AnnaPOV

Madame Hootch took Neville up to the hospital wing to get checked over and told me to stand outside the door. I stared at the random patterns in the wood, absentmindedly wondering if I'd get in trouble. I had been standing there for a few minutes when Madame Hootch walked out, and Professor McGonagall stalked past us, looking surprised, ecstatic, and slightly furious.

"What's wrong Professor?" I called

"Minerva, I need a word about Miss Potter here." Madame Hootch said

Professor McGonagall turned sharply, "Head to my office, I'm going to get her brother."

"What did Harry do?" I asked

"Go, Miss Potter." She said

I sighed and followed Madame Hootch up to McGonagall's office. She opened the door and I plopped into a chair by the fire.

"So am I in trouble Madame Hootch?" I asked

Madame Hootch started at me, "Trouble? Miss Potter I've never met a first year who willingly jumped into the air after another student. And on top of that you saved another student by pulling them onto your broom."

"So I'm not in trouble?"

Madame Hootch smiled and patted my hand, "No girl, you're not."

I sighed a breath of relief, at least dad couldn't get mad I got in trouble. I smiled as the door opened and McGonagall came in with Harry and another boy I didn't recognize.

"So what has Miss Potter done?"

"She saved Longbottom from a fall twenty feet in the air." Madame Hootch said

"What did Harry do?" I asked smiling

"Took a fifty foot dive to catch this." McGonagall said throwing me Nevilles Remembrall, "Was that your first time on a broomstick Potter?"

Out of habit we both answered, "Yes Professor."

"Charlie Weasley couldn't have done it, Wood."

"Really?" The other boy asked excitedly, "Do I get both of them?"

"What do you mean?" I asked, "Get both of us?"

"I think you should let them Minerva." Hootch said, "The girl is a natural as well."

"I think we could bend the first-year rule." McGonagall said thoughtfully

Wood started bouncing excitedly, looking as if all his dreams had just come true, "He's about the right size for a seeker, light and speedy. He'll need a decent brrom, Nimbus Two Thousand or a Cleansweep Seven. She looks about the right size for a chaser too. We'd have a complete team before the season started."

"Wood's the captain for the Gryffindor Quiddtich team." McGonagall said, "I better get good reports on you two that you've been practicing hard, or I'll pull you off the team and punish you Mr. Potter."

We both nodded, "Of course professor." I said

"We'll do our best." Harry said

McGonagall suddenly smiled at us, "Your father would be proud of you two, he was an excellent player himself."

Harry and I shared a smile before I spoke, "Was he now?"

~*~At Dinner~*~

"You're joking!" Draco and Ron said together

Harry shook his head as I ate silently. Harry had just finished telling everyone what happened, causing a momentary halt in eating for everyone but me.

"Seeker," Ron breathed, "That means you're the youngest-"

"In the century." Harry finished, "Wood told us. But don't tell anyone. It's supposed to be a surprise."

Fred and George entered the hall and looked around for a moment before spotting me and hurrying over.

"Well done," George said in a hushed whisper, "Wood's just told us. We're on the team too, Beaters."

"I'm glad." I said softly, "At least I'll know someone else on the team besides Harry."

"The cup will be ours for sure, we haven't won since Charlie left school." Fred said, "You two must be good, Wood was skipping when he told us."

"Anyway we have to be off. Lee Jordan reckons he found a secret passageway."

"I bet it's the one behind the statue of Gregory the Smarmy that we would our first week. See you."

They had barely walked away when Nott walked up to Harry and sneered down at him.

"Having your last meal Potter? When are you getting back on the train to go backto the Muggles?"

I stopped eating and turned to him, a sudden anger coursing though me.

"You're a lot braver now that you're back on the ground and have your little friends with you." Harry said cooly

I raised an eyebrow and blurted out, "Little?" without thinking.

Nott glared nastily at me, "I can take you on my own Potter. Tonight. Wizards duel. Wands only—no contact. What? Never heard of a wizards duel, I suppose?"

"Of course he has!" Ron said sharply, "I'm his second, who's yours?"

Nott looked between Crabbe and Goyle before settling on, "Crabbe. Midnight Trophy Room. It's always unlocked."

