Quidditch (PS)

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Harry looking for the Snitch.

Quidditch is the eleventh chapter of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

The eve of the match

November comes along. Hagrid defrosts broomsticks in the pitch in preparation for the upcoming Quidditch season. The first match is on Saturday: Gryffindor versus Slytherin. Harry's skills have been kept as much of a secret as possible; Oliver hasn't let anyone seen him play, but the news that he now has the position of Seeker spreads around the school.

Hermione has become less strict about breaking rules, and is crucial to Harry now; she helps him with homework, and lends him a copy of Quidditch through the Ages. Harry learns from the book that there are seven hundred ways of committing a foul in the game, and that they all happeed in a 1473 World Cup match; that Seekers tend to be the smallest and fastest players, and the worst accidents happen to them; and that few people have died while playing, but referees sometimes vanish and surface months later in the Sahara desert.

Hermione conjures a bright blue fire and carries it in a jam jar to keep the Trio warm while outside. Snape passes by them outside, limping; the three students attempt to hide the jar from view, but the teacher notices their guilty faces. He criticises Harry for having a library book outside the school and confiscates Quidditch through the Ages, taking five points from Gryffindor. After he leaves, Harry bitterly notes that that rule doesn't exist, and wonders what caused him to limp.

Back in the noisy Gryffindor common room, Hermione is looking over the boys' Charms homework (she doesn't let them copy hers, only corrects theirs), and Harry is nervous: he wants the book back, and decides to ask Snape for it. He goes to the staff room and knocks. No one answers, and he attempts to enter anyway. Inside, Filch is giving Snape bandages to help with the latter's bloody, mangled leg. "Blasted thing," Snape complains. "How are you supposed to keep your eyes on all three heads at once?"

Stunned, Harry tries to close the door quietly, to no avail. Snape, looking furious, yells at him to leave. The boy runs back to Gryffindor Tower and shares his conclusions with Ron and Hermione: Snape attempted to get past the three-headed dog on Hallowe'en, and probably let the troll in to create a diversion.

Hermione opposes the idea ("I know he's not very nice, but he wouldn't try and steal something Dumbledore was keeping safe."); Ron sides with Harry, claiming that she trusts Snape simply because he is a teacher.

In the boys' dorm, Neville is snoring loudly, but Harry can't sleep. He tries to empty his mind, but cannot forget the livid look on Snape's face upon noticing his presence in the room.