Harry Potter and the Power the Dark Lord Knows Not

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CHAPTER FOURTEEN

WINNERS AND LOSERS

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The week leading up to the Quidditch Final was a fairly happy one for Harry, with one of the more uplifting memories taking place on the cloudless Sunday of the Hogsmeade visit. As he, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione strolled up the heavily traveled street towards the Three Broomsticks, Harry was feeling exceptionally hopeful. He had actually succeeded in getting some real rest the night before, and he hadn't sensed that feeling of cold dread since spending time in the forest with Hagrid yesterday afternoon. More teachers than usual were present on this particular trip, and Harry waved as he spotted both Hagrid and Moody on opposing ends of the cobblestone road. He also noticed Professor McGonagall's tartan hat and Professor Sprout's flyaway hair as they mingled separately along the edges of the crowd. The day was pleasantly summer-like again as he and his friends discussed the upcoming Quidditch match.

"What d'you reckon, Harry," Ron was asking. "Are you ready to shove that Quidditch Cup right up Malfoy's stupid nose?"

"Oh, I dunno," Harry responded, grinning over at Ginny. "Maybe we should let Ginny do it. She's the one who showed him up last time, anyway." Ginny grinned back at him, but then her brow furrowed in annoyance.

"Hit him over the head with it, more like. I'd like to see how the git reacts when the shoe's on the other foot," Ginny answered, not forgetting what had happened to Harry the last time they had played Slytherin.

"Just make sure you hit him nice and hard then, Ginny," Ron put in. "'Course if that doesn't work we can always take a page from Fred and George's book and stuff him in that Vanishing Cabinet on the first floor - if we're lucky he won't show up 'til next year." Harry laughed at this while Ginny nodded her head, smirking. Hermione, too, was smiling in a distinctly unprefect-like way as they all entered the noisy pub together.

Many different people were filtering through the Three Broomsticks right then, the nice weather seemed to be enticing everyone out after the long hard winter. As Ron went to collect some butterbeer, Harry watched the other patrons interestedly. Neville, Dean, and Seamus were seated together in a corner - they looked to be covering a large piece of fabric in colorful blocks of a shimmering red and gold paint. Duncan Morey had just walked in with a group of fourth years and was getting ready to sit near the bar. Harry gave Duncan a small wave as he sat down, and Duncan smiled faintly and waved back. Harry was pleased to see that Duncan was keeping his spirits up. Harry then glanced over at his friends as Ron made his way back with the butterbeer and noticed that Hermione was pushing a leather-bound notebook across the table in Ginny's direction.

"What's this?" Ginny asked her.

"It's a homework planner!" Hermione explained brightly. "I got Ron and Harry one last year for Christmas. I thought it might help you to get ready for your O.W.L.s. since their only a few weeks away now." Harry turned away from Hermione quickly, assiduously avoiding her eye. Harry had tossed his own horribly annoying homework planner into the bottom of his trunk after binding it shut with spell-o-tape last year and hadn't so much as looked at it since, but he didn't think that Hermione needed to know about that. She had later insisted on providing both he and Ron with separate color-coded study schedules right before the exams, anyway.

"Well, er... thank you, Hermione," Ginny said as she caught Harry's eye. "But I've decided to take a break from studying until tomorrow. I don't think we can seriously be expected to study today anyway - especially with the weather being what it is." Hermione seemed perplexed.

"But it's a perfectly warm summer's day," she countered.

"Exactly," Ginny answered, smiling mischievously. Harry, continuing to watch her, grinned too. Hermione, however, was frowning. She looked as though she was getting ready to say something else to Ginny when Ron stepped in.

"Hermione, it's bad enough that you keep Harry and me on a stringent study schedule every year. Don't tell me that you're going to start bugging Ginny about it, as well."

"If it wasn't for those study schedules, Ron, you and Harry probably wouldn't have passed half your O.W.L.s last year," Hermione stated, challengingly.

"Now c'mon, you know those pages and pages of notes helped us, too," Ron said, grinning. Hermione was attempting to look stern, but all she really succeeded in doing was heaving an exasperated sigh.

"I was just trying to be a good friend - " Hermione continued unrelentingly, but Ginny stopped her.

"You already are a good friend, Hermione," she said.

