Standard disclaimers apply. I don't own Harry Potter or Fruits Basket . . . I wish I did though . . . . .
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
Hana eyed the broom with deep misgivings in her dark violet eyes. There was definitely something unnatural about taking your feet off the ground. Busses, trains, cars, heck, even airplanes were understandable. It was okay to take your feet of the ground when riding in them, but brooms?
She swung her leg over the broom, deciding that it was just like riding a horse. On a horse, there was nothing encasing you, nothing protecting you. There was also a great possibility of falling off if you weren't careful.
Hana was careful. She placed both of her hands on the polished wooden handle. Then she slowly pulled her legs up, wondering is she would fall without their support.
Nothing happened. She was hovering three feet off of the ground. "Hmmmmmm," she murmured, evaluating her situation.
"What?" Rin asked shortly, swinging one long leg over her broom and floating a couple of feet into the air.
"The height - it seems to be wrong," Hana said simply. She was looking towards the ground with a strange expression on her face.
"So go higher," Rin retorted, apparently already bored with the conversation. She suited her words with action and began a rapid climb toward the three hoops set near the top of the Quidditch pitch.
"That would make things worse," Hana said softly, but Rin was already out of earshot and didn't hear her.
Hana glanced around, looking for any sign of what she was supposed to do next. Way over her head, she spotted Aya's broom bobbing up and down around Yuki.
So that's how," she murmured. She gripped the handle tighter and lowered her broom an extra two feet towards the ground. Now her long black cloak was trailing along the ground, and her knees were scrapping the tops of the grass blades.
She urged the broom foreword, fighting the feeling that she was about to fall. Slowly, the broom began a snail-like crawl. Hana listened attentively to the grass swishing under her cloak. Then, when she remembered, she looked towards the sky for the bright red Quaffle. She was trying out for the position of chaser, after all.
"Oy!" Malfoy's cool voice called out loudly. "Saki, get into the air, will you? We're not doing terrain flying yet!" He angled his broom towards her and shot towards the ground where Hana was flying.
Two thick boys, with necks as wide as their heads, sniggered behind him. "That's a good one, hey Crabble?" the wider one asked, nudging the other, who grinned and looked stupid.
"I am off of the ground," Hana stated calmly. "I'm in the air on a broom," she pointed out.
Instantly, Crabble and Goyle's looks of amusement faded to confusion. "Hey, what's that mean?" one of them asked.
"It means that I'm flying."
"It means that she's thick," Malfoy said with a sneer. "You could hardly call what she's doing 'flying.'"
"Truly?" Hana inquired, a little antennae popping out of her black hair and zeroing in on Malfoy. Neither him or his flunkies noticed, or even recognized the possible danger that came with insulting Hana.
In fact, Malfoy cracked a couple more jokes about Hana. "And she had bad tastes in friends, I mean, that Honda girl is completely daft! She volunteers to clean hallways and bathrooms with Filch. Tell me that she isn't the world's stupidest mudblood," he said, finishing his triad of insults.
ZAP! "It's not stupid," Hana said simply as Malfoy fell off of his broom, and fell to the green grass, smoking. "It's kindness that motivates Tohru. You would do good to remember that."
Malfoy didn't respond from where he was lying of the ground. His slicked back blond hair was sizzling at the edges, and his fingernails were slightly blackened.
Crabble and Goyle stood for a long moment, still sniggering. Then, apparently realizing that their boss had taken a dive, they landed beside his still smoking body.
Several students, who were trying out for the team, flew down to see what was happening.
"I think that he got hit by lightning," Goyle stated blankly.
"What lightning? There isn't a cloud in the sky." Rin pointed out dryly. She cast her dark eyes around and spotted Hana, still perched on her broom. "Aha . . . " she murmured, deciphering what had happened.
"Well, maybe it was a jinx . . . . or a curse," Crabble suggested, his brow furrowed with concentration. Thinking obviously wasn't very easy for him.
Rin raised one an eyebrow skeptically, but didn't say anything. They weren't registering as intelligent beings on her scopes - not many people did.
Yuki cleared his throat loudly. "Ahem, do you plan on taking him to see Madam Pomfrey?" he inquired politely.
"Why?" Goyle asked stupidly.
"Well, considering the fact that he's unconscious, looking dead, and smoking on the lawn, don't you think he would benefit from seeing a doctor or healer of some sort?" Yuki asked calmly.
"What would a girl know?" Goyle asked blankly.
"What do you know?" Crabble asked. He stepped foreword, intending to push Yuki backwards. The rat, however, was far too quick for him, and nimbly stepped aside, letting the muscle-bound fifth year lumber past him.
"Does this mean that tryouts are canceled?" Goyle asked, detouring Crabble from another attack on Yuki.
"I don't know," Crabble said. Neither of them made any move to help Malfoy out. Instead they kept glancing at each other with confused looks on their faces.
