The Burrow
Ronald Weasley was home for the holidays and he was bored out of his mind. He was also very annoyed. The reason of his annoyance was his best friend Hadrian Potter-Black.
"Harry Potter is the best seeker in Hogwarts, isn't he?", asked Ginerva Weasley, his younger sister, the reason of his annoyance.
The first thing that Ron had to correct was Harry's name for his little sister. He knew how cross Harry could get if someone used Harry Potter for him rather than Hadrian Potter-Black. He only allowed those to use his short name 'Harry' whom he considered as close to him and it took a lot to get that honour.
"His full name is Hadrian Potter-Black, Ginny and he doesn't like when people shorten his names. And he has played just one match yet. We will know more at the end of the year", Said Ron, anxious to get her to shut up about Harry.. This had been the daily routine since Ron had returned for the holidays.
When they had arrived at London from Hogwarts he, Hermione and his other siblings had met Mrs. Weasley and Mr. Weasley at the platform. To his woe, the Weasley parents had also brought little Ginny with them. As the parents saw him, Ginny asked him expectedly, "Where is Harry Potter?"
"He is not on the train", Ron told her.
"What do you mean?", she asked.
"His guardian sent their house elf to take him home", Ronald answered and Ginny demeanour had dimmed a little. Ronald knew how much Ginny wanted to meet Harry Potter, the boy who lived. She had no idea how different he was from the story books which she had read and that he was not pleased to be recognised as simply Harry Potter.
When they reached home, he was incessantly hounded by Ginny who had lot of questions to ask and all of them about Harry. The sheer numbers of questions were driving him up the wall. She wanted to know everything from where he lived, what he ate, what was his routine like and who were his friends. It appeared as if she had an endless list of questions and Ron was bored answering them. And then there were so many questions which were repeated. He had tried to foist Ginny on Fred and George but it was not easy for someone like him to get them something to be done. Besides, they told Ginny that Ron was being best friends with Harry and she should ask him if she wanted any of her questions answered.
Today also, Ginny had been pestering him about Harry Potter's quidditch skills. He tried to distract her but somehow she was convinced that Harry Potter lived in a castle and had a quidditch pitch where he had practiced playing quidditch ever since he could walk.
Ron knew that most of it was false. He certainly knew that Harry had spent an anonymous life somewhere away from every one. No one knew where he had been raised and Lord Black certainly didn't feature in any of those silly children stories. The only thing that could be true was that he probably had lived in a castle somewhere. His reaction to Hogwarts castle hadn't been like others as if he was used to seeing a castle. He had been awed only by its enormity. He also knew that Harry was very good at Quidditch but by his own admission, he had been riding a broom since he was 6.
"Is it true that he can do the Wronski Feint?", Ginny piped up another question and Ronald had it with her.
He snapped at her and said a bit hotly, "Why don't you wait to meet him when you to go Hogwarts, Ginny?"
That had shut Ginny up but infuriated Mrs. Weasley who roared at her youngest son, "Ronald Weasley, don't let me catch you talking that way with you sister again."
This had dampened his mood further. He was also waiting for an invitation from Harry to visit at London or for him to visit the Weasley's but no such invitation had come. He knew that Lord Black had told him that he couldn't invite any of his friends to the townhouse this time but he could always let Harry visit the Weasleys, even if for an hour.
The only bright spot of the brief holidays had been the trip to Diagon Alley to Ollivanders. He remembered how Harry and Neville had caught him in the Common Room one evening before they had broken things off among themselves, "Hey Ron, are you done with the charms practical work?"
Ron shook his head, "I am trying but my wand does not work like it should. I mean I asked Hermione to help me. She perfected my wand movements, my incantation and all but it isn't just happening."
Neville who was listening to everything thoughtfully said, "Do a levitation charm, then."
Ron did it easily though he had felt that he had to put some efforts in it like he was coaxing his wand or something.
Neville handed him his own wand, "Now try this one."