"The best," Harry agreed, genuinely. Harry, Ron, and Ginny had begun to smile at Hermione quite warmly, and she finally gave in as she relaxed enough to give a passing grin of her own.

A few minutes later Harry glanced up as someone opened the door to the pub again, causing the brightness from outside to cast a tall rectangle of light across the polished wooden floor. A figure was standing in the doorway, his frame briefly silhouetted against the sun before the door fell shut. Harry had begun to turn away but then did a fast double-take - the person entering the Three Broomsticks was none other than Remus Lupin.

"Lupin?" Harry whispered curiously, making Ginny, Ron, and Hermione look up, too. "Professor," Harry called out now, raising his voice, as he beckoned to Lupin over the mass of closely-set tables hoping to get his attention. Lupin saw Harry and gave him a tight smile as he brushed past the other patrons and made his way toward them.

"Harry," Lupin began, then paused as he glanced at Ginny, Ron, and Hermione in turn. "I trust you're all doing well."

"Yes sir," answered Harry. "How've you been?"

"Fine. Fine, just here for a bit of er... shopping," replied Lupin with a would-be casualness, but his body language was belying what he had just said. Lupin's eyes were darting about watchfully, and his posture seemed a bit stiff, almost as though he was on his guard. Before Harry could ask him anything else, however, a group of Hufflepuff third years came bursting into the pub talking and laughing gregariously, and Lupin quickly moved off towards the front of the room. As Harry watched Lupin reach the well-tended and meticulously clean bar, Madam Rosmerta walked over with an unusual abruptness and began to speak to him in low tones. Harry wondered what they were talking about - there seemed to be an somewhat rushed intensity to their conversation - but Ron was interrupting his train of thought.

"Hey, what's up with Lupin and Madam Rosmerta, anyway?" Ron asked Harry quietly, as he nodded towards the bar. Having heard her brother's question, Ginny turned in her chair and gazed over at them appraisingly.

"I wonder if they were ever... you know, more than friends. They seem to know each other awfully well," Ginny suggested.

"More than friends?" Harry echoed uncertainly.

"Well, I don't really know, but it'd be cool if they were. I think they look kind of cute together," Ginny said.

"Yes," Hermione piped up approvingly, surprising both Harry and Ron. "Lupin could definitely do with someone to er... spend time with. He always seems so lonely."

The four of them began to stare avidly in the direction of the bar, but they all became sidetracked when the door to the pub opened yet again. Professor McGonagall was presently coming in from the crowded street outside, peering about anxiously. After a few seconds, she saw Lupin and Madam Rosmerta by the bar and made straight for them. Lupin appeared rather unsurprised to see her there, in fact it seemed as though her presence was fully expected. As the three of them leaned over the bar speaking even more intently than before, Madam Rosmerta looked askance at Harry's table. Suddenly, Harry began to feel suspicious; somehow he doubted that Lupin was here merely to "shop." Did this have something to do with the Order? Was Madam Rosmerta a member? Just as Harry was beginning to consider this, however, McGonagall turned sharply and strode out as brusquely as she'd come in. After a moment, Lupin began to take his leave as well, but his departure was less noticeable and was marked by a great deal of cautiousness. Harry was starting to feel slightly unnerved about the whole thing when Ginny reached for his hand.

"Hey, you okay?" she asked quietly.

"Yeah," Harry answered, "I was just wondering what the Order's been up to lately."

"I know, it makes me crazy to think that they're still keeping everything important from us," Ginny said, as she stared somewhat fretfully at Madam Rosmerta, who was continuing to polish the already sparkling bar. After a moment though, Ginny stood up and said, "Let's not worry about that right now, Harry. We're here to have fun after all."

"I agree with Ginny, mate," Ron said, having listened to their conversation. "We're not going to get another break like this until the holiday anyway, so we might as well enjoy it while it lasts."

Harry sighed and then began to get up with the others, following them in and around the many busy shops throughout the village. After a while, Harry completely forgot about the meeting he had witnessed in the Three Broomsticks as they continued to explore Hogsmeade together. Ginny had heard about a new cafe that served thick spicy pastries along with a multitude of frozen treats, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione were happy to follow Ginny's lead. On the way there, Harry couldn't help but notice that they were passing the ridiculously frilly Madam Puddifoot's Coffee Shop, and he grimaced as he carefully averted his eyes - Harry didn't feel that his first date with Cho Chang had been one of his better moments. Unfortunately, Ron noticed the name that was emblazoned on lacy pink sign, too.

