Chapter Six
The next day were Quidditch try outs. Now that they were in second year and allowed to have brooms, the bright sunny morning had Harry, Draco and Daphne waiting on the Quidditch pitch with several other Slytherins, although they were the only ones from second year.
Pansy and Neville were sitting in the stands cheering for them.
"What's a Gryffindor doing here?" Marcus Flint said glaring suspiciously up at Neville.
"He's our friend, just here to watch." Harry explained.
Marcus nodded and turned his attention to the rest of the students, "Welcome all of you. I'm Marcus Flint team captain and Chaser. Behind me we have the rest of the team, Adrian Pucey- Chaser, Miles Bletchley- Keeper, Terence Higgs- Seeker, Christopher Bailey- Beater. Last year we also had William Spoot- Chaser and James Bones- Chaser but they were seventh year and have now left so we have two positions to fill. Higgs will be moving up to Chaser so we have a Beater and a Seeker to find."
Marcus straightened his gloves, "We'll start with Beaters, I'm going to let the bludgers go and just watch for now. Everyone pick up a bat and don't let them hit my team."
Harry, Draco and Daphne mounted their brooms and kicked off. Harry missed a few bludgers but did fairly well, Draco missed a few as well. One of which resulted in Bailey getting hit, which wasn't a brilliant impression to make. Daphne, however, was surprisingly good. She didn't miss one and even managed to hit one of the bludgers into the other. After about half an hour Flint blew his whistle and the flyers all returned to the ground.
"That was very well done. I'm impressed." He nodded, "Next is the Seeker position. This one is very important as there have been very few games lost by the team that has caught the snitch. So, we'll do elimination rounds. There are ten of you so I will release nine snitches, once you've caught one fly back down."
They kicked off again and watched as the snitches were released. They were faster than Harry remembered but that might have been partly because he was nervous. He managed to spot one and zoomed towards it, catching it easily enough and landed first on the ground shortly followed by Draco.
He could see Flint making notes on a clip board and talking quietly to his other team mates. The rounds continued in a similar way, Harry and Draco always first or second. Daphne was eliminated in the last four and went to stand with the others who had missed the snitch.
It was down to just Harry and Draco when Flint stopped them, calling them back down to the ground. He called his team mates around him and they talked for a few minutes. Harry stood nervously between Daphne and Draco trying not to pick at his nails.
"You've all done brilliantly." He said and the team gave them a round of applause, "If you don't get in this year don't let it stop you from trying out again next year and keep practising. So I'll put you all out of your misery. Out new Beater will be, Daphne Greengrass. Well done!"
Daphne squealed happily and skipped forwards to shake the team's hands. She took her place among them, beaming.
"Next we break from tradition. Not only are we welcoming a girl to the team for the first time in nearly ten years but for the first time ever we are having two Seekers. We hope that it will encourage you both to get better. We'll decide on the day of the game who will be playing based on the practices. So our two new Seekers are Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy."
There were a few sighs from around them but most people had guessed either Harry or Draco would be placed. They had clearly out shone the other players.
Harry went forward and shook hands with the team, hugging Daphne. Flint patted him on the back.
"Excellent flying out there today Harry. I know you have a Nimbus two-thousand, and it's a good broom, but as a team we're saving up for new brooms for us all. Would you mind using a team broom if we got there?" Flint asked.
"No not at all." Harry said, actually rather relieved his broom would be safe, "Which brooms are you saving for?"
"The best we can get." Flint smirked, "Currently that's the Nimbus two-thousand and one but there might be an even better one by then."
Draco came over, "Well I'm sure I could help towards costs, having such good brooms would give us a brilliant edge."
Flint smirked, "Well if you could that would be brilliant."
Draco wrote to his father that evening. It was only a few days later when the team walked onto the pitch again. Neville and Pansy made their way up to the stands and got good seats. It wasn't too cold so there were a few other people around. Harry gave them a wave and walked with the others onto the pitch. There was a problem.
The Gryffindor team was already flying around the pitch. Wood landed with the others and walked over.
