Chapter Sixty-eight

Dean Thomas tapped on the microphone. "Is this thing on? Test? Test? One, two, three?"

Professor McGonagall, now sitting next to Dean in the stands, adjusted the volume so that Dean's voice could be heard throughout the Quidditch arena.

"Ah, there we go!" he exclaimed. "Welcome to the first Quidditch match of the season! Tonight we'll watch Gryffindor play Slythering--I mean, Slytherin!" he said as Professor McGonagall took a swipe at him with her hat.

"Taking the field right now: Slytherin. Team Captain and Seeker Draco Malfoy is followed by Keeper David Flint, Beaters Risti and Teh Curmudgeons, Chasers Bella Black, Phil Kyriakis, and Cloie Laine! Yes, in an unprecedented move, Captain Draco Malfoy bought new brooms for his entire team!"

The Slytherins held up their brooms so the crowd could see, which caused them to whoop with joyous glee.

"Now coming onto the field, Gryffindor!" Dean had to wait for the roar of the crowd to die down--everyone was so excited for the Lions!

"Captain and Seeker Harry Potter is accompanied by his Keeper, Ronald Weasley. Colin and Dennis Creevey, Beaters, will be joined by Chasers Natalie McDonald, Gary Locke, and Orlanda Bloom!"

Cheering and chanting started again from both sides. Dean Thomas had to shout the rest. "Also taking the field is Araminta Malpot, playing for both Gryffindor and Slytherin."

There was a moment of silence as everyone in the arena gave each other confused looks. She was on the Gryffindor team and on the Slytherin team? What fresh circle of the underworld was this? Everybody shrugged and went back to cheering, since this could only make things more exciting.

All of the Quidditch players mounted their brooms. Araminta got onto hers nervously, because she had to carry the bat and she wasn't used to flying one-handed. She'd played Quidditch with friends and family hundreds of times in her past-future, but she'd never had to play a game in front of a packed stadium with all the lights shining on her!

"Take to the sky," said Madam Hooch, and all of the players flew into position. Araminta, unsure of what to do, flew up and out of the way.

As if from down a long, long tunnel under a mountain Araminta heard Dean's voice over the loudspeaker. "The Snitch has been released...the Bludgers have been set free...the Quaffle is up...and the game begins!"