Gryffindor Quidditch Team

**Chasers:**

* James Potter (1974-1977)
* Angelina Johnson (1990-1996)
* Alicia Spinnet (1990-1992)
* Katie Bell (1991-1997)
* Felicity Black (1992-1997)
* Ginny Weasley (1996-1997)
* Dean Thomas (1996-1997)

**Keepers:**

* Oliver Wood (1989-1994)
* Ron Weasley (1995-1997)
* Cormac McLaggen (1996-1997)

**Seekers:**

* Charlie Weasley (1986-1991)
* Harry Potter (1991-1997)
* Ginny Weasley (1996)

**Captains:**

* Charlie Weasley (1990-1991)
* Oliver Wood (1991-1994)
* Angelina Johnson (1995-1996)
* Harry Potter (1996-1997)
* Felicity Black (1997)

**George Weasley**: "*I can't see anyone trying to bump off a Quidditch team.*"
**Fred Weasley**: "*Wood might've done the Slytherins if he could've got away with it.*"
— The Gryffindor Captain's competitive spirit

The **Gryffindor Quidditch team** was the Quidditch team of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry's Gryffindor House. They played in robes of scarlet and gold, their House colour. The mascot of Gryffindor House and its Quidditch team was a lion.

Interestingly, a member of the Weasley family had held every one of the positions on the team. For example, Ginny was a Chaser and a substitute Seeker, Charlie was a Seeker, Fred and George were Beaters, and Ron was the Keeper.

## History

### c. 1691-1892 School Year

Gryffindor suffered a heavy defeat, and it would be three hundred years until they suffer one worse.

### Early 20th Century

Minerva McGonagall, like her mother, was a gifted Quidditch player, who represented Gryffindor during her time at Hogwarts. It is currently unknown how the team performed during this time period.

At some point in the early 20th Century, during her last Gryffindor vs Slytherin Quidditch match which would decide the Quidditch Cup winner, Minerva had a nasty fall caused by a foul that left her with a concussion, several broken ribs, and a lifelong desire to see Slytherin crushed on the Quidditch pitch.

### 1970s

James Potter played as a Chaser for Gryffindor this decade.

### 1980s

During the 1985-1986 school year, Charles Weasley played as Seeker for Gryffindor, and Gryffindor won the Quidditch Cup.

During the same year, the Gryffindor team was considered the fastest team among the four houses. Gryffindor Quidditch team, however, failed to win the Quidditch Cup during the school years of 1986-87, 1987-88, 1988-89, and 1989-90.

### 1990-1991 School Year

According to Gryffindor Head of House, Minerva McGonagall, Gryffindor was "flattened" by Slytherin. Oliver Wood was Gryffindor's Keeper and Fred and George Weasley were Beaters. Alicia Spinnet was only a reserve for Gryffindor this season.

### 1991-1992 School Year

**Fred Weasley**: "*We know Oliver's speech by heart. We were on the team last year.*"
**Oliver Wood**: "*Shut up, you two. This is the best team Gryffindor's had in years. We're going to win. I know it.*"
— Fred Weasley and Oliver Wood discussing the team

When Harry Potter played during his first year at Hogwarts, he was the youngest player in more than a hundred years. He also had to be given special dispensation to have his own broomstick at school. This was due to the fact that first years were not allowed their own brooms, most likely because of safety reasons.

This broomstick was a present from the Head of Gryffindor House, Minerva McGonagall, delivered to him during breakfast in the Great Hall one morning. This was a racing broom that would come in handy regarding chasing and catching the elusive and incredibly fast Snitch. The Gryffindor Quidditch team practiced three times a week under Oliver Wood's very strict supervision.

The opening game, Gryffindor versus Slytherin, was played on a cold November's day. This was Harry Potter's debut match. Angelina Johnson was first to score, shooting the Quaffle past Bletchley. The first time Harry spotted the Snitch, so did Higgs, but as Harry spend towards it he was blocked by Flint. For this, Madam Hooch awarded a penalty, which Alicia Spinnet scored, but the Seekers had lost sight of the Snitch.

Professor Quirrell then began to magically interfere with Harry's broom, but Harry was saved when Hermione Granger cast a spell to start a small fire in the stand that Quirrell was occupying. Harry regained control of his broom and caught the Snitch by accidentally swallowing it. Although Flint complained to Hooch, she judged the incident fair play and Gryffindor won the match 170-60.

Professor Snape refereed the Hufflepuff versus Gryffindor match. His decisions were biased in favour of Hufflepuff. Gryffindor Beater, George Weasley, hit a Bludger at him. Harry caught the Snitch in record time and won the game for Gryffindor.

In Harry's absence at the hospital wing, Gryffindor was defeated in their final game of the season against Ravenclaw, costing them their chance at the Quidditch Cup that year.

