Chapter 9
Losing, the Black Eye, & Green Sparks
September ended and October arrived, Amy joined the sixth years and took her place as a Hufflepuff. Though Dumbledore thought it would be better if she lodged with Remus, than with the students; or at least until a room could be found for her. The Saturday everyone was waiting for finally arrived. All morning at breakfast Kyle had to listen to Draco gloat. "I'm the best seeker this school has ever had."
Kyle couldn't listen to another word. He was so sick of all of their crap, he took his last bite, and stood up. Interrupting another of Draco's rants he spoke.
"Now I dislike pretty much all of you, but stop acting like heroes when you haven't done anything valiant. You can't be the best if you keep losing to (looks down at Draco) Gryffindor." He suddenly realized that the hall became very quiet. He glanced up and saw he had everyone's complete attention. "You are all really just a bunch of rich spoiled brats, except you have nothing to show for it. Your future is looking pretty empty. All of you are all talk, quoting Malfoy 'Do you know who my father is?' Who cares, he's not here, its just you. Who cares, he's not here its just you. You could be the best house here; instead you're the worst. Why do you prefer to be the most hated when you could be the most respected? I know losing hasn't taught you anything, but winning won't either. I hope the game ends in a tie." With that Kyle walked out of the hall.
Dumbledore stood up, "I hope that speech gave you all peace of mind. Players, you better go get ready. Good Luck to all." He sat down and watched the two teams silently get up and head to the locker rooms.
Harry and the team are in the locker room. Katie stood in the middle of the room; Wood had made her captain before he left. Harry thought she was doing a good job, but right now she is freaking out. "We have to win, they're going to be mad about being embarrassed. Harry, keep your eyes sharp. Fred, George, be care not to wear out your arms too soon, and keep an eye on Draco. (Turning to the rest of the team.) Agility and speed is key, hold on tight, no one is falling off today, and push back! Good Luck!" She led the way out on to the field. They all mounted simultaneously and took their positions. Harry rose above the others.
Lee Jordan's voice rang out, "welcome to the first game of the season. The clear, warm weather today promises an excellent game. Slytherin vs. Gryffindor!"
The stands erupted with cheering. The balls were released; Katie caught the Quaffle. Harry scanned the sky, while keeping an eye on Draco, who was perched over the middle of the field a few feet above the action. Harry saw the snitch hovering behind Draco's left elbow.
"Score! Great shot, Angelina! Gryffindor 50, Slytherin 30." Lee yelled excitedly.
Harry bolted to Draco, who was watching the action below him. Draco looked up to see Harry a split second too late. His eyes widened, but Harry saw the snitch speed away. Harry stopped his broom. He blinked finding himself nose to nose with Draco, who had not blinked yet.
"Harry, bludger!" Fred yelled.
Harry pulled Draco to the right as a bludger streaked up past them. Draco pushed Harry away and dove into the action below.
"You're welcome!" Harry yelled after him.
"Excellent save from Slytherin keeper Adam Sleem. Katie takes the ball back and SCORE! Gryffindor 80, Slytherin 30. This is a tough game."
Harry ducked as a bludger zoomed overhead; he flew to the left to find a safer place to hover. Fred flew toward him as he whacked a bludger at Draco.
"Any sign yet?" He asked.
"Almost had it."
"Yeah, sorry about that I was aiming for Draco's butt."
Harry smiled. "Nice try."
"Thanks," Fred flew off.
Harry was beginning to get bored. He hadn't seen the snitch since the incident with Draco over an hour ago. Of all the games he's played none of them have ever lasted this long.
"Gryffindor scores again, putting then back in the lead, with Gryffindor 250, Slytherin 240."
"Hey, Harry, wake up." Maria yelled from the Gryffindor's stands.
Harry didn't see anything out of the ordinary. He looked at Maria who was pointing at her knee. Harry looked down and saw the snitch buzzing around his left knee. He reached out and grabbed it. He held it up. "HEY!" He yelled.
"Bloody, ("LEE JORDON!") Harry Potter has the snitch! ("WHAT?")" Echoed Lee and Professor McGonigall's voices. "Gryffindor wins 350 to 240."
The Slytherin team having been embarrassed twice in one day left the field quietly and unnoticed. Once inside the locker room Adam Sleem the captain attacked Draco. He punched Draco in the face. "We would have won if you'd just open your eyes you stupid git. Bloody hell, what is it with you? I'm actually beginning to think that Valenti is right about you, you're all talk." He punched Draco in the face again. Draco fell backward. "As the new captain, I'm telling you shape up or you're off the team. Understand?"
Draco spit out blood.
"Understand?!"
"Yes, sir."
Harry and the whole team were glowing that night at dinner. Meanwhile the Slytherins were gloomy and angry.
"So Fred, why were you trying to hit Draco in the butt?" Harry asked.
George and Fred smiled wickedly as George held up a large book titled, "Weirdest Quidditch Incidents."
"It's all about the most unusual injures." George explained.
"We found it over the summer." Fred said.
"You actually came close to repeating one," Ron told him.
"A seeker in Ireland fell on top of the snitch and swallowed it." Fred said.
