Author's Notes:
*I do not own or have the rights to Harry Potter or the characters within. That's all Joanne.*
Hi everyone! I hope y'all have had a good week. I've been super busy this week with more wedding stuff and changing my last name and such. Honestly, this week has just flown by. I've been working a lot on my cross stitching for my best friend's wedding! It's a Harry Potter compilation with Fawkes, a dementor, Harry's patronus, and other small HP themed things. It's turning out great…. except for when I miscount stitches and have to completely backtrack because the colors look so much alike. That's super frustrating.
Beer of the Week: I'm going to be honest with you guys, my beers are going to keep being cheep shit for a while—Still no job. Anyway, this week I drank Miller Highlife because we had some lying around from a party. However, if you want a really good beer suggestion I would grab up some of Troegs' Haze Charmer. I'm not a huge IPA fan, but this NE IPA was pretty delicious and super citrusy.
Reviews: Midnitewanderer: I'm not crying, you are! I thought you would enjoy Harry's little slip ups—also, no idea where I got Lucy from, totally made that up! Lol. So, Bree was totally my influence for last chapter. Her history with the Cruciatus was absolutely chilling but I feel that she eluded to a lot more abuse than we actually got to see so I wanted to see how much worse Orion was to him. And before you read this chapter, I totally forgot about the specific contents of your review before I finished this chapter. I did get all the feels that you noticed my late posting! Sorry I worried you, it's been very busy here—doing my best not to go all bridezilla with my Rona-wedding! ProfessorMarauder: I'm glad that you enjoyed last chapter! I'm not a fan of plot induced stupidity either. I really try to make my story as natural as possible and I think that really helps eliminate that issue. You will definitely get your questions answered throughout my story!
PunksterNL: OOOi I LOVE beer suggestions! I'm definitely going to seek that beer out now! It sounds amazing and I'm a sucker for a good double. I got a huge laugh out of "Really makes you want to introduce both Orion and Lucy to Aragog's loving family." I mean…I'm not ruling that out. Ha! LadyKahlan: Oh my gosh I'm so sorry! I was still getting used to writing. I'll have to go back and edit. Thanks for the heads up on that! WinkingSkeever: Ask and you shall receive.
Thank you everyone for reviewing and keeping up with my story! Please remember to leave a review—you guys brighten my days and remind me why I keep writing! I love you all! Stay safe and enjoy this update!
Chapter Thirty-Seven: Quidditch
As Harry, Ron, and Hermione made their way down to the quidditch pitch for their flying lesson, Harry filled the other two in on his brief conversation with Draco. Hermione lamented the fact that Draco's father had forbidden him to have contact or relations with his friends while Ron merely scoffed and said he wasn't overly surprised given who his father is.
"Yeah, well, I guess his conversation with Uncle Padfoot went well because Draco seems like he's going to ignore Lucy's new rules."
"Who's Lucy?" Hermione asked as she picked out a broom. She grimaced as she held it in her hand.
"Oh! That's what Uncle Sirius called Draco's dad. His name is Lucius Malfoy but Uncle Sirius calls him Lucy. I think it's kind of funny."
Ron snorted and then put the broom he had picked up back and snatched up another one. It must have been to his liking because he nodded and kept it.
"Anyway—he said he would explain more at dinner. I hope this isn't anything too serious."
"There's no use speculating about things we don't know," Hermione said as she took a place in the grass amongst the other Gryffindors, "We'll know everything after class."
"Suppose you're right, Mione," Ron said as he looked his broom over again, "You know, maybe I should pick a different broom. This one has some weird notches in it—"
Just as Ron was about to move off to a different broom, Madam Hooch arrived.
"Well," she barked, "What are you all waiting for? Everyone put their brooms back on the ground and stand beside them. Come on now, hurry up! Now stick out your right hand over your broom and say 'Up!'"
