Chapter 4: Quidditch and Friends

Thanks to my beta, darrelldeam, for all his help in making this easier to read for you, my readers. All mistakes are still my own.

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It was the day before the first Quidditch match and Harry was nervous. He was sitting at the Gryffindor table with his best friend, Hermione, and some of the boys from his dorm. They had been trying to cheer him up for over twenty minutes now and soon it would be time for the study group to meet and they were hoping to get him out of his funk before then. It was hard to study when you were thinking about your impending doom.

Millie came in and noted the long faces and with a smirk she made her way to them. She knew what was going on. She nudged Neville over so she could be sitting directly across from Harry. "So, little firstie, all nervous about tomorrow, huh?" she teased lightly.

"Millie, that's not nice," Hermione scolded, then blushed when Millie turned to her with a raised eyebrow.

"Careful, Hermione, your mum is showing, yeah," Millie warned and then turned to Harry and smiled. "Don't look so scared. The pitch is for kids, yeah. There're loads of spells on it to make sure you're okay if something happens. Tell your friend Millie, what's got you so uptight?" she asked, knowing the answer. She gave him a one-armed hug to let him know she was there for him. The poor little firstie was terrified. She was going to remedy that.

"Everyone is going to be watching me," Harry said raising his pale face and looking at his oldest friend. "They are all going to be counting on me to win the game." He had heard what Wood had said about the seeker being the most important player. He didn't know if he could handle that kind of pressure.

"Kinda full of yourself there, yeah?" Millie said, making Harry look at her with wide eyes. she smiled at him, trying to get him to relax.

"What?" the preteen asked, not sure why she was saying that.

"Why do you think they'll only be watching you?" she said, with a grin. She released the hug and stared at him for a moment.

"Wood said that the seeker is the most important player," Harry mumbled, echoing his thoughts, and not looking up.

"Sure, you can stop the game by catching the snitch, but there are other players that'll be making scores too. Silly little firstie, always thinking you're so special," she teased with a smile, showing she was just joking, reaching over, and messing with the dark-haired boy's hair, just because she knew it would snap him out of it.

"Oi, leave off will ya? How many times do I have to tell ya?" Harry snapped and tried once more to straighten his hair. It was futile. That hair was never going to sit flat.

Millie just smiled and shrugged her shoulders causing the young man in front of her to glare. "So, tell me about your study group. I heard you have some tough ones, yeah," she suggested, now that his mind was off Quidditch maybe she could keep it off for a few more minutes.

"Well…" Hermione started, and then stopped when Millie looked at her again with the raised eyebrow. She blushed and waved her hand to Harry indicating he should answer.

"Yeah, we've got a lot of kids that are really struggling. Hermione helps them a lot. So do some of the smarter ones. Let's see we've actually got; Sally Anne Perks, Megan Jones, Leanne Smarts, Wayne Hopkins from Hufflepuff. They are pretty okay class wise, but we're all getting better at working together and learning loads more. Then there's me, Hermione, Neville, Lavender, and Dean from Gryffindor. Neville is really smart when it comes to plants and we're trying to figure out a way we can bring that to his potions. Hey, maybe you can help Millie?" he said in a questioning voice.

"Sure, I can drop by and lend a hand. I'm not much good with potions, but I should be able to help a firstie, yeah," the older girl said, not the least bit put out. It was common for upper years to help.

"That'd be great," Harry said beaming a smile her way. Even Hermione and the other students who were good at potions were hard pressed in helping Neville get over his fear of Snape. "Oh, umm, okay we only have two people from Ravenclaw; Michael Corner and Sue Li and they are almost as scary smart as Hermione. They don't need a study group, but you've seen them in the mornings when we work out and they decided to tag along."

"We have a few like that in our group too," Millie confirmed, knowing some people used these groups to socialize. It was about making connections. You scratch my back…

Harry dropped his voice and leaned closer to Millie and motioned her closer as well. When she complied, he said, "We've got Vincent Crabbe, Greg Goyle, Tracey Davis and sometimes Daphne Greengrass, but only one of their House knows. Darren Falster. He's a seventh year, he makes sure they get to and from the group without trouble," he whispered and then leaned back in his seat when he was done.

Millie shot him, and his friends, a proud smile. "You guys did really good, yeah. Are you using that classroom I showed you?" This time she looked at Hermione to let her know she could answer if she wanted.

Hermione nodded quickly. "Oh, it's a great place. We sit in the student chairs and take turns pretending to be the teacher. You might not think it but Cra… I mean one of the bigger kids is really good at potions. He does better than me. So, we all take turns and tutor what we're good at. If it wasn't for Harry, I'm sure we would all fail Defense Against the Dark Arts this year." She gave a one-armed hug to her best friend, who blushed to the roots of his hair.

