Chapter 3 - Confrontations
Katie got up early that morning with the intention of getting in a good few hours of flying practice. It had been a while since she'd last had the opportunity after all. She got up from her bed and tiptoed across the dormitory to reach her robes. After getting washed and dressed she retrieved her broomstick from her trunk and set off downstairs. The common was empty of course, no doubt everyone was still fast asleep. She remembered last night when Lily had taken it upon herself to 'rescue' Katie from the marauders. Unfortunately this had also involved a nice long lecture about why James and various other marauders (namely Sirius) were such asses, and how Katie would be much better off with Lily than them. Katie laughed to herself, why Lily didn't just make it easier for herself and go out with James was beyond her. At least it would shut him up. Well, for a few hours at least.
The fat lady was less than pleased about being woken up and Katie was given her second lecture in two days. This time about how anyone who willingly gets up this early in the morning must be nothing more than an idiot. Not wanting to wake up the whole castle, Katie hastily agreed with her and carried on down the great staircase. She passed through the dining hall where breakfast was already set up. She stopped by the Gryffindor table to pick up a couple of pieces of toast, and carried on through the entrance hall, and out into the grounds.
Katie's intention was to check out the quidditch pitch, get a good feel of where things were. She mounted her broomstick (after finishing her toast of course) and flew off in the direction of the pitch, where the high stands were just visible. It was a good day for flying she had to admit, a gentle breeze, pretty warm for this time in the morning, and no clouds to speak of. Katie did a few loops in the air to practice, enjoying the freedom of the open air. When she finally arrived at the pitch she was surprised to see that someone was already there. About seven someones in fact, all wearing green. Slytherins, probably. She hesitated for a few moments, reluctant to be spending two hours in the company of Slytherins, but they had already seen her and she wasn't about to lose face.
She flew towards the pitch and was about to do a lap around the stands when one of the Slytherins called her over. She came over and hovered by them.
"Oi, what do you think you're doing here? We've already booked the pitch, so get lost!" They obviously thought she was a member of the Gryffindor quidditch team. Katie faced the person who had just told her to get lost.
"Really? Well that's interesting, when did you book it?" the Slytherin quidditch team seemed surprised at her calmness, obviously they were expecting nothing short of a punch in the face from a Gryffindor.
"Yesterday." said one of them defiantly.
"So that means everyone but the Gryffindor team is allowed to practice right now?" she asked, putting emphasis on the words 'Gryffindor team'.
"Yeah, that's right, so get lost!" one of them grunted, hovering a bit closer.
"Oh well that's lucky, I'm not on the Gryffindor team, have fun!" before they could respond she'd flown off around the stands, grinning to herself at their stupidity. Before long they'd given chase after her, racing around the stands. Katie laughed, just the kind of practice she needed.
She swerved around and flew straight back towards them. One sloth grip roll later and she'd left them behind, flying in the opposite direction. She turned back around and waved at them, then flew back in the direction of the castle. That's enough practice, she thought. Better leave before they hex me or something. If they can figure out which is the right end of their wand that is.
She spent the next hour or so randomly flying around the castle, spending a lot of time hovering over the tips of the branches of the forbidden forest. She thought she saw something large and black roaming around beneath the trees, but thought better of it, and carried on.
After a while she decided she'd better return to the castle, before she was late for class. She landed just in front of the main entrance and walked in through the large oak doors. An uproar of activity immediately greeted her, students on their way to breakfast, some heading up to the library, others already off to wait for class to start. Katie shouldered her broomstick and headed off to get some more breakfast. Two pieces of toast was hardly enough after all. On the way in she spotted Lily sitting at the Gryffindor table and went to join her.
"Katie where were you? I woke up and you weren't there!" Lily spotted her broomstick. "Don't tell me you've been flying, at this time in the morning? You must be as bad as James!" Katie laughed and gave her a playful nudge.
"No need to insult me Lily, I just fancied some peace and quiet before all this." She gestured around the hall. "Well, almost peace and quiet." Katie proceeded to tell Lily about the confrontation on the quidditch pitch. When she'd finished Lily looked furious.
"What!? How dare they treat you that way! Bloody Slytherins think they own the world!" Lily threw an acid glance over at the Slytherins, who didn't hesitate to return the favor.
"Don't get yourself too bothered Lily, I'm not." Katie said, which was true, she'd seen her fair share of hostility at various schools.
"But still..." Lily sighed. "I guess you're right, no need to waste my breath on them." Lily helped herself to some toast and jam and set about eating. Katie helped herself to some cornflakes, they did have about half and hour before class started anyway. Just as Katie had started to relax she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned around and came face to face with one of the gorillas from the quidditch pitch.
"Hey Ashford." he jeered.
"What?" asked Katie viciously, forcefully removing his hand from her shoulder.
"Just wanted a quick little word, that's all."
"Really? I didn't know you knew any other words apart from 'get lost'." Katie grunted these last two words out, making Lily laugh.
"Shut it Evans. Listen you, " he leaned forward threateningly "you'd better stay out of my way-"
"Or what?" Katie stood up.
"Or I will make you regret ever messing with me!" he spat.
"Oh no!" Katie said sarcastically "I'm ever so terrified, what ever will I do?" He reached for his wand but Katie got there first. She pointed it at his chest.
"Now you listen." She said, leaning closer. "I think it's you who had better stay out of my way, I'd fed up of people like you who think you own the world. You stay out of my way, or I will personally make sure you won't be able to ride that log of a broomstick for a week!" The look on his face was priceless. He opened his mouth, trying to find words to describe this new girl. Failing, he settled for giving her a scowl, turning around, and leaving the hall.
Katie turned around to Lily who looked just as shocked as the Slytherin who had just left.
"Katie that was great!" she cried. Gryffindors around the table nodded their agreement. Katie flushed as she realized the entire Slytherin and Gryffindor tables had been listening.
"Oh, It was nothing, really." she smiled shyly and picked up her broomstick. "Uh, better get my bag, see you at transfiguration!" Katie promptly turned around and headed up to Gryffindor tower, grinning all the way.
Sorry this chapter was so short! I couldn't think of something decent to happen next so I settled for this, just to keep you interested! Longer chapters soon I promise! (With plenty more marauders too!!!)