"Phillip Finnigan! If you're late today, I swear, I'll murder you in your sleep!"

"Keep your knickers on, Captain. I'll be there!" Phillip shouts through the bathroom door.

"I'm holding you to that!" I grab my broom and exit the room, slamming the door behind me. I haven't really been in the best of frame of mind recently, but hopefully today will improve my mood.

The past two weeks have been a mixture of struggling through my classes, attempting to keep my cool while Meredith is around, and trying to avoid Julia. After the scene in the Great Hall on the first day of school, my social reputation doesn't seem to be hurt too terribly bad by the cheating story. Unfortunately, the Felix 'scandal' has, indeed, been going through the painfully efficient underground rumor mill at Hogwarts, assuring everyone's knowledge of the falsehood.

There hasn't been an official accusation, but, even if it was an accident, Julia's best play was keeping this rumor lower key. The story has changed a lot from the original one I heard (as is expected after being passed around by so many people), but the core is the same: I've been cheating at Quidditch since fifth year. Thinking about this makes me angry all over again and I grip my broom harder.

I aim a kick at a nearby bench. "Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow!" My eyes start to water and I hop around on one foot waiting for the pain to ease.

"You know," a voice behind me starts. "Kicking stone benches is considered a bad idea by most people."

I turn around and see Meredith walking up behind me, a bemused look on her face. "Hey Mer…" I feel the heat coming to my face. I do stupid stuff all the time, but the idea of Meredith seeming me right now makes me more embarrassed than normal. I'm supposed to be past the whole rumor situation. That's what I've been telling everyone, anyway.

"What did that bench ever do to you?" She asks as I regain my ability to stand correctly. We start walking towards the pitch again. "Look, I know you're still bothered by what Julia said." I open my mouth to protest, but she interjects, "Don't try to deny it, James. You haven't been yourself, lately."

I sigh and screw up my face. She would know. She always knows. "Fine, but don't say anything about it, okay? I'm supposed to be being a man about this."

"A man?" Mer rolls her eyes. "You mean you're supposed to be stubborn git and not ask for anyone's help?" She looks at me expectantly and I finally laugh. It felt good to let off a little of the burden that was weighing me down with laughter.

"Whatever, Mer," I say as we walk onto the pitch. "Be careful, or you may not be back on the team."

Meredith and I look over the field at the large group assembled. None of them look particularly impressive. "Right, Captain," Mer says sarcastically, patting me on the shoulder. "Good luck with that," and she walked away with a smug look on her face, to join Fred, Lorcan, and Lysander.

Smirking and shaking my head, I glance at my watch: three minutes before start time. I turn my head towards the pitch entrance and see Phillip and Roger running as fast as they can onto the field. At least they're on time. I direct my attention to the large trial group. "Welcome to Gryffindor Quidditch Team trials. Most of you probably already know that I'm James Potter, and I'm the Captain."

I hear a few giggles from the back of the pack. Several fourth and fifth year girls wave flirtatiously and I smile, causing the giggling to continue louder. Something nicks my ear painfully and I turn around and see Mer throwing a pebble in the air and giving me a look. Clearing my throat, I move on. "Right, so… You all know that the team from last year is still here, but I haven't assured them any positions. That being said, if any of you out-flies and out-plays any of the people standing behind me, you could win yourself a starting position."

An excited murmur flitted over the crowd and I hold up my hand for silence. "Alright. Now, I'm going to divide you into groups. Lorcan, how many are here, today?"

"34, James, including us," he replies, gesturing himself and the five others standing behind me.

"Great. I want everyone to quickly sort yourselves into which positions you are aiming to play. Line up as Chasers on this side, then Beaters, Keepers, and Seekers on this side."

Minimal chaos leads to an organized group of players. Unsurprisingly, the chaser group is the largest with half the group standing on the far side. A handful of Beaters and Keepers surround the Scamanders and Fred, but Meredith is standing on the far side, alone.