Neville's wand was a lot easier to work with for Ron. As Ron returned Neville's wand, Harry started speaking, "For a wizard, a wand like an extension of his arm. The wizards do not choose the wand but the wand chooses the wizard. If your wand isn't working for you properly, it means it is still loyal to its previous master. You need a new one to improve in your performance."
Ron knew wands didn't come cheap. A new off the shelf wand from Ollivanders would cost him somewhere around 7 Galleons which was not easy one with having 5 school age children and limited source of income. Luckily, he had a way out of his predicament. He had won 100G from the Bishop of Hogwarts championship and he had not spent a single knut from it.
Two days since he had arrived, Ronald had cornered his father in the evening, "Dad, I want a new wand."
Mr. Weasley was a man in his late 40's and was balding in the centre of the head. He was a portly sort of man and had a very jovial face. He was a laid back man and didn't interfere in the house until it was imperative for him. He knew that he could not afford new supplies for each of his children so they were to manage with whatever they got. Ron had everything given second hand because that was what Arthur could afford. Ron's robes were Bill's once, his wand was Charlie's and his trunk has also belonged to one of his sons. Next year Ginny was going to start at Hogwarts and Arthur had no idea how they would afford anything for her. She was a girl, the first born in centuries in House of Weasley and they will need to get everything new for her.
Mr. Weasley asked him warily, "Sure you have a wand and it is properly working. Why do you want a new wand?"
Ron fidgeted, "I want a new wand because I can't perform properly with this one. It did not choose me. Harry and Neville showed me that I can work better with a wand that is compatible with me. Besides, this one is old and battered and the unicorn hair is showing."
Mr. Weasley nodded, "I understand Ron but you know between 5 children of school age, I can't manage to buy everything new. I will see what I can do though."
Rons ears turned red with embarrassment but he had a solution to predicament of his father, "But dad, I have the gold. I have about 100 Galleons of it."
He looked at him sharply, "Where did you get gold? I hope you are not doing something dangerous or illegal."
Ron enthusiastically told him, "No father. I had won it. Hogwarts had organised a chess tournament this term and the prize was 100 Galleons."
Fred who was nearby said, "Are you telling dad..."
George added, "... about you bishop of Hogwarts title?"
Ron nodded and they replied, "And next year you will have to fight with more vigour."
Arthur i.e. Mr. Weasley who was thinking over what his son told him, said, "Tomorrow, we will go to Ollivander's. We will get you a new wand."
The next day, Mr. Weasley took his son to Ollivanders. When they entered, the old wand maker came out from behind one of the shelves as the bell chimed. Ron found the man a bit stranger as if he was eccentric and the way his blue eyes bore in Ron's heart, it made him shiver. The old wizard said to Mr. Weasley, "Arthur Weasley, apple wood, dragon heartstring, 12 inches, supple isn't it? How is your wand?"
The Weasley patriarch smiled, "It is working fine, Lord Ollivander. I have come to have my youngest son fitted with a wand."
Mr. Ollivander turned to Ron, "Let me see, young master. Which is your wand arm?"
As the measuring tape took Ron's arms measurements, Ollivanders pulled a couple of wands from the shelves and handed one of them to Ron, "Try this."
The first wand felt cold to his hand and Mr. Ollivander snatched it before he could try and handed him another, "Try this one."
As Ron touched the wand, there was a rush of wind around him and Ollivander nodded, "Oak Wood, Unicorn tail hair, 12 inches, unyielding, good for charms work. Use it well."
Ron was over the moon with his new wand. This wand felt more comfortable in his hands, his magic flowed easily through it and it followed his commands without offering any resistance. He realised that Harry and Neville were right when they told him that he needed a wand which had chosen him. What's more, it was the first thing that Ron owned first hand. His father even let him pay for the wand by himself which made him feel all grown up.
He chose to save the rest of the money. He wanted to splurge it on things that he was fascinated with but knew he could not afford that. This choice of his was very fruitful for the twins asked to borrow 40 Galleons from him as an investment. In return of the investment that they asked of him, they promised to return 50 Galleons to him after a month. Ron had no immediate need of the money and giving it to twins with prospect of getting interest on it was a wonderful idea.
