The Little Lightning Girl

15- A Return to Quidditch

At breakfast, I sat by Lily and her friends, two of whom peppered me with questions about Quidditch. It was actually a relief to talk about the sport that I loved, but I could tell that they were just buttering me up to have a better chance at making the team. I didn't mind. Lily wasn't allowed to try out for Quidditch, they said her abilities gave her an unfair advantage. She'd been angry about it since she got her letter and there was a handwritten note from Mcgonagall explaining. Lily loved Quidditch as much as any Potter. And because my cousins and I had been trained in Occlumency, she could play with us and not have an advantage, but other students in Hogwarts didn't have the training the Potter-Weasley clan did.

Professor Longbottom was handing out schedules during breakfast and when I was handed mine, he also clasped me on the shoulder, "I was very impressed with your OWL exam results, James."

He didn't mention my absence from last year or the fact that he hadn't expected such good results from me, but the implication was clear.

I grinned at him, "Studying! Who knew, right?"

He chuckled and shook his head, "Everyone but you, son."

I'd always enjoyed Herbology, mostly because he was the Professor. He was kind and patient, but tough enough to hold his own against any pranks. I'd managed to get an O in that exam and had decided to continue studying further in the subject. But my true strength was Transfiguration. I never let on, but I really loved that class. In previous years, it had been the only class I studied for because I truly enjoyed it. Neither of my parents had been particularly fond of the subject, nor were my siblings. When I looked at my schedule, I was pleased to see that I'd be receiving private lessons with McGonagall for Transfiguration.

Other than that, I didn't have a career in mind particularly, I was just taking the classes that I liked and wasn't taking those I didn't like. Frank and Fred were on track to become Aurors, and Louis was aiming towards curse-breaking like his dad. Neither of those options were appealing to me so I decided I'd just go with the flow for now and figure out my future later.

My first class was Defense Against the Dark Arts, and I was strangely happy to be going to class again like a normal teenaged wizard, even though I felt anything but normal.

I stood from the breakfast table and squeezed Lily's shoulder before shooting her a double wink and exiting the Great Hall.

............

When it came time for my first private lesson with McGonagall, I nervously approached the statue that guarded the entrance to her office.

"Licorice wands," I spoke the password loud and clear and the statue turned to reveal the staircase, which I slowly ascended.

"James, come in."

Her voice was much more pleasant than it usually was when talking to me. Of course, usually when I met with her it was because Fred, Frank, Louis and I had pulled some prank. That tended to put the old woman in a bad mood.

"Hello Professor, good to see you."

"Sit down, James," she said, gesturing to the chairs in front of her desk.

I obeyed. She seemed like she was waiting for me to speak but when I didn't she went ahead.

"I won't pretend to know what you went through, but I would like to help you. Your brother tells me that you left the house frequently after you recovered. Might I ask why?"

I paused, then figured since she knew about demigods that I had nothing to hide, "I was training how to fight."

Her eyes were sharp, "Who taught you?"