Serenity Silverwing & The Hogwarts Five

Chapter Fifteen

Watching One's Step

Last Seen: Serenity certainly made a big splash at the Start-Of-Term Feast. Now... Continuing in Serenity's PoV. Reconciliations and apologies abound in this chapter so sit tight. On with the story and don't for get to R! E! V! I! E! W! (Tess's characters chorus, "What's that spell?!" then Serenity yells, "REVIEW!!!") Tah!

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For a little less than a week, I'd managed to avoid getting cornered by Tradrin. I just couldn't face him... Not after what I'd said to him. However... He did teach two of my classes, one of them with my assistance. It was only a matter of time before I would find myself in his presence.

It was Wednesday, and my first lesson of the day was Ancient Runes, followed by one of said classes, Rhythms and Chants.

Ancient Runes was always intriguing. It was almost like learning another language. It didn't follow the principle of 'first-language-is-the-hardest-and-each-one-after-gets-easier'. It was actually challenging. Well... The more challenging part of the class was not snapping at Granger for leaping out of her seat whenever a question was asked. Honestly, that's the one main thing I will always agree with Ron.

Rhythms and Chants is a small class of fourth years, mainly comprised of Ravenclaws that were intrigued. There were a few Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors that thought it'd be an easy class. I'm... I mean, I had been the only Slytherin in the class, and, for me, it'd been required.

As I'd thought, (I really should've taken Divination) it didn't take long for Tradrin to say the words I'd dreaded.

"Miss Shaman, I'll be speaking with you after class."

I cringe. He only called me by my family name if I was in trouble, or he wanted me to do something without fail. Either way, I was in deep guano.

The end of class came sooner than desired. For all the complaining of the others, they did enjoy the class. Honestly, who wouldn't like to know how the chant weird, sometimes freaky, mantras while playing a drum?

Of course, my usual reason for not liking to leave (facing Draco and co.) didn't apply but I still take my time putting away all my supplies neatly and organizing all my books and papers for the day. I was not looking forward to this conversation.

"Hello, Serenity," Tradrin says amiably as I approach his moderately sized desk.

"Before you say anything, I'm not proud of what I said before so can we just have done?" I blurt with a sigh. I didn't want another fight like last time so I wanted this over ASAP!

"Actually, I didn't want to talk about that."

I blink at the straight-faced professor, and shake my head.

"Yes, you heard me right," Tradrin says, half smiling. "I've been authorized to give you this on behalf of the Council. I understand you lost your old one."

With that, he pulls out from under his desk a paper wrapped package that resembled a bell on a handle. He hands it, handle first, to me over the desk. I take it, glancing curiously at the strange shape and feeling the odd lightness of the package. I feel my eyes snared to a spot on the handle.

Curiosity finally overwhelms my awe and I rip at the paper near the spot I'd been staring. The sight of blue-tinted wood with Rainstorm emblazoned in silver makes my breath catch in my throat.

Holding my breath, not daring to believe my eyes and hands, I pull away the rest of the plain brown paper, revealing the mesmerizing broom that'd hypnotized me on my visit to Diagon Alley.

"But... Why?" I stutter, clutching the broom tightly, barely believing that this wasn't a dream.

"Er... Well... I was told to tell you to consider it as a late Golden Birthday present from the Council," Tradrin answers.

"How'd they know my old one..." My voice broke. I still had trouble remembering that night without choking on my words, even though it's well more three months past.

"We all have our ways, QS," Tradrin responds, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"Thank you, Trad..." I whisper, trying to hide that I desperately wanted to cry.

"Serenity, I did all I could. Please understand that," Tradrin says as he placed a consoling hand on my shoulder, a pleading look in his already sad eyes. I nod, sniffing slightly.

"Now... It's my understanding that one of the Gryffindor Chasers wants to play Keeper, but there's still a spot to be filled," Tradrin says, turning to the summer assignments that'd been turned in earlier. I stare at him in something akin to disbelief. "I believe you need to talk with Madam Hooch now?"

* * * * *

"So basically, there are two spots open? Not just one?" Melody Hermes asks, voicing the majority of confusion.

"Exactly, Hermes," Katie, Chaser and newly elected Captain, answers with a sigh. "Angelina opted to go for her old spot from the Reserves and opened up a Chaser slot in the process."

"In other words, split into two groups; one for the Chaser try-outs, the other for the Keeper prospects," Alicia says with a grin, speaking from her position of go-between for the two Gryffindor teams.

I moan as Ron (Bain of my life, he is) moves into the Chaser group. I was probably the only one that knew there was a Chaser spot up for grabs outside of the Quidditch teams.

"The try-outs are going to be similar to Backyard Quidditch; three Chasers and one Keeper to a team. We have Madam Hooch to keep track of whom scores and who saves the most. Not only that, but she will be keeping track of who works best in a team with whom. All of you will be tried at least twice; once against us, and then with us. First two Keepers are Angelina for our team and Davis for the opposing. Chasers will be..." Katie pauses as she consults a list, "Harrison, Weasley and Emerson opposed and Silverwing with us."

