NOTE: There is a scene that would take place in the Goblet of Fire (the Yule Ball) that I have been dying to write! Valentine and *insert her future beau's name here* are so cute together! Feel free to speculate as to his identity; I think it's obvious, but then again, I'm the writer! Anyway…for anyone who guesses correctly, I will either send you a preview of the latest chapter or I will answer any plot question that you may have about things that will happen in the future. Enjoy~
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It was the Saturday before exams; it all the teachers could talk about. Everyone was beyond sick of it. Valentine and Harry were talking about that as they walked along the grounds.
"She actually wrote us study schedules! I was telling her that exams aren't tomorrow!" Harry said, exasperated.
"Well, you don't actually have to follow it," Valentine reasoned.
"This is true," said Harry. "Let's go back inside the castle."
It was breakfast time. Valentine chuckled. Over at the Gryffindor table, Hermione Granger was reading one of her text books furiously, not noticing that her egg was slowly dripping from her fork onto her plate.
Harry and Valentine parted ways then, Harry off to sit with Ron and Hermione, Valentine with Terry and Padma.
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Exams came and went. Neville had managed to melt through another cauldron, but in comparison, everything else was just plain insignificant. It was finally time to relax.
There was a tree by the lake. It was huge, providing ample shade. Valentine, Terry and Padma sat in it, savoring the noise of their fellow students, the lack of a need to study.
"So what are you guys doing this summer?" asked Valentine, now lying down.
"I want to go to a couple of Quidditch matches, but my parents won't let me," said Terry. "So instead, I'll be doing nothing but training."
"What's your favorite team?" asked Valentine. "I support the Holyhead Harpies, myself."
"All right then," said Terry. "I like the Falmouth Falcons. Padma?"
"I like the Harpies too," said Padma, "if I had to pick one. I'm not really a Quidditch person."
"Well, we'll change that when both of your best friends are on the team next year!" Terry exclaimed. "That's what I'll be training for."
"What position?" asked Valentine.
"Chaser." Terry grinned. "When I was home for Christmas, my aunt and uncle gave me the new Cleansweep!"
"My parents told me that as a late birthday and Hannukah present, they'll take me to Quality Quidditch Supplies to pick out any broom I want when we go school shopping." It was Valentine's turn to grin. "Every summer, my whole family gets together at my Aunt Cheryl's house in the country and we all play a gigantic game of Quidditch together!"
"So you're trying out, huh?" A tall second year Ravenclaw walked over. "What position?"
"Seeker, if you must know." Valentine stood up and crossed her arms. "Why would you even care?"
"Because that's my position and I'm not about to let anyone take it away from me!" Cho glowered at her.
"Well, we'll just have to see about that." Valentine did her best death glare.
Cho flinched, exaggerating the motion to make it as offensive as possible. "Oooooh, I'm so scared!" She laughed mirthlessly as she walked away with her friends.
Valentine fumed. "The nerve!" She sat down again. "I am so not going to lose to her!"
"You won't," said Padma.
"Kick 'er to the curb!" Terry punched the air.
The corner of Valentine's mouth twitched. She and Padma burst into laughter. Terry joined in.
"Let's go in. It's lunch time and I'm hungry," said Ron Weasley, who was passing with Harry and Hermione.
Terry, Valentine and Padma all heard Hermione retort, "You're always hungry, Ron!"
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That night was the Leaving Feast. Valentine and friends walked into the Great Hall extremely annoyed. It looked like Slytherin would win again. According to the Head Boy, Jared Clark of Ravenclaw, Slytherin won the last six House Championships!
Every non-Slytherin wore a sullen expression. As was expected, all Slytherins wore smug expressions. The Great Hall was inundated with green and silver hangings.
Professor Dumbledore stood up, looking fondly at all of them. "Another year gone. The House Cup needs awarding and the points stand thus." He looked around the hall briefly. "In fourth place, Gryffindor with 312 points."
Scattered applause.
"Third place is Hufflepuff with 352 points."
Applause.
"Second place is Ravenclaw, with 426 points."
Applause with cheers.
"And first place is Slytherin, with 472 points."
Malfoy smirked.
"Yes will done, Slytherin, however, recent events must be taken into consideration. And I have a few last minute points to award."
Muttering. Malfoy's smirk faded.
"First, to Miss Hermione Granger- for the cool use of her considerable intellect when others were in grave danger. Fifty points."
Applause.
"To Mr. Ronald Weasley- for the best played game of chess in all of Hogwarts' considerable history. Fifty points."
More applause. Fred, George and Percy Weasley were heard screaming "That's my brother!"
"To Mr. Harry Potter- for pure love and outstanding courage. I award Gryffindor House sixty points."
Over at the Gryffindor table, Hermione said, "We're tied with Slytherin!"
