AUTHOR'S NOTE You should all remember that I'm doing this fic based on the Chamber of Secrets movieverse, NOT bookverse. The scene at the cancelled Quidditch match is especially different in the movie.
DISCLAIMER You all know who I own and if you've ever opened a Harry Potter book, you know I don't own.
It was Friday. Like all students, Michelle was a big fan of Fridays. She had Potions class in the morning, but it was followed by flying lessons. Sailing through the bright spring sky lifted her spirits after being stuck in Professor Snape's dungeon classroom.
Diana and Michelle had decided to go for a walk after lunch. It was a beautiful clear spring day. Diana saw that her little sister still got depressed easily, especially if left alone among her housemates for any length of time. So whenever possible, Diana spent time with Michelle, if only to help her with her schoolwork.
Fred, George, and Oliver had no classes for the rest of the day either. The three boys accompanied the sisters as they walked around the Hogwarts grounds. Gryffindor was scheduled to play Hufflepuff later in the afternoon and the three players, especially Oliver, were bursting with excited energy.
Oliver was trying to explain a new game plan to the twins. Fred and George, however, weren't paying attention. The two were trailing Oliver, Fred's wand hidden in the sleeve of his robes, trying to cast a charm without Oliver realizing it that would turn the Quidditch captain's hair canary yellow to match Hufflepuff's robes.
Michelle was telling her sister all about her History of Magic class. Since meeting Cassandra earlier in the week, it had become her favorite class. The two girls shared a table in the back and passed a piece of paper back in forth. On this, they wrote notes to each other all throughout the period.
Finally, Fred and George had enough of Oliver's attempts at strategizing. "Come on Wood!" pleaded Fred, on the verge of irritation. "We know what we're doing!"
"Yeah," George added. "Fred and me are two of the best Wizard's Chess players in the house and we don't strategize for that!"
"Wizard's Chess is different," Oliver mumbled. Diana squeezed his hand reassuringly.
The twins ignored him. "We even play better than Percy!" Fred said with immense pride.
"What's Wizard's Chess?" Michelle asked curiously.
Fred and George stopped dead, their jaws on the ground. Birds continued their song around the group, but all else had gone silent as the twins looked incredulously at Michelle.
"What's Wizard's Chess?" Fred repeated aghast, breaking the moments-long silence.
"Uh, Fred, our dad's not too big on the game," Diana explained. "He never plays it."
"Doesn't matter!" argued George. He turned to his brother. "We have to do something about this."
"Definitely." Fred nodded firmly.
Michelle looked at Diana and Oliver, confused. Oliver, still miffed about his beaters' obvious lack of appreciation for strategy, rolled his eyes in annoyance. Diana just giggled silent.
George came up beside Michelle on one side with Fred on the other, both draping their arms over her shoulders. Fred looked down at her, appearing in all seriousness. "We must teach you, young one."
"Are you busy tomorrow?" George asked.
"Uh…I don't think so," Michelle replied slowly.
"Good." The twins nodded.
"No!" Fred said after a minute, slapping his forehead. "Not tomorrow!" George looked at Fred questioningly. "My detention's tomorrow," Fred explained.
"Detention?" Diana asked, amused.
"Yes," Fred mumbled.
"Why do you have detention?" Michelle asked.
"Filch caught us bewitching Snape's doorknob," George told them with a grin. "We thought he'd get a kick out of it if it swore when he tried to open it."
Fred nodded. "And for some reason, Filch wanted us to serve detention separately. Something about us turning his hair scarlet and gold the last time."
Diana and Michelle laughed, but Oliver just glared. "If you two get kicked off of the team, I swear…"
They just laughed. "Oh Oliver…" George said with a shake of his head.
Oliver looked at the sky. "The game's in less than three hours. Will you two at least come practice with the rest of us?"
He was pleading by now. Fred and George sighed. "All right…" Fred agreed.
Oliver's face lit up. "Good!" He turned to Diana. "I'll see you after the game!" he said, giving her a quick kiss and turning back towards the castle. Fred rolled his eyes and followed.
George stayed behind another minute, "I'll see you tomorrow, love!"
Diana's eyebrows arched. "Love?" She asked suspiciously.
George shrugged. "Just a nickname!" Smiling teasingly, he was off to join his brother. Diana looked at her sister, but Michelle was watching the redhead leave and didn't notice.
Slytherin's portion of the stands was nearly empty. To Slytherin students, Quidditch games were only interesting if they were playing or if it looked like Gryffindor would lose. Hufflepuff was an easy opponent for Oliver Wood's team, so very few Slytherins were interested.
The canary-robed Hufflepuff players flew over the pitch, warming up for the game. Michelle grinned as she thought of Gryffindor's players having warmed up hours earlier at Oliver's command.
Michelle saw Diana through her field glasses on the Gryffindor side and waved. Diana waved back, then pointed down at the bottom of the pitch with a confused look.
She looked to where her sister pointed. Oliver was standing in the doorway from the locker room with Fred and George behind. Professor McGonagall was blocking their way onto the field. Oliver did not look happy.
"Attention everyone!" the announcer said. "This match has officially been cancelled." The Hufflepuff players landed in confusion. "At the request of Professor Dumbledore," the announcer continued. "All students must return to their house dormitories at once. Sorry everyone!"
Michelle followed her few housemates with a last look at a confused Diana and a livid Oliver. When she reached the dorm, she was horrified to see that every Slytherin student had gathered in the Common Room. A small alcove near the entrance hid her from her classmates.
It wasn't long before Professor Snape swept dramatically into the room. "I expect you are all here," he said, glancing around.
"There has been another attack. Penelope Clearwater of Ravenclaw and Hermione Granger of Gryffindor."
Out of the corner of her eye, Michelle saw Draco grin coldly at Crabbe and Goyle. Snape continued, "From now on, no one is allowed to leave the dormitory without an escort. After 6:00 pm, no one is allowed out at all. Further Quidditch matches have been cancelled."
At that, Marcus Finch, Draco, and the rest of the team looked shocked for a moment before angrily storming out of the Common Room. Snape watched them leave before coolly asking, "Does everyone understand?"
Everyone nodded and the Professor swept out of the room. Some students left the Common Room, while others pulled the huge armchairs up next to the equally huge fireplace. Michelle slipped past them quietly to get to her room.
Later that evening, after being escorted to dinner by Argus Filch, the school's caretaker, a school owl dropped a letter to her. She opened it curiously.
Dear Michelle,
This is bloody ridiculous about needing an escort to walk around outside the dorms, but don't worry. Me and Fred have been sneaking through this castle for years. Meet me in the Great Hall tomorrow morning at breakfast and we'll discuss the Wizard Chess lesson from there. No robes.
George
George met her gaze as she glanced at the Gryffindor table. She smiled and nodded slightly. He grinned and went back to his dinner.
Some Slytherin girls caught Michelle looking longingly at Gryffindor's table. They glared harshly at her, making her blush brightly. They left her with only on thought.
Tomorrow could not come fast enough.
Line-from Denmark I'm glad that you're enjoying the story! It's nearing the end, but I hope you'll keep reading!
Galadwen I love Monopoly! It's one of my favorite board games. I'm pretty sure that it means Maiden of Light. And yes, Michelle found a real friend this time =)
The Rave Raven Actually, there won't be much more of Draco in the story. Since he has taken to pretending that Michelle doesn't exist or cursing her (like the Body Bind), he's not a major character anymore. He's done his damage to her.
Guess who Hmm…you seem to be privy to top secret information, as it concerns a fic that I have just started writing very recently (as in last night). We'll just have to see what happens in the crazy world of fanfiction between the Slayers and the X5's ;-)