1st April
"Happy birthday, you two!" I gave Fred a quick hug and George held on a little longer. I handed them a package each.
"You shouldn't have!" They both said, smiling. They were wearing matching homemade scarves, one with a large F and the other with a large G, surprisingly the scarves matched their owners!
I shook my head and smiled, "It's only something small!"
They stood in front of me and opened their packages at the same time. I got Fred a large bar of Cadbury's Dairy Milk chocolate and a notebook with the quote, 'I solemnly swear that I am up to no good' using magazine and newspaper cut outs. I thought he would appreciate it for whenever this dream of having a business becomes a reality.
"Thanks Kathryn! This is amazing!" he looked happy with himself.
George took a little longer to open his which revealed a large bar of galaxy chocolate and a muggle magic tricks box which included a fake wand. "THIS. IS. AWESOME!" he hugged me again. He immediately opened the box and read the 'how to' booklet, learning all the illusions. We were surely going to have great fun with this.
So much has happened in the last few days, I feel like I have recovered from a particular bad spell of near death, or as Angelina called it 'Woman-Flu' to all the males of the group. I had ventured out of the dorm for the first time on Sunday night. The sympathy was somewhat lacking as Fred and George got up and went to practice Quidditch. I regretted the decision as I didn't have the energy to get back into bed. Ginny and Hermione helped me crawl up the stairs; I simply couldn't stand without my head spinning. Madam Pomfery banned me from attending classes on Monday and I stayed in bed all day reading, sleeping and doing homework. Madam Pomfery came up every so often into the dorm to give me a stronger potion to get me back up onto my feet again. That one tasted like grass and mushy tomato- drinkable but the aftertaste was revolting.
Naturally, though the most dramatic things had to happen on the one day I wasn't there. Hermione, (according to Ron and Harry) took a hissy fit in the middle of Divination due to Trelawney's honesty (I say insensitivity) and she quit the class. The boys reckoned it was because she couldn't deal with not being top of the class (she was nearly bottom). Apparently she just walked out the door and didn't look back. Hermione then went to our dormitory to check up on me and fell asleep. She woke me up in a blind panic, the circles under her eyes more prominent than ever before, she had just missed Charms class. She apologised profusely to Flitwick who gave her a massive hint that Cheering Charms, the lesson, might possibly be on the exam. That sent her into another spout of terror. It took all my energy to calm her down.
Later that evening, Hermione received an owl from Hagrid- Buckbeak has been sentenced to death... Naturally my three closest friends were distraught and I could do nothing about it.
The next morning at breakfast, Ron and Hermione had made up, don't ask me how, but it was nice that we were all talking again. Katie and Alicia complimented me on how I looked so much better. I felt it, too. Oliver had sat himself down next to Harry, giving him hints and tips for the upcoming Quidditch final against Slytherin. "Make sure you only catch the snitch when we're at least 50 points ahead!" he repeated again and again. The match was at the end of the month, 30 days away, that boy was keen. You had to admire his passion.
Thankfully, Professor Flitwick took me through the theory and practical for the cheering charm after class, allowing me some hope of passing the exam. Hermione joined us. The aim of the charm is to make the receiver feel great contentment or happiness. I spoke the incantation, 'laetus maxime', flourished my wand in an 'S' shape and Hermione started to giggle and then went into hysterics. I imagine that is what she would look like if she was drunk. Before you ask, yes, I know what drunk people act like, mum and dad often have drinking competitions and go out together and come home very late, quite incompetent of normal human functions (like walking). Any way, it was as though Hermione had finally let her hair down, she has been so stressed for so long; it was so good to see her with a smile on her face.
"You can stop now, Miss Pink." Flitwick said in his high-pitched voice, "What an impressive first go!" he smiled at me and gestured for Hermione to try. Hermione spoke the incantation and I couldn't help but laugh, not just any normal laugh, but a deep belly laugh! I could hardly catch a breath but I felt amazing. It was a mixture between being tickled, told the most hilarious jokes and imagining Draco falling flat on his face in the mud. I didn't really have any awareness of what was going on around me as tears were flooding from my eyes.
I came right back into reality again as Professor Flitwick's voice sounded, "Yes, you may enter! These ladies appear to have perfected their cheering charms!"
