Disclaimer: Many of the characters, thoughts and ideas that are in this fan fiction are not of my own design. Though this story is from my imagination, I realize that this is the property of Warner Bros. and J.K. Rowling. This is not J. K. Rowling's work. I also read many FFs and if you see something similar to another work it is entirely unintentional. I have posted this on harrypotter.com as well….
Becky (rebcschult and PrincessOfCliffiesRCS)
P.S. Please read and review!
Oxi-Nu –Thank you so much for your comments and compliments!!! I know what you mean about feeble memory! Happens to me all the time!!! lol So it's okay! Review whenever you can!!!! :-D
Tim – My friend!!! I do indeed know what you are talking about! And thank you so very much for your compliments and comments!! Ttyl I hope!!! And that's okay about not reviewing… just review when you can!!! :-D
Inuasha – WELCOME!! Hehehehe… I understand your enthusiasm for Harry to hook up with Lina! Believe me when I say that there is a certain… eventuality to their relationship shall we say.… heheheheheh… But that will not happen right away… I have begun writing a year six and plan on writing a year seven that will follow this year five ff….so you will see this happen over time… but I can assure you that there will be no need for a virus or need to convince my readers not to review!! :-D
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Butler – Thank you for your wonderful comments!!! And as for your question… I am currently writing my year six and posting it to the HP.com boards… and I can safely say that Lina is part of that ficcy as well!!! :-D
Jake – HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! LOL!!! You are so funny!! Thank you for the laugh! I needed it tonight! Thank you so much for your wonderful comments and continuing interest!! And yes, I agree that you deserve more… so here it is!!! I hope you enjoyed your cookie!!!! :-D
CHAPTER SIXTEEN – UNTIMELY VISIONS
Draco barely showed his face, for several days after the ball. He even seemed to be ignoring Snape, who was constantly throwing him daggers. Though even with Snape's spitefulness going toward Draco, the Gryffindors were still his main target, which seemed to really be feeling his wrath, especially Harry, but it spilled over to Neville too. But Draco's problems were definitely not limited to his favorite Professor. Lucy–Ann seemed to be keeping her distance from him as well.
Not to mention all of the things that Ron, Fred and George (particularly Fred and George) would randomly come up with to humiliate Draco and his cronies, who were still under the influence of the Imperius Potion, every now and again. Though they did notice that after about a week Draco seemed to be fighting the influence of the potion more and more. It took a bit longer for the other two to throw of the effects of the potion. (One particularly funny thing that Fred and George came up with during the first week after the ball was the Draco would crow like a rooster, Crabbe would hiccup, and Goyle would belch loudly every time that Snape said Shrivelfig, which was quite a lot that particular day. Snape actually ended up taking away nearly 100 points from Slytherin that day for interruptions to his class…. Though he also took nearly as much away from Gryffindor, as most of the Gryffindors could not contain their laughter at the situation.)
But that was not the strangest thing they did…. The strangest thing was that Hermione actually found Draco and his cronies hanging around the library, trying to hide from the ridicule and taunting that they had been getting. They still couldn't understand what had possessed them to do those things in the first place, though Draco thought that somehow Harry had been involved. Why Draco thought that Harry had something to do with it, he no idea. But he vowed revenge on Harry during the Quidditch match, if he could get the team to stop tormenting him long enough to focus on the game and practice.
Inevitably once the laughter of his teammates started, Draco had a hard time bringing them back into focus, at least at first. As the game got closer he used that to his advantage, stating that if the team did not get serious, they were going to lose to Gryffindor. It was the longest two weeks of his life.
Harry, on the other hand, barely noticed the passage of time between the ball and the pending game with Slytherin. With the training for Quidditch increasing and the increasing amount of studying that the Professors felt was necessary to pile on to them, due to the O.W.L.s coming up at the end of the year, Harry had very little time to think about his what had happened on Halloween. Most nights he collapsed into bed without a single thought entering his mind. The only times that he thought about Lina was when he was in her classes, and even then he tried to keep his mind busy with the assignment.
One thing he did decide to do, however, was write to Sirius and tell him about the situation, in a limited way, to ask for his advice. But once he was done with the letter, he put the whole thing away so that he could focus on what was important at the time.
Before he knew it he had gotten back a response to his letter.
Harry,
Meet me in the common room by the fire at midnight Friday. Be sure to clear the room.
Sirius
Harry was thankful that he would soon have some answers to what he should do, though he wished that it would not be the night before the big game.
