Author Notes: Wow! It's been to long since the last update hasn't it? I
hope you all like this chapter. I'm pleased with how it turned out. Hope
you like it. Thanks for reading! Please review!
Chapter 7:
Hermione sat in the Common Room the whole night praying that she was just dreaming. That she would wake up any minute. That kiss she shared with Ron had been breathtaking, it didn't feel possible. Of course then he pulled away...and said he was sorry, that is was wrong. After that it had turned into a nightmare. It took everything she had not to cry right there in front of him. Now it was Transfiguration, and her eyes were drooping.
"Ms. Granger are you feeling alright?" Professor McGonagall asked, setting her wand on Hermione's goblet that she had just transfigured from a ink bottle.
Hermione shook her head lightly and replied, "Yes Professor."
"Good, then will you please tell me why you cup is black when it is supposed to be blue?"
She glanced at her cup realizing that she was right. Hermione hadn't even noticed. "Oh sorry." Harry gave her a weak smile while Ron's eyes were glued to his goblet, which was full of ink.
The bell rang and everyone moved out the door, leaving Hermione and Neville gathering their books.
"Are you sure your ok Hermione. You've never missed the color before." Neville said making his way to her table.
"I'm fine Neville, just a little tired."
"Oh ok, if your sure." Not sure how to reply he walked out the door. As Hermione picked up the last of her books, she started out of the classroom behind him.
Once she turned the corner something grabbed her shoulder making her tighten the hold on her wand. Preparing to cast a curse she aimed it towards whatever was standing behind her.
"Whoa, put the wand down." The redhead said slowly, putting his arms in the air.
"You scared me."
"Oh really I couldn't tell. Listen Hermione..." He took a deep breath and ran his hand through his hair, making it stand on ends. "That little color thing that just happened wasn't caused by last night was it?"
Hermione winced when he wouldn't make eye contact. "No I just finished telling Neville I was just tired." She mumbled.
"That's good then...well not that you being tired is good just that you know you weren't um..." He struggled.
Hermione held her hand up to his mouth. "I get it." She started down the hall, he followed.
"Ron?" Hermione asked after a few minutes of silence. He stared up at her telling her that he was listening. "Can we, well I mean do you think that we can just have things go back to normal? Before last night happened?"
Ron gaze traveled back to his feet, as if thinking of the right thing to say. His brain failed him and he just replied and simple, "sure."
She nodded, continuing her way to the Great Hall.
"Afternoon." Harry replied when Hermione took a seat next to him, and Ron across from him. Hermione looked at him skeptically, his grin was a bit curious for Ron also.
"Your looking mighty happy, anything you care to share?" She asked grabbing three apple slices.
Harry's grin grew wider as he answered, "Malfoy insulted Angelina right outside the Hall a few seconds ago."
Ron choked on his juice. "You're happy about that?"
"No no no, it's what he got in return for it. It turns out that Fred was walking pass and heard it. Five seconds later Malfoy's laying on the floor, in front of all the Slytherins."
Hermione's eyebrows knitted together. "What did he do?" She said almost annoyed. "It better not be anything too awful."
Before Harry could continue a hand gripped Hermione's shoulder. "And what would you do Miss Prefect? Give him a detention?" Lee Jordan's voice rang with amusement.
"As a matter of fact I might." She remarked as she turned to meet his eye. "If I didn't Ron would, wouldn't you Ron?" George now stood right behind him, grinning.
"I'd like to see him try. Ickle Ronniekins give his big bro a detention. Ha!" Smirking, they shuffled into their seats next to Harry.
"You under estimate him." Her eyes followed them as the sat down. "He can do things that you would think he doesn't the have guts to do." She smiled to herself and continued, "now what did Fred do?"
Ron had turned red at Hermione's comment, and was picking at his baked carrots as Harry finished his story. "Well from what I saw he used the leg tying curse."
"Yeah that's right. He pointed his wand at Malfoy, muttered a few words and next thing you know that old ferret flat on his back. That boy has no balance." George said grabbing a few buns. "Who knew Fred was so touchy her?"
"So touchy?" Hermione asked, confused.
"About Angelina. I mean sure they're dating but he's never actually cursed Malfoy before." Lee answered before pointing to Hermione's half- eaten apple pie. "You going to eat that?"
"Get your own."
"Fine, just asking. Be a shame to waste food." Shaking his head he and George went on eating.
After they were finished the trio parted for Potions, Herbology and then History of Magic. Where Professor Binns gave, in Harry's view, his most boring lecture yet that year.
"Did you two even get any notes taken, throughout that whole speech?" Hermione scolded as they made there way back to the Common Room after classes finished.
"I'm still a bit tired. And Binns almost put me to sleep." Harry replied, muttering the password.
"If your that tired then you should get to bed early tonight. It'd be a shame to miss classes just because you were up all night again playing chess or...what ever you did last night."
Harry just rolled his eyes. "No I have to go over the routines for our first Quidditch game coming up."
"Quidditch, I'll never understand it." Sighing she plopped down onto the couch. "Have either of you seen Isabel today? She wasn't at lunch."
"Why do you care?" Ron mumbled.
"I don't. I was just wondering."
"Let me excuse myself from your upcoming row. I'm going to bed." Before either of them could deny there fight Harry sped walked his way up the stairs. Truth be told he didn't care about their fight. It was the topic they had started on. Isabel. He still hadn't got over what he heard. I should have made a recheck with Cho. I bet Isabel's some kind of veela. Yeah she had to be...why else would she have made me react the way that I did.
