It was the morning of Harry's first Quidditch game, and it was obvious that he was growing more and more nervous by the minute. He twirled a piece of bacon around his fork, while Ron, Hermione and Rosalie watched. He was only picking at his food, not really eating any of it.

"Take a bit of toast, mate. Go on," Ron encouraged him. Hermione watched as Harry acted as if he hadn't heard Ron's encouragement. "Ron's right, Harry. You're gonna need your strength today." Rosalie nodded in agreement with Hermione and Ron.

"I'm not hungry," Harry told the trio around him.

Rosalie was about to speak again when the sound of Professor Snape's voice halted her, drawing four pairs of eyes to him, though he only addressed one of the four.

"Good luck today, Potter. Then again, you've proven yourself against a troll, so a little game of Quidditch should be easy work for you. Even if it is against Slytherin." Professor Snape eyed the four before continuing past them. Rosalie noticed that he limped as he walked away from them, furrowing her brow.

"That explains the blood," Harry said, half-speaking to himself, half-speaking to the trip around him.

"Blood?" Hermione asked.

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

"But why would anyone go near that dog?" Hermione questioned.

"The day I was at Gringotts, Hagrid took something out of one of the vault. Said it was Hogwarts business, very secret." Harry told them.

"So you're saying..."

"That's what the dog is guarding. That's what Snape wants." Harry concluded.

Rosalie was pondering this when she heard the sound of an owl not long after Harry's statement. She looked up, watching Hedwig carry a large brown package, just missing the heads of nearby students. Hedwig released the package just over Harry's head, and he caught it, laying it on the table between the four plates.

"Bit early for mail, isn't it?" Hermione asked, examining the package.

"But I... I never get mail." Harry said in wonder, almost in disbelief.

"Well, you've got some now," Rosalie said to him. "I wonder who it's from." She looked the package up and down, but didn't see any sort of letter or anything to show who had sent Harry his mail.

"Let's open it," Ron encouraged.

The four of them quickly removed the strings and paper covering the package. What was revealed turned out to be a shiny brown broom with three golden stripes on it. "It's a broomstick," Harry whispered.

"That's not just a broomstick Harry, it's a Nimbus 2000!" Ron exclaimed, clearly in awe as he examined the new broom. Rosalie carefully stroked the shiny wood, admiring it. She had never seen a broom so shiny before.

"But who-?" Harry stopped in mid-sentence. Rosalie looked up, spotting a content looking Hedwig perched on some books stacked beside Professor McGonagall, who was smiling as she stroked the owl.

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Rosalie stood with Ron and Hermione on the Gryffindor side of the stands as they waited for Harry and the other Quidditch players to fly out. She didn't know what to expect, as she hadn't ever witnessed a Quidditch game before. However, Ron seemed very animated and excited as he explained to Hermione and Rosalie what the game was like, and his excitement was contagious. Soon she had a smile on her face, despite the fact that she had no idea what she was smiling for.

The two teams came flying out on their brooms so suddenly that Rosalie nearly missed it. The players flew around the towers, preforming tricks on their brooms as they showed off. "Hello, and welcome to Hogwarts' first Quidditch game of the season!" Lee Jordan spoke over the speakers. Today's game, Slytherin versus Gryffindor!"

Each side erupted into cheers, waving flags with their teams' colors on it. Rosalie watched at the Quidditch players all settled into their beginning positions. First the Weasley twins, Oliver Wood and then Harry, at the very top of the formation. "The players take their positions as Madam Hooch steps out onto the field to begin the game."

Rosalie watched as the grey-haired woman walked out onto the field. She paused next to a wooden chest, looking up at the players. "Now, I want a nice, clean game, from all of you." She surveyed each player, before giving the chest a kick. It opened, and two balls flew out. "The Bludgers are up, followed by the Golden Snitch. Remember, the Snitch is worth one hundred and fifty points. The Seeker who catches the Snitch ends the game."

"Well, that's a quick way to end the game," Rosalie remarked. Ron shook his head. "The Snitch's are bloody fast and hard to find once they've starting moving. Games can last for days." Melanie shifted at his statement. "I hope we aren't standing here for days." Hermione shook her head in agreement.

Madam Hooch threw a large brown ball into the air. "The Quaffle is released, and the game begins!" Lee Jordan exclaimed as the players suddenly launched into action, turning into a swirling mound of colors. And yet, Harry didn't move. Instead, he seemed to survey the field below him, as if he was searching for something.

"Why isn't Harry doing anything?" Rosalie asked, confused. "He's the Gryffindor Seeker. His only job is to catch the Seeker, nothing else," Ron explained. "I've never been able to decide if being the Seeker is the easiest or hardest job in Quidditch."

A bell rang out as a blur of scarlet and gold tossed the Quaffle into one of the hoops. "Angelina Johnson scores! Ten points for Gryffindor!" The Gryffindor stands erupted into noise as all of the students cheered. "Slytherin takes the Quaffle. Bletchley passes to Captain Marcus Flint." Rosalie watched as Oliver Wood narrowly blocked the Slytherin from scoring with the tail end of his broom. Another Gryffindor scored, and the stands erupted again. "Another ten points to Gryffindor!" Lee Jordan cheered.

