Grim Defeat Part 2
The day before the match... and none more so than Malfoy.
Lucius and Narcissa exchanged a look.
"Ah, if only my arm was feeling a bit better!"... so you might want to try looping him -"
Minerva glared at an unrepentant Oliver.
Harry skidded to a halt outside... it was Snape.
All the students grimaced. They knew just how bad it could be when you were late for one of Snape's classes.
"This lesson began ten minutes ago... "What's wrong with him?"
"That really wasn't any of your business, Potter," Minerva said crossly.
"In fairness, I thought Professor Snape had poisoned him," Harry said with a shrug.
Minerva frowned. She thought that might have been the first time Harry had ever called Severus Professor in her hearing, without being forced.
Snape's black eyes glittered... if I have to ask you to sit down again, it will be fifty. "
"That's a tad extreme," Remus said with a sigh. There really was no sense to the point system.
Harry walked slowly to his seat... topics you have covered so far -"
Remus frowned. He found that hard to believe. If there was one thing he knew about himself it was that he was a meticulous note taker.
"Please, sir, we've done... Professor Lupin's lack of organization. "
Hermione glared at Severus.
"He's the best Defense... Red Caps and Grindylows.
"Perhaps if Voldemort's puppet hadn't been teaching us in first year," Ron growled, "and we didn't have Lockhart in second year, we wouldn't have been behind."
Today we shall discuss... "we're not supposed to do werewolves yet,
"Why are you arguing with your teacher?" Mrs Granger asked. "If he wants to teach you about werewolves then so be it. He's the teacher."
we're due to start Hinkypunks... between the werewolf and the true wolf?" said Snape.
Remus glared at Severus. He knew exactly what Severus had been trying to do.
Everyone sat in motionless silence... ignoring Hermione.
"If one of your students knows the answer, you shouldn't ignore her like that," Mr Granger growled.
Severus nodded his agreement. He knew why his older self found the girl so infuriating but he couldn't help but agree with her father. He should have let her answer.
His twisted smile was back... "we haven't got as far as werewolves yet, we're still on -
Minerva tutted. This was exactly what students complained about. Perhaps she should have taken their complaints more seriously.
"Silence!"... Professor Dumbledore how very behind you all are. . . "
Now all the staff were glaring at Severus as if he was the one that had said these things. He didn't appreciate being castigated for something he'd yet to do.
"Please, sir,"... The snout of the werewolf -"
"Hermione, dear," Mr Granger said, "your teacher clearly doesn't want you to answer."
"That is the second time you have spoken out of turn... being an insufferable know-it-all. "
"While I agree she should not have spoken up, you are bang out of line to talk to her like that," Mr Granger said angrily.
"I agree. I find myself quite disappointed with how my older self is handling this class," Severus said quietly. "For what it's worth, I don't think it was about the students so much as my dislike of their professor."
Hermione went very red... Why ask if you don't want to be told?"
Minerva looked conflicted. She agreed whole heartedly with Ron but she couldn't condone speaking to a teacher like that.
The class knew instantly... you will be very sorry indeed. "
Minerva frowned. The detention was deserved, unfortunately.
No one made a sound... I wouldn't have given it three. . . "
"Unnecessary," Minerva said, folding her arms in indignation.
When the bell rang... It is time somebody took this class in hand.
All the teachers were glaring at Severus now.
"I haven't done it yet," he muttered.
Sirius looked somewhat entertained. You might take the bat out of the dungeons, but he was still a damn bat. And Sirius actually thought Severus looked sort of cute when he was all bent out of shape for getting in trouble for something he hadn't even done yet.
Weasley, stay behind... D'you think this is all because of the Boggart?"
"Unlikely," Remus said. He knew exactly why Severus didn't like him.
"I don't know,"... scrub out the bedpans in the hospital wing.
"EW!" Several people cried out.
Without magic!"... He could have finished him off for us!"
"RONALD!" Mrs Weasley screeched, looking perfectly scandelised.
Sirius tried to restrain a laugh, exchanging an odd look with Severus.
Harry woke extremely early... blowing hard in his ear.
"On a game day?" George complained. "That's not fair!"
"What did you do that for?"... walked quietly out of the dormitory.
Amos frowned. The boy hadn't even had a proper night's sleep? He was surprised Potter hadn't tried to use that as an excuse for falling off his broom and losing the match.
As Harry opened the door... drag him outside.
Ron glared pointedly at Hermione. He'd known he was right that Crookshanks was after Scabbers. And sure, it was for a good reason but still, had the cat even met Sirius yet?
"You know, I reckon Ron was right about you,"... "Leave Scabbers alone. "
"Ah, thanks Harry," Ron grinned.
"Wish I hadn't now," Harry complained.
The noise of the storm was even louder... trifles like thunderstorms.
"You'd think they would be," Mr Granger said. "It can't possibly be safe."
Nevertheless, he was starting to feel... because he was less likely to be blown off course.
