CHAPTER THREE: HALLOWEEN AND QUIDDITCH
I couldn't help but laugh the next morning at Draco's expression when he saw that Ron and I were still at Hogwarts, looking tired but cheerful. Both Ron and I thought that meeting the three-headed dog had been an excellent adventure, and we were quite keen to have another one, though I was a little worried about what happened last night. Through all the excitement, I had one of my tremors, and nearly turned into a female. Thankfully I was able to control it and suttered to think of what would have happened if the others had seen what a weirdo I was.
Anyway, I ended up filling Ron in about the package that seemed to have been moved from Gringotts to Hogwarts, and we spent a lot of time wondering what could possibly need such heavy protection.
'It's either really valuable or really dangerous,' said Ron.
'Or both,' I said.
Sadly, all we knew was that the object was roughly two inches long, hence didn't have much of a chance guessing what it might be. Neither Neville nor Hermione showed the slightest interest in what lay underneath the dog and the trapdoor. All Neville cared about was never going near the dog again. Hermione was now refusing to speak to Ron and me, but she was such a bossy know-it-all that we saw this as an added bonus. All we really wanted now was a way of getting back at Draco, and to our great delight, we got the option a week later when the owl post arrived.
As the owls flooded into the Great Hall as usual, everyone's attention was caught at once by a long, thin package carried by six large screech owls. I took one glance at it and automatically could tell that it was a broomstick. I had little interest in it after that so I went back to my breakfast, only to jump when the owls soared down and dropped it right in front of me, knocking my bacon to the floor. They had barely fluttered out of the way when another owl dropped a letter on top of the parcel.
After my initial shock had past, I ripped open the letter first, which was lucky, because it said:
DO NOT OPEN THE PARCEL AT THE TABLE.
It contains your new Nimbus Two Thousand, but I don't want everybody knowing you've got a broomstick or they'll all want one. Oliver Wood will meet you tonight on the Quidditch field at seven o'clock for your first training session.
Professor McGonagall
I had so much difficulty hiding my excitement as I handed the note to Ron to read.
'A Nimbus Two Thousand!' Ron moaned enviously. 'I've never even touched one.'
They left the hall quickly –ignoring the curious looks they were receiving -, wanting to unwrap the broomstick in private before their first class, but halfway across the entrance hall they found the way upstairs barred by Crabbe and Goyle. Draco seized the package from me and felt it.
'That's a broomstick,' he said, throwing it back to me with a mixture of jealousy and spite on his face. 'You'll be in for it this time, Potter, first years aren't allowed them.'
Ron couldn't resist it.
'It's not any old broomstick,' he said, 'it's a Nimbus Two Thousand. What did you say you've got at home, Malfoy, a Comet Two Sixty?' Ron grinned at me. 'Comets look flashy, but they're not in the same league as the Nimbus.'
'What would you know about it, Weasley, you couldn't afford half the handle,' Draco snapped back. 'I suppose you and your brothers have to save up twig by twig.'
Before Ron could answer, Professor Flitwick appeared at Malfoy's elbow.
'Not arguing, I hope, boys?' he squeaked.
'Potter's been sent a broomstick, Professor,' said Draco quickly.
'Yes, yes, that's right,' said Professor Flitwick, beaming at me and I smiled back. 'Professor McGonagall told me all about the special circumstances, Potter. And what model is it?'
'A Nimbus Two Thousand, sir.' I tried so hard not to laugh at the look of horror on Draco's face. 'And it's really thanks to Draco here that I've got it.' I couldn't help adding, getting my revenge for him not showing up for the duel.
I then headed up stairs with Ron, smothering our laughter at Draco's obvious rage and slight confusion.
'Well, it's true,' I chortled as we reached the top of the marble staircase. 'If he hadn't stolen Neville's Remembrall I wouldn't be on the team...'
'So I suppose you think that's a reward for breaking rules?' came an angry voice from just behind us. Hermione was stomping up the stairs, looking disapprovingly at the package in my hand.
'I thought you weren't speaking to us?' I said, ignoring her question.
'Yes, don't stop now,' said Ron, 'it's doing us so much good.'
Hermione marched away with her nose in the air while Ron and I continued on our way.
