9
The Midnight Duel
Theodore Nott had come to be the person Harry hated most in his life, even more so than his cousin Dudley.
His only reprieve was that at least the Gryffindors only had Potions and Charms with the Slytherins, so he didn't have to deal with Nott much during the week. That was, until a notice was posted in the Gryffindor common room. It announced that the first years would be beginning their flying lessons on Thursday but to the dismay of the first year Gryffindors they would be paired with the Slytherins for their lessons.
"Great now I get to make myself look like an idiot in front of Nott," Harry groaned. He had been looking forward to flying lessons more than anything, now he wasn't so sure.
Down in the dungeons, Emily was extremely excited as she read the notice posted in the Slytherin common room. Sure they were with Gryffindors and her brother was still ignoring her but she was not going to let that get in the way of learning to fly. It sounded so freeing to her. For one who had been trapped in a cupboard most of her life flying through the open sky sounded liberating.
"I can't wait!" she told Draco excitedly as they made their way over to common rooms entrance.
"Once you learn to fly we have to teach you to play Quidditch," Draco eagerly agreed. "It's a lot of fun and if you enjoy flying, I think you will like it too. We can't play on the House team yet but it would be fun to get a few people together and play in our free time."
"But I don't have a broom."
"Neither does any of the first years but maybe we could barrow some from the upper years."
"Right," Emily said feeling slightly silly she had forgotten all first years were not allowed brooms.
At breakfast, Theo who had also seen the notice, would not stop talking about flying. Emily wished he would shut up as he complained loudly about first years not being allowed brooms which meant he was unable to try out for the House team. He seemed to feel the team could do with his talents and spent his morning telling improbable stories that always ended with him narrowly escaping a muggle airplane. Emily doubted that the boy even knew what an airplane was.
As the day wore on it seemed like most of the first year boys were full of stories of their impressive feats while flying a broom. Emily overheard the Finnigan boy in charms telling his friends how he had spent most of his childhood racing his broomstick around the hills by his home while Weasley could be heard telling anyone who'd listen to him about his narrow escapes from muggle cars on his brother Charlie's old broomstick.
If Emily thought it was bad when it came to flying, the subject of Quidditch was ten times worse. Everyone who had been raised in the wizarding world had an opinion on Quidditch. There had been a commotion at the Gryffindor table one morning where everyone was privy to an argument between Weasley and a boy named Dean Thomas, who was also a first year, about soccer. Weasley couldn't see what was exciting about a game that was played on the ground and had one ball. Emily, didn't see why they had to have their argument in the hall and interrupt her breakfast.
This morning as Emily entered the Great Hall with Draco and Blaise she noticed that Granger was sitting alone at the Gryffindor table reading a book and taking notes. Longbottom entered behind the three Slytherins and Emily observed Granger lecturing the poor boy on something before turning her attention to her breakfast. Emily found Granger to be a rather odd person, the girl seemed the nervous sort and was always reciting lines from her texts books. Draco supposed she behaved that way because she was muggleborn and wanted to prove she belonged, yet Emily got the feeling the girl would act this way even in a muggle school.
That morning when the mail came, Apollo flew in carrying the weekly package of sweets for Emily and Draco. Narcissa, Draco's mom, had learned from Draco that the young witch didn't get along with her muggle relatives and had taken to including twice as many sweets and making sure Emily knew they were for her by including little notes. Emily had started keeping the little missives, but she hadn't worked up the courage yet to respond. She had never had an adult be so thoughtful before and she wasn't sure how to respond.
As for all the other deliveries happening throughout the hall, Emily paid them no attention until Theo grabbed his goons and made his way toward the Gryffindor. Emily wasn't sure why he would be going over there until she noticed Longbottom who seemed to be opening a package.
"Must he do that?" Emily said nudging Draco.
Draco who hadn't been paying attention looked up to see Theo grab something from Longbottom. "Just ignore him," he offered turning his attention back to his breakfast.
"But he is making the rivalry worse. The Gryffindors are already convinced we're all evil. He goes and causes trouble, making people like my brother and his friends dislike us more. It's no wonder he distrusts me when people like Theo keep bugging them."
"Em, Theo should not be the person your brother judges you on."
As Draco went to put his package in his bag Emily observed as Professor McGonagall approached Theo and the Gryffindors. She shook her head, Draco was right, her brother should know her well enough not to judge her based on others but he was doing just that and if Theo kept this up Harry would never speak to her again.How would they survive next summer with the Dursleys if they were fighting with each other instead of standing united against their relatives?
