Chapter 31
True to his word Oliver did not say a word to anyone about what had happened in the bathroom. If Patricia and Percy wondered why
Oliver put his body in between Meredith and Flint whenever the prat walked into the room or why Meredith no longer used the Prefect's
bathroom they did not ask questions. When he was not playing bodyguard over Meredith, Oliver was working tirelessly getting his team
ready for Saturday's game against Slytherin. It seemed that Oliver was taking her attack very personally and was determined to get back
at Flint. To take her mind off of it Meredith was working tirelessly at her studies. She spent countless hours in the library, always
accompanied by Patricia or Percy. Though Oliver would not tell them why he had insisted that one of them be with Meredith at all times and
they were good enough friends that they had not questioned the request.
"Looks like your off the hook as Snape's least favorite person," Patricia said as the Potions teacher passed back their essays. Meredith
glanced at her mark. She'd gotten an O. Under normal circumstances she would have been thrilled and shot Snape a gloating look. But she
just didn't have it in her today.
"From what I've heard Snape's new favorite target is Harry Potter," Patricia said. Meredith said nothing for Flint had just come into the
room. He did nothing more than shoot her a filthy look but it was enough to send a shiver down her spine.
"Meredith, what is wrong?" Patricia asked her as they made they're way down to the Great Hall that evening for the Halloween Feast.
"What do you mean?" Meredith said nonchalantly. Patricia turned and put out a hand to stop Meredith.
"You got an outstanding on your potions essay and didn't even crack a smile. You get all twitchy whenever Flint enters the room. Oliver's
got you under twenty-four hour guard. I'm not blind Mere. Something's bothering you." Meredith looked up and met her friend's eye. She
nearly flinched under the intense stare.
"It's nothing," Meredith said evasively.
"It's something," Patricia said. "Please Mere." Meredith felt a slight ache in her heart. She and Patricia had never had any secrets from
each other, well with one exception. But what Flint had done was just so humiliating and she was ashamed to admit to anyone what she
had allowed to almost happen.
"I can't tell you," Meredith said sadly. Patricia looked shocked and hurt.
"We're friends," Patricia said softly. "Blood sisters." She held up her hand, the scar where Meredith had sliced her palm years ago was
faint but still there.
"What can't you tell me?" Patricia asked. Meredith looked away. A tear was starting to fill her eye. Patricia sighed.
"Oliver knows?" Patricia asked finally. Meredith nodded. Patricia looked thoughtful.
"Is he the only one?"
"Yeah," Meredith said. Patricia looked shocked. Patricia did not say anything for a long time.
"You were not hurt?" she said finally. Meredith looked at her strangely. Patricia was looking at her with concern now.
"No," she said. "Oliver got there before anything…" she stopped. She had said too much.
"I'm always here, you know that don't you?" Patricia said with finality in her voice.
"I know," Meredith said sincerely. Patricia nodded and Meredith knew the discussion was closed. They continued on their way neither
saying a word. Meredith's heart was heavy in her chest. She knew that it was hurting her friend that she did not confide in her. Perhaps
she would one day, but now the pain was still too close. She felt tears sting her eyes again and ducked into the girl's bathroom.
"Go on," she called to Patricia, "I'll catch up." She went to the sink and splashed some cold water on her face. She stared at her reflection
in the mirror. She looked so sad and so tired.
"This is not who you are," she thought to herself. She cupped some cold water in her hands and splashed it onto her face. She dried off
her face and turned to leave. Suddenly a small girl with bushy brown hair hurried into the bathroom and into a stall. Meredith heard the
sound of crying from inside the stall. She slowly went to the door and knocked.
"Hermione?" she said softly. "Hermione are you all right?" There was no answer just the sound of sniffling. Realizing that Hermione was
most likely not going to be coming out anytime soon Meredith stepped into the stall beside her. She stepped up onto the toilet and peered
down into the stall. Hermione looked up at her, her eyes red and puffy.
