Chapter 63: The Match (1/2)

January faded imperceptibly into February, with no change in the bitterly cold weather.

They had their next match with Slytherins. Wood was very tensed as Harry didn't have his Firebolt. Harry was going to Professor McGonagall every day to know about the Firebolt. One day as their classes were crossing, Chris heard, Professor McGonagall, snapping at Harry because of the broom.

A few days later, one Thursday evening, Chris was talking with Ginny and Hermione, who had finally decided to take a break from her studies.

”You're looking horrible Hermione. You didn't sleep for days, did you?” Ginny asked.

”Yeah. I was trying to but I've got no time. I should get back to work. I still have some essays to complete.” Hermione answered anxiously.

”Relax Hermione. If you have worn yourself out, like this, then trust me, you'll be in the hospital wing in a few days.” Chris said checking her books.

”I'm honestly feeling scared, I mean we also have to choose our subjects this year. If you're in this condition then what chance I've to survive? I'll definitely go mad.” Ginny said with a worried look.

”No. No, Ginny, you'll be fine. Actually, it's my fault, I mean I don't regret it — It's just I took all the subjects.” Hermione said.

”All? How is this possible? Don't you attend all of your classes?” Ginny asked surprised.

”You've all the notes from different classes. How are you doing this Hermione?” Chris asked looking at her notes.

”Umm — I've managed it with Professor McGonagall,” Hermione answered quickly.

”You're talking like you've time machine or something?” Chris said raising her an eyebrow, Hermione froze like she was caught. Chris saw this and smirked, ”I was just kidding but looks like I guessed right.”

”No. Of course not.” Hermione said looking away.

”What is a time machine?” Ginny asked confused.

”Shhh —” Hermione looked around. ”We're in the common room.”

”So I'm right,” Chris said grinning. ”I knew this kind of thing existed in this magical world.”

Hermione looked at Chris to Ginny and sighed then whispered, ”Don't tell anyone. Please. Professor McGonagall made me swore not to tell anyone.”

”But you didn't, I just guessed.”

”Fine. Listen, Professor McGonagall gave me a Time-Turner, at the start of the term. So I can attend all my classes. She wrote lots of letter to Ministry for me, she said that I'm a model student and I'll never use it other than for my classes.” She said and looked around again. They were at a corner of the common room. Everyone was busy among them and most importantly they were almost hidden behind the mountain of Hermione's books. She took out a chain from her robes, a sparkling hour-glass hanging from it. Ginny and Chris watched it closely. Then Hermione hid it again in her robes, giggling.

”I was so excited to get it, I can't explain. Ron was so confused, It was really funny to watch him like that. I wanted very badly to tell someone about this, but couldn't. Please don't tell anyone, not even Colin or Luna. Please.” Hermione said breathlessly.

Chris and Ginny seriously nodded.

”You know, you can sleep a bit more with the help of that,” Chris said.

”Right. But I can't do it, you know, if anyone of my roommates sees me —” Hermione said sadly. ”And there is no one to wake me up.”

”Guess, I should have given you an alarm clock as a Christmas gift.” Chris laughed. ”In any case, you can sleep in our room. Our roommates never pay attention to.”

”True.” Ginny agreed.

”Really? Thanks.” Hermione looked a lot relieved.

”Well it's really cool, now you can tell us about every subject,” Ginny said.

Hermione smiled and started explaining different subjects; her favourite subject was Arithmancy, her least favourite was divination. Other than that she told them about Ancient Runes, Magical Creatures, Muggle studies and so on.

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After discussing these with Hermione, Chris and Ginny had a vague idea, which subjects they wanted to take. Ginny was very happy with this, cause she never liked her brothers advice, her elder brother Bill didn't remember much about his school subjects, Charlie only recommend Care of Magical Creatures, Percy gave a big lecture or advice before the start of the term, Fred and George just joked and Ginny didn't ask Ron.

Chris was confused as well, as everything was so new to her.

Hermione's mood lifted after talking to Chris and Ginny, she felt fresh and again went to study. Professor McGonagall entered through the portrait hole. Chris noticed she was clutching a Firebolt in her hand. She looked around and Percy went running towards her.

”Anything I can help with Professor?” He said puffing his chest a bit.

”Yes. Is Potter here?” Professor McGonagall asked.

”Harry's Firebolt,” Hermione whispered as she looked at Professor McGonagall.

Ron excitedly went towards them and said something little quietly to Professor McGonagall and she nodded then left. A few seconds later Ron also went out, looking extremely happy.

Chris remembered Harry had his Patronus class with Professor Lupin.

Hermione was looking happy too, she looked at Chris and said, ”I'm glad it's not jinxed.”

”But that proves, you were wrong,” Chris said smiling.

”I was cautious —” Hermione said looking a little sad but then she smiled, ”— but I'm happy to be proved wrong this time — don't tell this to Ron or Harry.”

Chris smiled. Hermione really was a great friend.

