Part Twenty-Seven
Remus- Oh, good, it's time for another Quidditch match.
Lily- I just hope nothing bad will happen with this one.
James- Don't worry, Lily, I have a good feeling about this one.
Remus- It's called Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw.
It looked like the end of Ron and Hermione's friendship.
Sirius- A pet shouldn't break people up.
Harmony- Especially when he's not worth the pain it causes.
Sirius- (looks at her strangely)
Harmony- (looks away)
Each was so angry with each other that Harry couldn't see how they'd ever make it up.
Ron was enraged that Hermione had never taken Crookshanks's attempts to eat Scabbers seriously, hadn't bothered to keep a close enough watch on him and was still trying to pretend that Crookshanks was innocent by suggesting Ron look for Scabbers under all the boys' beds.
Lily- Well, there is a chance that he could be hiding and hurt.
James- That's true, but not very likely.
Hermione, meanwhile, maintained fiercely that Ron had no proof that Crookshanks had eaten Scabbers, that the ginger cat hairs might have been there since Christmas, and that Ron had been prejudice against her cat ever since Crookshanks had landed on Ron's head in the Magical Menagerie.
Personally, Harry was sure that Crookshanks hat eaten Scabbers, and when he tried to point this out to Hermione that all the evidence all pointed that way, she lost her temper with Harry, too.
Lily- He's not trying to take sides, Hermione. Ron would be just as hurt if Harry took your side. He's just trying to help out his friend.
"OK, side with Ron, I knew you would!" she said shrilly. "First the Firebolt, now Scabbers, everything's my fault, isn't it! Just leave me alone, Harry, I've got a lot of work to do!"
Sirius- So what else is new?
Ron had taken the loss of his rat very hard indeed.
"Come on, Ron, you were always saying how boring Scabbers was," aid Fred bracingly. "And he's been off-color for ages, he was wasting away. It was probably better for him to snuff it quickly. One swallow - he probably didn't feel a thing."
Lily- Just because he was always complaining about Scabbers doesn't mean he didn't love him.
"Fred!" said Ginny indignantly.
"All he did was eat and sleep, Ron, you said it yourself," said George.
"He bit Goyle for us once!" said Ron miserably.
Marauders- Cool!
"Remember, Harry?"
"Yeah, that's true," said Harry.
"His finest hour," said Fred, unable to keep a straight face. "Let the scar on Goyle's finger stand as a lasting tribute to his memory. Oh, come on, Ron, get yourself down to Hogsmeade and buy a new rat. What's the point of moaning?"
Lily- That's not the point, Fred!
In a last-ditch attempt to cheer Ron up, Harry persuaded him to come along to the Gryffindor team's final practice before the Ravenclaw match, so that he could have a go on the Firebolt after they'd finished. This did seem to take Ron's mind off Scabbers for a moment ("Brilliant! Can I try and shoot a few goals on it?) so they set off for the Quidditch pitch together.
James- (rubs his hands together) Now we get to see how good a broom this is.
Madam Hooch, who was still overseeing Gryffindor practices to keep an eye on Harry, was just as impressed with the Firebolt as everyone else had been.
She took it in her hands before take-off and gave them the benefit of her professional opinion.
"Look at the balance on it! If the Nimbus series has a fault, it's a slight list to the tail-end - you often find they develop a drag after a few years. They've updated the handle, too, a bit slimmer than the Cleansweeps, reminds me of the old Silver Arrows - a pity they've stopped making them, I learnt to fly on one, and a very fine old broom it was too ...
Sirius- Man she's old, those haven't been made for years.
She continued in this vein for some time, until Wood said, "Er - Madam Hooch? Is it OK if Harry has the Firebolt back? Only we need to practice ..."
James- Yeah, Harry needs to practice with it.
"Oh - right - here you are, then, Potter," said Madam Hooch. "I'll sit over here with Weasley ..."
She and Ron left the pitch to sit in the stadium, and the Gryffindor team gathered round Wood for his final instructions for tomorrow's match.
