CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Miraculously, Orion had indeed managed to keep his mouth firmly shut. Harry as well, though people were starting to notice a look of conspiracy between the two. They had a secret, and no one else knew what it was. Not even Artemis, who was rather put out the two of them would not let her in on it. Loreley watched them knowingly, but barely anyone paid her any attention. The Slytherins, who could smell a plan or scheme or secret from a mile off, noticed a shift in Black and Potter-Peverell. Some of the girls suspected Orion was having an affair with Harry, but that rumour quickly died when Walburga began hexing anyone who so much as began to talk on that topic.
While practising Occlumency and doing homework, Druella, Walburga, Ygraine and Ophelia questioned Harry about what she and Orion were hiding – and warned Harry not to lie to them. Harry had given them a pointed look before smirking, and simply told them to wait until the Quidditch game of Slytherin versus Hufflepuff. Though the girls looked dubious or worried, they did not push Harry on the matter further. They also found that they couldn't use Legilimency to find the answer. There was a rather firm fortress around that particular memory.
In the boys' dorms, Rosier and Dolohov had tried to get information out of Orion using every method they could think of, barring physical torture and the Unforgivables. They even had taken Somnus and had held the owl upside down. Somnus not only didn't care, he carried on sleeping, much to the chagrin of everyone but Orion. No matter what the boys said or did, though, Orion refused to yield any information about what he and Harry were planning. When Nott tried to chime in, he was met with a cold, hard look from the Black Heir that frankly scared the crap out of him.
The only place Harry and Orion found some peace from all the questions was in the Room of Requirement with Harry's strange portrait. Loreley and Athenaïs would join them. The three kids often lost track of time and missed dinner because of it, causing the room to give them food. Harry's Gargouille had not looked best pleased about their lack of care of themselves and even tried to give them some of the kills she had made, much to their shock and slight disgust. Afterwards, Harry and Orion would often find they had no desire to go back to the Slytherin common room so Loreley smuggled them to Ravenclaw Tower to stay for a sleep over. Just so long as they left before anyone woke up.
Harry found the atmosphere at Ravenclaw Tower more welcoming than she thought. Despite all the blue and copper, it did feel more akin to Gryffindor Tower. Only in this case, the main common room was one giant library and all the tables and sofas were arranged into ideal study spots. Hermione would have loved it; Harry was more and more convinced the Raven Tower was where Hermione truly belonged. Orion felt more out of place, hiding under his blankets to try and hide his unease.
It was sneaking back to the Slytherin common room that proved a challenge. Harry and Orion had to hide and duck in crevices to hide from Peeves the poltergeist, the Headless Hunt and the caretaker making several rounds. They had a few close calls with the Bloody Baron too thanks to Athenaïs hissing at him. Other than that, they made it back without a hitch. Though both of them did have to be given almost bucket loads of coffee to stay awake. Both Harry and Orion almost fell asleep during Charms and Potions, much to the annoyance of McCullagh and Slughorn.
Then came the day of the game Slytherin versus Hufflepuff. Harry felt quite giddy with excitement, despite there also being a level of resentment. Orion had been so excited that he had forgotten to tie his shoelaces and wore his blazer inside out. It just caused even more confusion amongst the Gryffindors. Harry and Orion ate their breakfast while trying to ignore the glances they were getting from every single nosy person in each of the houses. Loreley hummed while peeling her egg, completely unbothered by it all.
It was an overcast and rather windy day that the match was held on. Harry, Orion, Loreley, Artemis and Minerva walked together down to the pitch, holding on to each other now and again to ensure no one tumbled down the hill because of the wind. Artemis had been trying to fish information from Harry, Orion and Loreley while Minerva told her to stop poking her nose where it didn't belong. Orion looked set to break but he managed to keep his silence. Loreley showed no signs of breaking at all.
As soon as the group got to the pitch, Harry broke off and followed the teachers up their tower and – keeping her hood up – took the seat in the commentator seat in front of the brass announcer microphone that Lee Jordan used in her time. Now, it was her turn. People had noticed that a hooded figure had taken the announcer seat, and whispers began circulating around the stands. Harry kept her hood up until Headmaster Dippet gave her the signal that the teams were about to come out.
With dramatic flair, Harry lowered her hood and switched on the mic. "Hello, ladies and gentlemen and welcome to the first Quidditch match of the season – Slytherin versus Hufflepuff. The venom of the Snake will be pitted against the claws and teeth of the Badger! My name is Harry Evans and I will be your announcer for this match. And here come the teams!"
