Harry and Elizabeth Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

by Wishmaster 17

Harry and Elizabeth have so far had difficult time at school. Not because people hated them, far from it. It was just that for the past two years Harry and Elizabeth have had to deal with one of the worst Wizards of all time. Can the two survive a third year at Hogwarts? (Sequel Harry and Elizabeth and The Chamber of Secrets) full summery inside.

11. Grim Defeat

Grim Defeat:

It couldn't be true, could it? Sirius Black was in the castle. It's not possible. Insane! I tried my best to think of how this could happen. I just couldn't picture how Sirius Black could make his way into the castle! Hogwarts was supposed to be the safest place in the world!

Professor Dumbledore had sent all Gryffindor's back to the Great Hall, and ten minutes later the students of Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Everyone looked confused.

"The teachers and I need to conduct a thorough search of the castle," Professor Dumbledore told us as Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick closed all doors into the hall. "I'm afraid that, for your own safety, you will have to spend the night here. I want the prefects to stand guard over the entrances to the hall and I am leaving the Head Boy and Girl in charge. Any disturbance should be reported to me immediately," he added to Percy, he was looking immensely proud and important. "Send word with one of the ghosts."

Professor Dumbledore paused, about to leave the hall, and said, "Oh, yes. You'll be needing…" One casual wave of his wand and the long tables flew to the edges of the hall and stood themselves against the walls; another wave, and the floor was covered with hundreds of squishy purple sleeping bags.

"Sleep well," Professor Dumbledore said while closing the door behind him.

The hall immediately began to buzz excitedly; the Gryffindor's were telling the rest of the school what had just happened.

Draco didn't waste any time as he rushed over to where I was. "Lizzy!" He ditched his friends to talk with me. "Are you okay?"

"Everyone into their sleeping bags!" Percy shouted. "Come on, now, no more talking! Lights out in ten minutes!"

I groan annoyed with the smug look on his face. But he was right, and it kills me to agree with him. It actually killed me. "Sirius Black is here and he ended up scaring the Fat Lady away from our dorm." I gave him the story quickly.

"But Hogwarts is the safest place in the world. How did he manage to get past the Dementors?" I shrugged. I honestly had no idea.

"You have to be really careful Lizzy. He's…"

"I know, he's after me and my brother." He looked confused. "Mr. Weasley told us before we left. He nodded.

"C'mon Lizzy." I face Ron and nodded. "I'll talk to you tomorrow about this I swear." He frowned. "Go before you get in trouble." I ended up having to push Draco back toward his house. He already got enough problems hanging out with me.

I quickly ran over to Ron. Harry had grabbed me a sleeping bag and dragged it toward the corner.

"Do you think Black's still in the castle?" Hermione whispered anxiously.

"Dumbledore obviously thinks he might be," Ron whispered glancing around the Great hall and noticing that other students were doing the same.

"It's very lucky he picked tonight, you know," Hermione said as we climbed fully dressed into our sleeping bags and propped ourselves up on our elbows to talk. "The one night we weren't in the tower…"

"I reckon he's lost tract of time, being on the run," said Ron. "Didn't realize it was Halloween. Otherwise he'd have come bursting in here."

Hermione shuddered.

All around us people were asking the same question: "How did he get in?"

"Maybe he knows how to Apparate," said a Ravenclaw only a few feet away, "Just appear out of thin air, you know."

"Disguised himself, probably," said a Hufflepuff fifth year.

"He could have flown in," Dean Thomas suggested.

"Honestly, am I the only person who's ever bothered to read Hogwarts, a History?" Hermione said crossly at our small group.

"Probably," said Ron. "Why?"

"Because, you can't apparate on school grounds. The castle is protected with all sorts of enchantments to stop people entering in stealth." I explain from beside Harry. Hermione nodded.

"I'd love to see a disguise that could fool those Dementors. They're guarding every single entrance to the grounds. They'd have seen him fly in too. And Filch knows all the secret passages, they'll have them covered…" Hermione continued for me.

"The lights are going out now!" Percy shouted. "I want everyone in their sleeping bags and no more talking!" I groan in annoyance.

"It's like the power went straight to his head."

The candles went out at once. The only light now came from the silvery ghosts, who were drifting about talking seriously to the prefects, and the enchanted ceiling, which, like the sky outside, was scattered with stars. What with that, and the whispering that still filled the hall, it felt like everyone was sleeping outside in a light wind. It was peaceful.

