Having traveled into the past from the future, Harry felt no warnings that told him what to do in order to avoid a paradox that could end his existence, which he was glad for. It could also have something to do with the fact that his past and future selves were in different places, too, Harry thought. After all, at this moment in time, not only were he and Magic back at Hogwarts, but their past selves were going to the hospital with Rose. It was only slightly confusing for Harry to think about, but he didn't dwell on it as he kept walking with Magic at his side. He felt a bit more relaxed about traveling into the past, considering the current state of events, but it wasn't anything he wanted to do very often if he could avoid it.
The events he'd experienced over the past hour were something that had changed his decisions regarding those who were soulless, and should he encounter another like that, Harry decided he wouldn't do what he'd done before. The fact that, as far as most knew, nothing had changed, made him relieved, and his quick dealing with emotion made him feel almost as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened, just as he'd experienced with Voldemort's memory the previous night. He found himself wondering if Rose would continue to teach him after the events that had happened, and as he walked and held Magic's hand, he decided to accept whatever happened next. While he was still curious about the mysteries of magic with various things, he supposed he could explore them on his own if he wanted, should Rose no longer want to teach him. He wouldn't blame her if she didn't, though, given all that had happened.
Harry didn't feel much about what had happened, feeling like he'd let out all his feelings during the event. He almost felt like Magic thinking, coming to the logical realization that further emotional grieving would only serve to hinder him. Despite the fact that emotions weren't usually that logical, Harry felt only a bit of exhaustion, a faint sense of the emotions he'd felt before. According to what he felt of Magic's thoughts for an instant, that was a result of his bodies biological processes and not anything in his mind. Harry found he agreed with that conclusion, and smiling a bit, said, "If this sharing of thoughts and emotional states keeps up, I'll be like you soon enough."
"You're influenced by me." Magic stated.
"Yes, I suppose I am." Harry said. "But I never thought I'd think like you do."
"You're consciously aware of my thoughts during brief periods, but your mind is more aware of me than before." Magic responded. "It's changing as a result, becoming more emotionally stable, able to deal better with human psychological difficulties."
Harry smirked at her means of talking, then said, "Maybe one day, we'll be a pair of logical beings together."
"You're human, not sustained by magic but sustaining magic, and therefore, require emotions for your own stability. If you didn't have them, you would be different. I would think of you before you were, and determine a method for you to regain your emotional state." Magic said.
"Do you not want me to change, then?" Harry asked.
"Losing your emotions is undesirable for you." Magic replied. "That could cause deeper difficulties."
"Maybe so, but hopefully I'll never, ever have to find out." Harry said, reaching out and taking her hand. Magic clutched his in return.
"You like this, and you like this when Tracey held your hand." Magic said quite suddenly.
"Yeah. That's true." Harry said with a grin. "I want to impress her, so I'm hoping Malfoy attacks me, so this new shield can reflect his spells right back at him! Then she'll like me! What do you think? Will that be cool, or what?"
"You will enjoy it." Magic stated. "I do as you wish."
"If I ever got married, Magic, would that bother you?" Harry asked.
"Marriage is a natural human development." Magic responded. "If you wish it, I'll do as you wish, and wouldn't do anything to hinder a relationship between you and a woman."
"You've always been so close to me." Harry said after a long few moments. "When we, kissed..." He blushed a little, but bravely continued on. "I felt like you were family for a brief moment, but you're right about why. Because we lived together. But, I'm still attracted to you, physically, and I'd never be so direct with anyone else. You're not family, really, you're my best friend, closer than a friend, really, closer than family. And I do love you, I love you a lot."
"Yes." Magic stated.
"If I wanted to marry you, would you care?" Harry asked.
Harry felt a strangely warm feeling move throughout him, something that, in its own way, felt better than any feeling he'd had when he thanked Magic before. He was grinning wider, he realized, but didn't care, and at his wishes, Magic's grip on his hand tightened.
"No. I'll do as you wish." Magic stated, and though her words were just as placid as they'd always been, Harry felt, within himself, that they were much warmer, much gentler, that they would always be for him and him alone, and he found he really liked that. He didn't stop grinning until the time of his detention with Professor Snape drew near.
