NOTES

Besides my beta, I have another little helper monkey. Her name's Julie and she's in my gym class.

I think you should read Ayana's stories if you find the time. They're really good…and she updates faster than me! A link to her profile is on mine.

I actually had "chapter fourteen" half done before I realized that this should have been about Quidditch, not Christmas...so I just added an innocent little scene in here. Sorry if this seems choppy.

And there's a new poll on my profile regarding Holly's summer plans. Go take a look at it, will you?

DISCLAIMER

Ayana: Another update?

Me: Yup! Am I awesome enough to own Harry?

Harry & Ayana: No.

Me: Awh…

Holly

Chapter Fourteen – Quidditch and Christmas Don't Go Together

"Holly!" I thought I heard my name, but it was a faint sound, so I ignored it. Why would someone be bothering an innocent first year on the way to the library? Besides, I had a mission. Lisa wanted me to meet her there to look at some hexes and jinxes. We were determined to find out what had happened to Harry, no matter what.

"Holly!" It came again. This time, I sighed and turned. I rolled my eyes when I saw my cousin.

"Harry," I said.

"Holly, do you remember that thing that we thought was stolen on the day Hagrid and I went to Diagon Alley?" he huffed.

"Yes, and you're lucky I speak moron," I grinned. "Anyone else wouldn't have the patience to figure out what you were just trying to say. But please do continue," I said lightly.

Harry fished in his pocket and brought out a trading card. He showed it to me. Dumbledore smiled and winked at me.

"On the back…it says that 'Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of the dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for the discovery of the twelve uses of dragon's blood, and his work on alchemy with his partner, Nicholas Flamel'!"

"Okay, Nicholas Flamel. How does he relate to the problem at hand?" I tried connecting the faded and scrambled dots in my mind.

"He's the only known maker of the Philosopher's Stone!" Harry grinned at me, expecting me to say something useful.

I nodded slowly. "What's it do?"

"It turns metal to gold and makes you live forever," he shrugged. "You ask a lot of questions."

"Oh, that's all?" I rolled my eyes. "And I know I do."

"But this is good!" Harry grinned.

I sighed. "Yeah, sure. It would be better if you knew of something you could do about it. And I have to go now, Harry. I'm already late."

"Oh. Sorry," he mumbled. "See you later then."

A slight grin pulled at the corners of my mouth. My poor cousin was so helpless. "Yeah, definitely."

Lisa already looked frustrated when I arrived. She looked up with a frazzled grin when I slumped into a chair.

"Anything on Quidditch jinxes?" I asked.

Lisa shook her head. "No, sadly. What have you been up to? Skipping breakfast again, I noticed."

I grinned sheepishly. "Of course. Harry grabbed me in the hall this morning. He was talking about a Nicholas Flamel and the Philosopher's Stone."

"Oh, tell me more," Lisa giggled.

"Well, you know about the vault that was broken into and how the robber was looking for a package? Harry thinks that Hagrid took it before it was stolen. Therefore, it's at Hogwarts. Dumbledore once worked with the alchemist Nicholas Flamel, who is the creator of the Philosopher's Stone."

"So the stone is here," she mumbled. "But where?"

"Not sure," I shrugged. "But who cares? It's not our problem…right?"

"Maybe it isn't," she sighed. "But maybe it is!" Lisa fled the library with a large grin and a few books in her arms.

"Don't just leave me here!" I shouted. The nerve!

"Hush, Miss Evans!" I cringed at the librarian's reprimand.

The next day was a Saturday, the third one in November. And, of course, everyone in Ravenclaw knew what that meant.

The new little American Seeker gets a test-run in a high energy situation. Sadly, though, I was expected to win. I was certain that a few pesky seventh years had made bets in my favor. I liked the idea of winning, but I still feared what would happen to me if I didn't get the little gold thing that Harry nearly swallowed two weeks ago.

Oh my God.

The thing was covered in Harry germs! Gross!

Duncan happily dragged me to the Quidditch pitch and, when I refused to move, tossed me over his shoulder and carried me the rest of the way. I hit him a lot of times and discovered that his back was mostly muscle. How does one get muscle on their back? That didn't make sense; I'd have to investigate later.

"Hey, Duncan," I tried quietly.

"Yes, Toto?" My nickname had been used more often lately. These boys got so hyped for Quidditch. I knew the feeling. Hockey felt the same way: like the biggest thrill out there.

"Can you...maybe, possibly, I don't know…put me down?"

He sighed, but continued to walk. "Nope."

"Why not?" I begged.

"Because you'll run away and you're kind of our secret weapon," he shrugged.

