Disclaimer:

I do not own Harry Potter. Obviously...

Summary:

Ever since first year, Harry's had a problem.. He's just to darn photogenic and no matter what he seems to do there's always a photo the next day in the newspaper calling him the next merlin.

This fic is slightly Au and will get increasing Au as the story progresses.

Chapter 2 – The First Quidditch Game

Harry's stomach was twisting into knots. It had been a crazy week and today would be his first real quidditch game. As he began strapping on his protective pads in the Gryffindor changing room, he couldn't help but think over all that had transpired in the past week since the troll incident.

Shortly before being given the go ahead to leave the hospital wing Ron had come in terribly upset. He had felt so guilty about putting them both into danger. He awkwardly but earnestly apologized to Hermione for the things he had said. Especially as it had put her into this situation. He also all but begged Harry to forgive him as he felt like it was his fault that Harry had been in danger since he hadn't gone with him. Shocked and not a little embarrassed Harry assured him that he did forgive him but that it wasn't his fault. Its not like he could have known a troll was in the castle and besides It had been Harry who told him not to come as he thought it would have made Hermione more upset.

"Well, I swear that I'll have your back in the future" said Ron "You can count on it!"

"Though Harry appreciated the sentiment, he did think Ron was being a touch dramatic. After all, it's not like they would be in any life threating danger in Hogwarts in the future.

As for Hermione she seemed pleased after her talk with Ron and Harry. She was even more happy when they both invited her to join them on there way to lunch in the great hall.

As the blossoming Gryffindor trio made there way down the halls Harry immediately noticed something was different. Students who normally would be rushing down the halls to their destinations or chatting with friends would suddenly stop and stare at him as he walked or worse break into hushed whispers. One particular Ravenclaw upperclassmen even walked into a suit of armor as he was craning his neck to stare at Harry and didn't notice where he was going. Another group of second year girls wearing the yellow ties of Hufflepuff even started giggling!

Harry was feeling very uncomfortable with all the attention. Sure, people had stared a lot during his first week or so but nothing like this. Most seemed to have deemed him a regular first year and moved on. Now however it was so much worse.

Right as Harry was beginning to wonder if he should turn back Hermione and Ron seemed to have noticed his discomfort. They began walking closer to him, Shielding him from passersby eyes as best as they could. Though Harry didn't say anything about it he was happy that his friends were trying to help him.

As they approached the large open grand doors of the great hall for lunch Harry got a foreboding feeling in his gut.

At first after entering the hall they went unnoticed but as the trio made their way to the end of the Gryffindor table where the first years usually sat under the watchful eyes of the teachers that changed.

First only a few noticed but as they did, they would rouse the attention those around him and soon the staring and pointing began. By the time they reached their seats nearly the whole hall was staring at him. Harry desperately wished he could become invisible. As people continued to stare and whisper and an unknown tension began to fill the hall. Luckily it was then that the headmaster came to his rescue.

Strolling in through the great hall doors, Dumbledore made quite the sight. He wore a large blue lopsided wizarding cap with a large red feather tucked into it's side, his long flowing beard appeared to have been recently braided and was partly tucked into the hem of his robe. He wore bright Canary yellow robes with red polka dots and a great big cloak made of chintz fabric with a flower print that seemed to sway and blossom in the wind. Finally, he wore tall shiny black cowboy boots with glinting silver spurs on his heels. As he walked down the hall humming a strange tune his spurs clinked on the stone floor.

Even older students who were used to Dumbledore's eccentric dress were shocked and quickly the stares and whispers of the hall shifted from Harry onto the odd headmaster. Dumbledore though seemed completely unaware of this and made his way up to his chair at the head table. As he sat down with a great sigh, he suddenly looked around at the student body as if becoming aware of their presence for the first time.

Slowly he turned to his right where Minerva McGonagall was seated and busy writing something on some parchment.

Speaking calmly and yet with a voice that carried throughout the great hall

"Minerva my dear… is there something on my face?" asked Dumbledore seemingly clueless of his wild dress.

Looking up from her paper she replied, "I do not believe so Headmaster."

"Fascinating" he replied with his twinkling blue eyes he continued "Then why are the students pointing and staring?"

"Are they?" Replied McGonagall "That would certainly be a shame, because we would have to dock points for such rude behavior."

Both teachers suddenly looked out pointedly at the students assembled in the hall.

