Lily stumbled, a sense of vertigo shooting through her. She'd never necessarily been afraid of heights, but she'd also never landed on the ledge of a several hundred-foot drop with her head still reeling. Gripping the ledge painfully tight she risked cracking her nails, she turned slowly on the spot and eased herself back down towards the chairs, and felt her stomach clench for a different reason. She was the only one up here.

Knowing the Marauders, she expected someone to pop out and yell 'boo,' any second, so she took a few more cautious steps in, eyeing every chair and half expecting them to be crouching down for some reason. That wasn't like Frank and Alice though, nor did the seven really seem likely to ban together for something so childish.

"Hello?" She called tentatively. Nothing, and finally real panic started to creep in as she saw the book. Had something gone even more wrong? Where was everybody else? She really didn't like the idea of handling all this alone.

It hadn't bothered her so much down at the tents because that had clearly been the designated area. This was a box, where were the others?

"Wooohooo!"

She startled so hard several chairs hit the ground with her. She pulled painfully to get back upright and was barely able to spot whoever had even made such a noise of excitement. The seven of them were all going wild, blurring past so fast she hadn't a hope of seeing what was really going on, but she could guess.

Puffing out an annoyed breath, she sat in the seat farthest back and snatched up the book, but did still begin with a begrudging smile of her own. Considering past events, not least of which what brought them here, it was nice to have something so mindless to her as a game with no stakes. If she managed to get through it without a single incident because everybody was having such harmless fun, who was she to judge?

Sirius hadn't stopped yelling since Alice had found them. He'd already collided with Frank in his eagerness to grab one and was likely to die of an adrenaline burn before it wore off at this rate. James couldn't help but grin as his best mate took off like a madman with no regrets. That's always how Sirius had lived his life, and hopefully always would.

Alice was keeping up with him with ease, shouting playful insults and encouragement alike as the two longed for the rest of the equipment to finally play a proper game. Remus was trailing only just slightly behind them looking more alive than any prank they pulled could ever give him.

James wished himself the balls weren't kept under lock and key to keep from tampering until they were released, but the idea made him swell with just as much happiness and eager anticipation. If they could keep hold of these until they landed back at Hogwarts?!

Peter and Regulus were cajoling Frank to go at more than a crawl closer to the ground, but the three seemed to actually be having a good time of it. From his birds-eye view, he easily spotted all three smiling at each other at the very least.

Only one person was missing, and he was starting to grow worried why he couldn't spot Evans anywhere in the stands, even as her reading Harry living this experience reverberated around them. She hadn't been in either of the locker rooms, and her vivid hair should stand out even in the worst sections. It wasn't until Alice paused in front of the Top Box did he realize his overlaps and headed down eagerly to see how she was really taking to this.

"-sure you don't want a go?" Alice asked, and even as he sped over he could hear the slight reluctance in her voice.

Evans very obviously could as well, she laughed as she shooed her away. "Honestly, I've no desire. Have your fun, don't pester any of the others, I'm really alright."

Looking just a touch relieved, Alice took off at such breakneck speeds, even her Firebolt may not have been able to keep up. She nearly collided with a wall before making the sharpest of turns, and James wasn't entirely sure how much of that was skill or luck.

"Alright Evans?"

She looked up from describing Winky the house-elf with the most mild look of annoyance he'd ever seen on her face regarding him. "And if I am?"

His heart definitely soared higher than even this broom could manage, it was the most civil thing she'd ever said to him!

"Glad to hear it," he grinned, and then unable to stop himself, "you said you didn't want your own go, but I'd be more than happy to let you ride pillion?"

"I'd rather jump off this with no cushioning charm," she promised, but he'd swear she didn't roll her eyes nearly as much as usual.

He never could take a hint. "I should stay up here, keep you company just in case you change your mind-"

He swerved at the last second, his foot still tingling where it had almost dismounted on the ledge.

"You'll do no such thing Potter," she shook her head without looking at him now, vibrant green eyes back on the book. He couldn't exactly be disappointed with the view regardless.

"Right here then," he struck an impressive pose he was sure.

"Try again." She was now very obviously holding her wand still without looking up.

"Over there then," he agreed quickly, before shooting off and daring Sirius he could pull off the Wronski Feint before he could.

She was glad she'd kept her face out of sight, if he'd seen how hard she was fighting back a smile it only would have encouraged him more. She got through the rest of the chapter without incident. She really couldn't keep the smile out of her voice as she read how much fun Harry was having, hearing all of them laugh and play trying to reenact the amazing plays.

It still didn't quite manage to keep her thoughts from shuffling in every few paragraphs. She'd wanted from the very start of this for Severus to be here, but for the very first time, she was glad he wasn't. Their laughter echoed into every last corner of the arena as she realized he'd been so right about them, and so wrong.