"Harry, you didn't finish your Charms essay already, did you?" Ron asked in
amazement, as his friend started packing up his things.
"No," Harry replied grumpily. "I've got detention with Snape tonight, remember?"
"Oh yeah," Hermione groaned. "Hope you don't have too much of a bad time, Harry. Try and come back to us in one piece."
"I will," Harry sighed, rolling his eyes. He walked out of the common room and towards the dungeons. Before he could knock on the door, it opened.
"Come in, Potter," said Snape, who had been sitting at his desk. When Harry walked in, the Potions master stood up and walked over to him. "So, are you ready to receive the punishment for your actions, Mr. Potter?"
Harry glared at him. He knew that no matter how much he argued his innocence, Snape would never believe him.
"I take your silence for a yes," Snape sneered, smiling wryly. "I've been thinking for awhile: what should I have you do for detention? The answer came to me soon enough. I figured that I'd have you re-" Snape was interrupted by a knock at the door. "Who is it?" he asked with annoyance.
Link walked in briskly. Snape's eyes narrowed. "What do you want here, Koke? Can't you see I'm trying to give Potter detention?"
"Oh, you are?" Link asked innocently. "What's he in for?"
Snape's lip curled. "That's no concern of yours, Koke."
"All right then." Link turned to Harry. "What're you in for, Potter?"
Harry was slightly taken aback. Then he had second thoughts. Snape would never believe his innocence, but maybe Koke would. "Well you see Professor," Harry began. "I was in Potions class earlier today and got falsely accused."
Snape looked like he wanted to say something, but Link stepped in front of him, still looking at Harry. "Go on."
"I got blamed for putting newt eyes in my friend's potion, but I didn't do it! I mean, it doesn't even make sense! Why would I mess up my friend on purpose?"
"Out of jealousy," Snape snarled. "Granger's always been a perfect little genius in your mind, hasn't she, Potter? So you tried to throw her off her guard, just so you could get a better grade than her!"
"Professor Koke, that isn't true!" Harry complained. "It was another student that did it, not me!"
"It wouldn't happen to be Malfoy, would it?" Link asked calmly.
"Yes!" Harry responded, just as Snape said, "Don't be ridiculous!" The two of them glared at each other.
"Professor Snape," Link said curtly, turning to him. "I've been hearing a few complaints around the school, saying that Potter got framed. May I ask, sir, who witnessed Potter.messing up his friend's potion?"
"It was Malfoy!" Snape snapped (ooh, that sounds weird!).
"Just Malfoy?"
"Yes!"
"Well, Professor, I have more than one eyewitness who says that it was Malfoy who put the newt eyes in the girl's cauldron. Therefore, I am under the impression that Potter is innocent. Would you care for me to bring in these eyewitnesses?"
Snape opened his mouth slightly, then clamped it shut again. "No," he said quietly, through gritted teeth.
"Good. Because the Headmaster has already requested that Harry sees him at once."
His eyes widening a bit, Snape clenched his fists. "Fine, Potter. Go!"
Without any question, Harry walked out of the room with Link. Once they had left the dungeons, he turned to his Divination teacher.
"Professor Koke, what does the Headmaster want to see me about?"
Link shrugged. "Nothing."
"But you said that he had to see me! Snape believed you!"
Seeming unconcerned about this, Link shrugged again. "He lies, I lie. Besides, I thought you would rather go to your first Quidditch practice than spend the night in detention with Snape. Unless of course, you want to- "
"No, no," Harry said quickly, smiling. "It's okay. Wow, Professor, are you allowed to do stuff like that?"
"Well, you WERE innocent, weren't you?"
"Yes."
"Then you were unjustly put in detention in the first place. And by the way, I gave you back your ten points."
"Wow! Thanks, Profess-"
"Oh, don't waste time thanking me. You don't want to be late for Quidditch!"
"Thanks again!" Harry shouted, running down the hall.
***
A few minutes later, Harry was getting changed for Quidditch practice.
"Hey!" said Ron, once Harry walked out onto the field. "I thought that you had detention with Snape!"
"Koke bailed me out!" Harry responded, grinning.
"What d'you mean?"
"I'll explain later."
