Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot and the characters who aren't in
the original books.
Thursday
When Devonny woke the next morning she had a huge headache, and was forced (literally), by her mother, to drink a potion, which immediately took the pain in her head, not to mention the lump, away. "Shoot!" She jumped out off of the couch to find that she overslept, and in an hour she had to be in a meeting with her modeling agent, and then at a photo shoot. Dev ran to her room, only to hear the familiar voices of her brother and the rest of her friends trying to catch the pixies. She smiled and then went through the boys' room to their bathroom to shower. After she showered, changed, and had eaten she went to help her friends for twenty minutes before she had to leave.
She entered the room, which was a wreck. The only things that were still intact were Devonny's pictures, which were pasted onto the wall. The desk was completely upturned. Both bunk beds were flipped onto their sides, and the television, lamp, and fan were in pieces on the floor. The contents of her closet were thrown all over the rubble. Just as Dev was surveying the damage, the final pixy that the group had been searching for flew out of her drawer, casting it outwards, and causing all of it's contents to spill out all over.
"Hey, Dev," Gregory said as he caught the last pixy and put it in the fish tank with the others, and holding up something that made Devonny blush. "Mom lets you buy these things? This is almost as hilarious as your pajamas were last night, not to mention your pigtails."
"Gregory," Dev said, snatching her 'hot stuff' shorts out of his hand, "they were a gift from Jonathan. They were designed after a popular muggle design. Which, might I add, you liked when the girls in the mall were wearing them." She smirked inwardly. After all, he didn't know that Jonathan was the fashion designer whom she modeled for, and that she was his favorite model.
Gregory frowned, wondering whom this Jonathan person was. "Smashing." Greg's voice had obviously been trying to annoy her, but Dev just burst out laughing, along with everyone else. "Oh, and might I compliment your balance as well." Gregory said with a lighter tone of voice, "You save us all from a terrible fate of being trapped in the seventeenth century by risking your life jousting, and come out of it without a scratch, but you come home and just as someone opens a door, you topple over Draco, and end up with a head injury. That, might I say, is gracefulness."
"Hey, I never said that I was going to be a ballerina. Oh, and guys, use some more original pranks next time. The exploding snap trick is getting old." Dev smiled sweetly at her brother and then turned to Draco. "Do you still want to come to the shoot?"
"Yeah, if it's not too much trouble." Draco was looking at her with as much enthusiasm as he could muster.
"Does anyone else want to go?" She then pointed at Ron and said jokingly, "You, what are you still doing here. You should be practicing. Aren't you showing tomorrow?" Everyone laughed and Dev ordered Greg to give him some lessons. Eileen said she had to go home and Harry wanted to try riding again, while Hermione insisted that she had to read up for school. "Okay, see you guys later"
Dev and Draco headed to the car, which Mrs. McCarry was driving. She turned around in the seat to greet them when she gave Devonny a confused look and uttered, "Um Dev."
"What?" Devonny glanced down to find she was still holding her 'hot stuff' shorts and said, "Whoops! I'll be right back." She ran into the house, to her room and threw them at her brother, and came back to the car where they left. They came to a stop in front of a large building and Draco followed his girlfriend to a large desk, where they were greeted by a pretty woman who told them to "go right in. They're waiting for you."
Devonny was told by Mrs. McCarry that she would be picked up in a few hours, and then she and Draco walked through big double doors into a large room with a long conference table which had two people looking at pictures and chattering loudly. The man and woman looked up to see Devonny and ask her to be seated. "Who's your friend, Dev?" The woman had a kind smile, which greeted Draco warmly.
"This is Draco. Draco, this is Jenny and Christopher."
"Hello." Christopher looked up to smile at Draco. Devonny saw his eyes widen and wasn't surprised at what he said next. "Have you ever considered modeling, Draco? You would make an excellent edition to our team." Dev rolled her eyes. Everyone knew that Draco was good looking. Every girl at the mall practically dropped whatever they were holding when they caught sight of him. It wasn't just his looks that made Draco attractive. He had a kind of aura about him that made him seem almost immortal. He was just attractive in every way.
"Actually, no I haven't, but it's something that I might be interested in." Draco smiled at them, which almost caused Jenny to pass out.
"Well, if you want to give it a try," Chris decided that Draco was just too good to let him just slip away, "we could do some shots and you could sign on if you want."
"Sure."
"Okay. Now, Dev, what did you do to your hair?" Chris had to ask. Even though he liked it, he still wasn't going to let her get away with not being asked.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I just-"
"Don't worry about it. It gives you a sort of teenage 'retro' look. I like it."
"For today you're doing the Jonathan's evening gowns and sweaters, and we've got new muggle equipment. It's something called a digital camera and a computer. They've both been cleared by the Ministry, so we've magically enhanced them. We're going to try them out today."
"And you want me to be the guinea pig, right?"
"Right. And one more thing, we're giving you a bonus," Chris said as he threw a huge bag of galleons onto the table, "and a raise. You get this today, plus a hundred more galleons a week.
"My word. There must be five hundred galleons in here," said Dev as she opened the bag.
"Seven hundred," Chris corrected her.
"Thank you." Devonny was truly grateful. She and her family had been saved before by her modeling job, but now they could do whatever they wanted, without having to worry about finances.
Back at the Farm "Ron, are you really going to show tomorrow?" Ginny had to admit that her brother was good, but he was still only a beginner.
"He should Gin." Gregory spoke for Ron from the other side of Chips.
"I want to. I mean I have a better time riding than playing Quidditch." Ron only rode once, yet he possessed a great talent for it.
"Hey, do you have Quidditch over here?" Harry was curious to see if his favorite sport was played in America, as he didn't possess the talent for equitation as Ron did.
"We have the most competitive Quidditch you have ever seen," said Greg who helped Ron, Harry, and Ginny saddle Trigger, Chips, Dip, and Crystal. "Hey, that gives me an idea. Do you mind riding with some friends?"
"Not at all."
"This should be fun."
The Studio "Hi Mandy, this is Draco." Devonny greeted her makeup artist sweetly and introduced Draco for about the twentieth time that day.
"Hi. Okay, Dev, what are you modeling today?"
"Evening gowns and sweaters." Dev wondered what the sweaters were like as she had seen muggle ones, but had never seen ones of the wizarding world. "So, have you seen the new equipment they're talking about?" Draco took a seat next to Devonny who was speaking with Mandy as her makeup was being done.
"No, but I hear that Darlene was going to be the one testing it. The pictures should come out really well with her behind the camera."
"Draco, are you thinking about modeling? You look like you would do really well."
"I'm thinking about it. It seems as if it would be really fun."
Mandy winked at Dev in the mirror as if to say, "Nice work, finding this one." "There you go Dev. By the way, great haircut."
