A/N: Sorry about the late post! Had to work all day and then spent some quality time with my fiance.
Chapter Twenty: Harry
The days following the troll incident were a lot colder for Harry and it was not only because the weather had turned cooler that weekend. Hallie was barely speaking to him and whenever she did, she was normally angry at him. He knew it was because of what happened on Halloween but what else could he have done? He wasn't even completely there that day. During all of their classes on Halloween, he had to force himself to pay attention in class. After Prim had told Ron and him off, he finally realized what had happened. He was angry with Ron for what he had said and basically told Ron that if he still wanted to be friends than Ron needed to find a way to be okay with Hermione. Ron of course felt really bad for being the reason that all three girls almost died and Harry was glad that Ron was putting more of an effort into being friendly with Hermione.
Hallie wasn't the only one not really speaking to him. Prim and Hermione barely spoke to him or Ron. Well, Hermione would talk with Harry and Ron whenever Hallie and Prim were not around but would withdraw when his sister and cousin would walk into the room. Harry couldn't stand it and it was starting to affect his Quidditch skills which Wood had caught onto. Their first match was this upcoming Saturday and Harry knew that if he didn't find a way to make up with his friends than he could kiss the match goodbye. That Wednesday, after a horrible practice, Harry was trudging up the steps to the seventh-floor corridor when he heard Wood call his name. "Harry, come with me. We need to find your sister, cousin, and Hermione."
"Why?" Harry asked as he rubbed his numb hands together.
Wood looked over at him before answering, "We need to find a way for you five to get along. So, I guess we should also find the youngest Weasley as well. Come on now, Harry! This is a matter of win or lose!" Harry rolled his eyes but followed Oliver anyways. Minutes into walking into the common room, Harry found his sister, cousin, and Hermione sitting at a table doing homework. He was pretty sure that they were working on Professor Flitwick's essay on the history of the levitation charm and he also knew that he himself needed to start on the essay. Oliver must have also noticed the three girls because he looked around for Ron. Once Wood had found the youngest Weasley, he stalked over to where Ron was playing a game with Seamus. "Youngest Weasley, come with me." Ron looked up from his game and over at Harry and Oliver.
"Um, why?" Ron asked.
Oliver groaned but answer Ron's question anyways. "You and Harry need to make up with the girls." Wood pulled Ron out of his chair before pulling Harry and Ron over to the three girls. "Potter, Dursley, and Granger. We need to speak. Harry is rubbish at Quidditch because he's thinking about finding a way for you to forgive him. I don't know why you three are mad at him nor do I care for the reason; but we have to win this upcoming Saturday but we can't do that if Harry hasn't made up with the three of you. Now, what are your demands?"
"Our demands?" Hallie asked with a snort.
Harry watched as Wood ran his hand down his face before answering, "What do the boys have to do, so that you will forgive them?"
"Oh, well for one, I want Harry to agree that we need to see a mind healer and for Ron, um… I don't know… Try not to complain when we want to do homework." Hallie said as she looked over her essay.
Prim looked up with a smirk and said, "I second that for Ron. And for Harry, I don't know… Apologize. That's what I want and Ron should also apologize to us. I want an apology because if it wasn't for the two of you, we wouldn't have been in the bathroom that night the troll was able to get into Hogwarts."
Harry turned towards Hermione. So far, he could do both of what Hallie and Prim wanted and he needed to know what Hermione wanted from him. "I don't need anything from them. Both Harry and Ron have already apologized to me and I've been talking to them for days now."
"What? Hermione, I thought you were on our side?" Hallie asked with hurt lacing her voice.
Hermione looked between Harry and his sister before saying, "I never once said that I would ever pick between the three of you. Harry apologized to me and I'm sure he would've done the same to you and Prim if you two would even talk to them civilly."
"I really am sorry guys… And Hals, I'll talk to someone… I might not want to do so but I will because I hate fighting with you. Hals, we've never once have fought with each other! If I have to go to a mind healer, then I will. And Prim, I'm sorry for being part of the reason that you were in that bathroom with the troll. You're my family and you know I would never mean to put you in harm."
Hallie and Prim smile at each other before jumping up and pulling Harry into a three-way hug. "You're forgiven but if you do something like that again, you will be in for a world of hurt! I'm going to write to Gran right away! We can start seeing someone over the Holiday break." Harry groaned and fell into the seat next to his sister.
