Chapter 13 - Summer

6th August 1992

There was a month left of summer until Rayna went back to Hogwarts. Adrian had been staying with her, not wanting to go back to his own house for the summer. They hadn't made any progress on finding out OoP and they hadn't returned to her fathers office to look for more information.

Rayna's Aunt had been around the Carrow house more than usual and it freaked both Slytherins out. They tried to get away and do something everyday so they weren't subjected to her curious stares and crazy looks. Rayna had not seen much of her own Father and assumed he was either out everyday, working longer hours at work or cooped up in his office, but she didn't care enough to find out or get involved.

She knew their business was none of hers and she preferred to keep away from them. She was thankful for Adrian being there to keep her company.

Today they had planned to meet up with Flint and Higgs at a well known and popular park among Wizards. Rayna had never been, nor had Adrian but Flint suggested it as his Mother used to take him there to learn to fly when he was younger.

Rayna looked around her at the sunny sky, clear as day. There was a slight breeze and she smiled at the sound of young wizards and witches running around playing. In a grassy patch on the left there stood around 10 young wizards next to brooms all shouting the word "up" at their broomsticks, a middle aged woman was trying to contain her laughter as she watched the children become slightly aggressive when their broom didn't move.

"over here" she heard Flint call to them.

Rayna smiled not having seen her friends much over the summer. She hugged Higgs before hugging Flint who pinched her cheeks when she pulled away.

"you're even cuter than I remember" Flint spoke laughing "I've missed your face"

"bugger off" she squealed pushing him away.

"anything interesting happen to anyone over Summer?" Adrian asked looking at Flint and then Higgs.

"My parents think Dumbledore was out of order Last year" Higgs spoke frowning. "they don't think he should be allowed to run a school where he gives house points to students who risk their lives and nearly die"

Rayna could see their point. It was a foolish thing for the three Gryffindor's to do, but they survived and instead of being told off they were given house points. It would surely only encourage them to do it more now.

"was a pretty stupid move from Dumbldore" Adrian spoke out agreeing. "bet if it was a Slytherin we would have lost points and the students would have been expelled.

"yeah, but you gotta remember that the student wasn't just anyone, it was Harry Potter" Flint scoffed "he would get away with anything"

It was true. He probably would because he was the boy who lived. But Rayna still thought he was brave. From what shes heard that he's been through in his life she can't help but think he should be able to get away with certain things. The boys parents had been murdered in front of him by the darkest wizard of all time and he survived the killing curse. He was pretty amazing she couldn't deny that.

"have you guys ever heard of OoP?" Rayna asked curiously.

"OoP?" Higgs said making a confused face

"yeah" she confirmed.

"never heard of it in my life" he spoke.

"me either" Flint said "why, what does it mean?"

"I don't know, that's what i'm trying to figure out" she spoke dejectedly. It was worth a try.

"I gotta talk to you guys" Flint suddenly said, a serious look on his face. He looked slightly awkward as if he didn't know how to say it."This year Mr Malfoy has given us Nimbus 2001 brooms" he said. This earned excited claps from Higgs and Rayna.

"How and why?" Rayna asked amazed and excited to use them.

"what does he want in return?" Adrian glared slightly not finding it very exciting. He knew the Malfoy's and he knew what they were like. They only ever splashed out on expensive things if it mean't there was something in it for themselves.

"yeah thats the thing. His son Draco who will be in 2nd year is our new seeker." Flint said quickly. Everyone's jaws dropped not expecting this."

Rayna glanced at Higgs to see his reaction.

He looked very pissed off.

"what the hell Flint! you actually agreed to that? How could you?" he asked offended and betrayed. He thought they were friends, how could he do that to one of his friends. Espcially as he was a bloody good seeker and he knew it.

"that's bull" Adrian said angrily. "you know Higgs is the best seeker in Slytherin" he spat.

"Is he any good at it though?" Rayna asked trying to calm everyone down.

"wouldn't have said yes if he was rubbish now would I? couldn't take any chance to let Wood beat us this year" Flint defended himself.

"so i'm off the team now?" Higgs was hurt but played it off as angry. "I can't belive this" he spoke getting up to leave.

"Marcus, how could you do that to him" Rayna said sadly. Higgs was such a good friend to them all and Flint was just kicking him off the team like that.

"Oi Higgs, get back here" Flint demanded in his Captain authoritative voice.

"you're not my captain anymore why should I?"

"yes I am. You didn't let me explain." he said "you're just going to be moved to beater, we will all help train you" Flint said "I've been meaning to kick Bole off the team ever since he hit the bludger at Rayna and messed up her shoulder."

"beater?" Higgs spoke "beater? I've never been a beater in my entire life!" he said.

"Look mate, i'm really sorry but there's nothing I could really do. You all know what the Malfoy's are like. I didn't accept it at first, but my Father made me, he works with Mr Malfoy and told me he needed to be in his good books this year. I'm sorry mate, I really am" he said genuinely.

Terrance sat down again, quiet as he took this in. He loved being seeker but he could try being beater for a change, he might even like it he thought.

"so these nimbus 2001's?" Rayna spoke "Woods going to absolutely freak out when he sees them" Rayna said smiling at the thought of the brown haired Quidditch obsessed Gryffindor.

She wondered how he was spending his summer. Probably writing new plays or sneaking into Appleby Arrows closed practices to take notes. She laughed at the thought of this and how true it probably was.

"i'm thinking if we train consistently from the start of the year, we have a good chance at winning again. I know that Wood is going to put up even more of a fight this year" Flint spoke.

"did you see him after the match though? Honestly thought he was going to cry" Adrian said laughing as he remembered the look on Oliver's face.

"they all looked like they were going to cry" Flint chuckled.

"I think Wood's going to be out for blood" Rayna said "he's probably spent his whole summer working on a training schedule"

"he's never going to find a strategy to beat us though. That's why he gets so frustrated at us" Flint laughed "he can't stand that we don't strategize everything and we play unpredictably. No game is ever the same with us and he can't handle it."

"the chasers get so confused, it's funny just to watch their vacant expressions when they go in to snatch the quaffle and realize it's already been passed off." Adrian said.

"that reminds me" Higgs spoke up " Hufflepuff have a new seeker this year too. My Father was speaking to a man who works in the department of magical creatures who said his son goes to Hogwarts too and had just been picked as the new Hufflepuff seeker."

"what's his name?" Adrian asked interested. There weren't many people that Adrian didn't know who played Quidditch at Hogwarts.

"Diggory, I think, can't remember his first name"

"Cedric Diggory?" Adrian asked.

"yeah- that sounds right" Higgs spoke nodding.

"he's a good flyer" Adrian said "we went to the same flying teacher when we were younger, never seen him as a seeker though, will be interesting"