Mark of Ancients

Chapter 16: MOTUM CICATRIX

    "Rise and shine, sun shine." Bleary eyed, Harry saw someone standing over him.

    "Cho!" Harry flung the covers off himself nervously and jumped up. "I," started Harry with no idea what he was going to say, "that is, umm-"

    "I.. I came to tell you a few things," she said. Harry turned a nice, fairly faded, shade of velvet. Cho walked over to Hedwig's cage by the window. Harry stood his ground next to the bed, looking rather helpless and embarrassed."All last year and summer I blamed you for Cedric. Woo, Harry Potter!" she continued in a raised, imitating voice. "The boy who stopped You-Know-Who, but he also had Cedric Diggory killed." She giggled shortly and nervously. "I realized how dumb the idea was last night."

    "Tell her to go away," said the voice in Harry's head, "what do you want with a girl?" Harry tried his best to ignore acting upon it. He felt a strong urge to do as it requested.

    "I was flattered by you asking me to the Yule Ball last year," she said, "but Cedric had asked me first. Almost felt like telling him something came up..."

    "I was just happy you didn't laugh," Harry replied, still shaking. The butterflies, bigger than usual, filled his stomach. "I had to find enough gut to ask Parvati and her sister for Ron and I."

    "I thought it was cute." She giggled again. "What'd you say? 'Wangoballwime?'" Harry's velvet face became a deep shade of red.

    "I really, REALLY didn't want to ask," said Harry. "I thought giggling should be made illegal. Before I asked, my insides had snakes, and after, the snakes had lunch and left nothing."

    "It was awkward," said Cho.

    "My insides felt like lead when I was walking away," said Harry.

    "I felt bad turning you down-" started Cho...

    "Couldn't think about much that night-" Harry started...

    "-and then I was talking to Cedric in our commons later-"

    "-and I found out Ron asked Fleur but she turned him down-"

    "-he liked you a lot, was angry at his dad for always trying to show you up-"

    "-so I found myself asking Parvati for me and her sister for Ron-"

    "-said he wouldn't mind if I danced with you if you hadn't had anyone-"

    "-and I was just hoping her nose was straight-"

    "-but I didn't ask you about it because I saw you had someone-"

    "-thankfully it was..."

    "-and I just... just didn't want to, but I also did want to."

    "It was terrible," they both said together. Harry was talking more to himself than to Cho, much like she was doing. The two of them jumped at having said the same thing at the same time and stared blankly at each other.

    "I better go," Cho suggested.

    "Yes," said the voice in Harry's head. His mouth contorted into "yes" but the word "No" was what slipped out at the last second. "You don't actually like her, do you?"

    "Why would you say that?" something else said in the back of his head. "Three's a crowd," Harry thought to himself, "would you voices stop talking to me?"

    "Get her out of here, so what if she likes you?"

    "Cho," started Harry, again having no idea what he was going to say.

    "OUT!" the bad voice barked.

    "Out," stated Harry sharply. Cho hopped off the ledge and started towards the door. Harry shook his head madly trying to shake it off; he didn't want to say that so he tried to correct it. "No, wait... I meant to say... our... us..." he said, standing up and advancing towards Cho. She stopped. He wanted her to stay but he knew Voldemort was trying to make him force her out. The thought of a full and permanent Imperius grazed his mind quickly and the quick moment it stayed was torture. His insides became stone cold and a small tingle entered his scar -- Voldemort was enthused at the chaos that he might be able to cause. Sudden sadness passed over him.

    "Don't go," he said. It sounded desperate and weak. His legs felt like jelly and he could see a look in Cho's face like she wanted to run. Could she not tell he needed someone right now? Harry walked forward but collapsed on the floor next to his trunk. His back foot slipped and he landed painfully on his elbows.

    "Nevermind," he said. For the first time, he agreed the mark of ancients has to be removed. "Out," he said flatly. Cho left without a second look.

    Harry leaned up against his trunk, his legs sprawled all over, a hand on his forehead, resenting what he just said. After lunch, since he was too tired at the moment to mention it, he would tell Dumbledore what he wanted done. The nightmare would be over, the black glow would no longer bother him and Voldemort had no chance to control him.

