Chapter 13: The Final Showdown
A/N: Yeah, I know that Jacoba and Harry didn't last very long, I'm sorry about that. I'm also sorry that I haven't written for awhile, but I actually have a LIFE outside of fanfiction! Isn't that a wonder? But I made this a nice long chapter to make it all up! Well anyway, I'll definitely try to post these chapters up sooner- and if I didn't make it clear, it's the end of the school year in these last few chapters. Alright? Bleh..
Harry's mood had brightened slightly as the upcoming final Quidditch match approached. Tension was rising as numerous people from mostly Gryffindor and Slytherin were hit with curses and spells, most of the time the result of a heated up arguement on who would win the Quidditch Cup. Harry had luckily come off with nothing, but Ron had gotten hit with the Sneezing Spell once, causing him to sneeze so loudly that snot flew in all directions. It was not much of a pleasing sight.
Harry had resumed his don't-talk-to-me-or-die state, engulfed in his anxieties and sorrow. Ron, Hermione, and a few others were sick of it, but they didn't bother him about it. He had a reason to be the way he was acting, but it did become rather annoying.
The three of them were currently in the common room. One was studying, another was sulking, and the last one was doodling on their parchment with their quill, while they were supposed to be doing their homework. Could you identify who did what?
"Hey mate," Ron said cautiously, though trying to sound casual. "Want to go to the Quidditch Pitch and practice with me? You never know, I could improve before that match we have tomorrow.."
Harry was about to say an automatic no before even comprehending what was said. But he stopped himself, knowing that he had been acting like a jerk for the past while. He might as well cheer someone up if he couldn't cheer himself up, right? "Er, sure, that'll be fine."
"Great, let's go."
"Wait a minute, Hermione said, not looking up from her book. "What do you two think you're doing? Don't you have some studying to do? Besides the homework, there is O.W.Ls coming up in the next week! Honestly, how many times do I have to repeat that?"
"Don't worry, 'Mione, we don't have to study after we master the Conscious Cerebellus Charm! Gives us all the knowledge we need to know," Ron said.
"Since when have you put me into the mix? We haven't been working on any such charm, and surprisingly enough, I've been studying here and there," Harry said.
Hermione snorted. "Who gave you that load of codswallop! No such charm exists- unless I somehow skipped over a book that contained a charm like that! Besides, if it were real, it's cheating. I'm not going to have a boyfriend of mine cheat! So anyway, where did you find out about this..Conscious Cerebellus Charm?"
"What? But, there is something seriously wrong with you mate! You, studying!" Ron said, his face a look of horror. "I believe you have gone to the darkside, along with Hermione."
"Darkside? Of studying? What nonsense!" Hermione snapped. "Where do you think Harry has been when you've been out doing whatever you do? Studying in the library with me, of course! And what is this Conscious Cerebellus Charm!"
"I, well, okay! I've been trying to conjure a charm like that, but it isn't working all too well. But if it does work, it's supposed to stuff your brain with that- what do you call it? Ah, knowledge."
"Sometimes I just don't understand you-" But Hermione's words were lost to Ron as he left the common room through the portrait, probably heading towards the Quidditch Pitch.
"Ron, you don't look so well. Are you okay? You look worse than usual when it comes to Quidditch matches," Hermione said, looking concerned. Their previous arguement the day before was long forgotten by morning.
"I just feel more nervous than usual, that's all. And it'd be best if you don't talk to me, because if I speak any more than this then I feel that I might bar- bleeech!" Ron puked, Hermione quickly summoning a bucket out of thin air with an incantation and the flick of her wand- and luckily just in time.
"Thanks, 'Mione," Ron said, weakly. She only gave him a reassuring smile and said, "It'll be okay, I'm sure you and Harry will do great on the field- the whole team will! You'll clobber them!"
"Maybe," Harry said, dully. He was no where near as nervous as Ron, but enough to feel that fluttering you'd get in your stomach.
Harry and Ron ate nothing more, too nervous to digest anything- especially Ron, who felt nauseous at just thinking of food. Then Katie stood up, looking rather solemn- like this was some kind of thing that would change their destinies. She nodded, and the rest of the Gryffindor Quidditch team stood up slowly, following her out into the fresh air. Harry's nerves grew more than ever, especially when they reached the Pitch.
When they were changing, Katie said, "This is the final Quidditch match of the year, we can't lose it- not to Slytherins. It's a wonder they even made it to the finals..but anyway, they're ahead by twenty points- we could win the match, but we have to be ahead by thirty points to win the Cup. Remember that, Potter- don't catch the Snitch until then." Harry nodded, to show that he understood. Then Katie continued, starting to pace back and forth, "This is the final showdown, we have to show the Slytherins who we are- what we're made of! We all know our moves, our postitions, where to go..maybe I had better show you all on the board, right, I think it's best.." Then she tapped her wand on the board, showing the plays and moves they would do. "Have you all got that? We Chasers have to fly in that formation.." She continued on and on, possibly longer than Oliver Wood would go on.
