A week had gone by with Asteria at Hogwarts, and she couldn't love the place more.

What wasn't there to love? There was a dark forest filled with Magical Creatures called the Forbidden Forest. There was a big Quidditch field. And most importantly, there was an Astronomy towers, with magical telescopes of all kinds, and with a clear view of the sky.

Though with the second week, Quidditch tryouts had come around pretty quickly. And she was excited. Oh, she was so excited to finally fly her Nimbus over a big enough ground.

Now the day had finally arrived.. she sat at the breakfast table in her Quidditch gear a bit earlier than others. She was definitely hungry, but at the same time she had a ball of nervousness dancing around in her stomach. So, when Blaise and Theodore saw the girl staring hard at her sandwich, they felt the need to approach her.

"You do it—"

"No way, you do it—"

"Why is she just.. staring at it?"

Theodore hesitantly moved forward and waved his hand in front of her eyes. She broke out of her zoned out condition. "Oh.. Hi."

"Are you alright? What happened to you?" He asked, as both of them sat in front of her.

"Me? What happened to me? I'm alright! Just— Just lost in thoughts."

"I see you're trying out." Blaise said, looking at her attire, and Ria nodded with a wide smile. "Then I hope you're not trying out for the Seeker's position." He sniggered as he helped himself with breakfast.

"Yeah, I've heard him bragging." She rolled her eyes.

"Anyway, I wanted to thank you for your suggestion." She said, looking at Blaise.

He scrunched his eyebrows in confusion. "Thank me? What suggestion?"

"Didn't know you'd forget about our meeting in Diagon Alley so soon.." Ria commented with a small chuckle.

Slowly, realisation dawned on his face. "No way! Did you?" He asked with an eager smile on his face.

Ria nodded in response. "Yes, I did take that Nimbus 2001."

Blaise was now grinning at her. "Well, then I suppose there's a chance for you on that team, no matter what!"

The girl laughed, but then thought of taunting him. "Are you saying that I wouldn't be good enough without that broom, Zabini?" She asked playfully, and his smile disappeared.

"What? No! Of course not— I didn't mean that—"

"Edwards!" A voice full of excitement said, as a familiar girl came into Ria's view. "How're you doing? No one's bothering you here, right?"

"I'm great!" Ria answered, seeming happy to see her again. She gave Blaise a quick, playful side-eye. "And you don't need to worry about me. No one's bothering me."

Dahlia nodded. "Good. Hey, you're trying out? That's great!" She said, settling down in the seat in front of her. "Finally, there'll be someone on the team that I can rely on!" Ria smiled at her statement.

"Did you just forget about me, Dahlia?" A boy sitting along Ria's side of the table said to her. He, too, was wearing a Slytherin Quidditch uniform. "I thought I was your favourite freshman."

"Oh, don't be jealous, Pucey." Dahlia waved her hand dismissively. "You're not a freshman anymore." She joked.

"Well, I'm flattered." said Ria, fond of the Head girl's favourite freshman title.

Pucey playfully rolled his eyes. "I'm Adrian, by the way." He said to Ria. "Adrian Pucey. I'm a Chaser on the team."

Ria nodded, greeting him with a smile. "Asteria Edwards. I'm trying out for Keeper."

"Ahh.. then you don't have to worry." shrugged Dahlia. "You'll be going against Bletchley. He's no big deal."

"I'm sitting right here, you know?" The boy in question said from some seats away.

The Head girl gave him a tired look. "And how many goals did you save last year, Bletchley?" At his silence, she smiled sarcastically. "Exactly."

"Hey, Flint— that's the Captain, by the way." She said to Ria. "You better give Edwards here a fair chance— or you're cleaning the toilets for the next week!"

Ria turned red in the face. "Hey! Hey!" She chuckled, trying to quiet her down. "It's okay! I'm sure he'll be fair!"

"He better be, cause he's a dick—"

"Shut that mouth, Montgomery!" He argued back.

"Watch your tone. Do you want detention?" She asked the Captain, leaving him silent. "That's what I thought."

She bent over the table and quickly grabbed an apple before standing up. "I wish I could come to watch, but I got extra classes. So, Pucey! You better take care of her!"

"Yeah, yeah." He replied.

"Good luck, Edwards. Make me proud." She patted her head with a smile before finally leaving.

"Thanks!" She said, before turning back to Blaise.

