Chapter 9
After another week of classes were through, the Quidditch try outs were finally here. This is what Harry had been waiting for since school began. He met with the other players remaining from last year to decide when they should hold the Quidditch tryouts.
Well, there's me, the Seeker, Fred and George, the Beaters, and Katie, a Chaser. That means we still have three players missing. I hope we can find good replacements for them... Harry thought.
The four of them got to talking, and they elected Katie Bell to be their team captain because she had the most experience.
"Okay...we have to get right on top of the Quidditch season this year because we already are a year and a summer out of practice. We must make our decision of our new players and begin training immediately. I will post our try out as Wednesday of next week, if I can get permission from Madam Hooch for the Quidditch field, but everything seems to be in line. I expect all of you to already be practicing during out try out, this is not something you may skip, given our present condition. If any of you have any suggestions as to who could be acceptable replacements for our missing players, I will take that into consideration." Katie said, already taking her stance as a leader.
Wow...she sounds like Oliver already! thought Harry with mild amusement.
He couldn't wait until next Wednesday when he could finally ride his Firebolt again. He went back to his dormitory with a smile on his face.
* * *
Ever since Hogwarts went to Hogsmede, Hermione, Harry, and Ron had made better friends with Violet. Soon she was a regular of their group. The three of them really reminded Violet of how she, Lydia, and Arian used to be, but now that she had them as friends, she didn't feel lonely anymore. As she was walking back to her dormitory to drop off her Divination book, she caught sight of a poster advertising the Quidditch tryouts. They needed two chasers and a keeper. This reminded her of how Arian had always encouraged her to try out for their Quidditch team back home. She had always helped him practice for his matches and he thought she would be really good if she practiced more. She never had the courage to try out for her House team because she was afraid of looking stupid in front of everyone. But now, since no one really knew her here, she figured that she could probably give it a shot. The tryout was today at 6'o clock at the Quidditch Pitch. She would make sure to be there. For the time being though, she put this out of her mind. She put her Divination book away and went straight for the school library. She would find out what the Zyorious Scepter was and why Voldemort would want it so badly. As she walked in the library, the shelves towered over her.
Oh, my...I have a lot of work to do...Violet thought as she found a shelf to start at.
* * *
"Wow, Ron, it's getting late. We should probably go to sleep. We do have classes tomorrow." Said Harry, deciding to conclude their long discussion on Quidditch tactics for the upcoming season.
"I think a little too much of Hermione's studiousness is rubbing off on you, Harry!" said Ron, playfully.
Harry smiled and said, "Shut up Ron. Let's go to sleep."
Both of them got into their beds. Harry fell asleep straight away. Ron closed his eyes and thought about how fun the weekend was.
Wow, the butter beer at the Three Broomsticks tasted even better after not having it for more than three months! And I really should buy more sweets from Honeydukes, but no Bertie Botts every flavor beans! Man ever since Hermione shoved those lotion flavored ones down both Harry's and my throat, I don't think I like them very much any more. Hermione should lighten up a bit! We were only kidding with her! I don't know how Harry spent his whole summer with her! Wow, now that I think about it, that is a really long time! And I'm sure Harry was well aware of how long that would be. Then again, if I were him, I'd rather be anywhere else than at his aunt and uncle's house. But still...I really wonder if there is something going on with those two...the way Harry stares off into space with that goofy grin when she's around and he doesn't know anybody is looking, and the way Hermione stares at him during class when she doesn't know people are looking...This all could be my imagination, but I think they like each other! Well if they do, it's a good thing that Violet started hanging out with us. I'd really hate to be a third wheel to them, and, actually, Violet is a pretty wicked person! She likes the Chuddley Cannons!! I didn't even know they followed Quidditch in the states! I've never met a girl that I could discuss the Cannon's Quidditch tactics with, let alone Quidditch tactics in general! I wonder if she would try out for our Quidditch team...she really seemed like she knew her stuff. Hmm...There are three spots open on the team...Maybe I can try out as well. There haven't been any spots open in the past, so this could be my big chance. I can finally try out those tactics I devised that were inspired by the Cannons. That would be great...Ron thought as he finally fell asleep.
* * *
"Ginny, I need your help! There's going to be quiz in McGonagall's class tomorrow, and I need to do decent on it if I want to keep my grade up in that class!" Ron frantically complained to Ginny, "I need to remember how to turn a pin cushion into a matchbox because we are going to turn pins in a pin cushion into matches in a match box!"
Ginny looked up from her own reading and asked, "Why didn't you ask Hermione!? She's the top of your year! Or Harry? He would probably know how to do that better than me!"
