A/N: Don't forget that starting next week, my post schedule will be Monday, Wednesday and Fridays! I have already finished book one and i think the end will surprise you. :)
Fun Fact: Harry's personality type is ISFP, while Henry is ENFP.
(Harry POV)
The morning of my first ever Quidditch match dawned a very chilly day and as I sat up, I shivered, my blanket falling off me. It was early, but I was too full of anxiety to even consider the idea of trying to lay down and go back to sleep, so instead, got out of bed and stretched quietly. Maybe I could go into the common room and do a bit of homework after I dressed, before it was time for breakfast.
When I looked at Henry's bed, however, to see if he was still sleeping, I was rather surprised to find that he wasn't sleeping, and come to think of it, I don't remember him coming to bed at all last night.
Leaving the room without changing my clothes, I made my way upstairs to the common room and looking around, I spotted my brother, laying on one of the dark green, velvety sofas, fast asleep, his pensive held tight in his arms. He must've had a nightmare last night and had come up here, so as not to wake anyone.
I sat on the couch at his feet, and as my weight shifted the couch cushions, my cousin jolted awake. "Good morning." I said as he sat up, straight, his face white as a ghost. "Dude, are you okay?"
"Yes." I knew he was straight up lying. I wasn't stupid, but he'd never really offered to talk about his nightmares with me, so I never asked. I knew Aunt Xayla knew more than I did, but she wasn't here, so Henry would have to deal with my pestering.
"You should talk to uncle Zander." He'd been like this, ever since his detention and it was honestly beginning to worry me.
"No, I'm fine with this." He said, quietly, holding up his pensive and I scowled. I bet the reason why he didn't wanna tell about this, of all things, was because if his mind had been read, I knew he was worried we'd be taken out of school.
Alright, but we gotta keep an eye on Professor Quirrell, okay?" At his nod, I smiled a little, "Today's the big day, you wanna hang with me before breakfast?" He nodded and with that, I stood. "Alright, well come on, let's go get dressed first."
Maybe Henry had just needed someone to distract him, because by the time breakfast rolled around, he was right back to his normal self. When I noticed everyone else going up to the Great Hall, Henry and I were just finishing up a game of Wizards Chess, where I lost terribly.
"I'm not even that good." Henry told me with a laugh as we made our way from our common room.
I shrugged, "You play a lot with Dad."
"Well, maybe that's because Dads an old man and chess is the only thing to make his old heart happy."
"Hey!" I turned with a grin when I saw Uncle Zander come up behind us and in one swift motion, he gently smacked the backs of our heads. "You know, when you two get old and complain about your joints, I'm going to laugh so hard at you."
"I'll tell mum." Henry said.
"She'll be laughing with me." I stuck my tongue out at my uncle and was just turning to go back into the Great Hall, when I saw someone watching me from a few feet away, as if waiting for me to be finished.
"Hey Jakoba!" I waved and with a smile, he pushed off of the wall he'd been leaning on and came over.
"Hey, James." He uncrossed his arms and put his hands in his pockets as he said, "Can we talk, alone?" Looking at my uncle and cousin, I told them to go on in and wait for me, and as they did, I turned back to Jakoba.
"What's up?"
"I don't want some stupid rivalry between us, because we're in opposing houses, okay?" I knew Slytherins and Gryffindors had a past of doing dirty tricks to try and get the other team to lose, but I hadn't really thought about anything like that, until Jakoba brought it up.
I nodded, "Okay."
"Can you do me a favor?"
"What?"
"When we both go into the Great Hall, I want us to walk over to each other's team and shake their hands, then, as we pass each other to go back to our table, I want you to shake my hand."
I thought for a moment, really liking that idea. After a second or two, I nodded with a smile, more relieved than anything to have had this talk with someone who most would think would be my enemy.
When we entered the Great Hall, Jakoba and I did exactly as we'd agreed to do, to the complete and utter amazement of everyone around us. I marched right up to the Gryffindor team and held out my hand for each of them. When it was Oliver Wood's turn, he stared at me in a mixture of shock, confusion and maybe even a little suspicion.