"Okay, people!" Alicia said, clapping her hands for attention. "Let's get started! Katie's getting the box that has all the balls in them, so I'll just explain what we're going to do: Ron, you're going to defend the goals from me, Katie, and Ginny. Ginny, do you think you'll be okay to play?"
"I'm fine," Ginny responded. She had just been let out of the Hospital wing, and was sporting a long, white bandage on her forehead.
"Okay, then. Finnigan, Thomas, it's going to be your guys' jobs to keep the Bludgers away from us, and Harry-you know what to do."
"Yup," said Harry, smiling.
Katie came onto the field, panting, and holding the large box. She set it down and opened it up. Inside lay the Quaffle, Snitch, and the two bludgers.
"Okay, everyone mount your brooms!" Alicia ordered, walking over to the box. I'm going to release the Quaffle first, then the Bludgers, and then the Snitch. Okay? All right, get on up there!"
The six other players went into the sky, and got into their postitions. Alicia let go of the Quaffle, and Ginny caught it. She let loose the Bludgers and the Snitch, then launched herself in the air.
"Let's play!" Alicia shouted.
Ginny threw the Quaffle to Katie, who zoomed down the field. As a bludger came flying towards her, Seamus quickly flew past her and whacked it away. From surprise, Katie dropped the ball--and Alica caught it.
Harry flew around the Quidditch field, totally at ease. Being back on his broomstick felt so natural. He didn't know what he'd have done if he HAD been given a life-long ban from the sport.
Finding the Snitch was easier said than done. The tiny, golden ball flew around so fast, you were lucky to catch even a glimpse of it. But Harry had a knack for spotting the Snitch that not everyone else had.
Meanwhile, Ron blocked another shot, this one had come from Alicia.
"Hey, Ron!" Katie laughed. "Have you been practicing over the summer? You've gotten really good!"
"Thanks," Ron said, his ears turning slightly red.
***
Once the practice ended, Harry walked back up to the castle with Ron and Ginny. All of them were panting a bit, but still smiling.
"It must feel great to be back on the team!" Ron said to Harry.
"You bet it is!"
"I told you, Harry," Ginny laughed. "I knew that Umbridge would be leaving us after a year, and I was right. Now you're back on the team!"
"Well, I'm sure you did great as the Seeker while I was gone," Harry responded quickly, turning a bit pink.
"Are you kidding me? I was terrible. I think I'm much more adept at being a Chaser. Being the Seeker was too much pressure for me."
"Being a Keeper can build up a lot of pressure too, you know," Ron cut in. "Especially if you've got people singing that...song." His ears turned red, as he remembered the song that the Slytherins had made up last year, "Weasley is Our King."
"Well, like Katie said, you're much better this year," Ginny comforted him, as they approached the Gryffindor common room. "Barfing Boggarts."
The fat lady's portrait swung open. "I can't wait for our first match against Slytherin," Ron chuckled. "They are so history!"
"I'd just love to see them try and sing that song again this year!" Ginny remarked, heading up the staircase to the girls' dormitories. "Good- night, guys."
"Night," Harry said, as Ginny closed the door behind her. Harry turned to face Ron. "Why didn't you say good night to your sister?"
Ron shrugged. "I thought she'd find it enough if you said it for me." He pretended to be Ginny, love-struck and big eyed.
"Oh, shut up Ron," Harry retorted, trying to fight a grin.
"Oh yeah, I forgot to ask you," Ron sighed, flopping down on his bed. "What did you mean when you said Koke 'bailed' you out of detention with Snape?"
Harry sat down on his bed as well. He found no point in prolonging the truth. "He lied by saying that Dumbledore wanted to see me."
"He did what?!" Ron cried, sitting up straight again. "D'you mean to tell me that Koke had the nerve to just stand up to Snape and lie to his face?!"
"Yeah," Harry replied calmly. "Besides, he knew that I was innocent, and if Snape ever finds out, he'll let him know that I was injustly put in detention in the first place."
"Harry, that's never stopped Snape before."
"Oh well, what do you care? At least I didn't stay, right?"
"I know, but what if...what if Snape finds out that Koke lied to him? What if he gets really mad, and wants to challenge him to another duel?"
Sighing with annoyance, Harry turned over in his bed. "Geez, Ron. You're starting to sound just like Hermione. Why don't we just go to sleep, okay?"
"All right. Night, Harry."
