Harry Potter and the Shadows of the Watchgate

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-*~| CHAPTER 20 - The Golden Wings |~*-
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February flew by in rapid blurry motions, faces kept appearing and disappearing, reality and dreams went hand in hand.

Harry dissolved himself in studies, Quidditch and Advanced Training classes with Lupin so much that he didn't had time to relax or even have some fun. Ron and Hermione kept on dragging him out of his busy schedules and extra classes, telling him to take it easy but got no positive response, whatsoever.

In the absence of Dumbledore, McGonagall handled the school very well. Hogwarts ran without missing a beat and if anybody had any doubts in McGonagall's leadership, like certain Pure-blood families, they had to chew their own words, because in spite of her physical frailty, she was not only able to take her Transfiguration classes but fulfill the duties of the Headmistress as well.

Dumbledore was delayed further because of the side-trips to Egypt and Brazil. However, McGonagall informed them all that his return was imminent in mid-March.

Harry hadn't dared to use Sirius's diary again. It seemed that whenever he did, he became so over-whelmed with the memories that he lost his concentration in everything real.

Ron and Hermione had complied with his staring into space, fiddling with food and not listening to lectures but doodling on his parchment. However secretly, they planned of chucking the diary away for good, but knew too well that they were just over exaggerating the matter.

Hermione kept on grumbling to Ron, seeing Harry's distant eyes and his brooding state but was warned persistently that Harry didn't want another one of 'Hermione-lectures' to calm his nerves, and she did surrender, but grudgingly.

Harry was not the only one who had become distant. There was another Gryffindor who was acting almost exactly like him. There was no Fred and George Weasley, or Percy for that matter to notice that Ginny had grown too much in her fifth-year. She was not an adolescent anymore, and a certain maturity had set upon her.

She didn't worry about trifle things anymore; she knew that she couldn't possibly please everybody--even herself. Moreover, she was getting less and less sleep and some doubts always circled in her mind. And when she did sleep, she saw strange shapes surrounding her....

She hid her feelings well with a smiling facade, warding off all the unwanted questions with the fact that she was just a little bit quieter than usual because of her up-coming O.W.Ls. She not only fooled her friends but her own brother; however, sometimes she did feel that Luna saw right through her charade of normalcy.

Ginny had discovered a beautiful friendship with Luna Lovegood and knew that above that spacey demeanor of hers, a very sensitive and sweet girl presided, who was just a little afraid of showing her real self to the world.

"Even in the darkest room, there is a ray of light!" Luna announced to no one in particular, and flopped down beside Ginny in the Gryffindor table.

"What?" Ginny reluctantly coming out of her torpor and followed Luna's gaze, which was resting on Harry.

He was doing the same thing he had been doing, since last month. Staring at nothing in particular and playing with his food. The current victim of Harry's sullenness was a piece of bacon, which was squished into peaces.

"Oh, Ronald, what's that!?" Luna shrieked in excitement, snatching the Daily Prophet from his hand, causing the goblet near it drip all of its content into Harry's lap.

"What the--" Harry stood up and looked at his soaking-wet robes listlessly.

"I'll fix it," Hermione offered.

"Don't worry," Harry said idly, and waved his wand in a way that hot air issued from it, drying his robe. Hermione gaped at him but didn't say anything.

However, Harry didn't notice because he was busy staring at something else, entirely. There was a picture showing a tall man back-tracking a crowd from somewhere, the sweeping motion kept on repeating as the crowd dispersed. The picture was taken from such a distance that the man's face was completely concealed by shadows.

"Luna, can I see that?"

"Oh sure, I thought they at last found about heliopaths but the picture was of some stupid salamanders, showing off," she said in a disgruntled voice.

Harry took the Daily Prophet and straightened it to read, while the others peered beside him:

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*** Three Muggles Found Dead! ***
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In a shocking turn of events, three Muggles were found dead near the temple of Ramses III in Thebes, the day before yesterday. The Muggle Police in Cairo thought that it was the work of some tomb-raiders, which is quite usual in that area, but after further investigations, it was revealed that nothing was stolen from any tomb nearby, as they searched over the whole Valley of the Queens.

Muggle Healers, called doctors, weren't able to explain the deaths; however, the Ministry of Magic today, released an official statement about these deaths.

