My wrist is better now and I'm all caught up on the chapter queue, so twice weekly updates are back!
There will be a bit less crazy plot stuff in this chapter, and more teenage shenanigans and Quidditch, and inspiration from an adorable kitten I saw on Reddit. Enjoy!
-also thank you LadyAzrael1994 and Tosha Patel for reviewing :)
Jamie McLaggen had just arrived and was standing behind Rhys, the latter of whom looked very annoyed.
"Well, turning up on time proved to be difficult for you," he snapped. "Sit down, Jamie."
"Merlin, Rhys. Sorry I'm not your best mate. James bleeding-definition-of-Gryffindor-Mr-Popular Potter with his hair and his attitude and his broom and his fanclub of girls fawning over him. But we all know deep-down he's a arrogant piece of-"
I stood up, drawing my wand. "Oi, McLaggen, do you want to keep talking about my brother like that? I'd be happy to fix your mouth for you, Albus has taught me quite a few tricks."
I stared at Jamie McLaggen.
He stared at me.
Rhys exhaled hard. "Lily and Jamie, sit down and put your wands away. I'd like my Seeker and my Keeper in one piece. No more fighting and no more tardiness. May I continue?"
He turned to Nate and Seb again.
"And as I was saying, one of you needs to protect Lily, Nott and Pucey like to go after Seekers."
Chapter 9: Kittens and Snitches
I was making my way towards the empty classroom where Carla, Maddie, Lysander, Lorcan, Hugo and I had planned to meet, when I came upon the world's cutest kitten (sorry Nisha!).
The kitten was storm-grey, with black whiskers, deep green eyes, and the most adorable, boop-able dark grey nose.
The kitten rubbed itself against my foot, purring contently and gazing at me. I knelt down to pet it, and the deep purring increased. It looked up at me with intelligent eyes, cocking its head to one side. I melted. The little cat purred like an engine. It was pretty impressive for such a small animal.
I picked up the kitten and continued on my way to the classroom, cooing about how cute it was. Unfortunately, this caused me to not pay attention to my surroundings.
"She-Potter! What are you doing with my cat!"
Malfoy was coming down the hallway, holding Nisha in his arms. Shit. I had forgotten to check the Marauder's Map for prefects, and it was almost curfew.
"Depends. What are you doing with my cat, Malfoy?"
He scratched Nisha under the chin thoughtfully, regarding me under dark eyebrows. "As it happens, She-Potter, your familiar's taken quite a fancy to me."
I'd thought Malfoy would have some kind of impressive-looking barn owl, or something else overly masculine or obtrusive for his familiar. Never would I have imagined Malfoy owning the world's cutest cat. I guess it made sense, though, when I considered his affinity for Nisha.
Malfoy's cat purred and twitched its ears.
Of course, Nisha was still the world's most beautiful cat.
I couldn't help but tease him. "This is your cat, Malfoy? Not your sister's?"
"Shut up, She-Potter." He set Nisha down gently on the floor. "I'll take Kai back from you."
"Kai! That's such a cute name! Oh my gosh, Malfoy, he's adorable!" My resolve finally snapped. I couldn't help myself, I loved cats.
Malfoy covered Kai's large ears, smiling. "Shhh, he'll get a big head."
That was kind of cute. Malfoy looked kind of cute when he did that. Malfoy looked very cute when he smiled. Malfoy was cute. Malfoy was very cute.
His lips looked really soft and full. And when he smiled, one of the sides of his mouth pulled higher than the other. It looked kind of goofy, but in a cute way.
Ahh, did I just think of Scorpius Malfoy as being cute! My brother's best fricking Slytherin friend! Why am I thinking about Malfoy's bloody lips?
The cat had me off of my game.
I could feel myself grinning like an idiot as I reached down to pick up Nisha. Malfoy looked at me with a strange expression.
He turned to go.
"One more thing, She-Potter."
"Yes?"
"Five points from Gryffindor, it's after curfew."
He laughed as he continued down the hallway, his robes billowing around him.
I turned around. "Screw you, Malfoy!"
"Yeah, I bet you'd like that, wouldn't you, She-Potter?"
