CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: A DEPRESSING LOSS

Due to the attack on the Fat Lady, Grandfather had no choice but to send us Gryffindors back to the Great Hall. We were soon joined ten minutes later by the students from Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. They were all looking extremely confused. The Gryffindors had the great pleasure of informing all about Sirius Black's attack on the Fat Lady, until the teachers arrived.

'The teachers and I need to conduct a thorough search of the castle,' Grandfather informed us as Grandmother and Flitwick closed all doors into the hall. 'For your own safety you will have to spend the night here. I want the prefects to stand guard over the entrances to the hall and I am leaving the Head Boy and Girl in charge. Any disturbance should be reported to me immediately,' he added to Percy, who was looking immensely proud and important. 'Send word with one of the ghosts.'

Before leaving the hall, Grandfather waved his wand twice. This resulted in the House tables going to the edge of the room and the floor was covered with hundreds of squashy purple sleeping bags.

The moment the teachers were gone, the hall began to buzz excitedly again. At least that was until Percy ordered everyone to go to get into their sleeping bags. Ron, Hermione and I grabbed our sleeping bags and headed to a corner. There we discussed what had happened in private.

'Do you think Black's still in the castle?' Hermione whispered anxiously, once we had settled.

'Dumbledore obviously thinks he might be,' said Ron.

'It's very lucky he picked tonight,' Hermione commented. 'The one night we weren't in the tower...'

'I reckon he's lost track of time, being on the run,' said Ron. 'Probably didn't realise it was Halloween. Otherwise he'd have come bursting in here.'

Hermione shuddered at the thought before listening in to the conversations around them.

'How did he get in?'

'Maybe he knows how to Apparate.'

'Disguised himself, probably.'

'He could've flown in.'

'Honestly, am I the only person who's ever bothered to read Hogwarts, A History?' Hermione demanded crossly to Ron and me.

'Probably,' Ron said with a slight snort. 'Why?'

'Because the castle's protected by more than walls,' Hermione informed us promptly. 'There are all sorts of enchantments on it to stop people entering by stealth. You can't just Apparate in here and I'd like to see the disguise that could fool those dementors. They're guarding every single entrance to the grounds. They'd have seen him fly in too. And Fitch knows all the secret passages; they'll have them covered...'

'Then how did he get in?' I asked, going back to square one. 'Obviously there is a flaw in the security. If there wasn't, he wouldn't have gotten in.'

'Good point.'

'The lights are going out now!' Percy shouted. 'No more talking!'

The candles all went out at once. The only light now came from the silvery ghosts, who were drifting about talking seriously to the prefects, and the enchanted ceiling, which, like the sky outside, was scattered with stars.

Once every hour, a teacher would reappear in the hall to check that everything was quiet. Around three in the morning, Grandfather returned. I watched him looking around for Percy, who had been prowling between the sleeping bags, telling people off for talking. Percy was only a short way away from Ron, Hermione and I.

'Any sign of him, Professor?' Percy asked in a whisper.

'No. All well here?'

'Everything is under control, sir.'

'Good. There's no point moving them all now. I've found a temporary guardian for the Gryffindor portrait hole. You'll be able to move them back in tomorrow.'

'And the Fat Lady, sir?'

'She's hiding in a map of Argyllshire on the second floor. Apparently she refused to let Black in without the password, so he attacked. She's still very distressed, but once she's calmed down, I'll have Mr Filch restore her.'

I then heard the door of the hall creak open and more footsteps.

'Headmaster?'

It was Uncle Severus. I made sure to remain absolutely. If anyone was bound to notice that I was awake and listening in, it was him.

'The whole of the third floor has been searched and he's not there,' Uncle Severus informed Grandfather. 'Filch has done the dungeons and there's nothing there either.'

'What about the Astronomy tower? Professor Trelawney's room? The Owlery?'

'All searched.'

'Very well, Severus. I didn't really expect Black to linger.'

'Do you have any theories as to how he got in?'

'Many, Severus, but each of them is as unlikely as the next.'

'Do you remember the conversation we had just before the start of term?'

'I do, Severus,' Grandfather replied with something like warning in his voice. 'And I do not believe a single person inside this castle would have helped Black enter it. Now, I must go down to the dementors. I said I would inform them when our search was complete.'