I was standing in the centre of the classroom, giggling to myself, wiping the tears from my eyes, bringing a group of fifth years into focus. Hermione handed me my bag and I pointed and laughed at it. I felt her hand on my back, pushing me towards the door. I beamed and waved at Fred, George and Angelina as I bowed my way out. Don't ask me why I did it. It just felt right.
The effect of the spell had well and truly worn off by the time we got to Care of Magical Creatures. Hagrid was a complete mess. His handkerchief was soaked and his eyes were red and puffy. Both Harry and Ron looked at us in disgust for being late. Draco was all happy with himself, as you can imagine. He spent half the class talking about Buckbeak, acting out the many ways in which a Hippogriff could lose its head. The other half was spent mocking Hagrid in the most vile and insensitive ways possible.
"Will you be there when the brute's head gets the chop? I can just imagine the blood and guts and maybe a head spasm or two! I read somewhere that the head can live for 50 seconds after." The look of sheer exhilaration was spread right across Draco's face. I wouldn't put it past him to have killed a few birds in the past.
"I'm sure it'll be fascinating, but I'm going to have to pass, I'm afraid… There's this thing called a plea, do you know what that means, Draco? There's a high chance Buckbeak will survive, even long enough to permanently damage your arm."
"It's nice you think that positively, its endearing." He clearly ignored me, "You'll find that on the 9th of June, the beast will be dead. You'll join me for the celebrations though, won't you, Kathryn?" Draco smiled and wrapped an arm around me.
I slapped him off, "In your dreams."
"You have no idea what happens in my dreams." A fire sparked in his eyes.
I turned my back on him, "Nor do I want to know."
"I missed you yesterday…" he sighed, "Made up for it in my dream, though." He stood unbearably close behind me and whispered, "I can only imagine you'd bring more pleasure in real life" into my ear.
I felt queasy. I turned to face him.
Hermione had a look on her face that I couldn't quite explain. She took a few, quick paces towards Draco, lifted her fist and punched him. There was a huge *SMACK*. Draco's nose started to bleed and he ran up towards the castle. Hermione stood for a few seconds staring at her hand in shock. It was red hot and was most definitely going to bruise. But firstly: HERMIONE GRANGER PUNCHED DRACO MALFOY. Wowzah.
It took a while for it to sink in, Harry, Ron and I looked at each other in disbelief. The rest of the class looked at Hermione in incredulity with silent cheers.
"That felt good." Hermione smiled triumphantly.
"Not good, BRILLIANT!" Ron high-fived Hermione in respect.
"No one has the right to speak like that and get away with it," Hermione spoke with diplomacy. "The pompous prat." She whispered only loud enough for the three of us to hear.
7th April
We are all off on our Easter holidays at the minute and tension is high. Between all our homework and revision in preparation for exams and the Quidditch final that is only three weeks away people were starting to get serious about their studies. I hardly saw Hermione who was either in the library or in the corner of the common room surrounded by books. Whenever I did see her face, at mealtimes or bed time, she was pale with bags under her eyes and looked as though she could pass out. I brought her coffee and sympathy every so often.
Ron had now taken up chief roll in finding out information for Buckbeak's plea. This is because every free moment Harry had was spent on the Quidditch pitch and my workload was hefty too, with added catch-up work to do. (And Ron was looking for any excuse to not do school work.) My work list just never seemed to end: I had two books to read for Muggle Studies and an essay on the muggle policing system in the UK. We had a class test for Care of Magical Creatures on the first day back. For Transfiguration we had to write notes on our lecture about Animagi. In charms we had to practice the Cheering Charm and I had to catch up by writing the theory behind it. Lupin told us that we had to make up a poster on Vampires, the most colourful and informative would win a prize. We had to learn the cycle of the moon for Astronomy, what a boring afternoon that was. We had nothing to do for Herbology or History of Magic (thank goodness). But Snape had us memorise three potion instructions and one of them will be done on the Friday we get back.
Send help.
On Easter Friday, there was a message on the Rogues parchment saying:
George: Free chocolate egg to whoever gets here first.
I was in the library, I had no way of getting there first.
Alicia: I'll be there.
Fred: ARE YOU GIVING OUT MY EASTER EGGS?
George: You know it, it's in your best interest to get here first.
