A/N: WARNING: This book is a sequel! If you don't want to be in the dark, read my first "The Howl of the Moon", (id# 882673) which chronicles MWPP in their first year. This is about their second year. Also, I own nothing! Please R/R!
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Chapter Four:
The Durmstrang Professor
On Sunday was the other game of the week, and of course it was Hufflepuff versus Ravenclaw. This game was the opposite of the Gryffindor-Slytherin match, in that it was the most anticipated game for 7 years. Ravenclaw had the best squad (next to Hufflepuff, of course) in ages, and it seemed that they might be able to pull off a tremendous upset of the eight-year running champions Hufflepuff.
"You see, Ravenclaw's always been carried by their keeper, that's Harold Chang. He's been on the team since his second year." Explained Sirius. "They've got veteran beaters; sixth and seventh years, and three young chasers that should be a lot better than last year. To top it all off, Sean Davies is in his second year now, and he's thought to be the best seeker prospect in England!"
After hurrying up with homework yet to be done, the group ran down to the pitch, and filed into the last remaining student seats available (Lily and Mary were forced to sit away from James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter).
Not a single point was scored in the first three hours of the game.
"This is exciting as ever!" Yelled Sirius. "The chasers on both teams aren't allowing any movement! The beaters are smashing anyone who comes near the goal! And the keepers have been FANTASTIC!" But just then, it was Hufflepuff that finally put the Quaffle past Harold Chang. Then, two minutes later, they added another.
"NO!" Screamed Sirius. Even Slytherins and Gryffindors were rooting for Ravenclaw, as the Hufflepuff dynasty was getting quite annoying. Despite the incredible length of the game, the crowd was fierce and passionate, booing the Hufflepuffs incredibly (Ravenclaw, Slytherin, and Gryffindor drowning out Hufflepuff spectacularly), and cheering for every good thing done by Ravenclaw.
Sirius was watching the action carefully with his binoculars, when they wandered to the teacher section.
"Hey, who's that?" He asked. James and Remus put their binoculars up as well.
"That man with the beard, that Dumbledore and Scuro and the Fat Friar are talking to..."
"And Hufflepuff adds another! Thirty to nothing! Amazing!"
"NO!" Sirius screamed again. But soon they were uplifted. "Beat those buggers, Ravenclaw!" He yelled.
"DAVIES IS GOING FOR THE SNITCH!" Remus screamed. Soon the announcer noticed as well.
"Davies, with a clear lead over the Hufflepuff chaser is flying downwards fast, the Snitch in his sights! Oh my! HE'S GOT IT! RAVENCLAW WIN! RAVENCLAW WIN!" The stands nearly exploded as Ravenclaw supporters leapt into the air and celebrated. Ravenclaw players quickly grounded themselves and piled onto Sean Davies.
"What an exciting match!" Said James hoarsely as they left the stands. Mary and Lily, however, were yawning.
"That was too long." Lily said.
"That was spectacular!" Replied Sirius. "Especially the part where Hufflepuff lost, the bumbling gits." After much bickering about what makes a game exciting, the group finally went to bed, for the game had started at eight, and there was school tomorrow.
James and Sirius had stayed up much of the night, quietly but excitedly discussing Quidditch, the most excitement they had ever had on the subject since the dismal loss of Wales to Spain in the World Cup.
Unfortunately, James and Sirius had not come upon the fact that Gryffindor's next game would be against Hufflepuff until late in the night, which was when they had went to bed (for it killed their enthusiasm quite ruthlessly). This meant, of course, that they were late getting up the next day.
Thanks to Remus, Sirius and James made it to Transfiguration fine. Unfortunately, however, making it to class was not the only battle they would have to fight with their tiredness.
"Mister Potter! Mister Black! This is not a bedroom!" James suddenly lifted his head, realizing that class had been out for some time, and he and Sirius had fallen asleep.
"Sirius! Come on!" James and Sirius quickly ran from the room, and into the corridor.
"What do you think Sirius, the castle wall or the statue? Wall's quicker."
"Statue. I'm too tired for the wall; I don't want to go falling to my death." Sirius nodded, and they made their way quickly to a statue of some famous wizard of the fifth century, and climbed the stairs hidden behind it to the Charms corridor. With the door to the Charms room in sight, James and Sirius broke into a pure dash, making it barely to their seats when the bell rang.
"Very close Misters Black and Potter." Said Professor Flitwick, smiling, and he began the lesson. Almost instantly, sleepiness got a hold of James, and his head fell to his desk.
