Not Alone After All

Chapter XV

The whole school slept in the Great Hall for the night, as Dumbledore, Snape and Filch searched the castle. In the end, they didn't find anything.

Laurie had to admit, she didn't want Sirius Black to be caught by Dumbledore. She wanted to talk to him, to get to know him more, before he was sent back to Azkaban. She wouldn't believe he was guilty, or innocent, before it was proven to her.

During the night, Dumbledore and Snape walked in the Great Hall, and they shared an interesting conversation about a certain Professor that might have helped Black to break in the castle, but Dumbledore made it clear that he trusted every single professor of this school completely and blindly.

Next morning was the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff match. Cedric Diggory had joined the Hufflepuff team as Seeker, so Harry would have a new opponent.

"This day is the worst for a game," Ron pointed out. He had to scream out the same words a few times until the two girls standing next to him actually got what he said.

"You don't say!" Laura yelled back at him.

To be honest, the day was the worst. It was raining, there was lightning and one could barely see beyond 20 feet in front of them.

Right in the beginning of the match, they completely lost sight of Harry. Ron explained how he was probably circling the field trying to find the snitch.

"Aren't players supposed to stay in the boundaries of the field?" Asked Hermione. Ron rolled his eyes.

"The seekers are allowed to go out," Laura told her, laughing at Ron's expression. For once, it wasn't Hermione rolling her eyes at him, but the other way around.

Laura and Ron spotted Cedric flying upwards; he must have seen the snitch. Seconds after, Harry was right behind him. Fred and George were doing a great job in keeping the Bludgers away from their team; by aiming them towards the opposite team.

Everyone was so concentrated in the Twin's game, they had completely forgotten about Harry and Cedric. The latter came down almost falling off his broom, still after the Snitch, but nothing of Harry.

In a matter of Seconds, everything seamed to go in slow motion. Harry was falling through the skies, in the left side of the Quidditch field. Cedric was heading upwards again towards the Snitch, and he was so close. Dumbledore screamed 'Aresto Momentum', and Harry's falling stopped for a small bit next to the ground, before he fell with a thud even Laurie, Ron and Hermione heard, since the crowd was completely silenced.

When Cedric caught the Snitch, he didn't yet know what had happened to Harry, and the Hufflepuffs cheered for him. Everyone else was trying to make it to Harry.

♧♧♧

Laurie awaited in the Hospital wing, along with Fred, George, Ron and Hermione. Harry's broom was completely broken in half, and they were pretty sure Harry would be sadder to hear about his broom than the fact that an actual Dementor tried to kiss him.

" He looks a bit peaky, doesn't he?" Ron asked, holding what was left of Harry's broom in his hands.

"Peaky?" Asked George, incredulous.

"What did you expect? He fell over 100 feet," added Fred.

"Yeah come on, Ron. Let's walk you off the Astronomy Tower--"

"And see what you look like," Fred finished off.

"Probably a right sight better than he normally does," Laura mumbled to herself, then realising she had said it out loud. Everyone turned towards her, and only looked back at Harry when they heard a soft chuckle coming from him.

Harry groaned and sat up.

"How are you feeling?" Asked Hermione. She sat down beside Harry on his bed.

"Oh, brilliant," Harry let out, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"You gave us a right good scare there, mate," said George, sitting down on the chair beside Harry's bed.

"What happened?" Harry asked, searching for his glasses. Laura handed them to him.

"You fell off your broom, Harry," Ron told him.

"Really? Hadn't noticed," he said, his words sharp. "I meant the match. Who won?"

Everyone around Harry's bed shifted uncomfortably and everybody shared a look, befire Laurie came forth.

"No one blames you, Harry," Laurie told him. "The Dementors aren't supposed to be on the grounds. Dumbledore is furious."

"As soon as he saved you, he sent them straight off," Hermione finished.

"But..." Harry trailed. "How exactly did we loose?"

"Cedric caught the Snitch right after you fell." Harry was about to say something but Laura cut him off again. "He hadn't seen you falling, and tried his best to rematch the game, but it's of no use." Harry sighed. Can this day get any worse? He thought. Yes. It can.

"There's something else you should know too, Harry," said Ron, stepping in closer to his best friend. "When you fell... your broom sort of blew into the Whomping Willow, and ....." he showed Harry the two broken parts of his broom. "...well."

Harry took a deep breath and let his head fall backwards into his pillow again.