A/N: Never fear, Lourdaise is back! I promise not to leave you to nasty
Eihwaz for a while LOL. Only kidding. But WHY does she have to put a
comment after the chapter title?! Anyway, I was out yesterday so I am sorry
to have abandoned you. And today is our usual day! So, thanx to Shay,
FreiMe and Red-Emerald. Hmm, you have a VERY GOOD point. I had SO not
thought of that. Yes it shud hav been a spell. Never mind. *blushes* and as
for Mrs Boris (is that what I called her? I went through several
alternatives, my fav of which was nearly Mrs Xoris)... well... sometimes
people name one rabbit Crumbley and the next one Crunchy...
Chapter 23
The Quidditch match against Ravenclaw took place a fortnight before the OWLs started, but the whole school came to watch as usual. As I soared above the pitch, I couldn't help thinking about playing Quidditch as a career. It would be amazing, if I could... after all, besides playing pranks it was my favourite thing to do. The feel of the wind in my hair, the exhilaration, the admiration and the cheers from the crowd, the team... Why would I not want to play Quidditch all the time? If it was my job, it wouldn't mean sacrificing school or holidays for it... and if I was truly as good as McGonagall said, then maybe I should look into it.
We won against Ravenclaw more easily than last year - a couple of their best players had left Hogwarts. If we beat Slytherin - which I severely hoped we would - then the Quidditch cup was ours again. I smiled to myself as I strode the corridors looking for Sirius. Four years in succession would be pretty good, I thought smugly.
And then it was OWL time. We were sitting the exams in the Great Hall, the whole year. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending, Lily Evans was sitting distractingly near in my line of vision. The order we sat in was supposedly alphabetical, but so randomly that you wouldn't believe it. Sirius sat four seats directly behind me, and Remus was nearby too. I couldn't see Peter.
The exams ran over a period of two weeks. In the morning we sat the theory papers and in the afternoons we had practical tests. My memory paid off - I had barely glanced at my notes from the past five years, but knew the answer to almost every question. Our first exam was Herbology and from then on it was fine. Even Potions didn't go too badly, on the third day.
I had kept up with Quidditch training, to everyone's amazement. "James, it's OWL and NEWT time!"
"OK, OK, everyone doing OWLs or NEWTs is excused if they wish. Everybody else, however, must attend as normal."
I did, however, decide that even I couldn't be bothered with a proper practice. "You can do what you like," I told them. "Play a game, practise technique... whatever. I'll zoom round and watch and join in."
"You sound like Madam Hooch," Lisa joked. I smiled.
It wasn't just the team who commented on my decision to keep up with practice. I was crawling on the floor trying to find a quill I had dropped when I heard a voice say my name.
"I must say, I'm surprised Potter's keeping up with Quidditch training, aren't you Lily?"
"No," she said sourly. "Gives him a chance to show off, doesn't it? 'I'm the great James Potter who doesn't need to study, I can pass just by writing my name and scribbling a few things I just happen to remember... and oh, by the way, I'm Quidditch captain too.'"
"Don't you think it shows dedication?"
"Not really. Quidditch is a game and he's clearly not dedicated to much else. Look how he treats girls."
"That's true."
"He is good at Quidditch," a third voice said. "It's impressive."
"Sure it is," said the first voice. "But don't forget, this is Potter. Obvious that he'd be good at the thing that would make him a school hero."
Lily had laughed. "The Snitch is pretty, though," she said, wistfully.
I went to the Quidditch store cupboard that evening to take one.
On the penultimate day was Defence against the Dark Arts. The exam was noticably taken up with questions about the Unforgivables, and complicated defence moves that people had found useful against 'He-who-must-not-be- named.' It was chilling, really.
I finished with plenty of time to spare, pulled my scroll towards me and pretended to re-read what I'd written as Professor Flitwick wandered past. I glanced up to check he wasn't watching, turned and grinned at Sirius. He had clearly finished too, and was lounging back in his chair, balancing on two legs. I saw Annie Griffiths watching him hopefully, and two seats along from her Remus was checking his work studiously. Sirius gave a thumbs up and I turned back just as Professor Flitwick said "Three more minutes, everyone!"
I could feel the Snitch struggling in my robe pocket, and restlessly began to draw it on a scrap piece of parchment. I couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching me, but there was no-one to see. Probably someone was copying my work.
My own gaze rested on Evans, and I began to trace the initials L.E. absent- mindedly below the Snitch.
"Quills down, please!" That was Professor Flitwick again. "That means you too, Stebbins! Please remain seated while I collect your parchment! Accio!"
