A/N: Everyone cheer because I'm here for good! YAY! I hope you like this chapter, there are a few swear words and some violence elements. Enjoy, cause I missed you all! ;)
Previously on FGF:
"I..I..."
They looked down at the candles and the pictures scattered on the floor and the Head of the Slytherin House drawled, "What twisted sacrifice are you planning Potter?" He said a little louder and tilted up his chin in pride, "It's not a sacrifice, I do this every year for my parents. I light a few candles in their memory and say a few words. You have something against a orphan wanting to speak to their dead family again?"
MgGonagall, Flitwick, and a few other professors became teary-eyed and Snape made a snorting sound, storming out.
The Deputy Headmistress said, brushing her eyes, making it seem like she had an inch, "Potter, I want you to finish it up and get to your Dorm." He nodded and as they shuffled out, Harry picked up his purple candle and felt a strange tingling going to his fingers.
Movement from the corner of his eyes caused him to turn around and saw a figure shrouded with red hair fall to her knees, covering her face. Harry jolted and blinked, it was gone.
Becoming extremely unnerved, he blew out the candle and picked up his things, sprinting all the way back to his room.
Chapter 15: Love and Quiddich
When Harry awoke in the daybreak, there was a strange tingling sensation running up and down the back of his head. It felt like billions of spiders were crawling under his scalp. Eventually, it faded and he had asked Hermione her opinion, she simply said it was a effect of the wandless magic he had done and that he shouldn't be worrying so much.
Another interesting thing happened that morning when Harry came down from the Head Boy Dorm, he found Ron and Hermione alone together downstairs. He, standing on the foot of the staircase, watched them on the floor surrounded by piles of textbooks.
Hermione had glanced up from her paper to the red haired boy and was pulled forward into an unexpected kiss.
She didn't pull away.
It was the first time Harry had seen his friends acting like this, it was very different from the screaming matches. After a few moments, he began creeping around them to leave the room but somehow Hermione sensed his presence.
She stood up immediately when she opened her eyes to hisshocked form and stated, "Harry. Hi."
Ron looked around to his best friend, turning tomato red and standing up nervously, "No, er, Hermione and I were just. . ."
Harry broke the tension between them by letting out an almost high-pitched laugh, "Ron, it's ok. I kind of already knew." The other boy blushed more, Harry didn't feel so bad for lying, he hadn't really knew about this.
"I'm fine with you two seeing each other."
The red head grinned, his flushing disappearing, "Really?"
Harry's emerald eyes met Hermione's brown and he nodded. She got up off the floor, her face changing to all smiles when she faced Ron, "I'll see you at breakfast." He smiled goofily back and kissed her mouth clumsily, then inclined his head to Harry before exiting out the portrait door. Her face dropped and she avoided Harry's stare, his stomach began churning uncomfortably with awkwardness…or something else he couldn't put his finger on.
Hermione said quietly, "As long as you're ok with this Harry." He nodded again, his time it felt stiff, "Of course." She stepped forward and looked intently into the bright green for a minute or so, as if trying to figure out if he was lying or telling the truth.
Harry looked back into her plain eyes and waited patiently for her to back away, his pulse hammering away.
After some seconds that seemed like hours, Hermione at last walked out.
He swallowed and his sight trailed back to the exit, Harry let out a breath and made his way to his first class. The morning classes passed and the first Quiddich game of the season was approaching.
Feeling just a tad edgy, Harry wouldn't eat much, not even what Hermione decided to spoon heavily onto his already mounded plate.
He got to the pitch as the supporters gathered in the stands, as Quiddich Captain, Harry got the team together at the last moment. He saw some of heir faces were anxious, other were semi-excited.
Harry cleared his throat, getting their attention and said with a surprisingly even tone, "This is my first time being Quiddich Captain but not being a player for his team. I loved every moment of the action and the adrenaline that came along with it, I saw it all on your faces when we practiced. We're up against the most challenging team in Hogwarts, but we can beat Slytherin. Sure, they have fancy Nimbus brooms when we have just a few Comet's."
A ripple of chuckles rose, he continued more eagerly, "And yes, they use brutal violence and cheat to get what they want."
Shouts of agreement bubbled and Dean Thomas muttered, "Too right."
"But they don't have what we got. We got the finest Chasers," Dennis Creevey, Lavender Brown, and a fourth year named Lucy blushed darkly.
