Chapter Seven
The Quidditch Tryouts and A Warning
A month went by and the Quidditch Team Tryouts came. Alex was sure he was going to try out. He wouldn't not try out. He wanted to be on the team ever since the first time he saw it played. He was going to tryout in his second year as a beater, but he ended up hitting Malfoy for calling Hermione a Mudblood. He walked onto the Quidditch field and sat down on a bench. Angelina came up to him. "What are going to try out for?" she asked him. "Beater. The same thing I was going to try out for 3 years ago," Alex replied. "Oh. Well, you're going to have be a back up beater. Fred and George Weasley are the beaters," Angelina told Alex. Alex nodded. "I know. Just knowing I'm on the team is cool," Alex said. Angelina smiled, wrote something down on a board she was holding, then she left. Alex sighed and looked along the side of the field, then he saw Hermione walking to him. When she got there she said, "I'm here to cheer for you." Alex smiled and scooted a little so she could sit next to him. "Thanks Hermione. I could use a little cheering. Where's Harry and Ron?" Alex asked. Hermione shrugged. "I don't know. I thought they were coming up here, but clearly they aren't," she said. "Well at least I have someone to cheer for me," Alex said with a smile. Hermione smiled and looked down at the ground, then back to him. "Alex…you remember last month when you heard your mother died? Why didn't you go home for her funeral?" she asked. Alex looked at her. "I didn't want to. For one, I didn't want to see my mother in a coffin, two, my father told me to stay. That's it," Alex said with a quiet sigh. Hermione put a hand on his shoulder and looked at him. "Don't think about that. I shouldn't have brought it up. Concentrate on making the house team," she said with a smile. Alex smiled. "I'm going to make the Quidditch Team for you Hermione," Alex said. "Alex Price! You're up!" Angelina said. Before Hermione could reply, Alex was on his broom and in the air.
Alex flew up in the air to Angelina. "Ok. What you have to do is guard the chasers from the Bludgers. Guard me from it until I make it to the goal and make a score. Got it?" Angelina said. "Yeah," Alex replied. "Ok. Release the Bludgers!" Angelina called down to someone on the field. Alex began to get slightly nervous, but then he looked down to Hermione. She was looking at him with a smile. That calmed him down quickly. Alex watched Angelina fly around the field, then he zoomed off behind her. Alex followed, then a Bludger came, he watched as it came closer, then he zoomed around Angelina, hit the Bludger out of the way, and moved away from Angelina. The other Bludger was coming now. He did the same as he did before, except he wasn't fast enough to hit it this time, the Bludger hit Alex in the arm, throwing his shoulder out, breaking his arm, and causing him to fall to the ground. Angelina had made the goal, and flew back to Alex, who was down on the ground holding his shoulder. Angelina looked at him. "Are you ok?" she asked. Alex nodded. "I'll be fine," he paused, then, "Did I make the back up position?" he asked. Angelina nodded. "You blocked the Bludgers didn't you? I made the goal didn't I? There is more to this, but I think you'll be a perfect back up," she said then walked off. Hermione looked at Alex. "Congratulations Alex. You made the team," she said. He smiled, then the pain in his shoulder stabbed at him. "Thanks, but I think we should go to the hospital wing," Alex said. Hermione nodded. "Ok, come on. I'll help you get there," she said with a smile.
They neared the hospital wing, when Harry and Ron came. "What's going on?" Ron asked. "What does it look like Ron? Alex hurt his shoulder and his arm, and we are going to the hospital wing to get it fixed," Hermione said. Ron looked at Hermione. "Right. I knew that. Did that happen the same way it did at my place?" Ron asked. Alex nodded. "Well kind of. This time it broke my arm as well. Similar as to what happened to Harry's when they played Slytherin 3 years ago," Alex said, cradling his arm up against his stomach. "Well, at least you didn't have Lockhart use a bogus spell and make all the bones in your arm disappear," said Harry. Alex chuckled slightly. "Good point," he said. They all turned the corner and walked into the Hospital Wing. Madam Pomfrey looked at them, then to Alex. "Oh dear, what has happened?" she asked them looking at Alex who was still cradling his arm.
