Chapter 25 Sirius Black is in the castle, Quidditch match and Professor Lupin is a real friend
Heads-up there is a big part of canon near the end.
31st October 1993, Hogwarts, Scotland
'Finally, I got my chance everyone should be in the Great Hall but I am sure that red-headed wouldn't bring his rat' he thought.
He was finally able to use the secret passage from the Shrieking Shack and enter the grounds and the narrow staircase from the ground floor to the second floor so he didn't need to pass the crowded Great Hall. He used the passage multiple times already only to see his godson and make sure he was safe. He thought with everyone at the Halloween feast he should have an hour or two to find and kill the rat, Peter Pettigrew.
He was using the shadows and in his dog form, he was quicker and more silently than his human form (after being so long in Azkaban) which also could alert the paintings although most were asleep. Finally, he reached the seventh floor and he smelled Harry but the scent was not in the direction of the Gryffindor Common Room it was very recent and when he walked up he didn't smell Harry's scent and that means he wasn't in the Great Hall. Sirius smelled the rat but the rat didn't follow Harry. Sirius decided to go after Harry wasn't necessary as he was apparently safe, the rat was more important than he should pay.
'Why is he here and not in the Great Hall and shouldn't Minnie or that bushy-haired girlfriend of him know he isn't there. Why don't they do anything?' Sirius thought.
Sirius returned to his human form and grabbed a knife he stole back in the summer from someone who tried to turn him in for the reward on Sirius's head, the fool. Sirius managed to get the wand away and then the fool came at him with a knife. He wanted to grab the wand but he had the knife in his hand and couldn't get the wand as he needed to get away before the Aurors appeared. He just managed to turn in the dog with the knife in his mouth when the Aurors arrived but didn't give him a second glance as a dog.
He stands before the Fat Lady and said: "my dear Fat Lady, I need to get in the tower could you please let me in."
The Fat Lady still tries to break the glass and said without looking "only with the password."
Sirius said, "I don't know the password."
Fat Lady responded, "then you cannot enter."
Sirius Black said, "let me in."
The Fat Lady looks at him and shrieks "Sirius Black, you traitor, you were their friends I would never let you enter and you are unworthy of being a Gryffindor."
Sirius almost screamed "my dear Fat Lady I would never harm them they were two of my best friends. I am here to get the real danger and protect Harry Potter."
"I will not let you enter," the Fat Lady said.
Sirius grabs the knife and screams "let me in" as he started to use the knife to force her to open or get through the portrait.
The Fat Lady get out of her portrait and tried to hide. Sirius had a fire in his eyes that the Fat Lady thought it is like the devil is looking at her and found he is the devil he is now.
Sirius doesn't get through and knew he wouldn't. Sirius hates to do it but immediately leaves and it was no moment too soon. As he used the passage from the second floor to the ground floor he used managed to slip out when he hears many people walking toward the staircase. Sirius managed to get outside and because of his black fur, it looks like he isn't there. Sirius uses the darkest spots to reach the Whomping Willow and go into the secret passage below it and from the Shrieking Shack goes to the caves just outside Hogsmeade with a position that overlooks Hogsmeade with a clear view of the approach from Hogwarts. Sirius was happy that Harry still seemed okay, but he wondered why he wasn't at the feast and why nobody looked for him. Sirius saw the first group of dementors going into Hogsmeade as they did every night followed by two Aurors.
Suddenly more dementors entered Hogsmeade and he heard screaming he couldn't make out what they were screaming but that didn't matter. They knew he had entered the castle and attacked the Fat Lady. He didn't want to, especially because the Fat Lady never told anyone when they came back after curfew even if they woke her up, sure she wasn't happy and often asked what they did but she never told anyone not Dumbledore or Minnie.
3rd November 1993, Gryffindor Common Room, Hogwarts
Harry, Ron, Seamus, Dean, and Neville are sitting in the Common Room. They heard Sir Cadogan saying "Who dares challenge, Sir Cadogan! Back, you scurvy braggarts! You rogues!" When a group of first-year Gryffindors enters the Gryffindor Common Room with bags just returning from the library.
Seamus said, "he is barking mad."
Dean said "What do you expect. After what happened to the Fat Lady, none of the other paintings would take the job."
Neville sighed and said "But he keeps changing the password. I've taken to keeping a list, otherwise, I won't get in.
Harry and Ron see Hermione come down and were planning to go down to the great hall as dinner would begin soon. When they were almost leaving Seamus, Dean and Neville immediately joined them as did Parvati, Lavender, and Fay who came down shortly after Hermione and immediately join them before they could leave.
The Portrait closes behind them and they start to walk away. They heard Sir Cadogan say "farewell, comrades! If ever you need noble heart and steely sinew, call upon Sir Cadogan!"
Ron almost calls out "yeah, we'll call you" before lowering his voice and continuing saying "….. if we ever need someone mental."
6th November 1993, Gryffindor Common Room, Hogwarts
It was early but Wood was talking about a new tactic because last night after dinner he heard that they were playing Hufflepuff instead of Slytherin because apparently, Malfoy couldn't play because he still had pain from where Buckbeak hit him two months ago.
