Disclaimer: Alas, I do not own any of the characters in this story. They
are all creation of the wonderful J.K. Rowling. The only characters I do
own are Angeline, Lyle, and a few lesser characters that will pop up to
visit from time to time.
~Chapter 9~
"Have you noticed that Fred and George have been acting a little odd lately?" Harry was carrying his firebolt out to the Quidditch field for practice. The first game of the year was Ravenclaw versus Gryffindor, and their new captain, Alicia, had started practicing the team three weeks ago. Even though Ravenclaw and Gryffindor weren't normally rivals on a large scale, their new keepers were extremely competitive transfer students from Durmstrang, and no one was sure what a threat that they posed.
"They're always acting odd. It think it's a requirement to be a twin or something."
"No, Ron, I mean seriously weird. Ever since we came back from Hogsmeade they've been stuck together and not talking to anyone else."
"Ah, they're just all wrapped up in their joke shop enterprise. They'll be 'normal' again in a few weeks. Hey, I'll see you after practice. I've got to meet Hermione up in the library." Ron rolled his eyes, smiled, and headed off. Harry hurried out to the field.
As Harry crossed the field, he noticed Alicia had not yet arrived with the balls, so he took the opportunity to approach Fred and George. "Is anything going on with you two?" Harry asked cautiously, not wanting to upset them or draw attention.
Fred and George gave one another a pensive glance. "Do you mind if we ask you a question?"
"Not at all."
"Who did we have an appointment with in the last month?"
"Mr. Salister, why?"
Fred and George nodded approvingly and continued. "Sorry, Harry, but we had to make sure that you were really you," Fred explained.
"What?"
"Okay," George began, "We don't know exactly what's going on, but when we were in Hogsmeade, we say two Snapes, two McGonagalls, and Sprout."
Harry was now thoroughly confused. "Perhaps you two have had one too many trick wands aimed at you. How could you see two Snapes and two McGonagalls… unless someone used a Polyjuice potion," Harry had just answered his own question. George and Fred nodded in agreement. Harry's mind began working overtime. "But why those two, and why in front of so many people. They could have been caught."
"We're still not sure. That's shy we decided to tell you. If someone was trying to get into the school, they could only get in if they were student, faculty, or Ministry Administration. We figure that whoever let that troll in the first day of classes must have been disguised as a Hogwarts student or teacher all this time."
"Do you still have the Marauder's Map?" George piped in.
"It's in Dumbledore's office. He kept it after the fake Mad Eyed Moody used it and killed Crouch." Harry stopped. He felt a shot of guilt run through his body. If he hadn't allowed anyone to see the map, Crouch might not have been killed.
"Do you think you could get it?"
"I don't know… Why don't we just tell Dumbledore?"
"How will we know its really Dumbledore? It could be an imposter."
"You two are beginning to sound like Moody. Only Dumbledore can get into his office. We'll simply get into his office. We'll simply request to speak to him there."
"Not yet, Harry," Fred warned. "For right now, we three are the only ones we can trust."
"If we need to talk further about this," George added, "We'll need a password that only we know." He thought hard and then whispered in Fred's and Harry's ears, "Red spot Berty Bott."
Alicia finally crossed the field carrying the Quidditch equipment. With that, practice began. After two hours of maneuvers and trial runs across the field, Alicia decided that they had practiced well, and everyone headed inside to prepare for dinner.
The next day was filled with excited students rushing out to the Quidditch field. Snape, too, was on his way out to the field when he glanced in the Arithmancy class. The two Atwoods seemed to be arguing about something.
"And I'm telling you that it's not true. Why would I do something so stupid?"
"I don't know," Angeline looked unconvinced at her brother's remark.
"Do you really distrust me that much?" Lyle gave her a hurt look. "Has that greasy git been feeding you lies about me or something?"
"No, and stop calling him that." Angeline gave Lyle a warning glare. "The only greasy git here is you."
"That hurts, Ange."
Angeline rolled her eyes and pushed some books into Lyle's arms. "Make yourself useful and take these back to the library."
Lyle looked meaningfully at his sister. "You do believe me, don't you? I mean, you know I'd never do anything that could cause you to get hurt."