Angelina: I'm guessing there's a catch?
Katie: Did someone say chocolate?
Fred: But I'm sitting right beside you.
George: Oh, right. You can have one, then.
Angelina: I'm guessing there's a specific person you're waiting to answer this message. I've been standing in front of you for the past two minutes, George.
Alicia: Me too.
Tobias: Not that I'm a lover of chocolate, but I'm here too, mate. If you'd like to look up from your parchment?
Fred: KATHRYN. GET YOUR ARSE UP HERE, WHEREVER YOU ARE. DON'T TELL ME YOU'RE IN BED, OR SICK, OR ANYTHING JUST GET HERE, I WANT MY EGG.
Bernie: I reckon we need to either tackle George or find Kathryn.
I loved the way they were all winding him up. I was studying in the corner I usually sat in, beside Hermione. She was giving me strange looks for laughing at a piece of blank parchment. She was looking over my shoulder but couldn't see anything.
Me: I'm stuck in the library, surrounded by a mass of books and parchment.
George: We're on our way.
The parchment went quiet for too long. They were all coming to the library. Hermione was not going to like this, not one bit. I heard footsteps running through the library. Madam Pince started shushing them. There was a lot of laughing and giggling as the group spoke in loud whispers. Fred and George were the first to see me. They realised that I wasn't joking about the wall of books surrounding me. George lifted a foot and did some form of judo kick. "NO!" I shouted. But it was too late. The pile of books crashed to the ground. Madam Pince saw the whole thing. She grabbed George by the ear and dragged him out of the library doors. George was hunched over as the petite woman showed him who was boss. She was so cross. We stood and watched as George had just been barred for life. It was unbelievably funny!
… And I still got my chocolate egg!
28th April
Classes started back on Monday. With this week started the second, more intense revision schedule Hermione drew up for me. I modified it to allow me to sleep, eat and have some form of social life, with the help of Fred and George. It was so strange to see the two of them beside me in the library with their heads in the books. George had managed to convince Madam Pince that he was truly sorry and only wished to study from now on (I would believe that when I see it). I really hadn't a clue how well (or badly) they performed in their classes, all I knew is that the causes of their detentions were often mischief and homework related. What I knew for certain is that the twins were extremely gifted Wizards who are very driven and passionate and will go far in life, if their bedroom tells you anything!
The rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin started early. It began with Bletchley (Slytherin Keeper) having a scuffle with Wood in the corridor, the two of them ending up in the Hospital Wing with cuts and bruises. Warrington (Slytherin Chaser) shoved Alicia in the Great Hall, causing her to spill her scalding hot coffee over herself. I had to rush her to the Hospital wing to get some burn cream, Madam Pomfery stood and looked at me in wonder. Derrick (Slytherin Beater) fired a jinx at Katie, causing her hair to become singed. She cried and cried to me that night, wondering if her hair would smell burnt forever. Harry was tripped up constantly by Slytherins, at one point someone stole his glasses and smashed them on him.
Draco and his cronies were up to no good in DADA with Lupin. We were writing notes about Vampires as Draco kept chucking things across the room, old quills, scrunched up pieces of paper and general rubbish, aiming at Harry who was sitting on the far side of me. I tried for so long to ignore him. I really did. But when something quite solid and heavy hit me on the neck and I lost it.
"DRACO. IF YOU THROW ONE MORE THING IN THIS DIRECTION SO HELP ME I WILL BREAK YOU."
"Aw, Kathryn, you're really breaking my heart."
"Then prepare for your worst nightmare."
"Miss Pink? Mr Malfoy? Silence would be appreciated. And Mr Malfoy, you will be staying behind this class to pick up everything you have thrown and if you continue to flirt with Miss Pink I will put you in detention." Lupin made his point well.
That shut him up. He knew he couldn't afford to get a detention with the Quidditch final being so close.
Yesterday afternoon in the corridor the fighting was at its worst. I was standing outside potions, slightly early as moving Harry (and other members of the team) was easier when the corridors were emptier. A 4th year Gryffindor and a 6th year Slytherin were both sent to the hospital wing with sprouts coming out of their ears- the duel happened right in front of my eyes. The competitiveness was getting out of control. I saw Fred and George make their way down the corridor beside me and Fred was about to step into a puddle made seconds before by Theodore Nott, one of the Slytherins in my class, where he was bound to slip, so I alerted him before it was too late.
