Disclaimer: I do not own HP or anything to do with HP! It's all J.K. Rowling! I am not profiting from this in anyway.
Author's Notes: Hey everyone! Finally, I updated! :0) Hope you like it! Please read and review! Take care! Also, sorry if the format isn't compact.
Special Thanks goes out to my Beta, Phoenix12! Thanks so much for helping me with ideas (the intra-house relationship) and for beta-ing! :0) I can't thank you enough!
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Chapter 4
"I have conducted this meeting so that we can come up with a way to promote intra-house relations." Dumbledore said, as he looked around at his staff. "Are there any suggestions?"
All the teachers looked puzzled, thinking hard on what they could say.
Professor Flitwick cleared his throat. Dumbledore looked at him and said, "Yes, Professor Flitwick? Have you any suggestions?"
"Yes, Headmaster." Professor Flitwick started in his squeaky voice. He stood up on the two big books he was sitting on and said, "What if we start some clubs that would interest all the students? Then they would have to mix with the other houses by their common interests." He then sat down on his books.
"Brilliant, Professor!" Dumbledore boomed happily. He clapped his hands together and the twinkle in his eyes were more evident than ever. He was obviously pleased with the idea.
Professor Snape grunted softly beside the Headmaster.
Dumbledore turned to him and said, "Professor Snape, is there something you would like to add?"
Professor Snape looked at him in the eye and said, "Headmaster, with all due respect, wouldn't all this just cause more chaos? They would have more of a chance to pick a fight with each other."
"Hm…yes, Professor, you have a point." Dumbledore said, as he scratched his beard thoughtfully. "Unless there are teachers who supervise the students."
"But when would we schedule these clubs?" Professor McGonagall inquired.
"After classes at five." The Headmaster answered simply. "Are there any suggestions as to which clubs should be formed and which teachers would like to supervise them?"
"I agree with the Headmaster!" Hagrid exclaimed. "It's a brilliant idea! I would love to start a club for those who are interested in magical creatures!" Hagrid smiled.
"Splendid, Hagrid!" The Headmaster exclaimed and smiled widely. Hagrid beamed.
"Well, Headmaster, I would suggest a club for those who are interested in
Charms and I would be delighted to supervise. It would be fun and the students would actually be enthusiastic to learn." Professor Flitwick spoke up.
"Excellent, Professor, excellent!" Dumbledore exclaimed. Professor Flitwick beamed. "Anyone else?" He looked around patiently.
"Well, there are many students who like to fly and play Quidditch. I can supervise that club and also get the members of the Quidditch teams to assist me." Madame Hooch spoke up.
"Wonderful!" Dumbledore exclaimed. Madame Hooch smiled widely.
"And I can organize a club for those interested in the art of being a Medic." Madame Pomfrey said.
"How can we ensure that the students will actually attend these clubs and behave themselves?" Professor Snape said, sounding agitated with the idea.
"I will make it an official rule. Everyone will have to join one of the clubs. We will schedule them all at the same time and therefore no students should be roaming about at this time. In addition, the teachers will be there to supervise them and if there is any misbehaving, points will be taken off from the respective houses." Dumbledore stated seriously. His mouth formed a line.
"Headmaster," Professor McGonagall said. "I wouldn't mind organizing a club for those interested in Transfiguration." She said, her nose wrinkling a bit.
The Headmaster's smile returned and he said, "Thank you, Professor McGonagall!"
Ginny pulled on her school robes and then looked at herself in the mirror. She started to brush her straight, long, red hair.
It was the last week of September, on a Monday, and Ginny was getting ready for the Quidditch meeting with Madame Hooch. It was held out on the pitch, right before dinner, at six in the evening.
She couldn't stop thinking about that incident with Draco. She hadn't been ready for him. She didn't even think out her plan yet and then he cornered her. She wasn't scared of him. It was just that that night was the first time they had a one-on-one confrontation and she just wasn't sure what he was up to. Not to mention the fact that, as much as she hated to think it, he had gotten quite handsome over the years.
Yet, still he acted like the same prick he always was. She sighed. She would just act normal and ignore him, as she always used to do.
He didn't even give me a chance, she thought, as she brushed her hair roughly, the image of her looking helpless infuriating her. Ok, that hurt, she thought after and then put her brush down on the dressing table. Maybe I should just forget about it, I mean that book is just fictional anyway. There's no way I can change that git. He's too arrogant for me.
She looked at herself in the mirror. Now I look presentable, she thought.
Wonder if Malfoy would notice me. What? Ugh, no! That's the result of sleeping late and waking up early. My brain's not working properly.
She looked out the window and saw the lake, peaceful and serene. After that incident, she hadn't seen much of him lately. It seemed as if he was avoiding her. Probably waiting for the next time to attack, she thought.
She remembered how close he was that night…
"Gin!" She heard Ron call, interrupting her thoughts. "We're going to be late! Are you coming down anytime soon?"
She rolled her eyes at his comment and turned away from the window. She then took a quick glance in the mirror and then walked out the door. She went into the common room and saw the other members of the team standing and talking animatedly, all except for Nathalie, who wasn't there.
