Warnings: None

Prompts: Genre/Cliché: Hogwarts House Rivalries,

Word: Mortal or Mortals or Mortality

Author's notes: (1) Written for AS/S_LDWS Round 1 Week 1 several years ago (prompt updating FAIL)

(2) Beta-ed by dysonrules

Disclaimer: Characters are the property of JK Rowling, et al. This drabble was written for fun, not for profit.

Summary: Who says Hufflepuffs can't be sneaky?

"Albus, please. It's only Quidditch."

Al stopped to give Rose an incredulous look. "Only Quidditch? Are you mad? Quidditch is the only thing that matters. That, and beating Slytherin for the Cup."

Rose rolled her eyes. "Sorry, sorry. You have to remember that we mere mortals cannot possibly fathom the deep and meaningful intricacies of the sport of the gods that is Quidditch."

Al frowned at her and turned back to his task. "Keep watching the door."

There was a moment of silence and then, "So why are you hexing the practice brooms instead of their real ones?"

"Honestly, Rose, I don't want to be expelled. I just want to give them a... slight disadvantage."

Rose snorted. "And this has nothing to do with the comments Baddock made about a certain Ravenclaw Seeker?"

"I would neversabotage a fellow sportsman for something so petty." Judging by Rose's reaction, Al decided his 'affronted' look needed some work. "Okay, fine, maybe a little. But he's also a Slytherin prat that needs to be taken down a peg or two."

She grinned. "Fair enough."

Al put his wand away and grabbed Rose's arm. "Come on, brat."

Scorpius rested his head on Al's shoulder and grinned. "There are subtler ways of getting revenge, you know. Although having you defend my honour was kind of sweet."

Al nudged him affectionately. "Baddock deserved it."

"Yes, but you also managed to get yourself banned from Quidditch for the term."

Al scuffed his toe on the ground and remained silent until Scorpius lifted his head to look at his boyfriend. "Albus?"

"With me not Beating for Hufflepuff, I'd say Ravenclaw has a fair shot at the Cup, wouldn't you?" he asked as innocently as possible.

Scorpius gaped at him. "You sabotaged your own team?"

Albus blushed.