Thunder rolled across the hills down to the stadium. The sky was dark with clouds and the downpour clattered like buckets of water against the sheets protecting the stands. Any commentating would be drowned out by the noise of the thunderstorm that had been raging since noon.
Luci was standing eyes closed trying to calm her breathing. Seeing Reg move he put his arm to block him.
"I think she needs some time, she'll be fine." he whispered.
Regulus nodded, he seemed nervous himself.
Darcy paced, going over plays in his head. McConnell and Filby, both beaters, were whispering in a corner. Harry didn't really have any pre-match rituals or habits, he was usually most at home thrown into the fire, but he did feel slightly nervous. Luci finally opened her eyes. At the sight of the team Captain focused with vigor he straightened his shoulders. With a steely look she addressed them.
"Who's the best damn team in all of Hogwarts!?"
"We are!" they all responded.
"Who's going to go out there and show Ravenclaw how this game's played!"
"We are!"
"You're damn right! And when we're done with them, only Hufflepuff stands in our way! Who's ready for a perfect victory!"
With battle cries and fire in their belly the Slytherin team swished in formation to the pitch, making a full round of the terrain. Streaks of broken rain marked their entrance as they did, resulting in muffled cries of the audience. The place was packed to capacity despite the weather.
Not much later the Ravenclaw team came in like a tornado. Even in the minimal visibility, the seeker's azure gaze stood out. He'd seen little of her flying their match against Hufflepuff. But she was good, probably even better than James Potter. Every maneuver was calculated, down tho the millimeter. Lightning lit the hills in the distance, much closer now.
Proceedings finished and both teams took place across from each other. Harry had a looking joust with the black haired team Captain and seeker, the start was sounded and they scattered. It became clear immediately that the snitch would be a matter of pure luck, and in these conditions a prolonged match was a harrowing thought. They'd planned for this, and Harry took his place as a screen for the chasers.
This was proving more than necessary, with the Ravenclaw beaters and chasers never letting up pressure. Darcy got shoved a few times, along with Prester. They were both flanking Luci as they'd practiced. Harry too got the occasional body block as they raced from goal to goal. His role wasn't to be a full cover but to provide assistance while keeping an eye on his counterpart.
Helena herself was fully on offense, adding to the pressure play, but the Ravenclaw team lagged behind. Slytherin chasers had managed to pull the lead ahead 50 points, 130 to 70. McConnell and Filby also had overwhelming control of the bludgers. Things were proceeding well enough. If they kept up the pace there might even be no need for him to pull a miracle.
The harshness of the weather was a real problem. Flying in these wind conditions was tiring them quickly, even with their crazy endurance training behind them. He didn't feel confident about being able to go full swing for another 50 minutes, or more if things got bad enough. 60 points and we're safe. The score had advanced to 270 to 180.
It was just one moment of inattention, Helena slipped outside his field of view and a bludger whistled over their heads. He heard a thump from his right side.
"Duck!"
Too late. Using her broom, the opposing seeker had redirected the bludger into their formation, it missed him, missed Darcy. He heard a crack and clack. Luci passed the ball to her left and it found the middle hoop.
"Call the ref!" he shouted to Darcy, who held up his hand, flying ahead.
Luci whimpered, holding her right arm, which was bent below the elbow.
"You need to call a time-out." he told her.
She agreed, and a moment later they descended, retreating to the awning of the locker room. Regulus ran over.
"What happened? Did the bludger get you?"
Luci winced. "I'm fine, just tape me up. Like hell I'm missing this match!"
What happened? came a voice in his head.
He went for his wand, recognizing Lily.
Luci broke her arm, it's not looking good.
A moment of silence, then.
Can you stall? Just wait, okay.
He nodded, realizing she couldn't see that, and went over to Darcy.
"How much time do we have?"
He looked over at the clock in the lockers. "Ten minutes? Why?"
"Possibly a solution."
He went over to Luci, whose distress and frustration was obvious. "Hey, how is it?"
