Harry Potter and the Joke that Killed: Chapter Fourteen
A/N: Wow, that last chapter sure startled a fun reaction out of you readers. I get my kicks from y'all. And route 66, but that's not the point. Thanks to:
Emma Malfoy: Here's your quidditch scene, babe!
Bookworm2000: Hey, what the heck is a snicket book? I wanna know!
Who doesn't own Harry Potter? KEL doesn't own Harry Potter!! He don't, he don't, he do-on't (neither does anyone else but J.K. Rowling, for that matter. And that includes me!)
* * * * *
It was so bad. Harry couldn't believe it. Ron thought him and Nancy Freeston were dating. His main squeeze. They were an item. A couple. Oh, how bad indeed.
Harry was too stunned to eat. Heck, he was almost too stunned to breathe! How was he going to get out of this mess?
The whole quidditch team was informed by the end of breakfast. "Why you little son of a gun!" Angelina roared, nudging a bug-eyed Harry in the ribs. "Cradle robber, you."
"Aw, don't tease him Angie! I think it's sweet, Harry, so don't worry about it. If you really like Nancy, you'll respect her enough to face your friends." Alicia piped in, who had learned the news a few moments before.
"You hear that?" Harry said sharply, kicking George under the table. "If I really LIKE her, I'll RESPECT her enough to face my FRIENDS." The real culprit of robbing the cradle just turned red and ate his eggs.
Harry didn't have time to wallow in self-pity for long though. The match against Ravenclaw began in less than an hour, and he needed to get psyched up for the game. Once in the locker room, he only said one thing to George for setting him up.
"Fine mess you've gotten me into." Harry spat, glaring at the twin.
"What else could I have done, admitted to it?" George defended.
"YEAH!" roared Harry.
"Okay, I know it was a rotten thing to do, but Fred and Ron were right there, looking at me, waiting for me to answer. And it's such a good cover up, c'mon." said George.
"Yeah, it's greeeeaaaat. BESIDES THE FACT THAT YOU'RE THE ONE DATING HER!"
"Shhhh." George coaxed, glancing around to make sure no one was alerted. "Alright, alright, I'm sorry, there. Just shine it on for a few more days, then I'll tell the truth. Let me get my bearings, Harry, it's the least you could do. Everyone's just now getting over the curse, I don't wanna kill my Mum."
Harry thought it was cheap of George to con him into it using his newly acquired disability, but it suckered him into it. "You owe me big, Weasley." he agreed finally.
The look on George's freckled face was of pure elated relief. "Thank you so much, you won't regret it, I swear!"
"Yeah, yeah." remarked Harry, shaking his head. It wouldn't be so bad, really, 'dating' Nancy. It could be worse, like Lavender or Parvati. And, in the back of his mind, Harry thought that it might change his status a bit. No girl had ever attempted to like him, besides Ginny who didn't count, and now he had a girlfriend.
Well, not really, but nobody had to know that part.
Sooner than Harry would've liked, he heard Lee's booming voice declaring the Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw Houses was commencing. Trembling with anticipation, Harry lined up with his teammates. He noticed that poor Ron was convulsing, he was so nervous. Though he resented his friend at the moment for bringing to light the whole Nancy thing, Harry pitied him and patted him on the back supportively.
"You'll do fine, I know it. You're great." Harry comforted.
Ron smiled, a weak, sickly smile. "I'm great." he stated, and began chanting it therapeutically. "I'm great, I'm great, I'm gr-grea-mph." Ron trailed off into gibberish when he saw the stands of students spread out before him when the doors opened and they all stepped out into the sunlight. What was left of the color in his face drained away, and for a second it looked as if he might faint.
Madame Hooch was standing in the center of the field, waiting for the blue and crimson teams to join her. "I want a good, clean match. Let's get it on!" she exclaimed.
(A/N: I borrowed that from Celebrity Death Match and Judge Jo Nelson, or one of those TV judges. Can't you just see her saying that?? Har, har. the author's gotta have her fun!)
After a sharp blow of her whistle, a collective whooshing sounded as the teams rose into the air. Now that they were flying, Ron seemed to relax a bit and raced after a passing bludger chasing after chasers at a breakneck speed.