"Night, Ron."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
yeah...that's chapter numero ocho, dudes.
"No," Harry replied grumpily. "I've got detention with Snape tonight, remember?"
"Oh yeah," Hermione groaned. "Hope you don't have too much of a bad time, Harry. Try and come back to us in one piece."
"I will," Harry sighed, rolling his eyes. He walked out of the common room and towards the dungeons. Before he could knock on the door, it opened.
"Come in, Potter," said Snape, who had been sitting at his desk. When Harry walked in, the Potions master stood up and walked over to him. "So, are you ready to receive the punishment for your actions, Mr. Potter?"
Harry glared at him. He knew that no matter how much he argued his innocence, Snape would never believe him.
"I take your silence for a yes," Snape sneered, smiling wryly. "I've been thinking for awhile: what should I have you do for detention? The answer came to me soon enough. I figured that I'd have you re-" Snape was interrupted by a knock at the door. "Who is it?" he asked with annoyance.
Link walked in briskly. Snape's eyes narrowed. "What do you want here, Koke? Can't you see I'm trying to give Potter detention?"
"Oh, you are?" Link asked innocently. "What's he in for?"
Snape's lip curled. "That's no concern of yours, Koke."
"All right then." Link turned to Harry. "What're you in for, Potter?"
Harry was slightly taken aback. Then he had second thoughts. Snape would never believe his innocence, but maybe Koke would. "Well you see Professor," Harry began. "I was in Potions class earlier today and got falsely accused."
Snape looked like he wanted to say something, but Link stepped in front of him, still looking at Harry. "Go on."
"I got blamed for putting newt eyes in my friend's potion, but I didn't do it! I mean, it doesn't even make sense! Why would I mess up my friend on purpose?"
"Out of jealousy," Snape snarled. "Granger's always been a perfect little genius in your mind, hasn't she, Potter? So you tried to throw her off her guard, just so you could get a better grade than her!"
"Professor Koke, that isn't true!" Harry complained. "It was another student that did it, not me!"
"It wouldn't happen to be Malfoy, would it?" Link asked calmly.
"Yes!" Harry responded, just as Snape said, "Don't be ridiculous!" The two of them glared at each other.
"Professor Snape," Link said curtly, turning to him. "I've been hearing a few complaints around the school, saying that Potter got framed. May I ask, sir, who witnessed Potter.messing up his friend's potion?"
"It was Malfoy!" Snape snapped (ooh, that sounds weird!).
"Just Malfoy?"
"Yes!"
"Well, Professor, I have more than one eyewitness who says that it was Malfoy who put the newt eyes in the girl's cauldron. Therefore, I am under the impression that Potter is innocent. Would you care for me to bring in these eyewitnesses?"
Snape opened his mouth slightly, then clamped it shut again. "No," he said quietly, through gritted teeth.
"Good. Because the Headmaster has already requested that Harry sees him at once."
His eyes widening a bit, Snape clenched his fists. "Fine, Potter. Go!"
Without any question, Harry walked out of the room with Link. Once they had left the dungeons, he turned to his Divination teacher.
"Professor Koke, what does the Headmaster want to see me about?"
Link shrugged. "Nothing."
"But you said that he had to see me! Snape believed you!"
Seeming unconcerned about this, Link shrugged again. "He lies, I lie. Besides, I thought you would rather go to your first Quidditch practice than spend the night in detention with Snape. Unless of course, you want to- "
"No, no," Harry said quickly, smiling. "It's okay. Wow, Professor, are you allowed to do stuff like that?"
"Well, you WERE innocent, weren't you?"
"Yes."
"Then you were unjustly put in detention in the first place. And by the way, I gave you back your ten points."
"Wow! Thanks, Profess-"
"Oh, don't waste time thanking me. You don't want to be late for Quidditch!"
"Thanks again!" Harry shouted, running down the hall.
***
A few minutes later, Harry was getting changed for Quidditch practice.
"Hey!" said Ron, once Harry walked out onto the field. "I thought that you had detention with Snape!"
"Koke bailed me out!" Harry responded, grinning.
"What d'you mean?"
"I'll explain later."
"Okay, people!" Alicia said, clapping her hands for attention. "Let's get started! Katie's getting the box that has all the balls in them, so I'll just explain what we're going to do: Ron, you're going to defend the goals from me, Katie, and Ginny. Ginny, do you think you'll be okay to play?"
