Chapter 25:

Ron's bad temper continued the following day in which he cold shouldered Ginny, who was just as mad still, Dean, who didn't go near the boy, but Hermione as well. He was icy and sneering at her in which Hermione was completely bewildered about.

Harry and Alicia sat between the two trying to keep them separate within their classes together but Ron seemed to be as touchy and ready to lash out as the average Blast-Ended Skrewt.

Why can't he just get over it? Harry asked exasperated

Right cause you're happy about it. Harry looked at Alicia both surprised and annoyed as she copied down the words from the board.

Well maybe she shouldn't have been—

Are you about to lie? Alicia asked raising an eyebrow Not to me, that's not important.

She's Ron's sister, I've known her for years—

And now you're crushing on her just as hard as she did on you. Alicia smirked and Harry didn't look at her but stared at the paper before him.

It doesn't matter, you've seen how Ron reacts…

And I feel if he was going to be happy about Ginny being with anyone, it should be the person he trusts the most, don't you think? I just wouldn't get too touchy feely in front of him. she giggled ever so slightly and Hermione looked at her as Harry rolled his eyes.

"Will you two stop it and pay attention." she snapped quietly and the two shared a guilty grin.

"Stop telling them off! They can do what they want!" Ron snapped at Hermione unnecessarily.

"Shut up Ron." Alicia returned.

"What is wrong with him?" Hermione demanded, whispering to Alicia beside her.

"We caught Ginny and Dean snogging last night on our way back from Quidditch practice and they had a row in which Ginny hit a nerve." Alicia admitted

"Why's he snapping at me?" Hermione questioned

"Because Ginny made a comment about you snogging Viktor Krum." Alicia admitted and Hermione looked surprised before she frowned and turned back to the lesson.

Ron's mood continued through the day and both he and Hermione went to bed early, Hermione to escape Ron and Ron being annoyed, stalking off to the boys' dormitory after swearing angrily at several frightened first years for looking at him.

Alicia groaned annoyed.

"What do we do?"

"Stun Ron." Alicia mumbled. Harry hit her on the arm and she shrugged.

Ron's mood continued through to their last Quidditch practice before the game against Slytherin, his poor keeping skills were only fuelling his rage until it got to the point were he failed to save a single goal the chasers threw at him. Instead of getting disappointed and angry in himself however he just continued to bellow at everything, lastly shouting at Alicia until she ended up pilling her wand out to damage him permanently. Harry had zoomed forwards and grabbed her arm to stop her.

"I'm getting sick of this! He has no reason to be so stupidly angry, just let me show him…" she complained

"Alicia put it away!" Harry snapped as Peakes turned on Ron.

"You shut up and leave her alone!" shouted Peakes, who was about two-thirds Ron's height, though admittedly carrying a heavy bat.

"ENOUGH!" bellowed Harry, he was over all the controversy, Ginny was glowering in Ron's direction and Harry, remembering her reputation as an accomplished caster of the Bat-Bogey Hex, intervened before things got out of hand. "Peakes, go and pack up the Bludgers. Alicia put your wand away!" he released her and she did so huffing. She continued to glare at Ron however and Harry turned away from her. "Ron…" he waited until the rest of the team were out of earshot before saying it, "you're my best mate, but carry on treating the rest of them like this and I'm going to kick you off the team."

Ron's anger suddenly seemed to vanish. He sagged on his broom and the fight seemed to disappear out of him. "I resign. I'm pathetic."

"You're not pathetic and you're not resigning!" said Harry fiercely, seizing Ron by the front of his robes. "You can save anything when you're on form, it's a mental problem you've got!"

"You calling me mental?"

"Yeah, maybe I am!"

"How is resigning going to help anything?" Alicia demanded and Harry gave her a look. She pursed her lips together to stop her from saying anything else.

The two boys glared at each other for a moment, then Ron shook his head wearily. "I know you haven't got any time to find another Keeper, so I'll play tomorrow, but if we lose, and we will, I'm taking myself off the team."

