Harry Potter and Hermione Granger: The Chamber of Secrets

Slytherin's New Seeker and The Mysterious Voice

Dateline: September 5th, 1992

Harry and Hermione spent a lot of time over the next few days dodging out of sight whenever they saw Gilderoy Lockhart coming down a corridor, and Colin Creevey, who seemed to have memorized their schedules, would always come up to them in a bigger thrill to say, ''All right, Harry?'' six or seven times a day and hear, ''Hello, Colin,'' back, however exasperated they sounded when they'd said it.

Oliver Wood and his teammate, Angelina Johnson, went to their rooms to wake up Harry and Hermione to get ready for Quidditch Practice.

''None of the other teams has started training yet; we're going to be first off the mark this year --'' they said, getting the two second years out of the bed and meeting them on the main floor of the Common Room. ''Meet you on the field in fifteen minutes.''

After bumping into Colin again, they headed out of the portrait hole and to their surprise, Oliver and Angelina were waiting in the Great Hall and the rest of the players to head onto the field.

''I spent the summer devising a whole new Quidditch program. ''We're going to train earlier, harder, and longer!'' said Wood, then catching his attention to the people wearing green robes walking in the courtyard. ''What the... I don't believe it! Where do you think you're going, Flint?''

Marcus Flint looked even larger than Wood. He had a trollish cunning on his face, and he replied, ''Quidditch Practice.''

''I booked the pitch for Gryffindor today.'' Wood said calmly.

''Easy, Wood. I've got a note from Professor Snape,'' he said, handing the roll of parchment to Wood.

''I, Professor Severus Snape, do hereby give the Slytherin team permission to practice today, owning us to train their new Seeker.'' Wood said, looking up from the parchment. ''You've got a new Seeker, who?''

And from behind the six immense figures before them came a seventh, smaller boy, smirking all over his pale, pointed face. It was Draco Malfoy.

''Malfoy?'' said the two second years, amazed that their nemesis is on the team.

''That's right. And that's not all that's new this year,'' he said, putting his broom at his side for the Gryffindor team to look at.

''Those are Nimbus Two Thousand and Ones! How'd you get those?'' said Harry, looking mentally flustered.

''A gift from Draco's father,'' Flint said as the Slytherin team smiled in broad daylight.

''You see, Potter and Granger, unlike some, my father can afford the best,'' said Malfoy, smugly.

''At least no one on the Gryffindor team had to buy their way in,'' Hermione said sharply. ''They got in on pure talent.''

The smug look on Malfoy's face flickered.

"No one asked your opinion, you filthy little Mudblood,"

"How dare you!" screamed Harry as he took out his wand. "You'll pay for that one, Malfoy, Eat Slugs!"

A loud bang echoed through the courtyard, and a jet of green light was shot from his wand, hitting Malfoy in the stomach and sending him backwards onto the pillars. Malfoy opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. So instead, he gave an almighty belch, and several slugs dribbled out of his mouth onto his lap.

"Wow! Can you hold him still, Harry?" asked Colin from behind.

"No, Colin, get out of the way!" said Harry, ignoring Colin's flashes of his camera.

"Let's take him to Hagrid's. He'll know what to do."

They headed off to Hagrid's hut and told him that Malfoy's throwing up slugs which caused Hagrid to say, ''Wow, this calls for specialist equipment. Nothing to do but wait till it stops, I'm afraid.''