Chapter Fifty-eight
A/N: Ah-choo! Ack, if I'm going to be this sick, maybe I won't be able to put up any more chapters tomorrow. :( :( :( I can hear myself breathing, but I don't know how that's possible because I'm so stuffy.
At long last, Araminta heard the bell that heralded the end of the school day. She flung her heavy backpack over her shoulder and joined the throng of students who were pouring out of the school like lemmings and heading down to the Quidditch pitch.
Girls in short, pleated robes were leading two groups of shouting students, which could be heard all the way across the grounds. "Gryff, Gryff, GRYFF-in-dor," yelled the supporters of the red and gold, while the remaining students chanted "Sly-the-RIN, Sly-the-RIN."
Araminta did her best to stand somewhere on the fringe so as not to attract the attention of either group. What would she do this week when everyone expected her to choose sides?
Albus Dumbledore walked to the center of the pitch and held his hands up for silence. His voice magically enhanced, he said, "We expect the highest ethical standards from each and every one of you this week. Today we have a pep rally, Wednesday is Inside Out Robes day, Friday evening is the Gryffindor-Slytherin Quidditch Match that will kick off our season, and Saturday evening is the Quidditch Ball. Anyone found breaking the rules may lose the privilege of attending one or more of these events."
Araminta swayed to the beat as the Gryffindor and Slytherin dance teams showed off their routines and clapped her hands in appreciation after the Hogwarts choir performed. The highlight of the evening, though, was a display of magical fireworks that exploded without any stinky smoke and stayed brightly lit in the air.
As Araminta walked back to the castle, she realized she was right behind Pansy--so close that she could have stepped on her robes if she was the clumsy type. "Hey, Pansy, wait up."
Pansy stopped and turned around, her face expressionless. "What do you want, Araminta?"
Araminta took her hand. "I just wanted you to know...I'll be there for you. Now, when the time comes, and even after." She looked around to make sure no one was listening, and continued in a low voice. "I figured it out, and I won't tell anyone else. You're going to have a beautiful son named Blake and live happily ever after."
Tears shone in Pansy's eyes. "I'd like to believe that," she said. "Sev--Snape is being so difficult about the whole thing. He doesn't want me to get in any trouble, and he's worried about the Death Eaters all the time."
"Death Eaters...oh, yeah. Snape is a smart guy. I'm sure he'll think of something," Araminta reassured her friend. "Let's get inside before it gets to be too dark to see."