Author's Note: No matter how many times I click my heels together and wish I were J.K Rowling, it isn't gonna happen. Stinks, I know.
Chapter 10 A Game to Remember
For the next few days, all anybody talked about was Sirius Black. She and her friends had talked about what they heard from their midnight eavesdropping. Apparently, Snape thought that Lupin was helping Black into the castle, but why?
"He's probably just blaming Professor Lupin for anything," said Alex when they talked in the privacy of their common room after the attack. Although the Fat Lady refused to return to her post, another portrait bravely took her place…even though he was rather annoying.
"Still, that's a pretty strong accusation," Hermione said worriedly, "Why would he say something like that without proof?"
"Come off it, Hermione!" cried Ron, "You don't honestly think Lupin wants Harry and Alex dead, do you?"
"He was friends with our parents," added Harry while Hermione rolled her eyes.
"I'm just saying that Snape must have a reason as to why he thinks Professor Lupin would help Black into the castle."
Alex sighed and closed her eyes, trying to block out the bickering between Ron and Hermione. She was exhausted from her day of class. All day, she felt the teachers watching her and they all (except for Snape that is) found excuses to walk with her to the next class. When it was with Professor Lupin or Hagrid, Alex didn't mind so much because they were great to talk to. However, when Professor McGonagall walked with her and her friends, it was more like a funeral procession than a stroll to her next class.
A few days after the attack, Alex was walking down to the pitch with Harry and the rest of the Gryffindor Quidditch team with a book under her arm one evening. She enjoyed watching the team practice while she read about dementors. Ever since the attack, Alex spent all her free time reading up on those depressing creatures and trying to find out how to fight them off.
"Ratcliff, Potter, may I have a word?" It was Professor McGonagall, striding toward the team and Alex. "Where are you going?"
"Quidditch practice, Professor," said Harry, "Alex is coming along."
"I do not think it is a good idea for the two of you to go out alone," she said sternly, "I think I should tell you, Black-"
"-is looking for us," Harry finished.
"We heard Mr. Weasley telling Mrs. Weasley," explained Alex seeing McGonagall's confusion.
"Well then, you see why I think you two should stay inside the castle."
"But Professor McGonagall," Oliver Wood, the seventh year captain, said in outrage, "We need to train! We have a match against Slytherin in a few weeks!"
"Please Professor," Alex said, "We can't let Black ruin our lives, that's what he would want to happen."
"Not to mention," Fred added, "If we don't train with our Seeker, it'll hurt our chances of winning the Quidditch Cup."
"Very well," McGonagall said reluctantly. She, more than anyone, wanted her house to finally win the Cup. "But I will have Madame Hooch watch your practices."
So, for the next practices, Alex read while Madame Hooch watched the Gryffindor team practice. At the beginning of one practice, Alex asked Harry if she could try his broom. He said yes and at the end, Alex hopped over the barrier and practically sprinted toward Harry and his Nimbus 2000.
"Now push off lightly, this thing has a lot of power," Harry told her.
Alex nodded and kicked off, flying high up in the air. She felt wonderful and free, ready to take on anyone or anything. She took off around the stadium, diving here and flipping there. She didn't realize how long she had been up there until she looked down and saw a small crowd on the ground. She dove down and hopped off, breathless with excitement. Harry was talking to Wood, who was grinning widely.
"That was great Alex!" Angelina Johnson said, "You're a natural! Where did you learn to fly like that?"
"I didn't learn, except for flying lessons in first year. My uncle doesn't own a broom," Alex said sheepishly.
"You're a very excellent flyer," said Wood, "When I leave, there just might be a spot on this team with your name on it."
"Thanks," said Alex, handing Harry's broom back, "We should probably get inside, it looks like it's going to start pouring."
She couldn't have been more right. For the next week, it was a non-stop downpour. All the third year's Care of Magical Creatures and Herbology classes were cancelled due to the flooding. Alex used this time to practice the spell she finally found that could fight off a dementor.
