Harry and Draco could hardly believe what was happening. They had gotten into their pyjamas but instead of hanging in the Common Room, they were following Duncan and the rest of the Slytherin house onto the Quidditch pitch. Harry and Draco were trembling with excitement because they had never been outside this late. And here they were, breaking the rules with the older kids were carrying their brooms... their big kid brooms, Harry emphasised happily in his mind.
The even air was a bit chillier than it was earlier but not overly chilly like it was that night. Harry was holding the pumpkin juice and Draco was holding onto the Chocolate Frogs. When they reached the Quidditch pitch, Harry and Draco were surprised when everyone began running laps around the pitch. The two small boys tried to keep up but their little legs just couldn't compare to even the eleven-year-olds. When the two children were about to go back to the snacks, a couple of sixth-years scooped up the boys and put them on their shoulders and kept running with the rest of the Slytherins.
The two small boys tried to keep up but their little legs just couldn't compare to even the eleven-year-olds. When the two children were about to go back to the snacks, a couple of sixth-years scooped up the boys and put them on their shoulders and kept running with the rest of the Slytherins. Harry and Draco squealed with delight as they ran around the pitch. They even waved to the imaginary people in the stands.
When they were done circling the pitch a few more times, they went back to the snacks and began munching. Harrison brought popping popcorn and gummy crickets. Nancy Louise, the Head Girl, brought the face paint enchanted facepaint. While everyone ate junk food and drank pumpkin juice, Nancy painted everyone's faces.
"Alright, mightly Slytherins and honorary hatchlings!" Harrison announced, addressing Harry and Draco with that last line. "We are here to initiate our newest Quidditch players to the team! Duncan, Lisa and Craig, come forward."
Harry smiled and gave Duncan a thumbs up as his friend made his way to the front of the group. When everyone began tapping the grass with their hands, Harry and Draco happily followed.
"As captain of the Slytherin team, I hereby declare you, to be players for the Slytherin Quidditch Team. Do you accept this honour?"
"We do!" The new Quidditch team members stated proudly as their uniforms were placed ceremoniously into their arms.
"Do you swear to always play your hardest?" Harrison asked, his voice was strong and proud. Harry and Draco found themselves staring at him with a mixture of awe and admiration.
"We do!" The three repeated, just as proudly. Harry could see Duncan was holding his chest out and wearing a huge, crooked grin.
"Do you swear to accept the outcome of any matches, win or lose, with pride and dignity?"
"We do!"
"And do you swear to wear these uniforms with pride and honour? Because they represent more than this Quidditch team but Slytherin as a house!" Harrison shouted, the last part with pride.
"We do!" The three pumped back.
"Now, it is tradition, for the newest members to do a lap around the pitch on their brooms," Harrison announced, handing the three newest players their brooms. Duncan handed his uniform to Harry for him to hold before mounting his broom. Draco and Harry watched as the newest players took to the air and zoomed around the pitch at a blinding speed. The Slytherin house broke into loud cheers and began dancing around.
When the rest of the Quidditch team grabbed their brooms and joined the newly initiated members in the sky, Harry and Draco watched them in the air with dreamy expressions on their faces.
Harry and Draco turned to Dave who was smiling up at the sky and eating some of the Crickets.
"Why didn't you try out for the team, Dave?" Harry asked. Dave wanted to play Quidditch but for some reason, he didn't even try out.
"I'm scared of heights," Dave told Harry and Draco. "It's sad because my whole family plays."
Harry couldn't imagine being scared of heights. He liked going on his broom and he couldn't wait until he could fly higher than his training broom allowed him to fly but he wouldn't get a real broom until he was nine or ten-years-old. Maybe if Draco got one sooner, he could fly on it when he stayed the weekend with the Malfoys. But his parents would more than likely find out.
"That sucks! But I used to be scared of the dark! Father told me if you're scared, you should face your fears because what's the worse that could happen?" Harry repeated what Father had said, word-for-word to Dave who looked hesitantly up at the sky. It was obvious this was different. Dave knew he could fall out of the sky and break his neck if he wasn't careful. But he didn't want to let the two little kids down so he smiled and patted Harry on the shoulder.
"I'll give it a try next year," Dave said.
"Don't say it, if you don't mean it," Harry said, looking Dave dead in the eye. Dave gave a sigh before nodding.
"I'll face my fear if you face yours," Dave said, causing Harry to frown with concentration. But after a few minutes, Harry gave a quick nod.
"Deal!" Harry shook Dave's hand as firmly as he could before they began to eat some more popping popcorn.
A few moments later, the boys who had piggy-backed Draco and Harry across the pitch landed beside the popcorn bowl and gave the small boys a large smile.
"How would you two like to fly for real?" One of the boys asked, causing Harry and Draco to burst into large wide smiles and immediately get to their feet. Harry questioned whether or not Father would like it. But Father wasn't here and nobody here was going to tell him. After all, this was a secret from all staff.
"Yeah!" Harry and Draco called out at the same time.
Harry followed the boy called Todd over to his broom and got on the broom after him. When the broom started lifting up, Harry noted it felt just like his training broom until it passed five feet and kept going.
"Hold on, little man," Todd said with a laugh before he took off higher and faster than Harry had ever moved in his life. Harry's stomach reacted to the speed and left him breathless! The exhilaration left Harry unsure if he wanted to laugh of squeal with joy. Somehow, Harry let out a wild combination of the tow sounds as they swooped around the pitch. Hary glanced down, unable to process just how fast they were moving and how high in the sky they were.
This was the best night of Harry's life. Harry could hear Draco squealing with joy somewhere in the distance but they were moving too fast for Harry to locate his friend. When Harry loved the feeling of the wind in his hair and passing around his ankles. They were moving so fast that Harry could no longer hear the rest of the Slytherins cheering and chanting.
"Faster!" Harry cried, causing Todd to zoom through the sky faster than before. The ground became nothing but a blur until suddenly they stopped midair. Harry looked around confused and his confusion intensified when he saw everyone else had frozen midair. Todd clearly didn't know what was happening because he was looking at a seventh-year player for answers. The other player didn't get the chance to respond because all of the brooms began making their way to the ground.
When they reached the ground, Harry found what had caused the brooms to stop and felt like his stomach was filled with bricks. Standing in the middle of the Quidditch pitch was Severus Snape.
When Harry's feet touched the ground, Harry considered running away but that went out the door when his weight was applied to his legs. His legs felt like jelly and Harry didn't know how he would walk, let alone run. Severus looked furious as he looked his snakes in the eye.
"Someone had better start talking, right now!"
When nobody spoke, Severus began tapping his feet impatiently.
"Harry, Draco; come here please," Severus said in a firm voice. His voice wasn't as harsh as it was a few seconds ago but it was clear he was not happy with the little boys either. Harry felt his legs jiggle as he made his way over to Severus.
"Everyone else, back to the common room, do not go to your dorms. I will be in later to discuss punishments!" Severus said, his voice was angry and harsh once again. When nobody moved, Severus cleared his throat. "I didn't realise I told everyone to take their sweet time! I meant NOW!"
Harry watched as the whole Slytherin house seemed to pale and made a dash towards the castle. Harry wished he and Draco could follow them but he knew they had to stay here with Severus. When Severus turned back to face the boys, it was very obvious that they were in a lot of trouble.
Uh-oh, Harry and Draco are in trouble!