Chapter 137
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Harry still remembered what happened a week back, where everyone except the Weasley twins wanted Ginny out of Slytherin, in fact, they wanted Ginny to stay at home rather than be anywhere near the Slytherin students. Harry couldn't help but wonder, what he would do if he was in Slytherin, but deep inside he knew that he would rather stay in Hogwarts than going back to the Dursleys again. Harry was trying to stop Ron and the others from pressuring Ginny but no one was listening to him at all. Luckily Hermione arrived and managed to fend off Ron and Percy who were hell-bent on talking Ginny out of Hogwarts. Just when the situation was getting tough, Ginny pulled out a letter from Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, who clearly gave Ginny the pass to stay in Hogwarts.
Harry didn't know what Ginny had told them but he couldn't help but feel surprised that the Weasley family who hated Slytherin so much would allow them to stay in Hogwarts. After that, Ron and Percy gave up, and Ginny was allowed to stay in Hogwarts once and for all. Even though this caused a fight between Ron and Hermione, and caused Ron to stop talking with Ginny he was still concerned about his sister's safety. He and the Weasley's brothers walked around Ginny every chance they could get, in case someone tries to bully her but for some reason, no one really bothered. Harry who was dragged by Ron, in one of those missions was surprised that Ginny was not getting bullied but she had even managed to make friends in Slytherin instead. Harry soon realized that this was all because of Draco, for some reason all the Slytherin seemed to follow Draco's order, like how they all walked off Lockhart's classroom. Harry didn't know what to feel of the situation as in one hand he was happy that Ginny was able to live a normal life but on the other, he couldn't help but feel the distance between him and Draco grow further and further.
"There you are, Harry, what kept you?" said Wood briskly making Harry snap out of his thought. "Now, I wanted a quick talk with you all before we actually get onto the field, because I spent the summer devising a whole new training program, which I really think will make all the difference…"
Wood was holding up a large diagram of a Quidditch field, on which were drawn many lines, arrows, and crosses in different colored inks. He took out his wand, tapped the board, and the arrows began to wiggle over the diagram like caterpillars. As Wood launched into a speech about his new tactics, Fred Weasley's head drooped right onto Alicia Spinnet's shoulder and he began to snore.
The first board took nearly twenty minutes to explain, but there was another board under that, and a third under that one. Harry sank into a stupor as Wood droned on and on.
"So," said Wood, at long last, jerking Harry from a wistful fantasy about what he could be eating for breakfast at this very moment up at the castle. "Is that clear? Any questions?"
"I've got a question, Oliver," said George, who had woken with a start. "Why couldn't you have told us all this yesterday when we were awake?"
Wood wasn't pleased.
"Now, listen here, you lot," he said, glowering at them all. "We should have won the Quidditch cup last year. We're easily the best team. But unfortunately — owing to circumstances beyond our control —"
Harry shifted guiltily in his seat. He had been unconscious in the hospital wing for the final match of the previous year, meaning that Gryffindor had been a player short and had suffered their worst defeat in three hundred years.
Wood took a moment to regain control of himself. Their last defeat was clearly still torturing him. "So this year, we train harder than ever before…Okay, let's go and put our new theories into practice!" Wood shouted, seizing his broomstick and leading the way out of the locker rooms. Stiff-legged and still yawning, his team followed.
They had been in the locker room so long that the sun was up completely now, although remnants of mist hung over the grass in the stadium. As Harry walked onto the field, he saw Ron, Hermione, and Ginny sitting in the stands.
"Aren't you finished yet?" called Ron incredulously.
"Haven't even started," said Harry, looking jealously at the toast and marmalade Ron had brought out of the Great Hall. "Wood's been teaching us new moves."
He mounted his broomstick and kicked at the ground, soaring up into the air. The cool morning air whipped his face, waking him far more effectively than Wood's long talk. It felt wonderful to be back on the Quidditch field. He soared right around the stadium at full speed, racing Fred and George.