Devonny got up and went to find the gowns she was supposed to wear, with Draco following close behind. She at last found the clothing rack and her photographer, Darlene. Dev introduced Draco to Darlene and they seemed to get along well and talk as she went to change into her sweaters. She did a few quick shots with them, and then moved on to the evening gowns. When she came out wearing her first Draco smiled. It was a royal blue color, which obviously was magically enchanted to shine in all the right places. Of course, being Draco Malfoy, he smiled and took her arm whispering a "You look beautiful, Dev." Of course, Devonny, being herself, looked at him and blushed.
She then smiled at him and turned to Darlene, "Let's get this show on the road!" With that, they headed toward a blank background where Devonny stood in different poses. The natural talent was visible and Draco stood watching. Dev changed dresses multiple times, and each time she and the dresses became more beautiful. While she modeled the last dress she shouted over, "Hey, Draco. Come on over." She then laughed quietly, with Darlene clicking away. Draco went over to her and followed Darlene's instructions.
"Draco, stand behind Dev, and slightly to your right. Good. Now, Dev reach your right arm up. Draco lift your arm and take her hand in yours."
"Click"
"Stay like that. Now take her left hand in yours. Devonny, look down and smile. Yeah, just like that. Draco, look at her. Great."
"Click."
"Now that I got those, just do whatever you want. Oh, that's wonderful."
"Click" "Click" "Click"
Draco pulled Dev into a classic ballroom dancing pose. "Click." He then began to twirl her around. "Click." Draco sat with Devonny just beside him with her head on his shoulder. "Click." They talked and played with the props. "Click, click, click."
"Great, guys. Those were perfect. Dev, you can get changed. I'll be right back." With that, Darlene skipped off looking as if she were a second year with a new broom.
Dev changed back into her normal clothes and was greeted by Draco and Darlene, who was holding a package. "All of them came out perfect. Draco, you're a natural. Dev, I'd fear for my job if I were you." They all laughed, and headed toward the door when Darlene handed Dev the package and her bag of galleons and said, "I printed this for you." Dev opened the envelope, with Draco looking over her shoulder. There was the photo of Draco and Devonny sitting on the ground admiring and talking about the basket of flowers. Something about the picture was different. For one thing, it was in black and white, and for another, it wasn't moving. The scene was beautiful, even Draco admitted that. Devonny looked up to thank her friend, but Darlene was no longer. She tucked the photo back into the envelope and walked with Draco toward the door where her mother was waiting take them home.
At the Farm Devonny stepped out of the car only to look up toward the arena and find all her friends who owned horses, as well as her brother and friends from England running around like maniacs. Ginny was holding a large red ball and galloping away from Ron who was riding Chips. Harry and Don were trotting around the arena looking for something. Greg was beating large flying balls at Julianne, Bridget, Don, and Amy. Hermione was nowhere to be seen. "What are you guys doing?!"
"Um Dev, they're playing Quidditch."
"Well, I can see that, but Ron's supposed to be practicing! The show's tomorrow!" Dev looked mad for about ten seconds and then burst out laughing. Harry raced toward something gleaming towards a jump and grabbed it. The snitch was caught and the game was over. Dev waved her friends from school over. They all stumbled off their horses and went to talk.
"Amy, Don, Julianne, and Bridget, this is Draco, and I'm sure you've met the others." Everyone else nodded, and Amy walked up do Draco.
"Pleased to meet you, Draco." Amy smiled at him.
"Watch out Amy. That one's taken."
Devonny blushed and made a personal note to embarrass both Amy and Don horribly in the upcoming school year.
"Oh, sorry Dev. I didn't know." A teasing smile was playing on Amy's lips when someone asked a simple question.
"Didn't know what?" Gregory had some clue that Devonny liked Draco, but he never thought that the feelings were mutual.
"Oh, nothing Gregory. Just something that only Dev and I need to know." Amy quickly changed the subject, "So, Dev, when are you guys going shopping for school supplies?"
"I'm not sure. When are you going?" Dev was glad to get off the Draco topic.
"Probably next week. Bridget and Julianne already went, so Don and I are going to go together. We were wondering if you guys wanted to come." She smiled and immediately everyone wanted to go. "Well we have to go. My mom wants me home by dinner time, and I promised Don's mom that I would make sure that he wouldn't cause too much trouble." Don simply stood there with a smile on his face, petting his bay horse, which seemed to be looking back towards the woods from which they come.
"See ya, Dev." The other two girls got back on their horses, walked back towards the forest, and disappeared.
Dev turned back to Gregory. "We have to pack the trailer. I'll be right back. I just have to change into some farm clothes." Dev ran back to the house where she found Hermione in her perfect room. "Oh my, what did you do?'
Hermione smiled warmly at her and said that she wanted to fix the room. She and Dev looked around to find the room absolutely perfect. She turned and found that everything had been reassembled. The pictures on the wall had been glued in the places they were torn. "The pictures are perfect, Hermione. I have a new picture to put up though." Devonny pulled the photo out of its envelope and showed it to her friend.
"Dev, this photo's great! Even Draco is adorable, and although he's good looking he's never cute."
"Yeah, I noticed he's kinda not in the clique. Why is that?" Dev had to know why everyone seemed to hate him with a passion.
"His attitude toward us in Hogwarts wasn't the greatest. His father was a Death Eater and he was totally against me because my parents are muggles. He hated Ron and Ginny because of their family's condition. Harry said that he tried to be friends with him before his first year, but seemed snobbish, so Harry didn't want to associate with him. He tried to apologize in the airport, but Ron didn't believe him, and to tell you the truth, I'm not sure that I believe him either, even if he did save Harry's life."
"How did he save Harry's life?" Devonny was trying to pull a pair of jeans out of her over-filled drawer. "I was always under the impression that Harry could take care of himself."
"A Death Eater came after Harry next year and tried to attack him, when out of nowhere, someone came and saved all of us. The person happened to be Draco. We never found out how he knew that someone was going to come after all of us, but some things are better left unsaid. We can't forget that his father was a Death Eater before he died." Hermione sighed heavily as she yanked the jeans out of the overstuffed drawer.
"When did his father die?"
"Before the term ended. It was just about after Harry was attacked." Devonny was throwing on the jeans and T-shirt that she somehow managed to pull out of her wardrobe.
"Well, I have to go load the trailer." Devonny forgot that she told Draco and Gregory that she'd be back in a couple minutes, and she had been talking for half an hour.
"I'll stay here and finish up the room." Hermione wanted to make the room look it's best. Devonny had great taste in clothes, but her decorating skills needed work. Hermione was just the person to help with that.
********* "Hey, Dev. We were just going to send a search party." Gregory had a smirk on his face that would make the most patient person want to shake him.
"I was just talking to Hermione. Where did everyone go?" Dev looked around to find only Draco, Ginny, and Gregory. They were all carrying saddles, bridles, and tack trunks.
