Chapter Seven: Practice Makes Perfect
Disclaimer: I don't own any thing, it all belongs to J.K. Rowling.


"Reagan, catch!" Lane called. Reagan turned and caught the maroon Quaffle being tossed at her. She caught it expertly and passed it to Logan. Darenn insisted on having Quidditch practice early, very early. He had roused them at 6:30 for practice. Reagan and Josie dragged themselves to the Quidditch pitch, grumbling about practice on a Saturday morning. Darenn had talked the house elves into an early breakfast for his team, and they were greeted with donuts and juice. They all ate quickly as the sun rose, though Reagan knew that if the sun wasn't up yet, Darenn would have conjured light from somewhere for them to play in. Reagan sighed and glanced in her brother's direction. Darenn lived and breathed Quidditch. He yelled for them to finish up and do some practice laps to warm up.

"Didn't you mother ever tell you that if you exercise right after you eat, you'll make yourself sick?" Reagan asked her brother as she mounted her broom.

Darenn grinned. "Yes as a matter of fact she did. But I'm put an Anti-Nausea Serum in the orange juice."

"Figures," Reagan muttered, kicking off into the air. She did her warm up laps, flying beside Josie. Reagan's new broom flew magnificently. She barely had to touch it for it to do what she wanted, and it was a steady as her old broom, even if it was lighter.

"All right!" Darenn yelled and everyone haulted in mid air. "Josie, take that practice snitch and set it on expert. Chase it till you catch it in five minutes! Denley, you and I will start over here, lets hit those Chasers off their brooms. Chasers, take your best shots at the Keeper, I want to see what you've got! And Paul, don't let a single Quaffle get past you!"

Reagan rolled her eyes and aimed her broom towards the other end of the pitch where her cousin Paul Weasley was playing Keeper. Lane was in front of her and Logan trailed her. Darenn had charmed each Quaffle to return to the middle of the pitch after Paul caught them or they after fell though the hoop. There the Chasers retrieved them and took their best shots at the redhead. Meanwhile, Darenn and Denley Thompson, a seventh year Beater, pelted the Bludgers at the Chasers. In the middle of all of this, Josie frantically chased the little golden practice Snitch around the Quidditch pitch until she caught it, and then she released it again.

It was chaos in its purest form. Darenn had come up with this bizarre training method over summer break the year before last and it seemed to work them well.

Logan plucked a Quaffle from where it hung mid air in the middle of the pitch and tossed it to Reagan. She threw it at Paul, who caught it effortlessly.

"Get better, Reagan," she muttered to herself. She turned and took a Quaffle and threw it to Lane. Reagan hovered in mid air for a moment, watching as Lane threw the Quaffle at Paul, and he caught it was well.

"Reagan, catch!" Logan called at her. She turned and caught the Quaffle and flew towards Paul. She threw it at the hoop on the far left. Paul swerved to miss a Bludger and caught it in his turn. Reagan's next time around she still didn't get it passed him, though neither had Lane or Logan. It took Reagan till her fifth time around to get the Quaffle past her cousin and she heard Darenn hoot from his position midfield.

"Thats more like it!" Darenn called. Reagan got each of her next attempts past the Keeper, while Lane and Logan had still gotten none through.

After twenty minutes of nonstop passes, Darenn called the Chasers into the center of the pitch.

"Paul, what's the problem?" Darenn asked his redheaded cousin.

"There isn't a problem," Paul stated.

"Yes there is, you're not catching Reagan's passes," Darenn pointed out.

"Yeah, well... she's good," Paul explained.

"Bull," Darenn replied. "She may be good, but so are Lane and Logan or else they wouldn't be here."

"Well, I dunno, its Reagan," Paul answered. "Once she got that first one through I couldn't concentrate on catching them. I was just expecting her to get it though."

"Ah-ha," Darenn said. "So you're saying Reagan psyched you out when she made that first shot?"

"Well, I guess so," Paul replied.

Darenn turned to his sister. "Reagan, congratulations."

"For what?" Reagan asked.

"For psyching out the Keeper. If you can do that to every Keeper we play this year, no one will be able to catch a thing you throw in." Darenn was smiling at her like she as a newly discovered secret weapon. "If Lane and Logan can learn how to do that, then we will be unstoppable."

