Quidditch
"Harry wake up Dumbledore's here." Whispered Madam Pompfy.
Harry shook his head awake and reached over to his nightstand to retrieve his glasses. He now felt that he could move every part of his body, but his feet.
"Hello Dumbledore." Harry yawned.
"Well Harry I must say that you are gaining all your strength back quite quickly."
"Yeah, all from my REST!" Harry yelled so Madam Pompfy could hear.
"Well Harry, I just wanted to check up on how you were doing. You seem to be getting better and I'd say that you can be back in classes for Monday."
"Oh great." Said Harry wondering whether Snape would wait to test the Vertassium on him.
"Has Voldemort been in contact with you the past few days?" Dumbledore wondered.
"No, but my scar's pain never stops. It's constantly burning."
"Well that's because Voldemort is in full power now. You will feel his presence at all times. Harry you must have a person to be constantly with you. We cannot risk this from happening again."
"I know."
"Oh yes, and Sirius's funeral is scheduled, I cannot give you a precise date incase someone is listening." And Dumbledore indicated towards Harry's scar. Harry looked down at the floor. In a way he still didn't want to believe that Sirius was really gone, and for a funeral to transpire, then it will become so real. He really is gone. He's never coming back.
"Oh Harry don't worry about it, keep it off your mind until the time comes. We need to have an Occlumency class tonight, even with your condition, because we have already been set back a couple of classes and it's now at the point where it's crucial for your survival. I know you want to be able to wonder around by yourself, but you must resist because those times are when Voldemort will strike you. I also need for you to learn this before your Godfather's funeral, for Voldemort can't know where we are."
"Dumbledore, isn't it possible then that he saw where the Order is and how to get there?"
"Well we all had thought about that, and we put a charm on the outside of the building so that Voldemort would not have a clue to where the building was located. Even if you were seeing the building, and it's outside location, he wouldn't be able to see it. It's like blinds were put over that part of your brain, so you brain was unable to process it, which indicates that Voldemort was also unable to process what you were seeing. So all summer long he was unable to see where the Order was located. You are also embittered out of information most of the time incase of Voldemort's presence within you. Once you are able to master your Occumlecy skills, you will be able to find out more things that are going on. Until then you can only know details about things to a certain extent."
"Oh I see. So I can't know anything of Voldemort's whereabouts?"
"No Harry you cannot. I will also ask you not to share anything personal to any of your friends, and I don't want you to try to solve things of loose ends for Voldemort will also get to see that. I want you to lie low for the next few weeks. Also, I don't want you to speak about the prophecy and what it holds, for that is what Voldemort wants to hear about."
"This stinks, I never chose to be cursed by Voldemort, let alone not having parents most of my life, and now I can't even be myself or tell or think anything personal! What is this!"
"I know Harry, but you must act as strong as I know you are."
"Aren't Quidditch tryouts this coming week?"
"Yes, they are. Oh yes, which brings me to my next topic Quidditch. I need you to be careful on your broom. I believe that Voldemort might even be able to curse your Firebolt through your scar. He is becoming more powerful than he ever was. We are now incapable of what kind of things he can do. Professor McGonagall even offered to let you just be manager instead to keep you safe, but I know that you can handle yourself. Don't prove me wrong." Harry nodded, and cracked a smile. "Now I will see you later tonight when you will hopefully have feeling in ever part of your body. Then we will practice Occlumency. Now rest up, you need to get strong. Madam Pompfy! I am done talking to Harry will you please make sure he rests?" Dumbledore called.
"Right away, right away. Now shoo! I have a patient to take care of!" Dumbledore winked at Harry before leaving. Harry smiled at this thinking that Dumbledore was indicating how funny Madam Pompfy was while taking care to her patients.
"Alright, another dreamless sleep potion. You are quite aware of how this works by now." And with that she shoved the antidote down Harry's throat. Harry once again fell into a dreamless sleep.
Harry was able to now use all of the parts to his body. He could stand up and move around. That night at Occlumency Harry had been able to protect his thoughts for two minutes. He improved by a minute since the last lesson. Harry always felt weak after these lessons, but as a plus was given chocolate. At times he felt as though he hated the taste, but at other times the chocolate tasted so sweet and soothing to the tongue. It all depended on what kind of mood he had been in.
