To make up for the delay, here is my longest chapter ever. Hope you enjoy! Please review! More reviews help me update faster!
Please, if anyone remembers whether I gave Harry a full first name yet, tell me. Because It is almost certainly different than the one that shows up here. Thanks all!
P.S. YAY! I hit 200 alerts! And 175 reviews! You lot are AWESOME!
Also, does anyone watch True Blood? HOLY EFFING GOD. Cannot wait for next season. Amnesia Eric will be so effing hot! GOD. Sorry. I need to say that. *ducks projectiles form annoyed readers*
Last Chapter…
Harry rolled his eyes. "Fine. But she thinks you are and if you took the time to look at her, then you'd see that she's miserable. I just thought you should know."
Harry stood and went back to his table, shaking his head at the stupidity of his parents. Or the two who would be my parents if they took their heads out of their arses long enough. He flopped into the seat next to Pansy. Hermione was sitting across from him, talking softly to Luna about their Runes class. The sun from the upper windows glinted of her russet hair, making it shine in the light. She had a small smiled gracing her lips and her eyes sparkled as she got involved in the conversation. Harry blinked and shook away the feeling that was constricting his chest. Ridiculous, he told himself.
Draco narrowed his eye as he watched this. It seemed that he had just figured out the reason Harry couldn't seem to keep a girlfriend. He smirked and turned back to his food.
Chapter 47 – Of Appraisals
Harry knocked sharply on Dumbledore's office door and waited to be called in. The door swung open and Harry found Albus looking older then he'd ever seen. "Professor? Are you alright?"
The Headmaster sighed heavily. "Sit, Harry. I have news for you." Harry did as he was bid. "A member of the Order has gone missing."
Harry frowned darkly and leaned forward. "Who?"
"Grania Ackerley. Her son, Stewart, is a Ravenclaw thirds year."
Harry closed his eyes for a moment. "Gone missing and presumed dead? Or kidnapped by the Death Eaters looking for something?"
Dumbledore shook his head. "I don't know, Harry. She was on a liaison mission in America for the Order. There are not supposed to be Death Eaters outside the British Isles, with the possible exclusion of the west coast of France. That is what the Summer Coven was originally formed to prevent. I fear I shall have to send at least a couple of the girls back out into the field, if the Death Eaters have spread. And the unknown fate of Grania Ackerley leads me to believe that they have."
Harry tensed, not liking that idea. The Order had been informed that the Summer Coven was retired from its original work. Bringing the girls out of retirement would not be easy, with them stationed at the school. It also would not look good for Dumbledore, who was supposed to be in control of the situation. "Alright, Albus. Was that all?"
The old man shook his head. "No, Harry. I have some good news as well. I managed to get into contact with Marcel Dupont, the young man you saw in your vision. He wishes to meet with you."
Harry sat up in his seat. "With me, sir? Why with me?"
Albus smiled gently. "Harry, you are rapidly becoming the leader of this fight. You and I both know that, in the end, it will be you and Voldemort. Now, others are seeing it too. You are, as the Americans say, stepping up to the plate."
Harry looked worried. He'd heard Ariadne use the phrase before, so he understood what it meant, but he did not like it one bit. It sounded too much like defeat from the headmaster. "Professor, I don't mean to…that is, you are…"
Dumbledore chuckled softly and looked at Harry over his glasses. "Harry, dear boy, you are not pushing me from my place. I am surrendering it to you and your collection of very apt advisors. You father, the Summer Coven, and all your friends. Together, you are the future of Wizarding Britain. Not I. I am old and my time here is coming to a close. The battle with Voldemort at the end of last year showed me how quickly my power is waning. I am surrendering my leadership to you with a heavy heart, but complete confidence. You are much too young to bear my burden, but you are completely capable of doing so. That said, I am not dead yet."
Harry smiled at the Headmaster, fighting the tears that pricked at his eyes. His mentor, not matter how many secrets the old man had kept, was still like a grandfather to him. The idea of his death was not something Harry wished to contemplate and, if taking up the mantel of leadership would help extend his life, Harry would do it gladly. "I understand, sir. When does Dupont wish to meet with me?"
Dumbledore had a proud sparkle in his eye. "Next weekend. Saturday. I have set up an international portkey for you. It will take you and one other person to a secure location in central France, where Voldemort is much, much less powerful. I wish you to take one of the Coven with you. To act as a sort of bodyguard. No matter how sure we are of his truthfulness, it would be unwise to send you alone into a meeting with a Death Eater."