"Hey, Harry, isn't this the place that you and Cho - OW!" Ron yelped as Hermione not so subtly stomped on his foot. Harry blushed slightly as he glanced over at Ginny, but as she was a few paces in front of them, she had missed overhearing Ron's comment. Feeling exceedingly lucky, Harry then hastened to catch up to her.

The rest of the day went far better as the four of them looked through the latest assortment of Chocolate Frog Cards in Honeyduke's Sweet Shop, visited Dervish and Banges to check out a colorful display of Sneakoscopes, and bought a new string of gag gifts from Zonko's Joke Shop to show Fred and George. Afterwards, when it was beginning to get dark, they headed back up to Hogwarts together. They had spent the entire day in the village and were some of the last students to return to the school, and Harry went to bed that night with nothing but cheerfully pleasant thoughts swimming about in his head. A few hours later, though, Harry woke up abruptly. He didn't know why, but he almost felt as though someone had been watching him. As Harry put his glasses on and stared around the darkened room, however, he saw only the usual items that were always there in the dormitory. Ron's Quidditch robes were laying over the back of a chair, Neville's increasingly tall Mimbulus mimbletonia was pulsating eerily on his desk, Dean's soccer poster was right where it should be, and Seamus' shoes were peeking out from underneath his bed - all four of them were fast asleep. Harry continued to peer about him for a moment, his heart still beating rapidly. He noticed for the first time that a dull cold ache was back behind his scar, and he absentmindedly rubbed at it as his heart settled into its normal rhythm again. Must've just been a dream, Harry thought as he turned over and tried to nod off once more.

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The rest of the week Harry was only able to sleep occasionally as the feelings of paranoia slowly began to reassert themselves with a vengeance. Harry was beginning to feel increasingly worn out again, but as he awoke early on the morning of the Quidditch Final, he felt more excited than anything else. Each day during that week, Katie had scheduled a Quidditch practice, and each day Harry had succeeded in catching the Snitch with his usual finesse. Harry had felt significantly encouraged by this, and he couldn't wait to go head to head with Malfoy again. While Harry had managed to ignore Malfoy's constant slights and bragging on behalf of what the Death Eaters had done since January, Harry never once forgot a single word of what he said, and he knew that any victory over Malfoy was more than worth the extra effort - no matter how tired it left him.

That afternoon as Harry, Ginny, and Ron came out of the locker rooms in their Quidditch robes, the crowd looked like an odd out of season mix of Christmas colors. Luna was sitting at the announcer's stand, her lion-shaped hat roaring atop her head once more. Most of the crowd was in red and gold, obviously supporting Gryffindor - Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff almost always cheered for them rather than for Malfoy's team - while the rest of the assembly was in the green and silver of Slytherin. As Madam Hooch blew the whistle and Harry kicked off from the ground with his other teammates, the weather was still warm and slightly breezy while the sun shone very brightly down over the proceedings.

Ginny wasted no time in getting the game started and as the Quaffle was released, she was quick to seize it and race up towards the Slytherin end. Kirke and Sloper, the Gryffindor Beaters, were managing to keep up with the Bludgers much more effectively now, and as Goyle hit a Bludger at the blur that was Ginny, Sloper hit it back towards Bletchley, the Slytherin Keeper, allowing Ginny to score the first Gryffindor goal. Harry was examining the pitch below him searching for the golden glint of the Snitch, and as he did he caught sight of a gigantic banner being held up by Dean, Seamus, and Neville - it appeared to be the same one they had been working on in the Three Broomsticks. It read, "Real winners never cheat! Gryffindor for the Cup!" Harry raised his eyebrows and grinned to himself; he certainly agreed with the sentiment even if he was privately relieved that Snape wasn't actually here to see it. Snape's reaction would likely have been unpleasant at best.

