It was a quiet Sunday morning at Hogwarts, the kind that usually promised peace and an uneventful day. It had been two days already since Harry's Potion Master exam. The sky had started to lighten up as faint streaks of sunlight found its way through. The clock on the bedside table read 4:36 AM, and Harry was still in his bed, tossing and turning.
In his dream, Harry found himself back in that same dark and murky place he had once seen—the place where he died. The air was heavy and an ominous silence had engulfed the place, only broken by the occasional drip of water echoing through the vast space.
Last time, Harry had taken the path ahead, he had ended up in front of the white dragon where he died. This time, he was not so keen to experience so Harry started going opposite to that side.
He kept walking through the darkness hoping that he wouldn't end up dead again. The landscape began to twist, folding into itself, until he once again stood before the same dark altar. It was as though no matter which path he took, his fate was bound to this place.
The white dragon seemed to be sleeping and as Harry stopped before the altar, he saw its eyes open and stare at Harry. It was as if the dragon was almost confused to see Harry standing there. Before Harry could even react, the dragon's maw opened wide, releasing its breath towards Harry.
Harry felt his skin burn, his flesh melting away, the excruciating pain overwhelming every sense. He screamed—but no sound came out. And then, just like before, darkness engulfed him.
Harry woke up gasping for air. His heart was pounding against his chest. His skin was slick with sweat as he drew deep and rapid breathes. The memory of the pain was too vivid considering that it was a dream.
He glanced at the clock on the bedside table—4:43 AM. Harry got up from his bed and walked out of the dormitory, down to the empty common room. He sat on the couch, replaying the dream in his mind again and again. The pain had been so real that Harry couldn't get it out of his head. But why did the dragon look confused to see Harry?
Harry sat on the couch, staring blankly at the flames in the fireplace, his mind heavy with the thoughts of the dream. The image of the white dragon and its confused gaze before it unleased its breath kept replaying in his head over and over again.
As he was deep in thought, he didn't catch the light sound of footsteps on the stairs. Hermione descended the stairs, fully dressed and holding a stack of books in her arms. She saw Harry and walked over to him.
"Morning, Harry," she said, approaching the couch. "What are you doing up so early?"
Harry looked up from the flames towards the direction of the voice. "Couldn't sleep. Had... a strange dream."
Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Strange how?"
Harry decided against telling her about the dream. "Just... weird," he muttered. "But what about you? Where are you off to at this hour?"
Hermione glanced at the books, "I'm heading to the Room of Requirement. There's something I've been working on."
Harry tilted his head, "Oh? What is it?"
"Well," Hermione started. "Remember when you mentioned the idea of having a system which could clearly categorise the level of a wizard or a witch? I have been thinking about it, and I think there is a possibility—by measuring their magical energy."
Harry was impressed. "You're really doing it?" He had offhandedly mentioned the idea to Hermione somewhere during the mid terms of around Christmas. But he didn't expect her to really try to do it. "That's brilliant, Hermione."
She blushed slightly at the praise. "It's not just me. Ron is helping too. We don't know if we'll get very far, but it's worth a try."
"He is huh?" Harry smirked. "Well, need any help?"
Hermione hesitated for a moment, but then shook her head. "Not just yet. I want to see how far we can get on our own first. If we hit a wall, I'll ask for help."
Harry nodded. "Good luck with it. I'm sure you'll figure it out." He paused as his gaze fell on the clock on the wall. "But it's not even 5 AM yet. Why are you heading out so early?"
Hermione chuckled softly. "Did you forget? Today's the Quidditch Final."
Harry blinked in surprise. He had indeed forgotten about it.
Hermione shook her head, amused. "I figured. That's why I'm getting some work done now. After the match, there'll be no time with all the celebration. You know how it is."
Harry smirked. "Pretty confident we'll win, huh?"
Hermione winked at him. "Of course. We've got you, haven't we?"
Harry laughed at that. As she turned to leave, he called out, "Don't forget to grab some food from the kitchen on your way."
"I will!" Hermione's voice echoed faintly as the portrait door swung shut behind her.
