Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the stuff J.K. Rowling created.

Chapter Twelve

Gary Napier

"Umm…what's going on in there?" someone asked cautiously.

"Holy hell!" I jumped, turning to look in the shadows by the wall, where the voice came from.

The guy from our Quidditch tryouts that Jean and Amata had bothered me about, Gary Napier, stepped out of the shadows, looking at me with an unreadable expression.

"Sorry, what?" I said, regaining my composure.

"What's going on in there?" he repeated. "Sounds like an uproar."

"Let's just say that if you were looking forward to eating a nice, quiet lunch, you might want to come back later or head for the kitchens," I said. "But if you do go in there, if the Headmaster or Professor Damnit asks for me, you've never ever in your entire life seen me before." I nodded to him and walked down the hall.

"Hey, hold on," Napier said. "What happened? I don't think I've ever heard the old geezer that mad before."

I chuckled softly. "I didn't think Ravenclaws disrespected any professor."

"Yeah, well even we lower ourselves to insult that one," he said, still not showing much emotion. What did he have to hide?

"Why does that not surprise me?" I replied.

"Hmph. Well you're this school's 'best' trouble-maker, so I don't think anything that has to do with disrespect surprises you."

"Disrespect? Excuse me? I happen to have more respect for anything and everything than anyone else in this damned school." I glared at him, wanting to punch his guts out already. And from what I had sensed from him, I thought he was a decent guy. Now I was starting to doubt myself.

"Right. That's why you like to prance around the school breaking all the rules. You think that because the Ministry was after you that you're better than everyone here."

"Hey, it's not a problem if I don't get caught. You Ravenclaws are just envious that I'm sneaky and you're not."

"Envious? That's a pretty big word for an uneducated wild girl."

"Uneducated? I bet I know a hell of a lot more than you!"

"Then you would know that we Ravenclaws are much sneakier than you could ever dream of being."

"Oh I don't think so."

"And why not?"

"Have you ever eluded the Ministry for years at a time?"

"Another big word. I'm impressed."

"Have you?"

"What do you think? Do I look like a criminal to you?"

"Actually you like a self-centered, know-it-all braggart."

"Touché."

"What the hell is your problem?" I growled.

"You, obviously."

"Well then maybe you should just walk away. Seems to me I didn't ask you to follow me down the hall."

"No, you didn't."

"Then why are you still here?"

"Because of you."

"What?"

"You heard me."

"Yeah, well 'what' in that sentence was meant to be heard as confusion. I thought you would know that, oh-so wise Ravenclaw."

"You're quick. I didn't think a Gryffindor could be."

I whirled around to face him. "What is that supposed to mean? I happen to have a friend who's smarter than all of you Ravenclaws put together. And she just happens to be a Gryffindor."

"Hey, settle down. I didn't mean it like that. And I am not disrespecting Lily Evans. I like her. Our two Houses get along just fine."

"Well you're gonna change that if you keep talking, boy."

"Okay. I'm sorry. But I just had to see if the others in my House were right. And they were."

"Huh?"

"You. You're a true Gryffindor."

"And…"

"Never mind."

"You want to go to the kitchens?" I asked, not sure why I bothered. Ha. I knew why now. I could kill him without there being any witnesses. He glanced at me curiously, probably thinking what I was thinking.

"Are you going to murder me?"

"No," I said. "I'll save that for the Quidditch field." Together, we headed for the kitchens.

"You aren't the only famous one in this school."

"No kidding. You think? That's kinda how I knew you were the best Chaser in the school."

"You flatter me."

"Ha. It's definitely not me. That's something I'll have to see to believe."

"And you think you can tell the difference?" he replied curtly, getting defensive.

"I'm a Keeper. Of course I can."

"Right. You're the best Keeper. Well I'm sorry to say I feel the same way as you." His intelligent sarcasm was starting to tick me off.

"Yeah, well you've already seen me play," I shot back, referring to the tryouts. I thought I would have caught him, then I would demand an explanation of why he was there in the first place, but this wasn't the case. He was too quick. He had a mouth on him.

"Any amateur that had the smallest amount of skill there is could've stopped anything they were giving you. Besides, it was mostly your Chasers; you barely even had a chance."

"Are you doubting my ability?"

"I don't know. Are you doubting mine?"

"Yes. As a matter of fact, I am."

"Let's get this straightened out right now."

"And I bet you have some brilliant idea because you're a Ravenclaw, huh?"

"But of course."

"Let's hear it then genius."

He turned to face me and said, "Let's go test our skills."

Outside, I was positioned by the goals while Napier was in front of me, holding a Quaffle. He looked comfortable and even more confident being up in the air with it in his hands.

"You ready?" he asked.

"Why the hell would you ask? I don't want you going easy. Screw good sportsmanship," I snapped. I thought I saw him smile, but I couldn't be sure because not even a second later he had no expression at all.

I saw him shift, and that was all the warning I got before the Quaffle was soaring for the lowest left goal. I dropped quickly and snatched it up before it could get too close. He threw it fast and hard, that was for sure. My hands were burning from the connection. I tossed it back, none to softly, and was pleased when I heard him grunt when he caught it. He wasn't the only one who could throw hard. Just as soon as it was in his hands, it was in the air, soaring for a new target. And just like before, I would predict his actions seconds before and intercept it. And so it went on like that for probably about thirty minutes, and by that time I knew for sure that he was really good because he was giving me a serious workout. And nothing so far, not even during flying lessons, had caused me to sweat. Until he came along, that is.

