Chapter 18:

"The Quaffle is up...And the game begins!"

Harry zooming down the field beside Malcolm Preece in the sixth year, and Heidi Macavoy in the fourth year was one of the most exhilarating things of Harry's young life. The quaffle was being thrown around between the three so fast that Ravenclaw chasers were having a hard time keeping up, especially with Harry on his Nimbus 2000.

Heidi scored a goal on the first possession and Harry was chasing Ravenclaw captain Rodger Davies down with everything he had to prevent the older fourth-year boy from taking a shot at the goal. Harry was able to intercept a pass intended for Davies and toss it down to Preece who took an alarmingly quick shot at the Ravenclaw goal post, leaving Keeper Grant Page in utter awe of the chaser's prowess.

After about twenty minutes of fast play, Hufflepuff was destroying their Ravenclaw rival 90 to 30. Diggory was doing well in the air, keeping the pretty second-year Cho Chang distracted by constantly waving at her, while he also swept in and disrupted chaser play which gave Harry and Heidi a chance to wreak havoc on Grant Page.

Somewhere around the thirty-minute mark, the chasers were told by their captain to blitz the offense when Anthony Rickett, a Hufflepuff beater, knocked one of the Ravenclaw chasers out of the game leaving it to a two-man defense, with Cho Chang attempting to help out as much as Cedric was on defense.

This led to an influx of goals, 9 of which were eventually scored by Harry. Leaving Heidi and Malcolm to score 12 in between them. The score was 40 to 210, that was before Cedric swept into the snitches position ending the game 360 to 40.

The ground was suddenly a blur of yellow and black as the badger house stormed the field with excitement. They all knew this would be likely their second easiest game behind Slytherin, Gryffindor was after the all with some only real talent, specifically with Oliver Wood on their team.

However, those thoughts were pushed to the back of their heads as the quidditch team embraced. Now Harry wasn't very flirtatious, but when a girl like Heidi Macavoy hugs you like that, you have to at least make a comment, "So all I have to do is score 9 goals and I get a hug from a blonde beauty? Should I set make a goal of this?"

These boys all laughed and Heidi merely shrugged, "If you manage to score nine goals against Oliver Wood in a few weeks I'll give you more than a hug Potter!"

This led to some cheering among the boys as a Hufflepuff chant went up threw the grounds, and the house of badgers was on a hot streak, with a slaughterhouse to start the season.

Diggory spoke with his team briefly in the locker room before they all went upstairs, "That was a good win today. Potter for the first game you played beautifully, actually managing to outscore both your senior chasers and helping us secure a win even without catching the snitch is always ideal.

It takes all the pressure off me and leaves us for clean wins, that was a perfect effort out there guys. I look forward to our game against Slytherin and Gryffindor even more now, and I am sure we can be putting that quidditch cup in Professor Sprouts Office this June! Now let's go celebrate, but bring it in first. Badgers Fight?!"

And the team called back, "TO WIN!"

The team left in a moment of cheers as the words of their battle cry echoed in the locker room. The battle cry however was still echoing and being chanted in the common room when the seven players stepped through to a deafening chant. It would rotate around Diggory, then Macavoy, then Potter, and even Preece, the stars of the game.

The beaters and keeper were also pounded on the back in approval as the team was all handed a butter beer and the older players even had some fire whiskey. Harry agreed to do one shot with his whole team in celebration of victory, however, when he did he thought he might cry. This led to some laughter and him getting slapped on the back by the boys.

As he went to join his first-year friends he was welcomed into the group as a hero. Susan and Hannah just about mugged him with hugs, and even Megan Jones was ecstatic for the group. Justin and Ernie slapped hands with the boy and they all went and took up spots in the corner to watch their housemates party like it was going out of style.

The party went on through most of the afternoon and the house-elves brought dinner into the common room since most of the students were likely too drink to make it to dinner, while others didn't want to ruin the party atmosphere. Harry however went down a little early claiming exhaustion and a need to get up early the next morning.

Darrel who was one of the Hufflepuff beaters agreed and soon followed the advice of the first-year chaser and made it to bed himself.

The following morning three sleepy faces awaited him at 6:00 AM as he was preparing to make it out towards the door. It was surprising to see Hannah, Darrel, and Susan awake at this hour, especially on a Sunday.

Sunday was the one day a week Neville didn't even join the boy it was the day off where they would relax and do basically nothing except maybe catch up on homework. Harry was used to working out alone on Sunday, but it appeared that was going to change, "You lot look dead. You might want to take a pepper-up potion if you are going to follow me outside."

Darrel being the older boy, and clearly more proud grinned, "I don't need a pick me up to keep up with you Potter!"

Harry shrugged, "If you guys start to fall behind, or can't go on, meet me at the Black Lake, that is where part two starts."

The others all held determined looks however and followed Harry outside the common room where the barrels shifted aside for them to exit. Harry broke into a slow jog, slower than usual to allow his housemates to keep up with him. When they hit the grounds the fresh air seemed to wake the group, and they were all able to speed up a bit.

