A/N: Firstly, thanks to all those who reviewed the last chapter, I'm glad that you enjoyed the small glimpse at Brodsky. I love how detailed you all are! This chapter is a little early because I was in the mood to give you all a treat. And of course, it is the readers I write for, so thank you all.
Okay, here's another chapter. This one isn't much and don't hate me because I'm a romantic and I have trouble writing the action scenes especially with things like quidditch - and really when writing the game, there isn't that much you can put in. But to a particular reviewer - Mike - here is your acknowledgment.
I do hope you enjoy however and as always, reviews are appreciated, but not mandatory. I like to know what you think, but if you don't feel like leaving one, that's fine with me.
Disclaimer: Thought I'd add another one of these just to keep you all in the loop - no, I still don't own the Harry Potter world, but I'm working on it! I don't make any money from it, I just do it for kicks and because H/Hr is the best ship ... the true ship.
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CHAPTER FIFTEEN: QUIDDITCH
~~~~~November 2nd, 1996. Hogwarts.~~~~~
In the changing rooms at the Quidditch pitch of Hogwarts, Ron stood in front of the Gryffindor team. Harry just sat back and watched him go through plays for the chasers to remember. He liked to let his best mate have his chance to shine, and Quidditch and strategy were the two things at which Ron was actually knowledgeable.
"This game shouldn't be too tough. From what I've heard, the Hufflepuff team don't have a chance at the cup this year. Wedo. So just remember what we've been going through in practice, but leave the fancy stuff out, we don't want to give away all our tricks when we don't need to. Alright, let's get out there."
The team filed out of the changing rooms and listened as the Hufflepuff team was introduced by the new announcer."The Chaser line: Benson! Torel! And Cornell! Followed by beaters Henderson and Gregs! Chasing the little gold ball with wings will be Seeker, Billy Manger, and the captain of the team, defending the goals, Sandra Peters!"
The Gryffindor team took to their brooms and flew out into the stadium as their names were called, doing a lap for show.The entire team moved to the center of the field as Madame Hooch strolled out, levitating a large, wooden crate in front of her.
She looked up at the two teams with a stern glance. "This is to be a clean game!" She called and then opened the box. She released the Bludgers which shot up, almost knocking the Hufflepuff Seeker off his broom.
Both Seekers watched carefully as the Snitch was released, flying up in between them and straight up out of sight. The Quaffle was thrown straight up and the game was on, with the Seekers shooting up in the direction the Snitch had gone.
"Hufflepuff gets the Quaffle on the throw and Torel is blasting down the pitch! Passes to Benson who barely misses a Bludger fired by Longbottom! Back to Torel! To Cornell who slips it to Benson! Benson takes aim! Nice save by Gryffindor co-captain Ron Weasley."
Neither of the seekers had seen the snitch when they'd headed upwards, so they were now circling the pitch on opposite sides of each other. Harry's attention was split, partly on the game below, partly on the other Seeker, but mostly on his search for the snitch.
He vaguely heard the roar of the crowd as Gryffindor scored the first goal of the first game of the season. By the time Harry first saw a glint of gold Gryffindor was up, 40-10. He took off towards where the Snitch was hovering near the ground.
Glancing around briefly, he saw Manger take off after him. Almost as if the Snitch sensed the incoming Seekers, Manger still way behind Harry, it shot off. Harry and Manger chased it across the ground, almost so close they could run their feet on the grass, up and in front of the stands, but they both lost it as it headed to the sky and a bit of sun shone through the autumn clouds.
Once more they took to lapping the pitch on opposite sides of the field waiting for any glimpse of the Snitch.
Below the game continued. "Cornell's got the Quaffle! Passes to Torel! Oh! That had to hurt, nice shot by Finnegan! Patil picks it up on the drop! Zooms past Henderson who swings, but misses by a long shot! Long pass to Weasley! Who throws....It's in! Gryffindor 90-50!
"The Quaffle has been thrown back into the fray and picked up by Benson! Cuts through the two Gryffindor Beaters, passes to Torel who still seems a little shaky after that Bludger to the chest, but she's back on her broom and headed for the goal! Throws to Cornell! Intercepted by Thomas! Thomas buzzes through the line and flip-passes to Weasley!"
