Hey guys! Sorry for being so late so I made quite a long chapter! It has the beginnings of the plot and maybe the beginning of a Maddie-James moment…?

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and I hope you have a great New Year! If you like, please, please, please, pleaaaaaase review!

Thanks guys! And I promise to have some Quidditch in the next chapter.

Kat xx


Chapter 6: Most Embarrassing Moments at Hogwarts

It had been three weeks since we outed James Potter as the boy in the love letters. As promised, we didn't reveal that the girl was Willow. But I saw her around the halls a lot - she wasn't hard to miss. She wasn't ugly, or pretty, or amazing. But she was… there. She had this big hair and an even bigger personality. She would be in massive groups, always the life of the party, making everyone laugh and snort. I never saw her with James or any of his 'too cool for school' squad, though. I needed a name for him and his friends…

Anyway. In those three weeks, a lot happened (including quidditch being postponed until the next month! Apparently, they needed to fix the quidditch training ground and stadium).

My hair caught on fire in DA DA when James 'accidently' let his incendio spell get 'out of hand'. Hm. Yeah right. Scorp's uniform was suddenly bleached. Apparently, it was 'something to do with the new washing spell'. Uh huh. Sure. Al had toilet paper magically stuck to his shoe. He couldn't get rid of it and believe me, we tried everything. All the text in our books disappeared for a week, our water was always lukewarm when we drank it, my nails wouldn't grow and one time, I couldn't stop itching my ear in potions and Professor Skye asked if I had a problem, and if so, I was welcome to go to the student councillor. Wanna guess who the student councillor was? Yep, you guessed it! Professor Skye. Imagine my humiliation when she said it in front of the entire class.

It was all a bit too obvious that James Potter was pranking us. And now, the whole school was abuzz. As if I, the first ever Australian exchange student wasn't talked about enough already, suddenly the entire school (and staff - Professor Slughorn, the assistant potions teacher, loves a good gossip) knew my name. But it was associated with these words and phrases:

James Potter

Is that the weird Australian blonde girl with ratty hair?

Troublemaker

'Put another shrimp on the barby'

And finally, pranking.

But none of it, none of it, compared to what happened on Monday at breakfast, after those torturous three weeks had passed.

"Hey Dimitri! Pass the salt!" I said to him, my mouth full of mashed potato. After my bacon was sufficiently salted, I drizzled it with barbeque sauce. Ah. That's better.

"Ew," Jo muttered, looking at the sauce-slathered bacon in disgust.

"What?" I said. Had she never tried this? When I asked her and she said no, I literally shoved it in her mouth. After she groaned with pleasure, soon the whole of Slytherin was trying my delicious concoction.

Of course, this delight only lasted so long. A couple of minutes later, the Daily Prophet was delivered. The usual chatter died down – quickly. It was as if someone switched a mute button. I looked around and saw the expressions of the students who held the paper. I could tell just from that that the news wasn't good.

At all.

I got this sick feeling in my stomach. It was like a never ending pit of bad anticipation just sat there, in my stomach right next to all the bacon.

Talk about weird.

"What is it?" I whispered to Hope, who sat next to me. If anyone could tell me anything, it was her. She didn't reply. She just shook her head, her forehead scrunched up and her frizzy hair deflating. It liked to do that when she was upset.

And then, after about a minute of excruciating silence, the whole room was whispering. Frantically, the copies of the paper were flung around the room and more and more people got the news. Hope's hands shook as she held the paper and I gently took it from her.

My stomach dropped and my jaw clenched when I read the front page and article.

50 CENTAURS WERE BRUTALLY MASSACRED LAST NIGHT IN THE OUTBACKS OF SCOTLAND

In a great training camp and school for centaurs, a mass murderer(s) who is still unknown killed exactly 50 centaurs (including teaching staff and students) before leaving the rest with serious concussions. How the murderer(s) got to the base camp (which is heavily guarded from unwelcome visitors) and why they killed the innocent centaurs is still unknown, but some of our best Aurors such as Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley are on the case. The Head of Magical Creatures and Rights, Mrs Hermione Weasley is also looking into the motives.

"I know that this comes as a very big shock after over 20 year of peace in the wizarding world, but I am confirming this: this is not under any circumstances Voldemort making a return, nor are any of his previous Death Eaters forming a group to avenge his death. We know this for certain, and we hope this information helps you sleep easier."– Hermione Weasley, Head of Magical Creatures and Rights

- Article by Dean Thomas

"This… this is awful," Rachel said to no one in particular. Her face was white and her heavy eye makeup was smudging around her face.

