Disclaimer: I own nothing! Except all that people that you've never seen in Harry Potter books.

A/N: Sorry if this chapter comes so late, but I didn't have Internet for a long time! I'm really sorry! I don't know what to do for make you forgive me. I'm really sorry!

To Angel of the North: thank you for beta-reading, I'll never stop thanking you!

Friends, Enemies, School and Quidditch

When ever Lilian had some free time she was usually in the library. Madam Pince was pleased to see that there was still somebody who liked books. The last person she could remember who was such an avid reader was Hermione Granger.

Because of all the time she spend in there, Alex and Josh referred to her as 'bookworm' which, for some reason, Ron and Harry couldn't stand. No one, save Dumbledore and McGonagall, knew why the nickname upset them so much, more so even than Lilian.

By October everyone knew that Lilian was the best student in the year. She was top of every subject. Except for one - Lilian Smith was afraid of flying.

It was during a flying lesson that Lilian learned the meaning of a word that she would never forget.

Madam Hooch had been teaching them the basics of flying when Derek Wood, fifth year, cousin to Oliver, and Gryffindor captain ran onto the field. For all that she liked Quidditch Madam Hooch found Derek a difficult captain to deal with. He had a one-track mind, and tended to exhaust the Gryffindor players with lengthy practices in all conditions, until the players fell off their brooms.

"Madam Hooch! Madam Hooch! Something terrible's happened!" Out of breath, he paused for a minute.

"Calm yourself down, Derek! Take a deep breath, and tell me what's so bad that you're interrupting one of my lessons." she said concerned.

"I've lost a Golden Snitch and two Bludgers." As if to prove it, he held the remaining Quaffle from the set.

Angrily she turned on him in disbelief. "And you decided to interrupt my lesson just for that? You cannot ask for new balls?"

Derek blushed. "But we've got a match in two weeks!"

"Derek?" said Madam Hooch, softly.

"Yes?" he said still breathless, this time for all the words he said.

"Have you forgotten that our DADA teacher is possibly the world's greatest seeker. Now, I suggest that you go to his classroom at the end of lessons and ask him to help you find them."

He left the quidditch field, walking away from the castle.

Madam Hooch glowered at Wood's back, and then returned to her class.

"I'd better go with him back to the castle. If you don't want to lose house points, then I suggest that your feet stay firmly on the ground." She caught up with Derek, and caught his arm. "Come on Derek."

"Pathetic! Isn't he? It's obvious which house he's in!"

The speaker was Jordan Bruner, a Slytherin. His housemates laughed as he carried on.

"Gryffindors! The house of the cute, the kind and the dumb. You know he's the cousin of Oliver Wood. My cousin, Marcus Flint, reckons he was a completely useless captain, and only got onto the Puddlemere team because Dumbledore felt sorry for him. They played against each other, you know."

The Gryffindors looked ready to explode. How dare he suggest that Marcus Flint, a known Death Eater, was better than the Keeper for a league team like Puddlemere.

Lilian calmly stepped up to Bruner, and looked straight into his eyes. "You can be so stupid, Bruner. Don't you know that your favourite DADA teacher was the greatest seeker that played for Gryffindor. The one you admire so much for his Quidditch skills."

"You know, Smith, that a Mudblood like you shouldn't be in the same school as me, you piece of filth." he hissed with an evil look.

As the Gryffindors around her responded angrily, her mother's words came back to her, and her eyes filled with tears.

"If somebody calls you 'mudblood', it's an insult. It means that they consider your blood to be dirty, just because you're muggle born. There are people who think that to be a pureblood makes them better than you - it's not true. The only thing that makes you better is what you have in your heart, not your veins."

She knew that this guy was a git, but she couldn't help feeling sorry for herself. There was someone that thought that her blood was dirty. She started to cry.

Alex and Josh were going mad, and it looked like it was going to turn nasty, just as Madam Hooch returned, muttering about Woods' insanity for Quidditch.

The rest of the lesson wasn't so bad, except for the fact that Lilian kept her eyes on her broomstick in order to avoid seeing the evil smirk on Bruner's face.

When the hour was over she ran away from the pitch and down to Hagrid's hut.

She was missing her mom, and wanted to talk to someone who knew her. Hagrid seemed to have known her for some time, and seemed the logical place to go. Professor Dumbledore had even been so kind as to offer her a Hershey Bar, and arranged for the House Elves to give her pretzels. It didn't matter. She was still homesick.

Getting to the hut in the grounds she found Derek, Hagrid and Harry arguing with a very large dog. Creeping up behind them, she gasped, realizing that this dog had in fact got three heads, and was towering over the huge man. Hagrid was patting its neck frantically.