Harry nodded. "I'll prepare for it sure. And I'll ask Olympia to accompany me. Ariadne and my father are having… problems of some sort, which are weighing on them both. They need time and space to figure it all out. Olympia will also be more… objective, I guess. If she'll do it."
The old man nodded. "I'm sure she will, Harry. Now, why did you wish to see me? You did have a reason, did you not?"
Harry smiled a little. "Actually, I had several reasons, Albus. First of all, I was wondering about Hagrid. Do you by any chance have a record of all the students who attended Hogwarts in Hagrid's class? With Voldemort."
Albus waved his hand and shuffled through the sheets that appeared on his desk. "Of course, Harry. Right here. I assume this has some connection to the box you found in the woods."
"Yes, sir." Harry said, reaching for the proffered paper. "I wanted to check the list we have against the letters that he already sent and see who still needs to be warned. Also, I'm sorry we didn't get Fang for you."
Albus chuckled. "It's perfectly fine, my boy. The buyer was very understanding. Fang is now part of the forest, much like Mr. Weasley's Ford Anglia."
Harry turned a light pink and ducked his head. "Yes, sir." He coughed and looked up. "And, Albus, I was wondering about the prophecy that was made about the Reign of Peace. Draco was telling me about it, but there seems to be no record of it in the Library. Hermione's been searching."
Dumbledore nodded slowly and leaned back in his chair. "Yes, she will not find it there. There are very few records of that prophecy. As Young Mr. Malfoy no doubt informed you, the Ministry did not take kindly to it. However, as standing Chief Mugwump I have access to one of the few copies left in existence. Long ago, I committed it to memory, when Voldemort first took power. I knew, just as many of the old families suspect, that it was coming true. That particular prophecy reads: With the coming of the Age of Aquarius, so too will come the Horror of Power. Twice shall it be seen, blocking the stars and the future from the eyes of Man. In the time of the Second Horror, a True Warrior will step forward with the power to drive back the darkness, allowing the Aster Pax to rise like a comet in the heavens. When the Reign of Peace begins the Seed of Merlin's power, grown to full glory in the Hero's heart, would be crowned King once more." Dumbledore paused to give Harry time to digest this. Then continued, "With the rise of Grindelwald and now the rise of Voldemort, I believe we are in the time of the second horror. Harry, if that is true, you have to understand that this ancient prophecy could be about you. You are quite probably the True Warrior and the Seed of Merlin."
Harry stared at him with wide eyes for several moments, before he started to laugh. It was a slightly hysterical sound, touched with bitterness. "Of course, I am. I can't ever have one moment's peace, can I? Of course not. Something good finally happens and another prophecy pops out of the woodwork." He sighed.
The headmaster regarded him with an air of melancholy. "I'm so sorry, Harry. I know all of the things that have been happening lately are a bit overwhelming. A great deal to digest."
Harry shook his head. "I'm fine. Really. But those two were the only things I wanted to talk to you about… Actually, no, that's not true. Professor, Lucius Malfoy…" Harry paused trying to figure out what exactly to say.
Dumbledore frowned. "He has not done anything to you, Harry? I understand that you are not on the best terms and with Draco defecting, I—"
Harry looked up sharply. "No, headmaster. There is nothing wrong. It's just… Malfoy has…um…expressed an interest…in the Light side? Or well, more like in discovering the most advantageous alliance to make."
Dumbledore's frown deepened. "That is…interesting to say the least. I shall endeavor to discover what is going on inside Lucius's head. In the meantime, I believe you should avoid him outside lessons. There is hardly a better way to regain Voldemort's trust then the delivery of your person to him."
"Yes, sir."
#########
The next couple days seemed to crawl by. However, Thursday afternoon found Ariadne sitting on one of her couches, looking dejectedly out the windows. Olympia stood off to one side, watching her friend with concern. "Ariadne, you're still wearing the thing. I don't understand what's going on."
The blonde rubbed at her eyes, which were dull and rimmed with dark purple smudges like a bruise. "Olympia, nothing is going on. Not anymore anyway. I fucked it all up. I—" She cut herself off.
Olympia sighed and came to crouch in front of the High Priestess. "Ariadne, you need to do something about this. You're like a zombie. You go through the motions, but you're not…there anymore. You need to fix this before it eats you alive."
Ariadne stood, dashing away the tears that had managed to escape from her eyes. "There's nothing to fix. Olympia, you need to leave it alone."
