"Where's Hannah?" Sawyer asked. He flopped down in the grass along the bank of the lake right between Astrid and Jason. Ron, Harry, Hermione, Fred, George, Katie and Alicia all sat on a blanket a few meters farther up the bank. Hermione and Fred were lying flat in their backs. Hermione's head rested on Fred's stomach. The pair had laughed uproariously every few minutes, blaming Fred's stomach for their amusement. George and Katie had taken another corner of the blanket. Katie lay on her left side, facing everyone else. George lay just behind her, head propped up on his left hand, right arm slung protectively over Katie's stomach. Alicia say on the other corner of the blanket and tossed tiny pieces of grass, stick, parchment, pocket fuzz and just about anything else she could get her hands on at Katie and George. Ron and Harry sat across from Alicia. Both looked rather depressed due to the absence of their girlfriends.
"She's mad at me," Harry replied.
"So she and Mandy aren't coming out today," Ron added.
"Why is she mad at you?" Sawyer ventured to ask. He rolled over and laid on his stomach, chin propped on his fists, looking earnestly up at the teenagers.
"Heather," Harry said. "Little Heather from Salem."
"Somehow I don't think Heather would appreciate you calling her little," Astrid laughed. Harry shrugged and buried his face in his hands.
"What did Heather do to Hannah?" Jason asked.
"Jase, where were you all of last weekend?" Katie asked. Alicia halted the aerial assault on Katie's head to shoot Jason a completely unbelieving look.
"Sarah!" Sawyer coughed. "Sarah!" Jason quickly jerked an elbow into Sawyer's side.
"Sarah?" George questioned.
"The sixth year beater that Jase drooled over all weekend," Astrid provided. Jason turned red from his chin to the roots of his dark hair."
"Sarah?" George said. "You mean the really hot one?" Katie instantly turned bright red.
"Yeah," Jason replied, dreamy tone in his voice.
"George!" Katie shrieked.
"Well, Katie dear, I'm allowed to check out the other teams beaters, especially if she's going to spend the better part of the match launching bludgers at your head." George dropped a kiss into his girlfriend's hair before he continued. "And most especially since you agree with Spinnett that Malfoy is the team eye-candy."
"Whoa wait!" Astrid couldn't have sprung up any quicker had she been charmed. "Malfoy? As in my brother Malfoy?"
"Unless there are Malfoy boys that go to Hogwarts that aren't your brothers," Katie laughed.
"Are you kidding?" Draco and Keiran mark the first time there have been two Malfoys under the age of 210 alive at the same time in recorded history!" Astrid exclaimed.
"Why?" Alicia asked. Astrid smiled.
"Somewhere in the Malfoy family rules between 'thou shalt be filthy rich,' 'thou shalt be devilishly good looking,' and 'thou shalt be a Slytherin' lies 'thou shalt have one male child," Astrid explained.
"I'm actually the first female Malfoy not by marriage.
"How?" asked Harry.
"Why?" questioned Hermione.
"There are four of you," Katie said. No one bothered to correct her.
"Usually the Malfoy men charm their wives to have one boy then stop with the children. Lucius, for some reason, decided he needed two children. After Draco was born, Grandfather Argentum died, so Lucius decided to abandon tradition and have his second child. I don't think Lucius ever liked grandfather much so having the second child was a way to rebel. He wasn't planning on the two for one special though," Astrid explained.
"Two for one special," Fred laughed.
"What about Emma?" Ron questioned.
"My parents didn't think mum could conceive so quickly after me and Keiran, so they didn't bother with any charms or potions. Nine months later they were the parents to three children under the age of one year," Astrid laughed.
"Even our parents aren't that crazy," Ron laughed.
"Hey guys," Sawyer called. "Hearing the sordid details of Astrid's parents' private life is rather icktastic. I, for one, want to hear why Hannah is mad at Harry over Heather."
"I second that motion!" Jason declared.
"Motion passed," Alicia said. "Do tell your story Harry." Harry pulled his knees to his chest and turned to face his friends fully.
&&&&&
"Hi! I'm Heather! I'm the manager for this team! Who are ya'll?" The little girl standing in between the Hogwarts team and the Salem team looked like a human incarnation of Pigwidgeon. She stood up very straight and bounced lightly on the balls of her feet. Her thumbs were hooked through the front belt loops of her wide-legged jeans. She wore a grey t-shirt that was pushed up to the waistband of her jeans by her hands. A hot pink and black flannel shirt hung open over the t-shirt, almost to the girl's knees. A curly brownish-red ponytail hung out of the back of a black baseball cap pulled low over the girls brownish green eyes. Ron leaned over to Harry and Hermione.
"What's a ya'll?" he asked.
"Southern American slang. Contraction of you and all," Hermione replied. Ron and Harry both nodded.
"Is someone going to answer my question here?" Heather demanded. The tallest girl of the Salem team stepped forward and placed a hand on each of Heather's shoulders.
"You'll have to excuse Heather, she's more than a little excitable," the girl said.
"I'll show you excitable, Sarah Hackney!" Heather squealed. She attempted to turn and face Sarah, but the older girl held onto Heather's shoulders and prevented her from turning.
"Guys, aren't we supposed to be making a good impression?" a tall black boy asked.
"Oh, be quiet, Jericho!" Heather squeaked. She pointed at the Hogwarts team. "I think we're scaring them." Sarah let go of one of Heather's shoulders and held out her hand to Harry. Harry shook her hand lightly.
"Sarah Hackney, beater and captain extraordinaire," she said as Harry shook her hand. "And this lot of hoodlums is my team."
"Who you callin' a hoodlum, hoodlum?" Jericho said. He glared at Sarah. The Hogwarts team was effectively speechless, looking at the Salem team like they had lost their marbles.
"That's our wonderful center chaser, Jericho," Sarah said. She pointed a smaller boy standing next to Jericho. "And that's Josh, our left chaser." Josh waved at the Hogwarts chaser.
"Go ahead, laugh it up," Jericho said. The looks on the faces of the Hogwarts team changed from awed to perplexed. Jericho began swaying and clapping.
"You know," he began singing. "Joshua fit the battle of Jericho, Jericho, Jericho-o-o." He paused and stopped swaying. "No? Figures. You never went to black church." Sarah shot a glare at Jericho before continuing her introductions.
"The kid standing next to Josh is Jake and the fat kid is Tyler. Jake's the other chaser, Tyler's the keeper."