As the chastened students returned to their meals and stopped their staring Harry looked one last time to the headmaster. As he did, he noticed the headmaster deliberately turn and look at him and give him a short wink with his twinkling eyes. It was at that moment that Harry realized the headmaster had done this to help draw attention away from him. Grateful Harry turned back to Ron and Hermione and began to discuss the upcoming classes and homework.

While the stares and whispers did continue after the first day they weren't nearly as bad. What did become a lot more troubling was the piles of mail he received each morning after that. It seems that the greater wizarding community had been quite impressed with Harry's "Heroics" in defeating the troll and saving his classmate. Some of the mail were simple thank you notes from concerned Hogwarts students family members. Others were more elaborate with paragraphs of congratulations and questions. Some even came with little gifts, usually a small amount of money or a coupon for a particular store.

Hermione wasn't entirely spared either and although her mail was far less then Harrys, she also received quite a bit of mail. Mainly from concerned people who wanted to wish her well. However, there were also a few unkind notes, mad that the "Muggleborn" had dared risk the wizarding worlds savior's life. There was also a request from Witch weekly requesting an interview about what happened and about the dashing boy-who-lived heroics. (Harry made sure to burn that one.)

Luckily after the table was nearly covered in owls and letters for them the day after the daily prophet article, Professor McGonagall had stepped in to help.

She taught them some simple mail sorting spells and detection spells "Can't be to careful" she sniffed as she burned one particularly nasty note with a minor hex on it.

She them directed them on how to respond to the mail. To keep it short and to the point and to not leave it opened ended. After helping them through the process she left them to it and Ron proved very helpful in sorting through the mail with them and gleefully burning any of the nasty ones.

Harry finished strapping on the last of his quidditch gear and joined his fellow teammates in lining up at the doors leading out to the pitch. As he did so the team captain Oliver Wood looked down to him and asked.

"Scared Harry?"

"A little" Replied Harry hoping to put some confidence into his words.

"That's alright I felt the same way Before my first game." Wood reassured Harry with a small but serious smile.

Curious Harry asked, "What happened?"

Oliver gave a small grimace before saying "Uhh I don't really remember, I took a bluger to the head 2 minutes in."

He continued with a slightly glazed look "Woke up in the hospital wing a week later." As if realizing what he was saying was perhaps not very reassuring he looked back at Harry with a forced smile and said "Well, it can't be as bad as a troll right? Just remember what we've taught you and we'll win for sure." He did not sound confident.

As he finished his little speech the pitch doors swung open to the cheering crowd. Harry swallowed a bit of bile as he mounted his broom and was swept up into the air with his fellow teammates making their way towards the starting positions.

Hermione was frustrated. This morning as she came down from her room, she found Neville Longbottom tearing apart the common room in a panic. After calming him down enough to figure out what was wrong, both Harry and Ron joined them as Neville explained his behavior.

"I can't find it!" he continued still slightly panicked and a fearful look in his eye "My Remembrall it's gone!"

"Calm down Neville, we can help you find it" Hermione said reassuring the boy. "Where did you last have it?"

After explaining that he had it all day yesterday and thought he brought it back to his room with him but couldn't find it. Ron pointedly asked why he was so worried about it "It's not like it's been very helpful now has it?"

"It's my Gran" he responded quickly "she's coming in today to watch the quidditch game, she a member of the board of governors you see."

"So?" Asked Ron confused what that had to do with the Remembrall.

"She's the one who gave it to me! And she wants to see me after! What if she asked to see it and I lost it! She's going to be so mad!" Neville replied as panic seemed to overtake him more and more with each word.

"Don't worry Neville well help you find it" Harry assured.

"Harry Mate you've got the game in a few hours and your supposed to meet up with the team" Ron Reminded him.

"Don't worry Harry" Hermione said "We can help Neville"

"Yah mate" said Ron with a slightly disappointed look "You go on ahead and well help Neville and join you later."

"Thanks guys, good luck finding it" Harry responded before heading to the portrait hole.

After over an hour of searching Ron got frustrated and Hermione sent him ahead to save seats for Neville and herself. But as the clock ticked down and the game got even nearer, Neville had to concede they had to give up the search for now.

As she ran down the grounds of Hogwarts with Neville towards the pitch, she could hear the roar of the crowd and had to run faster in hopes of making it in time.

"Oh no were late" moaned Neville in despair as it was clear the game must have started a few minutes ago as the various players soared through the air dodging bluggers and chasing the quaffle.

As they walked into the stands and past the teacher's box towards the Gryffindor section she could hear the chants of her fellow students "GO GO GRYFFINDOR! GO GO GRYFINDOR!"

