A/N Thanks to all the reviews on the last chapter and anyone who has reviewed before! YAY, my Mocks are over! And I have a party tomorrow! And it's Work Experience next week! Happy Days! So, please review - and the other chapter is coming along nicely too, so it'll be up very soon as well! :) xx
Chapter Twelve
Friendships Broken
Amara did not realise that the friendship between Ron and Hermione could get torn down quite so harshly. Ron was furious that Hermione had let Crookshanks eat Scabbers, and that she had never taken it seriously, but Hermione was angry with Ron because he had no proof in accusing her cat of eating Scabbers, and that he had hated him ever since he jumped on his head in the pet shop.
Harry, meanwhile, had predictably sided by Ron, as he had pointed out to Hermione that Crookshanks had more than likely eaten him. Hermione was less than pleased, and now wouldn't talk to either of them.
Amara, however, was torn in the middle. Half of her wanted to say that Ron had all rights to be upset, because Crookshanks had wanted to eat him since forever, but her loyalty from Hermione and the fact that there was, actually, no proof made her stop and think. It was very tiring indeed, swapping between friends, and Amara was becoming more and more emotional as the days went by.
She normally stayed with Hermione in the library, slowly getting her work done and completed so she could spend time with Harry and Ron. It was very easy to start getting sick of the library, especially when Hermione was as stressed as she was. Whatever Amara seemed to say made her bubble over the edge, so Amara decided to just stay quiet, because she was either going to shout or burst into tears.
"Have you done the Ancient Runes translation?" Amara asked timidly in the library, where Hermione was scribbling away on a boring looking Muggle Studies project.
"What?" she snapped, not looking up. "Of course I've done it! It's due tomorrow!"
"Well, I was wondering if I could check if I got the same –" began Amara.
"No Amara! I've got enough on my plate without you coming along and interfering all the time! Just stop, okay?"
Amara was horrified to find tears springing up into her eyes.
"Oh, o-okay," she whispered and hastily got her things together. As she left the library, she was sad to find that Hermione had not even noticed.
With tears blurring her vision, she stumbled down to the last place at Hogwarts she felt welcome: Hagrid's hut.
She knocked on the door and Hagrid opened it, and looked startled to see Amara in such a state.
"Amara! C'mon, yeh better get in 'ere," he said, patting her on the shoulder and guiding her to an armchair. He sat on one himself. "Now, what's the mat'er?"
Sniffing, Amara began to speak. "I'm sorry, it's just that – that Ron and Harry are not speaking to Hermione again, and she keeps getting angry at me, when I'm just trying to stay with both groups. And I'm so worried too – what with Si-sirius Black and Hermione taking on so many subjects."
"Ah," said Hagrid. "I can see why you're upset. I doub' Hermione is meaning teh be mean, yeh know, she's jus' stressed. Bu' Harry and Ron aren't helping either."
Amara nodded.
"Tell yeh what, Amara, I'll speak to them both, is tha' alright? Hermione's been coming down a lot recently, yeh know, because of the Firebolt."
Amara stayed at Hagrid's for the remainder of the afternoon, and it still upset her that Hermione, Harry or Ron had not tried to find her.
-OOOOO-
The day of the match dawned bright. Harry was led down to breakfast with all the boys in his dormitory. They seemed to think that the Firebolt needed extra protection, as though someone would try and steal it as Harry was eating.
Amara was still slightly down at breakfast as she sat with the chattering Gryffindor Team and the other boys in her year. Her talk with Hagrid had cheered her up slightly, but not too much.
She did cheer up when she noticed the Slytherin Team's expressions, who all looked like they had been hit in the face with a bag of bricks.
Lots of people came up to see the Firebolt – Cedric Diggory, the handsome Hufflepuff boy, congratulated Harry and Penelope Clearwater, a Ravenclaw Prefect and Percy Weasley's girlfriend, asked to hold it. Piper and Flick also came over, deciding that just because Harry had a Firebolt, it didn't mean that they were guaranteed a win, which Ethan and Eddie quickly shot down, by saying the whole Gryffindor Team could be on Cleansweep Fives and they would still win, which made them very popular within the Team.
"You alright Amara," asked Fred as she went back to her bacon. "You seem down."
Amara looked up and saw the ginger haired twin looking at her with an uncharacteristically inquisitive expression. His usual mischief-filled brown eyes were concerned.
"Oh," said Amara and she flushed slightly, embarrassed that she had been noticed. "No – I – I'm fine." She smiled weakly and pretended to get into a conversation with Ethan.
