All rights to WB and JK

Rise of House Black

Quidditch and clues

The rest of the week passed quickly after the excitement of the trial for James and Harry. Both boys learnt more about their Houses from Daphne with Susan meeting them a few times to add her own piece about the Potters since Daphne knew more about the Blacks due to her family's grey/neutral outlook compared to the Bones' more light affiliation. Both were also writing to Sirius who apparently was now at some hospital called St Mungo's for some recovery and mind healing. According to Sirius he preferred it to going back to the London town house of the Blacks as he hated that place and anything to put off going back there was a bonus. That said he was now terribly bored and was also bed bound by the healer's orders until they felt he was physically fit. As the days turned into weeks the group of four, which was turning slowly into five and occasionally six when Hannah Abbot accompanied Susan, quickly got into a rhythm of dealing with homework and the extra study in relation to House matters with the girls all teaching the two boys the needed knowledge and etiquette that was required of an heir or lord. It also helped with their general studying and practising of the various charms and spells taught the professors so far as well as catching up on what Quirrell should have been teaching but was currently stuttering through or missing completely. That said he had taught the theory of the disarming spell as well as the stinging hex and general theories on ghosts and vampires. Or at least that's what most, including the Ravenclaw four, assumed he was trying to teach.

Today, towards the end of September was the first Quidditch match of the year. Gryffindor versus Slytherin. As with most of the School the Ravenclaw four cheered on Gryffindor. They solidified their support for them after some rather rough playing, that many thought was out of order, by the Slytherin team. Harry and James however watched most of the match in awe trying to follow the game and pick up the rules. Being told the snitch effectively wins and ends the game caused both boys to try and hunt for it with Harry spotting it first while James more often than not ended up watching the chasers instead.

"You know Harry you could be seeker for your house next year with the way you find the snitch quicker than both those two out there. Though I equally wish you wouldn't so Cedric, our 'Puff seeker, can still get it" Susan said with a sigh and rueful smile. Harry just smiled back and thanked her for the suggestion. James meanwhile was talking to Daphne, with Tracey listening while watching the game, about the various teams that existed and quidditch in general.

"Well you know one team James, the Falmouth Falcons, since Harry's relatives both played for the team. It's a decent squad from what I've heard father mention but I don't really follow quidditch, my sister does so I hear about things from her too. Then there's the all girls team Holyhead Harpies who are quite good, frequently near the top of the table. Next there's the famously bad Chudley Cannons, haven't won a game in years." It was as they were finishing up on teams that they noticed the crowd begin to murmur in discontent right before a bludger whacked straight into the wooden seating area just below where Harry and James were sitting sending splinters and pieces of wood everywhere. "Bloody hell!" Tracey yelled as she began to pull Daphne away from their former seats while the boys picked themselves up off the ground. The bludger went through to the outside of the stadium before shooting back in a loop into the stadium heading right for the two boys. They both jumped to the side letting the bludger pass through leaving a massive hole in the benches where they had just sat. By this point most of the Ravenclaws who had been nearby had begun to panic and move quickly for the nearby towers to exit the seating area, the stampede of student caused problems for Professor Flitwick who was now trying to go the other way to get to his students who appeared to be under attack. The rogue bludger meanwhile had begun heading straight for Harry again as the two Gryffindor beaters, an identical pair of red heads, attempted to hit it away from the stands. This however only bought time as it swung round to aim straight for the Ravenclaw seating area. Harry and James had begun climb and stumble over benches and debris towards the tower while Flitwick was still caught up by the other students who stampeded his way as the seating area was vacated quickly. As the bludger came in for a final fatal charge on the boys Flitwick finally manage to break free of the crowd, spot the bludger and cast a spell causing said bludger to freeze mid air. "Quickly boys, over here!" came the squeaky voice of the small professor. Needing no further encouragement both boys ran over to Flitwick who was furiously casting various spells at the rogue ball. Giving the three girls who had waited for them by the tower a hug, the five children then moved behind the professor so that they were more out of the target area and had less to clamber over. They turned to see Flitwick cast a final spell which caused the bludger to explode into tiny pieces, fragments going everywhere. "Thanks Professor" James managed to breath out in relief while Harry nodded in agreement.

