WC: 1,091
It was the morning of the the first Quidditch match of the year was there and Marnie wanted to support her step-mum's old house, Slytherin. Besides she knew that Lee would probably make a biased commentary against Slytherin resulting McGonagall scolding him. She walked towards the stands and sat on the Slytherin side. She was standing out with her blue and bronze scarf in the sea of green and silver, but she didn't care The match started. Marnie hated to see that the Slytherin team used dirty tactics to get ahead of the Gryffindors. Her attention was on the seekers, Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy. Her dad had been the seeker of the Hufflepuff team in his school days. Biased, or not biased you couldn't help but laugh at Lee's commentary.
Suddenly a rogue bludger started chasing Harry, who tried to evade it, but despite his effort he got hit and fell to the ground. Slytherin stands cheered, but Marnie winced in sympathy for the younger boy; he had broken his arm.
She had broken her arm when she was ten after falling from a tree where she was reading. She had to have in a cast for ages. Although they were magical and her dad could've easily made a skel-grow potion or casted a spell, they had opted to use the muggle way of healing a bone.
Gryffindor still won, but that didn't bother her. She got up to leave and she heading towards the castle when she heard someone calling her. .
"Hey Marnie!"
She turned towards the voice, only to lock eyes with a grinning Lee Jordan.
"Hey Lee! I see that you're finally calling me by my first name." she said walking over to him.
"I am."
"Are you waiting for the twins?"
"Yeah, Angie too."
"That was a good game." said Marnie.
"I saw you sitting in the Slytherin stands." he mentioned.
"I don't like the dirty tactics they use but they are my step-mum's former house." replied Marnie.
Lee shrugged.
"Well, I secretly root for Slytherin sometimes too."
Marnie gasped. He had always seemed so biased against the house of the Snakes.
"My godmother was a Slytherin when she was in school." he explained.
Marnie nodded as Fred, George and Angelina exited the changing rooms.
"I'll see you later, Marnie." said Lee and went to join them.
She said her goodbye and continued her way towards the castle.
As she entered the common room Atticus asked from the chess table
"How was the match? Was it as drama filled as the last year's?"
"Yes, a rogue bludger chased Harry and he ended up with a broken arm." she answered sitting in front of him.
Atticus winced.
"Do you want to play a quick game of wizard chess?"
"You know that it's never a quick game when we play," she giggled.
"I know."
"Well then let's hope that we finish before dinner."
They usually play chess every other Saturday, but they got easily distracted so it always took ages to finish a game.
"It would be interesting to start a chess team or club if the only members would be you an I.."
Thinking a bit, Marnie said.
"I think Madison mentioned that Ron Weasley plays chess as well. She has seen him play in the Gryffindor common room, so he might join us."
Atticus nodded. It was good to know that there was another chess player in the castle.
"I think we should get down to dinner, I'm starving." said Marnie, getting up to leave.
Atticus got up as well.
"You just don't wanna lose the second time in a row," he teased.
Marnie stuck her tongue out at him, but he just smiled at her and taking her hand they exited the common room.
After dinner, when they returned to their chess table Atticus asked her.
"Do you want to continue our game?"
"Maybe tomorrow, I'm exhausted." was her reply.
He nodded and after saying goodnight the two of them went to their separate dorms.
The next morning Marnie woke up to Nixie's loud meowing. Usually the cat was rather independent, but it had been skittish and attached to Marnie ever since Halloween like she knew something had happened.
"Morning girl," said Marnie petting her head.
At the sign of affection Nixie purred. As she got out of bed and began her morning routine so did Nixie; the cat following her hot on her heels to the bathroom and later to the common room and when Marnie sat on the couch, Nixie jumped right in her arms.
Few minutes later Atticus joined her.
"Morning Marnie."
"Morning Atticus."
The dark haired boy sat down next to her.
"I see that Nixie still isn't letting you out of her sight."
"No, and it's not like I mind but it's starting to worry me." she replied and stroked her cat's fur.
Atticus nodded, it was worrying him as well.
"Maybe Professor Kettleburn can give us some insight, he is the Care of Magical Creatures professor after all; he could know the reason for such a behaviour even if Nixie is a mundane cat."
There was a meow of indignation from Nixie at his remark.
"Good idea," said Marnie, chuckling at the cat's indignation.
"We can ask him after breakfast."
Marnie nodded and as Jaq joined them, they walked down to the Great Hall.
After breakfast Marnie called on her professor.
"Professor Kettleburn!"
He turned to her and smiled warmly.
"May I ask you a question about my cat?"
"Yes, you may Miss Jacobs." he replied.
"Ever since Halloween my usually independent cat, Nixie, has rarely let me out of her sight. Why do you think that is?"
"I assume it's just a touch of separation anxiety. It should go away."
"Thank you Professor."
"You're welcome, Miss Jacobs."
Marnie parted ways with Atticus and headed towards the library, hoping to find a book that could help Nixie's problem. Unfortunately there was none and the one book that might help her was in the Restricted Section so she had to leave.
"Did you find the book?"
"Obviously not."
"So, do you want to continue our game from yesterday?" asked Atticus as he sat at the chess table.
"Sure." said Marnie sitting down.
They continued their game until Marnie lost. It was just in time for dinner, they walked down to the Great Hall.
"There was another petrification." Clara informed them .
"Who was it?"
"Colin Creevey, a first year Gryffindor."
Marnie nodded, thinking what could these attacks mean.
