meant to be (1)

13

My heart sank faster than I'd just flown. I turned around and saw Professor McGonagall running towards us.

"Never in all my time at Hogwarts-" she started, being almost speechless with shock. "how dare you - might have broken your neck.

"It wasn't their fault, Professor-"

"Be quiet, Miss Patil-"

I was very thankful to see my friends defending us, but it didn't seem to help.

"But Malfoy-"

"That's enough, Mr Weasley. Potter, Clarke, follow me, now."

I caught sight of Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyles triumphant faces as we left, walking numbly in Professor McGonagall's wake as she strode towards the castle.

I was truly scared. We were going to be expelled, I just knew it. I wanted to say something to defend myself, but for the first time there was something wrong with my voice.

Harry on the other hand didn't seem scared at all. He looked at me with a big smirk, saying "You called me Harry, now I can call you Julie as well."

"Well I'm still calling you Potter" I said coldly. How could he be so unbothered when we were about to be punished or even worse, expelled?

"Doesn't matter, I won't call you Julie anyways, Jules" he said while swinging his arm around my shoulder and continuing to follow Professor McGonagall.

Professor McGonagall was sweeping along without even looking at us. She didn't even say a single word. I was still nervous about what was going to happen next. My stomach twisted as I imagined, watching Ron, Hermione and the others becoming wizards without us.

Professor McGonagall stopped outside a classroom. She opened the door and poked her head inside.

"Excuse me, Professor Flitwick, could I borrow Wood for a moment?" she asked.

"Wood?" I thought. Was wood a cane she was going to use on us?

Wood turned out to be a person, a burly fifth-year boy who came out of Flitwicks class looking confused.

"Follow me, you three" said Professor McGonagall as we marched on up the corridor. I quickly brushed trough my hair with my fingers when Olivers back was turned to us.

"You look fine" Harry said amusingly, as he watched me brushing my hair . Just then I noticed that his arm was still around my shoulder and quickly moved away a bit.

"In here" Professor McGonagall pointed us into a classroom which was empty, except for Peeves, who was busy writing rude words on the blackboard. I had to hold back my laughter, as I was still expecting something bad to happen.

"Out, Peeves!" she barked. Peeves threw the chalk into a bin, which clanged loudly and he swooped out cursing. Professor McGonagall slammed the door behind him and turned her attention to us.

"Potter, Clarke, this is Oliver Wood. Wood I've found you a seeker and a chaser."

Wood's expression changed from puzzlement to delight. "Are you serious, Professor?"

"Absolutely" said Professor McGonagall crisply "They are naturals. I've never seen anything like it. Was that your first on a broomstick?"

We both nodded in response. I was confused but, relieved because we still weren't expelled and it seemed like we weren't going to. Professor McGonagall now looked rather happy.

"Clarke threw the ball at a great length and Potter caught that thing in his hand after a fity-foot dive" Professor McGonagall told Woody. "Didn't even scratch themselves. Charlie Weasley couldn't have done it."

Wood was now looking as though all his dreams had come true at once. "Ever seen a game of Quidditch?" he asked excitedly.

"Wood's captain of the Gryffindor team" Professor McGonagall explained, being almost equally excited as Oliver.

"They're just the build for a Seeker and a Chaser, too" said Wood "Light - speedy - we'll have to get them decent brooms, Professor - Nimbus Two Thousands or Clean Sweep Sevens, I'd say"

"I shall speak to Professor Dumbledore and see if we can't bend the first-year rule. Heaven knows we need a better team than last year. Flattend in the last match by Slytherin, I couldn't look Severus in the face for weeks..."

Professor McGonagall peered sternly over her glasses at us.

"I want to hear you training hard or I may change my mind about punishing you" she said and I couldn't help but smile. We don't have detentions and we even get our own brooms!

Then she suddenly smiled as well and looked at Harry. "Your father would have been proud" she said. "He was an excellent Quidditch player himself."