. So, please, if you liked it vote for me! And, as I always say, leave some feedback to tell me how it was for you 
(Link both feedback and one-shot in my siggy). I know it's quite long, but keep on reading though, it's just a bit of dialogue!Thanks, and have a good match!
Dess
***
Beta-ed by: etphonehome and Witherwings ... thanks!!
Disclaimer: I don’t own any of the characters, magical items, places, names or facts; it belongs all to Mrs. J.K. Rowling; but I took advantage of her work and let myself dreaming and writing, borrowing the magical word she has created.
Sportive Holiday
It was a white Saturday afternoon the week before Christmas Holidays.
Harry had convinced Ron, after long pleading and much shouting, to go
Hogsmeade. Hermione had announced she was going to meet Viktor
Krum, whose team was playing in England, and they had that day free,
so he asked her to meet in the village. Hermione had agreed only as
friends, which didn't calm Ron at all.
They wandered to the Three Broomsticks and there they found George and
Angelina with their old Quidditch team captain, Oliver Wood.
After a while, they found themselves having a great time, listening to
Oliver: it was break time for all the Quidditch teams, and he had come
to visit his girlfriend Katie Bell, still at Hogwarts, and he was
staying an inn close-by.
So chatting had come and gone, and they had found themselves talking
about their favourite sport.
"Who do you guys think has been the best player in the last five
years?" Oliver asked the others.
"Me," everyone said at once, a few laughing.
They looked at each other, not believing what they'd heard.
Oliver said, "No guys, really, come on."
"Oh, yeah, it's pretty obvious Oliver want us to say he's been the
best," said George.
"And isn't it true?"
Everybody laughed.
"What's so funny?"
"Well, of course I'm the best, who saves everybody's necks risking their
lives in every match?" said George.
"Then you think you're the best for that? If it wasn't for me,
Gryffindor had never won the Cup!" protested Harry.
"In case you've forgotten, I was the super star in the last match,"
said Ron, boasting about it.
"Thanks to who?" sprang Angelina. "Your new captain! You can say boys
are best at sports, but I think we all have to disagree in this case."
"Ok, I don't know why I even asked it," said Oliver, trying to change
subject. He knew very well it could not be denied that girls in their
team were the reason for many victories.
They drank their Butterbeers in silence.
"So, am I right or not?" asked Harry, who was still in doubt.
"'Course you aren't, just because you are the youngest Seeker in one hundred
years doesn't make you the best!" piped up Ron.
"And it does make YOU? I mean, it's ok I tried to encourage you and all,
but winning two matches …"
"For your information, I'm improving my acting-"
"I agree … now your mistakes are usually good," said George, rolling
eyes. "C'mon, everybody here knows I'm the best …"
And they stayed discussing, jokingly and seriously, till Fred
and Lee Jordan arrived, both carrying large parcels from Zonko's.
"Why are you making such a scene?" asked Fred, grinning.
"Oh, I've asked who has been the best Gryffindor's Quidditch player in
the last five years, but it seems like it's too complicated to realise that
it's me!" replied Oliver, to which everybody sprang again in shouts.
"Best in what?" asked Katie Bell, appearing out of nowhere with Alicia
Spinett in the crowded bar and joining the group.
''Quidditch,'' answered Angelina.
''Oh … but best in what?'' asked her again. ''Just in case you don't
know it, a Quidditch team has seven players, who play in four
very different positions: a Keeper, two Beaters ─''
''We all know that!'' exasperated Ron.
Katie raised an eyebrow.
'So, how can you say you're the best in the team? I mean, you can ask
who is the best Beater, cause there are two, or who is the best
Chaser, cause there are three, but …'
'I get your point, and complete agree,' said Lee.
'Why don't you change positions and play with another team?'
'Change positions?' asked Harry. 'You're kidding, right?'
'No kidding. And you even could play many matches, so you all can play
in each position at a time,' said Fred.
'Yeah, Quidditch during Christmas Holiday!' enthused Lee.
