Chapter 26: Banned with Honor

Quidditch once again dominated the air, as the first match between Gryffindor and Slytherin drew nearer. A lot of betting ensued within the four walls of the castle. Fred and George were too busy for pranking because their team captain always called for practice. Nikki and I took the free time to advance study for the OWLs.

"The most awaited first match of the season, Slytherin versus Gryffindor!" the game commentator Lee Jordan shouted the names of the Gryffindor team with flourish. When Harry Potter's name was announced, thunderous applause from the crowd decked in red and gold echoed through the Quidditch pitch.

"Look at Dumbledore. He seems to be silently cheering for the Gryffindors!" Nikki pointed to Ianthé.

Ianthé looked at the headmaster, he met her glance and smiled at her. Ianthé smiled back.

"Harry Potter has the Snitch! Gryffindor wins!" Lee announced.

"Look, Nikki, it seems like Draco is sour-graping again" Ianthé pointed out the pale-haired boy shouting insults at the Gryffindor team.

The Gryffindor seeker seemed to punch Draco Malfoy in the face.

Nikki winced, "Look, Madam Hooch will bring them to McGonagall!"

I grabbed Nikki even before we knew what happened. We found out the result of the scuffle during midnight, when Fred contacted us.

"That dingbat! She shouldn't have banned you, you weren't even involved!" Nikki whispered furiously.

"I'm angry that I didn't get a piece of that ferret!"

"It's great news, actually…" Ianthé folded her arms as she leaned on the statue of the sorcerer with a broken nose.

"Are you out of your mind? Three of the members of a Quidditch team were banned from playing! Who knows what kind of power that cow would have by the end of the term!"

"That cow you're talking about just handed us the most powerful weapon any student could have…" Ianthé patted Nikki at the back, who was breathing heavily out of anger, "She has incurred the Weasley wrath, plus those of other Quidditch-fanatic students. She just gave us a ticket to experiment on our joke products…"

Fred's eyes lit up, "Hey, that's an idea! I can't wait to tell George…"

"Where is he anyway?"

"Out in Hogsmeade, he's smuggling in some stuff we got from a contact of ours…"

"Oh…"

Nikki rubbed her hands together, "Our Operation Down-With-The-Cow is nearly perfected…."

"You really want to get your hands on her, don't you?" Fred laughed.

Nikki out her hands on her hips, "You try staring at an absurdly-useless book for hours inside her class. Who wouldn't develop such plans?"

We learned that Hagrid, our Care of Magical Creatures professor, just got back, and he looked like he had been mugged, despite of his large and intimidating appearance. Fred and George told us he's just a softie at heart. I, however, identify him with my favorite Uncle Alfonse, with his love (obsession, really) for dangerous creatures. Someone told Nikki and I that Hagrid's under probation by the new Hogwarts High Inquisitor (ugh) Dolores Umbridge. Sometimes, I just wanted to strangle her with my school bag when she smiles at me too eerily sweet. I'm still grateful she's off my back. I still contact Dumbledore and my family. My father's getting more and more nervous about my situation in Hogwarts. I always write to him, not to worry.

"So, where are you going for Christmas?" Nikki asked Ianthé as they trudged through the snow on the courtyard.

"You know where…" Ianthé blew warm air into her gloved hand.

"Bulgaria?"

Ianthé nodded, "It's safer there… What about you?"

"Mum's dragging me back to Romania. Dad has been swamped with work so it would be more practical to spend our Christmas there."

"Dragging you?" Ianthé smiled as she hit Nikki with a snowball, "I bet you were thrilled when you learned about that."

"I do hope you could visit Romania to see the dragons… They're pretty cool, you know. I mean, you were the one who said that Bulgaria and Romania are near each other."

"That seems to be a nice idea. I'll ask Viktor…"

"Have you seen the twins? The school's pretty quiet… Something's quite not right…"

Ianthé shrugged.

A bushy-haired girl ran to them, "George sent me a letter. I didn't know you knew them…" Hermione Granger handed Ianthé a crumpled piece of parchment.

Ianthé smiled, "Thanks."

Hermione began to walk towards the opposite direction.

"Hey, Hermione, wait!" Ianthé walked fast towards the girl.

"Hermione, I'm really sorry about last year, you know, when I was rude to you at the library…"

Hermione smiled, "It's fine. I also didn't know you and Viktor knew each other…"

Ianthé blushed, "We've known each other for quite a while…"

Hermione looked at her, "Oh no…. I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"

Ianthé looked at her questioningly, "How did you know?"

"Your eyes lit up when I mentioned his name…"

Oh no! How can she be that bright to notice even that! Big trouble! Big trouble!

Ianthé held Hermione's hand tightly, "Please promise me you would never tell this to anyone else! Not a soul!"

Hermione looked alarmed, "Okay, I promise!"

"Witches' honor?" Ianthé showed her pinky.

Hermione intertwined her small finger to Ianthé's, "Witches' honor."