Chapter Sixty-six
Draco made sure that no one had followed them behind the broom shed and then began to speak earnestly to Araminta.
"Araminta, I feel like I've known you--or that's you've known me--or that you could even read my mind. It's strange, because I know that you just transferred here from Japan, and I know that there's no one in my family named Malpot--not even in the parts of the family that we don't speak to, as they are beneath us. I...I just wanted you to know. It's sort of like when you're somewhere you've never been, but you know it already." He threw up his hands in despair. "Oh, I don't know how to say it. It's like--"
"Déjà vu?" asked Araminta.
"Yeah!" said Draco, pleased as punch. "That was exactly the word I was looking for."
Araminta smiled. "Glad to be of service."
"Anyway," Draco continued, "do you feel the same way?"
Araminta thought about it. This was harder than checking 'yes' or 'no' on a love note; telling Draco that they really would know each other in the future (so she did feel a sense of déjà vu around him at all times) would probably confuse him and make him even more suspicious. "Well, Draco..." She trailed off and fingered the twigs of her broomstick nervously. "Um, uh, I..."
The sound of the marching band honking their horns and flutes interrupted her train of thought. Saved by the bell, or, really, the brass, she thought. "I think we'd better go so we don't miss the start of the match."
Draco looked startled. "I almost forgot! All right, but just so you know, we'll talk more later."
Araminta nodded her head and tramped out to the Quidditch field behind him. The stands were full of spectators: Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw were supporting both sides; and Gryffindor and Slytherin, fiercely loyal to their Houses, had packed the seats.
The scene was one of a carnival. Men and women carrying boxes threw warm peanuts down each row and caught the change handily. There was a run on butterbeer and cotton candy. The smell of hot dogs and hamburgers wafted on a charcoal-scented breeze.
Beyond the party food, the Quidditch pitch had been decorated specially for this event. Strings of Christmas lights and streamers in Gryffindor and Slytherin colors gave an aura of festive cheer to the proceedings.
The students on one side of the pitch shouted: "Gryff, Gryff, Gryffindor."
The students on the other side shouted: "Sly-the-RIN, Sly-the-RIN."
Each side held their hands up in the victory sign while the band played "Dun dundundundundundun dundunDUN dun DUN dundundundundundun dundunDUN...dun DUUUUUUUUN."
Suddenly, the tune changed. "Duh duh duh duh, duh duh(rest), duh duh duh duh duhduh(rest), duh duh duh duh duh da duh DUH!"
"Charge!" screamed the boisterous crowd.
Madam Hooch stepped out onto the field. "I wish to open the Hogwarts Qudditch season! We kick off the festivities with Gryffindor versus Slytherin!"
The crowd went wild.
So did Araminta's stomach.