Chapter Nine

The Price of Victory

Danny poked at her sandwich with a fork, glancing over at where Amadeus, Roger and Casper were huddled. They had been doing nothing else all week, apparently more concerned about the game than class, and Danny watched as they fumbled through their spells and potions as if they'd never had a lesson. Janders Box and the Starling twins sat beside her, shaking their heads at them.

"You'd think we were on separate teams, the way they're acting," Janders said. "Who do they think they are, anyhow?"

"Longbottom thinks he's the captain, and unfortunately, we're stuck with him," Danny said, stabbing the sandwich again and taking a bite off the rim. "Don't worry, I'll find out from Wyatt what's up, he normally listens to me. This game is too important for us to lose. We came way too close losing last game," she pointed out, looking at Janders who shifted uncomfortably. "And try to make at least one stop this time?"

"Well, we don't have to worry so much about the Gryffindor Chasers, it's their Beaters that will be brutal. You saw what Willowby is capable of from the Ravenclaw game. He's amazingly better than last year."

"Yeah, but they have a weak Seeker, and that's everything in this game," Lisa pointed out. "Katie just barely caught up last time, and only because the 'claw ended up sun-blinded."

"Well, it won't do us any good if they knock me out of the sky, will it?" Danny said.

"You don't think they'll go easy on you, being their friend and all that?" Lisa asked.

"What, you mean Doug and Corey? They wouldn't dare pull punches. I'd not speak to them the rest of the year," Danny said. Lisa and Liam exchanged looks.

"I thought that was the whole point that you made friends with them in the first place," Liam admitted. "You can't actually enjoy hanging around their sort, can you?"

"I hang around whoever I like," Danny shrugs. "I don't need to maintain any peer status. As long as I come out on top, that is."

"In other words, she's a control freak, everything by her own rules," Amadeus said as the rest of the team joined them. Amadeus sat beside Danny, smiling unpleasantly at her. "Like father like daughter, I suppose."

"Well it's obvious you don't have much control. Your waistline alone is proof enough of that," Danny sneered.

"Laugh all you like, Nelson. While you were busy over here gloating over test scores like a Ravenclaw, we were busy hatching a plan to make sure we win this game," Amadeus said.

"Which is what?" Danny asked, raising a brow.

"Which is none of your business yet," Amadeus said firmly. "You four just do what you do best and play Quidditch. We'll take care of the details."

Danny sighed softly but didn't say anything. The details were precisely what worried her. The grudge between Amadeus and Corey had only gotten worse over time, and she had made it no secret to any of the that she preferred a fair game, no matter how badly she needed to win. She didn't trust Amadeus, and now it was plain that he didn't trust her either, probably guessing that she would warn Corey and his friends if he was doing something underhanded. Should she warn them they might be up to something without knowing exactly what they might be planning, she pondered. She sighed, realizing it might just make matters worse. All she could do was hope that this plan of theirs was above board and try to catch the Snitch as quickly as possible just in case it wasn't.

Severus Snape strode over to the Slytherin gate just before the game, looking over the team with a nod and a thin smile.

"Mr. Longbottom. Miss Nelson. I doubt any of you will have any trouble today. After all, we have without question the best Seeker this year," Severus pointed out, slipping a glance to Danny who smiled in return. "Don't disappoint us, Longbottom, the entire house is depending on your leadership skills today."

"As you said, Professor, I don't think we'll have any trouble," Longbottom agreed.

"Good, see that you don't. I'll be sitting with your parents in the Slytherin box so we can celebrate your easy victory," Severus said. "We'll be back in the lead soon enough," he added, nodding to them in turn before heading to the stands.

"How do you like that? I figured he'd sit in the teacher's box this game like he did last year," Liam said.

"Wonder who he's trying to impress," Amadeus asked, his dislike evident in his eyes.

Severus climbed up into the box, glancing around before he spotted Byron Nelson. He was sitting beside Alvin Archibald and was in a deep discussion about Durmstrang. As he approached, Alvin stood to make room, slightly surprised to see him. He nodded to Byron politely, who did the same in return.

"Professor Snape. I wasn't sure if you would be joining us this game," Byron said, sitting back down.

"I wouldn't miss the chance to see my house best their greatest rival," Severus said, sitting on the other side of him. "Your daughter is the best Seeker we have had in a long time."