Magic stood down the corridor a few meters, out of sight of what Professor Snape would see when the door was open. It was about a minute before seven o'clock, and Harry didn't think there would be any harm in arriving early. He knocked on the door, and heard Professor Snape state coolly, "Enter."
Harry opened the door, stepped into the classroom, and closed it quietly behind him. He heard Professor Snape standing and walking with calculated footsteps across the room, then he tapped a cauldron.
"Sit here, Potter." Professor Snape stated.
Harry made his way over and sat down, noticing there were several vials, likely containing ingredients, lined up in front of the cauldron.
"You will brew the potion who's instructions are on the board, and you will not use magic, Potter. Begin." Professor Snape stated.
"Will you read me the directions, Professor?" Harry asked.
"Must I pander to your every need, Potter?" Professor Snape asked, his voice cold with anger.
Harry felt anger of his own, but knew he needed to stay calm. He took a breath.
"Sir, it would be impossible for me to read what's on the board with eyes that can't see." Harry said.
"Then perhaps, Potter, you should heal your own eyesight and correct your deficiencies." Professor Snape sounded like he was sneering, his voice cold and biting.
"I don't see my blindness as a defi..." Harry began.
"What you see it as is none of my concern, Potter." Professor Snape stated coldly. "It is what it is. Now, get to work."
"Tell me the directions, please." Harry said, a bit of coldness in his own voice as his heart pounded, his anger rising.
"What happened to you, Potter? Not so independent as you were in Diagon Alley?" Professor Snape snapped. "Not so capable as you were when you freed Black?"
"Professor Snape, you're being unreasonable. Either tell me how to read the directions on the board without having Magic's help, or I'll just sit here, because I can't read what I can't see. It's not possible." Harry stated, taking pleasure in his voice getting colder at the end of his speech. See how he liked it, Harry thought furiously, but had a faint feeling that he was doing something wrong.
"I will not allow you to take your lessons from Black and bring them to my classroom, Potter. You will speak to me with the respect due a professor, or we will go to the Headmaster, immediately." Professor Snape stated.
"I didn't take any lessons from Black, sir." Harry shot back coldly, though the faint feeling that he was doing something wrong was growing despite his anger, which was also increasing. Vaguely, he thought he heard a faint note of the phoenix, but it didn't come from Magic, didn't come from his flame of magic. It seemed to come from deep, deep within his soul, to make his very being resonate with its purity. It put out his anger like a flame being snuffed out.
"Follow me. Now." Professor Snape stated coldly, sounding angry.
Harry stood calmly and unfolded his cane, and as they walked to the door, said, "I'm sorry, Professor, I d..."
"Save your worthless platitudes for someone who cares." Professor Snape bit out in rage, opening the door of his classroom so hard that it slammed against the wall with a rather loud bang.
Harry quickly walked to keep up with Professor Snape, who's stride was much longer than his own. Magic walked next to him, and through his brief sensing of her thoughts and her voice in his mind, knew which direction Professor Snape was turning along with following the sound of his footsteps. Now that he was calm, he got the thought that Professor Snape was being strangely petty about this entire situation. He didn't understand why they couldn't talk about the situation calmly, and without all the shouting. The note of phoenix purity that came from within his soul seemed to clear his mind greatly, and in addition to Professor Snape and their situation, Harry thought once again about Sally's soulless body. He didn't even feel anything about that situation, except a sadness, and a resolve that he'd shown her parents what would happen should he construct the illusion of a person who was living. He also felt a firm resolve never to do it again, for the second time that night, and a strange pity for Rose, that she hadn't understood all that he had in that situation, and was, perhaps, still grieving.
'Why did that phoenix note happen?" Harry asked Magic within his mind.
'Athis merged with your magic. Your magic is part of your being.' Magic stated.
'Athis merged with you. But I was given the same abilities, since we share magic.' Harry said.
'Yes, as I'm your magic.' Magic responded. 'Due to the merging, you are beginning to experience deeper effects. I'm changing.'
'Why deeper effects now?' Harry asked. 'Why not sooner, faster?'