A Gryffindor blocked a shot from the Slytherin side, and one of the Slytherin's knocked the Gyffindor out to the ground with one of the Beaters bat that two players on each team held. Rosalie grimaced. This game was getting dirty fairly quick, and she didn't like that at all. She didn't want to see anyone get severely injured.

Slytherin scored, and the opposing side of the stands erupted into yelling and cheering. Another Gryffindor was knocked out of the game, before Slytherin scored again, bringing the score to a tie. Rosalie ground her teeth. Surely they had rules against this rough of a play, yet no one moved to stop them. Everyone simply continued to watch the game unfold.

Suddenly, Rosalie spotted Harry take off. He didn't get very far before something began happening with his broomstick, it bucking and twisting every which way. "What's going on with Harry's broomstick?" Hagrid asked, voicing all of their thoughts.

"It's Snape. He's jinxing the broom," Hermione whispered to Ron and Rosalie . Her eyes turned to search for Snape. She couldn't find him, and turned back to Ron and Hermione

"Jinxing the broom? What do we do?" Ron asked, sounding mildly panicked.

"He'll get Harry hurt!" Rosalie added, concerned. Why on earth would Snape be jinxing Harry's broom? Obviously he didn't like any of them, but to jinx Harry's broom seemed a little far!

"Leave it to me." Hermione slipped past them, leaving Rosalie and Ron looking after her. She turned back to Harry, who was now holding onto his brook with one hand as he dangled dangerously high from the ground. "Hurry, Hermione!" Rosalie murmured under her breath. Harry managed to get his other hand onto the broom, now holding on with both hands as he swayed back and forth.

"Come on, Hermione!" Ron pleaded. Rosalie didn't see what Hermione did to stop Snape, but suddenly Harry's broom stopped moving around, allowing him to climb back onto it. She glanced over to the stands that the teachers stood in, watching them. There seemed to be something happening, as Professor Snape was apparently stomping on something. A thin stream of smoke twisted in the air, and Rosalie wondered what had been set on fire.

Harry took off after the Snitch and Slytherin seeker, Hagrid shouting, "Go, go go go!" Rosalie watched as Harry slammed into the Slytherin's side, the two boys intent on catching the Snitch, each for their own team. She watched as the Snitch took the boys diving towards the ground, the Slytherin Seeker pulling back up before they got too close. Harry pulled up within inches of hitting the ground, earning a gasp from the stands.

Slowly, Harry stood up on his broom, reaching out for the Snitch. He stepped on the very edge of the handle, pitching himself onto the ground. Rosalie watched as Harry rolled into a standing position, clutching his stomach while gagging. "Looks like he's gonna be sick," Hagrid said to them.

Instead of emptying the contents of his stomach, the Snitch popped out of Harry's mouth, landing in his hands. Its wings unfolded, fluttering, while Lee Jordan exclaimed into the speaker, "He's got the Snitch! Harry Potter receives one hundred and fifty points for catching the Snitch!"

Madam Pooch blew her whistle while rising into the air on her broom, raising her arm into the air. "Gryffindor wins!" She announced, earning cheers from all except the Slytherin's, who groaned to each other, sinking their heads into their hands. Harry held the Snitch up, the Gryffindor team circling the air around him, cheering along with the others. The stands chanted something that Rosalie wasn't able to hear over the cheering and yelling of those who weren't chanting. She couldn't help but smile as the victorious attitude of her friends caught her.

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"Nonsense!" Hagrid exclaimed as he, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Rosalie walked the school grounds. "Why would Snape put a curse on Harry's broom?" They had just explained to him what they had seen, but Hagrid seemed reluctant to believe that Professor Snape would do such a thing.

"Who knows?" Harry replied. "Why was he trying to get past that three-headed dog?" Harry questioned. Hagrid looked down at the young boy curiously. "Who told you about Fluffy?"

"Fluffy?" Ron repeated, doubtful.

"You named a three-headed dog Fluffy?" Rosalie was skeptical.

"That thing has a name?" Hermione asked, surprised.

"Of course he has a name. He's mine. I bought 'm off an Irish fello' I met down at the pub, last year. I lent him to Dumbledore to guard the—" Hagrid cut off suddenly.

"Yes?" Harry asked expectantly.

"Shouldn't 'ave said that. No more questions! Don't ask any more questions! That's top secret, that is." Hagrid spoke quickly.

"But Hagrid, whatever Fuffy's guarding, Snape's trying to steal it." Harry protested.

"Codswallop. Professor Snape is a Hogwarts teacher." Hagrid stopped them, shaking his head.

"Hogwarts teacher or not, I know a spell when I see one. I've read all about them. You've got to keep eye contact, and Snape wasn't blinking." Hermione told Hagrid. Harry nodded in agreement. "Exactly."

Hagrid sighed. "Now you listen to me, all four of you." He pointed a finger at each child. "You're meddlin' in things that ought not to be meddled in. It's dangerous. What that dog is guarding is strictly between Dumbledore and Nicholas Flamel."

"Nicholas Flamel?" Harry asked, looking over at Ron.

Hagrid's eyes grew wide, his mouth frozen as he realized what he had just said. "I shouldn't have said that. I should not have said that." He turned and walked away, still mumbling to himself.

"Nicholas Flamel. Who's Nicholas flamel?" Harry turned to his three companions. Ron shook his head, Rosalie shrugged, and Hermione said, "I don't know." They were all left puzzled by the unfamiliar name that Hagrid had accidentally told them.