WHEN TIME STANDS STILL
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is a slow-ish chapter; not much of any significance happens. An interlude, if you will. But things are happening – the next chapter will have Sirius and James putting those much-vaunted brains to work. I'm not replying to reviews this time, because it's late and I have my End of Year Exams now, but I appreciate everyone who reviewed and I will try to reply to all reviews in the next chapter. Keep sending them in; they encourage me to type quicker. Now on with the story...
CHAPTER 12: QUIDDITCH
"I'm telling you, Harry," Remus said, "there's no point. I promised I wouldn't tell anyone, and I won't, but Sirius and James will find out. It's only a matter of time now."
"Come on, I'm sure they'll think of something else to interest them soon enough. After the match ends, I can just be inconspicuous."
"Inconspicuous? You start by turning up in the middle of the year and going straight to Gryffindor without being Sorted. You wander around Hogwarts for two weeks without getting lost once. You produce a perfect Patronus on your first attempt. You fly as well as the legendary James Potter – better than he does, in fact. If this is your idea of inconspicuous, Harry, you're doing a terrible job."
"Believe me," Harry said, "this is more inconspicuous than I've ever been in my life. As far as I'm concerned, I'm doing a brilliant job."
Remus shook his head.
"Fine. Don't listen to me. Just don't say I didn't warn you."
"Now you sound like Professor Lupin."
"And you sound like your father, did you know that?"
Harry looked around in alarm and Remus grinned.
"Don't worry – there's nobody here."
"Still," Harry muttered.
The Common Room was empty, true, but he wouldn't have put it past James and Sirius to be listening under the Invisibility Cloak.
"And one more thing," Remus said. "I've seen Sirius watching you over the past few days. He looks at you, and then at Lily, and he looks puzzled. I think he's noticed a certain resemblance other than the very obvious one to James."
Harry sighed.
"I spoke to Dumbledore today. He said it may take a few weeks more."
"It'll take a few days more for James and Sirius to work out the truth. I give until Wednesday."
He stretched and yawned.
"The game's tomorrow, Harry, you should get to bed. The Gryffindors will never get over it if you catch the Snitch in five minutes flat each practice session and you're too sleepy to see it during the match."
*~
The Slytherin Seeker was – surprise, surprise – a blond Seventh-Year called Lucius Malfoy. At least there was something familiar here, Harry mused as he looked at him across the Quidditch pitch. Draco didn't look as much as his father as Harry did like James, but you could tell they were related. And there wasn't much to choose between them for the way they sneered at the opposing team.
Remus was commentating. He was a much more unbiased commentator than Lee Jordan, and a much less outrageous one. Professor McGonagall was sitting next to him, but she didn't try to take away the magical megaphone even once.
"Gryffindor in possession – Chaser Finnigan has the Quaffle – passes to Chaser Longbottom – and – Quaffle intercepted by Slytherin Chaser Zabini... Slytherin scores! That's sixty-twenty to Slytherin, and Gryffindor Captain James Potter looks frustrated in the stands."
There was an outbreak of cheering from the Slytherins. Harry looked around desperately for the Snitch – he had lost a match only once, thanks to Dementors. He did not intend to lose this one.
"Slytherin Chaser Zabini in possession – intercepted by Finnigan – passes to Johnson – intercepted by Slytherin, that's Chaser Parkinson – and intercepted again by Longbottom – that's a Bludger from Beater Crabbe, and Slytherin back in possession – another goal to Slytherin!"
Harry could see James wanting to grab a broom and go hex Beater Crabbe. He ducked a Bludger sent his way by Beater Derrick, and flew to the other end of the pitch. The Snitch was doing a good job hiding, so far.
*~
Sirius and James watched the match anxiously. A loss would mean the end of Gryffindor's chances for the Cup. It would also mean James getting detention for cursing every single one of today's players, both Slytherin and Gryffindor.