We were getting used to ducking low now to avoid being hit over the head from behind. The rolls of parchment, over a hundred of them, zoomed into Professor Flitwick's outstretched arms, knocking him backwards off his feet. Several people, including me, laughed. Evans stood up to help him.
"Thank you... thank you," he panted. "Very well, everybody, you're free to go!"
I scribbled over the L.E and jumped to my feet. I slung my bag over my back and waited for Sirius.
"Did you like question ten, Moony?" he laughed as we wandered into the hallway.
"Loved it," Remus replied briskly. "Give five signs that identify the werewolf. Excellent question."
"D'you think you managed to get all the signs?" I said, in mock-concern.
"Think I did," he said seriously. "One: he's sitting on my chair. Two: he's wearing my clothes. Three: his name's Remus Lupin."
We all laughed, except Peter. "I got the snout shape, the pupils of the eyes and the tufted tail," he said anxiously, "but I couldn't think what else..."
"How think are you, Wormtail?" I said impatiently. "You run around with a werewolf once a month -"
"Keep your voice down," Moony implored.
We were heading for our usual place to relax by the lake. I still couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched.
"Well, I thought that paper was a piece of cake," Sirius commented. "I'll be surprised if I don't get Outstanding on it, at least."
"Me too," I said. I had caught sight of Lily Evans, and withdrew the struggling Snitch from my pocket.
"Where'd you get that?"
"Nicked it," I said casually as I began playing with it. I let it fly from my hand and caught it, knowing that Wormtail was watching me in awe. I let it fly up to a foot away before catching it; I had excellent reflexes from Quidditch.
We sat down in the shade of a beech tree, where Remus took out a book and began to read. Sirius was watching our surroundings, looking rather bored. I continued to play with the Snitch, enjoying the attention from Wormtail, who clapped and gasped when I made a particularly difficult catch. Only, the girls at the water's edge that were watching me did not include Lily Evans. I ruffled my hair anyway, and lounged back further.
"Put that away, will you," Padfoot said finally as Peter lost all control and cheered as I made a fine catch, "before Wormtail wets himself with excitement."
I grinned, though Peter turned pink. "If it bothers you," I said, stuffing it in my pocket.
"I'm bored," Sirius said. "Wish it was full moon."
"You might," Moony said darkly, emerging from behind his book. "We've still got Transfiguration, if you're bored you could test me. Here..."
Sirius shook his head and snorted. "I don't need to look at that rubbish, I know it all."
At that moment, I caught sight of a greasy head nearby. "This'll liven you up, Padfoot. Look who it is..."
Sirius turned, and became very still. An evil grin touched the corners of his mouth. "Excellent," he said softly. "Snivellus."
Chapter 23
The Quidditch match against Ravenclaw took place a fortnight before the OWLs started, but the whole school came to watch as usual. As I soared above the pitch, I couldn't help thinking about playing Quidditch as a career. It would be amazing, if I could... after all, besides playing pranks it was my favourite thing to do. The feel of the wind in my hair, the exhilaration, the admiration and the cheers from the crowd, the team... Why would I not want to play Quidditch all the time? If it was my job, it wouldn't mean sacrificing school or holidays for it... and if I was truly as good as McGonagall said, then maybe I should look into it.
We won against Ravenclaw more easily than last year - a couple of their best players had left Hogwarts. If we beat Slytherin - which I severely hoped we would - then the Quidditch cup was ours again. I smiled to myself as I strode the corridors looking for Sirius. Four years in succession would be pretty good, I thought smugly.
And then it was OWL time. We were sitting the exams in the Great Hall, the whole year. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending, Lily Evans was sitting distractingly near in my line of vision. The order we sat in was supposedly alphabetical, but so randomly that you wouldn't believe it. Sirius sat four seats directly behind me, and Remus was nearby too. I couldn't see Peter.
The exams ran over a period of two weeks. In the morning we sat the theory papers and in the afternoons we had practical tests. My memory paid off - I had barely glanced at my notes from the past five years, but knew the answer to almost every question. Our first exam was Herbology and from then on it was fine. Even Potions didn't go too badly, on the third day.
I had kept up with Quidditch training, to everyone's amazement. "James, it's OWL and NEWT time!"
"OK, OK, everyone doing OWLs or NEWTs is excused if they wish. Everybody else, however, must attend as normal."
I did, however, decide that even I couldn't be bothered with a proper practice. "You can do what you like," I told them. "Play a game, practise technique... whatever. I'll zoom round and watch and join in."
"You sound like Madam Hooch," Lisa joked. I smiled.
It wasn't just the team who commented on my decision to keep up with practice. I was crawling on the floor trying to find a quill I had dropped when I heard a voice say my name.