"There they go!" boomed Lee Jordan's commentation. "Ravenclaw chaser Kelley Bishop is off with the quaffle, neat drop pass to her brother Mick Guinness Bishop, the team's signature move. Mick is dodging two bludgers, two Weasley's, not twins this time but still red-haired, and - OH knocked in the knee with a bludger! Fantastic shot by Ron Weasley, new addition to the Gryffindor team, had to've thrown something out twisting that way to bat the bludger at Mick, but he looks okay enough. Angelina fights the quaffle away and heads towards Ravenclaw's goal, flanked by the Weasley's. They're guarding her, looks like nothing can get her now, c'mon.. AMAZING! Angelina passes the quaffle to Fred and he scores! Ravenclaw keeper Carl Albert didn't even see him! Ingenious play, nothing in the rulebook's against a beater carrying the quaffle, it's just not done a lot. nice play by Gryffindor, leading ten oh."
Harry smiled, that was one of the clever plays designed by Angelina learned this year. She wasn't so bad as a coach. granted, a bit fanatical, but that was just what the team needed.
Cho Chang was circling the other end of the field, searching for any sign of the snitch. It comforted Harry that this time he spied fleeting glints of the golden snitch. Nothing he could go after, but reassurances that a repeat offense from the game versus Hufflepuff wasn't going to happen.
Harry totally gave up searching for the snitch and just watched Cho fly. She was even graceful from one hundred yards away - her dark hair flowing out behind her, sapphire robes giving her an almost celestial look. She was so beautiful it hurt.
Suddenly Harry saw her jerk forwards and press her broom to go as fast as it could. She had obviously seen the snitch. Searching the grass below her, Harry saw to his dismay that it was true; a golden glitter was skimming its way casually across the lawn, in no apparent hurry. Cho was going to get it. Gryffindor was going to lose, and it was all Harry's fault!
In anger Harry kicked his Firebolt into action and tried to beat her to the spot, though he could tell she had too much of a head start. It was no more than ten yards away. five yards. two. one. Harry's self-hatred began growing and boiling inside him. How could he have done this?
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a bludger came soaring towards Cho, hell-bent on hitting her. And it did. Square in the back, she was sent spinning end over end away from the snitch. Sensing danger, the little flying walnut sped away. It was safe now.
"C'mon, Harry, pick it up. We can't lose this game!" Ron yelled, chasing after the bludger. It was he who had sent it towards Cho, it was he that had saved both the Gryffindor team and Harry's reputation.
Lee was ecstatic. "AND RON SAVES THE DAY!!! Chang was diving after the snitch, but he bats her away from it, nice beating by Little Weasley! Wonder how Harry didn't get a jump on that bugger sooner. but all's well now that Little Weasley is here!" The Gryffindor crowd began chanting "Little Weasley, Little Weasley" over and over again, drowning out the Ravenclaw's booing.
Harry grunted with relief and more self-hatred, soaring up above the game to look for the snitch again. He couldn't believe he'd let that happen, Gryffindor almost lost all because of his stupid crush on Cho.
"Norman North of Ravenclaw off with the quaffle now, pass to fellow chaser Edmond Memorial, but Gryffindor's all over him! Edmond's trying to pass it to anyone, but his teammates can't get through to him. Jenks is fighting with Katie for the quaffle, he looks like he'll get away with it - no, a well placed bludger by Little Weasley shakes him off and Angelina's away."
Though things were okay now, Harry's confidence was shaken. Repeatedly, Cho dove down into a steep dive and Harry would follow her, and they'd be neck and neck until he'd spot the smile on her face and realize he'd been faked out. She had him in the palm of her hands and she knew it.
It was the sixth time she did it that Harry followed along only as a precaution; he really didn't believe her this time. Then he spotted the flying golden orb darting mere centimeters from her fingertips. Once again, the poor guy kicked himself, and darted down after her.
His Firebolt was faster than Cho's Nimbus Two-Thousand, but she had the advantage of faith in herself, and Harry was too frantic and jittery. His turns were too sharp, hers liquid; his speed was jerking, hers steady. Harry could already see the looks on his teammates faces when the final score of "Gryffindor ten, Ravenclaw one-hundred fifty" was announced morosely over the loudspeaker.
So of course Harry was surprised as anyone when, for the second time that night, Ron came out of nowhere with his bat poised and ready. All Harry could think was "Oh God, he's going to hit her, he's going to bash her head in, oh God." and clasped his hands over his eyes when Ron swung with all his might. But it wasn't Cho he hit.
It was the snitch. Ron batted the snitch expertly towards Harry's chest, where it hit with an indignant squeak before Harry's startled hands clasped over it. Cho's startled shriek punctuated the astonishing capture.
