Harry had been sorted into Gryffindor, alongside Ron, and he
couldn't have been happier to have not been in Slytherin with Draco.
Aldora and Cornelius were initially disappointed that he wouldn't be
sharing a dorm with the Malfoy heir, but their tune changed the
moment Harry mentioned he was happy because it was the house
his parents had been in; such little manipulations were only too easy
for Harry. The first week of classes began and Harry found that he
rather enjoyed his classes, at least all except one.
"There will be no foolish wand-waving or silly incantations in this
class." Snape said as he entered the classroom, black robes
billowing behind him. "As such, I don't expect many of you to
appreciate the subtle science and exact art that is potion-making.
However, for those select few who possess, the predisposition... I
can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. I
can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put a stopper in
death. Then again, maybe some of you have come to Hogwarts in
possession of abilities so formidable that you feel confident enough
to not pay attention!" Harry felt Hermione's elbow hit him in the gut
and he put his quill down. "Mister Potter. Our new celebrity." Harry
felt his heckles rise at the look Snape was giving him. "Tell me, what
would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of
wormwood?" Hermione's hand shot up next to Harry.
"I don't know, sir." He replied. He'd read his potions text over the
summer but he couldn't be expected to remember everything that
had been in it, could he? "Where, Mr. Potter, would you look if I asked you to find me a
bezoar?" Again Hermione's hand shot up.
"The stomach of a goat, sir." That one Harry knew.
"And what is the difference between monkswood and wolfsbane?"
Hermione nearly jumped out of her seat as she raised her hand this
time, desperate to be called on, though Harry knew this answer too.
"There isn't one, sir, they're the same plant." Snape sneered but
could obviously find no fault with this answer so decided to focus on
his one wrong answer.
"For your information, Potter, root of asphodel and an infusion of
wormwood make a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the
Draught of Living Death. And why aren't you all copying that down?"
En masse the class shuffled to get a piece of parchment and a quill,
some of them muttering what Harry and Snape had just said in an
attempt to remember. Hermione looked at him somewhat hurt that he
hadn't let her answer, but Harry merely shrugged; Snape had
specifically directed the questions to him, after all. Class continued
and ended with Harry feeling even more like Snape hated him,
something that had not gone unnoticed by Ron.
"Snape's really got it out for you." He said as they walked back to the
Gryffindor common room after class.
"I know. But why?"
"Fred and George say he's a nasty teacher and doesn't like anyone,
but they've never mentioned him singling anyone out like this
before."
"Guess I'm just lucky then, aren't I?" Harry muttered. He was
debating writing home about Snape, but thought better of it for now
at least. He had no doubt that Aldora and Cornelius would rush to
the school and demand fair, if not special, treatment for him, and
while that might prove useful at some point now wasn't the time. Still,Harry refused to let himself be treated this way so knew he'd have to
find Snape's weakness. That took a back seat though as quidditch
tryouts were approaching. First years almost never made their house
teams, both their small size and lack of experience tending to make
them inferior players to the older students. Harry knew he was a
good player – supposedly it was in his blood, his dad having been a
Gryffindor seeker during his time at Hogwarts – and after having
quizzed Ron's brothers, the team's beaters, on this year's prospects
he knew he stood a good shot. Before he could attend tryouts,
however, Harry first had to pass a flying test mandatory for all first
years who did not want to take flying lessons. The second
Wednesday of the school year, and three days before quidditch
tryouts, found Harry alongside Ron, Draco and several other first
years who came from wizarding families. Hermione had been quite
put out that it was only those from wizarding families that were able
to take the test, but Ron was quick to note that that was because
only children from wizarding families would have grown up flying a
broom. Hermione said that was unfair and though Harry had to agree
he wasn't sure what could be done about it; it wasn't like they could
have children flying around in the muggle world after all.
"Good morning, everyone." Greeted Madam Hooch, the flying
instructor and quidditch official at the school.
"Good morning Madam Hooch."
"You know what to do." Was all she said and the first years present
stepped up to the left side of their broomsticks.
