(Lidia- There was the question of whether the professors are aware of the secret goings on in Hufflepuff. That is a more complicated question to answer because it depends on which professor you're talking about?)

"The Cerberus was accounted to exist tormenting the gluttonous damned souls in Dante's inferno." -Justin Finch-Fletchley

Chapter 37: Is a Guru Like A Coach?

"Mary…Mary, wake up." It was Saturday morning. I hadn't seen or spoken to Cedric in quite some time, but I woke up to him standing over me with a small smile on his face. His curly brown hair hung around his face and made him look like an angel. An angel with chapped lips. An angel with chapped lips that I accidentally punched in the face. But not hard! Like I realized late that it was him waking me and I pulled the punch, but it was already going so I kind of just had a brain fart and followed through.

After he got over the initial shock, though he didn't seem annoyed at all, he tossed a set of clothes at me. A black T-shirt and shorts. I scanned the room for Professor Sprout, but it looked like she had already gone. "What is this for?"

"Put them on and meet me in the common room. Hurry, up we don't have a lot of time." Cedric didn't explain any further than that and I didn't really care to ask. Lately I just wasn't too darn curious about much of anything anymore. I could barely get through the day just making sure I didn't get attacked by Kitty. I don't remember her name, and I'd nicknamed her Kitty in my head. Kitty was a pretty cute nickname considering she'd been beating me for days now.

I put on my black shirt, noticing in the nearby wall mounted mirror the secret HufflePuff logo was on my left chest. The shorts were a bit tighter than I felt comfortable with so I dug into my trunk for my Old Navy tie-dye windbreaker shorts. They made a swish swish noise when I walked that I liked.

I took my time making my way to the common room, but I couldn't stall for too long. Cedric was waiting, and he seemed impatient. And the last time I didn't listen….. "He isn't coming is he?"

I shook my head to get rid of the memory as quickly as it came. In the common room, Susan was growling at Cedric. She said something to him I couldn't hear from where I stood, but they both looked up at me when they noticed me in the entry way. The taller girl muttered one more thing before attempting to shoulder check Cedric. He didn't budge but stepped out of her way, amusement written on his face. When he looked up, that smirk dimmed a little but was still there. I didn't care about his stupid smirk. I hoped it made his lips bleed! If he thought he was just going to show up now after abandoning me while I got knocked around after everything that happened, he had another thang comin'!

"Let's go, Mary. We want to make it on time." He reached down to grab my hand, but I snatched away.

"No!" I hissed. "I'm not gonna. Where were you?"

"I was busy-"

"I know." I felt my eyes squint in disgust. "You're not supposed to hit girls, Cedric. You're supposed to be a gentleman-don't laugh!" I would have given him a good shove, but my fingers were barely healed, and I could still feel the phantom pain of Kitty bending them in that unnatural direction. She took it hard after I bit her. "I'm not going anywhere with you anymore until you tell me what's been going on."

"We've been beating you up."

"I said tel- wait- oh-okay what? I mean-" I wasn't expecting him to answer so fast. "I mean yeah that's obvious ya mutt. I meant why?"

He shrugged. "If I explained everything that was going on to you every time it happened, you'd have to listen to everything twice all of the time. We are literally headed to a room where you're going to have to listen to the why." With a glance toward the tunnels he muttered to himself, "If we can make it on time." Then he looked down at me. "What are those shorts? I didn't give you those."

"The ones you gave me were kind of short." And tight. "I have 'em on underneath." Cedric rolled his eyes and sighed before grabbing my wrist and pulling me toward the tunnels. His grip was tighter this time. "I wasn't done. I said I wasn't going!"

"Stop it, Mary. I promise you'll find out whatever you need, but you really need to just do what I tell you to do." It sounded like he wasn't just talking about right now and I didn't want to talk about anything other than right now, so I allowed myself to be led. This next room was also unfamiliar, but I was beginning to remember my way around some parts of the tunnels. I was a real badger!

