A/N: I do not own Harry Potter (although I wish that I did (money!! $_$)) all rights go to J.K Rowling, though I'm just borrowing her ideas and adding some of mine.
It began to grow colder as of November. The lake turned to cold grey steel and the earth around the castle began to grow colder because of the freezing temperatures and a small blanket of white snow,.
The Quidditch season had begun as well. After weeks of training, Harry's first match grew near.
Nobody had seen harry flying yet, except the people in his team, and maybe a few Ravenclaws when Harry first flew on his nimbus 2000 for Flint had decided that Harry was supposed to be their secret attack force.
Harry, Draco, Nott, Rowan, and Flint were walking towards the castle after an especially tiring Quidditch practise, with Draco, Nott and Rowan as faithful green-silver clad supporters.
The road back to Hogwarts was hard and a bit slippery, causing all five of them to stumble at least once. Once they entered the courtyard of the magnificent in snow bathed castle, the saw to their amusement, professor Snape reprimanding Weasley and Granger for having a library book outside of the castle. When Snape left the two fuming Gryffindors in the snow, Harry noticed that the head of their house was limping. Catching the eyes of his fellow Slytherins, Harry knew that they had seen it too.
Catching up with the bat like potion master, Harry asked him why he was limping.
'That is none of your concern, is it now Potter?' Snape said coldly. Apparently, he was in a particularly foul mood. Stopping in his tracks to frown at the potion master, Harry saw the cloak of the black robed professor swirl slightly as he turned right into a corridor, in a flash of light revealing a blood soaked leg.
When confronting his friends about what he had seen, he saw that none of them even had a clue of what could have happened, although Rowan remarked that it was not unusual, for Snape had been limping since Halloween.
'I think…' Harry said wondering, 'that we need to visit our Gryffindor friends again.' His friends smiled manically. 'not physically visiting them mind.' Harry said noticing the expressions of his friends. 'I'm sure that at least the Granger girl is sharp enough to have seen it too. With a small bit of luck, they have their own uninfluenced view of what happened to professor Snape.'
After their classes, the five realised that they had a mountain of homework to do, and because Harry did not want to leave the Gryffindors unguarded, they decided that they would take turns watching them.
Minutes passed, hours passed, until finally Flint returned with news.
'I wouldn't be surprised if they made Weasley redo this year' he said sneering. 'The level of his intelligence is way below average.'
'Did you discover something Flint?' Draco inquired.
'Yes' Flint said victoriously. Suddenly everyone was paying attention to him as he made his report. 'It is as you said Potter, Granger saw the wound as well, and reckons that he tried to pass some three headed hound on the third floor, while the castle was in full commotion because of the troll. She also says that it was Snape who allowed the troll entrance and that he tried to steal whatever that giant oaf Hagrid removed from Gringotts.'
'If Snape would want it, it would make you wonder what it is' Rowan said frowning.
'Both of them did not know it, I made sure I would not have missed that if they mentioned it.'
'We know that the object is small and red' Draco said looking to Harry for a confirmation. When Harry nodded he continued.
'If someone like Snape would want it -I don't say that he does, for I don't believe that Snape tried to steal the object-, it would at least be powerful.'
'I don't think it is dangerous, as we first thought to be' Nott said piping up. 'More like a magnifying device or something of the like.'
The five continued their speculations until dinner, after which Harry immediately continued to the cold dungeons for his everyday practise. The cold outside also affected the dungeons below the castle, turning it into an even more solid underground maze. Harry had made progress during these lessons, with Snape praising him for learning fast. Harry, according to Snape, had reached his limit to wand speed, faster than he ever imagined. Lying ahead of schedule, Harry now had three months to master non verbal instead of two. He entered the cold, with boxes filled office, and spotted Snape sitting behind his desk.
'Ah Potter, good that you're here. We are starting the non verbal addition to the shield charm, as I mentioned in our last lesson.'
'I remember sir,' Harry said.
'Good.' Snape said appreciatively. 'The essence of non verbal spells is concentration. If your concentration wavers, you cannot perform the spell. Therefore you will empty your mind of all emotions, and close your eyes in order to prevent you from being distracted in any way.'
Harry closed his eyes, and tried to empty himself of all emotions. It proved harder than he had imagined. He stood there, in the with boxes filled classroom, trying to clear his mind of everything except the spell.
He raised his wand, and concentrated.
'Protego Horribilis' Harry thought in his head.
A small near liquid substance appeared once more in front of his wand. It was even more pathetic than when he had first tried to use the spell with saying the incantation out loud.
