(A/N: I'm not sure anyone is reading this, but here goes. This story started as a joint effort between a friend and I, now that I am writing solo I find it diffecult to carry on her character, thus I've gotten permission to write her out. It's been so long since I've read the third book that I've forgotten some of the details...please forgive me if I mess up. This is mainly a transition chapter...setting the story up for the new direction it will be taking. Thanks to my lifelong beta Age (aka Emma)...enjoy.)

Chapter 8

Dear Rhia,

I'm sorry to say this in a letter. I've tried to go on, but Hogwarts has nothing left to teach me. Everything I need to know is out there. I have to find out who he was. I have to find out who I am. Tell Cedric I'm sorry of leaving with two games left in the season. If you start now you should be able to find a suitable replacement by the match against Slytherin. Tell Professor Sprout I'm sorry as well. She was going to have to name a new prefect at the end of the year anyway, so I'm sure she's got someone in mind. To anyone else who asks, tell them to bugger off. I'm very sorry Rhia, I didn't want to leave this way. I'll be in touch, so keep an eye out for Archie.

Goodbye for now,

Harlequinn E. Green

Rhia smiled a weak smile as she read the name. Harley had talked about taking her father's name; it seemed she'd done it. As she walked into the Great Hall Rhia saw Fred sitting on the edge of the Hufflepuff table, letter in hand. His eyes were red, but Rhia would never dream of accusing him of crying. Rhia produced a similar letter from her robes.

"So it's true then? She wasn't just taking the Mickey out of me? She's really gone?"

Rhia simply nodded.

"Well, if there's one thing I know about Harley, it's that when she gets something in her head, it won't just go away." He cleared his throat, putting away the letter. "She said she'd write, so she'll write and she'll be back when she's ready; not a moment sooner."

"Fred I'm…" Rhia began, but he stopped her.

"Don't apologize, there's nothing to be sorry for." He chucked as he motioned to Cedric sitting with the rest of the team. "I'm sorry for you having to tell him he's got two weeks to find and train a beater for the match against Slytherin."

As Fred returned to the Gryffindor table he heard Cedric bellow at Rhia. "What do you mean she's left?"

Later that afternoon the team whispered over a table in the common room.

"My votes Rodney McCool, he's a good flier," said Josh.

"Good fliers are seekers. He's got to be good with a bat," added Cedric.

"Killian Pearson," suggested Kieran.

"No, he's a shite flier and he's bollocks with a bat," said Rhia

"Rebecca Medlin," Cedric said as if he'd solved it.

"She's afraid of the bludger," Rhia sighed

"Alright then Rhia, takes one to know one. Who's your pick?" The entire team looked at Rhia. Cedric had just placed a huge burden in her hands. It was quite a choice.

"Emma O'callaghan, she's a decent flier, strong with a bat and she's not afraid to rush a bludger."

"It's settled then," said Cedric, "Emma it is. I believe she's in her dorm, so I'll leave it to you to tell her Rhia. We'll start her training first thing tomorrow morning. Team dismissed."

Rhia knocked at the door of the sixth year dorm and was greeted with an unmistakably Irish "come in."

"Emma, I've got some news for you…" she stopped as she saw Emma was packing her trunk.

"You don't have to tell me," Emma said, "Professor Sprout found me at dinner. She said I could move into the Prefect's dorm." She paused, a little frightened. "You don't mind do you?"

"Oh, no," she said realizing, "not at all. I just wasn't sure she'd told you. I'm actually not here about the prefect position. As you know Hufflepuff is also short a beater. Well, the team discussed it and Cedric is ready to offer you to position, if you'll take it."

"Are you serious!"

"Training begins tomorrow morning."

"Oh thank you, thank you, thank you. This is the happiest day of my life, Prefect and Beater all in one day."

"Well, come along," Rhia said somewhat melancholy, "let's get you settled into your new room; you'll need a goodnight's sleep for what Cedric's got in store."

The team was surprised how quickly Emma caught on. It only took her two goes to get the Badger Baumf. By the next week she and Rhia were working like a well oiled machine. It probably helped that they were now roommates too.

Emma O'callaghan was in a word petite. By the look of her any quidditch fan would have labeled her a seeker, but to see her play you knew instantly she was a beater. Her fiery red hair was an easy tip off to the Irish temper within, but her big brown eyes and freckles gave her a misleading look of innocence. She was ruthless in the air and powerful with a bat.

As she flew out of the gate toward awaiting Slytherin team Emma was meet with cat calls.

"Are you lost little girl," called Flint. "The stands are that way."

She was silent.

"Look at those pleats," laughed Malfoy. "What's the matter love, afraid to tussle that hideous red hair?"

She was silent, pushing her pleated pig-tails back.

At the sound of Madam Hooch's whistle a mischievous smile crept to Emma's lips.

The next three hours were full of pain on the part of the Slytherin team. Just as soon as they steadied themselves on their brooms a bludger sent them reeling again. Between the two of them Rhia and Emma had kept the Slytherin team from scoring a single goal and allowed the Hufflepuff chaser time enough to sink five of their own.

"Back on your brooms, all of you!" Flint was furious. "C'mon, it's only Hufflepuff!"

Just then the whistle sounded. Someone had caught the snitch. As everyone searched the skies, there was Malfoy. His rat like face contorted in a smirk, a flittering golden ball trying desperately to break free from his out stretched hand.

"Bloody hell!" It was the first thing Emma had said all day. The mischief was gone from her face when she reached the ground and approached the other team to shake hands.

"Not so vicious on the ground now are you," Malfoy gloated.

"Pog ma hol," Emma spat teeth clenched.

"What did you say," he was in her face now.

"Kiss my arse you spoiled little twit!"

"How dear you speak to me like that you filthy Irish rat...I'll…"

Just then Madam Hooch approached.

"Now, now, now," she tisked, "I've heard of a sore loser, but never a sore winner. To your houses, all of you."

Despite the loss there was still celebration in the Hufflepuff commons. It was the closest they'd come to beating Slytherin in years.

"Good show," Rhia said patting Emma on the back, "you're as vicious as Harley, but twice as disarming."

"Thanks." She said seriously, "Just so you know, I'm not trying to take her place. She's your best mate, I know that. I'd just settle for being your friend."

"You are, love, you are. Hell after today I'd be frightened not to deny you." Rhia laughed. "Now, as your friend it is my duty to inform you that your performance today has earned you the admiration of a Mr. Oliver Wood."

"Oliver Wood?!? You're joking right? A seventh year, not to mention quidditch captian…fancy me? You've been misinformed."

"I assure you, I have it on the highest authority."

"State your source."

"Sources actually, if you'd consider them a separate entity."

"I assume you mean the Weasley's.

"They'd be the ones."

"And you trust their word."

"If they'd told me they weren't responsible for the dung bombs set off in the astronomy tower, no. Telling me that Oliver Wood fancies you, absolutely."

Emma was speechless, "Well alright then. What should I do."

"Nothing my dear, my George will take care of it. I was only to get your opinion on the matter."

"My opinion," she giggled, "is that Oliver Wood is the single most attractive person I've ever seen."

"Single most attractive person you've ever seen…got it. I'll pass it on."

(Pog ma hol translates to Kiss my ass in Gaelic (according to Let me know what you thought. Like I said this is just a transition chapter really. Please R&R)