Chapter 26: Danger Zone
The next morning, all anyone could talk about was the Chamber of Secrets and who was behind it. Throughout the castle, students were looking around, trying to figure out who would kill Mrs. Norris and why. The chief suspect among them was Harry.
"Filch says Potter found he was a squib, that he hated his cat."
"But he seems so nice."
"Yeah but who knows what he's hiding."
"His best friend is MUGGLEBORN!"
"Excellent cover for doing what he did."
"You remember what he did to those Ravenclaws. What if he decided that wasn't enough? What if the Heir of Slytherin decided he wanted blood?"
On and on the theories ran rampant throughout the school. Harry tried to ignore them but the students weren't being as quiet as they thought they were. What they thought was a whisper ended up more like a stage whisper. Hermione rolled her eyes at them as they walked along.
After the loss of his cat, Filch had resigned his post and an older man named Alfred took over as caretaker. He wasn't as gruff as Filch and could do magic. As such the castle was never cleaner.
One they arrived at Professor McGonagall's office, they knocked and she called for them to enter. The opened the door and were shocked at the sight: no extra tables, not a single scrap of miscellaneous parchment. Everything was neat and tidy.
"Wow…" Harry was amazed. "I take it the extra help has paid off, then?"
"Yes," McGonagall smiled at him. "I am actually able to keep up with everything and I've gotten to know my lions even better. How can I help you?"
"It's about last night," Harry started hesitantly, causing McGonagall to lean forward a little. "I didn't want to say it in front of the crowd but last night, I heard a voice. It said it was hungry and that it wanted to kill. When I followed it, we discovered Mrs. Norris."
"Did you hear the voice, Miss Granger?" McGonagall turned to the bushy-haired girl.
"No ma'am," she said. "We were walking and Harry suddenly went rigid. All I heard was a faint hissing. I just assumed it was from one of the pipes."
McGonagall steepled her hands in front of her face as she pondered.
"I don't think there is anything to worry about," she said "I wouldn't imagine you are going crazy but please let me know if you hear it again. If you do, tell me immediately and Miss Granger? If he hears it, can you pay special attention to what you hear at the same time?"
"While we're here, I have another question," Harry began slowly. "The letter from my mum mentioned someone named Sirius, hoping that he was taking care of me. Who is he?"
McGonagall took off her spectacles and rubbed the bridge of her nose. I'm getting too old for this, she thought.
"Sirius in that letter is Sirius Black," McGonagall said. "He is the man who gave up your parents to Voldemort. There is a spell, an extremely complex one: the Fidelius Charm. It hides something, even something as big as a house. Using this charm, one person is the keeper of the secret. Sirius Black, who we all thought was as much a brother to James as anyone, betrayed them. As Secret Keeper, he gave away your parent's location, allowing Voldemort to find him."
Harry's eye widened and he collapsed into a seat.
"I am sorry to be the bearer of poor news, Harry," McGonagall walked up and laid a hand on his shoulder.
"Thank you for telling us, Professor," Harry said heavily.
"Take care of one another," she replied. "And do keep aware if you hear anything out of the norm."
The duo nodded and started to leave before McGonagall stopped them.
"One more thing, Mr. Potter," Harry turned back to his guardian. "I noticed Professor Snape look at you and then stumble backward. Can you tell me what happened?"
"He looked at me and I felt a small pressure in my forehead," Harry explained, disturbed by the look of rage that overtook McGonagall's face. "Ever since that night where we stopped Voldemort from killing a unicorn, I have felt a little more aware of my own mind and I used some of my magic to make the pressure go away. Did I do something wrong?"
"You? No." McGonagall was a little impressed at her ward and furious at Snape. "What Snape did was called Legilimency. It is a way to read someone's mind. Doing it without permission, especially on a minor is illegal. I will be having words with Severus."
"If it matters," Harry said. "I felt the same thing when Dumbledore looked at me. He was more gentle but I felt it."
