Everyone watched in shock as Mrs. Weasley's voice rang out through the Great Hall with a Howler. Harry and Nova both looked at in shock. Snape looked overly happy at Ron's embarassment.

Then Nova's howler came.

The Great Hall was silent. Everyone watched in anticipation. Nova wasn't phased when the shouting of Mrs. Morgenstern rang through the hall. She simply looked bored.

"NOVA BLACK, HOW DARE YOU?" she screeched. "WE TAKE YOU IN AS OUR OWN DAUGHTER AND THIS IS HOW YOU THANK US? YOU ARE A DISGRACE! YOU-"

The howler was burned. Nova had burned it. She didn't wish to have her toast breakfast ruined by the Morgensterns stating she'd be locked in the dungeon all Christmas Break.

"I cannot express how much I hate them," Sirius growled.

***

"You've got to be kidding me," Nova groaned as she looked down at the test Gilderoy Lockheart had passed out.

"Is there a problem, Miss Black?" he asked her.

"Yes, actually," she said, handing him the test back. "This isn't truly a test."

"Of course it is!"

"Sir, these are all questions that would not have been found in your books," Nova said slowly. "These would only be found in articles written about you-"

"Nova!" Lily hissed. "You cannot speak to a teacher that way!"

"It's okay, mum," Harry cut in. "He's a fruad anyways."

"Still!"

"I get it from my Da," Nova defended. "Blame him."

"Thanks, Lion," Sirius said sarcastically.

"Good witches and wizards are well versed in all forms of literature."

"No," Nova shook her head. "You don't need to be good at understanding textbooks to be good at magic. Besides, this is stupid. Why would I read an article about a man who is self-obsessed?"

Hermione was looking at Nova like she was an alien, as were most of the female population in that class.

Ron and Harry shared a look, clearly agreeing with her.

"Besides," Nova continued as Lockheart attempted to speak. "What's your favorite color have to do with Defense Against the Dark Arts?"

"This test is meant to give students easy points-"

"That's fine and all, but how the bloody fucking hell am I supposed to know what your favorite color is if I only read the seven million books you required us to buy this year?" Nova vented. "Speaking of which, did you only make your students buy all of your books so you can have more money?"

"Now, now, Miss Black," he patted her head, and she glared at him. "You haven't the faintest clue what you're on about."

"It was a simple question," she shrugged. "Are you not under the impression that some students might not be able to afford such textbooks?"

Lockheart stammered.

"I thought someone with such a 'great' history in defeating darknesses would learn to think things through."

"Detention, and ten house points."

"Alright," Nova shrugged.

Nova and Hermione were the only two students that passed the test given. Nova simply guessed, and only missed a few questions. Hermione hadn't missed anything. Nova was slightly incorrect. Some of the questions on the test were simple mentions in the books, but most of them were not.

"Did you speak to all of your teachers like that?" Lily asked Nova in complete shock.

"Considering he planned to leave Ginny for dead then proceeded to try and wipe the memories of Harry and Ron," Nova remarked. "Not to mention he took all of the bones out of Harry's fucking hand-"

"Yes," Hermione piped up. "She talks to a lot of teachers like that."

"I didn't see you complaining when it was Umbitch," Nova fired at her.

"If anyone deserves to be on the recieving end of Nova's words," Ron joked. "It's definately her."

"I can think of a few more that deserve it," Harry said bitterly, thinking about all of the pain she had gone through last year alone.

"Harry," Nova said calmly. "It's alright-"

"No, it's not!" Harry shouted angrily.

Everyone shared an uneasy glance, Lily moved to speak up. She wanted to calm him down, she had gone as far as to help. Yet, there wasn't a point. Nova had step forward, placing a hand on his forearm. There was a shared glance before she turned back to the group.

"Well be taking a break," Nova declared. "Finish the memories without us."

Then they disappeared.

Lockheart bent down behind his desk and lifted a large, covered cage onto it.

"Now - be warned! It is my job to arm you against the foulest creatures known to wizardkind! You may find yourselves facing your worst fears in this room. Know only that no harm can befall you whilst I am here. All I ask is that you remain calm."

Harry leaned around his pile of books for a better look. Ron tried his best to find a better look. Nova was suddenly started paying attention. She looked excited.