'Oh, yeah. School won't let us play a thousands matches just as to
find out who is the best one; I've left school, in case you've
forgotten; we aren't trained as for play in another position: we'd
play fools. And last: which team would waste its time for nothing with
us?'
'Ok, step by step,' began Fred, arming himself with patience, as if
trying to explain a bunch of kids why two plus two were four.
'If we talk with McGonagall, they won't refuse it. Dumbledore will be
happy, I'd say. We won't be bothering anybody nor doing anything
wrong plus, we'll be offering some innocent entertainment.
'Then, you're on break as well, and "Hogwarts won't close its doors to
such a brave old Gryffindor",' said Fred dramatically.
'As for your third excuse, you can train on Christmas week as well as
on the following, and matches could be on the last one.'
'But it won't be the same!' complained Oliver.
'But it's gonna show you who is the best in the end,' retorted Katie.
'And about the opposing team, I suggest we gather a team with the best
Griffyndors, 'cause if you five play, it'd leave two spare positions
in your team, and as I don't care how good I am, I won't be part of it
but the opposition,' said Alicia brightly.
'But … someone has to stay, we need two more!' said Angelina.
'Hey, hey, we aren't saying yes ─'
began Oliver.
'You had the idea, so it is a challenge. Will you take it, or are you
a fairy?' said Fred.
Oliver, Harry ad Ron doubted, worried, but Angelina and George said,
'I'll take it!' and so did the others.
'Hi, guys!' greeted Hermione cheerfully. Krum was no longer with her.
'Hi, Hermione,' said everybody, now encouraged by the perspective of
the challenge.
'So, who will be the ones left in our team?' asked Oliver. 'If you're
so badly disposed for that …'
'They must be good, just as to save your hila— your under performing,' said Lee. 'Hey! Hermione, wasn't that Viktor Krum who
you've been with?'
She reddened violently at Ron's gaze, but said flatly, 'Yes, it was.
He's come to visit friends.'
Ron snorted.
'And … do you reckon you could ask him to play with us? I mean ─ if he
has nothing else to do …'
'S ─ sure,' she replied.
'And the other will be ….' said Angelina.
'Oh, ok, I'll do it!' said Katie. 'But I won't be competing for the
Quidditch Grandeur!'
'Done, so, me and Alicia are on the other side, and we'll look for
some candidates. I repeat: it's not to win, is to find out who is the
best of you. Lee?' Fred asked him.
'Somebody has to be the commentator,' he told him.
'Right, then, let's set to work!' said Fred.
'All right: McGonagall said no problem but we have to stay for
Christmas 'cause they're not going to open the station for us,' said
Fred to Oliver, Harry, Ron, George, Angelina, Katie and Alicia, when
they finally met on Sunday at the Quidditch pitch.
'I, as your captain ─' started Oliver.
'Excuse me,' said Angelina, tapping her captain badge. 'You were our
captain, but I'm the new badge-bearer ─'
Fred interrupted her.
'There aren't captains, 'cause you have to train alone, to compete
against yourselves, and to ─'
'Well, as I was saying, after many charts done and trashed, I've kept
with this one,' and Oliver showed them a complicate chart filled with
names and numbers, 'which turns into the following program, consisting
in four matches, when everybody will be on rotation,' and he read
aloud the program.
'Brilliant!' exclaimed Angelina.
'Ok, and this is our team,' and she let the others know who they were.
'They're the best who stay for Christmas we could find.'
'We're going to need some judges, because somebody has to decide who
is the best one, right?' said Angelina. 'So, I've asked Madam Hooch,
and she said as she is going to stay too, she'll be glad to have
some Quidditch for a change.'
'Great!' said Harry.
'And that's not all,' she went on, 'yesterday as I was leaving
Hogsmeade, I met Ludo Bagman, remember? And he said he was bored
'cause of the sports break and he is staying at Hogsmeade, so I've
asked him whether he wants to be a judge …'
'Don't say more; I bet that the old Ludo was jumping when you told him
that,' said George.
'Yeah, and I've asked Charlie and he said there will no problem,' said Fred.
