For the next few days, Hailey tried her best to avoid both Lockhart and Colin Creevey. However, it was hard to avoid Colin because he seemed to have memorized her schedule. Apparently Colin liked saying, "All right, Hailey?" and her, exasperatedly, saying back, "hello, Colin" six or seven times. What didn't help was that group of Ravenclaw first years; Andrew Jamison, John Bradley, and Nicholas Chambers were all openly staring at her legs, because her skirt was almost mid-thigh level, because she didn't buy longer skirts in Diagon Alley.
From what Ron and Hermione told her, Ron's wand malfunctioned in Charms, which had shot out and hit Professor Flitiwick in between the eyes, creating a large green boil.
Hailey had planned on taking her friends and visit Hagrid on Saturday. However, she was shaken awake on Saturday morning by Cho Chang, a third year. She was the substitute Seeker on the Quidditch team. Cho and Hailey were the only two female players.
"What's the matter?" asked Hailey, through a lock of her hair, which was in her mouth and she pulled it out.
"Quidditch practice, come on," Cho replied.
Hailey sat up in bed and glanced at a window, "But it's the arsecrack of dawn."
"Roger says that it's part of our new training program. Come on, grab your broom, and let's go. Meet you on the field in fifteen minutes." Cho said before leaving.
Hailey got up and found the dark blue Quidditch robes in her trunk and pulled them on for warmth. She wrote a note explaining to Mandy where she was going.
In the locker room, the Quidditch Ravenclaw team member were already waiting for her.
Jeremy Stretton and Randolph Burrow were seventh year Chasers, so they would be looking for two new Chasers next term. Duncan Inglebee and Jason Samuels were the fifth year Beaters and Grant Page was the fourth year Keeper. Roger was the fifth year Chaser and Captain.
"Okay, I wanted to talk to you all before we get started." Roger said and Hailey sat up straighter. "Win or lose, it doesn't matter at all because we're having fun. However, I would prefer to win because it's a hell of lot better than losing. Now, last year, we should've won the Quidditch Cup, but due to certain circumstances—" he looked at Hailey, who shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "—we need to train harder than ever." He took out pieces of parchment and passed it out to them.
It looked like a diagram of the Quidditch pitch, with arrows and crosses that were flashing different colours. Hailey realized that it was some sort of Quidditch plan.
"Now, I spent the whole summer coming up with different strategies to win the Quidditch Cup," Roger said. Someone's head landed on Hailey's shoulder and she looked over to see that it was Grant Page, who had fallen asleep. She nearly rolled her eyes at that. Roger continued, "We might be able to win the Quidditch Cup sometime." Roger looked at Hailey, "unless you end up doing something that hinders that and I end up having to kick your arse."
"I will be honoured to have you kick my arse," Hailey blurted out.
Roger glanced at Hailey as Cho started laughing. "Anyway…" He started explaining what the lines and crosses were on the parchment. The blue crosses were where the Quaffle possibly might go to and the bronze crosses were for the Bludgers. The lines were for the path that they would take to get to the Quaffle.
The lines were colour-coded. Green was for Duncan, yellow was for Jason, purple was for Hailey and Cho, black was for Roger, red was Jeremy, and lastly, grey was for Randolph.
After Roger finished explaining what the game-play was, they were finally allowed to go to the Quidditch pitch to test it out.
Hailey noticed that they were in the locker room so long that the sun was now completely up. As she walked onto the field, Mandy, Michael, Ron, and Hermione were up in the stands, holding toast and marmalade. Hailey was envious that she didn't have food to eat.
"Aren't you finished yet?" Ron asked, sounding incredulous.
Hailey shouted back, "We haven't even started yet! Roger was just showing us a new game-play!" She looked at the toast and marmalade, but she mounted her broom and kicked off.
"Race you!" Cho shouted, zooming right by Hailey. Jeremy Stretton followed after Cho, and Hailey chased after them, at full speed.
There was clicking sound echoing around in the near empty stadium.
"What's that funny clicking sound?" Jeremy shouted and Hailey looked around. She finally spotted Colin at the highest stand, taking pictures and she nearly groaned.
"Look this way, Hailey! Look this way!" Colin cried, almost shrilly.
"Who's that?" Cho asked confused, looking over at Colin.
