Quidditch and Curses
Hayley Potter had never liked sports that much. It required too much exercise and moreover, it was something she didn't find interesting.
However, as she saw the Gryffindor and Slytherin teams fly through the pitch, dodging Bluggers and chasing Quaffle, she felt a thrilling sensation through her body.
Harry was zooming across the field in scarlet robes, looking for the Snitch. All of them were playing magnificently and she wished she could have been up there, flying and dodging.
She cheered with her fellow Slytherins but she also secretly cheered on her brother as Harry, all of a sudden, went in to dive after something.
She thought he must have seen the Snitch but she was wrong as he abruptly jerked sideways. Then his broom was going upwards then down, to the side.
It was out of control!
Did Harry lose control of his broom or what? What's happening?
Then her heart nearly gave out as Harry almost slid off the broom by its end but held on. Almost all of the Slytherins were booing but Pansy gave her a concerned look.
She snatched the girl's binoculars, "Let me have a closer look."
She saw Harry's broom twitch and jerk, Fred and George were trying to make Harry come onto their brooms but his broomstick kept jerking away.
She then saw, just behind Harry, in the Gryffindor stands, Hermione was pointing to something. She followed her line of sight and found Snape muttering something, his eyes trained on Harry.
Was Snape trying to curse his broom? She has to do something.
She gave Pansy the binoculars back and dashed towards the teachers' stands.
"Hayley! Where are you going?" She could hear Pansy yell after her but she didn't have time to explain.
She started to push people aside to make her way to where the teachers sat and as she reached the stands she almost collided with Hermione's back. The girl snapped her eyes towards her in panic but she relaxed as she saw Hayley
"Good heavens, Hayley! You scared me!" Hermione gasped out. Ignoring her, she looked over her shoulder and saw Snape's back. Professor Quirrell was straightening himself as if someone had knocked him forwards, adjusting his turban hastily.
"Snape?"
"Yeah. I was just about to take care of that!" Hermione hissed as she took out her wand, a fierce look of determination on the witch's face. She conjured those blue flames and set it on the hem of Snape's robes.
Hayley was looking around to see if anyone was looking their way or not. Just then her eyes met Professor Quirrell's, standing a few feet away.
A chill went through her body and she found herself somewhere else, away from the loud noise around her, away from the cheering people, away from the bright sunlight.
"I see the stone... I am presenting it to my master... But where is it?"
The voice was distorted but the face that stared at the mirror was Professor Quirrell's. He had a hungry look on his face as he stared at himself.
She could hear someone struggling just behind her. Only if she could turn... She turned her body, but it wasn't in her control. She kept staring at Quirrell's face in the mirror, it was twisted with malice and hunger.
"...ley...!" She felt someone jerk her shoulders.
"...Hayley!"
The scene before her was fading, it was turning to mist. Someone was dragging her away. The sunlight came back, the noise and cheers filled her ears and her eyes focused on Hermione's face.
The witch was looking at her with concern filled eyes, her hands tightly holding her shoulders. They were away from the teachers' stands and were now somewhere in the middle, surrounded by Hufflepuffs.
"Hayley... Are you alright?" Hermione asked softly, a deep frown forming onto her face. "What happened to you? Your eyes were..."
Hayley could tell the Gryffindor girl was extremely uncomfortable as she asked this.
She swallowed, her heart pounding in her chest. "I... I am..." She tried to speak but she couldn't form the words onto her tongue.
All of a sudden, loud cheers erupted around them and Lee Jordan bellowed, "GRYFFINDOR WINS!"
She turned to see the field and Harry was standing on the ground clutching a golden snitch in his hand, showing it to everyone. A huge smile plastered on his face and the Gryffindor team had come to gather around Harry.
She felt proud of her brother, and happy at his victory and before she could stop herself she was running to the pitch. Hermione right behind her.
"Harry! That was awesome!" She came running in and flung her arms around her brother. He laughed gleefully as he hugged her back. Ron and Hermione also joined them.
As they made their way out of the Quidditch stadium, Hermione gave her a look that told her that she wasn't done with her questioning.
-•••-
They were sitting inside Hagrid's hut, tea cups clutching in their hands. Harry and Ron were going on about the match and how Snape tried to curse Harry's broom.
Hagrid didn't believe them yet again, "Why would Snape do that? Not possible."
Harry was in deep thought for a moment, then spilled the beans. He told Hagrid everything about the three-head dog and Snape trying to steal.
"How do you know about Fluffy?" Hagrid blurted out in surprise.
