chapter twenty-two : Quidditch and N.E.W.T.s

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The story of Fred and George's flight to freedom was retold so often over the next few days that Juniper could tell it would soon become the stuff of Hogwarts legend: within a week, even those who had been eye-witnesses were half convinced they had seen the twins dive-bomb Umbridge on their brooms and pelt her with Dungbombs before zooming out of the doors. In the immediate aftermath of their departure there was a great wave of talk about copying them. June frequently heard students saying things like, "Honestly, some days I just feel like jumping on my broom and leaving this place," or else, "One more lesson like that and I might just do a Weasley."

Fred and George had made sure nobody was likely to forget them too soon. For one thing, they had not left instructions on how to remove the swamp that now filled the corridor on the fifth floor of the east wing. Umbridge and Filch had been observed trying different means of removing it but without succes. Eventually, the area was roped off and Filch, gnashing his teeth furiously, was given the task of putting students across it to their classrooms. June was certain that teachers like McGonagall or Flitwick could have removed the swamp in an instant but, just as in the case of Fred and George's Wildfire Whiz-bangs, they seemed to prefer to watch Umbridge struggle.

Then there were the two large broom-shaped holes in Umbridge's office door, through which Fred and George's Cleansweeps had smashed to rejoin their masters. Filch fitted a new door and removed Harry's Firebolt to the dungeons where, it was rumored, Umbridge had set an armed security troll to guard it. However, her troubles were far from over.

Inspired by Fred and George's example, a great number of students were now vying for the newly vacant positions of Troublemakers-in-Chief. In spite of the new door, somebody managed to slip a hairy-shouted Niffler into Umbridge's office, which promptly tore the place apart in its search for shiny objects, leapt on Umbridge when she entered and tried to gnaw the rings off her stubby fingers. Dungbombs and Stink Pellets were dropped so frequently in the corridors that it became the new fashion for students to perform Bubble-Head Charms on themselves before leaving lessons, which ensured them a supply of fresh air, even though it gave them all the peculiar appearance of wearing upside-down goldfish bowls on their heads.

Filch prowled the corridors with a horsewhip ready in his hands, desperate for catch miscreants, but the problem was that there were now so many of them he never knew which way to turn. The Inquisitorial Squad was attempting to help him, but odd things kept happening to its members. Warrington of the Slytherin Quidditch team reported to the hospital wing with a horrible skin complaint that made him look as though he had been coated in cornflakes; Pansy Parkinson missed all her lessons the following day as she had sprouted antlers.

Meanwhile, it became clear just how many Skiving Snackboxes Fred and George had managed to sell before leaving Hogwarts. Umbridge only had to enter her classroom for the students assembled there to faint, vomit, develop dangerous fevers or else sprout blood from both nostrils. Shrieking with rage and frustration, she attempted to trace the mysterious symptoms to their source, but the students told her stubbornly they were suffering from 'Umbridge-itis'. After putting four successive classes in detention and failing to discover their secret, she was forced to give up and allow the bleeding, swooning, sweating and vomiting students to leave her class in droves.

But not even the users of the Snackboxes could compete with that master of chaos, Peeves, who seemed to have taken Fred's parting words deeply to heart. Cackling madly, he soared through the school, upending tables, bursting out of blackboards, toppling statues and vases; twice he shut Mrs Norris inside a suit of armor, from which she was rescued, yowling loudly, by the furious caretaker. Peeves smashed lanterns and snuffed out candles, juggled burning torches over the heads of screaming students, caused neatly stacked piles of parchment to topple into fires or out of windows; flooded the second floor when he pulled off all the taps in the bathrooms, dropped a bag of tarantulas in the middle of the Great Hall during breakfast and, whenever he fancies a break, spent hours at a time floating along after Umbridge and blowing loud raspberries every time she spoke.

None of the staff but Filch seemed to be stirring themselves to help her. Indeed, a week after Fred and George's departure Juniper witnessed Professor McGonagall walking right past Peeves, who was determinedly loosening a crystal chandelier, and could have sworn June heard her tell the poltergeist out of the corner of the mouth, "It unscrews the other way."

To cap matters, Montague had still not recovered from his sojourn in the toilet; he remained confused and disorientated and his parents were to be observed one Tuesday morning striding up the front drive, looking extremely angry.

Though June felt a bit sorry for him, she couldn't suppress the thought that if Montague didn't recover before Slytherin played Hufflepuff, Gryffindor still might be in with a chance of winning the Cup. That was only if Slytherin lost to Hufflepuff next Saturday.

The final match of the Quidditch season, Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw was to take place on the last weekend of May. Although Slytherin had been narrowly defeated by Hufflepuff in their last match, Gryffindor were not daring to hope for victory, due mainly (though of course nobody said it to him) to Ron's abysmal goal-keeping record. He, however, seemed to have found a new optimism.