Wood remembered last night in Professor McGonagall's office. When he heard it he said "but Harry was in the hospital wing for three days and had a far worse injury than Malfoy" but Professor McGonagall gave him a knowing look and said, "maybe but Professor Snape asked if his team could rest a bit more and Madam Hooch agreed, you play tomorrow against Hufflepuff."
The whole team was mad because the weather (mostly by the dementors) was foul and they trained for Slytherin the last few weeks. Fortunately, Hufflepuff didn't diver much from Slytherin unless Hufflepuff doesn't play dirty, had actually a talented seeker the new captain Cedric Diggory in his sixth year and Hufflepuff beaters had a problem with aiming but they had enough power so if they were lucky enough to hit you, you had a problem.
Wood was changing the tactic he wanted to use last year if the Quidditch match against Hufflepuff if the match wasn't cancelled and the tournament immediately after. In the last few weeks, Wood tried to learn Harry something called the Wronski Feint, because Draco had a faster broom, wasn't as good a flyer (natural talent) as Harry is and followed Harry trusting he find the snitch and was arrogant to think he could catch it before Harry could.
That wouldn't work with Cedric as Cedric had more talent than Draco, hadn't had a faster broom than Harry's even though that didn't really matter and they didn't know if Cedric will let Harry do the searching or he would find his own way as they didn't play Cedric before. In Harry's first year Cedric wasn't the seeker for the Hufflepuff Quidditch team, Cedric was the seeker for Hufflepuff in Harry's second year but then the match was cancelled last minute when Penelope Clearwater and Hermione were petrified.
After one hour Fred said, "come on Oliver."
George continued "we are in top form."
Fred said, "we know."
George said, "what to do."
In unison, the twins said, "let's get some breakfast before we miss it."
Wood nodded and said "okay but after breakfast let's go immediately to the Quidditch Stadium we need to speak more about the tactic before the match."
Harry, Fred, and George groaned and Katie, Angelina, and Alicia rolled their eyes at Woods's comment and the groans from Harry, Fred, and George.
6th November 1993, Great Hall, Hogwarts
On days there was a match for the Gryffindor Quidditch team they always sat together it was a kind of tradition even before Wood become captain even before he became part of the Quidditch team.
When they entered Slytherins were booing. The Hufflepuffs wanted to because of their loyalty to their house but their fairness kept most of the booing from that house away as most of the Hufflepuff have friends from Gryffindor also the least amount of hostility between houses was between Hufflepuff and Gryffindor. Also, a couple of girls likes, have crushes or love a student from Gryffindor as it also does the other way around although much fewer than Hufflepuff girls love Gryffindor boys.
Ravenclaw looks but did nothing as they weren't playing and had no favourite or something that would be beneficial for their team, but they knew that in 3 weeks they needed to play against Hufflepuff so they were a bit for Gryffindor but hope for an especially long and exhausting game so Hufflepuff wasn't fully recovered when they face Ravenclaw.
Hermione was sitting a couple of feet away from the Quidditch team as did all the other years. However Hermione, Ginny and in a lesser way Neville wanted to sit with Harry. Ron did too but as soon as he saw the food that thought disappeared. Other friends wanted to sit with their friends and Quidditch team but unfortunately, they couldn't.
After breakfast, the Gryffindor Quidditch team in the foul weather went to the Quidditch Stadium. They had a little bit over an hour before the match would start. The match will start a 10 am.
6th November 1993, Quidditch Stadium, Hogwarts
When they had 20 minutes left before the match would start the girls went to their own locker room. 15 minutes before the match started they heard many footsteps above them meaning that the other students were going to the stands to watch the match. When they had 7 minutes left before the match would start the girls came back with their brooms with a heavily blushing Katie.
Oliver gave the last couple of tactics and what was expected of them and ended with "we have the best team with the three vixens, the double trouble beaters, the youngest Seeker in a century and me the unbeatable keeper of the hoops and captain. Let's show them why the Quidditch cup is already ours this year."
The whole team screamed "Yeah."
When they walked to the field about 20 feet before entering they stepped on their brooms and fly out of the player entrance. Harry put on his new goggles before he flew out as last after the team. The weather seems to have become fouler in the last hour you could barely see 5 feet in front of you let stand 10. The weather made it even more difficult to see the snitch but fortunately, the snitch is golden so it is a little bit better visible not that the weather made it much easier to see or catch it.
Both teams take their starting position and Madam Hooch releases the Bludgers then the snitch and waits two whole minutes before she grabs the Quaffle. She blew her whistle after she mounts her broom but before she throws the Quaffle right between the six chasers a couple of feet off the ground.
Katie was the first one who grabbed the Quaffle. She is the youngest beside Harry and had more than a decent broom a brand new Cleansweep Seven. She evaded two of the chasers of Hufflepuff and passed to Angelina and she scored making it 10-0 Gryffindor.