For the second time the Seekers chased the Snitch. Manger had seen it first, but Harry, being the better flyer and having a Firebolt quickly caught up. They flew past Ron, who was so focused on the Chasers he almost fell off his broom when he saw them headed towards him.
Cutting around, they traveled half of the pitch before shooting upwards into the clouds. The Snitch seemed to stop for a moment before dropping back down. Harry, who'd been flying vertically, turned himself over completely, cutting in front of Manger who stopped and turned.
They followed it back down to the pitch where it took a sharp turn and broke a path through the chasers, Hufflepuff currently in position. Harry followed, breaking up the V-formation Hufflepuff had made and making sure to 'accidentally' knock the Quaffle out of Benson's hands, straight into Ginny's waiting ones.
Harry glanced behind him to find Manger caught in the riot that was the chaser line and getting left behind. He turned back to the snitch, but Crack! a Bludger connected with the side of his head. Straightening himself to avoid the impending tailspin, he wiped the blood off of his face with the sleeve of his uniform and looked around for the snitch, but it was long gone and one look at Manger confirmed that he didn't know where it was either. So it was back to circling the pitch for the seekers.
"Thomas has the Quaffle, passes to Weasley, to Patil, back to Weasley! It's knocked out of Weasley's hands by Gregs's Bludger! That looked painful, but Weasley is still playing. The Hufflepuff chaser line is heading for the goal. It's with Torel, Benson, Torel, Cornell, to Benson, who throws...the King is reaching, damn! Missed it by millimeters."
Ron's fingertips had actually grazed the Quaffle as he reached to stop it from going through the left hoop. He cursed and retrieved it, throwing it to Dean.
"130-100, Gryffindor. Weasley in possession! Merlin! Henderson actually managed to hit his own team member, Torel, with a Bludger! That's one for the yearbook! Thomas has it, overhead throw to Patil! She swings around Cornell, passes to Weasley! Weasley goes for the shot, no, it was a trick! She's swung it back to Thomas who has put it through the center hoop! Gryffindor 140-100!"
It was another half an hour, and eighty points, before Harry saw the snitch again, hovering right above the Gryffindor stands. He was closer than Manger by a long-shot, since the other seeker was on the other side of the field. Harry leaned down on his broom and took off. The Snitch didn't even move as he approached. Harry glanced back and saw Manger way behind him with a dumbfounded look on his face.
He turned back to the snitch and saw it was still there, hovering right above the roaring Gryffindor crowd. He pushed himself further down on the broom and reached out. Gryffindor erupted as he wrapped his hand around the snitch.
"That's it! Game over! Gryffindor wins, 330-140! Harry Potter has caught the snitch! Gryffindor wins the first game of the season!" The announcer hollered, although it could barely be heard over the crowd.
Harry landed on the pitch in the middle of his teammates who were cheering along with everyone else. Ron walked up with a big smile and gave him a hard whack on the back.
"Nice going, mate!" Ron congratulated.
"Yes, it was very impressive," a soft voice said from behind them.
Both boys turned to see Hermione standing there with a smile on her face. She reached up and gave Ron a kiss on the cheek, then turned to Harry. The kiss on his cheek lingered a touch longer than it had on Ron and managed to double the size of the grin on his face.
She smiled at him, then took his arm in one of hers and Ron's in the other and started leading them away, "I believe a celebration is in order for such fine playing by Gryffindor's co-captains."
Ron grinned at her, "I love it when you think like that, Herms."
"But first I think you two need a shower." She pushed Ron through the door to the Gryffindor changing room. He smiled back and then trudged towards the showers.
She turned to Harry with a smile, "Good game, Harry."
He briefly looked around to make sure no one was near, but the teams were all in their changing rooms, and the rest of the crowd had headed back to the castle. He took her hand and looked into her eyes, "I only win when my lucky charm is in the crowd."
After a long moment of just staring at each other, Hermione looked away with a smile, "Go shower, Harry. I'll be in the common room, with everyone else."
He let go of her hand, kissed her on the cheek again and ran into the showers. Hermione smiled after him, shook her head and made her way back to the castle.
The party was already raging when Harry, Ron, and the rest of the team made their way through the portrait hole. The moment they walked in, every Gryffindor, and the few Ravenclaws that were inside cheered again.
