His sisters had come to visit him the next morning before breakfast. Felicity stood at the foot of his bed with arms folded looking disapprovingly at him.
"You've been here what five minutes and you're already causing chaos," said Felicity.
"Hey that Troll was the one causing chaos, myself Ron, Harry and Hermione just happened upon it". He said indignantly.
"Are you alright Sam"? asked Lola coming up close and checking his features.
"I'm alright Madam Pomfrey fixed me up in a nano second". He said cheerfully.
"Well at least one good thing came out of it, Hermione Granger's has friends now". Said Felicity.
"Oh I'm glad". Said Rory "She's so cute, I know she can be a bit of bossy boots but she's such a sweetie when you get to know her".
After five minutes they left.
Harry Ron and now accompanied by Hermione came to visit him the next morning after breakfast. Sam was halfway through his porridge. Madam Pomfrey wouldn't let him leave until he had eaten a good breakfast.
After breakfast Sam dressed and they all left together, Hermione leading them back to Gryffindor tower. They played a couple of rounds of exploding snap and Sam went upstairs and brought down his goody box of all his favourite snacks. He then filled Hermione on how they had all learned the disillusionment charm which she was eager to learn.
"Only for educational purposes". She said coly.
They entered November and the weather turned cold. Every morning the ground was covered in frost and there was a chill that went throughout the castle. So everyone was always eager to get the great hall or their common rooms where the fire's were always lit.
The Quidditch season both at Hogwarts and outside had begun. Sam had played his first match on Wednesday evening. Where his team hammered the Winbourne Wasps 740-320, with a spectacular catch by Sam.
Harry would be playing his first match this Saturday and with permission from Professor McGonagall who allowed him to have his cleansweep seven for the pure purpose of teaching Harry a few manoeuvres that would give him an edge over the Slytherin seeker. Oliver Wood who had been watching from the sidelines after Gryffindor had practiced told him eagerly.
"If you have any more tips don't hesitate to share them".
Now that Hermione was their friend now, she had become much more relaxed about rule breaking and she was nicer for it. She had even got out of the library a book called quidditch through the ages. Which had some really helpful tips along with Sam's extensive professional knowledge. Harry felt as if he was in safe hands as far as the technicality of the game.
The day before Harry's first match, the four of them were out in the freezing courtyard. Hermione had conjured up a bright blue flame that she carried around in an old jam jar and they were standing with their backs to it to warm up when they suddenly saw Snape cross the yard. Hermione and Ron moved closer to block the fire from view as it probably wasn't allowed. Unfortunately something about their guilty faces caught Snape's attention and he limped over. He hadn't seen the fire but he was still looking for a reason to tell them off.
"What have you got there Potter?"
Harry showed him the book.
"Library books are not to be taken outside the school", said Snape.
"Give it to me, five points from Gryffindor".
Sam scowled at him as he limped away.
"He just made that rule up," Harry muttered angrily. "Wonder what's wrong with his leg?"
"Don't' know but I hope it's really hurting him." Said Ron.
The Gryffindor common was extremely loud that evening and the four of them sat together next to a window. Hermione was checking Ron and Harry's homework. Like Sam, she wouldn't let them copy but by reading through it with her they managed to get the answers right.
Harry who was restless due to nerves about his upcoming quidditch match decided to go and ask for his book back from Snape he gathered if he asked for it in front of other teachers then Snape couldn't possibly say no, Ron was playing a game of exploding snap with Dean and Seamus while Sam and Hermione sat by the fire. His mind turned to Quirrell and the mysterious whispering he had heard wondering if he ought to bring it up with the others.
Just as he was about to bring it up to Hermione, Harry came he looked as if he had just been running.
"Did you get it?" Ron asked about the book before seeing the look on Harry's face.
"What's the matter?"
Harry told them about what he had seen the staff room.
"You know what that means?". He said breathlessly. "He tried to get past that three headed dog on Halloween, that's where he went when we saw him, he's after whatever it's guarding. And I'll be my broomstick he let that troll in, to make a diversion."
Hermione's eyes widened; she was speechless for a few seconds.
"No, he wouldn't I know he's not very nice". She spoke.
"He's sadistic". Sam said bitterly as he was about to work on his potion's homework Snape had set them a particularly nasty homework; sixteen inches of parchment on herbicide potions and it's effects common magical plants and human consumption to be handed in next potions lesson.
Ron nodded agreeingly. Hermione ignored them and carried on, "but he wouldn't try and steal something Dumbledore was keeping safe".
"Honestly Hermione, you think all teachers are saints or something." Said Ron. "I'm with Harry, I wouldn't put anything past Snape".
"He does have a past". Sam interjected.
They all looked at him.
