Chapter 303 - Commentary

"You are coming with me," said Luna smiling brightly.

"Where?" Chris stretched yawning. She was sitting in a deserted classroom with her potion kit and ingredients.

"I have talked to Professor McGonagall," said Luna sitting down on the floor. "We both are commentators for the next Quidditch match."

"What? Why?" Chris was surprised. "Luna, you know, I already have so much work and —"

"And you are sulking for days," finished Luna. "Since your trip to Hogsmeade with Adrian."

"I am not sulking," Chris shrugged. Luna just stared at her and she sighed. "It's just — I don't know, Luna. I went that day with Adrian then I saw Harry and kind of zoned out then Adrian mentioned Jason. It was a disaster. So then I decided, I will stop thinking about the boys altogether and just focus on the task at hand. Slughorn and potions and O.W.L.s."

"Good thinking but that doesn't mean you can't do commentary with me," said Luna and when Chris didn't respond she held her hand. "You will have to relax a little bit. Why did I give you the Time-Turner, if you can't use it wisely? And to be honest, I am excited to do this commentary. That Smith did an awful job at last match. I will remind that to everyone."

Seeing Luna's excited face Chris couldn't bring herself to say no.

"Alright," she nodded. "I will do it."

However, Luna wasn't the only one excited about the upcoming match, the Gryffindors were generally much more interested in the upcoming Quidditch match against Hufflepuff, for many of them wanted to see Zacharias Smith, who played Chaser on the Hufflepuff team, punished soundly for his commentary during the opening match against Slytherin. Harry was a lot under pressure as he didn't want to disappoint the Gryffindors, so he made the team practice day and night. This made Ginny and Colin use the Time-Turner much more than Chris. The homework was gradually getting a lot and taking their most of the time. Most of the fifth years were found either in the common room or in library bending over their sea of parchments. It was getting hard to keep up even for Chris, Ginny, Colin and Luna. Especially with the Defense Against the Dark Arts work. Snape was making them work to the bone. He was preparing them beyond O.W.L. levels, Chris realized. 

"It's like he is preparing us for a battle," said Colin one evening, while doing his essay on advanced jinxes and hexes.

"Maybe, he is," mumbled Chris while reading the advanced potion book of the Half-blood Prince.

The weather turned really windy and rough on the day of the match. After breakfast, Chris was waiting for Luna at the entrance hall when Harry hurried past her.

"Hey Harry," Chris called after hesitating a bit.

"Huh?" Harry spun around at her voice.

For a moment, Chris felt like telling him that they were still good friends, no matter how she feels or the whole thing with Slughorn and Ginny but then —

"All the best for the match," she murmured.

"Thanks," Harry gave a tight smile then sauntered away.

"I will fix this after I get the memory, I promise," she mumbled and sighed.

"Professor McGonagall said I can't wear my lion hat," Luna came down the stairs. "She thinks it will show my favouritism to the Gryffindor. But I think that's ridiculous. I mean it's unmistakable who do I support. Everyone knows that, don't they?"

"Of course, they do," Chris smiled smoothing Luna's dirty blonde hair. "But the entire point of being a commentator is that you have to be impartial, isn't it?"

"Smith wasn't impartial at the last match," Luna said as they started walking. "Harry is a good Captain. They deserve to win."

"Yeah, they do," Chris agreed.

Soon, Chris and Luna settled into the commentator's podium near the teacher's seats. Professor McGonagall sat beside them for supervision. Just as Gryffindor and Hufflepuff team stood facing each other and Harry shook hands with Hufflepuff Captain, Professor McGonagall leaned forward to Chris.

"This is the first time, I have agreed to have two commentators. Don't disappoint me," she said eyeing Luna and Chris.

Chris nodded as both teams kicked off and rose into the air.

"And that's Smith of Hufflepuff with the Quaffle," Luna began in her dreamy voice. "He did the commentary last time, of course, and Ginny flew into him, I think that was on purpose. Smith was being quite rude about Gryffindor, I expect he regrets that now he's playing them — oh, look, he's lost the Quaffle, Ginny took it from him, she is the best Chaser if you ask me. . ."

Chris chuckled and looked at the ground. Hearing Luna, Ginny and Colin both were controlling their laughs and a Hufflepuff player took this opening. Chris took the microphone from Luna, cleared her throat and proceeded, "But now, the Hufflepuff chaser Cadwallader has the Quaffle. He took advantage of Ginny Weasley's diverted attention. I think that will teach Miss Weasley to not to lose focus on the Quidditch pitch. . ."

"You bet," Chris heard Ginny saying in her mind before soaring after Cadwallader.

". . . that big Hufflepuff player, Cadwallader is zooming towards the goal post, where Ron is standing — I mean, flying," informed Luna.

"But Ginny had taken the Quaffle from him and she swerved passed the Hufflepuff beater. . . and now she is racing towards the — damn! Smith got in the way."

"Christina!" Professor McGonagall chastised and the crowd laughed.

"Sorry Professor but it was a foul," said Chris grudgingly.

"And intentional," Luna said. "Looks like Smith is trying to take revenge for the last match."

The crowd jeered.

"But now Demelza has the Quaffle and looks like she will score," said Chris catching the match's progression. "And she SCORES! Ten-zero to Hufflepuff."

The Gryffindor crowd cheered. Next Ginny scored and then Cadwallader scored leaving Ron red in the face.

"Save it, Ron," cheered Luna as Cadwallader tried to do another score.

"And he saves!" Chris announced.

After so many stressful days, the match was a breath of fresh air to Chris. She had fun announcing it with Luna. Luna's remarks were hilarious and so was Smith's face after the match.

"Harry had seen the golden snitch!" screamed Chris. "He is racing towards it with Hufflepuff seeker, Vance in tow."

"Cedric was a better seeker for the Hufflepuffs and I really liked him. He is really nice," said Luna.

"Yes, Luna, he is," Chris said. "But now looks like the seekers are heading to the ground. The Snitch is a few feet away from them and they are going to hit the ground if they don't catch the Snitch soon."

At the last moment, Harry twisted his Firebolt and stopped himself from hitting the ground and caught the Snitch at the same time.

"He caught the Snitch! Two hundred thirty to ninety! Gryffindor wins! GRYFFINDOR WINS!" Chris screamed and the Gryffindors cheered and applauded. Professor McGonagall laughed as Chris and Luna did a sort of happy dance.

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To be continued. . .