Disclaimer: I only own Hex, Maeve, Peter, Maggie McGonagall and the rest of the Hufflepuff quidditch team. JK Rowling owns Hogwarts and everyone else in this fic. She also owns Dementors, Chocolate Frogs, and the Lestranges. Dr. Frankenstein and his creation belong to Mary Shelley, while the idea about the tuba belongs (as always) to Gordon Korman. Jell-O and Jose Cuervo belong to whoever lays claim to the names. The point is I do not :D The part about the Jose Cuervo was inspired by my friend liquidhigh – thanks, hun :D (But the part about throwing up is purely my own.)

Dementor on the Loose

With the equivalency exams out of the way, Hex was now able to focus on preparing for the upcoming Gryffindor-Hufflepuff quidditch match. The Hufflepuffs had already seen the Gryffindor team in action against Slytherin before the Christmas break, so it was now known that Dean Thomas was the new Keeper and Ron Weasley the new Chaser. And Hex now knew why Gryffindor was one of the teams to beat.

"They're so good it's scary," Justin said in a low voice one Sunday afternoon in the common room as the fifth years enjoyed a pizza Hex had brought back from Herefordshire. "Even their commentator is better." Lee Jordan did commentary for Gryffindor and was known for his highly entertaining style.

"You know, Justin," Ernie said, in a jocular tone, "when you believe too much in things like that, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy."

"It sounds to me like Hex has finally succeeded in corrupting Ernie," Hannah observed with a smile.

"Well, it's true," Maeve told them. "We must stop thinking like losers if we're going to win."

"It sounds to me like Hex has finally succeeded in corrupting you, too, Maeve," Robert chuckled. "You're starting to sound just like him."

"You're saying it like it's a bad thing," Hex protested.

"It isn't," Peter said loyally. Susan, seated next to him, smiled and patted his shoulder.

"Thanks, Pete. Anyway, Justin, Ernie's right. Don't let Lee's rep get you down. He may be older and people may think he's cooler, but you're Muggle-born so you have a different take on things. And you're faster, so if he's out-talking you, just break his nose and run away."

"Hex!" A shocked giggle from Maeve. "That's not very nice."

"Hex is right about the Muggle-born part, though," Hannah said. "I heard some of the first years talking, Justin, and one of them said your commentary made it easier for him to understand and enjoy the game. Quidditch is very interesting in itself, but when a Muggle-born talks about it, it helps other Muggle-borns make the game their own, too, you know?" She bit her lip, looking at her friend's bowed head, and shrugged in an I-did-my-best sort of way.

"You know what?" Justin asked, running a hand through his curly hair and looking up at all of them, "You're right. Lee's cool and he's funny, but I have an added perspective because I'm Muggle-born."

"And who says Lee's the only cool and funny quidditch commentator in Hogwarts?" Ernie piped up. "I mean…most of your jokes are Muggle jokes, but the Muggle-borns really enjoy them."

"Think about it, Justin," Hex said, "you're the Muggles' voice here at Hogwarts. The only other person who does commentary here is Lee Jordan, and he's a pureblood. But there are lots of Muggles studying here, too. We need someone to speak for us, man. We need you."

The other boy finally grinned. "I never thought of it that way. Thanks, you guys."

"That takes care of him," Robert murmured to Hex as Justin helped himself to more pizza. "Now what about the rest of us?"

"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to another exciting quidditch match!" Lee Jordan said into the magical megaphone on the morning of the big day. "Today, the first-place Gryffindor team faces the upstart Hufflepuffs!"

"We're upstarts, all right, and don't you forget it," Justin said. "Good morning, folks, this is Justin 'the Muggle Mouth' Finch-Fletchley and Lee Jordan doing commentary for this match, Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff — the Saturday Morning Showdown!"

"Why do you have a nickname and I don't?" Lee complained.

"Make one up, then. How about 'the Gabbling Gryffindor'?"

The other boy pondered this, then nodded approvingly. "I like it."

"Will the pair of you please get back to calling the match?" Professor McGonagall said, making a grab for the megaphone.

"Yes, Professor," they said together, moving out of her reach.

She sighed and sat back down. Jordan and Finch-Fletchley were a handful individually; together, she supposed they would give her a headache. She looked over at her sister, who was seated between her and Professor Sprout. "Don't you ever go to work, Margaret?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"Certainly, Minnie," Maggie said cheerfully. (A/N: Hahahaha! Minnie! Hahaha…OK, I'm done.) "But I deserve a day off now and then, don't I?" She dimpled fetchingly as the professor's lips thinned. "And I do enjoy a good quidditch match."

