As they entered November, the weather turned cold. The mountains around the school became an icy gray and the lake froze over. Hagrid could be seen from the upstairs windows, bundled up in a long moleskin overcoat, rabbit fur gloves, and enormous beaver skin boots, tending the grounds.

"How many animals do you suppose died to make his clothes?" Ron wondered aloud.

"All of them," said Mary.

Fred and George praised her for the quip and Hermione rolled her eyes.

"They didn't die just for the clothing," she told them. "He feeds the meat to the carnivorous animals around campus."

"Where do we keep beavers on campus?" Mary asked.

Hermione decided that answering questions was an act of futility, and disappeared behind a book.

Ron leaned over her and asked, "Whatcha reading?"

"A novel about the hubris of humanity's scientific endeavors."

Ron heeded the implied "go away", and Mary pulled out the copy of Quidditch through the Ages that Hermione had loaned her. She read through all the documented ways of committing a foul, and that a particularly brutal World Cup in 1473 resulted in what would become the global standard for rules. Until that point, the most serious recorded injuries happened to the Seeker, although the most frequently injured player was still the Keeper.

To maintain the illusion of severe punishment, Mary was dropped from first year flying lessons. Mary appreciated everyone who spoke to Madam Hooch on her behalf, but told them that the decision wouldn't be reversed.

"She did warn us," Hermione agreed, to persistent uproar. She suggested Ron join in, as it would be suspicious if he weren't bothered by the decision.

"She already has detention as our team's water girl!" he yelled over dinner. "Isn't that enough for one punishment?"

And that's how they kept the secret. While the rest of her year had flying lessons, Mary cross-trained in self-defense. While she attended practice, everyone assumed she was enduring the most prolonged detention Hogwarts had ever assigned. As the season opener drew near, Mary worried over how everyone would react to the subterfuge. Maybe a win would help. Would they still forgive her if she lost?


Mary was going to be sick. Saturday had arrived mild and clear, and Gryffindor was playing Slytherin that afternoon. Hermione pieced a calorie-dense breakfast together for her, so she could eat as little as possible without sacrificing energy.

"Are you having a bad time of month?" Angelina asked.

Before Mary could answer, several boys laughed and Seamus said, "Hey, it isn't funny! My sister used to get sick every month."

Cultivating a sagely manner, Fred said, "Everything that comes out of the human body is funny."

"Except words," Hermione shot back.

The banter drew attention away from Mary, and she was able to finish her meager meal. Hermione helped the Chasers spirit Mary into the stadium, and by eleven o' clock, the whole school seemed to be packed into the risers. In the locker rooms, the teams were changing into their quidditch robes: scarlet for Gryffindor, and green for Slytherin.

Oliver gave a pep talk that was equal parts encouragement and threat. He concluded, "This is the best team Gryffindor's had in years, so this game is ours!"

Mary raised a fist with her teammates, but she couldn't muster a squeak to match their confident cheer.

Slytherin entered the field first, and Mary could hear Lee Jordan announcing positions and names. Her knees threatened to buckle, so Fred and George unceremoniously carried her to the edge of the pitch.

"Welcome to the field, GRYFFINDOR! Seeker Oliver Wood returns as Captain, followed by Chasers Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnet, and Katie Bell."

Fred and George left her in response to their names, "Protecting them from the Bludgers, welcome back Beaters Fred and George Weasley!"

Mary took a steadying breath and willed her legs forward.

"We've been wondering for months: Who could follow in the footsteps of the indomitable Charlie Weasley? Welcome Hogwarts' youngest quidditch player in a century, Gryffindor's newest Seeker: MARY POTTER!"

She could hear cries of disbelief, but looking into the Gryffindor section, Mary saw that her friends weren't angry at all. In fact, anyone in Gryffindor who wasn't cheering was laughing! Her fellow first years shouted, "DETENTION, POTTER!" which seemed to be for Malfoy's benefit.

Mary reached center field, where Madam Hooch stood, holding the Snitch.