"No idea," Hailey lied, before flying in a different direction to get away from Colin. She knew he meant well, but there was so much annoyance that a person can take; especially when he kept pestering her.
"Well, I don't like it," Roger said. "He could be a Slytherin spy. Bad enough I allow the two Gryffindors in, but I know that they're not going to spy on us." He motioned to Hermione and Ron, who were staring at something in the distance.
"He's in Gryffindor," Hailey explained.
"The Slytherins don't even need a spy when they're here in person." Grant Page said, motioning to the Slytherins, which were what Hermione and Ron were staring at. There was the Slytherins, wearing green Quidditch robes and holding broomsticks, were walking onto the field.
"I booked this time. What is going on?" Roger muttered and he zoomed to the ground. The rest followed after him, except Hailey who stayed in the air. She turned to face her friends who were getting up to see what was going on.
"What's going on?" Michael asked.
"I don't know," Hailey said, shrugged at them before landing.
Roger was holding a note, "'I, Professor S. Snape, give the Slytherin team permission to practice today on the Quidditch field owing to the need to train their new Seeker.'"
"You got a Seeker?" Cho asked, looking from Slytherin face to Slytherin face, "where? I only see six of you." Draco emerged from the group, smirking, and Hailey nearly laughed. Cho stared, "I know you. You're Lucius Malfoy's son."
"Funny you should mention Draco's father," said Flint. If it was possible, the rest of the Slytherin team smiled more broadly, although Draco smirked even more. "Let me show you the generous gift he's made to the Slytherin team."
All seven held out their broomsticks.
Hailey noticed that in fine gold lettering spelt the words Nimbus Two Thousand and One. She almost scoffed, since it seemed like they were trying to compensate for lack of talent or something.
"Very latest model, only came out last month," said Flint, flicking a nonexistent speck of dust from the end of his Nimbus Two Thousand and One. "I believe it outstrips the old Two Thousand series by a considerable amount. As for the old Cleansweeps," he smiled nastily at the Cleansweep Sevens that the Ravenclaw team were holding, "—sweeps the board with them."
Hailey forced a fake laugh, "Did it hurt to come up with that pun? Or did you get it from a toilet stall?"
Flint looked over at something and said, "Oh, look, a field invasion."
Hailey turned to see her four friends coming over to see what was going on.
Ron looked over at Malfoy, "What he's doing here?"
"I'm the new Slytherin Seeker, Weasley," said Malfoy. "Everyone's just been admiring the brooms my father's bought for our team."
Hailey pretended to cough into her arm, "Lies," before pretending to cough again.
"Good, aren't they?" asked Malfoy smoothly. "But perhaps the Ravenclaw team will be able to raise some gold and get new brooms, too. You could raffle off those Cleansweeps; I expect a museum would bet for them." The Slytherins howled with laughter, as if that was the funniest thing ever.
Michael started to say, "Do you really—"
"At least no one on the Ravenclaw team had to buy their way in. They got in one pure talent," Hermione interrupted sharply.
The smug look on Malfoy's face flickered before he spat out, "No one asked your opinion, you filthy little Mudblood."
That was when chaos broke loose.
"You take that back you insignificant, little barf bag," Hailey snarled, diving at Malfoy. She wasn't the only who got mad, because Jason and Mandy charge at him. Roger and Michael grabbed at Hailey's robes, pulling her backwards. Grant and Duncan grabbed at Jason's arms.
"You know damn well that her blood is a lot cleaner than yours!" Mandy shouted, punching at Malfoy, but Cho grabbed her, pulling her back.
Roger, Grant, Duncan, Cho, and Michael managed to hold the three Ravenclaws back.
"You'll pay for that one, Malfoy!" Ron shouted.
There was loud bang and a jet of green light, and Hermione squealed, "Ron! Ron! Are you all right?"
Hailey turned around to see Ron open his mouth, belch, and several slugs dribbled out of his mouth onto his lap. She passed her broomstick to Roger, and ran over to check on him, while the Slytherins laughed. She reached out to grab him but more slugs came out of his mouth. "We should get him to Hagrid's because it's nearest. He'll know what to do." Michael and Hermione pulled Ron up by the arms.
"You get any slugs on me; I will dance on your grave," Michael said.
Ron nodded, heaved, and more slugs dribbled down his foot.
