Quidditch

           AstheyenteredNovember,theweatherturnedverycold. Themountainsaroundtheschoolbecameicygrayandthelakelikechilledsteel. Everymorningthegroundwascoveredinfrost. HagridcouldbeseenfromtheupstairswindowsdefrostingbroomsticksontheQuidditchfield,bundledupinalongmoleskinovercoat,rabbitfurgloves,andenormousbeaverskinboots. 

           TheQuidditchseasonhadbegun. OnSaturday,Harrywouldbeplayinginhisfirstmatchafterweeksoftraining:GryffindorversusSlytherin. IfGryffindorwon,theywouldmoveupintosecondplaceinthehousechampionship. 

           HardlyanyonehadseenHarryplaybecauseWoodhaddecidedthat,astheirsecretweapon,Harryshouldbekept,well,secret. ButthenewsthathewasplayingSeekerhadleakedoutsomehow,andHarrydidn’tknowwhichwasworse—peopletellinghimhe’dbebrilliantorpeopletellinghimthey’dberunningaroundunderneathhimholdingamattress. 

           ItwasreallyluckythatHarrynowhadHermioneasafriend. Hedidn’tknowhowhe’dhavegottenthroughallhishomeworkwithouther,whatwithallthelast-minuteQuidditchpracticeWoodwasmakingthemdo. ShehadalsolenthimQuidditchThroughtheAges,whichturnedouttobeaveryinterestingread. 

           HarrylearnedthatthereweresevenhundredwaysofcommittingaQuidditchfoulandthatallofthemhadhappenedduringaWorldCupmatchin1473; thatSeekerswereusuallythesmallestandfastestplayers,andthatmostseriousQuidditchaccidentsseemedtohappentothem; thatalthoughpeoplerarelydiedplayingQuidditch,refereeshadbeenknowntovanishandturnupmonthslaterintheSaharaDesert.