Millie looked at her watch and noted the time. She reached over and ruffled Harry's hair again making the kids around them laugh. "Well, my job here is done. Harry is not moping, and all his friends are laughing at him, now I've got to run. You guys should get to your study group, yeah. Buck up Harry, you'll be fine tomorrow." And she got up and left the Great Hall.

"She might as well be your big sister, the way she carries on with you," Dean said with a smirk. "I should know, I have two of them," he added, smirking knowingly.

"Oh, is that what big sisters do? Embarrass their little brothers?" Harry asked, perking up and running that happy thought through his mind. It would be nice to think of Millie as family.

"Oh yeah. Mine go out of their way to make me blush. I really miss them and I'm glad I'll see everyone at Christmas," the other boy said with a fond smile.

"Yeah, Millie said she is staying for Christmas this year, so it won't be just me and the Weasleys in the dorms. I know just what I'm getting her for a present as well. If I tell you, can you tell me if you think she'd like it?" Harry asked Dean since he had older sisters.

"Sure, mate, glad to help," the darker boy said, clapping his friend on the back, knowing that Millie would like almost anything Harry bought her. Heck he'd gotten his oldest sister a dead frog one year and she said she loved it. it was years later that she confessed to that it was the most horrifying thing she had received to date.

The five Gryffindors from the study group got up and gathered their books to go and meet the rest. Now that Harry was distracted from the game tomorrow, he got down to studying.

The next morning dawned bright and early. The sky was perfect, only the occasional fluffy cloud played across its expansive blue horizon. The air was warm, but Harry knew that higher up it would be cooler, so he made sure to put on an extra jumper under his Quidditch gear.

All the first year Gryffindors were settled around Harry, making sure his mood didn't sink again. They got him to eat some porridge and toast. Soon enough Oliver Wood, the team captain, came by and collected Harry. Harry left with the chorus of "Good luck, Harry/Potter" and "Be careful, Harry" from his and other tables, bar Slytherin, though he did receive a nod from Crabbe.

The rest of the group got up to head to the bleachers. Millie and her friends joined the firsties because they wanted to share their Omnioculars. Hermione and Dean had a sign that wanted to vote for Harry Potter for President. President of what, it didn't say.

The game was going strong, but Slytherin, under their captain's orders, was cheating and playing rough. Harry was getting desperate to find the snitch and end the game. His team was getting hurt and he wanted to put an end to that. Suddenly his broom bucked and almost threw him off. He grabbed on tighter as it continued to try and dismount him.

Millie, who had been checking on him at that moment, noticed and her brow furrowed. She continued to watch as it seemed he was losing control. She then turned her Omnioculars to the teachers, knowing that very few of the students could curse a broom. She saw both Quirrell and Snape muttering under their breaths. She never noticed that Hermione was gone until she saw bushy hair sneak up under Snape and set his robe on fire. She watched as Snape jumped up and knocked Quirrell down.

She then turned her view to Harry and noted that he was now in a dive yet seemed in full control. When Harry caught the snitch in his mouth, of all things, winning the game, she gathered up the firsties and made her way to the field. They met up with a flustered Hermione on the way.

"Oh, Harry, are you alright?" Hermione asked, throwing herself at her best friend.

Harry pulled her close and muttered that he was only scared, but not physically hurt. Millie gathered them up in a hug of her own. But when Hermione started to tell them about Snape, she shook her head and motioned to be quiet for now.

Wood and Flint were arguing with Madam Hooch about whether or not Harry's catch was a valid one. When the Flying instructor said it was, Gryffindor cheered and carried the team away to celebrate.

It was a few hours into the celebration that found a tired Harry, surrounded by Hermione, Millie, and Neville in a quiet corner. Discussing what happened with Harry's broom.

"It was Professor Snape," Hermione said, with finality.

"It could've been Quirrell," Millie rebutted mildly.

"But… I saw him; he was muttering under his breath and not breaking his sight from Harry. I've read all about these types of curses and you can't break eye contact," the resident bookworm argued back.

"Yeah, but I saw both of them doing that, yeah. So, we really can't know. Besides, remember what I told you your first week here?" Millie asked, looking at them with a lifted eyebrow. "Quirrell's changed a lot since he came back. He was a great teacher when he did Muggle Studies. Now he is all jumpy and stuttering. People don't change like that unless something drastic has happened to them. And if it was vampires like he says, do you really think he would come back to teach about them?" she questioned them, hoping that the kids would think about it and not just jump to conclusions.

"Well, he might, but I see your point. Do you think he is faking?" Hermione whispered, not wanting to believe that. Quirrell was a nice man, sure he stuttered, but he was kind. Snape was a creepy and menacing.

"Well, it is possible, but what I'm trying to say is that we just can't be sure. When you set Snape on fire, he knocked Quirrell over, breaking both their concentration. By the way, next time you tell me what you're planning, yeah" Millie chastised, she didn't want the smartest girl of her year to get expelled for harming a teacher.