"You just talked to Hermione, so I'm guessing that she's at the house. Ron went to call Eileen, for the third time." With this last Ginny muffled a cough, which sounded a lot like the word 'crush', and Devonny smiled. "Harry went to find Hermione, and Mom's at Mrs. More's house."
"Gregory, I have just one question for you. Why do you always think that you have to be the one to speak?" Dev had to admit that she was getting slightly annoyed at the fact that she could've been asking Draco, and he would have butted in. Nevertheless, she picked up a trunk and walked to the trailer, which was backed up to the barn.
"Because I'm your brother," was his reply. They all worked lifting boxes, and brushing, and braiding the horses. Draco was riding Chips the next day. Devonny was riding Anna, and Ron was riding Dip in the walk/trot class for beginners. Dev lifted another tack box full of brushes and all of a sudden became to feel very dizzy. She dropped the tack box and sat on it. This behavior from a usually strong girl was unusual and caught everyone's attention, especially Draco's.
"Dev, love." The accent drove her mad. "Maybe you should go back down to the house."
"Gregory walked over to where she was sitting and joined in with Draco in supplying her with medicinal thoughts. "Dev, you don't look good. You really should go down to the house. We're almost finished."
Devonny began to protest and walked toward the other brushes by the door Draco walk followed her. "Dev, go down to the house. Get some sleep. We'll finish up here." He kissed her on the forehead and whispered "goodbye". Dev sighed in agreement and walked with Ginny back toward the house. Draco and Gregory watched them go.
"So, you and my sister eh?" Gregory spoke to Draco with a kind voice, which didn't seem to fit his childish demeanor.
"Yeah." Draco responded flatly, wondering if anyone could hear him if he needed help defending himself against an angry older brother.
"Dev's nice, it's just that she feels like she has to be responsible for everything that happens. She's a hard worker, and her mom probably wouldn't own this farm if it wasn't for her modeling. She just feels like she has to take care of all of us. I'm afraid that one day she's going to wear herself out, and get sick."
Draco looked alarmed. Although he knew that Devonny made a lot of money, he never knew that the fate of the entire farm once rested in her hands.
********** "Here ya go Dev." Ginny walked Devonny back to her room and past Ron who was flirting shamelessly on the phone with Eileen who was on the other line. Dev went and sat on her bed when Hermione turned and looked at her.
"You look pale, Dev. Are you all right?" Her voice was filled with concern, but Devonny had other things on her mind. 'When had I last eaten?'
"Ginny, can you do me a favor and get a chocolate frog out of the cabinet in the kitchen?" Devonny knew that she had to get some sugar in her bloodstream, otherwise, she would pass out. Ginny ran out of the room and toward the kitchen. Ron followed her when he got off the phone. "Hermione, do you know what I hate?"
"Jousting?" Hermione smiled at her.
"Well, yes, but I hate when guys do that taking care of you, we know best, not to mention we're guys, so we're big and strong and you aren't junk that they just fed me."
******** "Hey, Gin. How's Devonny, she didn't look well." Ron had to admit that one of his good friends looked like death, well, a very good-looking version of death.
"I don't know. She doesn't openly share her feelings except through her eyes. It's kinda like. never mind."
"Who, Ginny?"
"Ron, if you only knew Dev by personality and were not friends with her, who would you say that she was like?"
Ron thought for a moment, but he didn't need to. The quiet brooding and sneering. The sharp retorts. It was obvious. "Draco."
"Exactly." Ginny began sorting through cabinets and finally came to one where she would find what she was looking for.
"No wonder those two get along so well. What are you doing?" Ron stared as Ginny struggled to open a value package of chocolate frogs.
"Dev asked me to get her a chocolate frog." She broke the plastic, which was holding the boxes together, but at the same time spilled all of its contents on the floor. "We know that Draco's bitter about something, and that's why he acts the way he does. So, what do you think Devonny's not telling us?"
"First off, Malfoy acts the way he does because that's just the way he is. There's no reason that he is that way. Second, Dev's nice she's just not feeling well or something. Third, Dev's family is nice. They weren't into the dark arts like Malfoy's." They picked up the chocolate frogs and took a few with them to Dev.
******* "I'm sure that they didn't mean it." Hermione felt she had to agree in some way on what Dev was saying. She herself knew that witches were as capable as wizards were. Devonny scowled, and Hermione shuddered. She looked so intimidating when scowling that she practically frightened anyone who dared cross her path away.
"Thanks, Ginny. Where's Harry?" Devonny munched on a chocolate frog and after a few minutes, felt better.
"He's out flying around, and I think he was going to help your brother with the trailer." Hermione knew that something was wrong, but didn't want to admit it.
Devonny nodded and then asked, "Are you guys going to the show tomorrow?" Everyone nodded. They wouldn't miss it for the world. Dev smiled. She had friends, but not many close ones like these were. All she had were Amy and Eileen. The others didn't strike them as the most loyal bunch. They would do almost anything for popularity. "You're going to have to get up rather early then. Ron, Draco, Gregory, and I have to be up at 5:30, load the horses onto the trailer, have an hour for panic time, and leave at 6:30. The show starts at eight, so we should be able to warm up at 7:00. you guys probably should get up at 6:30." Everyone looked at each other and couldn't believe how early it was going to be. "Ron, come with me. We have to get you show clothes. It's a good thing that Greg isn't showing tomorrow. You and Draco will both have a pair." Devonny walked into the boys' room and pulled open a certain one of Greg's drawers. "Pick out your size. Oh, and you wouldn't happen to get Draco's would you?"
"Me? Know anything about Malfoy? I don't think so." Ron pretended to gag.
"Oh, yeah. I forgot that you guys hated each other." Dev handed Ron an extra pair of riding clothes to throw on top of Draco's trunk. "We've got a long day tomorrow. You guys better get some sleep. See ya in the morning." Devonny left the room. She knew that she had to get some sleep. She knew that it wasn't good for her condition.
************* Ron woke early the next morning to find that Draco and Gregory were already loading the horses. "Darn it!" He'd overslept. Within minutes, he was showered and dressed in a pair of show khakis and a white shirt. He carried the jacket out on the hanger and made his way up to the barn only to find that he wasn't the last rider out of the house as he thought.
"Ron. Wait up!" Devonny, or at least he thought it was Devonny, came running towards him dressed in the usual show khakis and tall knee-length boots, but also instead of a show blouse she wore a white top, which came to stop two inches above her belly-button and had no sleeves, although it did have a collar. "We're leaving in ten minutes, and the others are just waking up, so we're making good time." And just as Anna was loaded onto the trailer, they reached the barn. Gregory closed the door and then turned to speak to his sister about the importance of being punctual when his eyes widened at the sight of Devonny's shirt.