I feel blood rushing to my cheeks as I step forward. I was strangely aware that everyone was staring at my broom, even the actual Quidditch team members.

"How'd you get one of those?" Katie asks quietly in awe, staring at the blue-tinted wonder. I felt my face get redder.

"Present," I mumble, embarrassed.

"Wish someone would get me a present like that!" Alicia mutters.

"Ready then?" Katie asks, looking around at the two teams and George who was the 'quaffle-tosser'.

"Right. Up in the air then," Katie says, mounting her broom and taking off.

* * * * *

The try-outs went well. The two students Serenity got teamed with were nervous that she'd blast them out of the water with her broom but, what with her liking to do the opposite of expectations, she didn't.

Serenity was nervously awaiting the judgment a week later, trying and failing to concentrate on the lesson plan for Shamanism that Professor Fatespirit wanted her to prepare for. She didn't want others to see her anxiously walking to the Entrance Hall and checking out the bulletin board but every time Serenity passed the said board, she forgot to check it.

Oh, lovely day. Ron Weasley almost slammed open the portrait on his way into the Common Room. In his own way, he's worse than Draco is, and that's saying something.

"I don't believe this... I don't bloody believe this!" He was cursing on his way to his dorm. He slams the stair door shut. Serenity rolls her eyes. He's such a child it's not even funny.

Harry comes in, looking thoroughly exasperated, and heaves a sigh as he heads up the boys' staircase. Hermione came in after Harry, but she headed to a nearby table instead of head for the staircases.

"Hey Hermione," Serenity says, leaving her own table to talk with her unwitting informant on the Terrific Trio. She jumps, dropping a book that she'd just pulled from her bag.

"Oh, hello Serenity," Hermione says after looking up from her unpacking startled.

Serenity leans over and picks up the book, then hands it to her. "What's up with the Daring Duo? Ron didn't look pleased as punch and Harry looked worse."

"Oh those two! They got into a fight over the new line up for the first-string Quidditch team." Hermione sighs, taking the book from Serenity and setting it on the table.

"Ron didn't make it then I take it," Serenity says, glancing wryly towards the boys' dormitories. Hermione snorts derisively.

"You take it correctly, Serenity. Apparently, some; and I quote; 'ruddy female' got the spot he wanted. Honestly, you'd think the women's rights movement never happened with him!" Hermione rants, continuing to unpack her bag.

"He didn't mention precisely who got the Chaser spot?" Serenity asks, hoping against hope.

"No... Just called her any number of crude and inappropriate things and stormed off," Hermione answers, setting another book heavily on the table. Serenity's face fell.

I guess I won't know until I walk down there and see it, Serenity thinks resolutely. She looks around the Common room for Diana, decided upon making a trip out of this, as dinner was none too soon.

"Have you seen Diana?" Serenity asks, walking up to the fireplace where Gwen, Gavin, Fred and George were scheming.

"No... Said she was going to get help from someone for... Er..." Gavin falters and Gwen picks up the slack by saying, "She was getting help for History from one of your Ravenclaw friends. I think this one was Rose or something like that."

"Thanks Gwen," Serenity says and heads out. If Diana was with Rosalyn, then they'd be finishing up about now, especially since Rosalyn hates being late for anything and doubly so for meals.

All was going well on her way to the library. Serenity ran into Lisa Turpin and Carita Reilin as I passed the Fifth floor. They looked slightly surprised to hear Serenity addressing them in a friendly manner. After Second Year, she wasn't surprised at that, since she told them they had to stop talking to each other in order to spare themselves from unwanted Slytherin attention.

She was a corridor away from the library when Diana came pelting around a corner looking very terrified.

"Dia! What's wrong!? Weren't you studying with Rosalyn?" Serenity asks but Diana didn't have time to answer before Karl Bletchley rounds the corner.

"Oh-ho! So the Yankee Mudblood goes running to the Disgrace. How fitting," Karl says with a sneer.

"What were you doing to Diana?" Serenity snarls, instincts kicking in and moving Diana behind her.

"Oh just having a happy little chat," Karl answers with a false smile. "There are so few people we Slytherins can talk with."

"Yeah right, Bletchley. If you were just chatting and my memory fails, I'm Lucius Malfoy," Serenity retorts, struggling to keep her temper in check.

"It'd be an improvement," Karl snaps back, "and you never know with your memory, Silverwing... How far was that fall you took last year? Was it ten or fifteen feet?"

"Aerio decentem y changium!" Serenity shouts, varying one of her shaman spells to include some interesting effects. Karl went reeling backwards, bleeding from multiple (and still appearing) facial wounds, as Serenity blasts him into a suit of armor.

"Seraye!" Diana exclaims, taking in the havoc Serenity'd just wreaked.

"Let's go before we're found here," Serenity says calmly, feeling the magical drain on her shaman powers but not being bothered by it as they walked away.