It was a very complicated spell because you needed more than the words for it to work, you needed a happy memory. Alex spent hours saying the spell and using different memories she wrote down. She was practicing this spell when Wood barged into the common room, fuming.
"Expecto Patronum!" Alex said aloud with her eyes closed tight in concentration, "Expecto-"
"TEAM! Huddle!" shouted Wood.
Alex's eyes snapped open and were flaming, looking for the one who broke her concentration. Wood gathered his teammates right by Alex, so she heard everything they said.
"Slytherin isn't playing against us on Saturday," the captain spat, "They say their Seeker is still recovering."
"There's nothing wrong with Malfoy's arm," Harry said angrily, "He's faking it to get Hagrid in trouble."
"I know," said Wood wearily, "So we're playing Hufflepuff, who play a totally different game."
"Don't worry Wood," Katie Bell said encouragingly, "It's Thursday, we'll be fine."
"No, this is how I thought you'd take it! We need to train harder that ever! Be back here at seven, ready for a tough practice!"
He stomped off and Harry sat next to Alex, shaking his head.
"Sometimes he scares the heck out of me," he said as he pulled out his homework.
"He's just annoyed," Alex said as she pulled out the books she didn't need and put her bag over her shoulder, "I've got to get to Arithmancy, see you at seven."
"You're coming?" Harry asked with raised eyebrows, "It's absolutely dreadful out. I don't even want to go to practice."
"It gives me an excuse to be outside without McGonagall breathing down my neck," said Alex as she went to the portrait hole, "It's only rain, I love the rain."
She waved and went to her class. She was the second to arrive and rolled her eyes. Malfoy's arm was still wrapped up and in a sling, making the arm entirely useless.
"You should be on Broadway," Alex said coldly as she sat down.
"On what?" Malfoy asked confusedly.
"It's a place in New York that's famous for its plays," explained Alex impatiently, "You'd be a perfect actor and a great coward."
"What are you saying?"
"You don't want to play against us in the match on Saturday because it's drizzling outside!" At this, there was a clap of thunder that made the tables rattle.
"Oh yes, just a light rainfall," Malfoy chortled.
"Well it won't matter because we'll still kick your slimly Slytherin-"
Just then the rest of the class came in. Hermione and Ernie sat down at their table and class began.
Very late that night, Alex and Harry came in soaked through and went straight to bed. The next morning, Alex fell asleep in her cereal. Ron had to shake her for a whole minute before she jerked awake.
"Who dat?" she said, looking wildly around as she wiped bits of Cheerios off her face.
"You fell asleep," Hermione said, "Because you went to bed so late last night. I told you not to go to that practice, you're not even on the team."
Wood came up then and began talking to Harry about tactics. This was only the beginning, however. All day, whenever Alex was with Harry, Wood was giving him pointers. She could tell Harry appreciated the extra help, but was getting annoyed with being talked to all the time.
Alex was walking by herself from Arithmancy to Defense Against the Dark Arts, Hermione had run off without her and she avoided running into teachers because she wanted the time for herself. She turned the corner and saw a blonde-haired girl lying on the floor.
"Hey, you okay?" Alex said, running toward her. Alex turned the girl over and saw it was Katie Bell, her eyes closed. "Katie, wake up Katie! Oh crap, I need to get you to the Hospital Wing."
She tried to pick the Gryffindor Chaser up, but she was too heavy. Alex bent down and felt for a pulse, breathing a sigh of relief when she felt one.
"What happened?" Fred's voice came, making Alex look up and see both Weasley twins dashing to her and Katie.
"I found her like this. I can't wake her and she's too heavy for me to carry her to the Hospital Wing," Alex explained.
Fred bent over his teammate and got her to a standing position. He and George took an arm and carried her, Alex leading the way. They reached the Hospital Wing and Madame Pomfrey looked Katie over.