"We have received concrete information that the three Muggles found dead near the temple of Ramses III were killed by the Killing Curse, classified as one of the Unforgivable Curses. The matter was mostly handled by the Muggle regulatory authority of Cairo. None of the Muggles killed have any relations with the magical world, therefore, the intent is debatable."

A Ministry official states that this turn of events lead to only one possibility. After the horrendous attacks by the Death Eaters on Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, the foreboding silence has been at last broken, proving that the Death Eaters are still at large.

-*-*-

Hermione finished reading and exchanged worried glances around the group. All their heads swiveled towards Harry, whose face was setting in a grim expression. He was clutching the pumpkin-juice goblet, like he wanted to crush it into pieces.

Slowly Harry loosened his grip, coming out of his stupor.

"Ron, Ginny, Quidditch practice - go change," Harry ordered, the corners of his mouth barely moving because of his clenched jaws. He was out and about from the table in a second and without uttering another word, stalked off towards the common room.

"Hermione, did you check the History section?" Ginny asked, staring after the retreating figure of Harry, like others, fumbling for a new topic.

"Yes, couldn't find any mention of a Ventosus Scroll," she answered, glumly.

"Did you check the Restricted Section?" Ginny whispered to her.

"Yes, that too...."

"I could write to my dad," Luna provided.

Hermione glanced at her skeptically. "Er... Luna... um..."

"Yeah, why don't you send an owl? You can borrow Pig if you want," Ron provided helpfully, totally missing Hermione's reaction while she glared at him murderously.

"Thank you, Ronald!" Luna shrieked in delight, as if she was going to hug him, but she turned and sauntered towards the Ravenclaw table instead.

"Er..." Ron at last noticed Hermione's glare--but too late.

"I'm going to the Library." She stood up and banged her books on the table ceremoniously and followed Harry's anger-trail.

"What did I do?" Ron asked in total bewilderment.

Ginny sighed and debated the fact that whether she'd lecture her own brother on girl-matters or not.

"Why are you so friendly with Luna, suddenly?" she asked, without answering his question.

"To shut her up, what else? Or she would have gone on and on about Fudge's secret heliopath army or Umbridge's teddy-bear club," Ron said, scrunching up his nose disgustedly, following his sister to the common room for their brooms.

Ginny laughed indulgently and shook her head. "Ronniekins, grow up!" she said, while Ron's baffled look changed to a scowl.

"How many inches should I grow more to grow up?" asked Ron, looking down from his height of six feet.

"You are beyond help, brother," she said simply, patting his arm and made her way to the girl's dormitory.

-*-

Harry was out of his bed at daybreak. The dream had been the same again, even after practicing Occlumency, he kept on hearing his mother's voice but as always, wasn't able to see anything. He had predicted to himself that after seeing his mother in Sirius's memories, some kind of link may reappear like the one he had few months before, when he saw her going through a dark tunnel in a semi-dream-vision. However, nothing of that sort happened and he had to contend with more work and practices to keep his mind off of it.

He had been working hard in Quidditch practices, and following Wood's steps, he was scheduling three practices per week. Ginny had grumbled on his utter blindness to her O.W.L. studies but he had turned a deaf ear to her complaints, as the match against Ravenclaw drew nearer.

This particular match was crucial because Slytherin had already beaten Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. Gryffindor needed another win to reach the finals, because the Slytherins were already leading.

The constraint happened in Hufflepuff/Ravenclaw match, when the game took almost ten hours to finish. Due to high winds, the Seekers were unable to see the Snitch but the Ravenclaw Chasers had plenty of time to score. Even when McGonagall had kittens about such a long match, it was finished according to the international Quidditch rules. That's why Ravenclaw was anxious to defeat Gryffindor to reach the finals, because while Ravenclaw lost against Slytherin, they lost by a very low margin of thirty points, so they still had the average margin over Gryffindor.

The pressure was building and the whole school was anticipating the match. Ravenclaws normally were on good terms with Gryffindors, but because of the match, they were keeping their distance and no more smiles were exchanged. While Hufflepuff sided along with Gryffindor, Slytherins just sauntered smugly around without any preference, causing discord as usual.

The tension was palpable when the Gryffindor team filed along the house tables in the Great Hall, their nerves on edge. Ron looked green with worry and Seamus looked ready to drown in the nearest goblet--even Jack and Andrew were behaving themselves, the shoveling-ceremony all but forgotten.