"What's this Flint? I have the pitch booked for Gryffindor today." Wood said, he was backed by the Weasley twins, rather menacingly holding their Beaters bats.
Flint sighed loudly and pulled out a note, handing it to Wood, "They should have told you."
Wood read over the note and crumpled it up, "Says you have three new players. Who?"
Flint moved to the side, "Daphne Greengrass- Chaser, Draco Malfoy- Seeker and Harry Potter- Seeker."
Ronald moved forward at Harry's name and glared, "Can't have two Seekers in a game at one time."
"They'll be playing separately." Flint said through gritted teeth, "We checked with Madam Hooch; she says it's fine."
There was a mummer of annoyance from the Gryffindor team.
"Look there's plenty of room for all of us shouldn't we just get on with it?" Flint snapped making a move to get past them.
"What's all this?" Wood asked, pointing at the seven shining new brooms all the Slytherins carried.
"A gift from Draco's father." Flint said getting cross, feeling no need to explain his team to stuck-up Gryffindors.
Neville and Pansy had made their way over by now, seeing the trouble brewing.
Ron snorted, "Well at least no one on the Gryffindor team had to buy their way in. We all did it by having actual talent."
"No one bought their way in Ron." Harry growled.
"Maybe if your parents didn't have more children than they could feed you'd be able to ride something better than a second hand clean sweep." Daphne said crossing her arms angrily.
A few of the Slytherins chuckled. Ron's ears flushed red with anger.
"Well Malfoy at least my parents can give me siblings." Ron said quietly.
Draco went pale and Harry filled with anger.
"How dare you?!" Harry spat, "Go hang out with a mudblood! It's all you're good for!" (22)
Pansy gasped, "Harry!"
Ron spat on the ground and pointed his wand at Harry, "Eat slugs!" he shouted.
The spell shot from the end of Ron's wand and floated in the air for a second before slamming back into him. Ron fell to the floor and belched up several large, brown, slugs.
Harry let out a laugh before straightening his face, "Take him to Hagrid's." he said, "He'll know what to do."
Ron's brothers had helped him up and narrowly also missed getting covered in slugs, "We don't need your help thanks!" they shouted.
"Well maybe your brother should leave magic to those who know how to use it." Daphne said pushing past them. The rest of the Slytherin team followed and began to practice on the pitch. The brooms and the new players made a huge difference to the teams performance.
Harry had had a good game and was very pleased with himself. He'd just finished getting changed into his normal robes and was walking with Daphne and Draco towards the castle when he stopped. A rather angry looking Lily was waiting for him, her hands on her hips.
Harry sighed and told his friends to go on.
"Hi Mum." he said awkwardly.
"Don't you dare pretend you don't know why I'm here." she said coldly.
He did know; mudblood was a word he knew never to use, he hadn't meant to; it just was the most insulting thing he could think of on the spot, "I'm sorry."
Lily dropped her arms to her sides, "That word is NEVER to be used." She told him, "You know that and there is no excuse. No one is worth less than you just because their parents didn't have magic."
"I know that I didn't mean it I just...he, did you hear what he said to Draco?" Harry said throwing his hands up in frustration.
"Yes. I was informed and it was a cruel thing to say but you were raised to be better than that, better than he was Harry. I'm very disappointed in you." Lily said, she checked her watch, "I have to get Danica off Snape before she blows up the school. You're loosing a months pocket money for this Harry but I respect your need to stand up for your friends. What he said was cruel and he knows it. I can only hope that his mother is equally disappointed."
Harry wiped his eyes and gave his mother a big hug before walking back with her into the castle. They went their separate ways and Harry trudged down to the Slytherin common room. His path was soon blocked though by a smug looking Tracy Davis, backed by Crabbe, Goyle and Millicent.
"We saw you out there." Tracy smirked, "Told off by mummy and made you cry."
Harry rolled his eyes, really not in the mood and ignored them.
"Little mudblood mummy doesn't like baby Harry using bad words." She said in an annoying sing-song voice.
Harry dug his nails into his palms and took a few deep breaths as the others laughed.
"I just want to get past." Harry said.
