Sirius Black's daughter - Athena Black (Book 1)

Fourteen

Harry had filled in Athena with whatever happened over the holidays. Athena was curious about the Mirror Of Erised. She wondered what she will see in the mirror. While Hermione on the other hand, was torn between horror at the idea of Harry sneaking out of bed three times in a row.

They had almost given up hope of ever finding Flamel in a library book, even though Harry was still sure he'd read the name somewhere. Once term had started, they were back to skimming through books for ten minutes during their breaks. This annoyed Athena greatly.

Wood was working the team harder than ever. Even the endless rain that had replaced the snow couldn't dampen his spirits. The Weasleys complained that Wood was becoming a fanatic, but Athena and Harry were on Wood's
side. If they won their next match, against Hufflepuff, they would overtake Slytherin in the house championship for the first time in seven years. Athena never really bothered about the house championship but if this is what her house and team wanted, then she was willing and ready to give her best.

Then, during one particularly wet and muddy practice session, Wood gave the team a bit of bad news. He'd just gotten very angry with the Weasleys, who kept dive-bombing each other and pretending to fall off
their brooms.

"Will you stop messing around!" he yelled. "That's exactly the sort of thing that'll lose us the match! Snape's refereeing this time, and he'll be looking for any excuse to knock points off Gryffindor!"

Athena really did fall off her broom at these words.

"Snape's refereeing?" She spluttered through a mouthful of mud. "When's
he ever refereed a Quidditch match? He's not going to be fair if we might overtake Slytherin."

The rest of the team landed next to Athena to complain, too.

"It's not my fault," said Wood. "We've just got to make sure we play a clean game, so Snape hasn't got an excuse to pick on us."

This was a huge shock for Athena. Athena who was a really good at psychology - grew up ready psychology books in her neighborhood library - understood Snape really well. He wasn't really found of Quidditch. He usually ranted about how stupid it was.

The rest of the team hung back to talk to one another as usual at the end of practice, but Harry and Athena headed straight back to the Gryffindor common room, where they found Ron and Hermione playing chess. Chess was the only thing Hermione ever lost at, something Athena, Harry and Ron thought was very
good for her.

"Don't talk to me for a moment," said Ron when Harry sat down next to
him and Athena sat next to Hermione, "I need to concen --" He caught sight of Harry's face. "What's the matter with you? You look terrible."

Speaking quietly so that no one else would hear, Harry told the other two about Snape's sudden, sinister desire to be a Quidditch referee.

"Don't play,"

"Say you're ill,"

"Pretend to break your leg,"

"Really break your leg,"

But Athena had her own questions. How or why did Snape agree to referring the quidditch match? Then it hit her, Quirrill...

"I can't," said Harry. "There isn't a reserve Seeker. If I back out, Gryffindor can't play at all."

At that moment Neville toppled into the common room. How he had managed
to climb through the portrait hole was anyone's guess, because his legs had been stuck together with what they recognized at once as the Leg-Locker Curse. He must have had to bunny hop all the way up to Gryffindor tower. Everyone fell over laughing except Athena, who was worried and shocked, leapt up and performed the countercurse. Neville's legs sprang apart and he got to his feet, trembling.