"Probably the radius. Damn it hurts."
"Hang in there."
She looked at him dejectedly. "Thanks for the optimism, but Pomfrey doesn't get involved mid-match. I think this is it for me."
"Maybe not." he answered, and her look turned to confusion.
Only a few minutes later he saw Lily peeking behind the entrance, having gone around back.
"Hey. What did you have in mind?"
She looked over to Luci who was sitting clutching her arm. "Damn. It really means that much to her?"
"Yeah. I mean with luck I'll get the snitch but to be honest..."
"Guess I'll be her knight in shining armour today." she smiled.
Without further comment, she made her way to the injured captain.
"Can you show me your arm? Try to hold it straight."
Luci did, and Reg looked in concern between Lily and Harry.
"Brackium Emendo."
A blue light passed over the arm and with a snap and a piercing cry the spell ended. Luci caught her breath and moved her arm around, testing it.
"It's not a permanent solution, you'll need to see Pomfrey when the match is over."
Luci smiled. "Thank you."
Lily came over to him and claimed a kiss. "Will you win the bloody match now?"
"Thanks, Lil."
After her leaving, he went over to Luci.
"I can see why you fell for her now. I owe her."
"No joke." Reg said.
Luci stood up. The ref was coming over to signal the end of time-out. With a determined smile, Luci turned to him. "Now go find me my darn snitch."
The Ravenclaw players looked defeated to see the chaser still standing, flying. He broke the plan, on his way to find the elusive snitch. The exchange between the teams had stalled for 15 minutes and the advantage they worked so hard on was growing thinner. Clearly the mending was only partial. They would have to rely on him.
The Ravenclaw seeker noticed it first, he was already fifteen feet behind when the chase started. Every second they she closer, Harry was able to gain some ground by sheer intuition. But no doubt she would catch it, she was as competent a flier as he was. A few feet now between them.
He saw an opportunity. His quidditch player mind took over as the snitch took another turn, sharp to the upper left. The training wasn't for nothing, as the Ravenclaw seeker lagged just a tad on the curve, he darted out an elbow with the full weight of his broom behind it, striking ribs. A flash of the girl tumbling out of the sky was all he saw as he continued the chase. Unhindered it took only a grueling effort to close. He caught it, exhausted, and for the first time looked below.
The seeker Helena was on the ground getting ready to fly back up when she saw the conclusion and her eyes flashed with anger. He'd been there, and that one hurt. But they stood victorious. As he saw his teammates close, it had all been worth it. This time everyone was gathered around their captain, who barely contained her emotion.
Lucinda was more quiet than he expected. She didn't say much as the victory settled in, or as they all went to Pomfrey, who gave her a potion after casting a few spells to see the damage. They went back to the dungeons and had a private celebration. As the evening wound down it became obvious she wanted to talk, alone. She got Regulus to go up with a promise they'll properly celebrate once they held the cup.
The fire crackled in stillness, the storm had blown over. Luci sat with her knees up on one end of the couch, he sat on the other, sinking in the cushions feeling the familiar post-match soreness set in. She seemed less lost than before her confession.
"I did catch your little stunt. Looked over when we lost the quaffle."
"Whatever it takes to win, right?"
She laughed. "I guess we would've never made it here if it weren't for you. Then at the same time I wouldn't be feeling so broken up about something else."
"I'm thankful you know," she continued, "for Reg, Darcy, the whole team, Nathan. For you being here helping make it happen. Even for your girlfriend saving my arse."
"Do you still–"
"Want my dream to come true?" She giggled. "You thought I'd say no? You didn't answer by the way."
He couldn't, not that he would betray Lily's trust. "You deserve it. The cup, I mean."
"Just the cup?" she grinned.
He shook his head.
"I'll stop torturing myself, good night, Harry."
