Chapter 10 - Quidditch Game

Hermione's dislike towards Ron sky-rocketed after the Halloween night. But she still had hope for Harry, that he will come around eventually.

As the first week of November proceeded, it turned much colder than what Hermione was used to. But it didn't have any effect on Lucifer, as he is already used to the temperature much lower than this.

The mountains became an icy gray and the lake was like chilled steel. This Saturday was the first Quidditch Match of the Season and it was Gryffindor v Slytherin. Even though he wasn't on the team, Lucifer was largely excited to watch and see a game in person.

He'd seen Wizarding Photos that showed off the game, but it was barely an experience worth mentioning.

Oliver Wood, Gryffindor Keeper, didn't let anyone see Harry practice, because he wanted to keep Harry as their Secret Weapon, a Secret. It somehow got leaked out and Ron started envying Harry secretly , with people constantly, constantly telling him he'd either do brilliantly, or they'd be below him to catch him with a mattress when he fell.

Lucifer saw Hermione lend him her copy of Quidditch Through the Ages, which he didn't remember her owning, but he didn't figure it mattered.

He also noticed that Hermione would help Harry with his homework.

Harry, he understood, because now that he had Quidditch to deal with, his homework would've been at risk of not getting done, only Hermione ignored Ron like he didn't even exist.

This boy, wasn't on the Quidditch team and had nothing else majorly important to be doing, so Lucifer came to realize that he was just lazy, plain and simple.

Ron Weasley was a Pure-Blood, he knew that, so he wondered if all Pure-Bloods were like this, thinking that because they grew up with magic all their life that they would have an easy time, or if this boy was just a special case.

On the day before the Quidditch Match, the four of them were outside in the freezing cold, for whatever reason, during a break period, huddled up, reluctantly in Lucifer's case, to a blue flame in a jam jar that Hermione had conjured up.

They weren't sure if it was okay with the Hogwarts staff, so they were huddled around the fire, blocking it from view. Good thing they were, because Professor Snape saw them and limped over towards them, "What's that you've got there, Potter?"

"Quidditch Through the Ages, sir," Harry responded, showing the cover to the book.

"Library Books are not to be taken out of the school, give it to me," Snape held his hand out.

Harry was about to hand it over, but Lucifer spoke up, "That's not a rule, is it Professor?" he asked, in a polite tone, but his smile wasn't fooling Hermione at all.

Snape glared at him, "And how would you know that, Morningstar?"

"I've seen the entire list of school rules, and that's not one of them," he said, with a smirk.

"Fine, then " he sneered and walked away.

"What a jerk he is," Ron said, shivering from the cold. The Blue Fire wasn't that helpful, but it was better than nothing, "Why do you suppose he's limping?"

Before he replied, Lucifer cast warming charms on Hermione, Harry and himself, ignoring Ron's protest about discrimination.

"I dunno," Harry muttered, "but I hope it's really hurting him."

Only, there wasn't much response, because Hermione was busy whispering into Lucifer's ear, "Thanks Daddy, I feel warm now," and, then turned her head slightly to look over at his face, "Have you really seen the entire list of school rules?"

"...." Lucifer, this made him remember what an outrageous thing happened inside the girl's bathroom, which may have blown away his sleep at night, and wasted the whole night, by just staring at the letter, he received from Mrs. Granger, before coming to Hogwarts.

It made him doubt this girl's attitude in life because, something very terrible might have occurred to Hermione, two years ago.

"No," he said and looked at the girl's face while slightly worried inside, only, Hermione was wide-eyed, "I bluffed and he didn't catch it."

"You really like to play with fire, don't you?" She asked him.

"Haha..." Lucifer gave a small laugh in response, and moved his head in a similar position like Hermione did just a moment ago, "Baby, I always like to play with fire" he said, this in a very low voice, which caused the girl's body to shudder lightly in response, and then she just turned her face, in the opposite direction, with a tinge of pink on her cheeks.

But, Lucifer didn't care much, and motioned to the blue fire, Hermione had conjured for them. "And, so do you!"

"I just wanted to help..." she trailed off, looking quite far away. 

"Also, it could prove beneficial to know them all, for any future rule breaking," It was, Lucifer, who said this, while looking around, with a mischievous expression.

Hermione just shook her head, knowing that the three of them would likely be breaking some rules in the future.

That evening in the Gryffindor Common Room was noisy. They were all sitting near a window and Hermione had been checking over their homework. Well, she had been looking over Harry's homework, since Lucifer obviously did not need assistance.

