Bludger Injuries: Part 1
Summary: Harry gets hit with a Bludger in Third Year and Lily takes care of him.
AN: This is a redo of the Gryffindor/Hufflepuff match. This contains information both from the movie and the book.
The morning of the first Quidditch match was dreary and gray. The weather had worsened steadily over the last week as Saturday drew nearer. There was no chance that the match would be rescheduled due to the weather. The wind and the rain were going to make the day's match an interesting one and Harry imagined that Lily and Madam Pomfrey were preparing the hospital wing for sick students from being out in the rain all day, which is how long the match might be in this kind of weather.
It was still dark outside when Harry woke up. At first, he thought the roaring of the wind had woken him. But instead, it was the rumble of the thunder in the distance. Harry glanced out the window, wincing at each lightning strike and thunder boom. He wished for a second he was down in Lily's quarters and not here in Gryffindor tower.
He was slowly, but surely getting over his fear of thunder and lightning, if by a little bit. Enough that he didn't need to jump and hide under the covers like he used to.
Harry reached over and fumbled for his alarm clock, this one was a digital one with glowing numbers. Lily had bought it for him when they went shopping to redo Harry's bedroom, last summer.
The clock said it was four-thirty. Harry groaned and rolled over, trying to get back to sleep. But since he was awake now, it was difficult to go back to sleep, especially with the thunder rumbling overhead, the wind pounding against the castle walls, and the distant creaking of the trees in the Forbidden Forest.
In a few short hours, he would be out on the Quidditch pitch, battling the elements. They would be playing Hufflepuff today, as Draco had gotten hurt when he didn't listen to Hagrid's instructions on his lesson regarding Buckbeak the Hippogriff. Harry had shown James his memories of the lesson so James could show the board what exactly happened when Lucius Malfoy complained to the board.
Needless to say, he was furious his plans had been deflated.
Sighing, Harry made a decision. He got up and slipped on his trainers and made a note for Ron and laid it on his nightstand, hoping he would see it in the morning. With that job done, Harry walked quietly out of the dormitory.
The noise of the storm was even louder in the common room. Harry knew better than to think the match would be canceled. Quidditch matches weren't called off for things such as a thunderstorm.
But as the time for the match approached, the more nervous Harry felt. Oliver had pointed out Cedric Diggory to him in the corridor. He was the Hufflepuff seeker, a fifth year, and a lot bigger than Harry. He knew that Seekers were usually light and speedy, but Cedric's weight would be an advantage to him in this weather, as he would be less likely to be blown off course.
Harry approached the portrait hole and headed down to Lily's quarters. He had left his broom there after the last practice and would need to get it.
When he reached the first floor, he walked the now familiar pathway to Lily's quarters. He pushed open the portrait of Helga the nurse and went into Lily's bedroom instead of his own. Harry climbed in beside Lily and slide under the covers.
"Harry? What's wrong?" Lily asked whispering and her voice thick of sleep.
"The storm woke me up and I couldn't get back to sleep."
He didn't jump when Lily wrapped her arm around him and snuggled him to her. It didn't take long for Harry to fall asleep. The next two hours, Harry slept soundly beside Lily until her alarm went off, which she turned off quickly as to not wake him. She let him sleep for another hour before she woke him up.
He went to the bathroom and then to his bedroom to change clothes. When breakfast started, Harry walked down with Lily, only he went to the Gryffindor table.
He had just sat down when Lily turned around and approached her son.
"Here," she whispered, reaching her pocket and pulling out a vial.
"Thanks, Mum," Harry murmured, taking the stomach soother from his mother. He swallowed it and then took a drink of the orange juice he had poured himself.
"You're welcome," Lily said, pushing some stray hair away from her son's face. "Try and eat something, sweetheart."
"I will," Harry promised. He picked up a piece of toast and had managed to eat two slices by the time rest of the team had arrived.
"It's going to be a tough one," Oliver said, glancing out the window of the Great Hall.
"Would you stop worrying, Oliver," Alicia said, soothingly. "We don't mind a little bit of rain."
