Chapter Thirteen: One Last Game
Hermione was busy reading her book. The term seemed to go on forever. She thought to herself, who would've thought that even after Voldemort's death, this term would be just as eventful as all the others before. However, some moments were boring, not enough action and not that much excitement. The only excitement that ever took place around here were the house point totals and the Quidditch matches. The final match of the year was later in the spring. It was close to the middle of May by the time the seventh years were practicing their revisions for their N.E.W.T. tests.
Outside onto the grounds, the Gryffindor team was out practicing. Hermione was still reading the book she was studying and didn't want to feel like a fifth wheel. Luna was cheering them on, "Come on, Gryffindor!" Robins, Kirke and Sloper were once again passing the Quaffle back and forth like a well-oiled machine. Peakes and Coote were batting the Bludgers out of the way. Hooper was zipping around the hoops trying not to miss grabbing a single goal. Ginny was impressed. She said, "Don't be too confident, guys! Remember, this is our last game of the year, so you better make it count."
The next day, they all did their routine a little bit different. They had just decided to punch it all up. It seemed to be endless, and yet nobody seemed to complain. Thankfully, Filch was nowhere to be seen, so he couldn't yell at them in his usual gruff voice. Now what would Filch be doing in the Quidditch stadium in the first place? Well, Filch is known as a Squib, a person who never went to Hogwarts, even though their parents did. Despite the fact that he was and is a Squib, he would've been in Slytherin, so as to cheer them on in matches.
Ginny was going over the playtime routine for the next couple of days before the time came for them to really get out there and make the most of it. Hermione walked into the common room and asked how it was going. Ginny said it was fine. Hermione then put down her bag and went out to do a little nighttime patrol before bed. No one seemed to do any late-night sneaking, even when she walked down to the Entrance Hall and saw that no one was around. There were lanterns on and fire was crackling in the distance. The Great Hall was at peace and there was not an owl flying around in sight.
She decided to go outside and see for herself if it was also peace and quiet there. To her delight, no one was throwing Stink Pellets around or Dungbombs just for the fun of it. The moon was shining bright in the sky, and she was walking down to Hagrid's hut to see if he was in. She decided to pay him a visit, so she knocked on the door and let herself in after Hagrid said, "Come in." As soon as she got in, she noticed Hagrid was sitting, depressed about something. Fang was sleeping in his bed. "Hagrid," Hermione said, "what is it? What's the matter?" "Oh, nothin'," he said, "I'm just sittin' here, thinkin' about what I'm gonna do when you leave." Hermione smiled, "Aw, Hagrid, you'll still be all right. And you're the Care of Magical Creatures professor, so you've got that going for you." "I s'pose so," Hagrid said to her.
Hermione got the impression that Hagrid was going to miss her, which he obviously will. "Look, Hagrid," Hermione explained to him, "I'm gonna miss you, too, but maybe the guys and I can come pay you a visit any time you like."
"You really mean that?"
"Sure, if it's allowed." Hagrid smiled as his dog rolled around in his sleep. Of course, he knew they would write to him and see how their wizarding careers are taking off while he's happy at home in his hut, with Fang, and his teaching position as caretaker. Not much will change, but a lot soon will after these next few weeks.
Hermione gave Hagrid a big hug before she left him for the evening. While she was walking back into the castle, she noticed Professor Periwinkle outside of her office and followed her subtly to Professor McGonagall's office on the first floor. They were talking indistinctly, but Hermione knew what they were saying, or at least, she thought she knew what they were saying.
They were discussing Periwinkle's performance and position in the classroom. Hmm, what could they actually be talking about? It was getting late, so as soon as Professor Periwinkle left the office, Hermione silently walked back into the Gryffindor common room, and as the door closed behind her, she got ready for bed, and no one was the wiser. Huh.
Ginny was prepping up for the final Quidditch match of the season: the last game she'll ever play. She was feeling a little apprehensive about how this was going to play out and how the gameplay would affect the outcome, but when the time came, she put on her armor and went to give it her all. By the time Hermione and Luna wished her good luck, she and the rest of the team grabbed their broomsticks and zipped out into the stadium. The crowds were stomping on their feet, keeping the beat of the feels.
