Something Wicked This Way Comes

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

It was the day of the quidditch match and it was storming hard. Thunder clapped all around us and rain poured down hard, making it nearly impossible to see anything in this weather. It was Gryffindor VS Hufflepuff. As much as I wanted to cheer for Hufflepuff, I found myself cheering for the Reds, mainly for Harry.

"Let's go, Harry!" I yelled out, not that he would have heard me, with all of the people cheering so loudly and the storm, it would have been hard to hear even without the weather issues. That didn't stop me from cheering him on. I shivered and pulled my poncho around me tighter, "It's freezing!" I shuddered.

"Here, let's huddle up!" Amie yelled out over the roar of the crowd and rain. The four of us in unison gathered together as tightly as we could. The rain somehow kept pouring down harder and harder.

"The hell?" John groaned out, "When will this storm end!" It felt like hours went by before Amie gasped and pointed up to the sky, "Look!" I squint my eyes, using my hand to try and block out the droplets from my eyes. There in the distance, I faintly make out a familiar number on a Gryffindor '7', tumbling out of the sky.

"Harry!" I gasped out. A few towers over I watched as Dumbledore held out his hand shouting out "Aresto Momentum!" Harry's fall slows and his body gently floats to the ground. I launched from my seat, "I need to go!" I ran down the stairs faster than I had ever tried to in the past. I ran across the field where multiple staff members ushered over, picked up Harry off of the field, and began transporting him to the Hospital wing. I somehow quickened my pace and was ahead of them, I felt the need to alert Madam Pomfrey.

By the time I got to the Hospital Wing, I felt like I needed a hospital myself, panting and gasping for air I wheezed out, "Harry Potter... quidditch... fell off..." Her eyes widened and she quickly found me a seat where she bundled me up in a blanket. Not too far behind me was the staff who rushed in with Harry on Lupin's back, the gurney had torn, guess the fabric didn't hold up in the weather. Professor Lupin's gaze met mine for a moment before he laid Harry down on the bed. Others from the Gryffindors and staff members came in, all hovering over a passed-out Harry Potter.

I gulped as my breath finally calmed and eased, and stood up, he was going to be looked after. Madam Pomfrey though, had other plans, "Everyone out! Mr. Emerson you sit, you need to breathe!" She gave a sharp look to Professor Lupin, "You stay too, I know that wasn't good on your back!" I bit my lip trying to keep from laughing aloud. Professor Lupin sighed and flopped down on a chair nearby, rubbing his aching back.

The tension in the room swelled, I knew that even after that talk it would be awkward. Why did I have to open my big mouth? I watched as Madam Pomfrey paced from Harry's bed to another bed that held a twitching Hufflepuff, poor guy, I knew him too, he got hit by lightning and fell about the same time as Harry.

"You know I find it odd how much Harry is like his father..." Lupin started off with an amused huff. He watched Harry intently. I gazed over at him as he spoke, "I remember him being in a situation very similar to this one. It was a quidditch match, it was storming heavily, and Gryffindor was down three points against Slytherin," He smiled fondly as he relived the memory, "And James was very determined to win... He had flown up into the clouds and as he came hurdling down Dumbledore saved him from being squished onto the ground... When they got ahold of him he was clutching the golden snitch in his hand."

I watched him closely before asking, "You knew James Potter?"

He nodded and crossed his arms, relaxing into the wooden chair, "I did..."

It made sense now if he was friends with at least one of the Potters– "Is that why you asked me to watch over him?" he nodded once more, this time wordlessly, "Why me?" I asked. Professor Lupin took a large breath and slowly let it out, "I figured with your nature it would be the best option, you're keen on knowledge and you don't seem to let much affect you. I figured student-wise you'd be the best option to keep an eye on him."

I scoffed and shook my head, now crossing my arms, "That's a load of bull. I'm not very good at not letting things affect me....There were much better options..."

"I disagree!" Lupin sat forward now, his arms now laid on his lap as he was hunched over.

"And why is that?"

He only shrugged and said, "Even with what you opened up to me about all those weeks ago, you still kept your head held high!"

That's where he was wrong, "Not so much lately...." I muttered gazing back over to Harry. I heard him softly sigh, "Listen, Oz..." I had never heard him use my nickname until now, and that got my attention rather quickly. I peeked back at him, "I know I was quite harsh on you when you asked questions, and that night Sirius Black broke in..." He started, "Please know that when I was... when I was..."

"Being an ass?" I turned my body toward him. He let out a chuckle, "I suppose that is the right word... I was being a right ass. I'm sorry..."

Oh, I felt terrible seeing the tall teacher, who usually looked calm and happy, look so somber, "I'm sorry too Professor Lupin..." I muttered. His gaze pandered up quickly to me, "I shouldn't have wandered off like that, and...I shouldn't have pushed so hard when you weren't feeling well."

Professor Lupin shook his head, "No I shouldn't have gone off the way I did–"

I quickly shut him down, "But you're not wrong..." He paused and tilted his head, I could see the confusion swirling in his eyes, "About people not liking me... there are plenty that don't..."

Lupin frowned and furrowed his brow so hard I thought the lines on his brow would zip up his forehead and shoot to the roof. Then his eyes widened, he must have realized, "You... You mean when you'd be left with nothing..." He pinched his brow before melting his hand down his face, "Never meant it... Oz, there are plenty of people who like you..."

Our conversation came to a halt when several of the quidditch team showed up, crowding around Harry. Professor Lupin and I stood up and got back, making room for the team. They had not shown up earlier, I assumed from them being kept behind to make sure everyone was alright. The twins smirk and hover over Harry, making small joking quips. I tried to be unassuming, but the twins noticed me and smiled genuinely, "Hey Ozzie!" They both said simultaneously. How they knew my name that well in the first place baffled me, but I nodded back and spoke softly, "Hello..."

I glanced one more time over at Lupin who smiled knowingly, "I will take my leave now, goodbye everyone. Mr. Emerson," He gave a short bow to me and walked off. Bastard...