Hogwarts' Next Top Witch

Hogwarts' Next Top Witch

By Mariposa

Chapter 4: The Girl Who Loves Gushi Chiaki

There was a purple envelope waiting for the girls when they returned from the elimination. Ginny eagerly opened it. "How is your elevation? Meet at Hyde Park at 3 AM."

"Three AM!" exclaimed Pansy.

"We're going to playing Quidditch," Hermione said sullenly.

"Quidditch?" repeated Ginny. "Awesome!"

"I guess they want us there early so no Muggles see us," mused Cho.

* * *

So just before three the following morning, the seven girls trudged sleepily to Hyde Park where Fleur was waiting for them. Oliver Wood, who had been the Gryffindor Keeper and was now the Keeper for the Chudley Cannons was standing behind her with a wooden box at his side.

"Good morning, or should I say good very early morning?" Fleur tittered. "I'm sure you all know why you're 'ere - we weel be playing Quidditch, but weeth a twist! Eet eese vital for a Top Weetch to stay active and 'ealthy and what better way zan Quidditch?" She beamed brightly.

"Are you sure it's secure enough to play in a public Muggle place, even if it is the middle of the night?" questioned Ginny.

"Don't worry, I 'ave devised an invisibility shield over ze park for ze next two 'ours, so nobody weel see us. Now 'oo 'ere plays Quidditch at 'Ogwarts?"

Ginny and Cho raised their hands. "Well, I used to play now that I've graduated," added Cho.

"Oo 'as ever played?"

Everyone else raised their hands except for Hermione.

"Well, you at least know ze rules of ze game, right?"

"Um....I know that it's good to catch the little flying ball with the wings," Hermione replied.

"Well, eet really doesn't matter because we weel be playing something a leetle different. 'As anyone ever 'eard of Quidditch Dodgeball?"

Ginny raised her hand. "Fred and George have played it."

Oliver laughed. "Why am I not surprised?"

"I am sure everyone eese familiar weeth Oliver Wood?" The girls nodded. "'E 'as graciously offered 'is time to come 'ere and tell us about zis exciting new game zat 'as been sweeping ze Wizarding World."

Oliver stepped forward. "Thanks, Fleur, I'll take it from here. Yes, indeed it is true that Quidditch Dodgeball is the new sport that's taking the country by storm. It has combined our favorite pastime with a Muggle favorite pastime - is anyone here familiar with Dodgeball?"

Cautiously Hermione rasied her hand. She didn't have very fond memories of Dodgeball back in her Muggle school days. "It's a game where people throw balls at the other team and you must dodge to avoid them, hence the name."

Oliver nodded. "That's right. And that's pretty much what Quidditch Dodgeball is - except you're on brooms, of course. On each team there are seven people, just like Quidditch. Balls of different colors and sizes are randomly tossed into the air where they remain floating until somebody hits an opponent. If you throw the ball and don't hit anyone, then it will still remain afloat and it becomes that team's property. When you hit somebody, that person is out. If they catch the ball you throw at them, then you are out, and also anyone who catches a ball can invite anyone back on their team who has been taken out. Does everyone understand the rules so far?"

The girls nodded.

"Good. When playing Quidditich Dodgeball, it's always important to remember the five D's: dodge, duck, dip, dive, and dodge."

"Uh, you said dodge twice," interjected Hermione.

"And I'd like to think of the unofficial motto as being, If you can dodge a Dementor, you can dodge a ball," Oliver continued, ignoring Hermione.

The girls shot each other confused glances.

"When everyone has been eliminated from a team, then the other team has won - but wait! There's just a little catch! Besides flying on brooms, Quidditch Dodgeball keeps another aspect of Quidditch in the game - the Snitch. On each team there is a Seeker and only the Seeker can cross the Invisible Line, but a Seeker cannot eliminate anyone when they're on the opponent's side, they are only allowed to cross over when they see the Snitch, which usually comes near the end of the game when almost everyone is out. If you do cross over, the members of that team can do anything to shield you from the Snitch. You see, when one captures the Snitch then that enables for all of their teammates to come back into the game. The Snitch only comes out once and is very vital in winning the game. We won't be worrying about that today, though. Now since there are only seven of you, you will be playing four against four. Fleur has kindly volunteered to be on one of the teams."

