Chapter Seventeen: The One We've All Been Waiting For

The euphoria of Ron's chess victory lasted until the last game of the Quidditch season came along. The Daily Prophet had printed Ron's victory on its front page, and inside had given details as to the finalists' path to the final, and giving both players equal coverage. Ron challenged Dumbledore to a game the following day to be played the following Saturday evening after dinner. Ron went on to win that match as well. Ron's mother had written and told him that she had cut out and kept all the photographs as well as the article celebrating his victory and telling him again that she and his father were very proud of him, and to start preparing for the end of year exams. However, despite the end of year exams were approaching all anybody could talk about was the last Quidditch game of the season. The Gryffindors all knew the cup was theirs for the taking with a win against Ravenclaw. Slytherin could still take the cup if Gryffindor lost by a considerable margin, as could Ravenclaw, but all the smart money was on Gryffindor as you couldn't stop people making wagers on the game. Of course knowing that people were gambling on the sly and relying on him to catch the snitch for the win, Harry was nervous. He wanted to win as badly as anyone, but if somehow they lost he did not think he could handle seeing Malfoy's smug face and putting up with his taunts. Ron, Hermione and Neville were always around to give him all the encouragement he needed. Oliver Wood could barely concentrate on anything and he was supposed to be revising for his O.W.L. Examinations!

In the days leading up to the match, Harry did not go anywhere alone. This was due to the fact that Oliver Wood had told the rest of Gryffindor house to look out for him.

Draco Malfoy, of course, accused Harry of being too scared to leave his own common room without bodyguards, Ron, who never left Harry's side ever, retorted by saying, 'I think it's you that needs bodyguards, you cowardly little shit!'

Malfoy said nothing else before moving away with Crabbe and Goyle.

When Harry awoke on the morning of the last Quidditch game of the season, he felt nauseated. Today, in front of the whole school and his family, the pressure to catch the snitch was immense. He pulled aside his bedding and went to the bathroom where he threw up. Once he was finished, he brushed his teeth and washed his mouth out before showering, and getting ready. Ron was now awake and wiping the sleep from his eyes.

'How are you doing?' he asked.

'I blew some chunks but I've brushed my teeth, washed out my mouth and showered, so I'm ready to go,' Harry replied.

'Okay, give me five minutes and I'll be with you …' Ron said before yawning again.

Once Ron was dressed, they made their way down to the common room where Hermione was already waiting for them.

'Morning, you two,' she said.

'Morning,' they both replied.

'Are you nervous for the game, Harry?' she asked.

'A little, but since I threw up, I've been fine,' was Harry's reply.

'Come on, we need breakfast, especially Harry,' said Ron.

Harry and Hermione agreed and so they went to the Great Hall to eat.

Harry took some dry toast while Ron piled his plate high with his usual mountain of food, which he shovelled down with no trouble.

Wood, not long after Ron had finished, called for the team to follow him to get changed for the match and to discuss strategy. Ron and Hermione, along with Neville, Seamus and Dean, made their way to the Quidditch pitch to get good seats.

Harry had tuned out Oliver's pre-match strategy talk. He just wanted the game to start so he could try and end it as quickly as possible. Wood's talk ended when he mentioned that Ravenclaw's new seeker was someone called Chang. Harry found that he didn't care what her name was; he just wanted to get the game played. Harry looked at Fred and George; they seemed like their normal selves; confident and ready to make a joke, but Harry could not help notice that they were a little nervous, too.

When the team made their way on to the pitch, they were greeted by an enormous cheer from the Gryffindor section of the crowd, and the voice of the commentator, Lee Jordan.

'Welcome, everyone, to the final Quidditch match of the year, Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw!'

Ron and Hermione were joined in the Gryffindor section of the crowd by James and Lily Potter, and Sirius Black. The five exchanged pleasantries before the game began.

As Harry flew around the pitch in search of the snitch, he noticed that his parents were sitting with Ron and Hermione. This did not surprise him at all. Meanwhile, he saw that Remus and Sev were sitting with the other teachers and Professor Dumbledore.

Gryffindor took the lead when Angelina Johnson scored. A second score quickly followed, and then a third and a fourth. Harry had been searching for the snitch but had not managed to see it yet, then again, neither had his opposite number. Chang's strategy, it seemed, was to follow him as he hunted for the elusive snitch.

While the battle for the snitch was going on, Gryffindor's lead had increased to seventy to ten. Harry decided he did not want Chang following him any more so he put on a burst of speed to get away from her, and to try to spot the snitch. Harry was masking his intent well as Chang tried in vain to keep up with him but Harry's Nimbus Two Thousand was much faster than the Comet Two Sixty his opponent was flying.

After another half an hour of searching, Gryffindor were up by a hundred and ten points, but that did not mean it was over. Harry then spotted what he had been looking for since the start. Harry flew towards and after the snitch with all the speed his broomstick had as Chang tried to compete with him to get the win, but to no avail. Harry caught the snitch to end and win the game as well as the Quidditch Cup for his team as the loudest cheer yet erupted from the triumphant Gryffindors.

When Harry landed he was grabbed into hugs by his teammates before Dumbledore presented Wood with the Cup.

Harry saw his dad and godfather give him the thumbs up while his mother gave him a proud smile.

Harry went over to them and they all gave him a big hug each before being told that they were all proud of him, and to go and enjoy the party in the common room.

During the party, the Butterbeer flowed and the music was loud as they partied into the early hours of the morning, nobody, not even Professor McGonagall, broke up the party.