"The greatest set of Beaters since Fred and George," Dean and a recovered Seamus grinned widely," and Ron Weasly as Keeper." The red head beamed and Harry clapped him on the back, feeling a slight twisting in his stomach. Shaking it off, he called out, "Are we gonna beat some Slytherin ass?"
The Gryffindor team cheered loudly, visibly pumped up.
Lee Jordan's voice called them out and Harry led the team, feeling the wonderful cold air whipping through his hair and the soaring in his heart flutter in his chest.
He touched down in the middle of the field, the Slytherin Captain joined him.
Harry had been awaiting impatiently for this day to come, the day were he'd get Draco Malfoy back from that duel. The thirst for revenge coursed through his body as he made it nearly nose-to-nose with his archenemy to shake hands, a common tradition for the Captain before a match. Crushing each other's fingers senseless, they got back on their brooms.
As they floated high above everyone else, the Snitch was released, the Bludgers were loose, and the Quaffle was thrown.
Harry searched quickly for the Golden Snitch and heard Malfoy throwing insults at him. If this had been his fifth or sixth year, Harry would have beaten the shit out of him but after a year or so, Harry could control his temper a little better by concentrating on the task at hand. It worked.
He flew around, looking as the blonde trailed behind him to annoy and distract him.
Harry took a break to check on his team, Ron saved several throws and was getting red faced with sweat, Lavender had been hit by a Bludger, and Dennis was being harassed. To make matters worse, Slytherin was beating them good. Fueled by a drive to win, Harry tried harder to shake off Malfoy and finally saw a glint of gold.
He prepared to speed off when something heavy crashed into him, causing him to flip over, dangling high above 80 feet. Malfoy had body slammed him off his broom and was smirking menacingly, floating around him as Harry held tightly to his still floating Firebolt. The blonde boy planted his foot over Harry's clutching fingers, ready to squash them, "Not so tough, eh Potter?" Malfoy stomped on them and Harry lost his grip, grabbing the broom again, just nearly missing and his grip also found Draco's leg.
The Slytherin shook his leg ferociously, "Get off me Potter!"
Harry didn't let go in till he could sturdily remount his broom, his weight resulted in the other boy to tip over and fall straight down.
Now, Harry could have let the other boy fall to his demise but somehow he knew that if that occurred, he'd be responsible and the guilt would eat him slowly from the inside out; even if it was Draco Malfoy.
Sighing, Harry dove as fast as he could, pushing for haste to catch the screaming blonde. He grasped the boy's hand and yanked him up as they glided to a stop in midair. Malfoy began shaking vehemently and got sick away from Harry, the darker boy saw the Snitch just a foot away from his reach and said to the green faced boy, "See you."
Harry stood up on his Firebolt and with the shocked boy watching, he leaped off the broom, into the air.
Shrieks from the crowd rose, he reached out and grabbed the Snitch's wing, drawing the small ball into his fist and bringing it to his chest. Harry fell in the pitch, on his back, getting the wind knocked out him.
After a few seconds of finding his breath, he propped himself up with an elbow and raised the Golden Snitch up with one hand. The whistle was blown and Lee Jordan's voice cried joyfully, "Gryffindor wins! Gryffindor wins!"
The crowd cheered, Oliver Wood and Ron ran to Harry's side and heaved him to his feet. Ron asked disquieted, "You ok mate?"
Harry rubbed the small of his back, "I think so." Oliver smiled a big smile, "Great show Harry, great show. I haven't seen determination to win like that since my third year when I broke my collar bone during the Ravenclaw game."
Harry turned away from the older boy to Snape, Draco, and Madam Pomfrey in the distance. The Potions professor took him by the arm and led him out, while Malfoy's head hung forward limply. The nurse walked over to the three boys and presented Harry with the Firebolt, "I believe this is yours Mr. Potter."
"Thank you," Harry took it and glanced down at Malfoy's back departing, "Is he gonna be ok?" 'Not that I care that much.'
Madam Pomfrey's small eyes peered down at him considerately, "He's in a right state but should be fine after he gets calmed down. Everyone saw what you did, he would have been more then scared if you hadn't went and got him. I'll be informing Professor MgGonagall of your actions."
