Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone (Slytherin!Harry)

Chapter 12, The Big Game

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 windows 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, Harry would be playing in his very first match after weeks of training: Gryffindor versus Slytherin. If Slytherin won, they'd be in second place in the house championship.

Hardly anyone had seen Harry play, not even Draco. That was because Marcus had decided that, as their secret weapon, Harry should be kept, well, secret. But the news that he was playing seeker had leaked out somehow, and Harry didn't know which was worse, people telling him he'd be brilliant, or people telling him they'd be running around underneath him holding a mattress.

Hermione had lent him Quidditch Through the Ages, as a thank you for Halloween. The book actually turned out to be a very interesting read.

Harry learned that there were 700 ways of commiting a Quidditch foul and that all of them had happened during a World Cup match in 1473; that seekers were usually the smallest and fastest players, and that the most serious Quidditch accidents seemed to happen to them; that although people rarely died playing Quidditch, referees had been known to vanish and turn up a month later in the Sahara Desert.

The day before Harry's first Quidditch match Harry had been sitting outside with Draco in the freezing courtyard. Harry had conjured 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 was limping. Harry moved closer to Draco to block the fire from view; he was sure it wouldn't be allowed.

Unfortunately, something about his guilty face caught Snape's eye. He limped over. He hadn't seen the fire, but he seemed to be looking for a reason to tell him off anyway.

"What's that you 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."

"He just made that rule up. So much for favoring Slytherins." Harry muttered angrily as Snape limped away.

"Wonder what's wrong with his leg?" Chirped Draco.

"Dunno," he shrugged, "But I hope it's really hurting him."

That night Harry was finishing up charms homework by copying off of Draco. Draco seemed to be really advanced in everything for their year. Even better than Hermione.

Harry felt restless, he wanted that book back to take his mind off his nerves about tomorrow. Why should he be afraid of Snape?

Getting up he told Draco he was going to go ask to have it back. Harry had an idea that Snape wouldn't refuse if other teachers were listening. He made his way to the staffroom and knocked. No answer. He knocked again. Still no answer. Perhaps Snape left the book in there? It was worth a try.

He pushed the door ajar and peered inside- and a horrible scene met his eyes. Snape and Filch were inside, alone. Snape was holding his robes above his knees. One of his legs were bloody and mangled. Filch was handing Snape bandages.

"Blasted thing," Snape was saying, "How are you supposed to keep your eyes on all three heads at once?"

Harry tried to shut the door quietly but-