Disclaimer: Harry Potter is not mine.

Chapter 8 – The First Quidditch Match

November came along, and there was a renewed excitement in the air—November meant the start of the Quidditch season. Gryffindor's first match was coming up, and it was going to be against Slytherin.

Lucy was particularly excited: not only was this going to be the first Hogwarts Quidditch match she'd watch, but it was also Harry's first match as Seeker for Gryffindor. At the same time, though, she was getting rather annoyed with most of the Slytherins—especially Malfoy.

"Don't worry, Potter; we'll be running underneath you with mattresses to catch you when you fall," he hissed towards Harry during Potions class a little over a week before the match.

"Stuff it, Malfoy," Lucy snapped back. "You're just jealous that Harry has enough talent to be on the Quidditch team as a first-year!"

The retort lost her five points from Gryffindor, but she felt pleased with herself, especially when she heard Jeremy let out a snort from nearby.

~LJ:TH~

Later that night in the common room, Harry said to Lucy, "Thank you for today in Potions."

Lucy looked up from her Charms homework and smiled at him. "Malfoy's a stink rat," she replied, lowering her quill. "He's such a bully. People just need to learn how to stand up to him." She shrugged, although she was happy that Harry was appreciative.

As she leaned forward to continue her homework, Harry stopped her. "Lucy," he started, "what's going on with you and that one Slytherin boy? Joe or Jerry or whatever his name is?"

Lucy looked up in surprise, but all she could see in Harry's expression was curiosity. "Jeremy," she corrected, "and he's my friend. That's all."

"But everyone else seems to hate Slytherins," Harry pressed.

"Well, Jeremy isn't like other Slytherins," Lucy answered a little harshly. She sighed and added, "He seems really nice, and he doesn't act like most of them."

There was a pause.

"I guess I just don't understand," Harry said.

"That's because you've already been trained to hate Slytherins," Lucy commented. "Have you ever really given any of them a chance? It might surprise you. The only ones you've ever really interacted with are Malfoy and his two thugs, and they're just plain bullies."

"I guess… I've never thought about it like that," Harry said, his brow furrowing in thought.

"I know," Lucy replied with a small smile. "If you ever want to make friends in this world, you just have to be open and accepting," she finished.

~LJ:TH~

The day before the Quidditch match, Lucy, Harry, Ron, and Hermione decided to stand outside during their break to get some fresh air. Hermione conjured a small blue fire, contained in a jar, to keep all of them warm. They were standing with their backs to it, not saying much, when they noticed Snape crossing the courtyard towards them. The four of them huddled closer together to keep the blue fire out of his view.

"What's that you've got there, Potter?" Snape asked as he got close.

"It's Quidditch Through the Ages," Harry replied, showing the Potions master the book that he was holding.

"Library books are not to be taken outside of the school," Snape sneered at him. "Give it to me. Five points from Gryffindor."

With that, Snape swiped the book from Harry's hand and continued back to the castle. Lucy noticed that he had a limp in his walk.

"He's just made that rule up," Harry snarled angrily. "Wonder what's wrong with his leg?"

"Dunno, but I hope it's really hurting him," Ron said, glaring in Snape's direction.

With that, Hermione picked up the jar with the fire inside, and the four Gryffindors decided to head back into the castle.

~LJ:TH~

Later that night, they were sitting in a window in the common room. Hermione was checking over Ron's and Harry's Charms homework, while Lucy was writing a letter to her parents. Ron was playing with an Exploding Snap deck—cards that would randomly explode, effectively ending any game the player was currently involved in.

Harry was looking around the common room, seeming slightly restless. Suddenly, he got up and announced to the others, "I think I'm going to go to Snape's office to get that book back."

"Better you than me," Ron and Hermione said at the same time.

Lucy chuckled and watched as Harry disappeared through the portrait hole. Then she went back to her letter.

A few minutes later, Hermione spoke up timidly, "Lucy, can I ask you about that Slytherin boy that you talk to?"

Lucy heaved a sigh and tossed her quill down on her parchment before leaning back in her chair. "I wish you would've been here when Harry asked me the same thing," she grumbled. Then she looked up at Hermione.

"I'm sorry. You don't have to explain anything to me," Hermione reassured quickly, looking guilty.

"No, it's okay, Hermione," Lucy said. "It just gets sort of annoying when people keep asking me about him over and over again. Why are you talking to him? He's a Slytherin; you shouldn't trust him. Blah, blah, blah."

"But… why do you talk to him?" Hermione asked. "He is a Slytherin, after all, and they all seem so nasty to me."

