A Different Kind of Scar

Harry and Ron awoke early the next morning, full of energy. They both knew that this match would crucial to their chance of making the Quidditch World Cup. Harry made eggs for Ron and himself. They ate to their hearts delight. Afterwards, they packed their bags with everything they would need for the match today. They walked out of the house, and with a quick swish of their wands, they were gone.

The game wasn't for another three hours, but the fans still were pouring into the stadium for the pre game shows. Every once in a while they would clap thunderously at their entertainment. Harry and Ron played Wizard's Chess until most of the team came in and got ready. Ron beat Harry every time. Harry's concentration kept drifting away from the game and on to other things.

"You better start to focus, Harry. If you lose your concentration during the game, we will lose!" Ron said to try and get Harry ready for the match. The coach walked into the locker room. Harry knew the coach's speech by heart, so he kept zoning out. Only when the coach snapped him out of the daze, did her realize it was almost time for the match.

"Harry? Harry? HARRY!" Coach shouted at him. Harry turned his head and looked him straight in the eye. "Harry, you better not lose you concentration like this during the match. This game is crucial and I need you on the top of your game. If we win, as I am sure you all very much know, we will be tied for the lead in the points with the United States. Now, go out there and win! Potter, I need to talk to you," he said as the rest of the team huddled in a mix of cheers.

"Listen, Potter, I don't know what is bothering you today, but whatever it is, you better not let it affect you this game. You got that?" he said looking more serious than Harry had ever seen him. Harry just shook his head, realizing how much pressure was being put on him.

Harry joined his team in their warm ups, then took his starting position. The Italian team lined up opposite him. The referee came to the center, blew her whistle, and tossed up the Quaffle. Harry took off looking for the Snitch. The announcer's voice broke through the speakers as the game started.

"It is Algo Zamorono with the Quaffle for Italy. He passes to Ryan DeMarco. DeMarco soars up the pitch. He shoots and scores! Italy is on the board first. Fisher takes the Quaffle and... ouch! She is it with a Bludger and drops the Quaffle. DeMarco quickly picks it up and passes to Lucas Rickert. Rickert passes to Zamorono. Zamorono shoots and scores! A twenty to nothing lead for Italy. Sean Owen is diving towards the ground!"

Harry was flying around when he heard the screams coming from the stands. He looked around and saw that Owen, the Italian seeker was diving towards the ground. Harry acted on instinct and dove as fast as he could. He was catching up, but not near fast enough. Then to his amazement, Owen pulled out of the dive and right next to Harry. Harry saw where he was going, the Snitch was five feet in front of him. Harry still nearly ten feet behind, put on all the extra speed he had. Owen's hand reached out and was right at the Snitch when Harry banged his broom into Owen's. Owen's hand retreated to keep him upright on the broom. The few Italian fans in the stadium booed at Harry's dirty play, but Harry and Owen both knew that was a clean and legal move.

"That was close ladies and gentlemen. Harry just barely saved the game for the French team. The score now reads 50 to 10 in Italy's favor. Italy's chasers have been dominating all match. Zamorono shoots... and blocked by Weasley! Weasley just made an outstanding save to save a goal. Fisher is flying up the pitch. She passes to Blew, Blew to Hicks. Hicks takes it and shoots... Goal! That was great teamwork by the French- Another goal for France, as Blew scores! Rickert with the Quaffle... he is hit by a Bludger! Fisher picks up the Quaffle and quickly shoots before Arnold Rosure even knew what happened. Rosure, the Italian keeper, had no chance to save that shot. The score is now 50 to 40, still in Italy's favor."

Harry was paying attention to the game very closely since that near capture of the Snitch for Italy. That was when he noticed two cloaked figures walk into the woods surrounding the pitch. It looked as if one was forcing the other to move. Then he saw another pair acting in the same manner. He suddenly snapped his attention back to the game as a loud roar rumbled through the stadium. It looked just in time to see Ron make a great save.

"Hicks has the Quaffle and turns up the pitch. He passes it to Blew. Blew shoots... and he scores! Zamorono quickly receives the Quaffle and passes to DeMarco. DeMarco shoots and scores. Blew with the Quaffle... he tries and pass and it is intercepted by DeMarco. DeMarco quickly passes the Quaffle Rickert. Rickert scores easily. Fisher has the Quaffle. Ouch! She is hit by a Bludger and drops the Quaffle! Zamorono picks up the loose Quaffle and shoots. Score for Italy! The score is now 80 to 50 in favor of Italy."

"Owen is diving again! He sees the Snitch and is at full speed. But wait, he is behind Potter. Potter must have seen the Snitch first, and got a good jump on it. He is a good fifteen feet in front. Potter now weaving in and out of the stadium, other players, and Bludgers, is gaining on the Snitch. The two seekers now race around the stadium right above the fans' heads. Harry is putting on all the speed he has and reaches out for the Snitch. He has it! Harry Potter has once again caught the Snitch! That's one hundred and fifty points to France. They have won the match with a final score of 200 to 80. France improves to 5-0 on the season. More importantly, though, they are now tied for the number one seeding in the World Cup points standing with the United States. Italy now 4-2 is seeing the playoff hopes fading. This was another exciting broadcast from Quidditch TV, we hope so see you again next week."

