Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Chapter 4 – Gryffindor vs Slytherin
News that Harry had made the quidditch team spread quickly, and not just throughout the school. The day after tryouts Harry received a special delivery in the form of a broomstick.
"Congratulations Harry! We have spoken with Professor Dumbledore and it has been agreed that an exception can be made to the rules so that you can have your own broomstick. It is not everyday that a first year becomes their house seeker, my boy!" Harry smiled at the Fudges' note and unwrapped the distinct parcel.
"Whoa!" Gasped Ron. "The Nimbus 2000!" Harry himself was quite impressed. He knew if he made the team that the Fudges would try to convince Dumbledore to let him have a broom, and subsequently would buy him a broom, but he hadn't expected a top of the line one. "It's the fastest broom ever!" Ron continued to gush.
"Oh please." Hermione, who was sitting nearby, said. "The Nimbus Company has come out with a 'fastest broom ever' practically each year since the company was formed in 1967."
"So?" Ron asked rather rudely. "And what do you know about racing booms anyways?"
"Enough not to be taken in by shiny things." She returned superiorly.
"What does shiny things have to do with a racing broom?" Hermione rolled her eyes.
"It's a metaphor, Ronald."
"Enough you two!" Harry snapped. "You're always at each other's throats. I just don't know why you can't be nice to each other." Harry felt like he was caught in the middle of two friends, though he wouldn't quite call Hermione a friend. He didn't dislike her, and aside from her superior attitude he found conversation with her to be nice; she could discuss all the academic pursuits he was interested in that Ron wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole. The two glared at each other but didn't argue anymore and the rest of breakfast was eaten in peace. Harry wasn't surprised though when the peace was broken on their way out of the Great Hall.
"First years aren't allowed a broom, Potter." Snapped Malfoy.
"Dumbledore made an exception since I made the house team." He replied. "Jealous because you didn't?" Draco's face turned red.
"You think you're so special, don't you, Potter?"
"No, that would be you, Malfoy, thinking you're special." Draco sneered and was about to reply when they were interrupted.
"Potter!" Snape barrelled towards them. "What's going on here?" He looked to Draco but Harry answered first.
"Nothing, Professor. Malfoy here was just admiring my broom. Professor Dumbledore made an exception to the rule since I made the team." He had no doubt that Snape already knew this or his broom would have been confiscated already, but still he felt no qualms about reminding Snape that him having a broom was allowed.
"Yes, so we've heard." Snape sneered and with a look to Malfoy, almost asking him to contradict Harry's story, he left. With a little wave at Malfoy, Harry and Ron followed suit.
"That was bloody brilliant!" Said Ron.
"I'm just learning how to neutralize Snape." He shrugged.
"Still brilliant."
"Though a little Slytherin of you, my dear Harry." The twins had come up behind them
"The Hat did want to put me in Slytherin." Harry admitted and the Weasley brothers stopped in their tracks. "I told it not to put me into the same house as Malfoy." They started walking again.
"It would take a lot of courage to demand something of the Sorting Hat." Fred reasoned and his brothers quickly agreed.
"Anyways, Harry, we couldn't help but notice the shiny new broom you've got." They'd obviously heard Hermione's comment.
"And we thought that because it's the fastest broom at Hogwarts it would be good to practice our beater skills while flying at such high speeds." Said George.
"Oliver would want us to." Fred agreed, and Harry rolled his eyes.
"If you want a go just ask."
"Can we try your new broom?" They asked without hesitation.
"Not before me you can't." He replied but considering Harry had been leading them outside so that he could try his new broom they were ok with that. Harry's first ride on his Nimbus was like nothing he had ever felt before. The Nimbus handled like a dream and no matter what Hermione said he could see why it was considered the best broom around. Feeling elated, Harry thought that that they would trounce Slytherin during their first match in a few weeks.
"And Slytherin lead 40-20." Lee Jordan announced when Slytherin scored again. Harry had been wrong that they would trounce the house of snakes, the team's newest player not having known exactly how dirty Slytherin played. As they scored again Harry looked frantically around for the snitch, catching it quickly now being their best bet.
"Captain Marcus Flint with the quaffle. Flint passes to Bletchly and back to Flint as they approach the goalposts, can Wood stop them?" Harry took his eyes away from his search for the snitch and looked towards the Gryffindor goalposts. "Flint shoots…and Wood blocks the shot!" Harry cheered along with those in the Gryffindor stands.
"Yes!" He shouted.