"I'm afraid if I listen to her whole speech I may go crazy and knock her out, I almost miss Oliver's speeches," Ron whispered to Harry.
"Me too, mate," Harry said, in agreement.
Thankfully, Katie stopped speaking shortly after and looked out onto the field. She leaned back in and said with no emotion, "It's time." They all got up and silently went out onto the field. This was it.
"Ladies and gentlemen, prepare yourself for the final Quidditch match!" Colin Creevy announced, his voice magically reverberating throughout the stadium. The crowd erupted, particularily from the Slytherin and Gryffindor houses. You could see either silver and green or scarlet and gold, most of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw had taken up the scarlet and gold as well, disliking the Slytherin team.
Harry felt somewhat nervous, but wasn't that bad off. He was fairly confident that he could get the Snitch under Draco's nose if he had to. So with this in mind, he kicked off the ground with the others and immediately started looking for the Snitch, while keeping an eye on Draco and the events going on around him.
"And they're off! Harry is zooming around there, probably on his guard while trying to spot the Snitch- he is the Gryffindor Seeker, as you all should know. He has pulled off magnificent plays before, I daresay he'll pull off more today! There he-"
"CREEVY! You are supposed to be telling the happenings on the field, not about one specific player! NO FAVORING!"
"Um, yeah, so, now Katie Bell has the Quaffle, who passes it to Sorensen- but then she fumbles! Ouch, not looking good for the Gryffindor team.."
Harry sighed, and looked to Malfoy, who was flying steadily around the stadium.
"OUCH! Pucey scores..20-0 to Slytherin," Creevy announced mournfully. The Slytherins in the crowd cheered while the other Houses sulked and groaned. "Twenty points ahead already? But we still need to get ahead by thirty points to win..which means Gryffindor has to go for fifty, then I catch the Snitch." With this is mind, he set off, making sure that Malfoy wouldn't find the Snitch- he'd block him off if he had to. He would stop at no means in order to win the Quidditch Cup- rather, not let the Slytherins win it.
"Goyle slammed a Bludger right into Weasley! Foul play..it has to be- right, Madam Hooch blows the whistle! Ginny Weasley goes to take the foul- she shoots- and scores! That's 10-20 for Gryffindor! She gets one more shot, she shoots- and scores again! 20-20 for Gryffindor!" The crowd cheered, Slytherin's turn to sulk, but not completely- they were still ahead by ten points, and the game wasn't over yet.
Harry's attention was raised as a Bludger came flying at him, but he dodged it easily, thanks to the fast and efficient broom he was riding on. It then reminded him of Sirius, which he did not need to remember right then.
"Potter dodges a Bludger, a magnificent show of how to use that broom! The Torpedo, quite astonishing, those things cost a fortune..flys at an altitude of one-"
"Mr. Colin Creevy! Talk about the game, not of brooms and Harry Potter! Give me that microphone NOW!
And with much surprise, he did, but then whipped out his wand and said, "Sonorus!" making his voice reverberate throughout the stadium.
"Ah, much better, now I don't have to go through the hassle of carrying that microphone! But to get right down to it- Harry Potter is the best player on the entire field. Who wouldn't agree with me? Just look how he flies on that broom, he's a natural!"
"COLIN! YOU ARE REALLY PUSHING IT! START TALKING ABOUT THE GAME OR YOU LOSE THIS POSITION!" Professor McGonagall roared.
"Sorry, sorry! Now Slytherin is in posession of the Quaffle, coming to Gryffindor's goal posts..he shoots, but the post is blocked by Weasley! Spectacular!" The Gryffindors in the crowd whooped and cheered. "Now the Quaffle gets passed on to Ginny Weasley, what a beautiful redhead she is! She passes it to Bell, Bell with the Quaffle- she shoots- and SCORES! 30-20 for Gryffindor!" The crowd erupted this time, boos coming from the Slytherin House.
"Katie flew next to Harry, saying, "Now, Harry, look for the Snitch! Make sure Malfoy doesn't find it before you!" Harry nodded, then started searching for the Snitch harder than ever, keeping one eye on Malfoy. Suddenly, Malfoy dived- Harry was about to dive along with him, but was he feinting? He looked down, seeing a glint of gold, so immediately dived down, already catching up to Malfoy.
"Keep away Potter, this is mine!" Malfoy shouted.
"Oh no it isn't, not this time!" Harry shouted back, then leaned forward and reached out with his hand for the Snitch. He got it!
Draco knew that Harry would get the Snitch before he could, so therefore whipped out his wand and cried, "Sliperiosis!" He smiled, for when he aimed the wand at the Snitch, it'd become slippery, too hard to grasp. And sure enough, it had worked.
