The Gift From Death

Chapter 19: First year Part 9

6th, August, 1998, 3.30pm...

"Right we will start at the Quidditch game Snape was refereeing." Harry explained.

Harry didn't see how he could - yet he sometimes had the horrible feeling that Snape could read minds.

"That's Legilimency. Which he knew." Hermione said. "It is possible he used it."

"He wouldn't, it's illegal to use on students." Minerva said.

"Never stopped him before." Harry said.

Harry knew, when they wished him good luck outside the changing rooms next afternoon, that Ron and Hermione were wondering whether they'd ever see him alive again.

"He wouldn't do anything right in front of the whole school." Remus said reasonably.

This wasn't what you'd call comforting.

"But what isn't comforting about thinking you'll never see someone alive again?" Sirius asked sarcastically.

Harry hardly heard a word of Wood's pep talk as he pulled on his Quidditch robes and picked up his Nimbus two Thousand.

Ron and Hermione, meanwhile, had found a place in the stands next to Neville, who couldn't understand why they looked so grim and worried, or why they had both brought their wands to the match.

"Well, why shouldn't you take your wand?" Sirius asked. "You're supposed to take 'em everywhere!"

"Yeah. Never let your wand out of your sight!" James said.

Little did Harry know that Ron and Hermione had been secretly practicing the Leg-Locker Curse. They'd got the idea from Malfoy using it on Neville, and were ready to use it on Snape if he showed any sign of wanting to hurt Harry.

"Now, don't forget, it's Locomotor Mortis," Hermione muttered as Ron slipped his wand up his sleeve.

"I know," Ron snapped. "Don't nag."

Back in the changing room, Wood had taken Harry aside.

"Don't want to pressure you, Potter,"

"That never works. There's always pressure, especially on the seeker." James half-laughed.

"but if we ever need an early capture of the snitch it's now."

"Yeah, that's no pressure at all!" Ginny snorted.

"Finish the game before Snape can favour Hufflepuff too much."

"You can't just catch the Snitch because you have to!" James cried.

"The whole school's out there!" said Fred Weasley, peering out of the door.

"Aren't they always?" asked Astoria.

"Not really. Just most of the school." Minerva replied.

"Even - blimey - Dumbledore's come to watch!"

"Dumbledore's there!" James said happily. "Now we know for sure that he's safe!"