"I hear she is doing well in Sparring Club also," Byron said.

"Yes, without question," Severus nodded. "In fact, she was quite instrumental in our winning the House Cup last year."

"Of that I have no doubt," he said, glancing over the pitch. "And she will continue to perform well, inside and outside of the classroom." There was something odd about his tone… a finality that Severus couldn't help but notice.

It had been no secret to Jennifer or Severus that Danny Nelson was under a great deal of pressure to excel at home, but to what extent that pressure was neither were quite sure. Jennifer especially had been concerned over it, but McGonagall had carefully warned her not to jump to conclusions; Danny had chosen not to speak to any of the teachers about it.

Still, Severus wasn't about to let his guard down on the man… Jennifer hated him with a passion, and that in itself was enough to give anyone who knew her a reason to pause. In fact, there was only one other man that Jennifer had ever despised that fervently was Lucius Malfoy.

A roar went up as the teams entered, and Severus turned his attention to the Pitch just as the Slytherin team received a standing ovation, Danny stopping to do a knot-loop maneuver for the crowd before continuing on. Corey, not to be outdone, threw his bat into the air and did a full loop before catching the bat on his way down, leaning back on his broom and waving towards the student stands below. Glancing ahead, he yelped in surprise as he nearly hit one of the towers, turning about and into position as Doug came up beside him.

Rolanda Hooch had the entire stadium's attention now as she released the balls, darting out of the way as Liam grabbed hold of the Quaffle a second before Juniper Lydian could get there. Doug wasted no time, getting control of one of the Bludgers to smack it towards Lisa just as Liam threw it to her, diving out of the way in the nick of time. Corey, glancing around for the other Bludger, turned in time to see Amadeus hit it towards Katie. She leapt up with her broom, deftly hopping out of the way.

So, Amadeus was trying to keep their new Seeker off balance, was he? Corey growled, leaning forward and launching himself towards the opposite side of the Bludger. If he could get Amadeus on the defensive, he wouldn't have as much time to pick a target. Corey wound up his bat and took a hard swing to hit it back.

But as he swung he felt only air, missing the Bludger completely as it kept on going past him. Caught off guard, Corey slowed down in an attempt to regain his balance, glancing at the Bludger in disbelief. Wyatt flew by and hit it back in, so Corey went to catch up with the field as they neared the Slytherin rings.

It wasn't but a moment later before Corey noticed the other Bludger barreling in his direction. Determined to take advantage of the opportunity to try and break up the Starling twins, Corey got in position to whack it towards Lisa's broom as she sped by. With another powerful swing, Corey attempted to hit it and again and he missed, falling into such a panic that he tried to keep up with it. He made a series of desperate swings, never seeming to get anywhere near it.

"What's the matter, Willowby? Have you lost your eyesight? Or just your nerve?" Longbottom sneered as he flew by to hit the Bludger back in.

"He's definitely lost something at any rate," Wyatt agreed, coming up on the other side of Amadeus.

Corey, who had been trying to figure out what was going on, realized from their taunting that they must have somehow managed to get a hold of his bat. Well, there was no way he was going to let it stay cursed like that…

"No, Corey, stop! What are you doing?" Doug yelled at him, coming up beside him just as Corey raised his hand. "You can't cast a spell in play during a Quidditch game. You'll get us disqualified! Hang on," he said, crossing his bat with his arm. A time out was called and the Gryffindors alighted on the field, gathering together.

"What's up?" Juniper wanted to know, slightly irritated since she had the Quaffle and was making a good run.

"My bat's cursed. I can't hit anything with it," Corey said.

"Did you try purposefully missing it? Like the balls at the fair few years back?" Doug suggested.

"Nothing worked, so I was just going to try and dispel it," Corey admitted.

"I wouldn't try that if I were you, Corey, there might be a charm on it designed to make a counterspell backfire," Perry warned. "We don't have time to look at it now. You're just going to have to hang back,ß or not go up at all."

"Not go up at all? During the biggest game of the season?" Corey said. "I'd rather just try to wing it."

"If you get in trouble, land," Perry advised. "We can always lodge a complaint later."

Corey, knowing how rare it was for any game to be overturned for that sort of complaint, nodded somberly to the team captain and mounted his broom. At the last moment, Doug stopped him from entering the Pitch, pulling up beside him with an idea in mind.

