-CHAPTER SIX-
Quidditch
"There are going to be some changes to the Gryffindor team this year," Said Madame Hooch looking at each member of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. There was a brisk wind blowing over the Quidditch pitch where they now all stood. "Obviously, with Wood gone this year. Your team is in need of a new Keeper, along with a Captain. Now, I have discussed with your head of house what the best solution would be. As Miss Shermwood has undoubtedly already told you,"
Hooch looked over to Alexa, whose face was now turning a bright pink. "She is going to be the new Keeper, but not Captain-"
Harry looked around at each member of the team curiously. Who had Hooch chosen to be the new Captain?
It was a big responsibility. Scheduling the practices, coming up with new game plots. It took a lot of time out of your life.
Was it Fred or George maybe? No... Not possible. Hooch could not even tell them apart.
Angelina Johnson then? Or maybe it was-Harry stopped mid thought when he noticed Hooch's cat like, yellow eyes watching him. His own green eyes widened, and he was about to speak when she continued.
"No worries Potter. It's not you we've chosen," She said archly.
"We've decided on a method quite different. Dumbledore, please step forward,"
From the shadows of the Quidditch pitch (which Harry did not even know existed) Skye appeared.
"While Miss Dumbledore may be forbidden from playing Quidditch, there is no rule saying you can't use her skills and talents to your teams advantage." Hooch paused, "You can thank Professor McGonagall for finding that loop hole."
And then, turning to Skye she gave her one critical look. "Apparalus Robus Quidditch!"
Harry watched as purple sparks surrounding Skye, and her black, Gryffindor robes were instantly changed into the common dark red and gold robes they all wore. She looked at herself, and then smiled proudly.
"Alright," Said Skye and she clapped her hands together smiling bravely. "Let's go, we've got lots to do!"
*
Harry had never flown so hard and so much in his entire life. Skye had plenty of good ideas and strategies, he had to give her that. But she was absolutely fanatic. Like a female version of Wood.
And as he climbed the first staircase up to the Gryffindor common room he felt as if he would collapse right there he thought maybe she might even be worse that Wood.
By the time he got back to the Gryffindor Common room Ron and Hermoine were just leaving to go down to the Great Hall for dinner.
"Harry! What happened to you? You look like you've been run over by a hippogriff!" Commented Ron.
"Practice-Skye Dumbledore-Captain," Harry managed to pant before dropping himself into one of the cushy common room chairs.
"Bloody mad that girl is," Said Fred stepping through the portrait into the room. "A Quidditch genius maybe. But bloody mad just the same,"
"Why thank you Fredrick," Said Skye walking in behind them, an eagle owl perched on one arm and a green envelope in the other hand. "I assume you're talking about me, seeing as I'm the only mad person you know. Well, besides Oliver," She gave a benign grin, much like Professor Dumbledore's.
"And Ron," Added George. "Did you know he was caught in the girl's bathroom one time?"
"Now that is mad," Fred quipped.
Ron's ears turned pink as Skye looked to him with one curious eyebrow raised.
But infact, it was true. In their second year Harry, Ron and Hermoine had been working on a Polyjuice Potion as part of their plot to find out who the Heir of Slytherin might be. Because they needed privacy, they had chosen the perfect place to make the potion; In the third floor, girls bathroom. No one ever went into it, because Moaning Myrtle was in there and she was constantly flooding the sinks and toilets. Myrtle had died in that very bathroom over fifty years ago, when she was killed by a Basilisk. And she still haunted her cubicle (not to mention the whole bathroom) until this day.
"Let me guess," Said Skye slowly. "Bright pink ears... Brown eyes..." She smiled with a small grin to Fred and George. "Dashing red hair... You must be a Weasley,"
Ron's ears turned even brighter as his older brothers burst out into fits of laughter at his embarrassment. Ron wasn't very good at receiving compliments, and so he stood staring wide-eyed at the blond girl, blushing uncontrollably. It reminded him much of Ron's younger sister Ginny, whenever Harry spoke to her. Even Harry laughed, but then glancing at Hermoine he saw the look as if she might go mad herself.
