"Harry Potter and the Brethren of Ares"

By: Merusa

Spoilers: Books 1-5

Author's Note: I'm back!

Chapter 8: Slytherin's Good Prince

"Mr. Weasley! Wake up!"

Percy groaned and buried his face further into his arms.

"Percy, wake up! It's Charlie!"

Percy woke up with a start at his older brother's name. He blinked sleepily at the dragon trainer, who plopped down in a chair across his desk. "Hello, Charlie. What brings you to my humble abode?" Percy straightened the papers he had been sleeping on, motioning for his assistant to leave the room.

"We're not at your abode, Perce, we're at your office."

Percy shook his head. "Whatever."

Charlie grinned at him. "Well, Big P, now I'm worried. Since when do you fall asleep on the job?"

Percy grinned. "It's Penny. She's really far along now, and she wakes up at all hours of the night, wanting odd cravings. Last night's was ice cream and pickles."

Charlie shuddered.

Percy's smile dropped from his face. "I've been worried too, Charlie. I feel like I haven't been myself, lately. I wake up for no reason, and usually I can run on an hour of sleep for twelve hours. It's strange."

Charlie smiled at him. "If what Bill says is correct, it's just pre-dad stress."

Percy's eyes widened. "You don't mean...
Charlie waggled his eyebrows. "I don't know. We're not sure."

Percy threw his arms heavenward. "I hope so! Then I'm not the only one who makes mistakes!"

Charlie laughed at him.

***

Harry downed his breakfast along with the rest of the Gryffindor Team. Ron especially was eating a sickeningly fast pace. The exception to this was the two new beaters, Dean and Seamus, and the new chaser, Lily Sorma. Ginny and Katie were encouraging Lily to eat, while Ron 'spoke' to Dean and Seamus through a mouthful of bacon.

It was quite a disgusting sight.

Katie stood up, nodding at them. "Team! Let's go!"

***

The Gryffindors lined up facing their opponents, the Slytherins. Katie and Malfoy seemed to be doing their best to break each others fingers. Katie appeared to be winning, until Madam Hooch stepped in.

Harry threw his leg over his trusty Firebolt, and waited for the whistle. He adjusted the green armband that all the Gryffindors had donned, much to the Slytherins chagrin.

Madam's Hooch's whistle blew, and they were off. Harry swiftly nodded to Hermione, who motioned for all the Gryffindors to stand up. The students all shouted "Sonorus!" as she began to conduct with her wand. Then, the Gryffindors began to sing.

Malfoy cannot catch the snitch,

Harry began circling around the field, singing along to Ginny's ingenious lyrics.

He can only catch some jock's itch,

Malfoy made a rude gesture towards the stands. McGonagall took points off of Slytherin.

His mentor's hair needs a good rinse,

By now, the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs were laughing and humming along to the beat.

That's Slytherin's Good Prince.

Harry put his attention on finding the snitch, keeping an ear out for Terry Boot's commentary. He heard the familiar sound of Malfoy's Nimbus 2001 behind him, and grinned. Seeing the snitch nowhere, Harry feigned a look of concentration, and dived.

The Beaters don't know how to think,

The Chasers couldn't handle a drink,

"Potter's seen the snitch!" Harry concentrated on a spot directly in front of him, listening to Malfoy desperately trying to catch up.

Their mentors' hair needs a good rinse,

Harry narrowed his eyes, and pulled up out of the dive at the last possible second. He heard the cheers and catcalls of the crowd as Malfoy just barely managed not to hit the ground.

They have a ferret for a prince.

Harry listened to the commentary. 100-10 Gryffindor. The Slytherins couldn't concentrate at all, and Ron was stopping shot after shot.

Malfoy is a ferret and Weasley is our King!

Malfoy cannot catch the snitch,

He can only catch some jock's itch,

His mentor's hair needs a good rinse,

That's Slytherin's Good Prince.

Harry's eyes narrowed, and he dove again, ignoring Malfoy's shout of "Not fooling me again, Potter!". For Harry had spotted the snitch a ways under him, hovering next to Ginny's legs. "Pardon me, Ginger." He said politely, before looping her easily and catching the snitch. The crowd roared.

He didn't even notice the Bludgers until they hit him.

***

Harry noticed the smell first. There was something appealing about the spell of the hospital wing. It was the first thing that attacked your senses in that state of semi consciousness when you're just waking up. It's the scent of medicine, of sterilization. That's when Harry knew he wasn't in his dorm room. The next thing that he became aware of was the whispering, which poked at his conscious until his warm bubble was popped.

