AN: Love the reviews!! And I don't own HP.
Mark Of The Snake
Chapter 3: Quidditch and Secrets
Written by: V Lynne
Echoinghearts@yahoo.com
~ ~ ~
Ambrosia Granger couldn't remember being more nervous. Honestly, it was as if she hadn't ever played a Quidditch game before which she had many times since her second year. She was the best Seeker on Gryffindor's team since James's illustrious father, Harry Potter, or so that was what she was constantly told. To her she was good but not that good.
In the changing room, separated into Boy and Girl, of course she pulled on the specially made Quidditch robes of the Gryffindor colors. Stifling a yawn with the back of her right hand, as she hadn't slept due to dreams and anxiety over today's game, she grinned at the only other female on the Quidditch team, Priscilla Weasley. The signature red hair was pulled into a tight ponytail, the 7th year daughter of Percy and Penelope Clearwater, was as unlike her stuffy parents as could be and that's why Roe got along with Pris so well.
"Didn't sleep much, eh, Roe?"
"How'd you tell?" Roe asked, causing them both to laugh.
"Well better not let old Demanding Potter find out you were not sleeping or else he'll personally give you a piece of his mind."
"As opposed to me just faking my Snitching abilities today?"
"That's our girl. If all else fails pretend to know what you are doing."
That caused more laughter to echo through the changing room, until a knock came on the door and Priscilla opened it to see the other five members of the team. James's eyes took in their appearance and a grin spread over his features.
"We are going to win."
"Look into your Divination crystal ball this morning, Jamie?" Roe teased, as the snickers of the other Quidditch members were quickly hidden from their fearless leader's glare.
"Let's get out there."
Into the bright sunlight, their brooms firmly beneath them, the commentator was performed by none other than another Weasley, this time Sebastian Weasley. Beside him in the stands were Winnie, Lily, Wynter, Velvet, Topaz and a mass of Gryffindor supporters along with Professor McGonagall.
"And here they are folks, the pride of Gryffindor, the best team in over fifteen years our Quidditch professionals! Coming out first is our Beater team, the unbeatable Ian McDonald and Lance Thomas. Following close the unstoppable Weasley Chasers; Priscilla, Forrest and Garrett. The girl with the quickest hands our Seeker, Roe Granger and last but certainly not least the dependable anchor on the team, our Keeper and Captain, James Potter!"
Cheers rose that deafened the sounds of the booing by the Slytherin supporters, since Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Gryffindor were cheering loudly. Professor McGonagall touched Sebastian's shoulder and pointed to the waiting Slytherin team to be announced. Sighing with disgust he announced Slytherin.
"Our opposing team and today's losers..." Sebastian felt a reprimand look from Professor McGonagall from behind him not to mention Snape's glare from across the field, "the Slytherin team. The Beaters are Avery and Bletchley, the Chasers are Bole, Montague and the Captain Flint, the Keeper Baddock and the lowest snake on the toldem pole the Seeker Malfoy."
Winnie was giggling under her breath at her brother's words that got him another angered stare from Snape as well as from the Slytherin players. Sebastian only grinned at their outrage while Madam Hooch brought out the chest that held the four balls that were needed for the game, unlocking the chest she whistled signaling the players to make ready as she let out the Snitch, the golden ball size of a large walnut with tiny silver wings, followed by the Bludgers, a set of jet black balls that were balls with minds of their own that loved to knock players off their brooms and then the last ball, Quaffle a bright red ball size of a soccer ball that the Chasers were in charge of.
And the players were off. Priscilla had the Quaffle in her hand, passing it back to Forrest, who threw it to Garrett while Flint, Bole, and Montague were after them. Avery and Bletchley were using their clubs to use against the Bludgers against McDonald and Thomas. James was at the end protecting their goals, with Baddock at the other end near the golden poles with hoops while Roe was trying to find the Snitch and keep an eye out for Malfoy.
The oohs and awes of the crowd became a background noise while she searched the sky for the small golden object. The air around her whooshed as she sailed on her broom, that had perfect balance no matter where Roe situated her weight. As she became almost two hundred feet in the air, the going ons beneath her were blurred as she caught sight of Montague elbowing Priscilla and snatching the Quaffle while trying to goal only to have James knock the ball away just in time. Shouts of encouragement to both teams continued that Roe felt removed from it. Her target wasn't yet in sight. Eyes scanning the baby-blue setting she tried to focus on where it could be only to have the annoying feeling that someone was watching her, sure enough as she glanced over her shoulder Malfoy was sitting on his broom looking like he had nothing better to do with that stupid smirk on his lips.
"For Merlin's sake, Malfoy, don't you have something to do?" Roe's annoyed tone only made his smirk wider.
"You know I just wanted to see how a Mudblood catches a Snitch."
Roe's eye caught sight of her search. Taunting the fact that Malfoy's back was to it, the Snitch fluttered in the air an inch above Malfoy's snow- white head. Clearing her thoughts so as to not give away that the Snitch was right within his reach, she shrugged.
"I've done it before, in fact everytime we've played you minus one time I've caught the Snitch, now why is that? Too busy staring at yourself in the mirror?"
"Pretty sure of yourself, aren't you, Granger?"
Roe decided, given his cocky attitude that she could use his own ego against him, with a sly smile she brought her broom closer her Lightning Flash against his male model of the same broom called Thunder Strike. Her face got closer to his, she could see the surprise register in his stormy gray eyes that she was doing this, her arm reached out, looking like it was going to touch his hair and in the last second, a piercing sensation caught her breath in her throat as her hand clasped around the Golden Snitch at the same time she collapsed.
The free falling, wind separating itself as the girl fell had screams rising up out of the crowds, had the players stopping. The shout of her name over the players was made by Sebastian, the flash of green appeared, and she was caught. Strong arms held her against a warm chest, her eyes fluttered as she locked glances with Damon Malfoy, his arm holding him firmly as they came to the ground where another flicker of green past in her eye sight that she recognized Trey, along with a racing Sebastian, followed by Winnie, Lily, and Professor McGonagall.
James landed, practically jumping off the broom and running towards the gathered group near the entrance of the changing rooms, he didn't even see that Snape's hands were in tight fists at his side having come down the Slytherin side but had not moved to his fallen daughter.
"What's wrong with her?" Trey demanded emotion in his voice that shocked Winnie.
