Author's Notes: Second posted chapter today, I wanted to update this the day HBP came out but ... after I read that book I couldn't. I'm still somewhat in shock. How could JK do that? It's not bloody fair I really don't like how she continued and it threw all my hopes overboard.
I dunno about you but my mum guessed the right person to die and I had the identity of the Half-Blood Prince down after only a few chapters. That said, I can tell you that my book six will not have any elements of HBP in it.
The differences are already too much and even books 4 and 5 will be a lot different on a few parts. ^_^
I fixed this chapter upon a review from Whogirl. has screwed up my formatting AGAIN and I have no idea why. My fault for not checking proper formatting after posting the chapters. The link to the other story is still screwed but that cannot be helped. ^_^
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Chapter 09 - Potions Class and Electives or Crimson Eyes and Survival
The first time Cat saw the friends again that day was at dinner. Strangely Hermione was sitting at the Slytherin table. This was getting them weird looks from everyone including the teachers. Although it had already happened three times throughout the last year they still couldn't understand this.
Carya was annoyed to no end. The others already knew what she and her friends thought about their staring. The five of them sat together near the entrance of the Great Hall and left as soon as they'd finished their meal.
Cat was confused. Why did Hermione sit at the Slytherin table? She was a Ravenclaw for Merlin's sake. At Beauxbatons something like this never would've happened. There were rules against things like this. She decided to ask later what this had been about.
It was just before curfew that those five returned to their Common Rooms. The Slytherin's didn't bother their housemates and just ignored them while Hermione was being questioned about sitting with those 'slimy Slytherin's' once again.
"We already told you last year. This isn't forbidden by any rule at all. It's just very uncommon to do so. They are my friends, the best I could find ever, so get used to it. It might even happen that they'll sit with us sometime in the future!" Hermione said and shocked her housemates with her last sentence.
Cat gave her curious looks and Hermione kindly explained everything to her before they went to bed. She also warned her that Defence might be quite an experience the next day.
Breakfast was just like always. Lockhart still had his green hair and people snickered when they saw him. Most students were late for breakfast and had to hurry to make it to their first classes in time. Not so the Potter twins and their friends.
They were early and sat in the very back of the Defence classroom. Far away from their incompetent teacher. Cat wisely stayed close because of Hermione's warning. Soon the others arrived and a few minutes after the bell Lockhart made his appearance. They only took notes that day.
He lectured them for forty-five minutes how he had fought off that vampire one time and he didn't notice how annoyed all Slytherin's were with him. This class was a joke, almost as bad as it had been with Quirrell.
Although most Slytherin's hadn't exactly liked Lupin, he had been a far better teacher in this subject. Some of them were ready to explode and storm out of the room. They didn't need to. About an hour into their double lesson it happened.
Lockhart was in the middle of yet another of his self-praising monologues when they could hear a faint whisper in the back of the room. A second or two later the Professors skin looked as if it was glowing slightly.
Mere moments after that his face and hands were covered with warts of different size. The biggest one visible was just at the tip of his nose. One of his fans, namely Padma Patil screeched and told him why everyone was staring and snickering.
"Pro ... professor, your face ..." she stuttered and when Lockhart looked into a mirror he fainted with a yelp.
"Padma, perhaps you should fetch Madam Pomfrey. He might be ill," Carya suggested with fake concern in her voice.
No one who disliked their teacher fell for it but all fans of his did. The rest of the students left the room when Padma arrived with the nurse. She had told them to go to their next class quietly because the professor had to go to the infirmary.
There was no proof but everyone knew it had to have been the Potters. Not even one of the Ravenclaw's would prank a teacher and the other Slytherin's just didn't bother to put up with Lockhart. They simply ignored him or at least tried to.
Cat went to Muggle Studies while Harry, Carya, Draco, Ginny and Hermione walked towards the Ancient Runes Classroom. They didn't ask Hermione how she would've managed to be in two classes at the same time because she'd dropped the other subject before the end of summer.