Harry leaned back into the couch. Today was the Quidditch Final huh. They will be playing against Ravenclaw for the cup. But there is something that bothered him, Quirrell had yet to go after the stone, which was quite the deviation from the original story. Will he even go after it?
As he was lost in thought, the sound of slow, heavy footsteps on the staircase made him look up. Ron appeared, yawning and rubbing his eyes, dressed lightly in a black t-shirt and shorts. He moved slowly as if he was barely awake.
Ron spotted Harry sitting on the couch and shuffled over, dropping down beside him. "Morning," he mumbled, leaning the back of his head on Harry's shoulder, still half-asleep.
Harry smirked, "What are you doing up so early?"
Ron yawned again before replying. "Quidditch final today, remember?"
Harry chuckled. "Yeah, I remember. But what does that have to do with getting up at this hour? Match doesn't start till 10."
Ron closed his eyes. "Dunno. Just... too excited, I guess. Couldn't sleep, so I figured I'd get up and do something." He slumped further down into the couch, looking like he might fall asleep right there.
Harry nodded, "So what're you going to do now that you're up?"
Ron shifted, "First thing? Get a steaming cup of chocolate from the kitchen." He let out another big yawn.
Harry stifled a yawn of his own. "Grab me one too, will you?"
"Sure," Ron muttered as he dragged himself up and out of the common room, leaving Harry alone again.
As the quiet settled back in, Harry leaned his head against the back of the couch. Harry was excited about the match. Well he was always excited about the prospect of high speed flying.
Then his mind wandered back to Quirrell. Well there was nothing he needed to do anyway. Even if Quirrell got to the stone it would be the fake one that Harry had planted. And since he had the real stone with him, he didn't intend to return it. Well at least not until he figured out how to make it himself.
As Harry mulled about everything, his thoughts drifted to the Potion Master exam. It was definitely the most fun exam he had had in both of his lives. Brewing four of the most advanced potions simultaneously... now that was a real challenge he conquered.
Harry smirked as he remembered that the reporters had held their end of the bargain. Maybe the promise of the exclusive scoop was quite irresistible or maybe because he was Harry Potter and they didn't want to cross him. Well, regardless he was quite glad they had not published it, because the student body was bound to go spare. That's the reason he wanted them to hold it off until they were out of Hogwarts for the summer holidays, since that would allow things to calm down a little during the long vacation.
Moreover, his smirk grew as he remembered that he now had two of the ingredients that he had been trying to get his hands on for quite some time now—the basilisk venom and the basilisk fang. The venom would be used in the Eyesight correcting potion and the fang would make the Lingua Animalis Elixir even more potent, which will then make Harry almost equal to a born Parselmouth.
As Harry thought over these things, Ron returned, holding two cups of steaming hot chocolate, looking very much awake.
"Here," Ron handed one of the cups to Harry before collapsing back onto the couch with his own. 'Merlin, it's freezing out there," he said, warming his hands around the cup.
"Thanks, mate," Harry said, taking a sip. The warmth spreading throughout his body. "Feeling more alive now?"
Ron grinned. "Yeah, this helps and the cold air helped too."
Harry nodded as he sipped his hot chocolate. Ron looked over at Harry, "So, what were you thinking about before I got back? You had that deep, brooding look again."
Harry shook his head. "Nothing much, just the match..." He took another sip of the hot chocolate. "I mean if we win this, Gryffindor will win after seven years..."
Ron nodded, "We will win. After all we have you. Our crazy seeker who tends to jump from his broom again and again"
Harry laughed, "Hey, I only did that to catch the snitch!"
Ron smirked, "Yeah, and give McGonagall a heart attack in the process. I swear she's aged ten years since you join the team and it hasn't even been a year since you joined."
Harry grinned, shaking his head. "Well, if it works, it works. No one's complaining when we win, right?"
Ron chuckled, "True. But you've got to admit, mate, you do tend to go all out. Sometimes, I wonder if you have some kind of a death wish."
Harry took another sip before replying. "It's not a death wish. Just... adrenaline, I guess."
Ron rolled his eyes, "Right, 'adrenaline'. Keep telling yourself that."
