Disclaimer: I own NOTHING of the Harry Potter world, characters or plot…it all belongs to J K Rowling.
Dedication: Just this day I realised that I haven't read one fanfic that was dedicated to J K Rowling herself, because if it wasn't for her all the HP fanfic stories wouldn't be here in the first place, so this chapter is dedicated to the one and only J K Rowling and of course all my Maraudering friends.
Review Responses:
Mmcgonagall: thank you very much; this is the next chapter so I hope you like it! Thanks again for reviewing.
The Next Marauder: I know you Padfoot and I've already talked to you, but thanks anyway for reviewing!
Just me: I like the name, thanks for the review, it gave me some help in the next chapter (which is from Minerva's POV) I was going to do another chapter from this POV if someone requested it, and you did! This is my first angst fanfic so I tried to add slightly more detail into this chapter, I hope you enjoy it!
Phantomhorse333: Thankyou for the review, I took your advice and wrote some more!
---Marauder Madness
Chapter 2:
Minerva's Faith
The thunder exploded above Minerva's head bringing with it another torrential burst of rain, splattering across the frozen grounds and onto her sodden raincoat.
Albus sat next to her a look of slight worry displayed across his features, Minerva knew however he was more worried than he let on. She had a gift for reading his expressions without occlumency.
She turned her attention back to the pitch, the rain pelted down even more as the fourteen players streaked for goals and searched frantically for bludgers and a one very annoyingly elusive snitch.
This rain better calm down soon…she thought worriedly or we'll have injuries…
She was shaken out of her thoughts by a sharp whistle piercing the air, signalling time out for the players; Madame Hooch looked as if she was almost glad that Wood had summoned the scarlet team for a tactics talk/lecture.
Minerva looked again too Albus who seemed slightly happier that his students were safely on the ground…but she knew he was most relieved that Harry was off his broom, he had a fierce protection for the boy.
She herself breathed a sigh of relief; Minerva shared Albus' view on the thirteen year old child (much unknown to everyone but Albus).
Minerva saw one of Harry's friends, Ms Granger bolt across the pitch most probably with an ingenious plot to give her friend. Minerva looked on amusedly, seeing Albus next to her look on also, intrigued.
Madame Hooch made her way towards the scarlet clad team gesturing them to take to the sky. They hung back for a moment but then disbanded and flew into the ice cold rain, drenching them selves and their brooms. Madame Pomfrey would have a lot of patients needing pepper-up potion after this.
Minerva's slightly amusing thoughts were jarred though by the wind suddenly picking up a fever frequency nearly dislodging a wavering Weasley twin, she was reassured however by Albus sending a comforting smile her way…he always seemed to know what to do.
Alicia made a wild throw at the goals and succeeded in scoring, bringing Gryffindor into the lead but the weather was so bad it even made the stands tremor a bit.
Something is going to happen…something bad…
Minerva thought anxiously, she could see that Albus thought the same thing…the lines in his face were creased more than usual and he was concentrating on one red robed player.
This is not right...not right at all…
Minerva was just about to ask Albus to cancel the match when an explosion of noise erupted from the yellow section of the stadium…Cedric Diggory was on hot pursuit of the golden snitch.
At least it might be over soon…
She thought as Wood shouted something to Harry that made him turn to face their stand and chase after Cedric…but he didn't look right…pale and sickly like he had just seen a bad omen…
Albus looked worried at the state Harry was in and she saw him finger his wand…he did that when he was nervous.
The rain picked up a notch…but the game went on…
The two seekers were now just a speck to the observers watching, just a red and yellow speck up in the black sky.
Cedric was an inch away from the fluttering ball when a sudden silence engulfed the stadium bringing with it an ice cold feeling of dread and a blackening effect across the pitch…
What?
Minerva thought franticly, searching with her eyes, there swooping on the pitch was a mass of black cloaks…Dementors…they weren't meant to be here…
But they were…
Their effects of sadness suddenly washed through her bringing back forgotten memories of pain and anguish. Minerva closed her eyes and muttered happy words to her while she felt Albus draw his wand.
But from the sudden silence came sudden screams of horror. Minerva snapped her eyes open, a speck was plummeting through the sky…a red and gold dressed seeker…
NO!
This was not happening; it couldn't happen…Minerva was just about to draw her wand when she heard through the confusion Albus shout Wingardium Leviosa!
This seemed to slow down Harry enough before he hit the ground but there was still a sharp crack as Harry's body made contact with the sodden earth. Minerva whitened.
He can't be dead…he can't
She followed a shaky Albus down the stands, and onto the pitch, he seemed unaware she was there and shouted the patronus charm at the mass of Dementors, scattering them away and revealing a white faced boy.
NO…this can't have happened!
