Sometimes she wondered how she got herself into these messes... How could anyone possibly get so much drama in one year that would effect a whole lifetime? How could someone like Alicia Spinnet, an admired Gryffindor, a Quidditch Chaser, always gaining High Marks in all her Wizarding classes, have had so much turmoil in one year?
It all started out with the Quidditch team auditions. With Harry in detention and Angelina in such a dark mood over it, it was a wonder they survived the whole time, circling about the possible Keepers. None of them showed much promise, aside from this one guy with black hair and a sleek look to him. However, she could tell he and Angelina didn't hit it off very well, and if you don't hit off with the captain than you don't make it. It's all about teamwork, you see? Alicia soared over the Keepers, her auburn hair flying around her face. She was pleased. Nowhere felt as comfortable for her than the sky...
Angelina had the Keepers each take turns blocking herself, Katie Bell, and Alicia as they tried to score. Most of them were good enough at it, but when the trio pulled on a complicated formation they usually fell. Ron Weasley was relatively good for the job, but there were a few others that seemed to surpass him. Alicia glided to the posts, Quaffle in hand. Ron moved to the right where she seemed to be aiming. With her eyes locked on the left post, where he was going to block, she threw it into the center hoop, flying back over by Katie and Angelina who had her head in her hand.
Fred and George flew on either side of the trio, Fred close to Angelina, George between Fred and Alicia. George looked mildly impressed with Ron. "Ickle Ronnikins plays better than I thought..." Angelina stared in disbelief.
"Better than you thought? He let it past." George grinned cockily.
"Only because he was one-on-one with Alicia. Everyone knows she's the best for foul shots. Well, no one was going to block her. Try a formation... You did on everyone else." So the chasers went into formation and went for the hoops. Ron barely blocked the Quaffle from entering the hoops. The red- head sighed in relief as the chasers exchanged smiles. It was a mediocre formation for them, but it showed a bit of talent.
"We'll talk about who will be on the team and we'll tell the lot of you tomorrow morning at eight, okay?" Angelina said with a smile of reassurance at the people who came to audition. A few looked confident, the others mildly interested. Ron looked terrified. As they left the team huddled together, Alicia carrying her broom to the stands, George on her tail talking animatedly to Fred who was openly admiring Angelina's figure. Katie walked in between Alicia and Angelina, humming to herself. When the team settled down Angelina looked from each face.
"Well?"
"Ickle Ronnikins." Fred and George said in unison.
"Ron was all right." Alicia agreed quickly. Angelina nodded slowly.
"I kinda liked Steven." Katie said twirling her hair. She was referring to the boy with black hair. The three shared a warning look with Katie, but she realized it too late...
"Of course you'll like Steven! He's the BEST, isn't he? He's the son of the git who used to beat my mother...!" Katie winced.
"Er... Sorry 'lina! Well, Ron was all right I guess. Better than most..."
"Ron it is then? Good. Now everyone get to bed. After we tell Ron I have every intention of a full-scale rehearsal. Got it?" They all groaned in irritation as they started off back to Gryffindor Common Room.
George walked up behind Alicia and pulled on an auburn curl, before purring into her ear. "Think Wood has possessed her?" Alicia giggled and turned to look at George, pulling the curl loose.
"I hope not, George. I could hardly handle one Oliver Wood!" George grinned and offered his right arm for her to loop her left through. She obliged as they started up the staircase. They acted like this since the Yule Ball last year. Alicia had not been able to go because of family problems, so the day before she left George charmed some instruments to play music. He took her into the room and they had danced for hours. She had never felt as comfortable with anyone as she had with him.
Well, that was not entirely true... There was one other.
Who would have thought that sweet, sensible Alicia would ever have been attracted to that Slytherin Seeker Terence Higgs? He had graduated two years prior, when she was in her fifth year. They all knew Malfoy had paid his son into the Seeker position and, thus, Higgs was booted. But he remained there, forever in the company of Adrian Pucey and Marcus Flint. And only Pucey ever knew of their little 'fling'. Yet, when she closed her eyes, she could still see his tender blue eyes. It was a foolish fantasy, she knew. Why dream of a dangerous, wild Slytherin when she could have a safe, handsome Gryffindor? Yet, she turned George down time and time again. No, he had never actually said that he was interested in dating her, but his little comments and shy gaze showed more than his words did. He wanted her, but she was not willing to give in to him. She'd let him down lightly. She was not quite ready to give up on the dream of being with Higgs, even though he was long out of Hogwarts and probably starting out on a life of his own.
