Chapter Thirteen

Quidditch in the Rain

That afternoon, everyone was getting ready for the Slytherin vs. Gryffindor match. Buffy was looking out of one of the windows. The weather had decided to take a drastic turn for the worse since the storm last night, which didn't look good for either team. Although, she still didn't get why everyone made such a fuss over this game. She had actually seen Professor Mcgonagal and Snape making a bet on who would win - like they didn't have more important things to be worrying about?

"Buffy, I've been looking for you guys all over the place! I swear this castle is actually a maze designed just to annoy me! Have you seen Angel?"

Buffy turned to face Cordelia and shook her head. "No, not since class. How come?"

"I had a vision this morning. Of Harry".

"Oh, that's right, you're a seer now. Willow explained it all to me". Buffy was still amazed at how much Cordelia had changed over the past three years. From head cheer leader, to founder of Angel Investigations and link to the powers that be. It was enough to make you think anything was possible. Almost anything. "So, what happened? You can tell me as well you know".

They moved out of the way of a group of third years who were running late to the match, the corridors now nearly deserted. Cordelia lowered her voice anyway, just in case.

"You're not going to like it. It seemed to confirm everything that Dumbledore said last night. I saw Harry fighting against Voldemort - and it looked like he was loosing".

"Great. You didn't get anything else? Like - how much time we have left? Where this is supposed to happen?"

"No. It's like your dreams. You didn't know if that army had already been gathered or not - well I don't know much about this. Except, it was strange. I didn't get a sense of - panic. Or dread - I didn't feel any grief. You know, how you'd normally feel if you were about to see someone being killed? I felt like this was how it was meant to be, but there was a way round it. Like what I was seeing was what might happen if we didn't figure out a plan".

"So…the powers think there's a chance we can stop this?" asked Buffy hopefully.

Cordelia shrugged. "Maybe not stop it. But it might not be as hopeless as Dumbledore says it is. i think we're going to play a bigger part in this then just back up".

"We should get out there," sighed Buffy finally. Cordelia nodded and they walked out into the daylight.

They joined Willow, Wesley and the rest of their friends on the teachers stand, wrapping their cloaks tighter around them against the chill wind. "It' going to rain," groaned Xander. "This is so bad. And I spent so long with the captain of the team helping them out".

"So, what exactly is this game then?" asked Buffy.

"His suddenly an expert on the subject," grinned Paige. "Watch out though, once he gets started he won't shut up!" and as expected Xander started a long speech on the rules of the game, its history, and all the famous teams in the world.

"Does anyone understand what his going on about?" asked Buffy.

Phoebe grinned and shook her head. "We just let him talk". Her grin faded slightly as she met the slayers gaze. "I meant to find you earlier. I had a vision about Harry".

"You to?" asked Buffy, raising an eyebrow.

A loud cheer erupted from the crowd as the Gryffindor team took their positions.

"I'll tell you after the game." Phoebe had to shout over the sudden boos that could probably be heard for miles around.

"That's the Slytherin group," Willow explained to Giles and Wesley.

"We're not that stupid Willow," said Giles. "We have eyes. And despite what you think, I do watch sport occasionally! I'll be able to pick this up!"

Wesley grinned at Giles and Willows bickering. He could see he hadn't missed much development between the Scooby gang and Giles while he'd been in LA. Ripper was still very much the father figure to them.

"It's a shame Angel isn't here to see this," Willow continued as the game started.

"Well - it is daytime," said Wesley. He was amazed at how his own relationship with Buffy's friends had changed. For one thing, they actually seemed to listen when he talked now, and they valued his opinion. Sometimes.

"And they're off!" said Lee Jordan. For all their lack of enthusiasm, Buffy and the others soon became engrossed in the game as much as everyone else.

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"Can you believe we won?" said Neville excitedly as he followed Ron and Hermione. Luna followed them closely as they went to meet Harry.

"I always new that we would," she said wistfully.

"Since when?" said Neville. "All the time you kept saying how they'd all fall of their brooms if this weather kept up".

"I feel bad for Dawn," Hermione was saying, looking over as Dawn made her way over to meet with her sister - once again by herself.

"I know," answered Ron. "But we're his friends right? And maybe we shouldn't trust her".

"Don't be ridiculous," Hermione looked at him briefly. "What ever else, we have to remember that they're the good guys. They're here to protect us and their risking their lives to do it. Harry's just mad because he likes Dawn and she's not telling him the truth".

"Which is a big thing with him lately," Ron continued. "I guess after all his been through. We're lucky he forgave us so easily".

"Well, he knew we'd tell him eventually. I wonder though…" Hermione paused. "His so big on secrets, but there's something his not telling us. Why is he so mad at Dumbledore for not telling him about the teachers? It's bad but - surely he can understand it? What else has Dumbledore kept from Harry?"

"Never thought of that one," said Ron thoughtfully.

"Maybe we should just stay out of this one," Hermione finished.

"Are you crazy? We may do a lot of things, but we don't do that. We've always stood by Harry, and that's what we'll do this time what ever the poblem is".

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"Dawn, are you sure you're ok?" asked Buffy as she and her sister hurried to get in from the rain. She was still thinking about Phoebe's vision, exactly like Cordelias. Was it coincidence them both getting the vision at the same time?

"I…guess so. Harry's kind of been avoiding me. His been acting strange around me since the day we studied together, but now his not even talking to me. And Ron and Hermione always stop talking when I walk past. It's like they know something".

Buffy frowned slightly. "Well, Cordelia told me earlier that Harry was asking a lot of questions in her class today. About me. We'll have to be more careful". Although she had a feeling it was already too late for that!

With that they walked into the Hall, ready for the feast which was held in gryffindors honor.

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Malfoy sat by the fire in the Slytherin Common room. Everyone was at the feast, so he was perfectly safe to do what he had to. He pulled out the role of parchment and re-read the letter he had written. It seemed perfect. It had everything in it. All about the new teachers and what they were. There were several copies of the letter, and he didn't know who to send it to first. Finally making up his mind, he made his way up to the owlery. He beckoned to his own owl, which glided across the room and settled on his arm.

He paused slightly. What he was about to do would ruin the lives of not just Harry Potter, but Dumbledore and all the rest of them. Dumbledore would never be allowed to teach again - as he had put everyone's lives in danger just by bringing the new teachers here. And if Voldemort's followers knew who was supposedly protecting Potter, they'd know how to get rid of them to make things easier in killing Him. So he wouldn't only be helping to end one persons life…it would be several. He may be bad but could he live with that?

He shook his head and watched as the owl flew out of the window. Maybe not, but could he live with the consequences if he didn't do this? He had thought he would feel glad not to live in the constant shadow of Harry Potter, but if they even had a clue that he was thinking of betraying them, it wouldn't really matter what he did, because it would be his turn to die.

But he still had a nagging feeling this was a bad idea. Of all his bad ideas this was the worst, no matter what he was lead to believe.

With troubled thoughts for the first time in his life, he made his way back to the great hall.

TBC

Thanks for the reviews. By the way, i hope you're up for a long story - i just keep thinking of loads of ideas for this so it could go on for a while!!