Lily sighed inwardly, realizing that Kashan was, as always, not going to listen to sense. Scowling, she grabbed Kashan’s arm, forcing her best friend to stop. “What’s so interesting about this tryout? It’s not even your house’s tryouts, Kash, it’s Goldam’s.”

“Well, Miss know-it-all, do you know who happens to be the Goldam Quidditch captain?” Kashan said, pausing for a second or two in her stride to listen to Lily.

“Yes, thanks, my information about Quidditch is far more ‘up-to-date’ than yours. I don’t go around telling people that an ex-student, who happens to have left Faztel, actually captains my team.”

Kashan gave her the most distasteful look she could possibly manage. “Well, then, I want to see those tryouts,” she said, finality ringing in every word.


“Right,” Tanzeel called out to the many students gathered in front of him. “I’m going to divide you all into –”

Some of the score or two of students occupying many of the seats up in the stands waved to their friends down below, who were trying out for their house team. Kashan frowned as Tanzeel beckoned to a pretty, third year, telling her to come over.

“You know what, I’m seriously thinking of trying out for my house team,” Kashan said thoughtfully, turning to Lily as the girl obeyed. Lily eyed her doubtfully. “I thought you were afraid of heights,” she said uncertainly.

“Who me?” Kashan asked, as if stunned. “No way.”

It was then that Lily really realized how hopeless it was.


“I’m seriously getting bored, Kash,” Lily said, after two hours had passed and the tryouts were still not over. Evening was beginning to draw near. “Couldn’t I just go back home, and have a nap or something?” she asked.

“Come on, Lil, how many chances do we get to stay late after school?” Kashan said, not taking her eyes off one, certain, Quidditch captain.

“Kashan, I’m seriously exhausted. I’m going.” Picking up her schoolbag, Lily stood up. Kashan was finally forced to look up. For a moment, she said nothing. Then she nodded. “I guess you could go,” she told Lily. “I’ll get home when this is over.”

Lily breathed a sigh of relief. “Finally!” Giving Kashan a brief, one-armed hug, she quickly left.

Leaning back in her seat, Kashan stood up again only when the tryouts were over. Students had arrived and departed and though the number of watchers had increased by the time Tanzeel finally called down the last batch of airborne hopefuls, Kashan knew for the fact that she was the only person who had watched the whole tryouts, without missing out anything.

Getting up, she silently made her way down to the pitch. Reaching the crowd that had gathered there to congratulate their friends, Kashan stopped for a moment. Tanzeel was talking to his new beater, explaining something to him. As the beater moved away, Kashan made her way over to him.

“Nice work,” she said quietly.

Tanzeel looked up. “You stayed here all day?” he asked impassively, not even bothering to say thank you. Kashan nodded wordlessly. “Uh-huh.” A second later, he had left.

For the first time, Kashan realized that Lily might have been telling the truth, and nothing but the absolute truth, when she had told her that Tanzeel was not the type to be anybody’s man.