A/N: I'm a lazy bum, I know, I'm sorry that I took so long. But here it is now, soooooo, y'all know what to do, hit that purple button and make my day! Oh, and when you see ~blah blah blah.~ that means Ashley's thoughts. And Ebony's last name is Green (she's Trewyn's friend).

DISCLAIMER: I own LOTSA people this timeJ !!! Aria, Ashley, Gill, Pawe, Wehng, Brown, Jolt, Hammond, Trewyn, and Green (Ebony).

Chapter 10: Of Quidditch and Secrets

Aria and Ashley agreed to perform their part in the ceremony, although all three girls were pissed that the Marauders refused to let them become Animagi as well. They had asked as soon as Lily had told them of the boys' plan, only to be answered with a 'no way!' and a door slammed in their faces. James, Sirius, and, especially Remus knew that they would have to deal with something ten times worse then PMS for the rest of the week, but they also knew that if something went wrong and their friends were hurt, it would be their fault, and they couldn't handle that. Peter agreed, though not because he was concerned about the three girls, but because he didn't want them stealing attention away from him on one of the few times it was just him and the Marauders together. He hated the way he faded into the background whenever those three were around, and wished dearly that they would go away. Of course, they didn't mention any of this to the furious females, who begged and pleaded time and time again, only to be denied. Lily, Aria, and Ashley had even begun to make their own potion, but Remus had caught them. The three finally gave up.

Meanwhile, Quidditch practice had begun. James, Sirius, Aria, Ashley, and Lily were training day and night for the upcoming Quidditch match against Hufflepuff. James was captain, and trained the team vigorously on moves, tactics, and plays. Lily was amazed at how focused everyone, even James and Sirius became when it came to Quidditch. It was as if this was the one thing they lived for. They always looked refreshed and alive after Quidditch practice, no matter how hard they played. Even Trewyn and Ebony seemed to be focused on the game.

***

Ashley sat in the common room on the night before the big game, furious with the world. She had tried to sleep, honestly she had. She'd lain in bed for hours, and she managed to sleep for a little while, but thenit had happened again. Another horrific dream had decided to pay her a visit. Ashley had never been scared by nightmares of any sort since she had been a kid, but she was certain that this was no ordinary nightmare. Her nightmares had never been this vivid, thisreal. ~But they're not real,~ she tried to tell herself. ~They can't be. Dreams aren't real. Yea, that's it. There's nothing wrong.~ Ashley tried desperately to calm herself, but nothing was working. There was something wrong. Very wrong. Last week, she had had a dream like this. Ever since then, she had been afraid to close her eyes

~There had been a man and woman, Aurors that worked with her father, dueling with a shadowy figure clad in black, but with terrifying red, snake-like eyes. The figure caught them off guard, and tortured them with the Cruciatus Curse for what seemed like an eternity. When he lifted the curse, they had been lying on the ground, twitching unnaturally with blood pouring from deep gashes and enormous bruises all over their bodies. Their eyes rolled crazily inside of their sockets, and the man begged with tears in his eyes for his wife to be spared, to take his life instead. The figure laughed, a cruel, merciless, bone-chilling laugh, and killed them with a flash of green light .~

The next day, David Bones had received an owl saying that Lord Voldemort had killed his parents. Ashley had almost fainted when she had heard the news. Ever since then, she hadn't dared to close her eyes. She dreaded the night, and tried to postpone going to bed as long as she could manage. But she was so very tired. Maybe, if she just closed her eyes for a few seconds, she could rid herself of some fatigue. Yea. That's what she would do.

Remus had been watching her ever since she came down to the common room. He had just finished his homework and was about to go to the dormitory, when Ashley came down the stairs, looking more frustrated and angry than he had ever seen her as before, and never noticing that he was there. She had sat down on the couch in front of the fire and drew furiously for half an hour, and then, she slowly closed her eyes and fell asleep. Remus sat down next to her now, watching her with a worried expression on his face. Someone who did not know her would think that she looked perfectly normal as she slept, even peaceful, but Remus could see through that. All of a sudden, a look of panic spread across her face. Her eyes, though behind closed eyelids, were looking around wildly for someone, something. Remus stroked her soothingly, but was unable to calm her, as she had begun to shake uncontrollably. Now he was scared. There was something very wrong happening to her.