"Now, Fluffy, there's a good boy. Give Mummy the balls."

Derek looked Hagrid in disbelief, but Harry waved his hand to shut him up.

At that point there was a rattling sound, like a xylophone, as 'Fluffy' bared his teeth, showering Derek and Hagrid with drool.

Derek ran for the hut, and stood by Lilian.

"He's got my quidditch balls! The stupid mutt's eaten my quidditch balls!" Here the 'stupid mutt' growled at Derek, who hid behind the younger pupil.

"Now, Derek. You know he was only playing. He's liked playing 'fetch' since he were a puppy."

"A puppy? Professor Potter when was this dog a puppy?" asked Derek.

Harry smiled. "Come on Derek, Hagrid knows what he's doing. Right Hagrid?"

"Sure. Fluffy is just a big softy".

Derek's mouth opened wide.

The xylophone sounded again, this time, and Lilian realized that it was a Bludger rattling against the teeth of the Cerberus.

Hagrid didn't seem to be having much luck, and kept making whistling noises, apparently trying to calm the dog down. He'd taken out a whistle, and started to play it. Eventually the dog's heads started to yawn, and the balls flew out.

"There, I said you'd get them back" as the first ball hit Derek in the stomach. "Just had to be patient, that's all."

Lilian reached for the pretty little Snitch, feeling its wings in her fingers. Derek caught the other Bludger, and between the three of the they wrestled the balls back into the box.

"Thanks Hagrid." Derek ran away muttering. All Lilian could hear was the words "Why couldn't he play with Slytherin's set of balls. Preferably Professor Snape's"

"Bye Derek! Harry, d'yeh want a cup of tea?"

"Sorry Hagrid. I have to go. Dumbledore needs to se me. Bye Hagrid, Miss Smith."

"Good afternoon Professor." said Lilian.

"Now then, Lily-girl. What can I be doin' for yeh?" asked Hagrid noticing her gloomy face.

She explain what happened in front of a big cup of tea. Hagrid was shocked and angry. So he decided to tell her how her mum got over this moments: with her friends.

Comforted she walked back to the castle.

She didn't see Alex and Josh either in Gryffindor tower, or at dinner. They guessed where she'd gone, and decided to give her some space, until eight, when they went into the Library with some toast from the kitchens.

She was sleeping with her head on a big book. She looked so fragile.

They shook her by her shoulders.

She yawned "Uh? Is you guys?" she said sleepy "What's the time? It's already dinner time?"

"Dinner time was about an hour and a half ago" said Alex.

"Oh! I needed to sleep, anyway I'm not hungry" she said sadly while her stomach rumbling. Her eyes were red from crying.

"Listen Lilian, you mustn't listen to Bruner! He's just a jerk! I've never seen a witch better than you! You're top of every class, and he's just jealous." said Josh.

"Yeah! You're better than him! And you are, …well… you are nice to everybody. And most of all you're a Gryffindor!" continued Alex.

She suddenly stood up and hugged them.

"Thank you so much guys!"

They blushed deeply.

"F-for w-what?" they asked surprised.

"For being my friends" she whispered. Then she let them go.

"W-well, I think we better come back to Gryffindor tower, before the librarian comes her and shouts at us" said Alex.
"Hey! The 'librarian' has a name! And you'd know it if you came here more often," she said, jokingly, as the headed off to Gryffindor tower.

Two weeks later the whole school was at the Quidditch Stadium for the first match: Slytherin vs. Gryffindor.

By far the most excited was Oliver Wood, back at Hogwarts to watch his cousin. He was living in Hogsmeade, and taking a week's break until training began. He and Derek were running around like headless chickens, ensuring Fluffy was locked away and analysing the game plan in great detail. Harry and Ron were sitting with the other Gryffindors, rather than with the staff, so they could scream themselves hoarse with Alex and Josh. Lilian, however, wasn't so excited, in spite of it being her first match.

The two teams left the changing rooms, and the captains shook hands. Madam Hooch flew to the middle of the field, and said in her low clear voice that she wanted fair play from both sides, her eyes lingering on the Slytherins. She released the Bludgers and the Snitch, before throwing the Quaffle into the air.

In the first ten minutes there were twenty different fouls committed by the Slytherins. In spite of the penalties, they were still winning forty to ten.

Ron got progressively more agitated, alternately muttering dark words about hexing the Slytherins off the field and screaming at the referee. Harry told him to calm down, undermined by the fact that Oliver was also yelling. Even Mark, who was commentating, had lost control, questioning where Jack Morton had learnt to ride his broom, and calling them names that did not impress Professor McGonagall, who was keeping a close eye on him.

