Possession
Chapter XXXI - Quidditch - Slytherin vs Gryffindor
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"Is that understood?" Draco cast glittering grey eyes over the rest of the Slytherin team. He may be the smallest person there but they all knew who held power.
Only once he'd gotten nods from everyone did he relax. He'd given everyone their orders in the Common Room away from the prying eyes of the teachers and the rest of the school. They knew what to do but he still needed to give them the 'pep' talk.
"The Gryffindorks forfeited their last game against Hufflepuff because they were scared. They are weak... But we've always known that and without Wood to whip them into some semblance of order they are distracted. Potter is weak both emotionally and physically and as he thinks he's won the Snitch today he will find out exactly what it means to challenge Slytherin.
"Today, we're not just playing against Gryffindor... Today we are playing against the world and today we prove just how superior Pure bloods are!"
"Yeah!"
Draco grinned at the cheer his words brought and as the team mounted their brooms and flew out on to the pitch he added the words, "And today we will see the end of the Defender of Light. Today, Harry Potter dies."
Madam Hooch walked on to the pitch carrying her broom and levitating the chest containing the Quidditch balls behind her. With a flourish of her wand she set the box down gently before blowing her whistle, calling for the Captains to come and shake hands.
Draco approached and scowled as he watched the Gryffindor players mill about.
"Harry!" Angelina hissed.
"What?"
"Go shake his hand!" Katie yelled from her position on the high field.
"I'm not the Captain!"
"Opps! I knew we forgot to tell him something!" Fred swooped by as George flew up behind Harry and pushed him gently towards the ground.
Harry blinked back tears. "I'm going to kill you guys," he said as he descended. He landed in front of Madam Hooch and nodded pleasantly to her. She had a small smile on her face. "You knew?"
"No team Captain position is official until I approve it," she said easily. "Now shake hands please."
Harry looked over at Draco and almost felt the memory overwhelm him but with a firm mental shake he pushed it back down. He had to behave as if everything was normal. There was too much going on for him to show anything. Dumbledore. Voldemort. The Shadows... Everything.
Harry closed his eyes for an instant and inside everything shifted. It felt like he became the shadow. His emotions faded into darkness, dropping deep into his being, waiting until it was safe for them to come forth. He wasn't denying their existence, that would be unhealthy but he was suppressing them, just for the moment. He felt his rationality come forward and he felt a rush of magic surge through him. The blue and red presences came forward, supporting him and he relaxed at the feeling.
With a half smile on his face and neutral expression in his eyes he held out his hand, not surprised when the gesture was steady. He could do anything if he didn't feel, at least temporarily. And he was pleased at the shocked expression on Draco's face. It appeared Malfoy didn't know how to act.
"Mr Malfoy? Is there a problem?"
Draco blinked grey eyes and then stuck his hand out oddly, half expecting to feel a burst of power when he touched Potter but there was nothing. Their hands barely meet before they both pulled back quickly, mounting their brooms and nodding at Madam Hooch.
"I want a clean game," she said before blowing her whistle again as she released the Snitch and Bludgers before bending to pick up the Quaffle. With a heave she threw it high into the air and the scrummage began.
Alicia swooped in even before the Quaffle had reached its peak, grabbing the ball from the air and speeding towards the Slytherin Keeper. She was intercepted by Adrian Pucey but she passed it to Katie before he barrelled into her. The Bludgers soared wildly around but both Fred and George were in hot pursuit of them and seemed to be taking great delight in hitting them directly at their Slytherin counterparts.
Harry rose straight into the air before slowly circling the pitch as he watched the proceedings. Alicia, Katie and Angelina were working together as they usually did and their movements were as seamless as always. They seemed to know exactly when another needed help and exactly where they were and where the Quaffle was. As usual they were literally flying circles around the Slytherin Chasers.
He watched with admiring eyes as they triple teamed the Slytherin Keeper. They were careful not to Stooge him but it almost didn't matter. Isadon Bletchley had taken his brother's position as Keeper but to Harry appraising eye he was still raw at his job and the Gryffindor Chasers were very experienced. He looked over to Draco but dismissed the other Seeker after a moment, turning back to watch the Slytherin Chasers.
