OLD MAGIC

Chapter 9: Quidditch and A Dark Discovery

McGonagall led Harry through the back door, up to the first floor then down a corridor he hadn't been to yet, before stopping at a closed door which she opened.

Inside he could see a man with a turban on his head holding what looked like a giant iguana.

"Excuse me Professor Quirrell," McGonagall called. The odd fellow turned and eyed her nervously.

"Y-Y-Yes?"

"Would you lend me Oliver Wood a moment, please?"

"O-o-f course," Quirrell stuttered, nodding at someone before going on with his class while a tall, lanky youth rose from his seat and headed toward them.

McGonagall smiled at the young man but didn't speak until she'd lead them further along the corridor so they wouldn't disturb the class. "Mr. Wood, I have found you a Seeker. This is Harry Potter." Her voice was excited and pleased to Harry's confusion.

The young man eyed Harry in pleased surprise. He gave the younger boy a thorough looking over and with a broad grin held out his hand. Still at a loss as to why he was here meeting this person, Harry shook the proffered hand.

"Pleased to meet you, Harry. Know anything about Quidditch?" Wood asked, beaming.

"Uh, only what I've read and I did get to see a game once," Harry admitted.

"Perfect. Meet me on the Quidditch field after classes today. I'll answer any questions you might have and get you set up on the team."

Harry's eyes widened in shock. "I'm on the Quidditch Team?"

"The skill with which you flew your broom and the way you managed to rescue a classmate, makes you the perfect Seeker, Mr. Potter," McGonagall assured him. "Now run along to your next class," she said, smiling warmly.

Still stunned by this turn of events, Harry did as ordered, hurrying back the way they'd come and catching up with his friends heading to Herbology Class, which was held outside in Greenhouse 3. When he told them what happened, they were stunned by the news.

"Woah! No first year has ever been considered for a Quidditch Team before," Ron exclaimed, a little envious.

"Oh, I didn't know that."

"It's in your blood, Harry. I saw the trophy room on the third floor and there is a gold shield with your father's name on it. He was the top Seeker all his years at Hogwarts so it's really no surprise you would be too," Hermione told him, smugly.

Harry blinked at her in shock. "My father was a seeker?" She nodded. "Wow!" A smile lit his face. It was a wonderful thing to learn he had something in common with his long dead father. It made him feel more connected to the man. He would definitely have to make time to go see the award Hermione found.

"Well, looks like we've both been considered star material," a voice suddenly spoke from behind them as they entered the Herbology classroom.

They turned their heads and saw Draco Malfoy standing there.

"Oh, you've been selected as well?" Harry asked, genuinely pleased.

"Yes and I'm a Seeker too," Draco added, rather proudly and warmed that Harry approved.

Ron scowled at the boy hostilely, jealously burning even hotter knowing an enemy had also been chosen for a team. He knew he couldn't even try out until next year and here two of his year mates were getting a jump on it. This was so not fair, he huffed bitterly to himself. He was about to say something scathing to the Syltherin boy but their teacher, Professor Sprout began calling to them to order.

"Students, please take a seat," she said in a cheery voice.

Ron pushed rudely ahead of the others who paid him no mind as they talked to Draco until they were forced to part ways. The Syltherins had taken the left side of the room and Draco knew he had to join them or be ostracized.

Harry wasn't happy when they were forced to separate but was pleased to note Draco hadn't liked it either. Harry was smart enough to know not to say farewell or anything else that would indicate friendship with the boy. He didn't want to cause him trouble. Taking a seat between Hermione and Ron, he pulled out his book for the class, but his mind was on the stupidity of house separation being observed even in the classrooms...wasn't mealtime bad enough?

Only the first day of school and already I can see this is only going to cause serious trouble, Harry huffed to himself. Sighing, he shoved away the unhappy thought and focused on what Professor Sprout was saying.

He learned this class would teach them the differences between good plants and the ones to definitely avoid if you wanted to remain living. No real hands on work would be done until second year, so he sighed and began to take notes.

The last class of the day until astronomy class around midnight, was The Defense Against the Dark Arts on the first floor. For the second time that day, Harry got to see the strange, stuttering teacher. They had filed into the room and took their seats, their teacher absent from the room at the moment.

As soon as everyone was seated, Professor Quirrell walked in from a back room and passed down an aisle between the desks, coming very close to Harry. Immediately, Harry's personal shields went up. Something was very wrong about this teacher.

As Quirrell began the lesson, beginning with an overview of what they were expected to learn this year, Harry eyed the man more closely but his concentration was being ruined by pain from the scar on his forehead, It had begun to throb painfully as soon as the man had entered the room and was not easing off. He had to resist the urge to rub his head to relieve the discomfort, not wanting to draw attention to himself. It had never bothered him except for those times when he had bad dreams about Voldemort. So why was it hurting now around this teacher?