"Fluffy?"
"You named a giant three-head dog Fluffy?" It was her turn to act surprised. "In what way it looks 'fluffy'?
"Yeah he's mine... bought him off a Greek chappie I met in the pub last year. I lent him to Dumbledore to guard the..."
"Yes?" said Harry eagerly. Hayley's interest had also peeked.
"Now, don't ask me anymore," said Hagrid grufly. "That is top secret, that is."
"But Snape's trying to steal it."
"Rubbish, Snape's a Hogwarts teacher, he'd do nothin' of the sort." Said Hagrid with assurance.
"So why did he just try and kill Harry?" cried Hermione.
Her views on Snape had changed after this afternoon's events and now seemed sure Snape was evil.
"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 telling you, you're wrong!" said Hagrid hotly.
"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 you... you're meddling in things that don't concern you. It's dangerous. You forget that dog, and you forget what it's guarding, that's between Professor Dumbledore and Nicolas Flamel!"
"Aha!" said Harry, "So there's someone called Nicolas Flamel involved, is there?"
Hagrid looked furious with himself. She just shook her head at him. Although Nicholas Flamel did sound familiar. Where did she hear that?
-•••-
She was sitting in the library, studying for the upcoming Potion's test, a spare book was also opened beside her Potion's one. She was researching Nicholas Flamel. They were well into December now. Hermione came around the corner and took a step closer to her table.
She halted her step when she noticed her Slytherin companions. Hayley was sitting with Pansy, Theo and Blaise and she knew Hermoine would never come near the Slytherins.
The Gryffindor girl gave her a pointed look but turned away without approaching her. She heaved a sigh of relief.
"I know what you are doing." Pansy whispered to her. She cocked an eyebrow at her friend.
Yeah, Pansy had become somewhat of a friend. They helped each other with homework and Pansy had warmed up to her after she'd locked Malfoy in the bathroom.
It seemed Pansy had a grudge on the pale brat. She didn't share what could be the reason behind that grudge and Hayley didn't ask either.
"You are avoiding Granger." Pansy deadpanned.
Theo and Blaise looked up from their parchments and focused on them, former's eyes flashing with interest.
"I am not." She gritted out. "I am just busy with Potion's test. As you all know, Snape hates me with passion so I am trying not to give him any reasons for more."
Well that wasn't completely a lie. She ignored them for the rest of the hour they were in the library. As she made her way down to her common room, her path was blocked by one blonde fellow.
"What do you want, Malfoy?" She went to sidestep him but he blocked her path yet again.
"You're dead now, Potter!" He sneered at her softly so that only she could hear. Snape came to halt beside them, staring down at her.
"Miss Potter..." Snape said, his voice cold and flat, "Mister Malfoy here tells me you locked him in the bathroom on the morning of the Quidditch match."
She saw Malfoy give her a smug smile. She ignored him and focused her attention on her Head of the House.
"Is that true?"
She blinked at him innocently, "Of course not, Professor. I didn't. I was at the Quidditch stadium, watching the match."
"She's lying!" Draco hissed from behind Snape, "She locked me inside the bathroom! I saw her!"
The Professor silenced him with a snap of his hand. He came closer, looking into her eyes. "Are you lying to me?"
Her stomach lurched at that, but she willed her voice to be calm and innocent, "No, Professor! And why are you asking me that? Maybe it's Malfoy who's lying?"
Snape raised one eyebrow at that. But didn't say anything as he let her continue, "Draco, do you have any evidence that I locked you other than your words?"
Malfoy spurted, looking for the right words, "I know you locked me up and you even stole my wand!"
"Oh. You stole his wand?" Snape looked at her as if he had found a winning chance.
"I don't even know where he keeps his wand." She said calmly, looking almost bored. The blonde git was red with furry.
He pointed a shaky finger at her, "You even put Crabbe and Goyle in deep sleep so they can't come for my rescue."
She rolled her eyes, and gave an exasperated sigh, "Now you are going to blame their laziness on me. How's it my fault they couldn't get up early in the morning? And besides it was a weekend, they're allowed to get some extra sleep."
But Malfoy wasn't budging from his accusations. She knew how to get out of this Malfoy trouble. She had taken all the necessary precautions.
Now's the time for the ultimate card.
She turned her eyes to Malfoy, "Is it about Halloween, Draco?" She used his first name as if she considered him a friend. "I am sorry I hurt your feelings after what I said to you. But you called my mother a Mudblood!"