Halfway through breakfast, James entered the Great Hall. It wasn't an unusual occurrence for James to show up since Lily worked there during the school year. But, Lily knew why he was there today. Since Harry had joined the team, he had never missed a match, yet.
He walked towards the Head Table to join his wife but had stopped at the Gryffindor table where Harry was sitting.
"Hey Dad," Harry greeted.
"Hi Son," James returned and reached into his pocket. "I think you're going to need these."
James pulled out the Quidditch goggles he had ordered for Harry. The challenge was to get them to match Harry's glasses prescription and this had caused a delay in getting them before school started. James had picked them up the day before as they were ready.
"Thanks, Dad," Harry said, taking the goggles and sticking them in his pocket.
"I added a few charms to them so they won't break or get scratched and will repel water."
"Thanks, Dad," Harry repeated.
"Good luck," James said to the team before joining his wife at the Head Table. They greeted each other with a short kiss and started catching up with each other.
Harry glanced out the window as Oliver called for the team to head down to the pitch. They were going to need more than luck for this match.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
It was considerably more than a little bit of rain. The whole school had turned out to watch the match, despite the weather, as it was something that everyone looked forward to. Quidditch was that popular at Hogwarts. Because of the rain, they had to run down the lawns towards the Quidditch pitch, their heads bowed against the ferocious wind and rain. Umbrellas were being whipped out of their hands as they went.
James had brought the large umbrella from home and he, Lily, Sirius, and Remus were huddled under it.
"I think we're going to use up our stock of Pepper-up Potion," Lily noted as the rain continued to pour down and the wind was currently slightly chilly.
"I think so too," Professor McGonagall said from Remus's other side. James tapped the umbrella with his wand and it expanded to allow room for their old Head of House. Minerva smiled appreciatively at James, who nodded in return.
"I wish the weather was better," Lily said, quietly. She would be on the edge of her seat the entire time. The amusing part of this for James, Sirius, and Remus was how quick Lily went from an overprotective mother to a supportive mother. One minute she was gasping at the close calls from bludgers and shouting at the players hitting her son to the next minute, shouting excitedly when Harry saw the snitch or caught the snitch.
"I hope those goggles help Harry," She whispered to James. It was his idea to get Harry the goggles. The one benefit Lily saw was it protected Harry's glasses from being broke.
Down in the Gryffindor locker room, the team changed into their scarlet robes and waited for Oliver's usual pre-match pep talk. But it didn't come. He tried to speak several times, even made an odd gulping sound. Then he shook his head hopelessly and motioned for them to follow him.
The butterflies returned full force in Harry's stomach. Despite the many matches he played in, he still got nervous before a match. Lily's potion didn't work for very long this time.
The wind was so strong they staggered sideways as they walked out into the pitch. If the crowd was cheering, they couldn't get it over the new rolls of thunder. Thanks to the charm on his goggles, Harry was able to see clearly as one could in the foggy storm that was taking place currently.
"Thanks, Dad," Harry whispered, relieved he could see some with the goggles. It was like wearing his glasses.
Across the pitch, the Hufflepuffs were approaching the pitch, in their canary yellow robes. The captains walked to the middle of the pitch where Madam Hooch was waiting. Cedric smiled at Oliver, but he just nodded as if he had lockjaw. Harry was able to make out Madam Hooch's call of "Mount your brooms!"
He swung his right foot over the broom, moving it from one mud pile to another. Over the roar of the thunder and the crowd, he was able to hear Madam Hooch's whistle and it sounds like a shrill, yet distant, blast.
They were off.
Harry kicked off from the ground, rising fast. His Nimbus was swerving slightly with the wind, but he was able to hold it steady. He slowly turned, squinting in the rain.
Within five minutes Harry was soaked to the bone and frozen. He was hardly able to see his teammates, let alone the tiny Snitch. He flew backward and forwards across the pitch, passing blurs of yellow and red. He had no idea what was happening in the game, he couldn't hear the commentary over the wind and thunder.
The crowd was hidden beneath him a sea of cloaks and battered umbrellas.
Harry had come very close to being unseated by a Bludger twice. The fog had picked up slightly, making it harder for Harry to see. He had lost track of time. It was getting harder and harder to hold the broom straight. The sky was getting darker, as though night had decided to come earlier for some reason.
