Chapter 7
Quidditch Surprises
"He said he'd learnt it… weird guy, really."
"What? You're kidding —"
"No I'm not. I'm serious."
"Wow… I mean, is that even possible?"
Perce stirred in his bed in the Hospital Wing, and the voices died down. He slowly opened his eyes. Hadner was sitting there, along with Subash and Roger. They were smiling down at him.
"How long —" Perce began.
"Half an hour," cut in Hadner. "Really, Madam Pomfrey fusses a lot. A simple spell woke you up, but she wanted you to stay."
Perce chuckled, sitting up. "Strong attack, wasn't it?" He said, his eyes twinkling.
Hadner nodded. "That's what we were talking about. Drake really is rotten, you know, he learned and practiced that spell for two days," he laughed. "He told me that in his rage."
Perce shook his head, smiling slightly. "Wow. Two days, that isn't easy… he is smart," Subash gave him a look of disbelief, while Perce only laughed. "Well, why did you bring me here, then? I was just stunned, you could've —"
"I did not know you were stunned till Pomfrey told me. And they" he glanced at the other two, "were too shocked to speak." He smiled.
Perce chuckled. "Well, when will I be free from the captivity of Madam Pomfrey?"
"Actually, she said you could leave when you woke. So — let's go!" Subash said, grinning, and got up. Perce got out of his bed, picked up his wand from the table, and walked out of the wing with the others.
Magnificence showed itself on the day of Halloween, in the form of the celebrations at Hogwarts. Hagrid's pumpkins sat proudly at every other corner of the castle. The Great Hall was home to thousands of bats that night, all fluttering over their heads, and a thousand more swooping low, close to the tables, making the candles in the pumpkins stutter. The food appeared in their plates, and the delicious smell filled everyone's nostrils. Perce rubbed his hands in satisfaction, as Subash and Roger were stuffing their mouths. Susane was sitting close to them, and she had a huge smile as she accepted a roasted potato. The Hogwarts kitchens definitely had standards, and it hadn't dropped since the first of September.
Perce searched the table twice. Some seventh years were together, laughing over an old joke. Hadner waved at him from the other side of the table, before delving again into the conversation with his friends. Subash and Roger were talking to a first year girl, who were shortly joined by a second year named Donald Canners. Perce had met him earlier. He had dark skin, glasses that rested on a thin nose, through which saw two grey eyes. His hair was a distinguished brown. Perce's eyes then wavered to the Gryffindor table, and was surprised to see Luke's mouth closed for once. From Luke's neighbour's laughing face he deduced that he had been tricked into stuffing a potato into his mouth. Perce smiled to himself.
Subash was laughing loudly at a joke that Jake had just narrated, when a bat neatly picked up his steak and flew high. This resulted in a louder round of laughter, and Perce couldn't help but join in this time. A lot of stares and glares from the other tables followed, while some simply chuckled watching them. It took the entire period of the feast for the laughter to completely die down, though some occasional bursts of giggles were uncontrollable.
This was one of the best feasts Perce had. Hogwarts was always so enchanting, and alive. Or maybe it was the magic. The only one who looked sour was Drake, who was silently chewing his meal, hardly conscious of what he was eating. Jake gave repeated sad glances at Drake, but he wouldn't budge.
Precisely a week later was the first Quidditch match of the season. It was Slytherin against Gryffindor. Hadner was the Seeker of the Slytherin Quidditch team, and this Perce learned when he noticed him returning from practice every other evening, exhausted but with a grin of satisfaction. The Slytherin Captain was a sixth year, named Carlson Bletchley. He had broad shoulders, a muscular build, and was tall. His wavy hair was a much noticeable light, ash blond colour, and he had a hooked nose and deep blue eyes. Many reckoned that his arrogance was condoned due to his stupendous performance as Slytherin Chaser. The other two chasers of Slytherin were Victor Abbott and Veronica Greengrass, both fifth years, who were constantly under the suspicion of dating each other.