"Ooh," said Colin fascinated and raised his camera. "Can you two hold him still?"
"Get out of our way, Colin!" Mandy ordered as Michael and Hermione supported Ron out of the stadium. Hailey and Mandy followed them across the grounds.
"We're almost there, Ron," Hermione told Ron.
"You're going to be all right," Mandy kept repeating to Ron.
The gamekeeper's cabin came into view. Michael said, "You'll be all right in a minute—we're almost there—"
The front door opened and Lockhart wearing robes of pale mauve came striding out.
Hailey groaned and hissed, "Quick! Behind here." She motioned to a nearby bush. Michael and a reluctant Hermione dragged Ron behind it. Mandy stared at Lockhart and Hailey pulled her down.
"It's a simple matter if you know what you're doing! If you need help, you know where I am! I'll let you have a copy of my book. I'm surprised you haven't already got one—I'll sign one tonight and send it over. Well, goodbye!" Lockhart said loudly and he strode away toward the castle.
Hailey rolled her eyes and wondered if that guy was going to win an award for being everywhere. She waited till Lockhart was out of sight and went to the door of Hagrid's hut. She waved the others over and knocked urgently on the door.
Hagrid opened the door, looking very grumpy, and then he seemed to brighten. "Bin wonderin' when you'd come ter see me—come in, come in—thought you mighta bin Professor Lockhart back again—"
Michael and Hermione supported Ron over the threshold into the cabin, while Hailey hastily explained Ron's slug problem, as Michael and Hermione lowered Ron into the chair. Mandy and Michael sat on the couch. Hailey joined them.
"Better out than in," Hagrid cheerfully replied, plunking a large, wooden bucket on Ron's lap. "Get 'em all up, Ron."
Hailey thought that he was being way too cheerful over Ron vomiting up slugs.
"I don't think there's anything to do expect wait for it to stop," said Hermione anxiously, watching Ron bend over the bucket. "That's a difficult curse to work at the best of times, but with a broken wand—"
Hailey watched as Hagrid went around, making them tea. Fang came over and started slobbering all Hailey, before moving over to slobber over Mandy, who started cooing him, not caring about the slobber. "What did Lockhart want with you?"
"Givin' me advice on getting' kelpies out of a well," Hagrid responded.
Michael shuddered and stared off into the distance. Hailey wasn't sure, but she was positive he was thinking of the kelpie that had dragged him underwater when he was young. He couldn't remember that day, since his mother told Mandy's dad to use a spell on Michael. She reached over and patted his shoulder in a comforting manner.
Hagrid continued, "Like I don't know. An' bangin' on about some banshee he banished. If one word of it was true, I'll eat my kettle."
Hermione, in a higher voice than usual, said, "I think you're being a bit unfair. Professor Dumbledore obviously thought he was the best man for the job—"
"He was the on'y one. Getting' very difficult ter find anyone fer the Dark Arts job. People aren't too keen ter take it on, see. They're starting' ter think it's jinxed. No one's lasted long fer a while now," Hagrid explained, he jerked his head to Ron, "So tell me who was he tryin' ter curse?"
"Malfoy called Hermione a slur," Mandy said. "I refuse to say it because it's horrible."
Ron emerged over the tabletop, pale and sweating. He said in a hoarse voice, "Malfoy called her 'Mudblood,' Hagrid—" Ron dived down as a fresh wave of slugs made their appearance and Hagrid looked outraged.
"He didn'!" Hagrid growled.
"He did," Hermione said. "But I don't know what it means. I could tell it was really rude, of course—"
"It's about the most insulting thing Malfoy could think of," Ron gasped, before going down to vomit up more slugs.
"Mudblood's a really foul name for someone who is Muggle-born," Michael explained. "Since my mum is a Muggle-born, she had the term directed at her a lot."
Ron started explaining, "There are some wizards—like Malfoy's family—" He bent down to vomit up more slugs.
"They think they're better than everyone else because they're what people call pure-blood." Mandy explained, "The rest of us know that it doesn't matter. Look at Neville Longbottom. He's a pure-blood and he can hardly stand a cauldron the right way up."
"An' they haven't invented a spell our Hermione can't do," Hagrid said proudly.