Then it was time to walk back and as I did, I passed Jakoba, we shook hands, both smiling at one another, then went to sit down. As soon as I fell into the seat, it was as if a jolt of nerves was shot right into me and no matter what anyone said, I just couldn't bring myself to eat, even when Henry threatened to write to aunt Rose and then said if I didn't eat, he'd force feed me.
I felt sick, like I was going to vomit and die all in one breath. In one hours time, I'd be up in the air, playing my first ever real game of Quidditch, right in front of the school. It wouldn't be the same as it was at home, where I messed up, it was just my family, who would be there to see.
This moment felt like a defining piece of my life and I was terrified of messing it up.
By eleven o'clock the whole school seemed to be out in the stands around the Quidditch pitch. Many students had binoculars. The seats might be raised high in the air, but it was still difficult to see what was going on sometimes. I walked nervously passed them, though like my teammates, I didn't show my nerves outwardly, but strode forward, head held high. Henry had parted from me at the entrance hall and had gone with Draco and Urie to sit with Ron and the other Gryffindors.
"It'll be much more fun." He'd told me, "to yell at the Gryffindors from right next to them when you win."
I arrived in the locker room, where the rest of my team was changing and beginning to quickly do so myself. I listened as Flint walked around the room, talking to each player and reminding them of all the things they'd practiced and which moves and techniques they should focus on.
When he was finished with each player, he finally spun to face everyone. "Alright guys, you got this!" We all cheered as loudly as we could and as we made our way out of the locker room, we walked onto the field to loud cheers that immediately drowned our own out.
Madam Hooch was refereeing. She stood in the middle of the field waiting for both our teams, her broom in her hand. "Alright, I want a nice fair game, all of you," she said, once we were all gathered around her. She seemed to look specifically at Flint as she spoke and I rolled my eyes.
"Mount your brooms, please."
Smiling, I saw Jakoba wave at me and waving back., I clambered onto my Nimbus Two Thousand.
Madam Hooch gave a loud blast on her silver whistle.
Fifteen brooms rose up, high, high into the air.
We were off!
"And the Quaffle is taken immediately by Angelina Johnson of Gryffindor — what an excellent Chaser that girl is, and rather attractive, too —"
"JORDAN!"
"Sorry, Professor."
The Weasley twins' friend, Lee Jordan, was doing the commentary for the match, closely watched by Professor McGonagall.
"And she's really belting along up there, a neat pass to Alicia Spinnet, a good find of Oliver Wood's, last year only a reserve — back to Johnson and — no, the Slytherins have taken the Quaffle, Slytherin Captain Marcus Flint gains the Quaffle and off he goes — Flint flying like an eagle up there — he's going to sc— no, stopped by an excellent move by Gryffindor Keeper Wood and the Gryffindors take the Quaffle — that's Chaser Katie Bell of Gryffindor there, nice dive around Flint, off up the field and — OUCH — that must have hurt, hit in the back of the head by a Bludger — Quaffle taken by the Slytherins — that's Adrian Pucey speeding off toward the goal posts, but he's blocked by a second Bludger — sent his way by Fred or George Weasley, can't tell which — nice play by the Gryffindor Beater, anyway, and Johnson back in possession of the Quaffle, a clear field ahead and off she goes — she's really flying — dodges a speeding Bludger — the goal posts are ahead — come on, now, Angelina — Keeper Bletchley dives — misses — GRYFFINDORS SCORE!"
Gryffindor cheers filled the cold air, with howls and moans from the Slytherins.
(Henry POV)
"Budge up there, move along."
"Hagrid!"
I grinned at the half giant as Ron and Hermione squeezed together to give him enough space to join.
"Bin watchin' from me hut," said Hagrid, patting a large pair of binoculars around his neck, "But it isn't the same as bein' in the crowd. No sign of the Snitch yet, eh?"
