The Showdown
Harry woke the following morning with that familiar nervous feeling in the pit of his stomach. He recognised it, as the one he felt before Quidditch games, and wasn't surprised, this was quite similar.
Ron wasn't awake, his reasonably quiet snores drifting over the room from his corner. Harry left him asleep as he carefully packed his books and items into his suitcase, with his robes going in last; he would put on these on the train. He put Hedwig's cage by his suitcase and his Cauldron. Thinking again, he opened his suitcase and placed his Firebolt on top, so that would have easy access. Slipping his wand into his pocket, Harry carefully made his way out of the room, easing the slowly creaking door shut behind him.
Tip-toeing past the girls room, which showed no signs of life, Harry quickly made his way into the kitchen, to find Mrs Weasley up and about, making breakfast.
"Good morning dear, did you sleep well?" Harry nodded uneasily, not wanting to convey his tiredness but at the same time struggling not to yawn. She placed a bowl of porridge in front of Harry. She seemed to be trying to maintain a cheerful attitude and did not want to let herself get upset. Harry admired this, but thought she would probably be better to let it all out of her.
"How's Mr Weasley?" he asked.
"Overworked, as you'd expect." She said grimly. "His first day and this furore had to happen. But once he's settled in we can run a far more effective government, although many steps are too late to repair..." Harry knew she was referring to the Dementors who had revolted.
"How many Death Eaters were inside Azkaban at the time?" Harry asked.
"Twenty three. And some did some awful things. Terrible. You can't imagine." Harry thought he probably could, but didn't say so. Mrs Weasley looked at Harry's now empty bowl. "You better go and wake Ron, I'll wake the girls. Can't have you missing the train can we?"
*
One frantic hour later, everyone was up, dressed, packed and expecting to go. Mr Weasley was not available, so Remus accompanied them all to Kings Cross, through the barrier and onto the platform.
Mrs Weasley gave everyone a hug, and Remus shook the boy's hands, while hugging each of the girls. Harry thought the group seemed a bit diminished, what with no Fred and George, and so the four of them got on and found a cabin for themselves towards the back of the train.
"When do you reckon Malfoy will show up?" said Ginny, as soon as they sat down. The door slid open in answer, and in entered Malfoy, flanked, as usual, by his two cronies, Crabbe and Goyle.
"Haven't run off then Potter?" Malfoy smirked, while his two goons chuckled mindlessly. "Good. I was wondering if the Mudblood had begged you to chicken out again. I'll come back here when we're in a better area of the countryside, so have your broom ready Potter!" Malfoy turned and stalked out, leaving the door open behind him. Hermione went to shut it.
"You better beat him!" she yelled shrilly. "I don't think I could stand him if he won!"
Harry was taken aback at this outburst. "Calm down Hermione, of course I'll beat him! Just leave it to me."
*
From then onwards the journey was filled with uncomfortable glances down the corridor, each noise Harry was sure would be Malfoy, but no. He and Ron played Exploding Snap as unimaginative fields became rolling green hills, which succumbed in turn to a ragged wilderness, filled with unkempt trees and disorderly bushes. Towards the end of the afternoon, a storm threatened as the winds around the train picked up, howling past the carriages like a madman.
As Harry peered out the window, Malfoy swaggered in, broom in hand. They both handed their wands to Hermione. "Come on." He muttered. Harry opened the window, and climbed precariously onto the roof. Harry put a leg in front of a rail on the top of the train, to hold himself steady, as Malfoy climbed onto the roof. Malfoy yelled above the wind.
"First to the other end eh?" Harry nodded, and mounted his broom. Malfoy did likewise, before lining up next to Harry. "3... 2... 1..." Malfoy zoomed off straight after 1, leaving Harry behind. Kicking off into the air, both Harry and Malfoy at first were lost behind the train.
The wind buffeted Harry back and forwards, and he dived downwards. This not only gained him speed, but also entered him into the slipstream of the train. He tore underneath Malfoy, and soon found himself nestled right behind the train.
"I've got to stay as close to the train as possible." Harry thought allowed. Now that he could travel faster then the train, Harry edged his way around the side of the train. Looking backwards, he couldn't see Malfoy, and assumed he was on the other side of the train. Harry turned forwards again, and hurtled along the side of the train.
Over the roar of the wind, Harry could hear little, but edging along the train, he could hear cheering. Looking inside he saw an army of Gryffindors all cheering him on, and he flashed a grin at them as he zoomed past. Through the cabin, he caught a glimpse of Malfoy, who was not far behind. The train rounded a corner, with Harry stuck on the outside, allowing Malfoy, on the other side of the train, to draw level.
They both leant lower to their Firebolts, each trying to gain a fraction of speed over the other. Harry seemed to have the edge, being slightly lighter, but he had not counted on the Slytherins.
