CHAPTER NINETEEN
GRYFFINDOR VS. SLYTHERIN
The following day passed in a blur. All Harry could think about was the start of his flying lessons that evening, his real flying lessons. No broom, just himself and the wind. Flying was one of the activities that he loved the most. He would do it with or without Quidditch but the added sport that Quidditch offered him was a nice bonus.
During breakfast the owl post arrived with a note for Harry.
Mr. Potter,
It would be wise to use your cloak. We think that would be best to conceal your special training this Friday. Madam
Hooch has given me your exercise timetable and we will discuss it tonight.
Professor M. McGonagall
He had been dreading the exercise routine that his flying instructor had created for him. He had joked that it was a physical fitness version of Hermione's study schedule. That elicited an elbow from his girlfriend and her elbows were rather pointy.
"Remind me not to sit next to you when you're the object of a joke." He said with a laugh as he rubbed his sore ribs.
"You should instead concentrate on not joking about me when I'm near you!" She snapped back playfully.
Things were going well since the previous night. Harry was excited to report Ron's return the next morning to Hermione's delight. Their friend was still keeping his distance however. He was spending more time out of their company than in.
"He's probably working on the training schedule for this year's Quidditch season." Harry reasoned. Hermione didn't argue the point and they decided they'd give him the space he needed and not push things.
"Our research time is going to be cut down in a few days then even further in a few weeks, Hermione." Harry said over dinner. "I'm going to be working on my fitness program and then I'll be practicing three times a week for the first match."
"Well, I can still do more research while you're away. I might have found something about that whoosh but I'm going to need some more time in the books." She responded.
Harry nodded. They had been trying to figure out if there was a possible counter-curse to the killing curse. The only thing that seemed to stop it was physical objects. Professor Dumbledore had knocked statues in the way of them at the Ministry attack and Harry had actually dodged them behind gravestones. He felt they were getting close to understanding what was needed to be done but the answers just kept slipping from their grasp. They were in the room of requirement working on their last bit of research, and finishing up homework, when it was time for the new training lessons to start.
"Will you be joining me this evening?" He asked with a smile.
"I'd love to, Harry, but I think I might be on to something here." Hermione said from behind a large, dusty tome titled Poltergeist Activity and Other Worldly Phenomena.
Harry looked disappointed but nodded his understanding. "Ok. I'll see you later then." He grabbed his cloak and gave his girlfriend a kiss before disappearing from sight. He snuck into the hall and made his way carefully to the astronomy tower. He didn't want to alert anyone that he was there.
It took him a good fifteen minutes to reach his destination but he had left with plenty of time to spare so he took a seat and waited patiently for his instructors to arrive. He didn't have long to wait as Professor McGonagall made her way into the observation area she looked around and with a disappointed look sat in the chair next to Harry.
"I wonder how late he'll be today." She said to herself as a falcon settled on the floor in front of her. "Good evening, Rolanda. Harry's not here yet."
The falcon transformed revealing the school's flying teacher. "Well, he is known to be late from time to time. I'm sure he'll be here soon."
Harry couldn't contain his laughter which caused both women to jump out of their boots! "Sorry." He said as he took off the cloak. "I forgot I was still wearing the cloak when you arrived."
"Don't do that, Mr. Potter!" A ruffled McGonagall spat. "You scared the dickens out of me!"
Harry stopped laughing aloud but you could still see the mischievous smile in his eyes. "Don't worry, Professor, I won't sneak up on you like that again." He couldn't help but chuckle a bit more.
"I don't think you'll be laughing once you see your schedule, Harry." Madam Hooch piped in. "You're going to be sore and tired for some time. I guess that's suitable punishment!"
Harry didn't know whether to take that as a joke or a threat so he calmed himself down.
"Here's your exercise timetable." Minerva handed him a piece of paper. There were color-coded sections that explained the calendar that accompanied it.
"I was right this is just like Hermione's study schedule!" He said with a laugh. "Looks like a lot of running and weight training ... This is going to be one busy term." He let out a sigh.
"It's not that bad, Mr. Potter." Madam Hooch said comfortingly. "You'll be better off after you're done and it'll be good to get a strong physical body in any case. With everything you've been through, it will do you good to have an added bit of strength on your side."
