Chapter 7: Hufflepuff's Hero

Ron Weasley was basking on his glory when he heard someone calling him. "Weasley?" It was Cormac McLaggen. "What do you want, McLaggen?" Ron asked in annoyance.

"Are you interested on winning a bet?" McLaggen asked.

"What do I have to do?" Ron eagerly asked in reply.

McLaggen showed him a box. "Just eat these doxy eggs, Weasley."

"Are you barmy?" Ron asked in protest. "What if I get sick and don't recover on time for the match against Hufflepuff?"

"You win the bet and I give you ten galleons." McLaggen offered.

Ten galleons and fifteen minutes later, Ron Weasley was a patient at Madam Pomfrey's infirmary. "Any chances he'll recover on time for the Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff match, Madam Pomfrey?" Harry asked.

"No way, Mr. Potter." The mediwitch answered. "What was Mr. Weasley thinking when he ate those eggs?"

"Ten galleons are worth it." He weakly declared. Ron firmly believed it but was too weak to show it.

"Now who'll be our keeper for the game?" Angelina asked in desperation.

"I'm here, you know." Cormac McLaggen replied.

"That's what you wanted when you dared Weasley to eat those eggs. Wasn't it, McLaggen?" Angelina Johnson accused McLaggen.

"Weasley could have refused the bet." McLaggen refuted the accusation.

"And miss a chance to get ten galleons?" Ron asked in reply. "Not a chance."

Reluctantly, Ron's teammates accepted Cormac McLaggen as their substitute. "Congratulations, Hufflepuff." Malfoy mocked. "Now that Gryffindor got McLaggen to play as their Keeper, your victory is assured."

"Not yet, Malfoy." Harry replied. "Gryffindor still needs you as Seeker to guarantee Hufflepuff's victory."

Every non-Slytherin felt like applauding Harry for the retort at Draco Malfoy. Even Cormac McLaggen. Professor Snape would like nothing better than to dock points from Gryffindor for this but he knew Sirius Black would gladly dock an even bigger number of points from Slytherin for Draco mocking McLaggen.

Harry Potter spent a good time practicing for the game. When the day arrived, Keeper McLaggen was more concerned about how his teammates do their work than doing his. That caused Hufflepuff to win by 260 – 20. "A toast to Hufflepuff's Hero Cormac McLaggen." Malfoy mockingly said. Everyone was sure McLaggen would never be allowed to forget it.

A few minutes later, McLaggen was at the hospital wing. "Were you hit with the bludgers, McLaggen?" Ron asked.

"He wishes." Angelina Johnson said in disdain. "That idiot just wanted to tell us how to do our jobs. Everyone wanted to have a go at him. Even the Hufflepuffs were upset over their easy victory."

"Do you still think the ten galleons were worth it, Ron?" Harry asked.

"Yes, mate." Ron giddily answered. "Ten galleons. And you could have picked someone else instead of McLaggen."

"Or played without any Keepers." Harry suggested. "Even that would be better."

"Hey!" McLaggen protested but changed his mind when the others glared at him.

"I'll check the rule book to see if that's allowed." Johnson said.

Not wanting to think about McLaggen was another reason for Harry to want to spend Christmas at the Dursleys'. "Happy Christmas, Harry!" Vernon and Petunia said.

"Happy Christmas, Mum. Happy Christmas, Dad." Harry replied and then they exchanged gifts. Suddenly, they heard the doorbell. "Are we expecting visitors, Dad?" Harry asked.

"Unfortunately, Harry." Vernon grunted as he checked. "Welcome, Sirius."

"Hi, Dursleys." Vernon half-heartedly said and then looked at Harry. "Prongslet, aren't you excited at seeing your favorite godfather?"

"I see you every day at school, Sirius." Harry replied without any enthusiasm.

"Anyway, I'm sure you'll enjoy my gift to you." Sirius happily said as he gave Harry a package. "It'll be useful whenever you make McLaggen pay for making your team lose the game against Hufflepuff."

"I don't want to think about that pathetic excuse for a Keeper, Sirius, but thanks for the gift anyway." Harry replied as he un-wrapped the gift to find a prank set.

"Still encouraging Harry to play pranks, Sirius?" Petunia asked in dismay and irritation.

"Prongslet only has a few months left before becoming an adult in the Wizarding World." Sirius pleaded. "The consequences for getting caught afterwards will be more severe."

"Are the students still giving that McLaggen boy a hard time over his Quidditch blunder, Harry?" Vernon asked out of mild curiosity.

"Do people still need their blood to live, Dad?" Harry replied.

"Good one, Prongslet!" Sirius commented while laughing. "Prankster or not, you do have a sense of humor."

End chapter and a belated Merry Christmas.