"Who are you cheering for?"

"Now, Minerva," Professor Sprout broke in kindly, "we're not supposed to be taking sides now, remember?"

Maggie startled them both by cheering loudly as Lee Jordan introduced the Gryffindor team. "I give you — Thomas! Bell! Johnson! Weasley! Weasley! Weasley! And — Potter! The Gryffindor quidditch team!"

Seven scarlet-robed players took the field and the Gryffindors roared. Down in their tunnel, the Hufflepuff team looked at each other and smiled nervously. "It'll be all right," Samira said unconvincingly. "We'll do just fine."

"Maeve, please don't go jumping off your broom again," Robert begged. Everyone else laughed weakly.

"She'll think of another way to give us all heart attacks," Hex said wryly as the stomping began and the four-man tuba began to blow. "And now," Justin intoned as a great cheer arose from the Hufflepuff stand, "may I present to you — Padgett!"

Robert mounted his broomstick, wished the others luck and took to the air, followed by the rest of the team as Justin announced the arrivals of "Sabo! Houlihan! Derwent! Abbott! Holmstrom! Aaaaaand — Moondaughter! Ladies and gentlemen, the Yellow and Black Attack — your Hufflepuff quidditch team!"

The Hufflepuff stands were a seething mass of yellow and black as students waved scarves, banners and signs. Hex caught sight of one that read "Holmstrom 3:16" before taking his place.

"I want a good, clean match," Madam Hooch reminded both teams. "Moondaughter, stay on your broomstick! Captains, shake hands!" Samira shook hands with Gryffindor captain Angelina Johnson. The quidditch balls were released. Madam Hooch blew her whistle and threw the Quaffle into the air. "Gryffindor takes first possession of the Quaffle," Lee reported, "but Abbott is ready with a Bludger—Hufflepuff now in possession."

"Aaaand Derwent is pelting toward the Gryffindor goal!" Justin announced. "The speediest Chaser on the Hufflepuff team—catch him if you can! Sorry, Weasley, you couldn't catch him—watch out! Narrow miss by a Bludger back there, but Holmstrom had Derwent's back…Tim's approaching the Gryffindor goal and rookie Keeper Dean Thomas…ooh, little fake-out there—Derwent shoots—he scores!!! 10-zip, Hufflepuff!" He whooped happily. "FYI, ladies and gentlemen, Hogwarts statistics show that 80% of all quidditch matches are won by the team that scores the first goal! How about that?"

"We're supposed to be unbiased and objective!" Lee told him as the tuba blew.

"Oh, like you're unbiased and objective?" Justin laughed. "Why don't I root for Hufflepuff and you root for Gryffindor? That way, we'll be cancel each other out and it'll still be fair."

The other boy laughed. "I like the way you think."

Professor McGonagall groaned.

While Lee and Justin were having a fine time giving the Professor a headache, Katie Bell had taken possession of the Quaffle for Gryffindor. She was pretty fast herself, dodging the Bludgers as she pelted toward the other end of the pitch, until a Hufflepuff Chaser checked her.

"Katie Bell surrenders the Quaffle to Chaser Bridget Houlihan!" Justin exclaimed. "Did you see that, folks? Ladies and gentlemen, Bridget Houlihan is small but terrible!"

"Hey!" Bridget protested as she passed the Quaffle to Samira.

"It was a compliment! Get back to the game!"

Hufflepuff was leading 30-0 before Angelina scored the first goal for Gryffindor. "And Angelina Johnson puts Gryffindor on the board! All right, Angelina!" Lee cheered. "Gryffindor is down now by only two goals…"

"Dean Thomas has done very well in his first season as Keeper," Justin said. "I suppose his soccer experience has prepared him for the job."

"Why, thank you, Justin. And the Hufflepuff team has exceeded everyone's expectations."

"Thank you, Lee. Let's congratulate Dr. Samira Frankenstein for creating a quidditch monster!"

"Jordan! Finch-Fletchley!" Professor McGonagall barked. "Are you forming a mutual admiration society or calling the match?"

"We're being unbiased and objective, Professor!" Lee protested.

"They're also being highly entertaining," Maggie said, smiling at the pair. "Carry on, boys."

