Chapter Text
The next morning rolled in, and everyone was sitting at the Gryffindor table, eating breakfast. Today starts the first Quidditch match of the year, with the first match being between Gryffindor and Slytherin.
Speaking of which, the star Seeker himself wasn't doing much to get himself ready, with Harry only playing with his food with the fork, feeling nervous. He was sitting next to Hermione, while Jacob and Ron sat on the other side.
"Take a bit of toast, mate. Go on." Ron said while he was eating his food.
Jacob, who was also eating, was feeling sympathy towards his brother, as they made a deal to switch around playing for their team.
"Ron's right, Harry. You'll need your strength today." Hermione said.
"Surely you want to stick it to Malfoy, big brother." Jacob said, trying to ease his brothers tension.
Harry simply raised his head to look at the other three.
"I'm not hungry." He told them.
That moment, Snape approached the quartet, and was now standing on Harry's left.
"Good luck today, Potter." Snape said.
The quartet turned to look at Snape, surprised to see him.
"Then again, now that your brother's proven himself against a troll, a little game of Quidditch should be easy work for the two of you. Even if it is against Slytherin."
Harry, meanwhile, glanced quickly at Snape's leg before looking up at him again.
"Um... thank you, sir." Jacob said, little confused.
Snape didn't react beyond glancing at the other three students before walking away from them. The quartet followed his movements, noticing he was limping because of his right leg.
"That explains the blood." Harry said.
"Blood? What blood?" Jacob asked, as he had not seen the cut on Snape's leg.
"Listen." Harry leaned closer to the others, who did the same. "Last night, i'm guessing Snape let the troll in as a diversion so he could get past that three-headed dog. But he got himself bitten, that's why he's limping."
"But why would anyone go near that dog?" Hermione then asked.
"The day we were at Gringotts, Hagrid took something out of one of the vaults. Said it was Hogwarts business, very secret."
"That's right..." Jacob then said, as he remember what happened at the vault. "... and the package wasn't all that big, probably a size of a fist-sized rock."
"So you're saying--" Hermione started.
"What you mean is--" Jacob said at the same time.
"That's what the dog's guarding." Harry said, slamming his hand on the table. "That's what Snape's after."
Then, owl screeching was heard coming in. The students lifted their heads up to look, and saw not only Hedwig, but another owl fly towards the quartet, with what looked to be brooms wrapped up in parchments.
Flying over the quartet, the owls dropped the packages towards the table, with Jacob catching the unknown owls package, while Harry caught Hedwig's, before they lowered them on the table.
"Bit early for mail, isn't it?" Hermione asked.
"But we never get mail." Harry said.
"Unless you count all the Hogwarts letters we kept getting." Jacob added cheekily.
The other three chuckled at the younger Potter's cheek.
"Let's open one of them." Ron said excited.
The kids then started to open the wrapping on Jacob's mail, and it was indeed a broomstick, and a new model from the looks of it.
"It's a broomstick." The twins said, looking awestruck.
"That's not just a broomstick, guys, it's a Nimbus 2000!" Ron said even more amazed, seeing the name of the broom on the stick.
"Wait, does this mean--?" Jacob was about to say.
As if sensing what Jacob was thinking, they all started to open Harry's mail, and it turned out to be another Nimbus 2000.
"But who--?" Harry was about to ask.
"I think i know, brother." Jacob interrupted him.
Harry looked at his brother, and saw he was looking towards the High Table. Following his gaze, the brothers saw Professor McGonagall scratching Hedwig and the other owl.
She turned to look at the twins and smiled at them, who smiled and nodded a thank you to her.
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Later, the Gryffindor Quidditch team was marching towards their entrance point, led by the team's Captain and Keeper and fifth-year student Oliver Wood, and followed by Seeker Harry, and then by the second-year Chaser Katie Bell, the third-year Beaters Fred and George, and lastly the third-year Chasers Angelina Johnson and Alicia Spinnet.
As they walked up the stairs and stood in front of the wooden door, Harry got next to Wood, really starting to feel nervous about his first Quidditch match. Wood meanwhile noticed this.
"I know what you're thinking, Harry." Wood said. "I'm playing my first game of Quidditch, the entire school's watching me and, worst of all, it's against the Slytherin. Am i right?"
"Pretty close." Harry replied.
"It's all right. I felt the same way before my first game."
"What happened?" Harry turned to look at the Captain.
"Uh... I don't really remember. I took a Bludger to the head two minutes in. Woke up in a hospital a week later."