Harry looked over at Ron and said, "It's your turn, mate."
"I'm sorry for almost killing you and I can't promise that I will not complain every time we do homework but I can promise to try not to." Ron said as a blush filled his cheeks. "Do you mind helping me with my essay? I've been trying to work on it but to be honest, I get distracted a lot. You three help keep me on track."
Prim smiled at him and Hermione laughed. "Of course, Ron, come over here and I can read what you've done already."
"Well Harry, I think you should be alright for the match on Saturday. I can't wait to blow the Slytherins away!" Wood smirked at the five Gryffindor before making his way over to his own friends.
Prim looked over at where Oliver had just sat down before offering, "Oliver Wood is seriously one of the best-looking guys here, don't you think Hals?"
Hallie looked over at where he was and shrugged her shoulders. "I guess he's alright, Prim. Though I will agree that he isn't bad to look at but I'm not into someone who only cares about Quidditch and sports."
"Wait a minute! I don't want to hear about who you find good looking or what you are into! Merlin, we are only eleven!" Harry groans out as he lets his head fall into his hands.
Hermione laughs as Hallie shoots a glare at her brother. "Girls mature sooner than boys do, Harry. We already know girls who have crushes on boys! Kira likes Dudley."
"Hallie! We promised Kira that we wouldn't tell anyone!" Prim shouted at her.
"What? Like Harry will say anything?" Hallie rolled her eyes before going back to her essay. "And I wouldn't be surprised if she ends up liking someone at her own school. All of those French boys are probably very good looking."
Prim laughed before adding, "That is true but I thought you might fancy Irish boys with Irish accents." Hallie glared at Prim and took a quick glance at her brother.
"Really Irish boys? So, Seamus? The boy who can blow up basically anything?" Harry asked as he looked over at where Seamus was now playing a game of wizard's chess with Dean.
Hallie blushed and looked over at where Seamus and Dean were sitting. "I never said that, Harry. I did say accents other than British is pretty hot but I never said I was into Seamus."
"Well good! Now, can I also get some help on our essay? I haven't started on Professor Snape's essay either." Harry said as he stood up. "Let me go and get my bag." Harry ran upstairs and once he came back down, the five young Gryffindors got started on their homework.
The next day after their classes had ended, Harry and his friends and family were lounging in the quad. The day was unusually warm for November and the five Gryffindors wanted to soak in the warm weather. Harry was sitting on one of the walls flipping through the library's copy of Quidditch Through the Ages as Ron looked through Prim's sketchbook. The three girls were going over their essays that was due tomorrow and giving each other ideas on how to make it better. He had checked the book out on Monday and he had already finished it.
He was re-reading the chapter on the first Golden Snitch. "I can't believe that they used to use the Golden Snidget instead of the Snitch. Catching the bird also inadvertently killed it which made the bird an endangered species. The first person who caught the bird ended up with one hundred and fifty Galleons instead of points." Harry said before looking up over at his friends.
Hallie looked up from Hermione's essay before saying, "That's just awful! And Harry, shouldn't you be looking over your essay? Please tell me you have finished it!"
Harry rolled his eyes at his sister before answering her, "Of course I've finished my essay, Hals! I finished it this morning during breakfast, remember?" He looked at her and continued, "Hermione said she would go over it tonight before we head to bed. Get on to Ron for doing something else when he hasn't finished our potions essay." On Monday, Professor Snape had given them an essay at the last moment. He wanted them to write a twelve-inch essay on the ingredients and the use of the Herbicide Potion and then turn it in on Friday.
Hallie and Prim both turn their eyes to Ron and he goes and glares at Harry. "You're supposed to be my mate, Harry. I'll finish it tonight! All I have is my conclusion, I swear. Prim, I really want to continue going through your sketchbook. These are amazing." Prim brushes a deep red at Ron's compliment and she smiled at him.
"I'll help you tonight, Ron." Prim says with a roll of her eyes before she turns back to Hallie's essay. The five of them go back to doing what they were doing earlier. A few times they were interrupted by their friends, and when Seamus came over to see if anyone wanted to play Exploding Snaps, Hallie smiled and nodded her head 'yes'.
