Chapter Nine
The next day was a clear, bright day which Harry was pleased of. He and Draco were eating breakfast when Flint came over to them and sat down.
"How are you both feeling today?" he asked
"I'm fine, nervous but OK." Harry smiled.
Draco nodded, "Yeah I'm OK, nerves are normal after all. So which one of.." he looked green for a second, "Which one of us is playing?"
"Are you OK?" Harry asked his friend who was suddenly looking very ill.
Draco nodded and took another spoonful of porridge.
"Well I think..." Flint stopped suddenly and jumped.
Draco had stood up and thrown up all over the floor. He fell to his knees and continued to be sick covering the floor around him as people jumped out the way. Harry got up and moved round Draco's side.
Draco shook his head as Harry got close, "I'm OK." he breathed. Draco looked anything but OK. His face was almost see-through it was so pale.
Pansy and Daphne ran over, "We'll take him to Madam Pomfrey. She'll know what to do and what's wrong."
Despite Draco's complaints, Daphne and Pansy pulled him up between them and got him out the hall. Snape came over and flicked his wand, cleaning the floor and bench.
"Is Mr Malfoy all right?" he asked
"I don't know," Harry shrugged, "he was fine until he… wasn't."
"Well I'm sure it is simple a touch of stomach flu. Madam Pomfrey will have him right as rain in no time." Snape gave a tense smile and walked back to the teachers table.
Harry was now aware of the sniggers and laughs from the Gryffindor table. He balled his fists and took a few breaths.
"Well, Harry, I think you're going to have to play today. I'll see you down in changing rooms in half an hour." Flint said standing up and walking off.
Harry nodded and sat back down to quickly finish his breakfast. He looked over to where Draco had been sitting; the bowl of porridge was already gone, cleared away by the house elves. He wandered up to the hospital wing to see how Draco was doing but Madam Pomfrey said he was not allowed visitors right now.
So he headed down to the Quidditch pitch and got changed. His heart was racing at this point, as his nervousness grew. Severus was in the audience this time as well as all his friends, apart from Draco, although Neville would be cheering for Gryffindor.
Harry took his broom from the cupboard and stood in line next to Flint,
"Well Harry. Good luck out there," He turned to face all the team, "If we win this one by at least 70 points we'll be in the lead. We can do it. We've got better brooms and better players, we proved that in the last game. Harry this is your turn to shine. Everyone do their best."
They walked out, greeted with cheers and boos from the different houses.
"Well today we welcome you to the second game of the year!" Lee Jordan shouted though the speaker, "Today we welcome Daphne Greengrass, Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter to the Slytherin team, Greengrass is playing the new Beater and BOTH Potter and Malfoy are playing Seeker, not sure that's in the rules..."
"Jordan I'm warning you." Professor McGonagall snapped.
"But lets not get into that," Jordan said reluctantly, "The Slytherin team also all have brand new brooms which we wont get into either. Closer to the rules we welcome Ronald Weasley back as Gryffindor's Seeker."
"Jordan!"
"Sorry Professor."
Harry rolled his eyes and concentrated on the game. Madam Hooch walked into the field and opened the chest.
"Shake hands." She commanded.
Flint and Wood stepped forward and begrudgingly shook hands, both looking like they were trying to brake the other's fingers.
"Right; everyone into the air!" Madam Hooch commanded.
Harry kicked off and hovered opposite Ron. He glared at him nastily, backed up with his brothers. Harry ignored him, all he had to do was focus on the game not on the Weasleys.
He watched the two blugers take off, and soon after the small golden snitch was flitting around the air. Harry managed to follow it for a few seconds before it flew too high.
Madam Hooch blew the whistle and tossed the Quffle into the air. Higgs caught it quickly and passed it along. They scored their first goal within seconds.
Harry circled around the field, flying just higher than the stands, looking out for the snitch. A bluger came rather close and he dived out the way.
"Sorry Harry." Daphne grinned giving the bluger a good smack towards Ron.
