Hufflepuff Quidditch Practice

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Dally pushed his hair out of his face, the wind was icy and cold, and he eased his Nimbus 2001 slowly up over the Quidditch field. Dallas played seeker for the Hufflepuff House Quidditch team, and he was attending his very first house practice as the sun lowered out of sight that frigid fall evening. He could see the others in their yellow and black robes, zooming around under him. Dally wanted to prove him-self, he wanted to prove to the others that he was just as good as Cedric. Cedric happened to of been one of his best friends, his death greatly affected Dallas.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a glimpse gold. Leaning forward on his broom, Dallas sped after it. But Dallas had been mistaken. It had been the flash of his best friend Chanti's earring. She had come to watch. Beside her, sat the Gryffindor girl he had a crush on. "Why did she have to bring her?" he thought to himself, slowing down. The others below him had stopped practicing their Quaffle passing and were watching him. Dallas quickly searched around for the snitch. He now had everyone's attention, now was the time to go for it. Fluttering happily by the goal post on the opposite end, he saw it. "Yes!" he thought, and leaned forward.

As the stands flashed by, the snitch hoovered and then plummeted to the ground; Dallas never lost sight of it. It rose again, and he rapidly closed in on his goal. Inches away, he reached out and grabbed it. Its wings were frantically beating against his palm, but he hadn't seen where he was going. With a loud crunch, he crashed into the stands.

The snitch was released from his grasp, and he slowly lifted his face off the bench he had smashed into.

"Uh," he moaned. Chanti and Ankie struggled to keep back their laughter as they helped him to his feet. "This'll be a long season," he sighed, and his cheeks reddened as he thanked them for their help.

"Cheer up!" said Chanti. "You're still the best seeker we have!"

"I'm not sure what to think about that," he groaned. "Dallas, you are a terrific Hufflepuff seeker." Ankie said to him. Dallas blushed at this attention from his pretty crush. But what he had really wanted her to say was, 'You are THE BEST seeker, Dallas.' But, Dallas knew that her boyfriend, Harry, was a seeker, too. As Ankie walked off, Dallas asked Chanti, "Is the Ankie/Harry thing serious?"

"Hmm. Not too serious, I guess." "Hmm," Dallas thought to himself. "I always like the ones that are already taken."

Chanti watched Dallas gaze after Ankie as she walked across the field.

"I think you'll do great this year," she said. "Do you wanna go get some breakfast?"

"Yeah, sure," he said, picking up his broom.

As they walked down the stadium stairs, the rest of the Hufflepuff Quidditch team flew over to them.

"Nice flying," said Cynthia Wendel, a one of the new beaters.

"Ah, thanks," he said, not knowing if she was mocking him or not.

"Hey, Dally," said a voice. Dallas turned to see Roger Davies, the Hufflepuff Quidditch Captain. "Do you have the snitch?"

"No..." Dallas started to say, and he realized that he couldn't go anywhere until he retrieved it. "I'll stay and get it." He made a hurried excuse to Chanti, and mounted his broom again.

"I'll see you later, then?" she called after him.

"Yeah, see you 'round," he called back. _________________

As he looked around, he noticed a group of students entering the field to the left. It was the Slytherin team. He cursed his luck under his breath, and hit his broom in frustration. He couldn't leave out the snitch, but he didn't want Slytherin to see him. Quickly, he made up his mind to hide in the treetops of the woods, praying that Slytherin didn't find the snitch and keep it. He took off his yellow robe and bundled up into a ball, then he stuffed it under his shirt. With a fleeting glance he saw the silver blond hair of Draco Malfoy; he pulled his broom off his shoulder and flew into the air.

Like a bullet, Dallas sped off into the woods, hoping that no one on the ground saw him. He wasn't sure why he was running from the Slytherins, he didn't do anything wrong. Except, a picture of Wilson, of the Ravenclaw team, after he had lingered on the field during the Slytherin practice stuck in his mind. The Slytherins had believed him to be spying on him, and turned his legs into wheels.

As he found coverage in the higher branches of the trees, he was surprised to see the snitch, a few feet behind him. However, as he reached out for it, it buzzed off into the woods.

"No," he thought. "Don't go in there!" Then as if answering his plea, he saw it hovering about twenty feet away, deeper in the forest. _________________

Dallas started as cool brushed over the nape of his neck.

"And what do you think you're doing?" a voice inquired.

"No!" gasped Dallas as the Snitch sped of behind him deeper into the forest. He whirled on his assailant and went deathly pale. It was Malfoy's cousin Selenay. He almost fell off his broom at the sight of the mount she sat upon. He noted calmly the fangs, claws, eyes and the wicked horn of the beast.