'So, we have three unbiased judges now. They have to be absolutely
fair in their decisions …' asked Harry.
Viktor Krum was walking towards them through the pitch.
'Hi!' greeted everybody but Ron.
'Hello. Err … my … oh..nee told me about your idea, and I'm looking
forward it if you want to.'
'Really?! Oh, I can’t believe Viktor Krum is gonna play with us!' said Oliver.
'Well, yes, I'd like it. But you have to tell me your rules before.'
'Yes, yes, of course, but later if you don't mind,' said Fred. 'Well,
as I was saying …'
The big first day came. Harry, Ron, Oliver, Angelina and George had
spent most of the previous two weeks training under the direction, or
rather help, of Fred, Alicia, Katie, Lee and sometimes, Krum, who had
adapted himself quite well to the group.
Matched had been agreed to be played with a spare day between them, so
as to recovering energy; and despite the alluded would have preferred
to keep it as secret as they could, it was merely impossible after
Fred's showy posters, hung all around the common room: red-coloured
and written in golden letters, they read:
Snifflers …
Quatches …
Bludals …
Godgers …
Is that what will happen to the five brave Gryffindors challenging
each others for the Quidditch Grandeur?
And below, the programmed timetable:
Sunday:
1st match:
Keeper: George Weasley
Chasers: Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, Viktor Krum
Beaters: Oliver Wood, Katie Bell
Seeker: Angelina Johnson
Tuesday:
2nd match:
Keeper: Angelina Johnson
Chasers: Oliver Wood, George Weasley, Viktor Krum
Beaters: Harry Potter, Katie Bell
Seeker: Ronald Weasley
Thursday:
3rd match:
Keeper: Harry Potter
Chasers: George Weasley, Ronald Weasley, Katie Bell
Beaters: Angelina Johnson, Viktor Krum
Seeker: Oliver Wood
Saturday:
4th match:
Keeper: Viktor Krum
Chasers: Harry Potter, Oliver Wood, Katie Bell
Beaters: Angelina Johnson, Ronald Weasley
Seeker: George Weasley
Visitors:
Keeper: Geoffrey Hooper
Chasers: Alicia Spinett, Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan
Beaters: Fred Weasley, Andrew Kirke
Seeker: Ginny Weasley
Therefore, that cold Sunday morning the few students remaining at
Hogwarts (Gryffindors as well as Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs) were
congregated at the Quidditch pitch, eager to see what was this latest
madness.
Harry, Ron and Hermione had gone down through the grounds very early
after a quick breakfast. Despite the time both boys were nervous, Ron
had managed to not get sick, and it was thanks to Krum's presence, he
seemed to have improved at Quidditch only to try and show he was best.
As it was an informal event, players of both teams got dressed in the
same lockers and went out without introduction.
In the bleachers, on one side of Lee were most of the teachers but
Snape, who didn’t agree with the challenge, was on the other side with Dumbledore, beaming to everybody. They were joined by the judges: Madam
Hooch, with her yellowish eyes ad pointed hair, Ludo Bagman, his
childish face giving off joy, and Charlie Weasley, tanned and jovial.
"Welcome everybody to this unexpected challenge between five
Gryffindors fellows. They are going to play including two more
players in their team, from now, the Locals, and a new non-official
team, called Visitors.
'Before you play this first match out of a sequence of four, the judges
want to tell you how are you going to be judged.'
Madam Hooch stood up.
'We are going to take on account: performance, cooperation in the
team, coordination; with the exception of Keepers, how many Quaffles they
stop; Beaters, how many Bludgers they are able to throw. Chasers, how
many goals they score plus their passes, and Seekers, whether they
catch the Snitch,' she said. 'There won't be a referee; we are
confident there won't be any injuries as you're all in the same house
and this is an amateur competition. You simply have to avoid making
mistakes, 'cause we will be taking notes quietly and giving you
points.'
'So, ready players?' said Lee.
Madam Hooch blow the whistle as Bagman released the balls: the game
had begun.
