Gryffindor vs Slytherin Quidditch match (1992)

Gryffindor vs Slytherin Quidditch Match (1992)
Event information
Location	Hogwarts Quidditch pitch
Date(s)	November 1992
Participant(s)	Gryffindor Quidditch team Slytherin Quidditch team Rolanda Hooch (referee)
Description	A Quidditch match

This Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Slytherin was played in November 1992. The game was the only known game of the 1992–1993 school year, and was won by Gryffindor when Harry Potter retrieved the Snitch.

Players

Gryffindor

• Oliver Wood (Captain, Keeper)
• Harry Potter (Seeker)
• Katie Bell (Chaser)
• Angelina Johnson (Chaser)
• Alicia Spinnet (Chaser)
• Fred Weasley (Beater)
• George Weasley (Beater)

Slytherin

• Marcus Flint (Captain, Chaser)
• Draco Malfoy (Seeker)
• Miles Bletchley (Keeper)
• Graham Montague (Chaser)
• Adrian Pucey (Chaser)
• Unidentified I (Beater)
• Unidentified II (Beater)

History

Background

The game was played in early November. Oliver Wood hoped to start training the Gryffindor team early and woke everyone up at the break of dawn at the start of term in September. He led everyone toward the Quidditch pitch where part-way through their training, they were interrupted by the Slytherin team.

Marcus Flint explained that he had a letter from Professor Snape announcing that the Slytherin team would need the pitch that day to train their new seeker, Draco Malfoy. The Gryffindor team were angry, particularly when they found out Lucius Malfoy had brought the entire team the new Nimbus 2001 broomsticks. Ron Weasley tried to attack Draco but the spell rebounded and hit him instead (due to his wand being damaged), leaving the two teams feeling very intense about their match in November.

The match

Harry evading the rogue Bludger while searching for the Snitch

The day of the game was met with rain and thunder. Harry was immediately nearly struck at the start of the game by the rogue Bludger and was saved by George Weasley. The Bludger then immediately tried to attack him again and Harry flew away while Fred Weasley and George kept saving him. Gryffindor were losing the game within minutes when Slytherin were leading sixty points to zero thanks to their new and improved broomsticks.

Fred and George then realised that the Bludger was certainly hexed and asked Wood to demand a time-out. Wood was annoyed that Fred and George failed to stop Angelina from being hit by the other Bludger, leaving Slytherin to win a goal, and the team were confused when Fred and George explained the other Bludger was strangely trying to hurt Harry.

Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy attempting to catch the Snitch while dodging the Bludger

Harry then told Fred and George to leave him to face the Bludger alone, otherwise he would never find the snitch which the team mainly refused to let happen until Wood decided to agree with Harry. Harry flew around the pitch like a rollarcoaster while looking for the snitch which he finally noticed hiding by Draco. He stayed still for too long while trying to work out how to reach for the snitch without Draco realising, and the Bludger flew into his arm, breaking it.

Even with a broken arm, Harry dived for the snitch in time, stopping the Bludger from hitting him in the face, falling from the broom but retrieving the snitch and winning the game for Gryffindor. He fainted and then woke up to find Gilderoy Lockhart had run to help him. Gilderoy then said the wrong spell and removed every bone in the arm, leaving him in the care of Madam Pomfrey.

Aftermath

Harry is made aware of Dobby the house-elf blocking the barrier between Kings Cross and Platform 9¾. It is also revealed that the house-elf bewitched the Bludger. He also informed by Dobby that "history is too repeat itself", meaning the Chamber of Secrets has been opened before. While in the hospital wing Harry spies Colin Creevey being escorted into the wing by Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall, he had been petrified.

Behind the scenes

• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the match is changed and expanded. The score is 90 for Slytherin and 30 for Gryffindor before Harry catches the Snitch. Fred and George make no attempt to help Harry while Draco had notices the snitch and both he and Harry fight to win it. They fly under the stadium where Draco hits a wooden plank and flies off the broomstick, leaving the game hurt. Harry does not faint, and is nearly hit three times by the Bludger until Hermione Granger destroys it.
• Lucius Malfoy and Rubeus Hagrid attend the match in the film. In addition it is Hagrid and not Fred Weasley who realises that the Bludger had been tampered with when he observes the game through binoculars.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Indirectly mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Indirectly mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Indirectly mentioned only)
• Pottermore
• HarryPotter.com
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery