The day of the first Quidditch match of the season for Hogwarts dawned brightly. The Gryffindors would be facing the Slytherins for the first game. Harry had insisted on almost daily practice for the week coming before the match. He was now attempting to coach all of his teammates into eating some breakfast. It wasn't Kirke and Sloper's first match, yet they were still nervous and would barely eat.
Ginny was taking the good advice and had eaten a normal breakfast, and the Fairfax twins were following her example. "Do we have a good chance of winning?" Kate asked.
"Of course we do!" Ginny replied. "Gryffindor wins almost all the time."
"There's basically only one veteran on this team," Chary pointed out. "What if we all screw up because it's our first match?"
"Well we've almost all played at least one match except for you two," Ginny said.
Harry passed them and took a seat next to Ron and Hermione. "Ready for the first match of the season?" Ron asked him.
Harry grinned. "Of course I'm ready. I can't wait to beat Malfoy."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione glanced over at the Slytherin table. Malfoy was in the process of trying to make it clear to the Slytherins and anyone else stupid enough to listen that he was superior and that his team would conquer simply because he could say a lot of rude things about Harry and his team members. The three rolled their eyes simultaneously and turned back to breakfast.
* * * * * * *
Grasping his Firebolt, Harry led his team out onto the Quidditch pitch to meet the Slytherin team led by Malfoy, in the center of the field. The Gryffindor team was met by a tumultuous applause from the majority of the excited crowd gathered to watch the match.
Harry and Malfoy approached each other and shook hands, each trying to break the other's bones. Madam Hooch approached them and gave the usual instructions for a fair game. Judging from the sneer Malfoy was directing towards Harry, he reckoned that it wasn't going to be very fair at all. They'd show Malfoy though.
The Quaffle was released and the two teams took off on their brooms. Harry, as usual, swiftly flew to a point with a wide view of the game. Malfoy was slowly flying around, but keeping a steady eye on Harry's actions.
The commentary was began by a new person this year. Lee Jordan had completed his seventh year and they had recruited a saucy fourth year Ravenclaw name Jessica Baylor to fill Jordan's former position. Instead of McGonagall, Flitwick had the privilege of overseeing and censoring her comments.
"They're off and Gryffindor is already in possession! Nice work!" Baylor began excitedly. "Fairfax to Weasley, to Fairfax, and back to Fairfax, SCORE! 10-0 Gryffindor!"
Harry grinned excitedly. Everything was going fine. He swooped to the left and made a fast circuit of the pitch. Harry noted Malfoy breaking off the impulse to follow him. Harry quickly glanced towards the Chasers. The Slytherin Beaters were after them and his own Beaters weren't good enough to stop them.
Harry leaned forward and zoomed toward Bole and Derrick nearly knocking them off their brooms. The Fairfax twins and Ginny flew off chasing after the Slytherins who now had possession.
"Excellent save by Weasley!" Baylor announced rather loudly. "If that's the best you Slytherin Chasers can do, you're in deep trouble!"
Professor Flitwick's squeaky voice followed, "Now, now, Miss Baylor. . ."
"Yeah, whatever," was the reply.
Harry turned his attention back to the game. Bole and Derrick had recovered and were after him now. He grinned and zoomed upwards and then took a sharp lap. Malfoy was now shouting at them to pay attention to the Chasers. Harry decided to take the chance to pull a feint on Malfoy.
Aiming his broom down, Harry leaned forward and zoomed towards the bottom of the Slytherin side of the stands. There was an angry shout from behind and without looking back, Harry knew that Malfoy was fast on his trail.
Harry pulled slightly upwards as he swiftly zoomed towards the people in the stand. At the last second Harry pulled up and towards the right. He looked back down at the aftermath. Malfoy narrowly missed crashing into his fellow house mates and quickly turned around back onto the pitch giving Harry a very nasty glare. Harry cheerily waved back.
"SCORE!" came Baylor's loud and entertaining voice. "20-0 Gryffindor!"
Harry quickly turned his head to glance at Ginny who had made the score and gave her a thumbs up. She grinned and returned it.
"Slytherin is now is possession of the Quaffle," Baylor continued to announce.
