A/N: Shock warning! This chapter begins a darker part of our hero's training. Be warned.
Chapter 26. Weasley is our King
The last two weeks of October were spent getting prepared for the first Quidditch match of the season, Gryffindor vs. Slytherin. Ginny had called practices for three times a week, so she barely got any time with Harry. Training was starting to get more intense, so Harry had to concentrate more anyway.
Everyone could feel the anticipation as the last few days before the match approached. The teachers gave up assigning homework. Even Ron could feel the tension as he prepared the equipment for the match. Although Ginny had put together a great team, there was no one that had played as well as Harry. So they had to prove themselves again. Harry had gone to tryouts with Ginny and watched as many potential players showed their skills. Jason Burns, a fairly athletic second year did a decent job as Keeper and earned the spot. The only other position to be filled was Seeker. Harry watched intently as each individual was tested. He easily spotted the snitch before all the players except one. Mark Evans saw it almost as soon as Harry did, and he managed to catch it twice during his tryout.
As they trained, Harry came to practice to help out as often as he could. He gave Mark a few pointers, but usually he just sat and watched. His training had kept him away from the last few practices, but Ginny assured him that they were ready.
The morning of the match dawned clear but cold. Harry made sure that Ginny was awake before he went down to breakfast. He and Ron met on the stairs going down to the Great Hall. "Well mate…are you ready?" Harry asked.
"If I get these butterflies from my stomach, I will feel better," replied Ron. He looked at Harry and grinned. "At least I won't have to put up with 'Weasley is our King' anymore." They both laughed.
It felt good to be sitting with Ron eating breakfast. Harry could almost feel like they were back in Seventh year getting ready for their own match. "Where's Hermione?"
"She wasn't feeling well. She is going to meet us at the pitch before the match."
***
Ginny had her gear and broomstick and was heading for the pitch when Hermione caught up with her. As intense as Ginny was toward the match, she noticed that Hermione looked pale. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine," she replied. "Something I ate didn't agree with me. Ron sure likes his food spicy."
They both laughed. Hermione wished her luck as they parted ways. Ginny smiled and headed into the locker room to get ready. She changed into her team robes and sat down to review her strategy.
As the rest of the team came in to change, Ginny smiled briefly at each one of them. When everyone was ready, she stood up to talk. "First of all, let me start off by saying how proud I am of all of you. We have been training heavier than the other teams and I am sure it will pay off today." She scanned the room, looking at each one of them. "Our new Seeker and Keeper have come along nicely and those of us returning are playing to form. All we have to do now is keep our heads and follow our strategy. Mark, you shadow their Seeker. He is pretty good, so he will be moving quickly." Mark nodded. "Jason, if one gets by you don't get discouraged. Keep moving and watch the quaffle. Remember, don't watch their arms: watch their eyes. Hopefully, the Beaters will keep them at bay so that we Chasers can keep everything bust at their end of the pitch. Let's go out there now and show them how Quidditch is played!"
Everyone jumped up and followed Ginny toward the pitch. As they mounted their brooms, Ginny listened for the announcement of the teams. She was shocked when she heard a familiar voice.
Lee Jordan, who worked part time with George and Fred Weasley at their shop on Diagon Alley, also worked for WWN, the Witches Wireless Network. He had proposed carrying the Hogwarts Quidditch games for two years. Finally, after he managed to convince the owners that they could pull in a whole new audience of parents and graduates, they had acceded. So Lee was announcing the game and was happy to be back at Hogwarts for this match.
"Welcome to today's match, ladies and gentlemen. It promises to be a spirited match as long time rivals Gryffindor and Slytherin meet to start the season. And here comes Team Gryffindor now, led by Captain Ginny Potter, mounted on a brand new Firebolt. Following their Captain into the stadium are Fellow Chasers Dennis and Colin Creevy, Beaters Jack Hahn and Steven Jacks, Keeper Jason Burns and Seeker Mark Evans. Burns and Evans are the newest members of the team, and Evans is cousin to Gryffindors most famous seeker, Harry Potter." Cheers erupted and Harry buried his head in his hands.
Lee continued. "Now coming into the stadium is the Slytherin team, led by their captain, Malcolm Baddock. Following him are the other Chasers, Graham Pritchard and Dan Lutes. Beaters Paul Jorgens and Tom Dunn are next, followed by Keeper Gerald Parkinson and Seeker Doug Matthews.
"Referee Ron Weasley is entering the stadium at this time with the chest. Professor Weasley was a Keeper himself and was offered a position with Puddlemere in the off-season, but declined to work at Hogwarts." Ron looked at Lee and Lee just smiled.
Ron got to the center off the field and had the captains shake hands, giving them the usual warning about fair play. He opened the chest containing the balls.
Lee's commentary continued. "And the balls are being released. First off are the bludgers followed by the Golden Snitch. And the Quaffle is released! Gryffindor takes possession as Colin zooms toward the goals, followed by Ginny and Dennis. Colin narrowly missed by a bludger as he heads for the right post. Just before he gets there he drops the Quaffle to his brother Dennis below him who shoots and easily hits the center post!" The Gryffindor crowd went wild. "Ten points for Gryffindor!"
Harry watched as Gryffindor quickly added three more goals to Slytherin's one. The score was forty to ten when Harry saw Mark dive. The Slytherin keeper had been looking all over, but was drawn to follow Mark. Just before Mark looked like he was going to him the ground, he pulled up and slowed his broom. The other Seeker wasn't as fortunate. He didn't pull up in time and was knocked from his broom as he hit the ground.
