ARCHIVES: Harry Potter | With a Girl Like You - Chapter 5
A/N: This fic was originally published on FFnet in 2002. It has now been back-posted here for archival purposes.
With a Girl Like You
Chapter 5 - A Quidditchy Start
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. ^.~
o0o0o0o
"Wow," Ginny breathed for the hundredth time, leaning over the edge of her chair. She came to ask Hermione for help in Charms. They were in the 6th year girls' room, where everyone was doing homework. Well, everyone, that is, except for Acacia.
"Acacia, she'll never be able to concentrate if you have that bloody broom out," Hermione snapped.
The dark-haired girl flinched, and quickly shoved the beautiful glittering broom under her blankets. "Sorry," she murmured, glancing at her watch. Twenty minutes still, she thought to herself. She was going to have extra flying lessons with Madame Hooch, since Beauxbatons did not have a very good program for girls like herself. Granted, she was a pretty good flyer, but she was still nervous about flying in front of everyone else. After all, Hogwarts Quidditch players excelled at their sport.
Even though the broom was nowhere in sight, Ginny sighed inwardly. If only she had enough money to buy the precious thing! She admitted that she was envious. The broom was the newest model, the contemporary broom in the display at Quality Quidditch. Acacia had said her uncle bought it for her birthday.
"Your uncle must be very nice," Ginny commented, completely off topic.
Acacia was startled. "Yes, he is. Um…" She was confused. They weren't even talking about Uncle Reggie. Then she understood.
Hermione looked furious. "Ginny Weasley! If you can't concentrate on anything but Quidditch, I'm not going to waste my time trying to help you with Charms!"
"All right already! I was paying attention!" Ginny protested. Looking at her homework, a confused look slowly formed on her face. "Now how do I do this again?"
Hermione groaned, then proceeded to instruct her best friend's little sister on how to perform a complex, but not impossible, charm for the gazillionth time.
"Now, I trust you know how to mount a broom. Correct?" Madame Hooch asked, giving Acacia a quick once-over. She was not sure this girl would be much of a flyer. Then again, it was always difficult to tell with girls.
"Yes, Madame Hooch."
"Mount your broom then, go on," she prompted. With that, Acacia took off, flying up, up, up! Then she performed a few loops before slowly drifting back to where Madame Hooch remained, two feet firmly on the ground.
The broom was amazing. Even Madame Hooch had to admit there was nothing like it ever before. No broom could match it for its speed, handling, and stability. It even looked different. Perhaps not better, because it was certainly strange to see a translucent, glittering, gently curved stick with a paddle on the end of it, but beautiful all the same.
It was fascinating enough to catch the attentions of other Quidditch players congregating at the pitch for their team meetings.
"Did you see that? Woooooooow…"
"It's the new model!"
"No way! The Illusion?"
"Yeah! Who's the girl?"
"She's new, I think. Gryffindor."
"Aw, too bad. With a broom like that, we definitely could win the Cup."
A Gryffindor heard the last comment. "In your DREAMS!"
"HEY! Looks who's talking!" A brawl commenced, and Madame Hooch left Acacia to her own devices and went to break it up.
"Hey, Acacia. How's the broom?" Harry had flown down to have a closer look at the broom. Well, and maybe to see Acacia, too.
The girl smiled at Harry. "It's wonderful. I can even change the colors."
Harry looked interested, so she pulled out her wand and said a few words. The swirling, glittering green turned blue and silver, shooting little silver sparks out everywhere.
"Amazing!" Harry remarked, when Ron suddenly came up behind him.
"Bloody wicked!" he cried. "Can you make mine do that?"
Acacia laughed.
A beautiful, tinkling laugh, Harry thought. Shut up, brain, he reproached.
[a/n: I forgot to mention...if you haven't figured it out already, sentences that are italicized are usually character thoughts.]
"Sorry Ron, it's a special feature for this broom only. Do you want to fly it?"