It seemed that was final because nothing Harry said made any difference. Harry spent dinner trying to cheer Ron up but he was too grumpy and surly with Hermione to even notice.

Alicia gave up and didn't even bother. She sat down in the common room to do some homework as the rest of the Quidditch team sat in the corner throwing Ron nasty looks. It didn't take Harry long to decide to get very angry again and he used it to try and provoke Ron, but the boy simply got even more dejected and hopeless before he went off to bed.

"I don't know what to do!"

"He needs a boost or something." Alicia said

"They're illegal." Harry grumbled. Alicia looked up at Harry.

"It's illegal to actually do it." she said

"How's it going to help if you don't!" Harry demanded annoyed

"You're the one who said it was all a mental problem." Alicia shrugged before she packed up her things and moved towards the dormitory.

As usual with Quidditch matches, breakfast was excitable, the Slytherins booed and hissed when the Gryffindor team members entered but the Gryffindors, a solid mass of red and gold, cheered excitedly.

Harry and Ron joined Alicia as she was just tucking into her breakfast and the table cheered when they did. Harry waved, but Ron grimaced and shook his head as they sat down.

"Cheer up, Ron!" called Lavender. "I know you'll be brilliant!" Ron ignored her.

"Tea?" Harry asked him. "Coffee? Pumpkin juice?"

"Anything," said Ron glumly, taking a moody bite of toast.

A few minutes later Hermione, who had become so tired of Ron's recent unpleasant behaviour that she had not come down to breakfast with them, paused on her way up the table.

"How are you feeling?" she asked tentatively, her eyes on the back of Ron's head.

"Pretty excited as usual." Alicia smiled.

"Fine," said Harry, who was concentrating on handing Ron a glass of pumpkin juice. "There you go, Ron. Drink up."

Alicia suddenly choking on her own cup of juice and looked at Harry surprised. It seemed Hermione noticed what she did, for Ron had just raised the glass to his lips when she spoke sharply.

"Don't drink that, Ron!"

Both Harry and Ron looked up at her as Alicia was looking Harry over and glancing at Ron's drink.

"Why not?" said Ron.

Hermione was now staring at Harry as though she could not believe her eyes.

"You just put something in that drink."

"Excuse me?" said Harry.

"You heard me. I saw you. You just tipped something into Ron's drink. You've got the bottle in your hand right now!"

"I don't know what you're talking about," said Harry, stowing the little bottle hastily in his pocket.

"Ron, I warn you, don't drink it!" Hermione said again, alarmed, but Ron picked up the glass, drained it in one gulp, and said, "Stop bossing me around, Hermione."

She looked scandalised. Bending low so that only Harry could hear her, she hissed, "You should be expelled for that. I'd never have believed it of you, Harry!"

"Hark who's talking," he whispered back. "Confunded anyone lately?"

She stormed up the table away from them.

Tell me you didn't actually pour it in, because I know Ron needs it, but we could use that later on when shit happens, as it usually does. Alicia said and Harry rolled his eyes.

Calm down. she nodded, listening and went back to her breakfast.

Ron was smacking his lips beside him.

"Nearly time," said Harry blithely.

The frosty grass crunched underfoot as they strode down to the stadium.

"Pretty lucky the weather's this good, eh?" Harry asked Ron.

"Yeah," said Ron, who was pale and sick-looking.

Ginny was already wearing her Quidditch robes and waiting in the changing room.

"Morning." Alicia smiled

"Conditions look ideal," said Ginny, ignoring Ron. "And guess what? That Slytherin Chaser Vaisey — he took a Bludger in the head yesterday during their practice, and he's too sore to play! And even better than that — Malfoy's gone off sick too!"

"Oh well that takes a heap of the fun out of smashing his nose to the ground." Alicia mumbled, sighing before she grinned and pulled her robes on.