"My Dad said this was a few years ago and I was listening in, I was meant to be in bed but Snape worked for Voldemort at one point but then apparently he started having second thoughts and went to Dumbledore nobody really knows what made him change but Dumbledore vouched for him in front of the entire wizengamot and he's been Dumbledore's man ever since most people seem to believe he's entirely redeemed but I don't know.."
He looked at Harry who was looking at him with a very curious expression on his face.
"What?" He asked looking rather taken back by the look Harry's face. "I'm only repeating what I heard".
"You said Voldemort". He said blankly.
"Yeah and?" He retorted.
"But what's after"? Asked Ron evidently eager to move on from this conversation on the use of You Know Who's name.
The next morning was very bright but very cold. The entered the Great Hall to the smell of delicious fried sausages and a cheerful atmosphere of everyone chatting and looking forward to the Quidditch match.
"You've got to eat some breakfast". Said Ron
"I don't want anything." Said Harry
"Just a bit of toast." Wheedled Hermione.
"I'm not hungry".
Harry looked terrible, Sam placed a supportive arm around him as if to say I know how you feel mate.
"Harry you need your strength". Said Seamus Finnegan. "Seekers are always the ones who get clobbered by the other team.
"Thanks Seamus". Harry said dejectedly.
"How about a compromise". Said Sam unhooking his arm from around Harry. "How about a banana, if you aren't going to eat a proper breakfast then at least have something that's going to keep your sugars up".
Harry ate a banana and feeling slightly better he also had some toast and two club bars and packet of hula hoop crisps that Sam had offered up in the common room when he went upstairs with him to get his broomstick.
"Good luck". He said at half past nine. "I need get the pitch, I said Madam Hooch I'd help carry out all the equipment and do a quick pitch test. He climbed out of the portrait hall and sped down the corridor and down the stairs.
"I think this as a good as it's going to get, a little slippery on the middle towards the right end but nothing drastic, they'll be able to kick off from there well enough, decent visibility up to a hundred feet so all-in all-weather conditions wise this should be a easy breezy game".
"Thank you, Hughes, for your assistance, you should and find your friends, the match starts in ten minutes".
Sam joined Hermione and Ron along with Seamus, Dean and Neville up in the top row. Dean who was talented at drawing had drawn up a large banner with the words Potter For President on with a lion underneath on a bed sheet that Scabbers had ruined. Hermione had performed a tricky spell to make the paint flash different colours.
Madam Hooch would be referring the match. She stood in the middle of the field wating for the two teams her broom in her hand.
"Now I want a nice fair game, all of you," She told them in a loud and clear voice. "Mount your broom pleased".
They mounted the brooms; Madam Hooch gave a loud blast on her whistle and they were off.
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 up along there, a neat pass to Alicia Spinnet, a good friend of Oliver Wood's last year only a reserve back to Johnson and no the Slytherins have taken the quaffel, Slytherin captain Marcus Flint gains the quaffel and off he goes Flint flying up like an eagel there, he's going, no stopped by an excellent move by Gryffindor Keeper Wood and the Gryffindor's 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 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 Gryffindor beater anyway Johnson back in possession of the Quaffle, a cear field ahead and off she goes she's really flying come on Angelina! Keeper Bletchley dives misses! GRYFFINDOR SCORES!"
All of Gryffindor were cheering Sam pumped his fists up in the air in jubilation.
"Budge up there, move along."
"Hagrid!" Ron and Hermione squeezed together to give Hagrid enough space to join them.
"Bin watching form me hut," said Hagrid putting a large pair of binoculars around his neck. "But it isn't the same as being the crowd, no sign of the snitch yet, eh?"
"Nope". Said Ron. "Harry hasn't had much to do yet" .
"Kept outta trouble that's something". Said Hagrid raising his binoculars and peering skyward at the speck that was Harry.
Sam had seen it a streak of gold and Harry must have seen it as well because he began to dive forwards.
"COME ON HARRY!" Sam bellowed at the top of his lungs. "BASH HIM OUT THE WAY!"
Terrence Higgs the Slytherin seeker had seen the snitch too. Sam watched as Harry and Higgs hurtled towards the snitch neck and neck. Harry was faster than neck he was about to get until… a roar of rage Sam could be heard quite distinctly.
"That was a dirty move you absolute wanker"! He cried out seething.
"Foul" screamed the Gryffindors.
Madam Hooch told Flint off and ordered a free shot at the goal posts for Gryffindor but in all the confusion the snitch had vanish from sight.
Dean was yelling, "Send him off ref, red card!"
"This isn't football Dean". Ron reminded him. "You don't get sent off the pitch for a foul".
Hagrid was on Dean's side. "They oughta change the rules Flint could've knocked Harry out of the air".
Lee Jordan was evidently finding it difficult to not take sides.
"So after that obvious and disgusting bit of cheating".
"Jordan." Said Professor McGonagall warningly
"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".