This didn't really ease Harry in, as he looked wide eyed, and swallowed his spit. The door opened and the team was greeted with the sunlight.
The team then mounted their brooms and kicked into the air, starting to fly around the Quidditch field and they were joined by the Slytherin Quidditch team.
Tthe stadium was full with students from all four Houses who cheered on, although Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff were cheering for Gryffindor to win.
"Hello and welcome to Hogwarts' first Quidditch match of the season!" A voice of Lee Jordan, a third-year Gryffindor and the Quidditch commentator, boomed over the field. He was sitting in one of the towers with the teachers. "Today's game, Slytherin versus Gryffindor!"
The Gryffindor students and Slytherin students were all cheering and waiving the flags that the colors of their respective Houses for their own teams. Harry saw on Gryffindor side of the stadium Jacob, Hermione and Ron having joined Dean, Seamus and Neville. All 6 kids unfurled a banner which read POTTER FOR PRESIDENT.
Penny was with the other Hufflepuffs cheering for the Gryffindor team, as was Talbott with the rest of the Ravenclaws, while Malfoy, Snyde, Crabbe and Goyle had taken front places on Slytherin front.
Harry was flying around, marveling at the sight of the Quidditch field, the audience and the players flying. All the players then flew in the middle of the field and formed a circle, with Harry flying above them, and in front of him was the Seeker for the Slytherin team, Terence Higgs.
"The players take their positions as Madam Hooch steps onto the field to begin the game!" Jordan announced.
Just like he said, Madam Hooch was walking underneath the players, next to her own broomstick and a box which contained the Golden Snitch, Bludgers and Quaffle.
"Now, i want a nice, clean game, from all of you!" Madam Hooch said sternly to the players.
Hooch was directing the last part more towards the Slytherin team. This got the team's captain to simply raise his eyebrow at one of his teammates next to him.
Harry lowered himself towards Angelina a little. "Who's he, Angelina?" He asked, pointing at the captain.
"Marcus Flint, Slytherin Captain. They say he's got troll blood in him." She replied.
Harry swalloed as Flint glared at him murderously. Meanwhile, Hooch kicked the box open, upon which the two Bludgers and Snitch took of, with the Snitch flying around the two Seekers before flying higher.
"The Bludgers are up, followed by the Golden Snitch." Jordan commented. "Remember, the Snitch is worth 150 points. The Seeker who catches the Snitch ends the game."
Madam Hooch then took the Quaffle from the box, and tossed it into the air.
"The Quaffle is released and the game begins!"
At this, the players all started to move to try and grab the Quaffle, with Angelina grabbing on to it first. Wrapping the Quaffle under her arm, she flew off.
"Quaffle's straight off taken by Angelina Johnson of Gryffindor. What an excellent Chaser that girl is, and rather attractive too, i might add..."
Professor McGonagall casted a disapproving glance at Jordan, then turned to watch the action bellow.
Angelina started to close in on Slytherin hoops, while the opposite team players tried to either grab the Quaffle from underneath her arm or push her around. With two Slytherins behind her, Angelina throws the Quaffle through one of the hoops.
One Slytherin player reaches for the Quaffle but isn't able to catch it in time. Angelina scores the first set of of points, with Gryffindors, Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs cheering. She flew to one of the Weasley twins and high fives them.
"Angelina Johnson scores! Ten points to Gryffindor!"
As McGonagall applauds for her House, Jordan places ten points to Gryffindor on the scoreboard.
Harry was applauding at this, even swinging his arm and shouting "Yes--" before a Bludger flew right past him. "Whoa!" Harry lost his balance for a moment before regaining it.
As the Gryffindors cheers filled the air, Hagrid made his way up the stands, scattering students in his wake.
"Budge up there." Hagrid said. "Clear the way. How's Harry holdin' up?"
"He hasn't had much to do yet." Jacob replied.
"First game. He stays outta trouble, that'll be doin' enough."
"Slytherin takes the possession on the Quaffle. Bletchley passes to Captain Marcus Flint." Jordan commented.
The Slytherin's Keeper tossed the Quaffle to Flint, who then dodged the attempts from Alicia and Katie to take it. He also ducked his head to avoid a Bludger before kicking Angelina away. Harry also tries to stop Flint but Flint dodges, before throwing the Quaffle at the highest Gryffindor hoop.
But then Wood flies up, throwing the Quaffle at one of his teammates with the back of his broomstick. Flint glares at him, while Wood simply smirks back.
Katie and Alicia were flying between the towers while tossing the Quaffle back and forth to each other, while Slytherin players were hot on their trail. Katie took a hold of the Quaffle and flew towards the hoops.
