The Difference One Choice Makes
7th November 1993
"Do you ever get the feeling that you're the latest topic of gossip?" said Harry as he walked back into the Great Hall just in time for breakfast though it appeared that he had missed the morning post.
"Never had that feeling no… but I imagine it looks exactly like this" said Katie who was walking next to him with her left arm still in its sling and some of her bandages being visible on her arms and neck.
The two had been discharged from the Hospital Wing that morning after Madam Pomfrey had finally deemed them okay to leave.
Narcissa who was now sat in her seat at the staff table having been there when he woke up nearly an hour ago before leaving him as he was waiting for Katie to be discharged. Narcissa glanced down at Harry with a look on her face that left Harry puzzled.
"I'll see you later Harry" said Katie softly before she went to sit down with her friends Sally Harrison and Leanne Porter who were close to where she and Harry were stood.
"Bye" said Harry softly.
Walking up between the tables he could see that a lot of eyes were following him as he approached Neville who was sat with his fellow Third Year Gryffindor's sharing a few copies of the Daily Prophet Morning Edition between them.
"What's going on?" said Harry as he managed to find a seat in between Parvati and Dean Thomas.
Both of the people on either side of him looked uncomfortable in answering his question as Neville handed him two envelopes both of which were addressed to him.
He put the envelopes in his pocket for now before sighing.
"Alright, out with it… why the hell is everyone staring in the hall staring at me like I've just come back from the dead?" said Harry glancing around the different tables which caused people who were looking at him to turn away.
The other Third Years shared a few nervous looks between them before Dean handed him his copy of the Daily Prophet.
"Front page mate" said Dean turning away from him and back to his breakfast as he spoke.
Harry turned the newspaper over so he could see the front page and sighed having finally got the answer to his question.
HOGWARTS STUDENT ATTACKED BY DEMENTORS
MINISTER FOR MAGIC CORNELIUS FUDGE FACING HUGE BACKLASH
Written by: Rita Skeeter
Below the headline were two pictures side by side, one of the portly Minister For Magic Cornelius Fudge, and the other was of Harry taken at the end of last years Gryffindor versus Castelobruxo match which was of a close-up shot of Harry holding the caught Snitch high into the air.
My rabid readers, I said as much when our dear Minister For Magic, Cornelius Fudge announced that he was sending Dementor's which serve as the Guards of Azkaban Prison and have long been classed as Class XXXXX dark creatures by the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, that there would be dangerous consequences to his actions.
Indeed these consequences have taken but two months into the term to occur. During a School Quidditch match taking place between the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff school teams, Gryffindor Seeker Harrison James Potter (aged 13) came under attack from at least half a dozen Dementors while chasing the Golden Snitch high into the sky above the school's Quidditch Stadium.
Fortunately, despite falling over one hundred and fifty feet after falling from his broomstick during the Dementor attack, young Mr Potter's life was saved thanks to the actions of recently appointed Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor and Auror Narcissa Potter nee Black (aged 36) – who is the Mother of Harrison Potter and the youngest Sister of dangerous criminal Bellatrix Black, who along with Professor's Severus Snape (aged 35) and Minerva Mcgonagall (aged 63) helped transport the unconscious Harrison Potter to the Hospital Wing where he later recovered.
While Mr Potter is the first student who has been attacked by dark creatures who find themselves drawn to people who force their victims to relive terrible events from their past, what's to say that there won't be more attacks on innocent students while the Dementors remain posted at Hogwarts.
Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore (aged 111) has sent an owl to the Ministry Of Magic calling for the Dementors to be removed from Hogwarts.
In his press conference in the Ministry Of Magic Atrium last night, the Minister quoted part of Dumbledore's letter saying, "Keeping the Dementor's at Hogwarts will cause more harm than good and run the risk of further attacks on students" which caused uproar in the Ministry with several influential Members of the Wizergamot calling for the Dementors to be removed immediately.
Also in his press conference, the Minister was also quoted saying, "While I sympathize with what happened to young Mr Potter, I can assure the public that the attack he suffered was an isolated incident and that it will not happen again, as such the Dementors will remain at their post guarding Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry until Bellatrix Black is captured", as I write to you now I find myself wondering. Has Fudge lost his mind keeping Dementors at Hogwarts after a near-fatal attack on a student, only time will tell.
