Chapter 9 - Gryffindor vs. Slytherin

November had begun and it was getting colder and colder. Winter was coming. The mountains around the school became icy gray and the lake like chilled steel. Every morning the ground was covered in frost. Hagrid could be seen from the upstairs windows defrosting broomsticks on the Quidditch field, bundled up in a long moleskin overcoat, rabbit fur gloves, and enormous beaverskin boots.

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 week after that, Emaline will make her Hogwarts debut with Ravenclaw against Hufflepuff, their biggest rivals and according to Skye, the game is probably the most intense rivalry in the school. As last year's Cup winners, Ravenclaw was sitting comfortably in first place. In two weeks, Emaline would be allowed to return home to America for Thanksgiving.

On Friday morning, she was sitting with Tulip having breakfast, and read a letter from her mom. "Good morning, Tulip!" said a girl's voice. Emaline turned around to see who the voice belonged to. It was a girl who had long, blonde hair with two thick braids over her shoulder and a braid on her left side that formed a ponytail, giving her a half up and wore a robe with yellow on it. She was in Hufflepuff. Following behind her was a much younger girl who looked just like her, only she had shorter hair. "Hi, Penny! And Beatrice!", said Tulip. She sat down next to Tulip. "So, is the banner finished?", the older girl asked Tulip.

"Yes," she said. "It just finished drying."

"So, you must be Emaline Goode," said the older girl. "Tulip has told me all about you. In fact, everyone in Hogwarts is talking about you. Are you British, by any chance?"

"No, I'm American, specifically, I'm from Oregon." she said, "I've been transferred for the year from Ilvermorny."

"Oh, I've heard so much about that school." said the younger girl, "Which house are you in?"

"Thunderbird."

"I'm Penny Haywood, by the way. This is my little sister, Beatrice."

"Nice to meet you both.", she said as she shook Penny and Beatrice's hand.

"So, are you excited for the Gryffindor/Slytherin game today? Can't wait to see Harry Potter in action!"

"Yeah. Can't wait."

Then, meanwhile, in through the window came a Snowy Owl. It was Hedwig, Harry's pet. She was carrying a very large package and dropped it off right where Harry, Ron, and Hermione were sitting, right next door at the Gryffindor table. "Bit early for mail, isn't it? said Hermione.

"But I never get any mail," said Harry.

"Let's open it."

The trio opened up the package and it revealed a brand new broomstick.

"It's a broomstick," said Harry.

"That's not just a broomstick, Harry!" said Ron, "It's the Nimbus 2000!" Nearby, Oliver Wood jaw dropped on to the table. He was insanely jealous. Emaline looked and she was jealous.

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. Emaline, who wore her Thunderbird team jacket, joined Tulip, Beatrice, and Penny in the top row where the students from Ravenclaw were sitting. They brought a banner in which they had painted just for Harry. Even though the girls were in Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, they wanted to root for Gryffindor. It said: "LET'S GO LIONS!" painted in scarlet and gold letters. Penny was good at drawing and she painted a gold lion. Several other banners like their's lined the stands across the stadiums. One of them was made by Ron, Hermione, and Dean Thomas and said: "POTTER FOR PRESIDENT!" also with scarlet and gold on it and also with a lion.

"Is Quidditch like this all the time at Ilvermorny?" said Penny.

"Absolutely." said Emaline, "But it's a very different game over there in America. It's a lot more violent and brutal. And very competitive. You wouldn't dare take the field unless you knew how to use your fists."

Then, it was time. On the field, Fifteen people walked on to the pitch. Seven wore green and silver robes and the other half wore robes of scarlet and gold. The last one was the referee and it was Madam Hooch. The crowd roared. She stood in the middle of the field waiting for the two teams, her broom in her hand. "Mount your brooms!" Madam Hooch said. And fifteen brooms did rise into the air.

"Now, I want a nice fair game, from all of you," she said, once they were all gathered around her. She kicked the chest, and the Bludgers flew out almost immediately, followed by the Snitch. She then threw the Quaffle into the air. There was a scrum at the scrimmage line. The game had begun.