"What's that funny clicking noise?" called Fred as they hurtled around the corner.
Harry looked into the stands. Colin was sitting in one of the highest seats, his camera raised, taking picture after picture, the sound strangely magnified in the deserted stadium.
"Look this way, Harry! This way!" he cried shrilly.
"Who's that?" said Fred.
"No idea," Harry lied, putting on a spurt of speed that took him as far away as possible from Colin.
"What's going on?" said Wood, frowning, as he skimmed through the air toward them. "Why's that first year taking pictures? I don't like it. He could be a Slytherin spy, trying to find out about our new training program."
"He's in Gryffindor," said Harry quickly.
"And the Slytherins don't need a spy, Oliver," said George.
"What makes you say that?" said Wood testily.
"Because they're here in person," said George, pointing.
Several people in green robes were walking onto the field, broomsticks in their hands.
"I don't believe it!" Wood hissed in outrage. "I booked the field for today! We'll see about this!" Wood shot toward the ground, landing rather harder than he meant to in his anger, staggering slightly as he dismounted. Harry, Fred, and George followed."Flint!" Wood bellowed at the Slytherin Captain. "This is our practice time! We got up specially! You can clear off now!"
Marcus Flint was even larger than Wood. He had a look of trollish cunning on his face as he replied, "Plenty of room for all of us, Wood."
Angelina, Alicia, and Katie had come over, too. There was one girl on the Slytherin team, Pansy who stood separate from the rest of them, facing the Gryffindors, leering to a man.
"But I booked the field!" said Wood, positively spitting with rage. "I booked it!"
"Ah," said Flint. "But I've got a specially signed note here from Professor Snape. 'I, Professor S. Snape, give the Slytherin team permission to practice today on the Quidditch field owing to the need to train their new beater'.
You've got a new Seeker?" said Wood, distracted. "Where?"
And from behind the six large figures before them came a seventh, smaller boy, smirking all over
his pale, pointed face. Harry recognized him as one of the guys who seemed to follow Draco and was close to him, but couldn't remember his name.
"Blaise Zabini." Woods recognized the guy.
"Yeah, he is our new beater." Flint said smirking as he let the Gryffindor have the clear picture of their broom since last year everyone in Slytherin team had a Nimbus 2000. But there seemed to be two new brooms on the field today. Both Pansy and Blaise seem to have Nimbus 2001, the newer and better version.
Harry couldn't help but sweat a little as he started cursing Draco in his mind, thinking he was indirectly involved in this somehow again. Back in the stands Ron, Hermione, and Ginny noticed something going on.
"What's happening there?" Ginny asked looking at bit concerned.
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Harry still remembered what happened a week back, where everyone except the Weasley twins wanted Ginny out of Slytherin, in fact, they wanted Ginny to stay at home rather than be anywhere near the Slytherin students. Harry couldn't help but wonder, what he would do if he was in Slytherin, but deep inside he knew that he would rather stay in Hogwarts than going back to the Dursleys again. Harry was trying to stop Ron and the others from pressuring Ginny but no one was listening to him at all. Luckily Hermione arrived and managed to fend off Ron and Percy who were hell-bent on talking Ginny out of Hogwarts. Just when the situation was getting tough, Ginny pulled out a letter from Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, who clearly gave Ginny the pass to stay in Hogwarts.
Harry didn't know what Ginny had told them but he couldn't help but feel surprised that the Weasley family who hated Slytherin so much would allow them to stay in Hogwarts. After that, Ron and Percy gave up, and Ginny was allowed to stay in Hogwarts once and for all. Even though this caused a fight between Ron and Hermione, and caused Ron to stop talking with Ginny he was still concerned about his sister's safety. He and the Weasley's brothers walked around Ginny every chance they could get, in case someone tries to bully her but for some reason, no one really bothered. Harry who was dragged by Ron, in one of those missions was surprised that Ginny was not getting bullied but she had even managed to make friends in Slytherin instead. Harry soon realized that this was all because of Draco, for some reason all the Slytherin seemed to follow Draco's order, like how they all walked off Lockhart's classroom. Harry didn't know what to feel of the situation as in one hand he was happy that Ginny was able to live a normal life but on the other, he couldn't help but feel the distance between him and Draco grow further and further.
