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❝ Romeo, aren't you an engaged young man? Are you cheating on her with Rose? ❞
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𝕳ARRY 𝖂OKE 𝖀P 𝕰XTREMELY early the next morning; so early that it was still dark. For a moment he thought the roaring of the wind had woken him.
Then he felt a cold breeze on the back of his neck and sat bolt upright — Peeves the Poltergeist had been floating next to him, blowing hard in his ear.
"What did you do that for?" said Harry furiously.
Peeves puffed out his cheeks, blew hard, and zoomed backwards out of the room, cackling.
Harry fumbled for his alarm clock and looked at it. It was half past four, and even Crystal, the human alarm, won't wake up this early.
Cursing Peeves, he rolled over and tried to get back to sleep, but it was very difficult now that he was fully awake. It was also getting difficult to ignore the sounds of the thunder rumbling overhead, the pounding of the wind against the castle walls, and the distant creaking of the trees in the Forbidden Forest.
In a few hours, he would be out on the Quidditch field, battling through that gale. Finally, he gave up any thought of more sleep, got up, dressed, picked up his Nimbus Two Thousand, and walked quietly out of the dormitory.
As Harry opened the door, something brushed against his leg. He bent down just in time to grab Crookshanks by the end of his bushy tail and drag him outside.
"You know, I reckon Ron was right about you," Harry told Crookshanks suspiciously. "There are plenty of mice around this place — go and chase them. Go on," he added, nudging Crookshanks down the spiral staircase with his foot. "Leave Scabbers alone."
The noise of the storm was even louder in the common room. Harry knew better than to think the match would be cancelled; Quidditch matches weren't called off for trifles like thunderstorms.
Nevertheless, he was starting to feel very apprehensive. Wood had pointed out Cedric Diggory to him in the corridor; Diggory was a fifth year and a lot bigger than Harry.
Seekers were usually light and speedy, but Diggory's weight would be an advantage in this weather because he was less likely to be blown off course-
"Crystal?" Harry was surprised to see Crystal laying on the couch with a file open on her stomach, one hand was hanging off the edge with some papers scattered below on the floor while the other held a fountain pen. The black ink was soaking into her nightdress. Harry tried to carefully take the pen from her hand and placed it on the table but the girl woke up startled.
She shot up so fast sitting straight that Harry's soul almost jumped out of his skin, it looked as though she had been possessed.
"Crys, are you all right?" Harry asked cautiously, taking a seat beside her. Crystal looked at him blankly then her eyes blinked in realization.
"Yeah," she mumbled, relaxing her body and rubbing her arms.
"Are you cold?" Harry said and pointed at the red blanket on the arm of an armchair, "I was going to put that blanket on you before you woke up,"
Crystal threw an uninterested, tired gaze at the blanket as Harry went to get it and placed it on her.
"Are you still half-asleep right now?" He asked sitting beside her again. Crystal shook her head in denial, massaging her temple.
"Did you catch any sleep? What's the last time you checked your watch," he asked again.
"'I don't know. . ." Crystal wrapped the blanket around herself and leaned back on the couch, "maybe four o'clock or something,"
"So you worked all night!" Harry exclaimed loudly. Crystal closed her eyes wincing at the loud voice.
"No. . ." Crystal opened her tired, red eyes again, "I can still get some sleep. . ."
"You mark my words. You are bound to get sick one day if you keep this up!" Harry scolded, "What good is work that's going to kill you eventually,"
"Oh, come on not again... I'm not dying, don't be so extreme. Just trust me for a few years, Harry, this is all gonna pay off one day." Crystal attempted to divert his mind before he completely goes into the nagging aunty mode, "By the way, this is not your time to be awake. What happened?"
"Peeves happened," He told her everything that happened and how anxious he was because of the weather outside. Crystal looked out at the thundering clouds and shared his sentiment. It was indeed a matter of concern.
"Well, I do wonder how you will play in this bad weather. . . The eyesight would be a hindrance or more to keep yourself from flowing away with the outrageous wind,"
"I know right," Harry shook his head and said, "Oh! You're coming to see my match today, right?"
"Yeah, maybe if I keep an eye on time," said Crystal as she stood up stretching and yawning as she covered her mouth with the back of her hand. The blanket slid on the carpet again, "I should probably get back to work,"
"Wha—? No. No! Go sleep!" Harry ordered but the girl was busy dealing with her messy hair.