Ancient Runes was really good. The children got to know that if they were good enough in this subject as well as Theory of Magic and had chosen Latin as an elective course then they would get to create their own spells in fifth or sixth year.
Especially Carya was excited about that. She loved to experiment with spells and had already altered existing ones to fit her needs. It surely seemed that she had a natural talent for that just like her mother had with charms.
At lunch they all sat at their respective house tables and Hermione warned Cat about their Transfiguration class. She told her about the near incompetence of many Hufflepuff's in that subject. She and Cat would see McGonagall next double period while Slytherin had Potions with Gryffindor.
It was obvious to every student that nothing had changed since last term. Potions was still the most dreaded subject. Snape was as sour as usual and favoured the Slytherin's above everyone. They would brew a colour-changing potion that day.
A potion that changed your eye-colour if drunken. The colour depended on the last ingredient. There were different ones for each colour you could possibly chose. Harry and Ginny opted for black and Carya convinced Draco to make a potion for crimson.
They Malfoy / Potter team was finished shortly before the Weasley / Potter team. They were the first to succeed and after Snape had inspected their potion he told them to add the last ingredient. Harry added some sliced black-current roots and Carya had to add crushed cherry stones.
Both potions passed the last inspection and both Potters cast a protection spell over their cauldron. No one could throw something into it and nothing could be spilled now. Fortunately they did cast the spell.
After Neville Longbottom's Cauldron exploded Ron Weasley tried to throw some shrivelfigs into their potions. These extra ingredients just floated above the brew and didn't fall into the cauldrons. Their professor noticed the shrivelfigs and looked around.
He knew the four owners of the finished potion intended to drink theirs and wouldn't deliberately botch it now. He only had to find the culprit although he pretty much knew who had done it. He had no proof but that never stopped him from punishing the Gryffindors.
"Weasley, detention tonight with Mister Filch for trying to poison your classmates!" he hollered and Ron jumped.
He hadn't expected to be found out. Why did the damned Slytherins had to cast a protective spell over the potions? What confused him was that Snape said 'poison' and his confusion must've shown this time because Snape explained harshly.
"Yes Weasley, I said poison. If they drank their potions after your addition to them they would've been poisoned. Thankfully not lethal but poisoned nonetheless. I suggest you better pay attention to the textbook the next time. Now get back to work!" Snape yelled at the angry Gryffindor.
Ginny couldn't believe what Ron had done. He had tried to poison them. Okay he didn't seem to know the potion would turn poison but still ... he should have known. Carya watched her from the corner of her eyes. Ginny was different from last term.
She was withdrawn, hardly laughed anymore and she looked tired all the time. Sometimes she would flinch without anything happening. Just as if someone invisible had touched her. It was very confusing but she would keep watching her. For Ginny's own sake and for her friends too.
Ten minutes later the potions that hadn't failed during class already were finished. Out of ten teams potions only four had survived the brewing process. Three Slytherin and one Gryffindor team had managed this. Surprisingly Dean and Lavender's potion had been they only successful Gryffindor potion.
Out of the four teams one student each was required to drink it. Harry volunteered since he knew his potion was perfect. Dean reluctantly agreed as did Pansy who had been working with Blaise. Draco had demanded that Carya took theirs since she had insisted on the colour. And she willingly agreed.
Soon Dean had dark brown, Pansy pale grey and Harry coal black eyes. But everyone gaped at Carya. Her irises had turned a burning crimson and Snape wondered why she'd done it. He could only guess but he highly suspected that it had to do something with Voldemort.
The downside to this potion was that it had to wear off. It would take up to six hours since he hadn't made the antidote. Normally the students opted for neutral colours or the colour they always wanted to have. This was extremely unusual and he didn't know if he should worry about it or applaud her.
~*~*~ Severus Snape POV ~*~*~
'I think, its better to warn the teachers about Carya Potter. Some of them would be pretty shocked by this. Especially those who have a bit of knowledge in the Dark Arts. Normally a person's eyes don't have this colour. With one exception. Voldemort always had them, even as a youth from what I know.