"Not to worry my boy, luckily no one got hurt. Maybe a bit of lost pride from a few students but I'm sure they'll cope. Most interesting what occurred though, very intricate charms work I am most impressed though of course terrified for my students. It appears to have been tampered with. Signs of dark magic with the intent to harm."

"Harm professor? Why would someone want it to harm me and Harry?"

"I don't know but it clearly went after you two given how it acted. More likely young Mister Potter here was the target as it seemed more focused on him from what I saw. As for why, well Potter here is the Boy Who Lived, that would make him a target for any who miss the time of You Know Who. Anyway, it's dealt with now though the match will have to end due to being a bludger down. That or they'll get a new one and restart at a later date. I suggest you head back to the dorm, ah yes Madam Hooch has called of the game." A whistle was heard and the boys turned to the pitch to see the various players making their way down to the ground.

"Match announcement: due to the destruction of the bludger that went rogue and targeted the crowd the game will be replayed next weekend. Thanks for coming and I'm glad to report no one was harmed. See you all next weekend folks" said the projected voice of the game commentator who seemed equally cheerful and disappointed.

The shaken Ravenclaw four plus Puff trooped up to the school before splitting up to go to their dorms and the 'Claws proceeded to read and talk in their common room while trying to relax after the terrifying quidditch match.

"It's not suppose to be like that Harry, I'm sure you'll enjoy the next match better" Tracey explained trying to relax Harry who still seemed a bit jumpy and nervous from the bludger attack.

"I know that Tracey, I just can't help but be a bit jittery and nervous about going back to the pitch. It's not like we know enough spells being the first month or so of our first year to do much about it if it happened again, hence my nervousness. That said I guess I'm still willing to go back again if you lot are?" Harry asked looking up at his friends.

"Of course Harry, it'll be fine and I'm sure we'll have a good time. Just got unlucky this time, right Daph?" James said looking at the girl.

"Yeah of course, enjoy it much more next time" she said unconvincingly while reading her book on transfiguration. "Just a waste of time to be honest. I don't mind reading or hearing about the results though, but sitting and watching the match is just a bit tedious."

"Real help you are" James replied and Tracey nodded in agreement. That evening Harry decided to have an early night and try and seep off the nerves and jitters.


The next morning the four friends went down to breakfast joining others who were going down at a more reasonable time for a Sunday. As the were seated there tucking in to their usual breakfast Hedwig came and landed next to Harry with a note attached. She glared at Harry when he tried to take the note.

"I'm sorry I haven't seen you much Hedwig. I've been busy is all. Look I'll give you three rashes of bacon. Forgive me?" She looked at him a bit longer as he stroked her feathers before giving n affection nip with her beak and lifting her leg for him to take the note. Harry then got the required amounts of bacon before then reading the note.

"Blimey Harry your bird is quite the mercenary, bribery by bacon? Whatever next" James said after taking in the scene before then being promptly glared at by said bird.

"She's not wrong James, I did leave her alone a bit. Should have visited her once or twice in the owlery to see how she was doing" he replied with a sigh and then a small smile at the glare sent James' way by Hedwig.

"So what's the note?" asked Tracey impatiently.

"Tracey you don't go asking others about their mail!" Daphne said indignantly. "That said, who did write to you Harry?"

"Oh a note from Hagrid asked if I wanted to meet for tea this afternoon, said he'd tell me tales of my parents and that. Thought I'd go, you want to come too?"

"Sure mate, I think I've mostly caught up on things and only really got potions left which is proving a bit tricky but I think I can cope with having a break for an hour or two. You two wanna come?" James said to the girls.

