Amelia Potter and the Chamber of Secrets PART 1

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rules of Quidditch. 'They're called Bludgers. There are two Beaters on each team, who carry clubs to beat the Bludgers away from their side. Fred and George Weasley are the Gryffindor Beaters.'

'And what are the other balls for?' Colin asked, tripping down a couple of steps because he was gazing open-mouthed at Harry.

'Well, the Quaffle – that's the biggish red one – is the one that scores goals. Three Chasers on each team throw the Quaffle to each other and try and get it through the goalposts at the end of the pitch – they're three long poles with hoops on the end.'

'And the fourth ball –'

'– is the Golden Snitch,' said Harry, 'and it's very small, very fast and difficult to catch. But that's what the Seeker's got to do, because a game of Quidditch doesn't end until the Snitch has been caught. And whichever team's Seeker gets the Snitch earns his team an extra hundred and fifty points.'

'And you're Gryffindor Seeker, aren't you?' said Colin in awe.

'Yes,' said Harry, as they left the castle and started across the dew-drenched grass. 'And there's the Keeper, too. He guards the goalposts. That's it, really.'

But Colin didn't stop questioning Harry all the way down the sloping lawns to the Quidditch pitch, and Harry only shook him off when he reached the changing rooms. Colin called after him in a piping voice, 'I'll go and get a good seat, Harry!' and hurried off to the stands.

The rest of the Gryffindor team were already in the changing room. Wood was the only person who looked truly awake. Fred and George Weasley were sitting, puffy-eyed and tousle-haired, next to fourth-year Alicia Spinnet, who seemed to be nodding off against the wall behind her. Her fellow Chasers, Katie Bell and Angelina Johnson, were yawning, side by side, opposite them.

'There you are, Harry, what kept you?' said Wood briskly. 'Now, I wanted a quick talk with you all before we actually get onto the pitch, because I spent the summer devising a whole new training programme, which I really think will make all the difference ...'

Wood was holding up a large diagram of a Quidditch pitch, on which were drawn many lines, arrows and crosses in different- coloured inks. He took out his wand, tapped the board and the arrows began to wiggle over the diagram like caterpillars. As Wood launched into a speech about his new tactics, Fred Weasley's head drooped right onto Alicia Spinnet's shoulder and