Chapter 10

Quidditch

The next few days were like hell. I felt like killing my teachers! They were gaining on me, literally! Or at least Snape and Umbridge were gaining on me…it was rather horrible. Umbridge didn't like it when I asked her why there was nothing about using defensive spells in the different textbooks she said we were going to be using. She merely laughed it off and said "Who would try to even attack you?" I was tempted to say, "I dunno, maybe Lord Voldemort?" but I shut my mouth. I did not want to get into trouble like Harry did. He told me about the detention. In it, he had to write lines with this quill that used your own blood as the ink to write with. I couldn't even imagine how painful it was.

Luckily, there was a Quidditch game coming up soon. And I was so exited about it.

MY FIRST QUIDDITCH GAME!!!! And I got to finally watch Harry play. He told me about it and it sounded like fun but also scary because it is a game played on broom sticks and there are these things called bludgers that try to knock you off your broomstick. I was doubtful that it was even safe to play and wondered why they allowed it, but that changed.

The match was on October 1st and when that came I was excited, but worried at the same time. I was scared that Harry would get in the head with a bludgers, but then again he knows what he's doing so I shouldn't be worrying at all about him. I knew he would do great without getting hurt. Or at least, I hoped.

On the morning of October first, I walked to the Quidditch pitch with Giovanna, Anna, Katerina, Alina (who was another girl in our dorm) and Katerina's friend Cheyenne.

"I'm so excited!" exclaimed Alina, "my sister's on the Gryffindor Quidditch team and I want her to win so badly!"

"Who's your sister?" I asked.

"Alicia," she replied.

"I know her,"

"Really?"

"Yeah. Harry introduced me to her when she came up to us to tell Harry something about Quidditch when we were talking at break yesterday,"

"Oh," Alina replied, then looking confused about what she had heard, she said, "what?!" Then I remembered. I never told anyone besides Katerina, Giovanna and Anna about how Harry and I were cousins. Harry and I decided to keep our relationship quiet. He didn't want me to attract a ton of unneeded attention. Shoot, I thought beating myself up in my mind. I sighed.

"Please don't tell anyone about what I'm going to tell you," I begged, "you too Cheyenne," I looked her way.

"I promise," they said. I took a deep breath.

"I'm Harry's cousin," I admitted.

"What?!" they said in unison.

"It's complicated, but I really am," I said. They looked at me in disbelief.

"She really is," Katerina backed me up.

"Yeah," Giovanna added. Cheyenne and Alina looked at me and nodded.

"We believe you," they said, "I won't tell anyone,"

"Thanks you guys," I said.

We arrived at the Quidditch pitch just as the game was starting. We got to our seats and started watching. It was so cool! Like nothing I had ever seen before! The players sped around the pitch faster then the speed of light! All of the sudden, something (or rather someone) sped by me really closely. I blinked. Was that George? I saw that he had a bat in his hand, meaning he was a beater, but I didn't know who he was.

"Hey," I said to Anna, "do you know who the Gryffindor beaters are?" I asked.

"Fred and George Weasley," she replied, "they are totally hot,"

"I know!' I exclaimed, "I personally wish I could date George!" Giovanna and Katerina stared at me.

"What? He's only 6 years older then me!"

"But he's a seventh year. Don't you think you're a little young?"

"Young?!" I exclaimed, "no way!" Giovanna rolled her eyes. I could tell she thought I was crazy, but that was the way it was. I had a crush on George Weasley and I plan to go out of my way to get him.

I looked back at the pitch. The game had started! Harry made a lap around the pitch. There was no snitch yet. Suddenly, there was a big roar from the Slytherin section.

"What's that they're singing?" Lee Jordan, the commentator asked. Lee paused to listened, the sound rose loud and clear from the sea of silver and green:

"Weasley cannot save a thing,

He cannot block a single ring

That's why the Slytherins all sing:

Weasley is our king.

Weasley was born in a bin

He always lets the Quaffle in

Weasly will make sure we win

Weasley is our king"

That pissed me off so much! Ron could too save a thing! He was good! What the hell?! I looked at Ron. He looked so mad at them! To make matters worse, he totally lost concentration on the game and Slytherin scored!

The Slytherins kept chanting their awful noise an soon the game was 20-nil, nil being Gryffindor.

"You can do it!" I yelled. But as the game went on, Ron let in 2 more goals.

"Crap," I cursed, "fuck you, Slytherins"

The game kept going and Angelina, the Gryffindor captain and chaser scored!

"Wahoo!" I screamed, "Yes!" Gryffindor was back in possession.