"Harry, I've just found out who Ravenclaw are playing as Seeker. It's Cho Chang. She's a fourth-year, and she's pretty good ... I really hoped she wouldn't be fit, she's had some problems with injuries ..." Wood scowled his displeasure that Cho Chang had made a full recovery, then said, "On the other hand, she rides a Comet Two Sixty, which is going to look like a joke next to the Firebolt." He gave Harry's broom a look of fervent admiration, then said, "OK, everyone, let's go -"
Marauders- (lean forward expectantly)
And at long last, Harry mounted his Firebolt, and kicked off from the ground.
It was better than he'd ever dreamed. The Firebolt turned with the lightest touch; it seemed to obey his thoughts rather than his grip. It sped across the pitch at such speed that the stadium turned into a green and gray blur;
James/Sirius- (sigh enviously)
Harry turned it so sharply that Alicia Spinnet screamed, then he went into a perfectly controlled dive, brushing the grassy pitch with his toes before rising thirty, forty, fifty feet into the air again –
James- I wish that I had a broom like that.
"Harry, I'm letting the Snitch out!" Wood called.
Harry turned and raced a Bludger towards the goalposts; he outstripped it easily, saw the Snitch dart out from behind Wood and within ten seconds had caught it tightly in his hand.
Sirius- That was fast.
Remus- This game will be a piece of cake.
The team cheered madly. Harry let the Snitch go again, gave it a minute's head start, then tore after it, weaving in and out of the others; he spotted it lurking near Katie Bell's knee, looped her easily, and caught it again.
It was the best practice ever; the team, inspired by the presence of the Firebolt in their midst, performed their best moves faultlessly, and by the time they hit the ground again, Wood didn't have a single criticism to make, which, as George Weasley pointed out, was a first.
James- That's very unusual. Having a perfect practice. I always have to say something to my players.
"I can't see what's going to stop us tomorrow!" said Wood. "Not unless - Harry, you've sorted your dementor problem, haven't you?"
Lily- Sort of.
James- He'll be fine.
Remus- Besides, Dumbledore would blow a gasket if the dementors showed up again.
"Yeah," said Harry, thinking of his feeble Patronus and wishing it was stronger.
"The dementors won't turn up again, Oliver. Dumbledore'd go ballistic," said Fred confidently.
Sirius- That's an understatement.
"Well, let's hope not," said Wood. "Anyway - good work, everyone. Let's get back to the Tower - turn in early ..."
"I'm staying out for a bit, Ron wants a go on the Firebolt," Harry told Wood, and while the rest of the team headed off to the changing rooms, Harry strode over to Ron, who vaulted the barrier to the stands and came to meet him. Madam Hooch had fallen asleep in her seat.
"Here you go," said Harry, handing Ron the Firebolt.
Ron, an expression of ecstasy on his face, mounted the broom and zoomed off into the gathering darkness while Harry walked around the edge of the pitch, watching him.
James- Once we make it to the year those are invented, I'm getting myself one.
Others- Us, too.
James- Even you, Lily?
Lily- (blushes) Yeah.
Night had fallen before Madam Hooch awoke with a start, told Harry and Ron off for not waking her, and insisted that they go back to the castle.
Harry shouldered the Firebolt and he and Ron walked out of the shadowy stadium, discussing the Firebolt's superbly smooth action, its phenomenal acceleration and its pinpoint turning. They were halfway towards the castle when Harry, glancing to his left saw
something that made his heart turn over - a pair of eyes gleaming out of the darkness.
Sirius- I wouldn't be that obvious, especially when I know what fate I would get if I was caught.
Harry stopped dead, his heart banging against his ribs.
"What's the matter?" said Ron.
Harry pointed. Ron pulled out his wand and muttered, "Lumos!"
A beam of light fell across the grass, hit the bottom of a tree and illuminated its branches; there, crouching amongst the budding leaves, was Crookshanks.
Lily- See, it's only Crookshanks.
Sirius- Ron won't be happy.
"Get out of it!" Ron roared, and he stooped down and seized a stone lying on the grass, but before he could do anything else, Crookshanks had vanished with one swish of his long ginger tail.
"See?" Ron said furiously, chucking the stone down again. "She's still letting him wander about wherever he wants - probably washing down Scabbers with a couple of birds now ..."
Harmony- (primly) That is what a cat does, after all.
Harry didn't say anything. He took a deep breath as relief seeped through him; he had been sure for a moment that those eyes had belonged to the Grim. They set off for the castle once more. Slightly ashamed of his moment of panic, Harry didn't say anything to Ron - nor did he look left or right until they had reached the well lit Entrance Hall.