So saying, she turned on her heel and exited the room, leaving Olympia pinching the bridge of her nose as she stood by the window.
Ariadne wandered the upper halls of the castle aimlessly. Her mind was blank and she wanted nothing more then to curl up in a ball and sleep for the rest of her life so she'd never have to deal with all this again. However, she was scheduled to give Harry a Wandless Magic lesson that evening, after the Quidditch try-outs and she refused to disappoint him. It was in this state of mind that she accidentally ran into someone. The person snaked an arm out and wrapped it around her waist to keep her upright.
"You really must learn to watch where you are going, Ariadne, or perhaps you wanted to run into me?"
Her head jerked up and she was met with laughing grey eyes. "Lucius Malfoy, I am in no mood for you shit." Her voice lacked its normal conviction.
Lucius frowned. "Ariadne, are you quite alright? Is Severus keeping you up at nights?"
At the mention of his name, Ariadne began to cry silently again. She cursed her own weakness. She was doing a very good impression of Bella Swan right now and she hated herself for it, but she could not think of him without a horrible gaping emptiness welling in her chest.
Lucius looked alarmed. "Ariadne, what is the matter? Has Severus done something to you? Are you in—"
That was the final straw. She'd been in a sort of emotional coma since that night, but having everyone, Olympia and Harry and now Lucius Malfoy, think that Severus had hurt her was intolerable. She was still wrapped in his arms, to prevent her fall, now she took advantage of that fact and began to pummel his chest with her fists. "Shut up! Just shut up! You don't care about me at all. You're just trying to get into my pants! And I don't care how sympathetic you pretend to be, I don't buy it. Severus would never hurt me! Why can't anyone just believe that! It's my fault. It's all of it my fault! So just go the fuck away with your fakeness and your obnoxiously concerned voice and leave me alone!" She was sobbing now; the fight had gone out of her. Lucius held her against him. "I love him so much, but I don't know how to be what he wants me to be. What he needs me to be. I'm so afraid of disappointing him. And now I have. He can't possibly love me anymore, after this week. He must be furious. But I love him so much. I can't…I don't want to be without him."
Lucius tensed at the word vomit that was twisting his gut. She was in love with Severus. He suspected it all along, but confirmation was jarring to say the least. He released her and stepped back. Leaning down to look her in the eye, he brushed a strand of hair from her face. "Ariadne, as much as this pains me to say, Severus Snape is a very loyal man, whichever side of this war he may be on."
Ariadne looked up and met his gaze. There was sincerity in his eyes, and anger and just a little bit of pain. They stared at each other for several long minutes before she took a deep breath and tilted her head. "I…" Her last statement suddenly slammed into her with the force of an epiphany. "Oh my god. I need to talk to Severus." She turned and was off like a shot before Lucius could respond.
He watched her go with sadness in his eyes and a scowl on his perfect face.
Severus, when she finally found him, was in the greenhouses collecting potion's ingredients. She knocked lightly on the doorframe and waited for him to look up. He looked probably as awful as she did. His eyes were sunken and he looked as sleep deprived as she felt. His appearance caused fresh tears. "Oh, Severus. I'm so sorry." He opened his mouth to reply, but she cut him off. "I need to say this, so just let me speak. After you can do or say whatever you want to me… Severus, We've only known each other for a few months, but I feel like I've known you forever. At the risk of sounding horribly clichéd, I feel like there was barely a time in my life when I didn't know you, if that makes sense. In the past few months, I've come to love you so much, but I'm…After everything I've done, I find it hard to believe that you love me too. I'm not good enough. I'm not good. I'm a horrible person, who has done horrible things. I don't deserve your understanding or your love and somehow I seem to have both. I'm greedy and selfish and I want you to love me as much as I love you even though you deserve better then me. What this necklace means…I didn't know how to deal with. I don't know how to be what you want me to be, what you see me as, but I know now that I want to try. I love you and I don't want to be without. Exist without you. You are rapidly becoming my world. You and Harry and the coven are my whole life."
Severus stared at her for several moments. She began to fidget, feeling the tears prick her eyes again. She'd ruined it. She'd waited too long and now it was ruined and she'd never find anyone better for her then Severus. What a fuck up her life was…
"Ariadne, I will always love you. That's why I gave you the necklace. I needed you to understand, partly because I am mostly less then vocal in the realm of emotions, that I will always love you. We move at the pace that you set. I did not mean for you to feel rushed or pressure. It was never my intention to make you uncomfortable in any manner. Please forgive for—"
Ariadne felt her breath grow short as relief flooded her. She cut off his words by running forward and flinging herself into his arms. The force of her body hitting him spun them and she rained feather-kisses down on his face, all the while whispering, "I love you so much" again and again.