"I mean, I can't get any worse, can I?" June heard him say to Harry and Hermione over breakfast on the morning of the match. "Nothing to lose now, is there?"

"That's the spirit," Angelina said, clasping him on the shoulder. "Stay positive like that and we'll win the Cup for sure!"

After breakfast was over, Juniper lead her team down to the Quidditch Pitch. They got dressed in silence before marching up the field.

"And here's the Gryffindor Quidditch team!" June could hear Lee exclaim. "Black, Johnson, Spinnet, Bell, Weasley, Kirke and Sloper!"

It was still weird for June to not hear Fred, George and Harry's names. At the latter, she looked up towards the scarlet stands and searched for her cousin in the crowd. She eventually found him sitting next to Hermione and he gave her an encouraging smile and a thumbs up. June knew he hated the fact that he couldn't play with them. She could only make him proud by winning the Cup.

"Captains, shake hands," Madam Hooch said and both June and Roger Davies stepped forwards to shake hands.

"Mount your brooms," Madam Hooch then ordered.

June swung her right leg over her Firebolt and gave her team mates an encouraging nod. Her hazel eyes stayed on Ron a little bit longer, hoping that whatever positivism he had had during breakfast was still present.

The sound of a whistle was heard and Juniper set off, rising higher than she was used to. She had to resist the urge to grab the Quaffle and looked for the Snitch instead.

"And they're off!" June could hear Lee say. "And Davies takes the Quaffle immediately, Ravenclaw Captain Davies with the Quaffle, he dodged Johnson, he dodges Bell, he dodges Spinnet as well . . . he's going straight for goal! He's going to shook — and — and —" Lee swore loudly, something that told June he had probably scored. "And he's scored."

The Gryffindors groaned while the Slytherins on the other side of the stands began to sing:

"Weasley cannot save a thing
He cannot block a single ring . . ."

Juniper blocked them out. It was up to her now. She had to catch the Snitch as soon as possible. Soaring above the other players, she looked for the Snitch while keeping an eye on Cho to see if she had seen it.

When Slytherin scored five more times, June called for a timeout and pulled Ron to the side.

"I know I'm messing it up," he said, hanging his head.

"Ron, I'm not going to ask you to be as good as Oliver was. All I'm asking is for you to enjoy the match and be best you can be," June told him quietly. "Relax, the rest will come automatically. Just try it. I know you can block Quaffles, I've seen you do it. I believe in you and so does the rest of the team." She gestured at her teammates who all nodded. This seemed to give Ron a bit of self confidence. "Just do the best you can do and no one will judge you for it. We can win the Cup," she added louder, turning to face the others. "But then we have to prove we can work together as a team. I know this year has been hard for all of us, but we can do it together." She held her hand out. "One team."

The others placed their hands on hers. "One team!"

"And remember, Ron," June told him, as they mounted their brooms again. "You've got all of Gryffindor House behind you. You are not alone."

The seven of them flew back into the air and once more, Juniper looked for the Snitch. However, when she Gryffindors cheered, she couldn't help but to look down. Ron was beaming and June let out a relieved sigh. Apparently her pep talk had worked.

Filled with new hope, June's hazel eyes flashed from one side of the pitch towards the other side. Once or twice she thought she saw it, but later realised it was just a shimmering necklace or ring.

Below her, Ron started to block more and more Quaffles, causing the Slytherins to stop singing.

And then something gold appeared in June's right eye corner and she turned her head to see the Golden Snitch hovering next to the stand where the teachers were sitting. Without hesitation, June shot forward.

"And Black has seen the Snitch!" Lee's voice came, alerting Cho, who was flying close by.

Juniper leaned even more forward, her Firebolt flying even faster. It was now or never. She stuck out her right hand while holding the broom steady with her left.

Come on . . . almost there . . .

She noticed Cho's figure nearing her but her Comet was no match for June's Firebolt and at last, June's fingers curled around the small ball and a grin spread onto her face.

"I can't believe it!" Lee exclaimed. "Black had caught the Snitch! GRYFFINDOR WINS THE QUIDDITCH CUP!"

Juniper turned her broom around, ignoring Cho's sad expression, and flew towards Ron to engulf him in a tight hug.

"I knew you could do it," she whispered in his ear, before planting a kiss on his cheek. "Good job, Ron!"

Ron was grinning from ear to ear as they landed on the ground.

"We won!" Alicia squealed, pulling June in for a hug. They were soon enough joined by the rest of the team. "We won the Cup!"

"Weasley is our King,
Weasley is our King,
He didn't let the Quaffle in,
Weasley is our King . . ."

Juniper laughed as she heard the Gryffindors sing the altered version of the Slytherins. It certainly fitted better. Ron was positively beaming.