Harry nodded glumly. He'd have to be up a good two hours earlier than normal to run laps around the Quidditch pitch, during his longer breaks in the day he'd have to perform general calisthenics, and every evening after dinner, or after detention, he'd have to spend a few hours weight training. In addition to all that was Quidditch practice and homework.
"Well, now that you're aware of your schedule, why don't we get to work on your first flight?" Madam Hooch said cheerfully. "Actually, it'll just be a gliding lesson. Your wings aren't strong enough to handle any type of prolonged flight but a glide to the ground will be a good start. Before we do that, though, we'll need to make sure you know how to land properly.
"Before I transform for a demonstration, I'll explain what's going to happen." She continued. "On your approach, you'll find that landing straight-away will not be the best kind of landing you can do. It will hurt and you'll have a good chance of breaking your legs. As you've been studying, bird's bones are hollow and therefore more fragile. What you need to do instead is to provide a bit of a buffer just before you land.
"You'll bring your wings up slightly and in a swift motion bring them straight down again. That will give you just a bit of lift and slow your flight enough for you to ... how should I put this ... hop, yes hop to your feet."
The older woman transformed into her animal form and perched on the table next to Harry. She raised her wings slightly and hopped to the floor. Just before her feet touched, she brought her wings down and ended up hopping onto the floor. She returned to normal.
"Alright, now it's your turn. Just start from the height of the chair you're in, then we'll work up to the table." She instructed.
Harry transformed and from the seat of his chair he raised his wings and hopped to the floor. He landed with a crash and fell to his side because he didn't time the downbeat of his wings quite right.
"That'll happen." Rolanda said as she helped the bird back up into its chair. "You can't expect to be able to do this in one shot, hence the practice." She said with a smile.
Harry spent an hour working his way from the seat of the chair to the tabletop then eventually to the back of the chair. His timing had become perfect and his landings superb according to his professor.
"Now, I'm going to show you the proper wing position for a good long glide. Stretch your wings out ... That's it. Now try and turn them like so." She demonstrated with her hand and arm. "Slightly higher in the back. Good, good now try and flare your feathers out. It's like spreading your fingers."
Harry was doing his best to follow the instructions and found that after a few tries he was able to control his plumage and lock his wings as he was instructed.
"Right, now I'm going to transform and we are both going to hop off of the parapets. I want you to glide, no flapping, in a circle then work your way to Hagrid's hut. I'll bring your cloak. Once we're on the ground, your night is finished and you'll use your cloak to get back to your room."
Harry did the best nod he could which still looked like a series of short bows. Madam Hooch transformed while holding his cloak and she settled on the tower's parapet. After Harry had made his way next to her she hopped off and spiraled around the tower waiting for him to go.
He took a deep breath, stretched his wings as he was instructed and hopped off the tower. It was a little shaky at first but as the familiar sense of exhilaration flowed over him his form improved and he gained perfect control over his flight. His wings were getting a bit tired from the exertion but he followed the flight path that was laid out for him and after a brisk three minute glide he was safely on the ground behind Hagrid's hut.
Madam Hooch landed neatly beside him and transformed. He followed suit and returned to normal as she handed him his cloak.
"Very good, Harry. I'll see you in a week. You are to follow the training timetable and I'll consider teaching you about thermals and how to ride them next time if your wings are strong enough." She explained.
Harry smiled brightly and put on the cloak. "I'm looking forward to it!" He said happily and made his way back to the school.
"I wish I could say that I would have enjoyed that feeling." Hermione said after Harry had explained how it felt. "I'm not too keen about flying."
Harry smiled. "I know. I remember how well the broom reacted to you during first year." He was learning because her elbow missed him this time. "So, what'd you find out tonight?"
She smiled at him excitedly. "Well, you know how some ghosts are able to affect their surroundings? Like Peeves and Myrtle? Well, the killing curse works in slightly the same fashion. Only it's not a ghost or a poltergeist that the curse uses. You know how Bellatrix told you that you had to mean it when you tried the cruciatus curse on her and she laughed? Well, the killing curse is the same way. What happens is that you project your emotions astrally. For some reason this allows your astral form to affect physical objects." She was getting more excited as she recounted what she had found.