"What is going on over there?" Danny asked Lisa on her way past.

"Not sure, something to do their Beaters, apparently... it sure is early for a time out, though, isn't it?" Lisa asked.

"Shut up and don't worry about it! You've got better things to do, like catching that Snitch!" Amadeus shouted at Danny.

The whistle sounded before Danny could question him, and they got back into position.

In the box, Severus watched the team calculatingly, frowning slightly when Corey came back up with the rest of them. On the other side, he noticed that there was a rather obvious argument between Danny and Amadeus that also didn't look promising.

"Longbottom seems to have a severe problem maintaining team discipline," Nelson couldn't help but point out. "If I recall correctly, he had some problem maintaining the team last year as well until my daughter helped pull them together. Perhaps it's time he be replaced as team captain." Severus nodded to him in agreement, noting just how polarized the team had gotten. The teams retook their positions, and the game began again, picking up at 30 - 20 Slytherin.

If Corey was worried about his bat, he didn't show it as he rejoined the rest of his team, but Amadeus seemed all the more delighted about him coming back in. As Juniper and the other two Chasers flew down the Pitch, Corey was ready, smacking the Bludger right across their path so they had to dodge it. Despite that, Roger still had ample time to get along side the Gryffindor girl, daring her to try and pass the Quaffle. Corey sped to the front, taking aim and cracking the Bludger so hard with the bat that everyone in the stands heard it. It soared towards the bristles of Roger's broom and hit it, causing it to spin like a bottle on its side. Roger Baylor finally got it to stop, his head still spinning as he dizzily watched Juniper throw the Quaffle in the top ring.

Growling, Amadeus signaled an order at Casper, who slapped a Bludger back at Doug. Doug saw it coming a mile away, but instead of trying to hit it, he dodged, shouting something at Corey.

"Blast it, they must have switched bats," Amadeus snapped, speeding over to Casper's side. "Doug has the bad bat, now! We'll have to make him the target."

"Forget about them, pay attention to their Chasers!" Danny shouted from above. "Your idiotic plan didn't work, so get over it and concentrate on the game!"

"Shut up, Nelson! Go find that Snitch!" Amadeus yelled back, and the two Beaters took off, leaving Danny fuming. Just then she caught a glint out of the corner of her eye and she sped into action, pushing back her anger so that she could focus on her target. Amadeus and Casper teamed up to get the Bludgers and sent both Bludgers straight at Doug. But Doug had been facing the Seekers and realized they had sighted the Snitch, sending both Bludgers towards Danny just before they passed over his head.

"They must have gotten both bats working," Casper told him, but Amadeus noticed Corey flying within arm's reach of Doug.

"No, they haven't. The buggers have just been switching off," Amadeus snapped before he sped towards the Bludgers. "Let's go to plan B."

Casper glanced at him worriedly but nodded, not quite sure he wanted to go through with it. As they reached the Bludgers, Casper hit one back towards Corey, while Amadeus hit his straight up in the air.

Corey went for the Bludger coming towards him in hopes of getting one good hit on Danny before her hand had time to close around the Snitch. Just as he smacked it, the Snitch turned upwards and the Bludger nicked Katie's leg as the Seekers tried to follow the Snitch's path.

But Corey barely had time to cringe at the bad timing, for while he was still watching to see if Katie was all right, the second Bludger had fallen back in range of Amadeus, who smacked it hard a second time. Corey felt a sudden sharp pain in the back of his head just before he blacked out.

It had happened just seconds before Danny finally grabbed the Snitch. She was unaware that anything was wrong until she noticed that the sound of boo'ing was louder than the sounds of cheering coming from the stands.

Confused, she spun around on her broom and saw that the ground was covered in marshmallow and a great deal of people were making their way onto the

Pitch. It was then she noticed Corey lying on the field below.

Jennifer had gotten there a moment before anyone else; Essie not two steps behind her followed by McGonagall, Pomfrey, and Dumbledore. Above them in the Slytherin box, Severus leaned over the rail, still grasping the wand he just used with whitened knuckles. His eyes glanced between his Dragonheart ring and the mayhem on the field below.

