Chapter 27 - Slytherin vs Hufflepuff
After Ottomaya had been taken to the hospital wing the school had been put in lock down. All students were ordered to return to their common rooms immediately and no one had been let out until the following morning with students being served their dinner there. And though the novelty of having dinner in their own common rooms was fun, everyone was worried about the fact that a beast was patrolling the school and some wondered if the school would even be able to stay open now a second student had been attacked.
That night as Barney lay in bed thinking about what had happened to Ottomaya and hoping she would be OK, his mind drifted back to what had happened to him. He had felt such elation at playing in a Quidditch match and catching the Snitch to win the Quidditch Cup for Slytherin. And then to top it all off, Tabitha had kissed him. He knew that it all must have been something to do with the Endeavour Stone rather than just being a dream. But what? Did the Endeavour Stone show you your future? Or did it merely show you what you wanted most? And why did he not recognise most of the people there? Like usual when it came to Nevermore and the Endeavour Stone he had so many questions and no answers. And he knew he wasn't about to get any anytime soon from the journal. As his mind raced with so many ideas and theories into the early hours he eventually drifted off to sleep.
The following few days there was a sombre mood in the school. Ottomaya was said to be in a stable condition and was expected to be discharged from the hospital wing in a few days. However the Quidditch match between Slytherin and Hufflepuff had been postponed in the light of the attack, despite Silvanna's furious protests. Barney had to admit he too was upset that it was postponed as it meant an additional practice where he and the rest of the team would be pushed hard by her.
The teachers had assured everyone that the school had been thoroughly searched and that there was no sign of the beast. Even the Ministry sent its own inspectors who were satisfied it was no longer on the school premises but they insisted on putting a protective charm around the school which meant nothing could enter or leave until it was lifted, which meant no mail and the final trip to Hogsmeade of the school year was looking unlikely.
Though there was some good news when McGonagall announced that she was satisfied that the Quidditch match was safe to go ahead a week later than originally scheduled but the bad news was Silvanna wasted no time in lining up as many practice sessions as she could in the reaming few days before the match. And the bad news still continued as Thomas still wasn't talking to Barney and Tabitha was trying to act as a mediator between the two of them but wasn't having much luck.
"How is he?" Barney asked as he met up with Tabitha in the courtyard after lessons had finished one day.
"He spent most of yesterday evening in the hospital ward with Ottomaya. She's conscious and talking now. But she says she doesn't really remember what happened. But at least he seems a little less worried now that she's awake though she's asked him not to visit her any more so now he's just sad."
Great Barney thought to himself, even more reason for Thomas to hate him for causing trouble between him and Ottomaya.
Barney had Dark Arts class next with Thomas and debated if it was time to try to talk to him. Tabitha was still advising against it but he wanted to get it resolved as it would be one less burden he was carrying around. Right now he felt like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.
When he and Tabitha got to the class the mood in the room was somewhat dour as standing at the front was Professor Grim, her eyes watching everyone like a hawk as they entered and she had a smirk on his face like she knew she was going to enjoy inflicting misery in the lesson ahead.
Barney and Tabitha took their seats in silence at a table with Thomas, who didn't even look up as they sat. Once everyone was seated Professor Grim waved her hand towards her desk and a piece of chalk flew across to the blackboard and started to write letters - L... with an ear splitting screech with every stroke and most of the class suspected she was making it do it deliberately.
"Today you will be studying Legilimency, the art of penetrating someone's mind and eventually you will also learn Occlumency, the ability to close one's mind to penetration."
This was the last thing Barney needed in his life right now, people having the ability to read his mind. What if someone found out he had the Endeavour Stone? Or Tabitha found out how he really felt about her?
As Professor Grim began to explain the complex techniques and incantation needed to perform this skill, Barney wondered if she could read his mind but he really hoped not. Some of the things he thought about her where not nice including once in a lesson where he had imagined her getting eaten by a werewolf after she had given him a detention when he accidentally knocked his ink pot over and spilled ink on his desk.
"Mr West what did I just say?" Grim snapped at him and quickly brought him out of his thoughts.
