CHAPTER TWELVE: BROOMSTICKS

The tingling in Harry's scar had subsided since Madame Pomfrey had given him a potion called; "Mr Maberly's Tingling and Such Reducing Potion".

Everything went back to normal, Malfoy and his goons were up to their usual taunts; Harry ignored it, but had to hold Ron back.

"Better watch your back Potter. They might be more than jinxes next time." Malfoy droned as Harry and Ron came down to the main entrance from another boring lesson of Divination. All who were there stopped talking to listen.

They continued to walk down the marble stairs. "Malfoy, if your sarcasm could get any worse the sorting hat would have sent you home."

"I bet it wanted too, but daddy threatened it." Ron added as they stopped at the base of the stairs. "Actually I bet it was your father who cursed Harry and Neville."

"Shut up Weasley. At least my father can curse." Malfoy took a step forward as the other two cracked their knuckles.

Harry stood in front of Ron to stop him from getting into trouble. "Malfoy, Malfoy, Malfoy. Go away, I have no energy to waste on you. We've got Quidditch practice. Though we don't really need to practice with the group of blockheads that can't even play properly."

"Watch it Potter." Malfoy took another step forward.

Harry took a step forward too as well. "The only reason why we even try is because Slytherin has a reputation to uphold."

"I mean it Potter!" Malfoy's wand hand was twitching at his side.

"Yeah they have to cheat in every game. But as Snape as their head, they can get away with murder." There was a larger crowd and they all oohed.

"I could beat you any day." His wand was out and pointed at him.

Harry clicked his fingers and Malfoy's wand flew into his hand. "Do you want put your words into actions Draco Malfoy?"

"What do you mean?" Malfoy tried to keep his sneer, but everyone could tell he was confused.

"Idiots, the whole lot of you. Three days from now. For your slow brain, today is Wednesday. Three days from now is Saturday. You, me and a snitch. Whoever loses has to bare almost everything at the next Quidditch match. Boxers only." The room was filled with oohs and aahs. Malfoy took a step back. Harry knew he would win. Malfoy had always lost against Harry. But he would have to accept the challenge. He was not just a Slytherin - he was a Malfoy. Harry threw his wand at him. Malfoy caught it.

"I'll see you there." He turned around and walked down into the dungeons, followed by his sidekicks.

"Anyone can come. But make sure the teachers don't know." Everyone cheered and Ron and Harry went down to practice.

*********************

Trying to get a quicker and easier route to Divination after having a run in with Snape got Harry lost. And as he rounded a corner where he thought would get him back on track, he bumped into the most unlikely person.

"Colin?!" Harry took a step back in surprise and confusion.

"Harry, It's not your fault." Colin was pale and his voice had an echo, but to Harry he looked very solid and alive.

"It is my fault. It is because of me that this all happened. You were killed because Voldemort wanted information about me. Cedric died because Voldemort wanted me. Don't you see? It is because of me that you are dead!"

"Harry, it's not your fault." Colin gave a small smile and disappeared down the corridor and even though Harry tried to run after him, couldn't keep up. He closed his eyes and leaned against a wall to slow down his breathing.

When he opened his eyes, he was lying on the ground tangled in his bed sheets. So it was a dream. But it felt so real. But usually all his dreams felt real these days. He shoved his sheets on his bed and pulled on his robes. He decided to go for a walk. And as he passed, he saw a clock read 4:30am.

He walked out of the room, pausing as Ron roused, but soon turned over and was very asleep as before. He walked down the boy's corridor and down the main stairs into the entrance room. The fireplace was slowly dying out. He made his way out and closed the portrait behind him. The fat lady was nowhere to be seen as he made his way down the corridor.

He had walked for quite some time before realising he was in the same corridor as the gargoyle that led up to the Headmaster's office. But as he turned around to walk away, he bumped into the aforespoken person who had a cup of hot chocolate in his hand.

"Good morning Harry. Quidditch practice cannot be this early. You haven't picked up where Mr Wood left off surely?" He was smiling with a milk mustache on, well his mustache.

"No. Just a strange dream and not being able to go back to sleep."

"Ah well in that case, would you like to join me in drinking a cup of hot chocolate?" There was that twinkle in his eyes.

