Sands of Time

As usual, Quidditch became the dominant focus of Harry's year. Oliver Wood was gone, but that didn't stop the team from practicing nearly every day under the watchful eye of their new captain, Angelina Johnson. She was actually a lot more laid back than Oliver had been, but she also knew the value of practicing constantly. Ron came to every practice and helped out whenever he could. He had tried out for keeper this year, but one of the seventh-years, Oscar Galloway, had tried out and shown a talent greater than Wood's. Harry had wondered why he hadn't joined the team earlier, but realized it was because Oscar really couldn't play any other position, and he was too polite to try to displace Oliver Wood.

They were out on the pitch again, late in October. Angelina had borrowed the Hufflepuff's set of balls and had twice the number of bludgers and quaffles in the game. Oscar had his hands, and at one point his feet, full trying to keep all the quaffles out of the goals, while Fred and George were having fun adding to the confusion with all the extra bludgers. Harry had it the easiest, since it would be pointless to release a second snitch, but he was having trouble concentrating with all the bludgers ricocheting about the pitch.

He peered around him into the growing darkness. Despite his fervent wish, no flash of gold appeared, though he was nearly hit with a bludger for the third time in the past ten minutes. He spun his broom around, intent on catching one of the twins and reminding them that he wasn't the enemy. He was just in time to see George give an almighty swing with his bat.

Crack! The bludger zoomed diagonally across the field right towards the benches. Harry saw what was going to happen too late. His voice was joined by the twins.

"RON!" Ron looked up and took the bludger straight in the face. Harry winced, and then winced again at the blood he could see dripping down his friend's face. He landed near the benches and ran over to his friend, followed by the rest of the team.

Ron had his hands clamped over his face, and his breathing sounded strange. There was blood everywhere. Madame Hooch came over from where she had been tending to the school's brooms.

"Right," she said, taking stock of the situation. She was forced to duck as a bludger whizzed by. "Potter. Take Weasley up to the Hospital Wing and see that he's attended to. The rest of you catch all these bludgers." She looked very annoyed. Harry watched as Angelina approached the professor.

"I'm sorry, Professor," she said. Madame Hooch's face softened just slightly as she looked at their team captain.

"Next time you'll know not to practice with so many balls," she said gruffly. "What are you doing staring, Potter? Get that boy up to the Hospital Wing!" Startled, Harry turned to help Ron up and walk him towards the castle. He could almost hear Ron gritting his teeth from trying not to show any weakness in front of everyone. It was only after he noticed a drop of blood fall to the ground that he stopped Ron and used his wand to clean off Ron's face and hands. With the blood gone, he was relieved to see that Ron only had a broken nose. He had thought it might be something more serious.

"Are you okay?" he asked. Ron nodded, than winced.

"Just get me to the Hospital Wing," he said. Harry nodded and they began the long walk up to the hospital wing. Madame Pomfrey saw to Ron all the while shaking her head and muttering under her breath about the stupid things students did. This didn't seem to stop her from helping Ron though. Harry waited patiently for her to finish, but after giving Ron some foul smelling potion, she turned to him.

"He's going to have to spend the night here. Can't have him breaking the nose again while it's hardening," she said. Harry looked at Ron. He had collapsed onto the bed and was snoring slightly. That had been one powerful potion. He almost looked dead lying there like that...He must have been staring at Ron for a long time because he suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder. It was Madame Pomfrey.

"Why don't you get back to your common room? You'll see him in the morning," she said kindly. He nodded and headed out the door. The corridors were busy with students going to dinner, meaning Harry didn't notice he was surrounded until it was too late. Harry glanced around. Draco had certainly gone all out this time. Crabbe and Goyle were there flanking him, but so were at least five other Slytherin's, each one big enough on their own to eat Harry for breakfast. Harry's hand slipped into his pocket to grip his wand.

"Well, well. If it isn't Harry Potter, and his fan club is no where in sight," drawled Draco. Harry rolled his eyes and wondered if Draco knew how small and ridiculous he looked against his rhinoceros bodyguards. He also noted just how quickly the corridor had become deserted except for him and the Slytherins. He stood in the middle of their impromptu circle and decided to try a different tact for dealing with Malfoy. Without Ron and his temper here, it just might work. He forced himself to smile slightly at Draco.

"Hello, Draco," he said. It was probably the first time he had used Malfoy's first name. "How have you been?" He walked slowly closer to Malfoy, searching desperately in his pockets for what he wanted. His hand closed around it, and he smiled genuinely this time. "Here, have a jelly slug." He managed to place the slug in Malfoy's astonished hand, then politely pushed his way past Crabbe and continued on his way. He was nearly at the corner before he heard a startled 'hey' from Draco's direction, but he ran the next few steps and jumped on a staircase that was already moving. He tried to focus on climbing the stairs, but Draco was shouting at him through a rapidly disappearing doorway.

"Potter! Potter!" Harry had to look. The normally pale-faced boy was flushed and looked angry enough to curse him into oblivion if he had had a wand in his hand. Instead, he had a slightly squished jelly slug, which he threw with all his force at Harry. Harry ducked as the slug went flying through the space where his head had been and landed with a squelch on the landing.

Harry looked back at Draco and found the wall closed up, a portrait of an old man moving into place on top of it. He grinned as he remembered the look on Draco's face after he gave him the jelly slug. Ron was going to be sorry he had missed it.