Chapter 12 – The Secret Guardians
'So where are we going?'
'For the last time, it's a surprise' she smiled as she held his hand and led him around the lake.
The sun was shining from a clear blue sky, evaporating the dew on the grass and warming the cold air. The first day of spring had come early this year, and it was warm enough to go outside in summer clothes.
'We're almost there' she grinned at him.
They were following a rough path now, probably trodden by past students who had walked this way. As they approached the opposite side of the lake she slowed down and began searching for something. He had never been here before, and by the amount of weeds growing over the path he guessed that few had.
'There it is!'
He looked to where she was pulling him to, and saw a patch of grass with some type of basket and a blanket inside a clearing.
'It's a picnic basket, I asked Dobby to make it for us and bring it here.'
'Great' he grinned.
They sat down on the blanket and she opened the basket; to her delight it was filled with the best cold food the kitchens offered.
'Sandwiches, pastries, oh, and butterbeer! Dobby really went all out; I owe him another pair of socks. Are you hungry yet?'
'Not yet …' he replied as he pulled her closer and kissed her.
'Oh?' she said with a smile, 'need to work up an appetite Mr. Potter?'
'I've missed you; you make me forget everything when I'm with you.'
The time seemed to pass them by so quickly as they lay together by the lake, her head on his chest and her arm around him. He had his arm around her shoulders, and they lay there in silence with the sun shining down on them.
'I thought we might go to Hogsmeade in the afternoon, unless you plan on lying here all day.'
'I'd love to go, but I'm afraid my arms are stuck. I can't seem to let you go.' He said with mock regret.
'Oh really? Well let me help you!' and she tickled the side of his stomach forcing him to jump up.
'Hey! No fair, I wasn't expecting that.'
'Well I got your arms unstuck didn't I?'
'But I don't want to go yet, oh look! They're stuck again.'
He pulled her next to him on the grass and their lips touched, and they lay there for hours without a care in world.
'Right, well thanks for coming everyone.'
He surveyed them all, their eager expressions looking up at him. Hermione, Ron, Cho, Luna, Neville, Ginny, Seamus, and Dean – his real friends – would be the new DA. If things got tough, could he really count on people like Michael corner or Terry Boot to fight with him? These were the people he wanted to teach, to form his own order with.
'I – yes what is it Hermione? You don't have to put your hand up, I'm not a ruddy teacher.'
'Well I've been talking to all the others, and we've come to some conclusions.'
'You have? What on earth about?'
'We've figured out that you and V- Voldemort' and she paused briefly as she forced herself to say the name, 'are somehow connected. You're going to have to fight him.'
'I – what – how did you figure that out?'
'I'm not just good looks you know' she grinned at him, 'it's just an educated guess. It seems fate always brings you two together, so you must play a big part in his defeat.'
Harry frowned; sometimes Hermione was too clever for her own good.
'So' she continued, 'we decided that you would need your own order, and we as your friends promise to stand by you in this war.'
He looked at her in disbelief, his mind trying to comprehend what she had just said.
'But look, it's … it's dangerous!' he managed to stammer
'All the more reason you'll need allies you can count on and trust.' Cho said
'And besides, it's been awfully dull around here without Umbridge. I'd rather die at the hands of a deatheater than from boredom.' Ron grinned at him.
'And you know why I'm here.' Neville said and managed a weak smile.
'We're not taking no for an answer!' Ginny added
Harry rested his head in his hands and clenched his teeth. Sometimes they could be incredibly annoying, he thought as he let out a sigh.
'FINE' he snapped and looked up, 'it seems you persistent gits have obviously planned this all out without me, so there's no point arguing.'
'Glad you see it from our point of view' Ron grinned at him.
'I think we'll need a new name though, we're Harry's army now, not Dumbledore's army' Ginny said thoughtfully.
'The H.A.? No, nevermind, that sounds stupid.'
'Well we're going to be a secret order right?' Hermione said
'And we're dedicated to protecting Harry' Ginny nodded
'The secret society dedicated to protecting Harry Potter?' Hermione thought aloud
'Could you possibly make it any longer?' Ron said sarcastically
'How about the secret guardians of the stag?' Cho asked.
'Hey that's better, I like it!'
'What do you think Harry?'
Harry was still silent. He looked around at his new alliance, and realized he couldn't have asked for a better or more loyal group of friends.
'I think it's brilliant. Thank you.' He smiled.
'Right' Ron said, as he surveyed his team, 'Does everybody remember our game plan?'
They all remained silent. By now they had gone over it so many times that they were thoroughly sick of him repeating it.
'We're going to open with the hawkshead attacking formation, while our beaters –'
'We know' Seamus and Dean said exasperatedly.
'And Harry, you must not catch the snitch until we've built up a good lead. Just stop their seeker from getting it until we're up by at least a hundred points ok?'
'I think I heard you mention that, like, a dozen times already' he grinned
'I'm just making sure. Alright, everyone ready?'
