She went into the dark stone passage after Kev and Ashley, excitement building.

"Now, just so we're clear, this won't affect our judgement one way or the other," said Kev, voice echoing.

"Gotcha!"

"Not that we wouldn't want you on the team," said Ashley kindly. "But we've got to be fair. You'll have to prove yourself just as much as anyone else."

"I understand."

They went through the gate and back onto the bright field. Everyone piled their bags at the center of the semicircle and started setting up their brooms. Eyes widening, she ran to the closet as fast as she could and finished changing into her jogging shirt, then grabbed her broom again. By the time she was back Ben and Sada were already up in the air.

"So you been out here all week, huh?" said Kev, as she hurried over. He was getting out a bumpy tan ball the size of a melon while Ashley strapped on big, leathery shin guards.

"Yeah I have," she said. "What's that ball?"

"This? The Hermit's Nose!" he proclaimed, standing and holding it out on display. "See all the warts?"

"No way," Ray laughed. "What kind of name is that?"

"That's what they call it!" he said. "And it's the Bludger's friendly cousin, with a lot less bludge and a lot more er."

"What?" she said, cracking up.

Ashley stood with a stubby bat from her bag.

"They're used in a game like one Muggles play," she said. "The one where, erm… you huck balls at each other?"

"Dodgeball!" said Kev. "A fine game! Mix that in with Capture the Flag and you're there! On brooms, of course."

"That sounds kinda fun," said Ray. "But complicated."

"Don't sweat it. We won't be playin' it today. The thing to focus on is ya just gotta not get hit. You're welcome to join in, if you can handle Daniel or someone bumpin' into ya."

Ray looked at Daniel, who was putting on riding gloves. She had a big form. But if they were going to be up in the air - and she could roll away, which would be easier with her padding (hopefully) - it might be okay. They wouldn't be shoving each other to the ground, at least.

"Yeah," she said. "I can."

A minute later they shoved themselves from the thick grass. Right away, she could tell her shirt wouldn't help as much as she'd hoped - it stayed in place well enough, but it was much too lumpy to sit comfortably. But, it was still an improvement.

"Here we go," called Kev, ten feet below her. "Remember, stay within the second division!"

Ashley appeared at her side, large enough to knock her flying - but instead pointed at the wall her bat.

"That's from the hoop end to the half-way point," she said.

"Right," said Ray. An imaginary dotted box sectioned off the field below.

Kev released the Hermit's Nose, and right away she could tell its oddness went far past its looks. It followed people like a fat bumble bee, bouncing and pitching in the air, seemingly intent on colliding with them. It was easy to keep ahead of - but with everyone so close there was a lot more to pay attention to. The Nose's erratic movements made it unpredictable, and if you got to close it would come your way without any warning. Bludgers, from what she'd seen, took their momentum into account when deciding who to go after, but that wasn't the case here. She tried her best to keep the Nose in view at all times, but more than once she narrowly avoided smashing into somebody.

Each time she made a sudden movement, the shirt grinded around in her groin and she couldn't help but wince. Maybe she should have gone to dinner after all.

"You know how to roll, Ray?" Ashley called, when Ray accidentally smacked right into her tail twigs.

"Sorry!" she said. "Yeah! But it kinda hurts right now."

Ashley swooped up in front of her, cutting her off.

"What hurts?" she demanded.

"Nothing!" Ray laughed. "I'm just sore. No big deal!"

No less concerned, Ashley tugged out her wand from her pocket.

"Alright if I try something?"

Ray looked at her wand, then nodded. Ashley pulled her off to the side and cast a long, slow spell that made her sore parts turn cold - including a few places she wasn't expecting. Her hands, for example, which had been turning raw without her notice. They hovered there in the air as Ashley worked the spell, and when she finished and everything warmed up again, Ray found her parts completely recovered.

"Oh my gosh!" she said. "That's incredible! Thank you so much!"

"No problem," Ashley breathed, fumbling her wand away. "Now... show me what you can do!"

Determined, Ray put herself to work. She was good as new. Flying became ten times easier, and there was no need for the shirt anymore, so she wrenched it free and dropped it toward the bags, then came all the way back up, her stomach dropping and lifting as she changed height. Mindful of where the other players were, she plugged herself back into the game.

The Hermit's Nose was after Kev. Just before it bonked his shoulder he spun around and batted it away with a hollow, rubbery pow, knocking it through the air and right into Sada. Smoke burst, surrounding Sada in a cloud, and as she flew clear her skin was turned a bright, pickled green.

Ray boggled. Everyone else erupted into laughter. That's what happened? It turned you green?

"Look out, Ray!" called Ashley.

She'd been staring at Sada, and the Nose was coming right at her! Not thinking, she swung a boot and kicked it - and smoke swirls burst around her. The team's laughter resurged in volume.

