25

The Rogue Bludger

Since the pixie incident, Professor Lockhart had not brought anymore creatures to his lessons. He also seemed to have given up his usual cup of tea before lectures. He assumed the elves were angry at him and the bubbles had been their doing, so the man no longer trusted them to prepare his food outside of the Great Hall. His classes now centered on forcing the students to reenact various parts of his books. As Lockhart was still wary of Emily he focused his attention on her brother making him play the creatures and people he supposedly defeated or helped.

Today Emily watched as Harry was made to impersonate a werewolf. She didn't know if it was her but his usual annoyance at being chosen to participate didn't show as much today and she wondered why that was.

"Now is when you howl… very good… so next I pounce on him… slamming him to the floor… I then held him down… putting my wand against his throat… and then I used the very advanced and complex Homorphus Charm…of course he moaned… Harry... it was a bit more high pitched… yes that's it… and I knew I was successful when his fur vanished and he turned into a man. Of course, from that day on I was revered a hero of the village for saving them from the werewolf attacks."

Emily rolled her eyes thankful to hear the bell ring through the room signaling the end of the lesson. As Emily stood to leave with Draco she watched as her brother, Granger and Weasley held back.

"What could Harry possibly want from Lockhart?" The witch wondered as they headed off to the library to pick up a book Emily wanted to check out.

"I don't know he didn't seem as reluctant to help with the theatrics today." Draco shrugged in response. They walked into the library heading straight to Madam Pince. The normally strict librarian smiled at Emily and Draco when she saw the pair come in.

"Are you here for the book that Professor Snape requested I hold for you dear," she asked already standing to retrieve the item.

"Yes I am," Emily smiled in replied.

The librarian paused for a second as she scanned the table behind her desk before grabbing a small green leather book and handing it to Emily. "Enjoy it Dear."

"Thank you Madam Pince."

"Anytime Dear."

The Slytherin duo was leaving the library when they passed Harry and his friends entering. Emily made Draco pause for a minute, she had never heard of her brother coming to the library willingly and here he was walking up to Madam Pince. She watched as they handed over a slip, the librarian looked at it skeptically after hearing them mention they wanted 'Moste Potent Potions'.

Emily and Draco were both curious about the Gryffindors' new interest in potions but they decided to leave the library before anyone noticed them hanging by the door.

"That was odd, your brother and Weasley are not exactly good at potions and that is an advanced book," Draco said quietly as they made their way down to the common room.

"Well we know Severus didn't give them that note to get the book. I just am curious what they could possibly need from it…"

"I don't know, let's just get back. I have practice tonight and we could use you to watch, me especially, I'm going to need pointers for the game."

On Saturday morning Emily woke to her wand vibrating under her pillow. She had set an alarm spell on her wand making it vibrate so that she and Draco would be able to get up early because today was Draco's first Quidditch match against Gryffindor. Reaching under her pillow she pulled out her wand canceling the charm. Draco was already sitting up in the bed stretching his arms over his head. She supposed the normally deep sleeper had not slept as well due to nerves from having to play his first match.

The two teens got up and ready for the day. Emily wore the green Quidditch jersey Marcus had gifted her, dark skinny jeans and her green UGGs. She tied her green and gold ribbons into her hair before helping make sure Draco was ready to go to breakfast.

"Ready?" Draco nodded and Emily could tell he was nervous. "Dray, take a deep breath. Right now we are going to eat breakfast, nothing else."

"Just going to eat breakfast," he repeated.

Emily rolled her eyes hooking arms with the blond and forced him from the room to the Great Hall. When they were seated she put food on his plate instructing him to eat. Draco didn't consume much but his best friend considered what he did eat a small victory, she could only hope that the rest of the day would go better.

At eleven o'clock the pair parted ways, Draco made his way with the team to go to the field while Emily joined Blaise walking to the stadium to get seats. She felt a bit uneasy as they took their spots by the other Slytherin supporters. She didn't know if she felt something was off because it was Draco's first game or because he was playing her brother, but she just hoped they both were okay by the end of the game.

As the players walked onto the field there were uproarious cheers for the Gryffindors. All the other Houses wanted to see the Slytherins beaten. Shortly after taking the field Madam Hooch called the captains forward to shake hands before instructing the players to get ready. At the sound of Madam Hooch's whistle all fourteen players kicked off into the air.

Emily wasn't sure who to try and keep track of. She watched as her brother rose high above the other players and Draco did a lap just below him to work out his nerves.

