A/N: Not much to say really I'm taking my time on this so just be patient and don't give up on me unless I say so…so…hah!
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. If I did I would be on the Forbes billionaire list.
Chapter 11- The Quail Locket
Lindy tried hard to forget about what she had heard Snape and Longbottom saying but the thought still haunted her even though both she and Lily Jane never spoke of it or told anyone afterwards.
One night Lindy dreamt that she was walking down the hall, alone in the dark, and Peeves was chanting in her ear "Go back to where you came from you reject. You don't belong here." She flung her arms to slap him away but he had already vanished and she was standing face to face with Rubella's mother whose wand was pointing straight at her, "You're nothing like your father." Lindy woke up sweating, trying not to scream.
She would write to her mum telling her how much fun she was having of course. Lindy couldn't imagine the fit her mother would have if one tiny little thing went wrong. But despite that one incident, Lindy was having fun.
Wizarding School was a lot of work but most of it was interesting. Snape's class was difficult but she still managed to do well. "Your father was his favourite student," Lily Jane told her. "He favours you too." It was true that Snape was nicer to her than most of the other Gryffindor. In fact, he gave Alan detention for just speaking out of turn. It almost brought him to tears.
When the weather was nice enough students would do their homework by the lake. "Is there really a giant squid in there?" Adam asked Sebastian one afternoon.
"Yah," he said, "He sometimes jumps out of the water. Just watch," Sure enough after 3 ½ minutes or so a large slimy looking sea creature with many tentacles came flying out and landed with a splash. Some people screamed.
"I'm soaked!" Alan cried, "Look at my essay!"
"Last year we had a competition to see who could dodge the most water." Fritz said, "Go to Gordon if you want that fixed, Alan."
Gordon was quite helpful, so were the other prefects. But Lucinda was Lindy's favourite. She was very funny, very smart, and very cool. She didn't tell the younger students to go away and leave her alone. She would inform them about the hidden secrets of Hogwarts and help them with anything they needed. Lindy suspected that Declan had a crush on Lucinda since he was often seen following her around. But then again, he usually needed the most help.
As far as Rubella and her group went they certainly didn't ignore Lindy and Lily Jane's prank. Rubella took two sick days because she smelled so bad. But they never did anything too drastic. Alexia's sister, Rerith, tripped Alan in the Great Hall and Ursula put pudding in Lily Jane's already messy hair. Plus, Rubella would continue to try and be nice to Lindy and in return she would ignore her. The triplets offered to put balding potion under her hat but Lindy talked Lily Jane out of it. "I can't take another detention," she said.
In fact, detention with Madame Hooch was not only boring but painful. She made them polish all the brooms, wipe down the Quidditch stand seats, and clean the Quidditch balls. So they would often go to bed with sore wrists.
This did, however, give Lily Jane a chance to tell Lindy just exactly what Quidditch was. "It's a game on brooms," she said, "There are seven players: three chasers, two beaters, one seeker, and a keeper. And four balls: a quaffle, two bludgers, and a snitch." She pointed to the four balls they were polishing. One was big, red, and football sized. Two were smaller and jet black. And the last was the size of a golf ball and bright gold.
"Is the gold one the snitch?" Lindy asked.
"Yep," Lily Jane replied, "It's the seeker's job to catch it. It's really fast and almost invisible but worth one-hundred and fifty points. If they catch it the game's over."
"What about everyone else?"
"Well it's the chasers' job to get the quaffle through those three hoops," Lily Jane pointed to both of the ends of the Quidditch pitch. On each side there were three poles, about fifty feet tall, with holes on the top much like bubble-blowing wands, "That's worth ten points. The keeper, of course, tries to stop the other team from scoring. The bludgers, these black balls, fly around and try to knock people off their brooms. The beaters try and keep them off their end of the pitch."
"Sounds a little dangerous," Lindy said.