Only Adrian Pucey was truly experienced. The other two, Zabini and Quirke were working well together, passing the Quaffle between them expertly as they wove back and forth but their movements lacked speed and practice. Harry only watched for a few moments but he could see the pattern and if he could see it then the Gryffindor Chasers had already seen it and were acting against it.
Bingo! As if in response to his thoughts Angelina rushed in, at first seeming only to fly by Quirke but she extended her arm at the last instant, snatching the Quaffle from the air and zooming away with it tucked close to her body. Harry chuckled and finally turned towards the new Gryffindor Keeper.
The others had chosen Oswald Richards, a third year to replace Wood. Harry hadn't really seen him fly before but he had to admit that he looked comfortable on his broom as he circled the hoops, keeping a firm eye on the location of the Quaffle. With the ladies and the Weasley's though, Harry was sure that he wouldn't really see that much action.
-Duck.-
Harry didn't even question the voice, he'd gotten so used to hearing them. With a fluid movement he flattened himself against the handle of his broom and dove, just as a Bludger flew through the air his head had been in. Mikhail Usaran brandished his bat triumphantly but was hit an instant later by the other Bludger. But Harry didn't see this, he was too busy spinning and diving as the Bludger followed him as it was meant to. They were be-spelled to attack the closest person, so he just had to lead it to someone else.
He executed a beautiful corkscrew as he pulled out of his dive and sped towards the Slytherin Chasers. Pucey saw him coming and spun away but Harry couldn't help but smirk when he noted that Zabini was still oblivious to his presence.
-Go...- The whisper was wickedly encouraging.
Harry dove past Zabini swinging around the handle of his broom in a perfect sloth grip as he passed by. The Bludger followed him like a good dog and like a good dog it slammed into Blaise. The Slytherin Chaser cursed and zigzagged off course, with the Bludger bouncing off him and crashing wildly through the gathered players. Harry snorted happily before he rose above the game again, searching for the Snitch.
"So you think you've won?" Draco drawled as Harry matched his height.
Emerald eyes glanced towards the scoreboard. "130 to 50, our favour," Harry sniffed. "Not quite yet."
Draco remained silent at that and Harry drifted away, not noticing as a small darkness left the shadows of his robes and attached itself to the black lined green robes of the Slytherin Seeker.
-You see the power?-
-I see the power.- Harry replied silently. He saw the power. The power that came when emotion was controlled, when he didn't think about the consequences. It was exhilarating. He could face anyone like this. Draco. Blaise. Millicent. Heprah. Voldemort. Dumbledore.
With a shake of his head Harry dismissed the thoughts. He was in the middle of a Quidditch game. He couldn't be distracted and he would have his chance to face them all soon enough. As he looked for the Snitch he watched the score rising. 140-50. 150-50. 150-60. Darn. That was almost too quick. 160-60. 170-60. Ha! That would teach them!
-Duck!-
The advice came again and Harry once more moved with liquid grace. He spared a glance for Draco but the blond was scouring the pitch for the Snitch. With a small curse Harry dove as the Bludger followed him, jinxing with his movements as he attempted to throw it off his tail.
-Spin right. Rise then jinx right again.-
Harry complied and he could feel the rising tension in the air. The Bludger wasn't acting properly. It wasn't like the time Dobby had tampered with it, this was something else. It was following him with single minded intensity but it was also jinxing towards the other players just enough that it didn't seem like it was only focusing on him. But like a blood hound, it always returned to his trail.
"Whoa! Look at Potter fly!"
Harry didn't hear Lee's commentary but the words brought the attention of everyone to him as he completed a complex series of loops, pulling out of them smoothly skimming over the pitch, with the Bludger still following him. To the watching students it looked like a beautifully executed manoeuvre but to him, it had been the almost last ditch effort to get rid of the flying ball. There was only one thing left to do. He growled softly as he headed break neck into the Chaser Scrummage. Perhaps he could hit another Slytherin with it. Before he got close though, George sped past him, his freckled face frowning and his bat raised. He belted the Bludger with a resounding 'Thwack!' driving it back towards the ground where it circled randomly before shooting back into the air, heading towards the chasers and Harry.