"Who… what kind of person would do this?" I asked, incredulous. There had been centaur children and also some of the oldest centaurs in the attack. What would someone gain from this?

"Don't you know? Haven't you heard? I mean, the rumours are everywhere," Al asked me. Everyone looked at him, their faces aghast.

"Do you mean to say its real? That… they're real? We haven't heard from them in months!" Maria whispered. Al nodded.

"It makes sense. Who else would kill 50 centaurs? Who would want to?" Roy piped up. Everyone was nodding and murmuring and agreeing while I was just thinking what?

"What? Who is doing this?" I asked.

That was when I heard footsteps walking up to our table. They stopped right behind me. Girls on the other tables were whispering and pointing, so take a guess at who it was.

"The Pure's," none other than James Freaking Potter said from behind me. Is he stalking me or something? He always just shows up. To think girls think he's the coolest guy in Gryffindor. But, alas, my face, which seemed to disobey my brain, flushed. Why would I even flush? I hate when my face disobeys my brain! Why was he even here?

God, he's annoying.

"Um, what?" I asked, looking down at my breakfast which had gone cold, hoping my hair hid my red neck.

"You know, the Pure's. The group of rebels who rebel against the Ministry of Magic. They hate half-bloods of any kind including some magical creatures, minus any half-blood wizards, of course. Let's just say, the rebels have been trying to get the Ministry's attention – and believe me, they've got it. It's obvious that the Pure's killed the centaurs for attention. But why kill exactly fifty? It makes no sense," James said all matter-of-a-fact-ly, as if he were talking to his friends and not me… Oh, and the rest of Slytherin not just me. Right.

But… Did he always have such a cute English accent? Like, his accent was all nice and boyish and not too posh but kind of cute and husky and deep and all nice sounding unlike some peoples – like Enrico's. God, I haven't heard from him since my first day. Maybe he fell down a deep pit. Well, one can only hope. He was such a-

Wait, what?

Did I just think that some part of James Potter was cute? Oh God. My flush descended from my face and neck down my arms. I coughed awkwardly, in my feeble attempt to hide it and I could feel James's curious gaze on my back. I still hadn't faced him. I guess I should snap out of my funk-thing and get back to hating James Potter.

I whirled around. "What are you even doing here?" I asked, my voice sounding all tired and accusing. I looked into his nice, blue-green eyes and found myself flushing again.

What the hell was wrong with me?

He tilted his head and a slow smile spread across his face. Trying to avoid looking at his odd expression, I turned back around and took a big gulp of pumpkin juice. It was actually really nice, once you get used to the bad aftertaste, although, even that's-

"Do you fancy me?" James asked suddenly, amusement lacing his voice. I physically choked and spluttered my drink all over the table. Jo and Hope both slid away from me and people held back laughter.

That moment is now going on my list of Most Embarrassing Moments at Hogwarts.

Most Embarrassing Moments at Hogwarts:

The time I fell on top of that weird looking guy, Roy. Who happened to be Colleen's ex-boyfriend. Good one.

The time my hair got stuck in Professor Lupin's wand – do not ask how. Or why.

When Jo scared me at dinner, and I screamed so loud, Headmistress McGonogall herself came rushing over to me, thinking I'd been attacked. Seeing as how the whole entire school was laughing, God only knows why she thought that.

When I told most of Sixth Year that James Potter was the one writing the love notes… and his idiot friend, Adam Roster yelled out that I was the Mystery Girl in the letters. Which meant that for a whole week, everyone thought me and James Potter were dating.

That one day when everyone I passed in the hall said, in very terrible Australian accents, 'throw another shrimp on the barby' and 'g'day mate, how's ya croc?'

And now this – the time James Potter asked if I fancied him and in response, I choked, spluttered and spat pumpkin juice everywhere while all of my friends laughed.

"What?! No! Why would you even think that? Or ask it?" I spluttered, bewildered at his sudden outburst. I whirled around and looked at him head on, my eyes blazing. God, he's an idiot. He had this annoying smirk on his face and he winked at me, chuckling slightly.

"I know you think I'm hot or at least cute. And now I know you actually like me. Ha. I can tell by the way you're flushing!" Of course, my face just reddened even more as my eyes turned to slits. Then, he turned to Al. "Oh, and I'm here because Headmistress wants all the Weasleys and Potters in her office. She wants to talk to us about what our parents are doing and whatnot with the whole, mass murder thing. C'mon Al!" James winked one last time at me before spinning on his heel and swaggering out of the hall. Every girl was watching him in awe, including me (I wasn't looking in awe because I liked him unlike all the other girls - I was just in awe of how arrogant he was). Al glanced at me and shot me a weird look and quickly ran after him.