Harry was surprised the group made it a mile, but shortly after Susan and Hannah stopped and dropped to the ground. Both boys stopped to see if they were okay, but both just waved them ahead, and the boys shrugged and continued on. After another ten minutes, Harry could tell Darrel was really struggling to keep paste.

It was a Sunday so Harry decided he would have mercy on the boy who was probably a little hungover, and sore from yesterday and went down to the black lake. When they arrived Darrel dropped into the sand staring off into the sky heaving for breath. Harry however just went to his knees as the girls approached. Harry heard Susan ask, "What next?"

But Harry was trying to find his focus and even his breathing. After he accomplished that he opened his eyes to see Hannah and Susan in a matching position as him, while Darrel was just beginning to sit up, clearly exhausted.

Harry spoke first, "You guys did well for your first day. Darrel, that was some amazing strength to make it through the whole run. I was shocked and inspired. I could tell you wanted to stop more than anything, and it's admirable that you held on. Hannah, Susan, you guys don't have quidditch to keep you guys in shape. The fact that you all made it over a mile is actually rather impressive. I would suggest you guys start with an every other, to every third day coming out with me, and slowly work your way up. You will want your core to rebuild and over time you will be able to do it every day like I do."

Everyone nodded at that, while Darrel seemed determined to help his player on the dueling team in any way he could. Susan and Hannah shared the determination, but from what Harry could tell were different reasons. Harry then spoke, "Since you are all familiar with Occulmency these drills Professor Snape taught me should be a little easier on you. Close your eyes and find your center. Drop your shields and allow your magic to flow to your hands as if you are preparing to cast a spell."

Harry felt the sand shake as he concentrated on the sound of his own voice, "Now push your magic out. Don't think about a spell or wand movement, just think about how peaceful your mind is. Or do like I do and focus on the water that is coming onto the shore. Project your magic around you, and feel it become one with your mind, area, and body."

The heir to the Potter family could feel the magic around him. He was sure most of it was coming off Darrel, but he could also feel a more feminine touch to magic, like when his mom was with him. He knew that was probably Susan's as he could almost feel her touch in the magic.

Hannah's was the quietest, but it was also the most consistent as if she were softly singing at the same tone constantly, without raising her voice or even saying words, but simply humming a fine tune. He could distinctly tell there were three magical presences, and after a few minutes, he was sure he could distinguish each one.

Opening his eyes the green-eyed boy looked at his three friends who all appeared to be on other worlds. Harry then jumped to his feet with cat-like reflexes speaking softly, "Open your eyes and draw your wands. Darrel if you would talk your sister through summoning the basic protego charm, I will do the same for Susan."

Darrel nodded doing his best to tell his sister the theory and wand movement behind the shield charm while Harry started with Susan, "Okay Susan. Let's try something different. Watch me produce my shield."

Harry did the basic incantation and a shield that was different from normal appeared in front of him, this shield did appear more solid, but it was much smaller than usual. Susan noticed and asked, "Why is your shield different? Yours is normally blue and from head to toe. This one only covers shoulder to shoulder and waist to neck, and also red."

Harry explained, "The wand motion I did was a little more precise, while if I do the full motion it's a head-to-toe shield, but first I want you to build the basic shield first. Do the wand motion first with this."

Harry transfigured a small rock onto the ground into a stick and handed it to the redhead, softly taking her wand from her for a few moments. After a few tries, she had the circular motion down, and then he had her add the words in. He could feel pulls in her magic and briefly wondered if one day she may have an affinity for wandless magic. He handed the redhead back her wand, and told her, "Now perform the shield charm."

The first time merely a whisp of silver came from her wand, but after three tries she created something that looked slightly more solid. Harry applauded the girl with a smile, and this time said, "Now I am going to fire a stinging hex at you, and I want you to block it."

Susan nodded with determination, and when Harry flicked his wrist a red spark flew towards Susan, and she brought up her shield just in time to catch the hex, however it did instantly make the shield collapsed. Susan clapped up and down excitedly and embraced her friend tightly.

Looking over to the other two, Darrel had adopted Harry's teaching method and now had Hannah throwing curses at him, while he was preparing her to deflect a returning curse. Harry turned his attention back to the lovely Ms. Bones saying, "Okay, now that was a pretty weak stinging hex, I am going to throw a bit stronger tickling charm at you, and I want you to dodge the first, and block the second okay?"

Susan grimaced but shook her head in agreement. When the first spell came at her she basically dove out of the way, while she had little time to block the next charm, and was soon laughing out loud.

Quickly Harry removed the charm and told her to try again. It took them several turns, while Harry eventually had to show her, that a dodge didn't have to be so drastic, but a mere shift of the body. He had her throw five charms and hexes at him, trying to hit him, but after being unable to, Harry felt she had a better understanding of it.

She then got hit by the first charm a few times, but after the fourth try she managed to dodge and shield perfectly, and even managed to dodge a third surprise charm, and fire back while Harry called out, "Fantastic Susan!"