Barney had no idea and he knew Professor Grim knew this whether through Legilimency or just instinct, but there was no point trying to bluff his way out of it with her. "Sorry Professor. Just struggling to take it all in."
"Well maybe you just need some more time. Detention. Tonight."
"But Professor, Barney has Quidditch practice this evening," Silvanna interrupted, momentarily forgetting who she was talking to.
"Would you like to join him Miss Silvas?"
"No Professor," Silvanna replied meekly and remained quiet for the rest of the lesson.
As the class ended, Professor Grim explained it would take them many more classes and hours of practice to even be able to do basic Legilimency to a passable standard. Barney debated whether it would be worth learning Occlumency now in his own time to stop anyone entering his mind. But where would he find the time?
"Hey Thomas can I have a word?" Barney asked as they were both packing away their things and Tabitha gave him an awkward glance making her feelings known that she didn't think now was a good time but she stuck around to act as peace keeper if needed.
"I can't. I've got to get to my next class," Thomas replied as he hurriedly stuffed the rest of his books in his bag.
"But you have a free period."
"Well I've got an assignment I need to finish before the end of the day."
Barney knew he was probably lying, Thomas was much more organised than him and didn't have time consuming Quidditch to worry about so he was rarely ever behind on school work.
"Please Thomas can we just talk. I'm really sorry about everything and I miss hanging out with you."
"I have nothing to say to you," Thomas added as he turned and stormed out the room, leaving Barney standing there looking despondent.
"He'll come around eventually," Tabitha said trying to reassure him but Barney wasn't so sure he would.
Barney turned up for detention in the Dark Arts classroom later that evening and knocked on the door but received no reply. He pushed the door open with a creek and peered in but the room was empty.
"Hello Professor Grim?" he called out but still no answer.
Barney thought about leaving and heading back to his dorm but knew that Grim wasn't likely to forget a detention so he went and took a seat at his desk, got out his quill, textbook and some parchment, turned to the page on Legilimency and started to write.
As he was writing he checked his watch and saw that Grim was now over ten minutes late and she was never late, especially for detentions. Barney was pretty sure detentions were Grim's favourite time of the week. Barney wondered if maybe it was a test, to see if he would still do the detention even if she wasn't there but he quickly came to the conclusion that was a stupid idea and stopped writing and listened. He couldn't hear anything. He got up from his desk and walked to the bottom of the stairs that led to Grim's office. Again he listened and again he heard nothing.
"Professor Grim?" he called out once more but as before he got no reply.
Slowly and carefully he walked up the steps, stopping at the top and knocked on the door. "Hello? Professor?"
There was no answer so he tried the handle. The door was locked. He debated going back to his seat and continuing with his work but he was starting to get genuinely concerned about where Grim might be. He didn't very much like her but with two people already being attacked by the beast, maybe Grim was the third victim. Plus he didn't very much like the idea of being all alone in a classroom of an evening. He didn't feel safe.
Barney pulled out his wand and wondered how many evenings detention Grim would give him if she found out he had broken into her office when nothing had been wrong? But on the other hand if she was in there and injured then she'd be glad he came to the rescue. He weighed up and pros and cons and even though the cons won, he did it anyway.
"Alohomora."
He heard the lock click and he twisted the handle again and slowly pushed the door open. The room was dark as he peered in and once more in called out but was only met with silence.
"Lumos," Barney said, holding his wand out in front of him, bathing the office in light but there was no sign of Grim.
Barney was about to turn around and leave before anyone found him in there when he noticed some books open on the desk. He decided as he had already broken into her office it would do no harm in taking a look. Besides he might find something in the books which would give him an advantage over the rest of the students in the class and he needed all the help he could get. But to Barney's disappointment the books were not about Dark Arts but about creatures. And none that were likely to be taught by Grim. Clearly she had an extracurricular interest in animals or maybe she was after Hagrid's job, after all no one seemed to last longer than a year as teacher of Defence Against the Dark Arts.
