Chapter 9
The Midnight Duel
Growing up I thought Dudley was the most annoying, irritating, and rude person I had ever met. I was wrong! While Dudley was a fat pig, Malfoy was an irritating ferret. All he could do was boast about how rich he was, how well he could ride a broom, or how pure his stupid blood was. He had his two cronies who followed him everywhere and did everything he said. Fortunately, I only really saw him in potions unless he decided to come annoy us personally. Unfortunately, we had to deal with him and the other Slytherins during our flying lessons. When the flier went up, it was what most of the other kids talked about, how they were flying from an early age to what kind of brooms they had at home and which ones were the best. There were only a select few who hadn't flown before and they were usually a Muggleborn due to them not even knowing about magic until recently. Most of them were nervous but excited. One of the few who didn't want anything to do with a flying broom was Hermione. Since the start of school, we had been spending more time together, enjoying our shared love of books and learning. During those times, she mentioned more than once about her fear of great heights and doesn't think she can trust a flimsy broom to keep her in the air. While I understood her hesitation, I was also practically vibrating with excitement the day we were supposed to start flying. I had walked down to breakfast with Harry and Ron like most mornings and was almost bouncing in my seat wanting the lessons to start already. Hermione came down a little later and sat in front of me, telling me of all the tips she's learned from a quidditch book when the mail came in. There were the usual letters from home delivered, and occasionally a box of treats sent by parents, something Malfoy got every damn day, and people giving their owls a treat for delivering their mail. Today Neville had a package plopped down in front of him from his grandmother. He opened the small package to find a clear glass ball inside. A look of recognition came to Neville's face.
"It's a Remembrall! Gran knows I forget things – this tells you if there's something you've forgotten to do. When you hold it tight it turns red – oh…"
"Um Neville, it seems you forgot something."
I didn't have the heart to tell him that he forgot his outer robes and was just wearing the school uniform. He was trying to figure out what he forgot when the glass ball was snatched out of his hand by Malfoy. I jumped up from my seat, eager to have a reason to kick Malfoys ass, when Professor McGonagall got there first. The second McGonagall got there to intervene, Malfoy dropped the glass ball back on the table in front of Neville and walked away. After the small confrontation I finished my food and went to my usual classes constantly looking at the time to see if it was time for flying lessons. Finally at three thirty everyone made their way out to the flat patch of grass where the flying lessons would be taking place. Standing there in front of their brooms already were the Slytherins. The twenty broomsticks were on the ground arranged in two rows of ten facing each other. Looking at them, you could tell they were well worn school brooms. Some of them looked to have pieces of the wood missing, some splintered, and others shaking the moment you touched them. The teacher for their lesson was a professor named Madam Hooch. She was a woman with chopped gray hair, and eyes similar to a bird with a bright golden iris. The second we got there she started barking orders at us to pick a broom and stand next to it waiting to give us our next instruction. As soon as everyone had a broom, she instructed us how to get our brooms off the ground and into our hands.
"Stick out your right hand over your broom and say UP!"
One by one the word UP was heard from every student. Only a few got the brooms in their hands with the first command, two of them being Harry and I, and another being Malfoy unfortunately. For everyone else the brooms would roll around or not make any movement at all. After everyone had a broom in their hand, either from it finally going into their hand or just giving up and picking it up, Madam Hooch instructed us on how to mount our brooms. She walked down the row correcting anyone who needed it. Funny enough, she informed Malfoy that he had been doing it wrong for correcting his posture and grip she walked back up the rows of brooms to give the next instruction.
"Now, when I blow my whistle, you will kick up from the ground, hard. Keep your brooms steady, rise a few feet, and then come straight back down by leaning forward slightly. On my whistle – three – two – "
However, before she could finish the countdown Neville jumped in the air too soon and was slowly starting to rise higher and higher into the sky with a terrified look on his face. Madam Hooch tried to tell him to come down, but it was obvious Neville had no control of his broom and he had no idea what he was doing. It was then when his broom got to about twenty to twenty-five feet in the air did he finally slip off and landed on the ground with a large thud and a crack sounding from the wrist he landed on. The broomstick he had been on was continuing to rise till it was out of sight, drifting off to the forbidden forest. Madam Hooch rushed over to Neville and lifted him up off the ground to survey the damage.
