Lionus and the Doctor took seats beside Dumbledore, who conjured up the chairs for them.

As they entered November, the weather turned very cold. The mountains around the school became icy gray and the lake like chilled steel.

"You always could describe things beautifully" said Dr. Clark giving Harry a one armed hug.

Every morning the ground was covered in frost. Hagrid could be seen from the upstairs windows defrosting broomsticks on the Quidditch field,

"I always wondered what you were doing, Hagrid." said Percy looking thoughtful. He wasn't upset that Umbridge was now in Ranger custody, he never really liked her at all. And he was glad he wouldn't have to look at her any longer. She was a severe strain on his eyes.

bundled up in a long moleskin overcoat, rabbit fur gloves, and enormous beaver skin boots.

"Very fashionable, as always." sneered Pansy.

"Don't get me started again." said Harry warningly.

Pansy turned pink and scowled at him.

The Quidditch season had begun. On Saturday, Harry would be playing in his first match after weeks of training: Gryffindor versus Slytherin. If Gryffindor won, they would move up into second place in the House Championship.

The Gryffindors, fifth years and up all groaned in memory of their devastating loss at the end of that year.

"Something tells me you didn't make it to the Championships." said Sirius consolingly.

"We made it to the Championships, but we didn't win." said Ron sadly.

Hardly anyone had seen Harry play because Wood had decided that, as their secret weapon, Harry should be kept, well, secret.

"Some secrets are not very well kept in this school." said Harry wisely. "And this was one of those times."

But the news that he was playing Seeker had leaked out somehow,

"Um, yeah, that would be me." said Ron meekly.

"Oh, Ron! We wanted to keep Harry's playing a secret!" chided Katie.

"Sorry, I just bragged to a few people." said Ron sheepishly.

"Who then told a bunch more people." said Harry kindly.

and Harry didn't know which was worse, people telling him he'd be brilliant or people telling him they'd be running around underneath him holding a mattress.

"The mattress one was probably the one that made me feel worse." said Harry.

"I can understand that one." said Dr. Clark and Sirius.

It was really lucky that Harry now had Hermione as a friend. He didn't know how he'd have gotten through all his homework without her.

"With all the Quidditch practice, he almost forgot to do his homework. You kept reminding him, and me for that matter." said Ron putting an arm around Hermione.

"Now I know neither of you needed it." she huffed.

"I did! I was still a nitwit then!" said Ron laughing.

what with all the last-minute Quidditch practice Wood was making them do. She had also lent him Quidditch Through the Ages, which turned out to be a very interesting read.

"I thought you would like that book." said Hermione brightly.

"After he took it back, I went and checked it out too." said Ron.

Harry learned that there were seven hundred ways of committing a Quidditch foul and that all of them had happened during a World Cup match in 1473;

"That is a lot of fouls, and all those happened in that one game?" asked Dr. Clark.

"From what I hear." said Sirius with a smile.

"That must have been one hell of a game." said Dr. Clark laughing quietly.

that Seekers were usually the smallest and fastest players,

"Well then you were perfect for the position." said Dr. Clark fondly.

Sirius looked on jealously as Harry smiled and leaned heavily against the Doctor.

Dr. Clark and Remus both saw the look on his face. Remus leaned over slightly and whispered in his ear "He's a little possessive of his cub." Remus had a slightly apologetic look on his face.

"I've noticed, Jim was the same way. Anybody who messed with his 'Sport' was asking for a fist in their face. If he could have gotten away with it, Vernon Dursley wouldn't be around for as long as he has. Speaking of which..." said Dr. Clark, his face growing dark.

"He's in Auror custody." said Lupin quickly. Dr. Clark smiled broadly.

and that most serious Quidditch accidents seemed to happen to them; that although people rarely died playing Quidditch, referees had been known to vanish and turn up months later in the Sahara Desert.

"And people still sign up for that job?" asked Dr. Clark.

"It pays pretty good, about two thousand galleons a game." said Sirius, he still was slightly put off by the Doctor.

"I take it that's a lot of money." said Dr. Clark with raised eyebrows.

"Hell, yeah." said Malfoy.

Hermione had become a bit more relaxed about breaking rules since Harry and Ron had saved her from the mountain troll,

"Like we said, we ruined you." said Harry and Ron brightly.

The whole school laughed.

and she was much nicer for it. The day before Harry's first Quidditch match the three of them were out in the freezing courtyard during break, and she had conjured them up a bright blue fire that could be carried around in a jam jar.

"That's a third year spell!" yelled the third years.

"And she used it in our first year." said Ron proudly.