'Players have started well at least: that kick was really powerful.
And Harry's got the Quaffle .. Harry … Harry ─ and he's intercepted
by Dean, but Krum's come in his aid, Krum's got the Quaffle, he passes
it to Ron … no, Ron! Well done, Ron …' sighed Lee.
Ron was so annoyed by the fact Krum had been the one helping Harry
that he nearly dropped the Quaffle, but in the last second, the ball
didn't leave his hands.
'And Ron passes it to Harry; Seamus tries to take it, but a good
Bludger by Oliver refuses him. Meanwhile … Angelina, if you fly that
fast, you can't see the Snitch! And Harry flies right up to the hoops,
where Hooper is waiting, and … he misses. Alicia's got the Quaffle,
she passes it to Seamus, and Katie aims him a Bludger, but it seems
it's too heavy for her and lifts her backwards instead … Seamus passes
it to Dean, Dean advances and George is ready … but he tries to hit it
with his broomstick tail and the Quaffle scores fairly. Just try to
catch it, George! And, who's got the Quaffle? Oh yes, Ang— no, girl,
you're Seeker!'
Angelina was already soaring to the golden hoops, but she startled and
dropped the Quaffle.
'And Ron's got the Quaffle! Krum gestures him to pass it, he's near
the poles, but Ron seems too stubborn to let it go; he reaches the
area, he reaches it ─ reaches it … and he scores, but with his whole
body! That's invalid, Ron. And … Ginny Weasley seems to have seen the
Snitch! And now there are four players ─'
Lee sharpened his sight as if not believing what he saw: Ginny,
Angelina, Harry and Krum were struggling to reach the Snitch first.
'Go back to the Quaffles, you fools!' yelled Ron, trying to catch up
with Dean, who had the Quaffle.
'And in a quick swerve, Krum cuts off Dean, who is shocked and
drops the Quaffle; Alicia catches it, she approaches to the hoops …
get ready, George!'
But there was no need, because a missing bate hit Alicia on the back
and she dropped the ball.
'Sorry!' cried Katie, hurrying to recover it.
'And Ron's got the Quaffle again, but he doesn’t seem to be fully conscious. And he gets hit by an un pleasant Bludger from Andrew
Kirke .. There's no hint of the Snitch after that hilarious mistake,
but it's obvious the Seekers are searching hard … And Seamus' got the
Quaffle, he flies right to ─ Stop, Seamus, Ginny's caught the golden
ball!'
In fact, Ginny was already rounding the pitch, waving her closed fist.
'The scoreboard says 0 Locals ─ 160 Visitors, so good luck for Tuesday, guys!'
But that unlucky defeat did not affect their spirits. After a Monday
of training ('Don't you think you should have a proper meal, at least?' asked an
annoyed Hermione to Ron and Harry when the boys set out to the
Quidditch pitch with a pile of muffins), came a Tuesday covered in
snow.
'─ and the second match begins!' said Lee to the cheerer spectators.
'Alicia quickly got the Quaffle, George and Krum managed to catch it
when she throws it to Seamus. A Bludger by Fred nearly hits Krum, but
there's Harry to send it away. Oliver's got the Quaffle, he reaches
the area and … scores! Well done. Dean catches the Quaffle, now
Alicia, Seamus ─ and he drops it, but George's there ─ ouch! Harry
couldn't control a Bludger and it hits George ─ Alicia flies to the
hoops. And Angelina ─ yeah, she's got it! No point. Oliver throws it
to George. And, looks, that's Ron, I guess all that snow makes lots
trickier his job, but he goes down though, he seems not to notice
there's a ground and ─ wow!'
Ron tried hard to brake but instead spiralled upwards in an attempt to
save his skin.
'Seamus scores, in a failed catch from Angelina, but Krum's got the
Quaffle by Oliver, passes it to George, and scores!'
Ginny had seen the Snitch. It was just behind Ron, but his brother was
too deep in search as to realising. She flew straight to him, but in
the last second ─
'Aah!'
Another Bludger passed between them: Ron turned around and saw the
golden little ball flying away.
