Harry Potter and the Shard of Magic.

By Wihstrum

Chapter seven: Occlumency, Quiddich and DA-meetings

Harry and his friends calmly waited at the statue of the gargoyle for Alex to arrive, although Hermione was tapping her foot impatiently, he secretly didn't mind the Slytherin running late, it meant less time in same room he'd trashed last school year. He used to like Dumbledore's place, but right now he was… feeling awkward and nervous about it. He almost felt angry when Alex did show up, apologizing she'd gotten lost in the huge labyrinth of hallways, corridors, chambers and stairs.

They stepped on the spiraling wooden stairs, slowly taking them up. Alex seemed to forget her lack of sleep and tugged at Ron's sleeve who smiled at her and explained that this was the way to the Headmasters office. Hermione raised her hand to knock on the door, but as always they heard Dumbledore calling them in before she even could do so. The four youngsters shuffled into the large and beautiful circular room, full of funny little noises.

"Ah yes, welcome… can I offer you some tea?"

Harry automatically murmured a 'Yes please' more for something to do than being thirsty.

Alex held her cup absently and examined all the little silver instruments which were all whirring and emitting little puffs of smoke. Harry's mind vaguely registered that the objects he'd shattered to pieces last June had somehow managed to restore themselves. The raven haired youth nervously peeked from under his dark bangs and felt a little pang of guilt when he saw lines of worry mark the ancient wizards face. The usual vitality that accompanied him subdued and stooped.

Worst of all, Dumbledore's piercing gaze rested on Harry first. "I understand you've been having nightmares every now and then."

Harry nodded slowly. "Yes…I've been practicing Occlumency though… but when I'm upset or tired I don't seem to be able to block him out completely."

"Well, I think we need to resume your Occlumency training straight away… although I'm going to teach you myself from now on."

"You sir?"

"You'd prefer professor Snape?" Dumbledore asked him amused.

"Nonono! Not at all… it was horrible last time, I doubt he'd even want to."

Dumbledore nodded slowly. "I understand, besides he'll be busy enough tutoring our young lady here." His blue eyes locked with Alex' green ones.

"Me?"

"Yes, we think it'll be vitally for you learn how to block one out. It's for your own safety."

Alex nodded mutely and looked at the steaming cup of tea in her hands.

"We'll be teaching you two on Tuesday evenings at seven, we'll be using Minerva's classroom."

"We'll be together?" Alex asked quietly.

"Yes, as moral support."

The young friends looked at each other; Harry gave her a weak smile.

"Also, we'll arrange some extra defense against the dark arts every Saturday morning for you Harry, those courses will, of course be given by professor Lupin." Harry felt relieved at that, after all, Moony had taught him privately in his third year as well.

"And that brings us to your DA lessons… will you be continuing those?" he gazed at him from over his spectacles.

"I'd forgotten about those, sir…" Harry said truthfully. It had been dwelling around in his mind all day long. It had been one of the highlights last year, he'd enjoyed those. But it seemed like he'd be snowed under already. Occlumency, extra DADA lessons… Quiddich? What about homework? He heaved a sigh and ran a hand through his hair. Slowly he saw the events from the Department of Mystery drift for his eyes. He saw Neville's determined look, how he fought for all whom he loved. He remembered how everyone who was in DA had an 'O' on their DADA examinations. He remembered Hermione's Patronius. And he remembered Cedric and Sirius.

"Yes." He said hoarsely. "I will sir."

Dumbledore's twinkle regained a bit of their brightness at Harry fiery gaze. "Wonderful! Seems like you better arrange them like you did last year; that way everyone can attend them."

McGonagall stepped forward, she'd held herself aside during the conversation. "As you've been informed last evening Mister Potter, your Quiddich ban has been lifted, that brings us to our next problem; Katie Bell has refused the offer of captaining the Gryffindor Team, her last year and the pressure of her N.E.W.T.-studies making it impossible to manage it all. So that leaves you as the next senior member of the Gryffindor team…"

Harry's mind took a while to process all that information… "M-me? Captain of the Gryffindor Team…?"

