September went at lightning speed. October was melting away quicker than
Harry had anticipated. He found himself caring more about Quidditch than
his schoolwork. It was the morning on the match, Harry and Hermione was
busy waking his team up.
"Okay team, this is it. I don't want to make you feel pressurized so just give it your best, that's enough. Now, breakfast!"
The team cheered and hitched their broomsticks over their shoulders. Walking down to the Grand Hall in their Quidditch robes was most exciting for all the players. Hermione was stunned by the gleaming smiles on all their faces. When she pointed this out to Harry he laughed and put his arm around her.
"This team will be the best." He whispered in her ear.
"I know, they have you as their captain." Hermione replied, blushing slightly.
Harry was amazed to see most of the school was already eating breakfast. The Slytherins weren't in their robes and shot evil looks at Harry and the Gryffindors as they passed.
"You all right Kai?" Harry shouted over the remaining two house tables.
Kai looked slightly peaky. He didn't look up when Harry called to him instead he slumped over the table. Hermione and Harry ran over to him and together they pulled him upright. Ron gave his broom to Tally and helped Harry and Hermione heave Kai towards the exit.
"This is taking too long!" Hermione said. She pulled out her wand and conjured up a stretcher.
Hermione led him out of the hall and Harry sat down at the Gryffindor table. The team crowded around him, all looking upset about Kai.
"My guess is the Slytherins did something to him. That means we have to kick ass out of that pitch. Don't show them any mercy, you won't receive any, just don't break the rules."
"Hey Potty what's up with Scales?" Malfoy sneered.
"You should know Malfoy," Harry said sarcastically. "We're going to wipe that pitch with your disgraceful team."
"Don't think so Potty. My cousin, the Weasels and first years? All my team are fourth years of above. Way stronger and more ruthless."
"My team don't play with strength, we play with dignity and respect for our opponents. You'll soon learn how much good that'll do."
A bell sounded somewhere and Harry shoved Malfoy back to his table. The Gryffindors mounted their brooms there and then and flew out of the Entrance Hall, led by Harry.
Sitting in the changing room, Harry looked at his team. They were all laughing and joking except Tally, who was standing in the doorway looking into the crowds.
"Don't worry about it."
"It's not the match I'm worried about."
"Then what is it?"
"Knowing Draco, he's probably telling his team to literally kill us."
"You're not worried about his are you? He's Seeker for his team, he can't touch you."
"He'll find a way, to do something to me or the person I care about more than anything."
A whistle blew and Harry looked back at his team. They were all assembling behind him, still smiling.
"Let's do this!" Harry said loudly.
The team cheered again and followed Harry out onto the pitch. Madame Hooch was waiting in the center of the pitch for both teams. The Slytherins approached, clad in green robes, embellished with the snake.
"Captains, shake hands." Madame Hooch ordered.
Harry stepped towards Draco and grasped his hand. Madame Hooch was satisfied and blew her whistle again. Harry kicked off followed by his teammates and stopped about twenty feet above the game. The Snitch was released, followed by the Bludgers and finally Madame Hooch threw the Quaffle into the air.
"Gryffindor in possession. Chaser Tally Malfoy, she dodges two Slytherin Chasers and throws expertly to Ginny Weasley. Heading rapidly towards the goal. Bludger aimed at Weasley, she throws the Quaffle to Villers before getting the Bludger full force in the stomach. Villers passes to Malfoy, Malfoy shoots – SHE SCORES! Ten points to Gryffindor!"
Harry zoomed once around the pitch and saw Malfoy dive. Looking at where he was diving, he couldn't see any sign of the Snitch.
"Malfoy of Slytherin just gone into a spectacular dive. What's Harry doing! He's looking the wrong way!"
"Harry! The Snitch!" Tally gasped, flying towards him
"He hasn't seen it! He's trying to distract me." Harry shouted back. "Get back to the game!"
Tally nodded and dived back down to assist Carrie and Ginny. A whistle was blown and then Harry saw it. Tally was falling headfirst towards the round. He dived, urging the broom faster. He wasn't going to make it. The ground was hard; she'd crack her head open. Harry was gaining on the falling Gryffindor.
"Come on!" Harry shouted at his broom.
Five foot from the ground, four, three, two. Harry's broom put on a last minute burst of speed. He leveled out with the unconscious Tally in his arms. Blood was trickling down her face. He jumped of his broom and left it hovering mid air. Running over to the Gryffindor changing rooms, he lay her down on one of the benches and moved some hair out of her closed eyes.
"You said something like this would happen. I'm sorry I didn't believe you." Harry whispered to her.
He pushed back her fringe and looked at where the blood was oozing out of her head. His fingers were wet with blood. He knelt next to her until Ron and Hermione dragged him away so Madame Pomfrey could get to her.
