7 Chapter 7

Halloween had approached quietly while I was busy with my studies and Quidditch. I saw Hagrid carrying the massive pumpkins he grew to the castle while I was doing yoga and exercise to develop my physique to better my role as a seeker.

While at breakfast I saw Hagrid and Professor Flithwick going around the Great Hall decorating the massive room. I checked my time table and saw that it was Charms on the first hour. I took my time and reached the Charms classroom which was pretty empty when we arrived.

We were each given a feather made to make it float with the levitation spel- . I was paired up with Seamus Finnigan while Ron and Hermione were paired up. It was difficult to see who was more irritated and dissatisfied with the pairing. They had started bickering about the smallest things and I had to intervene sometimes.

"Swish and Flick. The wand movement should be nice and clean. And enunciate, !" The next twenty minutes was frustrated grunts and even shouts as they tried to perform the spell. I just pointed at my own and started floating it around, making it do loop-de-loops, barrel rolls and make it swerve around my classmates heads at the last second making them duck their heads or flinch at the incoming feather shooting past them.

Flithwick was overjoyed and clapped while hopping on the place, "Marvelous Mr.Potter! Ten points to Gryffindor, for using the levitation charm on your first try, and five more for that excellent demonstration of your control of the spell." He looked happier than me. The guy is just a friendly little Labrador when it comes to his students.

But I know he would turn into a feisty chihuahua when he duels someone. Being the Duelling champions three times in a row is no mere feat. He is probably the third or fourth most powerful person in this castle. First place would obviously be taken by Dumbledore, Second would be Voldemorte and third would be Snape for his extensive knowledge in the dark arts.

Flithwick started giving me heavier and heavier things to lift, like parchments to sticks then bigger sticks then books till I lifted him with the books he was standing on to his utter delight. At this point only Hermione Granger had achieved lifting the feather. Seamus Finnigan somehow burnt his feather... more like exploded his feather right in his face. This left the Hufflepuffs who were taking the class with us, frustrated and started trying harder and waving their hands more vigorously and violently but to little success.

At the end of the class only three more people could lift it hardly a few inches from the table. Flithwik gave us some homework which I finished writing at lunch and submitted it then and there. By the time I reached the great hall for lunch, the food had disappeared, so I had to settle for a couple of Cauldron Cakes to satiate my hunger.

Transfiguration and History of Magic was much the same. They proceeded to ignore each other and I had mediate between them. I got tired of it fast and said, "Look. You need to either settle your differences or stop talking to each other. I've had it up to here with this dragon Dung and I refuse mediate between the two of you nor do want to choose one friend over the other." I told them after the class was over.

At dinner I saw them sit on either side of me clearly refusing to acknowledge each other. I scanned the teacher's table and found that Quirrel was missing so I excused myself to go the restroom and left the two still being assholes to each other. I pulled out the Marauder's map and followed the direction the troll was being led by Quirrel and went straight towards the back of the Great hall's Ante-chamber.

He led it a bit further and turned walking away. I went the long way around avoiding Quirrel and went straight to the troll. "Ugh.." I could smell it before I saw it. Since I did not yet know the bubble-head charm I had to endure the gag inducing stench of rotting roadkill, month old fish and Morgana's ass.

It was about to turn left towards the girls lavatory but I shouted at it, "Yoooohoooo~~ I'm a tasty treat~ Who wants dinner~¿?" Also throwing a torch at other. That caught its attention as it growled menacingly and charged at me. I ran the opposite side trying to lure it to where I want, to the boys' Lavatory. The lumbering giant was deceptively fast due to its size and almost caught up, but all of a sudden he slowed down and raised his huge club.

I had just a second to jump out of the way as a wooden club the size of a small tree went past me. I picked myself again and ran behind the tree and waited for the troll to approach before I raised the log to the ceiling. The troll seemed very confused as it ignored my and tried to get the club from the ceiling but failing miserably.

It looked like an adult holding a kid's favorite toy high so that the child couldn't reach it but still attempts in futility. I had enough of the smell and flicked my wand down, . Instead of dropping the club on its head, I shot the tree right at its head, smacking him in the face and knocking it out cold.

