Another Quidditch Player

At the beginning of October, Harry started to get nervous. The new Quidditch season was approaching and his first year as Captain would begin. He had carried around a notebook for the past 3 weeks, writing down plays and deciding who would start against which team. The hardest was the game against Gryffindor, where the Weasley boy, Ron, was the Seeker. He wasn't as good as Harry, but he was an excellent lookout. He rode around on his ancient broom and faked out the other Seeker. The team also played together better than Slytherin's. That year; however, Harry would beat them.

Harry was in Transfiguration, making up plays, when Snape strode up, unannounced, into the classroom. He whispered something to McGonagall and she nodded reluctantly. Snape gestured for Harry to follow him. Confused, Harry walked with Snape out of the classroom.

"What do you need, Sir?" Harry asked timidly.

"I have an addition to the team, Harry. Not a player, but a manager. A servant for you boys to have. He is willing to carry everyone's brooms to the field and to basically watch how a Quidditch game really is. He is like you, Harry. Pureblood but raised by Muggles. His parents didn't want him. Poor brute," Snape said with no trace of pity. Harry laughed. Snape walked Harry all the way to the dungeons where Potions class was and opened the door. A small first-year was anxiously pacing the floor.

"And you are.?" Harry asked impatiently. He was missing a class for a scrawny scarecrow with brown hair and freckles?

"Harry, this is Jackson Philips. He is offered to be your new.manager," Snape said. The boy stopped pacing and faced Harry.

"Why? You can try out for the team next year," Harry asked the boy.

"I was raised by Muggles, Mr. Potter. I like the sport and I want to be more than a spectator. I can't play, though," he explained.

"Why not? And call me Harry, I'm not much older than you."

"Because I promised Sarah, my foster mum, that I wouldn't," the boy told Harry, shamefaced. Harry laughed.

"Fine, Jackson. I don't care. The boys will love having someone to carry their things. You need to come with me to practice before the rest of the team. I'm making a practice schedule today. You can take it to Dumbledore when I finish so we can have the field." The boy's face lit up.

"Really? Thanks, Mr. Potter! I mean Harry," Jackson gave a great yell and bolted from the room. Harry rolled his eyes.

"Completely daft, that one," Harry told Snape just as the door burst open again. Harry, half-hidden in the shadows of the already dark room, was unseen by the intruder. It was Anya.

"What do you need now? I'm busy right now," Snape asked her calmly. She looked around and finally saw Harry in the shadows.

"Oh! Harry, I didn't see you. Er. sorry about that," she said quickly.

"That's fine, Anya. I was just leaving," Harry told her and left. Outside the door, Harry walked back to Transfiguration, confused. Anya was in his class and knew that he had gone with Snape. Why did she act surprised to see him? But his confusion was forgotten when he returned to class and saw that his classmates had successfully turned their quills into worms.