disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, just Arabella and her story. Hope you all like it!

The Rogue Bludger

Since their first class with Lockhart, things have mellowed down. Instead of bringing any more live creatures, he would read passages from his books to them, and sometimes re-enacted some of the more dramatics bits. He usually picked Harry to help him with some of the reconstructions. This time, he was forced to act as a werewolf, howling in front of everyone and taken down by Lockhart.

The bell rang and saved them all.

"Homework – compose a poem about my defeat of the Wagga Wagga Werewolf! Signed copies of Magical Me to the author of the best one!"

The class began to leave. Arabella, Ron, Hermione and Harry were the last students in the classroom.

"Ready?" muttered Harry.

"All right…" said Hermione nervously.

She approached Lockhart's desk, a piece of paper clutched tightly in her hand with the others behind her.

"Er – Professor Lockhart?" stammered Hermione. "I wanted to – to get this book out of the library. Just for background reading." She held out the piece of paper, her hands shaking slightly. "But the thing is, it's in the Restriction Section of the library, so I need a teacher to sign for it – I'm sure it would help me understand what you say in Gadding with Ghouls about slow-acting venoms –"

"Ah, Gadding with Ghouls!" said Lockhart, taking the note from Hermione and smiling widely at her. "Possibly my favourite book. Did you enjoy it? What was your favourite part?"

"Oh, yes," said Hermione eagerly. "So, clever, the way you trapped the last one with the tea-strainer –"

"Amazing part, wasn't it? How about you, Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, Miss Black?"

"The end," said Arabella, trying not to smirk.

"Oh, yeah, the ending," said Harry in a mock impressed voice, nodding his head.

"Quite riveting," said Ron, trying not to laugh.

Hermione was glaring at all of them.

"Yes, yes, the ending was good, wasn't it?" said Lockhart warmly. "Well, I'm sure no one will mind me giving the best student of the year a little help, and her friends." He smiled at Hermione, and then pulled out an enormous quill. "Yes, nice, isn't it?" he said, misreading the revolted look on Ron's face. "I usually save it for book signings."

He scrawled an enormous loopy signature on the note and handed it back to Hermione.

"So, Harry," said Lockhart, "tomorrow's the first Quidditch match of the season, I believe? Gryffindor against Slytherin, is it not? I hear you're a useful player. I was a Seeker, too. I was asked to try for the National Squad, but preferred to dedicate my life to the eradication of the Dark Forces. Still, if ever you feel the need for a little private training, don't hesitate to ask. Always happy to pass on my expertise to less able players…."

Less able players? Arabella raised her eyebrows. "Have you ever seen Harry play in a Quidditch game before, Professor Lockhart?"

"Well, no, but I have heard that Harry here is –"

"Then you should know that he's the youngest Seeker in a century and certainly doesn't need anybody's help. Thank you and good day." She then grabbed Harry's arm, turned around and walked out of the classroom. Ron was right beside her and the two boys were trying their best not to laugh. Once they were far away from Lockhart's classroom, Ron and Harry burst out laughing.

"Did you see his face?" whispered Ron. "He was practically red with embarrassment."

Hermione came around the corner and scowled at them. "That was not funny," she said hotly.

"Yes it was," said Ron. "He's a brainless git. He didn't even look at the book we wanted."

"He is not a brainless git," said Hermione shrilly as they half ran toward the library.

"Just because he said you were the best student of the year –"

They dropped their voices as they entered the muffled stillness of the library. Madam Pince was an irritable woman who did not like any noise. Hermione handed her the note and she eyed it suspiciously.

"Moste Potente Potions?"

She held the note up to the light, as though determining whether or not it was fake. She then stalked away between the shelves and returned several minutes later carrying a large, moldy book. Hermione put it carefully into her bag and they left.

Five minutes later, they were barricaded in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. Myrtle was crying in her stall, but they were ignoring her, and she them. Arabella opened the book, and Hermione looked over her shoulder. She flipped through the book carefully. The pages were ancient looking and damp.

"Here," said Arabella. She then put the book on the floor between all of them. The page was decorated with drawings of people halfway through transforming into other people.

"This is the most complicated potion I have ever seen," said Hermione as they scanned the recipe.

"Difficult, but not impossible," said Arabella. "Most of the things are in the student store-cupboard, but the rest we'll probably have to steal from Snape's cupboard."

"Steal?" asked Harry. "Steal from Snape? I don't know if that's a good idea…."

