Fun fact: I do not own Harry Potter.

Thank you to all of the people who added me/this story to their alerts/favorites! And especially Thanks for the reviews!

Small mistake in last chapter. Keep in mind that Hermione does not have Crookshanks yet. Hehehe. My bad. It's fixed.

A little bit of fluff and foreboding in this chapter. Sorry that the last little bit is so rushed. I just wanted to get this to you so bad. Pointing out mistakes helps me, even if it makes me feel stupid for making them in the first place.

Trying to keep this AN short, so on with the story!

Chapter 8: Slyffindor Quidditch Team

The first week of classes passed quickly. DADA classes were looking to be a complete waste of the student's time with Lockhart spouting nonsense about his awards and setting pixies on second years. Transfiguration was the same as ever, if a little more difficult, and the same could be said of Charms. History of Magic continued to be dubbed nap time and the second years had been moved to a new greenhouse in Herbology.

The first day of the second week of classes found the Gryffindor and Slytherin second year students in the potions dungeon following the instructions on the board as usual. Professor Snape had given a brief explanation about the potion they were to brew before sitting at his desk and watching over his hands. He would occasionally stand to wander the classroom offering comments on student's brewing methods.

Harry was paired up with Draco for the day and the two of them chopped and stirred as they spoke with Neville and Hermione in muted whispers. Ron had been paired with Blaise Zabini and so was on the other side of the room.

"He goes on and on about his stupid smile awards as though it's something impressive." Harry huffed quietly as he put the required amount of lacewing flies in the cauldron and stirred it counterclockwise six times. "I mean really. He's a laughing stalk among the Aurors. Sirius and his coworkers analyzed his books and found a bunch of things that couldn't work, like being in two places at once, or forcing a werewolf to change back during a full moon. The man's a fraud." He continued chopping angrily.

Hermione frowned. "Well he can't be all bad. He is a professor after all." She still had a bit of a crush on the peacock and was taking a lot of persuading by the rest of her friends to get her to believe that he might not be all that he claimed to be.

Snape walked by just then and the four of them worked in silence, Draco sending his godfather a light smile, until he passed.

Draco kept his attention on the potion and whispered over his work. "Hermione, you're a smart witch. You're probably the smartest witch in our year, including the Ravenclaws. Surely you can do the research yourself. Make a chart or something."

Hermione's eyes lit up at the idea of research. She smiled at Draco. "Great idea Draco, I think I will."

"Granger!"

The class jumped in surprise, but luckily nobody dropped anything in their cauldrons by mistake. Snape had probably planned it that way.

Snape's eyes narrowed as Hermione blushed. "Eyes on your own potion."

Hermione mumbled an apology and continued her work. Harry and Draco held back grins; they could see the subtle signs of amusement on the severe looking professor's face.

Hermione refused to speak for the rest of the class, so Harry and Draco chatted quietly as they finished up their potion and put it in vials to be turned in. Hermione and Neville finished up just as Snape called for the students to clean up and turn in their work. He also assigned a one foot essay on the properties of the potion and its uses.

There were a few grumbles as the student's filed out of the dungeon to lunch.

"Loosen up Hermione." Ron patted the frizzy-haired girl on the back. "He was just playing with you. You can tell by the way the skin around his eyes kind of tightens and the corners of his lips twitch just a little bit."

Hermione looked up from her shoes and into Ron's eyes in disbelief.

"It's true. My godfather has an odd sense of humor." Draco sent the ruffled girl a small smile.

Neville joined in cheering up his almost-girlfriend. "We all sort of grew up with him hovering around," he motioned at Harry, Ron, Draco, and himself, "We've learned to see the subtle signs." He blushed a little. "Though, I have some trouble seeing them sometimes." He had obviously missed it this time, but nobody cared to point it out.

The five of them made it to the Great Hall and met up with Ginny and Luna.

"Hey Loony!" Harry smiled brightly at his friend.

"Hello Harry." She gave him a light hug and sat down at the Gryffindor table. She didn't sit there for every meal like Draco, but she often joined them for lunch or breakfast.

"Harry mate, are there any openings on the Quidditch team this year? I forget." Ron began loading his plate with food. Hermione reminded him to chew with his mouth closed before he even took his first bite.

