Chapter seven: My worries shift from Harry to a Hogwarts teacher.
"I assume you're going to the Quidditch match today being such a fan and all." Snape asked me dryly at breakfast the next morning. It had been a long night for me reading up on legends about the Chamber of Secrets. After all if anything else happened it was going to have to be up to me to do something. The rest of the teachers liked think they were good, but I didn't think they were much chop to be honest. As for the headmaster, someone who I had always admired mind you, I thought he should be doing something far more proactive here- after all the skills and knowledge of Albus Dumbledore were legend after all.
"Of course." I responded. "And who do you think will win Severus?"
"Slytherin of course." Snape replied. "They've been practicing very hard lately, and as you may or may not know, we've got great brooms this year courtesy of Malfoy's father."
I glanced over towards the Slytherin table where Malfoy was the center of attention. "Hmmm..but perhaps you need more skill than just having a good broom?" I suggested. "I used to have a terrible broom, but was still a great player."
Snape's lip curled slightly. "I'm sure you were Gilderoy, but let me assure you right now- Slytherin are going to win today, mark my words."
I concentrated on eating then, instead of on listening to Snape's comments about the game.
*****
It was a muggy day, but looking up at the sky I had the feeling that it might rain later, and I commented on this to McGonagall who was walking down with me.
"Yes, well young Potter might just have to get the snitch quickly before it begins to rain and his glasses annoy him." She replied, as we climbed the stairs up to the teacher's area. Seated near Snape was a man with long blonde hair, and a familiar face. As I took my seat I asked McGonagall who it was. She made a face as she replied, "Lucius Malfoy- Draco's father. He's part of the governors of the school which is why he is here I assume."
Madame Hooch, the Quidditch teacher, started the game and the stadium roared. Most people were barracking for Gryffindor for the simple fact that they didn't like Slytherin. I glanced at Harry. He was flying above the stadium looking around. Malfoy was near him, and I gasped suddenly as a bludger went straight for Harry. Harry dodged, and one of the Weasley twins whacked the bludger away. But for some reason this didn't matter. No matter where he went, or what he did, the bludger seemed to follow Harry, preventing him from getting anywhere near the snitch. The Weasley twins spent most of their time trying to stop the bludger from hitting Harry. I, along with most of the crowd, was watching Harry and the bludger rather than the rest of the game. It was only when I heard Snape cheer "YES!" that I realised the score was sixty to nothing in favour of Slytherin.
"I guess your plan worked Lucius." Snape said to Malfoy, who was smirking and looking, pleased with himself.
"I guess it did. Now if only Draco can get the snitch." Malfoy replied.
Gryffindor called time out, and they huddled on the ground, talking animatedly, many of them gesturing, as Madame Hooch walked towards them. A moment later the game began, and for some reason the Weasley twins were no longer following Harry and trying to protect him from the bludger which was still following Harry determinedly. The rain was really pelting down now, and McGonagall conjured up an umbrella to keep us as dry as possible.
"What's wrong with the bludger Minerva?" I asked her in a low voice, eyeing Snape and Malfoy out of the corner of my eye. I remembered Snape's comment that morning: "Slytherin are going to win today- mark my words." Had he and Malfoy done something to the bludger?
"I don't know." She said anxiously. "They've been in Hooch's office so nobody could have tampered with them."
"It looks like someone's tampered with it." I argued, and I pulled out my wand. "Maybe it's time to stop this bludger!"
Before I could do anything however McGonagall grabbed my wand. "Don't." She said. "It's too dangerous. We're just going to have to hope for the best."
Harry dogged the bludger again, twirling in mid air which earnt him the laughter of the Slytherin supporters, and Malfoy, up in the air near him, seemed to be saying something. Harry didn't move, and all of a sudden the bludger slammed into his arm, which dangled at a funny angle afterwards. I couldn't hear anything other than the cries and yells from the supporters. The bludger came back towards Harry, but he moved out of the way this time, and then went into a dive towards Malfoy, who hurried to get out of his way. Harry snatched at something, holding onto the broom only with his legs, his arm still dangling uselessly at his side. Then he fell to the ground. Along with McGonagall I was up and racing for the ground. The Gryffindor team did the same and they were all gathered around him as we arrived. I noticed that in his hand Harry held the snitch- Gryffindor had won! We reached him at the same time, and I leant over him. McGonagall was trying to make the team move back a bit, to give us some room.
Harry opened his eyes. "Oh no, not you." He moaned.
I frowned. At a time like this when he was injured so badly did it really matter who was the better wizard? Was it really a time for that kind of concern? "Doesn't know what he's saying." I said loudly. "Not to worry Harry. I'm about to fix your arm."
"No!" Harry said, trying to sit up. "I'll keep it like this thanks."
Nearby Collin took a photo, even though Harry complained, but I was busy trying to think of the best spell to fix his arm. AH! I knew the one!
"Lie back Harry." I told him, in what I hoped was a soothing tone. "It's a simple charm I've used countless times."
"Why can't I just go to the hospital wing?" Harry complained. I was annoyed at this: he was really one stubborn person.
"He really should Professor." Wood, the captain, backed him up. "Great capture Harry, really spectacular, your best yet I'd say."
