November came and the school was covered in a light layer of snow. Being distracted by school work and self-proclaimed Huntress or Peacemaker duties, Liz nor Nikki ever got revenge on Malfoy on Halloween. So, one of the Ravenclaws decided to do it today.
Right now.
Liz shushed the creature down and looked over to see Draco too busy talking to the other Slytherins to notice her. Liz slowly slipped the white animal and it squeaked before burrowing down the blonde's satchel.
Liz smirked to herself as Professor McGonagall walked into the class, "Quiet down, quiet down, all of you."
The class was silent as the green lady scanned her sharp gaze over the class, "Now, open your books to page 536. Today, we will be discussing--"
Just then, a high pitched scream filled the room and the class looks to see that the source was Draco Malfoy, standing on top the desk as he clutched the ends of his robes and pointed to his bag, "DEMON!"
Liz's shoulders shook with laughter as she watched Professor McGonagall glide to where Malfoy was, "Mr. Malfoy, come down from there this instance," her voice said.
"I'm not getting down here till that...that.. that animal is away from me," Malfoy retorted back and Liz's eyebrow quirked in thought and her smirk turned into a smile. "Malfoy, how dare you call me an animal?" Liz said with fake hurt lacing in her voice and forced a frown, laughter still bubbling in her chest.
His grey eyes moved over toward her and he glared, "You. You did this, didn't you, you filthy--"
"Enough! I will not allow disrespect amongst students in my class. Ten points from Slytherin and a detention for Mr. Malfoy. Now, sit down," Professor McGonagall yelled and Malfoy looked down at the ground then glared at Liz before slowly seating himself, him nor his rodes touching the ground and his bag was abandoned.
Liz couldn't wipe the smile off her face for the rest of the class, even when the professor gave the class an writing assignment about today's lesson that had to be at least thirty inches long. Once they were released, Liz practical ran to the Great Hall, excited to tell the others about her victory in pranking Malfoy.
Liz took her seat next to Ron, who began to fill her plate with mashed potatoes, "You won't believe what happen in Transfiguration."
"You sound happy about it," Harry said, noticing that Nikki wasn't filling his plate like she normally does.
"Yeah, I--"
Liz was cut off by another voice, "May I sit with you?"
The group looks to see Hermione standing nervously with some books clutched to her chest.
"Why didn't you sit with us before? Lion, you asked her to sit with us, right?" Nikki asked, speaking for the first time since Liz sat.
"Um, he did but I was really nervous so.." Hermione didn't finish her sentence. Liz gave her a blank stare.
"Did you apologize to Harry yet?"
Hermione jumped at the sound of her voice and her eyes widen, looking at Liz then at Harry. "I'm sorry, Harry. Elizabeth and Nicole made me realize what I did was wrong. What happened was something that I have no right to speak of. Can you please forgive me?"
Harry nodded, "Of course."
Liz smiled and moved over to make for Hermione, who sat down next to her.
"You can call us Liz and Nikki, by the way. Or by our nicknames, Huntress and Peacemaker," Liz said, taking a bite into her mashed potatoes.
"We also call Harry, Lion and Ron, Ginger," Nikki continued with excitement. Then she realized something. "Oh, we need to pick a nickname for you."
"Anything, but Princess,"
..oOo...
"So, what were guys talking about?" Hermione asked as she placed her books on the table and placed some drumsticks onto her plate.
"Okay, I got Malfoy in Transfiguration today. You should've seen his face." Liz began to tell her story and Harry looks down to see his plate still empty.
"You're not going to fix my plate?" He asked Nikki with a raised eyebrow. The said girl didn't seem to hear him. She was looking into thin air with a frown, lost in thought.
"Pretty Bird?" Asked Harry in concern. He shook her lightly by the shoulder.
"What?" Nikki replied as her head snapped over to him. She looked startled.
"Something wrong?"
"It's nothing."
"Pretty Bird..."
"My parents sent me a letter this morning," Nikki said in a glum tone. "They heard about me being friends with Liz."
