guess what you guys - today (Jan 3) is Elle & Hermione's birthday! "Congrats guys, too bad it's not cannon - but I made you January babies anyway!" - OH, and congrats to you readers for getting 100+ votes...

dedicated to ms8900 for the cover on the side :D Thank you!

Ch. 29: Quidditch Quarrels

Song For This Chapter: Get Lucky - Daft Punk (For Ron)

[THERE IS A VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE AT THE AUTHOR'S NOTE AT THE END, PLEASE READ]

     Come for the moral support, they said.
          It will be fun, they said.

     "W-what are w-we doing here at ei-ight in the mor-orning on a S-S-S, shit, Saturday?" I stuttered out, squeezing myself tightly as I was rocked in shivers. The cold UK air was still able to amaze me, no matter the time I'd had to get used to it. It was ungodly for the weather to be this bitter, and that's a fact.

     Hermione spared me an amused smile that she tried to force down, but sighed, "Elle, we are here because they asked. Besides, it's a perfect time for brushing up on a bit of light reading, or," her eyes strayed towards me with a scolding hue, "In your case, finishing up some assignments."

     "But," I whined, "It's cold, 'Mione."

     She rolled her eyes at me, something that had become a common way of communication between the two of us. "Elizabeth Rose Granger, you know that if this was last year, you'd be here."

     "No I wouldn't," My voice trailed off, a huff the only response I had as I allowed my eyes to trail over towards the Quidditch pitch where the Gryffindor try-outs were being held. Crumpling up my brow, I turned back towards my twin as she tucked some fluffed hair behind her ear and cracked open a weathered book, "Wait - what was that supposed to mean?"

     "Oh, please - if Fred had asked you, you would have shown up five minutes early just to get a good seat."

     I gasped, cupping a hand over my heart as if she'd mortally wounded me on some level. "How dare you, Hermione Jean Granger! I would do no such thing - so up five minutes early?! That's ridiculous. Besides, why would I need a 'good seat'? There's hardly," I glanced around the wooden stands and frowned, "Ten people here. You, me, Jenna, and Lana make up just about half of them...," I paused, eyes zeroing in on Lavender Brown.

     "What the hell -"

     Jenna called up at me from the ground level, she'd been off on a mission, as I'd asked of her - not that she minded at all. "HEY! I'M GOING OFF TO SPY NOW! I'LL SEE YOU LOT AT LUNCH!"

     "REALLY INCONSPICUOUS OF YOU, JENNIFER - REALLY!" I screeched back so loud that Hermione flinched away and cupped her hands over her ears, losing her spot in her book. "Sorry," I mumbled towards her.

     "THAT'S NOT MY NAME!" She shouted, frustration clear on her face she she scowled, not even caring that we had the attention of the handful of people that had come to cheer on whomever would be participating on the Gryffindor team this year.

     Once the blonde had bounded down the stairs, free curls bouncing behind her as she did, Hermione turned towards me with a suspicious brow, snapping her book shut to focus on me, her loving, beautiful, supreme sister. "We've been in school for only a month now and you are already scheming? Can't I have a peaceful year once?"

     "Oh," I lightly pushed her shoulder, "Come on, you know you love the mischief. Where would you be if I wasn't there to make your life more interesting?" I asked, eyes locked on Jenna's pea-coat clad figure as she snuck her way towards the Slytherin practice tent. They had the field after the Gryffindors.

     Hermione lowered her eyes, "Well, I'd probably be sitting here alone right now, reading - and being aware of my last page that I was on," I opened my lips to tell her I was right, but she kept talking, "And, also I'd more than likely still be having to deal with trouble because the boys were a hand full even before you came into the picture. Especially Fred and George."

          "Well, congratulations Hermione, you've managed to make me feel unimportant."

     "So, tell me at least this," She brushed off my retort without a word, "What, or more importantly, whom are you having Jenna spy on?"    

     I glanced towards Lana who was busy munching on some licorice wands, cheering on Seamus from the sidelines. A small frown dipped my lips as I considered the both of them. I honestly never could be sure who Lana liked. There was a small chance that she had a thing for the Irish lad, but she did have a reputation for friend-zoning guys and buddying up.

     Shaking it off, I turned back to Hermione and offered her words a shrug. "Well, I just want her to keep an eye on Malfoy. I think something's wrong with him, 'Mione...," I trailed off, feeling my chest sink a little at the thought.