The match one and Sam noticed at once Harry's broom was acting particularly odd it kept trying to buck him off.
"Dunno what Harry thinks he's doing". Hagrid mumbled. "If I didn't know better I say he's lost control of his broom but he can't have".
"Did something happen to it when Flint blocked him?" asked Seamus.
"Can't have," said Hagrid. "Can't nothing interfere with a broomstick expect powerful dark magic no kid could do that to a Nimbus Two Thousand".
"Besides expect for when he's had it out for practice, Harry's brooms been up in the dormitory and I can't see any of us wanting to put a hex on it," said Sam.
At these words, Hermione seized Hagrid's binoculars, but instead of looking up at Harry she started looking frantically at the crowd.
"What are you doing?" Ron moaned.
"I knew it," Hermione gasped, "Snape look". Ron grabbed the binoculars looked around and then passed them over to Sam to look. There Snape was in the middle of the stands he had his eyes fixed on Harry and was muttering something under his breath.
"That-"
"He's doing something, jinxing the broom," said Hermione
"What should we do?"
"What should we do?"
"Leave it to me."
Before either of them could say another word, Hermione had disappeared, Ron turned the binoculars back on Harry. His broom was vibrating so hard it would be near impossible for him to hold on any longer. Sam bit the inside of his mouth his dark blue eyes widened in horror and anxiety.
Fred and George were flying underneath him attempting to fly close enough to pull Harry onto one of their brooms but any time they got near him the broom flew higher and higher.
"Come on, Hermione," Ron muttered desperately.
And then it happened, Harry was speeding towards the ground and all of the sudden he clapped his hand to his mouth and looked as if he was about to be sick, now on all fours he gagged and something gold fell into his hand.
"I've got the snitch!" He shouted holding it above his head and the game ended in confusion.
Marcus Flint was seething. "He did catch it, he swallowed it!" He was telling people but it didn't matter Harry hadn't broken any rules and Gryffindor had won 170-60.
Not that they heard any of this, they were at Hagrid's hut and Harry had been made a strong cup of tea while they explained to him what they saw.
"It was Snape" Ron told him. "Hermione, Sam, and I saw him. He was cursing your broom muttering under his breath he wouldn't take his eyes of 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 something like that"?
Harry, Sam, Hermione and Ron all looked at each other wondering what to tell him, Harry decided to tell him the truth.
"I found something out about him, he tried to get past that three headed dog on Halloween and it bit him, we think he was trying to steal whatever it's guarding".
Hagrid dropped the teapot.
"How'd you know about Fluffy?"
"Fluffy?"
"Yeah he's mine bought him off a Greek chappie from the pub last year, lent him to Dumbledore to guard the"
"Yes?"
"Sorry you bought a three headed dog off a Greek chappie and named him Fluffy?" Sam cut across sounding incredulous You got any other monstrous pets Hagrid? An acromantula perhaps by the name of Twinkle Toes?" He added sarcastically.
Hagrid frowned at him. "No his name is Aragog".
Sam looked at him disbelievingly. "You've got a-"
"Guarding what Hagrid?" Harry asked cutting across the conversation.
"Now don't ask me anymore, that's top secret" Hagrid said gruffly.
"But Snapes trying to steal it!"
"Rubbish, why'd Snape do a thing like that he's a teacher," said Hagrid.
"So why did he just try and kill Harry, I know a jinx when I see one Hagrid, I've read all about them you have to keep eye contact and Snape wasn't blinking".
"I'm telling yeh, yer wrong". Said Hagrid. "I don't know why Harry's broom acted like that but Snape wouldn't try and kill a student. Now listen to me all four of heh, yer meddlin in things that don' concern you. It's dangerous. You forget that dog an' you forget what it's guarding that's between Professor Dumbledore an' Nicholas Flammel".
"Aha!" Said Harry, "so there's someone called Nicholas Flammel involved eh?"
Sam's face had contorted into a cheshire cat grin and Hagrid looked furious with himself.
Nothing had given them more to too think about than afternoon tea at Hagrid's.
"So who do you suppose this Nicholas Flammel bloke is"? Ron asked as they made their way across the lawn and towards the castle just before dinner.
Sam shrugged. "Beats me".
"Sam, what's an acromantula?" Harry asked him.
"Basically a giant spider, well not really spider more like a gigantic tarantula only more aggressive and likes to feast on human flesh ". He explained.
"And what normal spiders aren't aggressive?" Ron asked indignantly
"Well generally they're fairly docile most try to avoid human contact but I get why people might be scared of them, too many legs and the way they move might be off putting but in general if you leave them alone, they're leave you alone"
Ron looked at him disbelievingly evidently he was afraid of spiders.
"Ron if it's any consolation, you have a higher chance of being singed to the chuddley canons than ever being bitten by a spider and actually dying from it".
Ron perked up at this piece of information.