Moments

I don't own any of the characters you may recognize

Chapter 7:

I almost didn't make it to breakfast. Ali got hungry though, so we eventually had to leave the privacy of our sanctum. I took a quick shower, Ali took like thirty minutes. We walked into the great hall hand in hand. We hadn't even sat down when we noticed Miles Cartwright was turning pink and oinking loudly.

"I wonder what happened to him" Ali muttered as we sat down.

I shrugged my shoulders as Miles began to freak out. He was gesturing wildly and staring to grow pointy ears. Almost everyone at our table was laughing causing people at other tables to peer around and look. Miles got frustrated and stormed out of the great hall but not before nearly everyone in the great hall had a look at his snout.

"I hope he knows he's not excused from Quidditch practice" I commented causing Fred to laugh.

"James!"

I looked at Roxy who was standing with her hands on her hips. Why do all girls stand like that when they're mad?

"What? If you miss practice too I'll replace you with Blondie and the Creep."

"You are such an arse" Roxy declared and she stormed off.

"It's not like he's injured. He can still sit on a broom and swing a bat" I muttered.

Ali shook her head. "You aren't really going to replace him if he doesn't show up, are you?"

"Of course I am. I always keep my word. When I said at tryouts that missing a practice gets you demoted, I meant it."

Suddenly there was a large croak from the Ravenclaw table. Then I heard someone ribbit, another person hooted, a lot of people were starting to transform.

I raised an eyebrow at Fred I thought he was just pranking Miles.

"Too obvious" Fred said.

If Miles was the only person singled out I would've looked to Fred too. I wondered how he got to so many people at once. The kitchens. He must've put it in the juice downstairs.

"Don't drink that" I took Ali's pumpkin juice from her just as she was about to take a sip. "Trust me."

"You did this?" she asked spreading her hand towards the people currently making animal noise.

"Of course not. I've been with you since last night, when would I have had the time?" I said.

"Oh, let me guess. It was Fred? That's why Miles was first, because Miles is dating his sister."

"A man has the right to prank anyone who dates his little sister."

"What if I have an older brother? Would you expect him to do the same?"

"Yes, he wouldn't be much of a good brother if he didn't try to protect his sister."

She just shook her head.

"Do you? Have an older brother?"

"Nope. I'm an only child." I noticed her eyes went dark. They did whenever she talked about her family.

"Well if you're ever in the market for a brother, you can have Al. I'll give him away for free."

"Jason, that's the third time snitch flew right by your face and you didn't see it" I yelled snapping my seeker to attention.

I dodged a bludger sent by Blondie whose real name I think it Henry. I wouldn't be bothered to memorize it unless he makes it to the team. Of course, Miles was playing like shit even though the animal-shifting potion wore off half an hour ago. Creevey managed to score four goals with the head of a goat.

Lucy passed the ball to Sansa but it was intercepted by Creevey again. Damn the kid was good.

I checked my watch. Damn it, we only had two minutes until we were supposed to turn the pitch over to Slytherin.

I blew my whistle in three short burst letting everyone know it was time to land.

"You all played like shit today" I said, "except for Creevey and Roxy. The first match is in four weeks and we aren't going to be able to practice as much now that the Slytherins are starting to book the field more. Study your fucking playbooks as if it were a subject. I'll be able to tell if you're slacking off. Go hit the showers, you all stink."

I didn't even follow them into the locker room.

My prediction that we were going to slaughter Slytherin might now be coming true after all.

"Rough practice?" Fred asked as I entered the dorm.

"You have no idea" I said as I walked past him and headed to the showers.

This is my final year. I have to win. If I want to seriously make it to the pros I'll have to prove that I have what it takes to lead a team. I took a deep breath trying to calm myself. We could do this. I didn't come all this way just to be thwarted at the last moment.

Three detentions. I almost make it two months without earning a detention, and then I go and get three in one day. What the hell kind of crap is that? The shitty Quidditch practice this morning and then a crappy transfiguration class. I was starting to wonder if my day could get any worse.

I ran into Ali on my way down to lunch. She looked a little green.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

She paled, "I'm fine."

"You don't look fine"

"Excuse me"

"You know that's not what I meant. You look a little green. The weathers getting colder, it's going to be flu season soon. You should probably visit Madam Patil get a pepperup potion to be on the safe side."

Ali sighed, "You're right. I do feel a little sick. I'll head down to the infirmary."

I watched her go with a shrug. Something was up but I didn't mention it. She didn't appear to be sick earlier, but then again illnesses fly around in this school almost as fast as rumors.

AN:I know this is a super short chapter but more should be on their way soon.