Snape taunted Harry for his tardiness before beginning the lesson. "Turn in your books to page 394," he said when he had finished belittling Harry. The class open to the page and Hermione's hand went into the air.
"Professor," she said when she saw the page. "We haven't made it to werewolves yet.
"Stop interrupting my class," Snape shot back at her as he began to lecture them on werewolves. At the end of the lesson Snape assigned them all an essay to be written about werewolves and due to him on Monday morning.
"But sir, there's Quidditch this weekend!" Harry protested.
"Well then, I suggest that you take extra care of yourself Potter. Loss of limb will not exempt you from turning in your essay." Snape strolled out of the room as Harry stared and Ron stared at him.
That Saturday morning was stormy and windy. The rain pounded the castle windows in sheets. Harry's morning hadn't gotten off to the best start either because Peeves had decided to zoom around their dormitory shouting as loudly as he could. The Gryffindors received the usual pre-match pep talk from Wood before making their way out onto the rain-soaked, muddy pitch. Wood shook hands with Cedric Diggory who was Hufflepuff's Captain and Seeker and Madam Hooch blew her whistle to start the match.
Harry zoomed around the pitch hoping to spot a glint of gold quickly. It was nearly impossible to see. He could not keep his glasses from fogging up in the cold downpour. Several minutes into the game, Oliver Wood, called timeout and called the team over to him to strategize. Before the timeout ended Hermione cast a water-repelling charm on Harry's glasses to improve his sight. The game was pretty intense and went back and forth as the Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs traded goals over the next 20 minutes.
Harry and Cedric Diggory both circled high above the pitch looking for the Snitch. As he flew high above the Hufflepuff goal posts he finally found what he was looking for. The Snitch was hovering high above the center of the pitch. Cedric Diggory spotted it too and they both took off after it.
As if sensing danger, the Snitch darted upward and flew higher into the thick overcast sky. Harry was closing on it. It was only inches in front of his outstretched fingers. The rain on Harry's broom began to freeze into a solid sheet of ice. Lightning danced through the clouds above him. And through the clouds came several dark cloaked figures flying toward him. Harry could hear the distant scream of a woman's voice and then everything went dark. Harry's body plummeted toward the ground.
Professor McGonagall stood up from her seat and pointed her wand at him as he fell. "Aresto Momentum!" she shouted.
When Harry awoke he was in the hospital wing surrounded by Ron, Hermione, and the rest of the Quidditch team. He turned to Hermione and asked her what happened.
"The dementors arrived as you chased the snitch," she said. "McGonagall was furious."
"What about the match?" he asked.
"No one blames you for what happened, Harry. Cedric Diggory caught the snitch after you fell."
"Did someone retrieve my broom?" He asked. The group's faces were somber. Ron stepped forward. He had a bundle of something in his arms.
"After you fell, your broom was blown into the Whomping Willow," Ron said as he unwrapped the splinted and broken broom. Harry felt like he had been punched in the gut when he saw his mangled Nimbus 2000.
Harry remained in the Hospital Wing for the rest of the weekend. He couldn't stop thinking about the dementors and hearing his mother scream as she was murdered any time one of them was near him. He was frustrated that they had the effect on him that they did.
Professor Lupin returned to class on Monday morning and assured the Gryffindors that they did not need to turn in Snape's werewolf essay. At the end of class Lupin pulled Harry aside and spoke with him about the Quidditch match. Harry told Lupin what happened and told him what happened any time a dementor was near him. Lupin told Harry that he could teach him a way fight off dementors and would do so after the holidays.
With Christmas only two weeks away it was time for another Hogsmeade visit. Harry had already resigned himself to the fact that he would have a miserable boring Saturday while his classmates got to enjoy the village. As Harry walked through the snowy courtyard, he was pulled aside by George Weasley.
"Have you ever wondered, Harry, what the root of Fred's and mine success is?" Harry wasn't sure what he was talking about. George pulled a piece of parchment out of his cloak pocket and unfolded it. He took out his wand and tapped the paper. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." Text appeared on the parchement and George handed it to Harry to read:
"Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs present the Marauder's Map."
Harry opened the map to see the entirety of the Hogwarts grounds. Little sets of footprints walked on various areas of the map accompanied by little banners with names written on them. Harry spotted a set of footprints labeled: Minerva McGonagall in McGonagall's Office.
"Is that really Professor McGonagall?" he asked George.
"Yep. Pacing in her study. She does that a lot. This map shows you everybody in Hogwarts at all times." Harry couldn't believe what he was seeing. He was about to ask where the map came from but was cut off by George.
"I know that you want to get to Hogsmeade. There are other ways to get there," he said with a smirk. He pointed out a secret passage from Hogwarts that would let out into the basement of Honeydukes in Hogsmeade. When you are finished with the map all you need to do is tap it with your wand again and say 'Mischief Managed' so that no one else can read it. George wished Harry good luck and set off towards Hogsmeade himself.
Ali bin Turban (George Weasley), a Normal Hogwarts Student has left for Hogsmeade on day 4.
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Ali bin Turban (6): King Hitler, D34THBR1NG3R, iSocialism, KevinH, Rhizoctonia, Wolfpacks
It is now night 4. Please PM me any night actions by 1:00pm CST on Friday, November 11th (tomorrow).