"Quidditch try-outs. A Bludger hit my arm, and broke it," Alex said. "And knocked his shoulder out of place," added Hermione. Madam Pomfrey walked over to an empty bed near them. "Come over here and get on the bed," she said. They all walked over to the bed, and Alex sat down on it, then pulled his feet up on it as well. "This will be easy. But you'll have to stay here for the night. Understand?" said Madam Pomfrey. Alex nodded. Hermione looked at Alex, then to Madam Pomfrey. "Excuse me, Madam Pomfrey, but why does he have to stay here through the night?" Hermione asked. "His shoulder needs to stay in one position. If he leaves it will be moving every which way and if it is it won't heal properly," said Madam Pomfrey. "Would slamming your shoulder into walls to put it back in place make it worse?" Ron asked Madam Pomfrey. "I should say so! It would make it not heal as good and be more prone to dislocate once more!" she replied. Hermione gave Alex a look as if to say "I told you so." Alex only smiled.
That night as Alex in the hospital sleeping, he kept having dreams about Hermione. Bad dreams. Dreams where she died, or anything else along those lines. As he lay there asleep he had this one recurring dream. But it hadn't gone as far the previous times he had it. In the dream he and Hermione were sitting outside Hogwarts having a little picnic by the lake. Alex would turn to get something, then he turned around she was gone. That was as far as would get, but not this last time. In the dream, when Alex turned back around to see her gone, he stood up and began calling her name. She didn't call his back, or cry for help. Alex would walk into the Dark Forest, and call her name again. She still didn't call back. So Alex went further in. As he neared a clearing he saw something. It looked like her laying on the ground, so he ran to her. When he reached her, he found she was covered in blood. He began to shake her to try and wake her up, but to no avail. He started shaking her more, this time shouting her name. She still didn't wake. Then something came out of the shadows in front of him. He had tears in his eyes now, as he looked up at the thing that came out of the shadows. It didn't speak. Alex kept shouting at it, "What do you want! Go away!" he said to it. But the figure kept coming towards him. Then the figure spoke, "She is dead. But she won't be the first. Be warned, five will die by the end of this Hogwarts year." it said this then vanished. He looked back at Hermione and began screaming her name, not believing she was dead.
Alex jerked awake with a scream. "Hermione!" he shouted, then looked around. He was still in the hospital. He sighed and rubbed his eyes to find out that he'd actually been crying in his sleep. Madam Pomfrey came walking down to him hurriedly, and looked at him. "Mr. Price, what's wrong?" she asked him. Alex shook his head. He noticed it was day time now. "Nothing. Um, can I leave now? I mean you said one night and its been one night. So can I leave?" Alex asked. Madam Pomfrey stared at him for a moment. "I suppose so. But just remember to more careful ok?" she told him. Alex nodded, dressed, and left the hospital wing.
Alex went up to the common room and found it surprisingly empty, except for Harry, Ron, and Hermione. As soon and his eyes fixed on Hermione, he previous tension left him. He was glad to see she was ok. He walked over to them and sat down next to Hermione. "Hi guys," Alex said. They looked up at him. "Hey!" the three said together. "How are you feeling?" Hermione asked. "Good. Listen guys. Last night I had a very scary dream," he stopped for a moment, apparently remembering the bit with Hermione. He decided not to mention that part yet. Harry looked at Alex. "And?" he said. "And, this figure gave me…well…gave me a warning. It said, 'Be warned, five will die by the end of this Hogwarts year' then it vanished. I don't know what to make of it," Alex said. Harry and Ron exchanged looks. "I mean, I know it was a dream, but I have a bad feeling now. Should I tell Professor Dumbledore?" asked Alex. Harry looked at him for a moment. "I don't know. I mean, it was just a dream. I don't think its something to get in a big fit over," Harry said. Alex looked at Harry, shocked.
