Chapter 13 Gryffindor Versus Ravenclaw

It looked like the stamp let on of Ron and Hermiones friendship. Each was so angry with the early(a)(a) that rag couldnt see how theyd ever exonerate up.Ron was enraged that Hermione had never taken Crookshankss attempts to eat Scabbers seriously, hadnt bothered to take hold a close enough watch on him, and was belt up trying to pre god that Crookshanks was innocent by suggesting that Ron look for Scabbers under all told the boys beds. Hermione, mean period, maintained fiercely that Ron had no proof that Crookshanks had eaten Scabbers, that the ginger h carriages might look at been there since Christmas, and that Ron had been prejudiced against her cat ever since Crookshanks had landed on Rons head in the Magical Menagerie.Personally, devil was sure that Crookshanks had eaten Scabbers, and when he tried to point out to Hermione that the evidence all pointed that expression, she lost her temper with nettle too.Okay, side with Ron, I knew you would she verbalise shrilly. First the Firebolt, now Scabbers, everythings my fault, isnt it Just leave me alone, fire, Ive got a lot of regulate to doRon had taken the loss of his rat very hard indeed.Come on, Ron, you were always saying how wordy Scabbers was, verbalise Fred bracingly. And hes been dispatch-color for ages, he was wasting away. It was probably check for him to snuff it quickly one boozing he probably didnt feel a thing.Fred utter Ginny indignantly.All he did was eat and sleep, Ron, you verbalise it yourself, verbalize George.He bit Goyle for us once Ron verbalize miserably. Remember, kindle?Yeah, thats true, give tongue to desolate.His finest hour, verbalise Fred, unable to support a straight fountain. Let the scar on Goyles finger stand as a perdurable tri scarcelye to his memory. Oh, go on, Ron, get yourself mass to Hogsmeade and buy a new rat, whats the point of moaning?In a last-ditch attempt to cheer Ron up, annoy persuaded him to make sense along to the Gryffindor police squads final practice before the Ravenclaw match, so that he could carry a ride on the Firebolt after theyd finished. This did seem to take Rons mind aside Scabbers for a moment (Great Can I try and shoot a few goals on it?) so they set clear up for the Quidditch line of merchandise together. bird Hooch, who was still everywhereseeing Gryffindor practices to keep an eye on stimulate, was good as impressed with the Firebolt as everyone else had been. She took it in her hands before takeoff and gave them the benefit of her professional opinion. run across at the eternal sleep on it If the Nimbus series has a fault, its a slight list to the nates end you often find they develop a drag after a few years. Theyve updated the divvy up too, a bit slimmer than the Cleansweeps, reminds me of the old Silver Arrows a pity theyve stopped making them. I acquire to fly on one, and a very fine old b mode it was tooShe continued in this vein for some time, until Wood said, Er Ma dam Hooch? Is it O.K. if Harry has the Firebolt nates? We destiny to practiceOh right here you are, thus, fiddle, said Madam Hooch. Ill sit over here with WeasleyShe and Ron left hand the field to sit in the stadium, and the Gryffindor squad gathered nigh Wood for his final instructions for tomorrows match.Harry, Ive ripe be out who Ravenclaw is playing as Seeker. Its Cho Chang. Shes a four-spotth year, and shes pretty goodI really hoped she wouldnt be fit, shes had some problems with injuries Wood scowled his displeasure that Cho Chang had made a full recovery, then said, On the other hand, she rides a Comet Two Sixty, which is going to look like a joke next to the Firebolt. He gave Harrys broom a look of fervent admiration, then said, Okay, everyone, lets go And at long last, Harry mount his Firebolt, and kicked off from the ground.It was better than hed ever dreamed. The Firebolt human activityed with the lightest touch it seemed to obey his thoughts kind of than h is grip it sped across the field at such(prenominal) speed that the stadium turned into a green-and-gray blur Harry turned it so sharply that Alicia Spinnet screamed, then he went into a perfectly controlled dive, brushing the grassy field with his toes before rising thirty, forty, fifty feet into the air again Harry, Im letting the plume out Wood called.Harry turned and raced a Bludger toward the goal posts he outstripped it easily, saw the s necessitate dart out from behind Wood, and within ten seconds had caught it tight fittingly in his hand.The team cheered madly. Harry let the Snitch go again, gave it a minutes head start, then tore after it, distort in and out of the others he spotted it lurking near Katie Bells knee, looped her easily, and caught it again.It was the best practice ever the team, inspired by the presence of the Firebolt in their midst, performed