As the night approached for him to talk to Sirius, his dreams got worse and nightmares plagued his every sleeping moment. Harry knew that, while there was little news on Voldemort in the Daily Prophet, which meant that he was not attacking anyone, that he was really pooling his resources and gathering strength, though what his plans were Harry had no clue. Most mornings he woke with his scar burning and the dream fading from his mind, which made him wear his pin more.
Harry had even had an episode in Divination, where Ron had to keep prodding him, to keep him from slipping into his Oracle mode, much to Professor Trelawney's dismay and disgust. Harry tried even taking the pin off in the middle of class, but found the pain in his scar still too unbearable without it.
The dreary rain filled days were not helping the attention span of anyone, particularly in History of Magic, the class where most of the students fell asleep to the monotonous droning of the ghost teacher, Professor Binns. Harry found himself dozing and having Nightmares about what was to come. Ron had to wake Harry one time when he started shaking visibly, which was drawing the curious attention of some of the other students.
Finally, the night before the Quidditch match came and Harry sat dozing in front of the fire just around midnight. Ron had helped clear the Common Room for Harry and stuck around to help Harry stay awake until Sirius came. Finally at exactly midnight, Ron jabbed Harry in the ribs to wake him. Harry opened his eyes and looked around questioningly. Ron pointed at the fire and got up and left. Harry looked at the fire and jumped, he had almost forgotten why he had been sitting there in the first place.
Sirius' head was sitting there. Harry smiled. It was good to see his Godfather again and looking in such good health. Sirius asked, "So what do you need to know about relationships, Harry? Not that I'm going to be very good at helping you with that since the first and only real relationship that I had went bust before I even graduated from Hogwarts." Sirius got a very far away, sad look in his eyes.
Harry's face fell. He didn't know why he had thought any different, after all Sirius had been in Azkaban for twelve years and since he had been out he had been on the run. Slightly discouraged, but curiously remembering the girl he had seen his Godfather with in his trip to the past, Harry asked, "What happened? It seemed like you were both very much in love…"
"How do you know that?" asked Sirius dangerously.
"Erm…. Well it just seemed that way, by the look on your face." Harry didn't want to reveal to his Godfather about his brief excursion to the past just yet.
"Oh… well…. Yes, we were in love…. But something happened in our last year at Hogwarts and her father forbade me from seeing her again. I tried to see her to find out what I had done to make her father so mad at me, but she refused to tell me anything, except that her father had decided to go back to the traditions of her ancestors."
"What did that mean?"
"That he was going to marry her off to an old wizarding family from her old country. I never saw her again after that…. But, we are not here to talk about my doomed love life. We are here to talk about yours…. So, I know that Lina is someone that you feel drawn to and that she feels the same about you, but that neither of you feel right about pursuing a relationship, right now…. That's okay you know. You are only 15. You have the rest of your life ahead of you."
"True, but…. Well, you know only half of the story, Sirius. I only told you what was important, but my relationship with Lina is… erm… a bit complicated…. But maybe I shouldn't have even bothered you with it so…"
"Harry, you are not bothering me. If you need some advice then, I'm here for you…. Now, tell me exactly how your relationship with her is complicated."
"Sirius, I'm fooling myself if I think that there ever will be a relationship between Lina and me."
"Why?"
"Because she is older than I am."
A look of horror spread over Sirius's face. "H-having an older girlfriend is okay Harry, but…. H-how much older is she?"
"Does that matter?"
"Yes, it does! Actually, no, but…. Oh, please, just tell me."
Harry swallowed hard and built up the courage to explain what he didn't tell his Godfather before. "Well, she's seven years older than me. She – She's a professor here."
Sirius swore and his head disappeared momentarily. Harry felt he had just opened up a huge can of worms that he should never have opened. Harry put his head in his hands, and tried to settle his squirming insides. He felt he should not have said anything.
"Harry, can you look up, please?"
Harry jumped and looked back at the flame, where both Sirius and Remus' heads were now resting.
"Harry, I'm sorry," Sirius began. "You just surprised me with that. It's okay to like someone that much older than you, in fact I'd say that you were probably right when you wrote saying that you are meant to be together."
"But we can't be together. She's my professor!" hissed Harry.
"Harry there are things that are sometimes beyond our control. I think this is one of those things."
"I don't understand."
"I know, but you will with time."
Remus spoke up. "Harry, do you still have that album that I sent you for your birthday?"
"Yes," said Harry slowly.
"When you have the time, you need to really look through it. There are some things in there that will help you to understand what Sirius means."
"But…"
"No buts, Harry," said Sirius. "I can't give you more of an explanation than what I already have. You must discover this on your own, but if you have any questions that the album doesn't answer, then by all means go to Dumbledore. He can help you with your questions far better than Remus or I could. Now, I know that your first Quidditch game of the season is tomorrow and that it is against Slytherin. So, off to bed with you and get some sleep. You'll need it with Malfoy as the new Captain of the Slytherin team. Don't worry, Harry. Things will all become clear with time."