Harry closed his book and watched his sister play a game of snaps with Seamus and Dean. He was pretty sure that she was lying yesterday when she said that she wasn't into Seamus Finnigan. But he also thought that she might not know yet. His mind turned to other things but he continued to watch his sister and their friends.
He still couldn't believe the number of friends they have here. His best friends would always be his sister and cousin, along with Ron, Hermione, and Reid. There were many nights that Harry thought about Melanie, Reid, and Mrs. Figg. He wondered what games they were playing or what Mrs. Weasley was teaching Reid and Ron's sister. But thinking of Reid, always brought up Reid's dad. He couldn't believe that his mum and dad would actually be friends with someone who would betray or hurt them in any way. So, Harry believed that Reid's dad had to have been wrongly accused of whatever crime that sent him away.
"Mister Potter." Harry came back to where he was at and looked over at Professor Snape. "Potter, shouldn't you be working on your essay that is due first thing tomorrow morning in class?"
Harry smiled and said, "I've already finished it, Professor. Hermione is going to check it tonight for any spelling or grammar mishaps."
Professor Snape nodded his head and his eyes caught Harry's library book. "Mister Potter, I do believe you are not supposed to take the library books out of the castle. Hand the book over." Harry glares at his potion professor before doing as he is told. "You can stop by my office after dinner to retrieve the book." Harry nodded his head and watch Professor Snape walk away with his book.
"Is he really allowed to take my book away?" Harry questioned as he looked at Professor Snape's retreating body.
"I guess so. I mean, he is a professor, so he is probably in the right to do so; but I've never seen a teacher take a library book away from Hermione when they've came across us outside the castle." Prim says as her eyes continue to read across Hallie's essay.
After Professor Snape had taken Harry's book away, he had gone and decided to play with his sister, Dean, and Seamus. When it was getting closer to dinner time, all seven Gryffindors packed up their things and walked back to the Gryffindor common room. Once they dropped off their bags they found Neville and Ella before making their way to the Great Hall for dinner.
The group of nine Gryffindors sat down in their normal spot and filled their plates with food as Harry told Neville and Ella what had happened with Professor Snape. "That's very strange Harry. He doesn't seem to be too rough on you, maybe not as kind as he is to Hallie but that's because Hallie is definitely amazing in Potions. And you said he and your dad hated each other, right?" Harry nodded and Ella continued talking, "So, maybe he still has times that he thinks you are more like your father than your mother. I mean, you look like your father with your mum's eyes whereas Hallie takes after your mum with your dad's eyes."
"I guess what sounds right. It doesn't make me happy but I can see what you mean, Ella." Harry says with a shrug of his shoulders. He goes on and takes a bite of his dinner before moving onto the Quidditch match on Saturday. "Are you guys coming to the match on Saturday?"
"Of course we are! Ella and I have always liked going to matches with our family. We haven't been to many but it's always fun to do. And we can't wait to watch you play, Harry." Neville says quietly.
A couple of days ago, Harry had accidently let it slip that he had Quidditch practice when Neville, Ella, Seamus, and Dean were around. So, he had to tell them the truth about how he's been the Seeker since their first flying lesson. All four of them thought that he was able to be their team's Seeker was awesome and how they couldn't wait to watch him play. If Harry was to be honest, he was completely nervous about the match on Saturday.
Once the plates and tables were empty, the hall started to empty out by groups. Harry and the majorly of the first year Gryffindors walked out together but where his friends went to head up towards their common room while he heads on towards the dungeons. "Harry, where are you going?" Seamus asked.
"Professor Snape took my library copy of Quidditch Through The Ages and he said that I could get it back after dinner. I'll see you guys in the common room in about thirty or so minutes. Hals, Prim, head to the common room. I don't think Professor Snape wanted all three of us picking up my library book." Hallie and Prim sigh before they go their separate ways.
