'Of course it doesn't you just spend less time with me, you don't have to spend all the time with us.' Hermione said

'But I don't want to be ignoring you lot' Harry told her, 'not even for a while'

'Well, well, well, what do we have here?' said a cold snide voice, they had all totally forgotten about their potions which were heating up quickly and were already over-heated.

'Despicable even compared to your usual dwindling standards' Professor Snape said to the trio 'Mr Potter, can you see the board from here?'

'Yes' Harry said shortly

'Yes, SIR, Potter' Snape corrected him

'No need to call me sir, professor' Harry said mockingly

'10 points from Gryffindor for Potter's cheek' Snape said coolly 'tell me, Potter, what colour does it say to boil the potions to?'

'Bright green sir' Harry read exasperatedly

'And Mr Weasley' Snape continued, 'what colour are these three potions?' Ron looked down at the potions

'Well, Harry's and mine are black, and Hermione's is a very dark turquoise' Ron told him sourly

'Less of the attitude Weasley, 10 points from Gryffindor, and 30 for not paying attention in classes' He said slyly

'But Sir!' they chorused

'Each' Snape added evilly. They all stood there shell-shocked but never answered back knowing it'd get them in more trouble. Snape waved his wand over each potion clearing the contents of each cauldron 'and you all fail, you haven't got enough time to begin again' Snape said coolly and he skulked away. Harry, Hermione and Ron started tidying away their ingredients. There was a silence between the trio for a moment,

'If you want to try to be her friend, Harry, then fine, go try' Ron told him

'What about you guys?' Harry asked

'We'll deal with it' Ron told him giving a sideward glance at Hermione.

'Well okay, I'm going to TRY then.' Harry told them.

After all this, Snape set an essay for homework plus extra for the trio but at least the bell came quickly. Harry dropped behind to talk to the new girl.

'Hi' he said as she caught up with him

'Hi' she said quietly

'So what are you up to tonight?' he asked

'Sleeping' she told him

'Straight away?' he asked

'I'm tired, I'm going to dinner then going to bed'

'Maybe we can go to dinner together then?' Harry asked

'No thanks' she replied

'I'm offended' Harry said unconvincingly

'Sure you are' she told him sarcastically

'Are you sure you're going straight to bed after dinner?' he asked

'Yeah' she replied, she hadn't yet made eye contact with him.

'Well I'd really like to see you play quidditch' Harry told her

'I know'

'Well, maybe you could let me see then?' he requested, she never replied. 'It wont be like a date or anything' Harry reassured her 'it's just my friend Ron and I are going to play tonight, after dinner. He supports the Chudley Canons too, you know.'

'I can't come Harry.'

'Because you don't get along with Ron?' Harry asked

'No' she said

'Well if you change your mind I'll be waiting in the centre of the pitch at 7. Ron and I will be done by then' Harry said 'but if you want to give Ron a chance feel free to come earlier' and he walked down the corridor before she managed to answer. He caught up with Ron and Hermione again.

'How'd it go?' Hermione asked sounding as if she was told to ask and only agreed reluctantly.

'I'm not sure' Harry told her 'She wouldn't say yes, so I told her that Ron and I were going to play quidditch tonight and if she wants to join us or just me after then she can'

'Oh, but mate, Hermione was going to help me with the potions work tonight.'

'But you can do that later can't you?' he pleaded

'You know what Hermione's like when it comes to homework Harry' Ron replied

'Hey!' Hermione said offended

'What will you help me later then?' Ron asked, Hermione gave him a look to say that she wouldn't be happy if he passed on it especially for a girl like no-name. 'That's a no Harry.' Ron told him 'she probably wouldn't come early anyway, she hates me, just go down when you said we'd be done and see if she turns up at all. Sorry mate.'

'Ok no problem' Harry said, I might go and practise alone in case she does come earlier anyway.' They all went back to the common room and Harry got out his broomstick, the new girl was no where to be seen in the common room but he didn't get his hopes up.

'Harry' someone said from behind him as he walked towards the portrait hole with his broomstick. Harry jumped and quickly turned around.

'Already practising for quidditch?' Oliver Wood was standing behind him. Harry smiled when he saw him

'Hi Oliver' he answered 'well, I kinda am'

'I like your attitude Harry, we're sure to win the cup this year with this attitude. Do you mind if I join you?'

'Not at all' Harry said, happy for company. He waited for wood to collect his broom before he made his way down to the quidditch pitch.

'Do we need any new players for the team this year?' Harry asked Oliver when they were in the closest courtyard

'Uh… no, why?' he answered

'Well there's this new Gryffindor girl, she's a second year and it turns out she likes playing quidditch, well she's not really settling in, but when we got into conversation about quidditch she seemed quite interested in trying out for the house team.' Harry told him

'That new girl that the sorting hat took ages to house?' Oliver asked

'Yeah' said Harry

'Well maybe I can check out her flying in case we ever need a substitute' he compromised, 'I should probably do that for everyone that's interested in the house anyway. We're always having accidents in our team, perhaps you remember' he laughed emptily with a pained look on his face.

'Yeah' Harry said he wouldn't forget missing the final game in the last year.

'Is she coming down tonight?' Wood asked

'I'm not sure' Harry told him, he explained the situation.

'Well I guess you'll see if she comes or not then.' Wood told him 'I haven't really seen her around much'

'No-one has she sort of disappears.' Harry told him 'no-one tends to care though, not many people like her.'

'What's up with her?' he asked

'I think she doesn't really want to let anyone get close to her' Harry informed him 'she wont tell anyone her name and she acts as if she's better than us and she tries to cut every conversation as short as possible and she turns down all invitations, that's why I'm not so sure whether or not she'll come tonight. Most girls wouldn't leave guys waiting in the cold, according to Hermione, but Hermione doesn't like the new girl. I think she's jealous, she's not the best in the class anymore.'

'If this new girl's so good in the class room do you think she'll be any good at quidditch?' Wood asked concerned

'I'm not sure, she seems to be good at everything, so she might be. But then Hermione's good at everything other than quidditch too, she doesn't like flying though.' Harry told him thoughtfully

'Ok' Wood replied as they walked onto the quidditch pitch, 'I'll get the balls out'.

Harry took off and flew around the pitch quickly, soon Oliver Wood was out, he opened the quidditch trunk and threw up the quaffle. Harry, hovering a little bit above him caught it, and shouted down to him, 'get in front of the hoops; I'll practise catching the snitch later.'

Wood grabbed his broom and joined Harry in the air, he stationed himself in front of the middle hoop, Harry built up some speed as he swerved from the opposite hoops down the pitch towards Wood, at the last second he pulled his Nimbus 2000 into a sharp turn and aimed towards the lowest of the three hoops.