Masay De Aiden

"MASAY DE AIDEN"

"Hermione! Guess what? There's going to be a new tournament at Hogwarts!" cried Ron as he came and sat down beside me in Transfigurations class.

"What are you talking about?" I asked, taking out my quill and parchment, ready for the lesson.

"There's going to be a new tournament here at Hogwarts! It's only for one day, though, but it looks bloody exciting!" said Ron excitedly.

I looked up. Harry had just entered the class, looking disappointed. He came over and sat down on my right.

"What's wrong?" I asked him worriedly.

"The Quidditch field is a mess! I don't know why they've changed it again. The last time it was changed was for the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Is there going to be another one that we don't know about?" asked Harry as he crossed his arms over the top of the desk and rested his chin on them.

"No, that's for the new tournament!" said Ron eagerly.

"New tournament?" asked Harry, turning his head toward Ron.

"Yeah! It's supposed to be dangerous though. Something to do with horses," said Ron.

"Horses?" I asked, perking up.

I hadn't told anyone but I loved horses. My mum and dad had me take riding lessons when I was little. I loved it. I loved the feel of the horse and just able to feel free.

"Yeah. I think McGonagall is supposed to explain it to us today," said Ron.

Just then, Professor McGonagall stepped into the classroom.

"Class, please head down to the Great Hall. There's a special assembly,"

We gathered our belongings and followed her down to the Hall.

Once everyone was seated at their house tables, Professor Dumbledore stood up.

"I have some wonderful news. The Head of the Department Of Magical Games has allowed Hogwarts to have a new tournament. It's been a long time since Hogwarts hosted a muggle and magical sport combined," said Professor Dumbledore, his blue eyes twinkling behind his half moon spectacles.

Whispers went around the hall after he had said "muggle sport".

"The new tournament is called, Masay De Aiden. It's not all muggle. There will be several obstacles related to magic. First, two people from each house will be riding horses,"

More whispers went around. Some of the students seemed excited and eager to participate. Professor Dumbledore continued:

"They will have a band around their arms with the letter of their house. Ravenclaw will have an R, Hufflepuff an H, and so on with the house colors. Along with their house letter, they will have numbers. When the judges call numbers, who ever matches that number has to go around the field, clearing jumps, hedges, and there's even a boggart in there. When it appears as what the rider feels will scare him or her, they must use the Riddikulus Spell. Then, the most and perhaps dangerous part is there are stepping-stones across the lake. The rider must get his or her horse to trot across it on the stones. There's a small hitch...the stones disappear after five seconds. So speed and accuracy count. Once all eight riders clear every obstacle, the judges will hold up their score. 1-60 number score will be given. The rider that polls 60, their house will receive additional 100 points. The winning team will receive three thousand galleons. The judges are Barty Crouch, Ludo Bagman, and myself. They are set to arrive Saturday. So, if you'd like to participate, stand up. But I must ask only those who are familiar with the muggle sport should volunteer. If you do not know how to ride, I would suggest not volunteering. Professor McGonagall will take your names and houses, then assign numbers. The tournament takes place next Monday at nine o'clock AM,"

I looked around.

Two students from Ravenclaw stood up. Cho Chang and another girl. Then, for Hufflepuff, two boys. For Slytherin, Draco and Crabbe had stood up. I stood up without hesitating. I saw that Neville had also stood up.

"Hermione, since when do you know how to ride a horse?" whispered Ron.

"Since I was little. My mum and dad had me take riding lessons," I replied.

"Will the volunteers please follow me," said Professor McGonagall.

I said good-bye to Ron and Harry, and followed Neville and Professor McGonagall.

She led us out of the castle and across the grounds to Hagrid's hut. There was a large paddock on the right side, where eight horses stood, grazing. Hagrid was lifting an English saddle onto the railing. There were eight saddles also resting on the railing, along with matching snaffle bridles.

"Afternoon! Ah, are these the volunteers?" asked Hagrid eagerly.

"Yes," said Professor McGonagall.

"OK, right now, all yeh have to do is choose yer horse and get acquainted with 'im," said Hagrid.

Neville and I went over to the two horses at the end of the line. Neville picked a black horse with a thin strip of white on his muzzle. I had a white horse. It was a mare. I gently reached up to stroke the horses neck. The horse nuzzled my palm. I grinned and rubbed her forehead.

"So the Mudblood knows how to ride a horse, huh?" snickered Draco beside me. "And Longbottom. I thought you'd forget how to ride with your memory."

I just glared at Malfoy. Neville turned pink.