their best moves faultlessly, and by the time they hit the ground again, Wood didnt have a single criticism to m ake, which, as George Weasley pointed out, was a firstborn.I cant see whats going to stop us tomorrow said Wood. Not unless Harry, youve sorted out your Dementor problem, havent you?Yeah, said Harry, thought of his feeble Patronus and wishing it were stronger.The Dementors wont turn up again, Oliver. Dumbledored go ballistic, said Fred confidently.Well, lets hope not, said Wood. Anyway good work, everyone. Lets get patronize to the towerturn in earlyIm staying out for a bit Ron wants a go on the Firebolt, Harry told Wood, and while the remain of the team headed off to the storage locker rooms, Harry strode over to Ron, who vaulted the barrier to the stands and came to meet him. Madam Hooch had fallen asleep in her seat.Here you go, said Harry, handing Ron the Firebolt.Ron, an expression of ecstasy on his face, mounted the broom and zoomed off into the gathering darkness while Harry walked around the edge of the field, watching him. night had fallen before Madam Hooch awoke w ith a start, told Harry and Ron off for not waking her, and insisted that they go back to the castle.Harry shouldered the Firebolt and he and Ron walked out of the shadowy stadium, discussing the Firebolts superbly smooth action, its phenomenal acceleration, and its atom turning. They were halfway toward the castle when Harry, glancing to his left, saw something that made his heart turn over a pair of eyes, glowing out of the darkness.Harry stopped dead, his heart banging against his ribs.Whats the matter? said Ron.Harry pointed. Ron pulled out his brink and muttered, LumosA beam of light fell across the grass, hit the bottom of a tree, and illuminated its branches there, crouching among the bud leaves, was Crookshanks.Get out of here Ron roared, and he stooped down and seized a stone prevarication on the grass, precisely before he could do anything else, Crookshanks had vanished with one swish of his long ginger tail.See? Ron said furiously, chucking the stone down again. She s still letting him scepterer about wherever he wants probably serve down Scabbers with a couple of birds now.Harry didnt say anything. He took a deep breather as relief seeped through him he had been sure for a moment that those eyes had belonged to the Grim. They set off for the castle once more. slightly ashamed of his moment of panic, Harry didnt say anything to Ron nor did he look left or right until they had reached the well lit entrance hall.Harry went down to breakfast the next morning with the rest of the boys in his antechamber, all of whom seemed to think the Firebolt deserved a sort of guard of honor. As Harry entered the Great Hall, heads turned in the direction of the Firebolt, and there was a good deal of excited muttering. Harry saw, with enormous satisfaction, that the Slytherin team were all looking thunderstruck.Did you see his face? said Ron gleefully, looking back at Malfoy. He cant believe it This is brilliantWood, too, was basking in the reflected glory of the Firebolt.Put it here, Harry, he said, laying the broom in the middle of the table and carefully turning it so that its name faced upward. People from the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables were concisely approach over to look. Cedric Diggory came over to congratulate Harry on having acquired such a superb replacement for his Nimbus, and Percys Ravenclaw girlfriend, genus Penelope Clearwater, asked if she could actually hold the Firebolt.Now, now, penny, no pervert said Percy heartily as she examined the Firebolt closely. Penelope and I have got a bet on, he told the team. Ten Galleons on the outcome of the matchPenelope put the Firebolt down again, thanked Harry, and went back to her table.Harry make sure you win, said Percy, in an urgent whisper. I havent got ten Galleons. Yes, Im coming, Penny And he bustled off to join her in a piece of toast.Sure you can manage that broom, Potter? said a cold, drawling voice.Draco Malfoy had arrived for a closer look, Crabbe and Goyle r ight behind him.Yeah, reckon so, said Harry casually.Got plenty of special features, hasnt it? said Malfoy, eyes glittering maliciously. Shame it doesnt come with a parachute in case you get too near a Dementor.Crabbe and Goyle sniggered.Pity you cant attach an extra arm to yours, Malfoy, said Harry. Then it could begin the Snitch for you.The Gryffindor team laughed loudly. Malfoys pale eyes narrowed, and he stalked away. They watched him rejoin the rest of the Slytherin team, who put their heads together, no doubt asking Malfoy whether Harrys broom really was a Firebolt.At a pull to eleven, the Gryffindor team set off for the locker rooms. The weather couldnt have been more different from their match against Hufflepuff. It was a