Author's Note: I've decided to break the seven bonus chapters into separate releases. Expect 1-2 a day for the rest of the year. Skip them if you'd like. Really, they're just bonus chapters. You may as well just skip them… Why are you looking at me like that? Nothing… Nothing happens! You can trust me. Afterall, I would never lie to you…
Bonus 1 - Hufflepuff Vs Gryffindor
"And finally," bellowed Lee Jordan. "The first first year seeker in a hundred years, put your hands together for HARRY POTTER!"
Harry flew out and joined the rest of the Gryffindors huddled together on their side of the pitch.
"Everyone thinks they're unbeatable, but we beat them when we had Charlie Weasley, and we know something nobody else does: We've got the best damn player in the school! This is what we've been training for. On three, defense," said Oliver Wood. The team put their hands together in the middle of the huddle. "One, two, three,"
"DEFENSE!" Bellowed the squad. They flew to their positions.
The game plan was simple enough. Stifle the golden onslaught for long enough for Harry to catch the snitch. Nevermind that Cedric always caught the snitch, and that Harry had never caught it even once. But Harry understood why the plan was to play conservatively. Afterall, he'd seen the Hufflepuff Ravenclaw match as well.
Led by the creative passing of Roger Davies, the Ravenclaw Eagles had jumped out to a 30 point lead against Hufflepuff, but the defending champions hadn't blinked. Hufflepuff's beaters Rickett and O'Flaherty had targeted Davies, and Heidi Macavoy had stuck to him like glue, taking him out of the game. Preece and Applebee had picked up the scoring load, and Hufflepuff had walked down Ravenclaw and then hammered them. At 170-40 Ravenclaw's Seeker Cho Chang had taken up duties as an extra Chaser to try to keep the game within 150, and Cedric Diggory had promptly caught the snitch. Hufflepuff victory 340-50. The whole game had lasted about 20 minutes.
Ravenclaw's squad had glided out of the pitch in shock and embarrassment, their shoulders slumped and their heads bowed.
Oliver Wood had promised the team it wouldn't happen to Gryffindor again. Not like last year. And he'd tripled their practices for what he called their biggest test of the season.
"And now, let's hear it for the two-time defending champions," bellowed Lee Jordan, his voice magically amplified to ring throughout the pitch. "They've won four of the past five Cups, The Golden Dynasty, only interrupted by the heroics of Charlie Weasley, the Hufflepuff Badgers! Let's start off introductions with seventh year chaser, a proud member of the English National Team, Tamsin Appl-"
But the Badgers emerged from underneath the Hufflepuff rafters together all at once, taking their places beside each of the Gryffindor players and offering a hand. Cleansweep Sevens, Nimbus 1700's, and Comet 190's. The Hufflepuff team didn't have the state-of-the-art brooms, nor the intimidating tactics of Slytherin. They didn't have the cutting-edge arithmalytics of Ravenclaw. But Malcolm Preece, Heidi Macavoy, Tamsin Applebee, Anthony Rickett, and Maxine O'Flaherty all had offers from professional teams, and according to Ron, Herbert Fleet was the finest keeper in Hogwarts, even if he wasn't destined to play at higher levels. And none of them were even the best player on their team. That would be their captain, Cedric Diggory.
He flew up next to Harry, and held out his hand.
Harry shook it.
"I watched your game against Slytherin," said Cedric.
Harry stiffened.
"Don't let the result get you down," said Cedric. "It's normal to have some nerves in your first contest. You're the best flier I've ever seen. You're going to be a champion someday. Let's have a good match."
"Let's have a good match," said Harry neutrally. He'd not be fooled like he had been with Ginny.
Madam Hooch flew to midfield, underneath Harry and Cedric, between Katie Bell and Heidi Macavoy. "Let's have a good clean game."
"We play the game the right way in Hufflepuff," said Heidi Macavoy. "And I'm sure that the Gryffindors do the same. Right Katie?"