"Don't try and think about her. Your going to strain your brain." He told himself in the darkness of the dorm. Closing his eyes, he quickly faded into dreamland.
The next few weeks passed by quickly. Quidditch practices were getting tough. Harry began reminding everyone of their former captain, Oliver Wood.
He forced Isabel every practice to do the job of each player at least once, saying she needed to be in shape to take over anyone's position.
The night before the first game Angelina and Katie came running into the Common Room, demanding to see Harry. He was sitting on the floor losing at another game of chess.
"Harry we have a problem." Angelina rushed. "Alicia caught the flu of some sort. She's in the hospital chucking up everything.
"What?" Harry and Ron cried, shocked. Colin and Dennis Creevey who were watching the game stuck their tongues out at the last information. "Can't Madam Pomfrey fix it?"
"She can, but the potion won't take in effect till at least tomorrow morning. And Pomfrey's not going to let her out on the field tomorrow afternoon"
"But we need her tomorrow."
"Obviously Ron. What are we going to do? We are down a Chaser." Katie asked staring at Harry. All eyes drew to him.
He looked at his feet and then back up. "It looks like we have to use the sub."
"Why does she have to play in this game?" Ron asked distastefully, the she being Isabel, as they walked into the lockers rooms before the game.
"Don't be so bitter about it. Would you rather a Chaser that was throwing up every other goal or do you want one that can fly straight?" Harry said while tugging on his uniform.
Ron rolled his eyes and finished getting ready. He picked up his less- than-average broom and his stomach turned over.
"Hi-ya Ron," Fred said gleefully, "You okay? You seem nervous..."
George popped in and said, "You don't want to mess up do you?"
Harry looked up and saw the two pestering Ron and said, "Sod off you two, not even Wood had a perfect game."
"You better not miss one of those goals."
"Or it will be all your fault. Gryffindor would blame you for eternity. "
"Do you really want to make a fool of yourself?"
"I said quit it." He bellowed, finishing his elbow pad. Muttering what sounded like a 'fine then' they continued on to change.
"Thanks." Ron whispered.
"No problem, I'm captain after all right? I can make them do anything." He answered grinning.
Harry and Ron soon were ready to go and went to the small tent set up for plans and such. When they got there, however, they were not alone.
"Well, somebody got here a little late..." Angelina said in a petty tone as the two boys walked in.
Ron's temper took control and he said, "What about Fred and George? They aren't here!" Isabel, regardless of this being the first time in a school Quidditch game remarked smartly, "Even I know that they are always late. Also as Angelina was explaining to me that it has become pointless to scold them for it."
Harry discreetly grabbed Ron's uniform and held him back from mashing Isabel to a pulp. "Uh, the Fred and George issue is done now, we should do the tactics thing. So, uh, yeah..." Harry stumbled out his words. He shook his head and went up to the play board.
"Okay," Harry said, gaining his composure, "Angelina, Katie, Isabel, you girls do those loopy things and get the ball, forgot the name, into the goal. Ron, you guard our goals. Quaffle! That's the name! Well, I guess I don't have to tell Fred and George what they do because I don't know how to explain this..."
Isabel saw the awkward position that Harry was in and said, "Just memorize that and apply it to your game."
"I think Harry could have said that himself Is-a-bel!" Ron put quite a bit of emphasis on the last L.
Harry didn't say anything just gave Ron a look that said your-crazy- you-know-that. Ron rolled his eyes and grumbled to himself under his breath.
There was an awkward silence while the team sat there figuring out actually what it is that they had to memorize. After a few minutes they were suddenly disrupted by Madame Hooch walking in and saying briskly, "Game starts soon, get into your entry-way."
Once she had left Harry said, "Okay, here we go."
Isabel pulled her cloak tighter around her, attempting to make her shaking seem like a shiver. Unfortunately for her, Harry noticed. "Don't be afraid, I don't think Malfoy will hate you too much if you actually help us win." Harry said in a cruel voice. Isabel frowned and looked down slightly hurt, but shook it off and looked ahead thinking of her tactics. The crowd of citizens outside the entry way was deafening. Maroon and gold could be seen waving from the stands. As were green and silver.
That's when Isabel realized that they were playing against. There was a creaking and the door opened up. The team filed out onto the field where they met up with the other team. Slytherin.
Harry quickened his step to get in front of Fred and George who were now there to assist Gryffindor Quidditch team. Reaching Draco Malfoy and the rest of the large, burly, and in bad need of some Listerine, Slytherin team he said, "Get to your spots, we don't need any of your shit here."
Malfoy said slyly, "Well, I thought that a little intimidation may be good for them, get them to play better. But if you don't think so..."
Harry burst in and hissed, "It's not the team I'm worried about it's Isabel."
By now the team had caught up with Harry and heard the last bit of the conversation. "What, you think she so sweet and kind. Need to protect her from "evil"?" Draco said in his usual nasty voice.
"No, to keep two-faced traitors like her to not go against my team. With a snap of your fingers she'd make goals for you, and I don't want any of that..."
Behind him Harry heard one of the Weasley twins say, "No, nasty words, COVER HER EARS." When Harry turned to look, he saw Fred and George grasping Isabel's head muttering, "Don't let her hear..." and Isabel staring at him, looking with an expression mixed with hurt and anger.
Madame Hooch walked over with the trunk of the balls and then caught a glimpse of Fred and George. "Are they all right?" She asked Harry.
Not looking back for fear he would have to once again have to see Isabel's face he replied with, "They'll be fine once we get in the air."
