Harry Potter and the Kid and the Tiger
Disclaimer: OK, here we go. I didn't really like this chapter too much. It has some Quidditch, Harry's parents again, and Voldie getting really pissed... As always one review for the next chapter! Thanks for all the reviews I've gotten so far.
A week later, Harry awoke from his night's sleep with a purpose. The first Quidditch game of the year. Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw. Harry smiled wryly he remembered his old crush on Cho Chang, and wondered what Cho would say to Ron when she saw him. Harry figured she would either be flattered, or insulted. Too bad they weren't playing Slytherin, he'd like to Malfoy down a peg, even if he had been tested and it turned out he'd been Confounded.
As he changed into his Quidditch robes, grinning a little at the word "Captain" emblazoned on the back, Harry wondered if McGonagall had designed the new robes, they fit great and weren't as itchy as the old ones had been. Picking up his Twigger 150, Harry jumped down the stairs three at a time and met Hermione in the common room.
"You're late," she smiled.
Harry grabbed a hold of her hand, "Late? It's only nine. The game's at nine-fifteen. We can get to the pitch on time."
Hermione smiled again, "You forgot breakfast."
It suddenly dawned on Harry that he had, indeed, not eaten that morning. He shrugged. "No big deal. D'you know whose commentating with Lee playing Keeper?"
Hermione nodded, "Ron. He's promised Lee that he'll do his best to keep up his tradition of biased commentary and swearing."
Harry sniggered and they walked to the pitch. In the locker rooms Harry addressed his team,
"Okay! We've got a great team here, but our main problem is inexperience. Only four of us have played Quidditch here at Hogwarts. So, basically, we've got to try and trick these guys up. Calvin and Hermione, work in the Dopplebeater Defence and some Bludger Backbeats. The more the better. Chasers and Keeper, score what you can and block what you can. Let's go out there and show 'em!"
Cheering the Gryffindors walked out. Harry distinctly heard Anglina mutter to Alica that "Oliver Wood's soul must have been passed onto Harry," and Harry grinned.
Out on the pitch, the two teams gathered and Harry shook Cho's hand in front of Madam Pomfrey. Last year her touch would have made Harry woozy, not so anymore.
With that, Madam Hooch released the four Quidditch balls and both teams took to the air. Harry tried to stay out of the way only dodging the occasional Bludger, looking intently for the flecks of gold that signified the Golden Snitch, worth one hundred and fifty points to Harry's team and would win Gryffindor the game.
Meanwhile, Harry listened to Ron's commentary.
"Ohhhh, and Wilson with the Quaffle, passes-no-beautifully blocked by Chaser Johnson, easily the most beautiful girl in Gryffindor,"
Simultaneously Professor McGonagall and Hermione glared at him. Hermione in jest, McGonagall in earnest, angry that Ron had inherited Lee's "unique" way of commentary.
"Er, except for Granger and McGonagall of course."
This sent the entire stadium into laughter even the Slytherins.
Professor McGonagall looked ready to explode at first, and then her face relaxed and she laughed as well. The game went on.
Harry zoomed around the field, still looking for the Snitch.
"Oh, and another fantastic save for Jordan, who had to give up his coveted announcer's seat after he was begged onto the Gryffindor team."
"Weasley," McGonagall said, getting furious.
"And oh! Chang is going for the Snitch! Cho had seen the Snitch!"
Harry's head whipped around and he dove for the Snitch as well, but he couldn't see it. As he approached the ground at high velocity, he realized Cho had pulled a Wronski Feint on him. The crowd gasped.
"Oh, no! Harry's going to crash! Harry's going to crash! No Harry! No!"
Grunting with the effort Harry attempted to pull up the broom, he was only ten feet from the ground...and...
"He made it! What a pull-up! Pulled out from that at one inch! Ahoy Cho! Don't mess with anyone on a Twigger!"
"Weasley!"
"Sorry Professor."
Harry smiled victoriously as he circled the pitch, he came near Hermione who was smiling broadly, and she high-fived him. Then, however a Bludger came sailing at Harry's head and she had to dive off her broom to get it with her bat. She socked the Bludger straight at Cho, who it caught right in the stomach.
