Thanks a million for the reviews guys. So glad you liked the last chapter coz I thought you might think I was just copying from J.K. I know I am in places but I intend to keep her plots in this story but with a few original ideas added in too! Anyway hope ya like this chapter coz it's the first quiddtich match of the season!
Harry quickly settled into Hogwarts and his popularity increased amongst his fellow Gryffindors once he became their new seeker. Some team mates were a little apprehensive about him being submitted but after their first training session, his obvious talent and agility was recognised and appreciated. Not only was he respected but he also began mingling better with his house mates. The morning of the first quiddtich match was a time of tension for everyone but especially Harry. They were playing Slytherin and according to Oliver, Slytherin were "dirty players." He had received a few letters from his family over the last two weeks ensuring that he was properly prepared for this and asking if he needed anything. There were times when Harry was half tempted to quit but Rob and Ron assured him that this was a golden opportunity and that he would regret it forever if he pulled out.
Harry was sitting next to Ron and opposite Hermione and Rob at the table having breakfast when several owls came gliding into the great hall and landed next to their desired recipitants. Hedwig flew down next to Harry's goblet with a long package attached to her tentacles. Harry looked at all his friends smiling broadly which they reciprocated.
"I think I know what that is before you open it." Ron said starring at the package. Harry nodded as he grinned. Rob and Hermione just starred at him and the package in disbelief.
"Well come on then Harry lets get it open already!" Rob exclaimed.
Harry tore open the package excitedly to reveal a broom. Everyone at the table gazed at the broom in awe as they gathered around Harry. "Wow….its a broomstick…." Harry muttered as he studied it with his hands. Ron who was standing turned it over on its side as he said….
"No Harry….this is no ordinary broomstick. This is the new nimbus 2000!" All the students in the great hall rushed over to Harry at hearing Ron's outburst.
"Oh my god…" Wow…" "That is so cool…" Wish I had that…"
Professor McGonagall came storming down to the table from the Professors desk to break up the chaos.
"Alright come on now everyone back to your tables immediately! Potter you are to meet your team mates up in the common room in ten minutes and from there you venture to the quiddtich pitch."
"Okay Professor." Harry replied courteously. McGonagall smiled a little as she said….
"Nice broom." Harry smiled as she left.
"You okay Harry? I expect you must be a little bit scared though?" Hermione asked concernedly.
"Ya I am a little Hermione but you know…..Ill be fine coz I've flown plenty of times before so…."
"Hey there is a note." Rob said as he grabbed it and handed it to Harry. He starred at it quizzically before tearing it open. It read….
"Dear Harry,
Your mother and I agreed that since you have made the Gryffindor house team (though a little bit early than we expected) that you should be rewarded. So we hope you will enjoy your new broomstick mate. The state of the art, hot of the table….Nimbus 2000! We are all going to be attending the match so we shall see you later.
Your proud parents."
P.S: Your mother has asked me to convey this message to you. Be careful!
At 11:00 Harry found himself standing on the sidelines waiting for his team to be announced on to the pitch. At the moment he was standing next to Oliver who looked down at him and smiled.
"You okay Harry?"
"Ya Wood. Ill be okay. Wont I?"
"Ya sure you will Harry. Just so long as you don't suffer from a bludger to the head like I did in my first game." Harry gulped as Lee announced their presence. The team mounted their brooms and glided smoothly onto the pitch where they received encouraging roars form the crowd. All the members of his family were sitting in the Professor's box. Sharina had the misfortune of having Snape on her left but Sirius was on her right. In order for there to be sufficient room for all of them to sit in one row, James who was next to Sirius had Arielle on his lap, Kyrah sat on her father's and Samia sat on her mother's lap. Ryan sat next to Remus who was next to Lily. When Harry flew on to the pitch, they along with the Gryffindors started cheering loudly, much to Snapes dislike.
"You alright snivelus?" Sirius asked chirpily.
"Have I got a reason not to be Black?" Snape replied bitterly.
"No I suppose not but you know your house is going to get an ass whipping now that Harry is on the team!"
Sharina thumped him hard. After he massaged his arm he turned to her for an explanation.
"Don't use that kind of language in front of the kids Sirius please." She ushered gently yet firmly.
