Disclaimer: J K Rowling owns the rights and likenesses of all the characters in the Harry Potter series. This story is meant to add to the world she created. Any conflicts are accidental and they yield to her reality (canon).
8. Match vs. Slytherin
The next month or so flew by faster than any before. The temperature at night had dropped many degrees, but the days were still warm enough to forego an overcoat. Samantha was still the best at Defense. They had completed the basic spells and had moved on to intermediate ones. Samantha was able to block nearly all of Harry's attempts to land the Impedimenta spell. Only those students whom she helped could stop more than half of them. Potions continued as it had started. Samantha was good enough and didn't scare easily enough to cause Snape to punish her more than any of his own Slytherins. Charms came easier to Samantha than the others. She found herself spending almost as much time assisting her friends in this subject as she did with Defense.
With Sirius's instruction, Samantha improved in Transfiguration, but she was never as good as he. History was exactly the same as it had been for years. Boring and just something everyone suffered through. Mira helped Samantha remember names and dates while they studied together. Quidditch practice went really well. They had grown their play list to twelve separate plays. Practices happened four nights a week and they were looking really good. Mark had spied on a few practices of the other teams and he was of the opinion Gryffindor was the best. 'We actually play as a team,' he would say when he returned from a mission across the lines. Everyone was confident on their chances Saturday. They played Slytherin in the first match of the season.
The week preceding the match was very stressful for the team. They trained all week leading up to the match. Samantha had trouble sleeping the night before the game. She kept tossing and turning unable to relax enough to fall asleep. The plays ran through her head. She ran interference when they made a push to score and didn't have the snitch in sight. After an hour of battling nerves, she finally just opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling. This was stupid, she thought to herself. I am being silly. Just go to sleep. Thinking about it isn't going to change anything.
A voice creped into her mind, 'it is OK. Just close your eyes and empty your mind. Sleep will follow.'
Samantha found herself relaxed after this and drifted off to sleep. The next morning she was sitting at the table pushing her food around the plate not unlike the rest of the team. They all had issues getting the food from their plate to their mouths.
"Well no point in sitting around any longer," said Mark standing up. "Let's go team."
The group walked down to the pitch and looked over the field. It was bathed in sunlight and the fallen dew, remaining on the grass, glistened. They went into the changing rooms and got into their quidditch robes. Mark led them in a refresher course of the plays they all knew by heart. The team humored him not wanting to be left alone in their own thoughts. The crowd was growing outside and the collective could be heard talking and chanting.
Ginny Weasley entered the tent, "Time to head out."
The Gryffindors lined up and mounted their brooms. On the whistle, the door raised and they flew out into sunlight in formation. They flew around the arena twice showing some precision flying. The Red and Gold side cheered as loudly as they could. Many Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs cheered as well. There was no love lost on the Slytherins when they took the field. Only the Green and Silver end cheered for their flyby.
Samantha noticed Malfoy even with her. He had made the team this year as well filling their open seeker position, but the rumor had it he wasn't very good.
"We aren't in Defense class any more, Brooks," said Malfoy snidely.
"How observant you are, Malfoy," replied Samantha as brightly as she could to hide her sarcasm. "Would you like me to tell you when we begin or can you figure that out for yourself?"
"Watch your back, girl," Malfoy said not hiding his distain.
Professor Weasley gave the rules and released the bludgers. The snitch followed circling centerfield before it shot off away from anybody. Samantha lost sight of it when a Slytherin blocked her view. On the whistle, the quaffle was released and the game began.
"And they're off," shouted a sixth year, Ravenclaw girl who did the announcing. "Gryffindor has possession, Willows to Miller, Miller moving past the three Slytherin chasers. Miller to Weasley, Weasley past Chase, SCORE! Ten points to Gryffindor. That was a great goal by the youngest member on the team. Slytherin moves up the field. Rand to Redilson, Redilson back to Rand, Rand to Dennison. Oh, that was a close shot by Weasley. Bludger nearly unseated Dennison. Gryffindor has possession. Weasley to Willows. Brooks from nowhere flew through the Slytherin defense and allowed Willows a clear shot on goal. SCORE! Another ten points to Gryffindor."
Samantha resumed her position above the action constantly searching for the snitch. "Think that was cute, Brooks," called a voice belonging only to Malfoy.
"Effective is more like it, Malfoy," said Samantha still searching for the golden orb.