Once every hour, a teacher would reappear in the Hall to check that everything was quiet. Around three in the morning, when many students had finally fallen asleep, Professor Dumbledore came in. I couldn't sleep. I was too nervous. Sirius Black was in the school. He was coming after Harry and I. We were in serious trouble.

Professor Dumbledore was looking around for Percy. Percy was prowling between the sleeping bags, telling people off for talking. Percy was only a short way away from Harry, Ron, Hermione, and I. We quickly closed our eyes and pretended to be asleep when Professor Dumbledore's footsteps drew nearer.

"Any sign of him, Professor?" Percy asked in a whisper.

"No. All well here?"

"Everything under control, sir."

"Good. There's no point in moving them all now. I've found a temporary guardian for the Gryffindor portrait hole. You'll be able to move them back in tomorrow.

"And the Fat Lady, sir?"

"Hiding in a map of Argyllshire on the second floor. Apparently she refused to let Black in without the password, so he attacked. She's still very distressed, but once she's calmed down, I'll have Mr. Filch restore her."

I heard the door to the hall creak open again and more footsteps.

"Headmaster?" It was Professor Snape. "The whole of the third floor has been searched. He's not there. And Filch has done the dungeons; nothing there either."

"What about the Astronomy tower? Professor Trelawney's room? The Owlery?"

"All searched…"

"Very well, Severus. I didn't expect Black to linger."

"Have you any theory as to how he got in, Professor?" Professor Snape asked.

"Many, Severus, each of them as unlikely as the next."

This really isn't good. I couldn't believe this is happening. "You remember the conversation we had, Headmaster, just before, ah, the start of term?" Professor Snape said.

"I do, Severus," Professor Dumbledore said and it sounded like he was warning Professor Snape to stop or something like that.

"It seems, almost impossible, that Black could have entered the school without inside help. I did express my concerns when you appointed…"

"I do not believe a single person inside this castle would have helped Black enter it," Dumbledore said, and his tone made it very clear that the subject was closed. Professor Snape didn't reply. "I must go down to the Dementors," Professor Dumbledore said. "I said I would inform them when our search was complete."

"Didn't they want to help, sir?" Percy said.

"Oh yes," Dumbledore said coldly. "But I'm afraid no Dementor will cross the threshold of this castle while I am Headmaster." I shiver slightly snuggling deeper into my pillow.

Professor Dumbledore left the hall, walking quickly and quietly. Professor Snape stood there a moment longer before leaving as well. Turning on my side I look at Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

"What was all that about?" Ron mouthed.

I wish I knew. I really did.

Over the next few days the school talked about nothing but Sirius Black. The theories about how he had entered the castle became wilder and wilder. Hannah Abbott, a girl from Hufflepuff, she spent most of our Herbology class telling anyone who'd listen that Black could turn into a flowering shrub.

The Fat Lady's ripped canvas had been taken off the wall and replaced with the portrait of Sir Cadogan and his fat gray pony. It was the worst. Sir Cadogan spent half his time challenging people to duels, and the rest thinking up ridiculous complicated passwords. He even changed them twice a day.

"He's a complete lunatic," said Seamus Finnigan angrily to Percy. "Can't we get anyone else?"

"None of the other pictures wanted the job," Percy had said. "Frightened of what happened to the Fat Lady. Sir Cadogan was the only one brave enough to volunteer."

"We wouldn't be complaining if he didn't change the passwords twice a day! I can barely remember what he makes it!" I snapped from my seat.

"He's just being cautious."

"Well Head Boy. Try to make it easier on us. I have to write it down on a piece of paper and if I lose it and Black is still in the castle then it's on your head for not fixing it." I snapped walking away. I was scared to leave my dorm. I'm afraid I'll be locked out…again.

It also didn't help that everyone was watching Harry and I. Teachers found excuses to walk along corridors with us, and Percy was following Harry like a pompous guard dog. He tried but since we were twins and Harry could tolerate Percy more than I could I was able to ditch him and hang out with the twins.

With Harry:

Professor McGonagall summoned Harry into her office, she had such a somber expression on her face that he thought someone must have died.