Harry thought for a moment, loading food onto his own plate, then shook his head. "Sorry Ron, I don't think so."

Ron grumbled for a moment, but was quickly distracted by the food on his plate.

Hermione's brow furrowed. "Harry," she turned to him pointedly, "Isn't there a reserve team?" An eyebrow arched on her forehead.

Harry paused in his chewing, then swallowed. "You know I don't think so. I could bring it up with Wood."

Ron, Neville, and surprisingly Draco all brightened up at this pronouncement.

-HPBC-

So it was that after classes Harry and company found themselves in the Gryffindor Common Room waiting for a sign of Oliver Wood as they did their potions essay and played exploding snap.

Harry had just finished his potions essay, and was waiting for the ink to dry, when the portrait hole opened and his captain walked in.

"Wood!" Harry stood and walked over to his Quidditch Captain.

Oliver looked down and smiled at Harry. "Harry! Ready for Quidditch this year? I've got the schedule all planned out already, you'd best be prepared!" There was a fire burning in the sixth year's eyes.

"Yes captain." Harry grinned. "My friends and I were talking at lunch and were wondering if you planned on having a reserve team this year? Hermione pointed out that we still could have played in the last match last year if we'd had one." Harry heard Hermione squeak and turned to see her hide her face in her transfiguration text.

The fire in Oliver's eyes seemed to intensify. "Brilliant idea Harry! I'll schedule tryouts for next Saturday. We've got to stay ahead of the competition!" He turned on his heal and walked purposefully back out the portrait hole, presumably to talk to professor McGonagall about the reserve team.

-HPBC-

Harry slept in and missed breakfast that Saturday, having stayed up the night before finishing all of his homework so he wouldn't have to worry about it for the rest of the weekend. When he finally rolled out of bed it was almost time for lunch. He pulled on his robes and did his best to flatten his hair before heading down to lunch to meet with his friends.

"Hey Loony, nice shoes."

Harry's head whipped up at the sound of the pet name he'd given his friend. His eyes narrowed as he took in the scene. There was a group of Ravenclaws cackling and pointing at his Loony. Anger flared up inside him as he noticed that her shoes were mismatched and her eyes were shiny with unshed tears.

An angry growl escaped his lips as he approached the offending Eagles. "What do you think you're doing to my Loony?" He stopped in front of Luna protectively, fists clenching and unclenching at his side.

A fourth year Ravenclaw girl scoffed at Harry's light build. "Your Loony? I didn't know you had a girlfriend Potter."

Harry's eyes narrowed. "Yes. My Loony," Harry grabbed Luna's hand and squeezed gently. He lifted his chin in defiance.

The fourth year huffed. "Oh yeah? And what's so great about little Loony that's—"

"Only I can call her Loony!" An invisible force wafted through Harry's hair and his green eyes blazed with fury. The Ravenclaws all took an involuntary step back. They hadn't expected such a show of power from a second year. "She's my friend, and if I hear you calling her by that name again then I promise you are going to regret it. Come on Loony." He tugged her hand gently and led her into the Great Hall to the Gryffindor Table.

The two of them sat side by side and Harry turned to Luna with a gentle look in his eyes, all signs of his previous rage gone. "What else have they been doing Loony?"

He took in her appearance. Her shoes didn't match and one of her radish earrings were missing. Harry growled again involuntarily, his anger returning. Those earrings had been her mother's.

Harry had to take a deep breath to calm himself before he looked into her eyes again. "Have they been stealing your things Loony?"

Tears filled Luna's eyes, but her facial expression didn't change as she nodded.

Harry's eyes narrowed slightly. "Have you told your Head of House?"

She shook her head nearly imperceptibly.

Harry found his hand touching Luna's ear where the missing radish should have been. "Did they steal your mother's earring?" His voice was soft and soothing.

The tears spilled onto Luna's soft cheeks and she nodded again, closing her eyes and leaning in to his touch.

Harry's eyes hardened with determination. "I'll get it all back." That he would also get revenge was left unsaid.

