THE QUIDDITCH MATCH
As November came the weather turned colder. The mountains around the school became icy gray and the lake like chilled steel. Every morning the ground was covered in frost. Hagrid could be seen from the upstairs windows defrosting broomsticks on the Quidditch field, bundled up in a long moleskin overcoat, rabbit fur gloves, and enormous beaver skin boots. Quidditch season had begun at Hogwarts. Natasha's first match was going to be against slytherin, on the first Saturday of November. If Gryffindor won, they would move up into second place in the house championship. Hardly anyone had seen Natasha play because Wood had decided that, as their secret weapon, Natasha should be kept, well, secret. But Natasha knew that slytherin house would have already known this , because Ron had revealed the info to Draco Malfoy. She was finding really hard to cope up with her schoolwork, because of all the quidditch training wood was having.
Natasha had read a book called Quidditch Through the ages, which gave her so much information on the game of quidditch. Natasha learned that there were seven hundred ways of committing a Quidditch foul and that all of them had happened during a World Cup match in 1473. She also learned that Seekers were usually the smallest and fastest players,and that most serious Quidditch accidents seemed to happen to them, that although people rarely died playing Quidditch, referees had been known to vanish and turn up months later in the Sahara Desert. Natasha , Hermione, and Ron had become inseparable after the Halloween incident. The girls of their dormitory called them as the ' Incredible Redheads'.
The day before Natasha's first Quidditch match the three of them were out in the freezing courtyard during break, and she had conjured them up a bright blue fire that could be carried around in a jam jar. They were standing with their backs to it, getting warm, Natasha had to hurry inside as Wood called her. She gave the Quidditch book to Ron, which she carried around everywhere these days. She had to lend the book from library, as she forgot to take the book from Privet Drive. She saw Professor Snape limping towards Ron and Hermione as she went to Wood. "What is it Oliver?", she asked. "I just wanted to ask how are you feeling, are you alright? are you nervous?", Oliver asked very fast. Natasha frowned and said,"I am fine, Oliver, how many times i have to tell you that?". "Just checking Natasha, i know how people feel before their first match. I was shivering even on the day before the match.", Oliver said. "I am telling you Oliver, i am fine", Natasha said, though she was a little nervous. "If you say so Natasha. I expect you to play well tomorrow.", Oliver said and went away. When Natasha went back to her friends, she saw Ron with a look of anger in their face, and Hermione had a look of disbelief.
"What happened?", Natasha asked both of them. "That greasy git, he came and took your book,saying that you are not supposed to take library books out of the library", Ron said furiously. "Who ? Professor Snape?", Natasha asked. "Who else is a greasy git here? I am sure that he made the rule himself up", Ron said. "We will go and ask the book back Ron, He might give the book back.", Natasha said. "Of course he will give it back to you, you are his favorite student.", Ron said rolling his eyes. Hermione gave a small laugh. The trio went to the staff room to meet the Professor, they could hear Professor Snape shouting inside. They opened the door slightly and saw Professor Snape and filch inside. Snape was holding his robes above his knees. One of his legs was bloody and mangled. Filch was handing Snape bandages. "Blasted thing," Snape was saying. "How are you supposed to keep your eyes on all three heads at once?". Ron tried to shut the door quietly, but - "WEASLEY!". Thankfully Snape did not see Natasha. Snape's face was twisted with fury as he dropped his robes quickly to hide his leg. Ron gulped. Natasha and Hermione were hiding behind Ron. "I just wondered if I could have my book back.", Ron asked. "GET OUT! OUT!", Snape shouted. The trio left, before Snape could take any more points from Gryffindor. They went to the common room quickly.
"You know what we saw mean." Hermione said. "Snape 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!". But Natasha said," What if he was going after the guy who was trying to steal it? Professor Snape is not the guy who looks like he needs stealing something.". "he was the one who let that troll in, to make a diversion!", said Ron ignoring Natasha. "No-he wouldn't, Natasha said. "I know he's not very nice, but he wouldn't try and steal something Dumbledore was keeping safe.". "Honestly, Natasha, you think all teachers are saints or something," snapped Ron. "But-But", Natasha wanted to argue but could not find a good point. "But what's he after? What's that dog guarding?", Hermione asked. Natasha went to bed thinking about this. "Could Professor Snape be after whatever the dog is guarding, he seems to be a nice guy", she thought. She tried to empty his mind she needed to sleep, she had to, he had his first Quidditch match in a few hours.