"Weasley can save anything,
He never leaves a single ring,
That's why Gryffindors all sing:
Weasley is our King."

As the rest of Gryffindor house surrounded them, Madam Hooch handed the Quidditch Cup to June, who in turn handed it to Ron.

"You deserve it," she told him. "Just promise me to never feel insecure again."

"I promise," Ron said, smiling at her. "Thank you for believing in me when I did not."

Juniper smiled back. "You're welcome, Ronald."

Ron just rolled his eyes.

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The euphoria of winning the Quidditch Cup lasted at least a week and was a good (or bad) distraction of the N.E.W.T.s that were coming up. June, who had decided she wanted to become an Auror instead of a Professor, needed almost all Outstandings. That's why you could find her most of the time in the back of the library, sitting at the very table where her aunt and uncle had engraved their love for each other.

Almost every time, she was joined by Angelina and Alicia. Angelina had decided she wanted to try out for the Holyhead Harpies and begin a Quidditch career just like Oliver, but she wanted to have a plan B if that didn't work out so she still needed good grades. Alicia wanted to become a Healer so just like June, she needed a lot of Outstandings.

"I don't think I ever learnt this much," June breathed, as flicked a page for what seemed like the thousandth time that day.

"It will be worth it though," Alicia said, messaging her forehead. "Once I am a fully trained Healer, it will be all worth it . . ."

That had become some sort of slogan for June; once she was a fully trained Auror, it would be all worth it . . .

The days were long and the nights were short, though June tried to sleep as much as she could. She knew getting sleep was important to process whatever she had learnt that day.

June and the others received their examination timetables and details of the procedure for N.E.W.T.s during their next Transfiguration lesson.

"As you can see," Professor McGonagall told the class as they copied down the dates and times of their exams from the blackboard, "your N.E.W.T.s are spread over two successive weeks. You will sit the theory papers in the mornings and the practice in the afternoons. Your practical Astronomy examination will, of course, take place at night, just like you did with your O.W.L.s.

Now, I must warn you that the most stringent anti-cheating charms have been applied to your examination papers. Auto-Answer Quills are banned from the examination hall, as are Remembralls, Detachable Cribbing Cuffs and Self-Correcting Ink. Every year, I am afraid to say, seems to harbor at least one student who thinks that he or she can get around the Wizarding Examinations Authority's rules. I can only hope that it is nobody in Gryffindor. Our new Headmistress has asked the Heads of Houses to tell their students that cheating will be punished most severely — because, of course, your examination results will reflect upon the Headmistress's new regime at the school — " Professor McGonagall gave a tiny sigh; Juniper saw the nostrils of her sharp nose flare.

"— however, that is no reason not to do your very best. You have your own futures to think about."

Juniper left the class feeling even more stressful.

Their N.E.W.T.s, however, were a bit like O.W.L.s though more difficult. The days seemed even longer and the nights even shorter and at last, it was over.

"I have never felt more relieved that exams are over," Cedric sighed, as he and June were patrolling the hallways.

"I have to agree on that," June said, hiding a yawn.

BANG!

"What the —" June said, as she and Cedric strode over to a window to look at the grounds.

Hagrid's door had burst open and by the light flooding out of the cabin they saw him quite clearly, a massive figure roaring and brandishing his fists, surrounded by six people, all of whom, judging by the tiny threads of red lights they were casting in his direction, seemed to Stun him.

"No!" June cried, already moving to go down and help him.

"Don't," Cedric said, grabbing her by the arm and pulling her back. "If you go, you can forget your Auror career."

"Like I care," June growled, but Cedric only held her more tightly. He reached out and opened the window so they could see better.

Jets of red light were still flying about beside Hagrid's cabin, yet somehow they seemed to be bouncing off him; he was still upright and still, as far as June could see, fighting. Cries and yells echoed across the grounds; a man yelled, "Be reasonable, Hagrid!"

Hagrid roared, "Reasonable be damned, yeh won't take me like this, Dawlish!"

Juniper could see the tiny outline of Fang, attempting to defend Hagrid, leaping repeatedly at the wizards surrounding him until a Stunning Spell caught him and he fell to the ground. Hagrid gave a howl of fury, lifted the culprit bodily from the ground and threw him; the man flew what looked like ten feet and did not get up again.

"Look!" Cedric said, nodding at the front doors that had opened; more light was spilling out on to the dark lawn and a single long black shadow was now rippling across the lawn.

"How dare you!" the figure shouted as she ran. "How dare you!"

"It's McGonagall!" June exclaimed, leaning closer to the window.

"Leave him alone! Alone, I say!" Professor McGonagall's voice said through the darkness. "On what grounds are you attacking him? He has done nothing, nothing to warrant such —"

Juniper gasped. The figures around the cabin had shot no fewer than four Stunners at Professor McGonagall. Halfway between cabin and castle the red beams collided with her; for a moment she looked luminous and glowed an eerie red, then she lifted right off her feet, landing hard on her back, and moved no more.