Shrugging, Madame Hooch called out, "Players to the air!" Lee Jordan's voice could be heard vaguely over the roar of the crowd. Madame Hooch called out her usual rules and then, the quaffle was released. Followed by the bludgers and then finally snitch.
"Ha!" Katie called out as she took the quaffle for Gryffindor. There was a quick succession of passes that confused the Slytherins into thinking that Isabel had it. From there Isabel was supposed to swerve around until they realized that Angelina had scored a goal. The plan worked, and Gryffindor was ahead by 10 points.
The Slytherins got a hold of the quaffle but lost it when their Chaser had a close call with a bludger and Isabel caught it in time.
The next Slytherin possession resulted in a goal, as well as the one after that.
When the Slytherins once again had the quaffle Angelina shouted to Isabel, "Go guard by Ron!" Isabel went and watched as the other players battled it out. The gist of it was Slytherin, Gryffindor, Slytherin, Gryffindor etc.
Finally a Slytherin Chaser got close enough to the goal to make a shot.
Whacking the bludger hard, George shot it in his direction trying to throw him off. Unfortunately the black ball smacked the quaffle first, causing it to fly head on at Ron.
"Oaf!" Was all Ron could muster as the speeding quaffle hit him in the stomach, and pushed him off his broom and through the goal. The Slytherin side of the pitch cheered, while Hermione and all of the others watched in horror as Ron sped down to the ground.
Isabel rushed down after him, but didn't make it in time. Hearing a sickening thud, she winced as Ron's body hit the ground. She landed and ran to him.
"Come on, get up, get up!" Isabel said while tugging on him and lightly slapping on his cheek. She looked up and saw that Katie had made a goal and now the quaffle was coming back at the Gryffindor goal.
"Wake up!" she screamed as she kicked him in the ribs.
"Ow! Let me die in peace!" Ron moaned.
"Your not going to die," Isabel said bossily, "Just get up! Slytherin is going to, well never mind they just made a goal."
Ron just groaned and turned over. Isabel had no time to attempt to once again revive him, because Madame Hooch and Madame Pomfrey came to him and picked him up.
Isabel turned her attention back to the game where she saw Harry swooping after what must have been the snitch.
"Hey Isabel, get up her so you can join the air-borne celebration!" George called down.
"Is he after it?" Isabel asked as she flew up to join George and the nearby Fred.
"Yes." The boys said in unison.
"Well, this should be over soon..." Isabel's words, however, were cut off by a bludger flying into Harry.
He slipped off to the side and caught himself, but he was hanging underneath. The whole field seemed in some sort of a trance then. The whole attendance to the game hushed and just watched as Harry hung there.
"Some one should... help him..." Isabel whispered. When she saw his left hand slip, she took off. The whole arena began to move from that point on. The onlookers and players suddenly seemed to realize that the famous Harry Potter was hanging onto a broom at 150 feet in the air, and steadily slipping.
"Hold on Harry!" Isabel screamed.
But regardless to her words, Harry's right hand, let go. Harry plummeted to the ground until Isabel dove under him and caught her on his broom.
"What, what's going on?" Harry mumbled as if he was in a daze.
Isabel situated him on the front of her broom and said, "You have to catch the snitch!"
When they looked out they found Draco chasing a small glint of gold. "Come on, lets go!" Harry called out weakly.
The two reached top speed quickly, and caught up with Draco and the snitch. They zigzagged through the maze of players and then went into a deep dive.
"Hey, uh, Harry?" Isabel asked frightened.
"Yes?"
"You did this first-year right?"
"Yes."
"Okay good, because I have no idea what I am doing..."
Harry called back, "Just pull up when I tell you to!"
"Okay." Was all Isabel could muster.
They flew down for a while, and onlookers saw Draco fall back, not able to catch up with the speed of a Firebolt 2.
Harry and Isabel were nearing the ground at an alarming speed when Harry shouted, "Pull up!"
Isabel did so, and found herself three feet from the grass.
Harry grabbed his side in pain.
"What's wrong?" Isabel asked him.
Harry groaned and said, "I think my rib is broken."
"Just catch the Snitch!" Isabel pleaded.
They zoomed forward in pursuit. Harry and Isabel were half way across the field when Harry's hand closed over the infernal little golden ball that flies faster than lighting.
Lee Jordan's voice could be heard over the crowd, "WE WON, WE WON! IN YOUR FACE SLYTHERINS!" Which was followed by a innocent. "Sorry Professor."
"I caught it!" Harry exclaimed joyfully.
Isabel, currently a bit disoriented, said, "Wonderful..."
Harry laughed and pulled her up. Once up, he winced and fell back down.
"Oh my god, I think you broke your rib!" Isabel said,
Harry looked up at her and muttered, "No way!" sarcastically.
A bunch of teachers (Madame Hooch, Madame Pomfrey, Dumbledore, Snape, etc.) ran down to see what exactly had happened.
Harry sat on the ground as Snape said almost immediately, "This is an outrage, they did not win!"
McGonagall answered back sharply, "They caught the Snitch! They are the winners!"
"It is stated plainly in the rules that only the Seeker may catch the Snitch!"
"That's who caught it!"
There was a sudden blob of speech coming from the teachers there.
Isabel and Harry exchanged a glance when a familiar voice from behind said, "I agree with Professor Snape! It was completely out of line for Ms. Ollivander to fly Potter to the Snitch."
"Sore are you Draco? Didn't have the fastest broom?" Harry asked coolly.
As Malfoy walked by the sitting Harry and kicked him discreetly in the rib. Harry called out in pain, causing Madame Pomfrey to notice that he was in dire need of a doctor.