"I will be your referee for the afternoon," she informed them, "and I expect a nice, fair game out of all of you."

This seemed to be an admonition for Slytherin's Captain, Marcus Flint. The fifth year reminded Mary of Dudley, if her cousin ever showed any inclination for sports. She resisted the urge to scoot behind Oliver, who stepped forward to shake hands with Flint.

"Mount your brooms, and on my whistle!"

Madam Hooch put her wand hand in the air and the stadium fell silent. With a downward swish and a blast on her silver whistle, both teams took to the air.

"Gryffindor takes immediate possession of the Quaffle! Bell flanks Johnson, and Johnson passes to Spinnet – nice catch! Hard to believe Spinnet was only a reserve, last year! Spinnet to Bell – and it's intercepted by Slytherin Captain Flint!"

Oliver had told Mary to stay above the action as much as possible, "Until you have more field experience. You'll be tempted to help out, but the opponent could easily distract you in your first game. Unless you're about to be knocked off your broom by a Bludger, keep it simple for this match."

She combed the ground, the field of play, and her periphery. Now and then, she thought she'd spotted the Snitch, but it had been a flash from the watch of a spectator, or some other reflective object they were waving around. Why hadn't anyone told her that the crowd could be used against her?

"SCORE FOR GRYFFINDOR!" Lee boomed.

The crowd roared as the field reset, and Mary checked the scoreboard. A flash of gold held steady not far from the play timer, and she bolted for it. The Slytherin Seeker, Terrence Higgs, already had it in his sights, and signaled to one of the Beaters. A Bludger was pelted towards Mary, and she spun a tight corkscrew to kick it towards one of the Weasleys. Once righted, she'd lost the Snitch, but so had Higgs. She'd apply that lesson to later strategies.

Mary was more subtle in her next sighting, and she made sure Higgs wasn't the wiser. She prowled carefully along its flittering trajectory, and took off when Higgs noticed what she was doing. No Bludger hindered her course, the Chasers kept the Quaffle out of her path, and Higgs was way too far off to reach it before her. That ball was hers –

WHAM!

Mary heard most of the crowd roar in rage and, "Score for Slytherin!" but she was mildly dazed from colliding headlong into Flint.

Katie and Fred were on either side of her as Lee reported the foul.

"All right there, Mary?" Fred asked, holding out an arm to steady her.

"What happened?" Mary asked.

"Flint blocked you," Katie replied. "He's only being penalized for flying offsides. Alicia's taking the penalty shot, so you can land for a minute if you need to."

Mary looked around and decided she was fit to continue.

"After that open and revolting foul —"

"Jordan, I'm warning you —" Professor McGonagall cut in.

"All right, all right," Lee said, without his usual peppiness. "Flint nearly kills the Gryffindor Seeker, which could happen to anyone, I am sure. Penalty to Gryffindor, taken by Spinnet. Spinnet puts it away, no trouble, and we continue the play. Gryffindor still in possession."

It was when a Bludger spun dangerously close to Mary's head that she noticed a problem. She'd meant to weave out of the way, but her broom felt locked in place. She was able to lean out of the way, and the broom gave a sudden lurch. She gripped the handle tightly with two hands, and tried to signal Oliver for a timeout.

"GRYFFINDOR SCORES!"

The Nimbus Two Thousand tipped upwards and spun in place. Spectators would assume Mary was celebrating, but the broom jolted higher and higher as the new play progressed. When she thought she had a beat on this pattern, it fell into a swishing motion and nearly unseated her. It gave one wild jerk and threw her, save for one handhold. She pulled herself back on, and the broom resumed normal operation.

At this elevation, Mary saw the Snitch near the Gryffindor goalposts. Since Higgs hadn't seen it, she took advantage of the distance and fell towards centerfield. She changed trajectory when Higgs' was set, but they were virtually neck-and-neck as Mary neared the Snitch. She threw her shoulder into Higgs, and glided to the ground as something choked her. She fell to all fours and wretched up a small, shining sphere. It stretched its silvery wings, and Mary wrapped her fingers tightly around the golden body. Coughing, she raised it in the air, and Lee declared victory for Gryffindor.