Barney decided he had pushed his luck enough and quickly fled the office, locking the door again as he went. He rushed down the stairs and took his place at his desk and started writing and not a moment too soon. Literally the moment he picked up his quill the classroom door opened and in walked Grim, looking slightly surprised to see him there.
"Good. Keep working and I will deal with you in a minute," Grim announced as she walked past, trying to hide the fact that she had forgotten about the detention, though Barney assumed it was because she gave out so many it was probably hard for her to keep track.
Once Grim was in her office, Barney breathed a sigh of relief at his close call but still waited on tenterhooks for her to notice something amiss in her office and come storming out demanding answers. But luckily when she did return she walked over to him, glanced at his parchment and told him to carry on as he was, before taking a seat at her desk where she remained for the rest of the detention.
After what seemed seemed like hours Professor Grim finally allowed him to leave. Barney looked at his watch and knew he had missed all of Quidditch practice and the day before the big match. Silvanna would be furious.
He managed to sneak into the Slytherin common room and to his dorm without being spotted as he didn't much fancy facing the wrath of Silvanna after the day he had and headed straight for bed. He thought it was best to get an early night and be refreshed for tomorrow and a game he wasn't even going to play in.
Barney woke to a commotion in his dorm. He jumped out of bed half expecting to hear about another attack by the beast but instead found everyone gathered around Velyan's bed.
"Don't go near him," Everard called out. "Someone had better go get Madame Pomfrey."
Barney squeezed between Marek and Maximille and caught sight of Velyan lying in his bed. His face was tinged green with purple spots all over it. He had Dragon Pox.
As soon as Madame Pomfrey arrived she had order everyone else to stay in the room while she escorted Velyan to the hospital ward. Later she had returned with Professor McGonagall and after a few checks and a wave of her wand over all of them, Pomfrey was convinced none of them were also infected. They were finally allowed to leave their dorm and headed to the common room where McGonagall announced that she was happy for the Quidditch match to go ahead as planned. Silvanna objected saying they it should be postponed as Velyan was ill but McGonagall explained that they couldn't postpone the match again plus Ravenclaw had played their last match with two of their first team players out with Yellow Flu and they still had to play.
"But that was one of their Chasers and Beaters. We'd be without out Seeker," Silvanna protested.
"As I recall Miss Silvas you have a perfectly fine Seeker in Mr West here. The match goes ahead as planned."
Silvanna turned to Barney as did the rest of Slytherin and she knew she had no choice. Barney was going to play.
Th next hour raced by as Barney had to quickly prepare for the match. He headed down to breakfast but when he got there his stomach was doing somersaults from the anticipation of what was to come so he couldn't face eating anything. Instead he sat in silence as the others ate, his mind just filling up with more and more worry and Silvanna kept giving him evil looks like it was his fault that Velyan was sick.
Before Barney knew it he was in the Quidditch changing rooms getting ready for the match with the rest of his team. It was only then that Barney realised he was still using Silvanna's old broom.
"Don't worry Barney," Marek said as he came over clutching Velyan's Lightningbolt, "he said he wanted you to use this."
As Barney held the sleek broom in his hands and looked over the exquisite craftsmanship he was in awe. He didn't think he held anything as beautiful before. The only worry he had now was he'd never ridden it before and there was no time for a practice. How would it handle? Would he be able to control it? Would he be able to get the top speed out of it. As if Silvanna could read his mind she came over to him before her team talk.
"Don't screw this up West."
If Barney wasn't nervous enough already he knew the whole of the team and most of Slytherin wouldn't forgive him if he messed up their best chance in years to lift the Quidditch Cup.
Silvanna conducted her usual prematch team talk which consisted of having a go at everyone and telling them to win or there would be consequences. Barney was glad that he wasn't the only one getting it in the neck from her.
"Now remember Hufflepuff are currently a hundred and thirty points ahead. Which means we have to keep the points in this match as level as possible if we're to stand any chance of winning. And then I'm afraid to say to all comes down to Barney catching the Snitch for us."
The look Silvanna gave him showed that she was not filled with confidence at this happening. Barney dared to look around at the rest of the team and their expressions weren't much more positive either.
