XxMrsRadcliffexX: This chap is just a filler cause MaidenDark and I have been extremly busy with a lot of other stuff. So sorry! The next chap will be better. We promise!
MaidenDark: Completely by the book…'cept I made Sam listen to Hagrid's explanation about Hiprogriffs instead of Harry…
XxMrsRadcliffexX: Anyways..on with the disclaimer!
MaidenDark: Who's the lucky((coughunluckycough)) one today??
XxMrsRadcliffexX: ((takes out a piece of paper)) According to our list, next in line is…. (drumroll) RON!!
Ron: Meep!
MaidenDark: ((glared)) Meep? Get on with it Ronald!
Ron: ((glares back)) Yes yes we do not belong to this two girls ((coughlunaticscough)) writing this story. So there.
XxMrsRadcliffexX: Hey! I heard that lunatics remark! You're gonna get it Ronald Weasley!!
Ron: Ooooh! I'm scared! Whatcha gonna do? Huh?
XxMrsRadcliffexX: ((takes out a rubber spider))
Ron: AAAHHH!!! SPIDER!! ((runs away screaming))
Chapter 3: Filler
Samantha entered the Great Hall for breakfast the next day, and the first thing she saw was Draco teasing Harry about another Dementor with a large group of Slytherins. There was a roar of laughter when she saw Hermione ushering Ron and Harry away, telling them to ignore the Slytherins.
"New second-year timetables." Said George, passing one to Samantha and Alice, who had came down later. Harry, Ron and Hermione had gotten theirs from him too.
"What's up with you, Harry?"
"Malfoy." Said Ron, sitting down on Hermione's side and glaring over at the Slytherin table.
George and Samantha looked up in time to see Malfoy pretending to faint with terror again.
"That little git." He said calmly. "He wasn't so cocky last night when the Dementors were down our end of the train. Came running into our compartment, didn't he, Fred?"
"Nearly wet himself." Said Fred, with a contemptuous glance at Malfoy.
"I wasn't too happy myself." Said George. "They're horrible things, those Dementors…"
"Sort of freezes you insides, don't they?" said Fred.
"You didn't pass out though, did you?" said Harry in a low voice.
"Actually I did." Samantha said, taking a piece of toast. Everyone, excluding Alice, Fred and George looked at her.
"Oh…" Harry said, apparently relieved that he wasn't the only one who fainted.
After that, the morning passed without further disturbance, and Samantha, Ginny and Alice made their way to Cares of Magical Creatures. The golden trio had Divination, while the twins had Defense against Dark Arts.
"Hagrid, what are we learning today?" Samantha asked, trying to keep up with the half giant.
"Well, I'll go an' get 'em now see?" he said cheerfully, leading the second years near his hut. There was a fencing and behind the fence were dozens of bizarre creatures that Samantha had never seen. They had the bodies, hind legs and tails of horses, but the front legs, wings and heads of what seemed to be giant eagles, with cruel, steel-coloured beaks and large, brilliantly orange eyes. The talons on their front legs were half a foot long and deadly looking. Each of the beasts had a thick leather collar around its neck, which was attached to a very long chain, and the ends of all these were held in the vast hands of Hagrid. Many mumurs and whispering were heard among the students, all terrified at the creatures. Hagrid chuckled.
"Hippogriffs! Don' worry 'bout goin near 'em. I only need yer to study them." He said, and the class calmed down. "O' course, if anyone is willing ter ride one…"
The students backed away immediately, except Samantha, Ginny and Alice. They came closer to the fence, while Hagrid explained how to ride one. Apparently, Hippogriffs were very proud and get offended easily, so a person would bow before waiting to see if it bows back, if it does, then it's safe to touch them. If it doesn't however, it would be best to back away slowly.
Samantha nodded after that, and followed Hagrid, as Alice and Ginny decided not to ride one. Alice said she rode before, it was a pleasant experience, but not one she would like to do over and over again.
"Now yer bow…" Hagrid said, as he untied one of the chains, pulled the grey Hippogriff away from his fellows and slipped of his leather collar. Samantha kept eye contact with it, like Hagrid had told her, and waited patiently after she bowed. When the Hipprogriff, Buckbeak didn't move, Hagrid got worried. Just as he was about to ask Samantha to back off slowly, it bowed back.
"Well done Sam! Now yeh can touch him! Pat his beak, go on."
Samantha smiled slightly as she patted his beak, and it closed its eyes lazily, as though enjoying it. The class applauded, some surprised and some were glad nothing happened. Alice and Ginny came up too, bowed and Buckbeak bowed back. Hagrid was glad the three tried out, and continued teaching after that, as Samantha had declined riding on it, fearing that something might happened though Hagrid assured her.
