As they entered November, the weather turned very cold. The mountains around the school became icy grey and the lake was like chilled steel. Every morning the ground was covered in front. Hagrid could be seen from the Gryffindor dormitory window defrosting broomsticks on the Quidditch field, bundled up in a long moleskin overcoat, rabbit fur glove, and enormous beaverskin boots.
Harry found the best part of being friends with Hermione was the help she was willing to give him with essays and homework.
After all, the Quidditch season had officially begun. Saturday would be his first-ever match as a Gryffindor seeker. He felt more than ready, after weeks of training he was positive that Gryffindor would destroy Slytherin. If Gryffindor won, they would move up into second place in the House championship.
The only people who had seen Harry play was Wood and the rest of the Gryffindor team. Wood decided that Harry should be something like a secret weapon. But despite his best efforts somehow the word of Harry being Seeker had leaked. Harry did find it entraining that most Slytherins assured him they would be running under him with a mattress.
With Quidditch practice every night Harry had never felt busier. Trying to squeeze in all of his work. Hermione was pleased to research and write down all the major points for all the extra essays Snape still assigned Harry. She was even willing to edit all of his essays so he could rush through them quite a bit.
Harry knew there were seven hundred ways of committing a Quidditch foul but even still, Wood had made sure to give the entire team a lecture on each. Reminding Harry that seekers were usually the smallest and fastest players but we're also the ones that most serious accidents happened to.
"Thanks for that vote of confidence, Wood. It is really helpful," Harry said with a small shake of his head and a soft laugh.
Wood rounded on him with a small concentrated frown "this is no joke, Harry. You can't catch the snitch with a cracked skull."
"Though I suppose he could try," Fred said moving along the bench closer to Harry with a grin "just think of the news headlines."
"Youngest seeker in a century, dead. Crazy Quidditch captain sent to Azkaban for murdering him because he didn't miss the bludger that cracked open his skull," George added.
Angelina, Katie and Alicia all broke out laughing.
Harry grinned at the Weasley twins, before turning to Wood again. "I will be fine, Wood."
Hermione had become a bit more relaxed with breaking rules since the trio had saved her from the troll. She like Neville seemed to think that Harry and Ron were bad influences but Harry had to disagree.
He was also rather glad when Neville received a letter of surprise and phrase from his grandmother. In fact, Harry thought Neville was going to tear up when he read the final line 'your parents would have been so proud.'
Ron had received a letter of mixed ideas. Part of it was scolding saying he was lucky to be alive. The other half how proud his parents were for rescuing one of his classmates.
Harry had yet to receive a letter from Sirius and Remus. He figured they were waiting until they were face to face. Neville seemed worried that they were planning on lecturing Harry, but Harry promised him it would be more like Ron's parents. Half scolding, half phrase.
The day before Harry's first Quidditch match the three of them were out in the freezing courtyard during break, and Hermione had conjured them up a bright blue fire that could be carried around in a jam jar. And when Harry asked her to teach him the spell she did so happily. In fact, Harry had learnt nearly all the spells in their charms book already thanks to Hermione, and they had only been friends for barely a week. They had already talked about checking out a new Charms book to work through together.
Harry grinned as he successfully conjured the flame again turning around so his back was to it. Gazing across the courtyard Harry caught sight of Snape crossing the yard. Harry noticed at once that he was limping. Without saying anything the four friends moved closer together to block the fire from view; they were sure it wouldn't be allowed. Unfortunately, Snape never seemed to pass up an excuse to give Harry trouble.
"What's that you've got there Potter?"
It was Quidditch Through The Ages. He had read it already two dozen times as a kid but had decided to check it out once again to read through. Harry held it up "a book, sir."
"Library books are not to be taken outside the school, Potter," Snape said gruffly. "Give it here. Five points from Gryffindor."
Harry glared after him before turning around to the flame letting it warm up his hands "he just made up that rule. What's up with his leg you reckon?"
"Dunno," Neville said with a small shrug, looking over his shoulder.
"I hope it is really hurting him," Ron said bitterly.
Harry nodded in agreement.
. . . .
The Gryffindor table was extra noisy that evening. Harry was working through his charms homework his dinner pushed to the side. Nibbling on the end of his quill as he finished it up, passing it to Hermione for her to check it over.
He felt restless. He wanted Quidditch Through the Ages back, to take his mind off his nerves about tomorrow. He had no idea he would be so nervous. Why should he be afraid of Snape? What was he going to do? Give him detention? Harry was already no stranger to that. Getting up from the table he looked at his three friends.