-THE UNMASKED MYSTERY-

Over the next few days, the topic of discussion was Sirius Black. No matter where you went in the school, that's all you heard. The theories about how he had entered the castle became wilder and unrealistic.

The Fat Lady's ripped canvas had been taken off the wall and was replaced with the portrait of Sir Cadogan and his fat grey pony. Nobody was very happy about this as Sir Cadogan spent half his time challenging people to duels and the rest thinking up ridiculously complicated passwords, which he changed at least twice a day.

Sir Cadogan, however, was the least of my worries as I was now being closely watched. Teachers found excuses to walk along corridors with me, and Percy was tailing me everywhere like an extremely pompous guard dog. I suspected that Mrs Weasley had put him up to that.

However, things became too much for me when Grandmother suggested to the unthinkable.

Wondering what my grandmother want, I slowly made her way to her office, only to find that Grandfather and Uncle Severus were there too. All of them were wearing serious expressions.

'I'm not going to like what you have to say, am I?' I groaned, taking a seat.

'No, you're not,' Grandmother replied seriously. 'We all agree that it would be best if you stopped going to Quidditch practice in the evenings. Out on the field with only your team members, it's very exposed -'

'We've got our first match on Saturday!' I said, outraged. 'I've got to train!'

'We know, Harri, but your safety is all that matters at the moment,' replied Grandfather.

'This isn't fair!' I raged. 'I don't feel protect! I feel suffocated!'

'Maybe she could still go to Quidditch practices,' Uncle Severus said calmly. 'Why not have a teacher present? Any teacher here is more than capable of protecting her.'

'Very well,' Grandmother sighed. 'I shall speak to Madam Hooch to see if she would be willing to supervise your practices.'

'If you must,' I sighed.

True I was still able to practice, but that didn't mean I felt less suffocated.

Anyway, the weather worsened as the first Quidditch match drew near, but that didn't discourage the Gryffindor team. Wood made sure that we trained in all weather conditions, making sure we were never disadvantaged but the weather during an actual match.

Our first match for the season was supposed to be against Slytherin; however, we ended up playing Hufflepuff instead due to Draco's arm injury. However, we all knew that Draco's arm was fine and that the real reason was because they didn't what to play in the current weather conditions. This was something I had pointed out to Wood.

'I know that, but we can't prove it,' Wood replied bitterly, 'and we've been practicing all those moves assuming we're playing Slytherin. Instead it's Hufflepuff and their style's quite different. They've got a new Captain and Seeker, Cedric Diggory.'

Angelina, Alicia, and Katie suddenly giggled.

The boys and I looked at them strangely.

'What?' asked Wood.

'He's that tall, good-looking one, isn't he?' Angelina questioned.

'Strong and silent,' said Katie, and they started to giggle again.

'He's only silent because he's too thick to string two words together!' Fred said impatiently. 'I don't know why you're worried, Oliver, Hufflepuff is a pushover. Last time we played them, Harry caught the Snitch in about five minutes, remember?'

'We were playing in completely different conditions!' Wood snapped. 'Diggory's put a very strong side together! He's an excellent Seeker! We mustn't relax! We must keep our focus! Slytherin is trying to wrong-foot us! We must win!'

Alarmed, the rest of the team and I all exchanged concerned looks. We had never seen Wood like this before. However, my alarm soon became annoyance due to his constant badgering of tips in between classes and every opportunity he got, up until the day of the game.

However, on one occasion, he ended up making me late for my Defence Against the Dark Arts class. I wasn't too worried about it as Lupin was a fair and understanding professor. The only problem was, Lupin wasn't taking his class that day.

'Sorry I'm late, Professor Lupin,' I apologised as I rushed in side. 'I -' I broke off when I saw that it wasn't Lupin teaching the class, but rather Uncle Severus and he did not look impressed.

'This lesson began ten minutes ago, Potter, so I think we'll make it ten points from Gryffindor,' he said coldly. 'Sit down.'

'Where's Professor Lupin?' I asked as I slowly made my way to my seat next to Ron.

'He says he is feeling too ill to teach today,' Uncle Severus replied with a slightly twisted smile. 'Now, as I was saying before Potter interrupted, Professor Lupin has not left any record of the topics you have covered so far –'

'Please, sir, we've done boggarts, Red Caps, kappas, and grindylows,' Hermione said quickly, 'and we're just about to start –'

'Miss Granger, I was not asking for information,' Uncle Severus interrupted her impatiently. 'I was merely commenting on Professor Lupin's lack of organisation. Now, today we shall discuss werewolves.'

