Chapter 14 - Hogwarts

September 7th 1992

The air had turned cold within a week as Summer turned into Autumn. The leaves on the trees were starting to turn to colours of red, brown and yellow. The wind was picking up as small drops of rain started to fall across the grounds of Hogwarts. Although the seasons had changed, Hogwarts had stayed the same.

Rayna was grateful to be back. She felt like she belonged at Hogwarts more than the place she called home. She was a sixth year now and knew that the work was going to be more challenging now she got to chose her subjects to study.

She was on the way to Defense against the Dart arts, one of her favorite subjects, even though last years teacher Professor Quirell was terrible. This year they were supposed to have a new teacher. Rayna had hoped it would be Professor Snape as he was her favorite teacher who she seemed to learn the most off.

However, at the welcoming feast the famous Gilderoy Lockhart was introduced as the new DADA teacher. She had sighed, rolling her eyes. She had always thought he seemed fake. He talked about himself too much in the press and spoke about all these amazing adventures he went on, saving people and defeating terrible things. Rayna just never believed him, yet other (especially women and girls it seemed) absolutely adored him.

She walked into the classroom and saw that Professor Lockhart wasn't there yet. She took a seat at a table in the middle, waiting for Adrian and Higgs to get there. It was only her a couple Ravenclaw's who sat on the other side of the room giggling to each other and talking quietly about their summers.

Oliver entered the room, scanning the few people there. His eyes landed on the back of her head and he smirked. He walked straight past her as she hadn't looked up from her desk.

Rayna's eyes glanced up to the back of the figure that had just walked past her and sat at the table in front of her.

"nice summer wood?" she asked looking back at her desk. She could see from the corner of her eye that he had now turned around in his seat to face her.

"not too bad Carrow, yourself?" he asked

"was alright, not very exciting though" she spoke smirking as she looked up, finally meeting his eyes. She took in his appearance not having seen him for months. The Summer was good to him. He looked slightly tanned as if he had been abroad. He had his school robes off so she could only see his white shirt and red and gold tie. The shirt sleeves were tight around the tops of his arms and Rayna could tell he must have worked out or played a lot of Quidditch over the summer. He also looked to have grown taller.

He raised one eyebrow at her before chuckling. She hadn't realized but he had been doing exactly the same. Her hair had grown longer during the summer and the green in her eyes seemed to have brightened. He turned back to face the front smiling to himself.

Professor Lockhart was as worse than Rayna thought he would be. He made them do a quiz about himself asking unnecessary questions such as what his favorite car was. Rayna guessed at all the questions while Adrian simply sat there not bothering at all, in fact he didn't touch his quiz once but just sat there with an unimpressed expression on his face.

It was later in the day and Flint had called a last minute Quidditch practice out of no where.

"we need to train our new seeker" Flint had explained to them once they all met to walk out to the pitch.

"Malfoy, this is the team, Pucey and Carrow are our chasers, Derrick and Higgs are our beaters and Montague is our keeper. As long as you do your job properly and catch the snitch than i'm sure you will all get along fine" Flint's introduction was short as they made their way to the pitch.

Rayna could see the Gryffindors approach them, dressed in their Quidditch robes. This confused her as it looked like they too were going to the Quidditch pitch too.

"what are you doing here? I booked the pitch for Gryffindor" Oliver spoke making his way towards Flint, he looked annoyed and frustrated already and Quidditch season had only just begun.

"easy Wood, I've got a note" Flint replied handing a letter from proffesor Snape over to the brown haired boy.

"you've got a new seeker?" he asked reading it "who?"

"Malfoy?" Harry spoke in surprise as everyone turned to look at the white haired boy who was smirking as he stepped forwards slightly.

Rayna shared a look with Adrian before turning to look at Oliver who was already looking at her. She smirked at him earning a smile from him.

"that's right, and that's not all that's new this year" he spoke before moving his broom and gaining everyone's attention.

"those are nimbus 2001's, how did you get those?" Ron Weasley spoke up looking at the brooms in amazement.

"A gift from Draco's Father" Flint spoke rasing an eyebrow at Oliver.

"Unlike some Weasley, my Father can afford the best" Malfoy spoke. Rayna was annoyed at him for saying that, it was uncalled for and lived up to all the negative portrayals of Slytherins.

"at least no one on the Gryffindor team had to buy their way in, they got in on pure talent" Hermione Granger spoke up.

Rayna looked at Higgs who looked like he was about to laugh, Rayna smiled at the comment finding it funny.

"no one asked your opinion, you filthy little mudblood." Malfoy sneered.

His use of words gained gasps from the Gryffindors and from Rayna. She turned to look at Adrian who was sending a glare towards Malfoy.

Rayna met Olivers eyes again, trying to silently apologise for her team mates behaviour. Oliver just looked disapointed and smiled sadly at her.

"eat slugs" she heard a voice shout before a flash of green rebounded and hit Ron Weasley. It seemed that his wand was faulty as he ended up jinxing himself.

The next minute she heard the Ginger haired boy gag before throwing up a slug. Rayna looked away thinking she may be sick herself, she hated slugs.

"you know Fred" Someone from behind her said as both teams had crowded around to watch the boy. "our little brother really has outdone himself today"

Fred chuckled at his brother.

Rayna turned around to face the twins, she hadn't seen them yet since they returned back to Hogwarts after summer.

"Fred" she nodded "George" she nodded

"if it isn't our little ray of sunshine" Fred spoke. Rayna laughed at his name.

"how was your summer?" George asked

"it was... long" she spoke "you?"

"it was alright, missed Hogwarts a lot though." George spoke his twin agreeing.

"we had to help mum around the house everyday as she was worried about us spending too much time working on a little ... project."Fred said.

"what kind of project?" she asked

"it's a secret" George said

"you'll find out eventually" Fred said smirking at his twin.