-sSsSsSsSs-
He did a final check. He had borrowed two brooms for him and Lily to ride to their final destination in tandem. Aside from that he had a few essentials packed, most of which had been leftovers from Hermione's preparation. He also brushed up on some possibly useful spells, although it was hard to anticipate anything. The idea of a basilisk had remained in his mind and just for that he had found a reflection charm that would at least protect them from immediate death if it gazed upon them. He really hoped it wasn't a basilisk.
They met at Hogsmeade. All dressed up they made quite the formidable quartet.
"So we're sure the wards don't extend all the way to here?" Remus asked.
"Quite sure, tested it earlier." Severus said.
"Well then. Ready?" Lily asked.
They all held onto her hand and braced for apparition. Twisting and turning through space at impossible angles they emerged with a pop in a clearing. They spent a minute reeling, Harry recovering a bit more quickly, being used to the method of travel. He took out his broom and Lily's from the impossibly roomy bag. Severus mounted behind him and Remus behind her.
"It's about 20 minutes north of here." she said applying a disillusionment charm to them.
"Lead on." Harry said.
A short ride over the highlands later, they arrived at the location. A stream carved a path into the hills and below was an open area next to a pine forest. They circled for a minute.
"I don't see it." she said.
"Maybe it's not here any more. Let's touch down anyway."
They lowered to the grasslands and reappeared one by one, Severus being glad to be off the broom. Looking around, there was nothing.
"So it's been, destroyed?" Lily said.
Something wasn't right.
"It feels strange, somehow." Severus said.
"Yes, don't you feel that? Like electricity in the air." said Harry.
"Wards maybe." Remus said.
He went for his want but grunted. "I feel useless without magic. Lily?"
Remus was the only one still under the Trace. Lily took out her wand and fired a detection charm.
The whole area lit up with magical signatures. One was turquoise and covered the entire area south of them for about 200 feet. One ran over the grass, fading from the center. A few more lingered in the air, tethered to the ground at different points.
"Seems like whatever it is, is centered down there. Wards definitely, I'd be surprised if much magic made it out of this, or in." Lily said.
"Do you think it's safe then?" Remus asked.
"We'll know more once we get inside. Don't think the wards are going to hurt us."
Lily transfigured a bird from a pebble and sent it towards the wards. It disappeared, and a few seconds later flew right back out, unharmed. Lily shrugged. With clammy hands, Harry watched her go into the dome and hurriedly followed.
Instantly the scenery changed. Inside, the grasslands gave way for shrubs and stone columns, all leading to a still gray construction that bore no resemblance to the painted cottage. The cold was now a pleasant spring warmth. It was adjoined by two blooming cherry trees. They inched their way forward, the granite and marble immaculate. Atop the columns were carved different busts of people bereft of names. Men, women, hats, feathers and caps. So many different faces lost to time.
Standing before the entrance, it seemed gargantuan. The door itself was at least 20 feet in height and on it were engraved frills, dancing figures and flowery patterns. They seemed to gleam in the sunlight that shouldn't have been there. A thought crossed his mind, that this was another time. He looked behind him, but the sights ended at the outset of the magical circle. Features of the landscape they flew over blended into a blurred mist, suggesting this was a contained charm.
"I'm going to hazard a guess and say the Trace won't be able to find anything here." Severus said.
The rest gave an agreement.
"What do you think we'll find in there?" Remus asked.
"I don't know, but I have a feeling we're not just going to get in and out." Harry said.
"Looks like a-"
"Tomb?" Lily said.
"Yeah. A sepulchre?"
Severus moved forward, eyeing the iron handle. He put his weight against it, pushing inwards, and his face turned tomato red with effort.
"Try pulling." Remus said with a grin on his face.
"Shut up!" Severus answered flicking back his hair. Even Lily was on the verge of breaking out into laughs.
With another try, hands on both handles, Severus pulled and darted away when the door gracefully swung open on its own, stone grinding on stone. Sconces inside lit by themselves one after the other, revealing a straight downward staircase with barren walls. They applied whatever protective charms they deemed necessary and the four of them palmed their wands.
"Keep an eye out for wraiths." Lily said, and they walked downwards into the catacombs.