Harry nodded and watched as the two disappeared. He sat for a few minutes trying to wrap his mind around what Sirius had just told him, and then headed up to bed. He lay in his bed for some time before he finally drifted off to an unsettled slumber.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Harry woke with a start as Ron shook him at the crack of dawn. Harry blinked at Ron blankly.
"Harry, you need to wake up. The game starts in a couple of hours. We need to get the rest of the team up and get down to breakfast."
Harry sat up groggily. He knew that Ron was excited about playing in his first game, but he had hoped for a little more sleep. Harry got up and went to the shower. Still half asleep, Harry turned on the water. Surprisingly no water came out of the tap. Confused, Harry stepped in and looked up in the tap. He shook his head and turned around to get out and try another shower, when the water, ice cold, poured out all over him. Harry yelled and turned around to see….
"Peeves!"
Peeves was laughing hysterically. Through his laughter he said, "You should see yourself." Then turning very serious, he began to sing, "Potty is all wet. Potty is all set… for the day. So he can go and play. And against Slytherin, he won't win." Seeing the look on Harry's face, he knew it was time to go. Cackling, clutching his stomach, and pointing at Harry, he floated off in an almost drunken manner through the ceiling.
Harry now soaked to the bone and shivering from the cold water got out and peeled off his pajamas. He turned the water to warm and climbed back in, now completely awake. When Harry got back to the room to change into his robes, Ron said, "What happened to you, mate? I just saw Peeves flying down the corridor, laughing, and singing something about you."
Harry looked at Ron and sighed, as he explained what had happened. Ron stifled a laugh, causing a dangerous look from Harry to be passed his way. They got the rest of the team up and headed for breakfast. As they walked, Harry noticed that it seemed to be an unseasonably warm day, and with the recent rains, the air seemed soggy to the point of being almost oppressive. It almost made Harry feel drowsy as he passed by the open windows, but he shook it off and kept going.
They were the first to the Great Hall. As they sat there munching on their breakfast, most of them looked as if they were dozing and yawning, having all been woken up by an excited Ron far too early for any of their liking.
Ron was the only one who was completely wide-awake. Harry could tell he was nervous. He had barely touched the food on his plate.
"Ron, you need to eat. You'll need your strength today," said Hermione as she arrived, sitting down next to her boyfriend.
Ron just shook his head, afraid even to open his mouth to speak. His stomach felt very much like it did back in second year when, with a broken wand, he had tried to curse Malfoy for calling Hermione a Mudblood and the spell backfired on him, causing him to burp slugs for the rest of the day.
The time had finally come when they were to get ready.
Harry picked up his Firebolt and got up to leave. The rest of the team followed suit. By the time that they got to the locker room Harry too was feeling a bit squirmy in the belly. As they changed into the scarlet robes, Harry felt that it was a somewhat ominous sign that his scar was burning.
He had put the Phoenix pin on earlier that morning, as he did every morning lately. The dreams had been getting worse and he always woke up with pain in his scar that lasted for most of the day. He took the pin and put it on his Quidditch robes, instantly the pain disappeared.
He walked to the front of the room with Angelina. He had sat in this room so many times before, but never from the vantage point that he was now seeing. He glanced at Angelina, who also appeared as nervous as he felt. Words seemed to escape her. He looked at the five people sitting in front of him and suddenly something inside of him took over.
"I know that you have all put your faith in us as your new captains to prepare you for this match. You know that the Slytherins will play dirty, dirtier than they ever have before, I'd imagine. But I feel confident in your abilities. We are a strong team. I'd even go so far as to say that we are the best team that the school has seen for a while. We are all experienced," Harry looked about the room and noticed that Ron was shaking his head vehemently. Looking directly into his best friend's eyes, he said, "Yes, even you Ron. You may have never played Quidditch on a school team, but you've played with your brothers and me. And believe it or not those games were almost as tough, if not tougher, than any game that has yet been played here. I have confidence in all of you. I know we are going to win." Harry said all of this with a confidence that emerged from some unknown source. Taking a deep breath to try to take in some of the confidence that he exuded, he said, "It's time. Good luck, to all of you."
Harry felt in awe of what had spilt from his own lips. Up until right before he gave the speech he had not known what to say to the team, but now that he had said it, it seemed like the most natural thing in the world to have spoken. "Do have anything to add, Angelina?"
