Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling. The plot is mine.
Thanks for the reviews, guys! Once again, sorry about the delay.
In answer to some questions/comments: Yeah, I guess I forgot the twins were supposed to be short...but nothing is a for sure yet, so don't worry it'll work itself out I promise :) And a bet-mark...haha. It's not a term. the "-" was supposed to function as a colon...you know ":". They were 2 seperate words. Sorry, I'll try to make it more clear in the future. And yes, of course I'm going to finish the story. I don't know how long it will take but it will be finished. It'd bug me if I left it incomplete. hehe. Keep reviewing, you guys rock! I like how some authors do personal responses to reviews...I'm gonna try that next chapter :)
I let myself into the girls' quidditch locker room early on Saturday morning. I'd been able to drag my normally lazy self out of bed to come down to the pitch for an extra half-hour of flying before the rest of the team showed up with their noise and nonsense. Contrary to most people's beliefs, I do like peace and quiet...occasionally.
I changed and stepped out of the locker room into the chilly October air. It was one of those mornings that made everything feel mysterious to you, even yourself. There was a slight wind stirring the tops of the trees in the Forbidden Forest, looking like little green teepees overlooking an endless sea of thick, white fog. There was a slight drizzle, falling softly, slanted, on the ground and making the slightest of ripples in the lake. The wind gently rustled my short and dark curly ponytail and I almost felt like going back inside, feeling as though I was disrupting nature, and some great, deep thing that was taking place here on the grounds without me.
But I mounted my broom anyway, and kicked off hard. I could barely see because of the fog and I couldn't tell how far off the ground I was. I pulled up and began flying over the white mass, above the fog and treetops, all alone in my secret place. I stayed up there for a while, accelerating and then slowing down, taking in all of the great aspects of being a good flyer, and all the aspects of Hogwarts beauty. When I landed, I looked around and said to myself, "I don't get it. If I were Wood, I'd cancel practice today. This is too pretty to be disturbed."
"Which is why you'll never be captain, Kates," said a voice behind me.
I whirled around, startled, to find Fred grinning at me, leaning on the end of his broomstick and holding two mugs of steaming brown liquid. I automatically looked around to find George, who was usually never far behind his twin brother.
"He's not here," Fred said easily, noticing my glance. "I think he and Alicia might be having a good snog somewhere up in the astronomy tower."
He grinned at my disgust, straightened and held out one of the mugs for me to take. "Here," he said, "Brought you some hot chocolate...I figured you'd be here."
I smiled appreciatively and took the mug from him. "And what made you figure that?"
"Because I'm your best friend and I know what sort of days you'll come out early and what ones you'll be too lazy to lift your little butt out of bed," Fred said, gazing out over the tops of the trees.
"So you're stalking me then, now are you?" I asked seriously, pretending to glare at him and raising one eyebrow. I know he hates it when I do that because he can't. Naturally, I do it as often as I can find occasion to throw it in.
Now he glared at me. "Why would I want to stalk a guy who looks like my transfiguration teacher?"
I gaped at him, not knowing what insult to rebut first. I chose the former.
"What do you mean, guy?" I asked incredulously.
With a sort of art I'd never managed to achieve, the red-head managed to convey perfect mock-astonishment as he said, "Oh, Kates, you're a girl, I'd almost forgotten!"
"That's it, Weasley," I growled and lunged at him. I tackled him and we both tipped over on the cold, wet ground. As he went straight for my weakness, tickling me at my waist, I chose to focus my attentions on trying to bite his ankles.
I'd obviously managed to get in a couple good ones, because Fred started to yelp and crawl away from me. I laughed, grabbing onto his feet to try and keep him with me. Instead, I ended up with both his shoes in my hands. As he laughed triumphantly, I chucked one at his stupid fat head.
"You cheater!" I cried, as he dodged the shoe. I was about to throw the other one when I noticed something that stopped me. I gasped as I looked inside the shoe. There, printed clearly, was a tiny number eleven.
I dropped it. Fred looked up at me in bewilderment. "You okay, Kates?" he asked, gazing at me curiously.
"These are--your shoes?" I asked finally.
He started to grin slowly at me. "Yes..." he said, teasingly. "Seeing as how they were on my feet."
"No, no," I said. "Are you sure they're not, like, George's or something?"
He shrugged. "Dunno, I guess they could be. It doesn't matter much either way, we wear the same size shoe...does it bother you?" he laughed.
"Stop bugging me!" I said, frustrated. "Why do you always have to tease me?"
"Oh, because I have to, Katie," he said grinning, and scooped me up and threw me over his shoulder. I yelped.
"Fred Weasley! Put me down! I do not belong over your shoulder, I belong on the ground! Practice is about to start!"
"Are you sure?" he asked, pretending to be disappointed. "But I think this is such a better place for you. You fit up there. You're short."
"Fred!"
"Katie!"
"WEASLEY! BELL! Quit messing around, and join the rest of us!" Oliver Wood was now striding across the pitch toward us, with the rest of the team in tow.
"Oy, Oliver! Top of the mornin' to you," Fred said amicably, still with me over his shoulder.
Oliver didn't seem to find it very funny. Indeed, he even said so. "Not funny, Fred. Put Bell down, we've got a lot of work here to do."
"Oh I don't know there, Wood," George joined in. "Don't you think Katie looks cute there? Her butt's on display for the whole team..."
"GEORGE!" I shrieked. Fred patted my bottom affectionately.
"Good point there, Bro," he said. I squealed and pounded my fists into his back as the rest of the team minus Oliver laughed hysterically.
"SERIOUSLY YOU TWO!" Wood ranted. "Don't you want to win the cup this year? Now put Katie down and pay attention!"
Back in our dorm rooms I waited until I thought neither Angelina or Alicia was watching before I discretely crossed off number one on my list.
"LOOK, ANGELINA, LOOK! KATIE'S GOT ANOTHER ONE!"
Alicia was bouncing up and down on her bed pointing at me. I was caught.
With as much dignity as I could muster, I threw my pillow at her and stocked off to the showers.
Question…am thinking about editing this story to be in 3rd person…I think it would be easier for me to convey Katie's personality without it sounding so annoying, & also I just like 3rd person better. In fact, I'm almost positive that's what I'm doing. Tell me if any of you have any violent objections. If so, I'll continue in the normal fashion J