"So, what you're telling me is that the killing curse actually allows someone who is practicing astral projection to affect the physical world?" Harry concluded.
Hermione nodded. "Yes. But that's only part of it. Every person is attached to their astral form by a sliver lifeline. It connects their astral self to their physical body!"
Harry's eyes went wide. "So the lifeline is being cut by the curse."
Hermione smiled. "Yes. That's why there aren't any markings on the body! And since the curse uses the combined emotions of the person casting it, their astral form is given the ability to affect physical objects and that's why it can be blocked!"
Harry started pacing. "If what we've read is any indication, then the shades of those that Voldemort killed were the actual astral forms of them ..."
Hermione nodded again. "That's right. But for some reason, the astral form that is projected takes on the physical characteristics of that person. It's an imprint of sorts. Those shadows were able to affect the real world during your duel because they had a lot of pent up emotion. When they were finally released from the wand they were able to help you."
"So, there's a good chance that when their lifeline is severed their 'soul,' so to speak, is sucked into the wand the curse came from..." Harry concluded.
"What are we going to do now? We have a possible clue as to how the curse works but we have no way of testing the theory." Hermione said as she sat down next to him.
"We talk to Dumbledore. Maybe he can help us or confirm or deny our findings. Maybe he can even help us find a way to protect that lifeline." Harry put in. "But, we'll have to do that another day. I start training tomorrow and I'm beat."
Hermione laughed. "If you'd like, I can join you. I'd like to be in better shape and a bit of running wouldn't hurt. Besides I read that it was good to have someone to exercise with so it's easier to stick to a schedule."
"I'd love that." He said with a smile. "We start tomorrow at six with ten laps around the Quidditch pitch."
"I'll see you here then." She said after a kiss then she was off to her room.
Even with Hermione with me, I have a feeling this isn't going to be easy. He thought glumly.
Harry was gently shaken awake the next morning at five forty-five. "Harry, it's time to get ready for our run." Hermione whispered into his ear.
"Ugh ... Just ten more minutes." He moaned sleepily.
He should have known he wasn't going to win that one and soon found himself running around the pitch with his girlfriend. This isn't so bad. He thought after the first lap or two but by the tenth he was ready to give up.
"You can't just give up. It'll get easier." Hermione puffed as they stretched their worn muscles. "Just picture the end result, being able to actually fly and being physically fit."
Harry shook his head. "I'm too out of shape for this. I should have been working out when I was with the Dursley's ... At least then I might have had a better chance withstanding the Harry Hunting that Dudley and his friends would play."
Hermione put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Well, just imagine when we're out of school, you won't have to go back to that horrid family!"
Harry laughed. "That's a good point. Let's get ourselves presentable and head to breakfast, shall we?"
They walked slowly up to the school and after they had finished eating went back to relax in the common room.
"Morning." Ron said as he stumbled into a chair by the fire. "What are you doing up so early?" He had obviously just gotten up to use the restroom.
"I started my physical training schedule today." Harry said after a moment. "Want to join us tomorrow?"
"Us? Oh, is Hermione doing laps with you?" Ron asked as he rubbed his eyes. "I don't know if I could handle getting up at that time of day, you know?"
They laughed.
"I can barely handle it myself. You should see this girl! She's up at the crack of dawn as it is!" Harry was becoming proficient at dodging Hermione's elbow but still got a playful slap on the thigh. "Anyway," he continued with a grin, "It could be a good idea to get the entire team going, we could use some of that extra power in the air ..."
Ron's eyes lit up. "Hey, that could be just the edge we need! Practice starts today, by the way."
"I thought it might. Same time?" Harry asked.
"If we add the physical training then we'll have to go an hour earlier. Plan on eighteen and we'll discuss the other stuff then."
After an afternoon of calisthenics and studying, Harry found himself out on the pitch at eighteen wishing he had never given Ron that idea.
"From now on, practice is going to be held an extra hour for fitness training. Harry suggested that we put in some running and general strengthening techniques that could possibly give us an edge in the air. Imagine the looks on Crabbe and Goyle's faces when their bludger attacks don't hurt like they hope they do!"