There was a continuous drone about Quidditch in the common room, beginning a week before the day of the match. Subash, unlike his usual self, did not bother to pull Perce away from his book, but was continuously engrossed in the analysis of a certain match that took place some five years ago in Belgium. Perce sighed. Quidditch, Quidditch, Quidditch, is that all students cared about? There was an entire world full of magic, infinite to explore, without a boundary, and everyone cares only about a game. It annoyed him often. He sighed again, and brought his mind back to the Triumphs of the Dark Arts.
The common room's door swung open, and Hadner entered, drenched admirably. Not one inch of him was dry. His partly comical entry provoked laughter throughout the common room. It soon died down when he was followed by Carlson: his face had an indulging smile, and droplets clung to the tips of his hair, glittering in the light of the common room. A few girls around Perce sighed audibly, which made him turn his head. Carlson Bletchley was clearly popular among girls. Perce smirked to himself, and busied himself with his book again. Discussions sprang out with renewed vigour, owing to the return of the Quidditch heroes. This excitement wasn't surprising, for Roger had told Perce that both Hadner and Carlson were feared by the opposing team for their game.
The time had soon come to commence the first Quidditch match of the season. The day was a warm one. It seemed as though the clouds had deserted the sky; the sun shone. There was an excited buzz in the castle from the beginning of the day. Cheers rang through the corridors wherever players of the Gryffindor or Slytherin team walked. Three quarters of the school was in favour of Gryffindor, while the other quarter, the Slytherins, cheered for their own house proudly.
During breakfast, tensions were running high again for the team. Everyone except the fourteen players were eating excitedly. Time was literally flying. Perce ate calmly, chuckling at Jake's remarks on how the poor Gryffindor beater next to Luke was planning to wham his head with a bat. Finally, they were called to move to the stadium.
Students started swarming into the stadium. Subash violently tugged away a book from Perce, saying that it was a punishable crime to read during a Quidditch match, and Roger nodded vigorously. Perce sighed, but laughed all the same, and headed for some seats with the other two. He found Jake and Drake sitting only a little distance away from them. Drake was laughing, and caught sight of Perce, and abruptly stopped. Perce sighed again. A voice was then heard throughout the stadium.
"Welcome to all the students to the beginning of the first Quidditch match of the season!" It shouted. Perce squinted, and then noticed the bright red hair. Robin Selwyn was doing the commentary, and beside him sat Professor McGonagall, her strict nature forbidding his monologue to stretch beyond the necessary.
Perce laughed. "He certainly won't like that, McGonagall supervising!"
"Oh, I'm going to love this," chuckled Subash.
The two teams entered the pitch, with Madam Hooch waiting for them. There was a roar of cheers and applause from the crowd in the stands. Carlson smirked, and shook hands with the Gryffindor Captain, Pierre Manders. Their expressions were worthy of comparison with two hungry lions meeting each other's mortal enemy. Madam Hooch hastened to blow the whistle, releasing the Snitch, and the match began. All fourteen players rose into the air at once, and there was a unanimous roar from the stands. Robin dived into his commentary.
"The Quaffle immediately snatched by Bletchley, he won't leave it at all — oops, there it goes, taken by Farraher — brilliant one, Greengrass — I still wonder if she's dating Abbott, won't they ever say —"
"Selwyn!" interrupted McGonagall, and Perce, Subash and Roger exchanged glances before laughing.
"Sorry, professor — and there goes Bletchley — given to Greengrass — back to Bletchley — OH NO BLUDGER — he gets hit — but he passes it to Abbott in the nick of time — and the Keeper wasn't expecting — SLYTHERIN SCORES! THAT WAS BRILLIANT! Bletchley! Look, the crowd is going crazy already!"
Perce joined in the chant of "Bletchley!" from the Slytherins, thoroughly enjoying the game. He didn't expect he would be running so high on adrenaline. "That was brilliant, wasn't it!" He screamed to Subash, who was laughing and screaming his head out.
"Of course it was! He's simply brilliant!" He cried. Roger was jumping in his seat.
The board now showed ten-zero to Slytherin.
"Bletchley is back!" Roger screamed, amongst the renewed chants, as Carlson walked back into the pitch.
