Chapter 7
"REDUCTO!"
A menacing bolt of red light emerged from the wand of a handsome wizard whose face was now contorted by a rage so inhuman that it was simply impossible even to fathom how someone who looked so cheery could get so angry.
The bolt of magic made its way straight towards its intended target but just before it could strike it splashed against a blue ethereal construct and disappeared into non-existence.
"Is that your best, mutt?"
This time, the spell originated from the other side with a dangerous black color. Perhaps the color gave away its lethality, its target did not attempt to face it on with a shield and dodged it instead. Which proved to be a wise decision, if the barely standing tree that the spell fell upon was any indication.
"Don't be so certain, Snivellus. Bombarda!"
A thick marble slab hastily conjured by Snape stood in the way of him and total annihilation. The upping of the spell power by Sirius (lovingly referred to as mutt by Snape), suddenly increased the stakes of the impromptu friendly dueling match.
"Sectumsempra!"
Snape cried while sidestepping a nasty curse from Black, who incidentally managed to dodge the dark severing curse.
"Really mutt? Entrail expelling curse?" Snape said with amusement.
"Shut up slimy bastard! Just die already.. AVADA-"
"SIRIUS BLACK!"
An inhuman shriek, which almost made Black jump up in fright, interrupted his incantation and disrupted his attention, resulting in a Blasting curse connecting with him. He was flung unceremoniously towards the Hogwarts walls with a loud crash.
"Never.." the shrill voice began in a tone that promised eternal pain and misery, "Never in my fifty years of teaching did I ever think that a killing curse would be cast inside the very grounds of Hogwarts! And to think it was one of my one!"
The figure trailing the voice belonged to a stern looking woman who, if her purple face was any indication, was immensely angry.
"But Minnie!"
Sirius, who had now recovered from his crash with the Hogwarts walls, began. However, his words dried up in his mouth at one disapproving look from his former head of house. Somehow, a furious Minerva McGongall made him feel like a meek first year student who had been caught while pranking some unsuspecting Slytherin.
"Don't you dare make any excuse Mr. Black," McGonagall said with an icy voice, "You two will accompany me this very instant to Headmaster's office or Merlin help me I'll hex you so bad that even your grandchildren will flinch at the very mention of the letter A."
Sirius mumbled something meekly which suspiciously sounded like "Yes, Professor McGonagall."
With a now abated McGonagall in lead, the two children.. err.. adults made their way towards the castle. Throughout the way, the two would often reach out for their wands at even the slightest odd sounds or suspicious movement of the other. It never came to a full confrontation, however, courtesy of Minerva McGonagall, holder of the most icy glare at Hogwarts since nineteen-something.
"Chocolate Frogs," Minerva said to the Gargoyle, who leapt aside, giving them entrance to Headmaster's office.
"Ahh.. Minerva dear.. and Messers Black and Snape as well. I was beginning to worry that you two had missed your appointments."
"What are talking about Dumbledore?" Sirius asked, clearly surprised.
"Do you wish for me to repeat my words, Mr. Black?" Dumbledore said with a twinkle.
"What the mutt means," Sirius glared at him, "is what do you mean by our appointments? I was under the impression that I was the only new teacher this term."
"Wait, Snivellus is teaching? But he is a Death Eater!" Sirius cried.
"Mr. Black, you will hold your tongue or so help me I will cut it off your mouth!" Minerva shrieked at him.
"Thanks, Minerva dear. You can leave us be now, I am sure you have plenty of work to do," Dumbledore dismissed her without a care in the world.
McGonagall shot a nasty glare at the old headmaster which didn't quite last a minute. Afterwards, she gave out a long sigh and made herself scarce. At that moment, Severus could somehow relate to his old Transfiguration professor. Being dismissed so suddenly was not a new thing to him either.
"Now, Mr. Black, I assure you that Severus has long since given up his past and has repented enough. In fact, I trust him with my students and that ought to make my assessment of him clear."
