The Girl Who Loved: Year 1

Chapter 10

November 8

Excitement filled the air long before the game started. The older Gryffindor students had their faces painted in order to show support for their House, and the Slytherin students did the same. The first year students had decided to be creative in their support for the new Seeker with a banner declaring Potter for President, and a lion, painted by Dean, roaring underneath it. Colleen couldn't join the other Gryffindors, but she and most of the other Ravenclaws would cheer on the team in crimson red. Colleen stood in between Penelope and Lisa, and she could easily spot her brother from across the stadium. She waved to him, and he waved back, along with who she guessed was Seamus.

"Look," Lisa nudged her. "They're entering the arena."

Both teams, one clad in red and the other in green, flew out on their broomsticks and positioned themselves in the air. Madam Hooch stood in the center where she could see both teams, and a large, brown suitcase sat in front of her feet. After about a minute, she kneeled down, opened the chest, and all of the balls for the game were released.

Madam Hooch blew the whistle, and off the players flew.

"And the Quaffle is taken immediately by Angelina Johnson of Gryffindor," Fred and George's friend Lee Jordon commentated for the match.

As the game went on, Colleen and the other Ravenclaws cheered on their friends, the focus being on the Chasers, Keepers, and Beaters. Lee Jordan commentated on the action, his voice going into agony if Slytherin had a trick up their sleeve or scored a point. Fred managed to shout a, "Hi, Colliewollie!" as he flew by on his broom, slightly embarrassing his sister in front of her friends.

"Come on, now, Angelina," Lee continued. "Keeper Bletchley dives – misses – GRYFFINDOR SCORE!"

Three of the four houses erupted in victory cries. A few Slytherins clapped, but a majority stood stone still.

"Slytherin in position," Lee Jordon continued. "Chaser Pucey ducks two Bludgers, two Weasleys, and Chaser Bell, and speeds toward the – wait a moment – was that the Snitch?"

A few Ravenclaws gasped and leaned forward to try to spot it, the Prefects struggling to push the back. Harry and Slytherin's seeker Terence Higgs zoomed towards a flying gold object neck and neck, but Harry was faster. He seemed to almost taste victory as soon as he-

"Foul!" Gryffindor House screamed.

Marcus Flint blocked Harry, and he spun off course, but the boy was quick to regain control. Flint was given a harsh talking to from Madam Hooch, and Gryffindor was given a free shot at the goalposts. However, the Snitch had disappeared completely.

Just then, Colleen heard something buzz by her ear. It wasn't that of an insect, but something similar to a hummingbird's. A few gasps erupted, and when Colleen looked, it was the Snitch.

"Harry! The Snitch!" Colleen and her classmates called out to him.

The Gryffindor Seeker looked and smiled when he saw the Snitch. Before he could fly over to try to catch the Snitch, his broom jerked, causing him to almost fall. He gained control, but the broom seemed determined to shake him off. Harry has lost complete control of the Nimbus.

Colleen couldn't watch the match anymore. She knew she would probably get some sort of suspension for using magic, but she didn't care. She had to help her friend. Drawing her wand, she pointed it towards Harry's broom, and cried, "Prohibire!"

Nothing.

Of course, she thought. Nothing can interfere with a broom except dark magic. But who would want to do this to Harry?

The broom was still shaking violently and moving towards the sky. Colleen felt helpless.

However, the broom stopped shaking, and Harry regained control of it. He zoomed back into the match and began chasing the Snitch that had long left Colleen's ear. Harry reached the ground, his broom hitting the grass, and he tumbled. When he stood, he was holding hands to his mouth, and he was...gagging?

"He's not about to be sick, is he?" Terry asked.

Something did come out of Harry's mouth, but upon a closer look, it was the Golden Snitch.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Lee Jordan announced, "Harry Potter's caught the Snitch! Gryffindor wins!"

The score was one hundred and seventy points to sixty, and cheers from all of the Houses except for Slytherin celebrated in the loudest of war cries.

-

"Snape did what?" Colleen asked her brother later that evening before dinner.

"You heard me, sis," Ron replied. "It only makes sense. If there's one person Snape hates the most, it's Harry."

"Well, considering how he is, it doesn't surprise me."

"You see?"

"Ronald," Colleen sighed, "Snape's mean, but I don't think it's enough to actually want to kill someone, let alone a student."

Ron stood up a little straighter and reminded her, while listing things with his fingers, "Snape takes points from Houses other than Slytherin for no reason, he humiliated Neville, insulted you, gives Valerie a hard time, and despises Harry. What more reason do you need?" He looked around before whispering, "Harry, Hermione, Valerie, and I think he's hiding something."

"Like what?" Colleen's eyebrows furrowed.

"Walk with me," Ron guided his sister by the elbow towards the Great Hall. "Remember when I told you about the corridor we accidentally entered?"

Colleen nodded.

"There's a giant three headed dog guarding a door, and whatever it is, Snape wants it."

Something told Colleen he was telling the truth, but she wasn't sure. However, with Snape chanting something during the match, and Snape having part of his black robes singed off afterwards, it made some sort of sense.

"I'm not saying I believe you," Colleen told her brother, "but I'm not saying I don't believe you. I'm just going to tell you that if you four go looking for whatever it is, be careful. I don't want to return home and tell Mum that one of her children went missing during first year."

"We'll live," he smiled, confidence wrapped in his voice. "But I need you to promise you won't tell anyone."

Instead of saying anything, Colleen just shook her brother's hand, sealing the deal.