"She's been hit by a curse, none of you saw what it was?" the matron asked. Alex shook her head and the older woman sighed, "Then it will take two to three says to heal her."
"But Madame Pomfrey," George said, "We have a match Saturday morning!"
"There's nothing I can do, I'll try my best but I'm sorry. I'll write you three a pass, you're ten minutes late for class."
The three Gryffindors left the Hospital Wing in low spirits. Fred and George nodded and went left while Alex sprinted right. She knew Professor Lupin wouldn't mind her being late with a pass, but they were going to start a new creature today and she didn't want to miss it. As she raced toward the doors, she saw Harry running too.
"Wood," he said and Alex nodded in understanding. Wood had kept Harry late with his talking.
"I'll tell you my excuse later, but it's not looking good for you guys on Saturday." Alex said and burst through the door saying, "Sorry Professor Lupin, I had to-"
The teacher at the front of the class was not Lupin, but Snape. Alex stopped and looked around the class, every face ranging from confusion to suspicion. She handed Snape her pass and sat down next to Hermione and behind Ron and Harry.
"Five points each from Gryffindor," said Snape with an evil smile.
"I had a pass!" Alex exclaimed.
"Ten points from Gryffindor for talking out of turn. You and Potter disturbed my class, Miss Ratcliff. Now, as I was saying, Professor Lupin is sick today and I will be covering for him."
Ron snuck a look behind him towards the girls that read, "Bet you ten to one he poisoned him."
"Five points from Gryffindor, Mr. Weasley turn around. You can talk to your girlfriends after class. Professor Lupin has not left any record of what you have completed, so I'd like to start with," he turned to the back of the book, "Werewolves."
"But sir," Hermione said, "We just finished kappas and hinkeypunks."
"Another five points from Gryffindor, Miss Granger, for interrupting me. Now, who can tell me how to spot the difference between a fully transformed werewolf and a regular wolf?"
Hermione was the only one to raise her hand. Alex crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair, glaring daggers at Snape. How were they supposed to know that off the top of their heads? Alex had read about werewolves, but during the summer. She just had a good memory.
"No one? This is a disappointment," said Snape, his lip curling.
"Please sir," Hermione blurted, "A werewolf's snout is-"
"I believe I didn't call on you Miss Granger. Five points from Gryffindor for being an insufferable know-it-all."
Alex slammed her quill on the desk and made to stand up, but a red-faced Hermione held her back.
"Let me at him and I'll curse him where the sun doesn't shine," Alex whispered angrily.
"Why did you ask the question if you didn't want an answer?" Ron asked furiously.
The class, who had been muttering, went as silent as death. Snape's face went white with anger.
"Detention Weasley. Turn to page three hundred and ninety-four and begin outlining…NOW!"
The only sounds were that of quills scratching on parchment, pages turning, and Snape brutally commenting Lupin's and the students' work. When he came to Alex, he was merciless.
"Professor Lupin gave you full credit for this? I wouldn't have given it even half credit!"
"But Professor Lupin teaches this class, not you sir," Alex said quietly so only Snape could hear as she shook with anger. She didn't care that she received detention for that night at seven thirty.
When the bell rang, Snape told them they had to write a three foot essay on the lunar cycle and werewolves. Ron was held back to discuss his detention. Alex stormed out of the room and, once the door was closed and Ron came out, began cursing Snape.
"That and more, Alex," said Ron heatedly, "He's making me clean all the bedpans in the Hospital Wing…without magic!"
"Oh Harry, be sure you're nowhere near Wood when he finds out about Katie," Alex said as she remembered why she was late in the first place.
"What happened to Katie?" Harry asked hurriedly.
"She was attacked by someone and won't be able to play in the match," Alex said gloomily, "I found her when I was going to class, that's why I was late."
"Oh no," Harry groaned, "Wood'll be ready to commit suicide."