Malfoy pulled his hand from under her to see blood covering his entire arm that had supported her additional weight. A sharp sound came from Professor McGonagall in the form of 'Pomfrey' and with a feeling of loss Malfoy didn't expect to feel, James picked up the unconscious Roe from Malfoy's hold and made the immediate move towards the school and Pomfrey's office.
~
Professor Dumbledore had cleared out the hospital wing when James took in Roe's limp form into the white room, placing her gently on the bed with Sebastian right behind him. Pomfrey questioned the boys, neither noticing that Malfoy was waiting at the entrance of the hospital wing before he was moved away by the entering McGonagall with Trey and Snape.
A soft moan of pain escaped Roe's bloodless lips before she twisted the act of trying to lesson pain even in her unawake state.
"Out, all of you," Poppy Pomfrey instructed, "I need to find out what is going on..."
Gold fell from Roe's clenched fist that James almost shouted that they won but her health meant so much more to him than winning a game. Ushering the boys out, McGonagall's eyes lingered on a distant Malfoy, she touched Trey's arm who looked about as out-of-it as any of the other three boys.
"We'll look after her." she assured him, before he turned around and made his way back to the Quidditch field.
Snape, Dumbledore, McGonagall and Pomfrey saw colors flood Roe's face before fading. Kneeling next to her bedside Poppy turned Roe over to see the wound that was bleeding over the white sheets. Hidden beneath the Quidditch garment, she looked to Dumbledore and he nodded leaving taking Snape's arm only to have him yank his arm out of the Headmaster's grip.
"I will stay."
Dumbledore didn't say anything to his friend. Poppy undressed Roe, removing the offending clothing until the wound was visible. A gasp echoed out of the nurse's mouth so that Minerva and Snape came over. Snape felt the bottom of his stomach drop out.
The snake scar, the birthmark, that caused no end of worry to him and Hermione seemed to be itself the cause of the massive bleeding. Around the edges of the mark was opened and the life force blood was flowing with no end in sight. As he peered closer, to Poppy's dismay, he found that above the mark, where the tear in the cloth was from was a purplish, yellow color that had hints of what he determined to be dragon's blood.
"Dragon's blood? But that wouldn't...I mean it doesn't work as this looks to be..."
"She's been poisoned with something that had Dragon's blood in it."
McGonagall saw the parental concern come over his face.
"I need to get to my cabinet." Snape told them, leaving in a cloud of black.
Poppy was trying to stop the bleeding but only seemed to be making the poison move faster through the girl's system.
".....hurts........fire....." Incoherent words came from Roe as her body was racked with pain.
"I know, Roe, I know....we're trying to help." Poppy reassured the girl.
".....please...."
Not ten minutes later Snape was back his arms full of antidotes that had them all working into the night.
Finally as Snape mixed bits of a bezoar stone with Dumbledore's gathered Phoenix tears, he set the mixture in the wound that seemed to hiss like a snake at them before closing. The snake scar slowed its bleeding but didn't heal over like it should. This worried them all.
"She needs blood and lots of it," Poppy informed them, "her pulse is weak and she's lost too much blood to be able to hold on for much longer."
"A Blood Bond must be preformed."
Three shocked faces met to Dumbledore's half-moon glassed covered eyes.
"That ritual is forbidden. It can not be preformed without permission from the Ministry..." Minerva warned.
"Would you let her die because of some stupid stipulation?!" Snape demanded, "Roe will not die because I will not let it."
Poppy watched the conflicting emotions on their faces.
"If we do this it must be before midnight or else she has no chance. Whoever did this knew exactly what he was doing."
"I will get the boys." Dumbledore told them.
"Boys?"
"Who else? Those four boys care enough about her to come here. She needs blood and rather than have her risk hurting her friends by sucking all the blood out of one why not use four?"
"Including Malfoy?" Snape snapped.
"Mr. Malfoy did not have to save Roe today but he did. He is as much a part of this as James, Sebastian or Trey."
"If he lays one finger.."
"He will not be alone, Severus. Perhaps you need to clear your head before we begin."
Snape sighed, as Dumbledore left taking Roe's hand in his.
"I will save you from this, Roe, he won't get you. Either of you."
~
Dumbledore's unexpected presence at the entrances of both the Gryffindor and Slytherin common rooms caused commotion from the paintings that guarded the passageways. Dumbledore went to each boy's bed, woke them and made them follow him. As four extremely exhausted sixteen year old boys followed him to the hospital wing, they entered the room glowing a eerie blue with four huge bubbles that looked like someone had supersized a Bubbleheard Charm. The bubbles floated two feet in the air with a fifth one occupied by a scantily clad unconscious Roe.
"What is going on, Professor?" James inquired.
Snape appeared from one of the other rooms with a curved-ended silver knife in his hand. Four boys took a big step backward.
"We need your help," Dumbledore told them gravely, "while we have managed to remove the poison from Miss Granger's system," all boys echoed the same revelation of poison, "she is still very weak and fragile due to her blood loss."
"Two words I would never use to describe Roe." Sebastian quietly commented.
"What do you need with us?" Malfoy demanded his voice colder than he meant it to be.
"Your blood." Poppy chimed in.
"Our blood?"
"Yes. By taking your blood, magically, we insert it inside Miss Granger therefore sustaining her life and not draining you of yours."
"A Blood Bond." Trey's voice was a shadow, as he took in his twin's state.
"Precisely. While not allowed we have no other choice, so if any of you four do not wish to be involved in this speak up now."
"I understand why we're here but what is he," Sebastian's distaste clear as he glared at the equally disdainful Malfoy, "doing here?"
"Mr. Malfoy saved your friend from further injury and has as much right to be involved as you do, Mr. Weasley."
"Just think, with Malfoy pure-blood in her she might come after me, Weasley?"
"Not on your life, ferret."
"Children, please reframe from name calling," McGonagall interrupted, "our time is limited."
"Alright," Sebastian gave in, "but if he does anything suspicious..."
Malfoy rolled his eyes, as Dumbledore instructed them over to Snape, still holding the creepy knife.
"Each of you need to hold out your right hand, palm up, and brace yourself."
Snape looked at each boy before he drew the knife down the center of each of their palms, causing each boy to automatically close their fists in a protective manner.
"Now, put your cut palm to the bubble and enter it."
As they each did so, a warm almost orange glow surrounded them and they were all inside the bubble, warm and peaceful.
Snape went to Roe's bubble, a deep reddish color, and touched the outside of it before he nodded to Dumbledore.
