Chapter 22 - First Victories
Harry needn't have worried about Ron as by the time the trio, Neville and the rest of the Gryffindor team made their way down for breakfast Ron's jaw was as good as new.
In fact, it seemed to be better than new as the moment he sat down Ron quickly loaded up his plate and then began eating with gusto.
"Hey steady mate," said Dean with a wry grin. "Last thing we need is for you to start puking halfway through the game!"
"I don't think we're gonna have to worry about that mate!" offered Seamus with a smirk. "The amount he's putting away he won't even be able to take off!"
Here the others all burst into laughter whilst Ron looked up from his meal still chewing and looked like he was about to speak when Ginny raised a finger.
"You open you're mouth whilst you're still chewing Ron and I swear I'll hex you're jaw shut for a week!"
Ron scowled slight but then turned to Dean and Seamus and gave them a 'V' sign which unfortunately only served to send the pair into spasms of laughter whilst Hermione slapped Ron on the arm.
"Ron, don't do that either!" she snapped sharply. Ron turned and stared at her before swallowing his food.
"They started it!"
"And you're a Prefect!" said Hermione sternly. "So behave like one for once!"
For a moment Ron just glowered at her before turning back to his breakfast although he continued to scowl at Seamus and Dean.
Harry meanwhile turned to the newest member of the team who was picking at her breakfast nervously.
"You alright there Vicky?" he said and chuckled as Vicky jumped slightly before looking over at him.
"Fine thanks Harry," she said with a weak grin. "A little nervous I guess."
"Well don't be," said Katie giving the younger girl a reassuring grin. "You'll be fine! Now eat some breakfast, trust me you'll feel better for it."
Vicky's smile grew slightly at this and she now began to eat her porridge whilst Katie turned to Harry.
"What about you Harry? You okay?"
"A little anxious I guess," admitted Harry. "If we lose today I'm to blame whether or not I catch the snitch!"
"Hey, you just worry about the snitch, we'll worry with the score," said Katie with a grin. "Besides, I seriously Slytherin are going to be a real threat today," she added nodding towards the Slytherin table and as Harry turned he could see why Katie was so confident as he'd never seen the Slytherins as miserable as they looked right now.
"Don't look a happy bunch do they?" he said turning back to the others with a wry smile.
"No, and all being well we're gonna make sure that they look even more miserable by the end of the day!" chuckled Katie.
"Hear, hear!" agreed Seamus, Dean and Ginny all thrusting their goblets into the air.
And with his friends laughing and joking around him, Harry now allowed himself a grin and began to enjoy his breakfast as he felt the last of his nerves drain away as he raised his own goblet.
"Gryffindor!" he announced and felt the grin on his face grow as not only his team mates but Hermione and Neville along with the other Gryffindors who'd arrived for breakfast all raised their goblets.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
***
The clock was just striking half past nine when Harry finally announced that the team should head to the stadium to get ready and as they (and Hermione) stood up to leave there were cheers not only from the Gryffindor table but from the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw tables from where Luna rose from her seat and hurried towards the door.
"Here comes you're good look kiss Ron mate," chuckled Harry as he wrapped an arm around Hermione's waist as they walked down between the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables.
"Oh shut up!" snorted Ron, albeit with a grin before turning and looking over at Luna who smiled broadly at him as she made her way down the aisle between the opposite side of the Hufflepuff and her own house's tables.
"Morning Luna," said Ginny cheerfully as the Ravenclaw met them by the door.
"Morning Gin," replied Luna with a beaming smile as she moved over to Ron and grabbed the front of his sweatshirt and pulled him down for a kiss which quickly filled the air with cat-calls and wolf whistles until Luna finally broke the kiss.
"Good luck Ron," she said giggling and blushing at the same instance before turning and hurrying back to her seat leaving Ron standing in the doorway of the Great Hall with a goofy grin plastered on his face.
"Thanks," he murmured quietly causing Harry and Hermione both to snigger whilst Ginny had tears of mirth running down her face before she gave her brother a prod.
"Oi, come on Ron, we've got to go!"
"What?" said Ron looking momentarily confused before his brain seemed to snap back into gear. "Oh, oh yeah, come on then," and with that he started across the Entrance Hall towards the main doors where the rest of the team stood waiting with Ginny beside him. Harry meanwhile turned to his girlfriend and grinned broadly.
"So do I get a good luck kiss?" he asked waggling his eyebrows causing Hermione to giggle.