"Then I will have words with Albus as well," McGonagall was fuming now. "It's almost time for the D.A. meeting. I'm sure attendance today will be high."
Harry filed everything he had just learned into a corner of his mind and headed down the hall. Sure enough, when Harry and Hermione entered Geneva it was full of students wanting to learn how best to defend themselves. McGonagall split them up by year groups and let them work as usual. Harry started to work with Susan hoping to talk to her about sending a letter to Amelia.
"Good work Susan!" He said as she successfully disarmed him. "Your movement has become much better and your accuracy is great. You just need to work on a making your shields a little stronger but you have really improved."
"Thank you, Harry," she said as she went to sit down by one of the fountains to take a breather. "Auntie really wants me to be able to defend myself. Thank you for starting this group; I don't know where we would be without it."
"It was your idea," Harry said, taking a seat next to her. "I just took it to Professor McGonagall and now look at it."
Students from every house and every year group were present. Some dueling, others reading from a book and a few, like Cedric, were walking around correcting some of the others. Susan laid a hand on his and looked him in the eye.
"All of this is possible through you," she said, earnestly. "I heard many people in Hufflepuff talk about needing something better for defense. You're just the first person to follow through. Thank you."
"Yeah well Hufflepuff does like to talk," Harry spat bitterly.
"The Heir business?" Susan looked at Harry who nodded. "Don't worry about that. Anyone who knows you knows you're not the Heir and anyone who insinuates it, I'll set right."
"Thank you, Susan. I actually was hoping to talk to you. I was hoping to send a photo of the scene from Halloween to Auntie Amelia. I would like to know if she has any ideas."
"Sure! Once you have the picture and the letter ready, we can send Icarus to her."
"Excellent! Shall we go again?" Harry offered his hand as he stood up.
"Give me a moment," Susan said, breathlessly. "You're a hard teacher."
"Oi! Potter!" Harry looked up to see Vinny, Greg, Daphne and Tracey standing in front of him.
"Again guys?" Every session of the D.A. came with the Slytherin Four challenging him.
"Until we can beat you? Yes," Daphne said with a smirk.
"Okay…" Harry stood and bowed to them. Instantly, they moved to flank him and started casting. Crabbe started with a tripping jinx, Goyle disarming, Tracey tried a knockback jinx while Daphne went for a bludgeoning hex. Harry deflected Tracey's jinx into Crabbe, shielded from Goyle's spell and dodged the other two.
Harry rolled and snapped off two expelliarmus spells on Tracey and Crabbe, which Crabbe deflected both away. Daphne stepped forward and sent three more bludgeoners his way, causing Harry to pivot away.
They're getting better, Harry thought as he conjured a piece of wood to block some of the spells headed his way, sent a knockback jinx toward Daphne with an incarcerous right behind it. She a blocked the flipendo but didn't notice the cords coming her way. She was bound and dropped onto the floor.
Losing Daphne, the other three closed ranks.
"Ventus!" Harry let smoke out of his wand, spinning around to obscure his location. Moving three steps to the left, Harry took advantage of their confusion and tighter formation. In moments, all three were bound and the audience was applauding.
"I'm going to start needing help," Harry told the four as he released them from their binds. "You're starting to work as a team."
"Again?" Daphne asked as Harry helped her up, a fierce glint in her eyes.
"No," Harry said to their surprise. "I am worn out from the previous match. Why don't you work on your own, okay?"
"You're just afraid we'll beat you," Vinny said.
"Damn right I'm afraid," Harry smiled at the bigger boy. "I need my energy for this weekend. Can't let Slytherin win the Quidditch Cup, can we?"
"Not in the slightest," Harry's eyes widened as Daphne agreed. "Draco's getting a big head after his daddy bought his way on to the team. It's making him… cocky."
Daphne shuddered at the memory of the previous night.
"Hey Greengrass!" Draco sauntered up to her in the common room.
"What do you want, Draco?" she rolled her eyes at Tracey as he approached.
"How's it feel to be betrothed to me?"