Albus will probably think this is an odd joke but I don't know about the others. If only that girl would stop smirking like that. She could make the Dark Lord jealous if we showed him a picture of her now. She definitely looks evil when she smirks like that,' I thought and dismissed the students,
'It is time to have a small chat with Albus. I hope she scares that idiot Lockhart a bit.'
~*~*~ End Severus Snape POV ~*~*~
"Hey Carya, you look pretty evil when you're smirking and glaring like that, you know?" said Draco jokingly and the girl started grinning even more and nodded her head in confirmation.
That was exactly what she'd intended to do. Before Snape had dismissed them she had secretly bottled some of the potion. Two vials to be exact. She knew this potion would keep for a very long time when stored in a dark and cool place.
Her trunk was the perfect place for that. Harry just shook his head. Although he didn't know why his twin had done it he thought it to be quite funny.
/Hey, sister, trying to imitate old 'Snakeface'/ he asked jokingly.
/Not quite Harry but the look is somewhat funny, isn't it. They all look scared. Did you know that the irises of someone who's lost in the Dark Arts can turn this colour/ she responded.
/Nope, where did you find that fact again/ he asked and wondered what exactly his sister read in her free time.
/Remember the last book I bought this year? The one called 'An Advanced Guide to the Dark Arts' by Dragan? It was in there. Oh, by the way, I think it's time we used our practical jokes books. Don't you think? Sirius would be proud if we did. We just have to make sure we don't get caught.
Perhaps we could make it that everyone blames the Weasley's? That would be pretty much fun, right? Harry, Hermione is trying to get your attention. Probably because of your eyes. Trying to imitate our dear Potions Master, brother/ Carya explained and teased Harry with her last comment.
Harry just snorted and turned his attention towards his 'girlfriend'. Carya stayed with Draco and Ginny had once again disappeared right after class.
"I wonder what's wrong with Ginny. At the beginning of the holidays she was so happy but now..." Draco said softly.
"I know Draco, I see it too. Something's wrong with her, I noticed that. She looks tired and sometimes she doesn't even realise what's going on around her. Like she's in some kind of trance or something.
I really should ask her Mum about that. Well let's go find and join our two lovebirds, shall we?" she said smiling and the two set off after their friends.
Meanwhile Severus had told his colleagues about the potion, well, he had told Albus and Albus had told the others. Snape would never do such a thing but the reactions were quite hilarious. McGonagall was shocked, Sprout seemed indifferent like Hooch and Vector while Flitwick looked thoughtful.
Only Trelawney made this a mess. She predicted that this was indeed a bad omen and that the twins would die a horrible and painful death. At this both, Snape and McGonagall, snorted. It was the only thing they'd ever agreed on - Trelawney was a fraud and her predictions were rubbish.
No one of the teacher seemed to miss Lockhart who was still in the infirmary where Madam Pomfrey tried to cure his warts. She didn't know what had caused them so she tried spells and potions but she had yet to find the right one.
It would take her until curfew to succeed. But she had told the headmaster right after she had started to treat Lockhart. Cat hadn't seen one of the group for the whole afternoon. She was outside in a hidden spot by the lake with Terence.
They were talking about their holidays and about school in general. The only one who actually saw them together was Hagrid but he wouldn't tell on them since they didn't do anything forbidden. By dinnertime everyone walked towards the Great Hall.
Most students who should've had Defence were disappointed that all afternoon classes had been cancelled. They hadn't even been given an explanation. As Snape had predicted everyone gaped at the Potter twins when they entered the Hall.
No one could figure out why Carya had red eyes. It seemed so unreal and yet real at the same time. Both twins had a hard time not to laugh and it was clearly visible that they enjoyed everyone's confusion. They sat down next to their friends and started eating.
A few minutes later Carya looked at the Head Table and saw her shocked teachers. Sure Albus Dumbledore had apparently told them but they were still gaping. The girl smirked, shook her head slightly at them and returned her attention to her food and friends.