*
The next few days passed without any trouble, well unless you counted Neville Longbottom's usual accidental-prone habits; melting cauldrons, losing his pet toad Trevor and accidentally blowing up as many things as he could.
Potions was the worst of all, as always. Snape seemed to have become even more vindictive. (If that was at all possible...) Whatever Professor Dumbledore had asked him to do over the summer, didn't seem to have happened. Obviously, the return of the Dark Lord had not disturbed his hate for all Gryffindors.
But there was one thing that differed this years Potions class from all the others.
Skye.
No matter what question Snape asked, she almost always had the answer. And when she didn't, Hermoine did. But the worst was when they both had the answer. Snape would taunt them both, and then ask someone who obviously didn't know the answer, like poor Neville. Which unfortunately would lead to Gryffindor losing points.
Skye, Amy and Alexa seemed to be in all of Harry and Ron's classes this year. (Even Divination, which they all detested.) And although Harry had always perceived Alexa as a quiet person, it seemed she spoke a large portion of the time. (Skye of course, always seemed to be running of to do something, which could only be Quidditch oriented...) And Amy had slowly begun to speak with them. Well, mostly just to Harry, which made him feeling special.
Harry looked over at Skye now, sitting in one of the common room chairs, reading a copy of "Transfigurations: Level Four Advanced".
Amy sat in the chair next to her, and directly across from Harry curled up, reading her "Monster Book of Monsters," and taking notes. Ever since Hagrid had shown their class the Aitruses, Harry noticed she seemed to be reading all she could about them. Staring at her now, Harry felt like he was in a daze, her dark brown hair hung elegantly, shining and reflecting in the colours of the blazing fire near them. It was almost as if-
"C'mon Hermoine! Please!" Ron pleaded. "We need to fill ten parchments and I've only got seven done! Just one little peak!"
Hermoine looked up from her book long enough to give Ron an 'as-if' look, and then returned to her reading. She seemed dependant on beating Skye at everything and anything, although Harry wasn't quite sure why. (Ron had said that it probably was a "Girl thing,". And that they shouldn't interfere.)
Frankly, Harry was more excited about their first lesson the next day. The time had finally come for their first Defence Against The Dark Arts class since the return of the Dark Lord himself, Lord Voldemort.
*
But Harry was not the only one curious about this years' Defence Against the Dark Arts class. It seemed it was all the school houses could talk about. Except for Slytherin of course, who for once, all bit their tongues. (Even Malfoy.)
It did not help that the fifth year Gryffindors' class was with Slytherin, but Harry had come to accept that and did not really mind. He had heard from older Gryffindors that Mad-Eye Moody, an Ex-Aurora was still teaching the class. Moody had also taught the class the year before, or so everyone had thought. At the end of the TriWizard Cup Tournament, it had turned out that a one of Lord Voldemort's followers (A Death Eater) had been drinking a Polyjuice Potion all year long, pretending to be Moody.
And as Harry stood outside the classroom door with Ron, Hermoine, Amy, Alexa and Skye they looked around eagerly. All of the Gryffindors that were taking Defence Against the Dark Arts were so excited, they had all queued up in a line outside the door before the bell had even rang.
"Look at all the little Gryffindors all in a row," Sneered Malfoy as the Slytherins came walking down the hallway. He stopped at Neville, who was standing beside Seamus Finnigan attempting to hide. "Hope Moody will teach you something useful Longbottom? Even if he does, it's not like you'll be able to use it,"
Neville's face flushed, and Harry stepped forward. "Back off Malfoy,"
"And here comes the ever popular Potter," Malfoy drawled. "To save the day, again," Harry heard a few Slytherin laugh as he slowly clutched his wand. But someone put their hand on his arm, stopping him. He turned, and surprised looked at Skye. "Save it for the Quidditch Pitch Harry,"
At that moment, the door to the classroom swung open. Glaring one last time at Malfoy, Harry headed into the room.