Harry felt the fluttering between his fingers, but still couldn't believe it. Had that actually just happened? COULD that actually just have happened? He prayed there was nothing against what had occurred in the rules and flew down to the ground with his teammates. Madame Hooch was already there, flipping through her rulebook and shaking her head. Finally, she looked up at Lee and nodded.
"YESSSS! It's a legal play, ladies and gents, and Gryffindor wins it, one- sixty to zip!" The crowd exploded with applause and flooded the field, where George and Angelina had already propped Ron on their shoulders. Cheers of "Little Weasley, Little Weasley" resounded throughout the crimson and gold clad students as Ron turned bright red and beamed broadly.
Despite his pride for his friend, Harry was ragingly upset with himself. HE was the seeker, HE was the one supposed to catch the snitch, not some beater flown in from the middle of the field. Trudging along behind the rampant mob into the locker room, Harry beat himself over the head with his Firebolt and cursed his own name once again.
(^*^)
The Gryffindor common room was uncontrollable, and only with Professor McGonagall's use of the Body-Bind Curse on Lee Jordan did everyone finally go up to their dormitories at two a.m. But of course, they didn't go to sleep.
"That was the most brilliant thing I've ever seen!" Seamus Finnigan exclaimed, clapping Ron on the back.
"Yeah, it was like you were playing baseball or something!" Dean Thomas agreed, earning confused stares by everyone else in the room.
"What the heck is 'baseball,' you fruitcake?" asked Seamus, and Dean pursed his lips and shook his head.
"Never mind, a muggle game, that's all." Dean explained.
"Oh. Anyways, great game Ron! Who would've though you'd be so good? You never even tried to play before." Seamus commented, blowing off Dean's remark.
"Dunno, it was Fred and George's thing. I didn't think I was allowed to, ya know?" said Ron, changing into his pajamas. He was handling his instant fame very well, actually, humoring even the most annoying first- year.
Harry was so enraged he couldn't sleep. He hadn't joined in on the festivities that night, either, and just holed up in his dormitory claiming Transfiguration homework. Nobody wanted him there, anyways, since he wasn't the hero of the quidditch game this time. Ron was, Harry could tell. The giant "LITTLE WEASLEY" banners and cake said it all.
He was happy for his friend, Ron needed this support. And he knew he couldn't be the best at every game, and at least he'd come through in the end by catching the snitch, but it was so unnerving. He was accustomed to, well, winning. To being the only quidditch superstar. He didn't realize how much he liked the spotlight until he was out of it.
Of course, Harry didn't admit all these things to himself. He knew they were true, and mulled over them for a millisecond, but filed them away as soon as they registered. He refused to acknowledge that he wasn't perfect. Hermione and him were alike in that respect.
Harry awoke, fitfully, at seven o'clock. He hadn't gotten much sleep, but he didn't want any. Being sullen was the only thing on his mind. So, of course, he sullenly put on his robes, sullenly stomped out of the common room, and sullenly entered the great hall.
Once again, Draco Malfoy's purple face met him as the only soul in the room. He was sipping vegetable broth this morning, a nice change from yesterday's chicken. Sullen as Harry was, it was only natural to poke fun at the Slytherin again by making a show of having full use of his mouth.
"Not enjoying the feeling of being number two for once, are we Potter?" Draco inquired with a smirk. His speech had certainly improved since the other day.
"What happened, Malfoy, your girlfriend Millicent Burstrode get a little rough in bed, eh?" Harry returned, ignoring his statement.
"Think of this as a premonition of what I could do to you." said Malfoy, gesturing to his battered face.
"Is that a threat, you scaly git?" Harry retorted.
"Oh no. It's an invitation."
Harry was already angry enough, but Malfoy's jeers just detonated him. Without a thought, he reached behind him and grasped an apple, hurling it at the blonde boy in the blink of an eye.
It hit Draco right in his bad jaw, and in slow motion Harry saw it crack, splinter, and finally break the boy's jawbone. "Consider that my RSVP." declared Harry.
Malfoy just sat there for a moment, his mouth hanging open limply, not pain but hatred in his eyes. He mumbled what Harry assumed to be a swear if full use of his mouth had been allowed, then calmly reached inside his robes, with shaking hands, and pulled out his wand. For a second Harry thought he was going to curse him, but instead he pointed it at his wound and murmured something.
