Chapter 8: Family and Quidditch
Holly saw two figures, both in white, standing by the lake on the grounds. One had red hair, as dark and long as Holly's. She was holding the hand of a black haired man, staring out across the lake into the woods.
Holly ran towards them. When she touched the woman's shoulder, she turned.
"Holly," she said, warmly.
"Mum?" Holly breathed in disbelief. Lily Potter smiled, her green eyes sparkling. Holly was awe-struck. She saw so much of Harry in those eyes.
James Potter put his hand lovingly on his wife's other shoulder.
"We've been waiting for you, Holly," he whispered.
"What for?" Holly asked, looking from one worried face to the next. Lily stepped forward and took Holly by the shoulders.
"I remember you when you were three years old," she said with a wistful smile. "You were so brave... I need you to draw on that courage in the next few months, Holly. You will need it."
"What do you mean?" Holly was confused.
"You have a gift," explained Lily. "And you should never waste it or abuse it. It can be trying, and a burden sometimes, but it is, in essence, a very special, and powerful gift– one that only a handful of people in the entire world have. You must remember that."
"Mum..."
"Holly, these are trying times," James said, frankly. "Now more than ever, we need you to watch out for your brother."
"What's with all the ominous warnings?" Holly demanded, frustrated. "Can't anyone tell me something substantial?"
Lily smiled. "I wish I could say more, dear, but now is the wrong time."
"You're mother's right," said James. "You will come up with the answers yourself, when you are ready to grasp them."
Holly knocked on Professor McGonagall's door Friday at lunch.
"Come in," came the assistant headmistress's voice.
"Professor?" Holly said, hesitantly. McGonagall stood and greeted Holly.
"Miss Phillips," she said with a thin-lipped smile. "I've been meaning to talk to you."
"Have you?" Holly asked, surprised.
"Yes," said McGonagall. "Sit." Holly took a seat and McGonagall took her place behind her desk. "A lot happened this summer. Plenty of secrets had to be shared. Including one regarding your heritage."
Holly nodded, slowly.
"Why?" she asked. "Only three people living– excluding myself and Harry– knew of my true parentage." Holly paused, and added, quietly, "and You-Know-Who... Why did more need to know?"
"Holly, these are trying times–" Holly had a strange sense of deja vu. "–and your brother is a very important young man. Only two people were informed of your relationship this summer, myself one of them."
"And the other...?"
"What I mean to say, Miss. Phillips," McGonagall continued, ignoring Holly's question. "Is that the best thing we can have you do is keep a low profile. And I mean that, not like last year."
"Yes, ma'am." Holly was getting tired of hearing that speech. When would they realize that she'd learned!
"Now, what were you going to speak to me about?" McGonagall changed countenance and became much warmer, but still the business-like professor.
"Er... Professor Umbridge..."
McGonagall gave a curt scoff. "If it's a complaint, I cannot help you."
"But Professor!" Holly protested. "It concerns my brother. And you told me to look out for him."
"That I did," agreed McGonagall. "But I was not thinking of Umbridge as a threat to his life, if you understand."
"I do," Holly said, quickly. "But she's a threat to his physical health. Professor, she's using a Bledso Quill!"
McGonagall stood up, her eyes widening and her lips pursed.
"On Harry Potter?" she asked, breathlessly.
"At least," said Holly. "I haven't talked to anyone else who's served detention with her."
"Dumbledore forbade Bledso Quills at this school years ago for the same reason he forbade Filch from using the instruments in his office," sneered McGonagall, scornfully.
Holly was wide-eyed. "You mean Filch really did used to use that stuff on–"
But McGonagall sighed and fell back in her chair. "But unfortunately, Miss Phillips, there's really nothing I can do but apologize to your brother. Dolores Umbridge is surrounded by a sea of thin ice. She will not listen to Dumbledore's rules, only to the Ministry's. And though Dumbledore does not support the Quill, the law clearly explains that Bledso Quills are still legal, whether one is administering corporal punishment on an unruly child, or signing a blood-bound wizard's contract."
"But– it's outrageous!" Holly spluttered.
"I agree," said McGonagall, nodding sadly. "But nothing can be done."
Furious, Holly jumped to her feet and started towards the door.
"And Holly," said McGonagall. "Tread lightly around Dolores Umbridge. She holds all the cards right now, and it's best if you remain on her good side. Do not, in any situation, confront her. Learn from you're brother's mistakes."
"Good day, Professor," Holly said, coldly.
"Are you trying out, Holly?" Angelina asked, impressed, when she saw her arrive with the Weasley twins. Holly laughed.
"Ha ha, no, I'm terrible at keeping. No, rather, I'm here for Harry, who sends his regrets."
Angelina snarled. "Regrets," she muttered as she turned to her chasers and prospective keepers. "I'll show that Umbridge..."
"Angelina really has a grudge against that bitch," Fred uttered.
"I can tell," Holly said with a small smile, looking at the eager seekers. "And frankly, I can't blame her..." Holly trailed off as she made eye contact with Ron Weasley, seventh in a line of thirteen. She tried to smile apologetically, but he looked away.
"It seems our ickle Ronnie is upset with you, Holly," said George, hitting her playfully.
"Oh shut up," Holly mumbled. "It was my fault."
The whistle blew and Angelina mounted her broom.
"Alright!" Angelina called. "Our first keeper today is Vicky Frobisher!"
