chapter 46

Although Harry Potter had returned to Hogwarts several days prior to the start of the new semester, it did little to help him adjust to the grueling pace his professors set for their students once classes resumed. The daunting amount of homework piled on by his teachers seemed more excessive than ever, leaving Harry with hardly any free time. Despite the knowledge he had gained from the Horcrux, he still had to handwrite essays that required a minimum of eight inches in length for every subject—except for Care of Magical Creatures. Yet somehow, the green-eyed wizard managed to keep himself informed about the happenings around him.

Having Katie back was a comforting presence, especially since the deepening bond between them prompted Alicia and Angelina to reevaluate their treatment of Harry, leading them to be more amicable towards him. However, Harry was well aware that perfection was elusive, and he soon noticed the first issue arising: Ron's newfound fame seemed to be inflating his ego. Being invited as a special guest to the Ministry-sponsored Yule Ball certainly played a part in this transformation. While Ron was nowhere near the arrogance of certain Slytherin peers, it was still disconcerting to see his friend's confidence swell. Thankfully, Ron was easy enough to tune out, so his growing self-importance didn't trouble Harry too much.

The other troubling development was more challenging to dismiss: Professor Stone had left his position as the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher to resume his Auror training. Although Madam Bones sent in another Auror trainee named Alexandra Hawkeye to fill the vacancy, she lacked the same caliber as Professor Stone, though she was knowledgeable in her field. Fortunately, the Defense Studies class continued without major disruption, and Harry and his friends didn't find themselves overly anxious about this shift in teaching staff.

Overall, Harry's semester began positively, and he hoped it would remain that way for as long as possible. Still, with Sirius Black at large—his status as either a villain or a misunderstood figure still unclear—Harry knew that these peaceful days might not last long.

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After the Astronomy lesson on Friday night, which all four houses attended together, students wearily made their way back to their respective common rooms. While most of them dreamed of the warm beds awaiting them in the dormitories, some had other plans for the night.

Lost in thought, Harry let his legs carry him back to the Gryffindor common room until a gentle touch on his hand broke his reverie. Turning, he found Draconica looking at him with a silent invitation to speak privately. Noticing nothing wrong with her request—and armed with his invisibility cloak to avoid trouble—Harry nodded in agreement. The two slowed their pace, allowing classmates to drift ahead before slipping into a corridor on the eighth floor. Within a minute, they found an unlocked, unused classroom to occupy for their conversation.

Once inside, Draconica quickly cast a few basic wards on the door to keep others away. After finishing her task, she gestured for Harry to take a seat. Then, standing a couple of feet away, she tilted her head slightly and looked into his eyes.

"Harry..." she said softly, before pausing for several moments. Finally, she spoke again. "I enjoyed what we shared that night... and I'm sure you did too, but..." Another brief pause. "That's not what I want tonight. I just..." She lowered her head slightly while maintaining eye contact. "Just hold me tight for now, okay?" Harry nodded in agreement, eliciting a smile from her as she slid sideways into his lap, snuggling against his chest. The two sat in silence for a few minutes before Harry decided to inquire about her sudden change in demeanor.

"Um, 'Nica?.." he whispered, causing her to lift her head and raise an inquisitive eyebrow.

"Yes?" she replied.

"Not to seem ungrateful for your trust, but... up until now, you've either kept your distance or broken down all barriers between us. What's brought this on?" Harry's question prompted Draconica to sigh and lower her head again.

"I didn't have the best holiday, alright?" she finally admitted. Sensing her reluctance to delve further into the issue, Harry chose to respect her privacy and simply held her a little closer as she settled back against him.

They stayed that way for a while until Harry, lulled by her soft breaths, realized it was time to return to their respective common rooms for some rest. While he enjoyed having Draconica in his lap, he wondered if he would feel the same about it come morning.

"M-mm?" she murmured sleepily as Harry gently shook her awake. "What's up?" she asked, looking up at him.

"Sorry, but it's getting late," he began, unsure of how to suggest it was time to part ways. Draconica cocked her head, contemplating his unspoken notion. Pulling out her wand, she cast a quick tempus charm and noted it was past midnight.

"Sorry... I was comfortable... But you're probably right. We should head back." Reluctantly, she untangled herself from his arms and stood up, straightening her robes.

"Do you want me to escort you back to Slytherin?" Harry asked, retrieving his invisibility cloak, which he felt prudent to keep on him at all times. Draconica shook her head.

"Thank you, but I'll be fine. You don't need to worry about me," she replied, undoing the wards on the door. Harry shrugged, respecting her wishes. Just as he was about to don his cloak, he felt her arms wrap around his shoulders.

"Thank you for tonight, Harry." She gave him a light hug before slipping out the now-open door. With a sigh, he shook his head, finally throwing the invisibility cloak over himself as he headed back to the Gryffindor common room, hoping to avoid any trouble.

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Fortunately for Harry, no one noticed he hadn't returned with his classmates from Astronomy that night, and he chose to stay silent about his time with Draconica. Although he wasn't under any serious obligation, he preferred to avoid complications.

