Books & Brooms
Over the next few weeks, Snape pulled each of the Slytherins second year and above for independent meetings about their studies. He started with the older students whose work had bigger effects on what they'd do after Hogwarts and worked his way down. This meant it was three weeks before she found herself sitting across the desk from him in his dark and creepy office.
He looked at her as he always did - with eyes that only half saw her, replacing the image of her with the image of her dead mother. “Your potions exam scores from last year were… disappointing.” He drawled, somewhat blandly. “Your mother possessed great talent in this subject. You, however, lack focus.” He slid a sheet of parchment across the desk to her that had a time and his classroom number, along with a handful of book titles. “This is the time and place of a study group that you will attend from now on, as well as some extra reading materials to ensure better scores this year.”
“Yes, Sir.” Holly said, quietly.
“You will also be attending a study group for Defense Against The Dark Arts.” He told her, slipping her another sheet of paper with another time and place. “I expect you to apply yourself, Miss Potter.”
“Yes, Sir.” Holly said again, even quieter.
Snape stared uncomfortably at her, and then glanced down at the file he had for her once more. “Some of your other teachers have requested I give you added reading materials as well, though I must stress the importance of prioritizing those classes that you are not as well versed on.” He stared at her for another few moments, and then continued, “Professor sprout has given you an extensive list,” he handed her a parchment from Professor sprout that read for Holly and Neville and sported ten titles. “And Professor Mcgonagall has requested you read this and then complete a project on it with Miss Davis by the end of the month,” he slid her a small book and a worksheet taped to the cover. “Lastly, Madam Pomfry and Professor Dumbledore have both requested you see them later today for further reading as well.”
Holly looked up from her ever-growing pile of parchments in surprise. “Why?” She wondered.
“I do not know.” Professor Snape replied, bland as ever. “But see that you are not late.” He gave her one last note, this one with two times and places listed and nothing else. “You are dismissed.”
Holly wondered all the way up to the Hospital Wing, why she had been called there. Had Harry been hurt again already? Had Ginny or Isolde? She was so wracked with worry by the time she got there, that Madam Pomfry actually checked her for a fever. “Dear girl, what is wrong?” She asked, scanning Holly up and down with her wand, “and why do your ribs show signs of trauma?”
Holly looked around and found the hospital wing empty of students except for her. “It’s nothing,” she said quickly, “it’s healed now.”
Madam Pomfry crossed her arms and scowled down at Holly. She was a kind woman, as all healers should be, but strict, also. “Those were not there last year. What happened.” It was barely a question.
Holly looked down at the floor. “…myunclepushedme…” she muttered.
“When?” Madam Pomfry demanded.
“Two months ago. I really am fine now. I promise. Mrs. Weasley gave me something for it and it hasn’t hurt since.” She said, practically begging the healer to drop it.
Madam Pomfry sighed. “Alright. Do you know why you're here?”
Holly shook her head.
“Thought not.” Madam Pomfrey said. She plucked a book off a nearby cart and handed it to Holly. “I’d like you to finish this, and then I’d like you to find me and tell me what you thought.” Holly looked at the book, finding that it was the same one she had started when she was stuck up here with a concussion late last year. It was very interesting and she found herself smiling down at the offered text.
“Okay.” She said, easily.
Madam Pomfrey looked her up and down one more time, and then nodded to herself and waved her off.
Holly didn’t need to meet with Dumbledore until her free period the following Wednessday morning, so she decided to head to the library and get a start on her extra reading. It was Saturday morning after all, and she could bet her friends would all be there already, doing the same thing.
Sure enough, Hermione, Tracey, Ginny, Isolde, Neville, and Luna were all crowded together in the usual spot, reading or writing in notebooks, or filling out worksheets. Holly set her things down, went and grabbed the first book from every list, and then joined her friends, opening the extra potions book first, as she had been told to do by Professor Snape.
Early the next week, they all decided to take advantage of what little warm weather they had left, and go do their homework outside. This turned out to be a very good thing, too, because not long after they had sat down, the Gryffindor and Slytherin Quidditch teams converged on the path towards the Quidditch pitch, right in front of them.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Oliver Wood, the captain of the gryffindor team - and according to Harry, a complete nut about the sport - snapped at Marcus Flint, the captain of the Slytherin team and one of their prefects.
