Never Is Our Always

Quiddich Practices with The Firebolt 3

(Minnie pov) (after the holidays)

As I walked into the quidditch pitch, I saw the team huddling around to talk to each other about what they were doing today.

"Minnie!" I turn my head and saw Ron with Madam Hooch. I wave and then jogged up to Oliver and the team, Fred lifted his arm and wrapped it around my shoulders loosely.

"Harry, I've just found out who Ravenclaw is playing as Seeker. It's Cho Chang. She's a fourth year, and she's pretty good... I really hoped she wouldn't be fit, she's had some problems with injuries..." Oliver scowled his displeasure that Cho Chang had made a full recovery.

"On the other hand," I intervene, eyeing Oliver slightly before continuing, "she rides a Comet Two Sixty, which is going to look like a joke next to the Firebolt."

I eyed Harry's broom a look of fervent admiration.

"Okay, everyone, let's go." Oliver smiles at me as Fred takes my hat off and then ruffles my hair along with everyone else and left to start their practices.

"I want my hat back, Weasley!" I shouted and he laughs as he jogged back and put it on my head.

"There you go, Jordan," he winks at me.

I shake my head at him while he jogs off and mounted his broom swiftly, he kicks off taking it into the air.

"Hey Ollie," Oliver and I fist bump before he motioned me to come closer.

"I need you to watch very carefully, I know that you're not going to practice today, but I need you to keep a watchful eye in case I need you."

"Of course," I reply, "don't I always?"

"That's my Minnie," he softly pulled me to his side by the nape of my neck and hugged me. "By the way, stop distracting Fred." He mutters, "I need him to be focused."

"How do I distract him?" I ask as Oliver let me go. "He's got eyes on Angelina doesn't he?" I questioned him.

"He seems to be taking a sudden interest in you, Minnie," he smirked, "and so do you." He pokes my cheek and I swat him away, "you've liked Fred since you started here."

"Did not," I answer quickly, turning away and then walked towards the chest that held the four balls.

"Did too!"

"Shut up if you want to live to see the Quidditch house cup, Oliver!"

I look up to the sky and then smile as Harry excitedly zipped around on his new Firebolt.

Harry turned it so sharply that Alicia screamed, then he went into a perfectly controlled dive, brushing the grassy field with his toes.

"Harry, I'm letting the Snitch out!" I called, kneeling down and took the snitch out, it opens its wings and set it free from my grasp.

Harry turned and raced a Bludger toward the goal posts; he outstripped it easily, saw the Snitch dart out from behind me, and within ten seconds had caught it tightly in his hand.

The team cheered madly. Harry let the Snitch go again, gave it a minute's head start, then tore after it, weaving in and out of the others; I spotted it lurking near Katie's knee, so did Harry as he looped her easily, and caught it again.

-

It was the best practice I have ever witnessed by the Gryffindor team; the team performed their best moves faultlessly, and by the time they hit the ground again, Oliver didn't have a single criticism to make.

"That's a first..." George mumbled.

"I can't see what's going to stop us tomorrow!" Oliver said. "Not unless... Harry, you've sorted out your Dementor problem, haven't you?"