Quidditch try outs 2
After we finished breakfast we swiftly made our way towards the quidditch field.
Once there Harry went to change into his quidditch gear and we climbed the stairs to see better. I even had Kreacher bring us omnioculars just for today. And by the time I finished teaching Hermione how to use it, Wood began barking instructions at the participants.
The first ones to go were the chasers. There was one guy who were decent, an upper year, but the others were downright horrible. After them came the beaters, but none of them is worth mentioning. And finally it was the seekers turn.
Wood at first had them do an obstacle course, and Harry completed it without problem. Next they were tasked with dodging bludgers the twins sent at them for as long as they could. Harry didn't do as well in this and placed somewhere in the middle.
And the last trial was to catch a snitch. Which was also the most boring of every tests. In the first ten minutes they did nothing, but look for it. Then suddenly two of them spotted and promptly dived for it, but before they could catch it they crashed into each other.
Something that Wood didn't like and sent them off, after making sure they were okay. And, concerningly, this repeated two more times before only Harry and two others were left.
Soon Harry spotted the snitch and made haste to reach it, the others following closely behind. At first it was a high-speed chase all around the pitch as they bumped into each other more than once. Then it flew into the scaffoldings.
And I swear on Lady Magic I will strangle Harry once he cames back. He did so many risky twists, turns and dives while dodging the beams that I thought he would slam into one any moment now. Draco was even more pissed, if his grumbling is anything to go by.
Then the snitch flew into the open once again and by the looks of it towards the ground. Which isn't concerning in and of itself, but the fact that Harry was pursuing it at breakneck speed is. And indeed that idiot shows no sign of wanting to pull up.
No, he first caught that damned ball TWO meters above ground and then he barely managed to right himself. Wood was besides himself as he shook Harry with a face splitting smile. He was still praising Harry when Draco reached them and started screaming at Harry for his recklessness. And when Wood tried to intervene he was screamed at too, which coved the upper year right away.
Meanwhile me and Mione went to the library to study.
Forbidden Forest, somewhere in its depths
Arcturus was more pissed the more he walks around in the damned forest. The unicorns, centaurs, thestrals, mooncalves, fairies, skrewts and the mundane animals were all fine and dandy. What isn't are the trolls, giants, thornback spiders and acromantulas.
How could anyone permit their stay when not even a wardline is stopping the students from entering the forest is beyond him. Not only that but he also didn't saw any sign of something being done to stop them from entering the castle.
Not that they even noticed his presence. A few spells and magic items took care of that particular problem. But he has a very bad premonition. In theory there is a wardstone in the forest that should keep the creatures in and the students out. But no matter how close he is to the location of said wardstone he can't sense its magical aura.
Which only happens in two scenarios. Firstly, the wardstone is warded so as to make it hard for others to find it. That is the good scenario, and better be the what is happening, because if it isn't....
But that was as far as his train of thoughts got as he abruptly stopped. His eyes were wide open as he clutched his cane so forcefully it began to creak. But there was no fear or surprise in his eyes, quite the opposite.
His eyes were filled with rage, malice and resentment. For in front of him stood the wardstone he came to check up on. Overgrown with weeds. Without an ounce of magic inside. And broken in half.
The cane finally snapped, and with it his self-control.
His magic spiralled out of his body. It toppled trees, gouged the earth, and summoned a huge, crimson cloud on top of the forest. From the cloud lightning began to fall on short notice and destroyed even more of the forest.
"DUMBLEDORE!!!!!!" Arcturus roared with all his might, his voice echoing all the way to the castle.
And nothing within a hundred meters radius stayed in one piece. The trees were rent into splinters as the ground broke apart and sunk down a few meters.
Then as fast as it came it ended. The cloud vanished as Arcturus forcefully calmed himself. Then with a few waves of his wand he repaired the destruction he caused. He then turned around and started walking towards the castle.
Someone will die today. And if he had any say in the matter, then it will be Dumbledore.