"Up!" Harry said alongside his classmates, his broom flying into his
hand. Mounting his broom, Harry waited for Madam Hooch's whistle
before kicking off hard, hovering for a moment, leaning forward
slightly and touching back down. It was the first lesson anyone was
taught, to keep their broom steady, and all those present passed that
particular test. Madam Hooch then ran them through several drills
testing how well they handled their broom before declaring the test at
an end. "Having passed this test," Said Madam Hooch to all but two of the
students. "Allows you the privilege of using the school's brooms on
weekends for flights around the castle grounds. This does not mean
that you are allowed your own broomstick, and there are certain
restrictions, such as in inclement weather. If you are ever in doubt
about whether or not you would be allowed to ride a broom on any
particular day then you probably already know the answer, but do
come and seek me out to ask if needed. Know also that this is a
privilege, and one that can be taken from you." She stared all of
them down, daring them to disagree with or disobey her.
"Dismissed." She said finally.
"I knew we'd both pass." Said Ron as he and Harry went and put
their brooms back alongside the others. He sounded somewhat
relieved though and Harry had to wonder if Ron truly thought he'd
pass. Apparently Harry wasn't the only one either.
"Well done, Ronnikins!" Fred and George came up beside them.
"Yeah, we didn't think you'd pass." George said plainly. Ron glared at
his brothers.
"So, Harry, you ready for tryouts on Saturday?"
"Going to finally show us all how good you are?"
"Yeah." He replied confidently.
"Don't be so sure, Potter." Harry sighed.
"What do you want, Malfoy?"
"Only to make sure you know that I'm going to wipe the pitch with
you during tryouts."
"I didn't know you were trying out for the Gryffindor team, Draco." It
was said as condescendingly as could be but Draco only smirked.
"Oh, so they haven't told you?" He said with a superior air."Told me what?" Harry was getting angry; he didn't like it when there
were things going on that he didn't know about.
"Slytherin and Gryffindor tryout together, have for years." He smirked
again. "I'll see you on the pitch, Potter." When he was gone Harry
turned towards Fred and George who cringed under his glare.
"We were going to tell you now." Fred promised.
"So Gryffindor and Slytherin really do tryout together?" Asked Ron,
this being the first he'd heard about it as well.
"Yeah. Slytherin kept trying to sneak into our tryouts to find out if we
had anyone good." Said George. "A few years ago wands were
drawn finally and ever since Madam Hooch has made both houses
try out together so there's nothing to spy on on either side."
"Not that we'd ever spy on them." Fred added, shooting a sideways
glance at his twin.
"So how does it work?" Harry wanted to know.
"Well, Oliver Wood, our captain, and Marcus Flint, the Slytherin
captain, will run everyone through a few drills to weed out the weak."
Fred explained. "Once that's done it's basically a game of quidditch."
"Though each captain can stop the match to cut or replace people
whenever they want." George concluded.
"And Madam Hooch oversees it all?" The twins nodded.
"Snape and McGonagall usually do as well." They admitted. That
made sense to Harry.
"Keep people from getting hurt before the first quidditch game even
begins." In the almost two weeks Harry had been at Hogwarts he'd
seen that the ancient rivalry between Slytherin and Gryffindor was
greatly downplayed and that in reality both houses were often at
each other's throats, especially when it came to quidditch;purposefully injuring one of the Gryffindor recruits would be exactly
something that Slytherin would do.
-H/GThree days later Harry found out exactly how right he had been as
he dodged yet another bludger. This was one of the drills that the
captains were putting the recruits through and so far Harry had yet to
be hit, though it wasn't for lack of trying on the Slytherin team's side.
"And another near miss to possible Gryffindor seeker, Harry Potter!"
Lee Jordan, a friend of the twins, was commentated as he too tried
out for that position. "The Slytherins sure seem determined to knock
him out of the air, though have yet to succeed as the first year
demonstrates his skill." They hadn't even seen his skill yet, as far as
Harry was concerned; the former quidditch star from Puddlemere
United that Fudge had hired to teach Harry had put him through
much worse than this.
"All right, enough!" Wood and Flint called, both not looking at the
other as they did so.
"Now we're going to see how you handle a practice match." Said
Wood as Flint cut two more Slytherins. Those that remained where
split into groups and Harry found himself sidelined for the time being.
As he watched the groups before him Harry grew more confident
that he would make seeker, but it all came down to how the
Slytherins played against him. If they played a clean game he had no
doubt things would go well, though currently they were stopping just
short of not playing a clean game, using their cunning to simply not
give Hooch any reason to foul them, which she would no doubt do,
regardless that it wasn't a real match. Finally it was Harry's turn and
he took to the sky, flying to the topmost starting position reserved for
the seeker.
