As the quidditch match against Slytherin approached Hermione wasn't talking to Harry or Ron. Harry had constantly tried to talk to her after taking April's advice to heart but rarely managed to get her on her own. She had made it a habit to hang around with Lavender and Pavarti and, weirdly, they got along quite well.
"I'm really sorry." Jenny said quietly, joining Harry in one of his, now frequent, lapses of silence. Ron had wondered off to try and make peace with Hermione again. Jenny sat with her legs to the side but had them tucked under her slightly.
"Why are you sorry?" Harry asked, looking into Jenny's eyes. Recently he had found Jenny more and more appealing and the knowledge that her mum had no problem with him seeing her made her even more attractive. Harry found his eyes wandering to her mouth.
"About Hermione, I know she's angry at you because you like me." Jenny said, "Well I think you like me but I don't mind if you don't." She added quickly. Harry looked back into her eyes and smiled.
"What makes you think that?" He asked
"Well, she had a go at me the other day for stealing you." Jenny said hesitantly
"Yeah, apparently she likes me a lot but I can't talk to her because she obviously doesn't want to be talked to." Harry told Jenny. Jenny looked at him sadly and put her head on his shoulder. Harry hesitated slightly and then slowly put his arm around her shoulders. She smiled and looked at Harry.
"Do you like me?" She asked cheekily.
"Yeah, as a friend." Harry said quickly. He looked at Jenny and she grinned.
"You do." Jenny said happily. Harry couldn't help smiling, Jenny just looked so- she's younger then you Harry told himself.
"You worried about the match tomorrow?" Harry asked as Jenny put her head back on his shoulder again.
"No, why should I?"
"We're playing Slytherin, they're quite brutal" Harry said, "And they're always trying to hurt the Gryffindors."
"Oh, if they hurt anyone then Ginny, Luna and I can get them back, apparently Luna's dad has a cage of…what was it? Those things that hide out in mistletoe."
"Nargles or something" Harry said. Jenny giggled,
"Well apparently they can really hurt someone if they want." Jenny said.
"You don't believe her do you?" Harry asked Jenny slightly amused as he looked at her, causing her to look at him.
"Of course I believe her, I'm just a bit more open minded then you evil people who think she's crazy" Jenny said sarcastically. Harry laughed and shook his head.
"The female Marauders." Harry said, Jenny's smile wavered slightly
"Marauders?" Jenny asked.
"Yeah, you know my dad, Lupin, Wormtail and your dad." Harry said. Jenny looked slightly alarmed and sat up straighter
"You know who my dad is?" Harry nodded, "how do you know?" Jenny asked worriedly.
"Your mum told me." Harry said, Jenny visible relaxed and leaned against Harry again.
"Well if mum told you then I suppose it doesn't matter."
"Just don't go picking fights." Harry said as he thought back to when he'd seen Sirius and James curse Snape for the fun of it in Snape's pensieve.
"Yes dad." Jenny said sarcastically.
"What's going on between Sirius and April? Because I know they used to be engaged but-"
"Oh please, Sirius has been driving my mum crazy. He keeps sending her letters. Mum's getting a bit annoyed with it because she doesn't want things to get more complicated." Jenny said, playing with the hem of her skirt. "But I know she's starting to give in. She got Kingsley to take over for her while she went to go and see Sirius other day" Jenny muttered. Harry looked at Jenny curiously.
"Don't you like Sirius?"
"He's alright but he's-" Jenny sighed, "No I don't like him. I know how much you like him, he's like you dad or whatever but he annoys me because-" Jenny stopped when they heard Ron's voice
"Well at least you're speaking to me now." Ron said coming into the common room with someone, Harry swore inwardly, he wanted to know why Jenny didn't like Sirius. Well at least something was happening. Harry thought. "I think Harry really wants to talk to you about something." Harry turned around and saw Ron and Hermione in the portrait hole
"Really? Why hasn't he been trying to talk to me then." She asked coldly.
"I have," Harry said straightening slightly. Jenny curiously lifted her head and looked at Hermione as well. Hermione's eyes narrowed and she went to her dorm room.
"The Slytherin team comes onto the pitch, Captain Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, Warrington, Pucey, Montague and keeper Bulstrode." Harry had to do a double take when he saw Milicent Bulstrode on the Slytherin team. He had never seen a girl on their team before and he was surprised that she could even ride a broom. They made marks in the snow where they walked and launched themselves into the air.
"What's she doing on the quidditch team?" Ron hissed as the Gryffindor team was introduced.
"Slytherin are so going to lose." Ginny said gleefully.
"Well, in their last match she didn't let a goal in so we're going to have to concentrate." Katie said to her team. Ginny and Jenny nodded and when Katie looked at the beaters Andrew gave her a cocky smile. She rolled her eyes.