The rest of holidays were pretty ordinary. He hoped and waited for the rest of holidays to see if Harry would send a letter to him or may be visit him at the Burrow since he would otherwise be alone in the house with only Lord Black but neither he nor any of his friends received any letter from Harry.
The dude with the lyre
Quirrell had taken leave from Hogwarts during the Easter holidays. Though his mother had passed away a few years ago in the cottage where he had grown up and he remained at Hogwarts for most of the year, he kept the place after her passing. As school broke for vacations, he left the school and went to the cottage. He knew Dumbledore was watching him like a hawk even when he was not at the school so he had to work with extreme carefulness.
For two days, he kept watching the shadows that he was sure followed him everywhere. The cottage had no floo but that did not matter. He could apparate anytime he wanted. He waited just to throw off whoever was trailing him. He acted as if he noticed nothing but he waited for a chance.
For two days, he waited perfectly calmly and went through his daily routine. He would even take a walk in the neighbourhood where the neighbours seemed to know him well though Voldemort had no desire to mingle with muggles. He laid low and did nothing to arouse suspicion. He knew that Quirell's house was warded with wards that could tell the caster if he had disappeared from the house by means of apparition. Since he could not apparate without arousing suspicion, he would have to apparate from outside and anyone could be watching.
He waited for two days and noticed the pattern that he had felt. On the third day, early in the morning he walked out of his house ostensible for a morning walk and after walking for a kilometre or so, he disapparated.
He appeared in the Scotland in the village of Gretna Green. The village had mixed population and there was a luthier. The luthier was a wizard who sold magical instruments to wizards and ordinary stringed instruments to muggles. Quirell had wrestled with the idea of getting another lute but he knew of no other place where he could buy one that would play by itself. The luthier's instruments however could play by themselves with a tap of a wand.
"Good Morning. How can I help yeh?", asked the luthier with a thick accent.
"I. I a.a instrument", stuttered Quirell.
"What you would be interested in, sir?", asked the luthier while keenly watching him.
"I c-c-can't p-play", he replied, "b-b-but I love t-t-to lis-listen."
The luthier smiled, "I have some self playing instruments, sir. What would you like? A lyre, a harp, a violin, a guitar?"
A lyre! Quirell was amused. Wasn't there a myth about a Greek Musician with a lyre who had entered the underworld and charmed Hades's cerebrus? What a co-incidence. Perhaps, it was fated that he would have to find a lyre.
"I-I- will take t-t-the lyre", replied he.
"I will have it ready in three days time, sir", replied the luthier, "Where would you like me to send it?"
"What do you mean 'send it'?", Quirrell asked.
"My good sir, it is a heavy work to craft a lyre while enchanting it at the same time and the enchantments wear off with time. Since lyres aren't bought by many people, I make them whenever anyone demands. Generally it takes about 4 days to me to make one. It is the best that I can do."
Quirrell frowned. In 4 days, he would be back at Hogwarts, right under the old fool's nose. Alas he also could not ask for another instrument now without raising suspicion. He also thought that maybe he was reading too much into a situation which really didn't exist.
"When it is ready, please send an owl addressed to me at "Quirinus Quirrell, Professor of Defense against the Dark Arts, Hogwarts School of Withcraft and Wizardry."
The man bowed, "It will be done."
Quirell paid his money and departed. He would take the delivery in Hogsmead in the Hogshead tavern where the traffic was always very low and thus, no eavesdroppers.
Black Townhouse
Harry was sitting before Arcturus in his office. They had been talking about his plans that he had been putting in action this term and if they were bearing fruits.
"Lad, I know you have achieved much but there is still a lot to be done. As I told you that you cannot change those who joined Voldemort in the past but you can definitely change the mindset of those who are your age or are in Hogwarts right now. If we can deter these children from the ideology that he spouted then we can take away a lot of his supporters from him."
Harry nodded, "I know Granduncle. I have been brainstorming over this for long but I can't find a solution to this problem."
"Any man can be motivated provided you are giving them sufficient motivation. This motivation can be anything from gold to power. I know you are very intelligent and you will find some way to get them motivated."