'Ron's seen the Snitch! Ron and Ginny Weasley, chasing both the Snitch
… but Ginny's hand is faster, and Visitors wins!'
Ron's swearing was heard all through the pitch, scandalising most of
the teachers.
With the scoreboard indicating 30 Locals (with a last goal by George)
─ 150 Visitors, the team was more than satisfied by the increase of
their scores, even by the near victory of Ron.
Thursday, early in the morning: it rained buckets. But by the time the
match was going to be played, the rain became a cold drizzle and players
took their positions in the pitch.
'Let's see how it's coming today! Katie's got the Quaffle and─ had
Oliver’s seen the Snitch? It looks so but─ oh, it was just something
else glinting. George tries to score but ─ ouch, the Quaffle hits
Geoffrey in an attempt to stop it. Dean goes to catch it and Krum hits
him with a Bludger, allowing Ron to take the Quaffle and ─ scores!'
Ron's first goal seemed to encourage him: he punched the air with a fist
and then cried in pain: Angelina had hit his arm by accident.
'Sorry, I'm so sorry!' she shouted as she flew ahead.
'Dean approaches Harry and ─ oh, no Harry! Dean scores!'
Dean had feigned to right, but when Harry moved, off guard, he aimed
to the centre.
'Katie's got the Quaffle; she ─ Oliver saw the Snitch! Ginny follows him ─'
Halfway, Ginny turned round her broomstick with
a determined expression on her face: Oliver had been mistaken again
or else tricking Ginny.
'─ well, Ron throws the Quaffle to George and ─ Hooper takes a short
cut. Seamus got it; Angelina hits him with a Bludger ─ good for you ─
Ron takes the Quaffle down below, a Bludger by Fred makes its way to
him, it's gonna hit him ─ Krum saves his neck again! Ron throws the
Quaffle to ─ Oliver, again, after the Snitch, but rain is too heavy
to know for sure ─ George again to Hooper ─ watch out!'
Black against black, George didn't see the Bludger sneaking through
the other side of the right hoop, and it blasted him in the stomach and
despite of the Quaffle scored when Ron aimed it a kick.
'Brilliant, Ron, and George, raise your thumbs if everything's all
right ─' George did so. 'And, oh, Oliver's determined to catch the
Snitch … but wait, this time it's true ─ Ginny's after something too
and they rise high into the skies … we've lost them, the rain's become
a downpour again ─ and there they come, as the Chasers dispute the Quaffle,
who's waving their arm? Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Ginny Weasley has
caught the Snitch again, thrashing the Local team for the third time!'
The weather finally hurried everybody to get inside the castle but the
teams, joined in the lockers. Wet but excited, they chatted about the
match, congratulating each other, getting surprised by their
unexpected performances and laughing at the 160 ─ 20 which the Locals lost by.
At last, as only a few were left getting dressed, Ron approached
Krum, who was about to leave, and muttered, 'Er ─ thank you for
saving me twice today. I think I've been unfair to you and all.
Would you like to ─ er ─ go for a walk with me?'
Krum, astonished, nodded and followed him outside.
'Good job, Ginny,' Harry told her, as they set out too.
She blushed slightly, but the smile she gave him made Harry forget Cho
wasn't there. And he wasn't the only one a bit happy: Harry never knew
what Ron and Viktor Krum had been talking about, but his smile
somewhat widened as he saw Hermione waiting for them.
And the last match finally arrived. As if to equal the increased
expectations, the weather on Saturday was cloudy but calm, a chilly breeze
sweeping the pitch.
'Loyal fanatics, honorable teachers, judges and Professor
Dumbledore,' greeted Lee, ': the decisive day has come. Today is the
last opportunity these five Gryffindors have to prove who's the best
player and flaunt their Quidditch Grandeur. When the game is over,
judges ─ Madam Hooch, Mr Bagman and Mr Weasley ─ are going to tell us
their descision. But first, players get ready …'
The whistle was blown and the balls left their prison.