"Of course," she said before pushing herself and giving a quick kiss on the lips before settling back on her heels whilst Harry gave her a confused look.
"Is that it?" he murmured looking slightly disgruntled. Hermione now smiled and pressed her finger against his lips.
"Catch me the snitch and I'll make it up to you." For a moment Harry just stared at her then slowly a grin crossed his face.
"I hold you to that!" he chuckled before leaning down and kissing the tip of her nose before turning and hurrying across the entrance hall pausing briefly at the main door when he turned and waved at Hermione who waved back before heading outside and down the path towards the Stadium.
***
Harry licked his lips anxiously as he looked at the other members of the Gryffindor team. Ginny and Katie were both sat either side of a nervous Vicky whilst Seamus and Dean who'd spent most of the morning cracking jokes and laughing were both sitting thin lipped and with tense expressions on another bench, Seamus patting his bat in his hand.
Harry now turned to Ron who was leaned in the doorway leading into the boys' changing room and whilst he was looking nervous Ron was clearly ready.
"Okay guys," said Harry turning to the others. "We're up against a team that's pretty much been put together at the last minute but under no circumstances should we take them lightly. Don't forget, this is Slytherin we're playing and their gonna cheat like hell to win so whatever you do don't let you're guard down Okay? Alright let's go!"
The team moved over to the broom rack and Harry grabbed his trusty Firebolt before moving to the corridor leading to the launch ramp followed by the others.
"Alright guys," said Harry as he straddled his broom. "Here we go!"
And with that he kicked off and shot out from the darkness of the tunnel into the sunny October sky closely followed by his team.
"AND HERE COMES GRYFFINDOR!!!" cried the voice of Megan Jones over the roar of the crowd at the Hufflepuff's announcement. "WEASLEY, BELL, WEASLEY, FROBISHER, FINNIGAN, THOMAS AND THEIR CAPTAIN, POTTER!!!"
Harry meanwhile had caught sight of Hermione, Neville, Becky and Luna who were all sat in the back row of one of the stands along with the hulking form of Hagrid who seemed to take up half the row just by himself. With a grin Harry turned his Firebolt towards them and flew straight at the stand before pulling hard to the left at the last moment at which point he glance over his shoulder to see Neville, Becky, Luna, Hagrid and the rest of the Gryffindors in the stand cheering wildly. Hermione however had her hands over her face and was just peeking out with one eye between her fingers.
"You do know she'll probably kill you for that don't you?" chuckled Ron as he settled in a hover beside Harry who turned to his best friend with an innocent grin.
"Why, what did I do?"
Ron merely snorted and rolled his eyes as Megan's voice filled the air.
"AND NOW HERE ARE SLYTHERIN!" she announced as seven Green and Silver clad figures gingerly took to the air. "RANDALL, WARREN, GREENGRASS, EMMETT, COPE, FLINT AND THEIR CAPTAIN, BULSTRODE!"
A resounding chorus of boos and jeers filled the air drowning out the half-hearted cheer the Slytherins who'd bother to turn up were able to raise. Harry and the other Gryffindors however were looking at their opponents with surprise.
"Bloody hell," said Ron softly.
"I never thought I'd see one girl on the Slytherin team, let alone five of them," murmured Katie Bell as she took in the seven Slytherin players, all of whom seemed to be suffering last minute jitters.
Harry meanwhile took the time to look over the team and felt a small smile cross his face. Millicent Bulstrode and Daphne Greengrass he knew as they were both in his year. The two boys, Emmett and Randall were probably second or third years given their size and had similar short cropped hair. He could also tell which of the players was Flint as she looked very similar to her elder brother albeit with a long black ponytail that came down to the centre of her back leaving just Cope and Warren. Cope, who Harry guessed by her small frame, was the Slytherin's new seeker had shoulder length blonde hair and blue eyes whilst her face seemed to be fixed with a permanent scowl. Warren also had blonde hair (although Harry had a sneaking feeling that it wasn't that colour originally) but her eyes were brown and she was slightly stockier that Cope which made her perfect for playing as a beater although she looked far from comfortable on a broomstick.
"This," said Katie with a grim expression on her face. "Is not going to be pretty!"
"What are you talking about!" chirped Seamus who was looking at the Slytherins gleefully. "We're gonna take them to pieces!"
"Not if they take us to pieces with their flying," grunted Katie. "Look at them, their not exactly graceful!"
Harry could help but agree with Katie's assessment and cringed slight as Cope and Randall almost had a collision. However, there wasn't time to dwell on this as Madam Hooch now gave a blast on her whistle from her position on the ground.