Harry understood what Arcturus was referring to. If you can't earn people's loyalties, you buy them. Distasteful, yes but important nonetheless.
There were ways that he could get them interested and even do things that others would find amusing. Yes, he would have to do what Lucius Malfoy did best.
There was another thought in his mind though, "Grand-uncle, can I not be honest with them and make genuine friends?"
Arcturus sighed, "Yes, you can. That will work well but remember not everyone is your friend. If someone does not know you like your shadow then they don't deserve to know your secrets."
Harry nodded in satisfaction. He remembered something that he knew and realised that he would have to confide in the elderly Lord Black. Perhaps it would make all the difference.
"Grand-uncle there is something that I has been troubling me", he said.
"Spill it out, lad. It doesn't do to keep things bottled up", advised the older wizard.
"Grand-uncle, a few months ago when Neville and I were taking a stroll in the castle, I heard some whispers from a room about Voldemort. It was someone who was crying and asking forgiveness from Lord Voldemort."
The old man's face paled but he controlled his expressions quickly so the lad would not realise, "What time it was lad?"
"About mid-night, granduncle. I was on the fifth floor when I heard the whispers. I thought may be I was half asleep so I heard things. Since then have seen a few things which makes me feel that I may have heard what I think I did."
"What things did you hear, lad?", asked the old lord.
"I heard someone crying in that room, weeping and asking forgiveness from Voldemort", said Harry.
Arcturus frowned, "It means that fiend is trying to become active again. Lad there are a lot of things that I have come to know since the year started and haven't talked to you about. There are things that you have no business knowing because I am taking care of them. What I can tell you is that Voldemort didn't die that night as I have always said. I always knew he would try to return. I only thought we would have more time to prepare you for the confrontation."
It scared Harry to hear the old wizard sound so rattled, "But. But surely he is not going to come back?"
"Harry, lad, he will come back. That is written. What we can do is to make preparations to send him back to the fiery pits of hell when he does. I have been working on such a plan since long. Don't worry about it. Till your grand uncle breathes, I will not let him harm you."
With that determined reassurance from Arcturus, the day ended. Harry knew Voldemort was powerful but he also knew that Arcturus Orion Black will leave no stone unturned to protect him.
The next day, Harry went to the alley. He had some important business to finish with the esteemed Mr. Gambol of Gambol and Japes.
When Harry entered, the old wizard called from his shop, "A new Marauder! What brings you here, lad?"
"Mr. Gambol, do you by any chance charm Quaffles and Bludgers?"
The old wizard cocked his head to side, "Very unusual request young master. What do you want to do with it?"
When Harry told him, the old wizard started grinning, "That will be something worth watching like the maze."
Harry scowled, "You didn't tell me that the map was supposed to behave like that."
The old wizard grinned, "Well, you couldn't expect something straight forward from a prankster."
"Be careful to not do anything to these objects though. If anything happened and I got in trouble, I will tell Professor McGonagall that you had performed this commission for me", said Harry grinning.
The old wizard winced, "You truly are evil like your father and god-father. Old Minerva will have my hide if I decided to do something funny with it. Alright, I will perform the commission to your satisfaction."
As Harry was leaving, he tossed a bungbomb in the pile of dungbombs kept in the corner saying, "This is for the maze."
The dungbomb started a chain reaction of dungbombs and soon, the shop was beginning to stink. Gambol knew he will spend the rest of the day cleaning the shop. Damn that little whelp.
A counsel
As Harry was having a day off in Diagon Alley, Arcturus Orion Black was sitting in the office of the Headmaster.
"Albus, is there something that you have not told me?", asked Lord Black.
"I am not sure what you are hinting at, Lord Black", said Dumbledore.
"Harry told me last night that he has heard whispers of Lord Voldemort in the castle. Is there any chance that the vile, evil wizard has returned anyhow?"
