The Cursed Nimbus
Chapter Ten- The Cursed Nimbus
Cassius was weird, for a while Harry thought he understood him, but since the talk with Snape it seemed he made a mistake revealing Cassius may have held some truth in his words since now he seemed nothing but concerned for Harry's sake.
The morning after the whole troll incident, as he'd begun calling it, the behavior continued. He'd come to check on Harry, insisting he could stay from classes and Quidditch practice if he wanted, despite the game being just a day away.
Even after he stressed the fact that he wasn't in pain and would be just fine. Cassius said a bunch of stuff that boiled down to the fact he’d “just gone through a traumatic experience” and could “take it easy”.
Harry was half tempted to agree just to find out if it was some sort of elaborate trap and that Professor Snape would slip out from the shadows like an angry bat.
Speaking of the Professor, he'd given the same story he had told the professors to whomever asked about what happened. But pulled his friends aside at lunch to tell them the real story, including his suspicions towards Professor Snape.
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“I'm just saying- there's no way he got that injury from the troll and it was fresh. Which means unless he ran leg’s first into a suit of armor, he obviously fought someone else” Harry picked up an apple slice and took a small bite before placing it back on his plate. He was too nervous to have a proper appetite.
Blaise not so casually began putting even more food on Harry's plate, he really didn't want to eat, but at the same time he knew it would become a thing. So against his will, he grabbed some toast and smeared a thin layer of strawberry jam on top.
“I'll admit it does sound suspicious” Daphne furrowed her brow contemplatively “But I don't imagine anyone would be foolish enough to try to duel Professor Snape”
She paused for a moment right as Blaise opened his mouth
“All of the fools were in their common rooms on lockdown, you know, due to the troll”
Blaise shut his mouth.
“Then maybe not someone, maybe something” Theo offered “A big gash sounds like it would come from a tooth or claw, and unless the Professor managed to wander around the forest and still get to you the same time as McGonagall and Quirrell-"
"He got hurt by something in the castle” Harry finished. Why hasn't he thought of it sooner?
Blaise leaned forward, glancing back and forth between them “Wait wait wait… you don’t think-” he didn't finish saying it, but they knew.
The Cerberus.
“It's the only reasonable threat in the castle, but why on earth would he willingly go near that thing” Daphne shuttered.
“McGongall herself told me trolls are stupid, that it was a near impossible coincidence it managed to get to Hogwarts, let alone inside the castle-” Harry expressed, recalling her words verbatim
“What better time to try and get what's behind that trap door than when the entire castle is either on lockdown or running around”?
Harry went to continue, but was hushed by Theo grabbing his forearm from under the table. He glanced over, but the boy's gaze was looking past him.
Speak of the devil,
There stood Professor Snape, in his foreboding presence looking down at them all, his arms tucked inside the layers of his robes.
“Good luck today Potter…” Snape said, coming to a full stop at their table. “Then again… having proven yourself against a troll.. A game of Quidditch should be easy work for you”
“I expect you prove yourself worthy of the position… and bring honor to your house” Snape cocked his head slightly. Without further words, the professor swept away, cape billowing behind him.
But as Harry watched he couldn't help but notice the distinct hobble in his normal strut, and how he avoided pressure on his right leg. He’d been right.
The moment Snape had left their aisle he turned to his friends, and waved his hand. His other hand brought the toast to his mouth for a small bite.
Theo sucked in a breath “I want to believe that isn't the case but… I also didn't want to believe he had it out for you at first either”
Of course they had not believed him, no one ever did- though at least they had a fair excuse, but he knew something was up with Snape.
“So then you believe me now”? He had to know.
“Of course-” Daphne said without hesitation, and all at once that weight on his heart lessened. Right- these were his friends, they needed reasons for sure, but they trusted him.
“Now enough stalling- you have a game soon so eat your toast” Blaise lectured and Harry made a show of grabbing the toast with utter distaste.
“Why are you like this-”?
“It's because he's Italian- it's better to just accept your fate” Daphne sighed as Blaise shoved yet another orange onto her plate.