There was nothing to call, however, as Hufflepuff took a time-out. "Can you believe it?" Peggy breathed, exhilarated. "We're leading Gryffindor!"

"Let's not get too confident," Samira cautioned. "This game is far from over. Chasers, good job against Dean Thomas. But he's catching on to us, we need to think of new ways to get past him. Beaters, good idea to stay close to the Bludgers. Continue to get in the other team's way. All right there, Robert? Maeve?"

"Just fine," Robert replied.

"I haven't seen the Snitch yet," Maeve said.

"There's no hurry. What's important is that you get it first." She grinned. "I have a good feeling about this game."

Unlike the Ravenclaws, known for their methodical style of play, the Gryffindors had the uncanny ability of knowing just where their teammates were, making their maneuvers infinitely more dangerous. One had to be very fast, extremely unorthodox, or both, to upset the balance. The Hufflepuffs found themselves in all sorts of situations in their attempts to discombobulate their opponents.

"Are you crazy?" Maeve exclaimed after Hex shot up from below to intercept the Quaffle meant for Ron and knock it toward Samira. "He almost ran you over!"

"And you almost jumped off your broomstick again to take the Quaffle," he retorted, grinning. "Don't think I didn't see you!"

"And the score is 50-20 in favor of Hufflepuff," Justin announced happily as the tuba blew again, "with a goal by Samira Sabo! Making the assist was Beater Hex Holmstrom, who came to us just this year from America and has already turned Hufflepuff quidditch topsy-turvy with his innovative style of play! He has worked well with Peggy Abbott, forming a solid Beater pairing rivaling — dare I say it? — the Weasley twins!"

"No one comes close to the Weasley twins, Justin," Lee declared.

"Well, you have to admit that Abbott and Holmstrom have certainly given them a run for their money this morning! Back to the game now, ladies and gentlemen…"

"Ron Weasley has possession of the Quaffle," Lee reported. "Young Mr. Weasley is the new Chaser replacing Alicia Spinnet, and is responsible for the second Gryffindor goal…he dodges two Bludgers, ladies and gentlemen! And he gets past Bridget Houlihan! Gryffindor made a fine choice in Mr. Weasley …he's speeding toward the Hufflepuff goal, where Keeper Padgett is awaiting him…"

Hex had only half an ear on Lee's commentary as he raced to catch Ron up. He was speeding to the other boy's side when a sudden chill gripped him, numbing his limbs. What's this? Hex thought frantically as the heaviness spread into his torso. He was slowing down. It was as if he was riding his broomstick through Jell-O.

He came abreast of Ron, who had stopped and was pointing down at the ground, the Quaffle forgotten under his other arm. The other boy was saying something, but the roaring in Hex's ears made it difficult to hear anything.

No one seemed to be interested in the Quaffle. Everyone was riveted on the dark, hooded figure standing in the middle of the pitch and looking up at them. The unbearable cold seemed to be coming from it, whatever it was.

Hex watched Harry draw his wand and send a strange silver shape toward the figure, driving it away. Once it was gone, Hex's head cleared and the feeling began to return to his body.

He heard screaming coming from the stands, where a stampede was dangerously imminent, and teachers and prefects calling for order. Madam Hooch's whistle was blowing and Professor McGonagall was ordering the students to go immediately to their dormitories.

"What the hell was that?" Hex asked as he landed beside George Weasley. He saw Professors Snape and Dumbledore set off in the direction where the creature had gone.

"A Dementor," George replied weakly. "Come on, let's get out of here."

"Is the game over, then? Did we win?"

"No," Madam Hooch informed him. Overhead, Lee was announcing that the match was being called off. "This match is postponed until further notice."

Hex and George joined their teams outside the changing rooms under the bleachers. Everyone looked pale and shaken, nibbling weakly at the chocolate Madam Pomfrey pressed upon them. Everyone, that is, except Maeve, who had vindictively snapped the head off her Chocolate Frog. She looked pissed.

Hermione and Ginny appeared on the scene, followed by Professor McGonagall. "Are you all right?" Ginny asked Harry breathlessly.

"I didn't pass out this time," he replied, managing a grin and squeezing her hand reassuringly.

"How d'you reckon one of those got back here?" Ron asked, too preoccupied with the Dementor to notice what transpired between his sister and best friend.

"I'd rather not consider the possibilities," Peggy told him.

"The presence of that Dementor is a sign that there is danger close by," Professor McGonagall said grimly, "and remember, the Lestranges remain at large."