She looked at Harry, smiled, and shook her head. They grabbed their brooms, signaling that the time had come for them to go. Harry and Angelina nodded at each other and lead their team out to the pitch. The muggy day seemed warmer on the pitch underneath the scorching sun. The perfume of the grass on top of the heat was making Harry's head swim a bit, but he thought that once he was in the air that would change.
The Slytherin and Gryffindor teams met in the Central Circle of the field, surrounding Madam Hooch, the gray-haired, yellow-eyed witch, who both taught the flying lessons and refereed every Quidditch game. "Now, I know that both teams have new Captains, but the rules haven't changed. I want a nice fair game, from all of you." She looked directly at Draco and the Slytherins first. Then at Harry and Angelina and the rest of the Gryffindor team. "Captains shake hands."
First Angelina shook Draco's hand, then Harry. "What were you afraid to face me all alone as captain? Or did you have to get a partner, cause you weren't smart enough to figure out all the rules of the game all by yourself?" hissed Draco under his breath as he squeezed Harry's hand tightly. Harry glared at Draco with disgust spilling from his eyes, while he too squeezed Draco's hand hard. It almost seemed, just before they let go, that Draco flinched.
"Mount your brooms."
They all clambered onto their brooms, as Madam Hooch kicked open the box with the balls. The Bludgers and the Snitch took off into the sky. She threw the Quaffle into the air as she gave a loud blast on her silver whistle, which got lost in the roar of the crowd.
Fifteen brooms rose swiftly high into the air. Harry felt the thrill of being in the air and what little nerves had been bothering him had gone away the moment the speeding air had touched his face. He sped off searching for the Snitch, Malfoy hot on his trail.
"One of Gryffindor's new co-captains, Angelina Johnson, has taken the Quaffle," shouted Lee Jordan, the Weasley twin's friend and announcer of the game, through the magical megaphone. "She passes it to Bell – back to Johnson – to Spinnet – WHOA – that was a close call with a Bludger for Spinnet – nice save Fred – Spinnet is nearing the goal AND SHE SC- NO! – Warrington from behind hits the Quaffle from Spinnet's grasp as she goes to score – Montague passes back to Warrington, Slytherin in possession – he rips up the field – SOMEBODY STOP HIM, HE'S GOING TO SCORE! – What? – WOW!!! WHAT A SAVE FROM KEEPER RON WEASLEY, USING THE DIFFICULT, but not recommended, MOVE STARFISH AND STICK! WHAT A FIRST SAVE FOR OUR NEW KEEPER!"
Ron, who was hanging onto his broom with one hand and one foot, had stretched out to catch the Quaffle one handed. As he got back up on his broom, he felt a blast of adrenaline as he heard the crowd on the Gryffindor side of the field chant his name. He smiled broadly as he passed the Quaffle back to Angelina.
"Gryffindor in possession – Johnson zigzagging up the field to avoid the charging Slytherins – Johnson flies upward to get away – but – OH! – Great move by Johnson as she passed the Quaffle down to a waiting Bell – Bell is within reach of the goal and – YES! SHE SCORES! TEN–ZERO GRIFFINDOR!! WAIT!!! It seems the Seekers have already caught sight of the snitch!" Jordan stopped speaking because there was so much happening at once that he wasn't even sure what to report first.
The Slytherins were charging up the field toward Ron. Passing the Quaffle back and forth, using the arrowhead formation to try and intimidate Ron. But Ron stood his ground waiting for them to strike.
After she scored, Katie flipped in the air as she moved out of the scoring area, trying to concentrate on the game as the Slytherins were in possession of the Quaffle. She completely missed Slytherin Beater Derrick hitting a Bludger at her head. The force of the hit from the Bludger sent her clean off her broom and spiraling to the ground.
Harry high above the game had been listening to the commentary, while searching for the Snitch. He grew excited when he heard about Ron's great save and Katie's goal. But just as Katie had scored, he noticed the Snitch. He went after it, with Draco hot on his tail. Right in front of him, though he watched in horror as Katie was knocked of her broom by the Bludger. Harry felt he needed to help her, but that he also needed to catch the Snitch. A moment seemed like an eternity while he made the decision. At last, in that eternal split second, he made his decision…
"Slytherin still in possession of the Quaffle – trying to use an intimidation tactic with our Keeper – WOW! Great move by our Chaser and Co-captain, the very beautiful Angelina – Gryffindor now in possession – She passes the Quaffle to Spinnet – Spinnet speeding up the field – OH! Great swerve around Montague, but he still managed to steal the Quaffle – and – WHAT IS POTTER DOING?" Lee Jordan had finally found his voice again.