"I am going to go try and get my book back from Snape," Harry said.
"Better you than me," Ron said as he focused on his chess game against Neville.
"Good luck," Neville said glancing up at Harry.
Harry nodded. He headed towards the staffroom. Snape couldn't find a good reason to keep the book, at least not when there were other teachers listening. Reaching the staffroom he knocked. There was no answer. He waited another moment before knocking again. Nothing.
Perhaps Snape had left the book in there? It was worth a try. He pushed the door ajar and peered inside — and a horrible scene met his eyes.
Snape and Filch were inside, alone. 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?"
Harry tried to shut the door quietly, but —
"POTTER!"
Snape's face was twisted with hatred as he dropped his robes quickly to hide his leg. Harry tried his best to not look fearful about what would come next.
"I just wondered if I could have my book back."
"GET OUT! OUT!"
Harry left quickly, glad that Snape hadn't had a chance to take any more points from Gryffindor or give him detention. He sprinted back to the Great Hall.
"Hey, did you get it?" Ron asked looking up when he joined them. "What's wrong with you?"
Harry swung into his seat, leaning forward he began to tell them in a whisper what he had seen.
"You know what this means?" he finished breathlessly. "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!"
Hermione's eyes were wide.
"No — he wouldn't," she said. "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 said with a small shake of his head "I'm with Harry. You should have heard the way Sirius talked about Snape during Thanksgiving. I wouldn't put anything past Snape. Anyone who becomes a death eater is capable of anything. But what's he after anyways? What's that dog guarding?"
Neville had been taking advantage of Ron's focus having been shifted to gain the upper hand in the chess game. Turning to them he shrugged "maybe we could ask Hagrid."
"I doubt Hagrid would tell us," Harry said with a small frown "but I guess it might be worth a try. I say we ask him after the match tomorrow."
Hermione nudged Harry's shoulder pointing over at the entrance of the Great Hall. Where Professor McGonagall was waving them over.
Harry got to his feet walking over, with his three friends following behind him.
"Harry, Sirius and Remus are waiting for you, in the classroom near the Gryffindor Tower, on the first floor. The one with the maps of Great Britain and Ireland," she said.
Harry smiled nodding "thanks, Professor." He said glancing at the others before they headed off.
Walking through the corridors, Harry arrived quickly at the classroom with Neville, Ron and Hermione following behind him.
Stepping into the classroom he grinned.
"There he is," Sirius said walking over he wrapped Harry in a hug. "How are you feeling? Should I start listing off all the times you've won an impossible Quidditch game to help your nerves?"
"That might make them worse," Harry said with a grin. He looked over at Remus who was studying a map of wizarding Britain from the 1700s.
Remus looked at him with a small smile "it is good to see you are truly in one piece."
Harry glanced at Sirius.
"Honestly, Harry," Remus said walking over to him and wrapping him in a quick hug, his way of showing that he was worried for Harry's safety rather than really upset with his antics. "You should have got a teacher. Any teacher."
"There wasn't any time," Harry said looking up at Remus. "Besides if we didn't go to help, we never would have become friends with Hermione."
"That would have been a true travesty," Ron said from where he was now sitting on the top of one of the desks.
Hermione glanced at him with a small shake of her head in amusement. "It is nice to meet you both," she said shaking both Remus and Sirius' hands.
"So why did you really go looking for a troll?" Sirius asked her curiously "from what I have heard, you are far too smart to have thought that was a good idea."
Hermione looked at him turning red, looking down at the ground.
"We may have said something to have upset her," Harry said sitting on top of another desk.
Neville nodded "we only went looking for her to warn her about it. But then we came across the troll, and we thought it would be a good idea to lock it into the room when it went inside."
"Only it turned out to be the girl's bathroom, Hermione was in," Ron said with a small sheepish smile.
Harry couldn't help but grin "it's not our fault our luck never seems to be in our favour."
Sirius glanced at Remus "see I told you, he had his reasons. Focus Remus, we are here to celebrate Harry's first match not to lecture him about defeating a troll."
Remus looked at Sirius with a small nod "I suppose."
. . . .
The next morning dawned very bright and cold. Harry headed down to the Great Hall earlier than Ron, Neville and Hermione. All three of whom were still sleeping soundly in their beds. Harry took his time heading down to the front doors. Pushing them open he stepped out into the brisk dawn. Breathing in the frosty air. Walking over to one of the concrete statues, he climbed onto it sitting down. His legs hanging down and swinging slowly in the air.