What are you? Stupid or something?" Hiro demanded sarcastically. "I mean, if he's unconscious then how could the tryouts continue? Will you hold them?"
"Well . . . . ." Goyle began hesitantly.
"No, you can't. You don't have the proper authority. You're not even a member of the team. You're just trying out like everyone else here with the obvious exception of the near dead team captain," Hiro continued.
"Yeah, but . . . . " Crabble attempted to say.
"And you're just going to let him smolder on the ground. 'Smolder' means 'to smoke,' since you didn't know," he said as their faces scrunched up in utter confusion. "Anyway, like Rin said, there's no way that he could have been hit by lightning. You'd have to be extremely stupid to even think something like that would happen on a cloudless day.
I mean, even on a rainy day with lots of clouds, the chances of getting hit be lighting are slim to none. Especially with the stadium here, which is taller and more likely to attract lightning then a solitary player close to the ground would. Besides, I'm sure that they have the stadium spelled to repel lightning. How else would the teachers let us play during lightning storms? They have to keep us safe, you know? Wait, sorry, you don't know. You're just too stupid to get it," Hiro said before pausing to catch his breath.
Goyle cracked his knuckles threateningly and took one menacing step foreword. "Better watch your mouth, Mudblood," he warned.
Hiro wasn't impressed or intimidated. "Or what, you stupid oaf?" he challenged. "If you hit me, you'd get expelled for attacking a fellow student. And besides that, name calling is pretty pathetic. You don't even do it well - I mean, you could be more creative, you know?"
"Maybe I won't get expelled for attacking a fellow student," Goyle said smugly. "Maybe you'd get expelled for - "
"Not likely you retard," Hiro said flatly. "I won't get expelled. You on the other hand . . . .just try and hit me and see how fast you get kicked out of this school . . . " Hiro said, letting his voice trail off as a smirk filtered across his face.
Goyle's threatening look faded to one of confusion.
Then Rin laughed suddenly. "Hiro, leave them alone. They're not used to thinking. If you keep up, they might pull a muscle or something."
"Obviously," Hiro said with a superior look on his face. "I could tell that just by looking at them. They're big and stupid - kinda like cows really."
"Hey," Haru said stoically, but didn't go Black.
Hiro ignored him and continued to rail on Crabble and Goyle. "Are you going to take him to the hospital or not? He obviously isn't going to get up on his own, and like Yuki said, he could probably use some medical attention."
Crabble frowned, turning things over in his mind. He stepped foreword, beginning to look threatening.
"Maybe you should stop thinking - it looks really painful. You should just take orders. It'd be much easier and less painful, not to mention the fact that it would take less time," Hiro said smugly.
They both looked thoughtful, which meant that they scrunched their faces up into a painful grimace.
Hiro sighed. "Pick him up and follow me," he ordered. "Sheesh, you'd think that they'd at least learn to follow orders. I mean, even dumb animals are trainable. You'd think they'd eventually get something right - even if it was by accident."
"Wha?" Crabble asked as he hoisted Malfoy's prone form with Goyle's help.
"Stop asking questions. You wouldn't understand the answer anyway. It'd just baffle you more then you already are," Hiro ordered. "Honestly, just follow me and keep your mouths closed so nothing falls out."
"Falls out?" Goyle asked as they made their way off of the Quidditch Pitch.
As they headed out of earshot, the remaining Slytherins could hear Hiro continue to insult Crabble and Goyle, who looked more confused by the second.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
"The Slytherin Quidditch Tryouts are to be moved to next Thursday due to an regretful accident befalling Draco Malfoy, the new team captain," Dumbledore announced that evening at dinner.
He had an unusually solemn expression on his face. "If anyone has any information about the cause of Mr. Malfoy's accident, I implore you to share the information with either me, or the head of your house." With those words he sat down, signaling the beginning of the meal.
"What happened to him?" Uotani asked Hana quietly. "Everyone in Gryfindor is saying that he accidentally blasted himself with his wand . . . either that or karma finally caught up to him . . . . . . ."
Hana set her pumpkin juice down. "He got what he deserved for his comments about Tohru," she said eerily.
Uotani smiled. "So it was 'karma' then," she stated. "I guess that's fine, but do you think you'll still make the team with 'karma' having taken the captain out?"
"No," Hana said flatly. She picked up her spoon and spooned another mouthful of soup into it.
Uotani was silent for a long moment. "I suppose that means you're pretty upset, ne? I mean . . . . . you really wanted to make the team, right?"
"Actually," Hana said softly. "I don't want to make the Slytherin team or any other team."
"Why not?" Uotani asked in surprise.
"Because," Hana said, putting her spoon down. "I get airsick."
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
The following evening, Ernie Macillian gathered the small group of students trying out for the Hufflepuff House team. It was a rather pitiful sight. There were only seven students trying out - he had to fill six positions - and all of the students were first and second year female students.