"And finally, it takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to your enemies and infinitely more to stand up to your friends. I award ten points to Neville Longbottom."
The loudest round of applause yet.
"Now, if my calculations are correct, I believe that a change of decoration is in order!" Dumbledore clapped his hands and waved them over the crowd. "Gryffindor wins the House Cup!"
Every non-Slytherin cheered. A livid Professor Snape handed a teary Professor McGonagall the House Cup. Even though Ravenclaw lost, all was well.
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Valentine woke up early the next morning. She didn't want to leave. Not yet, anyway. Eventually, hunger forced her awake. She went down for breakfast alone. After a hasty breakfast, she went back upstairs to finish packing. The train was going to leave at noon. Finally, the last thing she needed to pack was Eternity.
Valentine was very melancholy. She was glad to be going home, but she'd miss her four poster bed, the common room, the sloping lawns, the cascade of owls every morning. But above all, she'd miss her friends- Terry, protective and sweet only towards his friends; Padma, silly and trustworthy.
Maybe I can invite them to the country with us…but only Terry'd enjoy that. I'll ask him. Valentine looked up. Speak of the devil.
He came in alone. "Hey."
"Hey yourself." Valentine paused. "Where's Padma?"
"I dunno," he said. "I was just about to ask you."
"Hey, could I ask you something?"
"You just did, but go ahead."
Valentine smiled. "Would you like to come to my house in the country for a while? You could train with us! One of my cousins plays for the Harpies and she's dating a former Falcon."
Terry's face lit up. "That sounds great! Which Falcon?"
"Oliver Harris, I think."
"He's one of my favorite players! I was disappointed when they kicked him off last year! What happened again?" asked Terry.
"He left," Valentine reminded him. "He wanted to stop playing, officially; personally, he left because he wanted to date my cousin."
"Which cousin is the Harpie?"
"Evelyn Thomas," Valentine said. "I'm only related by marriage. Her father married my aunt after his first wife left him. I was young; I don't remember it at all."
"That would be so great if I could meet them! I'd have to ask my parents, though."
"I mean, it wouldn't be for the whole summer. We usually spend the last month of break there, then we scatter a few days before the start of the new school year," said Valentine. "My siblings and I are some of the youngest cousins; the only younger ones are Angela and Chip."
"How old are they?" asked Terry.
"They're ten and they're going to start at Hogwarts next year. You remember what I said about their parents, right?" asked Valentine.
Terry nodded.
"Angela and Chip are staying with us right now. They might not be leaving," she said.
He nodded again.
"Anyway, I'm sure that it'd be all right with my parents. Let me finish packing. The carriages will be leaving soon," said Terry.
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The train ride home was fun. Annabeth and her two friends Sandra and Jae sat with them and they all had lots of candy from Honeydukes to share. All of them had at least one different wizard game. Annabeth had her wizard chess set and she and Valentine played a few games. They swapped stories that kept them all amused. The arrival of the lunch trolley (and some butterbeer as well) added to the boisterous atmosphere.
All too soon, the prefects came around to tell everyone to get their Muggle clothes on. After they had, the six ate the last of their wizard candy. And it was only too reluctantly that the scarlet steam engine pulled into King's Cross Station's Platform 9¾, where it would remain until the next year.
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Parents of first years were always at the front of the crowd. No sooner than Valentine emerged from the train did her parents and cousins converged on them. Percy came out too and the seven of them started to leave.
"Mum, Dad?" Peter and Lois turned. "I have a question for you."
"What is it, honey?" asked Lois.
Valentine gestured to Terry in the distance. "Could Terry come to the country with us?" asked Valentine. "He wants to try out for the Quidditch team too, for Chaser!"
"As long as it's all right with his parents," said Peter.
Valentine pointed. "Ooh, look! There he is!" She tugged her parents over. The twins, Chip and Angela had no choice but to follow.
"Hey Val, I take it you asked them?" Terry spoke eagerly. "What did they say?"
Lois answered for her. "We said it'd be all right with us if it was all right with your parents."
"Mum, can I?" Terry pleaded.
"I suppose so. You can train for tryouts in the fall." Terry's mom held out her hand. "Hi, I'm Linda Boot."
Lois shook it. "Lois."
Peter shook it. "Peter."
"We'll meet you in the Leaky Cauldron on the twenty-fourth," said Lois. "Is that all right with you?"
Linda smiled. "Sounds good. 'Round noon, then?"
"Wonderful," said Peter. "We'll have Valentine send an owl to you."
"That'd be great," said Linda.
They exchanged a few more idle pleasantries and left. As their Portkey left the station, Valentine knew that it'd be a great summer.
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NOTE: I know it's a little Sue-ish, the relation to the Harpies AND the Falcons, but oh well.