After a few minutes, Ron and Harry entered the common room. People looked at his Firebolt but he didn't get many excited expressions as there were already two Firebolts in Gryffindor. Chris remembered when the first time she went to practice with her Firebolt. Almost everyone in the team rode her Firebolt, Ron and George had a fight over who will ride Ginny's Firebolt first. Even Madam Hooch was excited to see the Firebolts. The Gryffindor common room buzzed with excitement, few Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw also came to see the broom. Slytherins made some faces of disgust and jealousy.

Harry and Ron approached the table where Chris, Ginny and Hermione were sitting.

Hermione looked up from her books.

”I got it back,” said Harry, grinning at her and holding up the Firebolt.

”See, Hermione? There wasn't anything wrong with it!” said Ron.

”Well – there might have been!” said Hermione. ”I mean, at least you know now that it's safe!”

”Yeah, I suppose so,” said Harry.

”Hey congratulations,” Ginny said to Harry smiling.

Harry smiled back. ”Thanks.”

”Yeah. Congrats. We have got a match soon with Slytherins. It's good.” Chris said.

Harry nodded. ”I'd better put it upstairs —”

”I'll take it!” said Ron eagerly. ”I've got to give Scabbers his Rat Tonic.”

He took the Firebolt, and, carried it upstairs.

”Can I sit down, then?” Harry asked Hermione.

”I suppose so,” said Hermione, moving a great stack of parchment off a chair.

Harry looked around at the cluttered table, ”How are you getting through all this stuff?” Harry asked her.

”Oh, well – you know – working hard,” said Hermione, giving a side glance to Chris and Ginny.

”Yes. I was asking her the same. She is really hardworking.” Chris said smiling.

”I agree,” Ginny said smiling too.

Hermione went pink.

”Why don't you just drop a couple of subjects?” Harry asked.

”I couldn't do that!” said Hermione, looking scandalised.

Suddenly a strangled yell echoed down the boys' staircase. The whole common room fell silent, staring, petrified, at the entrance. There came hurried footsteps, growing louder and louder — and then, Ron came leaping into view, dragging with him a bedsheet.

”LOOK!” he bellowed, striding over to Hermione's table. ”LOOK!” he yelled, shaking the sheets in her face.

”Ron, what —?”

”SCABBERS! LOOK! SCABBERS!”

Hermione was leaning away from Ron, looking utterly bewildered. Chris looked down at the sheet Ron was holding. There was something red on it. Something that looked horribly like —

”BLOOD!” Ron yelled into the stunned silence. ”HE'S GONE! AND YOU KNOW WHAT WAS ON THE FLOOR?”

”N-no,” said Hermione, in a trembling voice.

Ron threw something down onto Hermione's Rune translation. Hermione, Chris, Ginny and Harry leant forward. Lying on top of the weird, spiky shapes were several long, ginger cat hairs.

”YOUR CAT KILLED HIM. THAT BEAST KILLED HIM.” Ron shouted like a madman. ”IT'S ABSOLUTELY YOUR FAULT. I WARNED YOU BUT YOU DIDN'T LISTEN”

”Ron! It — can be — from the Christmas day — I think Scabbers is alive — why — don't you check — under the beds.” Hermione said in an almost choked voice.

”UNDER THE BEDS? YOUR CAT KILLED MY SCABBERS, HERMIONE.” Ron said more loudly.

Hermione was trembling. Chris and Ginny held her.

”Can you stop shouting like a mad person, Ron?” Chris said raising her voice a little.

”I knew you'll take her side. Of course, you'll.” He said fuming then turned towards Harry. ”You say, Harry? What do think?” He shouted again.

”Ron. Please.” Ginny said seriously. ”I know it hurts but you never liked Scab—”

”Not you too Ginny. You can't take that beast's side?” Ron said furiously.

”We're not taking anyone's side, Ron. I'm just asking you to calm down a little. Shouting at Hermione will not bring your rat back,” Chris said calmly and Hermione looked at her. Chris hurriedly added. ”That's if he is dead.”

”Of course he is dead. That cat killed him. I told Hermione, I warned her, didn't I, Harry? But she just said every cat chases rat. Now see.” Ron said and saw Harry wasn't saying anything, then he looked at Chris and Ginny and threw his bedsheet aside and looked at Hermione. ”That's it, Hermione. You can spend your time in your stupid books and with your new friends, we're not friends anymore.”

And he stormed off towards boys dormitory. Everyone was silent then Harry ran after him. Ginny looked at Chris and Chris nodded. Ginny went to Fred and George to go and check on Ron. Hermione looked terrified, she was about burst into tears, suddenly she ran towards girls dormitory and Chris followed her.

Next day was no better, Harry tried to reason with Hermione that it could be her cat, which had killed Scabbers and Hermione lost her temper. Hermione refused to believe that it was her cat. Chris knew maybe Crookshanks killed Scabbers but she couldn't leave the fact that Crookshanks was no normal cat, other than that, Chris felt Hermione was behaving stubbornly and Chris could've sympathized with Ron if he hadn't broken a three years old friendship over his rat, which he almost hated himself.

Ginny also knew Ron didn't do the right thing but she was feeling bad for him.

”Come on, Ron, you were always saying how boring Scabbers was,” said Fred bracingly. ”And he's been off-colour for ages, he was wasting away. It was probably better for him to snuff it quickly. One swallow — he probably didn't feel a thing.”