A Question of Quidditch

It was early morning, and the Slytherins crowded the corridor as they made their way to breakfast in the Great Hall. Like at every High School Buffy had ever attended, the kids here hung out with like-minded friends. The sporty types discussing the last game they'd seen, the studious clutching at textbooks, and the loners walking by themselves.

And then there were the popular kids. The rich kids, the beautiful, and those from the old and powerful magical families. Walburga and Lucretia Black, ranking amongst the elite of Hogwarts, walked just ahead of Buffy with their friends. They reminded Buffy of two ancient Egyptian queens surrounded by their fawning attendants.

Spotting the Pawing Parkinsons amongst the group, Buffy slowed her steps and allowed the distance to grow between them. Whilst being on the social fringe was never good, this morning she was not only avoiding the two irritating paw-ers but also Walburga Black. The older girl would have questions. Questions Buffy had no intention of answering.

After the attack the previous night, Lovell and Buffy had talked of bomb-damaged London, the Muggle war, and even moths as they walked back to Grimmauld Place. Both of them hoping Walburga would take the hint and never mention what had just happened to them.

But Walburga had never been known for her subtlety or her restraint. With round eyes bright with curiosity, she asked, "Who was that Wizard?"

"What Wizard?" Buffy replied, playing dumb and pretending to look around.

Walburga tutted. "Don't be such a nitwit, you know perfectly well who I'm referring to! The Wizard who took out the vampires with a Dark Fire spell and then spoke as if he knew you."

"Oh, him." Buffy shrugged, relieved Walburga hadn't mentioned seeing her fighting vampires. She must have been too busy hiding behind Lovell and screaming obscenities to notice. "No idea. I'm gonna go with concerned bystander."

Walburga huffed indignantly. "You honestly expect me to believe that nonsense?" She raised a hand and began ticking points off on her fingers.

"One, weird vampire attack. Two, mysterious Wizard turns up out of nowhere..."

"I agree. He was totally mysterious to me too," Buffy piped up.

"...who not only knows the Dark Arts but happily uses it on vampires," Walburga went on as if she hadn't heard her. "Not that I disapprove of his methods. Did you see how they were dressed? Common. Muggle. Clothing. Not Ministry approved, I'm sure.

Where was I? Oh, yes..." Another finger rose and Walburga continued, "Three, he has to be powerful as he used a strong Disillusionment spell to hide his whereabouts, plus he is a Legilimens and could read your thoughts easily."

"He did not!" replied Buffy, huffing with annoyance. "He tried prying his way into my head. I brain-blocked him."

Another finger raised into the air, another smirk on Walburga's face. "Oh, four, you're a natural Occlumens. Interesting, Buffy! You know that skill is either acquired through long practice or it runs in families," she swung in Lovell's direction. "Don't try to claim it's from the Lovegood side."

"The Lovegood family have many... um, unusual powers," protested Lovell.

"Yep, we all have incredible super powers," added Buffy with a smile, bumping his shoulder with hers. "The Wizarding World needs to watch out for the Lovegoods!"

Walburga rolled her eyes. "I hate to tell you this but someone must. Being weird is not considered a super power." Ignoring the twin glares, she went on to Buffy, "Five, said powerful Wizard is on first name terms with both you and your mother."

"Hey! He might just have overheard our names in the street!"

"As if!" Walburga raised her other hand and another finger. " Six, he even knows that Dumbledore is interested in you. And don't we all know that's the truth! We've only been back at Hogwarts a week and how many times have you sneaked off to his room so far?"

Buffy glared at her. Sneaked off to Dumbledore's room? "Hey! Don't be so gross! He's the Deputy Headmaster and I was talking to the Hat!"

"Who talks to the Sorting Hat more than once in their life?" scowled Walburga. "It's simply not good for your mental health to have that mangy old thing on your head more than once. Not that either of you had a healthy brain to start with, being Lovegoods. No, I think something else is going on here. You and Dumbledore have been seeing each other all summer."

"Eww, seeing each other?" Buffy mock retched. "No way! He's not only a walking fashion disaster, he's old enough to be my father!"

Walburga's face beamed in triumph. "Ha! Is he your father? Your mother was notably evasive when questioned by my uncle!"

Crap! Buffy bit her lip with frustration. After the way her mom had reacted tonight it was no wonder the already curious Walburga was suspicious. Her mom might as well have carried a sign saying, 'Stop me and ask me about Buffy's secret father.'

"Hank Summers is the name on my birth certificate. That's good enough for me." She gave the older girl a calculating look. "If we're doing a question and answer session... Who's this Howard guy you've been meeting behind your family's back?"

"I... He...We aren't..."

There'd been no more questions, but Walburga's furtive looks had continued until they reached Grimmauld Place and Buffy knew it wouldn't be the last she'd hear of it...

...

"As a girl, what do you think of our Quidditch captain's new rule?" Alphard Black asked from beside Buffy.

Startled from her thoughts, Buffy stared at him in confusion.

Not letting the lack of response deter him, Alphard slung an arm over her shoulder and guided her over to where Abraxus Malfoy and Antonin Dolohov waited a little further along the corridor.

"I told you that I'd ask Buffy," Alphard called over to them

Towed along by the bigger boy, Buffy looked over her shoulder. Not far behind them, Fiona Goyle and Uma Crabbe were arguing. Fiona was saying that covering the bedroom window every night would stop the Grindylows from pressing their faces onto the window. Uma argued that they would still bang on the glass and wake them. Buffy had a flash of guilt. Despite her not being in the dorm last night, the Grindylows had appeared early that morning and pestered her roommates. She really had to do something to stop those pesky water demons from annoying them.