"Broken wrist, come on boy – it's all right, up you get."
She turned to the rest of us with a serious look in her eyes.
"None of you is to move while I take this boy to the hospital wing! You leave those brooms where they are or you'll be out of Hogwarts before you can say 'Quidditch.' Come on dear."
She walked back towards the castle half carrying Neville who had tears running down his embarrassed face. The second they were out of earshot the sound of laughter was heard coming from the Slytherins, more specifically Malfoy surrounded by his friends.
"Did you see his face, the great lump?"
A girl from Gryffindor named Parvati told him to be quiet but that got the attention of Pansy Parkinson. She was a Slytherin girl always simpering after Malfoy with plain dark hair and a face that was similar to a pug. Leaning down, Malfoy scooped something off the ground and held it up where everyone could see. In his hand was Neville's new Remembrall.
"Look! It's that stupid thing Longbottom's gran sent him."
Harry pushed forwards to Malfoy with Ron and I close behind him.
"Give that here Malfoy."
Malfoy just gave him a stupid smirk.
"I think I'll leave it somewhere for Longbottom to find – how about – up a tree?"
Malfoy then mounted his broom and took off towards the nearest tall oak tree. He turned his broom around to face us.
"Come and get it, Potter!"
Harry looked at me and I knew that face, it was the face he made before he did something stupid. I sighed and grabbed my broom as well as his. He raised his eyebrow at me when I started to mount my broom.
"Don't look at me like that, if you do something stupid then I'm doing it with you."
He smiled and proceeded to mount his broom as well. Before we could kick off Hermione ran towards us.
"NO! Madam Hooch told us not to move – you'll get us all into trouble."
I just snorted at her
"Yeah, but it'll be well worth it."
Before she could complain any more both me and Harry were in the air soaring towards Malfoy. Feeling the broom under me felt natural as if I had been doing this for years. The breeze in my hair and my robes flapping around me. Looking down at our classmates, I was really happy I got uniform trousers instead of only a skirt. The higher we got the more people started to cheer us on till finally we were face to face, or broom to broom, with Malfoy wearing a look of shock. Harry was the first to confront him.
"Give it here or we'll knock you off that broom!"
He tried to sneer but the small worry was noticeable, two against one in the air was not looking good for him. Seeing his eyes shift around him for an idea I called out to him.
"Give it up Malfoy, no Crabb or Goyle to save you up here."
Instead of giving up though he shot off past us with me and Harry right behind him. I was catching up to him and could see the clear ball grasped tightly in his fist. I caught up just enough to reach the ball when I slammed into him and knocked the sucker right out of his hand. He started to roll in the air before getting his bearings and headed for the ground to get away. The ball though, was hurtling straight towards the ground with Harry right behind it with his arm outstretched In Front of him right before he hit the ground, he grasped the glass ball and pulled his broom up from the nosedive he was in about a foot from the ground. With the ball raised he lowered himself to the ground with me landing beside him. Everyone but the Slytherins were rushing towards us with cheers of glee. We were surrounded by people congratulating us when we heard.
"HARRY AND HOPE POTTER!"
The crowd parted to reveal a stone-faced Professor McGonagall marching towards us.
"Never – in all my time at Hogwarts – how dare you – might have broken your necks – "
Ron and Parvati tried to get McGonagall to understand that it was Malfoy's fault but she wasn't having it.
"Potters, follow me, now."
Me and Harry looked over to see Malfoy and his little group snickering at us, looking almost proud that we may get kicked out. We started to trudge along behind McGonagall as she strode towards the castle. As we walked the halls, we were both wondering where we were going and what would happen to us. The worst possible thing would be getting expelled and having to go back to the Dursleys, if they even let us back in the house after all that's happened. I looked to see Harry completely frightened and reached over to hold his hand in comfort. At least if we are sent back home, we will be sent back together. After feeling my hand and looking at my face that was trying to express to him that everything would be ok, he breathed a deep breath and gave me a small smile while gripping my hand a little tighter. The longer we walked, the more I wondered where we were going. With Professor McGonagall being silent with no indication of where she was taking us, she finally stopped outside the charms classroom which confused me more. She opened the door and spoke out to Professor Flitwick.