'Not enough concentration Potter. Discipline, your mind! Again!'
It had been even worse than the very first lesson he had had in that office.
Harry thought back to that very first lesson.
Harry raised his wand, and clearly said 'Protego Horribilis'.
A tiny almost liquid substance appeared in front of Harry's wand. Snape tapped it with his wand, and it vanished into purple motes.
'Too tiny, and not solidified' Snape said as if he had not expected anything better. 'But no matter, no matter, I've seen people do worse on their first time attempting this spell.'
'It was pathetic..' Harry said frowning.
'And that is exactly why you are here now.' Snape said
This lesson however, he had not even managed the slightest improvement. His spell had remained to be the tiny almost liquid substance that shattered at the smallest touch.
'No matter, no matter' Snape had once again said. He fully believed that he could do it within three months. Sadly, Harry did not share those thoughts.
Sighing he went to the Slytherin common room, from where he immediately continued to his dormitory. The green coloured lamps giving a soft, faint glow at his approach. The others were already asleep, green bed curtains closed at every bed except at his. Climbing out of his school robes, Harry also went to bed, thinking about Snape, the small red stone and his first Quidditch match that would begin tomorrow.
The next morning was clear but also freezing cold. The great hall however, was warm and filled with delicious smells that varied from bacon to sausages. It was a relief compared to the cold stone from the dungeons.
Despite the delicious smells, Harry could not bring himself to eat.
'You must eat something Harry' Draco said, while filling his plate with delicious looking sausages.
'Not hungry…' Harry said stiffly.
'I see' Draco said frowning, and left the Slytherin table to return a few moments later, followed by Crabbe and Goyle, whom Harry realised, he had not seen in some time. The giant bodyguard looking boys flanked the pale blond who was smiling confidently.
When they reached him however, the two ogre sized boys began thumping him on the back, and not so softly at that.
'If you eat, I'll tell them to stop' Draco said grinning.
'Okay, okay AH, getting it, AH, eating now' Harry managed with Crabbe and Goyle still pounding on his back.
'Okay, relax boys' Draco said smiling slightly to Crabbe and Goyle.
'You will need everything you eat here Harry,' Draco said sternly. 'You will keep the other houses from winning the Quidditch cup, even if I have to pound you to the size of a sausage at the beginning of every match.'
His back still aching and stinging from Crabbe and Goyle's "persuasion" Harry and the rest of his team moved to the dressing rooms. Where they donned their green coloured Quidditch uniforms.
'Okay people, sit down.' Flint said, emerging from the captains office. When everybody sat, Flint nodded. 'We have held this cup for the last seven years.' He said pointing outside to the Quidditch field. 'And that is because we are the best! I know that right now, Oliver Wood is trying to talk his team into winning, but we all know that it takes a little more than that! Skills! Skills and the courage to use them is what is needed at Quidditch!' The team roared at that. 'Now.. brave as these Gryffindors are, we know that they wont attempt any dirty tricks. But that doesn't stop us from doing it to them!' The team roared again. 'The last thing I will say to you people is this: The entire school is going to watch you all, but it is professor Hooch that we need to watch. I don't care if professor Dumbledore himself sees any of you killing someone, but as long as Hooch does not see it, we will be the winners in this game! Now, lets beat those brave Gryffindors, for we KNOW that we are better!' The team roared once again, this time the loudest roar yet.
Everybody took their brooms, left the dressing rooms, and walked to the field.
Cold wind swept past Harry's hair and face. The sun was shining making the entire field and air clear, but November still made it cold. Harry could see the mountains to the north, and Hogsmeade to the west. He saw the stands that were coloured in the four colours of the houses, and while he could not make out any faces, he saw the people at the green stand of Slytherin cheering as if their lives depended on it.
It looked like Flint had been right. All the stands where full of people, and it seemed that everyone had come to watch the first game of the year. As they walked to the middle of the field, Harry spotted the Gryffindor team on the other side of the field. Their red and gold Quidditch uniforms glistering in the November sun.
The two teams met in the middle of the field, where professor Hooch met them.
'Now..' She began. 'I want a nice, clean game. From all of you' she added while looking at the Slytherins. 'Captains, shake hands.' Hooch ordered.
Harry saw that Flint was trying to crush the hands of Oliver Wood, but surprisingly, he held his ground.
Professor Hooch took the Quaffle. Harry and everyone else at the field mounted their brooms. The keepers speeding to their posts, and the seekers flying high above the field.
Hooch threw the Quaffle in the air, and Harry kick off as fast as he could, snatching the Quaffle out of the air, before a surprised girl Harry knew to be called Allicia Spinnet.