He turned the corner and disappeared. I glared down the hallway.
I'd better go before Lorcan, Rose, or worse yet another prefect catches me.
Lysander had arrived before me and he was perched on a desk, staring into space as usual, while an army of pastel origami animals fluttered above his head. He jumped in surprise as I came in and they crashed to the floor.
"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you. I thought the others would be here by now."
He shrugged. "Oh, it's fine. Did you like the crane? I thought you'd like blue. I've got a red one as well-"
"It's fine, I like blue," I reassured him as I sat down in the desk opposite.
"Good," he smiled, the corners of his ocean-colored eyes crinkling. Lysander flicked his wand and the origami animals shuddered and rose again.
"What were you thinking about before I came in? You seemed pretty... absorbed."
Lysander flushed and mumbled, "Nothing," while trying to hide his pink ears with his hands, which were covered, as best as I could tell, in a mixture of indigo ink and sapphire acrylic paint (which was fairly normal for him).
"I promise I won't tell," I teased.
"Shut up, Lily!" He could hide his ears all he wanted. His sparkling eyes gave him away.
Nisha yowled and leapt from my arms, probably in search of mice.
"I am so going to find out. Don't forget I have two older brothers plus Teddy, so I know how guys are when they-"
The door swung open to reveal Carla and Maddie. "When they what?"
"Like some-" Lysander covered my mouth before I could finish.
"Nothing! We're talking about nothing! Did you guys like the paper cranes? I did burgundy for Carla. Maddie, you seem like a sunshine person so I made yours marigold."
I pulled Lysander's hand away from my face. "Hmm, which one do you like better, Ly? Burgundy or mar- umph!"
Carla rolled her eyes. "When are Lorcan and Hugo coming?"
Lysander checked his watch. "Lorcan's shift is over in about ten minutes; they'll probably walk over together."
"What are we doing here, anyway?" asked Maddie. "Other than just chilling. Which is totally cool."
Lysander, Carla and I looked at each other.
Carla cleared her throat. "Induction into the Fellowship, obviously."
"We have rules," I added. "Lorcan's got the official copy."
Maddie's jaw dropped open. "The Fellowship?" she asked in a mocking voice.
Lysander shrugged. "We thought it was cool when we were in second and first year. We got it from a Muggle book series, the Lord of the Rings."
Maddie let out a low whistle. "I'm familiar."
"It's not as sketch as it sounds. I promise."
Lysander was doodling moons on a piece of paper when Lorcan and Hugo arrived while I drew smiley faces or colored them in.
"Okay, we're all here. Stand in a circle."
We pushed a few desks away to make room. I dumped the contents of my bag on the table, and passed a beeswax taper and candlestick to each person. Maddie looked apprehensive as she took hers.
"What are we doing again?"
"A friendship ritual," Lorcan said as he sprinkled a handful of pixie dust in a small circle. "Sounds kind of lame, doesn't it?"
"It's not... Dark, is it?"
Lysander sniffed. "Of course not! Candles are only used in Light rituals as they represent love and light."
"Uhhh, who taught you this?" Maddie asked.
"Aunt Luna - Lorcan and Lysander's mum," I explained. "Right. Close your eyes, everyone." It felt a bit silly and much less solemn than it had when I was eleven.
"Can you feel the warmth inside of you? Reach for it and pull it closer."
"Now open them."
I smiled as the candle in my hands spluttered to life, and we placed the lit candles around Lorcan's circle of pixie dust. The flames threw off a kaleidoscope of magical colors; warm oranges and deep inky blues filled the classroom with the warmth and brightness of a sunset.
"Lorcan starts, since he's the oldest."
"Only by twenty minutes."
"Rules are rules, Ly."
"Ok." He cleared his throat. "I pledge to be a true friend." He held his wand out to the center of the circle, laughing a bit. It had all seemed so solemn three years ago.
"I pledge to protect you." Hugo.
"I pledge to be compassionate." Lysander.
"I pledge to fight for you, no matter what." Me.
As I added my wand to the center, a jolt of electricity shot up my arm.
"I pledge to keep your secrets." Carla added her wand to the center.
"Maddie, it's your turn."
