Ah...yeah. Sorry for the looonnnnggggg ::cough:: wait. I had no idea where to go with this chapter. So I just started to write and, (believe it or not) it just stated to flow again. Yeah, it sounds like a brain fart that went wrong. Well, here it is. With the usual disclaimer, I may add. Thank you to all my lovely reviewers! I love you all!!!

The Pitch

Sirius and James promised to go with Courtney to the Quidditch Pitch. Although she was not too interested in it, she followed anyway.

"You sure he said I could borrow his broom?" Courtney asked eyeing the broom of a third year Gryffindor. It was a top-of-the-line broom with a nice polished handle, it was obvious he cared for it a lot.

"Well, he didn't actually say it but we could tell he wouldn't mind. Besides, the school brooms are too old and slow. You need something fast for your first time flying out here!" James said as he led the way to the field.

"You did ask to borrow it though, right?"

"Oh look, we're here!" Sirius interrupted. He sent James a nervous look before turning around and smiling at her. "Of course he did. Didn't you?"

James looked lost but quickly nodded. He gave her a forced smile. "Course. Now, you know how to fly right? If not, we will teach you that too."

Courtney sighed. "Yes, I know how to fly a broom. I'm just not good at it."

Sirius mounted his broom, "Well you better get good! You have to go to tryouts. That's why we are here, so you can practice. Now come on!"

Sirius and James took off with a whoosh, leaving Courtney, Peter, and Remus on the ground. Remus and Peter watched as the two warmed up, by playing chicken.

"You want to fly, Moony? You can have a go first if you want."

Remus shook his head, "I'm not that good either. I prefer to watch. Here, on the ground, feet firmly planted on the earth. You go ahead."

She smiled and swung her leg over the broom. "I so prefer a horse," she mumbled kicking off the ground. James and Sirius were zooming around, throwing a large, red ball as they went. They zipped past her, almost causing her to fall from her broom.

"Come on, Elf! You have to be faster then that!" Sirius shouted. Courtney clung to her broom like a cat. They laughed as she whimpered, scared shitless.

"Aw, come on. We wont let you fall! And we wont play chicken for a while, yet!" James shouted tossing the ball at her. Courtney quickly sat up and caught it, keeping her mind off the ground that was more than fifty feet below her.

Sirius and James zoomed around attempting to push the other off their broom. Courtney rolled her eyes as Sirius kicked James, making him turn upside down and almost hit one of the stadium's seating. Courtney put all her weight forward and her broom took off. Sirius had barely enough time to duck as she blazed past his head. "Hey! Watch where you're flying!" Courtney laughed at him and did a flip to face him. She threw the ball at him, he missed and let it fall. "Aw, is ickle Siri scared of a broom?" He narrowed his eyes at her. "You're going to get it!"

Within second, Sirius was chasing her around the goal posts, James right on his tail. Courtney looked over her shoulder, laughing at a cursing Sirius who almost hit a post.

"Watch it!" She whipped her head around just in time to see James coming headlong into her side. Their brooms collided with a sickening crash, sending Courtney flying to the ground.

Sirius swooped down to the ground and jumped off his broom, forgetting it completely. She was holding her left side and a stream of blood ran down the right side of her face. Remus and Peter were sprinting across the pitch. "Is she alright?" James and Remus asked in unison. Sirius carefully rolled her from her side to her back, "Hey, kid. You alright?"

Courtney looked up at Sirius' face with unfocused eye. She moaned and rubbed her head, "It's all fun and games until someone loses a nut." Sirius could not hold back a laugh. "Oh really? Is there something you want to tell us?" She smirked but then winced, holding her hand in the air for help. "Just get me up."

Sirius and Remus helped her up into a standing position, she was very wobbly. James looked incredibly guilty, "Sorry mate. I didn't mean to, I was just..." She waved it away, "I'm fine. Just a little shaken, I think. Now, back to the game." She stepped forward and almost collapsed but caught herself at the last minute.

"Maybe you ought to go to the hospital wing. You got hit pretty hard." Remus wrapped one of her arms around his neck, James followed suit. She didn't fight her supporters but refused to see "that crazy chick".

