Written for hogwarts_elite livejournal. We had to write about a Muggle being introduced to magic.
The first sign that something is amiss came when her prized falcon crashed into its brother, falling a few feet before awkwardly righting itself.
Beneath her, her horse shifted its feet unhappily, tail flicking, and ears straight. Any other animal would have struggled but with a few soft words of comfort and firm heel to its side, the horse followed her lead. They moved out of sight of the Knollys and Robert, none of whom had noticed the commotion, and waited.
She did not gasp when the large eagle owl appeared, temporarily freed from the sorcery keeping it hidden. Rather, Elizabeth held out her arm, allowing it to land as if it were one of her falcon coming to roost. Finding the scroll with practiced ease, she unrolled it to read the message contained within.
Meet me by the oak tree at half-past nine.
- Lucius Armand Malfoy.
What a vexing man he was.
Not for the first time, she wondered what sort of fool she had to be to do this; gallivanting about the castle like a silly girl. If she were a more superstitious woman, she might wonder if she hadn't been corrupted by the devil himself.
"The Virgin Queen," drawled a voice from the shadows and she stopped short. A tall figure emerged, golden-haired and with sharp dark eyes that matched her own. He smiled as if explaining a joke to her. "Forgive me, but that is what they are calling you these days."
She stood erect, her eyebrow raised and her hand held out. With silent obedience, he fell to his knees, kissing her hand. "I prefer to think of you as Astrea, myself. Iam redit et virgo, redeunt Saturnia Regna."
"Have you come all this way to flatter me, sir?" She asked, allowing him to rise.
"Hardly. I thought you might care to join me for some entertainment."
Lucius gestured to a hill off in the distance where should could see flames dancing against the night sky.
As if knowing her thoughts, he leaned in, his breath tickling her neck. "Nothing untoward, I assure you. There will be no orgy or diabolical pacts with Satan."
She smirked at this. "My dear cousin Mary would have you believe that's how I spend all my nights."
Taking his offered arm, Elizabeth followed him across the field. No matter what strange sights awaited her she would not show fear, for she had the stomach to rival any man's.
Drawing near, she saw the candles hanging in the air like a hundred stars, and a great crowd assembled beneath them. A flash of gold caught her eye and several figures rose up, the brooms carrying them as sure as any horse would. She heard the crack of a leather ball as it was hit by one of the flying men and watched as they soared to and fro, the crowd below cheering all the while.
"Zounds," she whispered.
"We call it Quidditch."
Fin