THE FIRST MEDALLION!
A/N: The first glimpse of Remellus and the strengthening of the plot! [Yes, I did have a 'real' plot… -_-;]
Thanks to all my reviewers!
Dedicated: I'd like to dedicate this chapter to Kerstin-vol. Who lives in a box in Canada. You rock! ^_~ I live in a dumpster in Canada! ^_^v lol.
Warning: /////////////// get it? Slash!
Also, thanks again to my sister 'Moony' for the idea of the "Balls down the shirt" bit.
By some odd swap of natural psychics, Ron had convinced Hermione to practice some Quidditch, well if that's what you could call it. All they were really doing was sitting on brooms a few feet from the ground and tossing a ball back and forth.
They couldn't keep their minds on anything; worry for Harry was pretty deep. They hadn't heard from him, not that it was really that long ago, but it was very nerve wrecking. Was he all right? Where was he? Were they close to the first medallion?
Hermione dropped the ball for the seventh time and Ron went down to get it.
"Ron?" She called down to him. "Can we stop now? I can't concentrate."
"Yeah, I know what you mean, are you sure we can't talk to him?"
Hermione thought about this. "Well… maybe… I mean, he hasn't called us yet… but maybe he doesn't know how to work it?"
"It's really not that hard…"
They lapsed into silence.
~~
The elevator was like torture; it slowly made it's way up the ropes or however elevators worked... it just kept going and going.
"We're going to get stuck." Draco said, staring at the numerous buttons on the wall.
"We will not," Harry countered, "And don't jinx it."
"I didn't jinx it, I don't even have my wand out."
Harry sighed, "Never mind."
And uneasy silence rested over them, they were both nervous, what would come up? Would they have to slay some dragon or giant spider?
Floor ninety-seven, ninety-eight…why must it take forever?
After what seemed like countless hours, the elevator suddenly stopped and the doors opened to a room of gray stones.
Lime vines and red thorns crawled around the stones, growing inside and outside of the stones.
"H-hello?" Harry called out and his voice echoed off the stones.
The dark, dank room was damp and made Harry squint. There was a distant sound that sounded much like dripping.
"Maybe we should just go?" Draco said, he was standing behind Harry.
Harry was reminded of first year when they had to go into the Forbidden Forest and Draco was a big coward. He smirked at this thought, some things never change.
Harry was about to reply when a voice rang out, "Who's there?"
"We're here looking for a medallion! Can you help us?"
A distant figure appeared at the far end of the room, shrouded in darkness and shadow. It was walking towards them.
Draco bit his lip to keep from making any noises that he was sure Potter would never left him forget. Damn Potter and his bloody courage, that damned bravery… but then, maybe they needed that… not that he'd ever admit that out loud or anything.
"You seek the medallions?" The voice said and it was definitely a female voice.
"Yes." Harry said. This was just getting weirder and weirder.
"How many of them have you collected so far?"
"This is our first." Harry said.
The girl laughed, "Oh you have nothing yet. Don't get ahead of yourself. You came here looking for the medallion but you won't get it that easily."
That was exactly what they were afraid of… now what?
"What do we have to do?" Harry asked, he was determined, he would save Sirius if it was the last thing he did!
The girl came into view and she was wearing gold Quidditch robes, she was obviously part of the team and Harry recognized her as the Seeker.
She smiled at them, "My name is Star Clubs, but the people around here call me the 'Lady'."
"I'm Harry and that's Draco." He pointed at Draco.
"Charmed." Draco said coolly.
"Really? Pity." She said and turned back to Harry.
"What do we have to do to get the medallion?" Harry repeated, growing bolder by the second.
Star tapped a finger to her chin and asked, "Why are you seeking the medallions? What business do you have at Opal Hill?"
Harry wasn't sure what to answer that with, should he tell her the truth? He glanced at Draco but the pale boy offered no help.
"My godfather," Harry said at last, he didn't see any harm in telling her their mission. "Sirius Black."
The Clubs woman stared at him, he was sure her mouth would drop in surprise or something but her eyes widened and that was about it.