Looking around Harry saw that there was food and plenty of butterbeer on one of the study tables and a muggle C.D. player had been enchanted and was blaring out tunes.
The party went for hours, well into the night until just about everyone had drifted off to bed. Harry and Hermione sat on the couch in front of the fire together. Harry watched as Dean and Seamus made their way up the stairs to bed.
Alone now, Harry put his arm around her and she moved into his embrace. She looked up at him with that smile that gave him butterflies.
"So, as I've been saying for years, professional Quidditch may just be in your future," she grinned cheekily.
"Nah, I don't think so."
Hermione looked at him, confused. "Why not? You love Quidditch, and you're certainly good enough."
"Too much travel." He tightened his arm around her and looked at her meaningfully, "It would take me away from my family. I'd have to spend too much time away from the people I love." He gently kissed her temple, "I'd hate that. It'd be as bad as when I have to go to the Dursleys'. You have no idea how bad it is without you around me."
"Remember, I don't see you for all that time either. It's hard for me, too. Although, Mum and Dad aren't anything like the Dursleys. And I actually enjoy spending time with them."
There was a long silence between them until Harry broke it, "I love you, you know?"
"I know. And I love you."
It was the first time Harry had ever heard those words said to him and for a brief instant he thought his heart had stopped. Tears almost fell from his eyes before he quickly blinked them away. He was sure his parents had told him they loved him, but he couldn't recall it as he had been far too young. It was unusual that at sixteen years old he couldn't remember anyone ever telling him he was loved, but he'd lived with the Dursleys most of his life. And besides, it was nice to hear it from Hermione.
"One day, when we've figured everything out, and we've gotten past our fears and all that, you think
you'd want to......" He trailed off.
"What, Harry?" she asked as she looked back up at him.
Harry took a deep breath, "Maybe after we've sorted some things out, then you'd want to be my girlfriend?"
"When we're ready, I'd be happy to be your girlfriend, Harry."
"When will we be ready?"
Hermione thought for a moment then took a deep breath of her own, "We'll just know, Harry."
He nodded then went on with something else that had been troubling him, "You know, there might be some people who'd have a problem with us being together."
"Ron," was all Hermione said as she turned back to the fire. "He's our best friend, Harry. And it's not like we'll be cutting him out of our lives. He'll still be our best friend; he'll always be our best friend."
"It's not just that." Harry started, "I may be wrong, but I think he might like you a bit, in the way I like you, maybe not as intensely as I like you, but...."
"I know, but it doesn't matter. Harry, I want to be with you. I really do; I don't care what anyone else thinks. If Ron is upset, then we'll do our best to make him happy and we'll do anything to preserve the friendship, but, Harry, if it comes down to it....."
"I'll choose you," Harry finished for her. "I agree completely, 'Mione. What about your Mum and Dad?"
"What about them?"
"Do you think they'll have a problem with us being together?"
Hermione thought on that for a moment, "Mum, definitely not. She thinks the world of you. Dad…I don't know. He likes you, but he does still have that 'my little girl' complex, I don't think it would matter who my boyfriend was, Daddy still wouldn't be very happy."
Harry laughed, "I'm glad he at least likes me, that'll make the urge may get to cut me into little pieces less prominent."
Hermione giggled into his chest, "Daddy wouldn't want to cut you up into little pieces; he'd never hurt anyone."
"You keep telling yourself that, Love."
She turned serious again after a minute, "Harry, do you honestly think I give a damn what anyone else thinks about us having a relationship…? Do you care?"
"No."
"Good, because I don't either." Hermione smiled, "I'm going to bed, Harry. Goodnight."
She got up and kissed him on the temple, then wandered up the Girls' Staircase only turning to smile when Harry called out, "Sleep well."
He watched her go with a small smile on his face before getting up and ascending his own stairs to bed as well.
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A/N: There you go, chapter fifteen over and done with. Thanks must go to my brilliant and talented beta, Raven Dreams, for her excellent work on this chapter and the last one. But any mistakes you may have picked up are completely my fault.
To know when chapter sixteen will be up, and a little about it, I recommend checking out my live journal, made only for readers of my fics - roman-citizen.livejournal.com/I keep it as updated as possible so that you can know what there is to know.
Next chapter - what a lot of you have been waiting for ... and I'm not talking about the mystery that is Brodsky.