10 – New Friends
"It must be Quirrel," Harry pressed out, "my head is going to explode."
Brianna jumped up from the bed and stepped around the screen. "Madam Pomfrey, I'm going to take Harry out of here. He can't bear the headache he always gets near Quirrel."
Madam Pomfrey nodded. "Take him into my office and make him lie down on the sofa."
"No Ms. Mackenzie, wait a moment. I need your brother to cast a spell. This is exactly the right timing," Dumbledore spoke up thoughtfully, before he rushed towards Harry's bed and quickly filled the boy in on his plan.
"Headmaster, I'm sorry, but I need a headache potion, before I can do any magic," Harry groaned.
"Here." Suddenly, his Head of House leaned over him. Harry hadn't even noticed that he had entered the hospital wing. He quickly gulped down the potion and threw Snape a grateful look when he helped him to stand up. "We'll speak the incantation together," the professor said soothingly as he steadied Harry while they stepped around the screen.
Quirrel's beaten body was lying on the bed, but his turban was gone, and a strange, ugly face replaced the professor's. "Now!" Dumbledore shouted, and the three wizards raised their wands and cast the spell against the creature.
The creature began to shout in agony, while its face shrank until it was completely gone and was replaced by blank skin. At the same time, Harry's head exploded in pain and he sank to the floor, unconscious. The Headmaster pointed his wand at the spot where the creature's face had been and cast the scourgify spell, causing Quirrel's wounded face to reappear. "That was just to be sure that he's gone," he told his colleagues, while Snape placed Harry back on his bed.
"I'm afraid there is nothing I can do for Quirinus," Pomfrey said sadly. "Albus, could you take him to St. Mungo's please? Maybe they can do something."
Ten minutes later, the Headmaster took his former colleague away with a Portkey.
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Only when Snape came to visit Harry after classes the next day, he explained to the boy that the Dark Lord had possessed Quirrel and had apparently forced him to bring a Troll into the school. When Quirrel's colleagues ordered him to remove the Troll since it was his job as Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Voldemort's spirit made the Troll attack Quirrel, hoping that he could take over his body; however, Harry and the teachers cast the Headmaster's spell right in time and efficiently destroyed the spirit, before he could take over the other man's body.
"Very well done, Harry. Five snakes for casting an important spell at the right time," Snape said gently, standing up from his seat as Kathy entered the hospital wing. "You may sit here, but you mustn't touch your son, if you don't want to be put in quarantine or have to show up for a potion and a check up here twice a day," he informed her in his soft, silky voice, causing Kathy to throw him a terrified look.
"Is Harry so ill?" she asked, horrified, looking sharply at her son.
"No Mum, I'm fine. I'm just a little green, and you might get it if you touch me," Harry replied, trying to put up the healthiest expression he could muster.
The Potions Master raised an eye at the boy's mother that showed her clearly that he would explain a bit more during their Potions lesson after dinner. Kathy remained and made Harry eat dinner, while Brianna was sent to the Great Hall.
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Much later the same evening, McGonagall entered the hospital wing with a first year in tow. The girl was struggling, but McGonagall held her arm in a firm grip and ushered her to the bed next to Harry.
"Professor, please let me go. I'm fine. My temperature was a bit high because I just took a hot shower, and I had to sneeze because it was dusty in the common room. I haven't finished my homework yet, and Professor Snape is going to take hundreds of House points if I haven't written ten inches of essay by tomorrow morning."
"Ms. Granger, please calm down. You won't get forty (104) degrees of fever just by taking a hot shower. You're ill, and Professor Snape won't take any points. Ms. Mackenzie, do you know where Madam Pomfrey is?"
"I think she was called away to Hufflepuff, but I'm not sure. She's been gone quite a while," Brianna replied in a slightly annoyed tone. In fact, Harry had been waiting for the Mediwitch to return and give him the next dose of his potions that was overdue. "I hope she'll come back soon. Harry is feeling quite miserable," she added, throwing her brother a worried look.
"I'm fine, Brianna. No problem. If it was so bad, I'd call the Professor, but it's all right," Harry objected in a small voice.
"I'll call Professor Snape," McGonagall decided after a glance in Harry's green, flushed face and hurried to the fireplace.
Before Snape could even check on her, Hermione pleaded, "Please let me go, Professor; I'm fine."
The professor raised an eyebrow at his colleague, before he quickly checked on Hermione and said, "You have the wizard's flu, Ms. Granger. Two days in this bed here and you'll be right as rain again."
"But sir, I need to do that ten foot essay for you for tomorrow," Hermione objected hoarsely. "May I please..."
"Ms. Granger, I'll give you a potion for the flu and a fever reducer, and then I'm going to send an elf to fetch your homework, okay?" Snape smirked.
"All right, thank you." Hermione sighed in relief and obediently gulped down the potions the teacher handed her. Instants later, she was fast asleep.
"Such a pity," the Potions Master mumbled, causing McGonagall and the twins to chuckle as he stepped over to Harry's bedside.
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Madam Pomfrey had been called to a mass outbreak of the wizard's flu in Hufflepuff, where she also spent a large part of the following day. She had just left to look after her patients in the dormitories, when Hermione scrambled out of her bed.
"Harry, did you see where she put my clothes?" she asked hesitantly, obviously shivering as she glanced around.