Luna shuddered and Harry pulled her into a hug where she buried her face in his shoulder and sobbed softly. He lifted her into his lap and allowed her to cry as he put food on both of their plates. He had often held her like this before Hogwarts when she was still getting over her mother's death. He'd hold her and pet her hair until her sobbing ended and her body stopped shuddering. He did that now and it didn't take long for her shudders to stop.

They ate quietly for a while, schemes and plots to get back at the Ravenclaws rolling around in Harry's head.

-HPBC-

The Saturday of tryouts dawned with good flying weather. The whole Quidditch team was required to attend.

Harry greeted his teammates before Wood called the gathered people to order.

"Is this everybody?" He sounded disappointed.

Harry scanned the small crowd of people trying out. All of Harry's dorm mates stood holding brooms and shuffling nervously in front of a few third and fourth years. The only girl, much to the dismay of Katie, Alicia, and Angelina, was Fay Dunbar. There was a total of thirteen people gathered.

"Don't forget me!" Make that fourteen.

Everybody looked to the end of the pitch where Draco Malfoy strode toward them with broom in hand. The gathered Gryffindors immediately began whispering amongst themselves. Ron and Neville patted their friend's back in support when he reached the group.

Wood frowned at Draco. "Malfoy right? Harry's friend." Draco nodded. "Aren't you in Slytherin?" Draco nodded again, lifting his chin defiantly. "Well then what are you doing here? These are the Gryffindor tryouts. Slytherin's aren't scheduled until next month."

Draco rolled his eyes as if to say "well duh," but explained himself. "I don't want to be on the Slytherin team."

"Well you can't be on the Gryffindor team. I'm sure it's against the rules."

Draco smirked. "I've already spoken to my Head of House and he confirmed that, though it has never been done before, it is not against the rules. Feel free to talk to your own Head if it will make you feel better."

Wood looked dumbfounded. "Well… er… what place will you be trying out for?" He looked defeated.

"Seeker." Draco's grin became predatory. The surrounding students took involuntary steps back.

Silence permeated the pitch. "Er… right then." Wood's business face was back. "You lot, separate into sections depending on what you're trying for. Seekers here with Harry, Chasers over there with the Girls, Beaters to Fred and George, and Keepers with me. Anyone trying out for more than one place should come talk to me first. Hop to it!"

The group was sorted out in short order and the tryouts began. Those unsatisfactory individuals were weeded out quickly enough and the rest were put to a rigorous test. By the end there were only a few left and Wood called a halt.

"Alright, since there's only this many of you left we may as well skip the posting board and get right to it. Those of you left are our new reserve team. Time for some formalities. McLaggen, you'll be reserve Keeper, come accept your new robes." Third year Cormac Mclaggen stepped forward and accepted the scarlet Quidditch robes, the word RESERVE clearly written in gold under the Gryffindor insignia. "Dean Thomas, Chaser. Congratulations. Ronald Weasley, though you were brilliant at Keeping, McLaggen is wicked brilliant, so you'll be a Chaser as well." They both walked forward and accepted their robes as well. "Fay Dunbar, You're a fantastic Beater, the twins will teach you well." She also got a new robe. "Neville Longbottom, you are the only person I've decided to give two places. You will be a reserve Chaser as well as Beater. Take your robe. There you are." Wood's lips pursed lightly. "Now. We only had two people try out for the place of seeker, and Draco Malfoy was by far the best of the two. As odd as it is, and if McGonagall is alright with it, the Gryffindor team now has a Slytherin Reserve Seeker. Come accept your robe."

Draco lifted his chin with pride and strode forward. He accepted his scarlet robes with a grin and a polite nod to his new captain. The magic in the robe seemed to sense Draco's house and the insignia changed to show both Gryffindor and Slytherin.

"Now to all of you," Wood smiled predatorily, "Welcome to the Gryffindor Quidditch team. We start practices at sunrise on Tuesday. I expect you all out here and ready to go bright and early. No Slackers!"

A collective groan went through the group, but they all nodded in defeat before Wood excused them and they left the pitch for the Great Hall.

