Chapter Seventy-three
It is oft forgotten that ff.net advises that reviewers "use this opportunity to comment on an aspect of the story that can be improved," and several reviewers have attempted to do so, only to be abused by the author in her A/N.
Take a close, close look and compare the reviews and the author's notes. I've attempted to answer questions and ignore those things that I can't, or won't, answer. 'Everybody hates you' and 'you are a horrible person' are not comments on a story.
Hi, Melannennn! (sp?) Glad to see you back.
Libby, your last review had something in it that really touched my heart and restored my faith in humanity. And book recommendations are always appreciated.
The day of the Quidditch Ball dawned clear and bright. Araminta blinked sleepily in her bed in the infirmary, and it was a long moment before she realized when--and where--she was.
All of the energy drained out of Araminta, leaving her 'too pooped to pop' as some would say. There were the little victories, but she still wasn't any closer to getting Draco and Hermione together or to figuring out how to get back to her right future.
At least today had the Quidditch Ball in it. When there were costumes and dancing to be had, what could go wrong?
Araminta rolled out of bed and woke up Madam Pomfrey so that she could be released from the Hospital Wing. She visited her room to get a set of green and gold robes, and joined Sarah Michelle at the Ravenclaw table for breakfast.
Most of the people in the Great Hall were Hufflepuffs or Ravenclaws. "Of course," Sarah Michelle noted. "The Gryffindors and Slytherins are probably still asleep. Everyone was frightened half to death when you fell out of the sky like an angel who had lost her wings." Sarah Michelle stopped her explanation for a moment to insert a hug for her friend. "But when Snape came--well, he was sort of running, really awkwardly--down to the field and announced that you would be okay, the crowd went crazy and the parties started! I went with Ron to the Gryffindor common room for a while, and boy, do they know how to party!"
Sarah Michelle chattered on, and Araminta tuned her out as she stared at her plate. She'd missed the parties, but it didn't seem like such a big deal this morning when she thought about all of her worries. "Sarah Michelle, I have to go now." She stood up and stacked up her plates of unfinished waffles and breakfast burritos, grabbing a pop-tart for the road. "I'll see you tonight, okay!"
"Okay!" Sarah Michelle replied.
Araminta chewed thoughtfully on her pop-tart as she wandered back to her room to start the preparations for the Quidditch Ball. She could pull everything off, she decided, if she could only keep her wits about her and if she used her powers of observation--and maybe her powers of mind reading, too.