'One fucking flying lesson. It'll be fun, they said,' fumed Daphne in her mind, 'Pandemonium. Sheer pandemonium,' thought Daphne as she gave a shoulder hug to Iris to calm her down and observed the others.
Jasper and Lucas had dragged Marcus Flint down to the pitch with an invisibility cloak shoved partly into his mouth. They had twisted their bodies around the boy completely who looked mutinous at his incarceration and had popped themselves next to a slightly delirious Iris with their prisoner while awaiting further instructions.
Madam Hooch had sent a Patronus message to Dumbledore who appeared very quickly with a very annoyed looking Severus Snape.
Neville was unconscious but breathing and he didn't appear to have broken anything. Dumbledore sent him to the infirmary immediately. Severus levitated the boy into the air and moved away.
Harry looked wretched. Ron was fuming. Nott looked disappointed that Neville wasn't dead.
If Hermione ever had any doubts, then being an enthusiastic broom flyer in the future was now well and truly off the table for life for her. She simply slumped on the floor and looked and felt completely traumatised by the events on the Quidditch field.
Lavender and Parvati were exceptionally emotionally distressed as they attempted to comfort each other. Pansy looked dazed. Milicent was made of sterner stuff and simply looked at Marcus with a look of contempt.
'Twat,' she said to him harshly.
Tracey nodded alongside her sturdy friend, 'What she said. Twat.'
Her courage was bolstered by the imposing presence of Milicent.
Marcus looked even more livid at being insulted by two firsties. Slytherin's as well.
Goyle looked pale. Crabbe smug. Dean and Seamus were looking at Flint with loathing.
'You tried to kill Neville, you bastard!' Seamus shouted at him in his thick Irish accent.
'Crabbe tried to knock me off my broom so I couldn't get to Neville in time,' Harry said in a tight voice. He was seething inside.
'It was an accident,' Crabbe said in a strangely high voice. It didn't suit him.
Dumbledore's eyes were not twinkling.
'Madam Hooch. I'm going to contact the Auror office. This is not a matter for Hogwarts,' Albus said in an official voice.
Nott looked up then, 'What?'
Albus looked at Nott with a contemplative look, 'Mr Flint has attempted to murder another student. Mr Nott. This is a matter for Law enforcement. As it was also not so long ago for the poor, young Dylan Baker.'
'Oh, come on,' Nott tried to dismiss Albus, 'It was just a prank gone a bit wrong. You know. Like the Weasley twins pranks. You wouldn't want to be accused of double standards, would you? You've never brought in the Auror's for them, Headmaster,' Nott said silkily smooth.
Ron snapped then, 'My brothers would never do sick shit like this, that's why. They would never hurt anyone for fun. They would never risk someone's life for a prank.'
Ron's entire face was flushed bright red as he clenched his fists.
It was quiet then. Albus sighed. He looked down at Iris and Marcus.
Iris looked catatonic and was trembling. Daphne was holding her.
'Iris?' Albus asked softly as she looked up with dull grey eyes.
'How are you feeling?' he asked gently.
'Tired,' she answered honestly, 'I can't stop my hand from shaking,' she whispered. Daphne hugged her tighter.
'She did a proper Arresto Momentum, Headmaster,' Hermione said. She had calmed down a little with the Headmaster there, 'I saw her do it. She saved Neville. If that spell hadn't worked then Neville would be dead,' Hermione looked at Marcus now with pure hatred.
Madam Hooch confirmed this. 'She generated pure white light, Albus. It was enough to stop Neville in free fall and take him down softly. I'm sorry Albus. I couldn't get close enough to stop his fall.'
Albus patted the distraught teacher on the shoulder, 'You couldn't have foreseen this Rolanda.'
He turned to Iris.
'Miss Black. Can you ask your snakes to release Mr Flint? I shall escort him to the castle and wait for the Aurors in my office. The Auror's will want statements from the witnesses of everything that transpired here today. You will each be called to my office tonight with your head of house for your full version of events and to give official statements to the Auror's. You are all excused from your last lesson today.'
The others nodded. Crabbe looked a little wary at this development. Snape would not be happy when he found out he blocked Harry from getting to Neville in time. Harry kept giving him dangerous looks.
Iris turned to Marcus then. She gazed with disgust into his eyes. Without knowing it, her exhaustion and magical draining of her Equi magic made her eyes flash red as Marcus shrank back instinctively. She hissed to the two snakes to release him.
They all watched the two snakes take their time as they uncurled around him and made their way back to Daphne and Hermione. Iris shook her head as her eyes went back to grey. Merlin, she was knackered. She couldn't remember feeling this wiped out.
