Hullo. Here is chapter 6..Obviously..lol..n e wais, a HUGE thanks goes out
to my speshiful beta, zira!! Thanks mate. N e wais, enjoy the chapter, tell
me what u think, and chapter 7 will be up as soon as I get at least 5 MORE
reviews.ha haha,.aren't I just the slick one..MUAHAHAHA!!!!! enjoy.
*
~ Chapter 6 ~
*
*
Quarrels
*
"So" Hermione was asking Rachel as they were enjoying their Halloween Feast. "Have you ever been to Hogsmeade?"
"Well." Rachel responded.
"I hope you have a permission form, because we're going tomorrow. You do have a permission form, right?" Hermione questioned.
"Well, yes." Rachel answered.
"Great!" Hermione exclaimed. "I'll show you around tomorrow. I mean, I've been there tons of times, you know."
"Actually," Rachel began, "I'm, kinda not going."
"What?" Hermione shouted. "Why not?"
"I, um.I've been there so many times, I, um.got bored. Ya, that's it, I got bored." Rachel answered.
"Well, I won't go either." Harry said.
"No, no. You go Harry; I'll be here by myself. I don't mind, really."
"But I'm not leaving you here alone." Harry argued.
"NO!" Rachel shouted. "YOU'RE GOING!"
"Not without you!"
"Shhhh!" Hermione hissed. The whole Hall had fallen silent to listen to their argument. "Sorry." Rachel quickly said to Hermione, and everyone began to laugh and talk once again. Rachel turned to Harry, and continued, but much quieter, "You are going, Harry, and I am not!"
"If you're not going, I'm not going." Harry said stubbornly.
"But.but."
"That's that. Nothing you will say will change my mind."
"But Harry, I don't want to go." Rachel told Harry.
"That's fine." Harry said. "I'm not forcing you to go. I'm just telling you that if you don't go, I'm not going to leave you here alone. I'm going to stay here with you. And I've been a lot of times to Hogsmeade too, so it doesn't matter."
"You.uh.fine, I'll go. Goshness!" Rachel mumbled.
"Why don't you want to go to Hogsmeade, Rachel? It's very interesting." Hermione said.
"I told you already." Rachel responded. "I got bored of it."
Harry saw that Rachel was lying, and quickly said, "You're lying!"
"I am not!" Rachel snapped. "How dare you say that I'm lying or not. You don't even know me! How-how dare you!" Rachel got off her chair, and stormed out of the Great Hall.
"What's up with her?" Ron asked, as he finally came back from Ravenclaw table.
"Oh, nothing." Harry said, quickly. "So, what happened with Jackie?"
"Um." Ron said, as he started blushing. "She, um.said that she's happy I asked her to the dance. I also told her that she's pretty, and she said I'm cute. She said I'm CUTE!" Ron was now jumping up and down.
"Calm down." Harry hissed. "Chill!"
When the feast was over, they all returned to the Gryffindor common room. They found Rachel sitting in a chair next to the fire. She looked very angry, but sad at the same time.
Hermione, Ron and Harry went and sat down in a corner of the room. Hermione motioned to Rachel to come sit with them, but Rachel shook her head, no. So Hermione went up to Rachel, whispered something in her ear, and they both came back to the corner where Harry and Ron were.
"Listen, Rachel." Harry began. "I didn't mean to hurt you're feelings. I'm, sorry."
"No, I'm sorry." Rachel said. "I shouldn't have been so rude. It's just that, well."
"What is it?" Hermione asked in a concerned voice.
"Well," Rachel began in a whisper. "You have to promise not to tell anyone, OK?"
At once, Hermione, Harry and Ron all agreed.
"Well," Rachel continued, still whispering, "Well.my mum. She kinda, um.works at, um.Honeydukes. You know, she's the owner."
At this, Harry, Hermione and Ron all jumped. Ron's mouth was hanging open, while Hermione and Harry's faces stayed frozen.
"But you can't tell ANYONE!" Rachel pressed.
"Then, you must like, get tones of sweets." Ron said, with a surprised voice.
"Well, ya." Rachel answered. "My mum sends me sweets whenever I want 'em. If you want, I can get some for you guys."
All of a sudden, Hermione, Harry and Ron's faces lit up.
"Yes, please!"
"Oh ya!"
"Great. And I'd like to see the faces of Fred and George when we have candy, and sweets, and they don't. HA!"
"Ya! I know!" Rachel said, as they all started to laugh.
"But your still coming. Right?" Hermione asked Rachel, once they all stopped laughing.
"Well, ya, I guess." Rachel answered.
"Excellent!" Harry shouted. *
The next day, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Rachel woke up, and went down into the common room, which was buzzing with excitement.
Everybody was talking about the trip to Hogsmeade. The weather outside was cool, but not too cold, considering it was the 1st of November.
When they arrived at Hogsmeade, the first place that they went to was of course, Honeydukes.
"My mom is probably at the cash register. She always is when a bunch of people visit. She doesn't trust anybody else." Rachel was telling Harry, Ron and Hermione. "On the holidays, she lets me help out at the store."
No sooner had Rachel said that than they finally arrived at Honeydukes. There was a bunch of people there already. Each of them (except Rachel who always got some) picked out a whole bunch of sweets. There were Chocolate Frogs, Every Flavour Beans, Fizzing Whizzbees, Droobles Best Blowing Gum, and much more.
Once they had everything, they went to the cashier. And luckily, Rachel's mother was there.
"Rachel hun. You're here. It's so busy today. Did your school come?" Rachel's mother asked.
"Um.hiya mum. Ya, Hogwarts came today. I thought you knew." Rachel responded.
"Well, I've been really busy lately. You know." She looked around at all the Hogwarts students. Then she focused her attention back to her daughter.
"Umm.mum, these are my friends."
Rachel's mother looked very stunned. "Oh my, I'm so sorry. I didn't know you brought friends with you. Well.introduce them already."
"Oh ya. Well this is Ron Weasley." Rachel began but was interrupted by her mother.
"Hey, I know you're brothers, Fred and George. They are always in here. But mostly, I always see them at that joke shop. They're very funny. I sometimes give them free things. They're dears." Rachel's mother told them, while she started laughing.
"This," Rachel continued, "Is Hermione Granger. And finally, this is Harry Potter." "WHAT?" Rachel's mother shouted. "Harry Potter, you say? Well, what is he doing here? It's very dangerous with Volde-sorry, You Know Who on the loose. It's not safe here, Hun."