"What do you think of Malfoy's new rule for the Quidditch team, Buffy," Alphard said once they'd reached his friends and Malfoy they continued along the corridor together.

"Rule? For Quidditch?" Buffy asked, stalling for time. She wasn't stupid, she knew what Quidditch was, but the rules weren't something she'd given much thought to. She had no idea why Alphard would want her opinion.

"Do you think it's fair that Malfoy has stopped girls trying out for the Slytherin team?" Alphard asked. "Malfoy put the dates for tryouts on the noticeboard yesterday. He added a new rule, girls need not apply."

"Then he's a fool," Buffy retorted. Malfoy scowled and Alphard beamed. "Roz Moody told me she's on the Hufflepuff team and-."

"The Hufflepuff team loses almost every one of their matches!" Malfoy sneered. "Is that argument supposed to persuade me too change my mind?"

"Maybe they'd have better results if even more girls played?" Buffy retorted, examining her nails and looking up at Abraxas through her lashes. "Why stop girls from trying out for the team? Scared in case they make you look bad?"

Abraxas' expression was smug. " I'm tired of them writing their names on the list and never showing up. It's a waste of time."

"Why go for the ban-age, then?"

There was a small pause whilst they all translated the word 'ban-age' into British Wizarding English.

"Ha! Miss Summers has you there, Malfoy!" Dolohov said, with a forced laugh. "Admit you have been defeated!"

Buffy thought that comment suspicious. It was more likely the moon was made of cheese than Dolohov believed in sexual equality. Why was he siding with her against Malfoy? Malfoy was a friend of his. Buffy eyed Dolohov warily, and he gave her a lop-sided smile in return. It was a smile that would send most teenage girls weak at the knees, but it made Buffy shudder. Antonin Dolohov wigged her out. Every time she looked at him, she got the evil 'Parker' vibes.

"Buffy, what position would you like to play?" Alphard asked, shooting Malfoy a sly side-look. "If you were allowed onto our team?"

"Um, I..." Her reply was interrupted by Tom emerging from a Potions classroom to their left.

Tom paused, his eyes moving from her to Dolohov, to Malfoy, and then back to her. He was obviously puzzled by her companions.

Realizing that she was staring (and possibly drooling because Tom had taken off his jacket and was in his shirtsleeves) Buffy turned her head away. She was aware of him falling in alongside them and telling Malfoy he'd been checking a potion.

"Sorry, what position did you say you'd want to play, Buffy?" Alphard asked again.

"Um, I'd be a Beater." She knew Roz was one of the Beaters for the Hufflepuff team and Buffy couldn't remember any other Quidditch positions.

"I thought you'd say Seeker," said Alphard giving Malfoy another sly look. "Walburga says you've fast reflexes, and it would be fun to see someone compete against Abraxus."

Buffy dropped her eyes. Crap! Had Walburga seen more of Buffy's fight than she'd let on?

Alphard continued, "So why choose Beater? That's a dangerous position."

Dangerous? Buffy was confused. Why, what did a Beater do? She sensed Tom listening for her answer and reddened. Think, think! With a rush of relief, Buffy remembered Roz describing the Beater's role. "It's because you hit things with sticks. I know I'd be good at it."

"You think you could stop a bludger?" Malfoy scorned. "More likely, when you saw it coming towards you at high speed you'd scream, duck, and fall off your broom."

"You're the wuss, not me," Buffy snapped back. "I bet if it starts raining, you stop the match so you don't get floppy hair."

"I most certainly don't," retorted Malfoy, giving his shiny blonde tresses a loving stroke. "I always use a combination of Potter's Sleekeazy conditioner and a water repellent charm on match day. It ensures I have immaculate hair." He eyed her high ponytail and the butterbeer cork dangling from it with distaste.

Buffy just laughed. If anyone was hair-obsessed, it was Malfoy, perhaps she should get Spikey to put a bottle of Gryffindor red dye into his hair potion for a joke. It was while she was still watching him that she caught the fast look Malfoy shot at Tom. Tom responded with a brief nod and the exchange ended. What was that about?

"Fine," said Abraxas with a long-suffering sigh. "I'll make an exception in your case. Join us on Saturday morning at 8.30am sharp at the Quidditch pitch. If you can manage to hit a bludger whilst on the ground, I'll let you try for the team. If you did make it, practise is three times a week. Miss more than three sessions and prepare to be lose your place on the team."

Buffy's jaw dropped. She hadn't time for this! Her timetable was fully booked with lessons, voluntary extra courses, the ton of reading she had to do, homework, patrolling the castle with Spikey, and on top of all that she needed to restart Slayer training. "I..." she began.

The group of boys waited, and Buffy realised that if she backed out now she would never hear the end of it. Malfoy would say she'd just proved girls weren't fit for the team and she was scared of a flying ball.

"Okay, count me in," she said. She'd cry off later, saying she had too much work.

Alphard slapped her on the back as if she was already a team member. "Brilliant! Rigel and I will be there on Saturday, cheering you on."

"We all will," said Tom, joining the conversation. He smiled warmly, full plump lips drawing back to show off even white teeth. "I'm sure all of Slytherin will come out to support you."

"No pressure, then?" she replied, wondering how this had even happened to her.

…

Thank you all those who left reviews (or cyber chocolate) :-)