Ron's eyes were as large as Quidditch hoops. "Would I really?," he spluttered incredulously. "Gods, YES!" Acacia held it out for him, now sparkling gold, and he mounted it enthusiastically. "I promise I won't do anything to it!" he called, streaking across the pitch.
Harry was obviously very envious. Does she like Ron? he wondered uncomfortably. His eyes were unusually bright, and he had a strange expression on his face.
"You can fly my broom too, Harry," she said. "I'm sure you'll love it!" Speaking of preference, I love his eyes…I wish mine were green. They're just boring hazel. She smiled at him, not noticing his odd look.
Maybe she doesn't like him…best if she doesn't, because Hermione would be crushed. When did I figure that out? He thought about that a little more. Or would it bother me more? She has a really nice smile. What am I thinking? Geez…
"Thanks, but I really have to organize this meeting, which isn't going anywhere. Tryouts are more important this year than any other because we have three openings, instead of one or, at most, two," he stated in a matter-of-fact way. Oh no, do I sound like Percy? Eugh. Disgusting.
"Maybe some other time?" he added, hopefully.
"Sure thing," she replied, still smiling. "Maybe you can help me practice flying?" she asked, shyly. Oh. My. God. I can't believe I just asked that…I get ditzier and ditzier by the second. He's going to hate me!
"I can try," Harry answered modestly. "At the very least, you can get more acquainted with Quidditch. I mean, the game itself."
Acacia grinned. "I'd really appreciate that."
"Did you have a Quidditch team at your old school?"
She frowned.
Oh no…wrong question… Harry cursed himself.
"Well, they had a Quidditch team, but it was very difficult for girls to be on it. Plus…" she hesitated. How to put it? "Well, no one really liked me there." There. I said it. Now he's going to hate me for sure.
She didn't expect the reaction she got.
"WHAT?" Harry managed to splutter. How could anyone not like her? She was…well, very nice, intelligent, sweet, and to top it all off, beautiful…
Luckily for them, Ron was just in time to break the awkward conversation. Acacia suddenly exclaimed, "Look out, here he comes!" She pointed straight ahead.
Sure enough, Ron was pelting back towards them. The redhead on the super-speedy broom was thinking hard. Well, as hard as a guy can, when it comes to girls. I wonder if she likes me. She let me ride her broom. Yet…she's talking to Harry…but she let me ride her broom… He caught a bit of their conversation as he zipped past.
"You are trying out, aren't you?" Harry asked. Or, rather-demanded.
Acacia laughed again.
Ahh…how musical…beautiful…wonderful…what the hell? SHUT UP, BRAIN! Harry kicked himself mentally. Ron was thinking along similar lines.
"I suppose I will, but I'm not expecting to make the team or anything."
Ron zoomed around them at a shocking speed. "How can you not make the team with this broom? It's wicked fast!"
She shrugged her shoulders, her long, silky hair flowing in the wind. "There are better players than me. Speed isn't everything, you know. Not even for a Seeker." She smiled sweetly at Harry, who blushed. Fortunately, Ron didn't hear the last comment.
"We'd better get the meeting together, Ron," Harry said rather quickly, his ears turning pink. "See you at dinner, Acacia. Good luck flying-Madame Hooch is pretty tough."
Ron's brow furrowed a bit. Great. Why is he blushing? Oh well. "Yeah, I'll second that. Here's your broom," Ron said, handing her broom back. "Later!"
"Bye, guys!" she called, for they had taken to the air and were already growing smaller and smaller in the sky.
I wish I could fly like that, she thought to herself longingly. Just being on the team with such wonderful people had its appeal. Maybe Madame Hooch will help me out. After all, I have three weeks till tryouts.
A sneering voice interrupted her thoughts.
"I see you've made some friends, Elcombe."
Oh no…it's Malfoy…
o0o0o0o
A/N: PLEASE, I'm begging you! You've already read it, so REVIEW!
Psst…tip! 'Acacia' is pronounced 'ah-say-she-ah'.
Sorry if it's got too much cliché-y lovey dovey hints, but it's necessary, don't you think?
