January continued on, and soon it rolled onto February. Grace still hasn't talked to Hermione, and while she knew Ron and Harry haven't talked with her much either, she still felt weird being around them. She was afraid one of them would ask about that letter, namely Harry, and it wasn't something she wanted to talk about. Instead, she's been spending all her time with Neville, well except for Saturday afternoons when she would spend them with Remus, and a couple evenings a week when she would sit out at her tree and read with Snuffles.
"Hold on, I've got them in here somewhere," Neville muttered as he searched his bag and his robes for the list of passwords.
"Fopdoodle," Grace sighed, wanting to get into the common room so she could curl up on the couch.
"Sorry fair maiden, that is not the password!" Sir Cadogan announced and she frowned.
"What?! It was the password last night!"
"I've wrote them down!" Neville said tearfully. "But I must've dropped them somewhere!" Grace sighed and patted Neville's shoulder.
"A likely tale!" Sir Cadogan roared. "Good even, my fine young yeomen! Come clap this loom in irons! He is trying to force entry to the chambers within with this fair young maiden!" Grace's face flushed red when she spotted Ron and Harry.
"Oh, shut up," Ron said as the two of them walked closer.
"I've lost the passwords!" Neville cried nervously. "I made him tell me whawt passwords he was going to use this week, because he keeps changing them, and now I don't know what I've done with them!"
"Oddsbodikins," Harry said, and Grace frowned. It must've been the password he changed it to that morning. Sir Cadogan sighed and swung the portrait open to let them in. That was when she noticed the Firebolt.
"You've got it back!" She exclaimed excitedly as she looked at it closely.
"Yeah, Professor McGonagall handed it back to me in the hallway," he answered and Grace smiled brightly at him. Then before she could say anything, everyone in the common room had started surrounding Harry and his new broom. Once the excitement died down and everyone went back to what they were doing, Harry and Ron caught sight of Hermione sitting at a table by herself. Grace glowered in her direction and stepped away.
"I suppose you two are going to go talk to her?" she said shortly.
"Er – well, yeah," Harry nodded and Grace huffed.
"Makes sense, since now there is no reason for you two to stay mad at her."
"C'mon, Gracie," Ron sighed. "I know she was being nosey, but it's been over a month. I'm sure she's learned her lesson by now."
"I highly doubt it," Grace scoffed.
"She's really sorry she said those things, Grace," Harry spoke up awkwardly. "you two both said things you didn't mean because you were both angry-"
"Oh I meant what I said," Grace cut him off. "She did too; she's just sorry for how it came out; she isn't sorry she said them."
"Gracie,please?" Ron pleaded, giving her a puppy dog look that made Grace squirm. She hated it when Ron used that look.
"Fine," she huffed. "But I'm not happy about it."
"You don't need to be," Harry grinned and she glared at him as the three of them made their way to Hermione. "I got it back," Harry said, grinning at her as he held up his Firebolt.
"See, Hermione? There wasn't anything wrong with it!" Ron said.
"Well – theremighthave been!" Hermione huffed. "I mean, at least you know now that it's safe!"
"Yeah, I suppose so," Harry said. "I'd better put it upstairs-"
"I'll take it!" Ron said eagerly. "I've got to give Scabbers his rat tonic."
"I'll help," Grace said as Ron took the Firebolt gingerly and they made their way up the boys staircase. "I'm so happy Harry got his Firebolt back, Gryffindor is going to sweep the floor with Ravenclaw on Saturday," Grace grinned.
"I know! I can't wait until we get to have a go on it."
"Oh I know... I think I might just ask Harry if I could borrow it when he isn't at practice just to fly around," she laughed, but her smile fell when she noticed Ron's face pale as he stared in wide eyed horror. She turned and followed his gaze and gasped. Ron's bed was destroyed. Grace placed the Firebolt next to Harry's bed before stepping closer to Ron's. Rons top sheet was destroyed, ripped and there appeared to be blood stains.
"Scabbers," he whispered, his voice trembling.
"Maybe he's here hiding?" Grace wondered as she looked under Ron's bed, and then under all the other beds but nothing. She couldn't find Scabbers. "I-I can't find him, Ron..." she whispered sadly. She didn'thateScabbers, she never really liked him much either. She wasn't a fan of rats, but she knew that Ron cared about Scabbers. She frowned when she noticed a tuff of long, ginger hair that looked too familiar to be a coincidence. "Ron..." She called softly as she handed him the hair.