"What is that?" Gregory asked just as a very surprised Draco came back carrying a bucket of brushes toward the truck bed.
"What is what?" Playing dumb seemed the best approach to annoy her brother, so therefore, Dev excelled at it. "Oh. You're talking about my shirt."
"Is that what you call it? I was going for 'piece of material that couldn't have made it as a sock, let alone a shirt'."
"Gregory, the material is too good for socks. Jonathan made it for me. And besides, you haven't even seen the best part." With that, Dev turned around to reveal that it was not only a short top, but also a halter-top. "It's great for summer shows, and it's stylish." Draco and Ron decided that upon hearing Greg's sharp intake of breath it would be a good idea to find something else to do now.
"I'm not going to argue with you, but I will deny knowing you when you embarrass yourself." Gregory walked away and started the truck. Draco and Dev jumped into the back two seats with Ron riding in the front passenger seat. They departed and were soon on the road to the show. Conversing a little along the way, but mostly with nervousness in their voices.
"Dev, why do you guys mostly use muggle things?" Ron had to admit that that the question was bothering him from the moment they set foot in America.
"Well, unlike you guys in England, we have very close relations with muggles, even if they don't know what we are. They just don't notice some odd things that we do. We don't bother them and they don't bother us." Dev was simply staring out the window and watching the passing farms.
************ Harry sat bolt upright in his bed after feeling the horrible foreboding of his scar hurting him. Something was going to happen. Harry Potter had to stop it.
************ "Here we are guys. Greg, unload the horses, and we'll go register." Dev looked at Ron and Draco and said, "Follow me." They obediently followed her and filled out the forms as she instructed as Dev chatted away with her friends who were at the secretary's stand.
A girl with long blonde hair and an obviously false smile was half- heartedly trying to be nice and annoy Devonny at the same time. "Well, Dev the points are going up let's just hope that that horse of yours can withstand the rest of the show year."
"Wendy, that horse of mine is better built than the three of yours are combined. Keep your jealousy to yourself please." The girl giggled and pretended not to be hurt, but her pride was crushed long ago.
She looked up to spot Draco and was immediately smitten. "Hi. I'm Wendy Calling. And you are?" She outstretched her hand to shake Draco's hand, which he took politely.
"Draco Malfoy." He answered, although trying not to laugh at Dev's gagging scenes behind Wendy's back.
"Oh, well, if you aren't doing anything later." Wendy shifted, flirting with Draco.
"Hands off that one." Devonny snapped. Wendy immediately turned to Ron.
"That one also." Another voice entered the conversation and Ron immediately recognized it as Eileen's. "Honestly, Wendy, don't you have a dumb-blondes anonymous meeting to go to or something."
"Or was that a dateless anonymous meeting. It's kind of hard to keep track." Draco admitted that when Dev and Eliza combined forces with verbal abuse, the victim was sure to get whiplash.
"I'll see you in the ring Devonny McCarry." Wendy turned and walked away.
"You do that, although you might be looking through the cloud of dust that I left in front of you." Wendy quickened her pace at Dev's last comment and didn't look back to see Dev and Eliza high-fiveing each other. The group received their numbers and headed back to the trailer, although Ron and Eliza were following a few paces behind. They found their horses tacked up and thanked Gregory for doing them this favor. After warming up, the first class was called and Ron headed into the ring along with seven other people. The classes started and Ron received a fifth place first, a third after that, another third, and finally a first. "Ron, that was brilliant. You did wonderful. Now Draco, yours is next in the Show Jump ring. Let's go."
Chip followed closely to Anna toward the arena where they parted and stood by to watch Draco's first course. By now, Mrs. McCarry arrived and was speaking with another parent while Ron and Eliza were talking by the trailer. Greg and Ginny were off on the other side of the ring watching the course by themselves while Hermione was brushing the horses at the trailer. Harry was pestering Devonny about something or other and Devonny was deeply involved in the course, which her boyfriend was jumping. "Dev something's wrong." The only response that Harry got was Dev cheering wildly at the end of Draco's beautiful round. "Dev!" This time she told him to tell her at the end of the show. "Voldemort's in America!"
Devonny gawked at him in utter amazement. "Harry, I know that there is a big thing going on with the ministry and all, but that is in England. I don't think that he's here. We can't be sure." They were cut off by more cheering, signaling that the competitors were about to be awarded their ribbons. She'd missed the rest of Draco's rounds. The prizes were announced and Devonny discovered that Draco was awarded Reserve Champion, or second place. Vincent was awarded Champion. "Don't worry Draco, Vincent always has the expensive horses, and I don't think anyone has come as close to beating him as you have. At least you can gain points in the upcoming shows. In my classes, the Years points end today. I have to win today."
They headed toward the Jumper Ring and watched the end of Wendy's first round. She had a less than perfect score but was fast. Swiftness didn't count in the first round. Devonny went into the arena and began her course. She was noticeably slower than usual, and Ron enquired about it. "Is she supposed to be going that slow?" The entire group re-gathered in front of the jumper ring to see Dev's courses.
Gregory answered him. "She's saving the horse. She's going a proper speed as not to be disqualified, but is mainly concentrating on a perfect round." The scores were shown and sure enough, Dev had the best out of all the riders. The second course began and the competition was mainly concentrated around Wendy and Dev. Wendy was extremely fast in the next round. Devonny was up next. As she entered the ring Greg said, "Now watch her. This is fast at it's finest." Dev heard the whistle blow and turned her horse to go over the jumps at such a speed that she looked like a blur. She and the horse were obviously a pair that not even death itself could separate. She finished her course at record time, and they discovered that the yearly championship was tied. Dev took a drink of water and absorbed the encouraging words from her family and friends. Wendy had beaten Dev's record time in the next course and now the pressure was finally on. Speed was necessary and failure was not an option. She entered for her final course and began faster than ever before. She flew so fast over the jumps that she could barely feel the gates of the horse beneath her. She would beat Wendy this time. She already knew that she was faster, and she only had one jump left to go. She turned towards the final jump and as she did so, she saw a figure in black outside the arena. He drew a wand and a spark of purple light shot towards her. It struck the saddle and all of a sudden, there was no saddle beneath her. The girth had given way, and the saddle slipped from beneath her. Dev tumbled to the ground with an astonishing amount of force. Everything went black, and then again, Devonny saw the figure. She remembered it the light from the wand, which killed her father, and the evil cackling laughter in the background. Dev screamed and tried to get up, tried to push the pictures from her mind, but nothing happened. She passed out, and at the same time as the fall, almost no one saw Harry nearly fall to the ground in pain from a mark on his forehead.
Devonny lay motionless in the arena as everyone rushed in to help her. She seemed only halfway conscious and was moaning about someone in a cloak. No one knew what she was talking about. Well, almost nobody.