"This girl... " Harry muttered in disbelief, "Hey!" he tried to get her attention, "At least look at me when I'm talking to you, my goodness. . ."
He cupped her cheeks, turning her face to look up at him directly into the eyes. Crystal was so surprised that her yawn was suppressed halfway.
"What?" She asked bewildered.
"Set an alarm for ten then come to see the match at eleven later, 'kay?"
He didn't receive a response but a 'do-you-think-im-gonna-do-that' look from her.
"Okay, fine then, I'm sending an owl to Mum stating that you aren't taking care of yourself and—"
"You can't!" Crystal instantly replied.
"Please, sweetheart, you know I can," Harry said with a small smile gracing his lips.
"Okay, I got it, jeez. . ." Crystal surrendered.
"Good girl. Go to sleep. Now." He ordered and pushed by her shoulders to the stairs of the girls' dormitory and urged, "Well? Go up,"
"All right," said Crystal, "Good luck with your match,"
"Just Good luck?"
"Well, yes? Ah— I don't think I'll have time to bake some brownies this year," She said sadly.
"No worries," Harry hesitated for a moment, "Er— instead, just hug me?"
"What? Just a hug?"
"Look who's saying 'just a hug'? Have you ever hugged anyone on your own accord?" he scoffed.
"Of course I have." Crystal mentioned the obvious, "Hermione, your parents and Ginny oh! And Mrs. Weasley too!"
"Where's I, your good ol' best friend on the list, huh?" Harry inquired challengingly raising a brow, "Then add my name on the list too."
"It's not a big deal like you're making it to be," Crystal rolled her eyes, spreading her arms, "Come on,"
"Are you for real?" Harry staggered a step back cringing at the challenging 'come-on' as though asking for a duel.
"Oh, since you don't want it now," Crystal brought her arms back to her side, "Fine, then. You know I don't insist twice,"
"I- I didn't— I mean—" Harry kept stuttering to find the right words. He didn't expect her to accept anything easily, especially this request which he threw out as a joke to tease her into guilt. "I just didn't think you would—"
Before Harry could complete his sentence Crystal wrapped her arms around his shoulders. She was standing on a step so they were the same height and it was easier for her to hug him.
It took a moment for Harry to realize but he slowly and gently wrapped his arms around her, placing his hands on her back and resting his cheek on her shoulder with a pleasant smile. Her hair smelled like the floral smell of lavender and there was a mix of earthy, rich, exotic aromas of sandalwood lingering on her body.
"Happy now?" Crystal said softly and Harry could feel her calm voice resonate inside his body. It was like therapy. He didn't know why despite hearing the raging storm outside, being with Crystal was so peaceful as though the sound shunned themselves around her cowering in her calm aura. "Go and try to enjoy the game regardless of how the weather is,"
"Mhmm," Harry hummed. He wanted to be with her more, to stay like that, just a bit more in that absolute tranquillity.
She smells so nice, it's relaxing, Harry thought—
But Crystal pulled away before he could pull her closer, move his hands up and entangle his fingers in her silky hair.
Harry was suddenly brought back into reality as soon as the warmth was gone. It felt like a tranquil haze of a dream. It was over as soon as it started.
What were you thinking? Was the first question he asked himself for the weird thoughts that crossed his mind while holding her. With a last smile, Crystal summoned the files she forgot on the table and went up the stairs. Harry stood there zoning out for a few seconds, silently gazing upstairs even after the girl was gone.
He then turned around absentmindedly, only to find Crookshanks sneaking into the boy's dorm again—
"Oh, c'mon! This cat's just more stubborn than Crys!" Harry stomped his way to the ginger cat and scared him suddenly making it jump over the railing and run over to the couch.
At long last Harry thought it must be time for breakfast, so he headed through the portrait hole alone.
"Stand and fight, you mangy cur!" yelled Sir Cadogan.
"Why not shut up," Harry yawned.
He revived a bit over a large bowl of porridge, and by the time he'd started on toast, the rest of the team had turned up.
"It's going to be a tough one," said Wood, who wasn't eating anything.
"Stop worrying, Oliver," said Alicia soothingly, "we don't mind a bit of rain."
But it was considerably more than a bit of rain. Such was the popularity of Quidditch that the whole school turned out to watch the match as usual, but they ran down the lawns toward the Quidditch field, heads bowed against the ferocious wind, umbrellas being whipped out of their hands as they went.
