Quidditch
As mid-November approached so did the first Quidditch match of the season. I was really worried. Word had gotten out that I was playing seeker. I didn't know what was worse. People telling me I would be brilliant or they would be running under me with a mattress for when I fell. I felt sick on Saturday morning. It was the day of the match and I couldn't be more nervous.
"You will be brilliant." Draco assured me.
"Yea don't worry." George said.
"You will be amazing!" Aria enthused.
I headed down to the pitch with my nimbus 2000.
My nerves turned to excitement when I entered the changing room. I put my hair back into a ponytail. I put on my green robes that said potter 01 which was the seekers number.
"We have been training hard and those Gryffindorks won't stand a chance." He said confidently.
"You can do this!" Fred said clapping me on the shoulder.
"With you there is no way we won't win the cup." George said.
We walked out onto the pitch. The crowd's cheers were defining. "This year's team for Slytherin is Captain Marcus Flint, Adrian Pucey, Anthony Warbeck are the chasers. Fred and George Weasly are beaters. Montague Montigue is keeper. The real star of the show is the beautiful seeker Jamie Potter!" Cheers erupted from the stadium at my name.
Gryffindor line up is Captain Oliver Wood, keeper. Angelina Johnson, Katie Bell and Alicia Spinet, chasers. Beaters Chase Collins and Jason Talbot. The seeker Cormac McLagan.
Madam Hooch made Wood and Flint shake hands. She released the bludgers and the snitch. We all mounted our brooms. She mounted her own broom and we all kicked off. It was exhilarating flying again. The sky was a perfect blue. The sun was shining brightly. She had her whistle in her mouth and threw the quaffle up into the air and blew her whistle. Pucey caught the quaffle and Montague and Wood raced to their goal post. I flew high above the game watching and waiting.
"Pucey has the ball he dodges Spinet and Johnson. Going in for the goal. He is going to… OH, no. He is stopped by an excellent move by keeper Oliver Wood."
"Johnson has the quaffle. Excellent chaser that girl is. She is quite attractive too."
"JORDAN!" Professor McGonagall scolded.
"Sorry Professor." Lee said. "Anyway Johnson has the quaffle passes to Spinet who puts it away nicely. Current score ten to Zero Gryffindor."
The Gryffindors cheered. "Flint has the quaffle passes Johnson and score! Slytherin and Gryffindor are now tied."
For a while no one scored until. Flint getting annoyed slammed Katie Bell when she had the quaffle. After this Lee found it hard not to take sides.
"Flint tries to kill Gryffindor chaser. Gryffindor awarded a penalty after that disgusting bit of cheating! That openly revolting foul!" Lee said.
"Jordan I am warning you." McGonagall said.
"Sorry professor." Lee said not sounding sorry at all.
"Idiot!" I hissed under my breath at Flint.
"Gryffindor made their penalty shot and are now in the lead. Twenty to ten." Lee continued.
I anxiously watched for the snitch. I saw McLagan a little below me. Looking for the snitch as well. Slytherin scored twice more and I relaxed a little.
"Flint hit in the face with a bludger. Hope it broke his nose! Just joking Professor. Gryffindor takes the Quaffle. Katie Bell flying past the Weasly's and Pucey. Blocked by Montage Montague."
I saw the snitch towards the Gryffindor end and was about to go after it. Then suddenly my broom was going higher and higher. I suddenly realized I had lost all control over it. I tried to signal to Flint, but he didn't see me. My broom was bucking like a stallion and I had a hard time staying on. I saw the crowd start to notice and a few screams reached my ear. The twins tried to pull me to safety but my broom just went higher and higher. They were circling below me now. My broom was bucking harder and harder. It finally managed to buck me of but I grabbed it with both hands. I started to panic. I was going to fall to my death. Why was my broom acting like this? I attempted several times to climb back on but it was still bucking madly. I screamed. I would never get to find out the truth about my parentage. I would never get to know him. I took a deep breath. No, I would get through this. I am the bloody girl who lived. I clung to the bucking broom for dear life.