"Well, Jeremy isn't," Lucy insisted. "Just because he's in a house where bad wizards have come from doesn't mean that he is or will be a bad wizard. Like I told Harry, you have to give people a chance."

"What about Malfoy?" Hermione asked quietly. "Did any of us give him a chance?"

Ron's cards decided to explode on him at that moment. He blinked and looked over at the girls, laughing hysterically. Hermione shook her head at him before turning her attention back to Lucy.

"I would have if he hadn't tried to steal our candy when he came into our compartment on the train," Lucy replied scathingly.

"Yeah, what's going on with you and that kid from Slytherin?" Ron cut in. "Are you going anti-Gryffindor on us or something?"

Lucy rolled her eyes. "No, I am not going anti-Gryffindor on you, whatever that means," she said, crossing her arms over her chest. "Look, Jeremy is really nice, okay? He's friendly. You just have to get to know him a bit and be willing to talk to him. He always asks how you guys are when we talk."

"That doesn't mean he's nice," Ron scoffed. "Sounds more like he's a nosy prick to me."

Lucy glared at him. "Well, you wouldn't know, because you don't talk to him," she snapped.

Before conversation could go any further, Harry burst wildly into the common room. He scurried over to his friends. "I went to get my book back," he began, "and I saw Snape with a huge gash on his leg. Filch was helping him to bandage it, and Snape said how are you supposed to keep your eyes on all three heads at once? You know what this means? He tried to get past that three-headed dog at Halloween! That's where he was going when we saw him—he's after whatever it's guarding! And I'd bet my broomstick he let that troll in, to make a diversion!"

His three friends sat in stunned silence for a moment.

"I'm not sure, Harry…" Lucy murmured, trailing off.

"No—he wouldn't," Hermione insisted. "I know he's not very nice, but he wouldn't try and steal something Dumbledore was keeping safe."

"Honestly, Hermione, you think all teachers are saints or something," Ron growled, earning a reproachful look from Hermione and a glare from Lucy. He ignored both girls and continued, "I'm with Harry. I wouldn't put anything past Snape. So, what's he after? What's that dog guarding?"

"It's not our business," Lucy stated firmly. She looked at Harry. "I know that you want to figure this out, Harry, but don't worry about it. You have enough on your plate as it is, what with homework and your first Quidditch match tomorrow."

Hermione nodded vigorously in agreement, and Harry sunk down into the chair that he had been previously occupying.

The four friends stayed in the common room for a little while longer before they finally decided to go up to bed. Hermione insisted that Harry needed to get some sleep before his big game the next day. They parted at the staircases, and Lucy trudged up the stone steps after Hermione. All she could think about was getting to bed soon so the next day would come quickly.

~LJ:TH~

The next morning came early for Lucy. As soon as she woke up, she couldn't fall back asleep. So, she quietly exited her dormitory and went down to the common room. She slumped down in a chair in front of the fire and was shortly joined by Evie, who hopped up gracefully onto Lucy's knees.

"Hi, Evie," Lucy cooed, scratching the top of the cat's head.

Evie started purring contentedly, settling down in Lucy's lap.

Soon after, Lucy heard movement from the dormitory stairs. She turned her head as much as she could, not wanting to disturb Evie. It was George, stretching and yawning as he appeared from the boys' stairs.

"Well, if it isn't Mr. George Weasley," Lucy drawled, grinning. "And where, pray tell, is your partner in crime?"

George smiled back, walking over and collapsing into the chair next to hers. "Still sleeping," he explained. "I don't know how he's still in bed. I'm too excited for the match today. We're gonna kick some Slytherin ass."

Lucy laughed. "I hope so," she said. "This is the first Hogwarts Quidditch game I'm going to, so you guys had better make it spectacular."

George let out a chuckle. "Well, we'll try," he agreed. "This game could get pretty violent, considering that it's Slytherin."

The two were quiet for a few minutes before George piped up, "I think I'm going to go test the air out on the field. You want to come fly around with me for a little bit?"

Lucy perked up. "Sure!" she replied enthusiastically. "Oh… but I don't have a broom."

"Eh, don't worry about that. You can borrow Fred's," George said, waving a hand carelessly. He stood up, stretching again, and then offered his hand to Lucy.

"Are you sure he won't mind?" Lucy asked. She picked Evie up and set her down gently on the floor.

Evie stretched out, yawning, and wandered away. Lucy took George's hand, and he pulled her to her feet.

"No, he won't mind," he assured her. "Besides, it's not like we have to tell him." George winked and then pulled Lucy towards the portrait hole.

