Was the Match Any Good?
By November, it had started snowing.
The weather in Northern Europe had grown especially cold. Anyway, the skies around Hogwarts Castle were gray and overcast, and some of the mountain peaks were already covered in white snow and ice.
Even on days when it didn't snow, frost and icicles would cover the castle terraces, eaves, and lawns outside every morning. Many students and staff had started wearing padded coats, scarves, hats, gloves, and the like.
But this was also when the Quidditch season officially began!
As for why Hogwarts held its Quidditch matches in the freezing winter rather than the much nicer spring or summer, that was a mystery for now.
In any case, it was the weekend, so there were no classes, and the first Quidditch Match was about to begin.
Gryffindor House VS Slytherin House
Since these two houses were practically sworn enemies, nearly the entire school turned up around the Quidditch Pitch at around eleven that morning and took their seats in the stands, ready to watch the first match of the term.
High up in the stands, Ron had already claimed a seat. Even Hermione, who had never been all that fond of Quidditch or flying on brooms, had arrived early and found a place beside him.
"??"
"!?"
"Hey?"
But they had barely sat down when they spotted Harry, one of Gryffindor's Seekers, squeezing into the stands in his regular school robes instead of getting ready in the players' room. He even sat down between them.
"Harry?"
"You!"
"Wait a second!"
"Harry, what are you doing here?"
"Yeah!"
"Shouldn't you be getting changed and ready for the match?"
"What's going on?"
The two of them stared at him in surprise and immediately began firing questions at him.
"It's like this."