Harry shivered in the mud, noticeable tear stains adored his skin and the normal pink tinge that glowed in his cheeks had all but disappeared.
At least he's alive…she thought.
Albus summoned a stretcher and placed the boy on it, he looked so helpless it chilled Minerva to the core…it reminded her of something familiar…
Of course…James…after the attack, after Voldemort had found them…James dead…
Minerva paled, Harry looked so much like his father it unnerved her, but he had Lilly's eyes…and a lot of her nature…
She followed them out to the castle, trying to keep up with Albus' brisk pace; he still didn't know she was there. Albus flung open the infirmary doors and summoned Poppy over; Minerva stopped beside them and listened to the damage done…
"What happened?" Poppy asked taking Harry's temperature.
Albus answered, sitting into a chair next to Harry, "Dementors came onto the pitch during the game…he reacted like he did on the train except he was fifty feet up in the air this time."
Of course, he is vulnerable to the Dementors…why didn't I cancel the match when I thought of it!
Minerva though guiltily, looking at the ghastly paste white of Harry's cheeks and the irregular angle his wrist was positioned.
This is all my fault…
She thought, her heart beating too fast for her liking.
"How fast did he hit the ground?" Poppy asked, taking off Harry's glasses and feeling his pulse.
"I managed to slow him down enough before he hit the ground, but I'd say he hit it pretty hard anyway," Albus answered. Minerva noticed a slight tinge of pink return to Harry's cheeks. This gave her some hope; Albus seemed to have noticed as well and appeared to breathe a small sigh of relief.
"I'd count Mr Potter very lucky, he will have rather painful bruising and he has a broken wrist but I can fix that in a heartbeat anyway…but the bruising with have to heal by its self unfortunately" Poppy said aiming her wand at Harry's right wrist creating a flash of indigo light, she repaired it.
Thank goodness…I thought we'd lost him for a moment…
Minerva thought seeing the same reaction of intense relief pass across Albus' face.
Just then the hospital doors burst open revealing an extremely red eyed Ms Granger, Mister Ron Weasley and his twin brothers along with the sodden Gryffindor team.
In an instant conversation broke out…
"Where is Harry?"
"Is he okay?"
"Why can't we see him?"
Minerva was just about to interrupt when Albus beat her to it; his crystalline blue eyes were shining again in slight amusement.
"Silence please!" he said definitely, "You may see him, but I ask you to be gentle and quiet, he will be incredibly sore when he wakes up."
I would expect so Albus! The poor boy just fell fifty feet!
Minerva thought, resisting the temptation of rolling her eyes, it wouldn't go well with her 'deputy headmistress' look.
"Yes okay," the group answered, Minerva saw Poppy's eyes narrow.
So protective of her patients… Minerva though amusedly…
Suddenly Albus addressed Poppy seriously like before.
"Harry needs his friends at this moment Poppy, it would be good to give him that privilege," He said placing an old withered hand on her shoulder.
"I know, its just I see him so many times in here, looking so vulnerable all the time…it makes me sad to think that I can't do anything more than keep him comfortable." Poppy answered wistfully.
It was true thought Minerva, Harry had been in the hospital wing far to many times for someone so knew into their schooling years…first there was Quirrel, then the rogue bludger from last year and now, she thought savagely, he had an acclaimed mass murderer on the lose out for his blood.
How does he cope?
Her thoughts were interrupted however by Albus talking to Poppy again.
"Yes I know Poppy, but this is where he needs friends the most…" Albus answered, looking towards the small group of friends surrounding Harry's bed.
Minerva thought this was a good time to announce her presence and said "Albus, is he okay?" she wasn't surprised to find that Albus didn't give a start when he heard her suddenly say something.
He answered gravely, "He will be fine; however the Dementors affect him in the most horrible ways…" the bright blue eyes of his dulled a bit.
Like reliving his parent's deaths…she thought sadly, eyes downcast.
"I can imagine…" said Minerva, "The things that boy must see should be ghastly…"
Why does it have to be Harry…so many things have happened…why? Minerva thought, looking again towards Albus.
"Quite so unfortunately," he stated his own eyes downcast "But we must have faith."
They both looked over at the skinny, ebony haired thirteen year old boy. Harry was shivering every now and then and mumbling something in his sleep. His hair was stuck to his forehead with sweat and rain that trickled down his face. He gave another shudder and rolled over; Minerva knew however that it wasn't from the cold but from the horrible memories that would be playing like a torture inside the boys mind.
Minerva answered; looking glassy eyed back at the headmaster, "Yes Albus," Minerva said shakily, "We must have faith."
The End.
A/N: Okay, did you like it or did you hate it? Let me know by REVIEWING!
Kind regards
---Marauder Madness