Just before he entered the locker room, Harry saw Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, laughing and pointing at him from under an enormous umbrella on their way to the stadium.
The day was full of unexpected turns but he didn't expect to see her coming his way. Rozelle was everyone's fantasy, not just boys but there were some girls also who were interested, she was a looker of course when her drenched red hair was ever-so-slightly messed up and stuck on her pale face contrastingly. Her white umbrella didn't do much to save her but she somehow managed to keep it from getting upturned in the windy weather until she finally reached her destination.
Harry couldn't meet his gaze after snapping at her that night. He even went through his way to avoid her but he knows that running away was never a solution.
"Hi Harry," she said with a bewitching smile.
Harry got more nervous facing her than he was for the match.
"Hello Rose," He gulped then continued, "Er, I'm sorry for snapping at you that night, uh, you know I was just anxious and wasn't thinking straight," He apologized awkwardly.
Rozelle smiled and to his surprise, wrapped her arms around him. People around them couldn't have expected this, some grumbled, some hooted in glee (obviously Fred, George and Crystal's admirers as the twin says) but Harry, the receiver of such forgiveness was unsure how to react. His arms stayed limp by his sides.
"I understand," she whispered, "I'm not mad at you. I just wanted to wish you good luck and ask for compensation," she pulled away and locked his eyes, "Would you win for me today?"
"I— Quidditch is a team sport, Rose," He finally spoke up, composing himself. "I can't do it all on my own,"
"Of course, but still, I'll keep my eyes on you," She flashed a dazzling smile and leaned in to leave a small kiss on his cheek, "See you after the match," she said with her face as red as a delicate rose in the full bloom and retraced her path to the stands in the raging pour after a short glance back at him.
Harry absentmindedly brought his hand to the spot on his cheek as he watched her figure disappear into the curtain of water. No one had ever touched their lips on his cheeks before except his mother (and maybe his father when he was younger) but this was different. He was feeling his face and ears burn in the cold weather of downpours.
Fred and George were the most curious ones to inquire about the things that happened but Harry brushed them off. He did like her, she was beautiful, hot, and had a nice sense of humour, they clicked in perfectly from the moment they met, she was perfect but... something was already occupying his mind and he didn't have the faintest idea about it himself.
Harry pushed his thoughts aside and tried to get his focus back on the match about to start.
The team changed into their scarlet robes and waited for Wood's usual pre-match pep talk, but it didn't come. He tried to speak several times, made an odd gulping noise, then shook his head hopelessly and beckoned them to follow him.
The wind was so strong that they staggered sideways as they walked out onto the field. If the crowd was cheering, they couldn't hear it over the fresh rolls of thunder. Rain was splattering over Harry's glasses. How on earth was he going to see the Snitch in this?
The Hufflepuffs were approaching from the opposite side of the field, wearing canary-yellow robes. The Captains walked up to each other and shook hands; Diggory smiled at Wood but Wood now looked as though he had lockjaw and merely nodded.
Harry saw Madam Hooch's mouth form the words, "Mount your brooms." He pulled his right foot out of the mud with a squelch and swung it over his Nimbus Two Thousand. Madam Hooch put her whistle to her lips and gave it a blast that sounded shrill and distant — they were off.
Within five minutes, Harry rose fast, but his Nimbus was swerving slightly with the wind. He held it as steady as he could and turned, squinting into the rain. He was soaked to his skin and frozen, hardly able to see his teammates, let alone the tiny Snitch. He flew backward and forward across the field past blurred red and yellow shapes, with no idea of what was happening in the rest of the game.
He couldn't hear the commentary over the wind. The crowd was hidden beneath a sea of cloaks and battered umbrellas. Twice Harry came very close to being unseated by a Bludger; his vision was so clouded by the rain on his glasses he hadn't seen them coming.
He lost track of time. It was getting harder and harder to hold his broom straight. The sky was getting darker, as though night had decided to come early.
Twice Harry nearly hit another player, without knowing whether it was a teammate or opponent; everyone was now so wet, and the rain so thick, he could hardly tell them apart. . .
With the first flash of lightning came the sound of Madam Hooch's whistle; Harry could just see the outline of Wood through the thick rain, gesturing him to the ground. The whole team splashed down into the mud.
"I called for time-out!" Wood roared at his team. "Come on, under here -"
They huddled at the edge of the field under a large umbrella; Harry took off his glasses and wiped them hurriedly on his robes.
"What's the score?"