They had the windows open, and had all kinds of food, which they were going to throw at him. Harry dodged back and forth, up and down trying to avoid the food being thrown at him, all the time Malfoy was drawing ahead. After what seemed like an age, Harry made it past the Slytherin cabin. He glanced forward again, and quickly registered one fact: there was a tunnel.
There was no room either side of the train, nor on top, and he and Malfoy were stuck on the outside of the train. Desperately, Harry put on a burst of speed as the tunnel charged like an insulted Hippogriff, before at the last second, Harry ducked inside between the carriages of the train.
He was now halfway up the train, and Malfoy was one carriage in front, also waiting for the tunnel to end. The Hogwarts Express leapt into the daylight, and Harry urged his broom out from behind the carriage, and sped beside the train. The train beside him was a blur, and Harry could see Malfoy up ahead, on the same side of the train as Harry.
Gaining all the time, Harry used Malfoy's minuscule amount of slipstream to optimum effect, before finally leaping out from directly behind Malfoy, moments before passing the front carriage. The speed and momentum carried Harry and Malfoy way beyond the train.
Malfoy was enraged, and he tried to ram into Harry, who was flying close to the track, but Harry moved away, and Malfoy tore past, straight into the track. He fell from his broom, which became embedded deep in the track.
Harry, who had gone straight past spun right around. The train was almost on Malfoy. He thought for a split second about leaving Malfoy there, before diving down. He grabbed Malfoy and wrenched him up before shooting up as fast as he could, before the train streaked below. Harry flew carefully down to the back of the train, where Malfoy grabbed hold of the rail on top of the train.
His face was white, and he had none of his swagger as he, followed soon by Harry, re-entered the last carriage of the train. Malfoy looked at Harry for a second, opened his mouth but quickly shut it, before turning and walking straight down the corridor.
Harry flung himself down in a chair; the compartment was empty, and Harry supposed the others had tried to see what happened in the race, and were probably now working their way back. Sure enough, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Neville and Luna all entered the compartment, strangely quietly.
"We saw..." Ron started and trailed off. Harry looked up at him, and Ron avoided his gaze for a moment, before turning to face him again. "Why?"
"No matter who it was, I couldn't leave them to die like that. Even Malfoy." He said. Harry turned away to end the conversation before more questions were asked.
Hermione had nail marks all down her face, but she accepted this at once, and threw herself down like Harry, for the last few hours of the journey to school.
Harry woke the following morning with that familiar nervous feeling in the pit of his stomach. He recognised it, as the one he felt before Quidditch games, and wasn't surprised, this was quite similar.
Ron wasn't awake, his reasonably quiet snores drifting over the room from his corner. Harry left him asleep as he carefully packed his books and items into his suitcase, with his robes going in last; he would put on these on the train. He put Hedwig's cage by his suitcase and his Cauldron. Thinking again, he opened his suitcase and placed his Firebolt on top, so that would have easy access. Slipping his wand into his pocket, Harry carefully made his way out of the room, easing the slowly creaking door shut behind him.
Tip-toeing past the girls room, which showed no signs of life, Harry quickly made his way into the kitchen, to find Mrs Weasley up and about, making breakfast.
"Good morning dear, did you sleep well?" Harry nodded uneasily, not wanting to convey his tiredness but at the same time struggling not to yawn. She placed a bowl of porridge in front of Harry. She seemed to be trying to maintain a cheerful attitude and did not want to let herself get upset. Harry admired this, but thought she would probably be better to let it all out of her.
"How's Mr Weasley?" he asked.
"Overworked, as you'd expect." She said grimly. "His first day and this furore had to happen. But once he's settled in we can run a far more effective government, although many steps are too late to repair..." Harry knew she was referring to the Dementors who had revolted.
"How many Death Eaters were inside Azkaban at the time?" Harry asked.
"Twenty three. And some did some awful things. Terrible. You can't imagine." Harry thought he probably could, but didn't say so. Mrs Weasley looked at Harry's now empty bowl. "You better go and wake Ron, I'll wake the girls. Can't have you missing the train can we?"
*
One frantic hour later, everyone was up, dressed, packed and expecting to go. Mr Weasley was not available, so Remus accompanied them all to Kings Cross, through the barrier and onto the platform.
Mrs Weasley gave everyone a hug, and Remus shook the boy's hands, while hugging each of the girls. Harry thought the group seemed a bit diminished, what with no Fred and George, and so the four of them got on and found a cabin for themselves towards the back of the train.
"When do you reckon Malfoy will show up?" said Ginny, as soon as they sat down. The door slid open in answer, and in entered Malfoy, flanked, as usual, by his two cronies, Crabbe and Goyle.
