ᴀ ᴅ ʀ ɪ ᴇ ɴ ɴ ᴇ [1]

19. obsidian

chapter nineteen

OBSIDIAN

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HARRY AND I LEAVE THE LOCKER ROOM some time after the rest of the team, happiness still pumping through my veins. We head towards the broomshed to stow our Nimbus Two Thousands, the superiority of which I'm really starting to appreciate. They're amazing, really, what with the speed and the balance and the way they maneuver so well. . .

I breathe in deeply, smiling, thanking every different god I know for creating the wooden broom in my hand. I can't remember ever feeling happier than now; walking next to my twin, feeling the setting sun on my face, an awesome feeling of achievement hanging over me. I've really found something to be proud of now - no one can say I'm solely a famous name anymore.

I breathe in again, the evening air never tasting as sweet. I walk over the damp grass, blissfully reliving the last hour in my head, a happy blur: Gryffindors running to lift me and my twin onto their shoulders, the stars of their match; Ron and Hermione cheering in the distance, Ron smiling through a heavy nosebleed, Dumbledore quietly congratulating Harry and I.

We reach the shed, and I lean against the door, gazing up at Hogwarts, its windows glowing red and gold in the blazing, slowly sinking sun. I sigh. Gryffindor is in the lead. I shift my gaze to look at Harry, who's leaning next to me, and find him plainly watching the sun, glasses glinting. He sees me looking, and turns to face me, grinning. I smile, knowing he's thinking along the same lines of victory as me.

"We did it," he breathes, a euphoric smile pulling at his lips.

"Thrashed Hufflepuff. . ."

"Caught the Snitch. . ."

"Embarrassed Diggory. . ."

"Shown Snape just who- speaking of Snape," says Harry, cutting off mid sentence, pointing back up to the castle.

I follow his finger to see a hooded figure hurry swiftly down the front steps of the castle, clearly not wanting to be seen. I watch in silence as it walks as fast as possible across the sweeping lawns, towards the Forbidden Forest, my victory fading from my mind. I recognize the figure's prowling walk, a half limp only lengthening my train of thought.

"Snape," whispers Harry, reading my mind.

I nod.

"What is he doing, sneaking off into the Forest while everyone's at dinner?" I whisper back.

"Dunno," shrugs Harry, not taking his eyes off Snape.

"C'mon," I hiss, grabbing my broomstick and mounting. "Let's go find out."

"What? Ada, what the hell are you doing?" Harry hisses as I kick off. "Ada - wait! You can't just - what if - oh, whatever."

Harry grabs his broomstick, mounts, and kicks off, following me towards the treeline. Gliding silently over the castle, we see Snape enter the Forest at a run, and urge our brooms forwards. We shoot over the top of the trees, circling lower and lower, my feet brushing the canopy, but can't see anything - the leaves are too thick. I look at Harry, prepared to give up, but then I hear voices.

I glide in their general direction and drop noiselessly into a towering beech. A second later, Harry drops down next to me, a little less graceful. He grabs onto me to stop himself from falling, and I wrap my arms around the nearest branch so that he doesn't drag me down. Harry stops windmilling his other arm, finding his balance, and lets go of me.