I saw Hermione looking around frantically. Aria and Professor Snape were muttering nonstop staring at me. Hermione's eyes were scanning the stands. She started running through the stands. She knocked Professor Quirell head first into the row in front of him. She didn't even stop to apologize.
Suddenly it stopped and I was able to climb back on my broom. I let a few tears of relief escape. I wiped my face and headed to the ground extremely dizzy. I saw something gold as I neared the ground. I raced towards it just feet above the ground. As I reached out my hands to catch it and flew forward off my broom. Luckily it wasn't a far fall. I landed hard and rolled finally stopping I was dizzy. I couldn't catch my breath and felt nauseous. I put my hand over my mouth. I coughed twice and was shocked when a golden ball landed in my hand.
"Slytherin wins! Potter caught the snitch!" Lee announced shocked. "Final score 180 to 40."
Flint hoisted me up on his shoulder and the Slytherin team went wild. Slytherin house was so loud it almost drowned out Wood ranting. "She caught it with her mouth! How is that even allowed!"
Hermione looked grave as she raced onto the pitch. Aria was even looking upset by what happened. We put off talking about it as the Slytherins celebrated victory and their new lead in the house cup. The twins with the help of Aria snuck more food from the kitchens. The party lasted for hours. It was way past curfew when the common room finally emptied.
When I awoke the next morning Hermione and Aria were waiting for me in the common room with Draco.
"Are you ok?" Draco asked hugging me.
"I am fine." I said.
Aria and Hermione looked at each other. "We think we know what happened to your broom." Hermione said anxiously.
"Someone was jinxing that broom." Aria said sounding grave.
"Someone was trying to kill me?" I asked exasperated.
Hermione nodded. "The question is why?"
Draco looked uncomfortable. "Only a powerful dark wizard could have done that to a nimbus. Snape was muttering a counter curse and then Aria joined him."
"So you saying one of our teachers is trying to kill me?" I groaned. "Why does everyone want to kill me?" I sighed.
"You need to take this seriously!" Hermione said looking angry.
Draco nodded scowling. "Don't act like a bloody Gryffindork."
"I agree." Aria said. It was then that I knew this was very serious. If Aria was taking this seriously it was bad.
I took a deep breath. "Look it's not that I am not taking this seriously. If I survived Voldemort I am pretty sure I can survive one of his lackeys." I scoffed.
Draco took in a sharp breath. "That lackey almost killed you right under the headmaster's nose." He said scathingly.
Aria went pale and said quietly. "His followers can be just as bad if not worse than him."
After that we went to breakfast with an air of tension. None of us knew who had tried to kill me. It was far scarier facing an unknown enemy. During breakfast the mood was lightened when Aria's supplies came in the morning owl post.
We went back to the common room where Aria was going to explain what prank she had. The package was a plain looking box. She was rummaging through it when she suddenly pulled out a sack. She smiled wickedly. "How about we add a little color to the great hall?"
"Oh, and what will we use to do that?" Fred asked excitedly.
"These." She held up the sack. "My godfather and I invented them. They are color bombs. Once activated they go off in ten seconds. We can each roll a few to the nearest table and when they go off set off a few at our table and then we can lob them to get the furthest tables when the chaos begins." Aria explained.
I smiled. "Sounds like a brilliant idea."
"I am not doing this." Hermione said firmly.
George grinned. "I am in."
