If you recognize it, I do not own it.
HHH
Harry saw the twins who looked pissed to the point where everyone scattered out of their way trying to avoid their anger. As angry twins usually meant they'd be pranking the nearest target. Harry however was too close to them to run off to avoid their anger. Instead, he worried about seeing them so mad knowing that something had happened.
Without worrying about the consequences, he stalked towards him, stopping directly in front of there angry pacing which stopped them in their tracks. They looked up surprised but before they could speak up, he did. "Your terrifying the students. Should we get out of the blast radius or are you both going to tell me what is wrong?"
The twins both stopped in their tracks looking up. "Oliver bloody Woods is our problem. The bastard got permission for Gold to join the team seeing as with his parents being famous quidditch players he had to be a prodigy."
"He prefers beater, so we were asked to step down for the sake of the team."
"Only one of us of course, the other was more than welcome to try out for Seeker."
"We have been on the bloody team over a year and got demoted due to prince Pratt who's not even supposed to have his own broom. We both quit on the field. We are not going to play games the arse. He just doesn't want to piss off golds daddy cause the bastard can get him into puddlemire."
Harrys eyes narrowed slightly knowing how much his friends enjoyed quidditch and what a kick in the face it was to be practically kicked off the team for a first year. That would not be allowed to stand. "So who's first on the must prank list, Woods, Gold, McGonagall or Dumbledore? We can add the rest of the team as well...or we can just laugh when they lose," Harry said calmly. "I am all for pointing and laughing and partying when Gryffindor loses."
The twins grinned at him losing their tense stance. Why be angry when you can just get even instead. "Oh why can't we do both," Fred returned smirking.
Iit was then that the three Gryffindor chasers, Angelina, Alicia and Katie entered clearly annoyed as they went to the twins. "he will not see sense, the pratt just keeps talking about the quidditch training camps he went to and how his parents will be so pleased," Angelina said upset for the twins who were the best beaters in the school and did not deserve to lose their positions to the first year.
The conversation was heard by many and Percy was angry at the injustice to his brothers and came stalking towards them. "Wait, woods kicked you off the team," Percy demanded clearly angry.
Fred shook his head surprised at his brothers anger over it, he was never one to really care about quiddich. He usually thought it was a waste of time. "No, woods asked one of us to step down and apply for seeker so he could get the golden boy on the team. We were pissed so we told him to stuff his broom up his arse and that we quit."
"We are a team and work together, we will not bag to stay on the team or try out for a position we do not even like. Since we won't be able to play with them after that anyways it's just easier to back down completely, we won't choose which of us stays on the team and which trades."
Percy glared at the doorway which opened but only gold went in. It was not fair. Just because their family didn't have money for top of the line training camps and new brooms, didn't mean the twins were not amazing players. "He is an idiot, your practically bludgeurs yourselves. Gryffindor will lose especially since the first games against Slytherin who play dirty. You're the only ones in this damn house who can keep up with them."
The twins both looked at their brother surprised at the clear compliments, "Aww thanks Perce, that's the nicest thing you've ever said to us," Fred said batting his eyelashes at the prefect.
Percy just shoved him, use to his brother's antics. "You should go to McGonagall. She might do something about it."
Fred and George shook their heads together, "No, we won't go back on the team even if she did. Not after being tossed aside for a first year who has to use the school brooms. No, we will be happy pranking the hell out of them for what they did. Quidditch kept the boredom away...now we will just have more time to get creative."
Rolling his eyes, Percy just shook his head at them. "Don't get caught," he ordered walking way leaving the three pranksters and everyone in hearing distance to gape at him as he left.
"Percy just gave us permission to prank,' Fred said looking at his twin. "Am I dreaming?"
Harry pinched his shoulder causing him to curse, "not asleep," Harry offered with a cheeky grin.
Fred went to hit the dark haired first year, but he easily dodged out of the way running up the steps as the twins followed. They had pranks to plan. Revenge that must happen.
With all the talk of quidditch, Harry wasn't as excited about the broom practice the next day. Still, nothing could be done, and he went to them. He couldn't help but cringe as Neville roughly hit the ground and Hooch took him to the infirmary, personally knowing how badly a broken wrist hurt. Malfoy bent down to pick something off the ground and Harry noticed it was the forgetful boys Remembrall his gran sent him. "Did you see his face? If the fat lump had given this a squeeze he would have remembered to fall on his fat arse," Malfoy mocked tossing it in the air catching it.
He was nothing more than a bully and Harry hated bully's, especially as Neville was not here to defend himself. "Give it here Malfoy," Harry said coldly since he would not let the Slytherin destroy Neville's gift.