Twice Harry nearly hit or ran into another player, whether it was a teammate or an opponent, Harry couldn't tell. Everyone was soaked and the rain was so thick he couldn't tell them apart.
With a flash of lightning, came the sound of Madam Hooch's whistle. Harry could barely make out the outline of Oliver through the thick rain, gesturing him to land. The whole team was already on the ground by the time Harry landed.
"I called for a timeout," Oliver explained, shouting over the din of thunder. They huddled under a large umbrella as Harry asked, "What's the score?"
"We're up by fifty points," Oliver explained. "Unless we get the snitch soon, we'll be playing into the night."
"I'm trying to find it, but I can't see anything in this weather."
"Are the goggles working?" Oliver asked.
"Yeah, they're working great," Harry replied.
"Find the snitch soon, Harry!" Oliver exclaimed.
"Yes, sir."
"Okay, team. Let's go for it!" Oliver shouted, over a loud crash of thunder.
Harry was numb with cold by the time he was back in the air and was wetter than he had ever been in his life. But with the goggles, he could see very well, almost as if he was wearing his glasses. Full of newly found determination, he urged his broom through the turbulent air, staring in every direction for the Snitch. All of this while trying to avoid a bludger, ducking beneath Cedric, who was streaking in the opposite direction down the pitch.
There was another clap of thunder, followed immediately by lightning. The weather was getting more and more dangerous. Harry needed to find the Snitch and soon.
"Harry!" Oliver yelled, aguishly from the Gryffindor goal post. "Behind you!"
Harry looked behind him, wildly and saw Cedric pelting up the field and a tiny speck of gold was shimmering in the rain-filled the air between them.
With a jolt of panic, Harry threw himself flat to the broom handle and zoomed toward the Snitch.
"Come on," He growled at his Nimbus as the rain whipped his face. "Come on, faster."
Then Harry was just inches away from the snitch, reaching out for it, getting closer and closer until….
His hand closed around the snitch.
"I caught the snitch!" Harry shouted.
But no one heard him as a loud crack of thunder boomed at the same time.
Then suddenly a bludger came out of nowhere and slammed into Harry. The force had knocked him off of his broom and he was falling fifty feet to the ground below.
When he came into view of the crowd, Hermione gasped, covering her mouth with her hands, while Ron shielded his eyes from the rain watched, eyes wide and pale as Harry fell to the ground. Both of them held their breath. Lily screamed as Professor McGonagall gasped, cupping a hand to her mouth. James and Sirius jumped up both muttering the same spell along with Professor Dumbledore.
"Arresto Momentum!"
Slowly Harry landed on the ground softly. Lily was the first up and running to the pitch with James, Sirius, and Remus behind them. Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall followed them.
Lily was the first to get to her son. Madam Pomfrey and Madam Hooch were the second and third.
"I think I heard him say something about the snitch," Madam Hooch said.
Lily leaned over her son and felt his neck. She let the relief fill her when she found a purse and a strong one at that.
"He's just knocked out, he'll be fine," Madam Pomfrey said. "But we should still take him to the hospital wing."
"Yes, but first," Professor Dumbledore said, lifting Harry's right arm. Right there in Harry's hand was the snitch.
Gryffindor had won the game. Madam Hooch announced, "Gryffindor wins."
This was met with the shouts of excitement as Gryffindor had won the first game. But then there was a moment some of them realized at what cost.
"Let's get him to the hospital wing," Madam Pomfrey said. Lily conjured a stretcher and James and Sirius levitated Harry to the floating stretcher.
They followed in a somber state to the hospital wing.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Harry woke up, about two hours later, groggily. He opened his eyes and seen, even without his glasses, he could tell he was in the hospital wing, again. He should just move here to save himself the trouble. He didn't remember how he ended up here. Maybe his mother could shed some light on how he ended up in the hospital wing.
As he woke up more, he heard the sound of his parents talking in hush tones and the sound of Pomfrey's shoes clicking on the stone floor.
"Lily, I think he's awake," James whispered.
Then he felt his glasses being placed on his face and he opened his eyes, this time his vision was clearer. James and Lily were on either side of the bed.