Everyone around them began shouting 'Up!' over and over. Harry had no problems summoning his broom as it flew right into his hand on the first try. Hermione's simply rolled over on the ground—but at least hers moved some. Neville's broom refused to move even a centimeter on the ground. Ron managed to summon his brooms after a few tries and was delighted when it touched his hand.
After summoning their brooms Madam Hooch showed them how to mount their brooms. Harry was delighted when she told him he had perfect form. He was even graced with a slight, tight-lipped smile.
"Now, when I blow my whistle, you kick off from the ground, hard," she said, "Keep your brooms steady, rise a few feet, and then come straight back down by leaning forward slightly, on my whistle—three—two—"
But Neville, nervous and jumpy and frightened of being left on the ground, pushed off hard before the whistle had touched Madam Hooch's lips.
"Come back, Longbottom!" she shouted, but Neville was rising straight up like a cork shot out of a bottle—twelve feet—twenty feet. Harry saw his scared white face look down at the ground falling away, saw him gasp, slip sideways off the broom and—WHAM—a thud and a nasty crack left Neville laying facedown on the grass in a heap. His broomstick was still rising higher and higher, and started to drift lazily toward the forbidden forest and out of sight.
Madam Hooch was bending over Neville, her face as white as his, "Broken wrist," she muttered, "Come on boy—it's alright, up you get. To the hospital wing with you, now."
She turned to the rest of the class, "None of you is to move while I take this boy to the hospital wing! You leave those brooms where they are or you'll be out of Hogwarts before you can say 'Quidditch!' Come on, dear."
Once Madam Hooch had walked off with Neville and was out of sight, Harry, Ron, and Hermione picked their conversation back up once again.
"What do you think Lucy threatened Draco with, anyway?" Harry asked.
Ron had only just opened his mouth to respond when a snide voice piped up behind them.
"Do you mean Draco Malfoy? The blood traitor? I heard Lord Malfoy plans to give him the pure blood punishment over the holidays for his…in discretion," Blaise Zabini scoffed, a wicked grin on his face, "You know, I knew him from childhood and I honestly can't say I'm surprised—he always seemed like the mudblood loving type. He was always a little too fond of things that were—dirty."
Harry and Ron shouted in outrage in unison over Zabini's slur, both boys suddenly ready for a fight.
"You watch your mouth, Zabini, or I'll watch it for you!" Ron shouted.
"Touch words for a Weasley. Honestly, I'm surprised your parents could afford to send another kid to school. Really, how many of you are there? Thirty?"
"Shut up, Zabini. No one gives a rats ass about what you have to say," Harry said darkly.
"Ah, yes, and Potter. My mother has told me all about you—you're the reason the Dark Lord fell ten years ago. Well, at least he took your mudblood mother with him," Zabini sneered.
Harry lunged at Zabini but was shocked to be met with only air. He looked around wildly before realizing that Zabini had taken flight and was now already 30 feet in the air and was rising rapidly. Harry quickly rushed to his broom and made chase—flying after Zabini faster than he had ever flown.
Harry could hear Hermione and Ron calling after him but he didn't care—Zabini would pay for what he said about his mother. He could hear the screams and gasps from the people back on the ground as he gave his broom a sharp turn so he could face Zabini in midair. Zabini scowled.
"Come to tell me off, Potter? Or are you just going to glare at me to death?"
"Apologize for what you said about my mum and I'll let you alone, Zabini!"
Zabini gave Harry a dramatic sigh and began tossing a small, glass ball into the air and catching it, "Now, Potter, why would I apologize for telling the truth?"
Harry had a retort ready, but his eyes were focused on the clear ball that Zabini was playing with. Then it dawned on him what the object was, "Give it back, Zabini! That's not yours!"
Zabini cocked his head and dramatically caught the Rememberall before holding it up between his index finger and thumb, "What? This piece of junk? I found it on the ground. Ugly little thing, isn't it?"
"It's Neville's and you stole it from him. Give it here or I'll knock you off your broom!"
