Chapter 36 - Nose-Dives and Dementors
A few days later the Saturday before our first match, after McGonagall told us about Black being after us even though we already knew then assigned Madam Hooch to watch out for us during Quidditch Practice, we were getting ready for practice when Oliver Wood approached the team late and look in a rather sour mood.
"We're not playing Slytherin!" he told us. "Flint's just been to see me. We're playing Hufflepuff instead."
"Why?" chorused the rest of the team.
"Flint's excuse is that their Seeker's arm's still injured," said Wood, grinding his teeth furiously. "But it's obvious why they're doing it. Don't want to play in this weather. Think it'll damage their chances..." There had been strong winds and heavy rain all day, and as Wood spoke, they heard a distant rumble of thunder.
"There's nothing wrong with Malfoy's arm!" said Harry furiously. "He's faking it!"
"Bunch of pansies daren't go up against us." I spat.
"I know that, but we can't prove it," said Wood bitterly, "And we've been practicing all those moves assuming we're playing Slytherin, and instead it's Hufflepuff, and their styles quite different. They've got a new Captain and Seeker, Cedric Diggory -" Ang and Katie suddenly giggled, I raised an eye brow at them and look confused.
"What?" said Wood, frowning at this light-hearted behaviour.
"He's that tall, good-looking one, isn't he?" said Angelina.
"Strong and silent," said Katie, and they started to giggle again. I rolled my eyes at my girly team mates.
"He's only silent because he's too thick to string two words together," said Fred impatiently until I butted in.
"Hey! Ced is not thick, he's a lot smarter than you Weasley." I snapped sticking up for my friend.
"Katie, Ang, I think Ash is your competition, if I remember last year they were practically dating, Ash and Ced." Fred smirked as I went a little pink.
"I don't know why you're worried, Oliver, Hufflepuff is a pushover. Last time we played them, Harry caught the Snitch in about five minutes, remember?" George continued where Fred left off much to Oliver's annoyance.
"We were playing in completely different conditions!" Wood shouted, his eyes bulging slightly. "Diggory's put a very strong side together! He's an excellent Seeker! I was afraid you'd take it like this! We mustn't relax! We must keep our focus! Slytherin is trying to wrong-foot us! We must win!"
"Oliver, calm down!" said Fred, looking slightly alarmed. "We're taking Hufflepuff very seriously. Seriously." The day before the match, the winds reached howling point and the rain fell harder than ever. It was so dark inside the corridors and classrooms that extra torches and lanterns were lit. The Slytherin team was looking very smug indeed, and none more so than Malfoy.
"Ah, if only my arm was feeling a bit better!" he sighed as the gale outside pounded the windows. Harry had to stop me from pouncing on him and giving him something to whine about. I decided I was gonna get Moony to help me with a prank for the little brat but it would have to wait until after the full moon. I snuck out of the dorm with Harry's cloak and the Marauder's Map so I didn't get caught by Filch or Snape and met my Uncle Moony in the Shrieking Shack. We made small talk while the moon rose to its apex causing my dear uncle's change. We wrestled, burning my uncle's energy late into the night before we both fell asleep. I had thankfully set an alarm so I could get up for my lessons and left Moony to sleep a little longer in the Shack, I ran back to my bedroom and jumped into the shower however I was so tired, I practically fell asleep in there leaving me to quickly get dried and dressed then run to my first lesson, 15 minutes late. I had DADA, Uncle Moony wouldn't be doing it but I didn't know who would. Imagine my joy when I saw Snape stood at the front of the class as I entered the room.
"You're late, get to your seat. 15 points from Gryffindor." He growled. I was too tired to argue so I did as I was told, leaning my head on the desk and resting my eyes. "As I was saying before I was interrupted, Professor Lupin has not left any record of the topics you have covered so far..."