They were standing with their backs to it, getting warm, when Snape crossed the yard.

"Who's Snape?" asked Dr. Clark.

"Professor Snape," corrected Dumbledore absently. " is the Potion's Master of the school."

Harry let out a small gasp as the pain once again claimed hold of his body. Professor Snape hurried over and helped Harry drink the same potion as before. Dr. Clark held Harry's hand and Sirius took out his handkerchief and wiped the sweat that had appeared from the strain of holding back a scream.

Once again, he gasped and weakly laid his head down with his head in Dr. Clark's lap. Sirius picked up his legs and cradled them in his own lap.

"He seems decent enough." whispered Dr. Clark to Remus.

"He's gotten a lot better. He used to be a holy terror." said Remus with a small smile.

"Haven't we all?" said Dr. Clark with a smirk.

Harry noticed at once that Snape was limping.

"Potter, you're too observant for your own good." said Professor Snape sharply.

"You can blame that on Jim, he wanted Harry to become a police officer. Trained up his observations skills, Harry's so good that he could tell you what you had for lunch, just by looking at your footprints in the mud." said Dr. Clark proudly. Moody looked up quickly with excitement in his eyes.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione moved closer together to block the fire from view; they were sure it wouldn't be allowed.

"Normally yes, but if it used to keep a student warm, outside, then you are permitted to use it." said McGonagall looking over to Snape. "You better not have taken points away from the fire." she warned.

"Not the fire, no." muttered Snape quietly.

Unfortunately, something about their guilty faces caught Snape's eye.

"Half the time, Severus, you LOOK for the guilty faces in the halls." squeaked Professor Flitwick.

"How else do I stop the students from destroying the school and it's integrity?" he snarled.

He limped over. He hadn't seen the fire, but he seemed to be looking for a reason to tell them off anyway.

"Go figure, Harry is over there, why shouldn't he look for a reason to tell them off?" said Fred sarcastically.

"Potter! Five points from Gryffindor for breathing too loud!" said George imitating Snape.

"I can't take points away, but that doesn't mean I can't give the two of you detentions!" snapped the Potions Master. Fred and George immediately silenced themselves.

"What's that you've got there, Potter?"

It was Quidditch Through the Ages. Harry showed him.

"Library books are not to be taken outside the school," said Snape. "Give it to me. Five points from Gryffindor."

"Severus! There is no rule against taking the books out of the school!" shouted McGonagall.

Snape shifted in his seat, "sorry." he muttered quietly.

"He's just made that rule up," Harry muttered angrily as Snape limped away.

"He most certainly did." said McGonagall furiously.

"Wonder what's wrong with his leg?"

"Dunno, but I hope it's really hurting him," said Ron bitterly.

"RONALD!" screeched Mrs. Weasely. "YOU APOLOGIZE RIGHT NOW!"

"Sorry sir," he said just as quiet as Professor Snape's apology.

The Gryffindor common room was very noisy that evening.

"When isn't it?" said the Gryffindors in unison.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat together next to a window. Hermione was checking Harry and Ron's Charms homework for them. She would never let them copy

"Very good Miss Granger, don't let them cheat." said Professor Vector.

"But it seems that Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasely already knew the answers." said Professor Sprout.

"I didn't, Harry was tutoring me when Hermione wasn't around, so in a sense, I had two tutors." said Ron

("How will you learn?"), but by asking her to read it through, they got the right answers anyway.

"You'd be a great teacher Hermione, you should look into that." said Harry gaining back some strength.

"You're a better teacher, Harry." she replied quickly, thinking of the upcoming and previous D.A. sessions.

Harry felt restless. He wanted Quidditch Through the Ages back, to take his mind off his nerves about tomorrow. Why should he be afraid of Snape?

"I can give forty reasons, Harry!" whimpered Colin.

"I can give you fifty." said Neville looking warily over to Professor Snape. Snape was trying to hide a smirk behind his hand.

Getting up, he told Ron and Hermione he was going to ask Snape if he could have it.

"Better you than me," they said together,

"Nice to know that your friends have your back." said Dr. Clark with a small smile.

"We do, though!" cried Hermione, Ron looked ashamed.

"I was teasing, honey." he said with a warm smile. Hermione blushed.

but Harry had an idea that Snape wouldn't refuse if there were other teachers listening.

"Sound reasoning." said Professor Flitwick.

He made his way down to the staffroom and knocked. There was no answer. He knocked again. Nothing.

"Ever think no one is in there?" shot Zacharias.

"I heard voices in there, there was someone in there." said Harry quickly.

