Another chapter for you wonderful readers! I'll keep em coming! All rights belong to Jo Rowling.
The rest of the staff and students had taken their seats on the stands. Harry was looking up into the distance standing next to Madam Hooch, as if he were the one about to play a match. Gryffindor and Ravenclaw scarves were being twirled around, cheering for their House. Madam Hooch looked over at Harry with a weak smile and ushered him towards her.
"You remember the rules Potter; keep your eye on everything. I'll be watching with the staff today. Make sure the game is clean and remind the students of that as well. Goodluck!" She scurried off to the staff seats and as soon as she walked off the pitch, the Quidditch players jumped onto their brooms into formation.
Harry was slightly nervous standing on the ground and looking directly up at flying students. They looked eager to begin the match, the hunger for victory on their mind. The seekers eyed each other intensely and then back down at Harry, awaiting the Golden Snitch, hopefully keeping track of its every move.
"Er-I want a nice clean game from all of you!" Harry tried to mimic what Madam Hooch always used to say. All the players nodded in understanding, hovering over Harry's head. Harry bent over and opened the trunk and reached into the secret compartment and grabbed hold of the Golden Snitch, releasing hold of it first. The Seekers necks were turning into the direction it was headed in, keeping a close eye on it. Next, the struggling Bludgers were aching to be free from their strapped confinements and Harry let them roam freely, almost grazing a Gryffindor Beater on the shoulder. He then held onto the Quaffle, juggling it slightly between his hands and looking up to the Quidditch players. "Goodluck!" he shouted and threw the Quaffle up into the air, signalling the beginning of the game.
Ravenclaw grabbed hold of the Quaffle first and sped in the direction of the Gryffindor Keeper as Harry jumped onto his broom, keeping his eyes focused on each of the players, and holding on to the whistle Madam Hooch provided him with. Harry whizzed by some Chasers, wishing now that he could be a part of the team. He turned his head and noticed a Ravenclaw Beater grabbing the opposing teams Chaser by their robes and blew his whistle. A bunch of boos and cheers could be heard erupting from the crowd and the game continued on.
Ravenclaw had scored five times, whilst Gryffindor had scored only once. However, the Seekers seemed to be extremely occupied by the fact that they caught glimpse of the Snitch. They rushed in between the stands and zigzagged through the metal holdings, avoiding a collision. Harry followed them, trying to keep an eye on all the action and calling another point to Ravenclaw as the Quaffle went through the Keeper. He past the staff benches and caught a glimpse of Snape, who didn't look entertained by the match and instead focused on Harry, with an intense gaze. He threw Harry off guard as a Chaser knocked into him causing some Ravenclaws to boo as they dropped the Quaffle.
"S-sorry…" Harry said apologetically.
Making sure that Snape wouldn't distract him from his job, he sped the opposite way towards the Beaters who were swinging their bats and successfully hitting the Gryffindor Chasers who were headed near the Keeper. Ravenclaw retaliated quickly, the Keeper saved the Quaffle and passed it to a Chaser who was ducking underneath a Bludger and headed towards the Gryffindor Keeper. The Gryffindor Keeper was knocked with an incoming Bludger and disoriented which allowed Ravenclaw to score once more.
The Seekers were in a racing match again, speeding towards the Snitch once more. They flew over the staff benches as Harry tried to avoid Snape's gaze and flew around it, watching them from afar instead. Harry hovered around the air for a while before he caught a glimpse of a Gryffindor Chaser grab the Ravenclaw Beater's broomstick and tried to pull him backwards. Harry blew the whistle and before he knew it, he got hit in the head with a rogue Bludger which knocked him off his broomstick and onto the grassy pitch. Harry felt too weak to open his eyes but heard muffled sounds and crying from the students. He felt someone with warm, thin fingers turn him over and delicately raced his fingers over his forehead and pushing his hair back carefully. A figure stooped over low, talking to him as if in a normal conversation, simply waiting for an answer. Harry could not hear what this person was saying and instead felt shrouded in darkness. He felt a cold shiver travel down his body as if someone had just whispered into his ear and Harry remembered no more.