After today's class however, Harry enjoyed the huge chunk of chocolate in which Dumbledore had given him. Dumbledore asked Madam Pompfy to not give Harry anymore of the sleepless dream antidote, for he needed to practice his Occlumency skills.
That night Harry took off his glasses and set them on his nightstand. He then thought of something happy, Quidditch, something blank, teeth, he concentrated on his heart beating. Breathe in, breathe out. He took deep breaths. His mind was clear. No thoughts were going through him. Just a blank dark sleep, without the antidote.
On Saturday morning, Ron and Hermione came to get Harry. The trio walked their way to the Great Hall. There, many people turned heads to see Harry's presence again. Harry just looked down at the floor as he made his way to the Gryffindor table. He sat down and looked at the wide variety of food laid before him. He decided to grab some toast and a couple waffles. Lee and his crew came and sat down next to Harry.
"Good to have you back Harry." Said Lee. "Quidditch tryouts this week! I can't wait to see who the new positions are going to be filled up with."
"Yea I can't wait to see whose trying out." Harry replied. "I hope that it's not going to be a too hard of decision. I mean I also don't want to have to tell my friends if they didn't make it or not."
"Well that's why you're the captain, captain!" Lee patted Harry's back.
"Can you pass me the butter?" Shane asked Hermione in a baby voice.
"Sure…" Said Hermione unsure of Shane's gesture.
"Well not too much homework the first week, just basically review. Although the teachers are jamming every ounce of information they can get through our brains to us." Niko commented.
"Well I have to write an article for Snape on the truth potion. Has he tested anyone in class yet?"
"Harry, we just got that assignment and it's due on Tuesday. He will be testing us on Friday." Hermione answered.
"Oh I remember doing that last year. He tested Fred. It was so funny cause he was telling us all about his joke shop plans and how his mom doesn't know he's doing it. I don't think Snape ever told Molly either, probably thought it would be funnier if she found out later. Man I miss those two. It's not the same without them. Do you know when our first Hogsmead visit is going to be?" Lee wondered.
"Well me an Ron haven't heard anything, and we're prefects." Hermione answered.
"I want to see their joke shop so bad, they've been telling me, Ron and Hermione about it all summer, but as safety percussions they decided to not let us visit them during the summer." Harry moaned.
"Oh well I've been there almost every day in the summer. Since we all took our Apparation tests last year, we are all able to get there in a heartbeat. You guys will probably be able to go there all the time if you pass your Apparation tests this year." Lee was telling Ron, Harry, and Hermione.
"Oh I know I've been thinking about that all summer." Ron replied. "Fred and George constantly rub it in my face, well now they can't! HA HA HA!" Ron fake laughed to everyone.
"Hey anyone up to practice Quidditch today? I haven't used my broom in two years! No wait, since I faced Horntail! Stupid Professor Umbridge, I only got a couple of games in last year. This year I'm going to make up for lost time." Harry said regret tingly.
"Yeah I need to practice too, my goalkeeping skills weren't too hot last year." Ron mumbled to Harry.
"Hey we're in! Even though we don't play Quidditch at all." Lee said cheerfully.
"Well actually Niko and I were thinking of trying out to be the two beaters. Fred and George made it seem like so much fun, and since the replacements last year were seven years we know that you need us!" Shane told Harry.
"Well then after breakfast we should all practice." Harry confirmed.
"Practice what?" Ginny asked as she came and sat down with the rest of the crew.
"Quidditch, want to join?" Harry asked.
"Oh I'd love to! Can I be chaser? I told you last year that I was going to try out to be one. Oh please, please, please Harry!" Ginny begged.
"Well yeah you can practice as one, but I can't guarantee that you will be one. I have to see what else is out there." Harry answered.
"While you guys waste your whole day doing that, I'm going to be doing homework, something that you all should be doing." Hermione put in.
"Book worm, you should hang out with that Kate girl who is also a book worm." Harry laughed.
"Oh Harry while you were gone, Kate and I became quite acquainted. She even joined my S.P.E.W. club. Her and her friend, Carolyn was it?" Hermione replied.
"What is it with you and the Spew club anyways? ELVES ARE HAPPY THE WAY THEY ARE!" Ron yelled.
