Disclaimer: Okay, if I owned Harry, do you think that I'd be doing this? No! I'd be eating cheese in Hawaii, that's what I'd be doing.

A/N: So sorry for the delay! However, during the time I was kicked off the computer, I was able to work on plot ideas. I realized that if I kept going the way I was, I'd write myself into a corner. So I spent a couple days making a NEW plot. It does a lot better than the old one, believe me. Don't worry; none of the old chapters will be changed. However, from this point on, there will be quite a few major changes.

The only one that you should know about, however, is the change during Halloween. You won't find out who the mystery person is until the end of the story. The next few chapters, although still important, will not reveal that person. Also, you may or may not have noticed the genre change. It now includes mystery. The reason for that will become apparent in a little while. Remember, this chapter hops ahead in time to a week before Halloween! Anyway, I'll stop blabbering now and let you read.

Delayed Start: 9. Quiddich and Some New News

"The tension and excitement is apparent here, as Madam Hooch has the Gryffindor and Slytherin team captains shake hands," hollered Lee Jordan into the announcement microphone. "All the balls are in the air except for the Quaffle, which she now holds in her hands."

Aileen watched the action intently from the stands next to Hermione. "Good luck, Harry!" she hollered.

He turned to face them and waved. They both waved back. "Slaughter them!" screamed Hermione. Both Harry and Aileen gaped at her. She blushed and looked away.

"I want a fair game from you two, today." Madam Hooch said to each of the teams. Her whistle blew as she threw the Quaffle into the air.

"And they're off! Katie Bell gets the Quaffle right away and races down to the end of the field, nearing the Slytherin goals. Miles Bletchley looks determined, he is not going to let her pass!"

Aileen ignored Jordan and started to look around for Harry. Although the Quiddich season had started quite a while ago, this ended up being the first match up between Gryffindor and Slytherin. Everyone in Hogwarts had been talking about how amazing this match was going to be ever since the start of the season. Aileen spotted Draco, but she didn't see Harry until a few seconds later. He was speeding down the field after something. She realized that it must be the Snitch. Draco swerved around and followed him on his own broomstick.

"Ten points for Gryffindor!" cried Jordan, as a beaming Angelina Johnson threw the Quaffle through the hoop right above Bletchley's head. Harry went through as well, but he was following the Snitch. "Look at that! Harry Potter goes right through the hoop just after the Quaffle, followed by a determined looking Draco Malfoy!"

The houses now watched the two seekers, as they zipped around faster and with more persistence than ever before. Suddenly they both shot up. For some reason, the Snitch was flying right up into the clouds. After a few moments, nobody could see either of the two boys. Everyone began whispering quietly.

"This is amazing, we seemed to have lost our seekers for the time being!" Jordan barked out. "Oh, wait, look at this! Slytherin Chaser Adrian Pucey, not shaken at all by the current situation, has grabbed the Quaffle and is zipping down the field as we speak!" All eyes turned to the field, where Pucey was getting closer and closer to the hoop goals. He bashed right through Cormac McLaggen and tossed the ball through the upper hoop. "10 points for Slytherin! Now our two teams are tied!" The players on the field suddenly got out of the trance and started playing like mad. "Oh, look at that, Gryffindor's Jack Sloper is slamming those Bludgers all over the place! Ooh-one just hit Bletchley in the arm, which will cause some troub-wait, Katie Bell is down after a collision with Pucey! Adrian seems fine, however."

Again Aileen allowed herself to ignore the happenings in the field and looked up towards the sky, where no sign of either Harry or Draco could be found. Suddenly she saw two specks-one red and one green, getting larger by the second. "Hermione!" she whispered, tugging at the girl's sleeve.

"What?"

"Look!" Aileen said, pointing up. Everyone else around her looked up as well.

"It looks as if our Seekers have returned, even feistier than before!" Harry and Draco were both flying down at lightning speed towards the Snitch. They suddenly veered left and flew in a tight loop. "The Snitch is definitely acting up today, this will be a match to remember!" Harry and Draco were both trying to push each other off their course, but all in vain. Slowly, they inched closer and closer to the Snitch.

Both of their arms stretched out, fingertips just out of reach. Suddenly, they both grabbed it between their thumb and index finger, at the same time. The game was won. The crowed roared. "For the first time in history, folks, we have a tie between the two greatest house rivals Hogwarts has ever known. The winner of this match-both Slytherin and Gryffindor!"