After they stalked away Harry turned to Ron, along with Draco and I.

"What the hell is a Wizards Duel?" I asked at the same time Draco said

"Ron what the hell!"

"What's a second?"

"A second is there to take over if you die." Ron said casually

"DIE?!" Harry and I said loudly

Draco slapped Ron, "You're an idiot! Basically all that's going to happen is you're going to send sparks at each other. You don't know enough magic to do any real damage."

"But—die?"

"You won't die." Draco said

"What if it's a trap?" I asked softly, "Just a ploy to get us somewhere where Filch can catch us?"

"Us?" Ron asked, "Harry and I are the only ones going."

"Yeah right." I said

"Honestly," Hermione said, "I don't think you should go. What if you get caught and lose points?"

"But what about Nott?" Ron asked, "He's always being a prat! We need to knock him down a notch or two."

"And if you get caught? Then what?"

No one had an answer, but Hermione, Lavender, and Pavarti all got up and left. Dean and Seamus stared after them for a moment before going after them.

"I hate to say it," I said softly, "But I sort of agree with her. We just got on the team Harry, and if you go tonight you're risking not only getting caught, but getting kicked off the team."

"He can't just back out!" Ron said indignantly.

"I'm just saying." I said softly, "I'll see you guys later."

HarryPOV

"Can you believe them?" Ron asked angrily, "You'd think that we were the bad guys!"

"Are we still going?" Draco asked

"Yes." I said, "Can you imagine Nott's face if I beat him?"

"Come on, let's go to the common room." Draco said, "I still have to finish that Charms essay."

As the afternoon turned to evening, none of the girls talked to us much. Ron was mad they weren't supportive, but Draco and I understood why they were upset. However, we couldn't bring ourselves to not go. The idea of Nott being beaten at his own game was to tempting. So at a ten to twelve, Ron, Draco and I crept down the stairs after the others fell asleep. As we neared the doorway a voice floated out to us.

"I can't believe you're going to do this."

A lamp flicked on and Hermione and Anna were looking at us. Hermione was frowning while Anna was shaking her head smiling.

"You two!" Ron hissed, "Go back to bed!"

"I almost told your brother, Percy. He's a prefect. He'd put a stop to this." Hermione said angrily

"You don't think I'd let you go without me?" Anna smirked, "Sure I don't want to get in trouble but come on. It's Nott. However, if we get caught," Anna smiled evilly, "I'll kill all three of you."

"Let's go," Ron said opening the portrait, "Come on."

"Don't you care about Gryffindor?" Hermione hissed furiously, "Do you only care about yourselves? I don't want Slytherin to win the house cup and if you get caught you'll get all the points taken that I got for knowing Switching Spells."

"Hermione-" Anna said

"Go away." Ron snapped

"All right but I warned you, just remember that when your on your way home on the train tomorrow. You're all so—"

She stopped speaking, staring horrified at the portrait of the Fat Lady. She was gone, much to Hermione's horror.

"Now what am I to do?" She asked shrilly

"That's your problem," Ron said, "But we've got to get going or we'll be late."

"I'm coming with you."

"You are not."

"Oh shut up!" Anna hissed, "Let her come, let's just get going."

"Shh!" Draco whispered, "I heard something."

There was a sort of snuffling sound, Hermione clutched Anna's arm.

"Is it Mrs. Norris?" she whispered fearfully

"No," Anna breathed rushing forward, "Neville!"

Neville jerked and sat up, "Anna! Oh thank Merlin! I've forgotten the password to get to bed."

"It's Pig Snout," Draco said, "Wont do you much good now though. The Fat Lady is gone."

"How are you Nev?" Anna asked, "You were real shook up."

"Oh I'm fine." He said, "But what are you all doing out here?"

"Wizards Duel with Nott," I said, "We need to go guys."

"Can I come with?"

"Yeah, yeah, lets go." I said impatiently.

We all crept forward and towards the trophy room. I silently prayed that we wouldn't meet Filch or Mrs. Norris at every corner, Anna looked to be whispering a pray too. When we got to the trophy room, Nott and Crabbe were nowhere in sight. We looked at the trophies for a few minutes.

"He's late." Ron said, "Think he chickened out?"