She ended up circling them before tossing it at Angelina who then threw it through the highest hoop, while the Slytherin Keeper failed to catch it in time. Gryffindors cheered at this again.
"Yes!" Harry applauded.
"Another 10 points to Gryffindor!" Jordan announces, placing the points for the team again.
The Slytherin's Chaser Adrian Pucey had gotten the Quaffle, and after kicking Angelina away, he threw it towards the hoop, which Wood stopped by simply catching it in his hands before tossing it back at his team.
At this point, Flint decided to play dirty.
"Give me that!" He ordered as he took a bat from his Beater.
As a Bludger came right at him, Flint hit it towards Wood. Wood wasn't able to avoid it in time, as he got hit in the chest. This knocked Wood unconscious and he dropped off his broom to the ground.
While the Slytherin's all laughed and cheered for this, the rest of the Houses boo'd. Harry glared at Flint, who tossed the bat back at his teammate, while McGonagall could be seen with a worried face.
George looked behind him and saw Flint with another player approach him from behind, tossing the Quaffle back and forth. Jumping over one of the Weasley twins, Flint took the Quaffle and threw it through one of the hoops, scoring the Slytherin it's first 10 points.
This got Malfoy, Snyde and the rest of their house to cheer, while Harry was starting to get frustrated.
"Take that side!" Flint ordered his teammate.
The two closed in on Angelina who had the Quaffle from both sides. they started to push her from both sides, pinning her down and causing her to crash into one of the towers.
The other three houses boo'd again at this, even most of the teachers rose up from their seats in worry when Angelina slid on the sand.
The Slytherin Beater had Quaffle under him. He tossed it in the air before spinning, hitting the Quaffle with the back of his broomstick.
The Quaffle flew towards the Gryffindor hoops, and nobody was able to catchit. The Slytherin scored another 10 points, now being with 20 points and tied with Gryffindor's score.
Harry, meanwhile, was still higher in the air, keeping an eye on the game while still trying to spot the Snitch. At that moment the Snitch flew in front of him, and the moment it started to fly away, Harry took off after it.
Ducking to avoid an incoming Bludger, Harry's broomstick suddenly stopped in it's tracks and started spinning and jumping, almost like it was trying to toss him off of it.
"What's goin' on with Harry's broomstick?" Hagrid asked as he and the Gryffindors had noticed what was happening to Harry.
Hermione was looking at Harry through Hagrid's binoculars, and when he got close to the tower the teachers were sitting at, she noticed what while most of the teachers were confused and worried, Snape was staring at Harry without blinking his eyes, while muttering something, and Quirrell was staring at him with a straight face, though she focused on Snape.
"It's Snape! He's jinxing his broom!" Hermione said to Jacob and Ron.
"What?!" Jacob said with a shocked voice and tried to get a good look at Snape.
"Jinxing the broom? What do we do?" Ron then asked.
"Leave it to me." Hermione said, handed the binoculars to Jacob and took off.
Harry kept holding on to the broom for dear life as it kept trying to drop him, before the broom did a front flip, and while Harry fell off, he managed to hold on to the broom with his right hand.
Meanwhile, Hagrid and Gryffindors looked in horror while Malfoy and the rest of the Slytherins laughed at him, all the while Snape kept his gaze at Harry and kept muttering. Harry managed to grab on to his broom with his left arm, while Fred hovered nearby and George circled about ten feet below.
"What's George doing?" Harry asked.
"Just in case you fall, George will..." Fred said, though he wasn't sure himself. "... catch you."
On the stadium, Jacob and Ron were keeping a close eye on Harry. Jacob was looking at Harry through the binoculars.
"Come on, Hermione!" Ron said panicking.
"Oh, i knew we should've gone out for football." Jacob tried joking nervously.
Hermione had gotten into the wooden stairs of the tower the teachers were at, and while running up, she finally made it underneath the teachers seats. Taking her wand out, she got close to Snape's robes, and pointed the wand at it.
"Lacarnum Inflamarae." She chanted quietly.
A fireball shot from the wand into Snape's robe, and with that, she started to run away. Snape's robe started to light little more on fire as the smoke started to rise up.
A teacher on Snape's left noticed the fire and got up. "Fire! You're on fire!" He said panicking.
This got everyone's attention, and noticing the fire on his robes, Snape got up and started to stump on it to put it out. This caused him to knock down a teacher behind him, who in turn knocked Quirrell down.
When this happened, Harry's broom stopped moving. Noticing this, Harry kicked himself on it before taking off, going after the Snitch which was being chased by Higgs.