"Say.. you aren't trying out?" She asked him, and he quickly became alarmed.

"Me?" He asked ridiculously. "Why— Why did you assume I liked Quidditch?"

Because, you talked like a super fan when I first met you, idiot.

"I mean— it's alright to watch, I guess. But who told you I played? I don't play." He said, shaking his head in denial.

So, what Sophie said is true.. thought Ria.

"Okay.." She said, then she turned towards Theodore. "What about you?"

"Eh.. I'm not good enough yet. But maybe one day." He shrugged his shoulders. "You look prepared though. So, go ahead. After all, with great power, there must also come great responsibility."

The sentence was like a holy choir singing into Asteria's ears.

"Why do you keep saying that to everyone? I know you haven't found anyone that recognised it, but it's annoying me now." Blaise said grimly.

"You know Spider-man?" asked Ria, her voice higher than usual as she had leaned across the table and grabbed his shoulders in ecstasy. It had been months since she had heard such familiar, precious words from anyone other than herself.

Theodore's jaw fell wide open. She knew..

She knew!

"No way! Be honest. Are you a fan?" She asked hurriedly.

"Okay, honestly answering. I was at a park, and I just came across a piece of magazine where I read that sentence. And I've been saying that to literally everyone to find out where that is from." He began answering, the excitement in his tone never faltering.

"It's from the Marvel comics, specifically Spider-man, Amazing Fantasy #15!" She delightfully clapped her hands.

This was divine intervention.

Asteria squealed internally. Finally! Someone I can talk to!

"Who's Spider-Man?" asked Blaise, feeling left out.

"He's a wizard who has spider powers and saves people!" answered Nott, words rushing out of his mouth because of how enthusiastic he was.

"He's not a—" Ria began to say, but then her lips curled into a small smile.

Oh, I can turn this around.

I can turn this around so well, they won't be able to tell when they fell in love with Muggle comics.

"Do you wish to read more?" asked Ria, her voice a bit sinister.

There was another holy choir, but this time it ran through Theodore's ears.

"You have more?" He asked, eyes sparkling like a curious little child.

Ria nodded. "I don't.." She answered. "But I know where to get them."

"You do?" He asked, patiently awaiting an answer.

But Ria just looked down at her watch, and then back at him. "Oh, look.. It's time for me to get going."

"But—"

"The tryouts are going to start in a few minutes." She said, pushing her plate away and standing up. "See you later."

"What the hell, man?" asked Blaise as soon as she walked out of the Great Hall.

"She knows!" He replied in a merry tone.

"So what? Are you gonna worship her just because she knows this.. this Spider.. wizard?"

"What? Obviously not!" He defended himself, but then his tone changed again. "But he's so wicked." He said, referring to Spider-man, and Blaise groaned.

Ria stood on the field, taking in the view. That was all she could do to distract her anxious mind. Cedric had already given her plenty of tips, and even though Dahlia had told her that her opponent wasn't going to be competent, she couldn't help but get worried.

Her perfectionist self just had to get on the team on the first try, or else she'd feel worthless for the rest of the year.

She took a deep breath to calm herself and walked towards the group of players, knuckles whitening at the tight grip on her broom. Cedric's voice echoed through her mind.

"You'll get nervous.. and it's completely fine. I almost fainted on my first tryout. Just make sure no one notices you're nervous."

There were several students, from first-years to seventh-years. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes when she spotted Malfoy. He smirked at her. "Do you think she even knows how to play?" He muttered to Goyle, who sniggered.

Ria rolled her eyes. "Yeah. Not everyone's as bad as you." She muttered to him.

He looked like he wanted to say something, but stopped when a tall Slytherin boy cleared his throat in front of the group. She remembered Dahlia referring to him as Flint, the Slytherin Captain.

"The Slytherin Captain, Marcus Flint. Not really friendly and fair, but a great player. And he respects one with great skills. He also respects someone who has something else than skills to offer to their victory. And I'm talking about bribery and all the other dirty play."

"Make sure you catch his eye. He will see how good your technique is, and just how desperate you are to win.."

She mentally nodded at Cedric's words.

"Alright! I want three laps around the pitch.. And after you complete, I'm making two teams! They're gonna go against each other! Am I clear?" The group yelled a 'yes' in response.

"And keep your broomsticks back in the locker room! I want to see all of your bloody colours on the spare ones!" There was a tiny uproar from the students, but Flint couldn't give two shits.