Ron saw her come and said, "Finally!" and then he smiled sweetly at her.
Ginny stuck her tongue out at him and then said to the others, "Evening, blokes." So where's Nathalie?"
Ron groaned and then yelled, "Nathalie! We're going to be late!"
"Can't you be more original, dear brother?" Ginny teased, and then grinned to Harry, who smiled back.
Harry's so calm compared to Ron, she thought, as she took in his relaxed posture and easy-going smile. Any girl who'd have him would be very lucky.
"I'm here, I'm here! No need to get your knickers in a twist, Ron!" Nathalie exclaimed, as she walked into the common room.
"You girls will be the end of me!" Ron exclaimed jokingly.
"Don't let Hermione hear that." Nathalie teased.
"Alright team," Harry interrupted, "are we all ready to go?" He looked around at all of them and they all nodded. "Good then, let's go."
They all walked out of the common room, with the boys walking a little head the two girls.
"I can't wait for the match with Slytherin!" Ron said excitedly. "We're going to beat them. I can feel it!"
"Speaking of beat," Andrew Kirke started, "we're going to make sure to send the bludgers to Malfoy and his goons."
"Brilliant plan, mate!" Jack Sloper exclaimed. "But don't forget we have to protect the others."
"That's good enthusiam." Harry said happily. "Euan, how do you feel?"
"I'm with them." Euan Abercrombie said quietly. He was the new chaser.
Ginny noticed that Nathalie, the other chaser, was deep in thought, and so decided to get lost in her own thoughts. She drowned out the boys' words as they continued walking to the pitch.
I wonder if all the teams are there already, she thought. I wonder if Malfoy's there…no! Don't worry about him; you're done with him. He's just a lost case as everyone says he is.
They walked out side and the Pitch could be seen from far away. Ginny took three deep breaths to ready herself for the comments she would receive from the Slytherins.
What was it with Malfoy and those Slyths? She thought irritatedly. Gits. Sexist pigs. Good for nothing.
They neared the entrance of the pitch. When they entered into it, Ginny noticed that the Slytherins were seated closest to the entrance and there was an invisible division, whereby all the other teams sat together but on the other side of the Slytherins.
She noticed that Draco was deep in thought, and saw how for once he didn't look as vile as he was. Forget what I said before, she thought, as they neared the teams. I'm going to try to change him. I'm not one to back down from a good challenge.
Of course, Draco's expression lasted only a second and soon he was smirking and sneering at the Gryffindors.
Malfoy is only human, even if doesn't always act it, she thought. He has to have a weak spot somewhere…and I'll try to find it.
"Finally, you Gryffs decided to join us." Blaise, who was sitting next to Draco, said loudly.
Draco looked at them walking by, sneering as usual. Potty and Weasel passed by first and he felt his blood boil a bit. Just looking at their faces irritates me! He thought annoyed.
He noticed that Ginny and the other girl were in the back. He glared at Ginny, waiting for her to look his way. But she just walked by him, with her head held high.
Draco scowled. Obviously she wasn't scared of him. Maybe I should have cornered her again. If only I wasn't so busy with all this homework. He thought, as he watched her sit next to her brother.
"Alright, teams!" Madame Hooch said, as she swooped down onto the pitch and got off her broom. "Now that we're all here, let's get this meeting started!" She looked at each of them and smiled.
"Now you all have been playing for over a year and are familiar with all the rules and regulations. I don't think I need to go over it all with you." She said flippantly, as she reached for the parchment that was sticking out of her robes. "Here is the list of the dates for the matches: Fifth of November: Slytherin vs. Gryffindor; Twenty-fifth of November: Hufflepuff vs. Ravenclaw; Fifteenth of January: Ravenclaw vs. Slytherin; Twentieth of February: Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff; Third of May: Hufflepuff vs. Slytherin; Thirty-first of May: Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw. Don't worry; your team captains will get the schedule. Also don't forget the team captains have to schedule their own practices and make sure it doesn't conflict with the other teams." Madame Hooch then placed the piece of parchment back into her robe. "Oh, dear!" She exclaimed. "I forgot something. I'll be right back, dears." She ran off with her broom dragging behind her.
Draco tuned everyone's mumbling out and went back to thinking about his stubborn father. Father doesn't understand that we can't just sit down and plan. We have to find out what our opponents are up to. Surely, they were planning their defense and trying to gather information on Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters. He needed to think of a way to get information from the Order so that Voldemort would be impressed with him. He would praise him and then Draco would make his father look like a git.
Now, how can I infiltrate the Order? He thought. Why of course -the DA members. There's no way they'll let me join them. They don't trust me, and rightfully so. If only there was someone that I can get to trust me and then I can use some dark magic to get into their head. Hm, I'll have to look that up in one of father's books to see what I can do.
"Oh look, the flying hag is coming back." Malcolm Baddock said, and then laughed at his own joke.
Draco saw that Madame Hooch was running to them. When she reached to them, she was panting. "Ok, class…oh dear…let me catch my breath."
A few of the Slytherins snickered at her, but Draco stayed expressionless.