Harry, meanwhile, saw Hermione flying downward towards the ground, gravity speeding her up as she went into what looked like it could be a fatal fall. Pushing his broom with all his might, Harry zoomed towards Hermione as she plummeted towards the pitch grass.
She was only thirty feet, twenty, fifteen, ten...and Harry managed to get under her, and catch her by the waist, the added weight nearly bucking them both of off his broom.
Harry was about to land on the ground and call time-out when he saw a glint of gold fifty feet above him.
"Sorry, Herm," he whispered to her, "Duty calls."
Harry immediately pushed the broom upwards, flying as fast as he could. Hermione's weight slowing the broom down somewhat. At the other end of the pitch, Cho saw Harry zooming towards the Snitch and she flew like a madman in her attempt to get to the Snitch before Harry. At this she failed, but Harry didn't get there either, just as he was about to place his fingers around the Snitch it flew out if his hands, much to fast for him to snag it.
Too late, Harry remembered Cho, and suddenly he felt a broom point smash into his gut, and he let go of Hermione, flying towards the ground faster then his broom could go.
Whump! The crowd groaned. Harry hit the ground with such force that he saw red, and then blacked out.
"Harry!" Lily Potter called out.
Harry slowly got up, and then looked at his body laying there on the turf. Dumbledore was performing some sort of Healing Charm on him along with Madam Pomfrey. He noticed his scar was gone. The Gryffindor Quidditch team had landed and Hermione had been shocked mute. Ron was on the verge of tears and Lee was ashen faced.
"Mum?" Harry called out, walking over to her and embracing his mother. "Where's Dad?"
"Away for awhile, Harry. Please be careful. I love you, and I'm sorry we couldn't be there to see you play."
Harry smiled. "I love you too, Mum."
Harry was sucked back into his body.
"Ugh!" Harry grunted, and sat up.
"He's alive!" Hermione yelled, her voice full of relief as she threw her arms around Harry. Harry hugged Hermione back gratefully, and he kissed her.
Cho came up, teary-eyed.
"Oh Harry! I'm sorry!"
Harry nodded, still kissing Hermione, when Madam Hooch interrupted.
"Ahem! Penalty for Ravenclaw for ramming the Seeker! Potter, Granger, break it up!"
Harry and Hermione pulled out of each other's grasp, embarrassed. Harry could feel his face flame red. Why had he done that? Was he in love with Hermione Granger?
Harry pushed off of the ground, riding his broom easily. It was hard to believe that they had improved on the Firebolt, but somehow they had. He looked around for a glimpse of the Snitch. Hermione was a great Beater, Harry realized as he watched Hermione smash off precision shots at the Ravenclaws, breaking up their game well. Harry also remembered Hermione had leapt off her broom and hit Cho when Harry had caught her. Man, she was good!
It was when he was staring at Hermione that he saw it. It wings batting slowly, as though tired, the Golden Snitch was right by Hermione's ear. Harry figured that it would be worse if he went straight for the Snitch and instead, took a curving path as fast as he could. Harry saw Cho follow him hesitantly out of the corner of his eye. Right as he was about to pull out of his turn and head straight for the Snitch, he felt a whoosh! of wind go past him and he heard Cho yelp in pain. He turned back and saw Cho falling of her broom having been hit neatly in the chest by a Bludger. Shocked, Harry quickly went over to Hermione, who was grinning broadly. Harry grabbed the Snitch and smiled at Hermione.
"Great shot, 'Mione!" Harry enthused as they landed, and he took her hand. "That was great!"
Hermione smiled sheepishly, "Harry, it's just a Quidditch game! I need to go and study for that Charms test."
Harry rolled his eyes, sighing and staring at Ron as he called out the final score, "GRYFFINDOR 600, RAVENCLAW 370! Great plays by Captain Harry Potter, and Beater Hermione Granger, combined with the spectacular Keeping of Lee Jordan wins the game!"
After the game, they all went up to Gryffindor Tower, expecting a party, but Hermione was steadfast against it.
