As Adam, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were talking in the Great Hall, a flash of white swooped down toward them. Harry’s owl, Hedwig, glided gracefully, a parcel held delicately in her talons. She dropped it into Harry’s hands, let out an approving hoot, and flew away.
“Open it, Harry!” Ron exclaimed, leaning forward eagerly.
With eager hands, Harry untied the parcel and unwrapped it, revealing the gleaming handle of a Nimbus 2000—the fastest broomstick of the time. The sleek wood and polished finish instantly captured everyone’s attention, and Harry’s face broke into a disbelieving grin. It didn’t take long for him to connect the gift with Professor McGonagall, whom he spotted lingering near Hedwig at the far end of the corridor earlier that day. Clearly, this gift was her way of supporting him in his first-ever Quidditch match. Adam watched with a subtle smile, appreciating the excitement on his friend’s face.
After completing all their classes and a lively dinner, Adam slipped away to the Room of Requirement after curfew, as he had become accustomed to doing for his magical training sessions. But tonight, as he approached the room, he nearly bumped into Hermione, who had somehow managed to catch him just outside.
“Adam, what are you doing here? And…what is this room?” Hermione’s curious eyes shone, and Adam could tell she was already trying to piece together what she was seeing.
For a brief moment, Adam considered using a Forgetfulness Charm on her—quickly regretting the thought. He didn’t want to risk altering Hermione’s memories, knowing the impact that could have on their friendship. Instead, he offered a cautious explanation. “I found this room accidentally a while ago,” he said, hoping to deflect her curiosity. “It’s a place I use to practice magic in private.”
Hermione’s face lit up with intrigue, and she quickly asked if she could join him. “Could you teach me some advanced spells too?” she asked, her excitement barely contained.
Adam hesitated, mulling over the implications. He knew Hermione was brilliant and driven, and he had no doubt she could handle the challenges ahead, especially with Voldemort’s inevitable return. “Alright,” he finally agreed. “But you have to keep this a secret, for now. I don’t want others finding out. More people means more complications.”
Inside the Room of Requirement, Adam showed Hermione several advanced spells and techniques, giving her a glimpse of magic beyond the typical first-year syllabus. She was awestruck by the room’s adaptive qualities, eagerly practicing the spells he demonstrated and listening attentively as he explained the importance of control and discretion. The two stayed until they were both tired, and as they returned to their dorms, Adam felt confident Hermione could use her intelligence to be of help when the time came. After feeding and petting Seraphina, Adam finally drifted off to sleep, knowing tomorrow would be eventful.
The following morning, Adam woke to find Harry pacing nervously around the Gryffindor common room in morning. Today was the big Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Slytherin, and Harry’s anxiety was almost tangible as he muttered tactics to himself and repeatedly checked his broomstick for any last-minute flaws.
“Don’t worry, Harry,” Adam said, laying a reassuring hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Just go out there and give it your best. Quidditch can get intense, but you’ve got the skills. And keep your eyes open for anything unusual. Accidents happen more often than you’d think.”
Harry looked at Adam with a mixture of nerves and gratitude. “Thanks, Adam,” he said, trying to muster a smile. “It’s just...well, my first match, and I don’t want to let the team down. I’ve heard Slytherin’s rough on the pitch.”
Adam gave him a steady nod. “You’ll do great. Remember, everyone in Gryffindor is cheering you on. Just focus on the Snitch, and don’t let Malfoy or the others rattle you.”
After a last nod of determination, Harry headed back to his dormitory to finish preparing. Adam lingered in the common room, his thoughts drifting to the significance of today’s match. The rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin was legendary, and this game had the whole school buzzing. The Inter-House Quidditch Cup at the end of the year was awarded to the house with the most accumulated points from each game, so every match was critical.
Adam mentally ran through the rules of Quidditch, as he had once memorized them in his previous life. Every team consisted of three Chasers, a Keeper, two Beaters, and s Seeker. The aim was simple enough: score points by throwing the Quaffle through the opponent’s hoops while defending your own. The game ended only when the Seeker caught the elusive Golden Snitch, which earned an additional 150 points for the team. It was a game of strategy, skill, and sometimes sheer luck.
By late morning, the entire school was abuzz with excitement. Hermione found Adam in the library, where he’d been reading up on spellwork, and dragged him to the Quidditch pitch and said most of the school is already there.
