Chapter Seven---Gryffindor vs. Slytherin
Harry was quick on his feet, realized that it was only one Dementor and aimed his wand at it. He summoned a memory of Sirius laughing and yelled, "Expecto Patronum!"
The Dementor didn't seem fazed by the Patronus and Harry suddenly realized what it was.
"Riddikulus!" Harry said and laughed loudly. The Dementor vanished with a crack.
"That wasn't a Dementor?" Hermione asked softly.
"Nope, only a boggart," Harry grinned, "probably Kingsley's work."
"Exactly right," their Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher said, stepping away from where he had been hiding, "good thinking on your feet, Harry. I knew the boggart would turn into a dementor once it was near you. Luckily, it didn't go near Hermione."
"Why? What would've been bad about that?"
"You wouldn't have been scared with her boggart, merely mystified," Kingsley said succinctly.
Ron sniggered, "Yeah, Professor McGonagall telling me I failed everything is slightly less scary than a dementor."
"Professor McGonagall? That's not Hermione's----" Kingsley suddenly stopped at the look on Hermione's face.
"What do you mean?" Ron asked confusedly.
"Never mind," Kingsley said. "Good night, all of you."
He walked out of the portrait hole and both Harry and Ron immediately turned on their best friend.
"What did he mean when he said that McGonagall wasn't your boggart?" Harry asked.
Hermione rolled her eyes, "What do you think he meant? He meant that McGonagall wasn't my boggart."
"But that's what you said in our third year," Ron said suspiciously.
Hermione shrugged, "It doesn't matter. I'm tired…I'm going off to bed. Good night, you two."
She left the two confused boys behind her, thanking God that Kingsley hadn't revealed her boggart.
***
Harry was surprised to see that September and October had disappeared in a surprisingly quick way, the boggart attack becoming a faded memory. Gryffindor had inducted four new members to their team, Paul Kerry and Joseph Manning the Beaters and Mike Levine and Thomas Anderson the Chasers. For some strange reason that Harry was still wondering about, Ginny Weasley had elected not to try out. All the selected players were good at their positions and Gryffindor's hopes for the a third straight Quidditch Cup looked very promising indeed. Harry, Hermione, and Kalie had also narrowed down their potions topics to being one on emotions. They weren't sure which emotion they were going to do yet, as Harry wanted to do bravery, Hermione insecurity, and Kalie depression.
November had been cold and rainy so far and Quidditch practice was becoming an increasing drag on both his energy and his health. He had a mild case of the cold and had sneezed all over Snape during an Occlumency lesson a couple days ago. That had resulted in a detention.
Harry and Ron were walking back to Gryffindor Tower, finished with another wet, slimy, tiring practice. Katie Bell seemed to have been infected with the Gryffindor Captain mania and was working them as hard as Oliver Wood or Angelina Johnson ever had.
"It's not healthy for you two to be out there," Hermione said worriedly looking at Harry, when they entered the common room.
Harry sneezed and laughed almost sarcastically.
"Are you kidding?" he rolled his eyes. "God, I've never felt worse physically in a long time."
"Here," Hermione said, giving them both a bowl of hot chicken broth, "I asked Dobby to make it.'
"Telling house-elves to make food, Hermione? What has the world come too?" Ron asked mockingly, before gulping down the soup greedily.
"Shut up. You two needed it."
"Thanks a bunch, Hermione," Harry said gratefully.
"No problem," she said, before shooting an evil eye at Ron, "see how Harry thanks me first? You could do with learning a few lessons from Harry?"
Ron waved it off, "Yeah, yeah, whatever. Anyway, I've got to go tutor Luna. See ya."
Harry and Hermione watched amusedly as their friend strolled off. Luna had asked him to tutor her in Defense Against the Dark Arts and Charms once a week and Ron did it without fail. A few times, he had returned looking a little disheveled which led to much gossip in the Gryffindor common room.
"I'm beat," Harry said, "I think I'm gonna head upstairs. Good night, Hermione."
"Did you finish your Transfiguration homework?"
Harry sighed, "No. Dang, I've got to do that."
All thoughts of a warm bed and a good sleep were extinguished as he pulled out a piece of parchment and began to write. Hermione watched him as he struggled through the essay McGonagall had given them.