Harry and Ron walked off the pitch and headed toward the locker rooms. They took their showers and got dressed. They listened to the coach's talk about the game and then went to their quick press conference. Afterward Ron told Harry he was meeting Skye at the gate. Harry agreed to come with him. When they got up there, Skye was nowhere to be seen.

"Ron, you did say here? At this time?" Harry asked him looking around. Their were still a few fans left that were leaving the stadium.

"Yes, I wonder where she could be," he asked himself as two middle aged women walked up to them.

"Excuse me, sir, I just wanted to tell you that the girl you were supposed to be meeting here never came back," the first woman said.

"Never came back? I don't get it," Ron said.

"Well, Skye her name was. She had a friend named Hermione, too, I think. Anyways during the match two hooded figures asked them to come with them to security. They both agreed but never came back. I thought maybe you would want to know, so you don't worry," the other woman said turning around with her friend and walking away.

"Ron, maybe I should tell you something," Harry stated.

"What?"

"During the game, I saw a pair of hooded figures entering the forest. It looked like one of the figures was forcing the other one to go on. Then a few seconds later another pair did the same thing, entering at the same spot. What if that was Skye and Hermione being taken?"

"I-i-it couldn't be, could it?" he barely got the words out. Ron knew on the inside that Harry was right, but he couldn't come to tell himself that. "What should we do?"

"I don't know," Harry responded. "Go get two security guards and then I'll lead the way to the spot where I saw them." Ron nodded and left to find two security guards. A few minutes later, he reappeared, being followed by two men who worked for the Ministry of Magic.

"Ok," Ron said, "Where to?"

"This way," Harry turned and led the small group around the stadium. After five minutes of jogging, Harry finally spotted the spot where he saw them being taken in. "Right here is where I saw them." He looked down. Sure enough, there were footprints leading into the forest from where they were standing.

"Let's go," Ron said. He took a step into the forest and waved the rest of the group to follow. Harry saw him pull out his wand and light the tip. Harry did the same thing with his wand.

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"So, Skye I haven't been able to ask you yet, but are you and Ron going out?" Hermione asked Skye as they entered the stadium.

"Sorta, I think he is going to ask me for sure after the game," Skye responded. She handed the employee her ticket.

"That will be so good for you. I'm so happy for you!" Hermione beamed. The two girls gasped as the entered the stadium. Hermione had seen quidditch stadiums before, but this one was massive. This had at least quadruple the amount of seating available than the Hogwart's quidditch pitch. It had lights all the way around its top and just seemed to be kept very clean between matches.

They found their seats with little trouble. Once they were seated, Hermione looked at her watch. There was about twenty minutes or so before the match started. She caught a glimpse of both teams coming out of the locker rooms for their warm ups. She noticed Harry came out a few minutes later than everyone else on the team.

She gasped as Harry started his warm ups. The wind messed up his hair more than usual, which made his eyes stand out even more.

"You want something to drink?" Skye asked her.

"Sure." She watched the two teams warm up and get ready for the match. The match was about to start when Skye came back and handed her a drink. "Thanks." A whistle blew, and they both turned their attention to the game. The two teams were both playing rough but fair. It was about an hour or so, when two people wearing Ministry of Magic robes came up to them.

"Hermione Granger and Skye Robinson, I presume?" the first of the figures asked them. They both nodded in agreement.

The other figure stepped forward to speak. "Will you two please follow us." It was more of a command than a question.

"What for?" Skye asked confused. "Did we do something?"

"Just please follow us." The two figures led them from their seats into a conference room. It had a long table surrounded by many leather chairs.

"Sit down we will be right back." The two girls sat down in chairs and waited. A loud crack made them sit up in the chairs. The two figures were in the room and had their wands. The figure with the wands laughed, while the other tied them down. Once they were tied down, the figures grabbed them and drug them out of the stadium.

"Where are we going?" Hermione tried to shout, but it just came out as a mixture of sounds.

"Who are you?" Skye tried to say, but what happened to Hermione happened to her. The figures just looked at them and laughed. Hermione couldn't see, but she could tell that they were in the forest right next to the stadium.

Hermione and Skye were forced to walk without being able to see. They were being directed by their captors. After a while of walking, they captors finally told them to stop. The captors let them regain their sight. They both gasped at the sight in front of them. Their captors were Draco Malfoy and Lucius Malfoy!

"You two!" Hermione shouted. "You know Harry and Ron will be looking for you!"

"Don't worry about them," he told her, "They are no match for us. The duel will be swift, if there even is one." He laughed.

"Yes, Granger, the famous Harry Potter will soon meet his match," Draco chimed in with his dad's laugh.

