AN: ok so here is part one of chapter 8. My cowriter made them a little longer than we expected but I hope you like it! Part two should be out either Thursday or Friday.

Jolene (Jo) Zocchi

Chapter 8.1

It's different without Cas, being on the train. I'm going home to Dad, and I'm happy about that. Excited. This is how Christmas is supposed to be- getting away from school, going back home. But Cas isn't. Neither are the Weasleys. At least they'll all be together. I'll be with family, the Weasleys will have each other, but Cas will be more or less alone.

Like I am now. I'm on the train and yes, other people are here. But not fun people. Not my friends. Just people. I'm still trying to find a seat, somewhere I can sleep or just stare out the window. I keep going farther and farther down the train, past the first year cars, not that anyone is really paying attention to that sort of etiquette. I know I don't care.

Finally I see a car with only one person in it. It's a he, and he looks like he's sleeping, so I slide in and close the door. I tuck my bags away and curl up next to the window. I try to fall asleep but it doesn't really work out, and eventually the landscape flying by becomes painfully boring. So I look around the train car, then down the hall, then at the guy who is still sleeping. He is also kind of snoring. And looks somewhat familiar.

And then I see it- resting above him on the overhead rack is a broomstick. His broomstick. And it clicks who I'm sitting across from. The Gryffindor Keeper. The very talented Gryffindor Keeper. Whose recommendation would carry weight when I try out for the Quidditch team.

But he's sleeping. I'm guessing he's way out of it by the fact that the snores don't stop. I shouldn't bother him...but I want to talk to him. So I stare. I stare very intently. I scrunch up my face and focus very hard on staring and willing this guy into waking up. It is ineffective.

So I cough. Quietly the first time, then a little louder. The guy replies by snoring. So I sneeze. Obnoxiously. But still nothing. I'm desperate at this point. But just how desperate? Enough to poke him with my wand? The fact that my wand is in my hand and I'm leaning across the train car suggests that yes; I am in fact that desperate. It's a light poke, but enough to make him snuffle and adjust his position, so I spring back into my seat and pretend to stare out the window.

"Hmmmphhh," I see him stretching and yawning through the reflection in the window. "Hey, girlie, how long do we have left?"

I snap my head around to finally look him in the eyes. He's looking just as intently back, and I feel my face turning red. He makes a face at me. A strange face. And his eyes widen. So my eyes widen. And then he squints. So I squint. I'm not really sure what else to do at this point.

"Do I know you?" he asks me. I shake my head no instead of saying anything. He looks real intently at me and nods as if to assure himself.

"I've definitely seen you somewhere- that's it! You're one of the little ferrets who stole the Quidditch equipment back this Halloween!"

"That is- that's just rude to accuse- I mean, you can't just- ...don't call me 'girlie'!" I realize how pathetic I sound. I'm usually better than this, but I'm kind of star struck and caught off guard and hungry. It's the perfect storm for not being able to lie convincingly. Technically I didn't even lie- I just rambled and didn't answer his question. But I'm tired so it's not my fault.

My response was confusing enough to throw him off guard. Now he's just looking at me.

"Alright...what's your name then, ferret?"

"I am not a ferret I'm Jo. Jolene- you call me Jolene. And I'm not a thief!"

"Never said you were, girl- Jolene. Sorry...Jolene. Thieves don't return what they take. You did. You and Percy's brothers and the...the other girl. Who isn't good at flying."

"You know George and Fred? And yeah, Cas is no good at Quidditch or being athletic."

"I picked that up. Why'd you take the Quidditch stuff? You could have rented it you know. Gotten a real lesson on the actual pitch. You wanna try out eventually, don't you?"

"Ummm, well yeah. I like it a lot."

"You wanna be a beater?"

"How'd you know that?!"

"I followed your little group when I saw you taking the practice gear. I watched you playing. Poor girlie- Cas, you called her? Don't do that to her again, she could get hurt. You all could of. You're lucky you didn't."

"You didn't tell, did you?"

"No. You got talent. I like talent. I want it for our team. You could make the team with some practice. After holiday, get the Gryffindor Weasley and I can give you two some lessons, for beating. If you want, I mean. I'm Oliver Woods, by the way. Keeper."

I come to an agreement with Oliver Woods- he won't rat us out if I promise to keep all our practicing on the up and up. I can live with that. He tells me about Quidditch and the rules and practices and stories and stuff for the rest of the train ride. We part at the station, where I meet dad and go home.

The rest of the holiday is a blur- lots of presents and late night movies and magic. Christmas is my favorite holiday by far, but soon it's January and I find myself back on the train, going from one home to another. I'm excited. I've gone too long without mischief.

AN: hopefully Jo made a new friend, but we'll see where it takes her. Review, follow, or send hate mail, depending on if you like it or not (I hope you do though). If you have any questions on technicality and what we are keeping and what we're getting rid of feel free to pm either of us. Happy almost summer!