"Ashley! Ash wake up! Wake up!" he called to her, but she only let out a shrill scream and her eyes flew open, wide with terror.

"Wh-why-you-?" she asked, still shaking and terrified.

"Ashley what the hell just happened?" he asked, relieved that she was all right, but still scared of what had just occurred. A single tear ran down her face. Remus hugged her, and instinctively held her in his arms while she sobbed against his shoulder. "Sh, sh, don't cry Ash, I'm here. Its ok."

"They won't stop," she whispered, pulling away. Remus put an arm around her.

"What won't stop?" he asked, stroking her arm gently, but she only shook her head. "Come on, Ash, you can tell me."

"I can't-I don't-Its nothing," she muttered. Remus rolled his eyes.

"Obviously its not."

"How would you know?" she snapped.

"Oh, I don't know Ashley, I've only known you for what, five years now? How in the name of Quidditch would I possible know when something's wrong with you?" Remus asked, frustrated.

"Well that's what I'm asking you," she replied airily. Remus stood up.

"Do you want to know how I know? You look as tired as I feel after a full moon, like you haven't slept in a month. I know you'd never give up sleep willingly, it's one of your favorite things to do along with playing Quidditch and drawing. And, your nose is all scrunched up and that only happens when something's wrong!" Ashley stared at him in disbelief.

"My nose-what-never mind, I won't ask. And I don't know what's going on so you can stop yelling!."

"Its just-I'm worried about you, Ash, I didn't mean to yell," he said, his eyes begging her for forgiveness.

"I know," she said softly.

"And I want you to know that you can tell me anything. You know I'm always here when you need me, right?" he asked. She nodded, a tiny smile on her lips, and he hugged her. For that one moment, she felt completely safe, as if nothing bad could ever happen to her while she was in his arms, that she was safe from the horrors of her dreams. Unfortunately, the feeling left her as soon as they withdrew.

"Good-night," he said, heading back up to his dormitory.

"Thanks, Remus," she whispered.

***

The next day was the first Quidditch match of the season, Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff. Excitement filled the air and spirits were higher than they had been since school started. The whole school and all of the staff were going to watch the match, and every time Lily thought of that, her stomach turned over and made her want to throw up.

Lily didn't usually get nervous. She had never cared enough to have to, but she had to now. She wanted to do well, to prove she could play Quidditch to those who still didn't believe her. She didn't want to disappoint her friends, especially since they seemed to have quite a lot of faith in her new found beating abilities. Most of all, she wanted to do well for West and Evan. She had written them a letter, updating them on life at Hogwarts, and they had been so proud when she had told them she was the beater. She wouldn't let them down. Lily just swirled her breakfast around in her plate, not wanting to eat at the risk of throwing it all up. Stop being so nervous, you'll be fine. Pretend it's a practice with just you and the team. Well that's stupid advice, since when are there three hundred people watching at practices? Don't think about that, just think of the bludgers as Jackass' balls that you're beating! EW that SO did not sound right! Just do us all a favor and shut up, will you?

"Don't worry Lils," said James as they walked to the locker rooms. "You'll do great, I know you will." Lily bit her lip.

"But what if I don't do great? What if I screw up? Honestly, I'm starting to think that this Quidditch stuff isn't for me," she said quickly.

"Lils, look at me," he said, and he locked his warm, cheery, chocolate brown eyes onto her emerald green ones. "I know that you're going to be great. And if you're not great, thenYOU'RE OFF THE TEAM!" Lily's mouth formed a perfect 'o', and then became angry, so James quickly stopped laughing. "I was joking! Just joking!"

After James gave the pep, the team headed out onto the field, and was almost knocked off their feet by the crowd's tumultuous roar. Lily felt her legs turn into jelly, and her stomach began to do a series of gymnastics that she wagered even an Olympic gold medallist couldn't perform. Hoo boy. What have you gotten yourself into? Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. You've never even played in your life! Gee, thanks, way to be supportive. Ok, ok, ok, I can do this, yea, I can, think of Tigger As she tried to calm herself, she could hear Remus beginning the commentary.