Katie and Harry had been emphasizing on the Beater capabilities in them and were successful in prizing an uncanny talent: the Bludger Backbeat feat. It was an open secret that they were not very good with their clubs when it came to swinging the Bludgers forward but they were somehow successfully able to send the Bludgers flying backwards very accurately. Ron attributed it to their backward minds but, nonetheless, Harry was proud on his Beaters, who hadn't sent a single Bludger towards their own teammates since last three practices, which was a feat, considering their previous record.

He wasn't too worried, except for the fact that he was going to play against Cho after almost two years. He knew it in his heart that he didn't have any feelings for her; however, he was aware of the fact that he couldn't stop looking at her when she did pass him by.

Harry shook his head furiously, as if trying to shake those thoughts out of his mind.

"Harry, calm down," Hermione said, clearing the spilled juice from his goblet on the table.

"Yeah," he answered, distractedly looking at the Ravenclaw table, receiving a very charming smile from Cho.

"I think I'm going to be sick," Harry said under his breath bowing his head low, while gripping it between his hands, like it would come off if he let go.

-*-

"An excellent day for such an important Quidditch match! Welcome to the second to last match of the season. Put your hands together for Gryffindor and Ravenclaw," Dean Thomas announced in a spirited voice.

As the audience clapped around, Dean continued, "I give you the Ravenclaw team: Boot... Iqbal... McLain... Davies... Bradley... Chambers and... Chang.

"And I give you the Gryffindor team: Bell... Weasley... Finnigan... Weasley... Sloper... Kirke and... Potter!

"The Quaffle is released, and Davies in possession."

Katie had instructed the team to score as high as they could, because of Ravenclaw's high point average.

Harry scanned the ground for signs of the Snitch but couldn't find any. With the corner of his eye, he peeked at Cho who was following him at a distance, which was well for him, as he didn't need reminding that he went wonky whenever he looked at her.

"Bell sweeps down and with Finnigan on Davies's tail, grabs the Quaffle at the perfect time.

"OWW!" Dean mouthed sourly.

McLain's Bludger had almost knocked Katie from her broom, but she kept steady with her years of training, though in the process she lost the Quaffle to Chambers.

"Ooooh, Ravenclaw wants to play dirty!" Dean spat.

"Show 'em Gryffindors!" he yelled vehemently.

"Thomas, no biased commentary, please!" McGonagall shouted half-heartedly. She was upset like any other Gryffindor.

"Chambers enters the scoring area while Weasley prepares for battle. Another deadly Bludger is on its way and--" Dean commentated in a bored voice.

A tone of amazement crept into his voice as he continued, "a very well placed Bludger by Kirke, making Chambers quite empty handed. Ginny Weasley in possession.

"Was I dreaming or that was actually a Bludger Backbeat?" he said, amazed. "Hats off to Kirke for pulling that one off!

"Boot looks flustered as the Red Queen inches closer," Dean said offhandedly, while McGonagall gave him a sidelong glance.

"She swerves and with a terribly long arc, and scores the first goal of the match! Gryffindor: ten to zero," he finished satisfactorily.

Harry veered to his right for another round when he came face to face with Cho, who in turn smiled at him in such a charming way that he felt his heart flutter in his chest.

"Focus! Focus!" he scolded himself.

What in the hell is the matter with me! he thought shaking his head, while he headed upwards to get some air.

"Looks like our Seeker is a little disgruntled, today. Well, he can't help it, can he? His life's always in such danger, with You-Know-Who always on his tail and what not."

"Thomas! Stop talking about Potter's personal life and continue commentating!" McGonagall growled threateningly.

"Just providing some background info, Professor. Er..." Dean faltered, seeing the fumes almost emanating from McGonagall.

Clearing his throat, he continued, "Davies in possession, protected by Iqbal and McLain like a royalty, while Weasley looks more than ready for another quick save."

A loud collective groan issued from the audience as Ron was hit with two consecutive Bludgers, allowing Davies to score freely. Fortunately, Ron's robes tangled with his broom and he was saved from a face-first fall to the ground.

Dean swore loudly. "Squirmy little cheats!!! Foul, Foul, FOUL!"

Ginny went to her brother's rescue as Madam Hooch called a timeout. Ron bravely held up his hands telling his teammates and the audience that he was fine and motioned to Harry to continue with his Snitch-hunt making a flying bird motion with his hands. Harry didn't have to picture a very bushy head bobbing up and down in the Gryffindor stand. He just hoped that Hermione had clipped her nails before coming to the game.