"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 Jordan, a friend of Fred and George Weasley, was doing the commentary for the match, closely watched by Professor McGonagall.

"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 the Gryffindors take the Quaffle - that's Chaser Katie Bell 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 - 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 - 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 goal posts are ahead - come on, now, Angelina - Keeper Bletchley dives - misses - GOAL! Angelina Johnson scores 10 points for Gryffindor"

Cheers from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff joined with the Gryffindor crowd. Slytherin countered it with boos, moans, and hisses. "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?"

And then, Emaline saw it. The Golden Snitch. A murmur ran through the crowd as Adrian Pucey dropped the Quaffle, too busy looking over his shoulder at the flash of gold that had passed his left ear. Terence Higgs, the Slytherin Seeker, also saw it. Harry caught sight of the Snitch and he darted ahead of Higgs with a blinding burst of speed, right in from Emaline, Tulip, Penny, and Beatrice. The Gryffindors went nuts. Then Marcus Flint had blocked Harry, and Harry's broom spun off course, and he held on for dear life.

"Foul!" the Gryffindors cried.

"Hey, that's a foul!" Emaline yelled. Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff started booing. In unison with Gryffindor. Loudly.

On the field, Madam Hooch had awarded Gryffindor a penalty, in which Alicia Spinnet easily put away.

"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 - Slytherins score - Ano..."

The Slytherins were cheering. Two Slytherins Chasers, Pucey, and Flint outflanked Angelina Johnson and ran her into a tower and she was knocked out cold. Jonathan Spratt threw the Quaffle and punted it with his broomstick into the goal. Slytherin scored again and it was now tied at 20 points. Then suddenly, Harry's broomstick began acting strange, constantly trying to throw him off. It was carrying him slowly higher, away from the game, jerking and twitching as it went. the entire stadium was watching with anguish to see what would happen.

"What the hell is happening to Harry's broomstick?" said Penny. 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. Harry's broom had given a wild jerk and Harry swung off it. He was now dangling from it, holding on with only one hand.

Then suddenly, it stopped as quickly as it began. There was a small whiff of smoke coming from one of the towers. Harry's broomstick stopped shaking uncontrollably and he managed to get himself back together. Everyone cheered.

"GO HARRY GO!!" Emaline yelled. Others followed suit.

After a race for the Snitch with Terence Higgs, 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 - he hit the field on all fours - coughed - and something gold fell into his hand.

"He's caught the Snitch!" said Lee Jordan. "Harry Potter has earned Gryffindor 150 points for catching the Golden Snitch!"

Madam Hooch blew the whistle and shouted: "Gryffindor wins!" The entire stadium went crazy, especially the Gryffindors. Emaline ran over to where they were watching the game and celebrated with them. Gryffindor won 170 to 60 over Slytherin. Emaline joined him, Ron and Hermione, at Hagrid's hut, where he made them a cup of tea.

When Hermione told her what happened with Harry's broomstick, she was shocked and had a look of disbelief.

"That's ridiculous," she said, "Why would Snape want to put a curse on Harry's broom?"

"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."

Hagrid dropped the teapot.

"How do you know about Fluffy?" he said.

"Fluffy?"

"That thing has a name?" said Hermione.

"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-"

"Yes?" said Harry eagerly.

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

"But Snape's trying to steal it."

"Codswallop!" said Hagrid, "Professor Snape is a Hogwarts teacher!"

"Hogwarts teacher or not, I know a spell when I see one. I've read all about them", said Hermione, "You've got to keep eye contact and Snape wasn't blinking."

"Exactly," Harry agreed.

"Now you listen to me, all three of you: You're meddlin' in affairs that aren't to be meddled in. It's dangerous." Hagrid warned, "What happens in there is between Professor Dumbledore and Nicolas Flamel."

"Nicolas Flamel?" Hagrid looked furious with himself.

"I shouldn't have said that," he whispered to himself.

"I should not have said that," he said again as he walked outside.

"Nicolas Flamel?" said Emaline, "Who's that?"

"I don't know," Hermione whispered.