"No, I think I'll leave it somewhere for Longbottom to find. How about the roof?" Malfoy mounted his broom and flew up into the air. "What's the matter Potter? Bit beyond your reach?"
Not thinking of the consequences, Harry had no intention of letting the clear challenge go. And so, Harry mounted his broom and got prepared to fly up. Granger however wasn't having it and grabbed his arm in an attempt to stop him. "Harry! No way! you heard what Madame Hooch said. Besides, you don't even know how to fly!" Harry pulled his arm away from her and flew up ignoring her "what an idiot.''
Harry flew effortlessly, as if he had been doing it his entire life. Malfoy paled slightly seeing that he was a good flyer for someone that most thought of as muggle raised. Harry had no intention of playing games with the Slytherin, "Give it here Malfoy or I'll knock you off your broom!"
Malfoy paled further as Harry glared from in the air. "Is that so? Have it your way, then!" Malfoy tossed the Remembrall and Harry took off flying after it. He spun in the air catching it before he returned to the group landing as he tossed it smuggley in the air and caught it while the majority of the Gryffindor's cheered him on.
The celebration was quickly quashed as they caught site of an angry professor stepping towards them which caused them all to freeze worriedly. "Harry Potter! Follow me."
"Professor it wasn't his fault," Parvati tried.
"Not now Miss Patil.''
"But professor she protested as McGonagall silenced her with a look.
Harry turned to the girl winking at her, grateful at her attempted defense. Still, he knew he wouldn't actually be expelled for it. It took a lot more then breaking a simple rule to be expelled. You practically had to kill someone. So he followed behind McGonagall who told him to wait behind her and she went to get something. She returned moments later with Oliver Wood.
That was not someone Harry wanted to see, still angry at his actions with the twins. He had no right to take them off the team for the git. Harry glared at him and despite being over four years older than him, Oliver flinched slightly causing Harry to look pleased. The twins had been far from pleased and they were inseparable from Harry who had pranked him on his own. Oliver had even begun to develop a tick from waiting for the next prank to strike.
"Mr. Woods, I have found you a seeker," McGonagall stated surprising them both. "He caught a Remembrall tossed about 20 feet and pulled off a perfect spin landing it inches from the school."
Oliver looked surprise since that would be an amazing catch. Pro seekers may not have made that catch. Harry however would be damned if he would be on the team that did not welcome both of his best friends who were practically, despite the short time they knew each other, like brothers to him. He just looked from the quidditch captain to McGonagall. "Professor, I will take a detention instead," Harry stated calmly. No hesitation in his voice.
McGonagall looked to him shocked, no teen boy she had ever met would choose a detention over getting a position on the house quidditch team. "Mr. Potter, this is a good opportunity for you..."
Harry shook his head glaring at the captain who nearly took a step back. "No thank you ma'am, I would prefer detention."
"Your father loved quidditch," McGonagall said trying to figure out what 11-year-old boy would refuse an offer of joining the team. "There may not be another position open for quite some time."
Harry looked to the professor, "I am not my father and while I love what I know about quidditch and flying...it was a brilliant rush. Something I am sure I would enjoy. However, I will not play on any team captained by Oliver Wood. I refuse to be ordered around by Gold and his posy of prats. I am voting for Slytherin...I mean if Percy is under the assumption that only the twins can handle playing Slytherin I will agree and he hates quidditch. I don't play to lose..."
She quickly realized there would be no convincing him otherwise. "That's too bad," McGonagall said shocked by the bitterness in his tone. "You fly as good as if not better then James Potter and he had invitations to many national teams. You could outfly Charlie Weasley, but the choice is yours."
Oliver gaped shocked since he had played under Charlie and to have their head of house claim potter as better than he was, made it a very bad blow to the Gryffindor Quidditch captain and he was suddenly regretting his choice.
"May I go," Harry asked as McGonagall nodded and he left grinning at having avoided punishment. She had not even taken points. He could now claim to have escaped the lioness's wrath without harm. Something few others could make claim to.
Harry entered the common room at curfew and approached where Neville was sitting alone reading his herbology book. His approach drew attention since everyone had heard of his awesome save and McGonagall dragging him off. "Oy Longbottom," Harry said tossing him his Remembrall as Neville caught it, fumbling slightly. "You dropped this."
Neville looked at him surprised that he cared, "thanks...I uhh...I heard about what you did to get it. Thanks. I hope you didn't get in any trouble."
Harry grinned at the shy teen. "Nahh, never even got a detention, McGonagall loves me. Don't let the gits give you a hard time. Flying's not for everyone and Malfoys just an arse who likes to hear himself talk and he has nothing important to say. I am actually half impressed."
