Chapter 31:

Although the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs were excited for the first quidditch match the heads of house on the other hand made attempts to disguise their wish for victory, though failed miserably. Professor McGonagall was one of these teachers when she decided to abstain from giving them homework the week leading up to the match.

"I think you've got enough to be getting on with at the moment," she said loftily. Nobody could quite believe their ears until she looked directly at Alicia, Harry and Ron and said grimly, "I've become accustomed to seeing the Quidditch Cup in my study, and I really don't want to have to hand it over to Professor Snape, so use the extra time to practice, won't you?" Alicia had grinned and nodded happily.

Unfortunately it seemed that the Slytherins didn't think they could beat Gryffindor fairly as they attempted to hex the Gryffindor players in the corridors. Alicia had put one of the chasers in the hospital wing just by deflecting a hex with a protection charm. Instantly she'd moved to McGonagall to warn her as she believed the Slytherins would run to Snape and put the blame on her. The professor had been sure to protect her players and the Slytherin in question ended up with detention.

Snape on the other hand was less obviously partisan: He had booked the Quidditch pitch for Slytherin practice so often that the Gryffindors had difficulty getting on it to play. He was also turning a deaf ear to the many reports of Slytherin hex attempts.

Alicia took it down to the team's worry of loosing, which they were likely to do. Gryffindor had never, in her time at Hogwarts, lost to Slytherin and she did not believe that to change. There was the difference however of Ron, his confidence still lacked and he wasn't up to Wood's standards, but he was definitely working extremely hard to improve. His greatest weakness was a tendency to loose confidence when he made a blunder; if he let in one goal he became flustered and was therefore likely to miss more. On the other hand, Alicia and Harry had seen Ron make some truly spectacular saves when he was on form: During one memorable practice, he had hung one-handed from his broom and kicked the Quaffle so hard away from the goal hoop that it soared the length of the pitch and through the centre hoop at the other end. The rest of the team felt this save compared favourably with one made recently by Barry Ryan, the Irish International Keeper, against Poland's top Chaser, Ladislaw Zamojski. Even Fred had said that Ron might yet make him and George proud, and that they were seriously considering admitting that he was related to them, something he assured Ron they had been trying to deny for four years.

Alicia had knocked both the twins' heads together.

Despite Ron's obvious talent though he was letting the Slytherins tactics within classrooms and corridors affect him before they even got on the pitch. While Harry and Alicia had endured the taunts for four to three years, Ron had not, nor had he ever been good ignoring the comments at him from the Slytherins.

When Slytherins, some of them seventh years and considerably larger than he was, muttered as they passed in the corridors, "Got your bed booked in the hospital wing, Weasley?" he did not laugh, but turned a delicate shade of green. When Draco Malfoy imitated Ron dropping the Quaffle (which he did whenever they were within sight of each other), Ron's ears glowed red and his hands shook so badly that he was likely to drop whatever he was holding at the time too.

As the match arrived so did the colder weather. October flowed into November and the frozen iron, hard with frosts every morning and icy drafts within the corridors froze the exposed hands and faces. Dragon skin gloves were worn within the castle as the temperature dropped inside and the mountains became snowcapped.

It was just as cold the morning of the match, though bright as the rain seemed to have moved on for the minute. Alicia pulled herself out of bed excitedly, dressed and grabbed her broom and book before heading down to the great hall for lunch. As usual when Alicia was looking forward to something she was one of the first people up and awake. The rest in her dormitory looked like they wouldn't stir for hours either. But the sun had begun to rise and Alicia sat at the Gryffindor table ready to eat a good fill of breakfast regardless.

After eating some sausages, baked beans, toast, poached egg, bacon and avocado she opened the book and began to take down some porridge, slowly with a glass of pumpkin juice. The room began to fill more and more, colours of silver and green or red and gold filling the room. As expected the Slytherins were laughing with glee, seeming somewhat over confident. Alicia glanced at them all before noticing they'd all pinned some new badge to the front of their robes. She eyed them for a slit second before deciding she didn't want to know what was on them. It wouldn't be anything good.

