The next day was a Saturday but that didn't mean Jade could sleep in. She woke up, had breakfast around 9:00 and then reunited with the three remaining players of the Quidditch team.
Graham Montague and Miles Bletchley were already there. Draco and Jade sat down in front of them. They were using one empty classroom in the dungeons as they didn't want to walk all the way to the field if they weren't going to train. Jade noticed Bletchley seemed angry while Montague was yawning and seemed like he was going to fall asleep.
"What's wrong with you?" Jade asked Miles.
"I assumed that now that I'm in the last year and with my good performance they would have made me captain but I didn't receive a letter or anything," Miles said angrily. "I even talked to Professor Snape asking if there had been a mistake but he assured me there was no mistake. I guess they chose Graham over me."
"Uh, actually, Graham is not the new Captain," Jade said. Graham was not even paying attention. He was more asleep than awake. "I am the new Captain."
"What?" Miles exclaimed, standing up at once.
"Really? Why didn't you tell me?" Draco asked her.
"I forgot..." Jade whispered.
"But... but that's unfair... not only you are two years younger than me but you are a girl!"
"If you have a problem, Miles, go talk to Professor Snape or even Dumbledore, I don't care. But if you continue with that attitude towards me, I think we'll need a new keeper. How does that sound?"
"You are threatening me?"
"No, I'm warning you," Jade said firmly, standing up as well. He was taller than her but she wasn't scared of him. "So, I'll suggest you to take your place or leave the team if you aren't happy, it's your choice."
"Come on, mate," Graham muttered. "It's all good."
Miles looked like he needed to murder someone, and he took a long time until he decided to sit down. Jade kept on her feet though.
"Alright. Cass, Lex and Lucian are gone. That means we need two beaters and a chaser. We'll hold tryouts this following Friday, I expect you all to be there so we can choose the best ones as a team and we will train double, at least at the start because we haven't played in a whole year and we might be rusty," Jade said with authority. She didn't know she could manage to be the captain but maybe she got it in her... her brother and father had been captains too. "I'll talk to Professor Snape and Madam Hooch to reserve the field. I'll let you know the time so we can all be there on time."
As soon as Miles and Graham, who both were now in seventh year, left, Draco gave Jade a hug. She looked up at him and just looked at him weirdly, this was probably the second or third hug they had had shared.
"Congratulations, Jade," Draco said as he let go of her.
"Thanks! And congratulations too!"
"For what?"
"For becoming a prefect," Jade told him with a smile.
Monday came too quickly and to Jade's bad luck she had double History of Magic first with the Hufflepuffs, the most boring class. Then she had Arithmancy. Then she had double Defence Against the Dark Arts with the Gryffindors.
It was one of Jade's favourite subjects at one point but she learnt to dislike it when Lockhart was a teacher and she was sure she wasn't going to enjoy it with this new teacher.
Parvati Patil, a Gryffindor, had conjured a piece of paper, that was flying around the class. Students hit it with their hands, or stuff and everyone was laughing and enjoying it. Draco was glad to finally see a smile on Jade's face but then the piece of paper burnt and fell in front of Patil. Everyone turned around to see their new teacher, wearing all pink.
"Good morning, children. Ordinary Wizarding Level examinations," she said while walking towards the front and pointing her wand at the board and the words started to write themselves. "O-W-Ls. More commonly known as OWLs. Study hard and you will be rewarded. Fail to do so, and the consequences may be severe. Your previous instruction in this subject has been disturbingly uneven. But you'll be pleased to know, from now on you will be following a carefully structured, Ministry-approved course of defensive magic."
Jade frowned as she saw a book landing in front of her. It said Defence Against the Dark Arts for beginners. She wasn't a beginner and this seemed like a book for a seven-year-old.
"There's nothing in here about using defensive spells," Granger said.
"Using spells? Well, I can't imagine why you would need to use spells in my classroom."
"We're not gonna use magic?" Ron and Jade asked at the same time. The two of them turned to look at each other and then looked at Umbridge.
"You'll be learning about defensive spells in a secure, risk-free way."
"The world is not risk free," Jade exclaimed from the back of the classroom. For a moment she thought of the shark, which wasn't even a magical creature. Draco elbowed her and she just gave him a look. She needed to speak up.