"And Gryffindor in possession. Katie Bell with the quaffle. Bell passes to Johnson who passes to Spinnet and back to Bell, these ladies sure can fly! They approach the Slytherin goalposts…and are met by Flint who underhandedly shoots towards them, the bastard."
"Jordan!" Screamed Professor McGonagall, not for the first time this game. Lee found himself unable to hold back when Slytherin did anything not strictly by the book.
"Sorry, Professor." He sounded very insincere. "Flint with the quaffle and-oh! Nice bludger there by Fred or George Weasley! Gryffindor with the quaffle making another go at the Slytherin goalposts…yes! Angelina Johnson scores, ten points to Gryffindor!" Harry cheered along with his housemates but still kept his eyes out for the snitch. The game continued and Slytherin scored three more times to Gryffindor's one, making Harry's job that much more important. Finally, after nearly two hours of gameplay, Harry spotted the snitch. Problem was, it was hovering near the Slytherin goalposts and their seeker, Terrence Higgs, was in between him and the snitch. Higgs wasn't a half bad seeker and Harry knew there was no chance of him reaching the snitch without Higgs noticing and using his closer proximity to his advantage. Doing his best to fly casually, as if he was just doing a lap of the pitch, Harry began making his way towards the Slytherin goalposts. Unsurprisingly though, he made it only half way before Higgs noticed the snitch and the race was on. Harry took off as fast as he could and luckily he had the faster broom. Harry side checked Higgs as he approached the quickly dodged a return check from the larger boy.
"Potter and Higgs aren't giving an inch!" Lee said as the two continued to weave in and out as the snitch darted in every direction. "The snitch seems determined to lose them but neither seeker will let it. Higgs side checks Potter, which pushes him off course, but that Nimbus 2000 has him back on track in seconds! Both seekers are flying their hardest as the snitch puts them through their paces. The snitch darts right, then up and to the right again before diving. Potter and Higgs follow in a near vertical dive-climb! The snitch changes directions again, zooming past the seekers who nearly crash into each other as they try to turn around. Potter manages it first and off he goes with Higgs barely a second behind him. They're closing in on the snitch, Higgs is struggling to keep up with that Nimbus and…Potter has caught the snitch! Harry Potter earns one hundred and fifty points and ends the game. Gryffindor wins!" The sound of the crowd was near deafening as all but the Slytherins cheered Gryffindor's victory. Harry smiled brightly as he did a victory lap around the pitch before being tackled by his teammates.
"Yeah Harry!" Fred and George cheered while Oliver couldn't look more proud of his team. The cheering continued as the teams made their way back to the change rooms, though they could hear it die down as people began returning to the castle. Not everyone did, though, and a group awaited Harry when he'd finished changing.
"Dora!" Harry greeted happily.
"Harry, dear!" She pulled him into a hug before releasing him to Cornelius, who hugged him as well.
"Congratulations, Harry!" He said. "Quite the game, wasn't is, Lucius?"
"Indeed." Said the school governor. "Congratulations, Mr. Potter."
"Thank you, Mr. Malfoy." Harry replied politely, though noted how Lucius appeared not at all sincere in his congratulations. "The new broom is wonderful, thank you both!" He turned back to his guardians.
"Not at all, Harry, not at all." Said Cornelius. "We are happy to see it put to good use." They began making their way back to the castle. "That was quite the spectacular game."
"He is the youngest seeker in a century!" Aldora gushed. Lucius looked less than impressed. They made it back to the castle without any further comments and Harry bid farewell to his guardians and Lucius before heading up to the Gryffindor common room. The party had already started and the noise got louder when he arrived. The twins quickly hoisted him up on their shoulders and paraded him around the room amid much protest, though they ignored him entirely. When he was finally set down there was just enough time to make it to the Great Hall for dinner, though the celebrations didn't end. The entire hall was decorated in gold and crimson with Gryffindor banners flying from the enchanted ceiling. Such decorations, Harry was told, were reserved for days with a Quidditch match – the hall flying the colours of the winning team – and for the end of year feast when the winner of the House Cup was announced. Looking up to the head table Harry saw McGonagall smiling down at her cubs with pride, though she seemed to reserve a special smile for Harry. Returning the smile, Harry tucked in.
A/N - I'm so, so sorry! I know it's been just over a years since I posted chapter 3 and I apologize it took so long to get this out. I had health problems, then COVID happened, and you'd think you'd get alot of writing done being in quarantine for months, but no.
I've got a couple more chapters written and hope to keep writing and getting them posted, but I sadly can make no promises right now, so posting might be a bit sporadic.
Thanks to everyone who hasn't given up on this story, I will finish it eventually!
Review please!