"Learn how to do what?" Reagan asked. "I never learned how to psych out a Keeper."

"And that is the beauty of it!" Darenn exclaimed. "Paul why did she psych you out? Why did you think you couldn't catch any of her passes?"

Paul shrugged. "Because its Reagan. I mean, I guess if Lane or Logan had gotten one in, then it would have had the same effect."

"Its a self fulfilling prophecy," Darenn replied. "You didn't think you could catch it so that thought influenced your reactions and made you not catch it. You thought it was going to happen so in a way you made it happen. If you can think that you'll catch them, then you will."

"I don't know," Paul said. "Reagan's just... intimidating."

Reagan laughed out loud. "Me? Intimidating? Paul, you've known me since I was born. I'm five foot three and two years younger than you. How intimidating can I honestly be?"

"Well I don't know..." Paul trailed off. "You're a Potter."

"Well, take Logan for instance," Reagan said. "He's a Wood. His father in an international Quidditch star. Shouldn't that freak you out a bit?" Paul shrugged and looked at the ground.

"What about Lane?" Reagan continued. "Her father played for Australia. Shouldn't that freak you out as well?"

"Reagan, I don't know!" Paul cried.

"Paulie, she has a point there," Darenn said. "She is the only one with out Professional Quidditch player in her blood."

"I know she is," Paul said. "But when Lane and Logan are throwing the Quaffle, I don't think about their bloodlines."

"But you do when Reagan throws?" Darenn asked.

"I guess I do."

"All right," Darenn said. "I want you all back up there. This time, Paul, don't think about Reagan's bloodline." Paul nodded and kicked off the ground.

"Darenn," Reagan asked before returning to the air. "Why did you congratulate me when I made a shot, but now you want me to miss them?"

