The Riddle Twins

Chapter 10

The following day dawned just as leaden and rainy as the previous one. They had transfiguration first, and Professor McGonagall spent the first few minutes lecturing them about the importance of O.W.L.

You cannot pass an O.W.L.," said Professor McGonagall grimly, "without serious application, practice, and study. I see no reason why everybody in this class should not achieve an O.W.L. in Transfiguration as long as they put in the work." Neville made a sad little disbelieving noise. "Yes, you too, Longbottom," said Professor McGonagall. "There's nothing wrong with your work except lack of confidence. So . . . today we are starting Vanishing Spells. These are easier than Conjuring Spells, which you would not usually attempt until N.E.W.T. level, but they are still among the most difficult magic you will be tested on in your O.W.L."

It was in fact quite difficult and it took Ares and Athena three times before they managed it earning 10 points each for Slytherin. Draco and Daphne managed it on the 5th time earning 5 points each.

Everybody else was told to practice the spell overnight, ready for a fresh attempt on their snails the following afternoon.

The day had become cool and breezy, and, as they walked down the sloping lawn toward Hagrid's cabin on the edge of the Forbidden Forest, they felt the occasional drop of rain on their faces. Professor Grubbly-Plank stood waiting for the class some ten yards from Hagrid's front door, a long trestle table in front of her laden with many twigs.

"Everyone here?" barked Professor Grubbly-Plank, once all the Slytherins and Gryffindors had arrived. "Let's crack on then — who can tell me what these things are called?"

She indicated the heap of twigs in front of her. Ares and Athena's hand went up.

The twigs on the table leapt into the air and revealed themselves to be what looked like tiny pixieish creatures made of wood, each with knobbly brown arms and legs, two twiglike fingers at the end of each hand, and a funny, flat, barklike face in which a pair of beetle-brown eyes glittered.

"Oooooh!" said Parvati and Lavender.

"Kindly keep your voices down, girls!" said Professor Grubbly-Plank sharply, scattering a handful of what looked like brown rice among the stick-creatures, who immediately fell upon the food. "So — anyone know the names of these creatures? Mr. Black?"

"Bowtruckles," said Ares. "They're tree-guardians, usually live in wand-trees."

"Five points for Slytherin," said Professor Grubbly-Plank. "Yes, these are bowtruckles and, as Mr. Black rightly says, they generally live in trees whose wood is of wand quality. Anybody know what they eat?"

"Wood lice," said Athena promptly, "But fairy eggs if they can get them."

"Good girl, take another five points. So, whenever you need leaves or wood from a tree in which a bowtruckle lodges, it is wise to have a gift of wood lice ready to distract or placate it. They may not look dangerous, but if angered they will gouge out human eyes with their fingers, which, as you can see, are very sharp and not at all desirable near the eyeballs. So, if you'd like to gather closer, take a few wood lice and a bowtruckle — I have enough here for one between three — you can study them more closely. I want a sketch from each of you with all body parts labeled by the end of the lesson."

It was an interesting class. Professor Grubbly-Plank explained everything about Bowtruckles.

After the class, Urquhart approached Draco and, said "Tryouts are on Saturday. You need to come."

"I will." Draco nodded. Urquhart walked away and Draco turned towards the twins.

"You both have go to try."

"I think we will." Athena said, surprising them both." What do you say Ares, should we try for Chasers?"

He grinned and said, "I thought you'd never ask."

They went back to the common room and began doing their homework. Ares and Athena had written much more than 12 inches about moonstone and its properties.

"How do you know so much?" Draco exclaimed.

"We're just naturally brilliant." Ares mused and Draco rolled his eyes.

"Sure, you are."

Ares was the first to awake in his dormitory next morning. He lay for a moment watching dust swirl in the chink of sunlight falling through the gap in his four-poster's hangings and savored the thought that it was Saturday, the day for the Quidditch tryouts. The first week in school had been rather enjoyable.

Judging by the sleepy silence and the freshly minted look of that beam of sunlight, it was just after daybreak. He pulled open the curtains around his bed, got up, and started to dress. The only sound apart from the distant twittering of birds was the slow, deep breathing of his fellow Slytherins. He headed to the common room, with a book and began reading. He didn't realize how much time had passed by, and finally his dorm mates arrived still looking sleepy.

"How are you awake so early?" Theo asked.

"I woke up long back." He shrugged.

The boys waited for the girls to arrive and then headed to the Great Hall for breakfast.

They were talking for a while and then the morning post arrived. A screech owl dropped the Daily Prophet in front of Athena and she pushed a Knut into its leather pouch, took the newspaper, and scanned the front page critically as the owl took off again. She turned the page and looked at the bottom and sighed.

"Nothing interesting, as usual."

"Come on, let's go. We have Quidditch practice."

Sirius had already bought the twins and Draco a Firebolt. They headed back to their dormitories changed into robes and grabbed their brooms and headed to the Quidditch Pitch. Urquhart was already there along with the other people who wanted to try out.

"People trying for Chasers stand here." He pointed to his right. "Beaters to my left, and Keepers in front of me. For the people trying for Chasers, the 2 other people who score the most goals, will be the chasers along with me. The Keeper that saves the most goals will become the keeper and the 2 beaters who manage to block the bludgers the most will be the two beaters. First up we will start with the Keeper."

Miles Bletchley blocked the most and thus was selected as the keeper.

Next on to the Beaters, surprisingly it was Crabbe and Goyle, who blocked the most.

Next were the Chasers, which meant it was Ares' and Athena's chance.

"Begin." Urquhart said. Ares snatched the quaffle from another player and passed it to Athena. He sped up in front of her and as the Keeper was approaching Athena, she quickly passed the ball to Ares who scored.

"Nice strategy." Urquhart commented.

They continued like this and Ares and Athena scored the most goals. After the tryouts finished the teams were announced.

"The Keeper is Miles Bletchley. The Chasers and Ares Black, Athena Black and me. The Beaters are Gregory Goyle and Vincent Crabbe. The seeker is Draco Malfoy. I will inform you all of the training schedule. You may all go now." Urquhart said.

"Congrats Ares, Athena." Draco grinned.

"Thanks Dray." Ares said. 

"We're going to beat Gryffindor so badly." Athena smirked.

"That we are." Draco and Ares said in unison. 

Words: 1220.
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