Discliamer: Come on you know who doesn't belong to me and who does by now right? So I'm not even gonna bother. Just read and enjoy!! *bows*
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At 3:30 that afternoon, Cameron, Dan, Harry, Ron, and the other Gryffindor First years ran down the front steps across the lawn. The Slytherins where all ready there, and 22 Broomsticks, some looked in worse shape then Cameron's old one had been when Sam and Remus where finally able to retrieve it from the fire flew, where it was stuck. Cameron could still remember what it looked like, split right down the handle, the bristles totally burned off and large cracks on the entire broom.
"Wish we could've brought our own" Dan whispered to Cameron. Who nodded in agreement.
"What model you have?" Cameron asked.
"Nimbus 1999 dad bought it for me for my 10th birthday, boy was mom mad."
"That's the same model I've got" Cameron said grinning "and I got mine for my 10th birthday."
Dan seemed happy that he and Cameron had so much in common. Cameron was just glad that he wasn't friendless. In fact now he had 3 best friends, and well he wasn't sure what to count Serena, as exactly she was well just Serena. Their teacher Madam Hooch had short gray hair and yellow hawk eyes.
"Well what are you all waiting for?" she barked "Everyone stand by a broom. Come on hurry up."
Cameron stood between Dan and Harry; he adjusted his sunglasses hoping the teacher wouldn't make him take them off. If they thought there where problems in the Grand Hall on the first night, there where going to be worse problems if he didn't wear them outside.
"Stick out your right hand over your broom. And say up!"
"Up" everyone shouted.
Harry's broom jumped into his hand, as did Cameron's, Cameron laughed as Dan's wobbled on its way up as if it was taking its sweet time not a care in the world. Finally it shot right up into Dan's hand nearly knocking Dan off his feet. Then Madam Hooch showed them how to mount their brooms without sliding off, and walked around correcting everyone's grip. Cameron, Ron, Harry, and Dan where a grinning widely when she told Malfoy that he had been doing it wrong for years.
"Now, when I blow my whistle, you kick off the ground hard. Keep your brooms steady, rise a few feet, and come straight back down by leaning forward slightly. On my whistle… 3… 2…"
But Neville didn't even make it to one; he was too nervous and jumpy of being left on the ground that he kicked off hard before the whistle sounded. He flew up high, 20 feet at least; he slipped sideway off the broom and landed on the ground hard. There was a definite crack as Neville laid facedown on the grass, Cameron watched as his broom sailed off getting higher and higher before it finally sailed over the Forbidden Forest and out of sight.
Cameron heard Madam Hooch say broken wrist as she helped him up.
"None of is to move while I take this boy to the hospital wing! You leave those brooms where they are or you'll be out of Hogwarts before you can say 'Quidditch' come on dear"
Neville walked with Madam Pomfrey's arm around his shoulder towards the castle. They had just left earshot when Malfoy burst out laughing.
"Did you see his face, the great lump?"
And the other Slytherins joined in,
"Shut up Malfoy" Parvati Patil snapped
"Ooh sticking up for Longbottom?" said Pansy Parkinson a large Slytherin girl, "never thought you'd like fat little crybabies, Parvati."
"Why don't you Slytherins just shut your flaps? For once" Dan shouted, "Do the entire Wizarding world a favor!"
Cameron, Harry, and Ron stared at Dan, he never talked back to anyone even if they where Slytherin, Dan wasn't the kind of person who stood up to people, he was the type of person who just let himself get walked all over which Cameron had noticed wasn't exactly the smartest thing Dan could do since that's what the Slytherins all did walk all over him.
"YEAH!" Cameron said coming up behind Dan, he wasn't about to let Dan get killed by a mob of Slytherins.
Malfoy looked about to say something to both of them when he noticed something in the grass.
"Look, its that stupid thing Longbottom's gran sent him."
He held up the Remebrall triumphantly.
"Give it here" Harry said
Malfoy's grin was pure evil
"I think I'll leave it somewhere for Longbottom to find….. How about………up a tree?"
"Give it here!" Harry yelled.
Malfoy jumped onto his broom and took off; he hadn't been just bragging he could fly pretty well.
"Come and get it Potter!"
Harry grabbed his broom
"No! Shouted Hermione Granger "Madam Hooch told us not to move….. You'll get us all into trouble!"
But Harry ignored her he leapt onto his broom and took off after Malfoy. As Cameron watched the scene spill out before him, he got the same feeling he got at a Quidditch Match, Harry was good, for someone who had never been on a broom before hand, Harry looked like he had been flying all his life. Cameron and Dan cheered as Ron whooped when Harry swooped. Harry and Malfoy where too far up too really see what was going on. Suddenly Malfoy threw the Remebrall, it a curd to Cameron, Malfoy must have run out of options. Harry zoomed towards the ball, his broom pointed straight down he was gaining speed he stretched his hand out, and just when the ball was a foot from the ground he caught it, and just in time pulled his broom up and toppled to the ground softly, still holding the Remebrall, Cameron, Ron, and Dan grinned and Dan slapped high fives to them. Suddenly out of nowhere McGonagall appeared. She was stuttering as she talked
"How dare you… Might have broken your neck…"
"It wasn't his fault Professor-"
"Be quiet Miss Patil"
"Harry was just-"
"Mr. Jenkins!"
