Harry Potter and the Order Of the Phoenix [142]
“Thirty to ten, Slytherin,” said Lee. “What’s going on Gryffindor? Let’s play this game! Come on!”
“What’s the matter Potter?” said Malfoy, laughing, seeing both Ron and Harry looking around. “Need some help finding the Snitch? Ha, well, don’t count on Weasley here to help you, the only thing that’s smaller than his IQ is his parent’s bank account!” He flew away, laughing to himself.
“Right over there,” said Ron, gritting his teeth, trying not to let Malfoy’s comment get to him. “I see it.” He pointed towards the stands where Lee was. It was below his podium, so Lee was unable to see it, but Harry could see it perfectly. He patted Ron on the shoulder as he shot over to it, and Slytherin scored another goal.
“Forty to ten, Slytherin! What are you doing Gryffindor? I don’t think you’ve showed up yet- ahh!” he yelled as he saw Harry flying right towards him.
Faster and faster Harry flew, emotions running through him, he had to get it, he had to get it…. He was only four feet away from it, he reached out his hand, ready to grab it, when suddenly, Malfoy crashed right into him.
He hit him like a tennis ball would hit a brick wall, Harry bounced right off. Malfoy hovered there, laughing, just feet away from the Snitch, while Harry tumbled in all directions in the air, holding onto his broom for dear life. The broom shook and wobbled from the impact force, and Harry fell off.
He reached up just in time to grab onto the very end of the bristles. The broom was holding him up, but it took a lot of strength to hold on. Harry’s fingers started to hurt from holding on so hard to something so small. He looked up, and saw that Malfoy was still laughing, and that the Snitch was still next to him, ready to be plucked.
Malfoy then seemed to gain control of himself, and turned towards the Snitch.
“So much for me losing, eh Potter?” he snarled, as he moved in to get it. Harry gritted his teeth, he hated Malfoy…. Just then, a miracle happened. A Bludger came out of nowhere, and hit Malfoy right in the back of the head. Harry saw Malfoy’s eyes bulge and spit and blood fly out of his mouth from the force of the impact. He fell of his broom as well, but did not manage to grab a hold of anything like Harry did, he just fell twenty feet, right onto the sandy ground.
Harry looked up, and saw that the Snitch was still there. But, it was too late. He couldn’t hold on any longer. Harry lost his grip on the bristles, and fell.
As he was falling, though, a thought came to Harry. He didn’t need a broom to fly… he had wings, he could transform! But, he didn’t have a wand with him, so he couldn’t make it look like he had used the Flight Charm. It was either reveal to everyone that he was an Animagus, or lose the Quidditch final.
“Well,” Harry quickly thought to himself, “tomorrow everyone will find out when Professor McGonagall registers me.” Harry chose to transform.
Just when he was a few feet above the ground, Harry shot the wings out of his back. He stopped where he was in the air, hovered for a second, ruffled his wings, then flew directly upwards, right towards the Snitch.
As Harry flew, he noticed that it was perfectly quiet. No one in the entire audience, or on the field was making a sound, not even Lee Jordan. All eyes were upon him, the Animagus boy. Harry felt slightly self-conscious, but kept on flying. He only stopped when he felt the cold metal of the Snitch inside his fingers.
The crowd erupted into an ear shattering applause. Everyone (except for the Slytherins) was cheering ecstatically. Gryffindor had won the Quidditch cup, one-hundred-sixty to forty. As Harry looked around the stadium, still flapping his wings, and hovering in the air, a new feeling came over him. It wasn’t a good feeling though… it was actually quite painful… and getting more painful by the second.
It felt as though his hand were covered in flaming bees, and they were all stinging him at once, burning his hand at the same time.