The next morning I woke to the sound of the door to the dormitory creaking open. I opened my eyes a crack to see who it was and wasn't surprised to see two heads of red hair. I watched them until they were right outside my curtain before saying, "Don't even try to wake me up, boys, because I beat you to it." Through the curtains I saw them both jump, obviously not expecting me to be up.
"Aw, you just took the fun out of it!" one of them said.
"Sorry to disappoint you Fred." I said, throwing the covers off me. The curtains suddenly swooshed open, right when I was about to reach for the, revealing two boys with amazed but confused faces. "What?" I asked.
"How'd you do that?" George asked.
"Do what?" I said, becoming more confused by the second.
"How'd you know it was me speaking and not George? Even our own mother can't tell us apart, and you did it without even looking at us." Fred said, looking at me like I had grown three heads.
How did I do that? I asked myself. I really had no idea, so instead I just put on a smirk that could give Draco a run for his money and whispered, "That's something for me to know, and for you to find out." And with that I hopped off the bed and skipped into the bathroom. Five minutes later I was ready, still amazing the twins with how fast I got ready, and headed down stairs to meet Neville. When we got down there he was sitting on the couch reading a book.
"MORNING NEVS!" The twins shouted. I had to clamp my hands over my ears by how loud they were. Neville literally jumped out of his seat, throwing his book out of his hands, causing it to hit Seamus in the head as he was walking by. The twins were snickering like crazy and I had to hit them both in the stomachs to make them stop.
"I-I'm sorry Seamus. The tw-twins frightened me. Are you ok?" Neville nervously asked.
"Yeah I'm fine. It's ok." He said, picking himself up from where he fell down. "Here's your book Neville."
"Thanks." With that Seamus left out the portrait door and Neville turned to glare at the twins. "Thanks a lot, guys."
"No problem Neville." They said in union. I rolled my eyes and walked out the door going to the Great Hall. We sat down at the table and I put two chocolate chip pancakes on my plate.
"So you guys excited for your flying lessons?" George asked. I shook my head while Neville gave him a look that clearly said, you're joking, right? Which only made the twins laugh.
"Oh don't worry, it's not that hard."
"Well I found tons of books on it. I've read about brooms, history of brooms, history on flying, history of Quidditch, different plays and techniques, and the game itself. I get the concept of the game but the part I'm worried about is the flying itself. I mean what if I fall off my broom? What if I can't fly at all? What if everyone can fly but me? What if—"
"Calm down Hermione." George cut me off, hold his hands out infront of him. "You don't need to read all that stuff to fly a broom. All you have to do is relax yourself and listen to the instructions that the teacher gives you." He said in a reassuring voice.
"Yeah, you'll be fine." Fred agreed. I nodded but I was still feeling a little sick. I pushed my plate away from me and just focused on my pumpkin juice.
Soon the post came in anda brown barn owl dropped a small package in front of Neville. He opened it excitedly holding up a glass ball about the size of a large marble that was filled with white smoke.
"It's a Remembrall!" he said excitedly. "Gran knows I forget things –this tells you if there's something you've forgotten to do. Look, you hold it tight like this and if it turns red- oh…" the smoke inside turned red.
"…you've forgotten something." Ron said who had just sat across from us, next to the twins, with Harry.
"The only problem is, I don't remember what I had forgotten." As he was obviously trying to figure it out, a scrawny Slytherin with brown hair snatched it out of his hands as he was passing Gryffindor table. He was flanked by two trolls I recognized as Crabbe and Goyle. The twins, along with Harry and Ron, stood—they had angry faces. Professor McGonagall was there in an instant.
"What's going on here?"
"Nott's got my Remembrall, Professor." Neville said.
"Just looking." He said before dropping it on the table, glaring at us, and walking away with his two bulldozers following him. McGonagall stood there until they were out of the hall before looking at us sternly and walking away.
"Well I'm going to head to Transfiguration. You coming Neville?" I asked as I stood up. He nodded and we said goodbye while making our way to the classroom.
-DHNBMDRH-
"Good morning class."
"Good morning Professor," We answered.
"Please get out your books and take out your quills. Before we begin today's lesson I want you to copy pages 25 and 26 out of your books, the notes on the board and then answer the following questions. I'm hoping this may help some of you when we actually practice today," she said glancing in Neville's general direction.
"You have 30 minutes and what you don't get done will be homework. Any questions before you begin?" No one raised their hands. "Good now you may begin." And with that she transfigured herself into a cat and jumped onto her desk. This left us all awestruck for a moment before we started our work.
Ten minutes later I had finished and was now checking my work. When I got to the seventh question the door opened and I turned to see who it was. In came running Ron and Harry. I rolled my eyes at them. Idiots
"Whew, made it," said Ron sounding a little out of breath. "Can you imagine the look on McGonagall's face if we were late?"
I looked back at the Professor in time to see her jump off the desk and change back to her original form. The looks on the boys faces were priceless, and I looked at Draco and saw him trying not to laugh. He caught my eye and shook his head while rolling his eyes. I nodded to him and looked back to the professor.