"I must ask you not to scream," said Lockhart in a low voice. "It might provoke them."

Nova was nearly out of her seat in anticipation while the other students held their breaths in anticipation. Harry and Nova shared an excited glance.

"Yes," Lockheart said dramatically. "Freshly caught Cornish Pixies."

"Oh you've got to be kidding me," Sirius groaned. "That's it?"

"Of-fucking-course," Nova groaned, deflating in her seat. "Stupid pixies."

Seamus Finnigan let out a snort of laughter.

"Yes?" Lockheart smiled at Seamus.

"Well, they're not - they're not very - dangerous, are they?" Seamus choked.

"Don't be so sure!" said Lockhart, waggling a finger annoyingly at Seamus. "Devilish tricky little blighters they can be!"

The pixies were electric blue and about eight inches high, with pointed faces and voices so shrill it was like listening to a lot of budgies arguing. The moment the cover had been removed, they had started jabbering and rocketing around, rattling the bars and making bizarre faces at the people nearest them.

"Right, then," Lockhart said loudly. "Let's see what you make of them!" And he opened the cage.

It was pandemonium. The pixies shot in every direction like rockets. Two of them seized Neville by the ears and lifted him into the air. Several shot straight through the window, showering the back row with broken glass. The rest proceeded to wreck the classroom more effectively than a rampaging rhino. They grabbed ink bottles and sprayed the class with them, shredded books and papers, tore pictures from the walls, up-ended the waste basket, grabbed bags and books and threw them out of the smashed window; within minutes, half the class was sheltering under desks and Neville was swinging from the iron chandelier in the ceiling.

"Hold on, Nev!" Nova began to reach for her wand which laid in side of her cloak when four pixies flew towards her. She picked up one of Lockheart's useless books, and swung it launching two of them across the room.

Harry and Ron had a similar idea, swinging their books around like mad.

"Come on now - round them up, round them up, they're only pixies," Lockhart shouted. He rolled up his sleeves, brandished his wand, and bellowed, "Peskipiksi Pesternomi!"

"Well that was helpful!" Nova growled as the affect was nonexistant.

Lockheart gulped and dived under his own desk.

"Aresto Momentum!" Nova shouted as Neville fell to the ground.

Once the bell rang, the students rushed out.

"Well, I'll ask you four to just nip the rest of them into their cage," Lockheart said quickly as he rushed away.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Nova groaned. "Doesn't even know how to control pixies!"

"Can you believe him?" roared Ron as one of the remaining pixies bit him painfully on the ear.

"He just wants to give us some hands-on experience," said Hermione, immobilizing two pixies at once with a clever Freezing Charm and stuffing them back into their cage.

"Hands on? "said Harry, who was trying to grab a pixie dancing out of reach with its tongue out. "Hermione, he didn't have a clue what he was doing -"

"Rubbish," said Hermione. "You've read his books - look at all those amazing things he's done -"

"He says he's done," Ron muttered.

Nova casted another freezing charm, this one more powerful, causing all of the pixies to stop.

"I think he is a waist of a teacher," she declared. "He has most of the female and some of the male population falling at his feet with a simple smile, believing everything he says. I, for one, don't believe him one bit."

"He's giving us experience," Hermione said angrily, placing one of the pixies in the cage.

"Minnie gives us expierence," Nova countered. "She gives us spells. She actually teaches us-"

"Lockheart is trying to teach us about thinking on our feet!"

"Merlin, Hermione!" Harry shouted. "You're joking right?"

"How are we supposed to think on our feet if we barely know any spells that could help?" Ron asked in shock. "It'd be different if he showed us a spell or two!"

"Mione," Nova said slowly. "I truly hope that you actually believe he is a good man and not simply because he has a pretty smile."

****

"Angie?" Nova murmmered as the older girl woke her up. "What the bloody hell?"

"Wood has called a practice."

"Alright," Nova spoke, her words slurring.

It was safe to say that Angie had to carry Nova down the stairs and onto the pitch after she was ready for practice.

The group watched as Harry profusely denied signing an autograph for Colin Creevy. They watched as Harry tried to be nice in explaining Quidditch.

"Is everyone here?" Oliver asked, joining them.