Sirius- Don't worry, Harry, I would never ever hurt you. And if there ever came a time that I found out I would do something so horrible I would turn myself over to the dementors myself.
Harry went down to breakfast next morning with the rest of the boys in his dormitory, all of whom seemed to think the Firebolt deserved a sort of guard of honor.
James- Why not? It's the best broom around.
As Harry entered the Great Hall, heads turned in the direction of the Firebolt, and there was a good deal of excited muttering. Harry saw, with enormous satisfaction, that the Slytherin team were all looking thunderstruck.
All- (grin)
"Did you see his face?" said Ron gleefully, looking back at Malfoy. "He can't believe it! This is brilliant!"
Sirius- Pays him back for some of the things that he's done I'd say.
Wood, too, was basking in the reflected glory of the Firebolt.
"Put it here, Harry," he said, laying the broom in the middle of the table and carefully turning it so that its name faced upwards. People from the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables were soon coming over to look. Cedric Diggory came over to congratulate Harry on having acquired such a superb replacement for his Nimbus, and Percy's Ravenclaw girlfriend, Penelope Clearwater, asked if she could actually hold the Firebolt.
All- (laugh)
James- I really wish they'd make that broom in this time.
"Now, now, Penny, no sabotage!" said Percy heartily, as she examined the Firebolt closely. "Penelope and I have got a bet on," he told the team. "Ten Galleons on the outcome of the match!"
Sirius- I bet he doesn't have that much.
Penelope put the Firebolt down again, thanked Harry and went back to her table.
"Harry - make sure you win," said Percy in an urgent whisper. "I don't have ten Galleons.
Lily- Sounds like something that James would do.
James- Yeah, I probably would.
Yes, I'm coming, Penny!" And he bustled off to join her in a piece of toast.
Lily- (giggling) How romantic!
Others- (make gagging noises)
"Sure you can manage that broom, Potter?" said a cold, drawling voice.
Remus- Better than you, Malfoy.
Lily- How do you know it's Malfoy, Remus?
Remus- Trust me, when you hang around with these two, you come to know all the types of people by their voices.
Draco Malfoy had arrived for a closer look, Crabbe and Goyle right behind him.
"Yeah, reckon so," said Harry casually.
"Got plenty of special features, hasn't it?" said Malfoy, eyes glittering maliciously. "Shame it doesn't come with a parachute - in case you get too near a dementor."
Lily- Shut up, Malfoy.
James- Yeah, no one asked you your opinion.
Crabbe and Goyle snickered.
"Pity you can't attach an extra arm to yours, Malfoy," said Harry. "Then it could catch the Snitch for you."
James- Very good comeback, Harry, I'm proud of you.
The Gryffindor team laughed loudly. Malfoy's pale eyes narrowed, and he stalked away. They watched him rejoin the rest of the Slytherin team, who put their heads together, no doubt asking Malfoy whether Harry's broom really was a Firebolt.
Sirius- (sarcastically) No everybody is faking it so that you will be jealous for no reason.
Lily- It'd serve him right.
At a quarter to eleven, the Gryffindor team set off for the changing rooms. The weather couldn't have been more different from their match against Hufflepuff.
Lily- Thank goodness.
James- Everyone will be on equal terms, then.
It was a clear, cool day, with a very light breeze; there would be no visibility problems this time, and Harry, though nervous, was starting to feel the excitement only a Quidditch match could bring.
They could hear the rest of the school moving into the stadium beyond. Harry took off is black school robes, removed his wand from his pocket, and stuck it inside the T-shirt he was going to wear under his Quidditch robes. He only hoped he wouldn't need it.
Lily- Like I said before, Harry, it would be better to be safe than sorry.
He wondered suddenly whether Professor Lupin was in the crowd, watching.
Remus- I wouldn't miss it. The only reason I wasn't there for the last one was because it was right after the full moon.
"You know what we've got to do," said Wood, as they prepared to leave the changing rooms. "If we lose the match, we're out of the running. Just - just fly like you did in practice yesterday, and we'll be OK!"