She only helped on the basis if Harry would not let Ron copy his work, and the boy agreed instantly because he was late in doing the homework but felt sorry for Ron all the same.

Their conversation, after Harry had been caught up on homework, had shifted to why Snape had been limping.

They talked in hushed tones about it, so as to not draw attention to themselves, "So why do you think he was limping?" Harry asked them.

"Could be a Potion gone wrong?" Ron suggested.

"Snape is a Master at Potion-making, he wouldn't let himself get caught like that," Lucifer said.

"Maybe... you think he tried to get past that three headed dog?" Hermione asked the three boys.

"Now, that's big brain thinking right there," Lucifer said, causing Hermione to redden on her cheeks a little.

"The only question is, why would he do that?" Hermione asked Lucifer more than the other two, besides she didn't even know why Ron is sitting with them?

It was Harry who gave her an answer, though, "Whatever was taken from Gringotts by Hagrid before the break-in, it had to be."

"That's actually what I was thinking too," Lucifer said, "but for himself? Or someone else?"

None of them had an answer and decided to just retire for the night.

____________

The next morning arrived almost too soon for some students. Lucifer and Hermione were in the Great Hall with Harry and Weasel, the cheerful chatter filling the Hall was nothing but anticipation for the Quidditch Match.

"Harry, you've got to eat something," Hermione said to him in a bossy tone.

"I'm not hungry," he said, almost miserably.

"Just a little bit of toast, huh?" Ron placed in front of him.

"I said I don't want anything," Harry said, slightly frustrated, but it was just nerves talking.

"Actually, you said you weren't hungry," Lucifer said, trying to lighten the mood.

All Harry did was glare at him. Seamus had looked like he was going to say something, but after seeing Harry's murderous glare, he elected not to say anything.

By eleven o'clock, Harry was probably with the other Quidditch members of Gryffindor and Lucifer was in the stands helping Seamus, Longbottom and Dean hold up a torn bed sheet, thanks to Scabbers, that Dean had painted Harry for Minister on.

Hermione was standing beside Lucifer, looking quite anxious, "You alright?"

"No... what if something bad happens to Harry?" She looked at him worriedly.

"He'll be fine," Lucifer said like it was fact.

"How do you know?" She asked, looking almost mortified that he was nonchalant about it.

"Because you saw Potter on that practice broom, he's a natural," Lucifer said, while looking at her, which caused her expression to get soft.

She nodded and then charmed the paint on the bed sheet so that it flashed different colors.

Pretty soon, the Gryffindor Quidditch Team came out, as did the Slytherin Quidditch Team, and they met in the center of the stadium. Oliver and Marcus shook hands, but each looked like they were trying to rip the other's arm off.

They mounted their brooms and the next thing everyone heard was Lee Jordan's commentary of the game, "And the Quaffle is taken immediately by Angelina Johnson of Gryffindor! What an excellent chaser that girl is, rather attractive too-"

"JORDAN!" Professor McGonagall's voice .

"Sorry Professor," Lee said, not looking sorry at all. Lucifer knew Lee Jordan to be best friends with Fred and George, Ron's older twin brothers.

"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 - 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 - he's going to sc- no, stopped by an excellent move by Gryffindor Keeper Wood and they take the Quaffle - that's Chaser Katie Bell of Gryffindor right there, nice dive around Flint, up off the field and - OUCH - that must have hurt, hit in the back of the head by a Bludger - Quaffle taken by the Slytherins that's Adrian Pucey speeding off towards the goal posts.

But he's blocked by a second Bludger - sent his way by Fred or George Weasley, can't tell which - nice play by the Gryffindor Beater, anyway, 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 goalposts are ahead - come on, now

Angelina - Keeper Bletchley dives - misses - GRYFFINDOR SCORE!"

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

"Budge up there, move along," Lucifer heard from the side. He turned and saw the giant man, Hagrid, whom Weasel said the name of seconds later.

Hermione squeezed in closer to Lucifer, to give Hagrid the room he needed to join them, "Bin watchin' from me hut," Hagrid said, patting the binoculars around his neck. Lucifer found it a bit hard to understand him at times, harder than when Hagrid had been leading them across the lake for the Sorting. "But it isn't the same as bein' in the crowd. No sign of the Snitch yet, eh?"

"No," Lucifer said, looking back and squinting to where Harry was hovering around, "Potter hasn't had much to do, yet."

"Kept outta trouble, though, that's something"," Hagrid said, raising his binoculars and looking skyward towards Harry.