Before he even had a minute to take it all on and mentally prepare himself for the match ahead, he was being ushered on to the pitch with the rest of the team. The roar from the crowd was deafening. It seemed as if the whole of Hogwarts were in attendance to watch the last match of the season. And with the outcome of the game deciding who would lift the cup, there was so much riding on it.
All the faces in the crowd were a blur to Barney but he hoped Tabitha and Thomas were there, even if they were being loyal to their house and cheering on Hufflepuff rather than him. This was a big moment for him. He was finally getting to play for his house.
Madame Hooch called the team captains over and explained proceedings before telling them both she hoped for a good clean game. Barney thought this was highly unlikely given what was at stake. He knew this was going to be a rough game with every player doing whatever it took to win. He just hoped he could keep his head down and stay out of all the action down below and focus on catching the Snitch.
As Barney hovered above where Madame Hooch was preparing to release the Bludgers and the Golden Snitch he looked across to his opponent seeker - Nester Brock. Brock was a seventh year playing in his last Quidditch Cup meaning he was determined to win and leave Hogwarts on a high. He was built like a tank with broad shoulders and huge arms, but even thought he was massive in size he was fast on a broom and had helped Hufflepuff win their previous two matches by catching the Snitch in relative quick times for a game of Quidditch. Barney knew he had his work cut out.
Before he knew it, Hooch had blown her whistle and she had thrown the Quaffle into the air. The game has started.
Barney watched as Brock immediately darted away to his right. He scanned below him to see where the Snitch had gone but he could see no sign of it. Was Brock already on to it?
Barney began flying around the pitch, high above everyone else and getting use to the power of the Lightningbolt broom. Down below he could see the action was already intense and it wasn't long before the first goal was scored - ten points to Hufflepuff. Even though he could see her face, Barney could tell by her actions that Silvanna was furious that Slytherin were already behind. And it didn't get much better. Not long later Hufflepuff scored again.
Barney tried to ignore what was going on around the rest of the pitch and concentrated on finding the Snitch. He had circled round the stadium several times and hadn't seen any sign of it but luckily, from what he could tell, neither had Brock.
As he did another lap of the stadium he caught sight of Brock on the other side of the pitch, he was leaning in close to his broom and seemed to be picking up speed. Had he seen the Snitch? Barney was about to head over there when something whizzed past him. It was the Snitch. He pushed down on the front of his broom and suddenly he was off after it as fast as he could go, but he almost slipped off the broom in the process as he had underestimated how fast the Lightningbolt could go. He tightened his grip and kept heading forward.
"West has the Snitch in his sights!" the Quidditch commentator announced for everyone to hear, annoying Barney that now Brock would be on to it too.
Barney didn't even bother to look around to see where Brock was, his focus was sorely on the Snitch and getting to it as fast as possible. The wind rushed passed him and the crowds went by in a blur as he went faster and faster. He could see the Snitch flying close to the stands, right at the edge of the stadium and he was gaining on it. All the time the broom seemed to be finding more speed and soon Barney knew the Snitch would be in reach.
He tightened his grip with his left hand and got ready to reach out with his right as soon as the Snitch was in reach. He shot his hand forward but he was still just a little too far behind as he stretched with all his might. All of a sudden he was knocked sideways as something clashed with him. Barney lost his balance and with only one had on the room and travelling at such speeds he couldn't stay on. As he felt himself falling and Barney turned to see what had caused the crash, Brock had collided with him and he was now nearing the Snitch.
As Barney fell sideways off his broom he managed to hold on with one hand as he dangled perilously below it.
"West is off his broom... but wait Slytherin have scored!" the commentator shouted as the Slytherin fans erupted in rapturous cheering after Marek, having taken advantage of everyone being distracted by the race for the Snitch, scored for Slytherin.
Barney barely held on the the broom, which was still moving at some speed, with his left hand. He managed to grab hold with his right hand and slowly pulled himself back on to the broom and brought it to a halt. But there was no time to rest, the game was still on and he was glad to see that Brock seemed to have lost the Snitch.
