Disclaimer: I own nothing. Other than Witches truth or dare… that is totally made up. But besides that, J.K. Rowling is the owner of everything in the Harry Potter universe.

Chapter 9. Nargles and Wrackspurts

"Lily, you'll do great!" Mary encourages me.

"Yeah, you've practiced all year for this." Alice jumps in.

Inside I'm taking deep breaths, trying to slow my heart rate, but I just nod and smile, "Yeah," I say slightly breathless.

Cas emerges from the changing room, and takes one look at me before rushing over, and pushing me down to the bench, "Lily! Sit down."

I glare at her as I take a breath, and try to stand up, but Cas pushes me back down, "Cas" I exclaim, "I'm fine, I'm just nervous."

"Lily you look like Alice did after eating those raspberry tarts last Christmas!"

"Hey! I didn't know I was allergic to raspberries!"

"We know Alice, but Cas is right, you look really pale." Mary says as she crouches down besides me.

I stand up and yell "I'm fine guys! We're going to cream the Ravenclaw team in the match today. I don't know what you're all worried about."

My three friends break into identical grins, and high five each other. I groan, "And you did that on purpose…"

"You know it." Cas smiles.

"We couldn't let our Lily get all nervous before her first big game." Mary says in her baby voice.

I roll my eyes, "Thanks guys."

When me and Cas join the rest of the Gryffindor quidditch team, Radek is already pacing back and forth. "Meadowes, Evans! Great!" he exclaims, "Where are Potter and Black?!"

"Uh why should we know?" I ask. Cas hits my arm and gives me a look, and I amend my statement quickly before I'm subjected to the stressed-yelling-pregame-Radek, "I'm sorry, we don't know."

Radek's face turns angry and splotchy, "It is 20 minutes until the snitch is released! Those two need to get here now!"

Cas and I exchange an alarmed look because if Potter and Black don't show up soon, Radek is going to blow a fuse. Amy gives us a quick smile and starts whispering in Radek's ear. Whatever she said works because he starts to calm down. That is, until Black and Potter stroll into the room.

"S'up Captain." Black says through his mouthful of an apple danish.

I swear Radek's eyes turned bright red as he begins yelling at them, "You are over 30 seconds late! It's a game day! Eh?!" his furious stare makes its way around the entire team, and the other beater Andrew visibly shrinks away from him. "Black! What are you doing getting crumbs on your uniform?!"

Amy stifles a giggle, and turns Radek away from Potter's and Black's guilty faces, "Nick, just calm down. We are going to crush the Ravenclaw team. Did you see their beaters? They are nothing to Black and Larner, even with the crumbs."

Potter and Black let out a sigh of relief that the reprimanding is over, and enter the room the rest of the way. I still haven't forgiven Potter for what happened earlier this week, though I've behaved like a professional team player while preparing for the match this week.

"He's worse than last year," Potter mutters.

"Yeah," Cas whispers, "At least last year it was a full minute late."

"I was only in the next room using the restroom." Black grumbles.

"Wow. I'm glad it wasn't me being yelled at," Andrew says.

I nod my head, "Me too."

Radek walks back over now a fair amount calmer, "Sorry for being a little bit snappy with you Black. You too Potter. But, we are going to win aren't we?"

"Yes we are!" we all shout.

"Then let's go over our strategy for the last time, and then let's get to the field and play our hearts out."

"And it's Smith with the Quaffle! He twists away from Meadowes who tries to steal from her, and he scores." Remus says dejectedly into the commentating microphone, "Score is Ravenclaw 80, Gryffindor 30. But don't count Gryffindor out yet! They've been practicing day and night. I should know. Two of my best friends have been tormenting me with their sleep deprivation, and I have barely been able to get my homework done, much less gather the energy to do my Prefect rounds each-" Professor McGonogall coughs loudly, and Remus cuts himself off, "Oh! And there one of them goes! Black hits the bludger, and OUCH! Manson gets socked in the stomach. Nice one Padfoot!" he yells.