The next morning dawned very bright and cold. The Great Hall was full of the delicious smell of fried sausages and the cheerful chatter of everyone looking forward to a good Quidditch match. "You've got to eat some breakfast.", Hermione said to Natasha. "I don't want anything.", Natasha said. "Just a bit of toast," wheedled Hermione. "I'm not hungry." Natasha felt terrible. In an hour's time she'd be walking onto the field. "Natasha, you need your strength," said Seamus Finnigan. "Seekers are always the ones who get clobbered by the other team.". "Thanks, Seamus," said Natasha, watching Seamus pile ketchup on his sausages. By eleven o'clock the whole school seemed to be out in the stands around the Quidditch pitch. Many students had binoculars. The seats might be raised high in the air, but it was still difficult to see what was going on sometimes. Ron and Hermione joined Neville, Seamus, and Dean the West Ham fan up in the top row.
As a surprise for Natasha, they had painted a large banner on one of the sheets Scabbers had ruined. It said 'Potter for President', and Dean, who was good at drawing, had done a large Gryffindor lion underneath. Then Hermione had performed a tricky little charm so that the paint flashed different colors. Meanwhile, in the locker room, Natasha and the rest of the team were changing into their scarlet Quidditch robes (Slytherin would be playing in green). Wood cleared his throat for silence
"Okay, men," he said.
"And women," said Chaser Angelina Johnson.
"And women," Wood agreed. "This is it."
"The big one," said Fred Weasley.
"The one we've all been waiting for," said George.
"We know Oliver's speech by heart," Fred told Natasha, "we were on the team last year."
"Shut up, you two," said Wood. "This is the best team Gryffindor's had in years. "We're going to win. I know it." He glared at them all as if to say, 'Or else.'. "Right. It's time. Good luck, all of you.". Natasha followed Fred and George out of the locker room and, hoping her knees weren't going to give way, walked onto the field to loud cheers. Madam Hooch was refereeing. She stood in the middle of the field waiting for the two teams, her broom in her hand. "Now, I want a nice fair game, all of you," she said, once they were all gathered around her. Harry noticed that she seemed to be speaking particularly to the Slytherin Captain, Marcus Flint, a sixth year. Natasha thought Flint looked as if he had some troll blood in him. Out of the corner of her eye she saw the fluttering banner high above, flashing 'Potter for President' over the crowd. She struggled not to laugh at this, it was just so hilarious.
"Mount your brooms, please." Natasha clambered onto her Nimbus Two Thousand. Madam Hooch gave a loud blast on her silver whistle. Fifteen brooms rose up, high, high into the air. They were off. "And the Quaffle is taken immediately by Angelina Johnson of Gryffindor what an excellent Chaser that girl is, and rather attractive, too". "JORDAN!", the Professor shouted. "Sorry, Professor." The Weasley twins' friend, Lee Jordan, was doing the commentary for the match, closely watched by Professor McGonagall. "And she's really belting along up there, a neat pass to Alicia Spinnet, a good find of Oliver Wood's, last year only a reserve - back to Johnson and - no, the Slytherins have taken the Quaffle, Slytherin Captain Marcus Flint gains the Quaffle and off he goes,- Flint flying like an eagle up there - he's going to sc- no, stopped by an excellent move by Gryffindor Keeper Wood and the Gryffindors take the Quaffle.". Natasha was relieved by this and let out a sigh. "That was really close", she thought.
The Quaffle was again the possession of Slytherins, but a Bludger from one of the Weasley twins saved the Gryffindors. Then Angelina got the Quaffle, and scored the goal. Natasha was very happy. Gryffindor cheers filled the cold air, with howls and moans from the Slytherins. In the stands Ron and Hermione were watching the match with enthusiasm. "Budge up there, move along.". "Hagrid!" Ron and Hermione squeezed together to give Hagrid enough space to join them. "Bin watchin' from me hut," said Hagrid, patting a large pair of binoculars around his neck, "But it isn't the same as bein' in the crowd. No sign of the Snitch yet, eh?". "Nope," said Ron. "Natasha hasn't had much to do yet.". "Kept outta trouble, though, that's somethin'," said Hagrid, raising his binoculars and peering skyward at the speck that was Natasha. Way up above them, Natasha was gliding over the game, squinting about for some sign of the Snitch. This was part of his and Wood's game plan.