Harry and Ron were first to join her and she quickly put the legilimency book away before they could read the cover, not that they'd take nearly as much notice as Hermione would if she saw it.

Alicia looked at the two boys as she said good morning. Harry greeted her happily but Ron as dead silent. Alicia looked him over before noticing how pale and sweaty he was. She'd only seen him that bad before when he'd cast a slug-vomiting charm on himself by accident.

Alicia looked from Ron to Harry who sighed, knowing what she was thinking. Despite that the Gryffindor table had still gave a roaring cheer for the two boys as they'd entered, clearly not noticing Ron's petrified expression. The roar seemed to cause Ron to collapse onto the bench without his consent.

"I must've been mental to do this," he said in a croaky whisper. "Mental."

"Don't be thick," said Harry firmly, passing him a choice of cereals. "You're going to be fine. It's normal to be nervous."

"I'm rubbish," croaked Ron. "I'm lousy. I can't play to save my life. What was I thinking?"

"Hey! No you're not." Alicia snapped

"Get a grip," said Harry sternly in agreement. "Look at that save you made with your foot the other day, even Fred and George said it was brilliant —"

Ron turned a tortured face to Harry.

"That was an accident," he whispered miserably. "I didn't mean to do it — I slipped off my broom when none of you were looking and I was trying to get back on and I kicked the Quaffle by accident."

"Who cares you did it." Alicia said "You have it in you whether accident or not." she believed.

Harry however seemed surprised by this news.

"Well," said Harry, recovering quickly from this unpleasant surprise, "a few more accidents like that and the game's in the bag, isn't it?"

"Ron seriously, beating yourself down is not exactly going to make you feel great is it? You're brother to Fred and George who play awesomely, not to mention Charlie who was apparently phenomenal, you've got the same blood and talent as they do. You just lack the confidence." Alicia said grinning "I think you'll be great."

It seemed Hermione had finally woken up for she and Ginny joined the three at the bench, sitting down opposite wearing red and gold scarves, gloves and rosettes.

"How're you feeling?" Ginny asked Ron, who was now staring into the dregs of milk at the bottom of his empty cereal bowl as though seriously considering attempting to drown himself in them.

"He's just nervous," said Harry.

"Well, that's a good sign, I never feel you perform as well in exams if you're not a bit nervous," said Hermione heartily.

"Hello," said a vague and dreamy voice from behind them. Harry looked up: Luna Lovegood had drifted over from the Ravenclaw table. Many people were staring at her and a few openly laughing and pointing; she had managed to procure a hat shaped like a life-size lion's head, which was perched precariously on her head.

"I'm supporting Gryffindor," said Luna, pointing unnecessarily at her hat. "Look what it does…"

She reached up and tapped the hat with her wand. It opened its mouth wide and gave an extremely realistic roar that made everyone in the vicinity jump.

"It's good, isn't it?" said Luna happily. "I wanted to have it chewing up a serpent to represent Slytherin, you know, but there wasn't time. Anyway… good luck, Ronald!"

She drifted away. They had not quite recovered from the shock of Luna's hat before Angelina came hurrying toward them, accompanied by Katie.

"When you're ready," she said, "we're going to go straight down to the pitch, check out conditions and change."

"We'll be there in a bit," Harry assured her. "Ron's just got to have some breakfast."

Ron ate nothing. It seemed he was incapable of eating anything and with a shared look after ten minutes Alicia and Harry decided to get him out of the castle and down to the changing rooms.

Hermione stood with the three of them and grabbed the two twins quickly to whisper at them.

"Don't let Ron see what's on those Slytherins' badges," she whispered urgently.

Alicia looked at her confused and glanced at them. Maybe she'd better find out what stupid slogan they'd written on them this time. Last time the Slytherins had invented badges it had been for the Tri-wizard Tournament to mock Harry with.

