DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN THE HARRY POTTER UNIVERSE, BUT THE CHARACTERS AT THE SALEM WITCHES INSTITUTE ARE MY OWN CREATION.

Artimus Rand couldn't have been happier over Jimmy O'Bannon's budding relationship with Rana Rollingsworth. If for no other reason, it improved his mood immensely. Since he asked her out three weeks ago, Jimmy stopped sulking over the fact few at Salem believed him about You-Know-Who's return. He appeared in better spirits when coming back from hockey practices . . .

. . . and best of all, he didn't pester him every damn day about Cecilia.

"Just let me know if she does anything suspicious," was the last thing Jimmy said on the subject.

That had been six days ago.

So far, Cecilia hadn't done anything that caused him concern. Actually, things between them had grown more cordial since that day Cecilia revealed her family problems. They actually talked about stuff that had nothing to do with their History of Magic project. Things like why Salem didn't sort students like Hogwarts did, or comparing and contrasting Ollivander's wands to those of his American counterpart, Australius. Artimus didn't know if he could consider her a friend. He still sensed some self-imposed distance by the Slytherin girl toward him. But at least he no longer feared Cecilia would hex him.

He wanted to tell Jimmy all this, but kept it to himself. Improved mood or not, the guy's eyes glowed with white hot flames whenever anyone mentioned the word "Slytherin" around him. They'd long since moved past that argument regarding Cecilia. Why risk a repeat?

Artimus dug his hands into his coat pockets as he neared the large wooden bleachers that circled the hockey pond. He shuffled forward with the line of students, staring over their heads at the ice. The blue and gold uniformed Blazenrowe players went through their pre-game warm-ups, as did the silver and white-clad Ardenturo players on the opposite end of the rink.

The corners of Artimus' mouth crinkled as he climbed the steps toward the top of a bleacher overlooking center ice. He much preferred attending Quidditch games than hockey. At least with Quidditch he could sit with Jimmy, Rosa and Jared. But since all three played for Blazenrowe Hall, Artimus was left to fend for himself.

Seven years here, and you'd think I'd have more friends.

Alone in a crowd. That's how he felt at these hockey games. Even when he sat next to classmates he knew, they would usually talk amongst themselves and act like he wasn't even there.

Why? It's not like I'm mean or hideous-looking.

He knew some students regarded him as a snob just because he came from an old, rich family. But even many rich students, who really did act like snobs, didn't like him for various reasons. Either his family wasn't as wealthy as theirs, or he associated with a "lower class" of people, or he just didn't have the look of someone from the upper crust of the Wizarding World.

Artimus looked back at the ice and scanned the uniforms until he glimpsed the appropriate numbers. "12" for Rosa, "40" for Jared, and "4" for Jimmy. He held his breath for a moment, wondering how lonely he'd be if he didn't have those three in his life. Sometimes he wondered if maybe they were the reason he didn't have many other friends. Not that those three did anything to discourage that. In fact, they'd encouraged him to make new friends since their First Year. But he never seemed to manage it. Jimmy, Rosa and Jared were like his security blanket. He knew they gave a damn about him, knew they would always be there for him. Other people were a mystery. Could he have the sort of friendship with others that he did with Jimmy, Jared and Rosa? Could he depend on new friends the same way he could those three?

Would one of those new friends stab him in the back?

He sighed, thinking of all the friends Jimmy made during his year at Hogwarts. From the way he talked, the Weasleys, Lee Jordan, Angelina Johnson and that French girl Mireet became as close with Jimmy as he, Rosa and Jared were to him.

Why can't it be that easy for me?

Artimus found a seat near the top. He was just about to sit when he heard a thin dark-skinned girl with short hair sitting one row below him say, "I can't believe you haven't kissed Jimmy yet."

His ears perked up at the mention of his friend. He suddenly recognized the dark-skinned girl . . . Mira Quirk.

And she's friends with . . .

He flicked his eyes to the girl next to Mira.

It was Rana Rollingsworth.

"I know. It's just . . . after what happened with Darius, I want to take things a bit slow. And Jimmy understands. That's one of the reasons I like him."

"I think you're asking for trouble," said the haughty-looking girl with long, curled brown hair to Rana's left.

"Oh for Merlin's Sake, Beatrice." Rana rolled her eyes. "Not this again."

"C'mon, Rana. If the guy is going to spread lies about You-Know-Who coming back, what else is he capable of?"

"Who says he's lying?"

"Have you been reading The All-Seeing Eye?"

Rana scowled. "I'll take Jimmy's word over that rag any day."

Beatrice shook her head. Artimus thought he heard her mutter, "Gullible."

