Disclaimer: I own most of the Ravenclaw and the entire Hufflepuff quidditch teams, the Comet Three-Eleven model broomstick, Maggie McGonagall, and Professional Quidditch Illustrated magazine. JK Rowling owns Hogwarts and its inhabitants, as well as the Nimubs Two Thousand model broomstick. (Oops, I forgot to mention that in the previous chapter…anyway, it is not mine.) Gordon Korman's hilarious children's book, The Zucchini Warriors, inspired the tuba part. Wayne Gretzky and Michael Jordan belong to themselves.
Introductory Remarks: This is a quidditch-centered chapter. I put Wayne Gretzky in it because I thought it would be interesting for him to actually be a wizard, like Sylvester Stallone's being an alien in the movie Men In Black. (But I love Wayne, so I'm not going to imply that he used his powers to post such impressive numbers in the NHL. He had so much natural talent he didn't need to do so.)
High Noon in Hogwarts
With the first match against Ravenclaw coming up at the end of the month, quidditch mania spread through Hufflepuff House. The merits of different players, broomsticks, and maneuvers were discussed. The House teams were closely analyzed, and secret bets placed. From the bits and pieces Hex picked up, Gryffindor and Slytherin were the teams to beat. Hufflepuff was expected to finish last again this year, given the inexperienced team their captain, sixth-year Chaser Samira Sabo, had to put together from scratch; and the blow dealt by the death of Cedric Diggory.
"Well, I, for one, want to disappoint everyone this year," Hex said in the common room one night after practice, as he and the other fifth years did their homework for Defense Against the Dark Arts. With quidditch starting to take up more of his time, studying with his classmates really did help.
"What do you mean?" Ernie asked.
"What I mean is," Hex replied, looking through Intermediate Curses and Counter-Curses, "We aren't going to finish last again this year."
Maeve smiled at him. "I think we'll do better this year, too." Although the team had never played together before, in practice they moved as a unit. Samira had discovered some hidden talents among the younger students and Hex, who hadn't even known what quidditch was before coming to Hogwarts, formed a solid defensive team with Peggy Abbott, of all people. "We'll surprise them all."
"That's the spirit, Maeve!" Hex said, finishing his essay with a flourish. "We'll kick Slytherin and Gryffindor's butts!"
That earned him his first you're-weird looks in weeks. "Are you crazy? How can we beat Gryffindor?" Hannah Abbott asked. "Harry Potter's got a Firebolt!"
"Yeah, well, it's not the kind of broomstick that counts, but the person on it, right?" With the money from Hex's repair jobs, Maeve had managed to get him a secondhand Comet Three-Eleven. It wasn't in the same league as a Nimbus Two Thousand, but everyone who'd seen him on it had to admit Hex was doing a good job as Beater.
As he waited for Peter to finish with his own assignments, Hex borrowed Ernie's Professional Quidditch Illustrated magazine to give his brain a break. "What the—?!" He gawked as the red-robed wizard on the cover knocked a Bludger through a quidditch hoop to distract the opposing Keeper and allow his Chaser to score. "Wayne Gretzky?"
"Who?" Ernie looked at his magazine. "Gretzky? Oh, yes, he plays Beater for Canada. He's only been there two years, but he's already introduced all kinds of new maneuvers."
"Canada is a heavy favorite for the next World Cup," Robert, the Hufflepuff Keeper, said. "They would have made it last year, except one of their Chasers lost some fingers to frostbite or something."
Hex shook his head, still shocked. "This is insane. What next — Michael Jordan playing Chaser for the USA?"
That Friday afternoon, the bleachers at Hogwarts' first quidditch match of the year were filled not only with supporters of the Ravenclaw and Slytherin House teams, but also with Hufflepuffs helping their House team "scope out the competition." Each one was armed with a pencil and notebook, ready to take down every strength and weakness they could observe from both of the teams competing that day.
"This was a brilliant idea, Samira," Maeve complimented the Hufflepuff captain.
Samira, a tall girl with coffee-colored skin and wildly curly brown hair, smiled. "Thank you, but it was Hex who thought of asking all the other Hufflepuffs to come, too," she admitted.
"Yes, well, Cedric never thought of observing the other teams for weaknesses," Maeve insisted. Ever since the night she led a stereo-wielding mob into Dumbledore's office, she had begun to speak up more, although her big eyes and playful giggles still did much in helping her win arguments.
"They're starting!" Hex, sitting beside her, said excitedly. They applauded politely as the Ravenclaw side was introduced, and hissed as the Slytherins, led by Malfoy, took the field.