Moody pulled out the register as they all took their seats, and began to call the roll. While his normal eye was focused on the list in his hands, Moody's magical eye wandered about the classroom watching the students.
"I thought he was only staying one year," Whispered Seamus. "That's what he said last year," Moody turn on his wooden heel, having obviously heard Seamus's remark.
"Correction, Mr. Finnigan. That was Barty Crouch, a Death Eater. Besides," Moody's magical eye looked in Harry's direction. "I'm here as a special favour to a few people,"
He clapped his weathered old hands together and looked around the class room. "Now, last year you lot worked on curses. The Unforgivables. And we'll be working on those some more, but for right now, Headmaster Dumbledore is here,"
Everyone in the classroom looked to the closed door, and even though they all knew Moody's magical eye could see through anything, a few students gasped as Professor Dumbledore walked into the classroom. Harry noticed Skye smile warmly at her God father, she seemed to have the same mystical twinkle in her eyes as he did.
Meanwhile Malfoy, who sat on the other side of the room looked as if he'd just eaten a boogey-flavoured bean. Dumbledore took his place at the head of the classroom.
"Gryffindors," He said to one side of the room. "Slytherins," The glitter from his eyes faded quickly, and his old wrinkled face took on a stern look.
"You all know why I am here. I do not think I need to repeat myself, but I will say this. Nothing is to be taking lightly this term. It is for your own safety we have taken many precautions. Common activities like house rivalries," Dumbledore met Harry's gaze, then looked to Malfoy.
"I have discussed this terms' curriculum with Professor Moody and we have decided on a combination of review for your Ordinary Wizard Levels and counter curses," He looked around the classroom, meeting the eyes of several students as he spoke. "That is all. You may have your classroom back now," He nodded once to Moody, and then walked out of the room.
There was hushed murmurs around the room, which was caught short by Moody stepping into the middle of the classroom once more. "As Dumbledore has told you, you all need to stay alert and watchful. Constant vigilance!
"You'll be wanting to bring your "The Dark Forces, Past & Present Protection," with you to this class. It's got a checklist of curses and counter curses yeh've got to be able to do.
"Unfortunately, there'll be less hands on learning of curses this year. And although now a days a Dark Wizard, or Witch is more likely to just attack you, we'll be working on duelling. Both formally, and informally. Any questions?" Hermoine and Skye's hands both shot up in the air, Hermoine's almost hitting Ron in the face with her elbow.
"Granger?"
"Will we be needing any of the OWLs workbooks this term?"
"We'll be doing theory work, Granger. But I think you're other teachers will be covering that lot,"
Hermoine turned a pale shade of crimson as a few Slytherin snickered.
As Moody continued speaking, his wooden foot clunking loudly as we walked Harry realized how well of a copycat Barty Crouch had actually been. Not only had he tricked the students and staff (Even Professor Dumbledore) into believing he really was Mad Eye Moody, but he had gotten all of Moody's mannerisms down as well.
"Always be alert," Moody said for what seemed like the millionth time. "Never let your guard done, because who knows who you can truly trust? Don't assume anything," Moody paused, and if Harry had not known better, he would have said it was for dramatic effect. "Now, onto the lesson!" Moody turned around and clunked his way over to his desk, but a few steps away from it he turned sharply, pointing his wand at the Gryffindors and shouted,
"Petrificulus Immobuli!"
"Expelliarmus!"
Moody was pushed back a few feet, almost knocked over by the looks of it. The classroom erupted in shock, as they all turned to see Amy's wand, still poised in her hand. Moody simply nodded chuckling to himself and dusted his cloak off.
"Well done Elddir. Well done! Five points to Gryffindor,"
The Gryffindor cheered and clapped proudly. "Blimey! That's ten points already! In the first week of term!" Ron commented. "How come we never noticed her before?"
Harry shrugged watching Amy curiously. "I don't know Ron... I don't know..."
Chapter 7: Hallow's Eve Celebration