"Hermione's studying in the library and Harry's at Quidditch practice! Come on Ginny! I know McGonagall gave us an easy shortcut from the version in the book!" Ron whined.
Ginny slammed her own book closed and retrieved her Transfiguration notes. She tried over and over with Ron to get him to do the wand motions and the words correctly, but to no avail.
"That's it, I have had it!! You'll just have to try this on your own." Ginny said with much frustration.
Ron, also at the end of his rope, said, "Oh, just because Harry's not here, you'd rather not stick around!"
"What has Harry got to do with this?!? It's your own incompetence that I can't stand!" Ginny said, blushing slightly.
"I've known it for a long time!! You still fancy him!" Ron said loud enough for others to hear.
Ginny, now scarlet, said, "You are unbelievable!!"
She rushed to her room to hide her scarlet face. When Ron sat alone, he felt bad for saying that. He shouldn't have said it so loudly at the least. But here he was, almost no better off than he was an hour ago for the Transfiguration quiz.
Man, I hope Ginny won't stay mad at me for long...Ron thought looking back over his notes again.
Later that night, Ron, Harry, Hermione, Violet, Ginny, Fred, and George sat in the Common Room together just talking. Ginny was still mad at Ron, but she tried her best not to show it.
"Oh man, I just can't wait for the Quidditch season to start!! It's going to be great after not playing for a year!" said George.
"I know! Hey, Ron, are you going to try out this year?" said Fred.
"Yeah, I think I will...the last game the Chuddley Cannons played, was amazing!! Did you guys see how they..." Ron said, launching into a huge descriptive soliloquy about the Cannon's Quidditch tactics of their last game.
Soon after Fred and George joined in. Harry and Violet listened intently, hoping to learn something from this and Hermione listened politely with little interest. Ginny would have done the same, but with her earlier tiff with Ron, all this talk of only Quidditch was grating on her nerves. Finally she had enough.
"...and how they blocked two Bludgers at once!! That was amazing!!" said Fred, showing no sign that this conversation was ending.
Ginny stood up and said, "If you have nothing better to talk about then Quidditch, I'm leaving! What's so great about Quidditch anyway...you just beat a bunch of balls around!"
George looked at Ginny and said, "Well, if you think it's so easy, why don't you try out for our team?"
"Yeah and if you make the team, Ron has to sing the song of our choice to the person of our choice. Do you accept?" Added Fred.
"You know what, I do." Ginny said as she stormed off to the girls' dormitories.
"What just happened here?!?" Ron said in disbelief.
George smiled and said, "Well, it looks like you may have a song to sing soon, because Ginny looked pretty angry at you."
"I didn't think she would actually accept." Said Fred with a feigned innocent expression.
"Man, I wonder what you did..." George pondered.
Ron just looked at them both with an extremely disgruntled look. Harry, Hermione, and Violet just laughed.
Ron turned on them and said, "Shut up!!" and stormed angrily to the boys' dormitories.
"Now this will be interesting..." said George.
* * *
Ginny stood on the Quidditch field wringing her hands as she waited for the try out to start.
Oh...what have I gotten myself in to?!? I just said I would try out because I was mad at Ron, but it sure wasn't worth me making a fool of myself on a broomstick! Well, I guess there is nothing I can do now...I said I would do it, and I will. I just hope everyone doesn't laugh at me too much... Ginny thought in anticipation.
Ginny saw Violet hurry on to the field accompanied by Ron. There were a few others from the house she wasn't familiar with that were here to try out as well. Soon everyone who was remaining on the Quidditch team from the previous year came out on the field decked out in their Quidditch robes. Katie Bell, now the new captain, was leading them. She approached the group of people waiting to try out.
"This will be an especially hard year since we are missing three players and since our team has been out of practice for a whole school year. Well, I think this is enough time spent on talking. I'm just going to test the basic flying skills of each person trying out to see where you each stand and what type of player you have the appropriate skills for." Said Katie, as she removed one of the Quaffles from the box that they are kept.
Katie then took each person trying out aside and had them catch the Quaffle at various heights in the air and then she had them try to score on her as well. The others from Gryffindor House that Ginny did not know so well were decent, but Ginny was most amazed when she saw both Violet and Ron go. Violet got almost every Quaffle past Katie and Ron blocked every one that Katie tried to get passed him. It was obvious they would be a Chaser and a Keeper. Finally it was Ginny's turn.
Oh...I so don't want to do this...she thought nervously as she walked up to Katie.
"Alright, Ginny!!" Fred cheered, only to get a disgruntled look from Ron.