"Anyway, it's a disgusting thing to call someone," Ron said. "Dirty blood, see. Common blood. It's ridiculous." He bent down to vomit up more slugs.
Mandy shrugged, "Besides, most wizards these days are half-bloods. If we hadn't married Muggles, we would've died out."
"Well, I don' blame yeh fer tryin' ter curse him, Ron." Hagrid said, loudly to be heard over Ron. "Bu' maybe it was a good thing yer wand backfired. 'Spect Lucius Malfoy would've come marchin' up ter school if yeh'd cursed his son. Least yer not in trouble."
Hailey said, "Malfoy used the term before. In Flourish and Blotts he said that I have a fan club of blood-traitors, half-bloods, and Mudbloods."
Hagrid said quite abruptly as if something jogged his memory, "Hailey. I gotta bone ter pick with yeh. I've heard that you've bin giving out signed photos. How come I haven't got one?"
"I was not giving out signed photos," Hailey said angrily. "If Lockhart's still spreading that around—"
Hagrid started laughing, "I'm on'y jokin.'" He patted Hailey on the back, sending her falling face-first right into the table.
Michael leaned over to check on her and he grabbed her shoulder, "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine," Hailey said, sitting up, rubbing her nose, which she was glad that didn't break.
"I knew yeh hadn't really. I told Lockhart yeh didn't need ter. Yer more famous that him without tryin'," Hagrid said.
"Bet he didn't like that," Hailey said, grinning at the thought, thinking that it served Lockhart right.
"Don't think he did," Hagrid replied. "An' then I told him I'd never read one o' his books an' he decided to go." He grabbed a plate with treacle toffee and held it out to Ron, "Treacle toffee?"
"No thanks," Ron replied, sounding weak, "Better not risk it."
"Come see what I've been growing," Hagrid said.
The five second years went out back to see what Hagrid was growing. He was talking about pumpkins, which were the size of boulders. Hailey was positive that one pumpkin would fill Dudley up.
Hagrid seemed happy. "Getting' on well, aren't they? Fer the Halloween feast…should be big enough by then."
Hailey hoped that this year on Halloween, there wouldn't be another troll that she had to wrestle in the girls' lavatory, again.
Mandy went to inspect a pumpkin and looked at Hagrid, "What've you been feeding them?"
"Well, I've been givin' them—you know—a bit of help—" Hagrid started.
Michael and Hermione both said at the same time, "an Engorgement Charm."
"—I suppose." Hermione finished, she had a tone halfway between disapproval and amusement. "Well, you've done a good job on them."
Hagrid turned to Ron, "That's what yer little sister said. Said she was jus' lookin' around the grounds, but I reckon she was hopin' she might run inter yeh two together."
Hailey wasn't amused and Ron snorted with laughter, and ended up spraying the ground with slugs.
"Watch it!" Hagrid roared, yanking Ron away from the pumpkins.
As they walked up to the castle, when it was almost lunchtime, they were intercepted by Professor McGonagall, who was looking quite stern. "There you are Potter—Weasley. You will both be doing your detentions this evening."
Ron looked like he was suppressing a burp and he asked nervously, "What're we doing, Professor?"
"You will be polishing the silver in the trophy room with Mr Filch. And no magic, Weasley—elbow grease," said Professor McGonagall. Ron gulped and Hailey pitied him, as she loathed Mr Filch too.
Professor McGonagall turned to Hailey. "And you, Potter, will be helping Professor Lockhart answer his fan mail."
Hailey nearly groaned. "Can't I go and do the trophy room, too?" She wouldn't mind having Filch breath down her neck if she polished trophies and silver. It wouldn't be the first time that she had someone breath down her neck as she cleaned stuff.
Professor McGonagall raised an eyebrow, "Certainly not. Professor Lockhart requested you particularly. Eight o'clock sharp, both of you."
Both Ron and Hailey slouched into the Great Hall, with Mandy, Michael, and Hermione following behind. Hermione had a look on her face that openly stated, 'well-you-did-break-the-school-rules' expression.
Hailey didn't enjoy the shepherd's pie because she was busy marinating in her annoyance at having to answer Lockhart's fan mail.
"Are you excited for Quidditch? I am. Luna is too. She's working on something to show her support for Ravenclaw. She won't allow me to see it." Colton Taylor was saying to Stephen Cornfoot. "I'm kind of excited. It's been a while since I saw a Quidditch match." Then he started talking about how he went to his first Quidditch game, which was the Pride of Portree.