Carya didn't understand the commotion. Okay it was a highly unusual colour but apart from the teachers no one should've know what it meant or could mean. She only got the point after the repeated statements of her brothers and pet-snake.
~Milady, what happened to your eyessss?~ Salazar inquired.
~I ussssed a colour-changing potion but it will fade in a few hourssss,~ the girl explained.
~Good thing that issss. You look sssscary like thissss, Mistresss Carya,~ the snake said and shivered. (A/N: I don't know, can snakes do that?)
/See sister, I told you so. You do look quite scary like this. It would be perfect addition to a Halloween costume by the way. You could go as a vampire/ Harry told her and the children left for bed.
The only student who wasn't in bed right now was Ron Weasley. He was still serving detention with Filch, polishing every single object in the trophy room. He was only dismissed by eleven that night and was asleep before his head touched his pillow.
The children got up early the next morning and went to their only class on Saturday's - Latin. There were only twelve students in that class but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. They would learn more and probably even faster as if it was usual in a larger class.
There were Harry Potter, Carya Potter, Draco Malfoy, Ginny Weasley, Blaise Zabini and Alexandra Moon from Slytherin, Hermione Granger, Terry Boot and Padma Patil from Ravenclaw, Justin Finch-Fletchley and Ernie McMillan from Hufflepuff and Parvati Patil from Gryffindor.
That made six Slytherin's, three Ravenclaw's, two Hufflepuff's and one Gryffindor. Their teacher was a witch named Moreen McGrey. She was the cousin of their Theory of Magic Professor - Leila Greenwood. The two women even looked similar.
After Latin the friends made their way into the Great Hall. There was a meeting for all those who wanted to participate in the new Survival Class. It wasn't an elective but you'd still get marks for passing or failing that class.
(A/N: Thanks to darkcyan who created this class in the story: The Other Side of the Mirror. I highly recommend it for all Slytherin!Harry fans. It's great! I'm only borrowing this class for my story. You can find darkcyan's story here: http / www . fanfiction . net / s / 947886 / 1 / )
No one really knew what this class was about. They only knew their teacher would be Snape. That alone kept away many students. Especially Gryffindor's and ever afraid Hufflepuff's. As expected their Potions Master glared at the entering students and looked as menacing as he could.
Normally he wouldn't recommend this class for anyone below fifth year but the headmaster had asked him to allow those who could keep up with the older students to remain when they moved onto more difficult topics and Potions.
Hermione noticed that her friends were here too. Cat wasn't here. She couldn't because the girl had Divination on Saturday mornings. Hermione pitied her. She didn't have a high opinion on Divination and from what Cat had told, Trelawney was a real fraud.
There were a few Gryffindor's - Angelina Johnson (Fifth year) and Lavender Brown, Ron Weasley (Third year). Two Hufflepuff's had found their way to this class too - Justin Finch-Fletchley (Third year) and Cedric Diggory (Sixth year). There were three Ravenclaw's as well - Hermione Granger (Third year), Cho Chang (Fourth year) and Roger Davies (Fifth year).
The majority of students came from Slytherin - the Potter twins, Draco Malfoy, Virginia Weasley and Blaise Zabini (Third year), Marcus Flint (Fifth year) and Terence Higgs (Fourth year). In the end there were fifteen students.
~*~*~ Severus Snape POV ~*~*~
'An odd mixture of students but if they all try their best they could perhaps manage. Although I doubt Ron Weasley's motives to join this class. Well, if the boy makes too much trouble I can always kick him out.' I thought and observed the assembled students,
'Neither of them seems to know what they have to expect of this class. Most of them aren't in shape for this. I will have to train their physical strength and stamina before we go on with any weapon at all. That will be the true test. I wonder how many will stay until after that. Well I should start.'
"Welcome to Survival Class. You will learn how to fight with offensive and defensive Magic and you will learn how to use weapons. But before you can even attempt such a thing we will have to train your bodies.
The first two month will be spent with physical exercise only. Those of you who don't want that can leave now. I won't make any exceptions," I said firmly and watched some students pale.