Ron let out a shout of anguish as he tore his sheet from his bed and ran out of the room, which Grace followed him.
"LOOK!" Ron bellowed as he rushed to where Hermione sat. "LOOK!" He yelled, shaking the bedsheet in the air in front of her face.
"Ron, what-"
"SCABBERS! LOOK! SCABBERS!" He cried, his hand shaking. "BLOOD!" Ron shouted, his loud voice echoing in the silent common room. "HE'S GONE! AND YOU KNOW WHAT WE FOUND ON THE FLOOR?"
"N-no," Hermione whispered in a trembling voice, and Grace knew that Hermione knew what was on the floor but she didn't want to hear it. Ron glared and threw the tuff of ginger cat hair on top of Hermione's text book before storming away.
Ron was devastated, and took Scabbers' lost very hard. He was almost inconsolable. In an effort to try and cheer Ron up, Harry invited him and Grace to come down and watch the final practice before the match with Ravenclaw. This had excited Ron as he asked if he could try and shoot some goals with it, and Harry said sure, but after they finished practice.
It wasn't just Madam Hooch and the Gryffindor team that seemed to be impressed with the Firebolt, as the next day Ravenclaw's and Hufflepuffs were coming over to ask Harry to look at it. Percy's girlfriend, Penelope Clearwater, had even asked to touch it.
"No, now, Penny, no sabotage!" Percy teased lightly as his girlfriend examined the broom. "Penelope and I have got a bet going on, you see. Ten Galleons on the outcome of the match!" Once Penelope left, after thanking Harry, Percy leaned in closer. "Harry – make sure you win! I haven't got ten galleons" He whispered. "Yes, I'm coming Penny!" He called and quickly left to join her.
"Here," Harry spoke up, handing Grace his practice jersey. Her turned red, almost the same shade as the Gryffindor jersey Harry was handing to her. "I want you to wear it again."
"Oh," she replied dumbly.
"And you're going to have my number face painted again, right?" He asked hopefully and her cheeks darkened.
"Do you want me to?" she asked awkwardly, holding the shirt close to her chest. Harry nodded with a grin. "Alright... I'll have Dean paint it on."
And so she did. She made sure to use the charm Aunt Molly always used on her hair, and slipped on a white long sleeved shirt before putting Harry's jersey over it. When she went downstairs, Dean was finishing up Neville and she grinned. "Just the number's zero and seven on my cheeks, Dean!" She requested and he nodded before painting a gold zero and a red seven on her cheeks.
"You're awfully cheerful," Hermione spoke up from her seat and Grace glanced over at her.
"Well, we're going to win."
"I meant about wearing Harry's number," she said, and Grace's cheeks flushed. "Have you finally admitted it to yourself?"
"Yeah... I have," Grace nodded, and Hermione smiled at her, which Grace returned. Even though she was still upset with what Hermione had said on Christmas, she desperately wanted someone to talk to about her feelings for Harry. "Are you coming to the match?" she asked. "I can save you a seat next to me?" she asked, and Hermione smiled at her. She knew Grace's offer was a peace offering.
"I'd like to, but I've got a lot of homework to catch up on."
"Oh... alright," Grace nodded. "Well, I'll see you later?" she asked, and Hermione nodded.
"Oi, Gracie! Let's go!" Ron shouted from the portrait hole, and she rolled her eyes.
"I'm coming! Hold your horses!"
"I don't have any horses to hold!" he retorted.
"It's a saying, Ron!" she rolled her eyes at him as they made their way to the Quidditch Pitch.
"You're wearing Harry's shirt and number again," Ron observed and Grace nodded slowly, her cheeks turning pink.
"He wanted me too..." she answered.
"Do you... do you, er, fancy him?" he asked her awkwardly and her cheeks darkened.
"Lets go get a good seat," she said, changing the subject as she grabbed his arm and started dragging him up the Gryffindor steps.
This Quidditch match was one of the best she had seen since she started at Hogwarts; and she was envious of Harry and his Firebolt. She knew Gryffindor was going to win, but waiting for it to happen was unnerving. She frowned as she watched the Ravenclaw seeker block Harry as he made his way to the goal post.