At three-fifteen that afternoon, Emily and Draco along with the other Slytherins headed down the front steps onto the grounds for their first flying lesson. It was a clear day with a slight breeze. You could see the trees of the forbidden forest sway slightly in the distance and despite the small chill in the air, it was a perfect day to learn how to fly.
There were twenty broomsticks lying in two lines on the ground waiting for them. Emily had been told by Fred and George Weasley, who didn't seem to mind she was in Slytherin, that the school brooms needed to be replaced. According to them some wouldn't even fly in a straight line anymore, so she was careful to select a broom that didn't look too worn.
Fifteen minutes later the Gryffindors arrived, shortly followed by their teacher, Madam Hooch.
"Let's go Gryffindors! The Slytherins are already by their brooms, I suggest you do the same instead of standing over there and chatting all day." Madam Hooch motioned the lions towards the brooms. The seemed hesitant as they looked from the Slytherins to the remaining broomsticks but eventually they all began to move.
When everyone was finally situated by a broom she instructed them to hold their hands out and command the broom up. Emily's broom jumped into her hand at once. She noticed only Draco and Harry had done the same. Blaise's broom had jerked up slightly but fell back down. She saw Longbottom looked as if he was afraid his broom would actually do as he instructed. It was clear he wanted to remain on the ground and his broom seemed to understand that. Granger seemed hesitant, as all her broom did was roll over at her command.
Once everyone had finally gotten their brooms off the ground Madam Hooch showed them how to mount them without falling off. She went around adjusting people's grips on the handle and giving advice. Emily overhead her tell Nott he'd been doing it wrong for years and had to choke back her laughter at the glare he leveled at her when Hooch turned her back to him.
"When you hear the whistle I want you to kick off the ground," instructed Madam Hooch. "Hold the broom steady as you rise a few feet in the air. To come back down just adjust your body to lean forward slightly. Are we all ready? Good then on three, one… two…th –"
But Longbottom, whose nerves had gotten the best of him kicked off as hard as he possibly could forcing his body back and causing the broom to shoot straight up in the air. As Madam Hooch called for him to come back down he kept going higher. He seemed to have forgotten that it was your body movements that controlled the broom as he leaned too far back causing the broom to flip. As the broom flipped he panicked and let go falling toward the ground until he collided with the grass. Everyone heard the crack upon impact and looked at him lying curled up on the grass holding his arm to his chest.
The broomstick now free of its rider took off on its own accord flying until it disappeared into the forbidden forest. Madam Hooch rushed to Longbottom's side and knelt down checking for injuries. She found he had broken his wrist and helped him to stand up so she could take him to the hospital wing. She informed the class they were to stay put and not to touch the brooms until she returned. She put her arms around Longbottom who was crying and still clutching his arm to his chest to lead him back towards to the castle.
As soon as they were out of range Theo began laughing. "Did you see him crying?"
"Shut up" Parvati Patil, one of the Gryffindors, retorted.
"Ooh, do you have a crush Parvati?" Pansy teased, who was one of the Slytherin girls that hung around Nott. "Do you like plump little boys who cry?"
Just then Nott grabbed something out of the grass announcing it was Longbottom's. Emily wasn't close enough to see what it was until Theo announced it was a Remembrall that Longbottom's gran had sent him earlier that morning.
Emily stepped up to Theo and lowered her voice so only he could hear her, "Is this really necessary? Let it go Theo, we don't need to pick fights with them." But he wasn't listening to her and began tossing the Remembrall up in the air and catching it as he walked away.
Emily turned to look at her brother as she heard him tell Nott to give him the Remembrall. Nott just sneered at him in response. Harry demanded he hand it over again and instead of dropping it Theo grabbed his broom telling Harry to come and get it as he took off into the air. Nott wasn't a bad flyer Emily noted grudgingly. Harry moved to pick up his broom and instantly Granger started yelling at him to stop before he got everyone into trouble.
Emily watched as Harry mounted his broom and kicked off hard against the ground. She made to grab her own broom but Draco pulled her back. "Dray! Let me go!"
"No you are not going up there," he said struggling to keep his hold on her. "I know you want to help him but he won't let you and on a broom that could be dangerous."
People around them began to scream and a few girls gasped, Emily quickly looked up to make sure Harry wasn't falling. Looking up she noticed Harry and Nott seemed to be arguing. She stopped struggling and grabbed Draco's hand squeezing it tightly. She watched as Nott threw the Remembrall into the air and watched, to her horror, as Harry dove after it. She stood frozen watching her brother stretch out his hand a foot from the ground and catch it just in time to pull his broom level with the ground and tumble onto the grass.
