Author's Note: I definitely got carried away writing this! But I have a new-found love for writing anything with Draco and his sass in it! I really hope you all enjoy this! If any of you'd like to answer, I wonder who your favorite characters are from the series? Have a great weekend and thanks for reading! -Nox :D
Emma eagerly squeezed herself between the Weasley twins as she scanned the Gryffindor Bulletin Board. She found Quidditch Practice quickly on a notice paper.
"Practice begins Thursday, and Gryffindors are with-" She stopped short and groaned loudly as she read the last word.
"Slytherins, that's rough," George said from her left.
"Always am telling Wood how it wouldn't cost us too many points if we knocked out their captain, Flint." Fred added.
Emma's mood decreased drastically when she saw who they'd be flying with. Emma loved Quidditch and absolutely loved to fly. Of course Malfoy would find a way to ruin that for me, she thought bitterly as she made her way out of the Common Room with the Weasley twins.
Harry and Ron were still sleeping. It was true, she guessed, that it was a bit early to be up. The sun had barely risen when Emma leapt out of her bed and scrambled down the stairs. Not that she was an early bird-Hermione kept her awake most of the night with "Lumos" as Hermione read one of the many books she brought with her to Hogwarts. Emma wondered if the girl had many friends.
She was confident that flying would be the only thing Hermione wasn't good at. Hermione was Muggle-born; she had never ridden a broom in her life. Emma smiled smugly as she realized she'd finally beat Hermione at something. This feeling disappeared quickly however and was replaced with guilt. Hermione had been reading Quidditch Through The Ages for the past week, boring them all as she told them tips she read about at breakfast. The only person who was more nervous than Hermione about flying was Neville Longbottom.
Neville was accident-prone. Her first friend she made, Neville told her about how his gran would never let him on a broom. Emma expressed her sympathy with him, but secretly she agreed with her gran. Neville was already a walking disaster; it wouldn't do him well to be a flying disaster too.
And probably the worst of all the flying fears combined was Draco Malfoy. Emma loathed Draco Malfoy the day he opened his dumb mouth. Everything he said irked Emma, and she was certain everything she said bugged him. Whenever she walked by, Draco would be droning on about how fantastic he was at flying and how his father would think the school absolutely stupid if his precious little son wasn't offered a position on the Slytherin Quidditch team. Harry, Ron, and Emma often talked about how Draco was probably making it all up. As Ron had pointed out to them, just because Draco was rich didn't mean he could buy himself flying skills.
However, it seemed many people suddenly had the flying skills of a "professional Chaser" when it came to talking about the lessons. Seamus Finnegan had sworn to Emma in History of Magic that when he was younger he never learned how to walk because he was always on his broomstick. Even Ron was telling everyone who he ran into that he was better at diving than a hawk. Emma couldn't help joining along as well. She told her fellow Gryffindors about how she already played in her first Quidditch match with Oliver Wood. Of course, she made herself sound better than she had actually played, but at this point Emma could have said she slain a dragon and people would believe her.
Her thoughts now were focused on breakfast, however, as she went through the portrait hole with Fred and George. The two filled her in on their plans for the day, many of which involved the terrorizing of Argus Filch. Emma once more forgot the vanishing step but Fred was quick to catch her fall. She was about to thank him when her cheeks turned bright red and she scrambled to smooth down her untidy hair.
"What's you-oh," Fred snorted.
"I do so hope he says hello to us, don't you Fred?" George mocked.
Emma ignored them as she spotted Cedric Diggory and his friends walking down the adjacent staircase. When he spotted her he grinned and waved her over.
"Hey Emma! Haven't seen you much around the school." Cedric said.
"Yeah, I gu-guess our schedules aren't really similar. I mean, I'm s-sure I would notice your face in the hall." She instantly regretted her words. Now I sound like a creep.
"Oh yes Cedric, it pains me so that we don't see each other more." Fred jeered, mockingly placing his hand over his heart in forlorn. Emma glared at him.