"The one's whining will be out of the pitch without one slim chance at the tryouts!" He shouted, and the players hurried towards the locker rooms, doing as he had ordered.

When the laps were all done, Flint dismissed the players who were here for the Seeker's spot since it was already taken by Draco Malfoy.

As in, the spot had already been bought by Draco Malfoy.

So, the remaining group of twelve had been split into two teams.

"You really think you will get in as a Keeper? You're going against me.." The fifth-year Slytherin, Bletchley, gave her a mocking smirk. She returned him a sarcastic smile.

"We'll see." She assured, looking up at him.

The players mounted their brooms and flew to their positions on the field. Ria's hands were sweating nervously by now.

"Hey!" A familiar voice said, and she looked at him. "Try not to get hurt, or Dahlia will smack the shit out of me." said Adrian, who was on her team.

Ria chuckled at the statement, nodding. "I'll try."

She averted her eyes to the stands, wishing to find someone familiar. And her face lit up with a smile after finding Cedric and Sophie, with surprisingly, Blaise and Theodore beside her.

But now that they were watching her, the burden of performing better increased. She was thinking about everything she had learned from her family and the book. What if I embarrass myself?

Well.. I know you don't speak much these days, but.. any advice?

She waited and waited for the voice in her head to answer.

I'm guessing you're not going to answer..

Maybe it only answered when she was in big trouble.

But it was alright, Ria had a big brother to help her now.

"You don't just play Quidditch against someone. You study them. You observe your opponent's game and recognise their pattern. Your skills aren't the only one that define how good you are, you know? Your ability to defy your opponent's skills does too.."

Merlin's beard.. her cousin gave such great advice.

The first Quaffle came flying towards her. And she prepared herself.

She was going to crush this tryout..

An hour later, there they were standing in front of the Captain, covered in sweat and dirt, and some in blood because of the intense bludgers.

The moment Asteria's feet touched the ground, she looked at her cousin. And seeing the big grin on his face, she knew she had performed just as he had expected her to. She felt relieved.

"As expected, none of you have surpassed the players from last year, except for one." said Flint. "So as of today's tryouts, the new Slytherin Quidditch team consists of, Chasers Marcus Flint, Adrian Pucey and Cassius Warrington, Beaters Peregrine Derrick and Lucian Bole, Keeper Asteria Edwards," The girl suppressed a squeal. "And Seeker Draco Malfoy."

"We'll meet here for practice in some days, look out for the notice. Dismissed."

Adrian quickly looked over at her and raised his fist. "Good game, Edwards. Welcome to the team." She bumped his fist with her own, trying to calm her inner child that was jumping of happiness.

She had always wanted friends that were older than her, like she had seen in those movies where the seniors basically adopt a junior. First she found Dahlia, who was the Head Girl. And now Adrian Pucey, who could be her potential Quidditch buddy.

She looked over at Bletchley with a smug smile. He had definitely saved less goals than her. And God, was he lousy.

"Thanks for acting as if you were the better Keeper, by the way." She taunted. "Definitely helped me to perform better." The boy rolled his eyes, walking away.

The girl grinned whole-heartedly, walking towards the stands where her friends were. They climbed down from there, and the first thing Cedric did was pat her shoulder.

"I would've hugged you, but you're sweaty." He said, and Ria nodded in understanding. "But well done!"

Ria shrugged. "Couldn't have done it without you, couz!"

He smiled, slinging his bag around his shoulder. "Now I'll have to leave, or Sprout will probably skin me alive. Bye!"

"Thanks for the help!"

"Congrats on making it to the team!" Sophie exclaimed.

"Thanks." She said to her, and then looked at Blaise and Theodore.

"What do you think?" She asked, specifically to Blaise since he had a look of awe on his face.

"I do have to admit, you fly pretty well." He said sincerely.

"Thank you, Zabini." She gave him a polite nod.

"Yeah, it was great." said Theodore in a rush, but then without missing a beat, he said: "Do you really know where I can find them?"

The girl chuckled at his eagerness. "Obviously."

"And you're gonna tell me, right?" He said suggestively, with a wide grin on his face.

Ria pursed her lips, exchanging a glance with Sophie who didn't know what they had been talking about.

Theodore's left eye twitched at the response, but he tried his best to keep the pleasing smile on his face. "Right?"

