Chapter 57: 6-1

The day of the Firebolt’s debut match had finally arrived. The opposing Seeker was Cho Chang, the legendary beauty of the Ravenclaw team. Peering through my Omnioculars, I couldn't help but be drawn to her lovely, exotic features.

"Come to think of it, this was where I fell in love with Cho at first sight, wasn't it?"

Beside me, Draco bugged his eyes out in total shock.

"What about Ginny!?"

"Of course, I’m purely devoted to Ginny now. Or rather, since our 'inner selves' are what they are, don't you think it’s difficult to look at people our own age—or even those older—in that way? Don't you agree?"

While there was no doubt that I loved Ginny, even if I had remained as Harry, there was no way I would have laid a hand on Ginny at this age. Besides, my desires in that department were always thin; I was constantly fighting for my life and never had the luxury for such things.

"Personally, I’m more worried about you. You’ve become quite the snake, the way you close the distance so skillfully... even though you used to be so hopeless at it."

"...My 'opponent' was just a bad match for me back then."

"Hmm? Well, if you ever make Astoria cry, I’m coming for your head. And I’ll use your wand to do it."

"Stop it. My chances of winning would drop to zero."

As I laughed at his look of utter distaste, both teams took to the air, accompanied by commentary from Lee Jordan that sounded more like a sales pitch for the Firebolt. The broom’s performance was, as expected, overwhelming. Its flight was a masterpiece of speed and precision. Harry’s face was brimming with confidence.

However, Cho wasn't giving up. Using her Ravenclaw intellect, she adapted to the situation immediately. Ravenclaw’s strength didn't lie in raw speed.

"...Still, that doesn't make her a match for a Firebolt," I murmured.

When I muttered that, Draco rebuked me, saying I had a nasty personality. Of all people, Draco said that. I wanted to ask "Look who's talking," but then again, as someone who is self-aware of my own twisted nature, I wasn't really in a position to judge.

"But it’s true—the Firebolt is magnificent, isn't it? I wonder if I could borrow it from Harry sometime. Riding it is like a dream. Surely you want a turn too?"

"...Well, it is the broom used by professionals in this era," Draco replied, nodding quite honestly. I stifled a chuckle at how much more straightforward he had become. Then, a thought occurred to me.

"—Are you never going to play Quidditch again?"

I couldn't remember exactly when, but he had once told me that Quidditch was his only solace during those restless school years.

"No. ...I don't need it anymore."

Draco narrowed his eyes softly as he looked at me.

"I-I see... Well, if you're happy, then that's fine."

I felt my cheeks flush hot and quickly diverted my gaze back to my Omnioculars. He was living a much more fulfilling student life than he had the first time around. I felt like his eyes were trying to say, 'That's thanks to you,' but I refused to give him the satisfaction of a reaction.

"By the way, where is... er, my cousin today? The Firebolt came from him, didn't it? I fully expected him to come watch, just like last time."

"Yeah, I thought so too, so I had the Invisibility Cloak ready... but he just shook his head apologetically. Siri—your cousin—completely forgets to act like a dog when he's around me. What do you think of that? Though, he’s always been rather dog-like, so I suppose it fits."

"Calling a member of that famously handsome family 'just a dog'..."

Draco scanned the surroundings as if for safety and stood up.

"Draco?"

"Just some business."

I watched his retreating back as he left the stands. Suddenly, a roar erupted from the Gryffindor section. It looked like Angelina Johnson had scored. I snapped my Omnioculars back into position to follow the game.

Harry and Cho were jostling for the Snitch. They dove—then pulled up. Cho's Comet 260 couldn't keep up with the near-vertical climb and was left in the dust.

A whistle echoed. The Snitch was safely inside Harry's hand.

"HARRYYY!!"

I threw myself toward Harry as he was being mobbed by his teammates. I pulled Fred and George into the fray and gave Harry a massive hug.

"You were amazing! That movement! That speed! As expected of my little brother!"

"I'm the older one!"

The usual banter drew a massive round of laughter. Harry was surrounded, hoisted onto shoulders, and the commotion grew.

Looking toward the stadium entrance, I saw a few Slytherin students being tied up like common thieves. They were the Slytherin Quidditch players, draped in black rags. ...Ah, I see. Draco left to catch those idiots who were planning to pretend to be Dementors. He remembered that well. ...Well, he was one of them last time, after all. My only relief was that Theodore wasn't among those fools.

Sure enough, a furious Professor McGonagall began docking points from Slytherin by the bucketload, though she did award five points to Draco for his "timely intervention."

"It doesn't look like I can get close to him right now. Tell Harry 'congratulations' for me."

"And from me as well."