"You know who I am?" Asked Katie Bell excitedly.
Macavoy won the tip a few moments later, passed it to Preece, and screened off Alicia Spinnet. Preece passed to a streaking Applebee, who feinted to the right hoop, and shot to the left one. Wood hadn't bitten on the feint, he'd obsessively studied Applebee. The quaffle slid past his fingers anyways.
"And there's that signature Beautiful Badger Game, 10-0 Hufflepuff!" Prattled the bandwagoner Lee Jordan.
Angelina caught the quaffle, and ducked under a bludger from Rickett.
"Square, square," bellowed Cedric, from high above the rest of the fliers, motioning signals with his arms. "Hermione Granger! Hermione Granger!"
And all of a sudden Angelina was being doubled. She passed it to a wide open Alica Spinnet, but the pass sailed, as the Hufflepuff beater O' Flaherty had sent a bludger at Alicia as soon as Angelina had passed.
Hufflepuff chaser Malcolm Preece scooped up the quaffle, passed it to Applebee, who scored again.
Harry swallowed. They'd been preparing for that exact trap for months, and it hadn't mattered, because Cedric had watched the pitch from above, noticed the bludger, his beater's position, and picked the perfect time to call the perfect play. Harry may have been a better flier, but there was little question that Cedric was the better player. He could do so much more for his team than catch the snitch. But that was all Harry could do, so he'd better damn well do it.
Harry started circling the pitch. He had to hurry and put an end to the game, because the rout was on.
XOXOXOX
Ron should have known things would end up like this. It was his own fault for letting himself get hopeful. Why had he spent so much time looking forward to bloody quidditch season? First they'd blown it against Slytherin, and then in their yearly test against Hufflepuff they couldn't even keep it close. Ever since Charlie had graduated, it was the same thing every bloody year! When was he gonna bloody learn?
And the worst of it was that pretty boy Cedric Diggory, strutting around the top of the pitch like he owned the place! He didn't care if it meant breaking formation, somebody oughtta clip that Badger's wings!
"Fucking hell," Lee Jordan cried. "You undisciplined hacks! The Weasley Twins have taken Cedric's bait and broken formation! Think you stupid wankers! This sacrifices the integrity of our entire defensive line! Applebee scores 90-30 Hufflepuff, but that's really on you two. What the hell did you expect? And now Preece scores. 100-30 Hufflepuff. Beaters… Fred and George… Where are you?"
But at least The Twins had had enough of Diggory's prancing. They'd flown up there, and started to tag him with bludgers. Cedric dodged easily. Stupid, quick, wanker. Who knew a seeker would be so agile?
"Macavoy scores. 110-30 Hufflepuff. Oh no, Angelina! That's a great play by O'Flaherty, great awareness, but that bludger is Fred Weasley's responsibility. And more points for Hufflepuff, courtesy of Macavoy, that's 120-30 Hufflepuff."
A bludger had smashed into Angelina Johnson's back, she'd been cheapshotted by The Evil Maxine O'Flaherty. Angelina went limp on her broom, and Oliver Wood caught her, and flew her to the ground. The Twins surrounded Madam Hooch and screamed at her to call a foul.
Madam Hooch gave the play on indication. Hufflepuff had obviously given the crooked ref a handsome bribe.
XOXOXOX
"That was a clean hit," Oliver Wood screamed, flying up to The Twins. "Now get back on bloody defense."
The Twins scowled at him. But they got back into their bloody position. He scrambled back to his. It was probably too late. Hufflepuff had scored four more times during the whole fiasco. This was a deflating game. Against Slytherin they'd blown a winnable game because they'd been unprepared. His fault. Against Hufflepuff they'd been crushed by a superior opponent. If they played ten more times, they'd lose ten more bloody times, and he didn't even know what he could have done differently. They were just better. Merlin's Beard, he just wanted to beat Hufflepuff once. He'd give his right arm to beat Hufflepuff!
