A/N See disclaimer in earlier chapter. This is my first attempt at a Quidditch game let me know what you guys think.
Ch. 12
The end of the weekend came and it was back to class for the students. Susan and Hannah stuck close to Harry lending him their support as he walked through the halls of Hogwarts. Monday was probably the worst for Harry. Everywhere the three of them went people would stare and talk about him not even bothering to lower their voices. It seemed that every student thought that Harry was a future dark lord. Relief finally came when Harry, Susan and Hannah walked into the common room after their last class.
When they came in Susan was surprised to see every member of Hufflepuff house including Professor Sprout waiting in the common room. At first Susan was nervous that something bad was about to happen and she could feel Harry tense up next to her. Cedric stepped forward and walked right up to Harry looking him straight in the eye. "Harry, we just want to let you know that all of Hufflepuff house is behind you. We know that you would never hurt Mrs. Norris and that you are not evil just because you have a rare talent. We as a whole wish to apologies for taking so long to say something and will be doing everything we can to make sure that the rest of the school doesn't bother you. You are a Badger and we Badgers stick together through thick or thin."
Susan beamed at Cedric and the other Hufflepuffs. She glanced over at Harry and saw a matching expression on Harry's face with his eyes suspiciously shiny. "I will be making an announcement today at dinner also and will be doing my best to put a stop to the fear mongering. I know I won't be able to stop all their prejudices or the rumor mill but I will do what I can. I will not stand by and let one of my Badgers be slandered like that."
"Thank you Professor Sprout. Thanks Cedric. I can't tell you guys how much your support means to me. I feel like I can deal with the rest of the school knowing that at least my friends and housemates are with me."
That night at dinner Professor Sprout got to her feet and tapped on her goblet getting the hall's attention. "I would like to address some of the concerns that have been raised over the last few days since the incident over the weekend. I would like to remind everybody that person's talents do not make them good or evil, light or dark. It is how a person uses those talents that define who they are. I will not allow a student to be slandered with baseless accusations. If I hear any student spreading harmful or baseless rumors about any student, they will be punished." With that the normally good natured professor gave a very McGonagall like look around the hall and sat down only for the Headmaster to stand up.
"That was very well said Professor Spout." Headmaster Foote said. "This idea that people who speak Parselmouth are evil is another form of prejudice that I will not tolerate. This goes for any other talent that a person has. We need to judge a person by their actions not by something they were born with."
Professor Foote sat down and talk resumed in the Great Hall. Susan looked around measuring the response to the Professors' words. The Ravenclaws looked thoughtful and a little embraced. A good number of the Gryffindors looked at the Headmaster with a stubborn expression on their face. Susan knew that this was main group that was spreading the rumors about Harry around the school led by Ronald Weasley. They also made up a large number of the Light families that had supported Dumbledore and who both her and her auntie suspected still did. The Slytherins had seemed to have no reaction at all and looked at the Headmaster with blank faces except for the sneer on Malfoy's face.
The next few days pasted quickly for the three second years and Susan had noticed an improvement in Harry's mood as the week progressed. There were still some rumors and suspicious looks from students but not nearly as many as there had been before. It seemed to be limited to an ever decreasing number of Gryffindors. Hermione had started to keep her distance from her and whenever she saw them in the hallways she seemed to scurry away with wide eyes. She decided that she would go and talk to her and try to clear the air but was having trouble finding the girl to talk to. She decided to put it out of her mind for now and just worry about more urgent things, namely Harry's first Quidditch match next Saturday. Susan had talked to Professor Sprout a day ago and found out an interesting rule about Quidditch match days and after a quick note sent with her owl she had a surprise all set up for Harry on Saturday.
HC
"Come on Harry, you need to eat something." Susan said to Harry holding a piece of toast in front of him with his favorite jam spread on top. "It won't do for you to fall from your broom from lack of food."
"Uhhh, the butterflies in my stomach don't seem to agree with you Suzy. They seem to be doing enough flying for me to go without a broom."
"Come on Harry, just a little bit." Hannah tried only for Harry to groan again and shake his head.
"Harry James Potter, if you don't start eating than I'm going to just have to call Puck and tell her Master Harry isn't eating." Susan threatened with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Now what do you think Puck will do then?"