"He ascends his broom and he's off!" Began Robin. "Norman has the Quaffle, racing towards the Slytherin side — watch out, Greengrass, she knows some dirty jinxes —"
"I'm warning you again, Selwyn —"
"Just saying, professor — and Farraher with the Quaffle, oh he won't like this — OUCH — nice one by Beater Kishner, Farraher knocked off of his broom — and Abbott in possession, he speeds up — passes it to Greengrass — on to Bletchley — back to Abbott — to Greengrass — I'm getting dizzy — Bletchley in possession — nice work by the Beater there — BLETCHLEY SCO — Oh — oh no he missed — wait no he passed it to Greengrass — GREENGRASS SCORES! That was fantastic! I don't believe it! The Gryffindor Keeper is dumbfounded, and twenty-zero to Slytherin!"
This brilliant manoeuvre was applauded even by the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs, and some of the professors. Perce was now screaming along with the Slytherins. Drake had forgotten all about him and was dancing in his seat.
"Now we're back with Bletchley in possession — good gracious that was some tackle — Norman with the Quaffle — her Cleansweep is definitely the goods, it's zooming through people — I myself have one but I broke my jaw while —"
"Farraher in possession!" McGonagall screamed from his side.
"Oh — oh yeah, Farraher — yes, this does look good for the Gryffindors — he passes it to the Wimp —"
"HIS NAME IS GEORGE PARK!"
"Yes, of course it is, sorry professor — Park zooming through — watch out, Kishner is waiting for you — he dives and Kishner misses — and this looks promising — oh — Gryffindor scores…"
There was a boom from the other side of the stands as almost half of the school screamed in excitement. The game progressed, and Perce was jumping each time Slytherin scored in a fantastic manner. Meanwhile Hadner was slowly circling above the game, squinting hard for any sign of the Golden Snitch, and the Gryffindor Seeker, Harold Bench, kept glancing at him.
"I think they're gonna win!" Perce shouted, over the cheers, to Subash.
"My poor Perce, of course they are, Slytherin hasn't lost a championship in eleven years!" He laughed.
There was a sudden gasp from the stands. Perce's heart was beating.
"Whoa whoa, what's that, Greyfall has seen the Snitch!" Robin shouted. The game suddenly came to a standstill. Silence engulfed the entire stadium for the few seconds where Hadner was diving, with increasing speed, with Harold close behind him, with a painful look on his face. It looked like time was slowing, with Hadner slowly moving closer and closer to the Snitch, his hand outsretched…
A Bludger came pelting towards him. "NO!" screamed Perce, and there was a short shriek from the Slytherins, everyone stood up — but Kishner came with the bat and slammed the Bludger. Hadner's fingers enclosed the Snitch, right when Harold's hand came close enough. Madam Hooch blew the whistle. Slytherin won.
Then erupted screams and shrieks and celebrations in the Slytherin stand. They had won by two hundred and ten points, and Perce was shouting with Subash. Hadner descended lightly with the Snitch in his hand, holding it high in the air. Perce was still high on adrenaline, his eyes twinkling. This was definitely one of the best experiences he ever had.
The Slytherin team was welcomed back on the day of the match to the common room with the greatest honour. There was applause, cheers, and a party the same night. Perce thoroughly enjoyed that day.
"The game was so fantastic! Especially, I lost my breath when you caught the Snitch — it was too good!" He said to Hadner, while Subash was hogging on some pudding.
"Yes, he's the best Seeker here," said another voice. Perce turned, and saw that Carlson Bletchley was sitting behind him, smiling widely.
"Ah! And your scores — I really don't think that's possible at all —" He laughed. Carlson grinned again, and continued eating his tart.
The match was the hot topic almost until Christmas, when students were deciding whether to stay, or leave. Perce wrote to his father, saying that he wanted to stay, adding a comment about how the Jordans' library looked tame compared to that of Hogwarts. Subash did not sign up to stay, but Roger did, saying his parents were not at home.
Perce did not believe he could ever get used to the Hogwarts feasts. Christmas saw great trees propped up in the Great Hall, magnificently covered in lights. Almost everyone had left for their homes, and the Hall was significantly vacant, in comparison to the population during Halloween.
