( 𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙩 ― 𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙛𝙤𝙮 / 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙮 𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 )

[FOUR | REVELATION]

AND WHILE NEVILLE'S PREVIOUS WORDS HAD SAVED HARRY FROM BEING SUSPENDED FROM THE UPCOMING GAME, it hadn't saved the team from several immensely excruciating work-outs.

"Harry? C-can we take a break now? We...we're tired." Hermione panted some two hours later, holding onto Ginny for support as she struggled to keep her body from collapsing from the intense strain on it.

And those words were shocking to the ears of anyone who heard considering the in-shape Gryffindors were rarely ever actually tired from their workouts (and considering Hermione ran at least 10 miles on a daily morning basis.)

"What're you talking about, Mione, we're doing just fine." Harry said nonchalantly as he brushed off the plea simply with the turn of his back; his teammates gaping at him with incredulous looks.

Neville scoffed, his voice shaky, "We're bloody exhausted! Drained!" 

A scan across the room proved this to be right, everyone bent over with their hands on their knees or on the verge of falling out on the ice right then and there. Harry sighed upon this sight, "Guys, this is the championship and we've got rough competition; you might take hits that'll hurt worse than these cramps."

"Harry, if this about Malfoy--" Ron warned, stepping closer with a stern look.

"This isn't about him!" He snapped, dropping his stick, "This is so much bigger than him, d-don't you get it?!" Harry yelled, on the verge of tears from how frustrated he was; his voice echoing off the walls of the now silent room. He soon noticed this and forced himself to calm down, taking in deep breaths, 

"I--This is our last year here, guys. We're seniors." He let out a little laugh, "After this, we'll lose contact and go onto college; never seeing nor speaking to one another ever again. We won't get this again unless one of use strikes lucky on a NHL contract deal in the future." He looked around the room, "We've been together since sixth and seventh grade, we've been a family since then." He went to each person, talking back on his first impressions and memories, "I remember all of you."

"How a bossy little Hermione waltzed in with her bushy hair and buck teeth, demanding and earning the role of the captain; always navigating and saving poor shots at the goal. How an agile Ginny with an attitude could make a slap-shot faster than you could shoot a bullet. How an usually tall Ron--at the time--would always lose his temper out on the rink whenever he was called out on a foul but kept it cool and civil around the officials and opposing teams. "

"How two goofy twins bounced into the room, making everyone laugh within five seconds of stepping in; how they impressed whenever they raged out together on the rink. How Angelina's braids popped me every single time in my face and how many times I'd leave with red marks on my face; yet her hard hits would send the puck flying overhead onto the other side of the rink. How a once-shy Neville evolved into a hulk-machine within weeks of joining."

"And--" Harry paused, looking down, "Man, uh, can someone take over my speech? You all know I hate getting emotional." The group chuckled and embraced their captain in a hug; surrounding him afterwords.

"We're gonna go out there and we're gonna win this game, Harry." Neville turned and pointed at him, " We're gonna win it for you." The team began agreeing, but Harry stopped them; shaking his head,

"No... not for me. D-don't do it for me." He looked up, staring at everyone, "Do it for yourself. Do it for us. But most importantly, do it for Gryffin High."

Harry broke out into a grin the minute they began cheering; their voices echoing against the wall. "But um, can we wait a bit?" All heads turned to face Fred, his expression quite hilarious-looking.

"Yeah, our bodies still need to heal." George finished, causing them to chuckle. And when it was clear they didn't have the current strength to make it up the bleachers, they all laid sprawled out on the ice rink; the hours passing by as they joked around and back on their starter years.

 An unusual way for the Gryffindors to end a day.