"Alright Shari love. I'm sorry ya?"
"Ya okay Sirius but please don't go winding him up. He didn't start it this time so….don't you okay?"
"Fine whatever makes you happy." She smiled at him appreciatively as he reciprocated it.
"And they are off! Look at how Angelina can work that broom! She passes the quaffle to Spinnet…oohh look how she dodged that bludger half up and under….Spinnet is in possession of the quaffle and she aims….she shoots and….she scores! TEN POINTS TO GRYFFINDOR! Keep it up you guys! Angelina is in possession of the quaffle again….she passes it to Alica Spinnet but….oohh Marcus Filch was just that far head. He aims….he shoots and he sco….HEY HEY! Oliver Wood has blocked his goal! God bless you Woody! Now Katie Bell has the quaffle. She is one dangerous player Slytherin so Id say watch out! Katie passes it to Angelina who passes it Alica…Alica passes it back to Katie since Flinch is harassing her….and Katie Bell scores! Alright Katie girl! That leaves Gryffindor with a further ten point victory. Alica has the quaffle and…wow….she scores! That was mighty fast! Gryffindor lead 30 – 0! Slytherins are getting mighty ratty now Id say! COME ON GRYFFINDOR! WATCH OUT FOR THAT BLUDGER KATIE! Oohh nicely played Fred. You saved our pretty little Katie from permanent scarring. Remind me to buy you a drink mate!"
"JORDON! Concentrate on the game instead of your overly active social life!" McGonagall barked at him. Lee looked at her sheepishly as he said…."Sorry Professor." McGonagall nodded.
"Now Marcus Filch is in possession of the quaffle. Come on Gryffindor get it back off him! He aims and he shoots….oh yes Wood blocks his goal yet again! GO ON OLIVER! Spinnet passes the ball to Angelina and she….misses…no fault Ang! Those bludgers are on fire today. DIVE ANGELINA! Oohh nice one George mate! Come on Gryffindor!"
Hagrid who was standing next to Ron and Hermione saw the Slytherin chasers conspiring through his omnioculars. "Oh dear. Those Slytherins are not going to let Gryffindor off light."
"What do you mean Hagrid?" Hermione asked curiously.
"Well we are ahead by thirty points and they haven't scored yet. Someone is going to be harmed."
"But surely that cannot be tolerated!" Hermione exclaimed anxiously.
"Yeah well Hermione that is how they play!" Hagrid said smiling sadly at her.
"No sign of the snitch yet?" James asked Sirius who was looking through his omnioculars.
"No not yet mate. It's usually hovering by now though." Sirius said.
"It has to appear sooner or later." Remus said who was now sitting next to James.
Sirius and James just nodded slowly whilst Remus continued his focus on the game.
"ANOTHER TEN POINTS TO GRYFFINDOR! They lead 50-0! Nicely done Katie! But oh no WOOD WATCH OUT!" Spinnet belted a bludger in Woods direction and he fell off his broom as he crashed to the ground! A Slytherin chaser called Adrian Pucey threw a quaffle successfully into the goal post.
"Ten points to Slytherin. Well I suppose it is about time! COME ON GRYFFINDOR! YOU CAN DO IT! NOOOO! Ten points to Slytherin. Gryffindor lead 50-20! Still thirty point diff…..make that a twenty point difference. Although hold up now is that….I think it is. The snitch is hovering just a few metres away from HARRY POTTER! Go on Harry! And he's off! Harry Potter is in hot pursuit of the snitch. But wait….what is going on with his broom?" Everyone focused on Harry for the time being. His broom was swaying from left to right, up and down until….Harry was dangling and hanging on tightly with his hands.
"Oh my god! What is going on?" Lily asked meekly.
"Someone has jinxed his broom Lily that's what!" Sirius said viciously.
"Well DO SOMETHING SIRIUS! James we have to help him!"
"We cant Lily because we might injure Harry in the process."
"Remus is right Lily."
"So what? We just sit here and wait for him to fall to his bloody death?"
No of course not. We wait to see if he falls before we act."
"What? James…"
"Lily we don't have a choice. Now please just trust me. I am not going to let anything happen to our son." He clutched her hand and kissed it. She tightened her grip on his. They all felt helpless but there was not a thing they could do. Just wait……
Hermione was looking through Hagrids omnioculars and she turned her attention to the stand where she saw Snapes mouth moving. She tapped Ron on the shoulder and he turned to face her.