I was still staring when Eva coughed lightly. That sound woke me up from my shock of having James Potter ask me if I fancied him.

It took a whole other second for that to just click in.

JAMES POTTER ASKED ME IF I FANCIED HIM! AND I CHOKED AND FLUSHED IN RESPONSE!

God, I'm an idiot.

I turned back around to find everyone gaping at me.

"What? He's such a tosser," I stated and went back to eating cold bacon, trying to act natural even though billions of voices in my head were screaming at me to panic. My hands were shaking and my brain was jumbled. I didn't even know the guy! Now he's accusing me of liking him? Based on what facts? I hate his guts! We just have this weird prank war going on or something.

I DON'T fancy James Potter. He's so infuriating. I'm adding that to my list of Reasons Why I Hate James Potter.


Eva, Rachel, Jo, Maria, Hope, Emma and I were all hanging out in the Slytherin Girls' Room – basically the common room, but this was exclusive to girls as it was in the Girls' Dorms. We were finishing homework and gossiping when the topic of the Pure's came up.

"So… are they even real?" Emma asked, her massive forehead scrunched up. I quite liked Emma, despite the fact that now she's dating Oscar after she dumped Dimitri because she found out Hope liked him more but she didn't want Hope and Dimitri together, she wanted Maria and Dimitri together and-

You know what? I'm not even going there. It's basically life per usual in the Hope and Maria Show… and sometimes the Emma Show, if they're feeling generous.

"Of course they are!" Maria whispered, her eyes wide as she adjusted her glasses. Hope, for some bloody reason, was rubbing her back consolingly. Give. Me. A. Break.

"Ok! There's a question I've always wanted to ask… are they ex-followers of Voldemort?" Rachel asked no one in particular. Jo grunted from the corner and pointed at Rachel, her eyes not leaving her book.

"Is that a yes or no?" Rachel snapped at Jo. Jo just shrugged. Rachel sighed and ran her fingers through her matted hair. That's when Eva piped up.

It's kind of like Christmas, whenever she spoke. I mean, it's such a rare occasion, you have to treasure it. But she always had something intelligent and nice to say, as well as usually ground breaking and mind blowingly accurate and wise. She was confusing and quiet and strange… but whatever she said was kind of the law.

Does that make sense?

"No, I don't think so. My aunt told me two years ago, when the minor attacks and rumours about the Pure's started that the Death Eaters couldn't be a part of it. I mean, they all got this skull tattoo with a snake slithering out of the mouth, right? That tattoo was binding. It meant, even if Voldemort was alive or dead, his followers could never make up a new group or cult or whatever that didn't include Voldemort. This prevented any uprisings, rebellions and any other things like that that put Voldemort at danger. That secret is still only ever shared throughout Death Eaters today. And I mean, it's obvious the Pure's are a real live group… so, by theory, they aren't Death Eaters avenging Voldemort's death," Eva's clear, reasonable voice that chimed like bells rang clear and loud through the room. Even Jo had stopped reading and was looking at her. Eva's eyes were down and didn't look up once.

That was a pretty hard-core theory getting thrown around… but the way Eva said it, with such conviction, she made it sound… real. Plus, that was the most she's ever said in one go.

"Whoa," the word just seemed to escape my lips. "That was… wow. You are so right! But wait, if the Death Eaters never told anyone about the binding tattoo, how do you know?"

"My Aunt was a Death Eater. She's unpredictable and doesn't follow rules, even if Voldemort himself made them up. So naturally, she told me," Eva said nonchalantly.

Eva is… related to a Death Eater? They almost destroyed the entire wizarding world! Is she ok with that? I'd only ever heard rumours about them – awful stories of how they tortured innocent people and destroyed people's lives under the orders of manic mad-man/ dictator.

Eva must have known what I was thinking from my expression. Her face hardened and it was like the first day all over again when she ran out of the room for makeovers with Jo and Rachel… without me.

"My mums a Death Eater. She's not proud of it, but she was young, fresh out of high school. You know, lots of people's parents or relatives are Death Eaters. Not all of us are Weasleys or Longbottoms or Potters," Rachel said, a tad defensive of Eva. Her voice had this don't-mess-with-me edge and I wasn't going to.

I held my hands up in surrender.

"I didn't say anything," I said, trying to keep my voice light, but she was just getting started.