Harry heard Luna's voice along with the roaring crowd and looked over to see Katie fake a pass to Ginny and then reverse pass to Duncan, who scored another goal past the husky but not especially agile Slytherin Keeper. The score was presently twenty-nil Gryffindor, and Harry flew up higher to get a better vantage point on the game. Just as he began to search again, however, a cold wave of pain flashed behind his scar and Harry was frighteningly dazed for a moment as it continued to build - it felt as though small pinpricks of ice were boring their way into his forehead. He could hear the same odd ringing in his ears that he had heard a few weeks ago and as Harry clapped a hand to his scar, he noticed that it literally felt tender to the touch. His scar had never affected him quite like this before, but Harry couldn't tell if this was Voldemort again or something else entirely - either way he knew this couldn't be a good thing. Harry blinked and shook his head, trying to clear it. He then flew closer to the ground, trying to get back in on the game - he didn't have time for this right now. No one seemed to be aware of Harry's bizarre behavior; he had been so far above them that nobody had noticed it.

By the time that Harry had gotten his head free of the horrible ringing again, the match had taken on a fevered intensity. Crabbe and Goyle had each surrounded Katie and as she attempted to pass them, they both struck at the tail end of her broomstick with their bats. Madam Hooch was looking livid as she awarded Katie the foul. Katie made the shot easily, and the game resumed at an even more frenetic pace.

"That was really quite rude of the Slytherin Beaters, you know," Luna was saying conversationally in her amplified voice. "That's seventy to nothing, Gryffindor."

Malfoy was currently shouting jeeringly at Ron as Pucey and Montague sped towards the Gryffindor goalposts, their brutish faces intent upon their objective. Crabbe then hit a Bludger towards Ron, who ducked it, while Montague flew forward in the direction of the center goal hoop. Ron wasn't in the best position to catch the Quaffle after avoiding the Bludger, but he raced towards it anyway. At the last moment, Ron whipped out an arm and caused the Quaffle to fly high of the hoop, only just missing it. The Gryffindor supporters went wild as Malfoy passed by Harry, and Harry heard him call Ron some things that probably would've made even the barkeeper at the Hog's Head turn red. Harry threw Malfoy a look of pure loathing, but he knew he couldn't afford to lose focus so he swooped down away from Malfoy and towards the center of the field.

A few seconds later as Ginny zipped by in possession of the Quaffle again, Harry saw a fleeting glimpse of gold soaring in the distance far above him. Harry squinted up into the brilliant blue sky - the sun was in his eyes - but he knew within seconds that it was the Snitch. Unfortunately, Malfoy was flying higher than Harry was at that point, and he saw the fluttering gold ball, too. Harry then aimed his Firebolt straight up and it shot skywards like a rocket. Unexpectedly, though, the Snitch changed direction and it dashed back towards the ground, just outpacing Malfoy's outstretched hand. Harry stopped in midair and flipped to the underside of his broom, wrapping his legs tightly around his Firebolt as his hand surged forward and gripped the tiny winged sphere.

"Wow!" Luna exclaimed, sounding enthusiastic for the first time that day. "Harry Potter has just caught the Snitch! GRYFFINDOR HAS WON THE CUP!" Harry heard the Gryffindor supporter's riotous cheers just as a fuming Malfoy blew past him nearby. Harry couldn't have cared less if Malfoy was angry or not, though - for the first time since his third year, Harry had helped his House defeat Slytherin for the Cup!

All of Harry's teammates then came flying towards him as the noise in the stadium grew to a level that was almost deafening. Red and gold flags and banners were waving everywhere throughout the stands as Harry pulled himself upright again to set down on the Gryffindor side of the field; he was continuing to grasp the struggling walnut-sized Snitch in his right hand. Kirke and Sloper were banging their bats together in triumph up on their broomsticks while Ginny, Ron, Katie, and Duncan each zoomed towards Harry, their smiles evident even from a distance. Ginny was the first to land, and as she reached Harry she flung her arms around him and gave him a huge kiss right there in front of everybody. This made Harry so happy that he impulsively grabbed her around the middle and swung her around in a circle just as Ron, Katie, and Duncan landed immediately behind them. Harry felt positively wonderful now, the odd episode of pain from earlier flew his mind completely as Ginny continued to squeal delightedly in his arms. Harry was continuing to smile down at her when from out of nowhere, Malfoy's infuriated face suddenly loomed into view above them. Harry barely had time to look up as Malfoy extended his wand and shouted an incantation at the top of his lungs.

