Chapter 20: Quidditch Begins

Chapter 20

Quidditch Begins

The next few weeks went by rather quickly. With all of the homework that they had and complex spells, incantations, and potions they had to learn. They had made a few trips to Hagrid's for tea, but even he was extra busy with his teaching this year. They as a group had come to the conclusion that the teachers were trying to keep them busy and not thinking of the war that was beginning to wage outside the walls of Hogwarts. There had been an attack on a small muggle town outside of London. The ministry had even been stormed again although this time no one was killed. Inside of Hogwarts those attacks had been big news only to have the next teacher assign more and more homework.

On a sunny afternoon when the Gryffindors had a break from lessons. The rather large group of student order members gathered down by the lake for some thinking time. They were trying to piece some of the events together and make sense of it all. After drawing nothing but dead ends, they split into couples with. Fred and Angelina headed for the hospital wing. She had been fighting off a cold for a week and Fred wanted her to get some potion from Madam Pomfrey, with Quidditch starting in a few days.

The Gryffindor team had practised and thought that they were ready but they all had had so much homework that they had let some practices slide. They all felt a bit guilty about it too if Wood only knew they would be disgraced.

The very next Saturday they awoke to game day. Harry felt a bit uneasy. Almost like they shouldn't even play. That in and of itself was saying something about the day because next to Ginny and his sister Harry loved quidditch.

From the locker room, they could hear the stadium-filling. Fred seemed to be as uneasy as Harry felt. Since his return, they had unanimously made Fred the quidditch captain. Wood would have had kittens over his pre-game pep talk.

"Ok everyone this is a game lets do our best but remain alert to your surroundings." Was all Fred had to say. They were playing Hufflepuff and maybe that is the reason they were so drab. Neither Fred nor Harry could put their fingers on it.

The announcement came and they took the field. Madame Hooch gave the team instructions then she yelled, "Mount your brooms."

Both teams took to the skies as the bludgers were released, next came the snitch. then she yelled, "Let the game begin!" Then she threw the quaffle high into the air.

Harry searched desperately for the snitch he just wanted this game over. He didn't feel safe. He caught sight of the snitch but so had the Hufflepuff seeker. Harry had the quicker broom and he was on it. He reached out his hand and felt the snitch flutter in his fingers. As he closed his hand around the snitch he heard screaming. He turned his head in time to see two chasers for Hufflepuff fall from the sky.

Death Eaters were storming the stadium his first instinct told him to search the crowd for Ron, Hailee, and Hermione. It didn't take long to find them as Hailee had a huge shield in front of her with a bunch of scared first years. Ron and Hermione were leading them towards the castle. Several other prefects had joined in with Hermione and Ron trying to fight their way back into the castle. Harry landed his broom and began yelling for Ginny. He found her laying on the ground face first. Fred was standing close to her.

Where had George gone? Dumbledore and the other teachers charged onto the field. Harry noticed a good many Order members were joining the fight. He pulled out his wand and began shooting spells in the direction of the masked figures. Harry hit the one closest to him with a full-body bind. As the death eater's body snapped tight and tumbled over his hood fell from his face. It was none other than Draco Malfoy. Harry noticed the dark mark on his right forearm.

George was doing battle with a death eater. Back and forth they threw spells. Harry came up behind them and sent a binding spell in the direction of the death eater. She fell and they discovered it was Pansy Parkinson. She also had the dark mark newly in blazed on her arm.

"What the hell is going on?" asked Harry to no one in particular.

"This is the second student I have seen with the dark mark." Said, George.

"Me too, " Said Harry.

The battle was dying off. The few remaining death eaters made their way back to the forest. Harry started to follow. But was stopped by none other than Dumbledore.

"Back to the school. Now! Gather everyone together and meet me in my office. Chocolate Frog." He looked into Harry's eye to make sure he understood. Harry looked back at his mentor knowing all too well that this was the start it was all about to get big.

Harry grabbed George's arm and pulled him towards where he saw Fred. Fred had Ginny awake but she was weak.

"He used the cruciatus curse on her." Said Fred.

Harry ran to her side and bent down to her. She sobbed quietly into his shoulder. Harry whispered something into her ear and she rose from the ground with his help. They began to make the trek from the quidditch pitch to the castle.

"Ok, now we need to get Ron, Hermione, and Hailee. Then we have to get to Dumbledore's office." They made their way up to the castle. Aurors were running everywhere. They saw Tonks and Professor McGonagal going from room to room in the castle. Moody was standing guard at the entrance. Remus met them just outside the Gryffindor common room.

"You know to go to Dumbledore's office?" He asked.

"Yes, Remus. We have come to collect Ron, Hermione, and Hailee. " Said, George.

"A 'right then here, I'll take Ginny I don't think it will instil calm for the rest of Gryffindor to see her like this and we will meet you in Dumbledore's office." Said Remus.

Fred, George, and Harry then moved into the portrait. Harry turned to see Ginny lean on Remus and they headed down the hall.

After getting Hailee and Hermione, Harry went to the dorm room and found Ron tending to Dean Thomas. He had a visibly broken arm as there was a bone jutting out from the side. Harry went down and found Neville and asked him to sit with Dean and Seamus to wait in the common room until Madame Pomfrey was available or until Professor McGonagall came in. They then made their way out of the portrait and down towards Professor Dumbledore's office.

When they reached the gargoyle Harry said "Chocolate frog, " and the gargoyle sprang to life. They moved quickly up the stairs. The gargoyle shut behind them. They entered the office to find it empty.

Harry's first thought was that something had happened to Remus and Ginny. That seemed to be the thought of choice for George and Fred too. Tonks entered the room followed by Moody.

"Wotcher Everyone. Everyone ok then? Wait where's Ginny? " Tonks asked.

"Remus said he was bringing her here but they don't seem to have made it." Said Fred.

"Remus isn't here, you must be mistaken. He was undercover for the order and couldn't break his cover to be here." Said Tonks.

Just then, Dumbledore came through the door. He asked, "Where is Miss Weasley?"

They began to explain everything when Mr and Mrs Weasley came in. Dumbledore touched a piece of parchment and Harry noticed that words were forming on the page. Shortly after the flames rose high in the fireplace and out stepped Remus. He had on different robes that the ones that they had seen earlier.

"Oh Merlin, she's been taken. Why would they want Ginny?" whimpered George.

Mrs Weasley looked like a ghost as she swooned and fainted. Mr Weasley went weak at the knees and hit the floor. Ron and Fred went to their mother and George helped his father into a nearby chair.

With this Dumbledore spoke the words they had all been dreading to hear, " The war has begun."