Severus buried his face in her hair and sighed. "What a pair we are."
Ariadne pulled back with a radiant smile on her face. Reaching up she undid the clasp of her work robes. They fell open, revealing the necklace as it rested against her collarbone. Severus' gaze dropped to the piece of jewelry in awe. "Severus, I never took it off. I couldn't bear too. Even if you had…had…Even if you wanted it back, I'm not sure I could have done it. I'm in this for as long as you want me and I'm so sorry I panicked."
His face split into the most beautiful smile that Ariadne had ever seen. Her breath caught in her throat. "Come. I have missed you." Taking her hand, he led her back to the castle, leaving the potion's ingredients forgotten on the countertop.
#########
Harry did not miss the fact that both his father and Ariadne were missing that evening at supper. He let a smirk curl across his lips. Hermione furrowed her brow at his expression. He tilted his head toward the head table. She glanced up and her eyes widened. She turned a wide smile on him. "Gods, finally."
He nodded. "Right?"
Draco looked up from his potion's conversation with Pansy and frowned. "What was that about?"
Harry looked at him. "What?"
"You don't speak through most of the meal and then Hermione says two words that refer to nothing and you answer? What's up?" Draco had his eyebrow raised.
Harry grinned and batted his eyelashes. "Jealous, Dwaco?" Draco snorted. "We were just commenting on the fact that my…um… that is, Snape and his…girlfriend? I guess that works. He and his girlfriend seemed to have gotten their heads out of their arses and gotten back together."
Draco gaped, probably at the idea of Snape having a girlfriend, and looked to the head table. "I did not need to have those images in my head. Severus is dating the High Priestess?"
Harry looked incredulous and Hermione giggled. "You didn't know? Merlin, Dray, you are slow on the uptake."
Draco raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. "Dray?"
Harry shrugged. "Everyone deserves a nickname. We've given each other plenty. So I figured I'd give you an actual one that wasn't insulting."
Draco regarded Harry for a moment. "Alright, I suppose I can live with that. People call you Har, which I always thought was just lazy, since your name is so short anyway."
Harry shook his head. "Actually, my first name is Henry. Harry is a nickname I've had ever since I can remember. It shocked Ariadne the first time I her that. She couldn't understand why Harry is a nickname for Henry. I explained to her that it was a British thing, but it was amusing."
Harry looked around at the silence that followed his remark. Everyone looked shocked. Hermione was regarding him oddly. Draco scowled. "Your name is Henry? You're having me on, right? Henry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived? Really?"
Harry frowned in confusion. "Yeah, according to Sirius, my parents gave me the nickname when I was born, but Henry is an ancestral name for the Potter family. I'm not sure anyone even realizes that my name isn't Harry or Harold."
Hermione's odd look was morphing into anger. "Harry, that's awful of you! I'm sure I've called you Harold at some point and you never corrected me!"
Harry shrugged again. "I never really noticed. I mean, my relatives used to call me Harold sometimes. I didn't even know my name was Henry until I met Sirius. He knew because he was there when my parents named me. Even my Hogwarts stuff says Harry."
Hermione rolled her eyes, looking a little sad. "Oh, Harry. I'm sorry."
"Really, no big deal. I mean… it doesn't really affect anything." Harry turned back to his food. Draco watched him for several more minutes, then nodded. Harry glanced up at the movement. "What?
Draco grinned. "I'm going to call you Hal."
Harry frowned. "Why?"
"It's a nickname for Henry. If you're gonna call me Dray, then I get to call you Hal."
Harry tilted his head. "Alright. If you want." He glanced at the skies over the great hall and stood. "I'll see you guys later, unless any of you are planning to go out for the Gryffindor Quidditch team."
Draco looked away. "I'm not going out for any Quidditch team."
Harry frowned. "No?" He paused considering. "Want to come help me with the try-outs, then?"
Draco turned to stare at him, gaping. Hermione watched this with a small smile on her face. Pansy was eyeing the two with a mix of confusion and intrigue. Neville looked appalled. "What? Harry, you can't—"
Harry turned sharply on the other Gryffindor, who stopped talking immediately. "Yes, actually, Neville. I can. I am the team Captain. I can invite whomever I want to practices. And as captain, having another experienced player keeping at eye on the potential player will be advantageous for our team. I'll be able to get another option and put together the best team I can. Beside, how likely is it that Draco is going to go running back to the Slytherin team telling secrets? Not that Try-outs and the results are secret anyway."