"Harry, you alright?" Lily asked.
"I think so," Harry replied, softly. "What happened?"
"We're not sure," James began. "You caught the snitch, but you fell off your broom. Do you remember anything?"
"I felt something hit me in the back," Harry said, as he tried to recall.
"Where at?" Lily demanded
"Right shoulder," he replied.
"Help him sit up," Lily directed to James.
"On three," James said. "One, two, three."
On three, James helped Harry sit up in a sitting position as Lily pulled up the back of Harry's Quidditch shirt. She examined the dark blue bruise, waving her wand around to find out the damage.
"It's just severely bruised," Lily said, breaking the silence. "Nothing's broken or fractured. Really, it's nothing that a bruise balm could take care of."
"Are you going to apply it now?" James asked.
"No, I'm going to wait until after Harry takes a shower," she replied.
"How long was I out?" Harry asked.
"About two hours," James answered.
"Does it hurt?" Lily asked. "I can give you a potion for the pain."
"It hurts a little," Harry admitted.
"Okay. Relax your arm," Lily redirected, picking up Harry's right up. She lifted it up and down, watching Harry's face. She then moved his arm from side to side, forwards, backward, left and right. At James's puzzled look, she explained she was checking the range of motion.
"It hurts when I move my shoulder. Otherwise, not so much," Harry said, knowing Lily was going to ask him what he felt.
"Okay then." Moving down to the foot of the bed, she banished off Harry's boots and socks to the floor and send different charms to Harry's feet.
"Can you feel that?" She asked.
"Yes," Harry replied.
"What about this?" Lily rubbed her hands along Harry's foot, one hand on the top and the other on the bottom of his foot.
"Yes."
"What about this?" She tickled his feet. Her response was Harry laughing and moving his feet away from Lily's tickling hands.
"That's good," She murmured. "Now wiggle your toes for me."
Lily and James watched as Harry's toes wiggled.
"All right. I'll go and get you a pain potion. Stay right there," she ordered, leaving the room.
"Where does she think I'm going to go?" Harry asked. "I put one foot on the floor and she's back in here in a snap."
James chuckled. "I think it's because of me. She thinks you'll escape like I did when I was in the hospital wing."
"Have I?" Harry inquired.
"Not to my knowledge," James replied.
Lily returned with the potion in hand. "Here you go."
Harry took the potion, swallowing it quickly so the taste wouldn't linger on his tongue.
"Good boy," Lily said, patting Harry's head. "Now, I want to keep you here for an hour to make sure there's nothing else I've missed. Then we'll move to my quarters. You can return to the tower on Monday."
Harry nodded, knowing that Lily would have wanted to keep an eye on him.
In the hour before Harry was moved to Lily's quarters, he had a stream of visitors, which included the Gryffindor team, Ron and Hermione stayed the longest, and Ginny, who bought him a card. Oliver had told Harry they would wait until the following Friday and have their celebration then. This way, Harry wouldn't have missed it. He was the reason why they had won and it didn't feel right to celebrate without Harry.
Harry told his friends that he was staying with Lily. When Hermione asked what happened, he motioned for Ron to help him pull the back of his shirt up and showed them his back. Ron winced and Hermione gasped, asking if it hurt.
"Only when I move my arm," Harry replied.
Remus and Sirius came in just before Harry was moved. Sirius went to hug Harry, relieved he was okay when Harry asked him to be easy. When he broke away from the hug, Sirius asked what happened.
James had returned from helping Lily and raised the back of Harry's shirt for them. Both men winced at the sight of the bruise.
"No wonder it hurts," Remus said.
Lily watched as Sirius and Remus talked and visited with Harry, realizing that it could have been worse. She was thankful that Harry was okay
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
It was no surprise to Harry that he was moved to his room in Lily's quarters. James helped Harry from the hospital wing to Lily's quarters, where he was directed to go shower and clean up before heading to his room. The shower was difficult for as any movement caused a sharp pain at his shoulder. James helped him when he couldn't raise his hands to wash his hair. Much to his relief he was soon was lying down in his bed.
Before he had a chance to get comfortable, Lily came into the room with a small pot in her hand. Harry didn't need to ask what it was.