All of the sudden, the crowd started cheering really loud. I stood up. Harry and the Slytherin seeker were off! They had spotted the snitch! Harry was ahead by a little bit but then the other seeker took lead. Harry slammed against him. They were neck to neck…the Slytherin seeker's hand just inches away.

It was over in 2 seconds. Harry grasped the snitch! There was a loud cheer from the Gryffindor supporters, including me!

"GO GRYFFINDOR!" I screamed.

All of the sudden though, I heard yelling from the pitch. It was the Slytherin seeker. Something told me he was saying something to provoke Harry. Not just Harry, but Fred and George as well. Harry grabbed hold of one of the twins to stop him from charging and Alicia and Angelina grabbed hold of the other. Then, the seeker said something that was probably the worst thing ever to provoke Harry. And clearly, it worked. Harry and the twin he was hanging onto ran at him and punched him in the stomach…hard. It looked like it hurt a lot. The seeker collapsed.

"Impedimenta!" called Madam Hooch. Harry and George flew back. They landed flat on their backs.

Something told me I had to get down there. I left the stands and ran onto the pitch. I was too late though.

"Get to the head of your house's office now!" yelled Madam Hooch. They left the pitch. I ran after them. No one noticed me at all. I stood outside Professor McGonagall's office, listening to her lecture about what just happened on the pitch. And it wasn't too pretty.

"Well? That was the most disgraceful thing I ever saw! Explain yourselves!

"Malfoy provoked us," Harry said stiffly.

"Provoked you?!" Professor McGonagall screeched, "of course he'd want to that! He's just lost! What were you-,"

"He insulted my parents," the twin said.

"And my mother," Harry added.

"But instead of leaving it for Madam Hooch to sort out, you turned it into an exhibition of muggle dueling, didn't you?"

"Hem, hem," said a voice. I recognized it as Professor Umbridge's voice. Shoot, I thought. She was totally gonna screw everything up for sure now.

"Minerva, do you need any help?"

"Help?" Professor McGonagall repeated, "What do you mean, help?"

"Why, I thought you might be grateful for some extra authority,"

"I don't need it," Professor McGonagall snarled then turned her back on Umbridge.

"I don't know what Malfoy said, but that was extremely wrong and unacceptable and your behavior was disgusting. I don't care if he insulted every family member you possess and I am giving you two a week worth of detentions. Don't look at me like, that, you deserve it! And if either of you ever pull a stunt like that ever again, mark my words-,"

"Hem, Hem"

"Yes?" Professor McGonagall turned around.

"I think these two deserve something more then detentions,"

"What?"

"Under the Magical Education Decree number 25-,"

"Not another one!" McGonagall groaned.

"The High Inquisitor will have henceforth supreme authority over all punishments, sanctions, and removal of privileges pertaining to the students of Hogwarts, and the power to alter such punishments, sanctions and removals of privileges as may have been ordered by the other staff members. Signed, Cornelius Fudge, minister for Magic, Order of Merlin First class, etc., etc." I realized what this was! They were gonna ban Harry from the team! I had to go in there and do something!

"Professor, you can't expel them from the team!" I cried. I couldn't take it anymore.

"Karina?" Harry asked, shocked.

"Harry is the best seeker ever. You can't just expel him off the team like that. And Fred barely did anything to offend you! It's not-,"

"Miss Rookworth, that's enough," Professor McGonagall snapped. She looked at Professor Umbridge.

"You can't do that," she said, "I am the head of Gryffindor house,"

"And I am the Hogwarts High Inquisitor," Professor Umbridge said. Professor McGonagall sighed. She knew that she couldn't disagree with Umbridge. Knowing that woman, this could affect her job.

"Fine," she muttered. Expelled from the team? It couldn't be!

"What?!" we all exclaimed.

"You're off the Gryffindor team," Professor Umbridge said. I wanted to kill Umbridge right there on the spot, but I knew I would get in huge trouble for attacking her so I contained myself.

"You're dismissed," Professor McGonagall sighed. I knew I couldn't say anything to change what just happened.

"Come on," Harry said, glumly. Harry, the twin, and I left the office.

"Karina," Harry said, "do you realize what you were doing? You just put your reputation with Umbridge in jeopardy,"

"I know," I answered, "but I couldn't just stand there! She kicked you two off the team!"

"And she kicked Fred off for no reason," the twin muttered. So that must have meant he was George!

"You're George right?"

"Yeah. Ever need to tell us apart, just look at our right cheek. Fred has a scar on it. I also have a mole on my neck, just so you know,"

"Oh,"