Trying not to breathe in, she flew clear, and sure enough her skin had turned green. Dismay buzzed. Bright green.

"Looks like it got ya, Firsty!" said Kev.

She stared at her arms, studying the green tone of her flesh. Everyone laughed at the look on her face.

"At least I'm not the only one!" said Sada.

Humor built in her chest. It bubbled up, and she grinned, and the sheer ridiculousness of the game breaking over her.

"This is crazy!" she laughed.

"Wait until we get out the other two!" said Kev. "You're all gonna be green but me!"

"We'll see about that!" said Ashley.

Ray's eyebrows raised in bewilderment - they were releasing two more?

They got back into the game. It started to be a lot of fun. Everyone was very intent on staying away from the Nose, but all the same Daniel got hit, and then Sada again a moment later. Ray didn't feel embarrassed at all after that, especially considering how much better everyone was than her - they moved around almost more like fish, with the way they spun and twisted and flashed around each other. Even with her being half the size of everyone else, it was still hard to match their movements and sudden changes in direction, and her stomach was still getting used to things. She could move as quickly as she could heave her broom handle, and next to everyone's graceful swoops and twirls it felt clunky. She got hit with the Nose again, and then another time, and she let out a groan of exasperation.

"What broom are you using?" said Ben, suddenly above her. The sky was bright behind him.

"The, uh, Nimbus 2050!" she called.

"You ought to try a Storm Needle," he said, "or a Tailwind, if they have 'em! The more used brooms are the better ones."

Confusion crossed her face - he was recommending a worn-down broom? She shot upward away from the Nose, giving the green Daniel a wide berth, and thought about it. Actually, it made a bit of sense… the better a broom, the more often it'd get picked, wouldn't it?

"Let's see those rolls, Ray!" called Ashley, whizzing past.

Right. Eager to prove herself, Ray clung to her broom and whirled around the next time Nose came her way. The stadium revolved around her, her vertigo climbed - she was sixty feet in the air, clinging to a floating stick, wind blowing knocking her around - and then she was up again, wrestling the broom back between her legs, breaths quick and heart thudding.

"Nice one!" said Ashley, as Ray blinked the water out of her eyes. "Keep it tight!"

"Right!"

She got hit three times more by the time the bells boomed. Daniel called everyone into a huddle, and pulled sandwich after sandwich from the small pouch on her waist, each packaged in brown paper.

"You're gonna be green for a week, Firsty!" said Kev, who had the Nose under an arm.

"No!" she said, gaping. "It doesn't last that long, does it?"

"Nah," said Daniel. "It'll fade in an hour."

Daniel was a person of few words, Ray thought.

"You bring food?" said Kev.

"No… I'm going to eat when I get back."

"Ah, we can't have that!"

Balanced on his broom, he whipped out his wand and magically doubled his sandwich, then tossed it to her. Startled, she grabbed it with both hands, pinning it against her chest and doing a one-handed roll to recover. With her muscles exhausted (and only having one hand on the broom) it was hard to pull herself back up. She became vividly aware of the field being far, far below her, and her heart thudded at a hundred miles an hour as she got her balance.

"Oh my god," she said.

"Woo! Nice recovery!" said Kev.

Everyone hooted and watched her, and she laughed out a pent-up breath. She'd had a lot of near-slips today. Suddenly, Daniel came up from below, which was surprising. In the split second she'd gone after the sandwich, Daniel must have maneuvered directly below to catch her if she fell. She was fast.

Ray laughed and took another breath, clutching the broom between her legs. She single-handedly fumbled through removing the paper and took a bite. It had lettuce and tomato and was loaded with some sort of dense, wild-tasting meat. Instantly, her mouth watered. She'd had no idea how hungry she was.

Conversation started back up as everyone else got into eating. They were all able to balance with just their legs and ankles, but she was nowhere near ready enough to try that. She also saw that, sure enough, everyone but Kev and Ashley were green. (Although, they were also the only ones with bats.)

Wind blew around her and pulled the heat out of her sweat, but it was pleasant. She tried to relax. She looked past everyone, and took another bite, breathing through her nose, and saw the warm, evening sunlight. She chewed and swallowed. Ben said something to Sada, and she laughed. Ray looked at the distant castle, bathed in warmth, all its flags and banners fluttering in the breeze. An enormous sense of peace swelled inside her, and the jitters in her muscles calmed.

This was exactly where she wanted to be.

"You like it?" said Kev.

"It's brilliant," she said.

He grinned - "You know, Firsty, you really ain't too bad."

Pride surged in her chest, and she smiled, taking another bite of sandwich.

Night fell, and they made their way back up through the castle.

"So, excuse me, eh, little girl?" said Sada.

"It's Ray," she said.

"Firsty!" Kev spouted.

"Why do you not have flying robes?"