Tohru Honda, a pretty young girl with warm blue eyes, was the only one that he recognized on sight. That was mainly because of the strange rumors that had begun to circulate the school about her.
It was said that the young first year spent her evenings helping Filch clean the castle. It was also said that she volunteered and was actually friends with the old caretaker and his cat!
Ernie cleared his throat, forcing himself to focus on Quidditch. "Good evening - I'm glad to see that you all decided to tryout for your House Team this year."
"Hello," Tohru said brightly, bowing deeply at the waist. "It's very nice to meet you, Macillian-san."
"Uhhmmm, hi," Ritsu said softly.
"Good morning!" Momiji exclaimed.
"Isn't it evening?" a girl name Nami asked politely.
"Oops," Momiji bubbled. "Sorry evening - Good evening!" He smiled disarmingly, fiddling with a pink bow at the collar of his shirt.
Ernie sighed again, heavier this time. They were all such young girls. "Okay, what position is everyone trying for?" he asked. His heart sank as the words left his mouth. What if they were all trying for the same position? What if none of them wanted to be beaters . . . . . ?
"Chaser," Nami said firmly.
"Uhhhmmmm, I was hoping that you wouldn't mind if I tried out to be a beater," Ritsu said. "Because if it isn't, what I mean to say is, I'd be willing to - Oh that's all wrong! I'm so sorry! I shouldn't be here at, I'm just taking up all of your precious time!" Ritsu began to wail in distress.
"It's fine. I was hoping that you'd try out for that position," Ernie said truthfully. "I'll need someone to be a beater, so that'll be perfect."
Ritsu looked immensely relieved that he hadn't made any mistakes. "Thank-you soooo much. I was so worried hat I had said the wrong thing. I promise, it won't happen again."
Ernie held up his hand, gesturing for silence. "That's good enough. The others need to talk now," he said kindly, his eyes narrowing at Momiji who had just stopped poking Ritsu.
"I'M SO SORRY! PLEASE FORGIVE ME! GOMEN NASAI!" Ritsu bellowed, slapping both of his hands to his face in horror.
"I said that there wasn't a - " Ernie began to say.
Ritsu didn't hear a word of it. He was in his element now, and nothing was going to stop his apology. "A disgrace to all mankind! People like me should be drowned at birth! We're worthless - I'm a worthless loser! How could I even think to tryout for such a worthy position as being a beater for Hufflepuff, when I, myself, am like the dirt under your heels? No! Lower then the dirt - "
Momiji, who had begun to poke his when he started to apologize, finally found the right spot to hit. "Ooops, do you think that I poked to hard?" he asked in concern as the distraught monkey dissolved into a lifeless pile on the Quidditch field.
"That's fine," Ernie quickly assured him, grateful for the silence and fearing another apology outbreak." He cleared his throat. "What's your name and what position are you trying for?"
"Souma Momiji," the bunny supplied cheerfully. "I'm going to be your new Keeper!"
Ernie nodded and glanced at the next girl he had trying out for his team.
"I would like to be a beater," a spiky haired girl named Riku declared. She was obviously a first year. The awed expression on her face was a dead giveaway.
"Me too!" a small first year named Kairi piped up. "I want to be a beater."
"And I wish to be a chaser," Jessica Sky, a second year girl, added politely.
"Annou . . . ." I was going to try out for chaser, but you're going to need a seeker, so I'll try out for that position," Tohru said, standing up from where she had been kneeling with Ritsu. "That is unless there is a different position that you would like me to attempt to get, that is - "
"Seeker is good," Ernie said quickly.
Tohru beamed at him cheerfully.
"All right, everyone mount your brooms!" he exclaimed. It was a relief to be over introductions and position choosing.
Jessica and Nami both got on their brooms, but everyone else just starred at him with slightly baffled looks on their faces. "Uhhhmmm. . . . how?" Kairi finally asked.
"What do you mean?" Ernie asked suspiciously. It was slowly dawning on him that the first years hadn't even taken any flying classes yet. That meant that they didn't know how to fly. He cursed silently, realizing that Hufflepuffs already slim chances for winning the house cup had just become extinct.
Several minutes later, he ended tryouts.
Ritsu had managed to knock a bludger directly at Ernie's head ( while they we're still on the ground of course . . . ). The long string of apologies that followed was more then enough to make him realize that Ritsu was no good for the team.
"Ritsu," he said kindly. "I don't think that Quidditch is the right game for you." He hesitated, sensing a major apology coming up. "However, ahem, they're looking for a new commentator for the matches and I think you'd prefer that position. You'd be perfect for it," he added, stretching the truth as far as he dared.
"Really?" Ritsu asked hopefully.
"Yeah, you're perfect for the position. You have all the right talent. I mean, you have to talk quickly and you don't have a problem with that," he said, coming up with a valid reason why Ritsu would be good for the position. He really didn't want to upset the young woman.