'Given that Athis merged with me, who is sustained by your magic and is your magic, I've concluded that your maturation will be different than humans who haven't merged with a phoenix.' Magic responded.
'So, maybe I won't be as emotional.' Harry said. 'Or, other things, too.'
'You still like Tracey.' Magic stated.
'Yeah.' Harry responded. 'But that's not anything aggressive. And I feel like the... Phoenix note, it stopped, or cleared, or made me see that the aggression of anger wasn't something I wanted.'
'Aggressive anger doesn't help.' Magic agreed.
'I'm going to try and apologize to Professor Snape again.' Harry said, then added aloud, "Professor, I'm sorry for getting angry..."
"Silence, Potter." Professor Snape stated in a voice of pure ice. Harry sighed to himself.
They were walking so quickly that, by the time they'd reached the Headmaster's office, Harry felt tired and out of breath. Magic, beside him, wasn't at all tired. Harry heard Professor Snape snap out the password, and stepped onto the moving staircase that brought them up to the door, which Professor Snape knocked on.
"Enter." Professor Dumbledore's voice said calmly.
They entered, Professor Snape in front. Just as Harry predicted, Professor Snape spoke almost at once.
"I demand Potter be immediately expelled for his impudence." Professor Snape's voice was still cold with rage.
"Precisely what brought this to light, Severus?" Professor Dumbledore asked, seeming unruffled and calm.
"Potter refused to carry out his detention, and spoke to me disrespectfully." Professor Snape stated.
"Harry?" Professor Dumbledore asked. "Is this true?"
"I did speak to Professor Snape angrily, I can see where it might be disrespectful." Harry said, still breathing hard from his quick walk. He swallowed, then continued. "Professor Snape wanted me to read something I can't read, told me to make myself see. You can see the setup in the classroom if you want."
"You were rather supportive of Harry about a week ago, Severus." Professor Dumbledore said in a voice that reflected rather severe disappointment. "Tell me that this has nothing to do with Sirius Black's freedom, and Harry's involvement."
Harry heard silence.
"I see." Professor Dumbledore let out a long sigh. "I'm quite disappointed in you, Severus, as I had thought you would have put your childish feuds behind you."
"I will not have the son of Potter teaching Black's teachings in my classroom!" Professor Snape shouted in fury. "Black, who dared to have me killed!"
"Then, Severus, as you are clearly unable to step back from your emotions and see the situation for what it is, rather than what you believe it to be, I'm quite afraid I must find another potions master to teach at this school." Professor Dumbledore sounded sad, Harry noted curiously, but wondered more about why Professor Snape seemed to hate Sirius Black so much that, despite their conversations, and despite the fact that he supported him, one man's freedom had changed his views so radically. He also wondered if Sirius had really wanted Professor Snape killed.
Harry stepped to the right and Magic to the left as a furious Professor Snape spun around and stormed from the office, slamming the door behind him.
"Professor Dumbledore, did Professor Snape really... Did Sirius try to have him killed?" Harry asked.
"I highly doubt that was his intent." Professor Dumbledore said. "However, Professor Snape was saved one night by your father, which, sadly, he seems unable to forgive. Your resemblance to James Potter grows with each passing day, and I suspect that it is that, combine with the freedom of Sirius Black, and your direct involvement in that event, which has changed him so."
"What exactly happened?" Harry asked.
"You already know, of course, that Remus Lupin is a werewolf, as he has told me of your conversation with him." Professor Dumbledore said. "Sirius Black, rather impulsive in his teenage years, let slip where Remus went to transform, which was, at the time of his schooling, the Shrieking Shack. Had your father not been there that night, Remus, having been fully the wolf when Severus saw him, would have killed him. That is, briefly, the story of how your father saved the life of Severus, and why he hates Sirius so."
"To be honest, I'm glad you fired him." Harry said. "He wasn't really a very good teacher, and I'm sure you can find a better one."
"I thank you, Harry, for that vote of confidence in my abilities." Professor Dumbledore responded. "However, his position as potions master here at Hogwarts also came with other responsibilities which, I'm afraid, I cannot get into with you."