"Dumbledore! He sold the lives of Potters and Longbottoms! I find it hard to believe that you have forgotten it, given that it was you who told us the same in the first place," Sirius said with a venomous voice. He would have liked nothing better than blowing up the older Slytherin to bits and pieces, as was evident by the hateful glare he was shooting towards Snape.
"Indeed, it was me who told you of Severus' blunder. But he has made up quite a bit for it by serving as our spy. Believe me, Sirius, his information was monumental in preventing a lot of lives in the war," Dumbledore said gravely, "And I told you and your friends, his name so that you all could find it in your hearts to forgive him. He deserves a second chance."
"The only thing he deserves is an Avada Kedavra at point blank range, nothing more!" Sirius cried.
"Let's see how you accomplish that without your three other lackeys! Or wait, was it two perhaps? Tell me mutt, whatever became of your dear Peter Pettigrew?" Snape said with a nasty sneer.
Peter Pettigrew was a betrayer who had sold the secret to the Potter household resulting in Lestranges and Barty Crouch Jr's attack on Godric Hollow. An event which had nearly cost them the life of Lily Potter. The rat had disappeared since then and was out in the run. He was also a very sore topic for the three marauders. More so for Sirius as it was he who had originally proposed the switch for the secret keepers.
Sirius whipped out his wand faster than ever and pointed at Snape's neck and said in a scathing voice,
"At least I have friends, you slimy git. What of you? It would be so easy for me you know, to slip into your room and cut your neck with a simple diffindo. No punishments for offing Death Eaters either. Win-Win for me Snivellus!"
Snape, too, had his wand pointed towards Sirius' stomach. He wasn't one to Be intimidated so easily after all, "And you forget mutt, it would be even easier for me to slip an tasteless, odorless and lethal potion into your pumpkin juice one morning. What a misfortune it would be, poor Sirius Black who had just started a new job, dead so soon!"
Both of the two men were in the process of handing out death threats like hot cookies but alas, both ended up forgetting that there was another presence in the room. A presence of an incredible mage who was annoyed at being ignored and was getting increasingly angry with each death threats made.
"Enough!"
A huge magical force ripped the two apart from each other and pinned them down, limiting their movements, very similar to petrificuls totalus. Only, it was accomplished solely by the magical pressure of Albus Dumbledore and not an actual spell.
"Stop behaving like a child Messers Black and Snape. I will not tolerate this foolishness from my staff. You two are not to attempt assassinations on each other, promise me."
The magic flaring in the air had cowed the anger out of the two soon to be professors. In the face of an angry magical phenomenon such as Dumbledore, they sure were not going to say no.
"Of course Headmaster," Sirius said in a squeaky voice.
Snape, too, was quite shaken from the presence of such magic on the air. Only, it was not really new to him. He had frequently been in the vicinity of an angry Dark Lord, not the wisest decision of his life considering the amount of Cruciatus the Dark Lord flung around. More than that, he had been in the presence of an angry Harry Flamel on the night of Samhain. Dumbledore didn't really frighten him that much.
Perhaps he was developing an immunity, Severus mused to himself. A valid assumption, if it were not for the fact that he was beginning to find it hard to breathe due to the presence of such heavy magic on air. Severus would later observe that allowing one's mind to wonder in the presence of a powerful mage wasn't really the best of the idea.
"Severus, do you promise?" Dumbledore asked again.
"Yes of course Headmaster," Snape said in an equally weak voice. It seemed that his immunity had still a lot of developing to do.
And just like that, the weight lifted from them and they took a huge breathe of air.
"Now, let's make a formal introduction like civilized adults shall we? Professor Black, meet Professor Snape who will be the replacement for professor Horace Slughorn."
"Old sluggy finally retiring then eh?"
"Please do not interrupt Mr. Black, and yes, he is indeed retiring. And Professor Snape, meet Professor Black, the flying instructor who will be replacement for Tindy Derrick," said Dumbledore.
"Mutt will teach others to fly, joy."