"Snape is jinxing Harry s broom. I have to do something. So stall Hagrid!"
"Wait Hermione…!" She handed Ron the omnioculars as he looked through them.
"What are we going to do about Harry?" Rob asked Ron.
"Hermione is taking care of it." Ron replied distractedly.
"Taking care of it?" Rob asked perplexed.
"Snape is behind it." Ron said.
"SNAPE!" Rob exclaimed.
"Shh. Yes but we can't let Hagrid know where she's gone…okay?"
Rob nodded as he looked at Hagrid who was starring aimlessly at the sky muttering…
"Come on on get back up on the broom…."
Hermione ran up the steps behind the stands and muttered a flaming spell as she pointed her wand at the tail of Snape s long black over coat. With that his coat started catching fire and Sharina who was next to him gasped s she jumped up shouting …
"SNAPE YOUR COAT IS ON FIRE!"
All the marauders jumped at her exclamation while Snape rose quickly and stamped on it. After it was put out they all resumed their seats and Harry re-mounted his broom and tore off after the snitch. Everyone cheered but no one cheered louder than his family.
"GO ON HARRY!" Shouted the marauders in unison. Lily and Sharina smiled at each other whilst Snape looked a little bit frazzled.
"…ANOTHER TEN POINTS TO GRYFFINNDOR! They lead by thirty points now! And Harry is back on his broom! GO ON HARRY! POLISH OFF THOSE SLYTHERINS! Marcus Filch is in hot pursuit of Katie Bell who is in possession of the quaffle……"
Harry s flying skills alerted the Slytherin keeper to the snitch so he tore after Harry, determined to retrieve it first. There was a couple of stray bludgers after them but Fred and George took care of them as Harry ducked a few feet and flew nearer to the ground after the snitch. At one point the snitch was almost touching the grass, so Harry, being well equipped to handle a scenario such as this, balanced himself on the broom. He was almost lying on his stomach at one point which didn't work because the snitch was too fast and this tactic was slowing him down. The snitch took flight and the Slytherin keeper was knocked off his broom by a bludger. Harry decided to try something which his father had taught him but warned him that it was only in the case of an emergency. He stood on the broom as he reached out for the snitch. The snitch was just barely five inches away from him so Harry could grab it at an easy reach. But suddenly the snitch decided to go higher so Harry lunged himself at the snitch and…….
"Another ten points to Slytherin. Only a ten point difference now. COME ON GRYFFINDOR! But wait…what is going on with Harry?" Everyone turned their attention to Harry who was lying on the ground as though he was in agony. All his family stood up in anxiety as they gazed down at him.
"What is the matter with him?" Lily asked anxiously.
"I don't know…." James replied meekly.
"HARRY POTTER HAS CAUGHT THE SNITCH! GRYFFINDOR HAVE VICTORY…..!"
"YES!" Shouted Sirius, James and Remus in unison as they jumped up shoving their fists into the air. Lily and Sharina just laughed and hugged the marauders. The kids were excited too but Samia and Kyrah didn't really know what was going on. Ryan and Arielle slapped each other a high five before jumping for joy with the others.
Come on lets go down to the pitch." James said as he led the way. Snape had quickly disappeared after the match so they never got the chance to gloat at him. As they made their way onto the pitch they found that Hagrid, Hermione, Ron and Rob had beaten them to it.
"Alright you guys what is going on?" Sirius exclaimed jovially behind the four musketeers. Rob turned round and ran straight to Sirius. Sirius hugged him lightly whilst the others greeted him amicably. Harry was celebrating with his fellow Gryffindors so he didn't realise that his family were on the pitch until his kid sister ran over to him and tapped him on the shoulder. Harry turned around and reciprocated her smile as he hugged her and spun her around. She laughed and after a few seconds he put her back down. "You were so cool today Harry. When mom and dad said you made seeker they were all really happy. I knew that you would be just as cool as dad was." Harry smiled a little at her before he hugged her again saying…"Thanks Airs. That means a lot to me." After they broke up he turned to Hermione and said…
"Hey Hermione I would like you to meet my kid sister Arielle. Arielle this is a friend of mine, Hermione." Both girls smiled at each other before Hermione stretched out her hand and shook Arielle s saying.."I am very pleased to meet Arielle……"
"Oi Sirius, Remus, Dad….what does a junior marauder have to do to get a hug around here?" All the adults were talking to Rob, Ron, McGonagall and Dumbledore when the marauders hurried down to Harry with grinning faces and hugged him all at once. A few minutes later Sirius asked the burning question. "What the hell was going on with your broom mate?"