"Why's it always gotta be about the fat kid?" Tyler asked. Jericho reached over Josh and patted Tyler on his head.
"Man, if this were a horror film, I'd still die first," Jericho said. Tyler glared at him.
"I'd live," Heather said. "Cause I'd run out the door 'stead of up the steps." Jericho grabbed the bill of Heather's hat and pulled it towards her chin. A girl about Heather's height stepped from behind Sarah and waved at the silent Hogwarts team.
"I'm Lyra, the seeker," she said. Sarah looked around at all of her teammates before finally spotting the remaining girl in the group.
"That's Taylor, the other beater," she said.
"Now can we get back to my original question of who are ya'll?" Heather asked, smiling broadly at the group.
"I'm Harry," Harry finally managed to choke out. "Harry Potter.
"You can call me Harry Potter," Jericho muttered. Josh jerked an elbow into Jericho's side. The Salem students who had heard Jericho's comment laughed softly.
"Hey!" Heather shrieked. "They write books about you!" Sarah smacked the back of Heather's head.
"Heather!" she hissed. Heather shrugged while Harry nodded and turned Red. Ron, Fred and George all laughed at the little girl.
"Don't laugh," Jericho said. "It only encourages her."
"You're one to talk," Josh muttered.
"Focus here people!" Heather cried. "I only know one of their names so far!"
"Fred Weasley," Fred volunteered, waving at the Americans.
"George," George added.
"Hey!" Heather cried. "You're twins!"
"Well spotted, Holmes," Jericho said in a fake British accent.
"I have a friend named Linsey and the lady in McDonald's thought we were twins. We're not though. But she thought we were." Heather rattled. Sarah wrapped an arm around Heather's head, just above the bill of the girls baseball cap and pulled Heather's head to her chest. Then Sarah clamped her other hand over Heather's mouth.
"Proceed," Sarah instructed.
"Ron Weasley," Ron said. Heather struggled to comment from behind Sarah's hand. Her words came out a string of muffled mumbles.
"Hermione Granger," Hermione said. Heather's frantic mumbling didn't stop.
"Angelina Johnson," Angelina said. The only comment came in the form of an "eep" from Jericho. Sarah's glare silenced him.
"I'm Katie Bell," Katie said, waving at the Salem team from her spot next to George.
"And I'm Alicia," Alicia said. "We're pretty much the team." Astrid stepped forward.
"I'm Astrid and these guys are Jason and Sawyer. We're pretty much the groupies," she said.
"Pretty much?" Ron questioned.
"We're missing your girl and Hannah and Dennis and Nate and the mandrake," Astrid explained.
"Ya'll have a mandrake for a groupie?" Heather asked. Sarah had finally let go of her head.
"Not really," Astrid said.
"She's just as annoying but not quite as deadly," Sawyer added.
"Her real name is Chelsea," Jason finally said. Heather just looked at the three first years and nodded slowly. Sarah smacked Heather on the back of her head, just under her ponytail.
"Don't gawk," she hissed.
"We don't bite," Sawyer said. Astrid fixed an evil grin on Heather.
"Often," she said. Ron tapped the back of Astrid's head.
"Be nice. Don't scare her," Ron instructed. Astrid smiled sweetly up at the fifth year.
"I won't," she agreed. "I'll behave."
"I think that's what scares me the most," Ron said.
"So guys," Jericho interrupted. "I hate to do this to ya'll but can we blow this Popsicle stand? I've really gotta take a…"
"JERICHO!" Sarah shouted.
"A tinkle," Jericho amended his statement.
*****
"Someone help!" Heather shrieked. "He's almost got me!" Ron cackled evilly from the other side of the chessboard. Sarah and Harry jumped to their feet and ran to the younger girl's aid. The pair bent over the back of Heather's chair and surveyed the game before them. Hermione, Lyra and Josh were immersed in a discussion about an obscure aspect of transfiguration that no one else had heard of. Ginny sat at the end of the Ravenclaw table furiously scribbling to Braeden in her book. Oliver had joined the group in the great hall and he and Tyler were wrapped in a conversation about the finer points of keeping. The chasers, twins, Taylor and Jake were all involved in a raucous game of tag. Jericho had herded Astrid, Sawyer, Jason and Nate into a corner and was attempting to teach them to juggle.
"I think if you do that, then that, THEN that, he should move there, there and there and then you've got him," Harry advised. Sarah nodded her agreement. Ron smirked at his best friend and the tall brown-haired beater.
"She's only got me if she can understand those cryptic directions you just gave her and my money's on she's clueless," Ron laughed.
"Silence, carrot top," Heather bit out. Sarah smacked the girl's shoulder.
"Heather Leigh!" Sarah exclaimed. Heather held her hand over her shoulder. Her middle and ring fingers touched her thumb while her index finger and pinky extended straight in the air.
"Quiet, captain," she muttered She tapped her fingers on her thumb with every syllable she spoke. Sarah swatted the rudimentary hand puppet away.
"Easy on the ears, buster," Heather muttered before moving her puppet to her lap. Heather quickly directed her queen over a number of spaces. She looked up at Ron and smiled sweetly.
"Checkmate, sweetheart!" she laughed.
'It's a checkmate," Ron's king agreed.
"WOOHOO!" Heather shouted. She jumped onto her seat and turned to Harry and Sarah.
"WE did it!" She shrieked. The tiny girl sprang off the bench. She wrapped one arm around Sarah's neck and the other around Harry's. Sarah and Harry weren't prepared to catch the first year so she pulled first Sarah then Harry to the floor on top of her. Amid picking themselves up and their gales of laughter, the trio never noticed that the door of the great hall opened and closed but no one else entered.
&&&&&
"So those are the only two times I can think of that I really talked to Heather!" Harry finished his story. "And so I really don't see why Hannah is so upset."
"Harry man! I'm 12, unobservant, and the most insensitive prat on the face of the planet and even I can tell you that Hannah's madder about Sarah than she is about Heather!" Jason cried.
"You're 11?" Ron objected.
"Nope, did the birthday thing the Friday ya'll were in France," Jason explained.
"Wow Jase, leave the word ya'll for Heather and Sarah and Jericho. Stick to prat and bloody hell, Sawyer instructed.
"Okay then. Nope. Did the birthday thing the Friday prat and bloody hell were in France," Jason amended. Fred and George glanced at each other over Katie.
