[27] The Beater's Bargain

Two weeks later, the Quidditch season began.

The day before the match, each house announced their rosters. Slytherin announced their new Seeker: Henry William.

Gryffindor announced theirs: Harry Potter.

Draco exploded. He grabbed Marcus Flint's broom and charged at the Gryffindor table. Hall caught him.

"That Potter knew you were a starter," Draco seethed. "He never mentioned he was one too. He's been gathering intelligence!"

Hall sighed. He remembered the original story. Harry always became Seeker in his first year.

No matter what I do, the story keeps reverting.

Fine. He'd win the championship anyway.

Time moved on.

The sky was blue. The grass was green. The sun was bright. Quidditch day.

Hall pulled on his Slytherin uniform. Green. Very green.

The team carried their brooms into the preparation hut. Most Slytherins rode Nimbus 1000s. Hall's was a Nimbus 2000 — the only one.

The Gryffindor brooms were mostly old models with frayed handles. Except Harry's — a Nimbus 2000, same as Hall's.

Marcus Flint leaned close. "They actually believe Potter can save them."

Harry saw Hall and started to approach, but Oliver Wood held him back. Harry nodded apologetically and followed.

"Only Slytherin are your friends," Flint said pointedly.

Hall ignored him. He was here to win.

The match day dawned bright and cold.

The match began.

Lee Jordan's voice boomed across the pitch. "Now entering — Gryffindor! Their new Seeker, Harry Potter!"

The gates opened. Slytherin flew out.

"Wait — I just received the roster — Slytherin's Beater for this match is Henry William!"

The crowd erupted. A first-year Beater? Was Slytherin mad?

Hall rode calmly into position. He'd switched positions on purpose — to catch Gryffindor off guard. With Harry as Seeker, morale was high. Hall wanted to break that.

"The Chaser has the ball — it's Angelina Johnson — she fakes a pass — she fakes again — No! Slytherin's Beater, Henry William, has intercepted!"

Hall caught the Bludger and swung. The ball flew straight at the Gryffindor Captain, Oliver Wood. He tried to block it.

The Bludger carried Wood through the hoop.

"GOAL! Slytherin scores! Henry William — ball and player through the hoop! First time in Hogwarts history!"

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The whistle blew.

In the next ten minutes, Hall scored three more goals. The Bludger obeyed him like an extension of his will.

Then the Bludger disappeared. Hall scanned the pitch. He had a bad feeling.

Then he saw it. A figure on a broom, flying erratically, heading straight for Harry.

Is that Quirrell? I stabbed him seven times. How is he alive? Is he a worm? Cut in half and he still comes back?

Hall flew toward Harry. "Get down!"

Harry's body reacted before his mind did. He pressed flat against his broom. Hall's bat swept inches above his scalp.

"CRACK!"

Hall hit the Bludger with all his strength. It flew out of the pitch, far into the distance.

The entire arena fell silent.

"Henry William — the game can't continue without the Bludger —"

"Harry! The Golden Snitch!" The Weasley twins shouted, pointing.

Harry hesitated. Hall had sacrificed his Bludger to save him.

"Why aren't you chasing it?" Hall raised an eyebrow. "Even if you catch it, Gryffindor still loses."

Harry's competitive spirit flared. He turned and chased the Snitch.

The Bludger obeyed him like an extension of his will.

The Bludger returned. Hall had seen it coming — it was moving faster than the Snitch itself. He raised his bat.

"Henry William is just standing there with his bat like an idiot —"

The Slytherin students booed the commentator.

"Here it comes."

Marcus Flint looked up. Something was flying toward them at incredible speed, creating gusts of wind before it even arrived.

The Bludger.

Hall flew to meet it. He swung.

The Bludger rocketed toward the Gryffindor hoop. It pierced through, the force knocking the hoop down. It hit the wall and kept spinning.

"Henry William! That was brilliant! And — under the Bludger — the Golden Snitch!"

The Snitch was crushed under the spinning Bludger, unable to move.

Lee Jordan didn't know how to call it. Neither team could reach the Snitch without getting shredded.

Hall flew over. He raised a hand.

"Finite Incantatem."

The Bludger slowed. Hall knocked it aside with his bat and grabbed the Snitch.

"You're not the Seeker!" George yelled. "Beaters can't catch the Snitch!"

"Oh." Hall paused. "Right."

He flew to Marcus Flint and handed him the Snitch.

Lee Jordan announced, stunned: "Slytherin — Slytherin gets the Golden Snitch — one hundred and fifty points!"

But the real target was never the goal.

The celebration dinner was grand — victory for Slytherin and Christmas approaching.

[Ding]

Available Galleons: 4,198 Galleons, 6 Sickles, 23 Knuts

Hall had settled with Snape immediately after the match.

"Henry! I didn't know you had that in you!" Draco clapped him on the shoulder. "Gryffindor thought they could win with Potter. They forgot about you."

The entire Slytherin table looked across at Gryffindor with unified satisfaction. The Gryffindors gnawed their food like it was Henry William's head.

Dinner ended without incident. The next morning, most students would board the Hogwarts Express for the holidays.

"Henry, are you staying at school?" Blaise asked.

"Family isn't home."

"You can come to my manor," Draco offered. "My father would love to meet you."

"Thanks, but I'd rather read." Hall held up a book. He'd finally gotten permission from Snape to access the Restricted Section.

Draco and Blaise shrugged and went back to packing.

Hall watched them, a pang of loneliness settling in. The Weasleys were going to Romania to visit Charlie. He'd be alone at Hogwarts with the other brothers.

The celebration that night was grand.

Christmas break was two weeks. Hall planned to explore the castle's secrets — especially the Chamber of Secrets. He couldn't speak Parseltongue, though.

He'd need Harry.

And Dumbledore was taking him to Ollivander's to buy a proper wand. The Board of Governors had started selling the first batch of Squib potion. He'd get his profit share soon.

He desperately needed money. Upgrading his Charms talent to A-Rank cost 900 Galleons. He'd tried asking Dumbledore for an advance, but professors' salaries were paid by the Board at the end of the academic year.

The Squib potion profits are my best bet. Monthly settlement. Much more reasonable than being a teaching assistant.

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