Sirius had an eye on Thomson. He couldn't tell that it wasn't James up there, and though his friend had almost given him a black eye for saying so, he was sure most of the school couldn't either. There was no denying that the replacement Seeker could fly.
Slytherin's score was mounting, and their Captain's absence seemed to have sapped the Gryffindor Chasers... unless Thomson could pull of a miracle, like James had done last year against Ravenclaw, the match was gone.
James was also watching Thomson, with slightly mixed feelings. He wanted Gryffindor to win, obviously, but he did not want to have to congratulate someone he hated. At least – he didn't hate Thomson, not the way he hated Snape, but he didn't really like him either. And Remus's attitude to him was simply frustrating.
*~
"Slytherin leads Gryffindor one hundred to thirty," Remus announced. A pity. He had wanted Harry to win this, but it looked hopeless. It wasn't even his fault – the Gryffindor Chasers were lacklustre, not up to their usual standard at all. The Keeper was doing his best, but the Slytherins were too quick. Malfoy had trained his team well –
Staring unhappily at the pitch, he suddenly saw the glint of gold just above the grass. Harry and Malfoy had seen it too; they dived together, hurtling towards the ground. Harry was ahead – he really could fly well – and gaining every second. The Snitch hovered even lower; Remus was sure they would crash...
In a sudden, confused moment Malfoy hit the ground hard, Harry straightened and rose... he was waving something clutched in his fist.
"Seeker Potter – excuse me, Thomson – has the Snitch!" Remus said, not believing it. "Gryffindor win!"
*~
"You were brilliant, Harry!" Lily said excitedly. "You really were! I don't think even the great James Potter has ever flown that well."
Harry grinned at her. It was Sunday and he was in the library – thanks to Lily, he didn't miss Hermione at all – but even spending a beautiful morning cooped up between dusty shelves of dusty books could do little to dampen his cheer. He had beat Slytherin again, and that made two generations of Malfoys who couldn't stand against him.
There was still the little matter of getting back to his own time... but that could wait. He was going to enjoy this moment without anything getting in the way; he was going to enjoy the sensation of a Quidditch match that did not end with him worrying about Voldemort or when the next attempt on his life would be.
And most of all, he was going to enjoy being in the library, writing down the names of wizards who had survived Lethifold attacks, without having to think about how soon a Lethifold would be creeping through the window to his bed. There was a lot to be said for anonymity.
"So how does it feel to be a Gryffindor hero?"
"Oh – um..."
"I see," Lily said wryly. Harry got the uncomfortable impression that she really did see. "Well, I should have expected that – you're not Potter, after all."
Harry did not like the way this conversation was going.
"You know," Lily said, looking at him contemplatively, "you do look amazingly like Potter. I don't wonder Lupin got mixed up. Are you sure he's not a relative of yours?"
"No!" Harry said too quickly. He took a deep breath. "No – I've lived in the Muggle world all my life."
That much was true, at least.
"Don't worry; I won't hold it against you even if he does turn out to be your long-lost twin brother. People can't help their relatives."
Her tone bespoke personal experience. Harry looked a question; here was a chance to find out what Aunt Petunia had against his mother, and to steer the talk away from the question of his parentage.
"My sister Petunia," Lily explained, "is not a witch. We used to be on excellent terms until we found out that I was one. She's afraid that if anybody finds out about me they'll never want to see her again. More importantly, she's afraid that it's catching and if she sits in the same room as me for more than five minutes she'll turn into a freak herself."
"Oh," Harry said.
"Petunia's always been terrified of people not liking her. She's got a boyfriend – a horrible great hulk called Vernon Dursley; I can't imagine what she sees in him –" Harry suppressed a snigger at the description of Uncle Vernon. "– and he's the same, always worried about what Smith and Adams and Perks will say if they find out something or the other."