As soon as they got to the entrance hall, Lucy froze. "It's gonna be so cold out there," she stated. She looked down at the pair of sweatpants and T-shirt she was wearing.

"Here," George said, pulling off his jacket. He slipped it on over Lucy's shoulders. "Come on, we'll make a run for it. There are some warm practice robes in the Gryffindor locker room we can wear."

Lucy smiled and nodded.

The two walked to the castle doors, and George stopped. He looked down at Lucy and said, "Three…"

"Two…" Lucy echoed after him.

"ONE!" they both shouted.

George pulled open the door, and Lucy bolted out onto the lawn. George was fast on her heels. They ran through the cold air, laughing gleefully.

When they reached the Gryffindor locker room, George pulled out his wand. He tapped the lock and pushed the door open, letting Lucy go inside ahead of him.

"Oh, my gosh—it's so cold out," she giggled, out of breath.

"I know," George panted. He motioned to one of the wooden benches. "Have a seat. I'll go grab some of the winter robes and Fred's broom. Unless you're gonna chicken out," he added, smirking at her.

"I'm not chickening out!" Lucy exclaimed, plopping down onto the bench.

George grinned and disappeared into the broom storage room. He came back a few seconds later and leaned two brooms against the wall by the door. Then he pulled two sets of heavy winter robes off from hooks on the wall. He tossed one of them to Lucy, who caught them and pulled them on quickly. They were nice and warm. George pulled on his, as well.

"Come on, Lu," he said, moving to the door.

He held one of the brooms out to her. She walked over and grabbed it from him.

They went back outside, and it didn't feel as cold to Lucy now that she was wearing the winter robes. George hurried out to midfield and mounted his broom. He pushed off from the ground and zoomed into the air. Lucy followed suit. She let out a giddy laugh as she flew around the stadium. George raced her as they did a few laps.

"Today is going to be perfect weather for Quidditch!" George shouted happily.

"How do you know that?" Lucy hollered back. "It's so cold out!" As much fun as flying was, her ears and nose were beginning to sting.

"It'll get warmer by midday," George explained, hovering in the air near her. "You ready to go back already? Because if not, I can probably get a spare Quaffle to play with for a little bit."

"Well… only for a little while," Lucy agreed. "I want to get back to make sure Harry's doing all right."

"Okay, sit tight for a minute," George said. "I'm gonna go grab a Quaffle."

He flew quickly back to the ground and sprinted for the Gryffindor locker room again. Lucy flew around the stadium once more, practicing turning sharply and doing some simple dives. Fred's broom was definitely better than the school's brooms she'd used during flying lessons.

George came back soon after and tossed the Quaffle into the air. Lucy raced after it and pulled it under her right arm. The two started playing catch, making the throws tougher as time went on.

Eventually, they decided to go back up to the castle. They dropped the brooms, winter robes, and the Quaffle back off at the Gryffindor locker room and trudged back up to the castle. As they walked, Lucy realized that George was right; it was already getting warmer out.

~LJ:TH~

Soon Lucy met up with Harry, Ron, and Hermione, and the four of them went down to the Great Hall to eat breakfast. Lucy noted that Harry looked somewhat queasy. They joined Sally-Anne, Neville, Seamus, Dean, and the rest of the Gryffindor Quidditch team at the Gryffindor table. Conversation was, of course, about the upcoming Quidditch match.

They had been sitting at the table for almost twenty minutes when Lucy looked over and noticed Harry was merely picking at his eggs, not eating or saying much. She nudged Hermione with her elbow and nodded to Harry.

"You've got to eat some breakfast," Hermione told Harry softly.

"I don't want anything," he insisted.

"Just a bit of toast," Lucy said, pushing the plate toward him.

"I'm not hungry," Harry grumbled, pushing the plate back in her direction.

Lucy shook her head, knowing that Harry was just nervous. "You know, if you don't eat, then you're going to be starving after you win," she reasoned with a small grin.

Harry let out a hollow laugh.

"Harry, you need your strength," Seamus joined in. "Seekers are always the ones who get clobbered by the other team."

Lucy threw a piece of toast at him, which he dodged.

"Thanks, Seamus," Harry said sarcastically.

~LJ:TH~

About an hour later, Lucy, Ron, and Hermione walked down to the Gryffindor locker room with Harry and left him there, wishing him luck. They then went up to sit in the stands with Sally-Anne, Neville, Seamus, and Dean. There they unfurled their surprise for Harry: a large banner that read Potter for President with a drawing of a lion, which had been done by Dean. Hermione had also cast a spell on the poster that made the paint flash different colors. They waited, impatiently and excitedly, for the match to begin.