They both watched in horror as the bluger turned around and headed back towards Harry.
"What?" Daphne said giving it another hard smack. She signalled to Bailey who flew over and helped her smack away the bluger that was yet again coming after Harry.
"Someone has messed with this thing!" Bailey said.
"Is that even possible?" Daphne asked.
"I'd say yes." Harry said as they smacked the bluger away yet again.
Harry spotted the snitch and tried to dive forward but was stopped when Daphne had to move in front of him to hit away the bluger. By the time she'd moved so had the snitch.
Flint called for a time out. Madam Hooch blew the whistle and Harry flew down.
"What's wrong with you two?" Flint asked, "stop hanging around Harry."
"Look." Daphne said pointing up, the bluger was hoovering above Harry unmoving.
"Someone's messed with it. It wont leave Harry alone, keeps aiming at him." Bailey said rubbing the back of his neck.
"We can't forfeit the game." Flint said.
"I'll manage." Harry said, "I can't catch the snitch with two people flying around me anyway so I'll just have to manage. I don't want to loose to Weasley."
"If you're sure." Flint said sceptically.
Harry nodded.
"Are you ready Mr Flint?" Madam Hooch asked.
They nodded and took off again.
Harry had a tough time of flying, keeping one eye out for the snitch and the other for the bluger. A few times he had to roll out the way leaving him stuck upside down till he was sure it was gone and able to roll back.
He could see Snape arguing with Dumbledore over, what he assumed was, how the bluger wouldn't leave him alone. He rolled out the way again, he could hear the bluger fly past his ear that time, it was only getting closer.
Then he saw it. The tiniest flash of gold. The snitch. He dived forward, ignoring the bluger that was closely following. Ron saw him dive and followed his line of sight to the same spot zooming forward.
Harry lent forward to get as much speed as he could. He pulled up to stop himself from hitting the ground and to follow the snitch which was darting along the ground. He hear the crunch before he felt it.
The bluger smashed into his leg and the pain surged through him. He let out a scream and slowed down, Ron didn't.
Harry took several deep breaths and did his best to ignore the pain. Leaning forward to speed up his fingers reached around the cool metal of the snitch and he fell to the ground. He rolled a few times and felt himself grow faint with the pain. His broom landing next to him. His leg at a strange angle which he decided it would be best not to look at.
The rest of the team landed as Slytherin house cheered loudly. Pansy and Neville rushed down from the stands as did Snape and soon he was surrounded by people.
"Don't worry Harry." Flint said. Harry looked behind them and saw Daphne and Bailey fighting the bluger back into it's box. It was still trying to get to Harry even after they'd won the game, 340-250.
There was a flash in Harry's face as Colin arrived with his camera, clicking away. Harry covered his face, still feeling like he was going to faint.
"Go away Colin." Daphne said, pushing the camera down, "He doesn't want a picture of this!"
"Oh Harry!" Lockhart shouted, "Give him room, give him room!"
People stepped backwards to let him through. He poked at Harry's leg and Harry let out a cry of pain.
"Well it's definitely broken!" he confirmed.
"That's not exactly a mystery!" Snape hissed, giving Lockhart a rather unflattering look.
Lockhart simply beamed, "Don't worry I'll fix it."
"No!" Harry shouted trying to move away from him, failing miserably, "No just take me to Madam Pomfrey. Not you! Anyone but you!"
"The poor boy is in so much pain he doesn't even know what he's taking about!" Professor Lockhart said, the smile never leaving his face. He took hold of Harry's shoulder and forced him to lie down. The pain made Harry black out again.
He woke to find his leg feeling strange, very strange. He sat up slowly; well at least it didn't hurt any more.
"What have you done to him?" Snape shouted, moving between Harry and Lockhart looking furious.
Harry looked down at his leg and felt like fainting again. It was slightly flat, misshapen and completely floppy. He couldn't move it at all, it just sat there.
"Yes well, the important thing is to remember, that there is no pain and that the bones are clearly not broken anymore!" Lockhart said, still some how managing to smile as he bent Harry's leg back on itself.