"Well, maybe after breakfast I can give you a pep talk for flying lessons. Noticed you guys were paired with Slytherin, sorry to hear about that." Cedric smiled at Emma, hesitating before nodding to Fred and George.
"You two don't have to be such gits." She snapped as soon as Cedric was out of earshot. Fred rolled his eyes.
"You don't have to be so in love with the guy. Honestly, I don't see what you girls see in him. George?"
"I dunno Fred. He has a nice rear." Emma's face went bright as she scurried to the Great Hall, the twins roaring with laughter as they jogged to catch up to her.
"Unbelievable, really. This is the school having a crack at us." Ron mumbled as they made their way down to the Quidditch Field at three-thirty. "Gryffindors and Slytherins. Might as well told the entire school a fight was happening at the Field. Don't be late."
Harry and Emma laughed as they filed behind the rest of the Gryffindor first-years. She noticed that the Slytherins were already there. The day was wonderful: sunny, breezy, perfect for flying. Along the grass laid down broomsticks. Fred and George had complained about the school broomsticks, telling her and Harry about how if you didn't hold the handle a certain way it would begin to jerk violently.
"Alright, stand next to a broom, and be quick about it!" A woman with hawk-like yellow eyes and gray hair. It was their teacher, Madam Hooch.
Emma looked down at her broomstick and frowned. It was battered and appeared to be missing quite a bit of straw.
"On my say, hold your hand over the broomstick and say 'Up!' in a commanding tone." Madam Hooch said. "Now!"
Emma commanded "Up!" and the broomstick rose with ease into her hand. She encircled her fingers around it, appreciating the hard wooden surface. She glanced around and couldn't help but feel smug as she realized she was the first to do it.
Harry did it on his first try as well. She noticed how her brother's face lit up in surprise, and it was only then that she remembered he was raised by Muggles.
"Nicely done Potters," Hooch nodded her head approvingly.
Emma looked around to stick her tongue out at Draco and gloat, but scowled when she saw he was already smirking at her, broom in hand. Git.
Hermione was struggling with hers. "Up!" She kept shouting, face turning pink from the yelling. It took Ron a while, but eventually the broom flew into his hand. He looked over at the Potters and nodded his head in the direction of Hermione, raising his eyebrows with laughter in his eyes.
Neville's luck wasn't different on the Field. When he said "Up!" the broom smacked him right in the face. Draco and the other Slytherins began to howl with laughter, and immediately Ron jumped to his defense.
"Shut up Malfoy!" Ron barked.
"Sorry Weasley, I forgot. You must be used to malfunctioned brooms. It's the only ones your family could afford."
At this Emma, Harry, and Ron began to make their way towards the pale blonde-haired boy, but Madam Hooch was now moving onto their next instruction.
"Now, put one leg over the broom and hold your hands tightly on the handle. Do not begin to fly!"
Emma swung one leg over her broom and placed her hands around the neck of the broomstick. Her fingers ran over the cracks in the wood as she remembered how good it was to be up in the air. She couldn't wait.
Someone let out a cry and Emma's head snapped up. Neville's broom began to float higher and higher, Neville's face blanching as he looked down.
"Fly down!" Hooch called, but either Neville didn't know how or the broom was malfunctioning. Neville began to slip and the class went silent as the broom began to jerk violently. With one motion, Neville slid off the broom and fell straight towards the ground; Emma reckoned it had to be a twenty-foot drop.
Madam Hooch raised over to Neville and Emma strained her neck to see if her friend was okay. The broom had continued to float until it disappeared over the Forbidden Forest.
"Broken wrist-alright, alright, we're going to get you to Madam Pomfrey," Madam Hooch murmured, her face white with shock as she helped Neville. Neville was groaning and clutching onto his wrist , shaking.
"None of you dare touch those brooms or you will be expelled faster than you can say Quidditch!" She snapped over her shoulder as the two disappeared into the castle, Madam Hooch telling him "it's alright dear, you'll be fixed up in no time."
