Chapter 22:
The next morning, Harry woke up to the excitement of his dorm. Harry rolled over in his bed, as Dean began pounding on the bathroom door.
"Seamus! Come on! We all need the bathroom." Seamus opened the door, half covered in blue paint.
"This look doesn't just happen! It's a work of art." Seamus' face was split down the middle, half blue and half silver. He shut the door again. Dean pulled the handle, but Seamus had already locked it.
"Seamus!" Harry covered his head with his pillow, trying to block out the argument.
"Morning Harry." Neville walked over to Harry's bed and pulled back his curtain. Harry moaned as the sunlight hit him.
"Ginny asked me to make sure you got up on time." Neville smiled, before walking back over to his bed. Harry could hear Ron laughing from his own bed.
"No hiding for you." Ron threw his sheets off before getting out of bed. Harry placed his pillow back on his face.
Harry sat with Hermione, Ron and Neville at the Great Hall. He looked up and down the table for Ginny. He was a little annoyed she had asked Neville to make sure he was up if she wasn't going to be on time herself. After a few minutes Ginny came into the Great Hall happily with Luna and Vivian. When Harry turned to face her she pulled a blue Ravenclaw hat over his head. She brought it down over his forehead.
"I know it's a little warm for a winter hat, but I asked Luna if we could borrow this." Ginny kissed Harry before grabbing a plate of waffles. When the group finished their breakfast, Luna turned to Harry. She took out a yellow paint marker and put two lines across Harry's cheeks.
"Hufflepuff?" Ron said before finishing his pumpkin juice.
"Yes. I do not think the camera crew will want to interview someone who supports both teams." Luna said, smiling. Her large eagle hat on her head, balanced perfectly.
"They'll want to interview the full supporters of each team. Not one that appears divided." Vivian said, before standing up.
"Thank you." Harry said. The group walked with the crowd leaving the Great Hall. Harry smiled as he passed two members of the film crew interviewing an enthusiastic Seamus and Dean. Seamus' face was covered in blue and silver while Dean had two simple blue lines across his cheeks. As they neared the field Harry heard a woman call out to the "girls with eagle hats". Luna and Vivian walked over to the woman and her cameraman, while the rest of the group kept walking. Harry started to relax as they walked up one of the Quidditch towers. The group joined up with Marcus, Allie and Kristen at the top.
As the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw players flew out a loud cheer went up. Harry thought he noticed more banners and flags than normal. Perhaps even more face paint too.
When Madame Hooch called the captains down, Harry heard two people approach behind him.
"Morning." Dudley said standing behind Harry as the game began.
"Morning." Harry said back, nodding towards Victoria. She waved before watching the game as well.
Ten minutes into the game Hufflepuff pulled ahead, 30-20. Harry couldn't help, but try to come up with new strategies to use against them in future games or to take note of their weaknesses and mistakes. At one point he noticed the snitch, which was not too far away from the Hufflepuff seeker.
"So, when did you start playing?" Dudley asked Harry over the noise of the crowd.
"First year. McGonagall saw me on my broom and offered me the position." Dudley looked impressed; possibly by the lack of a need for him to try out or by the fact that he had impressed McGonagall enough to place him on the team.
"He was the youngest player in a century. I on the other hand had to wait until sixth year." Ron turned back towards the game as Ravenclaw scored against Hufflepuff.
"A century? Really? That's amazing. And it's not like you had experience, not with us." Dudley looked almost apologetic. Harry sometimes still couldn't believe the change in Dudley since they were fifteen. He was practically a new person.
"Yea, but that one is going to be the professional." Harry pointed at Ginny who was cheering loudly between Luna and Vivian.
"There are professional teams?" Dudley looked stunned. Marcus turned to face the cousins, equally as shocked as Dudley. Harry couldn't help but laugh.
"Yea there is the Ballycastle Bats, Falmouth Falcons-"
"Chudley Cannons." Ron chimed in.
"Worst team ever. Nothing compared to the Holyhead Harpies." Ginny piped in. She faced Ron as she spoke. Harry tried to ignore them as he continued to list the teams.
"Montrose Magpies, Puddlemere United and Wimbourne Wasps."
"Hufflepuff wins 210 to 40!" The Hufflepuff team flew around the Quidditch Pitch. Harry wondered if the teams were instructed to do so if they won. He moved slowly down the stairs with the crowd. At one point he lost sight of Ron who had taken the opportunity to explain why the Chudley Cannons were the best to Dudley. Dudley seemed to be confused, but nodded politely when Harry had last seen him.
Harry walked back to the castle with his friends. He was thrilled that he'd be able to have dinner and hide in Gryffindor tower until the camera crews were gone. McGonagall had told him they would be leaving Sunday morning before breakfast.