Fred's head rested on Angelina's shoulder as he snored. George was half asleep as he leaned against the wall. Katie Bell was yawning every three seconds. Nova's feet were in Fred's lap as her head was resting on Harry's thigh. Harry was rubbing his eyes, trying to get ride of his sleepiness.

"You all look dead," Marlene snorted.

"So did you," Theo said suddenly. Everyones head snapped up towards him. "What? It's what Nova would say?"

Oliver proceeded to go into a lengthy explaination of the drills they would be doing and practice plans.

"Any questions?"

"Why the bloody fuck are we awake before the sun, Oli," Nova grumbled, finally sitting up.

Wood wasn't pleased in the slightest.

"Yeah," George agreed. "Why couldn't you have told us this yesterday when we were awake?"

"Now, listen here, you lot," he said, glowering at them all. "We should have won the Quidditch cup last year. We're easily the best team. But unfortunately -owing to circumstances beyond our control -"

Wood took a moment to regain control of himself. Their last defeat was clearly still torturing him.

"So this year, we train harder than ever before .... Okay, let's go and put our new theories into practice!" Wood shouted, seizing his broomstick and leading the way out of the locker rooms. Stifflegged and still yawning, his team followed.

They had been in the locker room so long that the sun was up completely now, although remnants of mist hung over the grass in the stadium. As Harry walked onto the field, he saw Ron and Hermione sitting in the stands.

"Aren't you finished yet?" called Ron incredulously.

"Haven't even started," said Harry, looking jealously at the toast and marmalade Ron and Hermione had brought out of the Great Hall. "Wood's been teaching us new moves."

He mounted his broomstick and kicked at the ground, soaring up into the air. The cool morning air whipped his face, waking him far more effectively than Wood's long talk. It felt wonderful to be back on the Quidditch field. He soared right around the stadium at full speed, racing Fred and George.

Suddenly, something passed them at breathtaking speed.

"Better keep up, boys," Nova taunted. All her drowziness seemed to have faded.

"What's that funny clicking noise?" called Fred as they hurtled around the corner.

Harry looked into the stands. Colin was sitting in one of the highest seats, his camera raised, taking picture after picture, the sound strangely magnified in the deserted stadium.

"Look this way, Harry! This way!" he cried shrilly.

"Who's that?" said Fred.

"No idea," Harry lied, putting on a spurt of speed that took him as far away as possible from Colin.

"What's going on?" said Wood, frowning, as he skimmed through the air toward them. "Why's that first year taking pictures? I don't like it. He could be a Slytherin spy, trying to find out about our new training program."

"He's in Gryffindor," said Harry quickly.

"And the Slytherins don't need a spy, Oliver," said George.

"What makes you say that?" said Wood testily.

"Because they're here in person," said George, pointing.

Several people in green robes were walking onto the field, broomsticks in their hands.

"I don't believe it!" Wood hissed in outrage. "I booked the field for today! We'll see about this!"

Wood shot toward the ground, landing rather harder than he meant to in his anger, staggering slightly as he dismounted. Harry, Fred, and George followed.

"Flint!" Wood bellowed at the Slytherin Captain. "This is our practice time! We got up specially! You can clear off now!"

Marcus Flint was even larger than Wood. He had a look of trollish cunning on his face as he replied, "Plenty of room for all of us, Wood."

Angelina, Nova, and Katie had come over, too. There were no girls on the Slytherin team, who stood shoulder to shoulder, facing the Gryffindors, leering to a man.

"But I booked the field!" said Wood, positively spitting with rage. "I booked it!"

"Oh, it's this memory," Draco groaned.

"I love this memory!" Theo grinned.

"Ah," said Flint. "But I've got a specially signed note here from Professor Snape. 'I, Professor S. Snape, give the Slytherin team permission to practice today on the Quidditch field owing to the need to train their new Seeker."'

"You've got a new Seeker?" said Wood, distracted. "Where?"

And from behind the six large figures before them came a seventh, smaller boy, smirking all over his pale, pointed face. It was Draco Malfoy.

"Oh you've got to be fucking kidding," Nova groaned, the quaffle postioned under her right arm.

"Aren't you Lucius Malfoy's son?" said Fred, looking at Malfoy with dislike.

"Funny you should mention Draco's father," said Flint as the whole Slytherin team smiled still more broadly. "Let me show you the generous gift he's made to the Slytherin team."

