Hullo Gentle Readers!
Here's another spine tingling addition to my fabulous Harry world. =D I know, I have no shame. Anyways, seeing as I'm gonna be hitting the library every day after my classes, I've decided to limit the additions to ONE new chapter a day. I don't wanna get TOO far ahead. So, enjoy the chapter and I better get some god damn reviews mahn!
Replies:
Musicfan013 : Why thank you! I can never resist a compliment smothered in appraisal. ::grins happily::
Test of Honour
"Wait...WHAT!?!"Draco came to an abrupt halt as the outraged Gryffindor grabbed his upper arm." Skye's on the Quidditch team."
"Are you KIDDING me!? What possessed you to do such an inane thing as THAT!?" Harry screeched, dropping his Firebolt with a dull thud onto the grass.
" Its not like I had a choice, Potter. My father made me..." Draco muttered half-heartedly.
Harry released Draco's arm and gave a mighty huff.
"Look, I'm SORRY. I was forced into it. You could say I had the choice of picking her or being disinherited," The glum blonde explained.
Harry raked his hands through his hair and looked over at his team practicing," So, you're saying I HAVE to see her outside of classes...Fantastic."
"Hey, consider yourself lucky you only have to see her during matches, I have to train the stupid wench," Draco growled.
Harry sighed at this fact, somewhat comforted, then slapped Malfoy's back," You're right. Sucks for you."
Draco screwed up his face and shoved Harry's retreating back," Gee, THANKS!"
"You're welcome. Anyways. What position is she?"
//-------
"YEAH! You heard me. KEEPER!"
Harry rolled his eyes with a heavy sigh, crossed his arms and leaned back against the wall. Draco lent on his side next to him as Ron took Harry's other side. All three boys were trying their best to position themselves in a way that would most avoid any eye contact with the approaching throng of Slytherin girls coming noisily down the school hallway.
In the direct epicenter of the mob was Skye, egging on each girls' giggle and loud voice. Doing her own fair share of obnoxious laughter and high-decibel talking.
"So, do you think it'd be too lucky if she fell off her broom right before the game and broke her neck?" Ron asked in a dull monotone.
"Don't get your hopes up," Draco muttered, shooting Skye a dark glance over his shoulder.
"Oh, don't waste your breath on her. She had to get a ride on the Malfoy power-train just to make the bloody team. I doubt if she's even good," Harry spat, shifting his weight against the stone wall.
"I don't know. Its obvious she's no prodigy, but she does have SOME skill," The blonde replied grumpily.
"Not enough to beat off MY players though," Harry stated proudly.
"Is that right, Potter?"
The two Gryffindors and Slytherin turned with a groan as Skye and her group feathered out around them.
"YEAH, thats right," Harry answered simply.
Skye grinned eerily at him as she walked up to confront him. Harry pushed himself from the wall and straightened up just as she came within a few inches of him.
"Care to make a wager?" She asked sweetly, slipping her slender hands onto her hips.
"What're the terms?" Harry inquired, folding his arms and peering at her under some of his fallen coal locks.
"Plain and simple. I win, you bow down to my will for the rest of the term. And if by some MIRACLE you win, it'll go the other way around. I'll kneel before you."
Harry rose an eyebrow as Ron looked at the dark girl perplexed," Bow down to your WILL? What is this, the 16th century?"
"No, peon," Skye hissed at the redhead." Its simple honor. I win, Harry walks around as my living, breathing lap dog, doing whatever I command him to do. And I DO mean, WHATEVER."
The raven haired Gryffindor took a step closer to her, keeping his eyes glued on hers," Same goes for me, right? I win, you become my walking-talking puppet."
Skye looked up at him with a wry grin," Of course, but don't look forward to it."
Ron and Draco exchanged wary glances at the whole deal. Ron's face paled as Harry reached out and shook Skye's hand.
"Harry do you know what you're doing!?"
"Your very HONOR'S at stake here, Potter! Its no time to start hosing the deck with testosterone!" Draco exclaimed, looking almost sick.
Harry gave Skye's hand a confirming squeeze, never breaking the ominous red fire of her eyes, "I got it under control, guys."
Skye smirked slyly as she dropped Harry's strong hand. Before leaving, she casually reached up and brushed away the dangling strands of black off of Harry's forehead." I look forward to having you at my beck and call. Later."
And with that, the cool Slytherin sauntered away with her friends, not bothering to take another glance back at the boys left standing.
Ron snapped his head back to Harry, looking at him as if he just cut off his ear," Are you CRAZY!?"