"I'll go on it next time, if you don't mind?" Samantha told Hagird before going into the castle.
"Yeh be welcome to Sam." He said, smiling behind his beard.
The days passed by quickly for Samantha without any trouble. She had fun in potions, even though it was taught by Snape. Alice and her enjoyed Defence Against the Dark Arts (DADA) with Ginny, Professor Lupin was a really good teacher. But two days after her first Care of Magical Creatures class, Harry told them Draco had been injured by Buckbeak.
"What?!" Samantha exclaimed, startled.
Harry nodded. "That git insulted Buckbeak, and you know what Hagrid said about insulting one. It attacked him."
"Nasty cut he got…" Ron mumbled, Hermione was quiet.
"They won't sack him…right?" she said timidly. No one said anything.
"Trust Malfoy to mess things up for him." Harry muttered as they headed back to dinner.
They spent the rest of dinner hoping to see Hagrid, but he didn't show up. Samantha was worried, but she could do nothing as she watched the golden trio as they walk across the grounds to Hagrid's hut.
"Come on Sam, we got homework to do." Alice said, pulling her away from the window.
Samantha nodded and followed the other two girls up the stairs to the common room.
"Malfoy showed up today." Ron said sourly as they entered the Great Hall. Samantha glanced over to the Slytherin table and saw Malfoy's hand in a cast and sling.
"Is it really that bad?" Ginny asked.
The trio shook their heads. "He's faking it, no doubt trying to get Hagrid sacked."
"That bastard…" Alice said under her breath. Everyone stared at her, no one had ever heard her insult anyone before.
"Swearing now are we?" a voice said, and they looked up to see Bill.
"Bill! What are you doing here?" Ron asked, surprised. Bill chuckled.
"Mum wants me to check on you guys."
No one was fooled though, everyone wanted to keep Harry safe. The five of them had already heard from Harry that Sirius Black was after him. If Black could get pass the Dementors at Azkaban, who knows if he could get through them at Hogwarts?
"Anyway," Bill coughed. "Charlie's back in Romania and I see Remus is here."
"You know Professor Lupin?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, he thought me a few things…"
Just then, an owl swoop down and perched on Bill's shoulder. He took the letter, patted the owl's beak and opened it. He sighed after reading and stuffed it back into his pocket.
"Well, I gotta run. See ya guys." He said, and walked out of the hall.
"He made it obvious, didn't he…" Harry said miserably.
"Don't worry bout it Harry, we want you to be safe too." Samantha said, patting him on the back.
"Alright, I'm going to the Quidditch pitch to fly around a bit before Oliver comes." Alice said, getting to her feet.
"I'll come with." Samantha started to say, but Alice held up her hand.
"You, will finish your lunch as we don't have anything else this afternoon. You have not been eating well."
Samantha pouted. "Yes mother." She muttered, and everyone laughed.
"Fred and George gave already went down, I'm sure Angelina is there too." Harry said as they watched Alice walked out.
"I wonder what's really going on with Alice and George…" Ginny said, while the rest agreed.
George was waiting outside the Great Hall when Alice came out. She smiled when she saw him and fell into step with him as he walked towards the Quidditch pitch.
"Do you think we'll be able to do it this year?" she asked him.
"Well, Oliver certainly wants the cup this year, and we've been having bad luck, as we haven't won the cup since Charlie was the 'Legendary Seeker'."
Alice giggled. "Then we must win it this year."
George chuckled and nodded. Just then, Fred and Angelina looked out from the changing rooms, seeing the two they immedietly ushered them in.
"Where's Harry and Sam?" Angelina asked. "Oliver's coming soon and he expects everyone to be here."
"Well they're…" Alice started, but the door opened that very minute.
"We're here!" Harry and Sam called, panting.
"What took you guys so long?" asked Fred
"Well, we would have gotten here sooner if someone hadnt forced me to eat." Said Sam shooting Alice a look.
"What? Do you wanna faint in the middle of practice Miss-I-Don't-Want-To-Listen-To-Alice-Eventhough-She-Only-Wants-What's-Best-For-Me?" Alice retorted.
Sam was just about to answer when the door swung open and their captain walked in.
As they settled down, Oliver Wood, a burly seventeen year old, now in his seventh and final year in Hogwarts made his way to the front of the room. There was a quiet sort of desperation in his voice as he addressed his six fellow team members in the chilly changing rooms on the edge of the Quidditch pitch.
