
Slytherin's House Cup Lead
“Have you seen the two these days?”
“I’m the closest to George, but I don’t seem to find her anywhere. I thought she was my friend, that girl.” Cole whined about as they head to their next class—Herbology. Not one of them liked Herbology but as the famous saying goes: “Not liking a subject is not a reason to fail it.” Lilith said that no one ever said that in history, Cole just made it up. But he argued that Hermione Granger had probably said it at least once in her seven years in Hogwarts. They all rolled their eyes of course, except Moon who was almost as studious as Cole is if he wasn’t playing Quidditch or flirting.
Lilith was late with George laughing their butts off with their new inside joke that they never bothered to share with their other friends.
“I see both Ms. Malfoy and Ms. Areda are both late. Gryffindor minus five points. But I like your uniforms so it’s just minus two you’re your houses.” Professor Porta had said with both hands planted on her sides. She was just instructing them to get to their stations when Moon whispered to Cole, “Of course she’d be late with George!” They rolled their eyes at each other, looking very sharply at the other two who both took the last tables on the farthest corner.
“Excuse me, Mr. Lovegood but I am talking in front.”
Moon’s jaw dropped, Proffesor Porta always picked on him as if they weren’t blood related! She didn’t even mention Cole. So ridiculous.
Professor Porta continued, “Would you mind telling the whole class what you told Mr. Cole that was so interesting that you had to roll your eyes in front of me?”
“Maddie-“
“I will not tolerate anyone, Moon. Get up here or I’ll your crazy mother.” She threatened, she only gets red in the nose when she’s angry. She turns into an angry woman with a cherry tomato on her face.
People laughed in the class, especially George and Lilith, they whispered among each other and throwing their heads back as if him being threatened was the funniest thing in the universe.
“Well, Professor Porta—I was just talking about Lilith and George being late today.” He said. “Unfortunately, as their friends,” He took Cole’s hand who tried to tear it away but Moon simply would just not let go. “We are so very worried about their grades, and of course, their house standing! Oh I’m from Slytherin, and Cole’s from Ravenclaw but as friends, we’re a little bit worried that Gryffindor’s going to lose this year.” Moon suddenly find an opening to boast. “And as you know, as a Seeker, we’ll get the lead this year-“, he starts walking towards the aisle, his hands on the back of his head. “Because I will never lose to these Gryffindor bast—“Porta had suspended Moon on air, he couldn’t move or breathe. “That’s quite enough from you Mr. Lovegood. Take your sit or I’ll beat you up.” She said, fuming.
George and Lilith had developed a strong bond of friendship; they were practically inseparable. They were even dubbed as Harry and Ron by their ghost astronomy teacher—Professor Sinistra who claimed to have known the two. “You two are as ruddy and unsophisticated as they were! And you’re both women!” It was true. They were caught several times for sneaking out food from the kitchens and pulling pranks on Peeves who overtime, got scared of them.
“I thought you hated books.” George held her Potions Volume IV in between her index finger and thumb as if it’s as disgusting as the toe of a garden gnome.
“I hate studying.” Lilith said studying with contempt, “But I love books.”
“I’m an avid reader myself.” Cole said proudly.
“Of course you are. Your ass never leaves that seat.” George snapped and they started bickering like children trying to share the last piece of candy. Lilith muttered that she would be back but she doubted they heard her. The library was closing and not much students were around so there would be no point of being shushed by Master Cork.
She came around the section of fiction but tonight she thought she opted for books that can help her for school. She picked up Quidditch Through the Ages. It was falling apart and she did want to put it back but she couldn’t just ignore a few tips for flying so she cradled it in her arm and walked back to her friends.
“Oh for the love of Merlin, don’t tell me you’re going to be a nerd like him. It’s fucking disgusting.”
“You shut your dirty mouth or I’ll place a big rat on your pillow tonight.”
“You wouldn’t.” George taunted.
“Oh, I would.”
“Lilith here keeps her wand beneath her pillow. So just so you know, she might get too aggressive and kill you by accident.”
“Why would you sleep with a wand? You’re in the safest place in the world!”
“Not sure,” Lilith said sarcastically as she placed her book down, “Maybe because of childhood traumas?”
Cole looked shy and muttered, “Sorry.”
“Seriously, Cole! That was a fucking joke!” Lilith banged her elbow in his. “You guys really cannot take a joke. Yeesh.”
To change the course of the conversation, Cole asked, “What did you take?” He pointed to the old leathered book that seemed to fall apart at every touch.
