It didn't take long for rumors to begin flooding the halls about Addie White and George Weasley. The two pretended to ignore the stares and whispers each time George came up behind Addie as she sat by the fire, and Addie avoided Parvati and Lavender each time they approached her, giggling, after he left. The general consensus was that Addie, heartbroken after Harry's rejection, had settled on George as a means of coping. And, as they often say, the truth hurts the most.

It wasn't that Addie didn't like George, in fact, it was exactly the opposite. The couple had even taken to being partners at D.A meetings, a fact that Addie could sense Fred was not happy about. George made her laugh, and was constantly considerate and loving, he just wasn't Harry. Each time Addie looked into his round hazel eyes she couldn't help but transform them into piercing green ones. Each time his red hair glistened in the winter sun, Addie couldn't help but wonder how it would look if it were jet black. The more time she spent with George, the more she wished he were Harry.

She also knew that she could fit in with George's friends. Fred and Lee were friends of her in their own right, and the girls from the Quidditch team had warmed up to Addie since they had seen how well she played. She felt able to laugh and make jokes and ask questions without fear of interrupting or being reprimanded. Even still, Harry's green eyes pierced through every conversation with George. Each time she saw him across the common room, whispering with Ron and Hermione, she longed to be apart of the conversations she claimed to despise.

The more Addie went to D.A meetings, the more infatuated she became. She watched as he led her fellow classmates, and wished she could tell him how impressed she was with his knowledge and skill, but every time she opened her mouth, Cho was a step ahead. Addie wished she could make Harry flush red and tug at his collar with a simple, "Hello," the way that Cho did. She wished that he would leave the D.A meetings and repeat her compliments to Ron and Hermione by the fire, but she knew she couldn't do any of those things. She wasn't even a friend that Harry could confide in any more, just an acquaintance.

With George it was different. Addie saw George redden as she smiled at him, and watched him ruffle his hair each time she shouted a compliment across the room. He brought her small tokens of his affection, whether it be food he stole from the kitchens, or a particularly pretty flower he saw outside. Addie knew that George's attention was on her when she spoke, unlike Harry, whose eyes gazed far beyond their conversations.

"So Addie," George said, kneeling down next to her chair, "we have a big game with Slytherin a week from today."

"Yes George," Addie laughed, "I'm well aware."

"Well I was err—well I was wondering," The common room went silent, "If maybe you'd like to well…err…celebrate with me afterward. When we win I mean…"

"Well isn't that the plan already?" Addie asked. "I mean Fred was talking about smuggling up some butterbeers and…"

"No," George inturrupted, "I mean…just you and me."

"Oh!" She replied stupidly.

"Well…" She looked around. All eyes were on her and George. She sighed. She couldn't reject him in front of the entire Gryffindor common room, and Fred's words repeated themselves in her thoughts.

He does deserve a shot.

"That would be great, actually." Addie smiled.

George smiled broadly and his eyes twinkled, "You won't regret this, Addie. I know you won't."

"George," Addie said quietly, "I think everyone is staring at us."

"Oh…" He said, looking around the room.

"Right," he cleared his throat, "after the game then…"

"After the game…" Addie smiled.

D.A meetings were put on hold as the Quidditch season drew near. Addie kept the charmed coin in her pocket at all times, hoping to feel its warmth through her clothes and know there would be another meeting. Addie had noticed that the less she saw of the D.A, the less she saw of Harry, and she couldn't help but long for another meeting just to hear him clear his throat from the front of the room once more.

There were, of course, Quidditch practices, but they were hardly the time for flirtation. Even George put his interest in Addie on hold during Quidditch practices, which had grown more frequent and more intense. Ron continued with little improvement, and though Addie tried to encourage him, Fred and George's jokes over powered any compliment she gave.

Even the teachers had begun to get into the Quidditch spirit. Professor McGonagall mysteriously didn't give out homework the weeks leading up to the game, and Professor Snape, in his traditional way, refused to hear accusations of Slytherin attacks on Gryffindor players.

The Slytherin attacks grew worse as the game approached, and in the few days before the game no Gryffindor would be caught dead in the hallways without a companion. Unfortunately for Addie, the Thursday before the game was about to take place she found herself rushing from her dormitory to class without any accompaniment down the deserted third floor corridor.