After a few more minutes it started to storm even worse with thunder and lightning and the rain looked like needles and almost hurt as needles. The next four goals for Gryffindor were scored by Alicia, Katie, Alicia, and Angelina in that order. Oliver stopped the Quaffle twice and the twins hit two chasers from Hufflepuff so they lose the Quaffle. Meanwhile, Harry was high up looking for the snitch and something flying from one side to the other. Cedric was watching him but did not follow him, it seems he knew Harry was a good seeker and didn't was as stupid as Draco.
It was 50-0 Gryffindor when Oliver called for a time-out they already played for 25 minutes but the weather makes it harder to fly and score. Hermione has walked down to the pitch and screamed "Harry."
Harry hears her and said, "give me a minute."
Harry flies to Hermione and said, "yes Hermione?"
Hermione said, "give me your goggles."
Harry pulled them off and give them to Hermione. Hermione cast "Impervius" and gave it back. She said "I know the charm was already on the goggles but I saw you had some trouble with the rain. I hope the work better know."
Harry smiled put the goggles on and said: "thank you 'Mione it seems it works better."
Hermione smiled and said, "I think the weather is too foul for one impervious charm to work ."
Harry said "maybe, but again thank you."
He flew back and Oliver said "okay Harry. You are on your own right now. Most of the Bludgers go to Katie, Alicia or Angelina. I think they trust Cedric enough to catch the snitch in this weather before you, show them they are wrong."
Harry nodded and the time-out was over.
Everybody was in the air again and Hufflepuff had the Quaffle before the time-out so they got it again. Hufflepuff scored the first goal after almost two minutes after the time-out. Harry gets hit with a Bludger as it seems the beaters were waiting until they left Harry alone. Harry could evade the first few times but eventually, he got hit. He managed to stay on his broom and right for the second Bludgers could hit him Fred or was it George managed to send the Bludger back knocking the beater from Hufflepuff off his broom after a few minutes the beater was in the air but he was hurt on his beater arm and tried to use the other arm but it was no use. He could barely hit a Bludger and the aim was even worse than before. The only way they hit Harry was because he evades one and unknowingly flew it in the path of the other Bludger that was actually going where he was before he evaded the other one. For the rest of the game, until he saw the snitch, Fred or George was staying closer to Harry knowing Harry could evade long enough for one of them to work the Bludger away.
For the next 10 minutes the Quaffle was scored one for Hufflepuff and Katie scored for Gryffindor. For the next 5 minutes, nothing was scored when suddenly Harry see the snitch, but Cedric was closer. Harry went immediately after the snitch closely following Cedric.
He flies past the Gryffindor stands and hears Hermione screaming "GO Harry" and Ginny screams "GET THE SNITCH, Harry."
Harry thought he saw a black dog next to Ginny but he immediately forgot that thought as he was closing in on Cedric. Harry sees just a couple of feet above him Angelina passing the Ball to Alicia while the snitch went the way to the Gryffindor hoops but stayed close to the ground. Harry sees the lighting just a second before hearing the thunder but he sees the lighting hitting the back of Katie's broom. He barely managed to evade Katie when she came crashing down. He quickly looks back and sees that Katie isn't injured too much it seems as if she was already standing up. He looks back forward and sees the snitch going up into the skies followed by Cedric and he immediately follows. He knew that he could close in on Cedric easier when they went up into the skies.
He was just one foot behind Cedric when Cedric get hit by lightning. Harry sees Cedric falling and want to help him if needed. Cedric was about two dozen feet below him when he managed to get on his broom and fly again but wasn't flying towards Harry. He looks around for the snitch a bit dazed it seems.
Harry looks for the snitch when sees the lighting behind a couple of clouds and the clouds formed the Grimm. He didn't follow divination but he still had the book from the beginning of the year as Ron used the book from Percy that was still recent. When Harry had enough of the other textbook or he couldn't find anything useful in the book about snakes, house-elves, goblins or familiars he read the divination book.
In the divination book most was speculation in his opinion although he believed seers exist or existed but if you don't have the gift you couldn't learn it as you are born with or without the gift. He heard Ron speaking about the Inner Eye weirdly enough with Hermione and she commented on it like she was in the class, but she couldn't as she was in the class the study of Ancient Runes at that time. However, you can study tea leaves or crystal glasses and learn the signs but it would not make you a seer.
Two things were interesting Harry thought. That was the sign of the Grimm and its meaning and prophecies as they were vague but so vague it was mostly 'accurate', could be used multiple times and could contain more than one person.
He was a bit lost in thought thinking about the Grimm and divination but then he saw the Snitch flying in front of his eyes and when he tried to grab them he flew away and he immediately follows. He ducts as he managed to evade an umbrella. When he looks back to the snitch he sees his breath, the front of his broom turning in ice as did the sides of his goggles. He suddenly felt some blood on his cheek as the rain that was coming down as needles were now ice needles pushing in his skin drawing blood.
He knew what that meant and sees one dementor a couple of feet in front of him. He managed to avoid it. He looks back and sees the dementor following him. He still sees the snitch but when Harry saw a second one he decided to go higher even if the snitch goes straight before suddenly diving back to the pitch which Harry didn't see. Harry flies up a couple of feet before he stops speeding and he falls back to the ground but he planned that and evaded both dementors. He speeded up again and sees five dementors flying at different feet in front of him when he looks back he sees four with probably two from before.
