A/n: The long awaited auction!

Amelie

On the night of the auction we gather in the Great Hall. We draw straws to see who goes first, and Nell is the one who steps up to the makeshift stage. We designed the stage so that no one can see the other girls until they step up for their turn, and the rest of my team are eager to hide from prying eyes.

Dominique has really outdone herself this time.

'Hello,' I call out to the waiting crowd. Most of them are male. 'I'm Amelie Perry, as most of you know, and tonight myself and my quidditch team are holding a fundraiser for new gear – but I'm sure that you could care less about the cause. On with the bidding. Our first girl up for auction is Nell Dortan, a fiery chaser, but really a darling, sweet thing.'

'Ten galleons.' Someone starts off the bidding.

Nell flushes a deep red at their enthusiasm and plays with the fringe of her dress. It's one of Coraline's dresses actually – Dominique raided all of our closets to find us clothes for the auction. It's deep blue in colour with silver buttons down the bust and little silver beads sewn into the skirt in swirls. The skirt reaches just above her knees and she's wearing a pair of light coloured tights underneath.

'Fifteen.' Someone challenges.

'Twenty.'

'Twenty-five.'

'Thirty-five.' The first boy calls out, and it's the final bid.

'Could the winner please step forwards?' I ask and a handsome Hufflepuff pushes his way to the front, handing me a small bag filled with the proper number of galleons.

The crowd breaks into chatter and Nell takes this chance to step up and introduce herself.

'Hey,' She says holding out her hand. 'Aren't you McLaggens friend? Corner?'

'Yeah, Arne Corner.' He replies, shaking her hand and smiling warmly. 'I think we spent a few minutes with Klause in an alcove a few weeks ago.'

'What?' Luthe appears at my elbow. 'You not only snogged McLaggen, but this pouf as well? How do I get in on this?'

I leave the three of them to their conversation.

Mariah stumbles onto the stage in a pretty red dress, with white lace running down the bust to the cinched waist.

'Our youngest teammate, Mariah Affey.' I say, gesturing to the blushing brunette. 'She's a hard-hitting beater – knocked someone right off their broom at trials – but also a pretty, delicate girl.'

The bidding starts off at five galleons with several different bidders, but as the amount hits thirty, only two boys remain.

'Forty.' The fifth year Ravenclaw in the front row calls out and is finally met with silence. He smiles up at Mariah, who approaches him and reaches out for a high-five.

'Nicely done, Garrett.' She says.

'I thought that he was going to go on forever!' He replies, handing me the galleons.

'A boy can only pay so much for a girl.' Rhet Davies pushes through the crowd.

Mariah blushes prettily. 'Rhet?'

'Hello, love. Thomas,' He congratulates the other boy. 'I was wondering if you'd ever stop!' He winks at Mariah. 'Well, I'll see you two in Hogsmead.'

He turns away and pushes into the crowd. My beater chases after him, both disappearing from sight.

'Merlin,' This Garrett fellow says to me. 'He really should just ask her out. He's been beating around it for weeks.' He too disappears into the crowd.

I step back up on the stage and Rose joins me.

'Rose Weasley, ladies and gentlemen!' I cry as she wets her lips and looks out over the sea of people. 'Our sneaky seeker who put Davies in the hospital wing during our match. She's a girl with the brains, the brawn and the beauty.'

The bidding starts quickly at ten galleons, but Rose is worth much more than that.

'Twenty.' A boy in the back shouts out.

'Twenty-three.' Someone counters. I recognise the voice, but can't find the face.

'Twenty-five.' It's the boy in the back again.

'Thirty.' Rose winks at the crowd and shifts poses on the stage. She's really getting into the 'sell yourself' part of the auction.

'Thirty-five.'

'Thirty-eight.' I spot the face. James. Bloody. Potter. Bidding on his cousin? That git-faced arse.

'Forty.' But the other boy is going strong.

'Forty-five.' There's desperation in Potter's voice.

'Fifty.'

'Fifty...' There's a pause as Potter turns to his multiple male cousins and they search in their pockets. He then says weakly. 'Two.'

'Sixty.' The other boy says with finality and the auction is over.

Rose approaches the edge of the stage. She smoothes the loose green dress she's wearing and looks up at her buyer with a smile.

'Scorpius?' She says, jaw dropping.

'Rose,' The blonde replies, leaning on the stage and smiling suavely up at her. I wonder if he's trying to get a peek up her skirt, but he holds out his hand and helps her down to his level. 'Have I ever told you how fine you look in Slytherin colours?'

She does look very nice. It's one of Dominique's dresses, some French designer dress that Rose flat out refused to put on, claiming that she would ruin it. It's got a large, poufy skirt that reaches her knees and a tight, dangerously low, V-neck top. With the dress she wears a thick silver belt just below her bust and black, lacy stockings.