"And an impressive attempt at save by Richards but it's not enough and Slytherin score again bringing the total to 170-80."
He noticed because he was paying attention to the Bludger, but with the announcement of the score it zoomed away, once more pursuing other targets.
-That wasn't right.-
Harry nodded to himself and to the voice. It didn't feel right but at the moment there wasn't anything he could do about it. He wasn't in any danger from the Bludger. The whispered voice knew exactly where it was and knew exactly how he should move to avoid it. He could fly loops around it and never be hit. No the danger was in Malfoy. While Harry had never lost a match to him, the blond was still a Seeker and had won matches for Slytherin against the other teams. And with no Bludger bothering him he had a free run of the pitch and all the time he needed to find the Snitch.
-Do you want us to find the Snitch?-
-No!- He couldn't bring himself to do something like that even though he wouldn't get caught.
-Then why don't you see who's magic is on the Bludger?-
-Huh?-
-Master, you know it isn't coincidence.-
-I don't know how.-
-Red-eyes does. Just ask him.-
Harry blinked. 'Red-eyes' was his name for his unknown lover. But despite the love Harry could feel coming from the other presence in his mind he didn't want to ask it for something. If he did he felt he would have some obligation and while the man had saved him and Harry already owed him the world, he didn't want to owe him further.
-I don't think you can owe him further.-
-I know!- But despite that, he still felt reluctant to ask for their help. -I don't want to be weak.-
The shadows were silent for a moment before they returned the advice, -Then try it yourself.-
-I don't know how.-
-Master... When has that stopped you?-
Harry smiled slightly to himself. It appeared the shadows knew him better than he knew himself. -All right,- he agreed as he rose into the air, putting himself into a position where he could see the whole pitch.
He concentrated for a moment. He wanted to see the magic... How did you see magic? He focused on his eyes and suddenly he felt a tingle in them, almost like an itch he couldn't scratch. Magic would be in streams... All living things would have some magic, so everyone on the pitch would glow with their magic. His broom would also glow but it wasn't alive so it would be dull and the Bludgers and Quaffle would too. With a long sigh he opened his eyes and almost cried out at the world.
Everything was different but at the same time it wasn't. The stadiums were just awash with colour but he could see several brighter beacons amongst the students - those individuals who possessed great power. But what surprised him was that the very air was alive with Magic. The shadows danced and the Earth sang to him. It was too much and just as he was about to be overwhelmed something clamped down on his vision, restricting what he saw.
-Master.-
Harry wiped the sweat from his brow. -Thank you.- He turned his eyes towards the players and quickly found the Bludger. Where it's fellow glowed a dull brown, it was a vivid red. It had far more magic than it should and embedded in the red was a pattern of a person.
Carefully Harry looked around for the matching pattern but as he had half suspected he didn't have to look that far. Circling below him, grey eyes scanning the area for the Snitch was Draco Malfoy, a bright yellow light. The patterns matched perfectly.
-Find it.- Harry instructed firmly. -But only tell me where it is if Draco sees it too.-
-Master.-
He sensed the shadows agreement before he let his eyesight return to normal and looked at the players again. The score was 210-110 Gryffindor favour with Alicia in possession of the Quaffle. She spun around Zabini with almost contemptuous ease before charging Quirke who zagged out of her path at the last minute. Only Pucey remained but Katie and Angelina had him pegged and were zipping around him with all the agility of angels. Both Bludgers were in the clear and with a burst of speed, Alicia swooped into the scoring area, ducked under Keeper Bletchley and scored. 220-110.
-It's coming again Master.-
Harry nodded and looked over. The Bludger had indeed changed its course and was heading straight towards him. Here I go again. He thought as he spun out of its path and dove back towards the game. Fred shadowed his movements this time. Apparently the Bludgers actions hadn't been un-noted.
"Harry!" The Weasley twin shouted. "Call time out!"
"No! I can't prove it. Just keep playing. I'll be fine. Tell the ladies to get that score up. When I catch the Snitch I want to annihilate Slytherin."