Dumbledore took off his half moon glasses, wiping them on the sleeve of his robes and putting them back on he started speaking, "Before I knew about the horxcruxes with a certainty, I have been trying to keep an eye on whatever is left of him. That night, when his body was destroyed, he fled Wizarding Britain. I spend a few years trying to track him down and some of my sources finally found him in the forests of Albania. He lived there as a wraith, barely able to do anything but alive nonetheless. Since then, I have kept an eye on him. About 2 years ago, he started moving about and I tracked him to the Flammels..."
"Nicholas and Pernelle Flammel? Did he get the Sorcerer's stone from them?", asked Lord Black, agitated.
Dumbledore shook his head, "No. The protections that they had put on the stone kept it from being discovered but with so many attempts at stealing it by him had them rattled. They called upon me to help them and hide the stone. I kept the stone in Gringotts for a few months before I had it moved when I knew for certain that Voldemort has arrived back. As I feared, he robbed a vault in Gringotts where I had kept the stone but fortunately the stone had been moved."
"Where is the stone now?"
"It is in Hogwarts, Lord Black", said Dumbledore.
"What! You are keeping such a dangerous artefact in the school? Are you insane? What if some student stumbles across it? What if Voldemort finds it? He can easily regain a body if he came across it in the castle?"
Dumbledore sighed, "I have the same fears as you do, Lord Black. My duty however is to delay the inevitable return of Lord Voldemort as much as I can. The stone is kept under some simple yet ingenious protections. Since the school started, Voldemort has tried to consistently gain possession of the stone however he has not yet went past the first obstacle. Rest assured that he won't gain access to it."
"How can you be so sure?"
"I have seen his attempts being thwarted. In fact, young Harry also knows about the stone being held in the castle though he does not talk about it. I assume that he has guessed by now that Voldemort is trying to come back and would stop at nothing to keep him from the stone."
Arcturus growled, "If something were to happen or if any harm came to my heir, I promise you Dumbledore that I will bring the wrath of House Black upon you."
"I do not wish for any harm to come upon the child, Lord Black. It is why I don't leave Hogwarts even for Wizengamot. Besides young Harry has friends who would stand by him and won't let any harm come to him."
The plot thickens
The day came that Harry had to go back to Hogwarts. Arcturus never liked to be seen in public and would not be caught dead at King's cross so he had called for the Knight Bus to take Harry to King's cross.
The Knight Bus was a purple coloured triple decker bus which was run by the ministry as transportation for stranded witches and wizards. It could go to any place as long as it was on land and to flag it down, one had to raise his wand and the bus would appear before them. It was charmed to stay invisible to muggles and had expansion charms on it. There were chairs for the passengers to sit on it during the day and at night, they were replaced with beds. The conductor of the bus was a bloke named Stan Shunpike, who was a freckle faced fellow and the driver was a very old wizard named Ernie Prang. It was a short walk to King's cross from the Black Townhouse but Arcturus didn't wanted Harry to make the journey by himself on foot. The ride was tumultuous but mercifully brief however when Harry got off from the bus, he felt like he wanted to throw up.
On the train, all of their friends sat together except for Neville Longbottom. Hermione who had been to her home was asking everyone about their vacations while Harry talked with Ron who enthusiastically told him about getting a new wand and having loaned money to the twins to use. The ride was ordinary and Malfoy did show up once but the strength in numbers forced him to change his mind and go harass someone else. Harry's mind was also on his next part of the plan which he put into action just the next morning.
Harry was at the Ravenclaw table with a third year named Eddie Carmichael. Eddie was known to be a boy who never ventured outside of his house mates and Harry wished to have him venture out breaking house boundaries before he would make a move on others.
"Eddie", he called the boy, "I have heard that you like playing bets?"
The other boy nodded, "But I don't make any bet below 10 Galleons, Potter-Black and I bet on nothing that would endanger me."
"It is not something that would endanger you. I wished to know if you can sit with any Slytherin on their table for 10 Galleons?"
It got Eddie's interest, "Say what, Potter-Black?"
"I bet that you can't sit with Montague of Slytherin at breakfast and make him talk to you", Harry said.
"You are on, Potter-Black", said Eddie, "Have that money ready."
Eddie stood from his place and went to sit beside Montague. Harry watched from afar. The Slytherin firstly rebuffed the Ravenclaw but Eddie persisted for after about 10 minutes, Eddie was talking to him as if they were old friends.