Zabini paled, he wasn't nearly as strong of a flyer as Harry was and he knew it, "This piece of junk?" he shrugged, "Well, catch it if you can, then."
Zabini turned on his broom and chucked the glass ball as far as he could. It arched in the air before beginning to plummet to the ground again.
Harry didn't have time to look at Zabini, to even give him a second thought before his eye instinctively caught sight of the Rememberall and followed its path. Harry quickly measured where the ball was going before speeding off, flying so closely to Zabini that the twigs on his broom smacked Zabini in the face.
It was a wonderous feeling to fly high above the ground, the wind whipping his face and the clouds so much closer than normal. Some part of his mind registered that feeling, that joy and happiness that he felt as he sped towards the Rememberall. In fact, his mind was so preoccupied that he undercalculated where it was headed and arrived too high for the ball. Thinking quickly, Harry performed a fantastic flip in the air, reached out his hand, and snatched the small glass ball from the air and held it tight in his hand.
Smiling, Harry flew back to the ground amidst a roar of applause and cheers. He could see Ron's delighted face shouting his approval next to a very disgruntled looking Hermione.
Landing lightly on his feet, Harry held the Rememberall aloft in the air as everyone cheered around him. Until, suddenly, the cheering stopped and the shocked gasps started.
The color drained from Harry's face as he remembered Madam Hooch's warning. Was he going to get expelled? He may as well begin packing his bags now.
"Mr. Potter! Come with me!" a familiar voice called to Harry from the entry way of the castle, "Before I summon the Headmaster for this—indiscretion!"
Harry slowly turned and saw his green robed, purple hatted, honorary grandmother staring down at him, her lips closed so tightly all that was left was a line where he mouth used to be. For some reason, this sight scared him more than the idea of being caught by Madam Hooch. Harry suddenly recalled the few times he dared to disobey Minerva McGonagall as a child. He shuddered at the memories.
As he approached McGonagall, she turned on her heel and strode off, clearly under the assumption that Harry would simply follow her. And follow her he did.
They had walked into the castle and up several flights of stairs before Harry risked speaking, "Er—Nana? Where are we going?"
"Mr. Potter, during school hours you shall address me as Professor McGonagall. As for where we are going, we're going to get Wood."
Harry frowned. He wasn't sure what wood was. He wondered vaguely if it was a cane or a bat used for punishments. He had heard the caretaker muttering about stringing students up by their thumbs—perhaps this was common discipline.
After a few more minutes of silence Harry plucked up the courage to ask, "Na—Professor, what is wood?"
McGonagall merely ignored Harry as they strode into the Defense Against The Dark Arts classroom and interrupted what looked to be a fifth year class.
"Professor Quirrell, I'm sorry to interrupt but may I borrow Wood for a moment?" Professor McGonagall asked a startled Professor Quirrell.
"Oh, my, yes. Go ahead, Wood."
A tall boy with brown hair stood up and strode out of the classroom and into the hall. It was there that McGonagall and Wood discussed between them Harry's position on the Gryffindor team. After the discussion, McGonagall led Harry down to the entrance hall.
"Just you wait until James hears about this. Mail him quickly—we need to get you a proper broom. We can't have our seeker on those school brooms," McGonagall made a rude sound as she waived her hand in the air, "Anyway. Go and enjoy your dinner. Please be sure to keep your position on the team quiet for now. We don't want this spread about the school, now. Off with you, boy."
Harry nodded and began walking into the great hall before stopping and turning on his heel. He quickly ran to McGonagall and threw his arms around her in a tight hug while no one was in the hall before letting go again.
"Thanks for not having me expelled, Nana."
McGonagall grinned at Harry, her eyes watering slightly, before she waived him into the great hall again.