After they drew names to decide the teams (Hermione, Ginny, Cho, and Padma against Luna, Pansy, Lavender, and Fleur), Oliver opened the wooden box and about thirty different balls levitated into the air. The girls each climbed aboard the Nimbus 2000s that had been provided for them and soared into the air. Hermione, who didn't like to fly, stayed close to the ground and gripped her handle so tightly her knuckes turned white.

Obviously Ginny and Cho were the most comfortable on brooms, dodging from balls and throwing them at the other team with ease of balance. But even though they were the two best players, Hermione and Padma were easily the two worst. Hermione was too afraid to let go and even try to attempt to throw a ball and Padma had a weak throw. She was immediately out when Pansy hit her with a small yellow ball.

The more the girls played, the more they discovered their strengths. Pansy had a strong throw, Luna was quick and easily darted the oncoming balls, and Lavender found out she could easily catch the balls.

"Wow, I guess all those years I took of Ballet on a Broom as a little girl really did pay off!" she exclaimed when she caught a ball that sent Cho out of the game.

Pffweet!

After about half an hour later, Oliver blew his whistle. There were only ten balls left in the air and Lavender had hit Ginny, making Lavender, Luna, Pansy, and Fleur the winners.

"Good game, girls," Oliver said once everyone was back on the ground. "I think you'll have the jist of it in no time."

"Let's all zank Monsieur Wood for coming down today," Fleur prompted.

"Thank you, Oliver!" the girls chorused.

"No problem." Oliver winked at them. "I'm always willing to teach pretty girls how to play Quidditch Dodgeball. Good luck with your competition!" And with that he vanished.

"Before you go, I 'ave exciting news to tell you," Fleur said to the girls who were now starting to feel the strain of being awake at an ungodly hour. "In zree days, ze seven of you weel be playing Quidditch Dodgeball for your next task. I 'ave asked 'Arry Potter and Ron Weasley to put together a team for you to play against."

"I can tell your right now that Fred and George will be on that team," Ginny groaned.

"Ze game weel be held at ze Quidditch Pitch at 'Ogwarts and all admission weel go to ze Toad Choir set up een Dumbledore's good name. Given that eet eese a charity event and zat Quidditich Dodgeball eese ze new phenomenon, we expect eet to be a soldout game!"

"Great, now everyone can watch me make a fool out of myself," Hermione grumbled to Ginny who sympathetically patted her on the shoulder.

"Een ze meantime, you need to decide 'oo your Team Captain and your Seeker weel be and come up weeth a name for your team. We weel be practicing same time and same place until ze match! Au revoir!"

* * *

During lunch, the seven girls sat around the living room eating their sandwiches and discussing who would be the better Seeker: Cho or Ginny?

"Well, I do have more experience than you," Cho pointed out. "I'm two years older than you. Plus I've always been the Seeker for Ravenclaw. You've only been the Seeker for Gryffindor when Harry couldn't play and that was what? Twice?"

"Yeah, but I caught it both times, including when I was playing against your House," Ginny couldn't help adding smugly in her defense. "Besides, we know that Harry is going to be the Seeker for his side and-" she lowered her voice to a loud whisper, "I know all his Seeker Secrets!"

"All of those who think Ginny should be the Seeker, rasie your hand," said Hermione as she, Ginny, Luna, Lavender, and Padma raised their hands. "Okay, well that obviously settles it."

"You only voted for her because Ron is her brother," Cho snapped at Lavender.

"Ginny would have still won with or without Lavender's vote," Hermione pointed out rationally.

"Well, I think I should at least be captain," Cho pouted.

"Why don't we wait until we've played some more to decide who's best suited for captain?" Hermione responded diplomatically.

* * *

At their next practice, the teams were switched with Cho, Lavender, Hermione, and Pansy against Luna, Padma, Ginny, and Fleur. All the girls, even Hermione, were beginning to feel more comfortable with the game and had learned from their mistakes. Padma still had a weak throw, but at least the balls she threw were starting to cross the Invisible Line. Ginny and Cho were still easily the best two players.

* * *

They discussed team names as they ate lunch in a small café.

"Maybe we could try putting all our House names together?" suggested Padma. "Something like...uh..." She thought for a moment. "Ravfinin? No, that sounds too weird. Okay, how about Slyfinclaw? Or Grytherclaw?"