Leaning back against the cold stone he turned his gaze towards the Quidditch pitch.
"Figured we would find you here."
Harry turned to see Sirius walking over to him from the castle entrance. Boosting himself up beside Harry, he sat down. Remus followed close behind sitting down on one of the lower statues.
"I remembered you told me dad used to come here early before a match," Harry said.
"Nervous?" Sirius asked, draping his arm over Harry's shoulders in a fatherly way.
Harry nodded slowly "a little. Mostly excited."
Sirius smiled softly giving his shoulder a squeeze "you will do just fine. You would have given your father a run for his money and that is saying something."
"And even if you don't win your first match Harry, that is nothing to be ashamed of. Go out there and have fun," Remus said, "not that I don't doubt that you will beat Slytherin."
"They won't know what hit them, of course, that won't be true, they will, they just won't want to admit that it was Harry Potter," Sirius said with a prideful smile.
When the sun had risen higher in the sky, and breakfast would have no doubt started, Sirius turned to Harry "come on, we better head to the Great Hall. You need to eat something."
Harry nodded slowly when Remus stepped out of the way. Harry jumped down from his perch. Heading into the castle, he joined Hermione, Ron and Neville at the table. While Sirius and Remus headed up to the High Table to eat with the teachers.
The Hall was full of delicious smells. Fried sausage and pancakes. Cheerful chatter from everyone filled the Hall, everyone seemed to be looking forward to a good Quidditch match.
"Hey Harry," Neville greeted pushing a full plate towards him "here eat up."
Harry hesitated turning his gaze down to the plate. Feeling butterflies flap in his stomach, making him feel queasy. "No thanks Neville, I don't want anything."
"Come on Harry, just a bit of toast," Hermione reasoned.
"I'm not hungry," Harry said looking up at her.
"Harry, you need your strength," Seamus added "Seekers are always the ones who get clobbered by the other team."
"Thanks, Seamus," Harry muttered, glancing up, watching Seamus squeeze ketchup onto his sausages.
"Ah don't listen to them," Ron said clapping Harry's shoulder. "You are the youngest seeker in a century Harry, and you're on a Nimbus. No one will be able to keep up with you."
"Good luck today Potter."
Harry turned to look over his shoulder. Finding for the moment that his nerves melted away. His gaze met the scowl of Snape.
"Of course, you will be playing against Slytherin so don't set your standards too high," he drawled.
"You don't need luck when you have skill," Harry muttered getting slowly to his feet.
"How is that essay I assigned you yesterday coming? I thought I would remind you, loss of limb will not exempt you," Snape said with a small smirk.
Harry narrowed his eyes "the essay is done. So lucky for you even if I die today you can still give it a poor."
"Snape."
Harry turned to look at Sirius as he approached. He must have seen the exchange from the High Table.
"Black," Snape said with a small sneering smile "I was just wishing Potter, here good luck today."
"I'm sure you were," Sirius said.
Snape turned his bitter gaze to Harry, who held it without a thought of fear. Harry watched him limp up to the High Table.
"What happened to him?" Sirius asked Harry with a small deep frown.
Harry hesitated, unsure whether he was ready to share everything he had found out about the three-headed-dog, and the mysterious object Hagrid had taken from Gringotts.
"No idea," Harry said, with a small shrug. Eventually, he would tell Sirius, but not until he knew what exactly was taken from Gringotts or why Snape was after it.
"Harry," Fred said getting to his feet "come on Wood says we better start heading down to the pitch. He wants us to get a chance to warm up before Slytherin starts hogging the pitch."
Harry nodded glancing at Sirius "don't go hexing Snape."
Sirius laughed giving Harry a hug "I would never. Good luck, not that you need it."
"Thanks," Harry said with a small smile before he headed off after the rest of the Gryffindor team.
. . . .
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 have been raised high in the sky, but it was still difficult to see what was going on.
Ron, Hermione and Neville joined Seamus and Dean, in the top row. As a surprise for Harry, 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 little charm so that the paint flashed different colours. Sirius and Remus sat next to Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore in the top row of the teacher's box.
Meanwhile, in the locker room, Harry and the rest of the team were changed into their scarlet Quidditch robes. Harry stared down at his feet feeling the butterflies return, although this time it felt like they had turned into dragons.
Wood cleared his throat for silence.
"Okay, men," he said.
"And women," Angelina Johnson added.
"And women," Wood agreed. "This is it."
"The big one," said Fred Weasley.