"There's no point hiding it from you any longer, Potter," She said in a very serious voice. "I know this will come as a shock to you, but Sirius Black…"

"I know, he's after me and my sister." Harry said wearily. "We heard Ron's dad telling his mum. Mr. Weasley works for the Ministry of Magic."

Professor McGonagall seemed very taken back. She stared at Harry for a moment or two, then said, "I see! Well, in that case, Potter, you'll understand why I don't think it's a good idea for you to be practicing Quidditch in the evenings. Out on the field with only your team members, it's very exposed, Potter…"

"We've got our first match on Saturday!" Harry said outraged. "I've got to train, Professor!"

Professor McGonagall considered him intently. Harry knew she was deeply interested in the Gryffindor team's prospects; it had been she, after all, who'd suggested him as Seeker in the first place, He waited, holding his breath.

"Hmm….." Professor McGonagall stood up and stared out the window at the Quidditch field, just visible through the rain. "Well…goodness knows, I'd like to see us win the Cup at last…but all the same, Potter… I'd be happier if a teacher were present. I'll ask Madam Hooch to oversee your training sessions."

The weather worsened steadily as the first Quidditch match drew nearer. Undaunted, the Gryffindor team was training harder than ever under the eye of Madam Hooch. Then, at their last training session before Saturday's match, Oliver Wood gave his team some unwelcome news.

"We're not playing Slytherin!" he told them, looking very angry. "Flint's just been to see me. We're playing Hufflepuff."

"Why?" Chorused the rest of the team.

"Flit'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 raid all day, and as Wood spoke, they heard a distant rumble of thunder.

"There's nothing wrong with Malfoy's arm!" Harry said furiously. "He's faking it!"

"I know that, but we can't prove it," Wood said bitterly, "And we've been practicing all those moves assuming we're playing against Slytherin, and instead it's Hufflepuff, and their style's quite different. "They've got a new Captain and Seeker, Cedric Diggory…"

Angelina, Alicia, and Katie suddenly giggled.

"What?" Wood said frowning at the lighthearted behavior.

"He's that tall, good looking one, isn't he?" Angelina asked.

"Strong and silent," said Katie, and they started to giggle again.

"He's only silent because he's too thick to string two words together," said Fred impatiently. "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?"

"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 out focus! Slytherin is trying to wrong-foot us! We must win!"

"Oliver, calm down!" Fred said looking slightly alarmed. "We're taking Hufflepuff very seriously. Seriously."

Elizabeth POV:

It was the day before the big match. It was raining harder than ever, the winds were reaching a new howling point. Was worried for Harry. This was not a good condition to play in. He could get hurt! Inside the castle it was so dark inside the corridors and classrooms, so dark that extra torches and lanterns were lit. The Slytherin team was looking very smug indeed, and none more than Draco.

"Ah, if only my arm was feeling a bit better!" he sighed as the gale outside pounded on the windows.

I was worried over Harry, all he did was think about Quidditch, would constantly bother Harry while we were transferring classes. I tried getting him to leave but Oliver wouldn't let him. "I'll let Professor Lupin know Oliver's keeping you."

"Thanks Lizzy." I nodded and quickly left. Five minutes till class starts.

Quickly rushing inside I found my seat only not my Defense Professor. "Professor Snape?"

"Yes, Professor Lupin was feeling ill and has asked me to take over for him." I nodded in understanding. Few students watched confused.

"Oh Professor, Harry might be a little bit late, Oliver Wood keeps talking to Harry about the upcoming match and wouldn't let him leave." He nodded.

"Thank you for letting me know." I nodded walking back toward my seat.

"Seriously how can you two talk like that?" Ron asked completely serious.

I always ended up shrugging with a smile. I wasn't sure why. Maybe it was because I did my work and I actually tried to get to know my teacher. Maybe I believed I try and help. He was basically a father to me. I loved Professor Snape. He was always looking out for me and he was worried about me, now that Sirius Black was on the loose and that he was in the castle.

Harry arrived ten minutes after class started.

"This lesson began ten minutes ago, Potter, so I think we'll make it ten points from Gryffindor. Sit down." At least it wasn't fifty like last time.

But Harry didn't move. Ugh Harry!

"Where's Professor Lupin?" He asked.

"He says he is feeling too ill to teach today," Professor Snape said with a smile. It was his I'm in charge now smile. "I believe I told you to sit down?"

