opening and closing his mouth without speaking, Wood finally breaks the silence, "Well team, this is it. One more match lays before us if we win against Ravenclaw. Let's be the ones who meet Slytherin for the final match of the year."
Clapping, George calls out from the back, "Don't worry Wood, we've got this."
Nodding his head, Wood wordlessly leads the team out onto the Quidditch pitch before making his way to Madam Hooch in the center of the field with the Ravenclaw captain Roger Davies.
"I want a clean and fair game" states Madam Hooch looking at each in captain in turn with her eagle-like vision.
Nodding their respective heads, Davies and Wood wordlessly shake hands before making their way back to their teams. Hearing the whistle, fourteen bodies zoom into the beautifully cool and clear skies.
"What a beautiful day for a Quidditch match, especially for riding a Firebolt like Harry Potter of Gryffindor is. According to an unnamed source, the Firebolt is what the two final Quidditch teams will be using this year at the World Championship in—" begins Lee Jordan
"Lee, just inform us of what is happening during the match and not speculate on other matters" interrupts Professor McGonagall with a hint of exasperation in her voice.
"Professor, I merely wanted to inform everyone about some Quidditch related news" answers Lee before continuing with, "And Gryffindor scores again, leading twenty to zero."
"Lee isn't harming anyone" Remus whispers in Professor McGonagall's ear.
"However, he is supposed to help narrate the match itself, not provide additional information regarding the sport" answers Professor McGonagall sternly.
Sighing, Remus answers quietly, "I suppose you are correct. However, the random bits of various information might help liven things up when the audience could be losing attention."
"I have my doubts, especially with what is being played for; a chance to beat Slytherin for the Quidditch Cup" remarks Professor McGonagall.
Ignoring Lee's commentary, Harry looks around for the barest sliver of gold to appear, also keeping tabs on Cho Chang, the Ravenclaw seeker, just in case she beats him to finding the snitch. A few minutes later of merely sitting on his broom and not spotting the snitch, Harry leans into his broom, accelerating and making it halfway across the pitch in just a handful of seconds.
"AND LOOK AT POTTER GO! I have to wonder if he has spotted the snitch" announces Lee, throwing the crowd into a tizzy.
Slowing down greatly, Harry spots a sliver of gold on the side he had just come from—"And Chang has spotted the snitch!" announces Lee loudly.
"Not if I have anything to do about it" mutters Harry rocketing away, expertly dodging players from both teams and even an oncoming bludger, still rapidly gaining on Cho.
Seconds later as he becomes neck and neck with Cho, Harry reaches out for the snitch before finding himself without his broom, his ribcage on his right side in excruciating pain. Seconds later a firm hand grabs his left arm, greatly slowing his descent while a bolt of pain shoots through his left arm and shoulder. Looking up at his savior, a smile crosses Harry's face as Fred smirks and remarks, "You seem to enjoy falling off of brooms."
"I enjoy the rush of possible death" jokes Harry as George arrives beside the two, helping Harry back onto his broom.
"Did you catch the snitch though?" inquiries George as Fred whacks an oncoming bludger out of the way.
Looking down at his tightly clasped right hand, Harry relaxes his grip and a pair of delicate wings protrude, causing a commotion as Lee gleefully announces, "POTTER CATCHES THE SNITCH! GRYFFINDOR WINS!"
Landing on the ground, Harry is quickly swarmed by fellow students and is jostled around as he and the rest of the Gryffindor Quidditch team are prodded back into the common room. Several minutes later as raucous cheering echoes around the common room, a hunched over figure enters the room, silencing the room as the figure stands up.
"Oh, don't mind me. I merely brought a couple of cases of Butterbeer for you all to help celebrate the victory" calls out Remus with a smile.
Hours later as students begin filing off to bed, Harry finally spots Hermione and Neville sitting in a corner surrounded by books. Making his way over to the couple, Harry inquiries quietly, "You two seem to have been very busy these past several weeks. Is there something wrong?"
"No, we've just been working on our coursework, alongside helping craft a strong argument to help Hagrid and Buckbeak at their hearing next week" answers Hermione barely looking up from the book she is reading.
"A well written argument with facts and references may not even save Buckbeak" adds Neville somberly.
"What if we testified to seeing Draco ignoring or not paying attention to Hagrid's instructions?" remarks Harry with concern in his voice.
"Harry, you know that currently wizarding society doesn't care about facts and logic, just blood status and how much money you have" reminds Neville sadly.
Pausing before answering, Harry answers, "Yeah, I know. I'm just hoping that one day that it won't matter if you're muggle born, half blood, or pureblood, and that financial situation won't matter either. We need to help drive that change."
"I agree completely. But let's first focus on what is happening chronologically first so we can graduate from Hogwarts, and change the world" states Neville before resuming reading.
"Is there anything else I can assist you two with?" asks Harry.
"Sadly no. We've exhausted the supply of books in the library, so we're just finishing up our arguments. Thank you though" answers Neville.
"Thanks. Please let me know how the hearing goes, if I haven't already heard from Hagrid" requests Harry before rejoining the remaining students still cheering the Quidditch victory.
Author note: Thanks to everyone who has read, reviewed, favorited, etc! And congrats to making it fifty chapters with me. This wouldn't be possible without you all! My apologies for such a late release, but work keeps building up, in addition to trying to find something that would keep the rest of third year interesting (we are nearing the end).