Emily heard someone scream Harry's name as he held up the Remembrall in victory from where he was lying on the grass. The witch's heart sank as she noticed Professor McGonagall was running toward them. Her brother was trembling as he got to his feet. People yelling at them tended to have that effect. After years of beatings, when someone yells at you like that you know pain is soon to follow.
Professor McGonagall seemed to be having trouble finding words and finally just told Harry to follow her. Emily watched as her brother followed Professor McGonagall and wished she could comfort him. She caught sight of Theo, Crabbe and Goyle's triumphant faces and gave them a sharp glare. Seeing Emily's look the three boys quickly looked anywhere but at her losing their smirks immediately.
Harry followed Professor McGonagall not paying attention to where they were going until she stopped at Professor Flitwick's classroom. She opened the door and asked if she could barrow wood. Harry wondered what wood was. Was it a cane to hit him with like Uncle Vernon used or was she merely requesting the small Professor charm her a piece of wood?
Much to Harry's relief, Wood was a burly fifth year who seemed quite confused at being pulled out of class by Professor McGonagall. Said instructed the two of them to follow her as she led them into an unused classroom down the hall. Motioning them inside, the boys were quick to enter the room where they found Peeves writing rude words on the blackboard and humming to himself.
The professor ordered Peeves to leave, which he did but not before throwing his piece of chalk towards the three of them. When the door was shut Professor McGonagall looked to Wood. "I have found Gryffindor a Seeker!"
Emily was worried about Harry the rest of the afternoon. "He's fine Em, they wouldn't expel him, especially since he didn't start it." Draco repeated for the tenth time. "You need to calm down. Honestly, there's nothing you can do either way and I doubt he would want your help."
Though it stung Draco was right, even if something bad happened to Harry she would be unable to help him in anyway and he had made it clear he wanted to keep his distance from her. As the pair continued walking down the corridor they ran into the Weasley twins.
"Hey Em," they chorused.
"Are you ok?"
"You look worried."
"It's Harry. He got into a fight with Nott during our flying lesson and McGonagall caught Harry flying without supervision, she seemed upset when she was walking him back to the castle. I haven't seen him around since, not that he would tell me what happened anyway... but still."
"Well if it will…"
"Calm you down, milady…" Fred bowed his head towards Emily, "we will tell you a secret!"
"Your brother has been placed on the House Quidditch team!"
"Oliver Wood, the team captain, just told us!"
"But shhhhh, it's a secret," they finished together holding their fingers to their lips.
"We are the beaters you know," they stood up straight and dusted off their robes pompously. "Best in the school if we do say so…"
"And we do Gred."
"That we do Forge." Emily felt a rush of relief flow through her but with it came a slight annoyance at what she was hearing. Her brother hadn't been punished, he had been rewarded for his behavior. "We better go, but we hope…"
"We cheered up the fair maiden."
"Thanks guys." The twins winked at her and took off down the hall whispering to each other.
"I can't believe he is on the team!" Draco said as the entered the Great Hall for dinner.
"Dray, keep it down. We aren't supposed to know."
"I know it's just first years never make the House team, we aren't allowed brooms. He has to be the youngest player in over a century since the rule was enforced." The two sat down and began to load up their plates, now that Emily wasn't worried she realized she was starving.
Emily noticed when Theo and his goons joined the table they were all laughing. "What did you three do?"
"Nothing important," Theo informed her. She looked at him suspiciously and turned her head to see that her brother was sitting head down, whispering with Weasley. Both kept looking over to glance at Theo every now and then. She had a bad feeling about this.
After dinner Emily and Draco left the Great Hall and headed down to their common room to work on their homework with Blaise. It was about eleven o'clock, Emily and Draco were about to head to bed when the witch once again noticed Theo, Crabbe and Goyle watching the clock and laughing. They had been doing that all night since they came back to the common room at nine.
"What are you three laughing about?" she demanded, finally fed up with their behavior. "You haven't stopped watching that clock and snickering since you got back tonight, some of us have been trying to study."
"Let's just say your brother is about to get a week's worth of detentions," Theo answered looking back at the clock with a smirk on his face.
"What did you do?" she said deadly serious. Theo's smile dropped as he realized the witch didn't find his statement as funny as he did. "Are you going to tell me or am I going to have to hex you until you remember?"
"Em," Draco cautioned lightly taking hold of her wand arm.
"We challenged him to a harmless duel at midnight." Emily raised her eyebrow knowing there was more. "And I might have told Filch that people were planning on sneaking out to set him up. It's not a big deal."