Ginny nervously got onto the broomstick that they loaned to her. But as she started to rise into the air with it, the worry and anxiousness started to leave her. This was much easier than she had expected it to be. When she moved to the right, it moved to the right. The same thing happened when she moved left.
Wow...not only is this way easier than I thought it would be, it's actually kinda fun! She thought, smiling.
She zipped in every direction that Katie threw the Quaffle. Everyone that knew her well stared at her in awe.
"Man, I didn't think she had it in her!" said George.
Ron just stared at her while shaking his head, knowing that he was going to have to sing an embarrassing song to someone of Fred and George's choice.
After Katie was done testing Ginny's skills, she gave Ginny an impressed nod and said, "Good job."
Then Katie turned and faced everyone who had tried out.
"I want to thank everyone for trying out. There will be a list of our new players posted tomorrow in the Common Room."
Then the people who tried out went up into the stands to watch the regular team practice. The team gathered in the middle of the field.
Katie faced them, smiled, and said, "Now let's see if we remember how to do this."
All four of them kicked up into the air.
* * *
Draco had taken a vow of almost complete silence until the spell Violet hit him with wore off, and since the incident with Pansy, he hadn't had any major run ins with anyone. He had gotten through a week without anyone getting supremely angry at him. He figured that was because no one had really asked him a question. Then he'd be forced to answer them truthfully. He started sitting in the back of all of his classes, especially potions. That Nightshade really had it out for him.
I wish Snape was still here...at least I could do whatever I wanted in his class...Draco thought wistfully as he took his seat in Potions.
"Alright, I want everyone to turn in their essays on basilisk venom on my desk immediately. If turned in any later, you will be given a zero." Nightshade said.
Draco almost gasped.
I forgot all about it! Draco thought frantically, I just hope Nightshade doesn't ask me about it later! Then I'd have to tell her what I was doing!
Once everyone but Draco turned in their essays, Nightshade quickly thumbed through the parchments and noticed that Draco's was missing.
"Mr. Malfoy. I noticed that you did not turn in your paper. Any reason why?" Nightshade asked Draco.
No! No!! I can't answer this!! I have to stop myself!! Draco thought.
But, alas, he could not stop. The words tumbled out before he had even realized he said them.
"Well, I don't think you would find this to be a good reason, but teachers just don't have a clue about what's really important. I actually thought this whole essay was a stupid idea. I just would have copied a passage out of the first suitable history book I found. I was actually doing something I think is much more important than writing an essay that I don't care about! Don't you teachers know what sleep is?!? That's what I was doing with my teddy!"
On conclusion of his sentence, Draco went beet red. The class burst out laughing, with Violet, Harry, Ron, and Hermione laughing the hardest. He just wanted to go hide in a corner. Nightshade did not know how to react to Draco's statement. She almost found herself cracking a smile. But she knew she could not let him get away with his disrespect.
"Alright class, quiet down! Mr. Malfoy, you will see me after class."
"Yes, Professor." Draco replied quietly, trying to bury himself as low in his chair as he could.
I will have Black's head for this! She will pay!! Draco thought, I'm so sorry Teddy!
* * *
Violet sat with Ron, Harry, Hermione, Ginny, Fred, and George waiting for Katie to post the Quidditch team results from the tryout.
I really hope I make the team...then I'll really have something to write Lydia and Arian about! Violet thought, and smiled.
Katie finally came down from the girls dormitories with the list. Everyone began to crowd around her.
"Everyone who came to the tryout displayed a lot of talent, so that made the cutting process exceptionally hard. I believe anyone one of you had the potential to be a great Quidditch player. But I narrowed it down to the three people that I thought would be the best. I will post the list here and everyone can take a look at it."
Ron pushed past everyone so he could be the first person to see the list. Violet pushed her way up right behind him.
"Hey Violet, you made the team! You're a chaser! And I'm keeper!" Ron said excitedly.
Then he looked at the last name on the list. He stared at it in shock. He rubbed his eyes to make sure he was not hallucinating.
"Oh no...this can't be!" Ron cried.
"What is it?" Violet asked, puzzled.
But then she saw what made him react that way and she burst out laughing. This whole time, Ginny stayed behind the crowd, just planning to check the list when everyone had scattered, so she wouldn't make a fool of herself actually hoping she might make the team. Ginny looked at Violet curiously.
"Ginny, get up here! You have to take a look at this!" Violet called to her as she beckoned.
Ginny hesitatingly approached the list. She scanned down it and suddenly came to a stop on her name. Her name! She was the twond chaser for the Gryffindor Quidditch team! She looked at Ron and smiled.