Seeing that the Bludger was heading directly for the Snitch, Harry hoped it would make the Snitch disappear again as he made a dive for the now unconscious Katie, who was plummeting 50 feet to the ground. Harry also hoped that Draco, being behind him, would not see that he was not going for the Snitch but for his teammate. Luckily Draco followed him, but only part way down. When Draco realized what Harry was doing he flew back up to look around for the tiny golden ball.
Somewhere above him Harry heard, Madam Hooch's whistle blow. Harry put on the speed catching up to Katie. He was afraid he wasn't going to get to her in time, but at the last moment he managed to pull out his wand. "Wingardium Leviosa!" He slowly and gently levitated her to the ground.
"WHAT A SAVE BY OUR SEEKER!! Looks like we need Madam Pomfrey on the field. Alicia will take the penalty shot for the unconscious Katie Bell – Come on, Alicia!" The crowd went silent waiting in anticipation of what would happen. "YES! SHE'S BEATEN THE SLYTHERIN KEEPER! TWENTY–ZERO TO GRYFFINDOR!" The crowd roared at the Gryffindor end of the field.
Even at ten feet above the ground, Harry had quickly become overwhelmed by the sweet perfume of the grass and felt his head start to swim again. He had quickly shot up into the sky again. As he did he had looked up to where the Snitch had been and was pleased to see that he had been right about the Snitch disappearing after the Bludger. Harry had pulled up the level with Draco and was relieved to see him still searching, just as Alicia had put the Quaffle through the hoop, for the penalty shot.
"Slytherin in possession, using the same arrowhead formation as before to intimidate the Gryffindor Keeper – They are ripping up the field – Ron Weasley is standing his ground – WHAT? – THAT WAS ILLEGAL! THOSE DIRTY, ROTTEN, CHEATING –" Madam Hooch's whistle blew.
"Jordan!" Normally Professor McGonagall would have scolded Lee more for what he said, being that he should be commentating in an unbiased way, but she knew that he was right.
"Well, it's true, Professor!"
Ron had watched the three chasers come at him again in the arrow formation. He stood his ground watching the chaser with the Quaffle. As they got nearer to the scoring area, he prepared himself for whatever Montague, who had the Quaffle, would do. His eyes firmly on the one Chaser, he didn't notice that the other two chasers, who had separated from Montague moments before crossing into the scoring area, too had crossed into the scoring area. From behind, they grabbed Ron and slammed him into one of the goal posts. They pinned him there, and continued to slam his head against the pole until he was barely conscious. Madam Hooch's whistle blew just before the Quaffle passed through the hoop.
Harry found it very hard to focus and concentrate as he continued his search for the Snitch and he listened to the commentary from Lee Jordan. When he realized what the Slytherin Chasers had done to Ron, Harry turned on Draco and gave him an evil look.
"What's the matter, scar-head? Are you going to cry now that two of your team members are out of the game, due to injury?"
Harry gritted his teeth and was about to charge at Malfoy, when he heard a Bludger being hit toward them. Harry spun in the air, narrowly avoiding the Bludger that had been hit toward him by Derrick. The Bludger flew right at Draco, who also spun to avoid being hit, just as Madam Hooch came tearing up the field toward Malfoy.
"This is a warning, Malfoy! Any more illegal stunts like that one and your team will be disqualified for the rest of the season. Do I make myself clear?" said Madam Hooch in a dangerous tone.
Malfoy simply nodded, rolling his eyes the moment she had turned her back on him.
Madam Hooch returned to the Central Circle of the field and blew her whistle to start the game again.
"Angelina to take the penalty for the injured Gryffindor Keeper, who seems to be determined to still play. What an amazing new Keeper Gryffindor has." The silence was deafening as Harry continued to look for the Snitch and Angelina took the shot for Ron. "YES! THIRTY–ZERO! TAKE THAT YOU SLIMY–"
"JORDAN!"
"Sorry, Professor, but you know I'm right." She didn't disagree with him.
"Slytherin in possession – no Gryffindor – no Slytherin – OH! THAT HAD TO HURT!"
Angelina had gone to grab the Quaffle back from Warrington and had been hit in the side with a Bludger that had been hit by both Beaters at the same time. She clutched her side.
"Slytherin heading for the goal – NO! THEY MANAGED TO GET THE QUAFFLE PAST THE INJURED GRYFFINDOR KEEPER! Thirty–Ten to Gryffindor! – That's okay, Ron. We understand! – This is turning out to be one of the dirtiest games played in the history of Hogwarts –"
Harry looked through a growing fog in his mind to find the Snitch. With a jolt he saw it near the ground by the Slytherin goal posts. He looked to see if Malfoy had seen it yet. To his great satisfaction, he noticed that Malfoy had not.