"Go, go, go, go!" Hagrid shouting while the students cheered Harry on.
Higgs was hot on Snitch's trail, but then Harry got next to him, and the two started to push each other. When Higgs did a more powerful push at Harry, he flew further but quickly got back on the trail. With the Snitch making a nosedive to the ground, the Seekers followed it while still pushing each other.
The closer it got to the ground, more nervous the Seekers were getting, though Higgs was getting more nervous compared to Harry. Higgs then decided to lift his broom up, while Harry waited a second longer before lifting his. Now he and Snitch were hovering on the edge of the ground.
Harry started to get on his feet, balancing himself on his broom while reaching for the Snitch with his hand. Stepping on the edge of the broom to catch the Snitch, this caused the broom to hit the ground, and Harry swung himself on the sand.
Flipping over, Harry got on his feet, but then he started to clutch his stomach, as if he was about to throw up. The teacher were now focusing on Harry, and as Hermione was making her way back, she noticed what was happening to Harry as well.
Penny was leaning more on the railing to see what was going on with Harry, as was Talbott with a confused look. Jacob and Ron, along with the other kids looked confused at what was happening.
"Looks like he's gonna be sick." Hagrid said, lowering his binoculars.
Then suddenly, Harry spit the Snitch from his mouth into his hands. Turned out he had caught it with his mouth while flying face first to the ground.
"He's got the Snitch!" Jordan announced. "Harry Potter receives 150 points for catching the Snitch!"
Madam Hooch flies over, blowing her whistle. "Gryffindor wins!" She announced.
Jacob, Ron, Dean, Neville and Seamus begin to celebrate with their House, along with Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs. Penny was putting her arms around the shoulders of two of her classmates while jumping up and down, while Talbott clapped and cheered. The Slytherins only groaned and boo'd.
"No." Malfoy said, covering his face with his hands.
"Yes!" Hagrid cheered.
"Wohoo!" Hermione shouted while clapping.
The professors are also cheering, especially McGonagall who looks proud at Harry's victory, while Snape's face switches between that of relief and disappointment.
Harry then starts smiling and raises the Snitch in the air with his hand, while the Gryffindor players circle him and start cheering for him as well, with Harry basking in on the victory.
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Later, the Quartet are walking outside with Hagrid. Hermione had a while ago told Harry what she had seen Snape do to the broom, and the kids were now explaining it to Hagrid, though he didn't believe it.
"Nonsense. Why would Snape put a curse on Harry's broom?" Hagrid said.
"Who knows?" Harry asked, before asking Hagrid the big question. "Why was he trying to get past that three-headed dog on Halloween?"
"Who told you about Fluffy?"
"Fluffy?" Ron asked.
"That thing has a name?" Hermione also asked.
"Huh. Not the first name i'd thought of." Jacob said with eyebrows raised.
"'Course he's got a name. He's mine." Hagrid said. "I bought him off an Irish fellow i met at a pub las' year. Then i lent him to Dumbledore to guard the--" He suddenly stopped talking.
"Yes?" Jacob and Harry asked together.
"Shouldn't have said that. No more questions! Don' ask anymore questions! That's top-secret, that is."
"But Hagrid, whatever Fluffy's guarding, Snape's trying to steal it." Jacob said.
At this point, the group stopped walking, with Hagrid facing the kids fully. "Codswallop! Professor Snape is a Hogwarts teacher."
"Hogwarts teacher or not..." Hermione said. "... i know a spell when i see one. I've read all about them. You've got to keep eye contact, and Snape wasn't blinking."
"Exactly" Jacob said.
Hagrid sighted at this. "Now, you listen to me, all four of yeh--yer meddlin' in things that ought not to be meddled in. It's dangerous. What that dog is guardin' is strictly betw'n Professor Dumbledore and Nicolas Flamel--"
"Nicolas Flamel?" Harry asked.
The kids started glancing at each other when they heard the name, while Hagrid made a face, realizing he was talking too much.
"I shouldn't have said that. I should not have said that."
He kept repeating this as he started to walk away from the quartet back to his hut, and the twins kept looking at Hagrid's retreating form.
"Nicolas Flamel. Who's Nicolas Flamel?" Harry asked.
Ron took a look at Hermione, who in turn slightly shook her head.
"I don't know." She said.
While Harry turned back to look at Hagrid, Jacob looked like he was deep in thought while looking at the ground.
'Why does that name sound familiar? Where have i heard of it before?' He thought, while Hermione took a look at the boy.