    The only catch, he reminded himself, was that Voldemort was clearly more powerful than him without it. He almost considered Michelle's input, that he should wait until he met Voldemort, face to face, prepared, and won. At least then he could kill Voldemort and be done with it but at this rate it looked like Voldemort would get him first. Dumbledore was right. He should have it removed as soon as possible.

    Harry's scar erupted in pain. He heard Voldemort's laugh inside his head. It was like Nagini's fangs had burrowed into his forehead and exiting the back of his head, thrashing about wildly. The first squirm sent his head crashing on the ground. He reeled his head back just in time for a second, where his back spasmed and he banged his head on the trunk's edge, feeling blood trickle from where it hit. Harry tried standing up and managed, stumbling his way towards the door, not having any idea of where to go or what to do, the pain clouding his mind. Halfway out, Cho came running back.

    "Harry!" she shrieked. She set him down on the floor, bent down, pulled out her wand and shouted "Petrificus Totalus!" Harry stopped moving at once. She then pulled out a small vial from inside her robes and tipped it over Harry's mouth. The pain stopped and the body bind was removed. Harry looked up at Cho, stunned.

    "Thanks?" said Harry. He didn't know whether to keep the look on his face or to smile. Cho's face turned into a smile so he compromised and gave a look of relief.

    "Professor Dumbledore gave me and Hermione a strong pain killing potion. Professor Snape made it." She paused for a minute and it was another awkward moment. They stared at each other. Harry didn't have many fine moments with her but he still did like the talks and kept telling himself not to be shy but shy he was, regardless.

    "Come on," Cho said, offering him her hand, "we're late for breakfast." Harry grabbed her hand and pulled hard, standing himself upright. She did something Harry didn't expect, she kissed him on the cheek. It was quite a bit more than Harry could have hoped for, being with, in his opinion, the prettiest girl at Hogwarts. The two of them walked side by side to the Great Hall which was bustling with the usual loud chatter.

    Breakfast this fine Saturday morning was as normal as could be. Normal except the fact that Cho took a seat next to Harry, who still felt oddly excited around her. Fred and George were sniggering the entire time. Harry suspected they were thinking of jokes for lunch time and simply ignored them. The conversation with Michelle, Ron, Hermione and Cho was much more interesting. Besides, Fred and George were in deep conversation with Lee and Seamus, apparently too into it to speak to Harry...

    "So the voice is Voldemort, eh?" asked Hermione. Harry wished he could hear that again. "What?" she said, looking at Harry.

    "The name!" he said excitedly. "You said the name! About time, I was starting to feel lonely." Harry grinned broadly at Hermione, who turned slightly red.

    "You've been saying it so often lately, and I asked myself 'What's the point?' I mean, really..."

    "That's what Professor Dumbledore told me when I woke up in the hospital wing our first year. I never found a reason to call him You-Know-Who. Met him so many times, I just want it to be over with."

    "Does anyone know what caused that curse to rebound?" asked Cho. She took an inquiring sip from her goblet, eyes fixed on Harry.

    "Everyone's just as confused as Voldemort is," said Ron, winking, helping himself to another jam doughnut.

    "Don't you ever get scared, Harry?"

    "Every - single - time," said Harry a little more angrily than he wanted. "And I keep doing it." He stuffed an entire piece of French toast in his mouth and viciously tore it in two as if it were a chicken leg.

    "It's not all bad, is it?" said Michelle. "I mean, you're so bloody popular."

    "Honestly," started Harry, the act of tearing at his food having calmed him down, "that part of it bothers me."

    "Why?" said Cho. "I mean..." Harry put the toast down and turned to Cho thoughtfully but Hermione spoke first.

    "Cho, dear," she said in a honey-have-I-got-something-to-tell-you sort of voice, "would you-"

    "Nah," interrupted Harry, grinning, "I guess it doesn't bother me as much as it used to. Our first year really freaked me out." He laughed heartily and stuffed the entire second half of the French toast in his mouth. "Say, Ron," he continued, still chewing, "when's our next practice?" The dull look on Ron's face was immediately replaced by one of unbridled joy.