Her face is as red as her hair and she stutters out a 'thank-you' before her cousins burst onto the scene.

'This is the prick we lost to?' Potter growls. 'Bloody – Malfoy? What do you want with our cousin, you slimy snake?'

'Hey!' Younger-Potter protests the insult to his house, but is ignored.

'Stay away from our Rosie, Malfoy.' Potter throws a finger in the boy's face. 'You may have won the auction, but we'll win the war! We've got our eyes on you.'

And then he sprints away, trying to look dramatic.

Prat.

The other boys trail after him, Younger-Potter staying a moment longer.

'Sorry about James, Rose.' He says trying to sneak his robe over her shoulder. She shrugs it off and crosses her arms, glaring daggers at him. 'Can you blame me? You're showing quite a bit of skin there. Mate,' He turns to Malfoy. 'Rose is my cousin and I'm wary of this strange friendship you've created. Just don't do anything stupid.'

The pair of boys clap each other on the back in that strange way boys do, and Younger-Potter chases after his brother. Rose and I share a look. We have no idea what he was going on about just then.

'So, Rose,' The blonde turns back to her. 'I'll meet you in the Entrance Hall at eight.'

He smiles again and she waves weakly before he dashes off.

Odd boys, the lot of them.

'Here is Ruth Taytum,' I call as she joins me on the stage. 'One of our chasers! Looking mighty fine in stripes.'

She scowls at me, but then turns to the crowd with a winning smile, twirling in her pastel striped dress.

The bidding begins at five galleons and escalates to thirty.

'Thirty-two.' It's a group of third year Slytherins who call out the last bid.

Ruth looks around the hall desperately, winking at that tall sixth year in the back, but the boy places his money back in his pocket and she is sold to the third years. There are four of them and they scurry forwards, snickering under Ruth's glare. They hand me the galleons and rush off after telling my friend to meet them in the Great Hall.

'Let's have you up for inspection, Elie.' Ruth shoves me into the center of the stage. 'Amelie Perry up next. Found smart, pretty and rather funny by most – but if you're approached to be included in a plan of hers, turn and run the other way.'

'Fifty-two!' Potter cries out, suddenly appearing at the front of the crowd. 'Fifty-two! And don't anyone else bid on her or I'll hex you where it hurts.'

'Please!' I plead, putting my hands together. 'Please, someone bid!'

But my begging is met with silence.

His large, gloating face looms before me, holding out the sack filled with galleons. 'Perry. Meet us at the Gryffindor table at eight. Wear something warm and easy to move in.' He winks and whisks away into the crowd.

'I hate that boy.' I grumble to Ruth as I pass the sack to her to count.

'I'd choose him over those bratty snakes.' She hisses in return. 'You got off lucky.'

I roll my eyes and help Coraline onto the stage next to me.

'Coraline Darcy, everyone. A pretty sixth year playing Beater for the first time.'

'Five galleons.' A fourth year begins.

'Ten.' A fifth year challenges. They continue in multiples of five until they reach thirty. The second boy falters, but just before it seems Coraline will go to the fourth year, another boy joins in.

'Forty.'

The fourth year is silent, and a sixth year Gryffindor steps forwards. He has dark hair and light brown skin, a muscular build and thick shoulders. With him are the Scamander twins, a pair of odd, blonde boys with striking blue eyes. These two are on the Gryffindor quidditch team, but the other boy, he could be the head of the gobstones club and I wouldn't know.

'Forty galleons for you, Perry.' He says, then turns to Coraline. 'Gryffindor table at eight, alright, love?' He grins and he and the Scamander brothers disappear.

'Our seventh and final girl is Ida Winters,' I call as she stumbles onto the stage in a pair of heels. She rights herself and smiles pleasantly at the crowd. 'Ida plays as a Chaser in her sixth year. She likes butterbeer and long, romantic walks on the grounds.' Ida snorts loudly at this, but that doesn't deter the boys in their bidding.

'Thirty-five.' A bloke in the back calls out the last bid and, with no one challenging him, everyone else begins to leave the hall.

Damon Vicker, a Chaser from the Slytherin quidditch team, steps forwards with the thirty-five galleons, smiling in a surprisingly charming manner. Ida narrows her eyes at him and raises a brow as he tells her to meet him by the marble staircase.

When he leaves, the girls gather around and Ruth counts out the money.

'Two-hundred and ninety-three, two hundred and ninety-four.' She says, placing the last galleon in her old jewellery box-turned money safe. 'There you are, Amelie. I hope that these new kits are worth the effort.'

A/n: The next few chapters will allow for character development of the boys, and a chance for things to get interesting! I want to see if I can surprise you guys with some of the twists and turns planned for the story. Keep checking in for the next chapter!