That night at dinner we set our plan into motion. We each had five color bombs. Aria and Fred started with the Hufflepuff table nearest us. Then George and I set off one at our table. Then with everyone covered in paint and the chaos beginning I lobbed one toward Ron. It exploded in his face before anyone knew what happened. The twins lobbed one each at Percy I did to. Then we all threw the rest at the staff table. The great hall looked like someone had thrown up a rainbow all over it. There was paint everywhere. When Aria said paint bomb she meant paint bomb. It covered pretty much the whole table with just one. Students were screaming. Professor Snape looked ready to kill. I had red paint on me. There was green down towards the end of the table. My father was covered in pink paint. At the sight I couldn't help but burst into laughter. Percy was covered in purple, blue and yellow paint. The headmaster was covered in a blue paint. McGonagall was covered in yellow paint. Ron was covered in a muddy brown color. Hagrid was covered in a green paint. It threw me into a fit of laughter when the words jolly green giant came to mind. Draco looked horrified. He was red and his normally slicked back hair was in a more natural state. The look on his face was priceless.
"Everyone please remain calm. We will get you all cleaned up do not worry." The headmaster said. He had a twinkle in his eye.
Several hours and lots of cleaning spells later the great hall and students were restored. The headmaster had to take a picture of everyone first. He thought it was hilarious. He had Mr. Filch take a picture and he highly disapproved but was glad he didn't have to clean the mess. He said anyone wanting a copy could stop by his office and give their name and house. Aria, Fred, George, and I all requested copies.
November rolled on and the weather became colder. There was still no lead. On the mystery person trying to get the stone or my attacker. I was never alone especially in the halls. My friends didn't want to give my attacker another shot. As December approached it was driven from our minds. Classes were continuing to get harder, and we were no closer to finding Flammel.
It was a cold Tuesday November night and we were in astronomy. We were doing our weekly star gazing and working on our star charts. I looked down to add mars when a movement by the forbidden forest caught my eye. There was a cloaked, hooded figure heading into the forest.
The next day I went to Hagrid's with Aria and Hermione. When he opened the door he looked worried.
"Hello Hagrid." I said brightly.
"Hello you lot. Come on in." He said sounding distracted.
"What's wrong Hagrid?" Hermione asked.
"Found a unicorn dead this morning." He said.
We all gasped. "What could harm a unicorn though?" Aria asked worried.
"Were wolfs?" Hermione said.
Aria scoffed and Hagrid said grimly. "Not fast enough. Unicorns are powerful magic creatures. Never know one to be hurt before."
I thought back to the cloaked figure entering the forest. Who was it? Why would they kill a unicorn? How did they kill a unicorn?
"That's really bad." Hermione said. Aria nodded.
"Did you find any clues Hagrid?" I asked.
He shook his head. "No, which worries me. Something is in the forest that shouldn't be."
This year just kept getting weirder and weirder. First the mystery person trying to steal what fluffy is guarding. Then the person trying to kill me. Now unicorns turning up dead in the forest.
"Hagrid I saw someone last night. They were heading into the forest. Could they have done this?" I asked.
"Who was it?" Hagrid asked curious.
"I don't know. I couldn't see they had their hood up." I said.
"Well, it probably just a Professor getting somthin fer class." Hagrid said but he looked worried.
After that talk turned to classes and we left. Hermione pulled us both into an empty class room.
"You saw someone go into the forest?" Hermione asked.
"Yes I did." I said.
"But who would go into the forest at night. Then suddenly a unicorn is dead. Do you think he killed it?" Aria asked brows furrowed.
"I don't know. Why would someone kill a unicorn? Why would they try to kill me? Nothing is adding up." I said.
"You are going to have to be careful. Don't go off with anyone alone." Hermione reminded me.
Aria and I headed to the Slytherin common room while Hermione went up to Gryffindor tower.
I decided I wasn't going to sit by and do nothing. I waited until Draco was talking to Crabbe and Goyle. Aria was plotting with the twins. I slipped out of the common room and not knowing where to begin headed off to find Quirell. See if I could follow him around. I wish I had the map it would help a lot. I didn't even know where his office was. Just as I was about to give up I heard footsteps behind me. A high cold voice said.
"Jamie Potter how nice to see you." I whirled around but saw no one.