Perhaps Snape had left the book in there? It was worth a try. He pushed the door ajar and peered inside – and a horrible scene met his eyes.

"Oh no! Now what?" moaned Sirius and Remus.

"Things didn't go well for you earlier?" said Dr. Clark looking down at Harry.

"You could say that." said Harry carefully.

Snape and Filch were inside, alone.

"Worse than I thought." said Sirius trying to hold in a laugh.

Remus was shaking with silent laughter.

Snape was snarling immensely.

Snape was holding his robes above his knees.

More people sniggered slightly, with their hands over their eyes. Snape's eyes were almost bulging out of their sockets.

One of his legs was bloody and mangled.

"What happened, sir?" said Malfoy, trying to recover from his silent laughing fit.

Snape refused to say.

Filch was handing Snape bandages.

"Blasted thing," Snape was saying. "How are you supposed to keep your eyes on all three heads at once?"

"Wait a minute...you went to that monster's corridor?" asked Sirius quickly.

Remus quickly explained to Dr. Clark what Sirius was talking about. Dr. Clark gripped Harry tightly.

Harry tried to shut the door quietly, but —

"POTTER!" Snape's face was twisted with fury as he dropped his robes quickly to hide his leg. Harry gulped.

"I just wondered if I could have my book back."

"You've got some massive amount of guts to ask him for the book." said Charlie shaking his head.

"And some stupidity." said Bill shaking his head as well.

"GET OUT! OUT! "

Harry left, before Snape could take any more points from Gryffindor. He sprinted back upstairs.

"How many floors?" asked Dr. Clark.

"Seven." said Hermione.

"Well that should have only taken you at the most seven minutes, unless you put on some of that speed of yours." he said proudly.

"Did you get it?" Ron asked as Harry joined them. "What's the matter?"

In a low whisper, Harry told them what he'd seen.

"Thanks for watering that down, mate." said Ron gratefully.

"You know what this means?" he finished breathlessly. "He tried to get past that three-headed dog at Halloween! That's where he was going when we saw him — he's after whatever it's guarding! And I'd bet my broomstick he let that troll in, to make a diversion!"

"If you want my broomstick, sir, the Whomping Willow is currently borrowing it right now. Feel free to try and go and get it." said Harry with a playful smile.

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."

"Thank you for the vote of confidence, Miss Granger." muttered Professor Snape with a smirk.

"Honestly, Hermione, you think all teachers are saints or something," snapped Ron.

"We know that ain't true now." said the three of them.

"I'm with Harry. I wouldn't put anything past Snape.

But what's he after? What's that dog guarding?"

"Can't you tell us?" whined Dennis.

"Nope, you'll find out just as soon as our younger selves do." said Harry, holding a hand up to stop Hermione.

Harry went to bed with his head buzzing with the same question. Neville was snoring loudly, but Harry couldn't sleep.

"Yeah, remember when we read about you in that hotel? You never could sleep if you're worried about something." said Dean.

"Miss. Granger, Mr. Weasely, if Mr. Potter isn't able to sleep for any reason, you go and get Madam Pomfrey. Understand?" said Professor McGonagall quickly.

To Harry's dislike, Hermione and Ron quickly nodded.

He tried to empty his mind—

"So you do know how to close your mind!" said Dumbledore happily.

"Yeah, but it didn't work much that night." said Harry glumly.

he needed to sleep, he had to, he had his first Quidditch match in a few hours – but the expression on Snape's face when Harry had seen his leg wasn't easy to forget.

The next morning dawned very bright and cold. The Great Hall was full of the delicious smell of fried sausages

"Ron.." said Hermione when she heard Ron's stomach growl.

and the cheerful chatter of everyone looking forward to a good Quidditch match.

"You've got to eat some breakfast."

"I don't want anything."

"The same thing goes for him not eating!" said McGonagall sharply. Harry groaned.

"Just a bit of toast," wheedled Hermione.

"I'm not hungry."

Harry felt terrible. In an hour's time he'd be walking onto the field.

"Harry, you need your strength," said Seamus Finnigan. "Seekers are always the ones who get clobbered by the other team."

"I guess I could've put that a little better." said Seamus a little embarrassed.

"Gee, you think?" said Charlie rolling his eyes.

"Thanks, Seamus," said Harry, watching Seamus pile ketchup on his sausages.

"I'm amazed I didn't throw up, there." said Harry quietly.

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 the West Ham fan up in the top row.

"You like them too, eh?" said Dr. Clark to Dean. Lee coughed as they were going into their eleventh minute of discussing the finer points of the team and their games.

"Quidditch now, West Ham, later." he said with a regal look.