"Excuse me Professor Flitwick, could I borrow Wood for a moment?"
Huh? Wood as in Oliver Wood? Why would she need to see him about whatever punishment we were getting? McGonagall moved from the doorway as Oliver came out into the hallway and she closed the door behind him. He saw me and nodded his head as a greeting and I nodded back. McGonagall turned back to the three of us.
"Follow me you three."
She walked off again, this time having three people following instead of two. Since no one knew what was going on we thought it best to stay silent. Wood looked over at me with a questioning glance and I just shrugged my shoulders, he knew about as much as I did at this point. McGonagall stopped in front of an empty classroom and ushered us in before closing the door. Inside was Peeves trying to write all kinds of insults and curses on the blackboard. McGonagall turned to the ghost.
"Out, Peeves."
He didn't even turn around as he just blew out a fart sound. I picked up a discarded book left on a desk and threw it at his head.
"Move it beach ball, don't make me ask again."
He turned around in a flash and stuck his tongue out at me before speeding off to cause trouble somewhere else. McGonagall turned to me surprised.
"How did you get him to listen to you?"
Wood just chuckled
"Professor, Hope has been handling Peeves since her first night here when she threatened to sick the bloody baron on him for something he didn't do, he's terrified of her now."
McGonagall just hmm'd and nodded her head.
"Back to the topic of why you three are here, Wood, I have found you a new Seeker and a replacement Chaser since Ms. Spinnet was injured last year and decided to stop playing."
Woods' face changed to amazement and delight.
"Are you serious Professor?"
"Absolutely, they are naturals. I've never seen anything like it. Was that your first time on brooms you two?"
We both nodded completely confused by this conversation. I knew Wood was the Captain of the Quidditch team from him telling me on the train, but last I checked, first years weren't allowed to be in the team. McGonagall pointed to the Remembrall still clutched in Harry's hand.
"She knocked that out of someone's tight grip while staying perfectly on her broom which led to Mr. Potter catching it in a fifty-foot dive, they didn't even scratch themselves. Charlie Weasley couldn't have done it."
Wood was now looking at us like a Christmas gift he always wanted.
"Hope has told me you two have never seen a game of Quidditch, told me so on the train. Well, that's going to change."
Harry looked at me with a questioning glance, hoping I would fill him in on what's going on.
"Wood is the Captain of the Quidditch team Harry, he told me that this year he's going to have to look for a new Seeker and Chaser for the team this year. The last Seeker was Ron's brother Charlie and graduated last year and Alicia ended up falling off her broom and injured herself enough to not want to play anymore."
"Correct Ms. Potter, I'm hoping to get Dumbledore to bend the rules of first years on the team for the two of you. I'm tired of Slytherin beating us and Professor Snape acting insufferable about it."
Our eyes widened in shock, not only were we not getting kicked out, but we were being put on the Quidditch team as well. Oliver came over and sized us up.
"He's just the build for a Seeker, light – speedy, and she has the strength and size for a fantastic Chaser. We'll need to get them some proper brooms though. A Nimbus 2000 for him for speed and a Cleansweep 7 for her, it's thicker with a good speed, better for her to hang on to."
Professor McGonagall nodded her head at Oliver then looked at us with a stern face and an eyebrow raised.
"I want to hear you're training hard, Potters, or I might change my mind about punishing the two of you."
Her voice gave no allowance for us to argue about it, and we didn't want to. This was something most first years could only dream about, and we were not in any way interested in throwing it away. With that we nodded our heads in agreement. She nodded her head once more and gave a smile in satisfaction. The last thing she said before leading us out if the room was
"Your father would have been proud of the both of you, he was on his quidditch team as well, a Seeker I believe."
"You're joking"
Ron was staring at us with his jaw almost sitting on the pile of food on his dinner plate.