"I'm fine," Ginny responded. She had just been let out of the Hospital wing, and was sporting a long, white bandage on her forehead.
"Okay, then. Finnigan, Thomas, it's going to be your guys' jobs to keep the Bludgers away from us, and Harry-you know what to do."
"Yup," said Harry, smiling.
Katie came onto the field, panting, and holding the large box. She set it down and opened it up. Inside lay the Quaffle, Snitch, and the two bludgers.
"Okay, everyone mount your brooms!" Alicia ordered, walking over to the box. I'm going to release the Quaffle first, then the Bludgers, and then the Snitch. Okay? All right, get on up there!"
The six other players went into the sky, and got into their postitions. Alicia let go of the Quaffle, and Ginny caught it. She let loose the Bludgers and the Snitch, then launched herself in the air.
"Let's play!" Alicia shouted.
Ginny threw the Quaffle to Katie, who zoomed down the field. As a bludger came flying towards her, Seamus quickly flew past her and whacked it away. From surprise, Katie dropped the ball--and Alica caught it.
Harry flew around the Quidditch field, totally at ease. Being back on his broomstick felt so natural. He didn't know what he'd have done if he HAD been given a life-long ban from the sport.
Finding the Snitch was easier said than done. The tiny, golden ball flew around so fast, you were lucky to catch even a glimpse of it. But Harry had a knack for spotting the Snitch that not everyone else had.
Meanwhile, Ron blocked another shot, this one had come from Alicia.
"Hey, Ron!" Katie laughed. "Have you been practicing over the summer? You've gotten really good!"
"Thanks," Ron said, his ears turning slightly red.
***
Once the practice ended, Harry walked back up to the castle with Ron and Ginny. All of them were panting a bit, but still smiling.
"It must feel great to be back on the team!" Ron said to Harry.
"You bet it is!"
"I told you, Harry," Ginny laughed. "I knew that Umbridge would be leaving us after a year, and I was right. Now you're back on the team!"
"Well, I'm sure you did great as the Seeker while I was gone," Harry responded quickly, turning a bit pink.
"Are you kidding me? I was terrible. I think I'm much more adept at being a Chaser. Being the Seeker was too much pressure for me."
"Being a Keeper can build up a lot of pressure too, you know," Ron cut in. "Especially if you've got people singing that...song." His ears turned red, as he remembered the song that the Slytherins had made up last year, "Weasley is Our King."
"Well, like Katie said, you're much better this year," Ginny comforted him, as they approached the Gryffindor common room. "Barfing Boggarts."
The fat lady's portrait swung open. "I can't wait for our first match against Slytherin," Ron chuckled. "They are so history!"
"I'd just love to see them try and sing that song again this year!" Ginny remarked, heading up the staircase to the girls' dormitories. "Good- night, guys."
"Night," Harry said, as Ginny closed the door behind her. Harry turned to face Ron. "Why didn't you say good night to your sister?"
Ron shrugged. "I thought she'd find it enough if you said it for me." He pretended to be Ginny, love-struck and big eyed.
"Oh, shut up Ron," Harry retorted, trying to fight a grin.
"Oh yeah, I forgot to ask you," Ron sighed, flopping down on his bed. "What did you mean when you said Koke 'bailed' you out of detention with Snape?"
Harry sat down on his bed as well. He found no point in prolonging the truth. "He lied by saying that Dumbledore wanted to see me."
"He did what?!" Ron cried, sitting up straight again. "D'you mean to tell me that Koke had the nerve to just stand up to Snape and lie to his face?!"
"Yeah," Harry replied calmly. "Besides, he knew that I was innocent, and if Snape ever finds out, he'll let him know that I was injustly put in detention in the first place."
"Harry, that's never stopped Snape before."
"Oh well, what do you care? At least I didn't stay, right?"
"I know, but what if...what if Snape finds out that Koke lied to him? What if he gets really mad, and wants to challenge him to another duel?"
Sighing with annoyance, Harry turned over in his bed. "Geez, Ron. You're starting to sound just like Hermione. Why don't we just go to sleep, okay?"
"All right. Night, Harry."
"Night, Ron."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
yeah...that's chapter numero ocho, dudes.