"The one we have all been waiting for," said George.
"We know Oliver's speech by heart," Fred said to Harry with a grin. "By the end of this year, you will too. It never changes."
"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 to all of you."
Harry got to his feet, glad he didn't need to run anywhere for his legs were shaking like crazy. Following Fred and George out of the locker room, he 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. Harry noticed that she seemed to be speaking particularly to the Slytherin Captain, Marcus Flint, a fifth year. Harry thought Flint looked as if he had some troll blood in him. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the fluttering banner high above, flashing Potter for President over the crowd. His heart skipped a beat, and suddenly he felt braver. He thought of his friends who believed in him deeply, in Sirius and Remus who he was sure he could hear cheering louder than everyone else.
Harry grinned letting everything else drift away. All his nerves and worries about the three-headed dog, Snape or Malfoy. He simply focused on the match. On the task in front of him. Secure a win for Gryffindor and beat Slytherin.
"Mount your brooms, please."
Harry swung his leg over his Nimbus Two Thousand. Madam Hooch gave a loud blast on her silver whistle.
Fifteen brooms rose up, high, high into the air. The game had begun and they were off.
Harry climbed higher and higher, gazing down around the pitch.
"And the Quaffle is taken immediately by Angelina Johnson of Gryffindor — what an excellent Chaser that girl is, and rather attractive, too —"
"JORDAN!"
"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 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 — that's Chaser Katie Bell of Gryffindor there, nice dive around Flint, off up the field and — OUCH — that must have hurt, hit in the back of the head by a Bludger —Quaffle taken by the Slytherins — that's Adrian Pucey speeding off towards the goalposts, but he's blocked by a second Bludger — sent his way by Fred or George Weasley, can't tell which — nice play by the Gryffindor Beater, anyway, 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 goalposts are ahead — come on, now, Angelina — Keeper Bletchley dives — misses — GRYFFINDOR SCORE!"
Gryffindor cheers filled the cold air, with howls and moans from the Slytherins.
"Budge up there, move along."
"Hagrid!" Neville said in an excited greeting.
Ron, Hermione and Neville squeeze 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. Sirius an' Remus came down this mornin'. Sirius seemed more excited than 'Arry has been. No sign of the Snitch yet, eh?"
Neville shrugged pointing up towards Harry "no. Harry hasn't had much to do as of yet."
"Kept outta trouble, though, that's somethin'," said Hagrid, raising his binoculars and peering skyward at the speck that was Harry.
Far above the crowd, Harry was gliding over the game, squinting about for some sign of the Snitch. This was part of his and Wood's 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."
When Angelina had scored Harry felt excitement rush through his veins and had to do a couple of loop-the-loops to let off some steam. Now he was back to staring around for the Snitch. Once he caught sight of a flash of gold, but it was just a reflection from one of the Weasleys' wristwatches, and once a Bludger decided to come pelting his way, more like a cannonball than anything, but Harry dodged it and Fred Weasley came chasing after it.
"All right there, Harry?" he had to yell, as he beat the Bludger furiously toward Marcus Flint.
Harry nodded with a grin "yeah, thanks, Fred." He cried after him as he zoomed down back into the game.
"Slytherin in possession," Lee Jordan was saying, "Chaser Pucey ducks two Bludgers, two Weasleys, and Chaser Bell, and speeds towards the — wait a moment — was that the Snitch?"
A murmur ran through the crowd as Adrian Pucey dropped the Quaffle, too busy looking over his shoulder at the flash of gold that had passed his left ear.
Harry saw it. In a great rush of excitement, he dived downward after the streak of gold. Slytherin Seeker Terence Higgs had seen it, too. Neck and neck they hurtled toward the Snitch — all the Chasers seemed to have forgotten what they were supposed to be doing as they hung in midair to watch the race.
Harry was faster than Higgs — he could see the little round ball, wings fluttering, darting up ahead — he leaned tighter against the broom urging extra spurts of speed —
WHAM! A roar of rage echoed from the Gryffindors below — Marcus Flint had flown right into Harry's path blocking him on purpose, and Harry had slammed into him at full speed. Sending his broom spinning off. Harry held on tightly shaking his head to clear it. Rattled a little but alright.
"Foul!" screamed the Gryffindors.
Madam Hooch spoke angrily to Flint and then ordered a free shot at the goalposts for Gryffindor. But in all the confusion, of course, the Golden Snitch had disappeared from sight again.
Down 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 with a small eye roll.
Hagrid, however, was on Dean's side.