"Entering from the right we have our Hufflepuff House Team, who haven't won a single match inhow long? Captain and Keeper Diggory; Chasers Gill, Pawe, and Wehng; Beaters Brown and Jolt; and Seeker Hammond! But let's remember our manners, people, let's give them an applause for having the courage to try!" The Hufflepuffs scowled but cheered happily with the rest, and McGonagall tried to snatch the magical megaphone out of his hands, but Remus danced just out of her reach.

"LUPIN! I thought you promised to be impartial this time!" she screeched. He looked innocent and mischievous at the same time.

"But I am! Just in Gryffindor's favor!"

"Lupin-"

"And entering from the left, we have our superb, excellent, astounding Gryffindor House Team, the best team the school has seen in years! At the head is Captain, Chaser, and Bachelor-oh wait, screw that, he and Trewyn got back together again-Captain and Chaser Potter! After him is Keeper Gratzki, who watches her hoops like a hawkshit that sounded wrong, sorry Ariaanyway, behind her are the lovely and talented Chasers Li and Green; Beaters Black and Evans who are sure to knock your socks off; aaand, last but definitely not leastSeeker McKinnon! Ladies and Gentlemen, the Gryffindor House Team!" The stands shook with thunderous applause as Lily and the team stepped onto the field. She couldn't help but feel excited, the atmosphere was infectious.

Madame Hooch made Amos and James shake hands. Lily almost thought Aria would run up to Amos and give him a good luck snog, but she knew better than that. In a game of Quidditch, Aria wouldn't have shown any sympathy to her own mother. Instead of snogging him, her face was set and unreadable, only her eyes gave her away, sparkling with excitement.

"Madame Hooch throws the Quaffle into the airand the game is on! We start out with Hufflepuff in possession, Gill passes to Wehng, Wehng to Gill, Gill shoots-but its intercepted by Potter! Potter passes to Li, passes to Green. Green shootsAND SHE SCORES! 10-0 GRYFFINDOR! I guess Diggory isn't all there at the moment!" The stands shook with cheering fans, and Lily whacked a bludger as far as she could in happiness. Amos Diggory looked disgusted with himself.

"Hufflepuff now has the Quaffle. Pawe passes to Wehng, Wehng to Pawe, Pawe to Wehngif Diggory's the one thinking up these strategies, he needs to go back to first year Flying. Anyway, back to the-erm-fascinating chaser action. Why lookie there, Pawe passed to Gill! It's got to be a revolution! Gill shootsand Gratzki blocks it! Yes! It seems like McKinnon and Hammond haven't seen any action yet. Ha, McKinnon and Hammondgod I'm good!" Ashley flipped Remus off, who smiled sweetly back at her. "So Green passes to Potter, and SH-I mean SCHNEIZER it's intercepted by Wehng! Wehng passes to-WHAT THE HE-I MEAN HECK JUST HAPPENED?" Jeremy Jolt, one of the Hufflepuff beaters had sent a bludger at Aria. She noticed it just before it was about to collide with her arm, and then, an extraordinary thing happened. Aria disappeared in a cloud of bluish-white light, and the bludger went straight through the area in which she had just been. A second later, she reappeared. There was total and complete silence throughout the stadium. All eyes were glued onto Aria, who hadn't the faintest idea why, until Ashley flew up to her and told her what had just happened. At first she laughed at her friend, thinking that it was some sort of joke. Then, when she realized Ashley was serious, she stopped laughing and stared at her in shock. All of a sudden, the crowd began to whisper excitedly amongst themselves. It was as if a huge gust of wind was blowing through the arena. Then, Professor Dumbledore descended to the field and talked with Madam Hooch for a minute, and then made his way back to his box.

"Resume play!" she screeched. "And the Headmaster would like to see you after the game, Gratzki." The two teams just floated in the air, unsure of what to do. "DID YOU HEAR ME? RESUME PLAY!" The game was resumed.

"Yes. Well. Uh, where are we?" Remus stuttered through his commentary, unsure of what to say. He didn't want to refer back to what had just occurred with Aria, and was trying to distract attention from her.