"Well...are you going to answer the question or not?" she snapped. Selenay looked hardly like her pale blond cousin, with long, flowing black hair, a petite girl with lots of attitude to spare. Her most striking feature were her eyes-they changed constantly into the most fascinating colours imaginable-ruby red, oceanic blue, silver-a multitude of fascinating combinations.

"Well..." he stammered," I was trying to catch the..."

"This?" she interrupted-in the palm of her hand lay the Golden Snitch beating it's wings uselessly against the enclosed fingers.

Flushing with embarrassment, his head dropped in shame he said yes slowly reaching out for the Snitch.

"Not so fast," she said. He looked up to into her eyes and flinched. " You haven't told me who you are and why you are hiding from the Slytherin Quidditch team."

"I'm not hiding!" He snapped.

"Then why did you hightail it of the pitch once you saw them coming? Well?," she asked smirking.

"I'm Dallas, the Hufflepuff Seeker." he said quietly, all hope lost. She was going to tell Malfoy he thought.

"Oh you're the one those losers abused. Sorry 'bout before it's just Shadow here was getting antsy." She said slapping her mounts shoulder.

"By the way this is Shadow-Stalker and I'd ...er...appreciate it if you wouldn't tell anybody about her because strictly speaking nobodies supposed to know. She's a hurrock and we can't bear being apart from each other." Selenay said.

"But doesn't Draco know?" Dallas asked timidly.

"That little git I won't let him near me with a 20 foot stick let alone my Shadow! I'd likely punch his lights out if he came near me!" came the startling reply.

Then Dallas remembered Selenay was the new exchange student who to everyone's startlement was placed in Gryffindor and known as the resident loner. Well that was interesting. So she didn't like cousin...l _________________

Dallas was speechless. Shadow pawed the ground nervously, its eyes shone with effulgence. He had so many questions to ask, but she looked incredibly redoubtful, so he decided not to ask.

"Can I have the, um, the..." he started.

"The snitch?" she asked, and she lifted her hand out to him. Dallas regarded the hurrock fearfully, and mounted his broom. He flew up to her, where she opened her fist, and the snitch rose in the air, as if in slow motion. Quickly, he grabbed it, before it could escape again. He looked at Selenay, her eyes sparkled continuously, one moment they were clear blue, the next honey.

"You know," he said, testing his confidence. "I bet you'd make a great seeker." She smiled, as he surmounted the treetops and flew toward the castle. _________________

Shadow cast a look back at Selenay. Do you think we can depend on him Selenay she mind spoke.

Of course we can Shadow, after all he's in Hufflepuff they are know for their loyalty. I bet he wouldn't tell even under torture. Lighten Up! I don't know why you're so worried Selenay replied.

One WRONG move and everything we have worked for is ruined! They must not find out we are here or our race will die Selenay. Shadow replied testily.

I know dear heart, I know. She sighed; tears glimmered in her almond shaped eyes. Oh, I know

You said you had something to tell me? Shadow queried

Ah yes. I overheard Draco boasting to those little minions of his Crabbe and Goyle saying that Fire-eater has joined forces with the horror of the European Countries-Voldemort. Fire-eater has also taken with him the Scarwing clan of Stormwingsshe said shuddering. A flood of memories returned-the blood, the stench, the screams-all a sigil of the Scarwing clan.

Shadow likewise shuddered at the shared memories. we must make sure that they do not inflict their horrors onto these innocents like they have done to us

So mote it be Sabe replied.I can't risk another daylight meeting dear heart. I will see you when I can. The teachers are keeping a close watch on me

She dropped a kiss on the hurrocks velvety nose and bid farewell to her life mate.

Farewell sister of my heart. I will always be here when you need me, all you have to do is callcame Shadows farewell as she galloped into the darkness of the Forbidden Forest.

Selenay watched and slowly trudged back up the path towards the school. _________________

As Selenay entered the brightly lit common room of the Gryffindor tower a wave of homesickness washed over her. She let her face smooth into the guarded mask she wore when she was in the company of others.

"I can't believe it!" Ron exclaimed. "More classes!"

A silence fell over the common room. Selenay paused on the stairs to the dorms.

"What are you talking about?" a voice rang out.

People jumped. All eyes turned towards Selenay, her stormy eyes flashing with fury.

"There's a notice here for all students in 5th year and above to attend a special class in the Great Hall straight after Potions on tomorrow." Ron replied cautiously.

Angry voices filled the air. Selenay escaped to the peace and quiet of the dorms.



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Here ends the first chapter of our story. This story was co-authored with Ankie and Chanti. Please Review.

p.s. We do not own any of the HP characters/storyline. The ones we do own you'll know. ^_^