Malfoy had chosen a gorgeous chestnut stallion with flaxen color mane and tail.

Malfoy turned and laughed before heading back over to his horse.

"My grandmum worked on a farm with a lot of horses. She taught me how to ride," said Neville uncertainly.

"It's okay, Neville," I said reassuringly to him while glaring after Malfoy.

Cho and the second girl from Ravenclaw had chosen two bay horses. The Hufflepuff team had an appaloosa and pinto, Slytherin had the chestnut horse and dark dark bay. Neville and I had the black horse and the white mare.

"Alright. Now, here are yeh numbers along with your house letter armband," said Hagrid handing out small armbands. Neville and mine were gold and maroon. There was a large letter G and below the letter was the number 4. Neville was number 3.

"Tomorrow, you eight students are to meet out here after breakfast. You're going to be riding them around the course to get a feel for it," said Professor McGonagall. "Wear these arm bands over your robes."

We nodded that we understood.

"Okay, well, thas it, I think, right Professor?" asked Hagrid.

Professor McGonagall nodded.

"It's time to head back for your classes,"

Neville and I said good-bye to Hagrid and walked back into the castle. Everyone from the houses rushed over to the students representing their house. Cho and the other girl were swarmed. Harry and Ron came over to me.

"I can't believe you know how to ride!" said Harry.

"Is that some kind of shock?" I demanded indignantly.

"No. We just never knew you knew how to ride. I guess we're so used to seeing you do magic," said Ron.

"I am Muggle born, remember?" I asked, narrowing my eyes angrily.

It hurt a bit to think that the only way Ron and Harry thought of me was as a witch and that was it. After all, my parents were muggles. I grew up in the muggle world before I got the letter to Hogwarts. There's more to me than just 'being the smartest witch in the school'.

Harry looked up and saw Cho laughing and joking with the rest of her house as they made their way out of the Great Hall.

"I never thought Cho knew how to ride either. I bet she looks great on a horse," said Harry, his emerald green eyes glossing over behind his glasses and a dreamy expression came across his face. I felt anger rising in my chest.

"Excuse me. I need to go to the library," I said as I did an about-face and stalked off to the library, my robe billowing out behind me, and my hair flipped onto my right shoulder.

I sat in the library reading a book I needed for Professor McGonagall's lesson about how to transfigure a pen into a knife. She had assigned it the other day, and she wanted an essay written about it. I took out my parchment and quill and began writing.

I was jealous. I admit it. Ron and I knew Harry had a huge crush on Cho. We could read him like a book. I loved Harry. More than a best friend, and whenever he talks about Cho, it just irks me really badly. I'm afraid to tell him, on account of me loosing him as a best friend and I couldn't handle that. I'd rather have him as a best friend than lose him. I looked up and stared at the wall, daydreaming. I saw myself pulling Cho's hair and scratching her face. I felt a lazy smile forming on my face.

"Whatcha smiling about, Hermione?"

I snapped out of my daydream.

It was Harry.

"Oh. Nothing," I said quickly and returned my eyes onto my essay.

I felt Harry's eyes on me.

"There's something bothering you...isn't there?"

"No. I'm fine. Listen, I really need to finish this essay. Tomorrow I've got to meet the rest of the volunteers out by Hagrid's hut. We're supposed to ride the horses around the field to get a feel for it," I said abruptly.

"Alright. I'll go," said Harry, sounding a little hurt, and surprised.

He got up and walked out of the library. I felt guilty afterwards. Sighing, I rolled up my parchment and placed it back into my bag, along with the quill. I swung it onto my shoulder and went over to the window. I placed my hands on the sill and stared out the window at the bright sunshine. White puffy clouds floated by. I could see the horses resting in the paddock.

I checked my watch. It was time for Potions. I turned and left the library.

The next morning, after breakfast, I went down to Hagrid's hut. Ron and Harry decided to come and watch.

Goody. Now Harry's eyes will never leave Cho.

I thought.

They were walking behind me. I approached Hagrid's hut. The sky was a dull grey and it was drizzling slightly. The rest of the volunteer's were there, as well as Professor McGonagall. I had my armband on my left arm. It was just above the elbow. I noticed the horses weren't in the paddock any more. They were all standing outside, all tacked up.

I approached my horse. I couldn't help but break out into a grin when I saw her. Her ears pricked forward and she let out a low whinny.

"Looks like she likes yeh, 'Ermione!" said Hagrid beaming.

"Yeah," I said, smiling.

Professor McGonagall turned to us.