The action had gotten more desperate below. Watson and Stupinski had taken to hitting bludgers at any Gryffindors who tried to enter their area. They were aiming for people's heads. Professor Weasley warned them after the second close call nearly beamed Mark Johnson.
"Come on Hermione, just watch the match," said Harry sitting in the top box along with Dumbledore, Ron and Arthur Weasley, and Neville.
"I can't," cried Hermione too afraid to watch. "I never liked watching you and Ron play either."
"But you did and your son and daughter deserve that much don't they?" Harry questioned.
"Of course they do," Hermione replied forcing herself to watch the action.
"SCORE! Another ten points for Gryffindor. Wait a minute, there goes Brooks. She is heading towards the ground. Has she spotted the snitch? And Malfoy hot on her heels. A sharp left, she is pulling up. Does she have it? YES, she does. One hundred and fifty points to Gryffindor and the vict... Hey that is illegal, FOUL!"
As Samantha pulled up from her dive, the snitch firmly in her hand, she felt a sharp pain strike the back of her head and everything went dark.
Samantha was still a good twenty feet in the air when she was hit by a bludger in the back. She started to fall, but Ginny managed to cast a spell stopping her descent only two feet before she would have struck the ground. The crowd was unable to control itself at such a blatant violation of the rules.
In the top box, Harry saw the scene unfold before most others had figured it out. He shot to his feet, wand out, but Hermione managed to pull his arm down before anyone outside of the box took notice. "Harry, calm down," Hermione whispered fumbling for words. "Remember, you would only make things worse. This isn't what you want."
Ron and Arthur had worry-filled looks on their faces. They hoped Samantha was all right, but they were also worried about what Harry was going to do. Dumbledore left his seat and managed to get ahead of Harry on the way down to the field. "Harry, I think it best if you stayed on the sidelines for this," Dumbledore said as they raced down the steps. "Wouldn't you agree? You of all people know how well we take care of injuries here." Harry was pained at these words because he knew Dumbledore was correct, but he couldn't leave his baby lying unconscious on the ground. "I will take care of her. Why don't you go on up to the hospital wing and wait for us there."
Hermione grabbed Harry's arm and led him towards the castle. Harry fought his fatherly urges to run to his daughter's side. The Gryffindor team had landed and ran towards Samantha's motionless body. Ginny was examining her already for signs of broken bones or even worst injuries. Dumbledore arrived shortly there after, cast Mobilcorpus on her, and directed her levitating form towards the castle parting the throngs of people who were gathering.
Once Dumbledore had taken charge of Samantha, Ginny directed her rising rage towards Grond Stupinski who had hit the bludger at Samantha after the game had been called. He earned two weeks worth of detentions and suspension from the team for one game. The other Slytherins began to protest the harshness of the punishment, but once they saw the fire in Ginny's eyes directed at them they all fell silent. They quickly gathered up their brooms and headed off to the changing rooms with Professor Snape urging them onward.
Once discipline had been doled out on the field, Ginny led the Gryffindor team up to the castle bypassing the changing rooms altogether. The group flew up the steps to the hospital wing and not a word was spoken when they saw a motionless body resting on a bed dressed in their colors. Madam Quince was standing next to the bed waving her wand over Samantha. A faint glow could be seen coming from her damaged shoulder. Professor Dumbledore was opposite Madam Quince observing the healing process with concern.
"Wait here," Ginny told the remainder of the team. She stepped into the room and walked over to Hermione and Harry who were against the far wall at the foot of the bed. Harry didn't even acknowledge Ginny's presence and was just rubbing his forehead lightly. She spoke to Hermione for a few seconds, who was not concealing her emotions very well as faint tears fell down her cheeks, and then returned to the team. "It appears she will be fine. She has a concussion and a few broken bones in her shoulder, but Madam Quince will have her better by tomorrow afternoon."
The group of onlookers stood their ground not moving an inch. "She will be fine," Ginny told them anxiously. "Now, on with your Saturday, everyone." Ginny stepped forward motioning for the students to disperse and go about their business. The reluctance of the children to leave was evident, but they slowly turned and headed back down the hallway to the stairs.
"Professor," asked Sirius, "may we stay with her for a little while?" Alex and Lily nodded agreeing with Sirius. Mira came running up the hallway nearly knocking over a few of her retreating housemates.
"If you promise to stay quiet and out from under foot," Ginny began. "I am sure Samantha would appreciate the thought."