### 1992-1993 School Year

"*It'll be down to you, Harry, to show them that a Seeker has to have something more than a rich father. Get to that Snitch before Malfoy or die trying, Harry, because we've got to win today, we've got to.*"
— Oliver Wood's intense need to win

Due to Alicia Spinnet having graduated, Gryffindor needed a new Chaser. Fortunately, Oliver Wood had seen Flick practicing with Fred and George and asked her to join the team.

Wood planned to begin training before the other three sides. Unfortunately for Gryffindor, who had got up at the crack of dawn for their first training session, Slytherin had been given the use of the Quidditch pitch by Severus Snape. Draco Malfoy, the Slytherin team's new Seeker called Hermione Granger a Mudblood. This happened after she insinuated that the only reason he made the team was because of his father's generous donation of Nimbus 2001s. This accusation might have very well been the truth. To make matters worse, Harry had to leave with Ron after the spell Ron attempted to cast on Malfoy backfired, causing Ron to belch up slugs.

During the rainy Slytherin versus Gryffindor match, the Slytherin Chasers were dominant, taking a 60-0 lead at one point. Harry was relentlessly pursued by a rogue Bludger, so Oliver Wood called for a time-out. However, Harry agreed to play on, telling the Weasley twins to stop flying around him so he could pursue the Snitch.

When the action resumed Harry was struck on the arm by a Bludger, which broke his right arm. Despite this, when he spotted the Snitch he was able to chase after it and grasp it in his left hand, winning the match for Gryffindor. Gilderoy Lockhart then attempted to mend Harry's broken arm, but instead removed the bone. Harry was given Skele-Gro in the Hospital Wing, where that night Dobby revealed it was he who had tampered with the Bludger.

In anticipation for their next match against Hufflepuff, Wood insisted on Gryffindor team practices every night after dinner. Unfortunately, the Quidditch Cup was completely cancelled due to attacks on Muggleborn students before the match.

### 1993-1994 School Year

"*This is our last chance - my last chance - to win the Quidditch Cup. I'll be leaving at the end of this year. I'll never get another shot at it.*"
— Oliver Wood explaining his last chance to win the cup

In the 1993-1994 school year, the team is said by Lee Jordan to be "the best team Hogwarts has seen in the last few years." This was the first year that they had won the Quidditch Cup since Charlie Weasley was on the team. Gryffindor kept the same team as the previous year. It was seventeen-year-old captain Oliver Wood's last season. They trained three times a week.

The Slytherin versus Gryffindor match was re-scheduled as Flint claimed his Seeker, Malfoy, had an injured arm, so the first match was Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff.

The game was played in heavy rain, ferocious wind, thunder, and lightning. The wind was so powerful that the players staggered sideways as they walked onto the very muddy pitch. The sound of the thunder drowned out the crowd's shouts. Madam Hooch's whistle to start the match coincided with the first bolt of lightning. Harry's vision was hindered by the constant raindrops on his glasses and he was almost struck by a Bludger twice.

Wood called for a time-out when Gryffindor were fifty points up. Hermione used *Impervius* so Harry's glasses would repel any water. When both Seekers had spotted the Snitch, Harry then saw at least a hundred Dementors that had entered the stadium. He heard his mother's last words before she was killed by Lord Voldemort and he fell about fifty feet to the ground. Albus Dumbledore ran onto the pitch waving his wand and slowing Harry's fall. He then got rid of the Dementors, magicked Harry onto a stretcher and carried him to the castle floating upon it.

Cedric caught the Snitch, giving Hufflepuff a win by 100 points. He offered a re-match, but Gryffindor accepted the defeat. Harry's broomstick was blown into the Whomping Willow, which destroyed it.

Gryffindor increased their training to five times a week (under the supervision of Madam Hooch). For a time, Harry used an old school broom as a substitute, but this changed when he received a Firebolt for Christmas (later revealed to be a gift from Sirius Black ordered via owl mail order).

Gryffindor's final practice before their match against Ravenclaw was their current side's best ever, suggested to be the result of them being inspired by the Firebolt. Harry caught the Snitch within ten seconds of its release. The team performed their moves faultlessly and Wood had no criticisms, which Fred noted was a first.

For the game against Ravenclaw, Harry flew his Firebolt. His opposing Seeker, fourth year Cho Chang, flew a Comet 260. In clear, cool conditions, Gryffindor took an eighty point lead, but Ravenclaw managed to claw it back to 80-30. When Harry spotted the Snitch for the third time, Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, and Flint walked onto the pitch, dressed as Dementors. Harry having been given anti-dementor lessons, shot his Patronus at them and then caught the Snitch. This gave Gryffindor a victory, whose fans ran onto the pitch in celebration.