As a surprise for Harry, they had painted a large banner on one of the sheets Scabbers had ruined.

"Stupid thing, he chewed them all to hell." muttered Ron.

It said Potter for President, and Dean, who was good at drawing,

"Don't tell me you can draw, as well!" said Hermione exasperatedly.

"Only floor plans." said Harry vaguely. "Thankfully that's only squares."

"Why would you draw floor plans?" said Hermione quickly.

"Never mind." said Harry. Hermione huffed.

had done a large Gryffindor lion underneath. Then Hermione had performed a tricky little charm so that the paint flashed different colors.

"Oooohhh!" said the students impressively.

"That would have been cool to see!" said one of the small first years.

Meanwhile, in the locker room, Harry and the rest of the team were changing into their scarlet Quidditch robes (Slytherin would be playing in green).

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 Weasley.

"The one we've all been waiting for," said George.

We know Oliver's speech by heart," Fred told Harry, "we were on the team last year."

"Notice we said 'Oliver's SPEECH." said Fred, shaking his head.

"He never changes that speech, at least Angelina changes it around a bit." said Katie. She turned to look at Angelina, and was surprised to see her grinning maliciously.

"Why are you grinning like that Angelina?" asked Alicia. "It's a little scary."

"Because, Harry, Fred and George can play Quidditch again, Umbridge is gone! Her ban is lifted!"

The Gryffindors sat in shock, then they raised the roof with their shouts.

"Finally!" sighed George, Harry and Fred, all three of them were looking up at the ceiling.

"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."

"Nice guy." said Sirius with a chuckle.

"Right. It's time. Good luck, all of you."

Harry followed Fred and George out of the locker room and, hoping his knees weren't going to give way,

People looked around at each other, They couldn't believe it, Harry Potter was nervous before a game?

walked onto the field to loud cheers.

Madam Hooch was refereeing.

"I take it she doesn't get paid the two thousand galleons a game." said Dr. Clark to Lupin.

"No, she is the flying instructor and the best one on a broom. She automatically gets to referee. She does get a bonus though for doing it." said Lupin smiling.

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. Harry noticed that she seemed to be speaking particularly to the Slytherin Captain, Marcus Flint, a sixth year.

"Yeah, he was a real nasty and mean player." said Alicia furiously. "One time he actually picked me off my broom and dropped me in the stands. He wasn't allowed to play for the rest of the season."

Harry thought Flint looked as if he had some troll blood in him.

"Explains a whole lot." said Alicia venomously.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw the fluttering banner high above, flashing Potter for President over the crowd. His heart skipped. He felt braver.

"We could see your grin all the way from up there." said Hermione smiling and laughing.

"Mount your brooms, please."

Harry clambered onto his Nimbus Two Thousand.

Madam Hooch gave a loud blast on her silver whistle.

Fifteen brooms 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."

Lee looked over to Angelina, and smiled as she blew a kiss to him.

"Now I wish I asked you out before George got ahold of you." said Lee grudgingly.

"Sorry Lee, but I ain't letting go." said George slyly.

The Weasley twins' friend, Lee Jordan, was doing the commentary for the match, closely watched by Professor McGonagall.

"I have to, goodness knows if anything would have been commented on if I didn't try and keep him on track." said McGonagall massaging the bridge of her nose.

"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—

"And not a bad looker either." said Lee. Alicia winked at him.

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—

"Must been a good day for him, cause normally he flies like a drunken seagull." said Lee under his breath.

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

"another beauty of a flyer, on and off the field." said Lee looking at Katie.

"LEE!" shouted McGonagall. "Enough! Proposition the girls another time!"

"Yes ma'am." said Lee quickly, moving on with the book.

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—

"It did, I saw stars for a while." said Katie.

Dr. Clark looked slowly at Harry.

"I didn't get hit, least not that year." said Harry quickly.

"That doesn't make me feel any better." said Remus, Sirius and Dr. Clark in unison.

"Oh, we are going to get along splendidly." said Sirius brightly, clapping Dr. Clark on the back.

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—

"Still can't half the time." muttered Lee.

nice play by the Gryffindor Beater, anyway,

"Nice save Lee." said George and Fred laughing.

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

People who were fourth years or younger sat forward in their chairs.

—Keeper Bletchley dives — misses — GRYFFINDORS SCORE!"

The Gryffindor House erupted in cheers.

Gryffindor cheers filled the cold air, with howls and moans from the Slytherins.

The Slytherins moaned once more.

"Budge up there, move along."

"Hagrid!"

"That was nice of you Hagrid, coming to Harry's first game." said Luna dreamily.

