Chapter 15
That night, in the common room, the four American students decided that they
were going to practice so that Hope wouldn't have to supervise. After they
changed into their normal practice clothes, they claimed a corner of the room
where no one else was and started to stretch. After they stretched for 30
minutes, they started to do their hand-to-hand combat. This was what the twins
had done earlier that day. They started out moving slow and worked their speed
up to the point that they were just blurs to everyone else in the room. Then,
they started to slow back down gradually and eventually stopped.
The Gryffindors sitting in the tower ignored them at first, but as they fought,
they drew more and more observers. Soon, the entire tower had stopped whatever
they had been doing in order to watch them. When they stopped and started to
cool down by stretching out again, George yelled, "Bloody Hell! Where in
the hell did you learn that?"
"You should have seen them in Defense Against the Dark Arts earlier,"
Seamus shouted back. "They were having at each other with weapons. Swords
no less!"
The entire room stared at them slack-jawed in awe. "So how long did it
take you to learn that?" Lee Jordan wanted to know.
They finally finished and just sat cross-legged on the floor. "Well, we
have been training with Hope for less than a year. But she is the best and we
have spent a lot of time at it. I assume that she will work you hard and you
will become very good in a year," Jason told their observers. "Well,
I'm tired so I am going to bed. You can ask us more questions in the
morning." He stood up. Jason then helped Kayla get up. He kissed her and
they went up their respective staircases.
* * * * * *
The next day, the Gryffindors made it through Care of Magical Creatures,
Ancient Runes, and History of Magic. But then, they had potions. The 4
Americans had been worried about this class so they took seats in the back and
tried to act as unobtrusive as possible. Professor Snape stalked into the
classroom, his robes billowing out behind him. He stalked to the front of the
room, and stood and glared at his class.
"This year, you will be studying how to make specified healing brews.
Today we will be starting our research on cures to minor illnesses and pains.
You will choose what type of cure you want to research and you will make your
own potion. What are you all staring at? Get to work."
The entire class made a mad dash for their books and parchment to start their
assignments. They were still surprised about his attitude though. He seemed
nicer than usual. But, they decided not to dwell on this for too long. It was a
minor blessing, but they took it in stride. They got started on their
assignments. They would think about his weird behavior later.
They all flipped through their textbooks looking for ideas for their project.
They were supposed to write their own potion so all they could do was look for
ideas. Kayla stopped turning of a moment and looked down at the page the book
was opened to. Suddenly, she had a great idea. "I've found it!" she
shouted really loud. The entire class stopped what they were doing to look at
her.
"And, what pray tell, have you found, Miss Osborne?" drawled the
potions master from the front of the room.
"Um…well, I found the perfect type of cure to research, sir," she
replied with a sweet smile guaranteed to win the heart of any teacher. It was
similar to her "win-any-guy-smile" that she used for Jason, but this
one was a suck-up smile. "I am terribly sorry that I disturbed the class
from their research in my excitement over deciding what to research."
"Oh, well, carry on then. But try to keep the noise level down." He
went back to grading the tests he had given the third years earlier that day,
and Kayla went back to reading the page in the book, visibly preening. The rest
of the class openly stared at Kayla. Never had they seen such an exchange
between a Gryffindor and the dread potions professor before. Not even one point
had been taken from her house. Snape glared at the class from over the paper he
was holding, "Well, what are you lot staring at? Get back to work. The
next person to disturb this class will lose 10 points from their house."
They quickly reverted their minds to their research, but everyone heaved a
mental sigh of relief. It worried them when Snape was nice. They had to account
for a new personality. At least with the old, evil Snape, they knew what to
expect.
Snape looked up one more time, "I expect you to be able to turn in
a short essay on the type of cure you will be researching and why you chose it
at the beginning of the next class."
The rest of the period, they spent in silent study. Most of the class still had
to decide what type of cure to research. When the class finally ended, Kayla
motioned her friends to continue to the Common Room to drop their stuff off
before dinner. She would catch up with them later. Knowing them, they would be
waiting in the dungeon hallway for her so that they could grill her on her
choice of potions.
She walked to his desk and waited till he looked up. "May I help
you?" he asked her. Snape himself didn't know why he was being so nice to
her, but he couldn't help it. He really should dislike her, he knew. After all
she was a Gryffindor and friends with Potter no less. She even looked like him.
But, there was something about her…something that projected an aura of calmness
about her. There was something else about her though…something that reminded
him of someone he had long forgotten. The real reason why he hated James Potter:
Charles Potter.
