Two days later, the first blizzard of the year struck Hogwarts.

Harry walked down the school corridors, his face covered in a thick layer of snow. He had been forced to abandon his Invisibility Cloak, and he had to admit, it was a bit of a relief. It meant he wouldn't be sneaking around like a criminal all the time.

He had been walking around like this for hours, and he had still only managed to get as far as the Great Hall.

He was only about halfway through his classes for the day. If he hurried, he could probably make his Quidditch practice before class.

He arrived in the Great Hall to find that there was a game of Quidditch going on between the first and second years.

"Go, go, Gryffindors!" yelled Seamus Finnigan, the Hufflepuff Seeker.

"Come on, Slytherins!" yelled Justin Finch-Fletchley, the Gryffindor Seeker.

Harry looked at the two teams, all of whom were wearing blue and green robes, the colours of their houses.

He had never seen a game of Quidditch before.

"Why are there only two teams?" he asked Seamus.

"Oh, it's because there are only two houses at Hogwarts," said Seamus. "Hufflepuffs and Slytherins.

Seamus looked over at Harry.

"Are you joining a team?" he asked.

Harry looked around. It would be unpopular to join Slytherin. Nearly every single person there was a friend of Seamus's. If he joined Gryffindor, he would have no one.

He looked around for a team to join, but he realized he had already made his decision.

"I don't want to play."

"What?" said Seamus. "But the game is starting!"

"I don't want to play," said Harry. "I'll just watch."

"Watch?" said Seamus incredulously. "You're an inch taller than me and thirty pounds heavier! How can you just expect to sit down and watch?"

"I said I'll just watch," said Harry. "It's fine."

Seamus stared at Harry. Harry stared back. Seamus looked as though he was about to say something but then changed his mind. He shook his head.

"Fine," he said. "You want to watch, you can watch. See if I care."

With that, Seamus picked up his Quaffle and tossed it toward Justin.

Harry watched as the two teams went into battle.

The Hufflepuffs made a great offensive move, and Seamus made a great move to throw the Quaffle. It went straight into Justin's hands.

"Go, go, Gryffindors!" yelled the Hufflepuff team.

"Come on, Slytherins!" yelled the Slytherin team.

Harry looked down at the game. The two teams were battling it out, but it was not looking good for either side. The Slytherins were losing, and the Gryffindors looked to be gaining momentum.

A minute later, the Quaffle flew straight into Seamus's hands again.

"Come on, Seamus!" yelled Justin. "Pass it on!"

"I can't!" yelled Seamus. "My hands are full!"

"Then use your feet!" yelled Justin.

"My hands are full!" yelled Seamus.

"Your what?" said Justin.

"My hands are full!" yelled Seamus.

"You're an idiot!" said Justin. "Just drop the Quaffle and run like crazy! We'll catch up to you!"

Seamus dropped the Quaffle and ran. Harry watched as it fell right into Harry's hands.

"Harry Potter," said Justin, staring at him, "you're a great player!"

"Thanks."

"Go, Gryffindors!" yelled the crowd.

Harry looked up at the stands. Nearly the entire student body was there, cheering for the Gryffindors. He spotted, at the very top of the stands, the grinning face of his friend Ron Weasley.

Harry took the Quaffle and ran with it.

He threw it at the goal, but the Slytherins blocked his shot. Harry took the Quaffle back and threw it at the goal again. This time, his shot was successful, and he watched the Slytherins go down by a score of 3 to 1.

"Come on, Gryffindors!" yelled Seamus. "Defense!"

"Yes!" Harry threw his Quaffle at the goal again, but his shot was blocked, and the score remained at 3 to 1.

The second-year students were sitting in the stands, watching the game with great interest. They chattered among themselves as they watched the game. Harry felt himself drifting off to sleep. He would have to be careful not to fall asleep in Herbology, which was the next class he had. He would have to be extra alert.

This was the most exciting class he had ever taken.

"Come on, Gryffindors!" yelled Seamus. "Defense!"

"Yes!" yelled Harry. "We can do it!"

The score was now 5 to 1. Harry watched as his team took the lead and it looked like they were going to win. He looked up at the stands, and he could see his friends waving down at him.

Suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Harry, wake up," said a voice. "We're losing."

