Ryan had never experienced a Quidditch match firsthand, and he quickly realized that the way it was portrayed in movies didn't quite match reality. As his classmates excitedly discussed Quidditch, Ryan felt increasingly awkward standing beside them, unsure of what to say.
It was Hermione, just as clueless about the sport, who found a solution. She borrowed a book from the school library called Quidditch Origins.
The book turned out to be surprisingly engaging, covering nearly every aspect of Quidditch. For instance, it detailed that there were 700 types of fouls in Quidditch, all of which occurred during a World Cup match in 1473. (What exactly happened in that match?)
It also explained that Seekers, who are often the smallest and fastest players, seem to face the worst accidents in the sport. Ryan couldn't help but laugh as he realized that Harry seemed to get injured every year.
While deaths in Quidditch were rare, the book mentioned that referees often disappeared without a trace, only to reappear months later in places like the Sahara. (Apparently, that's the black whistle's revenge.)
Thanks to Hermione's book, Ryan was finally able to join in on the Quidditch discussions with his classmates as a casual fan.
Although Quidditch was an important part of school life, Ryan, being a non-athlete, found other things more engaging. During his free time, he frequently visited the greenhouse to practice cultivating and controlling magical plants, which made Professor Sprout very happy. Most students shied away from the dirt and mess, but Ryan seemed to enjoy it.
Professor Sprout also assured Ryan that if he continued this dedication, he'd have no problem getting into the N.E.W.T. class in his later years.
Aside from his plant studies, Ryan also worked on spells and potions with Hermione. One of their projects involved creating small magical gadgets. For instance, Hermione managed to conjure a bright blue flame that could be carried around, while Ryan transformed an empty jam jar into a brass hand warmer, perfect for the chilly, wet winters in the Scottish Highlands.
The night before Harry's big game, Ryan and Hermione decided to support him. They met Harry and Ron outside, and the four of them stood in a circle, warming themselves with their brass hand warmers while chatting.
It was then that Snape appeared, limping across the yard. Harry noticed him immediately, his suspicion growing. Harry, never one to like Snape, subtly tried to act as though he wasn't there. But his guilty expression caught Snape's attention.
"What do you have there, Potter?" Snape demanded, his voice cold.
Harry reluctantly showed him the book, Quidditch Origins.
"Library books are not allowed out of the school," Snape sneered. "Give it to me. Five points from Gryffindor."
"That's a made-up rule," Harry muttered as Snape limped away, still sulking.
"What happened to his leg?" Ron asked, curious.
"I don't know, but I hope it hurts more," Ron replied, clearly enjoying the idea of Snape suffering.
However, Harry still needed the book to calm his nerves before the big match. After finishing her homework, Hermione gave Harry the Quidditch Origins book she had borrowed.
Harry read through it for a while but felt uneasy. The memory of Mrs. Pins, who often scolded students in the library for mishandling books, made him feel guilty. Suddenly, a surge of courage rose within him. Why should he be afraid of Snape?
"I'm going to ask Snape if I can return the book to him," Harry declared, standing up.
"You're brave, Harry. Good luck," Ryan said, patting him on the shoulder.
As Harry left, Ron looked at his back and commented, "I wouldn't go if it were me."
Ryan and Hermione both nodded in agreement.
About ten minutes later, as Ryan and Hermione discussed strategies to avoid losing points in Potions class, Harry came crawling back in, looking flustered.
"What happened?" Ryan asked, noticing Harry's panting and disheveled appearance.
"I… I saw Snape's leg. It was bloody! Filch drugged him," Harry explained, his voice dropping. "He said, 'How could you possibly be looking at three heads at the same time?'"
Harry paused to let them process the information. "You know what this means, don't you? That big three-headed dog—on Halloween—Snape was trying to get past it! When we saw him, he was heading in that direction, looking for whatever the dog is guarding! I'll bet my broomstick that Snape let the troll in to distract people."
Hermione was quick to defend Snape. "No—he wouldn't. I know he's not very nice, but he wouldn't steal something Dumbledore is guarding so strictly."
Ron, however, wasn't so convinced. "To be honest, Hermione, you always assume teachers are saints, but I think Snape would do something like that."
Ryan interjected: "There's one thing to consider, though. Snape is the head of Slytherin, so he should know what's in the school. Plus, as a potion master, he'd be unlikely to miss anything important. And remember, when we saw the dog, it attacked anyone who came close. That wound only shows that Snape might have been near the dog, but it doesn't prove he was trying to steal something."
Harry nodded slowly. "You might be right. Anyway, I'm going to bed now. I have a game tomorrow." With that, Harry staggered upstairs.
Hermione turned to Ryan, still concerned. "Do you really think Professor Snape isn't involved in something bad?"
Ryan shrugged. "I don't know. Right now, there's no solid evidence. All we have are a few clues, but they don't prove anything."
After sitting in silence for a moment, Hermione and Ryan wished each other goodnight and went to bed.
The next morning, the sun shone brightly in a crisp, cold sky. The scent of grilled sausages filled the dining hall as students eagerly chatted about the upcoming Quidditch match. Ryan, too, started to feel a buzz of excitement. It was like the enthusiasm of a school sports day back in his previous life.
When they reached the Great Hall, Ryan noticed that everyone had already gathered, with Hermione trying to convince Harry, who was visibly nervous, to eat something.
"You need to have some breakfast," she urged him.
"I don't want anything," Harry replied, looking pale.
"Just some toast, then," Hermione insisted.
"I'm not hungry," Harry repeated.
Ryan walked over, offering his support: "You can't fly on an empty stomach, mate."
Seamus, who had just come over, chimed in as well: "Harry, you need energy. The Seeker is always the one the other team focuses on."
"Thanks," Harry mumbled as Seamus doused his sausages with ketchup—something Ryan found curious, as ketchup seemed to go on everything in the UK.
Around eleven o'clock, everyone made their way to the stadium, where the match was about to begin.
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