"This is coming for a person who tells Dumbledore every bad thing that happens to him?" Alex said, slightly angry sounding. "Because stuff that happens to me is usually real. It doesn't come from a dream!" said Harry. "Look Harry, get over your damn scar or anything else that's happened to you, and think for a moment, this could be a bad thing!" Alex yelled, now on his feet. "Whoa! Guys calm down!" Ron said. "Shut up Ron!" Alex said. "Don't tell me to shut up! I'm trying to prevent a fight here!" Ron yelled at Alex. "Fine, I'm sorry I said anything!" Alex said kicking his chair over and storming out of the common room. Hermione stared at Harry and Ron for a moment then went after Alex. "Alex! Wait!" Hermione called after him. Alex stopped and turned. "No Hermione! Just go back to the common room and talk to them. You were going to take Harry's side anyway." he said, then continued. Hermione stopped. She hadn't even said anything and he was mad at her. Hermione sighed, turned, and walked back into the common room.
As Alex walked down the corridors, he found himself outside Professor McGonagall's office. He looked at the door for a moment, then walked in. She was sitting at her desk, writing something. Probably Monday's assignment. He shut the door behind him and walked up to her desk. "Um, Professor?" Alex said. "Yes, Mr. Price?" McGonagall said. "Um, could I see Professor Dumbledore please? Its rather urgent, and I can only discuss this with him," said Alex looking at Professor McGonagall. She looked at him, then nodded. "If it is that urgent, then yes you may see him. Follow me," she said. "Thank you Professor," Alex said. They walked to a statue of a giant bird with its wings open and in the air. "Here you are," McGonagall said. "Lemon Drops," she said and the statue began to reveal stairs. Alex nodded and stepped on the stairs and rode them up.
When he reached the top, Alex knocked on the door. "Come in," said a rather old and raspy voice. Alex took a breath and walked in. Professor Dumbledore was sitting behind his desk, looking at Alex. "Ah, Mr. Price. I trust you recovered from your incident with the Bludger yesterday?" Dumbledore asked. "Yes sir. I did. But that isn't why I'm here," Alex said. Dumbledore looked over the rims of his half moon spectacles. "I suspected as such. What is it? Is there something you wish to tell me?" Dumbledore said. Alex nodded. "Yes sir, there is. Last night I had a dream. It was a rather scary dream. In it this figure gave me…well…gave me a warning. It said, 'Be warned, five will die by the end of this Hogwarts year' then it vanished. I don't know what to make of it," Alex told Dumbledore. Dumbledore looked at Alex with a smile. "It is but a dream, Alex. Nothing to worry about," he said. "But sir, I didn't tell you the other part. It involves Hermione. In the dream, she and I were having a picnic down by the lake, and turned away from her, then when I turned back she was gone. I went looking for her, and when I found her she was covered in blood, she was…dead," Alex said, a tear coming to his eye. "Ah, as I said, it is but a dream. Dreams don't come true. They are merely thoughts we have as we sleep," Dumbledore told Alex.
"Sir, I had a dream about my mother dying, and then she did die. What is that?" Alex said. Dumbledore looked at Alex. "Alex, that was a coincidence. People die-" "My mother didn't just die, she was murdered…" Alex interrupted. "'Five will die,' Sir! My mother was the first! That means that there will be four more to die," he said. "Alex, calm down. The man who killed your mother was caught. He won't be killing anyone again," Dumbledore said. "There are other people who commit murders everyday sir," Alex stared at Dumbledore. "I thought you take this seriously sir, but I guess I was wrong. I'll go," Alex finished, turned and walked out of Dumbledore's office.
Alex walked along the corridor telling himself he was right, and that his mother dying wasn't just a coincidence. She was the first to die and he knew that Hermione was going to be somewhere in the mix. Alex found himself standing out side the portrait of the Fat Lady and just stood there. "Password?" the Fat Lady said. Alex didn't reply. "Password?" she said again. And again Alex said nothing. The Fat Lady looked at him. "Are you going to want in my boy?" she asked. Alex looked up, and shook his head. He turned around and started back the way he came. He walked outside where all the stone benches were and sat down against the wall. As the cool autumn wind hit his face, he sat there, thinking, about Hermione, and what she looked like in his dream. He closed his eyes, shook his head, and said to himself, but out loud. "She isn't going to die. I won't let her!" he shouted and slammed his fists into the ground he was sitting on. Alex hunched himself up, and rested his head on his knees, a few tears sliding slowly down his cheeks.