"Keep out of the way until you catch sight of the Snitch," Wood had said. "We don't want you attacked before you have to be.". She was back to staring around for the Snitch. Once a Bludger decided to come pelting her way, more like a cannonball than anything, but Natasha dodged it and Fred Weasley came chasing after it. "All right there, Natasha?" he had time to yell, as he beat the Bludger furiously toward Marcus Flint. The effort was of no use as Slytherin was back in possession. The chaser dodged the Bludgers very easily, Natasha then noticed the snitch suddenly near her ear. But it suddenly near her. With a rush of excitement she dived down. Neck and neck they hurtled to ward the Snitch -all the Chasers seemed to have forgotten what they were supposed to be doing as they hung in midair to watch. Natasha was faster than Higgs ,she could see the little round ball, wings fluttering, darting up ahead - he put on an extra spurt of speed - WHAM!. A roar of rage echoed from the Gryffindors below - Marcus Flint had blocked Natasha on purpose, and Natasha's broom spun off course, Natasha holding on for dear life.
"Foul!" screamed the Gryffindors. Madam Hooch spoke angrily to Flint and then ordered a free shot at the goal posts for Gryffindor. Natasha could feel anger rising inside her. She wanted to hex the Slytherin captain to the next century, but started concentrating on the game. But in all the confusion, of course, the Golden Snitch had disappeared from sight again. Down in the stands, Dean Thomas was yelling, "Send him off, ref! Red card!". "What are you talking about, Dean?" said Ron. "Red card!" said Dean furiously. "In soccer you get shown the red card and you're out of the game!". "But this isn't soccer, Dean," Ron reminded him. Hagrid, however, was on Dean's side. "They oughta change the rules. Flint coulda Natasha Harry outta the air.".
Natasha could hear an argument between Lee and Professor, regarding his commentary. Again Gryffindors had the possession. It was as Natasha dodged another Bludger, which went spinning dangerously past her head, that it happened. Her broom gave a sudden, frightening lurch. For a split second, she thought she was going to fall. She gripped the broom tightly with both her hands and knees. She'd never felt anything like that. It happened again. It was as though the broom was trying to buck her off. Natasha was scared out of her wits, she did not know how this was happening. She was sure that brooms were not supposed to behave like this. Natasha tried to turn back toward the Gryffindor goal-posts - she had half a mind to ask Wood to call time-out, and then she realized that his broom was completely out of his control.
She couldn't turn it. She couldn't direct it at all. It was zigzagging through the air, and every now and then making violent swishing movements that almost unseated her. Slytherin scored a goal shortly afterwards. Noone seemed to notice Natasha ,who was still struggling. "Dunno what Natasha thinks she's doing," Hagrid mumbled. He stared through his binoculars. "If I didn' know better, I'd say she'd lost control of his broom... but she can't have...". Suddenly, people were pointing up at Natasha all over the stands. Her broom had started to roll over and over, with her only just managing to hold on. Then the whole crowd gasped. Natasha's broom had given a wild jerk and she swung off it. She was now dangling from it, holding on with only one hand. "Did something happen to it when Flint blocked her?" Seamus whispered. "Can't have," Hagrid said, his voice shaking "Can't nothing interfere with a broomstick except powerful Dark magic - no kid could do that to a Nimbus Two Thousand.".
At these words, Hermione seized Hagrid's binoculars, but instead of looking up at her friend, she started looking frantically at the crowd. "What are you doing?" moaned Ron, gray-faced. "I knew it," Hermione gasped, "Snape - look.". Ron grabbed the binoculars. Snape was in the middle of the stands opposite them. He had his eyes fixed on Natasha and was muttering nonstop under his breath. "He's doing something - jinxing the broom," said Hermione. "What should we do?". "Leave it to me." Before Ron could say another word, Hermione had disappeared. Ron turned the binoculars back on Natasha. Her broom was vibrating so hard, it was almost impossible for her to hang on much longer. The whole crowd was on its feet, watching, terrified, as the Weasleys flew up to try and pull Natasha onto one of their brooms,but it was no good - every time they got near her, the broom would jump higher still. They dropped lower and circled beneath her, obviously hoping to catch him if she fell. Natasha was on the verge of tears, she was feeling helpless. Marcus Flint seized the Quaffle and scored five times without anyone noticing. "Come on, Hermione," Ron muttered desperately. Hermione had fought her way across to the stand where Snape stood, and was now racing along the row behind him; she didn't even stop to say sorry as she knocked Professor Quirrell headfirst into the row in front. Reaching Snape, she crouched down, pulled out her wand, and whispered a few, well- chosen words. Bright blue flames shot from her wand onto the hem of Snape's robes.
