A/N: Chapter 20. Finally there. Happy to be writing again. This chapter I think MAY be the longest chapter in HHR. Not 100% sure but enjoy guys.
I shut the door to the Medical Wing as quietly as I could. Only to hear a voice behind my back. "Mr. Black!" Authoritative and familiar. Dumbledore.
"Sir?" I said quietly trying to keep the children out of what might turn into an all out brawl.
"You've been walking around the castle this late at night? After being hospitalized for serious injuries that should have killed you? Where might I ask did you go?" He asked his voice becoming calmer and seemingly worried.
"I was tired of laying in bed. I needed some fresh air. I went to walk the grounds." I lied. I'm not a great liar but he seemed to find that to his liking.
"May I also ask you where you got the amulet you wear around your neck?" His voice was laced with genuine curiosity.
"My mother gave it to my father for me when I was very young. She was a witch he was a muggle..." I used the terms I knew he'd be familiar with and really wasn't lying at all, "they're both dead." I said, my voice coming out harsher than I wanted it to. He seemed taken aback by my honesty. He walked over to me and wrapped me in a hug. I was surprised again. Is he the really the one who tried to curse the children? What is this?!
"You are a perfect friend for young Harry Potter, I'm glad he's met people with similar problems. He will need friends like you in the weeks and months to come." I found myself smiling, but my mind was racing, how could this man turn his back on the abuse the children were enduring and then turn around and claim he was happy they had such good friends? I was genuinely more confused than I'd ever been.
"Thank you sir, but may I ask you a question?" I said, falling back into my student persona.
"You may Jace, and let me remind you that there's no need to ask about asking questions. After all, I once was a teacher here, just as Professor McGonagall or Snape are now." He held me by the shoulders at arms length stooping to look me in the eyes. I made sure not to meet his directly.
"Why do you care so much about Harry? What is the big deal? He's just a kid. Eleven years old. He doesn't even have proper magical training like you or the other professors." I might be letting too much of my knowledge show, but I needed to know.
"You see Jace when Harry was a baby, his parents were killed by an evil wizard called Voldemort. He's had a hard life up to this point and I want to make sure he has a better one," Dumbledore said his eyes twinkling, "After all, the light must always work in the interest of the greater good." I believed him. He genuinely believed that he was working in the interests of the greater good. But could he really tell himself that the ends justified the means if he was leaving children to be abused? If he was wiping the memories from the minds of children? I couldn't. But I was beginning to doubt that this man was evil. Maybe just misguided.
"Sir, I agree. He deserves better, he deserves a lot better." I said quietly. I looked in the direction of the children and felt my heart swell with pride like it always did when I thought of how talented and intelligent they were.
"My last question for you Jace is this, What magics does that amulet hold?" Albus's eyes darted to the pentacle on my neck and back to my face.
"I don't know sir," I said, half lying. I knew that I'd put an enchantment on it to keep him out of my mind, but I couldn't tell you if my mother did anything. He nodded and seemed to my surprise fine with the answer.
"Your mother probably enchanted it to protect you from harm, it explains why you'd survive a full on hit from a fully grown mountain troll..." He mumbled the last bit and ruffled my hair. "Get some more sleep. You have class tomorrow."
I watched him leave and then walked to the bed and found the kids all still asleep scattered about the area. I began to move them. I put Hermione in my bed and carried Harry and Neville to beds as well, then I took a seat next to my bed. I lowered my chin to my chest and closed my eyes.
I was woken up around 4 in the morning when I heard a sound from the bed I'd put Harry in. I walked over and looked at him, he was thrashing in his bed, the sheets were soaked with sweat and I could tell he was having a nightmare. I placed my hand on his head and sat by his side for an hour as he fought through the dream. His eyes shot open and he sat up in his bed, breathing hard.
"Hey," I said quietly, "You okay?" His eyes closed and I could see him relax visibly.
"Bad dream."
"What was it about?"
"I saw a man and a woman, they looked familiar. The man wore glasses, had messy, black hair, he was tall and had hazel eyes. The woman had red hair and green eyes. She was carrying a small bundle and they were happy. Then everything changed. I was in a crib I couldn't get out, and the man ran in and yelled something to the woman. I didn't understand what he said was. He was holding a wand and he ran away from the door. The woman ran to the door, shut it and locked it. She was crying and she picked me out of the crib and told me everything would be okay. Then I heard a yell from far away. And she cried harder. It was silent aside from her crying. I was trying to help her. Trying to say something. But I couldn't. Then the door burst open and she put me in the crib and turned. There was a black-cloaked, hooded figure with a white wand. A man's voice told her to step aside, and she wouldn't. He said something and there was a flash of green. She fell. I watched as he pointed his wand at me and then said the thing again, the flash of green happened again but for some reason, he was gone. I was alone with the bodies. It was horrible." I sat and listened to his recap, noting things in my mental notebook.