'The only ones who remained calm are the Quidditch players. They are trained to a certain extent but not nearly enough. We'll see who's strong enough in two month then. Those who remain will at least learn something about Defence this year. I doubt that anyone will learn anything with Lockhart,' I mused and started giving out orders.
~*~*~ End Severus Snape POV ~*~*~
The students listened to Snape's speech. After his last statement many of them paled. Carya raised an eyebrow.
/Well, we really should have expected this. It's called 'Survival' after all. It was bound to have a heavy accent on physical strength, right/ she sent towards her brother.
/Yep, we should've seen this coming. I doubt that too many of us will manage. The Quidditch players maybe and a few others but do you think someone like Finch-Fletchley or Weasley could do this? I don't/ answered Harry.
/Exactly. I hope Weasley gets kicked out. Then I could enjoy this class. Good thing that we were training so much when we were still at Privet Drive. It will be hard but not overly so/ she replied and Harry just nodded.
They would start with that class on the next Saturday. The students were to bring clothes for physical education then and would be given some if they didn't possess any. Snape showed them the room or better the training hall on the fifth floor were they would be working in.
He would partner them up next week and each group would be given a password for this room only for them so no one aside these students could enter the area. There were also wards that would alert Severus if people with malicious intent entered the room.
After this introduction the children were dismissed and the friends walked down the hallways towards the Slytherin and Ravenclaw Common Rooms. Suddenly the twins stopped and when Draco asked them why they shushed him.
"Hey, what's wrong, why ..."began Draco.
"Shh, ... didn't you hear that?" asked Harry.
"No, what?" asked Hermione.
"I did Harry, there's that voice again ... strange, it's gone now. It seemed to move behind the walls. Really strange that was," said Carya.
"What did you mean by 'voice' Carya," whispered Hermione suddenly.
"Yeah, explain it you two. Normally people don't go around hearing voices unless they're nuts," added Draco softly and the twins just glared.
"I don't know. It probably was just the wind or our imagination. Anyway who cares. Let's go outside and enjoy the weather as long as we can. Soon it's autumn and you know how cold it gets up here." Harry continued.
The friends left the castle not thinking about the incident anymore. The next Sunday would be a Hogsmeade weekend and the five of them intended to go, well four because Ginny rarely accompanied them nowadays.
Carya had tried to talk to her but the girl had refused to explain and frankly told the Potter girl to 'mind her own business'. Carya had left her alone since then but not before telling the youngest Weasley that she could always come to them and talk if she needed someone.
Despite that the children had fun over the next week. The colouring curse still hadn't worn off and Lockhart's hair stayed green. Every single student got to see him like that in class at least once. It was only on the next Thursday - one week later than intended - that his hair got back to normal.
The other incident was discussed over the whole week too. A few Hufflepuff's and Ravenclaw's had seen Madam Pomfrey bring an unconscious warts-covered Professor Lockhart to the infirmary and had spread the news.
Many thought that this was his normal appearance and that his disguise had worn off. Others believed this to be what it was, a prank of some students. But no one ever found out who had done it and no teacher investigated although three of them had a fairly good idea of whom if not about why.
Soon it was Saturday again and their first true Survival class. The students met with Snape in front of the doors on the fifth floor. One by one was let into the room where a spell paired them up. Each student had been given a slip of parchment on which a coloured sign appeared once they stepped through the wards for the first time.
For now they would have six groups of two students each and one group with three participants.
Once they all were inside Snape told them to find their assigned partners by finding those whose parchment contained the same colour. The groups were the following:
Group One: Harry Potter, Carya Potter, Draco Malfoy
Group Two: Hermione Granger, Terence Higgs
Group Three: Angelina Johnson, Virginia Weasley
Group Four: Cedric Diggory, Cho Chang
Group Five: Ron Weasley, Marcus Flint
Group Six: Lavender Brown, Blaise Zabini
Group Seven: Justin Finch-Fletchley, Roger Davies
These were odd pairings but the spell thought this to work best so no one but Ron and Lavender questioned the decision. They both didn't want to paired with a Slytherin and left the Class. That meant Blaise and Marcus had to work together.