Severus Snape was trying hard to keep his focus on the vibrating broom. He knew he had to save the girl. The ruddy Quirrel was trying very hard to kill her. It was so frustrating. He knew he had to try harder. The girl was struggling on her broom. She was nearly on the verge of falling. He knew that just few seconds of less concentration will mean her death. Then suddenly quirrel somehow lost his concentration as he nearly fell. Severus was relieved. Then he suddenly started feeling really hot on his legs. "Fire! Severus, your robe is on fire!", Professor Sinistra shouted. Severus turned around suddenly and found his robe on fire. He panicked and put an aguamenti charm ,and the fire was gone. He turned around ,and found that Natasha was now flying safely. The one who set his robes on fire also might have tripped quirrel. He thought of not investigating this further, as it did more good than bad.
It was enough. Up in the air, Natasha was suddenly able to clamber back on to her broom. Natasha saw the golden snitch near the ground and dived towards it. She suddenly fell on to the ground losing control, a bit. She could feel something funny in her mouth, and felt like vomiting. When she coughed something golden came out her mouth into her hand. It was the snitch. She felt overjoyed. "I caught the snitch" , she shouted, and the crowd erupted with joy. "She didn't catch it, she nearly swallowed it," Flint was still howling twenty minutes later, but it made no difference - Natasha hadn't broken any rules and Lee Jordan was still happily shouting the results - Gryffindor had won by one hundred and seventy points to sixty. Natasha heard none of this, though. She was being made a cup of strong tea back in Hagrid's hut, with Ron and Hermione.
"It was Snape," Ron was explaining, "Hermione and I saw him. He was cursing your broomstick, muttering, he wouldn't take his eyes off you.". "No way, Professor Snape won't do that , he is always nice to me. Why in the name of Merlin would he do that?", Natasha said shocked. "Rubbish," said Hagrid agreeing with Natasha, who hadn't heard a word of what had gone on next to him in the stands. "Why would Snape do somethin' like that?" , Ron, and Hermione looked at one another, wondering what to tell him. Ron decided on the truth. "I found out something about him," he told Hagrid. "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. "Oh not that again.", Natasha thought. She had decided that he was not trying to steal it. He was too nice person.
"How do you know about Fluffy?" Hagrid said. "Fluffy?", Natasha asked suddenly becoming interested. "Yeah - he's mine - bought him off a Greek chappie I met in the pub las' year - I lent him to Dumbledore to guard the-", Hagrid stopped in the middle. "Yes?" said Natasha eagerly. "Now, don't ask me anymore," said Hagrid gruffly. "That's top secret, that is.". "But Snape's trying to steal it!", Hermione said"Rubbish," said Hagrid and Natasha together "Snape's a Hogwarts teacher, he'd do nothin' of the sort.". "But he tried to kill you Natasha!" cried Hermione. "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! He was looking and chanting.". Natasha knew how to counter this,"Hermione if he was chanting, he was muttering a counter jinx! Even i have read about them! Any one in the stands could be responsible for this.". "B-But w-what about his leg?", Hermione countered. Natasha unfortunately did not have a satisfactory explanation for this.
"I'm tellin' yeh, yer wrong!" said Hagrid hotly. "I don' know why Natasha's broom acted like that, but Snape wouldn' try an' kill a student! Now, listen to me, all three of yeh - yer meddlin' in things that don' concern yeh. It's dangerous. You forget that dog, an' you forget what it's guardin', that's between Professor Dumbledore an' Nicolas Flamel -". Natasha was suddenly alerted. "Aha!" said Natasha, "so there's someone called Nicolas Flamel involved, is there?" Hagrid looked furious with himself. They left the hut with a feeling of triumph. They returned to the common room, to find the whole house having a victory celebration. Everyone congratulated her happily. But Natasha's mind was filled with questions. "Was Professor the one who tried to kill her? was he after the thing Fluffy was guarding?", she thought.