"Well, I used to see 'Arry's dad play, all the time." said 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 Harry.

"How high up in the air were you?" asked Dr. Clark.

"About sixty feet or so, I think." said Harry.

Dr. Clark whistled.

Way up above them, Harry was gliding over the game, squinting about for some sign of the Snitch. This was part of his and Wood's game plan.

"Keep out of the way until you catch sight of the Snitch," Wood had said. "We don't want you attacked before you have to be."

"I think we would rather you not be attacked at all." said Remus, the two other men nodded.

When Angelina had scored, Harry had done a couple of loop-the-loops to let off his feelings.

"I actually saw that Harry, and so did a bunch others. They couldn't wait to have Gryffindor score again, just to see what you would do." said Angelina.

Harry turned red.

Now he was back to staring around for the Snitch. Once he caught sight of a flash of gold, but it was just a reflection from one of the Weasleys' wristwatches,

"Kinda explains why you smacked us later on that day." said Fred, absently rubbing the back of his head.

and once a Bludger decided to come pelting his way, more like a cannonball than anything, but Harry dodged it and Fred Weasley came chasing after it.

"All right there, Harry?" he had time to yell, as he beat the Bludger furiously toward Marcus Flint.

"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 well as the crowd in the great hall.

as Adrian Pucey dropped the Quaffle, too busy looking over his shoulder at the flash of gold that had passed his left ear.

Harry saw it. In a great rush of excitement he dived downward after the streak of gold. Slytherin Seeker Terence Higgs had seen it, too. Neck and neck they hurtled toward the Snitch—all the Chasers seemed to have forgotten what they were supposed to be doing as they hung in midair to watch.

"Oliver kinda yelled at us for that, but he was watching too." said Katie with a pout on her lips.

Harry was faster than Higgs—he could see the little round ball, wings fluttering, darting up ahead — he put on an extra spurt of speed—

"And he gets it!" said Sirius excitedly.

"Not really." said Harry sadly, then he paled, he knew what was coming in a moment. He readjusted himself so he was leaning against Sirius now and held tightly onto his hand.

"You okay, cub?" said Sirius, with a worried look on his face.

"After last chapter, I think you need me over here." he said quietly.

"Not a wise idea, Harry." said Dr. Clark, who helped Harry pick his legs up and lay them on his lap.

"Why not?" said Harry confused.

"From your Rehabilitation days, I remember that you are ticklish...here" he stared digging his fingers into the back of Harry's leg.

"AAAHHH! NO PLEASE!" he said laughing and trying to squirm away.

Sirius laughed loudly.

"Dr. Clark, I mean, Sam, careful. His legs still hurt from a month ago." said Madame Pomfrey, not wishing to intervene. He stopped quickly, but smiled over to Harry.

"Gee, your mean." said Harry shaking his head.

WHAM! A roar of rage echoed from the Gryffindors below — Marcus Flint had blocked Harry on purpose, and Harry's broom spun off course, Harry holding on for dear life.

"What the..? THAT DIRTY LITTLE..." Sirius stopped when he saw Mrs. Weasely glower he swallowed his curse.

But other people were shouting as well, including a few younger Slytherins.

Foul!" screamed the Gryffindors.

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.

The Gryffindors groaned.

Down in the stands, Dean Thomas was yelling, "Send him off, ref! Red card!"

"What are you talking about, Dean?" said Ron.

"Good question." said Lee, looking confused.

"Red card!" said Dean furiously. "In football you get shown the red card and you're out of the game!"

"Oh, well in that case...RED CARD!" yelled Lee.

People around the hall sniggered.

"But this isn't football, Dean," Ron reminded him.

"Who cares?" said Lee and Dean.

Hagrid, however, was on Dean's side. "They oughta change the rules. Flint coulda knocked Harry outta the air."

"And if he had, I'd bust him right in the mouth." snarled Sirius.

"Sirius! He's a child!"

"Not anymore, Molly, the book said he was sixth year. He's twenty now." said Remus darkly.

Lee Jordan was finding it difficult not to take sides.

"So — after that obvious and disgusting bit of cheating —"

People started to giggle.

"Jordan!" growled Professor McGonagall.

"I mean, after that open and revolting foul…"

Then they were laughing.

"Jordan, I'm warning you—"

"All right, all right. Flint nearly kills the Gryffindor Seeker, which could happen to anyone, I'm sure,

Then they were rolling on the floor laughing hard.

so a penalty to Gryffindor, taken by Spinnet, who puts it away, no trouble, and we continue play, Gryffindor still in possession."

It was as Harry dodged another Bludger, which went spinning dangerously past his head, that it happened.