Albus put Marcus in a body bind and floated him away as they both made their way back to the castle.
Madame Hooch took one look at Iris, 'Come on, petal. You need the infirmary. Madam Pomfrey will need to check you over. Daphne. Take her up there, would you?'
Daphne was already leading Iris away.
Madame Hooch looked at the others who stood staring at her, 'It shouldn't need saying but the lesson is over for the more dim-witted amongst you.'
Goyle walked away in relief. Madam Hooch sighed.
'If you want to stay here and recover, do so. I'm going back to the Castle. I need a very strong gin. I mean tea. Good day.'
Madam Hooch traipsed back to the Castle. Pansy and Blaise joined her. They had both had more than enough as well. Dean and Seamus followed them up for much the same reason.
The others stayed where they were. Lavender was still an emotional wreck as she sat down on the pitch with Parvati as they consoled each other.
Ron was still seething although he wasn't as bright red as he was. He sat quietly with Hermione who, for once, didn't say anything and gave him a gentle pat on the arm. He returned a small smile to her.
Harry was silently assessing Nott and Crabbe. Nott sneered at him as he spotted something laying on the floor.
'Oh look. Neville must have dropped this. His lovely, little snowglobe,' he said in his acidic voice. He bent down to pick the small object up and stroked it in front of Harry in a goading fashion.
Harry was, by now, at absolute fever pitch. His emerald green eyes were flashing brightly.
'Give that back, Nott,' he said in a quiet voice as he stepped forwards towards the boy.
Crabbe had taken a step back. The implications of his actions on the Quidditch pitch were not looking so funny now. Even Crabbe had enough sense to know he was already in deep shit with Snape.
Nott gave up the pretence completely, 'No. Today has been a massive disappointment. I'll try and find something enjoyable about it.'
He got back on his broom and hovered, 'If you want it, Potter, come and get it,' he flew higher into the sky.
The others looked up at the bizarre sight. Milicent and Tracey looked shocked at the behaviour of Nott.
So Harry did come and get it. All his pent up frustrations went into that flight up. Even Nott looked surprised at how quick his ascent had been.
'I said give it back. It isn't yours,' Harry said seething. Nott smirked at him so Harry rushed into him with Nott just getting out the way with an inch to spare. They glowered at each other.
Nott looked intently at him, 'In time everything I want will be mine, Potter. You, the Weasley's and all of your other little friends will be long gone by then. Here, if you want it, go and get it.
With a strong arm, he slung the snowglobe as hard as he could towards the Castle walls to smash it. Harry dashed past him and straight towards the castle wall.
On the descent, he twisted the broom and himself around to grab the snowglobe before he and the globe smashed into the wall. Feeling quite pleased with himself and a bit less wound up he flew back down to the others. Crabbe and Nott had left by the time he landed. Milicent had told them to piss off very loudly. Which they had. Even Nott knew not to argue with her.
Lavender, Ron, Parvati and Hermione were all that was left now of the Gryffindors.
Ron saw the globe and gave him a soft thump on the back in congratulations, 'Well done mate. Wicked move up there.'
'Sorry about them, Harry. Don't think we're all like those idiots,' Tracy said to him.
Harry smiled at her then looked down at the globe, 'I know you're not. I don't even know why I went to so much trouble but I couldn't let Nott destroy it. He was gloating about Neville. Did you see his face when he realised Neville was alright? He looked disappointed. He is just so nasty,'
Lavender and Parvati looked angry at this. Harry thought it looked strange to see that emotion on their faces. He was already used to them both giggling and being a bit silly.
Hermione looked at him thoughtfully and smiled genuinely at him, 'You did good Harry.'
'Not going to tell me off for flouting school rules?' he asked her with a smile.
'No. Not after what I saw today,' she said shortly.
'Merlin, what Iris did. I saw the end of it,' Ron said, 'That white light. She wasn't even using a wand. Knocked her right out though. Shall we go up and see if she's alright?' he spoke to all of them.
They all nodded at this. They were grateful for something to do. Their nerves were still a bit frazzled. They left the area. The Aurors should be here soon. With one last look at the Quidditch pitch, they began to troop back to the Castle.
The tall figure of Professor McGonagall greeted them at the door, 'Mr Potter. Come with me,' she said in an ominous tone. He couldn't tell what mood she was in. He gulped and looked at the others.
'I'll see you up there,' Harry said to the others as he walked away.