Ron moved over to them looking lost and desperate as Harry received a shake of the head from Hermione as he looked confused to her statement.

"Good luck, Ron," said Hermione, standing on tiptoe and kissing him on the cheek. "And you, Harry, Alicia —"

Ron seemed to come to himself slightly as they walked back across the Great Hall. He touched the spot on his face where Hermione had kissed him, looking puzzled, as though he was not quite sure what had just happened. He seemed too distracted to notice much around him. Alicia and Harry however looked at the badges a little closer than before. They were crown shaped and etched into them were the words:

WEASLEY IS OUR KING

Harry made a point to rush Ron across the Great Hall quickly before he could notice the words as well and they proceeded across the entrance hall, down the stone steps, and out into the icy air.

The frosty grass crunched under their feet as they hurried down the sloping lawns toward the stadium. There was no wind at all and the sky was a uniform pearly white, which meant that visibility would be good without the drawback of direct sunlight in the eyes. Harry pointed out these encouraging factors to Ron as they walked, but he was not sure that Ron was listening.

Angelina had changed already and was talking to the rest of the team when they entered. Alicia, Harry and Ron pulled on their robes (Ron attempted to do his up back-to-front for several minutes before Alicia helped him out) and then sat down to listen to the pre-match talk while the babble of voices outside grew steadily louder as the crowd came pouring out of the castle toward the pitch.

"Okay, I've only just found out the final lineup for Slytherin," said Angelina, consulting a piece of parchment. "Last year's Beaters, Derrick and Bole, have left now, but it looks as though Montague's replaced them with the usual gorillas, rather than anyone who can fly particularly well. They're two blokes called Crabbe and Goyle, I don't know much about them —"

"We do," said Alicia, Harry and Ron together.

"Well, they don't look bright enough to tell one end of a broom from another," said Angelina, pocketing her parchment, "but then I was always surprised Derrick and Bole managed to find their way onto the pitch without signposts."

"Crabbe and Goyle are in the same mould," Harry assured her.

They could hear hundreds of footsteps mounting the banked benches of the spectators' stands now. Some people were singing, though the words could not be made out right this minute. Alicia took a breath feeling excited, but her nerves were building as expected, the first game was always the most exciting and against Slytherin something always happened. There had never been a boring first match between Gryffindor and Slytherin.

Alicia glanced at Ron, he was clutching his stomach and staring straight ahead again, his jaw set and his complexion pale grey.

"It's time," said Angelina in a hushed voice, looking at her watch. "C'mon everyone… good luck."

The team rose, shouldered their brooms, and marched in single file out of the changing room and into the dazzling sunlight. A roar of sound greeted them in which they could still hear singing, though it was muffled by the cheers and whistles.

The Slytherin team were standing waiting for them. They too were wearing those silver crown-shaped badges. The new captain, Montague, was built along the same lines as Dudley, with massive forearms like hairy hams. Behind him lurked Crabbe and Goyle, almost as large, blinking stupidly in the sunlight, swinging their new Beaters' bats. Malfoy stood to one side, the sunlight gleaming on his white-blond head. He caught Harry's eye and smirked, tapping the crown-shaped badge on his chest.

"Captains shake hands," ordered the umpire, Madam Hooch, as Angelina and Montague reached each other. Harry could tell that Montague was trying to crush Angelina's fingers, though she did not wince. "Mount your brooms…"

Madam Hooch placed her whistle in her mouth and blew.

The balls were released and the fourteen players shot upward; Alicia saw Ron streak off toward the goal hoops, while Harry zoomed higher, dodging a Bludger, and set off on a wide lap of the pitch, gazing around for a glint of gold; on the other side of the stadium, Draco Malfoy was doing exactly the same.

Alicia turned to the quaffle as Angelina grabbed it and at that moment Lee Jordan's usual commentaries began.

"And it's Johnson, Johnson with the Quaffle, what a player that girl is, I've been saying it for years but she still won't go out with me —"

"JORDAN!" yelled Professor McGonagall.