"Yeah alright." So the two made their way up to his study and they sat down. A house elf came in with a cup of coca for Harry and scurried out once more. The headmaster didn't even have to ask what was bothering Harry.

"I don't know if it's calmed me or disturbed me." Harry recounted his dream to the headmaster. "I know he doesn't blame me, but I just don't know why Voldemort is after me. I know my mother's charm, help defeat him the first time. But why in the world would he want to kill me sir? Why did I out of all people be the one he wants dead? I was a baby after all. What could I possibly do at that age?"

"You know why. It is because you are the heir of Gryffindor. You have powers of Merlin. The powers that you have already shown, most full-grown witches and wizards don't even understand the concept. You are young and you haven't reached your full potential. Voldemort has been afraid of you ever since that prophecy has been made. He knows you can beat him. Everyone seems to know it, even you; but you will not let yourself believe it."

"But I'm scared sir. I can't do it all by myself." Harry's eyes were closed; absorbing everything the old man was telling him.

"Do you think you will have to do this all by yourself. I don't think Ron or Hermione would let you even if you tried to stop them. They will be with you until the end. Actually your father warned me about this." The headmaster chuckled.

Harry abruptly opened his eyes in bewilderment. "My father?"

He chuckled again. "Yes Harry, the one and only. He said, "I just know it Albus. He is soo going to have Lily's doubtful mind. If you see it, kick it out of him will you sir? I find it soo annoying sometimes!' But I think it's good. It keeps you in reality so we know you know when things can go too far. And look where it has got you. With that doubtful mind of yours, you have survived death and conquered all the challenges that have faced you so far."

"That's true. But I guess when it ends it will end. I think I'm more afraid of the people I trust will turn on me. I remember studying in the History of Magic. The head of the wizarding council who made alliance with the dark side betrayed Gandalf the Grey. It shows that even the dearest of friends can turn against you."

"Yes but Sauran was the type of wizard who wanted power and lots of it. And Sauramon said he would give it to him. And look where it got him. Betrayed and killed. He would have survived if he stayed with Gandalf the Grey. It shows you in the end that good always prevails over evil Harry. And I know through experience most people would choose good over power." Both wizards smiled and drunk deeply into their mugs.

"HEADMASTER! Harry's gone again. Ron just informed me when he woke up he was gone and his wand is gone as well!" McGonagall's head was floating through the fireplace with a frantic look on his face.

"Good morning to you Professor McGonagall. No need to fret. Harry is here with me."

"Hi Professor." Harry got up so she could see him and waved. He saw her face relax from worry. "I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep. I bumped into the headmaster and we were just talking."

"Alright, alright. Next time leave a note or something. The whole of the Gryffindor house wants to set up a search party. I particularly think they just want to skip school, but some were worried. Will you please come down to breakfast so they believe me when I tell them that you have not been bitten by Mackled Malaclaw Hagrid has decided to show the first years." And with that she disappeared.

"See what I mean. Well we better go down before they think you've been eaten by an Erkling or something."

*************** "What are the chances of him showing up?" The Slytherin table was almost empty on Saturday morning. The whole hall was in whispers about the upcoming secret bet between the two hottest and most popular 5th years. The teachers were a bit suspicious but had not a clue what was happening.

"He'll show. He's a Malfoy. Anyway he can't get us into trouble. If he rattles, the school knows what the back up plan is. We're having a fundraiser to help send Chloe Caspin to America to visit her grandmother in Australia. They will totally fall for it." Ron couldn't help but grin at the plan he had made.

Hermione looked indecisive. "But look at their table. What are they up to? They must be up to something. That is why he is Malfoy. He will try anything to beat you."

"Well we will have to wait until the match. Can you do that shielding spell on me? Maybe they are going to try to jinx me off my broom."

"Yeah alright. We've got a couple of hours before it starts. Let's go back up to the common room. No one from Slytherin will be able to know what we are doing." Good lucks and encouragement was said as Harry, Ron and Hermione made their way up to the Gryffindor tower. But when they got up to the Portrait, the Fat Lady was no where in sight.

"Great what are we going to do now?" Harry slid onto the ground next to the portrait.

