Chapter 7
New Beginnings
It was getting later in the year and Harry was getting worried that the Quidditch cup was not going to be on after everything that had happened. Harry was relaxing in the common room one day with a copy of A Guide of Medieval Sorcery for a History essay he had to write, when Professor McGonagall came in.
"Can I have your attention please everyone? Thank you. I have an announcement. We have decided to continue with the plans to have the Quidditch cup. And we have appointed a new Captain for the team. The Gryffindor Captain will be Harry Potter," Everyone in the room applauded Harry. "We also have a position free and Ron Weasley will be the Keeper." Ron sat there in shock. Ever since he came to Hogwarts he wanted to be on the house team. Harry and Ron didn't move even though they both had people coming up to them and shaking their hands. Neither of them could believe what they had just heard. Harry had finally achieved what he always wanted, to be just like his dad, captain of the Gryffindor team.
"Well done Harry. I have to admit I already knew you were going to made Captain, that's why I sent you a tactics book for your birthday." Ron said when he was finally able to speak.
"And you too, you made it on the team! Keeper! Wow. You'll be great!" Harry could still remember the last Captain and Keeper they had. Oliver Wood was fanatical about Quidditch and was now playing for Scotland in the Quidditch World Cup.
The next few days Harry had a meeting with the Quidditch team. They had a brilliant team. The chasers, Alicia, Angelina, and Katie were great together and between them they must have scored over 500 goals over the last 6 years. Their beaters, Fred and George - Ron's brothers - had always managed to stop Harry getting bloodied up too much. Unfortunately all of them were in their last years at Hogwarts and this would be the last year they would play as a team. But that also meant their determination to win was greater then ever. The first match was in 3 weeks against Hufflepuff and they had to train their new keeper. Harry arranged to train 3 nights a week and on the first session they discovered how good Ron was. He never missed the Quaffle. Harry was feeling very confident by the time the match drew near. They had been practicing the new tactics Harry had shown them in the book Ron bought him and they seemed to work well. He soon realised why Oliver seemed very tense before a match, everything was on him; he had to win.
"Ron, when was they last time we visited Hagrid?" Harry asked while Ron was slaughtering him at a game of wizards chess. Hermione was suppose to be doing her work but had taken up a seat beside Harry to watch and advise Harry.
"Must have been ages," Ron replied as his bishop chopped Harry's Queen's head off. "Why? Think we should go down to see him?"
"I think we should. I feel quite guilty that we haven't and he's always been so nice us ("You do remember the spiders Harry?") and we should go and see how he is." After finishing the game in which Ron was victorious, they grabbed Harry's invisibility cloak and headed down to see Hagrid, with all three underneath.
They crossed the grass and headed straight for Hagrid's little hut, though it's hard to call his hut little as Hagrid is so big. The quietly knocked on the door, fearful that someone other than Hagrid would hear. There was no answer. Ron banged on the door as loud as he could.
"Er..Hello? Who's there?" Hagrid cautiously asked opening the door.
"It's us," Harry said and they barged passed Hagrid and into the wooden shack and beside the roaring fire. They pulled off the cloak to reveal the three in their robes and freezing from the chilly October evening.
"You shudn't 'ave come. It's not safe." Hagrid said looking at them standing there. "But I'm glad ya did," and he grabbed them and gave a big hug nearly squeezing them to death. When he finally released them, and after catching their breaths again, they asked how he was doing.
"Not bad and no where near as good as yer two." Looking at Ron and Harry. "Keeper and Captain. I'm so proud." Ron and Harry seemed a bit embarrassed.
"So how was your summer Hagrid," Hermione asked him taking a seat beside the fire.
"Not too good I'm 'fraid. We've, that's me and Olympe, have bin going round the country gathering together people who will help fight…" He looked at Harry and seemed to be contemplating whether to continue or not.
"Hagrid, I know about Vol…You-Know-Who. Had any luck?" Harry asked.
"It's bin ard. People are just plain scared. Don't want to risk their own lives, cowards." He looked up at the three and then continued, "but we've had a bit of luck, able to get some help. Bin hearing stories tho. About You-Know-Who's followers. Rumour is that most hav gone back, all apart from Lucius Malfoy."
"Lucius Malfoy hasn't gone back?" Harry asked rather confused. Harry had seen Lucius at Voldermorts rebirth and it looked like no-one had believed him, apart from Dumbledore and Hagrid.
"That's wat I eerd. He's still the git he ever was and still in high rank." Hagrid was shaking his head and walked over to the tea pot and started to make a brew. "He's convinced Fudge that he won't go back. Codswallop!" There was still something on Harry's mind though.