     "Sounds like you almost care," She eyed me, book long forgotten on the bench beside her. Sighing, she rubbed a gloved hand against her red nose, shooting me a weary glance, "Elle, I strongly advise you to stay away from Malfoy."

     "Why? I'm not heartless. Do you think he's been acting out because of what was in the papers?" My voice was low, and my face completely turned towards her instead of the try-outs where the Chasers were testing their skills. I thought back to the Daily Prophet that had been released in the summer. Lucius Malfoy had been arrested on charges of being a Death Eater as was sentenced to life in Azkaban.

     Gnawing her bottom lip, Hermione's eyes flickered towards the other people around us before leaning into me and whispering, "Harry says that he saw a Dark Mark on Malfoy's arm," She frowned, "He thinks that Draco is working for You-Know-Who."

          "And, you seriously believe that?"

     "I honestly don't know what to believe." She rubbed her hands together, turning back to watch the try-outs as the Chasers finished their rounds. "Ron doesn't believe that someone as powerful as him would use someone like Malfoy."

     'I didn't ask about what Ron thought,' I retorted in my mind, but thought better of it. And, instead, I let myself watch as the Keepers began to go through the course of speculation. The wind was beginning to kick up, making the Quaffles harder to throw, but they kept at it. And, in turn, Hermione and I kept watching despite the weather.

          The freezing weather.

     Cormac McLaggen and Ron Weasley were the only two to actually go for the position. McLaggen took to the goal posts on the right while Ron took the opposing ones. Hermione shifted nervously in her seat and watched the two of them with a furrow on her brow.

     Glancing towards the seventh year boy, I realized that he was eyeing Hermione while tightening his arm brace. "Er - 'Mione, I think McLaggen is checking you out," I trailed off, watching as her face scrunched up in distaste. "Are," I squinted to get a better look at her face, noticing something different about her, "Are you wearing make-up? And, your hair looks more tame today!"

     "N-No it doesn't!" Her hand shot up quickly to pat her mane down with a light blush creeping up her neck, and I was sure it wasn't just because of the bitter air. "Shut up, Elle. I don't like Cormac. He makes Grawp look like a gentleman," She hissed out, refusing to meet my eyes.

     I rolled my eyes at her, "I never said that you liked McLaggen," I hinted, but let the topic drop as the Quaffles began to soar from Beaters as they pummeled both Ron and Cormac at the same time, trying to wear the two of them out.

     Ginny rushed out from the other players, pushing her broom faster and harder than them, and repeatedly nailed McLaggen with balls, but all three he'd managed to catch almost effortlessly. Next up was Ron, and even though Ginny was high up in the air, I could envision her face being scrunched up in the same manner it had been when we'd played at the Burrow.

     One, two, three balls soared towards Ron's goals, and he managed to block those with an uneasy nature, but nothing too dramatic happened until Lavender screeched towards him, "Come on, Ron! You've got this!"

     Hermione's head whipped around so fast, I thought her neck would snap. But, she caught my eyes and gave me a small, off-handed laugh before turning back to watch the Quaffles rush past. Two more balls soared at Ron and, as he reached to block one lower than him, he fumbled his balance and slipped off his broomstick, dangling for dear life as he gripped the wooden handles.

     I sat up straighter in shock, and, Hermione clutched my hand tightly while a chuckle sounded from Lana sitting below us, candy wand balanced between her lips. "Oh no," She called out, eyes glued tight to the Weasley.

     Lavender was out of her seat, full body flinching as she watched him, Luna beside her watching with mouth wide as Ron continued struggled to remount his broom. As I stared at Lavender with a mixed emotion. Half of me felt as if I could be friends with the bubbly, dramatic creature; she wasn't too different from Jenna. However, the other side of me merely despised her for her strong affections towards a certain Weasley that I'd claimed for my sister.

          Yes, I can call dibs for people.

     With a triumphant swing, Ron managed to sit atop his broomstick once more, much to the relief of Hermione who finally managed to release her army strength grip on my hand. Ginny tossed a Quaffle to Katie Bell and the two of them raced towards both ends of the pitch at once, this would be the tie breaker.

     As Katie rushed Cormac, Hermione cupped a hand over her mouth and coughed out a few, muffled words. Arching a brow, I watched in confusion as McLaggen went for the Quaffle, but was shoved back by an invisible force.