"Excuse me?"
"Father just told me the news," Malfoy smirked. "He and your father have entered into negotiations. In a few years time, you'll be Lady Malfoy."
"The wizarding world doesn't do betrothals anymore," Daphne said. "My father would never sign off on it."
"It's time we returned to our roots; don't you think? No more mudbloods, blood traitors punished accordingly. It's a brave new world and I can't wait to have you be my wife in it."
"What about Parkinson?" Daphne tried to keep her façade in place to not show how scared she was.
"Oh she'll be included too," Draco's smile became fiendish. "As the heir to the Black family, I can take two wives."
"I'll never do it," Daphne pushed back. "I won't marry you."
"If you don't," Draco leaned in and whispered. "I'll have my father create the contract for your little sister. Astoria, was it?"
"If you go near her…" Daphne's eyes hardened.
"Just to keep in mind. It can be you or it can be her. Which would you prefer? The decision is yours. I'd prefer it were you but your sister will be just as good."
"Are you okay, Daphne?" Harry asked, snapping her out of her memory.
"We really need you to knock Draco down a peg," she said quietly.
"Has he…" Harry couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence.
"Nothing yet but the more power he grabs, the cockier he gets and the more he is wanting to push things," Tracey wrapped her arm around Daphne, supporting her friend. "If he wins this weekend, against you no less, he'll be even harder to stop."
"Keep an eye on one another," Harry said. "Don't let him get away with anything. Look out for one another."
"We will," Greg said. "Draco won't be able to try anything, we promise."
Daphne nodded at Greg and Vinny stepping up to defend her, a little taken aback at the change in Malfoy's former bodyguards.
At long last, the weekend arrived and the match with Slytherin was upon them. Harry woke early the day of the match with a heavy knot in his stomach. So much was at stake today: the Quidditch cup, Malfoy's standing within his house. More than likely, it was going to come down to Harry beating Draco. He looked around the common room where Angelina, Alicia and Katie were sitting together in a corner, quiet and tense.
"Are you okay?" Hermione asked as he stepped off the staircase, into the common room. "You look tense."
"I've got to win today," Harry said. He had told her everything Daphne and Tracey had said. "If I don't, things will get worse for Daphne and them in Slytherin."
"You can't focus on that," Hermione admonished. "If you focus on everything, you won't play to your ability. You've worked hard, harder than any team in Hogwarts. You have a great strategy. I don't care how great their brooms are: you'll win."
Hermione gave Harry one of her signature bone-breaking hugs, squeezing and not letting go until she felt Harry relax. Slowly she released the hug but kept hold of Harry's shoulders. She leaned in and gave him a small kiss on the cheek.
"Now go out there and win," she didn't ask, she commanded.
"Yes ma'am," Harry saluted which caused Hermione to hit him. Finally relaxed, Harry laughed and felt light and ready for the match. "Now let's get some breakfast, I'm positively famished."
"Of course, Star Seeker," she smirked at him. "We can't have you falling off your broom. You need your energy."
A while later, Harry was in the locker room. He felt the steady thump of footsteps above him as the crowd gathered. He heard the buzz in the air: they were all excited and ready for this one. Inside the locker room, everyone was silent. They knew what this game meant and Harry could see they all felt the weight of it. Even Wood couldn't be bothered to do a speech to fire up the team.
"Can I speak?" Harry said as he looked at Wood.
"Oh great seeker," Fred smiled mirthfully.
"Tell us what is on your mind," George finished.
Wood couldn't find his voice so he just nodded. Katie, Angelina and Alicia all perked up.
"I know you're nervous; I am too," Harry stood and looked across the locker room. "There's a lot riding on this game. We all know it. There's no doubt: they have the best brooms. But we have the best team. We have worked for a month solid, worked ourselves to the bone. Now I don't know about you but I sure as hell did not work that hard just to lose to a bought-for Slytherin team."
The team murmured their assent.