Neville looked properly chastened and Draco was staring wide-eyed at Harry. "You're serious? You actually want me to come to your try-outs and help?"
Harry nodded as if to say 'duh.' "I asked, didn't I?"
Draco nodded slowly and stood. The two moved down the Hall together. At the door, Harry turned and placed a Sonorus spell on himself. "Alright, all. You all know me. I'm Harry. I'm also the Quidditch Captain. I want to announce that Quidditch try-outs for the Gryffindor team will commence in fifteen minutes on the Pitch. Anyone who wants to try-out is welcome to come down. Well, anyone who is in Gryffindor, that is."
A hushed silence fell over the Hall at this announcement, but the moment Harry and Draco exited the Great Hall, whispers sprang up like wildfires and spread just as fast. Hermione eyed the Slytherin table where dark looks were being directed at them and the large double doors.
Luna smiled at her. "Don't worry about Harry. He and Draco are more than capable of fending off whatever the Slytherins have in store. Besides, they're being followed by Rankled Blompots, which will protected them from harm anyway."
Hermione turned to stare at the girl. She smiled hesitantly, feeling oddly reassured by her words. "Thanks, Luna. You're right…I think."
Pansy snorted softly. "She is right. Draco can take care of himself just fine. And from what I've seen of our dear savior, so can Harry."
Hermione scowled at the raven-haired girl. "Harry hates being called savior and things like that. He doesn't like his fame. Considering you're his girlfriend, I'd think you'd know that."
Pansy rolled her eyes. "Listen, Granger…I mean, Hermione. I know you're in love with him, but if you don't make him realize that he's in love with you, he'll just keeping jumping from girl to girl. You know it's true. He has an amazing emotional depth, but only if you push him in." Hermione gaped at her. "Come on, it's not like everyone doesn't know. I'm just a bit of fun. I get that. It's what both of us needed at the time. He's going to get bored with me soon though, so you better act quick. The next girl might not understand the situation like Cho and I do."
Hermione continued to gape. Cho laughed quietly from her seat next to Neville, having heard the conversation. "She's right, Hermione. Do something about it. Make him jealous! Something!"
Hermione turned impossibly wide eyes on Cho, who smirked. When the bushy-haired Gryffindor didn't respond, Cho returned to her discussion of herbal properties with Neville.
Meanwhile, on the Quidditch Pitch, Harry and Draco had managed to wrestle the box of equipment out of storage and rustle up some brooms, just in case. Harry'd been carry his Firebolt all day, shrunk to fit into his pocket. When he brought it out, Draco stared at it in awe. "Can I touch it?"
Harry raised an eyebrow and deadpanned, "You want to handle my broomstick?"
Draco looked up sharply at Harry, then burst into shocked laughter. "Yes, Hal, I want to touch your broomstick. Please let me play with it?"
Harry finally smirked. "Here. You break it or in anyway harm it and I will kill you. Sirius gave it to me." Draco nodded reverently, his smirk falling away. "Give it a go then."
The smirk was back. "Why, Harry, I do believe you just invited me to take a ride on your broomstick."
Harry laughed. "Yeah, well, it won't happen again. Take the chance while you can. And cut the homoerotic shite."
Draco blinked. "Oh, big words! You are learning." He snatched the broomstick and was in the air, before Harry had a chance to react.
Rolling his eyes, Harry called, "I'll get you for that when you come down here. You're never gonna want to ride anyone's broomstick again!"
Draco's laughter was torn away by the wind as he sped down the Pitch. Harry smirked after, watching as Draco executed several complex dives. It was a shame that the blonde Slytherin wouldn't be on a team this year. Harry would have no competition, by the look of things, since Draco was the only one who ever actually made him work for the snitch. Harry sighed and his musings were interrupted by a gagging noise.
"You're vile, you know that, Potter?" Ron's voice broke the peace of the evening. Harry didn't even bother to turn. "First you shack up with a Slytherin, now you're going at it with Malfoy? Could you possibly sink any lower? Unless you decide to fuck Snape next."