"At least I will be teaching something fun, and not something boorish like potions, Snivellus," said Sirius.
"And at least I will be teaching something useful and not anything as idiotic as breaking your bones in thousand different ways," Snape replied.
"It's called Quidditch, Snivellus!"
"I know, mutt."
"Now gentlemen," Dumbledore intervened, "I am sure you have plenty of things to do, so why don't you move along? Mr. Filch is waiting for you outside and he will show you to your quarters."
As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Sirius Black turned and left his office, presumably to get away from any unwanted presence.
Severus, though, lingered on for a moment.
"You arranged this, didn't you?" He asked in an accusing tone.
"I am not sure what you are implying Severus," Dumbledore masterfully feigned ignorance.
"This meeting, between myself and Black. I wonder what your intentions were. For us to kill each other perhaps?" He said out loud.
"Believe me, Severus, the meeting between you two was a co-incidence, nothing more. Now, I suggest you go and find your quarters."
Severus turned and made his way towards the door. Before going, though, he faced his former Headmaster and said, "Black attempted a Killing Curse towards me. Not that the shoddy curse would have connected, but had he cast that, I would have killed him. Make sure to tighten your leash on that mutt, Headmaster."
His words lingering, Snape left the office. Dumbledore merely smiled after the last of the two had left completely. His time as headmaster of Hogwarts was getting terribly boring after the war. Now though, the two school rivals were sure to liven up the school. Things were getting terribly entertaining.
Cannons get a new seeker!
Roger Scholes,
Your favorite quidditch reporter has found out that the Chudley Cannons have hired a new seeker recently. No dear readers, it is not Tommy Randal, the seeker of Chudley's junior division, as we at prophet had predicted a week back.
When asked if he was disappointed about not being selected for the club, Tommy commented, "Of course, it's a little sad that I won't be playing in the major leagues yet but do believe me when I say that the better player has been selected between us two." This praise that Tommy has lapped upon the one who apparently bested him says volumes about this new seeker.
So who is he? We don't know. Yes, dear readers, first time in many years have we at prophet failed to fathom the identity of a newly signed player. When asked the Cannons about his identity, all that Manager Dorkins had to say was, "You will undoubtedly see him at the next match against the Falcons. We'll be announcing his name at the conference after he has won the match."
An awfully confident statement by Dorkins given the past performance of the club. Was it something that he believed from his heart? Or was it merely an attempt at redirecting the question of his seeker's identity? After all, why has the club felt the need to hide the identity of the player to the extent that no one apart from the manager and coach of the Cannons have even seen the person?
This whole situation leaks of the scandal of the 1902 when the Kremare Krestels hired a veela as their goalkeeper. It only took a single game of allure ridden players scoring goals at their own post for the league to forbid any veela from playing in the quidditch leagues; a decision that was later retracted in 1945 with an additional rule of no species magic.
Has Ragmar's Cannons hired some quasi human with similar powers and keeping it a secret? Or is it just a talented player? Can we expect an improved performance from the Cannons? Or will it be the same as the previous years? Only the first match against the Falcons will tell.
"They think you are a veela," amusement was abundant in Ross' words when the portly man put down his newspaper.
"I am not," said Harry curtly.
The two were seated at Ross' office in one of the Cannon's grounds. Ross had invited Harry over for formulating plans against Falcons.
"Indeed, but sometimes, I can't help but think that you are not entirely human."
"Oh?" Harry said with a raised eyebrow.
"I didn't mean it as an insult," the coach corrected hastily, "It's just.. the way you fly makes it seem as if you were born to be on the broom. Are you a bird animagus?"
"Indeed.. I have three animagus forms.. A phoenix, a basilisk and a dragon," Harry said with a straight face.
Ross though, became stunned.
"You're joking!" he cried out.
"Yep!" Harry cried out as well.
"You're impossible Mr. Flamel. You know, for a while, I really believed you." Ross said with palpable relief.
"Should I be worried that my coach is gullible to such extent?" Harry asked innocently.