When he looks back forward he didn't notice one dementor coming from below. The dementor started sucking which caused Harry to let go of his broom when he heard something that sounded like "not Harry, no" before he heard the scream again. He managed to see after a few seconds he is falling without his broom. He hears three screams and two times "Arresto Momentum" before seeing many dementors above the stadium and at least six Patronus including Professor Lupins go against them. He heard a hoot before he faints.
6th November 1993, Gryffindor stands Quidditch stadium, Hogwarts
'The whole school was here' Hermione thought and asked herself 'why?'
She didn't know why? She was only here mostly because Harry would play and would probably be very disappointed if she didn't come to watch. Also, she came because if she didn't come she would probably be the only one and finally felt accepted after her birthday party in the Gryffindor Common Room also because she could finally talk a bit with her dorm mates Lavender, Parvati and Fay also with some older girls and some other girls from other houses like Padma, Susan or Hannah about the school, life outside of school and girl stuff that she couldn't and wouldn't talk with Harry and Ron about…. Well, certainly not with Ron as she would never talk to him if he wasn't friends with Harry.
Ginny stood beside her as the match is about to start. Ginny said "what foul weather I hope Harry can catch the snitch quickly like he did when Snape was referee right? In less than five minutes."
Hermione said, "yes I hope so."
Hermione hears a bark and sees a black dog The dog looked a bit like the dog in Diagon Alley but that dog was older, skinnier and probably sick while this dog doesn't like healthy either he looked at least noticeable better than the other dog. Hermione looks at Ginny and she said "while I was walking with some of my year guessing each other how fast Harry would cast the snitch all hoping it was fast. Kelly saw the dog first and pointed at it but Colin got the dog to get closer. I said do you want to see the Quidditch match and said come on boy made the gesture to follow me and well here he is."
Hermione said, "oh okay is he a he?"
Ginny said, "I don't know but when I said boy he barked before he followed."
Hermione said, "okay boy it is."
Fay said, "Hermione they are on the pitch ready to start."
Hermione watched the pitch and said, "thank you, Fay."
The dog said next to Ginny s otherwise he couldn't see the pitch. His ears perked up when he heard Fay saying "I hope Harry catches the snitch quickly this is really foul weather."
The dog sees many of the Gryffindors agree and he almost wanted to nod but didn't want to seem suspicious.
The game began and after 15 minutes Hermione noticed Harry having trouble with his goggles. Hermione asked no one in particular "I think the Impervius charm is wearing off on his goggles."
Ginny says "yeah."
Fay says "I think your right."
Parvati asked, "Is that why he is touching his goggles?"
Hermione said, "I think so."
Lavender asked, "what does the Impervius charm do?"
Suddenly a couple of first, second, third and even a few fourth and fifth years were looking at Hermione and she got into lecture mode "the Impervius charm is also known as the water-repelling charm. If you cast it on something like Harry's goggles you should have better sight in bad weather conditions by preventing the rain from hitting his eyes, but it also works on mist and fog. Harry goggles got the same glasses he has in his glasses so he should have better vision. The charm is very closely related to the Unbreakable Charm and the Shield Charm and is difficult to use as a rune as it should only prevent water, mist or fog nothing else from repelling."
It took a couple of minutes when one fourth-year asked "Hermione how do you know this charm we heard from professor Flitwick that we needed to do for our OWL but actually is a fifth-year spell. I know because Cho asked about it for the reason she may need it the next match against Hufflepuff in 3 weeks."
Hermione just said "I read it in a book I read this summer because I needed to do it after the attack and when I looked for some extra information in some books I saw this charm and that I could use it if it rains outside or Harry's glasses if it rains. He bought goggles with the charm for Quidditch matches but I did cast it on his glasses that are probably in the locker room."
Hermione left the stands to go to the pitch. When she was down Oliver saw her and asked for a time-out. He knew if Hermione was there she had thought of something or needed to tell Harry something that could help the team.
When Harry returned he was right. Hermione had cast the Impervius charm so Harry wouldn't have too much trouble with the rain. He thought to himself 'why didn't I think of that?'
Oliver said his normal Harry, grab the snitch or die trying but also he was one his own for now as now Bludgers weren't shot at him that he was barely hit twice was because he had trouble seeing through the rain after 5 minutes in the rain.
They went in the air again and when Hermione returned to the stands Gryffindor had taken the Quaffle again before Hufflepuff immediately intercepted and scored.
For the next 15 minutes, Hermione and her dormmates just like the rest of Gryffindor were cheering their team on like one person, the eight-member team. This made Hermione and Neville happier as both were finally seen as real members of the house. Suddenly Ginny and Hermione see Harry speeding up and Hermione screamed when Harry passes "GO Harry" while Ginny screams, "GET THE SNITCH, Harry".
They see Harry race after Cedric and Ginny said: "I see the snitch it is a couple of feet in front of Cedric."