"Okay, maybe you didn't do it, but I still think you know a lot more than you're letting on."
Snape, realizing the time and not wanting Angeline to miss her first Quidditch match, stepped into the classroom and cleared his throat. The siblings turned and faced the door. "I hope that I'm not interrupting anything, but the game is about to start." Snape mustered a cold, contorted half smile at Lyle.
"As a matter of fact~" Lyle began.
"No. We were just getting ready to head out to the field," Angeline interrupted before Lyle could make any snide remarks. She moved towards the door to join Snape and turned back only to see Lyle clutching the side of the desk, knuckles white, to keep from heading after Snape.
"Is everything alright?" Snape questioned, curious to discover what Angeline was accusing Lyle of.
"What," she said, her mind obviously somewhere else, "Oh, yes. Lyle and I just don't see eye to eye on a lot of things, that's all." Snape wanted to press the matter further, but elected to wait until a more suitable time. Moments later they were in the stands and the game began.
As Madam Hooch released the quaffle into the air, excited screams and cheers rose from the crowd. Harry watched patiently for the snitch as did the new Ravenclaw seeker, a second-year named James Applebee.
The announcer excitedly proclaimed Gryffindor's first ten points as Ravenclaw stole the ball and shot across the field. Just as the quaffle was thrown towards the hoop, Angelina knocked it back into Gryffindor territory while just barely dodging a bludger that George couldn't seem to get control of.
Snape glanced over at Angeline. Any hard feelings that she had exchanged with her brother had melted away for the moment as she smiled excitedly trying to keep up with every little movement of the players. "Who would have ever thought of using brooms for a sport," she mumbled in her amazement.
Lyle sat down on the other side of Angeline and looked quite unimpressed with the entire display.
From the opposite side of the field, Harry spotted the snitch just in front of the professors' stand. He raced straight at it, noticing that James had also spotted it. The two slammed into one another, side by side, and aimed straight at where the professors were sitting. The snitch shot straight up in the air at the last second, and both boys pulled hard at their brooms to compensate. Several teachers gasped out of relief. Just as James reached out to grab the snitch, it again changed course, giving Harry an advantage as it shot toward the ground. By the time James had turned, Harry had his hand around it. He raised the snitch in triumph just as a bludger slammed hard into his arm and sent him flying off his firebolt and to the ground. Luckily, he wasn't far enough up to do any permanent damage. He hit the ground and rolled, the snitch still in his hand. Immediately, he pulled out his wand and yelled, "Accio firebolt!" The broom came back to him in one piece. He had lost his faithful Numbus 2000 to the Womping Willow two years prior, and he was not going to allow the same fate to come to the firebolt.
Angeline ran to where Harry stood as the crowd cheered wildly. As the Ravenclaws and Gryffindors shook hands, Angeline checked Harry's arm. "Broken again," she looked at him as though she were sorry.
"It's alright. I've broken more bones at Hogwarts than I have in my entire life. Madam Pomfrey will fix it, I'm sure." He grimaced a bit. As many times as he'd broken his arm, it still hurt each time as though it was a first. Harry managed a smile and headed off to the medical wing with Ron and Hermione at his side.
"That boy will do anything for attention," Snape proclaimed from behind Angeline.
She gave him a look of pity and almost irritation. "I don't think he's out to get attention, Severus. I think he's simply trying to be a normal teenage wizard." She looked him straight in the eyes. "What is it that makes you harbor so much hatred for the boy?"
"Nothing that I need to explain to you," Snape remarked in a short manner, not wanting to go into a long, detailed explanation of his past with Harry and the boy's parents, James and Lily.
Angeline took the remark a bit more rudely than Snape had intended. "Very well then. I shall leave you to your thoughts." She turned and walked briskly back to the building.
Snape stood alone and watched her for a few seconds. "I simply meant," he mumbled to himself, "that you wouldn't be interested." He shook his head, frustrated, and proceeded across the field. As he did, Lyle grinned evilly at him from a few feet away and spoke just loud enough that Snape could hear.
"Poor, poor Sevi. What's the matter? Can't turn on the charms anymore?"