But she just tipped her head to the side as a shrug. "Eh.. I'll think about it."

The response slapped his grin off clean, and he could do nothing as she linked arms with Sophie and walked away.

"What were you talking about?" The girl asked. Ria sniggered, proceeding to explain what had happened while the boy behind them looked flabbergasted.

"Can you stop laughing? It's not funny!" He bellowed at Zabini, who bit on his fist to suppress his laugh.

"Did you see your face?" He asked, barely able to hold his breath steady.

"Shut up." He crossed his arms in annoyance. "Oh.. I'm gonna get that answer out of her."

"And it's going to be fun seeing you flap like a desperate fish for it."

"What did you say?"

"Who said anything? You're hallucinating again."

Their first practice, which was a week later, came along much quicker than Ria had expected.

The girl walked beside her six team-mates, feeling as though it had been just yesterday when she was competing for a spot.

And no. She wasn't feeling that way because of some poetic, beautiful shit people always say in movies and books. It was the fact that their Captain had moved the first practice to the next day after the tryouts.

Her body was still sore. After all, she had never played with such intensity for an hour or more.

Though their Captain seemed to be in a great mood. He had even merrily greeted them with a good morning.

"So... As you all know, we have a new Seeker and a new Keeper on the team.." said Flint. Malfoy threw Asteria a mean look, which she mocked right back at him.

"We are starting our practice, right now.. And for the team's benefit, Draco's father has gifted us new broomsticks. We're all accepting them and using them for our next matches."

The rest of the players grabbed their Nimbus 2001 and Flint started explaining his strategies.

But their practice was soon interrupted by the Gryffindor team walking on the pitch. Ria's eyes caught Harry's face almost immediately, who gave her a small smile. She returned it.

"Flint!" Oliver Wood's voice bellowed. "This is our practice time! We got up specially! You can clear off now!"

Marcus Flint smirked. "Plenty of room for all of us, Wood."

"But I booked the field!" Wood fought. "I booked it!"

"Ah," said Flint. "But I've got a specially signed note here from Professor Snape. 'I, Professor S. Snape, give the Slytherin team permission to practice today on the Quidditch field owing to the need to train their new Seeker and new Keeper.'"

"You've got a new Keeper?" Oliver asked, a little curious to see his competitor. "Where?"

He couldn't spot the short member at the back of the Slytherin team, so Ria took a step aside, making herself visible. She gave him a little wave. He scrunched his eyebrows in confusion. She looked so.. tiny.

"Don't forget about the new Seeker!" Draco came forward, pushing Ria to the side. She glared at him.

"Aren't you Lucius Malfoy's son?" said one of the Weasley twins (Ria wasn't able to tell them apart just yet), with the expression of dislike in his voice.

"Funny you should mention Draco's father," Flint sneered, making the rest of the Slytherin's grin. "Let me show you the generous gift he's made to the Slytherin team." The six of them held out their broomsticks. Six highly polished, brand-new handles with the golden letters 'Nimbus 2001' shining on their ends, while Ria had hers behind her back.

"Hey!" Draco sneered, "Who told that blood traitor she could have one of the brooms my father gifted?"

"That's actually mine, genius. Not that I need a gift from someone like you." She muttered.

"What did you say?" He scowled.

"I said, I have enough skill to be on the team even without a Nimbus." She said, her voice louder this time. "Besides, I don't need an incompetent brat's bribe."

"Edwards. That's enough." The Captain snapped, making her roll her eyes.

"What was I saying.. Ah! Very latest model. Only came out last month," Flint said carelessly, flicking a speck of dust from the end of his own. "I believe it outstrips the old Two Thousand series by a considerable amount. As for the old Cleansweeps.." He smiled nastily at Fred and George, who were both clutching Cleansweep Fives "...sweeps the board with them."

The Gryffindor team went silent. Malfoy was smirking so broadly his cold eyes were reduced to slits.

"Oh, look! A field invasion." Flint bellowed. Ron and Hermione had come running to the pitch. "What's happening? Why aren't you playing? And what's he doing here?" Ron asked, his eyes squinting at the sight of Malfoy.

"I'm the new Slytherin Seeker, Weasley. Everyone's just been admiring the brooms my father's bought our team." He said smugly. Ron looked at the shining, polished brooms in awe.

"Good, aren't they? But perhaps the Gryffindor team will be able to raise some gold and get new brooms, too." Draco said smoothly. "You could raffle off those Cleansweep Fives. I expect a museum would bid for them." The rest of the team laughed.