The twins stopped momentarily as another crowd of pupils started pushing through in the other direction. I saw a mischievous look on Draco's face where he chucked his apple core (quite hard, with surprising strength) at George's head. I made an attempt to catch it and by some form of miracle I did! I hurled the apple core back at Draco with such determination, added with frustration that it hit him right on the bridge of his nose. He grabbed it and I saw the tears starting to stream. "I TOLD YOU I WOULD HURT YOU, MALFOY." I shouted across the corridor.
"I think you should be a replacement chaser with those skills." George chuckled in my ear.
I laughed, "You know as well as I do, that was pure luck."
"I think I got a seed in my eye!" Draco yelled, "I'm telling father about this."
"Fight me." I shot straight back at him. That was an interesting potions class.
It was then that Wood made an intervention. Harry was to be accompanied at all times. The girls were not to be in groups of less than three and knew to scream if anyone came too close. This made it particularly difficult for anyone to get to class on time. That and for the fact that every time I turned around, Wood seemed to be talking to Harry, telling him the same things over and over again. "Don't catch the snitch Harry until we're at least 50 points ahead, or we'll win the game and lose the tournament." I heard that phrase at least 20 times a day, I was getting sick of it, never mind Harry. "Kathryn! Make sure you remind Harry! That he can't catch the snitch-"
"No problem, Oliver, you just get to class now, I'll take it from here." I took him by the shoulder and turned him about face and shooed him away.
"Thanks." Harry looked grateful.
Oliver was still attempting to talk to Harry at dinner time. It was impossible to shake him off. So I went down to watch one of their practices to see what happened as their training became more intense.
They were flying about, performing what I would call 'routines' with such precision and dedication. One looked particularly familiar, it was quite fascinating to watch. Katie passed to Angelina who pretended to dodge another chaser where she dropped the Quaffle to Alicia who was flying below her, who attempted to score against Oliver. Fred and George had been given makeshift moving targets to practice hitting. They seemed to have a competition between themselves and then they just started to mess about hitting the Bludger at each other. Harry had to practice waiting until they were 50 points up to catch the snitch. I just saw him shaking his head at me in disgust. Oliver was very meticulous and he yelled instructions to his focused team mates.
They had to win the cup, they put far too much work into this to lose now.
29th April
It was the night before the match that would seal the fate of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. There was a sense of nervousness in the air. Oliver had his team sitting around him, giving them all a final, long, drawn out pep talk.
I caught a look of desperation from Harry. One that said 'SAVE ME' so that is exactly what I did. I sat myself down on the floor beside Oliver, the fire gently warming my back.
"Kathryn, this meeting is for team members, only." Oliver stared at me.
I raised an eyebrow at him and challenged him to make me move, "There was one point, where you were practically begging to discuss tactics with me, Mr Wood. And now you're telling me to leave?"
I heard the rest of the team were sniggering.
"Well…" then Oliver was immersed in his diagrams and tactics that he was completely unaware of what was going on around him.
I lifted up my hand and silently directed the team to leave. I was met with appreciative eyes and smiles. However, I could see a glint of fear and discontent as George looked at me and then at Oliver. I shook my head at him and pointed at the Rogues parchment where I quickly wrote:
Me: Taking one for the team. Don't worry Georgie, I still only have eyes for YOU. 3
I caught a few cheeky looks across the room as they read what I had written. I saw George smirk a little as he and Fred started to get a bit rowdy, shouting jokes about the place causing sporadic laughter. Angelina, Katie and Alicia were all laughing nervously in the group together, they were bound to be nervous, even I felt butterflies in my tummy for them! The whole of the common room was unable to concentrate in the uneasiness… EVEN HERMIONE TOOK THE NIGHT OFF. That is saying something.
Every so often Oliver looked up at me and smiled to which I answered a careful 'yes', 'sure', 'it's worth trying' or 'are you sure?' goodness knows what I was agreeing to. I did listen into his droning from time to time, but I spent most of the evening people watching. I never really had much time to just relax and do nothing. I saw one of the first years try and accomplish the dancing charm on a friend. The results were hilarious. I watched Ron, Harry and Hermione chatting and playing exploding snap. I saw Bernie place a few kisses on Katie's forehead. They were just such a lovely couple and I wondered if I would ever get to have what they have.