'But, sir,' said Hermione, seemingly unable to restrain herself, 'we're not supposed to do werewolves yet, we're due to start hinkypunks –'

'Miss Granger,' Uncle Severus began, trying to keep his temper in check. 'Last time I looked, I was the one teaching this lesson, not you. And I am telling you all to turn to page 394.'

Groaning, the class did as Uncle Severus ordered. We could all see that Uncle Severus was not to be tested today.

'Now, which of you can tell me the difference between a werewolf and an animagus?' Uncle Severus asked, gazing out across the classroom.

He had that look on his face where he knew no one would be able to answer his question, Hermione notwithstanding, of course. As usual, his look wasn't in vain. No one, except for Hermione, put their hand up.

'That's what I thought,' he said with a sigh. 'How disappointing.'

'Please, sir,' Hermione nearly begged, wanting to answer the question, 'an animagus is a wizard who elects to turn into an animal, whereas a werewolf has no choice. With each full moon he changes. He forgets all that is human and would even kill his best friend –'

'That is the second time you have spoken out of turn, Miss Granger,' Uncle Severus interrupted coolly, though I was surprised that he let her say that much. 'Five more points from Gryffindor for being an insufferable know-it-all.'

Hermione went very red, put down her hand, and stared at the floor with her eyes full of tears. I glared openly at Uncle Severus. True, he usually acted harsh, but he was going beyond his usual act. In fact, I didn't think he was acting. He was truly annoyed today, and Hermione had made him snap.

It was for that reason that I stayed back after class to give him a piece of my mind.

'Was that really necessary?' I asked him coldly, once everyone was gone. 'Did you have to upset my best friend like that?'

'Harrietta, I am not in the mood today to have you bickering at me,' Uncle Severus replied hotly. 'Now, go to your next lesson, and don't forget to do that essay on werewolves. It is bound to… enlighten you.'

Uncle Severus had given the class homework to write an essay on werewolves as punishment for Hermione's unwanted comments.

'Enlighten me? How on earth is an essay supposed to enlighten me?' I demanded.

'Do it and you will hopefully see.'

Growling slightly, I stormed out of the classroom to my next lesson.

-THE UNMASKED MYSTERY-

The first Quidditch match of the season was soon upon us. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't being kind. The say of the game, the weather was terrible. It was cold and pouring rain. Thunder could be heard in the distance.

However, despite the weather, no one was really disheartened. Everyone was eager to see the game. Only the players were a little bummed about having to play in such atrocious weather, but once we were all in the air, we didn't give the weather a second thought. All we thought about was getting the game over and done with. No one wanted to stay out there any longer than was necessary.

After all, within five minutes I was soaked and frozen. Even with my keen Valkyrie sight I was hardly able to see my teammates, let alone the tiny Snitch. It made me wonder how everyone else was doing.

I ended up flying backwards and forwards across the field past blurred red and yellow shapes, with no idea of what was happening in the rest of the game. Twice I came very close to being hit by a Bludger.

I ended up losing track of time, wishing that the game would finish already. It was not enjoyable playing in this weather, especially since it was getting harder to hold my broom straight. Curse my light weight.

Suddenly, there was a clap of thunder, followed immediately by forked lightning. This was getting more dangerous every minute. I knew that I needed to get the Snitch quickly. Hence, I turned, planning to head back toward the middle of the field, but as another flash of lightning illuminated the stands, I saw something that distracted me entirely; the silhouette of an enormous shaggy black dog, clearly imprinted against the sky, motionless in the topmost, empty row of seats.

I blinked. It looked like the dog from my tea leaves. Wondering if I was seeing things, I rubbed my eyes and looked again. It was gone.

'What the -?' I muttered.

'Harry!' Wood's anguished yell sounded from the Gryffindor goal posts. 'Harry, behind you!'

I looked wildly around and found Cedric Diggory speeding up the field, and a tiny speck of gold was shimmering in the rain-filled air between us.

With a jolt of alarm, I threw myself flat to the broom handle and zoomed toward the Snitch. That's when it happened.