"Katie, Angelina, Alica? Show them what teamwork looks like. They have the faster brooms, let them use to keep chasing you. Keep the Quaffle moving between you; confound the Slytherin Keeper."
As Harry turned toward Fred and George, the chasers stood from their benches to stand around Harry, confidence blazing in their eyes.
"Fred? George? Make life hell for the Slytherins in the way only you can do. The Bludgers are your weapons: use them well. Keep them off balance; don't let them get comfortable. Sure, they have speed but let's see how they do when you slow them down.
Fred and George joined the Chasers in standing.
"Ollie… you're the captain but you're also the best keeper in this damn school, right?" Wood nodded and now the whole team was standing. "Those hoops are yours and they think they can just shoot at them? What do you say to that?"
"Hell no!" Wood said.
"As for Malfoy: he's mine. That blonde-haired prick has another thing coming if he thinks he can just buy a victory."
Wood regained his voice and his confidence. He stepped forward to continue the speech.
"This. This right here is our moment. The moment where we prove to everyone that money can only buy you a broom. Today we show them what true talent is! Today we fight. For all of Gryffindor. For Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw too. We show them what we can do."
"Go, go Gryffindor!" the team shouted.
"Outside there is a host of students. You can hear it right? You can hear how excited they are. They aren't excited for Slytherin! They're excited for us!
"GO GO GRYFFINDOR" the team shouted louder.
"That's more like it! we are the team to beat and we will show them what we're made of. Now let them all hear us. Let our voices ring from this locker room onto the pitch. Let them hear our mighty roar.
"GO! GO! GRYFFINDOR" The chant filled the room.
"Hand in, everyone!" Wood put his hand in and was joined by six more. "Gryffindor on three! One, two, three…
"GRYFFINDOR!" They shouted, mounting their brooms and flying out of the locker room as one. Lee Jordan hadn't even had time to introduce them as seven crimson blurs flew onto the pitch to raucous cheers. Harry looked and saw three quarters of the stands bedecked in Gryffindor colors. He spotted Hermione standing and cheering with Luna next to her, a big lion head fixed atop her own. She tapped it with her wand and a roar filled the stadium, making those around her flinch.
On the other side of Hermione, Harry was astonished to see Susan and Cedric standing there. Feeling daring, Harry sped toward them. Some of the members around them moved away but Cedric just smiled and raised his hand. Harry rolled and high-fived the older boy as he flew by.
A sound of boos filled the stadium as Harry turned around and saw the Slytherin team enter, their emerald robes shining in the sunlight.
Well they do look fast, Harry said, inwardly. Harry took his spot in the opening formation. Madam Hooch stepped onto the field, carrying the box of balls. She had Wood and Flint shake hands and tapped the box to open it. The Snitch flew off first. Harry watched it fly away as long as he could. Next, the Bludgers were released, one flying uncomfortably close to Harry as it zoomed off. Hooch released the Quaffle and soon the game was off.
Slytherin, with their faster brooms, rushed out to a five goal lead. Their speedy brooms allowed them grab the Quaffle before Gryffindor could. Shocked by their speed, the Gryffindor chasers forgot their strategy and let Slytherin take the early advantage. Fred and George were doing their best to slow them down but there was one issue: one of the Bludgers was attracted to Harry. Every time they would send it away, it would head right back toward Harry. In the stands, Hermione and Luna were holding on to one another for dear life, afraid of what would happen if the Bludger caught up to him.
Wood called an early timeout and lit into the twins.
"What the blazes are you two doing?" He rounded on them. "Katie just nearly got unseated by a Bludger."
"We're more worried about the one that's tailing Harry." Fred said. "Somebody has cursed it to follow him."
"We have to stop the game, "a worried Katie Bell said.
"Then we would forfeit!" Harry was vehement. There was so much at stake, he couldn't give up. "No I'll take care of the Bludger. You guys just have to deal with the other one, okay?"
Harry then got an evil look which scared his teammates.