"Harry, for cripes' sake, we're prefects! We're expected to uphold the rules of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Not only that, I'm behind working on S.P.E.W.! I mean, come on, Harry! The house-elves need my help."
"Herm," Harry said, "How 'bout this, if we have the party, I'll do all of the homework and extra-credit for a month, writing at least as much as you do? And, I'll work with you on S.P.E.W. for a month as well."
Hermione laughed, "No way you can last on my schedule Potter!" she said mock fiercely.
Harry sniggered, "Oh, yeah? Then let us have the party and I'll prove it to you!"
Hermione nodded.
The party went on for several hours, mostly some dancing to 'The Weird Sisters' and a few songs by 'Wands Crossed' that Calvin had, on Parvati's Magick Muzak Player. Lee Jordan went down and nicked some food from the kitchens with Ron. ("That's it's that hard," Ron groused. "They love feeding you.")
At around midnight however, Professor McGonagall came in and broke the party up. After Harry had kissed Hermione good night before he went into the boy's dorm, she reminded him teasingly, "Remember, you're now on the Hermione Granger Homework Schedule," and kissed him again.
Harry smiled as he went to bed that night, sighing and enjoying life. He dreamt only pleasant dreams that night. But the next day was worse then any nightmare.
As soon as Harry woke up the next day, he regretted his rash decision to go on Hermione's study schedule. Whenever Hermione was asked for a five foot long essay, she always returned it on two ten-foot long rolls in tiny handwriting.
Harry sighed. Oh well, a promise was a promise after all. It would be a long month, though. As he walked down the stairs he saw Hermione waiting for him.
"After breakfast," she said swiftly, putting her arm around his waist, and Harry smiled at the warmth it brought, "We go to the library."
"On a Saturday?" Harry asked incredulously.
Hermione nodded, "Naturally, you promised every extra-credit and we have a Potions essay on Rawtackley Potions and their effects that we can turn in on Monday."
"Aw, Herm!" Harry wailed, "But Snape said it had to be fourteen feet long."
Hermione shrugged and flashed Harry a big grin. She's enjoying this. Harry thought glumly to himself. Oh well I'll just-
"AUGHHHHH!" Harry screamed, hands reaching for his scar, the source of the pain and...it wasn't there. Hermione whipped around, and Harry fell for the floor, the last thing he thought was At least I'll see my Mum and Dad.
Harry got up quickly this time, and looked down. Hermione had caught him before he fell and was trying to wake him up. She felt for a pulse, and then instantly looked pale. There must not have been one. Gently, Harry watched as she laid himself on the ground and began pumping his chest and giving him air through his mouth. He turned away, sighing. He couldn't believe that Hermione was going through this.
"Harry, I know it's hard. But don't worry." James Potter laid a hand on Harry's shoulder.
Harry turned around and found him face to face with his father. "Why am I here?"
James sighed, "Well Harry, here's what it is. Lord Voldemort has gained a terrible weapon and he's going to test it out."
Harry went white, "Not a Grinde-"
James nodded, "Yes, Harry. An Incomplete Curse. This is his third and most dangerous. While you can't stop him, you can see him. Somehow, he's managed to avoid being in your dreams."
Harry nodded. So that was it! He hadn't had any nightmares recently, save one or two not induced by Voldemort.
James snapped his fingers and they arrived at a place that was nearly pitch dark. Harry was able to make out the red face of Voldemort, and the black cloaked figures known as Death Eaters.
"So!" Voldemort voice boomed out, "You have come!"
"Yes, my Lord!" The Death Eaters chorused, bowing.
"Ahh, as you know. I haven't called for a meeting since the attack on Fudge, and my "promotion" of Percy Weasley as the Minister of Magic."
The Death Eaters laughed, a hideous horrid sound like nails scraping on a chalkboard.
"The reason is because I have been working on completing another of Grindewald's greatest fantasies, the Fifth Curse."
The Death Eaters gasped as one.
"The reason I have not told you, is naturally, because I do not think that all of you are a hundred percent loyal to the Dark cause." At this Voldemort glared at one of the cloaked figures.