An eerie silence fell across the stadium. The wind, though as strong as ever, was forgetting to roar. Then a horribly unfamiliar wave of cold swept over and inside me. Admittedly scared, I took my eyes off the Snitch and looked down. At least a hundred big, hooded creatures with their hidden faces pointing up at me, were standing beneath me.

It was as though freezing water were rising in my chest, cutting at my insides. And then I heard screaming… a woman begging followed by a familiar cold voice.

'Not Harri, please not Harri!'

'Stand aside, you silly girl... stand aside, now...'

'Not Harri, please no, take me instead!'

Numbing, swirling white mist was filling my brain and before I knew it, my world went black.

-THE UNMASKED MYSTERY-

'Lucky the ground was so soft.'

'I thought he was dead for sure.'

I could hear the voices whispering, but they made no sense to me. I had no idea where I was, or how I got there. All I did know was that every inch of me was aching as though it had been beaten.

'That was the scariest thing I've ever seen in my life.'

Scariest... the scariest thing... hooded black figures... cold ... screaming...

My eyes snapped open as it all clicked and I remember part of what had happened.

I was lying in the Hospital Wing with the Gryffindor Quidditch team, spattered with mud from head to foot, gathered around my bed. Ron and Hermione were also there, looking as though they'd just climbed out of a swimming pool.

'Harry!' said Fred, who looked extremely white underneath the mud. 'How're you feeling?'

'What happened?' I said, sitting up so suddenly they all gasped.

'You fell off your broom,' Fred responded quietly. 'Must've been - what - fifty feet?'

'We thought you'd died,' said Alicia, who was shaking.

'It'd take more than falling off a broom to finish me off,' I replied lightly. 'But I was talking about the match.'

Everyone exchanged looks around me.

'What aren't you telling me?' I asked, dreading the answer.

'We lose,' George answered gently. 'Diggory caught the Snitch just after you fell. He didn't realise what had happened. When he looked back and saw you on the ground, he tried to call it off, wanting a rematch. But they won fair and square... even Wood admits it.'

'Where is Wood?' I questioned when I suddenly realised that he wasn't there.

'He's still in the showers,' Katie answered.

'Is he mad or disappointed with me?' I asked quietly.

Fred put his arm around my shoulders in a brotherly manner.

'C'mon, Harry, you've never missed the Snitch before,' he said. 'There had to be one time you didn't get it. Besides, it's not over yet. We lost by a hundred points, so that means we can still make a comeback, depending on how the other matches go.'

'I guess,' I sighed.

'Come on, cheer up! You're still the best Seeker we've ever had.'

'Dumbledore was really angry,' Hermione informed me in a trembling voice. 'He ran onto the field as you fell, waved his wand and you sort of slowed down before you hit the ground. Then he whirled his wand at the dementors. Shot silver stuff at them. They left the stadium right away... He was furious they'd come onto the grounds. We heard him –'

'McGonagall and Snape were there too,' Ron added. 'They were bent over you, before Snape picked you up and took you to the castle with McGonagall. It was weird that he didn't conjure a stretcher.'

'I guess,' I muttered, though it wasn't strange to me. I knew that Uncle Severus and my grandparents would have been beyond worried about me. 'Did someone get my Nimbus?'

Everyone exchanged looks again.

'Where's my Nimbus?' I demanded.

'Well... when you fell off, it got blown away,' Angelina answered hesitantly. 'And it hit the Whomping Willow.'

I closed my eyes and flung myself back down on the bed with a frustrated sigh. I knew that there was no way the broom could have survived crashing into that violent tree. After all, look what it did to Mr Weasley's car last year.

Without a doubt, this had been the worse Quidditch match I had ever played in.

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Azaelia Silmarwen Facebook page: link on profile
Written: 3 July 2013
Updated: N/A
Beta: BETA WANTED

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT CLAIM OWNERSHIP OVER THE ORIGINAL COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL IN THIS STORY. THIS IS A NON-PROFIT FANDUB CREATED BY FANS, FOR FANS. NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED, FAIR USE ONLY. I DO, HOWEVER, CLAIM SOME COPYRIGHT OVER HARRI SINCE SHE IS HALF BASED ON MY ORIGINAL VALKYRIE CHARACTER, PRINCESS HARRIETTA.