I pushed back my robe sleeves- I'd worn one of my more colorful ones in honor of the match, but the water had ruined it a little. "Stand back." I ordered.
"No don't..." Harry said weakly.
I performed the spell and smiled. There, Harry's arm should be fine now, I thought happily. I'd shown him. And then my eyes widened with shock: Harry's arm was looking like a piece of rubber. I realised what had happened. I'd mixed up the spells and rather than mending the bones, I'd taken them away.
"Ah. Yes. Well that can sometimes happen. But the point is, the bones are no longer broken. That's the thing to bear in mind. So, Harry, just toddle up to the hospital wing- ah Mr. Weasley, Mrs. Granger, would you escort him?- and Madame Pomfrey will be able to- er- tidy you up a bit."
Harry weakly got to his feet and was escorted up to the hospital wing. I was on my way back up towards the school myself when I heard Snape speaking. "Well Lucius, it looks as though you're plan didn't exactly come off. Potter still got the snitch."
"I know." Malfoy sounded disgusted. "And Draco should have seen the damn thing- it was right near him, but he was too busy laughing at Potter."
"Well it was rather funny." Snape conceded.
"Be that as it may Draco should be disgusted with himself. He's forever letting people here show him up. Last year that dratted mudblood Granger got the best marks in the class and she's not even from a wizarding family. Rest assured Draco got told off over that one. Honestly Severus, I don't know why they're letting mudbloods in here- this is the finest school of witchcraft and wizardry in the entire world, and surely as that it has a reputation to uphold." Malfoy complained.
I felt my heart skip a beat as Snape replied "I know. I agree with you Lucius, and as a governor of this school let me tell you that you might have your wish soon enough with the chamber possibly being opened again..."
"Ah yes, the chamber." Malfoy responded. "Has there been anymore news on that?"
"No not since the first attack with the cat." Snape replied. "But you will be kept informed- purely in your capacity as governor of course."
"Of course." Malfoy replied smoothly, and they moved out of my hearing. I didn't bother to go after them- I was in shock over what I'd heard. Of course governors of the school would know about the first incident with the chamber being opened again, but listening to the opinions of Snape and Malfoy on mixed bloods concerned me. They both believed they shouldn't be there, and then there was Snape's comment: if anything more happened with the chamber perhaps Malfoy would get his wish? Did that mean Snape knew who had opened the chamber, and more interestingly, was it him? Perhaps that had been why he had tried to frame Potter for the act, and perhaps that was why he had tried to injure Potter during the Quidditch match. I decided then and there to keep a very close eye on Snape from now on.
"I assume you're going to the Quidditch match today being such a fan and all." Snape asked me dryly at breakfast the next morning. It had been a long night for me reading up on legends about the Chamber of Secrets. After all if anything else happened it was going to have to be up to me to do something. The rest of the teachers liked think they were good, but I didn't think they were much chop to be honest. As for the headmaster, someone who I had always admired mind you, I thought he should be doing something far more proactive here- after all the skills and knowledge of Albus Dumbledore were legend after all.
"Of course." I responded. "And who do you think will win Severus?"
"Slytherin of course." Snape replied. "They've been practicing very hard lately, and as you may or may not know, we've got great brooms this year courtesy of Malfoy's father."
I glanced over towards the Slytherin table where Malfoy was the center of attention. "Hmmm..but perhaps you need more skill than just having a good broom?" I suggested. "I used to have a terrible broom, but was still a great player."
Snape's lip curled slightly. "I'm sure you were Gilderoy, but let me assure you right now- Slytherin are going to win today, mark my words."
I concentrated on eating then, instead of on listening to Snape's comments about the game.
*****
It was a muggy day, but looking up at the sky I had the feeling that it might rain later, and I commented on this to McGonagall who was walking down with me.
"Yes, well young Potter might just have to get the snitch quickly before it begins to rain and his glasses annoy him." She replied, as we climbed the stairs up to the teacher's area. Seated near Snape was a man with long blonde hair, and a familiar face. As I took my seat I asked McGonagall who it was. She made a face as she replied, "Lucius Malfoy- Draco's father. He's part of the governors of the school which is why he is here I assume."
Madame Hooch, the Quidditch teacher, started the game and the stadium roared. Most people were barracking for Gryffindor for the simple fact that they didn't like Slytherin. I glanced at Harry. He was flying above the stadium looking around. Malfoy was near him, and I gasped suddenly as a bludger went straight for Harry. Harry dodged, and one of the Weasley twins whacked the bludger away. But for some reason this didn't matter. No matter where he went, or what he did, the bludger seemed to follow Harry, preventing him from getting anywhere near the snitch. The Weasley twins spent most of their time trying to stop the bludger from hitting Harry. I, along with most of the crowd, was watching Harry and the bludger rather than the rest of the game. It was only when I heard Snape cheer "YES!" that I realised the score was sixty to nothing in favour of Slytherin.
"I guess your plan worked Lucius." Snape said to Malfoy, who was smirking and looking, pleased with himself.
"I guess it did. Now if only Draco can get the snitch." Malfoy replied.