"My Lord!" Harry was shocked to hear the voice coming from the Death Eater, was none other then Severus Snape's! "How could you doubt my loyalty to you, oh Master! How, I feel so low, to be out of your trust!" Snape knelt on the ground, weeping.
"He's a good actor isn't he Harry?" James said, making Harry jump.
Harry nodded.
"Then why Severus, were you late to come to me that night I rose again?" Voldemort said cruelly.
Harry was amazed at how weak and raspy Snape could make his voice, "Please forgive me Master! I was teaching a class! I could not leave when that-" Harry couldn't believe the amount of language Snape threw out, some of it Harry had never heard before.
"Always could swear a blue streak when we were in school," James smiled.
"-old man Dumbledore was looking over my shoulder. The man always hates me. I had to beg to get my teacher's job so that one day, when the time was right, I could kill Potter!" Snape finished, wailing.
Voldemort looked mildly surprised. "Well then Snape. Perhaps I should yield my punishment and continue with my presentation..."
James looked at Harry, "Harry, go now. When you wake up, get Hermione to go with you to Dumbledore. Thank her for reviving you later. Harry, Voldemort's going to detonate the Fifth, or Fiwairthal Curse on Hogsmeade. You needed to see this, to know. Never doubt Snape, he has enough on his platter. Go!"
Harry's body lurched on the common room floor, and he groggily stood up.
"Harry!" Hermione wailed hugging him strongly, and kissing him. "I thought-I thought-you-were..." her voice trailed off and Harry put his arms around her.
"Hermione," he whispered urgently. "My dad was there. We have to go see Dumbledore!"
She pulled away, nodding, "What's going to happen?"
"Hogsmeade, it's going to be attacked," Harry said, hurriedly.
They ran as if their lives depended on it, and while they didn't, others' did.
Screeching to a quick stop outside of Dumbledore's office, he yelled out the password, "Cauldron Cake!" As the gargoyle opened they sprinted in.
Upon arriving in Dumbledore's office, the Headmaster looked up at them in mild surprise.
"Harry, Hermione-"
Harry cut off Dumbledore speaking as fast as he could, "Professor! The Fifth Curse! Voldemort's going to attack Hogsmeade with it!"
Albus Dumbledore turned the whitest shade Harry had ever seen anyone turn. To Harry's surprise, Dumbledore pulled a telephone from a drawer in his desk. Seeing Harry's surprise, Dumbledore smiled.
"Hotline to the President of Hogsmeade," Dumbledore said, "Faster then an owl."
Harry nodded, he didn't know that Hogsmeade had a government. Just as he thought that, the world went black.
"Are you certain that you should not attack Hogwarts, my Lord?" Severus Snape asked Lord Voldemort, lying prostrate on the ground.
Voldemort's grotesque figures turned into a smile.
"Ahh, Severus, Severus, Severus. No, we shouldn't. We can't attack it with Dumbledore's Anti-Dark Spells, Protectorate ghost Viktor Krum, and other defense skill, we'd have to physically attack the school. Not just yet, Snape. You'll get your chance to torture Potter. Who I'm sure is watching us in a dream, I cannot control his dreams and the power necessary for the Fiwairthal Curse."
Snape smiled evilly, "Thank you, my Lord."
Voldemort pulled out his wand, ignoring Snape and pointed the wand towards the sky, "Firos!" A jet of orange-red flame burst out of the wand, "Hydros!", crystal-blue water lurched from the wand forming into a column by the fire, which was still emanating from Voldemort's wand. "Oxy!", a running stream of pure silver mist flew from the wand and aligned itself with the other two elements. "Landisosa!", thick brown muck soared out of the wand, which was know shaking uncontrollably. The four elements mixed with each other and formed a purplish green color that crackled uncontrollably.
"Hogsmeade!" Voldemort bellowed, and the curse flew off, a beautiful but deadly bulk of energy.