"You're bloody hell!" They chorused. When they realized they had spoken simultaneously, they added, "No, I'm prat!" The pair then resigned to rolling their eyes and shaking their heads.
"You know Jason, you make a very valid point. I do believe Hannah is probably madder about Sarah than Heather," Harry said.
"So does this mean you'll try to talk to her?" Hermione questioned.
"GUYS!" A voice shrieked from behind the blanket.
"Wow. Someone's been taking lessons from Mandrake Chelsea," Sawyer muttered.
"Boy do I have news!" the youngest Weasley said as she vaulted herself over Hermione and onto the blanket.
"So I got an owl from Luc as dictated to Allegra Lestat," Ginny began.
"Why not Braeden?" Hermione questioned. Ginny's face fell.
"Durmstrang used the same move on Braeden as they used on Malfoy and he's still not conscious," Ginny muttered.
"Oh Gin!" Hermione said. She reached out and rested a hand on her friend's shoulder.
"Okay, I've got news bigger than my unconscious boyfriend!" Ginny said. George and Fred shot incredulous looks at their baby sister.
"When they took Braeden out of the game yesterday, Vieve had to go to keeper; they pulled Calliope to chaser and let Allegra seek. Needless to say, Durmstrang stomped them in the most extreme sort of way. In fact, the score was 430-70." Ginny smiled broadly, expecting the gathered group to understand the news contained in her cryptic messages.
"Bloody hell!" Ron finally spoke up. "If Durmstrang beat Beauxbatons 430-70 and we beat Salem 270-40, that means we…" Ron trailed off.
"Exactly," Ginny said with a smile.
"The freaky twin thing is our job here!" Fred said. "Care to fill us in?"
"We're tied with Durmstrang for the championship!" Ron screeched.
"So you get to play the great brutes again this Saturday!" Ginny added. Fred and George exchanged an excited look over Katie.
"The Annexation of Puerto Rico!" Fred cried. George nodded furiously.
"Do we finally get to run that play?" Alicia questioned.
"We'll teach it at practice tomorrow," Fred promised.
"Who is voting we convince Oliver to play Sanguinis as keeper first so we can have him unconscious in the hospital for a week?" Ron asked. Everyone present raised a hand.
"Why not Malfoy?" Fred questioned.
"Malfoy is a damn good keeper and he's also our reserve seeker. Sanguinis is just a keeper and a keeper who lets everything by him at that," Ron explained. Fred and George both nodded.
"Wait!" Alicia cried. "I think Ron's onto something with letting Sanguinis start!"
"What is it Leesh?" Fred questioned. Alicia shook her head and jumped to her feet.
"Let me work out the logistics first," Alicia called as she hurried towards the castle.
"And that's our little Alicia," Fred laughed. "Her middle name should be logistics."
"It's Christine," Katie replied. "Alicia Christine Spinnett."
"What's yours?" Fred asked.
"Elizabeth," Katie replied.
'Katherine Elizabeth Bell?" Fred guessed.
"Katie," Katie replied. "Katie Elizabeth Bell. My parents didn't understand why they should name me Katherine if they were just going to call me Katie anyway."
"Smart," George said. "I'm the only Weasley child that doesn't go by a shortened version of their first name."
"Thank Merlin," Ron and Ginny chorused.
'So wait," Hermione said. She began pointing at each person as she said his or her middle name. "Lenore, James, Alroy, Bayard, Clancy, Eirene, Elizabeth, Astrid." She stopped at Sawyer and Jason.
"Dare," Sawyer offered. Jason turned bright red.
"Jason's is Apollo," Astrid chirped.
"Even Apollo and Dare are normal compared to the girls name my mum has picked out!" Hermione complained.
"Still no baby?" Astrid asked.
"Still no baby," Hermione replied. "Still hoping for a brother though."
"Or your mum to come to her senses," Fred said. Hermione shrugged.
"It all fits the patterns. Shakespearian first name, middle name from Poe. You understand about patterns don't you?"
"Oh sure," Ron replied. "I don't think my middle name would be Alroy otherwise."
"What about Juliet or Caterina or Bianca or Ariel?" Sawyer asked.
"Too normal," Hermione said. "How do you know Shakespeare anyway?"
"Hello! My name's Sawyer. As in Tom Sawyer. As in the book by Mark Twain. As in both my parents are English professors," Sawyer explained. "My little sister's name is Becky after Becky Thatcher in the same book."
"My family has something of a pattern too. Of all things. Greek Mythology and other aspects of ancient Greece. Thank Merlin dad talked mum out of naming me Oedipus."
"Oedipus Black!" Sawyer howled. Jason shrugged.
'Oedipus and Antigone are mum's favorite tragedies. Luckily Medea is her second favorite."
"Oedipus!" Sawyer howled again.
'This coming from the boy who could have just as easily been named Huckleberry," Astrid quipped. This effectively silenced Sawyer.
"What do you say we blow this Popsicle stand and head on up to dinner?" Ron questioned. Fred gently moved Hermione's head off his stomach and jumped to his feet.
"We should go owl Oliver about the Annexation," he said, looking pointedly at George. George climbed to his feet and pulled Katie to hers.
"Let's," he agreed. The trio of seventh years started towards the school.
"Do you think Nate's come out of the library yet?" Astrid asked. Sawyer shrugged.
"We should go make sure he's out in time for food," Jason suggested. His friends nodded and the little trio rushed towards the castle.
"I should go check on Braeden," Ginny muttered. She followed the first years, not even bothering to say goodbye to Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
"Great, stick us with the cleanup," Ron said, looking down at the blanket. Hermione pulled her wand and did several quick spells. She then picked up the blanket. It was small enough to fit in Ron's pocket and virtually weightless.
"So you guys think Hannah is more mad about Sarah than Heather?" Harry asked, nervous tremor in his voice. Hermione nodded.
"Yeah, I don't know why I didn't see it before, but between O.W.L.S. and my extra research, worrying about your love lives has been lower on the priorities list. Sorry guys," Hermione joked. Harry shrugged.
"How has your extra research been going?" Ron questioned.
"It hasn't," Hermione replied. "The library has books."
"Astute observation," Harry muttered. Hermione shot him a glare before continuing.
"Books that I think would be useful. At least set me in the right direction, you know? But they've all been checked out."
"What do you think that means?" Harry asked.
