Filia de Malignus

Chapter 2: The Very Different Sorting

When the Hogwarts Express pulled into the station, everyone was talking about the incident between Malfoy and the "mystery girl". The mystery girl, Xenia, however, requested that she take her own carriage because she would rather not get off to a bad start at this school. And if she saw Malfoy, she would definitely have a bad start at this school. The rest of the school, however, got into their carriages. Harry, Ron, and Hermione managed to get one for themselves.

"Did you see her hair?" asked Ron. "It makes my hair look like a dull orange!"

"Did you hear her language?" asked Hermione. "What repulsive words!"

"Yeah, and you didn't use them ever when you and Krum were through," said Ron sarcastically.

"Oh shut it, Ron!" said Hermione.

Harry suddenly interjected. "Ron, I think I know her from somewhere."

"Who?" asked Ron.

"The girl, I know her. But I just can't seem to figure out where I saw her. I know I have never actually seen her before in real life. She isn't someone you, er, quickly forget." Harry said. "I mean, I looked into her eyes and felt the weirdest thing. Everything turned surreal for a split second."

"Ah, Harry," said Ron in a voice that really did remind him of Fred or George. "That is the look of love!" Ron let out a very long drawn out sigh.

"Ron, shut up. I can't explain it. It was not love. It was weird. I think I have..." he paused for a moment. "Dreamed about her."

This took Ron and Hermione over the edge. They burst out laughing. Every time they tried to calm themselves down, they just looked at each other, up at Harry, and went into hysterical fits of laughter.

"O-o-okay, Harry, so you said you dreamed about her?" Hermione said.

"I think I may have, at one point in my life." Harry said quite seriously.

"Oh, yeah, okay Harry, sure. You were just thinking about how much you loooove her!!" Ron said.

"Oh, Ron, that is quite childish!" said Hermione. Ron and Hermione spent the rest of the time arguing about what being "childish" meant, while Harry stared out the window and thought about what was with this girl...

* * *

Malfoy was very pissed off indeed.

"Who was the girl?" asked Crabbe.

"Just some weird, odd looking redhead that decided she wanted to take up our compartment. Thank you, Crabbe, for being on your grazing break while I was getting slapped around by some bitch," said Malfoy. "Thank you."

Crabbe tried his hardest not to snigger, but he couldn't help it.

"Oh, laugh if you must, but the girl isn't stupid. I looked at her papers she dropped. She has the reputation at many different schools of a prodigy child and she can fly. According to the papers, that is. She got expelled for a number of different things. I just hope she is not in Slytherin. She would make the Gryffindors look pretty damn bad if she got in with them, now!" said Malfoy.

"You just watch, she'll probably be in Slytherin, because that is just the perfect ending to the worst day for you." said Crabbe.

Crabbe was quite stupid, unlike Xenia, and said things like this all the time.

"Crabbe, do me a huge favor and just shut your piehole."

Crabbe did just that, shutting by means of a Chocolate Frog.

* * *

In the Great Hall, the first years were lined up all in a row. Amidst all of the short little kids that were so eager to become wizards, there stood Xenia Xanderbilt, still snapping her gum with her arms crossed. Professor McGonagall walked into the room with the stool and the Sorting Hat. She put it on the stool and it sang its song:

They all call me the Sorting Hat

At this school we hold true and dear,

When the young students come up to me,

They are trembling with fear.

But once I shout out their house name,

Their new house applauds with joy

I will tell you where to go,

You first year girls and boys.

In Ravenclaw, where you will find

The keenest and the sharpest

Or Hufflepuff, they all are humble,

They all will shower you with kindness.

There is Gryffindor, bravest of all

You'll show true colors there,

And last but not least, Slytherin,

With cunning, wit, and dare.

Put me on, don't say a word

And I'll tell you where to go

I'll look around your brains,

Trust me, I will know.

