Lucy Jones 3: Blackbird

8 Injured

The weather is awful. The wind pulls on the trees, and it feels like they are in a constant storm, with or without the rain. Today, it's Gryffindor's first quidditch game. Normally, it would be against Slytherin, but now it's against Hufflepuff. It's unusually dark, but most students still come to watch.

The match begins. Lucy tries to see what's going on. The team flies by, but with the rain, it's difficult to determine who is who. She cannot see what's going on. She doesn't know who is winning. It can go either way. Cedric sees the snitch. Harry follows him until he stops. Lucy looks, staring through the rain. He falls.

She stares at him. He is slowing down. Harry falls to the ground, and Lucy stands up. The crowd goes silent, and Lucy runs to the field. Ron and Hermione follow her. And Lucy is right by his side.

Dumbledore arrives and takes control of the situation.

Lucy is there when Harry opens his eyes in the hospital wing.

'Harry!' Fred says.

'What happened?' Harry asks.

'You fell from your Broom.' Alicia says.

'It must have been fifteen meters.' Lucy tells him.

'We thought you were dead.' Hermione admits.

'And the game? How did it end?' Harry asks: 'We lost?'

'Cedric caught the snitch, and then he saw that you had fallen down and wanted a rematch.' George explains.

'But even Wood had to admit Hufflepuff won the game fair.' Fred adds.

Madame Pomfrey walks in: 'He needs rest!'

The team wished him well and walked away. Lucy, Ron and Hermione stay a few more minutes. Lucy smiles at him, and Hermione pulls her and Ron back to the common room. Harry needs time to heal.

Harry has to stay in the hospital wing for a week. Lucy, Ron and Hermione visit him every day. Lucy could see something was bothering him. So, on the third day, when Hermione and Ron stand up to leave, she says: 'You go, I'll come in a few minutes.'

'We can wait.' Ron says, but Hermione knows what Lucy is trying to do and pulls Ron to the hallway.

Lucy turns back and looks at Harry: 'Are you ok?'

He nods: 'Yep.'

She looks at him: 'I know you recovered from your fall, but I can tell something is bothering you. You know you can tell me.'

He hesitates: 'You heard about the first class of divination?'

She nods: 'About the grim in your teacup? Is that what's bothering you.'

'I know that you do not believe in prediction about the future, and me neither, but...'

She waits, but he doesn't continue what he is saying: 'You saw one?'

'Today before I fell, but also the day I ran away from the Dursleys. I know it's strange and probably a coincidence.'

'I think I understand, but nothing will happen.' She smiles at him.

Harry is allowed back, and everything returns to normal. Lupin is back in the DADA classes and says they do not have to write the essay about werewolves. Lucy had already started. She's still happy. The only thing off is Harry at the end of the lesson. He drags her along to talk to Lupin.

'Uh, Professor. We would like to ask something about Dementors.' Harry says.

'Harry, Lucy asks.' He says and leans against his desk.

'Why do they affect us so much. Is it because ...?' Harry asks, and she thinks about it. She remembers what happened on the train and Harry falling off his broom.

'It's not because you are weak. A dementor takes you back to the most horrible moment in your life and lets you relive it. With you, Harry, it's clear when.'

'Yes, it's when Voldemort kills my parents. I heard my mother scream.' Harry says.

'That will make the strongest person faint or fall off his broom. With Lucy, it's more difficult. Do you have any idea? You don't have to tell me if you don't want to.'

'No, it's ok, but I don't know.' She admits.

'You said that in the train, you hear screams as well.' Harry says.

'Yes, more than one, and they sound like desperate screams. I have no idea.' She tells Lupin.

'Maybe you were too young to remember, but it's still in your unconscious mind. It may show back in nightmares.'

'Can you teach us how to defend ourselves?' Harry blurs out.

'I'm not really an expert in this spell. It's a very difficult one.' Lupin says.

'Can you try to explain it to us?' Lucy asks.

'What if they come back?' Harry adds.

'Ok, I'll give it a go, but remember, it's a tricky spell.