On the first Saturday after the Easter holidays, Gryffindor played Slytherin. Gryffindor had trained every day in preparation for the game. Slytherin were leading the Championship by exactly 200 points, meaning Gryffindor needed to win the match by 210 points to claim the Quidditch Cup.

Three-quarters of the crowd supported Gryffindor. Angelina scored first after George hit Warrington with a Bludger. Then Flint crashed into her, and Fred threw his bat at the back of Flint's head, which smashed into his broom handle, bloodying his nose. Penalties were given to each side. Flick scored and Oliver saved. Katie scored another penalty after Montague grabbed her head. Flint then scored for Slytherin. Bole hit Flick with his club and George elbowed him in the face, resulting in two more penalties.

Oliver saved again and Gryffindor scored. A goal from Katie made the score 50-10. Bole and Derrick winded Oliver with two Bludgers to the stomach. Angelina scored the resulting penalty, and Gryffindor moved into a 70-10 lead when Flick scored. As Harry chased the Snitch, Malfoy grabbed his Firebolt. Flick then missed a penalty and Montague scored for Slytherin. After Angelina scored to make it 80-20 Malfoy plummeted towards the Snitch. Harry pursued him and took both hands off his broom to reach out and capture the Snitch, winning Gryffindor the Quidditch Cup.

This Quidditch Cup win was also the start of Gryffindor's back-to-back winning streak, winning again during the 1995-1996 School Year, and the 1996-1997 School Year. No matches were played during the 1994-1995 School Year due to the Triwizard Tournament, therefore the second win was during the 1995-1996 school year.

### 1994-1995 School Year

Due to the Triwizard Tournament being held at Hogwarts during this year, the Quidditch Cup was cancelled, and the team did not play.

### 1995-1996 School Year

"*Weasley cannot save a thing, / He can't block a single ring. / That's why Slytherins all sing, / Weasley is our king!*"
— Weasley Is Our King lyrics mocking Ron

Angelina Johnson was made the Quidditch Captain of the team due to Oliver Wood graduating, and was left with the task of selecting a new team player to fill his former position as Keeper. After a tough try-out, Ron made the team.

Gryffindor began their season with a victory against Slytherin. Shortly after the match, Draco Malfoy insulted and provoked Fred, George and Harry. Harry and George promptly attacked him, but the two of them and Fred had their broomsticks confiscated and were banned from Quidditch for life by Dolores Umbridge, the Hogwarts High Inquisitor, exploiting her new authority in Hogwarts and her vendetta against Harry. They were replaced by Andrew Kirke, Jack Sloper and Ginny Weasley, respectively.

The second game of the season went poorly, with Hufflepuff scoring so many goals that Ginny catching the snitch only gave them a ten-point loss. In the final game of the season against Ravenclaw, Ron finally managed to pull himself together as Keeper, and Ginny beat Cho Chang in the race for the Snitch. Gryffindor won the match and the Quidditch Cup.

Following Umbridge's removal from the school, Harry's ban was lifted, so he could play again in the next year at school.

### 1996-1997 School Year

"*After two hours, many complaints, and several tantrums, one involving a crashed Comet Two Sixty and several broken teeth, Harry had found himself three Chasers: Flick Black, who returned to the team after demonstrating her new found ability to dodge Bludgers, Katie Bell also returned to the team after an excellent trial, and Ginny Weasley, who had outflown all the competition and scored seventeen goals to boot.*"
— 1996 Quidditch tryouts

Harry Potter was appointed as the Quidditch Captain. Many first years tried out (who clearly had never flown before) and in addition, some of the people trying out were from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. Katie Bell warned Harry not to be biased for tryouts, such as keeping old players or letting friends in, which were mistakes that led good Quidditch teams being ruined.

There was a group of girls including Romilda Vane who tried out but just giggled and fell over each other when Harry blew the whistle. Another group had a pileup halfway around the pitch, and the fourth group came without broomsticks. Ginny Weasley replaced Angelina Johnson, who had graduated the year before, joining Flick and Katie Bell as Chasers. For Beaters, Jimmy Peakes and Demelza Robins were eventually chosen, and Ron was chosen as Keeper.

Ron and Katie both became unintended victims of Draco Malfoy's attempts to kill Albus Dumbledore, and while they were unable to play, their spots in the team were taken over by Cormac McLaggen and Dean Thomas. After they were healed they both returned to the team. Harry missed the season's last game due to detention with Professor Snape.

Therefore, for the final match, Flick was made Quidditch Captain and Ginny Weasley played as Seeker, her position as Chaser taken over by Dean Thomas. Gryffindor won the Quidditch Cup for the second year in a row.

### 1997-1998 School Year

It is unknown if the cup was played for in what would have been Harry's final school year. It is unlikely, however, as Snape was quoted as "*bringing back Umbridge's old rules.'*"