"Morton, you bas-"

"Mr Weasley, I'm warning you. Would you stick to the facts, rather than besmirching the opposition."

"But, Professor, -"

"No, Mr Weasley."

They were distracted by the Gryffindor keeper, who was shoved off his broom by the opposition. Even Harry started to get angry, and yelled something to Madam Hooch about the gamesmanship of the Slytherin counterparts.

At that moment Kat Blaze, the tiny Gryffindor seeker caught sight of the swift little ball flying round the field, just at the same time as Nick Bloosy, her Slytherin counterpart. The jostled for the snitch, trying various tactics, which culminated with Kat diving for the snitch, before pulling out of the feint at the last minute, while Nick crashed to the ground.

She saw the snitch again as she came up, and seized it, together with the 150 points. The Slytherins sat there gob smacked, while the other three houses cheered happily. Even Lilian, who hadn't been caught up in the screaming, got carried away, and started to clap and cheer. She was too well-bred to shout, or jump up and down on the terraces like Harry and Ron, however.

"Gryffindor wins the first match of the season - 170 to 90." Mark's voice carried over the stadium, and Lilian decided she quite liked this sport.

That night, three shadows slid silently around the school corridors.

Three little Gryffindors out of bed without permission. It was clear they had yet to meet Filch.

"We're going to get into trouble," hissed Lilian to her accomplices.

"Oh, come on. We need to get some food to take back for the party." Mark shrugged as he whispered back to her.

"Of course," she whined. "But what if Peeves, or Filch, or Mrs Norris, or worse Snape find us."

Alex laughed softly, oblivious to the shivers of the other. "You have nothing to worry about. I know exactly where I'm going and -"

"Oh? And how do you know that?" The voice came from being him, and Alex turned, startled, to see the face of his Uncle, Harry, and Oliver Wood.

"What are you doing here?" It came out before he could realise how rude he was being to a professor.

"More to the point, what are you doing here? We are, after all, professors." Ron didn't admit that he sometimes forgot that.

"We wanted to go to the kitchens to get some for the party in the common room."

"And how do you know where the kitchens are?" asked Ron, with some suspicion.

"Uncle George and Uncle Fred told us. But they also told us not to say anything to our dads, or you, and certainly not Uncle Percy."

Ron and Harry relaxed and smiled.

"I didn't mean to take anything from the kitchens. I just wanted to see the House Elves." Lilian's voice had risen to a squeak not dissimilar to an elf, and she continued, "I read about them in 'Hogwarts: A History' and my mom told me to make sure they were well-treated"

"How would she know? She's a Muggle, isn't she?" Harry was suspicious by this time, and Lilian frowned, and spoke quickly.

"Y-yes, but she read 'Hogwarts: a History' and she knows loads about Hogwarts, and I just wanted to make sure -"

"Well, that's very noble of you. I can assure you that the House Elves are treated very well here at Hogwarts. And now it's better if you go back to your common room," said Ron. He was puzzled by what he'd just heard. The last person to cared about House Elves had been...

"What about the food?" Alex and Mark's words snapped Ron out of his reverie.

Harry gave them a big plate. "There's a spell on it. If it's empty, all you have to say is Insuper and it'll fill by itself."

"Thanks, but what exactly were you doing here anyway," Alex asked, mischievously.

"None of your business, young Weasley," snapped Oliver, half-laughing.

Alex and Mark fixed their uncle with a glare.

"OK, OK, we're off to Hogsmeade for a party, and we're late. So, if you don't mind, scram. We won't say anything to anyone, if you don't" Ron chivvied them out of the kitchen, with cries of "Goodnight" as they returned to the victory party.

Ron followed them with his eyes, until they were out of sight.

"Ron, we've got to go. They'll have started, and all those gorgeous witches won't wait for us forever!" Oliver grinned, and shook his shoulder.

"I don't think I'm coming guys, I don't feel well."

"You OK?" Harry eyed him suspiciously.

"Yeah, yeah, it's just Lilian."

"Lilian?"

"Never mind. It's a stupid idea. 'Night guys." Ron left them, and returned to his room, leaving Oliver and Harry exchanging meaningful looks.

"Harry, we'd better go, we're already late."

"Normally yes, but something's eating Ron."

"Oh, come on. He's fine. Can we just go, please?"

Harry was serious for a moment.

"Oliver. All you really want me for is the free entry and place on the guest list. I'm not coming, Ron's not right, and I think I know why."

"Harry! You cynic. I want you for your girl-magnetism as well. If you want to come, you know where to find me."

Harry was now alone in the dark corridor. He spoke quietly to himself, so no one would hear.

"I know what you're thinking Ron, and I know who you're thinking about. I'm thinking about her as well, but it just doesn't make sense."