"JAMES!" He woke up with a start. He looked to his left, and Sirius was sitting there. The room was completely empty.
"What time is it?" James asked, looking around wildly. Sirius got up slowly.
"Don't worry, Herbology's not 'til-OH NO!" James saw the clock as well.
"We've slept through lunch!" James yelled.
"Well, I do feel refreshed!" Said Sirius as they hurried from the room.
"Class is in two minutes! We won't make to the greenhouse!" James said.
"James, this way!" Sirius said. "We'll go to our dormitory and get our broomsticks. We can fly down from there!" James nodded, and they ran to the nearest shortcut, and from its outlet to the Fat Lady's portrait.
They swept quickly through the common room, and up to the dormitory.
"Alohomora!" Shouted James, unlocking one of the windows as he grabbed his broomstick. Sirius got his first, pushed open the window and leapt quickly. James mounted his in the room, then flew rapidly out after his friend. They shot nearly vertically downwards to the grass, sweeping up and flying at seventy miles per hour along it, around the castle to where the greenhouses were. When theirs came into view, James and Sirius quickly stopped theirs, hid their brooms, and ran at full length to Greenhouse Two.
As they neared it, they heard the bell ring.
"Vanic's going to be angry!" Sirius said, as they passed Greenhouse One. But as they rounded through the open door into Greenhouse Two, preparing their excuses, they saw a new face in the greenhouse.
Instead of Professor Vanic, there was a new man. He was very tall and built, dark eyes and slick black hair. By contrast, he also had a scraggly large beard that came down to the top of his chest. It was the man they had seen at the Hufflepuff-Ravenclaw Quidditch match.
"I suggest, sirs, that you be ON TIME from now on." He said. "As I was saying," he continued as Sirius and James made their way to where the Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs stood. "My name is Professor Krupp. I will be your Herbology instructor for the rest of this year, and most likely for a few years after. I taught formerly at Durmstrang before retirement," here he clenched his teeth and looked towards the ground for a moment, "and was contacted by Professor Dumbledore. I will keep to the class schedule provided by Friar Arus and Professor Vanic, but after this year I will be teaching my own course." He smiled, baring crooked teeth.
"That new professor, Krupp, is quite a fellow, wouldn't you say?" Said Remus as they made their way from the greenhouse.
"He used to teach at Durmstrang. I heard that's like a school of Slytherins!" Said Sirius.
"Please, Sirius." Said Lily. "He's a teacher. Dumbledore wouldn't have hired him if he knew he was...well, evil."
"Let's not worry about Krupp." Said James. "Let's worry about Quidditch. We're playing Hufflepuff in two weeks. They may have lost against Ravenclaw, but they played a lot better than we did." And then James, Sirius, and Remus launched into a discussion of strategy. After History of Magic the group did all their homework together, then relaxed, for once.
Over the next two weeks they got to know Professor Krupp much better, though they did not like what they found. It appeared he did not like anyone from Gryffindor, and liked anyone from Hufflepuff even less. The Hufflepuffs often commented that although Krupp had become the new Herbology professor, they would never let him be Head of House, a position now held by the Care of Magical Creatures teacher and former Hufflepuff, Professor Kettleburn.
Gryffindor was playing Hufflepuff in the first match with snow on the ground, though it appeared it would not be falling during the match. After getting properly dressed and outfitted for the match, the team lined up behind the large wooden door that led out onto the pitch.
"Alright team." Began Evus. "This is Hufflepuff. This isn't Slytherin. We had a hard enough time beating the Snake, Hufflepuff is going to harder. We're going to have to play relentlessly. But you've heard it all before. With a little better defense, and a little better offense-"
"And a little better keeping-" Added Will, with his head down.
"Don't worry William. We got our kinks out in practice! We're a Quidditch machine now! Let's go out and upset them!" The team cheered, and Evus swung open the large door. They trotted out on to the snow-covered pitch. Unlike their game against the Slytherin, the players could practically feel the spectators looking down upon them. There was much more importance on the outcome of this game. Ravenclaw had destroyed Slytherin the previous week, and if Hufflepuff did anything less than beat Gryffindor by thirty points more than Ravenclaw beat Slytherin, it would be very difficult for them to catch up in the standings.
Evus flew over to Remus.
"Remus...if there was any way you could break the Hogwarts record for fastest Snitch capture, I think that would help the team a great deal." Evus said, gulping. Remus smiled nervously, nodded a bit, then said,
"I'll see what I can do."