A wife of his own.
He couldn't marry her, it was against his father's will and all Slytherins valued their bloodline more than anything, almost more than their money. And Alicia was a Half-Blood. But Terence had told her secrets he'd not even told Pucey. He opened up to her and was contented in holding her in the night, being a shoulder to cry on and a pillow to sleep on. But they kept it to themselves, no use in having the Gryffindors aim for Higgs because he had 'seduced' one of their own. And there was no use for a jealous female Slytherin to target Alicia because she had captured the attention of a well-sought-after pureblood. The male Slytherins would call after her, leering, insulting..... What one Slytherin gained the others all wanted. And usually, they shared. No logic in it at all.
Alicia looked up into George's emerald colored eyes and felt herself melt into them. She was still unexpectedly attracted to this handsome, intelligent man. She could have easily fell in love with him. He was not as wild or ill mannered as his twin. Fred came up with the plans while George would assist in making them possible and formidable. She could see the difference even if his own mother could not.
Katie always jeered at Alicia and Angelina's taste in men. She often wondered if the twins had ever tried to trick them. They, in fact, had but they both saw through it instantly. Both reclaimed their respected 'companion' and went on with their plans for the twin.
Since Alicia was not thinking she did not watch where she was walking. Because of this she stepped on her robe and slipped. With a cry, she fell backwards, just barely being caught in the strong arms of the Beater who claimed her arm. Steadying her, he slipped his arms about her waist then pulled her easily to him. "You okay?" The other three stopped to look at the pair before sharing secretive grins and continuing their ascending of the stairs. Alicia looked away shyly, her face flushing red.
"I tripped..." The red-head twin chuckled softly.
"I noticed." He took a step up then offered her a hand, callused after 6 years of Quidditch practices and games. Her slim hand slipped into his while she stepped up to his level, barely coming up to his shoulder. Bending down, he kissed her cheek then led her up the stairs and into the Common Room.
Why are things so strange now?
It all started out with the Quidditch team auditions. With Harry in detention and Angelina in such a dark mood over it, it was a wonder they survived the whole time, circling about the possible Keepers. None of them showed much promise, aside from this one guy with black hair and a sleek look to him. However, she could tell he and Angelina didn't hit it off very well, and if you don't hit off with the captain than you don't make it. It's all about teamwork, you see? Alicia soared over the Keepers, her auburn hair flying around her face. She was pleased. Nowhere felt as comfortable for her than the sky...
Angelina had the Keepers each take turns blocking herself, Katie Bell, and Alicia as they tried to score. Most of them were good enough at it, but when the trio pulled on a complicated formation they usually fell. Ron Weasley was relatively good for the job, but there were a few others that seemed to surpass him. Alicia glided to the posts, Quaffle in hand. Ron moved to the right where she seemed to be aiming. With her eyes locked on the left post, where he was going to block, she threw it into the center hoop, flying back over by Katie and Angelina who had her head in her hand.
Fred and George flew on either side of the trio, Fred close to Angelina, George between Fred and Alicia. George looked mildly impressed with Ron. "Ickle Ronnikins plays better than I thought..." Angelina stared in disbelief.
"Better than you thought? He let it past." George grinned cockily.
"Only because he was one-on-one with Alicia. Everyone knows she's the best for foul shots. Well, no one was going to block her. Try a formation... You did on everyone else." So the chasers went into formation and went for the hoops. Ron barely blocked the Quaffle from entering the hoops. The red- head sighed in relief as the chasers exchanged smiles. It was a mediocre formation for them, but it showed a bit of talent.
"We'll talk about who will be on the team and we'll tell the lot of you tomorrow morning at eight, okay?" Angelina said with a smile of reassurance at the people who came to audition. A few looked confident, the others mildly interested. Ron looked terrified. As they left the team huddled together, Alicia carrying her broom to the stands, George on her tail talking animatedly to Fred who was openly admiring Angelina's figure. Katie walked in between Alicia and Angelina, humming to herself. When the team settled down Angelina looked from each face.