"What use is that? If we're attacked, it won't be risk-free," Potter said.
"Students will raise their hands when they speak in my class," Umbridge exclaimed. "It is the view of the Ministry that a theoretical knowledge will be sufficient to get you through your examinations, which, after all, is what school is all about."
"Theory?" Jade exclaimed. "That won't be enough to prepare us for the dangers out there."
Jade was known for speaking her mind without filters but most students were surprised at her attitude. She was arguing as much as Granger and Potter. She was usually polite to teachers and knew how to express her thoughts without being rude to them and had an excellent record and now she was defying a teacher, even her tone didn't sound nice as she usually sounded when addressing a teacher.
"There is nothing out there, dear. Who do you imagine wants to attack children like yourself?
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe Lord Voldemort," Potter exclaimed, a bit of sarcasm in his voice.
Students started to gossip among them. Jade and Draco only looked at each other. Umbridge seemed a bit nervous, probably because no one said his name so openly as Potter.
"Now, let me make this quite plain. You have been told that a certain dark wizard is at large once again. This is a lie."
"It's not a lie. I saw him. I fought him!"
"Detention, Mr. Potter!"
"So, Cedric Diggory dropped dead of his own accord?"
"Cedric Diggory's death was a tragic accident."
"No! Saying that is disrespectful to his memory," Jade exclaimed, making everyone else even more surprised that she was standing up for someone who wasn't even a Slytherin.
Draco just hid his face in his hands, knowing he couldn't stop her. She was stubborn and she wouldn't listen to him. Umbridge was going to say something when Potter spoke before her.
"It was murder. Voldemort killed him. You must know this!"
"Enough! Enough. See me later, Mr. Potter. My office," she squealed and did a little giggle that reminded Jade of pigs. "And you..." Umbridge said pointing at Jade. "One more word of this matter and speaking without permission, and you'll join Mr. Potter in detention."
Jade rolled her eyes, luckily Umbridge didn't see her but Draco did and other students as well. Draco told her in whispers to keep calm and not say another word, to not argue with someone who had more power than her. Jade was upset. She shook her head, and without warning stood up with her school bag in hand and left the classroom, leaving the useless book behind on purpose.
Everyone turned to look at her, Draco just looked down at the desk, knowing many people were looking in his direction. It was now obvious how affected she was and she was really rebelling and that wasn't good. She would end up being punished if she kept acting like that. She didn't need to do stuff that got that much attention, she needed to act like the normal Jade.
The following day she had her first Muggle Studies class. She had talked to Snape about it. She wouldn't receive a grade for it as she had missed two years of the class and was very behind but she hated to not know stuff and be vulnerable and lost as she was when she had no way to go to Ron's house. She didn't know how the Muggle World worked and she at least needed to know the basics in case of emergencies. Of course, as she wouldn't have a grade, her parents would never know about it and her brother was no longer at school, so it would remain a secret.
"Wow, Potter," she exclaimed with a smirk as she saw him in the hallway. "You got expelled from school, then somehow got out of that situation and now got detention on the first day. That must be a record."
"I wouldn't be so cheerful if I were you," he told her. "Umbridge asked for your name after you stormed out. That can't be good."
"And I'm sure you were more than eager to tell her my name."
Actually... it was Parkinson who told her."
After that class she had double Potions and before the class she had a chat with Snape. Turned out that Umbridge wasn't happy with her behaviour and as it was expected she talked to the head of her house.
"You are lucky you'll be serving detention with me and not her," Snape said coldly to her. "You start tomorrow. Don't be late."
Jade had to scrub cauldrons for two hours every night for three nights. On Friday she talked to Professor Snape that she couldn't attend because she had the Slytherin tryouts for the Quidditch team. He let it slip just because he thought she hadn't done anything wrong and apparently he disliked Umbridge too.
For two hours and a half, Miles, Graham, Draco and Jade were seeing fellow students try for the positions of beaters and Chaser. There was a sixth year that was trying out for Chaser and he couldn't score once even when there was no keeper. There were some others that couldn't even fly well.
There was a fourth year who got on his broom and before he could start, he jumped from his broom and ran out, crying. Jade didn't know what to think about that.