Hogwarts library
When I heard grandpa's roar, I promtply showed our stuff into my bag, grabbed Hermione and dragged her to the dungeons, more specifically my room in there. I don't want to be anywhere near them when papa confronts the headmaster. Not long later the castle began shaking and explosions were going off one after the another.
"Lia? What's happening?" Hermion asked with a quivering voice and horrified expression.
As I opened my mouth to answer another explosion shook the castle. And Mione promptly took shelter in my arms. Not that I wasn't trembling too. No, I was just as scared as her, but much better at keeping a straight face.
"Well, Hermione." I started with a strained voice."It seems Dumbledore has done something that made papa flew into a murderous rage."
Not long later the explosions ceased and fifteen minutes after that a prefect came to collect us. Snape apparently called a House Assembly, whatever that is. And that's how did we find ourselves in the common room.
"Miss Granger, can you tell me why are you here?" Sevy said with his usual drawl as we entered the common room.
"Helia brought me here." Mione answered defiantly.
Sevy just nodded at that.
It is really jarring how different he is in school compared when he is at home. While he is at Malfoy Manor or with Barty and Regi he is much nicer and much more patient with us. Although that might be because he has been friends with them since first year. He still hates Siri and Remi though, not that I blame him for it. They were assholes to him. But they do get along, somewhat.
"Very well. Now that all of you are finally here, let's get over with this assembly. I have better places to be." He drawled as he observed the crowd."No doubt all of you heard Inspector Black's roar. Far fewer of you had enough braincells to hurry up and come back to the common room." He pointedly glared at Crabbe and Goyle."Nevetheless, I am glad that all of you are well.
As many of you no doubt have speculated, the explosions were the results of a rather....intense, but short duel between the Headmaster and Inspector Black. You need not concern yourselves with the reason for it. You will know it once the proceedings are over.
On another note. The Great Hall is in a state of disrepair and as such for the foreseeable future your dinner will be delivered to your rooms. That is all." And he turned to leave.
"Professor." I called after him.
"Yes, Miss Black?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Who won?" I asked with a smirk.
"Seeing that the Headmaster have been rushed to Saint Mungo's, I'd say your grandfather." He answered and left.
Ministry of Magic, D.M.L.E., Amelia Bones's Office
"Can you give me any reason to not throw you into Azkaban right this instant, Lord Black?" Amelia asked irritatedly.
"Do you want memories or a veritaserum backed confession?" The source of said irritation asked with complete and utter boredom.
Amelia had to give it to the old man, he still felt dangerous to her senses. Even if his wand was confiscated, his hand bound together all the while being chained to his chair. And still, it felt like the old man could break out of them at a moments notice and make short work of her.
Something which is probably true. If the rumours about him are true.
"Memories." She stated and walked up to the man.
Extracting the memory itself was both easy and fast. Seeing it was another matter entirely. After doing so she left her office and had an Unspeakable verify it's authenticity. Once that was done she had no reason to keep the old lord here.
What? She should have charged him with assault? Please, he had a legitimate reason to react like, and to make matters worse Dumbledore didn't even deny the accusations in the memory. Which means she has to make a trip to Saint Mungo's and interrogate him.
As if her work is not difficult enough.
And she didn't look forward to the shitstorm this will bring. The parents will be outraged, the ministry will be out for Dumbledore's head, and the nobles will no doubt add fuel to the fire. There is a chance that even the I.C.W. will come.
And this can only end in three way. First, Dumbledore will be removed from his position at the school and have to spend short time in jail. The most favourable outcome by far. Second, Dumbledore will be removed from all of his official position but doesn't go to jail.
This is worse by a lot. If there is no Dumbledore to unite the Light Faction of the ministry, then Dark and Grey Faction could and would push for changes. Ones that would benefit no one but them at that. Because truth is, the Light is much more segregated than the other two. Although he could still influence the factions so long he is free, so it's no the end of the world.
And third, Dumbledore is removed from all of his positions and will spend a lot of time in jail. That way there would be no leader of the Light and the political scene will become much like a 'cold war', as the muggles would say.
So no, she didn't look forward to this. Not even one bit. She only hopes The Fates will be merciful this time.