Hermione tried to see it but she couldn't as her attention went to someone screaming and see that the back of Katie's broom was on fire and she was crashing down. She holds her breath as many others (mostly Gryffindors, but there were two Slytherins and two Hufflepuff while one Ravenclaw gave a dreamy smile knowing he would evade her). Harry barely managed to evade Katie and slowed down until he sees is okay.
Hermione and Ginny thought exactly the same hearing each other's voice faintly in their mind "typical Harry making sure someone is alright before thinking about anything including himself."
They saw Harry shooting up behind Cedric when they noticed Cedric falling but fortunately managed to stay on his broom and flew even though it was a bit dazed. Ginny and Hermione were watching where Harry disappeared when the Gryffindors house cheered as Angelina scored the 8th goal and it is 80-30 for Gryffindor. Hermione and Ginny cheered quickly before stopping and watching where Harry went. One by one they were watching where Harry went and start to stand up trying to see Harry as first coming with the snitch in his hand.
After a few minutes, they see Harry falling and Hedwig following Harry to try to wake him up or something. Hermione and Ginny grabbed each other and prevented them to scream out of horror but a couple of Students and Staff did. Harry stopped barely one foot from the ground before falling the last foot. Hermione and Ginny saw the many dementors closing on the stadium from above. The bracelet on Hermione and Ginny's left wrist starts to head up and start shine. Even though the Dementors are not as close by as the Dementor on the train, the number of dementors made the bracelet react even more than on the train and they felt the heat of the wrist go over their whole body still feeling cold but not like the other students that were shuddering from the cold (and fear). They did feel despair and depression but did not have bad memories come back. The bracelet starts to light up but before the light was visible the closest Dementors were driven away by the Patronus charm cast by the Professors. The Patronus that chased away two of the closest Dementor to the Gryffindor stand had the shape of a cat.
6th November 1993, the staff's box, Quidditch pitch
"Filius did you see the spell Ms. Granger did?" Professor McGonagall asks.
Professor Flitwick says "no Minerva I was looking at what Mr. Diggory was doing why?"
Professor McGonagall smiles and said, "if I am correct you should award her some points as it is your field."
Professor Flitwick knew that Professor McGonagall was a little biased for her house but not enough to lie about what she saw and he asked: "oh Minerva please do tell."
Professor McGonagall smiled and said, "I think she cast the Impervius charm on Ha- Mr. Potters goggles."
Filius heard the slip-up but decide not to comment on that until they were alone and if she didn't want to say it he could ask Poppy as they were friends since childhood even though Minerva talked with most of the female staff. He and Hagrid were the exceptions if you didn't count Albus as Headmaster or Filch as he caught some students. She only talked with Severus if there was a meeting of the heads of houses and of course Albus, the Headmaster.
15 minutes later she saw Harry barely missing Katie Bell crashing down and saw Harry slowing, afraid she was hurt but when he saw that Katie was okay enough to stand he sped up again. She smiled at what Filius and Poppy noticed. She saw Cedric going past the box quickly followed by Harry he watch over the side thinking when Harry went past the box 'please Merlin be safe Harry.'
She saw Cedric falling but a couple of feet above and beside the box he managed to get on his broom again but he looks dazed. Sudden McGonagall start to see her breath and she felt despair and she knew Dementors were close. She looks up and sees Dementors but also Harry falling. She was shocked and screamed in horror. When Harry was about the same height as the box she tried to grab her wand to cast a spell that could stop Harry from falling to his death, but her hand was trembling and couldn't grab her wand. Fortunately, Professor Dumbledore has his wand in his hand probably when he felt the Dementors just like Professor Flitwick.
Both cast "Arresto Momentum" and Harry slowed until barely a foot above the ground and stopped completely before both Professor Dumbledore and Professor Flitwick dropped the spell that makes Harry fall but didn't hurt Harry much as he only fell one foot. Professor McGonagall finally managed to grab her want as did six of the other teachers cast "Expecto Patronum." Seven creatures came out of their wands and made the closest Dementors flee when Dumbledore used a second wand to non-verbally cast 'Sonorous' and said (screamed) "Dementors, guards of Azkaban leave the ground of Hogwarts you are not allowed to be here."
Suddenly a few other Patronus's appeared and Professors Dumbledore sees four Aurors just outside of the stadium and said (screamed) "Aurors escort the Dementors back to the border."
The Auror at the front nodded. Professor Dumbledore non-verbally cancelled Sonorous by 'Quietus.'
Madam Pomfrey was already a the bottom of the tower with the box from the staff and was heading towards Harry as Hermione, Ginny, Neville, Ron, and the dog were near the entrance at the pitch and arrived almost half a minute after Madam Pomfrey was beside Harry. She had cast a few spells and was levitating Harry. Hedwig was next to Harry's head biting Harry's ear to wake him up but when Hedwig noticed it didn't work she stopped and pushed her head against Harry's head affectionally.
Cedric landed with the snitch in his hand. Madam Hooch blows her whistle to end the match. The twins went to Harry when Oliver, Alicia, and Angelina went to Katie to support her as she had trouble with her left leg which was twisted and her right arm which was broken.
