Disclaimer: I still don't own either Harry Potter or Percy Jackson. And editing was done by Mellie Erdmann.

Chapter Eleven: Quidditch

November got off to a bad start, weather-side. It was dreary every day, frost everywhere when they woke up. The Quidditch season had begun to the excitement of most of the four Houses. Percy still didn't see the big deal, and neither did Hermione, but they loyally accompanied the rest of their study group to the Quidditch field no matter which team was playing after dinner.

Ron and Draco kept rereading Quidditch Through the Ages, with Neville listening in and trying to make sense of the sport. Percy and Hermione preferred to discuss mythology after their homework was done. Well, Hermione would have liked to move on to to-be-assigned work even more, but Percy kept holding her back.

The day before the Gryffindor versus Slytherin match, the five of them were in the courtyard discussing the odds of who would win. Draco was firmly Slytherin, Ron and Neville were Gryffindor all the way, Hermione felt the Slytherin team was more experienced, and Percy just wanted to know if concessions would be sold at the match. To keep everyone warm, Hermione had conjured up a bright blue fire that warmed the glass jar it was in. Everyone was huddled around it, discussing the upcoming match, when Snape entered the yard.

"He's still limping," frowned Draco as his favorite professor crossed the cobbled stones. Percy did see the Potions master was indeed limping as if his leg pained him greatly. The five of them huddled even closer to hide the jar, but something in their expressions must have tipped Snape off because he approached them.

"What's that you got there, Weasley?"

Ron held up the book. "Quidditch Through the Ages."

"We were discussing who'll win tomorrow, sir," Draco added. "Our House loyalties are showing."

"No kidding," sniffed Hermione, the jar behind her back, hidden from Snape's black eyes. "It's so juvenile."

"It's a noble and ancient sport," sniffed Draco. "You wouldn't understand; you're such a girl."

Ron looked torn between pointing out that the three Gryffindor Chasers were girls and being relieved Draco hadn't blamed it on her heritage. Looking at each of them in turn, as if wondering why they were all friends, Snape then limped off.

"I wonder why his leg is hurting," frowned Draco.

Ron realized, "He wasn't limping before Halloween…"

"You think he had a run in with the Cerberus or the troll? What are you getting at, Ronald?" an affronted Draco demanded.

Anxious for a fight not to break out, Neville commented, "Well, the thief has already broken into Gringotts. Would be that surprising if he tried to break into Hogwarts?"

"Of course!" Ron slapped his forehead. "The troll was a distraction! Snape must have suspected something, and interfered with the plan."

"To play devil's advocate, he might have been the wannabe thief," Percy felt compelled to point out.

Miffed, Draco snapped, "You just don't like Snape because he and your father didn't get along, Harry."

"They didn't?" blinked Percy. "Well, that explains a lot…"

Hermione gave a frustrated look. "You haven't done much research on yourself, have you, Harry?"

"It just strikes me as creepy one, to research myself, and two, to find out how much has been written about me before I hit puberty," shot back Percy.

"Harry has a point," acknowledged Draco to Hermione. The Ravenclaw had nothing to say to that.

After dinner, they were doing their Charms homework. Hermione finished first and went off, only to return with an old slender book.

"Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," Ron read the cover. "What do you want with that?"

"Just seeing if Cerberus is in it," Hermione responded, sitting back down and opening the book.

Draco looked up from his parchment, bored. "It's not in there- that just covers about 75 creatures in a paragraph or two. You're going to need a different sort of book; one that goes into greater depth."

After confirming Draco's statement, Hermione stalked off, book in hand. Percy switched over to reading his history textbook; reading came so much easier to him with the charm on his glasses. A few minutes later Hermione came back with a stack of thick tomes.

"All of those?" asked Neville bewilderedly. Hermione told him shortly, "I'm going to need all the information I can get on Cerberuses."

"You know, I bet Hagrid provided the Cerberus- Charlie always went on about how Hagrid loves magical creatures."

"Why would Dumbledore entrust something so important to just Hagrid?" scoffed Draco.

"All of Hagrid's friends would trust him with their lives!" Ron shot back. Then the redhead grew pensive. "Actually, Draco, you might have a point. Dumbledore might not have just trusted Hagrid. I bet on the other side of that trapdoor are other protective measures done by other professors."

