Double Double Toil and Trouble // One //

Chapter Thirteen

Classes began way too soon for my liking. We got homework from each class every day, and it really piled up when Quidditch practice started on Saturday. Every free moment I got, I was writing essays and studying for exams. I could've asked to copy off of Nat, but I promised Hermione I would do my own work for the first three weeks. I barely had any time to plan pranks with Fred and George, and I always used to find time for that.

This went on for about two months. Even after I started copying Nat's homework again, I barely had enough time for my usual pranks and mayhem. I did work with Fred and George to sneak some puking pastilles into some older students chocolate gifts to their dates for Valentines Day, but that was about it.

Towards the beginning of March, I was working with Ron, Hermione, and Nat under a tree next to the lake when Harry walked towards us after the Gryffindor Quidditch practice with a solemn expression. He groaned as he sat next to Ron. "What's wrong?" Hermione asked. "Wood just told us that Snape is refereeing the Gryffindor-Hufflepuff match next week." He said. Ron closed his books immediately. "That's totally biased! Snape'll never even let you touch the snitch without fouling you!" He exclaimed in frustration.

Hermione didn't seem very pleased either. "You can't play, Harry." She said. "Say you're ill." Ron said. "Pretend to break your leg." Nat suggested. "Really break your leg." All four of them looked at me with wide eyes when they heard my idea. I shrugged. "What?"

Harry sighed. "I have to play. Gryffindor doesn't have a reserve seeker. If I back out, we can't play at all and Hufflepuff will win because we forfeit." Everyone started brainstorming. Usually, I wouldn't help with this, but the match wasn't against Slytherin so I was on Harry's side, and there's no way Snape would go down without a fight.

~

Snape seemed to appear everywhere Harry and I were. Even when we weren't together, Harry complained about how he always saw our greasy-haired professor wherever he went. We were starting to think he knew that we found out about The Philosopher's Stone, but that couldn't have been the case, seeing as we were so careful about where and when we spoke about it.

The day before the Gryffindor-Hufflepuff match, we were all in the study hall trying to catch up on homework when Neville came hopping into the room. His legs seemed to be stuck together. Students started laughing when he fell flat on his face a couple of feet away from us. "It's a leg-locking spell." Ron said. Hermione whipped out her wand and quickly performed the counter-curse. Neville stood up on wobbly legs and sat with us. "What happened Neville?" I asked. "Nott met me outside the library with Crabbe and Goyle. He said he was bored." "Mate, you've got to start standing up to him. If you let him walk over you, he won't stop." Ron said. "Don't give me another reason I shouldn't be in Gryffindor. I can't help that I'm not as brave as you lot." He referred to Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Harry put a hand on his shoulder. "Neville, if the sorting hat put you in Gryffindor, then he must've had a good reason for it." He said encouragingly. "You're worth twelve of Nott." I added. He gave a weak smile. "Thanks guys."

~

Snow-covered the grounds the day of the match. Everyone wore their gloves and scarves to keep warm. We all met up with Harry outside the Gryffindor tent just before the game began. "How do you feel mate?" Ron asked. Harry took a deep breath to calm his nerves. "Nauseous." I gave him a pat on the back, knowing it probably wasn't going to help all that much. "Blimey! The whole school's out there!" Fred shouted as he peered through the entrance of the stadium. George was shoving on him trying to get a good look as well. "Bloody hell! Dumbledore's even come to watch!" Harry's spirits seemed to have been lifted the moment George uttered those words. "Dumbledore?" He said as he ran over to where the twins were looking to make sure he heard him right. "This is brilliant!" He cheered. "Snape will never try to pull anything if Dumbledore is watching!" I wanted to tell him that it probably wouldn't make any difference, but he was in such a good mood that I didn't want to ruin it for him.