I smile at Remus's commentating, something he's done for the past couple years after picking up the rules from watching Black and Potter play for so long. I fly across the field and catch the quaffle that Potter throws at me before I race over to the left hoop, and throw it in.

"And Evans scores!" Remus shouts into the mic, "Gryffindor is getting back in this game people!"

Thirty minutes later, I am standing in the middle of the quidditch pitch, with Radek hoisting Amy up in the air. She has the small golden snitch wrapped in her hand and holds it up for the audience to see. Cas flies down, and jumps up and down screaming in my ear. I just stood shell shocked, staring at the score of 460 to 290. Even without the snitch….we were winning. Andrew lands, and wraps both me and Cas in a hug. Black and Potter land after him, and soon our entire team is in a huge group hug on the ground.

"This win would not have been possible without the hard work of the Gryffindor quidditch team!" Radek exclaims, "Amy Strout, Cas Meadowes, James Potter, Sirius Black, Lily Evans, and Andrew Larner. Give it up for them!"

We walk over to join Radek by the fireplace, and the Gryffindor common room erupts into cheers.

"First game of the season!" somebody yells, "On our way to the Quidditch CUP!"

This prompts another round of cheers, and the common room quickly descends into the chaos of after-quidditch parties.

Cas and I walk over to Alice and Mary, who immediately congratulate us, "You won! We knew you could do it!" Alice shouts over the blaring music.

Mary nods, "Yeah! You had nothing to worry about Lily! And Cas, that one interception you had was amazing!"

"Aw thanks Mary! You guys want to go get some punch?"

"I think I'm going to turn in for the night," I say.

I am greeted to a chorus of whines, and three pairs of puppy dog eyes staring back at me, "Come on Lily!" Alice groans.

"No, you guys go ahead, I don't really like huge parties like this anyways."

"Lily. You are not going to be the stereotypical straight-O student that goes to study instead of going to a party," Mary says, "Not on my watch."

I scoff, "It's not stereotypical, and I'm just tired, I'm not going to go study."

"Uh huh.. So you don't have a history of magic essay you're going to work on? Alice questions.

I glare at her and stick my tongue out, "Technically, it's not studying."

"Well how about this," Cas says, "A party is the perfect place to look for suspects about your necklace. You could just say you were wearing it and lost it while dancing."

Mary's smile turns gleeful, "She's right!"

I glare at both of them and grit my teeth, "I know she's right," I grumble.

"Then let's get to part-y-ing!" Mary yells in my ear, dragging me out to where people are dancing.

Over the next half hour, Mary, Cas, and Alice push me around the entire room forcing me to dance between asking each person if they'd seen my necklace. I am absolutely exhausted, and am looking for any excuse to get out of their dance-forcing clutches.

Somebody taps my shoulder and says, "Hey can I talk to you."

I sigh in relief, and exclaim, "Yes! Yes, thank Merlin! I could kiss you for saving me from their-"

My eyes widen when I turn to see Potter staring at me with a slow grin forming on his face, "Kiss me?" he says.

"No. I am not talking to you." I say shortly and turn to face my friends, who are sporting evil-looking smirks.

"Oh, great Lily! We can go dancing some more!" Mary says gleefully.

"Yeah! I could teach you this really cool line dance!" Alice says.

"Or we could always go back to the dorm room," Cas adds.

"Thank you Cas! That would be wonderful."

"I'm not finished." Cas smirks, "We could go back to the dorm room, and play truth or dare. Witch style."

I quickly turn back around to Potter, "Okay! What'd you want to talk about!" I say with a forced smile.

"Erm, you just said that-"

"Yeah, I was joking silly!" I hit his arm playfully, "Bye guys!" I say to my friends with a slightly scared voice.

Cas bats her eyes and says sweetly, "Bye Lils! Have fun."

I grab Potter's arm, and lead him out into the hallway, "What'd you want to talk about?"

He looks at me with a confused face before asking, "What in Merlin's name was that..? You just thanked me for saving you? Told me to get lost… and then seconds later are asking me what I want to talk about?"