"What?" said Harry, wheeling around to stare at her. "He's ill? What's wrong with him?"

"No idea, but it's great for us," said Ginny brightly. "They're playing Harper instead; he's in my year and he's an idiot."

Harry smiled back tentatively but of course his mind was elsewhere.

"Fishy, isn't it?" he said in an undertone to Ron. "Malfoy not playing?"

"Lucky, I call it," said Ron, looking slightly more animated. "And Vaisey off too, he's their best goal scorer, I didn't fancy — hey!" he said suddenly, freezing halfway through pulling on his Keeper's gloves and staring at Harry.

"What?"

"I… you…" Ron had dropped his voice, he looked both scared and excited. "My drink… my pumpkin juice… you didn't… ?" He looked at Alicia who gave him a questioning look.

Harry raised his eyebrows, but said nothing except, "We'll be starting in about five minutes, you'd better get your boots on."

The twins shared an amused smirk.

They walked out onto the pitch to tumultuous roars and boos. One end of the stadium was solid red and gold; the other, a sea of green and silver. Many Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws had taken sides too: Amidst all the yelling and clapping Harry could distinctly hear the roar of Luna Lovegood's famous lion-topped hat.

Harry stepped up to Madam Hooch, the referee, who was standing ready to release the balls from the crate.

"Captains shake hands," she said, and Harry had his hand crushed by the new Slytherin Captain, Urquhart. "Mount your brooms. On the whistle… three… two… one…"

The whistle sounded and Alicia was off into the air, kicking off hard from the frozen ground, and they were away.

Alicia had the Quaffle and she dodged a Slytherin before pelting it to Ginny where the two zoomed up the pitch with Dean. The three lost the Quaffle in a pass where it was intercepted.

The commentary had stated and a new voice sounded from the stands as Lee Jordan had had his final year last year. Alicia took a glance and noticed that Zacharias Smith was doing it now. She scoffed annoyed. Of all the people.

"Well, there they go, and I think we're all surprised to see the team that Potter's put together this year. Many thought, given Ronald Weasley's patchy performance as Keeper last year, that he might be off the team, but of course, a close personal friendship with the Captain does help…"

These words were greeted with jeers and applause from the Slytherin end of the pitch.

"Oh, and here comes Slytherin's first attempt on goal, it's Urquhart streaking down the pitch and Weasley saves it, well, he's bound to get lucky sometimes, I suppose…"

Alicia smirked and she took the Quaffle before moving off with, Ginny who was sharing a look of surprise with Dean, but they moved off after her to receive the Quaffle anyway.

With half an hour of the game gone, Gryffindor were leading sixty points to zero, Ron having made some truly spectacular saves, some by the very tips of his gloves.

Zacharias had to stop commenting on Ginny and Ron being on the team because they were friends with Harry, Alicia having already played for three years successfully. Smith started on the beaters, Peakes and Coote instead.

"Of course, Coote isn't really the usual build for a Beater," said Zacharias loftily, "they've generally got a bit more muscle —"

"Hit a Bludger at him!" Harry called to Coote as he zoomed past, but Coote, grinning broadly, chose to aim the next Bludger at Harper instead, who was just passing Harry in the opposite direction. Alicia laughed as she passed and heard the dull thunk that meant the Bludger had found its mark.

It seemed as though Gryffindor could do no wrong. Again and again they scored, and again and again, at the other end of the pitch, Ron saved goals with apparent ease. He was actually smiling now, and when the crowd greeted a particularly good save with a rousing chorus of the old favourite "Weasley Is Our King," he pretended to conduct them from on high.

"Thinks he's something special today, doesn't he?" said a snide voice, and Harry was nearly knocked off his boom as Harper collided with him hard and deliberately. "Your blood-traitor pal…"

Madam Hooch's back was turned and the Gryffindor's booed as Alicia sped downwards, dodging a bludger which bashed into Harper's chin.