Harry's eyes grew big at the threat and he quickly took the piece of proffered toast and began to eat it. Susan smile as she went back to her own breakfast as Harry started on another piece of toast. She really couldn't blame Harry for his nerves as today was his first game and the buildup had been growing especially when people heard he would be playing. The whole house was at breakfast decked out in yellow and black in support of their house team. Today was the first Hufflepuff match of the year against Ravenclaw but the second of the season. Gryffindor had barely beat Slytherin two weeks ago mainly due to the work of their chasers and their keeper. Malfoy had managed to catch the Snitch but it took him over three hours to find it but not before the chasers had run up the score. The Gryffindor Seeker hadn't been much better, seeming to be more concerned yelling at his own team then seeking, some 3rd year named Mclaggen.
Cedric rose from the table and the rest of the team took that as the signal for them to head down to the locker rooms. Susan and Hannah followed along walking with Harry as the team made its way out of the castle. As the team neared the doors three figures stepped into hall from outside. Susan recognized two of the three and apparently so did Harry as a big smile spread on his face and he rushed forward to meet the new comers.
"AUNTIE you're here! I didn't know that people could come to the games." Harry said enthusiastically throwing his arms around Amelia.
"Of course, you think I would miss your first Quidditch match? Susan wrote us a letter with permission from Professor Sprout."
"She's right pup, we couldn't wait to come see you play." Sirius said as Harry gave him a welcoming hug. He motioned over to the third man in the group. "Harry, this is Remus Lupin or Moony. He was another friend of your parents during school."
"Nice to meet you Mr. Lupin" Harry said extending his hand.
"Please it's Remus or Moony. Mr. Lupin makes me feel old" the man said with a smile as he shook Harry's hand. "And you must be Susan and Hannah. Sirius and Amelia have told me all about you two." He said shaking the girls' hands.
Harry looked around and seeing the rest of the team half way to the field paled slightly and turned to the others. "Sorry, but I have to get to the locker room and change for the game. I'll see you later." He waved and quickly turned and sprinted down the front lawn to catch up to the rest of the team.
Susan giggled watching her friend disappear down the lawn and turned back to her Auntie. "Thanks Aunite, I know Harry is happy you guys made it. Let's go get a seat in the stands." Together the five of them made their way down to the stadium and sat in the Hufflepuff section of the stands. Both Sirius and Remus took out giant yellow fingers that proudly said Potter #1 on them and stuck them on their hands waving them comically around. Amelia to the girls' chagrin replaced her hat with a giant yellow hat and a yellow scarf that matched Susan and Hannah's.
"I can't believe we're at Harry's first game." Sirius said "James would have been so proud to watch his son as a starting Chaser in his second year. Remus do you remember when he took Harry on his first broom ride?" He looked at the other people. "Harry had just started crawling and Lily was out with Alice for some girl time leaving the three of us to watch Harry."
"Probably not one of her brightest ideas." Amelia stage whispered to the girls.
"Definitely not" Agreed Sirius. "But she hadn't been out with Alice since before Harry and Neville were born and James pretty much pushed her out the door. Anyways, it was a warm sunny day and James took his broom out for a spin around the yard with Harry and us sitting on the lawn. When James took off Harry clapped and laughed as he watched his daddy fly around the yard. When he landed Harry crawled over to him and sat down with his arms raised with the biggest smile on his face. James never could resist making his son smile and he picked him up and put him on the front of the broom with enough sticking charms to hold an elephant and cushioning charms on the ground just in case. He then started to fly around the yard in slow circles and Harry started to laugh and clap. As he went faster his laughing got louder until James was taking him through dives and loops and spins. We three were still on the ground watching and laughing as James took Harry on a wild ride around the yard until we heard a shriek behind us. We turned around to find an irate Lily standing there." Sirius shuddered. "I had never seen Lily so mad before in all my life. After James landed with a still laughing Harry she rounded on him and lit into him. I didn't understand half of what she was saying but I was able to pick out irresponsible, reckless, jackass, and many other loving words. I think after that James was relegated to the couch for a month and the three of us were barred from the cottage for the same amount of time."
The group was laughing at the story with Susan imagining Lily Potter in a temper and a cute baby Harry laughing and clapping from the front of his daddy's broom. She was brought out of her thoughts by the voice of the 4th year Gryffindor Lee Jordan.
"Welcome one and all to the second Quidditch game of the year featuring the Hufflepuff Badgers versus the Ravenclaw Eagles. This match looks to be an exciting one with many unknowns in play today. On one side we have an almost new Badger team led by Cedric Diggory while on the other we have a Ravenclaw team that for the most part is made up from Reserves from the previous year all with little play time. Now put your hands together for the Eagles led by Chaser Roger Davies." Cheers erupted from the Ravenclaw section as their team took the field and did a lap around landing in the center of the pitch was Madam Hooch was waiting.