"Yes Potter, that's what I've been explaining to you for the past 5 minutes…"

WOW! Captain of the Gryffindor Team! And just as soon as he'd been thrilled, his mind caught up with him. When? How? DA-meetings, Occlumency, extra DADA lessons… 6th year finals…

"Although I'm flattered and I would love to… I---I can't." he said weakly, it felt like missing a step when going down the stairs. "When will I be able to prepare trainings? I think…" Harry glanced at his best friend from first year on whom had a dumbfounded look plastered to his face at hearing Harry turn down such an offer. He clearly thought his raven haired friend had gone finally insane. Harry smiled at him while he said; sure he was doing the right thing: "I think you should ask Ron instead. He knows a lot more about Quiddich then I do, it's been his passion for all these years and he would be an excellent strategist…"

We should take a photo of this, Ronald Weasley completely speechless.

"Don't look at me like that Ron. Close your mouth or something will fly in there and nest" Harry smiled at him as Ron promptly snapped his mouth shut.

McGonagall critically looked at Ron "What do you think yourself Mister Weasley?" she arched an eyebrow and barely was able to suppress a smile crossing her thin lips when Ron on his turn gibbered incoherently.

After a few attempts Ron settled with a simple "Wicked…"

Ron's huge grin wouldn't leave his face for the rest of the conversation.

"And finally…" Dumbledore said, a warm smile lighting his worn face "We've come down Misses Granger. It's a simply request, but one that might take a lot of time. I would like you to bring Misses Ladon up to date with Charms, DADA and transfiguration. You only have to lend her your notes from previous years and help out when she gets stuck."

Hermione brimmed with pride and said "Of course I will Sir, you can count on me!"

"Well that's all settled then! Sorry for taking up so much of you're time. I'm sure you're all tired."

They all rose and headed for the door wishing their superiors a good night. The door was barely closed when Ron thrust his fist up in the air and howled a loud 'WOOOHOOOW!".

Ron arranged Quiddich tryouts next thing following weekend. His enthusiasm started to rival Oliver Wood's, worrying Harry that none would dare to show up for the tryouts in his maniacal behavior. Ginny announced that she'd try for Chaser. When Ron asked Finbar whether or not he'd be giving it a try, the latter disappointedly muttered that he'd be doing more bad then good. Ron wouldn't have it and kept nagging and stalking him all week long, throwing notes at him in class and hiding them in his robes until Finbar finally gave in when Ron started signing made up songs about Finbar joining the team, nearly giving his housemates a nerve breakdown.

Hermione had helped Harry set his galleon to alert all the former members from DA and since it was 'official now' they'd made flyers letting everyone know it was open to all students. He doubted that many other would show up besides from the former members. He couldn't help and snicker when he thought about their reactions when he'd announce they'd be having a Slytherin with them this year around. Alex of course had immediately declared that she wanted in.

Occlumency had been a completely different experience from last year. Dumbledore proved to be a far more gentle and patient teacher then Snape ever had. He used meditation techniques to clear the mind which were far more helpful then the taunting remarks from the dreaded potions teacher. Alex on the other hand had been completely drained and couldn't stop shuddering after the session, even though Snape had gone far more easier on her than he'd went on Harry last year.

Harry had guided her down the dungeons, hugging her tightly and reassuring her that it wasn't her fault at all before he let the green eyed Slytherin go in. Little gestures of affection came easily towards Alex. He knew she wouldn't go all giggling and thinking 'they had something' and after the Cho-disaster from last year that would be the last thing he could use.

Wednesday afternoon. Quiddich Pitch.

"Drakie-poooooooo!"

Oh no… Draco quickly looked for a place where he could hide. Couldn't that wench leave him be? He shuddered involuntary when Pansy jumped up and wrapped her hands around his neck.

"You were wonderful! Nobody can fly as well as you do!" the pug-nosed girl squealed.

Draco he drew himself up, and looked down his nose at her. "What do you want Parkinson?"

Pansy tugged at his collar and brushed his Quiddich uniform. "I just wanted to let you know that you're gorgeous…" she giggled "But that's what makes us a perfect item, doesn't it?"

Draco growled, brushed her off and strode over to Blaise who was nearly wetting himself at the display, glaring as darkly as he could at him. When his 'friend' looked up at him, his eyes teary and as saw the blonde scowling darkly, he burst out once again, holding his stomach while doing so.

And of course it couldn't get better when he heard a soft feminine voice next to him "Drakie-poo?"