“Quidditch Through the Ages, it was published ages ago. I wonder if Quidditch had rules that changed through time.”
“Why are you reading it?” George defensively asked, she was a strong player and the Captain the Gryffindor Quidditch team. “Are you any good?”
“Only a little. I don’t play much.” Lilith replied dismissively. They all went through the pages but found nothing different with rules except that wands could be brought to the tournament but should not be used unless they are in the brink of death. At the last pages of the book they found notes that are too old to be read and the names of the students that read them and the last readers were: Hermione Granger, Harry Potter.
“Hermione Granger? Shit, I’ll sell this book and I can get a soul for it.”
Cole just shook his head at George’s remark, “Hermione Granger could have been a player, I heard she had a talent for Quidditch.”
“There you are, Ms. Malfoy.” Professor Binns said, he was a ghost teacher who had fallen asleep while a fire in the faculty room blazed and killed him. Until now, no one had mentioned it to him that he was in fact a poltergeist still teaching. “Please do follow me.”
“Us too?” George asked, latching her arm around Lilith’s so she could come as well.
“No.” Professor Binns said gloomly—well as far as a ghost can express that.
They met Moon on the shifting staircase and made their way to the Headmistress’ office. Outside the door with a framed picture of Albus Dumbledore awaits Professor Trelawney with the same twinkle in her eyes. “Thank you for accommodating my request Professor Binns, I will see you around.”
“Yes, Professor.” He walked away and when he was far enough, Trelawney muttered, “Alohamora is a joke” To Albus Dumbledore’s face in the portrait and they both laugh as though it was a shared joke. Then her office door swung open.
Lilith wondered why she changed her password.
“Did anyone mention to Professor Binns that he’s dead, Professor?” Moon asked with no thoughts other than his question. That’s just what he was like when he was curious—he’s dumb.
“As a matter of fact yes, Professor McGonagall once had a heated argument with him, and she shouted that he was dead.” Moon’s eyes grew as large as the moon. “But he denied it and they continued arguing.” Trelawney laughed. “I guess he already knows that he’s dead. He just would not admit it. I consulted Minerva right here—“she points to another framed woman, “She said, it shouldn’t concern me as Professor Binns is still very much eager to teach.”
They all settled down and Trelawney moved her hand to stroke Fawkes, who was rumored to hate being petted. Moon wondered if Lilith knew it and found it odd that Fawkes was not squawking in horror as Trelawney ran her hand across her feathers.
“I almost forgot why I brought you here!” She said cheerfully. “I was going to give you a warning Mr. Lovegood. Apparition is still illegal until a few days. You’ll learn it soon so please refrain from doing it again until then just so the Ministry of Magic is not breathing down my neck. Please. And I know you’re a very strong wizard but you might be put in danger if you don’t Apparate properly.” She looked at him and he nodded so she did too. “And of course you and your friends too. I heard you’re about to teach them. It’s in two weeks’ time, just you wait Mr. Lovegood.
“You may go Mr. lovegood. Unless you want to stay for Lilith.”
“Yes. I would like that, Professor.”
Lilith only grunted, if Moon showed up more, she would really like his company now.
“I got to exchange a few letters with your sponsors and they heard from your old school that you had potential in Quidditch so they sent you a broom.”
Lilith beamed and so did Moon. “I told them not to get the latest model for it might intimidate you and get you attention. I supposed you hated that from the way you hide yourself when you’re alone, correct?”
“That’s right. That’s right Professor,” Moon said thoughtfully, “But how did you know?” Looking back, Lilith really do hate the spotlight on her.
“Oh, I know everyone in Hogwarts well. I’m quite friendly Mr. Lovegood.” She waved the question off. “Was I right, Ms. Malfoy?” She looked at her again, she just beamed though. She was as stiff as a cardboard so Moon gave her a little nudge.
“Y-yes, Profes-ssor Trelawney.” She gasped, “I’m-I’m just a lit—“.
“She’s just overwhelmed.” Moon finished for her so she wouldn’t struggle to get the words out anymore. Her stutter appeared sometimes when she’s overwhelmed. “I’ll take her broom and lead her to the dormitories. Goodnight to you Professor.” Moon saluted and Trelawney giggled. He led her away and walked her to the Commonroom.
She recovered half-way through the dormitories and she they started a debate on how Moon was always absent snogging his girlfriend.
“You always have no time with your friends!”
“What are you on about? I am always with Cole!”
“In classes! I’m always hanging out with George and Cole while you eat her face. I heard she was notorious for cheating, even. Why are you so stubborn about this? Just dump her!
