What About Quidditch?

Pranks, Potions, and Patronuses

The Great Hall was filled with students. Teddy stood up and welcomed everyone, and Headmistress McGonagall gave the welcoming speech, and announced the arrival of two new students.

"Please, everyone calm down. As you might know, the Ministry has opened the International Wizarding Exchange Program. I am delighted to announce we have two new students. Everyone, please welcome Toria Jaqueline, of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, and Edgar Hertz, of Durmstrang School for Wizards. Two of our finest students have gone to visit their schools, also. Ms. Prewett of Ravenclaw went to Beauxbatons, and Mr. Ellis of Slytherine will be attending Durmstrang. We wish our new students the very best of luck. To the Sorting Hat Ceremony, please."

The two exchange students were sorted first. To no one's surprise, Toria was sorted into Ravenclaw, and Hertz to Slytherine. Albus and his friend, Scorpius Malfoy cheered wildly for them. James was a bit unhappy about this. Albus would always be his brother, but since he got sorted into Slytherine, he had drawn farther away from his Gryffindor family. Luckily, their cousin Lucy had shockingly been put in Slytherine, and she was enough to make sure Al didn't dive off the deep end. James didn't particularly like Al's close relationship with Scorpius, but he had to get over it.

Hailey grabbed his arm hard enough to pull him out of his contemplations.

"You ready?" she hissed with excitement, pulling him inconspicuously into a nook in the Great Hall. Closing the tapestry just enough to get a glimpse of what was going on outside, she pulled out her wand. James timed it, giving Hailey a nod.

"Okay. 3...2...1!"

They cast a spell at the same time, and Hailey pushed back the curtain so they could see what was going on outside.

Hundreds of lions erupted into the air, flying above people's heads. They left a trail of fairy dust in their wake. Suddenly they exploded into red and gold fireworks. The fireworks formed the words 'Gryffindor', and then gathered together and did a victory lap around the room. As a finishing touch, everyone's robes were turned bright red and gold.

James and Hailey doubled over laughing. He looked up and noticed that she was only a few inches away from him. Something stirred in his stomach. He had never really thought of Hailey as anything but his friend, but tonight, well, he had a very pretty friend. And good at pranks to boot.

"What is it, James?" she asked, stopping laughing and cocking her head in confusion.

"What do you mean?"

"You're staring at me weird. Is something wrong?"

"I dunno. I guess...you look like a girl?"

She punched him lightly in the ribs. "I am a girl, idiot! I swear, you're just like Uncle Ron. Aunt Hermione says he didn't even notice she was a girl until the ball, in their 4th year!"

There was a moment of awkward silence, and suddenly McGonagall pulled back the tapestry. "Detention, both of you, Monday night in Professor Chang's office." She said good humouredly, obliviously in a pleasant mood.

Then they were both laughing again, and the awkward moment was forgotten. To everybody but James.

***

Later that night, they were all hanging out in the common room. Most of the Potter and Weasley clan were there, plus Hailey, and Danny Jordan.

James was sitting on the couch when Roxy piped up, at about 9:00. "Let's take our pillows and blankets up to the Astronomy Tower! We can have a sleepover!" she suggested. Everyone was inclined to agree, as their tower sleepovers were always fun.

Danny was the official delegator of duties. Fred went to the kitchen to get some food, although no one felt like eating after the feast. James was tasked with the job of sneaking downstairs to the Slytherine common room and stealing the Maurauder's Map. Hailey agreed to go with him. The rest grabbed blankets and pillows from the dormitories and snuck them to the astronomy tower.