"There you are, Harry, what kept you?" said Wood briskly making Harry snap out of his thought. "Now, I wanted a quick talk with you all before we actually get onto the field, because I spent the summer devising a whole new training program, which I really think will make all the difference…"
Wood was holding up a large diagram of a Quidditch field, on which were drawn many lines, arrows, and crosses in different colored inks. He took out his wand, tapped the board, and the arrows began to wiggle over the diagram like caterpillars. As Wood launched into a speech about his new tactics, Fred Weasley's head drooped right onto Alicia Spinnet's shoulder and he began to snore.
The first board took nearly twenty minutes to explain, but there was another board under that, and a third under that one. Harry sank into a stupor as Wood droned on and on.
"So," said Wood, at long last, jerking Harry from a wistful fantasy about what he could be eating for breakfast at this very moment up at the castle. "Is that clear? Any questions?"
"I've got a question, Oliver," said George, who had woken with a start. "Why couldn't you have told us all this yesterday when we were awake?"
Wood wasn't pleased.
"Now, listen here, you lot," he said, glowering at them all. "We should have won the Quidditch cup last year. We're easily the best team. But unfortunately — owing to circumstances beyond our control —"
Harry shifted guiltily in his seat. He had been unconscious in the hospital wing for the final match of the previous year, meaning that Gryffindor had been a player short and had suffered their worst defeat in three hundred years.
Wood took a moment to regain control of himself. Their last defeat was clearly still torturing him. "So this year, we train harder than ever before…Okay, let's go and put our new theories into practice!" Wood shouted, seizing his broomstick and leading the way out of the locker rooms. Stiff-legged and still yawning, his team followed.
They had been in the locker room so long that the sun was up completely now, although remnants of mist hung over the grass in the stadium. As Harry walked onto the field, he saw Ron, Hermione, and Ginny sitting in the stands.
"Aren't you finished yet?" called Ron incredulously.
"Haven't even started," said Harry, looking jealously at the toast and marmalade Ron had brought out of the Great Hall. "Wood's been teaching us new moves."
He mounted his broomstick and kicked at the ground, soaring up into the air. The cool morning air whipped his face, waking him far more effectively than Wood's long talk. It felt wonderful to be back on the Quidditch field. He soared right around the stadium at full speed, racing Fred and George.
"What's that funny clicking noise?" called Fred as they hurtled around the corner.
Harry looked into the stands. Colin was sitting in one of the highest seats, his camera raised, taking picture after picture, the sound strangely magnified in the deserted stadium.
"Look this way, Harry! This way!" he cried shrilly.
"Who's that?" said Fred.
"No idea," Harry lied, putting on a spurt of speed that took him as far away as possible from Colin.
"What's going on?" said Wood, frowning, as he skimmed through the air toward them. "Why's that first year taking pictures? I don't like it. He could be a Slytherin spy, trying to find out about our new training program."
"He's in Gryffindor," said Harry quickly.
"And the Slytherins don't need a spy, Oliver," said George.
"What makes you say that?" said Wood testily.
"Because they're here in person," said George, pointing.
Several people in green robes were walking onto the field, broomsticks in their hands.
"I don't believe it!" Wood hissed in outrage. "I booked the field for today! We'll see about this!" Wood shot toward the ground, landing rather harder than he meant to in his anger, staggering slightly as he dismounted. Harry, Fred, and George followed."Flint!" Wood bellowed at the Slytherin Captain. "This is our practice time! We got up specially! You can clear off now!"
