CHAPTER 13 - QUIDDITCH

The next day, Malfoy was basically having the worst time of his life, not only was Harry, Andrew, and the others fine, but Peeves kept bothering him and the other Slytherins from the moment they waked up. Not even the blood baron could do anything, because the moment he left, Peeves would return to annoy them to death.

Seeing his plan was successful to some extent, Andrew was at least a little bit happier, Harry, and Ron even said that was some really good idea, to make Peeves think that he had met Malfoy instead of them at such a moment, unfortunately, all that Peeves could do is annoy someone for some time, sooner o later he would get bored and leave.

But because of yesterday, Hermione started to give Harry and Ron the ice-cold treatment, she wouldn't speak to them even if Andrew paid her.

Even so, what truly bothered them was how to get back at Malfoy, unfortunately, they didn't have any good idea at the moment.

So while they were having breakfast, Harry told him and Ron his thoughts about whatever the dog may be guarding. He told them how before he went to buy his things, he and Hagrid went to Gringotts, where Hagrid retrieved some sort of package.

But this conversation only lasted for some time because it was finally time to get the mail.

As the owls flooded into the Great Hall, as usual, everyone's attention was caught at once by a long, thin package carried by six large screech owls. Harry was just as interested as everyone else to see what was in this large parcel and was amazed when the owls soared down and dropped it right in front of him, knocking his bacon to the floor. They had hardly fluttered out of the way when another owl dropped a letter on top of the parcel.

Harry was about to open it when another group of owls flooded into the Great Hall, carrying another similar package, but this time, the package was dropped in front of Andrew who didn't seem to know what was going on, soon after another owl dropped a letter on top of his parcel.

While Harry was already reading the letter he received, Andrew opened his letter and started to read it.

[Hello there! How've you been my sunshine? Mommy heard the news from Dumbledore and decided to send your broom, remember to only use it when they say you are allowed to, I don't want to hear that you broke some rules or bones.

Also, I and your father miss you, so sent some letters from time to time, and before I forget, I hope you are not trying to woo some innocent girl! Snape sent a letter telling me of your recent actions during the potions class. Remember to tell us about this girlfriend of yours when you write a letter to us, Hermione Granger isn't it? ;)

I heard she is from a muggle family, I wanted to invite them to stay with us during Christmas if you want to invite your friends and their families as well it's alright the more the merrier, right?

Anyway, good luck, we won't be able to go there and watch, but we are sure you will be great! ]

Andrew turned so red after reading the letter that some people close to him noticed and wondered what was written in the letter. Hermione was also curious and for wanting to get back at him for what happened yesterday, thinking that his parents had written something embarrassing for him, she took the letter from his hands and started to read it.

"What!?" When he noticed Hermione had already taken the letter.

In the first part of the letter, Hermione laughed a little, but when she arrived in the latter part... her face became red as well.

She just stood there looking at the letter, seeing how red her face was, the people around were really curious about what was on the letter.

Andrew felt like crying, his mother really likes to put him in some embarrassing situations.

Hermione returned the letter and apologized, before focusing again on her food, although her cheeks were still red.

People watching this interaction between them had a devious smile on their face, only they knew what they were thinking.

After apologizing to Hermione once again, he went to the dormitory to store his broom under his bed.

Later that day, Hermione talked to him and said that she didn't care about what happened in the morning. After that, things went back to normal and they continued to study together after classes.

However, one thing they noticed was that some people started calling them the perfect Gryffindor couple, because of their perfect performance in class and how close they were, which made Hermione blush from time to time while they went from one class to another or to the library.

...

After dinner, inside the boy's dormitory at Gryffindor tower.

Harry and Andrew had unwrapped their package. Harry had glittering eyes as he looked at it, while Andrew simply had a smile, after all, he has been practicing with this broom for almost a year now, it was his 10-year birthday gift.

As seven o'clock drew nearer, Harry and Andrew left the castle and set off in the dusk toward the Quidditch field. Hundreds of seats were raised in stands around the field so that the spectators were high enough to see what was going on.

At either end of the field were three golden poles with hoops on the end. They reminded Harry of the little plastic sticks Mugglechildren blew bubbles through, except that they were fifty feet high.

While Andrew decided to wait for Wood, Harry was so excited he decided to fly a little.

A few minutes later, they heard a boy's voice.

"Hey, Potter, come down!"

Oliver Wood had arrived. He was carrying a large wooden crate under his arm. Harry landed next to him.

"Very nice," said Wood, his eyes glinting. "I see what McGonagall meant... you really are a natural. I'm just going to teach you the rules this evening, then you'll be joining team practice three times a week."

"As for you," He turned to Andrew. "Although I have proof of your strength, I still have to see how well you can fly, so I will teach you the basics of a beater, and like Harry, you'll be joining team practice three times a week."