"This is our last chance - my last chance - to win the Quidditch Cup." He told them, striding up and down in front of them. "I'll be leaving at the end of this year. I'll never get another shot at it."
"Gryffindor hasn't won for seven years now. OK, so we've had the worst luck in the world-injuries-then the tournament getting called off last year…" Wood swallowed, as though the memory still brought a lump to his throat. "But I also know that we've got the best – ruddy – team – in – the – school -" he said, puching a fist into his other hand, the old maniac glint back in his eyes.
"We've got three superb Chasers."
Wood pointed at Samantha Weasley, Angelina Johnson, and Alice Crystalkeep.
"We've got two unbeatable Beaters."
"Stop it, Oliver, you're embarassing us." Said Fred and George Weasley, pretending to blush.
"And we've got a seeker who has never failed to win us a match!" Wood mumbled, glaring at Harry with a kind of furious pride. "And me." He added, as an afterthought.
"We think you're very good too, Oliver." Said George.
"Cracking keeper." Said Fred.
"Amazing." Said Alice and Sam.
"The point is…" Wood went on, resuming his pacing. The Quidditch cup should have had our name on it these last two years. Ever since Harry joined the team, I've thought this thing was in the bad. But we haven't got it, and this year's the last chance we'll get to finally see our name on the thing…"
Wood spoke so dejectedly that even Fred and George looked symphatic.
"Oliver, this year's our year!" said Fred.
"We'll do it, Oliver!" said Angelina.
"Definitely!" Harry and Sam added.
Full of determination, the team started training sessions three evenings a week. The weather was getting colder and wetter, the nights darker, but no amount of mud, wind, or rain could tarnish the Gryffindors wonderful vision of winning the huge silver Quidditch cup.
Sam walked into the common room after Quidditch practise one day, having showered off the mud and rain. Alice was looking at something, while Harry looked disapponted.
"What's up?" she asked, walking towards Alice.
"Fisrt Hogsmeade weekend for the third years." Said Alice pointing at the notice board.
"Oh…" said Sam. "That explains Harry's mood."
Alice nodded. "Wish we were third years."
Sam giggled, patting Alice on the back. "Yeah well, we will be next year."
Alice nodded. "If I could, I'd go with…oh, nevermind."
Sam cocked an eyebrow, but just as she opened her mouth to ask, Ginny came along.
"Hello, I just spoke to Harry. He seems really dissapointed he can't go to Hogsmeade with Hermione and Ron."
"Of course he would. Those muggles don't understand a thing about our world." Sam grumbled, walking over to Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
"… the only third year left behind." Said Ron, "Ask McGonagall, go on Harry…"
"Yeah, I think I will." Said Harry.
Hermione opened her mouth to argue, but Crookshanks came over just that minute with a dead spider in his mouth. Ron looked disgusted and complained, while Sam laughed at her brother's fear.
"Hey Harry, you can come to the Quidditch pitch with us if you want on that day." Sam suggested.
Harry shrugged. "We'll see what McGonagall says first shall we?"
On Halloween morning however, Sam, Alice and Ginny came down to the Great Hall to see Harry being slightly off.
"She said no huh?" Alice asked, sitting beside Hermione.
Harry nodded, and assured Ron and Hermione that he would be fine. Sam asked Harry if he'd like to go to the Quidditch pitch, but he declined.
"I think I'll head back to the common room." He said as Ron and Hermione left.
"Come on Sam, we'd better get to the Quidditch pitch." Said Alice.
Sam nodded. They grabbed their broomsticks from the table and headed towards the pitch.
"Well Weaselette, pity you ain't a third year isn't it?"
The three girls turned to see Draco sneering at them with Crabbe, Goyle and Blaise behind him.
"Yeah well, at least im not a slimy git like you." Sam smirked while Alice and Ginny giggled.
Draco snorted and walked off bumping into Ginny on the way making her fall. She glared at him, who didn't even bother to look back but kept going. Blaise however, stopped and gave her a hand, which made the three stare at him. He frowned.
"Do you want it or not?" he asked impatiently and Ginny took his hand. He hoisted her up with ease and left without a word.
"That…was plain weird." Said Alice, staring at the retreating back of the Slytherins.
Madam Rosmerta had to blink to be sure of what she saw. She thought she had just saw The Grim, the omen of death outside her window. She shook her head and quickly drew the curtains not wanting to know what was out there. A black shaggy dog slowly made it's way to Hogwarts. It was close now. So very close.
A/N: ... Review? Please? xD