Addie hadn't thought about Draco in quite some time. He had stayed out of her life, for the most part, after thair last encounter and she had been happier for the loss of him. Once the game between Gryffindor and Slyther approached, however, Addie found that Draco returned with a full force. He was the puppet-master behind the Slytherin attacks, and Addie couldn't go one Quidditch practice without Draco and his cronies shouting at the team from the stands. They did, however, seem to leave Addie alone. While other team members were berated with insults (Ron in particular), Addie was left alone. In fact, Addie had not been the subject of an attack until that fateful Thursday when she found herself alone on the third floor.

As Addie hurried down the long, empty corridor she felt her bag split in two. Her belongings scattered on the floor with a crash and she muttered a curse under her breath as she rushed to clean them up.

She felt someone walk up behind her, and hoped it was someone who could help her pick up her things. Instead, it was Draco Malfoy. He placed a cold hand on her shoulder and whispered in her ear, "Look who I've found."

"Let go Malfoy." Addie spat.

"Aww she's frightened." He laughed.

"If you know what's good for you—"

"Trying to defend yourself?" He laughed again.

She plunged her hand into her pocket where her wand lay dormant.

"One,"

"And now she's trying to scare me."

"Two,"

"Uh oh I hope she doesn't get to three."

She flipped her brown hair out of her eyes and wrenched Malfoy's arm behind his back, placing her wand under his chin.

"Three,"

One blast from her wand and Malfoy was left sprawled on the cold stone floor.

"I could blow your brains out right now and not think twice about it." Addie whispered, holding her wand up to his temple.

Malfoy stared wide-eyed at her, his vocal chords frozen with a mixture of shock and fear.

"If you ever try to attack me again Draco Malfoy I'll have you hanging naked from the ceiling and I will not let you down."

She removed her wand from under his chin and he sat upright.

"Good luck at the game on Sunday," Addie winked, as she continued to hurry down the hallway to Transfiguration, knowing she was at least five minutes late.

Draco, however, was not finished with Addie. As soon as he had regained his strength he had run to catch up with her, his grey eyes following her the entire way.

"What?" Addie sighed, not allowing her quick pace to falter under Malfoy's gaze.

"You're perfect." He said. "You're perfect for me. You're smart, independent, strong, and beautiful." He grabbed her hand. "Why don't you see that we belong together Addie?"

"I already told you Draco," Addie said, finally stopping. "You've changed. You're nasty, you're evil, you're selfish, and you're conniving."

"I can change." He pleaded. "Please give me a chance. I'll change."

"Prove it." She said quietly, and then ran into the Transfiguration room without another word.

xxx

Addie woke up the day of her first Quidditch match ready to win. She was ready to show the rest of the school that she was worth more than a pretty face. She was ready to show them that she was a Chaser, and a damn good chaser at that. She hardly bothered to tame her morning hair before running down to the Great Hall to meet with Ron and Harry.

"Ready to win today guys?" Addie asked cheerfully.

"I think I'm going to be sick." Ron mumbled.

He looked like he was going to be sick. His cheeks were marked with a strange green tinge and the pupils of his eyes were small. He seemed terrified. Addie knew that it was his confidence that would be the downfall of the Gryffindor team.

"Ron," Addie began carefully, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder, "You're a good Keeper. You'll be fine."

"No I'm not." He said shakily. "I'm terrible."

"Don't think that way, Ron!" Addie cried. "If you tell yourself you're the best then you'll be the best."

"I—is that w—what you do?" he asked staring at his hands.

A broad, confident smile spread across Addie's face, "I don't think I'm the best. I know I'm the best."

Suddenly, Addie felt a decisive finger tapping her shoulder. She turned to see a pale girl with large, quizzical eyes standing behind her. Addie recognized the girl from D.A meetings and school-wide rumors. The girl was Luna Lovegood, and as Addie's eyes roamed from the top of Luna's lion-shaped hat to her mismatched socks, she couldn't help but feel the rumors were true.

Luna smiled, tapped the hat with her wand and it promptly roared loudly. Addie covered her ears and grimaced, but quickly put on a fake smile as she looked over to see that Harry, at least, was amused.

"Wonderful isn't it?" She smiled dreamily. "I'm supporting Gryffindor today."

"Really," Addie muttered, "Never would have guessed…"

Luna paid no attention to Addie's snide comment, but smiled graciously at Ron and wished him luck before floating back toward the Ravenclaw table.

