The Spark {Book 5 in the Star of Gryffindor Series}

Chapter 27 - The Future Is Dim

The Daily Prophet
Issue No. 102,130
19 March, 2022

"Astra Lestrange is Conceited" says an Anonymous Classmate

Though in recent months is has come out that much of what Astra Lestrange has said is actually true, some people are still not convinced that her character is as pure as her honesty. An anonymous classmate brought her character into question when he accused her of being conceited and stuck up, thinking herself far above the other students at Hogwarts. He claims that she considers herself a tier above the average person, and acts like it...

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"Elmer Poe, if you don't start taking this seriously I will shove you off your broom!"

Elmer simply smiled at Fred. "Sorry!" He did another loop as Fred turned away.

Fred didn't know he was showing off for Lily, who was down in the stands, booing everything any of us did. Elcie made a good pass with the Quaffle? "Boo, go Slytherin!" I caught the Snitch? "Slytherin can do it better!" James hit a Bludger towards her to shut her up? "Down with Gryffindor!" Of course, Eviana was right next to her, also screaming herself hoarse but saying the opposite of whatever Lily said (though they were dying laughing every few seconds that made it hard to understand them). It was driving Fred crazy, but the rest of us were loving it. It was at least making practice interesting.

The game against Slytherin the next week had come up very quickly. In fact, everything seemed to be coming up very quickly. It was almost April, which meant O.W.L.s were only two months away. I was beginning to sense a slight panic building among my classmates. I didn't particularly care how I did; I would pass what I was good at, fail what I wasn't, and it wasn't like I wanted take classes next year that I was struggling in now.

"Astra, if you don't get your head in the game I'm going to hit you with a Bludger!"

I blinked and then ducked as Fred made good on his promise and sent a Bludger my way. "Sorry!" I shouted down. Lily yelled something about how Ciara would wipe the floor with me next week if I played like that, and I stuck my tongue out at her.

"I'll hit a Bludger at you if you don't leave my players alone!" Fred shouted at Lily.

"I'll tell Dad and he'll give you detention!" Lily shouted back.

"No, he won't!"

"Yes, he will!"

"I'll hit a Bludger at you both; shut up!" James wielded his bat threateningly. Fred glared at him and Lily laughed even harder.

"Astra!" Albus was pointing in the opposite direction, and I realized I'd gotten distracted again. I looked where he was pointing to see the Snitch, flitting near around the ground near the stands. I glanced at my watch. Practice would be over in 15 minutes, but if I caught the Snitch now, Fred would probably let us go early. I dove for it.

"That's right!" Fred yelled. I dodged between Elmer and Elcie and sped down, hand outstretched. Ten seconds later, I jumped off the broom, the Snitch caught in my hand.

"Good job!" Eviana yelled. "That's how you do it!"

"That's how Gryffindor does it, but Slytherin does it better!" was Lily's counter.

"I'm going to hit her," James said calmly, flying down to dismount next to me. "She's such a pain in the—"

"Hey, huddle up!" Fred yelled, motioning us all toward the center. We hurried over as Fred started talking. "If you guys play like you did today, we're going to lose. You all need to focus on the game!"