"That cow," Grace hissed, glaring at the Ravenclaw seeker.
"What?" Ron frowned.
"She's not looking for the Snitch! She's waiting for Harry to do it so she can block him and get it herself!"
"Oh, that's stupid!"
"I know!" Grace huffed, and turned back to watch the match. It seemed that Harry had realized what Cho was doing, and he started flying off. He passed where she and Ron stood and she cheered. "GO HARRY!" She shouted and Ron winced.
"Oi, you're going to shout my ear off!"
"Get a pair of earmuffs next time if I'm so loud!" she retorted and watched Harry catch sight of the snitch again. Grace gasped as she saw three Dementors flying toward Harry. She gasped, and covered her mouth in shock, but then something silver and white came from Harry's wand, and the Dementors scattered away. She held her breath as Harry reached out for the Snitch and as his hands wrapped around it, she screamed. Pushing herself from the railing, and pushing through all of her classmates she made her way to the field where the Gryffindor Team was engulfing Harry.
"Yes!" Ron shouted excitedly as he yanked Harry's arm up in the air in victory. "Yes! Yes!"
"I'm so proud of you! You were so amazing!" Grace exclaimed as she wrapped her arms around Harry's neck and kissed his cheek. Harry's cheeks flushed pink as he smiled at her, ignoring the praises of everyone else.
"That was quite the Patronus," said a voice, and both Harry and Grace turned around and smiled at Professor Lupin.
"The Dementors didn't affect me at all!" Harry said excitedly. "I didn't feel a thing!"
"That would be because they – er – weren't dementors," Professor Lupin said awkwardly. "Come and see," he nodded, gesturing for Harry to come with him. Harry took Grace's hand and followed their teacher away from the crowd. "You gave Mr. Malfoy quite a fright," Remus said, and Grace snorted, trying to keep in her laughter. There lying in a crumbled mess on the ground were Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle and the Slytherin Quidditch team Captain Marcus Flint. They were all struggling to remove themselves from long, black, hooded robes. Standing over them was Professor McGonagall, whose face was red in fury.
"An unworthy trick!" She shouted. "A low and cowardly attempt to sabotage the Gryffindor seeker! Detention for all of you, and fifty points from Slytherin! I shall be speaking to Professor Dumbledore about this, make no mistake! Ah here he comes now!"
"Come on, Harry! Grace!" George shouted, making his way over to them. "Party in the Gryffindor Common room! Let's go!"
The Gryffindor Common room acted as if they already won the Quidditch Cup. Music was blaring, Fred and George had came back with heaps of bottles of butterbeer, pumpkin Fizz, and so many bags of Honeydukes sweets, and they started tossing them out to the crowd. Grace had finished dancing, horribly, with Seamus when she saw Hermione bolt upstairs crying. She frowned and turned to see Harry and Ron muttering to each other. She knew exactly what was going on, and knew that Ron wasn't giving up too easily.
"Lighten up you two!" She shouted over the music, looping her arm with Harry. "It's a party! We're celebrating VICTORY!" she laughed.
"How much butterbeer did you have?" Ron asked, amused and she rolled her eyes.
"We're supposed to be havingfun!" she told him and tugged on Harry's arm. "Come dance with me!"
"But – I – er – Grace!" Harry exclaimed, laughing. "I don't dance!"
"Neither do I! But it's fun see!" She laughed as she started swaying at the hips, and moved their arms back and forth.
"I don't think this is dancing!" Harry laughed but she rolled her eyes playfully. Harry moved to spin her around, making her laugh loudly, and smile so brightly that he felt a tug in his stomach, and the odd fluttering feeling. There was a flash and they turned to see Ron grinning at them as he held up Grace's camera. Her face flushed red as she looked wide eyed at Ron.
"Lavender brought it down, figured you might want some pictures?" he answered her unasked question with a grin. She shifted her gaze to where Lavender and Parvati were standing, they saw her and started giggling. Before she could say anything, she felt a tug on her hand and she turned to see Harry grinning at her, and when he spun her again, she didn't care about the flash, and she forgot why she was annoyed with Lavender and Parvati. All that mattered was that Harry was dancing with her, and smiling at her.