Charles, just like Snape, had been in Slytherin. They had been best
friends until Charles was sent to the States. Snape had watched while Charles'
relationship with his brother deteriorated. It was still painful to remember
how the brothers who were so close first become distant and then start to hate
each other. The day Charles left was the day Snape's life fell apart. It was
still painful to go down that avenue of memory lane. Snape had delved into his
schoolwork when Charles had left, never to come back. Snape could hate Potter
who he knew was his enemy's child, but he could not bring himself to hate this
girl who reminded him of his friend.
"Yessir. I just wanted to know if you had any potion books that I could
borrow to supplement my research. My book doesn't go into as much detail as I
would like and I thought you might have some that would help."
"You may use anything in the bookcase in the back of the room as long as I
get it back." He pointed to the shelves in the rear of the room. Kayla
made her way to the books. She carefully selected some that she would find
useful including Basic Theory to Creating Cures and Advanced Cures
102.
"Thanks you very much, Professor Snape," she called as she walked out
of the classroom. She heard him grunt a reply and she smiled slightly to
herself.
She was so lost in her thoughts that she wasn't watching where she was going.
She walked right into her friends. "Care to explain what that was about,
Kayla?" Jason asked as she regained her balance. He took the extra potions
books she had borrowed out of her hands before she could protest. He was always
chivalrous and did that kind of thing.
"Really. So what made you shout like that?" Keri asked. The Hogwarts
trio was still shocked that Kayla hadn't lost any points for their house.
"Oh, I found an idea that would be perfect for me to research," she
replied mysteriously.
"Are you going to tell us?" Tori pressed.
"If you are going to bug me about it I guess I will have to…" she
smirked. Tori and Keri growled at her. "Alright fine. Well, you know how I
always stress out over the littlest thing," the twins nodded vigorously
and Kayla scowled at them. "Well, while I was going through our potions
book I found this potion that helps people with ADHD concentrate. I was just
looking at the ingredients when I noticed that one of them was this plant that
I remember reading about in our herbology book. It was one that induced
relaxation. So I am thinking that since stress is a common malady amongst teenagers,
I could make a potion to cure it!" She said this all really excitedly so
no one had the heart to say anything about Snape's odd behavior.
They finally made it to the common room where they would be able to relax for
about an hour before dinner. It was a perfect time to practice their
self-defense stuff so they all changed and started to stretch out. They had
decided to practice when there weren't many people in the common room if they
had the choice because the way everyone stared at them was unnerving.
Harry and Ron sat down at a table to play chess while Hermione picked up a book
to read. People started to trickle into the common room as classes were ending
and it was time for dinner. The 4 Americans finally finished and went to shower
really fast before dinner.
Hermione turned to Ron and Harry, "So, did the Head Boy or Girl tell you
two that we have a prefects' meeting after dinner?" They didn't look up
from their game but shook their heads all the same. "Right, so instead of
coming back up here we are supposed to go to the transfiguration room. I wasn't
told what it was about so don't even ask," she warned as Ron opened his
mouth to ask her something.
"Don't ask about what?" Kayla wanted to know as she flopped down on
the chair, putting her legs over the armrest. She had just gotten out of the
shower and her hair was still wet.
"Oh, we have a prefects' meeting after dinner and Hermione is being an
annoying prat," Ron told her before Hermione could. Her face turned red
but decided against yelling at Ron.
Soon, the other 3 came down and they all went down to the Great Hall
together. Dinner was pretty uneventful except for when George leaned across the
table and stage whispered, "So, Harry, when are we having our first team
practice?"
"Well, if you are serious about me being the captain of the team…"
the others nodded in a way that left no room for argument. "I was thinking
that maybe we would have a couple practices with Kayla and Jason this month and
then have the tryouts next month…I kinda figured that we should start early. We
need as much advantage as we can get over Slytherin…"
"You're right, Harry," Angelina assured him. "Sounds
great."
They changed topics so that there wouldn't be a chance of anyone overhearing
their new strategy for the year. When dinner was over, Harry, Ron, and Hermione
excused themselves and walked towards the transfiguration room. The rest made
their way to the common room where they waited to hear what the prefects
meeting was about. Keri and Tori sat down on a couch, against the armrests with
their feet on the cushions, sharpening their daggers. Kayla sat on the same
chair she was in before and started to read one of her books. Jason sat on the
floor with his back leaning up against the chair Kayla was sitting on (remember
her back was against one armrest and her feet were over the other. He was
sitting so hat his back was against the part that people normally put their
feet over). He had a sketchpad and was drawing something. He had started
drawing when he was about 9 years old. His little sister, who was 7 at the
time, wanted to learn how to draw, but didn't want to take the classes by
herself so, being the good brother that he is, Jason went with her. It turned
out that he was very talented and so he never stopped taking the lessons even
though she did.