"Hagrid isn't a professor," Neville felt compelled to observe. Percy replied, "Yes, but he's absolutely loyal to Dumbledore and knows the grounds better than anyone."

"Harry has a point," agreed Draco reluctantly. Meanwhile Hermione had been absorbed in her books, looking up data on Cerberuses.

Quietly Neville asked, "But how did the thief get into Hogwarts? I mean, he had to have been already inside the castle to let in a troll, right?"

"Quirrell was the one that told everyone about the troll, and is new this year," suggested Ron.

Hermione shot him a shocked look from over the top of a book. "Ronald! He's a professor!"

"Do you think all teachers are saints or something? I'd say Snape, but he seems nicer this year… unless that's an act. No offense, Draco."

Draco thought it over before conceding, "None taken. Professor Snape has been rather nasty to any non-Slytherins in the past. I don't know why he's been acting nicer either. My father doesn't know as well."

"So our suspects are Snape and Quirrell," Percy commented seriously. "But we need to figure out what on earth is so valuable that everyone regards it so highly…"

"Right," agreed Ron and Draco. Hermione was too busy reading to have heard.

Neville rested his head on his arms tiredly. "Can't we go back to talking about who'll win the Quidditch match tomorrow?"

HPJ-HPJ-HPJ-HPJ

The next day was bright and chilly as everyone had breakfast in the Great Hall, which smelled of fried sausages. Everyone was excitedly chattering about the upcoming match, the first of the season.

At ten thirty the study group headed out to the stands that ringed the Quidditch pitch. Draco had brought along a pair of binoculars, as had many of the other students. The seats were high, but Percy guessed it would be tough to follow a game played on a broomstick. The five went to almost the top of the stands despite the bitter cold. They all wore scarfs and caps in their House colors.

With the help of Dean and Seamus, Ron and Neville had painted a banner that said 'Weasley for the Win'. Dean had drawn a Gryffindor lion underneath.

"Why are the banner's edges chewed at?" Draco made a face. Ron pulled out a sleepy Scabbers from his cloak pocket.

"Here's the reason."

"Ah…"

For the next hour the debate raged furiously about who'd win the match between the study group's members. Finally the Quidditch players on both teams came out. Everyone cheered loudly, even Percy and Hermione. Since it was Percival's first match, Percy figured he ought to pay attention.

Madam Hooch, in striped black and white robes, stood in the middle of the pitch with her broom in her hand. Once they were gathered around her and the captains had shaken hands, she warned them, "Now, I want a nice fair game, all of you. Mount your brooms, please."

The fourteen players got onto their brooms. Madam Hooch blew loudly on her silver whistle and all of them flew into the air.

The twins' friend Lee Jordan was commentating.

"And the Quaffle is taken immediately by Angelina Johnson of Gryffindor- what an amazing Chaser that girl is, and rather attractive, too-"

"JORDAN!" shouted Professor McGonagall, who was supervising him. Ron chuckled, "The twins said this happened all the time last year."

"Why hasn't he been banned then?" frowned Draco.

"She enjoys arguing with him too much to do that," Ron grinned. Draco rolled his eyes, muttering something that sounded like 'Gryffindors'. The quintet refocused on the game just as Alicia Spinnet scored the first goal of the game.

"YAY!" cheered Neville and Ron to Draco's annoyance. Hermione pointed down at the base of the stands. Hagrid had belatedly joined the crowd, apparently tiring quickly of watching from his hut. Looking upward, Percy saw Percival circling high above, out of the way of the others.

Next the Slytherin Chaser Pucey scored, permitting Draco to let out a triumphant whoop. A few minutes later the Snitch was sighted by the Slytherin Seeker for Terence Higgs, but Percival was soon on his tail. However Marcus Flint soon rammed himself into Percival, sending the redhead spinning. Ron and Neville let out roars of outrage, and even Draco winced.

In the momentary chaos, the Golden Snitch vanished. Lee Jordan was furious. "So after that obvious and disgusting bit of cheating-"

"Jordan!" Professor McGonagall frowned severely at the dreadlocked boy.

"I mean, after that open and revolting foul…"

"Jordan, I'm warning you!"

"Fine, fine. Flint nearly kills the Gryffindor Seeker, which could happen to anyone, I'm sure, so a penalty to Gryffindor, taken by Bell, who puts it away, no trouble, and we continue play, Gryffindor still in possession."