Wood found out by George and didn't try to kill himself, but was pale and in a trance-like state all day. That night, he gathered his teammates and gave them a pep talk, without any pep. Alex stopped by as she went to her detention.
"I'm really sorry guys," she said sadly, "You've been working so hard in your practices, I thought you'd win for sure. Bye Harry, I'm off to the Potion's lair."
She had just closed the portrait and was walking when she heard a stampede of feet and voices screaming her name. She turned and saw the Gryffindor team running after her.
"Alex…would you be willing…to play with us…tomorrow?" Harry asked as he caught his breath.
"You're joking," Alex laughed. Seeing no one else was doing the same, she continued, "I'm not on the team, I don't have a broom or robes, and I've never played a game in my life. You can't be serious!"
"You're right, we're not mass murderers," George said with a smile.
"We can lend you Katie's robes and broom," Alicia Spinnet suggested, throwing George a look and shaking her head at his joke, "We'll have to shrink them a little in the arms."
"And she rides a Nimbus 2000, just like Harry," Fred said, "We can say you're our relief Chaser."
"But I-"
"Please Alex," Wood said almost pleadingly, "I couldn't stand having to forfeit. Do it for us, for your fellow housemates."
She bit her lip and nodded. The team let out cheers and Wood actually hugged Alex. They agreed to meet on the pitch at eight forty-five so Alex could still do her detention. Remembering her detention, she sprinted off to the dungeons and arrived in Snape's office just in time. Snape didn't even acknowledge her until she cleared her throat loudly.
"Your detention is to clean those two cauldrons without magic," said Snape in a bored voice.
Alex nodded and thought it could have been worse. Since her uncle was always busy at work, Alex did all the cleaning around the mansion. She was very used to scrubbing and bending.
She took a sponge and a bucket, filling it with soap and water. The cauldrons came up to Alex's hip and were very wide. She sighed and got to work. Whatever the potion that was in the cauldrons before left a slimy residue and an awful odor. When Alex finally finished, she was tired, sore, and light-headed from the smell. She cleaned out her bucket and sponge and set it on the floor by Snape's desk.
"I finished sir," said Alex, checking her watch and seeing it was eight forty. She still had time to go to the common room and get her cloak before practice. When he didn't answer, Alex went to leave.
"I don't think I said you could go, Miss Ratcliff. Sit down," Snape said, gesturing to a hard wooden chair.
Restraining the urge to groan, Alex sat down and fiddled with her locket impatiently.
"Have you given any thought on what the Headmaster mentioned last year?" Snape asked.
Alex thought back to when she had been in Dumbledore's office, thinking she was going to be expelled when he offered to teach her advanced magic. She hadn't had much time to consider it.
"A little sir," she answered slowly, "What kind of stuff would Professor Dumbledore teach me?"
"Advanced level verbal and non-verbal spells. However, I will be teaching you. The Headmaster is much too busy to teach you."
"No."
"No what?"
"I don't want to do it," Alex said, "I can learn those by myself." She didn't mention she couldn't stand having to spend more time with Snape than necessary.
"This is an opportunity that most students would be begging to have," Snape said coldly.
"Then offer it to them," Alex said, standing up, "I believe I've finished my detention, professor. Am I free to go?"
"You're just like your mother," Snape spat, "You are given a once in a lifetime opportunity and you turn your nose up at it."
"Do not say that about my mother," said Alex furiously, "Just because you didn't like her doesn't mean you need to take it out on me! I'm not her, no matter how much I look like her!"
"Prove yourself, be a Gryffindor and don't be a coward!" said Snape with a sneer.
"I don't have to prove myself to you. Good evening, sir."
Alex reached for the door when it happened. Images flashed before her eyes: her first time on a horse; her grandparents' shocked, dead faces; the Sorting Hat on the stool; Fluffy; the Basilisk's eye in the mirror; Buckbeak. All of this with her mother's screams in the background. Then it was like a large metal door slammed shut and the flow of images stopped. Alex pulled out her wand and shouted, "Petrificus Totalus!"