Harry winced. "What did they say?"
"They're fine with it, really," Nikki smiled briefly before returning to her frown. "But Theo and Pansy aren't as forgiving."
"Those were your...friends right?" asked Harry with a frown of his own. He didn't like that Nikki was feeling guilty for those snakes.
The Ravenclaw nodded. "Pansy and Theo have been with me through childhood. It hurts that they ignore me in class. I do understand where they're coming from, but still."
Harry patted her shoulder in comfort. "Don't mind them then, Pretty Bird. If they can't accept that you can make your own choice of friends, then they're not worth your time."
"It still hurts."
"It will. But you'll have us standing behind you to help."
Nikki smiled lightly and asked, "Always?"
Harry smiles back and replied, "Always."
From across from them, Hermione curiously asked, "Are the two of them dating?"
"Yes," was the reply chorused from Ron and Liz.
"NO!" came from Harry and Nikki.
"So what's the answer?" asked Hermione innocently.
...oOo...
Liz and Nikki were relaxing in the Ravenclaw common room, both with a book in their hands and sat close by the fire. Liz was lying on the royal blue and silver rug, looking up at her book about the basics of Quidditch and watched as the different players flew from page to page.
Nikki sat on one of the blue couches with a book about muggle everyday life, "Liz what is a... telepown?" Nikki asked, looking over the book toward the girl on the ground.
"Telephone? It's something muggles use to talk to each other when they're far away. My mum usually uses ours to talk to gossip with the other ladies in the neighborhood," Liz explained as the page showed the design of the Snitch.
"Huntress, Peacemaker," someone said. They looked over to see fellow first-year, Michael Barnes standing behind the couch that Nikki was sitting on, "Harry, Hermione, and Ron are waiting by the knocker. They said that they're going for a walk out in the courtyard and ask if you wanted to come."
Liz placed a scrap of parchment on the spot where she stopped and shut the book. "Tell them that we'll be out in five minutes," Nikki said, folding a corner in her book before shutting it and standing.
"Thanks, Barnes," Liz yelled over her shoulder as she stood and walked toward the girls' dorms.
The girls quickly bundled up in heavy robes, scarves, earmuffs, and gloves then walked out to the house to see their three Gryffindor friends waiting.
The group chattered amongst each other outside the school and Hermione created a small blue flame in a jar for them to stay warm as they stood in a small huddle. The sound of footsteps crunching the snow was made known and the group looks to see their least favorite teacher moving across the courtyard.
Liz slipped the jar behind her as Snape noticed them and made his way over to them. Nikki noticed that instead of his normal calculated steps that he was limping.
Stopping in front of them, he stared at each student before his gaze landed on Liz, "Causing any trouble, Miss Myers?" he drawled and Liz shrugs her shoulders, "Nah, saving that energy for cheering at tomorrow's Quidditch game."
He stared at her for a few seconds before looking over to Harry, "What's that you've got there, Potter?" Snape asked, snatching the book before Harry could answer, "Library books are not to be taken outside the school. Five points from Gryffindor."
He gave a last look over the group before limping away with his arms crossed behind him and the book in his hands, as if taunting them.
Liz dropped the jar and quickly dug into the snow, making a snowball and was about to throw it at the potions teacher, but Nikki knocked it out of Liz's hand with a scowl.
"Should've let her, Nikki. We all know he just made that rule up," Harry said angrily.
"I know, but he was limping and I felt a bit sorry for him," Nikki said and Harry looked at her, "You saw that too? Wonder what's wrong with his leg?"
"Dunno, but I hope it's really hurting him," Ron said bitterly.
"Agreed," Liz said, the bitterness of her tone the same as Ron.
"Want to head to the common room?" Hermione asked, looking away from the direction where Snape limped.
"Good idea. Snape's probably going to come back and find another reason to take points," Ron said.
"Would you two like to come?" Harry asked the Ravenclaw girls
"Are we allowed to?" Liz asked as they walked toward the castle.