Mer holds her arms out beside her and tilts her head as if to say 'looks like you're stuck with me.' She really is cute. I cross my arms and stare at the ground in response, shaking my head in mock disappointment.

"Hullo! James! We're waiting on you." I turn my attention back to the trials.

I switch into Captain Mode. "It looks like the chasers are our biggest group, so I'm going to work with them first and we'll go down the line." I grab the case of Quidditch gear Fred brought out for me and open the lid adding, "Mer, I'm letting out the Snitch, so you can go ahead and do your own thing, today, since you're alone." I release the small gold orb and I watch Mer mount her broom and fly off after it out of the corner of my eye.

I proceed to direct the Chasers through several simple flying drills and can quickly weed out several younger students who have obviously not been flying for very long. The giggling girls were all in this group, but they could actually fly pretty well. I throw the Quaffle in my arms to Phillip.

"We're going to do some tossing drills, now. Line up in the air in two lines facing each other." The players followed my command immediately. "Now, throw to anyone along the line except the person immediately to your left or right. Pay attention to the ball!"

As soon as I finish this, Phillip tosses the Quaffle down the line where Roger makes a spectacular catch. I smirk. Show offs. As the drill goes on, naturally becoming faster and more difficult as the players gain confidence, there are several drops and some very impressive saves. I fly down the lines casually and occasionally ask a player to stop and try again next year as they drop or misthrow the Quaffle.

The group dwindles to six before too long and I call an end to the drill. The remaining players had managed to catch every Quaffle thrown at them and had fairly good accuracy in throwing, Roger and Phillip being a part of them. "Thanks, Chasers! I want you to sit tight for a little bit as I sort out the Beaters and Keepers." The Chasers land and sit on the grass of the pitch.

The Beaters and Keepers proceed in a very similar way. During the initial drills, I watch Meredith fly over the pitch and do several incredible dives. I couldn't tell if she was diving for the snitch or just for the hell of it, but either way, it was impressive.

Another drill later, the Beaters and Keepers have shrunk to four and three remaining. I'm pleased to see my team performing well. So far, I haven't noticed any player better than any of the vets.

I bring the six remaining Chasers over to the Beaters and Keepers. I set up two different Quidditch teams from the players (I instruct Fred to wait on the sideline for the time being while I check out the other two. Oddly he didn't seem to have a problem with this). "Team one: you're on the right side of the pitch. Team two: you're on the left. I'm only letting out one Bludger, but Beaters, you better be on your guard! Go until I say stop."

The two teams set up in the air and I throw the Quaffle for them to start the game. Roger catches it easily and flies down to the Phillip's team's hoops. I fly through the game, watching each player, not as they are active, but while they are idle.

I watch the Keeper on Roger's team as she spaces out in front of the hoops, twirling some hair around her finger. She perks up when she hears the opposing team coming back, but her concentration isn't there and the Chaser is able to make the shot past her, easily.

Suddenly, I get a sense to move and I fly to the right just in time for the released Bludger to fly past me, scarily close. One of the Beaters flies up behind me. "That was awfully lucky of you, Potter." I whip around to look at him. He looks pissed. The anger, which has been lurking just under the surface recently, flares up as I watch him look me over with a scowl.

"What the hell do you mean by that?" I ask coolly. I'm praying it's not what I think.

"I thought you were bigger than that, Potter. I guess the rumor really is true."

"Oh wow," I say sarcastically. "I dodged! Anyone could have done that!"

"Anyone could have avoided a Bludger shot from five feet away when their back was turned?"

Five feet away? Wait… "Did you just shoot that at my back?"

"Honestly, Potter, I think that's the least of your worries."

My mouth sets and I glare at him. "What's your name?"

"Liam Harris." My eyes widen slightly in recognition. Harris was the sixth year Julia had been flirting with at the feast.

"You're out. Leave the pitch. Immediately."

