A.N Sorry for the...TWO WEEK CHAPTER DELAY?! Man, I'm really sorry...

DISCLAIMER: ANYTHING YOU RECOGNIZE BELONGS TO J.K ROWLING


Chapter 9: James In Denial

"You want to what?!" Ashley hissed.

Elizabeth, Fabian, Gideon and Ashley were sitting around a table in the library. Elizabeth was holding a piece of parchment, writing on it with her eagle-feathered quill.

"I said we could make a cool fireworks display." Gideon repeated.

"In the Great Hall?" Ashley exclaimed.

"Yep!" Fabian said cheerfully, "Then chocolate will fall from the air."

"No." Ashley said angrily.

"What?!" The twins yelled in unison.

"Shhh!" hissed Madam Pince.

The three (not Ashley), rolled their eyes at the witch, though they did quiet down.

"We HAVE to do this Ash!" Gideon said.

"Yea! This would be the bestest prank ever." Fabian nodded.

"Back me up here Ellie." Ashley pleaded

Elizabeth looked up at them from the parchment she had written on. She smirked at them all as they awaited her answer.

"What Ash said," she paused and the boys let out protests. "Is not going to happen."

"Yay Elzie!" The twins cheered.

"Ellie!" Ashley whispered harshly.

Elizabeth just laughed at the load of them and shoved the parchment towards the three, whom looked at it curiously.

"This," she grinned. "Is what we are going to do!"

"Elizabeth! This is WICKED!" Fabian shouted once he had read from the parchment.

"That's it! Out! Out!" Madam Pince squawked.

The four ran out and Elizabeth began to grumble,

"I'll bet she's related to Madam Grace."

No one doubted the thought at all.


The weeks flew by and Elizabeth spent most of her time in the library, looking through all sorts of books. She would often study with Regulus, Ashley or Natalie. Ashley and her often poured through charms books together about the prank when it was just the two of them. Regulus only came when it was just Elizabeth as no one seemed to approve of their friendship when it had been first out there. Allysa never even came near the library, always would use an excuse such as 'I'm allergic to books'. Natalie would respond saying,

"You always read through that book about creating a new style though."

But Allysa wouldn't hear any of it. She simply turned away and started to groom her cat. Elizabeth didn't mind though, at least there were fewer people she knew in the library so she could prepare their prank.

The weeks flew by and the homework seemed slightly simpler as the first years could get a few proper spells out much more easily. Elizabeth was great in Transfiguration, while with every other class, she did well enough, struggling with some here and there.

One afternoon, a note went up on the board saying the first years would be having flying lessons the following Tuesday. Elizabeth grew excited,

"I've flown before, but I can't wait to play an actual game with other people than my brother."

Natalie nodded slightly, while Allysa wrinkled her nose. Ashley stayed quiet, unknowing as to what being on a broom felt like. She didn't exactly want to ride on a broom though as it meant she'd be up in the air, which Ashley feared. What if she fell? She would die for certain! Ashley admired the others on how they could get on the broom with no worries. This made Ashley feel like she shouldn't be in Gryffindor, for everyone appeared to enjoy the thrill of the broom, or at least, didn't mind flying.

Later on that day, Elizabeth and Ashley were alone in the dorms as Allysa was off with Natalie studying somewhere (not in the library). The two hadn't finished their Transfiguration homework so they left to go do it.

Elizabeth and Ashley were just lazing around, doing idle chatting as they did. Elizabeth had her head at the end of her bed, tossing a string around with her kitten chasing it. Ashley sat on her own bed, head on the board and reading a book. Elizabeth drifted over to the conversation about Quidditch soon enough and Ashley bit her lip.

"Is it scary?" she asked quietly.

"What?" Elizabeth asked. "You mean Quidditch?"

"Yea, don't you ever fear that you will fall off the broom?"

"I guess I've never really thought about it."

"What do you mean? You are nearly a hundred feet off the ground."

"Well, I've been flying for years now, of course on old brooms, but that's besides the point."

Ashley nodded slowly at her friend. Elizabeth started to have a glint in her eye that Ashley would learn meant passion and that Elizabeth could go on hours about the subject.

"See, it just comes so naturally I think nothing of it and focus on my goal. For example, I want to fly really fast so I just, do it. Y'know?"