Harry opened his eyes and could see nothing more than a blurry vision of the ceiling in front of him. His eyes widened and he sat up quickly, touching his face and realized he didn't have his glasses on. His glasses were shoved into his open hand by a blurred person and Harry could only make out their ginger hair.
"You had a nasty fall there, mate! We were worried sick about you!" The ginger haired person said with a slight tone of excitement, now sitting on Harry's bed.
Harry quickly put on his glasses and noticed that Ron and Hermione were sitting on his bed, holding hands. They're worried looks diminished with a slight smile.
"Ron! Hermione! What are you guys doing here?" Harry said groggily, rubbing his head.
"You would've thought he'd miss us. Instead he's asking us what we're doing here." Ron said, now looking at Hermione, slightly disappointed.
"Oh Ron! He doesn't quite know what happened to him obviously." Hermione said matter-of-factly.
Harry looked at the both of them with a wide smile and reached over and hugged them both. "Of course I missed you guys."
"Well the reason I came here was to show you my Chocolate Frog card, that's all." Ron said slyly, pulling the card out his pocket and waving it in front of Harry's face.
"No…the reason we came here is to make sure Harry is okay…" Hermione said, slightly annoyed, yet a sudden smirk appeared on her lips as soon as Ron starting waving the card around.
"It took me one hundred and twelve Chocolate Frogs to find myself in it," Ron started, "Oh! I also found another one, here you go buddy!" Ron took out another card from his pocket and dropped it on Harry and he saw himself smiling back. "Bit creepy isn't it?" Ron said jokingly, holding up the card and twisting it into the light. Harry couldn't help but smile; he knew how much this meant for him.
"Anyways…" Hermione said, now rolling her eyes, "how are you feeling Harry?"
"Yeah!" Ron mimicked, "how're you feeling?"
"Don't know actually…I guess I'm fine, I've been through worse." Harry said, now moving every part of his body making sure all his limbs were mobile.
"We couldn't believe that Professor Snape was still alive…you couldn't bother to tell us that in your last letter, or in any letter for that matter?" Hermione said, slightly shocked.
Harry's mouth fell open, it's true, he thought, he did forget to tell his best friends about Snape.
"I-uh-uh, I forgot I guess, sorry…" Harry lowered his head. "Wait!" H-how do you guys know about that though…" Harry said, now racking his brain.
"Well," Hermione began, "Professor McGonagall sent us a letter that you had a slight injury while refereeing a Quidditch match and told us that Snape saved you from the fall. She said we should come see you, to liven your spirits of the sort if you weren't feeling too good. When we got here, Snape had just left the Hospital Wing. We were both shocked to see him and I think Ron turned as pale as a ghost-"
"I thought he was a ghost!" Ron interrupted. "I was half-tempted to touch him but then I remembered if I do, I might get a lifetime of greasy hair."
"Ron!" Hermione exclaimed, slapping him softly on his shoulder. "He saved Harry's life! More than once!" She added.
"It didn't stop him from being a greasy git for all those years though." Ron said his eyes shifted to the side, avoiding Hermione's eye contact.
Harry was slightly perplexed. "He was in here, you mean?"
"Yes," Hermione simply said with a slightly saddened expression. "He was being slightly odd though, if I do say so myself."
"W-What do you mean?" Harry asked nervously, fidgeting slightly in the bed sheets.
"He just stared at us." Ron began, "No rude remarks or a how are you doing? I was thought to be dead this whole time but ta-da I'm alive now!"
"We heard him arguing with Poppy and he looked slightly upset when he closed the door behind him, that's when he saw us and just walked by." Hermione said, ignoring Ron's comment.
"Oh…" Harry said, burying his head in his hands.
"He was probably regretful that he had to save your life." Ron said menacingly.
"You know what Ron…" Hermione started.
"Uh-oh!" Ron said. His cheeks had turned as red as his hair.
"No Ron, it's not like that…don't worry." Harry gave Ron a reassuring smile.
"Wait, so what…you guys are best buds now?" Ron said, slightly jealous.
"No, it's just common sense that Snape is not the bad guy we thought he was when we were kids." Harry said, trying to cheer his friend up.
