First Place - Angst

The morning of the first Gryffindor game of the season, against Slytherin of course, Harry sat at the Gryffindor table picking at his food. He never ate much, but he had absolutely no appetite that morning. The Gryffindor team was full of pre-game spirits, talking loudly and smiling widely.

Harry just wanted to crawl into a corner and disappear for the day.

He didn't know why he promised Ron he would watch the game. It was the last thing he wanted to do, to sit in the stands and not on his broom, to observe while the team played without him. He knew he would spend the entire game following the snitch and fighting to keep himself from yelling at his seeker to get it over with and catch the damn thing.

Not even Hermione, who usually understood what was upsetting Harry without even asking, was helping. She was caught up in preparing for the Halloween Ball, making sure every little thing was just perfect. It was all she could talk about in Hogsmeade the day before, until Ron dragged her off for places unknown. Harry had ended up with Lavender and Parvati, of all people, probably the only other seventh years that weren't in the village with dates.

The girls had been surprisingly tolerable. They still gossiped too much, and were too impressed with Divination and Professor Trelawney, but they hadn't insisted he talk about anything at all. He was able to think his own thoughts and interject an opinion or two on their conversation when he felt like it.

Still, he said no when Lavender asked him to be her date to the ball. She was less insulted at his answer when he assured her he wasn't going with a date. He wasn't about to add another person to Voldemort's list. It was too dangerous for anyone to be associated with Harry Potter that way. His reasoning had startled both girls but they nodded understanding. He had ended the day in the owlery again, talking to Hedwig.

"Come on Harry," Hermione tugged at his sleeve.

Harry stopped stirring his porridge, which still nearly filled the bowl, "Hm?"

"The team is already out there. We have to get to the stands if we want good seats," Hermione brushed a few strands of hair out of her face.

The haircut Ginny had given her was a big hit. Harry hadn't noticed the reaction of the rest of the school until Lavender and Parvati asked him about it in Hogsmeade. Apparently, Hermione had actually purchased some hair care potions in Diagon Alley and was paying much more attention to her daily appearance. To Harry she was still just Hermione.

"Do we have to?" Harry looked up at her with what he hoped was a significantly pathetic expression.

Hermione huffed, "Do not look at me that way Harry Potter. You promised Ron you would watch the game and that is exactly what you are going to do, even if I have to Petrificus you and float you out there myself."

Harry gave in. There was no arguing with Hermione when she had her mind set on something like that. He abandoned his almost untouched meal and followed her outside, blinking at the sudden brightness. He could instantly feel the heat from the sun's rays and it made him feel warmer and happier. He stretched and leaned his head back, soaking in as much of the sun's radiance as he could.

"I swear," Hermione whispered to him, "you do that on purpose."

"Do what?" Harry looked at her in confusion.

"There's a group of girls over there just drooling at you," Hermione stopped him from looking with a hand on his cheek. "You have no idea how hot they think you are do you?"

Harry shook his head, "It's just the Boy-Who-Lived thing 'Mione. It has nothing to do with actual attraction."

He wasn't scanning, as he kept his shields as high as he could almost every moment in that school. There was just too much feeling all over the place for him to open up comfortably. Nevertheless, he could sense exasperation coming from his best friend.

"Let's just go find seats," Harry sighed and took her arm.

There were fewer people in the stands at that point than Harry thought there would be. It was no trouble getting a block of seats at the front of the Gryffindor section.

"They'll fill up soon," Hermione assured him. "Oh! There's Luna. I have to ask her something."

Hermione jumped up from her seat and left Harry alone while she went off towards the Ravenclaw section of the stands. Harry sighed and leaned back, putting his feet up and closing his eyes. His skin began to feel pleasantly heated until he felt a shadow fall over him. He opened his eyes and saw the silhouetted shape of his old quidditch captain standing above him.

"Trying to get a tan Harry?" Oliver asked with clear amusement. "It doesn't look like you need it. Did you spend your whole summer in the sun?"

"Nearly. Oliver?" Harry sat up. "What are you doing here?"

"We heard you weren't playing anymore," there was another voice behind Oliver and Harry looked around him to see Alicia Spinnett, "though Gred and Forge refused to tell us why, exactly."

Katie was standing next to her a moment later, "So we all thought you could use some moral support."