"Just a fun fact, Professor, adds a bit of interest — and she's ducked Warrington, she's passed Montague, she's — ouch — been hit from behind by a Bludger from Crabbe… Montague catches the Quaffle, Montague heading back up the pitch and — nice Bludger there from George Weasley, that's a Bludger to the head for Montague, he drops the Quaffle, caught by Katie Bell, Katie Bell of Gryffindor reverse passes to Alicia Ev—I mean Potter, gotta remember that, and Potter's away —" Alicia sped through the stadium with the Quaffle under her arm in concentration.

"— dodges Warrington, avoids a Bludger — close call, Alicia — and the crowd are loving this, just listen to them, what's that they're singing?"

And as Lee paused to listen the song rose loud and clear from the sea of green and silver in the Slytherin section of the stands:

Weasley cannot save a thing,

He cannot block a single ring,

That's why Slytherins all sing:

Weasley is our King.

Weasley was born in a bin,

He always lets the Quaffle in,

Weasley will make sure we win,

Weasley is our King.

Alicia felt her anger begin to boil at the sound of the song and began to take a few breaths to try and calm her. She'd tried shooting the Quaffle when angry and it'd never done any good.

"— and Alicia passes back to Angelina!" Lee shouted, and Alicia knew Lee was trying to drown out the sound of the singing. "Come on now, Angelina — looks like she's got just the Keeper to beat! — SHE SHOOTS — SHE — aaaah…"

Bletchley, the Slytherin Keeper, had saved the goal; he threw the Quaffle to Warrington who sped off with it, zigzagging in between Alicia and Katie; the singing from below grew louder and louder as he drew nearer and nearer Ron —

Weasley is our King,

Weasley is our King,

He always lets the Quaffle in,

Weasley is our King.

Alicia shot after the opposing chaser like a bullet, glancing at Ron as she followed.

"— and it's Warrington with the Quaffle, Warrington heading for goal, he's out of Bludger range with just the Keeper ahead —"

A great swell of song rose from the Slytherin stands below:

Weasley cannot save a thing,

He cannot block a single ring…

"— so it's the first test for new Gryffindor Keeper, Weasley, brother of Beaters, Fred and George, and a promising new talent on the team — come on, Ron!"

Alicia pelted for the Quaffle as it was thrown but the scream of delight came from the Slytherin end: Ron had dived wildly, his arms wide, and the Quaffle had soared between them, straight through Ron's central hoop.

"Slytherin score!" came Lee's voice amid the cheering and booing from the crowds below. "So that's ten-nil to Slytherin — bad luck, Ro…"

The Slytherins sang even louder:

WEASLEY WAS BORN IN A BIN,

HE ALWAYS LETS THE QUAFFLE IN…

"— and Gryffindor back in possession and it's Katie Bell tanking up the pitch —" cried Lee valiantly, though the singing was now so deafening that he could hardly make himself heard above it.

WEASLEY WILL MAKE SURE WE WIN,

WEASLEY IS OUR KING…

Alicia was passed the Quaffle and she zoomed off ignoring the singing as much as possible which was ridiculously loud now. She did however hear Angelina yell at Harry who had been watching Ron instead of searching for the snitch. He moved off to circle the pitch again quickly as the Slytherin's song continued.

Alicia served to dodge a bludger then rolled to miss a Slytherin Chaser only to be hit in the side by a bat itself. She felt the pain shoot through her middle and dropped the Quaffle as a reaction. She shook her head in irritation and ignoring her side shot off after the Quaffle.

"— and it's Warrington again," bellowed Lee, "who passes to Pucey, Pucey's off past Potter, come on now Angelina, you can take him — turns out you can't — but nice Bludger from Fred Weasley, I mean, George Weasley, oh who cares, one of them anyway, and Warrington drops the Quaffle and Katie Bell — er — drops it too — so that's Montague with the Quaffle, Slytherin Captain Montague takes the Quaffle, and he's off up the pitch, come on now Gryffindor, block him!"