They walked out onto the pitch to tumultuous applause. The Ravenclaw team, dressed in blue, were already standing in the middle of the pitch. Their Seeker Cho Chang, was the only girl in their team. She was shorter than Harry by about a head, and Harry couldn't help noticing, nervous as he was, that she was extremely pretty.
James- (disgustedly) Now is not the time, Harry. Admire her later after you win.
She smiled at Harry as the teams faced each other behind their captains, and he felt a slight jolt in the region of his stomach that he didn't think had anything to do with nerves.
"Wood, Davies, shake hands," Madam Hooch said briskly, and Wood shook hands with the Ravenclaw captain.
"Mount your brooms ... on my whistle ... three - two - one -"
Sirius- I love this part of the game.
Lily- Why?
Sirius- I don't know.
Harry kicked off into the air and the Firebolt zoomed higher and faster than any other broom; he soared around the stadium and began squinting around for the Snitch, listening all the while to the commentary, which was being provided by the Weasley twins' friend, Lee Jordan.
James- I wonder if he's anything like those two.
Sirius- Probably. Just not as intense.
"They're off, and the big excitement this match is the Firebolt which Harry Potter is flying for Gryffindor. According to Which Broomstick, the Firebolt's going to be the broom of choice for the national teams at this year's World Championship -"
James- Somehow, this doesn't surprise me.
"Jordan, would you mind telling us what's going on in the match?" interrupted Professor McGonagall's voice.
Sirius- (whines) But we like hearing about the Firebolt. After all, I bought it for Harry.
"Right you are, Professor - just giving a bit of background information. The Firebolt, incidentally, has a built-in auto-brake and -"
"Jordan!"
"OK, OK, Gryffindor in possession, Katie Bell of Gryffindor heading for goal ..."
Lily- Don't we usually have the Quaffle first?
James- Yep.
Harry streaked past Katie in the opposite direction, gazing around for a glint of gold and noticing that Cho Chang was tailing him closely. She was undoubtedly a very good flier - she kept cutting across him, forcing him to change direction.
"Show her your acceleration, Harry!" Fred yelled, as he whooshed past in pursuit of a Bludger that was aiming for Alicia.
Harry urged the Firebolt forward as they rounded the Ravenclaw goalposts and Cho fell behind. Just as Katie succeeded in scoring the first goal of the match, and the Gryffindor end of the pitch went wild, he saw it - the Snitch was close to the ground, flitting near one of the barriers.
Lily- Go get it, Harry.
Others- (cheer)
Harry dived; Cho saw what he was doing and tore after him. Harry was speeding up, excitement flooding him; dives were his specialty. he was ten feet away -
Then a Bludger, hit by one of the Ravenclaw Beaters, came pelting out of nowhere;
James- I hate it when they do that!
Sirius- That's the point, James.
James- I guess.
Harry veered off course, avoiding it by an inch, and in those few, crucial seconds, the Snitch had vanished.
There was a great "Ooooooh" of disappointment from the Gryffindor supporters, but much applause for their Beater from the Ravenclaw end. George Weasley vented his feelings by hitting the second
Bludger directly at the offending Beater, who was forced to roll right over in mid-air to avoid it.
Lily- (shakes her head)
James- What!
"Gryffindor lead be eighty points to zero, and look at that Firebolt go! Potter's really putting it through its paces now. See it turn 0 Chang's Comet is just no match for it. The Firebolt's precision-balance is really noticeable in these long -"
"JORDAN! ARE YOU BEING PAID TO ADVERTISE FIREBOLTS? GET ON WITH THE COMMENTARY!"
James- Oh, come on, Professor, let him have a little fun.
Ravenclaw was pulling back; they had now scored three goals, which put Gryffindor only fifty points ahead - if Cho got the Snitch before him, Ravenclaw would win. Harry dropped lower, narrowly avoiding a Ravenclaw Chaser, scanning the pitch frantically. A glint of gold, a flutter of tiny wings - the Snitch was circling the Gryffindor goalpost ...
Lily- Here we go again.
Harry accelerated, eyes fixed on the speck of gold ahead - but next second, Cho had appeared out of thin air, blocking him -
James/Sirius/Remus- Hey!
"HARRY, THIS IS NO TIME TO BE A GENTLEMAN!" Wood roared, as Harry swerved to avoid a collision. "KNOCK HER OFF HER BROOM IF YOU HAVE TO!"