"Gladly," he hisses. Harris lands and stalks off the field. I land near Fred soon after, still glaring in his wake.

"What was that about?" Fred walks up and then takes a step back. "Whoa, mate. You might want to loosen that grip." I look down and see my gloves stretching as I clench the handle on my broom in a death grip. I release the broom and shake out my hands, allowing the muscles to relax.

"Julia really is determined to ruin my life isn't she?" Fred looks at me questioningly. I take a deep breath before finally saying, "That girl keeping for Roger's team is cut. Take her spot, will you?"

"Yeah, sure James." Fred mounts his broom and pauses briefly to look curiously in the direction Harris went before flying down the field and telling the Keeper she's cut. She instantly bursts into tears, but is, amazingly, still able to land alright.

I glare once more in the direction Harris disappeared to, but find myself glaring at a familiar face who seems genuinely startled to see me looking at her. Well… I am glaring and she probably thinks that it's directed at her. Before I can try to make an apologetic look, she turns and leaves the pitch.

What was she doing here? Maybe a friend was trying out?

Shrugging, I mount my own broom and fly into the air. Meredith flies up to me, Snitch clutched easily in her left hand. "What was the deal with Harris? I thought you were going to deck him for a second."

"I probably should have… the prat." I don't really feel like explaining what happened. Meredith seems to get the picture and doesn't ask.

"Well, I wouldn't be complaining. He's a right arse." We watch the teams play a little longer commenting on the players. I love being able to talk to her easily now. I still get those same feelings when I'm with her, but I've mastered the physical reaction… most of the time.

After ten minutes of watching, it's pretty obvious my team outshines the others. The score wasn't close, considering one of the teams was a beater short, but the playing didn't suffer overall. I shout for everyone to land to tell my decision. Meredith had, thankfully, reminded me of the other's names as we watched.

"Great job, everyone. I was impressed by how some of you performed. I've decided the line-up, but just know that you wouldn't be standing here if I didn't think you did well enough to be considered for the team. For Chaser, Phillip and Roger will be joining me again," Phillip and Roger give each other high fives and the other four Chaser's faces fall. "Our reserve for this year will be Harry Long."

Long's face (I refuse to call him Harry… that would be a little too weird for me since he was most likely named after Dad) rises again and he joined Phillip and Roger for high fives as well.

"Parks, Wright, Barker: you three did really well. I'm serious when I say that you should try again next year.

"For Beaters, Lorcan and Lysander will returning on the starting line-up and Kipp will be the reserve. That leaves the Keeper. Fred will be starting and Vale will be reserve."

I look at the official team in front of me and I am rather pleased, when Meredith says next to me, "Aren't you forgetting someone, Captain?"

I look Mer up and down before saying, "Nope, I think I've covered everything."

Her eyes flash mischievously as she smirks. "Well I guess the team can go without a Seeker, then," she threatens and turns her back and heads to the locker rooms.

"Noooooooooooooooo…" I mock whine after her and I run and grab her arm with both my hands. I sigh and say, "Fine! Our Seeker is the fabulous Meredith Blount who caught the Snitch three times while the trials were going on because she is just so amazing and perrrrrrfect and-"

"Alright! That's enough," and she looks pointedly at the rest of the team. "I may be the only girl on this team, but I'm not taking any crap from anyone. These guys already know that," she points to the vets, "but I just want to make it clear that I better get the same respect anyone else gets." The new reserves look positively startled by her outburst and nod their heads in acknowledgement.

"Great, Mer. Scaring the rookies, already," Roger says exasperatedly.

"They're going to quit before we even have the first practice at this rate," Fred adds, winking at Meredith.

"Watch it, Weasley. Don't forget what happened to Jordan last year."

Fred gasps in mock horror. "No! I'm sorry, Mer. Forgive me, your majesty. I won't ever cross you again-" Meredith rolls her eyes and walks away. Fred follows her closely, continuing his speech in the same vein.