"Someone else who really understands how to use a library is researching the exact same topic, which is only slightly possible. Astrid said she hasn't set anyone else to researching, which means that Little Malfoy is researching, Malfoy is or has set someone to researching, or someone is pulling the books ahead of me," Hermione explained.
"Pulling the books?" Harry questioned.
"Malfoy?" Ron asked.
"Ah, yes." Hermione sounded very much like Professor McGonagall. "You both bring up very valid points." The boys exchanged a look over Hermione's head.
"Supposing neither of Astrid' brothers is or is responsible for the other researcher, that means someone else knows about the ceremony that wasn't told by one of the three Malfoy children. Someone in Hogwarts, that is. Now the most logical explanation seems to be that the person who made Malfoy play potions master is the same person who is taking the books, barring the idea that his little brother was behind the potions bit."
"How do you know Keiran isn't behind all of it?" Ron questioned. Hermione shrugged.
"I don't. However."
"There's always a however," Harry muttered. Hermione glared at Harry again before continuing with her theory.
"Well, Keiran is You-Know-Who's heir. While he is a valuable asset, it makes more sense to keep him way out of trouble. He's the most logical suspect, therefore, they probably have another inside line."
"Wow Hermione, English please," Ron requested.
"I think I get it," Harry said. "It's sorta like because Keiran is so logical, they're using someone else to keep Keiran relatively innocent but keep suspicions on him and off the real person at the same time." Ron nodded and ran his fingers through his hair.
"I think I get it. So who is the other guy?" Ron questioned.
"Good question," Hermione answered.
"Do we even have a list of suspects?" Harry asked.
"Sound like an old cop movie much there Harry?" Hermione quipped. "But I don't know any of the Slytherins well enough to compile suspects."
"Great. We need a Slytherin insider who will sell us house secrets! We'll get that about as easily as You-Know-Who got the Philosopher's stone."
"Do we even really know any Slytherins?" Hermione asked. All the friends stopped talking to consider their options. They continued walking towards the castle. Harry finally spoke up.
"None," he said. "We don't know one Slytherin in the sense that they'd tell us jack shit about anything."
"We need someone neutral," Ron said. "Someone who can get Slytherin secrets, give them to us, and keep their mouths shut."
"Wow Ron, what kind of fantasy world are you living in?" Harry questioned. Ron shrugged.
"It'd be nice," Ron said. "But I know it won't happen."
"So we haven't even left go yet," Hermione muttered. "We need a suspect, we need books, we need our friend, we need a to win a Quidditch championship and we need to pass O.W.L.S.!" Harry and Ron exchanged a high five over Hermione's head.
"What was that about?" she questioned.
"We never thought we'd see the day when you'd prioritize Quidditch above O.W.L.S." Harry explained. Hermione glared at both boys before pulling open the door to the castle and stepping into the entrance hall. Harry, then Ron followed her. The trio stopped just next to the entrance of the great hall.
"Are we going in or shall we wait for Ginny?" Harry questioned. A group of seventh year Hufflepuffs walked past. Harry felt a familiar throbbing start just behind his eyelids. Before he could warn Ron or Hermione of what was about to happen, a searing pain ripped across his scar. He felt as though someone had aimed a super concentrated Cruciatus curse at just his forehead and wouldn't let up. The boy fell to the floor at his friends' feet with a scream that rattled the doors.
"HARRY!" Hermione shrieked. Ron looked around quickly to see exactly who was witnessing the spectacle. Hermione dropped to her knees next to Harry. The boy kept his hands clamped to his scar and writhed in the floor, wrought with an agony that wouldn't stop.
"Ron, we've got to get him to the hospital wing!" Hermione hissed. Ron looked down at his friends and nodded. He bent over and scooped up Harry, placing one arm around the boy's back and the other under his knees. Harry's head fell hard against Ron's shoulder. The tall redhead turned to the steps and struggled to run up them. Hermione, not thinking of lightning or levitating spells, followed her friend. Harry released another shriek fully meant to wake the dead and shook so violently that Ron nearly dropped him. Ron quickly turned at the top of the stairs and headed directly for the hospital wing with Hermione close on his heels.
"What do you think is happening?" he asked as Harry fell limp in his arms. Hermione shrugged and shook her head.
"Who knows? You-Know-Who is probably up to something," she replied in a whisper. Ron looked down at his friend and started up another flight of stairs.
"Whatever it was, is over now because he's gone still," he said. One of Harry's hands fell away from his head. Hermione quickly grabbed his limp wrist and felt for a pulse. She felt it faintly fluttering beneath her fingertips.
"He's got a pulse, Madame Pomfrey should be able to mend him right up," Hermione muttered. "Then he can tell us what it was." She released Harry's wrist and pulled open the door to the hospital wing. She held it, allowing Ron to pass through with their unconscious friend.
"Madame Pomfrey!" Hermione called.
"Hermione, dear, I thought we weren't scheduled for another lesson until tomorrow night," Madame Pomfrey shouted from the potions storeroom.
"It's not a lesson," Hermione replied. "It's Harry." Madame Pomfrey rushed from the potions storeroom to where the trio stood just inside the door.
"What happened?" she asked, instantly reaching for Harry's wrist to find a pulse.
"We were standing in the Entrance Hall and he grabbed his forehead, screamed a couple of times, and collapsed," Ron explained. His simple version of the events summed everything up perfectly.
"Did he say anything or did he just scream?" Madame Pomfrey asked.
"Just screamed," Hermione replied. Madame Pomfrey pointed to a bed on the left side of the wing against the opposite wall.
"If you'll just put him there, I'll check him out and see if I can't get him to wake up," the matron said. Ron carried his friend to the last bed on the left and deposited him on the mattress.
"Miss Granger, if you would like to stay and observe the exam, you may. Mr. Weasley, if you will please go find Professor Dumbledore and notify him of what has happened," Madame Pomfrey instructed. Hermione nodded and headed over towards Harry. Ron turned towards the door to find Professor Dumbledore.
"And Mr. Weasley? The next time this happens, please use a levitating spell. You're going to hurt yourself carrying him around like that," Madame Pomfrey scolded. Ron nodded and stared at his shoes.
"Now go," the matron said. Ron hurried out of the door. Madame Pomfrey turned back to Hermione and the still unconscious Harry.
"Now then," she said, stepping towards the boy.