"Oh, thank-you so much!!!" Ritsu wailed. "You're so kind to me and I don't even deserve - "
"Yes you do!" Tohru exclaimed. She had gotten her broom into the air, but was holding on like a sloth and looking rather dizzy.
Ernie froze, wishing that he would never find out exactly how she had gotten into that position.
Then he was hugged. Ritsu thanked him several more times and then left to see Professor McGonagall about being a commentator.
Ernie waited several seconds, then he announced his team. With a heavy heart, he started his first practice with the Hufflepuff House Team.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
Two days later, the results of all the Quidditch Tryouts were posted on the wall in the great hall.
Akito dragged everyone over to everyone over to evaluate their performance. "All right, here's the deal," he began softly. "If the names of at least eleven Soumas are on a Quidditch team, then I won't be angry or do anything to any of you. However if the number falls short, those who made the teams will suffer, do I make myself clear?"
Yuki's violet eyes narrowed at the obvious injustice, but Hatori answered for all of them. "We understand," he said in a monotone voice.
"Good," Akito said with a faint smile. "Shigure, please read out the names for the Gryffindor tryouts."
Shigure stepped foreword, putting on his reading glasses. "Ahem for the position of Seeker . . . . . . . . Harry Potter - "
"Big surprise there, he's only the most famous wizard in the wizarding world with the possible exception of Voldermort - " Hiro began immediately.
Akito glowered at him, silently ordering him to be silent. "Just give me the names of the Soumas who made it," he snapped to the inu.
"Oh, right," Shigure responded. "For the position of Keeper, Kisa . . . . . . "
"One," Akito said ominously, casting a wicked look towards the amber haired tiger.
Shigure continued reading out the next name. "For the position of Beater, Kyou."
"Ah, so they let the feline's on the team, did they?" Akito asked. "That's two, are there any others?"
Shigure shook his head. "No, that's all of us who made the Gryffindor team - "
"What about Kunero? Haru? You?" Akito demanded. "Do you mean to tell me that out of the six of you, only two made the team?"
"Actually," Aya piped up. They were only five Soumas trying out for - "
"Shut up!" Akito snarled. "If I say it was six, then it was six. Count them, Kunero, Shigure, Hatsuharu, Kisa, Kyou, and Uotani - "
"Uo-chan's not a Souma," Tohru interrupted boldly. "She's a - "
"She's an adopted member of this family until I say otherwise, the same as you and Saki are. That means you will listen and obey when I speak," Akito said calmly.
Before anyone else could speak, Shigure quickly added. "And for the other beater position, Uotani . . . . . . . "
"That's three," Akito said calmly. "How about Slytherin? Who made that team?"
"It looks like Yuki and Rin are chasers," Shigure said, studying the list carefully. "Hiro is the Keeper . . . . . .and Kagura is a Beater."
Akito blinked. "Speaking of Kagura, where is she?" He glanced around, looking for any sign of the brunette girl.
"She has detention with Professor Snape and couldn't come," Hatori said simply.
"In any event, that's four . . . . . " Akito murmured, still casting his dark gaze around in search of the pig. "Or rather seven considering - "
"Hatsuharu is also listed as a Beater," Shigure interrupted. "So that would be eight Soumas on the board."
Akito nodded. "And who made the Hufflepuff team?"
"Tohru as Seeker and Momiji as Keeper. . . ." Shigure announced. "Ritsu didn't make it - "
"I'm an announcer though," Ritsu beamed. He had been bouncing from foot to foot in excitement of the excellent news that he had found something to do. "Ernie Macillian recommended that I try, so I did - "
"I'm an announcer too!" Aya exclaimed. "We're both going to commentate the matches together!"
"Gee, that sounds like fun . . . . . " Kyou muttered sidelong to Kisa.
"Shut-up and tell me who made it for Ravenclaw!" Akito shouted, drawing several startled looks from several eating students.
"Right, both Kana and Hatori made the team - "
"WHAT!" Hatori bellowed. "I can't make seeker, I'm half-blind - "
"Very well, you all succeeded. You may return to your usual activities," Akito said.
"NO, I shouldn't have made the - "
Everyone started to walk away, ignoring Hatori and his protests.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
Author's notes; I switched Ernie's position around slightly. In the books, he's the Hufflepuff seeker that replaced Cedric Diggory. However, since I wanted Tohru to be a seeker, he ended up being a chaser. Hope no one really minds.
On another note, I'm really sorry about the long waits in-between chapters. I want to say that I can do better, but until school starts I'm going to be way to busy to make any promises. (Not to mention how many stories I already got started . . . . . . . -_- . . . . I got to make things easier on myself . . . )
Anyway, thanks to everyone who reviewed. I love hearing from all of you! Please keep supporting my story and I'll keep writing it.