As they approached the stadium, Adam felt a thrill of anticipation. He’d never seen a Quidditch match in person before, and the atmosphere was electric. The stands were packed with students and teachers alike, all eager for the game to begin.
When the players took to the field, the crowd erupted in cheers. Adam watched Harry, high above the pitch, his Nimbus 2000 gleaming in the sunlight. Harry’s green eyes were sharp with focus as he hovered, waiting for Madam Hooch’s signal.
“The game of Quidditch,” Adam mused aloud to Hermione and Ron, “is pretty simple at first glance but has a lot of strategy. Gryffindor will need to keep a close watch on the Slytherin Beaters—they’re known to play rough.”
As the whistle blew, the players surged into motion. Madam Hooch released the Bludgers, and the game began with a frenzy of activity. Chasers raced back and forth across the pitch, hurling the Quaffle through the air as they dodged Bludgers aimed by Slytherin’s brutal Beaters. Gryffindor managed to score first, causing their section of the crowd to erupt in cheers.
Adam cheered along with Ron and Hermione, feeling the energy around him heighten with each passing second. He noted with satisfaction that the Gryffindor team was holding their own, and Harry looked completely in his element as he scanned the sky for the elusive Golden Snitch.
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“Harry’s a natural!” Ron shouted, grinning as Gryffindor scored again.
But then, in the midst of the game, Adam finally noticed it—Harry’s broomstick was twitching and jerking, moving erratically through the air. Adam recognized what was happening, and moments later, the broom began to buck wildly, nearly throwing Harry off.
“Look!” Hermione cried, pointing. “Something’s wrong with Harry’s broom!”
Adam’s stomach clenched as he recognized the signs of a bewitchment. He knew who was responsible—Professor Quirrell. He knew that Quirrell, under the influence of Voldemort, would try to harm Harry during the match.
“Do you see Snape over there?” Ron pointed down at the staff section, where Snape was staring intently at Harry, muttering under his breath. “He’s trying to bewitch Harry broom!”
“No, it’s not Snape!” Adam insisted, but Hermione and Ron were too fixated on Snape’s intense gaze to listen. Suddenly, Hermione made a decision and slipped away from their seats.
Adam quickly realized her plan and tried to catch her attention, whispering urgently, “Hermione, stop!” But it was too late—she had already reached the staff section from the stairs below. She pulled out her wand, pointed it at Snape, and muttered a quick incantation, setting his robes on fire.
The resulting chaos was immediate. Snape leapt to his feet, batting at his smoldering robes, and other professors rushed to help him. In the midst of the commotion, Quirrell’s concentration broke, and Harry’s broom stopped its wild movements. Harry regained control just in time and sped after the Snitch.
With a burst of speed, Harry stretched out his hand, reaching desperately for the tiny golden ball. And then—almost swallowing it in his excitement—he caught the Snitch.
The Gryffindor stands erupted in cheers, their voices echoing across the pitch as Harry descended, looking both triumphant and dazed. Gryffindor had won, and Harry was the hero of the hour.
Back in the Gryffindor common room, the celebrations were in full swing. The students gathered around Harry, cheering and recounting the highlights of the game. Later Adam sat with Ron, Hermione, and Harry, enjoying the victory but feeling uneasy about the incident with the broomstick.
“So Snape was definitely trying to bewitch your broom, Harry,” Hermione said, her tone serious.
Adam shook his head. “I don’t think it was Snape,” he said slowly, choosing his words carefully. “We might not know everything about him, but I don’t believe he’d go so far as to hurt a student.”
Hermione and Ron exchanged skeptical glances, but Harry looked thoughtful, his brow furrowed.
“You really think it wasn’t him?” Harry asked, his voice filled with doubt.
Adam hesitated. “Let’s just say… sometimes things aren’t what they seem. Just be careful around Snape, but don’t jump to conclusions too quickly.”
As the celebration continued, Adam’s thoughts lingered on the events of the day. He knew who was truly responsible for bewitching Harry's broom, but he also knew that revealing the truth would only complicate things. For now, he would let the trio believe their suspicions, keeping his own knowledge close. The road ahead was still long, and there would be time to set things right.
For tonight, though, Adam allowed himself to relax, enjoying the Gryffindors’ triumph and the warm sense of camaraderie filling the common room.
The next morning, Adam joined Harry, Ron, and Hermione as they made their usual visit to Hagrid’s hut on the edge of the Forbidden Forest. The trio, still buzzing with curiosity and suspicion after the broom incident, wasted no time in bringing up Professor Snape.
