Masay De Aiden

"MASAY DE AIDEN"

Chapter four-The Test Run.

Harry slowly got up off of me.

"You alright?" asked Harry worriedly as he grabbed my hand and helped me to my feet.

"Yeah," I said, shakily as I dusted off my robe.

We looked into the Hall.

The horse was going bizerk. It knocked over tables, and was just trashing the place. Students had to leap out of the way. We saw Ron and Lavender just barely leap out of the way when the horses' hind hooves lashed out. They were close to being kicked. Neville wasn't as fortunate. One of the hooves clipped him right in the ribs. He was doubled over, clutching his side and it looked like he was having trouble breathing. Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape and the other teachers tried to grab the lead rope clipped to the horses black halter. Each time, they failed to get it. Now, the horse was going crazy even more because it couldn't find the way out. It basically had gone mad.

It was getting more and more scared and that meant a few more students were hurt.

I saw Professor Dumbledore's expression. He looked upset and not pleased as he pulled out his wand and aimed it at the horse. I stood, bracing myself. I shut my eyes.

I heard the words.

"Avada Kedavra!"

I heard the thud of the horse falling. I jumped and kept my eyes shut as I felt tears forming in my eyes. I slowly opened them but the tears blurred my vision. I heard Professor Sprout speak.

"Dear Lord. Whose horse was this?"

Professor McGonagall spoke quietly.

"Neville Longbottom."

I felt Harry's hands on my shoulders.

"Hermione. Are you sure you're okay?"

I turned around to face him, and burst into tears. I wrapped my arms around his neck and hugged him. I rested my chin on top of his shoulder and sobbed. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close also.

"I feel so bad for Neville," I whispered quietly as the tears streamed down my cheeks.

"I know," said Harry quietly.

After a few moments, we pulled back from the embrace. He kept his hands on my shoulders.

We stared into each other's eyes.

"I have a little confession to make. I feel the same way about you," said Harry, softly.

It took me a moment to understand what he was talking about. I broke out into a grin.

We hugged once more, and then he kissed me.

We entered the Great Hall. Students were badly hurt. The Hall was a mess. Draco had entered the Hall just then. He must've stepped out to use the lavatory or something. Justin had his arm around Ginny as she leaned him for support. She came over to us, limping on one foot.

"My left ankle hurts badly. I think I sprained it leaping out of the way," said Ginny, wincing in pain.

Parvati and Ron were a little shaken up as they also came toward us.

"Ginny!" cried Ron as Justin turned Ginny over to her brother. "Thanks Justin,"

Justin nodded and went back to his table. Some of the tables weren't over turned. Neville was still clutching his side as he dropped to his knees beside his horse, which was lying on its side, all four legs stretched out. The Hall went silent.

"What happened? Why'd he do this?" asked Neville to Professor McGonagall.

"I don't know," said Professor McGonagall quietly as she helped Neville get to his feet. "Go see Madam Pomfrey. She'll mend your side."

Neville, with the help of Lee Jordan and Seamus Finnigan, went off toward the hospital wing.

Ginny's arm was wrapped around Ron's shoulders and Ron's arms were wrapped around hers.

"It was like the horse had gone mad!" said Ginny.

"Yeah. I reckon it was sick," said Ron.

"If it was sick, then how come when Neville was riding it Tuesday when we got the feel of the course it didn't do that?" I asked.

"I dunno. Maybe whatever it had just suddenly came out," said Ron shrugging.

I glanced over toward the left side of the Hall where Draco, Crabbe and Goyle were standing. They were snickering.

"Or maybe someone decided to intentionally harm one of the horses just to improve his chances of winning!" I said, deliberately saying it loudly.

At that, the three of them looked up.

"What are you on about, Granger?" called Draco.

I turned and faced him, folding my arms over my chest.

"Did you do something to Neville's horse?" I demanded, narrowing my eyes at him.

"I don't know what you're talking about," jeered Malfoy.

I went to lunge at him, but Harry and Ron held me back.

"Dirty, good-for-nothing git!" I hissed.

"Maybe Longbottom's horse just drank something that didn't agree with him!" called Draco.

I froze, then tried to lunge at him again only to be held back again.

"The prat poisoned the horse!" I hissed at Ron and Harry.

"If that's the case, why'd it go mad?" asked Ron quietly.

"Genevel is a poison that causes insanity! A witch or wizard literally goes mad!" I said back to Ron. "He or she doesn't know what they're doing! There's no cure for it! If Malfoy gave it to Neville's horse, then that would account for the way it reacted!"