Thursday
When Devonny woke the next morning she had a huge headache, and was forced (literally), by her mother, to drink a potion, which immediately took the pain in her head, not to mention the lump, away. "Shoot!" She jumped out off of the couch to find that she overslept, and in an hour she had to be in a meeting with her modeling agent, and then at a photo shoot. Dev ran to her room, only to hear the familiar voices of her brother and the rest of her friends trying to catch the pixies. She smiled and then went through the boys' room to their bathroom to shower. After she showered, changed, and had eaten she went to help her friends for twenty minutes before she had to leave.
She entered the room, which was a wreck. The only things that were still intact were Devonny's pictures, which were pasted onto the wall. The desk was completely upturned. Both bunk beds were flipped onto their sides, and the television, lamp, and fan were in pieces on the floor. The contents of her closet were thrown all over the rubble. Just as Dev was surveying the damage, the final pixy that the group had been searching for flew out of her drawer, casting it outwards, and causing all of it's contents to spill out all over.
"Hey, Dev," Gregory said as he caught the last pixy and put it in the fish tank with the others, and holding up something that made Devonny blush. "Mom lets you buy these things? This is almost as hilarious as your pajamas were last night, not to mention your pigtails."
"Gregory," Dev said, snatching her 'hot stuff' shorts out of his hand, "they were a gift from Jonathan. They were designed after a popular muggle design. Which, might I add, you liked when the girls in the mall were wearing them." She smirked inwardly. After all, he didn't know that Jonathan was the fashion designer whom she modeled for, and that she was his favorite model.
Gregory frowned, wondering whom this Jonathan person was. "Smashing." Greg's voice had obviously been trying to annoy her, but Dev just burst out laughing, along with everyone else. "Oh, and might I compliment your balance as well." Gregory said with a lighter tone of voice, "You save us all from a terrible fate of being trapped in the seventeenth century by risking your life jousting, and come out of it without a scratch, but you come home and just as someone opens a door, you topple over Draco, and end up with a head injury. That, might I say, is gracefulness."
"Hey, I never said that I was going to be a ballerina. Oh, and guys, use some more original pranks next time. The exploding snap trick is getting old." Dev smiled sweetly at her brother and then turned to Draco. "Do you still want to come to the shoot?"
"Yeah, if it's not too much trouble." Draco was looking at her with as much enthusiasm as he could muster.
"Does anyone else want to go?" She then pointed at Ron and said jokingly, "You, what are you still doing here. You should be practicing. Aren't you showing tomorrow?" Everyone laughed and Dev ordered Greg to give him some lessons. Eileen said she had to go home and Harry wanted to try riding again, while Hermione insisted that she had to read up for school. "Okay, see you guys later"
Dev and Draco headed to the car, which Mrs. McCarry was driving. She turned around in the seat to greet them when she gave Devonny a confused look and uttered, "Um Dev."
"What?" Devonny glanced down to find she was still holding her 'hot stuff' shorts and said, "Whoops! I'll be right back." She ran into the house, to her room and threw them at her brother, and came back to the car where they left. They came to a stop in front of a large building and Draco followed his girlfriend to a large desk, where they were greeted by a pretty woman who told them to "go right in. They're waiting for you."
Devonny was told by Mrs. McCarry that she would be picked up in a few hours, and then she and Draco walked through big double doors into a large room with a long conference table which had two people looking at pictures and chattering loudly. The man and woman looked up to see Devonny and ask her to be seated. "Who's your friend, Dev?" The woman had a kind smile, which greeted Draco warmly.
"This is Draco. Draco, this is Jenny and Christopher."
"Hello." Christopher looked up to smile at Draco. Devonny saw his eyes widen and wasn't surprised at what he said next. "Have you ever considered modeling, Draco? You would make an excellent edition to our team." Dev rolled her eyes. Everyone knew that Draco was good looking. Every girl at the mall practically dropped whatever they were holding when they caught sight of him. It wasn't just his looks that made Draco attractive. He had a kind of aura about him that made him seem almost immortal. He was just attractive in every way.
"Actually, no I haven't, but it's something that I might be interested in." Draco smiled at them, which almost caused Jenny to pass out.
"Well, if you want to give it a try," Chris decided that Draco was just too good to let him just slip away, "we could do some shots and you could sign on if you want."
"Sure."
"Okay. Now, Dev, what did you do to your hair?" Chris had to ask. Even though he liked it, he still wasn't going to let her get away with not being asked.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I just-"
"Don't worry about it. It gives you a sort of teenage 'retro' look. I like it."
"For today you're doing the Jonathan's evening gowns and sweaters, and we've got new muggle equipment. It's something called a digital camera and a computer. They've both been cleared by the Ministry, so we've magically enhanced them. We're going to try them out today."
"And you want me to be the guinea pig, right?"
"Right. And one more thing, we're giving you a bonus," Chris said as he threw a huge bag of galleons onto the table, "and a raise. You get this today, plus a hundred more galleons a week.
"My word. There must be five hundred galleons in here," said Dev as she opened the bag.
"Seven hundred," Chris corrected her.
"Thank you." Devonny was truly grateful. She and her family had been saved before by her modeling job, but now they could do whatever they wanted, without having to worry about finances.
Back at the Farm "Ron, are you really going to show tomorrow?" Ginny had to admit that her brother was good, but he was still only a beginner.
"He should Gin." Gregory spoke for Ron from the other side of Chips.
"I want to. I mean I have a better time riding than playing Quidditch." Ron only rode once, yet he possessed a great talent for it.
"Hey, do you have Quidditch over here?" Harry was curious to see if his favorite sport was played in America, as he didn't possess the talent for equitation as Ron did.
"We have the most competitive Quidditch you have ever seen," said Greg who helped Ron, Harry, and Ginny saddle Trigger, Chips, Dip, and Crystal. "Hey, that gives me an idea. Do you mind riding with some friends?"
"Not at all."
"This should be fun."
The Studio "Hi Mandy, this is Draco." Devonny greeted her makeup artist sweetly and introduced Draco for about the twentieth time that day.
"Hi. Okay, Dev, what are you modeling today?"
"Evening gowns and sweaters." Dev wondered what the sweaters were like as she had seen muggle ones, but had never seen ones of the wizarding world. "So, have you seen the new equipment they're talking about?" Draco took a seat next to Devonny who was speaking with Mandy as her makeup was being done.
"No, but I hear that Darlene was going to be the one testing it. The pictures should come out really well with her behind the camera."
"Draco, are you thinking about modeling? You look like you would do really well."
"I'm thinking about it. It seems as if it would be really fun."
Mandy winked at Dev in the mirror as if to say, "Nice work, finding this one." "There you go Dev. By the way, great haircut."