Snape's arms and legs snapped together and he fell to the ground. Alex stepped over him and ran to the pitch without her cloak.
…...
It was almost midnight when the team plus Alex climbed into their beds. She tossed and turned and slept fitfully. Alex woke with a start, thinking she missed the match. She looked at the clock and sighed with relief and annoyance. It was five o' clock on a Saturday. Usually Alex didn't wake up until nine on weekends. Quietly, Alex crept into the bathroom and got ready, pushing her hair out of her face and pulling on her Quidditch robes. She stared at herself in the mirror, listening to the rain come down and felt sick to her stomach.
"Oh Merlin," Alex said as she sat on the toilet seat, "What am I getting myself into?"
She left the bathroom, picked up her sketchbook, and pulled the curtains around her bed closed. Alex flipped to her first drawing and stared at it. Professor Lupin was sleeping peacefully on a chair in the glow of the moonlight. She took her pencil, her preferred drawing tool, and fixed the shading. She did this until she heard her roommates stirring, and them she left the dormitory and went to the Great Hall.
The rest of the team was eating when Alex came and sat with Harry and the Weasley twins. She now knew how Harry felt when he had his first match two years ago.
"First game nerves?" George asked as a flash of lightning lit up the hall. Alex nodded, fearing she'd vomit over the food if she opened her mouth.
"Relax Alex," Alicia said gently, "You were great in practice last night."
"And it's Hufflepuff," said Fred, "Not exactly the Bulgarians were playing."
"I mean, really? What exactly is a Hufflepuff anyway?" George asked in an attempt to cheer Alex up.
Still, Alex's usually tan face was pale and she only nibbled on a piece of toast. She didn't feel any better when Malfoy saw her in the Gryffindor team robes and shouted, "Hey Ratcliff! Fly near us and you can be our lightning rod!" She didn't even make a nasty retort.
Ron and Hermione came to wish Alex luck as she left the castle. Hermione gave handed her a worn-out photograph saying, "You don't need to worry, Quidditch is in your blood. I found this in the library."
Alex looked at it and saw that it was a photo of an old Quidditch team. She looked closer and saw her mother with a beater's bat in hand, waving with the other. She also saw Harry's dad and the dark-haired wizard she had seen in other photos. Alex hugged her best friend and ran after the rest of the team, feeling better than she had before.
In the changing room, Angelina and Alicia fixed Katie' robes to fit Alex's tall, skinny frame. She took Katie's broom with shaking hands and went to the locker room where the boys were waiting for them. Usually, Wood would give a pre-game talk, but he tried several times and couldn't form words. Alex heard the sound of hundreds of hands clapping and the team filed out. Just before they were outside Alex stopped, frozen with the sudden realization of what she was doing.
"Come on there," Fred said as he led her into the rain.
"We'll make sure the Bludgers don't hit you," George shouted over the howling winds and pouring rain.
Alex put her hand in the inside pocket of her robes and felt her wand and locket. Gritting her teeth, she kicked off the ground and flew around the stadium with her team, just barely hearing Lee Jordan's commentary.
"AND THERE'S THE GLORIOUS GRYFFINDORS! WOOD, JOHNSON, SPINET, WEASLEY, WEASLEY, POTTER, AND, THE NEW RELIEF CHASER, RATCLIFF! I'M SURE ALL THE GRYFFINDORS ARE HOPING KATIE BELL GETS BETTER SOON, BUT I'M TOLD RATCLIFF IS AN EXCELLENT FLYER! MAKE SOME NOISE FOR HER!"
The entire stadium roared with applause and cheers from the crowd of red and gold. Alex smiled and did a flip, resulting in more cheers.