Harry was about to suggest several ways to make Vernon run away to equatorial Africa and never come back – and realized that doing so would have drastic repercussions on the future. He definitely did not want to go there.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is a slow-ish chapter; not much of any significance happens. An interlude, if you will. But things are happening – the next chapter will have Sirius and James putting those much-vaunted brains to work. I'm not replying to reviews this time, because it's late and I have my End of Year Exams now, but I appreciate everyone who reviewed and I will try to reply to all reviews in the next chapter. Keep sending them in; they encourage me to type quicker. Now on with the story...
CHAPTER 12: QUIDDITCH
"I'm telling you, Harry," Remus said, "there's no point. I promised I wouldn't tell anyone, and I won't, but Sirius and James will find out. It's only a matter of time now."
"Come on, I'm sure they'll think of something else to interest them soon enough. After the match ends, I can just be inconspicuous."
"Inconspicuous? You start by turning up in the middle of the year and going straight to Gryffindor without being Sorted. You wander around Hogwarts for two weeks without getting lost once. You produce a perfect Patronus on your first attempt. You fly as well as the legendary James Potter – better than he does, in fact. If this is your idea of inconspicuous, Harry, you're doing a terrible job."
"Believe me," Harry said, "this is more inconspicuous than I've ever been in my life. As far as I'm concerned, I'm doing a brilliant job."
Remus shook his head.
"Fine. Don't listen to me. Just don't say I didn't warn you."
"Now you sound like Professor Lupin."
"And you sound like your father, did you know that?"
Harry looked around in alarm and Remus grinned.
"Don't worry – there's nobody here."
"Still," Harry muttered.
The Common Room was empty, true, but he wouldn't have put it past James and Sirius to be listening under the Invisibility Cloak.
"And one more thing," Remus said. "I've seen Sirius watching you over the past few days. He looks at you, and then at Lily, and he looks puzzled. I think he's noticed a certain resemblance other than the very obvious one to James."
Harry sighed.
"I spoke to Dumbledore today. He said it may take a few weeks more."
"It'll take a few days more for James and Sirius to work out the truth. I give until Wednesday."
He stretched and yawned.
"The game's tomorrow, Harry, you should get to bed. The Gryffindors will never get over it if you catch the Snitch in five minutes flat each practice session and you're too sleepy to see it during the match."
*~
The Slytherin Seeker was – surprise, surprise – a blond Seventh-Year called Lucius Malfoy. At least there was something familiar here, Harry mused as he looked at him across the Quidditch pitch. Draco didn't look as much as his father as Harry did like James, but you could tell they were related. And there wasn't much to choose between them for the way they sneered at the opposing team.
Remus was commentating. He was a much more unbiased commentator than Lee Jordan, and a much less outrageous one. Professor McGonagall was sitting next to him, but she didn't try to take away the magical megaphone even once.
"Gryffindor in possession – Chaser Finnigan has the Quaffle – passes to Chaser Longbottom – and – Quaffle intercepted by Slytherin Chaser Zabini... Slytherin scores! That's sixty-twenty to Slytherin, and Gryffindor Captain James Potter looks frustrated in the stands."
There was an outbreak of cheering from the Slytherins. Harry looked around desperately for the Snitch – he had lost a match only once, thanks to Dementors. He did not intend to lose this one.
"Slytherin Chaser Zabini in possession – intercepted by Finnigan – passes to Johnson – intercepted by Slytherin, that's Chaser Parkinson – and intercepted again by Longbottom – that's a Bludger from Beater Crabbe, and Slytherin back in possession – another goal to Slytherin!"
Harry could see James wanting to grab a broom and go hex Beater Crabbe. He ducked a Bludger sent his way by Beater Derrick, and flew to the other end of the pitch. The Snitch was doing a good job hiding, so far.
*~
Sirius and James watched the match anxiously. A loss would mean the end of Gryffindor's chances for the Cup. It would also mean James getting detention for cursing every single one of today's players, both Slytherin and Gryffindor.