"What's going on?" Meredith asked casually. Hermione ran a hand over her eyes.
"No one likes me," Hermione sniffled. Meredith pressed her lips together. She did not know the girl very well, but she had heard things
about her. None of them very positive, mostly about how she was a bossy, know it all.
"I see," Meredith said. "Why do you think that is?"
"Just because I'm better at spells and I don't go around breaking all the school rules." Meredith tapped her fingers against the stall.
"You want some advice Hermione?" she asked. The girl nodded.
"If you want people to like you, you need to lighten up a little. People don't like being constantly told what to do."
"You're telling me to break the rules?" Hermione said in shock. "You're a PREFECT!" Meredith laughed.
"I've spent some time in detention, and I've lost more than my fair share of house points. I'm not perfect. Perfect is boring. Trust me on
this Hermione."
"Maybe you have a point," Hermione said softly.
Meredith left Hermione in the bathroom and went down to the feast. Though she hadn't had much of an appetite lately she found herself
unable to resist the delicious food that covered the tables.
"Looks like you've got your appetite back," Patricia observed. Meredith smiled. Everyone in the great hall jumped as the doors to the great
hall flew open and a very scared looking Professor Quirrell burst into the room.
"TROLL IN THE DUNGEON!" he shouted and promptly fainted.
"They let this guy teach Defense Against the Dark Arts," Meredith marveled for a moment before it truly dawned on her what he had said.
The room went into panic. Students were screaming and jumping around.
"Everyone just calm down!" she tried to shout over the din. Though she was just as scared as anyone she was a prefect and it was her
duty to try to keep order.
"SILENCE!!" Everyone froze as Dumbledore's roar drown out the screaming in the great hall.
"Everyone do not panic." Dumbledore said calmly in his normal voice. "Prefects will lead your houses to the dormitories immediately." Percy
snapped to attention
"Everyone follow me! Stay together now!" Meredith held back to take the rear of the line so no one got lost.
"No need to fear," she said to a terrified looking first year girl. "The teachers will take care of the troll." Suddenly a horrible thought
occurred to her. She looked through the crowd for a familiar blonde head.
"Patricia," she shouted when she saw her friend toward the front of the line. Patricia hurried to her side.
"What!" she said breathlessly.
"Take the back of the line," she said hurrying off. "Make sure no one gets lost."
"Where are you going?" Patricia called after her frantically.
"Hermione Granger's missing," she called over her shoulder. "I've got to inform McGonagall!" She raced through the halls searching for her
Head of House. She found her coming up from the dungeons accompanied by Snape and Quirrell.
"Professor McGonagall," she called rushing up to her.
"Miss Lupin!" McGonagall snapped. "Why in heavens name…"
"Hermione Granger ma'am," Meredith broke in before McGonagall could scold her further.
"She's not with the other Gryffindors" McGonagall looked alarmed for a moment then it was gone and she was stone faced once again.
"Thank you for telling us Miss Lupin. We will deal with this. Please go to your commonroom and look after the other students." Meredith
nodded. She ran through the halls and up the stairs to the Fat Lady's portrait.
"Caput Draconis," she huffed out of breath. The portrait swung open and Meredith crawled through. Everyone was sitting in the
commonroom. The feast had been brought up and the only sounds were of chewing and swallowing. Percy, attempting to look calm came
up to her.
"Meredith," he said very quietly. "Are Ron and Harry with you?" Meredith's eyes widened.
"No," she said. "Why? Aren't they here."
"No," Percy said trying not to sound frantic. "I took a head count of everyone here and there are three people missing. Ron, Harry and…"
"Hermione," Meredith finished for him. Before either of them could say another word the portrait hole swung open again and a very dirty
and disheveled trio of Harry, Ron and Hermione climbed in.
"Where have the three of you been?" Percy demanded. The three exchanged a look.
