Chapter Fourteen: Eye of the Storm
Sirius looked up in fear as the Death Eater standing over him began casting his spell, too dazed to do anything but flinch and shut his eyes in horror. Instead of pain or death, however, Sirius heard an audible thud as the Death Eater hit the ground. Opening his eyes, Sirius saw the Death Eater lying unconscious in front of him and the extended hand of Mr. Harris, offering to help him up. Sirius looked around and saw that the fight was indeed over, with Ginny and Harry standing in the blasted doorway while Ron and the other Aurors went about magically binding the Death Eaters. Sirius took the proffered hand and was pulled easily to his feet, while Mr. Harris gave him a big grin.
“Thought you could use a bit of help there,” the big man offered, pointedly examining his bruised knuckles. “The fellow didn’t even realize he was the last one here.”
Sirius’ respect for the man grew as he realized that Mr. Harris had charged into the fight with only his fists against the Death Eater’s magic. He also found himself even more intimidated as he stammered his thanks.
“Are you alright, Sirius?” his mother demanded then, storming over. “Will you children ever learn to listen to me? Next time I say we’re leaving you had better listen.”
Sirius was about to protest, but thought better of it and merely nodded. That act saved him from further conversation with his mum, since she turned to Mr. Harris instead.
“I’m so sorry about your house,” she said sincerely, surveying the damage. “I’m sure Harry and I can put it all to rights in no time, and Harry would be glad to put up a few wards to keep them from coming back.”
“Don’t worry too much about it,” Mr. Harris responded good-naturedly. “I’ve seen my wife fix up worse. I’m just glad everyone is safe. You should be proud of you children; they really know how to take care of themselves.”
“Don’t encourage them,” Ginny said sternly, though she smiled while she said it. “Would you like to come over to our house to finish dinner?”
“That would be nice,” Mr. Harris responded with a smile. “I assume that’s where we left the others?”
Ginny started to answer but became distracted as another Auror Apparated at Ron’s side and began whispering fiercely. Ron nodded curtly and began shouting orders, and most of the Aurors Disapparated, leaving only a few to deal with the prisoners. Ron and Harry both moved towards Ginny to talk, followed by James and Lillian.
“There’s another attack going on,” Ron told them quickly, “and I need to get there. Will you come with us, Harry?”
Harry looked at Ginny who waved her hand dismissively with a smile. “Go on, you need the exercise; sitting in the driver’s seat of a bus all day hasn’t exactly done wonders for your physique.”
Harry blushed, but ignored the laughter as he and Ron both Apparated away.
***
The Potter and Harris families did enjoy the rest of their evening at the Potter House, and even spent part of the evening playing a game of Quidditch in the back yard, to the delight of Greg and Samantha who weren’t used to being able to fly around without worrying about who was watching. Mr. Harris hadn’t had much experience with Quidditch and enjoyed watching the match while his wife explained the rules for the thousandth time.
Finally, after a Ministry owl left a letter informing them that the damage to the Harris home had been repaired and protective wards had been put in place, Mr. and Mrs. Harris gathered their family together and told them it was time to go. Sirius and Samantha said a quick goodbye, out of their parents’ sight of course, and then they were gone, the day having been more exciting than any of them had expected.
Harry didn’t return until late that night, after all of the children had been sent to bed. Sirius was determined to hear what had happened, though, and turned into the phoenix to make himself invisible and able to listen in on his parents’ conversation.
“There were fifteen attacks today, total,” Harry was telling Ginny while she magically summoned and warmed a quick meal for him. Sirius could tell his dad was exhausted. “No one was killed, but there are plenty of people in St. Mungo’s. The entire Department of Magical Law Enforcement was called out, and Arthur wasn’t happy, believe me.”
“They attacked Muggles?” Ginny asked, guessing why her dad would be angry.
“There was that, though most of the attacks were on prominent mixed families like the Harris household, but he was really upset when they attacked the Burrow,” Harry said with a grin.
“Those poor Death Eaters,” Ginny said with a laugh that showed how much she really sympathized.
“Yeah. The Weasley’s Wizarding Wheezes home security system really is as effective as they advertise. The Magical Reversal Squad didn’t even know where to begin to go about turning them back. Fred and George showed up immediately of course, but they just stood there laughing. Your dad was just upset about the principle of the thing, of course, and then Minerva showed up after the last attack and was pretty short with him about getting to the bottom of who is behind the Death Eater resurgence. It’s all a big mess; I’m sure they’re going to decide to keep fewer Aurors at Hogwarts because of this.”
“So do you think this attack was on us or on Mr. and Mrs. Harris?” Ginny asked shrewdly. She knew very well that whenever Death Eaters were concerned the Potter family was a prime target.
“I have to assume it was aimed at the Harris family,” Harry said with a shrug. “How many people knew we were going to be there?”
Thomas Nott knew, Sirius thought angrily before deciding he’d heard enough and transporting himself back to his bed.
***
The train ride back from the holidays was a bittersweet event. Everyone was sad that their break was over and they had to return from school, but at the same time, the Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw would be taking place within two weeks, weather permitting. That was the topic of choice between Harry and James as they played a furious game of Exploding Snap with Lillian and Samantha, who merely rolled their eyes at the boys’ displays of ego.