"At least no one on the Gryffindor team had to buy their way in. They got in on pure talent." Hermione said sharply, which wiped off the smirk on Malfoy's face.

"No one asked for your opinion, you filthy little mudblood." He spat.

Asteria gasped. "Oh, you did not, you widow's peak—" But Adrian held her back, seeing as the twins had already tried to jump on Malfoy, while Flint was trying to stop them. A shrill voice saying 'How dare you!' came from the Gryffindor team. Ron had already pointed his wand at Malfoy's face.

But a jet of green light shot out at Ron and he flew backwards. Ria dropped her broom and ran towards him, and so did Harry.

"Ron! Ron! Are you alright?" Hermione asked worriedly.

Ron opened his mouth to talk, but several slugs dribbled out of his mouth. The Slytherin team howled with laughter, while the Gryffindor team gathered around Ron, who was continuously letting slugs out of his mouth. Ria rubbed his back in a comforting manner, trying to help.

Ria turned towards her team, angry. "That isn't funny! Shut up!" She shouted, taking them by surprise at the tone of her voice. Their laughter stopped immediately.

"Let's get him to Hagrid's... It's the nearest." Hermione suggested, to which Ria and Harry nodded.

"Edwards! Where do you think you're going?!" Flint called out. Ria shut her eyes in annoyance, Ron's arm was around her shoulder. She didn't want to leave him in a state that was caused because of her teammates.

"Do you want to be kicked out, traitor?" The Captain asked.

"Ria.. don't worry. We'll take him there." said Harry assuringly.

"I'm sorry." That was all she could say to the three as they left the pitch.

Ria returned to her team. Oliver muttered angrily under his breath, leaving the pitch with his team.

"You better think twice before going against us." Malfoy spat venomously at Ria. Her hands balled into fists, preparing to break his nose.

But again, she didn't want to get kicked out. Flint was just as prideful as Asteria. She was sure he wouldn't hesitate. So she just breathed out and picked up her broom, standing silently among the laughing crew.

That night, Asteria couldn't stop squirming in her sleep. She felt awful about the way things had happened. She felt awful that she couldn't stand up for Hermione like Ron did.

But it shouldn't have bothered her as much as it did, because Ria's forehead was covered in sweat. She was even struggling to keep her breath.

In her mind, there was a dark room covered in silvery mist. It was uneasy. She hated dark, eerie places. She tried to call out for someone, but her throat felt heavy. It hurt. It hurt so much that she could not speak. Her hands were shivering with fear.

But she was in her dream. It was all in her mind. She should be able to control it, right?

Her mind focused on leading the fog away, trying to find light. But it was hard. Her head had started aching, but she considered it better than being in such an isolated place.

A rustle in the shadows made a shiver creep up her spine. It became harder to concentrate.

Did she mention that she absolutely hated horror?

Though a horrifying sight made her eyes snap wide open. She sat up in her place, trying to catch her heaving breath.

"You felt it too, didn't you?" A familiar voice pulled her back to reality. She looked at her terrified roommates, who were huddled up to themselves on their respective beds.

"Felt what?" asked Ria, wiping a stray tear away as she clutched her blanket close to her chest.

"The earthquake that woke you up." answered Daphne with a slight quiver in her voice. "It woke us up too."

"There— There was an earthquake?" she asked.

Daphne nodded. "Yeah.. just before you woke up. It was terrible."

Ria stared at her, confused. "I didn't.. I didn't realise." She breathed out. "But thank Merlin, it woke me up."

"Nightmare?" asked Daphne.

"Yeah." Ria nodded. "Is everyone okay?"

"Guess so." She answered, "I think we should go back to sleep. It's late." The girls wordlessly agreed before laying back down..

Ria, however, couldn't get one ounce of sleep.

She couldn't stop thinking about her nightmare.

Hey.. She said to the voice in her head. As much as I would like for you to talk to me again.. please just give me one small hint. Tell me the nightmare wasn't one of your ways of warning me. Because that's not something I could bear.

Just answer this one, please. I won't ask for much. thought Ria.

The silence of that voice made her pull her knees up to her chest.

There was no way she could let her mother know. She would fly her way to Hogwarts if she did.

So, she closed her eyes, only hoping that the bloodied wall would never appear in her dreams ever again.

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