James- Yeah, you can apologize later.
Harry turned and caught sight of Cho; she was grinning.
Harry turned his Firebolt upwards and was soon twenty feet above the game. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Cho following him ... she'd decided to mark him rather then search for the Snitch herself. Right then ... if she wanted to tail him, she'd have to take the consequences ...
James- (rubs his hands together)
He dived again, and Cho, thinking he'd seen the Snitch, tried to follow.
Harry pulled out of the dive very sharply, she hurtled downwards; he rose as fast as a bullet once more, and then saw it, for the third time the Snitch was glittering way above the pitch at the Ravenclaw end.
Sirius- Now's your chance, Harry.
He accelerated; so, many feet below, did Cho. He was winning, gaining on the snitch with every second - then -
Lily- (startled) What!
"Oh!" screamed Cho, pointing.
Distracted, Harry looked down.
Three Dementors, three tall, black, hooded Dementors, were looking up at him.
James- Okay, this is totally unfair. They need to redo this game.
He didn't stop to think. Plunging a hand down the neck of his robes, he whipped out his wand and roared, "Expecto Partonum!"
Something silver white, something enormous, erupted from the end of his wand. He knew it had shot directly at the Dementors but didn't pause to watch; his mind still miraculously clear, he looked ahead - he was nearly there.
Remus- Wow, it sounds like he managed a real Patronus.
He stretched out the hand still grasping his wand and just managed to close his fingers over the small, struggling Snitch.
James- (cheering) And won the game! Way to go, Harry!
Others- (cheer)
Madam Hooch's whistle sounded, Harry turned around in mid-air and saw six scarlet blurs bearing down on him. Next moment, the whole team were hugging him so hard he was nearly pulled off his broom.
All- (smile)
Down below he could hear the roars of the Gryffindors in the crowd.
"That's my boy!" Wood kept yelling. Alicia, Angelina and Katie had all kissed Harry, and Fred had him in a grip so tight Harry felt as though his head would come off.
James- (sadly) And to think we will never live to see this day.
Sirius- You will, James, you will.
In complete disarray, the team managed to make its way back to the ground. Harry got off his broom and looked up to see a gaggle of Gryffindor supporters sprinting onto the pitch, Ron in the lead. before he knew it, he had been engulfed by the cheering crowd.
James- And there is no better feeling in the world. (then looks at Lily and blushes) Well, almost no other feeling.
Lily- (blushes too)
"Yes!" Ron yelled, yanking Harry's arm into the air. "Yes! Yes!"
"Well done, Harry!" said Percy, looking delighted. "ten Galleons for me! Must find Penelope, excuse me -"
"Good on you, Harry!" roared Seamus Finnegan.
"Ruddy brilliant!" boomed Hagrid over the heads if the milling Gryffindors.
James/Lily- Thanks, Hagrid, you're opinion is always valued by Harry.
"That was quite some Patronus," said a voice in Harry's ear.
Harry turned around to see Professor Lupin, who looked both shaken and pleased.
"The Dementors didn't affect me at all!" Harry said excitedly. "I didn't feel a thing!"
Remus- Yeah, and I think there is a problem with that situation unfortunately.
"That would be because they - er - weren't Dementors," said Professor Lupin. "Come and see -"
He led Harry out of the crowd until they were able to see the edge of the pitch.
"You gave Mr. Malfoy quite a fright," said Lupin.
Lily- Okay, I've had it. So, when we get back to Hogwarts, who wants to help me make sure that Lucius doesn't have any children!
Others- Me!
Harry stared. Lying in a crumpled heap on the ground were Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle and Marcus flint, the Slytherin team captain, all struggling to remove themselves from long, black, hooded robes.
James- Why stop at Lucius? Let's go for Crabbe and Goyle, too.
Lily- Sounds good to me.
It looked as though Malfoy had been standing on Goyle's shoulders. Standing over them, with an expression of the utmost fury on her face, was Professor McGonagall.
"An unworthy trick!" she was shouting. "A low and cowardly attempt to sabotage the Gryffindor Seeker! Detention for all of you, and fifty points from Slytherin! I shall be speaking to Professor Dumbledore about this, make no mistake! Ah, here he comes now!"
