Chapter Three
A month later, Harry was settled into a home just outside of London. It was a two story brick house with four bedrooms, two baths, a large office that was also a library, a kitchen, dining room, and living room. His home in LA sold for $2 million to one of his clients who also bought his cars. It was a wrench getting rid of those but he knew he wouldn't need them anymore.
The morning of the first practice arrived and Harry's nerves were at their highest. He hadn't played a real game of Quidditch since his 7th year at Hogwarts. He walked to his walk-in closet in his room after he took a shower to get changed. After he was dressed, he went to put in his blue contacts and then gel his hair. All ready, he apparated to the building in London where the offices were. He had a short meeting scheduled with Seamus and Dean.
He walked into a small room with two chairs against the wall for visitors and a desk where a woman with long brown hair sat. Lavender Brown. He almost went to give her a hug but then restrained himself when he remembered who he really was.
"Hi. Would you be Mr. James Newark?"
"Hello. Yes, I am."
"OK, good. Hold on a moment." She tapped her wand on a small screen that looked a bit like a Muggle television screen and spoke to it. "Seamus, Mr. Newark is here to see you."
"Oh good! Send him in. Dean and I are in my office."
"It's the door on the end of this hallway, straight back."
"Thank you."
"Your welcome; and welcome to the Chudley Cannons." Harry smiled and said thanks. He then walked down a hallway with numerous offices through doors. He caught various glances of people behind desks working. The very last door had Seamus's name on the door. He knocked and entered. He walked into bright sunlight streaming in through the window behind a huge desk. Sitting behind the desk was Seamus Finnigan and sitting in one of the two chairs in front of the desk was Dean Thomas. Seamus laughed.
"Harry Potter back from the dead. I never thought I'd see you again mate!"
"If it even is him Seamus! He's got no bloody scar on his forehead." Dean said jokingly.
Harry laughed. "Of course it's me you idiot." He punched him teasingly on the arm and then sat down in the chair to the left of him. "Damn, close those curtains. Its blinding me and I can't even see you properly." He said as he shielded his eyes.
"Sorry, Harry." Seamus flicked his wand and the blinds shut out the sun.
"Thanks." Harry got his first good look at Seamus and saw that he had hardly changed at all. He was tan right now and his hair was cut the exact same way it had been in school. The only difference were the subtle laughing lines that had appeared around his eyes. Dean looked just as young and vibrant as ever and he had his hair longer and in little two inch dreadlocks.
"So, Harry. What the hell happened to your scar?" asked Dean.
"Oh well it ah...kind of disappeared after I killed Voldemort."
"You did kill him? I knew you did! I mean to say, who else would have been able to? But I was wondering how you were going to pass for someone else with that thing on your face. Makes a lot more sense now. I wouldn't have known it was you if I hadn't been informed. Have you seen Ron by the way?" Seamus said this all very fast. Harry was still taking it all in when he answered him.
"Yeah, my first day back actually and last week. He still doesn't know it's me."
"You didn't tell him?" Dean asked dumbfounded.
"No, I'll do it someday but not now. Oh yeah and I hear that you, Seamus were giving him little hints about me. Please don't do that again."
"Ah, he's so thick anyway he never would have gotten it. But I won't do that anymore."
"Good, now wasn't I supposed to sign a contract now?"
"Yes you did read over the copy didn't you?" Seamus immediately went from friend to boss. Harry had to hold back a laugh. It didn't seem right to him for some reason.
"Yes I did. Very thoroughly."
"Good, well here you go, sign away." He handed Harry a quill and the contract which he signed immediately. "Ha! We've finally got you now. We've been looking for you since we took over. It was getting to be a right headache. Maybe that's why the previous owners sold the team to us. They were getting sick of looking for you! Well!" he slammed his hands down onto his desk. "We should get you to practice. We need to go by Floo." Two minutes later, they were in a locker room. Harry thought that it was kind of a weird place to have a fireplace and must have worn a confused expression on his face because Dean started.
"You can't apparate in or out of here. Only players and us know the word to get here by Floo." Harry changed into his Cannons robes and waited for the rest of the team to show up. Slowly one by one they showed up. Harry stayed out of sight until Seamus and Dean called a quick meeting and beckoned him over.
"Welcome back to a new season everybody!" Harry blocked them out and looked around. His attention was immediately drawn to Draco Malfoy. He looked almost the same except he seemed to have grown taller and more muscular. His platinum blonde hair wasn't long anymore, but short and messily spiked up. Harry was annoyed to see that he looked just as smug as he always did. He stood with his arms folded across his chest and was looking disdainfully at Dean, who was speaking. Draco must have felt eyes on him because he looked at Harry and had to do a double take on him when he spotted his old enemy. They locked eyes for a few seconds and Malfoy seemed to be considering him, but then just shook head and turned his attention on Dean. Harry did the same.