"Tough luck, eh, Ron?" she said, teasingly.
"Aww...shut up!" Ron said.
"Ah...now to find a song." Said George.
Fred and George put their heads together and whispered conspiratorially.
"We've made our decision." Said Fred.
"You will sing 'You are My Sunshine' to a person that we randomly pick in the Great Hall during breakfast." Said George.
"You're kidding, right!?!" Ron almost yelled.
Fred and George both laughed.
"You will see tomorrow at breakfast." Said Fred.
"My life is officially over..." Ron muttered loudly to himself.
Everyone laughed.
* * *
With Quidditch practice and classes now in full swing, Harry and Ron were forced to stay up late doing homework in the Common Room long after it had emptied out for the night. Hermione kept them both company because she regularly stayed up late to study herself. After many nights of this and no sign of Violet ever joining their late night study sessions in the Common Room, Ron began to wonder.
"Hey, where is Violet? I know she gets as much homework as we do! How does she get it done with Quidditch and everything if she's not doing it now?!" Ron said, quizzically.
"Well, she's actually studying in the dormitory. I've asked her to join us before, but she told me she likes studying there." Replied Hermione.
"Oh. I see." Ron said, slightly disappointed.
Any further conversation was stopped when a rather large, darkly colored bird flew in a window and settled down by Harry. Harry quickly unwrapped the letter tied to its leg and it flew off. They all knew who this letter had to be from. They quickly looked around to make sure no one else was around. Ron and Hermione drew close to Harry as he opened the letter.
Dear Harry,
I trust that everything is well with you at Hogwarts. And thank you
for your last letter. You gave Moony and I vital information for our
task. It is time that I return the favor. I'm sure you, Ron, and
Hermione are very curious about a new student that is in your house.
"Hey! How did he know about her!?!" Ron exclaimed.
"Ron! Keep your voice down! We still didn't finish the letter. I'm sure he explains himself..." Hermione said.
Harry continued.
More than anything, I'm sure her striking resemblance to me and the
fact that we have the same last name have caught your attention.
There is very simple explanation to it all and I think I owe you that
much. Violet is my younger brother's daughter and she is my niece.
She is here at Hogwarts for protection from Voldemort. I will give
you the whole story next time that we meet, which will be very soon.
Until then, study hard and make sure Gryffindor wins the Quidditch
Cup!
Sirius
So absorbed in the letter, the three of them did not hear Violet approaching. Violet crept up to them to see why they were being so secretive and gasped as she saw Sirius's name on the letter as well as her own.
"You know Sirius too?!" Violet said in a loud whisper.
Everyone else jumped when they realized she was there. They all looked at each other. They just didn't know where to begin to explain how they knew Sirius, but they knew they had to tell her something. Harry broke the silence.
"He's my Godfather." He answered simply.
After a moment of silence, Violet finally told them everything about why she was here and her family. Now there were no more secrets between the four, they were much closer from this point on. Hermione promised Violet that she would help her look up the Zyorious Scepter in the library, because she was very adept to those tasks from her past experiences with Harry and Ron.
"Oh, I almost forgot!" said Violet, "Katie told me to tell you two that we had an emergency Quidditch meeting tomorrow before practice. That's what I came down to tell you guys..."
"I hope this is good news..." said Ron.
"When has an emergency meeting for anything ever been a good thing!?" Harry said.
They all went to bed and hoped for the best.
* * *
Now two weeks had past since Violet had hit Draco with the truth telling spell, and he really had quite enough. All the people he spoke to that were smarter than a door knob were mad at him and he still had to serve that detention from Nightshade for talking back in class. He shuddered as he remembered the event.
I don't think I'll ever get to live it down... Draco thought, I'm so sick of people passing me in the hall and asking me how my teddy is!
In any case, Draco just couldn't get Violet out of his mind. He just assumed that this was because he wanted desperately to get revenge on her. But the revenge plots he thought of got stupider and stupider until it dawned on him that he only wanted to see her again. The implications of this thought sent his mind reeling.
I couldn't like her! She's a mudblood! A filthy mudblood!! I have got to come back to my senses! He thought.
But, deep down, he realized her cunning and deviousness had impressed him from the start. No matter what he was taught by his family about mudbloods, he had begun to see it was not true.
I've made so many mistakes... he thought, but it's time I started setting things right. I need to apologize to her...this isn't going to be easy, especially for me. But first things first. I have to get her to like me...then maybe she will listen...
He stayed up all night figuring out how to charm a white rose to change different colors only when touched and so it would never dry out, and wrote a note attached to it.