"There's a couple other things I wanted to talk with you about, too." Harry said. "I'll get the most important thing out of the way first. You know Voldemort's done things to keep himself alive, even after death."
"I've been aware of that since his defeat, when your mother sacrificed her life for you." Professor Dumbledore stated. "I suspect you know what he has done, and how he has achieved this."
"He's made Horcruxes." Harry said.
"Brilliant." Professor Dumbledore muttered quietly. "Though, utterly detestable."
"I agree with you. I saw how he made one, this crown, a diadem. I found it in a room in Hogwarts which changes to suit the wishes of a person after you pace three times in front of the wall where it's located, thinking of what you want." Harry said. "It was the perfect place to hide something, but I entered the room when it was in its default state, some type of room with a lot of different items."
"All this time, and he hid such a thing within the very school I protect. Quite impressive of him." Professor Dumbledore replied. "I presume that you destroyed the object."
"I did." Harry stated.
"You seem unaffected by this, Harry." Professor Dumbledore's voice was suddenly quite hard. "You wouldn't, by chance, intend to make a Horcrux yourself, despite your statement of agreement with its detestable act of being made?"
"Why would you say that?" Harry asked, feeling a sudden, deep anger welling within him. "I could never, ever do such a thing! I could never kill unjustly, and wouldn't even think of killing to rip apart my soul! My pure, unbroken soul!"
"Be calm." Magic stated, and Harry felt her put her right arm around him, her right hand gently gripping his shoulder. "It was a question only."
"That I didn't think even needed to be asked." Harry said as he started to calm at Magic's touch. "I thought you trusted me."
"I'm sure you can understand why I asked the question, Harry. While I do, in fact trust you, I was suspicious at how nonchalant you were about such a thing." Professor Dumbledore said.
"I just know I'm not Voldemort. It's wrong to do, and I won't ever give the information on how it's done. But I'm not Voldemort, I'm just speaking the facts of what he did." Harry said as he quickly calmed, Magic's hand gently rubbing his shoulder. "I know everything he did and everything he felt when he made it, but I'm not Voldemort, and I don't have any plans to be him, so why stay emotional about something that already happened and can't be changed?"
"You sound like Magic would." Professor Dumbledore responded, though his voice was calmer now, perhaps hopeful. "I must admit, Harry, that I didn't expect such maturity from one so young."
"Neither did I." Harry replied. "But since Athis bonded with me, I've slowly been changing. Even earlier, in the potions classroom, when I felt that aggressive sort of anger, I felt like it was wrong. I calmed really quickly when I heard, or more felt, a phoenix note inside me. It's like Athis is there in me, or like I'm partly a phoenix. I knew I had the abilities that a phoenix has, but I didn't think I'd have changing feelings from it."
"Quite curious, and something I wouldn't have anticipated. Of course, I was unaware, until Athis merged with Magic, that such a thing was possible from a phoenix." Professor Dumbledore said.
"Athis told me that the phoenix's had secrets that other wizards and witches don't know about." Harry said.
"Indeed so." Professor Dumbledore responded. "I always suspected that was the case, as Fawkes is my companion, and quite an intelligent one as well. I suspect that, when you first saw Athis, she first communicated with Fawkes to retrieve what she needed to assist you in your venture with Voldemort's diary."
"I always wondered about that, but I never asked." Harry said as he heard a trill from Fawkes. It both rose his spirits and filled him with hope as usual, and almost seemed to confirm what Dumbledore had told him. He smiled.
"You did, I believe, have another item you wished to speak with me about." Professor Dumbledore said.
"Yeah." Harry responded. "I've been doing other things, and it hasn't really been too important for me because I can learn from the books I've got. But History of Magic, and Professor Binns. Why is he still teaching?"
"For one quite simple reason, Harry." Professor Dumbledore replied. "We've been unable to hire another teacher as well informed as Professor Binns."
"So, is he going to keep teaching, or what?" Harry asked.
"For now, yes." Professor Dumbledore responded.
"If I knew everything about History of Magic, I wouldn't object to teaching the class." Harry said. "I think it's an important thing to know. A couple years ago, I got a bit bold and was going to teach it, but no one seemed to care, so I just dropped that and learned from my books, myself. Besides, Professor Binns tends to get certain names and dates mixed up, so everyone's got to correct themselves."