His eyes remained glued to the pitch as Chasers zoomed by in pursuit of the Quaffle and Beaters fended off the Bludgers. He noted that the Ravenclaws were cool and methodical, positioning themselves just so in order to execute a carefully calculated maneuver. They moved with precision and an intimidating finesse, as finely balanced as a house of cards. On the other hand, while the Slytherins had the same skills to some extent, they preferred a heavy-handed — even dirty — style of play. They fouled fairly often, but Ravenclaw missed many penalty shots because of the heckling from the Slytherin supporters.
Malfoy eventually won it for Slytherin by catching the Golden Snitch (but only after a Beater's club almost knocked Cho Chang off her broomstick), ending the game 60-250.
"What do you think?" Samira asked.
Hex turned away from the sight of the Slytherins gloating. "We can take them."
Bridget Houlihan, a second year Chaser, beamed at Hex's pronouncement. "We should hold a team meeting to discuss our observations. My friends took ever so many notes and our match is in two weeks."
"We'll do that," Samira agreed. "In fact, let's hold a House meeting. I think a lot of people will want to share." She grinned. "Why don't we just hold a party while we're at it?"
"Now we're talking," Robert said with a grin of his own. "Let's plan some more inside."
Hex let the others go ahead as he got his things together, then waited for Peter as the other boy did the same. That was when Hex spied the scraps of parchment Peter had been using to take notes. Lying forgotten on the bench, the top piece contained the names of the Ravenclaw team and a sketch of Maeve as she watched the match. "Hey, Pete, that's really good," Hex said, staring at the drawing. "I didn't know you could draw."
The big boy saw what he was looking at and blushed. "I'm sorry. I should have been taking notes—"
"Can I have it?"
Peter saw the red flood his friend's cheeks and grinned. "Take it." He finished packing and rose as the other boy pocketed the drawing. "You know, if you play your cards right, you can have the real thing, too."
"What?"
"Come off it, Hex; you know what I mean."
By now, Hex was sure his face was as red as the famed Weasley hair. "But…isn't she your girlfriend?"
"Maeve? My girlfriend?" Peter chuckled. "No. We're only friends. I–I'm more interested in someone else," he mumbled, blushing as Susan Bones walked by and smiled at him. She was a thin, rather mousy girl, definitely not in Maeve's league, but the smile lit up her pale face and showed Hex how far below the surface his friend could see.
Hex grinned. Pete and Susan, sitting in a tree… "And I bet she's interested in you, too."
"And it's a beautiful day for a quidditch match!" Justin Finch-Fletchley yelled into Professor McGonagall's magical megaphone one sunny Saturday afternoon two weeks later. "Welcome, students and faculty, to Hufflepuff versus Ravenclaw — High Noon in Hogwarts!"
In the stands, the Hufflepuff students whooped. Spirits were high after last night's team party. The consensus was that the element of surprise would help the new Hufflepuff team distract and defeat the methodical Ravenclaws. Hex had also made all sorts of outrageous suggestions that had the Hufflepuffs actually looking forward to the match, instead of dreading it as another shot at humiliation.
Maggie McGonagall, who had shut the shop for the day to watch the game, waved a yellow scarf and cheered. An old tuba manned by Ernie, Hannah, Susan and Peter — each of them blowing on a hose attached to the instrument — emitted a tremendous blast. (A/N: I have no idea where they got the tuba. I am assuming that Hogwarts, like any fine school, offers extra-curricular activities, including music.)
Hex and his teammates heard the sound from inside the tunnel in which they waited, clad in their canary-yellow quidditch robes. Ignoring the army of butterflies in his stomach, he grinned at everyone. "We're going to win."
"Y-yes, we will," Robert said, looking like he was going to be ill. The rest of the team, even Maeve, echoed him just as weakly.
Above their heads, Justin was introducing the Ravenclaw team, whose supporters applauded after each name was announced. "Come on, everyone," Samira said. "Today, we're going to forget about being the Hogwarts doormats. We're going to shock everyone. We're going to win!"
"And we're going to do this for Cedric," Peggy said, glancing at the black armband on her sleeve.
At her words, all doubt vanished from the team's eyes. "For Cedric," Bridget said resolutely.
Justin's magically magnified stereo and the rhythmic stomping overhead signaled the team's cue to take the pitch as they beat out the introduction to Queen's "We Will Rock You." "And now—" Justin began dramatically as the Hufflepuff crowd cheered, "—may I present to you —"
Robert grinned at Hex as they mounted their broomsticks. "You and your American gimmickry," he said, laughing and shaking his head. "Good luck," he told everyone as he flew out of the tunnel, with Justin bellowing "Padgett!"