"Only when you are concerned. Seriously, had anyone mentioned to me that someone could fly on the broom half as better as you, then I would have called him mental. But along you came and made it possible. Somehow, when it comes to you, everything seems possible."
"I assure you coach, it is not the case. I just have a lot of practice when it comes to flying. Lots and lots of practice," said Harry with a strange emphasis on his last words.
"Of course, Mr. Flamel. So, how probable do you think is our victory against the Falcons?" Ross asked.
"Depends on the chasers and the goalkeepers.. Also on the beaters, I suppose. However, it would not be advisable for us to prolong the game for more than an hour. Anymore and our healers would have to work overtime."
"Let us win, and if we can not win, let us break a few heads," Ross quoted the Falcon's motto while Harry nodded, "Indeed, their beaters, in particular, are quite vicious. The Broadmoor brothers, their previous beaters, themselves have trained up Carl and Calvin both brothers themselves."
"Seems like they have a penchant for hiring brothers then," Harry observed.
"Violent brothers, more like. Both of them went this close to serving at Azkaban after they trashed up Saint Mungos' emergency station. I don't really recall why."
"I retract my earlier statement then," said Harry, "We'll have to win this before the half hour mark."
"And that falls upon you, doesn't it?" Ross said cheerily.
"Yes, it does," Harry smiled. This was his first game in many years, and he sure wasn't going to mess it up.
Sirius Black was annoyed. Annoyed at the ministry for letting Lucius Malfoy scott free. Annoyed at his own mother not kicking the bucket sooner. Annoyed at his girlfriend Kathie for cheating on him with another bloke (not that he was entirely faithful). Annoyed at Madam Rosemerta for not going out with him. so on and so forth. But nothing could top his annoyanc at the slimy git known as Snivellus.
It was enough that he had to grudgingly bear the sight of the old bat everyday at the school but now the slimy snake had followed him all the way to the quidditch match as well!
"What the fuck are you doing here Snivellus?" Sirius cried out while pointing his wand at the other's face. Sirius Black had planned to spend his much awaited holiday by watching the first match of the Quidditch league and again had Snivellus come and dimmed his joy by showing his abnormally large nose and greasy hair!
"Are you daft Black? Pointing your wand at me in broad daylight? Really?" Snape sneered.
Now that Sirius looked around, he saw two menacing wizards making their way towards them. No doubt part of the stadium security, they were looking out for any sign of trouble, especially given the nature of the Falcon's fans.
Sirius hurriedly placed his wand inside his robes and the men turned back.
"So ol' Snivelli, what are you doing here this fine morning?" Sirius said in a sarcastic tone.
"It pleases me to see that you have finally turned blind, mutt. Can't you see that where we are standing? Or are you perhaps retarded enough that you can not fathom the meaning of someone making his way into the quidditch stadium minutes before the starting of a match?"
"You are going to watch quidditch? And wait, is that a Cannons badge on your chest?" Sirius asked in disbelief.
"You always had the penchant for speaking the obvious, mutt. And since we are speaking about obvious, yes, I am indeed going inside the stadium to watch the blasted match between the Falcons and the Cannons. And yes, it is indeed a Cannons badge on my chest."
"B-But.. you are Snivellus!"
"It seems you have finally lost your mind mutt," Snape said scathingly.
"You can't possibly spend your day while doing a perfectly entertaining activity like watching a quidditch match," Sirius said.
"We both have different definitions of entertaining, mine more accurate than yours. But I do agree with you mutt, I would rather spend this free day while preparing for my mastery thesis."
"So why are you here then?"
"A meddlesome person decided that I should be here and so I am here.. Let me go then mutt, I do not particularly enjoy chitchatting with you lest you have failed to notice all these years."
Sirius still had looks filled with disbelief as Snape passed by him. Not only was Snivellus going to watch a match between Cannons and the Falcons but he was a Cannons fan! But most of all, Dumbledore had given Snivellus the tickets to the match. Was the world really coming to an end?
