Disclaimer: For the last time, Harry Potter is not mine.

Trying to Live

By Willowcharm

Chapter 12: Quidditch and End of Year

The Easter holidays passed reasonably quickly with Harry spending most of the time on the mountains of homework which had been generously donated to them by the teachers in order to prepare them for the end of year tests. As the rest of his dormitory had gone home Harry had the room all to himself and revelled in the peace it gave him. Then, to his enormous pleasure, at breakfast on Easter Sunday the Weasleys family owl, Errol, plummeted down onto his plate under the weight of a large Easter egg filled with homemade fudge. Obviously Fred and George's mother was not against people just because they were in Slytherin.

All too soon school started up again with the teachers working them harder than ever. This did not bother Harry unduly since he was well ahead in most of his classes. He worked steadily and found time to help Neville, who although reasonably intelligent suffered from an extreme lack of confidence.

Two Saturdays into term certain members of Slytherin house cut back on their studying. These were the members of the quidditch team who were determined to win the final match of the season against Ravenclaw. A good win could possibly secure them the house cup. On the Friday night before the match Harry was sitting alone reading in the common room while the rest of his house were either practising or watching the practice. Suddenly Professor Snape stormed into the room. Harry looked up apprehensively trying to think what he might have done to annoy him- not that he needed to do anything at all to anger him, he thought bitterly.

'Potter, get down to the quidditch pitch this minute!'

'Why, Sir? I don't really want to watch the practice.'

'If I tell you to watch the practice you will, you insolent boy.' Snape seemed about to explode with anger at Harry's reply. He went on. 'However, that is not what I am telling you to do. That fool of a seeker Terence Higgs has managed to break his leg in such a manner that it cannot be fully healed by tomorrow. Therefore you are required to take his place. Now get down there and practise with your team on one of the school brooms. I trust you have your own at home? Yes? Then I shall arrange with the headmaster to have it sent here by tomorrow. Now move!'

'Wake up, Potter!'

Harry groaned and open his eyes. Malfoy was beside him shaking him awake. He really didn't want to wake up yet. Last night's practice had lasted forever, or so it seemed. But the other boy wouldn't relent.

'Get up and down to breakfast now. Goodness knows why Snape decided to put a disgrace like you on the team but he's done it so you'd better catch that snitch or you'll be sorry.' And with that Malfoy left the room.

Having no choice, Harry dragged himself out of bed, got dressed and made his way down to the Great Hall. He did not know if it were his imagination but the Slytherins already at breakfast appeared to be looking at him with resentment as if he did not deserve to be on their house team. He slowly forced some food down his throat and waited until the team captain, Marcus Flint ordered the team down to the pitch. It seemed like no time before Madam Hooch was telling them to have a fair game and they were mounting their brooms.

Harry's instructions were clear. He was to catch the snitch, but not before they had a forty point lead. Failing to catch it or catching it to early wasn't an option. So Harry kept a careful watch on the score while looking out for the snitch. Slytherin were sixty points up when he spotted it near the bottom of the Ravenclaw goalposts and Harry went into a dive reminiscent of the one which had so enraged his father on his birthday. The Ravenclaw seeker saw him and followed, but too late. Harry caught the snitch and the Slytherin stands erupted. The rest of the team descended to the ground and congratulated each other, but totally ignored Harry who quietly handed the snitch to Madam Hooch and walked away.

He was slowly making his way back to the castle when he felt a heavy hand on his shoulder and he turned round to see Hagrid.

'Yer father would a been proud o' yeh.' the man said gruffly.

Harry shrugged. He knew that he had made a spectacular catch but he didn't feel any pleasure about it. He didn't feel like a part of the team at all and the other players obviously regarded him as unimportant even though he had won the game for him. Not for the first time he wished he were in Gryffindor. He tried to explain something of how he was feeling.

'Dad and I used to talk of how I'd be the best seeker Hogwarts had ever seen. But I was going to be on the Gryffindor team. I don't really feel like part of the Slytherin team. I was only playing because they needed someone quickly.'

Hagrid looked down at the troubled boy.

'Ye did yer best and if the others don't appreciate it properly it's their loss. Yer dad would still o' been proud. Now 'ow about a cup o' tea?'

Harry nodded. Hagrid was a kind man even if he did have a habit of saying things to upset Harry at times. Just as they were entering Hagrid's cabin some voices came from behind.

'Brilliant catch Harry!'

'We ought to hate you for losing us the cup, but we'll let you off this time.'

'Are you having a party to celebrate? Can we join?'

The speakers were Fred and George. Neville Longbottom was behind them, looking slightly scared of Hagrid. Hagrid smiled at them.

'A party! Now that's the best idea I've heard in a long time. Come on in.'

Between them all they managed to cheer Harry up and they had a little party all to themselves in Hagrid's cabin. The idea of tea was abandoned when Fred and George produced some bottles of butterbeer. When he returned at last to the dungeons Harry didn't care about the rest of the team's attitude towards him. He had his friends and that would do him.

Exam time soon came around and Professor Snape made it very clear that anyone failing to get reasonable marks would be in deep trouble. This didn't bother Harry as he was well up to scratch in all subjects. As he expected, he had no trouble at all either in the written papers or the practical tests. Indeed, when the results came out he was top or second top in all subjects, with Hermione Granger the only one to beat him in anything.

Three days before the end of term Professor Snape called Harry into his office to inform him that he would be taking him to his aunt's house by portkey.

'And by the way,' he added, 'Your relatives have made it clear that they will not countenance anything out of the ordinary. Therefore you will leave your owl at Hogwarts. You will not leave her with any of your friends as they cannot be trusted not to let her try to go to you. Is that clear?'

'Yes Professor.' Harry left the office with a heavy heart. He had thought he would at least have had his pet to keep him company during the summer.

The last day came all too soon. Trunks were packed and sent down to the station while Harry's was left alone in the entrance hall. He said a quick goodbye to Fred, George and Neville and then they were away to catch the Hogwarts Express. Once the hall was empty Professor Snape appeared holding an empty potion vial.

'Touch your trunk and take hold of this.' he commanded. Harry did so and they were instantly transported to an over tidy living room where an extremely thin woman, an extremely large man and an even more extremely obese boy were waiting.

'Here is your nephew. I will be back to collect him on September the 1st.' That was all the introduction Snape gave, then he apparated away, leaving Harry to face his family alone.

It was clear from their expressions that they weren't going to fall in love with Harry. Harry realised that his life with them would not be easy. But he was determined about several things.

He was not going to let anyone destroy his spirit.

One day he would make everyone see that his godfather Sirius was innocent.

He would find out the truth about what had happened to his father.

And above all, he would survive.

He had to.

The End

Author's note: Well, there you have it, a completed story. I probably won't be doing any sequels but no promises. My next fic will be something different, but may not appear until after my holiday. Speaking of which- I am going to be out of the country on that all important date, July 16th. And I won't be able to read Half Blood Prince until I get back 10 days later. Perhaps some of you readers will give me consolation in the form of reviews.

A very big thanks to those who have reviewed:

Loonyliveson- extra special thanks go to her for not gloating at the fact that she has about 10 times the number of reviews I have.

Gryffindor16

Shinigami

Jarno

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FantasyChick

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