For details on the effects of Dementors (see page two)
For information related to the origin of the Dementors (see page five)
Harry did not even bother to read any of the other mentioned articles and slammed the newspaper on the table hard enough to make some of the surrounding students jump slightly.
"I guess I'm Hogwarts famous now… the only student to be attacked twice by Dementors" said Harry sarcastically.
"Just forget about it Harry, it'll blow over soon" said Parvati.
"I wouldn't want to have an encounter with a Dementor though, making you relive your worst memories" shuddered Lavender which caused a few glares from the others.
"That's not appropriate Lavender" hissed Parvati as Harry busied himself with his breakfast eager to avoid a further conversation about it.
Lavender paled slightly and looked up the table.
"Sorry Harry… I didn't mean it like that" said Lavender quickly.
Harry just nodded at her and poured himself some orange juice.
Later that afternoon…
Harry walked out into the courtyard still feeling wound up by what he saw in the paper this morning while Neville, Ron, Janet and Hermione were walking close behind him.
"It makes you wonder doesn't it… exactly what Potter hears when Dementors come near him" drawled the voice of Lucan Malfoy from the opposite side of the secondary courtyard in between four sides of one of the ground floor corridors.
Harry gritted his teeth, trying his hardest to ignore Lucan who was stood under one of the trees with Felix Lestrange, Crabbe, Goyle, Pansy Parkinson and Mason Lee.
"Oi Potty… what is it about Dementors that makes you faint?!" shouted Lucan as he and his little gang started to make their way over to him and his friends.
"Ignore him Harry" said Hermione quickly.
"Tell us what it is Potter… or is it something else, is it nightmares of dear Auntie Bellatrix turning up in the castle and murdering your Mummy?!" shouted Lucan which resulted in gasps and shouts of anger erupting from around the courtyard.
Harry saw red and pulled his wand out.
"STUPEFY!" roared Harry spinning around and pointing his wand at the gang of Slytherins.
Thanks to his anger however his aim was off as his spell slammed into Goyle's face knocking him to the floor with a thud.
That was the catalyst for spells to start flying back and forth between the five Gryffindor's and the remaining five Slytherin's.
This lasted for a good minute or so with neither side being removed from the five versus five duel before a booming voice brought their duel to a halt.
"ENOUGH!"
The spellfire ceased and everyone in the courtyard saw Professor Snape striding towards the ten standing students.
As he approached them, he silently revived Goyle who slowly got back to his feet.
Harry glanced at his friends and sighed.
"I threw the first spell Professor Snape, my friends were only trying to help me" said Harry with a sense of honesty and desire to protect his friends.
Professor Snape turned to him with a flat look on his face.
"I appreciate your honesty Mr Potter… detention for three nights with Professor Mcgonagall and fifty points from Gryffindor, ten from each of you" said Professor Snape flatly.
"That's not fair Professor… Malfoy provoked Harry" said Neville.
"He threatened his Mother" said Hermione.
"Shut up Mudblood!" shouted Lucan snidely.
The entire courtyard fell into a very tense silence as Professor Snape gritted his teeth in what could only be described as uncontrollable rage.
He turned his deadly glare on Lucan and his fellow Slytherin's.
"Starting tonight, five of you with the exception of you Mr Malfoy will serve three nights detention with me… and as for you Mr Malfoy, you will receive a weeks detention with myself and we will be going to see the Headmaster" said Professor Snape in a deathly voice that sent shivers up and down everyone's spines.
He had heard enough of that disgusting word whenever one of his fellow Slytherin's would use it to either describe or insult Lily which only got worse in their Seventh Year when it came out that they were dating.
Even to this day Professor Snape still felt thankful for his Wife, knowing that without her continuing to be his friend even after her other friends told her to sever ties with him, he most likely would have followed the path of his fellow Slytherin's in becoming a Death Eater.
Even to this day he still hated himself for coming within a whisker of calling her a Mudblood out of anger and humiliation caused by James Potter after their Fifth Year Charms exam.
Of course, he did tell her years later how close he was, and Lily just told him that he stopped himself and should not feel bad about something that did not happen.
Snapping himself out of his memories he turned to Lucan as the teenage boy's eyes went wide.