"Sirius Black… you… plan on taking him from the castle?"
"Yes."
"Interesting… very interesting…" She said still staring at them.
"You know," She said. "This is the Quidditch center of this world. All Quidditch games are held here and our team is the best. We've been the world champions for 16 years… ever since I was born."
Harry and Draco remained silent.
"Did you notice all the teams have the same broom?" She asked.
Harry nodded.
"That's because I bought them all for everyone. Everyone in this world who has a broom, has one of them. My team got bored of winning all the time, we blamed our superior brooms so we bought all the other teams the same ones… we still beat them… are you familiar with the terms and rules of Quidditch?" She asked, eyeing them both.
"Yes." Draco and Harry answered at the same time.
"Excellent, follow me." She led the way out of the room just as a dark, tall figure stepped out of the shadows.
They got back on the elevator and Harry turned to Star. "What was that?"
She blinked, "What was what?"
"That shadow…" Harry replied, wondering if he sounded stupid.
"Oh, that was death." She said it like she went in there everyday and chatted with him… but then… maybe she did…
They stopped on the two hundredth floor and got out. It was a roof… it was strange, since it wasn't even the top floor… but what wasn't weird in this sky blue grass world?
Star led the way to the far side of the open roof.
"I challenge you," She said pointing her finger at them. "For the medallion, you must beat me."
They stared at her.
"These are the rules," She went on. "We'll race through an obstacle course, it'll be random, to make it fair. So even I won't know what's coming up next. Throughout the course you'll collect four golden crystal balls before you can exit. Whoever makes it out of the course first will get the Quaffle; they'll get one shot at the hoop, if they miss it automatically goes to the opponent. From there it'll be whoever gets to five points first and then…" She took a snitch out of her pocket. "The first one to catch this," She let it go and it flew away. "Wins."
Harry and Draco looked at each other.
She smiled at them both. "Are you up to it?"
"You're on." Harry said, this sounded like a snap… she was good, but so was he… and Draco… he wasn't bad, as long as he didn't fall too far behind.
"And you?" She turned to Draco; it was obvious that she didn't like him much.
"This'll be easy." Draco drawled.
Star grinned, "Really? Alright shall we go?"
She pointed out into the fog that was surrounding the building and all around the rooftop so you could barely see anything else.
The fog cleared and the grass down below was endless... it was humungous. It stretched out forever. He could see in the distance what must be the beginning of the obstacle course.
"Are you ready?" She asked and snapped her fingers. Brooms appeared.
Harry walked towards the other broom and stopped.
Star was already mounted on her broom, waiting for them.
"What about Malfoy?" He asked, confused.
Star blinked. "What about him?"
"There's only one broom." Harry said.
Star smirked. "I know."
Draco's eyes amplified. "NO! I'm not riding with you!" He said pointing an accusing finger at Harry.
"So you forfeit?" Star asked.
Draco blinked, they clearly had no choice…
"Come on, Malfoy. We've done this before."
That was true enough, twice to be exact.
"And each time you almost killed me!"
"I did not!"
"Come now boys, are you in or are you out?"
Draco felt like banging his head against a wall while he took his place on the broomstick behind Potter. This was so not even fair. He didn't even get his own frickin' broom.
"On my count," Star said and Harry nodded. Draco reluctantly wrapped his arms around Harry's waist. "One……two…….THREE!"
And they were off…
Draco had to bury his head in Harry's shoulder; they were going so fast he was almost certain he'd fall off.
Harry felt sick when he realized the warm rush that ran through his body when Draco's skin touched his.
Ok, I am sooo going insane... no WAY do I think of Malfoy in that way.
The entrance of the obstacle course was coming up and he had no thought to spare anymore for Malfoy, he had to win! Sirius depended on it!
Harry and Star entered at the same time… it looked like they were matched in speed…
They entered the obstacle course and sky blue bushes on all sides immediately sounded them.
"Oh that's bright." Harry said and stirred upwards to avoid smashing head on with a large bush.
They were looking for those gold balls… well they did have the advantage, two seekers against one...
