Since the disastrous episode of the pixies, Professor Lockhart had not brought live creatures to class. Instead, he read passages from his books to them, and sometimes reenacted some of the more dramatic bits. He usually picked Harry to help him with these reconstructions; so far, Harry had been forced to play a simple Transylvanian villager whom Lockhart had cured of a Babbling Curse, a yeti with a head cold, and a vampire who had been unable to eat anything except lettuce since Lockhart had dealt with him.
Harry was hauled to the front of the class during our next Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson, this time acting a werewolf. Shakes with silent laughter at him as he tried to do what Professor Lockhart said but failing.
"Nice loud howl, Harry — exactly — and then, if you'll believe it, I pounced — like this — slammed him to the floor — thus with one hand, I managed to hold him down — with my other, I put my wand to his throat — I then screwed up my remaining strength and performed the immensely complex Homorphus Charm — he let out a piteous moan — go on, Harry — higher than that — good — the fur vanished — the fangs shrank — and he turned back into a man. Simple, yet effective — and another village will remember me forever as the hero who delivered them from the monthly terror of werewolf attacks." The bell rang and Lockhart got to his feet.
"Homework — compose a poem about my defeat of the Wagga Wagga Werewolf! Signed copies of Magical Me to the author of the best one!" I grabbed my books and hurried out of class. I hurried down to the quidditch pitch with Draco and got changed into our quidditch robes.
"Alright team. The Gryffindor team thinks there going to win today! But there not!" Flint shouts at us.
"We got the fastest brooms in the school. A new seeker, and-" he looked at me a little disgusted but underneath I could sense a little pride "A new chaser who is worth mentioning to much!" I smiled a little "Now onto the field!"
The Slytherins roared with applause as we entered the field. The Gryffindor team enter soon after. As they walked out onto the pitch, a roar of noise greeted them; mainly cheers, because Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff were anxious to see Slytherin beaten, but the Slytherins in the crowd made their boos and hisses heard, too. Madam Hooch, the Quidditch teacher, asked Flint and Wood to shake hands, which they did, giving each other threatening stares and gripping rather harder than was necessary.
"On my whistle," said Madam Hooch. "Three... two... one..." With a roar from the crowd to speed them upward, the fourteen players rose toward the leaden sky. Harry flew higher than any of them, squinting around for the Snitch.
"All right there, Scarhead?" yelled Malfoy, shooting underneath him as though to show off the speed of his broom. Harry had no time to reply. At that very moment, a heavy black Bludger came pelting toward him; he avoided it so narrowly that he felt it ruffle his hair as it passed. I stole the quaffle from Angelina Johnson and headed down to score. I went in to take the shot but at last minute passed to Pusey who scored quickly.
"A goal for Slytherin! They lead 10-0! Heard the Slytherin team got a new chaser! A girl! Seems to be pretty good to!" Lee Jordan shouted into the commentary stands. I look over to see Harry being chased by a bludger. It had started to rain. I focused back on the game and took the quaffle from Alicia Spinnet.
"Slytherin lead, sixty points to zero." Lee Jordan yelled sadly from the commentary box as I scored again. The Slytherins' superior brooms were clearly doing their jobs, and meanwhile the mad Bludger was doing all it could to knock Harry out of the air. The twins were now flying so close to him on either side that Harry could see nothing at all except their flailing arms and had no chance to look for the Snitch, let alone catch it. I looked around to see Draco searching madly for the snitch. Madam Hooch's whistle rang out and we grounded.