"It is, but no one's died in years. The triplets play. Aiden and Fritz are Beaters and Isolde's a chaser. And Sebastian's a "back up player," she said with air quotes, "He's never actually played a game. He just commentates with this fourth year named Rich."
Lindy closed the box with the Quidditch balls in it and dragged in towards Madame Hooch's office.
"Oh," Lily Jane said, "And Jamie wants to try out this year for seeker like my dad. In fact, the tryouts are on Sunday. You should come and watch with me."
"Okay," Lindy answered. She had never really been into sports (maybe because she was tired of Stephan obsessing over them) but the idea of Quidditch fascinated her. "Is anyone else coming?" Lindy was secretly hoping Liam would be.
Lily Jane closed the door to Madame Hooch's office. The girls were done with detention and about ready to head back to the commonroom. "Adam and all of them will be there," Lily Jane said. "And I think Cole, plus we can invite Alan." Lindy thought about asking about Liam but decided against it. She didn't want Lily Jane knowing her feelings for him just yet.
Sunday turned out to be very nice. There was hardly a cloud in sight. "Good luck, Jamie," Lily Jane said to her brother as he was going up to his dormitory to get ready after breakfast.
"Yah," Lindy added, "Good luck."
Jamie didn't say anything. "He's shy," Lily Jane said after he left. Lindy doubted that.
The girls asked Alan if he wanted to accompany them to the tryouts and he accepted. So they headed out to the Quidditch pitch with Cole and Adam at ten o'clock. The five of them sat in the lowest row of the very high stands. (Alan clenched his teeth the whole way up and decided to sit a few rows back from them so it didn't feel as if he was going to fall.)
Gordon was already there with a few other Gryffindors including Lucinda and Ariel. Plus Celina Creevy, who was there to watch her cousin.
"She fancies Jamie, only doing this to impress him," Celina said, "But don't say I told you so." Lindy spotted Celina's cousin right away. Not because she looked like Celina but because she seemed very out of place (her broom was plain and her robes were very un-Quidditch like compared to the others.) She was sitting next to Jamie trying to strike up a conversation with him. Jamie was just nodded politely. Lily Jane giggled.
The players were sitting behind a small table on the pitch to judge the performances. The triplets, a curly haired girl Lindy guessed was a fourth or fifth year, and a skinny dark haired teenage boy. That must mean they need two more players, Lindy thought.
Madame Hooch and Professor Longbottom were sitting on the opposite side of the stands probably just to watch and supervise. Those trying out were sitting on a bench near the stands with the adults. There were about seven of them, along with Sebastian and a black boy, also dressed in normal clothes.
The skinny teenager spoke using the same voice-carrying spell Flitwick did at the sorting ceremony. "As most of you know we are looking for two new players: one chaser and a seeker."
Lindy missed the rest of what he said because she had spotted Liam and another boy coming up the stands. Cole was waving his arms frantically. Lindy had learned in her short time at Hogwarts that the two of them had the strangest relationship. They would row about the dumbest and littlest things but then forget about it the next day. Cole looked up to his brother a lot.
Liam and the other boy took a seat behind Lindy. She waved slightly to him. He smiled and waved back. Then Lindy pretended to be interested in the tryouts. They tried the anticipating chasers first. Two girls, one not so great and another just okay.
"She should have flown under Robbie," Gordon informed all of them watching. He had been pointing out the players mistakes all morning.
"My boyfriend the Quidditch expert," a fifth year girl with waist-length honey coloured hair said sweetly putting her arm are Gordon. Adam, Cole, and Lily Jane almost died laughing. "I knew it," Liam whispered. Lucinda rolled her newly violet eyes but managed to chuckle as well.
"Then why don't you play?" Lindy asked curiously. Gordon didn't answer. Robbie, the skinny captain (whom Lindy learned was Ariel's brother) announced the next chaser: Daniel Ford. Lindy recognized him as the first person to start clapping for her when the hat made her a Gryffindor. He did the best out of all the chasers.