The hall applauded politely, except for Xenia, who still had her arms crossed. Then Professor McGonagall opened her scroll of names and began to read them aloud. Since "Xenia Xanderbilt" would be at the end of the list, she figured it would be a long time. She took out her magazine and started reading it. Professor McGonagall looked at her and shook her head. At last came Xenia, who put her magazine down and walked casually up to the stool. Dumbledore looked at her curiously over his goblet as she walked up to the stool.

She mouthed to Professor McGonagall. "Do I have to wear this?"

"Yes. No exceptions," said McGonagall sternly.

She put it on her head and jumped a little when it started talking to her in her ear. "Ah! Good mind... yes, extraordinary talent, smartest one yet, rival to the best flier...ah, but you're a wild one, yes, you're 'on the edge', and you aren't a first year, no, you are a fifth year, an older fifth year, I just don't know where to put you..."

Xenia was getting really annoyed with the talking hat and said quite loudly, "Okay, just put me in whatever house that blonde kid isn't in! You know, the ferrety looking one?"

The houses started sniggering under their breath. Malfoy was turning a deep red color. He looked and felt like he wanted to explode.

The hat suddenly took on a more serious voice (somehow) and said, "This isn't new blood, not new blood... I must... SLYTHERIN!"

She laughed. "Well, good! That name sounded the coolest anyway." McGonagall shook her head once more at the girl. She pointed to the tables. "Which one is that?"

"Far left." said McGonagall sharply.

She eyed the far left table. They don't look too happy, do they! She thought. Then her eyes fell on the unmistakable blonde hair of Malfoy, who was banging his forehead over and over again on the table. "Oh NO!" she pointed her finger at Malfoy. She went over to Snape standing at the end of the Slytherin table. "Who is that blonde kid over. The REALLY blonde one."

"Ms. Xanderbilt, I would like to introduce you to Mr. Malfoy." he led her over to where Malfoy was sitting.

"Professor!" he cried out angrily.

"Say your name to her, I want good terms with my house this year, like it has been EVERY year." Snape said.

"Say it and shake hands."

"Malfoy." he said coldly. "Draco Malfoy."

"I'm Xenia. Xenia Xanderbilt." she said. "But you already knew that, didn't you?"

"Shake hands and get on with it." said Snape. Then, he added in an deadly undertone to the both of them, "Certain sources tell me about the incident on the Hogwarts' Express. If I hear a word from any of the other teachers that the two of you are misbehaving in any way, I will see to it that you have to scrub every inch of every dungeon wall... without magic!"

They quickly shook hands, though the looks on their faces were about as bitter as Snape's punishment.

Xenia then looked for a spot where there weren't many people, and took it, at the end of the table towards the doors. And as soon as Dumbledore said, "Let the feast begin!" The whole school erupted with talk of Malfoy and Xenia and their fight on the Hogwarts Express. Harry stared at her from across the Great Hall. Her head was resting on the palm of her hand and she was miserably picking at her food. She was hardly eating anything. To Harry, she looked so sad, and he wanted to comfort her. But then he realized that going near her would be risking his very life and decided not to. So he just stared at her and tried to think of how he knew her. He just couldn't put his finger on it.

Some people, however, took the chance of asking her about what happened on the train. They cautiously approached her and asked her a slew of questions regarding the fight. She usually told them off, and if it was one of Malfoy's gang, she threatened them.

After the feast, everyone was directed up into his or her dormitories. Xenia followed the Slytherins into their dormitory. The prefect told them that the password was "Pure-Bloods" Xenia ran up to the girl's dormitories, claimed her bed and dropped into it. Tomorrow was another day. Tomorrow she was going to try out for Quidditch. Tomorrow she was going to show up Malfoy once again... or she hoped.

Malfoy also ran up to the boys' dormitories. He collapsed on his bed and punched his pillow as hard as he could. The anger coursing through him was so strong, he accidentally set his pillow on fire.

"Damn!" he swore loudly, "I hate it when this happens!"

He muttered a cleansing charm and fell back onto his bed, and thought about the days' events, wishing it was all just a terrible, horrible dream.