Harry could almost cackle maniacally with glee when she saw the look of absolute shock and horror of her former team mates – War and Bletchley both grinned up at her in glee. The looks on Avery, Lament and Mulciber's faces should have been cast into gold. No, none of them had seen this coming.
"The Hufflepuff team composes of team captain Edward Diggory and Seeker, with Lydia Bones, Patrick Abbott and Henry Macmillan the Chasers, Alastor Moody and Julian Bones as Beaters, and finally Mary Ellis as Keeper! On the Slytherin team, we have team captain Malum Avery, Chaser, Christina Warrington also known as War the Keeper, Chasers Christina Bletchley and Norris, Beaters Mulciber and Pucey, and Lament as Seeker. They take their positions as coach brings out the trunk. We all know what she'll say. 'A nice clean game, from all of you'. We all know that ain't gonna happen!"
A few audible chuckles ran around the stands. As Harry predicted, the coach gave the two teams a small speech before kicking the trunk open and releasing the Bludgers and the Snitch. Harry watched the coach pick up the Quaffle like a hawk.
As Coach tossed the Quaffle into the air, Harry channelled her inner Lee Jordan. "The Quaffle is released, and the game begins! And we are off to one heck of a start. Macmillan has the Quaffle, he tosses to Abbott, Abbott to Bones – Bones dodges a Bludger from Mulciber – that was clearly deliberate – Bones to Macmillan – Macmillan to – oh bugger Norris has the Quaffle – Norris to Bletchley, Bletchley to Avery – Avery narrowly dodges a Bludger from Moody – too bad; it might have knocked some sense into him-"
While Harry channelled her Lee Jordan, it was clear the job of scolding biased commentary fell to Dumbledore. "EVANS!"
"Tell me I am wrong, sir – Avery passes to Norris, Norris to Bletchley – Bones Number Two tried to aim a Bludger at Norris – don't want to have his pretty face damaged too much Bones! – deep breathes, sir! We do not need you to get a heart attack – Norris aims – Slytherin scores!"
Cheers from the green and silver clad stands erupted. Harry wanted to clench her jaw and hex something but she realised that she could take pot shots at the traitors in her house without so much as lifting a finger.
"Macmillan has the Quaffle – Macmillan to Bones Number One – Bones to Abbott – Abbott to Macmillan – Macmillan fleeing from Avery and Bletchley – shoulder toss to Bones – stylish I must say! – Bones to-" Harry's Seeker eyes suddenly caught sight of something fast and gold whizzing in her peripheral vision. "Oooo Golden Snitch alert to the Hufflepuff side of the pitch! Now it is whizzing towards the other end of the pitch!"
Lament and Diggory – who clearly had the looks Cedric would later inherit – zoomed in the direction Harry had said. Harry smirked. "And the Seekers are off. What does it say about both of them when the announcer can see it before they do – speaking off which, the Snitch is now above the heads of some short stack Slytherins – Moody fires a Bludger at Lament – damn it Lament dodges! Pity – a concussion would do that one some good-"
"EVANS! UNBIASED COMMENTARY ONLY!"
"I think if he got hit in the face by a Bludger he'd be marginally better looking is all I am saying, sir! Anyway, Professor Dumbledore is going blue in face so I will attempt to remain civil. MOODY! A BIT TO THE LEFT NEXT TIME! Diggory is after the Snitch – Mulciber and Pucey aim directly at him – Moody and Bones Two aim at them – Macmillan aims at the Slytherin hoops – WAR STOPS THE QUAFFLE AND PASSES TO BLETCHLEY! STUNNING SAVE! Bletchley to Avery – Avery to Norris – Norris back to Avery – Avery aims – ELLIS SAVES! Abbott in possession of the Quaffle – oooo Diggory after the Snitch – he's closing in – WHAT THE ACTUAL F-"
"EVANS!"
"MULCIBER JUST KNOCKED THE HUFFLEPUFF SEEKER CLEAN OUT OF THE AIR! Foul! Complete foul! Free shot for Hufflepuff! Disgusting, cheating-"
"EVANS, FOR THE THOUSANDTH TIME!"
"Sir, you only shouted at me three times! Anyway, after that typical, underhanded bit of cheating-"
"EVANS!"
"After one of the Slytherin Beaters attempts murder in the second degree-"
"EVANS, I WILL NOT WARN YOU AGAIN!"
"Very well, sir. After Mulciber attempts murder in the first degree, we will be suspending the match to see if the Hufflepuff Seeker can still fly and give Hufflepuff a free pass. I mean, I wish I could say that I am surprised at this behaviour but I am really not."