-HPBC-

The Gryffindor house was a bit torn at having a Slytherin as a backup seeker. On the one hand it was Draco and they knew him from the previous year as being the most tolerable Slytherin any of them had ever met, even allowing him to hang out in their common room, but he was still a Slytherin. They were comforted by the fact that he was only a reserve, but still a bit nervous with Harry's track record from the year previous.

Draco's friends thought it was the best prank they'd ever pulled. The whole school was whispering about it. The Slytherins were furious with Draco for even considering lowering himself so far. Some of them even began questioning his parentage. Draco ignored them, but his friends didn't.

Pranks were pulled blatantly on anyone who questioned Draco's new position, regardless of house. Nobody could find conclusive proof as to the identities of the pranksters, though everyone knew who it was. Eventually the school found something else to gossip about and the Slytherin on the Gryffindor team was more or less forgotten.

-HPBC-

Halloween came and went and November started cold and blustery. Luna was still picked on by her housemates, but they'd been intimidated enough by Harry's performance that they didn't do anything that was noticeable outside of the Ravenclaw house. They'd post things on the bulletin board in their common room, or mess with her bedding, but never anything that would leave evidence outside the house.

Luna didn't say anything to Harry. She knew he'd get angry and do something to get himself in trouble, so she just took it all quietly. When Harry asked why she seemed so withdrawn she'd just smile dreamily and mention something about her charms homework or a potions essay, then Hermione would offer to help her and Luna would graciously turn her down and they'd return to what they were doing just as Luna had hoped. She was a big girl. She could deal with this herself. She didn't need Harry to help her through every little thing that didn't agree with her.

She began a list in her journal of all the things the other Ravenclaws did to her. The list became quite extensive by November, but she refused to back down. She would prove herself worthy to be Harry's friend, and maybe someday he'd see her as something more than the broken little girl who lost her mommy and needed comfort. Maybe someday he'd see her as a woman; she had already started her monthlies, so she was allowed to call herself such. She hoped he would.

She dreamed he would.

She mentioned him in her journal a lot too—sometimes with a smile and others with tears splotching her ink. She'd write about how he held her when she cried, or the smug smile (that everyone said he got from his father) he'd get when he pulled a prank, or how green his eyes were and how she could get lost in them when he spoke. She wrote how safe she felt around him and how she sensed so much about him that made her scared for him. She sensed more from him than from any other person she'd ever come into contact with. Often times it made her want to cry.

She wasn't a seer. Not quite. She could sense things about people-things about their past, or things that were going on in their lives, or even things that might happen in their future. Sense them, but not see them. Mostly emotions. Sometimes magic. She got it from her father. He called it empathy.

From Harry she had always sensed a lot of sad and frightening feelings and magic. Some from the past—which she assumed was from when he lost his parents—and a whole lot from the future. She sensed similar things, though to a much lesser extent, from all of his close friends—her friends. Something dark was coming for Harry, and they were all involved. She could only assume—seeing as she could never sense anything about herself—that she would also be a part of these events. A few more years of relative peace before all hell broke loose, as far as she could tell.

Luna hated knowing it.

She didn't let on about any of what she sensed to Harry or anyone else. She wanted him to be happy before the pain came, and she wanted to be there for him when it did.

He was her best friend.

She would be there for him.

Always.

-HPBC-

The day of the much anticipated Slytherin vs. Gryffindor match dawned chilly and a bit overcast, but dry. The whole school buzzed in excitement as they made their way to the pitch.

In the locker rooms Wood gave his usual speech to the whole team—including the reserves, who were suited up and ready for anything. They heard the whistle and flew out onto the pitch with their usual flare.

The game started quickly, with Slytherin in the lead. As hard as the girls tried they couldn't keep up, and Wood was having trouble guarding against the Slytherin's aggressive tactics. The score was 50-90 for Slytherin before Harry caught sight of the glittering snitch just above the turf. He didn't even check the Slytherin seeker's position before he zoomed after it. All he cared about was catching the snitch.

Fingers closed around the cool metal, Harry lifted the golden ball over his head in victory. Just as he was listening to Lee announcing the win a bludger rammed Harry's leg, flipping him end over end and causing him to control of his broom. He tumbled the few remaining feet to the ground. The crowd winced at seeing the bludger make contact with Harry's leg, then again as he hit the ground with an audible thump. The Slytherin beater that had hit the bludger was given a foul for hitting him after the snitch was caught and Gryffindor was declared the winner as Harry's friends, along with several teachers and staff, rushed to see to Harry who was lying motionless on the grass.