Lily- Well, they are in trouble.
If anything could have set the seal on Gryffindor's victory, it was this. Ron, who had fought his way through to Harry's side, doubled up with laughter as they watched Malfoy fighting to extricate himself from the robe, Goyle's head stuck inside it.
All- Serves him right.
"Come on, Harry!" said George, fighting his way over. "Party! Gryffindor common room, now!"
"Right," said Harry, and feeling happier then he had done in ages, he and the rest of the team led the way, still in their scarlet robes, out of the stadium and back up to the castle.
James- Oh, boy, a party!
Other Marauders- (grin)
Lily- (rolls her eyes smiling)
It felt as though they had already won the Quidditch Cup; the party went on all day and well into the night. Fred and George Weasley disappeared for a couple of hours and returned with armfuls of bottles of Butterbeer, pumpkin fizz and several bags full of Honeydukes sweets.
"How did you do that?" squealed Angelina Johnson, as George started throwing Peppermint Toads into the crowd.
"With a little help from Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs," Fred muttered in Harry's ear.
Marauders- Glad to help!
Only one person wasn't joining in the festivities. Hermione, incredibly, was sitting in a corner, attempting to read an enormous book entitled Home Life and Social Habits of British Muggles. Harry broke away from the table where Fred and George had started juggling Butterbeer bottles, and went over to her.
Lily- Hermione, it won't hurt you to have a little fun. You can make up for it later.
"Did you even come to the match?" he asked her.
"Of course I did," said Hermione, in a strangely high-pitched voice, not looking up. "And I'm very glad we won, and I think you did really well, but I need to read this by Monday."
All- (shake their heads)
"Come on, Hermione, come and have some food," Harry said, looking over at Ron and wondering whether he was in a good enough to bury the hatchet.
Lily- I hope so.
"I can't, Harry, I've still got four hundred and twenty-two pages to read!" said Hermione, now sounding slightly hysterical. "Anyway ..." she glanced over at Ron, too. "he doesn't want me to join in."
There was no arguing with this, as Ron chose that moment to say loudly, "If Scabbers hadn't just been eaten, he could have had some of these Fudge Flies, he used to really like them -"
Remus- (suddenly) So does Peter.
James- Okay, this is getting strange.
Hermione burst into tears. Before Harry could say or do anything, she had tucked the enormous book under her arm, and, still sobbing, run towards the staircase to the girls' dormitories and out of sight.
Lily- Poor girl. She doesn't need her friends turning on her at a time like this.
"Can't you give her a break?" Harry asked Ron quietly.
"No," said Ron flatly. "If she just acted like she was sorry - but she'll never admit she's wrong, Hermione. She's still acting like Scabbers has gone on holiday or something."
James- She just doesn't want to believe that her cat would do such a thing.
The Gryffindor party only ended when Professor McGonagall turned up in her tartan dressing-gown and hair-net at one in the morning, to insist that they all went to bed. Harry and Ron climbed the stairs to their dormitory, still discussing the match. At last, exhausted, Harry climbed into bed, twitched the hangings of his four-poster shut to block out a ray of moonlight, lay back and felt himself almost instantly drifting off to sleep ...
He had a very strange dream. He was walking through a forest, his Firebolt over his shoulder, following something silvery white. It was winding its way through the trees ahead, and he could only catch glimpses of it between the leaves. Anxious to catch up with it, he sped up, but as he moved faster, so did his quarry. Harry broke into a run and ahead, he heard hooves gathering speed. Now he was running flat out, and ahead he could hear galloping. Then he turned a corner into a clearing and -
Sirius- James, his patronus, I think it might be Prongs.
Remus- I must have turned as white as a ghost if that is what it was.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGHHHHH!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
James- What now!
Remus- Not good whatever it is.
Harry woke as suddenly as though he'd been hit in the face. Disorientated in the total darkness, he fumbled with his hangings - he could hear movements around him, and Seamus Finnegan's voice from the other side of the room.
"What's going on?"
Harry thought he heard the dormitory door slam. At last finding the divide in his curtains, he ripped them back, and at the same moment, Dean Thomas lit his lamp.
Lily- Harry heard someone leaving the room?
Remus- I don't have a good feeling about this.