Why does Acacia already know Malfoy? Keep reading! Thanks! ^_^
With a Girl Like You
Chapter 5 - A Quidditchy Start
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. ^.~
o0o0o0o
"Wow," Ginny breathed for the hundredth time, leaning over the edge of her chair. She came to ask Hermione for help in Charms. They were in the 6th year girls' room, where everyone was doing homework. Well, everyone, that is, except for Acacia.
"Acacia, she'll never be able to concentrate if you have that bloody broom out," Hermione snapped.
The dark-haired girl flinched, and quickly shoved the beautiful glittering broom under her blankets. "Sorry," she murmured, glancing at her watch. Twenty minutes still, she thought to herself. She was going to have extra flying lessons with Madame Hooch, since Beauxbatons did not have a very good program for girls like herself. Granted, she was a pretty good flyer, but she was still nervous about flying in front of everyone else. After all, Hogwarts Quidditch players excelled at their sport.
Even though the broom was nowhere in sight, Ginny sighed inwardly. If only she had enough money to buy the precious thing! She admitted that she was envious. The broom was the newest model, the contemporary broom in the display at Quality Quidditch. Acacia had said her uncle bought it for her birthday.
"Your uncle must be very nice," Ginny commented, completely off topic.
Acacia was startled. "Yes, he is. Um…" She was confused. They weren't even talking about Uncle Reggie. Then she understood.
Hermione looked furious. "Ginny Weasley! If you can't concentrate on anything but Quidditch, I'm not going to waste my time trying to help you with Charms!"
"All right already! I was paying attention!" Ginny protested. Looking at her homework, a confused look slowly formed on her face. "Now how do I do this again?"
Hermione groaned, then proceeded to instruct her best friend's little sister on how to perform a complex, but not impossible, charm for the gazillionth time.
"Now, I trust you know how to mount a broom. Correct?" Madame Hooch asked, giving Acacia a quick once-over. She was not sure this girl would be much of a flyer. Then again, it was always difficult to tell with girls.
"Yes, Madame Hooch."
"Mount your broom then, go on," she prompted. With that, Acacia took off, flying up, up, up! Then she performed a few loops before slowly drifting back to where Madame Hooch remained, two feet firmly on the ground.
The broom was amazing. Even Madame Hooch had to admit there was nothing like it ever before. No broom could match it for its speed, handling, and stability. It even looked different. Perhaps not better, because it was certainly strange to see a translucent, glittering, gently curved stick with a paddle on the end of it, but beautiful all the same.
It was fascinating enough to catch the attentions of other Quidditch players congregating at the pitch for their team meetings.
"Did you see that? Woooooooow…"
"It's the new model!"
"No way! The Illusion?"
"Yeah! Who's the girl?"
"She's new, I think. Gryffindor."
"Aw, too bad. With a broom like that, we definitely could win the Cup."
A Gryffindor heard the last comment. "In your DREAMS!"
"HEY! Looks who's talking!" A brawl commenced, and Madame Hooch left Acacia to her own devices and went to break it up.
"Hey, Acacia. How's the broom?" Harry had flown down to have a closer look at the broom. Well, and maybe to see Acacia, too.
The girl smiled at Harry. "It's wonderful. I can even change the colors."
Harry looked interested, so she pulled out her wand and said a few words. The swirling, glittering green turned blue and silver, shooting little silver sparks out everywhere.
"Amazing!" Harry remarked, when Ron suddenly came up behind him.
"Bloody wicked!" he cried. "Can you make mine do that?"
Acacia laughed.
A beautiful, tinkling laugh, Harry thought. Shut up, brain, he reproached.
[a/n: I forgot to mention...if you haven't figured it out already, sentences that are italicized are usually character thoughts.]
"Sorry Ron, it's a special feature for this broom only. Do you want to fly it?"
Ron's eyes were as large as Quidditch hoops. "Would I really?," he spluttered incredulously. "Gods, YES!" Acacia held it out for him, now sparkling gold, and he mounted it enthusiastically. "I promise I won't do anything to it!" he called, streaking across the pitch.
