Astra

LXXXII - The Quibbler Plan

"Oh for heavens sake."

At the common-room noticeboard, a large new sign had been put up that Hermione was looking at, along with Harry and Ron.

GALLONS OF GALLEONS!
Pocket money failing to keep pace with your outgoings?
Like to earn a little extra gold?
Contact Fred and George Weasley, Gryffindor common room,
for simple, part-time, virtually painless jobs.
(We regret that all work is undertaken at applicant's own risk. )

"They are the limit," said Hermione grimly, taking down the sign, which Fred and George had pinned up ewer a poster giving the date of the first Hogsmeade weekend, which was to be in October. "We'll have to talk to them, Ron."

Ron looked positively alarmed.

"Why?"

"Because we're prefects!" said Hermione, as they climbed out through the portrait hole. "It's up to us to stop this kind of thing!"

"But it's not against any rules specifically," Astra said thoughtfully, trying to remember the handbook that she had memorized in first year during a boring summer afternoon.

"Well, I'll have to check that," Hermione sniffed, crossing her arms. Astra chuckled.

"Anyway, what's up, Harry?" Hermione continued, as they walked down a flight of stairs lined with portraits of old witches and wizards, all of whom ignored them, being engrossed in their own conversation. "You look really angry about something."

"Seamus reckons Harry's lying about You-Know-Who," said Ron succinctly, when Harry did not respond.

"Don't worry about that," Astra interrupted before Hermione, "They'll switch sides soon enough."

"How do you know," Harry said grumpily.

Astra tutted. "Never underestimate the mastermind."

They had reached the foot of the marble staircase. A line of fourth-year Ravenclaws was crossing the Entrance Hall; instead of looking frightened at them, they looked curious and huddled together, once again looking at a stack of papers.

Astra smirked, and discreetly pulled out another stack of papers, dropping them casually on a nearby bench.

"Luna!"

"Hello," the Ravenclaw responded, looking slightly proud for a reason that only Astra understood.

"Doing well, aren't we?"

Luna nodded.

Before Harry could ask about what, a tall black girl with long braided hair had marched up to them.

"'Hi, Angelina."

"Hi," she said briskly, "good summer?" And without waiting for an answer, "Listen, I've been made Gryffindor Quidditch Captain."

"Nice one," said Harry, grinning at her.

"Yeah, well, we need a new Keeper now Oliver's left. Tryouts are on Friday at five o'clock and I want the whole team there, all right? Then we can see how the new person'll fit in."

"Ok."

"I'd forgotten Wood had left," said Hermione vaguely as she sat down beside Astra and pulled a plate of toast towards her. "I suppose that will make quite a difference to the team?"

"I s'pose,' said Harry, taking the bench opposite. "He was a good Keeper..."

"Still, it won't hurt to have some new blood, will it?" added Ron.