"Slyfinclaw? Grytherclaw?" repeated Pansy. "That's stupid!"

"Well, I was just trying to come up with a clever name!" Padma replied huffily. "At least I'm trying, I don't see you coming up with any names, Pansy!"

"How about the Purple Moonbeams?" suggested Luna. "I like purple...and I like moonbeams."

"Uh, pass," said Pansy.

"We need a name that's strong, that shows everyone we're a team you don't want to mess with," said Ginny.

"Most importantly we need a name that sounds cool," added Lavender.

"That too," agreed Ginny.

"I got it!" Cho said elatedly after the girls had been quiet for awhile, trying to think of the perfect team name. "I have thought of a name that is not only cool, but will show everyone what a badass team we are." She paused dramatically.

"Well, what is it?" Hermione asked expectedly.

"The Black Mambas!"

"The Black Mambas," Ginny repeated. "Huh. I like it."

"What's a black mamba?" asked Luna.

"A poisonous snake," Hermione answered her. "One of the most deadly in the world."

"Then how about The Deadly Black Mambas?" suggested Lavender.

"That would be redundant," Hermione replied. "Everyone knows that they're deadly. That would be like if a team were called The White Polar Bears. It's unnecessary."

"But who likes my idea?" questioned Cho.

"I like it," said Padma.

"Me too," agreed Luna.

"It's good," voiced Ginny.

Cho lifted her water glass. "The Black Mambas! We are so going to kick the other team's ass!"

* * *

After their last practice before the big match that would be held the following day, Fleur gathered around the girls.

"I just want to tell everyone 'ow great you 'ave played and zat I zink you weel all be ready for ze game tomorrow. Eet doesn't matter eef you win or lose, what eese really important eese zat we all 'ave fun and enjoy a game zat eese for a good cause. Now I'd like to do somezing a leetle different. Instead of giving out ze prize at ze elimination, I weel be giving ze girl 'oo I zink 'as been playing ze best somezing zat weel come een very handy at tomorrow's game. And zat girl eese...Ginny!"

"Well, at least it wasn't Hermione this time," Lavender mumbled to Padma.

"Ooh!" Ginny clapped her hands in excitement. "I've never won anything before! What do I get?"

Fleur smiled. "It will be waiting for you when you get back to the suite. Au revoir!"

Ginny dashed back to the hotel with Cho on her heels as she was curious to see what Ginny would get that would help her with tomorrow's game. Hermione and Luna were the last to enter the suite and Hermione heard Ginny let out an excited shriek.

"NO WAY!" cried Cho. "NO. WAY!"

"Oh my Merlin...I can't believe it!" Ginny cried.

"What? What is it?" Hermione asked. She saw that Ginny was holding up a broom with a shiny black handle.

"She got the Gushi Chiaki," Cho said in awe.

"Another new broom?" asked Hermione.

"Hermione, my friend, the Gushi Chiaki is not just another new broom," said Ginny. "It was made in Japan and is named after it's creator who is one of the most sought after broom makers in the world. It is created in a similar way as the Samurai sword." She held the broom before her and watched it glistened. "Do you know how many people would kill to have this? Picture the Firebolt. Now picture something three times more expensive and ten times better. THAT is the Gushi Chiaki. Oh, I love you, my Gushi." She brought the broom to her lips and kissed it.

Hermione rolled her eyes.

"They've only been on the market for less than a month and they're a limited edition. Less than a hundred are sold around the world," Cho explained. "Oh, what I would give to have one of them! Hey, Ginny wanna trade?"

Ginny laughed manically. "What? Your Comet 260 for the Gushi? Uh, let me think for a moment." Ginny paused for one second. "Yeah, I don't think so."

"I'll give you one hundred galleons!"

"This is worth more than one hundred galleons and you know that!" Ginny snapped.

"Uh, you guys, the game is tomorrow and we still don't have a captian," Lavender said tentatively.

"Maybe Ginny should be captain since she won the broom," said Hermione.

"Don't call it 'the broom!'" Ginny hissed. "It is the Gushi!"

"But Cho came up with the name," Pansy responded.

"We know that the other team comprises of three of her brothers," Hermione argued. "And who knows them better than Ginny?"