Sirius, Lily, Alex, and Mira entered the room as quiet as they could trying to avoid anyone's notice especially Madam Quince. Ron and Arthur Weasley were standing just inside the doorway of the hospital wing, out of sight of the doorway, quietly discussing something between them. Mira tapped Sirius on the shoulder and pointed at Ron and Arthur obviously confused by presence of the Minister of Magic.
Lily leaned her head to Mira and whispered, "My dad and grandpa wouldn't miss my first quidditch match."
Mira nodded accepting the explanation. The group moved off to the edge of the room keeping Samantha in their sight, but staying far away from the adults.
Professor Dumbledore turned and addressed Ginny. "I understand the individual has been disciplined, Professor Weasley?"
"Yes, Professor," Ginny answered. "He has been suspended for one game and he received two weeks of detentions."
"Professor Weasley," Dumbledore said to Hermione, "I believe you can empty the wing so Madam Quince may continue her work uninterrupted."
Hermione wiped away the few tears she was unable to hold back and accepted the task. She moved along the far wall telling Ron, Arthur, and Ginny to meet her in her office. She noticed the group of friends standing next the windows and told them to leave as well.
"But Professor," Alex implored. "We would very much wish to stay until she wakes up. She is our friend."
"I understand that and I know how you feel, but it is best that Samantha be left alone right now so she can rest," Hermione explained. "I have been there myself, but now is not the time. I will let you know when she can have visitors."
"We understand," Sirius said pulling his friends to the door.
They left the wing slowly merging with the adults who were leaving as well. Once out into the hallway the adults started to walk to Hermione's office.
"I hope he doesn't do anything stupid," Ron said to Arthur.
"Now is not the place to speculate," Arthur replied curtly taking notice of the children.
Ginny looked puzzled, as did Mira and Alex. The two groups parted ways when the young Gryffindors turned down their hallway to the common room.
"What do you think Mr. Weasley meant," Mira asked Sirius.
"Oh, nothing I am sure," said Sirius not wanting any more questions about it. "Let's just get started on our homework until we hear any more news."
They entered the common room in silence and only Sirius stopped to answer the questions of worried Gryffindors who were waiting for someone with information about Samantha. After everyone had their fill of good and bad news, the group of fourth year friends sat down with their work and tried to finish a history paper that was due for next class. Restless hours went by and the progress on the paper was slow. The portrait swung open and Hermione entered the common room.
"She should be awake after dinner," Hermione told the worried study group. "You might want to stop by then and see if she can have visitors." Hermione turned and left the room after saying her piece.
Dinner was very tame for a Hogwarts Sunday meal. The group ate quickly and sped up to the hospital wing. They opened the door and peered in to find Professor Potter sitting on the bed next to Samantha's. He turned at the sound of the door and rose to his feet. He walked over to them and told them they could speak with Samantha for a little bit. He left the room through the open door and closed it behind him.
"That is weird," Mira began. "Why would the Professor be here?"
"I don't know," Sirius lied. "But I don't think we should say anything about it."
The other two seemed to agree and said nothing until they made it to Samantha's bed. She was awake and smiling up at them.
"At least we won the game," Samantha said cheerfully fighting back the strong ache in her shoulder.
"That we did, you were great," said Alex smiling back at her. "How are you feeling?"
"Not bad, considering what happened," said Samantha fighting to keep a pleasant appearance.
"They letting you out of here tomorrow?" Asked Sirius.
"I guess so, but they haven't said for certain yet."
"We can't wait until you get out," said Mira fighting back a few tears.
The friends spoke for a few more minutes, but Samantha grew tired and was beginning to drift off to sleep. They got up and left not wanting to wake her.
Samantha returned to the common room late the next afternoon. She thanked her well wishers and joked with a few others, but Samantha had gathered her books and sat with her friends. They helped her with her History and Transfiguration papers while she assisted them with Defense and Charms. By the time they headed upstairs, Samantha was almost caught up on her work. She got into bed and took a drink from a flask that Madam Quince had given her. The purple fluid burned her mouth, but as it went down it felt warm and her shoulder tingled. She felt better and lied down on her soft pillow. She opened her locket and looked at her mother's picture. Allison was staring back at her with love in her eyes. Her father had a big smile on his face and was watching her too. She felt so safe and secure. The warmth of the potion made her sleepy and she drifted off to sleep without another thought.