Chapter 53 - Felix Felicis (1/2)
As the whole school began to talk about Neal's selection in National Team, meanwhile, Harry just woke up and found himself in a hospital bed. In front of him, Hermoine, Ron, and Twin Weasleys stood looking at him in worry.
Harry sat up suddenly and asked, ”what happened?”. Fred replied, ”you fell off. Must've been fifty feet”. Harry then asked, ”but what about the match?”. As they became silent, he sighed, ”I guess Wood gave up on it”.
George replied, ”no. Dumbledore declared them as winners. Can't do anything about it. They already had 160 lead by the time you fell off”. Harry almost screamed, ”what? How can he do this? That's unfair”.
Fred sighed, ”honestly, we don't have a chance against Slytherin if we don't catch the snitch”. Harry asked him in a fury, ”are you talking about Neal? What sort of Gryffindors will back out from a difficult challenge”. Hermoine scolded, ”just because we're Gryffindors, that doesn't mean we should be reckless, Harry”.
Harry looked down and apologized, ”I'm sorry. It's my fault. I should have caught the snitch quickly”. While Fred then consoled him, ”no, Harry, it isn't your fault”, Ron said, ”uh, Harry. You should know something. While you're falling, your broom kinda fell on Whomping Willow.
You know how it is. It doesn't like to get hit. He took out a few broken parts of Nimbus 2000 and placed it in front of Harry.
As November is going to end, the heavy rains continued and every Quidditch match is being played in such horrible weather. But it has nothing to do with Neal as the Slytherin team continuously won their matches by a little margin as Malfoy wasn't able to catch the snitch once even after recovering, disappointing the teammates and his father.
During the December first week where they played their last match against Gryffindor before finals, Slytherin lost the match as Neal's effectiveness dropped a little bit and Harry caught the snitch quickly.
Two weeks before Christmas, as everyone went to the Hogsmeade weekend trip, Neal stayed telling the rest that he has work to do. Then, he went to Snape's office and asked, ”Professor, six months are over, right?”.
Snape nodded, ”yes, the potion was brewed successfully a couple of weeks ago”. He walked to his cabinet and opened a drawer and took out a vial that has molten gold color liquid inside it.
While handing it over to him, Snape said, ”Although you did great in concocting this advanced potion in your 2nd year, I must still warn you. Only use one or two drops on every use. I don't want you to turn out reckless like Potter”.
Neal smiled while taking the vial, ”don't worry, Professor. This isn't for me. I asked for someone else”.
On the day of Quidditch finals, as everyone is waiting for Neal, he entered the dressing room and apologized, ”I'm sorry. I was late”.
Draco asked, ”what took you so long?”. Neal then took out five vials that have purple-colored liquid in it, ”everyone, drink this potion”. Flint took the vial and observed it, ”what is it?”. Draco was surprised and got excited, ”Neal, it's the same potion you gave me in the first year, right?”.
One of the beaters then said, ”I know it. It's the Wit Sharpening potion. Did Professor Snape give it to you?”. Draco scoffed, ”what are you saying? He knew how to make one. Why would he ask the Professor?”.
Neal replied, ”I was the one who made it. It's an improvised version. It will last for half a day at the very least. Actually, I don't want to depend on potions to win the match but the circumstances forced me”.