After only fifteen minutes two of their number had already left because they didn't agree with the pairing.
The students were told to go and change clothes. Some of them were a bit apprehensive to show themselves in shorts and t-shirts. A few of them wore lose clothes. Most Slytherins and some of the Quidditch players wore better fitting shirts and pants. Carya and Angelina even wore sleeveless tops.
And it was clearly visible why. Both were nicely built and a reason to be proud of. Years of Quidditch had helped Angelina to stay like this and Carya had help with her gym exercises in Little Whinging. She, Harry and Dudley had trained there quite often until the twins left for Hogwarts.
For the first twenty minutes of their training they were just running around the track then they had to stretch their muscles and once again run. It was difficult to believe this had to do with their class but most tried their best.
Little did they know that outside the doors an angry Ron Weasley was waiting for revenge. He had only left because he and Lavender hadn't been paired like the Potters and Malfoy. He knew what he wanted to do. The Slytherins would've Quidditch practise afterwards and he would strike then.
One hour and fifty minutes later thirteen very exhausted students left the survival room. Each had been given a password for them to use only. Harry groaned at the thought of the practise that was still ahead this day. He doubted he could manage but was determined to try.
Flint had made sure that Harry as well as Draco and Terence knew that they were expected to meet him on the pitch in thirty minutes after a quick shower and a bit to eat. A sad thing was that they were short of a Keeper this year.
Their old one had been a seventh year last term and already left school. True, Flint could play Keeper if he wished but he wasn't that good. If only Harry could convince his sister to help out until they found a replacement.
"Carya, why don't you help us out? I mean, Keeper's rarely are attacked that much. They have the lowest rate of injuries. Chaser's and Seeker get hurt more often than Beaters ... and Keeper's are the safest. Please come to the tryouts tonight.
I mean ... you're really good and there's always the possibility that Flint won't chose you. Okay, okay, there's hardly anyone who could beat you at that position, I know how you think about this but ..." Harry was suddenly interrupted when Flint spoke from behind them.
"Is that true Potter? You're a Keeper?" he inquired and Carya could only nod in shock.
Damn her brother, now she had to go to the tryouts. Flint wouldn't leave her in peace. Quidditch was his religion. And no dared to say otherwise in his presence. Carya scowled fiercely at her brother. She didn't want to spend most of her time with Quidditch.
"I expect you two on the pitch in ten minutes. You better find a good broom after the tryouts Potter!" Flint threatened her and clearly showed them that she'd most likely make it onto the team.
This brought an evil grin onto Carya's face. She knew there probably was no way out of this mess. But at least she could give her future team-mates quite a shock. She and Harry went to fetch their broom cases and once they had them left for the pitch.
They were greeted by the whole team and those who wanted to try out. Flint would make everyone on the same position fly the same broom-type but they would have to use their own ones for practise and matches.
Suddenly Ron and a few of his fellows, namely Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnegan and Lavender Brown, appeared. He teased Draco and the twins and of course got the expected replies.
As soon as Draco ridiculed his families financial status he had his wand out and tried to curse the blonde Slytherin boy.
"Eat slugs, Malfoy!" he yelled and a red beam of light shot from his wand.
But the curse didn't hit Draco. It somehow backfired and Ron was thrown through the air. When he got up he retched a few times and spit out a slimy slug. The Slytherins were laughing and the concerned Gryffindors lead their friend away while glaring at the Slytherin's.
"Now onto the tryouts. We already have a good seeker which is Potter, two Chasers - myself and Higgs - and Malfoy as Beater. We need a Keeper, a Chaser and a Beater. That makes three open positions. Beater tryouts first. Mount your brooms!" Flint ordered.
Soon the Chaser and Beater were chosen. They all had been surprised to see Ginny at the tryouts and that she made it for Chaser. The new Beater was Alain Avery, a sixth year. Only three people would try out for Keeper.
