The Family that Chooses You

Chapter 121: What's Important

Harry dodged the Budger again, dipping below the path of the missile and flew down and to the right.  He spun in a wide corkscrew, lying fairly flat on his broom to offer as small a target as possible.  He evened out over the ground and pulled up hard, sending him off at a steep angle.  He sighed wearily as he saw the Ravenclaw Beater, Gilroy, follow him yet again.

It was their second game of the year and they were matched against Ravenclaw.  Harry was proud of his team.  After their first game and with successive practices, their teamwork had improved, his new players growing more confident.  They came into this game with high energy and a desire to win, to keep up the streak going into the Championship.

Cho, her last year as a player and team Captain, had come up to Harry before the game's start.  "You're not beating me this time," she said bitingly to him.  "You beat me twice, there won't be a third time."

Harry had been a little taken aback from the vehemence in her tone.  "Uh, okay."  Which apparently was the wrong thing to say.

Her face became thunderous.  "I mean it.  You won't have your girls to protect you this time either," she said, remembering the look Angelina had given her last year.  She stomped away.

Katie heard the last part and came up to Harry.  "What was that about?"

Harry shrugged awkwardly.  "I guess she really doesn't like losing?  The last two times got to her and she really wanted to make sure she wins this time."

"What was that thing about your girls?"  Katie frowned when Harry explained.  "This was when she tried to Wronski Feint you into the ground last year?"  It was her turn to look murderous when Harry nodded.  "Oh hell no.  You don't need girls to protect you.  But there's still a girl here that's going to make her game a miserable one for her."

"Don't foul her," he pleaded.

She smiled sweetly.  "Don't worry Harry.  I won't foul her; I'm going to do what I do best."

What Katie did best was be a damn good Chaser.

She scored the first goal within the first minute of the game and every goal Gryffindor scored was either from her hand or she assisted in.  Her efforts inspired Ginny and Demelza and they punished the Ravenclaw Keeper something fierce, swarming and distracting and scoring.  Harry did not even need to try and buzz or distract.

Which was good because Cho had tasked Gilroy to constantly cover Harry.  The Ravenclaw Beater was a second shadow to Harry and took every shot he could to interfere or knock him out with a Bludger.  At first the rest of the team wanted to put a stop to it but Harry had let it go.  Gilroy was no Dobby and Harry felt he was not at all in danger from the Beater.  That left only one other Ravenclaw Beater to try and block the Chasers or the Keeper and Jimmy and Mirabelle controlled the other Bludger more often than not, making the rest of the Ravenclaws suffer.

Over an hour into the match, the Gryffindors were ahead, 180 to 40.  Katie also started making faces and hand gestures at an irate Cho after every goal she scored, making the other girl grow increasingly angrier.  Cho called time out and the teams huddled.

"Good job everyone," Harry praised.  "Everyone is doing brilliantly."

"I thought she'd be smarter than this," Ron said, staring at a yelling Cho.  "Having a Beater harass you all game isn't doing them any favors."

"I think Katie's pissing her off more," Ginny sniggered.

Katie grinned.  "Oops," she said insincerely.

"You sure you don't want us to cover you?" Mirabelle asked Harry.

"No, I'm still fine.  It's getting tough to spot but if you keep covering the Chasers, we can keep up the divide on points," Harry said.  "If I need you, I'll call but this is working.  Let's keep it up Lions."  At Hooch's whistle, they returned to play.