"I've just been informed that the filthy lit--" Dean announced.

"Thomas!" McGonagall warned.

"The last move was not a foul but is known to be the Dopplebeater Defense. Looks like the Ravenclaws are studying more than the capacity in their heads," he finished, totally disgusted.

"Ravenclaw scores, bringing the game to equal; ten to ten."

After another hour to the game, Gryffindor was leading by twenty points with fifty to thirty; Ravenclaws were playing very well and every defensive tactic was used by both the teams.

Harry knew he didn't want to catch the Snitch so early, so he kept Cho busy by misleading her throughout the game. He steered his Firebolt lower, feigning to skim the corners of the pitch.

He was zigzagging through the Chasers, recognizing Seamus going for a Transylvanian Tackle, when he saw Cho steer her broom in the opposite direction. With a slight touch Firebolt did the same and he was following her towards the Ravenclaw-side of the pitch. To his horror, Harry saw the familiar golden glint, just below the center goalpost.

He gathered speed and like an arrow was beside Cho, right on course. He felt her register his presence, as she glanced towards him smiling, and blew him an unexpected kiss. He became flabbergasted not only at the gesture but at the sudden mellowing sounds of the spectators.

His vision blurred and through the haze, he saw the most beautiful girl riding an ancient Fireball.

She must be a princess... Why else she would be grasping a golden tiara with wings?

With a blink of an eye the vision was gone, replaced with the looming ground coming towards him by leaps and bounds. He felt his muscles convulse, as he realized that he was hanging from his broom with his right hand.

The noise was suddenly turned back on, as he heard angry shouts, half drowned by scattered clapping and jeering. The feeling of utter foreboding settled upon him as his head swam along the possibilities of such noise. He lost his grip and within a heartbeat, darkness swallowed him.

-*-

Ginny was chasing Chambers when she heard the telltale sound of the whistle of the Snitch being caught. The play ceased and all the players looked around in bewilderment to find which team had won.

The crowd erupted in such force that nothing was audible except the unintelligible shouts and jeers. In the middle of complete disarray of robes and brooms, she saw Ron streak towards the ground.

"Ravenclaw wins." Dean's dejected voice reverberated in the Pitch.

Ginny couldn't believe her ears but somehow Harry didn't catch the Snitch, meaning... She shook her head; she didn't want to dwell in that particular thought. She followed her brother and the rest of the Gryffindor team towards a specific spot on the ground.

Nothing was visible except the numerous heads. So instead she looked at Cho, who was being hugged by the Ravenclaw team.

There was nothing false about her winning grin as she showed off the limp Snitch in her hands to her teammates. Ginny had seen a very similar smile before; Padma Patil always had it before making the final move that always won her one of the best-looking boys in the school--a prelude they called as moving-for-the-kill.

Ginny seethed in contempt as she averted her gaze towards the Gryffindor team, which was slowly joined by the entire Gryffindor House. She didn't even want to think of consequences but the crowd's reaction reflected her own dread.

She remembered too well that Harry only had lost a game before, and it was only because of the arrival of the Dementors. She couldn't fathom how he lost against Cho....

However, all thoughts scampered away from her mind as soon as she saw Harry levitated by Ron and Hermione. Every other Gryffindor was gasping at the sight of his bloody robes and the odd angle of his left foot.

"Make way. MAKE WAY!" Hermione was screaming hoarsely at the crowd. Ginny was alarmed to find her face streaked with pink lines, magnified by her spilled tears.

"A stretcher would be better," Ginny suggested, yelling above the hubbub and conjured a stretcher with her wand.

"Yeah." Ron looked at her distractedly and along Hermione positioned Harry above the stretcher and made their way towards the Hospital Wing, scattering the crowd.

Madam Pomfrey came sputtering in indignation, meeting them along the way to the Hospital. "Quidditch, I tell you! Why don't they just kill them all now and save time?" she said pursing her lips, her voice shaking with ire.

-*-

What a brilliant plan! Maybe Potter will die and I'll be able to get back to my life for good, a person surrounded by the milling crowd of students thought.

Nonetheless, what was all that about? Potter fell and Cho won the match? A thing no one would ever even dream!

I just wish all this gets over soon. I'm tired and losing my patience. If this fall doesn't kill Potter, I'll have to switch to my last resort...

Potter, your days are numbered.... A sinister smile spread across that person's face.

~*~