As James flew high above the pitch, racing from end to end at top speed, cruising and getting comfortable, he looked around until his eyes made it to the pitch. It appeared that Professor Krupp was talking to Marcus O'Reilly, the Gryffindor beater. Marcus was nodding along, smiling nervously. Krupp was leaning heavily upon a staff of some sort. Marcus seemed to say something to him, then quickly hopped onto his broom and flew off.
"Marcus!" James said, flying over to where he was. "What did Professor Krupp want?" Marcus shrugged.
"Just saying he wanted me to play well or something. 'Hit that bludger well' he said. Something about being a beater in his day. Telling me to knock those Hufflepuffs off their brooms."
"That's strange." Said James. "He's not a house head, he's not supposed to show favoritism. And to Gryffindor..."
"You're telling me. He hates me in Herbology class."
"Well," said James as Professor Marus trotted out onto the pitch, "even if it is what Krupp asked you to do, please do knock those Hufflepuffs off their brooms." Marcus nodded, and he and James flew into position.
After Marus gave the teams his usual pre-game talk, he released the bludgers and Snitch, and got onto his broomstick. He blew a short blast on his whistle and threw the Quaffle up into the air.
Again, James shot forward on his broom, darted between the large Hufflepuff chasers, and zoomed towards the Hufflepuff goal. He raised his hand to throw the Quaffle, but was suddenly struck by a bludger. The Quaffle was knocked away, and he nearly fell off his broom. After regaining balance, he flew at top speed back to his own goal.
The three Hufflepuff chasers flew in quickly, passing the Quaffle back and forth at rapid pace. Marcus O'Reilly swung in out of nowhere, however, and smashed the bludger at the chaser in possession of the ball.
The Gryffindors might have then thought that he had successfully disrupted the Chase, but the Hufflepuff chasers were too good. The chaser that had been hit by the jet black ball dropped the Quaffle, but quickly recovered by sweeping it to a teammate with the end of his broom. The teammate caught it, and swiftly threw it hard through the goal hoop.
"Ten to nothing on Hardy's early goal!" Yelled the announcer. The game did not continue well for Gryffindor. After another 130 points, Gryffindor finally caught a break.
Will quickly took the Quaffle, and launched it far to James. As James cradled the Quaffle, he felt the pain in his arm from the bludger. He quickly noticed that one of the Hufflepuff chasers had already gotten back to defend.
He swerved left to avoid him, but the chaser moved in on his right, making any shot or pass very difficult. As the pitch narrowed, James found himself with increasingly less room on either side, between himself and the teachers' sections and the Hufflepuff chaser. Just as the chaser was making a move to knock James off his broom and take the Quaffle, salvation came in the form of a black speeding bludger, fresh off the club of Sirius.
Now he sped over top of the falling chaser, and towards the Hufflepuff goal. In pulling from the side of the pitch to the center, James lost much of the lead he had on the other Hufflepuff chasers.
"JAMES! BLUDGER!" Came a scream of Remus Lupin, who was well above the action. He saw it over his right shoulder, and pulled his broom back to allow it to pass in front of him. Unfortunately, the Hufflepuff chasers caught up, the keeper moved out, and the bludger came back for another go.
Even the Thunderbolt could not accelerate James quickly enough, and Hardy, the bludger, and another chaser collided with him all at once. The chasers on either side and the bludger struck his chest hard.
James was knocked straight back as Hardy took the Quaffle from him. He twisted around as he fell from his broom, and managed to hang from the levitating stick.
"Aaagh!" He screamed loudly. The pain in his arm and through his whole chest was excruciating. He let his right hand go, now dangling only from his left arm. The pain in his right arm and the right side of his chest was relieved, but the pain on the left side of his chest increased. He let out another yell, and finally swung around so that his legs were wrapped around the broom. His robes were caught on it, so he could see the Hufflepuff Chase.
He tried right away to lift himself up, but he found the pain in his chest too much. As he dangled from the broom he could hear the heckles of the Hufflepuff crowd, the desperate yells from Ravenclaws and Gryffindors, pleading him to return to the broom. He could hear Remus Lupin yelling loudly to the other chasers that James was injured.
James gave one more desperate lurch for the broom, but found he could not reach it. As he heard the announcer say that Hufflepuff had scored its 170th point, James realized the only way he could help the team.
As Hufflepuff scored again, James released his foot grip on the broom and allowed himself to fall. As he hurtled towards the ground he heard the crowd give a lurch and a few loud screams, and just before he struck the snowy ground he hoped that he would not be run through by his own broomstick.