As she walked away, Harry could swore that he saw a twitch of smirk pass on her lips. Ron muttered bitterly, bringing Harry's attention back, "Thanks a lot Harry, why did you have to go save Ferret Boy?"
Harry supported his arm on the other boy's shoulder, "Look it this way Ron, we'll be getting more House points and we're this much closer to getting the Quiddich and House cup." Ron whined, "But we wouldn't have to deal with Malfoy!"
Harry shook his head smiling and didn't catch Oliver doing the same, he gave Harry a proud smack on the back; causing the poor boy to cringe as the elder left.
Before Ron could complain some more, Harry's awareness was directed elsewhere.
In the stands nearby, Hermione was standing in front of Cho Chang and judging by the expressions on their faces; they were very angry. Harry tapped the red head, "Ron…"
The taller boy looked where he was staring and frowned, "What are they doing?"
"I dunno," the latter murmured.
They began dashing up the stands and heard both girl's voices raise in volume. The Asian teen lashed out, scratching Hermione's face but the bushy haired girl started hitting the other girl with unspeakable viciousness. The boys pulled them apart, Ron had an impassive Hermione in his arms and Harry had a struggling Cho.
She spat at Hermione's feet, taking off in a very wild rage.
Just as Harry was thinking about going after her to curse her into oblivion, he saw the dribble of crimson running down Hermione's cheek.
Ron took the clean corner of his Quiddich robe and dapped the blood, she glanced at him thankfully and continued observing Harry. The green eyed boy let out a laugh that sounded mechanical in his ears, "You really gave it to her, didn't you 'Mione?"
She smiled faintly, Harry clasped his hand under her chin and turned it slightly, to get a better look at the gash before letting her go.
Ron asked curiously, "Yeah, what was going on Hermione?"
"Cho was saying some very inappropriate things to me but I don't think I'll be bother by her again."
"I should say not," commented her new boyfriend, "Not after you went mad on her like that." Something flashed in her brown eyes and Harry saw her tense before saying quietly, meeting their eyes, "Are you hungry, because I'm suddenly famished."
Ron began walking with her, "Funny you should ask that Hermione…"
As those two made their way through the exiting crowd, Harry stayed behind andturned around to Cho Chang who was screaming at Oliver Wood furiously. They noticed him gazing at them and Harry felt a cold blank mask slip over his face but his eyes burned through them like fire.
Ron's voice called over the chattering of passerby's, "Coming, Harry?"
He shook his head once before joining his friends, following them to the kitchens inside for a snack. Upon saying their greeting to Dobby and the other Houseelves, Harry noticed that they were all wearing Hermione's knitted caps and small sweaters.
Soon, the trio treaded to their new favorite hangout; the Room of Requirement. Not everyone knew about, save for those who knew exactly what it was.
When they entered a duplication of the Gryffindor Common Room, they started doing their own thing. Harry went to the mantle after a few minutes and felt his insides churn again, with much more nausea.
He placed a hand over abdomen and screwed up his eyes.
Hermione said from the couch where she spread out the notes from History of Magic, "Harry? Are you ok?"
"I don't think so, I feel--"
Abruptly, heat crept over his head and he doubled over, getting sickby the fireplace. She stood up and went to his side, calling out, "Ron! Get out here!" The red head threw open the bathroom door, a piece of toilet paper trailing from his shoe, "What? What's going on?"
Harry heard her voice screech, "I don't know. Harry's sick!"
The contents of his stomach came up again and he choked for breath. When someone's skin came in contact, he felt the burning of his scar searing through him. Hands were clutching him, everything around him was black and hot. Harry was moving blindly before his limbs gave out from under him.
When his surroundings came back, he was laying down in the dark and a murmuring came from the front of the bed he was in.
"They're getting more violent….summer holidays…since fifth year…..Voldemort…."
The unknown voices left his hearing and Harry slid on his glasses weakly, letting his blurry vision adjust to the low lighting. His body was racked with the aftershock of the pain, Harry could only move his head and arms even though they would twitch occasionally with tautness.
A shadow moved across his viewing and Harry blinked a few times before his very drowsy brain could register what was going on.
Omitted beneath the watchful eyes of the candlelight, laid an unmoving figure covered in sheets. Messy hair stick up over a pale face with eyes closed serenely.