"I don't think it really matters. We're inviting you and it's not like we're giving you the password." Hermione stated and Ron added, "Plus, the house likes you guys. You two are almost as popular as Harry."
"Why?" Nikki asked.
"Well, the house and Liz both share a dislike for Slytherins and she always stands up to them. They really respect her." Liz felt her face heat up a bit. She stands up to the Slytherins because they're bullies and it's wrong, not to become popular.
"And the house likes how Nikki is very nice and helpful to everyone. They said because of her that they were able to pass some of their potions test." Nikki saw some Gryffindors struggling in the library so she afforded to help.
Nikki hid her red face in Harry's shoulder, but the action caused him to blush as well.
"We'll go, I guess. It's not like we have anything better to do," Liz answered and the two ravens followed the trio of lions to their house.
When they stopped at a fat lady portrait, Nikki and Liz plugged their ears with their fingers as Ron said the password and they walked in.
The Gryffindor common room was very noisy compared to the quiet Ravenclaw's as Gryffindors from different years crowded the common room. The girls in blue were easily noticed by others but were greeted by small waves or simple 'hello's.
The group sat by a window that had a tiny table near it, small puffs of snow dancing in the wind outside. Hermione, Nikki, and Harry took a seat on a chair while Liz decide to sit on top the table and Ron sat on the ground. Hermione began to check Harry's charms homework while Liz was checking Ron's.
"Bloody hell, Ginger. Your grammar is awful," Liz mumbled as she placed several commas and fixed three run on sentences.
Harry continued to stare at the oak table while his leg bounce in restlessness. Nikki noticed Harry's behavior and placed a gentle hand on the nervous knee, "Lion, are you okay?"
Harry looked to see his friend, who was looking back with an expression of concern, "Yeah, I'm fine. It's just that the book Professor Snape took helped with taking my mind off the Quidditch match tomorrow."
"Can't you get it back? I mean, you did check it out under your name, so he has to give it back. Maybe you just have to ask for to back?" Nikki offered and Harry gave her a smile.
"Worth a try."
Harry left the common room after telling the others where he was off to.
"Oye, Ginger." Ron looked up to see his parchment land onto his lap, "Your grammar is awful. I'm pretty sure some brain cells bloody died after reading that thing," Liz said, rubbing her forehead with a groan.
"Hey, it is not that bad."
"No, it's terrible."
"At least I know it."
"Sure, because you need a cauldron in a Charms class," Liz said sacrastly.
"I needed some inches, okay?"
Before the two could begin to bicker, Harry came running into the common room, "Guess what I saw?"
Harry explained everything about Snape, the cut on his leg and the three-headed dog in a hushed whisper and the other first years' eyes grew to the size of saucers.
"He tried to get passed the dog on Halloween. Ron and I saw him before we went into the bathroom-- he's after what's under the door. I bet you my broomstick he let that troll in, to make a diversion."
Hermione tried to argue, but Ron stopped her. "I think I agree with Princess on this guys," Liz mumbled and the boys looked at her with looks of shock.
"Huntress, do you even hear yourself? This is Professor Snape we're talking. The guy who gives you at least three detentions a week."
"Listen, I don't like the guy either, but it's too risky. A troll rooming around the school and with teachers and students running in chaos, he could've easily gotten caught," Liz explained.
An idea popped in her head and Nikki added on, "Plus, he could go at night like we did and not get caught. We were almost caught because of Malfoy, but Professor Snape could easily lie and say that he patrolling for students sneaking around."
"Even if that's true, which it's probably not, what's he after? What's that dog guarding?" Ron asked and the group was silent.
...oOo...
The next day, the Gryffindor Quidditch team left the Great Hall after eating breakfast and the rest of the school made their way toward the large stadium with stands high up in the air and banners with house colors in certain parts of it. There was also a teachers and visitors sections for others to see.
Today was the Quidditch match. Gryffindors versus Slytherins.
Liz was really excited to see how Quidditch is played while Nikki was nervous about the high possibility that someone was going to die today.