"And where exactly did you tell him to meet you for this duel?"
"The trophy room, it's always unlocked," he replied noticing Emily's wand was now in her hand.
Emily swore she felt a headache set in but she allowed her body to relax and took a step back which Draco took to mean she was done with the conversation. Dropping his hold on her arm he instantly regretted it as his best friend sent a mild stinging hex at Theo who grabbed his arm and jumped out of his chair glaring the pair down.
"Bloody hell, what was that for?"
"For messing with my family and making me angry. I will do it again if you don't disappear from my sight in the next 10 seconds." Theo shot the girl one last glare before he motioned for his goons to follow him back to their dorms.
Moving back to where her things were laid out Emily quickly started putting everything away. "Draco can you take my bag back to your room for me?"
"Sure, but why can't you take it to yours?"
"I have to go clean up the mess Theo made and make sure my brother doesn't get himself expelled." Emily had no delusion that if someone told Harry what a duel was he would feel honor bound to go to it. Harry never backed down from a bully which often meant she had to step in growing up.
"Em, at worst he's going to get detention like Theo said, don't be dramatic. There's no need to go anywhere."
"I just am going to tell him that Theo isn't coming and send him back to his dorm before he gets into trouble."
"Why though? No offense but he probably won't even believe you, especially if Weasley is with him."
"I have to try."
Draco shook his head knowing his friend wasn't going to listen to him and slung her bag over his shoulder. He knew Emily showing up in the dead of night was not going to change the Gryffindor's mind on his sister, "Just don't end up with detention yourself."
Emily stuck to the shadows and used a few passages she had found to make it quickly and stealthily to the trophy room. When she got there she held back in the shadows and waited to hear the sounds of Harry or Filch entering the room. It wasn't hard to miss Harry when he got there as he was accompanied by Weasley, Granger and Longbottom. Emily shook her head, he was just asking to get caught bringing so many people with him. Did he want an audience as Theo overpowered him? Unlike Harry, Theo had grown up around magic and had at least a few spells he could use for all Emily knew Harry could only use what had been taught in class so far. She doubted with a friend like Weasley that her twin spent much time studying.
As the four Gryffindors entered the trophy room Emily heard Weasley mention Theo being late and thinking he chickened out.
"Or perhaps he set you up," Emily said stepping from the shadows making the Gryffindors jump.
"What are you doing here snake?" Weasley glared at the newcomer.
"Saving all of you from being caught!" she whispered harshly. "Theo told Filch and he should be here any moment."
Just then Filch's voice carried into the room. He was instructing his cat Mrs. Norris to find them. Emily motioned them all to follow her, she figured the group must be nervous and frightened because they all did as she said without complaint. She led them through the door that was the opposite from where Filch's voice was coming from. The group of first years had all just barely rounded the corner when they heard Filch inside the trophy room. He was muttering about them hiding as Emily led them down a long walkway full of suits of armor. Emily was trying to block out the annoying caretaker and focus on where they needed to go but Filch was getting closer to them.
For some unknown reason to the lone snake, Longbottom squeaked and in a fit of nervousness broke into a run instead of following along with the others. The boy didn't get far though and grabbed onto Weasley in an attempt to keep himself standing when he tripped. Instead both boys fell and smashed into a suit of armor. Emily rolled her eyes, just wonderful, the clanging and crashing were enough to wake the whole castle. The young witch commanded them all to run and the group obeyed. Everyone took off sprinting down the hallway, no one looking back to see whether Filch was following them or not. They swung around an open door and ran down the new corridor, Emily and Harry in the lead.
Emily who knew a hidden passageway grabbed Harry's arm and directed him and the others through a tapestry dashing down it. They came out near the Charms classroom which she knew was far away from the trophy room.
"That should put enough distance between us," Emily panted, leaning against the stone wall and brushing the hair that had escaped her ponytail out of her face. Longbottom was bent over wheezing attempting to breathe. Granger was grabbing at her chest and panting but that didn't stop her from staring straight at Harry and Weasley trying to proclaim that she had told them so.
"Who cares right now? We need to get back quickly before Filch catches us!" Weasley urged looking up and down the hall from where he was propped up against a doorframe.
"Emily's right, Nott tricked you," Granger insisted turning her attention to Harry. "He never meant to come. He told Filch you would be in the trophy room hoping that you two would walk into his trap. The two of you don't think things through, do you?"
"Apparently not," Emily added as she straightened herself no longer needing the wall for support. "They did exactly what Theo wanted them to do. Now I suggest we all make it back to our common rooms and go to bed, we have classes in the morning."
