Updated: June 15th, 2017
Chapter 10: First Quidditch Game
The next day was our first Quidditch match of the season and it just so happened to be Gryffindor versus Slytherin. I had acquired some face paint and a big poster that read 'Roar Gryffindor' while flashing red and gold. When Hermione found out I had gotten them off the Weasley twins, I thought she was going to scold me or something. She just smiled. Together we decked ourselves out for the match and headed to the Quidditch stadium with Ron.
The game started off badly for us. No matter how hard our Chasers pushed themselves, they were no match for the Slytherins and their new brooms. Ron fumed next to me as Hermione watched Harry from my Omnioculars. "Cora, look," Hermione handed me the enchanted binoculars back. In the faculty box, Lucius Malfoy was sitting next to Professor Snape. Just like his son, he looked smug and arrogant.
I lowered the Omnioculars to see Harry circling high above the pitch, searching for the Golden Snitch. Draco stopped next to him and almost had his head taken off by a Bludger. Harry wheeled around at the last moment. George or was it Fred? I couldn't tell who it was at the height they were at, whacked it away from my friend. The Bludger turned and streaked right back at him. Harry was off.
"Blimey Harry's got 'imself a rouge Bludger," Hagrid exclaimed from behind me. "That's been tampered with, that 'as."
The entire Gryffindor stand watched in horror as Harry executed a series of zigzags, loops, and rolls to get away from the Bludger. It was relentless. Ron drew his want and pointed it in the direction of Harry and the Bludger. Hermione interceded, glancing knowingly at his taped wand.
"No, don't. Even with a proper wand it's too risky. You could hit Harry."
"And kill him," I muttered, ever the pessimist.
Harry made a dive just as Draco cruised on by. That little shit is enjoying himself, isn't he? Then, Harry charged at him. Harry had seen the Snitch! Draco turned his broom around in hot pursuit. We watched as they raced downward deep into the trench circling the pitch. I leaned over to see if I could see them. Ron had to grab my cloak just so I wouldn't fall over. From my right, Ginny cried out. The rouge Bludger was following them.
There was a chorus of gasps and wincing sounds throughout the pitch as Draco spiraled out of the trench and rolled into the splits on the grass. He fell back, his face contorted in pain. Serves him right. Harry pulled up out of the trench, closing in on the Snitch. His fingertips were only inches away from grabbing it when the Bludger smashed into his arm making him cry out in pain. I cupped my hands over my mouth, gasping. Ron's eyes grew to the size of saucers and Hermione closed her eyes. It wasn't until I pulled her away from the edge when she opened her eyes.
Hagrid, Ron, Hermione, and I ran as fast as we could down to the pitch floor. We got there just in time to see the Bludger fly up and hit the ground over and over trying to hit Harry. Hermione whipped out her wand, "Finite Incantatem!"
The rouge Bludger exploded into tiny pieces and rained down on Harry. We and several others began swarming the pitch to see if he was alright. He cradled his arm close to his chest. I knelt down next to him, looking at him with a worried expression.
"I – it's broken," he gasped out. When he looked up, his eyes grew wide. "You? No. No, no, no, no, no."
Professor Lockhart knelt down on his other side, "Not to worry, Harry. I'll fix that arm of yours straight away."
"No…" Harry begged. "No…not you."
Lockhart looked up at everyone around us, "Poor boy doesn't know what he's saying. This won't hurt a bit…"
"Professor, please. Harry needs to be taken to Madame Pomfrey," I tried to reason with him. Harry looked at me gratefully.
"Not to worry, dear girl," Lockhart twirled his wand, saying some spell I had never heard of before. Harry tensed…nothing happened. I looked down, horrified at what I saw. "Ah, yes, well that can sometimes happen. The point is, the bones are clearly no longer broken."
Lockhart bent Harry's arm back…all the way back. His fingertips touched the back of his wrist. I grimaced. Everyone looked grossed out as well. Harry's eyes grew larger. His hand looked like an empty rubber glove.
"Brok'n? He doesn't 'av any bones left!"
When we took Harry to the Hospital Wing, Madam Pomfrey was astounded. She had kicked most of the people out and had Hagrid place Harry on a bed right away. We all gathered around him as the twins started poking at his arm. I smacked them both on the head. Nearby, Draco was on a bed groaning exaggeratedly. Madam Pomfrey told him he could go and rushed to Harry's bed with a beaker full of steaming liquid. Ron grinned as Hermione's face wrinkled with worry.
"He should have been brought straight to me! I can mend bones in a heartbeat – but growing them back…"
"You will be able to, won't you," Hermione asked.
"I'll be able to, certainly, but it will be painful. You're in for a rough night, Potter. Regrowing bones is a nasty business."
Harry took a drink of the liquid he was given. As soon as it was all gone, he grimaced and spit it out, spraying Ron, me, and Hermione. I scooted back into Fred. Harry looked at us sheepishly.
"Well, what did you expect, pumpkin juice," Madam Pomfrey rolled her eyes.
There was a flash of white light. We all blinked a few times before seeing Colin Creevey standing on the other side of Harry with that camera of his. When did he get here?
"That was brilliant today, Harry! Brilliant," he fawned.
"Alright out! All of you! This boy's got thirty-three bones to regrow!"
Everyone began to leave right away. As I walked out with Ron and Hermione I turned back around and gave a reassuring smile to our friend on the other side of the room. He offered a small smile back and waved with his rubber hand. My smile grew bigger as it flopped back and forth. Madam Pomfrey saw this and yelled at him. I just laughed and turned back around, hoping Harry would be okay.