That was how they were still sitting 25 minutes later when the prefects came
back, all looking very excited about something.
That was how they were still sitting 25 minutes later when the prefects
came back, all looking very excited about something.
"Could we have everyone's attention, please? We have an announcement to
make. It should only take a few moments." Everyone immediately stopped
what they were doing and looked up at the 8 prefects.
"We would like to announce something that most of you will be very happy
about. Dumbledore has decided that he would like to do something to honor the
exchange students. He decided upon having a ball since the one we had last year
was such a huge success," began a seventh year.
"It will be on Halloween, October 31," continued another.
"It is open to fourth through seventh year students but younger students
may be invited, of course," Hermione added.
"But, you don't have to have a date," Harry added as he grimaced at
the thought of having to go through the ordeal of asking someone again. A few
chuckles met this statement. Hermione glared at him.
"Another thing that is important to remember is that you are to wear
either dress robes or a costume," a sixth year prefect added her part.
"Yes and we will be serving traditional American food. That is all. Return
to your previously scheduled activities," ended Ron. Everyone pretended to
return to their work or games, but they were really talking about the dance. The
third years and younger were complaining about not being able to go unless an
older student asked them. The older girls were either talking animatedly about
whom they wanted to ask them or about what they would wear. The boys were
talking about whom to ask.
Harry, Ron and Hermione walked over to where the others were sitting and sat
down on the floor. Or, well, Hermione sat. Harry and Ron flopped. The boys
sighed loudly and rather dramatically. "What is up with you two?"
Kayla asked, over the top of her book. The others didn't stop what they were
doing.
At first they ignored her, but then Harry sighed and looked up at her.
"Last year we went through a lot to get dates who we didn't want to be
there with."
"Yeah, well, I am not going to go alone. I will get a date." Ron left
no room for disagreement. Hermione snorted softly. Suddenly, Ron got a wicked
gleam in his eyes. He had an idea. "Hermione, would you go with me? As
friends you know," he added quickly.
She blushed but agreed all the same. Kayla couldn't help but mention to Jason
and the twins silently, As friends my ass. The other three had to
quickly turn their laughs into coughs when the Hogwarts trio stared at them.
"Jason, what are you drawing?" Hermione asked to change subjects.
"Oh…um…just a picture." He showed them. It was a picture of the three
girls during one of their fighting practices.
"That is really good," Hermione breathed. The boys nodded vigorously.
Tori and Keri still hadn't looked up from sharpening their daggers.
"Oh, and by the way, guys, we will be having a Quidditch practice on
September the 21. That is in a couple weeks. I just wanted to let you know
before then," Harry told them. They continued talking for a while until
Kayla suddenly stood up and said that she was going to bed. The others agreed
and so they all traipsed up to their rooms to go to sleep.
That night, Jason was reminded of what he had promised Ginny. The next day he was going to have a little talk with his good friend Harry. Preferably without Ron. That could take some planning.
The next morning, Jason woke up still tired. He had sat up till almost midnight trying to think of a way to talk to Harry without Ron being around. Jason knew that Harry would never admit to liking Ginny if her big brother, who happened to be Harry's best friend, was standing next to him. unfortunately, he still hadn't thought of something that would work. He would just have to wing it.
Fortunately during breakfast, there was an opportunity too good to resist. They had all just sat down when, all of a sudden, there was a loud bang and a flash of light. When everyone could see again, Harry was lying on the floor, unconscious. Jason knelt next to him and felt his pulse. Harry was fine except for the fact that he wasn't awake. That would be easy enough to fix, but he wanted to be out of the Great Hall to do it.
Jason turned to Ron and Hermione who were torn between helping him with Harry and going to yell at ones responsible. "I will take care of Harry. You go and do the prefect thing and yell at whoever did this. He will be fine. I will take him to the hospital wing." They just nodded and went off. Jason slung Harry's arm over his shoulder so that he was holding up both of their weights. He cast a shield over them so that anyone who looked at them would think that Harry was walking by himself. What they didn't need was a Slytherin seeing Harry like this.