"And I have the Gushi...I'm captain," Ginny decided.

"You just better hope we don't lose, Weasley," Cho sneered at her.

* * *

The next afternoon the seven witches, along with Fleur and Cyra, boarded the bus that would be taking them to Hogwarts. (Fortunately for them, Professor Crunk hated sports and would not be attending). All of their brooms (including Ginny's Gushi) were stored in a wooden crate that went into the bus's compartment. The other team was already on the bus. Harry and Ron were sitting together at the back with (just as Ginny had predicted) Fred and George across from them.

Near the front, one right behind the other, were Katie Bell, Alicia Spinnet, and Angelina Johnson.

"Ah, the team we'll be beating," said Ginny as she slid into the seat next to Hermione in front of Harry and Ron. The other girls scattered all over.

Ron laughed. "In your dreams!"

The bus started and they were off for Hogwarts.

"I see that Romilda was the last one eliminated," Harry said surveying the seven remaining girls.

"Yes," said Hermione, "and what a happy day that was. And I just know that I'm going to be the next to go. I can barely stay on a broom, let alone play Quidditch Dodgeball."

"Nah, you won't go just because of that," Ginny said shaking her head firmly. "You've won the last three challenges! Fleur and the other judges will remember that."

"So I supposed you're the Seeker, huh, Gin?" Harry asked her.

Ginny nodded. "And the captain."

"Same as me," Harry replied with a smile.

"You girls are brave to be taking on a team with seven seasoned Quidditich players," said George nodding to Hermione and Ginny. "Ginny, besides you and Cho, who else plays Quidditch?"

"Well, everyone besides Hermione has played it before, just not on a school team," Ginny said defiantly. "And besides, Hermione's played Dodgeball at her Muggle school."

"Of course I sucked at it," Hermione muttered under her breath.

"Well, George, Ronnie, Harry and I have been practicing and I must say that the Sultans of Swing are a team to be reckoned with!" Fred grinned.

Hermione stared at him blankly. "You named your team after a Dire Straits song?"

"Yeah, we got the idea from your CD collection! It was either that or A Flock of Seagulls."

"I don't own anything by A Flock of Seagulls!"

"I told them about A Flock of Seagulls," Harry explained. "I like that song...And I ran....I ran so far away...I just ran...I ran all night and day...I couldn't get away-"

"But we liked Sultans of Swing much better," George said, interrupting Harry's singing. "It makes us sound important. The Sultans of Swing."

"It's much better than Katie's suggestion," Ron agreed. "She thought we should be called the Gryffindor Lions."

"Hey, I heard you!" Katie shouted from the front. "And it's not a bad name...we all are or were in Gryffindor!"

"But it's not very original," Ron muttered. "So what's your team name?" he asked his sister.

"The Black Mambas," Ginny replied with satisfaction.

"Black Mambas?" Fred repeated. "What is that? Some kind of dance?"

"It's a deadly snake," Hermione informed him.

"More like a dead snake," Ron sniggered, "since our team is gonna kill yours."

"Yeah, well, nobody on your team owns a Gushi Chiaki, now do they?" Ginny asked smugly.

"Well, neither does anyone on your team," Ron pointed out, not noticing Ginny's self-righteousness.

"That's where you'd be wrong, mi hermano. It just so happens that I won a Gushi Chiaki."

Ron and Harry stared at her. "You're lying," Ron said hoarsely.

"Oh, but I'm not, mon frere."

"Hermione, did Ginny get a new broom?" Harry demanded.

"She did."

"She's lying," Ron said in a shaky voices. "Ginny told her to say that."

"You can believe what you want, mio fratello, because I certainly can't wait to see the look on all of your faces when you see my brand spanking new Gushi Chiaki! You all can call me Ima, because Ima gonna kick your ass!"

"That's cute, Gin, that's really cute." Fred reached over and patted her on the head.

"Get off!" Ginny slapped his hand away.

* * *

By the time they reached Hogwarts, everyone was more than happy to step off the bus. The sixteen passengers stretched, then the two teams went their separate ways to get ready for the match. The sun was starting to set and it was quickly becoming dimmer by the second.

