Here I am again! And don't kill me if I get Ael's name wrong! I don't have the book in front of me, and I can't even pronounce the last name, so... If it must be said, I am not Diane Duane, and therefore, do not own any mentioned books by this author. P.S. I am American, but am a complete New Who fanatic, so I will attempt to use pieces of British dialect, but some terms will be American. Yay! This is a bit longer with 3,024+ words.
On Thursday, Haley was curled up in an armchair in the Gryffindor common room, reading. She loved Diane Duane's Star Trek books. She particularly liked the ones with Ael T'Rllalieu. But she was jerked out of reading an especially exciting passage, which had to do with over-loaded phasers, when she heard Harry's voice. She had taken to what could be considered stalking him. He was groaning about his first flying lesson be with Slytherin.
"Typical," He started darkly, "Just what I always wanted. To make a fool of myself on a broomstick in front of Malfoy."
"You won't," Haley comforted at the same time Ron said,
"You don't know that you'll make a fool of yourself."
"Oh, hi, Haley. What did you say?"
"I said 'You won't'. Your dad, I hear, was an excellent flyer," Not to mention how you used to be on a toy broomstick. When you were one, She thought.
"Really?"
"Oh, yeah. And anyway, if you're talking about Draco Malfoy, I'm fairly sure most of what he says is talk. Besides, I could fly circles around him any day."
"You're three years older," He pointed out.
"Valid point," She admitted. Was this becoming a catchphrase?
"Hey, what's on your head?" Ron asked.
"Oh, that must be Chocolate. She likes it up there," Haley picked the brown mouse up off of her head, setting her on her shoulder. She looked around to find a white mouse looking expectantly at her.
"Yes, Marshmallow, just wait a minute," I said, "Er..sorry. Am I too crazy for you, or is there something else you wanted to say?"
"No. And I think I'll live," Harry added.
"Yeah. That's always what Kris says...of course, I just got her mice, too, so... Anyway, be around if you need me. And Ron, if you call me mental behind my back, I'm not afraid to hex you."
"Got it," And she went to pick up Marshmallow. Then she headed for breakfast. Neville sat by her.
"Hey, Neville. Would it sound weird if I called you Nev?"
"A bit."
"Alright. How do you feel about flying today? Sorry," She said quickly, seeing him pale.
"I'm fine. Um...I don't feel very confident," She began giving him simple tips and making general small talk. Then the mail came. Neville was very happy with his Remembrall, but Haley scowled.
"I hate those things. Sure, they tell you if you've forgotten something, but they don't tell you what. It gets very annoying, and I have actually seen several people who chuck them because they're so mad at it. It usually ends up shattering," Suddenly Draco snatched the Remembrall. Haley pushed Ron and Harry down after they got up, and she stood instead, seeming to tower over him. She stared him down until McGonagall came over. She had just opened her mouth to ask, when Haley answered her. The question was too predictable for the girl who'd live at Hogwarts for ten years.
"Malfoy took Neville's Remembrall, Professor."
"Just looking," Malfoy lied, scowling, and quickly dropped the Remembrall.
Eventually, the first year Gryffindors and Slytherins came down for their lesson. Haley was already in the air, throwing a Quaffle around. She stopped, holding it under her arm as Madam Hooch told them what to do. Jumpy Neville kicked off before she blew the whistle.
"Neville!" Haley called, while trying to get close to the speeding broom. He was panicking. This was never good. She settled for hovering a certain ways under him. He fell off the broom. She tried to catch him as he went by, but she missed, and dove to grab his wrist. The resulting sounds were not very good.
"Ow," He whimpered. Haley pulled out of her dive, angling slightly less steeply until she could jump safely off.
"Oh, Merlin, Neville, I'm so sorry," She apologized, letting go of his wrist to cover her mouth. Her eyes were wide.
"I didn't mean to...I just didn't want you to fall...I didn't think..."
"Haley," Neville said quietly, and she stopped to look at him, "I'm not hurt...that badly," He corrected, "I'll be fine."
"Alright, alright. Let me get you to the Hospital Wing."
"I'll do it, Haley. Make sure the rest of them stay on the ground," Madam Hooch ordered, and after ten years, Haley knew she couldn't argue. Someone was coming. They stopped to talk to Neville a little, then came over. Haley felt embarrassed as she realized it was Kris.
"It's not your fault, Haley," Was the first thing she said, "He's fine, and he might have been hurt worse if he hit the ground. Now stop beating yourself up. I'll help you with these guys."
"You know me too well," Haley smiled. Haley put her arm around Kris's shoulders and they went back to the lesson. There was already something going on between Draco and Harry.
"Give it here!" Harry yelled. Malfoy jumped on his broom and flew upward. Many things happened, all in which Haley had to refrain herself from flying up to stop them, until Harry vaught the Remembrall like a Snitch. She felt McGonagall's angry presence, but there was something else she saw as Haley turned around. Excitement, maybe?
"HARRY POTTER!" Definitely angry, then.
"It's not his fault, Professor -" I tried to deflect the rant.