Chapter 3: Dare

The next morning, Xenia woke up to three girls standing over her and glaring at her.

"What?" Xenia asked, tiredly.

"You tell us," said one of the girls. She had black hair and her face was scrunched up into a frown.

"What happened with Malfoy on the train yesterday?"

"Oh, what, are you one of his followers?" she asked.

"I'm his girl," she said. "I'm Pansy Parkinson, but seeing as you were practically raping him on the way here, he probably never told you that."

She thought about it, "Raping him?! Oh, that's sick, Pansy. Excuse me, but he swung at me and all I did was defend myself. And if you are his girl, then why weren't you with him in his compartment, snogging?"

"That's none of your business," said Pansy quickly. "You stay away from him. I don't care, or you'll have to answer to me."

"Ooh, I'm so scared," she said mocking her.

"Don't mock me, you'll be sorry... bitch!" Pansy said.

"Oh, you really scare me, Pansy!" she said in mock fear. "Terrified, I am. Using those big manly swears..."

The three girls walked out, scowling. Xenia got up; she pulled on some robes and her slippers, not bothering to put her hair back. It's early, and I'm sure as hell not staying up here for more girls to come rag on me... She said out loud, "What a wonderful beginning to this day!"

After she changed, she went down to the Great Hall.

* * *

Harry got up and dressed early. He was going to muster up the courage to talk to this Xenia girl, even if she was a Slytherin. He went to the Great Hall early; spotted her and went over to her.

She was sitting all alone reading her magazine. Harry took a deep breath and kept thinking to himself, No, she won't kill me... no she can't kill me... Hey legs, are you up for a little sprint up to Gryffindor tower this fine morning?

"Hello," said Harry to her.

She looked up from her magazine. The green eyes kind of freaked him out more than he already was. "And you are?" she asked.

"Um, Harry P-- just Harry," he nervously flattened his hair down to cover up his scar. He didn't want her treating him any differently for being a known hero. "I noticed you're new here and thought you might want some, er, company."

She looked at him nervously. Remember, trust NO ONE. He looked harmless enough. Skinny, black hair, and green eyes. Like mine! To top it all off, he had glasses. He couldn't do much harm. She decided that having allies at this school would be good, since she already had so many enemies.

"Uh, my name is Xenia Xanderbilt. Nice, t-to meet you, Harry." The words tasted foreign in her mouth. She had never really offered her friendship to any real stranger before.

"Is it alright if I sit down?" Harry asked.

"Um, sure, go ahead," she said pointing to a seat. Harry sat down.

"So, Xenia, where did you used to go to school?" said Harry.

"Um, Mrs. Hawthorne's School for the Better Witch. It's a reform school; I went there after getting ex--transferred out of my other school. And then I got, uh, transferred to here. I guess this headmaster will take anyone," she said, stirring her oatmeal. "Even me."

"What do you mean?" asked Harry.

"Let's just say, I caused trouble in my old schools, and most schools won't accept me," she said. "Actually, most people in general don't accept me and the way I am."

Harry felt like he could relate. "I know where you're coming from."

"No, I don't think you do." she said. "Well, let's hear one of your worst experiences then. Since you've heard my life story, let's hear yours."

Harry took a deep breath. "You asked for it... when I was one year old, the darkest wizard of the time killed my parents, he tried to kill me, but I survived and he left me with this scar." he paused and showed her the scar. "After that day, I became 'the boy who lived', see, that very wizard met his downfall after he turned his wand onto me... I guess the curse sorta' rebounded and hit him, but his spirit didn't die... When I first started here, I met him again, embodied in one of my teachers. He tried to come back to get the Sorcerer's Stone... That didn't work though, I stopped him, see, my mum died to protect me and it left me with a curse in my blood, pure evil cannot touch me, and I burned him to death... In my second year, he possessed my best friend's sister through a diary and unleashed the school's secret beast on me, I killed the thing, saved the girl, and once again, stopped him from coming back... In my third year, I found out that my godfather was a convict, an innocent one, he escaped from Azkaban to kill his old friend that turned on him. Then, in my fourth year, I participated in the Triwizard Tournament, won, and witnessed this dark wizard's return, I watched him kill my fellow student and competitor in the tournament. I was the only person to witness that, and no one believes me except for Dumbledore, so they think I am a lunatic... unless they really know me, of course. Oh yeah, and you know Azkaban? The dementors are gone; they've gone to follow that same dark wizard. Now I'm sitting here telling you all this. That, Xenia, is my life story. Now do you know who I am?"