"Nope," I said. "James hasn't had much to do yet."
"Nor Jakoba." Ron added.
From beside me, Draco didn't look too pleased to have Hagrid sitting with him, but like Harry and I had told him, if he really wanted to be our friend, he'd have to deal with the friends we had. After all, we didn't always like his friends.
"Kept outta trouble, though, that's somethin'," said Hagrid, raising his
binoculars and peering skyward at the speck that was Harry.
(Harry POV)
Way up above the crowd, I glided over the game, squinting about for some sign of the Snitch. This was all a part of being seeker. Flying around and waiting for the little gold ball that was the snitch to make its appearance.
Once I thought I'd caught sight of a flash of gold, but it was just a reflection from one of the Weasleys' wristwatches, and once a Bludger decided to come pelting my way, more like a cannonball than anything, but I'd dodged it as a beater came and chased after it.
"Slytherin in possession," Lee Jordan was saying, "Chaser Pucey ducks two Bludgers, two Weasleys, and Chaser Bell, and speeds toward the — wait a moment — was that the Snitch?" A murmur ran through the crowd as Adrian Pucey dropped the Quaffle, too busy looking over his shoulder at the flash of gold that had passed his left ear.
I saw it and in a great rush of excitement I dove downward after the streak of gold. Jakoba had seen it, too and was after it in a flash. Neck and neck we hurtled toward the Snitch — all the Chasers seemed to have forgotten what they were supposed to be doing as they hung in midair to watch.
We raced, arms outstretched when suddenly, I did a roll on my broom to avoid a bludger and, seeming to worry if I'd fallen off, Jakoba stopped, mouth agape. "FOUL!" Many were screaming, since the weasley twins had both hit the bludgers at me, but not caring anymore, I was focused again and looking for the snitch.
"The snitch is lost after a nice tactical maneuver by the Weasleys, so a penalty to Gryffindor, taken by Spinnet, who puts it away, no trouble, and we continue play, Gryffindor still in possession."
It was as I dodged another Bludger, which went spinning dangerously past my head, that it happened. My broom gave a sudden, frightening lurch.
For a split second, I thought I was going to fall, so I gripped the broom tightly with both my hands and knees. I'd ridden a broom several hundred times in my life and have never felt anything like that.
It happened again. It was as though the broom was trying to buck me off. But Nimbus Two Thousands did not suddenly decide to buck their riders off. I tried to turn back toward the Gryffindor goal-posts — I was just about to have Flint call for a timeout, when I realized that my broom was completely out of my control. I couldn't turn it, couldn't go down, couldn't direct it at all. It was zigzagging through the air, and every now and then making violent swishing movements that almost unseated me.
Lee was still commentating. "Slytherin in possession — Flint with the Quaffle — passes Spinnet — passes Bell — hit hard in the face by a Bludger, hope it broke his nose — only joking, Professor — Slytherins score — A no..." The Slytherins were cheering. No one seemed to have noticed that my broom was behaving strangely. It was carrying me slowly higher, away from the game, jerking and twitching as it went.
The only one who seemed to notice first was Jakoba, who saw me when he'd seen the snitch and was about to go after it but realized that I wasn't following. Leaving the snitch, he pulled his broom up and zoomed after me. "JAMES, ARE YOU OKAY?"
I shook my head, feeling as if I were going to pass out. I was getting dizzy from all the circling and jumping, I felt as if I were going to vomit. Now my broom had started to roll over and over, while I only just managed to hold on. Then the whole crowd gasped. My broom had given a wild jerk and swinging off it, I now dangled from it, holding on with only one hand.
(Henry POV)
I knew nothing coincidental could've happened to Harry's broom during the game, so as Ron and Hermione discussed what might be going on with Hagrid, I seized his binoculars suddenly, but instead of looking up at my cousin, I started looking frantically at the crowd.
"What are you doing?" moaned Ron, gray-faced.
"I knew it." I seethed and before Ron or anyone else could say another word, I ran from where I sat.