Tracy stepped out the way and waved for the others to do the same. Harry moved past them and down the hallway.
"You're a disgrace you know that?" Tracy called, "You and your friends should never have been allowed in Slytherin."
Harry ignored her and kept walking, he went straight to his room and through himself down on his bed screaming into his pillow.
Harry spent the next few days trying to avoid people whenever he left the common room. He couldn't avoid Crabbe and Goyle, he could rarely avoid Tracy or Millicent but that didn't stop him trying.
He spent time darting into unused classrooms whenever he saw the long list of people he was trying to avoid in the rest of the school. Lockhart had gotten it into his head that Harry was trying to become more famous than him and therefore bugged him every time they ran into each other.
Ginny was like a little ghost with a crush; blushing and stammering every time she saw Harry before she could be dragged away by her brothers. Another new Gryffindor was Colin Creevey who followed him around with a big muggle camera taking as many pictures as he could. Ginny had managed to get a picture with Harry and her from him that she'd glued to a scruffy leather diary she carried around.
Ron was the main one to avoid though. Lily and Severus had been furious that Harry had gotten into a fight. Even Sirius was cross, Lupin saying he was only disappointed as Harry should have walked away. Ron seemed mostly satisfied with spreading rumours and bitching about Harry like a bored housewife.
However, when Harry was sitting in History of Magic and received a note saying his detention would be that evening, report to Professor Snape's office after class, his heart fell. He crossed his fingers under the desk that he wouldn't have to have the same detention as Ron, he couldn't face hours alone with him.
Harry made his way down to the dungeons and knocked on his step-fathers office door. It opened quickly,
"Come in." Snape's voice echoed in the corridor.
Harry stepped forward and closed the door behind him,
"Hello Harry." Snape smiled and gestured for him to go forward.
Harry walked up and hugged him.
Severus hugged him back and smoothed his hair down, "How are you Harry?"
Harry shrugged, "I'm fine I guess, just fed up of the Weasleys. The girl seems sweet enough I guess."
Snape nodded, "I know it's difficult Harry, Ron is… a difficult case. Your mother and I knew there would be some who read books and turned you into a hero. Sometimes fantasies are hard to shake, and always best to remember they aren't real. For example I had a few shocks when I moved in with your mother. She snores." he smirked.
Harry laughed.
"Here's the detention slip."
Harry looked down and his face fell, "Detention with Lockhart? Answering his fan mail?! How is that anything to do with school?"
"He asked for you specially, Dumbledore has told us to keep him as happy as we can. I don't think there were many people after the job what with all the rumours from last year."
"You want the job." Harry pointed out.
Severus paused, "Yes… I did, and I do but it's a complicated situation currently."
Harry nodded and looked down at the slip again, "Is there really no way out of it? I'll do anything else."
Severus gave him a look that told him the argument was futile. Harry stuffed the note into his pocket and said goodbye to Snape. At least he wouldn't be in detention with Ron.
He picked at his dinner that evening sulking until he forced himself to finish his food as it was going to be a long night.
At eight o'clock on the dot Harry, rather reluctantly, knocked on Gilderoy Lockhart's office door. It flew open and Lockhart, wearing lilac robes, stood there beaming.
"Hello Harry." he grinned, "Come in, come in."
Lockhart stood to the side and Harry gritted his teeth, walking into the office. It was decorated with pictures of Lockhart and his five 'Witch Weekly' certificates. He pointed to a spare chair at the side of his desk and told Harry to sit.
Harry sat and in front of him was a large pile of letters and a very long list of names and addresses.
"I have to say you've got a treat tonight!" Lockhart grinned poudly, "Helping me answer my fan mail, you'll be writing the addresses. A never ending job but it pays to keep the fans happy. For what would I be without them? Simply an award wining wizard who battles evil and saves lives; nothing really."
Harry looked at him like he was mad before putting on a smile, "Well I'm very glad you've asked for me." he picked up the quill and the first letter, "First one is to a Mrs Gladys Gundgeon."
"Ah Gladys." Lockhart said scrawling his name across a picture of himself, beaming as always, "She's a sweetie; a huge fan of mine."
