AN/: Phewf! Another chapter up and ready to read (and review wink wink). I hope you enjoy it as much as the last few. It's building up for the next chapter- which is a bit of an exciting one. But I wont give anything away just yet. You'll have to wait and see. Thankyou to everyone that has commented, it is much appreciated. Merci! (That's for you Cinnamon!). Toodles guys, luv Courtney. PS REPLY!!!

Chapter 7: Playing Games

'Fifty points from Gryffindor... and detentions for all of you.'

Just as they had expected, Snape had been delighted when Harry, Ron, Hermione, Vienna, Seamus, Neville and Parvati had all turned up five minutes late for class.

'Please! Professor Snape, it wasn't our fault. We learnt colour charms, and then someone started a fight-'

'I don't want to hear your excuses, Miss Granger.' Snape was unconcerned and unmerciful as usual. 'Maybe you and your friends should think of the consequences before you engage in silly fights next time...'

'This isn't fair!' Ron interjected angrily.

'I can make them double detentions if you would prefer Mr Weasley...'

Before Harry could argue, Jay, who was sitting next to Draco up the front, raised his hand.

'Excuse me Professor, but would it be possible for me to say something?' Jay asked politely.

'I suppose...' Snape turned to face him with an intrigued look on his face.

'Well I am not trying to undermine you in anyway, but I do think the punishment that you have specified is perhaps a little too harsh. These students were obviously held up in Professor Flitwick's class. It would be unreasonable for these few to be punished where it was the doing of the whole class...' Jay looked nervously at Snape to see his reaction.

Snape was considering his words almost painfully, as if some sort of moral battle was taking place inside his head. 'I see where you are coming from Jay...' he said slowly. 'I think I might have been a tad hasty with my punishments...' it looked like his words were some how internally hurting him, even though his face remained formidable.

'Twenty points from Gryffindor, but no detentions... now get to work!'

The whole class was in shock. Snape softening his punishments just because a student asked? Vienna smiled gratefully at Jay as she sat down next to Harry a few rows back. It was a very kind thing to do for them. Jay smiled back proudly.

'Still got a grudge?' Hermione asked Harry and Ron complacently.

'Spose not...' Ron replied.

Secretly Harry had a strong suspicion that Jay was either blackmailing Snape, or was his best mate. Why else would his input be so influential?

The class went by pretty quickly after that, everyone quietly wondering whether Jay would suggest something else to Snape. Soon the class had ended, and as Vienna was following Ron out the door, she stopped to thank Jay.

'That was such a nice thing to do! Thanks a lot!' She said, pulling him over to one side.

'Not a problem. I didn't think Snape was being very fair...' Jay was so gracious, and his cute grin gave Vienna goosebumps.

'Just one question...' Vienna asked curiously. 'What did you do to Snape to get him to listen to you?'

Jay laughed, his warm smile reaching impossible limits of his face. 'Well, don't spread it, but Snape has the hots for my Auntie, and he thinks that if he's nice to me, I'll put a good word in for him. Hilarious huh?'

'Oh yuk... I hope you warned your Auntie!' Vienna laughed, but then seeing Harry waiting impatiently further down the corridor made her decide it was time to go. 'Well thanks again, the others are just as grateful.'

'Any time... hope to see you around...' Jay replied charmingly.

Harry watched with loathing as Jay seized Vienna in a cosy hug. A wave of unmistakable jealously washed over Harry, as Vienna walked over to him smiling brightly.

'What a nice guy, saving us from Snape! Don't you think?'

Harry could have said a lot of things about Jay other than nice, but all he managed was a pitiful 'yeah.'

'So, what have we got next?' Vienna's chirpy tone was frustrating.

'Care Of Magical Creatures.'

'Great!' She said keenly, 'let's go! I hope we are still grooming the flickerwolves!'

'Uh huh' It was like Cho Chang all over again, Harry thought to himself. Of course Vienna would like the better-looking-nice-guy-Jay over him.

*****************

The first week of school at Hogwarts came and went. Vienna supposed it was because she was enjoying herself. The conversation with Dumbledore had been almost totally erased from her mind, what with the new teachers, classes and people. When the weekend came, Vienna was exhausted.

'Well, what are we going to do today?' Ron asked, as they sat at the Gryffindor table eating breakfast.

'I was planning on going to the library to read up on some stuff for History of Magic...' Hermione said, pouring some pumpkin juice.

'You're not serious, are you?' Ron said, groaning.

'Yes, I am.' Hermione replied darkly.

'I think I might go have a bit of a practise on my broom,' Harry exclaimed. 'I've been itching to get on it all through the holidays, and Gryffindor's first match is only three weeks away.' Looking hopefully at Vienna, he added 'Would you like to come and watch Vee?'

