Hi! sorry, for the wait, but I needed to keep working on Guardian Wings, and I'm almost done with it! ...come to think of it, I'm about half-done with this as well, the next chapter is gonna be the Halloween incident and the Quidditch match, then Christmas and the Forbidden Forest, then after that i think is the sneaking-past-Fluffy thing.
dis: (insert standard "i-don't-own" phrase here)
Ah, by the way, the line breaks don't like me today, so they're not here.
With identical evil grins, we left the Room of Requirement and headed towards the Quidditch pitch.
We got outside just as Madam Hooch was done explaining how to get the brooms off the ground. The two of us scurried to the last remaining spots. There was a spot between Ron and Neville that was probably for Hermione and a spot right on the end on the opposite side next to Draco for me. We took each other's places quickly. I looked at Neville, who was standing next to me and shaking nervously.
"It's alright, Neville, just stay calm," I whispered quickly. Holding my hand confidently over the old broom in front of me, I gave a forceful "Up!" and grinned like an idiot when it actually worked.
When Hooch blew her whistle, which was high enough to hurt my ears, everyone was supposed to float up a few feet. Apparently, Neville panicked and kicked off hard. Soon I was watching the book scene played out, right down to Madam Hooch's "Broken wrist…" statement.
Slightly dazed, I started really paying attention again when I saw something in Draco's hand sparkling in the sun. I didn't catch what he said, but I heard Harry's reaction loud and clear.
"Give it here, Malfoy."
"No," Draco replied tartly, "I think I'll leave it somewhere for Longbottom to find. Up a tree, maybe?" He mounted his broom and took off into the air. I barely had time to blink before Harry was up there with him. I couldn't make out what was being said, but I knew what was happening the second Draco sped back to the ground and Harry went into that neck-risking dive. Even though I knew what would happen, I was waiting like everyone else, frozen to the spot. There's just something about actually being there that makes it much more intense than just reading about it.
The second Harry landed, all of the first year Gryffindors swarmed around him. He was holding up the recovered Remembrall like a trophy. The Slytherins all had sour looks on their faces, including Hermione.
'She's a damn good actress…' I thought, impressed. I was turning back to celebrate with the other first years when movement from the double doors caught my eye. McGonagall. Everyone went dead silent as she approached.
"Potter, come with me."
"But, Professor-" Ron started.
"Quiet, Mr. Weasley."
"Professor, D- Malfoy started-" I piped up; knowing very well what was happening and catching myself before I could say 'Draco'.
"That's enough, Ms. Granger." She led Harry back into the castle just as Hooch came back out. She had the class do a few exercises to get comfortable in the air before she ran out of time and dismissed us.
"So, Potter, when're they getting you back onto the train to send you back to the Muggles?" Draco asked the next morning at breakfast. Hermione and I had long since switched back, and I was standing behind him. I saw my sister a little ways down the table, discretely listening in.
"You're pretty brave now that you're back on the ground with your little friends, Malfoy," Harry replied smoothly. Ron snickered and I saw Draco's ears go pink from behind.
"I'd take you on any time by myself," Draco retorted, "even tonight, if you want. Wizards duel. Wands only, no contact. You've heard of a wizard's duel before, I trust?"
"Of course he has," Ron bristled. "I'm his second, who's yours?"
Draco turned to Vincent, Gregory, and me. After his eyes traveled across us several times, they came to a rest on me.
"Arietta." He turned to Ron and Harry again. "The trophy room, at midnight, it's always unlocked." With that, Draco turned and stalked back to the Slytherin table.
"You're not seriously thinking of dueling the Boy Who Lived, are you, Draco?" Vincent asked. I blinked at the sudden question, not used to them being smart.
"Of course not, Vince. We'll tip off Filch and Potter'll get in trouble for being out after curfew," Draco replied smoothly.
"Good thinking, Draco," Gregory said. I was about to open my mouth to say something when the bell for morning classes rang.
The day flew by almost quicker than I could keep track of it. Sooner than I expected, it was curfew.
"All students in bed!" called the Head Girl. I climbed into my bed, a knot of guilt forming in my chest.
Tossing and turning, I tried in vain to get to sleep. Eventually, I sat up and glanced at the magical clock on the wall. 11:45.
'If I hurry, I can warn them…' I thought. After a moment of hesitation, I threw on a pair of jeans under my nightgown and snuck out of the dorms.
It was easy enough getting to the trophy room. It was on the third floor, and it had two big trophies on either side of it. I had just managed to get inside the door when I heard voices.
"…ickened out?" That was Ron's voice. That meant that they were there.
"He's trying to get you into trouble, he's tipped Filch," I whispered loudly in their direction. I heard some gasps and scrambling around. It was Ron who poked his head around a trophy case to look.
"You! You're a Slytherin! Come to get us into trouble?"
"No, you moron!" I said, slipping back to my American self. "I'm trying to help you! You have to-"
"Sniff around, my sweet… They're probably hiding somewhere…" My heart leapt into my throat.
"Filch!" I mouthed. Grabbing Ron's arm, I dragged him over to where I knew the others were standing. "We have to run!"
"To where?" Harry mouthed back at me.
"Anywhere!" Without really thinking, I dragged the three of them, Harry, Ron, and Neville, out of the trophy room and down the hall. We didn't stop running until I heard a sound that made me freeze. A doorknob was rattling a couple doors down.
"Oh no, oh no no no…" I muttered, trying to think of how to escape.
"What now?" Ron asked.
"Peeves," I said, just as the poltergeist shot through the door. He spotted us and gave a cackle of delight.
"Peeves, shut up, please, you'll get us thrown out!" Harry pleaded.
"Tut tut, Ickle Firsties. Naughty naughty, you'll get caughty!" he said in a singsong voice. I heard Filch not far away, and took a huge gamble.
"What if I told you I could get you pranking immunity for one night?" I asked. "One night where nobody could catch you? If you keep quiet on us, I might even be able to keep the Baron away from you for a while! I'm a Slytherin, you know! A Firsty, even!"
"Oh, just get out of the way!" Ron snapped, taking a swipe at Peeves. I groaned at his stupidity even as Peeved grinned maniacally and took a deep breath.
"STUDENTS OUT OF BED! STUDENTS OUT OF BED IN THE CHARMS CORRIDOR!"
"SCATTER!" I yelled to the boys. I grabbed Neville by the arm really quickly before he tripped and said "Alohamora. The unlocking charm." Then I ran towards the main staircase to the dungeons.
I kept running long after the footsteps behind me faded. I was saying the password almost before I found the right stretch of wall. Never had I been more glad to see the empty common room than at that moment. Quietly, I took off my shoes and padded across the cold stones of the floor to the door to the girls dorm. As silently as I could, I eased open the door and slipped in. I flopped onto my four-poster bed and fell asleep instantly, not bothering to close the green silk curtains.
Nope, still no line breaks...
Review?