"Is that so?" Professor Dumbledore asked. "Sadly, I've not received any other complaints about Cuthbert since he's died, even from Miss Granger."
"She probably doesn't care to bother you." Harry responded. "She learns from the books too, and is probably one of the few people that takes notes in the class. I do, just so I'm paying attention, but I've drifted a bit as well. Lucky I've got Magic and her perfect memory, because I missed most of one lecture once."
"I'll always help you." Magic stated stoically. Harry grinned.
"I know." He said. "And I'm glad."
"Well, Harry, for the time being, I'm afraid that, as boring as his class may be, Cuthbert Binns must continue to teach until I can find someone with the proper qualifications. And, should you wish to teach History of Magic after you graduate from Hogwarts, I would be delighted to review your qualifications." Professor Dumbledore said.
"I'll keep that in mind." Harry responded. "But I'm still not entirely sure what I want to do with the rest of my life, so I might change my mind."
"Of course, and quite natural." Professor Dumbledore stated. "Is there anything else you wish to speak with me about, Harry?"
"No, that's it." Harry said. "Thanks for your time, Professor."
"You're quite welcome." Professor Dumbledore responded. "Magic, is there anything you wish to speak with me about?"
"No." Magic stated.
"Very well, then. I wish both of you well." Professor Dumbledore said.
"Thanks." Harry replied, leaving the office with Magic at his side.
The news that Professor Snape had been relieved of his post traveled quickly through the school, and as Harry ate breakfast in the Great Hall the next morning, he heard the students talking about it. The Gryffindors were quite glad. In fact, the only ones that seemed to be sullen were the Slytherins. He could hear Malfoy, especially, talking loudly about how he couldn't train with Quidditch whenever he wanted now, and that he would be telling his father about the Potter brat who had fired him. Harry suspected that Snape had informed some people about his being fired, and implicated him in having gotten him fired. Harry didn't care, though, and when he left the Great Hall and Malfoy shouted at him and tried to get a rise out of him, he simply yawned and walked off, ignoring the spells that Malfoy sent his way, which were deflected right back at him. The sound of Tracey's loud laughter was a very nice sound, and Harry skipped up to the Gryffindor tower, loving that he'd done something to make her happy, a silly grin on his face.
While Harry didn't much like the loud crowds, he'd always longed to play sports like all the other kids had, as he'd sat and done nothing most of the time, when the other children played in the playground at his previous school before Hogwarts. Some of that was because he was blind, but some of that was also due to Dudley bullying him every time he tried to have fun with the other kids. Now, however, he'd be able to try and play Quidditch, assuming it was even possible despite the modifications to the broom. From what he'd read in the manual, sounds above a certain volume would be dampened so he could still hear the various clicks and tones to tell him where objects were and how close they were, so hopefully, the crowd at the stadium wouldn't be an issue. What he wasn't sure about was the team, and whether they'd want him trying out or not.
From what Harry knew, the only position the Gryffindor team needed was that of Seeker, as the other positions were already filled. Three girls, Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnet, and Katie Bell were the teams Chasers, Fred and George Weasley were the Beaters, and Oliver Wood was the Keeper. Harry hoped to be Seeker, as the thrill of flying quickly after something to catch it and win so many points for the team, was quite enticing. As he made his way to the Quidditch Pitch, he could hear a crowd of people chatting with one another. Harry walked over to them, and having wanted to do this on his own without any sign that anyone would be helping him at all, Magic was in the Gryffindor common room.
"Hi, guys." He said.
"Heyya Harry!" He heard an older girl say, though didn't know her name.
"Do you know where the Seeker's are trying out?" Harry asked.
"Right here." She responded in a shocked voice. "You're not actually going to be flying that, are you? You'll hurt yourself!"
"Oh, it'll be fine." Harry said as he grinned and lightly slapped his broom against one of his hands, then leaned it up against his shoulder as he folded up his cane. "Have I missed anything yet?"