"Well?"
"Ickle Ronnikins." Fred and George said in unison.
"Ron was all right." Alicia agreed quickly. Angelina nodded slowly.
"I kinda liked Steven." Katie said twirling her hair. She was referring to the boy with black hair. The three shared a warning look with Katie, but she realized it too late...
"Of course you'll like Steven! He's the BEST, isn't he? He's the son of the git who used to beat my mother...!" Katie winced.
"Er... Sorry 'lina! Well, Ron was all right I guess. Better than most..."
"Ron it is then? Good. Now everyone get to bed. After we tell Ron I have every intention of a full-scale rehearsal. Got it?" They all groaned in irritation as they started off back to Gryffindor Common Room.
George walked up behind Alicia and pulled on an auburn curl, before purring into her ear. "Think Wood has possessed her?" Alicia giggled and turned to look at George, pulling the curl loose.
"I hope not, George. I could hardly handle one Oliver Wood!" George grinned and offered his right arm for her to loop her left through. She obliged as they started up the staircase. They acted like this since the Yule Ball last year. Alicia had not been able to go because of family problems, so the day before she left George charmed some instruments to play music. He took her into the room and they had danced for hours. She had never felt as comfortable with anyone as she had with him.
Well, that was not entirely true... There was one other.
Who would have thought that sweet, sensible Alicia would ever have been attracted to that Slytherin Seeker Terence Higgs? He had graduated two years prior, when she was in her fifth year. They all knew Malfoy had paid his son into the Seeker position and, thus, Higgs was booted. But he remained there, forever in the company of Adrian Pucey and Marcus Flint. And only Pucey ever knew of their little 'fling'. Yet, when she closed her eyes, she could still see his tender blue eyes. It was a foolish fantasy, she knew. Why dream of a dangerous, wild Slytherin when she could have a safe, handsome Gryffindor? Yet, she turned George down time and time again. No, he had never actually said that he was interested in dating her, but his little comments and shy gaze showed more than his words did. He wanted her, but she was not willing to give in to him. She'd let him down lightly. She was not quite ready to give up on the dream of being with Higgs, even though he was long out of Hogwarts and probably starting out on a life of his own.
A wife of his own.
He couldn't marry her, it was against his father's will and all Slytherins valued their bloodline more than anything, almost more than their money. And Alicia was a Half-Blood. But Terence had told her secrets he'd not even told Pucey. He opened up to her and was contented in holding her in the night, being a shoulder to cry on and a pillow to sleep on. But they kept it to themselves, no use in having the Gryffindors aim for Higgs because he had 'seduced' one of their own. And there was no use for a jealous female Slytherin to target Alicia because she had captured the attention of a well-sought-after pureblood. The male Slytherins would call after her, leering, insulting..... What one Slytherin gained the others all wanted. And usually, they shared. No logic in it at all.
Alicia looked up into George's emerald colored eyes and felt herself melt into them. She was still unexpectedly attracted to this handsome, intelligent man. She could have easily fell in love with him. He was not as wild or ill mannered as his twin. Fred came up with the plans while George would assist in making them possible and formidable. She could see the difference even if his own mother could not.
Katie always jeered at Alicia and Angelina's taste in men. She often wondered if the twins had ever tried to trick them. They, in fact, had but they both saw through it instantly. Both reclaimed their respected 'companion' and went on with their plans for the twin.
Since Alicia was not thinking she did not watch where she was walking. Because of this she stepped on her robe and slipped. With a cry, she fell backwards, just barely being caught in the strong arms of the Beater who claimed her arm. Steadying her, he slipped his arms about her waist then pulled her easily to him. "You okay?" The other three stopped to look at the pair before sharing secretive grins and continuing their ascending of the stairs. Alicia looked away shyly, her face flushing red.
"I tripped..." The red-head twin chuckled softly.
"I noticed." He took a step up then offered her a hand, callused after 6 years of Quidditch practices and games. Her slim hand slipped into his while she stepped up to his level, barely coming up to his shoulder. Bending down, he kissed her cheek then led her up the stairs and into the Common Room.
Why are things so strange now?