-THE UNMASKED MYSTERY-
After a hurried dinner, Ron and I ran back to the common room and unwrapped the parcel the Nimbus was in. Then, as seven o'clock drew nearer, I left the castle and set off in the dusk toward the Quidditch field. The Quidditch field was surrounded by a huge stadium with hundreds of seats that were raised in the stands around the field so that the spectators were high enough to see what was going on. At either end of the field were three golden poles with hoops on the end which were at least fifty feet high.
I stood there waiting impatiently for Wood, so I ended up mounting my new broom and kicked off from the ground hard. I could not explain the feeling that I was feelings as I gracefully flew around the stadium. It was like being free. I vaguely wondered if that was how owls and other birds felt.
'Hey, Potter, come down!'
Oliver Wood had arrived. He was carrying a large wooden crate under his arm. I landed lightly next to him.
'Very nice,' said Wood, his eyes glinting. 'I see what McGonagall meant... you really are a natural. I'm just going to teach you the rules this evening, then you'll be joining team practice three times a week.'
He opened the crate. Inside were four different-sized balls.
'Right,' said Wood. 'Now, Quidditch is easy enough to understand, even if it's not too easy to play. There are seven players on each side. Three of them are called Chasers.' Wood took out a bright red ball about the size of a soccer ball. 'This ball's called the Quaffle. The Chasers throw the Quaffle to each other and try and get it through one of the hoops to score a goal. Ten points every time the Quaffle goes through one of the hoops. Follow me?'
'The Chasers goal is to get the Quaffle to the opposite goal posts to score ten points.' I said. Maybe this was the wizarding version of basketball.
'Good. Now, there's another player on each side who's called the Keeper -I'm Keeper for Gryffindor. I have to fly around our hoops and stop the other team from scoring.'
'That's easy enough to remember.' I said as my eyes fell upon two identical jet black balls that slightly smaller than the red Quaffle. They looked like they were trying to escape.
'I'll show you now,' said Wood. 'Take this.'
He handed me a small club, a bit like a short baseball bat. I stared at it blankly before looking at him for an explanation.
'I'm going to show you what the Bludgers do,' Wood said indicating to the two jet black balls. He then bent down and freed one of the Bludgers.
At once, the black ball rose high in the air and then pelted straight at my face. Startled, I swung at it with the bat to stop it from breaking my nose, and sent it zigzagging away into the air. I then watched warily as it zoomed around ours heads before it shot at Wood, who dived on top of it and managed to pin it to the ground.
'See?' Wood panted, forcing the struggling Bludger back into the crate and strapping it down safely. 'The Bludgers rocket around, trying to knock players off their brooms. That's why you have two Beaters on each team - the Weasley twins are ours - it's their job to protect their side from the Bludgers and try and knock them toward the other team. So - think you've got all that?'
I nodded, before asking nervously, 'Bludgers haven't ever killed anyone, have they?'
'Never at Hogwarts. We've had a couple of broken jaws but nothing worse than that. Now, the last member of the team is the Seeker. That's you. And you don't have to worry about the Quaffle or the
Bludgers –'
'- unless they crack my head open.'
'Don't worry, the Weasleys are more than a match for the Bludgers – I mean, they're like a pair of human Bludgers themselves.'
Wood reached into the crate and took out the fourth and last ball. Compared with the Quaffle and the Bludgers, it was tiny, about the size of a large walnut. It was bright gold and had little fluttering silver wings. It was beautiful.
'This,' said Wood, 'is the Golden Snitch, and it's the most important ball of the lot. It's very hard to catch because it's so fast and difficult to see. It's the Seeker's job to catch it. You've got to weave in and out of the Chasers, Beaters, Bludgers, and Quaffle to get it before the other team's Seeker, because whichever Seeker catches the Snitch wins his team an extra hundred and fifty points, so they nearly always win. That's why Seekers get fouled so much. A game of Quidditch only ends when the Snitch is caught, so it can go on for ages - I think the record is three months; they had to keep bringing on substitutes so the players could get some sleep. Well, that's it – any questions?'
I shook my head. I all seemed straightforward to me and I knew that I would understand it more once I was actually playing the game.
I then spent the rest of the night catching the ordinary golf balls that Wood threw as hard as he could in different directions. I caught them and Wood was positively delighted.
'That Quidditch cup'll have our name on it this year,' said Wood happily as we plodded back up to the castle. 'I wouldn't be surprised if you turn out better than Charlie Weasley, and he could have played for England if he hadn't gone off chasing dragons.'