"SEVERANSUS!"

Harry felt an intense stinging sensation on the side of his face, and as he glanced down he saw that blood was now splattering the front of his Quidditch uniform - the spell had caused a wide gash to appear all the way along Harry's right cheekbone. Ginny had still been embracing Harry when Malfoy had attacked, and she too had a several flecks of blood on her face from Harry's injury. Ginny glanced rapidly from Harry's lacerated face to Malfoy's menacing smirk and before Harry could stop her, she had lunged in Malfoy's direction. Malfoy had just landed a few feet away and Crabbe and Goyle were touching down directly behind him. As Ginny sped towards them, Malfoy raised his wand once more and muttered something under his breath. A purple light then began to fly towards Ginny, but before it could reach her it struck something large, red, and metallic. Harry had moved faster than he could ever remember moving before as he stood between the Slytherins and Ginny; he had conjured the gleaming red shield before anyone else even had the chance to blink.

"If you know what's good for you, Malfoy, you'll clear off right now," Harry said in a voice of deadly calm. Harry had just felt a strange feeling of power surge through his body - as though he were a conduit for some untapped source of energy, but it had dissipated nearly as soon as he'd felt it. Malfoy was continuing to look defiant, but then Madam Hooch came flying towards them on her broomstick - her referee's robes flapping madly behind her, her face sternly irate.

"What is going on here?" she demanded in a loud voice.

"Malfoy hexed Harry, Madam Hooch. We all saw him do it," Ron answered murderously, his ears bright red. There were angry murmurs of confirmation from Harry's other team members, and Madam Hooch began to focus on Harry. Harry's face was continuing to bleed openly, but the spell hadn't caused anything but superficial damage.

"All right then, Mr. Potter, get yourself to the hospital wing. Mr. Malfoy will be accompanying me to Professor McGonagall's office." Madam Hooch then paused abruptly, glancing downwards. "Where did you get that shield, Potter?" Harry looked down and realized that he was still holding the shield in his right hand - he didn't even remember releasing the Snitch, but he supposed he must have done at some point.

"Er... I sort of just conjured it. I wasn't about to let Malfoy attack Ginny," Harry said by way of explanation, as he made the shield disappear again. Madam Hooch's eyes went wide for a second, but she then turned and shoved Malfoy in front of her as she spoke over her shoulder.

"Up to the hospital wing with you, Mr. Potter, go on now."

"Yes ma'am," Harry responded, as he faced everyone else once more. There was a slight commotion as someone with bushy brown hair pushed her way to the front of the small gaping crowd that was encircling Harry.

"I saw Malfoy with his wand out, what did he do --" Hermione left off hastily upon seeing the answer across Harry's countenance. "That... that foul, that evil little -- he just used an illegal curse on you, Harry!"

"Yeah, I know..." Harry murmured quietly, noticing how oddly most of his teammates were currently looking at him - he couldn't tell if they were impressed or simply mortified. Within moments, Professor McGonagall had appeared behind Harry. She gasped when Harry turned around to face her.

"Potter! Madam Hooch just told me what happened," she said tightly, her face white with fury. "Is that your only injury?"

"Yes, Professor," Harry answered.

"Well, you should get that seen to straightaway," McGonagall then turned towards Ginny. "Are you hurt Miss Weasley?"

"No, I... I'm fine," Ginny replied in a somewhat constrained voice.

McGonagall took in the many gawking faces ranged around them and said decisively, "If none of the rest of you are injured, then you'd best be getting back up to the school. I'd like for the three of you to go with Potter up to the infirmary," McGonagall instructed as she peered at Ginny, Ron, and Hermione. The three of them nodded, and they all slowly began to make their way with Harry across the lawn towards the castle's massive double doors.

Once in the hospital wing, Madam Pomfrey took one look at the gash on Harry's face and tsked furiously under her breath, "Quidditch again!" She then retrieved a roll of bandages and a bottle of yellowish potion from her office and after coating the bandage liberally, pressed it firmly to Harry's cheek.

"You'll need to be still for a few minutes, Mr. Potter. It should heal quickly, but I want you to stay here whilst it does," Madam Pomfrey said tersely before hurrying off again, and Harry sat down on one of the nearby hospital beds.