"Don't worry mum." Rachel said. "I'm sure he's not gonna turn up in a place crowded with people."
"Yes, please don't worry, Mrs. Avalon." Harry said.
"Alright." Mrs. Avalon said hesitantly. "Well then, what are all of you going to get?"
Harry, Ron and Hermione pilled up all of their sweets on to the counter as Mrs. Avalon packed them all into their bags.
"Well, how much does it come up to?" Ron asked.
"What? Oh no dear, it's on me."
Ron seemed really stunned at this, but before he could say anything, Harry asked Rachel, "So, what does your father do?"
At this, both Rachel and Mrs. Avalon looked up.
"Um." Rachel began. "Well, my father is umm.sort of.he's dead."
"Oh," Harry said, being very surprised. "I'm sorry. I-I never knew."
"Of course you didn't." Rachel said. "I never told you."
"Um, yes, that's it." Harry said. He felt really stupid and guilty at asking such a personal question. How could he have been so stupid? He punched himself mentally.
"But I have a stepfather." Rachel went on. "He's a Muggle, though. My mother re-married when my biological father died. I don't even know what he looks like because he died before I was born. Oh, and I also have a Muggle brother, Tom. I'm sure you were all dieing to know my family history, eh?" She laughed.
When Rachel finished, nobody spoke for a long time. But finally, there were other Hogwarts students waiting to pay for their things, and when Mrs. Avalon saw them, she finally spoke, and said, "Well, I'll see you later than, dears. By sweetie." She added to Rachel as they left the store.
Harry, Ron, Hermione and Rachel were enjoying their day at Hogsmeade. Rachel was mostly showing them around, because she knew the place so well.
"So, you must live around here if your mother works at Honeydukes, right?" Harry asked Rachel as they were looking around the joke shop.
"Well, my mum lives around here with her best friend. But my brother and my stepfather live in London. She visits them on her days off, but since not many Muggles live in Hogsmeade my brother and stepfather don't, or rather can't, live here. I sometimes stay with them on my summer break, and they always send me owls to tell me what's happening." Rachel answered.
"Oh." Harry said, not knowing what else to say. But then another question came to his mind. "Do they know, I mean your brother and stepfather, do they know that you and your mum are, y'know, witches?"
"'Course." Rachel responded.
But just then, Fred and George came running into the joke shop, towards Rachel.
".Rachel." Fred said, panting. "Your mum.Honeydukes.just been there."
".Malfoy." George said, also panting. ".Trouble, now."
"What?" Rachel asked.
"I think something's wrong in Honeydukes." Hermione answered.
"Ya, and I bet Malfoy's got something to do with it." Ron said coldly.
Rachel looked at Fred and George, and they both nodded at her. So she, Harry, Ron and Hermione set off at a run for Honeydukes, closely followed by Fred and George.
When they arrived at Honeydukes, they all heard angry shouting coming from the inside. Quietly, Rachel entered first, followed by Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred and George.
"What is your problem, woman!" Malfoy was shouting at Mrs. Avalon. Apparently, he wanted to buy something, but there wasn't enough, and Mrs. Avalon didn't have any more in stock.
"Please calm down, dear." Mrs. Avalon was saying in a calm voice. "You can come back tomorrow once I get more."
"But it's Rachel's birthday tomorrow." Malfoy was shouting even louder now. The whole store had stopped what they were doing, to see what was happening. "You old hag! I want some more! Now give it to me, or I'll hex you!"
Rachel walked up to Malfoy, and with all her might, slapped him on the cheek. She slapped him so hard, that there was a red mark on his skin. "DRACO!" Rachel screamed at the top of her lungs. "Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, threatens, or calls my mother an old hag!" Rachel looked as if she was about to explode. She was so red in the face from her anger.
"Rachel?" Malfoy said with a very surprised voice clutching his cheek with his hand, and it looked like tears were forming in his eyes. But with and even more surprised voice, he said, "Your mother?"
"Duh!"
"But-But I, I never knew." Malfoy said with a trembling voice. "I swear, I- "
"I don't care!" Rachel shouted at him. "Even if she wasn't my mother, you shouldn't threaten or call anyone bad names."
"Bug off, Rachel." Phyllis Bing had arrived on the scene, and she was standing beside Malfoy. Rachel looked even madder now.
"I don't recall asking your opinion, Bing." Rachel said coolly.
"Well," Phyllis began in a cold, menacing voice, "Maybe you should learn to mind your own business, Avalon."
"This is my business."
"You know what, Avalon? You're a stupid bitch!"
"Oh you-"
And suddenly, Rachel went up to Phyllis, and slapped her too. But then, to everyone's surprise, Phyllis slapped Rachel back. Then, Rachel took out her wand, and so did Phyllis. They began cursing and hexing each other with spells that Harry had never learnt before. People in the store were screaming and running to the door to get out. While Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred and George were trying to stop Rachel and Phyllis from killing each other.
"Petrificus Totalus!" Mrs. Avalon shouted. And right away, Rachel and Phyllis' arms snapped to their sides. Their legs sprang together. Their whole bodies were rigid, they swayed where they stood and then fell flat on the floor, stiff as a board.
Harry ran towards Rachel, and saw that her jaws were jammed together so she couldn't speak. Only her eyes were moving, looking around the room.
"I'm sorry, sweetie." Mrs. Avalon said as she approached Rachel and Phyllis. "It's the only thing I could have done."
"The full Body-Bind." Hermione said, staring at Rachel and Phyllis lying on the ground.
"When I do the counter-curse, Harry, you and Ron hold Rachel back, and Fred and George, hold Phyllis back." Mrs. Avalon commanded.
When she did the counter-curse, Rachel jumped up and ran toward Phyllis. Phyllis ran towards Rachel. But luckily, Harry and Ron held Rachel back, and Fred and George did the same for Phyllis.
When they calmed down, Harry saw that there was a number of cuts and bruises on the visible skin on Rachel's body. Same for Phyllis, except that Phyllis looked like she had more.
Then, Mrs. Avalon said, "I think you better head back to school. Go strait to the nurse. I'm sure she'll heal you right up." She didn't sound as concerned as she should have been. Or maybe Harry just imagined it.
Rachel was looking at Phyllis with narrowed eyes when Harry started guiding her out of the store. "Bye mum." Rachel muttered before she left. Harry noticed that Malfoy was nowhere in sight.
"Rachel," Fred began as they made their way back to Hogwarts. "That was an intense fight. Where did you learn all those cool hexes?"