"From blood that flows,
give life renewal
send blood from thee
into one that need
of fire and water
the blood flows
transfer the energy
to the victim and
forever more be bound"
As he finished the incantation, a spark flew out of each boys palm, causing pain to lace their bodies as the blood turned to almost red tiny fires and proceeded from the four bubbles to cross over into Roe's bubble. The blood went directly to her wound, softening the glow of her bubble to the normal human aura of orange, for it seemed like eternity it was only a few moments as it was from four boys rather than from one person to person as it had only been preformed before.
As it ended, the bubbles floated down and four boys dropped to the stone flooring of the infirmary with soft thuds. Snape picked up Roe, whose breathing was even and led her back to her bed, before taking out a vial of clear liquid and forcing her to swallow it. Kissing her forehead, he moved her under the blankets, as the boys all woke up with groans.
"Well done, gentlemen, you are indeed valiant to have risked so much and now its noble of you to have your minds linked with hers." Poppy excitedly announced.
That got four boys to stare at her and then to Dumbledore.
"What did she mean by that?" Malfoy icily questioned.
"What she means," Minerva glared at Poppy, "is that by doing the Blood Bond you four have telepathically linked yourselves to Miss Granger."
"She can read our thoughts?" Sebastian asked astonished and a tad scared.
"Only if she wishes it."
"How does this telepathy work, Professor?" James wondered.
"Unfortunately with it being five of you rather than two we can have no absolute clue as to how connected you will be."
"And you didn't have to foresight to tell us before hand and now we'll have a bloody girl in our minds?" Malfoy exploded, "Wonderful."
"Maybe we were a little hasty...." McGonagall started, "but it was for her sake."
Malfoy threw a disgusted look at Roe's sleeping form, before stocking out of the Hospital Wing.
"Until we know just what this is going to do I wouldn't jump to conclusions just yet, although Malfoy already has," James told the remaining two.
Trey nodded his agreement while Sebastian looked about as uncomfortable with this as Malfoy had.
"I gave her Draught of Living Death," Snape told them, "she won't be awake for three days."
"You three may return to your dormitories."
"What about...." Sebastian opened his palm to see that the wound was gone.
"In the ceremony all wounds are healed. Have a good night, gentlemen."
"How the in the world does she expect us to have a good night?" Sebastian grumbled.
~
The entire school was a buzz of wonderment and rumors at the unexpected fall of Roe and that Gryffindor had won, much to the Slytherin's calls of unfairness only to have not only McGonagall but Snape as well tell them that Roe had indeed caught the Snitch before her fall and had not let it go the entire time she had fallen.
Winnie visited Roe the third day, her mind wondering what could have done this to her friend and seeing the silent shadow of Trey watching over Roe that Winnie felt a twinge of jealousy but knew it was because Trey had done that Blood Bond with her that he felt close to Roe. Sebastian and James had sworn her to secrecy about the ritual after she pestered them all yesterday about it until 'Bastian finally gave in.
"You know Roe, some girls are starting to say that you did that whole damsel in distress thing to get more attention than you already do. Really unfair of them but I have to admit it is a good deal. Four of the hottest guys on campus constantly looking after you, even I wish I was you."
Winnie felt the hand she had placed over Roe's, the creamy skin moved under Winnie's paler skin and she felt the unwavering eyes of Roe on her face.
"Hey, if you want to lay in bed for days on end be my guest." Roe's sarcastic comment came as the brunette shifted on the bed and fell back as Winnie drew her into a full hug.
"Oww."
"Oops, sorry, Roe."
Winnie pulled back with a bright smile across her pretty face.
"Miss me, eh, kiddo?"
"Someone had to. I mean other than half the male population that now thinks you're the hottest thing since last weeks Potions class."
Roe laughed, only to wince in pain. Her body was still healing.
"Good to see you up, Gryffindor." Trey's stoic face came into view and Roe smiled.
"Keeping out of trouble, Slytherin?"
"As much as possible, though your little redheaded friend was sure giving Potter and Weasley all the trouble they'd need for about a month."
Winnie bowed her head, her face red with embarrassment.
"Careful, Slytherin, Winnie here is a Weasley too. Scary bunch of redheads, aren't they?"
Trey observed how the fourteen-year-old grew even redder at the remark, a very becoming red at that.
"Indeed, but I see at least she got the obvious looks in the family."
"Uh, thanks. Roe, I gotta go get Bastian and James, promise not to go anywhere?"
"I thought about flying to Neptune in a few minutes but I guess I can put that off to see them."
"Funny, Roe." Winnie said before high tailing it out of there.
"She's a cute kid."
Roe's eyebrows lifted in amazement.
"Taking interest in the opposite sex now? Shall I ring the Daily Prophet? And since when do you use the word 'cute'? You and that word aren't exactly sympathico if memory serves."
"Do you always talk this much when you are sick cause this might be the reason for the whole no boyfriend?"
Roe lifted her hand to smack him just as Pomfrey came in.
"Well, Sleeping Beauty awakens. How are you, Miss Granger?"
"Oh, you know. Feel like I've swallowed something that should never be named, fell off my broom during a Quidditch game...." Roe's look turned to concern, "did we win?"
"Yes, Miss Granger, Gryffindor won."
"Bet Jamie's happy about that."
"Not as happy as seeing you awake, Roe." James's voice echoed in the room, that Trey moved away from her bed so that Sebastian and James could come closer.
"Jamie! Bastian!" they took turns giving ginger hugs to her, as Winnie had advised them she was still in pain.
"Looks like someone has serious admirers," Jamie whistled at the load of flowers in the room, "did a flower shop blow up in here?"
"Jealous because I've got more attraction potential than you?"
"So that's how it is and here we were sure that fall would knock some braincells into that head of yours."
"He's been a bunch of fun to live with these past three days, Roe," Sebastian filled in with a amused laugh, "pacing like a caged animal all angry at people, acting surprisingly enough like Malfoy that I suggested he dye his head to that pale blond."
"Really, now that is something I would pay Galleons to see. How about it, Oh-Moody-One?"
"As much as I'm sure Pomfrey is enjoying our teen antics I think we have Potions." Trey interrupted.
"You are taking Potions? Since when?"
"Since you got sick."
As Jamie and Bastian left with Winnie waving to see her later, Trey watched them leave before sitting on the bed.