"Can you sit up for me and take off your shirt?" Lily asked. Harry nodded and pulled himself up in a sitting position. He pulled his shirt over his head with help from Lily.
"What are you going to do?" Harry asked.
"I'm going to apply the bruising balm and then later, I'll massage your shoulder."
"Okay."
"Lie on your stomach."
Harry laid down and rolled over onto his stomach, slowly as to not cause himself, more discomfort. He braced himself for the burning, tingling, and coolness he would feel from the bruise balm.
Lily tapped the pot with her wand, warming the balm. She unscrewed the lid, setting the pot on the nightstand. She scooped some of the balm in her fingers and rubbed them together, before applying it to Harry's skin. Gently, she began to apply the balm, moving from her fingertips to the palm of her hands.
When she finished, applying the bruise balm, she pulled out a bottle she had slipped in her pocket. She unscrewed the lid to the bottom and cupped her free hand.
"What's that?" Harry asked.
"Witch hazel," Lily answered. "It will increase blood flow near the skin's surface, so it may help to dissipate the blood that has pooled in the bruised area. Vinegar does the same thing, but Mum always used witch hazel."
Lily rubbed her hands together and then gently applied the witch hazel. She usually combined magical and muggle healing techniques when one of her boys was hurt. She also knew that this along with the witch hazel treatment would help heal the bruise, a little quicker than doing nothing at all.
"Okay, which would you prefer an ice pack or a heat pack?"
"Heat pack," Harry decided, without preamble.
"Alright," Lily murmured and got up from the bed. She opened a drawer at the bottom of Harry's wardrobe. She pulled out a heat pack and tapped it with her wand to warm it up.
"Okay, we'll leave that for ten minutes. In the meantime, try and rest. You can read or sleep while you wait."
"Okay. Thanks, Mum." Harry's eyes closed and soon he was sound asleep.
"You're welcome, Sweetheart."
James peeked in and whispered, "How is he?"
"He's okay," Lily replied, softly.
James entered the room and sat down on the edge of Harry's bed, watching his son sleep for a moment. He will never forget the heart-stopping moment, watching his son fall to the ground as long as he lives. He sighed, closing his eyes.
"James, he's okay," Lily said, assuring, rubbing his arm.
"It's not that," James whispered. "Sirius found Harry's broom."
"And?" Lily inquired.
"It's destroyed. The wind took it to the Whomping Willow."
Lily winced, sympathetically. He knew why James was upset. He'd have to tell Harry that his broom was destroyed.
"Is Sirius going to buy him a broom now or wait until Christmas?"
"Gryffindor's next match isn't until February and I'll let Harry use my broom for practice."
James's broom was a Nimbus 1700. He had talked about upgrading many times, but the broom was still a good broom.
"That's a good idea. At least until we can get Harry another broom."
James nodded.
Lily picked up her wand and waved it around the room. "Let's go into the sitting room where we can talk. I just put a charm on the room to alert us if Harry needs us."
Once more James nodded and followed Lily into the sitting room. What they didn't know was Harry had heard them. He sighed and wiped his eyes, sad that he now didn't have a broom and would probably have to wait until Christmas to get one.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Harry was uncharacteristically quiet after James had told Harry what had happened to his broom. He didn't know how he was supposed to feel. He was sad that he didn't have a broom and wasn't a fan of the idea of waiting until Christmas for a new one. But he was glad he didn't need to use the school brooms since James had allowed him to use his old broom until he got a new one.
It could have been worse. He could have been stuck to use the school broom.
He felt as if he had lost his best friend. Sirius had bought him the Nimbus when he joined the team his first year. The broom was one of his most prized possessions and now it was in pieces.
He felt like crying when he saw the broom. He even asked James if he could put it in a box. James agreed. Lily asked if they were going to bury it. James said they might. He had a friend at Quality Quidditch Supply who might be able to tell him if they could put it back together for display purposes.
Harry didn't say much, to either Lily or James since he had been told what happened to his broom.
She checked on him periodically and would check the bruise. It had finally faded an hour ago. Lily had gently massaged his shoulder, to help with the muscles and to prevent them from being stiff when Harry tried to use his arm again.