After a while, three unwelcome guests had arrived at the Gryffindor Table.
"Sure you can manage that broom, Potter?" said a cold, drawling voice.
Draco Malfoy had arrived for a closer look, Crabbe and Coyle right behind him.
"Yeah, reckon so," said Harry casually.
"Got plenty of special features, hasn't it?" said Malfoy, eyes glittering maliciously. "Shame it doesn't come with a parachute-in case you get too near a Dementor."
Crabbe and Goyle sniggered.
"Pity you can't attach an extra arm to yours, Malfoy," said Harry. "Then it could catch the Snitch for you."
The Gryffindor team laughed loudly. Malfoy's pale eyes narrowed, and he stalked away. They watched him re-join the rest of the Slytherin team, who put their heads together, no doubt asking Malfoy whether Harry's broom really was a Firebolt.
Amara smirked and shook her head, then noticing Hermione eating by herself down the middle of the table, a heavy volume propped haphazardly onto a jug of milk and her mug of tea.
As eleven approached, Amara joined Ron, Neville, Dean, Seamus, Eddie and Ethan on their way down to the Quidditch Pitch, all supporting Gryffindor gear. Piper and Flick ran past the first-year boys, yelling at them, before sprinting off, giggling, towards the Ravenclaw Stands.
They all met up with the crowds in the stadium and they clapped loudly as the two teams met in the middle of the field.
"Wood, Davies, shake hands," Madam Hooch said briskly, and Wood shook hands with the Ravenclaw Captain, Roger Davies.
"Mount your brooms... on my whistle... three-two-one -"
Everyone immediately saw how amazing the Firebolt actually was. It moved so nicely, weaving through the air as though it was as light as a feather. It was very fast too – zooming past everyone on the field in a matter of seconds.
"They're off, and the big excitement this match is the Firebolt that Harry Potter is flying for Gryffindor. According to Which Broomstick, the Firebolt's going to be the broom of choice for the national teams at this year's World Championship -"
"Jordan, would you mind telling us what's going on in the match?" interrupted Professor McGonagall's voice. Lee Jordan, Fred and George's friend, was doing the commentary again. Amara always enjoyed it – he always went off topic.
"Right you are, Professor - just giving a bit of background information - the Firebolt, incidentally, has a built-in auto-brake and -"
"Jordan!"
"Okay, okay, Gryffindor in possession, Katie Bell of Gryffindor, is heading for the goal posts..."
Cho Chang, the Ravenclaw seeker that Amara only knew the name of because of Piper, was tailing Harry like a Bludger. She saw Harry accelerated fast and Cho fell behind, making Amara cheer. Just then, Katie scored a goal.
"And it's a goal for Gryffindor! And Angelina Johnson's in possession – dodges O'Connor, passes to Alicia and – oh – Ravenclaw now in possession, Chaser Jamison streaming through the Gryffindor Chasers – c'mon Gryffindor! – and he tried – but what's this? Harry Potter of Gryffindor, seems to have seen the snitch! Wow look at that Firebolt go! And Cho Chang is gaining slowly – she's no match for the Firebolt though – and he's ten metres away – can he – oooooh, unlucky Harry!" A Bludger had knocked Harry off course, meaning the Snitch had disappeared again.
Amara saw George venting his feelings by hitting the second Bludger directly at the offending Beater, who was forced to roll right over in midair to avoid it.
"Gryffindor leads by eighty points to zero, and look at that Firebolt go! Potter's really putting it through its paces now, see it turn-Chang's Comet is just no match for it, the Firebolt's precision balance is really noticeable in these long -"
"JORDAN! ARE YOU BEING PAID TO ADVERTISE FIREBOLTS? GET ON WITH THE COMMENTARY!"
Ravenclaw had now scored three goals, meaning they weren't far behind Gryffindor. With a jolt, Amara realised that if Cho Chang caught the snitch, Gryffindor would lose and not be in the running for the Quidditch Cup.
Harry seemed to accelerate speedily towards the goal posts, but Cho blocked him as he tried to get through.
"HARRY, THIS IS NO TIME TO BE A GENTLEMAN!" Wood roared as Harry swerved to avoid a collision. "KNOCK HER OFF HER BROOM IF YOU HAVE TO!"
Harry started rising upwards in the air, and Cho followed him.
"She's only tailing him!" yelled Amara over the crowd. "She's not even looking for the Snitch!"
"Bet Harry's going to show her up, though!" Ron yelled back.