"Lee wanted to come but Fred and George convinced him to watch the store for them. He's going to open their New York branch for them in a few months." A hug took Harry from behind and he felt his muscles tighten from the unfamiliar contact, "What on Earth made you quit the team?"

Harry turned when the hug ended and saw Angelina standing with Fred and George, "It's a long story."

His former teammates all sat down around him, surrounding him completely. Fred ruffled Harry's hair, "We've got all day Harry. After all, we don't actually have to pay attention to the game."

Harry breathed in deeply and let out a sigh, "I can't really talk about it. Almost no one knows."

"They didn't make you, did they?" George's eyes narrowed. Harry shook his head, "Good. You get enough shit from them without something like that too."

"What are you talking about?" Alicia gave them a funny look. Fred leaned over and whispered something to her. Her eyes widened and she whispered back.

"Do the rest of us get to know?" Oliver asked.

Harry sighed again, "Do you know what the Order is?"

Katie leaned in to listen while George and Angelina distracted the students around them with some of the twins' new products. Oliver nodded and spoke in a conspiratorial whisper, "The Order of the Phoenix, right, Professor Dumbledore's organization that fights You-Know-Who?"

"That's it," Harry said quietly. "As you can probably guess I've had a lot to do with them."

Katie brushed her hair back, "You and your Dad are members?"

"Dad is," Harry answered, "but not me. He spied for Dumbledore, not the Ministry like the paper claimed. I can't be an official member until after I graduate."

Oliver nodded, a speculative in his eye, "How would someone join if they wanted to?"

Harry thought for a moment. Oliver was in a good position to recruit members as a professional quidditch player, "Talk to the headmaster. I can bring you to his office after the game."

Oliver grinned and Katie nodded, "Me too."

The seven of them spent the rest of the time before the game catching up. Angelina was still dating Fred, and she was in touch with the other girls, so Harry and Oliver were really the only ones who didn't know what everyone else was doing. As her parents were muggles, Angelina was attending University. She was getting a muggle degree in psychology before deciding on a career, an agreement she made with her parents years ago to give both worlds a chance.

Alicia had spent a year working as a low-level intern at the Daily Prophet, and had almost quit because of the articles they were printing. She hadn't been the only one on the staff who wasn't happy though and she stuck it out.

"I'm in the Sports section now," Alicia grinned widely. "I don't get to report on games yet but I'm getting there. I actually have a few connections," she elbowed Oliver, "so I have a better chance than some."

"I'm not a connection?" Harry put on a show of looking hurt.

"I thought you didn't...," Alicia looked nervous. "I wouldn't dream of..."

George laughed and slung an arm around her waist, "He's having you on, love."

The others started laughing and Harry smiled at her in apology, "Don't worry about it. I generally hate the Boy-Who-Lived stuff but it's got to be good for something, right?"

"I'll hold you to that," Alicia pointed at him.

Harry twisted in his seat, "I know what Oliver's doing, and the twins keep me updated on my investment, so that just leaves Katie."

Katie grinned but didn't say a word. Oliver was grinning as well and provided the answer, "You're looking at a reserve Chaser for the Tutshill Tornados."

Harry whistled, "Nice."

Katie was favored with hugs and slaps from her other former teammates. She opened her mouth to say something but was interrupted with Colin's voice announcing the teams. They all cheered loudly for the Gryffindor team.

"And I've just been informed that we have a full former team in the stands," Colin added, "the Gryffindor team of four years ago, who were all together on the team for three years, nearly undefeated."

Harry's former teammates then found themselves getting introduced to the people standing and sitting around them. No one was sitting for long though. The game was intense from the moment the balls were released, as games between Gryffindor and Slytherin rarely failed to be.

He couldn't help but concentrate on the game. Being surrounded by his fellow former quidditch players helped, but Harry still felt this hollow spot as he watched his Housemates streak around the pitch. Throughout the game there was always someone touching him, a hand on his arm or on his back, or one of the Weasley twins almost literally hanging on him. The two mischief makers joined in the group of Harry hair tamers, though they tending to work with the opposite intention of most.

The snitch glowed bright green the whole time. Harry tried not to, but he had at least one eye on it the whole time, even when it meant he was looking the other way than the rest of the crowd. He swore under his breath a few times when the Gryffindor seeker missed excellent opportunities to catch the elusive ball. The girl just didn't see it.