"You guys are sitting with us, right?" Hermione asked and Liz nodded, "Of course, we are." Liz dragged Nikki, who dragged her feet as they took the stairs up and the group join other Gryffindor first years Seamus, Neville, and Dean, who greeted them. "Hello, Liz and Nikki," Neville said and they returned the greeting as a large sheet was being tied to the stands.
"The Gryffindors thought it was a good idea to make a banner for Harry, since it's his first game," Ron explained and Hermione performed a spell, saying it makes the paint flash different colors.
"This is really cool," Liz said, leaning over the railing to look at flashing banner and Nikki grabbed onto the Huntress' robes, pulling her back before she fell to her death.
"Can you not? I would like not to worry about both you and Harry falling to your deaths." Nikki said harshly and Liz plopped down with a frown, "Harry is not going to fall, Nikki. You saw him at flying lessons and I doubt Professor McGonagall would actually put him on the team without good reason."
"Still, accidents happen," Nikki mumbled as Liz pulled out a chocolate frog and grabbed the sadden girl's hand, placing it into her hand, "Here, chocolate makes everything better."
"You know that's not true," Nikki said and Liz gave her a raised eyebrow, "You do want it or no? Because I'll gladly take it back." Liz reached for the frog and Nikki slapped the hand, "Mine."
Liz smiled and pulled out her own, taking a bite as they waited for the match to begin.
"Here they come!" Dean yelled and the girls looked down to see people in red walked onto the field as Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws, and Gryffindors cheered them on.
As the team in green came onto the field, most of the crowd booed except the Slytherins. Madam Hooch stood in the middle of the field and spoke to both team captains, Marcus Flint and Oliver Wood, before they mounted their brooms and took off into the air.
Liz watched as the chasers began to throw the quaffle between each other while Nikki watched Harry, who was above the other players and looked more like a bird or speck in the air.
Lee Jordan was doing the commentary, but neither girls were listening. They cheered as Gryffindors scored and a voice spoke, "Budge up there, move along."
"Hagrid!" Hermione said and a large man squeezed beside the group with a pair of binoculars hanging around his neck.
"Hello, girls. My name's Hagrid," the large man and stuck out his large hand toward the Ravenclaw girls.
"Hello, Hagrid. My name is Nicole Collins," Nikki said with a kind smile and shook his hand. Liz followed suit after her, "Myers. Elizabeth Myers."
"Ah, so yer two 're the Huntress and Peacemaker of Hogwarts, eh?" The two nodded when something Lee Jordan said caught everyone's attention, "Was that the Snitch?"
They look back to see Harry diving downward followed by the Slytherins' Seeker, Terence Higgs, but Harry was much faster. Out nowhere, Flint blocked Harry on purpose and the Gryffindors yelled out in anger.
Liz and even Nikki were angry at the move he pulled and Madam Hooch called a foul before yelling at Flint, who acted like he didn't know. "Send him off, ref! Red card!" Dean yelled and Ron looked at him perplexed.
He explained about the ways of soccer to Ron and Hagrid agreed, "They oughta change the rules. Flint coulda knocked Harry outta the air."
"Something's wrong with Harry," Nikki said, pointing the small dot that was moving every which way. "Dunno what Harry thinks he's doing," Hagrid mumbled and pulled his binoculars to his face, "If I didn't know better, I'd say he'd lost control of his broom... but he can't have.."
"Harry!" Nikki yelled as Harry looked as if he was going to fall off his broom.
"Flint must've bloody done something when he blocked Harry. I mean, he was flying just fine before," Liz said as the Slytherins scored.
"Can't have. Can't nothing interfere with a broomstick except powerful Dark magic-- no kid could do that to a Nimbus Two Thousand," Hagrid said and Nikki gulped at the words 'dark magic.'
"I knew it. Snape — look," Hermione said handing the binoculars to Liz, then Nikki and Ron. "He's doing something — jinxing the broom."
"What should we do?" Ron asked, handing the binoculars to Nikki, who use them to look back up at Harry struggling to stay on his broom.