"Welcome to the first Quidditch game of the season!" Lee Jordan's voice announced magically around the stadium. Lee was the Weasley twins' friend, and he would be providing commentary for the match. "Here comes the Slytherin team: Flint, Pucey, Montague, Daley, Whiddon, Bletchley, and Higgs."

Some of the Gryffindors around Lucy and her friends booed loudly as the Slytherin team marched out onto the field. The Slytherin crowd at the other end of the stadium roared their approval.

"Next, the Gryffindors!" Lee continued. "Johnson, Spinnet, Bell, Weasley, Weasley, Wood, and POTTER!"

Now it was the Gryffindors' turn to scream and stomp for their team as they also entered the pitch.

The two teams met in the middle of the field, where Madam Hooch—the referee for the game—was waiting. After a few words to both teams, Madam Hooch gave them the go ahead to get on their brooms. She blew on her whistle and the two teams were off, soaring high into the air.

"The Quaffle is taken immediately by Angelina Johnson of Gryffindor—what an excellent Chaser that girl is, and she's rather attractive, too."

"JORDAN!"

"Sorry, Professor."

Lucy laughed as she looked up to the commentator's booth. Inside sat Lee in front of the megaphone, and Professor McGonagall was next to him with a disapproving look on her face.

"GO GRYFFINDOR!" Lucy shouted as her friends cheered around her.

Lee continued to commentate, his voice booming over the stadium. "—and Johnson back in possession of the Quaffle, a clear field ahead and off she goes—she's really flying—dodges a speeding Bludger—the goal posts are ahead—come on, now, Angelina—Keeper Bletchley dives—misses—GRYFFINDOR SCORES!"

The cheers from the Gryffindor section were deafening, drowning out the boos from the Slytherins.

"Hagrid!" Ron shouted, alerting Lucy that their friend was approaching, and she squeezed together with Hermione to help make room for Hagrid to stand with them.

"Bin watchin' from me hut," Hagrid explained as he held up a pair of binoculars that were hanging from his neck, "but it isn't the same as bein' in the crowd. No sign of the Snitch yet, eh?"

"Nope," Ron responded. "Harry hasn't had much to do."

"Hi, Hagrid!" Lucy said cheerfully.

Hagrid waved down at her before looking through his binoculars, trying to find Harry.

Suddenly, Harry sprang into action. He dove towards the ground, neck and neck with the Slytherin Seeker.

"Go Harry! Go Harry! Go Harry!" Lucy chanted, clutching on the arm of Hermione's robes.

Harry was just about to grab the Snitch when, out of nowhere, one of the Slytherin Chasers blocked him, sending him spinning off course.

"FOUL!" Lucy and Ron shouted along with most of the other Gryffindors.

"Send him off, ref! Red card!" Dean was shouting.

"What are you talking about, Dean?" Ron asked.

"Red card!" Dean repeated. "In football, if you get shown the red card, you're out of the game!"

"But this isn't football, Dean," Ron sighed in annoyance.

"Be nice, Ron," Lucy hissed at him.

"They outghta change the rules, at least at this level," Hagrid said, agreeing with Dean. "Flint coulda knocked Harry outta the air."

Hermione gasped at the thought. "Thankfully Harry's okay," she murmured.

The Gryffindor Chaser Alicia Spinnet took a penalty shot for Gryffindor, giving the team another ten points, and the game continued.

Eventually, the Slytherin team scored, and the Gryffindors all groaned.

"Don't know what Harry thinks he's doing," Hagrid said suddenly, staring up at the sky through his binoculars, and Lucy looked up quickly. "If I didn' know better," Hagrid went on slowly, "I'd say he'd lost control of his broom… but he can't have.…"

Finally, Lucy found Harry, holding on for his life as his broom bucked underneath him. "Harry!" she screamed, before clapping her hand over her mouth in horror. Hermione shrieked next to her, and the girls grabbed hold of the other's arms.

"Did something happen to it when Flint blocked him?" Seamus asked worriedly.

"Can't have," Hagrid replied, although his voice was uncertain. "Can't nothin' interfere with a broomstick except powerful Dark magic—no kid could do that to a Nimbus Two Thousand."

Hermione hurriedly grabbed Hagrid's binoculars and began looking into the crowd.

Lucy breathed into her ear, "You don't think—?"

"What are you doing?" Ron asked, looking stricken.

"I knew it," Hermione exclaimed, holding out the binoculars so that Lucy and Ron could look in one eye-piece each. "Snape—look."

