I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.
Note: I was tempted to leave a long cliffhanger for people to wait but only for a brief moment.
The Family that Chooses You
Chapter 25 – Catharsis
The mood inside the locker room was downright dismal. Not even the worst loss in recent memory had made the room feel like this. It felt too quiet despite the six people that moved about within. It felt unnatural.
It felt like something was missing.
Oliver sighed softly, looking down at Katie. The girl sat on the bench, still in her school robes. She looked down at clasped hands, head bowed. She was not the only one that was like that. The twins were half out of school robes and half in Quidditch robes, moving lethargically. Alicia was slowly changing but without motivation. Angelina was down to her underclothes but sat on the ground, staring at an unopened locker.
Oliver started to open his mouth but was cut off by Fred. "What's even the point," he said despondently.
"Not like it's going to make a difference," George muttered.
"We've played with a member short before," Oliver said softly.
"How can you even think about playing?" Angelina snarled.
"Gryffindor has never forfeited a game," Oliver replied. "Never, in the history of the school. But if you all want me to, I will walk out there and do it."
The tall girl turned to glare at him. "Of course I don't!"
"Then we might as well suit up and do our best."
"You're acting like you don't even care abou-" Angelina stopped when Oliver threw his padding at the wall. It made a huge clatter, shocking everyone and all eyes were drawn to him.
"Don't finish that sentence." Oliver looked very angry. Most people had never seen him look anything but focused or easy going. His face was marble pale and his eyes burned. "Don't you dare finish that sentence."
Angelina looked down at the ground, ashamed. "I'm sorry," she sniffled.
Oliver sighed, the anger leaving him with his breath. "No, I'm sorry. We're all worried. I get it."
The door to the locker room opened then closed. Alicia looked at it curiously before looking back at the team. "No one else wants to play reserve?"
Fred snorted. "Nope. They were all happy to say Harry didn't deserve to be on the team yet no one wants to step up now and help. Bloody cowards."
"We should throw the game to spite them," George said, his face twisted and ugly.
"I wish they would tell us more," Katie said in a small voice. "They wouldn't even let us see him. It's not right."
Angelina sat beside her and pulled her into a hug. "They said he'd be fine though." She did not sound like she believed the words.
"Ron wouldn't tell us a thing either," Fred said angrily. "Said Dumbledore told him not to. Little git. Going to make him pay for that this summer."
"Hermione was tight-lipped too," George said. "Though she doesn't really talk to us much anyways."
Oliver clapped his hands, drawing their attention. "Look, I know this is hardly ideal. None of us really want to play and we're all worried. But it's the last game of the season. Let's just play our best and then we can try to see if Harry's okay after. Maybe he'll be awake then or someone'll finally tell us something. Let's just pretend he's here with us."
He ignored the twins' eye roll. "Come on, the faster we get this done, the better alright?" He looked down and accepted his pads from Harry. "Thanks Harry."
His brain caught up and he dropped the pads. "Harry?!"
Harry stood beside him. His skin was pale. He looked beyond exhausted. But he was there. He smiled weakly. "Hi Captain. Sorry I'm late."
The team rushed him.
Katie threw herself at him and squeezed him tight, tears ran down her face. Angelina tried to pick them both up and managed to heft them up before losing her balance and falling over. Alicia had to clutch onto Oliver to keep from falling onto them. Fred and George tried to pull the pile of bodies up.
"Harry! What happened?" Katie almost shrieked as they finally disentangled from one another.
Harry smiled wearily. "A lot. I'm not allowed to say much but I'm okay. Fit to fly."
"Like hell you are," Alicia said. "You look like you're about to fall over!"
"Were you really unconscious for days?" Angelina asked.
"Feels like it." He looked up at the twins and grinned. "Madam Pomfrey confiscated the toilet seat. Said it was unhygienic."
The twins laughed, all lethargy forgotten in their merriment.
"You sent him a toilet seat?!" Alicia screeched.
"We cleaned it," George said indignantly.
"We found the best one in the school too!" Fred said.
"Harry," Oliver used his best Captain's voice to hide his relief, "are you supposed to be out of the Infirmary?"