"Don't scare me like that again, Roe, I mean it." His voice serious.
"Like I meant to do that?"
"You will be more careful."
"You are starting to act like a overprotective bully, you know that?"
"I love you, I don't want anything to happen to you."
"I love you, too and nothing is going to happen to me," Roe glanced over herself, before cheekily adding, "at least not in the next ten minutes."
"I'll make sure that Snape knows you are awake, so expect him later. Get some rest."
"Like I haven't been doing that for the last couple of days?" Roe muttered as he left.
Outside the room, Trey turned the left corner, having come out and not seen Malfoy leaning against the right wall having heard the last couple of statements of Trey to Roe. He knew Trey loved her, but what surprised him was that Roe loved Trey. She didn't act it and for some reason his entire head shouted at him that she should be his, not Trey's and sure as hell not Potter's.
~
Roe was tired of the infirmary the next day that she told everyone that if they wanted to lock her up somewhere it might as well be her dormitory. Merlin knew she was sick of having people fuss over her and missed being able to do things for herself. Dressing, as it was now Tuesday, she put on a pair of loose blue draw-string pants, with a white loose tank top, pulling her robe over it, careful not disturb her bandages on her left side, she slid her feet into comfy sheep-wool lined moccasins, having Winnie pull her hair into a elaborate two braids that separated her hair from the top of her head down to her ears and the last of it in identical braids to a couple inches below her shoulders. She looked much better and felt it too.
Walking down the corridors and hallways she felt eyes on her but ignored them. Tired of being an invalid she was going to go to class, entering a minute late to Potions, Snape's eyes watched her.
"Late, Miss Granger? Prefects should set better examples." His voice scolding.
"I am sorry, Professor, it won't happen again. Who knew that getting here from the hospital wing was such a hassle?"
Snickers and chuckles from amazingly enough both Gryffindors and Slytherins caused a fleeting smile on his lips only to have it disappear into the normal scowl as he surveyed the students.
"As I said, Miss Granger, I will not tolerate tardiness, I suggest you find your seat and 5 points off Gryffindor."
Sitting next to James and Sebastian, both with huge grins on their faces, she enjoyed the rest of class for once. As soon as it ended they went out the doors and around the corner so Roe didn't have to walk far again as they had DADA next, both cracked up with laughter.
"I see that bed rest hasn't stopped your timing, Roe. He was just about to cut into me and James when you walked in."
"Always glad to be of service."
"Servicing already, Granger?" the snide comment came from Malfoy's voice, as he came around the corner with Ebony, Avery, and strange enough Trey with him.
"Never to tired to be of service, Malfoy," her tone as suggestive as his own, "why don't you go find some bubbleheaded Slytherin girl to take your comments seriously instead of wasting your 'charms' on me. For some reason snakes don't do it for me."
Amazed at her audacity, as were the other three that knew her, Malfoy already had a come back.
"That's not what I hear. I think snakes are just up your alley, Granger, especially anti-social ones."
Malfoy watched her eyes narrow.
"Want to clue me into your self-centered mind?"
^How about this Granger, I heard you tell Trey that you loved him^ Malfoy thought.
Clearly as though he had spoken to her she read his thought.
"Eavesdropping now? How quaint. When you grow up out of your childish ways of not getting everything you want the second you want it and crying about it, come see me so I can tell you where to shove..."
"Hey, hey." James broke in, Sebastian and him having exchanged looks that said obviously the telepathy link had clicked in.
"Mind if we borrow Malfoy?" Sebastian asked Ebony and Avery before nodding to Trey and both of them taking him by the arms and leading the five of them to a closed empty classroom.
"Get your arms off me, Weasley." Malfoy growled as they let him go.
"Just what did you tell Roe in that head of yours?" James demanded.
"Nothing, if she wasn't so open-minded to read other people's thoughts she would never have heard it."
"You wanted me to hear it, you scum-sucking ferret."
"Careful, Granger, or your boyfriend might think you like me."
"Like you? I'd like to kill you!"
"Boyfriend?" Sebastian questioned.
"That's right, gents, little Miss Perfect Prefect left out a small detail that she's been dating Trey on the side while stringing you two losers along."
"We are not dating, we can't." Trey informed James and Sebastian.
"Can't? What did Daddy Snape forbid you to mingle with Mudbloods?" Malfoy sneered.
Trey took it upon himself at that moment to pin Malfoy by his shoulder to the wall, using one hand because while Malfoy was equally as strong as both James and Sebastian he was nothing compared to Trey.
"Watch what you say about my sister." Trey snarled before removing his hand.
"Sister?"
"That's right," Roe admitted, "when you heard me tell him I love him is because I do, he's my brother."
"If he's your brother..." Sebastian thought out loud, "then Snape and your mom?"
"About damn time you got two and two together, Weasley."
"Shut up, Malfoy."
"He's my twin brother, just he was raised by Snape, I rarely call him Dad by the way and I was raised by our mom. It was arranged when we were born."
"Why all the secrets?" James asked.
Roe and Trey looked at each other.
^Should you tell them?^ Trey thought.
"I guess I should," Roe concluded, glaring at Malfoy, "but what I say stays here and since I can read thoughts that believe me is a gift I don't want, cause Merlin only knows what boys think about twenty-four seven, I can tell if you tell anyone."
"Fine, just hurry up already."
"Ever heard of the Cursed?"
Malfoy's eyebrows lifted about two inches.
"Why am I not surprised that you have?" Roe continued, "The Cursed are the twins thought to be the ending of everything, magic wise. The Destroyers of Magic, Bringers of the End, you get the picture. Well because of that Mom and Snape decided it was best just to separate us that way people wouldn't be all scared about us. The stupid scar that Boy Wonder," Roe referred to Trey, "thought would look better as a tattoo and the one I hide. That's why no one knows we're siblings and who my real dad is or who Trey's mom is."
"What a thing to have to live under." Sebastian considered.
"No worse than having your father hunted because he outlived a Killing Curse." Roe said to James, who smiled.
"So really the question should be," Malfoy pursued, "is which one of you is the Good Twin and which one of you is the Bad Twin?"
Roe rolled her eyes before the bell rang and they had to get to class. James caught her arm.
"If no one knows then why did you get hurt, or rather poisoned?"
"Because Voldemort isn't dead, James, not by a long shot."