The commentator went to the podium and announced, "Welcome one and all to the last Quidditch match of the season. Today's game, Gryffindor vs Hufflepuff!" The entire audience cheered. Ginny nodded to the other players. Madam Hooch kicked the balls into the air and threw the Quaffle up so the Chasers would battle for it.
Robins grabbed the Quaffle twelve seconds later. She seemed determined to win this. As soon as she threw it, it went right through the goal post. Immediately, the commentator announced, "Daring today, aren't we, Demelza Robins? Ten points to Gryffindor!" Ding.
The team was definitely playing with their heads in this game, they really knew all the strategic plays. They were trying not to have a repeat of their two previous matches, so they decided to battle and balance it, giving it a more fair play-by-play. The Hufflepuffs were giving it their all as well.
Ginny was still surveying the stadium for the Snitch and the Gryffindor players were definitely improving their techniques. The commentator was even impressed. By the time the Gryffindors made their third goal, the students in the Gryffindor stands were doing the wave. One of the Hufflepuff Chasers tried to score a goal, but Hooper blocked it with all his might. Ginny was impressed. Kirke and Sloper were passing the Quaffle like Americans playing basketball. They reached the goal posts to no stop. They scored at least three times. Some of the Hufflepuffs got up and groaned, but they still tried to maintain good sportsmanship.
The final score was tied 120 to 120. The Snitch was flying around and Ginny came rushing right after it. She tried to reach out, but the Hufflepuff Seeker tried to beat her to it. The Gryffindors were cheering her on, trying to keep her guard up. As the captain, she had to keep her head in the final game of the year. The Quidditch stadium took forever to be repaired, which is irrelevant at this time, but still needed bringing up. Ginny reached out her hand, and then after seconds...she grabbed it!
The crowd was on their feet cheering and stamping. The commentator announced, "Ginny Weasley has caught the Snitch! She brings it all home! Gryffindor wins the Quidditch Cup!" Ginny felt proud of herself. And her teammates. She knew they wouldn't let her down. Kirke and Sloper high-fived. Peakes and Coote hit their bats together in. Hooper shouted, "Yeah!" Robins clapped her hands. Luna and Hannah were also clapping and Hermione got to her feet whooping and shouting, "Go, Ginny! Whoo-hoo!" Ginny chuckled. Professors McGonagall and Sprout were pleased. Flitwick clapped and squeaked. Slughorn was clapping but not cheering. Other than that, he was pleased.
On the stadium, McGonagall and Hooch presented the Quidditch Cup to the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Ginny held it up high so everyone could see it. Clapping and cheering continued on and cameras were flashing for the Daily Prophet and Quibbler. Everyone was having the time of their lives on that stage. They really had what it took to secure the cup for one last game before graduation, but just because it was the last game for them doesn't mean it will be the last game altogether. There will always be many more Quidditch matches, and some of them all over the world.
Hermione and Ginny were celebrating their victory with the others in the Gryffindor common room that night. The two young women clung their glasses together and drank their butterbeer without a care in the world. "Wow," Hermione said, "that was one hell of a match." Ginny said, "Yeah, but it all seemed so predictable. It wasn't rigged, was it?"
"No, it couldn't have been, otherwise the balls would've been acting all quirky."
"I see," Ginny was still enjoying her butterbeer at these words. On the plus side, the girls had no other assignments to work on after that, apart from the studying they still had to do for their final exams in the next couple of weeks.
It was almost midnight on a Saturday evening. As Friday night came to a close, everyone decided it best to listen to Ginny make one final speech before bed. Ginny got up and said, "Well, well done, everyone. We won! I want to thank all of you for working so hard and making this team proud. This has been one amazing year, even though we haven't done finals yet." They chuckled.
Ginny continued, "I enjoyed those games. And the teamwork you all worked so hard to achieve to make. I'm going to miss each and every one of you." Robins shouted, "Here, here! To Ginny! That-a-girl, Weasley." The boys shouted, "Yeah!" Clapping emerged again. Hermione whooped again, too. Nice to see everyone so happy in a single weekend. Anyway, the evening came to a close and everyone went to sleep as soon as the lights went out. It was a great day.