"Well what do you know, Hufflepuff still has the Quaffle. So Gill starts out-" Ashley stopped listening to the commentary. She wanted the game to end, one because she wanted to talk to Aria and find out what in the name of all things good and holy had just happened, and two because she knew that if the Snitch wasn't found soon, they would be playing into the night. Bludgers were harder to spot at night. She weaved her way across the field lazily. Here, Snitchey Snitchey Snitchey, here Snitchums. God, this is taking FOREVER! Where is that stupid-whoa what was that?~ Her keen eyes had spotted a flash of gold in the right corner of the pitch. She squinted to get a better look. It was the Golden Snitch. She dove as fast as her broom could dive towards the flashes of gold. This was what she loved, the rush of the game, the excitement, the pressure. Ashley quickly looked behind her. Hammond had seen her, and was following her. ~Fine. Let him come. All the more fun for me!~ Hammond kept coming, but at an alarmingly fast rate. ~Uh oh. Ok, whatever, I can still make it. Come on, Broomsie, you can do it old girl!~ Ashley and the Hufflepuff Seeker were now neck to neck. Neither one would give up until they had the Snitch, and both were convinced that they would catch it. But, with only one Snitch, which Seeker would?

Lily was very confused, to say the least, and she had been ever since Aria had pulled her disappearing act. They didn't tell me that Remus is a werewolf, so maybe they're keeping something about Aria from me. But, one look at Sirius overruled that thought. He looked as if a feather could have knocked him over. She giggled softly, a confused Sirius was rather hilarious. He was wide-eyed with astonishment, and he kept opening and closing his mouth, like a goldfish. Sirius looked like a small child that had just seen Mickey Mouse get drunk. Mickey Mouse drunk? Wowzers I scare myself sometimes-hey, what's Ash doing? Lily spotted Ashley and Hammond diving simultaneously for something that looked like a flash of gold. Holy shit, that's the Snitch! She sped off in search of a bludger. Soon, one found her instead, and she hit it in the direction of Hammond. Luckily, she had good aim, and the bludger was heading straight for him. Hammond looked back just in time to see it, and swerved out of the way. Seconds later, Ashley caught the Snitch.

"-aw shoot, Gill scored, 10-10. Whoa, what the-LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! McKinnon has caught the Snitch! GRYFFINDOR WINS, 160-10!" The crowd roared in happiness, and Ashley was soon lost as all of the Gryffindor Team tried to hug her at the same time.

"WAY TO GO ASH!"

"YEA MCKINNON!"

"WHOOHOO!"

"YOU WERE FRICKIN' BLOODY BRILLIANT!"

"Yea, I know I was," Ashley said, smiling. The Gryffindors headed back to the common room to celebrate their victory. An apprehensive Aria followed Professor Dumbledore to his office, and James couldn't help but wonder where Peter had gone.

Lupus Argenteus Noctus: Don't worry, Lily demands it in this chapter!

Xela: J . What more can I say? Thank you!

chickensoup3: I'll try not to!

Hermione the Best: Heeheehee thanks! Don't worry, if no more inspiration hits, someone will kick his ass.

SiriDragon: Wow, I'm honored that you think my work will be good before you read it! Thank you!

Lady Meriadoc: Thank you!

lady fuchsia: I luv Sirius too, he's really just a big softie at heart. Thanks, I've always thought it would be cool if I could see what characters were thinking, so there you go!

mistocean: Gee, thanks! Lily rocks!

Atlantis Forester: Aria might mean air in Italian, but it is also an opera song that dwells on one thought throughout the whole song. Thanks for telling me though!

Caz: Here you go!

Clavel: Remus is my favorite Marauder!

Princess pixie ice: Thank you!

Snufalufagus: Thanks!

WolfMoon: WhoopsiesI forgot to put that in there. Well, we'll just pretend that they lasted an hour and then they forgot about it :-P

Leech: Thank you very much!

lil lupin: LOL thank you! In reply to your question: if practice makes perfect and nobody is perfect, then why practice? Well, if you practice, you come closer to perfection!

unknown: Thank you ever so much for the lovely flame, it kept my nosie and my cute lil' fingers warm while I wrote this chapter!

Katlynn: I'll try my hardest!