Lockhart got to him first.

"Not to worry, Harry, not to worry. I'll have you patched up in a jiffy."

What blood was left in Harry's face drained from it instantly. "That's alright sir," he managed through clenched teeth, "I'd rather wait for Madam Pomfrey if you don't mind. It really doesn't hurt that bad." He lied, hissing in pain as Lockhart nudged his obviously very broken left leg. Harry's friends noticed with dread who had reached him first and quickened their pace, pushing through the crowd to get to him.

"Nonsense!" Lockhart rolled up his sleeves. "Trust me Harry, you'll be right as rain when I'm done with you."

Scanning the area and seeing that his friends and Madam Pomfrey still had a ways to go before reaching him Harry was beginning to panic, especially as Lockhart began waving his wand. "No, sir, really! I'm fine, you don't have to—AAAAAGH!"

A sickly orange light hit Harry's leg from Lockhart's wand and caused it to begin swelling, red and enflamed, and oozing clear yellowish liquid. Harry screamed and writhed in pain on the grass while his leg began sporting flaky green spots.

Two blasts of light hit Lockhart square in his shocked face and he collapsed to the ground, petrified and sprouting pimples, but still quite conscious.

Draco and Neville both ran up, wands in hand, and dropped to their knees in front of a writhing and screaming Harry. Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Luna did the same just as Harry's eyes rolled into the back of his head and he lay still.

Madam Pomfrey, tailed by professors McGonagall and Snape, reached the scene just at that moment.

"What did you think you were doing? Imbecile!" She glared at Lockhart, who just stared pitifully back up at her from his petrified position on the grass. She turned back to Harry and immediately began levitating him off the pitch, ignoring Lockhart's silent pleas.

Neville, Draco and the others got up and went to follow but were stopped with a word from McGonagall.

"As much as I would have liked to be the one hexing him for that stunt, I'm afraid I have to give the two of you detention for attacking a teacher. I'm sure professor Snape will agree?" She indicated Draco as she turned to her colleague.

Snape sneered in distaste but nodded ever-so-slightly. "Those are the rules." He nudged at Lockhart with his foot, popping one of the swelling pimples. He grimaced with a mix of disgust at getting puss on his shoe and pleasure at the look of discomfort in the peacock's eyes.

Draco and Neville both nodded before rushing off toward the hospital wing followed again by the rest of their friends.

Despite their loud objections, they were not allowed into the hospital wing until Madam Pomfrey had finished her work on Harry's leg. Even after she'd finished healing him he didn't wake up until the next day.

-HPBC-

Harry couldn't help but sigh as he realized where he was. How did he end up there this time? Oh yeah. He grimaced at the memory and took stock of the sensations that his leg was currently sending his brain.

Itchy with a deep, aching throb.

It was an improvement.

"Oh good, you're awake. Drink this." Madam Pomfrey offered him a potion and Harry grimaced but drained it as he was told, nearly gagging on the aftertaste. The throbbing of his leg began to fade instantly, but the itching sensation continued.

"Good. You are to stay in bed the rest of the day. Your leg is still mending and you could inhibit your growth by walking on it too soon. I may keep you in from classes tomorrow if the spots persist. Now," She walked to the doors, "You have guests."

She opened the doors and a stream of people flowed through, Sirius in the lead.

Harry's godfather instantly wrapped him in a tight embrace. "How do you end up in here all the time?"

Harry grinned as Sirius released him. "Just talented I guess."

Sirius huffed and ruffled Harry's hair. "Little rascal."

Neville, Ron, Draco, Hermione, and Ginny were giving Sirius and odd look.

"That was the fastest change of emotion I've ever witnessed." Hermione was quite shocked.

"What? What did I miss?" Harry looked between his friends and Sirius. Sirius had the decency to blush.

Ron's expression transformed into something akin to awe. "He just blew up in the Headmaster's face that's what you missed."

