Chapter 26 - The Half-Blood Prince

                                        

                                              
The Half-Blood Prince
                              
The Gryffindors were still floating from their victory the next day. Snape, of course, tried to dampen their spirits with more homework, but he barely dented it. Even the dread of the upcoming finals was not going to sink in another few days. McGonagall tried to get them to be more concerned about their exams, but it was hopeless. After last year's exams, Ron, Harry and Hermione felt that their sixth year exams would be nothing.
                              
A few days later, Ron, Hermione and Harry were waiting in the common room for Ginny to get out of class before they ate dinner. Hermione and Harry sat down by the fire, but Ron was playing out the match for them, again. Hermione tried to show interest, but after hearing it for about the fifteenth time....
                              
"Then Pucey tries to put it throw the right hoop, but he switched at the last second. But I was one step ahead of him.... I reached out and caught it... and you should have seen the look on that son-of-a... well... we sure put his face in the dirt," Ron finished somewhat lamely, looking at Hermione's criticizing face. He finally sat down and let out a breath of exhaustion.
                              
Harry, who had just been smiling at Ron's theatrics, said, "Done already?"
                              
"Yeah..." Ron started, but his face was starting to become more serious. "Look Harry... thanks for letting me be captain. You didn't have to...."
                              
Harry hesitated, but then said, "Ron, come on... drop it. What kind of captain would I have made? You did great. Making up the training program and teaching us new moves.... You were the right person for the job." 
                              
Ron nodded slowly still slightly embarrassed, and Hermione was just looking nervously between them.
                              
"Yeah, but thanks..." he mumbled, and at that moment, Ginny got back from classes and angrily threw her book-filled bag on the floor.
                              
"How did you guys get through all the homework?" Ginny said, disheveled.
                              
"Homework? What homework?" Ron said, sarcastically.
                              
"What were you guys talking about?" Ginny said, ignoring him.
                              
"What else?" Harry said, yawning.
                              
"Quidditch?" Ginny asked, with a raised eyebrow.
                              
"Quidditch," Hermione repeated, rolling her eyes.
                              
"Quidditch... well, it was a hard fought victory, in which we almost died many times. Can we go eat, now?" Ginny said, slightly worn-out.
                              
"Yeah, but remember Malfoy at the end?" Ron said, getting up and starting up one of his rants.
                              
"Oh yeah, trying to hex Harry after the match was over. He's such a sore loser," Hermione said, shaking her head, as they climbed through the portrait hole.
                              
"But Harry just pulled out his wand... and hit him! That was great, mate," Ron said, grinning.
                              
"Yeah, I'm surprised he stopped there," Hermione said.
                              
"Nah. He was done. It was hopeless after that," Ginny laughed.
                              
"Yeah, he was just frozen there. It was the funniest thing I've ever seen! I should've went up and gave him a good kick," Ron said and they continued their conversation down to the Great Hall. 
                              
Harry did not say anything. Something started to nag him. It was not the game, or even Malfoy. It was his father. The scenes in Snape's Pensieve drifted into his mind and Malfoy looked just like Snape did when his father froze him. Now, Malfoy was the most hated kid in school now, just like Snape was. 
                              
Am I just like my father? he thought. Malfoy was attacking him. So? Snape charged my father, too. The match had been Malfoy's last chance to win some glory. Harry did say much all through dinner and when they came back upstairs. Ron and Hermione did not notice, but they were too wrapped up in each other. Ginny, however, could not help but notice.