     "Hermione Jean Gra-"

     "-Oh, don't start," She sighed, rubbing her hands together to fight off the cold, "It was just a minor charm..."

     I couldn't actually believe that my sister, my sister, had just cheated in a Quidditch try-out. "You cheater!" Hermione only stifled a mischievous smile and motioned towards the pitch, subliminally telling me to focus on the players.

     As Ginny catapulted the ball at Ron, he ducked down and managed to block the Quaffle with his leather clad head. "He did it!" Lavender breathed out in excitement, clapping her hands. "He's so brilliant!"

          My nose crumpled as if I smelt something foul. Ron? Brilliant? Oh, Godric no.

     Harry, Ron, Hermione, Lana, Jenna, and I all claimed the cushioned seats in front of the fireplace after the try-outs ended. I couldn't believe how long the ordeal had taken, but I, and my frost bitten fingers, were overjoyed to be in front of the warmth of the Common Room flame.

     "You did an good job, Ron," Hermione grinned, Jenna slapping him lightly on his sore shoulder, causing him to flinch as pain shot up and down his arms. I imagine that his upper muscles ached because of all the strength he'd put out to lift himself back up onto his broom fifty feet in the air.

     I shot Jenna a questioning look, wanting her to spill on what she'd seen, but she simply waved my glare off, mouthing 'later'.

     "Thanks, 'Mione," He smiled lightly, "I thought I was really going to miss that last one, I hope Cormac isn't taking it too hard that you gave me the Keeper position over him, Harry." He scratched the back of his neck as Harry only shrugged, not giving a care about what the seventh year wanted.

     Ron sighed, then glanced towards Hermione as she crossed her legs, eyes skimming a page of her book that she'd willfully tossed aside earlier to watch Ron with full attention. "You know, he's got a bit of a thing for you, Hermione."

     I snorted at that, earning a snide eye from Hermione as she adjusted her book and cleared her throat, "He's vile."

     "He's hot," Jenna replied, picking at her nails. She glanced up to see that ten eyes were on her and she huffed out a gruff sound, one of disbelief. "Oh, come on, Lana - you saw the way his jersey stuck to him. That man's got a body."

     Lana snickered, slapping a hand over her eyes as if trying to not see the mental image that Jenna had stamped into all of our minds. In the corner of my eye, I saw Ron shift uncomfortably in his seat. "Now that she mentions it, I do have to admit that he's fine."

     "Sure," Hermione nodded, nervously pushing hair behind her ear and setting her book aside, "But, it's about character for me. And, Cormac is just...," She frowned, shaking her head.

     Sighing, I let a smile slip onto my lips, "You're right Jenna," A smirk grew on my lips, "McLaggen could get it -" A burst of giggles erupted from Jenna's lips as she thought about my words, "But, I'm - unfortunately for Cormac - taken."

     "Yeah, but for how long?" Ron muttered under his breath.

     Glaring at him, I punched his arm from the spot on the floor I was sitting on, causing him to yelp in pain. "You're such a loser."

          "You're too much like Ginny," He whined.

     "And you are too obnoxious," I replied, sticking my nose in the air, "I-I," I lowered my voice a bit, "Love Fred, and I don't want to screw this up. We're always messing things up for each other and I just... I just really want this to work out."

     "Awe," Jenna moaned, clutching her heart, "Too sweet."

     "Yeah," Harry responded, but the way his face was turned towards the opposite end of the room, I could tell he was mentally somewhere else. Raising a brow, I followed his gaze and found, with shock, that he was lightly staring at Ginny. Ginny who was staring up into the eyes of Dean Thomas.

     And, as I glanced towards the other side of the room, I watched Ron watching Lavender as she smiled and waved softly at him. 'Oh, Godric no,' I begged no one in particular, 'Please, anything but romantic drama - I've had enough for a life time'.

     Lana yanked Jenna up from her seat and pulled her away, mumbling something about Quidditch and bread - a combination that didn't make the least bit of sense to me, but I let them wander off without me, turning towards Harry who was studying a book in front of him.

     "Elle, you're good with Potions and Charms, do you know this?" He asked, showing the book to me.

     As my eyes scanned the pages, I realized it was the very worn copy of Advanced Potions that he'd borrowed from Professor Slughorn. "Sectumsempra?" I read out loud, lightly taking the book from Harry's clammy palms. For a brief moment, he refused to hand it over. "Really, Potter?"