"Draco, are you looking?" He asked, knowing full well that he wasn't because his forehead was pressed against his neck.
"You're going to kill us!" Draco said, lifting his head but tightening his grip.
Another rush of heat.
"Just shut up and look for the crystals, okay?!" Harry yelled at him.
Draco blinked, what the hell was his problem?
Draco scowled, he hated Harry having the last word but he figured since Harry was the one controlling the broom, he probably shouldn't irk him.
Harry's eyes moved back and forth searching for any glimmer of gold. He dodged the things that jumped out at them and all-and-all it wasn't too far from Quidditch itself. Searching for the snitch and dodging Bludgers.
Vines whipped out at them, sometimes making small rips in their clothes when Harry wasn't fast enough to dodge them in time.
Fifteen minutes later Harry had just dodged a large killer fly when he realized Draco hadn't said anything in the past while, even if it was only fifteen minutes. It must be a new record!
But he couldn't help wondering: no insults? No smart-ass remarks? Sure, he had told Malfoy to shut up, but since when did Malfoy listen to him?
Maybe a vine strangled him?
Harry risked a look back at the blonde-haired Slytherin.
"What are you looking at?" Draco glared at him. "Keep your eyes ahead or you'll be the death of us both."
Harry did. Malfoy was still alive… he was glad?
"There's one!" Draco called out pointing to the left.
Harry aimed the broom in that direction.
He swooped down toward the shimmering ball and Draco reached out and grabbed it.
"Got it." Draco said and they were off again.
Surprisingly, they made a good team; in no time they had collected two more crystal balls.
Draco had to let go of Harry so he could hold the crystal balls. This caused Harry to have to be more careful when inclining; Draco might slip right off the back end of the broom.
Harry was also surprised to find himself thinking praise of the Slytherin. He had found two out of the three balls and Harry was beginning to think that maybe Draco hadn't just bought himself onto the Slytherin Quidditch team after all. Maybe he did have some talent under that cold, arrogant exterior.
"Come on Potter! We have one more to go! Fly faster would you?"
"But-"
"I won't fall! Just go!"
Hesitantly Harry did.
They flew for what seemed like a long while without so much as a sign of the fourth and last golden crystal ball.
Then Draco nudged Harry with his shoulder. "Hey, stop."
Harry did.
"What is it?" Harry asked, Draco was scanning the ground below.
"I saw it," Draco said. "But… it crawled away…"
Harry moved the broom a little to get a better view, "Are you sure?"
"Think I'd lie?"
"Uh…" Harry was about to mention 'Slytherin' but Draco continued with, "About something like this?"
"Right," Harry agreed. "Which way did it go?"
"That way." Draco said and pointed right, toward a patch of bushes.
Harry maneuvered the broom according to Draco's direction. Harry moved slower than before scanning the below.
There was an eerie still and silence; they hadn't been attacked by anything for a while now… something wasn't right.
"There it is!" Draco called out and Harry saw it too.
It was running away from them!
It had four legs and it was running!
"After it!" Draco called and Harry didn't have to be told twice.
Harry took off and Draco held onto the broom best he could with just his legs and pressing his front to Harry's back in more effort to remain seated.
They chased after the four-legged crystal ball, dodging the vines and insects that decided to attack them at that precise, crucial moment.
"Watch it!" Draco hollered, "That one almost got me!"
Harry ignored him. He needed all the concentration he could muster.
Suddenly a rather large bug picked up the ball and started flying with it.
"That could make this easier!" Harry said.
"Or worse." Draco commented as the insect sped up significantly.
"Crap." Harry muttered. How fast could he go without Draco falling off first?
Draco seemed to think of the same thing.
Draco wished that he had pockets, but no, he just HAD to wear the sexy pants!
"One moment." Draco said hurriedly stuffing the bottom of his shirt into his pants.
"What are you doing?" Harry asked, incredulous. He was losing sight of the crystal and Malfoy was worried about his clothes!
Once Draco's shirt was securely tucked in, he proceeded to shove the crystals down his shirt.
"What are you going?" Harry asked again, glancing nervously from Draco to the far off speeding crystal.
