Title: Coming For You
Part: 5. Determination To Be
Rating: FR-15
Author: Jmaria
Spoilers: All of Ats and OotP
Disclaimer: You know they aren't mine, Joss and JK own all.
Summary: Stupid boys and a pissed off big-boned girl
Setting: Early September in au book six, season 5 of Angel
A/N: This series was started long before book six came out, so it's going to be AU.

5. Determination To Be

Millicent stalked over to the reclined Theodore Nott. She had gotten enough gruff for the last three days over her petition that she was taking the final step. She was going to confront him.

"Don't even try to skip out of here, Nott." She snapped. "You know I can take you."

"Give it a rest, Millie." Nott sighed.

"No, I got sucker hexed this afternoon because of this, and it's not making me back down."

"Millie -"

"Don't call me that." Millicent snapped. "I hate that nickname."

"I have no say - "

"Bull, you were an alternate last year and you're a shoe-in for this year's team. You and Zabini both are." Millicent said quietly. "All I want is what I've been denied for the last two years. I want on the house team."

"You know Malfoy has final say and there has never been a girl on the Slytherin team - it's a mandate from Slytherin himself!" Nott hissed, pushing past her.

"Slytherin lived over a thousand years ago, and witches rights have come a long way. There is absolutely no reason why I shouldn't have my rightful spot on that bloody team!" she yelled, standing in front of him again. "Marcus Flint taught me when I was eleven how to play, and I deserve my spot. Aren't you sick of losing to Gryffindor? Crabbe and Goyle barely manage to keep on their brooms during the matches and - "

"Miss Bulstrode!" Snape said sharply from the common room door.

Millicent groaned as she turned around to face the potions master. She watched as Nott slipped away from her. Snape only glared at her and beckoned her forward.

"Come with me, Miss Bulstrode."

"Yes, sir. You're actually the person I wished to speak to, Professor -"

"Did Pompfrey release you?" Snape cut her off.

"Yes, the swelling went down," Millicent grimaced.

"I don't care to see any of my students getting caught for exacting revenge on other houses."

"It wouldn't be on any other house," Millicent muttered.

"What was that?"

"Nothing, Professor. I wanted to speak to you about my petition to be allowed to play on the house team."

"Mister Malfoy, as captain, chooses members for the house team, not I."

"Yes, but he is purposely putting under qualified players on the team for a better chance of exacting his own revenge, sir."

"Miss Bulstrode, I didn't pull you away from your thrilling accusations on Mister Nott to only engage you in them myself," Snape snapped, looking more irritated than she'd ever seen him.

"Then what did you pull me away for?" She frowned.

"Follow me."

Snape led her up through the castle to one of the unused towers. Honestly, how many towers did this blasted castle need? she thought as she winced at the sight of yet another set of stairs. But the Potions Master didn't head for the stairs, he instead turned down the corridor that she was sure she hadn't seen a moment ago. The massive form of Hagrid blocked the single entry way to the room. He stepped aside and let Snape enter.

"Are you coming, Miss Bulstrode?" Snape snapped impatiently.

Doyle frowned as he looked out the window of the tower Dumbledore had moved him to. The shock of hearing that the girl he'd died for was gone was almost as big a shock as him being alive again. Something really drastic must've happened to the girl he'd known back then.

I got the visions, Doyle. That's what changed me. Cordelia's voice sounded distinctively annoyed with him.

"I didn't mean for it to kill you -"

Oh my god, you brood worse than Angel! You didn't know what would happen. Just like I didn't know I'd die. Quit beating yourself up, Doyle. You've gotta play leader here, boyo. She's counting on you to fix her.

"What?"

"I said, the Hufflepuff girl just arrived," McGonagall said pointedly.

"You've got a real problem with seers, don't you?" Doyle grinned.

"If you had to deal with the lot of seers I have to deal with on a daily basis, you would as well, young man," McGonagall said severely, but her lips threatened to curve into a smile.

"We're waiting on Millie then?"

"I'd prefer to be called Millicent or Bulstrode, if you don't mind," Millicent said from the doorway. Snape frowned at her reaction.

Dennis fidgeted on the sofa that Albus had whipped up, and Rose glanced over at him nervously from her seat beside him. Cho had taken one of the two armchairs, and Millicent made her way over to the empty chair. The five professors stood uncomfortably around their students.

"Well, then, Millie," Doyle continued, a playful look in his eyes. "We'll be takin' that into consideration. Now, there's a hat to be consulted, right Albus?"

"Yes, we've brought the Sorting Hat, Allen -"

"I'd prefer Doyle if you don't mind, Albus."

"Really, Allen, I'm sure we'll take that into consideration," Millicent said sweetly, getting odd looks from the adults and children alike.

"Miss Bulstrode, you will call him Mr. Doyle -" McGonagall started to say, until Doyle's laugh cut her off.

"She's got spunk. Wasn't expectin' that - least not from her," Doyle's eyes landed on Cho for a second, before flitting back over to Rose, who seemed to shrink in her seat. "Now, I heard that hat of yours came up with a song all about unity last year, right?"

"Yes." Albus smiled at the four children, who all remembered what had happened the year before.

"Well, I guess I'm hear to clarify that a bit for you."

"How?" Snape asked.

Doyle looked at the four younger people, seeing the confusion in their eyes. The five older people would know core truths, but he was fairly sure that none of them had heard this particular tale before.

"The Hat there, it's been here since the founders made this place, right?"

"Of course," Albus said.

"So it'll know if I'm lyin' or wrong about somethin' right?" Albus nodded, so Doyle continued. "Well, I'm about to shed some light on that for you.

He took a deep breath and sat down heavily in the center of the sofa. The two teens scooted closer to the ends of the sofa. That was too be expected, but Millicent and Cho's curious reactions were not, as both girls leaned forward in their chairs. He only smiled.