On the ground one of the Gryffindor girls screamed "Look at how high he is, if he falls he'll die."
Neville looked down and blanched the color of rice paper. Harry wanted to slap her, whoever she was. He watched as Neville's grip faltered and he started to fall. Harry instinctively locked his legs around his broom and maintaining his grip with his weaker arm he lunged with his other to catch Neville as he started to fall. Mentally swearing "this is gonna hurt." for they were forty feet above the ground.
Neville was no lightweight Harry managed to grab his arm but when his weight was arrested it caused three things to happen. Harry felt Neville's shoulder pop out of joint. He felt his own strain almost to the popping point if he were one iota less strong it would've, and it caused his broom to flip so he was now hanging from it by his legs and his one arm. Harry willed his broom downwards. It was more of a controlled plummet than an actual flight but when they reached the ground neither boy hit hard enough for anything more than a small bruise.
Madam Hooch hustled over "Are you boys alright?"
"Neville's arm is dislocated at the shoulder, I felt it pop. Mine is strained. But other than that I think we're okay."
"Could you escort him to the infirmary?"
"Yes Ma'am."
"Good job Mr. Potter. Twenty points to Slytherin for saving a classmate."
"Thank you Professor."
Twenty minutes, four potions and one spell later the two boys sat having a cup of tea. Madame Pomfrey had fixed Neville's shoulder given both of them a dose of potion to fix the soft tissue damage and a dose of pain reliever. She allowed Harry to stay with the understanding that if Neville dropped off Harry was to leave. Neville would be spending the night in the infirmary because he showed signs of shock.
"I thought I was gonna die Harry."
"Not going to happen Neville. Not if I have anything to say about it, I haven't got enough family that I can afford to ignore what family I've got. Ditto for friends. But I've got one request before I save you again, can you trim down a little? That was hard on my shoulder."
"You don't seem to have that problem, can you show me how?"
"Sure, you've got sweats and trainers right?"
"No."
"Fine, over Christmas go to Lillywhite's in London they have tons of stuff. Have, say about one hundred fifty pounds, which is like thirty galleons. Find a pair of trainers have the staff help you choose. Tell them you want cross-trainers, they'll do the rest. Get a pair of sweat pants and a sweatshirt. In the meantime I can teach you some tai chi that will work you on strength and balance. Eat less sugary foods, eat more fruit and vegetables, drink more water, less Pumpkin juice. Neville?"
"Yeah Harry?"
"Do you know where I could find some books on Occlumency? I've checked the library here at school, there's nothing."
"Have you tried Owl order with Flourish and Blott's?"
"Owl order is that anything like mail order?" After a few minutes Harry was sure owl order was exactly like mail order. Harry noticed Neville starting to drift off so he said goodbye to his friend only to meet Hermione on the way out. After reassuring her Neville was fine but asleep. He listened to how Ron and Draco had managed to smash Neville's rememberall. Harry was partly saddened because his friend regarded it as proof of his Gran's love. Harry thought it was more like a reminder of how low her opinion was.
A week and a half later, Harry ran across two lions and an eagle picking on a slightly older solitary Slytherin. One of the Lions was pinning the Slytherin boy. When he saw Harry he said "This doesn't concern you keep moving and nothing will happen to you, firstie."
"Gees. Sorry to disappoint you, but I really can't do that."
"Course you can pipsqueak. Or we'll make an example of a little snake as well."
"No I am afraid I can't, you see I just have this thing against bullies. I see one and it's all I can do not to rip their heads off and use them like chamber pots. Let him go and walk away, that is your best option."
The older of the lions pointed his wand at the other Slytherin " incarcerous ." Then his wand shifted to Harry. "I think it's time for a little fun with the baby snake. Those were some awfully big words pipsqueak. Rictum -"
Harry didn't wait for him to finish he quickly ran forward and shifted the wand away from his attacker's ability to use it on him treating it for all intents like a knife in the fight. Harry smoothly moved so he could do a disarm and do a modified hip throw. Ten seconds later the lion was on the ground and his wand had been thrown to the far end of the hall. Harry followed through with a punch that left his opponent trying to remember how to breathe.
"Leave!" Harry ordered. The other two boys looked unsure the youngest one raised his wand but his grip was loose. Harry closed his eyes and reached for his core on opening his eyes he whispered " Accio wand!"closing his hand in a grasping motion. He realized it was unlikely to work but he was also reluctant to draw his wand on another student. Something about snakes not getting the benefit of the doubt from most of the teachers and prefects. The boy fumbled his wand badly. The eagle decided this new snake was more of a threat than he first appeared, turned to say to his cohorts, "Come on Cameron, Cormac, us McLaggens can get our revenge on the Yaxleys another day."
It took a moment but they left. Harry pulled out his wand, he had learned in his readings that a simple Finite canceled most spells . He canceled the spell holding the other boy.
"Thanks I owe you."
....
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