Fred looked worried for a moment before he grinned predatorily. "You got it boss," he shouted as he pealed off, hitting the Bludger following Harry with all his might.
He wove his way between the players, missing them by millimetres. As the Bludger followed him, bouncing off the Slytherin Chaser's more than once he couldn't help but look up at Malfoy and grin. The blond boy was chewing his lip worriedly but maintained enough arrogance to sneer back.
-Incoming!-
Harry drove himself up and felt Pritchard's bat brush the tail of his broom. He growled softly. That was distinctly unsporting. With a sharp U-turn Harry fixed emerald eyes on the Slytherin Beater, barely noticing as the Bludger sped past his ear. If you were going to hit someone, you did it like this!
A single burst of speed had him flying neck and neck with Caine and another had him ahead of the Slytherin Beater.
-Not yet... Nearly... Now!-
Harry swung his arm out and slammed on the breaks. Caine cried out as an armoured forearm appeared in front of him and pulled up himself but as Harry almost impacted with him, he pulled his arm back in and dropped, missing the Beater by a hairsbreadth and grinning as the Bludger crashed through the tail of Pritchard's broom.
"Foul!" Malfoy screamed as Harry flew low, circling the pitch.
"Play on!" Madam Hooch replied. "No contact was made between players," she added giving Malfoy a stern glare.
Harry's move inspired the Gryffindor team and as he continued to zoom around the pitch always two steps ahead of the be-spelled Bludger, they lost their fear for him and devoted themselves to scoring.
230-110.
240-110.
240-120. Well, it couldn't always be one way.
240-130. They were going to pay for that one.
250-130. Vengeance strikes on swift wings.
260-130. Score against us and we take two in return.
270-130. Hah! Gryffindor were the best team.
280-130. No rogue Bludger was going to stop them.
290-130. Let Malfoy catch the Snitch what did it matter?
290-140. Oh well... The game would be a draw but everyone knew who had won.
290-150. Where was that ruddy Snitch?
290-160.
There! Dammit! It was on the other side of the pitch. He could see it glittering in the sunlight between the churning mass that was the Chasers. And it was near Draco.
He surged upwards. At the moment the Chasers were too tightly knit for him to risk going through them. He'd have to slow down to much and that would be fatal. The Bludger was right on his tail. He would hear it whistling through the air behind him.
"No!" Harry moaned to himself as he saw Draco finally see the golden ball. The blond Slytherin's eyes became alive and grey met emerald for an instant, long enough for Draco to declare his victory. It's not that easy!
Harry wrenched his Firebolt upwards. He could feel gravity pressing down against his chest and it was difficult to breathe but he didn't stop. He'd never risen this sharply before and he could almost hear the charms on his broom straining. This was going to be close.
The Snitch flitted away from its position and Draco swooped, his arm outstretched towards the small ball. Harry was still rising until finally he was about three times the height of the scoring rings. He locked his legs around his broom and closed his eyes as he pitched back. It was exhilarating. For a moment he was suspended in the air, held still by it's embrace and then slowly at first, he was falling. As he fell the Bludger flew through his previous position and then turned to follow him down.
Harry guided himself with small shifts of weight and he opened his eyes, watching with increasing trepidation as Draco got closer and closer to the Snitch. The entire stadium was holding its breath. The Firebolt creaked as gravity forced it past it's endurance but Harry held it together. This was going to be really close.
-Level out.-
He lowered his legs, pushing them down and pulling himself out of his dive, but still keeping an incline. There was a jolt as the charms on the Firebolt reactivated but Harry ignored it as he shot through the air like an arrow. Draco was chasing the Snitch. He intended to sweep past and intercept the golden ball.
Emerald eyes narrowed as Harry assessed the distance. Faster... He had to go faster. He bent his knees and hooked his feet over his broom as he flattened himself against the full length of the handle. He tucked his elbows in as the wind whipped his hair out of his eyes. Everything was free.
Faster, he urged the Firebolt, willing it past the bounds of it charms. Behind him the Bludger cleaved through the air with lethal precision but Harry couldn't even feel it. His whole being was focused on the small golden ball. He had to catch it and to do that, he had to be faster.