Fred and George each hunted down a Bludger and aimed it at Flint. Apparently they were the only ones allowed to mess with Percival. Percival regained his balance and resumed searching for the Golden Snitch, with Higgs searching as well.

As Slytherin scored again, Hermione grabbed Draco's binoculars that were dangling from his neck.

"OW!" went the Slytherin, yanked sideways. Hermione peered through them, her mouth gaping.

"There's a fire! Second floor! Look!"

By now the crimson flames were visible from the stands. Draco raised his eyebrows worriedly. "That looks like Fiendfyre."

"But that's Dark Magic!" went Neville.

Ron told the other boy, "My turn to get the teachers, Neville. You go with the others to stop it."

"We'll get brooms from below the stands," Draco told them, already on his feet. "Come on, let's go."

"I hate flying," muttered Percy. But he, Hermione, and Neville followed Draco down to where they kept the school brooms. Getting on them, the quartet zoomed across the lawn towards the castle. Flames in the shape of giant snakes and dragons were spilling out the melted windows on one side.

"How do you stop Fiendfyre? With a water-based spell?" shouted Hermione, her hair whipping in her face.

Draco shook his head and shouted back, "No- I don't know if there is a way to stop it! But we can try to contain it until the professors come!"

Percy dove down and flew just a few yards above the ground, really hating flying. Neville followed suit. The pudgy boy yelled, "But how?"

"I don't know!" Draco confessed. Neville and Hermione looked very worried at that.

Percy looked over at the dark, glinting waters of the lake. All water was tied to the sea. With that thought running through his mind, Percy made an awkward landing. He reached an arm out to the lake and tugged it towards the castle. A huge stream of water flew across the lawn and into the castle, making the flames scream.

Draco landed elegantly next to Percy. Eying the still flowing stream of water, he asked, "How did you do that?"

"No clue," sighed Percy, falling down to his knees. The water stopped, and the flames started to regain their strength.

From across the lawn came Professor McGonagall and Flitwick, who cast advanced water-making spells but even those only temporarily stopped the flames. Then a deluge of water came down on the flames, quenching them once and for all.

Neville and Hermione landed next Percy and Draco. Weak kneed Neville pleaded, "No more adventures for the semester, please?"

"I'm with Neville," agreed Hermione.

"Cowards," sniffed Draco, Percy nodding his agreement.

After the initial questioning, the quartet was released. Gryffindor had narrowly won, so the four went down to Hagrid's for tea. The large man was in shock over the casting of Fiendfyre.

"Why would anyone want to do somethin' like that?"

"To get past the three-headed dog and get whatever it's guarding," Ron admitted, sipping at his hot tea. Hagrid dropped his teapot.

"How do you know about Fluffy?"

"Fluffy?" Draco got out, his grey eyes wide.

Hagrid gave Draco a dubious look. "Yeah- he's mine- bought him off a Greek chappie I met in the pub las' year- I lent him to Dumbledore to guard the-"

He cut himself short.

"Yes?" Percy nudged him. "To guard the what?"

Gruffly Hagrid replied, "Now, don't ask me anymore. That's top secret, that is."

He gave Draco a suspicious look, which made the boy flush.

"But someone is trying to steal it!" Hermione protested. "That's why the troll was let in, and that's why someone set off the Fiendfyre during the Quidditch match!"

As the five sipped their tea Hagrid informed them darkly, "Now, listen to me, all three of yeh- yer meddlin' things that don' concern yeh. It's dangerous. You forget that dog, an' you forget what it's guardin', that's between Professor Dumbledore an' Nicolas Flamel!"

The four exchanged pleased grins. Well aware what those grins meant, Hagrid looked furious with himself.

The next Saturday was the Hufflepuff vs. Ravenclaw match. The Fiendfyre damage had been repaired, so that was a relief. The study group split up- Ron with his brothers, Neville with some other Gryffindor first-years, Hermione with some Ravenclaws, Draco with some of the less morally ambiguous Slytherins, and Percy sat with his fellow Hufflepuffs.

There were some distant rainclouds, so Percy mostly cloud-watched during the Quidditch match. Even Lee Jordan's entertaining commentary couldn't retain his focus on the game. In the end Ravenclaw won, to Hufflepuff's disappointment. Percy didn't particularly care one way or the other. He just didn't get Quidditch.