"Sorry, Millie, I panicked," Hermione said with a blush. She wasn't used to having friends yet. Even though it had been months now that she had these guys, years of being friendless would take a little longer to get over.

Millie had been a great help; she had talked to her about her bossiness. She didn't tell her to stop, just be more suggestive about it and not downright telling people to do their homework. And if they didn't want to, well it really wasn't Hermione's place to tell them what to do. Doing that just stressed both her and them out.

"I'm just glad it's over. But why would someone want to do that? I mean, I know Snape hates me, but I would never have thought he'd try and kill me. And I've done nothing to Quirrell," Harry asked with huge, confused eyes. Today had terrified him, knowing that an adult was trying to kill him. Well, he always felt if given the chance his uncle would do him in.

The girls got up and hugged the trembling young boy. Neville put his hand on the other boy's arm in comfort.

"Don't you worry, Harry; we've got your back. We'll tell the rest of the study group to keep an eye on both of them…" Neville stated and then tapered off when Millie interrupted.

"And then you'll come find me or a professor, yeah. You little firsties aren't equipped enough to handle an adult yet," she stated firmly, glaring at all three of them making sure they knew she meant what she said.

They all nodded and started talking about good things that happened in the game. Hermione, who was never big on sports, pulled out a book and just listened.

The next day, Hagrid invited Harry and Hermione to tea to discuss yesterday's events. Neville tagged along. They told him what they thought, leaving Millie out for now, not wanting to get their friend in trouble. They just said an older student.

"Balderdash," the gentle half-giant said when they had finished, "Professor Snape and Professor Quirrell are respected teachers. They wouldn't try and kill a student. Why they're working to protect the st… I shouldn'ta said that," Hagrid said, rubbing the back of his head, making his hair messier than before.

"There's something to protect in the castle? Does this have to do with the three-headed dog I heard the twins talking about?" Harry said, perking up. Ever since he heard the Weasley twins making plans, he wanted to know why there was a large three-headed dog in the castle. Since he became Millie's friend, she had talked him out of leaving the common room after curfew. Which was good because now that he thought about it, Malfoy was probably setting him up to get caught when he challenged him to a duel.

"'ow do ya know about Fluffy? Yer not sneaking 'round the castle, are ye?" Hagrid asked his beetle eyes narrowing on Harry.

"Nah, the twins told me. Well, not exactly, but they were talking about how to get around the cerberus on the third floor. I had to look up what a cerberus was and let me tell you I'm not going anywhere near one," Harry defended himself with an indignant look, his two friends nodding in agreement.

"Good, ya leave that to the professors and stay outta stuff that don't concern ya. That's between Professor Dumbledore and Nicholas Flamel… I shouldn't a said that," Hagrid said, trailing off again. His eyes shifting side to side, like he shared far too much.

"Don't worry, Hagrid, I have enough issues with someone trying to kill me," Harry said as he patted the tall man on his massive arm. They drank the tea from the large cups and tried to eat the rock cakes, but soon gave it up as a lost cause. After talking for about an hour the kids took their leave and headed back to the castle.

"We should ask Millie about Nicholas Flamel," Harry suggested as he discreetly dropped his rock cakes into some bushes as he walked past them. Hermione nodded her head in agreement.

"Why?" Neville asked with a tilt of his head, dropping his own rock cakes in the same manner. "I thought you told Hagrid you were going to leave it alone." He didn't understand why they were even talking about Mr. Flamel.

Harry shrugged and asked, "What if the reason someone is trying to kill me is because they think I know what… Fluffy is guarding? And that I might try and stop whoever it is?" He really hoped that wasn't it, but it was as good a reason as any.

"That's stupid, Harry, why would they think that?" Neville argued back, stopping, and turning to his friend.

"Because I'm the Boy-Who-Lived, remember? I'm supposed to know all sorts of things I've never even heard of. Don't worry, I just want to know who he is. That and it'll give Millie a clue as to what's going on." He put the last rock cake out of his pocket and started walking again.

Neville could see his point, so he nodded, and they followed Harry.

A few hours later, in the common room, they finally found Millie. They waved her over and told her what Hagrid told them.

"Nicholas Flamel, huh? Yeah, I know who he is, and I have a pretty good idea what's on the third floor now. But I'm not telling you firsties. You leave it to me and my mates, we'll figure it out. Got years more experienced than you, yeah," she said with a wink and a nudge. "I don't see how it relates to your broom going wonky though. But like I said you leave it to me and just enjoy yourselves with your friends." She winked at them and moved back to her friends.

They got into a lively discussion, what about the trio didn't know. The three first years bobbed their heads and decided to let someone older handle it for now. They would get involved only if they had to. It was good to have people to rely on, it was a new experience for all three of them, but a good one.