They looked at him in varying levels of sympathy. She must have seen the snowball incident. Probably detention at the very least. Still, after today, detention was the least of their worries.
They carried on upstairs.
Harry trailed after his head of house picturing various scenes. He didn't think it warranted expulsion but it would probably mean detention. Or maybe detentions in the plural. He pulled a face. He needed to be with his friends.
They walked down a corridor as the professor knocked on the door to the defence against the Dark Arts room. Harry was getting puzzled.
'I need a minute with Mr Wood please,' she called out in her Scottish brogue. The very nice, very lovely Professor Quirrell, that Iris already suspected of nefarious activities, sent the Gryffindor Quidditch captain out. Oliver looked at the two of them curiously.
'Mr Wood,' Professor McGonagall was actually bubbling over with excitement, not anger Harry realised, 'I have found you our new seeker!'
Oliver looked stunned for a moment, then a slow grin began forming.
'Really?' he peered at the black-haired boy.
'Really. I just saw him do a dive and catch even Charlie Weasley on his best day could not have performed,' she had her hands clasped as Harry also began grinning broadly.
'Seeker?' Harry was excited. Seeker, just like his dad.
'Very much Mr Potter. Oh, what joy. We may win the cup this year. That'll teach Severus to give me his smug looks.'
Their excitement was infectious and Harry felt his mood improve immensely. Oliver also looked excited.
'Train him up properly Mr Wood,' Minerva told him.
'Oh, I know Quidditch rules. I've spent years playing at the Burrow,' Harry told them.
Oliver's grin looked like it was about to split, 'You have played with Fred and George already? Brilliant. That makes everything a lot easier. We'll need team training to get you up to speed with the others but that shouldn't take too long.'
Harry came back down to earth after the whirlwind of the last few minutes, 'Professor. I think you need to see the Headmaster. There was an attack on Neville at our flying lesson. I think he's going to be alright. Marcus Flint was involved.'
Minerva set her mouth in a firm line and swept away.
Oliver and Harry arranged their times to train as Harry had a much bigger spring in his step as he went upstairs to the infirmary to see the others.
Harry walked down the corridor towards the entrance. He knew the way as he had passed it several times. He was getting to know his way around the Castle. As he got closer to the doors he began to hear the raised voices drifting out. His spring in his step began to falter a little bit as he cautiously went to open the door. A little part of him wondered if he should carry on going down the corridor and get some quiet time. No. He shook himself. Butch up. He was a Gryffindor for goodness sake. He wasn't going to shirk this. He took a deep breath and pushed open the door as a cacophony of noise and heavy magic hit him. He moved into the room not even attempting to be quiet. There was really no need to be subtle. The noise that hit him was deafening.
His jaw dropped as he witnessed the scene in front of him. He closed his eyes then opened them again. Yes. This was actually happening.
Iris Black looked enraged. Not just enraged. Homicidal. She was on top of Draco Malfoy as they were engaged in a huge tussle on the floor. Ron and Daphne were trying to pull them apart but failing badly. It was a mess of arms and legs kicking out everywhere. The Gryffindor girls stood with Tracey and Milicent to the side, watching the fight in amazement.
'Don't touch me!' Iris screeched as Ron gave up and stood to the side looking bewildered with his arms swaying helplessly. Daphne joined him a short time later as she too admitted defeat. Harry watched Iris raise her fist.
Thud. Harry felt that from the other side of the room. Iris had punched Draco in the eye, 'Tell me you little shit. You were going to hurt Hermione, weren't you? Were you going to do to her what Flint did to Neville? Were you trying to kill her?!' she yelled at him.
Draco gave her the strangest smirk and wouldn't answer.
'What is wrong with him?' thought Harry as Draco goaded her. Hermione looked particularly interested in what the answer was.
Iris made the strangest sort of feral sound at Draco's obnoxious behaviour. He still wouldn't answer her. She had been trying for the last few minutes to get one word out of him.
Harry felt the black magic seeping inside him then. The magic pulsating out of Iris was intensely dark and tangible. He could feel its deep warmth. His skin tingled with it as his heart beat faster and he grew hotter. He felt his blood pulsating through him. Sounds became even louder. The room was swaying in front of him. He held onto the wall. He looked across at Iris. Her eyes were now blacker than the night. The ring was pouring out visible swirls of darkness. Jasper and Lucas were hissing into either side of Draco's ears as Draco looked up at her in wonder.
She yanked Draco up by his collar and went nose to nose with him, 'You or any of your lunatic friends pull a stunt like that against Neville or any of the others again, I'll personally drag them into Hell myself. Three of yours for one of mine. How does that trade sound, punk?!' she hissed at him as she channelled her inner Dirty Harry.