"We're fifty points up," said Wood, "but unless we get the Snitch soon, we'll be playing into the night."
"I've got no chance with these on," Harry said exasperatedly, waving his glasses.
At that very moment, Hermione and Crystal appeared at his shoulder; Hermione was holding her cloak over her head and was, inexplicably, beaming. Crystal just casually walked in as though the rain was not at all a bother. Her robes were completely soaked, and she was drenched from head to toe.
"I knew you would come!" Harry smiled.
"Well, I promised." Crystal reciprocated his smile, pushing back the wet hair on her face. "Your glasses, it must be difficult to see with them,"
"Yes, I narrowly saved myself somehow," he sighed. "I don't know how I'll catch the snitch,"
"I've had an idea, Harry! Give me your glasses, quick!" said Hermione quickly.
He handed them to her, and as the team watched in amazement, Hermione tapped them with her wand and said, "Impervius!"
"There!" she said, handing them back to Harry. "They'll repel water!"
"See? Why fear when Hermione's here," said Crystal proudly. Hermione's cheeks decorated a blush of rose pink at the praise.
Wood looked as though he could have kissed Hermione. "Brilliant!" he called hoarsely after her as she disappeared into the crowd. "Okay, team, let's go for it!"
"Look out for the lightning. Good luck team! " said Crystal and bumped fists with all of them and then at last looked at Harry. "Please be careful,"
Harry smiled and nodded before handing her a cloak from his locker ("What's the use now. . . " she muttered squeezing her hair).
The team went out with a new burst of energy exploding within themselves.
Hermione's spell had done the trick. Harry was still numb with cold, still wetter than he'd ever been in his life, but he could see. Full of fresh determination, he urged his broom through the turbulent air, staring in every direction for the Snitch, avoiding a Bludger, ducking beneath Diggory, who was streaking in the opposite direction. . .
There was another clap of thunder, followed immediately by forked lightning. This was getting more and more dangerous. Harry needed to get the Snitch quickly-
He turned, intending to head back toward the middle of the field, but at that moment, another flash of lightning illuminated the stands, and Harry saw something that distracted him completely — the silhouette of an enormous shaggy black dog, clearly imprinted against the sky, motionless in the topmost, empty row of seats.
Harry's numb hands slipped on the broom handle and his Nimbus dropped a few feet. Shaking his sodden bangs out of his eyes, he squinted back into the stands. The dog had vanished.
"Harry!" came Wood's anguished yell from the Gryffindor goalposts.
"Harry, behind you!"
Harry looked wildly around. Cedric Diggory was pelting up the field, and a tiny speck of gold was shimmering in the rain-filled air between them - With a jolt of panic, Harry threw himself flat to the broom-handle and zoomed toward the Snitch.
"Come on!" he growled at his Nimbus as the rain whipped his face. "Faster!"
But something odd was happening. An eerie silence was falling across the stadium. The wind, though as strong as ever, was forgetting to roar. It was as though someone had turned off the sound, as though Harry had gone suddenly deaf — what was going on?
And then a horribly familiar wave of cold swept over him, inside him, just as he became aware of something moving on the field below. . .
Before he'd had time to think, Harry had taken his eyes off the Snitch and looked down.
At least a hundred dementors, their hidden faces pointing up at him, were standing beneath him. It was as though freezing water were rising in his chest, cutting at his insides. And then he heard it again. . . Someone. . . no some people were screaming, screaming inside his head. . . women. . .he knew the voice of one of them.
"You are not touching the children until I'm alive,"
"Stand aside, you silly disappointment! You could have enjoyed the privileges had you chosen to join me—"
"My greatest privilege? As if!"
"Then, I shall grant you the death here today, Lady Calisto—"
"Oh, we'll see that shortly. Excuse me for a minute — James! Lily! Leave! Take my daughter with you too. Let me show our uninvited guest some hospitality—"
"Please, Avi! It's not the time to sass him- he'll kill you!"
"TAKE HER AND LEAVE! JUST GO!"
Numbing, swirling white mist was filling Harry's brain. . . What was he doing? Why was he flying? He needed to help them. . . His parents are fighting him. . . It was his parents and Crystal's. . . Her mother is going to die. . . She is fighting him. . . She was going to be murdered. . . He needs to save her. . . Save her for Crystal. . .
He was falling, falling through the icy mist. A light of green flashed through his mind, the woman was screaming and there was a loud thud.