"You know, my mum went to school with the famous Harry Potter. And you know what? He's just like James – he didn't work, he flounced around school and was rewarded for breaking the rules. No wonder James is a screw up," Rachel said, disgustedly. Now I was confused. Why is she still talking about this? And why bring up Harry Potter's son?

"I-" I started but Rachel cut me off.

"My mum is Pansy Parkinson. Ever heard of her? No? Didn't think so. Not all of us are rich and famous and amazing like bloody Harry Potter. He almost got my mum arrested – whilst she was pregnant with me! Don't go around thinking he's some kind of saint-" Rachel just kept on ranting when I finally interrupted her.

"God! Would you just stop? I didn't say anything about you, or your mum, or Death Eaters, or Eva's aunt or bloody Harry Potter!" I didn't know where the hell this was coming from. Rachel was usually fine, but she had this defensive and mean streak. It always came up whenever someone did something that she didn't agree with. In fact, she has a really, really, really bad temper. Even if you do the slightest thing wrong, she goes all Professor Skye on you. It's kinda ridiculous.

"Look, all I'm saying is that this prank war is still going, and while you're making goo-goo eyes at Potter, the rest of us are trying to bring him down," Rachel stated. What? Where did this come from? From yelling about her mum, and then Harry Potter and now this stupid prank war? Everyone else just looked at us in shock. Ok, accusing me of disliking Death Eaters? Sure, why not? Insulting me when I did nothing wrong? Whatever, I can forgive that.

But saying I was making 'goo-goo' eyes at James Freaking Potter? Oh no. You've crossed. The line.

"Um, excuse me? Ok, first off, this prank war thing is a bit of fun and rivalry between our two houses and the Potter family. This isn't the Trojan War! We aren't trying to bring him down! And second, I was not ever, ever, ever making 'goo-goo' eyes at Potter, got that?" I told her. Rachel's eyes were blazing for God knows what. "What did I even do to offend you? I didn't say a thing against anyone and suddenly, you're going off at me! This is just ridiculous!"

I have this annoying habit. When there are fights, and they're too ridiculous to even fight out about, I burst out laughing. And what do you know? Next thing, I'm laughing my head off.

I'm rolling on the ground, over loose sheets of parchment and big books and quills. Next thing, Eva's giggling quietly while Hope is snorting. Maria is slapping her leg and silent laughing while Emma is crying and roaring with laughter. Jo was cackling and pretty soon, Rachel's angry and stoic face vanished, replaced by her signature half-smile frown thing. Soon, she too was laughing.

"Um… you girls ok?" Scorp yelled uncertainly from the Boys' Dorm. This just made us laugh harder.

I mean, it wasn't even funny.

But that's precisely the reason we were laughing.


"Ok, I dare you to charm Potter's bag so that all his stuff falls on the floor," Hope whispered in my ear. We were in DA DA and were practising non-verbal spells, so it was really quiet. At first, you needed to levitate a feather, but once you got that down pat, you could advance. The new goal was to make the toy car race around this course. It was hard, but like I said, I am pretty good at DA DA, so I was almost getting it.

"Um… that's a little… tame. I mean, it's cool and all. But, we need big pranks for Potter," I whispered to Hope. She looked a little down, but her face scrunched as she tried to think of another one. Her face lit up.

"Put a charm on him! Or put a silent one on him anyway! I mean, if you can because this is really hard and I'm having trouble but I think you're getting the hang of it. Lupin isn't even watching, he's helping Rach 'cause she sucks at this whole defence thing. And look! James is over there with… ugh," Hope, for once in her life, stopped talking. I looked at her in surprise to see her face scrunched up and her lips curled in disgust. I saw her eyes glaring at a really, really, really pretty girl. I saw her around school a lot – she was pretty high on Gryffindor's Social Ladder. Don't know her name, but she seems to hang out with Potter and his annoying posse. Her hair was thick and straight, brown and cut just below the shoulder in pretty layers. Her eyes were a bright hazel and they had this instant sparkle in them. She was tall, curvy and had broad shoulders. It was an odd combination but she made it work. Her pale skin was flecked with freckles that made her look all cute. She had that thing about her that made you just want to be around her.

"Alexia," Hope spat. That's her name! Alexia! I saw her basically hanging off Potter, flipping her hair around, battering her eyelashes, smiling flirtatiously and my stomach lurched. Great. She's one of those girls. The ones who throw themselves at Potter because of his last name, charisma, looks and charm.

Ugh. Now I saw where Hope was coming from.