Harry dived towards the ground, then immediately swerved back up, meaning Cho got flung downwards.
"And Harry Potter once again sees the Snitch – and Chang is gaining too – it's the race for – oh no!" Lee Jordan finished with a yell. Amara looked down and saw three dementors coming onto the pitch, looking up.
Harry plunged his hand into his robes, brought out his wand and yelled:
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!"
Something silvery, enormous and amazing shot out of the wand and went straight for the Dementors. It was some sort of animal, but in the confusion, Amara did not get to see which one.
Then, Madam Hooch's whistle sounded. Amara screamed with joy as the Gryffindor Team rammed into Harry and gave him a massice group hug. They all sped onto the ground quickly, joining the rest of the team.
"That's my boy!" Wood kept yelling. Alicia, Angelina, and Katie had all kissed Harry; the crowds joined them on the field and Amara jumped up and down in excitement.
"Yes!" Ron yelled. "Yes! Yes!"
"Well done!" screamed Amara, and hugged Fred, who was nearest, very tightly. "WE WON!"
Fred laughed loudly and hugged her back, both of them jumping up and down. The rest of the Team and Ron joined them in their massive hug and they all heaved with happy laughter.
"Good for you, Harry!" roared Seamus Finnigan.
"Ruddy brilliant!" boomed Hagrid over the heads of the milling Gryffindors.
Amara continued to congratulate the Gryffindor Team before Ron pulled her over to where Harry was standing with Professor Lupin.
On the ground was Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle and the horrible Marcus Flint, Slytherin Captain. They were all struggling to get out of the tall, black and hooded robes they had been wearing.
Amara and Ron nearly fell over laughing. Amara had tears streaming down her face as she laughed so much.
"Come on, Harry!" said George, fighting his way over. "Party! Gryffindor common room, now!"
"Right," said Harry, and Amara followed the rest of the Gryffindors back up to the Gryffindor Common Room, all her worries having been chased away.
They celebrated as though they had already won the Quidditch Cup – Fred and George reappeared with butterbeer, pumpkin fizz and Honeyduke sweets.
"How did you do that?" squealed Angelina Johnson as George started throwing Peppermint Toads into the crowd.
"With a little help from Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs," Fred muttered in Amara and Harry's ears. Fred winked at her before sauntering off.
Amara joined a crowd around Fred and George to cheer them on in their antics of juggling Butterbeer bottles.
Ron, who was next to her, suddenly said. "If Scabbers hadn't just been eaten, he could have had some of those Fudge Flies. He used to really like them -"
"Can't you give her a break?" Harry asked Ron quietly.
"No," said Ron flatly. "If she just acted like she was sorry-but she'll never admit she's wrong, Hermione. She's still acting like Scabbers has gone on vacation or something."
Amara saw that Hermione had gone up into the Dormitories, so Amara went to check on her.
"Hermione?" asked Amara, closing the door, muffling the noise of the parties.
"What?" sniffed a voice from Hermione's bed.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," she sniffed.
"You can't possibly be reading that," said Amara, noticing the book in her hands.
"I have to, Amara!" snapped Hermione. "Because I care about my marks and want to do the best I can! So no I am not going to drop a subject and yes I am reading this! Now go away! All you do is distract me!"
Amara felt her eyes tearing up yet again, and she angrily brushed them away. She knew that her temper had bubbled over.
"Fine!" she snapped. "Fine, I won't come and see if you're alright in the future because I see you crying and I'm being a nice friend. But considering that I DON'T CARE, about my marks, I'll stop talking to you! Because that's obviously what you want! And just so you know Crookshanks probably did eat Scabbers because he's been trying to ALL YEAR!"
And with that, she stormed away, through the crowds of people and out of the Common Room. Luckily, it was still only seven thirty, so she still had half an hour until curfew, and wouldn't be told off. She ran down the steps, her footsteps slapping along and she went into an abandoned classroom on the fourth floor.
"Amara?"
Amara jumped so much she fell over and hit her elbow on the floor. This made her cry even more and the voice sounded panicked.
"Oh – oh Merlin – oh shit – I'm sorry 'Mara!" came the voice of Fred Weasley. He appeared in front of her.
"What are you doing here?" hiccuped Amara, clutching her elbow.
"I – er – I saw you leaving," he said sheepishly. "Is your elbow alright?"
Amara sniffed and nodded.
"What's the matter, Amara?" asked Fred, sitting down beside her.
"No – nothing," said Amara, unconvincingly.