"It's all right mate, she'll be okay." Ron said quietly.
"We called for a time out. How is she?" Ginny asked appearing at Harry's side.
"She's bleeding badly. Concussed and unconscious. What else do you want?" Harry replied angrily.
"It was that Crabbe, he hit the Bludger at her." Carrie whispered.
Harry struggled to get back onto the pitch. He pulled away from Hermione but three more people grabbed his arm and managed to restrain him.
"Let me GO!" Harry shouted.
"Harry, what good will it do?" Hermione asked.
"I'll kill him!" Harry yelled.
He wrenched his arm away from Ron and dragged the three Gryffindors clinging onto his right arm into the doorway to the pitch. Professor Dumbledore appeared in the doorway and looked sternly at Harry. Harry tried to get up the stairs; the whole team were now restraining him.
"Harry, please calm down." Dumbledore said quietly.
"Why? You seen what he's done to her?" Harry shouted struggling again to get onto the pitch.
"Harry if you don't calm down I will make you." Dumbledore said a little louder.
"Let me GO!" Harry shouted again.
"Good gracious Potter!" Professor McGonagall gasped appearing next to Dumbledore.
"Harry. If you do not calm down this minute I will cancel this match." Dumbledore raised his voice.
"Albus, what shall we do, he's clearly very distressed about this." McGonagall asked.
"We shall postpone the match until further notice. The score shall stay as it is but the match shall be moved to a later date."
"And of the Slytherins?"
"Mister Crabbe shall be disqualified and will not be able to compete in the rest of this years matches. I cannot allow him on the pitch if he is a danger to the players."
Harry had been forced onto a bench. He had his head in his hands and was muttering to himself. Ron was trying to talk to him but Harry was ignoring him. Every now and then Harry would glance at the unconscious form of the Gryffindor slumped on the bench opposite him.
"Look Harry! She's waking up!" Sean said in a bid to get Harry to talk to them.
Sure enough, once Harry had flicked his hair out of his eyes he saw Tally stir. Standing up he tried to get through the barrier of his team.
"Will you just move!" He shouted.
Forcing his way through them he knelt once more at Tally's side and smiled as she tilted her head towards him.
"How are you feeling?" Harry asked her quietly.
"A...little shaky..." She managed to whisper. "And...my head...it hurts..."
"It will do, but don't worry, you're going to be fine."
"What...what happened?"
"The match's been postponed. You took a Bludger to the head."
"Are we...winning?"
Harry nodded. He was surprised to see tears appear in her watery blue eyes.
"What's wrong?"
"I knew...this would happen...I knew it..."
"I'm sorry for not taking you seriously."
"I remember falling...then it all goes blank...I don't...remember hitting the ground."
"That's because you didn't hit the ground, I caught you just before you would have done."
"Then...you're a...hero." Tally whispered closing her eyes again. "Thank you." She murmured.
Harry had left Tally, hours later, in the hospital wing. Kai was either sleeping rather heavily or he was unconscious himself in the bed next to her. He made his way down to the Grand Hall and updated the anxious team of her condition.
"She's okay." He said.
The Gryffindors clapped and cheered loudly, causing everyone in the hall to look oddly at them. Professor McGonagall came over to hush them but Harry couldn't help but notice the smile on her face.
"And Kai?" Hermione asked when everyone was chatting loudly.
"He's either a very heavy sleeper or he's unconscious." Harry said quietly.
"Poor guy. I wonder what happened to him." Hermione said more to herself than to the others.
"Maybe we should go and ask Madame Pomfrey if she's found out why he's ill." Ron answered.
They agreed and stood up. Walking past the jeering Slytherins they left the Hall and headed to the hospital wing.
"Madame Pomfrey?" Hermione asked, entering the wing first.
"Where is she?" Harry asked.
"Madame Pomfrey?" Hermione said a little louder. "Oh my god, Harry get a teacher!"
"What? Why?"
"Just go!"
Harry nodded and left the room. Ron looked at where Hermione was pointing. Madame Pomfrey was slumped over one of the beds, looking extremely ill and most definitely unconscious.
"What happened to her? Do you think she's got the same thing as Kai?" Ron asked.
"I'm...I'm not sure...It looks like they've been poisoned."
Harry skidded back into view followed by Professors McGonagall, Dumbledore and Snape. They looked at Hermione and Ron and then at Madame Pomfrey.
"We need to find out the source of this outbreak, soon enough the whole school will be infected." Professor McGonagall whispered.
"I'll get to finding an antidote." Snape said.
Dumbledore simply levitated Madame Pomfrey onto a bed. He told the three Gryffindors to leave, and to take Tally with them.
"It's not safe here, we don't want her contracting the same virus."