I sigh wistfully, "For once you could just drop something when I wish you would.. that'd be nice."

"Evans?" Potter looks at me expectedly.

"Okay. Well I thanked you for saving me because I didn't know it was you, and I was just happy for any excuse to get away from dancing and looking for my necklace. But then, I realized it was you. Hence the "get away from me". But then, my manipulative friends- if I can call them that -decided to bring Witches Truth or Dare into it." I explain quickly.

"And? What's so bad about that..?" Potter asks.

"It is Witches Truth or Dare. You are bound by oath to do any and all dares, answer any and all questions, and it doesn't end until one of the players forfeits. And you don't want to be the one to forfeit because that leads to you being under a truth serum for the next day, along with having your Gryffindor courage reduced to nothing."

He stares at me, "Who in the world came up with that game? How is that even fun?"

"How should I know?" I mutter.

He laughs, "Guess I'm complaining for no reason. Point is, you're talking to me."

"Actually, the point of that is that I hate you, still am angry, and am only talking to you because between you and Witches Truth or Dare, you are the better option."

"I'll take what I can get," he says.

"Make it quick Potter." I say shortly.

"Fine. Lily-" I glare at him, "Sorry, Evans I guess."

I nod and he continues, "I am sorry for what I did to Snape, it's just you don't realize the type of person he is."

"Excuse me? Are you suggesting I didn't know somebody who I've known since childhood?"

He looks unsure of how to answer for a second, but continues nonetheless, "No. I am saying that you only knew him as how he acted to you. To me and my friends, he has been nothing but cruel since day one, and he deserved that for what he did to Moony."

"I remember you being rude on the first day in the train when you insulted the entire Slytherin house." I say indignantly, "Wait," I start before he can answer, "What did he do to Remus?!"

"That's none of your business," he says coldly.

"He is my friend too! I could just ask him!"

Potter glares at me, "I am trying to apologize here, and you're questioning my loyalty to my friends?"

"I'm not!" I let out a sharp breath, and restart with a much quieter voice, "Potter, I have no proof of Snape being rude to any one of you."

"You have him calling you that word! What better proof do you need?!" Potter exclaims.

"That was one thing, and he has regretted it ever since."

"Oh yeah? Then why is he still hanging around Mulciber and Avery? They've used that word over and over again, and I'd bet my whole Chocolate frog card collection that they don't regret it."

I fix him with a sharp glare, "It doesn't matter what he did, he was my friend, and you shouldn't have humiliated or hurt him like that!"

Potter's eyes flash with fury, and he says coldly, "Good to know where your loyalties lie. I'd ask Lupin about what Snape did if I were you. I should've hurt the heartless bastard for it."

With that, Potter storms off back into the party, leaving me alone in the hallway. I clench my fists, and start walking to the owlery. I just need to get as far away from Potter as possible. I'm on the third floor when I hear the distinct sound of voices. I want to leave them, and just continue my walk to the owlery, but I am a Prefect, even if I'm off duty.

I sigh and turn down the corridor, "It's past curfew! You need to go back to your dorm rooms!"

I see one classroom with a light still on, and sure enough, that is where the voices are coming from. I grasp the door handle, and pull the door open, but before I can see who's in there, somebody outside yells "Stupefy!" and I fall face down to the floor.

I hear a familiar voice screech, "What was that?!" but in my stunned state, I am unable to place it.

"Blindfold her!" the stunner from the hallway calls to the people in the room.

I hear the rustle of a cloth, and then I hear 4 pairs of footsteps leave the classroom, followed by the fifth pair about a minute later.

Just great. Now nobody is going to find and unstun me, unless by some chance somebody passes by the third corridor this weekend. Or if the Prefect's haven't done their rounds yet. Oh who am I kidding. It's probably 11 by now. I'm trapped here. Mary, Alice, and Cas would look for me right?

I hear a voice come from behind me, "Oh I thought I saw a trail of nargles leading up here. What are you doing on the floor?"

A Ravenclaw with dirty blonde hair flips me rightside up, and I try to thank her, but I'm still unable to move my mouth.