“It's not because i'm Italian,” Blaise protested as he put the orange peel away, “Its because all of you are too skinny and need to eat more-”
Harry had never met an Italian other than Blaise, but judging by Theo and Daphne's expression, he seemed to play right into it.
“Now back to the big game- guess what Ellie got us” Theo suddenly perked up, ducking under the table and pulling out his bag. He rifled around in it a bit before pulling out two small plastic containers. Black and Green face paint.
“Oh it's so on-” Daphne grinned and Harry couldn't help but smile back.
_______
“-and they always turn up in a month or two so it's not that bad”! Terrence shot Harry a bright grin. His attempt at a pep talk only worsened the boys already building anxiety.
Though he did manage to stop himself from rubbing at the black and green face paint stripes under his eyes, not wanting to smudge Theos hard work on them.
He half regretted talking shit to the Weasley twins, especially after being informed they would probably have it out for him.
Harry saw Adrien duck down, right as Marcus smacked Terrence over the side of the head. But the way he did it was strangely gentle. Why on earth would you make a reprimand gentle?
Terrence just laughed and rubbed the spot with a big pout “Now that is unbecoming behavior of a pureblood Marcus~”
Marcus straightened his shoulders and sneered, now pressing a finger into Terrence chest “Last thing we need is you psyching out our seeker- If Wood wins this game I will personally kick your arse everyday for a month”
Jessabelle Windlow smirked as Adrien shuffled back to stand by her side, her braids pulled back into a ponytail and adored with several silver charms.
She leaned over to Adrien and whispered, just loud enough Harry could overhear. “Against Wood and not Gryffindor huh? I think there's other asses on our dear captain's mind-”
Harry didn't really understand what she meant but Adriens hands shot up to cover his mouth and his shoulders shook heavily.
The door to the teams “off chamber” room swung open and Cassius walked in, now carrying a set of padding “Here- Hufflepuff had a spare set that will probably fit”
Harry muttered a soft thank you and took one of the elbow pads, doing his best to tie it on. Cassius began working on his other arm in perfect tandem, making quick work of the strings.
It took a bit of maneuvering and tightening the already tiny pads, but eventually they fit snugly enough.
“Why couldn't we just use a shrinking charm”? Harry asked as Cassius helped fasten his left leg into place.
Marcus turned his attention away from glaring at Terrence and rapped his knuckle at his own padding “Most Quidditch gear is basically hex proof, a shame really-” he sighed almost wistfully.
Cassius huffed, now standing up and dusting off his robes “It's almost as if they discourage cheating and don't want kids hexing each other mid air”?
“Yeah and? If they consider us such nasty cheats you'd think we might as well-” Marcus added and Harry couldn't really tell if he was joking.
Slytherin was the house of cunning and ambition sure, but that didn't mean they would blatantly cheat. He glanced over at Terrence who seemed a bit too happy spinning the beater bat in his hand, well not all of them would.
Adrien shrugged “Not to mention with Gryffindor playing that means Lee is most definitely going to be commentator”
“Who's Lee”? Harry rubbed the handle of his broom between his hands. It felt kind of nice, the wood grain gliding against his palms and yet smooth enough he didn't feel worried about getting any splinters.
“Lee Jordan, second year Gryffindor, he's the only student who can tell the Weasley twins apart and doesn't also play quidditch”
“Percy can as well-” Marcus interjected, and Harry swore he saw Jess and Adrien glance at each other “But he's not a fan, only reason he comes to the games at all is-”
“-He's unfortunately made friends with three of the four captains, all quidditch fanatics, the poor bloke” Terrence sighed, dramatically leaning against the wooden back wall and ignoring a pointed glare from Marcus.
“Anyways Lee is a bit..biased” Adrien continued “It's best to just ignore him really, or well ignore everyone and everything- except if you're about to get hit and then you need to pay attention, then again-” he was cut off by Cassius placing a hand on his shoulder.
“You won't have to worry about that, I'm sure Marcus made it very clear to our Beaters, their priority is keeping you safe” he glared at Terrence and Jessabelle who gave matching smirks.
Harry wanted to ask more, but Graham Montegue let out a sharp whistle and jerked his head over to the doorway, now standing up from the bench where he had sat a few feet away from the rest of the team.