Around ten Oliver said, "So, what do you think?"
"You have to win." I smiled.
Oliver then stood and shouted, "TEAM, BED!" and they went. I didn't see how they were going to get much sleep with the pressure on them but the Common Room emptied and lights were switched off, tomorrow will be the decider.
30th April
The whistle sounded and they were off. I sucked in a shaky breath and hopped nervously from one foot to the other. In the corner of my eye I could see Hermione biting her nails, Neville looked like he could have pulled his hair out and Ron was about to throw up. I dread to think how the team were feeling. I remember Oliver kept pacing up and down the Gryffindor table at breakfast, every time he passed me I handed him a slice of toast. Fred and George were nervously telling jokes about the Slytherin team. Harry and the girls sat silently, forcing down as much food as possible. I gave them my best and that's all I could do.
Alicia had possession and flew determinedly towards the Slytherin goalposts. The crowd roared, 'LIONS FOR THE CUP!' Gryffindor had Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff behind them, completely overshadowing the boos from the green section of the stands.
An almighty 'oooohhh' sounded as Alicia was intercepted by Warrington who flew with all his might in the other direction. The tension was too high. George gave the Bludger an almighty whack, causing Warrington to drop the Quaffle right into the hands of Angelina. She twisted and turned, narrowly missing Montague, Flint and a Bludger sent by Bole, she took her aim and threw the Quaffle- 10 POINTS TO GRYFFINDOR!
Seamus, Dean, Neville, Ron, Hermione and I punched into the air in celebration but quickly focused back onto the match again as Flint rammed into the side of Angelina, almost knocking her off her broom. "BOOOOOOO!" We all shouted, or in many cases screamed. Fred, in anger threw his beater's club at Flint which hit him on the back of the head, causing him to hit his nose off his broom which started to bleed. I don't think many people would have noticed, but Angelina and Fred stared at each other, smiling for a moment too long, it was adorable cause it IS SO DARN OBVIOUS THEY LIKE EACH OTHER. Anyways. Madam Hooch gave a penalty each to Slytherin and Gryffindor for unprovoked attacks. Alicia took the penalty for Gryffindor, scoring past Bletchley, making it look easy. Then Flint took the Quaffle, nose still bleeding freely, his robes increasingly more scarlet, I held my breath as OLIVER SAVED THE PENALTY! The stadium erupted as the score was now 20-0 to Gryffindor!
The match began again, possession going back and forth between the two teams. I watched Oliver at the other end of the pitch carefully watching the game, his eyes following the Quaffle's every move. Then my eyes drifted to Harry, whose eyes were on Malfoy, making sure he didn't see the Snitch first, at the wrong time. Suddenly the outrage expressed in Lee Jordan's voice drew my attention back to the Chasers- 'THAT WAS DELIBERATE!' he had yelled. Hermione said that Montague had swerved in front of Katie and grabbed her head, compelling her to cartwheel in the air and drop the Quaffle. Madam Hooch's whistle sounded and a minute later, Katie had put the penalty past Bletchley. 30-0 was now the score. Happy days!
Next thing, Harry zoomed towards the Slytherin posts, Malfoy in tow. This caught the attention of Derrick and Bole, who both fired Bludgers at him, trying to knock him off course, to give Malfoy a shot. I knew Harry wouldn't have gone for the snitch so early, so it must have been a decoy. Derrick and Bole both raised their clubs and flew for Harry, probably to beat him to a pulp, the two of them unknowingly were flying directly at each other so when Harry made a dramatic turn upwards, the two beaters crashed into one another. OUCH. Hilarious, but I'm sure it was painful!
As this was ongoing, Flint had stolen the Quaffle off Angelina and was flying at speed towards the Gryffindor posts. "NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!" I was screaming with all my might as Flint took aim and Oliver missed and Slytherin scored their first points of the match… The score was now 30-10…
The match became increasingly more competitive as Slytherin began using any means necessary to obtain the Quaffle. Bole hit Alicia with his club, claiming he thought she was a Bludger so George elbowed Bole in the face. In response, Madam Hooch offered both teams penalties. Oliver managed to pull off another spectacular save, making Montague even more frustrated. Katie took the penalty for Gryffindor so quickly that Bletchley didn't have time to see the Quaffle zoom straight past him and through the hoop, making the score 40-10.
