Redamancy (d.m)

Chapter thirteen- snowball fights

The holidays ended, which meant that Harry and I started our patronus lessons with Lupin, our first one going fairly smoothly, both of us managing to conjure a thin wisp of silver. Slytherin had narrowly won against Ravenclaw, which was good news, as it meant Gryffindor had a chance to win the cup if we beat Ravenclaw. This information resulted in an overload of quidditch practice, on top of patronus lessons and homework, leaving me completely exhausted at the end of each day. The tension between Ron and Hermione due to her pet eating his also contributed to my constant headache, leading to a rather heated scolding I delivered to Ron and Harry for their immature grudge against Hermione's cat being a cat. Harry had apologised, though Ron had just huffed and walked away.

On the day of the Ravenclaw vs Gryffindor match, I had a strong urge to stay in bed, though the weather was considerably nicer than my first. My stomach felt heavy and knotted, though I hadn't eaten anything yet, walking next to Harry with our matching brooms in hand, surrounded by our entire team. A burst of excitement occurred at the sight of the seeker and new chaser, both with the fastest brooms on the market.

"Sure you can manage that broom, Potter, Lestrange"
Draco Malfoy had arrived for a closer look, Crabbe and Goyle right behind him.
"Yeah, reckon so, comsiderimg I've done it before" I said casually.
"Got plenty of special features, hasn't it?" said Malfoy, eyes glittering maliciously. "Shame it doesn't come with a parachute — in case either of you get too near a Dementor."

Crabbe and Goyle sniggered, and my lips slightly parted, though I should've been used to Malfoy's bipolar tendencies, it still came as a surprise how quickly his behaviour changed

"Pity you can't attach an extra arm to yours, Malfoy," said Harry. "Then it could catch the Snitch for you."

I laughed and nodded in agreement, pulling him into a sideways hug as we walked to the gryffindor table, leaving Malfoy glaring at us with narrowed eyes

The game started off fairly well, though I was slightly frustrated at Harry's gentlemanly manners towards the seeker, Cho Chang

"Harry, stop being a wuss and treat Chang like any other player!" I yelled as I zoomed toward him on my broom
"But she's a girl" he argued
"I don't care if she's a fucking fairy, if we lose because you're tiptoeing your way around her, I will mail your broom right back for a refund!" I threatened, flying away to rejoin the game.

Of course I'd never actually take back the broom I'd gifted him, but he didn't need to know that, especially since he had started to play more aggressively, and we were winning.

I heard Cho's voice scream in a pitch high enough to be Pansy's, and turned to see her pointing at three dementors on the quidditch field. I wave of dread filled my lungs, but that was it...I didn't feel the usual cold emptiness, or the voice of Noah calling out to me. In my confusion, Harry had pulled out his wand and a silver stag erupted from the tip, galloping at the dementors as a loud cheer erupted from the gryffindor stands

Harry had caught the snitch.

As soon as my feet touched the ground, I threw my broom aside and engulfed Harry in a hug, which he quickly returned, wrapping his arms around my stomach and lifting me up, surrounded by an ecstatic bundle of Gryffindors.

"Harry, its a stag!" I bellowed, still holding onto his arms
"What?"
"Your patronus, it's a stag, and a bloody impressive one, at that!"
"I didn't even feel it, the dementors didn't affect me"

But our conversation was interrupted by Professor Lupin,
"That would be because they — er — weren't Dementors," said Professor Lupin. "Come and see —"
He led Harry and me out of the crowd until they were able to see the edge of the field.
"You gave Mr. Malfoy quite a fright,"  he observed

I clenched my jaw as I stared at the crumpled heap of black robes and the ashamed faces of Crabbe, Goyle, and Malfoy. The only person who was more furious than myself, was Professor McGonagall

"An unworthy trick!" she was shouting. "A low and cowardly attempt to sabotage the Gryffindor Players! Detention for all of you, and fifty points from Slytherin! I shall be speaking to Professor Dumbledore about this, make no mistake! Ah, here he comes now!"

We hadn't won the quidditch cup (yet), but it felt like we had, the energetic laughter of the gryffindor common room party enough to distract me from Malfoy. With the Weasley twins returning with a wide ranging supply of food and butter beer, I sang and danced and drank butter beer until I was hiccuping, and had to be carried back to my dorm by Harry, falling into a deep sleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. Unfortunately, I was awoken by a distraught Ron, making me seriously reconsider my friendship choices.

"IT WASN'T A NIGHTMARE!" Ron yelled. "PROFESSOR, I WOKE UP, AND SIRIUS BLACK WAS STANDING OVER ME, HOLDING A KNIFE!"

The lesson the entire gryffindor house learned that night, was one, sir Cadogan was a horrid guard for the portrait hole, and two, Neville cannot be trusted with passwords because he will accidentally let a mass murderer into the place where the boy he wants to kill is sleeping.

"Where is he?" I muttered to Ron, waiting outside of Honeydukes for Harry "he's late, you don't think he's gotten himself caught, do you?"

But just as those words left my mouth, an invisible hand was placed on my shoulder and I turned around in relief as Harry said

"Almost did, reckon Snape's onto me now"

I walked up the street with Ron and, unbeknownst to the public, Harry, as we entered Zonko's and explored the amusing display of products. As we left, our hands full and coin bags light, Ron left with Harry to go to the post office, and made a plan to meet me at the shrieking shack. I trudged through the thick snow, through the tall trees that parted to reveal the run down abandoned house.

"What are you doing here?" A voice filled with disdain called out behind me
"Waiting for my friends, not that you would know anything about that, Malfoy" I spat
"Don't talk to me like that, Lestrange"
"I'll talk to you however I like"
"No one talks to me like that and gets away with it"
"First time for everything"
"What's your problem?"

I scoffed, furious at the apparent delusion of this boy

"My problem? Have you met yourself? You are the most confusing person I have ever met, Malfoy. You can never give me a straight answer, I can't ever figure what you're thinking or feeling, you can't just kiss me one day then decide to insult me the next"

He smirked, stepping closer to me before being interrupted by Ron, Hermione, and Harry, under the invisibility cloak

"Oi! Get away from her, Malfoy"
"Suppose you'd love to live here, wouldn't you Weasley? Dreaming of having your own bedroom? I heard your family all sleep in one room, is that true?"

I whipped out my wand, but Harry went for the more practical approach

SPLAT

I grinned widely at the sight of Malfoy covered in snow and turned to the invisible snowball-throwing form that was Harry. I joined it with the terrorising, hastily forming the soft snow at my feet into lumps and pelting them at Malfoy. My joy quickly vanished, however, as Harry's cloak slipped and Malfoy caught a glimpse of his messy black hair that sat above his red face.

"RUN HARRY YOUVE GOT TO MAKE IT BACK BEFORE MALFOY DOES"

God I hope he's as good at running as he is at quidditch.