clear, cool day with a very light breeze there would be no visibility problems this time, and Harry, though nervous, was starting to feel the excitement only(prenominal) a Quidditch match could bring. They could hear the rest of the rail moving into th e stadium beyond. Harry took off his black school robes, removed his wand from his pocket, and stuck it at heart the island of Jersey he was going to wear under his Quidditch robes. He only hoped he wouldnt need it. He wondered curtly whether Professor Lupin was in the crowd, watching.You know what weve got to do, said Wood as they prepared to leave the locker rooms. If we lose this match, were out of the outpouring. adept just fly like you did in practice yesterday, and well be okayThey walked out onto the field to tumultuous applause. The Ravenclaw team, dressed in blue, were al choosey standing in the middle of the field. Their Seeker, Cho Chang, was the only girl on their team. She was shorter than Harry by about a head, and Harry couldnt help noticing, nervous as he was, that she was extremely pretty. She smiled at Harry as the teams faced each other behind their captains, and he felt a slight lurch in the region of his stomach that he didnt think had anything to do with nerves.Wood, Davies, shake hands, Madam Hooch said briskly, and Wood shook hands with the Ravenclaw Captain.Mount your brooms on my babble three two one Harry kicked off into the air and the Firebolt zoomed higher and faster than any other broom he soared around the stadium and began squinting around for the Snitch, listening all the while to the commentary, which was universe provided by the Weasley twins friend Lee Jordan.Theyre off, and the big excitement this match is the Firebolt that Harry Potter is flying for Gryffindor. tally to Which Broomstick, the Firebolts going to be the broom of choice for the national teams at this years World Championship Jordan, would you mind tattle us whats going on in the match? interrupted Professor McGonagalls voice.Right you are, Professor just giving a bit of background information the Firebolt, incidentally, has a built-in auto-brake and JordanOkay, okay, Gryffindor in possession, Katie Bell of Gryffindor, heading for goalHarry st reaked past Katie in the opposite direction, gazing around for a glint of aureate and noticing that Cho Chang was tailing him closely. She was undoubtedly a very good flier she kept cutting across him, forcing him to channelise direction.Show her your acceleration, Harry Fred yelled as he whooshed past in pursuit of a Bludger that was aiming for Alicia.Harry urged the Firebolt forward as they rounded the Ravenclaw goal posts and Cho fell behind. Just as Katie succeeded in scoring the first goal of the match, and the Gryffindor end of the field went wild, he saw it the Snitch was close to the ground, flitting near one of the barriers.Harry dived Cho saw what he was doing and tore after him Harry was speeding up, excitement flooding him dives were his specialty, he was ten feet away Then a Bludger, hit by one of the Ravenclaw Beaters, came pelting out of nowhere Harry veered off course, avoiding it by an inch, and in those few, crucial seconds, the Snitch had vanished.There was a great Ooooooh of disappointment from the Gryffindor supporters, only much applause for their Beater from the Ravenclaw end. George Weasley vented his mental pictures by hitting the second Bludger directly at the offending Beater, who was squeeze to roll right over in midair to avoid it.Gryffindor leads by eighty points to zero, and look at that Firebolt go Potters really putting it through its paces now, see it turn Changs Comet is just no match for it, the Firebolts precision balance is really noticeable in these long JORDAN ARE YOU BEING PAID TO ADVERTISE FIREBOLTS? GET ON WITH THE COMMENTARYRavenclaw was pulling back they had now scored three goals, which put Gryffindor only fifty points ahead if Cho got the Snitch before him, Ravenclaw would win. Harry dropped lower, narrowly avoiding a Ravenclaw Chaser, scanning the field frantically a glint of gold, a flutter of tiny wings the Snitch was circling the Gryffindor goal postHarry accelerated, eyes fixed on the speck of go ld ahead but just then, Cho appeared out of thin air, blocking him HARRY, THIS IS NO snip TO BE A GENTLEMAN Wood roared as Harry swerved to avoid a collision. KNOCK HER bump off HER BROOM IF YOU HAVE TOHarry turned and caught sight of Cho she was grinning. The Snitch had vanished again. Harry turned his Firebolt upward and was soon twenty feet above the game. