From the moment after the Troll event, Cassius and Neville started to train harder than ever. They learned every spell they could, even some more advanced ones like Expelliarmus and Stupefy, which would not really work on a Troll's hard skin but couldn't hurt. They mastered them fast, dueling for at least thirty minutes a day and practicing spells for another thirty minutes minimum. Sometimes far more, but only on bad days.
As November rolled around, they were both officially top tier students, Hermione and Draco Malfoy being their only real competition. Cassius bested all of them in DADA, Hermione in History of Magic, Neville in Herbology and Draco in Potions. They were all tied for Charms and Transfiguration. It was getting harder for Hermione to take top spot after all the training Cassius and Neville did. And Rumors were that Draco got special training from Snape.
Speaking of Snape, he outright stopped being such a berk to anyone. There was a hesitation in his entire expression whenever Neville or Cassius gave him a look. This was partially amplified when Neville loudly proclaimed in the hall toward the potions classroom that his Grandmother would be furious if Snape continued to be so cruel. The man stared him down, and Neville resisted with an angry stare back. Giving no ground, the man started to act a touch nicer, at least he was not insulting everyone. This and Neville's blooming confidence helped him master Potions to the top of class, behind Draco and Hermione. His natural skill with Herbology helped plenty here as well.
Soon, the first Quidditch match came and Cassius, not wanting to go, went anyone when Neville gave him the puppy dog eyes. He slumped forward with him into the stands while the match started. It was Slytherin vs Gryffindor, so the school filled with bias was pumped. They ended up by Ron and Hermione.
"And the Quaffle is taken immediately by Angelina Johnson of Gryffindor—what an excellent Chaser that girl is, and rather attractive, too—"
"JORDAN!"
"Sorry, Professor."
The Weasley twins' friend, Lee Jordan, was doing the commentary for the match, closely watched by Professor McGonagall.
"And she's really belting along up there, a neat pass to Alicia Spinnet, a good find of Oliver Wood's, last year only a reserve—back to Johnson and—no, the Slytherins have taken the Quaffle, Slytherin Captain Marcus Flint gains the Quaffle and off he goes—Flint flying like an eagle up there—he's going to sc—no, stopped by an excellent move by Gryffindor Keeper Wood and the Gryffindors take the Quaffle—that's Chaser Katie Bell of Gryffindor there, nice dive around Flint, off up the field and—OUCH—that must have hurt, hit in the back of the head by a Bludger—Quaffle taken by the Slytherins—that's Adrian Pucey speeding off toward the goal posts, but he's blocked by a second Bludger—sent his way by Fred or George Weasley, can't tell which—nice play by the Gryffindor Beater, anyway, and Johnson back in possession of the Quaffle, a clear field ahead and off she goes—she's really flying—dodges a speeding Bludger—the goal posts are ahead—come on, now, Angelina—Keeper Bletchley dives—misses—GRYFFINDORS SCORE!"
Gryffindor cheers filled the cold air, with howls and moans from the Slytherins.
"Budge up there, move along."
"Hagrid!"
Ron and Hermione squeezed together to give Hagrid enough space to join them.
"Bin watchin' from me hut," said Hagrid, patting a large pair of binoculars around his neck, "But it isn't the same as bein' in the crowd. No sign of the Snitch yet, eh?"
"Nope," said Ron. "Harry hasn't had much to do yet."
"Kept outta trouble, though, that's somethin'," said Hagrid, raising his binoculars and peering skyward at the speck that was Harry.
Cassius kept his ill commentary to himself, Neville looked really happy to be there. Sports bored him to pieces.
Soon, Marcus Flint the other Seeker slammed into Harry who had dived for the Snitch. As he was getting reprimanded, Dean Thomas said. "Send him off, ref! Red card!"
"What are you talking about, Dean?" said Ron.
"Red card!" said Dean furiously. "In soccer you get shown the red card and you're out of the game!"
"But this isn't soccer, Dean," Ron reminded him.
Hagrid, however, was on Dean's side as was Cassius.
"They oughta change the rules. Flint coulda knocked Harry outta the air."
Cassius nodded. " The rules for this game practically require cheap moves and cheating." Neville nodded sadly.
Lee Jordan was finding it difficult not to take sides.
"So—after that obvious and disgusting bit of cheating—"
"Jordan!" growled Professor McGonagall.
"I mean, after that open and revolting foul—"
"Jordan, I'm warning you—"
"All right, all right. Flint nearly kills the Gryffindor Seeker, which could happen to anyone, I'm sure, so a penalty to Gryffindor, taken by Spinnet, who puts it away, no trouble, and we continue play, Gryffindor still in possession."
It was here that Cassius felt something... off. Like the air in Olivanders, only meaner. Looking around he saw Harry riding his broom like a bucking bronco, but the look in hsi eyes said it was not his chouce.
"Slytherin in possession—Flint with the Quaffle—passes Spinnet—passes Bell—hit hard in the face by a Bludger, hope it broke his nose—only joking, Professor—Slytherins score—oh no…"
The Slytherins were cheering. No one seemed to have noticed that Harry's broom was behaving strangely It was carrying him slowly higher, away from the game, jerking and twitching as it went.
"Dunno what Harry thinks he's doing," Hagrid mumbled. He stared through his binoculars. "If I didn' know better, I'd say he'd lost control of his broom… but he can't have…"
Suddenly, people were pointing up at Harry all over the stands. His broom had started to roll over and over, with him only just managing to hold on. Then the whole crowd gasped. Harry's broom had given a wild jerk and Harry swung off it. He was now dangling from it, holding on with only one hand.
"Did something happen to it when Flint blocked him?" Seamus whispered.
"Can't have," Hagrid said, his voice shaking. "Can't nothing interfere with a broomstick except powerful Dark magic—no kid could do that to a Nimbus Two Thousand."
Cassius frowned. "Any magic could affect it, not just dark magic. Besides few spells are really dark, it's all about intentions. Still, whatever it is, I can feel it." Hagrid whipped to him.
"What?"
"The air feels meaner, colder, and just as intense as the magic in Olivander's shop." He shivered. "It's gross and coming from the Professor's stands." He pointed, just as Hermione vanished. Something must have happened as the magic in the air dispersed, and he shivered as the oppressive energy faded.
Neville grabbed his hand. "What?"
"Hermione, she must have done something, she's gone and that awful energy it. I swear I've felt it before though, I just can't remember where."
"Cass, I never knew you could sense magic. That's a rare gift."
"Like your ability to talk to plants?" Cass smirked at Neville, who swiftly flushed.
"How'd you know?"
"One day in Herbology with you, it was easy to notice."
They both beamed. "I guess I never thought of it like that... I think we need to find that energy you felt, it can't be good."
"No, it really cannot be..."
And they hurried off of the stands, where the Library was a calling.
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
This was a joy to write.
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika.