%%%%%
Once outside the hospital wing, Ron ran down the corridor and took the stairs two at a time. On the second floor, he hurried towards the library, and took the hallway towards the Ravenclaw common room rather than going to the library itself. At the end of that corridor, he turned right and took and almost immediate left onto another corridor. He slowed his pace from a sprint to a slow jog and kept down the corridor, hoping Dumbledore was in his office. Three corridors later, he stood next to the gargoyle, very out of breath and unable to recall the password.
"Ice Mice," he muttered.
"Fizzing Whizbees."
"Everlasting Gobstoppers." He paused and stared at the gargoyle. It didn't move.
"He's not in there," came a silky voice from just behind Ron. Ron spun quickly to look at its owner. He didn't see anyone.
"He's already heading towards the hospital wing. I think someone else told him what happened," the voice said.
"Pardon me if I sound stupid, but exactly who and where are you?" Ron asked. A throaty laugh erupted from the shadows moments before the most exotic looking girl Ron had ever seen stepped from between a painting and a suit of armor. She had waist length chocolate brown hair that hung loose around her face. She wore thick navy skirts and a light brown sweater, despite the warm weather. Several hammered gold bangles covered her wrists. She had chocolate brown eyes flecked by odd spots of gold. She smiled at Ron. He couldn't decide if the smile was sinister or friendly, but he leaned towards sinister.
"Okay, we've established where, now what about who?" Ron questioned. "I don't think I've seen you around here before."
"Oh, I'm only seen when I want to be," the girl replied airily. "You can call me Contessa." She took a few steps towards the astounded redhead. Her skirts twirled around her feet in such a way that Ron actually questioned the existence of her feet. She looked as if she was floating.
"So I don't mean to sound rude, but what do you want?" he questioned. She laughed again, a deep throaty sound.
"It's not a question of what I want," she replied. Her voice was more of a purr than a normal voice. "It's a question of what you need."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ron questioned. Contessa quirked an eyebrow at the boy.
"Oh, I think you know," she replied.
"Well, I need my best friend to wake up. Unless you can help me with that, then I can't think of anything else," Ron said quickly. He ran his fingers through his hair, making it stand up wildly on end.
"We both know that's not what I'm talking about," Contessa whispered. She took the remaining steps to Ron and began circling him predatorily.
"Well then what are you talking about?" Ron asked. His face began to take on the familiar flush of anger.
"You need the name of the person who made Draco Malfoy attempt to kill himself and is emptying the library of all of the books your precious Hermione thinks she needs to help your favorite first year," Contessa hissed.
"I don't have a favorite first year," came the feeble reply from Ron.
"And my name isn't Contessa," Contessa laughed.
"For all I know, it isn't," Ron said.
"It is," Contessa replied.
"But how do I know I can trust you?" Ron questioned.
"You can't," came Contessa's simple reply. "But trust and bought silence are two completely different things."
"Bought silence?" Ron tried the words on for size.
"You heard me," Contessa purred. "You pay, I talk, and then I forget this conversation ever happened."
"What's your price and for what information?" Ron questioned.
"I'll tell you the house, the year, and a few other choice bits of information about the person behind all of this for a lock of your hair," Contessa replied.
"A lock of my hair?" Ron asked. "That's all?" Contessa nodded. She reached out and curled a few strands just above Ron's right ear around her finger. He tensed at her touch.
"That's all?" he echoed.
"Yes," Contessa replied. "That's all."
"Okay then, let's have it," Ron said. Contessa smiled.
"The person behind the madness inside of Hogwarts is a seventh year, isn't a Slytherin, plays Quidditch and has been in a relationship with the same person since last July," Contessa said. Ron blinked twice at the girl. Before he could do anything, she had produced a pair of scissors from her pocket and removed from him the curl above his ear.
"That's it?" he asked. Contessa nodded.
"Shouldn't be too hard to figure out. There are only nine seventh year Quidditch players in the entire school who aren't Slytherin and you're on one team or the other with more than half of them. I wouldn't count out your teammates though. Of course, Malfoy's had the same information for weeks and he hasn't figured it out yet. But he's not the sharpest knife in the potions lab now is he?" she said. Before Ron could get another word in, Contessa stepped towards a tapestry and virtually disappeared. Ron blinked twice at the place near the wall where she had been and reached up to tentatively touch the spot where he had had a curl. Ron finally shook his head and turned to go find Dumbledore as he had originally intended.
*****
"Alright men, I'm sure all of you have by now heard of the unexpected match we have to play this weekend," Oliver said. The school Quidditch team, minus Harry, sat around at his feet on the field. They were at their Monday night practice, while Harry was still unconscious in the hospital wing.
"Men?" Katie snorted.
"Team," Oliver corrected himself.
"Thank you," Katie said sweetly. Oliver glared at the girl before continuing in her tirade.
"We have to play Durmstrang at 12 noon on Saturday. We've played them once and lost horribly, but I think we've improved immensely and with a few more minor adjustments, I think we may stand a chance."
"Of keeping our heads attached to our necks," Draco muttered.
"That is exactly the kind of attitude we don't need, Malfoy," Oliver snapped. Draco shrugged. Oliver glared at the boy.
"So what do you propose we do?" Angelina asked, trying to avoid a confrontation between the coach and the starting keeper.
"We'll, we've got to practice harder than we've practiced before, but I think we have a few tricks up our sleeve this time that they won't be expecting."
"What about Harry?" Ron questioned.
"Cause Merlin knows the Weasel can't function properly without his Potty," Malfoy muttered. Either Ron didn't hear him or chose to ignore him, most likely the former.
"Malfoy is our starting seeker for the Durmstrang match," Oliver replied. "William, you're starting at goal, Angelina, you're benched, and Fred, you're chasing. Ron, you're playing beater in place of Fred."
"BENCHED!" Angelina screeched. "Oliver! You CAN'T bench me!"
"Angelina! I'd rather have you not play than see you get hurt. Those goons will be gunning for you. I'd rather not end your Quidditch career before it has a chance to ever really start," Oliver explained.
"Oliver. There will be scouts at this match! If I miss out on a chance to go pro because you've got me sitting on the bloody bench, not only will I never forgive you, but I'll probably be forced to resort to bodily harm!" Angelina shouted.
"Okay. Now that I've been suitably threatened, can you calm down so I can explain myself?" Oliver asked. Angelina nodded and took two or three deep breaths to calm herself. Oliver turned to Draco. "Malfoy. Can you teach them all how to play like Slytherins?"
