the stone - f.weasley

- c h a p t e r - t e n -

    Quidditch season was finally starting.

    And as it started at the beginning of November, it was so cold Gemma had to refrain from asking to wear mittens and a hat during practice.

    But today, she would be a trooper because of their first opponents.

    It was Gryffindor vs. Slytherin.

    There was no way Draco would hold the fact that his House beat them during her first game.

    Not only this but the fact that somehow the information that she and Harry were the new Chaser and Seeker had gotten out and that everyone kept telling them that they'd be brilliant and stuff was freaking her out.

    But the fact that Hermione had chilled out with breaking the rules since the troll made everything even easier.

    And since she broke the rules a little more frequently, Gemma was so thankful that she was because her brown-haired friend produced a hot blue flame in a jam jar so they could get warm the day before the game.

    But when Snape crossed the field, limping, they tried to hide the hot bottled fire because they weren't sure if it was allowed.

    The hooked-nose teacher stared them down, and Gemma was sure he didn't see the flame, but he found a way to get them in trouble anyways.

    "What do you have there, Potter?" He questioned pointedly.

    Harry had been borrowing Hermione's copy of Quidditch Through the Ages, a book Gemma had read quite a few times, and he lifted the book to show the professor.

    "Library books are not to be taken outside school," Snape told him. "Give it to me. Five points from Gryffindor."

    Spinning away, his black cloak swinging around him, Snape limped away, taking the book with him.

    "He's just made up that rule," Harry commented as the teacher moved further away.

    Gemma, a sharp edge in her voice, wondered aloud, "Wonder what's wrong with his leg..."

    Hermione opened her mouth to answer, but Ron beat her to it, snarling, "Dunno, but I hope it's really hurting him..."

    When they all returned to the common room that night, Gemma's nerves about the game were getting worse.

    And the fact that Professor Snape was acting off bothered her too.

    And in general, she was restless.

    So restless that Hermione had to double check Gemma's Charms homework (she usually only checked the boys').

    She missed a few things on a couple things and Hermione basically just told her the answers.

    Harry finally announced that he was going to go and see if he could get his book back, and right before Gemma could offer to go and help, the twins and their friend Lee Jordan plopped themselves down at the table the four had set up at.

    "So..." George drew out. "Hilton, ya doin' anything right now?"

    Gemma furrowed her brows, confused why the older Gryffindors would want to talk to her, an eleven-year-old, "Homework."

    Fred wrinkled his nose, "Wouldn't you rather be doing more fun things? Like finding secret passageways...ooorrrr pranking Peeves...oorrr---"

    "No, she would not!" Hermione contracted heatedly. "Especially not tonight! You all have a Quidditch game tomorrow! Honestly, she should be finishing up her work and going to bed!"