     "Er, right," He sighed, and slowly slipped it into my hands, "B-Be mindful of the binding, it's falling apart just there -" He pointed towards the frayed edges while I shot him the dirtiest look I could muster. He was acting oddly possessive over this book.

     Cocking my head to the side, I turned my attention back to the aged pages and read the messy scrawl that practically took up the whole ingredients list, realization taking root in my mind. "This is your cheat book! Why is everyone a cheater this year?!" I snapped, glaring at him, yet thinking about Hermione's stunt earlier.

          I felt a kick to my back as Hermione pretended as if she hadn't been the one to do it.

     "I'm not cheating," Harry protested, pushing his glasses further up the rim of his nose, "It's just some helpful hints, that's all. I'm the one doing the work," He trailed off before turning towards my twin, "Hermione?"

     Hermione snapped her book shut. "No, I haven't! And, if you had a shred of self respect, you'd hand that book in!" I bit my lip, and it dawned on me as she turned back to her book that she probably had been craving to say that for the longest time.

     Ron scoffed at her and shook his head, "Not bloody likely! He's top of the class. He's even better than you, Elle." My eye twitched a bit, but I let it out with a frustrated huff of air.

          "Slughorn thinks he's a genius," Ron nodded. At that, both Hermione and I snapped our heads towards Ron with a glare, frankly I was tired of his shit. "What?"

     "I'd like to know who's that book was," I bit out, and Hermione nodded, sliding over to Harry who was absent-mindedly flipping through the pages. Hermione held out her hand and got onto her feet, "Let's have a look, shall we?" She asked politely, but Harry jerked up onto his feet, snapping the book shut.

          "No."

     "No?" I retorted, confused about why he was acting so odd. "And, why not?"    

          "T-The binding is fragile," He stepped away, walking around the couch as both Hermione and I got to our feet. I may be short, but I wasn't afraid to tackle him if needed be. Besides, I'd held that book - the binding wasn't that weak.

     Hermione snorted, crossing her arms over her chest, backing Harry towards a corner, "The binding is fragile?"

     "Yea, that's what I said -" He started, but cut himself off as Ginny lightly plucked the rugged book from behind his back where he had been trying to hide it, prancing away and rushing behind me - as if I would save her from an angry Harry. "H-Hey! Ginny, give it back."

     "Who's the Half-Blood Prince?" Ginny grinned, and I faithfully blocked her as Harry tried to advance.

          "Who?" A brow quirked up my forehead.

     "The Half-Blood Prince, that's what it says right here," She chuckled, but her eyes began to soften the more frustrated Harry became. Slowly, Ginny was retracting back into herself with every labored attempt Harry made to repossess his property, and, I hadn't the faintest idea why the light was dying from her.

     Swallowing, Ginny lowered her eyes and tossed Harry the book, "Here - take it then, if it's that important to you." With that statement, she turned on her heel and trudged up the dormitory stairs without another word.

     Harry clasped the book tightly under his arm and spared her one last glance before sitting down at a research desk and pouring over the notes once more, leaving Hermione and I to ourselves as Ron decided to get some rest as well.

          Frowning, I turned to Hermione. "What's going on between those two?"

     Hermione lowered her eyes, worry filling her gaze as the two of us claimed the couch once more. I tucked my knees up under myself and watched her as she played with her fingers, twisting a ring on her middle finger. I had an almost identical one, Jane and Dan had given them to us for our sixteenth birthday, while her's had a sapphire gem in the middle, mine was a ruby.

     Jane told us that the outside band was the same, but the core was different, 'like us'. It was rather sweet, really. I hadn't taken mine off since and neither had Hermione.

     "I don't really think it's my place to say," Hermione frowned, "It's Ginny's story to tell."

     My gaze wandered up the stairs, and I wondered what could have happened that would have been able to cause that burning flame in Ginny's eyes to diminish so easily. It must have been something that still torments her to this day.

          Something horrible.

     A hand on my shoulder yanked me out of my thoughts, and I jumped, "Calm down, Ellie," Jenna's voice sounded next to my ear, a chuckle in her voice, "Come up to the dormitory, I need to talk to you and Lana - you'll never believe what I've found on my mission!"

          I wasn't sure I'd like the way her voice sounded so chipper.

~~~~

xxJess