"Here, let me do it," she said.
"She'll recognize your handwriting," Harry said blearily.
"I'll use a Masking spell," Hermione shrugged, "don't worry about it."
"You're the best, Hermione," he murmured and sank his head onto her left shoulder.
Hermione did not both moving his head off, even though it was slightly uncomfortable to write with a head leaning on your other shoulder. After she finished the essay, she didn't bother getting up and going to bed.
She was tired by now as well, and silently noting that Ron still hadn't gotten back (which brought a laugh to her eyes), she put her head on top of Harry's and fell asleep.
***
The next day, a Thursday, the buzz going around the school was all about the upcoming Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Slytherin. Gryffindor had several new players and still had the best Seeker at Hogwarts, but Slytherin always gave them a good game, playing rough and having arguably the most physically strong team in the school.
However, Professor Dumbledore provided a new topic for them to all discuss at breakfast that day.
"Due to popular demand," he said, with a slight twinkle in his eyes, "we have brought back something to Hogwarts. Some of you may remember it from two years ago…yes, we are bringing back the Yule Ball. It will be held Christmas Day at eight o'clock in the night and will go on until midnight. It is not required to attend and students of all ages are welcome to attend. That is all."
A firestorm burst out across the Great Hall. Girls were giggling and boys were looking as if they had eaten something unpleasant. A few, such as Draco Malfoy, smirked as girls simpered around their arms.
During the course of the day, Harry was asked by three different students to the Ball. He rejected all of them, feeling slightly bad about it; but the fact was, he did not want to go with any of them. Ron was not as popular, but rumors were already going around that he was 'taken.'
Kalie Lane, Harry and Hermione's partner in Potions, had been asked by Mike Levine, the Gryffindor Chaser, and had accepted. Hermione had not been asked yet, and Harry felt glad for that. He did not know why, but he certainly didn't want her going with someone like Krum again. Krum was a good guy, but he didn't deserve Hermione.
At the end of the day, after another grueling practice in preparation for Saturday, Harry and Ron sat down in their favorite armchairs, talking about their Transfiguration class.
"I wish McGonagall didn't assign so much goddamn homework," Ron glared into the fire, "it's really getting annoying."
"This is sixth year Transfiguration, but still," Harry agreed, "I wish they'd ease up."
"No questions there," Ron said, "where is Hermione, anyway?"
"Library, I think," Harry replied.
"Gonna ask her to the Yule Ball?" Ron asked, with a shrewd look on his face.
Harry was surprised, "What do you mean?"
"Remember our conversation during the summer? I still think you love her," he said, "this is a nice and easy way to find out whether she likes you. Just ask her to the Yule Ball."
"I don't know," Harry shrugged.
"You better do it," Ron commanded, "or I'll do it for you."
Harry nodded, conceding that he would think about it. There was no harm in asking, right? It didn't mean anything…did it?
He changed the subject, "What about you and Luna?"
Ron blushed, "What about us?"
"Everybody's been talking about your tutoring…so tell me, is that all you're doing?"
"Of course," Ron answered immediately, before turning slightly more red, "we do some other stuff in there, as well."
"Like what?" Harry grinned.
"OK, we've kissed, so what?" Ron grimaced. "It was very good, I'll have you know."
"Can't say I know too much about that myself; I only kissed Cho once," Harry said.
"Well, have you asked her to the Yule Ball?"
"Not yet, but I will tomorrow," he said. "It's not a big deal; I already know her answer."
"Lucky you."
"I want you to ask Hermione within this week."
"Why so soon?"
Ron grinned, "You wouldn't want some other bloke to get her first, would you?"
"No, I wouldn't," Harry said forcefully.
"Excellent. Ask her after the game," Ron suggested, "you know, flush off your victory over Slytherin."
"We might not win," Harry reminded him.
"Of course, we will," he said, "we're Gryffindor. We're not gonna lose to Slytherin."
***
"This is going to be a game for the ages, folks!" yelled out Spike Jordan, Lee's younger brother and the new Quidditch announcer. "We've got the two-time defending champion Gryffindor going against their arch-rival Slytherin! This rivalry has been even more heated than usual recently, thanks to the hatred between their star Seekers, Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy.