'and they are off!' A voice boomed through the stadium 'Potter is in possession of the Quaffle, looks to be a fine catch, not surprisingly as he nearly killed a Weasley while gaining that position or so I heard'
'JORDAN' professor McGonagall yelled.
'Sorry professor' the commenter said. 'As I said, Potter is in possession of the Quaffle, with Spinnet, Johnson and Bell at his tail- NICE Bludger from George Weasley, or is it Fred, I can never really tell. Potter passes to Flint, Flint in possession of the Quafle. Flint passes to Montague, Montague passes back to Flint, Flint passes to Potter, Potter nears the goals STOP HIM WOOD!
The Gryffindor stand groaned. Harry had passed by the rings and had thrown the Quaffle back to Montague in the last second, who had had an open ring before him as Wood had been following Harry.
Harry zigzagged across the field. It was 10-0. Spinnet had the Quaffle. Harry, Montague and Flint in pursuit. Harry saw Derrek, one of the beaters, smash a Bludger at her, forcing her to dodge. A second later, Montague had crashed next to her, snatched the Quaffle from our for her hands, and passed it to Harry, who immediately turned and sprinted to the Gryffindor goals again. From the corner of his eye Harry spotted a black shadow coming towards him. A Bludger. Harry dove just in time to avoid a splitting of his skull. He rose again and found himself side by side with two Gryffindor chasers. Avoiding their snatching hands, Harry rose even more, and passed the Gryffindor goals. He threw the Quaffle at Flint who had remained behind the Gryffindor goal hoops. Flint flew through the Gryffindor hoop, and threw the Quaffle backwards into the hoop he had just flown through. It was 20-0.
'Johnson in possession of the Quaffle, amazing girl that is,-JORDAN! Keep focussed on the game!' McGonagall loudly interrupted.
'Sorry professor. Johnson is still in possession of he Quaffle, passes to Spinnet, who passes to Bell, back to Johnson, nice dodge there, Johnson dodges a Bludger, evades Montague and dodges Potter, she throws!' The Gryffindor stands awwed. The keeper, Bletchley had saved it.
'Potter in possession of the Quaffle, dodges a Bludger, passes to Montague, OUCH that should've hurt! Montague had been hit by a Bludger. Full-face. He was out of the game.
'Bell in possession of the Quaffle, stolen by Potter, Potter in possession of the Quaffle. Potter dodges Spinnet, dodges Johnson, hey, that boy has talent!'
'Potter nears the goals, passes to behind the goals to Flint, is Flint going to score? Apparently not, Flint passes back to Potter, Potter back to Flint, Flint to Potter, Potter once more back to Flint, it looks as if they are trying to confuse the Gryffindor Keeper, where are you beaters Gryffindor?' The commentator asked the stadium in general.
'Flint back to Potter, Potter dodges Spinnet, dodges a Bludger, passes back to Flint, Flint dodges Johnson, dodges Bell, passes to- no Flint does not pass to Potter, Flint flies under the goals, can Wood still stop him?'
'NO FAIR' The commentator yelled across the stadium. Flint had thrown the Quaffle directly into the face of Oliver Wood, and had thrown it hard.
Hooch whistled. Free shot for Gryffindor.
'Johnson takes the shot' the commentator informed the public.
'SHE SCORES!! It is 20-10, Potter in possession of the Quaffle.
Then Harry saw a small golden flash, immediately followed by the two seekers from both teams. Harry caught the attention of Derrick and Bole, the Slytherin beaters, and pointed to the two seekers, now racing behind the golden snitch.
The three went in pursuit, the Gryffindor chasers and beaters at their tails.
When close enough, Harry gathered all his strength, and with a cry, threw the Quaffle with all his might to the Gryffindor seeker. He noticed it, and probably thought it to be a Bludger, for he dodged it. A real Bludger was smashed into his direction, but he managed to evade that one too. Barely. When the second real Bludger was smashed into his direction, it caught the seeker hard on his back, making him stumble to the front of his broom, sending his broom in an almost vertical dive to the ground. With a great smack, the Gryffindor seeker crashed into the ground, and at the same time, the Slytherin seeker rose into the air, a small, tiny, golden ball clenched in his fist. They had won.
A/N Phew that was a tough one, especially the Quidditch match, let me all know if you prefer Harry's view on the game or Lee Jordan's (the commentator). For everyone who did not notice, I tried to use a more detailed writing style after a friend of mine advised me to, so I would also like you all to review on that if you noticed it, or/and if liked it compared to my earlier chapters.