The next four tried out for seeker. The little gold ball was set out to fly around the pitch. It had little wings that moved ten times faster than a humming bird's. Lindy couldn't even see it after it was released. Two players trying out would try and catch it. The first two boys took forever to even find it. Lindy decided watching the chasers were much more interesting.
"Last but not least: James Potter and Isadora Creevy." Robbie released the snitch and Jamie immediately flew straight up towards it. Isadora hesitated and started flying straight then flew up slowly letting out a small cry as she hesitated to keep herself steady. Celina looked as if she was trying not to laugh.
Jamie flew around the pitch for about five minutes (Isadora slowly following behind). After awhile Jamie began to fly very fast towards the left side of the pitch holding out his right arm. Lindy knew he had seen the snitch even though she hadn't spotted it herself.
At that moment Isadora tried very hard to catch up to Jamie. At first it seemed as if she was finally in control of things until she started to lean forward too far and the end of her broom came up and hit Jamie in the back of the head just as he seemed to grip the snitch. Both players came crashing about thirty feet to the ground.
Lily Jane and Celina automatically went racing down the stairs on to the pitch. Everyone else quickly followed (except Alan, who walked very carefully). "Jamie!" Lily Jane screamed. The players and Professor Longbottom were already crowded around him and Isadora. Madame Hooch was examining them. "Jamie, are you alright!" Lily Jane cried pushing the curly-haired player aside so she could see him. Celina looked very close to tears.
"It's just a broken leg," Madame Hooch assured Lily Jane. Lindy could see now that Jamie was sitting up clutching his leg. Isadora was on her back looking more ashamed than hurt. "I think Miss Creevy may have a minor concussion," Madame Hooch added.
"I lost the Snitch," Jamie muttered though his teeth.
"You what?" Robbie Grey screamed, "You didn't throw it did you!"
"It was an ACCIDENT!" Jamie snapped.
"Now Mr. Grey I'm sure we'll find it," Professor Longbottom reassured him.
"I swear I'll give the person who finds it five galleons we need that!" Robbie exclaimed. Ariel rolled her eyes.
"I think it went somewhere near the forest," Jamie said.
"Oh PERFECT!" Robbie cried sarcastically. Some others groaned and gasped.
"He said near the forest not in the forest you twit!" Ariel remarked.
"C'mon kids we'll go look now," Professor Longbottom said, "With everyone looking we're bound to find it."
The lot of them followed Longbottom out of the pitch over to a little hut where Hagrid supposedly lived. Lindy didn't know why, since all the other teachers seemed to live inside the castle…or maybe they went home…she didn't know.
"No one go into the forest," Longbottom ordered, "Look all around here, every inch. Robbie you can take a few to look up towards the castle as well."
They obeyed. Lindy and Lily Jane looked around Hagrid's hut and in the plants growing around the area. "What we need is a niffler," Adam said, "They look for gold a…"
"I think I found it!" Celina cried from near the forest, "It's definitely gold and shiny."
Everyone rushed towards her. "Wait!" she said clutching the item, "This isn't the snitch…this looks like a…ooo!"
"It's a necklace," a girl said. It was. A heart shaped gold locket with a smaller heart carved inside on a gold chain. There were no visible chips or scratches so Lindy suspected it may be real gold.
"Oh! Professor, can I keep it!" Celina pleaded to Professor Longbottom.
"I suppose," he said shrugging. Lindy thought the logical thing to do would be to turn it into a lost and found but Longbottom didn't seem like he could say no to anyone.
Celina unhooked the locket and winced, "The back says 'Quail'."
"Like the bird?" One of the boys asked.
"Yah, Q-U-A-I-L, Quail," she answered.
Maybe it's the name of the company," Alan suggested.
"What a dumb name," Cole commented.