"They oughta change the rules. Flint coulda knocked Harry outta the air."
Lee Jordan was finding it difficult not to take sides it seemed.
"So — after that obvious and disgusting bit of cheating —"
"Jordan!" growled Professor McGonagall.
"I mean, after that open and revolting foul —"
"Jordan, I'm warning you —"
"He has a point," Sirius said looking over Remus to McGonagall.
"All right, all right, Flint nearly kills the Gryffindor Seeker, which could happen to anyone, I'm sure, so a penalty to Gryffindor, taken by Spinnet, who puts it away, no trouble, and we continue to play, Gryffindor still in possession."
It was as Harry dodged another Bludger, which went spinning dangerously close to his head, that it happened. His broom gave a sudden, frightening lurch. For a split second, he thought he was going to fall. He gripped the broom tightly with both hands and knees. He'd never felt anything like that ever.
It happened again. It was as though the broom was trying to throw him off. But Nimbus Two Thousand did not suddenly decide to buck their riders off. No broom did. Harry tried to turn back toward the Gryffindor goalposts — he had half a mind to ask Wood to call time-out — and then he realized his broom was completely out of control. He couldn't turn it. He couldn't direct it at all. It was zigzagging through the air, and every now and then making violent swishing movements that almost unseated him.
Lee was still commentating.
"Slytherin in possession — Flint with the Quaffle — passes Spinnet — passes Bell — hit hard in the face by a Bludger, hope it broke his nose — only joking, Professor, swear — Slytherin score — oh no. . ."
The Slytherins were cheering. No one seemed to have noticed that Harry's broom was behaving strangely. It was carrying him slowly higher, away from the game, jerking and twitching as it went.
"Dunno what Harry thinks he's doing," Hagrid mumbled. He stared through his binoculars. "If I didn' know better, I'd say he'd lost control of his broom . . . but he can't have."
Suddenly, people were pointing up at Harry all over the stands. His broom had started to roll over and over, with him only just managing to hold on. Then the whole crowd gasped. Harry's broom had given a wild jerk and Harry swung off it. He was now dangling from it, holding on with only one hand.
"Did something happen to it when Flint blocked him?" Neville whispered looking at Harry with fear.
"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 Harry, she started looking frantically across the crowd at the teacher's box.
"What are you doing?" moaned Ron, gray-faced with worry as he glanced frantically up at Harry.
"I knew it," Hermione gasped looking at Ron and then at Neville "Snape — look."
Passing the binoculars to Neville first, then he passed them to Ron. Snape was in the middle of the teacher box, his eyes were fixed on Harry. He was muttering nonstop under his breath.
"He's doing something — jinxing the broom," said Hermione.
"What do we do?" Ron asked nervously.
"We tell Sirius," Neville said instantly "he'll do something."
Hermione nodded and the three broke off frantically pushing their way through the crowd. Passing the binoculars back to Hagrid as they pushed by.
Harry's broom was now vibrating so hard, that it was almost impossible for him to hang on much longer. The whole crowd was on its feet, terrified, as the Weasleys flew up to try and pull Harry safely onto one of their brooms, but it was no good — every time they got near him, the broom would jump higher still. Finally, they decided to drop lower and circle beneath, ready to catch him if he fell. Marcus Flint seized the Quaffle and scored five times without anyone noticing.
"Come on, move!" Neville said leading the way as they pushed through the crowd. Finally, he reached the teacher box, racing up the steps he pushed through to Harry's godfather. "Sirius!"
Sirius was pale with worry, he looked stunned like he didn't have a clue what to do to help. He had his wand held in his hand like he had planned to do something but hesitated. He glanced at Neville, "not now."
"It's Snape," Neville said pulling on Sirius' robes and pointing down to where Snape now stood, still muttering away.
Sirius followed where the three were pointing, frowning deeply. His gaze turned dark. "Oi! Snivellus!" he jumped up on his seat, knocking Professor Quirrel head first into the row in front of him. Pointing his wand near Snape just as flames shot from his wand, perfectly nestling onto Snape's robes.
It took perhaps thirty seconds for Snape to realize that he was on fire. Neville heard a sudden yelp from the Professor. Sirius jumped down quickly rushing down to the steps seizing the front of Snape's robes. Once he got a securing hold on his robes, he pointed his wand to the flames dousing the fire.
"What in Merlin do you think you are doing?" Sirius growled darkly shoving his wand into Snape's face. Pointing his wand down a moment later chains flew out and locked themselves around Snape's wrists. With Snape bound Sirius turned his focus up to the sky. Sudden relief flowed through him.
