The New Lightning Bolt

Chapter One

Harry's Flight

Harry entered the portrait hole to an almost empty common room. He had been alone for a while and needed interaction. He had nothing to do on weekdays after classes nor the weekends with Ron having a month's detention so he was forced to spent most of his time with Hermione. They would be found in the library trying to catch up on Harry's homework, but it was no use. Every time Harry finished an assignment, which was practically done by Hermione, two more seemed to pop up. It was truly a wonder how Harry managed to get any homework done.

Even Divination seemed hard without the grave ideas Ron was so good at making up. Professor Trelawney was becoming aware that Harry was going to drown twice a week and she brought it up with him.

"I would have thought that you would have known that the stars never align for two drownings in a week, my dear," Professor Trelawney said in her misty voice.

"Uh, of course. Sorry Professor," Harry said amazed that she wasn't lapping up his death.

"I am beginning to watch your inner eye and it is slipping up your homework."

"Uh, that is because I am starting to get some kind of...uh...bug that makes me real tired...do to the position of...of Jupiter's storm. Sorry Professor, but I can't really help it."

"Ah, my dear boy, I was just about to suggest that myself. I hope you will get better, but I am doubting it," she said giving him a sympathetic look and she walked off to sit in her chair behind the crystal ball.

Oh before you go, Professor, I just wanted to let you know that my "inner eye" is a bunch of bull from my imagination, he thought furiously.

He knew better than to talk back, with his grades so low, just in case the consequence was more homework. He didn't think Hermione could take his and her load anymore. He liked spending time with her, even if it was homework, but lately he would find excuses to escape her and her concern.

He usually would go fly around in his free time and when he got bored of that, which was very unusual, he would find a nice deserted roof and sit atop it. The sunset was his favorite thing to watch, but he didn't mind watching the rest of the students walking by carrying on with their lives, as he should. Besides the homework calling him from inside his dormitory Harry enjoyed the periods of time where he was alone and able to think about life ... and death. No matter what every one said to cheer him up or encourage him he still felt bad for Cedric's death. After all, it was his idea to grab the cup together so by fault he put Cedric in a dangerous spot and was responsible for the consequences.

Harry sighed as he sat down in a vacant, comfortable chair next to Hermione in front of the fireplace. The fire was warm and welcoming and Harry stared into the dancing flames unblinkingly. He was mesmerized by the colors and how they got along with each other, complementing each other. Suddenly he felt two things: emptiness inside and irritation in his eyes. They were beginning to water trying to wet the dryness he got from the fire's heat. He removed his glasses and began to rub his eyes massaging the soothing liquid all over. He then brought his fingers to the bridge of his nose trying to get the exhaustion off his face. Ever since Voldemort had risen up Harry began to worry into all hours of the night and it was becoming apparent to everyone.

Hermione who was reading a huge ancient book, no doubt reading it for a thorough preparation for a test, looked up at the sound next to her to see Harry trying to gouge out his eyes.

"You know, Harry, if you keep doing that you are going to leave a red mark," she said jokingly. She cocked her head to the side when all she got in reply was a "Mph."

"Harry. Are you alr...?"

"Fine!" Harry exclaimed releasing his face before Hermione could say another syllable. "Just fine, Herm. Don't worry...please." He started to work his eyes again, but stopped when he noticed the uncomfortable silence coming from Hermione.

She was hurt and Harry sighed once more adding to the amount of stress that had been piling up, like his homework, since Cedric's death. Putting on his glasses Harry looked at Hermione and tried to explain himself. "It's just...I am tired of waiting. I know he is going to do something soon, Herm."

"How do you know?"

"I can just feel it."

"Your scar isn't hurting again, is it?"

"No. It is not. And would you please stop with the questions and concern? It is getting extremely annoying."

"Sorry Harry. I just wanted to know if you were okay."

"You and the rest of the world. I told you, I am fine." Harry was beginning to question if it was the right thing to find interaction after all. "By the way, what are you reading?"

Forgetting about the book in her lap for the first time ever, Hermione glanced down a bit surprised. "Oh! This is a book on magical creatures. It goes into great detail about everything you can imagine and can't. It is really fascinating."