"No! No! Please not the k-kids! Please. . . have mercy. . . have mer—"
A shrill voice was laughing, his mum was crying miserably, a thud was heard, everything suddenly went silent and Harry knew no more.
"Lucky the ground was so soft."
"I thought he was dead for sure."
"But he didn't even break his glasses."
Harry could hear the voices whispering, but they made no sense whatsoever. He didn't have a clue where he was, how he'd got there, or what he'd been doing before he got there.
All he knew was that every inch of him was aching as though he had been beaten. All he could remember was Aunt Aviana was killed to save Crystal and his family. Her last words and his mother's cries echoed in his ears. His throat was closing as the feeling of a sorrowful heaviness settled in his heart.
"That was the scariest thing I've ever seen in my life."
Scariest. . . the scariest thing. . . hooded black figures. . . cold. . . screaming. . .
Harry's eyes snapped open. He was lying in the hospital wing. The Gryffindor Quidditch team, spattered with mud from head to foot, was gathered around his bed. Ron and Hermione were also there, looking as though they'd just climbed out of a swimming pool.
He barely sat up but before he could completely take in his surroundings, a blur of red covered his eyes. It was Rozelle who hugged him while sobbing into his neck.
"Thank heavens, Harry! I was so worried!" Rozelle sobbed. Hermione was totally apathetic to her, the girl had been sniffling nonstop for hours. Harry got surprised and pulled away then his eyes captured everything around him.
"I'm still alive, Rozelle." He groaned clutching his head.
"Harry!" said Fred, who looked extremely white underneath the mud. "How're you feeling?"
"What happened?" he asked.
It was as though Harry's memory was on fast forward. The lightning — the Grim — the Snitch — and the dementors. . . He shuddered, very scared. . .
"You fell off," said Fred. "Must've been — what — fifty feet?"
"We thought you'd died," said Alicia, who was shaking.
Hermione made a small, squeaky noise. Her eyes were extremely bloodshot. Rozelle let out a muffled sob again, Zachary patted her back as she leaned on him.
"Crystal was the first one to feel the dementors. She ran to the ground in that heavy rain then saw you fall. Just before you hit the ground, she stopped you but a dementor was after her. She tried to make that silver thing again like Lupin did on the train but I don't think it did much because the dementors almost got her. Finally, Dumbledore shooed them away," Ron explained.
Harry was startled when he heard that the dementors almost got her. He looked around but there was no sign of her anywhere.
"Is she okay? Where is she now?"
"She recovered. Professor Dumbledore woke her up and took her with him." Hermione's voice was shaking.
"Crystal is fine, Harry," Zachary assured, "For all we know, she might be busy creating a cause that would create mayhem at the Ministry tomorrow as we speak,"
Please, Merlin. Can she get some rest? Harry sighed then remembered, "But the match, what happened? Are we doing a replay?"
No one said anything. The horrible truth sank into Harry like a stone.
"We didn't — lose?"
"Diggory got the Snitch," said George. "Just after you fell. He didn't realize what had happened. When he looked back and saw you on the ground, he tried to call it off. Wanted a rematch. But they won fair and square. . . even Wood admits it."
"Where is Wood?" said Harry, suddenly realizing he wasn't there.
"Still in the showers," said Fred. "We think he's trying to drown himself."
Harry put his face to his knees, his hands gripping his hair. Fred grabbed his shoulder and shook it roughly.
"C'mon, Harry, you've never missed the Snitch before."
"There had to be one time you didn't get it," said George.
"It's not over yet," said Fred. "We lost by a hundred points, right? So if Hufflepuff loses to Ravenclaw and we beat Ravenclaw and Slytherin. . ."
"Hufflepuff'll have to lose by at least two hundred points," said George.
"But if they beat Ravenclaw. . ."
"No way, Ravenclaw is too good. But if Slytherin loses against Hufflepuff. . ."
"It all depends on the points — a margin of a hundred either way—"
Harry lay there, not saying a word. They had lost. . .for the first time ever, he had lost a Quidditch match.
After ten minutes or so, Madam Pomfrey came over to tell the team to leave him in peace.
"We'll come and see you later," Fred told him. "Don't beat yourself up, Harry, you're still the best Seeker we've ever had."
The team trooped out, trailing mud behind them. Madam Pomfrey shut the door behind them, looking disapproving. Ron, Hermione and Zachary plus Rozelle moved nearer to Harry's bed.