Messy Black Hair, Check. Glasses, Check. Green eyes, check. In my gut I knew. His mind still held the images of his parent's murder. I waited for him to finish and I asked him a question.
"Who were the people?" My voice was quiet and my gut was in knots.
"They were my parents Mr. Dres- Jace." I pulled him into a hug and squeezed. I could feel him shaking. I could feel the dampness on my shoulder. He was stronger than most adults I knew. He'd survived so much more in eleven years than many would in their entire lives.
"I won't let that happen to you again Harry." I said, "I promise."
"You can't protect me forever Mr. Dresden," he whispered back, too wise for his age, "but I know you'll try. Thank you." We sat there for a long time. Long enough that he'd fallen back to sleep. I laid him down and covered him up with the blankets. How can I keep these kids safe...? How can I make sure that this child can grow up a normal life? I was tired and knew I needed some more sleep, but couldn't quiet my mind long enough to sleep. So I walked down into the dungeons and into the potions room.
I grabbed a ton of ingredients from the store room and began to create a few large batches of escape potions, using the way I'd been taught by Ebenezer McCoy and Bob. I used some cola for the base, some oil for the smell, some feathers for touch, some chocolate covered espresso beans for taste, a mouse tail for sight, some sort of bug wings for sound, a few old bus tickets I had in my duster pockets for the mind and a few broken chain links for spirit. All the while thinking of the events of the past day or two.
"What ARE you doing!?" Came a voice as I walked between three or four cauldrons, each with a batch of escape potion brewing. I spun around and saw the greasy haired Professor Snape standing there with a sneer on his face.
"I'm brewing escape potions, Professor," I said quietly.
"Escape potions?! What in the world are you talking about Black!?" Snape rushed forward and began looking into the cauldrons seemingly terrified of what he would find.
"Yes sir, it's something my grandfather taught me..." I said the words without thinking but calling Ebenezer my grandfather was a weird feeling.
"What does it do?!" Snape was quickly losing his attitude and I could hear a hint of professional curiosity in his voice.
"They whisk you away from one spot to another, these probably aren't as powerful as the ones my grandfather used to make, I had to substitute a few ingredients because they weren't in the store room," I replied. Snape's eyes went wide and he grinned.
"Black. You are by far the best student I've had in a long time. None of my students has ever known how to substitute an ingredient properly. So prove to me that you've done that, and I'll honor our bet right here, right now." His voice was filled with admiration.
"They aren't done cooking yet. Give it about thirty more minutes." I said. He nodded and in that time walked over to me and sat, and began asking me questions about how I brewed potions and what my technique was. When I told him, he was astounded that I was using such a "primitive" way of thinking when it came to potions, he began to seem as though he didn't believe my potions would work. But he continued the conversation anyway, seeking to learn as much as I could teach about the technique as I could. His interest was actually rather refreshing. I hadn't talked magic or magical theory in weeks and it was something I missed more than anything. I'd have to get Bob a new shelf of romance novels when I got back.
When the thirty minutes passed, I walked from cauldron to cauldron taking them off the heat in the same order I'd put them on. I was able to fill about 30 vials with the amount I'd brewed and pocketed ten, leaving Snape the other twenty to reverse engineer and possibly improve upon. I downed one to prove they worked, and when I opened my eyes I was in the great hall and I could hear from where I was the gleeful laughter of Severus Snape, the Hogwarts potions master. I walked back into the dungeon.
"I haven't seen such a masterful application of potions theory since I was..." his smile faltered, "..in school," his smile returned and he said, "I'd award you 100 points if it weren't for the Unsortable business. Bravo Mr. Black. Apparently, ineptitude DOESN'T run in the family!" He laughed out loud and walked into his office with arms full of escape potions.
"Weird..." I said to myself, "what family am I a part of?!" Then I walked out of the dungeon. Off to class, I guess...
The day went by pretty fast, but I think that was mostly due to my excitement for Harry's first Quidditch match, I was curious as to who would come out on top. Ravenclaw or Gryffindor, not only that, but I was curious to know how the sport was played. I'd been reading on the sport in the book Quidditch Through the Ages, but that wasn't enough. I needed to see it. Hermione was terrified for Harry stating that "Most injuries in this school throughout the history of Hogwarts have come from the Quidditch pitch, those bludgers are barbaric." Harry just laughed it off and began to fantasize about the House Cup and Ravenclaw's first win in quite a while. Neville, of course, argued that Gryffindor would win the cup which sparked some friendly competition between the two. I smirked the entire time.
At lunch there was a commotion as three large owls dropped a large package on the table in front of Harry, knocking a large bowl of chips off the table. He wasted no time opening it and neglecting the letter it came with. I just shook my head and opened the letter as the kids began to marvel at something.
Dear Harry,
I got a letter from Jason detailing something about a broken arm, a Remembrall and a position as Seeker, unfortunately, in the last few
days, Bob has essentially ruined the lab twice with his continued experiments into Jason's theories. The letter was destroyed
was destroyed and I cannot for the life of me remember the full story. However, Congratulations on the position. Dresden and I are
proud of you. Just remember to watch for the glinting of the Snitch and stay away from those hellish bludgers.