Thanks,
Kissa-chan
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
Hana eyed the broom with deep misgivings in her dark violet eyes. There was definitely something unnatural about taking your feet off the ground. Busses, trains, cars, heck, even airplanes were understandable. It was okay to take your feet of the ground when riding in them, but brooms?
She swung her leg over the broom, deciding that it was just like riding a horse. On a horse, there was nothing encasing you, nothing protecting you. There was also a great possibility of falling off if you weren't careful.
Hana was careful. She placed both of her hands on the polished wooden handle. Then she slowly pulled her legs up, wondering is she would fall without their support.
Nothing happened. She was hovering three feet off of the ground. "Hmmmmmm," she murmured, evaluating her situation.
"What?" Rin asked shortly, swinging one long leg over her broom and floating a couple of feet into the air.
"The height - it seems to be wrong," Hana said simply. She was looking towards the ground with a strange expression on her face.
"So go higher," Rin retorted, apparently already bored with the conversation. She suited her words with action and began a rapid climb toward the three hoops set near the top of the Quidditch pitch.
"That would make things worse," Hana said softly, but Rin was already out of earshot and didn't hear her.
Hana glanced around, looking for any sign of what she was supposed to do next. Way over her head, she spotted Aya's broom bobbing up and down around Yuki.
So that's how," she murmured. She gripped the handle tighter and lowered her broom an extra two feet towards the ground. Now her long black cloak was trailing along the ground, and her knees were scrapping the tops of the grass blades.
She urged the broom foreword, fighting the feeling that she was about to fall. Slowly, the broom began a snail-like crawl. Hana listened attentively to the grass swishing under her cloak. Then, when she remembered, she looked towards the sky for the bright red Quaffle. She was trying out for the position of chaser, after all.
"Oy!" Malfoy's cool voice called out loudly. "Saki, get into the air, will you? We're not doing terrain flying yet!" He angled his broom towards her and shot towards the ground where Hana was flying.
Two thick boys, with necks as wide as their heads, sniggered behind him. "That's a good one, hey Crabble?" the wider one asked, nudging the other, who grinned and looked stupid.
"I am off of the ground," Hana stated calmly. "I'm in the air on a broom," she pointed out.
Instantly, Crabble and Goyle's looks of amusement faded to confusion. "Hey, what's that mean?" one of them asked.
"It means that I'm flying."
"It means that she's thick," Malfoy said with a sneer. "You could hardly call what she's doing 'flying.'"
"Truly?" Hana inquired, a little antennae popping out of her black hair and zeroing in on Malfoy. Neither him or his flunkies noticed, or even recognized the possible danger that came with insulting Hana.
In fact, Malfoy cracked a couple more jokes about Hana. "And she had bad tastes in friends, I mean, that Honda girl is completely daft! She volunteers to clean hallways and bathrooms with Filch. Tell me that she isn't the world's stupidest mudblood," he said, finishing his triad of insults.
ZAP! "It's not stupid," Hana said simply as Malfoy fell off of his broom, and fell to the green grass, smoking. "It's kindness that motivates Tohru. You would do good to remember that."
Malfoy didn't respond from where he was lying of the ground. His slicked back blond hair was sizzling at the edges, and his fingernails were slightly blackened.
Crabble and Goyle stood for a long moment, still sniggering. Then, apparently realizing that their boss had taken a dive, they landed beside his still smoking body.
Several students, who were trying out for the team, flew down to see what was happening.
"I think that he got hit by lightning," Goyle stated blankly.
"What lightning? There isn't a cloud in the sky." Rin pointed out dryly. She cast her dark eyes around and spotted Hana, still perched on her broom. "Aha . . . " she murmured, deciphering what had happened.
"Well, maybe it was a jinx . . . . or a curse," Crabble suggested, his brow furrowed with concentration. Thinking obviously wasn't very easy for him.
Rin raised one an eyebrow skeptically, but didn't say anything. They weren't registering as intelligent beings on her scopes - not many people did.
Yuki cleared his throat loudly. "Ahem, do you plan on taking him to see Madam Pomfrey?" he inquired politely.
"Why?" Goyle asked stupidly.
"Well, considering the fact that he's unconscious, looking dead, and smoking on the lawn, don't you think he would benefit from seeing a doctor or healer of some sort?" Yuki asked calmly.
"What would a girl know?" Goyle asked blankly.
"What do you know?" Crabble asked. He stepped foreword, intending to push Yuki backwards. The rat, however, was far too quick for him, and nimbly stepped aside, letting the muscle-bound fifth year lumber past him.
"Does this mean that tryouts are canceled?" Goyle asked, detouring Crabble from another attack on Yuki.
"I don't know," Crabble said. Neither of them made any move to help Malfoy out. Instead they kept glancing at each other with confused looks on their faces.
