Flight of the Golden Snitch
Harry watched as the small speck that was Neville zoomed around the tall towers of the castle. He felt bad for the boy. He seemed rather clumsy. Several of the Slytherin students were laughing cruelly as Neville's robes caught on a spire. The broom fell to the ground and Neville slid down until the fell and caught the next one. Irlynn watched in horror as he plummeted to the ground. She wished she knew how to lessen his fall but she hadn't had Charms yet that day. Neville crashed to the ground with a pained yelp. The students began to crowd around him but Madam Hooch ushered them away.
"Back. Give him space," she ordered as she examined his swollen wrist.
"My, my. Looks like a broken wrist," she murmured, helping the boy to his feet.
"I'm going to take Mr. Longbottom to the Hospital Wing. I don't want any of you leaving the ground while I'm gone," she ordered, escorting Neville off. The students began to disperse until Draco spotted something on the ground where Neville had landed.
"Ha! It looks like Longbottom forgot to land on his arse," Draco sneered, picking up the small smoked filled sphere.
"Give it here, Malfoy," Harry said.
"You want it, Potter? Come and get it," Draco laughed, taking a couple steps back. Irlynn watched the exchange and felt anger rise within her. She wasn't a violent person, she hated violence. But Malfoy seemed to need a good smack to the nose, deserved it even. Before Harry could say another word, Irlynn had stepped up and landed a solid punch to his nose.
"You filthy mudblood," Draco spat, wiping the trickle of blood from his nose.
"You rude, arrogant little boy. Give that here," Irlynn shot, reaching for the glass ball. Draco pulled it out of her reach. With his free hand he made to take a swing back at her but Harry intervened.
"Don't you dare, Malfoy," Harry said, holding his wand out in a threatening manner.
"Now give it me," he said. Draco picked up his broom and began to glide off, giving Harry no choice but to mount a broom and follow.
"Harry, don't!" Hermione called. Harry didn't listen. He followed Malfoy high into the sky, not even conscious of how high they were.
"Give it back or I'll knock you off your broom," Harry called.
"Good luck with that," Draco sneered as Harry tried and failed to knock him off. Draco gave another laugh and launched the ball into the sky.
Harry watched its arc and flew after it, leaning forward on the broom for maximum speed. The sphere hurtled towards the closed window of Professor McGonagall but Harry didn't pay attention to who was inside the room. He reached out and caught the ball, coming to a halt just inches from the window. He smiled to himself as he headed back to the rest of the students on the ground. Draco looked annoyed as Harry landed and the other students praised him.
Inside her office, Professor McGonagall had noticed come to a halt outside her window and catch the sphere. With purposeful steps she descended to the ground level and walked towards the group of gathered students.
"Harry Potter, come with me," she called. Harry swallowed and pocketed the ball before following his Head of House from the crowd. She led him back into the castle and down several corridors he hadn't ventured through yet.
"Professor, I swear I was just trying to catch Neville's Remembral," Harry said but McGonagall wasn't interested in his explanations. They stopped at a door and she knocked before sticking her head in.
"Professor, so sorry to interrupt but do you suppose I could borrow Wood for a moment, please," she said.
"C-certainly," Professor Quirrel stuttered. A boy in his fifth year wearing Gryffindor colors walked out into the corridor.
"Wood, I think I've found our new Seeker," McGonagall said proudly. Harry's brow furrowed in confusion. What was a Seeker?
"Harry, this Oliver Wood, Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team," she introduced.
"Brilliant," Oliver said, shaking Harry's hand. Instead of returning to class, Oliver led Harry outside to a large circular pitch. He was carrying a large chest.
"What's in there?" Harry asked.
"Well…if you're going to be on the team, you've got to learn the rules," Oliver said.
"Now…the game of Quidditch is played with seven players on each team; one keeper, that's me. I guard the goals," he began.
"Then you've got three chasers. They pass the Quaffle, that's this ball here, down the pitch and try to score in one of the three hoops," he continued, holding an oddly dented red ball. Harry nodded in understanding.
"Then there are two beaters. Their job is to knock the bludgers around, that's those nasty little buggers," Oliver said, pointing to two balls that were jumping around wildly against their restraints.
"You don't want to get hit with one of those. Hurts like the dickens," he muttered.
"And last, is the Seeker. That's you. You have the most important job of all," Wood explained.
"I do?" Harry gulped.
"You have to catch the Golden Snitch," Oliver whispered and took out the tiny gold ball. It's wings unfurled and Harry stared at it. It flitted around above Oliver's hand and harry reached out and plucked it from the air.
"That's worth one hundred fifty points and it wins the game," Wood said.
"Cool," Harry said, handing the ball back to Oliver.
"Practice starts next weekend. I'll post a schedule in the Common Room," the fifth year said and the two parted company. Harry's head was swimming as he went in search of Hermione and Ron. He couldn't wait to tell them what had happened. He spotted them in the Entrance Hall and ran over to them. Irlynn was with them.
"What did McGonagall want?" Hermione asked.
"I made the Quidditch team," Harry said.
"Bloody hell, Harry. First years never make the house team," Ron exclaimed.
"Fred and George are on the team. They're beaters," he added.
"I don't know if I'll be any good. I mean I've never even played," Harry said.
"I'm sure you'll do fine," Hermione said.
"Yeah, Hermione's right. I'm sure they picked you for your skills. You were pretty impressive today during class," Irlynn complimented.
"So were you," he replied.
"I shouldn't have hit him. I feel horrible for doing it," she mumbled.
"But the lousy git deserved it," Ron stated.
"Even so, I shouldn't have hit him," she sighed.
"No. He shouldn't have tried to hit you back," Harry interjected.
"Ruddy moron doesn't have any manners. Trying to hit a girl. Bloody rotten git," Ron scoffed.
"He did seem very uncivilized, I have to agree," Hermione agreed. The foursome stood in silence for a brief second before Irlynn spoke again.
"I probably lost my house some points. I have a feeling Snape found out," Irlynn said.
"Oh don't worry. You'll get them back," Harry said. Irlynn just shrugged it off. It wasn't all that important. It wouldn't effect her grade, or at least she hoped it wouldn't.
"I have to go mail a letter to my parents. I will see you around," she said and ran off towards the Owlry.
"I'm impressed, mate. Quidditch team. You've got to beat Slytherin. Everyone knows they cheat though so best be careful," Ron began to babble. Hermione tuned him out, trying to organize her thoughts for their first potions essay. That night Harry stared out the window in the first year boys' dorm. He was making friends. He had even made the Quidditch team. There were all so new to him. Was he really cut out for all of this?
In Ravenclaw Tower, Irlynn was in a similar state of contemplation. She knew she should find Malfoy and apologize but she figured he would throw it back in her face. She hadn't heard the term he'd called her before but she didn't need to in order to know it was rude. As she turned it over in her mind some more, she decided that this once, she could not apologize and it would be alright. Malfoy didn't merit an apology. He would never give one back.
Her thoughts also drifted to Harry and his luck earning a spot on the Quidditch team. She didn't know much about the sport, although she had asked some of her fellow Ravenclaws about it. It sounded a bit like Muggle football but with more danger. She had no doubt that Harry could do well if he wanted to. To her, he already seemed like he had gifts beyond some of the other students in their year. With a sigh she climbed under the covers and rolled over. She tried to fall asleep and finally around midnight, her body succumbed to the pull. Harry was up far later than her. He was lost in the stars and ended up falling asleep on the window sill.