Harry opened his eyes and stared around.

"What?" he said groggily. "How can you tell? We're losing 5 to 1."

"I saw you fall asleep," said Ron.

Harry sat up.

"You were right, Ron."

"I know."

"Thanks."

"Anytime," said Ron.

The game continued, and the score was 10 to 1.

"That's it, we're done for," said Seamus. "Come on, let's go."

Harry and his friends got up and left the stadium. They walked in silence for a minute.

"Well," said Ron, "that was boring."

"Yeah."

"Well, we did learn some stuff though, right?"

"Oh yes," said Hermione. "Herbology."

"I don't know why we had to learn that," said Ron. "Will we ever actually use it? I don't see why we had to learn it, honestly."

"Ron," said Hermione patiently, "why don't you let Harry answer that question?"

"Thank you, Hermione," said Harry. "We will probably use it. That is if I ever get my hands on a frog or a toad."

"I don't know why you find frogs scary, Harry," said Ron. "I find them quite nice."

"Really?" said Harry. "Well, that's interesting. I didn't know that."

"What I mean is," said Ron, "I've never seen you with a frog. Have you ever been to a pet store or something?"

"No," said Harry. "I think they're too expensive."

"Well, then," said Ron, "how can you know that they're nice?"

Harry shrugged.

"I just know."

"Well, that's cool," said Ron.

Harry and his friends walked in silence for a bit.

"So," said Hermione, breaking the silence, "did you learn anything?"

"Yeah," said Harry, "I think so."

"Like what?" said Ron.

"I think... we'll get on... in... life."

"What do you mean?"

Harry shrugged.

"I'm not sure yet," he said.

When Harry, Ron, and Hermione arrived at the trio's dormitory, their suitcases were already there.

"Thanks, guys," said Ron. "See you in the morning."

"Right," said Harry.

Harry walked up the stairs to his dormitory. He opened the door and stepped inside.

"I hope you don't mind," said a familiar voice, "but I followed you from the game. I wanted to make sure you got in okay."

"Oh," said Harry, smiling, "I'm glad you did."

Ron and Hermione walked in and closed the door.

"Who was that?" asked Hermione, dropping her suitcase to the floor.

"That was Professor Lupin," said Harry.

"Who?" said Ron.

"You know, the professor who teaches Defense Against the Dark Arts."

"Oh yeah," said Ron, "I remember."

"Yeah," said Harry, "me too."

"So," said Hermione, "are we all staying here for the summer?"

"Looks like it," said Harry.

"Cool."

"I know," said Harry, smiling. "It is."

"Well," said Ron, "I'm going to my dorm. I have to start work early tomorrow."

"Me too," said Hermione.

Harry and Hermione walked to their dorm. As they did, they shared a final look at the Hogwarts Express chugging away on the tracks across the way.

"It's pretty cool, isn't it?" said Harry.

"Yeah," said Hermione, "it is."

"See you in the morning, Harry," said Ron.

"Yeah, see you in the morning, Ron," said Harry.

Harry walked into his dorm and shut the door.

"Well, that was exciting," said Ron.

"Yeah," said Hermione, "it sure was."

"Do you think we'll have to go to Hogwarts every year, Harry?"

"Who knows?" said Harry. "Maybe."

"I'm glad we didn't get expelled," said Hermione.

"Me too," said Harry.

For the first time in a long time, Harry felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him. He felt himself nodding off.

"Harry?"

"Mm?"

"Do you want me to get our shared cloak and rug?"

"Oh... sure," Harry mumbled.

Hermione stood in front of the wardrobe, wondering what to get. She looked at the rucksack that had accompanied her to the Boyhood of Great Britain.

"Hey, Harry," she said, "do you want this? I think it'll fit in our trunk."

Harry sat up.

"Yeah, thanks," he said. "That'll be great."

Hermione rummaged through her wardrobe, trying to decide what to get for Harry. She settled on a jumper.

"Here you go," she said, holding it out to him. "I picked this out just for you."

"Thanks," said Harry.

"No problem."

Harry stood up and stretched. He glanced at the Time-Turner lying on the bed, and for a moment, a look of longing passed over his face. Then it was gone, and he turned away and walked into the bathroom.

A moment later, Hermione heard the sound of the shower.