EDIT: 1/31/2012
Yep…
Disclaimer: I do not own anything Harry Potter related all credit goes to J.K. Rowling
Chapter Seven; Hogwarts Rules 1, 2 and 3
Riley, Fred and George were on the run. Filch right behind them.
They had just set off a nice trap for Filch in his office consisting of marshmallow whip, feathers and a very nicely transfigured beak. They knew if they were caught they were in for a world of trouble. Thus, the running for their lives.
Unfortunately it seemed lady luck was not on their side tonight, as they ran right into (and for Riley that was quite literal) the one and only Professor McGonagall.
"Oh, hello professor, lovely night isn't it?" Riley said innocently as she steadied herself.
"Yes, we were just coming back from a lovely walk around the castle." added Fred without a hint of mischievousness. Riley never thought she would see the day that Fred Weasley would have not a hint of mischievousness on his face. It was quite scary really.
McGonagall gave them each a hard stare. The trio of pranksters had been trying to find the right name for that look, but the only thing that they had come up with, that had fit was; The McGonagall Death Stare. But that was much too long.
"Dumbledore's office. Now." she said sternly.
Riley turned to the twins, so as not to be victim to the McGonagall Death Stare any longer. "Right then, let us go forth good sirs."
She looped her arms with there's and the three of them started skipping down the corridor singing;
"We're off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of Hogwarts. Because, because, because, because, because, because of the wonderful things he does!"
"And no singing!" yelled McGonagall with a sparkle of amusement in her eyes. No matter how many times she denied it, everyone knew McGonagall had a soft spot for the pranksters.
~{}~
When they got to the Headmasters office, Riley 'ooh'ed and 'ahh'ed at the secret staircase behind the gargoyle, and McGonagall lead them to a thick wooden door. McGonagall knocked three times, and waited.
"Come in."
They walked in and Riley couldn't help but gape. It was a big round room with a wide set of stairs behind an old mahogany desk, that lead to another part of the office and there was an entire section of wall dedicated to just books. There were also shelves and shelves of random do-dads and gadgets that smoked and made odd noises. Then the walls behind the desk and to the sides were covered in over a hundred paintings of old headmasters and headmistresses.
When Riley finally got over her shock, she walked up to the desk, bowed low and said "My Liege."
Fred and George did the same, causing some of the portraits to chuckle.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling madly.
"Don't encourage them Albus." McGonagall said severely. "There here to be punished. They set off another prank in Filches office. But this time they transfigured his mouth and nose into a beak."
She tried to hide it, but Riley heard the small hint of pride in her voice when she talked about the beak. And judging by the grins that were on the twins' faces, they had heard it too.
"Ah, I see." said Dumbledore eyes still twinkling, he smiled. "Well, I am afraid that is against the rules Messrs Weasley and Miss Langley. You will do a detention with Professor McGonagall, when she sees fit."
Riley swore she saw McGonagall roll her eyes. "You will be at my office at 8 o'clock tomorrow night. Do not be late."
The three pranksters stood straight backed, feet together and with a chorused "Ma'am, yes Ma'am!" they saluted the Transfiguration teacher. Then turned on their heels and bowed to Dumbledore with a muttered "My Liege" they walked out the door, leaving the portraits laughing heartily in their wake.
~{}~
As they continued through November, the weather turned very cold. The mountains around the school became icy gray and the lake like chilled steel. Every morning the ground was covered in frost. Hagrid could be seen from the upstairs windows defrosting broomsticks on the Quidditch field, bundled up in a long moleskin overcoat, rabbit fur gloves, and enormous beaverskin boots.
Fred and George hadn't stopped asking Riley questions about the Battle with the Troll. And somehow every time she told it, something more dangerous happened and so by the twentieth time she told it. Riley, Harry and Ron had all been hit a couple of times with the club and had done some amazing fighting combo that knocked the troll out.
As the Quidditch season drew nearer, fewer pranks were pulled because Wood had Fred, George and Harry training every other day. So Riley was spending more time doing her homework with Hermione and Ron, exploring the castle and driving Filch insane. (On one of her late night explorations she found a passage that led from a corridor just outside the Gryffindor common room to right outside Filch's office.)