"One of our biggest changes this year is Draco Malfoy asked to become a Chaser when Alicia Spinnet got sent to the Wimbourne Wasps. Taking his place as Seeker is someone we've been trying to track down for a couple years. His name is Har...James Newark." Seamus nudged him in the side when he almost said his real name. The team looked suspiciously at the two owners but then welcomed Harry warmly.
"James, this is Justin Connoly, Susan Bregg, Chris Webbing, Draco Malfoy, Shawn Canaille, and Cho Chang. Harry's eyes lingered on Cho and Draco before he said hi to them and shook everybody's hand. Draco came last after everybody and wouldn't let go of his hand.
"I feel like I know you from somewhere. Where are you from?"
"California, I'm sure I just remind you of somebody. I've been told many times how much I look like one particular person."
"Who's that?"
"Oh well, Harry Potter."
"Those were my thoughts exactly. Who said that you remind them of Potter?"
"Ron....Ron Weasley? I think his name was. Sirius Black, Dean and Seamus. Oh yeah and I've actually been accused of being him by Ron's wife, Hermione. I understand they were his best friends or something."
Harry had just seen her the week before in Diagon Alley with Ron. Ron introduced them and Hermione burst into tears and flung herself around Harry's neck.
"Oh you're such an idiot Harry for using your dad's first name. You should have known I'd find out. I've missed you so much, Harry. Why did you go? It was because of us, wasn't it? We were so stupid." Harry was taken by complete surprise. He just patted her back and looked at Ron for help. He pulled her off of him.
"Honey, that's not Harry. His name is James Newark." She started to get quite hysterical then.
"Oh Ron, open your eyes! Stop being so thick for once. Of course he is. Just because his scar isn't there, doesn't mean anything. There's a logical explanation for it. I know Harry andthat is Harry James Potter!" People stopped dead in their tracks and stared at Harry.
"Hermione calm down. Oh for goodness sake people. He's not Harry Potter! He doesn't have a scar!" Hermione started breathing hard.
"Calm down. It's not good for the baby. Remember, he can feel whatever you're feeling. Deep calming breaths honey." Hermione finally sank into her husbands arms. Ron looked at Harry. "Sorry, being pregnant has really got her emotions screwed up lately. Only two more months now." He look extremely hopeful.
"I should go. I'm making her upset. I obviously look like Harry a lot to make her that upset."
"OK, I'll see you some other time then." Hermione looked up at Harry.
"Wait, can I hug you again?"
"Er-I guess so?" Hermione once again hugged him. Ron just shook his head at his wife and wandered into Quality Quidditch Supplies. She started whispering in his ear.
"You even hug like him. I know you're Harry. I don't know why you're trying to hide it. If you want to admit it in time for little Harry James's baptism, I would love it for you to be his godfather." She pulled away and saw a tear roll down his cheek which she wiped away.
"I'm not Harry." he said feebly She smiled weakly at him.
"Take those blue contacts out. You're green eyes are so much better"
Harry was jerked back to the present by Draco speaking. "That girl," he said laughing, "I ran into her the other day. She is quite unstable being pregnant. She was laughing, crying and then yelling the next. I got away as fast as I could. It was too bad though, her and I have become friends. I needed to talk to her; but I wasn't about to do it then. She was kind of scaring me to be honest." Harry couldn't hold back his surprise.
"What? You two are friends?" Malfoy cocked up an eyebrow.
"Yes, why are you so surprised?"
"Oh well, you know I've been hanging out with Sirius Black and I've just heard a lot about Harry and his friends. And I was under the impression that you were enemies with them." Draco was still looking at him suspiciously.
"Well, yes. We were enemies. Ron and I are still. He loathes me. I've tried making amends with him before but he's absolutely impossible. I don't think anything will ever turn him. Well, we better get out there. They'll be wondering where we are." Harry walked out to practice with Draco. He was completely bewildered. What the hell happened to him? It disturbed Harry that Malfoy was being nice and actually wanted to be friends with Ron and Hermione. It led him to wonder if the two of them would be friends if he hadn't left five years ago. Harry figured that it probably all went back to Lucius Malfoy. It was a known fact that Draco hated his father now. He made the fact known back in 6th year. But as far as Harry knew, he still followed his father into becoming a Death Eater. Harry had to leave his thoughts behind as he started practice.
Practice went very well for Harry and his team-mates were very happy with him. As practice came to an end, everyone was excited.
