Following the hilarious surprise of the Easter Egg, the tense atmosphere returned. Harry was having a particularly bad time of it. He couldn't walk to class without Slytherins sticking out their legs and trying to trip him up; Crabbe and Goyle kept popping up wherever he went, and slouching away looking disappointed when they saw him surrounded by people. I was also on the receiving end of such petty attempts at violence, there were 3 occasions in only one day when Avery and several other second year Slytherins had tried to hex me in the corridors.

Wood had given instructions that Harry should be accompanied everywhere, in case the Slytherins tried to put him out of action. The whole of Gryffindor house took up the challenge enthusiastically, so that it was impossible for Harry to get to classes on time because he was surrounded by a vast, chattering crowd. Harry was more concerned for his Firebolt's safety than his own. When he wasn't flying it, he locked it securely in his trunk, and frequently dashed back up to Gryffindor Tower at break-times to check that it was still there.

All usual pursuits were abandoned in the Gryffindor common room the night before the match. Even Hermione had put down her books.

'I can't work, I can't concentrate,' she said nervously.

Clearly, her previous confidence about it when she was talking to Demelza, Amy and I had evaporated. There was a great deal of noise. Fred and George Weasley were dealing with the pressure by being louder and more exuberant than ever. Oliver Wood was crouched over a model of a Quidditch pitch in the corner, prodding little figures across it with his wand and muttering to himself. Angelina, Alicia and Katie were laughing at Fred and George's jokes.

I was sitting with the trio.

"We're going to be fine!" I said firmly "Both our teams will. This time tomorrow, we'll be celebrating both championships. We can't let nerves get to us, that will play right into Slytherin's hands. Agreed?"

I looked around at Harry, Ron and Hermione

"Yes" they all said, though without any conviction

It seemed to come as a relief to them when Wood suddenly stood up and yelled, 'Teams! Bed!'

Both Gryffindor teams entered the Great Hall next day to enormous applause. I couldn't help grinning broadly as we saw that both the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables were clapping us too. The Slytherin table hissed loudly as we passed. Wood spent the whole of breakfast urging us to eat, while touching nothing himself. Then he hurried us off to the pitch before anyone else had finished, so we could get an idea of the conditions and watch the reserve game. As we left the Great Hall, everyone applauded again.

What followed were 2 of the dirtiest Quidditch games in Hogwarts entire history! Let me describe them to you!

The aggressiveness began before the reserve match had even started, as Avery crushed Alicia's fingers so hard that they literally broke! The game was therefore delayed while Madame Pomfrey was summoned down from the castle to fix the injury. I was slightly unnerved by this, because if that's what she was doing to Alicia, what was she going to try and do to me next time we were face to face?

The game started and it was clear that Slytherin really weren't messing about, as if Avery's pre match gesture hadn't proved that enough! They had a lightning quick start, and were 30-0 up within about 2 minutes of the Quaffle's first release! After the third goal went in, Alicia hammered her team into gear, and Hermione caught the Quaffle from the restart and beat 2 defenders to fire in Gryffindor's first goal of the day. That rejuvenated them, and they wasted no further time in scoring another 2 goals to level the scores. From the following restart, things began to turn very ugly. First, when Hermione was put through on goal again, Avery flew up from behind and viciously grabbed her hair, which lead to Hermione shooting way off target.

Amy replied to this by crashing straight into her at full speed, which knocked her off her broom and she slammed unconscious into the ground.

Penalties were awarded to and scored by both sides, and Slytherin's substitute chaser came on to replace Avery. On the restart, Andrew threw his beaters bat at the back of Mulciber's broom, which sent her spinning wildly off course and into the Gryffindor stands, which, suffice to say, didn't exactly make much effort to give her a soft landing. This was responded to by Sarah, now in goal for the Slytherin reserves, who flew over and punched Andrew in the stomach, and he fell off his broom, but just managed to cling on by his fingers and force himself back into a seated position.

Penalties were again awarded to both sides, but Demelza missed ours, while Slytherin scored theirs, meaning they now had a 50-40 lead. At this point, Gryffindor were one player up as Mulciber was still being extracted from the stands. This advantage was capitalised on as Demelza, Alicia and Hermione all scored once each without reply to make it 70-50 to Gryffindor. This was when Mulciber finally made it back onto her broom and out of the stands, and she sped off in pursuit of the snitch almost immediately. At least, that's what it looked like to everyone, but what actually happened was truly unbelievable! Just before they both reached the ground, Mulciber pulled up, and Sloper smashed into the ground!

A second year, yes a bloody second year, had just pulled off a Wronski Feint! I was shocked, and I saw so many similar looks on all my team's faces as the game continued. Sloper had to come off of course, and in his place was Jack Handy, our third choice seeker, who hadn't played a single minute in an actual game, yet here he was, coming on in the reserves biggest game of the season!

Shortly after Jack's introduction, Demelza and a Slytherin chaser were engaged in a grappling match. It could not be determined who was at fault however and play continued. Another 30 minutes passed, with a lot more fouls, and Gryffindor slowly began to increase their points lead, though were never up by enough to avoid a Slytherin win should Mulciber actually catch the snitch.

Then, with the score 100-60 to Gryffindor, it happened, something perhaps even more remarkable than Mulciber's Wronski Feint. Jack was circling high above the rest of the action, when suddenly he entered an amazing dive from all of 70 feet, and before anyone knew it, he had caught the snitch, and won the Reserve Championship for Gryffindor! What a moment, it was first blood to us on this momentous day! I watched on so proudly as Dumbledore handed Alicia the cup, as this success was in part thanks to me, as Alicia had taken over from the foundations I had built last year! I wished the stadium had been full for the entire game, as it was certainly one to remember! Hermione getting her turn to lift the trophy, and then the traditional "3 chasers" trophy picture, of her, Demelza and Alicia, all such memorable moments.

Jack had pulled off something akin to Harry, more impressive on this one day than anything Sloper had ever done, so we definitely needed to switch their places in the pecking order!

As great as this victory was though, the job was only half done! We needed to secure the first team championship, something we hadn't done since Charlie played for us! Hopefully, our game would be as exciting as the one we'd just watched!