"Huh?" said most of the students.

His broom gave a sudden, frightening lurch.

"What?" asked Sirius, getting more and concerned by the minute.

For a split second, he thought he was going to fall. He gripped the broom tightly with both his hands and knees. He'd never felt anything like that.

"What's going on?" asked Dr. Clark fearfully.

It happened again. It was as though the broom was trying to buck him off. But Nimbus Two Thousands did not suddenly decide to buck their riders off.

"They most certainly don't! What in the hell?" asked Remus, he was quite pale.

Harry tried to turn back toward the Gryffindor goal-posts — he had half a mind to ask Wood to call time-out—and then he realized that his broom was completely out of his control. He couldn't turn it. He couldn't direct it at all. It was zigzagging through the air, and every now and then making violent swishing movements that almost unseated him.

People who weren't at the game, stared in fear. What was going on? Sirius, Dr. Clark, and Remus were holding on to Harry tightly.

Lee was still commentating.

"I didn't know all that was going on." said Lee a little shamefully.

"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—

No one laughed, they wanted to find out what was going on with Harry's broom.

Slytherins score—Ah no…"

The Slytherins were cheering. No one seemed to have noticed that Harry's broom was behaving strangely. It was carrying him slowly higher, away from the game, jerking and twitching as it went.

"Get to the ground Harry!" yelled Dr. Clark.

"He can't, the broom's jinxed!" said Sirius fearfully.

"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…"

"Well thank Merlin Hagrid was watching out for Harry." said Mr. Weasely, his face was white. "Goodness knows what could happen if no one noticed." he patted his wife on the back supportively.

Suddenly, people were pointing up at Harry all over the stands. His broom had started to roll over and over, with him only just managing to hold on. Then the whole crowd gasped. Harry's broom had given a wild jerk and Harry swung off it.

Several girls screamed.

Sirius and Dr. Clark's grip tightened on Harry's hands.

He was now dangling from it, holding on with only one hand.

Dr. Clark screwed his eyes shut. He wasn't sure if he could take it anymore.

"Did something happen to it when Flint blocked him?" Seamus whispered.

"Can't have," Hagrid said, his voice shaking. "Can't nothing 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 Harry, she started looking frantically at the crowd.

"What are you doing?" asked Remus, gray-faced.

"What are you doing?" moaned Ron, gray-faced.

"I knew it," Hermione gasped, "Snape — look."

Ron grabbed the binoculars. Snape was in the middle of the stands opposite them. He had his eyes fixed on Harry and was muttering nonstop under his breath.

Several people turned in their chairs and glared at him. Snape merely ignored them. He knew he was innocent, but proclaiming it now, would not help in him in the slightest.

"He's doing something — jinxing the broom," said Hermione.

Sirius snarled in Snape's direction and was about to pull out his wand.

"Sirius! It wasn't him." yelled Harry, gripping the wand.

Sirius looked at him in shock.

"Remember what I said in Dumbledore's office, about accusing someone without definite proof? He was one of the four people I was talking about!" said Harry, eyes flashing.

"Who were the other people?" said Remus, his wand was almost out of his pocket as well.

"You'll find out later." said Harry tiredly.

"I'm starting to hate that sentence." said the two Marauders.

"What should we do?"

"Leave it to me."

"When you get like that, you remind me of Harry." said Ron shaking his head.

Before Ron could say another word, Hermione had disappeared. Ron turned the binoculars back on Harry. His broom was vibrating so hard, it was almost impossible for him to hang on much longer.

Mrs. Weasely was pale and sobbing into her husband's chest, who was also pale looking. The men in the bowl were holding onto Harry just as tightly as they dared.

The whole crowd was on its feet, watching, terrified, as the Weasleys flew up to try and pull Harry safely onto one of their brooms, but it was no good – every time they got near him, the broom would jump higher still. They dropped lower and circled beneath him, obviously hoping to catch him if he fell.

"We felt completely useless. It sucked. We didn't want you riding a broom after that." said George gravely.

Marcus Flint seized the Quaffle and scored five times without anyone noticing.

"Professor McGonagall noticed, she gave him five weeks of detention for that stunt of his." said Lee, trying to lighten the mood, he failed miserably.

"Come on, Hermione," Ron muttered desperately.

Hermione had fought her way across to the stand where Snape stood, and was now racing along the row behind him; she didn't even stop to say sorry as she knocked Professor Quirrell headfirst into the row in front.

"Well that explains how his jinx broke suddenly." said Snape to himself.