~ ~ ~
Look, more writing... what a wonderful thing.....Chapter 4: Insight.....Coming soon
December 30, 2001
Mark Of The Snake
Chapter 3: Quidditch and Secrets
Written by: V Lynne
Echoinghearts@yahoo.com
~ ~ ~
Ambrosia Granger couldn't remember being more nervous. Honestly, it was as if she hadn't ever played a Quidditch game before which she had many times since her second year. She was the best Seeker on Gryffindor's team since James's illustrious father, Harry Potter, or so that was what she was constantly told. To her she was good but not that good.
In the changing room, separated into Boy and Girl, of course she pulled on the specially made Quidditch robes of the Gryffindor colors. Stifling a yawn with the back of her right hand, as she hadn't slept due to dreams and anxiety over today's game, she grinned at the only other female on the Quidditch team, Priscilla Weasley. The signature red hair was pulled into a tight ponytail, the 7th year daughter of Percy and Penelope Clearwater, was as unlike her stuffy parents as could be and that's why Roe got along with Pris so well.
"Didn't sleep much, eh, Roe?"
"How'd you tell?" Roe asked, causing them both to laugh.
"Well better not let old Demanding Potter find out you were not sleeping or else he'll personally give you a piece of his mind."
"As opposed to me just faking my Snitching abilities today?"
"That's our girl. If all else fails pretend to know what you are doing."
That caused more laughter to echo through the changing room, until a knock came on the door and Priscilla opened it to see the other five members of the team. James's eyes took in their appearance and a grin spread over his features.
"We are going to win."
"Look into your Divination crystal ball this morning, Jamie?" Roe teased, as the snickers of the other Quidditch members were quickly hidden from their fearless leader's glare.
"Let's get out there."
Into the bright sunlight, their brooms firmly beneath them, the commentator was performed by none other than another Weasley, this time Sebastian Weasley. Beside him in the stands were Winnie, Lily, Wynter, Velvet, Topaz and a mass of Gryffindor supporters along with Professor McGonagall.
"And here they are folks, the pride of Gryffindor, the best team in over fifteen years our Quidditch professionals! Coming out first is our Beater team, the unbeatable Ian McDonald and Lance Thomas. Following close the unstoppable Weasley Chasers; Priscilla, Forrest and Garrett. The girl with the quickest hands our Seeker, Roe Granger and last but certainly not least the dependable anchor on the team, our Keeper and Captain, James Potter!"
Cheers rose that deafened the sounds of the booing by the Slytherin supporters, since Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Gryffindor were cheering loudly. Professor McGonagall touched Sebastian's shoulder and pointed to the waiting Slytherin team to be announced. Sighing with disgust he announced Slytherin.
"Our opposing team and today's losers..." Sebastian felt a reprimand look from Professor McGonagall from behind him not to mention Snape's glare from across the field, "the Slytherin team. The Beaters are Avery and Bletchley, the Chasers are Bole, Montague and the Captain Flint, the Keeper Baddock and the lowest snake on the toldem pole the Seeker Malfoy."
Winnie was giggling under her breath at her brother's words that got him another angered stare from Snape as well as from the Slytherin players. Sebastian only grinned at their outrage while Madam Hooch brought out the chest that held the four balls that were needed for the game, unlocking the chest she whistled signaling the players to make ready as she let out the Snitch, the golden ball size of a large walnut with tiny silver wings, followed by the Bludgers, a set of jet black balls that were balls with minds of their own that loved to knock players off their brooms and then the last ball, Quaffle a bright red ball size of a soccer ball that the Chasers were in charge of.
And the players were off. Priscilla had the Quaffle in her hand, passing it back to Forrest, who threw it to Garrett while Flint, Bole, and Montague were after them. Avery and Bletchley were using their clubs to use against the Bludgers against McDonald and Thomas. James was at the end protecting their goals, with Baddock at the other end near the golden poles with hoops while Roe was trying to find the Snitch and keep an eye out for Malfoy.
The oohs and awes of the crowd became a background noise while she searched the sky for the small golden object. The air around her whooshed as she sailed on her broom, that had perfect balance no matter where Roe situated her weight. As she became almost two hundred feet in the air, the going ons beneath her were blurred as she caught sight of Montague elbowing Priscilla and snatching the Quaffle while trying to goal only to have James knock the ball away just in time. Shouts of encouragement to both teams continued that Roe felt removed from it. Her target wasn't yet in sight. Eyes scanning the baby-blue setting she tried to focus on where it could be only to have the annoying feeling that someone was watching her, sure enough as she glanced over her shoulder Malfoy was sitting on his broom looking like he had nothing better to do with that stupid smirk on his lips.
"For Merlin's sake, Malfoy, don't you have something to do?" Roe's annoyed tone only made his smirk wider.
"You know I just wanted to see how a Mudblood catches a Snitch."
Roe's eye caught sight of her search. Taunting the fact that Malfoy's back was to it, the Snitch fluttered in the air an inch above Malfoy's snow- white head. Clearing her thoughts so as to not give away that the Snitch was right within his reach, she shrugged.
"I've done it before, in fact everytime we've played you minus one time I've caught the Snitch, now why is that? Too busy staring at yourself in the mirror?"
"Pretty sure of yourself, aren't you, Granger?"
Roe decided, given his cocky attitude that she could use his own ego against him, with a sly smile she brought her broom closer her Lightning Flash against his male model of the same broom called Thunder Strike. Her face got closer to his, she could see the surprise register in his stormy gray eyes that she was doing this, her arm reached out, looking like it was going to touch his hair and in the last second, a piercing sensation caught her breath in her throat as her hand clasped around the Golden Snitch at the same time she collapsed.
The free falling, wind separating itself as the girl fell had screams rising up out of the crowds, had the players stopping. The shout of her name over the players was made by Sebastian, the flash of green appeared, and she was caught. Strong arms held her against a warm chest, her eyes fluttered as she locked glances with Damon Malfoy, his arm holding him firmly as they came to the ground where another flicker of green past in her eye sight that she recognized Trey, along with a racing Sebastian, followed by Winnie, Lily, and Professor McGonagall.
James landed, practically jumping off the broom and running towards the gathered group near the entrance of the changing rooms, he didn't even see that Snape's hands were in tight fists at his side having come down the Slytherin side but had not moved to his fallen daughter.
"What's wrong with her?" Trey demanded emotion in his voice that shocked Winnie.