A pretty brown-haired girl Holly recognized as a sixth year stepped forward.
"Ready," she said, eagerly.
"Chasers," said Angelina, looking around at Katie and Alicia. "Mount your brooms." She looked at the twins, leaning against the stands. "Well, you too, Weasleys!"
"You don't need us," Fred explained with a grin. "No Bludgers out. And you're only testing keeping ability."
Angelina glared at them. "Then what do you think you're here for?"
"Moral support," said George, winking cheesily at Ron, who went red as a tomato.
Angelina growled and tossed the ball box to Fred, who caught it, looking appalled.
"Get out those balls," Angelina ordered sinisterly, "before I chop yours off."
Fred and George exchanged worried looks.
"She means it, too," George said, with a gulp.
Fred and George spent the majority of Vicky's tryout playing catch with the single Bludger they'd taken out, batting it back and forth between them. Holly was quite impressed with the girl's flying. She swatted Alicia's Quaffle with the tail of her broom and caught Katie's an inch away from it getting past her. Holly looked at Ron, who tried to keep a brave face.
"Good job, Vicky!" said Angelina, impressed, as they landed.
"Thanks," said Vicky. "Mind you, Angelina, I might have a few scheduling conflicts when it comes to practice. Do you suppose we could rearrange the training schedule–"
"No." Angelina frowned adamantly. Vicky shrugged.
"Well, you know, if this interferes with my Charm Club, that always comes first," she said, shouldering her broom. Angelina frowned in thought for a moment, seemed to make a decision, and called out the next name.
The following keepers were quite feeble after Vicky's performance. Holly felt like they were all intimidated a little bit by the sixth year's skill. For kicks, Fred decided to bat a Bludger at the fifth keeper, who yelped with surprise, but dodged it skillfully. Unfortunately, she missed the Quaffled tossed past her shoulder by Angelina, who looked disappointed.
"Don't worry about it," Angelina called encouragingly to the retreating keeper's slumped back with a smile. Angelina's smile faded and she slumped herself.
"Right, next we have Geoffrey Hoop– Not you, Hooper!" Angelina groaned. "Didn't you try out for Seeker a few years ago?"
"Yeah," Hooper said with a sneer. "But a meddling little first year stole it out from under me." Hooper glared at Ron, who narrowed his eyes. "I'll get it this time, mind you," he said, as if daring Ron. Holly flashed Ron a warning look, but he refused to meet her gaze.
"Whatever," Angelina moaned. "Just get in the air."
Hooper actually flew pretty well, Holly was surprised. She'd seen his go for Seeker, and he hadn't been that good. But he must have been practicing. Holly's eyes again went to Ron's face, which looked exceptionally pale. She approached him.
"Hey," she whispered. He was startled; he hadn't heard her coming.
"Holly!" he said. She smiled at him kindly.
"Listen," she said. "You're not weak. Far from it, actually." Holly nodded at Hooper. "In fact, I bet you could beat that guy any day."
"That guy?" Ron asked, raising his eyebrows. "Ha, no way!"
"Of course you can," Holly said, her smile widening. "All you need is a little confidence. And I know I haven't really helped very much... But I've seen you fly at the Burrow a few times with the twins. You're better than this bloke."
Ron smiled, gratefully, the color slowly returning to his face. "Thanks, Holly," he said.
"I just hope it helps," Holly said.
"Ron Weasley?" As his name was called, Ron swallowed hard and shouldered his Cleansweep 11. As he walked towards the now grounded chasers (Fred and George were still goofing around in the air), he tripped over his shoelace and dropped his broom. A few people laughed as the blood rushed to his face.
"Way to go, Ron!" George yelled from above.
Ron got to his feet and tried to nervously laugh it off. He gave Angelina an apologetic look, but she was watching him expectantly.
"Well? Get on with it, Weasley!" she said. Ron hurriedly mounted his broom.
Holly watched Ron's try out with bated breath. She was biting her lip so hard it began to bleed. He had missed three out of the six scores attempted so far. Which, technically, wasn't so bad. His whole performance wasn't bad. Until Fred decided to make faces at the Chasers from behind the goal posts. Katie Bell started laughing as she held the Quaffle, preparing to score. Angelina shot her a stern look and she stopped abruptly. But it was too late. Ron's eyes had grown large, thinking she'd been laughing at him. Katie did a quick figure eight, deciding where to aim and threw unexpectedly. Ron spun around on his broom so fast that he knocked the Quaffle in the hoop with the tail of his broom.
Holly buried her head in her hands.
Despite his performance, Ron made the team. And the Weasley twins were ecstatic.
They ambushed him on his way back to the castle.
"Hey, little brother!" Fred exclaimed, seizing Ron in a headlock.
"Get off," Ron muttered, half-heartedly. George appeared instantly on Ron's other side.
"Fabulous flying there, Ron!" George said grinning. "Loved that little maneuver you did with the tail of your broom!"
"Oh, knock it off," Holly said, rolling her eyes. "It was Fred's fault." She glared at the twin in question, who merely grinned back.
"At least he made it," George said.
"Yeah," said Fred. "And we couldn't have picked a better Keeper."
Ron looked up at his brother, beaming at the compliment.
"Well, I mean, we could, but what's the point in picking a girl more interested in Charms than Quidditch?"
Ron's face fell and Holly glowered at Fred again.