The game continued at a frantic pace and soon the score was eighty - sixty to Hufflepuff, but Barney hadn't barely seen sight of the Snitch in that time. He kept his focus as he flew around the stadium, looking for any sign of his target. As he flew there was a big gasp of disappointment followed by a huge cheer from the Hufflepuff supporters when their keeper saved a goal, Barney suddenly saw something flash behind the goals at the other end. He immediately turned his broom and headed in that direction at speed. As he approached the Slytherin goals, there behind them buzzing up and down was the Golden Snitch.
Barney looked behind him to see if Brock had spotted the Snitch too. He hadn't but Hufflepuff had got the Quaffle and were making a charge towards the Slytherin goals.
Quickly Barney sped towards the goals. The Snitch seemed be be darting in and out of the posts as Barney flew through the left goal as Slytherin's keeper briefly looked on bemused before diverting her attention back to the oncoming opponents who still firmly had the Quaffle in their grasp.
Hamish Meriwether was leading the Hufflepuff charge with the Quaffle in his hand. He spotted Barney flying in and out of the goals and at first thought maybe it was some sort of diversion technique to put him off scoring but then he saw the glint of the Snitch. Hamish was about to take aim at the centre goal when he changed his mind as Barney now sped upwards in pursuit of the Golden Snitch. Hamish launched the Quaffle right for Barney, striking him on the back. Barney nearly fell off his broom for the second time that match but managed to just hold on as Hooch blew her whistle to award Slytherin a penalty.
"But Miss I was trying to score. I didn't hit him deliberately," Hamish protested.
"I know full well Mr Meriwether that your aim is not that bad. Penalty for Slytherin," Madame Hooch declared.
Silvanna took the penalty and easily scored. Slytherin were now only ten points behind. If Barney caught the Snitch now Slytherin would win the cup. But Barney had lost sight on the Snitch and wasn't having much luck spotting it again.
Despite Hufflepuff scoring another two goals Slytherin managed to keep the pressure on and scored once themselves taking the score to one hundred - eighty to Hufflepuff.
Barney was getting tired. The match had been going on for nearly two hours now and fatigue was beginning to set in. But at least now he felt like he had mastered the handling of the Lightningbolt, which moved effortless under him. He was going to be a little sad when the match was over and he had to hand it back to Velyan.
Slytherin scored again. They were back to only being ten points behind. Barney took the brief pause before Hooch restarted the game to rest for a few seconds as he hovered by the Slytherin goals. Silvanna and Hamish, the two captains waited in the centre of the pitch for Hooch to throw the Quaffle back into the air and back into play. But as Hooch did Silvanna began to shout.
"Barney quick!" she shouted pointing upwards.
The Snitch had just flown past her and was heading up into the air. It didn't take Brock long to catch on to what was happening and he wasted no time in beginning the chase. Barney was a little slower to react as both Seekers rushed upwards. Barney could just see the Golden Snitch glinting in the sun but he could also see Brock nearing it. The Lightningbolt picked up speed as Barney willed it on as he was almost laying on the broom vertically to be as aerodynamic as possible and get as much speed as he could. Brock was flying as equally as fast as they both zoomed towards their goal.
"Both Brock and West are in pursuit of the Golden Snitch!" the commentator announced and both sets of fans cheered on their Seekers.
Barney still watched Brock gaining on the Snitch as it continued to fly upwards. He also realised that as he and Brock were flying from different ends of the pitch there was a real chance that as they were heading for the same thing they could crash into each other. Barney briefly contemplated pulling up to avoid injuring himself and Brock but he knew Silvanna would never forgive him if he gave up on the pursuit of the Snitch.
The pair were getting closer and closer, both determined to reach the Snitch first. The noise of the crowd below was barely distinguishable now that they were so high up and the wind roared past Barney's ears.
Barney got ready to stretch for the Snitch and Brock did the same. They were now both only five meters away from it... four... three... two... one. Barney and Brock both reached out. Barney felt like everything was moving in slow motion despite the fast speed he was flying at. It all seemed slightly surreal as his hand grasped for his golden prize. He felt a jolt as his broom caught Brock's and immediately he turned his broom away to avoid a full on crash. Falling off his broom now at this height could result in a serious injury if not worse.