~ID~
As Draco made his way into the great hall for dinner, he noted how empty it was still. He had arrived early for dinner so he could prepare himself for the questions and comments he was going to be bombarded with by his friends. He sighed inwardly before making his way to the Gryffindor table. He could feel the stares from several of the Slytherins as he took a seat; he wondered just how many of them were reporting to their parents to report to his father.
Draco wasn't a stranger to the ways of what his father called his friends. He knew that many of the parents of Slytherin students had once been death eaters. It wasn't a secret within his household but it definitely was when it came to the public eye. And there was no way to prove that these people, who had been acquitted of their crimes for various reasons, had actually been in Lord Voldemort's gang of cronies. And Draco knew that those who remained on the outside were still close with one another—like a co-symbiotic relationship. And it was because of those relationships that Draco knew at least one of those students would be sending reports of his goings on at Hogwarts.
Draco did his best not to continue to glance across the hall at the Slytherin table while he started serving himself dinner and waited for Harry, Ron, and Hermione to get back from flying class. He didn't have to wait long for Ron and Hermione, however, because it was only a few minutes after he started eating when he caught a glimpse of their familiar faces making their way into the great hall.
"I still can't believe he did that! He's going to be in so much trouble. He must be with Dumbledore, I bet that's why he's not at dinner yet," Hermione said quickly as she took a seat next to Draco.
"Oh come off it, Hermione. Give the bloke a break. Harry was fantastic! He really can fly."
Draco furrowed his brow, clearly he had missed something important, "What did I miss? What did Harry do?"
"Oi, mate, you should have seen it!" Ron quickly relayed the events from flying class in excruciating detail.
Hermione rolled her eyes as Ron finished the story dramatically by telling Draco that McGonagall dragged Harry away by his ear, "That's not how it happened, Ron. You're over embellishing. McGonagall and Harry walked back into the castle and we haven't seen him since. He didn't even finish our first lesson!"
"Well, I think you'll have seen him now," Draco said as he nodded towards the door to the great hall.
Ron and Hermione whipped their heads around and saw Harry making his way towards them, a shit eating grin on his face.
"Hey guys," Harry said as he took a seat, "I'm starving. Glad you're here tonight, Draco. Are you going to explain what's been going on?"
"Only after you tell us how many days of detention you got," Draco said as he smiled back at Harry and threw a chunk of bread at him.
"Come off it—I didn't get any detention. I got put onto the school team," Harry said nonchalantly.
Draco's cheeks flushed at this statement, jealousy rising in him, "But you didn't even try out."
"I know. It doesn't seem very fair to everyone else—but it's better than getting detentions, right?"
"I guess. The Ravenclaw team is hosting tryouts this week for a chaser and seeker position. I think I'm going to try out. Father wanted me to be on a house team, anyway."
Hermione frowned, "But do you want to be on a team?"
"Course!" Draco said back, "I love quidditch. I just figure—well, anything to make Father less angry at me, you know?"
"What exactly has been going on with you and Mr. Malfoy, anyway?"
Draco sighed and sat his cutlery down on the table and glanced around before leaning in to the other three, "Look, Father sent me this letter the other day and I just—I needed time to figure out what to do about it."
As he pulled out the letter from his father, Draco explained the events from today to his friends. Harry, Ron, and Hermione each passed around the letter from Lucy and each taking it in turn to display an appropriate amount of outrage over the letter.
"This is rubbish," Harry said as he threw the letter back to Draco, "Absolute rubbish. Did Uncle Sirius remind you that you're always welcome at Potter Manner?"
"Yeah. And that's why he gave me a mirror connected to all of yours. He said it would be a safe way to communicate if something like this happens again," he took the mirror out of the pocket of his robes and held it up, "How does this work, exactly? How do you know if you're being called, anyway?"
"Oh! It warms up in your pocket. It can be easy to miss. It's pretty subtle. When you pull it out you can see the person trying to call you but they won't see you until you're facing the mirror. Dad said that's to protect the user if they're indisposed."
