Chapter 5: The Healing Power of Quidditch
We all sat in stunned silence, staring at the open door through which Harry had left. I realized that Harry had met me for the first time in his life in the woods today. Voldemort had taken us from him before he could remember us. Harry had been sitting there, talking with people he cared about and who he knew died. Just the thought of this torture was unbearable.
Lily clasped my hands. Tears still shined on her cheeks, but she was thinking what I was. She would gladly give up her life for her son, as would I.
Sirius was at a loss for words. Who could blame him? He found out that his best mate will die in a little over a year. Dumbledore was silent as well, waiting.
"We should go find him, James," Lily whispered.
This seemed to jolt Sirius back to his senses, "Yes, no one should go off wandering alone in these times."
"Go on back to the house, Lily," I said, "I'll find Harry and bring him with me."
"I'll have something on the table for you."
Now to find Harry. Where did I go when I needed to be alone when I was his age? Never did catch his age. Maybe he's still in school...Hogwarts! Of course!
I Apparated to Hogsmeade and made my way down to the lake. Sure enough, Harry was sitting under the same tree that me, Sirius, Remus and Peter used to sit under. Tears still shined on his cheek, but no more fell. Instead, he stared across the lake, unmoving. How I longed to comfort him, but I didn't know how. When I sat down next to him, he didn't bat an eye. Somehow, I knew that speaking to him or touching him now would be a mistake. So I just sat there next to him, enjoying the sun.
Oh the many memories I have of under this tree. I remember coming out here after my Defense OWL. Remus was looking over the test, as usual, and I was playing with that...Snitch!
Quickly, I reached into my pocket and took out the tiny, golden ball. It was the very same one I had nicked that day. I keep it in my pocket to remind and comfort me. Perhaps it will do the same for Harry. Sure enough, I saw his eyes dart over to its shining surface.
I let it go, allowed it to flutter a few feet, and caught it again with ease, just like I did the day I took it. I let it go again, almost lazily plucking it from the air. Deciding to impress him, the third time I let it go farther. Just before it went beyond my reach, I struck out at it, lightning fast and closed my hand around...air. Harry was grinning at me, the Snitch in his hand.
"I didn't make the house team my First Year for nothing," he said, grinning even more widely.
"First Year?" I spluttered, "But First Years never make house teams. That would make you..."
"...the youngest Quidditch player in a century."
Grinning madly as well, I slapped him on the shoulder, "Seeker, just like your old man, huh?"
"Of course."
Feeling that Harry had calmed down enough, I said, "C'mon. Your mother has some dinner for us at the house. I hope you're plenty hungry. The minute you walk in the door, she'll notice how thin you are and try to make up for it."
That got a chuckle out of him, "Sounds just like Mrs. Weasley. Every time I come to her house during the summer, she takes one look at me and loads my plate with twice as much," he paused, then continued on a bit more quietly, "She's been like a mother to me."
As we headed toward the gate, I tried to think of something to lighten the mood. "So, tell me about Quidditch. The youngest player in a century must have some good stories."
"Well, my first game I didn't catch the Snitch..."
"You can't win them all."
"...I nearly swallowed it..."
I listened with excitement as he went through a few memorable games of Quidditch and even described how he outflew a dragon. Damn, he's good! It's good to know he has something to do besides worry about the prophecy, though. At least I could give him that.