"No one knew he had it and the game continued for two days when he finally got it out." George said.
"Eww!" Ginny exclaimed.
"Anyway no one ever got a bludger in the butt." Fred said.
"So Draco was your guinea pig?" Michael asked.
"Yup, cool, huh?" George asked.
Ron laughed at the thought.
"So who do you play next?" Michael asked.
"Ravenclaw." Fred said. "Except they still haven't found a new chaser."
Isabel entered the common room after dinner to find the Quidditch team discussing strategies.
"Isabel," Cho called out.
"Yes?"
"Have you thought about trying out?"
"For what?"
"The chaser position, we heard you had a great-grand mum or aunt who was a captain. So we were wondering if you were interested?"
"Well, I've only had a few flying lessons."
"Try outs are tomorrow at 7pm." The captain a 7th year boy, Eric Oakland said.
Isabel looked at the team of smiling faces trying to convince her. "Fine, I'll think about it." She said as she went up to her room.
Kyle sat in the common room with Jim writing a letter to Eelops about the ferret's behavior toward Draco. To keep Jim close he put a leash on him and tied the end to the table leg. Draco entered the common room alone and sat at the only seat not occupied, next to Kyle in the corner. Kyle looked up as he signed the letter, to see Draco sporting a huge black eye.
"You should put something on that." Kyle commented.
"Can't it's been cursed if I try to heal it in any way, it will get worse."
"Like in magical ways?"
"How else would you heal it?" Draco asked snidely.
Kyle untied Jim, "come one," he said standing up.
"What?"
Kyle grabbed Draco by the front of his robes and pulled him to his feet. "Come on."
Kyle led Draco out of the common room, through some hallways Draco had never walked. Until he bought Draco to a large painting of a bowl of fruit, Kyle reached up and tickled the pear, and a small hole was revealed.
"The Weasley twins showed me this." Kyle said as he walked in.
Draco entered to find himself in the kitchen. Kyle spotted the elf he was looking for. "Winky?" The elf ran up to him and hugged his legs.
"Yous come back!" She squeaked excitedly.
"Yeah, Winky, I'm back. Do you have a raw piece of steak a about the length of my hand?"
"Why raw?"
"I'll show you when you get it."
The elf bounced off.
"I hear you old elf is here, too." Kyle commented.
Winky came back a minute later with a piece of meat on a plate. Kyle picked it up and placed it on Draco eye. "Hold it there, it will stop the swelling."
Draco wrinkled his nose as he held the meat.
"Thanks, Winky." As Kyle thanked her she hugged him again. Kyle led Draco out. "Now I need to go to the owlery."
"You can use my owl." Draco offered.
Kyle smiled seeing Draco's discomfort toward having to hold a raw piece of meat.
The next morning Kyle and Max were in Herbology, when something unexpected happened. During Professor Sprout's demonstration on Devil's Snare it crept up the students arms and legs. As the student set to work, relieving themselves from the plants, a strange sensation came over Kyle. With his wands still in his pocket, he watched as the vine around his arm exploded.
Professor Sprout started yelling. "No magic needs to be used, just stop moving!"
But the explosions didn't stop, the plant next to Kyle exploded all over Max. Kyle looked at him and then at his hands. Green sparks were circling Kyle's hands and arms up to his elbows.
"Kyle.
"Max, just stay away!" Kyle backed away from Max and fell backward. He got up and ran out of the class.
As Kyle ran he stared at his arms and smacked into something solid. He fell backward and looked up to discover a large bushy face looking down at him. It was Hagrid.
"What are ye runnin' from? Aren't ye supposed to be in class?"
"I…I," Hagrid pulled Kyle to his feet. "Blew up half the class."
"So? You're not the first or the last."
"That's not it, I'm turning into something."
Before Hagrid could ask what, Kyle ran away from him toward the school. Hagrid's eyes widened when he saw the sparks.
Amy sat in Snape's room watching as he poured her a cup of tea. It was night; Amy had just finished her first day of classes. She had a break on Mondays just before dinner. Snape handed her the cup and sat across from her.
"How are you?" He asked quietly.
"I feel afraid and nervous. He's not the same boy I first fell for. When did he change?"
"Remember when the chamber of Secrets was opened?"
"Sure, we had a fight the week before. Wait, it was him?" Amy's eyes widened with fear.
"I think so, he never owned up to it though." Snape sighed. "He loved you so much, he would have killed for you."
"I'm sure he has."
"He still loves you. When you left he just lost it."
"It's all my fault." Amy cried tears streamed down her face. "I was so afraid, and my parents didn't like or approve of him, because of the whole being a wizard thing."
"You have to tell Maria."
"I can't," she cried. "What will I say, 'oh, Maria, your birth father is an evil wizard.' I can't do it."
"She needs to know for her own safety." Snape got up and kneeled in front of her.
"I know, I wish I had never left. I should have never left him. We should have raised Maria together."
"Stop, you can't change the past."
Amy hugged Severus and cried.
Authors Note: Thanks for all the reviews. Well, everyone's favorite holiday is just around the bend. What does it hold in store for our favorite characters? Sorry no spoilers, except that a new secret will be revealed, hence the title. I hope you will all tell me what you think.