Alicia launched for Pucey and Jordan followed her.

"— and Pucey's dodged Alicia again, and he's heading straight for goal, stop it, Ron!"

But the Gryffindor end of the pitch groaned terribly as Ron let the Quaffle through again while the Slytherins screamed and applauded.

Alicia took a breath, twenty points was not very many considering all the games they'd played so far and the fact that Harry was a much better seeker than Malfoy. There was still time and she just had to shoot a few goals to catch up.

Ren let two more goals in.

"— and Katie Bell of Gryffindor dodges Pucey, ducks Montague, nice swerve, Katie, and she throws to Johnson, Angelina Johnson takes the Quaffle, she's past Warrington, she's heading for goal, come on now Angelina — GRYFFINDOR SCORE! It's forty-ten, forty-ten to Slytherin and Pucey has the Quaffle…"

Alicia's grin began to grow even by the single goal, Luna's ludicrous lion hat roared amongst the cheers of Gryffindor's.

"— Pucey throws to Warrington, Warrington to Montague, Montague back to Pucey — Johnson intervenes, Johnson takes the Quaffle, Johnson to Bell, this looks good — I mean bad — Bell's hit by a Bludger from Goyle of Slytherin and it's Pucey in possession again…"

WEASLEY WAS BORN IN A BIN,

HE ALWAYS LETS THE QUAFFLE IN,

WEASLEY WILL MAKE SURE WE WIN —

And Alicia noticed Harry diving. Malfoy streaked out of the sky to race against him and Alicia saw the glint of the snitch as she pursued to Quaffle, watching it change direction to suit Harry.

The two were neck and neck as Harry raised his right hand, Malfoy doing the same as they reached for the golden ball.

And the game stopped as Harry's finger's closed around the snitch despite Malfoy's hopeless attempts at clawing the back of his hands. Gryffindor had once again won the match against Slytherin and it didn't even matter Ron had let in the goals.

Gryffindor's screamed their approval as Harry pulled his broom upward and held the struggling ball up to be seen. Alicia chuckled before she saw Crabbe move suddenly.

"Harry!" Alicia suddenly shouted as a bludger went flying at Harry. It hit him in the back and knocked him straight off his broom. Luckily he had only been a few feet from the ground and Alicia zipped down to his side instantly.

Madam Hooch's shrill whistle sounded, an uproar in the stands compounded of catcalls, angry yells and jeering. Alicia landed as Angelina did and they moved to help Harry up from the ground. It seemed he'd been winded.

"Harry?" Alicia asked

"Are you all right?" Angelina wondered.

" 'Course I am," said Harry grimly, taking her hand and allowing her to pull him to his feet. Madam Hooch was zooming toward one of the Slytherin players above them.

"It was that thug, Crabbe," said Angelina angrily. "He whacked the Bludger at you the moment he saw you'd got the Snitch — but we won, Harry, we won!"

There was a snort from behind them and both Alicia and Harry turned around. Draco Malfoy had landed close by; white-faced with fury, he was still managing to sneer.

"Saved Weasley's neck, haven't you?" he said to Harry. "I've never seen a worse Keeper… but then he was born in a bin… Did you like my lyrics, Potter?"

"Well he's still better than Slytherin's seeker. He's never managed to touch a snitch in his whole career." Alicia responded with a casual shrug. She and Harry turned away as Malfoy fumed and moved to see the rest of the team who were all landing and yelling, punching the air in triumph.

Ron however had not joined them, instead he'd landed near the goalposts and began to make his way off towards the changing rooms by himself.

"We wanted to write another couple of verses!" Malfoy called, as Katie and Alicia hugged Harry. "But we couldn't find rhymes for fat and ugly — we wanted to sing about his mother, see —"

"Talk about sour grapes," said Angelina, casting Malfoy a disgusted look.

Alicia however had felt a serious swell of anger within her.