"Right, you're right." Ron smiled. "I guess he kind of did redeem himself and all…he's not so bad."
"Thank you, Ron." Hermione gripped his hand tighter.
"He still has greasy hair though…" Ron mumbled. 'You can't really…fix that…unless you use…shampoo." A wicked smile appeared on his face, hoping Hermione didn't hear. She then retaliated by just gazing at him intensely.
"It's not so greasy…" Harry said, half-smiling.
Ron and Hermione both looked at him as if he had a permanent residence at the loony bin.
"I mean…" Harry had spoken without thinking, lost in his thoughts. Remembering hugging Snape and how his fingers were intertwined in his hair. The smell of earth and fumes of his clothes, the very same moment were Snape hugged him back and felt the warmth of his body.
"Blimey!" Ron exclaimed. "That Bludger did some nasty work to your brain!"
Harry grabbed the sheets and pulled it closer to him over his mouth so he would no longer talk out of line especially in the presence of his best friends.
Hermione felt the awkwardness in the room and changed the subject. "I miss this place, the books and reading and homework." She sighed happily.
"You read at home anyway and I can give you homework if you'd like." Ron's eyebrows furrowed, nudging her.
"Ew Ron, no. You're such a pig." Hermione said, slightly disgusted.
Ron shrugged his shoulders and looked at Harry who was laughing wildly.
"How's everyone by the way?" Harry asked kindly.
"Well Dad's good, working with Perce at the Ministry…Ginny's playing for the Harpies as you know already. Mum's good, cooking us food…"
"That's not all your mother does Ronald." Hermione interrupted.
"It's what I look forward to." Ron said happily. "Anyways," Ron continued, "And George, is well…George. I'm still helping him at the joke shop so you should come visit me sometimes Harry."
"Yeah! Of course I will" Harry said excitedly.
"Well…I have to get to work actually." Hermione said looking at her watch. "Kingsley has this assignment for me that has to get done by tomorrow morning and you know me…" She smiled.
"Yeah…" Harry smiled back at her. "It's okay, I'll be fine. I'm serious." He said, looking at her worried expression.
Hermione hugged Harry goodbye and kissed Ron passionately as if it had been their first kiss and Ron was almost knocked off the bed, his eyes widened in shock.
"I love you Hermione!" Ron called out and she blew him a kiss before she left.
Harry could only manage to say, "Wow!"
"I know right…" Ron started, "It's hard for her to get her hands off of me."
Harry looked out of the window at the night sky wondering where his life would lead him.
"I'm sorry about Ginny by the way; she really liked you though…" Ron said glumly.
Harry looked back up at him, slightly confused. "Oh-oh, right that…yeah I'm great. She's like a sister to me. It was the right decision."
Ron stood up from his bed and placed his hand on his shoulder. "You'll find love too Harry."
Harry couldn't help but laugh. He could never imagine Ron Weasley talking to him about this. Ron had a perplexed look on his face like he had said something wrong.
"I'm fine Ron, seriously. Go on, I know you want to catch up to Hermione." Harry looked up at him and he smiled intensely as if he had read his mind.
"Thanks mate! Feel better; I'll see you around buddy!" He waved goodbye to Harry and he could hear him running down the hallway.
Poppy had made her appearance as soon as Ron shut the door. She was holding a potion in her hand and she had a caring smile.
"You have to take this to feel better Mr. Potter, Professor Snape had recommended this exact brew for your well-being and fast recovery." She handed over the potion and he drank it quickly with a smile. It had a sweet taste to it, much better than what Skele-Gro had tasted like. "He was arguing with me over this, but I guess he was right. This has a better effect on you. But don't tell him I told you this." She winked.
"Thank you Poppy." Harry replied, handing her back the empty vial.
She smiled and headed towards the door. "Oh! I'm guessing he's back for you already." She quickly scurried away to the other room as Professor Snape had gently turned the doorknob, afraid he would awaken Harry.
I hope you all enjoyed that. You guys seriously leave some amazing comments that make me smile. Thank you to all of you :) You all give me the motivation to keep writing! Next chapter coming soon.