"Yeah, yeah, you're the famous Harry Potter, loved by witches and wizards everywhere, having all the glory and glamour of being a child star who didn't even do anything!" said Xenia.

"Hey, it's not like I like being famous, okay! I hate it, I would rather my parents be alive than to be famous," said Harry in defense. "Oh, and I did duel with him, mind you, I did do something."

"Yeah, okay, I'll believe that one. I bet you that in the past four years you probably got into more trouble than you ever imagined, and only got a mere detention for it. Now, if I, on the other hand, had flown a car into a tree in my second year, I would have, yet again, gotten expelled from school. See what fame gets you?!" she said.

She was right, though, if it weren't for the fact he was, well, Harry Potter, they wouldn't have cared. They would've just expelled him and Ron. But what Harry was wondering now was how she knew about this.

"How did you know about the whole car thing?" he asked.

"Uh--" she began, but Harry interrupted her again.

"Wait...Where did you live around three years ago, anyway?" he said.

"Um, London. I've lived there basically up until my third year, and then I got expelled from my first school. I went to live at Mrs. Hawthorne's School. Since I've gotten expelled, again, my parents don't want anything to do with me. I guess I'm just too much for them," she said. She looked really sad now.

"Don't say that," said Harry. "You should be happy that you even have parents."

"Yeah, I guess you're right," she said. "I should consider myself lucky to even be accepted here."

Harry looked at her with even more interest. There was even more to her than meets the eye than he thought.

"So," Harry began casually. "How did you know about our escapade with the car?"

She blushed, "Well, er... you know that news travels fast and all. I did some research on you in between changing schools for the second time. Then, one night, I had the dream. You and that redhead friend of yours were freaking out and then you crashed into a tree with your flying car. I have a photographic memory, and that's why I've never forgotten. You just look different now, I guess I am so--" she stopped. "Uh... s-s-sorry for snapping at you on the train. That Malfoy brat pissed me off a lot."

Harry thought about the dream, and how he thought he saw her in a dream before. Was it all just some big coincidence?

"Oh, don't worry. Did you know that you're the talk of the school? Aside from your own house, everyone loves the way you smacked Malfoy around and that," said Harry. "No one really had the guts to stand up to him, since his thuggish friends are usually around."

"Oh, that fat kid he hangs out with. Yeah, the bouncer-ish type. Nope, he wasn't with him I guess," Xenia said. "Well, if he hadn't threatened me, then I guess I would have just up and left. But NO! He has to go on with his, 'Move, girl, or I'll move you by force', like he was all high and mighty. And he thinks he is a dark wizard. What bullsh--crap! He is so snooty and mean!"

Harry shook his head, "Malfoy was telling the truth. His father is the right hand man of Voldemort." he caught himself. "I mean, you-know-who. I wouldn't be surprised if he ended up taking his father's place. Sorry about the Voldemort thing, people around here are afraid of it."

"Oh, that's okay, no need to be afraid of a name!" said Xenia. "That was the guy that is now resurrected, according to your story, right? I think that Malfoy's story is a crock full of sh--crap, and I don't care what anyone says. He really is back, though?"

"Yes, that thing is the reason I have no parents," Harry snarled. He was crushing a sugar cube he was playing with to bits. "And that's also why I hate Malfoy so much," he added.

"I hate him, too," said Xenia.

Harry looked around deep in his head for something else to talk about. "So, why did you get expelled from your reform school? Or do you not want to tell me?"