"No, I've no idea," Harry lied and slowly sat up. "You should stay in bed. You're sick." 'Of course I'd like to run away from here too, but I don't want to get toads,' he mused.
"I need to do my homework," Hermione replied urgently. "Otherwise, the professors will take points."
Harry sighed. "Imagine how many points you'll receive if you return to Gryffindor and cause a mass outbreak of the flu like the one in Hufflepuff."
"Oh, that's true," the girl replied, "but I still need my books."
"Let me tell you something. I'll ask Brianna to copy her notes for you like she does it for me. All right?" Harry suggested gently.
Brianna agreed, and by the time Harry and Hermione were released from the hospital wing two days later, Hermione and the twins had become good friends, and they agreed to meet in the library to study together between the last afternoon class and dinner from time to time.
"I wonder if it's all right to have friends in other Houses," Harry said to Brianna as they walked down to the dungeons.
"Hmm, that's a good question. In the worst case, we have to pretend it was by chance that we met her in the library. I wonder when we're going to get a new Defence teacher," Brianna said thoughtfully.
"That's true. I'm looking forward to it. I like Defence, although I've hardly learned anything so far, because of these stupid headaches."
"Oh Harry, good you're back," Marcus Flint said, coming from behind. "Don't forget that we have practice tonight, and see that you stay healthy. The first match is in ten days. We definitely need you as Seeker."
"Don't worry, I'll play," Harry replied firmly, knowing that he was able to hide everything from anyone if necessary.
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When Harry sat at the Slytherin table for breakfast a few days later, Hedwig flew in together with the post owls and handed him a letter. "From Mum," he said in surprise, showing it to his sister.
"Well, open it," she replied, "what are you waiting for?"
'Dear Harry,' it said, 'Tonight, I'm going to have Potions class. Please come to Professor Snape's office after dinner, so I can speak with you for a moment. You may bring Brianna, if you want. Love, Mum.'
"Hmmm, that's strange," Harry said, causing his sister to smirk. "Hey, you know something, don't you?" he asked, getting suspicious at her amused expression.
"Oh well, Mum just wants to scold you about being reckless, you know, playing Quidditch in the rain and not studying enough and..."
"Tell me that's not true," Harry replied in a small voice. 'Maybe she's right and I do have to study more. Perhaps she's disappointed, because I didn't do well enough so far and I already missed lots of classes.'
"Harry!" his sister's voice penetrated his mind. "I'm sorry, Harry, that was a joke. It's all right, everything is fine. I know what Mum wants, and it's something good. I'm sorry, Harry."
"Okay," Harry replied. Nevertheless, he didn't feel completely relieved at her explanation and couldn't help harbouring dark thoughts during his classes. He even managed to lose five House points during the Transfiguration class, because McGonagall had to call him three times, before he turned his attention back to the class.
When he sat at the dinner table, completely lost in his thoughts again, his Head of House walked by the table and sneered, "One toad for not eating your meal. Mr. Mackenzie, follow me."
Harry trailed behind the professor, feeling very much reassured that Brianna quickly caught up with him. When they reached Snape's office, Kathy was already waiting for them, pulling the twins in a bear hug.
The professor motioned them to take a seat, before he addressed Harry, explaining that first year students were not allowed to possess their own broom. "However, since you're on the Quidditch team, we decided to make an exception when your mother offered to buy you a broom. However, it will have to remain in my office. You may come and get it before your practice and before the match of course, but you have to bring it back afterwards."
"Of course sir," Harry said happily, watching in excitement as his mother fetched a long package from one of the shelves and handed it to him. 'Nimbus 2000' was written on the side in fine letters. "Thank you Mum, thank you, Professor," Harry shouted, excitedly hugging Kathy.
"Well, then I suggest you look for your teammates and try your new broom out. I already booked the Quidditch pitch for you for tonight," Snape said softly, dismissing the two first years.
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To Harry's surprise, the Quidditch team was already waiting for him in front of the professor's office. "Like everyone knew except for me," he mumbled, annoyed, as he ran behind the others towards the grounds.
The rain from the evening before had cleared up, but it was very cold, and it remained cold. However, the sunshine was beautiful when the team members mounted their brooms for the first Quidditch match of the season a week later. Harry had to try hard not to panic at the thought that the other players were so much larger than him and had so much more practice. However, his housemates did their best to encourage him.
"Don't worry, Harry; I've seen you fly. You're good," Draco told him when he sat next to Harry at the breakfast table.
Knowing that Draco had a lot of experience, this praise meant a lot to Harry, and the instant he mounted his Nimbus 2000 and began to look out for the Snitch, he forgot his fears. He circled above the other players, wondering how the Snitch was able to hide in front of the clear blue sky. He watched as the Gryffindors managed to gain a few points and feverishly searched for the Snitch. Once, he thought he saw it, but it was only a reflection from another player's watch. By the time, he finally spotted the golden ball, the Gryffindor Seeker had seen it as well, and Harry raced behind the older boy.
However, a few seconds before Harry could finally reach out for the Snitch, the Gryffindor Seeker extended his hand to wrap it around the struggling ball, which, unbeknownst to Harry, who closed his eyes in horror, escaped in the last second.
Harry slowly descended towards the ground. 'I should have known that I wasn't able to beat a sixth year, especially as I've never flown before. The others will be so disappointed,' he thought sadly. 'Well, at least, I won't get toads for a lost game.'
tbc...
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