I had to use multiple curse to fully lock up its joints and limbs from moving. Just as a safety measure, I tied the huge club like a splint to his legs so that it couldn't move. I floated the troll and started pulling with me with the end of a rope in one hand and my wand in the other.

I waited outside the Great Hall and the checked my map. I saw Quirrel was already inside and the names of students started getting agitated and was about to move when I saw Dumbledore's name move from where he sat and came to the podium, "SILEEEEENCE!" I heard him shout. The voices died down as he said in a calmer turn, "Prefects lead your houses-"

That's when I made my move, I opened the door as a hushed silence filled the entire Hall. "Uhh... Excuse me! HeadMaster? I found this Troll wandering around so I caught it and brought it with me, I pulled the unconscious Troll inside the hall and dumped it on the ground, as the closest students screamed and scrambled back.

McGonagall was the first to come speed walking to me, "MR.POTTER! WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?! WHAT IF....?" She was pale faced as her eyes shifted from the troll continuously. Dumbledore was fast to act, "Prefects lead your houses to their dorms. Mr.Potter, please stay back, so can understand your circumstances." He said diplomatically.

I gave a nod as I saw Ron go past me muttering, "Wicked mate!" Hermione was on the other side of the spectrum and asked, "Are you hey Harry?" I just shrugged acting confused, "No. Just confused about what in Merlin's pants is going on."

After the whole Student body had dispersed and Madame Pomphrey carrying an Oscar winning Quirrel out to the Hospital Wing. Dumbledore and the other Professors surrounded the troll and examined it before he asked me, "So Harry my boy. Please enlighten us on why you were outside and how you took down a fully grown troll."

"Well it actually began a week back, Ron and Hermione have become irritating. Their constant bickering had started giving me a migraine. Ron keeps skipping Homework and wants to explore the castle at night, bit Hermione is against rule brekinf and nags Ron to do his Homework. I had had enough of their arguments and excused myself to go to the restroom. In honesty I just went for a walk."

"Down the hall near the boys' Lavatory was a powerful stench, which I thought was bad plumbing but turned out to be Gregory III. I named it after Goyle Jr. It has a striking resemblance dont you think?" McGonagall did not look amused, but ai saw Dumbledore's eyes crickle with hidden laughter, "Potter..." She warned threateningly.

"Ahem.. anyway, I charged at me but started running the opposite way and since it could not catch me it threw its club at me." pointing at the wooden club that I used to lock the legs together. "I threw myself out of the way and quickly got back to my feet levitating the clubto the ceiling. The troll, being a troll was trying the snatch it from the ceiling without success. I waited until it got tired and dropped it right on its head, knocking it out. I use dyhe curse and hog-tied it before bringing it hear. That's it."

McGonagall was too stunned to speak properly, "That's it? That's it you day?" She said staring at my like I was a new magical beast discovered. Snape just sneered at me which I promptly ignored till Dumbledore spoke up, "ten points from Gryffindor for going out without informing your prefect..." He have a dramatic pause and continued, "Sixty points for exceptional use of magic and incredible bravery. But please do take care Harry. Not many adult wizards take on a fully grown troll, let alone a student who has just started his magical education."

His eyes twinkled with amusement, "Although... to use the curse, a fourth year spell in your first year and I have also heard from your professors that your wandwork is well beyond your years and your peers. Jeep up the good work, my boy." He nodded his head sagely and left followed by few of the professors. McGonagall escorted me to the Gryffindor Tower bade me a good night before leaving.

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With that incident, my already elevated status became even more of a huge thing. I was once again put into the limelight which I did not mind much. But I was still a bit disappointed at not attaining my goal. Still, I have to admit that I have read too many Fanfictions. I thought if showed my excellence, Dumbledore or Flithwick might....

I don't know, maybe teach me advance magic? Or take me as an apprentice? Or send me as a representative of Hogwarts to Duelling tournaments? Something.... *sigh*

Classes were going as usual and Quidditch practice was going strong and hard. We started professional drills, even going so far as to get help from many of the Fourth and Sixth years to keep a lookout during practice. We already chased more than twenty spies trying to watch our practice sessions. It almost led to an altercation between out houses, but thankfully nothing came off it except for secluded incidents of students cursing each other with minor hexes and curses which did not garner much attention from the Professors. They just chalked it up to 'students being students'.