Hermione had become a bit more relaxed about breaking rules since Harry, Ron and Riley had saved her from the mountain troll, and she was much nicer for it. Though she still went head to head with Riley a lot, not approving of her pranks and how she made everything a joke. But Riley told her, if she didn't laugh, who would?
The day before Harry's first Quidditch match the four of them were out in the freezing courtyard during break, and she had conjured them up a bright blue fire that could be carried around in a jam jar.
They were standing with their backs to it, getting warm, when Snape crossed the yard. Riley noticed at once that Snape was limping and that set off her ever curious mind. The group moved closer together to block the fire from view; they were sure it wouldn't be allowed. Unfortunately, something about their guilty faces caught Snape's eye.
Riley decided then that she needed to work on her innocent face. He hadn't seen the fire, but he seemed to be looking for a reason to tell them off anyway.
"What's that you've got there, Potter?" It was Quidditch Through the Ages. Harry showed him.
"Library books are not to be taken outside the school." said Snape. "Give it to me. Five points from Gryffindor."
"He's just made that rule up." Harry muttered angrily as Snape limped away. "Wonder what's wrong with his leg?"
"Dunno, but I hope it's really hurting him." said Ron bitterly.
"Now, now Ron. It's not right to wish bodily harm on a teacher…" Riley said trying not to grin.
Ron and Harry looked at her suspiciously; while Hermione smiled thinking she finally taught Riley some morals.
"When causing them mental harm is so much more fun!"
Ron and Harry laughed. As Hermione sighed, it was wishful thinking.
~{}~
The Gryffindor common room was very noisy that evening. Harry, Ron and Hermione sat together next to a window doing homework; While Riley was teaching Fred, George and Lee how to play poker at the table next to them.
"I fold." Lee said finally, looking mournfully at the pile of stuff in the middle of the table.
"Call!" George said with a smug grin on his face. He laid down his cards; he had a full house and Fred had three of a kind.
Riley smirked triumphantly. "Sorry boys, but you're not winning today."
She laid down a four of a kind, Kings.
"No!"
"Cheater!"
Riley laughed as she took all the loot from the middle of the table and counted it. She got fifteen Dung bombs, ten chocolate frogs, and seven small fireworks. While she was passing out cards again, Harry came sprinting into the common room (she hadn't even noticed he'd left) and straight over to where their group was.
"Did you get it?" Riley heard Ron ask as Harry joined them.
"What's the matter?" Riley asked confused.
In a low whisper, Harry told them that he had seen Snape's leg all bloody and that he heard him talking about how the three headed dog had done it.
"You know what this means." he finished breathlessly. "He tried to get past that three-headed dog at Halloween! That's where he was going when we saw him – he's after whatever it's guarding! And I'd bet my broomstick he let that troll in, to make a diversion!" Hermione's eyes were wide.
"No – he wouldn't," she said. "I know he's not very nice, but he wouldn't try and steal something Dumbledore was keeping safe."
"Honestly, Hermione, you think all teachers are saints or something," snapped Ron. "I'm with Harry. I wouldn't put anything past Snape. But what's he after? What's that dog guarding?"
"Well, what would Snape want?" Riley asked, folding and turning towards them.
"Something dangerous to torture students with, I bet." Ron said.
That made Riley chuckle. Really, she knew Snape wasn't a nice person at all. But she didn't believe he would torture his students… then again…
~{}~
The next morning dawned very bright and cold. The Great Hall was full of the delicious smell of fried sausages and the cheerful chatter of everyone looking forward to a good Quidditch match.
"You've got to eat some breakfast."
"I don't want anything."
"Just a bit of toast." wheedled Hermione.
"I'm not hungry." Harry looked terrible.
"Harry, you need your strength." said Seamus Finnigan. "Seekers are always the ones who get clobbered by the other team."
"Wow, Seamus! That's the most comforting thing I've ever heard." Riley said with cheerful sarcasm.
Seamus did the mature thing and stuck his tongue out at her while Dean Thomas his best friend laughed.
"Don't listen to them Harry you'll be great." Hermione said reassuringly as she piled food onto his plate.
"Yeah, look at it this way; if you get your skull pounded in by a bludger, at least you'll have girls going crazy over your battle wound and you'll have a fun story to go with it." Riley grinned at him while she munched on her bacon.
Hermione glared at her but really, what's new there?