%%%%%
"No, Bell! Use your elbow! Aim for his lower back there. HIT HIM LIKE YOU MEAN IT!" Draco cried. Katie jumped at the fierceness in the younger boy's voice and quickly slammed her left elbow right into George's back, just over his kidney. He howled in pain and crumpled onto his broom for support.
"Perfect!" Draco insisted. Katie smiled broadly over at her boyfriend.
%%%%%
"Okay Spinnett, say two bludgers are flying at you but not quite, and a delay in the game would be a good thing, what do you do?" Draco asked. Alicia shrugged. Draco shook his head at her.
"Take the hit. Act dead. Get the penalty shot," Draco explained. "Well, maybe don't act dead, but hold your arm and howl like it got ripped off."
%%%%%
"What is this?" Draco asked. He held a beaters bat out in front of him. The three Weasley brothers stood on the other side of the bat with three different levels of annoyance on their faces.
"It's a bat," Fred replied.
"What's it for?" Draco questioned.
"To hit bludgers," George said in a dull monotone.
"And?" Draco prompted. He received three blank looks.
"And occasionally other people, you great dolts! If the ref isn't looking, feel free to miss the bludger and smack the player behind it. A bat to the head is guaranteed disorientation. A bludger may not hit the intended target. Don't take chances. Durmstrang didn't the first time we played them did they?" All three Weasleys shrugged at their enemy. Draco shook his head and started off to give Angelina quick lesson on how to play like a Slytherin.
%%%%%
"Listen up team, it's time to learn a new play," Oliver said. After their Slytherin lessons, the entire team had gathered in the center of the field for another quick meeting with their coach,
"The Annexation?" Katie asked. Oliver, Fred, and George shared almost identical grins. All three nodded slowly. Oliver held up a piece of poster board.
"This, my friends, is a bit of genius by the Weasley twins. It is called The Annexation of Puerto Rico. I'm not questioning the name and you shouldn't either. It is the play that just might win us the game, and it hinges completely and totally on the goalie and the seeker."
"Am I missing something?" a familiar voice asked from behind the team.
"HARRY!" Ron screeched.
"You're awake!" Katie cried.
"Yep," Harry replied. "And Madame Pomfrey has given me a clean bill of health and clearance to play on Saturday."
"So does this mean I'm not benched?" Angelina questioned. Oliver shook his head at the girl.
"No, we're going with the plan as it stands. The only difference is that Harry is now benched with you," Oliver explained.
"BENCHED?" Harry questioned rather louder than necessary.
"Yes benched, but only momentarily. There is a method to the madness and it should help us at least not get beaten as badly as last time," Oliver said. He then proceeded to explain the starting lineup to Harry and to teach the new play to the team.
*****
"Do you think this will work?" Fred asked. He looked at George over a piece of parchment folded neatly and ready to be tied to an owl's leg. George nodded.
"It's the only way. Its for his own good, and it'll help all of us," George reasoned. He placed the parchment on the window seal in the owlery and wrote "Mandy Brocklehurst" across the front in a fine script he reserved for doing anything that would cause trouble.
"I hope you and Oliver are right about this," Fred said. George smiled evilly at his brother.
"We are, Gred, we are," he said. "Now we need to go get some breakfast before the match."
"What if he figures it out and comes after us? After all, he's bigger now, and meaner, and he's been stronger for a long time," Fred worried. George tied the letter to an owls leg and pushed the owl towards the window. The sleepy bird took flight and headed straight towards the Great Hall. George watched it enter with the rest of the morning owls and then turned to his brother.
"We've always been smarter," he reminded his twin. "And smarter is everything in this game." The pair exchanged a quick high five and then turned to go down to breakfast.
*****
"Harry, if you don't hurry up man, we're going to be late for the match!" Ron shouted.
"Ron, we've got an hour before the match!" Harry cried. Ron paced around the couch, waiting for his friend to come down from their dorm room.
"Ron, haven't we established that pacing gets you no where?" Astrid asked from her spot on the couch.
"Shove it, Malfoy," Ron instructed, and he began another circuit around the couch.
"Are you nervous because you have to play beater today with George rather than Ginny?" Astrid questioned. The team had let her know most of what was going to happen at the match.
"Part of it," Ron said. A large owl swooped through an open window near the top of the common room. It headed straight towards Ron, landing neatly on the back of the couch. Ron quickly untied the letter from his leg and the owl flew off. He opened the letter and scanned its contents.
Dear Ron,
I just thought that you'd like to know that I snogged Stan Adamczyk last night. He's much cuter than you and a better kisser too. His nose doesn't get in the way. Needless to say, I don't want to be your girlfriend anymore.
Mandy
"Harsh," Astrid muttered from just behind Ron. She had stood up on the couch to read the letter over his shoulder. Ron sank onto the couch at her feet.
"What am I going to do?" he questioned.
"You're playing beater today aren't you?" Astrid asked. Ron nodded.
"Use your bat to rearrange Adamczyk's face so his nose will get in the way next time he tries to steal someone's girl," the little girl offered. Ron smiled weakly up at Astrid, red flush already overtaking his face.
"You're a genius," he muttered.
*****
"Are you guys ready?" Oliver asked. He stood before his team in the locker room just before the match was scheduled to start. The nine gathered players all nodded.
"We've worked hard the past week," Oliver said.
"Understatement of the century," Angelina muttered under her breath.
"You're just bitter because you got benched," Sanguinis mumbled.
"What was that, Guiny?" Angelina asked. "Because I'll be thoroughly happy to rearrange your face for you!" She jumped to her feet and stared down at the seventh year Hufflepuff. Katie and Alicia each grabbed a side of Angelina's robes and pulled her back to her seat on the bench between them.
"Ron, are you ready?" George asked. Ron looked sufficiently prepared to rip the face off anyone who got between him and Adamcyzk.
"Mandy dumped him," Harry mouthed from just behind his still-furious best friend. Fred and George smirked at each other over the chasers' heads.
"Do all of you all remember the plays?" Oliver questioned. He received nine nods.
"Just remember, these guys are out for blood. Watch your backs and stay as safe as you can. I don't want anyone getting hurt until its time. Now get your hands in here. Team on three." He counted off as everyone gathered around and placed their hands in the center of the pile.
"TEAM!" they chorused.