"And here are the Badgers led by Seeker Cedric Diggory." Susan and Hannah cheered their hearts out waving Yellow rosettes as Amelia, Sirius and Remus cheered right next to them the last two waving those ridicules hands of theirs. After a lap of their own they too flew to the middle of the field and landed next too Hooch.
"Ok, I want a good, clean game." Madam Hooch's magnified voice sounded. "Captains Shake hands" Cedric and Roger shook hands and returned to their team. She kicked open the box releasing the Snitch and the two bludgers that then zoomed away. "Mount your brooms and on my whistle." Both teams mounted their brooms and waited. Madam Hooch blew her whistle and threw the quaffle into the air followed by the players and a loud cheer from the crowd.
Susan watched as Harry rocked up as a yellow and black blur toward the quaffle with the other two chasers close on his tail. He managed to snag the red ball out of the air and the three of them flew towards the other end of the pitch. "And Harry Potter grabs the quaffle and is making his way towards the Ravenclaw side flanked by Heidi Macavoy and Tamsim Applebee. Both Potter and Applebee making their debut in this game but both look to be promising additions to the team." Susan pushed her binoculars to her eyes watching Harry and the other two chasers make their way to the goals passing the Quaffle back and forth between them keeping the Ravenclaws confused and spreading out opening the defense. Susan gasped as Harry barely dodged a bludger that almost hit his head as he performed a quick barrel roll. The bludger had not gone 50 feet past Harry when it turned around and came back towards him only to have it intercepted by Megan who hit it towards Roger.
With the last Chaser beat Heidi passed the quaffle to Harry who with a quick fake to Tamsin shot for the middle goal and scored the first goal of the game. "And Potter Scores 10 to 0 Hufflepuff." Lee's voice boomed out. Ravenclaw took possession of the quaffle and started to make their way down the field. Susan kept her eyes on Harry as he switched to more defensive flying zooming under chaser Jeremy Streton who was flying to the left of the other two chasers while Roger had the quaffle.
Heidi flew up to try to challenge Roger for the quaffle but he quickly tried to pass the ball to Justin. Harry seeing the quaffle flying towards Justin looped up and around Justin grabbing the quaffle out of the air and with a quick about face flew towards the goals unopposed. As he flew past midfield a bludger came out of nowhere again almost smashing into his side. Another quick move on his part saw the bludger whiz past him again but changing direction again. "Look at Potter fly." Lee said. "That boy seems to have a sixth sense for avoiding bludgers. He is all alone now with just the bludger and the keeper to beat." Harry headed for the left goal and a quick hard throw saw the ball sail through the hoop barely missing the keeper's outstretched hands.
"And Potter scores again bringing the score 20 to 0." The game continued on with the Hufflepuff Chasers picking apart the Ravenclaws. Susan noticed that for some strange reason whenever Harry would be on a breakaway by himself one of the bludgers would seem to focus on him with only his quick reflexes and instincts saving him from being hit. The score was now 70 to 30 in favor of the Badgers with Harry scoring two more goals and one apiece for Heidi and Tamsin. "Man the kid can fly." Sirius said. "He's even better then James was at that age. He looks almost like he is flying without the broom up there."
"I know what you mean Padfoot, he's a natural."
"I think something is wrong with that bludger though," Susan said. "I've been watching it and whenever Harry gets away from the other chasers it makes a bee line for Harry, and then acts normally again when he is back with the other chasers."
Amelia took Susan's binoculars and focused on Harry. Susan watched as Heidi passed him the quaffle and with a quick juke he rocked past the opposing chaser. She could see the bludger change directions almost immediately and head for Harry. She saw another blur of yellow as Cedric dropped out of the sky in a dive following the Snitch. "And Diggory has seen the Snitch with Chang close on his tail." Lee's voice called out. Susan cheered as Cedric chased after the snitch but her eyes were still locked on Harry as he raced for the goal posts hoping for one more goal before Cedric caught the snitch.
Susan and her group seemed to be the only ones paying attention though as Harry drew back his arm to shoot for the far right goal. He launched the quaffle and it soared through the hoop scoring. Harry's arm was still fully extended when out of nowhere the bludger smashed into Harry's arm throwing him off his broom to the ground 10 feet below right as a loud cheer erupted from the crowed as Cedric caught the snitch ending the game 230 to 30. "HARRY!" Susan yelled only to have her voice drowned out by the crowed. It took a few seconds for the crowed to realize that Harry was thrown from his broom but when the Hufflepuff team quickly landed by him and circled around. Susan rushed down to the field followed closely by Amelia and Sirius.
