Dark of the Soul

The Heart of the Matter

by Sleek Belle

Chapter One: SLITHER

Harry savored the familiar nervous quiver in his stomach, and the thrill of excitement that ran up his back.

Quidditch.

He loved the wind in his face and the freedom of flying, and how it banished `bad things´. Harry Potter, although young, was not stranger to `bad things´. He believed there was few things he could do well, but he could fly--and fight dark wizards, but he didn´t want to acknowledge that particular talent. Nothing could touch him when he rode his broom; he reckoned he could out distance his problems when he was up there. Unable to prevent the broad grin that spread across his face, he looked at Ron beside him. Ron was a bloody good Beater just like his twin brothers. Ron returned his grin, excitement making his freckles stand out even more than usual. Ron liked playing Slytherin--stomping them he called it--although not all the team shared his feelings. Harry looked over his shoulder at the rest of his Gryffindor Quidditch team.

Ginny had a focused staring expression and determined set to her mouth. It softened slightly when he caught her eye. He winked at her. That got her to smile and she flushed. Niles and Hilary, the other two Gryffindor Chasers, flanked Ginny and were gazing out the door toward the stands.

Seamus, their Keeper, held his broom handle inches from his nose and stared cross-eyed at it as though giving the object a silent pep talk. This was Seamus´s unique way of concentrating before the match.

Harry´s gaze went back to Ginny. He frowned. There was something wrong with her; he couldn´t quite put his finger on it. Her hands gripped her broom a little too tightly. She looked... stiff, scared, not energized as she usually was about a match. She glanced up then and found him staring at her. She bit her lip, looked away, then shook her head and came up next to him.

"Harry, I..." she began, licked her lips and wouldn´t meet his eye. "I need to tell you something."

Now he could tell she was nervous. Harry felt an uneasy flutter in his stomach. "You okay, Ginny?"

"I... I just think we need to keep a close eye on the Slytherin team. I´ve been hearing things." She shrugged but that casual gesture didn´t fool Harry.

"What exactly?"

"You know, just things. Maybe more than the usual."

Harry was hoping she´d elaborate but she didn´t. He laid a hand on her shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Just keep an eye out for Goyle and Crabbe. Right?" She nodded. She didn´t look comforted. The Slytherin Beaters, Goyle and Crabbe, were two of the nastiest players Hogwarts had seen for decades. In contrast to the muscle-bound Slytherin team that won by brute force and downright cheating, Harry prized agility and cunning in his team members.

"Listen up," Harry said, raising his voice so the entire team could hear him. "The Slytherins are out for blood. They want the Quidditch cup and we´re the only team that stands in their way."

Ron gripped his broom in one hand and the bat in the other. "Ready to swat some Slytherins like flies, eh Neville?"

"We´ll kick their asses," said Neville Longbottom, the second Gryffindor Beater. Once he had mastered flying, Longbottom had turned out to be a thumping good Beater. Had an arm like a steel beam and could really wallop the Bludger.

"Alright?" Harry asked. Everyone nodded; Ginny did after a slight hesitation. "Let´s go then."

They walked onto the field, the Slytherin team from the opposite side. The cheers, boos and hisses were deafening. Members of Gryffindor house waved red and gold banners. Harry spotted Hermione and she waved; both he and Ron waved back. Even Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff were rooting for them although in a more subdued fashion. Hufflepuff had already suffered an embarrassing defeat against Slytherin. Their Keeper had been under Madam Pomfrey´s care for almost a week. Crabbe had hit the Ravenclaw Keeper with the bat; a foul was called but still Slytherin won.

"Gryffindor versus Slytherin!" Colin Creevey shouted enthusiastically. This was his first year as the new Quidditch announcer now that Lee Jordan had graduated.

All the players stood in a circle in middle of the pitch, red and gold on one side, green and silver on the other. The trunk was already there opened and waiting, the Bludgers bucking against their locks. The Slytherin captain, a crafty seventh year named Ahab Gromer, leered at the Gryffindor team. Harry watched him closely as his snake-cold gaze moved to Ginny. He smirked and sent her a kiss. Malfoy sniggered. Ginny went white. Harry could see her hands shake slightly. What was going on? None of the other team members seemed to have noticed the byplay.

"Did you see that?" he nudged Ron with his elbow.

"Huh?" Ron said, blinking. "What?"

"Ahab´s eyeing Ginny."

"Maybe he fancies her." Ron´s gaze flickered to his younger sister, then he grunted. "I´ll beat him up later."

"It wasn´t like that." Harry shook his head. "There´s something going on."

"Yeah, it´s called Quidditch game. Shh! You´re bloody ruining my concentration."

Harry gritted his teeth. Ron could be really thick sometimes.

Madam Hooch walked out to the middle of the Quidditch pitch to the trunk. Her broom was tucked under one arm, her whistle hanging around her neck. She glared as if all of them had already committed innumerable heinous fouls, her odd colored eyes narrowed and suspicious.

"I want a clean game," she said and wagged her finger. She seemed to be addressing Crabbe and Goyle, but her gaze encompassed both teams. "Understand. Clean." Not everyone nodded and she stared until they all did. Harry and Ahab stepped forward and shook hands. It wasn´t a friendly shake. He sneered at Harry.

"Scared, Potter," he hissed under his breath.

Harry just allowed himself a small smile. "Of what?"

They stepped back and Madam Hooch walked between them.

"Very well, then," she said. "On my whistle. Three... two... one." She blew her whistle and they all kicked off from the ground and soared above the pitch.

Seamus took up his position at the goal hoops and Harry, as usual, flew high above his teammates. From here he had a good view of the pitch, then below him he saw Ahab fly over to Crabbe and Goyle. They were keeping their voices low while Ahab darted glances around him as if to make sure no on was listening. When he flew off they Crabbe and Goyle exchanging nasty smirks. A heavy knot of foreboding settled in Harry´s stomach. This game was going to be anything but clean. He could only hope his team members kept their wits about them. Malfoy flew up near him, the ever-present sneer twisting his lips. Harry gritted his teeth.

"Alright there, Potty?"

"Bugger off, Malfoy," Harry muttered.

"I feel I should warn you to forfeit now," he spat all friendly pretenses vanished.

"Can´t stand the humiliation of not catching the snitch again?" After fighting Voldemort, Harry found Malfoy´s pathetic bullying hardly threatening.

Malfoy´s eyes shone with unfettered malice. "Better be prepared to scrape up your team mates, especially that little Weasley slag."

Harry´s eye narrowed and anger swelled in his chest. "Don´t even think about laying a hand on Ginny," he ground out. Ginny was their best Chaser. Nimble and clever, she possessed almost a sixth sense allowing her to guess the moves of the opposing team members. It was like she knew what they were going to do before they did. She could be a brilliant Seeker, and Harry figured she would take his place when he left Hogwarts.

An evil grin lifted the corners of Malfoy´s lips. "Don´t want your ickle girlfriend damaged?"

Harry flew his broom closer, fury clouding his vision. "That´s right," he said between clenched teeth. "Touch her and you´re dead." His scar suddenly ached and he unconsciously began to rub it. "Do you understand?" his voice low and hoarse.

Malfoy´s sneer faded and something like fear flickered in his cold, pale eyes, but then Madam Hooch released the Bludgers and they screamed past hem like mad things. Malfoy soared away as Madam Hooch threw the Quaffle up.

The game was on.