I blushed slightly and hoped that I wouldn't let him down.
-THE UNMASKED MYSTERY-
Two months had past and I felt more at home at Hogwarts than I ever did at Privet Drive.
On Halloween morning everyone woke to the delicious smell of baking pumpkin wafting through the corridors. Even better, Professor Flitwick announced in Charms that he thought they were ready to start making objects fly, something we had all been dying to try since we had seen him make Neville's toad zoom around the classroom. Though I never knew what the toad was doing there in the first place.
Ten minutes into the lesson, Professor Flitwick put us into pairs to practice. I was partnered with Seamus, while Ron was paired with Hermione. Seamus and I spent a good part of the lesson trying to figure out who was angrier about this. In the end, I decided that Ron more furious than Hermione when she tried to help him. At least I think that's what she was trying to do.
'Wingardium Leviosa!' Ron shouted, waving his long arms like a windmill.
'You're saying it wrong,' I heard Hermione snap. 'It's Wing-gar-dium Levi-o-sa, make the 'gar' nice and long.'
'You do it, then, if you're so clever,' Ron snarled.
Hermione rolled up the sleeves of her gown, flicked her wand, and said, 'Wingardium Leviosa!'
Their feather rose off the desk and hovered about four feet above their heads.
'Oh, well done!' cried Professor Flitwick, clapping. 'Everyone see here, Miss Granger's done it!'
Ron was in a very bad mood by the end of the class.
'It's no wonder no one can stand her,' he said Dean, Seamus, Neville and I as we headed to our next class. 'She's a nightmare, honestly.'
Someone knocked into me as they hurried past. It was Hermione and I was startled to see that she was in tears.
'I think she heard you.'
'So?' said Ron, but he looked a bit uncomfortable as did the other boys. 'She must've noticed she's got no friends.'
Hermione didn't turn up for the next class and wasn't seen all afternoon. On their way down to the Great Hall for the Halloween feast, Ron and I overheard Parvati Patil telling her friend Lavender that Hermione was crying in the girls' bathroom and wanted to be left alone. Ron looked still more awkward at this, but a moment he entered the Great Hall all thoughts about Hermione slipped his mind. However, I still felt bad and wasn't able to get Hermione off my mind. It turned out to be a good thing in the end as Professor Quirrell came sprinting into the hall, his turban askew and terror on his face.
Everyone stared as he reached Professor Dumbledore's chair, slumped against the table, and gasped, 'Troll - in the dungeons - thought you ought to know.'
He then sank to the floor in a dead faint.
While the students around me began to scream, I couldn't help think about how pathetic our Defence teacher was and as I looked at Snape, I could tell that he was thinking something along the same lines as he looked down at Quirrell.
It took several purple firecrackers exploding from the end of Professor Dumbledore's wand to bring silence.
'Prefects,' he rumbled, 'lead your Houses back to the dormitories immediately!'
Percy was in his element, which surprised no one.
'Follow me! Stick together, first years! No need to fear the troll if you follow my orders! Stay close behind me, now. Make way, first years coming through! Excuse me, I'm a prefect!'
'How could a troll get in?' I asked as we climbed the stairs following the other first year Gryffindors..
'Don't ask me, they're supposed to be really stupid,' said Ron. 'Maybe Peeves let it in for a Halloween joke.'
'I somehow doubt even Peeves would do something like that!' I said as we passed different groups of people hurrying in different directions. It was then I suddenly grabbed Ron's arm. 'Hermione.'
'What about her?'
'She doesn't know about the troll.'
Ron bit his lip.
'Oh, all right,' he snapped. 'But Percy'd better not see us.'
Ducking down, we successfully joined the Hufflepuffs going the other way, before we slipped down a deserted side corridor, and hurried off toward the girls' bathroom. We had just turned the corner when they heard quick footsteps behind them.
'Percy!' hissed Ron, pulling me behind a large stone griffin.
Peering around it, however, we saw not Percy but Snape. He crossed the corridor and disappeared from view.
'What's he doing?' I whispered to the equally perplexed Ron. 'Why isn't he down in the dungeons with the rest of the teachers?'
'Search me.'
Quietly as possible, we crept along the next corridor after Snape's fading footsteps.