"Teams ready!!!" she bellowed and then with a whack of her broomstick the case containing the balls shot open and all four of the balls shot into the air. For one brief moment Harry caught sight of the Snitch but even before he could start towards a bludger whistled in front of him missing him by mere inches.
"I've got it!" roared Dean and rushed passed Harry and after the bludger whilst Harry pulled his broom back whilst leaning forward and shot upwards until he was circling the stadium by almost one hundred feet.
He could see Cope circling about twenty feet below him from where she would occasionally glance up towards him before looking around for the snitch. Harry meantime took a moment to watch the figures below and in the distance he heard Megan's voice announce a goal for Gryffindor.
"Way to go guys!" yelled Harry although he knew there wasn't any chance any of the Gryffindors could have heard him. He then cast a look around but saw no sign of the Snitch and so slowly put himself into a spiralled descent back towards the stadium. As he did so he heard a roar go up followed by Megan's voice confirming that Gryffindor had scored again. Harry grinned as he cast a look over at Cope who was glancing at him ever few seconds and then looking around again hoping to catch sight of the snitch.
But the small golden ball was being remarkably elusive today and Harry quickly realised that today's game wasn't going to be over anytime soon which was good insofar as it would give Vicky, Dean and Seamus much needed game time but also meant that the risk from the Slytherins ill-preparedness was vastly increased.
Just then a third cheer filled the air and Harry glanced down to see two scarlet figures mob a third and felt a grin cross his face as he saw the third figure had red hair.
"Told you not to worry Gin," he murmured to himself as he looked up again and tried to locate the snitch but without luck.
All this time he'd continued in his descent so he was now only about thirty feet above the stadium and so could hear Megan's voice clearly now.
"AND BELL PASSES IT OFF TO FROBISHER….OH, SHE NARROWLY AVOIDS WARREN'S BLUDGER SHOT…PASSES BACK TO BELL…GOAL!!!! GRYFFINDOR LEAD FORTY TO NIL!"
As the crowd roared it's delight Harry shot a glance back toward Cope who was beginning to look anxious and had closed the gap between her and Harry by a few feet.
'Alright,' thought Harry as he turned his gaze away from the Slytherin and began to look around again. 'Let's see if you're any good?' He now began to slowly climb again glancing left and right occasionally and catching sight of the Slytherin seeker in his peripheral vision and saw she was still following.
However, before Harry could do anything else a roar of anger swelled up from the stadium followed by a whistle blast and Madam Hooch's voice boomed through the air.
"TIME OUT!"
Harry immediately glanced downwards and saw a figure in red lying at the foot of the Gryffindors left hand goal post.
"Ron!" Even before he knew what he was doing Harry was rushing towards the ground, the wind screaming in his ears.
Several seconds late he landed and dropped his broom as he hurried over to where Ron was sitting with his back against the foot of the goalpost whilst Katie and a pale Ginny knelt either side of him.
"What happened?" asked Harry as he crouched down in front of Ron.
"Warren caught him in the side whilst he was trying to save a shot from Bulstrode," said Katie.
"Stopped it though didn't I?" quipped Ron wincing slightly as he shifted position.
"Yes well," muttered Ginny as Madam Pomfrey finally arrived on the scene pushing Harry bodily out the way.
"Come out the way Miss Bell," said the Matron before kneeling down beside Ron whilst pulling her wand out. "Where does it hurt Mr Weasley?"
"Ribs," grunted Ron as Poppy now pulled up his shirt to reveal a nasty purplish bruising on the left side of his ribs. The matron pursed her lips as she waved her wand at the injured area before giving a nod.
"Your lucky Mr Weasley, it's just badly bruised. I can give you some pain killing potion to get you through the game and then I'll need to apply some ointment."
"Okay," said Ron as the Matron now opened her bag and pulled out a bottle containing a pale yellow liquid which she now uncorked and handed it to Ron who took a deep pull before removing the bottle from his lips and gave a sigh as the look of pain disappeared from his face.
"That's better," he grunted and with Harry and Ginny's help got to his feet. "Thanks Matron!"
"Just remember to come and see me straight after the game," said Madam Pomfrey with a nod just as Madam Hooch arrived on the scene.
"Are we ready to go Poppy?" she asked looking at Ron with genuine concern.
"Give Mr Weasley a couple of minutes for the potion to take full effect Rolanda," said Madam Pomfrey with a smile.
Madam Hooch nodded and headed skywards as Katie turned to Harry.