Draco smiled even wider at her. The magic was getting even more intense as Harry felt excessive strength flood inside him. He felt like he could run a marathon.
Harry gazed around the room. The others were clearly also feeling the effects of the dark magic as everything in the room took on an even more dreamlike quality.
Draco had the most enamoured look on his face. His swelling eye didn't seem to register to him in the slightest.
'Well?' Iris barked at him.
'Your dark magic is divine, cousin,' he raised an eyebrow at her, 'Do you need to be angry to accomplish it?' he inquired casually.
'What?' Iris hissed at him, looking at him in astonishment.
'The lighter magic is lovely but this darkness...,' he paused, 'I can feel it everywhere. I feel like I can fly. That I can fight an army. It's so much purer than theirs. So much more than your Grandfathers.'
Iris moved off him and collapsed to the side and just stared at him horrified.
She noticed the others properly then, 'Are my eyes very black, Daph?' she whispered.
Daphne nodded to her in the quiet of the room. Iris took some deep breaths, 'I need to get to Equi now. That spell on the Quidditch pitch drained all my white magic. The black is taking over.'
She closed her eyes and the golden doorway appeared with its shimmering, swirling colours in the infirmary.
Lavender, Parvati, Tracey and Milicent stood and stared at it for the first time. The others looked with concern at Iris. Draco looked at the doorway in awe.
'It's all true,' he whispered into the quiet room, 'You really can talk to the Angels. I knew House Black wouldn't make a joke about that.'
Iris felt the black magic pulsating violently inside her. Her mind was a scrambled mess, 'I'll be back when I'm... better. I can't stay here like this,' she told them flatly.
She stumbled into the veil as they watched the doorway disappear.
Harry felt his heart rate start to slow down then. His body began to return to normal. The room's darkness lifted. Jasper and Lucas returned to the sides of those they swore to protect.
Draco breathed out slowly, 'That was the most wonderful moment of my life,' he said to no one in particular.
He picked himself up off the floor as the others settled themselves. They all looked flushed and shaky. He smiled the first real genuine smile Harry had ever seen on his face.
Draco looked at each of them in the room, 'Her dark magic is stronger than theirs already. Ha. This changes everything. She can bring those bastards down,' he grinned and then laughed to everyone's consternation.
Draco's laughter turned to sobs.
'Draco?' Daphne asked him in a worried tone. His behaviour was unnerving, 'What's wrong?'
Draco looked at her with the same eyes as her sister as he composed himself, 'Wrong? Quite the opposite. For the first time in my short, miserable life, I have actual hope that there's a force strong enough to end those monsters.'
'Oh,' Daphne said as the jigsaw puzzle that was Draco finally fit together.
Draco turned to the others, 'Thanks for picking up on the cues by the way,' he spoke to Harry and Ron.
Harry looked at him curiously, 'You meant us to suspect?'
'Of course. If I had any intention of doing what I was ordered you would never have known about it till it happened. You made getting rid of me look authentic to the others. Slytherin is the house of the cunning, after all.'
Daphne smiled proudly at that, 'True.'
'So, what were you ordered to do?' Ron asked him quietly. Hermione watched Draco in contemplation.
'Exactly what Iris accused me of. I was to shadow Granger on the flying lesson and then when she was by herself I was to use the Alarte Ascendare spell on her broom to cause, at the very least, permanent damage to her from the fall.'
Hermione sat down on one of the beds in shock. She had come so close to a dreadful fate and hadn't realised.
Draco looked at Hermione, 'I owe you an apology for my behaviour on the train. They were not my words. I despise them as much as you. I have seen enough to know that way of thinking only ends in a world I don't want to live in. I was quoting a script. I've been desperately trying to figure a way out without detection.'
Hermione blinked at him, 'Oh. I um. Apology accepted. Just don't do it again,' she told him sternly.
He gave her a brittle smile, 'I won't be. You can be assured of that.'
Draco continued, 'You must have guessed by now but just so you know for certain. The orders from the top are that anyone connected to Harry and Iris is to be picked off one by one by using any means necessary. We have been told to make it look like accidents. Iris and Harry are to be kept alive until further notice. Nott has told them all about you. They chose Hermione because her being a Muggleborn would mean she hasn't had time to learn the protective spells for flying. If discovered, it was to be claimed a prank gone too far followed by a simple transfer to Durmstrang instead of actual punishment. This is what will probably happen now to Flint. There are certain people placed in positions in the system to make this possible. I didn't know about Flint. I suppose he was the backup in case I failed. Hermione had Iris with her first, then Hooch, so I suppose that's why he went for Neville instead. I was watching you out the window. I was as shocked as you when Neville fell. Salazar and Iris have sure messed up their plans anyway,' Draco grinned.