That's when Rana twisted around and made eye contact with Artimus. Surprise flashed over her face.

"Oh. Artimus. Hi."

He swallowed. Did Rana think he'd been eavesdropping on her?

"Um . . . hey, Rana. How are you doing?"

"Fine. Looking forward to the game. Jimmy seems pretty pleased with how the team looks, even if they are a little young."

"Yeah, that's what he tells me."

Artimus tried to think of something else to say to keep the conversation going. Nothing, however, came to mind.

After several seconds of silence, Rana grinned. "Well, let's hope for a win."

"Yeah. Sure."

She gave him another smile and resumed her conversation with Beatrice and Mira.

Artimus' shoulders sagged. He clasped his hands between his legs and gazed at the rink. Jimmy was waving over the Blazenrowe players to the bench.

"Are you sitting with anyone?"

His head snapped up at the sound of the familiar voice.

Cecilia Malfoy stood over him.

"Um . . . Um, no. Please."

Without a word, she sat next to him.

Artimus shifted in his seat. "I'm surprised to see you here."

Cecilia shrugged. "There isn't much else going on today. It's better than just sitting in my room."

"What about your friend? Is she here?"

"Hmm? Oh, you mean Serinta. No she's back at her room, reading that book we're using. Washington's Wizards. Actually, she's been borrowing quite a few of my books. I didn't realize she was so fascinated with American Wizarding History."

Artimus just nodded.

Silence hung between them. After licking his lips, he turned back to Cecilia. "So, did you go to that game Jimmy put together at Hogwarts last year?"

"Of course. I wouldn't miss an opportunity to see someone embarrass my cousin Draco." A wry grin crossed Cecilia's lips.

Artimus' heart fluttered. With that grin Cecilia actually looked . . . sexy.

"Actually, I enjoyed the game more than I thought," she continued. "And not just because Draco lost. Hockey's almost like Quidditch, only on ice instead of in the air. Don't you agree?"

"Yeah."

Any further conversation was interrupted by Headmistress Esmeralda welcoming everyone to the first hockey game of the year. She turned the magical microphone over to the cherubic, mop-topped Horace Harkington, who'd been calling the hockey games at Salem for the past three years.

He introduced the Ardenturo team first. Nearly everyone in the stands who didn't live in that dorm booed.

Cheers and applause filled the open air arena when Blazenrowe was introduced.

"Now your starting line-up for Blazenrowe Hall. Center, Number Eight, Terrance Kirby . . . Right Wing, Number Twenty-One, Claude Tribbett . . . Left Wing, and Team Captain, Number Four, Jimmy O'Bannon!"

Rana shot out of her seat, clapping and cheering fervently. Mira imitated her.

Beatrice stayed put, her hands on her knees.

Artimus looked around as he clapped. His face crinkled in astonishment.

People were booing Jimmy . . . and not just the Ardenturo supporters. Those who didn't vocalize their displeasure just sat with folded arms and stony expressions.

Aw, man. Were people still pissed at Jimmy for talking about You-Know-Who's return? He'd barely mentioned it for weeks, once he finally took Rosa's advice to keep it on the low down or however that Muggle phrase went.

"Your friend doesn't seem too popular."

Artimus turned to Cecilia. He tried to read her face. Did that make her happy? Did she feel a bit of sympathy toward him? Did she not care one way or the other?

The Slytherin's face remained an unreadable mask.

Jimmy skated to center ice for the face-off, with the Ardenturo captain, Aquila Allstadt, across from him.

The referee dropped the puck. Sticks smacked together. Jimmy won the puck and crossed it to Tribbett on his left.

Ten seconds later, Marcel Dubuque and Ardenturo left winger Leland Connor dropped the gloves and battered each other with their fists.

As both players were taken to the penalty box for five minute fighting majors, Jimmy skated up to Dubuque, arms extended. His body language was clear. "What the hell was that about?"

"I think we're gonna be in for a tough game," Artimus said.

Cecilia glanced at him. "I think that's rather obvious."

Artimus couldn't count how many players got slammed into the boards in the first ten minutes. The penalty box never seemed empty, what with all the tripping and hooking and roughing and interference calls.

With eight minutes left in the first period, Rosa scored on a four-on-three power play, giving Blazenrowe a 1-0 lead.

Ardenturo scored two unanswered goals and took the lead into the locker room for the first intermission.

As both teams took the ice for the second period, Artimus noticed lots of harsh gazes being exchanged. Not just from Blazenrowe to Ardenturo and vice versa, but also among the Blazenrowe players themselves.