"I don't believe it! Potter caught the Snitch, but he lost it! Not good for Gryffindor.." Colin announced. Harry was as surprised as well, not realizing what Draco had done. "What? I've never lost the Snitch once I've caught it!"
Draco smirked. "That dumbfounded look on his face, quite satisfying to look at," He thought. But what else he thought was forgotten, for he had found the Snitch once again- but this time right about Harry, about twenty feet up. He wasn't sure if he could get it without Harry noticing, but he might as well try anyway. He took a deep breath, then started flying cautiously upward, then going slowly toward the Snitch, that happened to be lazily flying in Harry's vincity. He made it, but was Potter going to notice? He looked down, but Harry was on the other side of the Pitch now. What luck he had! Then he sped on the rest of the way- he caught it, but didn't realize it, as he was slammed in the side of the head with a Bludger at the same instant.
"This time I can't believe it! Harry Potter catches the Snitch but loses it- but now Malfoy has caught it- but he is hit in the head by a Bludger! Gallopin' Gorgeons! Malfoy falls off his broom, but the Snitch remains clutched tightly in his hand! He almost hits the ground, but Madam Hooch stops him just in time; I think with the levitating charm! My my, well, the win goes to Slytherin..170-30." The Slytherins went out of control, both cheerful but outraged at the Bludger that was hit into Malfoy's head.
"He could die from that!" A Slytherin said in horror.
"WE WON! Ha, knew we'd beat those bloody Gryffindors!" Another Slytherin cried.
"I hope he's okay..I have to visit him in the Hospital Wing!" Pansy said, worriedly.
Meanwhile, the Gryffindors flew down and walked to the locker rooms in defeat.
"It's okay, mate, it's not like you had to win or anything. You can't be perfect all the time. Besides, on the brighter side, Malfoy got seriously injured!" Ron said, encouragingly, while they were changing back into their robes. He wasn't used to saying this kind of stuff, for it was usually him that needed the encouraging after a Quidditch match.
"Harry, you still tried your best. Nothing is wrong with that," Ginny said.
Harry said nothing, but looked to Katie, who looked up and stared at him straight in the eye, an expressionless face, but her eyes were alight with disappointment.
O.W.Ls had finally come. The Slytherins would still walk proudly down the hall, giving dark looks at Andrew Kirke, who had been the Beater to hit the Bludger. After receiving about the twentieth look, he said exasperately, "It was an accident! I had only hit it away from our Chasers, I didn't mean to hit him!"
"Say something like that again, and you'll receive a hex from me," The Slytherin who had given him the look said. Andrew gulped and said no more.
Meanwhile, Harry's brain seemed as if it were about to burst. He was frustrated, because for the first time of his life, he knew most of the answers to the written part of Transfiguration, but couldn't quite place each answer to each question. "I know that I know this! Why can't I just remember which answer goes to which!" Ron was getting it the worst, for he hadn't studied hardly at all. Instead, he wrote down stupid answers that he hoped in vain to be right- but knew they weren't. Hermione just flew through her answers, occasionally scribbling parts out to make the answers longer.
Eventually, they had all finished. They all sighed and handed in their papers, ready to go on to the next test. But as soon as Harry left to go to a classroom, a younger student that he didn't know ran up to him. Ron and Hermione looked at him quetioningly, but Harry said, "I'll catch up to you guys later." They nodded and walked away.
"Harry!" The student said, panting. "They..took her away.."
"What? Why are to telling me this? What are you talking about?" Harry asked, taken aback.
"I..saw her, in a room..Jacoba..she was in the room.."
"And so?"
"And..other wizards- older than us, and in robes with hoods that covered their faces..they were there too! They..took her away."
"Do you know where they went?" He said. What was going on?
"They..I don't know."
"Have you told anyone else?"
"No."
"Wait, why did you tell me?"
"She was calling your name, she was screaming it," The student said, simply.
"Go..no, don't tell anyone else unless it reaches nightfall. Will you do that?"
"Yeah, sure."
"And to make sure, Onywordis!" Harry said. The spell would make sure the student would follow his instructions when they needed to be followed. He then ran off down the nearest corridor, planning on going up to his dormitory and getting the Maurader's Map. Maybe it'd tell where she was..and he had a sinking feeling that he knew who the robed wizards were, but prayed that he was wrong. All in all, nothing was making sense. If they were who they were, how would they get in without being noticed? And why take her, of all people? Wouldn't they take him? Maybe he was just falling for the bait, like he had the previous year...but he didn't want her killed, he wouldn't let anyone die due to his own mistakes again. But what the hell was he doing? Shouldn't he be telling someone of what he was doing, at least Ron and Hermione? But perhaps it was only nothing, who knew?
A/N: Kind of a quick ending, could've explained it more..but I didn't feel like it. Leaves a bit of a mysterious touch though, eh? It will all be revealed in the next chapter..so stay with me to find out! And once again, for practically the billionth time, please review!