Elizabeth looked at Ashley who shook her head.

"Well, when I get on my broom, I feel a load of excitement come over me. I just feel as if I could do anything. During diving as you saw at tryouts, I feel a small sense of fear I guess."

Ashley was listening now, wondering how you could stop the fear of falling off a broom, or just fear of being up hundreds of feet off the ground.

"But I focus more on what I need to do, I suppose it's easier to ignore my fear that way." Elizabeth shrugged.

"So," Ashley began. "I just have to focus on my goal?"

"Well, it works for me." Elizabeth said.


It was Tuesday afternoon soon enough and many first years were excited about the lessons. Elizabeth was bouncing around excitedly and her friends had to restrain her from bouncing off walls.

"Come on Ellie." Natalie gritted through her teeth.

Currently she was pulling her back from spinning around in circles, which was quite hard to do; in fact Natalie's arms felt like lead.

The first years were gathered on the pitch, all standing beside brooms. A woman walked out, she had grey hair in a bun with yellow, hawk-like eyes.

"Stand by the brooms now," she commanded.

All the first years did as told and stood by the brooms, waiting for further instructions. The witch inspected them all, then stood at the end of the line.

"I am Madam Hooch, the Qudditch instructor." She announced. "I expect to have most of you all up and flying doing a few dives by the end of this term."

Elizabeth and a few others nodded eagerly while the others shifted uneasily from foot-to-foot. Madam Hooch put on her gloves, then looked up at them.

"Now, there are of course a few exceptions where some are quite unable to fly." she paused as most became nervous. "Though many witches and wizards claim it's do to 'bad luck of the draw', others have delved into research about it. As it seems, I believe it is your ability to control and your will."

Everyone nodded quietly, a few muttering 'control and will' under their breaths. Elizabeth kept glancing at the broom then back up at Madam Hooch.

"Now, place your hand above the broom and call 'UP!' till it flies into your hand." she instructed.

All the students placed their hands over the broom, trying to get it up. Elizabeth placed her own hand over the broom and called,

"UP!"

Immediately, the broom flew up into Elizabeth's open hand, making Elizabeth grin and look around. Elizabeth spotted Regulus holding his own broom and they exchanged looks of excitement. Looking back around again, it appeared that Natalie had gotten hers up on the second try while Ashley on the fifth. Allysa was still having trouble with her broom as most of the first years got their own up.

"Up, up, UP!" she exclaimed. "Get up you stupid excuse for a broomstick!"

The broom did get up, however just as Allysa was about to grab it, the broom dodged her and thumped her on the head. Allysa squealed in surprise and ran away from the broomstick as fast as her legs could carry her. The broom followed, trying to hit her again.

"Ahhhhhh! MADAM HOOOOOCCCHH!" she screamed. "THIS BROOM IS TRYING TO KILL ME!"

Madam Hooch simply brought out her wand and froze the broomstick. Allysa looked up at the woman's stern expression and gave a feeble smile.

"Miss Wright, you must have control and will." she told Allysa.

"Have 'will' to ride that thing?" Allysa asked, pointing at the broomstick. "It was going to kill me!"

Madam Hooch sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose before bringing her hand back down and glanced at the rest of the first years.

"Just make my job easier and get on the broom." Was her response as she walked away.

Allysa grumbled under her breath as her friends laughed at her.

Finally, everyone was holding their brooms up and Madam Hooch told them the next step to riding the brooms properly,

"Now, you will mount your brooms and grip them tight." she instructed them. "When I blow my whistle, you will push-off the ground and stay there for a second before returning once again to the ground."

Each first year mounted their own broom and gripped it tight before waiting for the whistle. Madam Hooch began to count,

"One, Two, Three-TWEET!"

The whistle was blown and everyone pushed off the ground, preparing for flight. Elizabeth pushed off the ground, then returned once again when Madam Hooch called it. Everyone had done it perfectly,

"AHHHHHH!"

Well, almost everyone.

Allysa was being spun in 360's by her broom. She was screaming her head off in terror while the students watched, both amused and worried. Madam Hooch was not amused however and had a worried look upon her face.

"Miss Wright! Will and Control!" she shouted.

"HOW-"Allysa spun. "CAN-" spin. "I-" spin. "CONTROL" spin. "THIS-" spin. "THING?!" spin.