Amos huffed. Excuses. Excuses.
Harry whiled away the hours... sneaking up the boys' staircase again.
"That cat is a menace," Mrs Granger said.
At long last Harry thought it must be time... who wasn't eating anything.
"You should still eat," Minerva said sternly. How did he expect to win if he didn't eat?
"Stop worrying, Oliver,"... an enormous umbrella on their way to the stadium.
Draco looked somewhat abashed. He had been a particularly nasty git that year.
The team changed into their scarlet robes... beckoned them to follow him.
Oliver blushed and Percy nearly said something. He wanted to comfort the other man but he didn't think he could after everything that had happened - or not happened between them.
The wind was so strong... How on earth was he going to see the Snitch in this?
Amos laughed at that. This kid was full of excuses. It was no wonder his son had beaten him!
The Hufflepuffs were approaching... they were off.
"YAY!" everyone cheered. Sirius wished he could watch his godson play Quidditch.
Harry rose fast... he hadn't seen them coming.
Amos rolled his eyes.
He lost track of time... wiped them hurriedly on his robes.
"Not that it helped much," Harry grumbled.
"What's the score?"... "Impervius!"
"Well done, Miss Granger!" Flitwick said eagerly. It was always good to see their students use what they taught them in real life.
"There!"... he could have kissed her.
"I'm gay but right then, yeah, I could have kissed her," Oliver said.
"Brilliant!"... who was streaking in the opposite direction. . .
"Has he seen the snitch?" someone asked.
There was another clap of thunder... Harry needed to get the Snitch quickly -
"I'm not convinced any of you should have been playing," Mr Granger said, folding his arms. Wizards were so strange sometimes.
He turned, intending to head back... empty row of seats.
"I came to watch you play?" Sirius asked. "Oh, no. You're going to think I'm the grim."
Harry's numb hands slipped... shimmering in the rain-filled air between them. . .
"HA! You didn't even see it!" Amos said loudly.
Everyone glared at him. This was just a game between children.
With a jolt of panic...- what was going on?
"That can't be good," Remus said.
And then a horribly familiar... a woman. . .
Amos kept quiet this time. Which was fortunate as all the Gryffindors looked ready to defend their seeker.
"Not Harry, not Harry, please not Harry!"
"Who is that?" Astoria asked her sister.
Daphne frowned. She wasn't sure.
"Stand aside, you silly girl... kill me instead -"
Tom looked suddenly white. And everyone was staring at Harry, horrified at what they were hearing.
Harry didn't meet their eyes, choosing to look down at his hands in his lap. He didn't want their pity.
Numbing, swirling white mist... falling through the icy mist.
Sirius's arm was tight around him and Harry could practically feel his godfather hyperventalating.
"I'm okay," he murmured quietly.
"You heard your mum?" Sirius said quietly.
Harry nodded.
"Not Harry! Please. . . and Harry knew no more.
Amos looked like he was going to be sick.
"Lucky the ground was so soft. "... "That was the scariest thing I've ever seen in my life. "
"Thank hell you're alive," Sirius muttered.
Scariest. . . "Must've been - what - fifty feet?"
"Bloody hell," Amos said. He hadn't realised the boy had fallen so far.
"We thought you'd died,"... "What happened?
"You nearly die and you're asking about the game?" Mrs Weasley asked almost timidly. She was watching him like she thought he needed to spend some time with the mind healer, which in fairness, Harry thought he probably did. But not because he cared about Quidditch.
Are we doing a replay?"... even Wood admits it. "
"Only game my seeker ever lost," Wood said with a shrug.
"Where is Wood?"... "We think he's trying to drown himself. "
Mrs Weasley opened her mouth ready to tell Fred off, only to remember that she couldn't do that anymore. She let out a whimper instead.
Harry put his face to his knees... you didn't get it," said George.
"Very wise," Remus said in agreement.
"It's not over yet,"... a margin of a hundred either way -"
"Definitely doable," Sirius agreed. "Plus, less embarrassing losing to the Puffs than the Snakes. At least, the Puffs are good winners. They won't rub the loss in your face."
Harry lay there... he had lost a Quidditch match.
"Even the pros lose occassionally," Charlie said. "And the circumstances were exceptional."
After ten minutes... "I've never seen him like that before.
"For good reason," Albus said. He would definitely be furious.
He ran onto the field... Everyone thought you were. . . "
Amos gulped. A hundred dementors?
His voice faded, but Harry hardly noticed... it got blown away," said Hermione hesitantly.
"Oh no," Cedric said, looking genuinely sad.
"And?"... it hit the Whomping Willow. "
"That's not good," Remus said with a sigh.
Harry's insides lurched... it doesn't like being hit. "
"Understatement of the century," Sirius said. "Why are you drawing this out? Just tell the poor boy."
"Professor Flitwick brought it back... Harry's faithful, finally beaten broomstick.
"That was worse than losing," Harry admitted, glancing at his head of house.