What are you? Stupid or something?" Hiro demanded sarcastically. "I mean, if he's unconscious then how could the tryouts continue? Will you hold them?"
"Well . . . . ." Goyle began hesitantly.
"No, you can't. You don't have the proper authority. You're not even a member of the team. You're just trying out like everyone else here with the obvious exception of the near dead team captain," Hiro continued.
"Yeah, but . . . . " Crabble attempted to say.
"And you're just going to let him smolder on the ground. 'Smolder' means 'to smoke,' since you didn't know," he said as their faces scrunched up in utter confusion. "Anyway, like Rin said, there's no way that he could have been hit by lightning. You'd have to be extremely stupid to even think something like that would happen on a cloudless day.
I mean, even on a rainy day with lots of clouds, the chances of getting hit be lighting are slim to none. Especially with the stadium here, which is taller and more likely to attract lightning then a solitary player close to the ground would. Besides, I'm sure that they have the stadium spelled to repel lightning. How else would the teachers let us play during lightning storms? They have to keep us safe, you know? Wait, sorry, you don't know. You're just too stupid to get it," Hiro said before pausing to catch his breath.
Goyle cracked his knuckles threateningly and took one menacing step foreword. "Better watch your mouth, Mudblood," he warned.
Hiro wasn't impressed or intimidated. "Or what, you stupid oaf?" he challenged. "If you hit me, you'd get expelled for attacking a fellow student. And besides that, name calling is pretty pathetic. You don't even do it well - I mean, you could be more creative, you know?"
"Maybe I won't get expelled for attacking a fellow student," Goyle said smugly. "Maybe you'd get expelled for - "
"Not likely you retard," Hiro said flatly. "I won't get expelled. You on the other hand . . . .just try and hit me and see how fast you get kicked out of this school . . . " Hiro said, letting his voice trail off as a smirk filtered across his face.
Goyle's threatening look faded to one of confusion.
Then Rin laughed suddenly. "Hiro, leave them alone. They're not used to thinking. If you keep up, they might pull a muscle or something."
"Obviously," Hiro said with a superior look on his face. "I could tell that just by looking at them. They're big and stupid - kinda like cows really."
"Hey," Haru said stoically, but didn't go Black.
Hiro ignored him and continued to rail on Crabble and Goyle. "Are you going to take him to the hospital or not? He obviously isn't going to get up on his own, and like Yuki said, he could probably use some medical attention."
Crabble frowned, turning things over in his mind. He stepped foreword, beginning to look threatening.
"Maybe you should stop thinking - it looks really painful. You should just take orders. It'd be much easier and less painful, not to mention the fact that it would take less time," Hiro said smugly.
They both looked thoughtful, which meant that they scrunched their faces up into a painful grimace.
Hiro sighed. "Pick him up and follow me," he ordered. "Sheesh, you'd think that they'd at least learn to follow orders. I mean, even dumb animals are trainable. You'd think they'd eventually get something right - even if it was by accident."
"Wha?" Crabble asked as he hoisted Malfoy's prone form with Goyle's help.
"Stop asking questions. You wouldn't understand the answer anyway. It'd just baffle you more then you already are," Hiro ordered. "Honestly, just follow me and keep your mouths closed so nothing falls out."
"Falls out?" Goyle asked as they made their way off of the Quidditch Pitch.
As they headed out of earshot, the remaining Slytherins could hear Hiro continue to insult Crabble and Goyle, who looked more confused by the second.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
"The Slytherin Quidditch Tryouts are to be moved to next Thursday due to an regretful accident befalling Draco Malfoy, the new team captain," Dumbledore announced that evening at dinner.
He had an unusually solemn expression on his face. "If anyone has any information about the cause of Mr. Malfoy's accident, I implore you to share the information with either me, or the head of your house." With those words he sat down, signaling the beginning of the meal.
"What happened to him?" Uotani asked Hana quietly. "Everyone in Gryfindor is saying that he accidentally blasted himself with his wand . . . either that or karma finally caught up to him . . . . . . ."
Hana set her pumpkin juice down. "He got what he deserved for his comments about Tohru," she said eerily.
Uotani smiled. "So it was 'karma' then," she stated. "I guess that's fine, but do you think you'll still make the team with 'karma' having taken the captain out?"
"No," Hana said flatly. She picked up her spoon and spooned another mouthful of soup into it.
Uotani was silent for a long moment. "I suppose that means you're pretty upset, ne? I mean . . . . . you really wanted to make the team, right?"
"Actually," Hana said softly. "I don't want to make the Slytherin team or any other team."
"Why not?" Uotani asked in surprise.
"Because," Hana said, putting her spoon down. "I get airsick."
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
The following evening, Ernie Macillian gathered the small group of students trying out for the Hufflepuff House team. It was a rather pitiful sight. There were only seven students trying out - he had to fill six positions - and all of the students were first and second year female students.
