The War Hammer of Hogwarts - Harry Potter

My First Match

Hooch: On my whistle!  Three... two... one...

With a roar from the crowd to speed us upwards, the fourteen players rose towards the leaden sky.  Harry flew higher than any of us, squinting around for the Snitch.  I raised my hands, signaling to Angelina that I was open.  She threw the Quaffle over one of the Slytherin chasers' heads, and I caught it, speeding towards the goalposts.  I threw the ball, and Flint narrowly missed it as it sailed through the ring.  I grinned, and the gryffindors erupted into cheering as Lee Jordan announced the first goal of my career.  But as the game went on, it was clear that we were at a disadvantage.  My broom was the fastest on the field, but the Slytherins' brooms were better than the rest of my teammates'.  Meanwhile, a rogue Bludger was trying to knock Harry out of the air, flying faster than it normally did.  Fred and George were flying on either side of him, leaving the rest of us to fend for ourselves if the other Bludger came our way.

YN: Wood, we need a time out!

Oliver clearly heard, and signaled to Madam Hooch.  Her whistle rang out and Harry, Fred and George dived for the ground, still trying to avoid the mad Bludger.

Wood: What's going on?

The Gryffindor team huddled together, while Slytherins in the crowd jeered.

Wood: We're being flattened.  Fred, George, where were you when that Bludger stopped Angelina scoring?

George: We were twenty feet above her, stopping the other Bludger murdering Harry, Oliver.

Fred: Someone's fixed it, it won't leave Harry alone, it hasn't gone for anyone else all game.  The Slytherins must have done something to it.

Wood: But the Bludgers have been locked in Madam Hooch's office since our last practice, and there was nothing wrong with them then.

Madam Hooch was walking towards us.  Over my shoulder, I could see the Slytherin team jeering and pointing in our direction.

Harry: Listen.  With you two flying round me all the time the only way I'm going to catch the Snitch is if it flies up my sleeve.  Go back to the rest of the team and let me deal with the rogue one.

YN: Don't be stupid, Harry.  It'll take your head off.

Wood was looking from Harry to the Weasleys.

Alicia: Oliver, this is mad!  You can't let Harry deal with that thing on his own.  Let's ask for an inquiry-

Harry: If we stop now, we'll have to forfeit the match!  And we're not losing to Slytherin just because of a mad Bludger!  Come on, Oliver, tell them to leave me alone!

George: This is all your fault, Oliver.  Get the Snitch or die trying, what a stupid thing to tell him!

Madam Hooch had joined us.

Hooch: Ready to resume play?

Wood looked at the determined look on Harry's face.

Wood: All right.  Fred, George, you heard Harry.  Leave him alone and let him deal with the Bludger on his own.

The rain was falling more heavily now.  On Madam Hooch's whistle, we kicked hard into the air and resumed the game.  We scored a few more goals, but the only way we would win was if Harry caught the snitch.  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Harry plummet into a dive, one arm flailing limply behind him.  The Bludger must have hit him, his arm was definitely broken.  He nearly hit Malfoy as he made a wild snatch in the air, now only gripping the broom with his legs.  There was a yell from the crowd below as he headed straight for the ground.  With a splattering thud he hit the mud and rolled off his broom.  His arm was hanging at a very strange angle, but in his other hand he held the snitch.

Harry: Aha!  We've won!

Then he fell over.  Unfortunately, before any of us could reach him, someone else decided it was their moment to shine.  I flew over, glaring at Lockhart, who was hunched over Harry.

Harry: Oh no, not you...

Lockhart: Doesn't know what he's saying.  Not to worry, Harry.  I'm about to fix your arm.

Harry: No!  I'll keep it like this, thanks.

He tried to sit up, but failed.  Then we heard a familiar clicking noise nearby.

Harry: I don't want a photo of this, Colin!

Lockhart: Lie back, Harry.  It's a simple charm I've used countless times.

Harry: Why can't I just go to the hospital wing?

Wood: He really should, Professor.

Wood couldn't help grinning even though his Seeker was injured.

Wood: Great capture, Harry, really spectacular, your best yet, I'd say.

Behind us, Fred and George were wrestling the rogue Bludger into a box.  It was still putting up a terrific fight.

Lockhart: Stand back!

He rolled up his jade green sleeves.  Just as he was pulling out his wand, my broom shot out of my hand and smacked him upside the head, knocking him face first into the mud, unconscious.

YN: Oh dear, how'd that happen?  Oh well, I guess we should bring Harry to Madam Pomfrey, right Wood?

Harry looked like he was fighting the urge to laugh as Wood and I helped him to his feet, holding him up by the shoulders as we made our way back up to the castle.  I could still hear Ron, Falco, and Pieck laughing their asses off in the distance.