'He's heading for the third floor,' I said suspiciously, but Ron held up his hand.
'Can you smell something?'
I glanced at him before sniffing the air and a foul stench reached my nostrils. It was a mixture of old socks and the kind of public toilet no one seems to clean. It smelt that bad that I could taste it. And then we heard it - a low grunting, and the shuffling footfalls of gigantic feet. Ron pointed towards the end of a passage to the left. Something huge was moving toward us. We shrank into the shadows and watched as it emerged into a patch of moonlight. It was a horrible sight. Twelve feet tall, its skin was a dull, granite grey, its great lumpy body like a boulder with its small bald head perched on top like a coconut. It had short legs thick as tree trunks with flat, horny feet. The smell coming from it was incredible. It was holding a huge wooden club, which dragged along the floor because its arms were so long. It looked like an unintelligent creature to me.
The troll stopped next to a doorway and peered inside. It waggled its long ears, making up its tiny mind, then slouched slowly into the room.
'Oh no,' I said, eyes widening.
'What?' whispered Ron, looking at me thoroughly concerned.
'Isn't that the girl's bathroom?'
Ron's eyes then widened and together we bolted to the girl's bathroom as a loud scream sounded. Hermione's scream.
I pulled the door open and we ran inside. Inside we found Hermione shrinking against the opposite wall, looking as though she was about to faint. The troll was advancing on her, knocking the sinks off the walls as it went.
'Confuse it!' I yelled to Ron as I seizing a tap and threw it as hard as I could against the wall.
The troll stopped a few feet from Hermione. It lumbered around, blinking stupidly, to see what had made the noise. Its mean little eyes then fell upon me. It hesitated, then made for me instead, lifting its club as it went.
'Oi, pea-brain!' yelled Ron from the other side of the chamber, and he threw a metal pipe at it.
The troll didn't even seem to notice the pipe hitting its shoulder, but it heard the yell and paused again, turning its ugly snout toward Ron instead, giving me time to run around it.
'Come on, run!' I yelled at Hermione, trying to pull her toward the door, but she couldn't move, she was still flat against the wall, her mouth open with terror.
The shouting and the echoes seemed to be driving the troll berserk. It roared again and started toward Ron, who was nearest and had no way to escape.
It was at that moment I felt one of my tremors begin, but it was different to the other times. This time, my body wanted to change and it craved to rip the trolls throat out for trying to harm my friends. I tried to fight it, but in the end, I just went with part of it. I ran at the troll, my eyes full of anger and hate, and jumped, fastening my arms around the troll's neck for behind. Unfortunately for the troll, I had my wand in my hand as I jumped, which resulted in it being plunged up its nose.
Howling with pain, the troll twisted and flailed its club, while I clung on for dear life; knowing that any second, the troll was going to rip me off and use its club to kill me. And I was right to. Having just realised that I was on its back, it grabbed one of my legs, ripped me off its back and threw me to the other end of the bathroom where I painfully hit the wall, letting out a cry of pain.
Hermione sunk to the floor in fright; Ron pulled out his own wand - not knowing what he was going to do he heard himself cry the first spell that came into his head: 'Wingardium Leviosa!'
The club flew suddenly out of the troll's hand, rose high, high up into the air, turned slowly over - and dropped, with a sickening crack, onto its owner's head. The troll swayed on the spot and then fell flat on its face, with a thud that made the whole room tremble.
I got painfully to my feet and Ron hurried over to me.
'Are you okay?' His face was sick with worry.
'It'd take more than a troll to finish me off.' I said with a small laugh. I then went over to the unconscious troll to retrieve my wand. No one ever thought that a wand could be used like that, I bet.
'Is it - dead?' Hermione asked as she got to her feet. She was trembling all over.
'Don't think so,' I replied. 'I think it's just been knocked out.'
I bent down and pulled my wand out of the troll's nose. It was covered in what looked like lumpy grey glue.
'Delightful. Just what I've always wanted on my wand.'
I wiped it on the troll's trousers.
A sudden slamming and loud footsteps made Ron, Hermione and I look up. None of us had realised what a racket we had been making, but of course, someone downstairs must have heard the crashes and the troll's roars. A moment later, McGonagall had come bursting into the room, closely followed by Snape, with Quirrell bringing up the rear. Quirrell took one look at the troll and fainted once more, while Snape bent over the troll. McGonagall, however, was looking at Ron and I. I had never seen her look so angry. Her lips were white.