Harry laughed again. As they were talking, he noticed that the common room was not getting busier with students filtering in. Everyone seemed excited about the Quidditch final. He glanced at the clock—7:05 AM.
Dean came over, stretching his arms above his head. "You ready for the big game, Harry?" he asked, rubbing his eyes.
Harry grinned. "Born ready. Just get ready for the party afterwards."
"That's the spirit!" Seamus chimed in from behind looking quite sleepy.
Harry got up, "I better go and get ready. Wood will be after my hide if I am late."
Harry waved off his friends and climbed the stairs to the dormitory. Once inside, he took his change of clothes and headed for a long shower. He stood in the shower, letting the warm water wash away any remnants of sleep.
After stepping out of the shower, he quickly put on his Quidditch robes and gear. He glanced at the clock on the bedside table—8:37AM. Breakfast was almost over.
"Better hurry," Harry muttered to himself. He grabbed his broom from his pouch, not noticing that it was the wrong one. Since Harry had two Nimbus 2000s—one for Quidditch and one for experimenting and leisure flying—he failed to notice that he grabbed the experimental broom, which looked identical because he had forgotten to mark it last time after polishing the two brooms.
With his broom in hand, Harry rushed down the stairs and out of the common room, eager to get something to eat before heading to the pitch. What he didn't know was that his experimental broom had undergone some rather peculiar changes during his last experimental-session. Without realizing it, Harry had just set himself up for a very interesting Quidditch final.
As Harry entered the Great Hall, he spotted Alicia grabbing a few sandwiches. Walking over, he greeted her with a nod. "Hey, Alicia."
"Morning, Harry. The rest of the team's already down in the changing room," she said, while gulping down some pumpkin juice.
"Thanks. I'll grab something quickly." Harry replied as he reached out to get a sandwich. After a single sandwich and two glasses of juice, he made his way towards the changing room with Alicia.
When they arrived, the atmosphere inside was heavy. Everyone was already seated, listening intently as Wood went over the tactics once again.
As Harry and Alicia slipped into their seats, Fred and George were, unsurprisingly, doing their best to lighten the serious mood in the changing room.
Fred leaned back in his chair, "You know, George, I've been thinking..."
"Dangerous habit, that," George quipped, grinning as he polished his broom.
Fred ignored him and continued, "If we win today—and obviously we will—it's time we renamed Wood's strategies. I'm thinking something like 'Wood's Wacky Ways to Win.'"
George snorted along with the rest of the team.
"Or how about 'Wood's Wildly Overcomplicated Overthinking?' It's got a nice ring to it." George added, causing the entire team to laugh.
Wood rolled his eyes. "Just stick to blocking the Bludgers, would you?"
"Oh, we will, Captain," Fred said with a mock salute. ""But we're just concerned about your future, you know. If you don't make it as a Quidditch star, you'll need a backup plan—like Quidditch strategy seminars! 'Wood's Wits: How to Win with Worrying!"
Everyone chuckled, easing some of the tension. As they continued the banter, George asked loudly. "Oi, Harry, not thinking of jumping from your broom again are you?"
Harry smirked. "I'm not. But no promises."
George gave a sly grin. "Good to know. We can keep a stretcher ready for you then."
Wood clapped his hands, signaling that it was time to focus. "Alright, enough joking around. Let's win this for Gryffindor."
But even as the team stood for Wood's pep talk, Fred couldn't resist saying loudly to George, "After we win, we're definitely launching 'Wood's Wacky Quidditch Camp.'"
George nodded, trying to keep a straight face. "I'll start designing the pamphlets."
With a final round of fist bumps and grins, the team marched out of the changing room, the sound of the cheering crowd growing louder. The Quidditch final was upon them, and Harry, still unaware of his broom mix-up, was as ready as ever—or so he thought.
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As they approached the stadium entrance, they could hear the chants of the audience. Madam Hooch stood waiting for them, in middle of the pitch. The trunk containing the Quidditch balls lay at her feet, gleaming in the sunlight.
From the other end of the field, the Ravenclaw team approached, their blue and bronze robes dazzling in the morning light. Harry looked over at the team to see who the seeker was. The seeker looked like he was from third or fourth year, but Harry couldn't recognise him. To be fair, Harry didn't recognise any of them and since he had not released his magical energy he couldn't identify any of them either.
