1992 (Second-year)
Ariana sat sandwiched between Ron and Hermione at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall, her head buried in a book while digging into her breakfast. They had double Potions together today and Ron and Harry were desperately trying to finish their essay, scribbling furiously. Hermione was nagging them as always, her own essay completed and lay neatly in front of her.
"It'll only take a moment, Ari" she said turning to me.
"Why do you need her to check your essay when you know you've done it perfectly?" Ron grumbled and I secretly seconded his opinion.
I gave in nevertheless, knowing she would badger me till I did and picked up her essay, reading through it quickly. I had gotten used to receiving requests to check on other students' schoolwork, it was no secret that I was top of the year last term. Ron was right though, as always Hermione's work was immaculate. Her work was always the easiest for me as she rarely made mistakes. I handed it back to her.
"It's perfect, Hermione, really. You might want to specify a silver knife for crushing the Sopophorous Beans though, I mean, if you want to get really finicky about it. But I'm sure Snape wouldn't-"
She was already correcting her essay before I could finish the sentence. Typical, I thought, rolling my eyes.
I went back to my book. Too engrossed in it, I jumped unexpectedly when something heavy landed over my shoulders. I looked up to see the Weasley twins, each with an arm slung over me wearing matching mischievous grins.
"Say Georgie, I could've sworn the Gryffindor table used to be right here"
"Could've sworn Gryffindors wore red and gold too"
"So it's either this one didn't get the message"
"Or we have a snake in our midst"
"Must've lost its way"
"The poor thing"
"Blind perhaps"
"Colour-blind maybe"
I glowered at them as best I could, though I couldn't quite conceal the upward tug of my lips at their humour. I adored the twins and they knew it, often playing it to their full advantage. George chuckled and Fred ruffled my hair before they sat down on either side of me; Fred forcefully nudging Ron aside and spilling some ink over his Potions essay.
"Oh now you've done it, you git! Reckon Snape's in a blinding mood today and let us off without detention? Like he needs more reason to take our points and hate us"
"Like you had anything on there worth reading anyways" Fred said dismissively. Ron looked like he was about to explode when he noticed the ink had magically cleared itself up and his essay was as it was before.
"Calm down, Ron" I said, putting my wand away.
"How did you do that?" Hermione asked as Ron gaped at his essay in disbelief.
"Do what?"
"Say, think you could make my essay finish itself?" I heard Ron ask.
"That was non-verbal magic, wasn't it? I thought they don't start teaching that till at least sixth year" Hermione pressed, ignoring Ron.
I made a noncommittal noise which seemed to perturb her more. Thankfully Harry interrupted, reminding us of the time as we packed our belongings and rushed to the dungeons for Potions with Snape.
…
"Ms Montaine, a word after class" Snape said, earning me pitying glances from Daphne and Theo next to me and sniggers from Parkinson and Malfoy's clique a row behind. Our little adventure in the Forbidden Forest last year had done little to deter them from ganging up against me. "You too, Mr Malfoy" Snape said before walking back to the front of the class. Malfoy sputtered in disbelief and I stuck my tongue out childishly at him.
We waited till everyone else had filed out of the class before heading towards Snape's desk.
"I am to inform that the both of you will be joining the Quidditch team this year as Seeker and Chaser. I expect you to report to Mr Flint for practice this afternoon. I expect no less than your full commitment to winning the Quidditch Cup"
"Her? But she's a-" Malfoy protested indignantly.
"BOTH of you" Snape repeated with finality in his tone indicating the matter was not to be pursued further before dismissing us.
"You were saying? I'm a…?" I asked as we walked back towards the common room.
"A girl. Imagine, girls and Quidditch? The pitch is no place for a girl"
"Right, cause only lazy sods whose fathers can afford to make generous donations belong there"
He bristled at my underhanded jab. "Watch your mouth, Montaine. I am perfectly capable and the team should consider themselves lucky to have me around this year"
"Please, I could fly circles around you any day"
"We'll see about that"
"Is that a challenge?"
"What if it is?"
"Good, cause I'm all for it. Unless you're afraid of losing, to a girl no less but I wouldn't hold it against you" I said, pretending to examine my nails coolly.