Ron barely registered that Harry had moved, before he was slammed against the leg of the nearest bleacher. Harry's fingers wrapped around his throat and his face close to Ron's, there was a burning hatred in his emerald eyes. "I'd watch my tongue, if I were you, Weasley. You never know when a stray curse might cut it right out of your mouth." Ron managed a weak, but derisive snort. Harry's fingers tightened. "You think I'm joking, you little fuckwit? Try. Me."
There was a soft thud behind them, which Harry ignored, and a hand fell onto his shoulder. "Hal, leave it be."
Harry's nostrils flared, but his grip loosened a little. He didn't move.
"Harry, come on. He's not worth the blood on your knuckles, believe me. And anyway, people started to arrive for try-outs. You've got work to do."
Harry stepped back and let his hand fall to his side, but the hatred still shone. Ron stood still. Harry made a noise that bordered on a growl. "I always have fucking work to do. You know what? Fuck that." Harry turned as if to move toward the castle. Draco's hand flashed out and took hold of his wrist. Harry turned to him. "Don't fucking push, Dray."
The blonde shook his head, aware of the audience the three had attracted. "Harry, you are a Potter. You do not retreat, no matter what the reason, not when you have a responsibility." He let his words sink in. Harry seemed to come back to himself a little. He blinked and narrowed his eyes. Draco held his gaze for another moment or two, before Harry finally nodded. "People have arrived for try-outs."
Harry sighed and nodded again. Taking a deep breath, he turned to the gathered crowd. "Hey everyone. Welcome to the Gryffindor Team Try-Outs. So you better all be in Gryffindor." He smiled at them all and the group laughed. "Okay, well. First off, I'd like everyone from last year's team to step to the front."
There was a lot of shifting and Katie Bell came forward. Harry blinked. "Katie, you're it?"
Katie nodded, looking a little lost. "Angelina and Alicia graduated last year and Fred and George left. It's just you, me, and…"
She trailed off, looking at Ron. "Yeah, well. I quit." The redhead turned on his heel and stalked off toward the castle.
She turned back to Harry. "I guess, it's just you and me, Harry. Can I ask you something, Cap?"
Harry grinned at the nickname they'd used for Oliver. "Sure, Katie."
She glanced at Draco. "Why is there a Slytherin here?"
Harry's smile turned rueful. "Good question. Come up here, Katie." She came to stand by his side. "Alright, everybody. So, we are looking for a Keeper, two Beaters, and two Chasers. And a couple rotating back-up players. Draco here is going to be helping me tonight and probably during practices too. Don't worry. He's not a Slytherin spy. He won't be playing Quidditch this year. If anyone has a problem with that, they are invited to leave right now." Harry paused. No one moved. "Good. Well, then…Anyone here to try for Keeper, please step forward. Everyone else go sit in the bleachers."
Of the crowd, three remained. Harry turned to Katie, who was eyeing Draco with distrust. Harry chewed his lip for a moment, before clearing his throat. Both sets of eyes snapped to him. "Alright, guys. Katie, you automatically have a spot. It's your seventh year and the last year you can be scouted."
The girl's eyes widened. "Harry, you really think I'm good enough to be scouted?"
Harry grinned at her. "Love, the Hollyhead Harpies will be salivating." Katie flushed bright red and Draco rolled his eyes. "Okay, back to point. I need you two doing two things for me." They both nodded. "First, I need you keeping an eye out for quirks in the flyers. I need to know if something will spook them or if they're going to crack under pressure. Because even if someone is a better flyer, if they can't take the heat, I can't play them. And Second, I need you both keeping an eye out for really skilled flyers, even if they're rubbish at Quidditch. For the DA. Draco, you especially know what I'm looking for."
Draco nodded, smiling widely. Katie glanced at him, then did a double-take. She blinked and shook herself. "Right-o, boss man."
Harry turned to the three Keeper Hopefuls. He tilted his head and examined them. McLaggan, who'd shown up for his dueling class, was there, looking confident. Seamus gave him a wave and the third was a small underclass girl who looked terrified, but determined. Harry smiled. "Well, let's see what you can do. Mount up."
Harry held out his hand to Draco, who reluctantly returned Harry's firebolt. Harry mounted and kicked off, feeling the rush of wind in his hair. He laughed with the sheer joy of flying before racing down the field to the goalposts. He beat the others there, even though they'd had a head start. Harry frowned at the lack of speed. "Kick it into gear, people. Even Hufflepuff will fly us in circles flying like that."
McLaggan and the girl sped up, but Seamus looked terrified at the thought. Harry sighed. When the all reached the place where he was hovering, he examined each of them. "Seamus, why are you here?"