A bluish mist seeped out of the end of Draco's wand and towards the broken part of his cheek. The boy closed his eyes and drew a shuddering breath, looking blissful for a fleeting second, then his icy eyes were flung open again.
"Touché." he stated with a raise of his eyebrows. Harry thought that was it, he had finally won. But it was only the beginning.
The boy stood up, fiercely throwing his chair flying behind him. With trained and quick reflexes, Draco reached inside his robes and drew out his wand, sending a hex flying Harry's way. Harry dove, but it hit the hem of his robes and they burst into flame.
"Vaningish!" Harry yelled, putting out the fire and turning to his opponent. They faced each other warily, revolving in a little circle between the house tables.
Harry was the first to act. With a flick of his wand and muttering the firecracker spell, a great booming shot off towards Malfoy. He simply stepped out of the way and, with a flick of HIS wand, sent it right back at Harry. He only just got away in time, but the poor Hufflepuff table didn't. It was smashed to mere kindling, with patches burning here and there.
Harry picked up a nastily sharp splinter and suspended it midair, halfway between him and Malfoy. They studied each other momentarily, Draco just daring Harry to do it. He did.
Like a bullet, Harry ordered the javelin at his adversary. While he was directing it, Malfoy took advantage of the busy moment and launched himself at Harry. The weapon clattered harmlessly to the floor.
Both boys fell to the floor in a heap of billowing robes, rolling over and over each other, and after a moment of intangible chaos Harry was pinned to the ground by the blonde boy's knees. Draco had grabbed a sharp scrap of table during the scuffle and now had it poised at Harry's jugular, daring him to move.
A scary grin spread across Draco Malfoy's face, and Harry prepared to die.
* * * * *
A/N: I love cliffhangers, as you can see. It's just the most fun way to end a chapter and drive y'all absolutely off your rocker! Muah-ah-ah..
Can anybody here tell what theme I used for the names of the Ravenclaw quidditch players Kelley Bishop, Mick Guinness Bishop, Carl Albert, Norman North, Edmond Memorial, and Jenks? Cho Chang doesn't count, she was J.K. Rowling's character long ago. The one who guesses it gets a special surprise!
Love from,
Saranimal
HaloGal5@aol.com
A/N: Wow, that last chapter sure startled a fun reaction out of you readers. I get my kicks from y'all. And route 66, but that's not the point. Thanks to:
Emma Malfoy: Here's your quidditch scene, babe!
Bookworm2000: Hey, what the heck is a snicket book? I wanna know!
Who doesn't own Harry Potter? KEL doesn't own Harry Potter!! He don't, he don't, he do-on't (neither does anyone else but J.K. Rowling, for that matter. And that includes me!)
* * * * *
It was so bad. Harry couldn't believe it. Ron thought him and Nancy Freeston were dating. His main squeeze. They were an item. A couple. Oh, how bad indeed.
Harry was too stunned to eat. Heck, he was almost too stunned to breathe! How was he going to get out of this mess?
The whole quidditch team was informed by the end of breakfast. "Why you little son of a gun!" Angelina roared, nudging a bug-eyed Harry in the ribs. "Cradle robber, you."
"Aw, don't tease him Angie! I think it's sweet, Harry, so don't worry about it. If you really like Nancy, you'll respect her enough to face your friends." Alicia piped in, who had learned the news a few moments before.
"You hear that?" Harry said sharply, kicking George under the table. "If I really LIKE her, I'll RESPECT her enough to face my FRIENDS." The real culprit of robbing the cradle just turned red and ate his eggs.
Harry didn't have time to wallow in self-pity for long though. The match against Ravenclaw began in less than an hour, and he needed to get psyched up for the game. Once in the locker room, he only said one thing to George for setting him up.
"Fine mess you've gotten me into." Harry spat, glaring at the twin.
"What else could I have done, admitted to it?" George defended.
"YEAH!" roared Harry.
"Okay, I know it was a rotten thing to do, but Fred and Ron were right there, looking at me, waiting for me to answer. And it's such a good cover up, c'mon." said George.
"Yeah, it's greeeeaaaat. BESIDES THE FACT THAT YOU'RE THE ONE DATING HER!"
"Shhhh." George coaxed, glancing around to make sure no one was alerted. "Alright, alright, I'm sorry, there. Just shine it on for a few more days, then I'll tell the truth. Let me get my bearings, Harry, it's the least you could do. Everyone's just now getting over the curse, I don't wanna kill my Mum."