Harry then glanced up at his friends. Ron was continuing to look incensed, his ears the same hot shade of scarlet. Hermione appeared to be both worried and annoyed. She seemed quite appalled that Malfoy had dared to use an illegal spell so blatantly in front of the whole school. Ginny was watching Harry silently, her expression was reticent and unreadable. No one spoke as Harry sat there waiting for his cut to heal, and after a brief wait Madam Pomfrey began to bustle back over to Harry to remove the bandage. There was a faint white line where the laceration had been, but other than that it was fully healed. Madam Pomfrey assured Harry that in time the line would fade away as well, as she dismissed the four of them and sent them off to their dormitories. As they ambled up toward the common room, Ron's fury seemed to abate a bit as he remembered that they had just secured the silver Quidditch Cup for the second year running.

"You did it, Harry! I can't believe it, we've won again!" Ron said with a broad grin as he slapped him on the back.

"Yes, Harry. Let Malfoy stew on that one for a while," Hermione joined in.

"'Course, he'll bloody well have to anyway, won't he? I haven't seen McGonagall that outraged since Crabbe and Goyle ganged up on you last time, mate," Ron replied, continuing to smile over at Harry.

"Yeah," Harry mumbled, not saying much.

"Well, there's probably a rowdy celebration already going on in the common room. Why don't Ron and I run ahead and make sure no one's getting out of line," Hermione suggested, seemingly noticing the unusual quietness that had fallen between Ginny and Harry. Ron hesitated as he gazed at Hermione quizzically, but Hermione merely nodded pointedly in the direction of the staircase as she took his arm. Ron then shrugged and followed Hermione up the many flights of stairs.

Once they had left, Harry remained exactly where he was, feeling slightly awkward. He really couldn't tell why Ginny was being so reserved and standoffish, and he was concerned that his earlier actions had frightened or upset her somehow. As he had sat in the hospital wing waiting for his cut to heal, Harry had begun to realize that this was the first time that he'd done magic without a wand since he'd accidentally blown up his Aunt Marge when he was thirteen. A few seconds later, though, Ginny then turned to him wearing an expression of absolute ferocity.

"I can't believe him! Draco Malfoy is the most despicable - the most idiotic - the most vile - the most contemptible - the most... the most..." Ginny stammered, apparently unable to come up with a bad enough name to call Malfoy - she was looking more furious than Harry had ever seen her. Evidently, Ginny could build a head of steam just as well as her mother could. Harry was so relieved that he wasn't the one that she was reacting like this to that he chuckled to himself at the look on her face.

"Damn it, Harry, this isn't funny!" Ginny shouted, rounding on him. Harry tried to assume a more serious expression, but it was difficult. After a few minutes, though, Harry remembered precisely how close Malfoy had come to hexing Ginny and he frowned deeply.

"I'm sorry," he said, earnestly. "I'm just glad that you're okay."

"But that wasn't even about me, Harry. He managed to hit you with a really dangerous curse! That spell's not only illegal, it's usually used by those who practice the Dark Arts," Ginny replied fretfully. She was beginning to appear more anxious than angry now.

"Malfoy probably is using the Dark Arts, Ginny. I guess we'll have to keep a closer eye on him from now on."

"It's just hard to believe that someone could be that evil when they're only sixteen," Ginny responded.

"Well, Voldemort was," Harry said quietly, but regretted it instantly. All of the color had immediately fled from Ginny's face.

"Yeah, I remember," she whispered.

"Listen Ginny, everything's going to be fine. Malfoy's a perfect moron - he can't seem to learn his lesson when it comes to you. Besides, while we're down here worried about him, everyone else is celebrating upstairs without us," Harry told her, wanting to rid Ginny of the startled look that had settled over her features. What Harry didn't say was how close he had come to hexing Malfoy himself. If he'd actually succeeded in hurting Ginny....

After a moment, Ginny smiled. "You're right, of course," she finally said.

"Then let's go join the victory party, shall we?" Harry offered, as he reached for her hand. Harry and Ginny then strode up the staircase to join the boisterously wild party in the common room that was already in progress - Harry keeping a carefully happy expression on his face the entire way.