"Captains! Shake hands." Madame Hooch said to them. Malfoy just touched their hands before taking off. This suited Katie and Harry fine as they shot into the air. Crabbe and Goyle were staring at Jenny and Ginny and grinned as they tossed their bats in the air and catching them. Harry saw this and flew to the two girls before going to look for the snitch.
"Watch out for Crabbe and Goyle." Harry said to them.
"Don't worry." Ginny said. Her red hair tied back, like Jenny's and both smiled at him reassuringly. Harry smiled uncertainly and flew into the air. He could see Luna in the crowd wearing her large lion hat and Hermione watching the teams carefully. The whistle blew and Harry shot around the pitch.
"Bell in possession, dodges Warrington and drops to Weasley, Weasley passes to Marsden who does a barrel roll to avoid a bludger." Harry couldn't help the glance to Jenny to see if she was ok. She was zooming down the pitch holding the quaffle, flanked on either side by Ginny and Katie. Harry zoomed higher in the air and looked out for the snitch. He saw Malfoy sneering at him before Harry turned to continue looking for the snitch.
"Sloper hits a bludger…oh, it just misses Warrington by inches. Weasley tries to score but Bulstrode saves and Slytherin is in possession. Warrington passes to Pucey who tries to get past Bell but…ow, that must have hurt." Pucey had just flown straight into the handle of Katie's broom, the handle had hit him bang in the mouth. He dropped the quaffle and Katie dived after it and caught it as she lost her balance on her broom but just managed to throw it to Andrew Kirke as he passed overhead. Andrew caught it and threw it to Jenny in a slight panic.
"Gryffindor back in possession." The commentator said happily. There was a cheer in the stadium and Harry smiled as he saw Jenny shot under him and headed straight for the goal. Harry glanced at Ron, who looked thoroughly bored. Harry glanced around and saw the snitch hovering a few inches from Ron's vivid red hair. Harry immediately started after it about the same time that Malfoy caught a glimpse, to Harry's pleasure, Malfoy was at the other end of the pitch.
"It looks like the Seekers have seen the snitch, Malfoy starts to come even with Potter but-" A bludger shot past Harry, inches from his face. Both him and Malfoy had to swerve to avoid it and as a result they both lost sight of the snitch. "Crabbe intercepts the Bludger and hits it towards Weasley, she ducks just in time but loses the quaffle. Kirke hits the bludger back and it hits Crabbe in the arm." The Whistle was blown and Madame Hooch called for a penalty.
"What!" Katie shouted, "That was legal." She said flying to Madame Hooch.
"I stand by this penalty." Madame Hooch said. Katie let out an annoyed scream and threw the quaffle she had just managed to get to Montague.
"Thanks babe." He sneered. Katie looked close to losing her head. Madame Hooch blew the whistle and the match started again. Jenny and Ginny sped under and over the top of Pucey, who had the quaffle. Jenny leaped off her broom and did a cartwheel type flip over Pucey while Ginny jumped slightly and kicked the quaffle out of Pucey's arms without letting go of her broom. Jenny caught the quaffle and landed on her broom, which was now next to Ginny. Jenny grabbed the front of her broom and did a tight turn back towards the goalpost. The stadium erupted into cheers, drowning out the Boos from the Slytherins. Ginny and Jenny slapped hands as they shot towards the goal.
"THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!" screamed the commentator.
"Come on." Ginny shouted to Katie, who caught up with them. Harry and Malfoy had both been watching the moves that Ginny and Jenny had just done and they both came to their senses and started searching for the snitch again. Goyle flipped his bat and then hit a bludger as he caught the bat. It shot towards Katie. Katie glanced behind her and urged her broom on.
"Gin!" Katie shouted. Ginny passed the quaffle to Jenny and looked at Katie. Katie nodded to Milicent Bulstrode. Ginny grinned and nodded. Jenny passed the quaffle back to Ginny and Ginny went off in a completely different direction. Jenny looked at Ginny confused as she began to slow down but when Katie shot past her with a bludger on her tail Jenny smiled. Katie flew straight to Milicent Bulstrode. The Slytherin Keeper looked slightly alarmed and ducked as Katie flew a few inches over her. Milicent looked at Katie pass but was hit by the trailing Bludger. The Stadium erupted into cheers again and the whistle was barely audible over it.
"Bell!" Madame Hooch shouted.
"Sorry, I was just trying to get it off my tail." Katie said innocently with a look to match. Madame Hooch narrowed her eyes as Milicent Bulstrode was taken off the pitch with a dislocated shoulder and a bleeding nose. After this Gryffindor scored goal after goal. A few times the quaffle went down the other end, giving Ron something to do but other then this he was getting very bored. Harry continuously looked around for the snitch as the game got gradually more brutal. Ginny fell off her broom three times as she tried to avoid Crabbe's bat. Katie kept being nudged by the chasers and she nearly crashed into the stands where the Gryffindors were standing and Jenny was just trying to avoid any trouble. Andrew and Jack had gotten a lot better and had managed to hit a few of the Slytherin chasers but didn't hurt them badly.