Angelina appeared shortly after Luna's departure to round up the Gryffindor players in order to head down to the pitch. Ron turned an even darker shade of green as he pushed his full plate away from him and slumped toward the Quidditch pitch. Harry and Addie followed close behind, but not before Hermione caught up with them and whispered in both their ears.

"Do not let Ron see what's on the Slytherin's badges."

"Have a good game Ron." She paused for a moment, and then leaned in to kiss him on the cheek, "And that goes for you two as well."

Ron held his cheek where Hermione kissed him all the way down to the pitch. It was lucky, Addie thought, that he had been so mesmerized by Hermione's kiss, because Slytherin badges had flooded the hallway.

"Weasley is our King." They read.

The badges set off a fire in Addie. She had woken up ready to win for her own reputation, but now she was also ready to win for Ron's. Each flash of a Slytherin badge solidified Addie's goal in her mind. She knew that Gryffindor was going to win, and when they did, she intended to take her gloating as far as she could imagine.

"Alright everyone," Angelina said, "Let's go out there and do our best."

Addie held her head up high, and took that final moment to pull her thick brown hair back into a bun. She placed her goggles on her face, slung her broom over her shoulder, and walked confidently out onto the pitch. As soon as she arrived, the crowd went wild. It was Addie White's first real game of Quidditch, and everyone in the stands wanted to know exactly what she was made of.

As the rest of the Gryffindor team lined up next to her, she took a moment to take in the shear size of the Slytherin team. She had seen each of them individually before, and marveled at their size, but standing together the Slytherin team posed a formidable foe. The Captain, who was called Montague, was a burley seventh year who looked as though he could snap a muggle car in half. He winked at Angelina as she took her place in line, and Addie noticed Angelina's facial muscles tighten. Any attention from Montague was attention a girl didn't need. He took his place across from Ron and smiled vindictively. He opened the front of his Gryffindor robes to show a "Weasley is our King" button pinned to his sweater. Addie noticed Ron's face redden as he saw the buttons for the first time. Crabbe and Goyle, the beaters, were just as big and, from what Addie had seen, dumber than a confounded troll even when put together. They stood opposite the Weasley twins and attempted to look tough while clearly overwhelmed by their surroundings. A Quidditch game, Addie imagined, was far too much for Crabbe and Goyle's combined brainpower. She smiled as she thought of the swift and precise partnership between Fred and George. She wasn't worried about Crabbe and Goyle. The three Slytherin Chasers, each as ugly as the one before, stood opposite Addie, Angelina, and Alicia, and anyone who could have gotten a good look would have seen that it truly was a battle between beauty and brawn. Malfoy, of course, stood in the middle of all of them opposite Harry. He was the only member of the team who didn't far exceed six feet in height and looked puny compared to his team members, but Addie wasn't fooled. She had known Draco since she was two and he was a Seeker in every sense of the word. Addie hoped that Harry's game-time abilities lived up to their legacy.

As soon as Madam Hooch blew the whistle and the ball was released Addie had launched herself into the air. Tiny tendrils of brown hair were loosened in the wind and Addie's cape whipped behind her as she began to circle the field.

"And its Johnson, Johnson with the Quaffle, what a player that girl is, I've been saying it for years and she still won't go out with me—"

"She's ducked under Warrington—she flies past Montague—Ouch hit by a bludger by new Slytherin beater Crabbe—Montague makes a move for the Quaffle and—"

Addie recognized an opening when she saw one. She flew quickly toward where the Quaffle had fallen and snatched it only moments before Montague.

"Excellent steal by Gryffindor's new Chaser Addie White—another attractive girl to add to the Gryffindor line-up—don't get any ideas folks rumor has it she's meeting George Wea—oh sorry Professor—Addie reverse passes to Alicia Spinnet and Spinnet's tearing down the field."

Addie followed close behind Alicia, who was being tailed by both Crabbe and Goyle. After avoiding two stray bludgers, and realizing that Alicia was a competent player on her own, Addie slowed her pace.

"—Spinnet dodges Warrinton expertly avoiding a Bludger—and the crowd seems to be singing—what is that?"

A song was rising from the Slytherin side of the stands.

Weasley cannot save a thing,

He cannot block a single ring

That's why Slytherins all sing

Weasley is our King,

"—and the Quaffle is passed from Angelina to Addie who is now tearing down to the Slytherins goal post—look at her go!"

Addie, motivated by the Slytherin song, tucked the Quaffle under her arm and made a straight shot for the Slytherin goal.