Ron was sitting up in bed, the hangings torn from one side, a look of the utmost terror on his face.
"Black! Sirius Black! With a knife!"
James- You managed to get into the Tower?
Sirius- Sounds like it.
Lily- But why do you have a knife?
Sirius- I don't know.
"What?"
"Here! Just now! Slashed the curtains! woke me up!"
"You sure you weren't dreaming, Ron?" said Dean.
"Look at the curtains! I tell you, he was here!"
They all scrambled out of bed; Harry reached the dormitory door first, and they sprinted back down the staircase. Doors opened behind them, and sleepy voices called after them.
Lily- Great, everyone's awake now.
James- Good it won't be long before McGonagall is there.
"Who shouted?"
"What're you doing?"
The common room was lit by the glow of the dying fire, still littered with debris from the party. It was deserted.
"Are you sure you weren't dreaming, Ron?"
Lily- Yes, he's sure. Why would he dream something like that?
Remus- The question is, though, why was Sirius at Ron's bed? I mean, he's supposedly after Harry, right? So why did he get the wrong bed? Sirius's sense of smell is better than that even when he's not in Padfoot's form.
"I'm telling you, I saw him!"
"What's all the noise?"
"Professor McGonagall told us to go to bed!"
A few of the girls had come down their staircase, pulling on dressing-gowns and yawning. Boys, too, were reappearing.
"Excellent, are we carrying on?" said Fred Weasley brightly.
Lily- (rolls her eyes)
"Everyone back upstairs!" said Percy, hurrying into the common room and pinning his Head Boy badge to his pajamas as he spoke.
James- Shut up, Percy, this is important.
"Perce - Sirius Black!" said Ron faintly. "In our dormitory! With a knife! Woke me up!"
The common room went very still.
"Nonsense!" said Percy, looking startled. "You had too much to eat, Ron - had a nightmare -"
Sirius- And you would know?
"I'm telling you -"
"Now, really, enough's enough!"
James- Enter McGonagall.
Professor McGonagall was back. She slammed the portrait behind her as she entered the common room and stared furiously around.
"I am delighted that Gryffindor won the match, but this is getting ridiculous! Percy, I expected better of you!"
Sirius- (imitating McGonagall) Yeah, Percy, we expected better from you.
After all with the way you suck up to teachers...
Others- (snicker)
"I certainly didn't authorize this, Professor!" said Percy, puffing himself up indignantly. "I was just telling them all to get back to bed! Mt brother Ron here had a nightmare -"
"IT WASN'T A NIGHTMARE!" Ron yelled.
"PROFESSOR, I WOKE UP, AND SIRIUS BLACK WAS STANDING OVER ME, HOLDING A KNIFE!"
Professor McGonagall stared at him.
"Don't be ridiculous, Weasley, how could he possibly have got through the portrait hole?"
Lily- That's a good question.
"Ask him!" said Ron, pointing a shaking finger at the back of Sir Cadogen's picture. "Ask him if he saw -"
Lily- Good idea. He'll tell you that Ron wasn't dreaming.
Glaring suspiciously at Ron, Professor McGonagall pushed the portrait back open and went outside. the whole common room listened with baited breath.
"Sir Cadogan, did you let a man enter Gryffindor Tower?"
"Certainly, good lady!" cried Sir Cadogan.
All- See!
There was a stunned silence, both inside and outside the common room.
"You - you did?" said Professor McGonagall. "but - but the password!"
"He had 'em!" said Sir Cadogen proudly. "Had the whole week's, my lady!
James- I wonder how you got the entire week's worth.
Sirius- Maybe I found the list that Neville lost.
Lily- Uh-oh, poor Neville's going to get it.
Read 'em off a little piece of paper!"
Professor McGonagall pulled herself back through the portrait hole to face the stunned crowd. She was white as chalk.
"Which person," she said, her voice shaking, "which abysmally foolish person wrote down this week's passwords and left them lying around?"
There was utter silence, broken by the smallest of terrified squeaks. Neville Longbottom, trembling from head to fluffy-slippered toes, raised his hand slowly into the air.
Lily- Poor Neville.
Remus- Somehow, I don't think it was a simple thing of just misplacing the passwords. There is something else going on here. Anyway, that's the end of Chapter 13. Lily, it's your turn to read.