Instead of taking Harry to the hospital wing, Jason found an empty classroom and gently lied Harry down on the floor. He reached his hand out over Harry's chest and held it about an inch away from his robes. A pale glow spread from Jason's hand, engulfing Harry's body. Then, as soon as it appeared, the glow receded. Harry's eyes fluttered open and he uttered a groan.
"What happened?" he wanted to know.
"I have no clue. There was this loud sound, a bright flash and then you were out cold. I just carried you out of the Great Hall and revived you. I imagine Ron and Hermione are giving the perpetrators an earful."
"Sounds like Filibuster's No Heat Wet-Start Fireworks," Harry mused. "But I really don't need you turning into a nursemaid."
"I know."
"I am not going to go looking for trouble. I am not going to hurt myself if you aren't there watching. You didn't need to do anything and I would have been fine."
"I know."
"I don-" Harry broke off and looked at Jason. "You know?"
"Yep. Kayla feels the exact same way. I just figured you didn't want to go to the nurse because of that but Ron and Hermione think that is where I took you."
"Oh."
"To fool them even more, what do you say we walk to the Hospital Wing. We can then walk back and they will think that you were there and that if the nurse let you leave that you are all right."
"Jason, you are a genius!" So they stood up to do just that.
"So, Harry," Jason asked a few minutes later. "Who are you going to ask to go to the ball?"
"Well…um…I…uh…wasn't going to ask anyone. I am planning on going alone, if at all."
"Why?" Jason thought this was the best of all possible situations. At least Harry wasn't planning on asking anyone else.
"Oh, well, because of who I am, so many girls just want to go with me for the fame. I would like to go with someone who actually likes me, not just the "Boy-who-lived." Some guy they don't even know."
Jason brightened even more and had to consciously contain his glee. "Well, what about Ginny?" he suggested coolly.
"What about her?"
"Why not ask her?"
"I would except for 3 reasons. 3 very tall redheaded reasons. I am best friends with Ron. I am afraid that I might ruin our friendship. And I certainly don't want to be on the twins' bad sides. If she didn't have a good time, they would blame me and make my life a living hell."
"Oh. That could be a problem. But if it weren't for her brothers you would ask her?"
"Yeah. I realized over the summer that she was someone I could really like. I don't know her very well, but I think that if I did we would be great together. I think that it is for the best that Cho is in America. I mean there are so many memories for her here. Including me. I know that I have no chances with her because of Cedric. And it is for the best that I don't brood on it. Then, over the summer, I started to think about Ginny more and more. I don't know her well enough to call it a crush…but you never know."
"Why don't you ask her? I have the feeling that her brothers would rather that you take her than someone else. After all, they know you. And they know that you wouldn't hurt her on purpose. They wouldn't know that for sure if someone else asked her."
"Hmmm…maybe you're right…I will think about it."
Just then, the others ran up to them. The plan worked perfectly. Ron and Hermione assumed that Harry had been to the nurse and was on his way back. On their way to class, they got the whole story of what happened from Ron and Hermione. Apparently what happened was that someone had some of the wet-start fireworks in their bag and they had fallen out into the goblet of pumpkin juice in front of Harry. When they went off, Harry must have gotten hit with backlash because of his near proximity.
Before anyone knew it, it was September 21, the day of their first
Quidditch practice. After dinner, they all went up to the tower to get their
broomsticks and to change into their practice uniforms. At 7:00, they all met
on the Quidditch pitch to begin. Everyone admired Jason's, Kayla's, Tori's, and
Keri's new brooms.
Practice began like it normally did. They all split to practice their different
positions. The Weasley twins were obviously impressed by the Rose twins'
abilities to play beaters. Kayla watched Harry scrutinously. She could assist
in helping him even though she was to play keeper this year. After all, she was
seeker at heart. He made no mistakes though and so she turned her full
attention on what she was doing as keeper.
Halfway through practice they changed and started to do something new. They
split into to teams of 2 chasers, 2 beaters, and 1 seeker/keeper (the same
person played both). It was basically the Hogwarts team against the Americans,
except Angelina was on Kayla's team.
"So tell me again why I am playing keeper, also," Harry whined to
Kayla yet again before they began to play.
"Playing keeper will help you gain speed as a seeker. And if you can stop
the ball and still catch the snitch now, you will be ready for anything game
day," Kayla answered patiently even though she had given him the same
answer 20 times already in the last 10 minutes while they explained the drill.
"Fine," he said grumpily. "But I have never played keeper before
so no one can yell at me when I miss the ball." They all mounted their
brooms and took off. She hovered in front of the hoops and waited for something
to happen.