Some even chanted "LETS GO POTTER LETS GO!" as one particularly loud chant of this rendition was bellowed Hermione looked at the teacher's box by chance and noticed immediately the sour look upon Professor Snape's face.

As she continued her way to her seat, she looked up hoping to spot her friend. It took her a moment, but she did eventually spot him swerving around one of the outer viewing towers and back into the main pitch area his face moving back and forth as he obviously scanned for the golden snitch.

Excited by the atmosphere and to watch her first real friend to compete she hurried with Neville to join Ron. However, right as she was approaching where Ron sat, she heard gasps from some fellow students. Looking up she saw the problem immediately.

Harry's broom was out of control. It seemed almost like a bucking bull. Swerving and bucking up and down as if trying it's best to throw Harry from his broom who held on desperately.

"Something seems to be wrong with Potters broom" Announced Lee Jordan.

"Foul play" bellowed Hagrid who was sitting in the upper stands "someone's clearly cursed his broom"

Hearing this Hermione desperately looked around trying to think of what she could do to help her friend. She looked at the teacher's box to see if they were going to do something. As she looked however a gut feeling made her look at Snape. Sure, enough he was staring intently at Harry without blinking and was clearly chanting under his breath. All the hall marks of someone casting a curse.

Oh no she thought feeling anger boil from within her as she pulled out her wand. This slimy man was not going to hurt her friend.

She quickly rushed under the stands and towards the teacher's box with a half-baked plan forming in her mind.

Terrence Higgs was nervous.

This was only his third year as the Slytherin seeker after he took over from the last seeker who graduated. Now he was in his 7th year, and he desperately hoped to be scouted to join one of the professional teams. He had a great record so far and although he had not caught every snitch in his time as seeker, he was widely considered the current best seeker in Hogwarts. Not only that but Slytherin had won the quidditch cup for the last 6 years in a row. Which had played no small part in their house cup wins.

Now though the pressure was on because his opponent was the famous Harry Potter. At first Terrence Higgs had been delighted to find out it was Harry. Not only was he a first year but the boy was raised in the muggle world and hadn't even heard of quidditch until he came to school. Thus, he easily had massive experience gap over him. Plus, as an added bonus Harry's fame would give him more notoriety when he beat him.

Now however he wasn't nearly as sure. What first year was able to take on a mountain troll and win?

Clearly, he had second guessed Harry as an average first year. To top it all off and what was really getting him nervous was the scouts.

Several team scouts had decided to attend todays match which was usually unheard of. Every normal year they would normally only come to the final game between the two best teams of the year.

Now though several scouts were sat in a visitor's box a few even had some cameras. Higgs figured they were likely drawn by Harry's fame and the fact he was the youngest seeker in a century probably helped to.

Now though he had to focus. The game had been going on for awhile now and there had been no sign of the snitch. The chasers on both sides were about even in points now. The only notable thing that happened was when his opponent's broom had malfunctioned clearly under some kind of tampering or curse.

Probably one of his house mates trying to help their team win he thought. Harry was nearly bucked off several times and even dangling from his broom at one point. Higgs even noticed once of the scouts run down to the field with his camera probably hoping to catch a picture if Harry fell. His chaser teammates had used the distraction to score a few points and catch up with the Gryffindor team much to the crowd's chagrin.

Harry though recovered remarkably quickly and after Higgs saw the teachers jumping up in panic with their wands out the curse seemed to have faded, Harry was able to clamber up onto his broom and continue the game.

Higgs was circling in behind Harry scanning around for the snitch while staying close so he could hopefully intercept him. It was then from the corner of his eye he saw it, a small glint down near the grass. It was only for a moment, as clearly Harry had spotted it too as his sight of it was cut off by Harry's back as he dived full speed towards the snitch. Desperate not to lose his chance Higgs threw his own broom into a dive following right behind Harry. It was a race straight down and for a moment he considered pulling up but as he saw Harry stretch his arm out towards the ground Higgs knew that if he didn't push all his weight behind, he was going to lose to a first year in front of the whole school and the professional scouts. Recklessly he pushed on and dived as hard as he could not even planning how he would pull out of his dive.

The game hadn't been going well in Harry's estimation. Sure, they had a small point lead at the beginning but then he had nearly been thrown off his broom as it malfunctioned. Not only did he nearly fall to what would surely have been a very hard and painful ground, but the other team had used his predicament to catch up in score. Harry felt awful he had cost his teammates points after they had accepted him onto his team. He was determined he would make it up to them by catching the snitch.

