Harry Potter and the Wyvern's Crown

Chapter 4: Witchball

'So, what's the verdict, Harry?' Ron asked, 'Going to die?'

Harry sighed, flopping down in his favourite chair and flattened his hair down over his scar. 'Not today. And because of that dumb Rebunda curse, they aren't even sure if it was a Voldemort thing.'

A few younger students glanced up in fear. Ron ignored them and jerked his head, 'No kidding. You get out of class early because of a little curse...'

Harry shook his head, 'I didn't say it wasn't...'

'He-who-must-not-be-named!'

Harry rolled his eyes, and spoke softer, 'Alright. I didn't say it wasn't him, but Ms. Pomfrey is beginning to wonder if I might react to certain energies by experiencing them as pain in my scar. After all, it was a type of 'rebounding' curse that saved my life.'

Ron nodded wisely as Raven entered the common room, Dean and Seamus on her heels. She smiled wickedly at Harry and Ron as they followed her. They weren't paying attention to what they were doing and tripped over Colin Creevy. The fifth year leapt up with a yelp. Raven circled the room as Dean apologized and Seamus was held up by the distraction. She sat in a chair across from Ron, her wicked half-smile lingering on her lips. Seamus came up behind her, and she poked him in the gut with her wand, making him back up a few steps.

Then with an even slyer grin she tapped her forehead with her wand and muttered, 'orbus meum'. A shining bubble glittered into view around her for a moment before disappearing. Dean walked up behind her and bounced off the forcefield. He growled and approached Harry. 'You make her tell us!'

Harry looked up at Raven, who did indeed look like she was enjoying torturing the two Irish boys. 'Tell you what?'

Seamus leaned against the back of Ron's chair, looking at Raven as though she were something he both despised and admired, 'Why she didn't have to sign an Animagus form.'

Harry looked at Raven, who smirked and shrugged. He grinned back, 'And what makes you think I can make her tell you?'

Ron laughed, 'No kidding, Potter. You've all the charm of a Flobberworm!'

'And you act like she's part Veela, Weasley,' Dean said with a grin.

'Either way, I'm not saying,' Raven's pinkish lips were still curved into a dark smile, 'Mostly because I'm not allowed to tell.'

'Not allowed?' Seamus roared, 'First she's doesn't have to sign a piece of paper, then she's not allowed to...'

Something dawned on Harry and he held up a hand. 'Think about it guys.'

Ron raised an eyebrow, 'Since when do I think?'

Raven snorted softly in agreement, but her glance over at Harry instructed him to continue. He did. 'She's already an Animagus.'

Seamus' jaw dropped. Dean's eyes got very wide. Ron looked utterly confused. Raven's soft smile told Harry that he was dead on. 'She can't say anything about it because McGonagall's already told her that she's not allowed to let us know, so we can't find out from her how she does it.'

Dean smacked his hand against the wall. 'And here I was accusing you of that, and you not saying...'

Seamus leaned forwards, wary of the forcefield, 'So, what kind of animal do you turn into?'

Raven looked at the ceiling, innocently, 'I never said I was an Animagus. Besides, when I was at SCI, we had to sign forms of the same nature. All of my papers got transferred when I went from one school to the other.'

Ron still looked really confused, but finally blurted out, 'Well, what animal would you be, if you could be one?'

Raven surprised everyone by answering. 'I'd be a Mysticat. But it's quite impossible. Wizards and witches can't assume the shape of something...discorporate.' She smiled and returned to the girl's dorm, leaving them to wonder again if they knew the truth about her or not.

Seamus put a hand through his hair, his face slightly askew, 'She's got the wiles for one.'

'Doesn't she though?' Dean smiled fondly after her.

Harry chuckled under his breath, remembering the Veela comment Dean had made earlier. He scooped up his things and went to his own bedroom, but as he sat down and got changed, he wondered that if his own lack of reaction to Raven was normal. After all, she got looks everywhere she went. Her visage was like that of a dark haired ghost, and her eyes shone with their golden glow no matter where she was. And it wasn't as if he didn't find her attractive, he thought as he drew into his bed, recalling the day he'd found Ken's kitten. It was just when he was in a romantic mood his thoughts always swung to Cho. He also felt as thought he had something in common with Raven as well. She was a Gryffindor who by her family's standards should have been a Ravenclaw. She was remarkably beautiful, and a new face. Everyone gave her the stares he had been used to getting. Harry understood that, at least. But at least they weren't always looking at her forehead.

* * *

The next day, posters concerning the schedule of the Quidditch matches were posted. The first was Ravenclaw versus Slytherin. Harry was pleased, because it gave him more time to train his team. He'd found two enthusiastic fourth years to become beaters, and Ron was playing Keeper for now, but he wasn't great. He would have been a better Chaser, and frankly, Harry thought privately, he wouldn't have been all that good at it either.