"Ya, and that curse that made Phyllis sprout eight extra pairs of arms and legs?" George added.
But Rachel just shrugged. She still looked very angry. But when they went down to Dinner that day, after Rachel went down to the hospital wing and came back without any injuries, they were all surprised at what they heard.
They had just finished enjoying dinner, when Dumbledore got up and the whole Hall fell silent.
"I am proud to announce," Dumbledore began, "that on March 16th, there will be a wizarding school coming here. It is Sacramento. The Headmaster, Professor Harris [a/n: this is in tribute to Richard Harris, may he rest in peace *tear*] which I am very good friends with, and his school, will arrive here to compete for a Quidditch Cup"
At this, the whole Hall suddenly burst into cheers and applause. People were shouting, and some were even crying out of their happiness. Once the cheers died down, Dumbledore continued.
"This is how the tournament will go: Sacramento will be choosing their strongest players from their school and combine them to make one Ultimate Team. Hogwarts will of course, be doing the same. Madam Hooch will be holding the tryouts for anyone that wishes to try out for Hogwarts' Ultimate Team." Harry saw Malfoy muttering something to Crabbe and Goyle, and then they looked at Harry, and started sniggering. Harry ignored them. Professor Dumbledore continued. "If you wish to try out, sign up sheets will be in the Entrance Hall. Mr. Filch has been kind enough to have placed them ready for you to take. Tryouts start in February. I wish all those trying out the best of luck!"
The Hall broke into more cheers and applause. Dumbledore raised his hand, and the Hall fell silent once again.
"Sacramento will arrive at Hogwarts on March 16, and will be staying here until Easter. The actual match will take place on the following Saturday. I would like to press that Hogwarts students should be on their best behavior." He paused to let this sink in. Then he continued. "Students are not to skip any classes to practice, and it is not an excuse for you to use to get out of class. If any of the teachers are notified that you have been skipping classes to practice, you will immediately be pulled out of tryouts, or, the team. I wish you all the best, and hope that it will be a Hogwarts victory."
When Dumbledore sat down, people started emptying the Great Hall talking very noisily. But there was one thing on Harry's mind, should he or should he not try out for seeker? Was he good enough to beat out everybody at Hogwarts hoping to get the Seeker position? Was it even worth trying out?
Rachel was running towards Harry. When she reached him, she said, in a very excited voice, "Isn't this so exiting, Harry? I can't wait for tryouts. I think I'll go for the Seeker position, or perhaps the Keeper position. I'm quite good at that. What about you, Harry? I heard you were on the Gryffindor Team."
"Yah!" Harry said. "I was. I mean, am."
"Well, what position did you play?" Rachel asked. "In my old school we didn't have Quidditch. But I still practiced with some of my friends. We sometimes even practiced with Canada's Quidditch Team. We lived in the same area as they did."
Harry couldn't believe his ears. "Really?" He asked. "You actually met famous Quidditch players?"
"Yep." She answered. They were silent for a moment, Harry imagining how it must feel to be able to practice with professional Quidditch players, when Rachel asked him again "What position do you play?"
"Oh," Harry snapped out of his thoughts. "Seeker."
"Really?" Rachel squealed. She looked very excited. "Oh my goodness, Harry. That's a really hard position to play."
"Yah, it is." Harry answered.
"I played at a club in Canada. I was Seeker. I don't think that we ever lost a game. Except that time that a Bludger knocked out our Keeper, Kevin. Ooooooh, it was horrible. Oh, and that time I was almost hit by lightning and I couldn't see for a month. But, I think that's it. Not to brag or anything. Oh, and I was also Captain."
Harry couldn't believe it. Rachel used to be Seeker, and Captain. Well, if she's that good to be Seeker, then he had no chance to try for Seeker for Hogwarts' Ultimate Team. Harry didn't stand a chance.
Rachel continued, "So, I guess we're going to have to be up against each other, huh?" She asked.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked,
"Well, if we both try out for the Seeker position."
Oh no, Harry thought. He was going to have to compete against Rachel.
"Harry, you alright?" She asked, seeing the glazed look on his face.
"Huh? Oh, yah. It's just, I don't know if I'm good enough to go against you."
"Of course you are. Oliver told me you were the best Seeker he ever saw. And that's saying something. Oliver is a freak when it comes to Quidditch."
Rachel knew Oliver? But how? "You know Oliver Wood?" He asked her.
"Of Course! Oliver Wood and I are old friends. Last time I saw him, he told me who was on his team. Cool, eh?"
"Um, ya." Harry agreed, as they started to make their way to Gryffindor Tower. When they arrived there, Harry heard everyone talking about Quidditch. He saw Fred and George whispering excitedly in a corner. Their friend, Lee Jordan, was with them. He heard a part of their conversation.
"Can't wait for tryouts." George said. "Me and Fred are going to beat out all those sissy's trying out for Beater position, yah!"
"Yo, I heard Avalon is trying out for Seeker." Lee said.
"Hey, that's Harry's position," Fred exclaimed. "Ah well, he'll have to be a gentleman to Avalon though. We have to make sure he watches his manners and doesn't beat her THAT badly." They all sniggered, and Harry felt a little more confident. He looked around, and Rachel was gone. He saw her standing by a corner talking to Lavender Brown. Hermione and Ron came up to Harry and were talking to him, but he didn't hear what they were saying because he was listening to another part of Fred, George and Lee's conversation.
"-But Avalon is hot!" Fred said.
"Ya, she is." George added.
"Rachel? Oh yah! She's a babe." Lee said.
Hermione was saying something to Harry, but he wasn't listening. But he was secretly agreeing with what Lee had said.
"Harry? Harry? Are you listening?" Hermione was saying.
"Ya, of course." Harry lied.
"Well, you're going to have to train up a little for the tryouts. Or do you think you're ready? And what about you're homework? You're going to need help with that. I'm willing to help you if you want."
"I think I'm ready. And yah, you can help with my homework when I need it. Thanks Hermione."
*
The next day Harry woke up, and felt really cheerful for some reason. He got out of his four-poster bed, got dressed, and when he was finished, he saw that the rest of the boys in his dormitory were awake too. He didn't really feel like going to class today, but he had to.
He waited for Ron to get dressed, and they walked down to the Great Hall together. They spotted Hermione sitting by herself at Gryffindor Table. They walked up to her and said hi.
"Shh," Was her response. She had a bunch of pieces of parchment scattered all around her, and was writing something on one of them.