The Irishman grinned ruefully, eyeing the ground with longing. "I…um…" His gaze drifted to Harry, running his eyes from top to bottom.
Harry raised an eyebrow, looking annoyed. "Finnegan, did you come out for the team simply to see me in the showers?"
Seamus blushed, "Um…yes?"
There was a stifled chuckle from behind Harry, who turned around sharply. Draco had a hand slapped over his mouth trying to swallow his amusement. Harry narrowed his eyes. "Dray, baby, what's so funny?"
Draco stopped laughing immediately. "Huh?"
"Are you jealous, love? I promise, you're the only guy I let ride my broomstick."
Seamus choked. "What?"
Draco was bright red and spluttering. Harry burst out laughing, his shoulders shaking with it. He laughed so hard that he ended up hanging upside down from his broom, clutching it between his knees as he wrapped his arms around his aching ribs.
When he finally calmed down enough to open his eyes, he found Draco's face much to close to his own and upside down. Draco scowled at him, but there was mirth in his grey eyes. "If you are quite done making fun of me, would you like to actually put these…Gryffindors through the paces?"
Harry grinned broadly and righted himself. The other three were gaping at him. He blinked. "What?"
The girl rubbed her eyes and said, "Um…how did you do that?"
Harry frowned, "Do what? And what's your name?"
The girl flushed slightly. "Becca. Hang upside down like that for so long? I was afraid you were going to fall."
He looked around bewildered. "Why? Is it not something most people can do?"
Draco rolled his eyes. "Our Harry just has powerful thighs." Harry flushed and glared at him. "Setting aside the joking…"
Harry nodded. "Seamus, you're grounded. You're not actually here for the team and I happen to know that you don't fly all that well. Just passably." Seamus shrugged and grinned at Harry before taking off for the stands to watch.
It took all of fifteen minutes to decide that Becca was the better Keeper. "McLaggan, you'll be reserve Keeper, yes? Unless you want to try for a different position."
The tall boy shook his head. "Nah. Reserve's fine. Good Luck with the rest of try-outs. And, Harry?"
Harry turned back to him. "?"
"You aren't actually…you know, shagging the Slytherin, are you?" He looked just a little disgusted. Harry couldn't figure out whether it was from the idea of him being gay or from him having sex with a Slytherin.
Harry raised an eyebrow. "If you mean that one," He gestured to Draco, who was talking quietly with Becca. "Then no. I'm not shagging the Slytherin. If you mean Pansy, then yea, I am."
McLaggan grinned crookedly. "Good on you, mate."
So it was the being gay that he had a problem with. Good to know.
Harry turned back to the people waiting in the bleachers. He glanced once as the sinking sun. "Alright, beaters next!"
Only two presented themselves. Harry's brow tried to disappear into his hairline. "Well, I guess that narrows it down. So Creevys, you think you can live up to Gred and Forge's reputation?"
The two looked confused for a moment at the Twin's name mix-up, but grinned. "Sure, Harry." They said in unison.
Harry blinked and then groaned. "If you two start finishing each other's sentences, I will personally show you how irritating I find that."
The two boys nodded and glanced at each other. Harry sighed and proceeded to find out that maybe, just maybe, with a little coaching and a lot of hard work, the Creevy Brothers would live up to the Weasley Twins' legend. Harry looked at Katie and Draco, who were both regarding the brothers with calculating expressions. Harry smirked, before turning back to the remaining ten people. "Alright you lot of Chasers, on the field. I'm going to pick four today, even though we only need two, and one reserve. When we have our first practice tomorrow, I'll see how we all play as a team and pick to two Chasers I think are best. The other two will fill up the reserve spots. Sound good? Any Questions?"
A voice from the back called, "How come you're not trying anybody out for seeker?"
Harry looked incredulous. "I'm seeker. But, if someone wants to give it a go, come on. Before we run the Chasers, I'll take on anybody who wants to be seeker. You beat me, I'll be a Chaser, like my father was, and we'll have a new seeker."
Katie snorted. "Harry, what a waste of time. You're the youngest seeker in a over a century. You're a bloody natural. There isn't a person in this school who's better then you. You're probably even more skilled then some of the first string Seeker for the professional teams. And you're on a firebolt."
Harry shrugged. "Hey, if someone thinks they'll beat me, then I'll give it a go. If they do, then the team is better off."
