Rogue Bludgers and Lockhart meet Duo
Mannd
Still don't own
Duo had spent the night in the dorm with Harry and the other second years, and was awake when a nervous Harry stirred early the next morning, "Morning, Harry," he whispered keeping his voice low to not wake the four other boys.
"Morning," Harry slid out of his four poster and onto the sleeping bag and mat that McGonagall had transfigured out of a blanket last night for Duo to sleep on. Harry snuggled with Duo for a moment, trying to get a bit more sleep, but his mind whirled with the game that was coming up. "What if I don't get the snitch?" he asked pulling himself closer to Duo seeking comfort.
Duo pulled Harry close to him and kissed his forehead, "Then you don't get the snitch and will practice hard and will get it the next match."
"What if everyone hates me because I didn't…" Harry stopped when Duo put a finger on Harry's lips.
"If they hate you because you didn't win, than they were never your friends to begin with," Duo pointed out matter-of-factly. "You are not the whole team, Harry. Wood has to keep out the Slytherin goals, the girls have to score, and Fred and George are in charge of keeping the Bludgers and the others out of your way. It's a team, Harry, not just you." Harry stared into Duo's eyes for a moment, sighed and put his head back on his brother's shoulder, "and I don't know about you, but I am starving." Duo whispered softly. Harry giggled, rolled off the mat and quickly got his clothes. The two boys showered and got dressed.
The rest of the team was already at breakfast looking a bit uptight, but soon Duo had them relaxed and smiling. When the Slytherin team came swaggering into the Great Hall a half an hour later, they paused when the seven were laughing and not uptight and nervous. Flint scowled; half of the game was already lost due to the Gryff's relaxed attitude.
He looked over at the blond Ponce that he had been required to take on his team, losing an excellent seeker in Higgs. Malfoy was sitting with his father who would be joining Professor Snape in the facility box. He was happily chatting away, probably bragging, Flint thought sourly. Malfoy was much better as a chaser, not a seeker, but the brat had been insistent. Flint knew that Malfoy hated and wanted to humiliate Potter, but it was going to be at the cost of this game. After the last practice, he pulled fellow chasers aside, "It is up to us to get this," he told them, "I doubt that Ponce is going to be much help." The other chasers looked disgusted but agreed with Flint's assessment, "He already knows that if he doesn't win this match, he is on reserves and Higgs is back on as Seeker."
The match was brutal, and Flint was happily scoring against a frustrated Wood. He had spotted Malfoy flying around and was aggravated to no end. The Brat wasn't even looking for the snitch, but spending his time flying after Potter and mocking the boy. Flint was furious, he had spotted the snitch a few times himself, at while it had been too far away for him to get to, he knew the Ponce was spending more time trying to humiliate Potter than he was playing the game. "Oy, Flint, wake up," a green blur yelled to him as it sped by and Flint turned and went back to the game, if they could get enough points, Potter catching the Snitch wouldn't matter.
HPGWHP
Harry ducked as the Bludger whizzed by him again, the wind from it passage ruffling his hair. He had already had Wood tell Fred and George to back off and the two were doing that, but not looking very happy about it. Malfoy had taken up to mocking him as the boy followed him around, so Harry had a good chance of him not spotting the snitch before he, himself, did.
GWHPGW
Duo was white in the face as he watched the Bludger targeting Harry. Ron and Hermione were silent as they watched their friend struggling to escape the murderous ball. They could do nothing until the match was finished, but that didn't mean that Duo couldn't plan.
HPGWHP
"Training for the ballet, Potter?*" Malfoy mocked as he just sat there enjoying the sight of Harry's frustrated face, someone had tampered with the Bludger and he was enjoying the 'action'. Harry froze for a second when he had looked around the snitch was just inches above Malfoy's left hear and Malfoy was too busy having fun at Harry's expense to pay attention. He flew forward and up, the Bludger skimming harshly on his arm bruising it as he turned in time to avoid the collision that would have broken his arm.
Malfoy's eyes widened in fear as Harry flew towards him and Harry snatched something that was by his ear.
Wham!
A scream of pain rent the air and everyone froze as Malfoy pitched forward and slipped off his broom, the Bludger had missed Harry hand by millimeters and slammed into Malfoy's shoulder. "Draco!" Harry screamed as he dropped the snitch and frantically grabbed on to Malfoy's good arm as the boy's eyes rolled into the back of his head and he half fainted falling off his broom. Harry yelled out as he took all of Malfoy's weight, felt his arm pop out of joint and he almost fell off his own broom. He hooked his foot tightly under the footrest and prayed that he would get help soon. Two loud bangs sounded close to his ear and his face was pelted with the disintegrating Bludger, blood now flowing into his eyes, "Flint, George, help me, Draco's slipping!" he yelled catching both Green and Red uniforms closing in on him fast. George cursed as he caught Malfoy under the arm just as Harry's grip slipped, and pulled the whimpering boy onto his broom. Flint caught Harry and did the same while Fred grabbed both boys' brooms. Harry leaned his head on Flint's shoulder, his face hurt, his shoulder throbbed.
"Alright there Potter?" Flint asked as he flew the pain-racked boy to the ground.
"Hurts," Harry tried to hid a whimper of pain, "caught the snitch, sorry."
"Lives are more important than a game, Potter," Flint scoffed.
"Tell Wood that," Harry said as he raised a shaking hand to his face and wiped at the blood streaming down it.
"I'll do that," Flint voice was a low growl.
When he got to the ground level, Flint picked up the light boy in his arms and carefully laid him on the ground, leaning over his face to shield him from the rain, "How's Malfoy?" Harry asked, "That Bludger hit his shoulder."