Harry couldn't help but notice that all the seats were filled. He saw Neville Longbottom, Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan, and Ernie Macmillan sitting together with Colin and Dennis Creevey and Justin Flinch-Fletchley behind them. There was Susan Bones, Parvati Patil, and Romilda Vane ready to cheer on their former opponents. (Or perhaps not). Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were sitting in the front row with Bill and Charlie. Harry wondered who they would be rooting for.

He noticed Ginny's Gryffindor roommates: Gillian Daniels, Kjirsten Skilensidenoffer, Collette Pheonix, and Mischa Owens.

He rolled his eyes when he saw Cormac McLaggen waving a poster with a stick figure drawn with black hair and green eyes and glasses doing something crude with a goat. To make matters worse, the picture was chamed to be animated.

Harry smiled when he noticed Lupin and Tonks looking quite cozy together, sitting in the back row. Katie's good friend, Leanne, was sitting with Mandy Brocklehurst and Terry Boot. Millicent Bulstrode was sitting near the back with Crabbe and Goyle. All three looked ready to taunt both teams.

There were other familiar student faces as well: Michael Corner, Roger Davies, Marietta Edgecomb, Daphne Greengrass, Miranda Branch, Dragnia Paradise, and tons others.

He also noticed many Hogwarts professors were in attendance: Hagrid was sitting next to Dobby and Winky, who shared a seat (and the sight of seeing them sitting next to the half-gaint was quite humouros). McGonagall, Slughorn, Flitwick, Sprout, Trelawney - they were all there. Not a single seat was empty. Harry followed his team into the changing room and they changed into their red robes.

* * *

On the other side of the field, Ginny, Hermione, Cho, Luna, Pansy, Padma, and Lavender changed into their purple robes.

"Oh, I just love these robes!" gushed Lavender. "Purple is my favorite color!"

"That's because your name is a shade of purple," Cho said rolling her eyes.

"A lot of people sure came," Hermione said in a nervous voice looking out at the crowd who were getting more wiled up by the second as they clapped and chanted "WE WILL, WE WILL ROCK YOU!"

"Girls! Eet eese almost time!" Fleur said clapping her hands. "Een a few minutes, ze ozzer team weel be introduced, zen you. Good luck to all of you!" She hugged all of the girls, then left with Cyra to sit in the front row.

"Helllooooo ladies and gentlemen, witches and wizards, creatures of the night and house-elves and whoever else is in attendance on this fine summer July evening." Lee Jordan's voice boomed out. The girls peeked out and saw him standing in the middle of the Quidditch pitch with a MagicMike. "We have an exciting match of Quidditich Dodgeball for you tonight! So sit back and relax and enjoy the game! Let's get ready to ruuuumble!" Techno music started to play and the crowd cheered wildly, enjoying every second of it. "Give a big shoutout to the Sultans of Swing -" he did a double take - "Sultans of Swing? Well, anyway, here they are, the Sultans of Swing aka nearly the Gryffindor Quidditch Team circa 1991-'93. Please welcome Angelina Johnson! Alicia Spinnet! Katie Bell!"

Angelina, Alicia, and Katie all ran out in the field with their brooms at their sides, waving at everyone.

"Here comes everyone's favorite red-headed, freckled-faced pranksters, and my best friends, Gred and Forge - whoops! I mean Fred and George Weasley!"

Fred and George opted to come out on their broomsticks, doing twists and turns over the audience who whooped in delight.

"Show offs," Ginny muttered, her arms crossed as she watched them with the rest of her teammates. "I totally taught them how to do those aerial maneuvers on their brooms too."

"And last but not least, put your hands together for Ron Weasley and your team captian, Harry Potter!"

Ron and Hary ran around the oval-shaped field in oppostie directions, smacking high-fives with the spectators in the front row.

"Oh, please, I can't even watch this anymore!" Ginny exclaimed. "They are so full of themselves! Gits!"

"And now," Lee continued as the music changed. "It's time to introduce you to the lovely ladies of Hogwarts' Next Top Witch, send some love for the Black Mambas! Here they are - Hermione Granger, Luna Lovegood, Cho Chang, Lavender Brown, Padma Patil, Pansy Parkinson, and your captain and also the sister of almost half of the other team - Ginny Weasley!"

Ginny led the other girls as they walked out together, almost in slow motion, towards the other team. Ginny had a slight smirk on her face - oh, how she loved competition, especially against her insufferable brothers. The other girls walked closely behind her, hauling their brooms over their shoulders.