Xenia smiled, "Okay, I'll tell you and only you... don't get all grossed out or think that I'm obsessed with fire or something, okay?" She cleared her throat and started. "I accidentally lit the school bathroom on fire. I was brewing a love potion for my so-called friend and there was no other place to do it. Well, this love potion went very wrong and became quite flammable. I guess the directions said not to add all of the crushed dragon liver at once. That's why I got expelled. There were loads of other things that I received weeks of detention for." she was blushing even redder now. "On Halloween night, I ran around the school half-naked on a dare, but everyone thought I was completely naked and then I got lots of detention. It was dark...no one really knew I was running around with a beige shirt on and some swimsuit bottoms."

"You streaked around your school?" asked Harry.

"Oh, I knew I shouldn't have told you!!" said Xenia looking very embarrassed indeed.

"No, no... it's just that most people would lie about that," he said. "How would people not know?" Xenia glared at him. "Okay, I'll shut up now."

"Please do," she said, uncomfortably. "But enough about this!" said Xenia. "You fly any?"

"I love flying!" exclaimed Harry. "Flying is the one thing that I can do best. I lose all sense of everything back on the ground when I fly. My father, he was good at flying too. I'm Gryffindor's Seeker... and so was he."

"Really? At my old school, the city was too heavily populated to play Quidditch. When they took our school to the countryside to practice flying, I just got on some broom and flew and was just so happy! I would just love to be a Beater. Seeker would be cool, too! I love Quidditch, I bet Malfoy plays. Sadly enough, he is the build for a decent Seeker... blonde hair and all." she said. "There's no chance I'll get picked for my house team."

"Yeah, he is Seeker for Slytherin." Then he realized something. "You have to remember, we are really on opposite sides, besides the obvious reasons of team rivalry," said Harry.

"What do you mean?" asked Xenia, curiously.

"Let's just say that nobody really likes the Slytherins. They are typically a bad bunch." he looked in her eyes for the second time and felt that familiar jolt. "I guess what they say is true," he still stared, even as she was blushing even redder than before. "Not all Slytherin's are that bad," he looked down. "I mean, sure, you're a wild one, but you not a bad person. No offense, but you come across as a girl that prefers being antisocial."

"I guess I am, or rather, I was, because now I'm talking to you!" said Xenia. She pushed her untouched food aside and turned herself so she could look directly at him. "I'm a city girl, you know. I was taught to trust no one, and I have lived that up, until now. Harry, I feel like I can trust you, even though we've really only known each other for a half an hour. It feels like I've--"

"Known you all my life," finished Harry.

"Exactly!" she said. "You understand me, and you look past my differences. I'm not nice, I'm not that easy on the eyes, and I'm certainly not the girly type, I mean, I know these things. I can't help it. I've been like this all of my life. I'm glad that I can put my trust in someone. Can I trust you Harry? Can I trust you with all of my secrets?"

Harry thought about this for a second. "Well, yes. I guess you can. I won't tell anyone, I promise." He crossed his fingers over his heart. "Cross my heart,"

"Thank you," said Xenia.

"And Xenia," he added. "You must realize that Slytherins and Gryffindors don't usually interact, so, don't be surprised when your own house thinks you're a bit, um, weird, talking to me and all. No offense."

"I'll take it as a compliment," she said. "I'm a pretty weird person, what's another thing weird about me gonna' do?"

"Whatever you say, Xenia," said Harry. "Oh, and Quidditch tryouts are today on the pitch. They'll call you all down."

"Thanks!" she said. She got up and went to leave for the dormitories to get herself ready for her first class. She thought of something and then turned around, "Um, will you be there?" she asked.

"Yeah, I'll be looking for Gryffindors who are good enough," he said, standing up. "I'll see you there?"

"Yeah, most definitely... I'll be ready to kick some Malfoy ass on my broom today, you just wait!" she said.

"And spunky too!" he said. "Gryffndor would have loved you, Xenia."

"I'll bet," she said sarcastically, while thinking about that stupid talking hat and how he asked if she wanted to be in Gryffindor. "Bye, Harry!"