Draco narrowed his eyes and clenched his fists. He took a deep breath and growled "Got a problem with that?"

Alex looked at Blaise who was standing next to her now. As if on cue they both burst out in a howling laughter, the green eyed girl supporting herself on Blaise's back while the latter was hunched over trying to catch his breath.

"Oooh…oh…. Aaaah ahahahahaa… ah well, enough of that." She pulled up a white eyebrow and poked him in the chest. "You owe me a galleon…"

"Gah we'll see about that when our first game comes…" he sneered.

"Tuh-tuh-tuh… I'm on the team now so you'd better get over it."

Draco tried to bore her into the ground with the most deadly stare he could muster. "You're still a girl."

"Oh really?" she elbowed Blaise "Let's give our Royal Iciness a little applause! How clever of you…" she pinched his nose and Draco furiously hit her hand away.

Alex grinned at him and sweetly threw him a kiss while she turned to leave.

"What. Is. Her. Problem. Eh?" he snarled through gritted teeth

Blaise snickered and rolled his eyes. "You just can't abide it when someone uses your own snide comments against you…"

"You like her."

"Of course! She's hilarious and I've never, ever seen a person, save for Potter, who's able to get to you." He ducked Draco's hand and hopped a few meters away. "Besides you like her too." Blaise fled from a furious Draco who'd didn't want anything other then to feed him to the Giant Squid.

Ron sprayed his pumpkin juice all over the table, his expression one of utter shock when Ginny told him Alex was a new Chaser for the Slytherin team. "When? How? Why?"

"Yup, she's Chaser and reserve Beater."

Finbar smiled proudly when he saw the Slytherin stroll over to their table, a horrible, wide, smug grin dripping down her face.

"I got in." was all she said.

"Way to go Alex!" Harry congratulated her "To bad you're not on the winning team…" he said sounding genuinely sorry for her.

She slapped the back of his head playfully. "We'll see about that! Wanna bet 5 galleons I'll make the first goal?"

"Ha! You're on!" they shook hands on it and Harry flinched at Alex' powerful handshake.

"You're all going down!" Ron spoke up "We're gonna kick your Slytherin arses ('arses' earned a 'Ron!' from a disgruntled Hermione) so bad you won't be able to walk for a month!"

"Promises, promises, … Anyways, when are your tryouts? Ginny told me you've got quiet some open spots…"

"This weekend. We need two new Chasers and perhaps some new beaters…I sincerely hope I can seduce Finbar to take a Beater position."

Finbar brushed a lock of ebony hair out of his face. "Ron… I'm as good as blind when I'm nervous! I'd probably end up breaking someone's neck. It's not like I don't want to, but I can't control the second sight."

"Finbar, have you ever thought about asking help?" Hermione asked, changing the subject quickly having had enough of their rambling.

Finbar scowled slightly at her "Of course! Nothing works. I've tried everything, glasses, potions, Charms, … Nada!"

"Instead of trying to make it go away, have you ever tried asking what it is in the first place?"

He felt incredibly stupid al of a sudden. "…No…"

Hermione huffed. "Boys!"

"I know!" Ron perked up "Why don't you ask Firenze? You and I both have Divination tomorrow." He gestured at Finar and himself.

Finbar absently played with is goatee before he slowly answered "Okay… but we'll stay after class, I don't want to declare to the whole school I'm hallucinating…"

Thursday morning 3 a.m. Gryffindor Tower.

Ron dazedly sat up in his bed and barely registered the agonized screams coming from next to him. The only thing on his mind was the feeling of sharp tremors. Hogwards was shaking on its grounds, hundred year old dust crumbling down from the ceiling.

An Earthquake! Vol-… He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named!

It was with that and Neville's worried calls that his raven haired friend sprang to his mind. He quickly turned his attention to Harry and his jaw dropped as he saw his friend sitting straight up, his chest bared and heaving, sweat pearling on it, clutching his head as if he were trying to keep it from splitting in two.

He jumped out his bed and barely got to the one 3 meters further, the shaking beginning to get worse. He grabbed Harry's shoulders, shaking him violently while calling out his name. Dean came to his aid and when yelling didn't help, Dean slapped Harry in the face. Four times were needed to bring him out of the grasp of terror he was in. The shaking died down as soon as Harry's eyes focused.

On the other side of the castle, Alex woke up.