If the first period had been physical, the second was downright sloppy. Blazenrowe players like Marcel Dubuque and Terrance Kirby took shots at bad angles, not even coming close to the net. Two Blazenrowe players stood unmoving as they watched a loose puck trickle between them.

"Ardenturo's Penelope Hale blasts in between Dubuque and Kirby and takes the puck!" Harkington's voice boomed throughout the rink. "Boy, were those two asleep at the switch. Hale rears back, shots . . . SCOOOOORE! Right over the shoulder of Blazenrowe goalie Cecil Marks!"

Twice Artimus saw Jimmy with a clear look at the net, screaming for Dubuque to pass him the puck. Twice Dubuque ignored him and took the shot himself, hitting the side of the net the first time and missing it completely the second time.

"If O'Bannon's the captain, shouldn't his teammates listen to him?" Sarcasm covered Cecilia's words.

Artimus shot her a momentary glare.

Claude Tribbett also ignored Jimmy when he was open in the closing minutes of the second period and took a shot that bounced off one of the Ardenturo players. Jimmy slammed the blade of his stick on the ice as he took off after a couple Ardenturo forwards who worked the puck up ice. No one from Blazenrowe caught up with them before they scored.

Ardenturo added another goal and took a 5-1 lead going into the second intermission. Jimmy waved emphatically for his team to follow him into the locker room. Artimus caught Dubuque and a few other Blazenrowe players glowering at Jimmy.

"You're friend is off to an impressive start as captain," Cecilia quipped.

A low growl percolated in Artimus' throat. He snapped his head in Cecilia's direction. "Is there some sort of problem you have with Jimmy?"

Cecilia raised her eyebrows. A hint of a smile traced her lips. "My, you certainly are defensive when it comes to him, aren't you?"

"I'm sure he's doing his best out there. You don't have to pick on him."

"Who says I'm picking on him? I feel I'm making some valid observations."

Artimus snorted and turned away.

"He must have done something notable to instill this kind of loyalty in you," Cecilia said.

"He's my best friend."

"How did that happen?"

Artimus gave her a sideways glance. "Why do you want to know?"

"I'm just curious how two people with vastly different personalities could become friends."

Artimus stared at his shoes. Did he really want to answer that? He always felt embarrassed whenever he talked about his first couple months at Salem.

It was a while ago. And if it will make her understand what a cool guy Jimmy is . . .

"During my First Year, I . . . I used to get bullied a lot. When someone came up with a new hex, they'd try it out on me. One time someone hexed me in the middle of Herbology Class and gave me big, bulging goldfish eyes. Everyone laughed at me . . . except Jimmy. Anyway, one day I got cornered by a couple Third Years who dragged me behind some trees near the lake and started beating me up. Jimmy happened to see it and came charging in. He tackled one of the guys, and this guy was probably twice Jimmy's size. But Jimmy started wailing on him, bloodied his nose and gave him a black eye. The second guy just ran away. Me and Jimmy have been friends ever since."

"And Jimmy didn't know you before this?"

Artimus shook his head. "No. We never even spoke until that day."

Cecilia canted her head. "So why would he come to the aid of a total stranger?"

"When I asked, he just said he didn't like bullies."

"How noble of him."

Artimus raised an eyebrow at the girl's tone. What the hell did she have against Jimmy?

"So, has Jimmy always been popular here?" Cecilia asked. "I mean, before he started going on about You-Know-Who being back?"

"Well, yeah. He's always been a great hockey player. Most people say he's a nice guy."

"And those other two you're always with. Rosa and Jared, I believe?"

"Yeah, most people here like them."

Cecilia nodded, staring straight ahead as one of the referees used a spell to smooth out the ice surface. "But you're not popular."

"No. I don't know, for some reason I've had a hard time making friends." He pressed his lips together tightly. Why was he confessing this to Cecilia?

The British girl turned to him, again her smooth, pale face unreadable. "So how does a boy who isn't popular wind up with three people who are?"

Artimus opened his mouth to answer . . . and froze. His mind drifted back to his First Year, how he'd been accepted by those three, how they made him feel wanted, how whenever things got really bad, he knew he could always turn to them.

But all he could get out of his mouth was a simple, "I just did."

"And you're sure you really are their friend?"

"Of course I am," he snapped. "What the hell kind of question is that?"

Cecilia lifted her head slightly, her eyes still locked onto his. "Did you ever think there was another reason those three let you hang around them?"

Artimus' brow furrowed. He didn't like that last bit. " . . . let you hang around them?"

"What are you talking about?"

"It's my experience that people like that like to have, no offense, people like you around them. Fawning over them . . ."

"I don't fawn over Jimmy," Artimus said defensively.