"Oh no." Ron groaned. "Don't tell me I forgot to do some kind of homework."
"No, no. It's not that. Don't worry, this isn't homework." Hermione responded without even looking up.
"Then what is it?" Harry asked.
"You should know." Hermione snapped, looking up at Harry. She must have seen the confused look on his face because she then added, "It's Rachel's birthday today."
"How on earth d'you know that?" Ron asked looking amazed at Hermione.
"Oh honestly." Hermione sighed. "Remember the other day at Honeydukes? The fight?"
"Yah." Harry said slowly.
"Well," Hermione went on, "Malfoy said that 'Tomorrow is Rachel's birthday' Remember? So that's how I know."
"Oh yah." Ron said, while Harry shook his head that he remembered.
"Oh NO!" Harry groaned. "I haven't got her a present."
"Me either." Ron added.
"Well, good thing I'm around. I got her a present, AND I'm planning a surprise party." Hermione beamed.
"Hermione, you're brilliant!" Ron exclaimed.
"A surprise party?" Harry asked. "Are you sure she would want one?"
"Well, I guess the surprise party is a little too much." Hermione said as she crossed something out on the parchment. "Well, at least I got the present."
"What did you get her?" Ron asked.
"Hmmm.good question, Ron." Hermione shifted all the pieces of parchment and revealed a small paper that looked as if it was torn out of a book or magazine. "This," Hermione started, "is what I am planning on getting Rachel." She handed the paper to Harry, and Ron leaned in to read it.
Harry sighed. "You're getting her a crystal ball?"
"Yup!" Hermione said happily. "She's always bragging about how good she is at divination, so I decided to get her this, since it is a key tool. And maybe, if she is as good as she said she is, then maybe she'll be able to REALLY tell the future, unlike that fraud Trelawney."
Harry stared at Hermione. Wow! He thought. She really put a lot of thought into this. "Hermione," Harry said, as she looked up at him, "I don't know what we'd do without you. Honestly." She beamed at him.
"Yah, Hermione." Ron said. "You're the brains out of all of us three."
"I know." Hermione said. "Just kidding. But thanks, you guys are great." They noticed that little tears had formed in her eyes out of gratitude.
"So," Harry said, "When are you planning to buy this present, and with what money? I heard crystal balls are expensive."
"Oh, I already got that covered." She said. "I went around yesterday asking all of Rachel's friends if they could donate a galleon or so, and guess what?"
"What?" Harry and Ron both said.
"We have enough!" She looked down at the parchment, and Harry saw that it was the names of every person that gave money and how much they gave. "The only problem is that we aren't allowed to go to Diagon Alley to get it." She sighed.
"Well, maybe we can ask Professor Trelawney if she could go and get it for us, since she IS the Divination teacher." Ron said.
"Yes. Good idea, Ron." Hermione said. I'll give you guys the money, and you ask her as soon as possible, ok?"
"Yup." Harry said. "Hermione?"
"Yes?"
"How come you're doing all this for Rachel? Not to be rude or anything."
"Oh, well, because me and Rachel have become really good friends. I mean, she's the one who introduced me to Chris. And since we're in the same dormitory, well, we stayed up a lot of nights talking about girl stuff. I've never really gotten this close as friends with a girl before, except Ginny, of course. But Ginny isn't the same age as me, so it's kind of difficult, you know." Hermione finished.
Harry was surprised at Hermione's sudden outburst of feelings. He didn't know that Rachel and Hermione where bonding, and that they were such close friends now. It was strange, to actually know that Hermione was a girl. Ron, on the other hand, was staring at Hermione as if he had just seen her for the very first time.
"Wow, Hermione." Ron exclaimed. "You're becoming more feminine by the day."
They all laughed at this.
"Why, thank you, Ron." Hermione said, as she pretended to blush.
Ron actually did blush.
"Anyways, let's go find Professor Trelawney." Harry said.
*
"Ok," Hermione said. "Here's the plan. I go and bring Rachel down here, and you guys give her the present. Alright?"
"Yup" Harry said.
"No problem." Ron added.
It was almost nine o'clock, and they were in the Gryffindor common room, with Rachel's crystal ball in their hands. It was in a cubic box, and was nicely wrapped, thanks to Hermione's skills.
In class, and in the halls, people kept wishing Rachel happy birthday. Harry, Ron and Hermione all did too. She had no idea that they were planning a little celebration for her. Everyone was told to keep his or her mouths shut. And now it was time for the surprise.
"I wonder if she'll like it." Harry asked Ron nervously.
"Don't worry, mate, she will." Ron assured Harry.
"Oh shit. Here she comes!" Harry tried to flatten his hair, but it was no good.
They saw her feet coming down, and as soon as they saw her face, everyone in the common room yelled "HAPPY BIRTHDAY RACHEL!!!"
"Oh my!" Rachel said in an exasperated voice. She was pink in the face, and grinned rather embarrassingly.
"Harry," Ron whispered to him. "Go give her the present."
"Oh, right!" Harry said. He didn't know what was wrong with him. He was nervous to go and talk to Rachel. What was wrong with him? "Happy birthday, Rachel." Harry said as he handed her the present.
"Oh, Harry," Rachel said. "You shouldn't have. Really. I don't need a present." She laughed.
"No, everyone needs presents on their birthdays. And plus, it's from all of us."
"All of who?" She asked.
"Your friends. We all put together our money." Hermione told her.
"Aww, how sweet."
"Well, aren't you gonna open it?" Ron asked.
"What? Oh yes." She took the present from Harry and opened it with a trembling hand. "WOW!" she exclaimed when she saw the crystal ball. "Oh my goodness! This is...it's beautiful. I always wanted one. Let me guess, Hermione?"
"Yes," Hermione said in a small voice.
"Wow!" Rachel said. The light from the orb was shining a mix of blue and white colors. "It's beautiful. I can't wait to try it."
"Well," Harry started. "Why don't you use it now?"
"What?" Rachel looked around at Harry. "Oh no. I can't use it yet. I have to read up on it first. Then I have to practice. And do a whole bunch of things before I can ACTUALLY read someone's future. And plus, the future is a very unstable thing. It can change every day. It can change a second before. No, no.I will need much practice before I can actually even SEE something in it."
"Erm, right, if you say so." Harry said. "C'mon, we have food."
"Yah," Ron added, "Let's PAR-TAY!!!"
