The next few weeks passed quickly for Harry and his first Quiddich match came up quick. Today was the first Quiddich competition of the year and it was Gryffindor vs. Slytherin. Harry and his team had been working hard for weeks for they were playing against a tough team who tried to cheat. Ron however was very nervous because of his previous experience of the games. Hermione gave him a hearing spell so he wouldn't hear any words of bad encouragement. Ron had low levels of self esteem with Quiddich.
The game started off with Madame Hooch blowing the whistle. Unfortunately Harry saw Luna Lovegood was commentating. She began bragging about the Gryffindor team until Professor McGonagall gave her a sour look and Luna turned back on task. The Slytherin players were playing roughly. The Gryffindor players needed to watch themselves as well as their Quidditch job so they wouldn't get injured badly. Ron was making faces. Sighing, Harry flew across the other side of the Quiddich pitch.
Glancing a few meters above him he saw the glinting snitch. When Harry saw the snitch, a Slytherin beater saw it too and pelted a bludger right at Harry. With all this commotion Harry didn't have time to warn Ron and the Quaffle landed in Ron's goalposts. The Gryffindor supporters groaned and the Slytherin supporters clapped and cheered and Harry felt a twinge of disappointment as the scoreboard was Nil for Gryffindor and 10 for Slytherin.
Rain pelted through the sky and Harry's vision turned a little blurred. He felt cold and wet but just focussed on winning the match. Ginny was holding the Quaffle in the middle on the pitch. "Ginny, pass to Dean please" Harry yelled and she reluctantly passed to Dean and he hit it in the goal post. "10 All" said Luna into the megaphone and the crowd corrupted with noise as the Gryffindors cheered for a point. Finally Demelza, Ginny and Dean started working as a team and the Quaffle sailed through the goals six more times.
Harry now was able to get the snitch, which would be in a good overall position for the cup and win the match. Harry began searching and spotted it hiding behind a stand. Diving a few meters he tricked the Slytherin seeker into thinking he was following the snitch, began racing upward to where the snitch was. The Slytherin seeker realised he made a bad mistake and it was too late. Harry opened his hands and caught the snitch. "Gryffindor Wins" yelled Madam Hooch and the Gryffindor supporters erupted with cheer. Harry once again felt happiness burst inside him.
There was an afterwards party for the Gryffindors but Harry didn't feel like going. He ate a few mouthfuls of delicious food then hurried off to Hagrid's hut with Ron and Hermione. "Well I didn't expect to see you three after a well deserved win" said Hagrid as they entered his small cramped hut. He had the blazing fire on and Furry and Fang were curled up beside the warmth. "My classes are going well but again most of my students don't seem to look after those flubberworms properly."
Hermione, Ron and Harry looked at the ground. They had given up Care of Magical Creatures class and flubberworms weren't their favourite animals in the world. "So how is Madame Maxime going?" asked Harry trying to desperately change the subject. "She's returned to France to continue teaching at her school." "She isn't interested in me" said Hagrid wiping a tear from his eye. Harry felt sorry for Hagrid and realised the stupidity of mentioning that subject of all things. Hermione gave an evil stare at Harry and asked about how Hagrid's half brother was doing.
"Oh he's happy to be with the other giants although he's so little" said Hagrid giving a little smile. "Ah we better get up to the castle or we'll get caught" said Hermione so they said goodbye to Hagrid and ran to the castle. Being as quiet as possible they crept up to their dormitories. They were very lucky because they almost got spotted by Mrs Norris, Filch's cat. Harry was tired and quickly collapsed onto his bed. Harry felt like someone was watching him. Impossible, Harry thought but his dreams were anything but pleasant. In a deep sleep Harry felt a sear of pain from his scar and dreamt of a dark man, the guy he saw in the shrieking shack. He was pleading to Voldemort.
"Please don't kill me I will make sure it is released." The man was on his knees obviously in a position close to death. "How can I trust you" snarled Voldemort. "Avada Kedavra" said Voldemort and the man crumpled on the floor. Wormtail shuddered realising his good fortune of being alive. "Wormtail tell Malfoy and Snape I want them to kill a man who is close to the chosen one." "I will leave Malfoy in charge of the other plan from now." Wormtail disappeared following the orders from his master. Harry felt so much pain from his scar he snapped awake.
"Harry", Ron was shaking Harry. Harry opened his eyes and put on his glasses. "There are voices outside and lights". Harry looked at the marauders map. "I solemnly swear I am up to no good". The marauders map showed a dot with the name Hagrid and a number of death eaters surrounding his cabin. Harry saw the name Draco Malfoy and Severus Snape. "Oh no" Harry cried. "Hagrid is surrounded by death eaters." Harry jumped out of bed and Ron followed. "Mischief Managed" he said to the map. He found Hermione and told her to get help. Harry and Ron ran to Hagrid's hut only to witness the death of Hagrid. "Avada Kedavra" yelled Draco Malfoy and Hagrid's massive half-giant body crumpled and his face turned pale and cold. Harry screamed but the death eater's ran and flew away on their brooms. Harry cried and fainted to the floor.
He woke up the next day with his head in pain and recognised the blur as the hospital wing. Putting on his glasses he saw Madame Pomfrey and Ron and Hermione. "Harry, Professor Maclean wants to see you" Madame Pomfrey said. The headmaster walked in with his head sunk low and his eyes looked like they hadn't had sleep for days. He replied "Sorry, about your loss Harry and I'm sure this will not happen ever again. The security was looking after the castle not the grounds. We will need to put up a lot of extra protection." "Although Hogwarts is a little unsafe at times it is a lot more dangerous for the students to be at home which the ministry of magic has agreed upon." He left the room and Harry still felt very upset at the loss of his friend and old teacher.
He remembered about the time Hagrid had taken him away from the Dursleys and had shown him the magical world. Also about his first trip across the lake and the amount of dangerous beasts Hagrid loved. Wiping a tear from his eyes Harry sat upright in bed as Ron and Hermione came in. Ron said "Harry you had a nightmare before I woke you up". "Is this anything to do with what happened to Hagrid?"
Harry replied "I dreamt that the man I saw at the shrieking shack was killed by Voldemort and Voldemort sent Wormtail to give the message 'killing someone close to me' to Malfoy." "He must have been fast because right then Malfoy came to the school and killed Hagrid" said Harry. "Why couldn't there have been other protection around" Hermione sniffled and tears started pouring out of her eyes. Harry said "The ministry are doing nothing against the dark side leaving Voldemort to attack or kill everyone close to me". "I am probably never out of danger anywhere in this world" sighed Harry "until Voldemort is dead".