"As if, I was merely thinking it would be a pity if you were take a nasty tumble and ruin your already unfortunate face. I was merely being gracious, allowing you the time to reconsider"
I rolled my eyes. "That's sweet of you, Malfoy but you needn't worry about me. The one with the highest points during the Gryffindor game wins. If I win, you'll acknowledge that I am the superior player in public no less and accept my position on the team without further complaint"
"And if I win you'll quit the team and be my personal slave the rest of the year"
I frowned. "That doesn't seem like a fair wager now is it?"
He smirked fiendishly. "Right, cause we both know how 'fair' I am known to be. Life isn't fair, that's just the reality of it. Of course, you could simply quit the team now and save yourself the humiliation"
I knew it was risky, he was playing Seeker after all, if he caught the Snitch, he'd win for sure. I definitely did not want to be Malfoy's personal slave. But I had to be confident in Harry's abilities as a Seeker as much as I was confident in my own abilities as a Chaser.
"Fine then"
"So, deal?" he offered his hand.
"Deal" I declared as we shook on it.
…
She muttered darkly to herself, trudging along the corridor towards the Gryffindor tower. So engrossed was she in her thoughts that she failed to notice the twins until they slung their arms over her shoulders.
"Something on your mind?"
"I think it's more of someone than something, George"
"How can you tell?" she asked curiously.
"I'm an expert in all things related to you, of course" he said, winking at her.
She rolled her eyes. "If you're such an expert, who was I thinking of then?"
He pretended to stroke an imaginary beard and hummed thoughtfully. "Well, judging by your expression, the dark mutterings and cursing under your breath, my best guess would be that pale Slytherin git"
She feigned shock and applauded him mockingly. "You're a genius, Fred"
"I know" he grinned, bowing with a flourish.
"What did he do this time?" George asked.
"Challenged each other for the Gryffindor game to see who the better flyer is"
"Sounds like fun. What are the stakes?"
"My slavery for the rest of the year"
"Shall we go a tiny wee bit easier on you for the game then?" George offered half-sympathetically. "Wouldn't want to see our best mate suffering under his rotten thumb now, would we?"
Fred smacked his brother playfully on the shoulder. "As if, she's way too stubborn and prideful for that. On the contrary, I'd say we need to redouble our efforts, George, keep our guards up"
"Gee, thanks Freddie"
…
I plopped myself down between Theo and Blaise and sighed tiredly. Quidditch training had intensified as the Gryffindor game drew closer. I refused to have any part in Flint's underhanded plays so I compensated by training harder than ever. It was a vicious cycle – more training meant less time and energy for schoolwork, incomplete schoolwork, falling asleep in classes and skiving meant more detention and even less time for Quidditch. Between training, schoolwork and detention, I was completely knackered. Regretting my decision not to skip breakfast entirely and catch a few extra minutes of sleep, I resorted to pushing my food about with my fork absentmindedly, my thoughts drifting off to the game due later today, appetite non-existent.
"Still worried about the game later?" Theo asked.
Blaise looked around cautiously. "Well, if it makes you feel any better, Malfoy's been edgy for days too, caught him staring into space a whole hour last night before bed" he proffered consolingly after making sure the boy in question wasn't within earshot.
"You're the best flyer I know, Ari, you needn't worry so much" Daphne chimed in from her place beside Theo.
"I'm not as worried as I am sleep-deprived, really" I muttered. "Honestly, it feels like I could fall asleep standing where I am right now"
"As long as you don't fall asleep on your broom"
"Don't you worry about that, the desire to whop his enormous ego is stronger than any sleep deprivation at least till the end of the game"
"Nervous, Montaine?" a voice drawled obnoxiously as he approached, sitting down across the table with Crabbe and Goyle in tow. He had minor circles under his eyes, the slight discolouration more palpable against his pallor. Guess I wasn't the only one losing sleep, I thought, feeling oddly comforted.
He scowled at my full plate. "You've barely touched your breakfast. You need to eat or the wind might just blow you off your broom before the game even starts. As much as I enjoy an easy win, I thought you'd at least put up more of a struggle to make it worth my while. Guess I was mistaken. But don't worry, I assure you will be well-compensated as my slave" he cocked an eyebrow suggestively.
"Oh you needn't concern yourself, I don't intend on losing"