MTLNOVEL Chapter 20: Chapter 20
Chapter 20
If there was anybody he would gladly trade favors with, it would be Professor Flitwick, as Harry desperately pleaded with his Head of House to allow him to try out for the Ravenclaw Quidditch team. "Sorry, Potter, but rules are rules," Flitwick chuckled. "I'm sure you've had some flying practice already, but first years aren't allowed to play. It's far too dangerous."
"I can handle it," Harry said eagerly. "Seekers are trained to avoid contact anyway."
"You wish to play Seeker?" Flitwick chuckled. "I'm afraid you wouldn't stand a chance anyway, son. Aidan Lynch is an excellent Seeker, and team captain to boot. I hear he's being scouted by several pro teams this year."
Harry deflated at this news. He hadn't realized Aidan Lynch was still at Hogwarts; he recognized the name from his original fourth year, as the youngster had played Seeker for Ireland against Krum in the Quidditch World Cup final. I'd like the chance to test him in tryouts anyway, the competitive side of him thought. But he doubted they would even entertain him on the pitch against a pro-level athlete six years his elder. He would just have to wait his turn.
But Harry's enthusiasm for the sport would not be deterred, as he awoke excitedly on a chilly November morning for Ravenclaw's first match of the season. Terry, Michael, and Anthony were also giddy with excitement for their first in-person taste of the sport, while Kevin opted to spend the day studying in peace. To each their own, Harry thought as he filed into the stadium seats along with most of the rest of Ravenclaw House.
He and the rest of the blue-and-bronze faithful cheered as the Ravenclaw squad took to the air. It still felt odd for Harry to root for a team other than his red-and-gold Gryffindors, but that instinct was slowly fading as he reveled in the collective excitement of the match.
"The Ravenclaw squad is ready!" Lee Jordan announced excitedly. "At Chaser: Davies, Stretton, and Burrow! At Beater: Inglebee and Samuels! At Keeper is Page, and at Seeker, team captain Aidan Lynch!" The crowd roared as the seventh-year boy did a few somersaults to warm up. Harry had never played against Lynch before, and only knew of him from his less-than-stellar outing against Viktor Krum, so he looked forward to seeing what he could do in his element.
"I plan on trying out for the team next year," a female voice rang out from nearby. Harry craned his neck to see Cho Chang chatting excitedly with a group of her friends. "I've been training since I was seven."
"I bet you'll be brilliant," Harry remarked. Cho looked surprised by his comment, but gave him a polite smile in response. Harry turned back towards the pitch, feeling warmed by the gesture, only to realize with horror that she would be his direct competition when he, too, tried out for Seeker next year.
"And here come the Hufflepuffs!" Lee Jordan said, interrupting his thoughts. The yellow-and-black team was pouring out of the tunnel and soaring to the sky at that moment. "At Chaser: McAvoy, Preece, and team captain Drew Sommers! At Beater: O'Flaherty and Rickett! At Keeper is Fleet, and at Seeker, new recruit Cedric Diggory!"
The other side of the stands roared in approval for Cedric, making his debut for Hufflepuff. Harry felt an odd sensation as he watched his once-rival smile and acknowledge the crowd's adulation. The boy who was never meant to die. The boy with a heart of gold who always stood up for what was right. Harry knew that no matter what happened in his new timeline, he would make sure Cedric did not suffer the same unjust fate as before.
The match began, and Harry was quickly sucked into the action. The crowd oohed and aahed appropriately as the Chasers began their delicate dance with the Quaffle up and down the pitch. But Harry had eyes only for the two Seekers, hovering high above the action, searching for the elusive Golden Snitch.
"Lynch has spotted it!" Cho shrieked, pointing wildly as the Ravenclaw Seeker entered a sudden sharp dive. Cedric rocketed after him, closing the distance within seconds.
"No, he hasn't," Harry muttered.
"Course he has!" Terry Boot exclaimed. "Why else would he be diving?"
But that question was answered almost immediately, as Lynch yanked upwards on his broom to cancel his dive while Cedric was forced into an awkward roll to avoid a well-placed Bludger. It had all been a ruse.
"An excellent feint by Lynch!" Lee Jordan appraised the boy. "A clever tactic to test Diggory's instincts. Better luck next time, Cedric!"
Harry could see even from afar that Cedric wasn't nearly as coordinated on a broom now as he would be in a few years, when Harry first played against him. He was a fair bit scrawnier as well, allowing Lynch to bump and bully him as they raced around the pitch together, forcing the Hufflepuff to play more passive. Harry knew Cedric would grow to be a remarkable Quidditch player, which only made him more impressed with Lynch's play.
Hufflepuff looked rather outmatched in general. Harry knew they'd finished last or near to it for several years up to this point, and he could see why. The team was uncoordinated and lazy, with their captain not doing a very good job of rallying them together. Cedric alone seemed to be trying, zooming close past his teammates to hype them up after a successful play or to pick themselves up from a setback. No wonder he becomes team captain in a few years,Harry thought.
Only minutes later, Lynch once again entered a dive, but this was no feint. Cedric did an admirable job of catching up, but Lynch had better position and successfully boxed out the opposing Seeker as he closed in on the darting golden ball. With an elegant swipe in the air, the Ravenclaw closed his fingers around the Snitch, and Harry and the rest of the crowd exploded in cheers.
"And Lynch has the first Snitch!" Lee Jordan exclaimed. "That's fifty points to Ravenclaw!"
Perplexed, Harry's head whipped around to face the magically-amplified scoreboard to his right. Ravenclaw's score was updated from 80 to 130, versus Hufflepuff's 10. Only fifty points? Harry thought. That can't be right…
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