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It was D-day, the most important Quidditch match for the Gryffindors. Gryffindor VS Slytherin. The age old enmity could be duked out in this very field and emerge victory. We were in the locker room as the stadium was filling up with the students. "This is it, Men." Oliver said standing in front of us. "And Women." Angelina added, "And Women." Oliver nodded conceding.

Oliver was giving his speech to psych us up with splashes of wisdom here and there. "The Slytherin have one of the strongest team in a Decade. They flattened us last year. This year will be different." He said nodding at me, as I nodded back in acknowledgment. "So what do you reckon we start with?"

Everyone gave their suggestion and Oliver listened carefully, it was my turn next, "Well Gryffindor is always known as the team with one of the best Attack strategies. So I say we stick to our strength and blitz them taking a few points before they get organized. I would say, atleast 5-6 goals would do for a good start. I could join you guys and form an offense which uses the Hawks' head Formation blast through them."

Oliver nodded, "It could work, giving us a big lead. The snitch is notoriously difficult to catch in the first fifteen minutes of the game giving you and opportunity to join. George could keep the Seeker busy while you give us a lead."

"Let's go with it them." Oliver nodded and the others agreed. "Remember after we get a sixty point lead when need to change to a Bullfrog formation with the beaters flanking our chasers. Harry, I need you to take Higgs out. Tire him out and make him sloppy. Terrence Higgs has let himself go in the summer holiday and I recently heard he got chewed out by flint for putting on weight. Use that."

"....AND NOW LETS WELCOME TEEEEEAAAAM GRYFFFFIIIIINNNDDDOOOOORRRR!!!!" Lee Jordan's enigmatic voice beckoned us outside as we got ready. I took out my wand as did other and pointed at my robes and chanted Fred and George chanted, . A red coloured smoke started spewing from our robes as gold smoke spewed from the twins' robes as we blasted out of our locker room to a cheering crowd.

Their cheers turned into Roars of approval as we circled the stadium once as the spell wore off quickly. The Slytherin team did not look pleased, Flint even tried to protest against it with Hooch but she silenced him and sent him away. We took our positions: Oliver at the goalposts, Angelina at the centre facing Marcus Flint to take the Quafgke-drop with Alicia at the right flank and Katie at the left flank but she was flying lower than the others. I was flying high right above Angelina, facing the Slytherin seeker- Terrence Higgs

*Fweeeee* Hooch blew the whistle and the match started as She threw the quaffle high into the air, and I took off flying down right towards Flint, Surprising the whole Slytherin team. I flew straight at him till I was just a couple of metres and leapt off my broom. The broom sailed below him while I flew above him and landed on my broom on the other side of him.

Flint swerved off path as he screamed at the other Snakes. Angelina got the ball and immidiately dropped it to Katie who blasted past the Slytherin chaser who was guarding her with a roar she threw the balk with all her migh to the other side of the goal posts. The Slytherin Keeper- Bletchly sighed in relief as he saw Katie miss the goal.

Everyone forgot about Alicia, because of my move against Flint and that she was floating behind the goalposts. She caught Katie's pass, which the Goalie thought was a failed attempt and waited till Bletchly turned before dropping the ball lightly inside the goal with a smirk. "GOOOOOOAAAALLLL!!!" Jordan yelled, "What a spectacular play by the whole Gryffindor. Although many students had reservations about Potter in the team, he definitely showed why he was selected as the youngest seeker in a century!! Gryffindor leads by 10 points!"

I gave Alicia a high five went back to monitoring Higgs, the Slytherin seeker and shadowing him. Fred gave the signal and I peeled away from Higgs and slowly positioned right behind Flint as he received the pass from Bletchly. Marcus was floating in position and had his hand stretched out to recieve casually, since he did not see me I timed it and flew right in front of him again, this time catching the quaffle and passing it to Katie who was the nearest.