Devonny got up and went to find the gowns she was supposed to wear, with Draco following close behind. She at last found the clothing rack and her photographer, Darlene. Dev introduced Draco to Darlene and they seemed to get along well and talk as she went to change into her sweaters. She did a few quick shots with them, and then moved on to the evening gowns. When she came out wearing her first Draco smiled. It was a royal blue color, which obviously was magically enchanted to shine in all the right places. Of course, being Draco Malfoy, he smiled and took her arm whispering a "You look beautiful, Dev." Of course, Devonny, being herself, looked at him and blushed.
She then smiled at him and turned to Darlene, "Let's get this show on the road!" With that, they headed toward a blank background where Devonny stood in different poses. The natural talent was visible and Draco stood watching. Dev changed dresses multiple times, and each time she and the dresses became more beautiful. While she modeled the last dress she shouted over, "Hey, Draco. Come on over." She then laughed quietly, with Darlene clicking away. Draco went over to her and followed Darlene's instructions.
"Draco, stand behind Dev, and slightly to your right. Good. Now, Dev reach your right arm up. Draco lift your arm and take her hand in yours."
"Click"
"Stay like that. Now take her left hand in yours. Devonny, look down and smile. Yeah, just like that. Draco, look at her. Great."
"Click."
"Now that I got those, just do whatever you want. Oh, that's wonderful."
"Click" "Click" "Click"
Draco pulled Dev into a classic ballroom dancing pose. "Click." He then began to twirl her around. "Click." Draco sat with Devonny just beside him with her head on his shoulder. "Click." They talked and played with the props. "Click, click, click."
"Great, guys. Those were perfect. Dev, you can get changed. I'll be right back." With that, Darlene skipped off looking as if she were a second year with a new broom.
Dev changed back into her normal clothes and was greeted by Draco and Darlene, who was holding a package. "All of them came out perfect. Draco, you're a natural. Dev, I'd fear for my job if I were you." They all laughed, and headed toward the door when Darlene handed Dev the package and her bag of galleons and said, "I printed this for you." Dev opened the envelope, with Draco looking over her shoulder. There was the photo of Draco and Devonny sitting on the ground admiring and talking about the basket of flowers. Something about the picture was different. For one thing, it was in black and white, and for another, it wasn't moving. The scene was beautiful, even Draco admitted that. Devonny looked up to thank her friend, but Darlene was no longer. She tucked the photo back into the envelope and walked with Draco toward the door where her mother was waiting take them home.
At the Farm Devonny stepped out of the car only to look up toward the arena and find all her friends who owned horses, as well as her brother and friends from England running around like maniacs. Ginny was holding a large red ball and galloping away from Ron who was riding Chips. Harry and Don were trotting around the arena looking for something. Greg was beating large flying balls at Julianne, Bridget, Don, and Amy. Hermione was nowhere to be seen. "What are you guys doing?!"
"Um Dev, they're playing Quidditch."
"Well, I can see that, but Ron's supposed to be practicing! The show's tomorrow!" Dev looked mad for about ten seconds and then burst out laughing. Harry raced toward something gleaming towards a jump and grabbed it. The snitch was caught and the game was over. Dev waved her friends from school over. They all stumbled off their horses and went to talk.
"Amy, Don, Julianne, and Bridget, this is Draco, and I'm sure you've met the others." Everyone else nodded, and Amy walked up do Draco.
"Pleased to meet you, Draco." Amy smiled at him.
"Watch out Amy. That one's taken."
Devonny blushed and made a personal note to embarrass both Amy and Don horribly in the upcoming school year.
"Oh, sorry Dev. I didn't know." A teasing smile was playing on Amy's lips when someone asked a simple question.
"Didn't know what?" Gregory had some clue that Devonny liked Draco, but he never thought that the feelings were mutual.
"Oh, nothing Gregory. Just something that only Dev and I need to know." Amy quickly changed the subject, "So, Dev, when are you guys going shopping for school supplies?"
"I'm not sure. When are you going?" Dev was glad to get off the Draco topic.
"Probably next week. Bridget and Julianne already went, so Don and I are going to go together. We were wondering if you guys wanted to come." She smiled and immediately everyone wanted to go. "Well we have to go. My mom wants me home by dinner time, and I promised Don's mom that I would make sure that he wouldn't cause too much trouble." Don simply stood there with a smile on his face, petting his bay horse, which seemed to be looking back towards the woods from which they come.
"See ya, Dev." The other two girls got back on their horses, walked back towards the forest, and disappeared.
Dev turned back to Gregory. "We have to pack the trailer. I'll be right back. I just have to change into some farm clothes." Dev ran back to the house where she found Hermione in her perfect room. "Oh my, what did you do?'
Hermione smiled warmly at her and said that she wanted to fix the room. She and Dev looked around to find the room absolutely perfect. She turned and found that everything had been reassembled. The pictures on the wall had been glued in the places they were torn. "The pictures are perfect, Hermione. I have a new picture to put up though." Devonny pulled the photo out of its envelope and showed it to her friend.
"Dev, this photo's great! Even Draco is adorable, and although he's good looking he's never cute."
"Yeah, I noticed he's kinda not in the clique. Why is that?" Dev had to know why everyone seemed to hate him with a passion.
"His attitude toward us in Hogwarts wasn't the greatest. His father was a Death Eater and he was totally against me because my parents are muggles. He hated Ron and Ginny because of their family's condition. Harry said that he tried to be friends with him before his first year, but seemed snobbish, so Harry didn't want to associate with him. He tried to apologize in the airport, but Ron didn't believe him, and to tell you the truth, I'm not sure that I believe him either, even if he did save Harry's life."
"How did he save Harry's life?" Devonny was trying to pull a pair of jeans out of her over-filled drawer. "I was always under the impression that Harry could take care of himself."
"A Death Eater came after Harry next year and tried to attack him, when out of nowhere, someone came and saved all of us. The person happened to be Draco. We never found out how he knew that someone was going to come after all of us, but some things are better left unsaid. We can't forget that his father was a Death Eater before he died." Hermione sighed heavily as she yanked the jeans out of the overstuffed drawer.
"When did his father die?"
"Before the term ended. It was just about after Harry was attacked." Devonny was throwing on the jeans and T-shirt that she somehow managed to pull out of her wardrobe.
"Well, I have to go load the trailer." Devonny forgot that she told Draco and Gregory that she'd be back in a couple minutes, and she had been talking for half an hour.
"I'll stay here and finish up the room." Hermione wanted to make the room look it's best. Devonny had great taste in clothes, but her decorating skills needed work. Hermione was just the person to help with that.
********* "Hey, Dev. We were just going to send a search party." Gregory had a smirk on his face that would make the most patient person want to shake him.
"I was just talking to Hermione. Where did everyone go?" Dev looked around to find only Draco, Ginny, and Gregory. They were all carrying saddles, bridles, and tack trunks.