All seven of them held out their broomsticks. Seven highly polished, brand-new handles and seven sets of fine gold lettering spelling the words Nimbus Two Thousand and One gleamed under the Gryffindors' noses in the early morning sun.

"Very latest model. Only came out last month," said Flint carelessly, flicking a speck of dust from the end of his own. "I believe it outstrips the old Two Thousand series by a considerable amount. As for the old Cleansweeps" - he smiled nastily at Fred and George, who were both clutching Cleansweep Fives - "sweeps the board with them."

None of the Gryffindor team could think of anything to say for a moment. Malfoy was smirking so broadly his cold eyes were reduced to slits.

Well, Nova had something to say, but bit her toungue.

"It's a shame, Malfoy," she sassed. "You've gotten flashy new brooms to hide behind you lack of talent."

"We didn't lose by three hundred points last season," one of the players fired.

"That may be true, but not all of our players were present," she snapped back. "Some were busy trying to keep the bastard that Mr. Malfoy idolizes from coming back."

"Your father did it unapologetically. Mine was under the imperio curse," Draco growled.

"At least I don't deny the truth," Nova said simply. The rest of the teams were to busy glaring at eachother to hear anything happening between the two cousins. "You do. We both know your father is nothing more than a coward."

"Mine didn't blow up a bunch of muggles."

"Perhaps he didn't," Nova shrugged. "But your father is just as bad, if not worse. I disassociate myself with my last name and my heritage. You were yours like a safety bubble."

"You used your family's money to by your broomstick," he laughed. "That's not disassociating yourself."

Before Nova could retort, Flint spoke.

"Oh, look," he said. "A field invasion."

Ron and Hermione were crossing the grass to see what was going on.

"What's happening?" Ron asked Harry. "Why aren't you playing? And what's he doing here?"

He was looking at Malfoy, taking in his Slytherin Quidditch robes.

"I'm the new Slytherin Seeker, Weasley," said Malfoy, smugly. "Everyone's just been admiring the brooms my father's bought our team."

Ron gaped, open-mouthed, at the seven superb broomsticks in front of him.

"Good, aren't they?" said Malfoy smoothly. "But perhaps the Gryffindor team will be able to raise some gold and get new brooms, too. You could raffle off those Cleansweep Fives; I expect a museum would bid for them."

Nova stepped forward, shaking with rage.

The Slytherin team howled with laughter.

"At least no one on the Gryffindor team had to buy their way in," said Hermione sharply. "They got in on pure talent."

The smug look on Malfoy's face flickered.

"No one asked your opinion, you fiIthy little Mudblood," he spat.

Harry knew at once that Malfoy had said something really bad because there was an instant uproar at his words. Flint had to dive in front of Malfoy to stop Fred and George jumping on him, Angelina shrieked, "How dare you!" ; and Ron plunged his hand into his robes, pulled out his wand, yelling, "You'll pay for that one, Malfoy!" and pointed it furiously under Flint's arm at Malfoys face.

A loud bang echoed around the stadium and a jet of green light shot out of the wrong end of Ron's wand, hitting him in the stomach and sending him reeling backward onto the grass.

Oliver was struggling to hold Nova back as she thrashed, ready to beat the living daylights out of her cousin.

"Careful, Black," Flint mocked. "Wouldn't want to end up in prison like your father, would you?"

Nova had elbowed Oliver in the gut.

Hermione was making sure Ron was alright, but he couldn't respond to her questions. He was too busy puking slugs.

The Slytherin team was too busy laughing.

The grass near by lit on fire.

Nova went straight for Draco.

"Ouch," James winced as Nova's fist broke Draco's nose. "That's gotta hurt."

Nova kept swinging her fists violently. Draco tried pushing her off, but it was pointless.

Colin Creevy snapped a quick photo.

"You son of a bitch!" Nova hissed as Fred and George pulled Nova away from him. "You don't call her that! She is twice the witch you'll ever be!"

"What happens after that?" Regulus asked, furrowing his brows.

"Harry, Nova, Ron, and I go to Hagrid's hut," Hermione explains. "Nova had gotten a detention. McGonagall had gotten Snape to stand down in his attempts to suspend her from the team."