“Guess it's time-” Jessabelle grabbed her bat and walked over, the others quickly following close behind.
Marcus had taken the lead and Harry walked silently alongside Cassius as they marched in somewhat order, though Adrien kept pausing to adjust the bindings on his pads. They walked for a minute or so, weaving through the long wooden passageway before pushing through a green and silver patterned curtain.
He’d practiced before, the line up and take off, he knew the motions. But he could hear the crowd shouting outside and suddenly it felt all the more real.
“No need to fret little fang, just focus on getting that shiny little orb and you'll be fine” Marcus assured as the sound of gears turning echoed out and the tarp in front of them lifted, giving full view of the now packed arena.
Cassius pat his shoulder and then quickly began mounting his broom, Harry followed suit, taking a deep breath. Excitement now thrummed through his very bones as he took that first step off and dropped.
For a moment, he almost felt like falling, that split second of weightless feeling where only gravity itself weighed on him.
Then he soared.
The wind whipped through his hair, black and white strands brushing against the front of his face, but not enough to obscure his vision. He spun in the air, climbing higher and higher, the wind no longer a resistance, but an encouraging force urging him higher, faster, more free than ever before.
Harry did have to take a moment to adjust his glasses that had gone askew. Now looking at his teammates who showed an array of serious and gleeful expressions as they rode the breeze in perfect harmony.
Flashes of red entered his line of sight and zipped across the field as the Gryffindor team was released soon after. Both teams began flying laps around the arena and criss-crossing around each other.
The first time he'd seen it, he'd been so concerned about crashing into someone, about the impact and then the fall. But it was Adrien who told him not to see it like a swarm, but a dance, where everyone instinctively knows the steps.
He didn't understand until now, as he wove in and out of pathways, diving down only to soar back up with no restraint. The only sounds being the zip of other brooms passing by and the cheers of his fellow players and the crowd below.
The crowd roared, flags of every color waving just as wildly as the wind markers surrounding the outer walls. He looked over at the Slytherin booth and couldn't hold back the goofy grin when he saw his friends.
Each of them had adored green and black paint across their faces, what he was told usually for non players was reserved for professional games or towards the later season, but they wanted to ‘show their support’.
Daphne had a thick black stripe all the way across her face at eye level and green stripes downward as if tear tracks, as well as another stripe down her chin.
Theo had a black claw mark running sideways across his entire face and a few highlighted in green.
Blaise, which he knew took the longest for how long he hogged the bathroom, had black streaked up almost like an overly thick eyeliner and a single bold green stripe on each of his cheek bones and dropping down to his chin.
They saw Harry and all began waving their flags in the air, calling out with big smiles. Harry hesitated to go over until he spotted Marcus and Oliver both soar over to the Gryffindor booth. They seemed to be yelling at each other and Percy stood there waving his arms as if trying to force them to stop.
Well if they could do it- Harry soared over, hovering just a few feet away and grinning at his friends. “Wish me luck-’!
“Just don't fall” Blaise laughed, definitely thinking he was hilarious
Daphne grabbed the end of his scarf and threw it over his face, making Blaise recoil like a startled cat.
Theo met Harry's eyes “You'll do fine- now get out there”! He said, jerking his head over towards where the other Slytherins began to gather.
Harry gave a quick salute and took off, darting off to follow his teammates in one final group lap before lining up. He couldn't help but feel a bit of anxiety fade away.
A voice sounded across the stadium and Harry glanced over to see a short boy with dreadlocks standing besides professor McGonagall. Half his face was buried in his Gryffindor scarf but it was still easy to see his bright smile with one front tooth missing.
“Welcome all to the first Quidditch Match of the season, Gryffindor verses.. Slytherin” The boy, who he now assumed was Lee based on the way he spat out Slytherin like a curse, he yelled into the… actually he wasn't sure what it was.
“The players finish their laps and line up as Madame Hooch enters the field”!
Harry was the last Slytherin to get into position, careful about how he held his broom. Looking down at the case on the ground, every muscle tensed waiting for the latches to come undone.