Aside from this midnight rendezvous, the first three weeks of January passed quietly for the young wizard. True, Professor Snape remained his usual unpleasant self to anyone not donned in green and silver, but that was par for the course. However, the fourth week brought some excitement with a Quidditch match between Slytherin and Ravenclaw. The 'Snakes' emerged victorious, but only narrowly due to the other team's chasers scoring significantly. Once the excitement from that game subsided, Hogwarts returned to its usual steady rhythm.

The outside world remained uneventful, devoid of any news that captured Harry's attention—or that of anyone else in the castle, for that matter. Sirius Black remained at large, eluding capture from Aurors and Dementors, his trial still out of reach. Meanwhile, the Wizengamot continued to bicker over mundane matters, and Harry couldn't fathom how they could waste months debating something as trivial as cauldron bottom thickness.

However, this tranquility didn't last long. By the end of the first week of February, Hogwarts buzzed with activity as students and professors prepared for St. Valentine's Day. Harry, currently unattached and not inclined to pursue anything romantic with Katie or Draconica, limited himself to best wishes sent anonymously to both of them. Unfortunately, many girls in the castle, still viewing him as a celebrity—even though Dumbledore had stripped him of the "Chosen One" title—were oblivious to his disinterest and began devising plans to win his affection.

In the days that followed St. Valentine's Day, Hogwarts struggled to return to normalcy with the upcoming Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff just a week away. The excitement among students was palpable, especially in Gryffindor tower, where Oliver Wood's enthusiasm was uncontainable. Although his determination to lead the team to victory was commendable, his teammates wished for a bit more consideration regarding their fatigue from relentless training.

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Despite their captain's typical intensity, Oliver surprisingly let his players rest on Saturday leading up to the match. Consequently, when the Gryffindor team took the pitch, they were both mentally and physically prepared. Hufflepuff, while not over-trained, also came well-prepared, making for an engaging and competitive game.

As the Seeker, Harry's primary concern was Hufflepuff's own Cedric Diggory, a third-year student who, while not as naturally gifted as Harry, was a formidable player thanks to his work ethic. If he were honest, Harry would acknowledge Cedric as possibly the strongest Seekers at Hogwarts at that moment. But all of these thoughts vanished when Madam Hooch blew her whistle, snapping Harry back to the game.

Circling the pitch, Harry scanned the area for the elusive Golden Snitch. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a large black dog perched at the edge of the Forbidden Forest, watching the match with an unexpected level of comprehension. Though Harry couldn't deny it, the dog bore an uncanny resemblance to the one that had attacked Ron Weasley during their Hogsmeade visit. Yet he quickly dismissed the notion, refocusing on his task of finding the Snitch.

The game continued for nearly an hour and a half, with Gryffindor's chasers scoring a total of sixteen goals, giving them a solid forty-point lead. Despite the favorable score, Harry's luck had yet to turn as the Snitch remained elusive. As time passed, it became increasingly chilly up in the air—his warming charms hardly providing comfort.

Finally, while making another turn around the pitch, Harry caught a fleeting glimpse of gold. It appeared the Snitch had chosen that precise moment to reveal itself, hovering right between the two Seekers. Without hesitation, Harry darted after the tiny ball, hoping to catch it before Cedric could.

As if sensing their approach, the Snitch flitted erratically, trapped between the two seekers and unable to make a clear escape. In this standoff, it ultimately came down to broomstick speed, and Harry's Nimbus 2000 proved to be the faster ride, albeit by a slim margin.

With the golden Snitch firmly clasped in his hand, Harry descended to the pitch where his teammates awaited him, celebrating their victory. Just as he landed, he cast a glance toward the Forbidden Forest, where the black dog still watched, and he could have sworn it seemed to cheer for him. Shaking off the strange thought, he redirected his attention to the raucous celebration of his teammates, who were cheering and waving at him.

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Meanwhile, Sirius Black, still in his animagus form, was making his way back to his hiding spot in one of the caves near Hogsmeade village. The only person to have ever escaped Azkaban knew he was taking a substantial risk. The Auror and Dementor patrols tasked with capturing him were still on high alert. Yet the desire to see his godson play Quidditch had overridden his concern for his own safety. As luck would have it, he hadn't encountered a single DMLE agent while slipping onto Hogwarts grounds or now as he was sneaking away.

From what he observed, the rumors about Harry inheriting James's flying prowess were spot on. His godson was a natural on a broom. Though Amos's son was also skilled, it was Harry who secured the victory for Gryffindor by catching the Snitch. Sirius couldn't help but smile—his godson was indeed impressive!

Yet, while delighted by Harry's achievements, Sirius also understood the necessity of ensuring his own safety if he wished to be a part of Harry's life. With this in mind, he quickened his pace toward the security of his hideout, pondering what he might have for dinner that night.

Unaware of his godfather's struggles—or even that Sirius Black was his godfather—Harry continued the celebration with his teammates, soaking up their victory, a lively Katie perched in his lap, adding to the joyful atmosphere.