'What on earth were you thinking of?' yelled McGonagall, looking in particularly at me. Her eyes were full of angry, relief and fear. 'You're lucky you weren't killed. Why aren't you in your dormitory?'
Snape looked up from the troll and gave me a piercing look. He looked unusually pale.
I looked down at the floor, not knowing how to answer her question. Then a small voice came out of the shadows.
'Please, Professor McGonagall - they were looking for me.'
'Miss Granger!'
'I went looking for the troll because I - I thought I could deal with it on my own - you know, because I've read all about them.'
Ron dropped his wand. Hermione Granger, telling a downright lie to a teacher? I felt my jaw drop.
'If they hadn't found me, I'd be dead now. Harry stuck his wand up its nose and Ron knocked it out with its own club. They didn't have time to come and fetch anyone. It was about to finish me off when they arrived.'
'Well - in that case...' said McGonagall, staring at the three of them, 'Miss Granger, you foolish girl, how could you think of tackling a mountain troll on your own?'
Hermione hung her head. I was speechless. Hermione was the last person to do anything against the rules, and here she was, pretending she had, to get them out of trouble. It was as if Snape had suddenly shown me that he loved and cared for me. It was something that you'd never expect to happen.
'Miss Granger, five points will be taken from Gryffindor for this,' said McGonagall. 'I'm very disappointed in you. If you're not hurt at all, you'd better get off to Gryffindor tower. Students are finishing the feast in their houses.'
Hermione left and McGonagall turned to Ron and me.
'Well, I still say you were lucky, but not many first years could have taken on a full-grown mountain troll.' She said, but she seemed to be looking at me curiously, as was Snape. 'You each win Gryffindor five points. Professor Dumbledore will be informed of this. You may go.'
Together we hurried out of the bathroom and I swore I heard Snape say, 'I think the time is coming to tell her.'
'That is for your father to decide,' replied McGonagall.
Ron and I didn't speak at all until we had climbed two floors up. It was a relief to be away from the smell of the troll, quite apart from anything else.
'We should have gotten more than ten points,' Ron grumbled.
'Five, you mean, once she's taken off Hermione's.'
'Good of her to get us out of trouble like that,' Ron admitted. 'Mind you, we did save her.'
'She might not have needed saving if you hadn't insulted her.' I reminded him. 'What do think Snape meant about his comment as we left the bathroom.
'No idea, but it must have something to do with Hermione.' shrugged an unconcerned Ron. 'Anyway, that was amazing the way you jumped on the troll's back like that! What made you do that?'
'I don't know.' I answered truthfully. 'I just felt an urge to do it when I saw you in danger.'
'Well, whatever made you do it, probably saved our lives. Are you still sore from where you hit the wall?'
'I little. I'm sure I'll be fine in a few days' time. Though I'm not looking forward to the bruise I'm likely to have.'
We had reached the portrait of the Fat Lady.
'Pig snout,' we said and entered.
The common room was packed and noisy. Everyone was eating the food that had been sent up. Hermione, however, stood alone by the door, waiting for us. There was a very embarrassed pause. Then, none of us looking at each other, we all said 'Thanks,' and hurried off to get plates. But from that moment on, Hermione Granger became our best friend. I guess there are some things you can't share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of them.
-THE UNMASKED MYSTERY-
When November finally came, the weather turned very cold. The mountains around the school became icy grey 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.
The Quidditch season had begun. On Saturday, I would be playing in my first match after weeks of training: Gryffindor versus Slytherin. If Gryffindor won, we would move up into second place in the house championship. Hardly anyone had seen me since Wood had decided that, as their secret weapon, I should be kept secret. However, keeping a secret at Hogwarts was not always possible. So it came as no surprise when the news that I was playing Seeker had somehow leaked out.
This meant that I continuously had people coming up to me saying that I would be great or saying that they would have a mattress at the ready encase I fell. I actually didn't know what was worse, though the mattress was pretty close to the top. As the match came closer, I even had most of my teacher's wish me luck, but what surprised me most was when Snape, yes, Snape wished me luck on the morning of the game when Ron and Hermione were trying to get me to eat some breakfast.
'You've got to eat some breakfast.'
'I don't want anything.'
'Just a bit of toast,' wheedled Hermione.
