Chapter 7: A Secret Let Slipped
As they entered November, the weather turned very cold. The mountains around the school became icy grey and the lake like chilled steel. Every morning, the ground was covered in frost. Hagrid could be seen from the upstairs windows defrosting broomsticks on the Quidditch pitch bundled up in a large moleskin coat, with rabbit fur gloves, and enormous beaver skin boots.
The Quidditch season had begun. On Saturday, Harry would be playing in his first match after weeks of training: Gryffindor versus Slytherin. If Gryffindor won, they would move up into second place in the house championship. No one really saw Harry play. Wood thought that Harry would be their secret weapon and that his training should be kept, well, secret. People had some how found out he was seeker. They had told him he'd be brilliant or that people would be running under him holding up a mattress.
Josh would try to comfort him. As the game grew closer, Harry became more and more nervous.
Harry and Ron were glad to have Hermione as a friend. They didn't know how they gotten all their homework done without her. Josh didn't really need her help as he did pretty good on his own. But as Harry and Ron were procrastinators, Josh sometimes would be seen doing homework with Hermione in the common room or the library. Other times, he would being doing work with his secret Slytherin friend. Since the troll incident, Hermione had become relaxed about breaking the rules and was very much nicer for it.
The day before Harry's first Quidditch match the four of them were out in the freezing courtyard during break, Hermione had conjured them up a bright blue fire that could be carried around in a jar sitting with their backs to it in a semi circle when Snape crossed the yard. Harry and Josh noticed he was limping. Harry, Josh, Hermione, and Ron moved closer to the fire to block it from Snape's view. They were sure it wouldn't be allowed. Unfortunately, something about the Gryffindors guilty faces, caught Snape's eye. He limped over. He didn't see the fire, but he looked for something to tell them off anyway.
"What's that you got there, Anderson?" Snape asked. Josh's eyebrows were raised. This was the first time Snape had addressed him, ever. Josh looked down at the book, Quidditch Through the Ages. He had borrowed it from Harry who borrowed it from Hermione. Josh showed him. "Library books are not to be taken outside the school," said Snape. "Give it to me. Five points from Gryffindor."
"He just made that rule up," Harry muttered angrily as Snape walked away book in hand.
"Sorry," Josh apologized Harry and Ron. He knew Harry needed the book for tips and that Ron wanted to read it next. Harry just shrugged it off with a sigh.
"Wonder what's wrong with his leg?" Hermione wondered.
"Don't know, but i hope it's hurting him," Ron said bitterly. He really wanted to read that book.
The Gryffindor Common Room was very noisy that evening. Harry, Josh, Ron, and Hermione were sat huddled together near a window. Hermione was checking Ron's paper while Josh looked ever Harry's. The two smart ones would never let the two lazy ones to copy their work. Josh and Hermione both agreed they would never learn from copying. But Harry and Ron knew by asking them to read it through, they would get the right answers anyways.
Josh looked over to Harry who looked bothered. "Alright there Harry?" He asked.
Harry sighed. "Just a little bit restless. I want the Quidditch book back. It would have taken by nerves away from the upcoming game." he said.
"Sorry, i didn't think he would take it up," Josh apologized.
"It's alright, he was probably going to take it up sooner or later," Harry replied then stood up with a stretch. "I'm going to ask Snape for the book back." he said.
"Rather you than me," Ron and Hermione said in unison. Josh rolled his eyes.
"Scared hippogriffs," Josh muttered under his breath then stood up as well. "I'll go with you." He said aloud. Harry nodded. "So how are you going to get the book back?" Josh asked once they were out of the common room.
"Oh i have an pffer he can't refuse if the other professors are listening." Harry answered with a smile. The two first years made their way down to the staff room and the knocked on the door. There was no answer. Harry knocked again. Nothing. "Perhaps Snape left the book in there," Harry said looking hopeful.
Josh shrugged. "Worth a try," he replied. Harry pushed the door ajar and peered inside. He let out a small gasp as a horrible scene met his eyes. Hearing him gasp, Josh joined Harry and peered inside the staff room and widened his eyes. Snape and Filch were inside alone. Snape was holding his robes above his knees. One of his legs was bloodied and mangled. Filch was handing Snape bandages.