"Welcome, witches and wizards, to the final match of the Quidditch Tournament here at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!" Lee's voice boomed across the stadium. "Today, we have Gryffindor facing off against Ravenclaw in an epic showdown and the winner takes the Quidditch cup home."
The crowd's roar filled the stadium, cheers and applause echoing off, as Lee's voice stopped.
"And here come the Ravenclaw team! Known for their sharp minds, but let's see if they can keep up in the air! First up, their Captain and Keeper—ANDRE EGWU! This guy's got hands quicker than a Golden Snitch and the brains to back it up. He's the reason Ravenclaw's defense is so tough to break through!"
As Lee's words coursed through the stadium, as the Ravenclaw team walked in. The Ravenclaw supporters erupted into cheers, waving banners and singing chants for their team, while Gryffindor fans express their mock skepticism, claiming, "We'll see about that!"
"Now, let's talk about Ravenclaw's Chasers! DUNCAN INGLEBEE, JEREMY STRETTON, and REBECCA GOLDSTEIN make up this talented trio! Duncan and Jeremy have been playing together since their second year—watch out for some of their signature passing plays. And with Rebecca's strength, expect to see those goals add up fast!"
Lee's voice was almost drowned before he could complete, by the Ravenclaw supporters' cheers as they waved banner and flags. The three chaser waved at the crowd as they walked behind their captain. Harry noted that he had seen the Rebecca girl quite a few times while he was walking about the castle.
Lee started again as the cheer subdued. "Next, we've got Ravenclaw's Beaters—ROGER DAVIES and STEPHEN CORNFOOT! Roger's been a solid presence for years now, always managing to keep those Bludgers under control. His partner, Stephen, is quick on the bat and known for some spectacular mid-air saves. Let's hope Gryffindor's Chasers are ready to dodge!"
The crowd responds with enthusiastic clapping and a few cheers, although Gryffindor supporters jeer playfully, "Dodging's for amateurs!"
"And finally, Ravenclaw's Seeker—DUNCAN BRADLEY! Quiet but deadly, Bradley's the type of Seeker who waits for the perfect moment to strike. He may not be flashy, but he's a consistent performer and has snagged more than a few game-winning Snitches for Ravenclaw."
As Duncan is introduced, a wave of admiration sweeps through the Ravenclaw fans, who shout, "Duncan! Duncan!" while Gryffindors roll their eyes, saying, "Good luck catching anything with Harry on the field!"
Lee continues, "There you have it, folks! The Ravenclaw team is looking sharp today—strategic, powerful, and ready to take on Gryffindor. Let's see if Gryffindor's got what it takes to beat that Ravenclaw brainpower on the field!"
Both Ravenclaw and Gryffindor supporters went into cheers trying to out-shout each other. Harry couldn't help but chuckle at that. Now it was their chance to walk out. As Wood led the charge, Lee's voice boomed again.
"Alright, folks! After that brilliant display from Ravenclaw, let's give a warm welcome to the Gryffindor team as they strut onto the pitch! First up, we have their Captain and Keeper, OLIVER WOOD! Oliver's been at it for years, and let me tell you, he's a wall in front of those goalposts. If you think scoring against him is easy, think again!"
The crowd roared with applause. The Gryffindor banners and flags waving high. Even the Ravenclaw supporters begrudgingly acknowledged his talent with applause.
Lee continued, "Next, our very own pair of human bludgers—FRED and GEORGE WEASLEY! These two have been causing chaos on and off pitch since they arrived at Hogwarts. But they are not only Beaters; they are our new entrepreneurs! Those who know, know!"
Laughter rippled through the crowd. Everyone loved Fred and George and who wouldn't, their pranks always livened everyone's mood.
"Now let's hear it for the Chasers! We have ALICIA SPINNETT, ANGELINA JOHNSON, and KATIE BELL! This trio can turn any play into a goal-scoring opportunity. Alicia's speed, Angelina's cunning, and Katie's precision make them a force to be reckoned with! Watch for their teamwork to shine today!" Lee shouted into the megaphone.