Harry's head slammed into the floor, and he heard someone screaming. Then, Harry realized it was himself, and clamped his hands over his mouth until the pain in his scar abated. Hermione gently helped Harry to his feet, he smiled at her touch, but then remembered the gravity of the situation.
Dumbledore looked at Harry looking at least ten years older then when Harry had walked into the room. "Harry, what did you see?"
"Voldemort," Harry gasped, "He did the Fifth Curse, he conjured up the four elements, one by one, and they merged, and he yelled out 'Hogsmeade!', and they left. Crackling, like a bunch of lightning."
Dumbledore nodded, "So the Fifth Curse will destroy the city then, no doubt. Secretly, I always hoped it would bring back the dead."
"Why?" Harry inquired, regretting it instantly. Harry always hated it when he pried into Dumbledore's personal life.
"Let's just say it has to do with Erised, Harry," Dumbledore said sadly.
Harry nodded, although he didn't exactly get it. Apparently Dumbledore had lost someone and it had been his desire to have him or her alive again. Maybe his wife?
The telephone rang, and Dumbledore picked it up. After nodding gravely a few times his face crinkled into a large smile and harry could almost see the years fading off of Dumbledore's face. After smiling and saying something about "Next summer." Dumbledore hung up the phone.
"Great news Harry!" Dumbledore exclaimed, sitting back down. "There were no casualties, the wide-scale Apparation Alarms went of perfectly! Although," Dumbledore sobered here, "The entire city was leveled, construction has begun on New Hogsmeade and should be completed next summer, as New Hogsmeade."
Harry smiled the smile of the relieved. It was as if a weight had disappeared off of his back. No deaths, no injuries, none missing. It was music to the ears of young Harry Potter. He had made it in time, no one had died. Voldemort hadn't won this battle.
"That's great," Harry breathed.
Dumbledore nodded, "Harry, we owe it all to you and Hermione here, do you mind telling me what happened?"
Harry nodded and recounted seeing his father, seeing Snape, seeing Voldemort, everything. When he finished Harry smiled, "And we saved them."
Dumbledore nodded, smiling. "Most certainly, Harry. Now, why don't you go back to the common room and round up Calvin and Hobbes for some Calvinball?"
Harry went red, remembering that Dumbledore had seen them playing, and probably Hermione and him kissing. Dumbledore laughed at the look on Harry's face.
Harry sighed, "I don't think I can go back to the common room yet?"
"Why?" Dumbledore asked.
Harry groaned, "I'm on The Hermione Granger Study Schedule, and I have to go write a fourteen-foot extra-credit essay for Snape."
Dumbledore smiled, "You two remind me so much of Harry's parents. Lily always trying to get him to study. James always trying to get Lily to go out with the Marauders after lights-out."
Harry blushed, having himself and Hermione compared to his parents was strange. Not that he minded. Again he wondered if he loved Hermione. Love, such a strange word. He was only fifteen for Heaven's sake. Fifteen-year olds don't fall in love, he told him self. He liked Hermione. A lot, but just like.
"In any event Harry," Dumbledore said, "You two should leave now, Severus should be here any minute."
Nodding, Harry and Hermione walked out hand-in-hand.
"Well, Harry Potter," Hermione joked, "You've saved the world again."
Harry smiled, "Not the world, no that was more of a draw really. I guess there won't be anymore Hogsmeade trips."
"Too bad," Hermione said, "I was looking towards going with you."
Harry's grin got bigger, "By the way, Herm, thanks for reviving me. I owe you what now, two...three...four times my life?"
Hermione grinned as well, "Yeah Mr. Potter, and watch out I'm going to come and collect soon."
"Miss Granger," Harry said in a mock-McGonagall tone, "There is no spell that let's you kill someone four times."
Hermione sniggered, "Yeah, well, you've saved me loads of times as well!"
Harry nodded, "I suppose. Although if it weren't for you and Ron, I'd be dead now."
"Maybe we're your guardian angels," Hermione suggested teasingly,
"C'mon, let's get to the library, juts because you've saved thousands of people doesn't mean that you get out of your Potions extra-credit." Hermione steered Harry in the direction of the library. Harry groaned.