"Hagrid, have you heard anything about Snape?" Hermione looked at Harry almost disapproving of him asking.
"Snape. Yeah, I've erd things about him. But Dumbledore trusts him. Great man Dumbledore, and he says he'll be back. I don't know what to think." Harry wasn't satisfied but had to put up with this. Could Snape have returned to Voldermorts side after all these years, or is he strong enough to stay away? Harry sat and drank a bit of his tea and listened to Hagrid's stories about his summer.
It was late into the night when they finally left Hagrids, who insisted walking them back to castle, with them under the cloak. They got in the common room and straight into bed, but Harry couldn't sleep, there were still so many questions he needed answering. He still wanted to know exactly what Sirius thought Snape's secret was and the only way seemed to be asking Snape, which was not an appealing prospect.
The day of the match arrived and Harry got dressed and woke Ron up too and made their way down to the Great Hall. Harry was the first on there, but he didn't feel like eating. The rest of team walked and Harry encouraged them to eat breakfast, just as much as Hermione encouraged him.
"Harry you need your strength for the match and you can't go out there on an empty stomach." Harry forced down a slice of toast but nothing more, he was too nervous. This was his first match as captain and if he didn't win, they would all think he wasn't up for the job.
Once the team had finished their minuscule breakfast, they headed off to the changing room. Harry couldn't sit as everyone prepared for the match. You couldn't tell who was more nervous, Harry or Ron. This would be Ron's first match and he wanted it to go perfect. Finally, after pacing around the room twenty four times, he spoke to the team.
"Right, this is my first match in charge and Ron's first match in the team. I hope that we will be successful. We have a brilliant team, with the best chasers Gryffindor has seen in years, and two brilliant beaters who have saved me many times. I want you to go out there and do you best." They all cheered and made their way to the pitch.
It was perfect conditions for a match, which was rather strange for an early October day. The sky was very blue and the sun, although low in the sky, was warm and seemed to warm the hearts of the players. The crowd was screaming louder than ever before with the Slytherin team booing as much as they ever were. They mounted their brooms and did a couple of laps around a field and took their positions with Harry in the front. Madame Hooch comes up to the middle of the pitch.
"I want a clean match, any dirty tricks and you will be sent off, and permanently off the team." She released the Bludgers and the Golden Snitch, which flew around the players for a while then disappeared. Madame Hooch threw the Quaffle in the air and the game had begun. Harry kicked off from the ground and flew as high and as fast as he could to get the best view of the match. He could hear Fred and George's' friend, Lee Jordan, commenting on the match.
"…What a pass by Katie Bell…shame that was saved…Jordan! (McGonagall voice could be heard.) Sorry about that professor. Hufflepuffs Hopkins with the Quaffle and headed towards the Goal…Amazing save by the new Gryffindor Keeper, Ron Weasley!…Gryffindor's Angelina in possession, now Katie, Alicia…and WHAT A GOAL! The Hufflepuff keeper didn't see Alicia coming!"
Harry was cheering from above and went to check on his team. He flew down and first checked on Ron.
"You doing OK, Ron?" Harry asked as he came closer.
"Great, not too bad. Did you see the save I did?" Harry nodded and congratulated him. "Seen the snitch yet?" Ron asked. Harry suddenly realised that he hadn't been looking for the snitch, he was too busy concentrating on what the other players were up to. He sped away from Ron and flew 20ft above the action. He needed to find the snitch, as most times, they won the match if the snitch was caught. Harry spent half an hour looking for the snitch when he overheard Lee Jordan.
"…Hufflepuff are leading 30 points to 20 now. The Gryffindors better get their act together." He looked down at Jordan and that's when he saw a glint of gold. It was the snitch.
He flew down towards the commentating stand and straight towards the snitch, it quickly swerved him and darted in the opposite direction towards the goal posts. The Hufflepuff Seeker was behind him now and quickly catching up with Harry. Harry outstretched his hand to grab the snitch and win the match when a bludger hit him right on the side of his stomach knocking him not only off course but knocking the wind out of him.
Harry looked up and saw the Hufflepuff seeker was frantically looking around the sky. He had been too busy watching what happened to Harry and had lost sight of the snitch. Harry decided to take his usual position 20ft above the action.
The match had been going on for three hours now and the players were getting tired. Harry called a time-out to see how the rest of the players were doing. He touched down and the rest of the team surrounded him.
"So how's everyone holding up?" Harry asked like a professional, caring captain would.
"Not too good Harry. We are 70-50 down, and getting rather tired." Fred told Harry while trying to get his breath back. Harry thought as much. He knew, more than ever, that he had to catch the snitch soon.
