Chapter 16

"Working hard is important, but there is something that matters even more: believing in yourself." - Harry Potter

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I groaned loudly. "Is there a problem, Miss Potter?" Professor McGonagall gazed at me disapprovingly.

"N-no." I stuttered and lowered my head.

"Please pay attention." I nodded as she walked away. I sighed silently. I had been unable to concentrate since flying lessons because I hadn't seen Harry. Professor McGonagall glanced at me knowingly. I looked down to my notes and realized that I forgot where we were at. I turned to ask Hermione only to realize that she stared away from me with her nose in the air, still grumpy about this morning.

I felt a tug on my sleeve. I turned to see Luna smiling at me. "Here, copy these." Thanking her, I began to write frantically. Finishing, I returned the notes to Luna.

"For homework, please read chapter 3.4 and practice turning the matches to needles."

The was a chorus of "Yes, Professor". I exited the classroom with Luna and we parted ways. Just then, I saw Harry.

"Harry!" I ran to him instantly. His expression was unreadable. Ron appeared by his left.

"Hey, mate, how'd everything go?"

"It was strange, they said something about me being a seeker?"

Ron gaped. "But first years never make the house teams! You must be the youngest player-"

"In a century. According to McGonagall." Fred and George suddenly appeared from behind us.

"Hey Harry, Wood's just told us."

"Fred and George are on the team too, beaters."

"Our job is to make sure you don't get blooded up too badly. Can't make any promises of course, rough game, Quidditch."

"But no one's died in a while. Someone will vanish occasionally-"

"-but they'll turn up in a month or two!" They walked off cackling.

I glared after them. "Will someone please tell me what's going on!"

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After classes ended on a Friday, I was about to return to Gryffindor tower. "Miss Potter, please stay." I winced. Father couldn't possible have found out about me not paying attention in class, could he? Or was it the time I was late because I overslept? Or was it-

I was brought out my thoughts when he slapped me on the forehead. "What are you thinking about, girl?!" He snarled. "I've been trying to get your attention for the pass ten minutes!"

"Class is over?" I asked.

He glared at me. "Is this how you behave in your other classes too?"

"N-no! Of course not." I spoke frantically.

He gave me one last glare before heading towards his office and motioning me to follow. I trailed a distance behind. When we arrived he sat down and signaled for me to do the same. He clasped his hands and stood up, looming over me. "Is there something you want to tell me?" I scrunched my eyebrows in confusion. "Or maybe I should refresh your memory." He continued. "It's interesting, today I saw three first years on broomsticks with no supervision on the Quidditch Field today. Strangely enough, there were two boys and a girl that looked strangely like you." He pretended to scratch his chin. "Hm, what a coincidence, right?" He added sarcastically. I gulped noticeably. I slowly stood up and took a step closer to father before kneeling down. I knew I was in deep trouble. If Madam Hooch or Professor McGonagall heard about this, I would be gone by now.

"I'm sorry." I whispered. "It was purely instinctual, I didn't think."

He slapped me. "And that's exactly the type of behavior likely to get you expelled or killed! You've been doing nothing but causing trouble since you came here, should I bring you home and homeschool you? Is that what you want?!"

"No! I'm sorry! Please don't, you can't! I swear I forgot about it because I was worried about Harry or I would've told you sooner!"

He glared. "Don't think I didn't know about you not paying attention in class and the other incidents. Did you forget I know legilimency?" I let out a horrified gasp. "Pull down your knee socks and stand up straight!" I complied quietly, shaking and stood there for what seemed like an eternity. Whoosh! I felt the familiar sting of the stick on the backof my legs. I trembled. "That's for not following instructions!" He swung again. I winced. He was definitely getting angrier. "That's for keeping secrets!" This went on for awhile until I suddenly collapsed. I heard the stick hitting the floor and frantic footsteps. Father lifted me up from under my shoulders.

"Are you okay?!" I nodded weakly and smiled to show I was fine. I just suddenly felt lightheaded. He released me and I fell to the ground again because I wasn't expecting it. He narrowed his eyes at me. "What's that on your stomach?"

I quickly pulled my shirt, which had ridden up when I fell, back down. "N-nothing. I just bumped into a table."

"Am I going to have to use Veritaserum?"

"No! I mean-"

He pointed his wand at me. "Legilimens!" I couldn't block the memory of my encounter with Draco Malfoy. The room reappeared. "Interesting, why didn't I see it before?" He muttered. Then he turned back to me. "Sit in the chair." I dragged myself back on the chair and stared at him. He came back with a jar. "This will take care of the bruise. And I'll deal with them." I nodded. He motion for me to leave. "No more rule-breaking, understand?"

I nodded and stood up to leave. "Goodnight." I got on my tippy toes and kissed him on the cheek. I giggled when I saw his expression.

When I walked out I swore I heard him sigh and say: "Goodnight."

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I made my way up the staircase to see Harry. The three of them were on the moving staircases. I ran up to them. "Where're you going?"

"The staircase is changing." Said Hermione.

"I reckon we can get to Gryffindor tower from here." Ron says.

"Let's go."

"Before the staircase changes again." Ron muttered. We walked in a corridor. "Why do I feel like we aren't supposed to be here?"

"We're NOT supposed to be here. This is the third floor, it's forbidden!"

"Let's get out of here!"

Mrroaw! We turned to see a cat. "That's Filch's cat!"

We ran to the other side of the corridor to find a locked door. Hermione shoved Ron aside. "Alohomora!" The door clicked open.

"Alohomora?"

"Standard Book of Spells, Chapter Eight." She informed Ron. As we heard Filch's footsteps disappear, we finally let out a breath.

"And were thought this door was locked!"

"It was locked." Hermione corrected.

"And for good reason." Harry interrupted. I followed his gaze to see a gigantic dog with three heads!

"Run!" We raced out of the room and forced the door closed. We raced all the way back to the common room.

"What do they think they're doing?! Keeping a thing like that, locked up in a school!"

"You don't use your eyes do you? Didn't you see what it was standing on?" Hermione interjected.

"I wasn't looking at its feet! I was a bit preoccupied with its heads! Or maybe you didn't notice, there were three!" Ron spat back.

"It was standing on a trapdoor which means it wasn't there by accident! It's guarding something." Hermione pointed out.

"Guarding something?" Harry frowned.

"That's right, now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to bed before either of you comes up with another brilliant plan to get us killed, or worse, expelled." She sent us one last glare before retreating off to the girls dormitory.

"She needs to sort out her priorities." I shrugged and headed after Hermione.

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I know what ur thinking, this update took forever. November is right before term ends so I have lots of tests. I'll update when I can.

Btw, Cindy's role in the series isn't prominent yet, but will me in the later books. Deal with my cliche plot for now. To my readers, did you celebrate the centennial of the start of WWI this yr in ur country?

Lots of love, 🌷-lily