As soon as Madam Hooch was out of earshot, Draco Malfoy suddenly spoke loudly, "Did you see his face? He looked like such an oaf!" The Slytherins laughed at his joke.
"Shut up Malfoy!" Emma snarled.
"Ooh, sticking up for Longbottom? Didn't realize you fancied him Emma. But then again, I guess you're used to settling for less." Draco sneered at her. Emma's blood began to boil.
"Look, the doofus dropped something!" Draco sauntered over to where Neville had been and picked up a round object. "It's his Remembrall!" Draco began to toss it up in the air.
"Give it to me, Malfoy." Harry whispered from next to her.
The class went quiet as Draco and Harry stared each other down.
"Make me, Potter."
Harry and Ron both stepped forward, but Draco shouted "Up!" And within seconds he flew up.
"Get back down!" Parvati hissed, eyes widening. "You'll get us in trouble!"
"Catch me if you can Potter! Unless, you're afraid?" Draco shouted to Harry.
Emma had just turned to Harry, but he was already off on his broomstick. Uncertainty flickered through her as she looked at her own broomstick. Ron shook his head next to her, but it was too late. Emma was up.
Draco now had a look of panic in his eyes as he saw both Potters zooming towards him.
"No bodyguards up here, Malfoy!" Harry shouted. The wind blew through Emma's hair as she leaned forward, gaining speed. Draco eyed her with fear.
"Go for it!" He shouted and with one great effort, he threw the Remembrall across the Field.
Harry stopped and began to speed down the Field towards the Castle, reaching desperately for Neville's Remembrall. Emma, unfortunately, was going too fast. She slammed into Draco and knocked him off of his broom, both now barreling towards the ground.
"Do something!" Draco shouted to the horrified crowd underneath him, all of whom were watching the two of them and Harry. Emma did not see Harry do a dangerous dive and catch the Remembrall with seconds to spare. She was too busy free-falling, her hands reaching hopelessly for the broom handle. And with sheer luck, her fingers managed to wrap around the neck of Draco's broomstick and balance herself on it with one hand.
She had no time to pull herself up. With great reluctance she caught Draco by the wrist, and with their combined weight, the broom began to float lazily back towards the ground. Emma's heart was racing.
"Potter!" Her head snapped up as she and Draco finally reached the safety of the ground. Draco was as white as his face, staring at her speechlessly.
Emma turned around, shaking, as she saw Professor McGonagall storming across the grounds. But she wasn't looking at Emma-her eyes were on Harry.
"Come with me, now!"
"But Professor!"
"Quiet, Ms. Brown!"
"It was all Draco's-"
"Enough Mr. Weasley, or do you want points taken from Gryffindor?"
Professor McGonagall and Harry began to walk wordlessly back towards the castle, leaving the students behind. Immediately Ron turned to Emma.
"Blimey, I thought you'd be dead for sure! Had to be eighty-feet high, thanks to that weasel!" Ron glared at Draco.
"I reckon you're faster than Harry!" Seamus found his voice, nodding at Emma.
"Way to get your hand on that broom at the last second. Too bad you caught that one too," Dean Thomas pointed accusingly at Draco.
Emma tried to speak but couldn't, so instead she gave them all a weak grin. At this point many Gryffindors were commenting on her flying talents, "Could be a bloody Chaser!", Ron even adding.
Her eyes focused on where Draco was. He was surrounded by Slytherins, but seemed to have felt her stare. His cold gray eyes met her bright ones. She expected a nod or whisper of thanks, but the Slytherin only scowled and turned his back on her. Last time I save your life, you lousy weasel.
Ron and Emma waited anxiously for Harry back in the common room.
"D'you think he'll be expelled?" Emma whispered to Ron. The two were playing Wizard Chess as they waited.
"He can't be, it's Draco's bloody fault anyway," Ron replied as he beat her once more at the game. "Checkmate."
The portrait swung open and Harry stepped through the hole. Immediately he was swarmed my dozens of Gryffindors exacting the same thing.
"What happened, Harry?"
"Is it true you dove to catch it?"
