𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐥𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 | √

⎡8⎦

"Hazel, what are you- mmph!"

I pulled the spoon out of his mouth. He chewed and swallowed.

"What was that for?!" he exclaimed.

"I'm feeding you because someone isn't old enough to feed himself. Now open up." I said tapping his jaw, bringing the spoon closer.

He blushed and reluctantly opened his mouth so I could feed him some more. Suddenly, Snape walked over to us.

"Good luck today, Potter. Then again, now that you've proven yourself against a troll, a little game of Quidditch should be easy work for you...even if it is against Slytherin." His eyes traveled over to me and looked me over before he walked away with a limp.

"That explains the blood," Harry said to no one in particular.

"Blood?" I asked.

"Listen, last night, I'm guessing Snape let the troll in as a diversion so he could try and get past that three-headed dog," Harry hypothesized, "But, he got himself bitten, that's why he's limping."

"Sorry, but a what headed dog?" I asked.

"Three-headed," Hemione clarified, "Ron, Harry, and I went to the third floor accidentally when the stairs started to move under us. Then we saw Filch's cat Mrs. Norris and we made a run for it. All of us ran into a nearby door that held a sleeping three-headed dog who was laying over a trapdoor." 

I was gaping by the time she was finished.

"But why would anyone go near that dog?" she asked turning to Harry.

"The day I was at Gringotts, Hagrid took something out of one of the vaults. He said it was Hogwarts' business, very secret." Harry

"The same day I met you?" I asked him.

"Yeah, that day."

"So you're saying..." I began, waiting for him to finish.

"That's what the dog's guarding. That's what Snape wants," he replied. 

An owl screeched. A snowy white owl flew in, carrying a very large, long parcel. She dropped it in front of Harry.

"Bit early for mail, isn't it?" Hermione asked. I nodded.

"But I-I never get mail." Harry stuttered.

"Let's open it," Ron said. Together we all opened the parcel.

"It's a broomstick!" I exclaimed.

"That's not just any broomstick, Hazel. It's a Nimbus 2000!" Ron exclaimed pointing to the inscription on the handle.

"But who...?" Harry started to stroke his owl and looked up at the Head Table. I congratulated Harry and left the Gryffindor table, walking back over to a furious looking Draco. Ignoring him, I sat down and finished up my breakfast.

. . .

I was standing next to Draco in the stands in the Quidditch Pitch. The doors slid open and I watched as the teams flew out. The commentator, Lee Jordan, was talking from the staff tower.

"Hello, and welcome to Hogwarts' first Quidditch game of the season! Today's game: Slytherin versus Gryffindor!!!"

We all cheered to the top of our lungs. The players took their positions in a circle in the air.

"The players take their positions as Madam Hooch steps out onto the field to begin the game," Lee commentated. 

Hooch said something then kicked the trunk. The bludgers zoomed out.

"The bludgers are up...followed by the Golden Snitch. Remember, the snitch is worth 150 points. The seeker who catches the Snitch ends the game." 

The Snitch zoomed around each seeker's head, then disappeared. Hooch grabbed the quaffle.

"The quaffle is released...and the game begins!"

I watched intently as the players flew around the pitch. One of the Gryffindor chasers snatched the quaffle. She zoomed towards our rings and threw the ball in.

"Angelina Johnson scores! 10 points for Gryffindor!" Lee shouted.

I let out a huff of frustration and looked around at the other players. Harry took his hands off his broom to clap and bludger went flying past him. 

I gasped and looked towards the Slytherin players.

"Slytherin takes possession of the quaffle. Bletchley passes to Captain Marcus Flint," Lee announced.

Flint dodged people and threw the quaffle towards the Gryffindor hoops. Oliver Wood, the captain of the Gryffindor team, appeared and whacked the ball away with his broom. I groaned. Two chasers, Angelina Johnson and Katie Bell passed the quaffle back and forth as they strategized to score. Angelina took it, threw it in the hoop, and scored. I hit my head against Draco's shoulder repeatedly.

"Another 10 points to Gryffindor!"

All the Gryffindors cheered.

Flint, very clearly pissed off, snatched James' bat, whacking a bludger right at Wood. It hit him right in the stomach causing him to fly through one of the hoops. I flinched. Wood was wiped out on his broom and slowly descended to the ground. When he was about 7 feet away he slipped and fell onto the floor. Flint handed the bat back to James, extremely satisfied. All the Slytherins laughed. I bit my lip. The Slytherin chasers boxed in Angelina and sent her into the capes that covered one of the towers. She fell down unconscious. The Gryffindors booed and the Slytherin scored once again to tie the score. Suddenly, Harry caught sight of the Snitch and started to head off after it, but he didn't get far. His broom started bucking and turning.

My eyes frantically scanned the rest of the crowd. They landed on a certain frizzy-haired girl next to a ginger. She waved her arms largely, getting my attention, and pointed at the staff tower. Snape seemed to be murmuring an incantation. He must be the one who is trying to buck Harry off!

"I'll be right back" I muttered to Draco. 

He asked where I was going but I ignored him. Weaving my way to the Gryffindors I found Ron and Hermione.

"So is it Snape? Is he doing that to Harry?" I asked them. They both nodded.

My mind raced to find a solution. "Okay, I have an idea. What if I set Snape's robes on fire so he'll be distracted and Harry can play?" 

"That brilliant Hazel!" Hermione exclaimed. "Well, go on!"

Pushing through the mass of red and gold, I made my way to the staff tower and under the seats. Pulling out my wand, I pointed at the bottom of Snape's robes and I muttered 

"LacarnumInflamarae!"

Suddenly, as though it were a gust of wind, the ends of his robes were set on fire. Dashing back to the stands, I saw Harry's broom stop bucking as he swung himself back on. He set out for the snitch again along with the Slytherin seeker. They both dove for the snitch and as they neared the ground our seeker backed out.

 Harry didn't. He pulled his broom up just in time and followed the Snitch, feet above the ground. Harry slowly stood up and stepped forward. Reaching out his arm, he tried to grab the ball but he went too far, and toppled off the broom with a yelp, tumbling to the ground. He got up and lurched. He's going to be sick! Suddenly, Harry spit the gold ball into his hand.

"He's got the Snitch! Harry Potter receives 150 points for catching the Snitch!" Lee yelled. 

Hooch blew on her whistle and yelled,

"Gryffindor wins!" 

My jaw unhinged as the Gryffindors cheered. I couldn't help but smile a small smile and clap at Harry's success. But as I made my way back to the common room it finally hit me that we lost. I really hated losing. I made my way back to my dorm and fell on the bed with a groan. 

I guess that was the price I paid for saving Harry Potter's life.