Harry hummed. "No one said I…can't be…out of the Infirmary."
"Oh Merlin," Angelina groaned. "Look at what you two did to him," she accused the twins.
They grinned proudly.
"Did Madam Pomfrey say you were fit to fly?"
Harry shook his head.
"Did Professor McGonagall or Professor Dumbledore?"
He shook his head twice.
Oliver sighed. "Harry, if no one gave you permission to leave, you don't have it." He held up a hand to block a protest. "Permission given via omission does not count."
"What are you, some kind of lawyer?" George muttered. He winced when Angelina grabbed an ear and twisted.
"I didn't say anything!" Fred said. He was dancing on his tiptoes since Angelina was twisting one of his ears too.
Harry looked like a boy caught with his hand deep inside a cookie jar. "I mean, yes, I know that. But I had to be here. I can't miss the last game. We worked so hard to get here. We have a chance for the Cup!"
"Harry, and I can't believe I'm about to say this, there are things more important than Quidditch and the Cup." Oliver ignored the looks everyone else were giving him. "Your health is incredibly important. I can't in good conscience let you play if you're not up to it. Physically or mentally."
Harry looked as serious as anyone had ever seen him. "Physically, yes I'm tired but I can still play. I'm not in top form but I can do it. I won't be a danger. Mentally, I really want to play, I need to."
"Harry," Katie put a hand on his shoulder. "Ignore what everyone else says. Even if we lose without you there, it's not your fault. You shouldn't play for them."
"But I'm not!" Harry looked so young then, so earnest. "I'm playing for me and for you guys. I can't tell you everything about what happened…" His voice faded and all could tell that he was reliving the moment. He shuddered. Tears gathered in his eyes.
He shook his head resolutely and the smile on his face was the widest any had seen. "But I need to play with you. To play for you. You guys, all of you, you saved me. You helped me all year and it came to a point that night. If it wasn't for you guys, I would have lost. I would have died."
The girls gasped and the twins gaped at Harry. Oliver felt fear gather in his gut. It was not just what Harry said, but how he said it. He said the words plainly without exaggeration. He said it like he believed it.
"But I didn't, because of all of you. I'm still here because of you." He breathed deep and he straightened. "You were there for me. Now I'm here for you."
The silence inside the locker room was deafening. The sound of the crowd outside was mouse-like in comparison.
"Oliver," Alicia warned softly.
"We'll be in a lot of trouble for this," George said.
"And we know something about trouble," Fred said.
Angelina looked torn but said nothing.
Katie looked at Oliver and gave the tiniest of nods.
Oliver looked at the young boy. He was nothing like the first time he met him. Yes he was still incredibly small. Yes he still had messy black hair. These emerald green eyes had energy to them though. The posture was not one of fear and pain, but one of resolve. The old Harry looked like a starved and wasted thing.
This Harry looked alive.
"No higher than the tallest hoop. No faster than half speed. The second you feel off I want you on the ground and you're out for the rest of the game. Do you understand me?"
Harry's eyes sparkled. "Yes sir!"
"You'll follow my conditions to the letter?"
"I understand them like the Twins and will listen like Katie."
The twins guffawed and Katie looked proud.
A loud whistle pierced the air. The five minute warning.
"Well what are you waiting for then Seeker?'' Oliver looked at everyone. "All of you really. We got five minutes. Suit up."
Fred and George cheered and they grabbed Harry by the shoulders, dragging him to his locker. They changed at record speed, throwing pads at each other to slip on and helped Harry with his. Angelina rushed to hers and pulled her robes on, helping Katie change.
Alicia finished securing her gear and helped Oliver finish his. "There'll be hell to pay for this you know," she said softly.
"I do. I'll take the blame."
"Even if McGonagall bans you from the team?"
He winced but nodded. "If it comes to that. I hope it won't, but I'll accept it."
Alicia looked proud for a moment. She squeezed his hand. "Will it be worth it?"
Oliver pointed at Harry in the middle of the other four members of the team. The boy was being spun like a top while the others dressed him at break-neck speed. He was laughing the whole time, his eyes wide and his smile full of cheer.
"Completely worth it."