As he circled around above the pitch with the Slytherin seeker hot on his tail he saw it. Down nearly in the grass he saw the tell-tale glint of the sun off of the snitch's reflective surface. Immediately he dived full force he had to catch that snitch. As he dived towards the glint, he managed a glance back to see the Slytherin seeker was diving right behind him! Pushing everything he had into his new nimbus 2000 he dived harder. Right as he approached the ground and started to reach out his arm ready to grab it two things became clear to harry.

First that was not the snitch and second if he didn't pull up right now, he would wipe out hard. Pulling up with all his strength, the nimbus 2000 felt almost as if it was going to break under his grip. However, he was able to pull up just in the nick of time with just the tips of his toes touching the top of the grass.

He was nearly blinded by a flash right in his eyes as a strange man holding a camera took a picture. What the heck was this guy doing on the field Harry wondered.

*CRASH* Looking back, he realized his opponent had not been so lucky. His opponent had also realized there was no snitch but with all his weight and momentum into his dive and his broom not quite as maneuverable as Harry's he was unable to recover in time. He had raised the front of his broom enough that he was almost perpendicular to the ground when the tip of his broom dug itself into the ground.

As soon as this happened poor Higgs was thrown from his broom at high speeds. He managed to tuck into some sort of roll, but it was a hard hit and he rolled and rolled down nearly a quarter of the pitch. Finally, he came to a stop in a big heap clearly dazed and not getting up. His broom however had gotten it worse as it's collision into the ground had shattered the broom into multiple pieces in the field where it lay.

Shocked Harry felt immediately guilty and hoped his opponent wasn't hurt too badly.

The announcer lee Jordan didn't seem to agree as he loudly announced.

"I DON'T BELIVE IT, POTTER PULLED OFF A TEXTBOOK WRONSKI FEINT IN HIS FIRST GAME!"

He continued on with his booming magically enhanced voice.

"HAH TAKE THAT YOU SLIMLEY SLYTHERINS THAT WILL SHOW YOU FOR CURSING HIS BRO- "

Quickly professor McGonagall swatted him over the head and snatched the microphone from his hands before he could continue. However, the crowd hardly noticed as it went WILD. Booing and taunting from Slytherin's side and wild screaming and chanting from the rest of the school. "LETS GO POTTER LETS GO"

Embarrassed, shaking from adrenaline and wondering what the heck a Wronski feint was Harry decided to focus back on the game he still needed to catch the snitch.

As if it had heard his thoughts, he spotted the real snitch up near the Gryffindor goal posts. He immediately sped after it, hoping he could catch the snitch before Higgs recovered or they got a back up player on the field. As he raced after the snitch it dived down low as if to taunt Harry for his earlier mistake or perhaps to make him crash like Higgs. As they pulled up low to the grass Harry saw Higgs stand up and another student handing him a different broom. He had to catch it before his opponent could recover! Though Harry was right behind the snitch his short arms just couldn't seem to grasp it and so without thinking he began to stand up on his broom. As he balanced on his two feet and stood on his broom his fingers just about to grasp the snitch another flash went off as he once again passed that strange cameraman who was on the field.

This time however the flash startled Harry that he tipped a bit to forward on his broom and was sent flying. His surprise yelp was cut off as something hard entered his mouth. He was sent rolling on the quidditch pitch just as Higgs had although with not nearly as much momentum. He rolled to a stop nearly right where he had crashed earlier.

The crowd after a surprised shout at seeing Harry crash cheered as he stood up, but then went quiet as he began to hold his stomach and cough.

"I think he's gonna be sick" shouted Hagrid from behind a concerned Hermione and Ron.

Suddenly bending forward Harry finally coughed up the hard ball from his mouth and when he looked into his hand, he couldn't believe it. There it was the golden snitch! Elated He pumped his fist with the snitch into the air and as the crowd too realized that he had the snitch they went wild!

Once again, the strange man with the camera came over and took a picture of Harry standing in triumph pumping the snitch in his fist high in the air with a wide smile on his face.

As the cheering started to subside and the team was coming down to tackle him Harry looked at the grass in front of him and was confused. Why was Neville's Remembrall on the quidditch pitch?

He quickly bent and scooped it up into his pocket as his team surrounded him with hugs and pats of congratulations Harry promised himself he would return the ball when he saw Neville later.

Harry slept in late the next day. The Gryffindor's had thrown a wild victory party long into the evening. His teammates Fred and George had snuck in piles of snacks and candy and even some butter beer and fire whisky for the older students. It had been a wonderful evening and Harry had a great time chatting with his friends and teammates and accepting congratulations from various house members.

