AN:

Hello dear readers, if there is any at all. though I have commend ebbe04 for always leaving her mark in my reviews page. So I say thank you to ebbe04, your reviews are always appreciated:)

I wont be posting anything this sunday, so I'll be posting this now, friday (may it be night or evening) because I have several reasons:

1)I'm moving back into my dorm Sunday morning and wont be done unpacking till later on.

2)I'm taking down my PC tommrow afternoon (sat), wires and all.

3)I'm not packed yet..so I'm packing everything today, and tommorow...

4) I cant post Sunday evening cuz the computer might not be up till later.

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Chapter 14

On the first practice of the year the coaches were in the main room of their locker room when all of the players stepped out of their perspective locker rooms. The girls were discussing how they needed a bigger locker room since they only have 2 shower stalls and their changing room was a bit bigger than a walk-in closet, Marie Weston was quite annoyed as she rammed her elbow on a corner earlier. The guys were discussing something about getting dates for the ball that April. All of them though took their usual spots in the main room. The coaches stood on the spot eyeing their team. Mordecai smirked at Oliver as none of the team members had worn out their official uniforms.

"Why aren't you dressed properly?" asked Oliver as she raised his eyebrow at everyone. Maggie then said that they were dressed for practice and made a remark that her father needed eye glasses or something like that. Oliver then said that they were given gifts by the school governors. "We aren't you wearing your uniforms?"

Everyone looked at each other before they all asked the coaches what they meant. "They cost quite a few galleons, best break them in now you know" Mordecai finally said. It wasn't even a minute and all of 14 members ran back to their locker rooms to change into their official uniforms. After they were all done they were out in the pitch doing laps. Oliver and Mordecai were lounging on their broom in the middle of pitch shouting random things at the people.

"LISTEN UP….this will be the first time you people will be wearing those uniforms. Wear them proud! You are only to wear them during pitch practice got it!"

"YES COACH WOOD!" shouted everyone in unison as they looped around the top boxes. The practice went on with out a hitch and around 9pm everyone was already out back at the castle except for Stella. She had asked if she could both talk to Harry and Oliver at the same time. Little did she know that James and Mike were just in the guy's locker room listening in to what was happening out in the main room. As they pressed their ears to the wall they heard Stella speak.

"Uncle Harry, Uncle Oliver thank you for both of you picking me as your captains for both of your team…but"

"But what? Whats wrong? I'd thought you'd be ecstatic to be captain to the first ever Hogwarts team?" asked Harry as he shifted in his seat to look at Stella in the eye. Oliver then asked what was going on.

"I, I don't think I can be captain for both teams…." Stella stuttered out. On the other side of the wall James had placed his hand on top of the surprised Mike's mouth. "I have to choose between the two….I cant have both…Uncle Harry you know how I need EE's in my courses and Uncle Oliver you know that I also do long distance education for my muggle education…..I just cant do all of them at the same time. I cant risk getting pulled out of BOTH teams because my marks go down…..I'm not giving up or being a coward but I have to know when to retreat... Please don't be disappointed in me-"

Harry looked at Oliver who looked like he knew this was coming. Oliver then said "-which one do you choose, and who would you rather take your spot?"

Stella shifted in her seat holding the two smaller captain badges that were worn on their school uniforms. She closed her eyes and breathed in deeply before handing a badge to Harry. "Uncle, I know that you believe in me a lot. I had my chance to be captain already…but being the first ever captain for the Hogwarts team would be a great achievement even more greater than being captain of a team that I had helped get the house cup for the past 5 years" Stella said.

On the other side of the wall now James was the one protesting as Mike made him to shut up. James then snapped at Mike saying that he just wanted to get rid of Stella so it would be easier for him in the house cup.

