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The Gryffindor team laughed loudly。 Malfoy's pale eyes narrowed； and he stalked away。 They watched him rejoin the rest of the Slytherin team； who put their heads together； no doubt asking Malfoy whether Harry's broom really was a Firebolt。
At a quarter to eleven； the Gryffindor team set off for the locker rooms。 The weather couldn't have been more different from their match against Hufflepuff。 It was a clear； cool day with a very light breeze； there would be no visibility problems this time； and Harry； though nervous； was starting to feel the excitement only a Quidditch match could bring。 They could hear the rest of the school moving into the stadium beyond。 Harry took off his black school robes； removed his wand from his pocket； and stuck it inside the T…shirt he was going to wear under his Quidditch robes。 He only hoped he wouldn't need it。 He wondered suddenly whether Professor Lupin was in the crowd； watching。
〃You know what we've got to do；〃 said Wood as they prepared to leave the locker rooms。 〃If we lose this match； we're out of the running。 just…just fly like you did in practice yesterday； and we'll be okay！〃
They walked out onto the field to tumultuous applause。 The Ravenclaw team； dressed in blue； were already standing in the middle of the field。 Their Seeker； Cho Chang； was the only girl on their team。 She was shorter than Harry by about a head； and Harry couldn't help noticing； nervous as he was； that she was extremely pretty。 She smiled at Harry as the teams faced each other behind their captains； and he felt a slight lurch in the region of his stomach that he didn't think had anything to do with nerves。
〃Wood； Davies； shake hands；〃 Madam Hooch said briskly； and Wood shook hands with the Ravenclaw Captain。
〃Mount your brooms。。。 on my whistle。。。 three…two…one …〃
Harry kicked off into the air and the Firebolt zoomed higher and faster than any other broom； he soared around the stadium and began squinting around for the Snitch； listening all the while to the mentary； which was being provided by the Weasley twins' friend Lee Jordan。
〃They're off； and the big excitement this match is the Firebolt that Harry Potter is flying for Gryffindor。 According to Which Broomstick； the Firebolt's going to be the broom of choice for the national teams at this year's World Championship …〃
〃Jordan； would you mind telling us what's going on in the match？〃 interrupted Professor McGonagall's voice。
〃Right you are； Professor…just giving a bit of background information…the Firebolt； incidentally； has a built…in auto…brake and …〃
〃Jordan！〃
〃Okay； okay； Gryffindor in possession； Katie Bell of Gryffindor； heading for goal。。。〃
Harry streaked past Katie in the opposite direction； gazing around for a glint of gold and noticing that Cho Chang was tailing him closely。 She was undoubtedly a very good flier…she kept cutting across him； forcing him to change direction。
〃Show her your acceleration； Harry！〃 Fred yelled as he whooshed past in pursuit of a Bludger that was aiming for Alicia。
Harry urged the Firebolt forward as they rounded the Ravenclaw goal posts and Cho fell behind。 Just as Katie succeeded in scoring the first goal of the match； and the Gryffindor end of the field went wild； he saw it…the Snitch was close to the ground； flitting near one of the barriers。
Harry dived； Cho saw what he was doing and tore after him…Harry was speeding up； excitement flooding him； dives were his speciality； he was ten feet away …
Then a Bludger； hit by one of the Ravenclaw Beaters； came pelting out of nowhere； Harry veered off course； avoiding it by an inch； and in those few； crucial seconds； the Snitch had vanished。
There was a great 〃Ooooooh〃 of disappointment from the Gryffindor supporters； but much applause for their Beater from the Ravenclaw end。 George Weasley vented his feelings by hitting the second Bludger directly at the offending Beater； who was forced to roll right over in midair to avoid it。
〃Gryffindor leads by eighty points to zero； and look at that Firebolt go！ Potter's really putting it through its paces now； see it turn…Chang's et is just no match for it； the Firebolt's precisionbalance is really noticeable in these long …〃
〃JORDAN！ ARE YOU BEING PAID TO ADVERTISE FIREBOLTS？ GET ON WITH THE MENTARY！〃
Ravenclaw was pulling back； they had now scored three goals； which put Gryffindor only fifty points ahead…if Cho got the Snitch before him； Ravenclaw would win。 Harry dropped lower； narrowly avoiding a Ravenclaw Chaser； scanning the field frantically…a glint of gold； a flutter of tiny wings…the Snitch was circling the Gryffindor goal post …
Harry accelerated； eyes fixed on the speck of gold ahead…but just then； Cho appeared out of thin air； blocking him …
〃HARRY； THIS IS NO TIME TO BE A GENTLEMAN！〃 Wood roared as Harry swerved to avoid a collision。 〃KNOCK HER OFF HER BROOM IF YOU HAVE TO！〃
Harry turned and caught sight of Cho； she was grinning。 The Snitch had vanished again。 Harry turned his Firebolt upward and was soon twenty feet above the game。 Out of the corner of his eye； he saw Cho following him。。。 She'd decided to mark him rather than search for the Snitch herself。。。 All right； then。。。 if she wanted to tail him； she'd have to take the consequences。。。
He dived again； and Cho； thinking he'd seen the Snitch； tried to follow； Harry pulled out of the dive very sharply； she hurtled downward； he rose fast as a bullet once more； and then saw it； for the third time…the Snitch was glittering way above the field at the Ravenclaw end。
He accelerated； so； many feet below； did Cho。 He was winning； gaining on the Snitch with every second…then …
〃Oh！〃 screamed Cho； pointing。
Distracted； Harry looked down。
Three dementors； three tall； black； hooded dementors； were looking up at him。
He didn't stop to think。 Plunging a hand down the neck of his robes； he whipped out his wand and roared； 〃Expecto patronum！〃
Something silver…white； something enormous； erupted from the end of his wand。 He knew it had shot directly at the dementors but didn't pause to watch； his mind still miraculously clear； he looked ahead…he was nearly there。 He stretched out the hand still grasping his wand and just managed to close his fingers over the small； struggling Snitch。
Madam Hooch's whistle sounded。 Harry turned around in midair and saw six scarlet blurs bearing down on him； next moment； the whole team was hugging him so hard he was nearly pulled off his broom。 Down below he could hear the roars of the Gryffindors in the crowd。
〃That's my boy！〃 Wood kept yelling。 Alicia； Angelina； and Katie had all kissed Harry； Fred had him in a grip so tight Harry felt as though his head would e off In plete disarray； the team managed to make its way back to the ground。 Harry got off his broom and looked up to see a gaggle of Gryffindor supporters sprinting onto the field； Ron in the lead。 Before he knew it； he had been engulfed by the cheering crowd。
〃Yes！〃 Ron yelled； yanking Harry's arm into the air。 〃Yes！ Yes！〃
〃Well done； Harry！〃 said Percy； looking delighted。 〃Ten Galleons to me！ Must find Penelope； excuse me …〃
〃Good for you； Harry！〃 roared Seamus Fi