"You'd better get up there too Harry, we'll keep an eye on him."
"I'll be fine mate," added Ron with a grin. "Although I'd be grateful if you could catch that snitch as quick as you can!"
Harry gave a grin of his own and nodded.
"Consider it done mate," he said before exchange looks with Ginny and then walked over to where Dean and Seamus were now stood, Dean holding both his and Harry's brooms.
"Is he Okay?" asked Dean as he handed Harry his broom.
"He's a Weasley," replied Harry with a grin. "He's as hard as Hagrid's rock cakes!"
Both Dean and Seamus laughed at this and the three were soon back in the air followed quickly by the rest of the team with Ron gingerly bringing up the rear of the group.
"Alright everybody?" called Madam Hooch tossing the Quaffle to Ron. "Then….!" And with that she gave a blast on her whistle and the game restarted.
Harry immediately rose on his broom and didn't need to look to be able to tell that Cope was right behind him again.
'Alright,' thought Harry with an inner smile. 'Now, where were we?' And with that he shot a look left, then looked right and then started to look left again but then snapped his head back right as if doing a double take before throwing his broom the same direction and kicking it up to top speed.
He now risked a quick glance over his shoulder and saw that Cope was in pursuit squinting against the wind.
Harry smiled as he now put his broom into a sharp turn and caused a horrified Cope to pull up sharply to avoid crashing into him.
However, what Harry wasn't expecting to see was the snitch hurtling right towards him and before he could react the small golden ball hit him hard on the left temple causing Harry to grunt in pain as stars flashed in front of his eyes. Luckily he was able to keep control of the Firebolt and with a shake of his head Harry was able to clear his vision although his head was still pounding and every movement made it throb even more.
But Harry still had a job to do and began looking around for the elusive snitch and then suddenly he caught sight of it hovering in front of the main Slytherin stand and with a flick of his wrist the Firebolt turned and started towards the snitch.
A moment later he realised that Cope had also spotted the snitch but whilst the Slytherin was closer Harry was faster and within just a few seconds he and the Slytherin seeker were neck and neck before the Firebolt began to take him past her. He could hear the young girl swearing and cursing her broom to go faster but her Comet Sprinter whilst newer than the Firebolt just wasn't a match for it.
The snitch meanwhile had seemingly become away that it'd been spotted and was once more on the move but Harry now had it in his sights and once that happened he rarely lost it and right now wasn't any different as he lay complete flat on his broom with his chin pressed against the shaft whilst the wind whistled in his ears blocking out almost all other noise as he pursued the small golden ball edging closer and closer.
Harry now allowed his right hand to drop down by his side and started to flex his fingers as the Firebolt continued to eat up the gap.
Twenty metres.
Fifthteen metres.
Ten metres.
Five metres.
Even before Harry knew what he was doing his hand shot up and grabbed the snitch out of thin air…
…And at the same moment he threw himself left as a bludger narrowly missed him and ploughed into the ground below whilst Harry's arm shot into the air holding the snitch aloft.
"AND POTTER'S CAUGHT THE SNITCH!!!" cried Megan's voice. "GRYFFINDOR WIN BY TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY POINTS TO TEN!!!"
Next moment as the crowd erupted in cheers Harry was swamped as first Ginny and then the rest of the team reached him and caused a huge scrum which in turn took them slowly towards the ground.
"Knew you'd do it mate!" cried Ron ruffling Harry's hair whilst Dean and Seamus were singing a rather rude ditty about the Slytherins.
"What I want to know is how the hell you knew that bludger was coming," yelled Ginny over the din that the Gryffindor fans were creating. "I shouted at you but I was certain you couldn't have heard me!"
"It was just a feeling," replied Harry with a shrug. "Call it a sixth sense if you like!"
"Well whatever it is I'm glad you've got it," chuckled Ginny. "And I imaging Hermione will be to!"
"Hey, thanks for reminding me," said Harry with a grin as he turned and glanced towards the stand where he could see a pale faced but relived looking Hermione standing at the front whilst the Gryffindors behind her were jumping up and down and hugging each other whilst Hagrid was waving his arms in the air and roaring with joy causing Professor McGonagall to hold the flaps of her hat over her ears.
"'Scuse me guys," said Harry as he gave the fist holding the snitch a shake. "I've got a debt to collect."
"Go on then," replied Katie with a over dramatic sigh. "Go and snog your girlfriend."