Malfoy pulled his hand from under her to see blood covering his entire arm that had supported her additional weight. A sharp sound came from Professor McGonagall in the form of 'Pomfrey' and with a feeling of loss Malfoy didn't expect to feel, James picked up the unconscious Roe from Malfoy's hold and made the immediate move towards the school and Pomfrey's office.
~
Professor Dumbledore had cleared out the hospital wing when James took in Roe's limp form into the white room, placing her gently on the bed with Sebastian right behind him. Pomfrey questioned the boys, neither noticing that Malfoy was waiting at the entrance of the hospital wing before he was moved away by the entering McGonagall with Trey and Snape.
A soft moan of pain escaped Roe's bloodless lips before she twisted the act of trying to lesson pain even in her unawake state.
"Out, all of you," Poppy Pomfrey instructed, "I need to find out what is going on..."
Gold fell from Roe's clenched fist that James almost shouted that they won but her health meant so much more to him than winning a game. Ushering the boys out, McGonagall's eyes lingered on a distant Malfoy, she touched Trey's arm who looked about as out-of-it as any of the other three boys.
"We'll look after her." she assured him, before he turned around and made his way back to the Quidditch field.
Snape, Dumbledore, McGonagall and Pomfrey saw colors flood Roe's face before fading. Kneeling next to her bedside Poppy turned Roe over to see the wound that was bleeding over the white sheets. Hidden beneath the Quidditch garment, she looked to Dumbledore and he nodded leaving taking Snape's arm only to have him yank his arm out of the Headmaster's grip.
"I will stay."
Dumbledore didn't say anything to his friend. Poppy undressed Roe, removing the offending clothing until the wound was visible. A gasp echoed out of the nurse's mouth so that Minerva and Snape came over. Snape felt the bottom of his stomach drop out.
The snake scar, the birthmark, that caused no end of worry to him and Hermione seemed to be itself the cause of the massive bleeding. Around the edges of the mark was opened and the life force blood was flowing with no end in sight. As he peered closer, to Poppy's dismay, he found that above the mark, where the tear in the cloth was from was a purplish, yellow color that had hints of what he determined to be dragon's blood.
"Dragon's blood? But that wouldn't...I mean it doesn't work as this looks to be..."
"She's been poisoned with something that had Dragon's blood in it."
McGonagall saw the parental concern come over his face.
"I need to get to my cabinet." Snape told them, leaving in a cloud of black.
Poppy was trying to stop the bleeding but only seemed to be making the poison move faster through the girl's system.
".....hurts........fire....." Incoherent words came from Roe as her body was racked with pain.
"I know, Roe, I know....we're trying to help." Poppy reassured the girl.
".....please...."
Not ten minutes later Snape was back his arms full of antidotes that had them all working into the night.
Finally as Snape mixed bits of a bezoar stone with Dumbledore's gathered Phoenix tears, he set the mixture in the wound that seemed to hiss like a snake at them before closing. The snake scar slowed its bleeding but didn't heal over like it should. This worried them all.
"She needs blood and lots of it," Poppy informed them, "her pulse is weak and she's lost too much blood to be able to hold on for much longer."
"A Blood Bond must be preformed."
Three shocked faces met to Dumbledore's half-moon glassed covered eyes.
"That ritual is forbidden. It can not be preformed without permission from the Ministry..." Minerva warned.
"Would you let her die because of some stupid stipulation?!" Snape demanded, "Roe will not die because I will not let it."
Poppy watched the conflicting emotions on their faces.
"If we do this it must be before midnight or else she has no chance. Whoever did this knew exactly what he was doing."
"I will get the boys." Dumbledore told them.
"Boys?"
"Who else? Those four boys care enough about her to come here. She needs blood and rather than have her risk hurting her friends by sucking all the blood out of one why not use four?"
"Including Malfoy?" Snape snapped.
"Mr. Malfoy did not have to save Roe today but he did. He is as much a part of this as James, Sebastian or Trey."
"If he lays one finger.."
"He will not be alone, Severus. Perhaps you need to clear your head before we begin."
Snape sighed, as Dumbledore left taking Roe's hand in his.
"I will save you from this, Roe, he won't get you. Either of you."
~
Dumbledore's unexpected presence at the entrances of both the Gryffindor and Slytherin common rooms caused commotion from the paintings that guarded the passageways. Dumbledore went to each boy's bed, woke them and made them follow him. As four extremely exhausted sixteen year old boys followed him to the hospital wing, they entered the room glowing a eerie blue with four huge bubbles that looked like someone had supersized a Bubbleheard Charm. The bubbles floated two feet in the air with a fifth one occupied by a scantily clad unconscious Roe.
"What is going on, Professor?" James inquired.
Snape appeared from one of the other rooms with a curved-ended silver knife in his hand. Four boys took a big step backward.
"We need your help," Dumbledore told them gravely, "while we have managed to remove the poison from Miss Granger's system," all boys echoed the same revelation of poison, "she is still very weak and fragile due to her blood loss."
"Two words I would never use to describe Roe." Sebastian quietly commented.
"What do you need with us?" Malfoy demanded his voice colder than he meant it to be.
"Your blood." Poppy chimed in.
"Our blood?"
"Yes. By taking your blood, magically, we insert it inside Miss Granger therefore sustaining her life and not draining you of yours."
"A Blood Bond." Trey's voice was a shadow, as he took in his twin's state.
"Precisely. While not allowed we have no other choice, so if any of you four do not wish to be involved in this speak up now."
"I understand why we're here but what is he," Sebastian's distaste clear as he glared at the equally disdainful Malfoy, "doing here?"
"Mr. Malfoy saved your friend from further injury and has as much right to be involved as you do, Mr. Weasley."
"Just think, with Malfoy pure-blood in her she might come after me, Weasley?"
"Not on your life, ferret."
"Children, please reframe from name calling," McGonagall interrupted, "our time is limited."
"Alright," Sebastian gave in, "but if he does anything suspicious..."
Malfoy rolled his eyes, as Dumbledore instructed them over to Snape, still holding the creepy knife.
"Each of you need to hold out your right hand, palm up, and brace yourself."
Snape looked at each boy before he drew the knife down the center of each of their palms, causing each boy to automatically close their fists in a protective manner.
"Now, put your cut palm to the bubble and enter it."
As they each did so, a warm almost orange glow surrounded them and they were all inside the bubble, warm and peaceful.
Snape went to Roe's bubble, a deep reddish color, and touched the outside of it before he nodded to Dumbledore.