"Blasted thing," Snape grumbled. "How are you suppose to watch all three heads at once." Harry and Josh kept from gasping, then tried to close the door quietly, but was unlucky. "Potter! Anderson!" Snape bellowed. His face was twisted in fury as he dropped his robes covering his mangled leg. Harry and Josh gulped.
"We were just wondering if we could have my book back," Harry sputtered.
"Get out! OUT!" Snape yelled. Harry and Josh backed up and ran all the way back to Gryffindor Tower. So much for being not afraid, Josh thought.
"Did you get it?" Ron asked hope in his eyes as Harry and Josh entered the common room.
"What's the matter?" Hermione asked seeing the two boys' expressions. In a low whisper, Harry and Josh told their friends what the had seen.
"You know what this means?" Harry finished breathlessly.
"He tried to get past that three headed dog at Halloween," Josh said.
"That must have been where he was going when we saw him," Harry added.
"Yeah, and he must be after what that dog was guarding," Josh put in again.
"And i bet my broomstick that he let that troll in as a diversion," Harry finished. Hermione's eyes were wide.
"No, he wouldn't!" Hermione said making the boys roll their eyes. "I know he isn't nice, but he wouldn't try to steal something Dumbledore was keeping safe."
"Honestly Hermione, you think all the teachers are saints or something." Ron snapped. "I'm with Harry and Josh. I wouldn't put it past Snape." Harry and Josh nodded in agreement.
"But what is it he was after?" Harry wondered. "And what was being guarded." They all shrugged and went to bed. Thoughts of the Quidditch match from their minds except for Harry who couldn't sleep. He was very nervous and anxious about his game come tomorrow. He finally fell asleep a little lat listening to Ron and Neville's snores.
The next morning dawned very bright and cold. The Great Hall was filled with the delicious smells of friend sausages, eggs, and fried bacon. Students were in cheerful chatter about the upcoming game that was about to happen in a couple of hours.
"You've got to eat some breakfast," Ron said.
"I don't want anything," Harry replied.
"Just a bit of toast," Hermione wheedled.
"I'm not hungry," Harry sighed. Josh, Hermione, and Ron looked at Harry. He looked terrible. Josh could almost feel Harry's nerves radiating off of him as he was going to play Quidditch in hours time.
"You need your strength Harry," Seamus said. "Seekers are the ones who get nobbled by the other team."
"Thanks Seamus," Harry said dryly as Seamus piled ketchup on his food.
"He's right, they all are," Josh said from Harry's right. Harry sighed and shrugged. "I'm not going to force feed you but it would be good to eat something so you won't faint or anything." Harry nodded and tried to eat his breakfast. Josh smiled at his other friends in triumph. Ron shrugged and stuffed his face, Seamus stuck his tongue out at Josh, and Hermione looked at him with a frown. It looked as if she wanted to be the one to get him to eat.
By eleven o'clock, the Quidditch Pitch was full of all the students and teachers of Hogwarts. Many students had binoculars. The seats were still high in the air, but it was still too difficult to see what was going on sometimes.
Ron, Josh and, Hermione joined Neville, Seamus, and Dean the West Ham fan up in the top row with the rest of Gryffindor house. As a surprise for Harry, they had drawn a large banner on one of the sheets Scabbers had ruined. It said 'Potter for President!' Dean, who was great at drawing, had drawn a large Gryffindor lion underneath the text. Josh had performed a tricky little charm that made the paint on the banner change colors.
"You did great on the color changing," Hermione said to Josh.
"Eh, It's okay," Josh said modestly. Hermione smiled but rolled her eyes at his modesty.
"What's taking so long?" Dean asked.
"Maybe Woods is giving them a long speech or something," Ron suggested.
Meanwhile in the changing rooms, Harry and the other team mates were changing into their scarlet Quidditch robes. Slytherin would be playing in green.
Wood cleared his throat for silence. "Okay men and women," he started. "This is it."
"The big one," said Fred with a hard determined expression.
"The one we've been waiting for,' said George with the identical facial expression.
"We know all of his speech by heart," Fred told Harry.
"We were on the team last year," George added.
"Shut it you two," Wood chided. "This is the best team Gryffindors had in years. We're going to win, I know it!" Wood glared at them all. "Right, it's time. Good luck all of you."
Harry followed Fred and Georg of out the changing rooms, hoping his knees would not give way. They stopped before entering the pitch.
"Scared Potter?" Wood asked. Harry nervously looked at Wood.
"A little," he answered.