"— we couldn't fit in useless loser either — for his father, you know —"

Fred and George had realised what Malfoy was talking about. Halfway through shaking Harry's hand they stiffened, looking around at Malfoy.

"Leave it," said Angelina at once, taking Fred by the arm. "Leave it, Fred, let him yell, he's just sore he lost, the jumped-up little —" Alicia took his hand and rubbed his other arm, glaring at Malfoy.

"— but you like the Weasleys, don't you, Potter?" said Malfoy, sneering. "Spend holidays there and everything, don't you? Can't see how you stand the stink, but I suppose when you've been dragged up by Muggles even the Weasleys' hovel smells okay —"

Harry grabbed hold of George; meanwhile it was taking the combined efforts of Angelina, Alicia and Katie to stop Fred leaping on Malfoy, who was laughing openly. Harry looked around for Madam Hooch, but she was still berating Crabbe for his illegal Bludger attack.

"Or perhaps," said Malfoy, leering as he backed away, "you can remember what your mother's house stank like, Potter, and Weasley's pigsty reminds you of it —"

Alicia reached into her robes, abandoning her job of holding Fred back, for her want but didn't even get far as she suddenly watched, absolutely shocked, as Harry released George and the two of them were sprinting at Malfoy. And Harry punched Malfoy in the stomach.

"Harry! HARRY! GEORGE! NO!"

Angelina and Katie were shouting, Malfoy was yelling and George was swearing. The teachers noticed and Madam Hooch began to blow her whistle as the crowd bellowed.

And then Madam Hooch drew her wand.

"IMPEDIMENTA!" Harry and George were thrown back from Malfoy, who was curled on the ground, whimpering and moaning with his nose bleeding. George had a swollen lip and Fred was still being held back by the two girls.

"What do you think you're doing?" screamed Madam Hooch, as Harry was helped to his feet by Alicia. Madam Hooch's whistle was in one hand and her broom was abandoned. "I've never seen behaviour like it — back up to the castle, both of you, and straight to your Head of House's office! Go! Now!"

Harry and George stalked off without a word.

Angelina and Katie began to pull Fred off the pitch and with a glance at them Alicia turned and was quick to move to the changing rooms and change. Ron was already gone and therefore didn't see her as she raced up the steps of the entrance hall. She could here footsteps a little ahead of her as she moved to McGonagall's office.

"He insulted my parents, and Harry's mother." George's voice flew to her as the footsteps came to a stop.

Alicia stopped at the end of the corridor and glanced around to see Umbridge at the door of the Professor's office.

Alicia took a breath and leaned her back against the wall before she closed her eyes.

McGonagall was behind her desk and was quivering with rage. A Gryffindor scarf lay abandoned on the floor where she'd clearly threw it.

Harry jumped slightly at seeing Alicia and she shrugged as McGonagall spoke.

"But instead of leaving it to Madam Hooch to sort out, you two decided to give an exhibition of Muggle duelling, did you?" bellowed Professor McGonagall. "Have you any idea what you've — ?"

"Hem, hem." Umbridge made her presence known.

George and Harry both spun around to see Umbridge in a green tweed cloak. She looked more like a toad then ever.

"May I help, Professor McGonagall?" asked Professor Umbridge in her most poisonously sweet voice.

Blood rushed into Professor McGonagall's face.

"Help?" she repeated in a constricted voice. "What do you mean, 'help'?"

Professor Umbridge moved forward into the office, still smiling her sickly smile.

"Why, I thought you might be grateful for a little extra authority."

"You thought wrong," she said, turning her back on Umbridge. "Now, you two had better listen closely. I do not care what provocation Malfoy offered you, I do not care if he insulted every family member you possess, your behaviour was disgusting and I am giving each of you a week's worth of detention! Do not look at me like that, Potter, you deserve it! And if either of you ever —"

"Hem, hem."

Professor McGonagall closed her eyes as though praying for patience as she turned her face toward Professor Umbridge again.

"Yes?"

"I think they deserve rather more than detentions," said Umbridge, smiling still more broadly.