They partied well into the night. Most of the Gryffindor's, even if they didn't know Rachel, took part in the party as well. There was dancing, and music, and games. Hermione really was a good planner. Harry was grateful for a night well spent.
* r/r pls!!!
*
~ Chapter 6 ~
*
*
Quarrels
*
"So" Hermione was asking Rachel as they were enjoying their Halloween Feast. "Have you ever been to Hogsmeade?"
"Well." Rachel responded.
"I hope you have a permission form, because we're going tomorrow. You do have a permission form, right?" Hermione questioned.
"Well, yes." Rachel answered.
"Great!" Hermione exclaimed. "I'll show you around tomorrow. I mean, I've been there tons of times, you know."
"Actually," Rachel began, "I'm, kinda not going."
"What?" Hermione shouted. "Why not?"
"I, um.I've been there so many times, I, um.got bored. Ya, that's it, I got bored." Rachel answered.
"Well, I won't go either." Harry said.
"No, no. You go Harry; I'll be here by myself. I don't mind, really."
"But I'm not leaving you here alone." Harry argued.
"NO!" Rachel shouted. "YOU'RE GOING!"
"Not without you!"
"Shhhh!" Hermione hissed. The whole Hall had fallen silent to listen to their argument. "Sorry." Rachel quickly said to Hermione, and everyone began to laugh and talk once again. Rachel turned to Harry, and continued, but much quieter, "You are going, Harry, and I am not!"
"If you're not going, I'm not going." Harry said stubbornly.
"But.but."
"That's that. Nothing you will say will change my mind."
"But Harry, I don't want to go." Rachel told Harry.
"That's fine." Harry said. "I'm not forcing you to go. I'm just telling you that if you don't go, I'm not going to leave you here alone. I'm going to stay here with you. And I've been a lot of times to Hogsmeade too, so it doesn't matter."
"You.uh.fine, I'll go. Goshness!" Rachel mumbled.
"Why don't you want to go to Hogsmeade, Rachel? It's very interesting." Hermione said.
"I told you already." Rachel responded. "I got bored of it."
Harry saw that Rachel was lying, and quickly said, "You're lying!"
"I am not!" Rachel snapped. "How dare you say that I'm lying or not. You don't even know me! How-how dare you!" Rachel got off her chair, and stormed out of the Great Hall.
"What's up with her?" Ron asked, as he finally came back from Ravenclaw table.
"Oh, nothing." Harry said, quickly. "So, what happened with Jackie?"
"Um." Ron said, as he started blushing. "She, um.said that she's happy I asked her to the dance. I also told her that she's pretty, and she said I'm cute. She said I'm CUTE!" Ron was now jumping up and down.
"Calm down." Harry hissed. "Chill!"
When the feast was over, they all returned to the Gryffindor common room. They found Rachel sitting in a chair next to the fire. She looked very angry, but sad at the same time.
Hermione, Ron and Harry went and sat down in a corner of the room. Hermione motioned to Rachel to come sit with them, but Rachel shook her head, no. So Hermione went up to Rachel, whispered something in her ear, and they both came back to the corner where Harry and Ron were.
"Listen, Rachel." Harry began. "I didn't mean to hurt you're feelings. I'm, sorry."
"No, I'm sorry." Rachel said. "I shouldn't have been so rude. It's just that, well."
"What is it?" Hermione asked in a concerned voice.
"Well," Rachel began in a whisper. "You have to promise not to tell anyone, OK?"
At once, Hermione, Harry and Ron all agreed.
"Well," Rachel continued, still whispering, "Well.my mum. She kinda, um.works at, um.Honeydukes. You know, she's the owner."
At this, Harry, Hermione and Ron all jumped. Ron's mouth was hanging open, while Hermione and Harry's faces stayed frozen.
"But you can't tell ANYONE!" Rachel pressed.
"Then, you must like, get tones of sweets." Ron said, with a surprised voice.
"Well, ya." Rachel answered. "My mum sends me sweets whenever I want 'em. If you want, I can get some for you guys."
All of a sudden, Hermione, Harry and Ron's faces lit up.
"Yes, please!"
"Oh ya!"
"Great. And I'd like to see the faces of Fred and George when we have candy, and sweets, and they don't. HA!"
"Ya! I know!" Rachel said, as they all started to laugh.
"But your still coming. Right?" Hermione asked Rachel, once they all stopped laughing.
"Well, ya, I guess." Rachel answered.
"Excellent!" Harry shouted. *
The next day, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Rachel woke up, and went down into the common room, which was buzzing with excitement.
Everybody was talking about the trip to Hogsmeade. The weather outside was cool, but not too cold, considering it was the 1st of November.
When they arrived at Hogsmeade, the first place that they went to was of course, Honeydukes.
"My mom is probably at the cash register. She always is when a bunch of people visit. She doesn't trust anybody else." Rachel was telling Harry, Ron and Hermione. "On the holidays, she lets me help out at the store."
No sooner had Rachel said that than they finally arrived at Honeydukes. There was a bunch of people there already. Each of them (except Rachel who always got some) picked out a whole bunch of sweets. There were Chocolate Frogs, Every Flavour Beans, Fizzing Whizzbees, Droobles Best Blowing Gum, and much more.
Once they had everything, they went to the cashier. And luckily, Rachel's mother was there.
"Rachel hun. You're here. It's so busy today. Did your school come?" Rachel's mother asked.
"Um.hiya mum. Ya, Hogwarts came today. I thought you knew." Rachel responded.
"Well, I've been really busy lately. You know." She looked around at all the Hogwarts students. Then she focused her attention back to her daughter.
"Umm.mum, these are my friends."
Rachel's mother looked very stunned. "Oh my, I'm so sorry. I didn't know you brought friends with you. Well.introduce them already."
"Oh ya. Well this is Ron Weasley." Rachel began but was interrupted by her mother.
"Hey, I know you're brothers, Fred and George. They are always in here. But mostly, I always see them at that joke shop. They're very funny. I sometimes give them free things. They're dears." Rachel's mother told them, while she started laughing.
"This," Rachel continued, "Is Hermione Granger. And finally, this is Harry Potter." "WHAT?" Rachel's mother shouted. "Harry Potter, you say? Well, what is he doing here? It's very dangerous with Volde-sorry, You Know Who on the loose. It's not safe here, Hun."
"Don't worry mum." Rachel said. "I'm sure he's not gonna turn up in a place crowded with people."
"Yes, please don't worry, Mrs. Avalon." Harry said.
