Chapter 4
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In the beginning of November, the sixth years found themselves struggling over more and more essays. The piles of homework were building up rapidly and they had to spend most of their weekends on trying to keep up with the pile. To the Quidditch players, life weren't much more than practice, school, homework and sleep. Somehow they managed to squeeze some meals into their tight schedule. The weather outside wasn't worth jumping up and down in happiness for. It was getting colder and it was windy and raining almost everyday.
"I hate this," Michael complained one Saturday morning. "Where is Sam when you have a potions essay to write? And Molly when you've got a charms essay to finish? Not to mention Jason and transfiguration?" He was sitting in the library with Kevin and David.
"They said something about sending an owl," David answered.
"No, Sam said something about sending an owl," Kevin corrected with a smile. "Jason and Molly simply disappeared."
"Hmm," Michael grunted. "I suppose we shouldn't expect them back anytime soon. Well what about Sarah then? She should be able to help." The other two boys shrugged.
Suddenly a tall black-haired boy entered the library. He looked rather serious and when he noticed the three sixth years at one of the tables he headed straight towards them. "McGregor," he said to David, "James Scott decided to quit the team just before an upcoming match. Are you interested in playing?"
Immediately both Michael and Kevin turned to see David's reaction. He looked rather calm and seemed to be considering the offer. "What position did he play?" he asked.
"Chaser."
"Right," David thought about it for a while again. "Sure, count me in."
The boy beamed with a sigh of relief, "Great! Practice in an hour" With that he walked out of the library.
"A new enemy," Kevin said and send Michael a smirk. "I didn't know you played Quidditch, McGregor." He turned and said to David.
"I didn't," David answered. "Until now. So you might just loose when Ravenclaw meets Gryffindor next week." He tried to hide it, but a laugh escaped his lips. Michael and Kevin joined in. They didn't get much homework done after this. The subject stayed on Quidditch until David had to leave to get ready for his first practice.
Across the castle Samantha was waiting for her owl. She actually thought it would be back from the last delivery, but apparently it wasn't. "I'm sure it's only a bit slower than usual because the ministry is checking all mail," Sarah said behind her. She had decided to come along.
"Probably," Samantha said and send her friend a smile.
They waited for about half an hour when they finally saw something flying towards them in the horizon. Samantha smiled when she recognized the owl. She soon learned the reason why it was late. It had a new letter tied to its leg. Samantha quickly untied the letter and read it.
"My mother is coming home from the hospital," she told Sarah when she was done reading it. "She is going to stay with my grandparents for a while so someone can watch over her, while my father is at work. He can be a bit overprotected." she explained.
"That's great!" Sarah answered with a smile.
Samantha got out some quill and corrected some of the things she had written in the letter she had meant to send if she hadn't received this new letter from her father. When she was done, she tied the letter to the white owl's leg and send it flying again. "Sorry you don't get so much rest," she whispered as if the owl was supposed to hear it.
When the owl was out of eyesight, she and Sarah slowly made their way to the Gryffindor common room. They chatted lively until they stumbled into a familiar face. A familiar face but an unfamiliar uniform. They studied him for a while. "Attending a costume party, David?" Sarah finally asked.
"Funny," David said sarcastically. "Actually no, I have been asked to fill a spot on the Ravenclaw Quidditch team. One of the chaser positions."
"Congratulations!" Samantha said with a smile. He returned it happily. "So this is your first practice?" He nodded. "Good luck then." He thanked them but had to hurry off again.
Samantha and Sarah continued their conversation and walk. They turned left and down a deserted corridor. Or at least they thought it was deserted, and apparently they weren't the only ones, who thought so. This time they met two familiar faces. Maybe two they weren't exactly thrilled to see at the moment. Samantha and Sarah exchanged glances but continued walking. "Make sure you get your head back when he is done, Molly," Samantha said as they passed Jason and Molly, who obviously hadn't noticed them due to kissing. They both jumped in surprise. Sarah laughed loudly, and though Samantha tried to hide her laugh, she was doing a really horrible job. She swore Jason send her eyes that could kill. She and Sarah continued walking, deciding they had probably done enough damage there at the moment.
They turned right and stepped on to one of the moving staircases. When they reached the top they met yet two other familiar faces. This time it was Michael and Kevin. Both Sarah and Samantha couldn't help letting out a small laugh. They never answered the confused looks they received from Michael and Kevin. "Just the girl I'm looking for," Michael said realizing he was not going to get an explanation, "I need you help with the potions essay, Cous'."
"All right," Samantha said, "I haven't finished mine either."
She walked with him to the common room, leaving Sarah and Kevin behind. The two of them just stood there. None of them said anything or moved. A sudden feeling of warmth and somehow fright appeared in their chests, leaving thousands of unanswered questions in their head. Their eyes locked, and just wouldn't seem to let go. "I suppose I -" Kevin struggled after a while.