They made their way up to the common room and helped her to one of the red coaches. Sirius plopped down beside her, "You sure you don't want to go to the hospital wing? You want James to go snitch some potion from the professor?" She shook her head but quickly stopped, swaying a little. Sirius swapped concerned looks with the other guys. Remus opened his mouth to make a suggestion but stopped and looked at his hands.

"You know what, guys?" Courtney asked. "What?" Remus, James and Sirius said in unison, Peter seemed to be off in his own world. "I think I will tryout for the quidditch team. It sounds like fun."

Sirius chuckled a little and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, "I certainly am wearing off on her." He gave her a peck on the forehead, she rolled her eyes. James frowned, "I'm the quidditch expert. What are you talking about? She takes after me!"

Remus snorted at the two as they continued to fight. He left momentarily, coming back with a cold, damp washcloth. He knelt in front of the still dazed Courtney and wiped the blood off her face. "There, you're going to have a bruise, I think. But you don't look too bad off." She gave him a weary smile. "Thanks, Moony." He nodded a reply.

Courtney woke up the next morning in the common room with Remus hunched over in a chair, Sirius drooling on her shoulder, and James sprawled out on the fluffy rug in front of the fire. There was a click from the portrait as it opened and Peter walked in. Courtney immediately shut her eyes, leaving them open enough to watch him. He looked around the room and at the guys before putting on a sour face and marching up to the dormitory. Courtney saw that he was carrying a black cloak with him.

Courtney opened her eye and snorted in disgust. He was already in league with the other deatheaters. She giggled when Sirius snuggled up closed and groaned. She burst with laughter when he murmured, "Muffy bear." James sat up alarmed and looking around the room. Remus' head shot up and he almost tipped the chair. Sirius woke up and noticed where he had fallen asleep, he then noticed Courtney's soaked shoulder. He smiled sheepishly and tried to rub it off, "Sorry 'bout that."

All of them quickly got showered and dressed and met in the common room. "We have charms, double potions, and divination (they all made a face). And possibly a romp around the grounds tonight." They all agreed to the schedule until... "Maybe going to the pitch?" They all burst with different arguments.

Sirius glared at James and Remus, then cleared his throat. "We believe that is would be best for you to not fly for a few days." James gave a slow nod when Sirius made eye contact, "Yes..." he hesitated for a moment before catching himself, "You know it's not that fun either." He said the last part as if it ripped his insides out. Remus stepped up after Sirius elbowed him in the side. "You should stay-"

Courtney raised her hand. "First of all, you really need to rehearse this more. Second, I get the picture, I will wait a while. Happy?" A wave a relief spread over Remus' face, James and Sirius looked like they had swallowed a rotting rodent.

They all started to walk to the Great Hall together. Halfway there Courtney linked arms with Sirius, who was leading the group down the stairs.

"Hey, kid. Feelin' better?"

She nodded, "Can I ask you something?" He gave a nod without looking up. "Who is Muffy bear?" The fearful look he gave her made her laugh but he pleaded with his eyes.

"What's so funny?" James asked running up to the two.

Sirius frowned and was about to answer but, "He was just telling me a story, that's all."

By this time Remus and Peter had sprinted up to join the group, "What story?"

"You know," she continued, "the time he charmed the kitchen pans to chase his mum's cat around the house." They all burst with laughter that echoed through the halls.

When they reached the giant doors Sirius held them open, Courtney went in last. He followed her and whispered, "It was a bear that my favorite uncle gave me when I was little." She only smiled and nodded. They sat down at the long table in their usual group. It wasn't too loud, seeing that many were still getting up.

"I really don't want to go to divination today. Hitchkock is so weird." Sirius closed his eyes and put his pointer fingers on either side of his head, "Use your inner eye, my children. So that I may brainwash you and use you as my minions."

Seeing that it was quite fun to make fun of this teacher, Remus joined in. "Yes, children, now look into the crystal ball and tell me what you see." He mocked in a squeaky voice.

"Your face, and whoa buddy that isn't pretty to see." Courtney added. They all busted up laughing.

Sirius had tears streaming down his face and was having trouble catching his breath. "Yeah, you got that right."

Courtney sat and listened to the chatter of her friends as she peacefully ate her toast. The hair on the back of her neck stood up, she had the sudden feeling that someone was watching her. Setting down her toast, she looked around the now packed room. There were too many people to be sure if she was just imagining things or not.