Harry walks down the stairs to the cold dungeon before making his way to Professor Snape's office. He stood outside the office for a few minutes until he heard footsteps coming his way. "Mister Potter, follow me." Professor Snape says and Harry follows him into the office. As they walked into the room, Harry noticed that the potions master was limping and for one quick moment, Harry could see that Professor Snape was bitten by something. It took Harry a few minutes until he finally remembered that Professor Snape was limping on Halloween night. He had to been bitten by the three-headed dog that night. If Professor Snape was up on the third corridor on Halloween night that must mean he let the Troll into the school. But why would he do that? I need to ask Hallie, Prim, Hermione, and Ron this because all I can think of the reason being is that Professor Snape wants whatever the dog is protecting. "Now Mister Potter, do remember that Madam Prince doesn't like our students taking the library books out of the castle." Harry nodded his head as he watched his potion professor take the library book out of a drawer before handing it back to him. "I wanted to tell you good luck for the Quidditch match this Saturday. If you are anything like your father, you will be an exceptional flyer. And that will probably be the only nice thing I will ever say about your father, Mister Potter."
"Um, thank you Professor Snape. I'm sure the game will be a very good match. Oliver Wood has told me that the Slytherin House has won for the last five years, I believe." Harry says as he tries not to glace at Professor Snape's leg. "If that is all Professor, Hermione was going to read over my essay before I have to turn it in tomorrow."
Professor Snape nods his head before waving Harry away. Harry quickly made his way to the Gryffindor common room and he didn't even remember giving Elspeth the password but there he was, standing in front of his friends. "Guys, Professor Snape was bitten by the three-headed dog on Halloween!" He whispered.
"How do you know this, Harry?" Hallie asked as she looked up from her potion essay.
Harry sat down in between his sister and Hermione before answering, "I remember seeing him limping on Halloween and then today, I saw the bite mark! He had to have been the one to let the Troll in the castle! It all makes sense, right?"
Hermione looked up from what looked like his essay and said, "No, Harry, it doesn't make sense. Why would Professor Snape let a Troll into the castle just to try to get past that dog? I'm sure he probably knows what is there, as well." Hermione rolls her eyes and continues, "Anyways, I have some marks for you to fix before you turn your essay in tomorrow."
"I believe you, Harry. Something isn't adding up with him. He's nice one minute before being horrible the next." Ron says from his spot next to Prim and all three girls shake their heads in disappointment.
"Let's just finish our potion essays, so we can go to bed! We can debate about this another night," Prim says with a groan and Harry and Ron shut up about their opinions of their potion professor.
The morning of the first Quidditch match of the year, was very cold. And Harry's nerves only got worse as he walked down to the Great Hall for breakfast. When he sat down with his friends, he looked at his plate before pushing it away. He didn't think he could take one bite of his breakfast without throwing it up. "Harry, you really should eat something." Hermione says as she leans over towards him. "Please, you have to keep your strength up."
Harry looked over at Hermione and shrugged his shoulders before grabbing a piece of sausage off his plate. He takes a small bite out of it before placing it back down. "Harry, you need to eat more than that!" Hallie grumbles from the right of him. "If I have to force feed you, I will do it gladly!" Harry glared at his twin sister before pulling his plate back towards him.
"Your sister and Hermione are right, Harry. I know you've read that Seekers are the ones that the other team goes after the most." Seamus says from the other side of Hallie and Harry grumbles.
"I'll eat alright! Merlin, just stop nagging me! I really don't need that right now!" Harry grumbled and shoved a fork-full of food into his mouth.
Hallie looked around their group of friends before leaning into her brother's side. "Harry, I'm sorry… I know you're nervous and I shouldn't be putting more stress onto you. I just… I need to make sure that you will be alright, okay?" Harry sighed but nodded his head to show that he understood where she was coming from.
The group continued eating their breakfast until Wood came up to the table with the Weasley twins. "Okay, Harry, we need to head out to the pitch. But I want the whole group to get up with him, so we can keep this a secret for just a few more minutes." Harry sighs but stands up with his friends before they all make their way out of the Great Hall and down towards the pitch. When they got closer to the pitch, Harry broke away from his friends and headed towards the Gryffindor changing room with the rest of the team.
"Harry, don't worry. You'll do amazing. We will be rooting for you." Hallie calls over her shoulder and Harry stepped into the changing room.
Harry quickly changes into his uniform before sitting down, with his right leg shaking. He watches the rest of his teammates and as the time clicks on towards the start of the match, he can hear the roar of the crowd. "This is it team! I can feel it. We will win the cup this year, I just know it. We have the best team ever. Our team is better trained than Slytherin or any of the other houses and we have the best Seeker in years. Let's head out there and show this school what our team is all about."