"Leave it to me," Hermione said. "I'm coming with you," Liz said and the two girls disappeared from the stands.
"Hurry Up, girls," Nikki heard Ron mumble.
With Liz, she and Hermione pushed through the flood of people in the Professor's Box. Liz briefly had to elbow someone's knees to get past, knocking that person to the ground.
When they appeared behind Snape, Hermione pushed out an arm to stop Liz, and pulled out her wand.
"What do I do?" she whispered urgently.
"Set him on fire." Liz urged with a smirk.
Hermione looked at the girl in shock but said the spell, which set a blue flame on the bottom of the Potions Master's cloak. It was wasn't long before he noticed and yelled in shock. He jumped up and down to put out the flames, while Hermione grabbed the fire into her jar and the two girls ran back to the Gryffindor stand.
"Harry's okay!" Nikki yelled in relief as she watched him climb onto the now still broom. That relief only lasted a moment as she saw Harry dive toward the ground with one hand on his mouth as if he was sick.
"Bloody hell," Liz swore as she appeared besides her firmed. She looked concerned and worried. "What happened?"
"I don't know. HARRY!" Nikki was besides herself with terror.
Yet when Harry tumbled off of his broom and spit out something in his hand, the boy looked proud and in awe as he held it high for everyone to see.
The Snitch.
Everyone broke out in cheers.
The Gryffindors had beat the Slytherins.
Hagrid offered tea back at his hut in celebration for the win, and after slipping Harry out the group of students celebrating on field, the five friends made their way toward the gamekeeper's hut.
In the hut, Nikki and Harry shared a seat on Hagrid's large armchair while Hermione and Ron sat at the wooden table and Liz sat on the bear rug.
Hagrid gave out cups of tea and Liz passed a muffin to everyone, giving three to Hagrid and one to his dog, Fang, who happily munched on the food before laying his large head of the girl's lap. Liz petted the dog and Nikki smiled as she hugged Harry around the shoulders.
"You did a good job today, Lion." She congratulated.
Harry smiled as his ears turned a bit pink, "Thank you, Nikki. I wonder what was wrong with my broom, though."
"It was Snape. We all saw him. He was cursing muttering, he wouldn't take his eyes off you," Ron explained.
"Rubbish," Hagrid argued, obvious that he hadn't heard a word the first years said during the game, "Why would Snape do somethin' like that?"
The students at each other and it was Harry who spoke, "I found out something about him. He tried to get past that three-headed dog on Halloween. It bit him. We think he was trying to steal whatever it's guarding."
Hagrid dropped his teapot, "How do you know about Fluffy?"
"Fluffy?! That thing is anything, but fluffy, Hagrid!" Liz exclaimed and Fang huffed in annoyance when the girl stopped scratching behind his ear.
"Yeah-- he's mine-- bought him off a Greek chappie I met in the pub las' year -- I lent him to Dumbledore to guard the--" he cut himself off and said instead, "Now, don't ask me anymore. That's top secret, that is."
"But Snape's trying to steal it," Harry said, but Hagrid shook his head, "Rubbish. Snape's a Hogwarts teacher, he'd do nothin' of the sort."
"So why did he just try and kill Harry?" Hermione yelled, "I know a jinx when I see one, Hagrid, I've read all about them! You've got to keep eye contact and Snape wasn't blinking at all, I saw him!"
"I'm tellin' yeh, yer wrong!" Hagrid said hotly, "I don' know why Harry's broom acted like that, but Snape wouldn' try an' kill a student! Now, listen to me, all of yeh-- yer meddlin' in things that don' concern yeh. It's dangerous. You forget that dog, an' you forget what it's guardin', that's between Professor Dumbledore an' Nicolas Flamel--"
"Aha!" said Harry, "so there's someone called Nicolas Flamel involved, is there?"
"Where have I heard that name from?" Nikki mumbled, thinking out loud as Hagrid's face turned red in frustration with himself.
Happy Holidays from me and my beta!