Okay, I decided it's time for another update, 'cuz this is seriously the story that's gotten the most votes in my poll. This is probably gonna be short, though, because I have less than a half-hour to finish this. Oh, and sorry but I didn't feel like coming up with a name for Ariela's owl.
DISCLAIMER: I still own absolutely nothing used in this story. Unless a miracle happens, it will probably stay that way.
Note: Anything put into parentheses is not part of the story – it is my own personal thoughts and comments as I was writing the thing.
The rest of the first week was relatively uneventful. On Friday morning, which we had off for no particular reason (except to advance the plot!), Penelope put up a sign advertising the Quidditch tryouts in the common room. Ariela and I were really excited, so we ran up to our room and she wrote to her parents asking to send over two Nimbus 2001's (because I forgot that the Firebolt had been invented over the summer before…) for the next day. Then we went up to the Owlery and got Ariela's owl to deliver the letter to Ariela's parents. Then, we waited because Ariela lived only about a half-hour by car from the school.
About two hours later, Ariela's owl came back with a large package. Inside were two brooms with the word "Nimbus 2001" written in gold along the side. All I could say was "Whoa". I knew these brooms were good, and so Ariela and I went outside to practice until dinner.
The next day were Quidditch tryouts for Ravenclaw. Ariela and I got there slightly early. The Seeker position was open, as the Seeker, Cho, had gotten injured during practice the week before and wouldn't be able to play for the rest of the season. The other position open was for Chaser. I was trying out for Seeker, and Ariela for Chaser.
The next day, the Quidditch captain put up the results of tryouts. I got the Seeker position! But Ariela didn't make Chaser – the position went to Raven, who I hadn't even seen at tryouts. Still, I went over to congratulate her. She was sitting in the corner, not even interested in the results, reading a book. I saw the cover, which said Marked. Oh, my gosh! Now I knew why I felt the instant connection with her – she liked vampire books, too. Then I said congratulations.
Then I went back to Ariela, who was crying. (Sorry I made Ariela such a crybaby, but this is how my friend acts.) I patted her on the back and tried to make her feel better, but nothing would help. Finally, she stopped crying. Just in time for dinner.
Before sitting down between Raven and Ariela, I went over to Elena, Riley, Maxine, and Ariana and told them the good news. I knew better than to go to the Slytherin table, but I figured I could tell Monica and Haley during Herbology on Monday. They all squealed happily for me, but were also sad that Ariela hadn't made the team.
Okay, this is the end of this (very short!) chapter update!