'Oliver is the first in catching the Quaffle ─ he flies forwards and
passes it to Harry ─ uh, that wrong Bludger by Ron nearly hits the
Chaser. The Quaffle in Alicia's possession ─ now Dean ─ another
Bludger from Ron … he seems like a bullet through the air, trying to beat
Bludgers ─ Oliver owns the Quaffle and ─ scores! Now Dean takes the
Quaffle, Angelina sends back a Bludger by Fred and ─ eh, that's good!'
Angelina's beat passed over Dean without touching him but Ron was
ready and sent it straight to Seamus, who now has the red ball.
'That Beater is really energetic today, what did you drink at
breakfast, Ron, Mr Teewitts' Spiritonic?'
Players were really shinning: their playing had improved strikingly due
to their efforts more than by their techniques.
'Point by Harry, and Oliver's got the Quaffle ─ Alicia, she passes is
to Dean ─ Katie, it goes to Harry ─ a Bludger from Fred, and now
Seamus takes possession ─ Krum's ready and he stopped it, now Oliver ─
Alicia ─ to Dean ─ Harry's got it and ─ scores! And … where's the
Snitch, George? Again, two Weasley brothers flying after the Snitch,
who'll catch it? Point by Alicia ─ the Snitch turns unexpectedly and ─
Ginny gets it! No ─ wait, it was George in fact! 180 Locals ─ 10
Visitors, people, can you believe it?'
The little crowd in the bleachers applauded and whistled, curious to
know the judges' decision.
'And now, the moment everybody of us was waiting since last Sunday:
judges, I hand over to you.'
'Good morning players and spectators!' said Ludo Bagman. 'First of all,
let us tell you we are very pleased you are so interested in
Quidditch: the training you have done all this week long is always
worthy, don't forget it. Points have been given this way: 10 by
Quaffles and Bludgers scored, stopped and hit respectively; 30 for the
catch of the Snitch; 10 for the near catch of the Snitch; ─5 for
Quaffles non-stopped and ─5 for the non-catch of the Snitch, plus some
points added by effort levels. To be short, these are the points
you've got one by one:
'Oliver Wood: as Beater, you have 20 points by the 2 Bludgers you hit;
10 points by the goal you scored as Chaser plus 20 points by the good
passes; 10 points as Seeker but –5 'cause you didn't catch the Snitch;
and 10 more as Chaser again: that gives you a total of 55 points.
'George Weasley: one Quaffle stopped, 10 points. Two Quaffles scored,
20 points. And, as Seeker, 30 points; but we have to subtract ─5
points for the Quaffle you didn't catch. That gives you 55 points as
well.
'Harry Potter: 20 points by the Bludgers you've beat; one Quaffle
stopped gives you 10 points, minus 5 points because of the one you
didn't catch. And you have 30 points as Chaser! That's a total of 55
points!'
The stand had began looking each others: will the matches solve the
Quidditch Grandeur matter?
'Angelina Johnson: 10 points for your attempt to catch the Snitch. One
Quaffle stopped; one Quaffle missed: 10 points ─5. Four Bludgers hit:
40 points. That gives you 55 points!
'And, finally, Ronald Weasley: 15 points for your nearly catch of the
Snitch ─5 'cause … it was nearly. 20 points for the two Quaffles
scored plus 25 by the good Bludgers … 55 points!'
People, even the players, sprang in roars of laughter.
'Yes, amazingly, you all have got the same number of points. It wasn't
intentional, believe it or not, but we hope this will encourage you at
Quidditch.' said Charlie.
'And sure enough it's taught you to be less presumptuous! Nobody can
be the best at the whole sport, but you really tried hard, so … feast
everybody!' said Dumbledore, allowing the still laughing students
to run towards the castle.
'Well guys,' said Oliver beaming, 'I guess it's the best we could hope for!'
The players were gathered in the lockers for the last time that
sportive week, and they never thought of complaining about the
results: Quidditch had joined old friends, new friends and blooming
crushes; at least that was what Harry thought as he set off with
Ginny, Ron and Hermione.
***