"Who do you pick to replace you then?" asked Harry who was smiling. He fully understood what Stella meant. Any good leader knew when retreat is the best option and she was right in making this decision now before her marks ever did slip. Stella then said that she'd pick James to take her spot this year but still stands firm on making Maggie the captain for next school year. They then heard a thump in the boys locker room. Oliver stood up and opened the door pointing his wand at the two boys who were on the floor. Mike was sitting on James back as he stared at the wall.

"GET OFF!" James screamed at Mike and rolled over making Mike fall on his back. "I found two rats Harry" Oliver laughed as he lead the two boys out in the main room. Harry just chuckled and handed the badge back to Stella who stood up and pinned the badge on James's collar. "Congratulations Captain" Stella smiled at James who hugged her tightly saying that he wont let her down. After which Mike groaned and said "now I have to change strategies…..well James I think we'll meet each other in the finals…." Stella then hit Mike's arm saying that he thought that she couldn't bring her team to the house finals.

"No. Oww Estelle…that hurts! I mean our teams area already the top 2 teams for the first round…..we at least have 100 points over the Ravens and Hufflepuffs. Unless one of us drops dead the next round I mean…" Mike defended as James started laughing at how Mike suddenly cowered when Stella punched him. Neither noticed James had gone up to his father and promise that he'll do his very best to keep up the standards Stella had achieved with the house team.

"You'll do fine" Harry chuckled as James hugged him tightly. "Thanks dad" James said to Harry. His father then chuckled a welcome. "The second James Potter to ever become captain of Gryffindor…..your grandpa James would be happy. Stop by later so you could inforn the portrait yourself"

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After the whole talk, Oliver then told two of the three to put away the equipment little did he know that James and Harry already stepped out so when he turned back he only saw Mike and Stella still arguing about something. Mike was trying to see what the captain's badge looked like but was having problems as Stella already had pinned it to her cloak. Oliver laughed as Mike got slapped for just poking the badge. He then told the two to knock it off and put back the equipment though Stella wasn't too thrilled about it as Mike. Mike was known for snogging girls near pitch A's equipment shed and Stella would bet that Mike already broke in pitch B's shed too. When they got there the shed had a few feet of snow in front of it, much worse, the snow was compacted as there was a mini avalanche earlier since Chuck Towler (brother of Charles from Gryffindor) had aimed a bludger at a top box to see if the snow would actually spill off the canopy.

It was nearly 9pm when the two were done and they were sure that the rest of the team had caught dinner time as it always ended around 8:30pm. Stella groaned as she thought "What if James did this instead of Mike…" She knew things would've gone faster if James were the one who had put the stuff away. She hadn't thought of it but she hadn't taken a shower yet. She didn't feel much either, as it was Jan 5 and she was out with her thinest cloak. The wind picked up and the shed door slamed on her hand. She nearly shouted in pain but held it in, in case Mike started to fawn over her.

"Hey….you okay?" he asked as Stella squinted her eyes and shook her brains a bit. They were already in the castle and were walking into the entrance hall.

"Its nothing….I'll see you in practice on Tuesday Flint…" Stella said as she clutched her hand underneath the cloak. She started to walk away when Mike ran after her and asked her if she was hungry. "…yes I am…but dinner is done.."

"Come on Weasley, lets have dinner at the kitchens. The elves are nice to students" Mike suggested to Stella who was too busy with the injured hand.

"I know that…I just want to shower and sleep…and don't give me that dreamy look Flint." Stella glowered as Mike's eyes suddenly looked glossy in impure imagination. He shook his head and retorted that he wasn't thinking of her in shower, well actually he was but he'd never say it to her at least. He looked at her glare at him and he sort of cracked. Okay he did crack.

"Okay fine so I was. But still, dinner…I promise I'll behave"

"…..seriously?…fine…."

The two headed towards the Pear painting and Flint tickled it. They were let in to be greeted by a bunch of elves. Actually it was one of the most known elves around. He was a very friendly elf with a long pointy nose and extremely large ears that his head might've toppled over due to it's size. He wore a uniform that had H in the middle of the front.