The Gryffindor supporters erupted into cheers, while the rest of the crowd acknowledged their skill with respectful claps.
Lee continued, "And finally, our Seeker, HARRY POTTER, known affectionately as 'Plummeting Potter' Now, Harry's not just the youngest Seeker in Gryffindor history; he's also become quite the spectacle with his tendency to dive off his broom in pursuit of the Snitch! Just last match, he leapt off his broom like a brave—if slightly misguided—dart! I mean, who needs to fly when you can freefall?"
The entire stadium erupted into laughter. The Gryffindor cheering loudly chanting his name, "Harry Plummeting Potter."
Harry felt embarrassed at the nickname. He couldn't keep his face from going red. His eyes were trained on the ground. Fred and George clapped his back laughing.
"But hey, if it works for him, who are we to judge? Just keep your broom steady this time, Harry! Next thing we know, you'll be trying to catch a Bludger mid-dive! Good luck, Plummeting Potter!"
The crowd continues to laugh. Ron and Hermione will not let him live it down. Neither will Fred and George.
Madam Hooch called the captains to the center of the pitch to shake hands. Wood and Egwu exchanged firm handshake. Both the captains were eager to win the cup and that determination was evident in their steely gaze.
With the captains' handshake complete, Madam Hooch turned to address the rest of the players. "Mount your brooms and prepare to kick off at my whistle," she instructed, her voice carrying across the field.
The players quickly mounted their brooms and waited for Hooch's signal to kick off.
"Three... two... one..." Madam Hooch blew her whistle sharply and all the players kicked off into the sky.
As the players soared into the air, Harry shot upwards faster than anyone else, the Ravenclaw seeker following him. Everyone took their positions, as they waited Madam Hooch to release the balls.
Hooch gave them a short speech on fair play and fouls before releasing the Snitch and Bludgers. She took the Quaffle in her hand and threw it high and the game starts.
Lee's voice filled the stadium once again, "And they're off, ladies and gentlemen. Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw in the final face-off of the Quidditch Tournament. Both the teams are determined to win the cup for their house."
"Go, go, go!" Angelina shouted, snatching the Quaffle first and streaking down the pitch with Alicia and Katie.
"Gryffindor has the Quaffle first, and Angelina is speeding down the pitch towards the Ravenclaw goal post. Can she score?"
Harry stayed above everyone looking at the game below. He scanned the stadium trying to see the snitch while also keeping his eye on the rest of the game.
Just as Angelina closed in, a blur of blue shot across her path—Ravenclaw chaser Jeremy had swooped in with the perfect intercept and snatched away the Quaffle from her.
"An incredible steal by Jeremy!" Lee Jordan's voice boomed. "Ravenclaw chasers aren't giving an inch today. Looks like they've got their eyes locked on that cup as much as Gryffindor does!"
Jeremy darted forward passing the Quaffle to Inglebee, who dodged an incoming Bludger sent by Fred. He zigzagged across the pitch, but Katie was already on him.
"And Inglebee is reacing toward Gryffindor's end! He's looking for an opening—ah, but Katie Bell's giving him no breathing room!"
Inglebee swerved sharply, faking a left, but Katie had guessed the fake and was right on his trail. Just as he adjusted to veer right, Alicia zoombed in from the side, forcing him into a tight spot.
"Oh-ho! Brilliant defensive coordination from Gryffindor! Katie and Alicia have Inglebee cornered!" Lee's voice rang out.
Harry didn't pay much attention as he scanned the stadium for a hint of gold. So far there was nothing. Harry's gaze fell on the teachers stand and he saw that Dumbledore wasn't there. Before he could see who else was absent, out of the corner of his eyes, he caught a glimmer of gold towards the
His heart skipped as he hoped that the Ravenclaw seeker didn't see it. He snapped his head towards it and leaned forward to speed after it.
"He's seen it!" Lee Jordan's voice crackled with excitement, drawing the crowd's attention. "Harry Potter's in pursuit of the Snitch, folks!"