"Felt the same way before my first game," Wood replied.
"What happened?" Harry asked.
"Uh, I don't really remember. Took a bludger to the head 2 minutes in and woke up in the Hospital a week later," Wood answered. Harry looked straight ahead and gulped.
Finally, the Gryffindors walked on to the pitch hearing the loud cheers. Madam Hooch was refereeing and she was standing in the center of the pitch waiting for the two teams, broom in hand.
"Now, i want a nice clean game from all of you," she said once they were all gathered around her. Harry noticed she seemed to be talking to the Slytherin captain, Marcus Flint, a fifth year. He looked to have troll blood in him. Out of the corner of his eye, Harry noticed a flashing banner that said 'Potter for President.' His heart skipped, he felt braver. "Mount your brooms, please!"
Harry clambered on to his Nimbus 2000. Madam Hooch blew her whistle and Fifteen brooms rose up, high, high into the air. And they were off.
"And the quaffle is take by Angelina Johnson of Gryffindor more than what an excellent Chaser that girl is and very attractive as well!" Lee Jordan said.
"Jordan!"
"Er sorry Professor!" Lee said. "And she's really belting along there, A neat pass to Alicia Spinnet, a good find by Oliver Wood, ...Alicia Spinnet, a good find of Oliver Wood's, last year only a reserve. Back to Johnson and no! Slytherin has taken the Quaffle. Slytherin captain, Marcus Flint, gains the quaffle and off he goes. Flint! he's going to score...No! Stopped by an excellent move by Gryffindor Keeper Oliver Wood. And Gryffindor takes the quaffle. Gryffindor chaser Katie Bell there, nice dive there around Flint, and off down the field and...ouch! That must of hurt! Hit in the back of the head by a bludger. Quaffle taken by Slytherin chaser Adrian Pucey speeding off toward the goal posts, but he's blocked by a second bludger coming from Fred or George Weasley, can't tell which. Nice play by the Gryffindor beater anyway. And Johnson back in possession of the Quaffle. She speeds off dodging everything in her way. Getting closer to the goal post! Come on Angelina! She shoots! Gryffindor scores!"
Gryffindor cheers filled the cold air around the Quidditch Pitch, with howls and moans from the Slytherins.
"Budge up there, move along." said a gruff voice. Josh, Ron, and Hermione looked over to see their tall friend Hagrid.
"Hagrid!" The there Gryffindors squeezed and moved around to give room for Hagrid to join them.
"Been watching from my hut," Hagrid said holding a big pair of binoculars. "But it isn't the same as being in the crowd. No sign of the snitch then?"
"Nope," Ron answered. "Harry hasn't had much to do yet."
"Kept outta trouble, thas somethin'," Hagrid said raising his binoculars to peer at Harry.
Harry was flying above the game squinting his eyes and looking for the snitch. This was part of his and Wood's game plan, to keep out of way so Harry wouldn't be attacked. A bludger did come his way, but he dodged it and watched Fred go chasing after it.
"Alright the Harry!" Fred yelled as he beat the bludger towards Marcus Flint.
"Slytherin in possession," Lee started. "Chaser Pucey ducks two bludgers, two Weasleys, and chaser Bell, and speeds towards...Wait a minute! Is that the Snitch?"
A flash of gold flew right next to Adrian Pucey's ear causing him to drop the quaffle. Harry saw it and zoomed after it in a great rush of excitement. Slytherin seeker, Terrence Higgs seen as well and flew after it as well. Harry and Terrence were neck and neck racing towards the golden snitch. Terrence bumped into Harry who bumped back. Terrence bumped harder, but Harry dodged it and Terrence almost flew to the ground. Harry reached out and was about to grab then snitch when something terrible happened.
Marcus Flint had harshly bumped into Harry who had to hold on tight to his broom as he was twirling around.
"Foul!" screamed the Gryffindors. Madam Hooch spoke to Marcus angrily and allowed Gryffindors a penalty shot. In all of the confusion, the snitch was lost again.
Down in the stands, Dean Thomas was yelling, "Send him off, ref! Red card!"
"What are you talking about, Dean?" said Ron.
"Red card!" said Dean furiously. "In soccer you get shown the red card and you're out of the game!"
"But this isn't soccer, Dean," Ron reminded him. Dean rolled his eyes while Josh chuckled.