"Stupid Snitch." Harry muttered as him and Malfoy continued to circle the pitch
"Weasley in Possession, passes up to Marsden who tries to avoid a bludger from Goyle- OW!" Harry looked around and saw Jenny clinging weakly onto her broom in pain. She had dropped the quaffle and from Harry's height he could see her eyes slowly shutting. Harry darted down as fast as he could. Ginny and Katie were busy with the quaffle and the Gryffindor beaters were circling Jenny to protect her from any other Bludgers. Ron looked as though he wanted to help but he couldn't leave the goal posts exposed. Harry urged his broom on as Jenny let go of the broom and tumbled from quite a high height over the Ravenclaw stands.
"Potter goes after Marsden!" the Commentator said. Harry could feel all eyes on him as he race against gravity to get to Jenny before she hit the stands everything was moving in slow motion and he felt he was going to be too late. She was just a few feet above the Ravenclaws, who were screaming to get out of the way when Harry managed to snatch her. The sudden addition of her weight made his broom suddenly drop and his feet grazed the stands as he tried to gain a bit more height.
"AMAZING SAVE FROM POTTER!" Harry was about to return Jenny to the ground when he saw the snitch hovering at the base of one of the Slytherin Goalposts. Deciding to take a risk he shot after it holding Jenny carefully with one arm and controlling his broom with the other.
"What-" Ginny started as Harry zoomed past her. Malfoy saw the snitch at that moment to and started for it but Harry was closer. He urged his broom on faster.
"Come on!" He hissed through his teeth. The Goalposts came closer and closer.
"Harry?" Jenny said opening her eyes slightly. When she saw Harry with such concentration on his face she frowned and noticed she was on a broom and she looked ahead to see the goalposts coming closer and closer. Jenny started in alarm and screamed as Harry held his hand out and tried to catch the snitch. Jenny held Harry tightly as Harry closed his hand around the snitch and quickly pulled his broom up before they could crash into the wall that surrounded the pitch.
"GRYFFINDOR WIN AGAIN!" the whole stadium erupted into a unified scream of happiness as Gryffindor beat Slytherin. Harry slowed down and hovered in the air as Ron, Katie and Ginny flew towards him quickly.
"You can stop screaming now." Harry said to Jenny. Jenny opened her eyes and looked around quickly. She was breathing quickly and hugged Harry tightly with one arm.
"You did it!" Katie screamed as she came to a stop and hugged Harry in mid air. It wasn't the Quidditch cup finals but it felt like it. Ginny hugged him as well and they flew to the ground. As soon as they touched the ground Ron pulled Harry into a brotherly hug.
"Well done." He said grinning, "Great save." Ron said nodding to Jenny, who seemed slightly traumatised. Harry grinned and turned to Jenny.
"Are you ok?" He asked. Jenny shook her head and winced. She held her shoulder tightly and tried to move her neck a bit.
"I think I've hurt my neck." She said.
"Get her to the Hospital wing now." Madame Hooch said to the Gryffindor team.
A/N:-Ok, I thought I'd write you guys an author's note because I haven't written one in this story for a while and answer a few questions while I'm at it. I'll be answering them for reviews for my past few chapters as well so, yeah. Here goes, I'm hoping to not give much away but if you want to read the whole thing just pop over to Harrypotterfanfiction.com. I'll answer questions to the reviews I got so far. I'm in a bit of a hurry (though I may not seem like it) to get this story up and move onto Fortress of Shadows (which is the next one) coz I'm hoping to make that more interesting though I may change the title of the story.
-Melanushkia:-your anger with Hermione should go soon, hopefully, you'll see in the next chapter. No one calls Jenny Lily because she's so used to being called Jenny that there's really no point in calling her Lily. Besides she likes the name Jenny and April can't bring herself round to actually say the name Lily. And I'll keep on keepen on if you keep reading my stories. Happy?
-Lupinandsiriuslover:-Border line Mary-sues…whew, anyway, they never actually meant to be like that. Jenny was supposed to be a really shy and quiet girl and wouldn't really socialise very much but that went completely down the drain while I was writing the story, as for April…she was supposed to be a mary sue type character (though I didn't know what they were until last week).
-from Italy:-We don't actually know what Sirius is doing, or April because we are following Harry's POV but as you see above, Jenny has an idea of what Sirius is doing and she doesn't like it. You'll find out why Jenny doesn't like Sirius later.
-Lady of Masbolle:-YOU ROCK TOO!
Anyway, long A/N there, I'll put the next chappie up soon, once I've read it 4 times like I've done with all the other chapters in this story.