"Thanks, I think I will," replied Harry with a grin causing Katie to chuckle whilst Ron and the others smirked as they watched him turn and fly over towards his girlfriend and within a few seconds he was hovering in front of her.
"Hi."
"Hello," replied Hermione, a look of concern crossing her face as she took in the small purplish bruise forming on Harry's forehead where the snitch had hit him.
"It's Okay, I'll live," chuckled Harry before holding out his hand and opening it to reveal the offending snitch. "I'm here to collect on our little arrangement!" Here the worry faded from Hermione's face to be replaced be a slight smirk.
"Yes, I thought you would be," she said before carefully leaning over the barrier and meeting Harry's lips whilst around them the Gryffindor cheers got louder.
***
Due to the fact that there were a large number of Ravenclaw and Hufflepuffs who wished to join in the celebrations of the Gryffindor team's win over Slytherin Professor Dumbledore granted permission for the victory party to be relocated to the Room of Requirement where, despite the short notice, the House Elves had already set up several tables loaded with food and drink and even dug out a wireless and the sounds of the Weird Sisters filled the air although this was soon drowned out by the slightly raucous atmosphere which also help disguise the fact that two members of the Gryffindor team and their girlfriends where not present.
***
With his ribs now fully healed by Madam Pomfrey, Ron Weasley hummed cheerfully as he made his way down the corridor leading to the staircase and the seventh floor where the Victory Party was being held. He'd been a little puzzled as to why Luna hadn't turned up at the Hospital Wing but had figured that Ginny had assured her he was fine and dragged her straight to the party.
Suddenly something small and red laying on the floor of the corridor caught Ron's eye and he stopped and bent down to pick it up.
It was a radish.
And at this point Ron noticed another radish a few feet away and a slow grin crossed his face as he began to follow a trail of radishes until he came to a door with a radish hanging from the door handle on a piece of thread.
Ron now quickly glanced left and then right but there wasn't a soul about as he now slowly opened the door and slipped into a dim room which seemed to be one of Madam Pince's storerooms as it was filled with shelves that groaned under the weight of books (although Ron suspected that some of the books could be groaning as well) and with the only light coming from a rather narrow window at the far end of the room.
"Lu…?" he managed to get out before his girlfriend jumped out of the shadows and threw her arms around his neck crushing her lips against his and causing Ron to stagger backwards into a wall. Ron however recovered quickly from his initial surprise and began kissing his girlfriend back hard and they only broke the kiss when their lungs started demanding oxygen at which point they pulled apart and looked at each other with loving expressions.
"Hello," said Luna dreamily. "Did Madam Pomfrey sort out you're ribs?"
"Yeah, she said they might feel a little sore for a day or two but I'll live," replied Ron. "Enjoy the game?"
"Immensely," said Luna, her eyes twinkling. "It was most enjoyable watching the look on Professor Snape's face as he had to sit there and watch you demolish Slytherin!"
"I better he's off somewhere now spitting vile," snorted Ron before a slight frown crossed his face. "He's gonna really make potions hard for Harry and the others after this!"
"I doubt it," murmured Luna. "Dumbledore wouldn't let him. Anyway, let's not worry about that now!"
"Fair enough," said Ron. "So what do you want to do? We could go for a walk around the lake if you like or we could go and join the party if you like?"
To his surprise Luna actually blushed and a nervous expression crossed her face.
"Actually…I had something else in mind."
"Oh?" said Ron curiously before his eyes suddenly widened as Luna's meaning became clear and he felt himself go red. "Oh! But…but I thought…you know, that you wanted to wait…."
"Oh, I wasn't actually talking about having sex," blurted Luna quickly going even redder. "But there are….other things!"
Here Ron swallowed hard and gave his collar a tug.
"Bloody hell!" he hissed softly. "Luna luv, are you sure? I…I don't want you to do anything you don't want to!"
"I know," said Luna smiling nervously at him. "But I am sure about this."
Ron gazed at her for a moment before giving a nervy chuckle.
"So, eh, do you want me to go first?"
Luna giggled at him and shook her head. "I'll wait for another day, gives you time to, how shall I put it? Brush up on you're technique?"
"Oi!" snorted Ron. "I'll have you know Miss Lovegood that having five elder brothers is good for something. Thanks to them I know a good deal on how to pleasure somebody of the opposite sex!"
"Well then," replied Luna, her eyes sparkling with mirth. "I look forward to experiencing the results." Here she paused a took a deep breath as the pair exchanged another nervous glance before Luna suddenly pulled out her wand out from her hair causing it to fall down around her shoulders whilst Ron's eyes to widen in alarm.