Sitting in the common lounge, trying to study for a pop quiz that Trelawney had predicted during her last class (at which Ron had almost shouted out his protest of such an idea), he found himself unable to concentrate. He couldn't get his mind off of the fact that his team wasn't good enough and that Ron would never really qualify as Keeper, but he had no way to brake it to him, not without hurting his feelings. In frustration, he broke his quill, then cursed softly under his breath. Hermione looked up from her Astronomy charts with an angry look.

'Seriously Harry, you should drop the course if its bothering you this much.'

Harry shook his head. 'It's not that, Hermione. It's just that Ron's Keeper right now, and even though I jokingly told him that I would have to replace him if he didn't improve, I'm worried that I might.'

Hermione raised an eyebrow, 'Is that it?' She sighed and rolled her eyes, 'You realize that he's come to me worried about that same thing? He doesn't want Gryffindor to lose you know.'

Harry was confused, 'You mean, he's been waiting for me to find another Keeper?'

Hermione shrugged, 'Not in quite so many words. But he's almost expecting you to show up each night with someone better.'

Harry shook his head, 'But there isn't anyone who's willing to spare the time, or is halfway descent on a broom. A Keeper's only as good as long as they can keep their eye on three balls at once. Ron's been knocked off his broom so many times now...I'm not sure he's even up to tonight's practice.'

Hermione made a half-concerned 'oh' sound. Her eyes had drifted back to her book.

Harry sighed, 'And this test isn't making it any easier.' He sighed and slapped his book shut, Hermione's eyes flashed up and he continued. 'But it doesn't matter now. We've got our first Charms lesson today.'

Hermione grinned and threw her books into her bag with a grin, 'I've been reading ahead. It seems were going to be learning some Muggle-affecting charms this year, you know, memory-changing, invisibility, charms to make them ignore us, that sort of thing.'

Harry smiled as they walked to Professor Flitwick's class, 'Too bad I won't get a chance to practice them.'

Hermione knew what he meant. Under-age wizards were not permitted to practice magic. Harry had broken this rule three years before when he had blown up his aunt in a fit if rage. He hadn't been punished on account of there being rumour that a dark wizard was after him. Of course, that wizard was none other than Sirius Black, Harry's godfather, and one of the two men to have ever escaped from Azkaban, the wizarding prison. The other was Barty Crouch Jr. a madman who served Voldemort faithfully.

Harry and Hermione arrived just as Ron and Dean did. Seamus, Neville, Lavender, Parvati and Raven were already in the classroom with the others. The class, which was shared with the Ravenclaws, was the first Raven had attended with them. They didn't look happy, and neither did she. Harry and Hermione purposely took seats close to her so she needn't feel so alone. But even after doing so, Harry regretted it, because Cho was in the class, and one seeing him sit beside Raven with such defiance on his face, she refused to meet his eyes.

Professor Flitwick, a tiny man, stood atop a pile of thick dusty books and waved his wand going through the introduction. This year they were going to learn Muggle-charms. Harry was more concerned about Cho, and Raven noticed his look of pining. She gave him a bit of a shove, then gestured towards Cho. She leaned towards him 'Point the tip of your wand at her and whisper, 'eke sum'. She'll look up.'

Harry did so, and was amazed when Cho looked up, shock in her eyes. But she caught the sorrow in his and bowed her head, shaking it softly. Her eyes were forgiving. He smiled, and as an added effect, moved his chair ever so slightly away from Raven's. She seemed satisfied with that. Harry, now much relieved, turned his attention back to Professor Flitwick, who was finishing up, much oblivious to the encounter that had taken place across the classroom. '...and thus,' He concluded, 'We will do some testing to discover who here has the potential for what is known as 'wild magic'. This is the magic that you each manifested before receiving your letter to Hogwarts, and quite possibility, afterwards as well,' He looked up at Harry, who couldn't quite meet his eyes, wondering what the short man knew. 'It is wandless, and some of our studies this year will be without full use of your wand. You will find this very strenuous, but if you intend to work with Muggles, it is a must!'

Hermione seemed very pleased about the prospects, and Raven was very subdued. Ron was utterly confused, Harry noted. Magic without a wand to a wizard-raised was about as foolish as electricity without a plug would be to Muggles. Many of the 'pure-blood' students had the same expression.

'Now,' Professor Flitwick raised his shoulders with some bravado, 'We will start on this today. We will learn a simple way to perform a cheer charm without use of wand movement. You may touch your wand while you do it, but you may not pick it up off your desk.'

Raven paired up with Neville and Ron with Hermione which left Harry to wander across the room and work with Cho, who was rather happy about it. The rest of the class he spent in a charmed bliss only half-magical.

* * *

Harry hadn't expected this reaction. And he hadn't expected Ron's anger to be so severe. He struggled to keep himself from getting angry, or worse yet, backing down under the severe blows Ron was dealing him verbally.

'An' I thought you were my friend, Harry!' Ron's eyes were a little misty.