"That's some incredible magic!" Hermione exclaimed as she looked at the mirror, "Who made them?"
"Er—Uncle Sirius said he did, but Uncle Moony said that dad and Uncle Sirius came up with the idea and then he executed it. I guess mom did some charm work, too. Then to add another they do all the same spells and then link them with a variation of the er—I think it's called a protean charm?"
"A protean charm? Really? Wow! That's really advanced magic."
"I suppose," Harry said as he ate his dinner, "But Uncle Moony has always been able to do some powerful magic. So, anyway, does this mean you're ignoring your dad, then, Draco?"
"I guess I am. Otherwise I have to be friends with those idiots Crabbe and Goyle. I suppose you lot are a little better than them," Draco did his best to keep a straight face before he burst out laughing, "Oh my god, your faces! I'm just kidding. I mean, I don't want to be friends with Crabbe and Goyle but still, you lot are way better than those two. I swear, Goyle is part troll."
Ron snorted into his pudding and practically choked on the bite that was in his mouth.
"What's going to happen when your dad finds out, though?" Hermione asked, concern in her voice.
Draco's smile fled his face as he grew more serious, "I'd rather not think about that if I'm honest. I'm sure it won't be pleasant."
~ID~
Sirius stepped out of the elevator at the Ministry, he wanted to get in and out of the wretched place as quickly as he could. He'd waited long enough to handle Walburga's estate but the extra time he waited didn't mean he was looking forward to it now.
He quickly strode through the atrium and punched the button at the lift. As he waited he bounced on the balls of his feet. Once the lift arrived, he quickly got in with the Ministry employees and made his way up to the magical law enforcement floor.
As he reached the requisite floor, he found himself to be the only person left waiting. He watched as the golden grills slid open and revealed Lucius Malfoy who looked equally as shocked to see Sirius as Sirius was of seeing him. Once they had gotten over the initial shock, the pair glared daggers at one another.
"Lucy. Erm—sorry, I mean, Lucius. Pleasure."
"Black," Lucius spat, "I heard that you've been attempting to influence my son."
Sirius shrugged and went to make his way past Lucius, attempted to push past him, but Lucius slapped his walking stick across the door to the lift, blocking him in.
"Perhaps I did not make my indignation clear. I have heard that you have been attempting to foster some sort of mudblood loving, blood traitor out of him."
Sirius frowned and rolled his eyes upward some, "I wouldn't call him a blood traitor…more of—him following in the family footsteps, if you know what I mean."
Lucius bared his teeth at Sirius in a grimace, "If I so much as catch wind of you speaking to my son again, I will personally make your life a living hell. You will personally discover the reach my power at the Ministry has—my power on the board of governors and the Wizengamot."
"Are you done throwing a bitch fit, yet?" Sirius said as he crossed his arms, "Because I don't think you quite understand how much I don't care how deep into your pockets any of those organizations are. So, if you'll excuse me, I have business to attend to before I can get back to my comfy bed at home."
Lucius smiled mischievously and once again blocked Sirius from leaving the lift, "No, I don't think you would care. Well, that is until it effects your family that is. You see, as a governor of Hogwarts, I have substantial influence on things such as the curriculum, the disciplines, and who is able to remain within its walls be it professor or student," Lucius intimated, "And as for the Wizengamot—oh, yes, you and Lord Potter have yet to claim your family seats so you wouldn't be aware of the more recent bits of legislation that have come across to us in recent months. I am, of course, referring to the werewolf registry and the accessibility and affordability of the wolfsbane potion as well as certain restrictions involved."
Sirius paled but continued, "Consider your message given, Malfoy. And, for the record, I don't care too much about who you know or what you say you can do. Now, if you don't mind, it's time for me to make my leave."
Sirius pushed passed Lucius and marched his way down the hall until he reached the wills and estates office of the department of magical law enforcement. He took a moment to cool down before he walked in and disposed of Walburga's estate.
End Notes:
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