GOLDEN BLOOD

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐕𝐈. Anxiously Quidditch.

November was finally here, and so was the cold weather. The mountains around the school became icy and the lake like chilled steel. Every morning the ground was covered in frost. Hagrid could be seen from the upstairs windows defrosting broomsticks on the Quidditch field, bundled up in a long moleskin overcoat, rabbit fur gloves, and enormous beaverskin boots.

The Quidditch season had begun. On Saturday, Harry and Thea would be
playing in their first match after weeks of training: Gryffindor vs
Slytherin. If Gryffindor won, they would move up into second
place in the House Championship.

The news that they were playing had leaked out somehow, and
Harry didn't know which was worse - people telling him he'd be brilliant or people telling him they'd be running around underneath him holding a mattress. Thea in the other hand, had just discovered about a fanclub for herself and her brother, her brother already had one but they conjoined the fanclubs since they're siblings. She was nervous about the match but with Wood's and her brother's help she'll be just fine.

Harry didn't know how he'd have gotten through all his homework without Hermione and Thea, what with all the last-minute Quidditch practice Wood was making them do. Hermione lent Harry 'Quidditch Through the Ages', which turned out to be a very interesting read.

Hermione had become a bit more relaxed about breaking rules
since Thea, Harry and Ron had saved her from the mountain troll, and
she was much nicer for it. The day before Harry's first Quidditch
match the four of them were out in the freezing courtyard during
break, and she had conjured them up a bright blue fire that could
be carried around in a jam jar. They were standing with their backs
to it, getting warm, when Snape crossed the yard. Harry noticed at
once that Snape was limping. Harry, Thea, Ron, and Hermione moved
closer together to block the fire from view; they were sure it
wouldn't be allowed. Unfortunately, something about their guilty
faces caught Snape's eye. He limped over. He hadn't seen the fire,
but he seemed to be looking for a reason to tell them off anyway.
"What's that you've got there, Wolbellthorn?"
It was Quidditch Through the Ages. Thea showed him. "Harry has been reading it. For the match we have on Saturday. Are you going to be there?-"

"Library books are not to be taken outside the school," interrupted
Snape. "Give it to me. Five points from Gryffindor."
"He's just made that rule up," Harry muttered angrily as Snape
limped away. "Wonder what's wrong with his leg?"
"Dunno, but I hope it's really hurting him," said Ron bitterly.
"You shouldn't say that, Ron." Thea said. And added with a funny intent "You know, you should change your name to Wron because it seems like everything you do or say is wRONg."

.......................................................................

The Gryffindor common room was very noisy that evening. Harry,
Ron, and Hermione sat together next to a window. Hermione was
checking Harry and Ron's Charms homework for them. She would
never let them copy ("How will you learn?"), but by asking her to
read it through, they got the right answers anyway. Thea was talking to Neville about herbology and sharing facts together near the fireplace.

The next morning Harry told Thea, Ron and Hermione he was going to ask Snape if he could have the book back.
"Better you than me," Roan and Hermione said together, but Harry had an idea that Snape wouldn't refuse if there were other teachers listening. "I'm sure we'll just end up getting in trouble but, I'll go with you." Said Thea.

They made their way down to the staffroom and Harry knocked. There
was no answer. He knocked again. Nothing.
"Perhaps Snape had left the book in there?" Thea suggested.
It was worth a try. He
pushed the door ajar and peered inside - and a horrible scene met
his eyes.
Snape and Filch were inside, alone. Snape was holding his robes
above his knees. One of his legs was bloody and mangled. Filch was
handing Snape bandages.
"Blasted thing," Snape was saying. "How are you supposed to
keep your eyes on all three heads at once?"
Harry tried to shut the door quietly, but - "POTTER! WOLBELLTHORN!"

Snape's face was twisted with fury as he dropped his robes quickly to hide his leg. Harry gulped.
"I just wondered if I could have my book back."
"GET OUT! OUT YOU TWO!"
Harry and Thea left, before Snape could take any more points from
Gryffindor. They sprinted back upstairs.
"Did you get it?" Ron asked as Harry and Thea joined them. "What's the
matter?"
"We saw something strange." Said Thea calmly. Harry then explained what they saw.
"You know what this means?" he finished breathlessly. "He really tried
to get past that three-headed dog at Halloween! That's where he
was going when we saw him - he's after whatever it's guarding!
And I'd bet my broomstick he let that troll in, to make a diversion!"
Hermione's eyes were wide.
"No - he wouldn't," she said. "I know he's not very nice, but he
wouldn't try and steal something Dumbledore was keeping safe."
"Honestly, Hermione, you think all teachers are saints or something," snapped Ron. "I'm with Harry. I wouldn't put anything
past Snape. But what's he after? What's that dog guarding?"
Harry went to bed with his head buzzing with the same question. Neville was snoring loudly, but Harry couldn't sleep. He tried
to empty his mind - he needed to sleep, he had to, he had his first
Quidditch match in a few hours - but the expression on Snape's
face when Harry had seen his leg wasn't easy to forget.

Suddenly he hears the door creek and then a whisper "Harry? Are you awake?" It's Thea. "I can't sleep, I'm nervous for the match next morning..."

"Me too..." Said Harry while sighing. "Remember when we were at the train? Ron said something about your blood being blue, also why didn't your parents go with you to the station? And why did Malfoy treat you like that and call you that nickname?" He asked as if a rush of curiosity passed him.
"Well, that's a lot of questions..." She chuckles awkwardly. "Alright, my blood being blue is because my great-great-great-great-grandfather got a potion wrong, it caused a reaction, it went inside of a cut he had and the potion reacted with his blood and since then my family has blue... Blood." Thea pauses from the long explanation. "Wicked! Does it give you powers?" Harry asked surprised. "Don't be a chump, of course not!" She laughed careful to not wake the others. As the laughing was over and the silence struck, Thea finally talked. "My parents... Harry, my parents were killed seven years ago. A group of Death Eaters came to our home on a Christmas evening... my dad hid us in a secret room and went to help my mom... their screaming in agony and pain still hunts me... I know you went through the same, Harry... but it's different." Thea said trying very hard not to cry. "I'm so sorry, Thea-"

"Good night, Harry. We'll see each other tomorrow." She said quickly before rushing out of the room, careful not to trip.

........................................................................

Thea went to her brother's floor and opened the door slowly. "Ben..." She said with a shakey voice. Ben slowly opened his eyes, confused about what's happening. "Thea, what happened? Are you alright?" He suddenly got worried. "Ben, I miss mum and dad..."