"From blood that flows,
give life renewal
send blood from thee
into one that need
of fire and water
the blood flows
transfer the energy
to the victim and
forever more be bound"
As he finished the incantation, a spark flew out of each boys palm, causing pain to lace their bodies as the blood turned to almost red tiny fires and proceeded from the four bubbles to cross over into Roe's bubble. The blood went directly to her wound, softening the glow of her bubble to the normal human aura of orange, for it seemed like eternity it was only a few moments as it was from four boys rather than from one person to person as it had only been preformed before.
As it ended, the bubbles floated down and four boys dropped to the stone flooring of the infirmary with soft thuds. Snape picked up Roe, whose breathing was even and led her back to her bed, before taking out a vial of clear liquid and forcing her to swallow it. Kissing her forehead, he moved her under the blankets, as the boys all woke up with groans.
"Well done, gentlemen, you are indeed valiant to have risked so much and now its noble of you to have your minds linked with hers." Poppy excitedly announced.
That got four boys to stare at her and then to Dumbledore.
"What did she mean by that?" Malfoy icily questioned.
"What she means," Minerva glared at Poppy, "is that by doing the Blood Bond you four have telepathically linked yourselves to Miss Granger."
"She can read our thoughts?" Sebastian asked astonished and a tad scared.
"Only if she wishes it."
"How does this telepathy work, Professor?" James wondered.
"Unfortunately with it being five of you rather than two we can have no absolute clue as to how connected you will be."
"And you didn't have to foresight to tell us before hand and now we'll have a bloody girl in our minds?" Malfoy exploded, "Wonderful."
"Maybe we were a little hasty...." McGonagall started, "but it was for her sake."
Malfoy threw a disgusted look at Roe's sleeping form, before stocking out of the Hospital Wing.
"Until we know just what this is going to do I wouldn't jump to conclusions just yet, although Malfoy already has," James told the remaining two.
Trey nodded his agreement while Sebastian looked about as uncomfortable with this as Malfoy had.
"I gave her Draught of Living Death," Snape told them, "she won't be awake for three days."
"You three may return to your dormitories."
"What about...." Sebastian opened his palm to see that the wound was gone.
"In the ceremony all wounds are healed. Have a good night, gentlemen."
"How the in the world does she expect us to have a good night?" Sebastian grumbled.
~
The entire school was a buzz of wonderment and rumors at the unexpected fall of Roe and that Gryffindor had won, much to the Slytherin's calls of unfairness only to have not only McGonagall but Snape as well tell them that Roe had indeed caught the Snitch before her fall and had not let it go the entire time she had fallen.
Winnie visited Roe the third day, her mind wondering what could have done this to her friend and seeing the silent shadow of Trey watching over Roe that Winnie felt a twinge of jealousy but knew it was because Trey had done that Blood Bond with her that he felt close to Roe. Sebastian and James had sworn her to secrecy about the ritual after she pestered them all yesterday about it until 'Bastian finally gave in.
"You know Roe, some girls are starting to say that you did that whole damsel in distress thing to get more attention than you already do. Really unfair of them but I have to admit it is a good deal. Four of the hottest guys on campus constantly looking after you, even I wish I was you."
Winnie felt the hand she had placed over Roe's, the creamy skin moved under Winnie's paler skin and she felt the unwavering eyes of Roe on her face.
"Hey, if you want to lay in bed for days on end be my guest." Roe's sarcastic comment came as the brunette shifted on the bed and fell back as Winnie drew her into a full hug.
"Oww."
"Oops, sorry, Roe."
Winnie pulled back with a bright smile across her pretty face.
"Miss me, eh, kiddo?"
"Someone had to. I mean other than half the male population that now thinks you're the hottest thing since last weeks Potions class."
Roe laughed, only to wince in pain. Her body was still healing.
"Good to see you up, Gryffindor." Trey's stoic face came into view and Roe smiled.
"Keeping out of trouble, Slytherin?"
"As much as possible, though your little redheaded friend was sure giving Potter and Weasley all the trouble they'd need for about a month."
Winnie bowed her head, her face red with embarrassment.
"Careful, Slytherin, Winnie here is a Weasley too. Scary bunch of redheads, aren't they?"
Trey observed how the fourteen-year-old grew even redder at the remark, a very becoming red at that.
"Indeed, but I see at least she got the obvious looks in the family."
"Uh, thanks. Roe, I gotta go get Bastian and James, promise not to go anywhere?"
"I thought about flying to Neptune in a few minutes but I guess I can put that off to see them."
"Funny, Roe." Winnie said before high tailing it out of there.
"She's a cute kid."
Roe's eyebrows lifted in amazement.
"Taking interest in the opposite sex now? Shall I ring the Daily Prophet? And since when do you use the word 'cute'? You and that word aren't exactly sympathico if memory serves."
"Do you always talk this much when you are sick cause this might be the reason for the whole no boyfriend?"
Roe lifted her hand to smack him just as Pomfrey came in.
"Well, Sleeping Beauty awakens. How are you, Miss Granger?"
"Oh, you know. Feel like I've swallowed something that should never be named, fell off my broom during a Quidditch game...." Roe's look turned to concern, "did we win?"
"Yes, Miss Granger, Gryffindor won."
"Bet Jamie's happy about that."
"Not as happy as seeing you awake, Roe." James's voice echoed in the room, that Trey moved away from her bed so that Sebastian and James could come closer.
"Jamie! Bastian!" they took turns giving ginger hugs to her, as Winnie had advised them she was still in pain.
"Looks like someone has serious admirers," Jamie whistled at the load of flowers in the room, "did a flower shop blow up in here?"
"Jealous because I've got more attraction potential than you?"
"So that's how it is and here we were sure that fall would knock some braincells into that head of yours."
"He's been a bunch of fun to live with these past three days, Roe," Sebastian filled in with a amused laugh, "pacing like a caged animal all angry at people, acting surprisingly enough like Malfoy that I suggested he dye his head to that pale blond."
"Really, now that is something I would pay Galleons to see. How about it, Oh-Moody-One?"
"As much as I'm sure Pomfrey is enjoying our teen antics I think we have Potions." Trey interrupted.
"You are taking Potions? Since when?"
"Since you got sick."
As Jamie and Bastian left with Winnie waving to see her later, Trey watched them leave before sitting on the bed.
"Don't scare me like that again, Roe, I mean it." His voice serious.