“Now I want a good clean fight” Madame Hooch ordered, her hawk-like eyes scanning the players before she reached over and opened the box, the balls inside shooting out like rockets.
“The bludgers are released, followed by the golden snitch that is worth 80 points, remember whoever catches the snitch wins the point and causes the game to end”!!
Harry watched the golden orb dart around a few inches from his face, before bolting away and out of sight mere seconds later. It kind of reminded him like some of the hummingbirds he would see out when “helping” his aunt in the garden.
Well- it was always more he did the gardening and his aunt yelled at him or pretended to prune something whenever a neighbor got near. You'd think after so much practice he'd be better at Herbology.
“Oi- Potter”! Harry glanced aside and caught eyes with one of the Weasley twins who shot him a big grin. Before promptly making a ‘slit your throat’ motion and the other spun the bat in his hand menacingly, both actions sent a shiver up Harry's spine.
He quickly looked back up, now facing the Gryffindor Seeker, Cormac McLadden. He didn't know much about the boy except for when he asked about the other seeker, Marcus face twisted up and he muttered curses under his breath.
McLadden met Harry's gaze and sneered, practically recoiling from the sheer sight of him. Harry decided looking down at the ground was the lesser of several evils.
He watched as Madame Hooch picked up the Quaffle and tightened the grip on the edge of his broom, ready the moment it left her hands. The ball was tossed up, and with a loud whistle blow the field came to life.
“The Quaffle is in play and the game begins”!
Action all at once, Harry made quick work of his new favorite strategy he'd perfected over many weeks of practice. Aka “ the get the fuck out of range”.
He flew well out of the middle of the chaos, taking just one glance back at the group and wincing as he saw the Quaffle snatched by a Gryffindor, Angelina Johnson, who quickly sped off across the field.
Harry watched as she dodged through several players, getting rammed slightly by Montague but recovering well enough. She soared towards the rings and launched the Quaffle past Cassius, earning the first ten points of the game.
He tried to see where it fell next but jerked back as he saw a Bludger shooting straight at him. He ducked out of the way just in time and it soured past without any injury, the sound of its growling faded almost immediately after.
Right as he tried to right himself, yet another Bludger came his way. Harry twisted mid air to dodge this one and scanned his surroundings, his gaze landing on the Weasley twins right as one of them smacked a bludger right in his direction.
“Eyes on the prize Potter”! He heard Jessabelle call as she swooped in, smacking the next bludger out of his way.
He took her advice and soared a bit higher up, trying to put some distance between himself and the twins and also get some sort of vantage as he circled the arena.
The Quaffle was caught by Marcus, who quickly dodged several Gryffindor players before chunking it at the ring, but not fast enough as Oliver whipped it away with his broom.
“Ah don't pout, I told ye this game wansnt gonna be easy-”! He heard Oliver's voice and Marcus frustrated shout right as he flew by the duo.
The game continued with a few rough moments on each side, Terrence managed to hit a ball at Oliver that knocked him down. He panicked for a second as the boy collided with the sand. But before he could move, he saw Oliver pop right back up and gave the crowd a thumbs up, followed by flipping off Terrence.
"Language Mister Wood"! McGonagall's voice called out over the announcer. “And you too Higgs, profanity is not acceptable on a school field”!!
"After a dirty hit from Higgs, Wood is knocked down but uninjured- oh what a bloke"!! Lee called out right after. Harry was starting to understand Adriens earlier comments.
Definitely better off just tuning it out, except for keeping track of the scoring after all. Marcus insisted he go for the snitch if he saw it, but wait until they got at least 20, wanting to start the season strong with an even 100.
It was good he was told to wait since Fred and George were quickly becoming more and more of an issue as the game continued. It helped a little that Lee called them both by name, since he could better know what to expect.
George preferred leading the Bludgers over to him and blocking Terrence and Jessabelle from getting close, while Fred actively tried hitting them in his or Cassius direction.
The score tied up 20-20 with Oliver having long returned to his post and blocking yet another goal from Slytherin when Harry heard something.
A buzz zipped right past his ear and while he couldn't see at first, he quickly aimed his broom to follow the sound. The Snitch came into view, metallic gold glinting in the sun.
