Author’s Note
This fanfiction is based on “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” by J.K. Rowling. The Harry Potter series and the characters belong to J.K. Rowling. I earn no financial gain from this work.

“Albus Dumbledore and the Philosopher’s Stone” is based on the events of the first book in the Harry Potter series, from the perspectives of Albus Dumbledore.

Quidditch

Winter had approached. It was getting colder and colder everyday. The mountains around the school became icy gray and the lake like chilled steel. The ground outside was covered with snow and frost every morning. Dumbledore sat on his office, drinking hot tea and looking out the window. He saw that children were flying in the Quidditch field. They were practicing various moves and skills. It meant one thing – Quidditch season had started.

Dumbledore looked at the schedule – Gryffindor vs. Slytherin was the game on next Saturday. Dumbledore remembered Minerva asking about letting Harry Potter play for Gryffindor, and Dumbledore was, at some level, concerned about the boy. The game between these two houses usually turned out to be a bit more physically aggressive and nastier than other matches. He often looked out from his window towards the Quidditch field and hadn’t seen Harry much in the field when the teams were practicing. But it was possible that they were planning on Harry being a secret. Knowing the passion Wood had for Quidditch, it wasn’t something unlikely for the Gryffindor Captain to do. Moreover, Dumbledore had learned earlier from Pince that Hermione Granger had checked out Quidditch Through the Ages from the library, and being a muggleborn who wasn’t interested in Quidditch, he had no doubt she had borrowed it for Harry, not herself.

The day of Harry’s first Quidditch match came. Dumbledore could see that McGonagall was very nervous. She always expected the best from her students in everything. Dumbledore wanted to go to the field to see the game himself, but decided against it at the last moment. Everyone knew that he didn’t use to go to watch Quidditch personally, so he didn’t want others to think that he gave special preference to The Boy Who Lived. He was the Headmaster, and every student was equal to him. He could hear about the details of the game later.

And so, the game began. Dumbledore was in his own office, reading the latest issue of Transfiguration Today. The loud noise from the Quidditch field outside couldn’t reach to his room in the castle. So he had no idea when the game ended. He was startled when McGonagall entered his room.

“Minerva, so the game ended ?”

“Yes, Professor Dumbledore.”

“May I ask who won ?”

“Gryffindor. One hundred and seventy points to sixty.”

“That means Harry caught the snitch.”

“Caught would be an understatement. He nearly swallowed it.”

“Interesting.”

“Potter’s broom started acting weirdly in the middle of the match, it seemed like he was being unable to control it. But just as he regained control, the snitch flew into his mouth.”

“Harry is the youngest player in a century, it definitely makes his debut all the more historic and memorable. Where is he ?”

“I saw Potter, Weasley and Granger leaving with Hagrid towards his Hut.”

“I have noticed that Harry is quite friendly with Hagrid. He was, after all, Harry’s first introduction to the magical world.”

………. xxxxx ………….. xxxxx …………… xxxxx ……………

“Severus, what brings you here ?” Dumbledore asked the young professor.

“I remember you asking me to come after the game and report what happened. I would have come earlier but I didn’t want to interrupt your discussion with Minerva.”

“Ah..”

“And after what happened, I would have come even if you hadn’t told me.”

“What happened ?” Dumbledore asked, raising his eyebrows.

“Someone cursed Potter’s broom.”

“Did they now ?”

“The broom was trying to buck him off, it went swishing in air randomly, and spun around rolling over and throwing him off completely. He just managed to dangle by one hand.”

“That sounds like – ” Dumbledore was speechless and aghast.

“Yes, a dark curse. Whoever did it, didn’t just mean to prank Potter or cause him to lose the game. There was an intention to take his life.”

“Did you figure out who was behind it ?”

“Not yet. It is a powerful curse, a student below their N.E.W.T. years couldn’t do that to a stick, let alone a Nimbus Two Thousand. I was casting the counter-curse and then all of a sudden my robes caught fire. When I realized, it broke my focus, but I guess my sudden reaction diverted the attention of the culprit as well, because Potter then regained the control of his broom.”

Dumbledore sighed. “Severus, what do you think we should do next ?”

“Not allow Potter to play Quidditch ?”

“I don’t think it would be wise to rob him off the joy of the game. And if the culprit is someone inside Hogwarts, which seems quite certain from the circumstances, they can make another attempt at anytime, irrespective of whether Harry plays Quidditch or not.”

“No one would potentially dare to make a blatant and open move. With Quidditch, it is so easy to make it look like an accident.”

“In that case, Severus, it would be even more dangerous to prohibit the boy from playing Quidditch, as it might tempt the assaulter to make the move at any other time.”

“If you believe so, Headmaster, I insist on one thing.”

“Yes.”

“I should be the referee for Potter’s next game.”

“You hate Quidditch.”

“I’m not particularly a fan of it, yes, but we both agree that the boy is in danger and the Quidditch game is a likely opportunity for the strike. Someone who knows the threat and can act competently to thwart it must be near him to protect.”

“I can’t disagree on that. If you do believe that you will be in a better position to protect him by acting as the referee, then I give you the permission.”

“Thank you. Now may I leave ?”

“One small thing before you leave. Harry should be safe during classes and in his dormitory, but at other times, please make sure to watch over him.”

“Understood.”

“And try to be discreet about it.”

“That’s the only way I would do it.”

“Have a good day, Severus.”