mavis weasley || harry potter [1]

EIGHT || Snape

As they entered November, the weather turned very cold. The mountains around the school became icy gray and the lake like chilled steel. Every morning the ground was covered in frost. Hagrid could be seen from the upstairs window 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, Mavis would be playing in her first match after weeks of training: Gryffindor versus Slytherin. If Gryffindor won, they would move up into second place in the House Championship.

Hardly anyone had seen Mavis and Harry play because Wood had decided that, as their secret weapons, Harry and Mavis should be kept, well, secret. But the news that he was Seeker and she was a Chaser had leaked out somehow, and Mavis didn't know which was worse-- people telling her she'd be brilliant or people telling her they'd be running under her with a mattress.

Mavis let Harry borrow Quidditch Through the Ages, which was an excellent read. Hermione and Mavis had become a bit more relaxed about breaking the rules since Harry and Ron had saved them from the mountain troll, and they were much nicer for it. The day before Harry and Mavis's first Quidditch match the four of them were out in the freezing courtyard during break, and Mavis 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. Mavis noticed at once that Snape was limping. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Mavis moved closer together to block the fire from Snape's view, they were sure it wasn't 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, Potter?"

It was Quidditch Through the Ages. Harry showed him.

"Library books are not to be taken outside the school," said Snape. "Give it to me. Five points from Gryffindor."

"He just made up that rule," Mavis 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.

The Gryffindor common room was very noisy that evening. Harry, Mavis, Ron, and Hermione sat together next to a window. Mavis was checking Harry and Ron's Charms homework for them. She would never let them copy, Hermione always said but then how would you learn, but by asking her to read it through, they got the right answers anyway.

Mavis was almost finished with Ron's homework when Harry stood up.

"Where are you going?" said Hermione.

"I'm going to go ask Snape if I could have the book back."

"Better you than me," the three said together.

Once Mavis finished correcting Harry's paper she sat up and peered through the window. Harry's been gone for half an hour she thought, but it seemed Hermione was thinking the same thing.

"How long does it take to get a book?" she said.

"Knowing Harry," said Ron. "he probably got into a fight with Snape."

As soon as Ron finished Harry came sprinting into the room, panting.

"Did you get it?" Mavis asked as Harry joined them. "What's the matter?"

In a low whisper, Harry told them what he'd seen.

"You know what this means?" he finished breathlessly. "He tried to get past that three-headed dog at Halloween! That's where he was going with we saw him, Ron-- he's after whatever it's guarding! And I'd bet my broomstick he let that troll in, to make a diversion!"