"Why do I get a weeks detention… Potter attacked me without provocation!" shouted Lucan in shock and indignation.
Professor Snape rounded on him and took him firmly by his arm.
"Because you thought it appropriate to utter that disgusting word in this school… the Headmaster will deal with you properly" snarled Professor Snape which made Lucan go pale.
Professor Snape turned to look at the Gryffindor's as his face calmed slightly.
"As for you four… you can join Mr Potter in his detention" said Professor Snape before he marched Lucan away from them across the courtyard by his arm.
"And sixty points from Slytherin!" shouted Professor Snape.
As Professor Snape marched back into the corridor with Lucan, the remaining Slytherin's glared at the five Gryffindor's before walking back across the courtyard.
"That was so unfair, how can he give you detention after what Malfoy said?" said Janet angrily.
"If he'd have said that about my Mother I would have strangled him" said Ron.
Harry frowned.
"Yeah well… it's only three nights of doing lines with Professor Mcgonagall, be worse to end up in detention with Snape" said Harry flatly.
He put his wand away.
"Come on, let's just go" said Harry as he walked back towards the corridor.
8th November 1993
Cassiopeia found herself alone on one of the benches in the main courtyard writing a letter using the back of one of her textbooks as a rest.
Normally she would have been joined by her friends but today she felt glad that she had some time alone between her Arithmancy and Charms lessons to enjoy the peaceful serenity of the quiet afternoon.
Though as she wrote her letter she started to get a strange feeling almost like she was being watched.
She looked around the courtyard but no one was even there let alone watching her from afar.
Shrugging the feeling from her mind she went back to writing her letter to her Grandmother before that same feeling returned to her once again.
She placed her book and letter by her side on the bench and looked around the courtyard once again.
She was about to call out for anyone who might be hiding to show themselves or be hexed when she spotted something very peculiar.
Stood on the top of the courtyard building roof on the opposite side of the courtyard stood a single raven though it appeared to be larger than usual.
She breathed a sigh of relief that instead of a person watching her, that it was just a raven that glanced her way every now and then.
After a few minutes, she glanced up at the roof and saw that the raven was no longer there.
She pushed the image of the raven out of her mind and finished her letter before walking back into the castle planning to go to the library to fill the remaining time before her Charms lesson with some studying for that lesson.
14th November 1993
"And here come the teams for Ravenclaw's opening match of the season against those evil, slimy, cheating, sewage stinking-" shouted the Quidditch commentator Lee Jordan into his microphone before an angry Professor Mcgonagall cut him off.
"JORDAN!" shouted Professor Mcgonagall.
"Slytherins" shouted Lee as both sets of players flew out onto the pitch.
Like the rest of the Ravenclaw team, Jennifer was dressed in dark blue and grey Quidditch robes with brown leather padding on his chest and arms.
Their Slytherin opponents were dressed in the same outfits but their robes were dark green and silver in colour instead.
"Good luck girl" said Cho before she moved into the Seekers position.
"Kick Malfoy's ass Cho" said Jennifer in return.
"INTRODUCING THE CHEATING SNAKE SCUM AS FOLLOWS… CHASERS, CAPTAIN MARCUS FLINT, MICHAEL MONTAGUE AND CASSIUS WARRINGTON, BEATERS, ADRIAN PUCEY AND DAVID AVERY, KEEPER MYLES BLETCHLEY AND SEEKER LUCAN MALFOY!" shouted Lee to a chorus of boos from everyone in the stadium except the Slytherins who cheered for their team.
"And it seems that Mr Malfoy has miraculously recovered from that tiny little cut on his arm that he kept in a sling for the last two months, careful Malfoy we wouldn't want another scratch to make you miss more games!" shouted Lee Jordan as the Slytherin team got into position in the centre of the pitch.
"JORDAN, DO THE ANNOUNCEMENTS PROPERLY!" shouted Professor Mcgonagall.
"Sorry Professor… AND NOW INTRODUCING A MUCH CHANGED RAVENCLAW SIDE FROM LAST YEARS QUIDDITCH TOURNAMENT INVOLVING LAST YEARS VISITING SCHOOLS, CAPTAIN ROGER DAVIES IS JOINED BY NEW CHASER RECRUITS EDDIE CARMICHAEL AND JENNIFER BLACK, JAMIE MCMANUS IS JOINED BY JACKSON ANDREWS IN THE BEATER POSITION, SARAH FAWCETT RETAINS HER PLACE AS THE KEEPER AND NEW RECRUIT CHO CHANG MAKES HER DEBUT AT SEEKER!" shouted Lee to a large cheer from most of the stadium.