"Another empty Christmas we witness!" Said Dumbledore, when everyone seemed to have arrived in the Great Hall. Perce grinned, and caught Dumbledore's eyes twinkling in his direction. He got slightly nervous, and pretended to be looking for a seat. "Shall we then spare the House tables? I believe it is hardly necessary," Dumbledore said.
"On the whole, it does make sense," said Headmaster Dippet. Dumbledore bowed, and conjured a few extra chairs at the High Table. Perce raised his eyebrows, exchanged a glance with Roger, and went to sit down. He never expected he'd ever sit at the High Table.
Jake was just arriving then.
Perce was smiling to himself, and scanned the table twice. There was Professor Langrange, who smiled warmly at him, Hagrid, who occupied three chairs, Professor Slughorn, laughing his head off at a joke he had just shared with Dumbledore, whose eyes had just flickered to Perce as he looked at them. He also noticed Professor McGonagall, who had her lips pursed, clearly disapproving of the conduct of her colleague. At the very centre sat Professor Dippet, engrossed in his own thoughts. At the ends were a few students, who included themselves, Donald Canners, Hadner Greyfall, and a few other fifth and sixth years he did not recognise.
Perce then glanced at Jake. He frowned. Jake was looking anxious, glancing at the door every few seconds. His face clearly showed that he was impatient, and his plate lay untouched. His eyebrows were arched. Something was clearly troubling Jake Elladore. An idea striking him, Perce scanned the entire table a third time, and then he raised his eyebrows, looking at Jake again, understanding at once. Drake Fawley had not arrived for the feast. He slowly nodded. Perce's eyes darted slightly to the right, and he caught Donald staring at him with a partly worried, partly confused expression. He looked away the moment Perce caught sight of him, and began eating again. Perce frowned to himself. Something was definitely up.
He got up without warning, and Roger started. "Whoa whoa, what's up, mate?" He chuckled.
"Bathroom," he murmured, and began walking away. Roger patted him, and resumed his conversation. Perce stopped as he reached Jake.
"Let's go look for him," he whispered, bending down to his ear. Jake jumped so violently that he almost overturned his plate. He looked up to see Perce.
"But — who —" he attempted at a smile, and failed. He looked into Perce's blue eyes, and met a determined look. Jake nodded, with a worried look, and got up, while Perce took the lead. As he was leaving the Hall, Perce turned back, and once again observed the worried face of Donald. His eyes flickered towards Dumbledore, who had a small smile, and an observant look. He turned around and walked out.
"He asked me to go, saying he'd come after a while," Jake blurted, keeping up with Perce's pace. Perce nodded. "He had a grin on his face all along, I really don't know what's up with him —"
"Don't worry, Jake, he'll be fine," Perce said, smiling at him. They were now picking up pace. Unknown to Perce, Jake's head was throbbing with ridiculous thoughts. 'Would he be alright? Why didn't he come? Is he mad at me? Or at Perce? No, he came for dinner yesterday… but surely he should be alright? Was he — attacked?' The last thought triggered another memory.
"And Perce — I — I'm very sorry for what he — what happened that day… I wanted to tell you but I never got the chance…" he said, giving a small smile. "He — got a bit carried away — and —"
Perce patted his shoulder. "No harm done, mate. Secondly, the fault isn't yours," he smiled, still walking. He waved away all protests of Jake's as they reached the common room. "Nobili domo." he uttered, and the door swung open.
They walked in, and Perce carefully looked around. He was looking in every chair, for they were high-backed. Then he heard it — a cry, or a squeak, from the dormitory. He glanced at Jake's face, and the dread in his expression conveyed that he too had heard it. Perce ran to the door, closely followed by Jake, with his wand out. He wrenched it open, and marched in, motioning Jake to stay where he was. Jake did not disobey, his fear mounting. He rather wished he didn't come here, now. What would he see? Surely — surely, Drake was alright?
Perce nimbly went in. For Jake, it was one of those moments where one believed that one couldn't take any more thoughts. He was sweating. 'Drake has been behaving out of the ordinary recently — but that can't have anything to do with this…'
Perce stuck his head out, very pale in the face, with an extremely serious look.
"Jake, go now and call Hadner! And any other professor you can! Now!"