"Alright, first I want you all to mount the horses,"

I got on the left side of my horse and stuck my left foot into the silver stirrup. I grabbed a hold of the saddle and lifted myself up, swinging my right leg over the horses back. I settled into the saddle and slid my right foot into the right stirrup. I picked up the reins. Harry and Ron were goggling at me. Poor Neville forgot which side to mount and mounted backwards.

Once everyone was mounted facing the right way, Professor McGonagall led the way to the Quidditch field. I gently spurred my horse forward and she began walking and playfully chewing on the bit. Harry and Ron were walking beside me. Cho came trotting up along side me, posting.

"Wow. This is great, isn't it?" asked Cho breathlessly.

"Yeah," I said flatly.

"Good luck!" said Cho, as she spurred her horse to start cantering.

She and her teammate got a head of the group.

I rolled my eyes. Ron looked up at me.

"Hey, is there something bothering you? You've been quiet since yesterday," asked Ron worriedly.

"No. Like I told Harry yesterday...I'm fine," I said, keeping my eyes a head.

Neville was beside me.

"Hermione? Do I have to go fast today? I forgot," said Neville weakly.

"Yes. We've got to get the feel of the course," I said, looking at him.

To my surprise, he seemed to know exactly how to ride well. I noticed those who had volunteered knew how to ride well. Neville told me about him, but the rest I had no idea how they learned.

"Blimey, Neville. You know how to ride well!" said Ron grinning.

"His grandmum taught him," I offered.

Neville grinned. Besides being good at Herbology, it was nice to see him able to do something else good.

Draco and Crabbe were a head talking and laughing. Draco turned around in his saddle and put a hand on the cantle piece.

"Let's see which house is the best," said Draco, grinning.

Crabbe also turned around in his seat.

"Shove off, Malfoy," said Harry angrily.

Draco's grin remained.

Crabbe and Draco turned back around facing forward.

I felt someone's hand on my leg. I looked down. It was Harry.

"Just be careful, Hermione, okay?" pleaded Harry looking back up at me.

"I'll be fine. Trust me," I said.

We stepped onto the field. Professor McGonagall held up her hand, signaling us to stop. I gently pulled back on the reins. The horse stopped. The others stopped a head of me. Neville was still beside me.

The field was definitely different than it was for the Tri-Wizard Tournament. There were red and white jumps set up in a line. A magical hill was set up, and at the end of it was another jump. It reminded me of Steeplechasing, which was a dangerous sport in the muggle world. I saw the lake. There were about 70 large stones the sizes of dinner plates set up on the lakes surface magically like a ladder. There was also an area where the boggart must be. It was a semi-darkened part of the course.

"You can go around the coarse as much as you want. Go on!" said Professor McGonagall.

The group a head of me spurred their horses into a gallop. Harry and Ron stood behind a white railing that went around the entire field. Behind the railing were bleachers. The high stands used for Quidditch were replaced by dozens of small silver bleachers.

I spurred my horse into a gallop. The hooves kicked up bits of dirt and grass. I rose out of the saddle slightly like a jockey and kept a tight rein. The horse let out snorts as we approached the first jump. I came up on Cho pretty fast. My horses' mane flew back. I could hear the endless thundering of hooves hitting the grass and the snorts of the horses. My horses nose was at Cho's leg. Then, her horses shoulder. Then, I completely past her.

I could hear Harry and Ron cheering. I looked under my arm. Cho was still falling back. I looked up. The rest of the students had cleared the first jump. I gathered the reins tightly. My horse tucked his front legs against him and pushed forward with his hind legs. We sailed cleanly over the first fence. His hind legs were now tucked. He lowered his front legs down again, and then lowered his hind ones and we continued to gallop toward the second shrub jump. I passed a Hufflepuff. Then, Cho's partner. Now, I was catching up to Draco and Crabbe. Neville came up on my flank suddenly.

"Wow! You scared me!" I said, looking over at him.

"Sorry! Let's beat those two gits!" said Neville grinning.

I nodded and we spurred our horses to go faster. Neville and I were at the same speed. We came up on Draco and Crabbe. We jumped cleanly over the shrub jump and headed up the steep hill. Draco and Crabbe were still a head of us. They galloped down the steep hill, then jumped over the fence that was at the end of it. Neville went first, passing me. My horse galloped up the steep hill then began going down it. Suddenly, as we approached the fence, my horse stopped dead. Her hooves sliding on the grass. From the force, I felt myself coming out of the saddle, over the horses' head, and I came crashing down on top of the fence on my back. The planks snapped. I hit the ground and felt blackness swallowing me.