Snape resisted the increasing urge to snap Lyle's legs with a breaking spell as he went to his quarters.
~Chapter 9~
"Have you noticed that Fred and George have been acting a little odd lately?" Harry was carrying his firebolt out to the Quidditch field for practice. The first game of the year was Ravenclaw versus Gryffindor, and their new captain, Alicia, had started practicing the team three weeks ago. Even though Ravenclaw and Gryffindor weren't normally rivals on a large scale, their new keepers were extremely competitive transfer students from Durmstrang, and no one was sure what a threat that they posed.
"They're always acting odd. It think it's a requirement to be a twin or something."
"No, Ron, I mean seriously weird. Ever since we came back from Hogsmeade they've been stuck together and not talking to anyone else."
"Ah, they're just all wrapped up in their joke shop enterprise. They'll be 'normal' again in a few weeks. Hey, I'll see you after practice. I've got to meet Hermione up in the library." Ron rolled his eyes, smiled, and headed off. Harry hurried out to the field.
As Harry crossed the field, he noticed Alicia had not yet arrived with the balls, so he took the opportunity to approach Fred and George. "Is anything going on with you two?" Harry asked cautiously, not wanting to upset them or draw attention.
Fred and George gave one another a pensive glance. "Do you mind if we ask you a question?"
"Not at all."
"Who did we have an appointment with in the last month?"
"Mr. Salister, why?"
Fred and George nodded approvingly and continued. "Sorry, Harry, but we had to make sure that you were really you," Fred explained.
"What?"
"Okay," George began, "We don't know exactly what's going on, but when we were in Hogsmeade, we say two Snapes, two McGonagalls, and Sprout."
Harry was now thoroughly confused. "Perhaps you two have had one too many trick wands aimed at you. How could you see two Snapes and two McGonagalls… unless someone used a Polyjuice potion," Harry had just answered his own question. George and Fred nodded in agreement. Harry's mind began working overtime. "But why those two, and why in front of so many people. They could have been caught."
"We're still not sure. That's shy we decided to tell you. If someone was trying to get into the school, they could only get in if they were student, faculty, or Ministry Administration. We figure that whoever let that troll in the first day of classes must have been disguised as a Hogwarts student or teacher all this time."
"Do you still have the Marauder's Map?" George piped in.
"It's in Dumbledore's office. He kept it after the fake Mad Eyed Moody used it and killed Crouch." Harry stopped. He felt a shot of guilt run through his body. If he hadn't allowed anyone to see the map, Crouch might not have been killed.
"Do you think you could get it?"
"I don't know… Why don't we just tell Dumbledore?"
"How will we know its really Dumbledore? It could be an imposter."
"You two are beginning to sound like Moody. Only Dumbledore can get into his office. We'll simply get into his office. We'll simply request to speak to him there."
"Not yet, Harry," Fred warned. "For right now, we three are the only ones we can trust."
"If we need to talk further about this," George added, "We'll need a password that only we know." He thought hard and then whispered in Fred's and Harry's ears, "Red spot Berty Bott."
Alicia finally crossed the field carrying the Quidditch equipment. With that, practice began. After two hours of maneuvers and trial runs across the field, Alicia decided that they had practiced well, and everyone headed inside to prepare for dinner.
The next day was filled with excited students rushing out to the Quidditch field. Snape, too, was on his way out to the field when he glanced in the Arithmancy class. The two Atwoods seemed to be arguing about something.
"And I'm telling you that it's not true. Why would I do something so stupid?"
"I don't know," Angeline looked unconvinced at her brother's remark.
"Do you really distrust me that much?" Lyle gave her a hurt look. "Has that greasy git been feeding you lies about me or something?"
"No, and stop calling him that." Angeline gave Lyle a warning glare. "The only greasy git here is you."
"That hurts, Ange."
Angeline rolled her eyes and pushed some books into Lyle's arms. "Make yourself useful and take these back to the library."
Lyle looked meaningfully at his sister. "You do believe me, don't you? I mean, you know I'd never do anything that could cause you to get hurt."
"Okay, maybe you didn't do it, but I still think you know a lot more than you're letting on."