Harry felt a shudder trickle up and down his spine as he watched the figure, white like death and the boy's chest barely rising under the sterile covers. Beside the bed sat three other figures, hidden slightly in murk. The young Sirius Black was seated in the only chair, staring helplessly at the unconscious body.
On the floor nearby was Remus Lupin, looking very somber and grim faced, paling in comparison to Sirius's near tears expression.
Harry had an irrepressible urge to go to them but it died away when his bright eyes followed the final outline, sitting at the end of the hospital wing bed.
Wormtail with his knees drew up to his pudgy belly, not making eye contact with anything but the floor. Even though Harry was tired, he could still feel the blazing of fury swelling in his heart. A sob escaped from Sirius's lips and he looked back at the two other boys.
The good-looking lad bit down hard on his lip, trying to remain calm.
The younger version of the former DADA teacher clasped the Marauder's shoulder kindly.
The banging of doors echoed and Harry jerked, glancing wildly to a tall slender girl entering. Red hair shone brilliantly under the soft light as Lily Evans stared at the motionless form of Harry's seventeen-year-old father.
She stepped forward, her voice wobbling, "So the rumors are true…what happened to him?"
Sirius twisted around in his chair, dark eyes flashing with anger, "What are you doing here?"
"I…I…" she sputtered.
His voice got razor-sharp and harsh, "How dare you show your face here, if you wouldn't have met up with Malfoy, none of this would have happened." Her face crumpled as several clear tears slipped down her porcelain cheeks. Remus said with a warning tone, "Sirius…."
The oldest boy stood up, screaming with such rage and sadness that it surprised everyone even Wormtail, "IT'S YOUR FAULT, GET OUT OF HERE!"
The crimson-haired girl placed a hand over her mouth horrified and started sobbing. Shaking her head quickly, she spun round to retreat but instead fell to her knees, the hem of her Hogwarts robe pooling around her.
Remus got up off the floor and went to Lily, who was crying too hard to speak. He whirled around to a red-faced Sirius, "You fucking moron, you want to wake up the whole bloody school? It wasn't Lily's fault that James was hurt and you damn well know it."
Sirius blinked, blanching as the werewolf Marauder helped the girl to her feet.
Harry saw a glare of fierce protectiveness in his eyes, he was in shock as well. Harry had never seen Remus Lupin like this, let alone hear him swear in such a manner. The lighter haired boy spoke again, "James happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, Madam Cherr said he'd get better, remember? Or where you too worried about getting screwed over because of your precious year-end prank?"
Sirius's eyes grew big, "You knew?"
"Of course, I knew that you would try to convince James to lure Snape to the Whomping Willow on the full moon. He stopped Snape from getting killed but I don't know how Lily got dragged into this today. You saw how Malfoy wanted revenge on Lily even though she never did anything. If anyone is to blame for this, it's you."
He put a cold emphasize on the word and Remus gave the only chair to Lily, she leaned over James and grasped his cool wrist tightly in her hands.
Harry watched as Sirius's eyes twitched and a fine film of moisture appeared in them, he stated hoarsely, "You're right Moony, it is my fault." Sirius fell against the marble wall and buried his face into his hands.
After a few silent moments, the other boy whispered, "Padfoot…I didn't mean what I said, you didn't mean for this to happen. None of us did, James knows this."
The latter mumbled, "But it was the Cruciatus Curse…I can still hear his screaming in my head…."
Harry's heart gripped painfully at the sight of his godfather weeping, it was too much to watch. Remus walked over and embraced his best friend, letting him cry on his shoulder and made eye contact with feminine green orbs.
Harry felt a throb of soreness thump in his head and he squeezed his sleepy watering eyes closed for a minute, he reopened them to find the scene gone. No one but the candlelight was there to greet him.
Too exhausted to comprehend what just happened, Harry passed out.
---
Krys: Maybe…Of course Dumbledore knows. He's like the All-Knowing Snake. -snort- You know what, I'd love to have the updates of your story, I beg you to hand them over! I've been deprived! -places hand over forehead dramatically- But I'll email you a request so you can look at my email that way because I'm not allow to show my email to everyone.
Countingsheep123: I've been gone a while, don't die on me! -revives her with the new chapter-fans it in her face- See, right here. Just for you. LoL. Thanks for reviewing.
LMDGlUVR4EVA: Thank you, how's your story coming? I have to check for updates.
