Chapter 7

    Diana walked to the Slytherin common room, where about ten people were working on their homework. Diana knew a spell that would do hers in her handwriting by reading her relevant thoughts. She helped Draco with his Transfiguration homework, while Crabbe and Goyle copied his answers.
    While he finished up, Diana made cranes from parchment and put a spell on them to make them fly around the common room. Five or six of them were flying around as Draco collected his supplies. He smiled at Diana for a moment, then looked at the fire that was burning in the fireplace.
    Diana knew Draco was bothered by Harry Potter becoming Seeker. She saw it in his eyes when he spoke. She almost wanted to see tears from them. His silver eyes had lost a bit of their usual glint. He kept his negative feelings bottled up inside of him. He got a bit of enjoyment from insulting Harry, but the enjoyment would not set the misery free.

    No one mentioned it to Draco, other than a few spiteful Gryffindors who didn't usually talk to him. It seemed like everything good that happened to Harry meant something terrible for Draco. Diana finally decided to speak up.

"Don't let Harry's fame kill you."
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"I mean stop moping around, and don't let it get to you that you're not the most popular boy at Hogwarts."
"Famous Potter is no better a wizard than I."
"He fought off Lord Voldemort as a baby."
"Side with him, then."
"You're being ridiculous."
"You brought it up."
"Only because you're so bothered by it."
"Are you trying to help?'
"Well..yes."
"That's so sweet," said Draco teasingly.
"Fizzing whizbees seem sweet, too, until they're shoved down one's throat," Diana muttered, blushing slightly.
"Is that a threat?" Draco asked with a fake quiver in his voice.
"Maybe," said Diana with the same teasing tone Draco had just had.
"Did I ever mention that I like you?" asked Draco.
"Maybe," said Diana.
"Can I kiss you?" asked Draco.
"Maybe..but not now. It's getting late. Time to go to sleep, Draco," said Diana, smiling.
"Goodnight then," he said, "Sweet dreams."
"Same to you," said Diana upon realizing how tired she was.

    She walked up the staircase to her dormitory, where everyone else was wide awake, talking about how Slytherin was going to beat Gryffindor. Harry catching that Remembrall was just beginner's luck. He had no real talent. Only a Slytherin could have real talent. They all looked to Diana as she sat on her bed.

"What do you think of Potter?" Millicent asked.
"I'm not so sure, really. I hear his father was a Seeker. He can't be that great, though. He probably never touched a broomstick before coming to Hogwarts, living with Muggles and all," Diana told the group.
"She's right. It's a wonder he can get off the ground," said Pansy.
"His father was a Seeker. It's in his blood," Blaise pointed out.
"My father was a Death Eater. Is that now my destiny?" Millicent asked, a bit quieter than usual.
"The Dark Lord has been gone for eleven years," stated Blaise.
"I think he's waiting for someone or something," said Millicent in reply.
"What do you think, Diana?" Pansy asked.
"I think it's getting late. Night," and she immediately fell asleep.

    The next morning in the Great Hall, Draco was telling everyone how surprised he was that Harry had still been at Hogwarts after he had thoroughly tricked him. He did give Harry a good scare, though, and that made Draco content. Diana couldn't help but smile, knowing he could at least be somewhat jovial.
    Draco didn't make any more devious plots against Harry. There was the occasional insult every couple of seconds, but Harry was too busy thinking of ways to get back at him to really pay attention. Draco stopped trying so hard after a few days.

    Diana walked up to Fred and George, who were talking to a tall boy who looked to be in his fifth year. Diana and the boy immediately caught sight of each other's House badges. This boy was a Gryffindor, like Fred and George.

"This is Oliver Wood, captain of our Quidditch team. Oliver, this is Diana Riddle," said George. Diana and Oliver shook hands with fake smiles.
"Be nice," said Fred, detecting the false nature of their expressions.
"You weren't very nice to Draco," Diana pointed out.
"Malfoy's a jerk," Fred stated matter-of-factly.
"Draco is a proper young man," said Diana.
"Not if 'proper' and 'evil' are not interchangeable," Fred told her.
"Let them be, then," said Diana.
"I didn't mean to start a fight," said Oliver, looking a bit worried.
"They've been like this since Diana got sorted. They'll get over it, though. Couples like them quickly work things out," said George, grinning.
"We are not a couple!' Fred and Diana said at once.
"Aren't you?" asked Oliver, chuckling slightly.
"What makes you think that?" asked Fred.
"It's obvious that you like each other," said Oliver.
"And it's obvious that you like Katie Bell, but do we mention it in front of her?" Fred pointed out.
"I do not," said Oliver, blushing.
"Besides, Diana has Malfoy," Fred said, partly to taunt Diana.
"Will you quit that? Draco's my friend, just like, say, George," Diana stated.
"So you like him, too, now?" asked Fred.
"Quit that. you know it's untrue," said Diana, annoyed.
"He's only teasing," said Oliver.
"I'm sure a Quidditch captain would know all about teasing," said Diana.
"So would a Slytherin, I'd think," replied Oliver.
"I'm beginning to like you," said Diana.
"Oliver Wood."
"Diana Riddle, nice to meet you."
"Lovely to meet you, too," said Oliver.
"Now that you're acquainted," said George, "how about a game of Hit The Slytherin With the Bludger?"
"What?!" asked Diana, taken aback.
"Joking, mate, how about Pass the Bludger?" George recommended.
"But there are two Bludger Bats per team, and four of us," Diana told him.
"That's where you come in," stated Fred, grinning.
"Only a Slytherin can open the Slytherin practice supplies," said Oliver informatively.
"They have separate supplies for each house?" asked Diana.
"Yes. That way, the Slytherins won't break a bludger bat or something before Gryffindor's practice or something like that," said Oliver.
"Well, let's go, then," said Diana halfheartedly.

    The four of them walked to the Quidditch Pitch. They went to the closet where all of the supplies were kept. Oliver got a bludger and two bludger bats from a trunk with an emblem of a lion on it. Suddenly, loud footsteps came toward the pitch. Diana hid in a corner behind old broomsticks and broken parts.

    She looked through a space in the middle, as Oliver quickly put the supplies back, closed the trunk, and put it up. He, Fred, and George looked at some of the newer broomsticks as if inspecting them. Diana just sat perfectly still, breathing silently.

    Marcus Flint, captain of the Slytherin Quidditch team, came into the closet for the Slytherin Quidditch supplies. He ignored the Gryffindors and didn't even notice Diana. He closed the door behind him as he left, making the closet pitch dark.

    "Lumos!" George whispered, illuminating the closet. Diana was lucky he had, because Fred had been standing behind her. Oliver snickered, then led them all out a back door. They all walked back to the castle. Diana wondered if Marcus Flint somehow knew they were there.

    How would he have found out? She didn't think on it too much. A few weeks passed before anything newsworthy happened. It seemed like every good thing was happening for the Gryffindor team at once.