He opened the crate. Inside were four different-sized balls.

"Right," said Wood. "Now, Quidditch is easy enough to understand, even if it's not too easy to play. There are seven players on each side. Three of them are called Chasers."

"Three Chasers," Harry repeated, as Wood took out a bright red ball about the size of a soccer ball.

"This ball's called the Quaffle," said Wood. "The Chasers throw the Quaffle to each other and try and get it through one of the hoops to score a goal. Ten points every time the Quaffle goes through one of the hoops. Follow me?"

"The Chasers throw the Quaffle and put it through the hoops to score," Harry recited. "So — that's sort of like basketball on broomsticks with six hoops, isn't it?"

"What's basketball?" said Wood curiously.

"It's a muggle sport with at least one similar objective, don't think too much about it," Andrew replied.

"Okay, now, there's another player on each side who's called the Keeper — I'm Keeper for Gryffindor. I have to fly around our hoops and stop the other team from scoring."

"Three Chasers, one Keeper," said Harry, who was determined to remember it all. "And they play with the Quaffle. Okay, got that. So what are they for?" He pointed at the three balls left inside the box.

"I'll show you now," said Wood. "Take this."

He handed Andrew a small club, a bit like a short baseball bat.

"I'm going to show you what the Bludgers do," Wood said. "These two are the Bludgers."

He showed them two identical balls, jet black and slightly smaller than the red Quaffle. They noticed that they seemed to be straining to escape the straps holding them inside the box.

"Stand back," Wood warned them. He bent down and freed one of the Bludgers.

At once, the black ball rose high in the air and then pelted straight at Andrew's face. Andrew them swung at it with the bat, making the bludger fly towards the sky with a "swoosh" sound.

Wood's face seemed to pale as he looked at how high it flew, and when he remembered how fast the thing would be when coming back he started to sweat.

"What is it?" Andrew asked as he looked at Wood.

"We better take cover, I didn't know you would be this talented for the position, with this distance, this thing will hit like a train when it comes back!"

"Oh, don't worry I can take it back with no problem."

"Wha-" He was about to scold Andrew for having suicidal thoughts but Harry interrupted him.

"I think he is telling the truth, Andrew has inhuman strength."

Wood wanted to say something, but it was too late, when he looked up, the ball was coming so fast it left a trail of air behind it, he could only close his eyes and wait for the inevitable, but a few seconds later, without noticing anything happening, he opened his eyes to see Andrew with his hands a few centimeters away from the ball, he was making a gripping gesture, as if he was controlling the ball from far away.

"This..." Wood looked at Andrew as if he was a monster, it was only after a few minutes explaining that he understood and continued with his explanation.

"Did you understand?" Wood panted, forcing the struggling Bludger back into the crate and strapping it down safely. "The Bludgers rocket around, trying to knock players off their brooms. That's why you have two Beaters on each team — the Weasley twins were ours — it was their job to protect their side from the Bludgers and try and knock them toward the other team. So — think you've got all that?"

Harry repeated everything he said, making Wood nod satisfied.

"Er — have the Bludgers ever killed anyone?" Harry asked, hoping he sounded offhand.

"Never at Hogwarts. We've had a couple of broken jaws but nothing worse than that. Now, the last member of the team is the Seeker. That's you. And you don't have to worry about the Quaffle or the Bludgers —"

"— unless they crack my head open."

"Don't worry, with one of the twins Weasley and Andrew, I'm more afraid of someone from Slytherin ending up dead — I mean, look at his strength, this is almost like we are cheating or something similar.

Wood reached into the crate and took out the fourth and last ball. Compared with the Quaffle and the Bludgers, it was tiny, about the size of a large walnut. It was bright gold and had little fluttering silver wings.

He then explained how Harry would have to weave in and out of the Chasers, Beaters, Bludgers, and Quaffle to get it before the other team's Seeker because whichever Seeker catches the Snitch wins his team an extra hundred and fifty points, so they nearly always win. That's why Seekers get fouled so much.

"Well, that's it — any questions?"

They shook their heads. They understood what they had to do all right, it was doing it that was going to be the problem.

After that, they started to practice for some time, Harry had to train with ordinary golf balls since it was too dark and Wood was afraid of losing the snitch, while Andrew could fully experience the delight of being followed and hit by the bludger. After half an hour, night had really fallen and they couldn't carry on.

"That Quidditch Cup'll have our name on it this year," said Wood happily as they trudged back up to the castle. "I wouldn't be surprised if you turn out better than Charlie Weasley, and he could have played for England if he hadn't gone off chasing dragons. And with Andrew here, the other teams might end up losing their players before you could even catch the snitch."