Harry wouldn't move.

"What's wrong with him?"

Professor Snape's black eyes glittered.

"Nothing life threatening," he said looking as if he wished it was. "Five more points form Gryffindor, and if I have to ask you again, it will be fifty."

I couldn't risk him losing us any more points and quickly yanked his arm and threw him into his seat. "Can't you just sit down when he asked you to?" I whispered at my brother.

"Somethings up and I want to know what it is." He whispered back.

"Harry James Potter. We are in class. Now is not the time to snoop!" He was going to object but Professor Snape started talking.

"As I was saying before Potter 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," Hermione said quickly. "And we were just about to start…"

"Be quiet," Professor Snape said coldly. "I did not ask for information. I was merely commenting on Professor Lupin's lack of organization."

"He's the best Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher we've ever had." Dean Thomas said boldly, there was a murmur of agreement from the rest of the class. Snape looked more menacing than ever.

"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…"

Professor Snape was flicking through the textbook, to the very back chapter, he must have known we haven't covered.

"Werewolves."

"But sir," Hermione was unable to restrain herself. "we're not supposed to do werewolves yet, we're due to start Hinkypunks…"

"Miss Granger," Professor Snape said in a deadly calm voice. "I was under the impression that I am teaching your lesson, not you. And I'm telling you all to turn to page 394." He glanced around again. "All of you! Now!"

With many bitter sidelong looks and some sullen muttering, the class opened their books.

"Which of you can tell me how we distinguish between the werewolf and the true wolf?" Professor Snape Asked.

Everyone sat in motionless silence; everyone except Hermione, whose hand, as if so often did, had shot straight into the air.

"Anyone?" Professor Snape asked again, ignoring Hermione.

"Miss Potter." I gulped. I didn't know this. "Do you know the answer?" I frown "Uh... A werewolf transforms into the beast while a true wolf is constantly a wolf?"

"Partially correct. Two points from Gryffindor." I pouted but nodded.

He shook his head his hands behind his back as he spoke. "Are you telling me that Professor Lupin hasn't even taught you the basic distinction between…"

"We told you," Parvati suddenly said. "We haven't got as far as werewolves yet, we're still on…"

"Silence!" Professor Snape snarled. "Well, well, well, I never thought I'd meet a third year class who wouldn't even recognize a werewolf when they saw one. I shall make a point of informing Professor Dumbledore how very behind you all are."

"Please, sir," Hermione's had was still in the air. "The werewolf differs from the true wolf in several small ways. The snout of the werewolf…" he cut her off.

"That is the second time today you have spoken out of turn, Miss Granger," Professor Snape said coolly. "Five more points from Gryffindor for being an insufferable know it all."

Hermione went very red. I gasped slightly looking at my best friend watching as she lowered her hand, her gaze set on the floor and eyes full of tears. He couldn't have just said that. I knew Professor Snape could be cruel but…that was just uncalled for. Everyone in our class has called Hermione a know it all at least once to her. Ron told Hermione she was one at least twice a week and loudly. "You asked us a question and she knows the answer! Why ask if you don't want to be told?"

I fidget in my seat as Professor Snape grew closer. Slowly advancing on Ron.

"Detention, Weasley." Professor Snape said silkily, his face was very close to Ron's. "And if I ever hear you criticize the way I teach a class again, you will be very sorry indeed."

No one made a sound throughout the rest of the lesson. We sat and made note on werewolves from our textbook, while Professor Snape prowled up and down the row of desks, examining the work we had been doing with Professor Lupin.

"Very poorly explained…that is incorrect, the Kappa is more commonly found in Mongolia…Professor Lupin gave this eight out of ten? I wouldn't have given it three…"

When the bell rang at last, Professor Snape held us back.

"You will each write an essay, to be handed in to me, on the ways you recognize and kill werewolves. I want two rolls of parchment on the subject, and I want them by Monday morning. It is time somebody took this class in hand. Weasley stay behind, we need to arrange your detention."

Ron grumbled as Harry, Hermione and I left the room with the rest of the class. I stood beside Hermione and held her hand. "Are you okay?" She nodded but wouldn't look up.

"Snape's never been like this with any of our other Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers, even if he did want the job," Harry said to us. "Why's he got it in for Lupin? D'you think this is because of the Boggart?"