More than a few people were dying of laughter, practically crying tears. War and Bletchley had to bite into their lips to stop their chuckles from escaping. Avery looked up at Harry with a look of betrayal in his eyes, which made Harry sneer. The nerve of the guy! Mulciber was kicking the ground, not daring to look up at Harry. Lament was glowering up at her, which made Harry preen inside. The rest of Slytherin House did not know whether to be angry or ashamed. Most opted for the former but just as many went for the latter.
As it turned out, Diggory had the resilience of his descendant and insisted on finishing the match. Harry wondered if his arm was sprained or broken, but if that was the case, Edward Diggory did not show it.
"And he's back! It seems that Slytherins are not the only ones blessed with sturdy, iron spines. There they go back into the air, folks! Macmillan takes the free shot – and WAR MISSES! AVALON ALMIGHTY! Slytherin and Hufflepuff are tied so far! Quaffle is caught by Bletchley – Bletchley to Norris – Norris to Avery but Abbott intercepts! Avery and Norris in hot pursuit – Beaters in pursuit of them as well! Diggory and Lament in pursuit of the Snitch – they look like they are about to crash – would be funny – only joking, sir – Lament and Diggory lose the Snitch – again – their eye sight needs fixing – breathe sir, breathe – Pucey and Moody almost take each other out – Avery and Bletchley now after Bones Number One – Snitch after Avery – Avery doesn't notice, probably thinks it's a wasp – wasp season is over Avery – Diggory and Lament zooming at Avery – Snitch gone to chase Norris because why not have some fun-"
It was at this point where it began to become unnaturally cold. The biting winds grew a little more vicious and icy; unnaturally so for early October. Harry's eyes narrowed, something about this felt familiar. Harry's eagle eyes started to notice ice forming on her microphone and along the banister of the teachers' tower. Harry's eyes widened. Oh no … Oh no!
They are coming. Grindelwald; testing Hogwarts' defences, he knows the Cursebreaker is here … THEY were coming.
Dementors.
Harry steeled herself. It was only then that she realised that she had not been giving any commentary at all. People were looking quite worried. Harry stood up from her seat. "Everyone off your brooms and out of the air – NOW!"
Dippet rose to his feet. "Evans, what is the meaning-"
By now, the ice had spread to most of the stands. Harry's eyes turned skywards as she began to feel the whispers of Voldemort and Lily begin to stir in her head. Right above the stadium, were around thirty of those bony, cloaked menaces. As soon as everyone saw the approaching creatures, panic ensued. The children started screaming and attempting to flee the stands as the Dementors etched ever closer. These Dementors were clearly not Ministry sanctioned!
The teachers were all readying their wands. But Harry – she knew exactly what she needed to do. She closed her eyes and focused on the time she went shopping with Remus, Sirius disguised as Snuffles, Tonks, Moody, Ron, Hermione and the twins, and how they all had to help restrain Remus from the chocolatier shop. Her friends, her family – all alive, and a moment of peace. A moment where no one was trying to kill them.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" Harry bellowed, momentarily not realising she was still in front of the mic.
Harry had expected the silver stag to come galloping out of her wand. That it did; Prongs went bravely into the fray. But joining the silver stag, was the clear image of a silver Grim, a silver werewolf and a silver dragon in the shape of a Hungarian Horntail. Padfoot and Moony … and the dragon Harry faced. These ethereal beasts roared a battle cry and engaged the Dementors in battle, leaving streaks of silver as they moved swiftly through the air. Prongs hunted Dementors on the Hufflepuff side while Padfoot went after the ones targeting the Slytherins. Moony and the dragon protected the players and stopped any stray Dementors trying to break through the undulating shield that Harry's wand had constructed.
Padfoot and Moony tore into their prey, Prongs bucked and tossed the Dementors he caught with his antlers and the dragon burned any she caught with silver fire. It was terrifying but stunning. Harry could not pay too much attention to it; it could mean doom for some poor children.
Screeching and crying out in pain, the Dementors were gone as swiftly as they had come. The defeated Dementors were either a pile of bones or were nothing but ash. It was only when Harry felt the voices of Voldemort and her mother leave that she weakened the hold of her spell.
As the shield dissipated, Moony, Padfoot, Prongs and the dragon came up to Harry, bowed before her and returned to silvery mist. For a few moments, Harry bent forward and breathed quite heavily. In the dead silence, it sounded like it echoed around the stadium.
"No one has any chocolate on them, by any chance?" she asked weakly before her whole world turned to darkness.
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It seems Grindelwald had more than one trick up his sleeve and Harry had a rather interesting first session as the announcer. How will the affect her relationship with the Slytherins do you think? How will she react to this Dementor attack?
Stay tuned and find out!
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