"C'mon, guys," I say to the now bewildered new reserves, "I'll show you the locker rooms."

"That bastard!"

Phillip, Roger, Fred, Mer and I are hanging back in the locker rooms and Fred had asked why Harris left so suddenly. I had just finished telling them what had happened and Phillip had stood up and punched a locker. It couldn't have been very hard, though, because he didn't cry out in pain. I have experience in punching lockers; it hurts like hell when you do it full-on and Phillip is bit of a pansy when it comes to pain.

"Phil, please don't wreck the lockers," Mer says, casually. "I kind of fancy having a place to keep my stuff."

"How are you not freaking out about this?" Phillip asks, frustrated.

"What's the big deal if he thinks James is cheating, too? Anyone who gets suckered by Julia deserves to be ignored." I cringe at the truth in her words. "No offense meant to you, James." I just shrug. I have to live with the reality that I dated Julia Carter and was stupid enough to do so with a girl as amazing as Meredith right in front of my face.

"The big deal is, Mer," says Roger, who looked as upset as Phillip, "is that Liam Harris's mother is Assistant Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports!"

Wow… I didn't even know that.

Mer is quiet for a moment. "Why would that matter? Why would they waste time investigating a stupid accusation for school league Quidditch?"

"They could have the power of the Magical Law Enforcement Patrol and the Department of Magical Games and Sports behind them," Fred explains nastily. "Symphony Brooks's father holds a lot of sway over what the M.L.E. investigates and when." Mer and I look at each other, both, for the first time, feeling the gravity of the situation. Brooks is one of Julia's cronies. "It doesn't mean they're actually going to try, but it also doesn't mean they're not. However, you can bet Uncle Harry will be fighting it."

That eases my worry, slightly. Dad being Head of the Auror Office has to count for something. "Can we talk about something else? This is starting to stress me out."

Meredith leans back against the lockers, stretching her arms over her head. I watch her slender body tense and then relax attractively, and then quickly look away when I see Fred looking sideways at me.

"So… Mer," Fred starts conversationally. "I hear from someone that you have a boyfriend."

Meredith, mid-stretch, slipped off the bench we were sharing in surprise. My heart seems to stop suddenly and I try my hardest to avoid any kind of reaction. I know Fred is looking at me. He's been catching me staring at Meredith a lot. Admittedly, I have been staring at her a lot. I can't help it. She honestly is really, very, undeniably attractive.

But a boyfriend? I'm sure Fred's just testing me to see how I react, so I hold it in.

"What? Mer," I hear Roger say next to me. "Why didn't you tell us?" I am staring fixedly at the floor, trying not to show any emotion and listening hard.

She rubs the back of her head where it hit the bench when she fell. "Ow…" The team keeps staring at her expectantly and I pretend not to be interested. "Oh, sod off. I don't have a boyfriend." I release the breath I didn't know I was holding. She doesn't have a boyfriend. I knew Fred was just messing with me.

"Really, now?" Fred continues. I feel eyes darting over to me as he says, "Well, if you don't have a boyfriend, who was that guy I saw you with last week?"

I can't stop my reaction this time. My brow furrows and I whip my head around to see a blushing and panicked Meredith. No… no, no, no.

"What are you talking about?" She tries to brush it off, but she's already betrayed herself.

"You know, Mer. Last Tuesday night… The little alcove coming into the Charms Corridor..."

Meredith sits and gapes at Fred. "How did you-"

"Come, now, Mer. I'm the son of the George Weasley: one of the sneakiest wizards to roam the halls of Hogwarts. I know how to get around unseen."

So Fred wasn't just trying to solicit a reaction from me. He actually did see her…

"Come on, then," Phillip urges. "Who's the boyfriend?"

"Oh! I bet Fred knows!" Roger shouts triumphantly, turning to him. "Who is it?" Mer looks sharply at Fred, eyes betraying her fear. She really doesn't want us to know.