"Ever since we wore the same dress to the Diggory Yule Ball, I've hated her guts. She just laughed it off. But guess what? Her hair totally made the pale pink work whereas my witch hair made it awful. You know my older sister has nice hair? It's more yellowy and it's straight and mines ugh. Did you know she's married and has a kid? The kid has my hair! Ha! I feel bad for my little nephew but oh well," Hope whisper chatted but my brain was stuck on three words.

"Diggory Yule Ball?" I asked, interrupting her talking about her weird uncle who wore baggy jeans and smoked weed.

"Yeah. This tradition ever since Cedric Diggory was killed in the last ever Tri Wizard Tournament. Harry Potter made this whole foundation about it. They were friends. We have this Christmas ball in his honour and all. It's really sweet-"

"Hope! Please, refrain from talking this once," Lupin sighed with a small smile. Some of the girls sighed at Lupin's really cute smile whilst the Potter Posse (I'm calling James and his friends that from now on – I was very happy with that nickname) snickered and laughed. Hope was very… sensitive. She saw the Potter Posse laughing and mocking her and she split, running out of the room crying. I was just about to run after her when Maria shook her head slightly at me and she whispered something to Lupin. After a curt nod from Lupin, Maria tugged on Lupin's arm and dragged him out, making him follow her.

"Was that just an elaborate plan to touch Lupin's arm? 'Cause I want in," Jo drawled in her English accent. I glanced at the Potter Posse and decided to use Hope's idea. I waved a hand in front of Jo's face to silent her and I saw her eyes widen in surprise. No one shushed Jo. Then she smirked and walked over to Scorp, pointing at me.

I held up my wand and aimed at Potter's back. He was telling his Posse a story and they were totally enraptured.

Aqua Eructo. Aqua Eructo. Aqua Eructo. Aqua Eructo.

I repeated it over and over in my head, my eyes closing. I rubbed my hand slightly over the indentions on my wand and felt my head clear. Clear like water.

Aqua Eructo.

And suddenly, the spell worked. A whole jet of water shot out of my wand and straight into Potter. He fell forward and a wave engulfed him, leaving everyone else dry. I raised my wand and suddenly he was locked in a massive ball of water, his eyes wide. Everyone was laughing and pointing. I turned my wand around in my hand to make the big water bubble that held Potter turn over and over and him with it.

I released the spell and he dropped to the ground, soaking wet but with no signs of the water around him. He stood up slowly. All of the Slytherin's were holding back muffled laughter. I smirked as he turned around, glaring at me. I gave him an innocent shrug, smiled and let my hand drop to my side.

"Madison Taylor, that was a big mistake," Potter said, his eyes blazing with excitement and amusement. He drew his wand out and I got to ready to block myself.

He was going to use a non-verbal spell and we didn't even know how to block those yet. I shook slightly as he closed his eyes. Suddenly, a puff of purple, blue and pink smoke shot out of the tip of his wand and puffed right onto me. Before I could even think to block it, the smoke was surrounding me. It itched and irritated me and I coughed and spluttered. It took me a second to realise my eyes were scrunched up so I opened them to see myself purple, pink and blue. My robes, hair, skin, shoes, wand – all of it. My head snapped up and I flung all the feathers in the room at him. They stuck to him because he was wet and I let myself feel some triumph. Soon, a full on war was waging. The Gryffindor's backed up Potter and the Slytherin's cheered me on. We were learning to block now, which was handy because he flung all his heavy books at me. I answered by shooting the sharp ends of the quills in the room at him.

"Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!" Screamed the class.

We were smirking and glaring at the same time as we flung any spells we could think of at each other.

In a full 2 minutes, we were covered in powder, water, colours, feathers, beads, hair, staples, pieces of parchment and much more.

Maria walked in her arm wrapped around Hope to find the whole class egging me and Potter on. She gasped as Hope started crying again. She ran out, Maria close behind her. Lupin burst into the room and everyone froze. His eyes held such disbelief.

"Wha… how…" after an awkward pause his voice hardened. "Potter, Taylor, my office after class. I'm disappointed in you two. I'm disappointed in everyone," those were the last words he said. He turned around and wrote instructions on the black board for all of us to write a ten thousand paper on the pros and cons for using non-verbal spells. He then sat down and glared at the whole class until we all scampered back to our desks.


Hey guys! Thanks for reading! I'll update soon, for it is school holidays. Next chapter includes Quidditch tryouts plus James and Maddie's first time together... alone ;))))) nothing like that! That's so gross.

Bye!

Kat xx