Harry dodged a bludger once more, ducking down quickly. He cursed under his breath as the metallic shine disappeared from sight. Swiveling his head he began looking to locate the snitch once more when-
A buzz, but not a sound, no, a feeling.
Harry whipped his head around, scanning for the danger but there was nothing he could see. He hadn't been alerted to any of the Bludgers or Weasleys obvious attempts at him, and even then they were half way across the field at this point.
He wasn't given much time to wonder though when the danger made itself known. He felt his broom jerk backwards, for a split second he thought he'd spaced out and tried to stay in place only for it to jerk again.
Harry gasped, gripping onto the wood as hard as he could as his body was violently jerked around like a ragdoll.
Bucking back, turning to the side, and even twisting completely upside down- Harry was at least a good hundred feet above the air, magic aside- he could die from that height.
The broom showed no mercy and Harry's panic only grew.
It whipped around once more and Harry's legs slipped off the back end, the only thing stopping him from plummeting was the iron grip he held onto the stick.
But that would only last so long, his hands shook from fear and strain trying to hold his body weight as the broom continued to shake.
He could hear the shocked gasps and mummerings from the crowd, but as he looked at them no one made a move to help, probably not wanting to interfere in the game.
His eyes darted to the players themselves, but both teams were still going about the dance while Harry got closer and closer to death. He watched Cassius catch his eye- not hesitating to abandon his post, he felt the sheer relief as his arm began to strain even more.
But the relief was short lasting as Katie Bell went to make her shot, accidently colliding with Cassius and sending them both spiraling to the ground. Neither fell off their brooms, but Harry didn't think he could last long enough for Cassius to recover and get to him.
Sucking in all the air his lungs would accept while he was still panicking Harry cried out, “HELP”!! He squeezed his eyes shut as one of his hands spasmed and slipped away. This was it- oh god he was going to die.
As the broom continued to jerk, Harry felt his grip loosening and to his utter horror, the wood slipped out from his fingers.
The same moment of weightlessness as he entered the arena occurred again, but this time, Harry didn't have the assurance of a broom to help his plummet.
Gravity began to take hold, but right as Harry had accepted he was helpless, he felt strong arms latch around his waist and yank him backwards into someone's chest.
Harry's eyes snapped open on impact and he glanced around, looking down at the uniform his eyes widened even more at the bright red fabric. He turned his head and came face to face with the Weasley twins.
One of them holding him tightly against their chest, and the other holding his still bucking broom in place.
“Hold-on we can get you down” The one holding him said, sounded like George, but Harry still felt he was shaking.
“It's okay- you did good, you're okay” Fred, voice now much softer and long having lost the almost cruel teasing glint.
Harry just shook his head but paused as he saw the broom now settled, the jerking stopped, and all at once it was just a broom.
Tentatively he reached out and Fred didn't hesitate to hand it over- and yet it still didn't move. “Im n-not quitting my first game from some stupid broom” Harry protested, looking them in the eyes and daring them to argue.
Though considering they were still fairly high and George still held him tight, they probably could very well fight him on it. But they just glanced at eachother and seemed to have a silent conversation before helping him back on the broom.
A moment of pause went by, but nothing changed, Harry was still in control. His shoulders dropped and he looked at the twins noticing how their bats were gone, a quick glance down and he saw them lying on the field a hundred or so yards away. Huh.
“Thank you-” Harry managed to gasp out, and he really meant it.
“It's no problem Potter,” Fred assured,
“Yeah good sportsmanship is all-” George waved his hand insistently,
“Cant have a good game get canceled because a kid went splat”
“Now enough chit chat- the games still on”!
They spoke back and forth and shot him matching grins as they both soared off down towards the field to grab their bats and get back in the swing of things. God Blaise was a bad influence.
Harry didn't waste a moment, quickly bolting off as soon as he laid eyes on McLadden across the field . As soon as he caught up, he laid eyes on the snitch just a few arms lengths away, but he was gaining.
They got neck and neck, the boy immediately trying to shove Harry away, but he kept strong- his grip still firmly in place. He would not fall today.
They pushed and pulled, closing in closer to the snitch, and yet not close enough for either to dare and try to reach out and snatch it.