Barney's heart was beating fast as he managed to keep his broom under control as he directed it away from Brock. He heard Brock curse behind him and turned to check his opponent was OK, worried that he might have lost grip on his broom. But Brock was fine though he looked rather angry. It was then that Barney realised he was only holding on to his broom with one hand. His right hand was still held out in front of him and he could feel something cold and solid in his fingers. He looked down. Everything had all happened so fast he hadn't even realised he had done it.
"Barney West has caught the Snitch!" the commentator declared. "Slytherin win the match by two hundred and forty points to one hundred and they win the Quidditch Cup by just ten points!"
The Slytherin supporters went wild at the commentator's words. Slytherin were champions.
Barney continued to fly high above the pitch, not quite comprehending what he'd just done as the small golden ball rested tightly in his hand. He could see below his team mates frantically waving at him as he slowly descended back down to the ground. As soon as he landed he was mobbed.
As Barney was carried aloft by his fellow teammates he felt nothing but true happiness and it all felt strangely familiar. Only this time he knew it was most definitely real and he bathed in the cheers from the Slytherin supporters. He had done it. He'd just helped Slytherin to win the Quidditch Cup.
As scores of Slytherin rushed on to the pitch to celebrate with them he saw Velyan amongst them and he was looking much better. In fact the spots from his face had all gone. Barney dodged passed several pats on the back to make his way towards him.
"Well done Barney. I knew you could do it," Velyan said as he approached.
"Thanks. You're looking a lot better now," Barney replied with some scepticism. "Dragon Poxs usually takes days to heal."
"Yeah turns out it wasn't as serious as first thought."
"Almost as if it wasn't even Dragon Pox in the first place?"
"Are you implying I faked an illness so you could play in the match?" Velyan responded with a sly smile.
"I am. And thank you."
"You deserved to play. You're just as good a Seeker as I am and you proved it out there today."
Barney gave Velyan a massive hug as Barney handed Velyan's broom back to him. "It flew better than I could have ever hoped for."
"I'm glad you managed to get on with it cos it's yours now," Velyan said to Barney's utter surprise.
"What?!"
"It's yours. You deserve it. My dad can buy me a new one anyway. And I hear they're bringing out an even faster broom next season called the Inferno. Plus next year Slytherin's seeker needs to be on top form and needs a good broom to fly on so they can retain the cup."
Barney thanked him again and gave him another massive hug before Velyan then moved on to congratulate the other players as Barney saw another familiar face walking through the hordes of Slytherin. It was Tabitha, only she wasn't alone, she was with Thomas.
"Just wanted to say well done," Tabitha said and gave Barney a hug.
"Should you really be seen congratulating the opposition?" Barney asked jokingly.
"Well it is only a game after all. But I should probably go and commiserate Hamish before he sees me talking to you. Have fun celebrating," she said as she gave Thomas a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder and left the two of them to it.
"Yeah well done today. I've never seen you fly so good," Thomas said coyly and Barney appreciated the compliment.
"Thanks. But sorry if had to be Hufflepuff that I was playing against."
"It's OK. The best team won. But don't tell anyone from my house I said that."
Barney laughed and was glad to see Thomas was talking to him again. "Look I'm really sorry about everything," Barney said with genuine remorse.
"I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have reacted like I did. I know you weren't trying to cause trouble."
"So I'm forgiven?" Barney asked tentatively.
"Yeah. I miss having my best friend around."
"Me too," Barney added as he held opened his arms and hugged Thomas.
"Girls are more trouble than they're worth," Thomas said jokingly as they were still embracing.
"Agreed."
"I'd better let you go and celebrate with your house. But lets hang out tomorrow?"
"For sure," Barney replied with a smile.
As Thomas walked off Barney turned around to face the mob of Slytherin who were all cheering noisily behind him and they quickly engulfed him in their rapturous celebrations.