Harry's eyes nearly bugged out. "She really does have a Gushi Chiaki!" he hissed to Ron who could only nod as it seemed words had failed him.

Once the balls were leviated into the air, the two teams heard a whistle and they mounted their brooms and the game began.

Lee Jordan had resumed his post in the commentary box. "Oh, and just like that Potter takes out Granger! Joining me now is Chudley Cannons Keeper, Oliver Wood. Now, Oliver, is it safe to say with the experience the Sultans of Swing have with Quidditch, that they have more of an advantage?"

"Lee, let me reply with a typical '80s Valley Girl response: duh."

"So it's fair to say that they have the right stuff?"

"Yes, I suppose"

"Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. Oh, oh, oh, oh, the right stuff!" Lee sang.

"Um, dude, no."

"Oh! G.W. just hit Ronnie square in the face. Ouch! That had to hurt! And just like that, Fred catches a ball thrown by Parkinson and Ron is back in. Oliver, this game could go on for awhile, right?"

Oliver nodded. "That could very well be the case. I once played a game of Quidditch Dodgeball that lasted for eight hours. Needless to say I was dead tired and grouchy by the time the game was over."

"Did your team win?"

"No, that was the reason I was grouchy."

"Oh! And just like that George knocks out both Chang and Brown with one throw! But Lovegood retaliates by catching a ball thrown by Bell sending her out of the game and Chang is back in!"

"It's pretty obvious that the Black Mambas have been practicing, Lee," commented Oliver. "They sure are giving the Sultans of Swing a run for their money. Plus it doesn't hurt that Ginny has the Gushi Chiaki, a fine piece of work that is."

* * *Fifteen minutes later* * *

"There are no more balls in the air and right now, still alive for the Sultans of Swing are Potter, Johnson, Ron, and only one half of the Weasley twins: George. Still playing for the Black Mambas are G.W., Chang, Lovegood, Parkinson, and Brown. Oliver, what does this mean now?"

"Well, Lee, the game isn't over yet, obviously. There will be a quick ten minute intermission as the balls are once again charmed to levitate in the air. The players who are still alive are allowed to converse with each other, but any players who have been knocked out must remain on the sidelines."

"Well, you heard him folks," Lee said.

"Jordan, why don't you go down and entertain the crowd." Professor McGonagall, who was sitting in front of the commentator's box, twisted in her seat and looked at Lee. "I think they're getting kind of ansty and considering that Sprout is the only one allowed to charm the balls since there are no Hufflepuffs on either side, it might take awhile."

"Alright," Lee agreed. His eyes lit up. "I have an idea!"

He ran down to the field, turned on some music and began singing in the MagicMike:

"Hogwarts, back again, check it top, wreck it - let's begin.

Party people let me hear some noise.

LJ's in the house, jump, jump, and rejoice."

Lee waved his arms from one side to the other.

"There's a party over here, a party over there.

Wave your hands in the air, shake the derriere.

These three words mean you're getting busy.

Whoomp! There it is - hit me!"

"Whoomp! There it is!" echoed Cyra.

"Whoomp! There is it!"

growled Hagrid.

"Whoomp! There it is!"

sqeaked Dobby.

"Whoomp! There it is!"

Dean, Seamus, Neville, and Ernie sang together.

"Whoomp! There it is!"

Lupin and Tonks joined in.

"Whoomp! There it is!"

Colin Creevey stood up and shook his butt at the crowd.

"Whoomp! Zere eet eese!"

Fleur repeated happily.

"Whoomp! There it is!"

McGonagall shouted as she raised the roof with her hands.

Lee continued to sing:

"Upside down and inside out, I'm about to show all you folks what it's all about.

Now it's time to get on the mic and make this party hype.

I'm taking it back to the old school cuz I'm an old fool who's so cool.

If you wanna get down, I'm gonna show you the way!"

"I can't believe he's singing that song," Hermione said to Padma, rolling her eyes.

"I kinda like it," Padma replied. "Whoomp! There it is!" she sang with the others.

At the end of the song, Lee looked at Sprout and saw she was only done charming half of the balls. He was going to have to keep this party in check! He indicated for Cyra to join him, whispered in her ear, and changed the music. Cyra started to sing:

"It's such a good vibration! It's such a sweet sensation!

