Chapter Thirty-seven

At 11:30, Araminta met Harry and Ron at the Quidditch pitch. Harry hadn't been able to get Hermione's broom, so Araminta had borrowed Draco's. It was really fancy and expensive.

A big crowd had gathered around. "Okay, everybody, we're going to give you some tests and see who should play in which position. First, mount your broom and take a lap around the Quidditch pitch. Last one back is a big loser!" said Ron, who wasn't captain but wanted to be.

Araminta leaped into the air and flew around the Quidditch pitch like a lightning bolt. She was the first person back by a long shot, which was no surprise. She was flying on a magnificent broom and had been flying for years anyway.

"All right, this time with Bludgers!" cried Harry, letting them loose from their trunk. Araminta zoomed ahead, dodging the flying balls. A few students were knocked from their brooms, taking away some of the competition.

Then, everyone was placed into groups of three and they had to pretend to be Chasers and try to make a shot. Araminta passed the Quaffle to the other players, and let them put it through the hoop.

"One last test," said Harry, who was holding something that was small and vibrating in his hand. "You have to try to beat me in grabbing my favorite ball."

He opened his hand and the golden Snitch flew into the air, buzzing around their heads. Everyone gave a big shout and hopped back onto their brooms, looking for the little ball.

Araminta stayed on the ground for a minute, tracking the Snitch with her sixth sense, just like Harry and Draco had taught her to do. This one had a predictable pattern: fly close to the Ravenclaw stands, make a circle, loop back around past Hufflepuff, a figure eight, then zoom under the Slytherin bleachers, past Gryffindor, and then it started the whole pattern again. Araminta pretended to tie her shoe to give everyone a head start, then she flew over by the Hufflepuff stands and waited.

When the Snitch fluttered by, she reached out her hand to grab it and Harry came at the same time, his hand flexing convulsively over hers. He paused in mid-air, his green eyes meeting her gray-green ones and an unreadable expression on his face.

"How did you know where it would be?" he asked her.

"I was taught by a master," she said, blushing slightly. She'd always known Harry was handsome, but she hadn't really noticed because he was her dad. Now that he was her future lover, she was very aware that he was close to her on his broom and that they were very high in the air. If her knees got weak, she might just fall off her broom!

"You're really good," Harry admitted.

"It's all your fault, really," said Araminta. "I watched you to see what to do."

Harry hadn't let go of her hand and she could feel the Snitch twitching against her palm. "Maybe we should fly down," she said, finally.

"Yeah, maybe," Harry said, his eyes glazed. He let go and Araminta raised the Snitch over her head to signal that she had it.

A loud cheer erupted from the other kids who were trying out. Araminta was a little embarrassed because she knew Harry wasn't used to missing the Snitch. When he was older, he never missed. Araminta knew she'd only beaten him because he was still a kid and because he'd trained her so hard.

"Wow, Araminta," said Ron admiringly. "Guess you'll be on the team."

"Yeah, guess so," Araminta replied. "But only if Harry wants me to be."

She looked at Harry for confirmation.

His face broke into a grin. "Sure. No way will Slytherin be able to beat us now!"

Araminta thought he was really cute, but he was especially cute when he smiled. She was lucky that her foretold love hadn't been Flint, or worse, Filch.

Just then Madam Hooch came onto the field. "I'll sign you up for Quidditch right now. What's your name?"

"Araminta Mal-Malpot," Araminta said, catching herself just in time. She supposed that if everything worked out, she'd someday have that name again.

Madam Hooch gasped. "You're the transfer student from Japan who is a Slythindor." She clucked her tongue.

"So?" asked Araminta warily.

'"Well, according to Hogwarts rules, you have to play for your House team. However, you are in two different Houses, Gryffindor and Slytherin."

"Does this mean what I think it means?" asked Ron, his face screwing up comically.

Madadm Hooch gave Araminta a sharp look. "I hope you really like Quidditch, because you'll be playing for both Gryffindor and Slytherin."

For the first time in her life, Araminta fainted.

Well, it had been a hard couple of days.