Harry watched after Skye, then turned to look at his ruffled redheaded friend," You act like we don't stand a chance of winning."
Ron's cheeks pinked lightly ," Its not that...Just...Well...Harry, its a big bet. We lose the match, you're going to be humiliated right out of school. Who KNOWS what she'd make you do!"
Harry shook his head with a reassuring smile," Ye of little faith."
Draco and Ron stared as their brave friend walked off. Still baffled and slightly unnerved at his confidence, the 2 boys followed Harry down the corridor and into the Great Hall for a very restless lunch.
//-------
The wind whipped at his hair madly, making it even more messy and wild than before. With an easy kick from the ground, Harry took off like a firework straight into the sky again, the game continuing with unusual ferocity overhead. The Slytherins had been playing much dirtier than they usually did and by the disapproving look planted on Malfoy's face, Harry knew it wasn't because of their new captain.
He perched himself off to the side of his team's goal posts and called out advice to the scarlet-clad players.
"OY! Get under him! Go under! " He shouted to Travis. In an instant, the brunette swooped from beneath a Slytherin chaser, smacking the Quaffle right from his arm.
Making sure to keep an eye on his team while he searched for a flutter of gold, Harry hovered to and fro, anxiously shooting glances at the scoreboard. 30 minutes in and Gryffindor was behind 40 to 50.
"OOH! And Weasley takes a nasty hit to the broom tail- but AH! Finnigan saves and...YES! 10 points to Gryffindor!"
Make that fifty. Harry looked over and saw from the great distance a small redhead wavering momentarily, then whisking off as three green streaks headed his way. His eyes widened a bit as he noticed the trio not faltering in their direction. Ducking only seconds prior, the toes of Tony Spinelli's shoes nicked his hair just before Gurtrude Hannon slammed right into him.
From the mere force of the blow , Harry was practically knocked off his broom.
"OH!! And Potter takes a savage thrash by Hulky Hannon! Don't take that kind of abuse mate!" Dean Thomas, the new announcer, shouted into the speakerphone.
Harry quickly scrambled back onto his broom and took off after her in a flash. Zipping about her like a furious wasp, Harry kept just out of reach from her threatening fists and any penalties but close enough to block any attempts of her being passed the Quaffle.
This, of course, thoroughly annoyed Gurtrude, who continuously tried to swipe at the quick Seeker. His shadowing lasted mere seconds before Ginny managed to intercept a Slytherin pass and whisk off to the other end of the field.
Harry grinned as Ron shouted over to him," Good show! She was totally p'd off!"
Just as this compliment reached his ears, a series of screams caught his attention as Dean yelled into the microphone," OH NO! It looks like Hannon's got a grudge to settle with Potter! Look at her charge at that Gryffindor! Watch out Harry!!"
Only too late did Harry react before Gurtrude came barreling at him at top speed. She ploughed into his right side, sending them both into a sudden drop. Quickly recovering, Harry made to zoom away when the fuming serpent tangled her foot in his robes and yanked him back to her. It was all Harry could do when the enraged girl started to pound whatever she could get her hands on.
Whipping, jerking, spinning and dropping, the 2 battled it out, Harry trying desperately to free himself of her foot which was now joining in the fight.
With a blood curdling scream, Harry spun out of his loosened robes and quickly shot away. Chancing a glance back , he could see a struggling lump beneath his gold and scarlet robe. The pain burning from bitten his hand was instantly forgotten as the raging bull freed herself of the Gryffindor's clothing and flew after him, leaving a thoroughly angry Madam Hooch in her wake.
Harry couldn't count on any of the professors to stun her before she made it to him, especially since they were so high up and she'd likely fall. Taking a glance to the side by chance, he quickly threw his body against his broom just as a Bludger, hit by Gregory Goyle, soared where his chest had been seconds earlier. He could hear the outrage moaning from the stands as he took off once again just as Gurtrude got too close for comfort.
Madam Hooch's whistle was shrilling in a constant screech as Malfoy's infuriated voice could be heard telling Hannon to stop.
The speedy Seeker and the mad Chaser zipped all over the field, occasionally almost flying into a fellow player. The screaming referee tailed them all the way as the 2 teams played on absentmindedly, keeping more eye on the cat-and-mouse duo than their game.
Wondering if it'd just be easier for him to get the pounding of his life than running for it, Harry jerked his broom to the side just as Hannon reached out and almost clutched his boot. A sudden glitter caught his attention and upon turning, saw the Golden Snitch fluttering almost exactly parallel to him.