"Mister Flint! Miss Weasley!" it squeaked as it shuffled towards the two.

"Hello Foggy, would you mind serving hungry Quiddtich players?" Mike said as he patted the elf's head.

"Of course not sire! What may I get for you?" the elf asked eagerly as it looked brightly at Mike and Stella. Mike had asked for a club sandwich and a fizzy drink along with some fries. The elf nodded trying to memorize the order."Yes sire, and the Miss?"

"Oh uhm…a simple chicken breast panini with black olives and metled cheese…" Stella said as she thought of how good her grandmamma's elves make it.

"Drink?" asked the Foggy.

"Give me a fizzy drink, uhm apple…."

"Right away ma'am sir, why don't you two sit down over there…." The elf pointed.

The two headed to the long table and sat across each other. An elf came with a bowl of hot water for each of them and a clean towel. Mike started to take off his arm guards and wash his hands in the bowls. Stella did so too but more slowly as she had an injury somewhere. As soon as she took off her left glove she winced, her flesh had cut open due to the shed door. She winced as she drew her finger out from the dry blood sticking to the glove.

"Whats wrong?" asked Mike as he looked at her hand. Stella tried to hide it and said that it was just a small cut. But Mike knew better. Stella Weasley does not wince unless it really did hurt.

"Tut…let me see that…" Mike grabbed her hand and pulled the glove fast making her scream and draw her hand which he held on to tightly. "The more you slow it down, the more it'll sting…ah….cut, that's long too….here….." Mike said as he soaked her hand into her bowl and with his thumb started to massage the throbbing cut.

"Have to take out the dried up blood...you know infections…Foggy?" he called the elf and it appeared. "Can you possibly get me an ointment and a wrapping for Weasley's cut?"

"Yes sire…" the elf disappeared and appeared again handing Mike the stuff he asked for and disappearing again. Stella just watched Flint as he carefully cleaned her cut and placed the ointment on it. "There….better?"

"we could've just used a spell" Stella said as she watched Mike wrap her hand in some bandage.

"and my mother always says that too much self inflicted spells aren't good for your health…" replied Mike as he gave back Stella's hand. Stella nodded in agreement as she looked at her medicated hand and thanked flint truthfully with out sarcasm for the first time in her life.

"How bout this….lets start over again…." Mike suggested. He leant his chair out and peeked at the elves that were scuttling around making their dinner. He couldn't look at Stella in fear that with one glare from Stella his balls would retreat back. He normally wasn't shy in front of girls. Heck he just puts on the cocky image in front of Stella because he knew if she somehow knew how much of a softy he was inside she'd call him a sissy.

"What do you mean?" Stella asked him. She looked at him and felt that something was off. Was it because she finally admitted that she might like him back or was it because he looked like he was his real self just now. She always saw him being cocky but he didn't have that cocky attitude right now.

"I hate the fact that you call me by my last name…..I really do…." Mike said shifting his eyes to look at Stella. She apologized,calling him by Michael, for the first time in 7 years.

"Mike, Stella,…okay so…Hi, My name is Mike Flint?" Mike said while he offered her his right hand. She looked at his right hand in disdain for a bit before she shook herself and took it. "Stella Weasley..nice to meet you Mike…"

"Nice to meet you too Stella…now see was that HARD?" He said chuckling. He felt his insides twist as Stella smiled at him for the first time. Even at the new year's party she hadn't smiled at him like the way she was now.

"Not really. Fl…Mike…"

"See, I knew you were a kitten deep down inside…"

"Don't push it…" warned Stella. Mike shot his hands up in surrender as both of them started laughing with out a reason. Maybe it was because the whole thing was funny or was it because for once it was a two way feeling and neither couldn't believe what they were doing. Calling a truce.