'I'm not hungry. Besides, even if I did eat something, I'd probably end up bring it back up.'
'Harry, you need your strength,' Seamus Finnigan chimed in. 'Seekers are always the ones who get clobbered by the other team.'
'Thanks, Seamus,' I said as piled tomato sauce on his sausages.
It was then that Snape stopped behind me.
'Good luck today, Potter.' he said calmly. 'But seeing as you have proved yourself against a troll, a little game of Quidditch should prove easy work for you. Even if you are against Slytherin.' He then gave something that could have been a smile, before limping off.
'That was kind of him.' I said, wondering if that exchange had actually happened.
'I wonder what's wrong with his leg.' said Hermione as she watched him take his seat to the right of Dumbledore's throne like seat.
'Dunno, but I hope it's really hurting him,' said Ron with an uncaring shrug.
'I think it's because of that Cerberus.' I said, lowering my voice so only Ron and Hermione could hear me.
'That what?'
'The three-headed dog.' Hermione said, before looking back at me. 'What makes you say that, Harry?'
'Do you think it's odd that Snape would be on the third floor when the rest of the teachers were at the dungeons? What if he let the troll in as a diversion to steal what the dog is guarding?'
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,' snapped Ron. 'I'm with Harry. I wouldn't put anything past Snape. But what's he after? What's that dog guarding?'
'Hold on you two. You don't have enough evidence to suggest that Snape was up to something.' Hermione said reasonably. 'Maybe he was heading off to check something or –'
'Then why is he limping? Do you think he just fell down the stairs or something?' I shot back.
'Maybe. He's a human like you and me.'
Ron suddenly snorted.
'That would be a funny sight! Snape falling down some stairs!'
Hermione and I just shock our heads.
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 up in the top row. As a surprise for me, 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 colours.
Meanwhile, in the locker room, myself and the rest of the team were changing into our scarlet Quidditch robes. Once changed, 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.
'The one we've all been waiting for,' said George.
'We know Oliver's speech by heart,' Fred told me as I tried not to laugh, '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.'
I ended up following Fred and George out of the locker room and walked onto the field to loud cheers, whilst fighting the urge to vomit.
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.
I somehow got the impression that she seemed to be speaking particularly to the Slytherin Captain, Marcus Flint, a sixth year
'Mount your brooms, please.'
I clambered onto my Nimbus Two Thousand and took a deep breath.
Madam Hooch gave a loud blast on her silver whistle and fifteen brooms immediately 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!'
'Sorry, Professor.'
The Weasley twins' friend, Lee Jordan, was doing the commentary for the match, closely watched by 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 - 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 toward the goal posts, 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 goal posts are ahead - come on, now, Angelina - Keeper Bletchley dives - misses - GRYFFINDORS SCORE!'
Gryffindor cheers filled the cold air, with howls and moans from the Slytherins.
'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. 'Harry 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 me.
Way up above them all, I was gliding over the game, squinting about for some sign of the Snitch. This was part of Wood's game plan. He wanted me to stay away from all the other players to try and prevent any intentional attacks.
'Slytherin in possession,' Lee Jordan was saying, 'Chaser Pucey ducks two Bludgers, two Weasleys, and Chaser Bell, and speeds toward 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.
I saw it. In a great rush of excitement I dived downward after the streak of gold. Slytherin Seeker Terence Higgs had seen it, too. Neck and neck we hurtled toward the Snitch - all the Chasers seemed to have forgotten what they were supposed to be doing as they hung in mid-air to watch. Why, I do not know. However, I was faster than Higgs - I could see the little round ball, wings fluttering, darting up ahead - - I put on an extra spurt of speed - WHAM! A roar of rage echoed from the Gryffindors below - Marcus Flint had blocked me on purpose, and my broom spun off course, with me holding on for dear life.
Madam Hooch spoke angrily to Flint and then ordered a free shot at the goal posts for Gryffindor. But in all the confusion, of course, the Golden Snitch had disappeared from sight again.
Lee Jordan was finding it difficult not to take sides.
'So - after that obvious and disgusting bit of cheating –'
'Jordan!' growled McGonagall, who had gone a little pale.
'I mean, after that open and revolting foul –'
'Jordan, I'm warning you –'
'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 Spinner, who puts it away, no trouble, and we continue play, Gryffindor still in possession.'