My scar burned like it was on fire. I winced grabbing my forehead. I started running. I could hear whoever it was running to. I heard the cry of Stupefy. The beam narrowly missed me. I ducked behind a tapestry that held a short cut to the dungeons. I was shaking and sweating when I ran head first into someone. I screamed. Then I saw that it was Aria. She was scowling and tapping her foot.
"Where were you!" She said angrily.
"I went to try and get some answers." I said shakily.
"Are you insane!" She glared at me.
"Look I am not going to be hunted like some animal. I am going to fight back" I said.
"Not alone you're not." She said fiercely. "What happened?" She asked calming down enough to notice my shaken state.
I told her what happened and she went wide eyed. "We have to tell Hermione." She said dragging me the direction of the tower.
When we approached Gryffindor tower the fat lady was glaring at us. "What are you doing here? You are not Gryffindors." She said eyeing us.
"We need to see our friend." Aria said firmly.
"No, can do." She replied stiffly.
Just then the portrait hole swung open. "What are you doing here?" Said Ron in a scathing voice.
"We need to see Hermione." I said.
"What for?" Ron asked suspiciously.
"None of your business." Aria snapped.
"Where are your lackeys?" I said noticing Dean and Seamus absence.
"None of your business." He retorted.
"Just go get Hermione." I said getting annoyed.
"No." He said.
"Just do it before I hex you." Aria threatened.
"Fine." He snapped and went back into the common room.
"That was too easy." I said suspiciously.
We waited and waited and no one came out. Finally, we gave up and went back to the Dungeons.
"Bet you he didn't tell her." I muttered angrily.
"When I get my hands on him." Aria said her grey eyes growing stormy.
Fred and George beaconed us over once we finally made it back to the common room.
"Hey where have you to been?" They asked.
"Waiting on your idiot brother to get Hermione but he never did." Aria said annoyed.
Fred rolled his eyes. "Ickle Ronnikins can be a pain." He said.
"Yea but he is easy to scare." George said grinning.
"Really? How do you scare him?" Aria said grinning wickedly. I knew that look meant Ron was going to pay dearly.
"Well, one time…" Fred began.
"Ronnikins broke my broom." George said.
"Naturally we had to teach him a lesson." Fred said.
"So we turned his teddy into a spider." George said laughing.
"To this day he is petrified of spiders." Fred said grinning.
"Do you know where I can get a spider?" Aria said excitedly.
"Lee has a giant tarantula." George said smiling.
"Think he would let me borrow it?" Aria said grinning wickedly.
Fred shrugged. "Probably."
I shook my head, but I couldn't help but laugh. When I imagined Ron's face. The next morning, we told Hermione what happened. She was very deep in thought. Aria asked Lee to borrow his tarantula and he agreed.
We walked to the Slytherin table. Aria was in a very good mood. That night the twins leant us the map and we met Lee outside the portrait hole. He handed Aria the box with the tarantula.
"Mind letting us in?" Aria asked sweetly.
"Of course my ladies." He said. He gave her the password. Fortuna Major. Have asleep she didn't realize we were there. She let us in. "Which is the boys side?" Aria asked eagerly. The common room was dimly lit. It was large and circular. There was a roaring fire and several huge windows. Instead of the black and green of the dungeon it was all red and gold. It made it very friendly and bright. We slowly silently went towards the back where the staircases were. We went up the left until we saw First years. We quietly opened the door. There were four four-posters we found the one with Ron's trunk at the end. I gently pulled back the curtains. Aria opened the box and levitated the tarantula onto Ron's face. I let the curtains fall and we slipped out of the room. Lee was waiting for us at the bottom.
"It's on Ron's face." Aria giggled.
Suddenly a high pitched shriek filled Gryffindor tower. Aria and bolted through the portrait hole. We stopped in a small enclave and activated the map. Our path was clear so we ran straight to the dungeons panting the password we collapsed rolling with laughter on the floor.