When all the crystals were safe inside his shirt, Draco gripped Harry's waist again, "Ok, now go!" Draco called and Harry did.
They caught up to the crystal ball fast enough, but like the snitch, it dangled just out of reach.
"Just grab it!" Draco hollered.
"I'm trying!" Harry yelled back.
"Are you the Golden Boy Seeker or not?" Draco called.
Harry glared straight ahead. He was going to catch that ball!
He sped up and almost caught it too; he felt the glass brush his fingertips and then Draco's voice, "Watch out!"
But it was too late; they crashed into a very tall bush.
"ARHH!" Both Draco and Harry yelled as the blue leaves collided with them and they went hurtling toward the ground.
Harry hit the ground first and then all the air was forced out of his lungs when Draco landed on top of him. Draco's arms were still around Harry's middle.
Draco groaned and lifted his head to glare at Harry, "Way to go! You should have been watching where you were going! Clumsy Ape!"
Harry didn't answer, he was in pain and didn't know if he could say anything, but he managed a, "Geroff me!" And Draco jumped up, he appeared perfectly ok.
Harry could have sworn he'd saw a tint of pink in Malfoy's cheeks… but that couldn't be right…
Harry groaned and sat up, his stomach hurt.
"Ouch." Draco said rubbing his own stomach. "I think I landed on one of those damn balls. Amazing they didn't break."
Harry looked at Draco's lumpy shirt and couldn't help a grin, he looked hilarious.
Harry got up, he wasn't hurt too badly; just very sore… no broken bones.
Draco resisted any look of concern or the words, 'are you okay?'
"I hurt." Harry commented, mostly to himself.
"I steer this time." Draco said picking up the broom and Harry couldn't argue.
"Look!" Harry pointed upwards and the crystal ball was hovering above them.
"Here!" Draco pulled his shirt out and thrust the crystals into Harry's hands. "Stay here, I can catch it easier and faster without you."
Draco mounted the broom and kicked off, even before Harry could protest.
Draco soared through the air after the withdrawing ball.
Harry watched, clutching the other three crystals. Draco was actually very good at it, confirming Harry's earlier thoughts that maybe Malfoy hadn't bribed his way onto the Slytherin Quidditch team.
Draco closed in on the crystal and within moments he had caught it.
Harry repressed anything resembling a cheer.
"Come on!" Draco called to him and lowered the broom so Harry could get on.
Then they rushed off towards the end of the obstacle course.
Draco dodged all the things that jumped out at them and flew over barriers with ease.
Harry had to wonder why Draco never seemed this good during Hogwarts' Quidditch games, but then, his dislike of the other boy would overpower anything good about him.
Things are different now, Harry thought. The circumstances are different….
Everything is different.
They flew down a long, narrow path and emerged at the other side. Star was waiting for them.
"Did you enjoy yourselves? Oh, switched positions I see." She seemed relaxed and Draco wondered just how she had managed to hold onto the crystals by herself, but there was no time for that.
She was holding the Quaffle, "Ready then?" She asked and flew up toward the hoops.
She looked once more at them and tossed the Quaffle…
There was a hovering boundary line that the person with the Quaffle could not cross.
The ball went through and it floated back to her so she could make her second shot.
She threw it again and again it went in.
2-0
She threw it a third time and the ring that sounded confirmed it'd gone through once again.
3-0
She took the Quaffle again and tossed it at the suspended hoop a forth time.
…miss.
The ball, this time came to Draco and Harry.
Harry took it and threw it, it went in.
It also went in a second time, but missed the third.
Draco bit his lip to keep from cursing.
Star's turn went in.
4-2, one more and Star would win! ~~ She missed.
"My turn." Draco said, taking the ball this time. He threw it at the golden ring and the satisfying ring sounded.
Draco made the second shot and they were tied.
4-4
"Come on, Malfoy." Harry said quietly, rooting for him. (For once in his life)
This must've surprised Draco considerably, he missed.
Star got the red ball and it went in.
Immediately, she took off. Even higher into the sky, searching for the snitch that would end it all.