"Do you mean they're here, Professor?" Hermione asked.

"No, I do not mean that they are in Hogwarts; but even if they were, it is none of your concern." The teacher swept her penetrating gaze over the group still standing outside the locker rooms. "Return to your dormitories immediately. If I see anyone still in quidditch robes after half an hour, I will take points off their house. That will be all," she said finally, ignoring the protests from the players.

"Nasty old bat," Maeve muttered after the professor had left them.

"It's all for the best, Maeve," Bridget said shakily. "There's going to be a rematch, Madam Hooch promised…"

The other girl sank into a stony silence. The look on her face was dangerously close to the one she wore when she stormed Dumbledore's office last Halloween.

Hex turned to his teammates. "You guys go ahead," he said in a low voice. "Come on, Maeve, let's take a walk. I'm all wound up after that whole Dementor thing and need to calm down." He emphasized these last words carefully, hoping she got his meaning.

"But you're still in your quidditch things," Peggy pointed out. "If Professor McGonagall sees you—"

"I'll make something up." Hex handed their broomsticks to Robert. "We'll see you guys in the dorm. Hey, Maeve, wait up!"

He followed her into a side courtyard that looked like it hadn't been used in a long time. "Are you OK?" Hex asked.

"I'm all right," Maeve replied curtly, kicking at a rock. "I'm just very, very annoyed."

He chuckled, trying to ease her mood. "If that's annoyed, I'd hate to see you when you're really mad."

"That stupid Dementor." She stepped onto a dried-up fountain and walked nimbly along the edge. "I hope Professor Dumbledore blows it to pieces."

Standing on the fountain made her slightly taller than he was. "Is the Dementor all you're mad about?"

"Of course not." Maeve shot him the "you're-so-dense" look that was the specialty of all girls with PMS. "Couldn't you read that scoreboard? We were winning! Then that Dementor had to come out and ruin everything!" She glared at him. "Stop smiling!"

"Sorry." Hex didn't stop smiling. "I was just thinking about how I should have let you blow your top in front of everyone."

"How is that supposed to make me feel better?"

"Oh, man, Robert was right — you are starting to sound like me. Take a good look at yourself, Maeve. You're acting like a spoiled brat."

"How nice of you to say so," she said, her gold-green eyes as acid as her tone.

"Later on, you're going to be really embarrassed about your behavior. Don't worry, I'll let you live it down in about a month or so."

"It's not funny! Hufflepuff House hardly wins anything and we were leading Gryffindor! If we'd won that game we—mmph."

With an impatient little sigh and a roll of his eyes, Hex gave up on trying to talk any sense into Maeve and kissed her. He wasn't sure why he did it. Maybe he wanted to distract Maeve out of her funk, or shut her up, or something productive like that. Or maybe he just wanted to, period, and this was as good a time as any.

He felt the jolt all the way to his toes. Kissing her felt a lot like downing a shot of Jose Cuervo (before throwing up). Even after quidditch, she still smelled like baby powder.

Startled off-balance, Maeve threw her arms around his neck and froze for a heart-stopping moment. But instead of kissing him back as he expected, she began to laugh. "Oh, my," she gasped, "I'm sorry— "

Well, at least she had her arms around him, Hex thought as she buried her face in his shoulder, laughing herself silly. He waited until Maeve's giggles died away. "Oh, Hex…" she sighed, her voice muffled. "I'm sorry. I got nervous."

"About the game?"

"No," she replied in a small voice, "about this. But I'm sorry about the game, too."

"So I guess you've calmed down now?"

"Yes. And I am so embarrassed I could die."

He grinned. "You're beautiful when you're angry."

"I've never screamed like that before."

Malfoy's parents probably forced her to be a perfect little lady all the time, while he dipped her hair in ink or something like that. "Feels good, doesn't it?"

Another little giggle. "Yes, it does."

Hex waited for Maeve to regain her composure, but she was still holding on to him and keeping her face hidden, which was just fine by him.

"Hex?"

"Hmm?"

"Could you kiss me again? I promise I won't laugh this time."

She tried not to, anyway.

Concluding Remarks: Well, the match got postponed but we still had a little action…**blushes** Don't worry, they won't be snogging all over the rest of this fic.

Now, what was a Dementor doing in Hogwarts? We shall see in the next chapter! (I really enjoyed writing that one. Hope you'll enjoy reading it, once it's up!)