"You just talked to Hermione, so I'm guessing that she's at the house. Ron went to call Eileen, for the third time." With this last Ginny muffled a cough, which sounded a lot like the word 'crush', and Devonny smiled. "Harry went to find Hermione, and Mom's at Mrs. More's house."
"Gregory, I have just one question for you. Why do you always think that you have to be the one to speak?" Dev had to admit that she was getting slightly annoyed at the fact that she could've been asking Draco, and he would have butted in. Nevertheless, she picked up a trunk and walked to the trailer, which was backed up to the barn.
"Because I'm your brother," was his reply. They all worked lifting boxes, and brushing, and braiding the horses. Draco was riding Chips the next day. Devonny was riding Anna, and Ron was riding Dip in the walk/trot class for beginners. Dev lifted another tack box full of brushes and all of a sudden became to feel very dizzy. She dropped the tack box and sat on it. This behavior from a usually strong girl was unusual and caught everyone's attention, especially Draco's.
"Dev, love." The accent drove her mad. "Maybe you should go back down to the house."
"Gregory walked over to where she was sitting and joined in with Draco in supplying her with medicinal thoughts. "Dev, you don't look good. You really should go down to the house. We're almost finished."
Devonny began to protest and walked toward the other brushes by the door Draco walk followed her. "Dev, go down to the house. Get some sleep. We'll finish up here." He kissed her on the forehead and whispered "goodbye". Dev sighed in agreement and walked with Ginny back toward the house. Draco and Gregory watched them go.
"So, you and my sister eh?" Gregory spoke to Draco with a kind voice, which didn't seem to fit his childish demeanor.
"Yeah." Draco responded flatly, wondering if anyone could hear him if he needed help defending himself against an angry older brother.
"Dev's nice, it's just that she feels like she has to be responsible for everything that happens. She's a hard worker, and her mom probably wouldn't own this farm if it wasn't for her modeling. She just feels like she has to take care of all of us. I'm afraid that one day she's going to wear herself out, and get sick."
Draco looked alarmed. Although he knew that Devonny made a lot of money, he never knew that the fate of the entire farm once rested in her hands.
********** "Here ya go Dev." Ginny walked Devonny back to her room and past Ron who was flirting shamelessly on the phone with Eileen who was on the other line. Dev went and sat on her bed when Hermione turned and looked at her.
"You look pale, Dev. Are you all right?" Her voice was filled with concern, but Devonny had other things on her mind. 'When had I last eaten?'
"Ginny, can you do me a favor and get a chocolate frog out of the cabinet in the kitchen?" Devonny knew that she had to get some sugar in her bloodstream, otherwise, she would pass out. Ginny ran out of the room and toward the kitchen. Ron followed her when he got off the phone. "Hermione, do you know what I hate?"
"Jousting?" Hermione smiled at her.
"Well, yes, but I hate when guys do that taking care of you, we know best, not to mention we're guys, so we're big and strong and you aren't junk that they just fed me."
******** "Hey, Gin. How's Devonny, she didn't look well." Ron had to admit that one of his good friends looked like death, well, a very good-looking version of death.
"I don't know. She doesn't openly share her feelings except through her eyes. It's kinda like. never mind."
"Who, Ginny?"
"Ron, if you only knew Dev by personality and were not friends with her, who would you say that she was like?"
Ron thought for a moment, but he didn't need to. The quiet brooding and sneering. The sharp retorts. It was obvious. "Draco."
"Exactly." Ginny began sorting through cabinets and finally came to one where she would find what she was looking for.
"No wonder those two get along so well. What are you doing?" Ron stared as Ginny struggled to open a value package of chocolate frogs.
"Dev asked me to get her a chocolate frog." She broke the plastic, which was holding the boxes together, but at the same time spilled all of its contents on the floor. "We know that Draco's bitter about something, and that's why he acts the way he does. So, what do you think Devonny's not telling us?"
"First off, Malfoy acts the way he does because that's just the way he is. There's no reason that he is that way. Second, Dev's nice she's just not feeling well or something. Third, Dev's family is nice. They weren't into the dark arts like Malfoy's." They picked up the chocolate frogs and took a few with them to Dev.
******* "I'm sure that they didn't mean it." Hermione felt she had to agree in some way on what Dev was saying. She herself knew that witches were as capable as wizards were. Devonny scowled, and Hermione shuddered. She looked so intimidating when scowling that she practically frightened anyone who dared cross her path away.
"Thanks, Ginny. Where's Harry?" Devonny munched on a chocolate frog and after a few minutes, felt better.
"He's out flying around, and I think he was going to help your brother with the trailer." Hermione knew that something was wrong, but didn't want to admit it.
Devonny nodded and then asked, "Are you guys going to the show tomorrow?" Everyone nodded. They wouldn't miss it for the world. Dev smiled. She had friends, but not many close ones like these were. All she had were Amy and Eileen. The others didn't strike them as the most loyal bunch. They would do almost anything for popularity. "You're going to have to get up rather early then. Ron, Draco, Gregory, and I have to be up at 5:30, load the horses onto the trailer, have an hour for panic time, and leave at 6:30. The show starts at eight, so we should be able to warm up at 7:00. you guys probably should get up at 6:30." Everyone looked at each other and couldn't believe how early it was going to be. "Ron, come with me. We have to get you show clothes. It's a good thing that Greg isn't showing tomorrow. You and Draco will both have a pair." Devonny walked into the boys' room and pulled open a certain one of Greg's drawers. "Pick out your size. Oh, and you wouldn't happen to get Draco's would you?"
"Me? Know anything about Malfoy? I don't think so." Ron pretended to gag.
"Oh, yeah. I forgot that you guys hated each other." Dev handed Ron an extra pair of riding clothes to throw on top of Draco's trunk. "We've got a long day tomorrow. You guys better get some sleep. See ya in the morning." Devonny left the room. She knew that she had to get some sleep. She knew that it wasn't good for her condition.
************* Ron woke early the next morning to find that Draco and Gregory were already loading the horses. "Darn it!" He'd overslept. Within minutes, he was showered and dressed in a pair of show khakis and a white shirt. He carried the jacket out on the hanger and made his way up to the barn only to find that he wasn't the last rider out of the house as he thought.
"Ron. Wait up!" Devonny, or at least he thought it was Devonny, came running towards him dressed in the usual show khakis and tall knee-length boots, but also instead of a show blouse she wore a white top, which came to stop two inches above her belly-button and had no sleeves, although it did have a collar. "We're leaving in ten minutes, and the others are just waking up, so we're making good time." And just as Anna was loaded onto the trailer, they reached the barn. Gregory closed the door and then turned to speak to his sister about the importance of being punctual when his eyes widened at the sight of Devonny's shirt.