"Ron its not Spew, its S.P.E.W. And we've been over this a thousand times; they don't know that they really aren't happy because they aren't educated! If they would be taught a thing or two—"
"Hermione I wonder why Hagrid hasn't joined still, because it isn't right! The elves purpose is to clean, if they were to do anything other than that—"
"Well they clean for no money, if they were to get paid—"
"Pay or no pay doesn't make a difference because they all have their master—"
"Well they could be able to look descent if they could buy nice clothes with their money, how do you know they don't want to feel independent? They need to be happy—"
"They are HAPPY! You try to fix and be a part of too many things, don't you know what to keep your nose out of?"
"Well at least I try to do extracurricular activities! I don't see you trying to do anything!"
"What do you call Quidditch then Hermione?"
"ALRIGHT!" Harry yelled. "That's enough. Did you two fight this much when I was gone?"
"More." Ron replied, "We had no one to break us apart."
"Oh you call Kate and Carolyn no ones huh? God I can't stand you sometimes, you're so inconsiderate."
"BLOODY HELL! I'M INCONSIDERATE? GO LOOK IN A MIRROR!" Ron yelled.
"Alright lets say that we go get our brooms to go practice shall we?" Harry put in.
"Yeah go run Ron! I'm not finished with you yet!" Hermione yelled down to them as she grabbed the Daily Prophet from an owl that just dropped in.
"Girls, they are so annoying. Especially Hermione's crew. Hanging out with them was torture! I swear all three of them have no lives. Both Kate and Carolyn own a ranch of unicorns you know. I hear they talk to Hagrid about them in class all the time. All I hear is Bailey this, and Pumba that, I was gonna die if you didn't come back soon!" Ron complained.
"Well girl talk couldn't be that bad could it?" Niko wondered.
"Oh believe me, it was bad." Ron answered.
"I happen to enjoy girl talk." Ginny put in.
"Well Ginny, this is a hard one to figure out, maybe because you're a girl!" Ron yelled at her.
"Hey don't take your anger on Hermione out on me!" Ginny whined.
"Yeah, you two really need to sort out your differences. From day one I have had to put up with your bickering." Harry put in.
"Well she's the one with the problem, not me!" Ron replied angrily.
"I say that this all gets settled over Quidditch, let out all your anger out on the stick." Shane said trying to sound smart.
"I'd probably break mine if I release out all my anger." Ron complained.
"Well mines so strong that it would probably be able to withhold every feeling I've got to let out. I miss the wind blowing in my face and getting to feel free. Quidditch takes my mind off of everything that goes on. I've missed it so much. I hate Umbridge. I HATE her. If I ever get the chance…" Harry went on.
"Whew Harry, I am sensing anger coming from you, yes, and I feel that it is best not used with the wand, but with your stick. Yup. Deep breathes, now count to ten." Shane told Harry in a weird sounding voice.
"What are you? My psychiatrist?" Harry laughed. They all finally made their way back to the Gryffindor common room, and they all ran into their rooms to get their broomsticks. Harry's was the firebolt, best broomstick ever made. Fastest, most durable, you name it, it's the best. Ron took out his comet 260.
"You ready to go?" Ron asked Harry drooling over his broomstick.
"I've been ready for two years!" Harry answered enthusiastically.
They both ran back down the stairs and into the common room. They had to wait a couple of minutes before Lee, Shane, Niko, and Ginny all came down. They then headed out toward the Quidditch field. Different groups of people were already out and flying all around. Harry mounted his broomstick and before anyone could say anything to him, he took off as fast as he could and flew around the stadium.
With the wind blowing throughout his hair showing his scar, and his clothes flying back behind him, he felt so free, so alive. Everything but what was directly in front of him was all swirled together in different colors, for his broomstick went so fast. He was finally back on his broomstick. Finally back to the thing he loved to do. Back to the thing that freed his mind from all of his thoughts and worries. For the first time in a long time, he was actually truly happy. Not normal happy, but crazy happy. It was like giving Dudley a piece of chocolate cake after 2-3 years of dieting. It was like turning a blind man into a man who could see. It was something in which Harry could not explain. He was free to himself, and of everything. There is no one to bug him, no one to curse him, no one to laugh at him or make him cry, no one but the breeze and his broomstick.