He had to wonder how that happened. Eddie surely wasn't such a charming personality that he could woo anyone but there had to be something. He noticed Lucian Bole sitting beside Montague who was looking at Harry and trying to tell him something.
Harry made the barest of motions with his head and the Slytherin stood him his place and followed Harry in a corridor which was empty, "Potter-Black, don't place any bets with someone as shifty as Carmichael."
"What happened, Bole?" Harry asked.
"He told Montague about your bet and they agreed to split the winnings", Bole said before he walked to a side.
As Bole left, Harry realised this one had also failed. Gold will only get you that far. He shrugged however because there are too many ways to earn someone's loyalty.
It was times like this that he needed Neville Longbottom but that was not to be. Today was one of their lessons by Professor Flitwick and may be, they could make up things between them.
You are pathetic
When they entered the classroom where Flitwick used to teach them, he started sending a barrage of hexes at them without any warning. They scrambled for cover before they assessed what it was about.
The old professor was using hexes that he had not taught to them and Harry didn't know about most of them. He and Neville raised a shield for themselves and came in to face the professor however he conjured ice which he banished at them forcing them to drop their shields and run.
He used the locomotor charm to move the desk and tables in the classroom to chase them around and they had to duck around and try to save themselves. With them being busy trying to save themselves from the furniture in the room, it was very hard for them to pay attention to the diminutive charms teacher who was using this opportunity to sent stunning spells and petrification hexes at them.
A look passed between him and Neville and the chubby Gryffindor ran towards him saving himself from the furniture and Flitwick's curses and hexes. When he reached near Harry, he raised a shield for both of them while Harry retaliated to the tiny charms professor.
Professor Flitwick raised the game at that moment. At that moment, they realised why and how Professor Flitwick had become 10 times duelling champion. He was moving so fast that he was only a blur to the students and all they could do was guess where he was going to be or from which direction his next hex would come from.
It was at one such moment, that an extra powerful stinging hex zapped Neville in the hindquarters and the boy yelped and turned to Harry, "Can't you defend me while I am saving you, Potter-Black?"
Flitwick stopped moving to see what will happen now.
Harry was talking to Neville, "I would like to see you defend us from him, Longbottom. I dare you to face him while I will do what you were doing."
Neville levelled his wand at Harry and Flitwick disarmed both of them, "You both are pathetic. You can't win this way. If this is how you are going to play then it would be better that you don't even participate in the championship. Get out and don't come back in this classroom until you can be civilised with each other again."
The rules are laid
Albus Dumbledore sat in the Quidditch stadium waiting for the students to arrive. He knew there was some sort of meeting today to discuss the terms of the night quidditch that they were going to have. He also knew that little Harry was orchestrating the entire thing. He wanted to see how it would turn out and if it was as pleasant as it promised to be then Albus wouldn't hesitate from authorizing the same as an activity at the school. However the same will be done in such a subtle way that it would get bigger but it would remain illegal. Watching these students break rules with impunity, he had started to feel as reckless as them and wanted some daily excitement from the students in which he could revel.
Of course, at the moment things were tense. The stone was being housed in the school and remained a threat to the safety of the school. He knew someone, most possibly Quirrell, was trying to get to it though he hadn't got the chance yet. He knew it wouldn't be long before he did something desperate which would put everyone's life in peril. Albus would have to confront him and stop him from doing it before that happened. His musings were broken when 5 brooms flew on the ground and the students dismounted from them. It is not easy to see them from afar but he had a good idea that they were Hadrian Potter-Black, Robert Hillard, Adrian Pucey, Gwendoline Shaw and Oliver Woods.
He knew he couldn't hear them from afar normally but he had taken care of the problem already. Some charms that he had cast on the quidditch pitch enabled him to hear whatever was being said among the students. They thought they were being very secretive and clever but they had no idea that Dumbledore was on to them.