Next thing, Katie scored again, '50-10!' was yelled by Lee Jordan in his excitement. I could clearly see Fred and George both circling Katie, daring the Slytherins to attack her after scoring twice in two minutes. However, Derrick and Bole took full advantage of Fred and George being at the other side of the pitch and they both aimed two Bludgers straight at Oliver. They both caught him in the stomach, one after the other, making him roll in the air, completely winded, gasping for breath. I remember him telling me that he got hit on the head during one of his matches in fourth year and didn't feel right for weeks. I bet he felt out of sorts now…
Madam Hooch was FURIOUS. She had never seen such fowl play in all her teaching days at Hogwarts. The crowd was going wild, shouting abuse at the Slytherin team. "PENALTY!" Was the recurring chant. "YOU DO NOT ATTACK THE KEEPER UNLESS THE QUAFFLE IS WITHIN THE SCORING ZONE!" You could hear Madam Hooch's voice boom around the pitch as she awarded Gryffindor yet another penalty. Angelina scored, making it 60-10. The Stadium erupting once more, I was unable to hear the feeble sounds of Slytherin. It was now that Harry had to catch the snitch. I could see him spring into action high above us, Malfoy tailing his every move. Meanwhile, Fred pelted a Bludger at Warrington, knocking the Quaffle out of his hands. Alicia benefited from this as she was right below him and she caught it, putting the Quaffle through the Slytherin goalposts. 70-10.
Harry must have seen the Snitch. The sudden speed of the Firebolt told the crowd that Gryffindor were close to winning. Malfoy was right behind, but the speed of his Nimbus 2001 wasn't a match for the power of the Firebolt. I couldn't believe my eyes. Harry stretched out his hand, the Snitch was a fingertip away, but Malfoy interfered by HOLDING ON TO HARRY'S BROOM, pulling him back. I could see Harry's hand form a fist. If a punch from Hermione wasn't enough, Draco really was asking for it. The Snitch disappeared.
"PENALTY! PENALTY TO GRYFFINDOR!" Madam Hooch blew her whistle once again, "I've never seen such tactics!" Lee Jordan was shouting foul language at Draco and the rest of the Slytherin team, but this time McGonagall didn't stop him, she had joined in, her hand in a fist directed at the Slytherin Seeker. This game is outrageous. Alicia was so angry that when she threw the Quaffle she missed by several feet. Gryffindor were losing concentration and Slytherin were being spurred on by Draco. Slytherin were in possession, and Montague took the Quaffle and scored past Oliver whose face was red and irate. (70-20) If there was such a thing as yellow cards in Quidditch, Gryffindor would have won by now.
Harry now marked Draco as though there was a sticking charm keeping them together. Harry was not going to let Draco get to the Snitch first. Angelina was in possession of the Quaffle and was sailing towards the Slytherin posts, the entire Slytherin team (including the Keeper) streaked up the pitch towards her. The beaters had their clubs raised, the Chasers had their fists raised and Angelina was right in the middle. Harry, like a bullet, shot directly at the Slytherins relentlessly attacking them to put them off course.
"AHHHHH!" we heard the shouts of the Slytherin team as the Firebolt zoomed towards them. This cleared Angelina's way, the goalposts completely undefended. SHE SCORED. Gryffindor were now leading 80-20.
I saw Harry abruptly change the course of flight as he spotted Draco at the other side of the pitch, diving towards the Snitch. I don't know what it was like for him but that was the moment the earth stood still. I could no longer hear the chants of the supporters or the sounds of the whistle to announce the new score. I couldn't see any players other than Harry and Draco. Draco was only metres away. Harry was going 100 miles an hour to catch up. I thought I was going to throw up. Harry narrowly missed a Bludger from Bole. His eyes determinedly fixed on the Golden speckles floating seconds away from Malfoy's grip as his hand lifted from his broom. Harry was gaining on him. He lifted both hands from the broom and reached out as far as he could. Knocking Draco's arm out of the way, Harry lurched forward, throwing himself. Harry's hand shot up in the air, Snitch in hand!
"YES!"