Arabella's nostrils flared. "Fine," she snapped. "Don't steal any of this from Snape's cupboard. Don't do anything in the meantime. I did not want to do this, if you remember. I already know that Malfoy is not the Heir of Slytherin. You lot wanted to find out if he was. But if you want to chicken out, that's completely fine, we'll just go back to the library and return the book and let Muggle-borns get attacked."

Harry and Ron looked at each other.

"All right, then," said Harry, "we'll do it. How are we going to get these ingredients?"

"Leave that to me," said Arabella. "I've got the perfect thing, I just need to write to Remus for them."

"And we're going to see a bit of whoever we want to change into," said Hermione, her eyes scanning over the ingredients.

"Excuse me?" said Ron sharply. "What d'you mean, a bit of whoever we're changing into? I'm drinking nothing with Crabbe's toenails in it –"

"It doesn't have to be toenails, Ron," said Hermione. "Just get some hair or something of them."

"How long will it take to make, anyway?" asked Harry.

Arabella sighed. "A month, if we can get all the ingredients."

"A month?" said Ron. "Malfoy could have attacked half the Muggle-borns in the school by then!" But Arabella and Hermione glared fiercely at him, and he added swiftly, "But it's the best plan we've got, so full steam ahead, I say."

As Hermione was checking to make sure that the coast was clear, Arabella could hear Ron mutter to Harry, "It'll be a lot less hassle if you can just knock Malfoy off his broom tomorrow."

Arabella and Hermione got up early the next morning and went down to breakfast. The Gryffindor team was already there, huddle together, all looking uptight and not speaking much. They sat down beside Harry and he merely nodded at them before staring back at his porridge. He was clearly nervous about the match. Gryffindors and Slytherins had a long rivalry dating back many centuries. This was a big match and the first team to win was going to set the bar extremely high. She wished that she was part of this great hype, this great excitement. Maybe next year she could play reserve, because the excitement of Quidditch itself was enough to make her body tingle.

As eleven o'clock approached, the whole school started to make its way down to the Quidditch stadium. It was a muggy day with a hint of thunder in the air. Arabella, Ron, and Hermione had wished Harry luck before he entered the locker rooms. They found seats next to Ginny, Neville, Dean and Seamus.

Everyone was already cheering and once the Gryffindor team walked out onto the field, it increased. Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff were anxious to see Slytherin beaten, but the Slytherins in the crowd were also making their voices heard. They booed and hissed at the Gryffindors.

Madam Hooch made Wood and Flint shake hands. In a couple seconds, there was a whistle, a roar from the crowd, and they were on.

Fourteen players rose to the air. Harry rose the most and Malfoy was beneath him, showing off the speed of his broom.

"Knock him off, Harry!" bellowed Ron.

"Ron!" scolded Hermione.

But Ron did not hear her, nor could he. The Gryffindors were cheering from the top of their lungs, and in an instant, those cheers turned into gasps. A Bludger came shelling towards Harry. He nearly avoided it. George streaked past Harry and gave the Bludger a powerful whack in the direction of the closest Slytherin, but the Bludger changed direction in midair and shot straight for Harry again.

"George can't be the one doing that, can he?" Hermione asked her and Ron.

Arabella shook her head. "George was aiming for Pucey."

Harry avoided the Bludger and George aimed it hard towards Malfoy. Once again, it swerved and shot at Harry's head.

"That Bludger has got a mind of his own!" exclaimed Ron.

Fred swung at the Bludger, but it once again went after Harry. It began to rain and Slytherin was leading with sixty points. Fred and George were now flying extremely close to Harry on either side. They signaled something to Wood and there was now a time out.

"Someone's tampered with that Bludger," said Ron. "It's not leaving Harry alone, no matter how much Fred and George keep whacking at it."

"The Slytherins?" asked Hermione. "The team doesn't look like a bright bunch, but it's possible."

"Maybe," said Arabella. "But they're usually locked in Hooch's office until the day of the game."

"Unless they're practicing," said Ron. "Malfoy and the others could have gotten to it."

The Slytherin team was jeering and pointing at the direction of the huddled Gryffindors. The rain was falling more heavily now, making it much harder to hear anything else going on. The cheers from the Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, and Ravenclaws were deafening.

Arabella heard Hooch's whistle through the noise and they were off once again. Harry was looping, swooping, spiraling, zigzagging and rolling in the air. The crowd was now laughing at him, he looked a little foolish, but the Bludger was still after him.

"This is maddening," said Ron, and he pulled his wand, aiming it at the speeding Bludger.