Harry kept his arms crossed, 'I am your friend. I thought...'

'You didn't!' he shouted loud enough for everyone to hear, 'You didn't for a moment! Here you are, the proud and mighty Harry Potter, King of Quidditch! You know, you aren't the ruddy best player there is either. I've seen you miss the Snitch! I have!'

Harry held up his hands, 'Look, I only asked if you knew of any better Keepers in Gryffindor because I wanted you to help! I didn't say...'

'You didn't NEED to!' Ron howled furiously, 'You never wanted me on the team, but you gave me a spot because you felt sorry for me!'

'I didn't!'

'You did!' His voice raised to a whiney tone, 'Oh, let's let poor Weasley on the team, I bet that will give a few jollies before I boot him off and a get a good person! Poor old Weasley! He must feel left out because all his brothers played for Gryffindor...'

'Hermione said that...'

Ron's lip curled, 'Yes, well, I'll deal with her. I didn't want to get kicked off! I never...'

'Inducem Filionus.'

Both Harry and Ron froze. At once, there was a sudden and mutual understanding between them. Ron was hurt because he knew that he was a bad player. The fact that Harry had noticed and was going to do something about it was upsetting him because he hadn't improved. Harry understood this, and Ron realised in the same moment that Harry hadn't meant to hurt him, and he had worried for some time of Ron and how he would take the news of not being good enough for the team. He saw that Harry was also worried that his priorities were not straight, that he was putting the team before his friend, and only Hermione's comment that Ron had been expecting it had made him say anything at all. All their anger was quite suddenly gone.

'Finis,' They broke away from each other, and looked over at Raven and Hermione. Raven was the one who had cast the spell, but Hermione looked just as upset and concerned.

Raven's hands were shaking and she lowered her wand, 'What was this all about?'

Ron looked at Harry, the effects of the spell not worn off yet. 'Harry wanted me to help him a find a new Keeper for our Quidditch team,' He smiled, 'I'm the Keeper he's replacing.'

Hermione glared, 'Harry!'

Harry shook his head, 'It doesn't matter. What matters now is that we find a good Keeper. Ron understands now,' He tilted his head, 'What was that curse you used?'

'A charm, actually,' Hermione explained, 'If two wizards are having an argument, a third can force them to understand each other. I read about it, but when I tried it on you, you didn't really notice.'

'It's because you were a piece of the argument,' Raven placed her wand in a loop on her robe sash. 'That, and you also wanted to join in, I don't doubt, and defend yourself.'

Ron grinned, 'So it's like telepathy? We read each other's minds?'

Raven shook her head, 'I don't know. Hermione would know better. But what were you actually saying a moment ago? You're the Keeper for what?'

Ron raised an eyebrow, 'Gryffindor's Quidditch team. What else?'

'What's Quidditch?' Raven tilted her head, as though he couldn't tell if they were pulling the wool over her eyes or not.

Harry's eyes got very wide, 'You don't know what Quidditch is? It's the only Sport played by wizarding folk!'

'On broomsticks!' Ron added.

Raven laughed loudly, 'Oh! You mean Witchball! I've played that for years!'

'What position?' Ron asked quickly, his high desire to know everything about Raven re-ignited.

Raven considered, 'Well, Batter, mostly.'

'Batter? You mean Beater, with the clubs?'

Raven grinned, 'The sticks. Yes. A beater. But I've covered post before...if that's what a keeper is.'

Harry looked at Ron who seemed in awe of these new expressions. After a quick discourse, they discovered that in the four north American witching schools (Salem, Ilukquit (northern Canada), Shining River (southern US) and Ragstop High (somewhere in California), the name was changed from the archaic Quidditch to Witchball, when the New York Knights (an all-female team) won the world cup for the United States back nearly fifty years thence. The positions had also been renamed. Chasers were Fores, Beaters were Batters, and Keepers were called Posts, and Seekers were Hies. The balls were referred to by colour (quaffle; red, bludger; black) and the Snitch...well, according to Raven, the Snitch was referred to by many colourful names that made Ron laugh, and Hermione's cheeks colour in embarrassment.

Some time later, they retired to their dorms, Harry's mind buzzing with the possibilities. They were going to try Raven on Keeper. If she couldn't do it, Ron would be back in the position. But still, the encroaching thoughts overtook Harry's mind, making him call out quietly.

'Ron?'

There was a soft grunt then, 'What?'

'Are you okay with Raven taking your position?'

'I'm great with it,' Ron's voice was a little clearer, 'It'll put me on her good side...right?'

'Right,' Harry agreed with a grin. 'No hard feelings?'

'Damn it, Harry, I want us to win,' Ron voice floated back, 'If Raven's good, then we win and I get to see us win another championship. Lucky me,' He heard a rustle of sheets and Harry knew Ron had ended the conversation. He smiled in the dark, and knew that with luck, they might actually win again.