"Right, because you just cry on a regular basis at Gryffindor parties?"
Amara hiccup-laughed. "It's just – just, Hermione and Harry and Ron."
"Right," said Fred. "Is this about Scabbers?"
"Yeah, and I'm trying to be friendly too both of them but Hermione keeps snapping and so I yelled at her and I bet she'll never want to be my friend again!"
Amara dissolved into tears once more, embarrassment flowing through her as she realised the state she was in.
Fred sat awkwardly at the side before giving her a warm hug. Amara gave in and hugged him back, sniffling into his jumper.
"We better get you back," said Fred. "It's nearly eight o'clock. D'you want to go back to the party?"
Amara nodded. "It'll keep my mind off it, I guess. Do I look alright?"
"You look fabulous, Mattie," grinned Fred, winking his usual wink. "As always."
-OOOOO-
Amara did not get to bed until one o'clock, and that was only because Professor McGonagall insisted that they went to bed, because the party had gone on for so long. Hermione's curtains were closed when Amara went up, and she did not try to do anything.
Amara fell into an uneasy sleep, filled with lots of books trying to attack her. Wherever she went, they followed, yelling at her in what seemed to be like in a Hermione and Ron voice. And when she tried to get help from a firework, who sounded like Fred, it exploded and flew away.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGHHHHH! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
The muffled sounds of screaming jolted her awake. She opened her eyes in the fuzzy light, her hands outstretched in front of her helplessly.
"What was that?" she said instead, listening to the sounds of Lavender, Parvati, Sophie and Hermione moving too. Finally she was able to rip the curtains apart and she heard thumping on the stairs and doors slamming.
"What's happened?" Lavender said fearfully as they all got out of bed and went down the stairs to have a look. Lots of other girls were down there as well, along with boys from the other dorms.
"Who shouted?"
"What're you doing?"
The common room was lit with the glow of the dying fire, still littered with the debris from the party.
"Are you sure you weren't dreaming, Ron?"
"I'm telling you, I saw him!"
"What's all the noise?"
"Professor McGonagall told us to go to bed!"
Amara stood there in confusion before heading over to where Harry and Ron were standing.
"Excellent, are we carrying on?" said Fred brightly, somehow looking normal, eventhough they'd been in bed for two hours.
"Everyone back upstairs!" said Percy, hurrying into the common room and pinning his Head Boy badge to his pyjamas as he spoke.
"Perce - Sirius Black!" said Ron faintly. "In our dormitory! With a knife! Woke me up!"
The common room went very still. Amara's heart thudded inside her chest. Sirius Black with a knife! He'd tried to kill Ron!
"Nonsense!" said Percy, looking startled. "You had too much to eat, Ron - had a nightmare -"
"I'm telling you -"
"Now, really, enough's enough!"
Professor McGonagall was back. She slammed the portrait behind her as she entered the common room and stared furiously around.
"I am delighted that Gryffindor won the match, but this is getting ridiculous! Percy, I expected better of you!"
"I certainly didn't authorize this, Professor!" said Percy, puffing himself up indignantly. "I was just telling them all to get back to bed! My brother Ron here had a nightmare -"
"IT WASN'T A NIGHTMARE!" Ron yelled. "PROFESSOR, I WOKE UP, AND SIRIUS BLACK WAS STANDING OVER ME, HOLDING A KNIFE!"
Professor McGonagall stared at him.
"Don't be ridiculous, Weasley, how could he possibly have gotten through the portrait hole?"
"Ask him!" said Ron, pointing a shaking finger at the back of Sir Cadogan's picture. "Ask him if he saw -"
Glaring suspiciously at Ron, Professor McGonagall pushed the Portrait back open and went outside. The whole common room listened with bated breath. "Sir Cadogan, did you just let a man enter Gryffindor Tower?"
"Certainly, good lady!" cried Sir Cadogan.
There was a stunned silence, both inside and outside the common room. Amara gaped as Professor McGonagall spoke again.
"You-you did?" said Professor McGonagall. "But-but the password!"
"He had 'em!" said Sir Cadogan proudly. "Had the whole week's, my lady! Read 'em off a little piece of paper!"
Professor McGonagall pulled herself back through the portrait hole to face the stunned crowd. She was white as chalk.
"Which person," she said, her voice shaking, "which abysmally foolish person wrote down this week's passwords and left them lying around?"
There was utter silence, broken by the smallest of terrified squeaks. Neville Longbottom, trembling from head to fluffy slippered toes, raised his hand slowly into the air.