"No, we all just got here. There's a sign that told us perspective Seekers to..." She began, but trailed off as Harry heard faint sounds from what he imagined was the changing rooms, doors being closed.
"Twenty people, not bad!" Harry heard the vaguely familiar voice of Oliver Wood, the teams Keeper and Captain, as he and the rest of the team came over. "Harry! Come to listen?"
"I've come to fly." Harry said.
"Harry old chap!" Fred Weasley said as he came over to him, clapping him on one shoulder making him jump a bit.
"We're the ones that keep people like you, safe!" George called, clapping him on the other shoulder. Harry then heard the sound of wooden bats being bumped together.
"So, saying I need overprotecting?" Harry asked.
"Now why would you ever think we'd do a thing like that?" George asked. "We know how well you get around, and how you hate people trying to protect you or help you too much."
"No, Harry, you're on your own this time. Wood might not want you flying, but we personally think you can do it." Fred said quietly.
"So good luck, Harry, and you've got our support." George added, also quietly.
"Right, team!" Wood called, and Fred and George moved away from him. "This is how we're going to do this! First, we'll set loose the snitch! The one to find it the fastest and catch it the most within ten minutes will be up in the air with all of us and the Bludgers! Fred and George, our excellent beaters, will be trying to hit you with the Bludgers, because it's quite possible you'll come up against opposition in play! If you catch the snitch without getting hurt, you're on the team! If you don't, we'll move on to the next person who's caught the snitch the fastest and the most amount of times. Any questions?"
No one spoke.
"Harry, I'll ask you to please step off the Quidditch Pitch!" Wood called, speaking loudly.
"I'm in the perspective Seekers section, thanks, but no thanks!" Harry responded, heart pounding with both excitement and a bit of irritation, and he felt some competitiveness as well.
"Right, then if you want to fly and hurt yourself, not my problem! This is the last time I'm going to be playing Quidditch, and I want a Seeker that's going to win us our cup! I don't have much time to argue with you about it, so stay or go, it's your choice!" Wood said. "Now, rules for catching the snitch! Don't knock the other players unconscious!"
That was it? Harry didn't know whether to be relieved or worried about that. Wood seemed just a bit fanatical about the entire thing. If that's how he wanted it, Harry thought, then he'd get it that way. Harry started to come up with some ideas on how best he might catch the Snitch with nineteen other people, unless Wood hadn't counted him in his initial twenty, in which case there were twenty-one potential Seekers trying out.
"All right, mount your brooms!" Wood called.
Harry, grinning, did so quickly, hearing others doing the same around him, aware of the clicking sounds indicating objects, and the tones indicating players.
"I'll release the Snitch on three, you've got ten minutes! When you catch it, hold your hand up with the Snitch! One! Two! Three!"
Harry heard the fluttering tone of the Snitch that was released, the tones of the other players in the background. His broom, unlike others, had engravings on it to indicate which position he was to play. Harry pressed the one that was the Snitch as he kicked off, hearing the tone of the Snitch as it flew. He turned his broom to face it as he flew, hearing the tones of other players all around him, and one in front of him, who was closer to the Snitch than he was. A straight line was the fastest rout, but he realized the person in front of him had a slower broom. Grinning, Harry flew over the player and after the Snitch as it headed toward the tone indicating one of the goal posts. Harry reached toward the Snitch with his left hand, right still steering the broom, clasping the small, winged ball in his hand and holding it up.
"You're kidding!" Wood roared, sounding shocked. "Right Potter, let it go! Everyone wait thirty seconds before you go after it again!"
Harry let it go and flew high along with everyone else, listening for the unique tone of the Snitch. Wood told them all when to chase it again, but for now, the Snitch had disappeared, both from Harry's broom detecting it, and from everyone else seeing it. Now that he was actually competing in a sport, Harry felt a fierce desire to win, to become the Seeker. His heart pounded and the excitement of the thrill of catching the Snitch, flying so fast through the air, put a wide grin on his face.
