Parseltongue Heiress

Chapter 11

As Harry's first Quidditch match neared, I made quite a lot of progress on the chamber. Once it started to get cold, I had to learn defrosting spells to be able to clean the stagnant water. I tried my hardest not to use magic to fix it up, because I knew I would appreciate it more if I did it with hard work. However, there were some instances where it was unavoidable, such as when I realized I'd need to figure out how to keep the chamber warm in the winter. So, when I went to research that, I decided to also read up on Quidditch in preparation for the first match.

Hermione had been helpful as well. She was willing to teach me all manner of useful spells, and hardly ever asked why I needed them. Once, I used the excuse that I wanted to clean my dorm, since it was in the dungeons and all. It was a complete and utter lie, of course. The Slytherin dormitories were impeccable, but it made sense to her, which was all I needed. After that, she helped me without question, probably out of sympathy if nothing else. Also, some of them I wanted to know purely for knowledge's sake, and that seemed to make her happy.

The day before the first match, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and I were huddled around a bright blue fire Hermione had conjured, to keep warm. Snape limped across the courtyard. We immediately huddled closer, sure that the fire wasn't allowed, but that must have been enough to set him off. He limped over to us with a suspicious look on his face. He noticed the library book Harry had, and took it up.

"Library books are not to be taken from the school. Five points from Gryffindor. And Maia, I hope you know you must sit with your house at the game tomorrow. Otherwise you must get permission from the headmaster, or you will be docked points and given a detention." The he limped off.

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That evening I went to see Dumbledore, desperate to be allowed to sit with my friends and support their team. I only hoped he would allow it.

I made it to the gargoyle guarding the entrance to the headmaster's office. I thought for a moment before I spoke assuredly, "Sherbet Lemon." The gargoyle came to life and jumped aside, just long enough for me to scurry up the stairs. I knocked on his door, and waited to hear him allow me to enter. I sheepishly peeked around the door as I stepped in.

His eyes twinkled. "What brings you to my office today, Maia?"

I sat across from him. "Well, Professor Snape told me that to sit on the Gryffindor side, I'd have to get permission from you."

"Ah yes, Snape is very strict on that. Especially since you're part of the Weasley's, Granger's, and Potter's group. I'll give you this," he wrote a pass and waved his wand over it, "It will allow you to sit with them whenever you wish, excluding meal times." He handed me the pass, and then we both stood. I said goodbye, then went to get more work done in the chamber.

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By the time of the Quidditch match, I was sure that if switching houses was possible, I would probably have been moved to Gryffindor, but it wasn't so.

Hermione, Ron, and I walked out to the stadium together, giddy for our first game. I got a couple of strange looks for being the only Slytherin in that section, but I quickly shook it off.

The game was going well, until Harry's broom got jinxed. Hermione swore it was Snape, but when I looked, I also noticed Quirrel, only he looked less concerned for Harry's safety. I decided to go with Hermione to break Snape's concentration, knowing that if I was correct, and Snape was issuing the counter-curse, I had to break Quirrel's concentration as well. We made our way over, and as Hermione made her way to Snape, I made sure to knock Quirrel headfirst into the row in front of him, before continuing on my way. Harry righted himself before Snape even noticed he was on fire, and I saw his sigh of relief.