I turned to glare at the three of them.

Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle had disappeared.

Neville was devastated. His side had been mended after the horse had kicked him and caused three broken ribs. The Great Hall was fixed up once again and was returned to its normal state with the house tables.

Professor McGonagall had requested that the volunteers head out to Hagrid's hut for a test run of the course. She assured us it would be different than the last time. We had to battle the boggart this time and we would be timed.

The horses were tacked up. Hagrid heard about Neville's horse and he felt just awful. Neville whispered two words to me before he went back into the castle. I guess he couldn't watch it.

"Kick butt."

I grinned.

Once everyone was mounted, we set off toward the field. Harry, Ron and Ginny had decided to watch. They walked beside me. Draco came trotting up along side me.

"Good luck, Mudblood," said Draco, sneering.

"I've got just two words for you...bite me." I snapped at him.

Malfoy grinned and began cantering. As he pulled away from me, I turned to Harry, Ron and Ginny on my left.

I looked down at them.

"Whoo I swear. I want to beat him so badly," I said, clenching my jaws.

"He is just a waste of breathing space. I reckon the doctor slapped Draco's mother when he was born and said, 'This child is uuuugly!" said Ron glaring after Malfoy.

We all bust into laughter.

We reached the field. Harry, Ron and Ginny went up to a section of bleachers and sat down. We all had the horses stand in a line at the entrance to the field. Professor McGonagall stood in front of us, holding a clipboard.

I was the only Gryffindor competing. Cho and her teammate were next to me, then the Hufflepuff's, then Draco and Crabbe.

"Alright. When I call your numbers, go. The house with the fastest time will receive five points today," said Professor McGonagall as she glanced down at the clipboard.

"One, two, and seven,"

Crabbe, a Hufflepuff and Cho's teammate took off galloping. Their counterparts who remained began cheering loudly. I just shifted my weight in the saddle and adjusted my grip on the reins. One of my horses' ears flicked outwards and she shifted her weight onto a different hoof. All three cleared the jumps and battled the boggart. They then turned onto the racetrack portion of the course. It was close. Crabbe began gaining on the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. Soon, he was in the lead. They all stopped behind Professor McGonagall and were out of breath.

"Nicely done. Slytherin's time is one minute, twenty-seconds. Hufflepuff, one minute, twenty-eight and Ravenclaw, one minute twenty-five. Now, the next three will go. So far Slytherin had the fastest time. If they get it again, they will receive the five points," said Professor McGonagall. "Four, six and eight!"

I spurred my horse. She took off galloping. Draco and Cho were right beside me.

I could hear Draco's horse snorting. We approached the first jump.

I cleared it. Then Draco and Cho. Right now, we were all side by side. I could hear Harry, Ron and Ginny cheering loudly in the bleachers. As we passed them, they went by in a blur. We approached the second hedge jump. Cho and I cleared it, but Draco suddenly slipped out of his saddle and his foot caught in the stirrup. He was being dragged through the dirt. I couldn't help but giggle. He was shouting curses at the horse as he tried to get it to stop. Now, it was up to Cho and I. I glanced under my arm. Draco's horse finally stopped, but right near the lake. Draco was dragged through the water for a bit before the horse stopped to take a drink at the edge of the lake.

I grinned. We approached the boggart.

Immediately, the boggart changed into Professor McGonagall and said, "You've failed everything!"

I pulled out my wand, aimed it at the boggart Professor McGonagall and said, "Riddikulus!"

The boggart popped into long centipede. I drew a little further away from Cho and I heard her say "Riddikulus!" next.

Then, came the lake part. I slowed my horse down to a trot and we began trotting across the lake on the stepping stones. Each hoof hit the stone as if in a rhythm. I glanced over my shoulder. Cho was already starting across.

I hit the shore. One minute later so did Cho. Now I spurred my horse into a gallop again as well as Cho. For a moment, we were neck to neck as we came down the racetrack part of the course. Then, I slowly drew a head. I heard Harry, Ron and Ginny cheering louder as we came around the turn.

Cho and my horses were neck to neck. Then, my horse began slowing pulling a head. Cho's horse's nose reached my thigh, then my horse's flank until she was a good eight inches behind me. I stopped behind Professor McGonagall. Harry, Ron and Ginny were cheering loudest. Cho stopped soon after.