Annoyed with what Flint had just done, I flew off in search for the snitch. It was as I dodged a Bludger, which went spinning dangerously past my head that it happened. My broom gave a sudden, frightening lurch and for a split second, I thought I was going to fall. As a result, I gripped the broom tightly with both hands and knees. And it happened again. It was as though the broom was trying to buck me off. But Nimbus Two Thousands did not suddenly decide to buck their riders off. Slightly frightened, I tried to turn back toward the Gryffindor goal posts to talk to Wood only to realise that I my broom was completely out of my control. I couldn't turn it. I couldn't direct it at all. It was zigzagging through the air, and every now and then making violent swishing movements that almost unseated me. It took all my effort to try and remain calm. I helplessly looked to see if one of my team members had noticed and were coming to help me, but so far no one seemed to have noticed. And I knew it to be true because 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 - Slytherins score - A no...'
The Slytherins were cheering and still no one seemed to have noticed that my broom was behaving strangely. It was carrying me slowly higher, away from the game, jerking and twitching as it went. I couldn't stop shaking. I had never been so scared or helpless.
'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 me all over the stands. My broom had started to roll over and over, with me only just managing to hold on. Then the whole crowd gasped. My broom had given a wild jerk and I swung off it. I was now dangling from it, holding on with only one hand.
'Did something happen to it when Flint blocked him?' Seamus whispered.
'Can't have,' Hagrid said, his voice shaking. 'Nothing can 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 me, she started looking frantically at the crowd. Her eyes past over the pale, shakened and scared McGonagall and landed on the person sitting next to her.
'What are you doing?' moaned Ron, grey-faced.
'I knew it,' Hermione gasped, 'Snape - look.'
Ron grabbed the binoculars. Snape had his eyes fixed on me 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 me. My broom was now vibrating so hard, it was almost impossible for me to hang on much longer. The whole crowd was on its feet, watching, terrified, as the Weasleys flew up to try and pull me safely onto one of their brooms, but it was no good - every time they got near me, the broom would jump higher still. They dropped lower and circled beneath me, obviously hoping to catch me if I fell. I was actually in half a mind to let go and let them catch me, but the thought of them missing me hung strongly in my mind.
Amidst all the panic, 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. Reaching Snape, she crouched down, pulled out her wand, and whispered a few, well- chosen words. Bright orange flames shot from her wand onto the hem of Snape's robes. She then left before anyone noticed her presence.
It took perhaps thirty seconds for Snape to realise that he was on fire and when he did, he gave a yelp and began trying to put them out, accidently hitting the professor behind him, who feel backwards, knocking over Quirrell.
Hermione's quick thinking was enough. Up in the air, I was suddenly able to clamber back on to my broom. The moment I was one my broom, I went speeding toward the ground, with a worried Fred and George coming after me. Once safely on the ground the crowd watched as I clap my hand to my mouth as though I was about to be sick and then something gold fell into my hand.
'Harry! Are you okay?' asked Fred, landing beside me.
'I'll live.' I said, though I was still shaking. 'I caught the snitch, by the way.'
'I don't think anyone's caught it like that before!' laughed George before telling everyone that I had caught the snitch.
'He didn't catch it, he nearly swallowed it,' Flint was still howling twenty minutes later, but it made no difference - I 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. However, I heard none of this for I 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.'
'Rubbish,' said Hagrid, 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, Hermione and I looked at one another, wondering what to tell him. I decided on the truth.
'I found out something about him,' I told Hagrid. 'He tried to get past that Cerberus on Halloween. It bit him. We think he was trying to steal whatever it's guarding.'
Hagrid dropped the teapot.
'How do you know about Fluffy?' he said.
'Fluffy?'
'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?'
'Now, don't ask me anymore,' said Hagrid gruffly. 'That's top secret, that is.'
'But Snape's trying to steal it.'
'Rubbish,' said Hagrid again. 'Snape's a Hogwarts teacher, he'd do nothin' of the sort.'
'So why did he just try and kill Harry?' cried Hermione. 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!'
'I'm tellin' yeh, yer wrong!' said Hagrid hotly. 'I don' know why Harry'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 –'
Hagrid suddenly broke off looked furious with himself as a knowing smile appeared on my face. Ron, Hermione and I had some research to do.
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Written: 25 February 2012
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