Reaching Snape, she crouched down, pulled out her wand, and whispered a few, well-chosen words. Bright blue flames shot from her wand onto the hem of Snape's robes.

Hermione took one of the blankets from the floor and tried to cover herself up, away from Professor Snape's glare.

"You...were...the...one...who...set...fire...to me?" he said slowly, but his voice was loud and thunderous.

"Severus, she was trying to save Harry, you can understand, I hope?" said Dumbledore carefully.

"I DIDN'T JINX HIM!" he shouted.

"We know that now, but she didn't, not at the time. I will not allow you to punish her longer than two nights of detention. I'm sorry Miss Granger, but not even I can eradicate the whole." he said to her sadly.

"No detention, but she's buying me a new robe." he said, calming himself down.

"Yes sir, I will." she said quickly, still hiding herself.

"After this, we're throwing her a party, setting fire to Snape! She rules!" whispered Fred and George to Ron. He nodded furiously.

It took perhaps thirty seconds for Snape to realize that he was on fire.

"It's a special potions robe, I had saved up money for it." he said still looking over at Hermione.

"Umm...how much were they?" asked Hermione nervously.

"They run about three hundred galleons." said Harry calmly. Noticing her stricken face, he added. "I'll pay for it, it was because of me that you 'lit him up'."

A sudden yelp told her she had done her job. Scooping the fire off him into a little jar in her pocket, she scrambled back along the row—Snape would never know what had happened.

"Till now anyway." said Neville.

It was enough. Up in the air, Harry was suddenly able to clamber back on to his broom.

There was a collective sigh of relief. Even the Ranger's Doctor was patting his chest, to steady his heart.

"The boy is worse than the lot of you." he said towards Lionus.

"I'm more impressed with the fact that he could stay on for that long. He does have Ranger tendencies, very strong ones." he said looking thoughtfully over to the bowl and its inhabitants.

"Neville, you can look!" Ron said. Neville had been sobbing into Hagrid's jacket for the last five minutes.

"Sorry Hagird," said Neville sheepishly.

"S'all right Neville." said Hagrid kindly.

Harry was speeding toward the ground when the crowd saw him clap his hand to his mouth as though he was about to be sick—

"I think I would have gotten sick up in the air, I wouldn't be waiting till I got to the ground." said Dr. Clark, looking slightly green. Sirius nodded in agreement.

he hit the field on all fours—coughed—

"However, holding your hands out to catch the sick wasn't a good idea." said Dr. Clark flinching a bit.

"It wasn't sick I was catching." said Harry with a cunning smile.

and something gold fell into his hand.

I've got the Snitch!" he shouted, waving it above his head, and the game ended in complete confusion.

Dead silence.

"What?" said a first year.

"You didn't!" said Charlie laughing.

"You caught the thing in your MOUTH?" yelled Sirius joyously.

"That sounds like the weirdest game ever to be played at Hogwarts. " said Remus shaking his head and laughing.

"He didn't catch it, he nearly swallowed it," Flint was still howling twenty minutes later,

"Suck it up, he didn't break any rules." said Sirius grasping Harry's shoulder and shaking it happily.

but it made no difference—Harry 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. Harry heard none of this, though.

"Dear lord, what now?" groaned Dr. Clark.

He was being made a cup of strong tea back in Hagrid's hut, with Ron and Hermione.

"Thank you Hagrid, strong tea is what he needed after that little episode." said Mrs. Weasely, wiping her eyes quickly on her husband's handkerchief.

"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."

"Counter-curses sometimes use the same method, but you didn't know that then." said Harry looking over to Hermione and smiling.

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?"

"Cause he hated Harry since day one!" shouted Ron.

"Ron! Why would he, really?" said Mrs. Weasley.

"I used to think that it was just because I existed." said Harry with a small smile, unseen by him Sirius and Remus clutched at their chests, and Snape flinched.

"Only your monster of an uncle thinks that way." said Dr. Clark running his hand through the teen's hair.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked at one another, wondering what to tell him. Harry decided on the truth.

"Like he always does!" shouted Ron and Hermione up to Fudge and Umbridge.

"I found out something about him," he told Hagrid. "He tried to get past that three-headed dog on Halloween. It bit him. We think he was trying to steal whatever it's guarding."

"Which he wasn't, by the way." said Harry loudly to the crowd.

Hagrid dropped the teapot. "How do you know about Fluffy?" he said.

"What did he just call that three-headed dog?" said Sirius with widened eyes.

"Fluffy." said Harry with a smile.

Sirius blinked several times at Hagrid, he then mouthed 'Fluffy?' to Hagrid with a disbelieving look on his face.