"I went looking for the troll," Hermione said. "I thought I could handle it myself, but I was wrong. Harry and Ron came after me and saved
my life." Meredith pursed her lips. There was something a little too rehearsed about Hermione's statement, added to the fact that Meredith
knew Hermione had not been at the feast. Ron and Harry were very straight faced as Hermione explained.
"McGonagall already read us the riot act, Percy," Ron said as Percy opened his mouth.
"Well," Meredith said. "The three of you best get to bed." They nodded and scurried away. Meredith could not help noticing the look
shared between Hermione and the two boys before they parted company.
"Well Hermione," Meredith thought with a wry smile. "You wanted friends. I think you just gained two."
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The first Quidditch match of the season finally arrived. Meredith ate very little at breakfast that morning. It was a cold morning and
Meredith had to done an extra sweater before joining Percy and Patricia in the stands.
"I'm surprised to see you here," Patricia said as Meredith took the seat next to her. Meredith grimaced. She did not usually attend the
Quidditch matches. She liked to take advantage of the time when the common room was empty to study. But she had a personal stake in
the outcome of this match.
"It's Oliver's first match as Captain. I want to be here to support him." Patricia gave her an odd look but did not comment. Meredith's fist
tightened as the green robed Slytherin team flew out onto the pitch amidst a chorus of boos from the Gryffindor stand. She stood up and
clapped with everyone as Gryffindor's team flew out. She caught sight of Oliver as he flew past the stands. She could see the
determination in his face. She knew that this match was just as personal for him as it was for her. She held her breath as the match
began. Gryffindor played well. Oliver had trained his players to the point where they were nearly in sync with each other. There was
almost a beautiful fluidity in the way the Chasers passed the quaffle to each other. Meredith grinned as Flint was whacked with a bludger
sent by one of the twins. She held her breath as a Slytherin Chaser stole the quaffle and leapt to her feet with everyone else when Oliver
saved it. She shouted in anger as Flint rammed into Harry blocking him as he tried to make a grab for the snitch. Gryffindor was allowed a
penalty shot. She gritted her teeth hard as Slytherin scored. She glanced upward where Harry was flying around seeking the Snitch. Only
it didn't seem that Harry was flying at the moment. He was jerking around on his broomstick, it seemed he had lost control.
"What the…" Meredith murmured. She grabbed a set of binoculars from a protesting second year.
"Oh Merlin," she cursed.
"What?" Patricia asked. Meredith handed her the binoculars. Meredith cringed as Harry was nearly thrown from the broomstick.
"What's going on with Harry's broomstick?" Patricia cried.
"I don't know," Meredith said squeezing her hands together. The twins were attempting to pull Harry onto their brooms but Harry's broom
kept jerking him out of reach.
"I didn't think Flint hit him that hard," Patricia said handing the binoculars to Meredith.
"He didn't," Percy said. "Even if he had, that's a Nimbus 2000 Harry's riding. No student could do that to a Nimbus 2000."
"Excuse me," Hermione said as she brushed past them. Meredith peered through the binoculars. She saw Oliver knock the quaffle away as
Flint tried to put it past them. Harry needed to get the snitch. She held her breath as she watched the broom try to throw him off. Then as
though nothing had happened the broom stopped jerking and Harry took off toward the Snitch.
"Come on," Meredith whispered. "Come on, come on, come on." The crowd was on its feet cheering Harry on. He suddenly clapped his
hand to his mouth and hit the ground on all fours.
"Is he sick?" Patricia cried. Meredith gasped in shock as Harry spit something gold into his hands.
"Harry Potter has caught the snitch!" Lee Jordan shouted. "Gryffindor wins!"
"YES!" Meredith shouted jumping up and down. Percy and Patricia were hugging. The Gryffindors were streaming out to the pitch. Meredith
ran over to Oliver who was hugging Harry.
"Hey," he said giving her a hug. "Flint's not gonna forget this one." Meredith glanced over to where Flint was screaming at Madam Hooch.
"He didn't catch it. He nearly swallowed it!" Meredith grinned. This was a good day!