The minutes ticked by feeling to poor Harry like hours. Lockhart never stopped talking. It got to the stage where Harry simply zoned him out; only occasionally nodding in agreement or saying the odd 'yeah' or 'of course'. The odd sentence of Lockhart's pushed into Harry's ears. Things like 'Fame is a fickle friend Harry' or 'Celebrity is as celebrity does; remember that'. Harry thought he might remember it better if he had a clue what Lockhart was even talking about.
His hand was aching and he was past bored, in fact he was sure his brain had dribbled out his ears into a large puddle on the floor. The candles burned down slowly and Harry invented a game where by he tried to find a face in the shadows and pretended that it was what the fan, who's address he was writing, looked like.
Harry was praying for it to be over soon when he heard something that cut through Lockhart's useless prattle. It was a low cruel voice that seemed to echo around him and turned his blood cold.
"Come… come to me… let me rip you… let me tear you… let me kill you…"
The voice sounded over joyed at the idea of hurting someone. Harry gave a start, jumping up from his seat, knocking the ink bottle over Veronica Smethley's address.
"What?!" Harry shouted.
"I know!" Lockhart said looking surprised and shaking his head, "Six SOLID months. Six months at the top of the best seller list! Broke all the records!"
"No." Harry said frantically, looking around him, suddenly all the shadow faces that had been a fun game were now out to get him, "That voice!"
"Sorry." Lockhart said looking confused and a little alarmed, "What voice Harry?"
"That voice. Couldn't you hear it?"
"Well..um" Lockhart cleared his throat, "Maybe you're just getting a bit tired, drowsy and Great Scott look at the time! We've been here nearly four hours. I'd never have believed it; time flies when you're having fun."
Harry didn't reply, he was to busy trying to hear the voice again. He backed himself against the wall to feel a little less exposed, breathing heavily.
There was no sound now though; only Lockhart telling him how lucky he was and he best be getting off to bed.
"I'm going to go find Dad." Harry said, "I have to tell him there's someone after me."
Lockhart shook his head, "At this time of night? Absolutely not. You're just tired Harry. I'll walk you to the Slytherin common room; don't want you getting lost." he gave a little laugh. Harry thought it had more to do with Snape being angry at him for not keeping Harry safe than thinking Harry would get lost.
Unfortunately Lockhart stayed close to Harry, dropping him off right by the portrait to the common room and patted him on the back goodnight.
Harry stepped through the doorway and rubbed his scar. He knew he hadn't imagined that voice.
"Harry are you OK?" Pansy asked, she had been curled up asleep in one of the armchairs.
"What are you doing up?" Harry asked walking over to her.
"I was waiting up for you." she said flattening her hair, "I didn't think you'd be back so late."
Harry shook his head, "Neither did I. It was the longest, most boring detention I've ever had. I must have written a hundred envelopes for Lockhart. Stupid fan mail."
"Harry you look really shaken up." Pansy said, putting a hand on his arm.
Harry shook his head, he looked around the common room. There were a few older students still writing and reading in one corner, Harry dragged Pansy to the other side of the room.
"I heard something." Harry whispered, "I heard a voice, coming from nowhere."
Pansy looked over him worriedly, "Did you tell your father?"
Harry shook his head, "No. I was going to but Lockhart stopped me."
"You should tell him in the morning." Pansy said, "And now you should get some sleep."
Harry nodded and gave her a quick hug before heading up to bed. He went into the room quietly not wanting to wake up Crabbe or Goyle. Draco was already fast asleep, so Harry didn't want to wake him.
The next morning Harry's head was still tired, he hadn't slept well. He pulled on his clothes and went downstairs. He spotted Pansy and went over to her pulling her aside.
"I'm not going to tell Dad." He said, "I can't be sure I wasn't just tired and I haven't heard anything since. My brain was leaking out my ears from spending so much time with Lockhart it was probably just that."
Pansy sighed, "If you're sure but Harry what if you did hear something?"
"If I hear it again I'll tell Dad." Harry assured her.