"That was bloody brilliant," said Ron amazed.
"Well, thank you for that assessment Mr. Weasley," she responded. "Perhaps it would be more useful to transfigure Mr. Potter and yourself into a pocket watch? That way one of you might be on time."
"We got lost," said Harry looking a little nervous.
"Then perhaps a map? I trust you don't need one to find your seats." They quickly nodded and scurried to their seats. Everyone went back to their assignments and when time was up only me, Draco, Daphne, and surprisingly Neville had finished. At this McGonagall seemed surprised but impressed too. This made Neville proud of himself.
"Ok class. Today we will be learning the Avis charm. Now this charm makes a flock of birds come from your wand. Like so," she pointed her wand in the air and said the spell. About five red birds came from her wand and flew around the room. There were a collective 'ooh' and 'ahh' coming from the room. "Good luck."
I repeated the indication in my head, relaxing my body before trying it. "Avis!" I said and to my utter relief a flock of canaries came out of my wand and flew into the air, dancing with the ones the Professor made. Everyone stared in wonder and amazement.
Professor McGonagall walked over with a smile on her face. "Excellent, Miss Granger! Ten points to Gryffindor." Neville patted me on the back and the whole class went back to work.
Class soon ended and we headed up to Charms.
The whole day flew by, and before I knew it I was headed down to flying lessons with the rest of the Gryffindors. My stomach was doing little flips the closer I got to the courtyard. Relax, you'll do fine I told myself. When we got there the Slytherins were already there. We all lined up opposite of them and Draco, Blaise, Daphne, and Millicent waved to me and Neville, which we returned. Some looked at us oddly, especially that Nott boy, but we didn't care. Madam Hooch arrived shortly after.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" she barked, her piercing yellow eyes staring at us. "Everyone stand on the left side of their brooms. Hurry!"
We all scurried to get next to one of these old brooms.
"Stick out your right hand over your broom," instructed Madam Hooch, "and say 'Up!"
"UP!" everyone shouted. Mine just rolled around on the ground. Neville's didn't move at all but Harry's flew right into his hand.
"With feeling!" Madam Hooch commanded. Draco got it on the second try along with Nott. After a few more times I finally got it in my hand but Neville had to pick it up himself.
"Now, when I blow my whistle, I want you to kick off from the ground hard," instructed Madam Hooch. "Keep your brooms steady, hover for a moment then lean forward slightly and touch back down. On my whistle- three-two-"
She didn't get the chance to finish because before she blew the whistle Neville had already kicked off, scared of being the only one left on the ground.
"Neville!" I shouted from beside him. This was not good.
"Come back, boy," ordered Madam Hooch. "Mr. Long-Mr. Longbottom. Come back down this instant!" They heard Neville desperately trying to order the broomstick down, but it was no use. He gave me a frightened look as he rose higher and higher. He wasn't in the air for more than a minute before, I watched in horror, the broom jerked, throwing him off. He landed with a thud and a cracking noise.
Both Draco and I ran forward and kneeled next to him.
"Are you ok?" Draco asked, concerned. Neville was holding his arm and was whimpering.
"Everyone out of the way!" Hooch shouted and we backed up. "Oh dear, it's a broken wrist," said Madam Hooch soothingly as she examined Neville. "Good boy. Come on now, up we get," she said helping Neville up. "Everyone is to keep their feet firmly on the ground while I take Mr. Longbottom to the hospital wing. Understand?" ordered Madam Hooch. "If I see a single broom in the air, the one riding it will find themselves out Hogwarts before they can say Quidditch."
When she was gone all the Slytherins, except my friends, broke into fits of laughter.
"Did you see his face? The great lump." Said Nott.
"Lay off, Nott." Said Parvati.
"Ooh, sticking up for Longbottom?"Said Pansy Parkinson, a pug faced, mean Slytherin girl. "Never thought you'd like fat little cry-babies, Parvati."
"She's right Parkinson." Draco spoke up. "Shut up." This seemed to surprise everyone because everyone looked at him like they never seen him before. Pansy looked most shocked of everyone while Nott looked disgusted. His little (not) body guards were cracking their knuckles behind him. Seeing this I came and stood on Draco's right and Blaise followed my lead, standing on his left, with Daphne and Millicent behind us.
"Drakey?" Pansy whined. I saw Draco cringe from the corner of my eye.
"When did you become soft, Draco?" Nott sneered.
"I'm not. I just stick up for my friends, Nott."
"Friends? With Longbottom? What happened to you? You go from being friends with the likes of her," he indicated to me with his head. "to calling Longbottom your friend. And not only that, but you're being friendly to Gryffindors. Wow you surly lowered your standard."
"I don't call it lowering my standards. I call it not being scum." Draco shot back. They had a glaring contest for about a minute before something caught Nott's eye.
"Look!" said Nott, running and grabbing something out of the grass.
Hermione recognized it as Neville's Remembrall.
"It's that stupid thing Longbottom's gran sent him." He held it up and it glittered in the sun. "Maybe if the fat lump had given this a squeeze, he would've remembered to fall on his fat ass."
