Chapter fourteen

The last game of quidditch between Ravenclaw and Slytherin had been a long one, but Ravenclaw came away with the win but only by twenty points. As the scouts and Severus left the stand, Harry told his friends he would meet them later that he wanted to shower before dinner. So Clarence and Mathew walked with Harry up to the gargoyles, where they stopped, Harry continued on up the stairs and into the office.

'Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt.'

'Actually we were discussing the games and I happen to mention you Harry. So how about you explain to everyone why Gryffindor refused to play.'

Harry faced the men and woman in the office, 'Hey Oliver, I thought it was you in the stands.'

'Yep, scouting for players, but I was surprise you weren't playing, you were the best seeker around.'

'I figured since I don't want to play professionally that I would give the others a shot, the new seeker is really good, almost broke my record. He would have done if they didn't boycott the games. Anyway, Ginny Weasley was in on a plot to use me for my money and the fact I'm Lord Potter-Black, so all my friends got together, they worked it so she couldn't play which meant she wouldn't get seen by the scouts, by all of you.'

'That's terrible Harry, you saved her life when you were twelve.'

'Yeah, her and Hermione have been plotting all year, so now I have auror guards with me, they are waiting down at the gargoyles now.'

'In your opinion Lord Potter-Black, do you believe Miss Weasley could play professionally?'

'A year ago I would have said yes, but this year even if she didn't do that, she just lost it. Professor Snape, the minister and I all believe she's a bit unstable, just like Hermione is, but they haven't gone too far or done anything extreme. I will say this, if any of you decide to take Ginny on I think she would hurt your teams reputation because she can't cope with rejection or failure, she just loses it. I didn't want my friends to retaliate on my behalf, I want it to just go away so I can concentrate on my exams, they wanted to show their support.'

'Thank you for your honesty, we at the Harpies have been receiving weekly letters from Miss Weasley begging for a try out, since she missed showing her skill.'

'Okay, she's just not up to how she was, but it's your decisions if you want to try her. Anyway, I just came to shower before dinner.'

'Then go Harry, I'll be here when you come out.'

Harry ended up shaking hands with everyone in the office before heading into the back rooms but he did hear Oliver ask why Harry was showing in the headmaster's room.

'Harry is my husband Mr. Wood, didn't you see those ice sculptures and the stories a few months ago?'

'Been too busy to read the papers headmaster, you know, hearing Harry is gay is not that surprising, I always thought he was when we played together.'

Harry chuckled softly before he closed the door behind him. After he finished his shower and got changed he saw Severus was now alone in his office.

'All the managers and scouts have decided not to give Miss Weasley a try out and do you know why my love?'

'Um, no.'

'To say thank you for winning the war, I know you do not like that Harry, but they knew if he won there would be no quidditch, or there might have been but only supporters would get to play. So let it go, it's just their way.'

'Ron spoke to me when that first game was cancelled, he explained why everyone didn't mind Gryffindor giving up the chance at the cup, it was their way of thanking me even if I didn't want it. I do get it, it just makes me uncomfortable.'

'I know, so are you ready to head down to dinner?'

'Yep, then one more week and the exams start, that's going to be nerve wracking.'

'Yes and when Poppy ends up run off her feet, more so than during quidditch season,' Severus and Harry had their arms around each other, the two aurors with them as they walked down to the great hall. The moment they stepped in they knew something had happened, Ron was standing over his sister with his wand pointed at her, he was also bleeding, 'What happened?'

'She waited until I was distracted and sent a cutting hex at me, Neville was still down at the other end of the great hall talking with Seamus, so before he could disarmed her she used the cruciatus curse on me, he stunned her which released me. We decided to wait until you arrived professor even though the other professors was going to take care of it. We knew the aurors would be with you,' Ron glared down at his sister who was still on her back.

'Mr. Longbottom, take Mr. Weasley up to the hospital please,' Severus turned to the aurors, 'I'm sure you will want to question them both, but can you take care of her for now?'

Clarence pointed his wand at Ginny, lifting her to her feet then cast a binding charm on her before floating her out of the great hall, leaving Mathew beside Harry.

'Let's have dinner then get this settled,' Severus nodded to Harry then kissed him before joining the staff.

'I had a feeling she was going to do something, but do you know why she did it now?' Harry asked.

'She saw the scouts, all of them turned her down and they knew Ron had planned it and it was to do with you, you weren't here so she went after Ron. Don't worry Harry, Ron's fine, just a small cut on his cheek and he wasn't held under the curse for long.' Seamus said.

'She could have done worse. Let's hope she realises she's lucky not to be hurt herself. The scouts spoke to me, I was honest, I didn't just tell them she wasn't any good. But I did tell them that the teams would not look good having her play, not with her temper and how she just couldn't handle any type of rejection. Hey,' Harry lent closer to Seamus, 'have you noticed the way Hermione is acting lately?'

'We all have, we're not sure why.'

'I think she's unstable, how it happened I have no idea but just watch your backs.'

'We will mate, none of us have been turning our backs on them, but earlier she was just sitting alone, looked like she was thinking, not that she was going to do anything.'

'No, but she can act though. But with Ginny, she used an unforgivable, we all know what that means.'

'What's your opinion on Ginny's state of mind?' Dean asked.

'I'm not sure, she isn't her normal self but she's nothing like Hermione, so I have no idea.'

'If she's found to be unstable then she will go to St Mungo's, not Azkaban.'

'Yeah, Ron will have to let his family know.'

'Harry, where's Neville?'

'Hey Hannah, he took Ron up to the hospital wing, Ginny hexed and cursed him. His fine but he does have a cut on his cheek. Clarence took Ginny, I'm not sure where all I know he's going to question her.'

'Those two really are trouble, it's hard to believe when they used to be so nice. I'll head up there, meet Neville,' Hannah gave them a wave before heading out.

'Are you okay mate?' Dean asked.

'Yeah,' Harry sighed, 'I'm not sure what is worse, putting up with them and everything they are doing or knowing Voldemort wanted to kill me. I knew what he was doing and planning, them I don't, so it's making me tense. Sometimes I want to grab my wand and bind them or something just so I can have five minutes peace.'

'You will soon, the tests start next week, so in three weeks' time their gone and you're here. No one can get in here without Snape's permission,' Seamus.

'Yeah, but it's like when I was always guarded before, I had to be careful when I was out, everyone had their eyes on me. I don't want to live like that again, the war is over, shouldn't I be able to be free and safe like everyone else, to relax?'

Seamus, Dean and a few others didn't know how to answer Harry, maybe they could just keep his mind off the two girls and on anything else. Mathew who had heard what Harry said could see how tense he was so even though he was here to keep those girls away from Harry it didn't stop the young man worrying what they might do next.

'Come on love, I think a massage is what you need.'

'Your wonderful Sev,' Harry sighed as he stood, 'I'll skip studying tonight, tell Ron I'll talk to him tomorrow.'

'We will mate, go relax,' Seamus said.

Severus, Harry and Mathew left the great hall, Mathew waited until they headed upstairs before he went in search of his partner.

Severus helped Harry into a bath, he never admitted it but he was starting to worry about Harry. His emotions were all over the place, but right now he was so tense he just couldn't relax even in a warm bath with some oils Severus had made to help you relax, sooth the muscles, but Harry was still stiff as he sat in the bath.