"Madam Hooch left you in charge, Haley," She said darkly before turning to Harry.
"Potter, follow me now. Haley, you will come as well," She followed, sulking. Harry looked terrified.
"We'll be fine, Harry," She comforted quietly. He looked at her; the look plainly said, 'I don't believe you'.
"Excuse me, Professor Flitwick, may I borrow Wood for a moment?"
"What do you need Oliver for?" Haley asked, a little excited. She saw Harry relax a little out of the corner of her eye. McGonagall didn't answer as the Captain strode out, and they were led to a classroom.
"Wood - I've found you a Seeker," McGonagall finished.
"What? We've got Haley."
"What did I make you promise, Oliver?"
"To let you get more sleep so you'd stop hexing me by accident?" Oliver joked.
"Well, I did, but that's not the one I'm talking about."
"If we found someone as good as or better then you, to take them on the team?"
"That one. This was Harry's first time on a broomstick. I am not kidding. A Slytherin, who Harry really doesn't like, was antagonizing him; a classmate had gotten...injured," Haley winced as she said this, "and dropped his Remembrall. The Slytherin picked it up. Then he flew in the air, and Harry just followed him. First time ever on a broomstick. He matched the boy's height, was making maneuvers so fast it surprised the Slytherin, and when the other guy threw it, Harry managed a fifty foot dive before pulling up and rolling off his broom."
"Really?" She couldn't tell exactly what Oliver's tone was.
"Oliver, you will put him on the team, or so help me, I will hex you," I growled, pulling out my wand.
"Haley," McGoangall warned.
"The Slytherins will complain less if he's on the team instead of me. Actually, they'll be surprised we picked a first year, but they'll stop whining about how much experience I have."
"I see your point," McGonagall and Oliver said at the same time. Haley glared at Oliver, making sure he meant it, then turned to Harry, stowing her wand.
"Sorry, Harry. They needed a Seeker a lot. I volunteered. Apparently, Oliver doesn't want to give me up. But as you heard, I made him promise to give someone else a chance."
"And now that I'm considering, he is the right build for a Seeker. Not that you're not, Haley."
"No offense taken."
"And that thing in his hand...glass...he caught it in a fifty-foot dive, without a scratch. Him or the Remembrall. Haley, you're fired," She just grinned in response.
"He'll need a descent broom," Haley mused, "Maybe that new one, the Nimbus Two Thousand, or a Cleansweep Seven, if we must."
"I'll talk to Dumbledore...stop looking at me like that, Haley, you know that's what everyone calls him behind his back...I'll talk to the Headmaster," She emphasized, "about bending the first-year broom rule."
"Which sucks," Haley added.
"Language, young lady."
"It's not even close to foul language, c'mon! Everyone does that to me!" She sighed angrily, "Oh, and Harry," She began, smiling now.
"Your father would have been proud. He was an excellent Quidditch player, himself," McGonagall was smiling, too.
The day then passed in a boring sort of way, and I ended up following Fred and George to dinner.
When they spotted Harry, they hurried over to him. Haley figured that she could take a break from stalking him, and made her way to the Ravenclaw table, Chocolate and Marshmallow on her shoulders.
"Kris!" I called, my voice sounding a bit sing-song.
"Over here, Hal!" She called, waving, "Away from the food, Mousey," I heard her scold her new mouse. I sat down, letting Chocolate and Marshmallow socialize.
"So, how was your day Kris?"
"Okay. What happened after McGonagall saw you?"
"Ah. Yes. Minnie pulled Oliver Wood, Gryfiindor Quidditch captain, out of his Charms class, took us to an empty classroom, and..uh..." Sh leaned in closer to her ear, cupped her hand, and whispered, "she told Wood to put Harry on the team. Eventually, he actually said, 'Haley, you're fired'. Harry Potter is on the Gryffindor team. Don't tell!" Haley finished. Kris just stared at her.
"You are so - Mousey, get away from my mashed potatoes - you're so lucky."
"I know, right? Chocolate, that's my ketchup. So, did you do anything interesting besides helping me teach for five seconds?"
"Not really. Oh, no. Look over there," Kris pointed, then picked Mousey up, moving her away from the chips (Fries).
"Oh, it's that Malfoy kid again. I wonder what happened," Haley looked at the retreating trio, then at the the two boys talking to a girl, "They should really stop picking on Hermione," She murmured, putting Chocolate and Marshmallow on her lap, along with a few pieces of cheese, "She's a nice girl."
"Mm. Uh, so, let's see...hm... I can't think of something to talk about."
"Why do you build me up-" Haley started.
"Build me up -" Kris responded, similing.
"Buttercup, baby, just to let me down -"
"Let me down -"
"And mess me around? And then worst of all -"
"Worst of all -"
"You never call, baby, when you say you will."
"Say you will."
"But I love you still. I need you!"
"I need you!"
"More then anyone darlin', you know that I have from the start. So build me up -"
"Build me up -"
"Buttercup, don't break my heart. "I'll be over at Ten," You told me time and again, but you're late. I wait around and then -"
"Bah-dah-dah!"