Oliver yelled out congratulations to Ron with each block. If the youngest male Weasley noticed the professional keeper in the crowd he gave no sign... which meant he didn't notice. Harry knew Ron didn't have the ability to hide the tension that he would feel if he knew Oliver was there.

Fred and George taunted the other team, yelling out sayings that had their friends laughing hysterically and McGonagall glaring.

There was an obvious foul on Slytherin's part, but Madame Hooch was facing the other way and didn't see, "Hey ref, if you had one more eye you'd be a cyclops...!"

"...A blind cyclops!" they finished together.

Then when the Slytherin missed a rather easy goal, "Our grandmother shoots better than that..."

"...and she's dead!"

At a random point when the stands were rather quiet Fred yelled out, "Hey, let's see some unnecessary violence out there!"

To which George replied, "What are you talking about Fred? Violence is always necessary!"

They gave each Slytherin player a nickname, like 'Ferret' for Malfoy, and 'Idiot One' and 'Idiot Two' for Crabbe and Goyle, and yelled out sound effects for all their movements. Quidditch had always been fun for Harry, but he had never before had his sides hurt from laughing so much during a game.

When the seekers dove for the ground, with Fred and George chanting 'crash crash crash crash' and pumping their fists in the air, the whole crowd watched them in anticipation. Harry wondered if the stands went almost entirely silent whenever he was playing and dove for the snitch. He had always been too focused to notice.

"Gryffindor wins 220 - 70!" Colin shrieked over the noise of the cheers.

Malfoy looked furious. Harry almost felt sorry for the Slytherin seeker. Finally, Harry wasn't playing and still Slytherin didn't manage to beat Gryffindor. He probably would have caught the snitch if it wasn't for a bludger that had forced him off course at the last minute, hit by his own beaters. The blond was gripping his bruised shoulder, yelling at his team, and trying to fend off Madame Hooch who was most likely trying to get him to the hospital wing. After a time Malfoy barked out a series of orders and stormed off.

The former Gryffindor Quidditch Team waited for the stands to empty out, sitting back down in the bleachers.

"I almost forgot how good Hogwarts quidditch can be," Oliver shook his head.

Harry smiled at him, "Anyone want to join in on a victory party?"

"Of course!" Fred exclaimed.

George leaned forward and draped him arms around Harry, "Have you ever known us to not join in on a party?"

"Well...," Harry smirked at the twins. "I assume the two of you went camping at some point this summer."

"You had a party and didn't invite us?" Fred looked crushed.

Harry laughed, "They weren't my parties."

"Headmaster first?" Oliver requested with a raised eyebrow at Harry and the Weasleys.

Harry nodded, "Definitely. We can congratulate the team at the party."

The seven of them left the stands, otherwise empty by then, and skirted the mass of students gathered on the field. Harry led them through the corridors to the gargoyle in front of Dumbledore's office, "Sucking Sourballs."

"One of my favorites," Fred said fondly. It was one of the twins' latest creations, lemon drops so sour they made the face pucker involuntarily, and rather exaggeratedly.

"Come in everyone," Harry heard from behind the thick door. He took a deep breath and forced himself to block as much of the magic seeing sense as he could. He had no desire to be blinded by the headmaster.

They entered the office and Fred and George immediately availed themselves of the lemon drops held out. Harry gave the headmaster a suspicious look though.

"They have no relation to my password," Dumbledore assured him with a twinkle.

Harry took a lemon drop and played one of his latest games... guess what potion the drops are laced with, "Calming Draught?"

"I thought you might need some," Dumbledore responded, his voice showing clear concern. Harry gave the man a small smile in thanks as the tension began to bleed out of his body. There was a twinge of guilt for the distance between them, but Harry knew it was not entirely his fault. "What brings you here?"

There were seven chairs waiting on the other side of the desk from the headmaster and each of the young wizards and witches took one. Harry, of course, was right in the middle and discovered he was the designated spokesman.

"Oliver and Katie have offered their services," Harry said casually.

"Us too," Alicia spoke up, referring to herself and Angelina.

Dumbledore lost the twinkle in his eye and gazed at them over his half-moon spectacles gravely, "Do you know what it is you are offering?"

All four of them nodded but it was Angelina who answered, "You-Know-Who is after Harry and wants to control the wizarding world. I want to do my part to prevent it."