Marcus Flint was even larger than Wood. He had a look of trollish cunning on his face as he replied, "Plenty of room for all of us, Wood."
Angelina, Alicia, and Katie had come over, too. There was one girl on the Slytherin team, Pansy who stood separate from the rest of them, facing the Gryffindors, leering to a man.
"But I booked the field!" said Wood, positively spitting with rage. "I booked it!"
"Ah," said Flint. "But I've got a specially signed note here from Professor Snape. 'I, Professor S. Snape, give the Slytherin team permission to practice today on the Quidditch field owing to the need to train their new beater'.
You've got a new Seeker?" said Wood, distracted. "Where?"
And from behind the six large figures before them came a seventh, smaller boy, smirking all over
his pale, pointed face. Harry recognized him as one of the guys who seemed to follow Draco and was close to him, but couldn't remember his name.
"Blaise Zabini." Woods recognized the guy.
"Yeah, he is our new beater." Flint said smirking as he let the Gryffindor have the clear picture of their broom since last year everyone in Slytherin team had a Nimbus 2000. But there seemed to be two new brooms on the field today. Both Pansy and Blaise seem to have Nimbus 2001, the newer and better version.
Harry couldn't help but sweat a little as he started cursing Draco in his mind, thinking he was indirectly involved in this somehow again. Back in the stands Ron, Hermione, and Ginny noticed something going on.
"What's happening there?" Ginny asked looking at bit concerned.
Harry still remembered what happened a week back, where everyone except the Weasley twins wanted Ginny out of Slytherin, in fact, they wanted Ginny to stay at home rather than be anywhere near the Slytherin students. Harry couldn't help but wonder, what he would do if he was in Slytherin, but deep inside he knew that he would rather stay in Hogwarts than going back to the Dursleys again. Harry was trying to stop Ron and the others from pressuring Ginny but no one was listening to him at all. Luckily Hermione arrived and managed to fend off Ron and Percy who were hell-bent on talking Ginny out of Hogwarts. Just when the situation was getting tough, Ginny pulled out a letter from Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, who clearly gave Ginny the pass to stay in Hogwarts.Harry didn't know what Ginny had told them but he couldn't help but feel surprised that the Weasley family who hated Slytherin so much would allow them to stay in Hogwarts. After that, Ron and Percy gave up, and Ginny was allowed to stay in Hogwarts once and for all. Even though this caused a fight between Ron and Hermione, and caused Ron to stop talking with Ginny he was still concerned about his sister's safety. He and the Weasley's brothers walked around Ginny every chance they could get, in case someone tries to bully her but for some reason, no one really bothered. Harry who was dragged by Ron, in one of those missions was surprised that Ginny was not getting bullied but she had even managed to make friends in Slytherin instead. Harry soon realized that this was all because of Draco, for some reason all the Slytherin seemed to follow Draco's order, like how they all walked off Lockhart's classroom. Harry didn't know what to feel of the situation as in one hand he was happy that Ginny was able to live a normal life but on the other, he couldn't help but feel the distance between him and Draco grow further and further."There you are, Harry, what kept you?" said Wood briskly making Harry snap out of his thought. "Now, I wanted a quick talk with you all before we actually get onto the field, because I spent the summer devising a whole new training program, which I really think will make all the difference"Wood was holding up a large diagram of a Quidditch field, on which were drawn many lines, arrows, and crosses in different colored inks. He took out his wand, tapped the board, and the arrows began to wiggle over the diagram like caterpillars. As Wood launched into a speech about his new tactics, Fred Weasley's head drooped right onto Alicia Spinnet's shoulder and he began to snore.The first board took nearly twenty minutes to explain, but there was another board under that, and a third under that one. Harry sank into a stupor as Wood droned on and on."So," said Wood, at long last, jerking Harry from a wistful fantasy about what he could be eating for breakfast at this very moment up at the castle. "Is that clear? Any questions?""I've