Anna shook her head wildly and pointed to the door, mouthing Filch. We all stared at her as we heard him speak.

"Sniff around, my sweet. They might be lurking in the corner."

"GO!" Anna whispered pointing to the door at the other end, "Run!"

We all ran as quietly as we could, Anna barely made it around the corner of the hallway when Filch enter the trophy room.

"They're in here somewhere. Probably hiding."

"This way!" I mouthed to the others and started to creep down the hall way.

Neville let out a frighten squeak as Filch got closer and took off at a run before tripping and grabbing Draco and Ron to steady himself resulting in all three toppling over into a suit of armor. With a deafening crash it toppled over.

"RUN!" Anna yelled

The six of us took off down the hallway, none of us looking back to see if Filch was following, and rounded into another corridor. Anna pulled a tapestry back, and motioned in, we all ran through it and came out by the Charms room.

"I think we lost him." I panted

Draco and Neville were bent over grabbing their sides, Anna was leaning against a door while Ron leaned against her.

"I told you—I told you—" Hermione hissed

"Not—the—time—'Mione." Anna snapped

"We need to get back to the tower." Ron wheezed, "Immdeatly."

"I told you!" Hermione said, "It was a trap!"

"Shut it 'Mione! Yell later! When we're safe."

"Let's go." Draco said supporting Neville as they breathed deeply

We walked a few paces when a doorknob rattled and Peeves appeared, Anna groaned.

"It's not our night."

"Wandering around at night, Ickle Firsties? Tut, tut, naughty, naughty, you'll get caughty!"

"Not if you don't give us away Peeves. Please?"

"I should tell Filch." He said in a saint-like voice, his eyes gave him away though, "It's for your own good."

"Get out of the way!" Ron snapped taking a swing at Peeves

"No Ron! Don't!" Anna said shrilly

Peeves glared at Ron before bellowing out, "STUDENTS OUT OF BED! STUDENTS OUT OF BED DOWN THE CHARMS CORRIDOR!"

We ducked under Peeves and ran to the door at the end of the corridor, the locked door.

"We're done for!" Draco moaned

"Honestly!" Anna snapped grabbing my wand, "Alohomora!"

The door unlocked and we ran in, shutting it with a soft click behind us. We pressed close to the door and listened as hard as we could.

"Which way did they go Peeves?" Filch asked, "Quick, tell me!"

"Say please."

"Don't mess with me Peeves, now where did they go?"

"Shan't say nothing if you don't say please!" Peeves sang

Anna chuckled softly, "Double negative! He'll never tell Filch."

"Alright," Filch said, "Please?"

"NOTHING!" Peeves laughed, "I told you I shan't say nothing if you didn't say please!"

Filch ran off cursing.

"He thinks the door is locked." I said as Neville pulled my arm, "I think we'll be okay—get off Neville! What?"

We all turned around to face Neville and froze. A large three-headed dog was looking as us, with large yellow eye and even bigger teeth. It wasn't a room like I thought, it was a corridor. The forbidden corridor and the third floor.

"Cerberus." Anna squeaked

It blinked at us before it growled and someone threw the door open and we toppled out. Anna slammed the door shut and stared at me with wide eyes.

"That was—Merlin—really big dog."

We all nodded and ran back to Gryffindor tower, and gave the portrait the password.

"I wonder why they have a dog like that here." Ron said

"Honestly! Didn't you see what it was standing on?" Hermione asked

"No. We were a bit preoccupied with it's heads!" Anna said

"It's guarding something. It was standing on a trap door."

We all went our separate ways to bed. Not before Anna squeezed each of us tightly. As we went up the stairs to our dorm we heard Hermione say harshly to Anna:

"I can't believe you even agreed to go, do you even know how many people look up to you? You'd be letting everyone down and probably kicked off the Qudditch team. I don't think we should be friends anymore."

We all froze to hear Anna's answer, it wasn't what any of us expected.

"If that's what you want then fine." She said softly

Draco and I shared a look of disbelief. After everything, she's just going to let someone be a jerk to her?

"We'll talk to her tomorrow." Neville said softly, "Both of them."

We all climbed into our separate beds and not long after we all fell asleep.