* * *
After another week of classes were through, the Quidditch try outs were finally here. This is what Harry had been waiting for since school began. He met with the other players remaining from last year to decide when they should hold the Quidditch tryouts.
Well, there's me, the Seeker, Fred and George, the Beaters, and Katie, a Chaser. That means we still have three players missing. I hope we can find good replacements for them... Harry thought.
The four of them got to talking, and they elected Katie Bell to be their team captain because she had the most experience.
"Okay...we have to get right on top of the Quidditch season this year because we already are a year and a summer out of practice. We must make our decision of our new players and begin training immediately. I will post our try out as Wednesday of next week, if I can get permission from Madam Hooch for the Quidditch field, but everything seems to be in line. I expect all of you to already be practicing during out try out, this is not something you may skip, given our present condition. If any of you have any suggestions as to who could be acceptable replacements for our missing players, I will take that into consideration." Katie said, already taking her stance as a leader.
Wow...she sounds like Oliver already! thought Harry with mild amusement.
He couldn't wait until next Wednesday when he could finally ride his Firebolt again. He went back to his dormitory with a smile on his face.
* * *
Ever since Hogwarts went to Hogsmede, Hermione, Harry, and Ron had made better friends with Violet. Soon she was a regular of their group. The three of them really reminded Violet of how she, Lydia, and Arian used to be, but now that she had them as friends, she didn't feel lonely anymore. As she was walking back to her dormitory to drop off her Divination book, she caught sight of a poster advertising the Quidditch tryouts. They needed two chasers and a keeper. This reminded her of how Arian had always encouraged her to try out for their Quidditch team back home. She had always helped him practice for his matches and he thought she would be really good if she practiced more. She never had the courage to try out for her House team because she was afraid of looking stupid in front of everyone. But now, since no one really knew her here, she figured that she could probably give it a shot. The tryout was today at 6'o clock at the Quidditch Pitch. She would make sure to be there. For the time being though, she put this out of her mind. She put her Divination book away and went straight for the school library. She would find out what the Zyorious Scepter was and why Voldemort would want it so badly. As she walked in the library, the shelves towered over her.
Oh, my...I have a lot of work to do...Violet thought as she found a shelf to start at.
* * *
"Wow, Ron, it's getting late. We should probably go to sleep. We do have classes tomorrow." Said Harry, deciding to conclude their long discussion on Quidditch tactics for the upcoming season.
"I think a little too much of Hermione's studiousness is rubbing off on you, Harry!" said Ron, playfully.
Harry smiled and said, "Shut up Ron. Let's go to sleep."
Both of them got into their beds. Harry fell asleep straight away. Ron closed his eyes and thought about how fun the weekend was.
Wow, the butter beer at the Three Broomsticks tasted even better after not having it for more than three months! And I really should buy more sweets from Honeydukes, but no Bertie Botts every flavor beans! Man ever since Hermione shoved those lotion flavored ones down both Harry's and my throat, I don't think I like them very much any more. Hermione should lighten up a bit! We were only kidding with her! I don't know how Harry spent his whole summer with her! Wow, now that I think about it, that is a really long time! And I'm sure Harry was well aware of how long that would be. Then again, if I were him, I'd rather be anywhere else than at his aunt and uncle's house. But still...I really wonder if there is something going on with those two...the way Harry stares off into space with that goofy grin when she's around and he doesn't know anybody is looking, and the way Hermione stares at him during class when she doesn't know people are looking...This all could be my imagination, but I think they like each other! Well if they do, it's a good thing that Violet started hanging out with us. I'd really hate to be a third wheel to them, and, actually, Violet is a pretty wicked person! She likes the Chuddley Cannons!! I didn't even know they followed Quidditch in the states! I've never met a girl that I could discuss the Cannon's Quidditch tactics with, let alone Quidditch tactics in general! I wonder if she would try out for our Quidditch team...she really seemed like she knew her stuff. Hmm...There are three spots open on the team...Maybe I can try out as well. There haven't been any spots open in the past, so this could be my big chance. I can finally try out those tactics I devised that were inspired by the Cannons. That would be great...Ron thought as he finally fell asleep.
* * *
"Ginny, I need your help! There's going to be quiz in McGonagall's class tomorrow, and I need to do decent on it if I want to keep my grade up in that class!" Ron frantically complained to Ginny, "I need to remember how to turn a pin cushion into a matchbox because we are going to turn pins in a pin cushion into matches in a match box!"
Ginny looked up from her own reading and asked, "Why didn't you ask Hermione!? She's the top of your year! Or Harry? He would probably know how to do that better than me!"
"Hermione's studying in the library and Harry's at Quidditch practice! Come on Ginny! I know McGonagall gave us an easy shortcut from the version in the book!" Ron whined.
Ginny slammed her own book closed and retrieved her Transfiguration notes. She tried over and over with Ron to get him to do the wand motions and the words correctly, but to no avail.
"That's it, I have had it!! You'll just have to try this on your own." Ginny said with much frustration.
Ron, also at the end of his rope, said, "Oh, just because Harry's not here, you'd rather not stick around!"
"What has Harry got to do with this?!? It's your own incompetence that I can't stand!" Ginny said, blushing slightly.
"I've known it for a long time!! You still fancy him!" Ron said loud enough for others to hear.
Ginny, now scarlet, said, "You are unbelievable!!"
She rushed to her room to hide her scarlet face. When Ron sat alone, he felt bad for saying that. He shouldn't have said it so loudly at the least. But here he was, almost no better off than he was an hour ago for the Transfiguration quiz.
Man, I hope Ginny won't stay mad at me for long...Ron thought looking back over his notes again.
Later that night, Ron, Harry, Hermione, Violet, Ginny, Fred, and George sat in the Common Room together just talking. Ginny was still mad at Ron, but she tried her best not to show it.
"Oh man, I just can't wait for the Quidditch season to start!! It's going to be great after not playing for a year!" said George.
"I know! Hey, Ron, are you going to try out this year?" said Fred.
"Yeah, I think I will...the last game the Chuddley Cannons played, was amazing!! Did you guys see how they..." Ron said, launching into a huge descriptive soliloquy about the Cannon's Quidditch tactics of their last game.
Soon after Fred and George joined in. Harry and Violet listened intently, hoping to learn something from this and Hermione listened politely with little interest. Ginny would have done the same, but with her earlier tiff with Ron, all this talk of only Quidditch was grating on her nerves. Finally she had enough.
"...and how they blocked two Bludgers at once!! That was amazing!!" said Fred, showing no sign that this conversation was ending.
Ginny stood up and said, "If you have nothing better to talk about then Quidditch, I'm leaving! What's so great about Quidditch anyway...you just beat a bunch of balls around!"
George looked at Ginny and said, "Well, if you think it's so easy, why don't you try out for our team?"
"Yeah and if you make the team, Ron has to sing the song of our choice to the person of our choice. Do you accept?" Added Fred.
"You know what, I do." Ginny said as she stormed off to the girls' dormitories.
"What just happened here?!?" Ron said in disbelief.
George smiled and said, "Well, it looks like you may have a song to sing soon, because Ginny looked pretty angry at you."
"I didn't think she would actually accept." Said Fred with a feigned innocent expression.
"Man, I wonder what you did..." George pondered.
Ron just looked at them both with an extremely disgruntled look. Harry, Hermione, and Violet just laughed.
Ron turned on them and said, "Shut up!!" and stormed angrily to the boys' dormitories.
"Now this will be interesting..." said George.
* * *
Ginny stood on the Quidditch field wringing her hands as she waited for the try out to start.
Oh...what have I gotten myself in to?!? I just said I would try out because I was mad at Ron, but it sure wasn't worth me making a fool of myself on a broomstick! Well, I guess there is nothing I can do now...I said I would do it, and I will. I just hope everyone doesn't laugh at me too much... Ginny thought in anticipation.
Ginny saw Violet hurry on to the field accompanied by Ron. There were a few others from the house she wasn't familiar with that were here to try out as well. Soon everyone who was remaining on the Quidditch team from the previous year came out on the field decked out in their Quidditch robes. Katie Bell, now the new captain, was leading them. She approached the group of people waiting to try out.
"This will be an especially hard year since we are missing three players and since our team has been out of practice for a whole school year. Well, I think this is enough time spent on talking. I'm just going to test the basic flying skills of each person trying out to see where you each stand and what type of player you have the appropriate skills for." Said Katie, as she removed one of the Quaffles from the box that they are kept.
Katie then took each person trying out aside and had them catch the Quaffle at various heights in the air and then she had them try to score on her as well. The others from Gryffindor House that Ginny did not know so well were decent, but Ginny was most amazed when she saw both Violet and Ron go. Violet got almost every Quaffle past Katie and Ron blocked every one that Katie tried to get passed him. It was obvious they would be a Chaser and a Keeper. Finally it was Ginny's turn.
Oh...I so don't want to do this...she thought nervously as she walked up to Katie.
"Alright, Ginny!!" Fred cheered, only to get a disgruntled look from Ron.
Ginny nervously got onto the broomstick that they loaned to her. But as she started to rise into the air with it, the worry and anxiousness started to leave her. This was much easier than she had expected it to be. When she moved to the right, it moved to the right. The same thing happened when she moved left.
Wow...not only is this way easier than I thought it would be, it's actually kinda fun! She thought, smiling.
She zipped in every direction that Katie threw the Quaffle. Everyone that knew her well stared at her in awe.
"Man, I didn't think she had it in her!" said George.
Ron just stared at her while shaking his head, knowing that he was going to have to sing an embarrassing song to someone of Fred and George's choice.
After Katie was done testing Ginny's skills, she gave Ginny an impressed nod and said, "Good job."
Then Katie turned and faced everyone who had tried out.
"I want to thank everyone for trying out. There will be a list of our new players posted tomorrow in the Common Room."
Then the people who tried out went up into the stands to watch the regular team practice. The team gathered in the middle of the field.
Katie faced them, smiled, and said, "Now let's see if we remember how to do this."
All four of them kicked up into the air.
* * *
Draco had taken a vow of almost complete silence until the spell Violet hit him with wore off, and since the incident with Pansy, he hadn't had any major run ins with anyone. He had gotten through a week without anyone getting supremely angry at him. He figured that was because no one had really asked him a question. Then he'd be forced to answer them truthfully. He started sitting in the back of all of his classes, especially potions. That Nightshade really had it out for him.
I wish Snape was still here...at least I could do whatever I wanted in his class...Draco thought wistfully as he took his seat in Potions.
"Alright, I want everyone to turn in their essays on basilisk venom on my desk immediately. If turned in any later, you will be given a zero." Nightshade said.
Draco almost gasped.
I forgot all about it! Draco thought frantically, I just hope Nightshade doesn't ask me about it later! Then I'd have to tell her what I was doing!
Once everyone but Draco turned in their essays, Nightshade quickly thumbed through the parchments and noticed that Draco's was missing.
"Mr. Malfoy. I noticed that you did not turn in your paper. Any reason why?" Nightshade asked Draco.
No! No!! I can't answer this!! I have to stop myself!! Draco thought.
But, alas, he could not stop. The words tumbled out before he had even realized he said them.
"Well, I don't think you would find this to be a good reason, but teachers just don't have a clue about what's really important. I actually thought this whole essay was a stupid idea. I just would have copied a passage out of the first suitable history book I found. I was actually doing something I think is much more important than writing an essay that I don't care about! Don't you teachers know what sleep is?!? That's what I was doing with my teddy!"
On conclusion of his sentence, Draco went beet red. The class burst out laughing, with Violet, Harry, Ron, and Hermione laughing the hardest. He just wanted to go hide in a corner. Nightshade did not know how to react to Draco's statement. She almost found herself cracking a smile. But she knew she could not let him get away with his disrespect.
"Alright class, quiet down! Mr. Malfoy, you will see me after class."
"Yes, Professor." Draco replied quietly, trying to bury himself as low in his chair as he could.
I will have Black's head for this! She will pay!! Draco thought, I'm so sorry Teddy!
* * *
Violet sat with Ron, Harry, Hermione, Ginny, Fred, and George waiting for Katie to post the Quidditch team results from the tryout.
I really hope I make the team...then I'll really have something to write Lydia and Arian about! Violet thought, and smiled.
Katie finally came down from the girls dormitories with the list. Everyone began to crowd around her.
"Everyone who came to the tryout displayed a lot of talent, so that made the cutting process exceptionally hard. I believe anyone one of you had the potential to be a great Quidditch player. But I narrowed it down to the three people that I thought would be the best. I will post the list here and everyone can take a look at it."
Ron pushed past everyone so he could be the first person to see the list. Violet pushed her way up right behind him.
"Hey Violet, you made the team! You're a chaser! And I'm keeper!" Ron said excitedly.
Then he looked at the last name on the list. He stared at it in shock. He rubbed his eyes to make sure he was not hallucinating.
"Oh no...this can't be!" Ron cried.
"What is it?" Violet asked, puzzled.
But then she saw what made him react that way and she burst out laughing. This whole time, Ginny stayed behind the crowd, just planning to check the list when everyone had scattered, so she wouldn't make a fool of herself actually hoping she might make the team. Ginny looked at Violet curiously.
"Ginny, get up here! You have to take a look at this!" Violet called to her as she beckoned.
Ginny hesitatingly approached the list. She scanned down it and suddenly came to a stop on her name. Her name! She was the twond chaser for the Gryffindor Quidditch team! She looked at Ron and smiled.