"Dumbledore was really angry," Hermione said in a quaking voice. "I've never seen him like that before. He ran onto the field as you fell, but when they attacked Crystal, he was furious. Then he whirled his wand at the dementors. Shot silver stuff at them. They left the stadium right away. . . He was furious they'd come onto the grounds. We heard him -"
"Then he magicked you and Crystal onto a stretcher," said Ron. "And walked up to school with you floating on it. Everyone thought you were. . . "
His voice faded, but Harry hardly noticed. He was thinking about what the dementors had done to him. . . about the screaming voices of his mother. Crystal's mother was being . . . murdered. It ran a chill down his spine giving him goosebumps on his neck.
Zachary placed a hand on his shoulder to snap him out. Harry looked up and saw Ron and Hermione looking at him so anxiously that he quickly cast around for something matter-of-fact to say.
"Did someone get my Nimbus?"
Ron and Hermione looked quickly at each other.
"Er —"
"What?" said Harry, looking from one to the other.
"Where's Crysie when you need her. . ." Ron muttered under his breath, messing with his already messy wet hair soaked from the rain.
"Well. . . when you fell off, it got blown away," said Hermione hesitantly.
"And?"
"And it hit — it hit — oh, Harry — it hit the Whomping Willow."
Harry's insides lurched. The Whomping Willow was a very violent tree that stood alone in the middle of the grounds.
"And?" he said, dreading the answer.
"Well, you know the Whomping Willow," said Ron. "It — it doesn't like being hit."
"Professor Flitwick brought it back just before you came around," said Hermione in a very small voice.
Slowly, she reached down for a bag at her feet, turned it upside down, and tipped a dozen bits of splintered wood and twig onto the bed, the only remains of Harry's faithful, finally beaten broomstick.
"It's okay, Harry, you can get a new one," Rozelle tried to comfort him, "We're glad that you are okay, that's all that matters—"
"Take rest," Zachary said cutting Rozelle, even though he knew Harry for just a few months, or maybe because of their boys' code, he understood the importance of the asset.
Harry sighed and laid down when Madam Pomfrey cleared the bed and told Hermione, Ron, Zachary and Rozelle to leave and they left reluctantly.
"I'm glad he's fine," Rose said with a smile. Zachary had an amused grin as he followed her. Hermione and Ron were walking side by side in silence when they heard the sound of someone running and Crystal appeared at the foot of the stairs.
"Is he awake?" She managed to speak through her heavy breaths.
"Crysie!" Rose beamed at her and rushed down the stairs, "Harry woke up. Are you going to see him? Ah, but I don't think Madam Pomfrey would allow that. . . "
Crystal threw a glance at Zachary and he casually gestured for her to go in by a slight jerk of his head towards the door.
"Are you all right, Crysie?" Hermione and Ron asked at the same time.
"I'm fine, really." She assured. "I should be going,"
"Take care," Hermione said patting her back in concern, "You don't look so fine,"
Crystal nodded and ascended the rest of the stairs to the door. She opened it and walked in. Her eyes immediately fell on Harry's bed who was sleeping. She didn't want to bother him, she just want to see he was fine with her own eyes but before she could make her way to him, Madam Pomfrey called her to the office in the side.
"Hello again, Madam Pomfrey," She greeted with a convincingly bright smile, "I just wanted to see if Harry is okay. I won't bother him and quietly leave without making a sound,"
"No need to leave Miss Calisto. I'm not to be fooled by such an act. Your face says it all," Madam Pomfrey said firmly, "I let you leave because of Headmaster but now that you're back, just take a bed and medicine and go to sleep,"
"I promise, after I see him I'll do as you wish," Crystal said and left her office when Madam Pomfrey nodded her head.
Crystal took a second to scan the injuries on Harry and was glad there were none. The girl had strangely felt the dementors near them before anyone else. Just as she was running across the field to reach Dumbledore in the teacher's stand, she saw hundreds of them and Harry was falling and raised her wand to him as a reflex.
And that's it, she had enough of those murky creatures. Crystal had so much unpleasantness resurfacing which she had buried in a deep and unknown corner of her brain long back and sworn to herself to forget about it.
With a touch so gentle as a feather, she brushed his messy hair across his forehead to reveal lightning mark. But she did not expect him to be awake. He suddenly leapt into her arms as though waiting for her. Crystal barely managed to catch him taken back by surprise.