Madame Hooch broke up the conference and the match resumed. It didn't take long for Harry to spot the snitch. He used all his might to make the firebolt go faster. Again the Hufflepuff Seeker was behind him. The snitch weaved in and out of the stands almost trying to shake off Harry but it wasn't working. Harry didn't let it out of his sight until…it was in his hand.
After the longest match Harry had ever played, he had finally caught the snitch and won his first game as Captain! As he landed the whole team came flying over to him and smothered him completely. Harry was ecstatic and was jumping around the Quidditch pitch like a maniac along with the rest of the team.
The ecstasy didn't die down until the early hours in the morning when Professor McGonagall ordered them to go to bed. Harry was on such a high on winning his first match as the Captain that the probability of him sleeping was from slim to none. Ron was also on as big a high as Harry, he had got through his first match and he was great and the whole people had been coming up to him congratulating him on that amazing save he did. Professor McGonagall had to come in the common room six times before everyone quietened down and went to bed.
The whole Gryffindor house was in high spirits for almost a week after the win over Hufflepuff. Their mood was soon dampened though by some more awful news that came at dinner one night.
"Can I have your attention please?" Dumbledore was standing looking more tried and older than usual. "There has been another pupil who was found missing this morning when his class mates woke up. The boy in question, from Ravenclaw, was seen in the common room last night, but after that no-one knows what has happened to him. I would like to stress the severity of the situation. We are unsure what it happening and would like remind students that the curfew of eight o clock is in place for your safety. After dinner, you will be escorted to your common rooms by your house prefects and a teacher." Dumbledore sat down again and the whole room seemed to lose their appetite.
That was three students that had gone missing without a word. But that wasn't the only event that night, as who should walk into the Great Hall but only Severus Snape. He looked coarser than usual, unshaven, battered and bruised. Dumbledore seemed surprised to see him, but that was nothing to Snape's reaction on seeing Evi.
"What are you doing here?" He shouted across the Great Hall at her, but not in a harsh way.
"Well, with you gone, someone had to hold the fort." She laughed as she ran down the Hall the greet him. The whole Hogwarts had never seen anything like it. They looked like really old friends as they greeted each other with a huge hug, and both were smiling. It was rather scary to see Snape smiling. She threw her arms around his neck.
"Ah!" Snape groaned clearly in pain.
"Sorry," she said releasing him, concerned for him.
"Where have you been?" Dumbledore finally said to Snape. "You were supposed to return about a month ago." He didn't look happy with Snape at all.
"Sorry Professor, but I was a little tied up." He looked at Evi who just laughed. "Missed much?" This was not the usual Snape, he seemed subdued and not his cruel self. He took his usual seat and Evi pulled up another chair for herself and sat next to him. The rest of dinner they spend talking to each wholly engrossed in what each other had to say.
For the fourth night running, Professor Grimalkin had not been present at dinner. And Harry and Ron were hoping she had dropped off the face of the planet, but both knew they didn't have that much luck. Most people seemed keen on watching Evi and Snape obviously catch up on the gossip. It was strange to see Snape happy about something.
After dinner the Gryffindor house was escorted to their common room by Evi. They were on the Second floor corridor walking towards the common room when they spotted a group of pupils hanging around, whispering.
"Stay here," she ordered the Gryffindor pupils. As she walked over to the wall, by which they were standing, she saw something. She came running back to the group with a face white as a sheet, and grabbed hold of Neville.
"Neville, find Dumbledore now. GO!" Neville ran off as fast as his little legs could take him and Evi leaned against a wall looking like she was going to wretch. Harry, Hermione and Ron were very curious what would scare Evi like that. They walked up to the wall for a closer look. After pushing through the crowd, they saw it. It was the Death Mark with the words "ENEMIES BEWARE" written in blood underneath. They heard Snape's voice over the hustle of the crowd. His reaction was worse than Evi's. He just stood there, staring at this mark on the wall, almost like he couldn't believe that it was there.
Dumbledore finally arrived and looked as shocked as Snape. He addressed the students.
"Did anyone see who did this?" He asked rather sternly. But no-one said anything. Evi was back now, and walked up to Snape and stood by Snape, still not saying anything. All the students knew what that mark meant. It was the sign of the death eaters and Voldermort. There was a large crowd now all in shock at what they were looking at.
Neville whispered to Harry "Does this mean that You-Know-Who is here?"
But before Harry could answer they heard Malfoy reply, "Let's hope so!" with an evil smirk.
"Shut up Malfoy!" Snape barked. Malfoy was taken back by this. Snape has never spoken to him like that before. His good mood of earlier had well and truly gone.