"Mr. Potter your rib is broken!" she cried out when she further examined his side.
"That's what Isabel said..." Harry started.
McGonagall spoke out and said, "See? He was hurt, I highly doubt that you will not make an exception this time? I'm sure a dead student is far worse than a loop hole in the rules..."
This started a whole new round of argument.
"Everyone please calm down!" Dumbledore said, speaking for the first time. "Madame Pomfrey, take Mr. Potter to the hospital wing. Professor Snape, Professor McGonagall, and Madame Hooch, please go to my office so we can decide the winner of this game. Mr. Malfoy I suggest you go back to your common room and await the out come of this game."
Everyone moved and did exactly what they were instructed the moment Dumbledore ended the last syllable. Madame Pomfrey conjured a stretcher and floated Harry off to the school. The three teachers went to Dumbledore's office. A very reluctant Draco sulked off to the Slytherin common room. All that was left was Isabel.
"Uh, Professor Dumbledore, what should I do?" Isabel asked timidly. Dumbledore smiled and said, "Usually, I believe the old proverb, 'eavesdroppers get what they deserve', but I also believe you should hear the conversation that will take place in the hospital soon."
"But, Professor..." Isabel began.
"If you want to hear it, I suggest you go now." Dumbledore said. He looked at her over his half-moon spectacles and then took off towards his office.
Isabel thought about what to do but then said to herself, well, what's there to lose? She ran off to the hospital without a moment to lose.
*~*~*
Hermione had followed Ron to the hospital, having watched nothing but him during the game.
"Are you okay?" she asked when Ron finally came to.
"Well, I fell from 50 feet in the air and I was kicked by a wicked mad woman... Yeah, I guess I'm fine."
Hermione laughed and plopped onto a chair next to Ron's bed.
Ron's insides melted and he felt 200% better. Tell me, why did she have to laugh? Ron asked himself.
The two looked up when there was a bustling outside the door and a bunch of people burst into the hospital.
"Everyone out!" Madame Pomfrey screamed as more people began to crowd the room.
Hermione just stayed put, not intending to leave Ron unless she was specifically asked to. When the room was empty except for Madame Pomfrey, Ron, and herself she saw what everyone was crowding around.
Harry was lying on a bed biting his tongue as Madame Pomfrey mended what must have been a broken rib.
"There you go," Madame Pomfrey was saying, "I'll need to keep you here overnight, just to be sure there are no other complications."
"Okay..." was all Harry seemed to be able to muster.
When Madame Pomfrey left the room Hermione said, "You'd think once the bones are mended the pain would stop."
"Oh, hey Hermione. It seems to hurt more now than before."
Ron sat up and said confused, "What? What happened to you? Who won? Did you catch the snitch?"
"Slow down Ron!" Hermione said in her bossy tone. "Harry's hurt to."
Rolling his eyes Ron asked again, "What happened to you, I mean why are you in the hospital?"
"I took a Bludger to my ribs." Harry answered. Not noticing a click from the door.
"Who won?" Ron then asked.
"I don't know, the teachers are figuring it out now..."
Ron raised an eyebrow and continued the quiz with, "What do you mean, 'figuring it out'? The team that has the most points... Was it a tie?"
Harry thought about it for a second and answered, "Well, I caught the Snitch, and Gryffindor had more points, but I sort of caught it on Isabel's broom."
"What?" Ron asked, now more confused than before.
"When the Bludger hit me I fell off my broom, and Isabel caught me. She then flew me to catch the snitch. The teachers argued on whether it was legal or not."
"You let her catch you?" Ron roared.
Harry looked at him like he was mental and said, "I didn't have a choice, I was 150 feet in the air and unconscious when she caught me."
Ron looked away and mumbled, "You could've just fallen."
"I would have died!"
"Well that's better than being caught by that, that traitor!"
Hermione broke the boy's fight up with, "It's in the past now so STOP FIGHTING OVER IT!"
"Okay." the boys said in unison.
"Good."
Ron looked back over at Harry and said, "But why?"
"Listen Ron," Harry said exasperated. "I don't think that she's all evil or anything. She saved my life, and she didn't have to."
Ron looked at Harry like he was missing the big picture, which was very much what he thought. "You do remember that she is the one that kissed Malfoy right?"
Harry looked at him apologetically and said, "Just look at it this way Ron, if she was really out to kill me why wouldn't she let me fall? I mean, why save me to kill me later. If she wanted me dead she could have had me dead, but she doesn't, because she caught me."
Ron looked up and said quietly, "I don't know, I just don't trust her. You know better than all of us what happened fourth year. Maybe she wants to deliver you to you-know-who herself."
"Ron! I agree that it doesn't give the best message that she kissed Malfoy, but I assure you that she IS NOT involved with V-V-Voldemort at all." Hermione pleaded.
Now it was Ron's turn to look at someone like they were crazy. "You said his name."
Hermione blushed and said, "Fear of a name only increases fear of the thing itself. I just think we should forget that stupid taboo."
Harry nodded with her, and then said, "Well, Ron and I had better get some sleep. No doubt we'll need our strength, concerning the mobs tomorrow..."
Hermione moved to the door, turned off the light and said, "I agree exactly! Sweet Dreams!"
Of you! Ron thought to himself.
As the two closed there eyes someone peeked out from behind a wall and smiled.
"Sweet dreams Harry." Isabel whispered as she snuck out of the hospital.
"Ron, did you say something?" Harry asked in the darkness.
"No, why?"
Harry turned over and muttered before falling asleep, "No reason."