"I bet it is," Harry said sarcastically.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Hermione said now hurt for the second time.

"Nothing. I think you and Hagrid should start a fan club for magical animals. It could be called B.A.R.F." He paused looking into Hermione's face smiling. "Bewitched Animals are Really Fascinating."

"Very funny, Harry. Very funny."

"I thought so." He smiled at her and then returned to rubbing his eyes, but under his glasses. He was having much difficulty. The nosepiece kept poking him in the finger.

"You should probably get some rest, Harry."

"I am not tired Hermione," he lied. "Besides it's three o'clock in the afternoon. I think I am going to go fly around a bit before dinner."

"You will come to dinner tonight, right? You haven't been eating right Harry and it is starting to show," she finished with a look of concern.

Harry thought she was right. He had been getting skinnier and skinnier throughout the school year, but he refused to say skinny. He preferred lean because after all he wasn't just skin and bones...there was muscle too. For his frame he was quite powerful and he took that as an advantage over his enemies.

Draco Malfoy was a classic example of this. He had completely underestimated Harry in the beginning of the year and as a result he came out of the squabble doubled-up and having blood spew from his nose. Crab had to escort Malfoy to the Hospital Wing because Harry's punch made his eyes swell shut disabling him in seeing where he was going. Snape was the first teacher on site and took so many points off him that Gryffindor was in negative numbers. All his housemates seemed disappointed in starting off the year bad. The only one who seemed to have liked the fight and to have congratulated Harry was his best friend, Ron. He too was amazed at Harry's strength.

"Stop with that look, Hermione. And yes, I will be there."

"Promise?"

"Promise," said Harry in a sigh. "When Ron gets back from detention with Snape, tell him, ok?"

"Alright." She returned to her book, a bit agitated, trying to find where she left off. Harry got up from the comfortable armchair and stretched. He raised his arms above his head and stood on tiptoes to get the full range. With the release of his breathe Harry fell back into the usual stance.

"Why do you stand like that, Harry?"

"Like what?" Harry asked looking down at his graceful posture.

"Never mind," she said finding her place.

Harry a bit confused dismissed her question and headed up to his dormitory to retrieve his Firebolt. He pushed the door opened and realized that the journey to get to where his things were was going to be harder than looking for it. A hop, skip, and a jump carried him over to his bed where he rummaged through everything in the trunk and on the floor to find his broom. The boy's dormitory was getting bad and he thought that they should clean it up a bit, but he new that was never going to happen. Although it was against the rules to fly indoors he mounted his broom to get across the room. There was absolutely no other way to get across. He pushed off his bed to hover above the mess and flew towards the door.

How he loved to fly. It was much easier and came more naturally than getting into trouble, which happened a lot. He couldn't remember a single year that he didn't break at least 75 school rules, but this year was quiet. Too quiet. He had only broken three rules and that was to get out of situations. One was to get out of the hellhole of a room and two were midnight walks to the owlery to mail letters to Sirius. It seemed in Sirius's letters that he was fine but Harry could sense the unease in his letters. Sirius also seemed aware of the all too quiet year. He figured Sirius was hiding close by in case something did happen not only because the time between the send and reply was shorter than other times but because Sirius had told him. Sirius wouldn't say where in case the letters were intercepted, but Harry had a good idea it was close, which gave a lurch in his stomach. Harry couldn't think of the consequences if Sirius was caught on a count of Harry. He, Ron, Hermione, Professor Lupin, and Dumbledore were the only ones who knew he was innocent so if someone got a hold of him he would surely be sent to Azkaban and administered the Kiss. That was one thing Harry didn't need put on his skyscraping pile of worries.

After he reached the door and dismounted it, Harry headed down the many stairs to the main entrance where he would go to the Quidditch Pitch. It seemed like the journey took over an hour because all he thought about was the one man who has ruined his life since he was one year old. Since he killed Harry's parents. The one man, or thing, that has wrecked havoc on the world worse than any wizard before his time...Voldemort. He was constantly reminded of him everywhere he went with all the people looking at his forehead. And every time he used his wand because of the phoenix that donated the tail feather that lies in Voldemort's wand gave one other, which so happened to be in Harry's. Quite frankly Harry was beginning to get sick at the thought of his wand, which his friends didn't know about, but it all seemed to wash away with the arrival at his destination. He mounted his trusted broom once again and took off toward the cloudy sky.