"I have no idea Sirius. It was like it was fine when I was idle and the second I attempted to pursue the snitch….it started going AWOL." Harry received solemn looks from his guardians so he asked…
"What? You don't think somebody did this on purpose do you?"
"Well….it is a little strange champ."
"Ya but dad…."
"I know who did it James." Hermione said joining the group.
"What? How Hermione?"
"That doesn't matter James! Hermione who did it?" Sirius asked abruptly.
"It was Snape. I saw him through Hagrids omnioculars…."
"Sirius where are you going?" Remus asked anxiously as Sirius stormed off the grounds.
"To find Snivelus! Are you two coming or not?" James and Remus looked at each other briefly before following Sirius. Harry stared at his friends before following them.
"Harry…" Hermione called but just received blank stared from Ron and Rob before they too followed Harry. Hermione glanced at Arielle and Ryan before all three reluctantly followed on. As they passed Lily, Sharina and the twins who were clutching their mother's hands, McGonagall asked…
"What do you suppose is the matter? All the children seem to be following Sirius, James and Remus."
"I don't know Minerva but I am going to find out." Lily said as she also followed in the direction of her family with Sharina and her daughters, Dumbledore, McGonagall and Hagrid in hot pursuit.
The marauders dashed down to Snapes office with the kids a few metres behind. Sirius burst open his door to find it empty.
"DAMN IT!" Shouted Sirius aggressively.
"Shh calm it Sirius. He can't be anywhere exotic. I mean this is Snape we are talking about."
"Yes Remus but what about the philosopher's stone?"
"What about it?" James and Remus asked in unison.
"Well we know where it's hidden in this place and its fairly likely that Snivelus does too!"
"You can't go making assumptions like that…."
"Making assumptions like what?"
All the marauders turned round to find Harry standing there with Ron and Rob beside him.
"Oh Harry……" Remus started.
"Did you find Snape?" Harry asked defiantly.
"No. The bloody dirty coward is nowhere to be found…."
Black? Potter? Lupin….what are you all doing here? Shouldn't all be celebrating your once off victory?" Snape inquired coldly. Sirius approached him with his wand out.
"Well as it turns out Snivelus…we wanted a word with you."
"Well I have not got time for this Black so if you will all excuse me…." Snape attempted to walk away when Sirius grabbed him and threw him against the wall. Snape was sitting with his back to the wall so the marauders "helped" him up as the y interrogated him with their wands pointed at his chest.
All the kids had now joined them and were all smirking but Hermione was horrified at the sight.
"You were seen jinxing my son on his broom Snivelus. Now what I want from is you is a decent explanation. Why were you trying to kill my son?"
"I wasn't trying to kill him Potter! Do you honestly believe I would try that when you were sitting in the same row?" James smirked at his friends before Sirius lunged him against the wall so that he had him held by the throat with his feet dangling. James kept his wand pointed but stood back a little whilst Remus tried to remain diplomatic for the kids' sake but was finding it difficult. Sirius further interrogated him asking…."Why cant you be a man and admit to something for once Snivelus? You were seen mouthing a spell so don't try and defend yourself! You are screwed this time……"
"Sirius put him down this minute!" Lily bellowed. Sirius turned around and said……
"Lily, Snivelus here was trying to harm your son….."
"I already told you that I wasn't Black!" Snape stated massaging his throat as Sirius released him. As Dumbledore stepped up in front of Lily, he looked Snape in the eyes and said after a few minutes concentration…."I believe you Severus….."
"But sir…."
"No Sirius. I trust Severus whether or not you do. Now I feel that there are things to discuss so if you would all please follow me to my office immediately. Dumbledore said calmly as he stared hard at Sirius in particular.