Harry nodded and he picked her up and left the hospital wing, followed closely by Hermione and Ron.
"Okay team, this is it. I don't want to make you feel pressurized so just give it your best, that's enough. Now, breakfast!"
The team cheered and hitched their broomsticks over their shoulders. Walking down to the Grand Hall in their Quidditch robes was most exciting for all the players. Hermione was stunned by the gleaming smiles on all their faces. When she pointed this out to Harry he laughed and put his arm around her.
"This team will be the best." He whispered in her ear.
"I know, they have you as their captain." Hermione replied, blushing slightly.
Harry was amazed to see most of the school was already eating breakfast. The Slytherins weren't in their robes and shot evil looks at Harry and the Gryffindors as they passed.
"You all right Kai?" Harry shouted over the remaining two house tables.
Kai looked slightly peaky. He didn't look up when Harry called to him instead he slumped over the table. Hermione and Harry ran over to him and together they pulled him upright. Ron gave his broom to Tally and helped Harry and Hermione heave Kai towards the exit.
"This is taking too long!" Hermione said. She pulled out her wand and conjured up a stretcher.
Hermione led him out of the hall and Harry sat down at the Gryffindor table. The team crowded around him, all looking upset about Kai.
"My guess is the Slytherins did something to him. That means we have to kick ass out of that pitch. Don't show them any mercy, you won't receive any, just don't break the rules."
"Hey Potty what's up with Scales?" Malfoy sneered.
"You should know Malfoy," Harry said sarcastically. "We're going to wipe that pitch with your disgraceful team."
"Don't think so Potty. My cousin, the Weasels and first years? All my team are fourth years of above. Way stronger and more ruthless."
"My team don't play with strength, we play with dignity and respect for our opponents. You'll soon learn how much good that'll do."
A bell sounded somewhere and Harry shoved Malfoy back to his table. The Gryffindors mounted their brooms there and then and flew out of the Entrance Hall, led by Harry.
Sitting in the changing room, Harry looked at his team. They were all laughing and joking except Tally, who was standing in the doorway looking into the crowds.
"Don't worry about it."
"It's not the match I'm worried about."
"Then what is it?"
"Knowing Draco, he's probably telling his team to literally kill us."
"You're not worried about his are you? He's Seeker for his team, he can't touch you."
"He'll find a way, to do something to me or the person I care about more than anything."
A whistle blew and Harry looked back at his team. They were all assembling behind him, still smiling.
"Let's do this!" Harry said loudly.
The team cheered again and followed Harry out onto the pitch. Madame Hooch was waiting in the center of the pitch for both teams. The Slytherins approached, clad in green robes, embellished with the snake.
"Captains, shake hands." Madame Hooch ordered.
Harry stepped towards Draco and grasped his hand. Madame Hooch was satisfied and blew her whistle again. Harry kicked off followed by his teammates and stopped about twenty feet above the game. The Snitch was released, followed by the Bludgers and finally Madame Hooch threw the Quaffle into the air.
"Gryffindor in possession. Chaser Tally Malfoy, she dodges two Slytherin Chasers and throws expertly to Ginny Weasley. Heading rapidly towards the goal. Bludger aimed at Weasley, she throws the Quaffle to Villers before getting the Bludger full force in the stomach. Villers passes to Malfoy, Malfoy shoots – SHE SCORES! Ten points to Gryffindor!"
Harry zoomed once around the pitch and saw Malfoy dive. Looking at where he was diving, he couldn't see any sign of the Snitch.
"Malfoy of Slytherin just gone into a spectacular dive. What's Harry doing! He's looking the wrong way!"
"Harry! The Snitch!" Tally gasped, flying towards him
"He hasn't seen it! He's trying to distract me." Harry shouted back. "Get back to the game!"
Tally nodded and dived back down to assist Carrie and Ginny. A whistle was blown and then Harry saw it. Tally was falling headfirst towards the round. He dived, urging the broom faster. He wasn't going to make it. The ground was hard; she'd crack her head open. Harry was gaining on the falling Gryffindor.
"Come on!" Harry shouted at his broom.
Five foot from the ground, four, three, two. Harry's broom put on a last minute burst of speed. He leveled out with the unconscious Tally in his arms. Blood was trickling down her face. He jumped of his broom and left it hovering mid air. Running over to the Gryffindor changing rooms, he lay her down on one of the benches and moved some hair out of her closed eyes.
"You said something like this would happen. I'm sorry I didn't believe you." Harry whispered to her.
He pushed back her fringe and looked at where the blood was oozing out of her head. His fingers were wet with blood. He knelt next to her until Ron and Hermione dragged him away so Madame Pomfrey could get to her.
"It's all right mate, she'll be okay." Ron said quietly.