Harry thought it was cheap of George to con him into it using his newly acquired disability, but it suckered him into it. "You owe me big, Weasley." he agreed finally.
The look on George's freckled face was of pure elated relief. "Thank you so much, you won't regret it, I swear!"
"Yeah, yeah." remarked Harry, shaking his head. It wouldn't be so bad, really, 'dating' Nancy. It could be worse, like Lavender or Parvati. And, in the back of his mind, Harry thought that it might change his status a bit. No girl had ever attempted to like him, besides Ginny who didn't count, and now he had a girlfriend.
Well, not really, but nobody had to know that part.
Sooner than Harry would've liked, he heard Lee's booming voice declaring the Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw Houses was commencing. Trembling with anticipation, Harry lined up with his teammates. He noticed that poor Ron was convulsing, he was so nervous. Though he resented his friend at the moment for bringing to light the whole Nancy thing, Harry pitied him and patted him on the back supportively.
"You'll do fine, I know it. You're great." Harry comforted.
Ron smiled, a weak, sickly smile. "I'm great." he stated, and began chanting it therapeutically. "I'm great, I'm great, I'm gr-grea-mph." Ron trailed off into gibberish when he saw the stands of students spread out before him when the doors opened and they all stepped out into the sunlight. What was left of the color in his face drained away, and for a second it looked as if he might faint.
Madame Hooch was standing in the center of the field, waiting for the blue and crimson teams to join her. "I want a good, clean match. Let's get it on!" she exclaimed.
(A/N: I borrowed that from Celebrity Death Match and Judge Jo Nelson, or one of those TV judges. Can't you just see her saying that?? Har, har. the author's gotta have her fun!)
After a sharp blow of her whistle, a collective whooshing sounded as the teams rose into the air. Now that they were flying, Ron seemed to relax a bit and raced after a passing bludger chasing after chasers at a breakneck speed.
"There they go!" boomed Lee Jordan's commentation. "Ravenclaw chaser Kelley Bishop is off with the quaffle, neat drop pass to her brother Mick Guinness Bishop, the team's signature move. Mick is dodging two bludgers, two Weasley's, not twins this time but still red-haired, and - OH knocked in the knee with a bludger! Fantastic shot by Ron Weasley, new addition to the Gryffindor team, had to've thrown something out twisting that way to bat the bludger at Mick, but he looks okay enough. Angelina fights the quaffle away and heads towards Ravenclaw's goal, flanked by the Weasley's. They're guarding her, looks like nothing can get her now, c'mon.. AMAZING! Angelina passes the quaffle to Fred and he scores! Ravenclaw keeper Carl Albert didn't even see him! Ingenious play, nothing in the rulebook's against a beater carrying the quaffle, it's just not done a lot. nice play by Gryffindor, leading ten oh."
Harry smiled, that was one of the clever plays designed by Angelina learned this year. She wasn't so bad as a coach. granted, a bit fanatical, but that was just what the team needed.
Cho Chang was circling the other end of the field, searching for any sign of the snitch. It comforted Harry that this time he spied fleeting glints of the golden snitch. Nothing he could go after, but reassurances that a repeat offense from the game versus Hufflepuff wasn't going to happen.
Harry totally gave up searching for the snitch and just watched Cho fly. She was even graceful from one hundred yards away - her dark hair flowing out behind her, sapphire robes giving her an almost celestial look. She was so beautiful it hurt.
Suddenly Harry saw her jerk forwards and press her broom to go as fast as it could. She had obviously seen the snitch. Searching the grass below her, Harry saw to his dismay that it was true; a golden glitter was skimming its way casually across the lawn, in no apparent hurry. Cho was going to get it. Gryffindor was going to lose, and it was all Harry's fault!
In anger Harry kicked his Firebolt into action and tried to beat her to the spot, though he could tell she had too much of a head start. It was no more than ten yards away. five yards. two. one. Harry's self-hatred began growing and boiling inside him. How could he have done this?
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a bludger came soaring towards Cho, hell-bent on hitting her. And it did. Square in the back, she was sent spinning end over end away from the snitch. Sensing danger, the little flying walnut sped away. It was safe now.
"C'mon, Harry, pick it up. We can't lose this game!" Ron yelled, chasing after the bludger. It was he who had sent it towards Cho, it was he that had saved both the Gryffindor team and Harry's reputation.