As soon as Harry heard the tone of the Snitch, he raced after it on his broom. It was on the other side of the Pitch, though, and he could hear the tone of another player who was much closer to it. Harry accelerated, swerving through the players tones and trying to keep above them if at all possible. Being on the broom was a bit inconvenient, since he couldn't direct himself with as much freedom as he wanted, and he briefly wondered if a Quidditch player without a broom would be allowed. Harry was sure he could not only duplicate all the magic of the broom so he'd be aware of everything around him, but could fly faster than the broom was capable of, as it seemed limited compared to what he thought he could do.
Harry had caught up to the other player, who's tone was so close to the Snitch that Harry thought they might catch it. He, close to their broom, reached out and pushed it upward hard, and heard a girl's scream as she spun through the air. Laughing, Harry shouted as he chased the Snitch, "Better hold on tight!" Again, he was able to grab it.
"Now that's what I want to see!" Wood shouted, cackling wildly. "Let it go, Potter!"
Harry let the Snitch go and waited with the rest. When it appeared once again after Wood told them to go after it, it was close to another player and far from where Harry was. Harry started to chase it, but didn't catch it in time. Again, the Snitch was released, and when Harry heard it appear in the middle of the field, he raced toward it, though could hear others on either side of him flying as well, and some people on the other side of the field also approaching. From the tone's and their differences in pitch, steady to indicate players, Harry guessed he was heading toward about eight or nine people. He flew forward, closer to the Snitch and closer to the players, and as he grabbed the Snitch, he felt another hand try to grasp it even as he turned as hard as he could to the left and flew straight up, holding his hand up with the Snitch in it. Again, he released it, and again, he flew after it to try and catch it. Harry missed this time, though, but only by a rather close margin, as it was his hand grabbing for the Snitch after someone else had already caught it.
At the end of the ten minutes, it was a tie between he, and a fifth year girl named Lora Melborn. Wood called them all down and they landed, Lora handing Wood the Snitch.
"Harry, that was incredible!" Wood said cheerfully. "You and Lora flew like pros up there, that was great!"
"So, who's up first?" Harry asked, still grinning. "Me or Melborn?"
"Both." Wood said. "I want both of you to go after the Snitch for five minutes. Let it go for thirty seconds before you catch it again, I'll time and count, and whoever catches it the most will be the winner. Ready?"
"Ready." Lora said, fierce competitiveness in her voice. Any sign of fear about his flying was gone from her tone, and from Wood's as well, Harry realized with delight.
"Go!" Wood said, releasing the Snitch.
Harry kicked off hard, chasing the tiny Snitch with Lora trying to keep up. Her broom was slower than his, though, so Harry managed to catch it first that time. He let it go, and when Wood instructed them to go after it again, Harry waited to hear its tone before chasing it. He and Lora both went after it, and Harry followed it as it dove, getting closer and closer to the ground. Lora was able to keep up with him on the downward dive, and he could feel the tail of her broom almost touching his, but could also feel the increasing vibrations that indicated he was getting closer to the ground. He put himself flat on the broom for more maneuverability as he reached for the Snitch. Vaguely, he could hear shouts and people calling, but his focus was on the Snitch and its tone rather than what people were shouting. Harry grabbed the Snitch and pulled up hard on his broom handle, the vibrations he felt indicating he was almost touching the ground. In fact, Harry felt his toes brushing the ground as he pulled up, his heart pounding hard from the sheer thrill, and if he were to admit to himself, terror of the experience. Behind him, he heard Lora slam to the ground and cry out in pain, whirling around and landing, stumbling to her side.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
Lora cried out in pain again, then said in a trembling voice, "Broke my wrist... Really nice catch there, Harry..."
Harry was about to heal Lora with his magic, as he knew he could, but his conversation with Daphne came back to him. She'd wanted him to let people experience the consequences from their own actions, not have him help them all the time. He supposed he could see why, and since they'd both been competing to catch the Snitch, he realized the injuries were simply part of the game. Harry could hear someone running over to Lora as he held out his hand to her, she gripping it with her unbroken one, standing with his support.
"Thanks." She said, though was still gasping in pain.
"I'll get you to the hospital wing." Lora's friend said as Harry let go of her hand, dwelling for a moment on the strength of her grip.
"Thanks." Lora said. "Good job, Harry, play that well and we'll have the cup..."