"What do you need that for?" he exclaimed nervously.
"This," said Luna turning towards the door and muttering both a locking and silencing charm. "Don't want anyone interrupting us do we?"
"Good thinking," murmured Ron sheepishly.
"Now then, where were we?" said Luna turning back to her boyfriend and taking another deep breath. "Oh yes."
And as Ron watched in nervous excitement she knelt down in front of him and began reaching for the buckle of his belt.
It was in many respects a good thing that Luna had placed a silencing charm on the door as anyone walking down the corridor outside would have easily heard an exclamation of "Merlin's ghost!" followed a few minutes later by a strangled cry of….
"LUUUUNNNNNAAAAA!"
***
"Do you think anyone's noticed we're not at the party yet?"
Harry lifted his head off the pillow and looked down at the top of his girlfriend's head and watched as she traced patterns on his chest with her finger.
"I doubt it, someone would have come looking by now if they had."
"'S'pose," agreed Hermione as she gave a stretch and allowed Harry a quickly glimpse of her naked body as the blanket covering them rode up slightly.
"See something you like?" said Hermione in a sing-song tone and Harry pulled his gaze away from his girlfriend's body to her face which was now looking at him with a wry grin.
"Oh yes," he replied with a grin of his own.
The pair where currently lying in a bed that Hermione had transfigured out of the desk in the Gryffindor Quidditch Captain's Office, a place they'd been for the last couple of hours and were in no really rush to leave, even for a party.
Harry now jumped slightly as a creek filled the air.
"What was that?" he said turning towards the door as if expecting someone to burst through causing Hermione to giggle before she reached up and cupped Harry's face pulling his gaze from the door to her eyes.
"Harry relax, do you honestly think I would have suggested this unless I'd planned for it? I've set up a warning charm in the corridor outside so I'll have time to hide if I need to. Beside, even if McGonagall or, heaven forbid, Snape caught us they couldn't do anything apart from give us an earful, we're not technically on school grounds right now!"
"We're not?" said Harry, an eyebrow raising in surprise.
"No," replied his girlfriend with a broad smile. "You see the stadium actually comes under the control of the British and Irish Quidditch Association."
"Really?" said Harry before a smirk crossed his face. "I wonder what they'd say if they knew what we were doing in their stadium?"
"Well, right now we're not really doing anything," pointed out Hermione, her eyes twinkling with impish mischief causing Harry to laugh.
"Good point," he said as he reached down and pulled the cover over them as Hermione giggled again. "Let's see what we can do to change that!"
***
Wormtail groaned miserably as he pulled himself backing into the boat having just lost the contents of his stomach into the frothing sea and immediately curled up with a groan and ignoring the glares of contempt and disgust that Bellatrix and Narcissa.
Voldermort meanwhile ignored the wretched man as he stood in the prow of the small rowing boat that should by rights have been swamped by the storm around them but which Voldermort kept at bay without any real effort. The boat itself continued to skim through the water rapidly without any visible mode of propulsion until it suddenly came to a jarring halt as it hit an invisible barrier that caused Bellatrix and Narcissa to fall from their seats and onto Wormtail whereas Voldermort didn't even flinch as his eyes narrowed.
"Is this the best they could do?" he spat with venom as the two women pulled themselves off a whimpering Pettigrew. "Pitiful!" And with that he made a sudden gesture with his left hand causing the barrier to flare brightly for a moment before fading into nothingness.
Voldermort allowed himself a small smile as the boat resumed it's journey towards the rocky outcrop that was just visible in the gloom. Soon Azkaban would be his and then nothing, not the Ministry, not Dumbledore and certainly not the Potter boy would be able to stop him.
***
Albus Dumbledore looked up from the scroll he was reading as first Alastor Moody and then Remus Lupin stepped out of his fireplace and began brushing themselves down.
"What news?" asked the Headmaster solemnly although the presence of both Mad Eye and Remus was enough to tell him it wasn't good.
"Barrier fell five minutes ago," grunted Moody. "He's on his way. I sent Arthur a note so the Ministry will be able to warn the public, for all the good that'll do!"
"And so it begins," said Dumbledore with a nod before turning to Fawkes and giving the Phoenix a nod at which the bird lifted up from it perch and flew into the air before disappearing in a burst of flame.
"And may Merlin be with us!" muttered Remus under his breath.
***
The doors to Azkaban had stood for almost nine hundred years and were subject to some of the most powerful protections spells known to the wizarding world.
