The hidden side of the Wizarding World

Chapter 33: Seeker, "not great", and the first week

5 September 1992

Walking towards the quidditch pitch, Harrison could see a team playing already. Didn't Flint say that they had the pitch this morning? Getting closer he realised it was the Gryffindor team playing. Apparently he wasn't the only one who realised that, because he heard Draco groaning next to him.

"Ugh, why do Gryffindors always have to ruin everything?" Draco complained.

A couple others mumbled agreements.

"Hey, Flint! I thought we had the pitch today?" Harrison forgot the boy's name. Bletson? Bench? No, that can't be right.. He'll have to ask Draco again.

"We do. Let's go kick them out." Flint grinned. Honestly, if you asked Harrison, that was exactly what he would describe as an 'evil grin'. Harrison had to think about the other day when Flint demanded Harrison joined the team. He still wasn't sure if he found Flint inspiring for his determination or just plain intimidating.

As they got closer, Harrison drifted to the back of the group, not wanting to attract any attention from his former housemates.

"They better not start any trouble." Draco shook his head, "Of course they will. But don't worry, Harrison, you're a Slytherin now, we'll protect you."

Draco, like almost everyone really, liked to explicitly tell him that he was a Slytherin now. No, but like really, all the time! It's gotten a bit on his nerves, Harrison had to admit, but he tried to stay cool about it. It's not like they were saying anything wrong.

Harrison saw Wood shoot towards the ground, landing rather hard, staggering slightly as he dismounted. Fred and George followed him.

"Flint!" Wood bellowed at the Slytherin captain, Harrison's captain now. "This is our practice time! We got up specially! You can clear off now!"

"Plenty of room for all of us, Wood."

The rest of the Gryffindor team had gathered on the ground as well. Harrison realised suddenly that there were no girls on the Slytherin team. He'd have to ask Draco later why that was. He hoped it wasn't some sort of weird prejudice against girls.

"But I booked the pitch!" said Wood, positively spitting with rage. "I booked it!"

"Ah," said Flint, "but I've got a specially signed note here from Professor Snape. I, Professor S. Snape, give the Slytherin team permission to practise today on the Quidditch pitch, owing to the need to train their new Seeker."

"You've got a new Seeker?" said Wood, distracted. "Where?"

Harrison's stomach dropped. He had wanted to keep his head down. No trouble until the end of the first month, like he promised Evelyn. He hadn't even tried out, for Merlin's sake!

But then he realised ... this had all been deliberate. Flint had wanted to make a big show out of Harrison being the Slytherin seeker now. He hadn't even given him a chance to take part of the try-outs. Harrison remembered the Slytherin seeker, previous seeker now, from last year. Terence Higgs was pretty good. Sure, Harrison was perhaps better, but it wasn't fair that he didn't even had to try out! Besides, how did they even get Snape to go along with all of this?

The Slytherin team parted, and all Harrison wanted to do was run back to the castle and hide in his dorm for the rest of the year with Theo and Draco.

Wood blinked a couple of times. Harrison couldn't read his expression, which kind of scared him a little. He was still used to having Wood as his quidditch captain. And if there's one thing you should know about Oliver Wood, it's is unhealthy obsession with quidditch.

Harrison's eyes shot to the ground after he saw the angry looks on the faces of the rest of the Gryffindor quidditch team. That had been his team for a year, he couldn't just turn his back on them as if it was nothing. He had tried to not feel too guilty about it, but all that guilt came crashing down on him now.