Flint held his hands up placatingly. “Easy, Wood. I’ve got a few new players I’ve got to train. I have a note.” He said, offering Wood the note.
“You’ve got a new Seeker and a new Chaser? Wood asked, skeptically. “Who?”
A very smug looking Draco and a hilariously bald Pansy stepped forward. Seeing them, the group moved closer to keep an eye in the case of trouble.
“You?” Harry demanded of Draco, clearly disgusted by the thought.
“That’s right,” said Draco hotily, “I’m the new seeker!”
Holly and Tracy exchanged skeptical looks. Draco was a good flier, sure, but had either of them even tried out yet? Or had daddy’s money earned them their spots?
“You decide the whole school needs to see your new look, Parkinson?” Isolde Taunted. Everyone - including the Slytherin team, snickered.
Pansy sneered at the first year. “You stupid little -“ she atarted, making a move towards the younger girl, but Hermione stepped in before she could.
”Don’t touch her!”
Pansy snarled. “How dare you speak to me, you filthy little mudblood!” She spat.
Ron pointed wand at Pansy. It had broken when they crashed the car and now was held together by scotch tape and hope, neither of which seemed to have been enough, considering the huge green welt it had given Professor Flitwick, or the disturbing living rat goblet it had turned scabbers into according to Hermione. “You’ll pay for that, Parkinson!” He shouted. “Eat slugs!”
But, Pansy didn’t eat slugs. The spell rebounded and Ron soon found himself vomiting them up instead.
Ginny punched Pansy in the face.
George immediately swooped in and plucked his sister up out of the fray. She protested, of course, but it was useless. He was twice her size, and he had Fred to help him.
The Slytherin team, knowing not to mess with her by now, all took a big step back from Pansy even with the Weasley twins holding her back. Pansy wailed in indignation and stormed off. The Weasley twins looked between their little sister and the Slytherin team in confusion.
Hermione and Harry took the opportunity to to gather Ron up and take him down to Hagrid’s for help.
“What exactly is going on here?” Professor McGonagall had appeared, furious, having just come from the direction Pansy had gone. She must have seen the black eye forming.
Ginny opened her mouth to confess, but Flint surprised everybody by saying, “Parkinson was trying out for chaser but she knocked herself in the eye as soon as I handed her a broom.”
Everyone stared in astonishment for a moment, before recovering themselves. “Yes,” Wood added, “and before that we were discussing training schedules.”
McGonagall looked surprised. “Wood, you have the pitch at this time.” She said, knowledgeably.
Flint offered her the note. “We just need to train our new seeker and find ourselves a chaser. Then Wood can have the pitch. Potter? Davis? Do you want to give it a go? Nott?” Flint asked.
Holly looked over to where Theodore Nott was idaly watching from the edge of the courtyard. He was a bad flier and they all knew it, but he too, had connections. Holly herself thought that joining the Quidditch team might be the last thing she’d ever want to do. But, she did know someone who would be great. “Let Ginny try out!” She blurted.
McGonagall frowned. “Miss Weasley is a first year stu-“
“So was Harry, but you let him join your team last year!” Tracy said, with a grin that said she knew that this was their absolute best bargaining chip, and sure to work.
“Ginny doesn't even know how to fly yet!” Fred and George squawked, still trying to hold her back.
Ginny licked George’s hand and used his retracting of it as an opportunity to slip free of both her brothers. “Yes I do,” she said confidently, “and I’m good at it!”
Wood looked at McGonagall “it’s only fair.” He admitted.
Flint nodded. “At least let us try her,” he agreed. “We could use someone with her… resilience.” And he had a wicked sort of smile as he said it that told Holly that Heather had told him everything.
Professor McGonagall sighed. She waved them towards the pitch, resignedly. “I will speak with Professor Snape.” She told them.
Everyone went to the pitch, curious to see how little Ginny Weasley would do. “If she makes the team, I expect you two to treat her like any other chaser!” Holly hear Oliver Wood warning the Weasley twins.