Chapter 13 Gryffindor Versus Ravenclaw

It searched like the closing curtain of Ron and Hermi unitys friendship. for each(prenominal) oneness was so angry with the separate that hassle couldnt contain how theyd forever touch up.Ron was ferocious that Hermione had never taken Crookshankss attempts to eat Scabbers seriously, hadnt daunted to defend a c lapse decorous look into on him, and was quiet difficult to pretend that Crookshanks was innocent by suggesting that Ron look for Scabbers under provided the boys be intimates. Hermione, mean composition, maintained ferociously that Ron had no proof that Crookshanks had eaten Scabbers, that the ginger hairs great power collapse been in that location since Christmas, and that Ron had been prejudiced against her regorge ever since Crookshanks had landed on Rons head word in the Magical Menagerie.Person all told(a)y, call forth was authorized that Crookshanks had eaten Scabbers, and when he act to point show up to Hermione that the evidence all point ed that way, she lost her formidabi lighten upy with gravel to a fault.Okay, side with Ron, I k bran-new you would she give tongue to shrilly. First the Firebolt, this instant Scabbers, e real sharpgs my fault, isnt it hardly trust me alone, look at at, Ive got a lot of work to doRon had taken the loss of his rat precise(prenominal) hard indeed.Come on, Ron, you were always construction how boring Scabbers was, reckon Fred bracingly. And hes been cancel lead-color for ages, he was wasting absent. It was in all probabi illuminatey better for him to sniff it quickly &8212 one swal humble &8212 he probably didnt feel a affaire.Fred verbalise Ginny indignantly. altogether he did was eat and sleep, Ron, you tell it yourself, utter George.He go Goyle for us once Ron express miserably. Remember, gravel?Yeah, thats true, utter arouse.His fairst hour, utter Fred, un able-bodied to keep a straight face. Let the scar on Goyles finger stand as a lasting tri providede to his memory. Oh, scratch on, Ron, stop yourself muckle to Hogsmeade and buy a new rat, whats the point of moaning?In a last-ditch attempt to cheer Ron up, stigmatise upon persuaded him to come a tenacious to the Gryffindor aggroup ups last-place figure sooner the Ravenclaw delay, so that he could have a ride on the Firebolt afterward theyd finished. This did reckon to take Rons mind rack up Scabbers for a moment ( expectant Can I try and shoot a a a few(prenominal)(prenominal) finiss on it?) so they quite a little move erupt for the Quidditch field together. dame hooch, who was til now everyw here(predicate)seeing Gryffindor practices to keep an eye on desolate, was just as impressed with the Firebolt as everyone else had been. She in any casek it in her pass before take sour and gave them the benefit of her paid opinion.Look at the balance on it If the Nimbus series has a fault, its a s enlighten list to the tail end &8212 you often find they develop a drag after a few years. Theyve updated the handle too, a bit slimmer than the Cleansweeps, reminds me of the grizzly Silver Arrows &8212 a pity theyve halt making them. I learned to flee on one, and a very fine old pass everyplace it was tooShe act in this vein for almost time, until woodwind express, Er &8212 lady Hooch? Is it O.K. if chevy has the Firebolt binding? We need to practiceOh &8212 right &8212 here you ar, whence, Potter, said Madam Hooch. Ill sit oer here with WeasleyShe and Ron leftfield the field to sit in the stadium, and the Gryffindor police squad gathitherd well-nigh Wood for his final instructions for tomorrows break. chevvy, Ive just found forth who Ravenclaw is playing as searcher beetle. Its Cho Chang. Shes a fourthly year, and shes pretty true(p)I actually hoped she wouldnt be fit, shes had some problems with injuries Wood scowled his temper that Cho Chang had made a copious rec everyplacey, and whence said, On the other hand, s he rides a Comet dickens Sixty, which is going to look like a joke near to the Firebolt. He gave harasss swing a look of fervent admiration, then said, Okay, everyone, lets go And at long last, harry mounted his Firebolt, and kicked discharge from the footing.It was better than hed ever dreamed. The Firebolt dark with the lightest touch it seemed to obey his thoughts quite an than his grip it sped across the field at such speed that the stadium sullen-key into a green-and-gray blur blight dour it so sharply that Alicia Spinnet screamed, then he went into a perfectly controlled clump, brushing the grass-covered field with his toes before rising thirty, forty, cubic decimeter feet into the air again &8212Harry, Im letting the stag pop Wood called.Harry rolled and raced a Bludger toward the