It wasn't long after Draco passed Harry that a Bludger made its way for her brother just barely missing his head. She watched as George came to his rescue quickly hitting it towards Pucey but instead of continuing towards its target the ball changed course going straight back to aim at Harry again. George again hit it away and this time it just made an arc before coming back towards Harry once more. She watched as Harry speed off to the other end of the pitch only to be trailed by the Bludger. Emily didn't like this one bit. Bludgers were supposed to target players, yes, but not only one player. This time Fred came to Harry's rescue and the Bludger went flying away only to once again return forcing Harry to keep moving to avoid being hit.

Emily changed her focus to check on Draco. He seemed to be doing fine. A quick look to the score told her that Slytherin was up sixty points to zero.

It was beginning to rain, she knew that was going to hurt visibility. She hoped that Harry had an impervious spell on his glasses. Looking back to Draco he seemed to notice that the Bludger was following Harry and was wearing a frown. A whistle blew and Emily noticed a timeout had been called as the teams landed huddling together.

"Someone is tampering with one of the Bludgers," Emily told Blaise.

"Are they?" he said raising an eyebrow.

"It keeps going after my brother."

"Oh, I have been watching Draco this whole time." The boy moved his focus to where the Gryffindors were huddled and shrugged. "Seems fine now."

Emily shook her head at the boy turning her focus back to the field. The Slytherin team seemed to be in deep discussion and kept pointing towards Harry meaning they noticed what was happening now too. When she looked at the Gryffindor huddle they seemed to be having a disagreement of some kind. The twins did not look happy at whatever Wood was telling them to do and she had a feeling it meant they were told to let Harry handle the Bludger on his own. She knew if they said anything now it could mean a forfeit of the game and she highly doubted her brother would ever allow that.

The game resumed and Emily watched as Harry and Draco both rose higher and higher into the air. Harry kept diving, rolling, zigzagging and swooping around the field. People around her began laughing thinking the Seeker was putting on a show instead of dodging a rogue Bludger. Emily watched as Pucey headed towards the Gryffindor goal posts. Draco seemed to be moving higher to get a better view of the field not that it was easy with all the rain.

When she looked back at Harry he had sped off just to the left of Draco. He must have seen the snitch. She held her breath hoping this game would be over quickly but as luck would have it the rogue Bludger smashed into Harry's arm. Emily winced and watched as her brother dropped his arm quickly swerving to avoid the Bludger once again. This time Harry reached out his other arm and dove, catching the snitch before continuing his dive for the ground.

She moved her view to Draco and there seemed to be a mix of emotions working across his face before he became an emotionless mask landing by his team as they headed off the field. Gryffindors were rushing from the stands towards her brother but the young witch didn't have the urge to join them.

Putting down her binoculars she turned to Blaise as he lightly tugged on her arm in an attempt to help her stand. "Em, come on, we're all heading back to the common room."

"I'm going to go wait for Draco at the locker room," she told him allowing the boy to escort her out of the stands before heading off towards the Slytherin door.

When Draco emerged he was accompanied by Marcus who seemed to be trying to console the blonde. He looked at Emily and seemed relieved at her presence.

"Hey little snake," he said patting her shoulder. "Talk to him please... I'll see you both back in the common room later." He jogged off ahead of them back to the castle. Emily looked over at her best friend and knew he was torn.

"Mixed emotions…" she prompted.

"How can I have anything but… I mean if I won people would have said it wasn't talent but because there was a Bludger after him… but losing when the Snitch was so close to me…" he trailed off kicking some of the mud as they continued their sedated pace in the rain towards the castle.

"It's a lose-lose situation. We can still win the cup and you can still show them you are a good Seeker when you play the other teams. Harry is really good, no one has beaten him in a game yet, I wouldn't dwell on it."

When they got back to the dorms they both went to take showers and change after their long walk in the rain. When Emily came back to the common room she found Draco playing chess with Blaise.

"Hey, I'm going to go brew some more Pepperup. With all the students out in the rain Madam Pomfrey is going to need more and if I brew her a batch now she won't have to distract Sev from his new project, do you want to come?"

"I'm going to stay here. I'll see you when you get back."

"Okay," Emily said waving to the boys as she made her way to their brewing room. She set to work and it was about an hour later that she was disturbed. She smiled as she felt the presence of Fred and George. "Hey Gred, Forge, I thought you two would be in your common room celebrating your win?"

"We tried to celebrate in the hospital wing but…"

"…we were kicked out," they informed her. The twins quickly joined her by one of the cauldrons and started working on preparing some ingredients.