"Ok, yes, sorry about that. Now what was I saying? Oh yes, let me hand out the schedules to you captains." She took out a set of parchments and handed them out to Harry, Draco, Terry, and Ernie. She stood infront of them and continued, "Tonight, Headmaster Dumbledore will make a very important announcement. Yet, I will tell you a bit about it. Most of the teachers will be starting a club and will be supervising it. You will all have to join atleast one club. I will be starting a Quidditch club and so I would like to know which one of you would definitely like to join?"
Draco put his hand up. He didn't bother to see who else did or didn't. He knew that atleast if he joined the Quidditch club he would get more time to practice and it would be fun.
"Good, good! Now I will split all of you into four groups. You will each get a group of students who will join and you'll have to train them and give them pointers." Madame Hooch said. She took out another piece of parchment and a quill and then started writing. "Ok, I have come up with the four teams. It is exactly four people on each team. Team one: Draco Malfoy, Su Li, Kevin Whitby, and…Virginia Weasley. Team two: Harry Potter, Vincent Crabbe, Michael Corner, Susan Bones. Team three: Terry Boot, Ronald Weasley, Gregory Goyle, and Justin Finch-Fletchley. Team four: Ernie Macmillan, Andrew Kirke, Theodore Nott, and Anthony Goldstein."
Draco wrinkled his nose. He couldn't believe what a team he had gotten! Why did she mix them all up? She could have well put the Slytherins in one team and mixed the others up.
A Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Gryffindor, he thought. A Weasley on my team? This was not going to be fun at all. I get stuck with all the Dumbledore supporters. Wait a minute, that's it! The Weasley! I can use her. This is too perfect.
He looked over at Ginny and saw her mouth in a frown with creases on her forehead. He also noticed that beside her the Weasel was a bit red.
Ha, bet you're not too happy now, Weasel, Draco thought happily. This was going to be fun.
Professor McGonagall tapped her spoon against her glass loudly. "Excuse me, students, the Headmaster has an announcement to make."
Everyone in the Great Hall went silent, as they were waiting for their Headmaster.
He stood up and cleared his throat. "I trust that everyone has had an enjoyable day. The staff and I have decided that we are going to start a few clubs to promote Intra-house relation. As I said, two years ago, we have to all stick together and only when we are one can we be stronger. The list will be posted in your Common Rooms tonight and I hope that you will all look at it and put your names down. It is mandatory for you to pick a club and any misbehaving will result in deducted points." He stopped and then looked around the room, his eyes kind yet serious. "I hope that you will all try to get along and have fun. Enjoy the rest of your meal." He smiled at them and then sat down.
"I know Dumbledore means well…but I don't think it'll work." Harry said to Ron, Hermione, and Ginny.
"I still can't believe Hooch put you with Malfoy!" Ron exclaimed, as he looked at Ginny, ignoring what Harry had said.
"Ron, don't look at me like that! It's not like I planned it!" Ginny said exasperated. Her temper was starting to rise slowly. Ever since the Quidditch meeting, Ron was on her back about it.
Ron's acting like a big git right now! She thought angrily, as she glared at him. He glared back. He thinks I won't be able to take care of myself. I'll show him! It's a good thing I didn't tell him about that night.
"Ron, Hun, you need to calm down. Ginny didn't plan it. Stop badgering her." Hermione scolded, as she put her hand on his shoulder and started to massage it slowly. He stopped glaring at Ginny and a slow smile formed on his face.
"Thanks, Hun." Ron said, as he gave her a peck on her cheek.
Ginny had to smile. They were too cute. At least Hermione could control his anger...or maybe it's because he knows he's being a git, Ginny thought.
Ginny looked across her table to the Slytherin table and saw Draco saying something to Goyle.
This is my chance to try and put my plan into action. But I can't just go up to him and start a conversation. Then Draco looked in her direction and she could see his light colored misty eyes. She noticed he was studying her and felt a bit uncomfortable. Where was his usual sneer? She casually looked away, so that he wouldn't think that she was scared of him or anything.
He's definitely a strange one, she thought, as she started to pick at her food. She could still feel his gaze on her somehow, but then it was gone.
Draco looked back to his plate. He couldn't believe just how easy it would be. He had a feeling that she would be quite easy to persuade.
Thanks to Madame Hooch, he had a reason to talk to her. He would have to try and get her alone sometimes. Dumbledore's made this easy for me, he thought. Imagine, he's encouraging us to get a long with each other. Now what if someone had some foul intentions? In no time I'm going to have all the information I need and then when I go home in December I'll tell the Lord myself. Can't wait to tell Father about these new arrangements. He might just get a heart attack.
He could hear both Goyle and Crabbe grumbling besides him.
He looked back at the Gryffindor table and saw Ginny staring at her plate. He noticed she had her hair pulled back in a ponytail and her expression was pensive.
I wonder what she's thinking about? He wondered, as he watched her absently twirlingl a strand of her hair around her finger.
"Draco, if I join the Quidditch club, can I be on your team?" Pansy's voice interrupted his reverie.
"I'm not sure, Pansy. Ask Hooch." He said coolly.
She pouted at him and he felt irritated at her. He turned to Goyle and started a conversation on the Quidditch season.
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