"Did McGonagall give you detention?"
Harry smiled sheepishly as he pushed through the crowd and found his way to where Emma and Ron were by the fire.
"So?"
"So what?"
"So what did Professor McGonagall say?" Ron and Emma both sat on the edge of their seats.
Harry looked around, dropping his voice to barely more than a whisper. "I'm the new Seeker for the Gryffindor Quidditch team."
Ron's jaw dropped. Emma stared at him, mouth agape. "As in, Seeker Seeker?"
"Shh!" Harry said to Ron, before nodding his head. His entire face lit up as he grinned. "I met Wood, said he thinks we have a chance at winning the Cup this year."
"Well no kidding!" Emma responded. "I heard even Charlie Weasley wouldn't have been able to catch the Remembrall like you did!"
At that point Oliver Wood passed them. Spotting Harry, he slid next to Emma, shaking his head with a smile on his face.
"Can't wait, Potter." He then turned to Emma, his expression turning serious. "Next year I better see you on trying out for Chaster, do I make myself clear?"
Emma smirked. "Yes sir!" Wood nodded his head, chuckling. "I can't wait to rub that Cup in Flint's dumb face."
At breakfast the next morning, mail came as usual. Tracker swooped over Emma, dropping a letter in her lap. She didn't need to look at the name to know it was from Lupin. She was just about to open it when she heard people talking and pointing up. She looked to see a few owls carrying a parcel in the shape of a broomstick. They stopped and dropped it in front of Harry, splashing pumpkin juice onto Ron.
"Don't open now." Harry read as he picked up the letter with it.
"Your new broom, Harry?" George piped up. Harry looked up alarmingly, but the twins laughed.
"Wood told us. Thought he was going to pee himself he was so excited." Fred responded, biting into his toast.
Harry, Ron, and Emma rushed to finish their breakfast. They were just out of the Great Hall when they heard a familiar sneering voice.
"What's that Potter?"
"None of your business, Malfoy."
Draco pushed past Ron and Emma to have a look at Harry's parcel. A wicked smile played on his lips as Crabbe and Goyle stood behind him.
"First-years aren't allowed to have brooms."
"Well, Harry has special privilege. He's the new Seeker for the Gryffindor Quidditch Team!" Ron couldn't contain himself. The look on Draco's face was priceless.
"You're bluffing!" Draco snapped, but Emma could see the doubt in his eyes. Just then Professor Flitwick walked by.
"Professor, Potter got a broom!" Draco quickly said. Flitwick turned to look at the parcel in Harry's hand and beamed.
"Professor McGonagall told me about your new position on the Gryffindor Quidditch team! I must say, I cannot wait to see you play!" And with that he skipped away, humming to himself.
Harry and Ron gave smug smirks to Draco. Draco was livid.
"You think you're so special Potter, but you'd stand no chance against me in a wizard's duel."
"You want to bet on that Malfoy?" Harry challenged. Draco smiled.
"I do. What say at midnight, in the trophy room?" Draco asked, tilting his head as he waited for a response.
"He accepts. I'll be his second." Ron responded without skipping a beat.
Draco turned to size up Crabbe and Goyle. "Crabbe will be my second. See you at midnight."
Harry and Ron began to retreat to the staircase leading to the Gryffindor Common Room. Crabbe and Goyle turned, talking to each other. Draco was just about to follow but Emma stopped him.
"Well?"
"Well what?"
"Don't you have something you want to tell me?" She stood there, her hands on her hips.
Draco laughed. "I have nothing that I want to say to you, Potter. I don't like wasting words on unimportant people."
Emma lost her temper. She marched towards Draco, backing him into the wall. For a second she thought she saw fear flicker in his eyes. "You ungrateful prat! I didn't need to save your pathetic behind out on the field, especially after how you treated my friends! And the least you can do is thank me, and you won't even do that?"
Draco stuck his hands up in defense. "You think I should thank you? You're the one who came barreling into me! You should be apologizing to me!"
Emma had just stuck her finger in Draco's face when Professor Snape walked past with Professor Quirrell.