By eleven o'clock the whole school seemed to be out in the stands around the Quidditch pitch. Many students had binoculars. The seats might be raised high in the air, but it was still difficult to see what was going on sometimes.
And while Ron and Hermione joined Neville, Seamus, and Dean up in the top row, Riley was under the stands laying out her fireworks and double checking the charms she put on them.
Suddenly she heard cheers.
"Good, their coming out to the field." she mumbled to herself, practically jumping with excitement.
She walked over to the side of the stands and saw them take off and start the game. Riley watched the Slytherin team scatter to their positions. It seemed that the captain Marcus Flint went for size rather than skill; Flint himself looked like he had some troll in him.
"And the Quaffle is taken immediately by Angelina Johnson of Gryffindor – what an excellent Chaser that girl is, and rather attractive, too –"
"JORDAN!"
"Sorry, Professor."
Riley was shaking with laughter at Lee's commentary, cheering him on when Professor McGonagall reprimanded him.
"And she's really belting along up there, a neat pass to Alicia Spinnet, a good find of Oliver Wood's, last year only a reserve – back to Johnson and – no, the Slytherins have taken the Quaffle, Slytherin Captain Marcus Flint gains the Quaffle and off he goes – Flint flying like an eagle up there – he's going to sc- no, stopped by an excellent move by Gryffindor Keeper Wood and the Gryffindors take the Quaffle – that's Chaser Katie Bell of Gryffindor there, nice dive around Flint, off up the field and – OUCH – that must have hurt, hit in the back of the head by a Bludger – Quaffle taken by the Slytherins – that's Adrian Pucey speeding off toward the goal posts, but he's blocked by a second Bludger – sent his way by Fred or George Weasley, can't tell which – nice play by the Gryffindor Beater, anyway, and Johnson back in possession of the Quaffle, a clear field ahead and off she goes – she's really flying – dodges a speeding Bludger – the goal posts are ahead – come on, now, Angelina – Keeper Bletchley dives – misses – GRYFFINDORS SCORE!" Gryffindor cheers filled the cold air, with howls and moans from the Slytherins.
Suddenly, seven glittering scarlet lions flew into the sky, roaring and baring their teeth as they charged down the Slytherins. Each one exploded as it hit a Slytherin player, singeing their hair and clothes, and covering them with red and gold glitter.
Everyone stopped in surprise. Then the Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws burst into cheers. The teachers not being able to do anything let the game continue.
During all this Riley was rolling on the ground laughing. When she finally calmed down she went back to watching the game, she saw Harry circling the pitch, searching for the Snitch.
"Slytherin in possession," Lee Jordan was saying, "Chaser Pucey ducks two Bludgers, two Weasleys, and Chaser Bell, and speeds toward the – wait a moment – was that the Snitch?" A murmur ran through the crowd as Adrian Pucey dropped the Quaffle; too busy looking over his shoulder at the flash of gold that had passed his left ear.
Harry seemed to have seen it too; he dived downward after the streak of gold. Slytherin Seeker Terence Higgs right on his tail. Neck and neck they hurtled toward the Snitch— all the Chasers seemed to have forgotten what they were supposed to be doing as they hung in midair to watch.
"Idiots!" Riley cried. "Don't stop just because they saw the Snitch!"
Harry was faster than Higgs – it was right in front of him – he put on an extra spurt of speed – WHAM! A roar of rage echoed from the Gryffindors below – Marcus Flint had blocked Harry on purpose, and Harry's broom spun off course, Harry holding on for dear life.
"Foul!" screamed the Gryffindors.
Riley was cursing so badly, she knew if Andy ever heard this she'd be getting her mouth washed out with soap.
Madam Hooch spoke angrily to Flint and then ordered a free shot at the goal posts for Gryffindor. But in all the confusion, of course, the Golden Snitch had disappeared from sight again.
Meanwhile Riley had run up into the stands, yelling;
"Hit him with a Bludger George! Better yet hit him with your bat Fred!" Causing many in the stands around her to laugh and nod in agreement.
Meanwhile, Lee was finding it difficult not to take sides.
"So – after that obvious and disgusting bit of cheating—"
"Jordan!" growled Professor McGonagall
"I mean, after that open and revolting foul—"
"Jordan, I'm warning you—"
"All right, all right. Flint nearly kills the Gryffindor Seeker, which could happen to anyone, I'm sure. So a penalty to Gryffindor, taken by Spinnet, who puts it away, no trouble," more lions appeared. "And we continue play, Gryffindor still in possession."
