Double Double Trouble (A Fred and George Weasley Story)

Chapter 30~Freedom, Flying and Falling

Chapter 30~Freedom, Flying and Falling

Madam Hooch started watching over the Gryffindor Quidditch practices.  It wasn't exactly a bad thing, but it just didn't feel the same with an adult watching over us.  It sort of took away some of the freedom I felt while flying, but it wasn't replaced with any other feeling.  When I fly at practice, I normally feel Freedom more than anything else.  When I fly in a game, I feel pumped.  And when I fly in the middle of the night with Fred, I mostly feel a strong sense of defiance.  Now, for some reason I only feel an insanely small amount of freedom.  It was weird to say the least, and I didn't understand.

The weather was terrible as our match against Slytherin neared.  Despite the weather, we continued to practice without fail.  At our last practice, however, our plans changed.

"We're not playing Slytherin!"  Oliver told us, looking very angry.  "Flint's just been to see me.  We're playing Hufflepuff instead."

"Why?"  We asked.

"Flint's excuse is that their Seeker's arm's still injured.  But it's obvious why they're doing it.  Don't want to play in this weather.  Think it'll damage their chances..." 

"I'll go straight down to the Slytherin Common Room and show my cousin how an injured arm feels..."  I mumbled under my breath.

"There's nothing wrong with Malfoy's arm!"  Harry said furiously.  "He's faking it!"

"I know that, but we can't prove it."  Oliver said bitterly.  "And we've been practicing all those moves assuming we're playing Slytherin, and instead it's Hufflepuff, and their style's quite different.  They've got a new Captain and Seeker, Cedric Diggory-"

Angelina and Katie suddenly giggled. 

"What?"  Oliver said, frowning.

"He's that tall, good-looking one isn't he?"  Said Angelina.

"Strong and silent."  Said Katie, and they started to giggle again.

"He's only silent because he's too thick to string two words together."  Fred said impatiently.  "I don't know why you're worried, Oliver, Hufflepuff is a pushover."

"Yeah.  Harry got the Snitch in about five minutes last time."

"We were playing in completely different conditions!"  Oliver shouted.  "Diggory's put a very strong side together!  He's as excellent Seeker!  I was afraid you'd take it like this!  We mustn't relax!  We must keep our focus!  Slytherin is trying to wrong-foot us!  We must win!"  I was amused at how many times he had said 'must'.

"Oliver, calm down!" said Fred, looking alarmed.  "We are taking Hufflepuff very seriously."

"Seriously."  I agreed.

The next day, my favorite class turned into my least favorite class.  Defense Against the Dark Arts.

When I walked into Remus' normally welcoming classroom, my heart sank.  Remus Lupin wasn't sitting there, Severus Snape was.  Anna, Fred, George and I stopped dead when we saw him sitting at my father's desk.  We were the first ones to class and Snape seemed surprised.

"Funny."  He said drying.  "The four who are always late to my class are the first in Professor Lupin's."  The way he spat at the name made my blood boil.

We went to our seats.  "Where's Professor Lupin?"  Anna asked smoothly, making me once again envy her ability to keep a cool head.

"He says he is feeling too ill to teach today."  Snape said with a twisted smile.