Professor McGonagall's eyes flew open.

"But unfortunately," she said, with an attempt at a reciprocal smile that made her look as though she had lockjaw, "it is what I think that counts, as they are in my House, Dolores."

"Well, actually, Minerva," simpered Umbridge, "I think you'll find that what I think does count. Now, where is it? Cornelius just sent it… I mean," she gave a little false laugh as she rummaged in her handbag, "the Minister just sent it… Ah yes…" 7

She had pulled out a piece of parchment that she now unfurled, clearing her throat fussily before starting to read what it said.

"Hem, hem… 'Educational Decree Number Twenty-five…' "

"Not another one!" exclaimed Professor McGonagall violently.

"Well, yes," said Umbridge, still smiling. "As a matter of fact, Minerva, it was you who made me see that we needed a further amendment… You remember how you overrode me, when I was unwilling to allow the Gryffindor Quidditch team to re-form? How you took the case to Dumbledore, who insisted that the team be allowed to play? Well, now, I couldn't have that. I contacted the Minister at once, and he quite agreed with me that the High Inquisitor has to have the power to strip pupils of privileges, or she — that is to say, I — would have less authority than common teachers! And you see now, don't you, Minerva, how right I was in attempting to stop the Gryffindor team re-forming? Dreadful tempers… Anyway, I was reading out our amendment… hem, hem… 'The High Inquisitor will henceforth have supreme authority over all punishments, sanctions, and removal of privileges pertaining to the students of Hogwarts, and the power to alter such punishments, sanctions, and removals of privileges as may have been ordered by other staff members. Signed, Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic, Order of Merlin First Class, etc., etc…' "

She rolled up the parchment and put it back into her handbag, still smiling.

"What?!" Alicia asked and her hands were shaking.

"So… I really think I will have to ban these two from playing Quidditch ever again," she said, looking from Harry to George and back again.

"No!" Alicia shouted and she was surprised she hadn't actually shouted and alerted everyone to the fact she was just down the corridor.

"Ban us?" Harry said, and his voice sounded strangely distant. "From playing… ever again?"

"Yes, Mr. Potter, I think a lifelong ban ought to do the trick," said Umbridge, her smile widening still further as she watched him struggle to comprehend what she had said. "You and Mr. Weasley here. And I think, to be safe, this young man's twin ought to be stopped too — if his teammates had not restrained him, I feel sure he would have attacked young Mr. Malfoy as well. I will want their broomsticks confiscated, of course; I shall keep them safely in my office, to make sure there is no infringement of my ban. But I am not unreasonable, Professor McGonagall," she continued, turning back to Professor McGonagall who was now standing as still as though carved from ice, staring at her. "The rest of the team can continue playing, I saw no signs of violence from any of them." Alicia didn't know whether to be proud of herself amongst all the anger she felt. "Well… good afternoon to you." And with a look of the utmost satisfaction Umbridge left the room, leaving a horrified silence in her wake.

Alicia pulled back and opened her eyes, pressing herself against the wall as she heard Umbridge's footsteps disappear before she rounded the corner of the office.

"She can't ban you!" Alicia snapped angrily, horrified. "How on earth are you meant to keep any anger in check without a reward for your hard work?" McGonagall turned to Alicia.

"Miss Potter, ears dropping is —"

"But professor!" Alicia said and McGonagall took a breath that reminded Alicia a little of a dragon.

She silenced immediately and looked at Harry.

Angelina was just as horrified.

"Banned," said Angelina in a hollow voice, late that evening in the common room. "Banned. No Seeker and no Beaters… What on earth are we going to do?"

It did not feel as though they had won the match at all. Everywhere Harry looked there were disconsolate and angry faces; the team themselves were slumped around the fire, all apart from Ron, who had not been seen since the end of the match.

"It's just so unfair," said Katie numbly. "I mean, what about Crabbe and that Bludger he hit after the whistle had been blown? Has she banned him?"