After Riley ran out of fireworks she headed up to the teachers stands and took a seat in the far back. The teachers always had the best seats according to the twins, so Riley decided to sit with them. Luckily none of the teachers noticed her or they just didn't care.
"Slytherin in possession— Flint with the Quaffle— passes Spinnet— passes Bell— hit hard in the face by a Bludger, hope it broke his nose— only joking, Professor— Slytherins score— A no..."
The Slytherins were cheering, and Riley was groaning. Then she noticed something… Harry's broom was behaving strangely. It was carrying him slowly higher, away from the game, jerking and twitching as it went.
Suddenly, people were pointing up at Harry all over the stands. His broom had started to roll over and over, with him only just managing to hold on. Then the whole crowd gasped. Harry's broom had given a wild jerk and Harry swung off it. He was now dangling from it, holding on with only one hand.
"Oh this is a lovely start to your Quidditch career Harry." Riley moaned as she looked around the teacher's box to see if she could do something.
Then she saw Hermione running up the stairs.
"Hermione what are you doing?" Riley called out as Hermione started to fight her way across the stand.
"It's Snape, he's Jinxing the broom!"
Hermione had fought her way across to the stand where Snape stood, and was now racing along the row behind him; she didn't even stop to say sorry as she knocked Professor Quirrell headfirst into the row in front.
Reaching Snape, she crouched down, pulled out her wand, and whispered a few, well-chosen words. Bright blue flames shot from her wand onto the hem of Snape's robes. It took perhaps thirty seconds for Snape to realize that he was on fire.
A sudden yelp told her she had done her job. Scooping the fire off him into a little jar in her pocket, she scrambled back along the row – Snape would never know what had happened.
It was enough. Up in the air, Harry was suddenly able to clamber back on to his broom.
"That was brilliant Hermione!" Riley said hugging Hermione quickly, then running back to where Ron and the others were.
Before they got there they heard screams and cheers and quickly looked over to see Harry was speeding toward the ground. Then they saw him clap his hand to his mouth as though he was about to be sick – he hit the field on all fours – coughed – and something gold fell into his hand.
"I've got the Snitch!" he shouted, waving it above his head, and the game ended in complete confusion.
Lee was happily shouting the results – Gryffindor had won by one hundred and seventy points to sixty. Everyone was celebrating Slytherins defeat.
But the quartet heard none of this. They were being made a cup of strong tea back in Hagrid's hut.
"It was Snape." Ron was explaining. "Hermione and I saw him. He was cursing your broomstick, muttering, he wouldn't take his eyes off you."
"That doesn't technically mean anything though; he could have been saving Harry's life for all we know." Riley said, thanking Hagrid for the tea.
"Riley, he hates Harry." Ron was looking at her like she was stupid.
"So? He hates me too, but you don't see him trying to kill me." Riley said lazily, while she pet Fang.
She didn't know why she was defending Snape; she hated the man just as much as he hated her. But she just thought that it seemed kind of ridiculous to blame Snape with so little real evidence, Mad-Eye always said she would be a good Auror, because she liked to play devil's advocate. And look at things from all sides.
"Maybe he's going to go after you next." Ron replied gravely. Riley rolled her eyes.
"Rubbish," said Hagrid, who hadn't heard a word of what had gone on in the stands. "Why would Snape do somethin' like that?"
Harry, Ron and Hermione looked at one another, wondering what to tell him. Harry decided on the truth.
"I found out something about him." he told Hagrid. "He tried to get past that three-headed dog on Halloween. It bit him. We think he was trying to steal whatever it's guarding." Hagrid dropped the teapot.
"How do you know about Fluffy?" he said.
"Fluffy?" Harry, Ron and Hermione looked incredulous. Riley looked like Christmas had just come early.
"Yeah – he's mine – bought him off a Greek chappie I met in the pub las' year – I lent him to Dumbledore to guard the—"
"Yes?" said Harry eagerly.
"Now, don't ask me anymore." said Hagrid gruffly. "That's top secret, that is."
"But Snape's trying to steal it."
"Rubbish," said Hagrid again. "Snape's a Hogwarts teacher; he'd do nothin' of the sort."
