Harry got letters from Cassandra, Petunia and oddly enough Felicia Corner which detailed what had been said by all parties during recent meetings. He felt vaguely comforted by his aunt's defense; maybe she didn't love him but at least she gave a damn about his well-being and what sort of person he grew up to be. He was vaguely pissed at his trustees for their attitudes and he was grateful for Cassandra. School was going well. Amazingly unlike the previous years Draco Malfoy didn't try to start anything. Harry and Hermione's friendly rivalry continued and it became clear they they would probably be the students in their year to get Head Boy and Girl. Hermione was still first in their class but Harry made her work for it.
Hermione was puzzled. She knew Harry was very intelligent, and she knew he outclassed her on the practical application in half the classes. But she couldn't figure out why he usually didn't include all the extra research she was sure they both did on his essays. She depended on that little bit extra to stay ahead of Harry. In everyone's class but Snape's that worked. This year though she intended to completely outclass him because she was taking every subject. That was until the day she came across him reading an advanced algebra book.
"What are you doing?"
"Algebra."
"Why?"
"Do you mind, Hermione, I'm trying to figure this out. As to why? It's pretty simple: I intend to take IGCSE tests in August year after next. Which means I have to learn this and I really don't want to be distracted right now. Come back in an hour."
She had known Harry spent vast amounts of time studying. She knew that aside from the times he scheduled for martial arts and exercise in the mornings, quidditch, his chess matches with Ron Weasley every fortnight, and the odd half an hour three times each week when he would sketch he actually spent most the rest of his waking hours studying or tutoring others. She realized that she always assumed that he was only studying magic, but it was something of a kick in the teeth to realize that he was studying to take qualification tests in the muggle world too. She spent most her time in the summer studying things so she could take the qualifications but she wasn't planning to take them for three more years.
Time passed quietly for the most part. When the first quidditch match rolled around the excitement thrummed throughout the school. Gryffindor had three Weasleys on the team. Young Ginny Weasley was the Gryffindor seeker, and rumor had it she was quite good.
Marcus called the Slytherin team together before the game. "All right everyone, listen up. There are people who say we snakes can't play a clean game and win. They're liars, and today I want us to prove it. With me, Adrian and Draco as chasers, Monty as keeper, Harry as seeker, and Ferris and Charles as beaters this team is second to none. Today there is a scout out there looking at me and Wood. I want a clean game and not just because over half their team are girls, but because a dirty game will prove nothing to that scout. I know we can fly clean and beat the lions with style if we stick together and play the way we have in practice. Harry, keep a close eye out for the snitch, but draw out the game. I would prefer that you not catch it before a hundred points get scored. But rumor has Ginny Weasley as being good, if she goes for it before that you need to get there first it shouldn't be a huge problem she's on a Cleansweep and you've got a Nimbus. Got it?"
"Understood. Do you want me to fly interference at all?"
"You're good and in any other circumstance my answer might be yes, but unless their chasers get them up around a hundred points up on us because we're playing like gentlemen the answer is no."
"If we're being gentlemen, does that mean we can't hit the bludgers at the girls?" Ferris asked.
Most of the team bit back snickers as Marcus and Harry in unintentional matching gestures put a hand to their foreheads and rubbed them for a moment.
"No, Ferris, hit the bludgers at them all you want. Remember they may be girls, but by coming out on the pitch they take themselves out of the realm of being ladies."
"Got it."
....
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