Celina fastened the locket around her neck and stood up, "It's beautiful. I wonder if…"
"Neville!" Hagrid's voice called behind them. Everyone turned around. He was holding the snitch. "Is this what yer looking for?" Robbie's group was coming up behind him.
"Where was it!" Robbie exclaimed.
"Dunno, but Farrah had it in 'er mouth. Bit slobbery but I reckin it'll work jus' the same." He handed it to Longbottom who wiped it on his navy blue robes. Farrah, Lindy assumed, had to be Hagrid's dog.
"Well, now that this is sorted out, back up the castle, all of you," Longbottom ordered. They obeyed.
"I'm going to see how Jamie's doing," Lily Jane said. Lindy followed only because Liam and his friend were going with her. When they approached the hospital wing Isadora was the only one there.
"Where's my brother?" Lily Jane asked the nurse whose name tag read: Madame Pomfrey.
"He just left. I mended him without a problem. He'll be fine," she replied.
"Well," Liam said, "Let's just head up to the commonroom. I play you guys in Gobstones"
"Okay," Lindy said blushing.
"Do you even know what Gobstones is?" Liam asked.
"Well…no…but you can teach me," she blushed again.
"That'd be great," Lily Jane said, "But I need to use the bathroom first. Care to join me Lindy?"
"Um…uh…okay," Lindy said.
"Why do girls have to go to the bathroom in groups?" Liam's friend muttered as they headed down the hall.
Lily Jane dragged Lindy into the girl's lavatory near the hospital wing. For a second they just stood and stared at each other. "What?" Lindy asked.
"Can I ask you a question?" Lily Jane hesitated.
At first Lindy thought it was about the Secret Scroll, and then it hit her… "Sure…" she said.
"Do you like Liam?"
"Yah he's cool, why?"
"No, I mean like-like as in fancy him," Lily Jane said.
"Um," she began.
"It's okay if you do."
"Yes," Lindy looked down at her shoes, "Please don't tell anyone."
"Don't worry, I can keep a secret."
"Good," Lindy said, "I don't know what I would do if anyone found out."
"Rubella…" Lily Jane muttered.
"Yah," Lindy whispered as they left the bathroom.
"You know, I've known Liam for quite awhile. I can tell you almost anything about him," Lily Jane said.
"Really?" Lindy said, trying not to sound too excited.
"Yah, he's allergic to shellfish, he loves the Kenmare Kestrels, his birthday is in December, and he sprained his wrist when he was eight."
Lindy giggled. Then she thought of something. "Since I told you a secret can I ask you something?"
Lily Jane looked suspicious, "Yah, sure."
"Does Jamie hate me?"
"Oh, um, I don't know…he's never really trusted anyone…don't worry he'll warm up to you."
"Okay," Lindy said.
That night she and Lily Jane stayed up later than their other three roommates chatted under Lindy's bed covers about almost everything: Liam, Jamie and Lily Jane's other siblings, the triplets, Mary Lynn and Stephan, even Alan. "He seems really shy," Lily Jane said.
"Yah," Lindy added, "Kinda reminds me of myself sometimes. But I think I'm becoming less shy everyday."
"You think he's afraid of heights?" Lily Jane said with a giggle.
Lindy laughed too, "Where did you get that idea?"
"Hey Lin," Lily Jane hesitated, "I've been thinking, maybe I should write to my dad about what we heard Longbottom and Snape saying. He might know what it was about."
"He wouldn't be mad?" Lindy asked.
"You're talking about a man who spies on people for a living," Lily Jane giggled again.
"I don't know…" Lindy said.
"It'll make you feel safer."
"Or maybe it'll just make me more scared."
"Everything'll be fine, you have friends here, and the teachers aren't stupid. They won't let any weirdoes into the castle."
Lindy wanted to believe her so badly. But she was getting her feeling again, the feeling that something was going to happen.
A/N: I know it was shorter. I would say I'll update sooner but I can't be sure anymore. Please tell me what you think!