It's such a good vibration! It's such a sweet sensation!"

Lee joined in, the MagicMike close to his mouth:

"Yo! It's about that time to bring forth the rhythm and the rhyme!

I'm a get mine, so get yours! I wanna see sweat comin' out your pores!

On the house tips is how I'm swinging this, strictly hip hop boy I ain't singing this.

Bringing this to the entire nation: black, white, red, brown, feel the vibration!

Come on, come on. Feel it, feel it! Feel the vibration!"

"Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch! Is he kidding me!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Vibrations good like Sunkist, many wanna know who done this.

Lee Jordan and I'm here to move you, rhymes will groove you and I'm here to prove to you that we can party on the positive side and pump positive vibes!

So come along for the ride making you feel the rhythm is my occupation, so feel the vibration.

Come on, come on. Feel it, feel it! Feel the vibration!"

"They're ready!" Sprout announced when the song had finished, placing the balls back into the air.

"Game on!" shouted Lee as he resumed to his post and the remaining challengers took to their brooms once more. "Oh! And just like that Ronniekins knocks out both Brown and Parkinson at the same time with Potter simultaneously knocking out Lovegood! Nice! It's now four against two. Will the Weasley lass and Chang be able to hold on? Oh, and with that G.W. catches a toss from Johnson! And she invites Granger back into the game! Granger, who was knocked out nearly five seconds into the game and hasn't been back yet! Was that a smart move? I guess we'll wait and see."

At that moment Dean Thomas stumbled into the commentator's box, holding a bottle of butterbeer.

"Dean, my main man!" Lee grinned as he slapped the younger boy a high five. "What brings you to my humble abode? Ladies and gentlemen, I have Dean Thomas with me. Dean, have you played Quidditch Dodgeball before?"

Dean shook his head. "No," he replied, his voice slurred. "There's something I need to say to a certain player out there. Do you mind?" he asked taking the MagicMike.

"Uh, no, dude, go ahead."

Dean took the MagicMike and stood on the wooden railing of the box.

Over in the pitch, Ginny was trying to dodge oncoming traffic and shield Hermione as well. "What the hell is Dean doing?" she said out of the corner of her mouth to Hermione who just shrugged. She ducked, barely missing a ball thrown by George. They heard Dean began to warble:

"We belong together and you know that I'm right.

Why do you play with my head, why do you play with my mind?

Said we'd be forever, said it'd never die.

How could you love me and leave me and never say good-bye?"

"Uh, I think he's singing to you," Hermione said, leaning down low on her broom to avoid a close encounter with an orange ball thrown by Harry.

"Well, he's making a fool of himself!" Ginny's brown eyes blazed angrily as she took a quick glance over at Dean who now had one of his arms wrapped around a post for support and his other arm was outstretched towards the players.

"Girl, I'm here for you. All those times at night when you just hurt me and just ran out with Harry Potter - baby, I knew about it, I just didn't care. You just don't understand how much I love you, do you?"

"Hey, Gin, why don't you shut your ex up?" George grinned and tossed a ball which Cho caught. "Ah, crap."

"Lavender, get your ass back in here!" Cho called.

"Serves you right!" Ginny shouted at her brother.

"I'm not out to go out and cheat on you all night, just like you did baby, but that's all right. Hey, I love you anyway."

"I NEVER CHEATED ON YOU!" Ginny screamed towards Dean. She swooped to the side to avoid a fast flying object thrown by Ron in the split second she was distracted.

"Right now, I'm just in so much pain, baby, cuz you just won't come back to me, will you? Just come back to me."

"I think he's drunk," Hermione whispered to Ginny who nodded in agreement.

Dean outstretched both his hands and fell to the ground. The spectators gasped in horror and even the players paused for a moment to make sure he was okay.

"I'm okay!" Dean announced groggily sitting up.

"Man, get your drunk ass off this field and quit singing!" Lee shouted at him.

"Ouch!" Lavender cried as Ron hit her in the back in the moment she had turned to look at Dean.

