A/N: Ok, last chapter. Hermione's big moment. Thanks for the great reviews!!
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The last Quidditch game of the season had just begun for Gryffindor. They were playing Slytherin after easily defeating Hufflepuff to get into the final game.
The team welcomed Hermione into her position as reserve chaser. Especially since they didn't have one.
Hermione sat quietly on the sidelines as she watched her teammates circling above her. She felt different in her new scarlet Quidditch robes. It wasn't like her to participate in sports, magical or otherwise.
Still, it was nice to be able to watch Harry and talk to him during time outs.
Just as she was sure he saw the snitch, a bludger hit Emma on the head. She began to fall to the ground. Hermione leapt to her feet and shouted a spell to cushion her fall. However, Emma was completely unconscious.
"Hermione, it looks like we need you," Harry said softly as he landed near her.
"No, no, no," Hermione repeated as she shook her head nervously. "Harry, it's the finals. We're playing Slytherin! I can't do it!"
"Mione," he said, placing a hand on her cheek. "I know you can do this. I believe in you. We really need you up there."
"Ok, I'll try. But don't hate me if I fail."
"You won't. I know it. And I could never hate you."
And with that, Hermione followed Harry into the sky.
"All right! Scarhead and the mudblood, together at last!" Malfoy screamed from the other side of the pitch.
"Just ignore him," Harry said reassuringly.
Hermione nodded and looked to her fellow chasers. They both gave her a thumbs-up. She smiled and gripped her broom even harder.
Madam Hooch blew the whistle and the game commenced.
Hermione watched as Becca passed the quaffle to Mindy. A Slytherin chaser was heading right to Mindy.
"Hermione! Catch!" Mindy shouted as she threw the quaffle.
Surprised, Hermione caught the quaffle and began flying towards the Slytherin goals.
"The mudblood's got it!" Malfoy screamed to his team.
A Slytherin beater sent a bludger her way.
"Hermione! Move!" Harry shouted to her.
She tucked the quaffle under her arm and picked up some speed, easily missing the bludger.
Harry cheered for her and resumed his search for the snitch (all the while keeping one eye on Hermione).
Hermione raced towards the goal hoops. When she reached them, the keeper stared her down.
'Harry believes in me. I can do this,' she thought. She dodged and weaved a bit, avoiding another Slytherin chaser. Finally, she took her shot.
In slow motion, she watched as the quaffle headed towards the hoop …
And it went right into the middle one!
Malfoy's face dropped. It was like someone punched him in the stomach.
Harry flew as fast as he could to her - forgetting about the snitch briefly.
"Excellent, Mione! I knew you could do it!!"
"Thanks, Harry. But what about the snitch?" she asked.
"Oh. Yeah. We'll celebrate later!" he said as he took off for the small winged ball.
Hermione smiled as the game resumed. She carefully watched as the quaffle bounced from chaser to chaser.
As she looked to her left, she saw a glimmer of gold hovering above Ron's head.
'The snitch!' she thought. She flew to Harry.
"Harry! I found the snitch. It's by the Gryffindor goal posts," she said, trying to look like she was just talking to Harry.
"Great work, Mione! You might win the game for us," Harry said as he casually made his way to the goal posts, as to not attract Malfoy's attention.
"Aww, spending quality time with your mudblood, Potter?" Draco coldly asked.
"Shut it, Malfoy. And quit calling her that!" Harry said as he flew away, trying to seem as though he didn't know where the snitch was.
The score was 50-70 in favor of Gryffindor. It wasn't enough of a lead to make Harry comfortable.
But, as luck would have it, just as he turned to check on Hermione, she was scoring another goal.
'She's amazing,' he thought to himself. 'In so many ways.'
He made another loop to confuse Draco and then took off for the snitch.
He stretched out his hand and easily caught the small gold sphere.
"Gryffindor wins! Harry Potter has caught the snitch!" Lavender Brown called from her announcer position. "Gryffindor wins the Quidditch Cup!"
Draco looked like there would be no Christmas this year. 'Potty and his mudblood actually won the bloody game!' he thought bitterly as he flew to the locker rooms.
Harry couldn't have flown to Hermione faster. He was grinning from ear to ear.
"You did it! You played and you won the game for us!"
"No, you caught the snitch," she corrected.
"But I might not have found it in time if it weren't for you. And you were amazing for the whole thing. You scored two goals against that brute of a keeper."
Hermione blushed. "Yeah, I guess I did."
"Hermione! Wicked job!" Ron said as he flew to meet them.
"Thanks, Ron. I can't believe it. I just played Quidditch!"
"And bloody well, too!" Harry said, pride obviously bursting from him.
"Damn straight!" Ron replied. "Well, if you don't mind, I have to meet Lav now. Just wanted to congratulate you, Hermione. You did great!"
Hermione smiled, still in shock that she played.
"Don't look so surprised that you did well. I told you that you were going to be great and you were. I mean, did you see Malfoy's face when you scored that first goal? Or the second one?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, I hope Colin got a picture of those moments. I'll frame them," Hermione said with a laugh.
"We'll blow one up and hang it in the Common Room," Harry replied. "So, let's go get changed and then we'll go to Hogsmeade and celebrate. I think you deserve a special dinner."
"Hmm, sounds appealing. Let's go," she said.
"I am so proud of you," Harry said as they flew to the ground. "I mean, you were bloody brilliant!"
"Well, I had a wonderful teacher," she said as they touched down. "How could I go wrong?"
"Well, you did have a perfect instructor," Harry said, laughing.
Hermione slapped his arm and then grabbed his hand.
They headed to the locker room to get their showers (separately - get your minds out of the gutters!).
As Hermione showered, she was composing a letter to her parents in her head, explaining her conquered fear, her newfound talent, and her play-by-play of her first Quidditch match.
Meanwhile, Harry was thinking. 'Well, Dad, I found a Quidditch girl. How proud are you?'
After they were cleaned up, they met on the pitch. Harry was standing with his broom.
"Another lesson, captain?" Hermione asked.
"Nope, free ride before dinner in Hogsmeade," he replied as he climbed onto his Firebolt.
"Ah, a chauffer. I like that idea." She climbed on in front of him and smiled as they rose into the air.
She leaned back against his chest, now understanding fully why he loved this. And now knowing why she would always love it as well.
'This is why flying was invented. For moments like this,' he thought as he gripped Hermione tightly with one arm and holding the broom with the other. He wondered if this is what his father did with his mother for dates: casual flies around Hogwarts (or maybe further with the invisibility cloak).
"I love you, Harry," Hermione said, cuddling as close as she could to Harry.
"And I love you, Mione. My fly-girl," he replied with a kiss to the back of her head.
And with that, the couple flew around for a half an hour before dinner, both of them beaming with pride and happiness and love.