He put a determined look on his face and dove straight down toward the ground. Malfoy, thinking Harry had seen the snitch, followed him.
"It seems the Seekers have seen the Snitch!"
Harry continued to dive, hoping Draco would fall for the Wronski Feint, but Draco pulled out seeing what Harry was doing. He glanced back as he pulled out of the dive and noticed that Malfoy was looking at the Slytherin goal posts, with a look of satisfaction on his face. Horrified, Harry knew that Malfoy had seen the Snitch. Malfoy smirked at Harry and then took off after the Snitch. Harry took off after him.
"No, perhaps they haven't – Potter was attempting to deceive Malfoy with a spectacular dive – But wait – Yes, they have seen the Snitch – The two Seekers are rocketing toward the Slytherin goal posts, at break-neck speeds near the ground – They are neck and neck – this going to be a close one –"
Harry just started to pull ahead, when being so close to the ground, the perfume from the grass once again started causing his head to swim. Because it had happened so often to him lately, Harry realized what the warm sensation in his scar and the leery feeling in his heart meant…. He was about to have a vision. Please not now! he begged his mind. Just let me get the Snitch, please!
The edges of his vision started darkening. He felt his mind closing in on him. He began losing ground to Malfoy. Harry reached out his hand to grab the snitch. And just as they reached where the Snitch was, it took off up into the air.
Harry turned to go after it. Malfoy was on his tail now since the Nimbus 2001 wasn't able to corner as easily as Harry's Firebolt. Unfortunately, even the height that they were flying now wasn't enough to stop the vision from coming. Harry put on a burst of speed and lurched forward to try to grab the Snitch. The darkness overtook him. But the last thought in Harry's mind as he fell was the question, Did I catch the Snitch?….
Harry found himself in the room with Dumbledore and all of the others again. Amelia, Arabella, and Hagrid were back and sitting at the table again, with everyone else that had been there the last time Harry was. Down the left side of the table were Neville, with his parents' spirits still standing behind him, though they seemed more solid than they did before, Lupin, Nicholas, Sirius, Cho, Arabella, Amelia, Professor Fletcher, and Snape. Down the right of the long oval table were Lina, Hermione, Ron, Fred, George, Ginny, Mrs. Weasley, Mr. Weasley, Charlie, Bill, and Percy.
Dumbledore sat at the head of the table with Fawkes, Hedwig, Crookshanks, and Mrs. Norris. Dumbledore was still stroking both cats with a knowing smile on his face. The cats got up and stretched. They climbed onto the table and stood right in front of Harry on the table. They sat there for several minutes, almost trying to reassure him that everything would be all right and that he needed to trust the headmaster, before they returned to Dumbledore's lap where they purred after settling down on his lap again.
Suddenly the sword was again in front of him with the hilt toward him. Harry's arm was straight out, as if he were still trying to catch the snitch. His hand was touching the hilt. It felt warm and like it was right for him to take the sword. But still uncertain if it were the right thing to do, he started trying to pull his hand back from the hilt.
Seeing Harry's struggle to figure out what was the right thing to do, Dumbledore spoke to him, "Harry, you must take this sword. It is part of who you are…. It is part of what you are to become…."
"Why?" asked Harry.
"I cannot explain it to you now. You must trust me. It is part of you, so you must claim it. You will not feel complete until you do…. Remember what I said to you after you returned from the Chamber of Secrets nearly two and a half years ago about the choices we make. You must make this choice for yourself."
"But sir, I've already refused the sword three times, because I wasn't sure that it was the right decision…."
"Actually, it was only two times that you refused it…." Seeing Harry's confused look Dumbledore elaborated. "The third time that you remember refusing, you really didn't refuse at all. You ran out of air and needed to return to your body or drown in the process. That time you had been about to take it. Also on some level, you have not entirely rejected it, because if you had, the sword would not be summoning you to it again. That is why it is so vital that you take the sword now. You must understand this, Harry. This is your last time the sword will be offered to you…. If you do not take it, it will fall into the wrong hands. You are its only protector…. Only you can wield it among those sitting here."
"I don't understand."
"All will be revealed to you soon, Harry. All that I can tell you right now is that you must take it, and if you do not, then all hope for the world is lost."
Harry suddenly felt very heavy. He flopped into the chair that he somehow knew was behind him. All eyes at the table were upon him, waiting to see what he would do….
Harry looked at the sword hanging in front of him and realized that Dumbledore would never steer him wrong, but he was still uncertain about it. After a few more minutes, just as he was about to get up and present the room with his decision, he watched Hedwig and Fawkes fly over to his chair. And Crookshanks and Mrs. Norris got off of Dumbledore's lap and jumped onto the table. They walked over in front of Harry and sat at the edge of the table. They both tilted their heads to the side and looked at Harry deep in the eyes.