"Seeker and Chaser? But first years never get to be on the team! You two must be the youngest House players in- "
"A century, yes Oliver already told us Ron now can you please close your mouth, I'm not a fan of seeing all the food you've chewed."
He apologized and continued to eat while Harry filled him in on the rest of what Oliver told us.
"We start training next week, only don't tell anyone, Wood wants to keep it a secret."
Suddenly Harry was pushed over a little and both of my sides were flanked by my two partners in crime. Both of the twins had smiles on their faces and an arm wrapped around me to pull me in for one of their hugs. George was the first one to speak in a low voice.
"Well little apprentice, apparently congratulations are in order, Wood has just informed us of you and your brother being our new teammates."
Fred turned to my brother and knocked into his shoulder
"Congrats to you too Harry"
Harry looked a little confused.
"Why did Wood tell you? He told us to keep it a secret."
"The twins are beaters on the team, they are the ones who introduced me to Wood on the train. I met him when we went to see Lee's new spider. I also met Katie and Angelina, they are the other two chasers."
Fred turned back to me and ruffled my hair.
"Correct little protégé."
I gave him a playful glare
"Don't make me bite you."
He took his hand from my hair and held it to his chest in shock.
"Humph, well I am truly offended. George, she threatened me."
"Don't look at me, I don't want her biting me too, she's terrifying she is."
I just chuckled at them, happy to have people who truly get my sense of humor. They chuckled as well before turning back to the topic of our new Quidditch team status.
"I tell you; we're going to win that Quidditch cup for sure this time. We haven't won in years, but this year we will. You two must be great, Wood was almost skipping when he told us."
Said Fred before trying to steal a bite of my food before getting his hand smacked.
"Abusive much?"
I stuck my tongue out at him.
"Oh, go eat your own food."
He stuck his tongue out right back at me before getting up from the table with George.
"Afraid we must go anyway our little apprentice, Lee figures that he found a new secret passageway out of school."
George chuckled at that.
"Bet it's that one behind the statue of Gregory the Smarmy that we found in our first week."
George looked down at me.
"Remind us this weekend when Wood doesn't have you practicing to have us show you all the passageways, you may need them one day for sneaking around."
"If I didn't know any better, I would think you two are trying to be bad influences."
Fred responded with a chuckle.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I thought we were being clearer, we are absolutely being a bad influence on you, not like you need it."
They both chuckled and avoided me trying to swat them as they ran away from me laughing. I laughed at their retreating forms before going back to my food and saw Ron shaking his head.
"You are just as bad as them, if anything you're the bad influence."
"Oh, you are just no fun."
I retorted as I threw a roll at him which caused the three of us to chuckle at each other and go back to enjoying our meal together. Before we got too comfortable though, an annoying ferret and his two cronies decided to interrupt our peacefulness. I looked up at Malfoy standing in front of us with Crabbe and Goyle looming behind him.
"Having a last meal, Potters? When are you getting the train back to the Muggles?"
I couldn't help but chuckle at him.
"Wow, so in the air you are a spineless wimp, but now that you have your two bodyguards you have no problem with trying to scare us off. No wonder I was able to knock the Remembrall so easily, you're pathetic Malfoy."
His face scrunched up in anger while his two buddies were cracking their knuckles trying to frighten us.
"I could take either one of you anytime I want on my own. Tonight, how about a wizard's dule, wands only – no contact. Which one of you is up for it? Oh wait, let me guess, neither one of you even knows what a wizard's duel is do you?"
Before we could retort, Ron jumped from his seat and spun around to face them.
"Of course they do, Harry will take you with Hope as his second. Who's yours?"
Malfoy looked behind him sizing up Crabbe and Goyle trying to decide.
"Crabbe, midnight alright? We'll see you in the trophy room; that's always unlocked."
Malfoy turned around and sauntered off to his own table on the other side of the hall. Ron sat back down to face Harry and I again. Harry was confused by what just happened moments ago, and honestly so was I. Harry looked at Ron to ask the question on both our minds.
"Um, what is a wizard's duel? And what do you mean Hope is my second?"
Ron being oblivious to how confused we were answered without really thinking.
"Well, a second's there to take over if you die."