Snape, realizing the time and not wanting Angeline to miss her first Quidditch match, stepped into the classroom and cleared his throat. The siblings turned and faced the door. "I hope that I'm not interrupting anything, but the game is about to start." Snape mustered a cold, contorted half smile at Lyle.
"As a matter of fact~" Lyle began.
"No. We were just getting ready to head out to the field," Angeline interrupted before Lyle could make any snide remarks. She moved towards the door to join Snape and turned back only to see Lyle clutching the side of the desk, knuckles white, to keep from heading after Snape.
"Is everything alright?" Snape questioned, curious to discover what Angeline was accusing Lyle of.
"What," she said, her mind obviously somewhere else, "Oh, yes. Lyle and I just don't see eye to eye on a lot of things, that's all." Snape wanted to press the matter further, but elected to wait until a more suitable time. Moments later they were in the stands and the game began.
As Madam Hooch released the quaffle into the air, excited screams and cheers rose from the crowd. Harry watched patiently for the snitch as did the new Ravenclaw seeker, a second-year named James Applebee.
The announcer excitedly proclaimed Gryffindor's first ten points as Ravenclaw stole the ball and shot across the field. Just as the quaffle was thrown towards the hoop, Angelina knocked it back into Gryffindor territory while just barely dodging a bludger that George couldn't seem to get control of.
Snape glanced over at Angeline. Any hard feelings that she had exchanged with her brother had melted away for the moment as she smiled excitedly trying to keep up with every little movement of the players. "Who would have ever thought of using brooms for a sport," she mumbled in her amazement.
Lyle sat down on the other side of Angeline and looked quite unimpressed with the entire display.
From the opposite side of the field, Harry spotted the snitch just in front of the professors' stand. He raced straight at it, noticing that James had also spotted it. The two slammed into one another, side by side, and aimed straight at where the professors were sitting. The snitch shot straight up in the air at the last second, and both boys pulled hard at their brooms to compensate. Several teachers gasped out of relief. Just as James reached out to grab the snitch, it again changed course, giving Harry an advantage as it shot toward the ground. By the time James had turned, Harry had his hand around it. He raised the snitch in triumph just as a bludger slammed hard into his arm and sent him flying off his firebolt and to the ground. Luckily, he wasn't far enough up to do any permanent damage. He hit the ground and rolled, the snitch still in his hand. Immediately, he pulled out his wand and yelled, "Accio firebolt!" The broom came back to him in one piece. He had lost his faithful Numbus 2000 to the Womping Willow two years prior, and he was not going to allow the same fate to come to the firebolt.
Angeline ran to where Harry stood as the crowd cheered wildly. As the Ravenclaws and Gryffindors shook hands, Angeline checked Harry's arm. "Broken again," she looked at him as though she were sorry.
"It's alright. I've broken more bones at Hogwarts than I have in my entire life. Madam Pomfrey will fix it, I'm sure." He grimaced a bit. As many times as he'd broken his arm, it still hurt each time as though it was a first. Harry managed a smile and headed off to the medical wing with Ron and Hermione at his side.
"That boy will do anything for attention," Snape proclaimed from behind Angeline.
She gave him a look of pity and almost irritation. "I don't think he's out to get attention, Severus. I think he's simply trying to be a normal teenage wizard." She looked him straight in the eyes. "What is it that makes you harbor so much hatred for the boy?"
"Nothing that I need to explain to you," Snape remarked in a short manner, not wanting to go into a long, detailed explanation of his past with Harry and the boy's parents, James and Lily.
Angeline took the remark a bit more rudely than Snape had intended. "Very well then. I shall leave you to your thoughts." She turned and walked briskly back to the building.
Snape stood alone and watched her for a few seconds. "I simply meant," he mumbled to himself, "that you wouldn't be interested." He shook his head, frustrated, and proceeded across the field. As he did, Lyle grinned evilly at him from a few feet away and spoke just loud enough that Snape could hear.
"Poor, poor Sevi. What's the matter? Can't turn on the charms anymore?"
Snape resisted the increasing urge to snap Lyle's legs with a breaking spell as he went to his quarters.