Today would be a semi-perfect day to have a match, he thought as he did some figure eights in the sky.

The clouds seemed to watch him fly because they started to mimic the swirling pattern of his path. They weren't white but stormy gray and they seemed to be trying to conquer the whole sky. Harry noticed their sudden activity and it reminded him of how he felt in the common room. Before his eye dried out he felt empty. He felt like something was missing or someone. Ever since his fifth year he secluded himself from much activity and he needed someone to talk to. He couldn't talk to Ron because all he would say is, "Cheer up, Harry." He definitely couldn't talk to Hermione, though he supposed her advise would be better, because he couldn't stand the look she gave him every time he sighed. So without Hermione and Ron to talk to Harry figured that the best way to forget things was to take a walk around the castle. So far he hadn't been caught by Filch, Mrs. Norris, Peeves, or any other person except one.

Harry had been walking for a long time under his invisibility cloak and decided to sit down for a while. He took off the cloak and set it aside welcoming the night breeze coming in from the open windows. He leaned his head against the wall only to pick it up again straining his ears for the noise he just heard. Someone was coming so he quickly threw the cloak over him and remained seated so as to not make any noise. His plan was to wait for the person to pass before doing anything else. The person was coming and he could make out that it was a student and a guy. Harry saw the silver-blonde hair and the graceful walking to confirm it was Malfoy. He thought that when he walked by he would stick out his leg, trip Malfoy, and run. It was too risky so he just sat there watching him walk when he suddenly stopped not far from Harry. Harry involuntarily held his breath to ensure he wasn't making any noise. Malfoy bent down and reached a hand out to the invisible Harry and ripped off the cloak.

"Ah... What do we have here?" Malfoy drawled seeing Harry. "Isn't it a bit late to be walking the halls, Potter?"

"How did...how did you know I was here?" Harry gasped.

"Your feet Potter. You forgot to cover your feet," he said with the trademark smirk playing across his lips. He looked at Harry's cloak examining it. "Very impressive Potter. Who did you swipe this from?"

"I didn't swipe it from anyone Malfoy," he said defensively after getting over the initial shock. "If you must know it belonged to my father."

"You're not going to get all sentimental, are you Potter?" Malfoy questioned still holding the cloak.

Harry noticed this and made a dive for the cloak, but Malfoy was too quick and held it out of his reach. Harry fell flat onto the floor. Malfoy got up and started to laugh. He didn't see Harry get up and without another second Harry had his wand pointing at Malfoy. He stopped laughing when he finally saw Harry's wand and went for his. This time Harry was quicker and immediately took action.

"Accio wand," Harry cried hold up his other hand to catch Malfoy's wand.

Malfoy tried desperately to grab his flying wand and this caused him to go forward. He couldn't reach his wand nor could he get his footing so just as Harry enclosed his fingers around the wand Malfoy had ran into him taking him down crashing to the floor. Harry let go of the wands and they went rolling across the stone floor. Harry crawled on top of Malfoy to the outstretched hand where his father's cloak was being held. He grabbed his hand and started to pry the fingers off it when a sharp blow came to his stomach. It was Malfoy's turn to be on top as Harry grabbed his stomach. Malfoy straddled Harry's midsection and grabbed both his wrists and held them on either side of his head. Harry still had his eyes closed from the punch's pain.

He opened his eyes slowly taking in all the parts of his situation. His cloak was thrown aside by Malfoy where their wands lie. He looked at Malfoy seeing his hair out of place and in his face. Through the strands Harry could see the intense grey eyes looking at him fiercely. He bent his head down so his hair almost touched Harry's face.

"You underestimate me Potter. It is your turn to get the shit kicked out of you."

"Get. Off. Me. Now," Harry growled.

"I don't think I will Potter because I still owe you a bloody nose. The good thing about payback is you get interest. Yours will be harsh," Malfoy hissed. His eyes were beginning to scare Harry.