“Well, she has not cheated on me yet.” He used the same argument he used with George.
She banged her broomstick on his head just enough to make him dizzy. “Bastard.”
Cole and George walked to them still fighting and bumping their sides together as hard as they can muster. They were fighting because they lit a firework in front of Master Cork’s desk and almost shocked him to death—I swear he looks like a fucking mummy to me—and when they got caught, they turned against each other—George did it first, she really does not have any pinch of dignity in her. She dumbly said that it was me!
“Should we open this present in your rooms?” Moon took the thickly wrapped handle of the broomstick.
“Your brother will catch me and drag me to bed.” Cole said darkly.
“Oh come on you git, if he sees a new broom I don’t think he’d leave their room too.” Moon said.
“From whom is it?” Lilith told them all about her sponsors, after she confronted Trelawney of her new clothes, she was informed that it was in fact her sponsors that bought them. The ones that payed for her transportation to Hogwarts too.
As they opened the package and tenderly tore the badly-wrapped parchment around it, Cole asked, “Strange how they sent you a broom, isn’t it?” He elbowed Moon who did think it was strange that Trelawney thought she had potential.
“Yeah I wonder if it’s a nimbus, that old model is fucking slow. It’s like my gramps walking on a hill.” George said.
“Hurry up! Pete will come soon. He’d whip my ass.” Moon said.
Finally, Lilith unwraps the broomstick. “A Velox XVI. Fuck.”
As she admired the beautiful piece of wood, she stood back a little, pressing herself to Cole, “Not a new model,” she raised her hands in an oh-well manner and added, “It’s not what everyone uses too. Maybe you can develop your own flying style with it.”
Lilith turns back to her, “What if I get in and I’d be in Gryffindor too?” She squealed.
“I would love that!” They started running around their room, no doubt catching attention from other students. As if on cue, Pete opens the door and both Cole and Moon toppled backwards but he catches them both by the ear and dragged them out. Lilith and George said goodbye and continued dancing about.
The next week at Potions all four of them arrived early and saw Samantha Jore leave Quigley’s classroom. They met her eyes and she immediately averted her gaze and sped up.
“That motherfucker.” George started foul mouth running.
Knowing that Lilith has absolutely no social life, Moon told her that Quigley has been suspended for dating a student.
They all vowed to keep their eyes peeled for Quigley for the next coming weeks but the House Cup had them all too distracted that no one payed much attention to classes.
Quigley, however, apologized to George and gave her rum to drink next year on her birthday when she turned eighteen on Christmas. George didn’t mention she drank alcohol already and accepted his apology.
“I’ll drink it with you.”
“Let’s drink it next year on Christmas.” George suggested.
“That would we brilliant, thanks.” Lilith replied. They walked to the Quidditch field with their broomsticks; Lilith with her Velox XVI and George with her Celer Speed 98—the new release.
While they walked, George instructed her on what she’ll do. Lilith was impressed because the one talked to her wasn’t just George—it was the captain of the Quidditch team; the whole talk was intimidating and exciting at the same time; she never knew that the easy-going George would be that competitive. “So you’ll wait in the stands, you’ll watch our team play and I’ll train you. This year, we really don’t have any vacant positions. But we do have some fucking assholes in the team so try your best when you try out.”
Lilith nodded like a cadet, “Understood.”
They marched to the stands and met with Slytherin whom they would practice with today. Cole eventually emerged from the library and sat next to Lilith.
All the balls were then released into the air and the players took flight. The Seekers who were Moon and Carlo had to wait until the referee thinks that the Snitch is well hidden and they can take their blindfolds off to catch it. But today was a pretty foggy day and the referee decided to release both Seekers after ten minutes into the play, the game would not end anytime soon.
Moon kicked off the ground and rose off ten feet in the air and Carlo stayed on his feet with his neck craned up to the skies, looking for the small golden ball.
In the end, it was Slytherin that won the match against Gryffindor. The scores were not at all close and when Slytherin was eighty points ahead of the game, Moon dove down to catch the Snitch. George roared at them and threw her helmet to the ground. “If we lose against Slytherin at the game. I’ll disband this team!”
She marched away with her team following her with “Please Team Cap. Don’t!”
George, as Cole realized, played really well. She could have easily scored if not for the lousy beater they had on the team—Midge Riverson. She does not guard George as much as she needed guarding, so instead of keeping a goal, she had to avoid the Bludgers with Theron Birch as the other beater.
Lilith had her attention to Moon the whole time, on the other hand, she was too absorbed in admiring his perfect eyesight that he could see that far from his position. He also refused to flirt with Midge Riverson as he was competitive and cannot bear to lose from Gryffindor.