Lee was ecstatic. "AND RON SAVES THE DAY!!! Chang was diving after the snitch, but he bats her away from it, nice beating by Little Weasley! Wonder how Harry didn't get a jump on that bugger sooner. but all's well now that Little Weasley is here!" The Gryffindor crowd began chanting "Little Weasley, Little Weasley" over and over again, drowning out the Ravenclaw's booing.
Harry grunted with relief and more self-hatred, soaring up above the game to look for the snitch again. He couldn't believe he'd let that happen, Gryffindor almost lost all because of his stupid crush on Cho.
"Norman North of Ravenclaw off with the quaffle now, pass to fellow chaser Edmond Memorial, but Gryffindor's all over him! Edmond's trying to pass it to anyone, but his teammates can't get through to him. Jenks is fighting with Katie for the quaffle, he looks like he'll get away with it - no, a well placed bludger by Little Weasley shakes him off and Angelina's away."
Though things were okay now, Harry's confidence was shaken. Repeatedly, Cho dove down into a steep dive and Harry would follow her, and they'd be neck and neck until he'd spot the smile on her face and realize he'd been faked out. She had him in the palm of her hands and she knew it.
It was the sixth time she did it that Harry followed along only as a precaution; he really didn't believe her this time. Then he spotted the flying golden orb darting mere centimeters from her fingertips. Once again, the poor guy kicked himself, and darted down after her.
His Firebolt was faster than Cho's Nimbus Two-Thousand, but she had the advantage of faith in herself, and Harry was too frantic and jittery. His turns were too sharp, hers liquid; his speed was jerking, hers steady. Harry could already see the looks on his teammates faces when the final score of "Gryffindor ten, Ravenclaw one-hundred fifty" was announced morosely over the loudspeaker.
So of course Harry was surprised as anyone when, for the second time that night, Ron came out of nowhere with his bat poised and ready. All Harry could think was "Oh God, he's going to hit her, he's going to bash her head in, oh God." and clasped his hands over his eyes when Ron swung with all his might. But it wasn't Cho he hit.
It was the snitch. Ron batted the snitch expertly towards Harry's chest, where it hit with an indignant squeak before Harry's startled hands clasped over it. Cho's startled shriek punctuated the astonishing capture.
Harry felt the fluttering between his fingers, but still couldn't believe it. Had that actually just happened? COULD that actually just have happened? He prayed there was nothing against what had occurred in the rules and flew down to the ground with his teammates. Madame Hooch was already there, flipping through her rulebook and shaking her head. Finally, she looked up at Lee and nodded.
"YESSSS! It's a legal play, ladies and gents, and Gryffindor wins it, one- sixty to zip!" The crowd exploded with applause and flooded the field, where George and Angelina had already propped Ron on their shoulders. Cheers of "Little Weasley, Little Weasley" resounded throughout the crimson and gold clad students as Ron turned bright red and beamed broadly.
Despite his pride for his friend, Harry was ragingly upset with himself. HE was the seeker, HE was the one supposed to catch the snitch, not some beater flown in from the middle of the field. Trudging along behind the rampant mob into the locker room, Harry beat himself over the head with his Firebolt and cursed his own name once again.
(^*^)
The Gryffindor common room was uncontrollable, and only with Professor McGonagall's use of the Body-Bind Curse on Lee Jordan did everyone finally go up to their dormitories at two a.m. But of course, they didn't go to sleep.
"That was the most brilliant thing I've ever seen!" Seamus Finnigan exclaimed, clapping Ron on the back.
"Yeah, it was like you were playing baseball or something!" Dean Thomas agreed, earning confused stares by everyone else in the room.
"What the heck is 'baseball,' you fruitcake?" asked Seamus, and Dean pursed his lips and shook his head.
"Never mind, a muggle game, that's all." Dean explained.
"Oh. Anyways, great game Ron! Who would've though you'd be so good? You never even tried to play before." Seamus commented, blowing off Dean's remark.
"Dunno, it was Fred and George's thing. I didn't think I was allowed to, ya know?" said Ron, changing into his pajamas. He was handling his instant fame very well, actually, humoring even the most annoying first- year.
Harry was so enraged he couldn't sleep. He hadn't joined in on the festivities that night, either, and just holed up in his dormitory claiming Transfiguration homework. Nobody wanted him there, anyways, since he wasn't the hero of the quidditch game this time. Ron was, Harry could tell. The giant "LITTLE WEASLEY" banners and cake said it all.