"KEEP CONTROL MISS WRIGHT!" Madam Hooch shouted back.

"STUPID-" Allysa suddenly stopped spinning and fell, face-flat on the ground.

"My Face!" she began to wail.

Elizabeth, Ashley and Natalie exchanged slightly concerned looks as Madam Hooch sighed, looking over the first years.

"Mr. Xaviar! Take Miss Wright to the Hospital Wing!" she commanded.

Phillip Xaviar, a brown-haired, blue-eyed boy, nodded quickly and picked up Allysa. He walked off, supporting her even though she could walk just fine. Madam Hooch then turned back to the first years, looking at them all.

"Next, I will be trying to see how well you can all fly."


Halloween was fast approaching and many students were excited for the feast. Fourth year and up students were talking excitedly about dresses or costumes, dates and all that. Elizabeth found out it was because of the Halloween dance. Elizabeth wasn't much for dresses, she hated them in fact. Her mother made her dress up in such things ever since she was a little girl. So you could see why it wasn't interesting to her.

Allysa was a whole different story of course. She was going around and ranting on how they should let first years go so she could show off her dress.

Her rants were amusing, after all, if you saw a little first year acting all high and mighty enter a hall full of people in fourth year and up. The looks they would give! The thought was too funny when the others discussed this with each other.

One early morning, Natalie came bursting into their dorm, rushing around happily. Elizabeth frowned at her as Natalie started to put on her robes.

"Where are you going Nat?" Elizabeth asked.

"I'm heading down to Hagrid's, he wants to show me something." Natalie responded, brushing her hair.

"That guy who was on the boats with us?" Elizabeth questioned.

"Yep! He's a big animal person like me. Want to come?" she asked.

"I guess, Ash and Ally are still sleeping so I'll leave them a note." Elizabeth said.

Natalie nodded then did her hair up into a pony-tail upon her head. Elizabeth took out a quill and some parchment, then placed a note on Ashley's bed as Ashley usually got up first. Elizabeth threw on her own robes and brushed her hair before following Natalie out the door.

"It's getting colder and colder out." Natalie mused.

She pulled her robes around her tighter attempting to seek warmth from the chilly wind blowing against them.

"Well, it's Scotland." Elizabeth shrugged, doing the same.

The two continued down to a hut Elizabeth never knew was there. Natalie was practically bursting with excitement, making Elizabeth giggle.

The two soon reached the hut, trotting up to the door. Natalie knocked loudly on it, waiting for an answer. The door opened widely and there stood a beaming Hagrid.

"Thou' you wou' 'nt come." Hagrid said, ushering the two first years inside.

The crackling fire over on one side warmed up the hut, making Elizabeth and Natalie take off their coats. Hagrid ushered them to two chairs around a small table and smiled at them. Elizabeth felt slightly intimidated by the antlers and horns around the small hut.

"Now, who migh' you be?" Hagrid asked Elizabeth.

"I'm Elizabeth Potter." she told him, "But call me Ellie!"

Hagrid chuckled a bit making Elizabeth relax in their current setting. Hagrid brought out a couple of tea cups and a kettle.

"Well Ellie Pot' 'er then." Hagrid paused. "Are you rela'ed t' James Pot' 'er?"

"He's my older brother." Elizabeth smiled.

"Load of trouble tha' boy is." Hagrid laughed.

Elizabeth nodded, her lips quirked up in a smile. Natalie was looking around the hut rather impatiently.

"So what did you want to show me?" she asked.

"O'!" Hagrid exclaimed, rushing over to a box.

He pulled out an animal with four paws, a short thin tail and a snout. It started to whimper and Hagrid pet it's head before looking up.

"A BOARHOUND PUPPY!" Natalie yelled and ran over to Hagrid.

Elizabeth was clutching her ears and then opened her eyes to look at the two. Hagrid beckoned for her to get a closer look and Elizabeth grinned at him before walking over. The puppy was a dark grey sort of colour and had a slightly wrinkled forehead which made it look adorable.

"Is it a boy or a girl? How old is it? It is a puppy so it couldn't be more than a year old! Can I hold it? Does it have a name? Can I play with it?" Natalie said all in one breath.