Alicia smirked as Harry looked surprised and glanced at Alicia who intercepted the Quaffle and passed it off to Dean.

Harry had sped off after Harper regardless.

"And I think Harper of Slytherin's seen the Snitch!" said Zacharias Smith through his megaphone. "Yes, he's certainly seen something Potter hasn't!"

Alicia herself had seen the glint of the gold snitch and hoped Harry wasn't just letting his anger get to him. After all, if Harper got the snitch, Gryffindor would loose, they were only a hundred points up.

Harper's hand was outstretched, feet from the snitch before Alicia heard Harry's voice.

"Oi, Harper!" yelled Harry in desperation. "How much did Malfoy pay you to come on instead of him?"

She rolled her eyes but Harper did a double take, he fumbled with the snitch and shot right past it as he let it slip through his fingers and Harry made a swipe to catch it.

"YES!" Harry yelled. Wheeling around, he hurtled back toward the ground, the Snitch held high in his hand. As the crowd realised what had happened, a great shout went up that almost drowned the sound of the whistle that signalled the end of the game.

Ginny and Alicia shared a look before Ginny went hurtling straight past the team that was hugging Harry halfway in the air. Alicia shot after her and landed as Ginny had collided straight into Zacharias Smith,

"You right Ginny?" she asked as McGonagall scolded Ginny, Smith was struggling feebly below the wreckage. The rest of the team landed beside the wreckage as the spectators shrieked and laughed.

"Forgot to brake, Professor, sorry."

Laughing, Harry broke free of the rest of the team and hugged Ginny, but let go very quickly. Alicia smirked and as he clapped a cheering Ron on the back, she hugged him in return. All enmity forgotten, the Gryffindor team left the pitch arm in arm, punching the air and waving to their supporters.

The atmosphere in the changing room was jubilant.

"Party up in the common room, Seamus said!" yelled Dean exuberantly. "C'mon, Ginny, Alicia!"

"Yep, gimme a minute." Alicia nodded.

She and the two boys were the last left.

"That was brilliant!" she grinned jumping up and down. "We're like a well-oiled machine, working in perfectly harmony." she sighed in content as the two boys laughed at her. "Oh! I gotta remember to tell Fred we're surviving without them. He never thought we would." she snickered as they moved to the door, it was blocked however when Hermione entered. She was twisting her Gryffindor scarf in her hands and looked upset but determined.

"I want a word with you, Harry." She took a deep breath. "You shouldn't have done it. You heard Slughorn, it's illegal."

"What are you going to do, turn us in?" demanded Ron.

"What are you two talking about?" asked Harry, turning away to hang up his robes so that neither of them would see him grinning.

"You know perfectly well what we're talking about!" said Hermione shrilly. "You spiked Ron's juice with lucky potion at breakfast! Felix Felicis!"

"Honestly Hermione, how would using Felix help anything?" Alicia asked but she was grinning.

"He did it!"

"He didn't." Alicia said as Harry said "No, I didn't," and turned back to face them both.

"Yes you did, Harry, and that's why everything went right, there were Slytherin players missing and Ron saved everything!"

"I didn't put it in!" said Harry, grinning broadly as Alicia laughed. He slipped his hand inside his jacket pocket and drew out the tiny bottle that Hermione had seen in his hand that morning. It was full of golden potion and the cork was still tightly sealed with wax. "I wanted Ron to think I'd done it, so I faked it when I knew you were looking." He looked at Ron. "You saved everything because you felt lucky. You did it all yourself."

"You didn't even need any help. You're amazing!" Alicia said and Ron looked at them both as the twins grinned at one another. He was gaping before he rounded on Hermione.

"You added Felix Felicis to Ron's juice this morning, that's why he saved everything! See! I can save goals without help, Hermione!"

"I never said you couldn't — Ron, you thought you'd been given it too!"

But Ron had already strode past her out of the door with his broomstick over his shoulder.

Alicia blinked, why on earth did he crack it like that? How unnecessary.

