After a brief explanation of the game, Harry and Ron decided that the game would only consist of Chasers.
"But we are uneven," cried Ginny.
"Fine," said Ron harshly, "you can sit out."
"Oh you, be quiet. There's no way I'm going to sit out."
"Fine. Harry and I will choose who we want. I'll take . . ."
"Why do you get to be captain?"
"Because I had to climb up these poles to set the baskets."
"Oh, that's right. When Fred and George made you do it under the threat that they would transform your bed into a giant spider."
"If you have nothing better to say, just be quiet, Ginny."
"Ok, Ronny. You don't have to get all mad about it. You can be captain if you wish."
"You're so lucky that there are people present because if they weren't here, Ginny dear, I would make you into an ugly toad. Uglier than Longbottom's toad."
"But not as ugly as you."
"Calm down Ron. Let Ginny be captain."
"Fine. You're lucky that Harry is nice enough to let you be captain."
"Thank you. I'll take Hermione."
"Harry."
"So your in my team, Milvia." said Ginny with a giant smile upon her face.
***
Harry felt the wind all around him. It howled loudly in his ears, but it didn't matter. He was close to his goal, but before he could take aim, Ginny bumped him and the Quaffle fell down toward the green grass. He saw then, by the corner of his eyes, Hermione sweeping downward with her right hand outstretched. The red ball fell upon her lap, but she quickly passed it to Ginny. She headed faster than a sparrow toward her goal. Harry followed her, but she was too fast, yet Ron was heading straight at her. Quickly, Ginny swerved to her left and launched the ball towards Milvia who caught it with her right. Nothing could stop her and so she made her third score. Ginny's team was up by 40 points.
"There's no way she hasn't played this game before. She's too good, Harry." But Ron was gone before he could agree.
Harry could see how fluidly she flew through the air. It was as if she had played for years. Even with a Comet, Milvia was faster than he was. He could see her smile as she passed the ball to Ginny. She flew with such ardor that Harry felt instantly glad that he could be the tool in which she could forget her life and the past that was as horrible as his own.
They continued playing until there was very little sunshine, but Ron couldn't stop because he didn't want to lose to Ginny. On the last play, Ron was about to get the Quaffle from Harry, but suddenly, he lost control and slammed into Milvia. She lost her grip from the broom and was unable to hold on. She was falling fast to Harry's dismay. He could see her horror, but he felt despair as her cry rang in the empty forest. He tried to catch her, but he had been too far to get to her on time. Ron tried also to help, but he himself was disorientated. When Harry saw that she was about to hit the ground, Harry closed his eyes for he feared that she could die.
There was silence. Silence that to Harry had lasted for an eternity. Then, he could hear Ginny and Hermione, but he could not tell what had happened.
He lifted his gaze. He saw how still she was. But there was something curious that Harry saw. Her arms hanged from her sides. She had not hit the floor, but was floating in mid-air. Harry glided gently to her side. Her eyes remained shut even when he lifted her hand.
"Milvia?" No response. She was becoming paler by each passing moment.
"We must take her home. Maybe mum can help." Ginny said with great grief upon her youthful face.
The troop decided to bind their brooms using a simple charm that Hermione remembered and placed Milvia on the makeshift raft to get her home. With the help of some magic and Harry's and Ron's strength, they were home in no time.
Mrs. Weasley was standing outside. "What happened?" she asked as she took Milvia's hand.
"Well, we were playing and then I accidentally bumped her and she fell . . ."
"What, she fell. From the broom. Oh my."
"No. She didn't fell. No, I mean she did, but she didn't fall to the ground."
Mrs. Weasley turned her attention away from Milvia and looked into Ron's eyes.
"It's true, Mrs. Weasley. She fell from the Comet, but she didn't hit the floor. She stopped just about two feet from the ground. She was just floating there, unconscious."
Mrs. Weasley did not seem to be surprised by what Hermione had said. Instead, she softly tapped, with her wand, upon Milvia's hand as she said, "Lassie Königin."
To everyone's surprise, Milvia opened her eyes. She smiled at them and said, "What happened? Why is everyone looking at me like if I were dead?"
***
He sat upon a heavy couch made of dark leather which was incrusted on the fringes with tiny roses. In front of him, there was an aged set of chess.
"My Lord." Rang a small voice in the distance.
"What is it, Wormtail?" He said with his menacing voice.
"Your loyal servant Malfoy has come to see you as you requested him to do so."
"Let him in. And bring him some wine or what he pleases."
Lucius, who wore a long black coat, had a large grin that announced his glee at what his master had in store.
"Take a seat Lucius. I see that you were able to get out of Azkaban."
"It was wasn't very hard, my Lord. I just pulled some strings here and there."
"I know that you are well positioned. But," he moved the knight and took a pawn, "I have another matter that I need you to take into your hands."
"What is on your mind, my Lord?"
"Remember what I made you keep? Before my destruction."
Lucius remained quiet. He took a sip of the absinthe and looked down upon his drink. "Yes."
"That's very good. The carrier is about to become powerful again, but," he took a night with his black queen, "I will need your child."
"Draco?"
"Yes, your boy. I need him to be my eyes at the Hogwarts."
"To watch over Potter?"
"Oh no, not Potter, but the other."
Lucius remained quiet as he swirled his drink. "They brought the carrier out of hiding?"
"I don't think it was Dumbledore's doing." Then he knocked the white queen with his black queen.
"And does the carrier know or . . ."
"Yes, the carrier is like the other, but it is better this way. I need your boy to watch carefully what Dumbledore is telling the girl. I don't believe that we will have much trouble with that. After all, if everything goes as planned," he looked down, with his red eyes, at the fallen white queen and covered it with his colorless hand, "the carrier will be in Slytherin."