"What is that?" Gregory asked just as a very surprised Draco came back carrying a bucket of brushes toward the truck bed.
"What is what?" Playing dumb seemed the best approach to annoy her brother, so therefore, Dev excelled at it. "Oh. You're talking about my shirt."
"Is that what you call it? I was going for 'piece of material that couldn't have made it as a sock, let alone a shirt'."
"Gregory, the material is too good for socks. Jonathan made it for me. And besides, you haven't even seen the best part." With that, Dev turned around to reveal that it was not only a short top, but also a halter-top. "It's great for summer shows, and it's stylish." Draco and Ron decided that upon hearing Greg's sharp intake of breath it would be a good idea to find something else to do now.
"I'm not going to argue with you, but I will deny knowing you when you embarrass yourself." Gregory walked away and started the truck. Draco and Dev jumped into the back two seats with Ron riding in the front passenger seat. They departed and were soon on the road to the show. Conversing a little along the way, but mostly with nervousness in their voices.
"Dev, why do you guys mostly use muggle things?" Ron had to admit that that the question was bothering him from the moment they set foot in America.
"Well, unlike you guys in England, we have very close relations with muggles, even if they don't know what we are. They just don't notice some odd things that we do. We don't bother them and they don't bother us." Dev was simply staring out the window and watching the passing farms.
************ Harry sat bolt upright in his bed after feeling the horrible foreboding of his scar hurting him. Something was going to happen. Harry Potter had to stop it.
************ "Here we are guys. Greg, unload the horses, and we'll go register." Dev looked at Ron and Draco and said, "Follow me." They obediently followed her and filled out the forms as she instructed as Dev chatted away with her friends who were at the secretary's stand.
A girl with long blonde hair and an obviously false smile was half- heartedly trying to be nice and annoy Devonny at the same time. "Well, Dev the points are going up let's just hope that that horse of yours can withstand the rest of the show year."
"Wendy, that horse of mine is better built than the three of yours are combined. Keep your jealousy to yourself please." The girl giggled and pretended not to be hurt, but her pride was crushed long ago.
She looked up to spot Draco and was immediately smitten. "Hi. I'm Wendy Calling. And you are?" She outstretched her hand to shake Draco's hand, which he took politely.
"Draco Malfoy." He answered, although trying not to laugh at Dev's gagging scenes behind Wendy's back.
"Oh, well, if you aren't doing anything later." Wendy shifted, flirting with Draco.
"Hands off that one." Devonny snapped. Wendy immediately turned to Ron.
"That one also." Another voice entered the conversation and Ron immediately recognized it as Eileen's. "Honestly, Wendy, don't you have a dumb-blondes anonymous meeting to go to or something."
"Or was that a dateless anonymous meeting. It's kind of hard to keep track." Draco admitted that when Dev and Eliza combined forces with verbal abuse, the victim was sure to get whiplash.
"I'll see you in the ring Devonny McCarry." Wendy turned and walked away.
"You do that, although you might be looking through the cloud of dust that I left in front of you." Wendy quickened her pace at Dev's last comment and didn't look back to see Dev and Eliza high-fiveing each other. The group received their numbers and headed back to the trailer, although Ron and Eliza were following a few paces behind. They found their horses tacked up and thanked Gregory for doing them this favor. After warming up, the first class was called and Ron headed into the ring along with seven other people. The classes started and Ron received a fifth place first, a third after that, another third, and finally a first. "Ron, that was brilliant. You did wonderful. Now Draco, yours is next in the Show Jump ring. Let's go."
Chip followed closely to Anna toward the arena where they parted and stood by to watch Draco's first course. By now, Mrs. McCarry arrived and was speaking with another parent while Ron and Eliza were talking by the trailer. Greg and Ginny were off on the other side of the ring watching the course by themselves while Hermione was brushing the horses at the trailer. Harry was pestering Devonny about something or other and Devonny was deeply involved in the course, which her boyfriend was jumping. "Dev something's wrong." The only response that Harry got was Dev cheering wildly at the end of Draco's beautiful round. "Dev!" This time she told him to tell her at the end of the show. "Voldemort's in America!"
Devonny gawked at him in utter amazement. "Harry, I know that there is a big thing going on with the ministry and all, but that is in England. I don't think that he's here. We can't be sure." They were cut off by more cheering, signaling that the competitors were about to be awarded their ribbons. She'd missed the rest of Draco's rounds. The prizes were announced and Devonny discovered that Draco was awarded Reserve Champion, or second place. Vincent was awarded Champion. "Don't worry Draco, Vincent always has the expensive horses, and I don't think anyone has come as close to beating him as you have. At least you can gain points in the upcoming shows. In my classes, the Years points end today. I have to win today."
They headed toward the Jumper Ring and watched the end of Wendy's first round. She had a less than perfect score but was fast. Swiftness didn't count in the first round. Devonny went into the arena and began her course. She was noticeably slower than usual, and Ron enquired about it. "Is she supposed to be going that slow?" The entire group re-gathered in front of the jumper ring to see Dev's courses.
Gregory answered him. "She's saving the horse. She's going a proper speed as not to be disqualified, but is mainly concentrating on a perfect round." The scores were shown and sure enough, Dev had the best out of all the riders. The second course began and the competition was mainly concentrated around Wendy and Dev. Wendy was extremely fast in the next round. Devonny was up next. As she entered the ring Greg said, "Now watch her. This is fast at it's finest." Dev heard the whistle blow and turned her horse to go over the jumps at such a speed that she looked like a blur. She and the horse were obviously a pair that not even death itself could separate. She finished her course at record time, and they discovered that the yearly championship was tied. Dev took a drink of water and absorbed the encouraging words from her family and friends. Wendy had beaten Dev's record time in the next course and now the pressure was finally on. Speed was necessary and failure was not an option. She entered for her final course and began faster than ever before. She flew so fast over the jumps that she could barely feel the gates of the horse beneath her. She would beat Wendy this time. She already knew that she was faster, and she only had one jump left to go. She turned towards the final jump and as she did so, she saw a figure in black outside the arena. He drew a wand and a spark of purple light shot towards her. It struck the saddle and all of a sudden, there was no saddle beneath her. The girth had given way, and the saddle slipped from beneath her. Dev tumbled to the ground with an astonishing amount of force. Everything went black, and then again, Devonny saw the figure. She remembered it the light from the wand, which killed her father, and the evil cackling laughter in the background. Dev screamed and tried to get up, tried to push the pictures from her mind, but nothing happened. She passed out, and at the same time as the fall, almost no one saw Harry nearly fall to the ground in pain from a mark on his forehead.
Devonny lay motionless in the arena as everyone rushed in to help her. She seemed only halfway conscious and was moaning about someone in a cloak. No one knew what she was talking about. Well, almost nobody.