Using all his might Harry pushed Malfoy off him and Harry sat up. Malfoy's eyes were shocked and it seemed that he once again underestimated Harry's strength. Malfoy was off him but both of his legs were on either side of Harry and on top of his thighs. Malfoy quickly wrapped them around Harry before Harry could pull his next move. The unexpected move cause Harry to let his guard down and once again Harry was pinned to the ground. Malfoy's legs underneath Harry hurt his back and sides and only when Malfoy noticed him wince did he tighten his legs.

"Get off me Malfoy," was all he said before he opened his eyes yet again to see Malfoy's grey ones. Harry was taken back with the look of...pleasure?

"I think I'll stay a bit longer Potter."

At this remark Harry tried to get out of Malfoy's grasp, but it was not use. I seemed Malfoy learned Harry's strength. All Malfoy did was tighten his legs and Harry stopped wiggling because the pain was too intense. Harry thought that his kidneys were permanently damaged along with a couple vertebrates.

"You don't like this, do you, Potter?"

"What is this? Twenty questions?" Harry squeaked trying to catch his breath.

"Answer my question Potter," Malfoy demanded through gritted teeth.

"Of course not you pervert," Harry squeaked again.

"I don't think it wise to call names when you are losing Potter," he said and suddenly realized that his ankles that were below Harry's back were becoming numb. He shifted to one side and then the other to let his feet out. He sat on Harry stomach right where he had punched him earlier. Harry seemed to be grateful for Malfoy's action to get circulation in his feet again because this meant the freedom for his kidneys. Harry relaxed a little and began to feel circulation through his own body. He suddenly realized that his legs and feet were free.

"I am not losing Malfoy...you are," said Harry and with that he pulled his legs up and around the front of Malfoy and pulled him of him wiping the confused look off Malfoy's face.

Harry's hands were free now and he immediately sat up. Harry's legs were now around Malfoy middle in an odd angle and were pinning Malfoy's arms across his chest. Malfoy's legs were still on either side of Harry, but his lower back was off the ground because he was sitting in Harry's lap. Harry was going to end the whole thing by what was considered illegal in the man to man combat rule book: punching him in the nuts. Harry had no choice because he needed to get the cloak and get out of the hallway just in case someone did come. He really didn't want to be found like this with Malfoy. As if on cue they heard footsteps coming their way. Malfoy tried to wiggle free but it was no use because Harry was too strong.

"Where do you thing you are going, Malfoy? I am not finished with you. Either you stay still or we both get caught."

Harry reached over and grabbed the cloak and a wand. The other was too far to reach and he noticed it was his. He held Malfoy's wand preparing to summon his own when he took a closer look at the wand. It was black, long, sleek, and it looked powerful.

"What are you doing Potter?"

"Shush Malfoy," Harry said bringing a finger to his own lips. "Accio wand," Harry whispered. He was right it was powerful and Harry's want came at such force only Seeker reflexes could have enabled him to catch it. He secured both the wands in his pocket and threw the cloak over their intertwined bodies just in time. Professor McGonagall came around the corner glaring around trying to find what she heard, but there was nothing. Malfoy and Harry were motionless staring at each other under the cloak.

"Peeves? Is that you?" But no reply came so she went back around the corner. Only when Harry was sure Professor McGonagall was far enough to not hear anything Harry lifted his hands above his head clasping them together getting ready to bring the down hard on the clear view.

"Goodnight Potter and I think I will borrow your cloak."

"What?" was all Harry could say with a confused look before he was knock out. Malfoy had brought his left foot to the side of Harry head knocking him unconscious.

Harry woke up the next day with a splitting headache and in the Hospital Wing. It took him quite a while to remember what happened and had a difficult time trying to explain or rather make up his excuse for being out of bed and beaten up in the middle of the night to Professor McGonagall. All he could come up with in the end was an "I can't remember."

When he was released from the Hospital Wing he made a mental note to always make sure he was under the invisibility cloak completely when he remember Malfoy's last remark about borrowing the cloak. He checked his pockets to see if he didn't also "borrow" his wand, but it was still there. Malfoy had evidently taken his own from Harry's pockets. Harry was extremely glad he wasn't carrying a letter to Sirius because he knew that Malfoy checked all his pockets, even though he didn't have anything in there to begin with. An opportunity like that was always too good not to take up with Malfoy. A letter to Sirius would have definitely meant destruction to Sirius and blackmail to Harry. Harry was snapped back to reality by the loud rolling thunder. The storm clouds were all around him and were looking fierce.