"Six years ago," said Hagrid, "it was Charlie sitting here with his friends after his first match as Gryffindor Seeker."

Hagrid poured them each a bracing cup of tea, adding a bit of mint to Mary's for her sore throat, and set out a tray of sugar, milk, and honey.

"The Snitch didn't nearly choke him to death, did it?" Mary asked with a weak smile.

"Least it wasn't an actual bird," Hagrid laughed.

The thought gave Mary phantom tickles and made her cough.

"No, it was a fairly typical game," said Hagrid. "He was nervous, but everything turned out just as well."

"Minus a cursed broom trying to kill him?" Ron asked. "I still think it was Snape."

"Rubbish," said Hagrid.

"He and Professor McGonagall grilled me about it after the match," said Mary.

"And we saw Professor Snape muttering the counter-spell," said Hermione. "They knew what was going on, and he put a stop to it."

"Did he need to punch Professor Quirrell to do it?" Mary asked.

They all stared at her.

"He was standing with Snape and McGonagall, and I saw a huge bruise on his face. How did that happen?"

"Oh…" Hermione blushed. "I think that happened when I knocked him over. I was rushing over to Professor McGonagall for help and he was in the way. It was an accident!"

Ron snickered.

"It isn't funny, Ron!"

He raised his cup and cheered, "To Hermione, Gryffindor bruiser!"

Mary raised her cup and laughed.

"You lot are terrible," said Hagrid, covering a chortle.

"A Snape vs Quirrell match wouldn't last very long," Mary mused.

"What, you think Snape would end him too quickly?" Ron snarked.

"Easily! Of course, if Quirrell was the one to give him that limp–"

"Then that three-headed hound could bite his other leg!" said Ron, then clapped a hand over his mouth.

Hagrid's teacup fell to the floor and shattered. "How do you know about Fluffy?"

"Fluffy?" Mary and Ron chorused while Hermione pulled out her wand to clean up the broken glass and tea.

"Yeah, he's mine. Bought him from a lad on a Greek vessel during a pirate festival on the English Channel, last year."

Mary and Ron spoke at once.

"Pirates have festivals?"

"Mages attend pirate festivals?"

Hagrid raised both hands. "It was pirate-themed event, ya great scalawags! And how do you know about fluffy?"

"I haven't met Fluffy," said Hermione, pouring a fresh cup of tea for Hagrid.

"And none of you needs to," said Hagrid. "All that business is between Professor Dumbledore and Nicholas Flamel."

Mary looked around. "Are we supposed to know who that is."

Hagrid smacked his forehead and then slouched. "Colleague of Dumbledore's, way before your time."

"Can't be too much before our time, since someone tried to steal something of theirs from Gringotts." said Ron.

Hagrid leveled a piercing glare at him.

"It was in the Daily Prophet!" said Ron. "And Mary said you were on Hogwarts business the same day."

Hagrid shook his head. "You three are going to be the death of me, aren't you?"

"Those two might," said Hermione. "I never met Fluffy, because I didn't go sneaking around Hogwarts after hours."

Mary thought Hermione was laying it on thick, for an event that came to nothing.

"As well you shouldn't," said Hagrid. "You see the sort of things that happen around here, and I would have felt downright awful if you'd gotten yourselves hurt. Blimey, you see Professor Snape got himself injured, and he's been here for decades!"

The thought of upsetting Hagrid elicited a promise from Mary and Ron to be more careful, and Hermione promised to hold them to it. They left Hagrid's hut with a bundle of treats of his own making, which they planned to share with their fellow Gryffindors. They weren't prepared for the weather to take such a frigid turn in the few hours since the Quidditch match, so when they were no longer within view of the hut, Hermione conjured a blue flame to keep them all warm.

"Isn't this really advanced magic?" Ron asked.

"It is," said Hermione. "But it isn't hurting anyone. On the contrary, it's preventing us from getting frostbite."