Now though as he slowly woke up close to noon on Saturday, he was getting very hungry. He quickly dressed up in his uniform and made his way down the stairs. He was again met with some mild clapping and quiet congratulations from the few students he ran into. He thanked the students and found Hermione and Ron playing a game of chess. Unsurprisingly to Harry, Ron seemed to be crushing Hermione much to her frustration.

"Harry Your awake" smiled Hermione happy to see her friend. "Morning mate, just give us a few minutes and I'll finish her off" Ron said with a smirk.

Hermione gave Ron and then the chess board an annoyed glance and was about to retort when the portrait swung open and the Weasley twins came barreling through.

"Harry" They called in unison rushing over and dumping several papers and magazines onto the chess table sending their pieces flying off the board much to Ron's consternation and Hermione's not so hidden delight.

"You've got to see this" Fred or maybe George said. Harry still had trouble telling which twin was which.

"See wha-" Harry cut off as he looked upon the pictures across the various magazines.

Plastered across the face of the two magazines and newspaper were pictures of himself from the quidditch game.

"Oh my" said Hermione as she scooped up the Daily prophet. As she looked upon the front he saw a picture of himself standing on his broom. As he watched the full loop you could see Harry coming into frame standing on his broom, messy black hair blowing in the wind. His eyes were focused entirely upon the snitch. His gloved hand was reaching out to the snitch. Just as his fingers seemed to curl around the snitch the little Harry in picture would exit the frame. Completely missing his tumble from the broom shortly after.

In big bold letters above the picture read:

Boy-Who-Lives or Boy-Who-Wins?

In subheadings below it read:

Youngest Seeker in a Century? Read More on the History of Potter Family Quidditch Players and Hogwart's Quidditch History pg. 3

The Hogwarts Game of the Decade Read a Count-by-Count Retelling of the Game pg. 7

Trick Broom Riding and It's Many Dangers pg. 15

Almost afraid to look at the next one Ron scooped up a magazine and spoke.

"NO way your on-Seeker Weekly!" he said with excitement!

Upon the face of this magazine was a different photograph from yesterday.

From the top of the frame the Harry in the picture came rushing down in a dive before narrowly avoiding crashing into the ground. He pulled up and zoomed right out of the frame right as the Slytherin seeker desperately tried to pull up only to catch the front of his broom and be sent flying off the frame.

From the image it looked all perfectly planned and executed despite Harry knowing it was just a mistake he then looked at the words spread across the page.

Meet Britain's Newest Quidditch Prodigy!

Nimbus 2000: The Most Maneuverable Broom on the Market?

pg. 5 Interview with Chudley Cannon Scout "Already Better Then Half of My Players!"

pg. 9 The Wronski Feint an In-depth Analysis

Finally, the last magazine he looked at was a copy of… Witch Weekly?

The picture on this cover started with Harry standing in his uniform looking down at his hands before forming it into a fist holding the snitch and raising it high in the sky and giving a beautiful wide smile and twinkle in his green eyes. He continued shaking the snitch in the air and waving to the crowd before the picture repeated itself.

The words on its front were perhaps the most mortifying of all.

A New Contender for Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award?

Cute Quidditch Boys and the Best Quidditch Uniforms

The Boy-Who-Will-Be-A-Heartbreaker

pg. 19 Astrological Quiz! See if your Star Sign Makes you a Match for Harry Potter!

As he finished looking at the tittles of each magazine and newspaper Harry let out a deep groan of sadness and despair. The Weasley twins gave him a consoling pat on each shoulder. Which was rather undermined by the clear smirks and laughter they were trying to hide.

"And you haven't even seen all the owls with fan mail yet!" said the twins finally laughing as Harry lightly banged his head into a nearby wall, his hunger all but forgotten.

Authors note:

Hello everyone. I hope this chapter finds you well. I first want to thank all of my readers and reviewers. Seeing that follow/ favorite count rise and to read your nice comments really pushed me to keep writing. Next I want to thank Hazy and lobonmc for reading over this chapter and Manatee vs Walrus for suggesting to use Neville's Remembrall as a prop. If you have any fun ideas or suggestions you would like to see included feel free to message me or suggest them in the reviews. If I do use the idea I will be sure to reference you in the Authors note. As I have said this is my first fanfic and I admit that I am a mediocre editor at best. if your interested in beta reading or editing for me feel free to send me a message. Thank you all for reading and I look forward to hearing from you all soon.