Desperate to catch up, Harry threw the Quaffle but it missed its target.
Draco made an irritated noise at the back of his throat and made the next shot.
He hurled the Quaffle at the hoop and it went through.
"Switch!" Harry called out, meaning that he wanted to be in control again.
"But-" Draco was saying, but the look Harry gave him told him there was no time for arguing, and deep inside Draco know that Harry was the better seeker.
After a complicated sequence of movements, Harry was back in the front.
They shot up into the sky after Star.
She didn't look at them as they ascended.
She was deep in concentration.
This should be the easiest part, Harry told himself.
"You look that way and I'll look this way." Harry said and Draco didn't argue.
They looked and searched in opposite directions, both determined and bent on finding the snitch first.
They were both too busy to notice Star's intense stares at the two of them.
"THERE IT IS!" Draco called out, pointed wildly at the flickering gold, which was a way away.
Instinctively, Harry veered towards it at top speed.
Star was startled for a moment but then gave chase as well.
Harry was close… it was just hovering there… waiting for him… he could almost feel it…
He reached out… and then the snitch sped away twice as fast as a normal snitch.
"What the-"
"Hurry up!" Draco yelled, clearly anxious.
Harry frowned and sped up… damn snitch.
"You didn't think it's actually just sit there and let you catch it, did you?" Star's voice rang out.
They were now neck and neck.
Harry didn't reply, all that mattered was the snitch.
They finally had enough speed to just get within reach of the snitch, but both Harry and Star were having trouble reaching out to it.
When Draco realized this, he made a very quick decision.
He placed a foot underneath him and pushed himself up, holding onto Harry's shoulders to steady himself.
"What the hell are you doing?" Harry yelled at him. "Are you insane?" Did the pale boy have a bloody death wish?
Draco didn't answer, he was standing on a broomstick, going neck-break speed. Maybe he was insane… but he had to try.
"Just keep going!" Draco called to Harry.
Harry kept telling himself that he wouldn't and shouldn't care if Draco died… I mean Malfoy! If Malfoy died…. Right?
Harry reached out for the snitch again but he was violently thrown off course when Draco leaped from the broom.
Draco felt his hand close around the golden snitch.
Good = he had caught the snitch
Bad = he was plummeting toward the ground from 1000 meters above.
A startled gasp escaped Harry's lips as the image of the falling blonde Slytherin rushed to his mind.
Without thinking, he swooped downwards, at a total vertical angle.
He raced down toward Draco's body and then… he grabbed Draco's hand.
They were now near the ground, Harry having caught Draco at the exact right moment. Harry let Draco down at a safe place and dismounted his broom as well.
"You could have died." Harry said. Surprised at the amazing feeling of relief in his stomach.
"Well I didn't, did I?" Draco said letting go of the snitch and then grabbing it again before it got away.
The image of his dad floated into Harry's mind… it was disturbing…
"And what would you have done if I hadn't saved you?" Harry asked him
"I didn't think of that." Draco admitted, revealing that he was totally relying on Harry's rescue from the moment he made his speedy decision.
Again, the creepy thought of his dad came into Harry's mind.
Rash… James was rash. Also the cruelty of their age was similar…
'He grew out of it' Sirius had said.
Sirius…
"Well," Star's voice came to them as she landed. "I guess I lost… I've never lost before…" She sounded dazed.
"The medallion?" Harry asked.
"Of course," Star replied. She took the necklace from around her neck off and handed it to him. "See you!" She said and took to the lavender sky again.
Harry gazed at the badger Medallion.
"We'll have to go get our bags." Harry said. They had left them at the roof.
"Well we should have thought about that before I had to stick those cold balls down my shirt." Draco said, he seemed really happy… oh my, was he smiling… no, no it was a smirk....
Harry stared, was that a joke?
Malfoy, joking? It was too much… Harry couldn't help laughing.
Draco stared at him, a smile threatening to break through. "Ok, wasn't that funny." Draco said after a while and Harry still hadn't shut up.
But they were both still in high spirits about their victory.
The first medallion was theirs… only five more to go…