'Those silver snakes are so amazing,' Draco said in admiration, 'They can't get to any of you in the Castle. You have no idea how annoyed they all are about them. They've been cursing the Black family all week. They think they've provided them. They refuse to believe Salazar is behind it. But he is, isn't he? That's why they waited till the flying lesson to sabotage you because the snakes can't fly.'
The others had sat down on the other beds with shaky legs at hearing all this. They had suspected of course that dangers were lurking. To hear it spelt out for them by someone who knew for certain was quite another.
Daphne was the first to compose herself. She had grown up with this knowledge of real threats. She went to the side and looked on the shelf. She spotted what she needed.
'Here, Draco. Some bruise cream for your eye. She got you very well, didn't she?'
Draco recognised the peace offering as he took the tub and applied the cream, 'Thanks. I've no regrets. I had to provoke her. I had felt a little of her dark magic when she introduced herself,' he smiled at the memory, 'I needed to know for sure. I saw how much of the light magic she used on the pitch. I knew now was the right time to test it. It would only take a push to bring the dark out of her.'
'Well, I get that you had your reasons but don't make a habit of it,' Harry said to him, 'She sees it as a tool. That's all.'
Draco nodded at him, 'Ok. That's good enough for me.'
Draco strode over to the window and gazed at the grounds, 'The world suddenly seems so much brighter. Real, proper quality magic. Oh, Salazar,' his voice sounded excited.
Daphne looked at him. Right now with the soft look on his face he actually looked like the kid he was. She wondered what he had seen in his life. Then she stopped that line of thinking. She had a pretty good idea.
'So, Draco. What now?' she asked him as the others watched them quietly.
He glanced at the room. He considered Lavender and Parvati who were looking at him eagerly. He gave a small smile. They were already regarded by all as the two biggest gossips in the school.
'Keep this to yourselves till after the weekend you two. It's only for two days. I'm sure you can manage.'
They both rolled their eyes.
'I'll have to tell Padma. She's my twin. She'll know if I'm keeping something from her. We tell each other everything. I'll make sure she keeps it to herself though,' Parvati said. Lavender nodded alongside her. They knew when to keep their mouths shut. This was one of those times.
Draco gave a small grin. He looked at Daphne, 'Change. For sure. I'll talk to cousin Iris when she gets back. The House of Black needs to perform a rescue mission. It's long overdue.'
Daphne raised her eyebrows at the implications. She walked over to him at the window and gave him a side hug. He stiffened slightly then relaxed.
'I'm going to need one of those awesome silver snakes too,' he said to her. She smiled. They were this season's must-have.
'I'm not ever going to be like my fath…,' Draco trailed off in a whisper to her. Daphne hugged him tighter.
Harry breathed a deep sigh. He had caught the last line. Not for the first time he was thankful for his own dad. Sure, James wasn't perfect but compared to Lucius, his dad was a saint. Merlin, that was intense.
'Where is Madam Pomfrey?' he asked the others when he finally noticed the absence of the school nurse.
'She took Neville to St Mungoes. They need to do a lot of checks on Neville because of the different magic used,' Draco said, 'She thinks Neville will be fine. He's awake, but a little confused. She thinks he's in shock. Just in case she wanted a second and third opinion.'
Harry nodded. That made sense.
'Dumbledore is calling a staff meeting about what happened. He needs to inform Snape and McGonagall of all the details especially,' Daphne told him.
'We saw a couple of Auror's go by before it all went off in here,' Hermione added.
Harry brightened. That reminded him, 'Guys, McGonagall has just made me seeker for the Quidditch team. She saw me catch the snow globe,'
That cheered everyone up immediately.
'Blimey Harry. That's brilliant news,' Ron looked pleased for his friend. It was a relief to have some good news after today's slammer after slammer.
He grinned, 'She's very enthusiastic. She dragged Oliver Wood out of class to inform him. I'll start team training next week.'
It was nice for the others to have something normal to discuss.
Milicent still had a dreamy look on her face.
'You ok?' Tracey asked her.
'Sshh. I'm still enjoying the last of the dark magic,' Milicent had a serene smile on her face.
'Well, at least Iris knows what to get you for your birthday,' smirked Tracy.
Milicent grinned wider, 'Drop big hints.'
Tracey smiled.