"Hello and welcome everyone to this wonderful day, I am Roger Nye and with me here today is William Corn. Hello Bill, how do you do."
"Hello Roger, I am fine and I am going to be even better once the match starts, much awaited first game of the leagues. I am literally shaking with excitement."
"Too right Bill. For those of our audience who accidentally tuned to this network, today's match is going to be between the Chudley Cannons and the Falmouth Falcons. Now Bill, who is your money on? The Cannons or the Falcons?"
"It's quite difficult to say for certain Roger. One week ago, I would have gladly bet the entirety of my inheritance left by my grandmum on the Falcons but with the news about the Cannons having a new seeker and all this hush hush surrounding it has left me uncertain. Still, considering the fact that seekers alone do not decide the game, I would put my money on the Falcons."
"Seekers alone do not decide the game, you are correct Bill. Not to mention that the seekers usually are the first to go once Carl and Calvin begin their assault, isn't it?"
"Couldn't be more right Roger, those two are one vicious lot. I still remember that nasty attack on Gwenog Jones last season, nearly put her out of her Quidditch carrier."
"Yeah, that was brutal wasn't it.. Oh and here comes the team. Clad in the brightest orange imaginable are the Chudley Cannons ladies and gentlemen. Their seeker and captain Galvin Gudgeon has only just retired from the club and all save one are the familiar faces of the Cannons. There's the keeper Mathew, the beaters, Hans and Harvy, the chasers George, Russell and Arnold and of course, their mystery player, the one in between of the recent debate.. wait, we don't have his name! I can't believe it, the Cannons didn't even give his name to us!"
"Yeah, seems like Ragmar was serious about revealing his identity after the match, Roger."
"Well, if you remember correctly, Bill, it was more along the lines of revealing his identity after they have won. And to stop them from winning at all costs.. and when I say all costs, I do mean all costs, here comes the away team, Falmouth Falcons in their usual grey and white robes. Ladies and gentlemen, the Falcons are pretty well known for their hands-on approach to the game."
"That's a nice way to say that they play foul, Roger!"
"As I said Bill, Hands-on approach. Waving to the crowd with their usual frenzy are the two brutal brothers, Carl and Calvin, coached by the previous beaters of the Falcons, Karl and Kevin Broadmoors themselves."
"And they have clearly inherited the spirit of their predecessors.. wow that sounds morbid."
"It does Bill. Ladies and gentlemen, the Falmouth Falcons with captain and Keeper Derrick, chasers, Stacy, Lucy and Sammy, their seeker Wytt and of course, the stars of the team, the brutal brothers Carl and Calvin. Oh and look the brothers have already started on their tactics, they are currently engaging in a friendly talk with our mysterious new seeker from the Cannons."
"Friendly talk Roger?"
"Friendly indeed, Bill. The referee for this match is Ali Mustafa and he starts the game! The Quaffle is in the air! Which is promptly caught by Cannons' chaser George. He passes it to Arnold and oh what a nice move by him, a perfectly executed Sloth grip.
"He passes it back to George and Intercepted! Lucy intercepts it, that girl is too quick for her age!"
"Undoubtedly Roger, that was a textbook steal."
"Lucy passes it to Sammy who passes it to Stacy. Russel is marking her closely and oohh that must have been nasty, the first bludger of the day goes to Cannon's Russel. A path has opened up in front of her and she takes it and WHAT A HOOP!
"First score of the day goes to Stacy Smith of the Falcon!"
"Simply stunning performance Roger. That dodge, that curve to the quaffel, simply fantastic!"
"Fantastic indeed Bill and the game continues.. Russel to Arnold to George.. the brutal Calvin shoots a bludger and a narrow miss for the Cannons. George looks quite relieved and Calvin equally furious. George to Arnold and he shoots! and misses! Derrick from Falcon passes to Lucy once again.. A long pass to Sammy on the wing and Sammy dodges a bludger from Hans and another from Harvey! That was way too close.. She takes on the quaffel, Russel tries to steal but she dodges again and passes to Lucy who SCORES !"