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

In The Great Hall That Night

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

"That was one exciting match today, wasn't it?" Dumbledore asked the hall full of students as he stood up, smiling, to make an announcement. "I must congratulate our Quiddich players for the amazing effort that they put into today's game. However, that is not the only reason I am speaking to you."

Everyone suddenly focused on him in that one moment; for some reason he always had that effect on people. Aileen had admitted more than once that she was impressed by it.

"As you all know, Halloween is coming in a week." Of course everyone knew. The Halloween ball and Hogsemede trip were the only things on the student's minds lately. "This year, after much consideration, the teachers have decided to allow you to wear your costumes all day long on Halloween."

Everyone started to whisper excitedly to their classmates. Nobody had expected this at all.

"In addition," Dumbledore spoke up again, "We will be holding a costume contest. All day on Halloween, we will take votes for the best costume. The winner will receive an entire year's worth of Bernie Botts Every Flavor Beans!"

The hall erupted into a wave of voices. Little tidbits of conversation could be heard through the exuberant conversing.

"I can't believe it!"

"This is so bloody awesome, what will I wear?"

"Oh my God, I hope no one dresses up as something gross!"

"Ahem," Dumbledore stated loudly. The noise softened. "There will be some attire that is not allowed. No dressing up as Dementors, He Who Must Not Be Named, or any other Death Eater. Also, this year, please do not dress up as Medusa, anyone." Everyone laughed. Someone must have done that last year and actually frozen someone. "Other than that, anything is allowed. Be creative!" Dumbledore raised his glass, then sat down after a wave of clapping. Plates of food finally appeared in front of the students, and everyone began to dig in.

"Wow, this is so cool," stated Ron as they left that evening. "I want to dress up as Professor Sprout!"

"The others stifled some laughter. "Maybe you should try for something less.. err...teachery" Harry said slowly.

"Oh, 'teachery', that one will win you an award." Hermione snuffed at him. "Myself, I'm only worrying about tonight's Defense Against the Dark Art's essay. That is going to be brutal."

"Oh my God!" cried Aileen. "I forgot my scroll in the Library!"

"Don't worry, I'll go with you to get it. We just need to be careful of the teachers." Harry offered.

Aileen nodded. "Okay, we'll meet you guys in the common room later, okay?" The others nodded, and went in the other direction.

The two walked through the halls quickly and quietly, avoiding a close encounter with Filch's cat. Once they got to the Library, Harry held open the door just slightly, so Aileen could slip through, and then followed as quietly as possible. Aileen instantly spotted her scroll on one of the tables.

"There it is!" Aileen said happily, picking up the scroll and a quill.

"That all you need?" Harry asked.

"Yeah, that's all, thanks Har."

"Okay, let's go before we're caught out of bed."

Aileen nodded and they jogged out of the room and through the corridors to the Gryffindor common room. They both stopped suddenly at the end of one hall as a large figure approached them.

"What are you doing up this late?" spat a very angry looking Professor Umbridge.

Harry and Aileen looked at each other quickly. This was going to be bad.

A/N: Okay, tried to avoid a cliffhanger there. Hope I didn't do too badly. The next few chapters, which are all coming out two weeks from one another, will either be oddly long, or oddly short. Please bear with be. I'm still adjusting to the new plot. Now, for my reviews:

Delta74: uh... I'm sorry, but I don't know what that means. So I can't really reply to it. Sorry!

Paulbo: DAD! Why did you do that! I TOLD you that you reading this was embarrassing! (sigh). Well, thanks for the compliment anyway. Oh-and I'm not changing the plot because of you. I realized my mistake on my own. So HA.

SwordMasterK14: Goody for you. (glares). You could have told me that on AIM. Not like you didn't anyway. (sigh). What can I expect? It's you. Oh well. Thanks for your support. :)

KaraLea: Thank you. I'm afraid that you've entered during a sort of hectic time with this story, but I'll try to get everything done as soon as possible. Thanks again for the review! XD

Wow, I'm surprised. No flames yet. I was thinking that everyone would be saying something along the lines of: "This is a piece of crap." or "You must be the worst writer I've ever read from.", by the end of the third chapter. I must say that I'm happy I haven't. Maybe I'm a better writer than I thought. Or maybe everyone here has read some pretty bad writing. I think it's the latter of the two. Anyway, Chapter Ten will be out on.. October 8th. Yep, it's a Saturday. Okey dokey then?

C U wHeneVa, Kyogera