    "Madam Hooch said we could have the field right after breakfast," he said trying to chew down his food as fast as possible. "Snape somehow convinced her we don't need as much practice as Slytherin..." Ron swallowed. "I wonder what curse he threatened to use?" he added nastily.

    "Good," said Harry. "Need something to take my mind off yesterday. Wood had us going so hard all the time that I didn't have any time left for worrying, it was great." Harry half-wished Ron would take up the same grueling practice schedule Oliver Wood had the team on. Sweat, rain, mud, sweltering heat or arctic winds, Harry loved how it took his mind off... other things.

    "It's supposed to drizzle," - and Harry grinned, ah, good old times - "but there won't be much wind."

    "Can I come watch?" asked Cho eagerly.

    "Sure," replied Harry. He asked himself quickly if he should try to show off or just play like normal. Harry felt a slight lurch in the region of his stomach that he didn't think had anything to do with nerves as he walked out onto the field in his Quidditch robes a few minutes later.

    Practice could not be more welcome and it felt great getting back into the air. A light breeze blew refreshingly in his face and the rain left his robes, while slightly wet, refreshing and cool to the touch. Ron would make an attempt to have them train hard and any way to keep himself cool was welcome. The feel of the wind and the light rain took away some of the stress Harry built up in the past few days.

    During one particular dive, in which the rain felt like nails and the wind was like a tornado, Hermione and Cho could be heard screaming "HARRY WATCH OUT!" He would have slammed hard into the ground but the Dragonback had a mind of it's own and straightened out at the last second. Harry had a feeling, with the broom capable of going so fast, it might have something to prevent him from being plastered on walls. The Firebolt had a breaking charm but Harry never got to use it. He glided past Cho and Hermione stunned faces, sniggering.

    "Hey," said Harry to Ron as their practiced finished after a full two hours, stuffing their now-soaked Quidditch robes away, "I'm thinking of asking Dumbledore now." Ron's face was suddenly full of the feeling like he just remembered something, but it wasn't good. "What? What is it?"

    "James told Sirius how to remove the mark," he said. Harry's own face contorted into the same look. "And-and... Sirius..."

    Harry swore very loudly. James did tell Sirius how to remove the mark and Sirius was now in the hospital wing, a zombie with half a soul. Harry buried his face in his hands. "Oh... no..." He dropped his broom and sat heavy on a chair in the commons. Nagini was now gnawing at his insides.

    "Why not just go ask Professor Dumbledore?" said Ron meaningfully. "Maybe there's still a way?" Harry looked up at him and nodded. "See you at dinner, then," he called as Harry stepped out of the portrait hole. He drudged up all the way to the stone gargoyle in front of Professor Dumbledore's office.

    And then he remembered that he didn't know the password.

    He punched the gargoyle hard in the face out of anger, leaving a stinging pain in his knuckles. As his hand recoiled, he noticed it had grown three times it's normal size and his skin was glittering golden in the sunlight peering down from the tall windows. He flapped his hand to shake off the pain and the top of the gargoyle fell off as the remnants spookily looked alive and stepped aside. Apparently, if one was forceful enough, it would give in for fear of being broken. He stepped through the big gap in the wall and onto the foot of the spiral stone staircase behind it. He knocked on the polished oak door by means of the brass door knocker.

    It took a minute, but Dumbledore's voice came from inside and said, "Come in, Harry." He did as he was asked. Dumbledore was sitting in his desk which sit in the center of the circular room, facing the door. "Sit down," he said politely. Harry looked around once again. He'd only been in Dumbledore's office a few times but there was always something that caught his eye. The first time it was the phoenix, Fawkes, that had broiled up in a fireball. Harry learned shortly afterward that the bird was being reborn.

    This time a book, covered in gold, a silver string extending out the spine, caught his eye. Harry immediately recognized it as the Book of Memories which had been used to revive him from a particularly nasty incident involving dementors. The front cover was perfectly flat and untextured except for an etching along the left side of the words "Libri Intus Memoriae." Both covers, front and back, looked to be made of pure gold. All over, the book sparkled in the sunlight. It wasn't thick - maybe about the size of Hogwarts: A History, which, Harry had to admit, after all, was rather thick. The pages visible from the sides were pearly white, almost transparent. This was a book to be treasured.