"TIME OUT!" Screamed Remus and Evus simultaneously. Professor Marus blew his whistle, and he and the Gryffindor team raced to where James was crumpled upon the field. They formed a circle around him as Hufflepuffs circled above. Professor Marus knelt in the snow next to James.
"Ennervate!" He said, pointing his wand at James. Suddenly James, who was laying face down, turned over with an expression of intense pain on his face.
"Dolor afflictio!" He said next, and James suddenly sat up gasping.
"That feels much better..." He said, putting his hand to head.
"But you can't play." Said Marus bitterly. "You've got to get better. We can find a substi-"
"NO!" He yelled leaping to his feet. "I can play!"
"Your arm and ribs are still broken! I just temporarily reduced the pa-"
"It doesn't matter! I've got to play!" James walked the short distance to his broomstick and commanded it to his hand, wiping snow off his cloak.
"Let's go!" Marus looked at James coldly. But James could see Marus think it over; he was, after all, Gryffindor head of house. Finally, he had made up his mind.
"Take your brooms." He said and took his own. Soon after they were all in the air, Marus returned the Quaffle to Will Johnson. He blew the whistle.
James immediately blasted forth, raised his right hand to receive a bullet-pass from Evus, and tucked it under his arm. He zoomed straight past two chasers, and out-faked Hardy.
After spinning on his broom and going under the last chaser, he swiftly dodged a bludger and zoomed straight towards the Hufflepuff keeper. As he neared the leftmost hoop, another bludger sped towards him.
"Got it!" Came a yell from Sirius, and he swept down to smash it at the Hufflepuff keeper. He dodged it, but James flung the ball hard through the far hoop, just past the keeper's fingertips.
"GRYFFINDOR SCORES! THE FIRST POINT ALLOWED BY THE HUFFLEPUFF KEEPER JACOBS YET!"
The single score seemed to uplift Gryffindor. Though Hufflepuff continued to score points, Gryffindor made their way through the Hufflepuff defense much more often.
"And the score is a surprising 290 to 130!" Said the announcer. Evus led another Chase after an interception by Max Dorian.
"Evus McQuent leading the Chase! Flanked by Potter and Dorian! He swerves past Lumb! Block by Hardy, but he passed it off to Dorian! Dorian long pass to Potter who SCOOOOOREESS! 290 to 140!" As Evus and Max swept back into the defensive zone, James remained in front of the keeper, Jacobs.
As the pain began to return, James guarded him. Jacobs chuckled, then flung the ball downwards towards Lumb. James pushed his broom forward, and stretched forward painfully. He deflected the ball away, then chased after it quickly. Before Lumb could reach it, James grabbed the Quaffle with his right hand, and painfully launched it to Evus, who threw it in with two hands.
James nodded excitedly (for one hand was gripping his broom and the other arm broken), then flew quickly towards the other end.
The Hufflepuff chaser Constance zoomed ahead of the rest, faking firing the Quaffle, trying to get Will to flinch. As he attempted to catch up to the Chase, James looked up to see Remus and the Hufflepuff seeker climbing vertically towards the Snitch.
"HE'S GOING FOR THE SNITCH!" James yelled as the announcer began to say so as well.
Constance was about to put the game out of reach when Marcus swung his club hard, smashing the bludger straight downwards, narrowly missing Constance's head, and smashing his right shoulder. He fell forward on his broom, and the Quaffle fell from his hands.
"Got it!" Yelled Evus, and he flew downwards, stealing it quickly, and racing down to ground level. Meanwhile, Remus and the Hufflepuff chaser Kelly were within inches of the glittering Snitch. It reached its border, however, and could go no higher. It instantly shot directly downwards, past both of them. Remus quickly put both feet on the broom, and swung it 180 degrees. In turning so tightly he knocked Kelly back, then shot straight downwards.
Gravity now working with him, Remus flew like a bullet towards the snowy pitch. He easily grasped the Golden Snitch, and attempted to pull up as much as possible. He saw that as he neared the ground, and was almost level, he would not make it, so he leapt from the broom and landed in the soft snow.
As more flakes began to fall, the team leapt joyously from their brooms at low level, and crowded around Remus again. James was last getting there, and slowed by his again excruciating injury, made his way to the happy crowd. He was welcomed excitedly, and after hugging Remus and Sirius, looked out over the crowd above happily. His eyes, however, made their way to an unnerving scene.... He saw Professor Krupp, who had hated him so much in class, looking down onto the pitch...not at the happy band of Gryffindors, but somewhere else...and it was not his usual grim face and cold expression, but ferocious clapping hands and a broad grin.