Harry turned and zoomed upwards towards the center of the field. It would be nice if he could find the Snitch and end it quickly. Noticing a Bludger coming straight for him, Harry dodged it quickly. Harry looked back up and saw a flutter of gold near the Slytherin goal posts. No one had noticed because everyone's eyes were on the other side where Harry's team was trying to prevent Slytherin from scoring.
Turning his broom, Harry aimed straight for the Snitch and took off.
"Score, 20-10, Gryffindor," came Baylor's announcement. Harry ignored it.
By now the whole crowd had spotted Harry for the Snitch and the majority was wildly cheering. Harry took a quick glance behind him. Malfoy was right behind him trying to gain some distance. Harry's broom darted forward and Harry reached out to catch the Snitch.
Suddenly the Snitch darted behind Harry and he grit his teeth. It was going straight for Malfoy! Harry twisted his broom around and sped towards it. Malfoy was going to catch it. Suddenly a Bludger hit by Sloper collided with Malfoy knocking him off his Nimbus 2001. Harry reached forward and grabbed the Snitch. They had won!
"POTTER CATCHES THE SNITCH AFTER A NEAR MISS! GRYFFINDOR WINS!" came Baylor's excited shouts.
Harry quickly flew over and shook Sloper's hand. He had not thought that one of his Beaters would come in handy like that.
* * * * * * *
Late that night Harry sat at his desk studying a bit, but mostly thinking things over. After a great amount of research, he had determined that the sister-staff of Nosyl Sharod was indeed in great danger. The shattered pieces of the former Dark staff would lead Voldemort to what he sought if he got close enough.
Voldemort has the key to the vault yet he knows not where it lies, Harry thought with amusement. It was only a matter of time until Voldemort discovered the hiding place, wherever it was. He was most definitely ahead. How were they ever going to catch up.
Harry slumped back into his chair sleepily. How would he ever know what Voldemort was doing?
~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^ ~ ^
Harry's eyes suddenly jerked open. He had fallen asleep in his office. He quickly sat up. Before he could stand up though, he noticed that something was odd. The office was dark, there was no light anywhere, even coming from the crack under the door to the hallway. The darkness seemed to be in shades of blue rather than black. This gave Harry some visibility. Moonlight also came in through the windows. A chilly wind seemed to blow about, yet seemed not to touch anything or affect anything. That's odd, Harry noted.
He stood up and walked around to close the window, but it was not open. Neither was the moon out. It was a new moon. Abruptly Harry noticed something else was different. His ring was cold as ice. Perhaps it was doing this.
He looked down at the ring. The sapphires set into the ring seemed to glow eerily as if the light somehow had an affinity for them. Harry took a direct approach with the ring. "Where am I? What is this?" His words seemed to echo on the wind and fade away as he spoke them.
The wind seemed to whisper to him. "Time. . . this be time. . . the essence of time. . ."
"Why am I here?" Harry asked.
In response to the question the wind seem to blow harder in a circle around him. His surroundings seemed to rearrange themselves around him until he found himself standing on the corner of a street. Finally the wind whispered again, "Witness and return to thine own realm from whence thou shalt act appropriately. For thou witness what will be if thou fail to act quickly enough."
"Who are you?" Harry called as his voice was lost into the wind. "Why are you going out of your way to show me this?"
"I AM TIME!" the mysterious voice roared mightily through the wind. "You wear upon thy finger the mighty key of entrance to this realm. The gracious Miledy bids me to perform this favor. Act thy part Mage. . . Perform thy part well High Lord of Phoenix."
Harry, even more confused than before continued to ask questions but they were no longer answered. There was no longer any wind either. He would have to try and figure it out later. There obviously was something that needed to be done.
He slowly walked down the seemingly empty and eerily quiet street. Harry felt himself drawn to one house in particular. It was fairly large, the occupants were obviously fairly well off. Harry walked towards it. As he walked up the drive he looked at the mailbox. Granger. It was Hermione's house!
Harry stopped and looked around puzzled. What was he here for? Suddenly figures in black seemed to swarm in front of him. One of them even passed through his form. Death Eaters! Not all of them traveled in the same direction. Several hid themselves in the yard and perimeter. If any came to help it was an ambush. Hermione.
He had to warn her! Harry looked down at his ring and yelled, "Take me back!"
The blue shadows blurred and he found himself in his study. There was a loud pop and Harry nearly fell over onto the floor in his warm office. He was no longer in the shadow place.
Harry scrambled up. He had to warn Hermione!