    "Is - is that..."

    "The Book of Memories. I kept it here since we needed it this past summer." Dumbledore leaned over it and picked it up. The soft sparkle turned into a glow, fading quickly in his hands. He picked up a thin, clear material from his desk and placed it on top of the book, covering all it, then put the book down. Dumbledore then put a hand in the center, slowly raised it and the book lifted with it as if it were glued to his hand. A small, orange and red shockwave erupted from the book, rumbling objects in the immediate area before falling back onto the desk.

    "This book holds powers that I have not begun to imagine," he said amazed, half ignoring Harry's presence. He removed the material and put the book in a drawer in his desk. "Ah," he said, now rounding on Harry. "Something you wanted to ask me?"

    "Wanted to know if you could remove the mark of ancients," said Harry shifting in his seat. "The sooner the better... but... James told Sirius... and... Sirius is in no cond-"

    "Relax, Harry. Sirius came right to me afterwards. The process is very simple. You will be put to sleep and will be out for several hours. When you wake up, you should simply no longer be able to control it, as it will not be in your blood anymore." He stood up, then added, "You should also wake up feeling like a million galleons for the small, but very important reason that the permanent Imperius will falter."

    "Yeah," said Harry, trying to inject a little reassurance into it, reassurance to himself that this was the right thing to do, as he nodded.

    "Come," said Dumbledore, getting up and putting a reassuring hand on Harry's back. "We have to collect all fifteen people."

    Professor Sprout was in her office talking to Professor Vector. Dumbledore told them to wait in Harry's dormitory. He surmised that he would once again be out for quite some time. Professor McGonagall was speaking with Professor Flitwick in McGonagall's classroom, Professor Binns was alone in his classroom, apparently preparing for class on Monday and Madam Hooch, Professors Snape and Trelawney were all conversing in the Great Hall about how Harry would do in future Quidditch games.

    They collected Michelle and Mrs. Figg from the Gryffindor commons, Lupin was found prowling the forest and they would have to pay Cornelius and Arthur a Disapparation to retrieve. There was a small problem... the fifteenth person was to be Sirius.

    "Who else can do it?" asked Harry impatiently, slightly panicking.

    "Let me think," replied Dumbledore, sitting down next to Arabella Figg, who was also trying to think. Cornelius Fudge looked just as perplexed as Harry. Who could they possible get that was a skilled wizard? Mrs. Weasley, nice a lady as she was, was no where near as skilled as her husband.

    Help came in the form of Hagrid. He did ask Professor Dumbledore why he was chasing a werewolf near the forest entrance...

    "Maybe I can ask Madam Maxime!" he suggested. "Me an' her are gettin' ter be good friends. I'm sure she would be able ter recommend someone. I'll send her an owl right now!" He beamed at them one last time before making a mad dash to his hut. Dumbledore asked himself why not ask Karkaroff, as he was a former Death Eater but quickly remembered he had run off and disappeared... Madam Maxime herself was no great witch.

    They used Hedwig, as she was faster than any of the school owls and it only took until dinner that night before Hedwig returned with Madam Maxime's reply.

    "Our studen' Fleur Delacour graduated Beauxbaton's with the highes' grades possible," read Hagrid. "She has been educated in this area an' is teaching a course in legendary magic. We are sure she will be a help an' I will escort her as well. I await a return owl."

    Ron tried deeply to hide his joy. Just as Harry thought Cho to be the prettiest girl at Hogwarts, Ron was just as enchanted, if not more so, by Fleur who was part veela. Veelas have a strange effect on nearby males, causing them to become much happier than normal. Harry remembered this feeling all to well. The two of them looked at each other and realized that Cho went to school at Hogwarts, Fleur would be coming, but Hermione would be without Viktor Krum, who they both knew she fancied. Ron and Harry exchanged slightly saddened looks and turned to Dumbledore.

    "Very well," he said. The look on his face made it clear he was slightly disappointed they had not been appointed a staff member. Either Fleur was very skilled witch or they were pulling Dumbledore's leg. After seeing Fleur in a duel, Ron and Harry came to the conclusion that she was just very good. Granted, the duel against Harry didn't last very long at all, it was nice to know she tried and there was the fact that she took part in the Triwizard Tournament last year. Hedwig shot off into the night sky.