"Never has a match been approached with so much anxiety and anger. Slytherin has not beaten Gryffindor since Harry Potter came to the school and Captain Malfoy vows that this will change. Katie Bell, Captain for the Gryffindor side, has also guaranteed victory. Only time will tell which one is right," Spike said, knowing that he was certainly hoping that Katie was the right one, "and here they are! The Slytherin team! Mitch Norris! Robert Walton! Adrian Pucey! Vincent Crabbe! Gregory Goyle! Blaise Zabini! And Draco Malfoy!"
The Slytherin team flew around the stadium, before settling themselves around the middle of the field. Malfoy had had to replace two of his Chasers as they had graduated and had gotten a new Keeper; he himself had only been raised to the level of Captain this year.
"And now, the Gryffindor Team! Captain Katie Bell! The two new Chasers----Mike Levine and Thomas Anderson! The new Beaters, replacing Andrew Kirke and Jack Sloper who did an admirable job filling in for Fred and George Weasley last year, Paul Kerry and Joseph Manning, two second years! The Keeper, Ronald Weasley! And of course, the best Seeker at Hogwarts (loud boos from the Slytherin stands), Harry Potter!"
The Gryffindor team flew out onto the field, circled once and came back to midfield for the opening toss. Harry gave Malfoy a glare, remembering the fight in September with Hermione, when Malfoy had mentioned Harry's curse books. Malfoy stared right back, his pale face in a permanent smirk.
"I want a nice, clean game from all of you," Madam Hooch said sternly, but knew it was all in vain. The last time Gryffindor and Slytherin had played a nice, clean game…well, there had never been a last time.
"And the game begins! Levine in immediate possession of the Quaffle! He looked quite good in tryouts but this his first game action----quick pass to Bell, the pretty and experienced Chaser, who weaves in and out of traffic----oh----stolen by Norris, who's moving towards the Gryffindor goalposts----he's got Weasley one-on-one----he shoots---he scores! Ten-zero, Slytherin."
Harry swore as he circled the field, Malfoy trailing behind him. The last thing Gryffindor needed was for Ron to lose his concentration and give up five or six more quick goals. Katie determinedly took the Quaffle and went coast-to-coast for a goal, but Ron still looked unsettled.
"Come on, Ron," Harry yelled out, as he passed by him, "hang in there!"
Unfortunately, this encouragement did not seem to help Ron. Mike and Thomas each scored one more goal, but Ron let in four more easy goals in the same span of time.
"Weasley looks rattled," Spike Jordan said, "He's returned to his early-season form of last year. Everything is going in for the ecstatic Slytherins----the Gryffindor crowd is urging Ron to remember how he performed against Ravenclaw last year, winning the Cup---but it seems in vain----another goal by Norris. This guy is eating Ron for lunch today, sixty-thirty, Slytherin."
"Timeout!" yelled Katie Bell.
Harry and the rest of the Gryffindor team flew to the ground, where Katie was looking straight at Ron.
"Ronald Weasley," she said sharply, "you are a good Keeper. We know this from last year. What the bloody hell are you doing up there?"
"I don't know," Ron mumbled.
The rest of the team was as angry as Katie was. Everyone knew what a good Keeper Ron was. He had performed admirably against Ravenclaw last year and had won the Cup for them.
"Harry, you talk to him," Katie said curtly.
Harry looked squarely at Ron, "Ron, you can do this. You know you can. You've got to. We're counting on you."
Ron closed his eyes and then reopened them, "All right. I will."
Harry clapped him on the back and looked at the rest of the team, "He'll be all right."
The team flew back into the air, the Slytherin team smirking at them. Harry rolled his eyes, and tried to ignore the singing of, "Weasley is Our King," coming from the Slytherins again.
Ron looked like he was concentrating again and he blocked the next few shots. Gryffindor was back on track. Harry breathed a sigh of relief and began looking for the Snitch again.
"Anderson moving up the field----he's really quick----passes to Bell----to Levine----Pucey coming alongside him----what a foul! Yes, and there it goes---the whistle blows!"
Adrian Pucey had come alongside Mike Levine and instead of trying to take the Quaffle from him, he had simply grabbed Mike's head, causing him to drop the Quaffle. Madam Hooch had seen it and immediately blew her whistle, giving Mike a penalty shot.