"Really hope someone is inside, because look at the Quidditch stands. They're already half full." Hermione pointed out.

And an hour and a half passed and still no sign of the fat lady. Hermione had decided to put the spell on him, hoping no one saw. So they headed down to the Quidditch stand to retrieve Harry's Firebolt from the Broomstick shed. But it wasn't there.

"Great! It must be in the dorm still. I thought Malfoy might tamper with it." Harry punched the shed in frustration.

"Aahh. What a shame. Poor Potter can't play without his precious broomstick. You dare to play against me on a school broomstick?" Malfoy, Goyle and Crabbe all laughed.

"You must be joking. Not like you, I am good at charms. ACCIO FIREBOLT!" Harry had pointed his wand at the castle and walked toward the Quidditch stands. "See you out there Malfoy." Malfoy had gone pale went towards the Slytherin locker room.

"What an idiot!" That was the last thing that could be heard as the trio stepped onto the field. The school chose with Harry's utmost approval - Cho Chang as the referee. And as usual Lee Jordan was the MC.

The crowd well, three quarters of the crowd cheered once they spotted Harry and the Firebolt that glided next to him. Not long after, one quarter of the crowd, being the Slytherin house as Malfoy and the Slytherin Quidditch team walked onto the field.

"Malfoy, I know your bad, but if the whole of your team wanted to try and beat the Harry Potter, you might as well forfeit now!" Fred and George had taken the microphone off Lee and most of the stadium laughed.

"Let's go. We only have three hours to do this. Shake hands." Cho Chang was both serious and laughing as she spoke to the two men.

Tightly and quickly letting go of one another, Harry and Draco surmount onto their brooms and waited for the referee's whistle. The whole stadium was silent and only the trees could be heard in the autumn breeze.

Cho brought it to her lips, looked at Alicia Spinnet who was a referee as well; she nodded, Cho released the Snitch, which flew around each of the seekers and out of sight before she blew her whistle and they were off. Not even 10 feet off the ground, Harry turned around on his broom and snatched the snitch that was flying behind his head.

The crowd cheered but was in disappointment with such a short game. Harry said he would let Malfoy have a head start, for the fairness of the game. That seemed to make the Slytherin house very angry.

"Well we have over two and a half hours left. And Malfoy doesn't seem capable-"

"Shut up Potter. It was a fluke. Let's go again." So the wizards and witch on the field began the game again. This time, though Harry saw the snitch he let it pass, because he wanted to see what the Slytherins were up to.

It was a beautiful day; the castle looking shiny and new as the rays hit the stone. There were birds singing and a light cool breeze. The grounds looked spectacular, with the snow sculpting the vast area. And Harry could just hear the sound of the student's voices from the ground beneath.

Harry spotted Malfoy zooming fast onto the ground, but knew he was feinting because at that same time the snitch was flying right behind him. Most people saw this and couldn't help but burst into laughter. Harry almost fell off his broom with tears in his eyes.

Malfoy went red in the face and flew up to Harry. But Harry spoke first. "Alright, you can't even seem to feint properly.' They were near Lee Jordan so the crowd could hear it through the microphone. 'And so you won't have to languish humiliation much longer, I'll point you out the snitch, how about that?"

Before Harry could block himself, Malfoy punched him in the jaw. Harry swung around on his broom. "You, Potter need to be taught a lesson in how to deal with fame. It seems to be going to your head."

Harry rubbed his jaw. "No Malfoy, you need to be taught how to play Quidditch with cheating." And Harry jumped on Malfoy and they missed Lee Jordan and the Weasley twins as they scattered out of the way, before the two teens landed in the stadium.

They punched and kicked and made eachother bleed. For half an hour, they tried to break each other's bones. Malfoy finally shoved him out of the way. "Now let's see who can get the snitch first!"

Harry was gasping for breath after a blow to the stomach. "Oh no you don't Malfoy!" He jumped over the ledge onto his broom and tore after the bleeding Slytherin. He finally leveled with him the snitch still out of their reach. They roughed around and just pulled out before hitting the ground, Harry having the snitch in his hand.

"And this Malfoy, is how you catch a snitch with fame."