Draco grinned. "He said he'd ruin Lockhart's reputation and leave him permanently ineligible for work in any position higher than dung sorter."

"Brilliant." Ron hadn't lost the awed look.

"Can you really follow up on those threats?" Neville seemed awed as well, but was clearly doing a better job hiding it than Ron.

Sirius scoffed. "Of course I can. I am Sirius Black of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Black. I have a lot of influence. I can do whatever I want. It's not hard to get a fraud out of a job. I'll have him sacked by Christmas." He winked.

Grins were exchanged all around.

"Anyway, enough about what I did." Sirius play punched Draco's arm. "Tell him what you two did when that idiot cursed him." His grin was criminal.

Neville blushed.

"Heh, that's right." Draco smirked smugly. "We got detention for hexing him. I cast furnunculus and Neville hit him with petrificus totalus. The professors left him petrified there until the stands were cleared out. Professor Flitwick finally took pity on him when he started crying and reversed the effects."

"McGonagall and Snape felt bad for giving us detention for doing something they wanted to do themselves." Neville mumbled.

Ron snorted. "The git deserved it."

"Right. Thanks." Harry couldn't keep the grin off his face.

"So when is Madam Pomfrey letting you out?" Hermione's eyes flicked to where the healer was organizing potions.

"She said I have to stay all of today and maybe tomorrow depending on if the spots go away." Harry grimaced. "They're really itchy."

They all looked at him with sympathy. They talked about pranks and small things until Madam Pomfrey shooed them all away so Harry could rest.

-HPBC-

Harry was kept in the hospital wing through all of Monday. The spots ended up being more persistent than anyone had predicted and he was made to stay until lunchtime on Wednesday. Hermione had given him all of their homework and let him read her notes, so he wasn't behind in any of his classes. All of his friends had been in to visit him every day. He was finally released on the condition that he rub a salve on his spots every six hours and he check in again for a checkup the next morning. He was also ordered to stay off his feet as much as possible for the next week.

-HPBC-

Lockhart's classes became even more of a joke. The Prophet had taken to pointing out all of the impossibilities in his books and his reputation had already begun a downward spiral. His order of Merlin was revoked within the week and he received at least nine howlers a day with a record of twenty at one meal. Fred and George had started a betting pool for how many would show up each day.

-HPBC-

Harry finally pulled his revenge prank on the Ravenclaws for Luna. The only people he ran his plan by beforehand was Luna herself, Tonks, and Sirius. Sirius and Tonks gave pointers and provided the supplies. Luna agreed to it and they pulled it off together. She let him into the common room late at night and he took the boys dorms while she got the girls. Their main targets were the older students and a few random younger students who they knew could handle it. When they were done Harry applied the prank to her as well to free her from suspicion.

The next morning the Ravenclaws woke up to find they had muggle party masks (courtesy of Tonks) glued to their faces. Any attempt made at removing the masks proved futile (thanks to the glue that Remus and Sirius had enchanted). Even the renowned charms professor had been hit and failed to remove his turtle mask, though most students assumed that he simply enjoyed it too much to try very hard. Luna enjoyed her white hare mask that she had picked out the night before. They all fell off just as the school was leaving the Great Hall after dinner. Most of the students opted to throw their masks away, but Luna was perfectly happy with keeping hers pinned on her wall. She happily wrote about the whole thing in her journal that night.

Their other friends were a little upset at being left out of the loop, but after Harry explained that it was personal and promised to let them in on any others in the future they let it go for the most part.

-HPBC-

AN:

Furnunculus: Pimple hex

Petrificus totalus: Full body bind

Hope you like my take on Luna. I certainly enjoyed writing her. Maybe my next fic will be through her pov… but that's not until I'm done with this one of course.

Sigh. Did I mention that life's a witch with a capital B? Well it is. True story. Love to tell you about it, but I'm trying to cure myself of my little "explaining myself" thing. You know how it is. Just know that life is getting to me and I have hardly written anything for a long while now. Don't expect things to speed up anytime soon, but I promise not to abandon this unless it's life or death.

Anyway.

From now on each chapter will have at least 5000 words. Check for my current word count on my profile.

As always, thanks for reading!

Kadtie, out.