Harry flew around some more then dodged a bludger that went past his head, when it happened. His broom gave a sudden frightening lurch. For a split second, he thought he was going to fall. He gripped the broom tightly with both hands and knees. He never felt anything like that. Then it happened again. Almost as if his broom was trying to buck him off. But Nimbus Two Thousands did not suddenly decide to buck their riders off. Harry tried to turn his broom around to fly towards the goal posts so he could ask Wood to time out. But that's when he realized that his broom was completely out of his control. He couldn't turn it nor direct it at any way at all.
"What does Harry think he's doing with his broom stick?" Hagrid mumbled. Hermione and Ron squinted at Harry while Josh used his binoculars to see Harry. Harry's broom seemed to be out of control. "If i didn't know any better, I'd say Harry lost control of his broomstick." Hagrid said.
Josh handed his binoculars to Hermione. "Here, take a look." He told her. Hermione looked through them.
"Oh no!" she said. "He has lost control of his broom." she continued to look through the binoculars. "Oh no!" she screeched.
"What?" Ron and Josh asked in unison.
"It's Snape, he's jinxing the broom," Hermione answered. Ron and Josh shared a glance.
"What do we do?" Ron asked.
"Leave to me," Hermione said as she handed the binoculars back to Josh and left. Josh looked through them to see Snape mouthing some words. Hermione was right, Snape was jinxing the broom.
The broom zigzagged and kept bucking, but Harry held on tight, but suddenly, his grip was loosened and he fell off his broom. Everyone gasped, but Harry did hold on to his broom with one hand. As he held onto the broom, it rose higher and higher twitching.
"Did something happen to it when Flint Blocked it?" Seamus asked.
"Can't be," Hagrid said. "Can't nothing mess up with a brommstick except powerful dark magic. No kid could do that with a Nimbus 2000." Ron and Josh shared a look ahd gulped. Josh took a look in his binoculars and found Snape again. He had his nonblinking eyes fixed on Harry and still muttering words.
"Come on Hermione," Josh murmured.
The Nimbus 2000 was vibrating hard, and yet, Harry kept his death grip on it. Fred and George flew over and tried to pull Harry up on one of their brooms, but when they got close enough to touch him, the broom gave and nasty lurch. Fred and George back off and flew underneath Harry just in case he fell. Flint had seized the quaffle and scored five times without the crowd or the Gryffindor team noticing.
"Come on Hermione," Ron muttered. Josh was still staring at Snape who was still muttering his curse under his breathe.
Hermione raced her way across the stands and was now fighting her way along the row behind Snape. She didn't even stop to apologize for knocking Quirrell down head first into the row in front of him. Reaching Snape, Hermione crouched down, pulled our her wand, and whispered some words. She ran away as a fire was brewing on Snape's robes.
Seconds later, Snape finally realized he was on fire and started stomping around to put it out. A yelp from afar, told Hermione she had did her job. Snape stomped on his robes fiercely and accidentally knocked Quirrell back down.
Josh smiled from across the stands. From his binoculars, it looked as Harry had regained control of his broom as his broom stopped moving violently. Harry swung back and forth and then he swung back onto his broom.
"Yes!" Ron whooped. Dean and Seamus high fived one another while Neville stopped crying into Hagrid's coat and gave a fist pump.
"Go Harry!" Josh Screamed.
"Potter for President!" Seamus, Dean, and Ron yelled.
Harry noticed Higgs was chasing after the snitch so he followed. He bumped into the Slytherin who bumped back. The snitch then dove down and the two seekers followed. Higgs and Harry looked at each other. It looked as if the snitch was going straight to the ground. Higgs looked at Harry the pulled up in fright. Harry pulled up just in time barely hitting the ground. He then stood up on his broom as if he was surfing it and reached out for the snitch. He was getting closer and closer. Harry took a step, flew forward, and fell to the ground.
Everyone gasped as Harry flew to the ground. Harry stood up holding his stomach with a horrorstruck look on his face.
"Looks like he's going to be sick," Josh said aloud. After he said that, Harry lurched and something popped out of his mouth, and that thing was the snitch.
"Harry Potter has caught the Golden Snitch!" Lee screamed. "He wins 150 points. Gryffindor wins!" Cheers and screams could be heard from three fourths of the school including most of the teachers. The team and Gryffindor house surrounded Harry to congratulate him.