"What do I do?"
"Add something else to the center."
She seemed a bit hesitant. Lysander gave her a reassuring look. "I pledge to be loyal."
Maddie added her wand to the center of the circle.
The magical connection grew stronger, and it felt as if some magnetic power kept our wands glued together.
A soft golden light rose from the center of the circle of pixie dust like water from a fountain, then wrapped around the six wands. I felt a familiar, ticklish sensation as the light slowly dissipated, along with the force pulling our wands together.
The air in the room stayed warm as the candles continued to throw off light. Maddie looked a bit sheepish.
Hugo put an arm around her shoulders. "You're officially one of us now!"
"But I don't understand, what does it mean?"
Lorcan explained, "When we all became friends, we decided to make a vow. We made up the bit with the wands and the promises based on something Mum told us about, but I guess we basically made an Unbreakable Vow or something. Does it make you feel uncomfortable?"
"Maybe you should have asked her that before, Lorcan," Carla pointed out.
Maddie shook her head. "No, it's fine. We just never did that sort of thing at Ilvermorny."
Lysander sat down next to her. "We just want you to know that we're here for you. It must be difficult, leaving all of your friends in America and coming here."
She smiled weakly. "I guess I've tried not to think about it too much."
Lavender and turquoise still danced across the walls.
"It's really beautiful. Thank you guys, for doing this with me."
"Of course, Maddie! You're our friend."
She squeezed Carla's hand, smiling a bit sadly, I thought. Maybe she didn't have any friends at Ilvermorny. I dreaded to think how difficult Hogwarts would be if I had to do everything all alone.
"Should we clean up now?"
Lysander blew out the candles, filling the room with the warm scent of beeswax as the colors slipped from the walls.
"Let's leave one at a time? It's after curfew by now."
Lorcan shook his head. "I'll be in so much trouble if the other prefects find out."
Hugo grinned. "What Rosie doesn't know, won't hurt her."
Halloween came on a Thursday that year. James, Albus, and I hadn't gotten any closer to solving the mystery of the book. Or the basilisk heart. I'd even tagged along with Rose to the library in search of books about lizard hearts and basilisk anatomy, but I found nothing of interest.
To my great sorrow, I managed to run into Malfoy that morning. He was sporting a pair of emerald green devil horns and looked absolutely... well... good. Really good.
Ahem. I meant devilish.
"What are you up to, Malfoy?" I said as I passed him.
He stopped and straightened his tie. "Nothing, nothing. Don't worry your little head about it, She-Potter. All will be revealed in time."
As I sat down the Gryffindor table between Carla and Hugo, I hissed at Rose, "Malfoy's wearing Muggle devil horns."
Rose spoke without looking up from her book. "And? It's perfectly within his rights to wear the world's tackiest Halloween accessory."
"Yeah, but he looks like he's planning something."
"He's a prefect, Lil, I don't think-"
Malfoy, Albus, and some other sixth-year Slytherins, all wearing green devil horn headbands stood up together. I looked at Rose pointedly. Headmistress McGonagall frowned.
Rose shrugged. "Fine, Lil. You win."
Malfoy came over to our table with a gigantic bag of white candy - were those marshmallows?
"One for you, and one for you," he singsonged as he went down the table. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Professor Clearwater shaking her head in disbelief and Professor Longbottom attempting (and failing) to hide his laughter.
"Malfoy's distributing marshmallows?" I asked with great consternation. Rose shrugged.
He popped one in his mouth as he walked up to us.
"That's what Muggles do on Halloween, right? Give out candy?"
"Don't speak with your mouth full, Malfoy, that's disgusting," I retorted.
"Here's yours, She-Potter," he said in a placating tone, "Hold out your hand."
I sighed loudly and held my hand out. He paused. I snapped my fingers.
"Give me the damn marshmallow, Malfoy."
"Merlin, so impatient." He folded my fingers around it. "You want another one, you know where to find me." He fluttered his eyelashes.
I ignored him and looked up to the professor's table, where Albus angrily tossed a marshmallow at James, eliciting a loud "Oi!" and a glare from Headmistress McGonagall.
