Harry Potter and the New Moon
Chapter Three
By: PhelpsFan04
Stunned silence followed this statement. The only ones who didn't look remotely surprised were Fred and George who had turned away from their meals to watch the conversation. Hermione, who had followed Harry and Ron to this side of the table, had a look of absolute disbelief on her face.
"M-my sister?" said Harry, his eyes now searching Harriet's face for something that would tell him that the girl was hoaxing him. "You can't be...you can't possibly be my sister." He looked to Fred and George for some sort of reassurance. Fred just shrugged.
"Please," said Hermione from behind Ron. "Everyone knows that Harry is an only child; you can't expect us to believe that complete rubbish, just because you want to be like Harry." Ron gave out a sort of stifled laugh.
Harriet looked taken aback.
"I want to be like Harry? Why would I want to be like Harry?" she snapped.
"Well its obvious isn't it?" said Hermione, pushing Ron out of the way so she could talk clearly to the girl. "You make up this story to tell people so that you can get attention like Harry does."
"I do—you think that--The only people I've told are Fred and George, you think I want people crawling all over me, my name in the paper and my life story in every other bloody book in the world? Why would anyone want that kind of attention!?" shouted Harriet standing up. Heads in the Great Hall started to turn to see who was causing all the noise. Hermione drew herself up to full height.
"Well then why would you make up such nonsense? You know no one in the right mind would buy that for a second!"
"Um, excuse me Hermione?" said Fred who was still listening intently to the conversation. "George and I have no problem believing her."
Hermione looked at the twins carefully for a moment then sighed.
"Well I rest my case. No one in the right mind would believe that you were Harry's sister."
"Twin sister," muttered Harriet under her breath.
"Oh no," said Hermione. "Oh no, no, no, no. You are not going around telling people that."
Harry, who had remained silent this whole time, finally spoke up.
"If you really are my sister than how come no one like Dumbledore has told me about you? And how could you just come here out of the blue with no one knowing who you are? That's not possible."
Harriet eyed Harry curiously.
"You know what, I'm not entirely sure. Why don't you find out that for yourself?"
And she stood up and left the Great Hall, her bag slung over her shoulder. Hermione watched her leave with a look of complete disgust on her face.
"Honestly, what people will come up with!" She looked over at Ron and elbowed him. He was staring absentmindedly at the exit of the Great Hall where Harriet had just been. "And thanks for backing me up, Ron." Hermione walked haughtily back to her seat at the Gryffindor table, followed by Ron who was protesting that he had been anything but helpful in Harriet and Hermione's argument.
Harry remained where he was and looked at Fred and George. George sighed and stood up.
"She has a lot of evidence to prove what she claims Harry," he said. "C'mon Fred, its six o'clock; we should be at the Quidditch pitch." Fred stood up and started following his twin out of the Great Hall. But before Harry could figure out why they were headed to the Quidditch pitch when practice wasn't until tomorrow, Fred shouted back to him.
"By the way Harry, if you were wondering why she was in the common room that one night...Her scar hurt."
And the two red-headed twins were lost in the sea of people headed out of the Great Hall for bed.
Hermione was complaining once again.
"...And if anyone has the right to be mad it's you Harry, as if you need more attention."
But Harry wasn't listening. He and Ron were sitting on the couch in front of the fire in the common room. Ron had a pillow pushed against his face and Harry was sitting with the book Quidditch Through the Ages open on his lap. This was the third time he had gone through it during Hermione's rant.
It was midnight and the twins hadn't returned to Gryffindor tower. Nor had Harriet. Harry had attempted to finish his homework but found it difficult to concentrate what with Hermione going on about the girl who was claiming to be his sister.
After a while Harry dozed off. He couldn't keep his eyes open for long...He was floating through space again, the moon in sight. Except this time he was falling away from the moon. He reached out and tried to get closer but the more he tried the farther away he got. Suddenly a flash of green light sent Harry spiraling into the darkness as he felt the imprint of his scar burn into his forehead. Harry jerked awake and his hand flung to his forehead as it gave another painful throb. He heard a sharp intake of breath from across the room. He turned to see who it was.
Harriet was standing at the foot of the staircase to the girls' dormitory, her hand on the railing and one foot on the first stair. Her other hand was clapped to her forehead. Feeling Harry's eyes on her, she quickly pulled her hand back and continued up the stairs.