Jennifer took her position next to Eddie Carmichael in the centre of the pitch she looked over to see her parents sat in the staff tower.
"Watch yourself Black, the Slytherin team is even worse than what you might have heard" said Roger Davies.
Jennifer nodded eyeing the Slytherin team warily, noticing that apart from Lucan Malfoy all of the players were big bulked up boys.
She watched as Roger Davies shook hands with Marcus Flint who looked like he was trying to crush Roger Davies's hand.
Barely a minute later the referee and Flying instructor Madam Hooch kicked the crate open releasing both Bludgers and the Snitch which caused Lee Jordan to start talking about how catching the Snitch would be worth 150 points and would end the match.
Madam Hooch picked the Quaffle up and threw it up into the air.
"The Quaffle is released… and the game begins!" shouted Lee.
Roger Davies surged forwards and caught the Quaffle quickly passing it to Jennifer before Marcus Flint tried to shoulder barge Roger for the Quaffle.
Jennifer took off towards the Slytherin hoops along with her fellow Chasers using the speed of her Nimbus 2002 to cover the distance in seconds.
Weaving past Bludgers and the Slytherin Chasers who tried to block her off, Jennifer finally got into position and hurled the Quaffle through the unmarked bottom left hoop easily beating Myles Bletchley.
"AND BLACK SCORES A MAGNIFICENT SOLO GOAL TO GIVE RAVENCLAW THE LEAD… TEN POINTS TO RAVENCLAW!" shouted Lee to cheers from most of the students.
Jennifer received high fives from her fellow Chasers as they moved to start another attack.
As the game wore on the Slytherin players got even dirtier.
Jennifer was sure she would see several bruises by the time she took her post-match shower given how many times he had been shoulder barged or hit by the Slytherin Players.
The four goals she scored against them were more than satisfying though as well as the 250 to 70 scoreline that they beat them by when Cho caught the Snitch.
Once the cheers started to die down, Jennifer and the rest of the Ravenclaw players cheered before flying down to the ground and dismounting their brooms.
"You did well today Black… keep up the good work" said Roger supportively.
"Thanks" said Jennifer slinging her broom over her shoulder as they set off walking in the direction of the changing rooms.
The rest of the Ravenclaw team followed suit with Cho walking alongside Jennifer resulting in an animated discussion about how well each girl did in the match.
20th November 1993
Harry, Euphemia, Lacey, Neville, Ron, Hermione and Janet were sat eating their breakfast at the Gryffindor table laughing at a joke that Lacey had just told them when hundreds of owls flew into the Great Hall delivering the morning post.
Euphemia and Lacey both received envelopes and small parcels from their parents while Hermione also received her usual copy of the Daily Prophet.
Harry looked down the table trying to spot Hedwig and gasped in surprise.
She was flying towards him along with two post office barn owls carrying a large broom shaped parcel between them.
They flew above Harry and dropped the package into his hands.
"Looks like Dad finally got you a broom" said Euphemia.
"Open it and see what broom it is mate" said Ron eagerly.
Before unwrapping the paper Harry decided to read a scrap of parchment attached to the wrapped handle.
Dear Harry
I spent nearly ten minutes trying to make my mind up before finally getting this for you. I hope your Mum doesn't look too shocked when she sees what it is, knowing that you'll thrash any Seeker you come up against with this. And don't tell her I said that I hope you thrash Slytherin.
Love Dad.
"Open it, see which one they got for you" said Neville excitedly.
Harry placed it on the table and started to unwrap it revealing the dark brown that turned into a black wooden handle made from ebony which led down to neat dark brown almost black twigs made from hazel that was encased in a gold ring with gold footrests on either side of it.
"Is that a?" said Lacey in shock.
"That's a Firebolt, it's the fastest broom in the world mate" said Ron excitedly.
More and more people on the Gryffindor table and some of the other house tables were looking at the broom with shock, envy and amazement.
"Blimey Harry, you gotta let me have a go on this" said Fred Weasley who had come over to see Harry's new broomstick with George and Lee Jordan.