got a question, Oliver," said George, who had woken with a start. "Why couldn't you have told us all this yesterday when we were awake?"Wood wasn't pleased."Now, listen here, you lot," he said, glowering at them all. "We should have won the Quidditch cup last year. We're easily the best team. But unfortunately owing to circumstances beyond our control "Harry shifted guiltily in his seat. He had been unconscious in the hospital wing for the final match of the previous year, meaning that Gryffindor had been a player short and had suffered their worst defeat in three hundred years.Wood took a moment to regain control of himself. Their last defeat was clearly still torturing him. "So this year, we train harder than ever beforeOkay, let's go and put our new theories into practice!" Wood shouted, seizing his broomstick and leading the way out of the locker rooms. Stiff-legged and still yawning, his team followed.They had been in the locker room so long that the sun was up completely now, although remnants of mist hung over the grass in the stadium. As Harry walked onto the field, he saw Ron, Hermione, and Ginny sitting in the stands."Aren't you finished yet?" called Ron incredulously."Haven't even started," said Harry, looking jealously at the toast and marmalade Ron had brought out of the Great Hall. "Wood's been teaching us new moves."He mounted his broomstick and kicked at the ground, soaring up into the air. The cool morning air whipped his face, waking him far more effectively than Wood's long talk. It felt wonderful to be back on the Quidditch field. He soared right around the stadium at full speed, racing Fred and George."What's that funny clicking noise?" called Fred as they hurtled around the corner.Harry looked into the stands. Colin was sitting in one of the highest seats, his camera raised, taking picture after picture, the sound strangely magnified in the deserted stadium."Look this way, Harry! This way!" he cried shrilly."Who's that?" said Fred."No idea," Harry lied, putting on a spurt of speed that took him as far away as possible from Colin."What's going on?" said Wood, frowning, as he skimmed through the air toward them. "Why's that first year taking pictures? I don't like it. He could be a Slytherin spy, trying to find out about our new training program.""He's in Gryffindor," said Harry quickly."And the Slytherins don't need a spy, Oliver," said George."What makes you say that?" said Wood testily."Because they're here in person," said George, pointing.Several people in green robes were walking onto the field, broomsticks in their hands."I don't believe it!" Wood hissed in outrage. "I booked the field for today! We'll see about this!" Wood shot toward the ground, landing rather harder than he meant to in his anger, staggering slightly as he dismounted. Harry, Fred, and George followed."Flint!" Wood bellowed at the Slytherin Captain. "This is our practice time! We got up specially! You can clear off now!"Marcus Flint was even larger than Wood. He had a look of trollish cunning on his face as he replied, "Plenty of room for all of us, Wood."Angelina, Alicia, and Katie had come over, too. There was one girl on the Slytherin team, Pansy who stood separate from the rest of them, facing the Gryffindors, leering to a man."But I booked the field!" said Wood, positively spitting with rage. "I booked it!""Ah," said Flint. "But I've got a specially signed note here from Professor Snape. 'I, Professor S. Snape, give the Slytherin team permission to practice today on the Quidditch field owing to the need to train their new beater'.You've got a new Seeker?" said Wood, distracted. "Where?"And from behind the six large figures before them came a seventh, smaller boy, smirking all overhis pale, pointed face. Harry recognized him as one of the guys who seemed to follow Draco and was close to him, but couldn't remember his name."Blaise Zabini." Woods recognized the guy."Yeah, he is our new beater." Flint said smirking as he let the Gryffindor have the clear picture of their broom since last year everyone in Slytherin team had a Nimbus 2000. But there seemed to be two new brooms on the field today. Both Pansy and Blaise seem to have Nimbus 2001, the newer and better version.Harry couldn't help but sweat a little as he started cursing Draco in his mind, thinking he was indirectly involved in this somehow again. Back in the stands Ron, Hermione, and Ginny noticed something going on."What's happening there?" Ginny asked looking at bit concerned.