"None of you can protect me," Harry felt the need to assure they weren't joining the Order just because of him. "I'll have to fight him eventually."

"And we'll help you," Katie said firmly. The others all had the same determined look as her. "You're one of us Harry, our teammate even if our team isn't playing anymore."

"We won't let you go after him alone," Oliver insisted.

Harry couldn't respond. He had opened himself up to their emotions a bit and felt the same thing from them he had felt from the dragons that spring. They were all angry on his behalf and concerned about him. He shut himself off before he was overwhelmed with the depth of feeling these people had for him. Harry also wondered exactly how much the twins had told them.

"Fred and George will contact each of you with instructions," Dumbledore said after a lengthy pause. "Do not speak of your involvement with the Order to anyone outside it, or in public, unless you are told otherwise." The group that been nearly falling off their seats in laughter only fifteen minutes earlier were nodding solemnly. "For now just keep your ears and eyes open and tell the twins about anything that seems suspicious to you."

Harry had been in the headmaster's presence often enough to know his cues for the end of a conversation, and it appeared that the twins had picked up on it as well. All three of them stood, and the others followed.

"I invited them up to the Tower if that's alright," Harry stated, just to let Dumbledore know.

He nodded and gave Harry a little smile, "Please stop by in the morning Harry. We have a few things to discuss."

Harry nodded. He had the first class period on Mondays free. At the bottom of the stairs, out of the headmaster's powerful presence, the happy mood seemed to return to the group. Even with his shields up Harry could sense an underlying seriousness to them and was a little stunned to realize that he no longer thought of his friends as children.

Fred and George took up position on either side of Harry. They grinned identical grins and began badgering Harry for information.

"You can tell us now right?" Fred asked.

George continued, "This lot's in the loop now."

Oliver interrupted the interrogation though, "It was obvious... if you were paying attention."

The twins looked at their former captain, who was smiling smugly, and started to pester him. He wasn't giving up Harry's latest talent any sooner than Harry was though... granted that he had guessed correctly. Harry wouldn't be surprised if he did. The reserve keeper for Puddlemere United had a good eye for detail. It was what made him an excellent keeper, that and superb reflexes and flying skills.

"Oh fine you parasites...," Oliver started but Harry shot a silencing charm at him before he could say anymore.

Harry glared at them, "Not here you idiots. Never talk about anything in the corridors here unless you want the whole world to know by breakfast."

They were stopped a few steps down from the Fat... Evangeline. Angelina looked Harry up down, "Okay, now I see the resemblance."

"Definitely Snape's son," Alicia agreed with a low whistle, "much cuter, though."

Harry felt his cheeks start to heat up and the twins laughed at him. He removed the silencing charm from Oliver and led the group inside the common room. They were greeted with cheers and handed bottles of butterbeer. The former team congratulated the current team and Ron pulled Oliver aside for a discussion on keeper tactics.

The conversation that had been nipped in the bud outside the Tower had to wait several hours, until after the party. Then the former Gryffindors joined Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, and Harry in Hermione's private Head Girl room and Harry shared one of his many secrets with his friends.

He closed his eyes and opened up his senses to examine each one of them carefully. Ginny was clearly the most powerful person in the room after Harry. She would surpass all her brothers in raw power alone and Harry felt a smile form. Based on their emotions, straightforward, honest concern for him, he could trust every person around him.

"Move around and don't talk," Harry told them softly. He didn't have to speak loudly, as they were all silently waiting for him.

There was a shuffling noise when they all obeyed after a beat. Harry kept his eyes closed the entire time. When they stopped he held out one hand and started pointing. Not only had they switched seats, they moved the seats themselves at Ron's prompting.

"Hermione, Oliver, Ron, Katie, George, Ginny, Alicia, Neville, and Angelina is sitting on Fred's lap there," Harry indicated and then opened his eyes to see stunned faces behind the currents of magic flowing all over the room. Only Ron wasn't surprised. Oliver looked like his guess had been verified, but he was still amazed. "Incidentally, Ginny is definitely the most powerful Weasley."

The red haired girl grinned widely at her brothers who were putting on a big act of looking insulted. It wasn't long before the twins launched themselves at her, Angelina jumping out of the way at the last moment, and began tickling her until tears were running out of her eyes.

Finding the Key - Chapter 25

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