'That would be great!' She said eagerly, 'as long as I get a go.'

'Count me in as well,' said Ron, 'sorry Hermione, but you'll just have to go it alone in the library.'

Hermione sighed loudly. 'Oh all right! I'll just grab the book and meet you out there then.'

'Okay. See you soon.' Harry, Vienna and Ron were already walking upstairs to the Gryffindor common room.

Harry was particularly pleased that about what they were doing. He would be able to get some badly needed practise in and, perhaps, even be able to impress Vienna with his flying skills.

'Wow! A Firebolt!' Vienna definitely liked his broom, that's for sure. 'These are world standard. Bet Draco's annoyed, dad only got him a Nimbus Two-thousand and One.'

'Yeah, it's really good. Just watch Harry fly when we get outside,' Ron said proudly.

'Did you buy it?' Vienna wondered just how wealthy Harry was if he could afford a Firebolt.

'No, it was a present from my Godfather.' As they walked out to the pitch, Harry filled Vienna in about Sirius.

It was an unusually clear day. The sun was peeking cheerily through the large white clouds that had accumulated in the blue sky. A gentle breeze was blowing as Harry, Ron and Vienna approached the quidditch pitch, which was in immaculate condition. Vienna flopped down carelessly onto the soft grass, as Harry mounted his broom and hovered a few metres above.

'I won't be too long, I promise!' he said, effortlessly zooming up into the sky above.

She watched him, lying on her back with her hands behind her head, as he whizzed and darted around, turning sharply and looping the loop. It was obvious he was a great flier she thought, as out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ron collapse down beside her.

'Nice down here isn't it?' she asked drowsily. The warm sun pouring in on her face was making her sleepy.

'Yeah,' Ron said, rolling over to face her. 'So did you play any quidditch at Durmstrang?'

'Ha ha, just a bit.' Vienna laughed. 'When Viktor got into the national team, our school kind of went crazy. It was a bit of an obsession...' She paused, thinking of something else. 'Speaking of Krum... I was just wondering if there was anything between you and Hermione... not meaning to pry of course...'

Ron looked like he was going to dismiss Vienna's question, but after a few seconds of thought, he spoke.

'Oh... well I don't really know myself. I mean we are friends, but...' he trailed off.

'Well do you like her more than that?' Vienna asked quietly.

'I guess... I mean last year we had the Yule Ball, and I wanted this girl from Beauxbatons to go with me... but she said no, so I asked Hermione... and Krum had already asked her...and I dunno... I felt kind of jealous...' Ron was doing his best to explain.

'Does she like you in the same way?'

'Well after the ball, we had an argument... I was angry... she said I should have asked her first... so I don't know... 'Ron looked gloomy.

'Don't worry...' Vienna had an idea, 'I might have a chat to her...' seeing his disobliging stare, she quickly added, 'but I wont say anything to her about it okay!'

'Oh... that would be good,' Ron said looking relieved.

At that moment there was a muffled thud. Looking up Vienna and Ron saw that Harry had touched down.

'Had fun?' She asked, standing up and stretching.

'Yes. It's lovely up there.' Harry replied, trying to flatten his messy hair, which had been teased by the wind. 'You still want a go?'

'Of course I do' Vienna said cheekily, snatching the broom off him.

'So you know how to fly?' Harry asked.

'Err no,' Vienna lied, curious to see what Harry would do. She winked at Ron, who played along, staying silent.

Harry looked at her sideways. 'Really? You want me to teach you?'

Vienna nodded harmlessly. An idea had surfaced in her head. He motioned for the broom, and after she had handed it over, Harry signalled for her to hop on in front of him. Vienna obeyed willingly, still playing dumb, as Harry pushed up off the ground and soared speedily upwards. She secretly laughed as Harry used the opportunity to slip a protective hand around her waist, no doubt for "safety reasons."

'Wow, this is awesome Harry,' Vienna said smoothly, looking down at the tiny dot that was Ron far below.

Harry felt especially proud to be giving Vienna a flying lesson, little did he know what Vienna was going to do next. 'Want to have a go steering?' he asked.

Sure' she answered.

'Grip the broom tightly' Harry instructed. Vienna wrapped her hands tightly around the broom's body. 'Now gently lean to the- Arrrrrrgh!!!'

Vienna had launched the Firebolt into a terrifying free fall. Harry gasped as the ground hurtled forwards to meet them, oblivious to the fact that Vienna, a gleeful expression on her face, was controlling the broom.

Just before the ground was upon them, she gracefully steered the broom so it was almost skimming the grass.

Ron, standing a short distance away, was clapping and cheering. Harry, still stunned from the dive, finally spoke.

'Can't fly huh? Never trusting you again...' He was positively furious with her...