30 minutes later, Kayla finally caught the snitch. Her team won 210-40. They
all landed to put the balls away and to discuss their scrimmage. "See, I
told you I was a bad keeper. I can't do both things at once," Harry said
almost triumphantly.
"No," Kayla corrected. "You are not a bad keeper. Or a bad
seeker for that matter. I have just been doing that for a year and you haven't.
We should do that every practice. It is a good drill, especially for you. If
you can do those two things at once, you will become a much better seeker."
They all trudged back to the common room. Harry, Fred and George went to join
Ron and Hermione who were sitting in front of the fire playing chess. Kayla,
Jason, Tori, and Keri all changed into their practice clothes and started to do
their practice fighting. After a few minutes, Ron royally creamed Hermione. He
looked up at their fighting friends and asked, "How often do they do
that?"
"Every night, I think," Harry answered. He noticed the Weasley twins
staring at the fighters and could only guess at which ones and he doubted it
was Jason for obvious reasons. And if any guy so much as looked in Kayla's
direction, Jason would blow up.
"Even when there is Quidditch practice, apparently," George added
slightly forlornly.
Ron suddenly realized that his older brothers had crushes on the American
twins. It was amazing. For once, they were shy around girls. He smiled evilly
as his eyes glinted dangerously. "So, who are you two going to ask to the
ball?" he asked his brothers.
"Um…I don't know yet," Fred answered absently.
"Dost mine ears deceive me? The Weasley twins not having
dates do the ball!"
"Sod off, Ron!" George told him angrily.
"Why aren't you going with Angelina?" Hermione asked innocently
enough.
"She's already going with someone," Fred explained. "Josh Gold. A Slytherin no less."
"Kayla say that he is really nice though," Harry protested. "And she should know. He came here with them."
"I don't doubt that. It wasn't like we were going out or anything, so I don't really care who she goes with as long as she has fun. She is still my friend, after all."
"You know," Harry said pointedly. "You could just ask them."
"Ask who?" George tried to act innocent to cover up for his and Fred's blushes.
"Tori and Keri," Ron answered. "Who was it who told us last year that it was easy to ask a girl?"
"Couldn't have been us," Fred replied.
"I happen to know that they aren't going with anyone yet," Hermione told them.
"Would you three just sod off?!" George cried.
"No," they all said, unabashed.
"Fine, we'll go ask them," George said, dragging his twin out of the chair and marching over to where the four were practicing. "Tori, Keri, can we talk to you for a minute?" he called in the direction of the rapidly twirling bodies that he presumed were the twins.
"Sure," they heard as one set of bodies stopped moving and walked over to them. "What can we do for you?"
"We were wondering if you had dates for the ball yet," Fred said nervously even though he knew the answer because Hermione already told them.
"Nah. If it comes to that, we will just go with Jake and James like usual," Tori replied nonchalantly.
"So, we were…um…wondering if you would want to go with us," George asked, stuttering slightly. "I mean, it would be perfect: two sets of Gryffindor twins who all are beaters going with each other. No one will be able to tell us apart!" As he talked, George became more comfortable with them and he started to open up a little for them.
"Sure," accepted Tori.
"We'd love to," added Keri. "Look, we need to get back to practicing or we will be in trouble with Hope. We will talk to you later about what we are wearing so that we all match. Okay?"
"Great. See you later then." The Weasley twins walked back to the trio and sat down. Their backs were turned or they would have seen Tori and Keri smile to each other and then turn around to finish their practice.
Fred suddenly had a brilliant idea to get at least Harry back for making them go and ask the twins. "So, Harry, when are you going to ask our baby sister?" he asked, completely innocent.
"I didn't know I was going to," Harry replied warily. He was always nervous of innocent Fred and George.
"I got to thinking the other day. You are practically a younger brother already, but we need to make you a part of the family for real. The only way to do this is to marry one of us fantastic Weasleys. And since I am pretty sure that none of us but Ginny would be willing to marry you. So I thought that you might as well ask her to the Halloween Ball."
"What are you up to?" Harry asked suspiciously.
"Nothing," Fred said earnestly. He really wasn't planning anything. But Harry didn't know that. And so he would be nervous and that was the whole plan. Sometimes, his genius surprised even himself. "So, you never answered the original question: when are you asking are?"
"Well, if you put it like that I guess I can't not ask her. Is tomorrow soon enough for you?"
"It'll do, Harry, it'll do."