With that remark Harry had gone deathly pale and reached over to give Ron a smack across the side of his head. I turned to a pale Harry to try and give him some comfort.
"I doubt it will be like that Harry, we're first years, what are we going to know that will cause someone to die? At most all we will be able to do is send a few sparks at each other."
Ron was sheepish as he nodded his head in agreement.
"She's right, it really won't be that serious or anything. If anything, you can just go up and punch him in the nose."
"Nope that would be my job, I'm the twin with the strength if you remember."
"Excuse me."
Me and Harry looked behind us to see a stern Hermione with her arms crossed looking at us. Couldn't anyone just let us finish our meal in peace? Ron apparently shared that sentiment with a groan and his arms going up in defeat. Hermione just ignored him and continued to glare at me and my brother.
"I couldn't help overhearing what you and Malfoy were talking about – "
"Um Hermione, I think we both know you were listening."
"But you mustn't go wandering around the school at night, think of the points you'll lose Gryffindor if you're caught, and you're bound to be. It's really very selfish of you two."
I got up and put my hands on Hermione's shoulders hoping to shake some sense into her.
"Hermione, we've talked about this, YOU NEED TO LIGHTEN UP! We are going to be fine; you don't need to have any part in this so let it go, got it?"
She let off a groan and walked away leaving us to finally finish our meal in peace. After our meal everyone headed back up to our dorm. I went into the room I shared with 4 other girls, one of them being Hermione, and grabbed my charms book hoping to get a little practice in just in case. I was alone till Hermione came up trying again to convince me not to go tonight. When it proved futile, she tried again with the approach that she would tell on us if we did. Then I reminded her that if she blabbed, I would have no problem telling everyone that she did, which would make everyone just as mad at her as they would at us. She finally was quiet after that and left me to my studying as the night grew later and the other girls got ready for bed. I went through my nightly routine just like them except for the fact that under my bathrobe I hid normal clothes that would be better to fight and/or run away in if necessary. When the clock hit eleven thirty, I got out of bed quietly so as to not wake the other girls and slipped off my robe to head downstairs and meet up with the boys. However, I got halfway down the stairs when Hermione came running down behind me. I was mad but kept my voice at a whisper so I didn't alert anyone.
"What the bloody hell are you doing?"
"I am making sure that neither of you three do anything to get us in trouble. If I can't go and tell someone then I might as well supervise you myself."
I groaned and dropped my head back in defeat, knowing that there would be no way to convince her to stay in the room. I turned on the stairs to make my way down where I found Harry and Ron waiting for me. They both saw who was following and groaned just as I did. Ron was the first to comment on our little guest.
"What is she doing here? Did you tell her she could come?"
"Of course I didn't but I wouldn't let her tell on us so she refuses to stay put. It's either she goes or she finds a way to stop us altogether."
They could tell I was serious about her needing to come with so they both just sighed in defeat. The four of us made our way out of the common room and into the dark corridor on our way to the trophy room. As I looked around, I realized that while during the day, the castle looked so warm and welcoming, at night it looked like a castle that housed Dracula or Frankenstein's Monster. The stone walls were inky black with the only light coming from a single candle held in Harry's hand that we grabbed from the common room. The light from the candle was creating shadows along the walls adding to the effect of ghost figures. Then there were the drafts that would blow along the hall and give you a chill down your spine accompanied by the many different moans and creeks that came with a structure of age. Before we could get too far we heard a shuffling sound and as we got closer we discovered it was a fully healed Neville.
"Thank goodness you found me! I've been out here for hours; I couldn't remember the new password to get back in."
The poor boy was absolutely frightened so I brought him over to me to calm him down.
"Don't worry Neville, it's fine, just calm down. Go back up to the portrait and tell the fat lady the password is 'Pig Snout', if she isn't there wait for us and we will get you back in, ok?"
The idea of us leaving him frightened him even more.
"No, please don't leave, I don't want to be alone."
"I get that Neville but if you go with us and we are caught then you will be in trouble with us. If you go and someone finds you, then you have a good excuse and won't get into any trouble. You don't want to risk losing us House points, do you?"