The day after the first match George stopped talking to Moon and he to her. Cole explained that it’s how their relationship works. During House Cup seasons, they ignore each other and come back as friends again.
“They don’t sleep either. It’s best to avoid them when they’re acting like active volcanoes.” So they dragged each other to their classes.
Lilith had missed the try-outs for Gryffindor after writing letters for too long. She thought she only spent an hour with Persephone but she missed the try-outs, lunch and Defense Against Dark Arts. She wrote to Moon’s Mum thanking her for the owl, her Aunt Yellie and Cole’s Mum who gave her knitted sweaters and bonnets for the coming winter.
George was angry at the first defeat of Gryffindor, and Liliths no-show. She didn’t talk to anyone at all. “I missed the try-outs and so what? Why are you that angry? I came on the first match!”
“Please don’t fight.” Cole had said, shielding Moon to avoid him tagging along.
“No, I mean it George. Why are you so mean right now?”
Cole continued pleading with them but to no avail. “Mean Lilith? I’m worrying about my team! They’re relying on me to get that House Cup!”
Moon muttered, “You’re losing though.” Thankfully not heard by George. But Lilith glared at him so hotly, it could have burned him.
“Quidditch is the only thing I’m not going to fail, Lilith. I’m not half as good with studying as Moon and certainly not as skilled on the broom as Moon: the Wonder Boy!”
“HEY!” Moon shot to his feet, not knowing if he would take it as an insult or a compliment.
“That’s not true.” Lilith said soflty. “And you don’t have to be mean to other people when you’re stressed.”
“Ugh!” George was losing every bit of her patience. “You missed the fucking point, Lilith!”
Cole rolled his eyes and walked away as he grabbed Lilith’s hand and whisked her away.
Moon and George settled into a glaring game. George lost, “This is your girlfriend’s fault.”
“I can’t say it’s not true.” After all, Riverson really messed up the game with her laziness.
Lilith broke free from Cole’s grip and they just walked aimlessly in the castle. As they rounded a corner, they saw a couple kissing passionately under the staircase which was apparently a famous spot for couples that Professors know nothing about.
“Get a room,” Lilith muttered under her breath for Cole to hear. He laughed as they passed them but stopped dead in his tracks a few moments later.
“That’s Midge.” He said, with alarm.
“What?”
“If Moon knows he won’t be able to play on Saturday.”
They stood still with their eyes on each other and shouted as loudly as they can, charging to Midge. Cole flew in the air and kicked the guy who screamed and ran away. Lilith however, was unforgiving. She pulled back her hair and punched her square in the jaw.
“Oh yes.” She said with delight. “My knuckles have been itching to punch for half a year now.”
Midge tried to speak but her hair was being pulled apart from her scalp. All that came out was “Agaahagaj.”
She’s slammed to the wall, she crumbled but Lilith held her up. “Hi, I’m Lilith.” She shook Midge’s limp arm. “I’m Moon’s friend, surprise!” Midge’s eyes grew as wide as saucers. “This is what I want. Put ice on your jaw and then—shut the fuck up—I want you to confess to Moon what you did. If you don’t, I’ll break your pretty nose!” Lilith said with a smile that was not quite human.
As they got away, Cole had distanced himself from her to avoid being punches and said, “You’re a Maniac, you are.”
“Hmm, a little bit.” She smiled and grabbed his hands to pull him to the Great Hall. They didn’t see Midge appear for dinner.
Nor the next days.
“Moon wait up.” George with Lilith beside her said. “Let’s have a great match.” She extended an arm and Cole beamed like Grinch.
“Let’s crush each other in that field.”
“I’ll crush you in that field, you foul git.” They hugged each other and entered their respective tents, leaving Cole and Lilith behind. George entered and everyone fell silent—scared, few people acknowledged her with, “Team Cap.” Moon, on the other hand, got cheers led by their captain—Aron Thomas.
“Where is Riverson! It’s almost time, people. Get her Magnus!” George barked at her scared team. She could get a little bit monster-y sometimes.
“I’m here.” Riverson entered with a bulging lump on her right cheek. It looked like it was covered by make-up.
People crowded her and asked her if she was okay. And then Professor Maximus and Professor Porta went inside the tent
“We will not stop the match for now.” Professor Porta said without any explanation whatsoever. “We have already talked to her. I will treat her after the match. She can hold up with the bruising. Goodluck Gryffindor.” She nodded to them and smiled at George, “Team Cap.”