A/N: Sorry I've been gone for two weeks. Just wasn't feeling this fic and was having trouble writing this chapter. I'm updating now but unfortunately I'll also be putting this fic on hiatus for November and possibly December due to NaNoWriMo. It will be returning in the New Year at the very latest.

This chapter focuses a lot on two characters, James and Narcissa. Other characters will be getting starring moments in the next few chapters including Sirius, Alice, Severus, Lily and Stella. As always thanks for reading and REVIEW!

Chapter 7: Stolen Brooms and Moving Stairs

"'But I've never even played quidditch before. What if I make a fool out of myself?'

'You won't make a fool out of yourself. Its in your blood'" ~Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

The Quidditch games were always the highlight of Hogwarts through the dirge of homework and classes. The morning of the games, the school was alight with energy. The two houses competing sported their house colors with pride, and the other two houses chose sides and placed bets. It was late autumn and though the air had turned bitterly cold, nothing could dampen the spirit of the Gryffindors or the Slytherins in the stands. This was arguably the biggest game of the year, given the rivalry between the two houses. Unless Gryffindor and Slytherin met each other again in the final game. Then the tension between the houses would be palpable and possibly dangerous.

James adored watching Quidditch, of course, but he wanted desperately to play as well. He wanted to be on a broom, high above the ground, weaving in and out of other players. Since he was little he dreamed about being a famous seeker. He had, after all, named his owl Roderick after one of his heroes. But first years weren't allowed to try out for the team.

"It's a stupid rule," James complained loudly to Sirius who was leaning far over the railing to watch the players dart back and forth. "Why should it matter what my age is? If I'm good enough, I should be allowed to play!"

"If you're good enough, sure," Sirius said. "But if you're not good enough you might get caught in the face by a bludger." As he said this a bludger crashed into a Gryffindor player's broom, sending him spinning toward the ground. "Ooh… he's going to feel that for weeks." Sirius glanced at James. "Anyway, what's the rush?"

"I want to play now that's what the rush is," James said. "I've ridden a broom before. Plenty of times! I think they should make some sort of exception." He slumped against the railing. "And anyway, first years aren't even allowed to have brooms so I can't even practice."

"Guess not. I don't mind waiting though," Sirius shrugged. "I'm not as good at quidditch. My brother Regulus is though."

"You have a brother?" James raised an eyebrow. "You haven't mentioned him."

"Haven't mentioned perfect little Regulus, huh?" Sirius sighed. "He's the golden child of the family. One year younger than me. But he's good on a broom. I think mum and dad think he's better at everything than me."

"Well, they're nutters," James declared. "At least you're in Gryffindor."

"Yeah," Sirius said with a small grin.

A cheer rose up among the Slytherins and a groan from the Gryffindors. The Slytherin seeker had caught the snitch. James groaned along with his fellow housemates.

"If I was the seeker, I would always catch the snitch," he declared as they wandered away from the quidditch pitch.

"Sure you would, James," Sirius said, clapping him on the back.

James didn't consider this stealing. He planned on putting the broom back when he was done, and they were just sitting in the closet of the Gryffindor locker room anyhow. The Gryffindor's had left to mope about their loss (which in James' opinion, never would have happened if he was playing) and James found the room empty. When he saw the spare brooms in the cupboard, well, he couldn't resist.

Just a spin, James told himself. Just a spin around the grounds and then I'll put it back. It'll be like it never happened.

And it would be quite a story to tell to Sirius and Peter later.

Anticipation coiled in James' gut as he situated himself on the broom. Then he nudged the ground gently with his feet, kicking off. In an instant he surged into the air and he fought to keep a 'whoop' of joy inside his throat. There was such freedom to riding a broom, an exhileration that overcame James when he breathed in the fresh air, high away from the ground. Once he had steadied himself and was sure no one was watching, he let himself dip into a dive toward the ground.