He quickly shook his head.
"Then I need you to be brave and go to the painting and wait for us if you need to."
He took a deep breath then nodded his head. He slowly, if not very shakily, made his way back to the portrait. I turned to find the other three looking at me. Harry, who has seen my motherly side on more than one occasion, had a small smile, like he was used to stuff like this. The other two had their brows raised. Ron, who looked between me and the disappearing figure of Neville, spoke up.
"How did you do that? If I didn't know better, I would have thought my mother was with us."
I just shrugged my shoulders before responding.
"I don't know, a motherly person, I have a thing for looking out for people. Now let's go and get this done with before we're caught."
We continued on till we reached the trophy room. It was a room with the walls lined with glass cabinets filled with many different awards and trophies, each made with gold, bronze, or silver that each glittered in the moonlight coming from the windows in their own way. The room was empty so we entered it, keeping our eyes on the two opposing doors of the room, waiting for Malfoy to show. When we started to think Malfoy had chickened out, we heard the gravelly rough voice of Filch coming from outside the room.
"Sniff around, my sweet, they might be lurking in a corner."
Terrified at the idea of being caught, we quickly scurried out of the room using the other door. We were moving quietly to not alert Filch of our presence when Ron's robe got caught on a suit of armor as we were passing and it came clattering to the stone ground with a huge BANG!
"Run!"
The four of us sprinted off hoping to outrun the old caretaker and avoid getting caught. We ran till we approached an old tapestry and jumped behind it to find a long empty corridor. We ran down it to band into a locked door. Ron was pushing and pulling trying to get the door unlocked while we heard the footsteps of Filch growing closer and louder. Ron was in a panic trying to get the door open.
"This is it; we're done for."
Hermione groaned and shoved Ron out of the way.
"Oh, move over. Alohomora."
The latch on the door clicked and re rushed inside and closed the door behind us. We pressed our ears to the door and listened as we heard Filch pass by the door and shuffle around before rushing off again. When enough time passed, we all let out a sigh of relief. Harry while keeping his ear on the door finally decided we were in the clear.
"I think we'll be okay; he thinks the door is still locked."
We all turned around and saw something that shocked and scared us right to our core. In front of us was a GIANT dog towering over us. But it wasn't the size that scared us so much as it was the fact that this dog had three heads! The heads each had their own pair of crazy eyes and drooling mouths that were filled with razor sharp teeth. The four of us stood like statues as it got its bearings and woke up to have its six eyes finally trained on us. When it finally realized what it was seeing, a low growl rose from its three throats. Knowing what that sound would lead to I grabbed the handle and pulled the door open allowing us to tumble out of the room and away from the deranged dog creature. When the door was closed and once again locked securely, we rushed back to our dorm as quickly and quietly as possible. We got to the portrait to see the fat lady positioned in her usual spot with a shocked look at seeing four young students out of bed so late into the night.
"Where have you four been?"
Tired and out of breath we responded quickly.
"Never mind that, 'Pig Snout' mow let us in."
She reluctantly opened the portrait hole and let us clamber through back into the safety of our common room. We all sat down on the couch to catch our breath when Hermione decided to speak first.
"I hope you three realize that was a trap set up by Malfoy."
I looked at her like she was now the one with three heads. I responded back with my words dripping with sarcasm.
"Oh really? No, we didn't notice, thanks for the heads up."
Her eyes narrowed in annoyance when Ron spoke up.
"What do they think they're doing, keeping a thing like that locked up in a school?"
Hermione then turned her focus on Ron.
"None of you look with your eyes, do you? Did you see what it was standing on?"
"Um oh I don't know, THE FLOOR? I didn't really look; I was more focused on not getting eaten by one of its THREE HEADS!"She rolled her eyes at us.
"No, it was standing on a trap door which means it's obviously guarding something. Now if you boys don't mind, I'm going to bed and I'm taking Hope with me."
Before either boy could respond she had a death tight grip on my arm and was dragging me up the stairs. She ignored me as I got dressed in my pj's and climbed into bed. The last thing I thought of was
Please don't let whatever its guarding have anything to do with us