They barely lasted ten seconds against Voldermort and burst open with such force that one was blow fully across the main courtyard whilst the other hung only by a single hinge for a few moments before that too broke and crashed to the ground with a dull thud.
With a sneer of distain Voldermort made his way through the gates with Narcissa and Bellatrix either side of him whilst Wormtail stumbled along behind them whilst high above them Dementors swept in swirling around the turrets of the castle.
Voldermort strolled purposefully across the courtyard until he came to the main door which he blasted off it's hinges allowing him entry into the labyrinth of corridors that lead into the main prison block, a huge circular tower with nearly twenty floors each with twenty cells although less than half where actually occupied.
A horrid stench caused Bellatrix, Narcissa and Wormtail all to gag slightly as they entered the tower in Voldermort's wake but the Dark Lord either didn't notice or didn't let it effect him as he walked to the centre of the room and as he did so a scurrying noise filled the air before arms bearing the black mark shot out between the bars on all the occupied cell doors.
"Master!"
"My Lord!"
"Sire!"
"Silence!" hissed Voldermort and even though his voice was low the tower fell silent with the only noise being the storm outside.
"You are pathetic," snarled the Dark Lord as he cast a look around at the pitiful faces staring at him from behind the bars. "Allowing Blood Traitors and Mudbloods to hold you here! Have any of you even attempt escape? No! And why, because you are cowards!!!"
By now many of the arms had been pulled back within their cells and those who Voldermort could see cowered at his rage.
"If I could have I would have left you all here to rot!" he continued as he slowly circled the lower level. "But unfortunately I cannot do that so I have come to claim this place as my own and to free the pitiful vermin that are my followers!" And with that Voldermort gave a casual flick of the wrist and all the cell doors flew open. The Death Eaters on the ground floor immediately stumbled out their cells and dropped to their hands and knees and crawled over to Voldermort who looked at them as they were something he might scrape off his boot.
"Thanks you Master, thank you for giving us the chance to redeem ourselves," growled a particularly bulky Death Eater.
"Ah, Macnair," hissed Voldermort, his hand slipping unseen into his robes. "I will have an assignment for you, but first there is an unresolved issue…CRUCIO!!!"
The sounds of Macnair's screams of pain echoed around the hall causing the other Death Eaters to fall silent as they realised that if Macnair, one of Voldermort's chief Lieutenants was receiving a Crucio then the Dark Lord meant every word he said.
Voldermort now broke the curse and Macnair fell panting and twitching on the floor whilst the Dark Lord looked around.
"That is me at my most merciful!" he snarled. "Fail me and it will be the last thing you do!" He then turned his gaze to two figures cowering on the floor before him.
"Lucius, Rodolphus," he sneered. "Defeated by a bunch of children, I should kill you both where you lie!" Here both men trembled although neither raised their gaze.
"But that," continued Voldermort as he raised his wand. "Is not possible so for now I will make do with killing one….AVADA KEDAVRA!!!!"
For the briefest of seconds the whole room was illuminated in green light before the body of Rodolphus Lestrange fell limply to the floor whilst Lucius Malfoy looked on with a mixture of fear and relief before looking up at Voldermort.
"Thank you master!"
"Don't be so hasty with you're thanks Lucius," snarled Voldermort softly. "Fail me again and you shall share his fate!"
"I will not fail you!" snapped the elder Malfoy.
"Good," replied Voldermort. "And I take it you won't object when I tell you that I've taken you wife as one of my companions?"
For a moment Lucius's face twitched and he shot a look at his wife to see her looking back at him with contempt.
"Not at all my lord!"
"Excellent," said Voldermort before looking down at Rodolphus's body and then at Bellatrix who didn't seem either upset or angry at her husband's death.
"Bella, Narcissa, come with me, I have need of you both!" And with that he started down a side corridor that lead to the old barracks from when Hit Wizards had been used to guard Azkaban with Narcissa behind him.
Bella meanwhile looked up from her husband's dead body, a cold smile crossing her lips.
"Bellatrix Lestrange is no more," she said in a casual voice as if discussing the weather. "There is only Bellatrix Black!" And with that she turned and headed after Voldermort, Wormtail scurrying behind her leaving Malfoy and the other Death Eaters alone in the tower with Rodolphus's dead body and the still twitching Macnair.
***
Sunday night meant one thing for the Marauders.
Homework!
And so the six friends were sat at one of the largest desks working on various essays, the only sounds being those of the fire crackling away in the hearth, the scratching of quill on parchment and the occasional cough.