Twenty minutes later, Harry, Josh, Hermione, and Ron were inside Hagrid's hut drinking tea and trying to eat rock cakes. They were talking about Snape and Harry's broom debacle.
"It was Snape," Ron said. "Josh and Hermione saw him." Hermione and Josh nodded.
"He was cursing Harry's broom," Josh added.
"Yes he was. I've read all about curse and jinxes and you've got to keep eye contact," Hermione explained. "And Snape wasn't blinking."
"Exactly," Harry said.
"Rubbish," Hagrid replied. The four kids rolled their eyes. "Why would Snape put a curse on Harry's broom?"
"Who knows?" said Josh.
"Yeah, why would he get past that three headed dog on Halloween?" Harry added making Hagrid almost drop the tea pot.
"Who told you about Fluffy?" Hagrid asked.
"Fluffy?" Josh and Ron said in unison.
"That thing has a name?" Hermione said.
"And it's yours?" Josh asked.
"Yes of course. I bought him off a Greek chappie I met in the pub last year. I lent him to Dumbledore to guard the..." But Hagrid stopped.
"Yes?" asked Harry.
"No!" Hagrid said gruffly. Making Hermione and Ron jump in fright. "Stop! Don't ask me any more questions. No more! That's top secret that it." He declared.
"But whatever Fluffy's guarding, Snape's trying to steal it," Hermione said. Ron and the others nodded in agreement.
"Rubbish," Hagrid sighed. "Snape's a Hogwarts teacher. He'd do nothing of that sort."
"Come on Hagrid, Snape was bitten by Fluffy by trying to get down that trapdoor. He wants whats down there," Josh explained.
"I'm tellin' ya yer wrong!" Hagrid said hotly and a little loudly once again making Ron and Hermione jump. Harry and Josh leaned back and rolled their eyes. "I don't know why Harry's broom acted like that, but Snape wouldn' try an' kill a student! Now, listen to me, all four of you. Yer meddlin' in things that aren't meant to be meddled with. What my dog's guarding is strictly between Dumbledore and Nicholas Flamel!"
"Nicholas Flamel?" Josh asked curiously.
Hagrid looked ashamed and furious of himself. "I should not have said that," he muttered.
"Who is he?" Ron asked.
"That's it. Out, all of you," Hagrid said then pushed the four Gryffindors out of his hut.
"So who's Nicholas Flamel?" Harry asked aloud. Ron and Josh looked at Hermione.
"I dunno," she answered.
After the left Hagrid's hut, Josh walked towards the library with Hermione while Ron and Harry went back to the common room. Once inside, the two split. Hermione straight to the biography section, Josh to the back of the library where he found Daphne reading a book.
"Hey," Josh greeted quietly and sat across from his Slytherin friend.
"Hey," she replied not looking up but knowing who it is.
"Whatcha reading?" Josh asked a little curiously.
"Quidditch Through the Ages," Daphne answered. Josh's eyebrows shot up.
"First, I didn't know you liked Quidditch," Josh started. "And Second, Harry has been trying to get his hands back on that book. Did Snape give that book to you?" he asked.
"Yeah, he told me to return back to the library," Daphne replied then handed him the book. "Here, you can give the boy-who-lived his book back."
Josh smiled. "He hates that name, prefers Harry," he stated then stood up.
"Josh?"
Josh froze. He saw Daphne looking behind him. He turned to see Hermione walking up to him.
"Hey Hermione," Josh said.
"Who are you..." But stopped when she saw who it was.
"Granger," Daphne greeted with a cold look.
"Greengrass," Hermione replied with a glare. Josh looked back and forth between the two girls and gulped silently. "What are you doing here?"
"Mind you Granger, this is a public library so i am allowed in here," Daphne replied with a glare.
"Well.."
"Well, what a nice chat and all, but i think it's time to go," Josh said hurriedly pulling Hermione away.
"Next time Granger, don't take all of the books, some of us don't want to be know-it-alls but would like to do our homework before it's due," Daphne said with a smirk. Hermione was about to reply, but Josh pulled her away but shaking his head at Daphne.
"What were you doing with her anyways?" Hermione asked when the two left the Library. Josh handed his book to Hermione. "Oh, Harry will be so pleased." Josh rolled his eyes.
"Don't get so excited," Josh snorted. Hermione smiled and swatted his arm as the two made their way back to Gryffindor Common room.