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Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. His world is the work of the
brilliant author J.K. Rowling!
Don't you just love her!
Chapter 7:
Hermione sat in the Common Room the whole night praying that she was just dreaming. That she would wake up any minute. That kiss she shared with Ron had been breathtaking, it didn't feel possible. Of course then he pulled away...and said he was sorry, that is was wrong. After that it had turned into a nightmare. It took everything she had not to cry right there in front of him. Now it was Transfiguration, and her eyes were drooping.
"Ms. Granger are you feeling alright?" Professor McGonagall asked, setting her wand on Hermione's goblet that she had just transfigured from a ink bottle.
Hermione shook her head lightly and replied, "Yes Professor."
"Good, then will you please tell me why you cup is black when it is supposed to be blue?"
She glanced at her cup realizing that she was right. Hermione hadn't even noticed. "Oh sorry." Harry gave her a weak smile while Ron's eyes were glued to his goblet, which was full of ink.
The bell rang and everyone moved out the door, leaving Hermione and Neville gathering their books.
"Are you sure your ok Hermione. You've never missed the color before." Neville said making his way to her table.
"I'm fine Neville, just a little tired."
"Oh ok, if your sure." Not sure how to reply he walked out the door. As Hermione picked up the last of her books, she started out of the classroom behind him.
Once she turned the corner something grabbed her shoulder making her tighten the hold on her wand. Preparing to cast a curse she aimed it towards whatever was standing behind her.
"Whoa, put the wand down." The redhead said slowly, putting his arms in the air.
"You scared me."
"Oh really I couldn't tell. Listen Hermione..." He took a deep breath and ran his hand through his hair, making it stand on ends. "That little color thing that just happened wasn't caused by last night was it?"
Hermione winced when he wouldn't make eye contact. "No I just finished telling Neville I was just tired." She mumbled.
"That's good then...well not that you being tired is good just that you know you weren't um..." He struggled.
Hermione held her hand up to his mouth. "I get it." She started down the hall, he followed.
"Ron?" Hermione asked after a few minutes of silence. He stared up at her telling her that he was listening. "Can we, well I mean do you think that we can just have things go back to normal? Before last night happened?"
Ron gaze traveled back to his feet, as if thinking of the right thing to say. His brain failed him and he just replied and simple, "sure."
She nodded, continuing her way to the Great Hall.
"Afternoon." Harry replied when Hermione took a seat next to him, and Ron across from him. Hermione looked at him skeptically, his grin was a bit curious for Ron also.
"Your looking mighty happy, anything you care to share?" She asked grabbing three apple slices.
Harry's grin grew wider as he answered, "Malfoy insulted Angelina right outside the Hall a few seconds ago."
Ron choked on his juice. "You're happy about that?"
"No no no, it's what he got in return for it. It turns out that Fred was walking pass and heard it. Five seconds later Malfoy's laying on the floor, in front of all the Slytherins."
Hermione's eyebrows knitted together. "What did he do?" She said almost annoyed. "It better not be anything too awful."
Before Harry could continue a hand gripped Hermione's shoulder. "And what would you do Miss Prefect? Give him a detention?" Lee Jordan's voice rang with amusement.
"As a matter of fact I might." She remarked as she turned to meet his eye. "If I didn't Ron would, wouldn't you Ron?" George now stood right behind him, grinning.
"I'd like to see him try. Ickle Ronniekins give his big bro a detention. Ha!" Smirking, they shuffled into their seats next to Harry.
"You under estimate him." Her eyes followed them as the sat down. "He can do things that you would think he doesn't the have guts to do." She smiled to herself and continued, "now what did Fred do?"
Ron had turned red at Hermione's comment, and was picking at his baked carrots as Harry finished his story. "Well from what I saw he used the leg tying curse."
"Yeah that's right. He pointed his wand at Malfoy, muttered a few words and next thing you know that old ferret flat on his back. That boy has no balance." George said grabbing a few buns. "Who knew Fred was so touchy her?"
"So touchy?" Hermione asked, confused.
"About Angelina. I mean sure they're dating but he's never actually cursed Malfoy before." Lee answered before pointing to Hermione's half- eaten apple pie. "You going to eat that?"
"Get your own."
"Fine, just asking. Be a shame to waste food." Shaking his head he and George went on eating.
After they were finished the trio parted for Potions, Herbology and then History of Magic. Where Professor Binns gave, in Harry's view, his most boring lecture yet that year.
"Did you two even get any notes taken, throughout that whole speech?" Hermione scolded as they made there way back to the Common Room after classes finished.
"I'm still a bit tired. And Binns almost put me to sleep." Harry replied, muttering the password.
"If your that tired then you should get to bed early tonight. It'd be a shame to miss classes just because you were up all night again playing chess or...what ever you did last night."
Harry just rolled his eyes. "No I have to go over the routines for our first Quidditch game coming up."
"Quidditch, I'll never understand it." Sighing she plopped down onto the couch. "Have either of you seen Isabel today? She wasn't at lunch."
"Why do you care?" Ron mumbled.
"I don't. I was just wondering."
"Let me excuse myself from your upcoming row. I'm going to bed." Before either of them could deny there fight Harry sped walked his way up the stairs. Truth be told he didn't care about their fight. It was the topic they had started on. Isabel. He still hadn't got over what he heard. I should have made a recheck with Cho. I bet Isabel's some kind of veela. Yeah she had to be...why else would she have made me react the way that I did.
"Don't try and think about her. Your going to strain your brain." He told himself in the darkness of the dorm. Closing his eyes, he quickly faded into dreamland.