    The next morning she woke Harry by landing on his stomach, quite tired and somewhat dazed. Harry pried the letter from the extraordinarily tight string which attached it to Hedwig's leg and read.

Hagrid,

Fleur and I will be arriving this afternoon just after your lunch should end.

Love,

Madam Maxime.

    Harry had to do a double take on the last three words and make sure his glasses were working correctly. Love? In all his time so far this year, Harry had almost fully neglected Hagrid. Hopefully Hagrid understood that Harry has had... more important things... to mull over. He decided to hide the fact and sent Hedwig right off to deliver the letter to Hagrid, looking like he hadn't received it, then fell back to sleep. It was morning, but it was still dark out.

    Harry woke up a refreshing few hours later, bright eyed and somewhat complacent. After all, the nightmare was going to be over very soon, he repeated to himself every few seconds as he got dressed. Ron was talking to him but Harry wasn't listening, the words just brushed over him. He even felt so good that he contemplated for a minute whether to put his pointy hat on. Ron kind of stared at him while Harry stared at his hat, arms flat at his side, looking ready to pounce.

    Students were only required to wear them during the start and end of year feasts. Harry stood for another second and then said "No, because I'll look stupid."

    "What?" asked Ron. Harry's face became slightly red, he didn't intend to say that outloud. Oops...

    "Nothing," he replied and turned around to stuff his wand in his pocket.

    They headed off out through the portrait hole, Harry wearing one of Mrs. Weasley's shirts and a pair of dark blue jeans. A big, golden letter "H" was embroidered in the center of the emerald green sweater. She made sure to send him, and Ron, Fred and George of course, a new one every year.

    Harry, Ron, Hermione and Michelle ate breakfast peacefully talking about future Quidditch games... Ron had not shut up about it since he woke up.

    "...And we're going to take Slytherin back to training on their stupid Nimbus Two Thousand Ones. Malfoy isn't going to know what hit him when I send a Bludger screaming after him."

    "Uh-huh," said Hermione. "And what if you break a few of his bones?"

    "If?" said Ron in a you're-kidding-me voice. "That's my intention." Hermione shook her head grievously. Harry laughed to himself as another pancake appeared in his plate.

    Ron went on and on and the few words Harry caught were "stupid Malfoy," "Firebolt," "Dragonback," and something about Harry flinging Malfoy off school grounds if he gets near the Snitch. Everyone was ignoring Ron, eating silently and Ron didn't seem to notice in all his babbling. Harry felt it good for Ron to get out the anger.

    Their next game was after dinner this evening. Michelle brought up the good point that Harry might not be recovered in time for the game. She was right, Harry hadn't asked Dumbledore about the game. Ron didn't hear that question and they thought it best to keep it from him.

    After breakfast was over, Harry, Ron and Hermione headed back to the commons and forced a conversation change over to their O.W.L.s. Hermione took the opportunity to force them to study in quiet in Harry and Ron's room much to their despisement. They went over all the potions, curses, charms, Hermione's runes and Muggle studies, Harry and Ron's Divination studies for a big, long and boring several hours. Harry did notice Cho looking at him, sometimes winking, sometimes giggling madly, from the Ravenclaw table. He blushed every time.

    Hermione kept them couped up so long they arrived at lunch a few minutes late which was just as boring as studying with Hermione. She took books with her and forced them to continue reading.

    At last, lunch was over.

    A huge horse drawn carriage seen flying over the bewitched ceiling of the Great Hall indicated the arrival of Madam Maxime and Fleur Delacour. Harry shot a quick look at Hagrid who had just spit out his drink and walked hurriedly towards the entrance hall.

    "'Ello 'Agrid!" Harry heard Madam Maxime shout as Hagrid exited the Great Hall.

    "Come on," Harry said to Ron and Hermione. They left their seats at the Gryffindor table, followed by a very curious Seamus and Dean. Their arrival must have been a surprise to the rest of the school, Harry realized.