"And the Gryffindor Seeker has pulled off the Wronski Feint, causing his opponent to follow him and hit the ground. Madame Pomfrey, the Medi-Witch here at Hogwarts, is checking out the Slytherin Seeker." Ginny's team had taken advantage of the confusion, scoring three more times to make it seventy to ten.
Finally, the Slytherin Seeker was allowed to return to the game. He laughed as the Slytherin beaters kept hitting bludgers at Mark. But all the sudden, Mark took off again. He was heading straight for a tower when his hand closed over the snitch. He barely missed the tower as Ron whistled the end of the game.
The Gryffindor crowd erupted as Lee called out the final score. "And Gryffindor takes the match two-hundred twenty to ten! Thanks for tuning in; this is Lee Jordan for WWN."
***
The game was at the center of conversation for the next week. The Slytherins were worse than ever to the Gryffindors, but everyone else congratulated them. Mark and the others had become instant celebrities.
Harry and Neville barely had time to congratulate the team before Tonks took them to a meeting with Shack. Also attending were Mad-Eye and Arthur Weasley.
"Draco was seen earlier today at Malfoy Manor. We are preparing to go to apprehend him. Get your gear and meet back her in twenty minutes."
Harry and Neville followed Tonks back to the classroom where they stored their Auror gear. Harry scribbled a quick note to Ginny and put it in his pocket. They headed back to Shack's office.
Harry pulled Arthur aside and handed him the note. "Can you let Ginny know I may be awhile? And if I don't make it back, would you give her that note?"
"Sure thing, Harry. Be careful and I will give you this note back when you return."
Harry nodded and joined the others as they left the school grounds to apparate.
***
Sirius was sitting in the kitchen when Remus walked in looking pale. He looked up and smiled as Remus poured himself some coffee. "Was it rough this time?"
"No more so than usual. Hopefully this is the last time, if Bek is right about that potion."
"Well, he was right about getting me out of the Veil, wasn't he?"
Remus smiled. "Yes he was, Padfoot. Let's just hope that soon you will have to come up with a new nickname for me."
"Do you feel well enough for company?"
"I suppose so. Who are we expecting?"
"Katie and Emma."
"Do I have time for a bath? I hate to admit but I'm a bit malodorous."
"Go on. I am sure that they wouldn't begrudge you a bath." Sirius laughed. "And you are right. You need one."
"See you in a few."
Remus finished his bath and was dressing when there was a knock at his bedroom door. "Come in."
Emma slowly opened the door. "Oh, shoot…you're decent!" They both laughed. "How did it go last night?"
"Fine. Next month I get to try a new experimental potion that could reverse the effects of the bite. So keep your fingers crossed." She sat next to him on the edge of the bed. He could smell her perfume and smiled. "Be good, now."
"I am good."
"You know what I mean."
"I know exactly what you mean." She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "You mean that I am too ugly to interest you."
He turned toward her. "No you aren't! I have to hold back because I want you so bad!" He stopped and his eyes got big as he started to blush.
Emma giggled. "Now that wasn't so hard to admit, was it?"
"I guess it wasn't. But you tricked me!"
She could tell he wasn't mad by the twinkle in his eye. She kissed him again, this time on the lips. It was a soft, passionate kiss, full of emotion and desire. Remus felt as if he were on fire. "What about Sirius and Katie?"
"They can wait. I can't."
***
Katie and Sirius watched as Emma went upstairs to get Remus. As soon as she was out of the room, they were in each other's arms, kissing hungrily. When they came up for air, Sirius grabbed his coat and led Katie out the back door. "Come on. I have something to show you."
They talked as she followed him out through the garden. When they reached the other side, she stopped. The chapel stood across a small grassy area. He looked at her and smiled. "Do you want to look inside?"
She nodded yes and he let go of her hand just long enough to fumble for a key in his pocket. "This is where Harry and Ginny were married."
He opened the door and they walked inside. "It's beautiful," she whispered.
"I knew you would like it."
"So do you own it?"
"That depends."
"What does it depend on?" she asked, asked she looked at the ornately carved ceiling.
"Your answer." She looked down at him in shock. He was on one knee holding out a ring. "Katie Moran Black, will you do the honor of marrying me…again?"
***
Harry and the others apparated just outside the grounds to Malfoy Manor. The advance team had removed the wards and was awaiting further orders. Shack called them together. "Thor, you take Scrap and Nymph and head towards the front door. Mad-Eye and I will go towards the back. Remember, even though this is training, the enemy does not know that. Be vigilant! Are you all ready?" The others nodded. "Let's go."
Harry looked at Neville and Tonks and smiled. He then made his way quietly towards the front door as he watched Shack and Mad-Eye disappear beneath their cloaks. He pulled his own out and watched as they all disappeared. He got close to the front door when he heard sounds within. He crept to a window and saw two people inside – a man and a woman. The woman was Draco's mother; the man he didn't recognize. They appeared to be arguing. Suddenly, the man pulled out his wand and Mrs. Malfoy dropped to the floor surrounded in green light. Harry jerked and started toward the door as he watched the man transform into someone he knew all too well. Draco turned and laughed just as he disappeared.
***
Albus and Minerva sat in his office sharing a quiet moment together. Minerva looked up from her mug of warm cider at Albus. "And Professor Vector will be back earlier than expected."
"So we must find other duties for Hermione, eh?"
"I have a suggestion."
"Tell me, my dear."
"I think that she will make an excellent Head of House."
"Isn't that your job?"
Minerva smiled. "For now."
Albus looked at her. "Then I suggest we have her assist in First Year courses. Maybe teaching a class from two or three disciplines for the remainder of the year will help us determine where she will excel."
"What about the others?"
"Things will be ready when the time comes."
Minerva took a sip of her cider and smiled.