"What will Trad think!?" Diana asks, sounding slightly panicked.

"He already knows. He'll be there in a few minutes, once he's grabbed Madam McCloud," Serenity answers, taking the shortest route to the Entrance Hall.

"Why are we heading for the Entrance Hall? It's only - Oh... Never mind." Diana looks sheepish as she lets her sleeve drop over her wristwatch. Serenity smiles and drapes an arm around Diana's shoulders.

"Seraye?" Diana starts as we made it to the second floor.

"Hm?"

"What did Bletchley mean when he said 'that fall you took last year'? What fall?" Diana asks, looking thoroughly confused.

"It's nothing Dia. Just trying to make a big deal of my occasional klutz attacks," Serenity lies. Diana looks up at her sister suspiciously as they take the marble stairs down into the Entrance Hall.

"Look, go get us seats. I'll be a minute. I need to check the bulletin board," Serenity says as she sends her reluctant sister to dinner.

Serenity glances over the board looking for the Quidditch section. There were the other lists for the first-string teams and the Gryffindors'. She scowls as she read the new Chaser line.

She was the new Chaser, but that wasn't the point. It was in Ron's handwriting (it must be for what it said). He had scribbled out "Silverwing, Serenity" and written next to it 'Bloody Wonderful Silverwing".

Well, that explains why Ron was so thrilled. Serenity thinks, smiling and trying to keep herself from cheering in the Hall. She failed...

"YES! YES!!!" Serenity shouts, jumping up and down. Her celebration was cut short by the appearance of a very sour looking Madam McCloud. "Yes?" Serenity turns her cheering into a cheerful query to the teacher's pointed stare.

"Come with me, Miss Silverwing," Madam McCloud says exasperatedly. "You know I'll have to hunt you down when you use that kind of spell, so why do you make me come after you?"

Serenity follows Madam McCloud up towards the Hospital Wing. Serenity knew why McCloud was taking her up here. The shaman who casts a shaman spell is the only one who can remove it.

"Serenity Silverwing, what were you thinking?!" Tradrin asks, practically pouncing on her the moment Serenity was in the Infirmary.

"Many things, Professor. Among them was a certain night, on which I was nearly KILLED," Serenity answers truthfully with probably more vehemence than was absolutely necessary.

"Would you please take that spell off before you have another hawk to deal with?" Tradrin asks, taking another tactic.

"Hawks are easy, Professor. It's Slytherins that I have a time dealing with," Serenity answers, blocking that particular method of persuasion.

"You realize you could have killed him? As it is, he'll be in here until tomorrow evening from the blood loss." Tradrin again switches his tactics but brushes against her temper.

"I only did what he did to me!" Serenity snaps. "I was defending Diana," she argues further. "Do you want what happened to me to happen to Diana as well?! I, for one, won't see it!"

Tradrin seems to come to his senses, blinking.

"Aerio acentem y dechangium," Serenity snaps, and whirls on her heel. "It's less than he deserves and I haven't even started on the rest of them." she growls before exiting.

"Think we should warn them?" Tradrin asks Rosa as the door slides shut.

"No... She has to get it out of her system," Rosa says with a smile at Tradrin's horrified face, "and I have a better idea."

"It is?" Tradrin asks curiously.

"Well... Since we won't be able to get Amanda to teach any defenses because shaman spells are a different sort of magic, we should really start up a defense against shamanism class. After all, we're getting a rising number of shamans in this school, teachers included, and the only way, thus far, is telling them from their skin tones and even that won't last long. The Weasley and Doaraion twins have the power of nature in them, so do you and I and we're all fair skinned," Rosa explains a malicious smile spreading on her finely crafted features.

"You're plotting something, Rosangelyn," Tradrin accuses, and Rosa's grin broadens.

"Well, first, we make it on a Saturday morning, and extremely early at that. Second, it'll give Serenity a challenge if her prey can defend themselves and she might get that vengeance out of her system quicker. Also, it might stretch her inventiveness in the use of her spells," Rosa says, smiling now like a Cheshire cat.

"You are a devious woman!" Tradrin accuses jokingly.

"And you would know it!" Rosa retorts, and then plants a teasing kiss on his mouth before dashing nimbly out of the room, leaving the stunned male to come out of shock.

"ROSA!" Tradrin roars, tearing after the fair Potions Mistress.

Authoress's Note & Disclaimer: Serenity Silverwing, Rosa McCloud, Medea Jeminy, Amanda Filch, Tradrin Fatespirit, Karl Bletchley (sans surname), Diana Featheredmoon, Rosalyn Stonecast, the persona of Lisa Turpin, Carita Reilin, the Blood Gang, Guinevere and Gavin Doaraion are mine... What I don't own belongs to J.K. Rowling, Goddess that she is. ^_^

Chapter Sixteen: Chaser Controversy may be a while as I have some romance fluff in my head at the moment. Hehe... Please R&R!

Tah now!

~Empress Tessandrilene Wendracon de Sanyochisei