"I don't know," Hermione said pensively. "But I really hope Professor Lupin gets better soon…"

"Me too…"

"Aren't you the one who always defends him?" Harry snapped this time.

"He crossed the line this time alright? Are you happy? I hate seeing him treat Hermione like that. I don't know what you want from me Harry!"

"You're just always defending him that I wanted to make sure you knew what we're talking about." I could only roll my eyes.

"Can we do this later!" I snapped I didn't want to argue now.

"Fine."

"Thank you." Stupid brothers.

Ron caught up with us five minutes later, he was fuming!

"D'you know what that (Ron called Professor Snape something that made Hermione say "Ron!") is making me do? I've got to scrub out the bedpans in the hospital wing. Without magic! He was breathing deeply, his fists clenched. "Why couldn't Black have hidden in Snape's office, eh? He could have finished him off for us!"

After walking through the portrait hole Harry and I got back into our argument.

"How can you defend that monster of a person when all he does is torment his students and praise Slyhterin!"

"It's because you wrongfully accuse him for things he doesn't do. Jinxing your broom your first year while at the game? Not Professor Snape. Snape knew who the Heir of Slytherin was? Nope! Snape's trying to kill Professor Lupin. You come up crazy things that you know he can't possibly do when he's basically Professor Dumbledore's right hand man after Professor McGonagall."

"He is evil!"

"He's hurt!"

"No he isn't! He torments us because it gives him joy."

"You're insane!"

"And you always have to be right! You always have to take Malfoys side and Snapes side when you know they're horrible people. If you cared at all you'd see that."

If I cared? If I cared at all?! I'm done.

"You're such a jerk Harry! All I ever do is try to help you. I put up with your insane theories because I don't like you upset. I let you do whatever but you know what. Fine. I don't care about you. I also don't care that you're homework assignment that was seven scrolls long for Snapes class is done. I don't care that I end up staying up half the night worrying that you'll get sick and have to miss practice. I don't care that you don't eat and you end up feeling faint later in the day. I don't care at all."

He was about to yell back but I wouldn't let him.

"Good luck tomorrow on your game. I know that's all you really care about anyway." I storm up the stairs to the girls side and slam my door closed.

With Harry:

Oliver Wood hurried over toward Harry. "Hey are you okay?" Hermione ran up the stairs.

"Fine."

"Look Harry, I know you and your sister are fighting but…"

"No offence, but I'm fine." Oliver held his hands up and backed away from the hostility.

Ron sat there waiting for Harry to speak. "Can you believe her?" Fred and George sat beside their brother and listened as Harry was about to rant.

"She always has to be right and thinks she knows what's best for me. She can be so annoying!" Ron shrugged.

Ginny walked over nervously.

"Is everything okay?" She noticed how Harry was tense and saw her friends argue before Lizzy ran up the stairs.

"Not now Ginny." Harry snapped.

"Hey Harry relax!" Fred called standing up. He wasn't going to let Harry yell at his sister because he was in a pissy mood.

"Gin, why don't you go and check on Lizzy, Harry needs to cool off." She nodded slowly before walking up the stairs.

"You know Lizzy worries over you right?" Ron said to Harry, bringing his attention back on him.

"Of course I know that." He snapped.

"Did you also know that she's jealous of you?" George asked this time. A frown gracing his handsome features.

"What are you talking about?" Harry groaned annoyed. There was no way Lizzy would be jealous of him. They were best friends.

"Well think about it. You're always off with Ron and Hermione or practicing Quidditch. She's in the library. Sure she hangs out with us every now and then but not as much anymore." Fred answered.

"Also what with Sirius Black getting into Hogwarts she's terrified. Terrified something might happen to you." George continued.

"How do you know this?" Ron and Harry asked this time.

"She's told us. She's got a lot of worries in that head of hers." Fred said with a soft smile. "Why do you think we like her so much? She cares about every one of her friends. She knows how Snape treats you guys. Why do you think she goes to the dungeon's every day to clean manually?"

"Because she likes to?" Harry and Ron said together. Fred and George rolled their eyes and smacked both boys heads.

"To stay on his good side. When on Snapes good side she can ask her questions and get good answers without being yelled at."

Fred pulled out a book and opened it up. George tapped the picture and it started moving. "What spell is that?"