"The cup is as good as ours this year with James here!" one of them exclaimed as everybody voiced their consent. Harry stayed behind everyone and flew around for a while. He decided to attempt some things that he had taught himself in his last years at Hogwarts. He stood up on his broom and flew across the stadium. Slowly at first but then once he got the hang of it again and so he flew faster. After that he hung upside down with his knees bent over his broom, hands dangling below his head. He noticed a head of blonde hair standing next to the door of the locker rooms looking up at him. Harry did a back flip off the Firebolt 1000 and caught it again with his hands. Swinging his legs over the broom, he tore down the field again before landing in front of Draco Malfoy. Draco had his all too familiar smirk on his face.
"Funny, the only person stupid enough to attempt those moves 50 feet above the ground was Harry Potter." Harry kept his face impassive.
"Well, not anymore I guess."
"Tell me, Newark, Did you happen to learn how to fly from Potter or are you?"
"Am I what Malfoy?"
"Are you Potter? Your flying style is exactly like his and not to mention you have his annoying ego while playing Quidditch." Harry fumed but tried to keep his face relaxed.
"I can see that you're not very bright Malfoy because neither of your insinuations are correct. I suggest you think about the absurdity of the things you think before you voice them. Now if you don't mind, I need to take a shower so I am not late for my later appointments." Harry walked into the locker room feeling very smug. Malfoy actually didn't know what to say. Harry thought that hell must have frozen over.
~*~*~
A month later, Harry and Sirius were sitting at the table in Harry's kitchen eating breakfast. A large tawny owl flew in the window holding Harry's copy of the Daily Prophet. Harry opened the paper up as soon as the owl took flight once again. On the front page was a picture of Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas.
The Cannons New Secret Weapon
The Prophet has recently been informed of a few changes to the Chudley Cannons. Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas, who bought out the team in January of this year have found a new Seeker.
Don't fret faithful fans of Draco Malfoy. Malfoy has been changed to a Chaser. Apparently he put in the request to be a Chaser after Alicia Spinnet transferred to the Wimbourne Wasps. We could not Mr. Malfoy to comment any further on the matter. Although, he did speak to us about the new Seeker.
"I don't even know why they signed him on to the team. I heard that he hasn't even been on a broom for five years before last month. And they're calling him our new secret weapon?" Indeed those rumours are true. As confirmed by Dean Thomas. The new Seeker hasn't been on a broom for that long.
"We have a lot of faith in his ability. He is a very talented player. Contrary to what Mr. Malfoy thinks." The Cannons have apparently been looking for this man for two years.
"The previous owners had misplaced the recording of him playing for his school when is was sent in. They found it two years ago and have been looking for him ever since. He was actually believed to be dead by those who were close to him." stated Seamus Finnigan.
The new Seeker's name is being withheld until the first game; which happens to be tomorrow against Ireland. Is the new secret man all that he is cracked up to be? There's only one way to find out.-Sarah Donner
Harry shook his head as he put the paper down. "Honestly, if anyone is going to let it slip who I really am, its going to be Seamus. Does he honestly think that they won't ask questions as to why people thought I was dead?"
"I don't know. Well...you know you have time to change your mind about the name thing. Give them permission to use your real name tomorrow at the game."
"Sirius, this conversation is starting to get repetitive."
"Yes, but you really shouldn't lie about who you are. Have you seen how its affecting your old friends to not know where you are? Or if you're even alive?" Harry laughed.
"Well, Hermione seems to have figured me out. You know every time I run into her in Diagon Alley she asks me to be the godfather to their baby. And she keeps calling me Harry. Ron is getting really embarrassed with her."
"That's another reason to be yourself Harry. You'd get to be little Harry's godfather. That way we'd both get to be godfathers to a Harry James. Maybe if you're lucky he'll get your name cleared too so you won't have to go to Azkaban. And maybe you'll have just as much fun being his godfather as I have had being yours." he smiled roguishly while Harry laughed.
"Somehow I doubt that I have been any fun. I caused you worry for the entire time I've known you. First Voldemort was after me and then I disappear without a trace. Yeah that's what I call fun."
"Ah, but you're only looking at the bigger picture. I'm looking at the smaller things. You know the kind of things I'm talking about." Harry nodded his head and sipped his coffee. "God knows I would love to actually do something with you outside for once. You realise that for as long as we've known each other we've never been able to go and have fun without worrying about people seeing one of us. Maybe if you weren't embarrassed to be seen with me..."
"Oh shut up. It would be too obvious if someone we knew saw us together. People already suspect who I really am."
"Yeah, yeah."
"And don't say it. I know, I should just come out and say who I am." Sirius held up his hands.