Quirrell reeked of evil yet his face and manner spoke loudly of a scared rabbit of a man. Was it an act? He also wore a turban, something only worn by certain races by custom, but he didn't look like one of those races. Was it just an affectation? Something was seriously off here. Too many suspicious things about him alarmed Harry. Perhaps speaking with Snape would be a good idea.

He dutifully wrote down notes from the class but kept his eye on the professor, watching for anything else odd about the man. Class ended with no problems and they were released to get some research done on their papers in the library or elsewhere until dinner time.

To his relief, the pain stopped the moment he left the room and was in the corridor. Weird! Shaking his head, mentally, Harry said farewell to his friends, telling them he had to meet Woods at the Quidditch field and would see them at dinner then hurried off to his quarters to leave his books and things. Dropping them onto his bed, he turned and left again, heading down stairs then out the doors to the huge Quidditch Field behind the castle. Wood was waiting for him, smiling. He gestured for the boy to follow him to the locker room where they retrieved an odd truck which Harry helped Oliver carry back out to the field.

They spent the next hour going over the different items involved in the game and the rules. Harry thought it was really cool, especially the snitch he was expected to chase and catch during games. He could hardly wait for practice, the first one scheduled for that Saturday.

He still had an hour left before dinner,so he hurried back to the Gryffindor quarters. The common room was filled with people doing homework or playing games. Many said hi to him as he passed through to go to his room to retrieve his homework. Grabbing what he needed, he returned to the common room and set his books down at the end of a table where Ron was sitting, a chess board before him.

Ron obviously wasn't in too big a hurry to do his homework and grimaced at Harry as the boy pulled one of his books toward himself as well as quill and parchment and began to study. Time to interrupt, he thought.

"Oy, Harry...we have a week to get that done so why not join me in a game of chess?"

Harry looked up from his parchment paper to squint at Ron in the, not very well lit, room. He wondered how on earth they were expected to see to get their work done when only candle light was provided. Even the fireplace, which apparently was always lit, didn't provide enough steady light. This had to be the most dismal and poorly illuminated place he'd ever been. Must want us to go blind, he snorted to himself. What I wouldn't give for a good lamp about now. It was bad enough they were forced to use quills instead of ball point pens...honestly...how far in the dark ages did they have to be?

Shoving aside his pet peeves, he shook his head at Ron's request. "No thank you, Ron. I prefer getting it done immediately while it's still fresh in my mind. Besides, if something should interfere like Quidditch practice, I won't be stressed about not having it done and falling behind."

Ron rolled his eyes but could see he couldn't dissuade Harry so called to another classmate, who was perfectly willing to leave off homework to play a while first.

Though a bit on the noisy side for proper studying, Harry did manage to get his homework done. Sighing, he took his books upstairs and put them away just in time to be called out to dinner. The last meal of the day was just as sumptuous as the first two.

It just boggled his mind at the amount and quality of the food served them. Regret passed through him at all the starving children in the world who could benefit by being fed this well. He wondered who was responsible for doing all the cooking and where all the food came from.

Wait! He remembered now. A passage in the Hogwarts: A History said creatures known as house elves kept the place clean, washed the laundry, and cooked the food. He'd seen a drawing of one but hadn't encountered one in person yet. Well he would make an effort to try and speak with one and ask them what their thoughts were on the starving people of the world. Was there a way they could help?

Yet another thing to add to his growing list of questions, he thought ruefully, and to think this was only day one of school. As he ate and glanced around the room, he saw Professor Snape eating soup which reminded him of the urgent matter he needed to discuss with the man. He briefly caught Snape's eye then shifted away to see what the headmaster was doing.

Fortunately, Dumbledore and McGonagall were involved in a rather animated discussion with Professor Sprout and Flitwick at the moment, so Harry felt safe knocking on Snape's mindshield.

Snape wasn't particularly surprised to be asked for entrance by Harry yet again. The boy was a thinker, his mind always busy so Snape had no doubt he was in for millions of questions before half the school year was over.

"Yes?"

"Sorry to be bothering you again so soon, sir, but there's an urgent matter I need to speak to you about tonight. I suggest we communicate mind to mind when I'm abed and you're on your rounds or in your quarters."

Snape frowned mentally. Something urgent? What could it be, after all, it was only the first day of school but he could clearly feel Harry's concern and tension through their link. Whatever it was, had him worried.

"No problem. I know you wouldn't trouble me if it wasn't important. Tonight is good for me and your suggestion sound. Until later..."