"So why did he just try and kill Harry?" cried Hermione.
The afternoon's events certainly seemed to have changed her mind about Snape.
"I know a jinx when I see one, Hagrid. I've read all about them! You've got to keep eye contact, and Snape wasn't blinking at all, I saw him!"
"The same could be said about counter-jinxes Hermione." Riley said sighing, and she thought Hermione would see things logically.
"I know what I'm talking about, Langley." Hermione said forcefully, Harry and Ron nodding with her.
Riley blinked.
"Obviously you don't." she mumbled to herself, but out loud she said coldly. "Whatever you say Granger, because we all know you could never be wrong."
"I'm tellin' yeh, yer wrong!" said Hagrid hotly. "I don' know why Harry's broom acted like that, but Snape wouldn' try an' kill a student! Now, listen to me, all four of yeh – yer meddlin' in things that don' concern yeh. It's dangerous. You forget that dog, an' you forget what it's guardin', that's between Professor Dumbledore an' Nicolas Flamel –"
"Aha!" said Harry, "so there's someone called Nicolas Flamel involved, is there." Hagrid looked furious with himself.
~{}~
It was later in that evening, in the common room, that the four first years sat in front of the fire. Two playing chess, one studying and the last was sketching something.
Harry kept glancing between Riley and Hermione. Both had been giving the other the cold shoulder since they had left Hagrid's. Harry had never seen Riley act like this before. Sure she and Hermione would fight but usually Riley would just brush off insults or pretend like nothing happened. But somehow this time was different and now they weren't talking to each other…
He sighed, Girls are weird.
~{}~
The next morning, Riley was sitting with Fred, George and Lee. She wasn't angry at Hermione anymore, but she knew that Hermione was still mad at her. So she decided to stick around with the twins and Lee until Hermione cooled down.
"So, men." Riley commanded, as if talking to soldiers. "I have a plan."
"Oh? It wouldn't have anything to do with charming all Hermione's books to bite her would it?" Fred said while grabbing some eggs.
Riley raised an eyebrow at him. "No… but that's a good idea. We should remember that."
"Yeah, so why are you mad at her?" asked George, who was waging war with the strawberry jelly that didn't want to stay on his knife.
"Because, she's an infuriating know-it-all that thinks she is never wrong." Riley replied casually, waving her fork around dangerously.
"Ah… So what's this plan you have?" Lee asked trying to steer the conversation away from the fight. Riley smiled thankfully at him.
"Right so…"
~{}~
Thirty minutes later Riley was standing on the table, trying to get everyone's attention.
"Miss Langley, get down from there right now!" she heard McGonagall yell.
Riley smiled sweetly at her head of house. "Just one moment professor. I need to make an announcement."
McGonagall looked like she was going to say something, but Dumbledore stopped her, looking curious to see what Riley had planned.
"In the two and a half months I've been here," Riley started, talking loud and clear so the whole hall could hear. "I've noticed that Slytherin house seems to be pretty depressed and angry. And then I thought; 'what better way to cheer them up, then to give them all nice big hugs? Because everyone feels happy after a hug.' So in the name of making Slytherin house a happier place. I declare today, the twentieth of November the official 'Hug a Slytherin Day!'"
Cheers and laughter erupted from the hall. As Riley stepped down from the table she leaned in close to the boys.
"So did you do it?" she whispered.
"Yep, the speech was just long enough to get them all." George grinned evilly.
The four pranksters high-fived and walked to their separate classes slowly, to enjoy watching the results of their prank.
As the Slytherins started to get up from the table they found themselves overcome with the desire to hug the person next to them. As the day wore on every Slytherin was overcome with this mysterious urge to hug any person within five feet of them. By the end of the day every Slytherin had been hugged at least twenty times.
And Hug a Slytherin Day became an official holiday at Hogwarts.
~{}~
So I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I'm sorry if it seems like I'm bashing on Hermione, but I'm not. I'm just trying to show the relationship she has with Riley.
I figured they would butt heads constantly because Hermione is very all about the rules and everything by the book. Where as Riley is completely different; she's all about breaking the rules, and is very open minded about things and try's to look at all the possibilities in life.
So I figured that would cause some stress in her and Hermione's friendship. But don't worry that will change a little bit later. Anyway thank you for reading please let me know what you think... bye :)