"Please, sir, we've done boggarts, Red Caps, Kappas, and Grindylows," said Hermione quickly, "and we're just about to start -"
"Be quiet," said Snape coldly. "I did not ask for information. I was merely commenting on Professor Lupin's lack of organization. Get your head off your desk, Hyde. When I am talking, I expect you to listen. Five more points from Gryffindor." I jerked my head up and glared at him.
"He's the best Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher we've ever had," said Dean boldly, who was sat next to me, there was a murmur of agreement from the rest of the class. Snape looked more menacing than ever.
"Damn straight." I agreed loudly.
"You are easily satisfied. Lupin is hardly overtaxing you - I, Would expect first years to be able to deal with Red Caps and Grindylows. Today we shall discuss -" He flicked through our book for pausing on a page. "Werewolves," said Snape with an evil glint in his eye as he looked back up at me. I stiffened. He wouldn't.
"But, sir," said Hermione, seemingly unable to restrain herself, "we're not supposed to do werewolves yet, we're due to start Hinkypunks -"
"Miss Granger," said Snape in a voice of deadly calm, "I was under the impression that I am teaching this lesson, not you. And I am telling you all to turn to page 394." He glanced around again. 'All of you! Now!" I did no such thing, I just glared at the malicious man.
"Which of you can tell me how we distinguish between the werewolf and the true wolf?" said Snape. No one but Hermione put her hand up. "Anyone?" Snape said, ignoring Hermione. His twisted smile was back. "Not even you, Miss Hyde?" He was goading me the bastard. And I was about to bite. How dare he. I barely contained my fury as I threw my chair backwards and marched to the front, dropping my text book on his hands.
"You are one evil prick." I growled quietly. "How dare you do what you're trying to do? And you can bet your arse I will be telling the Headmaster. I'm leaving." I said before I cleared my throat and talked a little louder. "I'm sick, I'm going to the Hospital Wing." I stated and turned back to walk to my desk and grab my bag.
"Fifty points from Gryffindor." Snape stated with an evil smirk on his face.
"You are so damn lucky right now, it's unreal." I snarled before I left the room and slammed the door. I took a deep breath before I ran back to my room and slept for the rest of the day.
-.-
I woke up on match day at three am completely starving so I raided the kitchens before going out to the pitch to make up for the missed practice the previous evening with help Dean who I may have woken up after my session in the kitchen. He was actually a really good keeper apparently in football that's what he is best at too. At around eight, we went to breakfast and met up with the team.
"And just where were you last night?" Oliver questioned me as soon as he saw me.
"I was ill however I've been on the pitch practicing since three so I've more than made up for it." I replied effectively silencing him before I grabbed some toast and sat next to Harry who was eating porridge. Oliver looked down onto the table and ate nothing.
"It's going to be a tough one," said Wood, who wasn't eating anything.
"Stop worrying, Oliver," said Angelina soothingly, "we don't mind a bit of rain." But it was considerably more than a bit of rain. Such was the popularity of Quidditch that the whole school turned out to watch the match as usual, but they ran down the lawns toward the Quidditch field, heads bowed against the ferocious wind, umbrellas being whipped out of their hands as they went. Just before he entered the locker room, Harry saw Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, laughing and pointing at him from under an enormous umbrella on their way to the stadium. The team changed into their scarlet robes and waited for Wood's usual pre-match pep talk, but it didn't come. He tried to speak several times, made an odd gulping noise, then shook his head hopelessly and beckoned them to follow him. The wind was so strong that they staggered sideways as they walked out onto the field. If the crowd was cheering, they couldn't hear it over the fresh rolls of thunder. The rain whipped against my face making it bloody freezing, I hoped it would warm up when we got on with the game. The Hufflepuff's approached us from the opposite side of the field, wearing canary-yellow robes. Oliver and Ced walked up to each other and shook hands; Ced smiled at Oliver but he only nodded. Madam Hooch's mouthed, "Mount your brooms." to us so both teams did. Madam Hooch put her whistle to her lips and gave it a blast that sounded shrill and distant they were off, we rose up, both Harry and I the quickest, we went into a circle before Hooch released the balls and we were off. Hufflepuff gained possession first but thanks to the twins Katie got the Quaffle and after dodging a bludger then passing to me before passing back, Katie scored first. The Hufflepuff team were doing a lot better than I thought and for the next twenty minutes they played keep away from us, for some reason it was practically impossible the Quaffle from them but Oliver stopped them every time they tried to score. Ang got the Quaffle and scored twice before I also scored twice. It was another forty minutes and it was mainly tossing the ball between us and no one really getting close to the hoops before Oliver asked Madam Hooch called for a time out. Harry was the last to get to under the umbrella.