They all joined hands in the center of the circle and yelled Gryffindor!
And here comes the Gryffindor team now! The announcer's voice boomed. Led onto the field by their Captain Ron Weasley, they are the defending champions two years in a row now!
There were loud boos from the Slytherins and Hufflepuffs as they ran on the field, but it was easily drowned out by the Gryffindor cheering. Some of the Ravenclaws were cheering too, and he smiled as he realized Cho must have persuaded them to back Gryffindor.
And here come the Hufflepuff team. They're considered the underdog in this game, but after the strong match they had against Slytherin I don't think anyone is going to underestimate them!
The Hufflepuffs cheered loudly as their team made its way to the starting position wearing their canary-yellow house robes. The captains shook hands and they all mounted their brooms as Madam Hooch reminded them the rules.
And there goes the whistle! Gryffindor gains possession of the Quaffle and begin their attack.
Harry immediately flew high above the field and began watching for the snitch. He knew he was a far better seeker than Zacharias Smith, but he wasn't used to playing a more defensive style.
'And here comes Ginny, the Gryffindor chaser, with the quaffle. She dives, oh what a move! 10-0 Gryffindor! Now Hufflepuff are back in possession, but they quickly lose the quaffle as a Gryffindor beater sent a bludger to his head. Intercepted by Fiona! She passes backwards to Ginny, and Ginny scores again! She's got talent that one! 20-0 for Gryffindor.'
Harry saw something glittering on the left side of the field, and he immediately dropped into a dive and sped to the opposite side. It worked; Zacharias followed Harry instead thinking he had seen the snitch. He never even looked at the other side of the field where the snitch really was.
And there go the two seekers, Harry on his firebolt leading the way. But wait, he's pulling up and has stopped. Has he lost the snitch? Or was he simply faking it? Oh and it seems the Gryffindor seeker has distracted the Hufflepuff beaters, leaving their defense wide open! 30-0 Gryffindor!
Zacharias was staring at him furiously. The snitch had disappeared again, and his distraction had completely diverted the Hufflepuff beaters. They both started searching for the snitch again, but Harry was watching Zacharias from the corner of his eye. The crowd started cheering again. 40-0! They were trampling all over the Hufflepuff team, and all he had to do was block for ten more minutes so they could build up a sizeable lead. At that moment they both saw that something glittering on the opposite side of the field, and simultaneously flew there as fast as they could.
And there go the seekers again, neck in neck as they speed across the field. The firebolt is giving Harry an advantage, and he's now in the lead! But wait, he's made a sharp turn, and he's blocked the Hufflepuff seeker! It seems Gryffindor want to build up their lead before they win this game. Oh and they've scored again! It's now 50 – 0!
There were loud boos from the Hufflepuff area, and Zacharias look livid now. They had built a sizeable lead, but he noticed the Gryffindor team was starting to look tired. A few more points and he would start seeking instead of blocking.
And here comes the Hufflepuff team on the attack using the classic arrowhead formation. They get past the beaters and score! 50-10! The lead has been reduced slightly, and this might be the sign of some new life for Hufflepuff. Gryffindor immediately goes on the attack again, zigzagging across the field to confuse the opposing defense. They shoot but what a save! Ginny Weasley recovers the quaffle and shoots again! 60-10! Hufflepuff will have to do a better job rebounding than that!
He saw Zacharias was losing focus, the big score differential along with Harry's diversionary tactics had thrown him off his game. Harry smiled to himself; it would be easy to beat him now. He started flying around the pitch to distract the other seeker further while he scanned around for the golden snitch.
And Gryffindor score again! It's now 70-10. Hufflepuff had better hope they catch the snitch or this game will be a blowout! And here they come with the quaffle, and they shoot. Rather an easy shot to stop for the Gryffindor keeper, who is really on top of his game today. And Gryffindor go on the attack again! Fiona passes to Ginny, who dodges a bludger and passes it back.
There it was. This was too good a chance to pass up; they were only up by 60 points instead of the 100 Ron had said, but there was simply no way he couldn't catch the snitch. Zacharias was on the other side of the pitch, and would never be able to catch up to him. He dived towards the ground to gain speed and then pulled up and zoomed full speed towards the snitch.
And there goes the Gryffindor seeker, look at how fast he's going! There's no way the Hufflepuff seeker can ever catch him from that far away, so Harry simply has to catch up to it to win the game. But what's this? He seems to be swerving around?
His scar exploded. He couldn't see or hear anything anymore; the pain was simply blinding all his other senses. Both his hands clasped his head and he instinctively tried to focus on his occlumency. It was excruciating, but he forced himself to focus on blocking his mind. And then the pain subsided, and he could see again. He had fallen of his broom and was hurtling towards the ground. Instinctively he grasped for his wand in his pocket, but it was no good, there wasn't enough time. The last thing he remembered was putting up his hands protectively as he fell headfirst towards the ground.