"Like I meant to do that?"
"You will be more careful."
"You are starting to act like a overprotective bully, you know that?"
"I love you, I don't want anything to happen to you."
"I love you, too and nothing is going to happen to me," Roe glanced over herself, before cheekily adding, "at least not in the next ten minutes."
"I'll make sure that Snape knows you are awake, so expect him later. Get some rest."
"Like I haven't been doing that for the last couple of days?" Roe muttered as he left.
Outside the room, Trey turned the left corner, having come out and not seen Malfoy leaning against the right wall having heard the last couple of statements of Trey to Roe. He knew Trey loved her, but what surprised him was that Roe loved Trey. She didn't act it and for some reason his entire head shouted at him that she should be his, not Trey's and sure as hell not Potter's.
~
Roe was tired of the infirmary the next day that she told everyone that if they wanted to lock her up somewhere it might as well be her dormitory. Merlin knew she was sick of having people fuss over her and missed being able to do things for herself. Dressing, as it was now Tuesday, she put on a pair of loose blue draw-string pants, with a white loose tank top, pulling her robe over it, careful not disturb her bandages on her left side, she slid her feet into comfy sheep-wool lined moccasins, having Winnie pull her hair into a elaborate two braids that separated her hair from the top of her head down to her ears and the last of it in identical braids to a couple inches below her shoulders. She looked much better and felt it too.
Walking down the corridors and hallways she felt eyes on her but ignored them. Tired of being an invalid she was going to go to class, entering a minute late to Potions, Snape's eyes watched her.
"Late, Miss Granger? Prefects should set better examples." His voice scolding.
"I am sorry, Professor, it won't happen again. Who knew that getting here from the hospital wing was such a hassle?"
Snickers and chuckles from amazingly enough both Gryffindors and Slytherins caused a fleeting smile on his lips only to have it disappear into the normal scowl as he surveyed the students.
"As I said, Miss Granger, I will not tolerate tardiness, I suggest you find your seat and 5 points off Gryffindor."
Sitting next to James and Sebastian, both with huge grins on their faces, she enjoyed the rest of class for once. As soon as it ended they went out the doors and around the corner so Roe didn't have to walk far again as they had DADA next, both cracked up with laughter.
"I see that bed rest hasn't stopped your timing, Roe. He was just about to cut into me and James when you walked in."
"Always glad to be of service."
"Servicing already, Granger?" the snide comment came from Malfoy's voice, as he came around the corner with Ebony, Avery, and strange enough Trey with him.
"Never to tired to be of service, Malfoy," her tone as suggestive as his own, "why don't you go find some bubbleheaded Slytherin girl to take your comments seriously instead of wasting your 'charms' on me. For some reason snakes don't do it for me."
Amazed at her audacity, as were the other three that knew her, Malfoy already had a come back.
"That's not what I hear. I think snakes are just up your alley, Granger, especially anti-social ones."
Malfoy watched her eyes narrow.
"Want to clue me into your self-centered mind?"
^How about this Granger, I heard you tell Trey that you loved him^ Malfoy thought.
Clearly as though he had spoken to her she read his thought.
"Eavesdropping now? How quaint. When you grow up out of your childish ways of not getting everything you want the second you want it and crying about it, come see me so I can tell you where to shove..."
"Hey, hey." James broke in, Sebastian and him having exchanged looks that said obviously the telepathy link had clicked in.
"Mind if we borrow Malfoy?" Sebastian asked Ebony and Avery before nodding to Trey and both of them taking him by the arms and leading the five of them to a closed empty classroom.
"Get your arms off me, Weasley." Malfoy growled as they let him go.
"Just what did you tell Roe in that head of yours?" James demanded.
"Nothing, if she wasn't so open-minded to read other people's thoughts she would never have heard it."
"You wanted me to hear it, you scum-sucking ferret."
"Careful, Granger, or your boyfriend might think you like me."
"Like you? I'd like to kill you!"
"Boyfriend?" Sebastian questioned.
"That's right, gents, little Miss Perfect Prefect left out a small detail that she's been dating Trey on the side while stringing you two losers along."
"We are not dating, we can't." Trey informed James and Sebastian.
"Can't? What did Daddy Snape forbid you to mingle with Mudbloods?" Malfoy sneered.
Trey took it upon himself at that moment to pin Malfoy by his shoulder to the wall, using one hand because while Malfoy was equally as strong as both James and Sebastian he was nothing compared to Trey.
"Watch what you say about my sister." Trey snarled before removing his hand.
"Sister?"
"That's right," Roe admitted, "when you heard me tell him I love him is because I do, he's my brother."
"If he's your brother..." Sebastian thought out loud, "then Snape and your mom?"
"About damn time you got two and two together, Weasley."
"Shut up, Malfoy."
"He's my twin brother, just he was raised by Snape, I rarely call him Dad by the way and I was raised by our mom. It was arranged when we were born."
"Why all the secrets?" James asked.
Roe and Trey looked at each other.
^Should you tell them?^ Trey thought.
"I guess I should," Roe concluded, glaring at Malfoy, "but what I say stays here and since I can read thoughts that believe me is a gift I don't want, cause Merlin only knows what boys think about twenty-four seven, I can tell if you tell anyone."
"Fine, just hurry up already."
"Ever heard of the Cursed?"
Malfoy's eyebrows lifted about two inches.
"Why am I not surprised that you have?" Roe continued, "The Cursed are the twins thought to be the ending of everything, magic wise. The Destroyers of Magic, Bringers of the End, you get the picture. Well because of that Mom and Snape decided it was best just to separate us that way people wouldn't be all scared about us. The stupid scar that Boy Wonder," Roe referred to Trey, "thought would look better as a tattoo and the one I hide. That's why no one knows we're siblings and who my real dad is or who Trey's mom is."
"What a thing to have to live under." Sebastian considered.
"No worse than having your father hunted because he outlived a Killing Curse." Roe said to James, who smiled.
"So really the question should be," Malfoy pursued, "is which one of you is the Good Twin and which one of you is the Bad Twin?"
Roe rolled her eyes before the bell rang and they had to get to class. James caught her arm.
"If no one knows then why did you get hurt, or rather poisoned?"
"Because Voldemort isn't dead, James, not by a long shot."
~ ~ ~
Look, more writing... what a wonderful thing.....Chapter 4: Insight.....Coming soon
December 30, 2001