Knowing that even if this match was deemed disqualified according to Madam Hooch, Skye would still go by the score before it all ended. So, pausing just long enough to shout to his bewildered Chasers,"1 more goal!", Harry took off after the zipping Snitch.
As he heard an uproar of cheers, he knew his players had heeded his command and resumed playing with their full attention. Following the sparkling ball, Harry was suddenly lead to the left, finding himself in the very stadium itself. He weaved in and out of shocked students who leapt out of his way as he zoomed past them. Reaching out his sore hand, Harry glanced over his shoulder to see Gurtrude looking even more determined to bash his face in.
A sharp spray of splintered wood let him know that a Bludger had just been sent his way, pieces of the shattered seat slashing at his bare face and hands. And before he knew it, a hard shove from behind sent him flying off his Firebolt and skidding to a stop on the stadium floor.
"AND HE'S DONE IT! POTTER'S GOT THE SNITCH! GRYFFINDOR WINS!"
Harry lifted his hand weakly, seeing the pearly white wings flapping meekly in-between his damaged fingers. With a sigh, he collapsed his head back down as students gathered around him frantically.
"Seems Hannon's unaware that the match is over! She's STILL going after Potter!"
Harry's eyes widened as he saw Gurtrude stumble off her broom a few feet away and start to shove spectators aside. He scrambled backwards, unable to conjure the strength to stand and run. Gasping, Harry looked horrified into the flaming brown eyes of the insane Chaser as she grasped his sweater's collar and brought back her fist. His breath caught in his throat as his nose suddenly screamed out in pain.
His hands did the only thing they could think of doing, and that was reaching up and pounding into anything that felt like flesh. Harry's eyes were blurry from his lost contacts and blood was gushing all over his face and into his mouth. Instinctively, he brought his legs up in a flash and managed to sink his knee deep into a soft stomach.
By now, the two teams and all of the professors had quickly filtered into the mayhem. Arms were immediately tucked under Harry's, picking him up and dragging him away. He kept blinking furiously, tears trying to moisturize damaged eyes while sweat stung sharply al wounds made to his face. He could make out an emerald form rising and immediately hurtling towards him.
He gritted his teeth and jerked forward, more hands clamping themselves against his chest and clutching his sweater.
"ENOUGH!!" A deep voice bellowed.
Gurtrude made 1 last attempt at leaping at Harry before an extremely large figure blocked her way and view of Harry." Get out of the way, you big moron!"
"I said ENOUGH!" The same voice shouted, causing that entire section of the stadium to cease all motion." In all my years at this school, why I've never..."
Harry was helped to sit down as a cloth was brought to his face. He immediately pressed it to his shattered nose, now feeling all the effects of the brutal battle.
"I'm DISGUSTED! The way you behaved...You should be ASHAMED of yourself!"
An arm wrapped around Harry's aching shoulders as people started to slowly back away. By now, Harry knew who was doing all the yelling. Dumbledore. Even though he knew the old man wasn't yelling at HIM, it still sent shivers down his spine simply hearing his voice go so loud and so dangerous. Harry could almost see the poisonous anger dripping from his headmaster's every word. And it terrified him.
"My office, NOW!" Dumbledore bellowed.
A line was instantly formed as Gurtrude was lead away by Hagrid, Dumbledre and Madam Hooch. As soon as they were gone, attentions were brought back to Harry.
Madam Pomfrey suddenly appeared in front of the injured Gryffindor, almost sick with the extent of his wounds," My dear! We must get you to the infirmary at ONCE. Can you walk?"
Harry nodded slightly and wavered to his feet. He couldn't help the yelp of pain he gave as his right foot immediately gave out on him and sent him tumbling into a pair of arms. Several groans and gasps followed his cry.
"Oh goodness...Here. Help him onto the stretcher."
Harry was gently helped to lay down on a smooth stretcher and floated through the gawking crowd. Every person he passed gave him a word or two of congratulations , even a few of the ones donned in green and silver scarves.
Finally screwing up the courage to open his left eye, he found unbelievable pain in it, making him shut it straight away. Apparently he'd found what happened to half of his contact.
"Don't move, Harry, Madam Pomfrey will fix you much better if you just don't move and make anything worse," He heard Draco mutter at his side.
"You DID get good ones in on ol' Gurtrude though," Ron commented with an attempt at a laugh in his voice, which failed due to the thick squeak.
"True enough.. She's going to have shiners the size of dinner plates by tonight...And she is SO off the team," Draco said with a bit of a growl at the end.
Harry merely grunted, too weak and dizzy to do anything else. He simply closed his good eye and enjoyed the small joy of feeling the Snitch's soft wings bat at his skin like eyelashes.