Lucy gazed in, careful not to smash her head against Ron's. Snape was in the stands across the field from them, and he was muttering under his breath, looking straight at Harry.

"He's doing something," Lucy said.

"He's jinxing the broom," Hermione insisted firmly.

"What should we do?" Ron asked.

"Leave it to me," Hermione replied, and she disappeared quickly before Lucy or Ron could say anything.

The two of them shared a bewildered look before turning back to the field and looking up at Harry. It was complete chaos in the air as everyone tried to help save Harry from his out of control broom.

"Come on, Hermione," Ron moaned.

They continued to watch, and Lucy tightly took hold of the arm of Ron's robes. Then—

"Neville, you can look!" Ron whooped.

Harry's broom had stopped trying to buck him off; he pulled himself back onto it and zoomed off.

"Harry! Yes!" Lucy screamed. She couldn't help jumping up and down.

She watched as Harry hurtled towards the ground. Then he put his hand to his mouth, looking as though he was going to be sick. Lucy gasped as he landed onto the field, on all fours, and coughed. Nothing came out, except something that looked gold—

"HE HAS THE SNITCH!" Lucy screamed as Harry held the Snitch above his head.

The Gryffindors erupted in ear-splitting roars. Lucy grabbed Ron's arm and pulled him out of the stands and down to the field where she enveloped Harry in a huge hug. The rest of the Gryffindors followed behind them.

"You were brilliant, mate!" Ron congratulated, slapping Harry on the back a few times.

Harry couldn't do anything but grin.

Lucy hurried to give Fred and George hugs, as well, before she was pulled out of the crowd by Ron and Hermione.

"Come on. We're going to Hagrid's," Hermione explained as they dragged her away from the crowd.

Harry was with them, hiding between the three of them. Lucy giggled, and they formed a barricade around their famous friend. They hurried off to meet up with Hagrid.

~LJ:TH~

Down at his hut, Hagrid made them all a cup of tea.

"It was Snape," Ron was quick to tell Harry. "We saw him. He was cursing your broom—he was muttering something, and he wouldn't take his eyes off you."

"Rubbish," argued Hagrid. Apparently, he hadn't heard anything of what was being talked about in the stands. "Why would Snape do somethin' like tha'?"

"Because he's an evil git?" Ron suggested.

Lucy nudged his arm with her elbow. Then she looked around at Harry and Hermione.

Harry sighed before turning back to Hagrid. "I found out something about him," he said. "He tried to get past that three-headed dog on Halloween. It bit him. We think he was trying to steal whatever it's guarding."

Hagrid dropped the teapot he was holding, making Lucy jump and Hermione gasp, "Hagrid!"

"How d'you know about Fluffy?" Hagrid asked, his eyes growing as wide as saucers.

"Fluffy?" Lucy and Ron asked in disbelief at the same time.

"Yeah," Hagrid said. "He's mine—bought him off a Greek chappie I met in the pub las' year—I lent him to Dumbledore to guard the—"

"Yes?" Harry pressed impatiently.

"Now, don't ask me anymore," Hagrid admonished them. "Tha's top secret, tha' is."

"But Snape's trying to steal it," Harry insisted.

"Rubbish," Hagrid repeated. "Snape's a Hogwarts teacher. He'd do nothin' of the sort."

"So, why did he just try and kill Harry?" Hermione asked desperately. "I know a jinx when I see one, Hagrid! I've read all about them! You've got to keep eye contact, and Snape wasn't blinking at all! I saw him!"

Lucy and Ron nodded in agreement.

"I'm tellin' yeh, yer wrong!" Hagrid said. "I don' know why Harry's broom acted like tha', but Snape wouldn' try an' kill a student! No, listen to me, all four of yeh—yer meddlin' in things tha' don' concern yeh. It's dangerous. Yeh forget tha' dog, an' yeh forget what it's guardin'. Tha's between Professor Dumbledore an' Nicolas Flamel!"

"Aha!" Harry announced, sounding triumphant. "So, there's someone called Nicolas Flamel involved, is there?"

Ron and Hermione beamed, and Hagrid looked beside himself. Lucy furrowed her brow. The name sounded familiar to her for some reason—but why?

~LJ:TH~

A/N: The scene between Lucy and George was originally (and I'm talking nearly 10 years ago, originally) mostly just filler to beef up this chapter. Only later did it actually become important to show Lucy's developing friendship with George; he was always going to be important to her, of course, being one of the Weasleys - but Lucy's relationship with George is definitely different later on compared to her other friendships with the individual Weasleys. I will say this now, though, so you don't get your hopes up: this is not ever a Lucy/George story; they will never be together romantically.