Tohru Honda, a pretty young girl with warm blue eyes, was the only one that he recognized on sight. That was mainly because of the strange rumors that had begun to circulate the school about her.
It was said that the young first year spent her evenings helping Filch clean the castle. It was also said that she volunteered and was actually friends with the old caretaker and his cat!
Ernie cleared his throat, forcing himself to focus on Quidditch. "Good evening - I'm glad to see that you all decided to tryout for your House Team this year."
"Hello," Tohru said brightly, bowing deeply at the waist. "It's very nice to meet you, Macillian-san."
"Uhhmmm, hi," Ritsu said softly.
"Good morning!" Momiji exclaimed.
"Isn't it evening?" a girl name Nami asked politely.
"Oops," Momiji bubbled. "Sorry evening - Good evening!" He smiled disarmingly, fiddling with a pink bow at the collar of his shirt.
Ernie sighed again, heavier this time. They were all such young girls. "Okay, what position is everyone trying for?" he asked. His heart sank as the words left his mouth. What if they were all trying for the same position? What if none of them wanted to be beaters . . . . . ?
"Chaser," Nami said firmly.
"Uhhhmmmm, I was hoping that you wouldn't mind if I tried out to be a beater," Ritsu said. "Because if it isn't, what I mean to say is, I'd be willing to - Oh that's all wrong! I'm so sorry! I shouldn't be here at, I'm just taking up all of your precious time!" Ritsu began to wail in distress.
"It's fine. I was hoping that you'd try out for that position," Ernie said truthfully. "I'll need someone to be a beater, so that'll be perfect."
Ritsu looked immensely relieved that he hadn't made any mistakes. "Thank-you soooo much. I was so worried hat I had said the wrong thing. I promise, it won't happen again."
Ernie held up his hand, gesturing for silence. "That's good enough. The others need to talk now," he said kindly, his eyes narrowing at Momiji who had just stopped poking Ritsu.
"I'M SO SORRY! PLEASE FORGIVE ME! GOMEN NASAI!" Ritsu bellowed, slapping both of his hands to his face in horror.
"I said that there wasn't a - " Ernie began to say.
Ritsu didn't hear a word of it. He was in his element now, and nothing was going to stop his apology. "A disgrace to all mankind! People like me should be drowned at birth! We're worthless - I'm a worthless loser! How could I even think to tryout for such a worthy position as being a beater for Hufflepuff, when I, myself, am like the dirt under your heels? No! Lower then the dirt - "
Momiji, who had begun to poke his when he started to apologize, finally found the right spot to hit. "Ooops, do you think that I poked to hard?" he asked in concern as the distraught monkey dissolved into a lifeless pile on the Quidditch field.
"That's fine," Ernie quickly assured him, grateful for the silence and fearing another apology outbreak." He cleared his throat. "What's your name and what position are you trying for?"
"Souma Momiji," the bunny supplied cheerfully. "I'm going to be your new Keeper!"
Ernie nodded and glanced at the next girl he had trying out for his team.
"I would like to be a beater," a spiky haired girl named Riku declared. She was obviously a first year. The awed expression on her face was a dead giveaway.
"Me too!" a small first year named Kairi piped up. "I want to be a beater."
"And I wish to be a chaser," Jessica Sky, a second year girl, added politely.
"Annou . . . ." I was going to try out for chaser, but you're going to need a seeker, so I'll try out for that position," Tohru said, standing up from where she had been kneeling with Ritsu. "That is unless there is a different position that you would like me to attempt to get, that is - "
"Seeker is good," Ernie said quickly.
Tohru beamed at him cheerfully.
"All right, everyone mount your brooms!" he exclaimed. It was a relief to be over introductions and position choosing.
Jessica and Nami both got on their brooms, but everyone else just starred at him with slightly baffled looks on their faces. "Uhhhmmm. . . . how?" Kairi finally asked.
"What do you mean?" Ernie asked suspiciously. It was slowly dawning on him that the first years hadn't even taken any flying classes yet. That meant that they didn't know how to fly. He cursed silently, realizing that Hufflepuffs already slim chances for winning the house cup had just become extinct.
Several minutes later, he ended tryouts.
Ritsu had managed to knock a bludger directly at Ernie's head ( while they we're still on the ground of course . . . ). The long string of apologies that followed was more then enough to make him realize that Ritsu was no good for the team.
"Ritsu," he said kindly. "I don't think that Quidditch is the right game for you." He hesitated, sensing a major apology coming up. "However, ahem, they're looking for a new commentator for the matches and I think you'd prefer that position. You'd be perfect for it," he added, stretching the truth as far as he dared.
"Really?" Ritsu asked hopefully.
"Yeah, you're perfect for the position. You have all the right talent. I mean, you have to talk quickly and you don't have a problem with that," he said, coming up with a valid reason why Ritsu would be good for the position. He really didn't want to upset the young woman.