Harry now glanced away from his parchment and turned to the book he had open beside him and was just reading the paragraph on water charms again when he felt a foot brush up against his leg causing Harry to look up from his page and across the desk to where his girlfriend was sitting opposite nibbling on the end of her quill as she worked on her transfiguration homework, a small smirk on her lips as she quickly cast her eyes upwards before turning her gaze back to her work.
Harry's own gaze was returning to his own work when the portrait opened and a grim faced Professor Stoutbridge hurried in.
"Good, you're all here," he grunted as the six teenagers looked up from their work.
"It something wrong Professor?" asked Ginny.
"Not here," said Stoutbridge as he stood away from the door. "Dumbledore wants to see you right now!"
***
On entering the Headmaster's Office the six teenagers found quite a group waiting for them.
Not only were Gringle and Hedges there but so was every member of staff, Mad-Eye Moody, Tonks, Kingsley Shacklebolt and, standing by the fire, Remus Lupin.
"Moony," said Harry hurrying over to his father's friend and gave him a hug which the older man returned.
"It's good to see you Harry," said Remus as he released Harry and gave both Ginny and Hermione hugs before shaking hands with Luna, Neville and Ron.
"How touching," sneered Snape which caused Moody to turn around quickly and point his finger at the Potions Master.
"You just keep that trap shut Severus!" he snarled. "It was a bloody miracle that Remus and the others got away in time! You were supposed to warn us when Voldermort made his move!"
"Can I help it if the Dark Lord doesn't entrust me with every one of his decisions!" snarled back Snape, his eyes blazing with rage.
"SEVERUS, ALASTOR!" barked Dumbledore sharply rising from behind his desk. "ENOUGH!!!"
Both men glared at each other for a second before Moody turned and stomped across the room as if to put as much distance between him and Snape as possible whilst the Professor disappeared into the shadows. Dumbledore meantime turned to Harry and the others.
"Voldermort's taken Azkaban hasn't he?" said Harry quickly before the Headmaster had the chance to speak.
"Indeed," said Dumbledore with a grave nod. "And now he has his followers we shall soon be truly at war." Here he now turned to Kingsley. "I take Arthur's people are preparing a statement?"
"It'll be in the Morning Edition of the Prophet," replied Kingsley.
"And the Aurors?" asked Dumbledore at which the Head Auror gave a small shrug.
"We could have always done with more time but we should be able to throw anything Voldermort's people can throw at us."
Dumbledore nodded thoughtfully before turning to Moody.
"Alastor, is the Order ready?"
"We're ready," replied Moody gruffly. "We might be small in number but whatever help we can give we'll give!"
Here the Headmaster smiled at his old friend before turning to Lupin.
"It appears Remus that you are once more without a job."
"So it would seem," agreed Lupin with a small nod.
"Well, in that case allow me to rectify the matter," said Dumbledore. "As of tomorrow Thaddeus will initiate an advanced DADA program for the upper school which will take up a great deal more of his time and there forth I wish to offer you the post of DADA Professor for years one through four, do you accept?"
For a moment Remus just stared in disbelief at the older man before speaking.
"The Ministry…"
"…Have no say over my appointments," replied Dumbledore firmly. "I am empowered by the school charter to offer the post to someone whom I and I alone deem qualified. Furthermore to your condition I have it on good authority that legislation will soon be passed by the Wizengamot to ended anti-lycan discrimination once and for all and so any objections to you're appointment would be pointless."
The headmaster now moved around his desk and made his way over to Lupin and held out his hand.
"So Professor Lupin? Do you accept my offer?"
For a moment Remus hesitated then turned to Harry who gave a nod before the lycan turned back to Dumbledore and then took the offered hand.
"I 'd be honoured," he replied softly.
"Excellent," said Dumbledore before he moved to stand by the fire.
"Albus, what do we tell the students?" asked Professor McGonagall
"The truth Minerva, always the truth and to that end I shall address the school at breakfast in the morning," said Dumbledore at which McGonagall nodded before Dumbledore turned to address the group.
"The war is upon us my friends, we did not ask for it but now Voldermort has brought it to us he will find that we will not simply stand aside and let him destroy our way of life but that we shall fight him until either he is vanquished or we are no more. I will not lie to you on that, there is a considerable chance that many present in this room will not live to see what the future holds but I for one do not fear death." Here he paused and looked around the room and took it the sea of anxious but determined faces at which the Headmaster smiled broadly and nodded.
"And so it begins!"