Harry suddenly heard Fawkes sing a note the quavered in the air, making Harry relax. Harry closed his eyes, unwillingly, and heard a voice that he recognized.
"Harry, we are here. I know that you have wondered why we haven't shown ourselves here to support you. But we have been here all along, just not where you can see us," said his mother. "Feel us there in your heart, where we always reside. And know that you must fulfill your destiny. You must take your place at the head of this table…. Please take the sword. We will help you learn how to wield it properly. As your father has wielded it before you, and his father before him.… I fear that I have said too much…."
Harry's eyes shot open. He got up from his seat slowly and cautiously reached his hand out….
He slowly slid his hand around the hilt of the sword, accepting that he was now it's guardian. A bright white light filled the room that kept intensifying until Harry had to shut his eyes from the brightness….
Finally from beneath his eyelids he saw the light disappear. He opened his eyes to see what had happened….
At first he couldn't see much of anything. He realized that it must be because his glasses were not on. He moved to grab them off of his nightstand, thinking that the whole thing had just been one very bad dream. The moment that he tried to move pain filled his entire body. He yelled out. His ears were ringing, but above the ringing he could hear a faint sound.
"HARRY!" yelled Angelina as she appeared above him on her broom. She landed next to him, and got off. She dropped on the ground next to him. "Harry, are you okay?"
Harry tried to lift his head. Again pain shot throughout his body.
"Don't move, Mr. Potter," came the voice of Madam Pomfrey as her head came into view. She took out her wand and muttered something that Harry couldn't hear. Suddenly he felt everything in his body snap and move into place, even the ringing in his ears stopped. He sat up and realized that his Firebolt was hovering right next to him. The rest of the team, minus Katie who was already in the hospital wing, plus Hermione, Professor Clovis, Madam Hooch, and Professor Dumbledore, who had the same knowing smile as in his vision, were standing around him with worried looks on their faces. His head was spinning slightly.
"Easy now…"
Harry clutched his head. "I'm fine, just a little dizzy. What happened? What's going on?"
"What do you remember, Mr. Potter?" asked Madam Pomfrey as she moved to Angelina and checked her injury over.
Harry felt suddenly as if his belly were flip-flopping. "Well," he said slowly, "I remember that I was heading for the Snitch…. I remember reaching out for it, and then… blacking out!" He looked at his hands and found them empty. "Did I catch the Snitch…? Please tell me I caught it!!"
Everyone shared a look. "We don't know, Harry…. Ever since you fell… no one has seen the Snitch… anywhere…," said Angelina.
"What about Malfoy? He was right behind me heading for the Snitch. Did he see where it went?"
"We haven't asked him… but the way he is up there circling the field like a hawk, I'd say that he has no idea where it is."
Harry looked up and watched as Malfoy circled around. He stood up, only to be pushed back down by Madam Pomfrey, "Oh no, you don't, Potter…."
"But Madam Pomfrey, I have to get back in there! I have to catch the Snitch! No one else can catch it without penalty and there is no substitution allowed. My team has already suffered nearly two losses before I ended up here on the ground. I'm fine! Please you have to let me play!"
She looked at the pleading look in his eyes. She looked at the Headmaster who nodded. She sighed. "I swear one of these days you are going to be the death of me, Potter. Go… but I want you in the hospital wing directly after the end of the game whatever the outcome…. Is that clear?"
"Yes, ma'am." Harry clambered to his feet again. He was about to climb on his broom, as his team members kicked off back into the air and the others who had come to see if he was alright left the field, when he realized that his shoulder still really hurt. He reached back and felt a lump. Confused, he reached inside his robes and found a cold round ball there. He pulled it out and to his amazement he held the Snitch in his hand! He raised it high into the air as the wings unfurled from the ball and started fluttering again.
"I DON'T BELIEVE IT!!! HARRY POTTER HAD THE SNITCH ALL ALONG!!! GRYFFINDOR WINS THE FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON!!"
All of his team members surrounded him, cheering. Hagrid, Hermione, and Professor Clovis all came and hugged him, though Hagrid's hug was a bit bone crushing. The rest of his team landed and surrounded him. They all were about to whisk him off to the common room for a party when Malfoy landed in front of them, with Madam Hooch.
"You are not going anywhere, you cheater," said Malfoy.
The team moved away from Harry who looked as if he were about to seriously hurt Malfoy. Harry stepped forward. "How dare you call me a cheater! You are the one who used the illegal moves in the game! Not me!"