I furrowed my brow. "Secret weapon, huh?"

"Yeah. Not only are you cute, but you're light and fast. I mean, you can get that Hufflepuff Seeker to melt in your hands," I could hear him grin in his tone.

My eyes widened. "You mean Cedric?"

"Yup," he said gleefully.

I didn't think that I could play against Cedric. He was too close of a friend to do that. Then why did I feel fine about playing against Harry?

"Hey, don't worry about playing him, Toto," Duncan said. "He's too much of a softie to hit you. And, if he does, Hooch will foul him. Hell, the Hufflepuffs are the nice-nice players. We're going to kill them."

"Is that legal?" I asked sheepishly.

"Of course!" Duncan dropped me – literally – in front of the gate to the Quidditch pitch.

"Holly!" Grant and Jason chorused.

"Roger's waiting for us," Grant said.

"And if we're late again, he might murder us," Eddie groaned. "So let's go."

I went into the locker room with the boys. All but Duncan and I were in flowing blue robes.

"Alright then. You two get changed, will you?" Roger glared between Duncan and me. "We don't have all day."

"Out," I said simply. No way was I changing in front of them. I was not about to turn into their personal little show."

"What?" Roger asked, bewildered.

"Out," I repeated. "Get out."

Eddie snickered. "She doesn't want to change in front of us, moron."

Jason sighed. "What if we all…turned around? Yeah…"

I shook my head. "No. Out."

"Holly!" Grant scolded. Nonetheless, they ended up standing in the hall.

"Don't take too long!" Roger shouted.

"Yeah, this isn't very dignified of us," Duncan added.

I sighed, robes in hand and glared at the door. "Will you all just shut up?"

After I had changed, I pushed the door open. I ran my tongue over my lip and sent a deathly glare to every one of them. "Was that so hard?" I growled.

Danny gagged. "Yes, I'm dying."

Roger was the first to come back in from the hall. "Now that we're all clothed…well, come on, get in here!" He looked generally annoyed at the other boys. I didn't realize that Roger could be so passionate about something. He usually seemed more passive.

"Men," Roger shouted once we'd all found a nice place to sit. I coughed loudly. "And Holly. I think that we're amazing enough not to need a pep talk, but I like to hear myself speak and Holly finds my voice enticing."

"I do not, you self-absorbed—"

"Don't insult the captain," Eddie whispered. "He's sensitive."

"No one asked you, Carmichael!" Roger shouted.

Grant grinned. "But he doesn't deny it."

A vein pulsed in Roger's neck. "I just want you to push yourselves as far as you can go out there, alright? Don't be afraid of the Hospital Wing, the food's okay."

"The leering girls aren't. Why have I been cursed with this magnificent body?" Duncan whined. I grimaced.

"Can we stop interrupting your glorious caption? He's trying to make a speech here," Roger said, flustered.

"We don't actually care, you know," Eddie smirked.

Danny nodded. "We know we're amazing."

Roger glared at us. "Fine! Don't listen to my tactics or anything I have to say! I'm not important!"

"No, I don't think you are," Grant grinned.

Jason pouted. "Well, I love Roger."

"We all know you do, Jason," Duncan sighed. "It's far too obvious that you two have the hots for each other."

"You guys are all perverted, obnoxious, and fairly insane," I accused.

Roger grinned. "But you love it."

"Boys," Madam Hooch called, peeking in. "And girl. It's about time to get out there. Come along, let's go."

Even in a fairly large hockey rink, I had never seen so many people in one place. It looked like Hogwarts' entire student population had shown face for the event.

Roger shook Cedric's hand, not quite grudgingly, but not happily, either. Cedric had a sign of joy, respect, and kindness in his eye. Roger looked to be out for blood, but still had a gleeful sparkle.

"Mount your brooms," Madam Hooch called. I flung a leg over it and Jason beamed at me as if to say 'good luck, don't die.'

"Ravenclaw takes the Quaffle starting off and Daniel Brocklehurst passes it the Chaser Eddie Carmichael. Carmichael goes for the score, but Keeper Fleet dives and grabs the Quaffle."

I hadn't seen the stupid Snitch, let alone Cedric. I mean, Cedric wasn't that hard to miss, but where was he?

"Move, you little nut!" Duncan shouted as he hit away a Bludger that I hadn't noticed. "You're not getting the Snitch if you just sit there. It won't come to you!"

"Hufflepuff Seeker Cedric Diggory hasn't seen the Snitch, apparently. And where's that feisty redhead? She's very cute –"

"Mister Jordan, I'm warning you," Professor McGonagall snarled. I flipped off the commentator. Who was he to judge players by looks?