"I run to the door, I can't take anymore, it's not you. You let me down again."
"Hey, hey, hey!"
"Baby, baby, I try find -"
"Hey, hey, hey!"
"A little time and I'll make you mine. -"
"Hey, hey, hey!"
"I'll be home, I'll be beside the phone waiting for you -"
"Ooo-oo-oo, ooo-oo-oo," They sang together.
"Why do you build me up -" Haley.
"Build me up -" Kris.
"Buttercup, baby, just to let me down -"
"Let me down -"
"And mess me around. And then worst of all -"
"Worst of all -"
"You never call, baby, when you say you will."
"Say you will."
"But I love you still. I need you!"
"I need you!"
"More then anyone, darlin', you know that I have from the start. So build me up -"
"Build me up -"
"Buttercup, don't break my heart. To you I'm a toy, but I could be the boy you adore, if you'd just let me know."
"Bah-dah-dah!"
"Although you're untrue I'm attracted to you all the more -" By now, several people were either staring or joining the duet.
"Why do I need you so?" Haley continued.
"Hey, hey, hey!"
"Baby, baby, I'll try to find -"
"Hey, hey, hey!"
"A little time, and I'll make you mine -"
"Hey, hey, hey!"
"I'll be home, I'll be beside the phone waiting for you!
"Ooo-oo-ooo, ooo-oo-oo."
Why do you build me up -"
"Build me up -"
"Buttercup, baby, just to let me down -"
"Let me down -"
"And mess me around! And then worst of all -"
"Worst of all-"
"You never call, baby, when you say you will."
"Say you will."
"But I love you still. I need you -"
"I need you -"
"More then anyone darlin, you know that I have from the start. So build me up-"
"Build me up -"
"Buttercup, don't break my heart. I need you, more then anyone baby, you know that I have from the start. So build me up -"
"Build me up -"
"Buttercup, don't break my heart." Haley held this out a little longer, and Dumbledore, and various other people started to clap. She blushed, then said,
"And that wonderful music number was Build Me Up (Buttercup) by The Foundations." When mentioning this, must it be said that me no own? Good.

Haley really felt like going to bed, but she had homework. Fourth year homework. Ugh. She sat up in the Common Room, until a noise disturbed her, and she realized she fallen asleep. A bunch of fresh ink, though, was evident on her cheek. She scowled when she realized this, and looked at what was going on.
"You!" Ron had just snapped, "Go back to bed!"
"What's going on? I'm not about to tell anyone, but waking up to this is rather...disturbing."
"At dinner, that Malfoy challenged Harry to a Wizard's duel."
"And I am immediately suspecting foul play. I'm coming. I don't trust Malfoy."
"Not you too, Haley, I thought you were supposed to be the Headmaster's daughter."
"Not biologically," Haley answered, a very Dumbledore-ish, mischievous twinkle in her eye. Haley, Harry, and Ron exited, Hermione followed, telling them off. They happened upon Neville, and after Haley tentatively asked him how his arm was, they set back off. After a while without incident, they ran into someone.
"Who's that?" They asked.
"Kris?"
"Haley? I couldn't get the riddle. I'm too tired. I was looking for someone to help me, or at least somewhere I could be comfortable."
"I'll help you after we go somewhere."
"Fine. But I'm falling asleep on my feet, here."
"I know. Let's go," It didn't take long to get to the trophy room, find out they'd been tricked, and run off. When they ran into Peeves, she couldn't help much. He was one stubborn Poltergeist. So they set off again, Kris more fully awake. Unfortunately, Haley didn't notice where they were either until Neville pointed it out.
"Oh, shit," It was a reflex. They were staring Fluffy in the face. Haley got along with him better then others awake, but... They fell back through the door, flying up to the Gryffindor Common Room. Haley sighed, and they walked all the way back to the Ravenclaw Common Room, where Haley collapsed on a sofa, without even so much as a 'good night, Kris'. Kris smiled. She was fond of her old friend, who she'd seen do this several times before. She conjured a blanket and pillow, which arranged themselves. She then yawned and headed to her room.

Kris sighed. Haley was still asleep on the sofa when she came down. As much as she knew the red-head needed her sleep, it was running a bit into breakfast. She proceeded to wake her up.
"Haley! We're running into breakfast!"
"Go away," She mumbled, turning over. Kris sighed, and then...
"WINGARDIUM LEVIOSA!" She bellowed.
"I'm up!" Haley squealed, clearly uncomfortable at how high up she was. Or at least, not having anything under her, and being that high up. Kris let her down, and they headed to breakfast.

And that's that. I am currently working on Halloween. Should be up soon. Sorry to those of you who like my story 'Bella the Time Lady'. I lost the muse for a bit, and it won't come back easy. But this one is mostly based on the books, and I'm doing it for a friend, so this will be updated as much as possible. See y'all. Must go practice T-bone. Wonder where I put my DW theme piece… Oh! Just for good measure, I do not own Build Me Up (Buttercup) by The Foundations. I listened to it on a long car ride and have loved it since.