"Ha! The way you were defending him it sounds like he can do no wrong in your eyes."

Sharp breaths shot out Artimus' nose. Yeah, Jimmy was good friend. But he didn't build an altar in his honor like Cecilia seemed to imply.

"As I was saying," Cecilia continued. "People like them like having people like you around because it makes them feel superior."

"You don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't I? I've seen it at Hogwarts. Draco has his two sycophants Crabbe and Goyle following him about all the time, obeying his every command like they were dogs. Even Harry Potter, famous, heroic Harry Potter, keeps an utterly useless toerag like Ron Weasley at his side so he can feel better about himself."

"That's a lie," Artimus snapped. "Jimmy said those two were best friends."

He noticed a few students turn his way . . . including Rana Rollingsworth. He glanced around, his face turning red, as much from anger as embarrassment.

He pushed off his seat. "Excuse me." Artimus shuffled past a few sitting students and stomped down the steps.

Jimmy had been right all along. Cecilia was like every other Slytherin. Trying to turn him against his friends. Maybe that was her real purpose at Salem. While most of the school turned its back on Jimmy, he, Rosa and Jared still stuck by him.

What would happen if someone drove a wedge between them?

Artimus reached the bottom of the steps and stood there, searching the stands for another empty seat.

"Artimus!"

He groaned when he saw Cecilia bounding down the steps toward him. He started to walk away.

"Artimus, wait."

"For what?" He whirled around, face contorted by anger. "For you to spew more lies about my friends?"

"I'm not spewing lies. I'm just trying to give you another perspective."

Artimus folded his arms. "And what reason do you have for that?"

For the first time he noticed cracks in Cecilia's stony mask. She bit her bottom lip. Her gaze dropped to the ground. She clenched her jaw for a moment and looked up at him.

"Because I know what it's like to be an outcast."

Artimus scoffed. "I'm not an outcast. I have friends."

"Only three."

"Yeah, well . . . there are other people I talk to. And . . . and I did have a girlfriend. Last year. Rosa set me up with her."

Cecilia cocked an eyebrow. "What, she doesn't trust you to find your own girlfriend?"

"She did it because she cares about me."

"Does she really? Do any of them really care about you?"

"Of course they do."

Cecilia took a step closer to him. "Or maybe they just like having someone to wrap around their finger. Tell me, when your friends decide to go somewhere or do something, do you always go along with them?"

"Yeah."

"And what about you? When you make a suggestion to go somewhere or do something, do they go along with you?"

"Sometimes."

"Ah . . . sometimes." Cecilia nodded slowly. "And whenever Jimmy or Rosa or Jared come up with an idea or an opinion, do you always agree with them?"

"Yeah, most of the time."

"And what about your opinions? Do they ever give anything you say credence?"

Artimus' mouth open. Again he found himself staring in silence at Cecilia. He thought back to his argument with Jimmy. He'd told him all about how Cecilia opened up to him, saying how she and her parents had been ostracized by the Malfoy family. But he simply dismissed it as lies.

Anger swelled within Artimus. Dammit, he'd been face-to-face with Cecilia, not Jimmy. Why couldn't he take his word for it that she was telling the truth?

No. Sometimes friends disagree and argue. We're good now

"You don't know what you're talking about." He stepped around Cecilia. "They're my friends and nothing's going to change that."

"Artimus . . ." Cecilia grasped his arm.

He stopped, his entire body tingling. He stared down at Cecilia's thin fingers wrapped around his arm. His stomach clenched.

"I'm just trying to help," she said.

"Why?"

Cecilia hesitated. "Because you're the only person in the entire school who's been decent to me. You're a nice boy, and considering the House I'm in I don't get to meet very many nice boys. I just don't want to see someone like you used or manipulated."

The paralysis returned, this time reaching into Artimus' brain. She sounded so sincere. But everything she'd said about Jimmy and Jared and Rosa . . . it just couldn't be true. After nearly seven years together he would have known if . . .

Then he started thinking back on those past seven years. How many summers did he spend at their homes? When had they ever come to his, even when his father had been out of town? How many jokes had Jared told at his expense? How many times did they ignore him at Quidditch matches and dances and other social gatherings while they talked to other friends?

"Come on." Cecilia nodded back to the bleachers. "Let's watch the rest of this game . . . as horrible as it will likely be."

Artimus let her lead him back to their seats.

The third period started with Marcel Dubuque taking a shot from the blue line that whizzed far away from the net. After that, Artimus' attention on the game drifted in and out. He replayed Cecilia's comments in his mind, along with memories of him with Jimmy, Jared and Rosa.

She's wrong. They're the best friends I've ever had.