"I didn't see who it was, just that there was somebody," Fred admits. Meredith visibly relaxes, though her face is still in the process of mimicking a tomato. "But Mer will surely tell her best mates."

"Listen, guys: he is not my boyfriend. I've just met him a couple of times. That's all." Meredith's blush is complete and she's avoiding eye contact.

"Stop dodging the question, woman," Roger puts it, the edge of a tease in his voice. "Who is it?"

No! Please… I don't want to know.

"Shut it, all of you. I'm not telling. I know you guys are just going to have a go at him and I won't let you do that unless he actually becomes my boyfriend." So that's that. She's not going to tell us. My feelings are mixed over this.

"Just don't let him mess you around, yeah?" Phillip says with a laugh.

He meant it jokingly, but Meredith's eyes narrowed and she finally looked him in the eye, saying scathingly, "Thanks, Phil. I'll keep that in mind," before stalking out and slamming the door behind her.

The smiles fall from Phillip's and Roger's faces and they look to me with the same question on their mind: what the hell was that about? Fred is sitting with his eyes closed and his mouth set. He takes a breath and stands.

"We better get back up to bed. We've got Defense tomorrow morning."

"Good morning, Sunshine." My head slips off my palm and I almost land face-first into the porridge I had been picking at. I blink a few times as I get my bearings. I'm still in the Great Hall before class Monday morning. Meredith is sitting next to me with her fist propping up her head looking very amused. "Aren't you just the epitome of cheerfulness this fine day?"

I'd had a lot of trouble getting to sleep last night just thinking about Meredith and some faceless guy she was seeing. Not to mention her scathing exit from the locker rooms. Roger, Phillip, and I had tried to talk about it on the way back last night, but Fred's silence quelled any budding discussion about her response to Phillip's jest. Instead, I had lain in bed, staring at the canopy and trying not to think of the jerk that Meredith was dating. Needless to say, I wasn't successful and ended up staying awake for several hours, brooding.

"Morning, Mer," I mumble before spooning porridge into my mouth. It came out more like a moan. Mer seems as normal as ever this morning, so whatever was bothering her last night must have passed.

Meredith laughs and pinches my cheek. "Aww… poor 'ickle Jamesie is tired. Did you stay up all night thinking about how you couldn't live without your all-star Seeker?"

Yes.

I just let out another moan, not trying to say anything this time, and Mer laughs again. She's about to say something else, but she's interrupted as a small third year girl comes up behind up and clears her throat, politely.

"James Potter, I was told to give you this." She holds out a small scroll and gives a little gasp as my hand grazes hers.

"Thanks," I say thickly as I pull the note out of her hand and she just stands there with her hand slightly outstretched, shaking slightly. "Er…" I was about to turn around and open the letter, but the girl spoke again.

"Elizabeth."

"Oh… Thanks, Elizabeth." I smile at the girl called Elizabeth and she looks like she's about to faint as she nods quickly and rushes out of the Hall.

"Geez, Potter," Meredith says, rolling her eyes. "You really have a way with the ladies don't you?"

"What do you mean?" I hold up the small scroll she had handed me. "She just gave me this note."

Meredith cocks an eyebrow. "What was the whole thing with you asking her name?"

"When did I ask for her name?"

Meredith shakes her head at me. "Just read the note, dumb arse."

I break the seal and read the short contents. My blood turns to ice and the meager contents of my stomach churn in instant nerves. I hand the note to Mer who had watched the change in my manner and now looks very concerned.

"What's up with James?" Roger says lightly. "He looks like Quidditch just got cancelled." The churning intensifies and I use all my willpower to keep myself from vomiting.

Meredith responds for me, but I don't really hear what she's saying. All I can think of is the short message I just read.

Mr. Potter,

Please report to the Headmistress's office immediately upon receipt of this notice for a matter concerning official Ministry business.

Sincerely,

Professor M. McGonagall

Headmistress, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry