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Mak rocks, plain and simple.
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Chapter Seven
Quidditch & Hogsmeade
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Saturday morning the students of Hogwarts were sitting in the Great Hall eating breakfast. There was excitement in the air because today was the first Quidditch game of the season; and what better way to kick it off than with Gryffindor versus Slytherin. The Tituba students were excited to watch the game. It gave them a chance to see how each team played and to find out their strengths and weaknesses. They sat together next to the Gryffindor stands and anxiously awaited the whistle that would start the game. Samuel, the designated coach, sat with pen and paper ready to write.
The game was very rough from the start with Katie Bell getting hit in the back with a bludger not even five minutes into the game. Slytherin took the early lead scoring three goals in a row. The Slytherin beaters were doing very well in making it difficult for the Gryffindor chasers to score. Gryffindor came back with four more goals, taking the lead. The game was tied at 70 when Harry barely managed to grab the snitch before Draco giving Gryffindor the win, 220-70.
Later that evening, Samuel gathered the team together to inform them of his findings. "Well as you know they were both good teams but I found some things that should give us an edge over them both. Let's start with Gryffindor. They are a pretty solid team, with the exception of their goalie. He seems too scared to do well. Fred and George are amazing beaters, with deadly accuracy, so we will have to watch out for them. Their chasers work well together but they telegraph their passes and plays a little too easy. Finally, Harry has a fast broom and they obviously just play until Harry catches the snitch.
"Next, the Slytherins. They are much more aggressive and sneaky. They hit the opposing chasers when Hooch isn't watching. Their beaters are pretty much just luggs on a broom who hit with more power than accuracy. However, their plays are very good and they give nothing away. The goalie is pretty good, but not exceptional. Draco, he's a good player but probably not the best person for the position. He'd probably be a better chaser than seeker so he shouldn't be too difficult to beat."
The remainder of the evening was spent discussing plays and developing strategies that would work best against each team.
XXX
Alex woke up Wednesday with a start. He had dreamed of the attack on his former school, but mostly about seeing his mother die. It played over and over in his head as he dreamed. He kept seeing the flash of green light and he lying motionless on the ground. He was shaking uncontrollably and drenched in sweat. Sitting on his bed, he brought his knees up to his chest and rocked back and forth. Why did she have to die? Why couldn't I have helped her? I wasn't strong enough to save her. I just stood there……what kind of son am I? When she died he felt like a knife had stabbed him in the heart. The pain had been there ever since.
He was snapped out of his trance by Michael waving his hand in front of his face. He blinked a few times and focused on his friend who had a worried expression on his face. "Are you alright Alex?"
He tried to say "Yeah," but his throat was so dry it came out very hoarse. Clearing his throat, he tried again, "Yeah, it was just a bad dream."
"Of the attack?" Michael asked as he sat down on the bed.
Alex nodded his head yes. Michael figured it was about his mother and said, "I dream about it too sometimes."
"I just wish she was still here. I have no one now." Alex felt like breaking down after admitting that, but he just started to daze off and stare at the wall.
"You still have us. We will always be there for you. If you need to talk about it we will listen." Michael hoped his friend wouldn't think about it too much because he knew that when something was wrong with Alex he let it fester and get worse.
"I know. Thanks for being here for me." He nodded his head, stood up and walked toward the bathroom to shower and get ready for the day.
XXX
No matter how hard he tried to suppress the feelings the dream brought on, they were still there eating him away. This led him to get depressed because he missed his mother so much. What he needed was something to concentrate on and he was thankful that he had a session with Professor Snape tonight. Hopefully it will get my mind off of all this.
As much as he hoped that working would take his mind off the dream and his overwhelming feelings, it didn't. Severus knew something was wrong with him the moment he walked through the door. He lacked the spring in his step and the usual confidence he showed when he entered a classroom. Severus put that in the back of his mind. It wasn't like him to care about his students, and this boy would be no different. Halfway through the session Snape couldn't take it anymore. Alex had been lacking his usual excitement when working with potions and it was making him slack in his precision. "Mr. Barneo, is there a problem?"
He said with such disdain that it just killed the rest of Alex's spirit. He sat down in a chair and hung his head. "I'm sorry professor. I-Its been a difficult day," he said trying to blink back the tears.
Severus had not meant to be so stern when he asked the question and he started to feel worse when the boy hung his head and answered him so sadly. What could have happened that he's acting like this? Against his better judgment he asked, "Would you care to tell me about it?" If he wasn't already uncomfortable he was now. Severus didn't know how to comfort a student. He never had before; his Slytherins never came to him with such emotion. Something about Alex made him care, and he wasn't sure if he was happy about it.
Alex looked up at his professor with such a sad expression it almost made Severus want to comfort the boy. "It's just…I keep dreaming about the day of the attack. I see her die over and over again. It hurts so bad knowing she's is gone and that I have no one left."
"No one? Surely you have relatives that would be willing to take you in." Severus hoped that the boy had someone to go to. He knew all too well the feeling of being alone in the world.
"No sir, I don't have any relatives. I don't have anyone. Not a mother. Not a father. No grandparents. It's just me." That thought hadn't really sunk in until now and it was just too overpowering for Alex to bottle up and he just let go. He put his head in his hands and starting crying.
This was unmarked territory for Severus. Of course he had made students cry before, that was nothing new. But what was shocking, was having a child in such agonizing emotional pain, sitting right in front of him, and not knowing what to do. He slowly placed a hand on the boy's shoulder and gave it a light squeeze.
Alex was slightly surprised with his professor comforting him. He was sure Professor Snape was not one for comforting people. He appreciated it anyways though, it made him feel less alone, knowing someone cared. "You are never alone. It would do you well to remember that, no matter what you always have people who care about you."
Sniffling, trying to gain control of his emotions, he answered weakly, "I know."
Severus walked over to his cabinet and pulled out a vial with blue liquid. He handed the vial to Alex, who graciously took it, knowing what it was by the coloring. "You know what to do with this. Use it."
"Thank you, sir," he said standing up and straightening his robes.
"You're welcome." Alex was just at the door when Professor Snape continued. "Remember what I said about never being alone."
"Yes, sir," he whispered, as he closed the door.
XXX
Alex and Hermione both woke up the day of the Hogsmeade trip feeling nervous. Hermione asked Ginny to help her pick out an outfit. She really wanted today to be special and figured she should ask her closest girl friends. They were more than happy to oblige, picking out a cute outfit and doing her hair so it wasn't so bushy. Hermione looked into the full length mirror after they were done. She was momentarily shocked; her hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail which allowed some of her bangs to fall around her face. She wore light make-up that highlighted her eyes and made her lips redder. Lavender and Ginny had picked out a jean mini-skirt and a black camisole under a red camisole. It didn't look over dressy, but it still made her look casual and feel good.
Alex was nervous as well. He didn't spend as much time getting ready as Hermione had done. Of course, he also had his friends playfully harassing him, not helping. He had carefully picked out his outfit, settling on a pair of jeans, a white belt with silver studs, and a red Coca-Cola t-shirt. He combed down his hair and put on some cologne. He was ready 15 minutes early so he decided to head out and go outside to wait for Hermione.
Most of the students were already in the carriages and on their way when Hermione walked out. Alex stood completely still, trying to remember to breathe. She looks amazing! Okay, calm down and breathe. "Hermione you look beautiful."
She smiled, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. "Thank you Alex."
"Come on," he said, leading her towards an empty carriage.
They decided to walk around a while before they went to lunch at the Three Broomsticks. In the bookstore they browsed a section of muggle literature. Talking about their favorite stories, they realized they liked a lot of the same ones.
After hanging out in the bookstore for thirty minutes, they went to Madam Rosemerta's. Alex and Hermione were a bit nervous at the start of lunch, talking mostly about classes and Quidditch. "I think the transfiguration exam will be pretty easy, but then again I don't know how she writes her tests," Alex said.
"Well, her tests can be difficult, but she only tests on the material she's lectured talked about. I think since we take our OWL's this year, she will mostly stick to that material." Hermione was enjoying talking with him, she always did.
"I hope so," Alex said as he took a sip of water.
"How is the Quidditch team doing? Ready for your first game against Gryffindor?" she asked teasingly.
"Oh don't worry about us. We will be just fine. In fact I think, no I know, we will beat Gryffindor," he said smiling.
"Mmm hmm," she said egging him on, hoping to get some information from him about the team.
"Oh yes, we definitely will. After watching all four teams play, I know we can. Slytherin is nothing we aren't used to and Gryffindor won't pose too much of a problem." Alex knew their team was good, but he also knew they were going to have to play hard if they wanted to win against the two best teams at Hogwarts. In the second game, Hufflepuff versus Ravenclaw, Alex knew his team could beat them. "I'm not going to tell you anything if that's what you're trying to do."
Looking slightly appalled, she said, "What? I would never."
Laughing he looked at her and smiled, "Mmm hmm," he said imitating her.
She joined him laughing as their food arrived. They ate in a comfortable silence, just enjoying the time they had to spend together. Alex paid for their meal, thanked Madame Rosemerta for the wonderful meal, and left.
As they walked down the street Alex took Hermione's hand in his. He looked down at her with a nervous smile. Hermione was surprised when he took her hand, she gave him an encouraging smile, hoping he didn't let go.
Alex finally got up enough nerve to finally ask Hermione the question he had wanted to ask for a week. He brought her over a bench at the edge of town and they sat down. Taking a deep breath he started. "Hermione, since I've gotten here you've been a great friend to me. I've enjoyed getting to know you and talking together. Every time I see you I can't help but smile. You mean so much to me, and, um, I was wondering ifyou'dbemygirlfriend?"
Hermione was shocked by his speech. She heard that last part, where he asked her to be his girlfriend, but she wanted to make him squirm a bit. "What was that last part? I didn't catch it?" She thought it was a bit odd that he was asking her to be his girlfriend, but decided it was rather cute. How American she thought with a smile.
Running a hand through his hair he asked again, "Would you be my girlfriend?"
She smiled brightly and threw her arms around his neck, kissing him, "Of course!"
Alex let out the breath he had been holding, relieved she had said yes. He wrapped his arms around her waist and held kissed her again.