"Thank you, sir." Harry cut their connection quickly. He felt too exposed despite their communication being mind to mind. Since he didn't know Quirrell's abilities and the man was seated very close to Snape, Harry felt it wise to err on the side of caution.

His plans were doomed, however, as others in the castle had something else in mind for him this night.

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Besides all the usual problems that crop up on the first day of school, Dumbledore had to contend with the press and the Minister of Magic's demands to meet and talk with Harry Potter now that the child had actually put in an appearance. The Headmaster had to politely but firmly insist everyone back off for a few days and allow the boy to settle in before insisting on a press conference.

If he had his way, he'd try to cancel it permanently but the Minister would only raise a louder stink about it, not caring one whit that he put the boy's life in danger by parading him publicly in the news. It didn't matter to the pompous fool that Harry Potter's life was in danger because Fudge didn't believe the Dark Lord was still about causing trouble. He just wrote off all the attacks on muggles and wizarding kind on disgruntled losers of the war which he felt was over.

So, much to Dumbledore's disgust, he had to agree to a press conference on Friday during the morning break.

Then there was Sirius Black and Remus Lupin to be dealt with. Since Black was the boy's Godfather and Lupin a long time friend of Harry's parents, Dumbledore couldn't very well insist they wait to see the boy they'd been afraid was dead or worse. So he was forced to allow them to see Harry tonight before evening curfew.

The two had only just returned from searching for Pettigrew in Europe following a tip they'd gotten that turned out to be a deliberate red herring. Angry and tired, they'd returned to find out Harry had reappeared. Black was ecstatic and had to be restrained by Lupin to not go haring off into whatever class Harry was in and sweep the boy into his arms. He'd been so inconsolable at Harry's disappearance that only the hunt for the one they knew had gotten the boy's parents killed, had kept him from sinking into a deep depression.

It had taken Lupin a lot of coaxing and arguing to get Black to wait until nightfall to see his Godchild. Dumbledore had given them an empty guest room on the first floor to rest and eat while they waited, giving them strict orders to stay out of sight so they wouldn't disturb the children.

The Headmaster had hoped he would be able to get the information he desired by listening into the conversation between the boy and these two but then before late afternoon arrived, he was told by the rest of the order that they too wanted to interview Harry. He tried to put them off, but Moody and Shackelbolt were adamant that Harry be questioned on his whereabouts and who his guardians were. The fear the boy had been taken in by someone of Voldemort's camp was very real so the suspicion had to be eliminated first thing before any could trust him. Dumbledore had to admit that was a very valid concern, so instead of a small gathering, this was going to be a large meeting. Black, he knew, was going to be incensed but there was nothing he could do about it.

As he ate his dinner, later that evening, Dumbledore was more than a little surprised to hear Harry had been selected as a Seeker for the Gryffindor Team. First years weren't normally allowed such a thing though there were exceptions and this, apparently, was one of those times.

He had wanted the boy to be less visible for the first few years to give him time to get used to his notoriety as the boy-who-lived but McGonagall had told him it would be criminal to deprive Harry of the opportunity when he was especially gifted and he had to agree... his father had been the same after all. It would also help Harry integrate into wizarding society, that is, if he hadn't been living with wizards in the first place.

He sighed, too many question and waiting was making him antsy. Despite learning patience over his many years of life, this one occasion was pushing that hard won skill to its limits. Shaking off his annoyance, he glanced over at the Gryffindor table and noted Harry seemed to be settling in well. He appeared happy, as he saw him laugh at something one of the others near him had said. Well, let us hope his good humor won't be ruined by tonight's meeting. He finished his food and with a brief nod to all at the table, departed for his office.

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Finishing his meal, Snape returned to his office to correct papers. A couple of hours later, as he dropped the last student's paper on the pile and got up to stretch, he received a call to report to the headmaster's office.

Frowning, concerned at the reason for a meeting at this hour, he hurried through the halls as the huge clock in the hall chimed eight. He arrived at the gargoyle that guarded the staircase to Dumbledore's office and barked, "Ding Dongs," grimacing distastefully at the ridiculous name.

The gargoyle began to slowly turn away revealing the staircase hidden behind it. When it was completely visible, he walked up them to the heavy door at the top and knocked. Inside, a voice called him to enter. Opening it, he stepped through and nearly rolled his eyes at who was waiting within besides Dumbledore.

Closing the door behind him, he walked toward the large group near the headmaster's huge desk which was set near a window that overlooked the grounds. Pacing, his body tense with anger, was Black, Lupin hovering nearby as usual. Sitting in many of the chairs Dumbledore had obviously conjured were Tonks, Shacklebolt, Molly and Arthur Weasley. McGonagall was sitting in a chair on the other side of Dumbledore's desk facing the others and standing by the window was Moody...the core of the Order of the Phoenix were here.