As they tried to work their way through the crowd they could hear Harry's voice. "Oh no not you, anybody but you. Let me go to Madam Pomfrey. She can fix it up in a minute."
"Doesn't know what he's saying. Nasty hit their Harry. I took a few like that in my playing days" Said a voice that Susan recognized. Hurrying her pace with Amelia right behind her they finally made it to the middle of the crowed where Harry was lying in the grass surrounded by the rest of his team with Gilderoy Lockhart kneeling over him. "This will just take a moment and won't hurt a bit. I have performed this spell countless of times." Lockhart said pointing his wand at Harry's arm and muttering something that Susan couldn't hear completely ignoring Harry's protests.
"No you idiot that's the wrong speahhhhhh! You idiot you deboned my whole arm!" Harry's voice rang out over the pitch. Susan looked at his arm and her eyes widened. Sure enough all of Harry's bones in his arm were gone.
"Gilderoy Lockhart, you are under arrest for attempting to perform a medical charm that requires a medical license on a minor." Amelia shouted walking up to Lockhart forcing him onto the ground on his belly. Susan watched in vindictive pleasure as she watched her Auntie pull Lockhart's arms behind his back and slap a pair of Magic Restraining cuffs that the prepared auror always carry with them on his wrists Just as the teachers made it to the front of the crowd. Amelia turned to Professor Sprout and told her "I am taking this imbecile in for practicing healing without a license. If you could see Harry up to the Hospital wing I will be back as soon as I have this prat processed." Madam Hooch was standing next to Sprout holding the box of balls. "I also want to look at that bludger. It was acting weird today and I want to know why." Hooch nodded and handed her the box of balls. With that she walked through the crowd pushing Lockhart in front of her.
"Come on Harry let's get you to the Hospital wing." Susan said helping him stand up. "You did wonderful today. That steal you made from Roger was great."
"Yeah Pup, you were awesome up there." Sirius agreed with Lupin and Hannah nodding right beside them. Together they made their way to the hospital wing and pushed the doors open to find a waiting Pomfrey.
"Mister Potter what happened. I was told just to expect a broken arm. Did you try to heal it yourself? You know I've told you you're not ready for those spells yet."
"It wasn't me Poppy, that idiot Lockhart tried to heal my arm and banished all the bones in my arm. He wouldn't take no for an answer. Auntie was so mad and she arrested the ponce on the spot. He was right though, it doesn't hurt anymore."
"Good for her. I can't believe that idiot is allowed to teach. I know the Headmaster has been hoping for an excuse to fire him and now he can. I can mend bones in a minute as you well know but growing them will take the better part of the night and it won't be pleasant."
Harry looked resigned. "I guess that means a full dose of skelegrow for me and a night in your company."
"Too right Harry" Poppy said with a small smile." Now let's let him get changed." Harry sat on a bed and Madam Pomfrey put a privacy curtain around him. Sirius helped him get his boneless arm through the pair of pajamas and after getting in the bed Madam Pomfrey handed him a goblet and a bottle of a smelly potion. "Drink half now and half before you go to bed." Harry nodded and drank the potion without complaint. They all took seats and chatted for a while rehashing the game going over some of Harry's more impressive plays. The rest of the Quidditch team joined them after cleaning up and they hung around chatting until Amelia came in smiling like a Cheshire cat.
"What has you so happy Auntie?" Susan asked.
"Oh nothing major just got done questioning Lockhart. Let's just say that you should read the morning Prophet tomorrow." He smile vanished though. "Also, I had someone look at that bludger. It was tampered with to seek out Harry whenever he was 25 feet away from other players. The magic used to do this was the same magic that I saw twice over summer." She explained giving Harry and Susan significant looks. Susan quickly realized that her auntie was referring to Dobby and wanted to strangle the little elf the next time she saw him. Amelia took a seat and the talk continued.
After a few hours Madam Pomfrey came and chased everyone out for dinner. Amelia, Sirius and Remus said their goodbyes as they needed to head home. Susan and Hannah promised to come back after dinner. "We will bring your books if you want and we can work on our homework." Susan said. "Do you want us to bring anything else? Your journal perhaps?"
"No that's ok Suzy, I haven't written in it for a while now. But thanks anyways."
"Ok Harry, we will see you after dinner."
After dinner, Susan and Hannah returned and the three of them worked on a rather complicated potions essay for Snape until Madam Pomfrey chased them out for the night. Susan and Hannah gave Harry goodnight hugs that he returned with one arm and they went back to the common room.
A/N Well Lockhart is gone and won't be coming back. Thanks for reading.