"I guess we could" said Daphne uncertainly. "Are you sure we can fit in that er, hut? That's down by the forest? It doesn't seem that big for all of us plus him and you know is is er quite big?"

"I'm sure we can manage. Never know it might be interesting, plus I'd like to hear of my parents" Harry replied.


Later that day after lessons had finished the four headed down to the weathered hut at the edge of the Forbidden Forrest. Knocking on the old but tough looking wooded door a load of barking was heard tat made the four jump.

"Down Fang! Get back ye bleedin' dog" came a voice from within before the door swung open. Hagrid stood there holding back a large dog, a black boarhound Harry thought. "'Arry, nice to see ya, brought some friends too? Come in, come in, I just put the kettle on" As the children entered they took the chance to view the hut they were in. There was only one room within this wooden hut, various dead birds and pieces of meet hung from the ceiling, a few small windows let in some light and the fire gave some more but the room was fairly dim and gloomy. A massive bed with a patchwork quilt sat off to on side while a copper kettle sat near the fire boiling away. "Make ye selves at home, won't be a tick" as he let the dog go and walked over to the now boiled kettle. The dog lumbered over to James and began licking his face before he managed to push the dog away.

"This is James, and my other friends Daphne and Tracey" Harry told Hagrid ho was now pouring water n to the cups on the table before then putting rock cakes on a plate on the table.

"Nice ta meet ya. Sorry about ya dad there James, knew him at school and a right menace and prankster he was, can't believe we all thought he betrayed young Harry here given how close your fathers were. Seems stupid now we know what happened but those were dark times, could rarely trust anyone. So how'd y'all meet?" Hagrid asked which led in to the whole tale of the train ride and teaching Harry some information about Houses and Lords. "Sorry bout that 'Arry, Dumbledore didn't wanna overwhelm ya with all sorts of things like that, to be honest it slipped my mind since I had the fetch the – oh well never mind that. Any way guess he wanted to give you a year to settle before telling you I guess, great man Dumbledore looking after his students."

"Yeah I guess I see where he's coming from, just wish he'd still told me, didn't have to be detailed just a small bit with the promise to tell more later would've been nice" Harry replied with a sigh while Daphne looked on with a small frown. When Harry glance at the table at the tea pot he saw a clipping from a newspaper:

Gringotts Break-In Latest

Investigation continues into the break in at Gringotts bank on 31st July believed to be by dark witches or wizards unknown.

Gingotts goblins insist nothing was taken from the vault in question which they say was in fact emptied earlier that day.

"Hagrid! That break in happened the same day we were there, do you think it relates to me or that thing you picked up?" Hagrid didn't meet Harry's eye and seemed to want to busy himself pouring more tea for everyone.

"So what were you collecting then Hagrid?" James asked

"Oh er was collecting the phil- er you don't need ta worry about that's between Dumbledore and Nicholas Flamel" Hagrid immediately clamped a hand on his mouth before muttering, "I shouldn't have said that. I should not have said that. I shouldn't have said that. Er would ya all kindly ferget I told ya that?"

"Told us what?" James quickly said while the other three gave him a glance which he replied with a wink and a nod to Hagrid. The other all then nodded along and Hagrid seemed to relax. When they left back to the castle after discussing lessons and complaints about Snape the four claws could only think about the object Hagrid had collected and how it connected to someone called Nicholas Flamel. Daphne seemed to have a thoughtful expression on her face in regards to that name. While harry wondered where it could now be since Hagrid picked it up, assuming there were all one and the same thing, which was likely. In all, the four had much to think about as they headed back to the castle with pockets full of rock cake as they'd all been too polite to refuse the offer.

AN: Hello all, I'm still here just lost a bit of energy for writing and had a bit of a block on where to go. With all the lockdowns I just might get a few more chapters out. Hope you liked it and are all safe at home from the Corvid-19. J signing off