"You know Roger, I had thought that the Falcons would be much more physical in this game but with a finesse such as this, they simply do not need to! They are looking absolutely unstoppable."
"Indeed Bill! 20-0 for the Falcons and the game continues again. Russel passes to Arnold who passes to George. Carl shoots a bludger and it connects! Ouch that must have been painful, Lucy steals the Quaffle from the Cannons and passes it to Sammy and intercepted! The Quaffle has been intercepted by.. Our mystery seeker from the Cannons. What do we call him Bill?"
"Well.. seeing as he is a seeker and we don't know his name, how about Seeker X?"
"You come up with the strangest of names Bill.. Seeker X it is then! Rarely do the seeker interfere with the chasers instead of doing their own job."
"The situation is not really desperate for the Cannons, Roger so his interruptions were unwarranted. Perhaps he had some other motives?"
"Perhaps Bill, perhaps. Oh, a bludger! Masterfully avoided! Carl sends another bludger on his way and.. Wait, did he just?"
"Yes he did Roger!"
"No way ladies and gentlemen, our Seeker X just jumped three foot high into the air and the bludger just sailed through empty space. Carl looks miffed doesn't he Bill."
"Yes Roger, I bet no one has evaded such a sweet strike in such a daring fashion."
"Speaking of sweet strikes, here's another one! Oh, he rolls under it this time, that's some nice moves Bill."
"Nice moves, yes, Wise moves, no! Beaters aren't allowed to hit seekers while they are not chasing after the snitch but one holding the quaffle is a fair game. In my opinion, our Seeker X is taking unnecessary risk by taking the Quaffle on his own hands, and wait, why isn't he passing it to others? For that matter, why isn't he moving towards the goal?"
"Odd Bill, very odd. Another bludger strike his way courtesy of a very enraged Calvin, and avoided by a perfect 360! Cannons beaters Hans and Harvey just appear entirely clueless as they struggle to take control of a bludger."
"Yes, Roger, the brutal brothers have them beat in that department."
"Another bludger on him by Carl and avoided again! It looks like.. yes, haha, he indeed is teasing the brothers!"
"Right you are Roger! It appears that our Seeker X is toying with them. A very risky maneuver."
"But why in Merlin's name will he do that Bill?"
"We'll have to wait and see then, don't we?"
"Yes, another bludger his way and Hans from the Cannons beats it back this time. High time the beaters took charge! And with this, Seeker X relinquishes his hold on the Quaffle to Russel! Who is moving towards the goal and has a clear shot! But wait, Carl has the control of the bludger and he shoots.. Towards seeker X! He avoids it masterfully.. And RUSSEL SCORES! And Mustafa clearly was watching the brothers closely as he has awarded a penalty for the Cannons! Arnold takes the penalty and shoots sharply to the left hoop, Derrick dives and MISSES! Cannons 20-20 against Falcons all in the span of a few minutes!"
"Haha! Roger old boy! It appears that our Seeker X has many many qualities at his disposal, one of which is pushing the brutal brother's buttons!"
"Brutal Brother's Buttons indeed Bill! Derrick, their captain is yelling at them for shooting at their seeker while non-seeking! Oh he got them good Bill!"
"He did, didn't he?"
"The game resumes with Derrick passing the quaffle to Lucy who gives it to Sammy who narrowly dodges Russel and passes to Stacy and a bludger from Hans makes it way and brushes Stacy on her ankles, but she doesn't lose the Quaffle! Atta girl! She passes it to Sammy and ooo a bludger from Harvey finally connects with her! Russel steals the Quaffle, passes it to Arnold and he SCORES! Cannons 30-20"
"That was shoddy performance Roger. That last bludger from Harvey shouldn't have been possible. Where are the Falcon's beaters when you need them?"