"Shush and watch. Here we have a random student walking over to Snape and asking him questions. You see the vein start to bulge in his head? That means he's getting mad." The crude drawing of Professor Snape then proceeded to chomp the students head off with his razor sharp teeth.

"Now lets see what happens when Lizzybear goes and talks to Professor Snape about something that makes her upset.

The drawing showed a badly drawn Elizabeth Potter walking up to Snape tears falling as she spoke to him. Instead of biting the characters head off he patted her head and led her to office where he proceeded to do whatever it took to make her better. In the end he grabbed a bad picture version of Harry and gave him a good grade. Drawn Elizabeth perked up immediately and hugged him tightly. Picture Snape wiped a bit of sweat off his head.

"See? He'll do what he can to make her feel better. It took her three years to get her in that position."

"But he took house points from her earlier today for getting an answer wrong." Ron said still not convinced.

"Do you want people to know you're Snape's favorite? Him taking points away means he's treating her like the rest but later in the day you will the two chatting like old chums. See?"

The picture came to life again and it showed Snape take house points away and then later Pictures Elizabeth and Snape talking about books.

"See still one of his favorites but treating her like he would the next student."

Harry woke extremely early the next morning; so early that it was still dark. For a moment he thought the roaring of the wind had woken. Then he felt a cold breeze on the back of his neck and sat bolt upright, Peeves the Poltergeist had been floating next to him, blowing hard in his ear.

"What did you do that for?" Harry asked furiously. Peeves puffed out his cheeks, blew hard, and zoomed backwards out of the room cackling.

Harry fumbled for his alarm clock and looked at it. It was half past four. Cursing Peeves, he rolled over and tried to get back to sleep, but it was very difficult, now that he was awake, to ignore the sounds of the thunder rumbling overhead, the pounding of the wind against the castle walls, and the distant creaking of the trees in the Forbidden Forest. In a few hours he would be out on the Quidditch field, battling through that gale. Finally he gave up any thought of more sleep, got up, dressed, picked up his Nimbus Two Thousand, and walked quietly out of the dormitory.

As Harry opened the door, something brushed against his leg. He bent down just in time to grab Crookshanks by the end of his bushy tail and drag him outside.

"You know, I reckon Ron was right about you," Harry told Crookshanks suspiciously. "There are plenty of mice around this place, go and chase them. Go on." He added, nudging Crookshanks down the spiral staircase with his foot. "Leave Scabbers alone."

The noise of the storm was even louder in the common room. Harry knew better than to think the match would be canceled; Quidditch matches weren't called off for trifles like thunderstorms. Nevertheless, he was starting to feel very apprehensive. Wood had pointed out Cedric Diggory to him in the corridor; Diggory was a fifth year and a lot bigger than Harry. Seekers were usually light and speedy, but Diggory's weight would be an advantage in this weather because he was less likely to be blown off course.

Harry whiled away the hours until dawn in front of the fire, getting up every now and then to stop Crookshanks from sneaking up the boy's staircase again. At long last Harry thought it must be time for breakfast, so he headed through the portrait hole alone.

"Stand and fight, you mangy cur!" yelled Sir Cadogan.

"Oh, shut up," Harry yawned.

He revived a bit over a large bowl of porridge, and by the time he'd started on toast the rest of the team had turned up.

"It's going to be a tough one," Wood said. He wasn't eating anything.

"Stop worrying, Oliver," Alicia said 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. Rain was splattering over Harry's glasses. How on earth was he going to see the snitch in this?

The Hufflepuffs were approaching from the opposite side of the field, wearing canary yellow robes. The Captains walked up to each other and shook hands; Diggory smiled at Wood but Wood now looked as though he had lockjaw and merely nodded. Harry saw Madam Hooch's mouth for words, "Mount Your Brooms." He pulled his right foot out of the mud with a squelch and swung it over his Nimbus Two Thousand. Madam Hooch put her whistle to her lips and gave it a blast that sounded shrill and distant. They were off.

Harry rose fast, but his Nimbus was swerving slightly with the wind. He held it as steady as he could and turned, squinting into the rain.