"For Durmstrang!" Lee's voice rang out across the pitch. The Hogwarts team made their way to the entrance to their locker room. "At Seeker, Zankowitz, at chaser, Adamczyk, Medvidinko, and Svobdova! At Beater, McCarthy and Krum, and at Keeper, Rybzynski!" The seven players erupted from their locker room amid a chorus of booing from the Hogwarts crowd.
"And for Hogwarts!" Lee shouted. The cheers began to overtake his voice before he could even get out the name of the school. "I give you our three beautiful chasers! Alicia Spinnett! Katie Bell! And! Okay wait. I give you our two beautiful chasers and Fred Weasley!" The two girls and Fred rose onto the field and took a slow circuit waiting for Lee to finish announcing. "Our beaters! Half of the twins Weasley. Being the George half of course. And their younger brother Ron Weasley!" The cheers still held, though many members of the crowd looked slightly confused at the lineup Oliver had chosen. "Our seeker. Draco Malfoy! Oliver, can I take this moment to ask exactly what you're thinking?"
"Announce, Jordan," McGonagall warned from just behind Lee.
"Okay, so we've got Spinnett, Bell, Malfoy, three Weasleys and our keeper who couldn't catch a cold, WILLIAM SANGUINIS!!!" Sanguinis glared at the boy before joining his teammates in circling the field.
"The
referee for today's game will be Mr. Thomas Watson! Captains meet at center
pitch!" Lee said. Two Durmstrang students, Harry and Angelina went to the
center of the pitch to meet with the young referee.
"I want a good clean game," he
instructed. "Got that?" All four nodded.
"On the sound of my whistle!" he kicked open the crate and the bludgers flew into the air. The snitch circled first Zankowitz's then Malfoy's head before disappearing into the air. Harry and Angelina headed off the pitch to join Oliver, Hermione, and Ginny on the bench. Thomas blew his whistle and fifteen brooms shot into the air. Adamcyzk grabbed the quaffle and, much like last time, the entire Durmstrang team rocketed towards the Hogwarts goals. Unlike last time, Sanguinis stayed completely out of their way and let them toss the ball through the goal.
"SANGUINIS! WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!" Lee shouted. "THE POINT IS TO KEEP THEM FROM SCORING! NOT TO LET THEM SCORE!!"
"Mr. Jordan, I ask you to calm down," McGonagall said. Lee shrugged and directed his attention to where William had tossed the ball to Alicia. The girl raced down the field towards the open Durmstrang goals. Even their keeper had joined in the attack on the Hogwarts goals. Krum sent a bludger at the girl, but George slid in between the girl and the ball just in time to crack it back at Krum. He wasn't expecting the attack, so the iron ball made heavy contact with his left elbow. George thought he heard the boy's arm break, but Krum showed no signs of pain or even discomfort. Alicia passed the ball off to Katie, who ducked under the speeding Rybzynski and slung the ball towards the right goal.
"GOAL! HOGWARTS! The score is 10-10!" Lee cried over the crowd's cheers. Rybzynski retrieved the quaffle and tossed it out to Svobdova. The chaser immediately threw the ball to Adamczyk before racing down the field towards the goal. Adamcyzk curled the ball backwards over his head in both hands and propelled it forward with all of the force he could muster. It flew from his grasp and more than halfway down the field into Svobdova's waiting hands. Svobdova easily tossed the ball to Medvidinko, who tossed it right back to Svobdova. Svobdova slipped the ball through the right goal before Sanguinis really registered who was holding the quaffle.
"Goal, Durmstrang. 20-10!" Lee muttered.
*****
"Goal! Durmstrang. 30-10!"
*****
"And that's another one for Durmstrang, bringing the score to 60-10! It's Adamczyk's fifth goal of the game," Lee said. Ron intercepted a bludger meant for Katie just as Adamczyk flew past him celebrating the victory of his goal.
"Immediate disorientation." Malfoy's words whispered through Ron's head. Ron swung at the bludger with all of his might. He let the bat fly right above the ball and into the side of Adamczyk's head.
"That should teach you to mess with my girl," Ron muttered as Adamczyk slipped sideways and finally crashed off his broom. The ref's whistle rang out shrilly before the chaser could even hit the pitch.
"Foul! Hogwarts! You there that just knocked the boy off the broom! You're out of the game! Penalty shots to Durmstrang!" Watson shouted. Ron nodded and turned his broom to the pitch.
"TIME OUT!" Oliver screeched.
"It looks as though Adamcyzk is down for the count and Ron's being thrown out of the game. Durmstrang gets a penalty shot and Wood has called a time out." Oliver hurried onto the field. The Hogwarts team all landed around their coach.
"Ron, what was that?" Oliver asked. Ron shrugged.
"My girlfriend dumped me for that great prat and I thought I'd teach him a lesson," Ron explained.
"Lucky for you he, is walking off the field. Lucky for us, he's not going to be able to get back on his broom, so brilliant move there man," Oliver said, patting the tall redhead on his shoulder.
"Wanna know a secret?" George asked.
"What?" Ron questioned.
"We wrote a letter to Mandy telling her to dump you for that reason so you'd remove him from the game. You're predictable, little brother, and he's their leading scorer," Fred said.
"You're not really dumped," George added. "And it's our fault so be sure to take Mandy back." Ron glared at his brothers.
"Ron, we need them for the game. You can kick their arses afterwards, though I must say that was a brilliant piece of trickery on their parts," Oliver said. "Now, Sanguinis, back to the bench, we need someone who can actually keep in there. Draco, go to goals, Harry, you're seeker. The five of you know what to do to make everything right, and get ready to run the Annexation." The chasers and beaters all nodded. Oliver smiled at his team.
"If the Annexation works like it's supposed to, we might just have a chance at this thing!" The ref's whistle rang out again, signaling time in. The Hogwarts team all kicked back into the air. Harry flew to a spot high above the action, but considerably closer than he usually flew. Draco took his place in front of the goals, and the Weasley twins began and particularly spectacular bit of club twirling and passing that would make all but the best jugglers cringe and wonder how they were doing it. Angelina did a few stretches and tried to ignore glares from the other team. Medvidinko flew up to take the penalty shot for Durmstrang. He flew straight at Draco and pitched the ball directly at the center goal as hard as he could. Draco didn't duck out of the way as Medvidinko had planned, but instead caught the ball and cradled it tightly against his stomach. He pitched the quaffle out to Angelina who promptly flew the ball straight to the Durmstrang scoring area. She pitched it through the left goal, raising the score to 60-20.
