Pre-Match Jitters and Gryffindor’s Support

PAGES: 183-184

The morning of Harry’s first Quidditch match dawns cold and bright. Harry’s nerves make him unable to eat breakfast, but he gains encouragement from Gryffindor supporters, who unveil a large banner cheering him on with the message “Potter for President,” boosting his confidence as he heads to the field.

The next morning dawned very bright and cold. The Great Hall was full of the delicious smell of fried sausages and the cheerful

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chatter of everyone looking forward to a good Quidditch match.

“You’ve got to eat some breakfast.”

“I don’t want anything.”

“Just a bit of toast,” wheedled Hermione.

“I’m not hungry.”

Harry felt terrible. In an hour’s time he’d be walking onto the field.

“Harry, you need your strength,” said Seamus Finnigan. “Seekers are always the ones who get clobbered by the other team.”

“Thanks, Seamus,” said Harry, watching Seamus pile ketchup on his sausages.

By eleven o’clock the whole school seemed to be out in the stands around the Quidditch pitch. Many students had binoculars. The seats might be raised high in the air, but it was still difficult to see what was going on sometimes.

Ron and Hermione joined Neville, Seamus, and Dean the West Ham fan up in the top row. As a surprise for Harry, they had painted a large banner on one of the sheets Scabbers had ruined. It said Potter for President, and Dean, who was good at drawing, had done a large Gryffindor lion underneath. Then Hermione had performed a tricky little charm so that the paint flashed different colors.