The question pulled the head right off her daisy. Ray explained, shame and worry burning inside, but tried to be casual about it. Even if she beat Potter - if - she was still going to need robes if she wanted to play on the team.

"Didn't get any," she said. "Too expensive."

"You couldn't find a second-hand pair?" said Kev.

"No, although -" she thought of Rachael - "there might be someone I can ask."

But as soon as the thought came, she knew it was a dead end. If Rachael had anything to spare, it would have been offered with the rest of the school uniform, she knew. Ray could imagine her having much the same opinion on flying as Douglas did: a silly thing for lower-classmen Fitness, with Quidditch only ever being games to spectate and not try to play in. She could see Rachael going through the first three years of classes before dropping it forever more in favor of her more nerdy subjects, and the robes going right to a charity shop.

Ray looked down at her old boots, and kicked the floor with a scuff. Misery weighed down inside her.

"Do wizards have used-goods stores?" she asked.

"Er, not that I've heard of," said Kev.

"Why didn't your parents get you any?" said Ben. "Didn't they know they're required by the uniform?"

Ray looked at him and was reminded of Zach - Ben seemed like somebody who'd come from money.

"Me mum's a Muggle," she said. "And my dad is too, kind of. Never knew my wizard father."

"Oh."

"That's right, I remember you sayin' you were half-blood," said Kev.

"Yeah."

She felt like she was wilting. Nobody was looking at her. She was just starting to feel part of the group - her skin was green, just like everybody else's (except Kev)... she'd even been thinking of risking asking one of them if they could judge her race. And now something else was dividing her out.

The moment passed in awkward silence. Ahead walked Daniel and Sada, staring rigidly forward, with gleaming broomsticks. Kev and Ben were next to her, also avoiding her gaze, and Ashley was behind. Ray felt herself detaching. All of them owned full gear, she thought, and sports bags, and good-quality brooms, and even their own balls and equipment. Those were things she'd need, and would cost a fortune to put together.

She clutched her backpack straps and watched her boots again. This was all her stupid wizard father's fault. If he'd just been here, maybe she'd have nicer things, or at least know people with hand-me-downs. But no, she was raised by Muggles, scraping her pennies together to get by and signing up for assistance programs… why'd he abandon them? Did he think they weren't any good? Was it because they were Muggle, and he thought them stupid, or poor, or worthless?

They started up the small spiral into Gryffindor Tower.

"Hey, you know what I'd do?" said Kev, breaking the silence.

She looked at him - he had a shifty grin on his face.

"I'd check the lost and found if it were me," he said.

Her eyebrows shot up.

"Kev, she can't take from there!" said Ashley.

Kev looked back at her and protested, trying to rationalize it, but Ashley put her foot down and said it was stealing. Which was true, Ray thought, grimacing.

"How you doing, anyway?" Kev asked.

"Alright," said Ashley.

"Yeah?"

"Just a little wiped," she said. "Tried that spell from Maladies."

"Didja? Hey, you get good at that, you could be the Team Medic!"

Ashley let out a tired laugh, and they emerged into Gryffindor Tower. Something down the hall caught Ray's eye - the bright, silvery shape of an eagle. Her eyes widened. Riley was there too, carrying it on his shoulder. He was coming toward them, walking along the corridor wall, hands in his pockets. He was leaving the common room?

As they passed, he glanced her way and gave an up-nod. Her heart raced. What was he doing? Where was he going? She turned and looked back at him. Why was the eagle with him? Was he in trouble? He didn't look upset, or in any kind of hurry. What was he doing out so late?

She kept forward and remembered their journey the other day. She'd nearly forgotten with Peeves having happened beforehand. The details came back, and an idea came to her: Riley liked Quidditch. But he couldn't play on the team. But, he could probably still fly, and he might just be cool about it...

Breaking away from everyone, she hurried after him ("Oye, what are you…" Kev said, but trailed off as he saw where she was going), and she clutched her backpack straps to stop it from jostling. She made it to Riley just before he started down the stairwell. He was standing still on the top step, his back turned. He must have heard her.

"Hi," she huffed.

He gave a half-turn, looking back over his shoulder - "Sup."

"Where are you going?" she said.

"Private."

Right.

"It's kinda late," she said.

"Yep."

"You can go out past curfew?"

"Only with permission," he said, turning to her fully. She stared. The bags under his eyes looked worse than ever, and there was a clamminess to his skin. "Besides, my curfew's later than yours. What's that lot doing back so early?"

"They said they had to work on their projects," she said. "Are you okay?"

He took a breath.

"Yeah."

"You look exhausted."

He sighed, and looked past her. She followed his gaze - everyone except Kev, Ashley, and Ben had continued on to the Fat Lady's Portrait.

"Well," she said, keeping her voice low, "I was hoping to ask you something."

He looked at her, eyebrow raised.

"Could you… if you're feeling up to it... referee my race?"