"And the game continues," Lee resumed with his commentary. "Brown is out and oh! So is Granger. Eliminated by her boyfriend. Tsk, tsk, Ron. It's now two aginst two: Potter and Weasley against G.W. and Chang - oh, scratch that. Chang just got ousted by Potter. Oh, look, folks, I think I see the Snitch!"

Ginny was now just trying to avoid any of the hurtling balls being thrown at her by Ron and Harry. She wasn't worrying about catching any of them, all she had to do was get that Snitch - and there it was! She could see it on the other side, just a couple feet up and above Harry.

Harry saw her cross over the Invisible Line and knew the Snitch had appeared.

"I see it!" Ron pointed excitedly to the small winged object. Harry was an exceptionally fast flyer and zoomed for the Snitch, but Ginny was equally as fast, if not faster on her Gushi, and was right next to Harry in a few seconds, with Ron trailing behind her, unable to keep up with his own broom. Ginny saw Harry stretch his arm out to reach for the Snitch, but slapped his arm away.

"You didn't think it was going to be that easy, did you?" she smirked.

"You know, for a second there, yeah, I kinda did," Harry replied. And with that he turned on his side and flew off to where the Snitch went. Ginny zipped after him. But even her beloved Gushi Chiaki was no match for the great Harry Potter. He had caught the Snitch and the rest of his team, now whooping came back in to the game. It was no use for poor Ginny: under thirty seconds she was hit by Fred and out of the game.

"And just like that the Sultans of Swing are your winners of Quidditch Dodgeball '97!" Lee cried as the crowd whooped and cheered.

"Sorry, guys," Ginny mumbled to her teammate.

"Oh, it's not a big deal," Hermione replied good-naturedly. "The other team did have more experience against us anyway."

"You were so close! So close!" shouted Cho. "You should have made me Seeker! I could have totally gotten that!"

All of the players now had their feet planted firmly on the ground, except for Harry who had been picked up and carried by Fred and George, chanting and cheering victoriously. Streamers of gold and silver started raining down on the pitch and fireworks went off. The winning team began to sing, along with the audience:

"We are the champions, my friends, and we'll keep on fighting till the end.

We are the champions, we are the champions, no time for losers, cuz we are the champions - of the world!"

Angelina, Alicia, and Katie consoled the other team and put their arms around Hermione, Luna, Lavender, Padma, Pansy, and Cho as they began swinging and swaying with the others.

Harry could see Ginny pushing her way through the crowd and jumped off from Fred and George's shoulders and ran after her. "Ginny," he said touching her shoulder and she turned around and was quite taken aback when Harry grabbed her and kissed her.

"What was that for?"

"To ease the pain....you're not upset that I beat you, are you?"

She bit her lip to keep from smiling. "Well, I suppose not. I'd be more irked if it were one of my brothers...I'm very competitive with them, you know. Especially Ron."

"Yeah, I've noticed that," he replied with a laugh.

"But I can't be mad at you because you're too cute."

Harry kissed her again.

"Now folks, if that's not inter-team unity, then I don't know what is," Lee said as he watched Harry and Ginny.

* * *

The elimination was the next day. Hermione knew she was going to go. Ginny kept squeezing her hand and told her everything would be fine.

The seven girls stood in front of Fleur, Cyra, and Oliver Wood, who was the special guest judge that day. Since Crunk had not attended the game, he was not there.

"First of all, I'd like to say what a wonderful job you did een ze game," Fleur commented. "Even zough you didn't win, we are all extremely proud of you and zought you all did a great job."

Oliver nodded in agreement. "Perhaps in a few months, most of you will able to go pro with Quidditch Dodgeball!"

"And wasn't the game fun, y'all?" said Cyra.

"But we must go on weeth ze competition," Fleur continued. "I 'ave seven beautiful weetches een front of me. Only six of you weel move on to ze next round and one of you weel be asked to pack your belongings and leave. Ginny, you won ze challenge and weel be moving on. Cho, congratulations, you are also steel een ze running to be 'Ogwarts' Next Top Weetch."

Fleur called out names and just as Hermione expected, she was in the bottom two with Padma.

"You two 'ad ze most problem weeth ze game, but 'Ermione, you 'ave shown some great potential, and zat eese why you are still in ze compeition. Congratulations."

Hermione heaved a sigh of relief as Padma hugged her.

Six girls remain......WHO will be Hogwarts' Next Top Witch?