"Woah there, calm down," said Crystal, resting her cheek on his head as wrapped her arms around his neck and patted his back. "Were you awake this whole?"
"I was looking for you. . ." said Harry mumbled into her shoulder, tightening his arm around her torso. "I wanted to tell you something. . .but I'm scared. . ."
"Harry. . . The dementors. . . Did you hear something again?" Crystal asked cautiously and felt Harry nod his head.
"This time. . . it was very clear, I- I heard your mother in her last moment then I saw the g-green light," He croaked, "My mum's desperate pleads to save us,"
Crystal didn't say anything but hugged him tightly, and gently patted the back of his head as he buried his face in her shoulder. She couldn't imagine the fear of witnessing someone's last moment before life is snatched from a person alive moments ago.
"I don't know what to say to comfort you. I'm not good at it but don't think about it, Harry." She said as she pulled away, Harry had a frown on his face. "Just don't let it take your mind. Forget about it."
"I can't, I just can't—"
"Yes, you can. All you have to do is take your time and lock it away from you," She said placing her hands on his shoulders.
Harry nodded. Crystal dragged a chair to sit beside his bed then her eyes fell on the bag at the foot of the bed.
"What's that?" She asked. Harry leaned over the edge and fell back into his pillow again with a heavy sigh.
"My Nimbus two thousand, it was a gift from mum and dad. . . "
"Oh, I'm so sorry about that, Harry. Can we fix it? Let me see—"
"Leave it, we can't," said Harry, raking his fingers through his messy hair as he laid back on his side facing Crystal, "how are you feeling?"
Crystal took a seat on the chair and propped her arms on his bed, leaning on it.
"I'm fine,"
"Liar,"
"What the—? I said I'm okay,"
"Big liar, you look so pale as though you'll pass out again,"
"I am cold— "
"You can try and deceive others but not me," Harry propped his body on his elbow leaning his head. He reached out and took a strand of her wavy hair which was straight due to being damp and fixed his gaze on her eyes and said, "Tell me how you are actually feeling. Be honest."
Crystal let out a breath of dry laugh before answering him, "Still a little nauseous and a bit dizzy,"
"Then why were you with Dumbledore? You should rest," He inquired.
"Oh, I had to send a gentle warning to the Ministry to control their pets, those awful creatures," Crystal just brushed it lightly.
"Was it so necessary to do it right at the moment when you're not feeling good?" Harry crossed.
"Of course, it was! They almost killed you! I panicked for a moment when I saw you falling from that high up!"
"You were so worried for me, Crys?" Harry asked softly looking at her seemingly pouting lips.
"Why would I be not? You're my best friend," Crystal mumbled.
Harry chuckled as he twirled her hair wrapping it around his finger.
"What are you doing?" Crystal pushed his hand away and tucked her hair behind her ear.
"Your hair's still wet," He said and his gaze slowly travelled down, "so are your clothes,"
"I'll take a shower when I go back,"
"I'm just curious. How many times in a day do you take a shower?"
"Why does matter to you how many times a day I take showers?" Crystal narrowed her eyes at him.
"Well, you just smell nice and fresh all day,"
"My God. . . Are you smelling me by any chance?" Crystal's eyes widen in surprise as she crossed her arms around her chest in defence.
"Hey! Don't think of anything weird! Whatever products you use, it just smells so nice to not notice," Harry explained frantically and Crystal snorted.
"I know, I was just kidding. You don't have to explain as if I'm thinking of you as a creep—-"
"Oh, please sweetie, I know you totally did think of me as a creep, now my question?"
"Twice or sometimes thrice a day? I sometimes even go for a swim in the black lake, not often though—" Crystal shrugged then her voice took an excited turn, "Did I ever tell you, I was junior swimming champion when I was in the Muggle school, I won consecutive gold medals in three junior championships,"
"What? You're a swimmer?! And gold medals?!" Harry abruptly sat up in shock. It was the first time Crystal was talking about herself on her own accord. "Why do you like swimming?"
"I just like being inside the water. It helps me think when my mind is muddled. It helps me stay calm. It's so healing and relaxing that I just want to stay inside the water forever," Crystal said remembering that feeling.
"Well, sorry to break it to you, my princess, but you'll be drowned if you do that. You're not a mermaid," Harry laughed.
"I know right? That actually sucks," Crystal sighed and both of them burst into laughter at the silly talk.
"Crys, tell me more! how was your school? Was it fun? Any exciting story?" He asked excitedly.