"Me too" said George.
"Of course, you can have a go at practice today" said Harry.
"Wood's gonna have a heart attack when he sees that" said Fred.
"Come on, let's go down to the Quidditch Pitch and test it out" said George.
Harry and the others quickly finished their breakfast before getting up and walking out of the Great Hall with Harry's new Firebolt which had many eyes on them along with comments about how good the brand new broomstick was and how some people wanted one.
They arrived on the Quidditch Pitch some twenty minutes later.
Wood, Katie, Angelina and Alicia who were already changed and ready for practice made their way over to the others with looks of shock and awe on their faces.
Or in Wood's case, looking like he was about to die of shock as he realised what Harry was flying.
"Wicked, I want a go on that" said Angelina excitedly.
"Get in line" said Harry.
Harry took off from the ground at a speed almost twice as fast as his old Nimbus.
He flew a few laps around the pitch along with a few tricks and dives feeling amazed at how the broom responded to the slightest touch.
After a good five minutes of flying, he landed back on the ground with an almost giddy look of excitement on his face.
"That… was… amazing" said Harry grinning wildly.
"It's practically written all over your face, now let me have a go" said Katie grinning like a madwoman as she handed her new Nimbus 2001 broom to Alicia so she could fly a Firebolt.
Harry threw the Firebolt to Katie who caught it before mounting it and zooming off into the sky.
After she had done a few laps she returned to the ground looking dizzy and flustered.
Thanks to everyone wanting to have a go on the broomstick, it was at least half an hour before the Gryffindor's were finally able to start their Quidditch Practice as George brought the broomstick in for a graceful landing.
"That is mental Harry, Chang is going to have her work cut out for her in the next game" said George handing him the broom.
With that, those who were not on the Gryffindor Quidditch Team went and found seats in the stands so the team could start the practice session.
"That she is" said Harry as they made their way over to where Wood was stood in the centre of the pitch next to the balls crate.
Wood told them all to mount up and begin practice.
Unfortunately the fact that most people in the Great Hall had seen Harry's Firebolt when it arrived with the morning post and had come down to watch the Gryffindors practice so they could see a Firebolt in action.
Upon seeing this Wood was not best pleased but Angelina convinced him to ignore the crowd saying that no matter what he said, they would not budge.
Harry caught the Snitch six times in record time during practice as well as evading each Bludger that the Twins sent his way with ease.
"Damn Harry, when you said your Dad would get you another broomstick… I didn't expect it would be a Firebolt, these things start at like five thousand Galleons" said Katie eyeing the broomstick in shock after they had finished practice over an hour and a half after starting.
Harry slowly nodded as the other Gryffindor's walked past them towards the changing rooms with Angelina and Alicia winking and giggling at him.
"I know… it makes me want to really look after it you know, so it doesn't end up like my old Nimbus did" said Harry glancing down at the broom.
"That wasn't your fault… and it's a shame you can't make a Dementor pay compensation for the broom" joked Katie.
Harry chuckled.
"That Nimbus looked really quick as well, and agile" said Harry glancing at her Nimbus 2001.
"Yeah… early Christmas present from my Uncle" said Katie glancing at her own broomstick.
"At least you got better after that crash" said Harry softly.
Katie smiled and took a step towards him stroking his arm for a moment which caused Harry to freeze for a moment feeling strange sensations in his chest.
"I'm just glad you recovered from that encounter with the Dementor, it must be awful to go near one of them" said Katie softly.
Harry sighed and nodded.
"It was yeah… though I bet you were glad to walk out of the Hospital Wing at the same time as me, or else you would have been bored on your own" said Harry changing the subject.
Katie rolled her eyes.
"I wouldn't mind being in there if I had something productive to do, instead of spending hours staring at the ceiling, talking to you that night was helpful at least" said Katie.
Harry let out a laugh as they started to walk back side by side towards the changing rooms.
"Well next time you get stuck in the Hospital Wing, let me know, I'd be happy to join you if only to alleviate your boredom" said Harry.
Katie playfully bumped him and smirked.
"Just not as an in-patient I hope… you could bring me some grapes and orange juice if you do end up keeping poor unwell me company though" said Katie teasingly as they neared the player's entrance which led to the changing rooms.