"AND THE OTHER TEAM, GIVE IT UP FOR THE HONEST HUFFLEPUFFS! DIGGORY-"
But Alex didn't hear the rest because of a loud, long thunder roll. However, she saw Madame Hooch in the center of the field. Alex glided over and watched as the Snitch and Bludgers were released. Then the moment came, Madame Hooch threw up the Quaffle and Alex shot like a bullet at it, grabbing it first and passing it to Angelina, who shot it back and Alex sped to the goal post, dodging players and Bludgers. The Keeper flew up to meet her, but Alex was grinning mischievously. She got into a standing position on her broom, jumped over the shocked Keeper, scored the goal, and landed on her broom and sped away, slipping a little as she did.
"Careful Alex!" Harry shouted over the cheers.
"Careful's my middle name!" she yelled back and punched the air.
"WOW!" Lee's voice came as the crowd went nuts, "DID YOU SEE THAT? WHAT A NATURAL! GRYFFINDOR IS AHEAD BY TEN! WAY TO GO ALEX!"
The game continued for another ten minutes, Hufflepuff scoring three more times, and then Wood called a timeout. As Alex went down, she saw a large black dog at the top of the stands.
"Orion?" she whispered.
"Come on Alex!" Wood shouted under a cover and Alex quickly joined her teammates, "We're doing all right, but were still losing by twenty points. Harry, try to catch that Snitch soon so we can get out of this weather. I almost got fried during that last lightning strike.
"I can't see anything in this rain," said Harry as he wiped his glasses.
"I think I can help."
They looked and saw Hermione in a poncho and soaking. She took Harry's glasses and tapped her wand against them saying, "Impervius!"
"There Harry, that should help. It repels water," Hermione said, handing back the glasses. Alex grinned widely and watched as Hermione left.
"All right team, let's go," Wood said with a maniac gleam in his eyes, "And try not to kill yourself, Alex. We don't have a relief Chaser for our relief Chaser."
"Don't worry Oliver," she said, "You just concentrate on not becoming the human barbeque."
They went out onto the field and Alex looked in the top row. The dog was gone, but she could have sworn the big dog was her Orion.
That's impossible, she thought, shaking her head to clear her thoughts and rainwater, Orion's at home with Uncle Monty.
The game continued and the Hufflepuff Beaters came in with a vengeance. They seemed to target Alex the most, forcing her to dive away and miss passes and shots.
Alex just scored a goal and was flying toward the center when the crowd's noise died. Then Alex felt cold and lonely and she looked down, gasping. At least twenty dementors were on the ground, looking up at her. She dove closer to the ground and pulled out her wand. She thought about seeing Hogwarts for the first time.
"Expecto Patronum!" she cried.
A shinny mist came from her wand and disappeared quickly. Alex felt all hope draining and then she heard a man's voice.
"Alana, get out of here with Alex! Go now!"
"You can't do this, David!" Alex heard her mother saying, "You can't fight him!"
"There's no time! Just go, Alana. Take Alex and get out!"
There was the sound of feet running and a loud bang, and then the worst sound in the world for Alex.
"Avada Kedavra!" a high, cold voice said and laughed.
"No," Alex whispered as she wiped tears from her eyes, "Think of a happy memory."
She thought of when Orion and she danced at the studio together. Letting the happiness fill her up, she pointed her wand and shouted, "Expecto Patronum!"
A bright light came out of her wand and a four-legged animal formed and charged at the dementors. Before Alex could see what it was, the world went dark.
Author's Note: Another chapter completed! Did you know that we are more than half way done this story? There are nineteen chapters. Don't worry, a lot happens between now and then. So what did you think? Did you enjoy Alex's chance to play Quidditch? How about my AVPM reference? I hope you all caught on to that if you've seen the musical. ;)
Thank you to all who reviewed, added me to their favorites, and put me on alert. You guys are amazing and deserve to be recognized for it. If you haven't reviewed, don't be shy! I love hearing from my readers. Let me know what you thought of this! :D