"Bye," he returned. He watched her walk out of the hall, with her long, thick, violently red hair flowing behind her. He walked over to the Gryffindor table and sat down hard. He let his head drop to the table and just let it rest there. There is something about that girl I don't know, or rather, I DO know! He raised his head and dropped it once more. He did that repeatedly until his head was sore.

Ron and Hermione walked into the Great Hall and saw Harry bashing his head down on the table. Ron immediately knew and just said, "Girl." He walked over to him, Hermione following. "Harry, who is it?" asked Ron.

He picked up his head. "That new girl, it's such a long story..." he started. "She basically thinks I'm the greatest thing since the broomstick and she trusts me and everything, the whole package."

Ron looked at him with disbelief. He couldn't believe he was passing up this kind of opportunity. "A girl likes you, what else I new? I mean she's no Fleur, but hell, she can kick the living crap out of Malfoy any day! Grant it, she isn't that girly, but that can change, and who knows, maybe there's something of a nice fig--"

"Eh-hem!" said Hermione, clearing her throat and simultaneously stating that checking out girls with another girl around is completely unacceptable and disgusting.

"Sorry Hermione," Ron said, apologizing. "Well, what is so wrong with that, I mean, its not like you guys are in love or anything. Harry, she's just a girl!" said Ron.

"That's the thing, Ron, you only know her side of the story." he put his head back down on the table. "I feel I knew her before I met her. It's crazy, what I feel. It's not what I felt when I looked at Cho, or Fleur, for that matter. I mean, it's this weird and crazy feeling that I am getting struck by lightning and I can feel it all throughout my body. It doesn't hurt like lightning would, though. The weird thing is that she knew about the time that we crashed your dad's car into the Whomping Willow. She dreamed about it and recalled it in her mind perfectly. I know for a fact this girl has been in my dreams before, I'm certain I have seen her before. Positive."

Ron tried to find the words, but couldn't. Hermione whispered into Ron's ear, "Leave it to me." Hermione put her arm around Harry in a friendly way, "Oh Harry, don't let this get you down! Why don't you just have some breakfast and try to forget about your problems for awhile?"

"Okay, I got Quidditch tryouts to oversee anyway. We need a pair of good beaters. I mean, Fred and George, they were the best pair. They worked together so well, they're irreplaceable!" said Harry. "We'll have to find some good ones soon. Thanks Hermione, you helped a lot."

"What are friends for?" she asked.

Ron just looked at her. How does she do it? , he asked himself.

Harry ate some rye toast and went to Potions with the Slytherins, yet again. He took his seat and looked around the room; Xenia caught his eye and waved at him. He waved back, Ron and Hermione sat around him. Then, Malfoy and Crabbe, minus Goyle, strolled into the room ten minutes after the lesson began. Naturally, Snape told them to sit down and didn't take any points from Slytherin. Malfoy sat behind Xenia, who sat alone.

"Hello, Xenia!" he said brightly. "Fine day for Quidditch, don't you think?"

She ignored him.

"Yes, I am the team Seeker and I have a Nimbus 2001. I don't think you could beat that very easily, could you?" he asked.

She kept ignoring him.

He leaned over his desk and whispered in her ear. "Xenia, oh, Xenia! You have the strength of a man, are you going out for Beater? Oh, too bad that we're on the same team. Guess you can't savagely attack me on a broom and if you did, you would be expelled like that and you said it yourself that no one else will take you..."

She didn't turn around, but she did speak, "Burn in hell, Malfoy," she said quietly and calmly.

"I'll be stoking the fire, bitch," he growled back to her.

Harry, at that moment felt a sudden urge to look across the room at them. Malfoy was still taunting her; she was taking it surprisingly well. Malfoy knew what buttons to push with everyone. But she was just sitting there, absentmindedly doodling on her parchment. Xenia wasn't absentmindedly doodling, however. She was drawing a very detailed sketch titled, "Ways to kill Draco Malfoy".