This time she turned to Snape, "I couldn't tolerate that. So I said some offensive words to Draco. Maybe he's angry about that and made this all up."
Snape slowly turned toward Malfoy, his eyes alight with a furry even she hadn't seen before. "What. Did. You. Call. Her. Mother?"
Draco had paled now and backed away. "W-well... It-it is true isn't it? She's a Mudblood after all!"
"Draco Malfoy! Five points from Slytherin and detention for you!"
With that, he stormed off, his face furious and vicious. Both Slytherins stood in shock at what had just happened.
She had expected that Snape would get angry at Malfoy but taking points from his own House and giving detention to Malfoy was something she definitely didn't expect.
He was more biased with Slytherin and Malfoy. But because of a word, he had punished both Malfoy and Slytherin house.
"Wow..." She felt herself say. Malfoy yelled out in frustration, his fists clenched by his sides.
"You'll pay for this! I swear you are going to pay for this!"
She smirked at him and Malfoy stomped away. Oh. It felt good giving Malfoy the taste of his own medicine. He had picked a fight with Ron and that had cost him five points from Gryffindor. Although it sucked that Snape also took five points from Slytherin. She changed her route and went to the Great Hall early for dinner and waited for Harry and others to deliver the delightful news.
She sat down with them on the Gryffindor table and told them everything that had happened. They all grinned at her as she finished.
"That's the best news you have given me Hayley!" Ron exclaimed out loud. She couldn't help but let out a small laugh.
"You have become more scary ever since you joined the Slytherins." Harry muttered with a grin. She smirked and just shrugged her shoulders.
"You devious little snake!" George Weasley said across the table. She didn't even notice the twins sitting down as she was conveying her story.
Fred grinned at her wickedly. "Oh do join us on our next prank! We insist!"
Before she could answer, Harry interrupted them. "Absolutely not! You are lucky you managed to manipulate Snape. I don't want you to get in trouble!"
She rolled her eyes at him. Yeah. Like that's gonna stop her.
Ron looked at Harry, confused, "When are you ever concerned about getting in trouble?"
"He's trying to be a big brother, Ronniekins." Fred said. "Maybe you should try that next year when Ginny comes here."
"Shut up, Fred." Ron snapped and went red at the nickname.
"Well, he can't stop me because he is not my big brother. We are twins." She gave Harry a pointed look.
"But I am the older one." Harry said confidently. Her temper flared slightly. "We don't know that for sure! Stop playing that card already. It has never worked before and it won't work now."
"Well that settles it then!" George exclaimed excitedly. She smirked at him as Harry gave her a glare.
Hermione was quiet in all of this and she was sitting by her right between Harry and her. As they ate, Hermione was absentmindedly stirring food in her plate.
"Hey. I- um..." She started and the girl looked at her, blinking. Should she say sorry about her behaviour?
She didn't mean to avoid her but Hermione kept asking her about what had happened at the Quidditch match when they had set Snape on fire. She had no idea what had happened and quite frankly, she didn't want to think about that. Whatever had happened, it was just some... Nothing! It was nothing!
She didn't know how to act in these kind of situations considering she never had any friends. She and Harry fought or had arguments but they would be back to normal like nothing happened. But it wasn't suppose to be like that with friends right?
But before she could say something, Hermione's voice reached her ears, "Did I do something wrong? You have been avoiding me. I am sorry if I was annoying for some reason. I don't know how to act around my friends. I have never had friends before, you see. I mean Harry and Ron are awesome but I thought you as my girlfriend was even more amazing."
She was talking fast again and Hayley barely registered her words. She stopped her from saying anything further.
"I- I am sorry Hermione. I didn't know you felt like this. Thanks for considering me a friend." Hayley grinned at her which she returned, her large front teeth on full display. "And I am sorry I was avoiding you. I didn't want to talk about what happened at the Quidditch match, that's why..."
"Oh. Right. I understand." Hermione looked embarrassed for a moment as if finally getting what she might have done wrong.
"I am going home for Christmas so I'll be sending you loads of presents!" Hermione said when they were half way through their dinner.
Oh right. Christmas. She and Harry were both staying at Hogwarts for the holidays and she was delighted to know that the Weasleys were also staying.
Now there's the matter with the presents. How was she supposed to buy present for everyone? She can't go to Diagon Alley.
She'll have to ask Harry later.
Soon, their dinner was over and clean plates gleamed in their faces as Professor Dumbledore gave his last word for tonight and they left the Hall.