My horse pawed the ground with her front right forehoof and snorted. Grinning, I slid my right foot out of the stirrup and dismounted. I pulled the reins over the horses' neck and held them. Cho dismounted next.

Harry, Ron and Ginny came running. Ginny happily hugged me.

"Wow! That was amazing!" cried Ginny.

Ron hugged me next, followed by Harry. We turned to Professor McGonagall.

"Gryffindor...one minute, eighteen seconds!"

Again, we all broke out into a cheer.

"Time to head back," said Professor McGonagall as everyone dismounted and we walked back to Hagrid's hut.

Just then, a sharp pain shot through my arm. Wincing, I grabbed it.

"What's wrong?" asked Harry worriedly.

"It's just my arm. It's still sore I guess," I said, rubbing it.

The pain began diminishing slowly.

"There. That's better now,"

My horse playfully arched her neck and nipped at Harry's sleeve. He laughed and rubbed her forehead. She began prancing beside me.

"I reckon she's happy...no?" asked Ron grinning as he rubbed her neck.

"Yeah," I grinned.

We put the horses back in the paddock and un-tacked them. I locked the gate behind me and Ron, Harry, Ginny and I walked back toward the castle with Professor McGonagall and the rest of the volunteers. Cho came up beside me.

"Wow. That was really good riding,"

I smiled.

"Thanks. You too,"

"I hope someone other than Draco wins this tournament," Cho said.

"Yeah. Me too,"

She nodded, gave Harry a smile, then dropped back to talk with her teammate.

"That was kind of funny what happened to Draco! He must've been soaked!" cried Ginny laughing.

I did too.

"Yeah. The git deserved it," I said.

"Imagine if that happens Monday? He'd be out of the tournament!" said Ron grinning dreamily.

"Or if his horse sat on him!" added Ginny.

"I stand by what I said before," said Harry. "It'd be the best if the horse took a dump on him!"

We roared with laughter.

"What are you laughing about, Mudblood?"

We turned to our left. Draco was walking toward us with water dripping off his robes. His blue eyes were narrowed.

"The sight of you being dragged through dirt and water," I said.

"Stupid horse decided to go for a drink,"

"Are you sure it wasn't the stupid rider?" I asked.

Ron, Harry and Ginny snickered.

"Watch out, Granger. You might get a surprise on Monday," said Draco, narrowing his eyes even more so that they were almost slits.

"No, you might get a surprise on Monday, Malfoy," snarled Harry.

Malfoy walked briskly a head of us.

"Oy! He gets under my skin!" said Ginny shaking her head.

"He gets under a lot of people's skin," I replied.

"Just keep an eye out. You know what Malfoy's capable of," said Ron.

"Don't worry. I've got a little something in store for him if he tries anything," I said, grinning mischievously.

"What's that?" asked Harry.

I pulled out my wand.

"A little levitation spell should do it,"

All three of them broke out into grins too.

Hagrid found a small bottle near the paddock near the trough that was there filled with water. The other horses had been grazing when Neville's horse had gone for a drink. The label was Genevel.

Everyone was questioned, but naturally, no one confessed or even knew how it got there.

Ron, Harry and I kept shooting Malfoy furtive glances, but we knew it wouldn't do any good. Malfoy wasn't about to tell and get himself into trouble. He would do anything to win this tournament and that's why I was going to make sure I won, or hopefully someone else.

Ron suggested putting something under his horses' saddle pad, but I said no, I don't sink to that level. The only way to get back at Malfoy was for him to be beaten fair and square. He hates that.

Barty Crouch and Ludo Bagman were set to arrive tomorrow, to get things set up, such as the judges' table and scoring. They also wanted to see the volunteers. They were supposed to stay over. Where I didn't know.

I sat in the common room, reading over my notes when Ginny entered.

"Hey. What are you doing?" she asked.

"Just reading over some notes. We've got a test tomorrow in Potions before Mr. Bagman and Mr. Crouch arrive," I said. "You probably do too."

Ginny nodded.

Then she said, "Did you tell Harry how you really felt?"

I looked up shocked.

"How'd you know?"

"I can see it," said Ginny grinning.

I broke out into a grin too.

"Yeah. He said he feels the same way,"

"That's great. I knew you two belonged together. I saw it in the first year,"

"I did too. I just didn't want to admit it. Well, I'm going to bed. Have a good night Ginny," I said, getting up and stretching.

"'Night, Hermione," said Ginny.

I gathered my things up and I went up to the dorm room.