"Ron, no!" shouted Arabella and wrestled it out of his hand. She understood the sentiment of wanting to help Harry. She, too, felt hopeless as she watched the Bludger go after Harry, but this was certainly not the answer. They could hit Harry or the other Gryffindor players, and Ron did have a broken wand.

"Harry!" screamed Hermione. She then let out a large gasp with the other Gryffindors.

Arabella and Ron let go of each other to see Harry sideways on his broom. The Bludger hit against his elbow. Hs knee was still crooked over his broom and his right hand hanging dangling on his side. The Bludger came back for his face, but Harry swerved out of the way. Through the rain, he dived straight for Malfoy. His hand enclosed around something and he hit the ground with a thud.

The crowd yelled and Ron yelled, "He caught the Snitch!"

"Let's go!"

We ran down the steps to the pitch with many Gryffindors behind them. Fred and George were wrestling with the Bludger, Lockhart was looking over Harry, and Colin was there with his camera.

"I don't want a photo of this, Colin!" Harry said loudly.

"Lie back, Harry," said Lockhart soothingly. "It's a simple charm I've used countless time –"

"Harry, are you all right?" asked Arabella.

"Just a simple broken arm, Miss Black," said Lockhart. "Nothing to worry about. I will fix it."

"Why can't I just go to the hospital wing?" said Harry through clenched teeth.

"He should really, Professor," said Wood, covered in mud. He could barely stop grinning, even though his star Seeker was injured. "Great capture, Harry, really spectacular, your best yet, I'd say –"

"Stand back," said Lockhart, rolling up his sleeves.

"No – don't –"said Harry weakly.

Lockhart twirled his wand and a second later, had directed it straight at Harry's arm. For a small second, nothing happened. Then Harry's arm flopped downwards. There was no more bones in his arm. Everyone gasped and Colin began to click away at his camera madly.

"Ah," said Lockhart. "Yes. Well, that can sometimes happen. But the point is, the bones are no longer broke. That's the thing to bear in mind –"

"He's got no bones!" bellowed Arabella.

"Well, yes, well, why don't you just toddle up to the hospital wing, Harry," said Lockhart. "Ah, Miss Black, Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger, would you escort him? – and Madam Pomfrey will be able to – er- tidy you up a bit."

Arabella and Ron helped Harry up while Hermione grabbed Harry's broom. They went into the locker room and Hermione grabbed Harry's clothes. Harry kept cursing Lockhart under his breath. Once they reached the castle and entered the hospital wing, Madam Pomfrey was not happy. Not one bit.

"You should have come straight to me!" she raged, holding up Harry's limp arm. "I can mend bones in a second – but growing them back –"

"You will be able to, won't you?" said Harry desperately.

"I'll be able to, certainly, but it will be painful," said Madam Pomfrey. She threw a pair of pajamas to Harry. "You'll have to stay the night…"

Arabella and Hermione waited outside the drawn curtain around Harry's bed while Ron helped him into his pajamas.

"How can you stick up for Lockhart now, Hermione, eh?" Ron called through the curtain. "If Harry had wanted deboning he would have asked."

"Anyone can make a mistake," said Hermione.

"He's made multiple mistakes," said Arabella. "He's supposed to be our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher and he's doing a rotten job at it. The four of us would do a better job than him."

"He is not a rotten teacher," said Hermione hotly. "It was just a mistake, and it doesn't hurt anymore, does it, Harry?"

"No," said Harry. "But it doesn't do anything else either."

Arabella, Hermione and Madam Pomfrey came around the curtain. Harry's arm flopped pointlessly on the bed as Madam Pomfrey poured a glass of Skele-Gro. The liquid steamed as she handed it to him.

"You're in for a rough night. Regrowing bones is a nasty business."

Harry took a mouthful and began coughing and spluttering. Madam Pomfrey retreated, muttering something about dangerous sports. Arabella, Hermione and Ron helped Harry gulp down the rest of the Skele-Gro and some water.

"We won, though," said Ron, grinning. "That was some catch you made. Malfoy's face… he looked ready to kill…"

"I want to know how he fixed that Bludger," said Hermione darkly.

Arabella sighed and nodded. "We will find out, don't worry."

"We can add that to the list of questions we'll ask him when we've taken the Polyjuice Potion," said Harry. "I hope it tastes better than this stuff…."

Arabella snorted and Harry looked at her in confusion. She has never taken Skele-Gro, but she would bet anything that it was still better than Polyjuice Potion.

