The Time for Ridicule is Over

Chapter One

Arcadia liked to think she had a fairly clear head when it came to rationalizing problems out. It was her quick-thinking and analytical abilities that got her placed into Ravenclaw House in the first place. Unfortunately, this was a conundrum where she would have to choose the lesser of two evils. In this case, it meant breaking about a dozen school rules and risking her life.

Sure, a broomstick race was exciting. It wasn't a commonplace event at Hogwarts. The complications lie in how it was going to take place and where. This wouldn't just be a quick jaunt around the Quidditch practice field. It was a race through the Forbidden Forest. That's where the concern for her life came stampeding back into her mind. Arcadia had heard enough stories about what students like Harry Potter had encountered in the dark depths of the Forest. This, coupled with the fact that her and several others would be racing through the trees at fifty-plus miles an hour was enough to discourage any hotheaded egotistical prat from even considering engaging in a competition with someone like Gideon.

Gideon. That name still rang in her ears as Snape called it out for attendance with a smirk and a dark stare. Gideon Maigny was the new golden boy for Slytherin House. Since Draco Malfoy was now in his sixth year, some new blood had to continue the legacy of being a complete nuisance to any other students who chose to cross the path of a Slytherin. Arcadia happened to be just such a pupil.

Choosing an inopportune time to answer a question on the properties of the root of asphodel, Arcadia managed to embarrass Gideon in front of the class by correcting him on an improper usage of the ingredient. Needless to say, after that his conduct went completely downhill with regards to Arcadia. Gideon took every chance from that moment on to trip her when walking with her potion samples to Professor Snape's desk, lob small objects at her head when she was taking notes, and tease her with remarks uttered under his breath. His lack of civility finally came to a breaking point when he decided to see how far he could push Arcadia.

"I imagine that gigantic brain of yours makes you pretty top-heavy when it comes to riding a broom." Gideon eyed Arcadia sinisterly as the words passed from his lips.

Arcadia took a deep breath, summoned back her focus and gripped her quill a bit tighter, returning to her notes while Professor Snape lectured on the Swelling Solution.

"Come on Caldwell, you want to prove to me that you wouldn't fall off head-first in a race against me and some other gits who need to be put in their place?"

Arcadia was concentrating as best she could, but Gideon's relentless barrage of ridicule was starting to wear on her patience.

"Caaaaaaaldwell... do you want me to announce it in the Great Hall that you can't fly a broomstick because you're too busy being a swot?"

Students in Gideon and Arcadia's vicinity picked up on the taunting and were starting to snicker. She had had enough. Arcadia threw down her quill and turned to him.

"You name the time and place and expect me to kick your sorry behind all the way back to that dank mudhole you came from!" she hissed with a malicious gaze.

It was just what Gideon had wanted in a provocation. "Forbidden Forest, tomorrow at midnight... Be there or don't expect to be able to show your face the following morning for breakfast!" He sneered and quickly pretended to take notes as Professor Snape lectured in his direction.

Dammit! Arcadia had walked right into his verbal trap and was now forced to either take the terms of the race or suffer what would expectedly be even greater mockery at her expense if she forfeited. She brushed a few locks of brown hair out of her eyes and thought for a moment. It's safe to say that Maigny would use every dodgy trick his devious mind could possibly think of to win this race... what about the others who have been tricked into this by him? Eff them, they could be his cronies for all I know. I'm just going to have to take the plunge on my own and hope my reflexes are up to scratch.

Thoughts of dodging tree branch after tree branch and immense trunk after immense trunk flickered in her brain. Even briefer was the reflection on the consequences of accidentally clipping a low-hanging limb or reacting to a large tree a second too late. I think I need to worry more about coming out of the race in one piece, rather than if I'll win or not. Arcadia resolved the conflict in her head; she was determined to practice some flying out on the Quidditch field as soon as Potions ended for the day.

Arcadia impatiently waited for the last forty minutes of Potions to be over; her jitters became more noticeable as the minutes wore on. She bounced her leg and tapped her fingers on the table until finally, Snape announced in his unpleasant voice that sixteen inches of parchment was to be turned in tomorrow about an overview of the Deflating Draught. He made it very clear to the students that any imperfections in the essay would not be tolerated.

Arcadia was on her feet and out the door with books tightly clutched against her chest the instant Snape finished announcing the homework. She raced to Ravenclaw Tower, spoke the password at the entrance, and took the steps two at a time to reach the girl's dormitories. Throwing her books on the bed, she flung her trunk open and snatched her broomstick all in one fluid motion. Arcadia took the steps back down three at a time, nearly managing to twist her ankle in the process. She was out of the Common Room before other Ravenclaw students had even managed to make it to the entrance.