The two sat there eating and talking for hours forgetting why Stella hated him in the first place. Around 11pm the elf came to them to tell them that curfew was over and they had to go back already. Mike swore loudly as he forgot he was suppose to meet up with a girl sometime ago, but realized that he just had spent quality time getting to know Stella Weasley.

"So we should get going….." said Stella standing up and gathering their plates and handing them to the eager elves. Mike stood up and said his thanks and left the kitchens. They headed towards the hall where they were to separate directions and turned to each other and said "Thanks…you aren't so bad after all...Mike…" Stella said as she fiddled with the bandages wrapping her hand.

"Well….you know after the teeth getting fixed I haven't been bad at all for a long time..." Mike teased. Stella even had to agree, but she kept that to herself.

"Shut up Mike…."

"Here let me walk you up Stella…."

"no need"

"I insist. As a prefect I think its better that I did so…."

"If its makes you feel more important." Stella teased which got a good blush from Mike who realized how much he suddenly sounded like his good friend Jeff. He always knew that Jeff got the girls to like him (unknown to himself though) through politeness. It didn't hurt either that Jeff didn't look that bad according to a survey James and Mike did on their 5th year.

They walk up to Gryffindor tower was one filled with discussions about brooms as Mike was a firm lover of the English brooms while Stella argued on that some foreign brooms were better than English brooms. Mike retorted that the only reason Stella liked foreign broom was because she got the top brooms through Madam Catalan. Flint stood there in front of the fat lady as Stella turned to him and thanked him again. "No problem….good night then….." he said as he nodded at her. She smiled and said good night. At the end before hastily mumbling the password, she gave him a peck on the cheek and headed into the tower shutting the door behind her. He stood there holding his cheek.

The fat lady then bust his bubble by pulling him back to reality "So sonny, you going back to your dungeons soon? Or do I have to try to sleep with you there clutching your cheek like a love sick school boy. Oops, You are a school boy…" Flint just smiled and walked away.

On the other side of the door Stella stood there in disbelief of what she had just done. But would be more rattled of the sight she would see in the common room.

As she entered the common room she found Maggie and Jeff snogging on the chair in the empty room. She screamed and dropped the stuff she was holding which thudding sound made the two stop. Just when she thought things would never go well with her twin and Maggie, there they were finally hooking up. Actually she knew that they had hooked up on the train back but didn't see them together since they got back from home that was at least 3 days ago.

"IM SCARRED" she screamed and Jeff just laughed and continued to snog his, well new girlfriend. He then paused and said "get used to it…". Maggie swatted him and added.

"Stella walk away…..away now…." Maggie said. Stella saw Maggie's face, somehow her friend looked generally content and happy, or was it because she was in the middle of snogging.

"My virgin eyes!...my virgin mind…." Stella mocked her friend. She then smiled at the fact that Jeff finally got the balls to accept the fact that he liked Maggie back, or at least get over the fact that Maggie was their god-sister.

"For someone as popular as you, I cant believe you haven't been kissed yet…" said Jeff as he shifted to look at his sister better. Stella just blushed at the thought of her actually kissing a boy, even worse she kept on seeing herself kissing Flint on the lips rather than on the cheek like what she just did.

"…night….." Stella said unsurely as she picked up her fallen stuff and rush to the tower. She just needed a good shower and good nights sleep.

"Night…" said the two on the sofa. Stella headed to her room and took a late night shower then headed straight to bed only to keep on staring at the ceiling repeating the portrait door incident in her head. She felt something small walking on her legs and looked down to see her kitten walking on her. "When the hell did I like him anyways...grr!" she said to herself before she shifted and let her kitten, Le fay, snuggle beside her. She stroked the black kitten and said "What am I going to do Le fay?". The cat's green eyes looked at her and just mewed before snugling closer..

"That's what I thought..." Stella chuckled before finally falling into slumber.

AN:

There extra long :)

next update. Wednesday.! - or friday..im not sure...anwyays. thanks for reading. please review!