“Hagrid,” Hermione began, her voice firm, “we’re pretty sure Snape was trying to hurt Harry during the Quidditch match. He bewitched Harry’s broom. You saw what happened—Harry nearly fell off his broom!”
Hagrid looked at her incredulously, his brow furrowing as he shook his head. “Yer talkin’ nonsense. Snape’d never—he’s a professor at Hogwarts! Yeh think Dumbledore’d let him stay here if he was goin’ ‘round cursin’ students?”
But Hagrid, Snape was limping, and he’s been acting strange,” Harry added, recalling how he’d seen Snape’s awkward walk the day he caught him near the third-floor corridor. He must have visited that three-headed dog.
Hagrid shifted uncomfortably, glancing between them before letting out a sigh. “Listen, that limp’s probably got nothin’ ter do with anythin’ yer thinkin’. But... well, since yeh all seem so curious… that three-headed dog yeh saw, that’s Fluffy and he’s mine..”
“Fluffy?” Ron repeated, eyes wide. “You call a massive, three-headed dog Fluffy?”
Hagrid chuckled, his affection for his unusual pets evident in his voice. “Aye, he’s harmless if yeh know how ter handle him and Trio look at Adam. But listen—Fluffy’s got a job ter do. Dumbledore asked me ter keep him here, guardin’ somethin’ important. It’s between Dumbledore and Nicolas Flamel, an’ I shouldn’t’ve said anythin’ at all.”
Hermione’s eyes narrowed with interest. “Nicolas Flamel? Who?”
“Forget it, all o’ yeh! I’ve already said too much,” Hagrid replied quickly, looking down at his hands and goes back. But he’d said enough—Adam could already see the wheels turning in Hermione’s mind, and Harry and Ron exchanged determined glances.
Adam, meanwhile, kept silent. He knew what the mysterious object was, as well as the significance of the name “Nicholas Flamel.” But he decided not to intervene, watching the trio take this new information with eager expressions. He didn’t want to interfere with the path they’d need to follow—both the struggles and triumphs were important steps in their growth and in the larger battle ahead.
When the trio turned to him, their faces full of questions, Adam simply shrugged, feigning ignorance. “Look, I don’t know everything. I’m just as in the dark as you guys are,” he said, managing a convincing smile. This seemed to satisfy them for now, though he could tell Hermione was scrutinizing him closely.
As the week passed Snow started falling in hogwarts, Adam settled back into his own routine. Days blended into one another as he spent hours exploring the castle, pushing his studies further, and honing his skills. He devoted several evenings to the Room of Requirement, where Hermione had joined him more frequently, eager to learn the spells and techniques he taught her.
As they settled into the Room of Requirement, the quiet flicker of candlelight cast warm shadows on the stone walls. Adam observed Hermione closely as she practiced a Shield Charm, her eyes narrowed in concentration. In these moments, he could almost see the outlines of the future Hermione—brilliant, brave, and unyielding. He felt a surge of pride but also a whisper of apprehension.
“Perfect, Hermione,” he said with a smile as her charm flickered strong and steady before fading. “Just remember, with defensive spells, it’s about controlled confidence.”
Hermione nodded, her face lighting up with excitement. “Thank you, Adam. I think with enough practice, I could get this down. You really have a talent for teaching!”
Adam chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “I suppose I just… like to be prepared. And I know you will be, too.
Then Suddenly Hermione turned to Adam as they packed up their things in the Room of Requirement.
“You really know a lot, Adam,” she said, her tone laced with awe. “I mean, I knew you were ahead of us, but… where did you learn all this?”
Adam paused, choosing his words carefully. “Let’s just say I’ve always had a deep interest in magic—and my family’s library is quite extensive,” he replied, closing his book with a soft thud. “Besides, Hogwarts is the perfect place to keep learning.”
Hermione nodded, satisfied for the moment. It was becoming clear to him that, eventually, he’d need to decide how much he’d let her and the others know about his knowledge and intentions. For now, though, he kept things light, guiding her just enough to keep her moving forward.
As they returned to the Gryffindor common room that night, Adam glanced around, feeling a sense of contentment. He knew the trials ahead would be daunting, yet for now, he relished the moments of quiet learning, the friendships he was forming, and the knowledge he was gaining. And, above all, he was watching the trio grow, taking their first steps toward the challenges that would shape them into the heroes the Wizarding World would one day rely on.