"What is going on here, Miss Potter?" Snape drawled. Emma gulped.
"Potter is threatening me, sir." Emma turned to glare up at Draco, who was smirking down at her.
"Now now, Miss Potter. We should be nice to everyone. I'll take two points from Gryffindor. Is that fair, Miss Potter?" Emma's ground her teeth but said nothing.
"Well?"
"Yes sir."
"Then get on your way." Snape's cloak fluttered behind him as Quirrell and he walked down the corridor.
Draco laughed as he walked in the opposite direction of Emma, winking at her over his shoulder. "Be a little nicer, Potter. You look better when you smile."
Emma let out one last growl before turning, silently stalking after Snape and Quirrell, all the while wishing for Draco to break his face.
As Emma followed Snape and Quirrell, she began to pick up on what they were talking about.
"I saw you lingering near the door to the third-corridor, Quirinus." Snape's cold voice drawled out.
"W-what a-a-re you t-talking about S-S-Severus?" The other stuttered. Emma had a feeling students weren't the only ones intimidated by the dark professor.
"Don't play dumb with me. You know we shouldn't be around there. Unless, do you know how to get past it?" Snape's voice held a suspecting tone.
"O-Of course not!" Quirrell squeaked, but Emma couldn't help but feel as though he was lying.
"Well, if I hear you going anywhere near there and I am not around, you won't have to be worrying about the vampires." Emma quickly hid behind a knight as Snape abruptly turned and glided the way he came. She peeked her head around to look at Quirrell.
"H-he mustn't know. He-he-he'll ruin it all." She could hear him mutter to himself.
Is Snape threatening Quirrell for something?
When Emma finally entered the Gryffindor Common Room, Harry and Ron were already sitting in their usual seats. They greeted her as she sat down.
"Hey, what took you so long?"
"Yeah, you missed the unwrapping of Harry's broomstick. Hey, is everything all right? You look bothered."
"Never mind the broom, I heard Snape and Quirrell talking about the third-corridor." Emma said in hushed excitement. Ron and Harry sat up.
"What were they saying?" Harry questioned.
"I don't know what exactly, but Snape was asking Quirrell if he knew how to get past it. Whatever 'it' is."
"Bloody hell, do you think the third-corridor has vampires in it?" Ron asked when Emma told them of Snape's threat.
"No Ron." Emma snapped, but then paused. "Although, maybe that's why Quirrell….no. Dumbledore would never let anything dangerous in these walls!"
"You don't know that," Ron argued. "He's let Snape in here for who knows how many years!"
Harry finally spoke up. "We'll have to keep a closer eye on Snape. But first, when should we leave for the duel?"
It was half past eleven when Emma woke up, still in her robes. She looked around the room, and to her relief, everyone else was asleep. As quiet as she could, she slipped out of her bed and made her way down the stairs. Harry and Ron were already there.
"You're coming too?" Ron asked as he spotted her.
"Of course I am, I'd love to see Dr-"
"So you were serious about dueling Draco?" A third voice made them all turn around. Hermione was there in one of the chairs, her eyes full of disapproval.
Ron groaned. "What do you want?"
"To stop you. Gryffindor doesn't need anymore points taken off because you three idiots decided to go out past curfew."
Ron scowled at her. "This has nothing to do with you, go to bed!"
The three stepped through the portrait hole, but Hermione followed.
"This is my last warning, get back to bed!"
The other three ignored her and began to walk.
Hermione turned to enter, but she let out a gasp. "The Fat Lady isn't here!" Worried, she began to trail after them.
"Go ba-OUCH!" Ron fell onto the ground, and another person let out a small squeak.
"Quiet Ron!" Harry hissed. Emma looked at the ground and recognized the boy on the floor.
"Neville?" She asked.
"I couldn't remember the password," He whispered. "Thank God you came!"
"The Fat Lady isn't there. We can't get back in." Hermione snapped at him.