Tensing inside, Snape presented a cool exterior as he took an empty chair next to Tonks which wasn't far from Fawkes' perch, crossing his legs and fingers as he stared around at everyone with a jaundiced eye.

Moody's odd magical eye followed the potion's master intently as the man walked across the room then took a seat. The old auror suspected there was much more to Snape than anyone knew. He was aware of the story about how, as a young man, the wizard had made a stupid mistake, joining up to become a death eater then later recanting when he'd seen what a monster his Dark Lord was and became a spy for the light.

Snape's trustworthiness wasn't in question and Moody admired the man's willingness to put his life in danger day after day for little reward as a spy in Voldemort's camp but there was just something not quite human about the man that set his senses on alert. That something else, he was sure, was why Snape had managed to survive so long in Voldemort's employ.

Despite many years of digging into Snape's past, Moody had not been able to find out much about the Snape family beyond the basics everyone knew already. There were rumors that not all the Snapes were truly human but then, many wizarding families could point to odd pairings between wizard and magical creatures in their lineages so that wasn't really unusual.

He didn't think whatever Snape was threatened them, but it did cause him to doubt the man's true intentions at times when it concerned the battle against the dark. Moody felt Snape had a different agenda, one that was still on the side of the light, but working at cross purposes of the Order of the Phoenix's. However, he couldn't prove it, hence his constant vigilance around the man.

Snape could feel Moody's eye on him as always. He wished the man would just give up already. Snape was never going to tell the ex-auror what made the Snape family unique...ever. Snorting mentally, he glanced over at Fawkes who gave him a soft chirp and a wink. He nodded slightly but made no move to pet the bird as he didn't want anyone to know they were on friendly terms or understood each other more than they should.

He focused his mind on why they were all here. Pettigrew came to mind. Despite having told Dumbledore that Pettigrew was suspected of being in Voldemort's camp, no one had been able to apprehend him even after so much time had passed. Snape suspected but couldn't prove it as he'd not seen the rat-faced fool himself, that McNair might be hiding Pettigrew. He wouldn't be surprised if that were true.

However, he suspected Pettigrew wasn't the subject of this meeting as he glanced over at Black who was still pacing. He had an uncomfortable idea he knew what, or better yet, who was on the agenda tonight. His suspicion was confirmed when the Headmaster addressed him suddenly.

"Thank you for coming so quickly, Severus," Dumbledore murmured then directed his next comments to the room in general. "We are here to interview Harry. I hadn't wanted his first meeting with me to have been with a crowd but I have been prevailed upon to do it this way, especially considering what's at stake. We must determine if Voldemort had any hand in the boy's disappearance and subsequent rearing. I think I can safely say, none of us wants to think Harry might have fallen into our enemy's hands but we must be sure."

"NO! I refuse to believe Harry's been made an enemy," Black shouted.

"But you can't swear to it, Black so we must interrogate the boy to be sure," Moody said, bluntly.

Sirius nearly leaped at Moody but Lupin was already there restraining him. "Stop it Sirius. This has to be done and you know it." His friend nearly smacked him in the face for saying that, however, Sirius calmed down a bit and sat in a chair near the wall and glared at everyone. Lupin sighed and took the seat next to him.

Snape grimaced unhappily. He knew this might happen but had hoped they could have waited. Should he warn Harry? He knew the boy hadn't been anywhere near the Dark Lord but he couldn't tell anyone how he knew that without betraying Hagrid and that he wouldn't do. A soft chirp next to him made him look up at Fawkes. Snape knew exactly what the bird wanted and made his decision based on it.

Sending his mind outward, knowing Fawkes would hide him doing it, Snape reached out to Harry. After only a moment, he was answered.

"I was just going to contact you," Harry said quietly.

"You're about to be ordered to the headmaster's office where I and others will interrogate you...prepare yourself," Snape said quickly then cut off his communication, not daring to risk a longer explanation despite Fawkes' help. Glancing over at Dumbledore, he sighed in relief to see the powerful wizard was not looking at him but at McGonagall, sending her out to retrieve Harry. Moody's attention was on Black.

Whatever happens now, Fawkes and he would do what they could to protect Harry. Fortunately, the boy's shield were more than adequate to protect him from anyone probing him. And something that would surprise those in the room except for himself was the fact Harry was resistant to Veritiserum. They would have to ask him the old fashioned way which wouldn't make anyone happy or certain of the boy's true allegiances. There was nothing he could do about that.

Harry wouldn't be intimidated by anyone in this room, not even Moody, but the real question was...would Harry trust Dumbledore enough to willingly give them sufficient information to allay their suspicions without giving away who his guardians were? That was the question he couldn't answer. He would have to wait and see like the rest of them.