Great. Just what I need. A storm to destroy my happiness like Voldie. Hmm...why are they doing that? Holy Shit!

Harry lost his grasp of his Firebolt as a huge gust of wind nearly knocked him off. In an effort to steady himself he heard voices on the air. Foul voices that sounded familiar. Not wanting to find what who they belonged to, though he had an idea, he made his way down to the ground where the wind was intensifying. He only made it to the stands to grab a hold to one of the beams when the wind picked up full throttle. It whistled and howled loudly in his ears.

This isn't normal wind, he thought frantically trying to secure his stay on the ground.

The wind was getting stronger and with a sudden jerk the Firebolt flew out of his hands in to the raging sky followed by many other objects from the ground. He noticed a couple of trees and some figures that looked like...people?! He tried to reach out and grab the broom, but his grasp faltered and his new worry was not on the gift from Sirius, but himself. He focused on the beam and threw his arms around it hoping that the stadium wouldn't uproot and fly into the sky with him hanging on it. Suddenly his feet started to lift off the ground and started to be sucked towards the sky.

What the...?

He now was only hanging on from the intense winds by his arms, which were beginning to get tired and starting to slip. His Seeker strength was no match for the true force of the wind. His shoulders were on the pole slipping to his elbows and then to his hands. His fingers were going to slip at any moment and they did when something slammed into Harry's support beam.

Thump. He flew for a couple inches when he stopped. Something stopped him. Harry opened his eyes to see what happened. He had a hard time trying to get his head in some directions and he felt like a newborn, unable to support his head. He saw a rope of green light around his waist, which made the hair on the back of his head stand on end. The green was a different color than the killing-curse so he relaxed the slightest bit, but the rope was pushing on his already sore kidneys. Another rope of light bound his wrists together with the end still not in sight. His neck was getting tired trying to fight against the wind so he let it loll about hoping that what ever was holding him from flying up into the sky would hold. He felt yet another rope attach itself to him, but it was at the ankles.

Three ropes? There must be three things helping me.

The ropes that bound his wrists began to pull Harry back towards the ground and the other two followed. His head whipped around and saw a shadowy figure with three jets of rope tied to himself like Harry. To where the ropes were bound to Harry they were bound to the other person. He or she had a wand in their hand and the ropes were getting shorter no doubt from the incantation. There was another rope but this time gold as it went around the support beam Harry had been holding onto earlier to around the person trying to save Harry's life. At that moment the wind became more intense. All the different gusts of wind made Harry's glasses get pushed off his nose and into the sky. Everything went fuzzy just as a hand reach out to hold his. Harry grabbed the other person's hand.

Please don't let go. Please help me. Please. Harry kept repeating please in his head.

Harry was swung around the support beam to where, in his surprise, the wind wasn't so harsh. The ropes around his wrist, midsection, and ankles disappeared and Harry fell to the to the ground with nothing to support him. Arms snaked a round him helping him up into a standing position and he heard the person whisper something and the gold rope went around him too. He rested into the arms of the warm person and dug his face into the crook of the neck of the person. Harry didn't really want to know who it was. All that really matter was that he felt safe, warm, and not empty.

"Ahhhh," Harry screamed clutching his scar. Harry doubled over and slowly fell to the ground. The person holding him slid down as well holding him protectively. Harry felt hands reach up and pull his from his scar. He let the person see that nothing was happening to the scar physically but only to Harry's head. Harry let out another yelp of pain as the person swung him behind them, shielding him. Harry's hands were over his scar and he was still sitting on the ground with the gold rope around him along with the arm of the other person.

"What do we have here?" asked Voldemort eyeing the collapsed Harry as his robes swayed in the wind. "Stand aside Draco," ordered Voldemort getting out his wand and pointing it at Harry.

Harry hearing the name snapped his head up to see fuzzy figures around him and a fuzzy silver-blonde hair boy holding him. "Malfoy?!"