The whole team stood up and cheered loudly. Harry followed his teammates out of the tent and as they walked closer to the pitch, he could hear Madam Hooch saying something that brought along cheers and boos. "What is she telling them?" Harry asked his captain.
"Madam Hooch must be telling them that you are our Seeker. Which means Professor Snape probably told the Slytherin team a few minutes ago. Now we only have a few minutes, Harry. Remember, I want you to stay high enough that the Slytherin team won't try to go after you. Keep a low profile out there." Wood says with a shrug of his shoulders. Harry nodded his head to show Wood that he knew what needed to be done before they started the match. "Nervous?" Harry yet again nods his head and Wood continues talking, "I was too; before my first match."
"Anything that you can say that will help me?" Harry asks as Madam Hooch gets closer to asking the teams out to the pitch.
Wood shakes his head but answers Harry's question anyways. "No, I don't remember much. A Slytherin sent a Bludger towards me and I got knocked out."
"Well, that doesn't make me feel any better at all, Oliver." Before Wood could say anything to that, Madam Hooch calls out the Gryffindor team and one by one, the seven Gryffindor players fly out onto the pitch. First Oliver flies out than Angelina, Katie, and Alicia. Next Fred and George before Harry took flight. The two houses flew around the pitch multiple times before they all landed.
The formed a circle around Madam Hooch and she continued on with starting the match. "Captains, I want a clean game. Shake hands." Both teams nod and shake their heads before each player shake hands. "Mount your brooms." Harry followed her instructions and she blew her whistle to allow all fifteen brooms to lift into the air.
Harry did exactly what Wood had told him to do and that was basically stay out of the way until he could find the Snitch. As he let his eyes roam the pitch, he listened in on Lee Jordan's commenting of the match. So far, the Gryffindor team was already up ten points but that had taken a lot of passing and turnovers between both teams.
He continued to look around for the Snitch and he was also listening to Lee. That's when the first trouble started to happen. Well it wasn't really trouble when having a Bludger sent towards you because that is actually expected during a Quidditch match. Harry quickly zoomed away from the incoming Bludger and was ecstatic when Fred came flying after it before quickly hitting the ball towards one of the Slytherin's players. "Are you alright, Harry?" Fred asked quickly as his eyes scanned the field.
"Yeah. Having a Bludger sent towards me is expected, right? Wood and I both knew it would happen." Harry says and pushes his glasses up his nose. There has to be a spell that makes glasses stick to one spot. Or maybe I'll just ask Gran and Papa if I can go and get my eyes checked and maybe get contacts.
Fred nods his head before speeding off to where an incoming Bludger was going to be at. Harry continues to scan the field when he hears Lee say, "And look at that. Pucey seems to have caught a glance at the Snitch. And wow, look at Potter fly. He's a natural, right, Professor? Potter and Higgs are racing side-by-side. Will it be Gryffindor for the win of one hundred and sixty points or will Slytherin win? I'm going to go with Potter getting the Snitch because come on, he really is the better Seeker out of the two."
"Jordan!" Professor McGonagall calls out warningly.
"Sorry Professor but Merlin's bead! That was diabolical! Flint did that on purpose!" And what Lee had meant was when Harry had gotten so close to snatching the Snitch, Flint had rammed himself into Harry. At least, Higgs also lost sight of the Snitch. Madam Hooch gave the Gryffindor team a penalty shot which Alicia took and scored. That made the score: Gryffindor's team with twenty points and the Slytherin house with zero.
Harry flew back up to his perch and once again barely misses being hit by Bludger sent at his head. And that was when things with the match had started to go very, very wrong. When he had gone to move from the direction of the Bludger, he realized that he didn't have any control over his broom. He was flying up and down and swinging from side-to-side. His broom was literally jerking him all around the place.
He was completely freaking out since no one has ever had to tell him what to do if your broom decided to go crazy. His broom was raising higher and higher and all of the Gryffindors on his team (and probably the Gryffindors and the other houses) were watching him with wide, worried eyes. The score, if he had heard Lee say correctly was now twenty points to ten, and Harry hated how his team was letting Slytherin get in points because of his broom was trying to kill him. He thought he could handle his broom by gripping it tightly with both of his hands and knees but soon found out that was not true when he got knocked off of it.
