The next Saturday was the first day of Quidditch training for Draco and Marisa, who had not received a Nimbus Two Thousand and One, unlike the rest of the Slytherin team. She wasn't surprised, and was only a little annoyed. It was relatively low on the long list of reasons Marisa had to hate Draco.
When they reached the Quidditch pitch they found the Gryffindor team already there and flying around. As soon as they spotted the new arrivals, they flew down to confront them.
Draco hid behind the six larger boys and dragged Marisa in behind him.
"What?" she hissed. "Ashamed of being on the same team as me?"
He shook his head violently. "Not here," he whispered. "Not in front of Gryffindors!"
She smiled slightly, seeing the opportunity.
"Flint!" bellowed the Gryffindor captain. "This is our practice time! We got up specially! You can clear off now!"
"Plenty of room for all of us," said Flint, sounding unconcerned.
"But I booked the field!" said Wood, furious. "I booked it!"
"Ah," replied Flint, "but I have a specially signed note here from Professor Snape. I, Professor S. Snape," he read, "give the Slytherin team permission to practice today on the Quidditch field owing to the need to train their new Seeker…and reserve."
Marisa was pleasantly surprised that those last two words had actually been added.
"You've got a new Seeker?" asked Wood. "Where?"
Draco stepped out from behind the larger boys, smirking. Marisa followed and stood beside him.
"Aren't you Lucius Malfoy's son?" said one of the Weasley twins, dislike visible in his gaze.
"Funny you should mention Draco's father," Flint said, and Marisa saw the smiles spreading over the faces of the rest of the team. "Let me show you the generous gift he's made to the Slytherin team."
They held out their new Nimbus Two Thousand and Ones.
"Very latest model," said Flint. "Only came out last month. I believe it outstrips the old Two Thousand series by a considerable amount. As for the old Cleansweeps, sweeps the board with them."
He paused, but none of the Gryffindors said anything. "Oh, look," he remarked, "a field invasion."
Marisa followed his gaze to see Granger and Weasley crossing the grass.
"What's happening?" asked Weasley. "Why aren't you playing? And what's he doing here?"
"I'm the new Slytherin Seeker, Weasley," said Malfoy smugly. "Everyone's just been admiring the brooms my father's bought our team. Good, aren't they? But perhaps the Gryffindor team will be able to raise some gold and get new brooms, too. You could raffle off those Cleansweep Fives; I expect a museum would bid for them."
Marisa really didn't see what was so funny, but the other Slytherins burst out laughing.
"At least no one on the Gryffindor team had to buy their way in," said Hermione sharply. "They got in on pure talent."
Marisa nodded at Granger and was about to say how much she agreed with Granger when Malfoy spat "No-one asked your opinion, you filthy little Mudblood!"
Instant uproar. Everyone in the Gryffindor team yelled and some of them almost jumped at Malfoy.
"I wish the Slytherins made this big a fuss when I was called that," remarked Marisa dryly.
Weasley grabbed his wand and screamed, "You'll pay for that one, Malfoy! Slugulus Erecto!"
Marisa snorted.
A loud bang echoed around the stadium and a jet of green light shot out of the wrong end of his wand, hitting him in the stomach and sending him reeling backwards onto the grass.
Marisa watched calmly as the Gryffindors attempted to assess him and he belched a few slugs. She saw Malfoy on all fours, he was laughing so hard.
"Think that's funny, do you?" she asked acidly. "I don't think you did last time?"
She continued to observe as Potter and Granger carried Weasley away, and once they were out of sight the Slytherins picked themselves up from where they had fallen about laughing and Flint said "I think as we have a full team and you don't, we are going to train now."
Marisa nodded and mounted her Nimbus Two Thousand.