"But Malfoy-"
"That's enough Mr. Weasley. Potter Follow me. Now!"
They watched as Harry followed McGonagall into the castle. And out of sight
As they walked into the castle. Harry's exciting ride on the broom was the big conversation.
"You don't think he'll really be expelled?" Cameron asked "really?"
Ron and Dan looked like they where wondering the same thing
"Don't know" Ron said
"They shouldn't expel somebody for something like that. I could see turning someone into something er unnatural or using an illegal curse against somebody." Cameron said thoughtfully.
But everyone was in for a big surprise when Harry came down at dinner.
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"Your Joking" Ron said loudly
Harry had just told Ron, Dan, and Cameron what had happened after he left the grounds with McGonagall.
"Seeker!?" Cameron said
"But first years never… You must be the youngest house player in about-" Ron started to say
"- A centaury" Harry said "Wood told me"
"Harry that's great!" Dan said, "Wish I could play for Gryffindor."
"I start training next week, only don't tell anyone, Wood wants to keep it a secret."
The Weasley Twins came over, congratulating Harry, and telling him that they where Beaters for Gryffindor. After they left, Malfoy and his two goons Crabbe and Goyle approached them.
"Having a last meal, Potter?" When are you getting on the train to the muggles?"
"You're a lot braver now that your back on the ground and you got your little friends with you." Harry said coolly
"Yeah your Body Guards! Or have you goons moved up from Bodyguards and are now officially Secrete Service Agents? Or was the test too hard for you? Couldn't get past your names?" Dan said grinning, him, Ron, Cameron, and Harry laughed. Crabbe and Goyle glared at Dan.
"I'd take you on anytime on my own," Malfoy said, "tonight if you want. Wizard's duel. Wands only…No contact. What's the matter? Never heard of a wizards duel before, I suppose?"
"Of Course he has" Ron said, "I'm his second, who's yours?"
"Crabbe" Malfoy said "Midnight all right? We'll meet you in the trophy; room that's always unlocked." And with that they left. Cameron stared at Ron and Harry
"I really hope you two know what you're getting yourselves into"
"Of course we do" Ron said "No problem"
"What is a wizard's duel? And what do you mean you're my second" Harry asked
Cameron groaned
"Yup this is a great idea"
"Oh Cameron stop worrying" Ron said grinning ""Well Harry, a seconds there to take over if you die"
"That's a good thing to tell somebody" Dan said his mouth full of tapioca pudding. "I mean talk about comforting"
"But people only die in proper duels, you know with real wizards. The most you and Malfoy'll be able to do is send sparks at each other. Neither of you know enough magic to do any real damage. I bet he expected you to refuse anyway."
"And what if I wave my wand and nothing happens"
"Throw it away and punch him on the nose"
"Or bust his bloody shins in!" Dan said grinning putting on a fake English accent.
Ron, Harry, and Dan stared at him and laughed "Ok, ok I know pathetic, but hey I'm still trying to fit into England. And er well I figured…er never mind. Just whip his head so hard he'll be cashing in his chips at Vegas! Bash his brains in, beat him into the ground-"
"Excuse me"
They all looked up, it was Hermione Granger
"Cant a person eat in peace in this place?" Ron said
"I couldn't help overhearing what you and Malfoy were saying-"
Ron muttered something
"- And you mustn't go wandering around the school at night, think of the points you'll lose Gryffindor if you caught-"
"Key word if" Dan muttered.
She glared at him then chose too ignore him
"And you're bound to be. Its really selfish of you."
"And its really none of your business" Harry said
"Good-bye" Ron said
"Later Amigo!" Dan said
"Er see ya wouldn't want to be ya?" Cameron said looking at Dan who grinned and nodded.
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Serena watched her half brother's antics with mild interest. What she was actually trying to do was stay awake while he lectured her. The last time she had fallen asleep during one of his "brother-sister-bonding-lecture-time" talks she'd nearly gotten killed. Right now he was pacing agitatedly in front of her desk.
"Severus."
"………."
"Severus"
"………."
"SEVERUS!!!!!" he jumped then turned to face her, "Look, between you and Nealan I'm gonna have a rut in m floor. I don't want a rut in my floor. I happen to like my floor without the ruts. So either tell me one more reason why I shouldn't marry Neal or go away because I do have work to do."
"He's fine for 19 years of his life then he goes away for a summer and comes back…. well…." he let the sentence trail off, Serena got the gist anyway.
"Haven't you ever been so frightened that you were changed for good?"
"No."
"How about the night father was killed?"
"Serena…"
"Why won't you talk about that night? You're ready to harp on Neal's faults but when's the last time you ever looked at your own? You were scared that I'd gotten killed as well…it changed you. Your change was subtler than Neal's but it's there. It still hasn't left you. That concerned, protective air where I'm concerned. Do you even notice it anymore?" somehow she had managed to keep her voice even and calm, "Did you notice it then?"
"This isn't about me," Serena slammed a palm on the desk.
"Well maybe it should be! Next time you want to talk about Neal's problems, look at your own life! Until then I really don't want to hear it!" she grabbed a cloak and began leaving, but Snape grabbed her arm.
"Where are you going?"
"Out. Got a problem?" Serena glared fiercely at him until he let go of her arm, "C'mon Jade, Felicity," she left her office slamming the door in her wake.
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