The Hufflepuffs cheered as one by one, their players flew out into the sunlight. "Sabo! Houlihan! Derwent! Abbott! Holmstrom!…aaand — Moondaughter! Ladies and gentlemen, your Hufflepuff quidditch team!"
The two teams faced each other as the captains shook hands, then took their positions. Hex winked at Maeve before she went to take her place. "They won't touch you," he vowed.
"Madam Hooch, the referee for today's match, has just released the balls," Justin announced as the four quidditch balls rose into the air and the Golden Snitch flew out of sight. "This is Hufflepuff's first quidditch match since the death of its star Seeker, Cedric Diggory, at the hands of You-Know-Who. Today, the Hufflepuffs honor his memory by way of the black armbands on their robes."
"Oh, those children." Professor Sprout sniffled into a large Hufflepuff banner.
A piercing whistle blew. "And the game has begun! Hufflepuff Chaser Houlihan in possession of the Quaffle—watch out for the Bludger!—whew…Uh-oh, the Ravenclaw Chasers are closing in on her using the classic Flying V formation, it's almost unbeatable—did you see that, ladies and gentlemen? Houlihan dipped just as the Ravenclaw Chasers were going to box her in and avoided capture! She's speeding toward the Ravenclaw goal now—yes! She beats Keeper Roger Davies! 10-0 in favor of Hufflepuff!"
Hex roared his approval along with the other Hufflepuffs, but looked around just in time to knock away a Bludger that was speeding toward him. Peggy intercepted it and sent the Bludger toward the three Ravenclaw Chasers, one of them in possession of the Quaffle. The three promptly scattered, and Hex sent in the other Bludger to knock the Quaffle out of Ravenclaw Chaser Sarah Porter's arms.
"Despite the brave effort by Hufflepuff Beater Holmstrom, Ravenclaw regains possession of the Quaffle," Justin continued, "and the Chasers are now flying far apart…Seekers Moondaughter and Chang are still waiting for the Snitch to make its appearance…Moondaughter dives!—False alarm…Ravenclaw is closing in on the Hufflepuff goal…watch out for the Bludger, Robert!…Spectacular save by Padgett!" The Hufflepuffs cheered as Robert ducked the Bludger and just managed to block the Quaffle before it entered the goal. "Ladies, that save was made by none other than Mr. Robert Padgett, a fifth year Hufflepuff hailing from Yorkshire. He's very much single, enjoys romantic rowboat rides on the lake…any interested girl may contact me after the match…"
Samira took possession of the Quaffle and began to make her way toward the Ravenclaw goal. However, a Bludger caused her to surrender it to Sarah Porter and the Ravenclaws sped back toward the Hufflepuff side of the pitch, flying far apart as they had before. This time, another Bludger knocked Robert out of position and Ravenclaw tied the score.
Hex frowned as, almost immediately, they scored another goal and took the lead. Despite the team's best efforts, the score at the first time-out was 80-20 in favor of Ravenclaw.
Maeve caught sight of the Snitch when the game resumed, but a Bludger caused her to veer off course and allowed the Snitch to fly away free again. However, the same Bludger forced a Ravenclaw Chaser to drop the Quaffle. Hex managed to get under the red ball and club it toward Bridget.
"Holmstrom gives the Quaffle to Houlihan!" Justin cried. "It's rare for a Beater to work the Quaffle, but Madam Hooch is nodding, so it's perfectly within the rules…Houlihan speeds toward the Ravenclaw goal, tailed by the big Ravenclaw Beater, Warwick; Keeper Davies at the ready—no, I don't believe it! Abbott sends a Bludger toward Warwick, it ricochets off the end of Warwick's broomstick and almost hits Davies—Hufflepuff scores!"
Peggy's move was successful, but it earned Ravenclaw a penalty. Shooting the Hufflepuffs a dirty look, Sarah Porter took her position to face Robert. However, the heckling from the Hufflepuffs, coupled with erratic blasts from the tuba, caused her to miss the goal and the game resumed.
"Hufflepuff in possession of the Quaffle…was that the Snitch? Moondaughter dives, but a Bludger knocks her off-course again…Abbott sends the other Bludger toward Chang…Hufflepuff Chaser Derwent is nearing the goal—watch out, Tim!—Foul!"
"Penalty to Hufflepuff for damage to their Chaser!" Madam Hooch announced. Warwick had intentionally collided with Timothy Derwent, who was a foot shorter and a hundred pounds lighter. "I had expected this sort of strategy from Slytherin, but from Ravenclaw…!"