"What's the score?" Harry asked.
"We're fifty points up," Oliver replied, "but unless we get the Snitch soon, we'll be playing into the night."
"I've got no chance with these on," Harry said exasperatedly, waving his glasses.
"Well I'm freezing and I'm bloody knackered, we all are." I whinged while Ang, Katie and the Twins nodded in agreement. At that very moment, Dean and 'Mione appeared.
"We've had an idea." Dean grinned at us.
"Pass me your glasses, Harry." Hermione ordered. "Impervius! There!" she said, handing them back to Harry. "They'll repel water!"
"I could bloody kiss you both." I grinned at them.
"I'd deserve it after you waking me at four this morning." Dean replied grinning.
"Yeah, well, I'll see if we win." I winked at him. 'Mione raised an eyebrow at me.
"Brilliant!" Oliver replied. "Okay, team, let's go for it!" We grabbed our brooms raced out and back onto the pitch and the game restarted. Hufflepuff managed to get the Quaffle in twice before Ang scored again, I was dodging bludgers and Hufflepuff players with the Quaffle in my arm, I couldn't see Katie or Ang but I heard Oliver shout at Harry and saw Ced racing around probably after the Snitch. I got distracted and one of the Hufflepuff Chasers barged into me, I dropped the Quaffle and nearly crashed into the stand. I glowered at the yellow player and shot after him at speeds only a Nimbus 2001 can get to and barged into his side, Katie appeared and did the same to the other side while Ang was underneath ready to catch the Quaffle like in practice. It worked and Ang flew off with Katie not far behind while I flew a bit higher above them both ready for one of them to throw it to me when the two Hufflepuff beaters blocked them. The three chasers chased after me while Kate and Ang chased after them while beaters from both teams launched the bludgers towards. I flew high into the air in the hope I could get around them and to the posts while dodging the Bludgers sent after when I saw Harry and Ced chasing after the snitch not far from where I was. That's when I felt the familiar cold. My eyes widened when I saw the hundreds of death eaters below Harry, I nosedived to get away from them with the Quaffle, shocking the Hufflepuff players below me. I sailed towards the goal posts and looked behind me quickly, expecting to see the other players chasing. But instead twenty Dementors.
"Oh my God." I murmured before I urged my broom to move faster, hoping to score again before flying in the opposite direction. I launched the Quaffle into the middle post before doing a ninety degree turn into the sky. I'm not sure what I planned to do, I mean, I don't think Dementors run out of breath, they could probably chase after me for days. I looked back again and noticed they were catching up. "Come on. Come on, come on." I whispered to my broom, edging it away from the soulless demons. I started going in a circle, flying above the teachers stand when I heard a gasp echo across the stands and looked up to see Harry falling to the ground. "Harry!" I gasped in shock. The dementors must have caught up with him. I headed towards him, hoping to help, completely forgetting about the Dementors that were chasing me. I nose-dived towards my falling god brother when the hundreds of dementors all seemed to turn on me. I felt the happiness drain from me but kept flying towards Harry, then I felt the energy drain from me before a bright floating white wolf and a phoenix surrounded me as I slipped from consciousness, off my broom and to the floor five feet below.