Harry still laid on his stomach as it didn't feel comfortable laying on his back or his side just yet. If he laid on his left side, it was still uncomfortable, despite the injury occurring to his right shoulder.
He had gotten up a few times to move around or to go to the bathroom. Lily had at one point applied fresh parsley leaves, crushed and spread them all over the bruise. Then she applied a large plaster to keep them in place. She had looked over her home remedy book and read that parsley decreases inflammation, reduces pain and could make a bruise fade more quickly
She had just taken off the bandage.
When Harry left his room last, Sirius was there, talking with James in hush tones. Harry had come into the kitchen in search for something to drink when Sirius started chuckling. James was about to ask was wrong when he saw his son.
Harry followed his father's gaze and seen that the pattern of the quilt that was on his bed had left imprints on his stomach. Deep ones, meaning it would take a day for them to fade.
When Harry returned to his bedroom, he found his oldest T-shirt and slipped it on, knowing it was one that Lily didn't care if it got stained so bad that she couldn't get them out.
"Sweetheart," Lily called from the half-opened bedroom door.
"Yeah?"
Lily came in with a pillow under her arm. "I flooed home and got this, it should help."
"Thanks, Mum."
Lily laid it on the bed and then helped Harry lay back. The pillow did help make it more comfortable for him to lie on his bed.
She handed him a Quidditch book and told him to call for her if he needed anything.
She returned to the sitting room to find James, lounging on the couch. He was looking at a recent copy of Which Broomstick. Lily didn't need to ask why. Looking over the side, she saw that James was on the page that was an advert for the Firebolt.
It was proclaimed to be 'The state-of-the-art racing broom. The Firebolt has unsurpassable balance and pinpoint precision!' according to the advert. It was also known as the fastest broom in the production.
Lily would be lying if she said she didn't notice the longing look on Harry's face when the Firebolt first came out. James had entertained the idea of getting Harry one for his birthday, but Lily vetoed the idea, telling him that Harry's broom still works just fine. What neither of them knew was Harry did really want a Firebolt, just never said anything to either parent.
"Are you sure that's it is safe?" She asked, getting James's attention.
"The Ireland and Bulgarian teams wouldn't be picking this broom for the World Cup if it wasn't safe," James reminded her. "I'll talk to Bob and see if I can get in touch with Randolph if you really want me too."
Lily sighed, looking at the broom. She couldn't deny that she knew that Harry wanted that broom.
"Is that how much it costs?" She asked, seeing the numbers on the bottom.
"No, that is," James said, pointing to the cost. "That was how many have been sold so far."
Lily felt her eyes widen at the cost of the broom. She couldn't fathom spending that much on a broom.
"Sirius said he'd pay for it. It would be his Christmas present this year," James explained, hoping that if she knew they wouldn't be buying it would help her say yes.
"I'll think about it," Lily said. "But look at other brooms first before you decide to get this one."
She stood up and headed to her bathroom to get ready for bed. James, meanwhile, was making a plan. He knew how much Harry would love to own this broom and even if it means having Lily angry with him, it would be worth to see the smile return to Harry's face.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Lily shot up, breathing heavily. She had relived that day, watching her son fall to the ground fifty feet. She never wanted to relive that moment again and was thankful that despite the fall, Harry was okay and still alive. She had James, Sirius, and Dumbledore to think for that. She waited a moment for her heart to quit racing before she pulled back to the duvet and walked into Harry's room. Pushing open the door, she sighed in relief when she saw that Harry was fast asleep and seemingly okay.
Releasing the breath she had been holding, she approached the bed and leaned over, kissing Harry's forehead.
It could have worse. Harry could have been hurt worse than a bludger to the back. She watched him sleep for a few minutes more before returning to her bed.
She laid down, snuggled against James, smiling softly when he wrapped an arm around her. Knowing that Harry was okay, she fell asleep.
This was considered Harry's first major Quidditch related injury and Lily knew that there would probably be more Quidditch related injuries. She would be there to take care of her son when he got hurt during a game of Quidditch but hoped that Harry wouldn't fall off his broom like he did today, again.