"In fact, I think I can help the three of you out," He gestured at Angelina, Alicia and Katie.
"If you're sure, Harry," Wood looked at his seeker who nodded aggressively. As one they rose and the match resumed.
I know you said not to do this but it can't be helped, Hermione, Harry found her in the stands as he readied himself for the Bludger to continue its pursuit of him. Time to take the highway to the Danger Zone.
Slytherin was once again quickest to the Quaffle but what they didn't count one was one Harry Potter flying toward them at top speed. Hearing the Bludger hot on his tail, Harry corkscrewed and pushed up hard.
"Shit!" He heard Flint scream. First he thought Harry was going to ram him. Instead he pulled up and a Bludger collided with his chest. Grabbing his chest in pain, he dropped the Quaffle which Katie picked up, heading toward the goal with the other Slytherin chasers in front. Harry cut in front of her, making the Slytherins swerve out of the way of Harry and the tailing Bludger. Left alone, Katie feigned a shot at the right hoop before passing to Alicia who shot it through the left hoop.
On it went and, thanks to Harry using the Rogue Bludger to terrorize the other team, Gryffindor had jumped to a seven goal lead. The chasers started to play smarter, using their passing to make Slytherin's defensive structure disappear completely and Gryffindor pushed the lead to ten.
Now here's where the fun begins, Harry smirked. Thus far, Draco had been spared any attention from the black-haired maniac. That was until Harry moved toward him.
"What are you playing at, Potter?" Draco laughed as he sat on his broom above the pitch. "Showing off, are you? I wonder what your mudblood thinks about you, looking as ridiculous as you do."
Harry froze in midair. Draco was laughing so hard that he never saw the Snitch floating next to his left ear. Harry paid for it when the Bludger slammed into his right shoulder. Wincing in pain, Harry swung around to let the Bludger pick up speed again before pulling a U-Turn, heading straight toward Malfoy. Malfoy panicked and slid backward on his broom. At the last minute, Harry rolled and, while inverted above Draco, caught the Snitch. He wanted to complete the paradigm by flipping off Malfoy as he was inverted but thought Hermione wouldn't appreciate him doing it so he left that part out.
Draco's eyes widened as the Rogue Bludger came and caught him clean in the stomach, launching him off his broom. Luckily the Slytherin Beater Montague was in the area and caught Draco before he fell. Draco fumed as he looked up to see Harry fly over the pitch with the Snitch in his hand.
Harry was elated. Gryffindor was up 12 goals when he caught the Snitch, giving Gryffindor a lopsided 350 to 80 point win. Draco was getting lit up by Flint for not noticing the Snitch next to his face and the stands were vibrating with the cheers of Gryffindor supporters.
That was when Harry realized the Bludger hadn't stopped coming after him. Usually at the conclusion of the game, the Bludgers fall harmlessly to the pitch. Not this one. With his hand held high, the Bludger caught him at the wrist. The Snitch fell from his hand as his hand now lay limply. Cheers became gasps as Harry grabbed his broom with his one good hand, speeding toward the grass below. He could hear the Bludger following.
"Reducto!" Harry heard the shout and looked over his shoulder. Hermione had drawn her wand and, thanks to her typical accuracy, turned the Bludger to dust. Harry exhaled as he pulled up at the ground, rolling off his broom. His wrist was throbbing in pain as he heard footsteps rapidly approaching.
"Not to worry," Harry groaned as he heard that voice. "I'll have you right in a jiffy."
Before Harry could say he preferred Madam Pomfrey, the pain disappeared in his arm, as did every other sensation. Looking down, he saw that his bones were no longer broken which would have been nice if not for the fact that the bones were now missing.
"What did you do!" Harry screamed.
"Ah well… that can happen sometimes," Lockhart said, unfazed. "I'm sure Madam Pomfrey will set you right now. You're welcome."
Harry glared at the man and then saw how he bent his hand completely backward, causing Harry to faint.
The last thought Harry had as he passed out was I'm going to strangle him.