Harry and Ron had begun to walk already. Hermione and Neville jogged to keep up while Emma made up the rear. She could vaguely hear Harry and Ron explaining the Midnight Duel to them, but something down the dark hall caught her eye.
She slowed her pace until gradually the other four got smaller and smaller. Was that a small light? She turned down the hall, her footsteps soundless. She could hear two voices. She recognized the stuttering one instantly as Professor Quirrell, but couldn't make out the second one. Was it Snape? With silent steps, she crept towards where the light was pooling out from underneath a door. She pressed her ear to the door and held her breath.
"I-I know, b-b-" Quirrell was cut off.
"Silence! You've already messed up once before!" The other voice hissed. It was high-pitched and Emma knew it wasn't Snape's.
"Th-that was a m-mistake. B-but how wa-was I su-supposed to know the s-s-security they had?"
"Everyone knows! Only an idiot makes as foolish a fumble as you did! Now Snape knows."
"Sn-snape!" Quirrell spat the name in disgust.
"He'll use this as his golden opportunity to watch us."
"H-he kno-knows what's in-in the co-corridor." Quirrell whispered. Emma pressed her ear harder against the door. The door creaked slightly.
"Of co-someone's at the door! Get them!" The voice shrieked.
Emma stumbled back from the door, her wrist burning with pain. She could hear Quirrell scrambling behind the door, and she bolted. She ran as fast as she could, darting around the corner as soon as she heard Quirrell slam the door open. Her legs flew up the staircase until she reached the door, desperate, she began to jiggle the handle but found it unlocked. Without a moment's hesitation she entered.
"Ow!" A voice whispered in the darkness. Emma jumped and was about to scream before a hand went over her mouth.
"Emma, it's us!" Harry took his hand from her mouth.
"What are you guys doing here?" She hissed through the darkness. "I thought you'd be fighting Draco by now!"
"He tricked us, he snitched and told Filch students would be out of bed!" Ron responded, to which Hermione piped up.
"I told you that it was a dumb idea. And now look where we've ended up!"
As Ron and Hermione feuded and Neville sniffled, Harry looked at Emma.
"What happened to you?"
"I heard two people. Listen-wait, what room is this?"
It was at this point the five finally took in their surroundings. When Emma's eyes fell onto what was in the middle of the room, her blood ran cold.
"Bloody hell-"
"Is that-?"
"We need to go." Emma could barely speak. A giant, three-headed dog was standing before them, all three bearing their teeth at the students.
Harry struggled with the door as the middle-head began to snap at them. Within an instant all five of them were now running down the stairs, all of the night's adventures long forgotten. Hermione slammed the door behind them and they flew to where the staircase was, sprinting to where the Fat Lady Portrait was.
"Pig snout! Pig snout!" Ron was yelling at her.
"Where have you all been?" The Fat Lady questioned as she opened. All five practically leapt through the hole into the safety of the common room.
As white as a sheet, Neville made his way up to the boys' dorms, his legs like jelly underneath.
"Why-does-Hogwarts-have-a-bloody-three-headed-dog?!" Ron said between breaths, his hands on his knees.
"It's protecting something!" Hermione retorted, her hair even more frizzled than usual.
"What makes you say that?"
"Did any of you look at what it was standing over?" Hermione asked. The other three shook their heads.
"It was standing on a trapdoor. It's guarding something. Now I'm going to bed. We could have been killed today-or worse, expelled." And with that she disappeared up the stairs leading to the girls' rooms.
Ron stared after her. "It's like we dragged her with us! I swear, she needs to get her priorities straight. 'Or worse, expelled.' I'd rather be expelled than dead!"
Harry wasn't listening. "What was it guarding?"
Harry and Ron bid Emma a good night as they went up to their own beds. As Emma entered her room, she saw Hermione was facing the opposite direction of her bed. Good. She dressed into her pajamas and crawled into bed, but her mind was racing.
Her thoughts kept going back to what she heard. Who belonged to that unknown voice Quirrell was talking to in that room? Whoever it was, they knew what was underneath that trapdoor. And so did Snape.