"Oh, thank-you so much!!!" Ritsu wailed. "You're so kind to me and I don't even deserve - "
"Yes you do!" Tohru exclaimed. She had gotten her broom into the air, but was holding on like a sloth and looking rather dizzy.
Ernie froze, wishing that he would never find out exactly how she had gotten into that position.
Then he was hugged. Ritsu thanked him several more times and then left to see Professor McGonagall about being a commentator.
Ernie waited several seconds, then he announced his team. With a heavy heart, he started his first practice with the Hufflepuff House Team.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
Two days later, the results of all the Quidditch Tryouts were posted on the wall in the great hall.
Akito dragged everyone over to everyone over to evaluate their performance. "All right, here's the deal," he began softly. "If the names of at least eleven Soumas are on a Quidditch team, then I won't be angry or do anything to any of you. However if the number falls short, those who made the teams will suffer, do I make myself clear?"
Yuki's violet eyes narrowed at the obvious injustice, but Hatori answered for all of them. "We understand," he said in a monotone voice.
"Good," Akito said with a faint smile. "Shigure, please read out the names for the Gryffindor tryouts."
Shigure stepped foreword, putting on his reading glasses. "Ahem for the position of Seeker . . . . . . . . Harry Potter - "
"Big surprise there, he's only the most famous wizard in the wizarding world with the possible exception of Voldermort - " Hiro began immediately.
Akito glowered at him, silently ordering him to be silent. "Just give me the names of the Soumas who made it," he snapped to the inu.
"Oh, right," Shigure responded. "For the position of Keeper, Kisa . . . . . . "
"One," Akito said ominously, casting a wicked look towards the amber haired tiger.
Shigure continued reading out the next name. "For the position of Beater, Kyou."
"Ah, so they let the feline's on the team, did they?" Akito asked. "That's two, are there any others?"
Shigure shook his head. "No, that's all of us who made the Gryffindor team - "
"What about Kunero? Haru? You?" Akito demanded. "Do you mean to tell me that out of the six of you, only two made the team?"
"Actually," Aya piped up. They were only five Soumas trying out for - "
"Shut up!" Akito snarled. "If I say it was six, then it was six. Count them, Kunero, Shigure, Hatsuharu, Kisa, Kyou, and Uotani - "
"Uo-chan's not a Souma," Tohru interrupted boldly. "She's a - "
"She's an adopted member of this family until I say otherwise, the same as you and Saki are. That means you will listen and obey when I speak," Akito said calmly.
Before anyone else could speak, Shigure quickly added. "And for the other beater position, Uotani . . . . . . . "
"That's three," Akito said calmly. "How about Slytherin? Who made that team?"
"It looks like Yuki and Rin are chasers," Shigure said, studying the list carefully. "Hiro is the Keeper . . . . . .and Kagura is a Beater."
Akito blinked. "Speaking of Kagura, where is she?" He glanced around, looking for any sign of the brunette girl.
"She has detention with Professor Snape and couldn't come," Hatori said simply.
"In any event, that's four . . . . . " Akito murmured, still casting his dark gaze around in search of the pig. "Or rather seven considering - "
"Hatsuharu is also listed as a Beater," Shigure interrupted. "So that would be eight Soumas on the board."
Akito nodded. "And who made the Hufflepuff team?"
"Tohru as Seeker and Momiji as Keeper. . . ." Shigure announced. "Ritsu didn't make it - "
"I'm an announcer though," Ritsu beamed. He had been bouncing from foot to foot in excitement of the excellent news that he had found something to do. "Ernie Macillian recommended that I try, so I did - "
"I'm an announcer too!" Aya exclaimed. "We're both going to commentate the matches together!"
"Gee, that sounds like fun . . . . . " Kyou muttered sidelong to Kisa.
"Shut-up and tell me who made it for Ravenclaw!" Akito shouted, drawing several startled looks from several eating students.
"Right, both Kana and Hatori made the team - "
"WHAT!" Hatori bellowed. "I can't make seeker, I'm half-blind - "
"Very well, you all succeeded. You may return to your usual activities," Akito said.
"NO, I shouldn't have made the - "
Everyone started to walk away, ignoring Hatori and his protests.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
Author's notes; I switched Ernie's position around slightly. In the books, he's the Hufflepuff seeker that replaced Cedric Diggory. However, since I wanted Tohru to be a seeker, he ended up being a chaser. Hope no one really minds.
On another note, I'm really sorry about the long waits in-between chapters. I want to say that I can do better, but until school starts I'm going to be way to busy to make any promises. (Not to mention how many stories I already got started . . . . . . . -_- . . . . I got to make things easier on myself . . . )
Anyway, thanks to everyone who reviewed. I love hearing from all of you! Please keep supporting my story and I'll keep writing it.
Thanks,
Kissa-chan