"I think we're starting to get to them," Samira observed to the others as Timothy scored a goal. (Nothing but hoop!" Justin chortled.) She grinned. "Let's keep going."
A flash of gold sped right past of Hex's nose, followed almost immediately by a Bludger going in the opposite direction. Hex intercepted it just before it hit Maeve, and sent it hurtling toward Cho Chang. "If Maeve doesn't get it, she doesn't get it!" he called to the other Ravenclaw Beater, Montrose, a rangy young man with his eyeglasses strapped to his head. "You hear me, Pointdexter?"
Bridget tied the score and that sent the Hufflepuffs in the audience to their feet, yelling and cheering, with noisemakers back in action. Hex grinned as Maggie led another rendition of "We Will Rock You" before zooming in to fly alongside Vincent Lunel, the Ravenclaw Chaser in possession of the Quaffle. "You're gonna miss, Vinnie," he hissed. "Miss, miss, miss…"
Lunel glared at him before trying for a goal, and indeed he missed. "Thank you," Hex said, speeding off before the Chaser could go after him.
At the next time out (with the score still tied at 80), Hex told the others to try and psyche out the opposing players. "You all right?" he asked Maeve, wiping his sweaty face.
She smiled, still beautiful even with a flushed face and sweaty tendrils of hair escaping the bun at the top of her head. "Just fine, thank you."
"Good." He smiled and turned to discuss strategy with Peggy. "We'd better stay close to the Bludgers. Make sure Ravenclaw can't use them…"
She nodded seriously, her face set. "Right."
"And Abbott catches a Bludger just in time to keep Cho Chang from catching the Snitch! Way to go, Peggy!" Justin cheered. "Gentlemen, Miss Peggy Abbott is also single, a beautiful seventh year from Hufflepuff—but watch out! Montrose tried to hit her and he almost fell off his broom instead! There's more to this young woman than meets the eye, folks!…Yes, Professor McGonagall, I'll get back to the game…Here comes Holmstrom, in possession of the other Bludger…knocks the Quaffle away from Lunel and bats it again to Houlihan—a new player, she's scored four of the eight Hufflepuff goals this—make that five! Five goals! Hufflepuff takes the lead, 80-90, and the crowd goes wild!
"One of the Seekers — preferably Maeve Moondaughter of Hufflepuff, heh heh — had better catch the Snitch soon, because this excitement is getting too much for me! I have never seen such a performance from the Hufflepuff team, even from the one led by the late Cedric Diggory that beat Gryffindor! Samira Sabo definitely has my vote for next year's team captain!…Oh, and Sabo scores!"
"We have to start helping Maeve catch the Snitch," Peggy murmured to Hex as she caught up with him briefly. "Let's not give Ravenclaw a chance to catch up with us."
Hex nodded. "One of us always better watch Maeve so none of the Bludgers get her."
The other Beater grinned. "Since you volunteered, you've got the job."
He rose above the action to mark Maeve and Cho's movements. The two Seekers circled over the pitch, looking around for a telltale flash of gold. Hex startled Maeve almost off her broomstick by swooping in to fend off a Bludger and send it rocketing toward Cho. "Sorry," he said. "Just…go on."
She smiled at him just as Cho went into a dive. "She's seen the Snitch!" Justin screamed.
Maeve dove a moment too late. Cho had a good lead on her as they both sped toward the tiny gold ball hovering only a few feet above the ground. Then the Hufflepuff Seeker decided to catch up with Cho by going into free fall.
"What is she doing?" Justin cried. The crowd watched, some stunned, some screaming, as she jumped off her broomstick and plummeted to the ground.
"Oh!" Cho pulled to a stop as Maeve plunged past her, followed by another yellow blur on a secondhand broomstick. Hex got a good hold around Maeve's waist just as her hand closed over the Snitch.
Madam Hooch's whistle blew.
Concluding Remarks: YAAAAAAAY!!!! :D I wholeheartedly agree that, with the exception of Cedric Diggory, Hufflepuff House hasn't been given much attention. When I first read Harry Potter and the Philospher's Stone/Sorcerer's Stone, I honestly thought Harry would be Sorted into Hufflepuff and erase their reputation as a bunch of duffers. JK Rowling startled the socks off me by putting him in Gryffindor, and this fic is born of that initial disappointment.
And there, Hex's secret thing for Maeve is out (at least Peter knows, anyway). I'm pairing Peter up with Susan Bones because he's such a nice boy and he deserves someone as sweet as he is.
Up next: serious things begin to happen. I hope to upload a couple of companion pieces before I leave, to make up for my long absence and thank everyone for the lovely reviews. Stay tuned! ~ Ara Kane
