A buzz rang out among the students as they saw the Remembrall disappearing in the sky.
In the sky, Darcie, Black, Harry, and Draco's eyes widened.
What just happened? How could the inanimate object just disappear? Were those golden wings they saw? Would someone tell them what's going on?!
Then voice seeped into their ears, answering their questions with a touch of humor.
Not only them, but the voice echoed across the school, riling up all the teachers and students.
"Whoever caught the ball, it would belong to him, or her," Dumbledore said, smiling. "The said student would also become the Seeker of their respective House' Quidditch Team. You have 10 minutes."
More students and teachers had come out by now.
Umbridge, in her pink dress, looked furious, her cheeks going red. How dare the Headmaster arrange something like this without letting her know about it beforehand?
Madam Villanelle, who had been counseling a few traumatized students, walked with a frown.
However, the moment she saw Darcie in the sky, along with Harry Potter, and two other boys, she smiled, understanding the logic behind Dumbledore's little game.
Standing by his side, Professor McGonagall looked appalled. "Albus!" she gasped. "They are children! It's their first flying lesson! What if they get hurt?!"
The Headmaster's smile didn't vanish, but the black flames within his blue eyes intensified.
"Times have changed, Minerva," he told her, eying Arlen Black. "If the children don't grow up fast, then…"
A chill ran down the old witch's spine. What's he not telling me? She thought, flattening her mouth in a thin line. Is something about to happen? Again?
Harry had heard about this Seeker position from Ron. At first, he did not have much interest in it.
However, the moment he had taken the broom to the sky, he felt he was born to fly; forever.
The thrill just refused to go away from his mind. Now, more than anything, he wanted the Remembrall.
Not only because it belonged to Neville, but also because he didn't want to see Draco win the position.
Suddenly, Harry snapped his head toward Black, feeling odd.
Contrary to Harry's troubled thoughts, Black had been in a staring contest with Darcie. Meanwhile, Draco was already looking around for the Remembrall.
Black chuckled. "What now?" he jested. "The rich Malfoys have gone bankrupt or something? Can't even afford a Remembrall?"
Harry's jaw dropped. Seriously? What are you saying?!
"You filthy Mud…" Draco began with the usual curse, but paused, sensing Darcie's eyes on him.
She looked at Black. "I want it."
Nothing else. There was no need to say anything else. She wanted the Remembrall. So she would have it. That's it.
Black's smile vanished, finally realizing how troublesome the situation had become. If he didn't get the ball now, then it would never become an Item. And it was of utmost importance that he obtained it.
With the Ad Infinitum, no concept of forgetting existed anymore.
However, what if, because of external influence, he did end up forgetting something? Then what?
Now that he had regained his sealed memories, after the Soul King's incident, he knew the chances of it happening were more than just a few.
In those cases, he would at least need something to remind him that he was missing the memories.
So, the simple object, the Rememberall, became a life-saving item for him.
There was no way he would let any main storyline Character obtain it, even if it came to him revealing a part of his powers.
On the other hand, Draco's thoughts resonated with Harry's.
He just wanted to be the Seeker of the Quidditch team. With his father already looking at him as if he wanted to disown him at the next moment, Draco had only a few things remaining to salvage the situation.
Not finding the Remembrall, he looked at his sister.
Darcie was already smiling at him.
Oh, shit! Draco cursed.
Suddenly, a giant image of an hourglass appeared over the school building, the sand within it seemingly flowing faster than time.
Simultaneously, the Remembrall flashed between the four students, taunting them.
Black lunged, shooting straight with his broom.
Before his fingers could wrap around the ball, Darcie's foot landed at the tip of his broom, kicking him away.
The ball with four golden wings disappeared and the students watching it all gasped as Black tried to control the broom, rolling in circles.
They couldn't believe it.
They couldn't believe what they just saw.
Darcie Malfoy just kicked the broom, trying to throw him off? That can't be real, right?
On the grounds, Ron, who was cheering for both Harry and Black, shook his head. "I told him," he said, feeling sad for Black. "He just didn't believe me."
On the other side, Daphne amused herself with a chuckle as she saw Hermione putting a hand over her mouth. "That's Darcie, alright," she told her, whispering in her ears.
Watching the scene from afar, Professor Snape let out a small sneer.
Dumbledore laughed, failing to hold it in. "That girl is indeed something," he told Professor McGonagall. "Always acting beyond expectations… No wonder… No wonder…"
Darcie spun the broom around and rushed behind the blurring Remembrall.
Draco chased her, gritting his teeth. He would become a Seeker, he decided. No matter what.
Harry circled near Black, fearing that he would fall. But Black, seeing Darcie going for the ball, grabbed the Broom tight, and came to a sudden, raging stop.
"Whoa!" Harry exclaimed. "How did you do that?"
Black smiled at Harry. "I also want to become the Seeker…"
For the first time, Harry saw a different emotion in Black's eyes. He knew they would be going against each other now. Somehow, that made him feel more relieved than he had imagined.
The two friends smiled at each other. "Not Draco…" they said together before swooshing away, chasing the Malfoy Siblings.
The Remembrall blurred left and right, and then appeared dozens of feet away.
Darcie's broom seemed to have gained a life of its own, perfectly mimicking the ball's path, taking the most instantaneous turns.
"How's she flying like that?" Hermione asked Daphne. "Wasn't this her first flying lesson as well?"
Daphne had no words. A twitch danced on her lips. It had been ages since someone tried to put Darcie and logic on the same hand.
Draco tried to remain in Darcie's shadow, hoping to surpass her and take the lead.
When Darcie went left, he did the same. When she went left, he replicated the move.
It took him his everything to control the broom with the same swiftness as his sister's.
Not because she was better than him on a broom; or perhaps she was, he didn't try to think in that direction. But because he had always practiced with a better quality broom, unlike Darcie, who kept herself to a mediocre one.
Draco looked over his shoulder and cursed.
Black and Harry, flying fast on a straight path, had almost caught up with him.
For all the watchers, the scene in the sky had taken a spectacular turn. Darcie was flying so fast, using the cheap broom, that it was hard to know what turn she would be taking next.
Draco was chasing her close, but always ended up a few feet short.
Black and Harry, now also flying on the same path, were just a few hands away from him.
A silence fell on everyone.
And so, when it happened, it shocked them to their cores.
Darcie lifted her left leg, put it on the broom, and pushed it down. Simultaneously, she pulled the broom's head.
At her speed, combined with the torque, the change was instantaneous.
Darcie doubled back midair, shocking the breath out of Draco.
He pulled the broom's head, trying to put a stop to the broom's great momentum. Behind him, both Harry and Black did the same.
Unlike them, Darcie hadn't lost any speed.
Grinning ear to ear, she flew like a black blur toward Draco, her golden-white hair dancing wildly in the air.
She grabbed Draco's robe behind his head, used the broom's momentum, and threw him at Black and Harry.
The boys fumbled, shouting, hanging from the brooms. Their feet dangled as they tried to lift themselves.
Under them, the students gasped, shouting for help.
Darcie came to a stop near them, eying each with her poisonous green stare. Then, saying nothing, she flew away, resuming her solo chase.
Somehow, her saying nothing hurt the most. The boys pulled themselves up, panting. They looked at Darcie and then at each other.
At this moment, they had the same thought.
"Let's…" Black said, knowing Dumbledore was watching him.
"…" Harry stared at Darcie but didn't want to say it.
Draco twisted his mouth. "… work together."
**************
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