It was then that he was struck with the pain- the horrible, gut wrenching pain. Another human may not have been able to take it, but Harry could. It was a bit of a tickle, a mere annoying itch compared to the Cruciatus curse.

With a small moan, Harry wrenched his eyes open. Everything was blurry, but he could just make out the colors of the Gryffindor uniform, and the scarves that only the Lions and Ravens wore. He muttered something incoherently, but it got the message across. He felt his glasses being pushed onto his nose, and he blinked. Ginny's worried face swam into focus, drawing away. Glancing around, he took in the sights: his teammates, Hermione, the Creeveys, Neville, Luna, Padma, and Parvati.

Harry let out a groan. "Wha- what 'appened th' tim'", he croaked. He ached all over.

Madam Pomfrey bustled over. She huffed when she saw him awake. "You, sir, can't stay out of here, can you?"

Harry managed a small grin, and winked at the nurse. He cleared his throat. "My lady, I just can't stay away from you."

There was a nervous babble of laughter as Madam Pomfrey blushed. "Well, whatever the reason, you've taken a bludger to the head, and another to the back! You could have died!"

Harry blinked sleepily. "Then how the hell did I wake up already?"

Ron chuckled. "'Cause you are ruddy stubborn!"

Harry blinked at him, and looked around. "Geeze, you lot look miserable. I can't look that bad." He knocked back the contents of the goblet Madam Pomfrey handed him, more than used to potions.

Padma, Hermione, and Ginny all sniffled in unison. All three of them looked like they'd been crying.

Harry grinned at them. "Aww, I made my three favorite girls cry! I'm sorry, my darlings!" They laughed nervously.

"HARRY!" Harry choked as a body threw itself at him threw its arms around his neck. Within a few seconds, Harry realized it was Cho. "Help me," he mouthed, over and over. He was in severe pain. Ron was trying to pry her off with little success.

Harry was ready to faint. The bludger injury to his back was now painfully apparent.

"CHO, GET OFF HIM!" Michael Corner's familiar voice rang out, and he pried Cho off of him. Harry massaged his throat, and managed to gasp out, "Cho, remember that talk we had about personal space? That I have mine and you stay far, far away from it?"

Michael wrapped an arm around the sobbing Cho. "Uhh, sorry, Harry. I think Cho got her hands on some butterbeer."

Harry slumped in his pillows. "S'alright. I'm going to file a restraining order, though..." His eyes were slightly glazed over.

Padma perched closer on the bed to him. "You ok?"

He grinned goofily at her. His eyes were fully glazed over now. He twirled a lock of hair of her hair around his finger. "Yup, yup-"

Harry fell asleep to the sound of laughter, the medicine finally taking effect.

***

Review Responses:

Mella deranged: ^^

PhoenixPadfoot89: Thanks! If Harry found out, that would be very cool.

Facade1: I know, I wanted to hug him too!

Little Elflet: Did you like this chapter? I'm not completely satisfied with it, but what can you do?

Slycat-blaze1: Lily's ok, James held so she didn't fall through completely. Then should would have been in trouble!

Hermione "DB" Granger: You sing the lyrics my way? That's so cool! ^^ Thank you, I really wasn't sure about the last chapter. I don't think I've read "Too Close For Comfort" yet, but I loved your "My First Thoughts in the Mourning". Yes, you'd be the OC! Although, I've been attacked by an army of plot bunnies, so I don't know when I'll be free to coloborate, especially with the school year coming up x.X. More Bill is coming, I promise!

BrinDiddy: Hi cousin dearest! Did it stay interesting? ^^

Ok, dearest readers, I need your opinion! In my leave of absence, I was attacked by plot bunnies! I am asking your opinion on them here! Just tell me your opinions on the story summaries below in a review, PLEASE!

"The Songs"- Post-Hogwarts. Harry, Ron, Fred, and George form a band. Will they be ready in time to sing for the Hogwarts Christmas Ball? And, more importantly, will Harry EVER suck it up and tell Ginny he fancies her?

"Cell Block Tango"- Ginny murders her abusive husband, Draco, in self defense, but complications arise: he wasn't her only. In her trial, the question is: did Draco have it coming?

"The Importance of Being Ron"- The summer before Year 5 from Ron's POV- Hermione, Ginny, Harry, Quidditch, Voldemort, and other problems. R/Hr

"Hanging By a Moment"- MWPP generation. A spin-off of Chapter 7 of Brethren of Ares. The Story of Sirius and Harmony.

Also, look out for chapter 1 of "The Good Girl" (The summer before Ginny's fifth year from her point of view), coming soon.

Ok...now that I've annoyed you to no end....review?

~Merusa