She shrugged and turned around, poking at her toast. Her back prickled and she could no longer ignore the uncomfortable feeling. She furrowed her brow and looked up. She almost squeaked when a set of coal black eyes met hers. She had completely forgotten about the Slytherin table on the other side of Remus. Realizing who it was, she gave a warm smile to Severus. He looked surprised for a split second then looked down at his breakfast.

Sirius poked her side, she jumped a little but looked up. They were all standing waiting for her. "You ready to go to class yet?" She nodded and flung her bag over her shoulder. As they walked out she couldn't help but feel the same creepiness on her neck again.

The day went by fast until they hit double potions. It was another boring class taking notes on a shrinking potion that they would be brewing after lunch. Courtney sat next to Remus, who occasionally looked at her then back at the professor. After the first half hour she was curious as to what was so interesting.

"What?" She whispered.

He turned a little red, "Nothing, it's just you certainly did get a good bruise from that fall. You sure you feel alright?"

"Oh, yeah, I feel fine." She rubbed the side of her head, "Really, I'm fine." She added when he gave her a concerned look. He shrugged and mumble, "If you say so," before turning his attention to his notes.

Lunch went by smoothly and so did the remainder of potions. Except James causing the cauldron to bubble over, which then made Sirius panic and start mopping it up with the closest thing he could find. Unfortunately, it was Professor Regal's black cloak that he found. Of course, Proffessor Regal, being the nice teacher that he was, only gave him two days detention and ten points from Gryffindor.

Divination was as boring as ever and consisted of a nice long awaited nap for Courtney. James carefully poked her awake. She slowly oped her eyes to see James face magnified by several times. She screamed and jumped back, falling out of her chair. They all laughed at her, James stepping away from the crystal ball he was behind.

"Lesson learned, never fall asleep with your head on the table and a crystal ball in front of you." He said smugly crossing his arms over his chest.

Sirius helped her up and grabbed her bag for her. "Are we ready to go for a stroll outside? Without the Quidditch Pitch, that is." He added seeing the mischievous look on her face.

They walked through the halls, heading for the common room. They heard shouts ahead of them down another hallway. "Probably a fight or something. Come on."

Courtney was about to follow but decided to hang back. She watched as the guys walked down the hall, still talking normally. Quietly, she walked down the hall and peered around the corner. There were two guys, looked like sixth years, that were trying to beat up on a struggling kid in black. Her breath caught in her throat, Severus!

Without thinking she dropped her books and ran at one of the bullies that had his back turned. She stopped and tapped his shoulder, he turned around just in time to see a fist coming at him. He yelped with pain as his nose started to bleed. His friend, or so she thought, turned to see his friend on the ground at the feet of a small,fifth year girl.

"Bugger off or you're next!" She shouted at him, pulling out her wand.

He eyed her then his friend. He turned and glared at a bleeding Severus. "Don't think you've gotten off easy, Snivellus." They both glared at her before walking down the hall and out of sight.

She gave a smug smirk before turning to the Slytherin. He was leaning up against the wall with his shoulder, his face not visible to her. "You alright, Severus?"

He turned to face her, "Why did you help me? I never asked for your help."

She shrugged and picked up his fallen books, "Because they are stupid arses and don't need to go around harassing people. Here you go." She handed him his books.

He had his black sleeve to his nose that was slowly bleeding. "Uh... thanks."

She smiled at him, "They certainly got a wack at you. Why were they being stupid anyway?"

He started to frown but stopped himself, "Because they think they can. Don't know what your talking about, your sporting a pretty good spot there." He indicated her bruised lump on the side of her head.

"Oh, that? I sort of did that myself." He gave her a confused look. "Long story, well I have to go. I will see you later, okay?"

He gave her a small smile before nodding, "Alright, I'll hold you to it."

Courtney made it back to the common room to find a very miffed and worried group of friends. "Where were you? We didn't even see you run off!"

"Oh... I was just kicking some guy's butt. He was being a really jerk." They all swapped looks. "Ready for that romp around the school?"

Wow... this is defiantly one of the longest chapters that I have written so far. And I must say one of my favorite!...I think... So, did you all enjoy it? I certainly enjoyed writing it! Whee! Hopefully I will update soon... no! I will update soon! I loves you all!!!