Harry was obviously very envious. Does she like Ron? he wondered uncomfortably. His eyes were unusually bright, and he had a strange expression on his face.
"You can fly my broom too, Harry," she said. "I'm sure you'll love it!" Speaking of preference, I love his eyes…I wish mine were green. They're just boring hazel. She smiled at him, not noticing his odd look.
Maybe she doesn't like him…best if she doesn't, because Hermione would be crushed. When did I figure that out? He thought about that a little more. Or would it bother me more? She has a really nice smile. What am I thinking? Geez…
"Thanks, but I really have to organize this meeting, which isn't going anywhere. Tryouts are more important this year than any other because we have three openings, instead of one or, at most, two," he stated in a matter-of-fact way. Oh no, do I sound like Percy? Eugh. Disgusting.
"Maybe some other time?" he added, hopefully.
"Sure thing," she replied, still smiling. "Maybe you can help me practice flying?" she asked, shyly. Oh. My. God. I can't believe I just asked that…I get ditzier and ditzier by the second. He's going to hate me!
"I can try," Harry answered modestly. "At the very least, you can get more acquainted with Quidditch. I mean, the game itself."
Acacia grinned. "I'd really appreciate that."
"Did you have a Quidditch team at your old school?"
She frowned.
Oh no…wrong question… Harry cursed himself.
"Well, they had a Quidditch team, but it was very difficult for girls to be on it. Plus…" she hesitated. How to put it? "Well, no one really liked me there." There. I said it. Now he's going to hate me for sure.
She didn't expect the reaction she got.
"WHAT?" Harry managed to splutter. How could anyone not like her? She was…well, very nice, intelligent, sweet, and to top it all off, beautiful…
Luckily for them, Ron was just in time to break the awkward conversation. Acacia suddenly exclaimed, "Look out, here he comes!" She pointed straight ahead.
Sure enough, Ron was pelting back towards them. The redhead on the super-speedy broom was thinking hard. Well, as hard as a guy can, when it comes to girls. I wonder if she likes me. She let me ride her broom. Yet…she's talking to Harry…but she let me ride her broom… He caught a bit of their conversation as he zipped past.
"You are trying out, aren't you?" Harry asked. Or, rather-demanded.
Acacia laughed again.
Ahh…how musical…beautiful…wonderful…what the hell? SHUT UP, BRAIN! Harry kicked himself mentally. Ron was thinking along similar lines.
"I suppose I will, but I'm not expecting to make the team or anything."
Ron zoomed around them at a shocking speed. "How can you not make the team with this broom? It's wicked fast!"
She shrugged her shoulders, her long, silky hair flowing in the wind. "There are better players than me. Speed isn't everything, you know. Not even for a Seeker." She smiled sweetly at Harry, who blushed. Fortunately, Ron didn't hear the last comment.
"We'd better get the meeting together, Ron," Harry said rather quickly, his ears turning pink. "See you at dinner, Acacia. Good luck flying-Madame Hooch is pretty tough."
Ron's brow furrowed a bit. Great. Why is he blushing? Oh well. "Yeah, I'll second that. Here's your broom," Ron said, handing her broom back. "Later!"
"Bye, guys!" she called, for they had taken to the air and were already growing smaller and smaller in the sky.
I wish I could fly like that, she thought to herself longingly. Just being on the team with such wonderful people had its appeal. Maybe Madame Hooch will help me out. After all, I have three weeks till tryouts.
A sneering voice interrupted her thoughts.
"I see you've made some friends, Elcombe."
Oh no…it's Malfoy…
o0o0o0o
A/N: PLEASE, I'm begging you! You've already read it, so REVIEW!
Psst…tip! 'Acacia' is pronounced 'ah-say-she-ah'.
Sorry if it's got too much cliché-y lovey dovey hints, but it's necessary, don't you think?
Why does Acacia already know Malfoy? Keep reading! Thanks! ^_^