"The hospital wing? I didn't think anyone was hurt enough to be in there for long enough to attempt a celebration there…"

"Lockhart decided to help Harrykins with his broken hand…"

"…instead he vanished all the bones…"

"…poor bloke had to drink skele-grow."

"That man is so annoying! He is always making up spells that don't work. You can't just call out random words and think something will happen. I can wave my wand at a pumpkin all I want and scream bippity boppity boo till I'm blue in the face but it still won't become a carriage."

"Gred, I don't think our little Emmykins likes the new DADA teacher…"

"…whatever gave you that idea my dear brother."

Emily smirked at the twins and turned back to checking on her potion. "I just don't see what is so wonderful about the dunce."

"You're probably the only girl in the castle who thinks that way."

"Well, then apparently I'm the only sane one left."

"Woah, I don't know if we'd say that…"

"Not sure you've ever really been sane..."

"If you were, you probably wouldn't be hanging around us."

Emily couldn't help but smile at the twins' antics even though she threw a partially chopped flobber worm at the pair. The small group broke into laughter as they continued on with their tasks.

When Emily had finished bottling the Pepperup Potion she decided to help the twins finish what they were working on. By the time Emily started up to the hospital wing to drop the box off at Madam Pomfrey's desk most of the castle was asleep. She had gotten carried away helping Fred and George. Emily entered the hospital wing, quietly setting the box and the note she had written for Madam Pomfrey on her desk. She was going to check on her brother but sank back into the shadows when she saw him jerk up and a sponge fly to the floor.

"Dobby?" she heard her brother call.

The elf? Emily thought to herself. She was immediately curious as to how the elf had gotten into the Hospital Wing but then again it had gotten passed the Malfoy wards as well. Perhaps most people underestimated the ability of House Elves or they simply just didn't care.

"Why did Harry Potter come back?" the elf sounded devastated. "Dobby tried sir, Dobby did warn you! But you not listen to Dobby! Why did Harry Potter still come when Dobby stopped him from making the train?"

So it had been the elf that stopped Harry from getting on the train but what was he doing here now? He hadn't come to visit her again. He must feel she was safer than her brother for some reason. She needed to get out of here and tell Severus what she had learned. As she moved to slide out the door she froze when she heard her brother's voice.

"It was your Bludger?" he exclaimed. "You were the one trying to kill me during the game today?"

"Dobby never wanted to kill Harry Potter sir! Dobby be only wanting you safe and sent home! Horrible things are coming to Hogwarts sir! History is going to repeat itself and the great Harry Potter is not safe here. The Chamber of Secrets is open once more…"

That caught Emily's attention, she waited a moment longer but the pair just continued to argue about the boy staying at Hogwarts. She decided she would learn nothing else and slid out the door while their voices were still raised using a few passageways to get to Severus's quarters. It was late so she banged on his portrait loudly before letting herself in.

When Severus came into the living room he noticed Emily taking a seat on his couch. Raising an eyebrow at the late night intrusion, he sat in his favorite chair and looked at the girl. "And what pray tell are you doing here at this time of night?"

"I went to drop off some more Pepperup for Madam Pomfrey and since I was there I wanted to check on my brother. I heard that the idiot vanished the bones in his arm and that he had to stay overnight." Severus nodded to show he was listening and Emily continued. "When I went to approach his bed though he woke up and that elf was there, so I just sunk back into the shadows. I listened to the conversation and the elf admitted he stopped Harry from making the train and he was the cause of the Bludger that was after him today."

"I see, and did the elf say why he was doing this?"

"He wants Harry to get sent home, he doesn't think the school is safe for him."

"Has he visited you again?"

"No, I can only assume he feels I'm safer, because of who I associate with perhaps, but that's merely based on his comments to Draco over the summer." Severus nodded and seemed to be thinking. "Sev, that wasn't all, he said that the Chamber of Secrets had been opened before and that history was going to repeat itself..."

Just then there was a soft pop that made both Emily and Severus turn their heads to see a small elf. "Professor Snape sir, Professor Dumbledore be wanting the Heads of House in his office right away."

"Of course, inform the headmaster I will be there shortly." The elf popped out of existence and he turned back to Emily. "Go to bed and I will talk to Lucius tomorrow, I have to go now though."

Emily nodded and hugged the man before hurrying back to her common room. She slipped into Draco's room quickly getting ready for bed before climbing in next to her best friend. As she fell asleep she thought about what Dobby had told her brother and wondered why Severus had been called to the Headmaster's office so late at night.