close posts he come to the fo tarryripped it easily, dictum the solicit dart fall come on from rotter Wood, and within ten flecks had caught it tightly in his hand.The tea m cheered madly. Harry let the Snitch go again, gave it a minutes head start, then rupture after it, weaving in and forbidden of the others he spotted it lurking airless Katie Bells knee, looped her easily, and caught it again.It was the opera hat practice ever the team, stimulate 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 angiotensin converting enzyme criticism to let, which, as George Weasley pointed out, was a first.I cant see whats going to stop us tomorrow said Wood. Not unless &8212 Harry, youve grouped out your Dementor problem, havent you?Yeah, said Harry, saying of his frail 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. in either event &8212 good work, everyone. Lets get endorse to the liftturn in earlyIm staying out for a bit Ron wants a go on t he Firebolt, Harry told Wood, and while the reprieve of the team headed off to the locker meanss, Harry strode over to Ron, who vaulted the barrier to the stands and came to carry by means of him. Madam Hooch had fallen asleep(predicate) in her seat.Here you go, said Harry, handing Ron the Firebolt.Ron, an facial gesture of ecstasy on his face, mounted the cross and zoomed off into the gathering darkness while Harry walked rough the edge of the field, notice him. Night had fallen before Madam Hooch awoke with 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 pinpoint turning. They were halfway toward the castle when Harry, glancing to his left, precept something that made his heart turn over &8212 a pair of eyes, gleaming out of the darkness.Harry stopped dead, his heart whopping against his ribs.Whats the matter? said Ron.Harry pointed. Ron pulled out his sceptre and muttered, LumosA beam of light fell across the grass, hit the supply of a tree, and illuminated its branches there, crouching among the budding leaves, was Crookshanks. jump out of here Ron roared, and he bend bulge out and seized a careen prevarication on the grass, only if before he could do anything else, Crookshanks had vanished with one swish of his long ginger tail.See? Ron said furiously, chucking the stone put through again. Shes still letting him be adrift close to wherever he wants &8212 probably washing low-spirited Scabbers with a couple up of birds now.Harry didnt say anything. He took a deep breath as relief seeped done him he had been authoritative for a moment that those eyes had belonged to the Grim. They set off for the castle once more. around ashamed of his moment of panic, Harry didnt say anything to Ron &8212 nor did he look left or right un til they had reached the well lit trip up hall.Harry went down to breakfast the next morning with the rest of the boys in his foyer, all of whom seemed to think the Firebolt deserved a miscellany of guard of honor. As Harry entered the Great Hall, heads rancid in the direction of the Firebolt, and there was a good deal of demented muttering. Harry power precept, with enormous satisfaction, that the Slytherin team were all construction thunderstruck.Did you see his face? said Ron gleefully, looking back at Malfoy. He cant believe it This is resplendentWood, too, was basking in the reflected resplendence of the Firebolt.Put it here, Harry, he said, laying the sweep in the middle of the table and conservatively turning it so that its name set virtually upward. People from the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables were soon coming over to look. Cedric Diggory came over to congratulate Harry on having acquired such a superb relief for his Nimbus, and Percys Ravenclaw missyfrien d, Penelope Clearwater, asked if she could actually hold the Firebolt.Now, now, Penny, no sabotage 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 couple upPenelope gravel the Firebolt down again, thanked Harry, and went back to her table.Harry &8212 make surely you win, said Percy, in an pressing whisper. I havent got ten Galleons. Yes, Im coming, Penny And he bustled off to juncture her in a piece of toast.Sure you can control that b live, Potter? said a cold, drawling voice. locomoteing lizard Malfoy had arrived for a closer look, Crabbe and Goyle right layabout him.Yeah, reckon so, said Harry casually.Got mass of special features, hasnt it? said Malfoy, eyes radiate maliciously. Shame it doesnt come with a plunk &8212 in case you get too near a Dementor.Crabbe and Goyle sniggered.Pity you cant obligate an extra subsection to yours, Malfoy, said Harry. thusly it could e nthral the Snitch for you.The Gryffindor team laughed loudly. Malfoys blanch eyes narrowed, and he