"Prefects take your house to your dormitory." There seemed to be something in Dumbledore's voice that made everyone worry even more. He seemed almost scared of the mark.
In the dormitory, the Gryffindor house couldn't sleep. Everyone had their own idea to how You-Know-Who got in. Ron couldn't help see a connection.
"Don't you think it's really strange that Snape returns and then a mark, he knows oh too well, is found painted on a wall. We know what he is. He's a…"
"Ron, we are not suppose to know that." Hermione butted in. But Harry had a different view.
"Professor Grimalkin wasn't at dinner either if you noticed. She's been acting strange ever since the first girl went missing. I can't help thinking she has something to do with it."
"Harry, you don't have any evidence to prove your accusation do you? And don't look at me like that, I don't know either, but I'll go to the library in the morning and see what I can find."
The next morning, the news had spread like wild fire and the mood in the Great Hall was tense, with everyone but the Slytherins were worried about the mark. According to some of the students, Mr Filch, their not so nice caretaker, had refused to clean the mark off, but it had gone. Snape had a face like thunder and ignored every attempt by Evi to cheer him up. In the end even she gave up on him and ate her breakfast with the Gryffindors in protest. As per usual, Professor Grimalkin was not in the Hall for breakfast and, in frustration, Evi left early.
"Lets catch up with Evi and she can take us to the library." Hermione told Harry and Ron while shoving a piece of toast into her mouth. They ran out of the Hall after her. They turned the corner when they encountered Evi and Professor Grimalkin talking. Harry, Hermione and Ron hid behind the corner and listened to the rest of the conversation.
"Really Goliard, I saw you. The night that guy went missing and the one before that, you were out of bed, and I don't think you have told Dumbledore either."
Really Evi? And what is a little bitch like you going to do about it? If you saw me, you were out of bed too; you'd just be incriminating yourself. Don't talk so stupid."
"Stupid! Three students are missing and you could know something."
"Well I don't. Anyways, some students deserve what ever has happened to them, the little mudbloods." Evi raised her fist but thought the better of it.
"You wouldn't hit me Evi, you would be in more trouble, then ever before. Now get out of my way," and Professor Grimalkin pushed passed Evi. Evi was so furious that she punched the wall, causing her to grasp her hand and swear out loud. Hermione came running out from round the corner and looked at Evi.
"What's going on Evi? Are you alright?" Hermione asked.
"It would be best if you didn't know, and no, I'm not alright. I probably should learn to control my temper." She looked at Hermione and something caught her eye. "Hello Harry and Ron." They slowly came out. "Bet you three heard all of that?" they all nodded.
"You must think I'm a hypocrite Harry," She said holding her bleeding hand.
"Miss?" Harry asked confused.
"Losing my temper after telling you not to. Do me a favour, don't say anything about this. Was there something you wanted?" Evi asked although she was still in pain.
"We here hoping you would take us to the library as we aren't allowed to go there on our own, but you better sort out your hand. We'll take you to Madame Pomfrey." Ron said very caring.
"Madame Pomfrey! I don't believe in magical remedies I'm afraid, I'll just have to suffer but I will take you to the Library."
She led them to the library in silence, as she wasn't in the mood to talk much. They looked at the books quietly but they weren't much help. Harry wasn't much help either; he was just sitting there seemingly looking into space with a copy of "What's in a Mark?" in front of him open at a page with a picture of a wolf on. He was thinking mainly about what Professor Grimalkin said about the students taken, and the Death Mark, and what Malfoy had said. There was a connection, and one they had come across before. He leaned across the table and whispered to Hermione.
"I think I know what this is about. This is about You-Know-Who." Hermione started at what Harry said. "Think about it," Ron had now joined in the conversation, "Students go missing and I bet we can find that they were all muggle born. The death mark appears, his sign to his followers, with "Enemies Beware" written underneath. And, even what Malfoy said, let's hope it's You-Know-Who. It adds up. It has to be Him or one of his many followers."
"Of course it's Him. That's his Death Eaters mark, but who would have access to the school to be able to put it there?" Hermione pondered.
"He could be controlling someone, like Ginny before," Harry suggested. The mention of that incident sent a shiver up Ron's spine.
"It's more likely an agent of his," Ron added.
"But who?" Hermione repeated.
"Can't you think of anyone? We just heard them call the students missing mudbloods. It has to be her." Ron said looking astonished at Hermione for not thinking of this.
"I would like to see if you could prove it. We have to gain more evidence on her, including what Evi has seen. But we can't ask her now," she looked across the room and Evi was wrapping her hand in bandage and flinching every time she touched her hand. They decided to leave it for now, and maybe ask her when her hand has healed, however long that took.