When they were following Madam Pomfrey, an unconscious Harry and Hedwig is flying above them. Hermione saw Harry's broom flying and said "Ron could you take Harry's broom, his broom flew over the stands that way" Hermione pointed towards the Whomping Willow.
The twins said in unison "we will help Ron" before walking away dragging Ron with them.
6th November 1993, Hospital Wing, Hogwarts
About an hour after the match, Harry woke up. Before he opens his eyes he hears someone say "looks a bit peaky, doesn't he?
Fred said "peaky? What how do you expect him to look like? He fell fifty feet.
George continued " yeah, c'mon, Ron. We'll walk you off the Astronomy Tower and see how you come out looking."
Harry says the moment he opens his eyes "probably a right sight better than he normally does."
When Harry opens his eyes and Ron, Fred, George, Ginny, Neville, and Hermione slowly come into focus, standing at the foot of his bed in the hospital wing.
Hermione hugged Harry and ask "Harry! How are you feeling?"
As Harry edges up against his pillow, we see a Madam Pomfrey in a bed near the end removing the spokes of an umbrella from the Hufflepuff player's neck that was the keeper. Harry doesn't look so good himself Harry thinks.
Harry said with a grin "I am brilliant."
Hermione let go and Ginny hugs him but almost immediately let go as three of her brothers were standing just behind her.
Fred says "you gave us a right good scare, mate" He lowered his head to Harry and whispers "and not only us Harry" before Fred stands back up. Harry looks confused but decided to ask "what happened?"
Ron said, "you fell off your broom."
Harry said "Really?" while rolling his eyes and after that said "I meant the match. Who won?"
Nobody says anything and nothing was heard except the moaning from the Hufflepuff keeper and Angelina said "are you really doing okay Katie? I am so sorry." There was silence and the group by his bed had uncomfortable glances looking at each other.
Hermione decided to bring the bad news "no one blames you, Harry. The Dementors aren't meant to come on the grounds. Dumbledore was furious. After he and Professor Flitwick saved you, he sent them straight off. After most of the Professors used the same charm as Professor Lupin did on the train. After that, he sent them off with a couple of Auror that probably saw the dementors entering the grounds and were heading towards the Quidditch pitch."
Ginny said "Cedric grabbed the snitch as you could barely call it a catch. I think the Dementors also affected the snitch as the Bludgers were flying lower and slower as there was ice on the Bludgers and the Quaffle started to turn into ice and become very slippery to hold according to Alicia."
Harry nods grimly and stares at the window seeing the rain coming down but he hears a familiar hoot behind him and sees Hedwig, he scratches her which immediately wakes Hedwig up and she hoots happily seeing Harry up again even though he was in the Hospital Wing again.
Harry noticed Ron holding something and before he could ask about Ron said "there's something else you should know, Harry. Your Nimbus …. When you fell it blew away? ….. it sort of landed in the Whomping Willow. And well..."
Ron put the splintered wood and twisted twigs onto Harry's bed and said: "This is what is left from your Nimbus. You know how the Whomping Willow is."
7th November 1993, Bridge, Hogwarts grounds
Harry needed to stay a night in the Hospital Wing, He was cleared this morning as was Katie. The Hufflepuff keeper needed to stay, he wondered if he could play against Ravenclaw but that was his biggest concern.
Harry was standing on the bridge watching Hedwig that was enjoying flying. Professor Lupin stood behind and asked Harry "I'm sorry about your broom, Harry. There's no chance of fixing it?"
Professor Lupin said, "so I heard you couldn't go to Hogsmeade?"
Harry nodded but looked at Hedwig flying
Professor Lupin said "well, don't feel too bad. I was roundly disappointed the first time I went."
Harry asked "really? Because the only thing Ron was talking about was how fun it was."
Professor Lupin's smile faltered and said "no. I was just trying to make you feel better. Honeydukes' sweets are the best in the world as you should know after the Dementors attacked I gave you Honeydukes' chocolate and so did Madam Pomfrey. But also their Pepper Imps are so strong you smoke at the ears. And Zonko's Joke Shop may be dangerous, but you can't beat their Stink Pellets."
HARRY nodded glumly and said, "not to mention The Shrieking Shack, which, according to Hermione, is the most severely haunted building in Britain."
Professor Lupin gave a small grin and said: "yes, that too."
Harry shakes his head to Professor Lupin's question. Hedwig was flying around. Harry stops watching Hedwig and asked "Professor, can I ask you something? I wanted to know something."
Professor Lupin said, "you'd like to know why I stopped you from facing the Boggart."
Harry was surprised that Professor Lupin knew because it was almost two months ago but he needed to know why. First, he wasn't sure if he should ask but he felt comfortable with Professor Lupin so he decided to ask.
Professor Lupin said "I should think it'd be obvious. I assumed the Boggart would take the shape of Lord Voldemort."
Harry frowns. Lupin studies him curiously and after almost a full minute Professor Lupin said "but clearly... I was wrong."
Harry thought and then said " I did think of Voldemort first. But then, I remembered that night on the train... and the Dementors."