"I must say, I'm surprised Potter's keeping up with Quidditch training, aren't you Lily?"
"No," she said sourly. "Gives him a chance to show off, doesn't it? 'I'm the great James Potter who doesn't need to study, I can pass just by writing my name and scribbling a few things I just happen to remember... and oh, by the way, I'm Quidditch captain too.'"
"Don't you think it shows dedication?"
"Not really. Quidditch is a game and he's clearly not dedicated to much else. Look how he treats girls."
"That's true."
"He is good at Quidditch," a third voice said. "It's impressive."
"Sure it is," said the first voice. "But don't forget, this is Potter. Obvious that he'd be good at the thing that would make him a school hero."
Lily had laughed. "The Snitch is pretty, though," she said, wistfully.
I went to the Quidditch store cupboard that evening to take one.
On the penultimate day was Defence against the Dark Arts. The exam was noticably taken up with questions about the Unforgivables, and complicated defence moves that people had found useful against 'He-who-must-not-be- named.' It was chilling, really.
I finished with plenty of time to spare, pulled my scroll towards me and pretended to re-read what I'd written as Professor Flitwick wandered past. I glanced up to check he wasn't watching, turned and grinned at Sirius. He had clearly finished too, and was lounging back in his chair, balancing on two legs. I saw Annie Griffiths watching him hopefully, and two seats along from her Remus was checking his work studiously. Sirius gave a thumbs up and I turned back just as Professor Flitwick said "Three more minutes, everyone!"
I could feel the Snitch struggling in my robe pocket, and restlessly began to draw it on a scrap piece of parchment. I couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching me, but there was no-one to see. Probably someone was copying my work.
My own gaze rested on Evans, and I began to trace the initials L.E. absent- mindedly below the Snitch.
"Quills down, please!" That was Professor Flitwick again. "That means you too, Stebbins! Please remain seated while I collect your parchment! Accio!"
We were getting used to ducking low now to avoid being hit over the head from behind. The rolls of parchment, over a hundred of them, zoomed into Professor Flitwick's outstretched arms, knocking him backwards off his feet. Several people, including me, laughed. Evans stood up to help him.
"Thank you... thank you," he panted. "Very well, everybody, you're free to go!"
I scribbled over the L.E and jumped to my feet. I slung my bag over my back and waited for Sirius.
"Did you like question ten, Moony?" he laughed as we wandered into the hallway.
"Loved it," Remus replied briskly. "Give five signs that identify the werewolf. Excellent question."
"D'you think you managed to get all the signs?" I said, in mock-concern.
"Think I did," he said seriously. "One: he's sitting on my chair. Two: he's wearing my clothes. Three: his name's Remus Lupin."
We all laughed, except Peter. "I got the snout shape, the pupils of the eyes and the tufted tail," he said anxiously, "but I couldn't think what else..."
"How think are you, Wormtail?" I said impatiently. "You run around with a werewolf once a month -"
"Keep your voice down," Moony implored.
We were heading for our usual place to relax by the lake. I still couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched.
"Well, I thought that paper was a piece of cake," Sirius commented. "I'll be surprised if I don't get Outstanding on it, at least."
"Me too," I said. I had caught sight of Lily Evans, and withdrew the struggling Snitch from my pocket.
"Where'd you get that?"
"Nicked it," I said casually as I began playing with it. I let it fly from my hand and caught it, knowing that Wormtail was watching me in awe. I let it fly up to a foot away before catching it; I had excellent reflexes from Quidditch.
We sat down in the shade of a beech tree, where Remus took out a book and began to read. Sirius was watching our surroundings, looking rather bored. I continued to play with the Snitch, enjoying the attention from Wormtail, who clapped and gasped when I made a particularly difficult catch. Only, the girls at the water's edge that were watching me did not include Lily Evans. I ruffled my hair anyway, and lounged back further.
"Put that away, will you," Padfoot said finally as Peter lost all control and cheered as I made a fine catch, "before Wormtail wets himself with excitement."
I grinned, though Peter turned pink. "If it bothers you," I said, stuffing it in my pocket.
"I'm bored," Sirius said. "Wish it was full moon."
"You might," Moony said darkly, emerging from behind his book. "We've still got Transfiguration, if you're bored you could test me. Here..."
Sirius shook his head and snorted. "I don't need to look at that rubbish, I know it all."
At that moment, I caught sight of a greasy head nearby. "This'll liven you up, Padfoot. Look who it is..."
Sirius turned, and became very still. An evil grin touched the corners of his mouth. "Excellent," he said softly. "Snivellus."