Everyone smiled at this but had their misgivings. "Why do we need to be muscular just to fly a broom?" Andrew had asked but was reminded by Hermione of how well he would be able to bank and pull up from dives if he had better upper body strength.
The weeks went by quickly and things were getting back to normal for the trio. Ginny had even started hanging around more often though she had gone back to her previous shy tendencies. The team had been running with Harry and Hermione every day and joined in with the general athletic activities when they had the chance. Weight training had turned out to be much more fun than they originally thought. Ron came up with the good idea of turning it into a competition. Whoever improved their strength the most by time they had their first match would receive a box of chocolate frogs as reward.
Harry's other training had been going extremely well. He wasn't as fast as Madam Hooch was in the air but he was by far more accurate when it came to retrieving falling objects and spotting items on the ground. He was soon outpacing her in maneuverability as well.
Occlumency training had taken a new direction after he had confronted Snape the first night the professor had returned.
"Professor Snape?" Harry asked. "I just wanted to thank you for the lessons."
Snape just sneered at him. "I was instructed to make sure you knew the practice, nothing more. Now don't bring it up again. Now, this was your last lesson. You've learned everything I can teach you on the subject. Any further detentions from me will be much worse for you and far more pleasurable for me."
Harry nodded and collected his bag.
"Oh, and good luck in tomorrow's match, my house's team has improved since you last had a chance to face them." He smiled at that but to Harry it looked like he was grimacing in pain.
He left and made his way to the room of requirement for his nightly weight training sessions. Ron, Ginny and Hermione were waiting for him and Hermione was looking over a scroll.
"What are you reading?" He asked as he kissed her on the top of her head. He looked over her shoulder before she could answer. "Ah, the roll for the D.A."
Hermione nodded. "I was wondering how many of the others were still interested." She replied. "After what happened last year, I'm sure Marietta won't want to continue her membership."
Harry agreed. "I think we can count Cho out as well. She might have only been here for me anyway."
Hermione looked at her boyfriend. "We'll see. She wanted to learn as well."
Their discussion ended when the rest of the Gryffindor team arrived and Hermione put the scroll away. The team was definitely looking better than it had and it seemed the training was paying off.
"I'm so nervous ... I hope I don't mess up." Was all Natalie could say when anyone asked how she was doing. She was the smallest player on the team and would have made a much better seeker due to her size but Ron and Harry thought she would be perfectly fine as a chaser.
"There's nothing to be really worried about, Nat." Harry said from his bench. He was going through another set of dumbbells. "I've seen my share of bad scrapes and that's mainly because the seeker is almost always singled out. Chasers are not quite so unlucky. You're going to be brilliant!"
The young girl blushed at the complement and she could only stammer a thank you afterwards.
"Be careful there, lover-boy." Hermione giggled in his ear. "You might be giving that impressionable, young girl the wrong idea."
"What? I'm just trying to boost her self-confidence!" He shot back playfully. "Besides, nothing compares to you." He said with a wink.
"Nothing? As in no-thing? Am I an object to you, Potter?" She said with mock anger but broke down in giggles at his suddenly nervous stammered apology. "Save it. Quit while you're behind!" She added with a huff and a smile.
The night whirled by. Harry had warned against too much lifting because he wouldn't want them to try and control their brooms the next day with arms that were made of Jell-O. He had slept peacefully and the team went down to the great hall for breakfast the next morning.
"You two will need to eat something before the match. Trust me. You're nervous but you'll want something on your stomach or you'll die of hunger in the middle of the game." Ron was saying with a scholarly voice. "Hermione and I had the same problem getting Harry to eat before his first game. He ended up eating the snitch because he was so hungry!"
They all laughed and the newer members forced themselves to choke down some toast and orange juice before they made their way to the lockers.
"Be careful up there, Harry." Hermione had said just before he went in. "It's getting tiring seeing you in the hospital wing after a game."
He smiled and gave her a quick kiss. "I'll be alright. There aren't any dementors on the field this time."
She didn't look too pleased with his response but took what she could get. "I'll be rooting for you from the normal seat." She said with a slight smile. "Good luck."
He smiled and waved as he went in to change.
Ron started the traditional pep talk after everyone had gotten into their uniforms. "It's going to be different this year!" He was saying. "We've got Harry back, the best seeker this school's seen since my brother Charlie, no offense Ginny."