"No!" June screamed, eyes wide in fear.

"COWARDS!" Hagrid bellowed; his voice carried clearly to the window where June and Cedric were standing. Several lights flickered back on inside the castle. "RUDDY COWARDS! HAVE SOME O' THAT — AN' THAT —"

"Oh my —" Cedric said.

Hagrid took two massive swipes at his closest attackers; judging by their immediate collapse, they had been knocked cold. June saw Hagrid double over, and thought he had finally been overcome by a spell. But, on the contrary, next moment Hagrid was standing again with what appeared to be a sack on his back — then June realised that Fang's limp body was draped around his shoulders.

"Get him, get him!" Umbridge screamed, but her remaining helper seemed highly reluctant to go within reach of Hagrid's fists; indeed, he was backing away so fast he tripped over one of his unconscious colleagues and fell over. Hagrid had turned and begun to run with Fang still hung around his neck. Umbridge sent one last Stunning Spell after him but it missed; and Hagrid, running full-pelt towards the distant, gates, disappeared into the darkness.

"That's it," June breathed. "I'm going to kill that toad." And before Cedric could comprehend what she had said, she had pulled her arm out of his grip and was running down to the front doors.

Cedric cursed under his breath before running after her. "June, wait!"

Juniper was about to run into the Entrance Hall when Cedric finally managed to grab her arm and pulled her into an empty cupboard, closing the door behind them. Seconds later, Umbridge and an Auror passed them, levitating the wounded Aurors with them.

"They didn't even carry Professor McGonagall inside," June muttered furiously.

Once they were gone, she dashed out of the cupboard again, through the front doors and onto the grounds.

"Professor!" June exclaimed, falling down next to her Head of House. "Professor?"

"We need to get her to the hospital wing," Cedric said, kneeling down, too.

"What in Merlin's name has happened?" a third voice said, making the two of them turn around. June was relieved to see Severus standing behind them.

"Professor Umbridge tried to Stun Hagrid and Professor McGonagall came to aim him. She got four Stunning Spells in her chest," June told him quickly.

Severus' eyes darkened. "Diggory, head to the hospital wing and inform Madam Pomfrey that we are coming."

Cedric nodded and dashed back to the castle.

"Mobilicorpus," Severus muttered, levitating Professor McGonagall's body. "Come on, June, we need to go."

"I'm going to kill her," Juniper told him, as they headed towards the hospital wing. "She will pay for what she did to us."

"Don't let negative thoughts consume you, June," Severus told her quietly. "You are a good person."

"I know," June said, sighing. "It's just that she manages to bring out the worst in me."

Severus hummed and said nothing more until they reached the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey was already waiting for them, looking positive terrified, and quickly began examining Professor McGonagall.

"There is nothing we can do for her now," Severus said, though he seemed worried, too. "You better go back to your common room."

Cedric nodded, gave June a worried look before turning around and heading back to the Hufflepuff common room. June, however, didn't move.

"June," Severus said quietly, "there is nothing you can do."

"There is always something I can do," Juniper said stubbornly. "I'm not leaving her here alone."

"She won't be alone," Severus told her. "Madam Pomfrey is here to look after her."

"It's not the same," June said, her eyes not leaving Professor McGonagall's body. A feeling of fear and sadness overwhelmed her. What if she never recovered? What if she died?

June felt her heart rate fasten at this and she started to sweat. Her hands were trembling and she felt a shortness of breath.

Severus, who had noticed she started panicking, hurried into Madam Pomfrey's potion cabinet and came back with a flask that contained blue liquor.

"Drink this," he quietly told her, shoving it in her hands. "It's Calming Draught."

Without thinking about it, June drank it all. Almost instantly, she felt calm again.

"Thanks," she muttered, a bit embarrassed about her emotional outburst.

"Don't mention it," Severus replied. "Are you feeling better now?"

Juniper simply nodded.

"You should go to bed. It was a long day."

June, deciding he was right, nodded again. "You're right. I will. Goodnight, Sev."

"Goodnight, June."

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Juniper was sitting at the Black Lake with Angelina and Alicia, enjoying the fact that exams were over, when Harry came sprinting towards them, a look of pure horror and fear on his face. June scrambled up and met him halfway.

"What's wrong, Harry?"

Harry's emerald green eyes were wide and he was breathing heavily.

"Voldemort's got Sirius."

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Published 14.07.2021

I hope you enjoyed it & tell me what you think of it!

Okay so from now on, I'll try to update daily (I'll do my best but no promises) since this is where the fun begins; will Sirius live or not??

Anyway, if someone was to hurt my dogs, I would also make them pay (GO HAGRID!)

Stay safe and healthy everyone!
Laura