"Not like that, like this."
"I do know how to do it. I took riding lessons when I was younger."
"Not with magical riding gear, you didn't."
"It looks the same."
"Look, just put your foot here…. No. Here !"
"I don't know… Ack!"
"You see! That's why I said, ' here' !"
"Are you getting up, or not?"
"Yes, just scoot down."
"What? I thought I was going in front."
"No. You're going to concentrate on the spell work."
"Fair enough."
"Watch out."
"Argh! Warn me first next time!"
"I did!"
"A split second before your boot almost took my head off."
"Quit whining and hold on - Eep! - Not there!"
"Then where?"
"The saddle handle!"
"What? You mean this bit that looks like a boy's thing?! I'm not grabbing that!"
"Fine, then! Around the waist, if you must."
Moments later, the stable door opened by magic and a beautiful white horse clopped out carrying a mildly ticked Daphne Greengrass, being held around the waist by a slightly frazzled Hermione Granger.
The pair of witches bumped and rocked their way out of the stables, past the line of portable horse boxes, through the crowded gardens, all the way being cheered and waved at by the festival goers, and down to the edge of the Greengrass forests, where close to forty other witches and wizards - mostly wizards - milled around astride horses of every breed and size.
Daphne cast her gaze across the gathering. There was her father, sitting in the front of the pack and carrying a large horn. There were Lords Malfoy, and Nott, sitting astride Arabian horses of fairest chestnut-gold. There was Lord Lovegood, and Lord Woodcroft, two of the Gray's staunchest allies. And in the middle of the pack, dressed in full dragon hide and still wearing her monocle, was Regent Amelia Bones, head of the DMLE, riding next to one of the few non-nobles present, Lyndsea Morwenna, the founder of Witch Weekly. The two stood out for being the only other witches, apart from herself and Hermione, in a sea of testosterone.
Daphne briefly wondered what the monocled witch thought of their being allowed to use their wands for the event. Regent Bones was well known to be as straight as an arrow and she couldn't imagine a privileged exemption like this sitting well with the incorruptible woman.
She was jolted out of her wonderings by a most unwelcome voice.
"What is she doing here?"
Daphne turned to see Draco Malfoy trotting over, waving his hand towards them, and glaring daggers at Hermione.
"Heir Malfoy," Hermione called out from right behind her, "A pleasure, as always."
Daphne smiled.
Draco wheeled his horse back to the pack, saw no one was objecting, scowled, and turned back. "Well, I hope you can both keep up. This is a wizard's game."
Daphne sniffed. "I'm sure we will do just fine."
"Indeed." Zacharias Smith rode up, also wearing full riding robes, but accentuated in places with what could only be described as actual steel armour. By his side, hung a long, ornate war hammer. He reined in what looked like a Morgan, causing Malfoy's own Friesian to take a startled step to the side. "I'm sure the ladies will more than hold their own."
"Well spoken," said a recognisable male voice from behind her.
Daphne smiled, turned, opened her mouth to reply, saw what she saw, closed her mouth again, and gawked.
Harry sat astride the older brother of her and Hermione's horse, wearing full riding robes, as expected, and a huge fluffy toy snake, curled all the way around him, which was not. "I was held up," he said. "Ran into an acquaintance." He nodded towards Malfoy and Smith. "Run along boys. I need a few moments with the girls here before the off."
Draco and Zach turned away reluctantly and trotted off in the direction of the other first time riders, where John Potter seemed to be trying to encourage a nervous looking Neville Longbottom.
She turned back. "My lord?"
"Daphne," Harry started, "I know you were disappointed about the thing from before, so when I saw this I couldn't help thinking of you."
Daphne felt herself go red.
"Here you go."
The fluffy snake unwrapped itself from Harry's chest and slid down his arm to her's
"I - Ah - Thank you? My lord."
It wrapped itself along her arm, and coiled and hugged itself around her chest.
Harry nodded and trotted off to the front of the pack.
Behind her, Hermione giggled. "So, now you have a fluffy toy snake."
"Quiet."
"I'm sure all the boys will take us seriously now."
"Quiet."
"Well, I'm not complaining - its more comfy than your back."
"I'm sure our lord just won it at a stand and gave it to me to get rid of it."
"Oh, I'm sure ."
The two sat in silence for a moment.
"So," Hermione began, "I won't find it in your four poster back at Hogwarts?"
"Quiet."
...
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