"Because I know you can make the shots. Paulie's got to get past his issues with people's family names if he's going to do well this year," Darenn explained. Reagan nodded and returned to her place in line. The next shot she made at Paul he missed, but he caught the one after that.


~~~~~~~~~
It was a good thing that Darenn had fed them before practice, because they barely made it to the end of breakfast in the Great Hall. Reagan and Josie came in with eight minutes left, and dished themselves heaping plates of pancakes.

"How was practice?" Cal asked.

"Exhausting," Reagan replied. Josie nodded her agreement and drank some juice.

"When is your detention?" Josie asked Reagan.

"Not until two," Reagan replied.

"What are we going to do till then?" Josie asked.

"I have some reading I want to finish," Reagan said.

"I have homework too," Cal added.

Josie shook her head. "Leave it to you two to want to do homework on a Saturday."

The trio finished their breakfast quickly and headed back up to Gryffindor Tower. Reagan pulled out A Guide to Transfiguration, Year Seven , a book that James had leant her, and went to sit in the common room. She sat down on a crimson sofa and flipped through it. She began to reread what she had already read fifteen times.

"How many times are you going to read that book?" Josie asked her, sitting down beside her. "You read it last term also."

"Its interesting," Reagan replied, not looking up from the text.

"I'm sure," Josie said. Reagan rolled her eyes and continued to read. However, it was not interesting. Reagan had read it enough times to be able to recite some of it. It was difficult, and it amazed her that she was able to understand a text book three years above her.

Reagan read in peace for the next hour or so. Cal was bent over his Muggle Studies paper, and Josie was working on her Arithmancy, looking back and forth between her own notes, the book and Reagan's homework. Reagan smiled, knowing that Josie would never directly copy her homework. Josie could do it herself, and if she couldn't then she would figure it out herself.

Reagan got up silently and went to put her book away in her dormitory. She sat down on her bed, running what she had just read and what she had already learned through her head.

A knock on the door brought Reagan out of her mind and she looked up to see Darenn standing in her doorway.

"Hey," he said and walked over to her bed.

"Hi," she said and moved over for him to sit down.

"I heard about your, um, detention with Professor Lupin this afternoon" Darenn said.

"Yeah, its at two, after lunch," she replied.

Darenn nodded. "Good luck."

"Thanks," Reagan said, smiling at her brother. He smiled back and got up to leave.

"How come you never wanted to do it?" Reagan asked her brother. He turned around to face her and shrugged.

"It was never my thing," he replied. "You and James, well that's what you guys do. Push the limit, see how much you can accomplish and see how great you can be. Besides, I like Quidditch too much."

"But couldn't you do both?" Reagan asked.

"I could have, but I would only be good at both things," Darenn paused. "I'd rather be great at one thing."

"And you're great at Quidditch," Reagan said.

"Thanks," he replied. "I always liked Quidditch over transfiguration and charms and dueling and potions and all that other magical stuff. Its in my blood to be awesome at all of that, and I'm good, but I've always liked flying best."

"I know what you mean," Reagan said. "I guess it makes sense if you put it that way."

"I always thought so," her brother answered. He smiled and left her room, leaving her alone on her bed.

Reagan thought about what her brother had said and dozed off after while. Josie came and woke her for lunch and she went off to eat with her friends. She ate quickly and quietly, finishing when she saw Professor Lupin rise to leave. At five till two, she stood outside his classroom, anxious and excited.

"Miss Potter!" a cheery voice came. Reagan turned around to see Professor Lockhart coming down the hallway.

"Hello Professor," Reagan said.

"Well what are you doing standing here in the hall way?" he asked. Puzzled, he glanced at the door, but there was nothing spectacular to stare at.

"I have detention with Professor Lupin," she replied.

"Of course, of course," Professor Lockhart said. "I hear you and Mr. Lumbard had quite the run in this past week. Though I don't see any bruises. Growing up with two brothers must have taught you to defend yourself well!"

"Well no Professor, I mean yes it did, I can defend myself but you see, Arden and I..."

"There is no need for an explanation, Miss Potter," he said, holding up his hand to hush her. "Sometimes tempers can run wild and things can get out of hand."

"But Professor, we didn't..."

"Here you are," Professor Lupin said, poking his head out of the doorway. "I was beginning to wonder where you were. I thought I heard voices. Good afternoon, Gareth."

"Good afternoon, Professor Lupin!" Professor Lockhart said. "I didn't mean to keep Miss Potter, but I was just reinstating the no fighting rule we have here."

"Well, Miss Potter understands the rule, and that is why she is here serving her detention. Miss Potter, if you please," Professor said and stood aside, motioning for her to enter the classroom. She smiled at Professor Lockhart and said a small 'goodbye,' and entered the room. Professor Lupin said a few more things to Professor Lockhart before joining her in the empty classroom.

"So, are you ready?" her uncle asked her.

"Yes," she replied. "I reread the chapters in James' old transfiguration book."

"Good, good," Professor Lupin said and rummaged around on his desk.

"Professor," Reagan said. "Can I help you find any..."

"Ah ha!" he cried and Reagan jumped. He produced his wand from under the rubble and shook his head at it. "Finally found it!"

"Your wand?"

"Yes, its been under these papers all morning long. I don't need my wand to grade sixth year essays, just a quill really, and I knew it was under there somewhere."

"Glad you found it," Reagan said to him.