Professor Lupin nodded and said "well, well. I'm impressed. That suggests that what you fear most of all is... fear. Very wise."
Harry needed to ask about what he heard and asked Professor Lupin " before I fainted... I heard something. A woman. Screaming."
Professor Lupin looked gloomily and said "Dementors force us to relive the worst memories of our lives. Our pain becomes their power."
Harry said "I think it was my mother. The night she was murdered."
Harry looks at Professor Lupin that looked like he was studying him.
Professor Lupin said "the first time I saw you, Harry, I recognized you immediately. Not by your scar. By your eyes. They're your mother Lily's."
Before Harry could ask if he knew his parents Professor Lupin nodded and continued "yes. I knew her. She was there for me at a time when no one else was. We used to talk for hours. She was not only a singularly gifted witch but an uncommonly kind woman. She had a way of seeing the beauty in whoever she met, even …. and perhaps most especially …. when that person couldn't see it in themselves."
Lupin's eyes glaze when he was lost in the past and then he blinks with a smile on her face.
Professor Lupin said "which perhaps explains her affection for your father. James had, shall we say, a certain talent for trouble. A gift, rumour has it, he passed on to you."
Lupin looks at Harry affectionately as he is two of his best friend's sons. Harry smiles vaguely and said, "you could say that."
Professor Lupin said, " I could tell you stories … and there are many about your parents, Harry … but know this..."
Professor Lupin eyed Harry intensely before he continued "they lived. Every moment of every day. You should know that. That's how they'd want to be remembered."
Harry exited the bridge and walked towards the Black Lake followed by Professor Lupin and Hedwig flying overhead.
7th November 1993, the Black Lake, Hogwarts
Professor Lupin decided to take the lead and Harry followed this time.
Harry was feeling very comfortable and wanted to ask if Professor Lupin could help him with the Dementors and needed to know more about Dementors. Harry asked "professor, can I ask you something?
Harry needed to know why he was affected so he asked Professor Lupin "why do they affect me so, Professor? I mean, more than everyone else..."
Professor Lupin sighed he hoped Harry wouldn't ask this because the Dementors were attracted by him because of his bad past namely witnessing the death of his mother.
Lupin decided to answer the question " Dementors are among the foulest creatures that walk this earth. They feed on every good feeling, every happy memory until a person is left with nothing but his worst experiences. You're not weak, Harry. The Dementors affect you most because there are true horrors in your past. Horrors your classmates can scarcely imagine. You have nothing to be ashamed of.
Somehow Harry felt safe with Professor Lupin not because Professor Lupin could produce the Patronus charm, no it was because he felt like he could say anything he wanted without Professor Lupin thinking bad of him.
Harry wanted to say something he would never say to a Professor he just met two months ago and said: " I'm scared, Professor."
Lupin smiled at him and said: "I'd consider you a fool if you weren't."
Harry felt better when Lupin said that because it makes him feel that someone understands him and didn't need to explain. Hermione and his other friends thought they understood or tried to but it was difficult to explain to Professor Lupin what he didn't need especially because it felt that Professor Lupin spoke the truth.
Harry decided to ask him the only thing he could "I need to learn how to fight them. You could teach me, Professor. You made that Dementor on the train goes away."
Professor Lupin gave a smile and said: "There was only one that night… and yesterday most teachers cast the Patronus charm to make a small amount of the Dementors flee away. "
Harry interrupted Lupin "but you made it go away and that is what matters. I need to be able to defend myself and fight them."
Lupin's smile grew that was something James always said if he needed to learn something defensive that could protect him, his 'best' friends but mostly if it could protect Lily and later Harry.
Professor Lupin said "I don't pretend to be an expert, Harry. But yes, I can teach you. Perhaps after the holiday. For now, though, I need to rest. I'm feeling... tired."
Harry turns, studies Lupin's face and saw the tiredness on Lupin's face and in his eyes. Harry nodded agreeing to wait until after the holiday.
9th November 1993, Gryffindor Common Room, Hogwarts
Harry just walked inside with Neville. When he walked in he saw Ron and Hermione sitting on the table that Hermione mostly sit on while Ginny was talking with Hermione.
Harry said, "Hermione what are you doing here, you said you needed to go to the bathroom and we should go ahead."
Hermione didn't know what to do, she forgot what she told Harry and Neville when she used the time-tuner to follow the muggle studies. Ginny said "hey Harry. Oliver said he wanted to talk to you. He is in the Library, he wanted to see you right away."
Harry said, "Thank you Ginny, but how did you do that Hermione?"
Ron said, "what do you mean she was in Muggle studies and we didn't see you after it."
Ginny promised to help Hermione if someone came close to knowing she had a time-tuner. Ginny grabbed Harry's arm and said: "come on Harry and Neville let's go to the library so Harry can speak with Oliver and Neville maybe you could help me with Herbology."
Before Harry or Neville could say anything they were already outside of the portrait getting dragged along by a surprisingly strong Ginny. Ginny was surprised how she managed to drag Neville also along as Harry was skinny but Neville was a bit taller and bigger. Neville allowed Ginny to drag him with her because he wanted to go to the Library anyway and he was blushing for the first girl beside his gran touching him even if it was only holding his hand.