"It appears that Derrick, the captain, is asking the same question to the both of them Bill! And he certainly isn't looking so happy. The game resumes again. Lucy to Stacy to Sammy and a bludger from Hans redirected from Carl. Sammy carries the Quaffle through the midfield, George tries to steal but unsuccessfully, Sammy passes to Arnold and intercepted! Seeker X steals the Quaffle! Carl and Calvin fire bludgers with renewed vigor as our Seeker X skillfully evades them with ease."
"Oh dear, they aren't looking so good Roger."
"Yes Bill, in fact, that's a very unhealthy shade of purple on their faces! They clearly are angry at something! Oh who am I kidding, of course they are angry at our Seeker X! He is playing them like a cat does a mice! Five bludgers and none of them connected and Seeker X passes to Arnold! Who gives it to George who has space open in front of him. He takes it and scores! 40-20 Cannons!"
"Seeker X has clearly disturbed their rhythm."
"Yes he has Bill.. At this rate, Cannons are sure to take a lead. The only question is, will Wytt catch snitch faster than Seeker X? Or is Seeker X as skilled as a seeker as he is as a chaser?"
"Time will tell Roger, time will tell."
Harry was having the time of his life at his first game against the Falcons. Well he was pretty miffed at the comment that the Falcons' beaters made about his mother but that was only to be expected. Still, that didn't stop him from exacting his vengeance upon those two.
He nearly cried with joy as he took a huge and sudden dive and couldn't stop his grin as Wytt, the Falcons' seeker chased after him. He rolled sideways to avoid the bludger shot by Carl whose growing resemblance to his Uncle Vernon was quite uncanny. 40-30-20-10 and he rose up suddenly! The handle of his broom kissed the grass on the stadium as he narrowly missed the same fate of Wytt. He almost felt sorry for the poor lad, almost.
Thirty minutes were long past and Cannons were leading the match 90-40. Of course, it wouldn't have been possible had he not redirected the attention of the two brutal brothers to himself and kept them from attacking his teammates. They could scarcely wait for the quaffle to get on his hand or for him to make a seeker run, not that they would ever hit him, given his maneuverability on air. Still, that didn't stop them from focusing on him like a hawk does on its prey. Harry didn't mind though. As long as it stopped them from brutalizing his team mates, he was all up for it!
With Wytt now out of the game for at least fifteen minutes, Harry was hovering around the pitch, looking for even the tiniest signs of the snitch. The hairs on his back prickled and he smoothly rolled towards his left avoiding a bludger on his neck!
He looked around and saw the perpetrator.. A very vicious looking Carl. The smile on his face didn't make him any more likable at all! Harry looked downwards and saw that the referee was indulging Derrick. He had apparently overstepped his keeper confines and was getting a warning from the ref.
To take chance at such small distraction, he must really hate me.
Harry mused to himself and rolled again avoiding a bludger from Calvin this time.
The Cannons' fans were already booing and trying to attract the attention of the ref which wasn't quite working. Harry would have done something about the bludgers had his attention not been captured by an almost imperceptible flicker of gold. He hastily dived while dodging yet another bludger. By now, the referee's attention was back on the game but since Harry had already made his run, the bludger strike was counted fair.
Carl and Calvin's faces changed as if Christmas had come early. Oblivious to the threat of him catching the snitch, they were simply happy to fling the bludgers towards his way and attempt to bash his head in! Not that they would ever succeed. Harry merely dodged the dangerous balls just as they were about to make a contact with him with minimal movements.
The snitch was hovering near Falcon's goalpost. As Harry moved towards it, Carl and Calvin imposed themselves on his way, waving their bats around. While bashing a player with the bat would certainly qualify as a foul, Harry was sure that such a simple fact wouldn't really stop them from trying. He did not slow down, though. Instead, he kicked his speed up a notch! Just as he was about to collide with the two, he stood up on his broom and jumped!
The broom darted from between the two beaters and Harry sailed over them! When he landed back on his broom, his hands were clutching the golden snitch! The Cannons had won the match 250-60!
Hello, author here!
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