Little Harry was bouncing on his toes, "Alright, here is the deal. There are 16 of us here so in ordinary match we have two extra for a proper match. This however is night quidditch and the rules which generally apply are thrown out of the window here. We will have a team of four to each team of which there will be a beater, two chasers, and a keeper. Since snitches are costly and we can lose them or they can take a long time to be caught therefore we are not going to need them."
"And...?", asked Oliver.
"And there will be 6 matches in total i.e. one match every night, right here on this pitch. If they were to be postponed due to some reasons, they will be duly communicated to you in advance. The winner will win the purse of 500 Galleons which I had proposed as the winnings for this tournament. Each match the winning team will receive 10 points and in the end it will be added to the score of the championship."
"How do we determine the winner of a match if there is no seeker to catch the snitch and end things, Potter-Black?", asked Gwen.
Harry gave his best lopsided grin to her while made her knees weak even if she was not going to accept it to anyone, "I am glad you asked, Gwen. Whichever team scores 200 points before the other will win."
Fred asked him, "And how dear Harrikins you think we are going to be able to see in the dark night? None of us are owls."
"Owls would be jealous if you became one, Gred", Harry said grinning, "Let me show you something that I have ready for the occasion.
As if on cue, a trunk appeared at his feet. Others didn't knew but it was Kreacher who was bringing the trunk to him invisibly, just to keep others mystified that Harry knew some complicated magic that they didn't.
Adrian Pucey asked, "Harry, how did the trunk appear?"
Harry ignored the question and kicked the trunk which opened to reveal a Quaffle and two bludgers. He picked up the red coloured quaffle which glowed from within with such intensity as if a candle was inside. He showed the quaffle to them, "This quaffle can be seen in the night sky without any problems."
Then he showed them the bludgers. They were still black in colour as they always were but they were coated with something or perhaps some charm had been performed on them that made them light in the night like a couple of fireworks. It was going to be a wonder if someone missed them.
Appleby said something that was obvious, "Potter- Black are we going to play without a referee?"
Harry shook his head, "No. We will not play without a referee. Every night, a captain of an opposite team shall act as referee. That is the only way we can keep this thing between ourselves."
Everyone nodded. Harry continued speaking, "The schedule of matches and referee duty will be sent to you in due time. Now let's fly back."
Charting waters
The next logical thing to do in his scheme of things for Harry was to befriend people by himself. The big idiot Neville Longbottom had left him or he would have a great help to him in befriending others. The chubby Gryffindor wasn't doing bad by himself by selecting a group of students to follow him, sort of like a club. It was as if he was trying to compete with Harry in matter of number of friends. Harry was fine with that. He had no competition with anyone and certainly not Neville Longbottom. If the chubby Gryffindor was happy with his circle of friends, that was okay with Harry. One thing that Harry had noticed though that Neville kept pruning the list of his acquaintances or friends. He had seen Cormac Maclaggen in his circle during the Dragon fiasco but since then Neville avoided that boy like the plague.
He decided to venture out of his comfort zone and meet people one on one. May be this was how he could operate. Lord Black acted with subtlety but it was not helping Harry. He decided he would venture out and meet people and try to find some who were good for him.
The next morning, he sat at the Hufflepuff table with some second years he had not talked like ever. It was strange at first but they soon warmed up to him. They were very interested in him but to Harry it felt like they were only being cordial to him.
In the noon, he and Isobel caught up with some claws in the library who helped the duo with their potions homework not that Harry wanted any help with it. One thing however he realised was that everyone wanted to talk to him, atleast once. It was a good idea to work on the students in case he ever needed support from students. He knew he had selected friends who would stick with him through thick and thin yet it did not hurt if he was not a subject of scorn from the general public or subjected to hero worship from them or something of the likes.
He decided to give some time to people who were not from his friend circles and that would be beneficial to him in the long run. All it would take is a smile here, a word there. Kindness but it could buy everything.
He had also prepared the schedule for the night quidditch matches and gave them to Oliver Wood.
Gwen- Hillard
Wood- Pucey
Hillard- Wood
Pucey- Gwen
Pucey- Hillard
Wood- Gwen
There were also final exams looming near to them. He just hoped that the year would be a success.