"Why would I want to do that?"

"Because - because it'd be really cool of you," she said, uncertainty flooding. "I need someone who knows what they're doing, and you were telling me all those things about Quidditch -"

"Why not ask one of them?" he said, nodding.

"They don't have time for it," she said hurriedly (they were all too good of students to consider it, she knew). "But I've been looking all week. We need someone who's fair, and can fly well enough to match us."

"And you thought of me?"

"I just thought I'd ask!"

He didn't say anything, studying her. She looked away and saw the eagle watching her too. What was that thing? It looked far too solid to be a ghost.

"You're the one who challenged the Potter kid," he said.

"Yeah, I guess I am."

"Dumbass. Why'd you do that?"

"Because he was trying to stop me from playing, and I want to play!"

"Right. You want to be Chaser."

Her brain tripped over itself. He'd remembered?

"Right," she said, something rising in her.

Another moment passed.

"You know, you're a little green."

"Oh - yeah," she laughed. "They said it'd go away soon. I got hit by a -"

"Bogie Ball," he said. "Yep. I can tell."

She laughed, a tendril of hope creeping in.

"That's a funny name for it!"

"You should see the Loogie League," he said, giving a wry grin. "They have it late at night after the Wiz-Reports. Players get so slimy they can't even keep on their brooms, they slide right into the mudpit."

"What?" she laughed.

"Yeah," he said. "It's good stuff. But hey, look, I've got to go."

"Wait -" she said, good mood rinsing out of her - "what about your answer? For referee?"

"I'll think about it."

He turned and started down the stairs.

"It's next Saturday!" she said. "Let me know so I can show you the route!"

"Okay."

He dropped out of sight.

She turned, a mix of emotions swirling - anxiousness, embarrassment, pride, hope. Somehow she was grinning. It'd be cool if Riley flew with her.

She ran back down the corridor to Kev, Ashley, and Ben. This was good, she thought. Finally she'd asked someone. And Riley might just do it, he didn't seem opposed to the idea.

Ben was closest.

"You know that kid?" he asked, tone serious.

She plodded to a stop.

"Er, kinda. What's up?"

"You should stay away from him."

Her eyebrows furrowed.

"What for?"

"He's weird," said Ben. "Not normal. Not someone you should be around on your own."

"What?" she said, flaring. "Who are you to tell me who to be around? What do you know?"

"What's going on?" said Kev.

"I'm telling her to be careful," said Ben.

"What for?'' she demanded. "Why?"

"Because he's -" Ben hesitated, looking shifty. "Because he's weird. He doesn't act right. He doesn't talk to anyone. And there've been a few incidents over the years."

"Like what?"

"I don't… I don't want to talk about someone behind their back," he said. "But they were enough to be concerning. Enough to make you think. You guys have heard about him, right?"

"Some things," said Ashley, lips pursed.

Ray looked at her.

"If it's about that time Peeves tripped him," she said, "it wasn't his fault."

"It wasn't just that," said Ben.

Ray rounded on him.

"Hold on, who the hell are you to talk about people like that?" she said. "You don't even know him!"

"I know enough," he said resolutely. "Look, all I'm saying is, he's weird. And he's done things. He acts up. I don't like talking about people, believe me, but I wouldn't want my sister around someone like him, especially alone. You've got to know someone before you start hanging out with them. Particularly if they're older, and don't have a good reputation."

"He's not -" Ray said, anger thudding - "he's not like that. Not how you're saying. He's not a bad guy."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah!"

"Well, just think about it, okay?"

He went for the Portrait. Ray glared after him.

"It's not a bad tip," said Ashley.

Ray stared at her.

"In general," Ashley said.

"Chestnut," said Ben.

The portrait swung open, and after a nonchalant eyebrow-raise from Kev, Ray went after everyone into the common room. Anger still pounded. Ben didn't know shit. And Ashley hadn't heard anything, she was just giving general advice from Ben's descriptions. So what if Riley had had a few scrapes? Everyone did. She certainly did. Maybe that was something someone like Ben couldn't understand.

The team went upstairs with their gear (Kev giving a quick goodbye wave) and she went over to the other first-years in the corner to blow off steam. But as soon as everyone saw her they erupted into laughter ("You're green!" said Zach; "What happened?" said Kendra), so she quickly changed her mind and went to hit the showers.

On her way out (new clothes in hand), she saw Potter's table glance away from her. Potter said something, and they laughed, and she almost went over and demanded them to explain themselves. But the other part of her rose and reminded her what she looked like, and that she was exhausted and sweaty after getting her arse kicked for the last few hours, and that she shouldn't be starting scenes. And she remembered how much better Zach thought Potter was than her, and deep down, she knew still had a ways to go before she was ready to race anyone.

Mood stormy, she clambered back out into Gryffindor Tower.