    "Fleur is going to help remove the mark of ancients," he explained to Dean and Seamus. They exited the Great Hall to see Madam Maxime and Hagrid parting from what Harry knew was a hug. Ron, Hermione, Dean and Seamus looked puzzled. Harry kept his knowledge to himself (but maybe it wouldn't hurt to tell Ron and Hermione later).

    When Ron caught site of Fleur, he immediately entered an unmistakable drunken stupor, enchanted and dazzled, as he walked with flush cheeks towards Fleur. Hermione shook her head grievously just as she did during breakfast. Harry found himself distracted as Cho giggled past him with a few of her friends. Cho must have had lunch with them, taking the time to point and giggle at him.

    "Come with me, Harry," said Dumbledore sneaking up behind them. "We will be putting you to sleep in the hospital wing. It's quite a gory process involving lots of incisions and maiming," he added smiling. Harry gulped, hoping he was kidding. Everyone else that was to be involved waited in the Great Hall. Harry walked with Dumbledore to the hospital wing.

    "I should tell you that after you're put out by a very, very strong Sleeping Potion, you'll be carried back to the Great Hall. We arrange ourselves in a circle. The incantation is quite long, about two pages. James had the entire thing memorized as he was the most trusted member of the Order of the Phoenix next to myself. I never memorized it, thinking it would be a waste of time. Such fools, we are, when we're young." Harry felt slightly guilty at that last part.

    "A small incision is made in your wrist, ankles and center of your neck. You'll recall that's exactly what Voldemort tried this summer. It failed because he had not known about the required fifteen people and you survived it because of the mark. The people are used to create a magic field strong enough to overpower the mark and force it out from the bearer. The more people, the easier it becomes but our resources are limited as it is. Very interesting process, indeed."

    When they arrived at the hospital wing, Madam Pomfrey was standing with Snape, who was carrying a frothing goblet.

    "Sit down and drink up, Potter," he ordered. Harry lay on a bed Madam Pomfrey prepared, drank the wretched liquid and immediately felt light as air. Paradise, he thought, as his head fell softly into the cloud of pillows.

    What felt like a mere few seconds later, life returned. His skin felt tight. Harry examined his wrists to see small, thin scabs going from left to right at the spot where one would check their pulse. He sat up and pulled one of his feet closer, ripping off the sock, to see exactly the same thing an inch above his foot on the front of his leg. Harry then grazed a finger along his neck to feel another one just above where the shoulder bones meet.

    Just as Dumbledore said, Harry felt like a million galleons, the happiest he felt in years. Happier than feeling like he would be living with Sirius, happier than ever winning the Quidditch Cup and to his great surprise, happier than kissing Cho, or at the very least better than the awkward crawly feeling that entered his stomach after it. Unfortunately, it didn't touch the euphoria of meeting Lily and James.

    Harry leapt up out of bed, feeling so absolutely overjoyed with happiness he could just scream to the heavens... and then he remembered there was no apparent reason for feeling as such. It didn't bother him in the slightest as he got changed, a grin the size of Hagrid's face on his own, and tore through the corridors without knowing where he was going. There was an awful lot of extra energy Harry needed to burn off at the moment. Towards the Quidditch field his legs carried him, not realizing it.

    "Harry!" screamed Ron, his face just as happy as Harry's. Harry's run slowed to a walk. The Quidditch game! It was dusk and the sun was falling. "Dumbledore put a thought from his Pensieve into your mind so you would run right here after waking up." Ron suddenly looked dark. "You neglected to tell me it was going to take so long," he added sternly.

    "Sorry-"

    "Don't be sorry just go get changed and get your Dragonback," Ron barked. "We were wondering whether or not to send Cho after you." Harry blushed again then sped off, as fast as his legs could carry him, back to his room so he could grab his Quidditch robes, get changed and grab his broom. After, he charged off back to the waiting area.

    "Dumbledore was supposed to have reminded you to get changed," said Ron.

    "I didn't," said Harry flatly.

    "I noticed."

    "Enough bickering, you two," said Kylie in a motherly tone. She stole a glance at Ron and chuckled.

    "All right, Harry?" asked Craig nonchalant. Harry had taken a liking to Craig for treating him the complete opposite of Kylie. She always managed to find herself staring at the scar on his forehead before noticing what she was doing, much like she was doing just now.