The group nodded and made to leave but just then something came flying out of a classroom, stopping in front of them. Peeves started to laugh as he noticed the group of first years. Emily shook her head as Harry told Peeves to shut up which only made him laugh harder. "Ickle Firsties shouldn't be wandering at this time of night. So very, very naughty you could get caughty."
"Not if you're quiet," Harry insisted. As Peeves threatened to tell Filch, Emily realized Harry and his friends had no idea how to deal with Peeves. She stepped forward to tell Peeves about a prank he could pull to distract him but Weasley was quick to push her out of his way.
"Move," snapped Weasley, as he tried to hit Peeves with his fist. Emily groaned that was the worst move he could have made. Peeves started yelling as loudly as he could proclaiming that he had found students out of their beds in the charms corridor.
The group broke into a run again, passing Peeves and continuing until they reached a door that was locked. Weasley kept pulling on it desperately and telling them they were doomed.
"He's going to find us! We're done for!"
Sadly, Weasley wasn't too far off as Filch's footsteps could be heard coming closer to where they were. "Stop being so dramatic," Emily said waving her wand at the lock. The lock clicked and the door easily opened when Emily pulled on the handle, the young witch smiled at her own success and motioned the others in.
The Gryffindors pushed their way through the door, each trying to be the first one through it until finally they were all safe inside and shut the door behind them. Weasley and Harry pressed their ears against it to hear if Filch was coming while Granger and Emily watched tentatively for the all clear.
"Peeves, where are they?" Filch's voice could be heard saying. "Tell me."
"You must say 'please' to little Peevesie."
"I don't have time for your games Peeves, tell me NOW!"
"Won't say nothing if you can't tell Peevesie 'please'," sang Peeves.
"Fine —please." They heard Peeves yell the word 'nothing' before cackling with laughter. Filch began cursing and his footsteps moved farther away until they could no longer hear him.
"He's leaving he doesn't think anyone can get through this door," Harry whispered, his confidence setting back in. "We should leave. Neville, why are you tugging on my arm?" Longbottom was indeed pulling on Harry to get his attention but his back was to the other Gryffindor. Finally, Harry snapped when Longbottom didn't reply. "What?"
Emily was already inventorying their surroundings and knew precisely what Longbottom was worried about. They were in the forbidden corridor on the third floor and she now understood why they were told not to come here.
With them in the space was a large dog, so large it filled the whole room. It had three heads all of which were drooling and showing their yellowing fangs.
It seemed to be staring at them. The only reason they were alive had been their surprising entrance but the dog was getting over the shock and was beginning to growl at them in warning. Emily reached for the doorknob, they needed to get out of this room and fast. Rushing out of the room Emily slammed the door shut once the first years were all out and joined the others as they took off running back down the corridor. Filch must have given up on finding them or decided to search another part of the castle since he was nowhere to be seen, though none of them really cared if they were caught at the moment, they just wanted to get as far away from that room as possible. They stopped when they reached a point where they felt they had put enough space between them and the forbidden corridor.
"You guys need to get back to your dorm," Emily said looking at the panting Gryffindors. "Don't run anymore, stick close to the walls and listen for Filch."
Emily didn't wait for a response and turned quickly heading for a passageway she knew was close and would take her near the Slytherin common room. She made her way quietly through the passage and crept up to the expanse of wall that would let her into her common room. Quietly whispering the password as she placed her hand on the wall, Emily entered and went straight to Draco's room. She found him awake, obviously wondering what had happened to her while she had been gone.
"Where have you been?"
"Theo did a good job of tipping off Filch, he wasn't far behind us."
"Well I guess since you don't seem too angry he didn't find either of you then?"
"You mean all five of us…" Emily began as she launched into the story of what had happened, leaving nothing out.
"What is a Cerberus doing in the school?"
"I think I know," she paused for a moment. "It was standing on a trap door. It has to be guarding something."
"What could it possibly be guarding? We're in a school."
"I think it's the package Hagrid removed from the vault when he took Harry and I to Diagon Alley."
"The same package you think those robbers were trying to steal when they broke into Gringotts?"
"Yes, I'm just not sure if Harry noticed it though. If he did he won't be able to stop until he knows what's being protected. His curiosity has gotten us into trouble in the past."
"Well let's hope the Gryffs didn't notice. I'm exhausted let's just get some sleep." Emily nodded and crawled into bed next to Draco, too tired to go back to her room. As she fell asleep her only thought was on her brother and hoping he wasn't trying to put the pieces together.