Within five minutes Harry was soaked to his skin and frozen, hardly able to see his teammates, let alone the tiny Snitch. He flew backward and forward across the field past blurred red and yellow shapes with no idea what was happening in the rest of the game. He couldn't hear the commentary over the wind. The crowd was hidden beneath a sea of cloaks and battered umbrellas. Twice Harry came very close to being unseated by a Bludger; his vision was so clouded by the rain on his glasses he hadn't seem them coming.

He lost track of time. It was getting harder and harder to hold his broom straight. The sky was getting darker, as though night had decided to come early. Twice Harry nearly hit another player, without knowing where it was a teammate or opponent; everyone was now so wet, and the rain so thick, he could hardly tell them apart.

With the first flash of lightning came the sound of Madam Hooch's whistle; Harry could just see the outline of Wood through the thick rain, gesturing him to the ground. The whole team splashed down in the mud.

"I called for time-out!" Wood roared at his team. "Come on, under here…"

They huddled at the edge of the field under a large umbrella; Harry took off his glasses and wiped them hurriedly on his robes.

"Whats the score?"

"We're fifty points up," said Wood, "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.

At that very moment, Hermione appeared at his shoulder; he was holding her cloak over her head and was, inexplicably, beaming.

"I have an idea, Harry! Give me your glasses, quick!"

He handed them to her and as the team watched in amazement, Hermione tapped them with her wand and said "Impervius!"

"There!" she said handing them back to Harry. "They'll repel water!"

"Wood looked as though he could have kissed her.

"Brilliant!" he called hoarsely after her as she disappeared into the crowd. "Okay team, lets go for it!"

Hermione's spell had done the trick. Harry was still numb with cold, still wetter than he'd ever been in his life, but he could see. Full of fresh determination, he urged his broom through the turbulent air, staring in every direction for the Snitch, avoiding a Bludger, ducking beneath Diggory, who was searching in the opposite direction.

There was another clap of thunder, followed immediately by forked lightning. This was getting more and more dangerous. Harry needed to get the Snitch quickly.

He turned, intending to head back toward the middle of the field, but at that moment, another flash of lightning illuminated the stands, and Harry saw something that distracted him completely, the silhouette of an enormous shaggy black dog, clearly imprinted against the sky, motionless in the topmost, empty row of seats.

Harry's numb hands slipped on the broom handle and his Nimbus dropped a few feet. Shaking his sodden bangs out of his eyes, he squinted back into the stands. The dog had vanished.

"Harry! Came Woods anguished yell from the Gryffindor goal posts. "Harry behind you!"

Harry looked wildly around. Cedric Diggory was pelting up the field, and a tiny speck of gold was shimmering in the rain filled air between them…

With a jolt of panic, Harry threw himself flat to the broom handle and zoomed toward the Snitch.

"Come on!" He growled at his Nimbus as the rain whipped his face. "Faster!"

But something odd was happening. An eerie silence was falling across the stadium. The wind, though as strong as ever, was forgetting to roar. It was as though someone had turned off the sound, as though Harry had suddenly gone deaf, what was going on?

And then a horribly familiar wave of cold swept over him, inside him, just as he became aware of something moving on the field below.

Before he had time to think, Harry had taken his eyes off the Snitch and looked down.

At least a hundred Dementors, their hidden faces pointing up at him, were standing beneath him. It was as though freezing water were rising in his chest, cutting at his insides. And then he heard it again…someone was screaming, screaming inside his head…a woman.

"Not them! Not my babies! Please no!"

"Stand aside you silly girl…stand aside, now…"

"Not them, please no, take me, kill me instead-"

Numbing, swirling white mist was filling Harry's brain. What was he doing? Why was he flying? He needed to help her. She was going to die. She was going to be murdered.

He was falling, falling through the icy mist.

"Not Harry! Please not Elizabeth! Have mercy…have mercy…"

A shrill voice was laughing, the woman was screaming, and Harry knew no more.

"Lucky the ground was so soft."

"I thought he was dead for sure."

"But he didn't even break his glasses."

Harry could hear the voices whispering, but they made no sense whatsoever. He didn't have a clue where he was, or how he'd got there, or what he'd been doing before he got there. He could hear soft sobbing and there was a light pressure on his left hand. All he knew was that every inch of him was aching as though it had been beaten.

"That was the scariest thing I've ever seen in my life."

Scariest…the scariest thing…hooded black figures…cold…screaming.

