Tattered Robe 
Registered XXXXX
Floo Ferret
Quidditch as Chess Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley were sitting in the Gryffindor stands, watching the last game of the season. They were cheering on their best friend, Harry Potter, as he swooped through the skies effortlessly, searching for the illusive Snitch.
“It’s not fair,” complained Hermione, “they’re cheating like nobody’s business!”
“Don’t know what’s gotten into Hooch,” added Ron. “Why doesn’t she call a foul?”
“Because she’s too busy staying on her broom,” said a small voice behind them.
The two whirled round and saw none other than Neville sitting behind them.
“What’s that supposed to mean,” said Ron dangerously. “Did you hear something? Have they done something to her broom?”
“Slipping jinx on the handle,” said Neville glumly. “Overheard them planning it, and I’ve been trying all day to get somebody to listen to me, but all the professors were busy, and kept shooing me off, and…”
“We can take care of it,” said Ron. “All right. Neville, you go down to the Slytherin stands and cause a diversion. Distract them. Make them break eye contact. Whatever you do, don’t let them see you. You, Hermione, find a counter-curse- you can cast it from the library window. I’ll notify the Headmaster.”
Ron’s friends ran off to do as he directed, as Ron made his way through the Gryffindor stands to the Staff box.
Ronald ran through the crowd, and out of the stands. Casting a glance to his left, he saw Hermione hurrying to the castle, and Neville hurrying round the other way towards the Slytherin stands, his wand drawn and his face set in determination.
Ron ran over to the Staff box and climbed up it. “Excuse me,” he said quickly, “but there seems to be a bit of a problem with Hooch’s broom.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” snapped McGonagall immediately. “The brooms were checked before the match. “There’s nothing wrong with it!”
“Yes, there is!” insisted Ron. “The Slytherins have got a slipping jinx on it.”
“It does look like she’s having trouble controlling it,” said Snape. “Perhaps there is something wrong.”
“Hooch knows what she’s doing,” insisted McGonagall. “How many times have I had to tell you not to spread lies about the Slytherins? You carry House rivalry far to far. If I have to speak to you about this once more…”
“Minerva,” chided Dumbledore, “it wouldn’t do any harm to listen to the boy, would it? How do you know there’s been foul play?”
“Neville overheard the Slytherin’s plotting last night,” answered Ronald defiantly. “And he’s been trying to tell you all about it ever since, but you never listen to him! He went off to try and break their eye contact. I’m not sure who’s doing it, or even what jinx they’re using, but you just have to look at her to realize something’s wrong.”
“She does appear to be having trouble,” agreed Dumbledore, watching the referee flying jerkily about the pitch. “Although without knowing the jinx in question, or who’s casting it… Did he say?”
“I didn’t ask,” admitted Ronald, “but Hermione went to look.”
“A good strategy,” said Dumbledore. “My word- whatever has gotten into the Slytherins?”
Neville had followed his instructions to the letter, hitting the guilty parties with a dancing charm so strong that they had all fallen to the floor jerkin uncontrollably. At nearly the same time a blinding white spell hit Hooch’s broom from the library window, and she was able to right herself immediately.
“10 points to Gryffindor,” said Dumbledore. “For a good strategy well carried out, another 10 for an excellent jinx, and 10 of course to extraordinarily quick research.”
As soon as Hooch caught her breath, she immediately shouted “Penalty!” And the game went on.
Judge not, lest ye be judged.
Round Four - The Quidditch Match, Short Story Challenge
evlpez Round Four - The Quidditch Match Oct 23 2004, 01:45 AM
Oct 23 2004, 01:45 AM
Unlike Round 3 (The Magic Box Challenge), the submissions for this challenge do not make a continuing story. Each submission must stand alone as a short story.
Note to ferrets: Remember that you are writing fan fiction as though you are the Floo-Between user you've chosen. This means that if you've chosen Snape, you are writing as though Snape is writing fan fiction, not as though he is a part of the story. Each character may write as many submissions as they wish for this challenge, as long as each submission is significantly different from their others. The deadline for submissions is Wednesday December 1st.