"Okay. I'm convinced now," Napier said through ragged breaths, putting the Quaffle underneath his arm. We flew to the ground and I collapsed to the ground, exhausted.

"I…am…impressed," I managed to get out.

He sat down next to my sprawled out figure and smirked. That was probably the first emotion even close to I smile I'd ever seen come from him.

"That doesn't boost my confidence much since you haven't seen any at least half-way decent Chasers in your life."

"Sorry, but that's the best I've got for you," I replied, getting back to my regular breathing pattern.

"You're pretty good," he said.

"Only pretty good?" I questioned.

He rolled his eyes and said, "Okay, fine. You're really good. Best I've ever seen. And I've seen a lot of Keepers. My dad is on Ireland's professional team."

"Aww thanks. That brings a tear to my eye." I wiped a pretend tear from my eye, causing him, to my complete and utter surprise, to smile.

"Gary Napier," he said, offering me his hand.

"I know," I said, shaking his hand. "I'm Nike."

"I know."

"So…" I said awkwardly. Now that we were actually getting along, I wasn't sure how to talk to him.

"So…" he repeated, smiling at me as if he could tell I was confused.

"You're dad's a pro?"

"Yeah. He's a Keeper, actually."

"And you're saying I'm better than your dad?" I scoffed. "I honestly don't think so."

"Okay, fine. You're pretty damn close with him. It is most likely a tie."

"I will have to see him play someday," I muttered, more to myself than to him.

"Yeah, you should. I think he'd like to meet you. You're like him in many ways." I smiled crookedly, and we fell into another silence, which soon became too much because to me it seemed he was waiting for me to say something.

"How come you never smile?" I blurted out. Then I kicked myself. That was so stupid.

"There's never a reason to," he said simply, not giving me the weird look I'd expected. He actually treated it like it was the most normal question in the world.

"I know how that is," I muttered.

"Yet you found your reasons," he said.

"Umm…yeah. I guess I did." I looked away from him. "Although I'm not exactly sure why. I've always convinced myself that these people are evil; that they don't have a decent bone in their body. Ever since one of them turned into a lyger named Xylekaon, who was my best friend, it made me hate them all. I wasn't sure where Xylekaon had gone. One day we were running from them and he disappeared for a night. The next morning, he was at my side, and a few weeks later, he changed into a man who'd hidden his features, and I was brought down. I never knew what they did to him, but I've come to accept the worst; that he's dead. He was the only one that I ever truly trusted, you know? And now that he, although it wasn't really him, I guess, betrayed me, I can't trust ever again."

I don't know why I was telling him any of this, I hadn't even told Lily, Tonks, or any of the Marauders. I guess it was because, like I had noticed days before, I felt I connected with him.

"I understand how you feel," Napier said softly, laying down on the ground next to me. "My mum, when I was four years old, just walked out on us yelling and screaming all because she'd found out my dad was a wizard. She didn't even give him a chance. I can remember her looking at me in disgust right before she slammed the door shut in my face when I went to beg her not to leave me. It may not be the same type of betrayal you're talking about, but it was enough to make me not trust people easily." I met his eyes and saw the memory had clouded them.

"That's horrible," I said. "How could someone do that? Let alone a parent to their child?"

"There's a lot of things that you've yet to learn about this part of the world, Nike."

"There's still no excuse for that!"

"I know, believe me. But it's possible to move on. I didn't blame my dad for what happened, even though I know that's what my mum wanted. Instead we became closer, and when he remarried, I welcomed his new wife warmly. But it took a long time for me to be able to trust her, and she understood, which made it easier."

"I never knew my parents," I muttered softly.

"Really?"

"Yeah. I have no memory of them at all. Since my first conscious thought, all I can remember is the forest life. No humans what-so-ever."

"Who do you think they were?"

"I honestly don't know. I've never given it much thought. I'd always thought that if I was left alone and abandoned by them, then they obviously aren't worth my time or thoughts. But then sometimes…I have to wonder if they are dead and died protecting me or something like that."

"Which would you rather think?"

"Most likely the first choice," I said after a moment of thought. "It's easier for me to live with, I think."

He nodded in understanding. "I think I would probably pick the same thing if I were you."

"I like you Napier. You're not the jackass I'd originally thought you out to be."

"And I like you Keep. You're not the stuck-up bitch the Slytherins say you are. You're similar to what I thought you'd be."

"Call me Nike."

"No, I don't think so. I'll call you Keep," Napier said, smiling at me again. "But you can call me Gary."

"And I think I'll take your advice. For once."

"It's nice having someone to talk to," Gary said.

"It is. I think I'll come to you more often," I said, looking up at the sky. "Maybe we can even practice Quidditch together. You know, to make ourselves the best."

"That sounds like a great idea."

"Of course it is. I came up with it."

"Friends?" he asked, chuckling.

"Friends," I agreed.

A/N: So….what do you think? Huh, huh? Yes, I realize that is a lot of unexpected information to process all at once, but you've got to expect things like that from me!

I can tell already that this is going to be the start of a beautiful friendship! *sighs and wipes a tear from eye* Can't you see it in the near future?

Is that how you expected their friendship to start? Let me know what you thought! I would like to know whether or not you loved or hated it! Criticism is appreciated too, along with, you know, anything you can or can't give me! Also, just so you know, Gary's character was an afterthought, so there isn't much of him in book one, and the parts he's in might seem scratchy because they were added later. So please forgive me.

Next chapter: R.o.R

R&R people! Reading your reviews make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside!

(Okay…well not fuzzy, but certainly warm and happy! But you fellow authors know the feeling, right?)

Nike