Harry looked around the common room to find it empty except for Fred standing at the foot of the staircase to the boys' dormitories, looking pensively at the spot Harriet had just stood. Harry stood up. Fred looked over at him and smiled briefly before heading up the stairs to bed. Soon after, Harry followed.
The next morning, Harry woke up to find Ron sitting on the floor in front of his bed, his head resting in his hand. Harry sat up and put on his glasses.
"Ron," said Harry. Ron didn't respond and remained zoned out on the floor. "Ron."
"I'm sorry?" Ron jumped and looked up. "Oh, good morning Harry."
"What are you doing on the floor?"
"Oh, er...just uh, thinking," He replied, getting up quickly.
Harry shrugged and got out of bed. He dressed rapidly and went downstairs to the common room. There he and Ron met Hermione. She kept shooting reproachful glances at Harriet, who was sitting in a corner of the common room with Fred and George, holding Piper.
The trio made their way down to the Great Hall for Breakfast. It was Sunday and the castle was quieter than usual. The only disturbance they met the on the way downstairs was Peeves, who was trying to take the arm off of the statue of Bolumus the Bold.
The three sat down at the Gryffindor table, and Hermione began talking once again, of Harriet and the night before.
"There are so many rational explanations of why she could not possibly be your sister. I took the liberty of writing them all down." Hermione took a particularly long piece of parchment out of her bag. Ron rolled his eyes.
"Leave it to Hermione," he mumbled so that only Harry could hear. Hermione consulted the list.
"First of all: she has an American accent."
"So?" Harry said, spooning eggs onto his plate. Hermione put down the list.
"Harry," said Hermione, annoyed. "You're British. How could you possibly be related to her if she's American?"
"My whole family is British," said Ron putting down his fork. "But my aunt went to Ireland for a year and now she has an Irish accent. It could happen Hermione."
Hermione rolled her eyes and continued reading the list.
"Second: although she does look a lot like you it is impossible for her to have a scar that is related to You-Know-Who's attack."
"And where does that theory come from?" asked Harry.
"Harry, Hagrid came and got you after You-Know-Who tried to kill you! Don't you think he would have brought Harriet with him too if he had seen her? It's just too unlikely! How could you believe her?"
"Wow, calm down Hermione," said Harry. "I never said I believed her I just want to know what reasons you have for writing these things down." Harry patted Hermione on the back. "But could you read it to me later? Only, I want to finish breakfast, I have a long Quidditch practice today."
Hermione nodded and put the list away. Ron sighed in relief and then turned to Harry.
"You should really talk to Wood about these weekend practices. Last time you had practice on a Sunday it was storming like mad outside and he kept you for nearly three hours."
Harry shrugged.
"I guess Wood just wants to be ready for when we play Slytherin."
Harry walked alone down to the Quidditch pitch, his Firebolt slung over his shoulder. He hoped Wood didn't keep them to long, he promised Hermione she could read him the list at lunch. Although Harry wasn't keen on the idea of hearing Hermione rant again, he wanted to see what reason she had for not believing Harriet. Personally, Harry didn't believe a word of it but Harriet had seemed so serious, he needed someone to tell him that it couldn't possibly be true.
He walked into the team room and stopped dead in his tracks. Harriet was sitting in between Fred and George on the bench against the wall. Angelina, Alicia, and Katie were sitting on the bench opposite them. The three chasers were giving Harriet disdainful looks. Oliver Wood was leaning against the wall, his arms crossed, and an uneasy look on his face.
"What's going on?" asked Harry cautiously. "What is she doing here?"
"You're being challenged Potter," said Wood carefully.
"Challenged? Challenged for what?"
"You Quidditch position."
"I'm being challenged for seeker? By who?" Harry looked at Harriet. "By her?"
Wood nodded. Harry's Firebolt clattered to the ground.
"You can't be serious!" shouted Harry. He looked menacingly at Fred and George. "And you two! You've been helping her, haven't you? That's why the both of you have been going down to the Quidditch pitch at nights, to help her!"
Neither one of the twins could look Harry in the eye.
"Harry, she has every right to do this. Let's just get it over with, shall we?" Wood said and led the team and Harriet out onto the pitch. Angelina and Katie brought out the crate of Quidditch balls and set it down at Wood's feet. He opened it and removed the walnut sized golden snitch.