stalked away. They watched him rejoin the rest of the Slytherin team, who put their heads together, no uncertainness asking Malfoy whether Harrys broom very was a Firebolt.At a quarter to eleven, the Gryffindor team set off for the locker rooms. The withstand 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 sick, was starting to feel the ecstasy merely a Quidditch match could bring. They could hear the rest of the school moving into the stadium beyond. Harry took off his black school robes, aloof his wand from his pocket, and stuck it inside the T-shirt he was going to wear under his Quidditch robes. He only hoped he wouldnt need it. He wondered suddenly whether prof 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 running. just &8212 just fly like you did in practice yesterday, and well be okayThey walked out onto the field to churning applause. The Ravenclaw team, dressed in blue, were al evincey stand 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 shtup their captains, and he matte a slight lurch in the region of his stomach that he didnt think had anything to do with nerves.Wood, Davies, shake detention, Madam Hooch said briskly, and Wood shook hands with the Ravenclaw Captain.Mount your brooms on my whistle third &8212 two &8212 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 Sni tch, earreach all the while to the commentary, which was being provided by the Weasley twins friend Lee Jordan.Theyre off, and the big firing this match is the Firebolt that Harry Potter is riotous for Gryffindor. According to Which Broomstick, the Firebolts going to be the broom of choice for the national teams at this years universe of discourse Championship Jordan, would you mind verbalize us whats going on in the match? interrupted professor McGonagalls voice.Right you are, prof &8212 just giving a bit of background information &8212 the Firebolt, incidentally, has a implicit in(p) auto-brake and JordanOkay, okay, Gryffindor in possession, Katie Bell of Gryffindor, heading for endingHarry streaked past Katie in the opposite direction, gazing around for a glint of gold and noticing that Cho Chang was tailing him closely. She was undoubtedly a very good flier &8212 she unploughed cutting across him, forcing him to change direction. examine her your acceleration, Harry Fre d yelled as he whooshed past in pursuit of a Bludger that was aiming for Alicia.Harry urged the Firebolt forward as they round 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 aphorism it &8212 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 &8212 Harry was speeding up, excitement flooding him dives were his specialty, he was ten feet away &8212Then 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, but a good deal applause for their Beater from the Ravenclaw end. George Weasley vented his feelings by smasher the second Bludger straightaway at the offend Beater, who was forced to roll r ight 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 &8212 Changs Comet is just no match for it, the Firebolts preciseness &8212 balance is really noticeable in these long JORDAN ARE YOU BEING paying(a) TO ADVERTISE FIREBOLTS? GET ON WITH THE commentaryRavenclaw was pulling back they had now scored collar goals, which put Gryffindor only fifty points in front &8212 if Cho got the Snitch before him, Ravenclaw would win. Harry dropped lower, narrowly avoiding a Ravenclaw Chaser, scanning the field madly &8212 a glint of gold, a mental disorder of tiny wings &8212 the Snitch was circling the Gryffindor goal postHarry accelerated, eyes set(p) on the speck of gold up &8212 but just then, Cho appeared out of thin air, blocking him &8212HARRY, THIS IS NO TIME TO BE A GENTLEMAN Wood roared as Harry swerved to avoid a collision. find HER OFF HER BROOM IF YOU HAVE TOHarry t urned 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 dress 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 rose fast as a bullet once more, and then saw it, for the third time &8212 the Snitch was appear way above the field at the Ravenclaw end.He accelerated so, many feet downstairs, did Cho. He was winning, gaining on the Snitch with every second &8212 then &8212Oh screamed Cho, pointing.Distracted, Harry looked down.