"We called for a time out. How is she?" Ginny asked appearing at Harry's side.
"She's bleeding badly. Concussed and unconscious. What else do you want?" Harry replied angrily.
"It was that Crabbe, he hit the Bludger at her." Carrie whispered.
Harry struggled to get back onto the pitch. He pulled away from Hermione but three more people grabbed his arm and managed to restrain him.
"Let me GO!" Harry shouted.
"Harry, what good will it do?" Hermione asked.
"I'll kill him!" Harry yelled.
He wrenched his arm away from Ron and dragged the three Gryffindors clinging onto his right arm into the doorway to the pitch. Professor Dumbledore appeared in the doorway and looked sternly at Harry. Harry tried to get up the stairs; the whole team were now restraining him.
"Harry, please calm down." Dumbledore said quietly.
"Why? You seen what he's done to her?" Harry shouted struggling again to get onto the pitch.
"Harry if you don't calm down I will make you." Dumbledore said a little louder.
"Let me GO!" Harry shouted again.
"Good gracious Potter!" Professor McGonagall gasped appearing next to Dumbledore.
"Harry. If you do not calm down this minute I will cancel this match." Dumbledore raised his voice.
"Albus, what shall we do, he's clearly very distressed about this." McGonagall asked.
"We shall postpone the match until further notice. The score shall stay as it is but the match shall be moved to a later date."
"And of the Slytherins?"
"Mister Crabbe shall be disqualified and will not be able to compete in the rest of this years matches. I cannot allow him on the pitch if he is a danger to the players."
Harry had been forced onto a bench. He had his head in his hands and was muttering to himself. Ron was trying to talk to him but Harry was ignoring him. Every now and then Harry would glance at the unconscious form of the Gryffindor slumped on the bench opposite him.
"Look Harry! She's waking up!" Sean said in a bid to get Harry to talk to them.
Sure enough, once Harry had flicked his hair out of his eyes he saw Tally stir. Standing up he tried to get through the barrier of his team.
"Will you just move!" He shouted.
Forcing his way through them he knelt once more at Tally's side and smiled as she tilted her head towards him.
"How are you feeling?" Harry asked her quietly.
"A...little shaky..." She managed to whisper. "And...my head...it hurts..."
"It will do, but don't worry, you're going to be fine."
"What...what happened?"
"The match's been postponed. You took a Bludger to the head."
"Are we...winning?"
Harry nodded. He was surprised to see tears appear in her watery blue eyes.
"What's wrong?"
"I knew...this would happen...I knew it..."
"I'm sorry for not taking you seriously."
"I remember falling...then it all goes blank...I don't...remember hitting the ground."
"That's because you didn't hit the ground, I caught you just before you would have done."
"Then...you're a...hero." Tally whispered closing her eyes again. "Thank you." She murmured.
Harry had left Tally, hours later, in the hospital wing. Kai was either sleeping rather heavily or he was unconscious himself in the bed next to her. He made his way down to the Grand Hall and updated the anxious team of her condition.
"She's okay." He said.
The Gryffindors clapped and cheered loudly, causing everyone in the hall to look oddly at them. Professor McGonagall came over to hush them but Harry couldn't help but notice the smile on her face.
"And Kai?" Hermione asked when everyone was chatting loudly.
"He's either a very heavy sleeper or he's unconscious." Harry said quietly.
"Poor guy. I wonder what happened to him." Hermione said more to herself than to the others.
"Maybe we should go and ask Madame Pomfrey if she's found out why he's ill." Ron answered.
They agreed and stood up. Walking past the jeering Slytherins they left the Hall and headed to the hospital wing.
"Madame Pomfrey?" Hermione asked, entering the wing first.
"Where is she?" Harry asked.
"Madame Pomfrey?" Hermione said a little louder. "Oh my god, Harry get a teacher!"
"What? Why?"
"Just go!"
Harry nodded and left the room. Ron looked at where Hermione was pointing. Madame Pomfrey was slumped over one of the beds, looking extremely ill and most definitely unconscious.
"What happened to her? Do you think she's got the same thing as Kai?" Ron asked.
"I'm...I'm not sure...It looks like they've been poisoned."
Harry skidded back into view followed by Professors McGonagall, Dumbledore and Snape. They looked at Hermione and Ron and then at Madame Pomfrey.
"We need to find out the source of this outbreak, soon enough the whole school will be infected." Professor McGonagall whispered.
"I'll get to finding an antidote." Snape said.
Dumbledore simply levitated Madame Pomfrey onto a bed. He told the three Gryffindors to leave, and to take Tally with them.
"It's not safe here, we don't want her contracting the same virus."
Harry nodded and he picked her up and left the hospital wing, followed closely by Hermione and Ron.