-Master..?- The question was obvious.
-No need,- Harry responded as he assessed the distance once more before pouring his aura into the charms on the Firebolt. They quivered under the force he exerted but responded and he felt himself speed up. Perfect.
Draco was still chasing the Snitch, his arm outstretched and he hadn't seen him approaching from a right angle. The blond Slytherin almost had his hand around the small ball and while his face bore a look of concentration, there was a smirk of satisfaction. It's not over yet, Harry thought as he raised his own hand towards the Snitch.
-It will be soon, Master.-
The ground was a blur. The whole world was a blur except for the small tunnel of air that lead towards the tiny ball. Harry could see nothing but that view and as he closed the distance, he cried out, the effort almost too much to bare.
In a flash it was over.
Harry's fingers connected with the Snitch and he swooped passed Draco, going so fast that they didn't even collide. Draco looked confused for an instant but then he realised what had happened and he was dumbfounded. The Snitch had been literally within his grasp and Potter had somehow managed to steal it. Where was that Bludger?
WHACK!
With the force of a cannon ball, the Bludger ploughed into Draco but it didn't stop. It had gained too much momentum and as the Slytherin Seeker plummeted into the pitch the Bludger drove onwards, seeking out it's target.
To reduce speed and because it was traditional, Harry pulled his broom about in a long circular motion, loosing his gathered momentum and holding the Snitch high as he zoomed through his victory lap.
"Harry!" The whole crowd was calling his name and he grinned. Some things were just perfect.
He looked down and saw a flash of red beneath black robes and smiled at his unconscious reaction. The glow of satisfaction he was feeling from the 440-160 score line was accompanied by another as his emotions flooded back through him and he was warm, cherished and beloved. Nothing could go wrong, not when he was watching over him. He was safe. With a tentative touch he reached out and found himself wrapped in love.
Was it possible to love someone he barely knew?
Harry still wasn't sure but it was possible for him to like them.
A lot.
He didn't even see the Bludger.
Sirius had watched Harry in the game with his heart in his mouth. But even with the danger he was forced to conclude that the boy was good. Every movement was smooth and considered and he never lost his calm. James, just look at him!
Even now that Harry was circling the pitch with the Snitch held high his movements were professional but there was still a knot of worry in his gut and as the sun glittered off a dull surface Sirius recognised where the worry was coming from. "HARRY!"
For the rest of his life he would remember the sight. The Bludger that was still pursuing his Godson zoomed in and crashed directly into the grinning boy. Then everything exploded.
All around Harry the air became alive, seething with magic of different colours – red, blue and green – and the air seemed to throw off sparks of every conceivable colour. But that was only for an instant before the air cleared and as quickly as the power appeared it vanished, to reveal Harry still airborne and unfazed. Of the Bludger there was nothing, save a few falling pieces of debris.
Sirius blinked, shaking his head before he turned back to Harry. He had seen one more thing but the boy was normal now. He wasn't the image of a mage warrior robed in magical armour and bearing a sword in one hand and a wand in the other accompanied by a tangible aura of power. His eyes were smiling, not narrowed with concentration. And the air around him was filled with sunlight, not inky black, strangely compelling and protective but infinitely powerful. He was just Harry Potter, the boy who bore too many pains and too many hopes upon his young shoulders, just the child of James and Lily Potter – his Godson.
And he was completely unharmed.
Sirius breathed a sigh of relief but couldn't help wondering what had the power to protect Harry.
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Gryffindor Team
Chaser: Alicia Spinnet 7th Year
Chaser: Katie Bell 7th Year
Chaser: Angelina Johnson 7th Year
Beater: Fred Weasley 7th Year
Beater: George Weasley 7th Year
Keeper: Oswald Richards 3rd Year
Seeker: Harry Potter 5th Year Captain
Slytherin Team
Chaser: Adrian Pucey 7th Year
Chaser: Blaise Zabini 5th Year
Chaser: Jastin Quirke 6th Year
Beater: Caine Pritchard 7th Year
Beater: Mikhail Usaran 6th Year
Keeper: Isadon Bletchley 4th Year
Seeker: Draco Malfoy 5th Year Captain
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