"Malfoy." He greeted, unsurprised that he was facing against his
rival. Draco merely smirked and Harry sighed knowing already how
this match was going to go. "The quaffle is released and the final tryout beings!" Cried Jordan.
"Gryffindor in possession, Katie Bell for Gryffindor has the quaffle,
the second year possible chaser is sure flying fast as she dodges a
bludger, dodges two Slytherin chasers, and scores!" Harry clapped
for his teammate as he kept an eye out for the snitch. They were
using a training one at the moment that had been spelled for a
fifteen-minute game, so he really didn't have long to catch it. As he
hovered over the pitch Harry kept an eye out both for the snitch and
on Draco, in case he should spot it first. Luckily for Harry he had
played and trained with Draco throughout the years so knew when
he was faking and so far two attempts of Draco's to misdirect had
failed.
"Chris Garland for Gryffindor in possession. Garland is a fourth year
student who-has just lost the quaffle! Slytherin in possession, six
year Malcom Baddock with the quaffle, flying towards the Gryffindor
goalpost and…stopped by Fred or George Weasley and their
bludger! Katie Bell for Gryffindor back in possession!" The game was
quickly turning nasty, that much was clear, though how nasty would
soon be determined unless Harry caught the snitch; Draco catching
it was just unthinkable. Looking around even harder he saw Draco
making a circle of the pitch, though thankfully it looked like he had
not spotted the snitch himself yet. That changed in but a moment as
Draco fell into a dive; this was no misdirect. Taking off as quickly as
his school brook would go, Harry caught up to Draco and saw that
the snitch had indeed finally been spotted. "And it looks like the
snitch has been sighted!" Said Jordan. "Potter side checks Malfoy
who side checks him back, both are neck and neck!"
"Give up, Potter." Draco snarled. "The snitch is mine."
"Not if I get it first." Harry snarled back.
"Potter and Malfoy both dodge bludgers sent their way though it
looks like the aim of the beaters is off for it was Weasley or
Weasley's bludger that almost hit Potter." Harry scowled at the twins
who yelled sorry as the game practically drew to a stop, everyone
watching the two first years who were in a near vertical dive. "Madam Hooch yells at the first years to pull up, though neither are
giving an inch!" Jordan sounded surprised, and Harry supposed he
was; not many first years would be able to pull off a dive like this.
"Malfoy inches ahead, but Potter quickly catches up. It is too close to
tell who might catch the snitch!"
"You'll both crash if you don't pull up" Madam Hooch could finally be
heard above Jordan. "Pull up!" Neither did as instructed even though
it was true that the ground was getting precariously close. However,
the snitch was closer and that is what both of them were focused on.
Harry could feel the wings fluttering as the tiny golden ball tried to
get away, he was that close. Finally though, neither Harry nor Draco
could ignore the ground any longer and both pulled up hard. Luckily
the snitch had to pull up as well or it too would have hit the ground.
Draco saw the snitch rear up as they did and reached out for it but
he was too slow. Harry's hand shot out, his fingers wrapping around
the little ball as he let out a whoop.
"Harry Potter has caught the snitch!" Yelled Jordan. "And what a
catch it was, I don't think any of us have seen such a perfect display
of skill by two first years ever in our lives!" Madam Hooch was not in
agreement with Jordan and was currently screaming at both Harry
and Draco, threatening them with taking away their flying privileges.
"Thank you, Madam Hooch." Said Professor McGonagall as she
approached with Wood and the rest of the team, for which Katie Bell
had just filled the open chaser position. "Potter, where did you learn
to fly like that?" She asked.
"Blyff Williams, ma'am." He said. "He was hired to teach me."
"Teach us." Draco muttered before going off to speak with Flint.
"All right, to teach Malfoy and I." Harry amended.
"B-Blyff Williams?" Wood looked like he was about to have a stroke.
"The famous seeker from Puddlemere United?" Harry nodded. Now
both Wood and McGonagall looked like Christmas had come early."If Blyff Williams taught you himself then I think we've got our
seeker!" Said Wood. "Welcome to the team, Potter!"