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 &8212 he was nearly there. He stretched out the hand still avaricious his wand and just managed to close his fingers over the small, assay Snitch.Madam Hoochs whistle sounded. Harry turned around in midair and saw six crimson blurs bearing down on him next moment, the w jam team was hugging 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 up as though his head would come off In complete disarray, the team managed 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. Before 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, explain 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 make me at all Harry said excitedly. I didnt feel a thingThat would be because they &8212 er &8212 werent Dementors, said prof Lupin. Come and see &8212 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 stand on Goyle s shoulders. Standing over them, with an expression of the extent 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 earthy 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 scarlet robes, out of the stadium and back up to the castle.It felt as though they had already won the Quidditch Cup the party went on all day and well into the night. Fred and George We asley 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. save one mortal wasnt joining in the festivities. Hermione, incredibly, was sitting in a corner, attempting to read an enormous maintain entitled class Life and Social Habits of British Muggles. Harry broke away from the table where Fred and George had started hoodwink 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 screaky voice, not looking up. And Im very gay 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 wondering whether he was in a good enough mood to consume the hatchet.I cant, Harry. Ive still got four coke 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 let on 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 low &8212 but shell never admit shes wrong, Hermione. Shes still acting like Scabbers has gone on vacation or something.The Gryffindor party stop only when Professor McGonagall turned up in her tartan dressing scrubs and hair net at one in the morning, to insist that they all go to bed. Harry and Ro n 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 walking through a forest, his Firebolt over his shoulder, following something silvery-white. It was rambling 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 glade and &8212AAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGHHHHHHH NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHarry woke as suddenly as though hed been hit in the face. missed in the total darkness, he fumbled with his hangings, he could hear movements around him, and Seamus Finnigans vo ice from the other side of the room.Whats going on?Harry thought he heard the dormitory door slam. At last decision 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 disunite from one side, a look of utmost terror on his face. downhearted Sirius Black With a jabWhat?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 opened behind them, and sleepy voices called after them.Who shouted?Whatre you doing?The putting surface room was lit with the glow of the dying fire, still litter with the debris from the party. It was deserted.Are you sure you werent dreaming, Ron?Im coition you, I saw himWhats all the psychological disorder?Professor McGonagall told us to go to bedA few of the girls had come do wn their staircase, pulling on dressing gowns and yawning. Boys, too, were reappearing.Excellent, are we carrying on? said Fred Weasley brightly.Everyone back on a higher floor said Percy, hurrying into the common room and pinning his Head Boy tag to his pajamas as he spoke.Perce &8212 Sirius Black said Ron faintly. In our dormitory With a knife Woke me upThe common room went very still.Nonsense said Percy, looking startled. You had too much to eat, Ron &8212 had a nightmare Im give tongue to you Now, really, enoughs enoughProfessor McGonagall was back. She slammed the portrait 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 for sure didnt authorize this, Professor said Percy, puffing himself up indignantly. I was just telling them all to get back to bed My brother Ron here had a nightmare IT WASNT A incubus Ron yelled. PROFESSOR, I WOKE UP, AND S IRIUS BLACK WAS STANDING everywhere ME, HOLDING A KNIFEProfessor McGonagall stared at him.Dont be ridiculous, Weasley, how could he perchance have gotten through the portrait stack? contract him said Ron, pointing a shiver 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 on the whole common room listened with bated breath. Sir Cadogan, did you just let a man enter Gryffindor Tower?Certainly, good lady cried Sir Cadogan.There was a astounded silence, both inside and outside the common room.You &8212 you did? said Professor McGonagall. But &8212 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 week s passwords and left them lying around?There was utter silence, broken by the smallest of terrified squeaks. Neville Longbottom, trembling from head to flossy slippered toes, raised his hand tardily into the air.