Only feet from impact, he then swerved up, shooting low across the frosted grass. Some students passing by let out gasps and pointed but James let them. It's not like they could see his face from this distance anyway. He shot back up in the air, hovering high above the grounds, scanning for familiar faces.

He didn't see any Gryffindors he was friends with but he did see a familiar Slytherin boy. Snape was his name, wasn't it? James couldn't remember his first name. Snivelus or something like that? He was a snooty boy, certainly not the kind James would ever associate with. From the moment he laid eyes on the greasy Slytherin, he hadn't liked him. James always knew very quickly whether or not he liked a person.

A mischievous thought popped into James' mind, as they often did. With a grin he took another dive toward the ground, streaking right toward the boy.

"Watch out Snivelus!" He caught the edge of his robe, holding on long enough to throw the kid way off balance. He went sprawling, his books flying everywhere.

"Severus!" a girl's voice called from nearby. Right, that was his name. James turned to see the red headed girl, Lily Evans, running toward the boy. She glared up at James as she helped gather up the fallen books.

"You're a horrid little worm, James Potter. Absolutely horrid!"

Great, she had seen him. Not that it would make a difference. James could always lie about what happened if she chose to tell on him.

He circled twice more around the courtyard before landing safely back on the ground, giggling like mad. He turned, intending to return the broom to where he found it—but then found himself face to face with Professor McGonagal.

"Mr. Potter," she said tersely. "Follow me."

Great, James thought. Now I'm done for.

James tried to make himself look as sheepish as possible before McGonagal. She was a fierce woman with a gaze that could cut through steel. And her anger only made her glare more potent.

"You know why there is a rule against first years flying, Mr. Potter?"

"I was fine, professor. I didn't do anything too dangerous. I—"

"That was not my question." She said, her voice like ice.

James ducked his head. "Yes," he mumbled. Look as sorry as possible. Then maybe she won't punish you as badly. He did hope he wouldn't get expelled for this. For such a stupid reason. Surely this wasn't worth an expulsion.

"I understand you enjoy flying," McGonagall said. "And that perhaps your parents would allow you to go off alone on a broom whenever you wished. "But here at Hogwarts, we are responsible for your safety. There are liabilities."

"I know professor. I'm sorry. It won't happen again," James said quickly. If he thought he could do it without getting caught he might try but there were eyes all over the castle grounds. No way could he get away with it.

"See that it doesn't," McGonagall said. "I'm letting you off easy this time. Twenty points will be taken from Gryiffindor. And you will serve detention with me later this week. If you break this rule again, I will take more points. Is that clear?"

James nodded, his shoulders straightening. Twenty points was a lot to lose for the beginning of the year, but it wasn't as bad as it could have been. "Yes professor. Clear, professor."

"Good. You are dismissed," McGonagal said. James hurried toward the door but her voice stopped him. "And Mr. Potter?"

James glanced over his shoulder.

"Consider trying out for the Gryffindor team next year," McGonagal said with the smallest of smiles on her severe face. "They could use a player like you on the team."

James beamed. "Of course, professor." Then he scampered from the office and down the hall. He had gotten in trouble, sure, but it had been worth it.

In James' experience he found trouble often had many rewards.

Nearly halfway through the year and Narcissa was still having trouble with the stair cases. She often lost herself in thought and when she did she found herself on the opposite end of the castle, far from where she wanted to be. She had been late to more than one of her classes this way, and earned her fair share of teasing comments from Bellatrix. Bella meant well of course. She was never mean to Narcissa like she often was to other students. But she did love to tease.

Narcissa had adjusted to that. But she was still lost on an unfamiliar floor, unsure of which staircase would take her to where she wanted to go.

She stood nervously on the platform, tugging at her sleeve. At least she wasn't on her way to class. She hated being late and the professors always deducted points from Slytherin when she stumbled in in the middle of their lectures. Walking into the common room late would only earn a few teasing remarks from Bellatrix. But first she had to find her way. She looked around in hopes that the answer might pop out at her.

"Are you lost?"