"Alright." Mrs. Avalon said hesitantly. "Well then, what are all of you going to get?"
Harry, Ron and Hermione pilled up all of their sweets on to the counter as Mrs. Avalon packed them all into their bags.
"Well, how much does it come up to?" Ron asked.
"What? Oh no dear, it's on me."
Ron seemed really stunned at this, but before he could say anything, Harry asked Rachel, "So, what does your father do?"
At this, both Rachel and Mrs. Avalon looked up.
"Um." Rachel began. "Well, my father is umm.sort of.he's dead."
"Oh," Harry said, being very surprised. "I'm sorry. I-I never knew."
"Of course you didn't." Rachel said. "I never told you."
"Um, yes, that's it." Harry said. He felt really stupid and guilty at asking such a personal question. How could he have been so stupid? He punched himself mentally.
"But I have a stepfather." Rachel went on. "He's a Muggle, though. My mother re-married when my biological father died. I don't even know what he looks like because he died before I was born. Oh, and I also have a Muggle brother, Tom. I'm sure you were all dieing to know my family history, eh?" She laughed.
When Rachel finished, nobody spoke for a long time. But finally, there were other Hogwarts students waiting to pay for their things, and when Mrs. Avalon saw them, she finally spoke, and said, "Well, I'll see you later than, dears. By sweetie." She added to Rachel as they left the store.
Harry, Ron, Hermione and Rachel were enjoying their day at Hogsmeade. Rachel was mostly showing them around, because she knew the place so well.
"So, you must live around here if your mother works at Honeydukes, right?" Harry asked Rachel as they were looking around the joke shop.
"Well, my mum lives around here with her best friend. But my brother and my stepfather live in London. She visits them on her days off, but since not many Muggles live in Hogsmeade my brother and stepfather don't, or rather can't, live here. I sometimes stay with them on my summer break, and they always send me owls to tell me what's happening." Rachel answered.
"Oh." Harry said, not knowing what else to say. But then another question came to his mind. "Do they know, I mean your brother and stepfather, do they know that you and your mum are, y'know, witches?"
"'Course." Rachel responded.
But just then, Fred and George came running into the joke shop, towards Rachel.
".Rachel." Fred said, panting. "Your mum.Honeydukes.just been there."
".Malfoy." George said, also panting. ".Trouble, now."
"What?" Rachel asked.
"I think something's wrong in Honeydukes." Hermione answered.
"Ya, and I bet Malfoy's got something to do with it." Ron said coldly.
Rachel looked at Fred and George, and they both nodded at her. So she, Harry, Ron and Hermione set off at a run for Honeydukes, closely followed by Fred and George.
When they arrived at Honeydukes, they all heard angry shouting coming from the inside. Quietly, Rachel entered first, followed by Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred and George.
"What is your problem, woman!" Malfoy was shouting at Mrs. Avalon. Apparently, he wanted to buy something, but there wasn't enough, and Mrs. Avalon didn't have any more in stock.
"Please calm down, dear." Mrs. Avalon was saying in a calm voice. "You can come back tomorrow once I get more."
"But it's Rachel's birthday tomorrow." Malfoy was shouting even louder now. The whole store had stopped what they were doing, to see what was happening. "You old hag! I want some more! Now give it to me, or I'll hex you!"
Rachel walked up to Malfoy, and with all her might, slapped him on the cheek. She slapped him so hard, that there was a red mark on his skin. "DRACO!" Rachel screamed at the top of her lungs. "Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, threatens, or calls my mother an old hag!" Rachel looked as if she was about to explode. She was so red in the face from her anger.
"Rachel?" Malfoy said with a very surprised voice clutching his cheek with his hand, and it looked like tears were forming in his eyes. But with and even more surprised voice, he said, "Your mother?"
"Duh!"
"But-But I, I never knew." Malfoy said with a trembling voice. "I swear, I- "
"I don't care!" Rachel shouted at him. "Even if she wasn't my mother, you shouldn't threaten or call anyone bad names."
"Bug off, Rachel." Phyllis Bing had arrived on the scene, and she was standing beside Malfoy. Rachel looked even madder now.
"I don't recall asking your opinion, Bing." Rachel said coolly.
"Well," Phyllis began in a cold, menacing voice, "Maybe you should learn to mind your own business, Avalon."
"This is my business."
"You know what, Avalon? You're a stupid bitch!"
"Oh you-"
And suddenly, Rachel went up to Phyllis, and slapped her too. But then, to everyone's surprise, Phyllis slapped Rachel back. Then, Rachel took out her wand, and so did Phyllis. They began cursing and hexing each other with spells that Harry had never learnt before. People in the store were screaming and running to the door to get out. While Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred and George were trying to stop Rachel and Phyllis from killing each other.
"Petrificus Totalus!" Mrs. Avalon shouted. And right away, Rachel and Phyllis' arms snapped to their sides. Their legs sprang together. Their whole bodies were rigid, they swayed where they stood and then fell flat on the floor, stiff as a board.
Harry ran towards Rachel, and saw that her jaws were jammed together so she couldn't speak. Only her eyes were moving, looking around the room.
"I'm sorry, sweetie." Mrs. Avalon said as she approached Rachel and Phyllis. "It's the only thing I could have done."
"The full Body-Bind." Hermione said, staring at Rachel and Phyllis lying on the ground.
"When I do the counter-curse, Harry, you and Ron hold Rachel back, and Fred and George, hold Phyllis back." Mrs. Avalon commanded.
When she did the counter-curse, Rachel jumped up and ran toward Phyllis. Phyllis ran towards Rachel. But luckily, Harry and Ron held Rachel back, and Fred and George did the same for Phyllis.
When they calmed down, Harry saw that there was a number of cuts and bruises on the visible skin on Rachel's body. Same for Phyllis, except that Phyllis looked like she had more.
Then, Mrs. Avalon said, "I think you better head back to school. Go strait to the nurse. I'm sure she'll heal you right up." She didn't sound as concerned as she should have been. Or maybe Harry just imagined it.
Rachel was looking at Phyllis with narrowed eyes when Harry started guiding her out of the store. "Bye mum." Rachel muttered before she left. Harry noticed that Malfoy was nowhere in sight.
"Rachel," Fred began as they made their way back to Hogwarts. "That was an intense fight. Where did you learn all those cool hexes?"
"Ya, and that curse that made Phyllis sprout eight extra pairs of arms and legs?" George added.