Flint looked over to where George was holding onto tightly to the hand of the white faced boy, "He's fine, Madam Pomfrey will fix him up right away." Harry nodded, closed his eyes and blinked again and saw glittering teeth.
"Oh, no, not you," he moaned.
"Doesn't know what he is saying," said Lockhart loudly to the anxious crowd of spectators pressing around them. "Not to worry, Harry. I am about to fix your arm."
"No," said Harry, "I'll keep it like this, thanks…"
He tried to roll away from the man's wand point, but Flint was blocking the way still keeping the rain out of Potter's face, "Professor, I don't think…" Flint began.
"Lie back Harry," said Lockhart in what he thought was a soothing matter, but which frightened Harry more, "It's a simple charm I've used countless times."
"Why can't he just go to the hospital wing?" Flint asked purposefully moving so that Lockhart did not have a clear wand sight on Potter.
"He really should, Professor," said a muddy Wood, who was grinning from ear to ear that Harry had caught the snitch, "Great capture Harry, really spectacular, your best, I'd say…"
He broke off when Flint left his spot where he had been kneeling and grabbed Wood's robes, "I think we need to have a talk with your head of house about your priorities, what's more important to you winning the damn match or your injured teammate?" Flint hissed at him in anger. Wood paled and stammered but Flint pushed him away in disgust and moved back to Harry trying to keep the Idiot teacher from casting at Potter.
GWHPGW
"Stand back," Lockhart said, who was rolling up his jade-green sleeves.
"No… don't…" said Harry weakly but Lockhart was twirling his wand and pointing it at him,* when Lockhart heard a soft but familiar click next to his ear.
"I believe," Duo's voice was soft but deadly, "that Harry said no." Harry heard the deadly voice and relaxed, Flint heard the deadly voice and froze in fear, "You okay, green eyes?" Flint knelt next to the boy, joining Katie Bell to help keep the wildly whipping wind off of the injured boy's face, the long haired boy joining them.
"Been better," Harry mumbled, "had worse."
Katie was quickly moved aside as Snape appeared beside her and summoned a stretcher for Harry gently spelling the boy onto it. McGonagall, Flint noticed, was doing the same for Draco. Flint and Duo (who had introduced himself to Flint) stayed with the stretcher, using an umbrella that one of Potter's friends handed him, Granger he thought her name was.
HPGWHP
The Bludger had shattered Draco's shoulder, he was in for a long night in the infirmary, as Pomfrey had had to vanish all the bones and regrow them. Harry's shoulder, which had been dislocated, was quickly fixed, causing him to go white in the face for several moments and lean heavily on Duo, while his face was tended and fragments of the Bludger removed.
The Bludger, Harry had found out had met it's demise with a combination of two spells from Mr. Malfoy and Professor Snape, and an exploding round shot from Duo's gun. Wood was put on probation as Team Captain, when it was discovered that instead of calling the game when the tampered with Bludger had been discovered, he had let his pride get in the way. Harry felt bad about that as he had convinced Wood to continue the game, but Wood later explained that they were right, it was his job as team captain to make the final call, and he made a bad one, being safe was more important than winning.
HPGWHPGW
Harry snickered as Duo ruffled his hair, put on a pair of sunglasses and nodded good night to the others and walked out of the Common Room, the celebration finally settling down (after McGonagall's fourth warning). Harry grinned as he watched his brother turn around and pull down his sunglass, give him a wink then push them back up and continue walking until he turned a corner. Even then Harry could hear his whistle echoing down the corridor. Harry looked over at Hermione who was consoling a shocked and defeated Ron at the chess board; Duo had beaten him in 15 moves. The noise from behind him lulled for a moment and Harry thought he heard… something, he shook his head and was about to shut the door when four gun shots echoed loudly shutting everyone up in the common room.
"DUO!" Harry screamed and began running; George however was quicker and grabbed Harry around the middle slowing the frantic boy's headlong dash. Percy was right behind George, having sent Fred to make sure that McGonagall had heard and was coming and he quickly passed his brother who was trying to hold onto the slippery boy and peeked around a corner, "Merlin," the red headed prefect whispered.
"Oi, Harry wait!" George yelled and Percy tried to catch the frantic boy who ran past him, but Harry ducked under the seeking arms, his eyes focused on the figure that lay still on the stone floor.
"Duo!" Harry yelled again as he fell to his knees and slid to a stop next to the still form, "Duo, please don't be dead," he said, his voice cracking in shock and fear. He looked up as his Head of House came running towards him from one end of the corridor, Severus, Zechs and Dumbledore coming from the other end. "Please… please tell me he's not dead." he whispered, his devastated eyes begging Severus.
McGonagall tried to get a grip on Harry's shoulder to move him away, but Harry wouldn't let her. "Leave him, Minerva," Severus said as he knelt next to Maxwell's unnervingly still form, removed his sunglasses and checked him. Duo lay with his gun held out as though he was still shooting, his eyes half way closed as though he were trying to quickly close his eyes. Harry's eyes never left Snape's face as he cast several spells and then looked at the headmaster, "Petrified," he said, his voice showing his relief.
Harry collapsed in grief and relief on Duo's unmoving chest, "This is all my fault. He wouldn't be here if it weren't for me," he babbled and felt a strong arm lift him away and pull him into a comforting lap as Duo was lifted onto a stretcher and carried to the infirmary. Severus accioed a calming draught from his office and handed it to the blond man who was comforting the 12 year old. Harry turned to Zechs seeking assurance and comfort and let the man do just that.
AN: Don't kill me! I didn't kill Duo just petrified him, I swear! I know this is a bit OOC with Flint and all, but…
::shrugging:: it was fun to write.
* Italics are direct quotes from HP and Chamber of Secrets page 171 to 173.