"Give it here, Nott," said Harry pushing through the little group of Slytherins.
"No. I'll think I'll leave it somewhere for Longbottom to find-how about –up a tree?"
Nott kicked off from the ground gracefully.
"What's the matter, Potter? Bit beyond your reach?" he asked taunting Harry and throwing and catching the Remembrall in one hand.
Harry stared at him with a determined face before picking up his broom.
"Harry, no way! You heard what Madam Hooch said." I said trying to convince him not to go after Nott.
"Besides," Daphne, surprisingly, added. "You don't even know how to fly." But this had no affect on him because he kicked off and was now in front of Nott in the sky.
"What,"
"An,"
"Idiot." Both Daphne and I concluded together.
Up in the air I could see the boys talking but couldn't hear what they were saying by how far up they were. Then Harry shot towards Nott, who swiftly dodged him. Nott then yelled, "Have it your way then!" and threw the ball towards the castle. I watched in horror as Harry shot after the ball at top speed. I heard Daphne gasp from beside me. I so badly wanted to close my eyes but I couldn't look away. Just as I thought he was going to crash his hand closed around the ball and he swiftly turned around.
He made his way to the ground and landed unharmed. The whole class, minus Slytherins (Not including my friends), all ran forward to congratulate him. People were cheering and patting him on the back.
"HARRY POTTER!" a voice rang out.
The cheering immediately stopped as we saw Professor McGonagall walk towards us. Her face was set in shock but still stern. As she got closer I bowed my head in shame. I knew he had broken the rules and yet I had cheered for him.
"Never-in all my time at Hogwarts-" She seemed nearly speechless yet her anger was obvious. "-how dare you- might have broken your neck-"
"It wasn't his fault, Professor-" began Parvati.
"Be quiet, Miss Patil-"
"But Nott-" started Ron.
"That's enough, Mr. Weasley. Potter, follow me, now."
We watched his retreating back until they disappeared. I heard the Slytherins laughing and I had a very strong urge to slap them. I looked at Daphne and said, "We told him." To which she nodded in response. I hated that the Slytherins were happy about this but I didn't feel bad for Harry. He broke the rules, and with that came consequences. The only this that I respected was that he was sticking up for Neville.
"What's going on here?" said Hooch. After Lavender explained what happened she gave Nott a detention, which he was NOT happy about, we continued with the class. After repeating the process we finally got into the air.
Hooch let us fly around a little but no more than two feet in the air. Draco and Blaise help Daphne and I, who were having trouble balancing on the broom. Every time I would start to slip Draco was always there to help me get right. Let's just say flying isn't so bad after all.
-HHRNFG-
"I think it's unfair." I said, biting into my chicken leg. The twins had just told that Harry had been appointed the new Seeker of Gryffindor Quidditch team. He broke the rules and this is what he gets! To play on the Quidditch team! That's not a punishment, it's a reward!
"I think its awesome." George exclaimed. "We might finally have a chance of winning this year!"
"Well of course you think it's awesome, George. You're George." I said glaring at him, but at this he just grinned. I looked down the table where Ron and Harry were sitting. Fred looked like he was about to respond but stopped when he saw who was walking towards Ron and harry.
"Having a last meal, Potter? When are you getting the train back to the Muggles?" Nott sneered.
"You're a lot braver now that you're back on the ground and you've got your little friends with you," I heard Harry tell Nott coolly. We watched closely. They couldn't do anything but glare and crack their knuckles since they were in the view of the High Table which was full of teachers.
"I'd take you on anytime on my own," said Nott. "Tonight, if you want. Wizard's duel. Wands only-no contact. What's the matter? Never heard of a wizard's duel before, I suppose?" I gasped and leaned to the twins.
"They can't be serious right? They can get into so much trouble if they're caught. And wizard's duel are ment to kill." I said worriedly. They both shrugged and looked back at the boys.
"Of course he has," retorted Ron, glaring at Malfoy. "I'm his second, who's yours?"
"Crabbe," said Malfoy. "Midnight all right? We'll meet you in the trophy room; that's always unlocked." And with that they walked away. Are they that stupid? They'll lose us points if they're caught! Plus its totally dangerous! I'm going to talk to them. I stood from my seat.
"Hermione what are you doing?" Fred asked but I was already walking towards Ron and harry. When I was infront of them I sat down and they looked up.
"Excuse me." I said politely.
"Can't a person eat in peace in this place?" said Ron looking at her annoyed.
Hermione ignored him and turned to Harry.
"I couldn't help overhearing what you and Malfoy were saying-"
"Bet you could," muttered Ron.
Hermione quickly glared at him, but kept her attention on Harry.
"-and you mustn't go wandering around the school at night, think of all the points you'll lose Gryffindor if you're caught, and you're bound to be. It's really very selfish of you."
"And it's really none of your business," replied Harry.
"Goodbye-bye," said Ron, as he and Harry left the table.
Idiots. I thought at that moment. I was so annoyed. I couldn't let them risk getting in trouble and having us lose points. I got a idea. I'm just going to have to stay up and stop them myself.
