Invisible: the Philosopher's Stone

X. Fifteen Brooms

I don't think we have enough evidence to tell whether he is guilty or not.

✦✦✦

As they enter November, the weather turns very cold. The mountains around the school have become icy grey and the lake is like chilled steel. Every morning the ground is covered in frost. Hagrid can be seen from the upstairs windows defrosting broomsticks on the Quidditch pitch, bundled up in a long moleskin overcoat, rabbit-fur gloves, and enormous beaverskin boots.

The Quidditch season has begun. On Saturday, Harry will be playing in his first match after weeks of training: Gryffindor versus Slytherin. If Gryffindor wins, they will move up into second place in the House Championship. If not, then Slytherin will take that place.

Lily isn't conflicted about who to cheer for. Her House may be 'like her family', but Harry is her actual family. Hardly anyone has seen him play because Oliver decided that, as their secret weapon, Harry should be kept, well, secret. But the news that he's playing Seeker leaked out, and Lily doesn't know which is worse—people telling him he'll be brilliant or people telling him they'll be running around underneath him holding a mattress.

Hermione has also lent him Quidditch Through the Ages, which he says has turned out to be a very interesting read. Lily has learned from Harry that Seekers are usually the smallest and fastest players, and that most serious Quidditch accidents seem to happen to them; that although people rarely die playing Quidditch, referees have been known to vanish and turn up months later in the Sahara Desert.

"Noice." She nods, not knowing what else to say to that.

Hermione has become a bit more relaxed about breaking rules since Harry, Ron and Lily saved her from the mountain troll, and she is much nicer for it.

The day before Harry's first Quidditch match the four of them are out in the freezing courtyard during break, and Hermione has conjured up a bright blue fire which can be carried around in a jam jar. They're standing with their backs to it, getting warm, when Professor Snape crosses the yard. Lily notices at once that he is still limping and scrunches up her nose.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione move closer together to block the fire from view; they're sure it won't be allowed. Unfortunately, something about their guilty faces catches Professor Snape's eye. He limps over, ignoring Lily's existence. He doesn't see the fire, but he seems to be looking for a reason to tell them off anyway.

"What's that you've got there, Potter?"

It's Quidditch Through the Ages. Harry shows him. It's a big mistake to show Professor Snape anything that's yours. He's like a preschool bully in that sense—he'll take it away and you'll never see it again.

"Library books are not to be taken outside the school. Give it to me. Five points from Gryffindor."

Lily shakes her head, smiling a little. He really likes picking fights with eleven-year-olds, doesn't he?

"He's just made that rule up," Harry mutters angrily, as Professor Snape limps away.

"Wonder what's wrong with his leg?" Hermione thinks out loud.

"Dunno, but I hope it's really hurting him," Ron says bitterly.

Harry and Lily look at each other, no longer amused. They know exactly what's happened to his leg—they just don't know why he'd go to that three-headed dog.

✦

The Slytherin common room is very noisy that evening. Lily can't handle the cacophony, so she goes to her dormitory. It's empty as always, and her speech about not having any friends comes into mind all of a sudden. Hermione has friends now. Lily on the other hand, not so much.