"Mrs. Norris was petrified," Ron continued. "Harry claimed he was hearing a voice. We discussed the Chamber's Legend in History of Magic. Hermione had gotten the signature from Lockheart, allowing her to get a book from the restricted section so she could brew polyjuice potion-"

"That's an extremely difficult potion!" Lily exclaimed.

"The next quidditch match Harry was attacked by a bludger," Fred piped up. "If we could watch that memory, I'd be much delighted."

And so they did. They watched as Harry insisted he didn't need Fred and George hovering over him to knock the rogue bludger aside. They watched Nova damn near lose it on Oliver when he said they couldn't stop playing. They watched as Harry's arm broke, but he continued to fly for the snitch.

They watched as Lockheart swooped in ready to 'save the day.' Nova was across the pitch by Harry's side the moment he caught the snitch.

"Oh, no, not you," Harry groaned.

"Doesn't know what he's saying," said Lockhart loudly to the anxious crowd of Gryffindors pressing around them.

"Not to worry, Harry. I'm about to fix your arm."

"No!"said Harry. "I'll keep it like this, thanks ......"

He tried to sit up, but the pain was terrible. He heard a familiar clicking noise nearby.

"I don't want a photo of this, Colin," he said loudly.

"Lie back, Harry," said Lockhart soothingly. "It's a simple charm I've used countless times -"

"Why can't I just go to the hospital wing?" said Harry through clenched teeth.

Nova tried to help Harry up, glaring at Lockheart.

"He should really, Professor," said a muddy Wood, who couldn't help grinning even though his Seeker was injured. "Great capture, Harry, really spectacular, your best yet, Id say -"

Harry spotted Fred and George wrestling the rogue Bludger into a box.

"Stand back," Lockheart, rolling up his sleave.

"Nope," Nova stood in between Harry and Lockheart. "I do not care if you know how to use the spell. No one is better than Poppy."

"Nonsense! I can help-!"

"Are you a certified health offical?" Nova countered. "No. You're not."

Lockheart had pushed passed her, and twisted his wand while it was pointing directly at Harry's arm.

A strange and unpleasant sensation started at Harry's shoulder and spread all the way down to his fingertips. It felt as though his arm was being deflated. He didn't dare look at what was happening. He had shut his eyes, his face turned away from his arm, but his worst fears were realized as the people above him gasped and Colin Creevey began clicking away madly. His arm didn't hurt anymore - nor did it feel remotely like an arm.

"Ah," said Lockhart. "Yes. Well, that can sometimes happen. But the point is, the bones are no longer broken. That's the thing to bear in mind. So, Harry, just toddle up to the hospital wing - ah, Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger, Miss Black, would you escort him? - and Madam Pomfrey will be able to - er - tidy you up a bit."

"Fix it? You wanted to fix it?" she roared, her eye twitching in irritation. "Where the bloody hell are his fucking bones? What did you do?"

Fred had thrown Nova over her shoulder before she could scream at Lockheart anymore.

"Easy, lion," he said. "We don't need you being suspended from the team. Wood might just launch himelf into the Whopping Willow."

They watched as Dobby confessed to jinxing the bludger. They watched as Colin Creevy was admitted to the hospital wing. He had been petrified.

"Hey," Nova sat down on the window sill beside a red head. "You're Ginny Weasley, right?"

"Yeah," the girl said in a faint voice.

"I'm Nova Black," she greeted. "I'm-"

"I know who you are," Ginny cut across. She seemed nervous about something. "You're one of Ron's friends. You prank with the twins too."

"Sorry I couldn't introduce myself sooner," Nova said sincerely. "I've been getting sidetracked. I completely forgot, and I'm sorry."

"I've heard a lot of things about you, you know?" Ginny said calmly. "Some people say you're kind. My brothers say that you're kind. Others don't know what to think about you."

"It's a shame that I don't care what others think," Nova shrugged. "You shouldn't either, you know? Be apologetically yourself."

"It's hard when no one wants to try and get to know me," she shrugged. "They see my brothers, and think they know me. They see me as stuck up Percy, as prankster Fred and George, as Harry Potter's friend Ron."

"Then I suppose they're metal," Nova shrugged. "Well, I'm here if you need a friend."

"Thank you," Ginny smiled, setting the dark book down next to her.

"Ladies, gentlemen, adn non-gender specific," Ginny joked. "The moment I knew I wasn't straight!"

The group errupted into laughter.