"Ok here's what we are going to do," he said, holding up the snitch. "I will release the snitch and the Bludgers. You must each try to catch the snitch. There will be no beaters."
"But just because you catch the snitch first doesn't mean you're the better seeker," protested Harry.
"Exactly," said Wood. "This is why I will be judging your performances. So, you would be better off flying well and not catching the snitch than catch the snitch and be unseated by a Bludger." Wood handed the snitch to George and then started undoing the straps that held in the Bludgers. When they came loose, they flew into the air and around the pitch.
"When I release the snitch, you will give it a ten second head start, and then begin," said Wood, taking the snitch back from George.
Harry stole a glance at Harriet's broomstick. A Nimbus 2000. Good, thought Harry. The Firebolt could easily outstrip a Nimbus.
"Get ready now," said Wood. "I will release the snitch on the count of three. One..."
Harry and Harriet stood facing each other. A smirk played around Harriet's lips.
"Two..."
The pair mounted their brooms.
"Three." Wood let the snitch go. Before heading off into the stadium, the snitch circled in between Harry and Harriet. Harry watched it apprehensively.
"Nervous?" asked Harriet, her fingers going up to feel the flutter of the snitch's tiny wings.
Harry didn't respond, but kept looking at the snitch, ready for Wood to give the signal. Finally, the snitch flew off into the pitch and was lost.
"Ok....go!" shouted wood.
Harry was off like a flash. He flew quickly into the air and started circling the pitch. He saw Harriet fly toward the opposite end. Harry scanned the playing field for any sign of the snitch, but it was useless. The tiny golden ball was no where to be found. There was nothing Harry could do except wait for the snitch to appear. And hope that Harriet didn't spot it first.
"Harry! Look out!" Angelina Johnson screamed from the ground. Harry turned around just in time to duck a Bludger that was headed right for him. Harry sighed with relief but was taken by surprise again as Harriet whipped past him. He immediately turned his broom to follow hers.
Wood was right, Thought Harry. She does fly well.
Harriet was turning her Nimbus almost effortlessly as she dodged the Bludgers that were being pelted toward her. Harry could faintly make out the snitch gliding along in front of her. She wasn't far behind. Harry sped up until he was even with Harriet's broom. Her hand was extended in front of her, reaching for the snitch.
Harry urged his broomstick faster and slowly pulled ahead of Harriet. He leaned forward and reached his hand out. He could feel the flutter of the wings on his hand and reached further. Just then, Harriet gave her broom an extra burst of speed and flew beside Harry, her hand inches away from the snitch.
The pair's broomsticks were so close to each other. They were neck and neck. Harry, who was so concentrated on caching the fluttering golden ball, forgot completely about the Bludgers. It was only when he heard the three chasers on the ground, screaming for him to look out that he looked up. But it was too late. The Bludger hit him in the side, causing him to fly off his broom and into Harriet. He made one last attempt to grab the snitch and managed to take hold of one of the wings as he and Harriet fell through the air.
They fell to the ground landing with a sickening thud. Harry lay on the cold ground, one hand in the air triumphantly holding the golden snitch. Harriet lay eagle-spread on the ground next to him, her broomstick a few feet away.
Fred, George, the three chasers, and Wood quickly ran over to the two.
"Who has the snitch?!" Katie yelled.
"Harry's got it, look," said Angelina, pointing at Harry's hand. Harry sat up panting. He looked back at Harriet, who was also breathing hard. She wasn't knocked out, but she kept her eyes closed tight.
"Wait a second," said Wood, going up and taking the ball from Harry. "Where is the other wing?" Harry, Katie, Angelina, and Alicia gathered around Wood to look at the snitch while Fred and George went to make sure Harriet was ok. Harry looked at the snitch and sure enough, one of the wings was missing.
"She's got it!" George yelled from where Harriet was laying. "Harriet's got the other wing!"
"But I caught the snitch!" shouted Harry. "I caught the whole thing, not just a wing!"
"Yes, Potter, you did catch the snitch," said Wood. "But there is no denying that she flew better than you did today. You were almost hit by a Bludger, and then the second time, unseated by one!"
Harry's mouth fell open.
"Wood," he said, almost desperately. "You can't just kick me off the Quidditch team!"
"I never said I was kicking you off. You're on reserve. For now," he said.
Completely appalled, Harry threw down his Firebolt and stormed off the pitch.