"Slytherin in possession," Lee Jordan continued his commentary, "Chaser Pucey ducks two Bludgers, two Weasley's, and Chaser Bell and speeds towards the - wait a moment - was that the Snitch?" Jordan asked.

Lucifer looked and immediately caught a glimpse of something small and gold shimmering in the Sun as it sped by the Slytherin Chaser.

Harry must've seen it as well because he dove for it. He was fighting, figuratively, the Slytherin Seeker.

All of the Chasers and both Keeper's stopped moving to watch the struggle that was the two Seekers fighting to try and get the Snitch. Harry was faster, obviously, because of his new broom, the Nimbus 2000.

Harry was gaining the Snitch. His fingers were almost within range to clamp down on the little Golden ball - WHAM - A roar of rage could be heard in the Gryffindor Stands. Lucifer smiled at Marcus Flint's obvious about his blatant Foul.

Madam Hooch was giving him an earful and gave Gryffindor a penalty shot. In all the rage and confusion, the Snitch had disappeared, once again lost to the winds.

"Send him off, ref! Red Card!" Lucifer heard Dean yelling.

"This isn't football, Dean," Ron had reminded him, "You can't send people off in Quidditch, and what's a Red Card?"

"As, Weasely said you can't send people off in quidditch which means they are allowed to play dirty if that's not against the rules. So, what Slytherin's are doing is actually clever instead of doing reckless things like those Gryffindor's," Lucifer countered their biased way of thinking.

Lee was finding it difficult to not take sides, "So, after that obvious and disgusting bit of cheating-"

"Jordan!" Professor McGonagall growled in a warning voice.

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

"Jordan, I'm warning you-"

"All right, all right. Flint nearly kills the Gryffindor Seeker, which could happen to anyone, I'm sure, so a penalty to Gryffindor, taken by Spinnet, who puts it away, no trouble, and we continue play, Gryffindor still in possession," Lee reluctantly said in the most unbiased way he could manage at that moment.

The match continued for about two minutes when Lucifer looked back at Harry and saw him jerking around sideways and back 'n' forth on his broom. "That's an odd tactic Potter has implemented. Is it a display of dominance?"

Hermione gave him a quick smack on the shoulder, but looked as well, "What is he doing?"

Lee was still commentating as though nothing was wrong, "Slytherin now 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," he quickly added when McGonagall was about to reprimand him, "Slytherin score - oh no..."

Hagrid looked up and saw Harry having no control over his broom. Harry was suddenly thrown off it, but he still had a hold of it as he dangled dangerously in the air, "Dunno why he's lost control, can't nothing interfere with a broomstick except powerful Dark Magic."

Hermione suddenly seized Hagrid's binoculars and began scanning the crowd, more specifically, the teacher's stand, "I knew it," Hermione gasped, "Snape - look!"

She handed them to Lucifer and he looked at the Professors, "That pink turban bast-"

"He's doing something, probably jinxing the broom," Hermione was really getting suspicious, and wanted to throw hands.

"What should we do?" Lucifer asked her.

"Leave it to me," she said and disappeared.

The other two boys turned their attention back to Harry and saw him being flung about like a dog shaking a toy with its mouth. The crowd watched in horror as Harry was dangled from his broom.

Lucius saw Marcus Flint score five more times in the confusion as everyone awaited for Harry to either regain control of his broom,"Come on, you little rasc-"only, before Lucifer could finished his words.

Harry stopped getting thrown about, he grabbed the binoculars, looking over at the teachers. Snape had been stamping out a fire that had to be Hermione's doing, "Clever girl."

"Neville, you can look again," Ron said to the pudgy faced boy, who had been crying into Hagrid's jacket for the past five minutes.

Harry began to speed towards the ground, neck and neck with the Slytherin Seeker, who pulled up before getting close to the ground, but Harry pulled up at the last second. Lucifer saw a golden gleam just in front of Harry, who was gaining on it.

He tripped forward on his broom and tumbled to the ground. It was a good thing he was as close as he was.

And, Lucifer watched him starting to heave, "He swallowed it, didn't he?"

Instead of vomiting, the Golden Snitch came out and into Harry's palm . He raised his hands in triumph yelling, "I've got the Snitch!" Gryffindor cheer could be heard booming all over the stadium. Despite the confusion, Harry hadn't broken any rules, much to Flint's dismay and protest.

Lee Jordan kept announcing the score of Gryffindor winning, 170-60, "Gryffindor Wins!" You could hear him saying into the intercom.

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1 Extra Chapter - 200 Power Stones.