I AM NOT STEALING ANYTHING AND HOW DARE YOU SUGGEST SUCH A THING WHAT NONONO THERE'S NOTHING BEHIND MY BACK WHAT ARE YOU-
The weekend was passed through a combination of reading, discussing various subjects with Neville, and secretly practicing flying. The actual quidditch balls were hidden far better than the brooms were, and none of the friends had figured out where they were hidden, but Neville had shown them a rather useless gift from his grandmother, a remembrall, and had suggested that they just play catch with it.
Twilight and Rarity had both been reading the same books, each trying to ensure that the other didn't miss any important details, but they still hadn't found any instructions on legilimency, and the ones on occlumency were useless to them, as someone with legilimency was neeeded to put their mind under threat in the first place. Rarity had guessed that the books detailing legilimency would be in the restricted section, and Twilight had grudgingly agreed, so until they could get a pass for that area, telling Neville about themselves was a no-go, much to the entire System's dismay.
Well, almost the entire System; Pinkie had vanished entirely, and nopony could make heads or tails of where she could have gone. They decided not to let it bother them, though, as she would show herself when and where she wanted. That was just how Pinkie was.
Finally, it was monday and time for the plans of the previous Potions lesson to come to fruition.
Most of the lesson went as expected. Neville stayed away from the cauldron, but prepared the majority of the plant-based ingredients. Applejack helped in that regard, while Twilight dealt with the cauldron, following the notes that AJ had made to a tee and checking back with her for anything that was unclear. Really, it was surprising how well Neville meshed with the System, almost like he was one of them himself, and it strengthened their resolve to tell him their secret.
After the fiasco of their first lesson, they were still avoiding Snape's eyes, as they had no desire to let him into their mindscape again. As much as he acted like he didn't in any way want to go there again, it was better safe than sorry.
Finally, arms weak and fingers aching more than they would care to admit, Twilight and AJ led the way out of the dungeons, and the conversation with Neville.
The combination of accents was something to be admired.
Somehow, the flying lesson had seemed to the System like a one-time thing, but they, and Dashie especially, were very glad that it wasn't. In fact, the lessons were scheduled for every thursday afternoon, as an extra class that students weren't required to take.
Dashie and Neville said "Up!" together this time, and no wrists were broken by brooms, much to everyone's relief. Most of the remaining students got their brooms into their hands on the first try, but one Slytherin boy had to say it again.
Twilight could feel that that broomstick was a particularly weak one, and with Rarity's prompting, she shot her magic forwards and undid the vast majority of the charms on the broom, to ensure that it wouldn't get off the ground before breaking as theirs had done.
The boy seemed annoyed as the broom still didn't respond to his call, and Madam Hooch bustled over, recognising him as one of the better flyers from the previous week. Like last week, she threw the broom in the air, and like last week it put up no resistance to gravity and landed back in her hands.
Then she snapped it over her knee, and Twilight enhanced their hearing enough to catch mutterings about price cuts and cushioning charms.
"Grab a new broom, Nott, and let's get up in the air. Chop chop!"
Five minutes later, they were all flying aimlessly around the small pitch, warming up before their first task. Madam Hooch blew her whistle, and all except Malfoy and Ron Weasley came to a dead stop. The remainder continued glaring at each other, but slowed down quickly enough that they weren't taken note of.
"Alright, for the first exercise today, you'll be in the same groups as you were last week, so pair up." They did, and she nodded. "Now, when I call your names, come down to the centre of the pitch with me. Remember those snitches from last week? Those were just the practice ones. Now you'll be fighting to catch a Hogwarts grade one, and whoever catches theirs will get the chance to capture and keep a professional snitch!"
Dashie and Neville looked thoughtfully at each other. Both knew that Dashie was the best seeker out of either of them, but both were willing to try their hardest, if only to appease the other.
The commotion died down after a good twenty seconds before Hooch continued. "The rules are as such: Each pair will have ten minutes to find their snitch. The one to capture the snitch will move up to the next challenge. If nobody in a pair captures it within the time limit, nobody in that pair moves up. There will be no malicious physical contact, and I will be the judge of that. Malfoy and Crabbe, you're up first."
Malfoy returned with his prize quickly; as good as Crabbe was on a broom, his stocky body had to make him less maneuverable than the slim blonde. Dashie jokingly blamed it on Malfoy's golden locks confusing Crabbe, and she and Neville shared a laugh over that. After that were several longer matches between groups of Slytherins and Gryffindors (though never one of each), which were mostly boring to look at, so by the time their names were called, both Dashie and Neville were anxious to get going.
They touched down gently next to Madam Hooch, earning them approving looks, and waited for her to release the snitch.
"On my whistle, kick off and begin. The snitch is unable to to leave the pitch, understand?" At their nods, she opened her gloved hands and a golden ball shot out, circling them both before seeming to vanish into thin air. The whistle sounded, and they were both in the air, adrenaline coursing through them.
They sped around the pitch for five minutes, before Neville spotted something and dove. Dashie took the initiative and paced him perfectly, realising almost too late that he was bluffing and pulling up barely in time, hurriedly crossing her legs on top of the broom's handle as the back quite literally swept the floor.
Several students gasped at the close call, but Neville hadn't admired his handiwork and was already back in the air, searching for the glint of gold that Dashie could see-
She was off in an instant, Neville on her tail as she swerved towards the stands. There was a tear in the fabric at the Gryffindor side, and the snitch conveniently took that place to hide. Before Hooch could so much as blow her whistle, they were dodging wooden beams and panels, their way barely lit in house colours as the sunlight from outside travelled through the cloth.
After several tense moments, they both plunged out into the light on the opposite side of the pitch, Neville grinning tiredly and Dashie cheering with a golden ball in her hand. The fact that she was upside down didn't seem to faze her in the slightest as she began chattering animatedly to Neville, the words lost to the rest of the students and to Madam Hooch, who looked like she'd died thrice over and was wiping sweat off her brow.
It was then that she wondered something that would be (and had been) echoed many more times: Why couldn't System Baker be a normal person?
The last few races were much more tame as Dashie and Neville leaned on each other in the stands, panting happily as the adrenaline wore off.
Finally, Hooch flew towards them, a scowl on her face as she supported a Slytherin girl covered in grass stains. "The race for the professional snitch will be next week, to let you lot recover and to let Parkinson have her wrist healed. I'd like to remind you that fitting through a quidditch hoop is very difficult and should not be attempted, even if you do get the snitch. Dismissed."
They all headed back to the castle, discussing various subjects tiredly. Dashie didn't feel much like talking so had left control to Fluttershy, who walked contently with Neville, listening contentedly as he spouted his excitation about the next Herbology lesson.
Okay, a little shorter than the last time, but my planned next scene wouldn't feel right without a new chapter. Also I just wanted to get this out there, because writer's block has been biting me a little and I want some feedback.
Next time, who knows? Maybe we'll finally get onto Halloween.