The snitch suddenly dove, flying down to the ground at a rapid speed. They both reacted, tipping their brooms down into a nosedive, still neck and neck. It quickly became a game of chicken for who would pull away first or risk crashing face first into the sand pit below.
Well- Harry for one had accepted his death a whole five minutes earlier, and now he wasn't one for backing down so easily. McLadden pulled away about twenty feet before the ground, quickly veering off to the side.
But Harry stayed on until he was only a few feet from impact, but with a quick pull he narrowly missed smacking right into the sandy bank of the field besides the crowd stands.
With the snitch still in sight, and his dumb bravery having gotten him this far- he was only five feet away so any fall now would be worth the risk. That in mind he removed his hands from the Broomstick, carefully balancing as he straightened his spine.
He'd balanced for hours cleaning and washing the gutters every summer, he could do this now. Harry lifted himself until he was standing atop his broom cruising just a few feet from the ground.
Reaching out, the gold glinted in the sun just out of reach. He stretched even further, but shifted his weight a bit too far. All at once the tip of his broom collided on the ground and Harry came tumbling forward.
At first, he slowly rose to his feet- and all at once became aware of the metallic taste on his tongue. He raised his hands up, ready to cough up the effects of some weird jinx. But no. In his hands, glinting gold and wings unfurling, a familiar buzz sounded out.
Hed… he caught it.
“By some sheer dumb luck...Harry Potter catches the Snitch…80 points to Slytherin, the game is now over and victory goes to-” Lee spoke, sounding absolutely devastated, but Harry could care less as he called out “-Slytherin”!!
Harry held up the snitch, his face probably smudged with face paint and dirt but he was grinning ear to ear as his teammates flew down to greet him on the field. He could hear the crowd's screams, though it seemed half the crowd had gone silent, he couldn't care less. He did it.
Marcus was the first, practically throwing his broom to the ground as he ran up to Harry, grabbing him by the shoulders and shaking him “YOU MOTHERFUCKER- YOU ACTUALLY DID IT”!! He pressed a kiss to the top of Harry's head before letting go.
He watched Marcus run across the field and right up to Oliver and Percy who stood just on the sidelines, grinning ear to ear, though it seemed Oliver and him immediately fell into a loud argument that Harry turned out. He did get a thumbs up from Percy that he returned right after.
Harry still felt a bit dazed as the rest of his teammates landed, each giving him their congratulations and thanks, but it was Cassius who grabbed Harry and began looking him over- eyes wide.
“Fuck- I didnt even see the broom until youd already half fallen off, I would have gotten to you but I collided with Katie and-” Cassius apologized, still examining Harry.
“Cassius” Harry interrupted, stopping the boys rambling with a grin “Im okay, I saw, but Fred and George got to me in time-” he held up his broom “Then whatever it was stopped”
Cassius blinked “You… climbed back onto a broom that almost killed you.” His voice sounded somewhat shrill.
“Okay when you put it like that-” Harry trailed off but flashed a blinding smile at him, proudly holding up the snitch “But I did it, we won”!!
Cassius just blinked, but Harry could physically see the wind leave his sails as his shoulders dropped “Yeah- yeah we did” He reached out and ruffled harry's now rat nest of curls “You did good-”
Harry felt his heart clench in his chest and warmth spread across his limbs, the moment was cut short when he was almost bowled over by Adrien throwing him into a big bear hug and screaming happily.
Harry just laughed and well, he could worry about the whole broom thing after he finishes celebrating with his friends.
________________________
“So the broom was jinxed, I thought they were spell proof”? Harry asked, lifting his head as he continued to scrub off the now smudged face paint. Damm was this grease paint? It isn't budging.
“Normally they are yes, but the school brooms are older- I guess some of the protections are not as potent as before” Daphne seemed to take pity on him and handed over a small packet of- wet wipes? You know what- why not.
Harry pulled one out and as was pleasantly surprised with one swipe, it was now covered in a tie dye mix of green and black. “So then why did the spell stop”?
That made a pause, and all three of them looked between each other. Blaise looked way too amused, Theo just a bit tense, and Daphne looked plain proud.