"About! I fell on my arse," He said surprised that he was being so nice about it. Everyone else laughed and gave him a hard time when he got back to the common room.
Harry just looked at him seriously remembering when he was like him, she and self doubting. He probably still would be without the twins. "Yeah, you fell on your arse, big deal," Harry said lightly. "You're not whining about it, you barely sniffled when your arm broke. You were a hell of a lot braver about it than the rest of the people in this house. Breaking your arm hurts like hell. You barely reacted, not to mention...man you must be a walking bruise after being tossed about like that. the broom was crap and reacted on its own. You did pretty good, I am sure Fred and George will give you a hand if you want another try at flying. They should have had someone in the air in case something like that happened."
Everyone looked surprised at Harrys statement especially who were there and had seen it. None of them had really taken the time to think about what happened. Neville was also surprised by the other boy's comments, it had hurt, a lot and he had thought he sounded like a baby and had been embarrassed about the entire thing. Hearing it said like that made him feel better about everything. "Thanks Harry."
Harry took a seat across from the other first year realizing that he really saw himself in the bloke. He was shy...hesitant...already bullied by nearly everyone...lonely. Harry was just like that before he decided to just tell the world to fuck off. That gave him an idea on how to make his roommate feel better. "So, Neville...have you ever pulled a prank?"
Neville looked at him surprised not expecting the question, the twins came up behind the shy boy. "Did I hear someone say the magic word,' Fred asked causing him to jump. The twins jumped the back of the chairs sitting down beside Neville.
"I would like to hear the answer as well. So Neville Longbottom, have you ever pulled a prank?"
Neville shook his head, "I am usually the one being pranked..."
"Fuck em," Harry said as McGonagall walked past.
She froze looking at the group, "Mr. Potter, Minus five points no swearing."
"Sorry Aunt Minnie," He said innocently though he did not appear sorry at all.
She glared at him hearing the name she knew she warned him against using, "What have I said about calling me Aunt Minnie?"
"Not to," He said smirking.
"Minus 2 points, why do you continue to do so if you know I will take points?"
Harrys eyes shinned mischievously, "well, you see its rather simple. Eventually you will get tired of telling me not to call you Aunt Minnie and ignore it. then I will be able to call you it freely. We all know you secretly like being called Aunt Minnie. You're practically a favorite aunt to every Gryffindor. I'm your favorite though, don't worry I won't tell anyone," He stage whispered the last part as everyone looked at him like he was insane unable to believe he said that to the lioness of Gryffindor.
"Do not corrupt Mr. Longbottom, it is too late for you," She said with a shake of her head.
Fred looked at the professor innocently, "Professor our mother told us not to corrupt other students. We would never corrupt anyone, we will educate Mr. Longbottom effectively however."
She gave them a warning look walking away as the three pranksters broke down laughing. "She did not deny I'm her favorite," Harry said smuggley.
That sent the twins into another round of laughter. Everyone else was just looking at the group in awe. "You all are insane," Neville decided shocked that they got away with saying that sort of things.
This statement only caused them to grin even more, "So Neville, pranks...you cannot go any longer without pulling a prank," Harry declared as the shy teen paled slightly. "Come on, we will corrupt you."
"Educate," George corrected. "We will be grounded for life if we corrupt any first years."
"Since when do you care," Harry asked giving them both a look.
They grinned, "Your right, come Neville we will corrupt you."
"Merlin help me," Neville said but he let himself be drug up the steps, happy at the opportunity to be included in something.
With a bit of discussion and planning, the prank was prepared and executed.
Oliver stepped out of his room flashing Slytherin colors and walking slightly funny. he did not even look in the twin's direction.
Neville looked at the other three nervously, sure he would be caught at any second. "wasn't that a bit mean?"
Harry shook his head, "no Oliver deserved it. See, Oliver decided he had to have Anthony gold on the team, Anthony wanted to be beater and despite the position being filled. Because Anthony is the prat of Gryffindor and a spoiled git, he got the place. He knew there would be retribution."
Neville nodded having heard the conversation the first time in the great hall. They went out and saw Draco Malfoy in a similar state only he had...puffed out slightly looking like he instantly gained 3 stones. Neville had to bite back a chuckle seeing him like that after all the bullying he was put through.
"See, Pranking's not so bad is it," Fred asked from over his shoulder. Glad to see him happy. The twins disliked anyone being miserable…as long as they didn't deserve it for being prats. Neville most definitely didn't deserve it.
"I don't think I will make a habit of it though," he admitted biting his lip hoping that they would not be offended.
Harry just gave him a grin, "Not everyone's in to pranking, doesn't matter. your still my potions buddy today right? We can be yelled up by the bat man together."
Neville nodded returning the grin.