He thought of the argument with Jimmy, and his feelings afterward. He'd done what Jimmy had asked, and he just dismissed everything he told him, even talked down to him.

"I've been around Slytherins, you haven't . . . I spent a year at Hogwarts . . . I created a hockey team from scratch . . . I got to hang with Harry Potter."

He glanced at Cecilia. Maybe Jimmy did know what he was talking about, about Slytherins being known for their cunning. Maybe she was trying to manipulate him into turning against his friends.

But is she entirely wrong about them?

The drone of the final horn surprised Artimus. He shuddered and stared at the white ethereal scoreboard floating above the rink. His shoulders sagged when he saw the score.

Ardenturo 8, Blazenrowe 2.

He glanced down in time to see Jimmy rip off his helmet and fire it at the glass behind the bench.

"I'm guessing he's not in a good mood," Cecilia said flatly.

Artimus grunted as he stood and followed the rest of the fans filing out of the arena. He noticed Rana a few feet away, head down and frowning.

He walked over to the small crowd gathered near the blue and gold wooden cabin that served as the Blazenrowe locker room. Several students shook their heads and conversed amongst themselves. Artimus remembered the reaction Jimmy got when he was introduced before the game. He wondered if his friend would get an even worse reception when he exited the locker room.

Artimus found an empty patch of grass ten feet from the locker room and stood there quietly. To his surprise, Cecilia sidled up next to him.

"So, what do you think he's saying to them in there?"

Artimus turned to Cecilia. Before he could answer, the door to the locker room crashed open.

He snapped his head around and saw Marcel Dubuque storm out.

"Don't walk away from me when I'm talking, dammit!" Jimmy flew out of the room, his face a pulsating red. "If you weren't so selfish out there, we might have had a chance to win this damn game!"

"I was not being selfish!" Marcel turned and marched up to him. "When I felt I had a good shot, I took it."

"You didn't have one good angle the entire game. Not one! Do you know how many times I was open around the net?"

"Oh, forgive me, Mon Capitan. I'm sorry you didn't get your allotted two to three goals a game. I'm sorry I didn't help add to the growing legend that is Jimmy O'Bannon!"

"Is that what this is about? You still pissed because I made captain and you didn't?"

"At least I was with the team last year. I wasn't over in England letting that mental case Harry Potter fill my brain with lies about You-Know-Who."

"They're not lies!"

At that point Rosa and Jared ran out of the locker room.

"Jimmy, let's do this back inside." Rosa put a hand on his shoulder. "The whole school doesn't need to see this."

"I'll go back inside when I feel like it."

Rosa's eyes narrowed. "Go back inside, now!"

"DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!!" The veins in Jimmy's neck bulged. "I'm the friggin' captain of this team whether anyone likes it or not! And I'll dress down anyone, anywhere I feel like!"

"Hey!" Jared stepped in front of Jimmy. "Don't yell at my cousin like that!"

"I can fight my own damn battles, Jared."

Jared swung around to Rosa. "Well excuse me for trying to help!"

"You're doing a great job of holding this team together, Captain." Marcel stared smugly at Jimmy.

Eyes blazing with rage, Jimmy stabbed a finger at the French-Canadian boy. "One more comment like that and you can spend the rest of the season watching games instead of playing in them!"

Jimmy stomped past Marcel. He then looked over his shoulder. "I would've been better off if I brought the Triad over here to play today!"

Marcel rolled his eyes. "I am so sick of hearing about your stupid team from Hogwarts."

"At least they would have played a hell of a lot better than anyone out there today!"

Jimmy headed off, fists clenched. Marcel, Rosa and Jared all glared at him.

Artimus hurried after him. "Jimmy!"

"Not now, Artimus!" he snapped.

"Jimmy, come on. I know you lost, but you don't have to take it out on Rosa. Just calm down and . . ."

"Calm down?!" Jimmy turned to face him, teeth bared.

Artimus took a step back. He'd never seen his friend so enraged.

"You want me to calm down? My first game as captain and we played like crap! And not one damn person out there listened to a thing I said! Do you know what . . . how would you know what it's like? You get to sit in the stands and watch, not a care in the world. I'm the one who has to lead this team . . . a team where no one gives a damn if we get our asses kicked by friggin' Ardenturo. So don't tell me to calm down!"

Jimmy spun around and marched away, a stream of curses flying out of his mouth.

Artimus exhaled slowly. He turned to Cecilia, who stood with her arms folded, a knowing look on her face.

Maybe she is right about Jimmy.

TO BE CONTINUED

AUTHOR'S NOTE: You can find out why Jimmy O'Bannon really hates bullies in my fanfic "The Luna Effect."