Maddie rolled her eyes as Malfoy handed her a marshmallow. He laughed and continued down the table. The first-years looked particularly confused as to why the scary Pureblood Prince of Slytherin was distributing Muggle candy.
"Well, this is certainly a sight to behold," Rose murmured.
"Tell me about it," said Carla. "You don't see Malfoy in this good of a mood every day."
I rotated the marshmallow in my hand. "Do you think he poisoned them?"
"Malfoy's had more than a few already, I think they're fine," Hugo pointed out, taking a bite of his.
The first Quidditch match of the year and the second day of November was cloudy and overcast. The sky threatened rain.
And my stomach threatened to expel its contents at the slightest provocation.
"Right." Rhys adjusted his gloves, calling our attention. I stopped chewing on the inside of my lip and followed Jazz over to the entrance.
"We're going to go out there and play the best game we possibly can." He nodded at Nate and Seb, "Nate, you're going after Potter and Malfoy. Seb, protect Lily. Anna and Jazz, remember the formations we practiced." He exhaled. "And Jamie and Lily, just do your best out there. Use your brains. Be careful, the Slytherins like to play dirty. We're going to do great. I believe in us."
Nate whooped. "Aye, aye, captain!"
Rhys grinned. "Come on, jokers. Let's show the snakes what Gryffindors are made of."
I followed Jazz onto the pitch, Seb giving me an encouraging nudge forward.
The entire stadium was applauding, and I felt a little bit better. Then, I instantly felt worse as I looked up at the crowd of Gryffindors that had gathered, expecting a decisive victory over Slytherin.
I noticed Hugo standing in the commentator's box, ready to open the match. He smiled at me and I gave a little wave back.
Rhys was shaking hands with the Slytherin captain, Marcus Flint Jr.
I never thought I'd ever see Rhys look small.
Albus and Malfoy were obviously there, too, wearing green and silver with the other Slytherin Chaser, Lucas Zabini. Al grimaced slightly and Malfoy offered a familiar, "Morning, She-Potter!"
Zabini glared.
What did I ever do in my last life to deserve Malfoy's annoying behavior?
Hugo had begun to commentate. "Although we're all overcome with despair that James Potter has graduated and is no longer the Gryffindor Keeper, to the great sorrow of his adoring fangirls, but don't worry, our favorite Transfiguration TA is still signing autographs-"
"Mr. Weasley, control yourself!" shouted Headmistress McGonagall.
"Sorry, Professor! We'll all miss the moments of fierce sibling rivalry imbued in each shot Slytherin Chaser Albus Potter takes at the rings-"
Albus rolled his eyes. Madam Hooch appeared to be getting impatient.
"-We are yet again blessed with two Potters on the pitch. Gryffindor has both a new Keeper and Seeker, Jamie McLaggen and Lily Potter. The former is kind of an asshole and I'll be surprised if the latter isn't knocked off of her broom by a slight breeze, given her underhanded tactics in the tryouts she might as well be a Slyth-"
"Mr. Weasley!"
"Sorry, sorry. Gryffindor is now being headed up by the intrepid Rhys Payne, sorry, he doesn't do autographs. Too humble. Same old, same old for the Slytherin team. The lovely captain, Marcus Flint, has once or twice been mistaken for a gorilla-"
I didn't know how Hugo managed to keep a straight face. Professor Magellan looked particularly pissed.
Professor Flitwick and Professor Longbottom looked a bit amused, but they were the coolest professors after all. James, of course, was sitting in the Gryffindor stands with Rose, Carla and some seventh-years and laughing his arse off as usual, much to the delight of his fangirls. Hugo really did know how to work a crowd.
"And then of course there's the iconic Slytherin Chaser team of Potter, Malfoy and Zabini. Except really it's a Potter and Malfoy bromance, since Zabini's always too busy checking himself out in every reflective surface. Maybe if they polished the Quaffle he'd be a bit more willing to get his hands dirty. Now you're talking!"
"Mr. Weasley!"
"Okay, okay, I'll shut up, Professor and let everyone get on with the first game of the season. Madam Hooch, take it away!"