"Well, shall we journey outside?" he asked and Reagan nodded. She followed him out of the castle and across the grounds. They passed the groundkeeper's hut and Professor Lupin waved at him. He was an elderly man, about as tall as her father, with a head full of gray hair and a mouth full of jagged teeth.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Guzman!" Professor Lupin said to him and stopped. Reagan kept close to her uncle; Mr. Guzman gave her the creeps.

"And to you, Lupin," he man replied. His voice was husky and hoarse, and sounded like he didn't use it much. Reagan had always been afraid of him. Her father tried to tell her that he was a very nice man, but she wouldnÕt hear of it. Mr. Guzman hadn't been the gamekeeper her while her father had been in school, though he was there when James began school.

"Seen anything weird in the forest lately?" Professor Lupin asked.

"Nope, its been quiet," Mr. Guzman replied. "You going in?"

"Yes, Miss Potter is serving detention with me today," Professor Lupin replied. "Watch out for wandering students today, with such a nice day as this, I suspect that some students will try and sneak in."

"I'll watch, I always do," the elderly man replied.

"Good day to you," Professor Lupin said and started walking again. Reagan followed closely in his footsteps, and willed herself not to look back at the elderly man.

She followed her uncle silently for ten minutes or so. The forest got darker and thicker the farther they went and Reagan was beginning to wonder if there really was a place to practice. There didn't seem to be enough room or enough light.

"Almost there, Reagan," Professor Lupin said to her and she nodded, even though he couldn't see her. Sure enough, within a couple minutes, the forest walls parted and they walked into a brightly lit clearing. A soft stream ran along the side and the grass was moist and soft.

"Your grandfather and Sirius found this place when they needed a place to practice. It works well, no one can hear or see you from the outer perimeter, and its quite safe from the dangers in the woods."

"Its nice," Reagan replied, looking around.

"Now I don't want you coming out here alone, Reagan," Professor Lupin said, turning to her. "I know the safe way through and its easy to get lost if you don't know your way. Promise me you won't come out with out me?"

"I promise," Reagan said, though inside she was crossing her fingers.

"Right," Professor Lupin said and straightened. He muttered a few words and a blanket appeared on the ground followed by some books and a picnic basket.

"I know you've already eaten," he began, "though this process is tiring, so you'll need some nourishment after we finish for the day." Professor Lupin took a seat on the blanket and handed her a book.

"I've read this one," she said. "It was quite boring, mostly about the theory and origin."

"Good, good," he replied and handed her another.

"This one gave very detailed and graphic information about what happens when it goes wrong. Some couldn't change back, some ended up being half and half." Professor Lupin nodded and handed her another book. He went through an entire stack of books, handing each one to her, quizing her on what she knew and had learned from them.

He handed her a tatered brown leather bound book, and she took it from him, delicatly.

"This is the diary of all the students at Hogwarts who have done it while still in school. Professor McGonagall is in here, as well as my grandfather, my father, James and Erika."

"Very good," he replied and stood up. "I'm glad you remember what you read, and you have read up on this extensively."

"I've tried to Professor," she replied.

"All right," he said and picked up a rock. "Lets warm up a little." He handed the rock to her and she waved her wand, turning it into a Labrador puppy. With a wave of his wand, Professor Lupin changed it back into a rock. He then moved to the basket and pulled out Eclipse.

"She's always such a sport," Professor Lupin said and handed the cat to her.

"I'm quite sorry about this," Reagan whispered to her pet. Reagan waved her wand and her cat turned into a full sized labrador. The dog looked around for a moment before Professor Lupin changed her back. Eclipse shook her black fur and stepped onto the blanket, shooting Reagan a glare.

"I said I was sorry," Reagan pleaded with her cat. Eclipse curled up on the blanket in a spot warmed by the sun and closed her eyes.

Reagan sighed. "Well, at least she was all dog that time. There have been others were she wouldnÕt look at me for weeks."

Professor Lupin chuckled. "Think you can try it without a wand?"

Reagan nodded and handed her wand to her uncle. She looked at her cat sleeping in the sun and said the incantation. Again, Eclipse turned from a sleek furred feline to a dark haired canine.

"Excellent!" Professor Lupin cried. He waved his wand and she changed back into a cat.

"Do you want to try it now?" he asked, looking at Reagan. She looked at her uncle and nodded. He stepped back a few paces and set her wand in the basket.

Reagan sighed, trying to calm her breathing. Until she got better and more comfortable with it, she had to concentrate very hard on what she was trying to do. Her father had described it as imagining it happening and it would. She closed her eyes and thought really hard, focusing all her magical energy on that one thing. In her mind she saw herself changing, but she felt nothing happening. This is silly, Reagan thought and shook her head. Then she smelled something, something she didn't recognize. Before she knew what she was doing she followed the source of the smell, her eyes still tightly shut.

"Reagan!" she heard Professor Lupin's voice and it rang loudly in her ears.

She opened her eyes and tried to shout 'what?' but all that came out was a deep bark.



A/N: Thank you to everyone for all the reviews, and please review this one, I really want to know what you think. I've also started to write my own original fiction which I have begun to archive at FictionPress.net, here is the link to my author page:

If the link doesn't work, then just copy and paste it to your web browser. I'd also like feedback on that, writing my own characters and my own plot line is VERY different than writing fan fiction. It porbably won't be updated as often as this either. My goal is to get at least this fic done by June 21st, if not it's sequel. Yes there is a sequl planned in my head. I love Reagan too much to drop her from my head. All right, I'm done rambling, review please!!! ~EE