The Crown Badge

Chris felt optimistic about Gryffindor's chances; they had, after all, never lost to Slytherins. Admittedly Ron was still not performing to Wood's standard, but he was working extremely hard to improve. His greatest weakness was a tendency to lose confidence when he made a blunder; if he let in one goal he became flustered and was therefore likely to miss more. That's why Harry, Ginny and Chris were helping him to practice but the only thing really worrying them was how much Ron was allowing the tactics of the Slytherin team to upset him before they even got onto the pitch. When Slytherins, some of them seventh years and considerably larger than he was, muttered as they passed in the corridors, "Got your bed booked in the hospital wing, Weasley?" he did not laugh but turned a delicate shade of green. So Chris had to step in, no matter what, they couldn't let the Slytherins win with their dirty tricks. 

"We have if the beds were not occupied by Slytherin players," Chris retorted. "Are they out from the hospital wing yet? I don't think they should, you know when there is a great possibility they are going to end up there again, after the match."

This made Ginny, Colin, Luna, Ron, Hermione and Harry laugh. The Slytherins grunted some insults at Chris which she gracefully ignored.

The morning of the match dawned bright and cold. Chris and Ginny got ready, Chris braided both of their hair (which made them look actual professionals) and then went down for breakfast. The Great Hall was filling up fast when they arrived, the talk louder and the mood more exuberant than usual. As they passed the Slytherin table, Chris looked around and saw that nearly everyone there was wearing, in addition to the usual green-and-silver scarves and hats, silver badges in the shape of what seemed to be crowns. Chris tried to read what's written on them but before she could someone grabbed her. Chris turned around quickly to see Jason smirking at her.

"Always twitchy, aren't you?" He said.

"Maybe I won't be, if you stop sneaking up on me," Chris said.

"I will wait for you at the table, Chris," Ginny said with a smile and walked away.

"So are you going to wish me luck?" Chris asked raising an eyebrow at Jason.

"Can't, you see, I've to show some Slytherin spirit, especially when I've refused to wear the Weasley badge," Jason said with a fake sad voice.

"The what badge?"

"The 'Weasley is our king badge', haven't you seen?" Jason pointed at a nearby Slytherin boy and Chris noticed surely enough there it was, etched on the crown shape badge: 

Weasley is our King.

"What's that even mean?" Chris asked with a bad feeling.

"Well, it was Pansy Parkinson's idea," Jason sighed. "The senior Slytherins helped her to make those as Malfoy refused to do it."

"He refused?" Chris repeated blankly. 

What on earth was going on?

"Yeah, kinda threw Malfoy followers off-balance," Jason chuckled. "He said he is busy with his studies, Quidditch and his new girlfriend."

"Astoria?"

"You knew?" Jason looked surprised.

"Yep, saw them at three broomsticks last Hogsmead weekend," Chris shrugged. "So is that all? They are going to make fun of Ron all over the match?"

"Actually they have also prepared a song."

"You got to be kidding me."

"Afraid not," Jason grinned. "But don't worry, I'm not gonna sing it."

Chris rolled her eyes at him and Jason kissed her.

"Someone is super romantic today," Chris said feeling surprised as they pulled apart. "Showering me with affection in front of people?"

Jason smirked again.

"Be careful out there."

"I will try," said Chris hugging him.

Jason rolled her eyes. Chris grinned and walked towards the Gryffindor table.

"What's up?" Chris said sitting between Ginny and Luna.

Luna was wearing her usual lion hat which roared every time she tapped it with her wand. Hermione, Harry, Colin and Ginny were all looking very nervous and Ron was looking sick. He was staring into the dregs of milk at the bottom of his empty cereal bowl as though seriously considering attempting to drown himself in them.

"Ron, are you okay?" Chris asked feeling nervous now. If Ron had a nervous breakdown in the pitch then it was going to be a dreadful match.

Ron didn't answer. 

"He's just nervous," said Harry.

"Yeah I can see that," Chris sighed. "Listen, Ron—"

But before Chris could give any advice Angelina came hurrying toward them.

"When you're ready," she said, "we're going to go straight down to the pitch, check out conditions and change."

"Alright, let's go," Harry said getting to his feet and pulling Ron with him.

"We will be there in a bit," Ginny said. "Chris and I will just have some quick breakfast."

After ten minutes Hermione, Luna and Colin wished them luck and; Chris and Ginny hurried across the entrance hall, down the stone steps, and out into the icy air.

The frosty grass crunched under their feet as they hurried down the sloping lawns toward the stadium. There was no wind at all and the sky was a uniform pearly white, which meant that visibility would be good without the drawback of direct sunlight in the eyes.

Angelina had changed already and was talking to the rest of the team when they entered. Rest of the team except Ron, who was looking dazed and was fumbling with his robes. Chris and Ginny exchanged a pitied glance then Ginny went to help him. As they all finished putting on their Quidditch robes, Angelina started her pep talk.

"Okay, I've only just found out the final lineup for Slytherin," said Angelina, consulting a piece of parchment. "Last year's Beaters, Derrick and Bole, have left now, but it looks as though Montague's replaced them with the usual gorillas, rather than anyone who can fly particularly well. They're two blokes called Crabbe and Goyle, I don't know much about them —"

"We do," said Chris, Ginny, Harry and Ron together.

"Well, they don't look bright enough to tell one end of a broom from another," said Angelina, pocketing her parchment, "but then I was always surprised Derrick and Bole managed to find their way onto the pitch without signposts."

"Don't worry, Gin and I have punched them quite a few times. They couldn't even get back at that," Chris said and Ginny giggled.

"Alright then," Angelina tried not to look pleased but her smile gave away. She continued her talk as the babble of voices outside grew steadily louder as the crowd came pouring out of the castle toward the pitch and made their way to the stands.

"It's time," said Angelina in a hushed voice, looking at her watch. "C'mon everyone . . . good luck."

The team rose, shouldered their brooms, and marched in single file out of the changing room and into the dazzling sky. Ron was clutching his stomach with his free hand while staring straight ahead, his jaw set and his complexion pale gray. Chris sighed and fell into step beside him.

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To be continued...