Sirius had an eye on Thomson. He couldn't tell that it wasn't James up there, and though his friend had almost given him a black eye for saying so, he was sure most of the school couldn't either. There was no denying that the replacement Seeker could fly.
Slytherin's score was mounting, and their Captain's absence seemed to have sapped the Gryffindor Chasers... unless Thomson could pull of a miracle, like James had done last year against Ravenclaw, the match was gone.
James was also watching Thomson, with slightly mixed feelings. He wanted Gryffindor to win, obviously, but he did not want to have to congratulate someone he hated. At least – he didn't hate Thomson, not the way he hated Snape, but he didn't really like him either. And Remus's attitude to him was simply frustrating.
*~
"Slytherin leads Gryffindor one hundred to thirty," Remus announced. A pity. He had wanted Harry to win this, but it looked hopeless. It wasn't even his fault – the Gryffindor Chasers were lacklustre, not up to their usual standard at all. The Keeper was doing his best, but the Slytherins were too quick. Malfoy had trained his team well –
Staring unhappily at the pitch, he suddenly saw the glint of gold just above the grass. Harry and Malfoy had seen it too; they dived together, hurtling towards the ground. Harry was ahead – he really could fly well – and gaining every second. The Snitch hovered even lower; Remus was sure they would crash...
In a sudden, confused moment Malfoy hit the ground hard, Harry straightened and rose... he was waving something clutched in his fist.
"Seeker Potter – excuse me, Thomson – has the Snitch!" Remus said, not believing it. "Gryffindor win!"
*~
"You were brilliant, Harry!" Lily said excitedly. "You really were! I don't think even the great James Potter has ever flown that well."
Harry grinned at her. It was Sunday and he was in the library – thanks to Lily, he didn't miss Hermione at all – but even spending a beautiful morning cooped up between dusty shelves of dusty books could do little to dampen his cheer. He had beat Slytherin again, and that made two generations of Malfoys who couldn't stand against him.
There was still the little matter of getting back to his own time... but that could wait. He was going to enjoy this moment without anything getting in the way; he was going to enjoy the sensation of a Quidditch match that did not end with him worrying about Voldemort or when the next attempt on his life would be.
And most of all, he was going to enjoy being in the library, writing down the names of wizards who had survived Lethifold attacks, without having to think about how soon a Lethifold would be creeping through the window to his bed. There was a lot to be said for anonymity.
"So how does it feel to be a Gryffindor hero?"
"Oh – um..."
"I see," Lily said wryly. Harry got the uncomfortable impression that she really did see. "Well, I should have expected that – you're not Potter, after all."
Harry did not like the way this conversation was going.
"You know," Lily said, looking at him contemplatively, "you do look amazingly like Potter. I don't wonder Lupin got mixed up. Are you sure he's not a relative of yours?"
"No!" Harry said too quickly. He took a deep breath. "No – I've lived in the Muggle world all my life."
That much was true, at least.
"Don't worry; I won't hold it against you even if he does turn out to be your long-lost twin brother. People can't help their relatives."
Her tone bespoke personal experience. Harry looked a question; here was a chance to find out what Aunt Petunia had against his mother, and to steer the talk away from the question of his parentage.
"My sister Petunia," Lily explained, "is not a witch. We used to be on excellent terms until we found out that I was one. She's afraid that if anybody finds out about me they'll never want to see her again. More importantly, she's afraid that it's catching and if she sits in the same room as me for more than five minutes she'll turn into a freak herself."
"Oh," Harry said.
"Petunia's always been terrified of people not liking her. She's got a boyfriend – a horrible great hulk called Vernon Dursley; I can't imagine what she sees in him –" Harry suppressed a snigger at the description of Uncle Vernon. "– and he's the same, always worried about what Smith and Adams and Perks will say if they find out something or the other."
Harry was about to suggest several ways to make Vernon run away to equatorial Africa and never come back – and realized that doing so would have drastic repercussions on the future. He definitely did not want to go there.