"I wasn't going to say anything. So, when is Hermione's due date?"
"Two weeks, October 8th."
"What are you going to do about it?"
"I don't know Sirius. God, I just don't know."
~*~*~
The next morning, Harry was in the locker rooms changing into his Chudley Cannons robes. Nerves were affecting everybody in the room. Harry even saw Malfoy chewing his nails and staring into space. Harry figured he was worried about what people would say about his Chaser abilities. In Harry's opinion, Malfoy was a better Chaser than Seeker. Fifteen minutes before the game, the Captain and Chaser Justin Connoly got up for a pre-match pep talk.
"OK, guys and ladies, we've been working extremely hard since we started practice. The games in the bag. James just do what you've been doing and we'll blow Ireland out of the water. Webbing, Canalie, remember that Ireland has very good Chasers, show them no mercy with those bludgers. Do whatever it takes to knock them off course. Malfoy, Cho, remember all the formations we've got and as long as Webbing and Canalie do their job with the bludgers, we'll score. Bregg you know what to do. You're the best damn Keeper the Cannons have ever had. This will be the best ruddy team in the world this year and next! The cup will be ours for the taking!" An eruption of cheers came from all seven players and echoed off the stone walls. They headed for the doors and then flew up and around the stadium amid cheers and orange flags waving like mad. Harry felt his nerves leave him as he flew, as they always did in the thrill of flight and the excitement buzzing off the crowd. The commentary soon fill Harry's ears.
"Welcome to the first Quidditch match of the season! And the first team on the field are the Chudley Cannons. Chang, Malfoy, Connoly, Webbing, Canalie, Bregg and introducing James Newark as Seeker!" The crowd erupted in cheers and Harry saw a sign go up that said, 'Go James!' He laughed and figured it must be Sirius and Remus.
"Hey Newark! Stop!" Harry stopped just as Justin pulled up next to him. "Are you nervous?"
"Um, a bit. It always gets better once I get in the air."
"Good, I wish I was like you. I get even more nervous when we take off."
"Well, at least you don't have an image to live up to before you even played your first game."
"Yeah, but you'll be all right. You're great a Quidditch." He took off for another lap around the field. Harry was about to take off when he heard someone whistle at him. He turned and saw that he was about ten feet above the highest stands. A girl of about 20 was waving at him. Harry waved and gave her his sexiest smile and winked. She laughed and yelled,
"You're completely gorgeous!" Harry looked around to make sure it wasn't time for the game to start but Ireland was just coming out of the locker rooms. She was in the front row in her section so he flew down in front of her. He took her hand and kissed it.
"So are you." he whispered. She turned a deep shade of red and a weird sort of gurgle escaped her throat.
"Hey Newark!" yelled a drawling voice. "This is a Quidditch game not a place to pick up girls!" A voice in the stands shouted back at Malfoy.
"Oh shut up Malfoy! You did the same thing to me last season during the game." Harry laughed
"Didn't I already tell you to think things through before you say them? You'll end up looking like an idiot." Malfoy scowled and made for Harry but the players were called into place. Harry wiggled an eyebrow seductively at the girl and flew away as she turned red again. I might have some fun doing this. he thought with a laugh. He positioned himself across from Ireland's Seeker, Aidan Lynch, who was in his final season. The bludgers, quaffle and then the snitch were released and the game begun.
Harry flew 20 feet above the game and began searching for a speck of gold. Lynch was following him closely.
"Ireland is first to take possession of the quaffle. Moran tears down the field, passes to Douglas to Boyd. Score! 10-0 to Ireland. Cannons in possession, Connoly, Chang, Connoly, Malfoy, ooh nice duck under that bludger. Chang, oh bad luck. Hit in the stomach by a bludger. Wind is knocked out of her. Ireland take the quaffle. Boyd puts on full speed, dodges one bludger and the other! Oh but wait! Chang, Connoly and Malfoy come up out of nowhere and make him drop the quaffle. Caught by Moran, Douglas now is possession. Nice aim! Beater Canalie hits the quaffle out of his arm. Quaffle caught by Chang, she tears up the field and passes to Malfoy, Connoly, Malfoy, he scores! 10-10. Oh and what's this? Newark is diving, closely followed by Lynch! I think they've seen the Snitch! Oh no. Lynch always falls for that. Newark did the Wronski Feint. Yes, he's above searching the field for the snitch while Lynch is being revived. You'd think he'd learn by now." Boos came from the Ireland fans at the commentary.