"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—"

The students shot straight up in their chairs.

Yes?" said Harry eagerly.

"Now, don't ask me anymore," said Hagrid gruffly. "That's top secret, that is."

"Damn!" said the twins.

"But Snape's trying to steal it."

"Rubbish," said Hagrid again. "Snape's a Hogwarts teacher, he'd do nothin' of the sort."

"Too bad the other person couldn't take a leaf out of Snape's book." said Harry quietly.

"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.

"Never stopped us!" said Ron with a wide grin.

It's dangerous. You forget that dog, an' you forget what it's guardin', that's between Professor Dumbledore an' Nicolas Flamel —"

The teachers groaned and smacked their foreheads.

"You let something slip again, Hagrid." said Harry with a smile.

"Never meant to'" said Hagrid turning red.

"Aha!" said Harry, "so there's someone called Nicolas Flamel involved, is there?"

Hagrid looked furious with himself.

"We love you, Hagrid." said Harry with a laugh, and then, to his friends and newfound family's horror, his laughs turned to cries of pain. Snape ran over, as well as the Ranger's Doctor. They poured more and more potions down his throat. When he opened his eyes weakly, he gripped the Doctor, standing beside the bowl.

"Isn't there anything you can do? To make it hurt less?" he begged. Sirius, Dr. Clark, and Remus looked up quickly.

"There is, but it will stop the readings for a the next forty six hours."

"Please, I can't take it anymore!" he said whimpering. Ron and Hermione looked at each other in fear. Harry was admitting he was in pain?

"Let's see how much pain, your actually going through.." he said placing a small button-like object on his chest. A dummy then popped out of thin air. He pushed the button on Harry chest. The students and the guests watched in horror at what had happened to the dummy. Even the Doctor quickly turned it off.

"Alright, Lionus clear an area, we need to use a pod."

Lionus whipped out a gold handled wand and cleared the chairs away from a section towards the back of the Hall.

The Doctor then walked over and placed a small box on the ground and pushed the top of the cube. It started to glow, slowly at first until the glow of the box grew to an immense size. In the box's place stood a coffin shaped...thing...they couldn't describe it. It looked like a coffin, but there was pipes curved over the edges of the sides. The lid was made of glass there were buttons all over the bottom and side.

The Doctor went over and opened the pod as the Ranger went and picked up the ailing boy.

"What are you doing? What is that going to do?" asked Sirius quickly.

"It will make him better, no side-effects. It will even heal the injuries from the incident." he said, not bothering to turn around, he continued on walking and placed the young man in the pod.

The students started to crowd around, the Doctor was being bombarded with questions and first years were trying to get a closer look at the pod. Lionus had had enough, he whipped out a small black ball and immediately, the Hall was engulfed in darkness.

A moment later, they saw the pod was now filled with a sort of liquid, water it seemed, and inside...was Harry...asleep. His shirt was gone and they could see different coated wires attached to his chest and reporting their findings to a small monitor to the left of the unconscious figure. What stopped him from drowning was an oxygen mask attached to his mouth.

"What...WHAT DID YOU DO?" bellowed Sirius, flinging himself at the Doctor.

Lionus caught him by the throat and held him in the air, with one hand.

"Relax, Harry is fine, what he is right is an intensive care pod. We use it for serious cases, he's not one of those, but it was quicker this way. He will sleep for two days. Take this time to think about what you learned about the boy and take this time to rest." said Lionus sternly. He then lowered the man slowly to the ground.

"There is nothing you can do now, just wait till he wakes up. Then you can roughhouse with him all you want." said the Doctor kindly.

Sirius glared at the Ranger and walked forward, before the Ranger could grab him again, Sirius took a chair and placed it next to the pod.

"I'll stay till he wakes up, don't even think about moving me." said Sirius angrily. Lupin and Dr. Clark looked at each other and grabbed chairs to sit beside Harry as well.

The Doctor smiled. "He could use the company."

"The rest of you might as well go off and relax, no readings till Sunday afternoon." said the Ranger plainly. When no one moved, he shook his head. "There is no point you being here, go on and git!" he said sternly.

Dumbledore had to reassure that nothing would happen to Harry and that they should leave and let Harry rest. Slowly people left the hall.

"These books will take forever to go through!" whined Umbridge.

"What did we tell you, woman? Be silent!" said the lieutenant sharply.

"Deal with it, you stop reading now, as in permanently, it could cause some harm." said Lionus tiredly.

"You said that earlier, what could happen."

"Potter will lose all his memories, that's where these books come from. You stop reading, he won't remember who he is, and there will be no recovering from it." said Lionus seriously.