"Haven't run off then Potter?" Malfoy smirked, while his two goons chuckled mindlessly. "Good. I was wondering if the Mudblood had begged you to chicken out again. I'll come back here when we're in a better area of the countryside, so have your broom ready Potter!" Malfoy turned and stalked out, leaving the door open behind him. Hermione went to shut it.
"You better beat him!" she yelled shrilly. "I don't think I could stand him if he won!"
Harry was taken aback at this outburst. "Calm down Hermione, of course I'll beat him! Just leave it to me."
*
From then onwards the journey was filled with uncomfortable glances down the corridor, each noise Harry was sure would be Malfoy, but no. He and Ron played Exploding Snap as unimaginative fields became rolling green hills, which succumbed in turn to a ragged wilderness, filled with unkempt trees and disorderly bushes. Towards the end of the afternoon, a storm threatened as the winds around the train picked up, howling past the carriages like a madman.
As Harry peered out the window, Malfoy swaggered in, broom in hand. They both handed their wands to Hermione. "Come on." He muttered. Harry opened the window, and climbed precariously onto the roof. Harry put a leg in front of a rail on the top of the train, to hold himself steady, as Malfoy climbed onto the roof. Malfoy yelled above the wind.
"First to the other end eh?" Harry nodded, and mounted his broom. Malfoy did likewise, before lining up next to Harry. "3... 2... 1..." Malfoy zoomed off straight after 1, leaving Harry behind. Kicking off into the air, both Harry and Malfoy at first were lost behind the train.
The wind buffeted Harry back and forwards, and he dived downwards. This not only gained him speed, but also entered him into the slipstream of the train. He tore underneath Malfoy, and soon found himself nestled right behind the train.
"I've got to stay as close to the train as possible." Harry thought allowed. Now that he could travel faster then the train, Harry edged his way around the side of the train. Looking backwards, he couldn't see Malfoy, and assumed he was on the other side of the train. Harry turned forwards again, and hurtled along the side of the train.
Over the roar of the wind, Harry could hear little, but edging along the train, he could hear cheering. Looking inside he saw an army of Gryffindors all cheering him on, and he flashed a grin at them as he zoomed past. Through the cabin, he caught a glimpse of Malfoy, who was not far behind. The train rounded a corner, with Harry stuck on the outside, allowing Malfoy, on the other side of the train, to draw level.
They both leant lower to their Firebolts, each trying to gain a fraction of speed over the other. Harry seemed to have the edge, being slightly lighter, but he had not counted on the Slytherins.
They had the windows open, and had all kinds of food, which they were going to throw at him. Harry dodged back and forth, up and down trying to avoid the food being thrown at him, all the time Malfoy was drawing ahead. After what seemed like an age, Harry made it past the Slytherin cabin. He glanced forward again, and quickly registered one fact: there was a tunnel.
There was no room either side of the train, nor on top, and he and Malfoy were stuck on the outside of the train. Desperately, Harry put on a burst of speed as the tunnel charged like an insulted Hippogriff, before at the last second, Harry ducked inside between the carriages of the train.
He was now halfway up the train, and Malfoy was one carriage in front, also waiting for the tunnel to end. The Hogwarts Express leapt into the daylight, and Harry urged his broom out from behind the carriage, and sped beside the train. The train beside him was a blur, and Harry could see Malfoy up ahead, on the same side of the train as Harry.
Gaining all the time, Harry used Malfoy's minuscule amount of slipstream to optimum effect, before finally leaping out from directly behind Malfoy, moments before passing the front carriage. The speed and momentum carried Harry and Malfoy way beyond the train.
Malfoy was enraged, and he tried to ram into Harry, who was flying close to the track, but Harry moved away, and Malfoy tore past, straight into the track. He fell from his broom, which became embedded deep in the track.
Harry, who had gone straight past spun right around. The train was almost on Malfoy. He thought for a split second about leaving Malfoy there, before diving down. He grabbed Malfoy and wrenched him up before shooting up as fast as he could, before the train streaked below. Harry flew carefully down to the back of the train, where Malfoy grabbed hold of the rail on top of the train.
His face was white, and he had none of his swagger as he, followed soon by Harry, re-entered the last carriage of the train. Malfoy looked at Harry for a second, opened his mouth but quickly shut it, before turning and walking straight down the corridor.
Harry flung himself down in a chair; the compartment was empty, and Harry supposed the others had tried to see what happened in the race, and were probably now working their way back. Sure enough, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Neville and Luna all entered the compartment, strangely quietly.
"We saw..." Ron started and trailed off. Harry looked up at him, and Ron avoided his gaze for a moment, before turning to face him again. "Why?"
"No matter who it was, I couldn't leave them to die like that. Even Malfoy." He said. Harry turned away to end the conversation before more questions were asked.
Hermione had nail marks all down her face, but she accepted this at once, and threw herself down like Harry, for the last few hours of the journey to school.