Harry was now dangling by one hand and he could see both of the Weasley twins fly towards him. When either one of them tried to pull him onto their brooms, he would raise higher and higher or his broom would shake him like crazy. "Fred, George, you seem to be making it worse." Harry yells over at them. His hand was seriously frozen and numb and he had no idea how much longer he would be able to hold on.
"Well, what else are we supposed to do, Harry? Let you fall?" Fred called from Harry's right side.
"That's not what I'm saying but my broom obviously will not let you pull me to safety." Harry calls down to them before watching the twins talk quietly.
Once they had discussed whatever they needed to discuss, they started to fly underneath him. Though every time they got two close to him, his Nimbus would fly higher up. It felt like he was up there dangling forever until he could feel the shift into his broom once again. He was able to pull himself back onto the broom and as he did that he noticed something shiny below him.
He quickly started moving towards the object but must have been dazed because he didn't realize exactly how close he was to both the Snitch and the ground. Before he knew it, he was screaming and had caught the Snitch in his mouth. He started chocking around the small golden flying ball, and he was coming close and closer to the ground.
The handle of his broom hit the ground first and caused him to flip. He fell onto his bottom and he kept trying to cough out the Snitch. When he finally did, he caught the source of a lot of his trouble today in his hand before holding it up for everyone to see. "And Potter has caught the Snitch! Catching the Snitch in your mouth is an unusual way of finishing the game, Potter, but the Gryffindors have won the game with one hundred and seventy points to Slytherin's sixty points."
Harry was soon surrounded by his team and his group of friends. Hallie, Prim, and Hermione came rushing at him, bringing him into a tight four-way hug. "Can someone tell me how my broom lost control?" Harry asked them.
"We'll tell you when we go to Hagrid's for tea." Hallie tells him without letting him go.
He has to wait about fifteen minutes before Oliver would allow Harry to leave with his friends. Seamus, Dean, Neville, Ella, and Lisa waved goodbye to the "Golden Quintet", saying that they would see them later. When the group of five were sitting around Hagrid's large table, Harry asks about his broom yet again. "Someone had cursed your broom, Harry… And it was Professor Snape. It had to be since it couldn't have been anyone else."
"Now, Hermione, don' go accusin' one o' the Hogwarts' professors o' cursing 'Arry's broom." Hagrid says as he pours tea for all of them.
Hermione looks over at Hagrid and answers him coolly. "Hagrid, I know when someone is trying to perform a curse. Professor Snape's eyes weren't leaving Harry. He was staying concentrated on performing whatever curse he was doing. He had to be trying to kill or hopefully just maim Harry out there."
"An' why would Professor Snape wan' ter maim or kill 'Arry?" Hagrid asks.
Harry looks between his family and friends before carefully saying, "I found out that Professor Snape had let the Troll in the castle on Halloween because he wanted to try to get whatever the three-headed dog was guarding."
"Are yeh talkin' 'bout Fluffy?"
"That thing has a name!" Ron asked in surprise.
Hagrid looks over at him and shakes his head. "O' course, he has a name! I'm the one who named 'im an' gave 'im ter Professor Dumbledore ter guard the-"
"What is he guarding, Hagrid?" Prim asked from her spot by Ron.
"Nothin' ter concern yourself with. 's classified an' tha' means no askin' questions." Hagrid says with a shake of his head.
"But Professor Snape is obviously trying to steal it for someone! He just tried to kill my brother!" Hallie cries out.
Hagrid shakes his head again and says, "Professor Snape would never try ter kill a student."
Hermione groans and says, "Hagrid, he put some type of spell or curse or jinx on Harry's broomstick! He was doing all of the things you had to do to cast powerful, dark magic on someone!"
"Now, Hermione! I know yeh are the more level-headed one in this group. Professor Snape would do no such thing ter a student! An' I suggest yeh five stay outta this because 's dangerous! Very dangerous! Wha' Fluffy is guarding is between Professor Dumbledore an' Nicolas Flamel-" Hagrid stops and looks anywhere but at Harry and his friends.
"Who is Nicolas Flamel, Hagrid?" Harry asks.
Hagrid groans before saying, "No one yeh should concern yerself with. Now forget 'bout Fluffy an' Nicolas Flamel." After that, no one could ask a question about what Fluffy was guarding on the third-floor corridor without Hagrid going red with anger.