Harry was sure Crystal would have been popular at her school. She had nice grades, was fairly athletic, and beautiful. Though, he was not sure about friends as Crystal is the worst case of introverts so he didn't think to ask. In reality, yes, she was popular but those things just brought her annoying bullies.
"It was nothing special," Crystal brushed it off, "I'd rather hear about your experience in Muggle school. I heard an interesting story from Uncle James about your promised wife in the school—"
Harry choked on his spit. He didn't expect his father and her to be so close to telling stories behind his back.
"What— promised wife? There's no such thing!" Harry asked extremely baffled, "What has Dad been telling you behind my back?"
"There's none?" Crystal said innocently, "But I heard you and a girl promised to marry each other when you grow up. She used to call you Romeo," She laughed. James had told her about a dark past of Harry to get back at him whenever he teased her but she had an urge to mess with him a bit.
"Come on! That Juliet was crazy, obsessive bitc—"
"Aha! So Juliet, she is!"
"Shut up! Someone told me they're not interested in my love life?"
"But when it comes down to you, Romeo—"
"I'm not Romeo!"
"Romeo, aren't you an engaged young man?" she gasped dramatically. "Are you cheating on her with Rose?"
"I'm not!"
"You're not what? Not cheating or not engaged?"
"Both!"
"The answer can never be both—does your wife knows? My, what a poor young lady-"
"Oi! Stop it! I won't hear you!" Harry was beyond embarrassed and covered his ears to pretend he won't be listening to her.
"Miss Calisto! Enough noise for now! Get to the bed please!" Madam Pomfrey's voice came from her office.
"Yes, Madam Pomfrey!" Crystal shouted back and giggled looking at Harry's sulking face while the boy was grateful to his saviour. He didn't know Crystal to be so relentlessly after him. Though, it did take his mind from the horrible voices of the murderous night earlier. His mind was occupied with thinking about tricks to get back at her.
If only I can get any embarrassing story of her school days. . . He thought grudgingly.
Crystal felt satisfied with his reactions after tolerating his teasing and she wasn't going to let go of it anytime soon before she had most fun out of it.
The next day, Madam Pomfrey let Crystal go but insisted on keeping Harry in the hospital wing for the rest of the weekend. He didn't argue or complain, but he wouldn't let her throw away the shattered remnants of his Nimbus Two Thousand.
Harry's parents, James and Lily visited him for a few hours and they took the debris of Nimbus away from his side. They promised to get him a new broom again on Christmas.
He had a stream of visitors, all intent on cheering him up. Hagrid sent him a bunch of earwiggy flowers that looked like yellow cabbages, and Ginny Weasley, blushing furiously, turned up with a get-well card she had made herself, which sang shrilly unless Harry kept it shut under his bowl of fruit.
The Gryffindor team visited again on Sunday morning, this time accompanied by Wood, who told Harry (in a hollow, dead sort of voice) that he didn't blame him in the slightest.
Crystal, Ron and Hermione left Harry's bedside only at night. He also liked it when Rozelle used to come and crack jokes about her previous school and Hogwarts and tell him all sorts of crazy fun stories before she got here. She would also flirt very confidently, which Harry thought was a cute attempt but it'd take a lot to make him blush.
Zachary would also visit him and complain about Crystal in many new ways. Harry would laugh imagining the day Crystal knew about it, she'd cut his pay in half.
That aside, he hadn't told anyone about the Grim except Crystal, not even Ron and Hermione, because he knew Ron would panic and Hermione would scoff. The fact remained, however, that it had now appeared thrice.
Harry now had trouble sleeping. He heard their words, the last moments of the unfortunate event. He heard them over and over again during the night hours in the hospital wing while he lay awake, staring at the strips of moonlight on the ceiling.
He wished Crystal could be with him because all the bad thoughts vanish with just her mere presence, but he doubted it'd work. She was after all the daughter of the woman murdered in his dream.
Harry didn't notice but he started acting awkwardly around Crystal the more he was overthinking. He started to have a guilty conscience of regret for reciting what he heard line by line because, by the end of it, Crystal looked so broken.
She tried to act normal with a smile that reassured him that it was going to be normal eventually but he was dreading that it was not the case. Crystal insisted that if he shared it maybe it'd weigh on his mind less but now it might be weighing on her mind too.
What if one day we slowly start drifting apart from each other... Another worrisome thought crossed his mind, or would it be called an intuition for the future...?
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