Quidditch practice was on the verge of beginning when she reached the field but it made no difference, she would simply fly on the half of the pitch which wasn't being used by the Gryffindors. It had been a few weeks since she had taken her Nimbus 2002 out of the trunk, but she made every effort to regain any reaction time she had lost in the short period of disuse. Diving, looping, twisting and turning, she tried to imagine the path she would take through the Forbidden Forest, weaving through the gnarled branches and thick tree trunks as she did her best to evade Gideon and any obstacles he might create in the midst of the race.

After a couple of hours of strenuous manoeuvres, she concluded her efforts. Arcadia knew it wouldn't help if she was fatigued to the point where her reflexes were shot for the race. She could practice again for a little while after class tomorrow. Whatever Gideon was going to throw at her when the race began at midnight tomorrow, she would be ready.

Homework was more difficult tonight as her mind wandered to the race every time she looked up an ingredient in One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi. Relieved, she finished the sixteen inches for Professor Snape and proceeded to write her transfiguration essay and review a number of Defense Against the Dark Arts spells. The majority of Ravenclaw pupils had retired to their beds by the time Arcadia was finished with everything. She closed her textbooks and let out a stifling yawn as she ascended the stairs and fell right onto her comforter without even bothering to change into her nightgown. She fell into a deep slumber and dreamed of Gideon riding a Firebolt that made him a blur as her lowly Nimbus puttered along, coughing and sputtering the entire way through the race.

Arcadia awoke with hair matted on her face as the alarm clock let out its shrill wake up call. She blinked, rubbed the sleep out of her eyes, and silenced the alarm. With a quick shower and change of wardrobe, she was down in the Great Hall for breakfast. The eggs, sausage, and toast were relatively tasteless as her mind drifted once again to the race that would begin tonight. She glanced at the Slytherin table as Gideon canked with his fellow students. They laughed at his less-than-flattering impersonation of someone from Gryffindor House.

Noelle Hayes, a Ravenclaw friend of Arcadia's, turned to her. "You've seemed a bit off since yesterday, ever since Potions. Wanna give me the gen on what's going on?"

Arcadia moved some eggs around on her plate and looked up at Noelle. "You won't believe this, but I'm going to race Gideon Maigny in the Forbidden Forest tonight at midnight."

Noelle let out a squeak and lowered her head towards Arcadia. "I hope you're just putting me on Arcadia... only a dunderhead accepts any kind of challenge Gideon throws out."

"I appreciate your cheek, but the truth is he's been taunting me to the point of ripping my own hair out... I need to do something that will get him to shut his gob once and for all!" She let out a huff and faced Noelle, hoping for some support.

"Couldn't you just beat him in a Wizard's Duel or something? Racing through the Forbidden Forest at midnight isn't exactly something I would picture you doing: it's usually an activity reserved for berks like Gideon."

"Noelle, you can either cheer me on, or shut it. I don't need my own friend getting shirty with me over what I should and shouldn't be doing. I know it's a terribly daft thing to do, but he provoked me! Backing out now will just give him a great deal more to take the mickey out of me with later on."

"Okay, okay... I'll be there for you tonight. But I swear, if you end up splattered on the side of a tree, don't act like I didn't warn you." She crossed her arms, uneasy about this whole competition. As a rule, Slytherins were not to be trusted in any kind of matchup.

Today it was shortened periods of Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions and Transfiguration. As one often expects time to function, it was no different for Arcadia. She had hoped the day would drag on, delaying the inevitable for as long as possible when in actuality classes were over before she even knew it. She resolved herself to fate and headed back to the pitch for a brief practice. Arcadia's aerial movements had managed to attract a number of Hogwarts students this time, as well as several Gryffindor Quidditch members.

Arcadia set down on the soft turf and looked at the small crowd that had gathered. "Um... hi? I hope you're not all here to tell me how horrible my flying skills are."

A Hufflepuff boy stepped forward. "No, no... We wanted to compliment you. How come you aren't on the Ravenclaw Quidditch team?"

Arcadia pondered the question for a second. "Well, I never really considered myself good enough. It's not like I got on the pitch just to show off for the last two days."

A female Ravenclaw spoke up. "Then why are you practicing those manoeuvres?"

Should I tell them the truth or make something up? "Actually, Gideon Maigny challenged me to a competition tonight. In the Forbidden Forest." Several of the students gasped. "I know it isn't the smartest thing I could have done, but he's been annoying me so much recently that I finally lost it and gave in to the idea of racing him." Murmurs enveloped the crowd as they all agreed that standing up to Gideon was very admirable.

"What time is this race at?" A Gryffindor named Isabelle asked.

"Midnight." The group of students pledged to be there for moral support, tips on handling the Nimbus 2002 and to make certain that Slytherin chicanery was kept to a minimum.