Harry then smiled at himself. He hadn't remembered how much he missed doing this. I wish Occlumency lessons included me flying on my broomstick, I'd like to see Voldemort try and curse me now! Then Harry laughed at this although from the wind being so loud he couldn't even hear his own laugh. Harry flew up and then straight to the ground and came to a sudden stop. Then he swirled past all of the people horsing around on their broomsticks, and turned upside-down in circles. He flew around the stadium ten times at once, and then turned around abruptly and went ten times around the other way. Harry then flew past someone who said,
"Who ever finds the snitch first gets to let their group claim the field for a couple hours." This is it, Harry thought, my chance to finally get to practice against real competitors. Harry then stopped and scammed the stadium with his eyes, a little rusty, but I can still get it. Harry thought. Then it caught his eye. All the way down by the right side goal posts was something golden flying around. With no time to waste Harry bolted straight to the right end of the stadium. He caught up to the snitch and reached out his hand and grabbed it with no sweat.
Harry then raised his hand to indicate to all the ones seeking the snitch that he got it. When everyone saw him, they all made their way to the ground disappointed that is except for his group.
"I knew you'd get it the second I heard that person say that. That was stupid of them though, thinking they could out seek the famous Harry Potter." Lee joked.
"You took off right away, none of us came close to trying to catch you. Man that broom goes so fast." Ron said gapingly.
"Sorry, I missed the feeling of riding." Harry told them. "Whose up for play—"
"Potter get off the field!" Came a familiar voice.
"Why should we?" Asked Harry as he turned his stick to the ground to see the Slytherin team mounting their brooms.
"Because we booked the field to practice today."
"A bit early to be practicing Draco." Harry snapped.
"Potter get your pitiful crew off our field!"
"Hey, how about we play to see who gets to use the field?" Harry challenged.
"How bout not, and say we did? We don't want you to steal our moves."
"Oh yea Malfoy, because your moves are so brilliant, better yet, how about I challenge you, one on one. I haven't practiced in over a year so this should be interesting. How's about it? Or are you too chicken to face me?" Harry mocked. Malfoy looked at his teammates and they all nudged him foreword to take the challenge.
"Alright Potter, you got yourself a deal, and you're right, this should be quite interesting seeing as you haven't practiced in over a year."
"Well I think it's just going to be funny when I beat you after not practicing for a year." Harry accented to make sure that the point was made.
Malfoy flew up to meet Harry's level.
"Kick his pale butt Harry." Lee commented before flying his way to the ground. The crew followed Lee down. All of a sudden the bleachers started to fill up with viewers.
"Oh great, now we have more people to see me beat you!" Malfoy sneered.
"Oh don't you mean me beat you?" Harry asked.
"Alright who ever gets the snitch first gets the field. Ready, set, go!" The bludgers were released and they started to chase after Malfoy and Harry. Within the next five minutes the snitch was released. Harry saw the snitch being let into the air and raced straight to it. A bludger was following directly behind him, and another was coming at him from his side. Harry dived down and swirled his ways up as he snatched the snitch. Malfoy was on the whole other side of the field.
"YOU CHEATED!" Malfoy yelled in disbelief.
"No I have witnesses Malfoy. I beat you fair and square after NOT PRACTICING FOR OVER A YEAR! I guess that's why I was chosen captain, because I'm better than you are Malfoy. Face it."
Suddenly all of the people who came to watch this short five-minute match burst into cheers. Harry wore a smile that went from one ear all the way to the other. He hadn't felt this in so long. Harry's eyes scanned the crowd and his eyes laid upon Jenna. She was smiling at him, and clapping her hands loudly. Harry's smile now adjusted to smile for her. Then Malfoy made his way to the ground and directed the Slytherin team back into the locker rooms. Snape is definitely going to get Harry with the truth potion for this one, but at this point Harry didn't care, he was having the time of his life.
Author's note: I know Lindsay missed my last one, so this time I wasn't going to forget! Yay IN UR FACE MALFOY!! Ha Ha Rachie, Ur lover sux! Mine rules! LoL neways I hope that this chappie made up for the previous boring one; sorry about that but I had to tie up loose ends. I've got some great ideas in plans for the upcoming chapters, funeral, Hogsmead visits, Quidditch tryouts, Snape and the Vertassium…. But seriously what is up Hermione's ass? O well maybe she's having troubles in a certain area, idk maybe you're just going to have to stick around to find out! REVIEW PLEASE I LOVE TO READ EM! O yes and the names bailey and Pumba are names of real horses owned by Kate, and helped by with Carolyn, so I thought those names fit my story Hehe