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Harry, Ron, and the two Ministry officers weren't too far behind. They made their way through wooded area quite quickly. They had their wands ready incase of any quick attacks. After ten minutes of looking around in the forest, Harry heard noises off in the distance.

"Everyone be quiet! I think I hear something," he said. They stood in silence and listened for the sound.

"I hear it, too," Ron exclaimed, "This way!" He led the group, almost at a sprint, through the forest. The reached a clearing and stopped dead in the tracks. There, before them, was Draco and Lucius Malfoy. The next thing they noticed was Hermione and Skye tied up next to a tree.

"Draco!" Harry and Ron snapped together. Harry tightened his grip around his wand; he had waited for this moment long enough, the moment he will get his revenge on Draco Malfoy.

"Yes, Potter," he said back, "it is me. Hermione and Skye will die soon enough, but they will have to wait until after they see me kill you. Expelliarmus!"

"Diffindo!" Harry barely got the words out as Draco's spell was easily repelled. "Serpensortia!" Harry yelled the words. This was a far greater spell then when Draco cast this spell against Harry during a duel in their second year at Hogwarts. A dozen or more snakes fell from the sky and turned at Draco, under Harry's command in Parseltounge. Draco was kept quite busy with the snakes. Each time he went for a snake Harry hit him with curses. By the time Draco was done dealing with the snakes, he was nearly knocked out.

"Enough fooling around! It is time I finish you once and for all. I always was the better wizard of us two. Crucio!" The words came out of Draco's mouth.

"Protego!" Harry said as a protective shell emerged around him. Draco's spell bounced off harmlessly. Accio wand!" Draco's wand flew toward Harry, but it fell to the ground as his dad it hit with a spell.

Beside those two, Ron and Mr. Malfoy were engaged in a duel. While Draco was retrieving his wand, Harry heard Ron shriek, and turned to look. Ron was being put under the Imperius Curse. Harry, acting on instinct, aimed his wand at Lucius. "Avada Kedavra!" A jet of green light burst toward Lucius. He tried to duck but it was too late. The spell hit him square in the chest and he fell to the ground lifeless.

"No!" Draco shouted. "You will pay for that Potter, Avada Kedavra!" The jet of green light out of Draco's wand was much weaker than Harry's was. It might not have been enough to kill Harry, but Harry didn't want to take that chance.

"Cristo Hakra!" Harry shouted. The jet that was soaring straight for him was cut off. A treefolk dove right in front of him and took the blast. Draco looked stunned. "You can't defeat me, Draco. Surrender now and I shall spare your life."

"Never, Potter!" He started to flee towards a portal that he had just made. Harry just shook his head.

"I warned you," he said quietly. "Avada Kedavra!" The jet of green light hit Draco before he even had a chance to realize what happened. Draco Malfoy fell to the ground next to his father, motionless. Harry didn't take the time to pride himself on his work; he quickly went over to Hermione and Skye.

"Harry! Thank God you came! They would have killed us soon!" Hermione got the words out as soon as she was able to speak.

"Yes, thank you!" Skye said to him. They both gave him a big hug and kiss. Harry shrugged it off, he was worried about Ron.

"Please, help me with Ron!" he said leading them over to his motionless body. "Is there anything we can do?"

"I don't think so, Harry," Hermione answered. "I've never heard of anyone or anything that can save you from an Unforgivable Curse. I think he might be-" She was cut off by Ron's coughing and wheezing.

"Ron!" Harry yelled, helping up his best friend. "You're not dead!"

"I know," Ron explained, "I think Lucius' curse hit off a rock first. It still hurt beyond belief. Where are those two?" He asked looking around. His expression dimmed to complete shock when he saw their bodies. "W-w-what happened?"

"They are dead," Harry said coldly. He really didn't like the fact that none of them could deal with death.

"Harry, you killed them," Ron pointed out shaking in fear.

"Yes, I know. Draco tried to kill me, but it didn't work," he tried to make himself sound like the good guy. They didn't know how hard it was to be him, every year at Hogwarts having seen death in many ways. He had to learn to protect himself from Lord Voldemort for his own sake. But, when his training ended, he did not want to stop. He wanted to master the Dark Arts better than Voldemort, because he didn't only intend to protect himself and his friends from him, but he wanted to be able to kill Voldemort and avenge his parents' deaths.

"You two go back to the city and inform the Ministry on what happened," he said looking at Hermione and Skye.

"What are you going to do?" she asked him. He looked at Ron.

"Ron and I are going through there," he said directing his attention at the portal.

"No, wait for others to come. It is more dangerous than you think!" Hermione tried to persuade them, knowing it wouldn't work.

"You up for this mate?" he asked Ron. He didn't want to go on without Ron at his side, but if worst came to worst, he would. Ron nodded his head and the two of them headed toward the portal.

They stepped up to it and walked through, not knowing what dangers lay ahead.