But as he did, the broom shot forward with unexpected speed, catching him off guard. The sudden acceleration snapped his head back, and he had to tighten his grip to avoid being thrown off balance. Despite that Harry, managed to race after the snitch, with the Ravenclaw seeker just behind him.
"Whoa! Potter's broom just shot forward like a rocket!" Lee Jordan's voice cracked with excitement and surprise. "Looks like he's in for the catch!"
But before Harry could get any closer, he heard a whistling sound. One of the Ravenclaw beater had sent a Bludger towards him.
Harry threw himself into a Sloth Grip Roll, his body hanging upside down from his broom as he narrowly avoided the Bludger.
"And that's a brilliant move from Potter! A Sloth Grip Roll to dodge the Bludger!" Lee's voice carried through the stands, spurring Gryffindor supporters into cheers.
But the momentary delay had cost him. The Snitch had vanished again. He slowed down as he tried to look around for it again. Then again the brakes took a touch too long to brake. Harry muttered under his breath, but before he could wonder about the odd behaviour, George zoomed past him.
"No pressure, Harry!" George shouted as he streaked past after a Bludger aimed at Katie.
Harry calmed down and returned his focus on the game. Katie had passed the Quaffle to Alicia, who was speeding towards the goal.
"And here comes Alicia!" Lee's commentary boomed over the crowd. "She's heading towards the goal. Will she be able to score?"
Alicia tried a quick pass to Angelina but Rebecca had anticipated the move, catching the Quaffle mid-air. She tucked it under her arm and sped towards the Gryffindor end, Katie zeroing on her from the other side.
"Ravenclaw chaser Rebecca has the Quaffle. Will we see the first goal in the match?"
Harry flew around trying to catch a glint of gold again, but to his disappointment the Snitch was nowhere to be seen. Ravenclaw seeker, Bradley was now marking him instead of the Snitch.
"Rebecca has left the Gryffindor defense in the dust and is lining up for a shot at the goal!"
The Ravenclaw supporters erupted into cheers as Rebecca took aim. With a flick of her arm, she sent the Quaffle hurtling towards the Gryffindor goal.
"Can she do it? Can Rebecca score the first goal of the match?"
The Quaffle soared through the air towards the goal but Wood was not going to let anyone get past him that easily. With a dive, he caught the Quaffle.
"What a save from Wood! This Gryffindor wall is not planning to let anyone past him that easily."
So far Harry had lapped the stadium once, but he was yet to see the Snitch again. He kept mostly above so that he wouldn't get in the way of the game.
"Incredible action on the field, folks!" Lee's voice sounded again. "Both teams chasers are trying their absolute to score, but so far we have not gotten anything. Which team will score first?"
"Both the seekers seem to be still looking for the snitch but it looks like its nowhere to be found."
Harry went for another lap around the stadium, trying to catch a glimpse of gold or a flutter of wings. But so far, it was as if the Snitch wasn't even in the stadium.
"And Gryffindor scores! First goal of the game goes to Katie Bell, making it 10-0 to Gryffindor!"
Harry pumped his first in the air, grinning as he still circled above, looking for the Snitch. As he neared the Teacher's stand he noticed that only Dumbledore and Quirrell were absent. Rest of the teachers were present. Which means that Quirrell finally made his move but was caught by Dumbledore. Well he didn't have anything to worry about, the Stone was still safe in his pouch.
With that thought in mind, Harry kept looking for the Snitch, dodging the Bludgers sent his way now and then.
Down below the game was heating up even more. Ravenclaw's chasers were relentless, and Jeremy seemed to be everywhere at once, weaving through Gryffindor's defenses as he aimed to close the gap.
"And that's a quick steal by Jeremy!" Lee's voice sounded again. "Ravenclaw's offense is firing on all cylinders—they don't want to give in to the lead that quickly."
Angelina sped after him, but Jeremy managed a swift pass to Inglebee. A clever Bludger by George made Inglebee drop the Quaffle just as he got it, which was then caught by Alicia.
"A clever Bludger by one of the Weasley twins! It seems that Gryffindor is looking for a twenty point lead!"
Alicia who was leading the charge, dodged a Bludger with a swift roll, passing the Quaffle to Angelina, who threw the Quaffle straight at the right hoop.