I hope you enjoy this present I was able to pick up from Diagon Alley, and I hope it gets there in time for your first game.
Expedited shipping is difficult with owls. Darn birds almost ate my fingers off as I was attaching the package to them.
Best of Luck,
Charlene
P.S. Tell Jason he's in big trouble when He gets home, Bob is out of control.
Dammit Bob! And to think I was gonna get him some new romance novels. I probably still would but that's not the point. I looked at the package and inside was a broomstick. The broom was a fine polished brown and had in gold lettering "Nimbus 2000" written at the top of it. There were whispers from around the table as others began to admire the broom as well. I shook my head and looked at Harry, he was dumbfounded. I handed him the note and he read it before smiling and saying
I handed him the note and he read it before smiling and saying, "Jason, your mom says you're in trouble when you get home. Bob is out of control," his mouth curled into a smirk, the little smart ass.
"Yeah, yeah kid. Just enjoy the broom!" I said back, smiling at Harry's mischief.
After a while it was finally time for the match. Harry walked off to join the team as I walked with Hermione, Neville and a first-year girl named Susan Bones, she was talking excitedly to Neville who was excitedly talking back about his best friend Harry Potter "the youngest seeker of the century". Hermione was quiet but I could tell she was excited as well. Her eyes however said she was worried too.
"Hermione," I said, stopping to look into her eyes, "I can't promise Harry won't get hurt, but what I can say is that he likes to fly, and from what you guys told me, he's very good at it. Right?" She nodded, "Then trust that he will be okay. Trust him. Trust his talent and ability," She smiled and nodded.
"You're right! He'll do great!" She began to engage in the conversation that Neville and Susan were having as we walked up several hundred stairs to sit in the stands.
I watched Madame Hooch walk onto the field as the teams walked out from their sides of the pitch. She stood in the center of the pitch and the teams formed half circles on either side, forming a large circle, one half Ravenclaw, the other Gryffindor. She bent over and for a brief second I saw a glint of gold that then disappeared into the background.
"NOW! I want a nice clean game! From all of you! Mount your brooms please!" I could barely hear her. They all mounted their brooms and rose into the air. Madame Hooch threw the quaffle, a reddish misshappen ball into the air and the game began. Hermione had binoculars and she was watching Harry Like a hawk. The game went on for quite a while, the snitch being seen and escaping several times. Soon the players seemed to be getting tired. Both keepers had been knocked off their brooms by bludgers and it was 600-610. Anyone's game really. This was my kind of sport. A magical sport with danger and skill and everything that makes magic great? Count me in.
Then Hermione gasped. I looked down at her and she said, "What's wrong with Harry's broom?!" I looked through the binoculars and saw Harry's broom jerking and flinging him about. I immediately had a bad feeling and looked to the stands at Dumbledore. He seemed very concerned. I began to scan the other faces and saw Snape muttering something, never breaking eye contact with Harry. The man in front of him, Quirrell, was watching on the edge of his seat not looking away either. Hermione took the binoculars and gasped. "Snape is jinxing the broom!" She slammed the binoculars into my stomach and ran off.
"Hermione! Get back here!" She couldn't hear me over the roar of the crowd. Dammit! I looked through the binoculars at Snape and the man Quirrell. There was something weird about them. Quirrell was sweating. It was something like 30 degrees out, and Snape was still muttering. Neither were blinking. I looked at Harry's broom and began to mutter under my breath.
Nolite iuniperorum erat cibus, sile. Nolite iuniperorum erat cibus, sile. Nolite iuniperorum erat cibus, sile.
I channelled my magic into the words willing the broom to stop its motion. It still jerked every so often, but Harry was able to remount. Then out of the corner of my eye I saw a commotion. I turned to look and there was someone stomping out a fire, he'd knocked over both Snape and Quirrell and when I looked back to Harry, he'd shot off in pursuit of the Gryffindor seeker who seemed to be chasing the snitch. Hermione ran back to my side as Harry was diving towards the ground after the snitch. Pull up. Pull up. PULL UP! I didn't realize that both Hermione and I were shouting the words I was thinking.
At the last second Harry pulled up inches from the ground. He began to stand on the broom. I was dumbfounded at the athleticism and balance that probably took. His hand was outstreched and he stepped forward. His broom's tip slammed into the ground and he was thrown. He rolled into a sitting position and stood up. It seemed as though he was about to puke.
"It looks like he's gonna be sick!" Neville said beside us. Harry spat something into his waiting hands and held it up into the air. HE SWALLOWED THE SNITCH! I laughed out loud and Hermione screamed "YES!" The crowd went wild, and the commentator spoke.
"HARRY POTTER HAS CAUGHT THE SNITCH RAVENCLAW WINS!"