The Family that Chooses You

Chapter 125: Her Last Game

Katie walked down the stairs and into the common room, finishing the tie on her braid.  She smiled when she saw Demelza and Ginny waiting for her.  "Hey girls," Katie said warmly, "ready to win that Cup?"

"Hell yeah," Ginny said, smacking her hand against Katie's with Demelza following soon after.

"We've been waiting for you," Demelza said brightly.  Mirabelle bounded up, her bat tucked under her arm.  "We're your escort!"

Katie grinned happily.  "For little ole me?"

Mirabelle nodded.  "Captain said so!  We're going straight to the locker room.  He and Ron and Jimmy went ahead to get things ready."

"Well let's not keep the boys waiting," Katie said warmly.  They left the common room together, chatting and laughing, making their way through the castle and onto the grounds.  As they entered the locker room, Katie exclaimed with delight.  They set up a table full of food for them and a large flag with Katie's name and number hung from the wall.

"All this for me?" she asked happily, high-fiving Jimmy and Ron and hugging Harry.

"Of course," Harry said.  "We have to make this a super special game for you.  It's our Championship game!"  It's also your last game, he thought sadly.

She seemed to follow his train of thought but smiled bravely despite tears forming in her eyes.  "Let's make it a great one," she said firmly.

The rest of the team nodded, and they made sandwiches together and ate, getting mentally ready for the game.  They moved the plates away, stacking them neatly before putting on their padding and gear.

Harry waited for them to finish before he walked up the line.  He tugged on straps, made sure they were tight, buckles steady, buttons clasped.  He then had them gather in a circle and he smiled proudly at them.  "Well, here we are again," he said and Ron and Katie grinned, the other four smiling proudly.  "We've done what Gryffindors haven't been able to do for years before, make it to three consecutive Championship games.  We win this one, we set a record.  We win this one, we'll go into the book as a dynasty."

He looked them each in the eye.  "I told you at the beginning of this year I had a good feeling about each and every last one of you.  I'm glad to have continued to feel that way through all of our practices and games.  We've stuck together, played together, done it all together.  I'm so proud of this team, of this family."

He gulped a little.  "This is Katie's last game with us, let's make it a game she'll never forget.  Win or lose, we walk away Champions.  Even if we don't get the Cup, we are Champions, don't forget it."

"But I want that Cup," Katie said belligerently.

The rest of the team growled with approval.

"And I'm getting that sodding Cup!" Katie said loudly.

The rest of the team growled louder.

"Who's with me?!" she shouted.

Everyone cheered.

The whistle blew and Harry clapped his hands.  "Couldn't have said it better myself.  Let's go Lions!  Let's get our Cup!"  A flurry of back slaps and hugs went around and the team filed out of the room hooting and roaring.

"Sorry I stole your thunder," Katie giggled to Harry as they were the last two in the locker room.

He pulled her to him and kissed her on the lips.  "You can steal whatever you want any day," he said huskily.

Her eyes fluttered and she grinned goofily.  "I like the sound of that."

They emerged from the locker room and Katie stopped in surprise.  Lots of banners and flags bore her initials and her number and all of the Gryffindors cheered louder at her appearance.  Her eyes watered as she heard people chant her name.  "Did you put them up to this?" she shouted over the noise.