"Not broken!" Snape bellowed, Harry had rarely seen him so angry, "You've taken them all! You removed his bones!"
"Calm Severus." Dumbledore said finally making it down to the game grounds, "I suggest that you get Mr Potter to the hospital wing."
"Yes straight away!" Lockhart said, "I'll take him, leave it with me."
"I'll walk." Harry glared shuffling away from him.
Flint and Higgs managed to get Harry upright and to his feet, well foot, so he could hop along between them. He gave up shortly afterwards, when they were out of view from Lockhart, and let Severus levitate him to the hospital wing. Followed by the Slytherin team, Pansy and Neville.
They met Malfoy coming down the stairs and filled him in on what happened.
"That guy is a joke! Why on earth did Dumbledore ever hire him?" Draco spat turning around and coming with them.
Madam Pomfrey sighed loudly when they arrived. She flicked her wand and one of the hospital beds hurried over. They helped Harry on to it and wheeled it back into place.
"And what on earth do all of you think you're doing in here?" She asked looking at the rather large crowd of people.
"We want to stay with him." Pansy said as fiercely as she could while facing the stern medic.
"Miss Parkinson this is a hospital not a party room. The team need to get washed up and rest, Mr Malfoy should really do the same as he's only just been released." she huffed.
"What about the rest of us?" Hermione asked.
Madam Pomfrey took a deep breath, "One may stay, as well as Professor Snape although I suggest he at least goes and informs Potter's mother what's happened before Dumbledore does."
"Will you be OK if I leave for a little while Harry? I really should tell Lily and I need to speak to Madam Hooch as to how this could have happened." Severus said.
"Don't worry Dad. I'm in safe hands now." Harry smiled.
"Poppy, don't let Lockhart in here what ever he says." Severus told her.
Madam Pomfrey nodded and looked grave. She looked over to the three remaining students and rolled her eyes, "Well as Professor Snape has left I suppose all three of you may stay a while."
They smiled gratefully and each took a seat next to Harry's bed.
"What does it feel like?" Hermione asked, taking out a notebook to jot down his answer.
"Like I've got a large water filled rubber glove rather than a leg." Harry smirked.
Hermione rolled her eyes, "Anymore information? Details? I've never seen anything like this before."
Harry shook his head, "Sorry I can't think of another way to put it."
Madam Pomfrey came back over and drew the curtains around the bed, "You should have been brought straight to me. Fixing bones can be done in seconds but growing them back..." She clicked her tongue.
"Wait, it can be done, can't it?" Neville said suddenly.
"Of course it can be done." She said shaking her head, "But it's going to take time and be very painful for you Mr Potter, you're in for a rough night."
She gave him a pair of pyjamas and told him to change. Hermione and Pansy waited outside until Neville had to call them back into have them help stuff his jelly leg into the trousers. It wasn't easy.
Once he was changed Madam Pomfrey came back and looked over the leg again, "Well you've got full feeling that's the main thing. But the whole leg is gone, everything from your toes to your hip joint. Very messy spell."
Harry couldn't disagree with her there. Madam Pomfrey passed him a small cup of cream coloured potion from a large bottle called 'Skele-Gro'. Harry took a sip and almost spat it back out. It burned his mouth and down the back of his throat.
"Lovely." Harry spluttered.
"I told you it wouldn't be easy." Madam Pomfrey rolled her eyes, "Now drink up." She left muttering about idiotic teachers.
Harry managed to swallow the rest of the potion and let Neville, Hermione and Pansy help him drain a jug of water to try and get rid of the taste.
Severus arrived back soon after and sat with him, bringing a packet of small frog shaped cakes with fondant centres for them all to enjoy. It was about nine o'clock when Madam Pomfrey wanted them to leave.
"Mr Potter needs rest! He has thirty bones to regrow and he must try and get some sleep." she told them, "Even you Severus. I really must insist."
They very reluctantly left, reassuring Harry that they would be back as soon as they were allowed, in the morning.