The door of the hospital wing burst open at that moment and the rest of the Gryffindor team arrived. They were filthy and soaking wet and they smiled brightly at Harry.

"Unbelievable flying, Harry," said George. "I've just seen Flint yelling at Malfoy. Something about having the Snitch on top of his head and not noticing. Malfoy didn't seem too happy."

They bought cake, sweets, and bottles of pumpkin juice and butterbeer. They gathered around Harry's bed and were about to get started on what was sure to be a good part when Madam Pomfrey came storming over, shouting, "This boy needs rest, he's got thirty-three bones to regrow! Out! OUT!

With that, they all left Harry alone in the hospital wing to regrow his bones.

Back at the Gryffindor Tower, the party began with everyone have a bit of cake and sweets. Everyone seemed to have a bottle of pumpkin juice or butterbeer and were talking lively about the Quidditch match, especially on Harry's catch. Looking at all the delicious sweets, Arabella went over to Fred and George. They immediately handed her a bottle of butterbeer.

"Thanks," said Arabella, giving them a smile. "Where did you get all of this?"

"The kitchen, of course," said George.

"I figured as much," said Arabella, taking a gulp of her drink. "But how did you get into the kitchen?"

Fred and George looked at each other and smirked. Arabella did not like that one bit and wondered what sort of ridiculous favour they were going to ask her.

"Well, we could tell you," said Fred, with an air of nonchalance around him.

"You should tell me," said Arabella quickly. "Only fair, don't you think? Fourth years help a poor old second year who does not know her way around the castle, only wanting advice and guidance from some brilliant, older –"

"Your flattery does not work on us," said George, laughing.

"Dunno, George," said Fred. "She almost had me there."

George shrugged and nodded rather reluctantly. Arabella grinned at them. "So you'll tell me?"

"But if we tell you, what will we get out of it?" asked George.

"We can't just tell you our secrets, my lady," said Fred. "They are secrets after all, and they do come at a price."

"But – but – but what about helping a poor second year?" asked Arabella. She frowned at them.

They snorted.

"You're anything but a 'poor second year'," said George. "But all we ask is one simple thing. Tell us how you made that colour bomb."

"And how you made us blue," added Fred.

Arabella shook her head. "No, I'm sorry, but that's a family secret, and the last time I checked, I don't have red hair."

"That," said George, pulling out his wand, "is doable."

Arabella glared at him as they both started to laugh.

"Cheer up," said Fred, smiling at her. "It takes a lot to be a Weasley. It is not as easy as we make it look."

Arabella rolled her eyes and took a deep breath. "You two are unbelievable sometimes. And with that, I will think about it." They started to grin broadly and she added, "I said I will think about it. I could still say no, and the mystery of the colour bomb and blue skin will stay with me."

She left the common room and went up the stairs to her dormitory. She got out some parchment and ink and sat on her bed for her letter.

Remus,

It's going to be a while before she's completely on Mad-Eye's good side. I'm sure he likes her enough, but to laugh at her jokes? She's asking too much right there. It's about time they finally went to Italy, they've been talking about it for some time now. As for your job, I'm completely fine with it, don't worry. Hermione, Harry and Ron are staying back as well so I won't be alone.

There was a Quidditch game today. The first of the season – Gryffindor vs. Slytherin. It was a pretty good match, though it was raining and I could barely hear the commentary. Harry caught the Snitch brilliantly, but the Bludger was acting weird and seemed to have an odd thing for Harry. Do you know anything about that? It seemed as though it was possessed. It left Harry with a broken arm and Lockhart tried to fix it. Read that again, Lockhart tried to fix it and ended up removing all of Harry's arm bones.

I know that Dumbledore is supposed to be this brilliant man that Voldemort was afraid of and everything, I have heard the stories, but why would he hire this man? He couldn't even mend some bones and ended up removing each and every one of them. Unbelievable. We seriously need another teach. He's a complete and utter idiot. I would much prefer having you or Mad-Eye as my professor.

I don't know if I'm going to tell them yet. I feel like they somehow already know, but to sit down and actually talk about everything, I don't think I'm ready for that just yet. Maybe at the end of the semester of maybe even during the summer – maybe? I'll figure that out later.

I was wondering if you could possible send me the box under my bed. The one with all our little prank items. I was thinking of starting another little war with Fred and George – they've been getting on my nerves lately and I do want to correct this.

Miss you, Moons.

Arabella.

Thank you all so much for reading! Tell me what you guys think!