"Oh! How silly of me! Rennervate."

I quickly stand up and wrap her in a hug, "Oh thank Merlin! I was worried I'd be stuck there all weekend. What's your name?"

"I'm Pandora. And you?"

"I'm Lily," I smile, "What are you doing out of bed?"

"Oh, I just like to walk around the castle at night. The wrackspurts are much calmer at night. Though, the nargles are still very present with you. I'm guessing it has something to do with why you were stunned on the floor."

"And what are wrackspurts and nargles?"

Pandora smiles at me, "Wrackspurts are creatures that make your brain go all fuzzy, and nargles are just creatures attracted to drama and trouble."

I cock my head, "How come I've never heard of them? I've read all about magical creatures."

"Well Lily, they're not visible to most. But, some people like me are able to see them and they help us see more."

I look at Pandora skeptically, "Can you show me?"

She looks thoughtful, "I could try. I've never tried before though. Nobody has ever believed me."

"Well, it sounds kind of insane." I admit.

She laughs, "I know, people are hesitant to believe that which they can't see."

"And I see why you were sorted into Ravenclaw," I smile, "Do you want to try showing me now? Or do you need a spell or something?"

Pandora grabs my hands, and places both mine and hers at my temples. Then she whispers, "Okay, close your eyes. Path ent et oculi." She removes her hands, "Open them, if it'll work this way, it should've worked."

I open my eyes and gasp, "Woah."

"Can you see them?" Pandora asks excitedly.

"My entire body is lit up with little bugs! Oh! And there are some flying animals by your head! They look like miniature birds but with a dragon's tail? Or something.. I don't know how to describe them!"

"You can see them!" Pandora wraps me in a hug, "I can't believe that actually worked."

"Neither can I," I mutter as one of the bird-like creatures lands on my hand.

"That's Ann," Pandora says, "She's a wrackspurt. And then, the glittering bug-like creature on your body are nargles."

"This is insane!" I exclaim, "Will this last forever?"

"I don't think so," Pandora shakes her head, "but, I might be able to teach you how to work up to the sight of them. I know that I wasn't born able to see them. My grandmum taught me."

"Merlin could you!" I squeal, "You at least have to teach me how to decipher what they mean!"

Pandora smiles, "Yeah, of course I will Lily. It's really simple. For instance, I can tell from the amount of nargles on you that you just had a run-in with trouble, and from your wrackspurts, I can tell that you've had an argument recently, but wish you could make up with them. And, I can tell that you've lost something?"

My jaw drops, "that is insane. You are magical, and not just in the normal witch magic way."

"It's not really me, the wrackspurts and nargles are the ones who know what's going on with you, I just learn from them."

"Even then, I think it's amazing. You were right about everything. I had an argument with James Potter, and I feel bad about it. And, I lost my necklace. I don't know what happened that caused me to be stunned though. I just heard voices and the next thing I know, I'm stunned flat on the ground."

"Well, I'm sorry I can't help you with figuring out what caused you to be stunned, but if you ever want help "deciphering" James, I'll gladly help."

"Thanks Pandora. You know, I'm honestly glad I got stunned. I don't know how we've never got to talking before."

She smiles at me, "That's sweet of you Lily. I generally try not to stick out in class. It keeps the other kids from making fun of me."

My expression softens, "Pandora, you shouldn't have to do that. Who you are isn't their problem, and if they make fun of you, I'll back you up, anytime."

"Thanks." She says, "Well, I best get to bed. It's late."

"Yeah, me too. Thanks for everything Pandora. I hope I'll see you soon."

"Sure thing Lily. And, about your necklace, it may not help you now, but things we lose have a way of coming back to us in the end, if not always in the way we expect."

Pandora waves goodbye, and she walks off towards the Ravenclaw tower.

Author's Note: And that is the 9th chapter, which I kind of procrastinated on. But, it is finished, and this is it. In Latin, Vale..? Enjoy the next chapter if it is posted, and have a wonderful day/night :)