This room was a little larger than my old school gym. There were different ter…terr-…I haven't been able to focus lately. Different floors. Like a grass floor, a dirt floor, cement- I think that over there was some black top? There were all kinds of whacky equipment too. Was this gym class?

Professor Sprout was dressed similar with her hair tied back out of her face. I wonder if she was pretty when she wasn't old? I'd have to take a peek around the room to see if she had any old pictures.

Should I have tied my hair back? I took a glance at the other girls beside me while Cedric took his place at the head of the room with Professor and the rest of the guides. Was there a girl missing? Susan had a high pony that was slick and smooth and made her giraffe neck look longer. Hannah's hair was French braided. The back of her neck was red around a pimple it looked like she picked at so maybe she was trying to hide it. I wasn't sure. We didn't talk about those kinds of things. Not like me and Daphne.

The thought of Daphne had me reaching into my hair on reflex. When was the last time I washed it? When was the last time I took a bath? I couldn't take the chance that Kitty tried to drown me again or caught me naked in the slippery shower. Maybe Cedric could convince her to leave me alone long enough to take a shower? I winced when I saw how bright all my dandruff was on my black shirt. Hanging out with Daphne taught me shame. It was so strange. For a seed of the Devil, she sure subscribed to cleanliness being next to Godliness.

Professor cleared her throat. She had a steaming mug of something keeping her hands warm. "Welcome to Phase two of your initiation. I'm excited that you all have seemed to make it in one piece." She glanced behind her to the line of Guides. "Despite how enthusiastic as some of your teachers may have come across, I assure you the past week was conducted with the upmost professionalism and respect toward your individual goals." I ignored Kitty but I could see her grinning at me. "These past days have been a test of your endurance, your speed, your reflexes and tenacity, your strength and ability to strategize. Your mental fortitude. We wanted to measure your raw talents, or lack thereof. A couple of you did better than expected." Her gaze drifted over all of us, but it was hard to tell who she was looking at specifically. "Some of you, not so much."

So, this was it? This was why? I caught Cedric's gaze. He shook his head once at me. That's when I felt the way my face had twisted. The frown. I touched both hands to my cheeks and smooshed them until my expression reset. Professor gave me a second glance and kept going.

"You will be relieved to note that, for now at least, the Gorilla style attacks while you are out and about will cease. At this stage you are being assigned Gurus. Your Guru is a Guide not assigned to you that will participate in your Health and Wellness training with the primary goal being combat and survival training. Susan, Zach, Justin, and Ernie, your Gurus have been reassigned based on your current needs and skill levels. The rest of you with remain with your assigned partners.

"What does that mean?" I held my hand to my chest in reflex.

"It means, Mary, that for the next four years, you will learn the fundamental fitness skills necessary to become true HufflePuff and possible future King or Queen, from Sarah, Ernie's Guide."

"Sarah?" I looked back to the Guides and Kitty's smile was wider than a muppet's mouth. Her face could break. Why was her mouth so big? Evil witch! I didn't want this!

I almost said as much but those alarm bells rang in my head again. Now wasn't the time. It would be dangerous to speak up in this moment. I don't know how I knew this, but suddenly Professor was standing over me. The shadows from the early morning light that shone from the false magical sky ceiling cast darkness over her face in a way that made me uneasy.

I really wanted to pick my wedgie. It was a strange time to notice I had one, but it was really distracting. When would be a good time?

"Was there anything else, Miss McGowen-Smith?" I shook my head no. "Good. Keep the interruptions to a minimum. This is no open forum for you to speak." She took a sip from her hot mug and returned to her original spot. "I, and at times, fellow HufflePuff will observe your training. These sessions will be run by your Gurus. You will meet Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings in this room at the same time unless otherwise excused. You will meet here. Failure to do so is not an option that comes with consequences you will wish to deal with. You have been advised. For now, I will leave you all with a bit of privacy so that you may discuss your detailed fitness profile and training plan. And possibly mend some of the obvious tension in the room." She walked toward the door, small smile on her face. "And remember everyone. One House. One Goal. We are all HufflePuff after all. Behave."

It was the first time I'd heard it. One House. One Goal. What was the goal?