Appearing beside a smirkng Draco was Cedric Diggory. With a gentle smile devoid of any malice, he offered a sincere compliment: "That’s a great broom." His goodness was blinding. To a cynical person like me and a wicked one like Draco, he was a radiant man.

"Look, Maria. Your hair is a mess again. And it’s such a beautiful shade of red, too."

"Oh, thanks, Cedric."

But it was Draco who grabbed Cedric's arm as he reached out to run his fingers through my hair as usual.

"Draco?"

"I’ll look after Maria. Why don't you go comfort your girlfriend from Ravenclaw, Mr. Diggory? ...She's watching you with quite the look in her eyes."

"Whoa."

"I keep telling her it’s not like that with Maria... Sorry, Maria. I’ll leave her to you, Mr. Malfoy."

Cedric ran off toward Cho. Being popular is certainly a lot of work.

"Alright, Maria. Turn around."

"Are you going to fuss over it again? I hate it when you style it because Hermione always teases me..."

And Harry gets a little sulky, too.

"Then learn how to do it yourself."

"I’ve gotten decent at doing other people’s hair. Did you know? I’m the one who braids Hermione's hair sometimes."

Ignoring the rowdy Gryffindors nearby, my tangled hair was swiftly gathered into a half-up style. He was fast. For a second, I thought I heard him mutter, "If only I had one of Mother's barrettes here..." but I chose to play deaf.

The hair ornament you gave me last year is plenty, I thought. The kind of jewelry a Noble family wears is far too intimidating to even touch.

When I returned to the Common Room with my hair intricately twisted, a massive victory party was in full swing. Honeydukes sweets covered the tables, and the sound of Butterbeer mugs clinking in toasts echoed everywhere. Even Hermione, who was currently fighting with Ron, had abandoned her mountain of homework to join the festivities.

"The Princess has returned!"

"Clear a path to the Great Lord Harry!"

"Present a Butterbeer to the Savior’s Big Sister!"

I was hoisted up by the crowd, with the Weasley twins leading the charge. I was sat down next to Harry, a tankard of Butterbeer thrust into my hand. We exchanged wry smiles. Everyone had clearly forgotten the original reason for the party; they just wanted an excuse to be as loud and rowdy as possible.

The teenage revelry continued until Professor McGonagall stormed in wearing her dressing gown to shut us down.

"Hey, Maria."

Amidst the soft breathing of Lavender and Parvati, Hermione whispered from the bed next to mine.

"What is it, Hermione?"

"Your hair looked really cute today, too."

"How do you always notice?"

"Of course I notice. I'm always watching you."

We shared a light, quiet giggle.

It was a gentle night. A peace we hadn't felt in days. A night that should have ended with a simple "goodnight."

—Until a scream ripped through Gryffindor Tower.

"Wait, what happened?"

"Is the party starting again?"

"Don't be stupid. Was that Ron?"

The students, jolted awake, scrambled into the Common Room. Amidst the debris of the party, Harry’s roommates were looking around in a panic, centered on a stunned Harry and a trembling Ron.

"Will you keep it down! Really... everyone, back to bed!"

Percy appeared, having gone to the trouble of pinning his Prefect badge to his pajamas. Ron, his face deathly pale, appealed to him.

"N-no, Perce. Just now—"

"What is the meaning of this!"

Professor McGonagall had returned, her shoulders squared in fury. This time, she was wearing a hairnet.

"Every single one of you... Percy, and with you here, too!"

"P-Professor——it’s Black."

An icy silence fell—the kind that usually followed when Harry accidentally uttered Voldemort’s name.

"...Mr. Weasley, what did you just say?"

"Black—Sirius Black attacked me! Harry saw him too!"

Confusion bled into the silence. Everyone exchanged looks, searching for the truth.

"...Is this true, Potter?"

"...Yes."

"Very well. Everyone, do not move."

With a firm stride, Professor McGonagall disappeared through the portrait hole. She was questioning Sir Cadogan, asking if he had let a man inside.

"Oh, I did indeed, milady!"

This time, the silence that followed swallowed even Professor McGonagall.

"The... the password..."

"He had it! He was reading it off a slip of paper!"

No one could move. No one could speak.

Wrapped in a heavy atmosphere where even breathing felt like a crime, Professor McGonagall stood before the students once more.

"...Who was it?"

Her voice trembled with rage.

"—Who was the utter fool who left a list of the passwords lying around?"

"It was me."

Every eye moved at once. Toward the red-headed girl who had stepped forward, pushing past a pale Neville.

"Professor, it was me."

Everyone knew it was a lie. Even McGonagall knew. And yet, the girl did not back down.

"I... I lost the memo, and let Sirius Black inside."