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Cho following him Shed decided to mark him rather than search for the Snitch herselfAll right, thenif she wanted to tail him, shed have to take the consequencesHe dived again, and Cho, thinking hed seen the Snitch, tried to follow Harry pulled out of the dive very sharply she hurtled downward he move fast as a bullet once more, and then saw it, for the third time the Snitch was glittering way above the field at the Ravenclaw end.He accelerated so, many feet below, did Cho. He was winning, gaining on the Snitch with every second then Oh screamed Cho, pointing.Distracted, Harry looked do wn.Three Dementors, three tall, black, hooded Dementors, were looking up at him.He didnt stop to think. Plunging a hand down the neck of his robes, he whipped out his wand and roared, Expecto patronumSomething silver-white, something enormous, erupted from the end of his wand. He knew it had shot directly at the Dementors but didnt pause to watch his mind still miraculously clear, he looked ahead he was nearly there. He stretched out the hand still grasping his wand and just managed to close his fingers over the small, struggling Snitch.Madam Hoochs whistle sounded. Harry turned around in midair and saw six scarlet blurs bearing down on him next moment, the whole team was necking him so hard he was nearly pulled off his broom. Down below he could hear the roars of the Gryffindors in the crowd.Thats my boy Wood kept yelling. Alicia, Angelina, and Katie had all kissed Harry Fred had him in a grip so tight Harry felt as though his head would come off In complete disarray, the team ma naged to make its way back to the ground. Harry got off his broom and looked up to see a gaggle of Gryffindor supporters sprinting onto the field, Ron in the lead. forrader he knew it, he had been engulfed by the cheering crowd.Yes Ron yelled, yanking Harrys arm into the air. Yes YesWell done, Harry said Percy, looking delighted. Ten Galleons to me Must find Penelope, excuse me Good for you, Harry roared Seamus Finnigan.Ruddy brilliant boomed Hagrid over the heads of the milling Gryffindors.That was quite some Patronus, said a voice in Harrys ear.Harry turned around to see Professor Lupin, who looked both shaken and pleased.The Dementors didnt affect me at all Harry said excitedly. I didnt feel a thingThat would be because they er werent Dementors, said Professor Lupin. Come and see He led Harry out of the crowd until they were able to see the edge of the field.You gave Mr. Malfoy quite a fright, said Lupin.Harry stared. Lying in a crumpled heap on the ground were Malfoy, Crabbe , Goyle, and Marcus Flint, the Slytherin team Captain, all struggling to remove themselves from long, black, hooded robes. It looked as though Malfoy had been standing on Goyles shoulders. Standing over them, with an expression of the termination fury on her face, was Professor McGonagall.An unworthy trick she was shouting. A low and cowardly attempt to sabotage the Gryffindor Seeker Detention for all of you, and fifty points from Slytherin I shall be speaking to Professor Dumbledore about this, make no mistake Ah, here he comes nowIf anything could have set the seal on Gryffindors victory, it was this. Ron, who had fought his way through to Harrys side, doubled up with laughter as they watched Malfoy fighting to extricate himself from the robe, Goyles head still stuck inside it.Come on, Harry said George, fighting his way over. Party Gryffindor common room, nowRight, said Harry, and feeling happier than he had in ages, he and the rest of the team led the way, still in their scarle t robes, out of the stadium and back up to the castle.It felt as though they had already won the Quidditch Cup the fellowship went on all day and well into the night. Fred and George Weasley disappeared for a couple of hours and returned with armfuls of bottles of butterbeer, pumpkin fizz, and several bags full of Honeydukes sweets.How did you do that? squealed Angelina Johnson as George started throwing Peppermint Toads into the crowd.With a little help from Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs, Fred muttered in Harrys ear.Only one person wasnt connecter in the festivities. Hermione, incredibly, was sitting in a corner, attempting to read an enormous book entitled Home life story and Social Habits of British Muggles. Harry broke away from the table where Fred and George had started juggling butterbeer bottles and went over to her.Did you even come to the match? he asked her.Of course I did, said Hermione in a strangely high-pitched voice, not looking up. And Im very glad we won, and I think you did really well, but I need to read this by Monday.Come on, Hermione, come and have some food, Harry said, looking over at Ron and question whether he was in a good enough mood to bury the hatchet.I cant, Harry. Ive still got four hundred and twenty-two pages to read said Hermione, now sounding slightly hysterical. Anyway She glanced over at Ron too. He doesnt want me to join in.There was no arguing with this, as Ron chose that moment to say loudly, If Scabbers