I pushed Duncan away. "You go kill stuff. I have a Snitch to look for." Duncan nodded and went for another Bludger that was after Roger.

"Ravenclaw in possession once again – Chaser Davies is quite protected by Beater Inglebee. And though Hunter dives, he misses and Ravenclaw score! Now with points on the table, where's that Snitch?"

Speaking of that, I spotted the thing. Well, I at least thought I did. I noticed a glittering sliver of light low to the ground. I glanced around for Cedric – I could tell he hadn't noticed what I had. And so, I drifted slowly along, trying to be inconspicuous.

"Hufflepuff has the Quaffle now, trying to gain back the lost points. Keeper Page keeps a hold of his territory, though. Hey, wait – the Snitch! I see the Snitch! It's circling low in the grass!"

"YOU IDIOT!" I shouted at the stupid commentator.

"And it looks like that cute Seeker is having a fit of rage. I wonder why." He wonders why…he just ruined my whole plan, that bastard! Lee Jordan, you will rue the day!

I now had to hurry. If Cedric was smart, he'd go for Lee's not-so-wonderful tip. The Snitch ascended rapidly, seemingly headed toward Cedric. I was so screwed.

"Ravenclaw now has a thirty-point lead over Hufflepuff," I heard distant commentating. I couldn't concentrate on anything but hat Snitch. Just the Snitch, nothing else. I had to get the Snitch.

"Knock 'em out if you've got to."

"We won't lose the cup!"

That Snitch was mine.

Cedric rapidly descended and I rapidly ascended. All I needed was to be faster. I knew that I could beat him because, as Roger said, I was smaller. I couldn't let this slip away from me!

"Chaser Davies scores another Ravenclaw goal while Chaser Preece dodges a Bludger. Where are those Hufflepuff Beaters?"

I wanted to shout at Jordan, but the Snitch. I was a girl. Of course I liked sparkly objects.

The Snitch looped around and Cedric almost rammed into me. "Alright there, Holly?" He grinned. "Fancy meeting you here."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah. Great." We both moved quickly for the Snitch. I was now worried. He was right next to me, and he had a longer reach No, this can't be happening.

"Hufflepuff gets a score past Keeper Page and both Seekers are after the Snitch!"

Without thinking, I dove. A few seconds after me, so did the Snitch. It landed right in my hand. I stared at it. "Um, yay?"

I couldn't hear Jordan's rapid commentating over the huddle of sweaty teenage men around me.

"Holly, you did it!" Duncan hugged me.

"And you didn't get cursed!" Jason hugged me.

"Aren't you excited?" Grant hugged me.

"Alright, all of you, off!" I yelled. "Yes, I'm excited, but a little grossed out."

"Why?" Danny asked. "What's wrong?"

I held up the Snitch. "Harry germs."

Roger laughed. "No, Holly. That Snitch has never been touched before." He didn't shut up as we dragged ourselves across the field. "A Snitch has a flesh memory. That means that it remembers who touches it the first time. That was introduced after a disputed capture. So, in short, all that thing has is Holly germs." He poked my side. "How revolting!"

"Shut up!" I grinned.

By the end of the week, Hogwarts felt empty. I used to be in contact with human life every five seconds, but I actually had to look for someone to talk to. How low was that? I suppose that Christmas break does that to people.

I had very little to keep me busy. I already read though a number of books I'd never heard of and, I hated to admit it, I got tired of reading. It became too cold to venture outside, too. I knew Scotland was cold, but this was just sinful.

There were two people of any importance to me that stayed for Christmas: Lisa and Jason. Of course, there were other older Ravenclaws that I didn't know well enough to consider friends…yet.

"Good morning, sunshine!" Lisa yelled on Christmas day. I glared at her from under my pillow.

"Oh, get up, you lazy sack," she urged, shaking me lightly. I considered biting her.

"Holly Whatever-your-middle-name-is Evans, get out of the bed," she bit out in a monotone. I groaned and lifted myself up. I looked at her sadly.

She sighed. "No sadness. It's Christmas. We have presents."

"I like presents," I said quietly.

"Good, now open the things. I've already opened most of mine. I have…three left," She grinned and dragged her pile over to my bed and sat with me. I noticed a lot of our boxes had the same type of paper and bows. I suppose our Quidditch team actually cared about the both of us. Or Mandy just liked giving people things.

The latter seemed unlikely.

I pulled at the paper on a shiny green box. Inside was an assortment of cookies in a small Tupperware container.