A tall boy with curly brown hair stepped forward. Harry raised an eyebrow. "Mace Brown? Lavender's older brother. Mate, are you joking? I've never even seen you with a broom, never mind on one."
The boy looked glared at Harry. "Potter, just because you're famous, doesn't mean you can treat the rest of us like shite. You aren't entitled to your spot. You need to earn it."
Harry stared at the boy like he had spontaneously grown an extra head (which ironically enough, Harry had seen happen and dismissed entirely). "Honestly, Brown, you think I didn't' earn my spot? Have you even gone to any of the Gryffindor games?"
Brown's scowl deepened. "Why would I want to see you fly?"
Harry sighed in exasperation. "Katie, you're right. This is a complete waste of time. However, I will take pleasure in flying this fuckwit in circles." Harry leaned forward a little on his broom. "Dray, spot me. I want to know exactly what needs improvement in my technique." Harry glanced at the sun again, which was beginning to sag alarmingly. They had maybe a half an hour or so of light, before it fell below the horizon. Harry was going to need to light the pitch if they were going to finish try-outs. He sneered. He was going to put this upstart in his place.
"You ready?" Harry asked. Both Draco and Brown nodded. "Good. Dray, the Snitch."
Brown's eyes widened. "What? You're releasing the Snitch for a practice run? That's—"
"How I practice. What's the use of trying out for Seeker if you don't get a chance at the snitch?" He looked a challenge at the other, who gritted his teeth and nodded.
Draco released the tiny golden ball and counted backward from ten slowly. The thing had disappeared by the time he reached five. Harry immediately took to the skies, circling high above the pitch, knowing that the Snitch like to hover on the currents. Brown joined him and Harry noted that the other boy had a Nimbus-2001, which was just as fast, but not as precise. Harry wondered for one malicious moment, if he should try the Wronsky Faint. He sighed, scanning below for the glint of gold. Something flashed in the sun by the far end of the pitch, around the top of the goals, and Harry was off like a shot. He vaguely heard a curse behind him, but ignored it in favor of his focus. He was nearly on top of the little thing when it pulled in its wings and dropped like a rock. Harry executed a sharp 90 degree dive, barreling toward the ground at an alarming speed. Guiding the broom with one hand, he reached out. His fingers brushed the ball, but at the same moment, its wings popped back out and it took off across the pitch, gaining height as it went. Harry pulled up immediately and shot after it. His broom was faster then the golden ball and he gained on it easily. A grin of triumph split his face as his hand closed around it. He lifted his hand in the air and had time to register the look of horror that crossed Draco's face before something slammed into him from behind. He pitched forward and just missed snatching his broom from support.
In a moment, he was watching the ground rush up at him. He'd been much higher then he'd first thought, easily a hundred and fifty or two hundred feet in the air. His breathing sped up. Instinctively, he knew that a cushioning charm or something similar wouldn't work. He was simply to high and falling too fast. He concentrated briefly on the minimal training Ariadne, Sirius, and Olympia had given him in Animagus transformations. A blinding pain sliced through his back to his chest. He felt like he'd been impaled by a white hot spear or sword. He screamed.
From across the pitch, Draco tried to banish Harry's broom back to him, but the other was falling too fast. Taking a deep breath, he crouched over his own broom and shot off down the field, hoping to be able to caught Harry. Or at least break his fall somehow. The very second it had happened Katie was in the air and throwing spells at the dazed Brown. He'd seen Harry catch the snitch and in a fit of jealous peak, barreled into Harry from behind.
Draco pulled up short, when he heard Harry's gut-wrenching scream cut the air. As though frozen, Draco watched as Harry flung out his arms, reaching out in opposites directions, fingers grasping. His back bowed and he fell faster for a moment. And then, suddenly, he was engulfed in flames…and Draco was screaming his name and flying faster then before, because no one could possibly survive that without a wand to freeze the flames and Draco had Harry's wand in his pocket and if Harry died, Severus was going to kill them all.
As suddenly and shockingly as they'd begun, the flames died. Hovering in their place was a phoenix. A deep red and gold phoenix, even more stunning than Fawks. From the short distance he was, he watched with wide eyes as the green-eyed phoenix flapped its wings once and looked around as though confused. When it's gaze rest on Draco, it tilted its head and came toward him. He blinked at it. The thing was massive. Much bigger then the average phoenix and Draco was not sure if he could support its weight. The bird appeared unfazed as it landed on the front of Draco's broom and looked at him.
Draco's eyes widened and his voice was hushed. "Harry?"
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