“I’m telling you, James, your Beaters aren’t good enough to stop us,” Sirius said for the third time. “You may have a good set of Chasers, but that won’t protect them from the Bludgers.”
“I think history speaks for itself,” James argued back calmly. “Ravenclaw has won for the last several years in a row, and we haven’t grown at all complacent, as everyone would like to believe.”
“Well, everything else aside, the extra hundred and fifty points from catching the Snitch will give us the victory,” Sirius said confidently with a proud look at his sister. Lillian said nothing, but smiled as she winked back at Sirius. James rolled his eyes, but truthfully he was nervous; he and Lillian were very evenly matched as Seekers.
“Well, another half-blood party waiting to be crashed,” Nott said from the doorway to their compartment, prompting grimaces and rolling eyes all around the small room.
“I hear that your families didn’t have such a good time at the little dinner party…” Nott began again, but found himself pinned up against the wall outside of the compartment, his feet dangling below him. He had barely even noticed Sirius move.
“I know how the Death Eaters knew to attack us there,” Sirius said in a deadly whisper, and Nott, still startled by the sudden motion, was too nervous to say anything back. “When I can prove it, you’d best be running,” Sirius finished, and then calmly set Nott down and turned back to his family and girlfriend, all of whom were looking at him in shock.
“The balance of power is shifting, Potter,” Nott snarled, finally finding his tongue. “It won’t be me who’s running before too long, mark my words.”
Sirius turned around yet again and suddenly jumped forward as though to grab Nott again, and laughed along with his friends when Nott retreated at run.
“Wound pretty tight, today, eh Sirius?” Samantha said soothingly when he sat back down. None of the others had heard what he had said to Nott, and no one knew of Sirius’ suspicions.
“Maybe,” Sirius said with an easygoing smile. “I think it’s more because the train is the only place I can get away with putting him in his place.” Every laughed in agreement.
***
Sirius laughed aloud as he hit a Bludger, not at the Chaser he had such a great shot at, but at the Ravenclaw Beater that had just hit the other Bludger at Lillian. His aim was true, though to the other Beater’s credit he did get his bat partially raised; instead of being knocked off his broom, the Bludger smashed his fingers and caused him to drop his bat, taking him out of play for the time it would take him to go and get it.
The game was going quite well for Gryffindor, considering that Ravenclaw was the reigning champion. The Weasleys had been outdoing themselves and had managed twenty goals, and appeared on their way to another. Ravenclaw was close behind with one hundred and seventy points, and they had been gaining steadily for the last half hour after Gryffindor took an early lead. Both Keepers were also doing very well, and considering the number of shots taken, it had been a very low scoring game.
Twice already, the Snitch had appeared near James while Lillian was at the other end of the field, and both times, only the Gryffindor Beaters had stopped James from ending the game to his own team’s favor. The first time, Greg had put a Bludger squarely between James’ shoulder blades, distracting him enough to lose sight of the Snitch, and the second time, Sirius had struck the Snitch itself with his Bludger, though he had actually been aiming for James; it was a very long shot after all.
Sirius was a blur as he flew about following the Bludgers, taking advantage of the other Beater’s distracting and causing enough havoc to allow the Weasleys to score twice more.
Suddenly, James and Lillian shot off at the same time, and Sirius caught sight of the Snitch halfway between them. It was an even bet as they began chasing the diminutive gold ball around the stadium, each straining for any bit of advantage they could find. Sirius began racing toward the action, determined to put James off his course again. Halfway there, however, Sirius instinctively let himself fall below his broom, and felt the Bludger pass by overhead; the Ravenclaw Beater had finally gotten his bat back and apparently wanted a bit of revenge. Sirius was proud of his instinctive roll, until he realized his mistake. The Bludger, having passed him, was now heading strait for where Lillian would be if the Snitch didn’t change trajectory in a big way.
Sirius was off again like an arrow, determined to catch the Bludger before it caught his sister. The speed of the Comet Fury was very impressive, and Sirius closed the distance rapidly, reaching out with his bat to gain as much as he could. Finally, barely a few feet from his sister, Sirius waved his bat in front of him weakly, his outstretched arm preventing him from putting any power behind the swing. The tip of the bat barely connected, but it did manage to change the Bludger’s course just enough to whiz by Lillian and collide with James’ instead.
Sirius caught his brother well before he hit the ground, all to the cheers of the crowd as Lillian held up the Snitch victoriously. James wasn’t seriously hurt, as his grumbling attested to, and the Gryffindors were now in the lead for Quidditch cup for the first time in many years. Moreover, the murdering student at Hogwarts hadn’t made any sort of appearance during the entire two weeks since school had started back up. Sirius caught sight of Samantha cheering him on from the stands and suddenly decided things were definitely looking up.
A/N: Hey look, everyone! No cliffhanger! I know, I know, this is hardly characteristic of my usual style, but every now and again there must come a time for some change. Don’t worry, I fully intend to be back to my evil (but not evil evil) self in the next chapter. Enjoy!