"Yeah," Sarah said without waiting for him to continue. They glanced once more at one another before leaving in different directions.
The following Monday morning everyone seemed more tired than usually as they ate breakfast. Most people ate in silence, only speaking if they were asked a question. Suddenly someone tapped their knife against their glass, making every student's head turn to see what was going on. It came from McGonagall, who normally didn't speak up at meals. Especially not breakfasts.
"Can I have your attention please!" She said and tapped her knife against the glass again. "I have been headmistress at this school for almost twenty-three years now, but it was always meant to be temporary. My fill-in for professor Dumbledore came to last longer than I wished, and it is now my pleasure to introduce the new headmaster, Horatio Wallace."
Suddenly all students started chatting. None of them had expected this. "Hem-hem!" McGonagall coughed and everyone went quiet again. "Now, I will still be headmistress the next week, until professor Wallace feels at home here at Hogwarts. After this, I will continue being transfiguration teacher, and also Head of the Gryffindor house like I used to." This caused some talking from the Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin tables but McGonagall chose to ignore this. "Now professor Wallace would like to say a few words."
A tall, old man stood up from the seat next to McGonagall. His long grey beard was plaited and reached down to slightly over his stomach. His voice was deep but hoarse when he spoke, "It is an honour to have been chosen by the Hogwarts staff and the ministry, and I hope I will get some good years here with you at Hogwarts. I have thought about something that would really make my entrance here at Hogwarts seem real to you. There is nothing more I love than music, so I thought about having a ball this Christmas. Now I know it is a bit late, but I hope you will consider staying here over Christmas and join me at the ball."
Again all students started talking lively again. Like before they all went quiet when McGonagall coughed. "Now I have been informed that there are certain rules about having a ball, and though I don't really agree to them, rules are rules. All couples must be boy-girl and you have to be a fourth year, unless asked by a fourth year or older, to attend." This caused some sighs of disappointment from the third year girls. Wallace was about to finish when McGonagall whispered something in his ear. "Right I almost forgot, no butterbeer, firewhisky or anything like that is welcome. Let me not interrupt you breakfast anymore: bon appetite." With that he sat down again and started talking to professor McGonagall.
It was like all students woke up. The conversations that had before been so dead heated up and didn't seem to stop. The Gryffindor table wasn't an exception. "Well that should be interesting," Michael said with a grin.
"It's rather late to come out with that sort of announcement," Samantha said thoughtfully. "Too late perhaps."
"Come on, Sam," Sarah said excitedly, "it's going to be fun! We get to dress up -"
"Spend all day in your room to get ready," Michael continued with a laugh.
"Dance all night, -"
"Have sore feet the next day."
"Which is going to be worth it! Well I'm definitely not going with you now Michael." Sarah couldn't hold back the laugh and the others soon joined in. "Merlin look at the time," Sarah said again when she realized what the time was. "We are going to be late for Herbology." She weren't the only one noticing this. Soon the Great Hall started emptying fast.
On the way out of the Great Hall, Jason was able to grab Molly's arm. He pulled her towards him so she would be able to hear him talk. "I was thinking," he started. It took him a while to continue. She knew what he was going to say, but waited patiently for him to gather the words together. "Wouldyougowithme?"
"I'm sorry?" Molly asked not being able to hear what he said.
Jason took a deep breath. "Would you go with me to this ball?"
"Of course silly," she answered with a smile. He had hoped and known the answer, but still a sigh of relief left him. He pulled her into a quick hug, before following their friends outside to the greenhouses.
"Quiet everyone!" Professor Sprout said once they entered greenhouse three. "The weather today is quite nice for an outdoor lesson. So we are going to take a walk on the grounds, and after that you will go to the library where you can start on the self-fertilising shrubs essay, which you all remember is due on Wednesday." The sixth years let out a sigh, which Sprout chose to ignore.
The small woman let the way out to the grounds. The class followed until Sprout called them all together in front of the Whomping Willow. "Gather around. Now you all probably know about the plant behind us, but what exactly do you know about it? Yes, Reynolds."
A shy Hufflepuff boy, by the name Rufus Reynolds, took a step forward from the crowd. He cleared his throat and said, "It is a very rare, and violent tree. All students have been forbidden to go near it. A myth says the Whomping Willow is guarding over a treasure."
"Very good, five points to Hufflepuff," Sprout chuckled. "Well there is a reason that myth is a myth. Someone probably made that up to tell a good story. Does anyone know the reason students are not allowed near the Whomping Willow. Except because it is rather violent?" A couple of hands flew into the air. "Mr. Scott?"
"I heard it was because the headmaster at the time wished to test the loyalty of his students. He made it a rule that no student was allowed near the tree, and afterwards he was able to see if any student disobeyed his rules," James Scott, a short Ravenclaw said.