Harry had managed to clamber back onto his broom. Speeding towards the ground when the crowd saw him clap his hand to his mouth as though he was about to be sick — he hit the field rolling over, he coughed, and something gold fell into his hand.
Beaming when he held the snitch in his hands. He held up his fist with the Snitch held firmly in it, and the Gryffindors erupted into applause.
"Harry has got the Snitch! Gryffindor wins! One hundred and seventy points to sixty!"
Harry beamed feeling as though excitement coursed through his veins rather than blood.
Remus was the first to reach Harry, shaking and pale with worry. Looking nearly as bad as he did the night before a full moon. "Harry, thank Merlin you are alright."
Harry turned his gaze up to the teacher's box finding Sirius still with his wand pointed at Snape. Although Harry caught him beaming pridefully in his direction for a moment before turning to Dumbledore and McGonagall.
"What's going on?" Harry asked.
"It was Snape," Ron explained "we saw him. He was cursing your broomstick."
"Muttering, he wouldn't take his eyes off you," Neville added.
"We don't know that for certain," Remus said giving Harry a comforting squeeze. "We will get to the bottom of this Harry. Ah Hagrid, maybe you can take the four of them to your place while we figure all this out."
Hagrid nodded "course. Come on you lot."
Harry handed the Snitch to Madam Hooch, and handed his broom to Wood to take up to the dormitory with him. Once they reached Hagrid's cabin he was quick to make up a pot of tea, pouring a cup for each of them.
"Why do you lot think it was Snape?" he asked sitting down.
"Because he was trying to get past that three-headed dog on Halloween. It bit him. We think he was trying to steal whatever it's guarding," Harry said deciding to go with the reason that had nothing to do with him being his father's son.
Hagrid spilt tea all over his front, looking at Harry with surprise. "How do you know about Fluffy?"
"Fluffy?" Neville asked with a look of surprise.
"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 —"
"Yes?" Harry asked eagerly.
"I shouldn't have said that… don't ask me any more questions, that is top secret," Hagrid said.
"But Snape is trying to steal it!"
"Rubbish. Snape is a Hogwarts teacher, he'd do nothin' of the sort."
"So why did he just try and kill Harry?" Hermione asked. The afternoon's events certainly seemed to have changed her mind about Snape. "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!"
"And the moment Sirius made him break eye contact the curse stopped," Neville said in agreement.
"I'm tellin' yeh, yer wrong!" Hagrid said hotly. "I don' know why Harry's broom acted like that, but Snape wouldn' try an' kill a student! Now, listen to me, all 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."
"Whose Nicolas Flamel?" Harry asked curiously.
To say Hagrid looked furious with himself was an understatement. But Harry was unable to question him more, as just that moment Sirius and Remus arrived at the cabin.
"Harry," Sirius said, he still looked rather pale. He wrapped Harry in a hug that could only have been one of pure relief. "Thank Merlins you are a Quidditch player by blood."
Harry laughed a little at that. Pulling away he looked at Sirius "what's happening with Snape?"
At the question, Sirius' gaze turned dark, darker than Harry had ever seen. Except maybe when he told him about Peter Pettigrew. "Slimy old git," Sirius growled darkly.
"Sirius," Remus said looking at him over his shoulder as he poured himself a cup of tea. "Dumbledore is going to talk to Snape. He claims he was trying to stop Harry's broom from trying to knock him off."
Harry frowned deeply "and Dumbledore believes him?"
"Dumbledore said he is going to inquire into the matter, and the right person will be given the correct punishment," Remus said.
"That is insulting," Harry said slumping back down into the chair.
"I agree," Sirius said squeezing his shoulder "and trust me, Harry, Dumbledore won't hear the end of it until Snape is sacked or worse."
"Sirius," Remus warned looking up at him.
"The boy could have been killed, Remus," Sirius said, his voice nearly a snarl "honestly, stop acting like Snape is some saint that needs our forgiveness. He's a Death Eater Remus, always has been, always will be. A snake may shed its skin, but it's still a snake."
Remus looked at Sirius, then at Harry "what truly matters is that you are alright, Harry."
Harry glanced up over his shoulder at Sirius and nodded slowly. "Yeah, I suppose."
"Hey, if you can catch the Snitch while your broom is jinxed, just think how easy the next match against Hufflepuffs will be," Ron said after a couple of moments of silence, in an attempt to lighten the mood.
Harry glanced at him with a small grin and laugh nodding.