Malfoy stepped close to Harry and spoke in a dangerous, low tone, "If I have to go down for cheating, then you are going down for it, too… I saw you pull that Snitch out of the back of your robes… You cheated. You either hold in your hand a fake Snitch or you stuffed it into your robes, either way it's cheating."
Harry gave a look of pure venom to Malfoy. "I did not cheat," said Harry in a low growl.
"That'll be enough to be getting on with, you two. Potter, if you don't mind, I would like to see the Snitch."
Shaking his head he handed it over to Madam Hooch. She inspected it closely. "No, this is most definitely our Snitch, Mr. Malfoy."
"How do you know for sure?"
Madam Hooch gave Malfoy a look of warning. "I have my ways. That is really none of your concern."
"But Madam Hooch, what about the fact that he could have stuffed the Snitch in his robes before he fell? That's illegal isn't it?"
"Actually, Mr. Malfoy, it isn't. If you had read the book Quidditch Through the Ages you would have known first of all that the moves that you and your teammates did this day were illegal, and, second, that what Mr. Potter did, was not."
"But how can that be!! I've never heard of any thing like this being legal!"
"Are you questioning me, Malfoy?"
"N-n-no. I-I-I just wanted to know what the move was called, if it is legal."
"It's called the 'Plumpton Pass' named for Roderick Plumpton from the 1921 Tutshill Tornadoes team. He carelessly swerved and scooped up the Snitch into his sleeve. So you see, it is not illegal," she answered him impatiently. She grabbed his ear and started walking off the field dragging him by the ear, "Now, about your teams illegal moves today…. I think it's high time you got yourself the book and read it!"
The Gryffindors started heading off the field toward the locker rooms. "Party in the common room after we change. Great job today everybody! I'm so proud of all of you. You all gave it your best and I am proud to be on this team!" Harry gave everyone a wide grin, which they all returned.
"You're pretty good yourself there Captain Potter!" Fred stood and saluted him.
"Right-o. All hail Captains Potter and Johnson," piped in George. They got the whole team going. Harry and Angelina were so embarrassed that they both blushed and shook their heads.
As they left the locker rooms, Fred and George were chanting, "Party, party, party."
Harry was so excited that they had won that he almost forgot something….
"Not so fast, Mr. Potter, Miss Johnson." Harry and Angelina turned to see Madam Pomfrey. "You had better come with me to the Hospital wing right now!"
Harry turned back toward the rest of the team. "Catch up with you later…"
"No, actually, we want to see how Katie's doing… We'll all go."
They followed Madam Pomfrey to the Hospital Wing, where she fussed over Harry and checked him over thoroughly. Then she did the same to Angelina. When they were given the okay to leave, Harry asked, "So how is Katie?"
"She is not doing very well at the moment…"
"What do you mean?"
"Potter," Madam Pomfrey began irritatedly, then looking at him realized that he was just concerned for his teammate. "Harry, her skull was broken, where the Bludger hit her head. I had a very hard time healing her, and she has not woken up yet… I have a bad feeling about this…"
"Can I – we see her?"
Madam Pomfrey nodded and pulled back the curtain around her bed. They all crowded around her bed. Katie looked so peaceful.
"We won today, Katie," Harry said gently, touching her hand. "It would be a shame if you missed the celebration…. You did great today, Katie. Thank you." They all stayed for a short while until Madam Pomfrey shooed them out, but not before promising to let them come back and see her the next day.
They returned to the common room somewhat somberly. They were happy about the win, but were uncertain about the fate of their teammate. They had all hoped for better news.
When they reached the common room they were greeted with cheers and pats on the back and a party was started. Fred and George disappeared only to return a short while later with lots of goodies in their hands.
Many recounted the best moves of the game and Ron very much enjoyed his fame and hero worshippers as most of the younger students came to him to ask him how he did certain moves or how he knew that the Slytherins would perform the moves they did. Harry simply sat back and watched the group of younger students run back and forth between all of the Quidditch players. When they finally reached him, Fred and George began with their saluting again, and the gullible first years began saluting him too. Harry simply blushed and laughed, telling the first years that they didn't have to salute him when the twins' backs were turned.
The party, while it lasted for a long time was not as wild and exuberant as usual, until at last around midnight Katie walked into the common room. The team surrounded her with dozens of questions, mostly about how she was feeling and what had happened. She simply laughed and said, "I felt like I was called back from somewhere very far away, when I heard someone say that we had won the game! It was exactly what I needed to hear. I don't know anything more than that.
"Madam Pomfrey wanted to keep me over night, but I told her that there was no way that I was going to miss the party, so she let me go after checking me over."
They continued the party in earnest, until Professor McGonagall came in and sent them all to bed at around 2am.