"Tough luck, eh, Ron?" she said, teasingly.
"Aww...shut up!" Ron said.
"Ah...now to find a song." Said George.
Fred and George put their heads together and whispered conspiratorially.
"We've made our decision." Said Fred.
"You will sing 'You are My Sunshine' to a person that we randomly pick in the Great Hall during breakfast." Said George.
"You're kidding, right!?!" Ron almost yelled.
Fred and George both laughed.
"You will see tomorrow at breakfast." Said Fred.
"My life is officially over..." Ron muttered loudly to himself.
Everyone laughed.
* * *
With Quidditch practice and classes now in full swing, Harry and Ron were forced to stay up late doing homework in the Common Room long after it had emptied out for the night. Hermione kept them both company because she regularly stayed up late to study herself. After many nights of this and no sign of Violet ever joining their late night study sessions in the Common Room, Ron began to wonder.
"Hey, where is Violet? I know she gets as much homework as we do! How does she get it done with Quidditch and everything if she's not doing it now?!" Ron said, quizzically.
"Well, she's actually studying in the dormitory. I've asked her to join us before, but she told me she likes studying there." Replied Hermione.
"Oh. I see." Ron said, slightly disappointed.
Any further conversation was stopped when a rather large, darkly colored bird flew in a window and settled down by Harry. Harry quickly unwrapped the letter tied to its leg and it flew off. They all knew who this letter had to be from. They quickly looked around to make sure no one else was around. Ron and Hermione drew close to Harry as he opened the letter.
Dear Harry,
I trust that everything is well with you at Hogwarts. And thank you
for your last letter. You gave Moony and I vital information for our
task. It is time that I return the favor. I'm sure you, Ron, and
Hermione are very curious about a new student that is in your house.
"Hey! How did he know about her!?!" Ron exclaimed.
"Ron! Keep your voice down! We still didn't finish the letter. I'm sure he explains himself..." Hermione said.
Harry continued.
More than anything, I'm sure her striking resemblance to me and the
fact that we have the same last name have caught your attention.
There is very simple explanation to it all and I think I owe you that
much. Violet is my younger brother's daughter and she is my niece.
She is here at Hogwarts for protection from Voldemort. I will give
you the whole story next time that we meet, which will be very soon.
Until then, study hard and make sure Gryffindor wins the Quidditch
Cup!
Sirius
So absorbed in the letter, the three of them did not hear Violet approaching. Violet crept up to them to see why they were being so secretive and gasped as she saw Sirius's name on the letter as well as her own.
"You know Sirius too?!" Violet said in a loud whisper.
Everyone else jumped when they realized she was there. They all looked at each other. They just didn't know where to begin to explain how they knew Sirius, but they knew they had to tell her something. Harry broke the silence.
"He's my Godfather." He answered simply.
After a moment of silence, Violet finally told them everything about why she was here and her family. Now there were no more secrets between the four, they were much closer from this point on. Hermione promised Violet that she would help her look up the Zyorious Scepter in the library, because she was very adept to those tasks from her past experiences with Harry and Ron.
"Oh, I almost forgot!" said Violet, "Katie told me to tell you two that we had an emergency Quidditch meeting tomorrow before practice. That's what I came down to tell you guys..."
"I hope this is good news..." said Ron.
"When has an emergency meeting for anything ever been a good thing!?" Harry said.
They all went to bed and hoped for the best.
* * *
Now two weeks had past since Violet had hit Draco with the truth telling spell, and he really had quite enough. All the people he spoke to that were smarter than a door knob were mad at him and he still had to serve that detention from Nightshade for talking back in class. He shuddered as he remembered the event.
I don't think I'll ever get to live it down... Draco thought, I'm so sick of people passing me in the hall and asking me how my teddy is!
In any case, Draco just couldn't get Violet out of his mind. He just assumed that this was because he wanted desperately to get revenge on her. But the revenge plots he thought of got stupider and stupider until it dawned on him that he only wanted to see her again. The implications of this thought sent his mind reeling.
I couldn't like her! She's a mudblood! A filthy mudblood!! I have got to come back to my senses! He thought.
But, deep down, he realized her cunning and deviousness had impressed him from the start. No matter what he was taught by his family about mudbloods, he had begun to see it was not true.
I've made so many mistakes... he thought, but it's time I started setting things right. I need to apologize to her...this isn't going to be easy, especially for me. But first things first. I have to get her to like me...then maybe she will listen...
He stayed up all night figuring out how to charm a white rose to change different colors only when touched and so it would never dry out, and wrote a note attached to it.
* * *