But Rachel just shrugged. She still looked very angry. But when they went down to Dinner that day, after Rachel went down to the hospital wing and came back without any injuries, they were all surprised at what they heard.
They had just finished enjoying dinner, when Dumbledore got up and the whole Hall fell silent.
"I am proud to announce," Dumbledore began, "that on March 16th, there will be a wizarding school coming here. It is Sacramento. The Headmaster, Professor Harris [a/n: this is in tribute to Richard Harris, may he rest in peace *tear*] which I am very good friends with, and his school, will arrive here to compete for a Quidditch Cup"
At this, the whole Hall suddenly burst into cheers and applause. People were shouting, and some were even crying out of their happiness. Once the cheers died down, Dumbledore continued.
"This is how the tournament will go: Sacramento will be choosing their strongest players from their school and combine them to make one Ultimate Team. Hogwarts will of course, be doing the same. Madam Hooch will be holding the tryouts for anyone that wishes to try out for Hogwarts' Ultimate Team." Harry saw Malfoy muttering something to Crabbe and Goyle, and then they looked at Harry, and started sniggering. Harry ignored them. Professor Dumbledore continued. "If you wish to try out, sign up sheets will be in the Entrance Hall. Mr. Filch has been kind enough to have placed them ready for you to take. Tryouts start in February. I wish all those trying out the best of luck!"
The Hall broke into more cheers and applause. Dumbledore raised his hand, and the Hall fell silent once again.
"Sacramento will arrive at Hogwarts on March 16, and will be staying here until Easter. The actual match will take place on the following Saturday. I would like to press that Hogwarts students should be on their best behavior." He paused to let this sink in. Then he continued. "Students are not to skip any classes to practice, and it is not an excuse for you to use to get out of class. If any of the teachers are notified that you have been skipping classes to practice, you will immediately be pulled out of tryouts, or, the team. I wish you all the best, and hope that it will be a Hogwarts victory."
When Dumbledore sat down, people started emptying the Great Hall talking very noisily. But there was one thing on Harry's mind, should he or should he not try out for seeker? Was he good enough to beat out everybody at Hogwarts hoping to get the Seeker position? Was it even worth trying out?
Rachel was running towards Harry. When she reached him, she said, in a very excited voice, "Isn't this so exiting, Harry? I can't wait for tryouts. I think I'll go for the Seeker position, or perhaps the Keeper position. I'm quite good at that. What about you, Harry? I heard you were on the Gryffindor Team."
"Yah!" Harry said. "I was. I mean, am."
"Well, what position did you play?" Rachel asked. "In my old school we didn't have Quidditch. But I still practiced with some of my friends. We sometimes even practiced with Canada's Quidditch Team. We lived in the same area as they did."
Harry couldn't believe his ears. "Really?" He asked. "You actually met famous Quidditch players?"
"Yep." She answered. They were silent for a moment, Harry imagining how it must feel to be able to practice with professional Quidditch players, when Rachel asked him again "What position do you play?"
"Oh," Harry snapped out of his thoughts. "Seeker."
"Really?" Rachel squealed. She looked very excited. "Oh my goodness, Harry. That's a really hard position to play."
"Yah, it is." Harry answered.
"I played at a club in Canada. I was Seeker. I don't think that we ever lost a game. Except that time that a Bludger knocked out our Keeper, Kevin. Ooooooh, it was horrible. Oh, and that time I was almost hit by lightning and I couldn't see for a month. But, I think that's it. Not to brag or anything. Oh, and I was also Captain."
Harry couldn't believe it. Rachel used to be Seeker, and Captain. Well, if she's that good to be Seeker, then he had no chance to try for Seeker for Hogwarts' Ultimate Team. Harry didn't stand a chance.
Rachel continued, "So, I guess we're going to have to be up against each other, huh?" She asked.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked,
"Well, if we both try out for the Seeker position."
Oh no, Harry thought. He was going to have to compete against Rachel.
"Harry, you alright?" She asked, seeing the glazed look on his face.
"Huh? Oh, yah. It's just, I don't know if I'm good enough to go against you."
"Of course you are. Oliver told me you were the best Seeker he ever saw. And that's saying something. Oliver is a freak when it comes to Quidditch."
Rachel knew Oliver? But how? "You know Oliver Wood?" He asked her.
"Of Course! Oliver Wood and I are old friends. Last time I saw him, he told me who was on his team. Cool, eh?"
"Um, ya." Harry agreed, as they started to make their way to Gryffindor Tower. When they arrived there, Harry heard everyone talking about Quidditch. He saw Fred and George whispering excitedly in a corner. Their friend, Lee Jordan, was with them. He heard a part of their conversation.
"Can't wait for tryouts." George said. "Me and Fred are going to beat out all those sissy's trying out for Beater position, yah!"
"Yo, I heard Avalon is trying out for Seeker." Lee said.
"Hey, that's Harry's position," Fred exclaimed. "Ah well, he'll have to be a gentleman to Avalon though. We have to make sure he watches his manners and doesn't beat her THAT badly." They all sniggered, and Harry felt a little more confident. He looked around, and Rachel was gone. He saw her standing by a corner talking to Lavender Brown. Hermione and Ron came up to Harry and were talking to him, but he didn't hear what they were saying because he was listening to another part of Fred, George and Lee's conversation.
"-But Avalon is hot!" Fred said.
"Ya, she is." George added.
"Rachel? Oh yah! She's a babe." Lee said.
Hermione was saying something to Harry, but he wasn't listening. But he was secretly agreeing with what Lee had said.
"Harry? Harry? Are you listening?" Hermione was saying.
"Ya, of course." Harry lied.
"Well, you're going to have to train up a little for the tryouts. Or do you think you're ready? And what about you're homework? You're going to need help with that. I'm willing to help you if you want."
"I think I'm ready. And yah, you can help with my homework when I need it. Thanks Hermione."
*
The next day Harry woke up, and felt really cheerful for some reason. He got out of his four-poster bed, got dressed, and when he was finished, he saw that the rest of the boys in his dormitory were awake too. He didn't really feel like going to class today, but he had to.
He waited for Ron to get dressed, and they walked down to the Great Hall together. They spotted Hermione sitting by herself at Gryffindor Table. They walked up to her and said hi.
"Shh," Was her response. She had a bunch of pieces of parchment scattered all around her, and was writing something on one of them.
"Oh no." Ron groaned. "Don't tell me I forgot to do some kind of homework."
"No, no. It's not that. Don't worry, this isn't homework." Hermione responded without even looking up.