Narcissa whirled around with a small squeak. An older boy stood behind her, tall with blonde hair hanging to his shoulders. He looked a little older than Bella with strong features. He wore a silver and green tie, which perhaps was the reason he looked familiar to her. But she couldn't put a name with his face. He had quite a handsome face.

Narcissa blushed. "I… yes, a bit. I'm always getting turned around on the stairs." She straightened, trying to look a bit less pathetic. Slytherins weren't supposed to look pathetic, according to Bella. They were always proud and dignified. "I'm trying to find the common room."

"Well you're on the opposite side of the castle for that," the boy cocked his head to the side. "You're Bellatrix's sister, aren't you?"

"Yes," Narcissa said proudly. "I'm Narcissa Black."

"Lucius Malfoy," the boy stuck out his hand. "I'm a fourth year."

Of course. He was a member of the Malfoy family. One of the few families that rivaled the Blacks in purity of blood. Narcissa had laid eyes on Lucius before but had never been bold enough to talk to him. Bellatrix of course never had that problem, but Narcissa was very different from her sister.

"You've had more time to get to know the castle than me then," Narcissa shook his hand. "Pleased to meet you… again. I mean we've met before I'm sure. But it's been awhile."

"It has." Lucius smiled at her and Narcissa's heart fluttered oddly in her chest. "I can escort you back to the common room. I have some time before class. And I know the castle well enough to get there quickly."

"Thank you." Narcissa nodded, trying not to sound too relieved or flustered.

She followed Lucius through the corridors. As he said, he knew the castle well, because it wasn't long before they found themselves at the entrance to the Slytherin common room.

"Thank you again," Narcissa said as the door swung open. "I hope it doesn't make you late to class."

"Since I'm never late, I don't think Professor Slughorn will mind much," Lucius nodded at her with a grin. "Keep an eye on the staircases next time."

"Right," Narcissa breathed. Then he left. She turned to find Bellatrix had already found her. She had a familiar grin on her face.

"Speaking with the Malfoy boy I see."

Narcissa flushed and crossed her arms. "I got lost and he showed me the way back. There's nothing funny."

"That must be why you can't stop blushing, eh Cissy?" Bellatrix shrugged. "Oh, its not as if I mind. If you're going to have a crush on an older boy, it might as well be one of good blood."

"I do not have a crush," Narcissa sputtered.

"Of course you don't. But come here." She grabbed Narcissa's arm and pulled her to the couches where some of her friends waited. "Word is still traveling around about that Alice Fortesue. I heard she continues to sympathize with bad blood. She defends mud bloods in all of Hufflepuff's classes with Slytherin, is that right?"

Narcissa bit her lip. She had heard the rumors too. They did get a bit extraordinary, but at the core they were true. Alice had made a habit of standing up to Slytherins. She was a pureblood of course, but Slytherins hated 'blood traitors' nearly as much as those with dirty blood. After all, wizards born with pureblood shouldn't waste their potential by associating with those lesser than them. Or so was the opinion of many members of Narcissa's family.

But to Narcissa, the boy making trouble with Alice and the Hufflepuffs had made her very uncomfortable.

"Cissy?" Bella cocked her head to the side.

Narcissa shrugged. "I mean, sure she sticks up for people. Not just muggle borns though. Everyone in her house. And she never starts it."

Bellatrix didn't seem to be listening though. "Filthy blood traitors. Its bad enough there's so little good, pure blood left. They have to make it worse. Next thing you know, they'll be marrying muggleborns and ruining their family lines. They might even marry muggles." She shook her head, scoffing at the notion.

Narcissa sighed and settled into a soft chair in the common room. She didn't remember when these words began coming out of Bellatrix's mouth. When they were still little and she thought herself clever to repeat the words of her parents. But it had become such a part of Bellatrix now that Narcissa feared she wasn't just repeating the words of their parents anymore.

No, she believed every word she said. And that scared Narcissa.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed this chapter. I'll see you guys again in a month or so. As always, REVIEW and let me know what you think :)