Hagrid chuckled at her eagerness before speaking,

"Tha' is wha' I want t' know." Hagrid told them. "Th' pup needs t' play wi' someone while I am doing stuff."

The two girls nodded and agreed to come by once a week. Soon enough, they had the puppy on the floor playing tug-of-war. When that was all over, the two girls bid their goodbyes to Hagrid before heading up to the castle.

They entered the common room and James leapt over to his sister after Natalie ran up to their dorm to check on the other two. He startled her and made her fall over against somebody. She heard his warm chuckle and grinned at him.

"Hey Twin!" she greeted.

"Twin? Is that my name now?" One of the twin's asked, mock-offended.

"Well how am I to tell the two of you apart?" Elizabeth asked.

"Well, I'm obviously Fab-ulous and my twin is-"

"A Gift from Merlin." The other twin broke in.

"Ahem!" a person cleared their throat.

It was James and he was standing there with his arms crossed. Fabian and Gideon chuckled before walking away from Elizabeth.

"We'll leave your sibling conversation." Fabulous stated.

"We don't want to have the wrath of Jamie-poo upon us after all." Gift from Merlin nodded.

James' face flushed red at what they had called him and his eyes narrowed ever so slightly at the two, trying (and failing) to be intimidating. The twins simply laughed and walked off, shoving each other along the way. Elizabeth looked back at James who's eyes were on her now.

"Yea?" she asked.

"Why must you be friends with boys?" He questioned in an annoyed manner.

"You're friends with boys." Elizabeth stated.

"Are you saying I'm a girl?" James asked, astonished.

Of course, at that age, this was a very offending insult. Elizabeth giggled at her brother's face, it was just priceless.

"I thought everyone knew that." Elizabeth said in fake-surprise. "Surely you would have."

"Why you little-!" James began chasing after her. "I AM NOT A GIRL!"

The whole Common Room was watching, many in amusement. However, the two didn't notice and probably wouldn't have cared as they were focused on each other.

"It's okay to be in denial Jamie dear!" she cackled before racing up to her dorm.

"I AM NOT IN DENIAL!" James shouted after her.

Everyone who had watched the exchange began laughing as James stomped away time his own dorm, his laughing friends following behind him.


A.N Broom Riding, what fun! Except for Allysa...wonderful, right? She doesn't do brooms, they hate her and she hates them. A mutual relationship.

Are some of you confused about James' reaction to the twins? Yea, he's trying to act like the big brother and is torn between being friendly and being mean.

But the prank comes next chapter. Only thing is, I need to tweak it a bit because I made it a wee bit too professional. Alright, alolt. Just that the magic is a bit more towards older students.

Right, sorry for not writing for about two weeks! I didn't really have any ideas for my other story so it kind of turned to laziness with this story because I was frantic about the other one. Also, I got sick with a cold and my temper gets the best of me when I do. So, I didn't write, publish, etc., because I'd probably make my people really angry people and everything would go downhill. Also, (I know, MORE!) it was coming to the end of term and some last few weeks of work needed to be handed out. (Basically piled on homework to be graded and also tests).

So yep! That's what happens in the course of just two weeks of my life.

You know Valentine's day?

(You probably do so I don't know why I am asking)

Yea well, I like the chocolate.

They make the biggest chocolates around this time.

I just hope they aren't laced with love potion.

AH HA! REVIEWS! Were you waiting for those? I hope so. Excuses from me do tend to bore my life as well. Yes, I give myself excuses. It helps me feel better sometimes.

Reviews:

Bookluver1999: Yay! Thank you, it means a lot :) Yep! Jamsie-poo does know. Right, he'll probably come and beat me up now for calling him that. Yea, he knows. After all, their mum is an animagus. ;) The family secret you can say.

Maxie210: Hi! Well, it probably would be a wee bit better if James was a seeker but I kind of like that he was a chaser in the books. It kind of shines some light onto other positions in my opinion. If James and Harry were both seekers, I think a lot of people would like the position more. Thank you for the cookies! Here are some for you! (::) (::) (::)

UPDATE: Here ya go ;D

1weasleyfan: Even though you reviewed the other chapters, I'm just going to say thank you on this one! ;)

So that's it and thank you to all of you for Reading, Reviewing and being the most awesomenest people in the world!

Cheers!

Lupe