Chapter 18: The First Match (1/2)
One evening Chris sat with Harry, Ron and Hermione in Gryffindor common room. When they told her what they had found.
”Spiders? Really?”
”Yeah. The spiders were scuttling, apparently fighting to get through a small crack. A long, silvery thread was dangling like a rope, as though they had all climbed it in their hurry to get outside.” Hermione explained.
”Can't you talk about something else? Like maybe where the water came from?” Ron said fiercely.
”It's ok Ron. Everyone fears something. Relax.” She said then turned towards Hermione. ”So Myrtle said anything?”
”No, she said she didn't see anything. But I think as usual she flooded the place and that explains the water under Mrs Norris.” Said Hermione.
”That makes sense but we are still stuck. Who can be the heir?” Chris said, thinking.
”About that, Chris, we think we should at least check on Malfoy. You have to admit he is a very obvious suspect.” Hermione said.
Ron and Harry nodded in agreement.
”And that's why I think it's not him.” Said Chris and sighed. ”But if you three think so, then it doesn't hurt to be sure.”
”Exactly. But how?” Harry asked.
”There might be away,” said Hermione slowly, dropping her voice still further with a quick glance across the room at Percy. ”Of course, it would be difficult. And dangerous, very dangerous. We'd be breaking about fifty school rules, I expect ....”
”If in a month or so, you feel like explaining, you will let us know, won't you?” said Ron irritably.
”All right,” said Hermione coldly. ”What we'd need to do is to get inside the Slytherin common room and ask Malfoy a few questions without him realizing it's us. All we'd need would be some Polyjuice Potion.”
”What's that?” said Ron and Harry together.
”Wait. Wait. No need to use Polyjuice Potion.” Chris stopped Hermione.
”Then how?” Hermione asked.
”If we need truth, why not use the truth serum,” Chris smirked.
”What? But truth serum is controlled by the Ministry. We can't just...” Hermione said getting irritated.
”It's not the potion controlled by Ministry. I found a recipe with less complicated preparation and less complicated effects.” Chris said.
”Are you sure it will work?” Hermione asked sceptically.
”No. That's why we will first test it on Harry and Ron.” Chris grinned.
”What?” Harry and Ron said together.
”Before using us for the experiment, will you two tell us what are you talking about?” Harry asked getting impatient.
”Yeah. What is Polyjuice Potion and what is less complicated truth serum?” Ron added.
”Polyjuice Potion transforms you into somebody else. And truth serum is something that forces you to spill all your secrets. But the recipe I have will only make the speaker answer in yes or no and the effect will wear off in 10-15 minutes.” Chris explained.
”And first you will try that on them?” Hermione asked. ”Yeah. I want to see how it works. It will be easy to make a trap for Malfoy after that. And don't worry Professor Snape passed the recipe that means it's safe.” Chris said and Harry and Ron gasped.
”Oh. It will be fine then. We will make sure.” Hermione said but Harry and Ron still looked unsure.
”You want to know about Malfoy or not?” Chris asked.
They nodded.
”Then it settled we are going to make that serum,” Hermione said looking happier.
Chris smiled.
Saturday Morning, Chris was going to see her first Quidditch match. She got up early, dressed, and went down to breakfast with Colin. Colin was excited to take loads of pictures.
Luna joined them at breakfast. They talked a little about Quidditch. Finally, when they saw it's time for the match, three of them went towards the field. They met Ron and Hermione there. It was a muggy sort of day with a hint of thunder in the air. All five of them hurriedly went to wish Harry good luck as he went to the locker rooms.
After some time the Gryffindor Quidditch team entered the field and a roar of noise greeted them; mainly cheers, because Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff were anxious to see Slytherin beaten, but the Slytherins in the crowd made their boos and hisses heard, too. Madam Hooch, the Quidditch teacher, asked Flint and Wood to shake hands, which they did, giving each other threatening stares.
”On my whistle,” said Madam Hooch. ”Three . . . two . . . one . . .”
With a roar from the crowd to speed them upward, the fourteen players rose toward the leaden sky. Harry flew higher than any of them, squinting around for the Snitch. But suddenly a heavy black Bludger came pelting toward harry; he avoided it so narrowly and it passed ruffling his hair. George went streaking past him with his club in his hand, ready to knock the Bludger back toward a Slytherin. Chris saw George give the Bludger a powerful whack in the direction of a Slytherin team member, but the Bludger changed direction in midair and shot straight for Harry again. Harry dropped quickly to avoid it, and George managed to hit it hard toward Malfoy. Once again, the Bludger swerved like a boomerang and shot at Harry's head. Harry put on a burst of speed and zoomed toward the other end of the pitch taking the Bludger behind him.