Turning Time (A Harry Potter Fanfic)

Revelare Viam, pt. 3

Soon enough, the end of the year was upon Harry. Of the Gryffindor first years, only Raven and Peter were still eleven. Exams were coming up quickly, and the professors were increasing the homework load. Severus and Raven continued to lead half-lives of Slytherin and Gryffindor, which Lily chose to ignore. 

Harry had been avoiding various curses and hexes for weeks. The Slytherins, in second place for the Quidditch Cup, were determined to take him out before Gryffindor’s final match against Ravenclaw. It was only until their practice rights were threatened that they left him alone.

The Ravenclaws and Gryffindors wore their house colors proudly, so the stands were full of crimson and blue. 

Violetta went over a few quick points with the team, but it was clear she was counting primarily on Harry to catch the Snitch. They assembled on the field, and both teams nodded to each other as they got ready to take off. 

Once the whistle blew, Harry shot in the other direction, eyes raking the field for the Snitch, when suddenly, he felt his broom lurch beneath him. He hung on, gritting his teeth, hands tightened around the handle. He spun, over and over, the world blurring around him, trying not to vomit or lose his grip. 

Then there was a moment of calm, and Harry saw, in his still-spinning vision, that the crowd had stood up, and was looking around for the person who was messing with Harry’s broom. Some of the spectators were pointing their wands threateningly at the Slytherin end, shouting and swearing. They all knew about Slytherin’s attempts to sabotage the Gryffindor Seeker. 

Harry used the distraction to quickly speed away, up and up, hoping that if he moved around enough, he’d avoid the curse. 

It turned out there was no need, the Gryffindors had called time-out. Harry was flying down to them when his broom shot out beneath from him when he was nearly a hundred feet in the air. He hardly had time to scream as he plummeted down, the ground rushing to meet him…Just before he landed, he felt a tug around his navel and he stopped, a foot from the grass beneath him, before falling with a dull thump. 

“Never in my years of coaching…” Madam Hooch helped Harry to his feet. There were angry cries from the crowd, especially from the Gryffindor end. Harry joined his team, who looked shaken.

“Someone’s out to get you, Jacob. I’m not sure if we can do anything about it.” Violetta’s expression was determined, grim. 

“I know. Just try to score as many points as you can…they might come after our team, too, and then the game will be called off. I’ll try to catch the Snitch quickly.”

The team glanced at each other, hesitant. Ignoring their worry, Violetta told Madam Hooch they were ready, and soon they were in the air again. 

Harry thought back to the Quidditch book he’d received for Christmas as he rose high above the field, trying to remember anything that might help him. He glanced at the Ravenclaw Seeker, who was across the pitch. She’s smart, he thought. She knows she can’t outfly me, so the only chance she’ll have is if she sees the Snitch far away from where I am.

He moved quickly, darting around in the hopes that it would be more difficult to curse him. And then he saw it. The Snitch, twenty feet away. Harry spun in its direction, and it sped up. The chase was on. Everyone in the stands except the Slytherins were on their feet, cheering him on.

The Snitch flitted straight down, but it couldn’t shake Harry off. With a final burst of speed, his fingers closed around it. 

Students poured onto the pitch, yelling. The Ravenclaws were in various states of disappointment; the Seeker, crying, was comforted by her teammates. But Harry had no time to take this in. Violetta ran to him, beaming, hair windswept. She bent down and kissed him on the mouth; he was too full of adrenaline to be surprised, and then his team lifted him into the air. They were shouting louder than those who’d been watching. Harry, grinning at their enthusiasm, couldn’t resist pumping his fists in the air.