"That's cheating!" I heard Marcus roar as he flew past me chasing after Katie who was long gone dodging a bludger and scoring our second goal. "THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE! POTTER IS PLAYING AS BOTH THE SEEKER AND THE CHASER." Marcus Flint was arguing with the Hooch, but Hooch showed him the rules and he had to storm off with an ugly expression.

He whispered something to the Slytherin's beaters and glared at me. It seems I pissed off the whole Slytherin house with me plays. Oh well...

This time Bletchly gave a short fast pass to one of the chasers, he had reached only a little way when Katie came from behind and snatche the ball and going ono-on-one with the keeper: Bletchly and easily scoring. "AND ANOTHER ONE FROM KATIE BELL! GRYFFINDOR IS IN THE LEAD BY THIRTY POINTS! WILL SLYTHERIN GET CRUSHED IF THIS KEEPS ON?"

This time the Slytherin team charged with a tight formation, mimicking our Hawk's head Formation. I started flying towards the far end of the pitch, while the Slytherin seeker was still searching for the snitch. While they were distracted I caught Fred's attention and pointed at Higgs, the Seeker. He grinned and flew parallel slowly waiting for the ball to pass by. Angelina intercepted Adrian Pucey, one of the Chasers and was subsequently tackled by another chaser.

This dog fight was going on, on the Gryffindors' side of the pitch, making Higgs drop his guard and search the stadium for anything golden. George on the opposite field shined his gold watch at him getting Higgs' attention but turned away seeing that it was only a watch. But that lapse had caused him dearly.

He did not see the bludger barreling towards him as he crumpled to the ground unconscious. It took a few whistles from Hooch to get the Slytherin teams' attention. Higgs was quickly replaced with a lanky fourth-year who was visibly shaking when Markus threatened him to catch the snitch before I did or face the consequences.

After the substitution, we got possession of the quaffle and saw the ball coming towards me. I zoomed towards it and caught it only Bletchley standing in my way. I went straight at him, switching the ball from my right hand to my left and scored on the open middle goal when Bletchly dived to the left hoop thinking I would score there. Just a simple feint had tricked him.

"NOW THE SEEKER SCOOOORES! WHAT IS GOING ON OVER HERE! GRYFFINDOR IS IN THE LEAD BY FOURTY POINTS! I MUST SAY POTTER MAKES A GOOD CHASER. BLETCHLY MAKES A QUICK PASS TO PUCEY- FLINT- BACK TO PUCEY AND SCORES! SLYTHERINE GETS THEIR FIRST GOAL- WAIT A MINUTE KATIE BELL HAS JUST GONE PAST PUCEY AND PASSED THE BALL TO ALICIA- ANGELINA - FLINT STAELS THE BALL- ANGELINA GETS IT BACK- BULLET PASS TO KATIE - PASSES TO HARRY - DODGES A BLUDGER FROM STATUM, THE SLYTHERIN BEATER- SELMY INTERCEPTS THE PASS- DODGES ALICIA PASSES TO PUCEY- BACK TO SELM- BRILLIANT TACKLE BY ANGELINA- TAKES THE QUAFFLE AND SCOOOOOORES! GRYFFINDOR LEAD BY FIFTY! WHAT A MATCH! MARKING ANGELINA'S FIRST GOAL OF THE SEASON"

It was time. I waved my hand in a circle, as if telling a helicopter to take off and yelled, "Synchronized Team Blitz!".... "WHAT IS THIS? POTTER IS SIGNALLING SOMETHING AND THE GRYFFINDOR TEAM HAS RETREATED BACK TO THEIR SIDE OF THE PITCH! IT SEEMS THEY WANT YO PLAY DEFENSIVELY AFTER SUCH A BIG LEAD. BLETCHLEY PASSES, GOES TO SELMY- SELMY GOES ON THE ATTACK FLYING TO THE LEFT FLANK AS POTTER SEEMS TO HAVE DECIDED TO PLAY HIS POSITION AS THE SEEKER NOW LOOKING FOR THE SNITCH! GRYFFINDOR TEAM IS PRESSING HARD! SELMY HAS NOWHERE TO PASS. POTTER DODGES A BLUDGER AND ANOTHER ONE! THE SLYTHERIN BEATER OR SET ON KNOCKING POTTER OF HIS BROOM! BUT POTTER USES HIS SUPERIOR SPEED AND FLIES OUT OF RANGE! BRILLIANT PLAY THERE BY THE BOY-WHO-LIVED. sorry professor Snape."

