(1) The New Ones// A Messed Up Hogwarts Year

34/ House Cup

The end of term feast was tonight, two days after Harry woke up.

I tugged on the sleeves of my robes and tried to hold still as Cho Chang did my hair in the common room. The Ravenclaw boys (and Erin) had made themselves scarce to avoid primping and whatever else was going on. The older girls had brought out mirrors, combs, and whatever else.

Cho was french braiding my dark hair tightly back into a bun, twisting my bronze and blue ribbons through my hair while humming.

"Cho?" I asked.

"Yes?" she said in her half british half scottish accent.

"Is making the quidditch team hard?"

"Well it depends," she said, tightly braiding only half of my left braid so the rest of the hair could go in the bun. "What are you trying out for?" I scrunched up my face, my blue eyes barely visible.

"Uhm probably chaser,"

"You'll be good," she said. "We need some new talent, Potter beat us."

"We'll beat him." I say, crossing my arms over my chest.

"That's the spirit," she chuckles, moving onto the next braid. "What broom do you have Elaine?"

"A Nimbus 1700."

"Pretty decent," She said, finishing my other braid and scraping it all back into a bun. "It's better than my Cleansweep."

I glanced over at all the older girls chattering with first years like one big family.

"Done," Cho said, standing back and handing me a mirror.

"Wow," I said. "Thanks Cho!"

"The smartest girls have to look presentable!" She jokes, wandering away to talk to other second years.

**********************************

"C'mon guys!" I called, leading the first year charge down from Ravenclaw tower.

"Elaine wait up!" Terry called.

"Yeah wait Jennings!" Padma shouted.

"Catch me!" I challenged, jumping down three stairs just like they were the ladder in Flourish & Blotts.

I heard students clattering down behind me and ran all the way down the steps and into the foyer, smacking straight into someone.

"Sorry!" I panted, but when my eyes met his I flinched away. Draco.

"Elaine!" He said, catching my wrist. I glared. "Good job this year." He said and then let go, disappearing into the crowd.

"Well, well, well." A voice at my elbow said and I whipped around half expecting trouble.

"Katie Ackerly," I said. "It's been a while,"

"Only about four days." She giggled, flipping her hair, yellow bracelets jangling on her wrist.

"What are you well-welling about?" I asked.

"Just the current status of Elco of course!" She said cheerily as more students passed into the Great Hall.

"Oh my god." I said, sighing.

"Yup!" She said, linking her arm with mine. "Shall we sweep them off their feet?"

"Let's." We proceeded into the Great Hall and split up, heading for tables. As of this morning Ravenclaw had been in second to Slytherin.

I sat down next to Erin (her hair was brushed and nothing else) straightening my black robes one last time. Slytherin had won, however we got second and I was still relatively proud. We can win next year.

"Hey,"

"Idiots." She muttered. "Snakes. Jerks."

"Nice to see you too," I said, looking across the table at Lyra who was having a non-verbal conversation with Amber that involved a lot of hand motions. Uh oh. Just as I was about to talk to Padma, Harry walked in. Everyone went silent and I rolled my eyes. Idiots. I'm just glad I'm not as famous as him or whatever. Quite fortunately, Dumbledore arrived minutes later.

The whole hall quieted down as Dumbledore got to the podium.

"Another year gone!" Dumbledore said cheerfully and I saw Erin roll her eyes. She was still in a bad mood. "And I must trouble you with an old man's wheezing waffle before we sink our teeth into our delicious feast. What a year it has been! Hopefully your heads are all a little fuller than they were... you have the whole summer ahead to get them nice and empty before next year starts....

"Now, as I understand it, the house cup here needs awarding, and the points stand thus: In fourth place, Gryffindor, with three hundred and twelve points; in third, Hufflepuff, with three hundred and fifty-two; Ravenclaw has four hundred and twenty-six and Slytherin, four hundred and seventy- two." Ugh. They only beat us by a bit.

Everyone clapped politely and a storm of cheering and stamping broke out from the Slytherin table. Draco was banging his goblet on the table. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.

"Yes, Yes, well done, Slytherin," said Dumbledore. "However, recent events must be taken into account."

The room went very still and Erin poked me. The Slytherins' smiles faded a little.

"Ahem," said Dumbledore. "I have a few last-minute points to dish out.Let me see. Yes...

"First -- to Mr. Ronald Weasley..." I glanced over at Ron who went purple in the face; he looked like a radish with a bad sunburn."...for the best-played game of chess Hogwarts has seen in many years, I award Gryffindor house fifty points." Gryffindor cheers were so loud the stars overhead seemed to quiver.

Percy Weasley could be heard telling the other prefects, "My brother, you know! My youngest brother! Got past McGonagall's giant chess set!"

"Second -- to Miss Hermione Granger... for the use of cool logic in the face of fire, I award Gryffindor house fifty points."Hermione buried her face in her arms; I bet she had burst into tears. The Griffyndors up and down the table were beside themselves -- they were a hundred points up. I just sat there, hoping.

"Third to Miss Erin Jennings," she looked up, stunned. "for outstanding nerve and the ability to choose what's best, no matter how hard it is. I award Ravenclaw house, twenty five points." Everyone cheered loudly, I hugged Lisa Turpin for no reason, excited at our chance.

"Fourth to Miss Elaine Jennings," I froze in shock, blood rushing to my face. Everyone in the hall craned their necks to look at me. "For enormous knowledge and outstanding wits, but most of all for valuing friendship above anything else. I award Ravenclaw, fifty points." He said it all so quietly however it sounded so loud. I sat there, in shock. Pure shock. Before I even knew it, I was crying and getting hugged by every Ravenclaw close to me.

"Last -- to Mr. Harry Potter..." said Dumbledore. The room went deadly quiet for pure nerve and outstanding courage, I award Gryffindor house seventy points." No one moved. Silent tears ran down my cheeks. I would be happy if any of us won.

"There are all kinds of courage," said Dumbledore, smiling at us. "It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends. I therefore award thirty points to Mr. Neville Longbottom."

Everyone screamed. It was victory without victory. We lost by six points, however it still felt good. Not just good, great.