The next few weeks passed by quickly. Quidditch practices were getting tough. Harry began reminding everyone of their former captain, Oliver Wood.
He forced Isabel every practice to do the job of each player at least once, saying she needed to be in shape to take over anyone's position.
The night before the first game Angelina and Katie came running into the Common Room, demanding to see Harry. He was sitting on the floor losing at another game of chess.
"Harry we have a problem." Angelina rushed. "Alicia caught the flu of some sort. She's in the hospital chucking up everything.
"What?" Harry and Ron cried, shocked. Colin and Dennis Creevey who were watching the game stuck their tongues out at the last information. "Can't Madam Pomfrey fix it?"
"She can, but the potion won't take in effect till at least tomorrow morning. And Pomfrey's not going to let her out on the field tomorrow afternoon"
"But we need her tomorrow."
"Obviously Ron. What are we going to do? We are down a Chaser." Katie asked staring at Harry. All eyes drew to him.
He looked at his feet and then back up. "It looks like we have to use the sub."
"Why does she have to play in this game?" Ron asked distastefully, the she being Isabel, as they walked into the lockers rooms before the game.
"Don't be so bitter about it. Would you rather a Chaser that was throwing up every other goal or do you want one that can fly straight?" Harry said while tugging on his uniform.
Ron rolled his eyes and finished getting ready. He picked up his less- than-average broom and his stomach turned over.
"Hi-ya Ron," Fred said gleefully, "You okay? You seem nervous..."
George popped in and said, "You don't want to mess up do you?"
Harry looked up and saw the two pestering Ron and said, "Sod off you two, not even Wood had a perfect game."
"You better not miss one of those goals."
"Or it will be all your fault. Gryffindor would blame you for eternity. "
"Do you really want to make a fool of yourself?"
"I said quit it." He bellowed, finishing his elbow pad. Muttering what sounded like a 'fine then' they continued on to change.
"Thanks." Ron whispered.
"No problem, I'm captain after all right? I can make them do anything." He answered grinning.
Harry and Ron soon were ready to go and went to the small tent set up for plans and such. When they got there, however, they were not alone.
"Well, somebody got here a little late..." Angelina said in a petty tone as the two boys walked in.
Ron's temper took control and he said, "What about Fred and George? They aren't here!" Isabel, regardless of this being the first time in a school Quidditch game remarked smartly, "Even I know that they are always late. Also as Angelina was explaining to me that it has become pointless to scold them for it."
Harry discreetly grabbed Ron's uniform and held him back from mashing Isabel to a pulp. "Uh, the Fred and George issue is done now, we should do the tactics thing. So, uh, yeah..." Harry stumbled out his words. He shook his head and went up to the play board.
"Okay," Harry said, gaining his composure, "Angelina, Katie, Isabel, you girls do those loopy things and get the ball, forgot the name, into the goal. Ron, you guard our goals. Quaffle! That's the name! Well, I guess I don't have to tell Fred and George what they do because I don't know how to explain this..."
Isabel saw the awkward position that Harry was in and said, "Just memorize that and apply it to your game."
"I think Harry could have said that himself Is-a-bel!" Ron put quite a bit of emphasis on the last L.
Harry didn't say anything just gave Ron a look that said your-crazy- you-know-that. Ron rolled his eyes and grumbled to himself under his breath.
There was an awkward silence while the team sat there figuring out actually what it is that they had to memorize. After a few minutes they were suddenly disrupted by Madame Hooch walking in and saying briskly, "Game starts soon, get into your entry-way."
Once she had left Harry said, "Okay, here we go."
Isabel pulled her cloak tighter around her, attempting to make her shaking seem like a shiver. Unfortunately for her, Harry noticed. "Don't be afraid, I don't think Malfoy will hate you too much if you actually help us win." Harry said in a cruel voice. Isabel frowned and looked down slightly hurt, but shook it off and looked ahead thinking of her tactics. The crowd of citizens outside the entry way was deafening. Maroon and gold could be seen waving from the stands. As were green and silver.
That's when Isabel realized that they were playing against. There was a creaking and the door opened up. The team filed out onto the field where they met up with the other team. Slytherin.
Harry quickened his step to get in front of Fred and George who were now there to assist Gryffindor Quidditch team. Reaching Draco Malfoy and the rest of the large, burly, and in bad need of some Listerine, Slytherin team he said, "Get to your spots, we don't need any of your shit here."
Malfoy said slyly, "Well, I thought that a little intimidation may be good for them, get them to play better. But if you don't think so..."
Harry burst in and hissed, "It's not the team I'm worried about it's Isabel."
By now the team had caught up with Harry and heard the last bit of the conversation. "What, you think she so sweet and kind. Need to protect her from "evil"?" Draco said in his usual nasty voice.
"No, to keep two-faced traitors like her to not go against my team. With a snap of your fingers she'd make goals for you, and I don't want any of that..."
Behind him Harry heard one of the Weasley twins say, "No, nasty words, COVER HER EARS." When Harry turned to look, he saw Fred and George grasping Isabel's head muttering, "Don't let her hear..." and Isabel staring at him, looking with an expression mixed with hurt and anger.
Madame Hooch walked over with the trunk of the balls and then caught a glimpse of Fred and George. "Are they all right?" She asked Harry.
Not looking back for fear he would have to once again have to see Isabel's face he replied with, "They'll be fine once we get in the air."
Shrugging, Madame Hooch called out, "Players to the air!" Lee Jordan's voice could be heard vaguely over the roar of the crowd. Madame Hooch called out her usual rules and then, the quaffle was released. Followed by the bludgers and then finally snitch.