"And it's another goal for Gryffindor! 20-0 to the lions!" Lee's voice sounded over the excited cheers of Gryffindor supporters.
The Ravenclaw's seemed more determined than ever after that, and within minutes they had scored their first goal, making the score 20-10.
Harry was just flying around above unsuccessfully looking for the Snitch. The game was intense with both teams scoring back and forth, until the scoreboard read 60-40 with Gryffindor holding a two goal lead.
Harry was just about to start another sweep of the stadium when he saw it: a flicker of gold near the Ravenclaw end, hovering just above the stands.
Harry's eyes locked onto the Snitch. Without hesitation, he leaned forward and put up an aggressive burst of speed. His broom responded instantly, surging forward, but this time his broom was faster than usual.
"It's Potter! He has seen the Snitch!" Lee's voice rang out. "Merlin, look at that speed! He's really pushing the Nimbus 2000 to its limits!"
Ravenclaw's seeker, Duncan, had also spotted the Snitch and tore after it, just like Harry. Even though Harry had a lead on him due to the increased speed of his broom, Duncan had no intention of giving up. It seemed like even if he couldn't catch the Snitch, he had no intention of letting Harry get it.
"It's Potter and Duncan head-to-head for the Snitch! Will Potter be able to catch it or will Duncan manage to keep him from it?"
Duncan's broom was angled in a daring sweep to cut Harry off. He edged in, trying to throw Harry off course, but Harry ducked. He shot under Duncan's path and pulled up sharply, nudging the Ravenclaw Seeker just enough to break his rhythm.
"Oh! Did you see that move? Potter always seems to pull out new moves here and there!"
With one final burst of speed, Harry lunged forward, his hand closing around the Snitch just as it darted towards the edge of the stands. But just as he was about to slow, he realized his broom wasn't responding.
"And… Potter's not stopping!" Lee's voice turned urgent, the crowd watching in collective horror as Harry plummeted toward the stands, his broom shooting forward with a mind of its own. "Looks like we're about to witness another daring finish from the one and only… Plummeting Potter!"
He tried to brake, but his broom kept charging forward straight towards the stands with unstoppable momentum. With only seconds to react, he casted a cushioning charm along with a protective barrier around himself. The shield snapped into place just as he braced for impact.
With a deafening crash, Harry slammed into the stands. Dust and splinter flew up as the crash happened. For a breathless moment, silence fell over the crowd.
Then, as the dust settled, a huge cheer erupted from the stands. In his hands, the Snitch's wings were fluttering. Gryffindor had won.
"Potter's done it! Gryffindor ins 210-40! Plummeting Potter strikes again!"
The Gryffindor supporters went wild, their cheers echoing through the stadium like thunder. Every single one of Harry's teammates streaked toward him at full speed, faces alight with triumph and relief. Oliver Wood, nearly in tears, was the first to reach him. He threw his arms around Harry, lifting him up triumphantly into the air.
"We did it!" Wood shouted, his voice breaking with pure joy. "We finally won the Quidditch Cup!"
The rest of the team surrounded them, screaming and jumping in pure joy. Gryffindor had done it—they had won the Quidditch tournament for the first time in seven years. And Harry had changed the story, they had really won when he was supposed to have missed it while being unconscious in the hospital.
The team made it to the pitch as students poured out of the stands to celebrate. Harry's teammates were still grinning from ear to ear, and amid the chaos, Fred nudged him.
"Gotta ask, Harry," he said, "did you crash on purpose, or what?"
Harry chuckled, "Believe me, I didn't mean to. The broom wouldn't brake—every time I tried, it just kept going on."
George whistled, "Blimey, mate. You're telling me the Nimbus 2000 just didn't brake?"
Harry nodded. "It's been a bit off all match, like it wasn't quite responding as quickly as usual. But when I went after the Snitch, it just... accelerated way past its top speed and didn't slow down." Just then Harry's face paled as he realised what had happened. He realised that he had been using the experimental broom instead of his regular one.