"Then what is it?" Harry asked.
"You should know." Hermione snapped, looking up at Harry. She must have seen the confused look on his face because she then added, "It's Rachel's birthday today."
"How on earth d'you know that?" Ron asked looking amazed at Hermione.
"Oh honestly." Hermione sighed. "Remember the other day at Honeydukes? The fight?"
"Yah." Harry said slowly.
"Well," Hermione went on, "Malfoy said that 'Tomorrow is Rachel's birthday' Remember? So that's how I know."
"Oh yah." Ron said, while Harry shook his head that he remembered.
"Oh NO!" Harry groaned. "I haven't got her a present."
"Me either." Ron added.
"Well, good thing I'm around. I got her a present, AND I'm planning a surprise party." Hermione beamed.
"Hermione, you're brilliant!" Ron exclaimed.
"A surprise party?" Harry asked. "Are you sure she would want one?"
"Well, I guess the surprise party is a little too much." Hermione said as she crossed something out on the parchment. "Well, at least I got the present."
"What did you get her?" Ron asked.
"Hmmm.good question, Ron." Hermione shifted all the pieces of parchment and revealed a small paper that looked as if it was torn out of a book or magazine. "This," Hermione started, "is what I am planning on getting Rachel." She handed the paper to Harry, and Ron leaned in to read it.
Harry sighed. "You're getting her a crystal ball?"
"Yup!" Hermione said happily. "She's always bragging about how good she is at divination, so I decided to get her this, since it is a key tool. And maybe, if she is as good as she said she is, then maybe she'll be able to REALLY tell the future, unlike that fraud Trelawney."
Harry stared at Hermione. Wow! He thought. She really put a lot of thought into this. "Hermione," Harry said, as she looked up at him, "I don't know what we'd do without you. Honestly." She beamed at him.
"Yah, Hermione." Ron said. "You're the brains out of all of us three."
"I know." Hermione said. "Just kidding. But thanks, you guys are great." They noticed that little tears had formed in her eyes out of gratitude.
"So," Harry said, "When are you planning to buy this present, and with what money? I heard crystal balls are expensive."
"Oh, I already got that covered." She said. "I went around yesterday asking all of Rachel's friends if they could donate a galleon or so, and guess what?"
"What?" Harry and Ron both said.
"We have enough!" She looked down at the parchment, and Harry saw that it was the names of every person that gave money and how much they gave. "The only problem is that we aren't allowed to go to Diagon Alley to get it." She sighed.
"Well, maybe we can ask Professor Trelawney if she could go and get it for us, since she IS the Divination teacher." Ron said.
"Yes. Good idea, Ron." Hermione said. I'll give you guys the money, and you ask her as soon as possible, ok?"
"Yup." Harry said. "Hermione?"
"Yes?"
"How come you're doing all this for Rachel? Not to be rude or anything."
"Oh, well, because me and Rachel have become really good friends. I mean, she's the one who introduced me to Chris. And since we're in the same dormitory, well, we stayed up a lot of nights talking about girl stuff. I've never really gotten this close as friends with a girl before, except Ginny, of course. But Ginny isn't the same age as me, so it's kind of difficult, you know." Hermione finished.
Harry was surprised at Hermione's sudden outburst of feelings. He didn't know that Rachel and Hermione where bonding, and that they were such close friends now. It was strange, to actually know that Hermione was a girl. Ron, on the other hand, was staring at Hermione as if he had just seen her for the very first time.
"Wow, Hermione." Ron exclaimed. "You're becoming more feminine by the day."
They all laughed at this.
"Why, thank you, Ron." Hermione said, as she pretended to blush.
Ron actually did blush.
"Anyways, let's go find Professor Trelawney." Harry said.
*
"Ok," Hermione said. "Here's the plan. I go and bring Rachel down here, and you guys give her the present. Alright?"
"Yup" Harry said.
"No problem." Ron added.
It was almost nine o'clock, and they were in the Gryffindor common room, with Rachel's crystal ball in their hands. It was in a cubic box, and was nicely wrapped, thanks to Hermione's skills.
In class, and in the halls, people kept wishing Rachel happy birthday. Harry, Ron and Hermione all did too. She had no idea that they were planning a little celebration for her. Everyone was told to keep his or her mouths shut. And now it was time for the surprise.
"I wonder if she'll like it." Harry asked Ron nervously.
"Don't worry, mate, she will." Ron assured Harry.
"Oh shit. Here she comes!" Harry tried to flatten his hair, but it was no good.
They saw her feet coming down, and as soon as they saw her face, everyone in the common room yelled "HAPPY BIRTHDAY RACHEL!!!"
"Oh my!" Rachel said in an exasperated voice. She was pink in the face, and grinned rather embarrassingly.
"Harry," Ron whispered to him. "Go give her the present."
"Oh, right!" Harry said. He didn't know what was wrong with him. He was nervous to go and talk to Rachel. What was wrong with him? "Happy birthday, Rachel." Harry said as he handed her the present.
"Oh, Harry," Rachel said. "You shouldn't have. Really. I don't need a present." She laughed.
"No, everyone needs presents on their birthdays. And plus, it's from all of us."
"All of who?" She asked.
"Your friends. We all put together our money." Hermione told her.
"Aww, how sweet."
"Well, aren't you gonna open it?" Ron asked.
"What? Oh yes." She took the present from Harry and opened it with a trembling hand. "WOW!" she exclaimed when she saw the crystal ball. "Oh my goodness! This is...it's beautiful. I always wanted one. Let me guess, Hermione?"
"Yes," Hermione said in a small voice.
"Wow!" Rachel said. The light from the orb was shining a mix of blue and white colors. "It's beautiful. I can't wait to try it."
"Well," Harry started. "Why don't you use it now?"
"What?" Rachel looked around at Harry. "Oh no. I can't use it yet. I have to read up on it first. Then I have to practice. And do a whole bunch of things before I can ACTUALLY read someone's future. And plus, the future is a very unstable thing. It can change every day. It can change a second before. No, no.I will need much practice before I can actually even SEE something in it."
"Erm, right, if you say so." Harry said. "C'mon, we have food."
"Yah," Ron added, "Let's PAR-TAY!!!"
They partied well into the night. Most of the Gryffindor's, even if they didn't know Rachel, took part in the party as well. There was dancing, and music, and games. Hermione really was a good planner. Harry was grateful for a night well spent.
* r/r pls!!!