"—She shoots—she—SCORES!" Lee shouted over the Slytherin singing.

"—ten points for Gryffindor and that was the first goal made by new chaser Addie White."

Addie, always in the mood for theatrics, took a moment to smile at the cheering crowd. It was a moment too long, however, and she suddenly found herself hanging from her broom, having been unseated by a bludger.

"Damn," She muttered to herself as Alicia flew by to pick up the Quaffle.

"—Addie White unseated by a bludger hit by Goyle—can she get back on her broom?" Lee was only able to thinly veil the anxiety in his voice and the Slytherin signing got louder.

"—it seems like the end of the game for Addie."

Addie looked across the field and saw Ron struggling to guard the three goals. She knew that the Gryffindor team needed every player it had to counteract Slytherin's underhanded attack on Ron. With a strength she didn't know she had, Addie hoisted herself back up onto her broom, and moved quickly toward the Quaffle.

"—and it's Warringon with the Quaffle, Warrington's out of the bludger range now with only Ron Weasley, Gryffindors' new Keeper to stop him—"

As Warrington grew closer, the Slytherin singing grew louder, and Addie made a mental note to hex every last one of them once the game had ended.

"—Warrington shoots—"

"Come on Ron." She said quietly.

"—Warrington scores!—better luck next time Ron—"

Addie knew then that she would need to score twice for each Quaffle that got passed Ron. She shot, she scored, she passed, she dodged both bludgers and Slytherins, and at one point she punched Adrien Pucey in the stomach. Angelina and Alicia were more than capable counterparts, and with their help Addie and the other Chasers were able to keep up with the rapid succession of the Slytherin's goals, but they could not beat them.

Addie hadn't paid much attention to Harry for most of the game. The Chasers and Seeker rarely mix, and Addie had been so fixated on making up for Ron's losses that she had almost forgot about the Snitch until Harry flew past her, with Malfoy on his tail.

They've seen it. She thought.

Everyone stopped playing. The Quaffle remained safely in Addie's arms. Malfoy was only a hair behind Harry. Harry took his hand off his broom and reached it out toward the snitch. Addie closed her eyes out of fear. There was a roar of approval from the Gryffindor side and when Addie opened her eyes he was holding the snitch high above his head. Then, suddenly, he had fallen off his broom. A brown bludger flew off into the distance and Addie saw Crabbe, floating behind where Harry had been, looking murderous. Madam Hooch blew her whistle and Crabbe was ordered to report to her office once all the players had reached the ground.

"Are you alright?" Addie asked Harry once she had dismounted her broom.

"Yeah I'm fine." He said breathlessly as he struggled to sit up.

"It was that moron Crabbe" Angelina informed them, "He hit you right after you got the Snitch, but that doesn't matter because we won Harry! We won!"

Addie heard and indignant snort and saw Malfoy leaning up against the stands behind them, malice twinkling in his grey eyes.

"Saved Weasley's neck didn't you Potter?" He spat. "He must be the worst Keeper that ever existed. Though he was, born in a bin, did you like my lyrics?"

Addie opened her mouth to speak but she felt a warm hand grab her wrist. She looked up to see Harry staring down at her with is green, imploring eyes, and felt a hot flash come over her whole body.

"Just don't say anything." Harry whispered. He turned toward the other team members to continue the celebration, but his eyes lingered on Ron who was walking alone toward the changing room.

"We wanted to add a couple of verses!" Malfoy called as Harry and Addie posed for a picture. "But we couldn't find anything to rhyme with fat and ugly—you know—about his mother"

"Ignore him." Addie said, more to herself than anyone else.

"—we couldn't fit in anything about being a useless loser either—obviously about his father—"

In a moment, Fred and George lunged. Angelina and Alicia scrambled quickly to get a hold of Fred, while Harry and Addie were left with the daunting task of restraining George.

"—but you like the Weasleys, don't you, Potter?" Malfoy sneered. "Can't see how you stand the smell, but then again you were raised by muggles so even the Weasley's house must smell okay—"

Addie felt her mouth drop as she realized exactly how cruel Malfoy could be. Her eyes narrowed as she stood across from her childhood friend, now bitter enemies.

"Don't listen to him." Addie whispered quickly in George's ear. "You're so much better than that."

"Or maybe…" Malfoy started up again, "you can remember what your mother's house smelled like Potter, and that cheap excuse for a home the Weasley's live in reminds you of it."