"Well, it looks as if I was wrong," Byron Nelson said cheerfully, stepping to his side. "Perhaps Longbottom has what it takes to be a good leader after all. Rotten luck for your adopted son, I suppose. But then, no one ever said Quidditch was safe." Nelson peered down interest at the field and the crowd that had gathered there.

"I'll meet you downstairs if you want to congratulate the team," Severus said, his face expressionless despite the strain in his voice. "If you'll excuse me a moment." Severus hurried quickly down the stairs as others made way for him to pass, working his way to the edge of the Pitch to get someone's attention. Rolanda, still on her broom, hovered over to him.

"You and that marshmallow," she said when she was close enough. "Although I can't get angry at you for it. You probably saved his life considering the way he had fallen. He probably would have broken his neck."

"How bad is he?" Severus asked in a low voice.

"Too soon to tell, he's still knocked out. Jennifer and his sister are pretty frantic, though, so you'd better get over there."

"First I need to go deal with the 'winning team,'" Severus said, unable to mask the anger in his voice.

"You know that last play was technically a legal play, right?" Rolanda informed him in a low voice.

"The cursed bat wasn't."

"McGonagall has already confiscated it to run tests, but I'm sure we can guess who did it," she said, glancing at the Slytherin gate as the team walked inside.

"That is exactly what I intend to find out for certain," Severus vowed before walking back over to where Nelson stood.

Amadeus strode through the doors, ignoring the boos and waving to the other Slytherin who cheered from the stands as they headed through the gate.

"Do you believe it? Two years straight and two Gryffindor Beaters down. I think we have ourselves a new tradition," Amadeus grinned. "He didn't even know what hit him, how dense can you get?"

"I'll show you how dense," Danny said furiously, taking out her wand. "Cockatrix videre!" But Amadeus, already knowing how angry Danny was about the cursed bat, had been expecting a response and quickly blocked the spell with his bat. It immediately turned to stone and fell to the ground.

"What's your problem, Nelson? Has your stupid sense of fair play got you in a bind? Or is it just because you're so in love with the Mudblood that you've suddenly lost your interest in winning?"

"I already had the game won, despite your irresponsible preoccupation with hurting Willowby. You weren't out there to play Quidditch. You were trying to kill him!" Danny said, her wand still pointed at him threateningly.

"Well, maybe not kill," Amadeus shrugged. "Discourage him from playing, yes. And for your information, I was out there to win. You're the one who's always accusing me of not putting in what it takes for us to maintain the cup. Dear Nelson, always the one 'getting all the points' and sucking up to the professors, and 'making up' for the rest of us. But the truth is that you just can't stand to see someone else who getsthe final punch. It's a rough game, and if you can't take the heat, I suggest you get out of the way for someone who can."

"I have a better idea," Danny said. "Step down as captain."

"Step down? That is a laugh. You hear that team? Miss Nelson wants to oust me! So let's have a vote, shall we?" he suggested. Danny squinted at him, tucking her wand in her belt so she could get back to it if she needed to.

"All in favor of having a captain who shows off in class to make us all look bad, and who hangs around with Gryffindors like a puppy, let's see hands, now…" Liam and Lisa put their hands up, while Casper and Janders looked uncomfortable. After a moment, Casper nearly put his hand up only to have it stopped by Amadeus with a threatening look. Casper put it back down.

"All in favor of having a Beater who is always loyal to his house, doesn't hang out with riff-raff, helped us win the game today, and is always willing to help out a Slytherin who needs a little cash for Hogsmeade, a show of hands," he said, as the rest of the team's hands went up.

"Oh, so that's it. How you're able to obtain bribe money on your income is beyond me," Danny said. "Well, I'm not going to put up with your leadership any more, because this is not the way anyone should be captaining a Quidditch team, even if they intend to win. I quit." Danny said, turning to walk away.

As she did, the blood in her face drained away in sheer terror as she realized that her father and Snape had walked into the gate. Byron's eyes flashed at hearing that word uttered from her mouth, and he charged towards her, grabbing her arm and pulling her up by the shoulder until his face was an inch away from hers.

"Did I hear you correctly, did you just attempt to quit from this most esteemed Quidditch team, and without my direct permission?" Byron asked in a quiet voice. "Perhaps I just misunderstood, walking into the conversation as I did."

"Sir, I… didn't truly mean to quit. I was trying to manipulate my way into the captain's position by pretending to quit," Danny explained quickly.