"Are you kidding me?" Jade exclaimed as the three other wanted Crabbe and Goyle as beaters. "They are idiots!"
"But look at them!" Miles exclaimed. They are strong and they don't hesitate. They don't need to think to hit a ball."
"They are so stupid that they might hit us instead of our opponents," Jade exclaimed outraged.
"Give them some credit, they haven't failed a single year and they have the strength in their favour."
"Tell you what," Graham said. "We choose them. We practice a few times and play our first match. If they fail, we choose two people to replace them."
"I think that's a good option," Miles said with a grin. "Besides, you told us to decide as a team, and we are three against one, so I think it's settled."
"Alright," Jade said with a smile, pretending to not be furious. "But if we lose our first match because of them then they are out automatically and the three of you will be punished somehow."
Lewis Castagnet, a seventh year was eventually chosen as the third chaser. Jade wasn't happy with any of the people that showed up but she had to admit filling in her brother's position was going to be hard especially with the dynamic they had together.
The following day, they had their first practice with the new players. Jade did good but she did miss her brother and she didn't feel comfortable but she had to adjust. Lewis wasn't bad and Graham had been in the team for years so he knew how it was done when Lexion was still in the team.
And Jade hated to admit that Crabbe and Goyle did quite good. Despite being a bit rusty they all played well and she was looking forward to more trainings and the season.
The six of them were hating her when practice was over as she made them train double the time. They were all sore and tired, even Draco complaint a bit as he collapsed to the floor.
Draco and Jade were the last ones on the field, they stretched together, thing the others rushed, but she was okay with having some alone time with Draco. The others would feel even more sore for not stretching well but that wasn't her problem.
"How does it feel to be Captain?" Draco asked.
"I feel pressured..." Jade admitted. "Because my brother was captain too and he was great and I feel like I need to be better than him. And I'm in charge, right? So, if something doesn't work, it will be my fault."
"You shouldn't feel so pressured. Enjoy it. It's an honour. Not everyone gets to be captain. If we lose, which no one likes, we lose and that's it..." Draco was just saying that because he didn't want more stuff to affect Jade. He was happy for her but he thought being Captain now wasn't good for her mental health. "And if we win, we win!"
Jade and Draco were about to share a kiss when the Gryffindors walked in, brooms in hand. Jade blushed a bit and stood up quickly.
Angelina Johnson was their new captain, Jade didn't know until that moment. Oliver Wood had graduated, he was in the same year as Lexion and now Jade was curious to see who was Gryffindor's new keeper.
"Lias, Malfoy, out. It's our time now," Angelina said in a rude tone.
"You can't really kick us out, you know?" Jade said standing up from the ground and walking towards the group. "We can't play as it's your time now but nothing prevents us from being in the stands or down here."
"Don't have that attitude with me, Lias. Who do you think you are? I'm the Captain now and I can get McGonagall to ban you from watching our trainings and..."
"Oh wow, they made you Captain?" Jade said with fake shock. "Honestly, I'd have chosen one of the twins, at least they have more respect and better manners. And you know who I am? Well, guess what, Johnson? I'm the Slytherin Captain and I'm sure I can get Professor Snape to ban you before you can talk to McGonagall, so stop making silly threats, especially to me."
"What? You are Captain?" Jade turned to look at a third redhead whom she hadn't spotted before. Ron was there and he looked shocked.
"What are you even doing here?"
"This is our new keeper," Fred told her with a smile. It was then when she realized Potter wasn't among the Gryffindors.
"Wow!" Jade said. "Be careful, Ro- Weasley, you know how good I am."
Jade remembered during the summer when Ron would dread whenever Jade was about to score, and he would close his eyes and look like he was suffering. Of course, she couldn't openly talk about it, it was only the Weasleys and Potter that knew she had spent a few days with them, and Draco knew a bit but there were currently three people among them that didn't need to know stuff like that, especially Angelina, Jade didn't like her at all.
Jade walked past Ron, slightly brushing against his shoulder and whispered, 'well done', no one but Ron heard. Not even Draco noticed what had happened.
Are you a sporty person? Would you play Quidditch? What sports do you like? Sorry, too many questions!
xx