He was happy for his friend, Ron needed this support. And he knew he couldn't be the best at every game, and at least he'd come through in the end by catching the snitch, but it was so unnerving. He was accustomed to, well, winning. To being the only quidditch superstar. He didn't realize how much he liked the spotlight until he was out of it.
Of course, Harry didn't admit all these things to himself. He knew they were true, and mulled over them for a millisecond, but filed them away as soon as they registered. He refused to acknowledge that he wasn't perfect. Hermione and him were alike in that respect.
Harry awoke, fitfully, at seven o'clock. He hadn't gotten much sleep, but he didn't want any. Being sullen was the only thing on his mind. So, of course, he sullenly put on his robes, sullenly stomped out of the common room, and sullenly entered the great hall.
Once again, Draco Malfoy's purple face met him as the only soul in the room. He was sipping vegetable broth this morning, a nice change from yesterday's chicken. Sullen as Harry was, it was only natural to poke fun at the Slytherin again by making a show of having full use of his mouth.
"Not enjoying the feeling of being number two for once, are we Potter?" Draco inquired with a smirk. His speech had certainly improved since the other day.
"What happened, Malfoy, your girlfriend Millicent Burstrode get a little rough in bed, eh?" Harry returned, ignoring his statement.
"Think of this as a premonition of what I could do to you." said Malfoy, gesturing to his battered face.
"Is that a threat, you scaly git?" Harry retorted.
"Oh no. It's an invitation."
Harry was already angry enough, but Malfoy's jeers just detonated him. Without a thought, he reached behind him and grasped an apple, hurling it at the blonde boy in the blink of an eye.
It hit Draco right in his bad jaw, and in slow motion Harry saw it crack, splinter, and finally break the boy's jawbone. "Consider that my RSVP." declared Harry.
Malfoy just sat there for a moment, his mouth hanging open limply, not pain but hatred in his eyes. He mumbled what Harry assumed to be a swear if full use of his mouth had been allowed, then calmly reached inside his robes, with shaking hands, and pulled out his wand. For a second Harry thought he was going to curse him, but instead he pointed it at his wound and murmured something.
A bluish mist seeped out of the end of Draco's wand and towards the broken part of his cheek. The boy closed his eyes and drew a shuddering breath, looking blissful for a fleeting second, then his icy eyes were flung open again.
"Touché." he stated with a raise of his eyebrows. Harry thought that was it, he had finally won. But it was only the beginning.
The boy stood up, fiercely throwing his chair flying behind him. With trained and quick reflexes, Draco reached inside his robes and drew out his wand, sending a hex flying Harry's way. Harry dove, but it hit the hem of his robes and they burst into flame.
"Vaningish!" Harry yelled, putting out the fire and turning to his opponent. They faced each other warily, revolving in a little circle between the house tables.
Harry was the first to act. With a flick of his wand and muttering the firecracker spell, a great booming shot off towards Malfoy. He simply stepped out of the way and, with a flick of HIS wand, sent it right back at Harry. He only just got away in time, but the poor Hufflepuff table didn't. It was smashed to mere kindling, with patches burning here and there.
Harry picked up a nastily sharp splinter and suspended it midair, halfway between him and Malfoy. They studied each other momentarily, Draco just daring Harry to do it. He did.
Like a bullet, Harry ordered the javelin at his adversary. While he was directing it, Malfoy took advantage of the busy moment and launched himself at Harry. The weapon clattered harmlessly to the floor.
Both boys fell to the floor in a heap of billowing robes, rolling over and over each other, and after a moment of intangible chaos Harry was pinned to the ground by the blonde boy's knees. Draco had grabbed a sharp scrap of table during the scuffle and now had it poised at Harry's jugular, daring him to move.
A scary grin spread across Draco Malfoy's face, and Harry prepared to die.
* * * * *
A/N: I love cliffhangers, as you can see. It's just the most fun way to end a chapter and drive y'all absolutely off your rocker! Muah-ah-ah..
Can anybody here tell what theme I used for the names of the Ravenclaw quidditch players Kelley Bishop, Mick Guinness Bishop, Carl Albert, Norman North, Edmond Memorial, and Jenks? Cho Chang doesn't count, she was J.K. Rowling's character long ago. The one who guesses it gets a special surprise!
Love from,
Saranimal
HaloGal5@aol.com