"Lynch is taking off now. Resume all play. Ireland takes the quaffle, Moran dives under Connoly passes to Douglas, nice save by Bregg, Cannons Keeper. Boyd catches it, passes to Moran, 20-10 to Ireland! And the Cannons are getting furious. They're really picking up the pace now. It's Chang, Malfoy, Chang, Connoly, foul! Excessive use of elbows by Irelands beater. And yes Connoly is lining up to take the penalty shot. 20-20! Boyd takes the quaffle, Moran, Boyd, Douglas, nice bludger work. Douglas drops the quaffle into Boyd's hands; good thing he was underneath Douglas. Boyd scores 30-20 Ireland. Chang take the Quaffle, Malfoy to Connoly, back to Malfoy. Ahh, Boyd and Douglas trap Malfoy from both sides. They've got Keeper O'Donnell out and he goes underneath Malfoy, Moran goes behind. Malfoy yanks up on his broom but Moran blocks his way very quickly. He's trying to speed up now to get out, no that's not working. Connoly gets overhead to get the quaffle but Beater Trundle hits a bludger at him. Ooh that had to hurt. Ireland team steered Malfoy into the side of the stands. Ireland catches the quaffle while Medi-wizards run to Malfoy on the ground. And Ireland scores!! 40-20!"
Harry began to get exasperated. He needed to get the snitch. The game was not going their way at all. Lynch wasn't following him anymore, although he did stay about ten feet in front of Harry at all times. Harry looked over at him to his right and saw Lynch get a smile on his face and then he started to dive. Harry panicked and started to dive after him but pulled up again when something caught his eye by the Cannons goal posts.
It was the Snitch!
He looked down at Lynch who was obviously attempting to Feint, and then he sped off in the opposite direction toward the posts. He dropped five feet as a bludger came at him and then rose 15 feet to be level with the highest post where the snitch was hovering. He laid flat against his broom and went after it. The commentary, the crowds, the wind were all drowned out of his ears as he concentrated on the little golden ball. Everything was silent, he could almost hear the wings fluttering. He stretched his hand out and closed his hand around the little ball, did a quick turn and went through the hoop with the snitch held high in the air. All the sound came back to his ears as the crowd erupted in cheers.
"The Cannons win 170-40! Newark's definitely as good as everyone says!" Bregg flew up behind him and slapped him on the back.
"Well done!" she yelled. He was closely followed by the rest of the team who also slapped him on the back. Malfoy came up last, even more pale than usual.
"Are you all right, Malfoy?" asked Harry with genuine concern in his voice.
"Yeah, I'll be fine. I've had worse injuries than this." he gave Harry a weak smile. The team flew down to the entrance to the locker rooms after their victory lap but found it blocked. A giant crowd of fans had congregated at the entrance. Some wizards put up a faint yellowish shield around the team to protect them until they got a path cleared for the team. The crowd started to chant, 'Newark!"
"You're a star already James." Cho grinned at him. He smiled back. A star. Famous once again. It all came back to fame again.
I must be made for it. I never ask for it. It just always comes to me. I hate fame. This was a bad idea. I should have come back to be an auror again not this. No I shouldn't have come back at all. Everyone will find out who I am anyway and make an even bigger deal out of it. God I hate being me. Harry friggin' Potter. The Boy Who Lived. What a tragic hero. What utter rubbish. Harry bent his head and scratched it and felt like pulling all it hair out. He turned and looked at Malfoy who was staring at him funny.
"What? Do I have shit on my face or what? You don't have to stare. I hate people staring at me."
"Sorry, but you might as well get used to it." Harry shook his head and sighed.
"I tried before and I never got used to it." he muttered under his breath. Harry began walking down the newly cleared path with Malfoy staring dumbly at his back.
The team showered up and got dressed. The reporters started to stream in and each one took a player aside. Malfoy was giving one word answers to everything because he had his mind elsewhere. He turned and saw James talking and laughing with a reporter interviewing him. He heard him reply,
"July 30th and I'm 24." Malfoy shook his head and turned back to his reporter.
Thirty minutes later, Harry was the only one in the locker room. He stuffed all his robes into his bag so he could wash them, and swung his bag over his shoulder. He started to walk over to the fireplace so he could Floo back to his house in London when a person came out and pinned him up against the wall.
"You want to tell me who you are or not?"
A/N: I guess that is kind of a cliff-hanger. I hope it left you hanging and makes you want to come back for more!! HEHE! :) Please review!! I love reviews. They make me get the chapters out faster. Thanks so much to all the people who have reviewed already! You're wonderful! ;) Next chapter: The rest of this little fight at the end of the chapter here. We meet up with Ginny Weasley. Hermione goes into labour but will everything be OK with her? Threats and a couple new characters.