CRIMSON TEARS | Harry Potter and the Philospher's Stone [1]

𝘅𝗶𝘃 | 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀

Flint had been howling for over half an hour now: 'he didn't catch the snitch, he nearly bloody swallowed it!' But Harry hadn't broken any rules, and Gryffindor had won the match one-seventy to sixty. They were second in the running now, and the Gryffindor team were beside themselves.

  When Gwen, Ron and Hermione had gone down to the changing rooms with Hagrid to meet Harry, Wood was grinning and giddy.

  'I knew you'd do it! We're winning the cup this year, for sure!'

  The whole team were basking in their victory. A couple of them had even pulled Edward aside as he was leaving to thank him for his good sportsmanship.

  Eddy, humble as ever, had brushed it aside and said he was sure they'd do it for him. His selflessness had not gone down well with the Slytherin team, though; Flint was lecturing him as they left the changing rooms, but catching sight of Gwen standing there, watching him with furious eyes, he shut up and stormed away.

  Fred and George nodded thanks at Edward as they headed toward the castle, and Oliver Wood had hugged him.

  Gwen joined the others in heading to Hagrid's hut, who, once they got there, offered them all some strong tea.

  They were filling Harry in on what had happened at the game.

  'It was Snape,' Ron was saying. 'We all saw him. He was jinxing your broom, or cursing it or something. He didn't take his eyes off you.'

  'Rubbish,' Hagrid said, who hadn't heard anything the other three had been discussing on the stands. 'Why would Snape do somethin' like that?'

  The other four shared a look. A silent understanding passed between them. Harry told him what they'd all found out.

  Hagrid clearly couldn't believe them. He dropped the tea pot.

  'How do you know about Fluffy?'

  'Fluffy?!'

  'Yeah-- he's mine-- bought him off a Greek chappie I met in the pub las' year-- I lent him to Dumbledore to guard--'

  He stopped suddenly.

  'Yes?' Gwen urged.

  'Don't ask me anymore," said Hagrid. He was getting annoyed. 'That's top secret, that is.'

  'But Snape's trying to steal it.'

  'Rubbish,' said Hagrid again. 'Snape's a Hogwarts teacher, he'd do nothin' of the sort.'

  'So why did he just try and kill Harry?' cried Hermione. The events at the Quidditch match had definitely changed her mind about Snape, but there was one thing Gwen couldn't keep out of her mind. 'I know a jinx when I see one, Hagrid, I've read all about them! You've got to keep eye contact, and Snape wasn't blinking at all, I saw him!'