The Bravest Snake

CHAPTER 14

The news spread like wildfire, and as soon as Harry heard it, he thought he was going to be sick. Snape was going to referee the next Quidditch match. The same Snape who tried to jinx him in the last one. But if Snape was refereeing, he could do so much worse.

Harry was tempted to jump off the roof of the Astronomy Tower and break all the bones in his body so he couldn't play. But his pride wouldn't let him. He wasn't scared of Snape, even though he wanted the Sorcerer's Stone for some reason he hadn't figured out.

Theo was overjoyed when Harry told him he was still going to play. Slytherin had a bad season the past few years with the Weasley family and Harry's own father playing against them on Gryffindor. But everyone in Slytherin had their hopes riding on Harry to snag a victory. 

He saw Ron, Hermione, and Draco in the stands armed with their Slytherin colored sparklers as he walked onto the pitch. They would be playing Hufflepuff, and Harry hoped with all his might that Snape didn't favor Hufflepuff just because of him. 

Harry kicked off the ground as soon as the whistle sounded. He didn't want to drag this match on longer than it should and give Snape more chances to wreak havoc. Circling the game, Harry tried to tune out all the sights and sounds of the stands below.

A loud commotion caught his eye from where Hermione, Ron, and Draco were sitting. It looked like Pansy and a couple more bullies had advanced on them and Neville. Harry cheered internally when Draco, Neville and Ron wrestled Crabbe and Goyle to the ground, and gasped internally when Hermione punched Pansy in the face. He didn't know Hermione had it in her to fight like that. Harry could appreciate a good punch.

''Stay focused, Harry!'' Marcus Flint yelled, swooping by him and seeming to shake Harry out of his stupor. Harry apologized and scanned the air for the Snitch as quickly as his eyeballs could move. Faster... look faster... there it is!

 It was a spectacular dive if Harry did say so himself. It was like his eyes found the Snitch, and his body just... moved, on it's own. He could feel the blood rushing in his ears, mixing in with the cheers from the stands. It felt like it must have been a new record for the fastest game ever!

As the Slytherins came spilling onto the field with Ron, Hermione, and Draco, Harry felt like he was still high up in the air. He did feel bad for Ron and Draco, who had matching nosebleeds due to their fight, but Hermione explained every prejudiced and classist thing Pansy had said. Harry also felt bad that he wasn't able to land a punch of his own.

Harry took his time walking to the locker room, still savoring the joyful feeling coursing through his body. Suddenly a hooded figure rushed down the front steps and into the Forbidden Forest. It was Snape. The happy feeling suddenly turned sour.

Snape walked purposefully towards the forest, and Harry's intuition took over. Snape was up to no good, he was sure of it. Harry jumped back on his Nimbus Two Thousand and sailed as quietly as he could towards Snape, holding his breath. If Snape knew that Harry was spying on him right now, it would not matter at all that Harry was in Snape's favored House.

Harry slowly lowered himself onto a sturdy branch nearby, listening closely. There was someone else with Snape, someone wearing a huge purple turban. What was Professor Quirell doing here?

''I'd thought I'd keep this private. Students aren't supposed to know about the Sorcerer's Stone, after all.'' Snape's voice was as hard and sharp as ice. Harry barely stifled his gasp. ''Have you found out how to get past that beast of Hagrid's yet?'' So my theory was correct. Snape is after the Sorcerer's Stone.

''B - b - but Severus, I - '' Quirell stammered. Harry couldn't help but feel bad for him. Having been on the receiving end of Snape's interrogations before, he knew the feeling all too well.

''You don't want me as your enemy, Quirell,'' Snape growled, taking a step closer to him. Harry felt as if he was watching something forbidden.

''I - I don't know what you - ''

''You know perfectly well what I mean.''

Harry listened to their whole conversation, lingering in the tree branch long after the two had gone, with Snape's threats still hanging in the air. I was right. But instead of the usual satisfied feeling that Harry was left with when he got something right, dread filled the pit of his stomach.

Stumbling back to the Slytherin Common Room, Harry felt like he had witnessed a life changing event. That pushed his feet to walk faster, with the promise of telling Draco, Hermione, and Ron.

As soon as he entered the Slytherin Common Room, he saw Draco, Hermione, and Ron sitting on the leather couches. ''Where have you been?'' screeched Hermione. ''Nobody's seen you anywhere!''

''How did you get in the common room?'' Harry countered, never remembering telling them the password. They usually all hung out in the Gryffindor Common Room.

''Daphne told me, but that's not the point. The point is where have you been?''

Harry ran a had through his messy hair, his fingers getting caught on stray leaves that had somehow gotten in there. ''Well, I saw Snape and Quirell talking in the Forbidden Forest.'' And Harry proceeded to tell them everything.

''Wow,'' said Ron once Harry finished. ''Huh. Guess you really were right, mate.''

''Never doubt a Slytherin's spying abilities,'' said Daphne, coming from behind Ron and sitting on the armrest of a couch. ''And yes, before you ask, I heard everything. But don't worry, I don't really have a motive to tell anyone about this.''

''You don't really have a motive not  to tell anyone about this,'' Harry pointed out.

''Yes I do,'' Daphne laughed. ''Harry, you're my friend, so are you, Hermione. Draco has blackmail on me. And Ron, I don't have the foggiest idea who you are, but I don't really care either.''

''Hmm,'' Hermione murmured. Then, turning to Daphne, she said, ''Well, you're too deep now, so you're going to have to get used to us. And to Ron. Terrible, I know.''