𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗹, draco malfoy

˗ˋ 08

CHAPTER EIGHT
✧
-: third year :-

── IN WHICH CROOKSHANKS STRIKES

. . .

Despite the fright she got from the lesson, Marlie thoroughly enjoyed it. Lupin had moved on from Boggarts to Red Caps, and then Kappas. Although there weren't any practical lesson as exciting or dangerous as the boggart one - Marlie found that Lupin was keeping an eye on her.

A few days after her conversation with him, Marlie had been called to McGonagall's office, where her head of house had told her that Professor Snape had brewed her a specific potion - which name was so complex that Marlie couldn't pronounce it - that could help with this coldness.

As much as she hated Snape, the potion worked, and Marlie felt a lot better. The only problems for her now was the idea of Black coming for her, the now boring Care of Magical Creatures classes, Snape being even more crabby than ever ( Marlie suspected it had something to do with Lupin ) and Professor Trelawney who looked like she wanted to cry every time she looked at the twins.

Marlie threatened to drop out of Divination after every lesson, and it seemed that at least one of Trelawney's predicitions would be coming true as Hermione did the same. But as stubborn as ever, Marlie didn't wanted to give up just yet.

But other than the majority of her classes being boring or just hard, Marlie had one thing that she would enjoy no matter what - Quidditch. As October came around, Oliver Wood had called a meeting.

"This is our last chance - my last chance - to win the Quidditch Cup," he told them, striding up and down in front of them. "I'll be leaving at the end of this year. I'll never get another shot at it."

"Gryffindor hasn't won for seven years now. Okay, so we've had the worst luck in the world -injuries - then the tournament getting called off last year." Wood swallowed, as though the memory still brought a lump to his throat. "But we also know we've got the best - ruddy -team - in - the - school," he said, punching a fist into his other hand, the old manic glint back in his eye. "We've got three superb Chasers."

Oliver looked pointedly at Marlie, Angelina and Katie. "We've got two unbeatable Beaters. "And we've got a Seeker who has never failed to win us a match!" Wood rumbled, glaring at Harry with a kind of furious pride. "And me," he added as an after thought.

"Very good keeper." Marlie chimed in, as the twins and her began complimenting the captain.

"The point is," Wood went on, resuming his pacing, "the Quidditch Cup should have had our name on it these last two years. Ever since Harry and Marlie joined the team, I've thought the thing was in the bag. But we haven't got it, and this year's the last chance we'll get to finally see our name on the thing..."

The whole team began promising Oliver they would win it - feeling sympathetic for the guy that it almost seemed inevitable and that they had to win.

Practise was scheduled for three evenings a week, and although it was cold and damp as the days went by, Marlie was happy to get back into it.

Her and Harry returned to the common room one evening to find the whole room buzzing with excitement. "First Hogsmeade weekend," said Ron, after Harry had asked what was going on, pointing at a notice that had appeared on the battered old bulletin board. "End of October. Halloween."