*****
"And another beautiful goal by Angelina Johnson! Her 17th of the match!" Lee cried. "The score is now 250-60! Hogwarts! One more goal and even the snitch won't save the Durmstrang team!"
"NOW!" Ginny, Hermione, Oliver, Ron, and William all shouted from the bench. The Hogwarts team, Harry included, all rocketed towards their goals. Rybzynski tossed the ball out to Medvidinko, who shot down the field. He found no resistance, and so flew directly into the Hogwarts scoring area. He tossed the ball at the right goal. Draco twisted nearly off his broom and caught the quaffle, cradling it to his chest as he regained his balance. He then joined the rest of his team behind the goals.
"Ready?" he questioned. Fred shoved a balled up Gryffindor Quidditch robe into his hands. Malfoy handed the quaffle off to Harry. Harry placed it on his broom and bent down over it before rocketing back up to his usual spot above the action.
"Ready," Fred replied. He clutched his own Quidditch robe to his chest. He looked to George, Angelina, and Alicia, who also held their Quidditch robes.
"Lets do this," Malfoy replied. The five seventh years scattered, each one hugging their Quidditch robes as though they had the quaffle. Katie also bent over her broom in an attempt to appear as though she had the quaffle, but she didn't stray too far from the scoring area. The Durmstrang team watched the Hogwarts team, trying to figure out who held the real quaffle. Krum and Svobdova went for Angelina while Medvidinko and McCarthy simply watched the twins. Draco pitched the robe out to Katie and she caught it, hugged it to her chest, and took off towards the Durmstrang goals. Krum thought she had the ball, so he cracked a bludger at her. She ducked it easily, but not before he yelled.
"NO MERCY!"
"Who says this is really the ball?" Katie replied. Krum shot off after her, trailed closely by Svobdova and McCarthy. Medvidinko circled around to head her off. When Katie noticed Medvidinko, she kept flying directly for him. Just before they should have collided, she pulled her broom straight up, causing Medvidinko to smash into Krum. McCarthy and Svobdova kept up the chase. Katie quickly flew a circle around the two boys. Zankowitz lowered his broom to aide his teammates in finding the quaffle. Harry slowly made his way over to just above the Durmstrang scoring area. Katie reversed her direction and passed Alicia closely. Alicia acted as though she received something from Katie. The Durmstrang team took their chase from Katie to Alicia. Alicia flew directly at the twins. The twins moved so there was barely enough room for Alicia to fly between them. She did, but the Durmstrang team had to veer off course or risk crashing into the twins. Satisfied that the Durmstrang team was sufficiently confused, Draco quietly left the goals and headed down to the other end of the pitch. He paused just outside the scoring area and looked up at Harry. Rybzynski was watching his team flying after the three Hogwarts chasers and two beaters, trying to figure out who had the real quaffle. Draco held his hands directly out in front of him. Harry dropped the quaffle down into Draco's waiting hands and Draco pitched it easily through the left goal.
"GOAL!" HOGWARTS!" Lee screeched. "GOAL BY KEEPER DRACO MALFOY WITH AN ASSIST BY SEEKER HARRY POTTER!!" The crowd went wild. The five Hogwarts seventh years dropped their robes. They fluttered to the pitch like great red birds. Zankowitz flew back to where Harry was, to continue the search for the snitch. The Durmstrang seeker couldn't help but level a glare on Harry meant to kill. When he did, Harry noticed something gold fluttering just next to Zankowitz's right ear."
"Slytherin," came Draco's voice. Harry hoped the Durmstranger would catch his meaning.
"LOOK!" He shouted, pointing down and to Zankowitz's left. Zankowitz's head snapped in the direction Harry pointed. Harry reached out and easily grabbed the snitch away from Zankowitz's turned head. Before Zankowitz realized what happened, Harry pointed his broom to the pitch and rocketed downwards.
"HARRY POTTER HAS THE SNITCH!" Lee shouted. "HOGWARTS WINS! HOGWARTS WINS THE LEAGUE!" The crowd's cheers were almost deafening. Harry lowered himself to the ground amid masses of hugs from his Gryffindor teammates.
"You did it man, you were bloody brilliant!" George crowed.
"AWESOME!" Fred shouted.
"WE DID IT!" Angelina cried. Tears rolled down her face. Katie and Alicia almost jumped off their brooms to envelop her in a hug.
"Wow!" Ron shouted. "This is perfectly worth all of the bullshit!"
"RON!" Mandy screeched. "I'M SO SORRY THE TWINS PUT ME UP TO EVERYTHING YOU'RE NOT REALLY DUMPED IF YOU'LL TAKE ME BACK YOU PLAYED AWESOMELY AND YOU'RE THE MOST FANTASTIC BOYFRIEND EVER!"
"You've gotta take her back after she yelled all of that in one breath," George told his little brother.
"I can fully imagine where that talent could come in handy," Fred mused. Ron turned a shade of red never before reached by man.
"HARRY!" Hermione and Ginny chorused. The pair dived on the seeker and he struggled to remain standing under their combined weights.
"YOU DID IT!" Ginny cried. Harry nodded. Only then did he notice a lone figure standing at the edge of the crowd, observing the festivities. He gently moved Ginny and Hermione away from him.
"No," he corrected. "We did it." He slowly pushed his way through the crowd to where the figure stood.
"Good game, Malfoy," he said. "We couldn't have done it with out you." He held out his hand. Malfoy quickly accepted the handshake and offered Harry a smirk. For a moment, the pair weren't enemies, just teammates.
%%%%%
"Angelina Johnson!" An unfamiliar voice called. Angelina turned to see Thomas Watson, game referee starting towards her.
"I am Thomas Watson," he began. Angelina nodded.
"Yeah, you've officiated a couple of games before," she said.
"But I've never properly introduced myself." He held out his hand to the girl. "I am Thomas Watson, head recruiter for the Holyhead Harpies, and I'd like to offer you a contract for the next five seasons as our starting center chaser."
%%%%%
"Fred and George Weasley." The twins turned to see a short witch with curly blonde hair standing behind them.
"Amy Lopez, recruiter for the Chudley Cannons."
"The Cannons?" Fred questioned. Amy nodded.
"Ron's gonna shit bricks," George said. Amy smiled.
"What would you guys say to a pair of contracts as our starting beaters?"