Chapter 30: Quidditch time

Disclaimer: 

Harry Potter and all of its characters belong to J.K Rowling.

I own nothing but the original characters I make.

"Dialogue"

'Thoughts'

$Parseltongue$

Chapter 30: Quidditch time

There was one week left before Halloween and Gryffindor was about to play their second game of the year after their defeat against Ravenclaw.

Harry felt a bit strange sitting in the audience box, but there was nothing he could do about it. 

Looking around the stadium, He was hit by a wave of nostalgia, remembering the many years that he played on that field, chasing the snitch for Gryffindor.

"I hope they do better this time…"

"Of course, they will! I heard that they got a new seek this time."

Harry overheard the conversation that Ron and Seamus were having on the seats right in front of him.

'A new seeker? what a coincidence.' Or maybe it was something else. His eyes moved towards the teacher's box, where the Headmaster was smiling like usual while Deputy Headmistress McGonagall looked around the field with worried eyes.

"Say, Hermione." He called to the girl sitting to his right.

She lifted her face from the book she was reading, an old tome called "Quidditch Ruling 1890".

"Yes?"

"Where is Neville? I know he is not very interested in quidditch but he is usually with those two." He said while pointing forward at Ron and Seamus.

"Now that you mention it, is strange…" She looked around the box but could not spot and it was very unusual to not see that trio together, they had been inseparable since the year started.

"Seamus, Ron, do you know where Neville is?" She decided to ask.

"He left the dorm very early this morning and I haven't seen him since. I have no clue where he could have gone." Seamus looked genuinely confused.

"I-I don't know anything." Ron answered abruptly and turned around to not look at them.

"He is a terrible liar," Hermione whispered into Harry's ear.

He had to agree, that even as an adult, Ron had always been bad at lying. He definitely knew where Neville was.

Harry already had a hunch of what was going on, and he would only need to wait a bit longer to confirm it.

"Welcome to the fourth game of the Hogwarts 1991 league!" 

The cheerful voice of the commentator could be heard resounding all over the stadium thanks to the masterful work of magical runes on the place.

"I am Lee Jordan and I will be your commentator."

The students started to clap and cheer.

"This will be Gryffindor's second game after their defeat against Ravenclaw. But they have come back with a secret weapon!, a mysterious new seeker, whose name they have refused to reveal." Jordan gave McGonagall a side glance.

"Their opponents this time, is the Slytherin team, the Champions from last year…and a few years before that one, but who is counting?"

"Jordan…" McGonagall gave him a warning glare.

"Right, let's get started then. First to jump into the field will be…Slytherin!"

The green-robed team came flying into the stadium.

Their own selection of the spectator boxes started to cheer while the rest, remained silent.

The Slytherin team was, by far, the least liked one of the four. Mostly due to their rough play and borderline illegal tactics.

"And now…the team we are all hoping will take the win today."

"Jordan!" This time, a stronger warning came from the lips of the Deputy Headmistress.

"But not me!, I am completely impartial…Go Gryffindor!" Shouted Jordan.

The players made their entrance one by one.

"There they are!, first is no other than the Captain himself, Oliver Wood who plays as the keeper. Next, we have the two beaters, the Weasley twins, George and Fred, and following them are our lovely trio of chasers, Angelina Johnson, Katie Bell, and Alicia Spinnet."

Jordan moved forward in his seat to get a better look now.

"And finally, flying…a bit too far behind from the others is the new seeker…who is no other than…Neville Longbottom?!"

The stadium got very loud as everyone started talking loudly at the same time.

"What?!" Hermione shouted and almost dropped her book.

"Yeah!, Go Neville!" Ron fisted the air.

"You knew about this?" Seamus stared at Neville in shock.

"I caught him doing practice the other day. Sorry, I didn't tell you, they made me promise to keep the secret." Explained Ron.

"How did he join the team? first years are not even allowed to have a broom." Asked Seamus.

Ron shrugged. "He told me that Professor McGonagall had asked him to join the team."

"What were they thinking?, after what happened to him during fling practice…he must be so scared right now. Look, his broom is shaking a lot!" Hermione pointed up.

Harry stared at the broom that Neville was riding, it was a very familiar one.

"He is using a Nimbus 2000."

"Really?!, that's the fastest broom in the market!" Ron turned around to look at Harry.

"You can see it from here?" Seamus questioned.

"W-well…that was quite the surprise." the commentator spoke again. 

"Gryffindor has no other but the 'Boy who Lived!' , the hero of magical Britain as their seeker."

The Gryffindor box erupted into cheers.

"Now, players!. Get to your positions!" Jordan instructed.

Professor Hooch walked to the center of the field and pulled her wand out.

"Neville, come over here!" Called Oliver from his place next to metal rings.

"Stay flying high until you see the snitch. Remember the training!"

"I-I know…" Neville flew slowly upwards, gripping the broom with all his force.

"Say, Ron… Neville got better at flying since 'that day'...right?" Asked Seamus with some doubts after seeing his display.

"Mmm…I haven't really seen him fly yet, but I'm sure he has!. Besides, he has a brand new, top-of-the-line flying broom!. Even my little sister could catch the snitch with that broom." Ron exclaimed loudly.

'Your sister is a much better flyer than you…' Harry thought.

"Ready…" Professor Hooch lifted her wand in the air and a ball of light shot out. "Game start!"