"Isn't Meaghan McCormack's brother Kirk Duke from the Weird something or whatever their band is called?" Stephen asked. "I think I heard Anthony talking about them with Pavarti and Padma."
"Yes, he is," Colton replied, "and it's the Weird Sisters."
"I knew that," Stephen said a little to quickly.
"Filch'll keep me there all night," Ron suddenly complained to Hailey. Hailey's back was to Ron, as they were sitting across from each other at their tables. "No magic! There must be about a hundred cups in that room. I'm not good at Muggle cleaning.
"I'd swap anytime," Hailey told him. I've had loads of practice with the Dursleys. Answering Lockhart's fan mail…he'll be a nightmare…" She could hear his voice now, "now Hailey…it'll be practice for when…blah blah blah…blah!"
Five minutes to eight, Hailey dragged her feet down the corridor to Lockhart's office, dreading having detention with him. It reminded her that she still had one more detention to do, and she hoped that it wasn't with Lockhart again.
She stepped outside the door, gritted her teeth, and knocked on the door.
The door opened at once and Lockhart beamed down at Hailey.
"Ah, here's the scalawag," Lockhart said.
What did you just call me you scoundrel? Hailey thought.
"Come in, Hailey, come in," Lockhart said.
Shining brightly on the walls by candlelight was countless framed photographs of Lockhart. Hailey wasn't surprised to see that Lockhart signed a few of them and she saw a pile of signed photographs, which didn't surprise her either.
"You can address the envelopes!" Lockhart said, as if that was a huge treat. "The first one's to Gladys Gudgeon, bless her—huge fan of mine—"
Hailey tuned out Lockhart, occasionally saying, "Mmm", "Right," and "Yeah." Sometimes she caught a phrase like, "Fame's a fickle friend, Hailey" and "Celebrity is as celebrity does, remember that."
Hailey watched as the candles burn lower and lower. She wished that it was time to leave and wondered when she was supposed to leave. She wrote out Veronica Smethley's address, her hand cramping…
"Come…come to me...Let me rip you…Let me tear you…Let me kill you…"
It was a voice that seemed to chill bone marrow, it was ice cold, and it caused Hailey to jump up, blotting Veronica's street address. "What?"
"I know!" called Lockhart. "Six solid months at the top of the best-seller list! Broke all records!"
"No, that voice!" Hailey replied, frantically and Lockhart looked puzzled. She continued, "That—that voice that said—" she couldn't bring herself to repeat it. "Didn't you hear it?"
Lockhart was staring at Hailey in astonishment. "What are you talking about, Hailey? Perhaps you're getting a little drowsy?" He looked at a clock. "Great Scott—look at the time! We've been here nearly four hours! I'd never have believed it—the time's flown, hasn't it?"
Hailey was trying to listen for the voice again, but it didn't appear. Maybe she was hearing things, but she wasn't sure. If it was real, where did it come from and why couldn't Lockhart hear it? Lockhart was telling her that she mustn't expect a treat like that every time she got detention, so she left, feeling a bit dazed and mostly confused over the voice. When she got to the Ravenclaw common room, a few older students were up doing work.
Mandy was still up, going over some notes, and looked up when Hailey walked in. "How was detention with Lockhart?" She was whispering so she didn't wake up Padma, Sue Li, and Lisa. Hailey whispered to her about the voice she heard, and Mandy whispered, "weird…Lockhart said that he didn't hear it? Maybe he was lying? But someone invisible would've had to open the door."
"I know, I don't get it either," Hailey said.
Mandy ran her fingers through the yellow feather on her quill. Hailey knew that that the feather was from a Fwooper, which she read about in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. "Hearing voices isn't a good thing, you know. Even in the wizarding world, it's not a good thing."
Hailey sputtered, "I'm not going mad. I'm sure there's a logical explanation for what happened," With that she got dressed in her pajamas.
"I'm not saying you're going mad. I was just saying that it's not a good sign. Maybe you were tired and just thought you heard a voice," Mandy said.
"Maybe. That makes me feel a bit better." Hailey responded, lying down on the bed, and she stared up at the canopy, thinking about the voice.