“...What happened”?
“Well- spells have to come from somewhere, and even if the brooms are old it would take a very powerful wix to jinx a broom- so we started scanning the crowd, and well-” Theo began, rubbing his palms together.
“It was Snape” Blaise butt in, “Or at least we're pretty sure, he was mouthing like reciting a spell and kept direct eye contact until he was interrupted”
“Theo here went to play hero, ran half way across the arena to go distract him from under the stands” Daphne's prideful smirk only increased and was Theo.. blushing?
“So you saved me by distracting Snape”? But it couldn't be that simple- they were being way too weird for it to be that simple.
“Not exactly…” Theo sighed, finally meeting Harry's gaze “It seemed we were not the only ones out for your rescue.
Wait who else?
The rest of his friends were playing the game, unless Percy might have- no, he wasn't an adult but he was far too tall to get under the stands unnoticed.
“Hermione set Snape on fire-” Blaise blurt out, an all too gleeful smile plastered on his face “I would have paid money to see Theo and her face finding each other under the stands”
Theo buried his face in his hands “I panicked- didn't even say anything to her, I just gave her a thumbs up and ran off-”
“Turns out Gryffindors can be ruthless, I may not like her- but I can respect it” Blaise added, snatching one of Daphne's wipes and removing his own face paint that had somehow still been in perfect condition.
“Kinda hot if you ask me-” Daphne remarked with a smirk and quickly followed it with “In a literal sense” as they all looked at her.
“Uh huh-” Harry responded with a slight hesitation, trying hard not to laugh at his friends floundering. Blaise and Theo only snickered.
Hermione had really saved him? Well guess it made them even in a way- an eye for an eye. Then again she was the one to give the finishing blow to the troll so more like 2-1.
“So Snape tried to kill me.” Harry stated like it was a fact and well, it was a hard fact to refute. If Harry's grip had been any less, or if the twins had not a sliver of empathy enough to help, he could have died.
You'd think being surrounded by a bunch of magical wix would feel fine, but after the whole incident with Neville, it wasn't a matter of if they could save him- but if anyone would decide to try and make it in time.
“Seems so… and with the whole trap door thing…” Theo trailed off, “We’ll have to keep a closer eye to keep you safe”
Harry didn't really know what to say to that, he appreciated the fact of having someone looking out for him (which felt weird in its own right) but that would mean they would be in danger as well.
The very idea of his friends getting hurt because of him made him want to throw up, but they were stubborn and nothing he would say would probably stop them. So he will just have to keep an eye out in turn.
An owl's cry interrupted whatever anyone was going to say next. At first Harry ignored it, continuing to work away at the last bit of facepaint on his face. Sure Owls were more commonly seen elsewhere in the castle, but since he'd bought Hedwig he’d noticed more and more that seemed to come and go.
Either he'd accidentally started a trend or just hadn't noticed before then.
That was until he heard Daphne mutter “Isn't that… Hedwig”?
Sure enough, Hedwig came soaring across the top of the cave wall of the room carrying a small piece of parchment in her beak. He barely had time to process the fact it was her before she landed on his knee.
Hedwig shook herself off and looked up at him with big yellow eyes, he carefully took the letter from her beak and began scratching her head gently as he examined it.
It didn't have any Gringotts seal, and outside of Dripfang he didn't get letters from anyone. “I.. I never get mail” Harry pulled at the side and began unfolding the piece.
“What's it say”? Blaise asked, leaning across the couch to try and get a peak, only to get startled by Hedwig hopping further up Harry's leg and staring him down.
Blaise held his hands up in defeat and slowly sat back, Hedwig, now satisfied, nestled down on Harry's lap.
It was a letter from Hagrid, the handwriting wasn't the best, but it wasn't too hard to make out. A congratulations for his first quidditch success, as well as a joke about only he could make Hagrid happy about Gryffindor losing, as well as an invite for tea at his hut.
“Hagrid has apparently invited us all for tea to congratulate on the victory and catch up,” Harry handed the letter over to Blaise
Sure he had mixed feelings about the man, but at the same time he'd had a few interactions since and the way Hagrid would light up and bellow a greeting never failed to make Harry cheer up.
