𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒅, george weasley

chapter 5 - the duel

In the light of a new week at Hogwarts, Harry couldn't help but complain about putting up with Malfoy, who he said was worse than his muggle cousin Dudley. His cousin started giving Ileana an unwanted impression of Muggles. She hadn't known many.

   They were lucky enough to only have Double Potions with the Slytherins, until they spotted a notice pinned up in the Gryffindor common room which made them all groan. Flying lessons would be starting on Thursday—and Gryffindor and Slytherin would be learning together.

   "Typical," said Harry desperately. "Just what I always wanted. To make a fool of myself on a broomstick in front of Malfoy."

   "You don't know you'll make a fool of yourself," said Ron reasonably. "Anyway, I know Malfoy's always going on about how good he is at Quidditch, but I bet that's all talk."

   "Don't worry, Harry. Once you get the hang of it, flying's easy-breezy." Ileana told him.

   But Harry just stood there, staring at the notice.

   There were some mixed feelings about the flying lessons. As Ileana heard from Seamus, he's spent most of his life zooming around the countryside on his broomstick. For others, like Neville, they had never been on a broomstick their whole life. He said his grandmother had never let him near one.

   Hermione Granger was almost as nervous about flying as Neville was. This was something you couldn't learn by heart out of a book — not that she hadn't tried.

   But Ileana had nothing to worry about for Thursday's flying lessons. She learned how to from her mother. There's a whole closet full of old broomsticks back at home. Whenever Mrs. Castro had time off from work, they would be in the garden, flying around all day.

   Ileana had let it slip that her mum used to play Quidditch in the big league, she hadn't said what team because soon she wished she hadn't said anything at all. Ron kept trying to get it out of her but she wouldn't budge. This didn't seem to make anything better for Harry, too.

The period before flying lessons everyone had gathered in the Great Hall for study time. Ileana had a good grasp of Charms so homework was quick and easy. But then she got bored because that was the only homework she hadn't completed yet. Then right under her nose, somebody slipped their Potions textbook.

   It was Hermione.

   She shyly went back to reviewing Quidditch Through the Ages, and Ileana couldn't help but smile. She knew what she had meant. After taking Professor Snape's nature into consideration, some light reading wouldn't be bad.

   Not a moment later, an explosion sounded across from the table even before Ileana could open the book. Seamus had blown up his spell experiment, leaving his face ashy, and his parchment singed. Everyone laughed, but Ileana tried hard to fight it.

   "Ah, the mail is here!" said Ron. Many owls swooped down from the ceiling and dropped parcels, letters, and news; whatever was in their mouth.

   Ileana caught sight of her family's owl, Duster, clutching a small package in his beak. He dropped it on her textbook and flew back through the opening in the ceiling.

   It was from Mum!

   "Hey look, Neville's gotten a Remembrall!" said Dean Thomas.

   Neville opened a box and took out a glass ball which was filled with white smoke, but slowly became a deep red when he held onto it.

   "I've read about those," said Hermione. "If the smoke turns red it means you've forgotten something."

   "Only problem is...I can't remember what I've forgotten." said Neville, turning pink.