Disclaimer: OK, you really should know by now that nothing but Bryn belongs to me.
Chapter 22 - Quidditch Finals and Calling Spells: A week later, the Gryffindor Quidditch team prepared to face Ravenclaw in the Quidditch final. The whole House was hyped up, though they were pretty annoyed at Harry. He'd apparently hexed Malfoy and been caught by Snape, which got him stuck in detention. Ginny was playing Seeker, and her usual spot was filled by Demelza Robins, the reserve Chaser.
That Saturday, the team was in the locker rooms, and Bryn felt a bit ill. She'd played finals before, but she was still nervous. Not only that, but since Katie had refused the position, Harry had made Bryn Deputy Captain, because he knew she had experience. In Harry's absence, she was the one who'd have to do the whole pep talk thing. She hated that.
"Well..." she began. Screw it, she thought. "Just, good luck today. Fly your best, and we'll win." God, she sounded stupid. The other team members nodded and they marched out onto the pitch to loud applause from the Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs. (Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw had their own rivalry, though it was nothing compared to the Slytherin/Gryffindor one.).
"And here's the Gryffindor team. They are hampered by the absence of their Captain and usual Seeker Harry Potter. Ginny Weasley is taking the Seeker position and is replaced as Chaser by Demelza Robins, while Chaser Ambryn Sayre fills in as Captain. Keeper Ron Weasley along with Beaters Jimmy Peakes and Ritchie Coote keep their usual positions," called the commentator.
"Captains, shake hands," said Madam Hooch. Bryn shook Roger Davies' hand, wishing they could just start playing. "Mount your brooms!" The balls were released, and play began. Demelza worked well with Katie and Bryn, and the Beaters were doing better than ever before. Even Ron seemed a bit less nervous, galvanized perhaps by the rest of the team. A Ravenclaw Chaser attempted a goal, and Ron saved easily, tossing the Quaffle to Katie, who passed it to Bryn before diving to avoid a Bludger. Coote slammed the Bludger with his club, sending it careening towards Cho Chang, the Ravenclaw Seeker. She barely managed to dodge it. Bryn tossed the Quaffle to Demelza, who was closest to the goal posts. The fourth year girl threw and scored the first goal of the game.
The game continued, with the lead switching sides much like it had in the last Gryffindor/Ravenclaw game. Hufflepuff was easier, but I wish we could have played Slytherin just once, Bryn mused as she streaked up the field. Her throw was caught by the Keeper, and she went back towards the other end. She was in pursuit of one of the rival Chasers, intending to knock the Quaffle out of his hands, when Ginny and Chang went into a dive. Bryn forced herself to ignore the Seekers, and managed to get the Quaffle just as the Gryffindor supporters screamed with excitement. Bryn looked down and saw Ginny rising, the Snitch held in her hand. The whole team converged on her, engaging in a mid-air group hug, yelling themselves hoarse. Dumbledore appeared, holding the cup. He handed to Bryn and Ginny, who were in the lead, and they lifted it up for everyone to see.
Back in the common room, the whole House was partying when the portrait hole opened. It was Harry. There was a sudden burst of applause - Harry might not have played, but it was his hand-picked team that had won. Ginny had been holding the Cup; passing it to Bryn, she ran to Harry and hugged him. It didn't stay a hug long, though. Harry, obviously forgetting that they were in plain view of the entire House, kissed Ginny soundly. Bryn looked at Hermione, both grinning. Dean Thomas, along with the group Bryn dubbed 'Harry's Fangirls' all looked furious. Ron just looked stunned. He gave Harry a nod, though, when the boy's green eyes searched out his best friend. Harry and Ginny left, and everyone went back to the party, though there was certainly quite a lot of discussion about what had just occurred.
At quarter to seven, Bryn slipped out of the still-continuing party to go to her Necromancy lesson. When she got there, Morta favored her with a rare smile.
"Congratulations on the game today," the woman told her student.
"Thanks," said Bryn, unable to keep a silly grin off her face. "What are we doing today?" she asked Morta.
"Today I'll be teaching you how to perform a Calling Spell. This is what is used to pull someone from the Abyss." Morta went on to explain how a necromancer would go to one of the Rifts, and recite a spell in ancient Egyptian - Bryn shook her head at that; why were all the important necromantic spells in dead languages? - to call out the person they wished to rescue. This spell also involved using your own blood to write certain runes on the floor in front of the Rift. Bryn didn't like the sound of this at all.
"But what if the Rift you need to go to is in a guarded place, like the Veil of Shadows?" she asked, knowing she was skating on thin ice, and hoping Morta didn't guess why she wanted to know.
"There is another form of Calling Spell. While the one I have just explained has immediate effect, this one does not. It requires a candle, inscribed with the same runes as are used in the other spell. The candle is to be placed in a dish that you fill with a special potion with ingredients listed on page 830 of your book, and then you light the candle, speaking the same Calling Spell over it. When the candle burns into the potion, the spell is activated, and the person is freed. This version is actually far safer than the usual type, but is less foolproof. Most necromancers use the direct procedure, for certainty." Bryn nodded. That made sense, but in her case, it would probably be better to use the candle method.
A/N: And we are getting closer and closer to the end! I should be able to close this fic in only a few more chapters. But a warning; if anyone reading this has not finished HBP yet, DO NOT READ the next chapter. There are major spoilers!