Oliver's face paled, but he quickly broke into another huge grin. "And yet you still caught the Snitch and won us the cup!" he said, practically lifting Harry off his feet in another celebratory hug.
Soon, Professor McGonagall strode across the pitch, a smile plastered on her face as she held the gleaming Quidditch Cup in her hands. She handed it to Wood with a warm smile. "Congratulations, Mr. Wood," she said. "You and your team deserve this."
Wood took the cup with trembling hands, holding it high as the Gryffindors exploded into cheers that echoed throughout the grounds. The students chanted and roared, celebrating louder than ever as the cup was passed one player to the next.
As the celebration moved towards the castle, the Gryffindors took the party to the common room. Fred and George quickly dragged Harry to an empty classroom on the way. Harry smirked and apparated the three of them a secluded alleyway in Hogsmeade.
"Right then," Fred said, cracking his knuckles. "Let's make this the best party Gryffindor's ever seen. Drinks, food, and maybe a little something extra, eh?"
The three of them slipped into The Three Broomsticks, grabbing armfuls of Butterbeer bottles and whatever snacks they could find. Madam Rosmerta raised an eyebrow when Harry rolled a butterbeer keg to the counter but couldn't help grinning herself as she rang them up. After all, business is business.
With the supplies stashed in their pouches, Harry, Fred and George made their way back to the common room, where the party was already in full swing. Cheers erupted again as they returned, arms loaded with treats and Butterbeer. The cheer got louder as Harry slammed the keg of Butterbeer down at the corner.
The common room was decked in red and gold, with enchanted streamers floating around like celebratory confetti. Banners with "Gryffindor Champions" were strung up, and someone had even conjured small lion roars that echoed whenever anyone shouted, "Gryffindor!"
"Seven years, mates!" Wood boomed, hoisting the Cup in one hand and a Butterbeer in other. "Seven years, and we've finally got the Cup! And all thanks to this one," he said, ruffling Harry's hair. "You're our lucky charm, Potter!"
Harry grinned, "I just did my best."
Wood shook his head, "Your best is pure magic, Harry. Absolutely brilliant!"
Alicia, Angelina, and Katie surrounded him next, their eyes shining with excitement. "We couldn't have done it without you, Harry!" Katie said, leaning in and kissing his cheek. Alicia and Angelina followed suit, both kissing him on the cheeks. Harry's face went tomato-red, and the whole room burst into cheers and wolf whistles.
Fred elbowed him with a grin, "Look at you, Potter! Half the team's in love with you already!"
"Yeah," George added, "not every day you get three kisses for a catch. Lucky bastard."
Ron, who was grinning ear-to-ear, clapped him on the back. "Can't believe it, Harry. You were absolutely mental out there. You should've seen Wood's face when he saw you holding the Snitch—I thought he was going to cry. "
Harry laughed, "I know."
"Yeah, about that," Hermione said, frowning slightly. "Why didn't you stop before crashing into the stands?"
Harry laughed. "Ah, that. That's entirely my fault. I grabbed the broom I experiment on instead of the one I use for Quidditch. An oversight."
Fred and George, who had overheard, burst into laughter, clapping Harry on the shoulders. "So, you nearly sent yourself through the stands because you grabbed the wrong broom?" Fred said, barely able to contain his mirth.
"Brilliant, Harry!" George added, grinning. "Nothing says dedication like flying experimental gear during a match. Makes the game a bit more exciting, eh?"
Harry shrugged, laughing along with them. "Yeah, maybe a bit too exciting."
Ron raised an eyebrow. "Experimental? Mate, what did you even do to it?"
Harry laughed, "Well, I removed the limiter which stops the broom from accelerating faster than normal—only I guess that interfered with the braking charms, which resulted in them not working."
Hermione shook her head, "Honestly, Harry. Next time, maybe you could make sure you're using a safe broom?"
"Oh, come on, Hermione," Fred said. "It's quite the same for Harry whether he uses safe brooms or not."
"Yes," George smirked. "After all he is our—PLUMMETING POTTER!"
The crowd cheered again, raising their Butterbeer bottles in the air. The crowd chanted together, "To the best Seeker Hogwarts has ever seen—Harry Plummeting Potter!"