Gryffindor called time out, and they huddled on the ground, talking animatedly, many of them gesturing, as Madame Hooch walked towards them. A moment later the game began, and for some reason the Weasley twins were no longer following Harry and trying to protect him from the bludger which was still following Harry determinedly. The rain was really pelting down now, and McGonagall conjured up an umbrella to keep us as dry as possible.
"What's wrong with the bludger Minerva?" I asked her in a low voice, eyeing Snape and Malfoy out of the corner of my eye. I remembered Snape's comment that morning: "Slytherin are going to win today- mark my words." Had he and Malfoy done something to the bludger?
"I don't know." She said anxiously. "They've been in Hooch's office so nobody could have tampered with them."
"It looks like someone's tampered with it." I argued, and I pulled out my wand. "Maybe it's time to stop this bludger!"
Before I could do anything however McGonagall grabbed my wand. "Don't." She said. "It's too dangerous. We're just going to have to hope for the best."
Harry dogged the bludger again, twirling in mid air which earnt him the laughter of the Slytherin supporters, and Malfoy, up in the air near him, seemed to be saying something. Harry didn't move, and all of a sudden the bludger slammed into his arm, which dangled at a funny angle afterwards. I couldn't hear anything other than the cries and yells from the supporters. The bludger came back towards Harry, but he moved out of the way this time, and then went into a dive towards Malfoy, who hurried to get out of his way. Harry snatched at something, holding onto the broom only with his legs, his arm still dangling uselessly at his side. Then he fell to the ground. Along with McGonagall I was up and racing for the ground. The Gryffindor team did the same and they were all gathered around him as we arrived. I noticed that in his hand Harry held the snitch- Gryffindor had won! We reached him at the same time, and I leant over him. McGonagall was trying to make the team move back a bit, to give us some room.
Harry opened his eyes. "Oh no, not you." He moaned.
I frowned. At a time like this when he was injured so badly did it really matter who was the better wizard? Was it really a time for that kind of concern? "Doesn't know what he's saying." I said loudly. "Not to worry Harry. I'm about to fix your arm."
"No!" Harry said, trying to sit up. "I'll keep it like this thanks."
Nearby Collin took a photo, even though Harry complained, but I was busy trying to think of the best spell to fix his arm. AH! I knew the one!
"Lie back Harry." I told him, in what I hoped was a soothing tone. "It's a simple charm I've used countless times."
"Why can't I just go to the hospital wing?" Harry complained. I was annoyed at this: he was really one stubborn person.
"He really should Professor." Wood, the captain, backed him up. "Great capture Harry, really spectacular, your best yet I'd say."
I pushed back my robe sleeves- I'd worn one of my more colorful ones in honor of the match, but the water had ruined it a little. "Stand back." I ordered.
"No don't..." Harry said weakly.
I performed the spell and smiled. There, Harry's arm should be fine now, I thought happily. I'd shown him. And then my eyes widened with shock: Harry's arm was looking like a piece of rubber. I realised what had happened. I'd mixed up the spells and rather than mending the bones, I'd taken them away.
"Ah. Yes. Well that can sometimes happen. But the point is, the bones are no longer broken. That's the thing to bear in mind. So, Harry, just toddle up to the hospital wing- ah Mr. Weasley, Mrs. Granger, would you escort him?- and Madame Pomfrey will be able to- er- tidy you up a bit."
Harry weakly got to his feet and was escorted up to the hospital wing. I was on my way back up towards the school myself when I heard Snape speaking. "Well Lucius, it looks as though you're plan didn't exactly come off. Potter still got the snitch."
"I know." Malfoy sounded disgusted. "And Draco should have seen the damn thing- it was right near him, but he was too busy laughing at Potter."
"Well it was rather funny." Snape conceded.
"Be that as it may Draco should be disgusted with himself. He's forever letting people here show him up. Last year that dratted mudblood Granger got the best marks in the class and she's not even from a wizarding family. Rest assured Draco got told off over that one. Honestly Severus, I don't know why they're letting mudbloods in here- this is the finest school of witchcraft and wizardry in the entire world, and surely as that it has a reputation to uphold." Malfoy complained.
I felt my heart skip a beat as Snape replied "I know. I agree with you Lucius, and as a governor of this school let me tell you that you might have your wish soon enough with the chamber possibly being opened again..."
"Ah yes, the chamber." Malfoy responded. "Has there been anymore news on that?"
"No not since the first attack with the cat." Snape replied. "But you will be kept informed- purely in your capacity as governor of course."
"Of course." Malfoy replied smoothly, and they moved out of my hearing. I didn't bother to go after them- I was in shock over what I'd heard. Of course governors of the school would know about the first incident with the chamber being opened again, but listening to the opinions of Snape and Malfoy on mixed bloods concerned me. They both believed they shouldn't be there, and then there was Snape's comment: if anything more happened with the chamber perhaps Malfoy would get his wish? Did that mean Snape knew who had opened the chamber, and more interestingly, was it him? Perhaps that had been why he had tried to frame Potter for the act, and perhaps that was why he had tried to injure Potter during the Quidditch match. I decided then and there to keep a very close eye on Snape from now on.