hadnt just been eaten, he could have had some of those Fudge Flies. He used to really like them Hermione burst into tears. Before Harry could say or do anything, she tucked the enormous book under her arm, and, still sobbing, ran toward the staircase to the girls dormitories and out of sight.Cant you give her a break? Harry asked Ron quietly.No, said Ron flatly. If she just acted like she was sorry but shell never admit shes wrong, Hermione. Shes still acting like Scabbers has gone on vacation or something .The Gryffindor troupe ended only when Professor McGonagall turned up in her tartan dressing gown and hair net at one in the morning, to insist that they all go to bed. Harry and Ron climbed the stairs to their dormitory, still discussing the match. At last, exhausted, Harry climbed into bed, twitched the hangings of his four-poster shut to block out a ray of moonlight, lay back, and felt himself almost instantly drifting off to sleepHe had a very strange dream. He was base on balls through a forest, his Firebolt over his shoulder, following something silvery-white. It was winding its way through the trees ahead, and he could only catch glimpses of it between the leaves. Anxious to catch up with it, he sped up, but as he moved faster, so did his quarry. Harry broke into a run, and ahead he heard hooves gathering speed. Now he was running flat out, and ahead he could hear galloping. Then he turned a corner into a clearing and AAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGHHHHHHH NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOHarry woke as suddenly as though hed been hit in the face. Disoriented in the total darkness, he fumbled with his hangings, he could hear movements around him, and Seamus Finnigans voice from the other side of the room.Whats going on?Harry thought he heard the dormitory door slam. At last finding the divide in his curtains, he ripped them back, and at the same moment, Dean Thomas lit his lamp.Ron was sitting up in bed, the hangings torn from one side, a look of utmost terror on his face. gloomy Sirius Black With a knifeWhat?Here Just now Slashed the curtains Woke me upYou sure you werent dreaming, Ron? said Dean.Look at the curtains I tell you, he was hereThey all scrambled out of bed Harry reached the dormitory door first, and they sprinted back down the staircase. Doors stretched behind them, and sleepy voices called after them.Who shouted?Whatre you doing?The common room was lit with the glow of the dying fire, still littered with the debris from the party. It was deserte d.Are you sure you werent dreaming, Ron?Im telling you, I saw himWhats all the noise?Professor McGonagall told us to go to bedA few of the girls had come down their staircase, pulling on dressing gowns and yawning. Boys, too, were reappearing.Excellent, are we carrying on? said Fred Weasley brightly.Everyone back upstairs said Percy, hurrying into the common room and pinning his Head Boy badge to his pajamas as he spoke.Perce Sirius Black said Ron faintly. In our dormitory With a knife Woke me upThe common room went very still. guff said Percy, looking startled. You had too much to eat, Ron had a nightmare Im telling you Now, really, enoughs enoughProfessor McGonagall was back. She slammed the portraying behind her as she entered the common room and stared furiously around.I am delighted that Gryffindor won the match, but this is getting ridiculous Percy, I expected better of youI certainly didnt authorize this, Professor said Percy, puffing himself up indignantly. I was just tel ling them all to get back to bed My brother Ron here had a nightmare IT WASNT A NIGHTMARE Ron yelled. PROFESSOR, I WOKE UP, AND SIRIUS BLACK WAS rest OVER ME, HOLDING A KNIFEProfessor McGonagall stared at him.Dont be ridiculous, Weasley, how could he possibly have gotten through the portrait hole?Ask him said Ron, pointing a shaking finger at the back of Sir Cadogans picture. Ask him if he saw Glaring suspiciously at Ron, Professor McGonagall pushed the portrait back open and went outside. The whole common room listened with bated breath. Sir Cadogan, did you just let a man enter Gryffindor rule?Certainly, good lady cried Sir Cadogan.There was a stunned silence, both inside and outside the common room.You you did? said Professor McGonagall. But but the passwordHe had em said Sir Cadogan proudly. Had the whole weeks, my lady Read em off a little piece of paperProfessor McGonagall pulled herself back through the portrait hole to face the stunned crowd. She was white as chalk.Which person, she said, her voice shaking, which abysmally foolish person wrote down this weeks passwords and left them lying around?There was utter silence, broken by the smallest of terrified squeaks. Neville Longbottom, trembling from head to fluffy shoed toes, raised his hand slowly into the air.