"Come on, Mike, you can do it----Zabini's a decent Keeper so far----head fake by Levine----he scores! He scores! Sixty-forty, Slytherin!"
The game became progressively more dirty. Slytherin used no discretion in their fouls, simply grabbing and holding anything red that came within a few feet of them. Gryffindor scores four more goals in rapid succession on penalty shots. Mitch Norris, however, was a very good Chaser and he answered with two of his own that tied the score at eighty.
Then, Harry saw it. The shimmer of gold was lurking near one of the Slytherin goalposts. Malfoy saw it too. The two Seekers dove to the ground, racing neck and neck for the Snitch, Harry slightly in the lead, thanks to his superior broom, when there was a sudden thwack as a Bludger careened into Harry's back. The pain was unbearable and he spun out of control, smacking into Malfoy, who also in turn veered off course.
By the time Harry had regained control of his broom, the Snitch had disappeared and everyone was staring worriedly at him.
"I'm fine!" he yelled.
"Potter looks like he's okay, as does Malfoy, so the game continues," Spike said. "Anderson's got the Quaffle again----Levine's got it----quick toss to Bell, who's weaving in and out of the strong Slytherin defense----smooth move past Norris----she's alone against Zabini----she scores! Ninety-eighty, Gryffindor!"
Harry cheered with everybody else as Katie circled the pitch, pumping her fist in delight. He looked down at the crowd and noticed with startling surprise that Ginny Weasley was not in there. He couldn't recall her every missing a Quidditch match. And she hadn't even tried out for the team----she was a great flyer, Harry was still mystified why she hadn't.
"Weasley's looked a lot better since the timeout, only allowing two goals to the very good Mitch Norris, who's been a pleasant surprise so far for the Slytherins. Potter and Malfoy seem to have recovered from their chase earlier in the game and continue moving around the field, the Snitch apparently out of sight…"
Harry looked at the crowd again, trying to find Hermione. He hadn't seen her earlier, and for some reason, he had forgotten to do his usual pre-match check of where she was in the stands. He blushed when he realized that it might have had something to do with his soon-to-be-happening asking to the Yule Ball. He was simply nervous about her…His eyes flew over the crowd. He spotted Hagrid and then saw her jumping up and down next to him. Hermione looked up at him and beamed.
As he smiled back at her, Harry suddenly noticed the golden flash above her head. The Snitch! He began speeding his broom towards the Gryffindor stands.
"Has Potter seen something? Malfoy's giving chase to him, but Potter's far ahead! What's there? The two Seekers are getting closer to the Gryffindor stands!" Spike Jordan shouted, trying to contain his excitement.
Harry looked once behind him just to make sure Malfoy was not close enough to be a threat and urged his broom forward. Hermione had seen the shimmer above her head and was frantically willing him to come faster.
He reached out his hand and caught the struggling ball in his hands, feeling a smile break out over his face.
"Gryffindor wins! A great catch by Harry Potter! Two hundred forty-eighty, Gryffindor!"
Harry soared above the crowd, waving the Snitch around as they went ballistic, enjoying Gryffindor's fifth consecutive victory against Slytherin.
***
Harry, Ron, and Hermione were relaxing in the Gryffindor common room, flush with victory, sipping their butterbeers, as the rest of the House partied until they knocked themselves out. In some cases, this was literal, as a couple kids were lying on the couch, having drunk too much laced butterbeer.
"Remember what I told you before the game?" Ron whispered in Harry's ear.
Harry suddenly remembered that he was going to ask Hermione to the Yule Ball. He looked over at her and saw the perfectly content smile on her face. Now was as good a time as any.
"I think I'm gonna go get some more food," Ron said, giving Harry a wink before walking away.
"That was a great catch, Harry," Hermione said casually.
"Thanks, Hermione," he said, blushing.
"You're welcome," she smiled.
Harry took a deep breath, "Um, Hermione? There's something I want to ask you."
"What, Harry? What's up?"
Harry looked around the room nervously and realized there was no escape. He turned his eyes back to Hermione.
"Will you go to the Yule Ball with me?"
*~*~*~*~*~*
Author's Note: Oooh, evil cliffy! If you review, I might be able to update sooner…thanks to everybody who has this fic one of the most reviewed on Portkey!