As a reward for being a very good girl I finally got the new broom I had really wanted. OK, so it may have taken me a year or so to get to the point that my parents felt like I had earned my new broom, but I had finally managed it.

I fully blame Viktor for the length of time this took. Which, since he admitted he had been trying to make me jealous and angry seemed only fair.

It was not one of the new Firebolt 2's that had just hit the market… which would have been amazing. Just a Nimbus 2003, but it was nice.

You would be tempted to think that since Mum was a major investor and corresponded regularly with the head of the company that I would have been given a Firebolt for free.

You might also be tempted to think that since my family was incredibly wealthy one of them would have just purchased me one.

You would be wrong to think any of that.

Oh Mum could certainly have been given one. Daddy could certainly buy me one. But that was not going to happen.

Mum said that working for my own luxury items would build character. Daddy said that when a new broom had been developed that Uncle Harry hadn't been one of the first to sit his arse on I could have that new broom instead. Old school rivalries died hard I suppose.

I told Mum that being given things by a loving family was also character building. And besides, most people thought I had enough character for six people.

"That is attitude, not character, Miranda." Mum replied.

I grumbled that they were pretty much the same thing, but Mum was unmoved.

I tried a similar tactic with Daddy "But Daddy, that was the old Firebolt. This is a brand new model. One Uncle Harry has never owned."

"Princess," Daddy had arched an eyebrow at me "I am the master of getting parents to buy things for me. Your tactics have no power here!"

I glared at my father "You are the WORST!"

"No, I was the best. And my teenage daughter thinking I am the worst? Somehow I will survive." Dddy laughed and hugged me.

So I got the Nimbus. It is a fine broom, very fine. But the Firebolt sure would have been a show stopper. I know how shallow that sounds. I am OK with being shallow.

It could be worse. I could be obsessing over Aunt Pria's newest cosmetic line like literally all of my female friends were.

All two of them any way. It occurred to me that in the way of female friends I came up a little short. But I heard all of their friends gushing over them.

But I digress. The best part of what this really meant was that I would be back on the Quidditch pitch!

I was really looking forward to our match against Gryffindor. James had helped me out with that map, but so help me I would knock him off of his broom if I needed to!

The day was bright and clear. A little breeze meant that it would be pleasant to play that day. I couldn't have asked for anything better.

Gavin put me through my paces over and over again until I felt like I was back in top form. Other than practice matches it had been a very long time since I had been allowed to play.

Jamie would be commentating.

As we kicked off I grinned across at Gavin. I was glad we had put everything behind us and could now just be friends.

He and Jamie were no longer official, but they seemed to have remained friendly enough as well.

"And they are off!" Jamie called over his megaphone. "Malfoy is back on the team after a temporary benching due to injuries. And she looks to be in fine form.

I grinned and gave Jamie a thumbs up as I flew past.

Jamie could never leave well enough alone. "In fact I have always thought she had a fine form. Great looking gal. Don't get any ideas boys, she is definitely taken. I am not, however and if you…"

"Mr. Gamp!" Professor McGonagall could be heard admonishing him. "Please stick to commenting on the game."

"Oh, no Professor, it is alright. Miranda is family and besides, I like guys." Jamie tried reassuring her.

"That is not the issue at hand Mr. Gamp." Did McGonagall sound amused? Surely not. She always sounded grumpy. Or maybe that was just when she was talking to me.

I just scored a goal, but instead of commenting on that, Jamie seemed determined to finish his side conversation.

"Is the issue that I can't find her attractive because I like guys?" Jamie definitely sounded amused. Nothing unusual there. "Because I can appreciate a beautiful body regardless of gender and.."

"MR. GAMP!" Alright that was definite amusement mixed in with annoyance. "Comment on the GAME if you please!"

The entire stadium was laughing at their exchange. Even I let out a few snickers. I thought at first this was why my broom was lurching a bit.

At first it was just jerking a bit from side to side. Nothing serious. I tried adjusting my position. Maybe the new broom just had a few kinks to work out.

Suddenly the damned thing took a nose dive. I was heading straight for the ground, and in a hurry. I was going so fast I bet I would beat the coroner there by several minutes!

The broom then jerked my hands upwards and I was soaring higher than any of the other players.

What on Earth was happening?!

Jamie seemed finally to have noticed the game. I could hear him over the sound of the blood rushing in my ears.

"Malfoy seems to be employing a new and unorthodox maneuver." He was saying, sounding somewhat confused. "Unless… no, it does not appear that she is doing this on purpose. DO SOMETHING!" He shouted.

I assume he was shouting at Professor McGonagall, but I was a bit preoccupied to check for certain. I was too busy trying to hold on and not be shaken off.

All of the players, including Gryffindor had given up the game and were now trying to fly some sort of formation around me to halt my erratic flight path, but nothing was helping. This broom was adept at dodging all of them. It would have made a perfect Chaser broom doing that, except for the part where I had no control and I was reasonably certain it was trying to murder me.

I could hear Leo from somewhere below me "Miranda! Jump!"

I spared a glance down and saw Leo keeping up beneath me, but with one arm stretched out towards me.

Jump? As in he was going to try to catch me? Out of midair? Was he insane? I shook my head several times. No way was I attempting that!

"Miranda DO IT!" Leo was shouting. "I swear I will catch you."

It was not his willingness I was questioning but his ability. But in the end I knew I would have to do something. I couldn't hold on much longer. The broom was now bucking and heaving.

I looked down to try and gauge exactly how and in what direction I would need to leap to have any chance of hitting Leo's broom.

He seemed to be more or less straight below me and was keeping up with my rogue broom. I would have been impressed by his flying if my life did not literally depend on it.

Well, it was jump on my terms or be thrown off on this broom's terms.

I swung both of my legs over the side of my broom so I was more or less sitting on it sideways. Have you ever tried to maneuver around like that on a broom that was actively attempting to throw you off? No? Well, trust me, it is not as easy as a few words make it sound!

I closed my eyes, held my breath and… leaped.

Or more specifically I dropped. Almost straight down.

I fell in to Leo's broom across my stomach violently, almost immediately losing all of the breath from my lungs.

I could feel Leo grab me in one strong firm hand, but because he was doing his best to keep me from slipping he was not able to control his own broom.

We were dropping fast to the ground, but much slower than if I had fallen or been thrown.

We crashed hard. I felt the bones in my right arm snapping like twigs. The immediate and gut wrenching pain told me that I was still alive.

I could feel more than hear feet pounding towards me.

Someone gently turned me over and scooped me up. I looked up in to the very concerned face of my Uncle Charlie.

"It's alright." He was cooing at me. "I've got you. Madame Pomfrey will have you fixed up in no time."

"It really hurts Uncle Charlie." I admitted in a whimpering whisper.

"I know." He whispered back. "We will be there in no time."

Uncle Charlie was right. Madame Pomfrey had healed more than one broken bone. As soon as we got there she handed me a potion for the pain and one to help reset my bones.

The pain potion put me out like a light.

I am not certain how long I was out for. It was dark outside when I woke up. I could hear people talking very low, but I couldn't tell who it was.

No matter, any of them could answer the most important question I had. "Did we win?" I murmured.

"That's my girl." I looked up to see my relieved looking father looking down at me with a smile.

Mum rushed forward. She looked… odd. Her face was red and she looked out of breath. "Mum? Are you alright?"

"Am I….? Miranda Lucia Malfoy you are never leaving my sight again!" Mum looked close to collapse.

.