The first one stopped three out of twenty shots and was thoroughly yelled at by Flint about his obvious lack of talent. The second managed thirteen out of twenty and got an approving nod. Now it was Carya's turn. She wasn't nervous, no, in fact she was pretty pissed off.
'This is all my brother's fault and I swear I will make him pay sometime,' Carya thought angrily while mounting her broom.
The girl looked quite murderous right now and had Harry been in her way she surely would've hexed him. Knowing this, her twin kept a safe distance. Draco wondered why she was out there and Harry carefully told him.
"I think it's my fault Draco, I once again tried to persuade her into joining and well, ... Flint overheard us in the hallway," Harry murmured.
"Shite, Harry, you're in for it, you know, mate? She's pretty pissed right now. I wonder if she can play in this state of mind," Draco whispered furiously into his friends ear.
"I hope so. Otherwise she'll go and yell at me for me having made her do this and embarrass herself in front of others. Cross your fingers for me, will you Draco?" Harry said feeling quite uncomfortable when his sister once again glared at him.
But Carya did the impossible. Not one shot got past her. She stopped twenty out of twenty and still looked as if she wanted to kill someone. Flint flew down to tell the result.
"Well, it seems we have two females on the team this year. Potter, you're in as our new Keeper!" he said cheerfully and then asked the new players about their brooms.
Ginny who didn't have one on her own would get one of the teams Nimbus Two Thousand One which had been a donation from the Malfoy's. Avery had a Nimbus Two Thousand and Carya, well, she just smirked at him. Even Harry hadn't told him yet.
"I have the same broom as my brother. It's been a birthday present," she said and glared at Harry and pulled it out of the case before Flint could have a fit and yell at her, "My broom's a Firebolt, Flint!"
Now everyone gaped at her and Harry. Two Firebolts in their team? Too good to be true. Keeper and Seeker on these brooms and they wouldn't loose any games. Practise was over and the Slytherins were about to leave when the Gryffindor team came down to the pitch.
Fred and George spotted the twins and stopped dead.
"No, Harry, please don't tell me someone convinced her! She's just watching, right?" Fred asked anxiously.
"Nope, Flint overheard me trying to persuade her, and, eh, you know how our beloved captain is, don't you Fred?" answered Harry shocking everyone when he was civil to the Weasley twins.
"No! Shite, there goes our chance on the cup unless we find a better Keeper and Seeker than you two, damnit, "George groaned.
"By the way, Ron tried to curse Draco and his curse backfired, so don't believe any stories he might tell you tonight, okay?" Harry added.
The Weasley twins looked at a furious looking Carya and tried to figure out the reason for her anger. They remembered that she hadn't wanted to play because of the supposed health risks and the time she would loose.
"Carya? Everything alright?" George asked.
"Yeah, quite so, why not? I was just forced into the team, damnit George, you know I didn't want to play! I told you so ...," growled Carya fiercely, but then added a bit softer, "... oh, and Ginny's on the team too, as Chaser."
"Hey, stop! What's going on here? Why are you two all buddy with those slimy Slytherins?" demanded Wood, the Gryffindor captain, suddenly.
"Stuff it Oliver. They are friends of us, not very close ones but friends anyway. We spent a few days together in summer so don't insult them or we'll quit!" said Fred threateningly which stopped any further comment from their captain, "Hey, there's Ginny!"
Ginny walked over from the direction of the locker rooms and stopped when she spotted the Gryffindor team. But the insult she had expected from her brother's about her being on the team never came.
"Hey Ginny, congratulations! I knew you had it in you when you and Hermione beat us in the summer!" George exclaimed and realised too late that he had just admitted defeat.
All Slytherin's were laughing by now and the Weasley twins looked quite sheepish. Oliver Wood just looked dumbstruck. His team would practise every day and night from now on, that was for sure. They needed to be in a better shape this year.
More than half the Slytherin team was now from third year. That would make sure they wouldn't lose if they trained hard enough for at least three years. They only had to replace three players if those four didn't drop out before graduation.
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Please Read and Review,
Carya
2005-07-24