    "Couldn't be better," replied Harry, covering the scar with his bangs. "All ready?"

    "Yep," said Ron and Alicia in unison.

    "Let's win this!" said Ron as they ran out onto the field.

    "Mount your brooms," called Madam Hooch. The Hufflepuffs, in their canary yellow robes, were looking quite disheveled as a few of them stared in awe at Harry's broom.

    "Welcome!" shouted Lee Jordan, the announcer, "to Hufflepuff versus Gryffindor! One of this evening's big spectacles is the new broom of Harry Potter -"

    "MR. JORDAN!" screamed Professor McGonagall. It was her job to keep Lee in line with Quidditch-talk only, as he frequently was biased towards the Gryffindor team's doings.

    "Right," he continued. All of players flew up into the air, Harry rising higher than all of them except Hufflepuff's new seeker, one slightly pudgy boy who scarily reminded Harry of Dudley. The two of them flew perfectly level with one another. "Madam Hooch brings out the box. She lets out the Bludgers, the Golden Snitch... and tosses up the Quaffle!

    "Hufflepuff in possession! Pass to - nice aim by Gryffindor Beater Ron Weasley, who also happens to be the team captain! Gryffindor's Katie Bell snatches the Quaffle. Up and down she goes, pass to Spinnet, pass to Johnson, back to Katie... towards the Hufflepuff goal, shoot and score! Ten to Gryffindor!"

    Harry decided to ignore rest of the commentary and get the Snitch as fast as possible after seeing Cho pointing up and waving at him from her seat. He waved back as a Bludger came dangerously close to his hand on the broom. Ron flew over and asked to give him a bit of speed. With no sign of the Snitch, Harry wasted no time in sending Ron flying off to the nearest Bludger - and Ron hit it square at the Quaffle sending it barreling into Hufflepuff's goal.

    The pudgy boy entered a fantastic dive, on the likes Harry had done himself on his Nimbus Two Thousand. Harry shot off after him. The Golden Snitch had been within the boy's reach when Harry let out a small burst of speed, when a Bludger came from behind and knocked him into the Hufflepuff Seeker. Both of them lost sight of the Snitch.

    One Hufflepuff Beater waved at Harry happily, who grunted back and shot back up in the air, returning to search for the Snitch. Then, there it was, piercing his eyes. Harry leaned all the way forward on his Dragonback, putting on a burst of speed that nearly unseated him, causing his hands to slip back a few inches. After just a second, he forced himself to lean back, bringing it to a full stop but it was far too much and he glided over Hagrid shouting, "Oops."

    "'S'all righ' Harry!" Hagrid boomed back.

    "Harry can you do that for me when I get the Quaffle again?" asked Angelina. It didn't take her long as Kylie had managed to knock the Quaffle out of the air with a well placed Bludger, along with her bat, which she zoomed after. Angelina grabbed onto the back of Harry's broom.

    "Hold on," said Harry, "tight." She grabbed around his waist, gripping the Quaffle in front of him. Harry leaned forward all the way, slipping back a few inches again, scaring Angelina in the process ("OH NO!"). She let go of the Quaffle at precisely the right moment... nailing the Hufflepuff Keeper in the chest.

    Their team captain called a time out. Harry, coupled with Angelina, flew to Ron, as did Craig, Katie, Alicia and Kylie.

    "Maybe I shouldn't go so fast," Harry suggested. Ron nodded. The Hufflepuff Keeper was hurt badly, spitting up blood.

    "Dumb git," grunted Ron, "shouldn't get in the way of a Quaffle going so fast." He paused for a few seconds, scratching his head then added, "All right. Save it for Malfoy, Harry. Looks like their Keeper is ready to go again. Just lean halfway."

    "Besides," said Angelina, "you scared me when your hands slipped on the Dragonback."

    "That happens all the time," explained Harry. Angelina looked like she had just been running from a pack of hungry dementors.

    "Weasley," called Madam Hooch, "they're ready."

    "Okay!" he called back. "And get that Snitch, Harry," said Ron, determined to win.

    "Right." The seven of them soared back into the air.

    A small voice in the back of Harry's mind made him flinch and shake his head violently. "No, please, take me instead!" it said.