.::*As promised, you've got a bigger part, Sheila.*::.

.::*Some of you (*cough*MICHELLE*cough*) have been complaining or asking me to reveal my intentions of my story or characters. If I hear any more of this (even whining about me not updating quickly enough), I will not update at all until I'm completely finished w/ my story. Mind you, the end is a very long way off. This is your first and final warning.*::.

.::*Brad keeps yelling at me for making him a *freakin' Hufflepuff* as he says. He also is a bit bothered that he disappeared completely. Haha. I had a different plan when I wrote him in but I changed my mind. I'm writing you in again, Brad. To make less work for me (which is a very very good thing), just pretend the chapters that mentioned Brad say *Ravenclaw* rather than *Hufflepuff*. The things I do for you people. ::rolls eyes::*::.

Chapter 15 - New Friendships

After breakfast, the Gryffindor team started practise at the Quidditch Pitch. Alicia, Katie, and Angelina pushed off the ground as soon as Ada handed them the quaffle. They were to practise passing it first. While Ada surveyed the three girls before starting with Harry, Oliver released the bludgers for Fred, George, and Michelle to club to each other.

"Okay, Harry. Since I hadn't the time to get more golf balls, you have to use the practise Snitch only. It's well to our advantage though. Go on up, and I'll release it," Ada commanded Harry.

Harry mounted his Firebolt and pushed off the ground. He flew straight up and waved back down to Ada. Ada released the Snitch and it disappeared for only a few moments before Harry spotted it. After he had caught it a few times, Ada called everyone back down to the field. Oliver, now feeling somewhat dizzy, was sitting on the sidelines watching. Ada went over a few plays and they all played a mock-game of Quidditch to test them.

The hour went by so quickly, everyone was disappointed practise came to an end. After showering, the team met once more.

"Great practise, everyone," Oliver congratulated as he took a seat next to Harry.

"Excellent, you lot. Simply brilliant. We'll beat Ravenclaw for sure," Ada started as she erased the play board, "Now. The game is at noon. You have six hours to rest up. This is our first game of the season and if you play like you practised, we'll start with a bang."

"Wizard crackers it is then," George decided.

"Get someone else to set them off. You have to be in here at eleven thirty," Ada smiled.

"I'll set 'em off. I'm on the sidelines anyway," Michelle offered, smiling at George.

"No way. That'll strip you of position, it will. You'll be revoked," Ada warned her sternly, "Anyway. That's all. Again, great practise. And don't forget. Eleven thirty."

Fred and George walked with Michelle on the way out. "Don't worry. Ada's just uptight about the game. You won't be revoked but you will be stripped," George chuckled.

"Keep your fantasies to yourself, aye, mate?" Fred said.

Michelle's face got pink but she laughed, "And will you be the one doing the stripping, Mr. Weasley?"

George's ears got red, "I suppose I could."

Ada, Oliver, and Harry walked behind them, listening in and whispering comments to each other at the opportune time.

Fred rolled his eyes, "Children, children. You don't have enough class. Be like me, for instance."

"A quickie in the bathroom during Potions? Classy, Fred," Ada spoke up.

"I'll have you know, Ada," Fred responded, walking backwards, "there's candlelight in those bathrooms."

Everyone laughed.

***

The Gryffindor team stepped into the castle just as the Ravenclaw team was stepping out. Emily and Sheila tagged on behind, talking and laughing madly. Brooke led the way, followed by Cho, Brad, and the two Beaters.

"How'd practise go, Fred?" Brooke asked, batting her eyelashes wildly.

Emily quickly walked over to Fred and grabbed his Beater's club, "Watch yourself, Brooke, or I'll chuck this at your head." She waved the club in front of Brooke, who flinched. Sheila, trying to hold in her laughter, burst into a loud snort that faded into a smooth laugh. Ada chuckled. Brooke turned on Sheila.

"I hope you're not laughing at me. If you can call that freakish noise a laugh. Go back to Durmstrang, you bloody reject," she growled coldly.

Emily lunged for Brooke but Fred pulled her back.

"Don't talk to her like that!" Ada spat. Sheila smiled faintly.

"Shove off, wench," Brooke snarled in reply.

Oliver stepped between Emily, Ada, and Brooke, "Alright, that's enough," he interjected, "Brooke, take your team and go. Emily, Ada, I suggest you learn some self control. You can't get into anymore trouble. Brooke...go on."

Brooke shot a cold stare at Ada and Emily before huffing away, "Come on, team. You too, Emily."

"Why the bloody hell did you stop us?!" Emily and Ada screamed at Oliver in unison.

"I'm a bloody teacher, that's why. It's my job to force students to avoid conflict."

"She can't talk to Sheila that way! She deserves to be thrown into the Whomping Willow, she does," Ada argued. Oliver rolled his eyes.

"Thanks for sticking up for me," Sheila smiled at Emily and Ada.

"Anytime, Sheila," Ada said.

"Yeah, what are friends for, aye?" Emily nudged Sheila. They began to walk off. "Bye, Fred," Emily swooned, "I'll see you after practise." She winked at him and pulled Sheila along.