Harry's eyes snapped open. He was lying in the hospital wing. They Gryffindor Quidditch team, spattered with mud from head to foot, was gathered around his bed. Ron, Hermione, and Lizzy were also there, looking as though they'd just climbed out of a swimming pool.

"Harry!" said friend, who looked extremely white underneath, the mud. "How're you feeling?"

It was as though Harry's memory was on fast forward. The lightning, the Grim, the Snitch, and the Dementors.

"What happened?" he said, sitting up so suddenly that they all gasped.

"You fell off," Fred said. "Must've been, what, fifty feet?"

"We thought you'd died," Alicia said. She was shaking.

Hermione made a small, squeaky nose. Her eyes were extremely bloodshot. Elizabeth retracted her hand from her brothers.

"But the match," Harry said. "What happened? Are we doing a replay?"

'Of course he only cares about the game. He almost died and that's all he cares about.' Elizabeth thought sadly. She forced her face to remain calm. Not to say anything.

"We didn't…lose?"

"Diggory got the Snitch," said George. "Just after you fell. He didn't realize what had happened. When he looked back and saw you on the ground, he tried to call it off. Wanted a rematch. But they won fair and square…even Wood admits it."

"Where is Wood?" Harry asked suddenly realizing he wasn't there.

"Still in the showers," Fred said. "We think he's trying to drown himself."

"Harry put his face to his knees, his hands gripping his hair. Fred grabbed his shoulder and shook it roughly.

"C'mon, Harry, you've never missed the Snitch before."

"There had to be one time you didn't get it," said George.

"It's not over yet," said Fred. "We lost by a hundred points."

"Right? So if Hufflepuff loses to Ravenclaw and we beat Ravenclaw and Slytherin…"

"Hufflepuff'll have to lose by at least two hundred points," George said.

"But if they beat Ravenclaw…"

"No way, Ravenclaw is too good. But if Slytherin loses against Hufflepuff…"

"It all depends on the points, a margin of a hundred either way…"

Harry lays there, not saying a word. They had lost. For the first time ever, he had lost a Quidditch match.

After ten minutes or so, Madam Pomfrey came over to tell the team to leave him in peace.

"We'll come and see you later," Fred told him. "Don't beat yourself up. Harry, you're still the best Seeker we've ever had."

The team trooped out, trailing mud behind them. Madam Pomfrey shut the door behind them, looking disapproving. Ron, Hermione, and Elizabeth moved nearer to Harry's bed.

"Dumbledore was really angry," Hermione said in a quaking voice. "I've never seen him like that before. He ran onto the field as you fell, waved his wand, and you sort of slowed down before you hit the ground. Then he whirled his wand at the Dementors. Shot silver stuff at them. They left the stadium right away...He was furious they'd come onto the grounds. We heard him -"

"Then he magicked you onto a stretcher," said Ron. "And walked up to school with you floating on it. Everyone thought you were..." Elizabeth cringed not wanting to think about her brother being dead. She knew something was happening up there before he fell. A woman was screaming. All Elizabeth knew was that her skull was killing her.

Ron's voice faded, but Harry hardly noticed. He was thinking about what the Dementors had done to him...about the screaming voice. He looked up and saw Ron and Hermione looking at him so anxiously that he quickly cast around for something matter-of-fact to say. Elizabeth was looking away from Harry staring at the ground. She was biting her lip again.

"Did someone get my Nimbus?"

Ron and Hermione looked quickly at each other. Elizabeth cringed yet again.

"Er -"

"What?" said Harry, looking from one to the other.

"Well...when you fell off, it got blown away," said Hermione hesitantly.

"And?"

"And it hit - it hit - oh, Harry - it hit the Whomping Willow."

Harry's insides lurched. The Whomping Willow was a very violent tree that stood alone in the middle of the grounds.

"And?" he said, dreading the answer.

"Well, you know the Whomping Willow," said Ron. "It - it doesn't like being hit."

"Professor Flitwick brought it back just before you came around," said Hermione in a very small voice.

Slowly, she reached down for a bag at her feet, turned it upside down, and tipped a dozen bits of splintered wood and twig onto the bed, the only remains of Harry's faithful, finally beaten broomstick.

So that's it for this chapter. Hope you liked it. Elizabeth and Harry having their first big fight in a while. Hope that turns out okay. Sorry it's been a while. I wrote the most of this chapter while at work.