"None taken." She said with a smile.
"Now, if we can, I'd like for us to win as quickly as possible. Which means that you need to get that snitch as soon as you see it, Harry."
Harry smiled. "I'll do my best. Let's hope Malfoy hasn't figured out what the snitch looks like yet!"
The room erupted with laughter.
They made their way up to the team entrance and mounted their brooms.
"Remember, we have an edge on those green gits! We'll wipe the pitch with them!" Ron said as the announcer introduced the teams.
"And welcome to another year at the Hogwarts' Quidditch Pitch!" A familiar voice was saying over the announcer's horn. "Today's match is Gryffindor vs. Slytherin!"
"Hey, that's Lee!" Ron said with a beaming smile. "It looks like they've hired him on as announcer!"
The team mounted their brooms and soared out into the sky to cheers from all the houses but Slytherin, who were booing and shouting insults at them. They could hear Luna's lion hat roar above the cheers.
"Here we have Gryffindor with Weasley, Weasley, Hooper, McDonald, Kirke, Sloper and Potter! What a great line-up this year! I can't remember a time when there weren't two Weasley's on the team!
"And for Slytherin we've got Montague, Nott, Pritchard, Pucey, Goyle, Crabbe, and Malfoy!"
The two teams soared over the cheering students and faculty slaloming between the flags and towers and as Madam Hooch took the pitch the teams landed and took their positions around her.
"Madam Hooch has entered the pitch!"
"Now I want a good, clean game! Captains shake hands!" The referee announced.
Ron and Montague met in the center and shook hands. Montague tried to crush Ron's hand but was taken by surprise when Ron was able to squeeze harder. Ron smiled evilly before returning to his spot.
The two teams mounted their brooms and took to the air again.
"The bludgers are released and the golden snitch has taken off. Remember that the one who catches the snitch wins his team one hundred and fifty points and ends the game!" Lee reminded everyone. "And there goes the quaffle! McDonald has it - passes to Weasley - a reverse pass to Hooper - OH! Watch for that bludger! Kirke is on the scene and sends it towards Pritchard, blocking his steal attempt!
"Hooper is barreling towards the goals - a double feint! - That snake didn't expect that! TEN POINTS TO GRYFFINDOR!"
Harry was happy that they had drawn first blood but he was too busy looking for the snitch. He noticed that Malfoy was up to his old tricks and was hovering just below and to the right of him.
"Look at that score! McDonald scores another ten points for Gryffindor!" Lee was still doing his perfect play by play. "Some young man is going to be happy one of these days with a chaser like that!"
"Lee!" McGonagall shouted.
"Sorry, Professor, it wouldn't be the same without you here! Goyle just missed the Gryffindor keeper with that shot! Watch it up there, Weasley!" He continued.
Harry was scanning high and low for any sign of that familiar golden flash.
"And Weasley blocks a goal with a superb starfish and stick!"
He spotted the snitch hovering dead center of the pitch about ten feet in the air. Without wasting any time he bolted for it.
"Potter's on the move! He seems to have found the golden snitch!"
Harry glanced behind him to see Malfoy hot on his trail and doubled his efforts to reach the snitch before the other seeker could catch up.
"And it's Miss Weasley with another great shot for Gryffindor! That's thirty - zilch for Gryffindor! Bet those green gits are going to start crying soon!"
"Lee!"
"Ok, they won't cry but they're still not happy the way this is going!"
The snitch shot off towards the Slytherin goal posts and Harry pulled out of the dive to give chase. He quickly closed the distance and reached for the elusive ball.
"Crabbe and Goyle just walloped that bludger! That's the first time I've seen them use their heads! Where's that Dopplebeater Defense headed?"
Just a bit closer ... Harry thought desperately. Almost have it ... He stretched his arm out further by lying flat against the broom.
"The Gryffindor beaters aren't fast enough! Watch out Potter!"
Harry heard Lee shout over the gasps of the crowd but he wasn't fast enough to heed the warning. The next thing he knew the bludger collided with the back of his head and he saw stars. The force jolted him forward off his broom and he crashed into a heap on the pitch thirty feet below.