9th November 1993, the Library, Hogwarts
They reached the Library and Ginny was tired from dragging to boys with her. She was shocked that she managed to do it. Harry asked, "why did you pull us away, Ginny."
He asked it while he was dragged but Ginny didn't answer and said: "oh Oliver wanted to see you soon."
Harry said, "We could have waited for Hermione's answer."
Ginny said, "I was rushing back and I came across Hermione and she runs with me back reluctantly."
Ginny hoped Harry and Neville would believe her even though she didn't lie but she also didn't tell the entire truth. It was true she was rushing back and she came across Hermione but sleepy-looking Ron was with her just returning from Muggle studies and when she saw them she stopped running and she walked with them and urged them to quickly walk to the Common Room even though Hermione wanted to go to the library before dinner.
Neville was slowly becoming less red as he knows that Ginny has a crush and probably being in love with Harry, not the-boy-who-lived he hopes for Harry's sake. He decided to ask "but why did Ron say Hermione was in Muggles studies while she was with Arithmancy with us."
"Ron was wrong as she just left the girl's bathroom when a sleeping Ron walked by, he was probably sleeping during Muggle Studies and thought Hermione was in Muggle Studies while she wasn't," Ginny said.
Harry and Neville recognized the look that Ron had when they walked into the Common Room and shrugged. Harry said, "Ron did look like he slept."
Ginny knew that Ron had slept during Muggle Studies as Hermione said that when Ron was still waking up when he walked back with them.
Harry said, "oh there is Oliver I will be right back."
Neville said, "where do you want to sit Ginny?"
Ginny smiled she didn't really need help with Herbology, but she could be better in the subject perhaps with Neville she could if Harry was right about Neville being good in Herbology.
Harry said, "Hey Oliver, Ginny said you wanted to talk to me."
Oliver said "hey Harry, yeah but I was willing to wait until dinner or after, but anyway. McGonagall couldn't give you another broom but she managed to let you use a school broom for practice and if needed a match."
Harry saw Olivier barely smile and he said: "what is the bad news?"
Olivier said "it is only a shooting star and not in the very best shape but it was the best broom the school had to offer and the fastest of the shooting stars they have at Hogwarts. I know I always said catch the snitch or die trying but when we practice don't do the same things you didn't with your nimbus 2000, the shooting star is ancient compared to the nimbus 2000 and maybe was fast when he was new but he isn't now and the things you did with your nimbus 2000 could kill you with the shooting star. Also, don't do that during a match as it could also kill you."
Olivier sighed before continuing "now that the painful part is over we will start training again tonight as both you and Katie are better and Katie's broom is fixed by Angelina. She felt really bad as Katie was playing Angelina's part when she got hit, you should have seen Angelina almost begging Katie to forgive her while she did the moment she was in the Hospital wing even before Madam Pomfrey fixed her."
Harry wanted to find Ginny and Neville but Oliver said: "oh yes because we lost the first match."
Harry looked ashamed and Oliver immediately said "with no fault of you, of course, Harry it was the Dementor's fault. Anyway to make sure we are ready for Ravenclaw we are going to train five times a week and want everyone present for all the practices, especially you as you need to learn how far you could go with the shooting star. This is my…. our last time to win the Quidditch Cup."
Harry stared at Oliver with an open mouth, five times. He already was busy with the classes (and electives) and visiting Dobby and Medusa even though he still wasn't sure about visiting Dobby in the kitchen and after the Yule holiday he got training with Professor Lupin and maybe Professor McGonagall got some time to talk about his parents like Professor Lupin could do, but now that would almost be impossible.
Neville saw Harry standing went he went to grab a book about Herbology for Ginny to look in. Olivier had returned to his studies and Neville let Harry to the table where he and Ginny sat. Neville and Ginny tried to get Harry's attention, but couldn't. They went back to the Common Room with Ginny pulling Harry along. When they were on the fourth floor he muttered something and repeated it "Oliver wants to practice five times a week."
Ginny said "five times, that is what most professional teams do. Some professional teams do less most weeks and only do five times a week sometimes."
Neville grinned and said, "well Harry good luck."
Harry said, "this is not funny Neville."
Neville was embarrassed and said "I-I-I am-m s-so-so-sorry Harry."
Harry said "sorry I snapped. Well, there are two things I can do."
Ginny and Neville asked in unison "what?"
Harry said "study ahead and ask Hermione to help me. She would probably make a schedule."
With Harry fully back in the present they walked towards the Gryffindor Common Room still got about an hour left before dinner would start and Neville got the book to help Ginny.
Let's end here. In the next chapter, Harry talks with Hermione about the extra practices. Harry's first experience with a shooting star for practices, the second Quidditch match and the second Hogsmeade weekend at least the first part but depends on the word count.
I will not lie the second Hogsmeade weekend will contain much canon if not all. Please let me know what you think of this chapter and story and if you haven't please check out my other story.
Chapter 14 with the class schedule is correct now as I said I made a few adjustments.
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