Lisa giggled. "My parents. See, I knew my writing letters would end up in them spoiling you, too." She took the container, opened it, and removed a soft iced cookie. "Eat that. It has strawberry jam inside."

I did. "Oh my God! This is really good!"

"I know," she grinned. Lisa carefully tore that paper from one of her boxes, reading the note first. "This would be from Danny. I'm a little scared."

"Well, I doubt it would be poisonous, life-threatening, or humiliating," I shrugged. She slowly continued at the paper, making my antsy.

She grinned when the paper was gone. "Candy. He must have realized that Mandy took all of mine."

"Mine too," I groaned, opening my gift from Danny. "Why Quidditch is Awesome. That's so him."

"It is, isn't it?" She unwrapped a red box. "From Eddie. More candy."

I grinned. "Poor Lisa." I savagely ripped the paper from my red box. "Hm. Eddie gave me How to Tell When Slytherins are Cheating at Quidditch (And More!). How was that legally published?"

Lisa shrugged. "Same as those political books in America bashing the opposing parties?"

"I guess," I said quietly. "Oh well. What else did you end up with?"

"Candy from all the guys, Mandy gave me…well, I'm not telling that in case you get the same. And my parents' cookies, of course," she grinned. "I didn't get anything from Jason, though. Maybe it's because he's still here and he'll give us presents later."

"Oh? Because all I'm getting is Quidditch books." I held up Quidditch for Americans from Grant.

Lisa shrugged. "I suppose they all thought the same, then. Open more; we still have to go to breakfast in a bit."

I pouted when I opened Girls and Quidditch from Duncan. "Not only are they discriminating against Slytherin, but they're also sexist."

"They mean well," Lisa shrugged, nibbling a cookie.

"Two from Roger," I muttered.

Lisa nodded. "I got two from him, too. He likes to spoil us, you know that."

I unwrapped the bigger of the two. "Quills," I said bluntly.

"Swan quills!" Lisa exclaimed. "And they even come in a cute little case. He got me pheasant quills. What else for you? Another book? I got more candy," she sighed. "I'm probably going to lose it to Mandy."

"Yeah, a book." I held it up. "A History of brilliant Ravenclaw Quidditch Players. And there's a note, too. 'We'll be in here one day, Toto!'"

Lisa laughed. "They're idiots. You've got another one." She pointed at a slivery box on the far corner of my bed.

I took the note taped to the top.

Dearest Holly –

We miss you sweetheart. We truly hope you're having fun in foreign lands without us…and no boys! Daddy says they're plague. Stay safe, remember to feed Leonardo, and don't make anything explode!

And don't die. Please don't die.

Write us!

Love,

Mom and Dad

"Oh, God," I groaned.

"What?" Lisa asked, reaching for the note. "They think you're going to die?"

"They always do," I shrugged. That was the common mindset of my parents. Considering my family history, I didn't blame them. Four of my family members were killed, and my cousin and I both have scars to show the attempt at our murders.

"I suppose that would be the mother-bear, father-bear thing. Come on, though. We have to go to breakfast."

The day seemed to be mostly food. Sure, Christmas at home had plenty to eat, but we'd end up playing midnight football in the snow afterwards. And we didn't have that much food.

There were large turkeys, and not just two or something – there were probably around thirty. We had roast and boiled potatoes, chipolatas (which I didn't know what they were until Jason told me), peas, and steaming gravy.

I was lucky I liked traditional Thanksgiving food.

"Oh, look," Jason grinned. He held up a thing that looked like a confetti gun. I grinned, thinking about New Year's.

"What's that?" Lisa asked.

"Oh…just a Wizard Cracker," Penelope said absently, eating some peas. I snorted at Miss Perfect over there.

Jason pulled the thing, and it erupted with the intensity of a grenade. Five white mice scurried out of it, along with some form of army hat.

"Good God!" Lisa shrieked.

'I am," Jason muttered.

Lisa rolled her eyes. "Mandy would be disappointed. We haven't done anything generally frowned upon lately."

I nodded; we haven't. "I think Harry-darling should experience some evil-levitating-turkey-covered-in-gravy."

"You wouldn't," Lisa warned.

"Oh, yes. I would," I grinned. With a quick levitating charm, I had a slice of turkey dripping with gravy gliding close to the ceiling. I moved it to where I thought Harry's head would be, and let it go.

"Spot on!" Lisa cheered. "You're quite good, Holly."

"I know," I giggled. "I think Harry does, too."

"Potter's got turkey on his head. Why do I feel the need to blame Holly?" Penelope sighed.