"Bye then!" Fred called after them.

Sheila turned and walked backwards as she waved. She tripped over a rock and fell straight on her bum. Sheila and Emily burst into insane laughter and the Gryffindor team chuckled. Emily helped Sheila up, nearly falling herself, and they were off to their practise.

"Come on. I'm starved. It's time for a second breakfast," Alicia said as she pushed her way through her teammates, heading to the Great Hall. Katie and Angelina agreed, while giggling, and followed.

"Hiya, Harry. How was practise?" Ron and Hermione walked up, holding hands.

"Great, really," Harry answered, smiling at his friends, "How are you two?"

"We're fine," Ron replied.

"Oliver! You're alright! Oh dear, Ada was so worried. We were too of course. What are you doing out here? You should be in the Hospital Wing, resting!" Hermione excitedly suggested.

Oliver laughed, "I'm fine, really. Thanks though, Hermione."

"Oh, but you really should--"

Ron cupped his hand over her mouth to silence her. He grunted and quickly tore his hand away, wiping it on his pants in disgust. Hermione smiled widely. "Ugh! You licked my hand!" he screamed.

Fred and George chuckled. "Guess he hasn't discovered something else, has he?" Fred whispered. George found Fred's comment extremely amusing for some reason. He laughed so hard, he lost his footing on his step and tumbled to the floor, accidentally taking Michelle with him. She landed on top of him, her nose touching his. They both stuttered nervously.

Fred laughed, "Speaking of which..." He helped Michelle up. She almost fell again but he grabbed her. When her footing was stable, he helped George.

"That's what you get for making snide comments about me!" Ron hissed at his brothers.

"Oh, posh. How do you know it was about you?" George hissed back, straightening out his robes.

"Fifteen years of you two...I better know your tricks."

"Ah, but we're ever-changing," Fred smiled, "A revolutionary of pranks and 'snide comments'. We're paving a golden road for others to follow. Above and beyond we will go to achieve--"

Ada elbowed Fred in the stomach, "Pipe up, will you? Honestly, you never stop, you two."

"Yeah, pipe up, George. You never shut up," Fred said as seriously as he could as he elbowed his brother in the stomach.

Oliver whispered something to Ada. She smiled as her fingers interlaced with his, "We're gonna go. I'll see you lot later," she said happily.

"I bet I know where they're going. His dormitory is perfect for that sort of thing, you know," George nudged Michelle.

Harry began to feel uneasy. He felt like he needed to stop Ada from going with Oliver. He stared at the floor.

"What's wrong, Harry?" Hermione inquired caringly.

"Nothing..." Harry said looking away from the floor, "Nothing, I'm fine. Ready to go?"

Ron and Hermione nodded, looking at Harry curiously, and the trio made their way to Gryffindor Tower.

***

The Ravenclaw team had just finished practising. Emily and Sheila were waiting for their teammates.

"You really are an excellent Chaser, Sheila. You should think about playing professionally after we graduate," Emily complimented while she toyed with a practise Snitch.

"Thanks. Maybe we should try out for the same team," Sheila smiled back, tossing a quaffle into the air and catching it.

"Nah. I've considered professional Quidditch but I really want to be an Auror. And Auror with season tickets to all the games, that is."

Sheila laughed, "So what's going on between you and Weasley?"

Emily shrugged, "I guess you could call us boyfriend and girlfriend. Neither of us asked the other out. It just kind of happened."

"I see. And is Mr. Wood spoken for? If so, is it by a student? And is that legal here?"

Emily laughed at hearing Sheila call Oliver 'Mr. Wood', "No one's quite sure if it's legal or not. I don't think laws would matter much to Ada or Oliver. Fred's told me what Oliver has said about Ada and of course I know Ada's feelings on the matter. I say they're very much in love but neither notices it yet."

"And the blond Slytherin boy with the attitude?"

Emily scowled, "Malfoy? He sleeps around most likely. He only talks to Slytherins unless he's insulting someone. Greasy-haired git...the Malfoys are openly known as very loyal followers of You-Know-Who."

Sheila's eyebrows raised, "Really? Why aren't they in Azkaban?"

"No one can get proof of their loyalty. Everyone just knows."

"Well, I think he's sexy," Sheila smiled, starry-eyed.

Emily gagged and dropped the practise Snitch, "Ugh. You would," she said, appalled. Emily pushed Sheila into a pile of worn out quaffles. Sheila laughed and picked one up and threw it at Emily. Emily ducked and heard a loud KONK and a scream. She looked at Sheila who was covering her mouth and turning red from trying to keep from laughing. Emily turned and saw Brooke holding her face with both hands. Emily slowly started to laugh in disbelief.

"Why," Brooke choked, "did you fucking throw a fucking quaffle at my face?!"

Sheila exploded with laughter, "Because--I--didn't--have--a bludger!" Sheila was holding her stomach now, tears rolling down her face. Emily laughed as well.

Brooke stomped out of the locker room, swearing.

"I guess there's no pep talk then, aye, Emily?" Sheila said, regaining control.

"Y--yeah," Emily managed to spurt out.