"Ha!" Katie called out as she took the quaffle for Gryffindor. There was a quick succession of passes that confused the Slytherins into thinking that Isabel had it. From there Isabel was supposed to swerve around until they realized that Angelina had scored a goal. The plan worked, and Gryffindor was ahead by 10 points.
The Slytherins got a hold of the quaffle but lost it when their Chaser had a close call with a bludger and Isabel caught it in time.
The next Slytherin possession resulted in a goal, as well as the one after that.
When the Slytherins once again had the quaffle Angelina shouted to Isabel, "Go guard by Ron!" Isabel went and watched as the other players battled it out. The gist of it was Slytherin, Gryffindor, Slytherin, Gryffindor etc.
Finally a Slytherin Chaser got close enough to the goal to make a shot.
Whacking the bludger hard, George shot it in his direction trying to throw him off. Unfortunately the black ball smacked the quaffle first, causing it to fly head on at Ron.
"Oaf!" Was all Ron could muster as the speeding quaffle hit him in the stomach, and pushed him off his broom and through the goal. The Slytherin side of the pitch cheered, while Hermione and all of the others watched in horror as Ron sped down to the ground.
Isabel rushed down after him, but didn't make it in time. Hearing a sickening thud, she winced as Ron's body hit the ground. She landed and ran to him.
"Come on, get up, get up!" Isabel said while tugging on him and lightly slapping on his cheek. She looked up and saw that Katie had made a goal and now the quaffle was coming back at the Gryffindor goal.
"Wake up!" she screamed as she kicked him in the ribs.
"Ow! Let me die in peace!" Ron moaned.
"Your not going to die," Isabel said bossily, "Just get up! Slytherin is going to, well never mind they just made a goal."
Ron just groaned and turned over. Isabel had no time to attempt to once again revive him, because Madame Hooch and Madame Pomfrey came to him and picked him up.
Isabel turned her attention back to the game where she saw Harry swooping after what must have been the snitch.
"Hey Isabel, get up her so you can join the air-borne celebration!" George called down.
"Is he after it?" Isabel asked as she flew up to join George and the nearby Fred.
"Yes." The boys said in unison.
"Well, this should be over soon..." Isabel's words, however, were cut off by a bludger flying into Harry.
He slipped off to the side and caught himself, but he was hanging underneath. The whole field seemed in some sort of a trance then. The whole attendance to the game hushed and just watched as Harry hung there.
"Some one should... help him..." Isabel whispered. When she saw his left hand slip, she took off. The whole arena began to move from that point on. The onlookers and players suddenly seemed to realize that the famous Harry Potter was hanging onto a broom at 150 feet in the air, and steadily slipping.
"Hold on Harry!" Isabel screamed.
But regardless to her words, Harry's right hand, let go. Harry plummeted to the ground until Isabel dove under him and caught her on his broom.
"What, what's going on?" Harry mumbled as if he was in a daze.
Isabel situated him on the front of her broom and said, "You have to catch the snitch!"
When they looked out they found Draco chasing a small glint of gold. "Come on, lets go!" Harry called out weakly.
The two reached top speed quickly, and caught up with Draco and the snitch. They zigzagged through the maze of players and then went into a deep dive.
"Hey, uh, Harry?" Isabel asked frightened.
"Yes?"
"You did this first-year right?"
"Yes."
"Okay good, because I have no idea what I am doing..."
Harry called back, "Just pull up when I tell you to!"
"Okay." Was all Isabel could muster.
They flew down for a while, and onlookers saw Draco fall back, not able to catch up with the speed of a Firebolt 2.
Harry and Isabel were nearing the ground at an alarming speed when Harry shouted, "Pull up!"
Isabel did so, and found herself three feet from the grass.
Harry grabbed his side in pain.
"What's wrong?" Isabel asked him.
Harry groaned and said, "I think my rib is broken."
"Just catch the Snitch!" Isabel pleaded.
They zoomed forward in pursuit. Harry and Isabel were half way across the field when Harry's hand closed over the infernal little golden ball that flies faster than lighting.
Lee Jordan's voice could be heard over the crowd, "WE WON, WE WON! IN YOUR FACE SLYTHERINS!" Which was followed by a innocent. "Sorry Professor."
"I caught it!" Harry exclaimed joyfully.
Isabel, currently a bit disoriented, said, "Wonderful..."
Harry laughed and pulled her up. Once up, he winced and fell back down.
"Oh my god, I think you broke your rib!" Isabel said,
Harry looked up at her and muttered, "No way!" sarcastically.
A bunch of teachers (Madame Hooch, Madame Pomfrey, Dumbledore, Snape, etc.) ran down to see what exactly had happened.
Harry sat on the ground as Snape said almost immediately, "This is an outrage, they did not win!"
McGonagall answered back sharply, "They caught the Snitch! They are the winners!"
"It is stated plainly in the rules that only the Seeker may catch the Snitch!"
"That's who caught it!"
There was a sudden blob of speech coming from the teachers there.
Isabel and Harry exchanged a glance when a familiar voice from behind said, "I agree with Professor Snape! It was completely out of line for Ms. Ollivander to fly Potter to the Snitch."
"Sore are you Draco? Didn't have the fastest broom?" Harry asked coolly.
As Malfoy walked by the sitting Harry and kicked him discreetly in the rib. Harry called out in pain, causing Madame Pomfrey to notice that he was in dire need of a doctor.
"Mr. Potter your rib is broken!" she cried out when she further examined his side.