The next morning, Nott looked floored when we walked into the Great Hall. But we had more pressing matters to deal with and split us. Neville and Draco would attempt to talk to Hermione and Ron and I would talk to Anna. Ron and I sat on either side of Anna, who was eating silently, and wrapped an arm around her.

"Are you okay?" I asked softly

"I don't want to talk about it." She said

"Hermione was a jerk to say that to you." Ron said

"I don't want to talk about it."

"We're here if you need." I said

She huffed angrily and got up, "What part of 'I don't want to talk about it' don't you get?"

She stormed out and just as we went to follow her the mail came. A long parcel came floating down, and landed in front of me. As I reached for it a letter landed on it. I opened the letter first.

DO NOT OPEN PARCLE AT THE TABLE

It is you new Nimbus Twothousand, but I don't want everyone knowing you've got one or they'll want one. Anna will get hers today as well. Wood will meet you and Anna on the pitch at seven for your first training session.

Make me proud

I looked up at the table, McGonagall was smiling at me. I smiled back and grabbed the parcel and Ron and I headed out.

"A Nimbus Two-thousand." He said enviously, "I've never even touched one!"

Halfway through the Entrance Hall Crabbe and Goyle blocked us and Nott grabbed the package and felt it.

"That's a broomstick!" He said throwing it back at me, "You're in for it now. First years aren't allowed them."

"It's not any broomstick." Ron boasted, "It's a Nimbus Two-Thousand. What have you got at home, Nott? A Comet Two-Sixty?" He grinned at me, "Comets are flashy but there not in the same league as the Nimbus."

"What would you know about it Weasley? You couldn't afford half of the handle. You and your brothers would have to save up twig by twig."

Just then Professor Flitwick appeared at Nott's elbow, "Problem here boys?"

"Potter's got a broomstick professor." Nott smirked

"Ah yes!" He said happily, "I heard about the special circumstances. What model is it?"

"Nimbus Two-Thousand." I said smiling at the horror stuck face on Nott, "It's thanks to Nott here that I have it."

And with that we walked up to the common room and laid that package on my bed. I smiled at Ron, I couldn't wait for the Qudditch lesson tonight.

ANNAPOV

I stalked down to the potions room and sat at one of the benches. Dad quirked an eyebrow and gave me a questioning look.

"It's a horrible day." I said shortly

"Why."

"I can't tell you. You'd get angry at me."

"What did you do?" He asked sighing

"I saved Neville from falling." I said

"Made the Gryffindor Quidditch team." He said, "Now what's got your wand in a knot?"

"Hermioneismadatmebecausesome ofuswenttoduelwithNott." I said fast.

"Say that again. Slowly."

I sighed, "Hermione is mad at me because some of us went to duel with Nott last night." I mumbled

There was a beat of silence before he spoke, "I don't know whether to ground you or give you a detention."

"I'll take the detention." I said laying my head down

"Why did you go to duel with Nott?"

"Because he insulted Harry."

"So you accepted a duel?"

"Actually, Ron did. Then he and Draco explained it to us."

"Who all went?"

"Harry, Ron, Draco, and I. Hermione got locked out of the common room and came with, and Neville was stuck outside the portrait because he forgot the password."

"No wonder Filch was in such a bad mood."

"Peeves was rather mean to him." I said, "Can I ask you a question and you be perfectly honest with me?"

"Of course." He said, "Ask away."

"Why is there a Cerberus in the school?"

He stared at me stunned, "how-how did you—"

"We were running from Filch and the door was locked—"

"For good reason!"

"And I unlocked it with Harry's wand and we ran in—"

"Dear god." He groaned

"And hid from Filch. Neville got Harry's attention and we all turned around. Someone opened the door and we all ran out."

"You have two detentions. One is actually a detention though."

"I figured." I sighed, "But what do I do about Hermione?"

"What's she mad about?"

"That I went with the guys."

"So apologize to her. Tell her your sorry."

"But she won't listen to me."

Dad smiled, "I can fix that."

"How?"

"Wait and see."

I nodded, "When are my detentions?"

"Your real one is tonight, the other is tomorrow."

I nodded and pulled out my potions book, "What are we brewing today?"

He hugged me, "You'll have to wait and see."

He walked back to his desk, "And by the way. Detention starts at seven."