I fought my way across to the stand to where Snape stood, and now racing along the row behind him; I didn't even stop to say sorry when I knocked Professor Quirrell headfirst into the row in front. Reaching Snape, I crouched down, pulled out my wand, and whispering a few, well-chosen words, I watched as flames shot from my wand onto the hem of Snape's robes.
It took perhaps thirty seconds for Snape to realize that he was on fire. A sudden yelp told me that I'd done the job properly. As he stomped out the flames, I turned and ran. I just hoped I'd done it in time.
I was a few students away from Snape, when I turned to look up at Harry and that's when I screamed in terror.
His broom had given a final jolt that was enough to rocket him up and off his broom. He was falling for a moment, cartwheeling through the air, but just as suddenly as he'd fallen, Jakoba had dived and grabbed his hand. This sudden jerking movement caused the tall Gryffindor to slide sideways on his broom, so now he was upside down, but he'd caught Harry's hand and now, as the two struggled to hold on, Jakoba guided his broom toward the ground with the hand that wasn't holding Harry.
They hit the ground hard and Jakoba smacked his head on the grass, but luckily for them, they would be fine other than small bruising and a minor concussion for Jakoba.
I was just wondering if they'd finish the game, when Jakoba and Harry finally parted hands and from between their palms, the snitch zoomed out.. The stands roared and as the crowds cheered, I ran down with Urie, Draco, Hermione, Ron and several others to check on the two seekers.
Whether this tie counted for anything or we won or lost, one thing was definitely for sure, I was just glad that my cousin was still alive.
(Harry POV)
By the time all the points were tallied, Gryffindor had won by a mere ten points, and though Wood had tried shouting at poor Jakoba for almost killing himself for me, the Gryffindor team was in overall good spirits. The tied snitch grab had made everyone anxious to hear the score and now that it was out, everyone was either excited or disappointed.
I heard none of this, though as I was being made a cup of strong tea back in Hagrid's hut, with Henry, as I waited for my Uncle to come and get me. I hadn't had the energy to go all the way back to the school and Uncle Zander had been made to go with the teachers to get the brooms and discuss what had happened.
"It was Snape," Henry was explaining as we sat down, cups in hand, "I saw him with my own eyes. He was cursing your broomstick, muttering, he wouldn't take his eyes off you."
"Rubbish," said Hagrid, who hadn't heard a word of what had gone on next to him in the stands. "Why would Snape do somethin' like that?"
Henry and I shared a glance, wondering what to tell him. Finally, I decided on the truth. "We found out something about him," I said. "He tried to get past that three-headed dog on Halloween. It bit him. We think he was trying to steal whatever it's guarding."
Hagrid dropped the teapot. "How do you know about Fluffy?" he said.
"Fluffy?"
"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 —"
"Yes?" said Henry eagerly.
"Now, don't ask me anymore," said Hagrid gruffly. "That's top secret, that is."
"But Snape's trying to steal it."
"Rubbish," said Hagrid again. "Snape's a Hogwarts teacher, he'd do nothin' of the sort."
"So why did he just try and kill James?" Henry objected. "I know a jinx when I see one, Hagrid, We've learned all about them in class! You've got to keep eye contact, and Snape wasn't blinking at all, I saw him!"
"Why would he even try an' hurt James? What's he got agains' 'im?" Henry and I shared a glance, but after a moment, I shook my head.
"Does that matter? The only reason I'm alive right now is because Jakoba Skyknight stuck out his neck for me." I said.
"I'm tellin' yeh, yer wrong!" said Hagrid hotly. "I don' know why James' broom acted like that, but Snape wouldn' try an' kill a student! Now, listen to me, all three of yeh — yer meddlin' in 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 —"
"Aha!" I said, "so there's someone called Nicolas Flamel involved, is there?"
Hagrid looked furious with himself. "I shouldn' a said tha'." At that moment, there was a knock on the door and Uncle Zander came and whisked us away.