Halfway into the period, a voice echoed through the halls.

"At this time, would all students who would like to try out for House Quidditch teams, please report to the Quidditch pitch. 2^nd years and above only, please. Also, all team captains should report to the pitch at once. Thank you."

Harry got up, followed by Malfoy, then Xenia, and then a handful of other classmates soon followed behind. They included Seamus Finnegan, Dean Thomas, Ron, and Hermione! Harry went up to his dormitory to get his broomstick, his Firebolt, his beloved broomstick. This broomstick helped him win the Triwizard Tournament and win the Quidditch Cup in his third year. This wasn't just any ordinary broomstick to Harry. It was like his friend. When he reached the Quidditch pitch, he saw about 10 students from each house lined up ready to play scrimmage games of Quidditch against each other. Harry, Malfoy, Davies, and the new Hufflepuff captain, were to watch with Madam Hooch. Then, they would decide who would make the team, and who wouldn't. The first match was Gryffindor against Slytherin. Ron and Seamus were Beaters, since Fred and George dropped out to try and make extra money for the family with their joke shop, Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. Hermione was a Chaser, along with Ginny; Xenia took the spot as Seeker for the Slytherins. Malfoy and Harry mounted their brooms to get a closer look at the game. Harry, who had the international standard broom, zoomed to the outer perimeter of the field. Malfoy, still mad at Harry for having a better broom than he, along with the rest of the things that pissed him off, scowled and tore after him on his Nimbus 2001.

Malfoy was now level with Potter. He had that grin on his face, that cold, nasty, evil-looking grin. "Potter!" he said in mock admiration. "Your team is so wonderful! It's like the pity team! Half bloods, Mudbloods, and Weasleys!"

Harry wasn't listening though, the game had started and he found himself staring at Xenia. She was flying around, looking for the Snitch. She flew well, very well, better than most. Malfoy should see this. "Hey Malfoy, I see your Seeker is doing just great. She would be a fine asset to your team," he said.

"Are you that dense, Potter?!" he spat at him. "You actually think I'm going to replace myself?"

"Just take a look, and tell me that she doesn't fly better than you." Harry said. Malfoy turned his head just in time to see Xenia go into a dive at full speed. She was hurtling towards the ground so fast, you'd think there was no way to stop her.

"Ha!" said Malfoy in triumph. "She's suicidal! I knew she was nutty! Look at her, she's going to kill herself!" he sneered. Xenia was feet away from the ground. Even Harry was worried that she wouldn't pull up. "Harry, let's see this 'fine asset' now! Look, she's going to be--WHAT?!"

Xenia pulled out of the dive just in time. The Golden Snitch was in her right fist. She was waving it around in triumph. Harry was laughing now, "Now Malfoy, if you can go and do that, I guess you're better than her."

Draco flew out to the center of the pitch, "Fine, Potter. I'll show you! I'll show you all. No girl, or whatever she is, will beat me at Quidditch! Ever! You watch!"

Harry wasn't being serious when he dared Malfoy. He didn't even think Malfoy's ego was big enough to actually go through with it. Malfoy went into a dive; he was now speeding towards the ground. Malfoy and his broom were almost at a 90º angle with the ground. Harry, despite the fact that he wished that Malfoy would slam into the ground right onto his face, wanted to see how he could possibly pull out of this dive!

Malfoy, speeding toward the Earth at frightening speed, was beginning to have second thoughts. The ground below him was starting to look hard as concrete and he was beginning to freak out. He started screaming at the top of his lungs and tried to pull up, but the velocity mixed with the speed of his broom was too much. He pulled harder, but to no avail. He couldn't doit! He wasn't strong enough to pull his broom up and he couldn't move or turn. He was going to die. He was going to be plowed into the ground. His grave was the Quidditch field. All because of a stupid, half-assed dare he agreed to take because his ego was too big to turn it down. Why am I thinking of this NOW?! He ceased screaming, because the ground was so close and there was no way out. No way out, he was going to hit the--

SLAM!!!!