Harry Potter and the Wandless Magic

Chapter Eighteen: A Stormy Defeat

Harry clenched and relaxed his fist several times as he and the rest of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team waited for the time to enter the Quidditch Pitch. It was raining sheets, and the wind was so strong that it was causing the students who were dashing to the stands to stagger sideways. Harry couldn't help but wonder if he might fall off his broom again.

As the rain splattered all over his glasses, Harry thought, How am I supposed to see?

The Quaffle was released, and the rush of the game began. Gusts of wind blew every flyer every which way, making everyone look as uncoordinated as a Muggle on a broom.

Harry tried to keep track of time, but it was next to impossible since he couldn't see anyone clearly. He nearly got taken out by a Bludger, and after the second near miss with another flyer, Harry resigned himself to flying further up. He still couldn't see, but at least he might be a little safer.

Finally, Wood called a timeout, and the team rushed to the safety of a giant conjured umbrella. As he dried off his glasses, Wood told him what the score was. The Gryffindors were up by 50 points, but unless they wanted to play into the night, Harry would have to catch the Snitch.

"I can't see," Harry told them, pointing at his glasses. "No way am I catching the Snitch."

Hermione hurried out of the rain and snatched Harry's glasses off his face.

"Hey!"

"I've got an idea, Harry. Trust me." She pointed her wand at his glasses. "Impervious."

As she placed the glasses back on his head, he found that nothing had changed. They still looked the same to him.

"They'll repel water now," she explained.

Harry stared at her for a moment before kissing her hard. When they broke apart, he said, "Thanks, Mione. You're the best girlfriend in the world."

Hermione blushed. "Just get the Snitch quickly. It feels like it's getting colder and I want to be near a fire."

Taking back to the skies, Harry was able to see perfectly. Dodging a Bludger and the Hufflepuff Seeker, Cedric Diggory, Harry scanned the skies for the Snitch. After a few long minutes of nothing, Harry climbed higher in an attempt to see the field better. Seconds stretched into minutes without any sign of the golden orb.

He glanced back behind him as lightning flashed like a sizzling hand reaching out. It illuminated the entire field, and Harry caught sight of a familiar shaggy dog standing at the edge of the Quidditch Pitch.

Why is Sirius Black here? Harry thought with a spike of irritation. Doesn't he know that he could get caught?

Shrugging it off, Harry turned back to the rest of the field, peering into the stormy night for any sight of the Snitch. Suddenly he caught sight of the Snitch at the same time as Diggory. Harry urged his Nimbus to go faster, his arm outstretched to snatch it as soon as possible. He was so focused on the Snitch that it took him a few seconds to realize that the roar of the thunder sounded muffled and the all-too-familiar cold swept over him, reaching for his soul with its icy touch.

Dementors, he thought as he caught sight of a hundred of them floating just below him.

The woman's voice from the train screamed in his head as he felt himself tumble from his broom. As the cold air whipped around him, the voice became clearer.

"Not Harry, not Harry, please not Harry!"

"Stand aside, you silly girl . . . stand aside, now . . ."

Harry realized with a start that that voice was unmistakable. It was Voldemort.

"Not Harry, please no, take me, kill me instead—"