"The headmaster at the time could probably have done so, if he had the time. I'm afraid that was not the case," Sprout chuckled again. "Anyone else? Malfoy?"
"I have been told the tree once slung a first year around in the air, before sending the girl flying into the Dark Forest where she was eaten by a werewolf," Malfoy said. Michael and Jason both raised and eyebrow and send each other a tired look.
"Nonsense." The rest of the hands dropped. "Any other suggestions?" No new hands was raised into the air. "The explanation is quite simple. A game developed at the school. It was about, who could get closest to the trunk without being hit by the branches of the tree. In the end one boy got a bit too close. And no, Mr. Malfoy he was not slung into the air, send flying, or killed by a werewolf." Michael and Jason laughed at the comment, as Malfoy glared evilly at them.
"This tree holds a lot of secrets and over the years it has become a mark of the school. Now I want you all to obey the old rule of not approaching it! If I find any of you in the hospital wing because you tried out this so called 'game'," some students let out a laugh. "I will not have you in my class next year, understand?" They all nodded. A black cloud had started forming over them, and small drops of rain started pouring down. "Good. That should be enough for today. Now off to the library!"
A week later the rain was still pouring down, much to everyone's disappointment because even in rain a Quidditch match had to be held as planned. That didn't change this day. "The weather isn't with us today, team," Benjamin said to his team in the Gryffindor changing room, "but we have practiced in rain before and you all flew well!"
He started walking back and forth nervously. "Ben sit! You're making us nervous now." Jason said.
"Right," he sat back down. "Just do the best you can. James Scott called off his position on the Ravenclaw team, and rumour says the new chaser isn't experienced. Well Melody, Sam, Kevin, just do what you always do." They nodded with a smile. Applause from the stadium started surrounding them. "Ready?"
"Ready," the rest of the team answered and grabbed their brooms. The door opened and one by one they flew out. "Captains shake hands!" Benjamin did as he was told.
"Here we go Gryffindor and Ravenclaw fans!" Michael's voice sounded over the stadium. "We are wet and cold – but last and not least here to support our teams!" McGonagall seemed rather pleased with his choice of words. "And the Quaffle is in the air! Sam Potter catches in right in front of David McGregor. McGregor has taken Scott's position on the Ravenclaw team as you might already now, and this is his debut game!"
"Sam Potter scores and Gryffindor takes the lead 10-0," Michael continued. "It looks like McGregor is taking revenge! He steals the Quaffle from Potter and is heading for the goals! He scores! This is looking like it's going to be an interesting game!"
The game continued being very close. "Wood passes to Walker. Walker back to Wood. And he scores!" Michael commentated. "This equalises the score once again! 90-90!" He scanned the stadium. "Oh that didn't look too good. Ben Weasley just send a Bludger after McGregor and it hit his left arm. Well McGregor seems to be flying again. He looks unhurt because he is heading for the goals again!"
This time the Gryffindor keeper, Williams, blocked the Quaffle. "The Ravenclaw seeker has gone in for a dive! It looks like he has his eyes on something!" Michael yelled into the microphone. "Oh it could look like the snitch! He is reaching for it. And he caught it!" Michael's voice lowered, "Ravenclaw wins the game by 90-240!" All Ravenclaw students broke out in applauses along with most of the Slytherin house and some Hufflepuffs.
All players landed their brooms softly on the grass. Jason seemed rather disappointed but Benjamin assured him it was not his fault. "Good game," a voice said behind Samantha.
She spun around and saw David. "It was. You were good up there! Phillips would be mad not to let you stay on the team."
"Thank you," he said with a smile.
"How is your arm?"
"A bit sore but I'll live."
"MCGREGOR!" A voice called behind them. It was one of the other Ravenclaw players. "Party in the common room!"
"Go," Samantha said. She gave a smile, which he happily returned. "Congratulations by the way." He thanked her again before joining his team mates. She looked after him, until Jason broke her thoughts.
"Got a crush on the enemy?" He said with a grin.
Samantha rolled her eyes and didn't comment on it. She didn't have the time to either before they were joined by Michael, who had managed to get onto the pitch. "Tough luck, guys," he said. "We still have a shot against Hufflepuff though."
"And we will beat them," Jason assured his cousin. "Now what happened with your commentating? You seemed all – well neutral."
"McGonagall threatened me with flunking me in transfiguration, if I continued the way I did under the match against Slytherin."
Samantha and Jason let out a laugh. "Glad to see you at least got some genes from aunt Hermione," Samantha laughed. Michael joined in as the three of them started walking back to the castle.
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A/N: Wow I actually thought I had stopped writing on this story, until someone reviewed on it. So I'm back. And I'm not quitting now ;). So review – tell me what you think about it so far.