Though he had been a bit… weird about Harry being in Slytherin, and his friends as well. But it seemed after a month realizing none of that was going to change the man got over whatever weird feelings he had. Or at the very least got better at hiding them.
He could see Daphne grimace slightly but when he looked up at her she plastered on a smile “You don't have to come if you don't want too-”
“No no its fine- Im just… a tad concerned on what sort of tea experience would be had with Hagrid of all people”
Harry scrunched up his nose, Daphne may be used to the “finer things in life” but surely it couldn't be that bad. “If it bothers you too much- i'm sure he wouldn't mind you bring your own blend”
That seemed to pacify any lingering concerns, or at the very least her face did not show any lingering concerns. Out of all his friends she was always the hardest to read.
“Now then, were all settled” Daphne began again, whipping her hair and pointing an accusatory finger at Harry “Why on earth would you get back onto a jinxed broom”!?
Harry felt the fury of all three gazes and glanced down at Hedwig for support, but she hopped up off his lap and fluttered over to Theo who handed her a piece of jerky. Traitors, all of them.
_______________________
“So anythin interesting sides Quidditch n all get up to”? Hagrid asked, pulling the pot off from the fire and pouring a few cups of tea.
“Well i'm sure you heard about the troll incident-” Harry shrugged, picking up his cup and blowing at it softly. It had a few loose leafs inside but one sip and it tasted just fine. “I just hope whatever we run into next is better than the cerb-”
He cut himself off, now looking at Hagrid- well shit.
But Hagrid didnt brush over it, nor did he freak out, he just turned around completely, still holding his own cup and raised a questioning brow “How'd ya know about fluffy”?
“We got lost-” Harry admitted “ and you'd think any door that could be opened with a basic Alohamora couldnt be that dangerous.
Now Hagrid just looked confused, but before he could answer Blaise sputtered, stopping mid pet on Fangs head. The dog huffing softly for attention.
“Fluffy”? Blaise sounded utterly confused but resumed petting Fangs head and carefully avoiding the slowly building pile of drool on the floor “You named a three headed cerberus fluffy”!?
“Won em off an irish bloke at the pub a year back, lent' em to dumbledore to help guard the-” Hagrid cut himself off.
“Wait guarding the what-”? Theo demanded, now half leaning over the table. Manners aside when the prospect of information was presented.
“I should not of said nothin- no moer questions out of ya, understood’? Hagrid pointed a finger at them “Tis Top secret ya hear, whatever fluffy is guardin is between Professor Dumbledore and Nicholas Flamel”
Daphne gaped “Wait- Nicholas Flamel, who's that”?
Hagrid shook his head, his beard moving in tantrum “I shouldn't said that- I should not of said none of that”
They all spoke over each other, demanding some sort of answers before Hagrid cut them off with a wave of his hand
“Listen now all four of ya, yer meddlin in things that ought to not be meddled with you hear? Now this is the last I'll hear of it else i'll have to tell ya house master”
The mere idea of Snape getting involved in all this made them all shut up, and quickly the conversation moved on with Blaise asking several questions about Fluffy
Harry just enjoyed the rest of his tea but now with the understanding, a few more puzzle pieces into place. Whatever was under that trap door, it belonged to Dumbledore, one of the most well known and powerful wizards in this day and age (or at least what The Daily Prophet said).
It wasn't a longshot to say the man probably had all sorts of connections throughout the wix world. If someone like Snape was willing to release a troll in a school, face a cerberus, and possibly try to outright kill Harry, it must be worth more than its weight in gold.
But what could that possibly be? And why on earth was it hidden in a school of all places?
Whoever Nicholas Flamel was, they needed to find out and soon, before it was too late. But now more than ever they need to be careful.
Despite his threats, Hagrid was too nice to rat them out even if they were clearly still meddling, but that didn't mean others wouldn't catch on and interfere. God forbid Snape figure out they might be onto him.
They needed to be sneaky, heh- sneaky like only a snake could be.
Harry glanced over at his friends, each meeting his eyes with their own crafted gaze.
It was time to find the truth.
(word count- 7,065)