"That's what Isabel said..." Harry started.
McGonagall spoke out and said, "See? He was hurt, I highly doubt that you will not make an exception this time? I'm sure a dead student is far worse than a loop hole in the rules..."
This started a whole new round of argument.
"Everyone please calm down!" Dumbledore said, speaking for the first time. "Madame Pomfrey, take Mr. Potter to the hospital wing. Professor Snape, Professor McGonagall, and Madame Hooch, please go to my office so we can decide the winner of this game. Mr. Malfoy I suggest you go back to your common room and await the out come of this game."
Everyone moved and did exactly what they were instructed the moment Dumbledore ended the last syllable. Madame Pomfrey conjured a stretcher and floated Harry off to the school. The three teachers went to Dumbledore's office. A very reluctant Draco sulked off to the Slytherin common room. All that was left was Isabel.
"Uh, Professor Dumbledore, what should I do?" Isabel asked timidly. Dumbledore smiled and said, "Usually, I believe the old proverb, 'eavesdroppers get what they deserve', but I also believe you should hear the conversation that will take place in the hospital soon."
"But, Professor..." Isabel began.
"If you want to hear it, I suggest you go now." Dumbledore said. He looked at her over his half-moon spectacles and then took off towards his office.
Isabel thought about what to do but then said to herself, well, what's there to lose? She ran off to the hospital without a moment to lose.
*~*~*
Hermione had followed Ron to the hospital, having watched nothing but him during the game.
"Are you okay?" she asked when Ron finally came to.
"Well, I fell from 50 feet in the air and I was kicked by a wicked mad woman... Yeah, I guess I'm fine."
Hermione laughed and plopped onto a chair next to Ron's bed.
Ron's insides melted and he felt 200% better. Tell me, why did she have to laugh? Ron asked himself.
The two looked up when there was a bustling outside the door and a bunch of people burst into the hospital.
"Everyone out!" Madame Pomfrey screamed as more people began to crowd the room.
Hermione just stayed put, not intending to leave Ron unless she was specifically asked to. When the room was empty except for Madame Pomfrey, Ron, and herself she saw what everyone was crowding around.
Harry was lying on a bed biting his tongue as Madame Pomfrey mended what must have been a broken rib.
"There you go," Madame Pomfrey was saying, "I'll need to keep you here overnight, just to be sure there are no other complications."
"Okay..." was all Harry seemed to be able to muster.
When Madame Pomfrey left the room Hermione said, "You'd think once the bones are mended the pain would stop."
"Oh, hey Hermione. It seems to hurt more now than before."
Ron sat up and said confused, "What? What happened to you? Who won? Did you catch the snitch?"
"Slow down Ron!" Hermione said in her bossy tone. "Harry's hurt to."
Rolling his eyes Ron asked again, "What happened to you, I mean why are you in the hospital?"
"I took a Bludger to my ribs." Harry answered. Not noticing a click from the door.
"Who won?" Ron then asked.
"I don't know, the teachers are figuring it out now..."
Ron raised an eyebrow and continued the quiz with, "What do you mean, 'figuring it out'? The team that has the most points... Was it a tie?"
Harry thought about it for a second and answered, "Well, I caught the Snitch, and Gryffindor had more points, but I sort of caught it on Isabel's broom."
"What?" Ron asked, now more confused than before.
"When the Bludger hit me I fell off my broom, and Isabel caught me. She then flew me to catch the snitch. The teachers argued on whether it was legal or not."
"You let her catch you?" Ron roared.
Harry looked at him like he was mental and said, "I didn't have a choice, I was 150 feet in the air and unconscious when she caught me."
Ron looked away and mumbled, "You could've just fallen."
"I would have died!"
"Well that's better than being caught by that, that traitor!"
Hermione broke the boy's fight up with, "It's in the past now so STOP FIGHTING OVER IT!"
"Okay." the boys said in unison.
"Good."
Ron looked back over at Harry and said, "But why?"
"Listen Ron," Harry said exasperated. "I don't think that she's all evil or anything. She saved my life, and she didn't have to."
Ron looked at Harry like he was missing the big picture, which was very much what he thought. "You do remember that she is the one that kissed Malfoy right?"
Harry looked at him apologetically and said, "Just look at it this way Ron, if she was really out to kill me why wouldn't she let me fall? I mean, why save me to kill me later. If she wanted me dead she could have had me dead, but she doesn't, because she caught me."
Ron looked up and said quietly, "I don't know, I just don't trust her. You know better than all of us what happened fourth year. Maybe she wants to deliver you to you-know-who herself."
"Ron! I agree that it doesn't give the best message that she kissed Malfoy, but I assure you that she IS NOT involved with V-V-Voldemort at all." Hermione pleaded.
Now it was Ron's turn to look at someone like they were crazy. "You said his name."
Hermione blushed and said, "Fear of a name only increases fear of the thing itself. I just think we should forget that stupid taboo."
Harry nodded with her, and then said, "Well, Ron and I had better get some sleep. No doubt we'll need our strength, concerning the mobs tomorrow..."
Hermione moved to the door, turned off the light and said, "I agree exactly! Sweet Dreams!"
Of you! Ron thought to himself.
As the two closed there eyes someone peeked out from behind a wall and smiled.
"Sweet dreams Harry." Isabel whispered as she snuck out of the hospital.
"Ron, did you say something?" Harry asked in the darkness.
"No, why?"
Harry turned over and muttered before falling asleep, "No reason."
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Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. His world is the work of the
brilliant author J.K. Rowling!
Don't you just love her!