"SELMY HAS NO CHOICE! HE FLIES PAST ALICIA SPINNET AND SHOOTS--- WOOD SAVES!!! WHAT IS THIS!! WOOD IS FLYING WITH THE BALL! NOW THE KEEPER IS PLAYING AS A CHASER! FRED SAVE WOOD FROM A BLUDGER- WOOD AT THE HALF LINE- HE PASSES! KATIE BELL TAKES THE QUAFFLE- PASSES TO ALICIA- PASSES TO ANGELINA- BACK TO KATIE- BARELY MISSES THE BLUDGER- PASSES TO ANGELINA- FLINT TACKLES HER- ANGELINA DROPS THE BALL BUT CAUGHT BY POTTER! WHERE DID HE COME FROM! PASSES BACK TO ANGELINA- ALICIA- BACK TO POTTER- AND, WHAT THE-!

POTTER FLIPS IN MID-AIR GRIPS HIS BROOM AND SMASHES THE BALL RIGHT INTO THE GOOOAL! THAT'S THE KEEPER BLETCHLY IS DOWN FOR THE COUNT AS THE FORCE OF POTTER'S SHOT KNOCKS HIM OUT COLD!"

Lee was jumping in the commentators' podium as the Slytherin team were making a substitution for Bletchley, "HARRY POTTER USED THE FINBOURGH FLICK! A PROFESSIONAL MOVE USED EXTENSIVELY BY ALAISDER MADDOCK OF THE MONTROSE MAGPIES! WHERE DID HE LEARN SUCH A MOVE! AND THE POWER OF IT... ENOUGH TO KNOCK A MAN OUT!!"

In truth I had basically used wandless magic half-punched and half-pushed the ball which resulted in Bletchly getting KNOCKED THE FUCK OUT! We were now sixty points in the lead and Slytherin is down a Seeker and a Keeper. I flew up taking my position again. Slytherin had substituted Bletchly with a chaser since they did not have spare keepers. Well atleast they had substitutes, we don't even have that!

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The game went on and the score was Gryffindor-130 and Slytherin-90 we were leading by 40 points when Angelina scored again bringing our score to 140, giving us a fifty point lead. But Marcus had score twice for the Snakes which brought our lead down to 30 points. That was when I spotted the snitch.

The Golden coloured ball was fluttering near the bottom of the Goalposts right next to the Hufflepuff stands. The yellow banners had camouflaged the Golden snitch. I kept my eyes on it as I slowly flew closer behind the posts and lowered my altitude. The Snitch must have sensed me and took off and I blasted after it, my legs almost grazing the ground.

I heard Lee screaming as I pit my entire focus, switching on my Occlumency and zeroing on the ball, the last thing I registered before my Occlumency kicked in was Fred and George flanking me from either sides, struggling to keep up with me. The snitch flew up as I gave chase I dodged a bludger and blasted past a person not seeing who it was and gaining on the little Golden ball. But another bludger had hindered my progress restarting my chase, this time I saw the Slytherin Seeker frantically trying to keep up with me.

I ignored him as I saw the snitch flying right under someone and yet I did not stop giving chase. The snitch gained altitude again, both us seekers following closely, him trailing behind, losing distance every second. Suddenly the snitch went straight down.

I was inches from it my hand outstretched, but the snitch changed directions but I couldn't let go of this opportunity. As it changed directions, it slowed down abruptly, I used this momentum to swing from broom and snatch at it barely catching its wing. Before it could fly away I caught it with both hands, hugging my broom with my body.

*Phweeeee*

"AND POTTER CATCHES THE SNITCH GRYFFINDOR WINS BY A LEAD OF ONE HUNDRED AND NINTY POINTS! GRYFFINDOR-320 AND SLYTHERIN-130. WHAT A FANTASTIC BEGINNING TO AN EXCITING START OF THE SEASON!" Lee was yelling into the microphone as the Gryffindor started chanting, "POTTER! POTTER! POTTER! POTTER!"