"Er," said Harry into the sudden silence; he had not expected his plan to backfire like this, "shall… shall we go up to the party, then?"

"You go!" said Hermione, blinking back tears. "I'm sick of Ron at the moment, I don't know what I'm supposed to do…"

And she stormed out of the changing room too.

The twins stood blinking.

"Well that wasn't supposed to have happened…" Alicia mumbled

"It's like he wants them to hate one another." Harry said "I thought if Ron won the match they'd be friends again. And I can't tell Hermione that kissing Krum is what's wrong."

"Well, I already told her." Alicia admitted and Harry looked surprised "What, she asked." Alicia confessed as they began to move back towards the castle. "But she can't do anything about it and that's one of the reasons she's so upset, there's nothing she can do to fix it. And if Ron expects her to apologise, then I'm going to curse him instead." Harry shot her a look. "He's being stupid." she defended.

The two arrived in the Gryffindor common room to find the the celebration party in full swing already. Cheers and claps greeted the two of them and they were surrounded as Alicia tried to find Hermione, but she seemed to be missing. And then she spotted her and she was moving off towards the porthole. Alicia looked around before her eyes widened surprised. In full view of the whole room, going against what he'd told Ginny off for, stood Ron wrapped so closely around Lavender Brown it was hard to tell whose hands were whose.

Alicia spun and, high-fifing some people as she went, headed for the door after Hermione. She was in the first unlocked classroom and as Alicia arrived she was sitting herself on the teacher's desk. She sniffed as she looked up but when she saw who it was she didn't bother hiding her disappointment.

"Oh honey." Alicia moved forwards, sat beside her and pulled her into a hug where Hermione was breathing to try and control her tears.

"He get's angry and jealous at me for it…" she muttered before she pulled her wand out. Alicia didn't stop her as she conjured up several canaries, which twittered and spun in circles above their heads. Alicia brushed her hair with her fingers before the door opened again and they both looked up to see Harry.

"Oh, hello, Harry," Hermione said in a brittle voice. "I was just practicing."

"Yeah… they're — er — really good…" said Harry. He said nothing else, not knowing what to say.

"Ron seems to be enjoying the celebrations."

"Oh come on." Alicia moaned at her

"Er… does he?" said Harry.

"Don't pretend you didn't see him," said Hermione. "He wasn't exactly hiding it, was — ?"

The door behind them burst open and Ron came in, laughing, pulling Lavender by the hand.

"Oh," he said, drawing up short at the sight of Harry, Hermione and Alicia, who was glaring at him.

"Oops!" said Lavender, and she backed out of the room, giggling. The door swung shut behind her.

There was a horrible, swelling, billowing silence. Hermione was staring at Ron, unlike Alicia who was still glaring, and Ron refused to look at her. Instead he said with an odd mixture of bravado and awkwardness, "Hi, Harry! Wondered where you'd got to!"

Hermione slid off the desk, Alicia had her hand in her's and she happy went with her. The little flock of golden birds continued to twitter in circles around the two's heads.

"You shouldn't leave Lavender waiting outside," she said quietly. "She'll wonder where you've gone."

She walked very slowly and erectly toward the door. Harry glanced at Ron, who was looking relieved that nothing worse had happened.

Alicia looked at Hermione expectantly and then the girl turned and pulled her wand out, pointing it at Ron.

"Oppugno!" Her expression was wild and the little flock of birds was speeding like a hail of fat golden bullets toward Ron, who yelped and covered his face with his hands, but the birds attacked, pecking and clawing at every bit of flesh they could reach.

"Gerremoffme!" he yelled, but with one last look of vindictive fury, Hermione wrenched open the door and disappeared through it.

"Way to be a heartless, selfish prick, Ron." Alicia commented before she hurried after Hermione. The girl retreated to the girl's dormitory where Alicia sat on Hermione's bed with her as she cried into her robes. Alicia said nothing and simply let her cry.