Chapter 18

*Quidditch and Mayhem*is the eighteenth chapter of the first book in the POS-verse, Prince of Slytherin.

## Summary

Blaise Zabini joins the group. Plus, a meeting occurs within Hagird's Hut, of all places.

## Plot

### November 1st, 1991

The chapter starts in the middle of the annual Gryffindor-Slytherin Quidditch match, with the score being 40-10 Slytherin's way. Slytherin is utilising a bullying tactic, ensuring that the Gryffindors are off their game until the Slytherin Seeker can catch the Golden Snitch.

It's fifteen minutes in when Harry Potter and others notice that Jim Potter, the Gryffindor's Seeker, was having issues with his broom, with it trying to throw him off, with Theodore suggesting it's been hexed. Although Blaise Zabini questions the skill of the hexer, Harry notes that the hexer is actually quite powerful but is just meeting unexpected resistance. Harry notes that although both his parents are in the faculty stand, it is Quirrell and Snape in the jinx & counter-jinx battle.

Hermione is quickly spotted in the faculty stand and ends the jinx battle by knocking over Quirrell (unintentionally) and setting Snape's robe on fire with Bluebell Flames, to Harry's amusement. Despite Jim's jinxing and crashing into the ground, he still manages to catch the Snitch in his mouth, winning Gryffindor the match (despite Flint's objection, since the rules state it must be caught by hand).

Whilst leaving the pitch, Harry notes two interesting events; the Potters arguing with Dumbledore and Jim and his groups being led into Hagrid's Hut by Hagrid. Harry heads to Hagrid's Hut to inquire about Jim, only to discover Theo and Blaise following him. When inquiring into why Blaise is following, Blaise reveals he wishes to join Hermione's study group. When asked whether if he can do so without insulting anyone's parentage, Blaise agrees, so long as no-one insults his, a statement which confuses Harry but he agrees.

They finally reach the Hut and introduce themselves to Hagrid. When Ron asks why they're here, Harry asks why they're getting treatment here instead of the infirmary before revealing they're here to hear about Jim's broom trouble. Jim, Ron and Hermione believe that Snape is behind the jinxing, due to him not breaking eye-contact. Harry says that after studying the enchantments on the Nimbus 2000 (for a prank he'd plan on pulling), his conclusion is that only someone with advanced Dark Arts training could hex it. After declining one of Hagrid's rock cakes, Harry explains that he believes that Quirrell is behind it, as Quirrell does have Dark Arts experience (as the DADA teacher) and was also not breaking eye-contact.

When Jim proclaims people would have caught him if he fell, Neville asks, regardless of who's behind it, what the point would be have Jim fall. Harry explains it likely the plan wasn't for Jim to simply fall but to have him crash in spectacular fashion, with everyone assuming he'd seen the Snitch. Jim would be critically injured or dead, whilst Dumbledore would be in trouble for letting a First-year play despite Hogwarts rules. The chaos would then allow the culprit to get past the Cerberus.

When Ron asks how Harry knows about that, Hagrid reveals that Fluffy is his and tells the students to stay away from it, as its strictly the business of Dumbledore and Nicholas Flamel. Harry sees that Hermione caught the name and starts formulating a plan to prolong Hermione's search. However, Theo reveals that Flamel is famous for making the Philosopher's Stone, much to Harry's annoyance.

## Characters

* Jim Potter
* Harry Potter
* Theodore Nott
* Blaise Zabini
* Hermione Granger
* Hagrid
* Ron Weasley
* Neville Longbottom

## Magical Archives

* Quidditch
* Nimbus 2000
* Rock Cake
* Philosopher's Stone