"Well, I have decided that I rather like Longbottom's captaining style," Nelson said, flashing as thin smile to the boy, who grinned back. "So I had better not hear of you attempting to undermine his authority again. Is that clear?"

"She tried to turn me into stone just now," Amadeus put in, picking up his bat with effort. "Ask any of them! They all saw it! Cast a dark spell right at me!"

"Is that true?" Nelson asked her, tightening the grip on her arm.

"Sir, there's no reason for you to concern yourself with this," Severus interceded, coming up behind Danny with his arms on her shoulders. "After all, we're on school property, and these students are under my direct supervision while they are here. Danny, you are to go straight to my office. Now. We will discuss your punishment for your actions there," he snarled at her. Danny excused herself, walking rapidly towards the door.

"As for you six, you should be heading to your common rooms. I'm sure there will be plenty of people there to congratulate you. Hurry along," he said, passing them a warning glance. "Oh, and there will be an investigation about who tampered with the bat. It'll be a pity if any of you are involved, for I'm sure you'll be seeing the inside of my office as well." Amadeus never missed the fact that Snape didn't congratulate them himself, nor did he miss the icy gaze that the Housemaster had given them as they left. He had wanted them to be certain that the matter was far from over. "Now, if you'll excuse me, Mr. Nelson, I had better get back to school affairs."

"Very well, Professor," Byron said, nodding stiffly. He was not used to having someone interfering when he was speaking to his daughter, but she would be home soon enough for the holidays, and then things would be different. "Let her know to expect a letter from me soon, and remind her that she's two days overdue in reporting her weekly marks to me as well," he added.

"Of course," Severus said, nodding stiffly back. He could barely contain his pure dislike for the man as he watched Nelson leave. He then closed and lock the gate before striding down the corridor and back inside, taking long strides to get to his office. Danny sat in the chair in front of his desk, her face pale and eyes haunted as she looked up at where he stood in the doorway. "Very well, I see you're here. Good. You may go."

"Sir?"

"I don't have time for conversation or explanations right now, just go. Consider yourself absolved. Feel free to tell anyone you like that it were otherwise. Now get out of my office," he ordered. Danny knew better than to argue with Snape, scurrying out of the room just a step in front of him as they both made their way to the hospital wing.

Had Corey been awake, he might have been quite surprised to find himself surrounded as he was by so many supporters. Jennifer sat beside him on his right, holding his hand worriedly, while Dumbledore sat beside her, talking to her quietly. Anna and Essie sat on his other side, and McGonagall paced the floor next to where Hermione and Ron sat. The stern gaze Corey was normally accustomed to seeing on McGonagall was replaced with concern. Even Professor Archibald was there, guarding the door to keep out other students, including Doug and Taylor who were hovering near the door. Cheshire, Corey's familiar, appeared to be standing guard, sitting at the foot of his bed and looking at him expectantly. Sagittari and Poppy looked unusually somber, the two of them stepping away to take a few minutes to consult. That was when Severus got there and was let in, and Danny tried to get a glance in from the doorway. Dumbledore smiled sadly at Severus, patting Jennifer comfortingly on the shoulder as he got up.

"I hope you don't mind, Severus. I've been saving your spot for you," Dumbledore said quietly.

"Corey?" Severus asked.

"He will pull through without my intervention, I think, although I have their word that they will come search for me if it worsens," Dumbledore said, his eyes unusually serious. Severus nodded in understanding, sitting down next to Jennifer. Her eyes were filled with a grief even more revealing than the color of the ring, and he wished he could have done something to fix it. It was strange how none of his good wishes seemed to work, he thought bitterly, looking over at the boy. They glanced up to see Poppy and Sagittari coming over.

"I gave him a potion for the fracture, but I doubt it'll be tonight or even tomorrow when he wakes up," Poppy said quietly. "What the boy needs right now is rest and quiet. Sagittari and I will be here but he's going to need a set of eyes on him until he comes to. I imagine I'll find enough of those, considering the reception he's getting," she said, clucking softly. "I expect most of you should be heading out and getting your own rest. I'm sure you'll all hear if there's a change." Reluctantly the visitors began to leave. Anna somehow managed to coax Essie out for a bite to eat, leaving Severus and Jennifer to watch over him.