Harry let go of George almost the instant the words had left Malfoy's lips. Addie, without Harry's help, was useless against George's strength and she watched as the two scrambled to get to Malfoy first.

"And then there's you Addie." Draco called, as he ducked attacks from both Harry and George. "Your family's no better is it? Now that I think about it, a Malfoy being seen with a White is a disgrace. As if I, the son of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, could ever be seen in public with the bastard daughter of some Quidditch no-name."

Addie felt the world around her fade. All she could see was the space between herself and Malfoy, and all she could think about was how quickly that space could be overcome. Her fists felt hot as she took off in the direction of the stands, pushing Colin Creevey out of the way just to get a chance at hurting Malfoy. Before she had even laid a hand on him, she felt a force far greater than her own pull her back toward the pitch, and she looked up to see Madam Hooch, wand in hand, looking down at her. It took her a moment to realize that Harry and George were seated on either side of her, and she took comfort in knowing she wasn't alone.

"Never in all my years at Hogwarts have I EVER seen behavior like this." She cried. "Get up to your head of houses office this instant!"

Addie turned back toward where they had attacked Malfoy and saw him laying in a pathetic puddle on the ground. She smiled knowing that they had beaten him, and that he wouldn't be that smug again for a long time. Harry, George, and Addie were all told to report straight to Professor Mcgonagall's office and with every step they took the severity of what they had done sunk in further.

"In!" She cried angrily, indicating three seats in front of her desk.

"I have never been more ashamed of a Gryffindor in all my life. Three of you attacking one member of the opposite team—explain yourselves."

"We were provoked." Harry mumbled. "Malfoy insulted my mother."

"He insulted my family." George snarled.

"He insulted my—my—patronage." Addie said in an attempt to be diplomatic.

"You should have left it to a teacher to sort out!" She scolded, "You have brought disgrace onto your entire—"

hem hem

Dolores Umbridge stood in the doorway. She wore a sickeningly green coat and the same wide smile that Addie had now come to associate with dispair.

"May I be of assistance, Professor?" She asked sweetly. "I thought you would like some extra authority."

Professor McGonagall's face flushed and her eyes narrowed as she stared at Umbridge, "You were mistaken."

She turned back toward the three delinquents.

"All three of you get a weeks worth of detentions, and do not try to get out of it!"

"I think they deserve much more than detention." Umbridge offered.

"Yes but it's what I think that matters, Dolores." McGonagall spat.

"Actually Minerva" Umbridge smiled, "This new decree from the Minister would prove that what I think does count. It says quite clearly here in Educational Decree Number Twenty-five that I have supreme authority over all punishments."

McGonagall sighed and Harry, George, and Addie collectively slumped in their chairs. Whatever was to come next would be far worse than they had anticipated.

"Obviously I was right in not wanting to let the Gryffindor team reform. They're all on quite short fuses if you ask me. Now, I have decided it would be best if we placed a life-long ban from Quidditch."

"A…life long ban?" Addie asked quietly.

"Yes, Mrs. White, a life-long ban." Umbridge simpered. "It's all too bad you had to get mixed up in this. You had so much potential to do well."

Addie, regaining her signature wit quickly, responded with a smile, "Actually, professor, I would say I did a pretty good job on Mr. Malfoy."

"Ah, yes I suppose you would think that." She said her eyes narrowing but smile staying intact. "I will want your broomsticks confiscated. Oh and before I forget, just to be safe, we'll ban this young man's twin as well. Why, if he hadn't been held back, he would have attacked Mr. Malfoy as well!" She smiled again, "Goodnight professor."

The three defeated former athletes left Professor McGonagall's room without a doubt that the ban would be enforced, and without a doubt that there was nothing they, or anyone else, could do about it.

George paused for a moment, and locked eyes with Addie quickly before allowing a small smile to pass across his face.

"Harry, can you tell the rest of the Gryffindors what happened?" George asked.

Harry looked puzzled, "Why aren't you two coming with m—?"

His eyes passed between George and Addie and his eyes grew even more defeated.

"Alright," He said quietly, "You two have fun."

He walked slowly down the hall, and once he was out of ear shot George turned and took Addie's hand.

"Addie," He looked her directly in the eyes, "I'm not letting Umbridge ruin our plans."

"Are you sure you want to do this tonight?" She asked, "I mean….I'm still in my Quidditch robes and…"

"Now or never Addie," George said, "Now or never…."