"Harry Potter!" Wood was shouting as Harry heard him sprinting toward him. Harry had a moment to turn toward him before he was grabbed in a tight embrace, Wood pounding his back and ignoring him flinching, as he'd never liked that type of hug. "That! Was! Incredible!"
Harry was released, and as Lora was taken toward the castle, Wood shouted, "All right, team! Let's get up there and play, and we'll see how good Harry is with the Bludgers coming after him!"
Harry, after releasing the Snitch, kicked off with the other players and could hear their tones as they flew around. Fred and George were hitting the Bludgers with their bats, and apparently took to heart what he'd been trying to tell people throughout his Hogwarts years, that given the right accommodations, he could do anything on his own. They weren't showing him any mercy, and on top of listening for the tone of the Snitch, Harry found himself also listening for the warbling tones of the Bludgers as they were hit toward him. When Harry heard the Snitch, he found himself swerving to avoid the Bludgers as he flew toward the Snitch, and also had to deal with the other players flying to put the Quaffle through the goal posts. It would be a lot more challenging with another team on the Pitch, Harry thought, but his heart pounded with exhilaration as he chased the small winged ball and avoided the Bludgers, though he found himself presented with a small problem as he quickly approached the Snitch. He could hear a Bludger heading toward him from the tones of his broom, indicating it was behind him, and it was flying faster than his broom as he was diving down and it was falling straight. Harry reached out, grabbed the Snitch, and at the same moment, felt the Bludger slam into his left shoulder. He shouted in pain as his broom spun, and having no hands to control it as he couldn't move his left arm well, he spun out of control. Close to the ground, he felt his broom continuing to fall, and before he had time to do anything, his feet slammed into the ground and he tumbled from his broom, rolling on the ground with the Snitch caught in his hand. The pain in his left shoulder was rather intense, but to his great surprise, it seemed to leave with a strangely familiar magic, that of the flame of the phoenix and of his own magic combine, which sent a heat through his shoulder that was as burning hot as the pain had been. He was still rolling and tumbling on the ground, though, but when he stopped, he lay still, his heart thumping harder and faster than ever.
"Harry!" One of the women on the team was shouting. He didn't know who.
Carefully, and trembling hard, Harry pushed himself up to his feet and held up his hand with the Snitch within, showing it to the team. He could hardly stand with the amount of emotion and adrenaline pouring through his body, making his legs shake hard, though just as had happened before in Snape's classroom, he felt a phoenix note ring throughout his entire being, seeming to calm him with an unnatural quickness, his trembling calming within a few seconds, his heartbeat slowing down. Wood was shouting with a jubilant excitement, and as he flew toward him, Harry heard him screaming, "A Seeker that's got his priorities right! Snitch before life! Harry, you're on the team!" Privately, Harry thought Wood was quite fanatic, but the excitement and joy that he got from catching the Snitch, despite his injury that had healed itself using that strange phoenix magic that had come from within him, made him grin. He'd take a bit of fanaticism if he could be on the team and do that again. He loved it! If he'd not been quickly healed, though, he imagined that he probably wouldn't have enjoyed it nearly as much.
After the tryouts, there was some Quidditch training, which Harry enjoyed. The only thing missing, as usual, was Magic's presence with him, and if he could have that, it would be perfect. After a few hours, he went back inside and up to the tower. After climbing through the portrait hole, he banished his broom back into his trunk with a thought as he walked over to Magic, who stood, and just as he wanted, embraced him tight when he was within reaching distance. He grinned and hugged her back, enjoying her embrace as he leaned against her.
"Next time, come with me." Harry said. "They won't think you're helping me, then, and you'll be closer to me."
"Okay." Magic replied.
"I wish you could be on my broom with me, though." Harry said. "That would be fun, and I know you know how to fly as well as me."
"Yes." Magic stated.
Harry gently ran his fingers through Magic's hair and let out a sigh, feeling pure contentment, and for the moment, forgetting the mystery of the feel of his and the phoenix magic's combine to heal him without his direct intervention. Magic was with him, he'd be playing Quidditch, had made Tracey laugh, and all was right in the world.