"No," said Ginny miserably; she and Hermione were sitting on either side of Harry as Alicia sat beside George with Fred leaning on her legs as she absentmindedly played with his hair. "He just got lines, I heard Montague laughing about it at dinner."

"And I bet it's not even the bad kind." Alicia grumbled.

"And banning Fred when he didn't even do anything!" said Katie furiously

"It's not my fault I didn't," said Fred, with a very ugly look on his face. "I would've pounded the little scumbag to a pulp if you two hadn't been holding me back."

"Which is why she banned you." Alicia reminded him. "I seriously want to murder Umbridge she's driving me insane. She didn't want to reinstate the Gryffindor team because of Harry and I and now she's banned you for eternity, which I don't think she should be allowed to do anyway. Maybe a term or something but the next three years?" Alicia complained

"Surprised she didn't ban you too." Harry mumbled

"I didn't give her a reason too…" Alicia mumbled "Was going to send Malfoy to the hospital wing through the window but you two shocked me out of doing it." she confessed, glancing at George.

Silence lingered for a second before Angelina broke it.

"I'm going to bed," said Angelina, getting slowly to her feet. "Maybe this will all turn out to have been a bad dream… Maybe I'll wake up tomorrow and find we haven't played yet…"

She was soon followed by Katie. Fred and George sloped off to bed some time later, Alicia patting their shoulders, comfortingly but there was nothing she could say to make anything better. The two stilled glowered at everyone they passed, and Ginny went not long after that. Only Alicia, Harry and Hermione were left beside the fire.

"Have you seen Ron?" Hermione asked in a low voice.

Harry shook his head.

"Not since he left the pitch." Alicia replied

"I think he's avoiding us," said Hermione. "Where do you think he — ?"

But at that precise moment, there was a creaking sound behind them as the Fat Lady swung forward and Ron came clambering through the portrait hole. He was very pale indeed and there was snow in his hair. When he saw Harry and Hermione he stopped dead in his tracks.

"Where have you been?" said Hermione anxiously, springing up.

"Walking," Ron mumbled. He was still wearing his Quidditch things.

"You look frozen," said Hermione. "Come and sit down!"

Ron walked to the fireside and sank into the chair farthest from Harry's, not looking at him. The stolen Snitch which Harry had brought and released into the common room zoomed over their heads.

"I'm sorry," Ron mumbled, looking at his feet.

"What for?" said Harry.

"For thinking I can play Quidditch," said Ron. "I'm going to resign first thing tomorrow."

"If you resign," said Harry testily, "there'll only be three players left on the team." And when Ron looked puzzled, he said, "I've been given a lifetime ban. So've Fred and George."

"What?" Ron yelped.

"That's what happens when you leave." Alicia sighed as she stared at the snitch above them.

Hermione told him the full story; Harry could not bear to tell it again. When she had finished, Ron looked more anguished than ever.

"This is all my fault —"

"You didn't make me punch Malfoy," said Harry angrily.

"— if I wasn't so lousy at Quidditch —"

"— it's got nothing to do with that —"

"— it was that song that wound me up —"

"— it would've wound anyone up —"

Hermione got up and walked to the window, away from the argument, watching the snow swirling down against the pane.

"For christ sake Ronald!" Alicia snapped as she got to her feet. "This attitude here is why you're such a lousy player. You have no confidence and think you're just the worst at everything. Well guess what, not everything is your fault!" Ron looked at her somewhat surprised as Harry sighed.

"It's bad enough without you blaming yourself for everything!" Harry agreed.
Ron said nothing but sat gazing miserably at the damp hem of his robes. After a while he said in a dull voice, "This is the worst I've ever felt in my life."

"Join the club," said Harry bitterly.

"Well," said Hermione, her voice trembling slightly. "I can think of one thing that might cheer you both up."

"Oh yeah?" said Harry skeptically.

"Yeah," said Hermione, turning away from the pitch-black, snow-flecked window, a broad smile spreading across her face. "Hagrid's back."