"What's this?" Asked Lee Jordan. "It's Potter! He's spotted the snitch!"
XOXOXOX
"Another goal by Applebee," bellowed Lee Jordan. "170-30 Hufflepuff."
The snitch was on the opposite side of the field. Far from Harry, but closer to him than Cedric, who was way up high directing his team. Harry pushed his broom forward. He had to catch it quickly, put an end to it before Hufflepuff went up by 150.
Cedric noticed the snitch and dove. And Harry realized his mistake immediately. He may have been closer to the snitch, but Cedric had gravity on his side. Cedric was going to catch the snitch no matter how fast he flew. Harry pushed forward anyway, directly behind Hufflepuff's golden boy.
Cedric drew closer, closer, Harry helpless behind him. Cedric reached out, his fingers outstretched around the little golden bal- George! Harry veered around the Weasley, who'd hurled himself in front of the snitch in a last ditch effort to save the game. Cedric had dodged as well, but he'd lost more momentum than Harry.
"With respect, that is a disgusting play by Fred Weasley," said Lee Jordan.
Harry heard Hooch's whistle behind him.
None of that mattered because he had the position on the snitch. It was right in front of him. But so was Anthony Rickett, smashing a bowling-ball-sized, iron bludger. It came barrelling right at him, and his protection had just sacrificed himself to take out Cedric. Hold on, hold on, hold on! Harry clenched his jaw, fastened his one-armed grip on his broom, closed his fingers around the snitch, and took the bludger to his right elbow.
Crack!
Harry's arm bent in the wrong direction, and he went spiraling to the ground. He pulled up on his broomstick with all his might, just barely managing to stay aflight.
Oliver Wood shoved Madam Hooch out of the way. Harry shivered from the pain. He tried to hold up his right arm but hurled instead. His arm hung limply by his side, the nerves inside it screaming in a thousand little explosions, forcing him into a cold sweat.
"Have you got it Harry?" Oliver Wood pried open Harry's hand, revealing the golden snitch, its crushed wings struggling to break free from his fingers. "Yes! Yes Harry, you beautiful, magnificent seeker!"
Wood planted a kiss on Harry's cheek, and flew around the pitch showing off the snitch to the Gryffindor rafters like a little kid on Christmas morning. Warmth filled Harry's chest. He knew that Wood would have given his right arm for the victory, and he was glad he'd been able to help in some small way.
"Merlin's Beard Harry, that was the most spectacular catch I've eve- Your arm!" Cedric cried. He pulled out his wand. "Reparo!"
Harry's bones cracked back into place, and Harry was filled with shame. "I'm sorry. You were the better team. After all that whinging we did about Slytherin's tactics, we pul-"
"No," Cedric said, smiling. "I had my chance at the snitch, but I wasn't willing to take the hit. You were. That's why you won. I still think we're the better team of course, but you guys were better today, and that's really all that matters. You lot deserve the win. Don't let anyone tell you differently Harry, least of all yourself.
"That was a savvy veteran play George," Cedric said, turning. "Great situational awareness. Saved the game for your side. But if we'd have had just a few more seconds, Tamsin would've made the penalty shot and we'd have gotten ourselves a tie. I got sloppy, and you made us pay. Hell of a match, now go beat Ravenclaw."
"Thank you sir," said Harry, bowing his head. But he didn't feel good about himself.
"I'm sorry," Harry told George. "If I'd played better… I had one job, but I forced you to resort to-"
"Harry," said George. "We won. We beat the bloody Hufflepuff Badgers for Merlin's sake! Even when we had Charlie on the team, it didn't happen often. Let's fly down there and enjoy it!
Harry looked down at the crowd of Gryffindors who'd stormed the field, just like the Slytherins had against them. Harry didn't feel much like celebrating, but he knew it was what was expected of him. Harry glided down to greet the fans, feeling not much of anything, but happy at least, that they were happy.