Madam Hooch blew her whistle and we all took off. I started looking for the Snitch as Albus and Malfoy zoomed past me in a green-and-silver blur, passing the Quaffle between them as effortlessly as if they shared the same mind.
I heard Nate mutter, "Shit!" and aim a Bludger at them.
"...and Malfoy's got the Quaffle now, smirking like the git that he is, Annabel Wood is hot on his heels but he's passed it to Albus Potter... and ... it's gone through, valiant attempt by Jamie though, the first 10 points of the year are scored by Slytherin." Hugo sounded upset about this.
A cheer went up in the Slytherin section of the stadium. I saw Albus and Malfoy high-fiving. Rhys looked very pissed. I climbed higher and redoubled my efforts to find the Snitch. I spotted Rosier on the other end of the stadium and dove after him.
"Rhys has got the Quaffle now. Pucey is coming up on the right side, looks like he's plotting a murder."
"Rosier and Lily Potter are aimlessly circling around the pitch, the Snitch is nowhere to be seen, yawn. Albus Potter and Malfoy have come up on either side of Rhys- he passes it to Jasmine - Jasmine's got the Quaffle, Pucey's going after her now-"
I had some problems of my own. Nott was coming after me with a murderous glint in his eyes.
I didn't wait for him to strike the Bludger.
I dove.
Just in time.
One hundred and fifty pounds of iron whizzed past my head, and I heard a terrific whack as Seb sent it back in Nott's direction. When I pulled up, I realized that I'd lost sight of Rosier.
"Take that, ya worm!"
"Worm? Really, Seb?"
He laughed. "Okay, fine, that was kind of weak. But worry about the Snitch, not my terrible roasts. Look at Rosier, looks like he's found something."
I followed Seb's gaze to where Rosier did, indeed appear to have spotted something.
The Snitch hovered a few inches above the ground. Or maybe, it was on the ground, closer to me than Rosier.
Rosier realized that I realized that he'd spotted the Snitch.
Not good.
We dove at the same time.
As we did, the Snitch shot away.
I pulled up and flew after it.
Rosier and I were neck and neck now.
I could hear Hugo saying something, but the wind rushed past my ears so quickly that it scrambled his words.
Remember that rain that had been threatening to fall?
Well, it did.
The sky opened up in an instant, soaking everything in a matter of seconds. My Quidditch uniform clung to my suddenly-clammy skin.
The rain collecting on my glasses made me almost blind, and I couldn't risk reaching up to try to wipe them dry.
I panicked, the slippery feeling in my stomach from before the match hitting me in a wave of nausea.
I feel fluttering; a delicate beating of wings just over to my left. I could feel Rosier coming up fast on my right.
I had to make a decision, now.
I reached out desperately to the left, mostly blind from the fog and the rain collecting on my glasses.
My fingers closed around something cool and hard.
The Snitch.
Hugo's voice came into focus as I stopped short.
"...and that's the game! Gryffindor wins, 190 to 100! Take that, Slytherin!"
As I dismounted and wiped my glasses clean(er), I saw James striding across the pitch. How did he get down so fast? Albus had landed beside me, looking fairly pissed off. As usual.
"Brilliant job, Lil!" James clapped me on the shoulder, a bit too hard.
He turned to Albus.
"That second throw you got in was pathetic, Al, it only went in because Jamie is a shite keeper. I would have saved that easily. With one hand!"
James yelled this in Jamie's direction. I rolled my eyes.
"Don't worry, Rhys looks like he's about to give him a dressing-down anyway."
I noticed Albus's gaze lingering on Rhys's retreating form a bit longer than he should have. Albus looked unusually forlorn.
"Coming, Lily?" called Nate.
"Yeah!" I jogged across the field, waving to James and Albus. Malfoy, who had somehow just dismounted from his broom, winked at me as he alighted near Albus. I groaned internally as I headed inside, dreaming of dry clothes and a hot shower.
ok, I just have this headcanon that Scorpius loves marshmallows and I don't know where it came from - I just imagine Albus introduced him to them one day and now Astoria is extremely pissed about his undying love for this Muggle candy -
Anyway, thank you for reading and check back for Chapter 10 on Saturday
