Chapter Six
Qudditch and Dementors
The rest of the train ride was uneventful. We eventually reach Hogwarts, and we make our way to the castle. The Great Hall is lit up and warm. It was surprisingly chilly when we arrived. We change into our robes and enter the Great Hall. The choir sings a song and the Sorting ceremony go as the usually do.
Professor Dumbledore, before the feast begins, gives us a speech on new rules, and tells us about a big change at Hogwarts: Dementors were guarding the grounds. Dumbledore warns us to stay away from them, and that they won't come anywhere near us or the school, as long as no threat is detected. After that, we eat and head back to our dormitories.
Like as Hogwarts seemed normal for the most part. Classes went on as usual. Our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher was amazing. He taught us something useful and important at every lesson. That's what a teacher should do.
Mona, Fred, George, Angelina and I all tryout again for quidditch and make the team. Mona and I are still Chasers, but I'm not complaining. Any spot on the team is amazing.
The day of our first match, against Hufflepuff, I wake up and look out the window.
"Oh man, it's really coming down out there." I say to Mona, who is finishing putting her hair in a bun.
"I know. Hopefully it lightens up by game time." She says.
If anything, it gets worse by game time. It starts thunder storming. Fred and George walk up to us in the tent, which does little to protect us from the wind or rain. We get hit with a gust of mist every minute or two.
"Here," Fred says, handing me a pair of goggles. "You're going to need these." I take them and slip them on over my head. I look at him.
"Tell me, how bad is this going to be?" I blink. He looks at me and looks away.
"Be ready for one hell of a match." With that, he pulls down his goggles and picks up his bat. I gulp.
That's never a good sign.
I put on my goggles and stand next to Angelina. Mona is on her other side. The gate opens and we fly out, the rain soaking us immediately, and the wind pushing us every which way.
Yeah. That's also never a good sign.
The game starts and we play hard. The balls are slippery and we can't see properly, even with the goggles. Angelina's broom gets struck by lightning and catches fire. She zooms towards the ground and disappears into the fog at the bottom of the field. Harry zooms out of the stadium, chasing the Hufflepuff seeker. Angelina reappears after a few minutes, the back of her broom still smoking. The three of us work together and we get 20 more points for Gryffindor.
Suddenly, people start screaming and pointing at the sky. We stop playing and watch as Harry, broomless, falls towards the field.
We all stand in the hospital wing, waiting for Harry to wake up. We had lost our match. The Hufflepuff Seeker, Cedric Diggory, caught the snitch and was struck by lightning. After Harry fell, though, he wanted to cancel the Hufflepuff victory.
"He looks a bit peaky, doesn't he?" Ron asks.
"What do you expect? He fell over a hundred feet." Fred says.
"Yeah, come on, Ron. Let's drop you off of the Astronomy Tower." George states.
"See what you look like." Fred looks at his brother.
"Probably better than usual." Harry jokes, sitting up. He asks about the match, and we look over at the Hufflepuff receiving medical attention. Hermione tells him it's not his fault, and then Ron shows him his broom. It was terribly watching people pull pieces of his broom out of the Whomping Willow. Eventually we leave, letting Harry rest.
We walk in our wet robes back to the common room. Mona walks next to George, running a hand through his tangled hair. Fred and I, who are walking behind them, exchange a look.
Could they be any more obvious?