Sally peeked her head into the Red-Green classroom, only to find Professor Maline shouting herself hoarse at a bored looking student. “Um, excuse me, Professor, but Professor Davies wants to see Kash. I mean, Kashan Aleen,” Sally hastily corrected.

Professor Maline turned around to face the fifth year Prefect. “The Greensoph Head of House?” she asked unblinkingly. Sally nodded. For a second, Professor Maline remained silent. Then, without warning, she abruptly barked out, “Miss Aleen, you may leave.”

Bewildered at what she could possibly have done now to incur her Head of House’s wrath this time, Kashan glanced inquisitively at Sally, who merely shook her head to indicate that she had no idea what all this was about. As they reached the door of Professor Davies’s office, Sally departed with a shrug. Kashan knocked loudly.

“Enter,” Professor Davies said in her usual, brisk way. She beamed at Kashan when she entered, though, pointing her into the seat in front of her desk.

“Yes, Professor?” Kashan asked, clearly puzzled.

Professor Davies cleared her throat before speaking. “Miss Aleen, I’m sure you know that Miss Victoria Hales has transferred to another Wizarding school?” she queried. When Kashan nodded, she continued. “We need a Quidditch captain, then, of course. The best choice of course happens to be Mr. Terry Daniel, having been on the team for the past three years. But Mr. Daniel’s involved in all sorts of activities, and he says he can’t help putting his extra Potions lessons before Quidditch.” She paused, leaving Kashan to wonder where all this was going.

“I was wondering if you would like to take on the captaincy?” Professor Davies asked after a moment’s pause.

Kashan blinked, trying to digest all the information she had just been provided. “Me?” she repeated incredulously. Professor Davies nodded, forcing Kashan to laugh. “Professor, this is my first year on the team. I haven’t even played my first match,” Kashan said, trying not to sound exasperated. After all, this was her Head of House she was conversing with.

Professor Davies nodded. “For sure,” she said, agreeing. “Neither has everyone else on the team, apart from Terry, and he has already refused to be the captain. You’re the seeker, so I can be sure you didn’t get on the team without showing some pretty, good skill. I’ve seen you play, too. You’re a natural.” Finishing speaking, she waited for Kashan’s response.

“Well, I guess I can be the captain,” Kashan said. “Anything else, Professor?”

Professor Davies nodded. “You don’t exactly have a very clean record, Miss Aleen,” she said, becoming more serious. She pulled out a parchment and handed it over to Kashan, who took it curiously, only to burst out laughing. It was a record of detentions given out in the pat month, and Kashan’s name was repeated after at least every four names.

“I get the point, Professor,” she said, keeping back a smile. “I’ll, uhh, behave myself.” Professor Davies nodded, looking relieved. “Is there anything you want to ask, then, Miss Aleen?”

Kashan shook her head. “Not really … Except – Well, what if I totally mess everything up?” she inquired, her signature smile beginning to show once more.

Professor Davies chuckled. “You had better not.”