Okay, so, fair warning: I'm terrible at writing sports scenes or whatever. However, I think I did decently well, so enjoy!

"Cedric!" The boy in question sighed into his goblet but didn't make any move to suggest he heard his name being called. "Cedric Diggory!"

Avery crashed into him on the bench and started tugging at his Quidditch robes. And to think he thought she'd be hesitant to play against Slytherin, what with their dangerous tactics and all. Apparently not.

"Why didn't you reply?" she demanded.

"As much as I love being yelled at so early in the morning, love, I do enjoy eating much more," he told her tiredly.

"Well that's just entirely untrue, Ced. You enjoyed it when I bossed you around last summer."

A few Hufflepuff students around them gasped and started whispering. Cedric groaned and swung around to face his best friend.

"Avery, why must you make everything sound so dirty?"

"Pardon? You must be confusing me with my dear Danniell."

"No, I definitely mean you." He looked at the dispersing group of girls. "Well see, now look what you did. Why must our house have all the gossips?"

"Because they don't like keeping secrets."

"So much for loyalty!" Cedric called after them.

"Oh hush it. Now, are you excited? I know I am! Pucey has been smack talking me all week!" She was practically bouncing in her seat. "I can't wait to crush them."

"Easy there, tiger. If you keep this up, you'll fall right off your broom."

"When have I ever fallen off a broom? Even when I imitate Danny, I don't fall off."

"That's going to catch up with you," Cedric warned as they started to leave the Great Hall for the pitch.

"Just keep telling yourself that, love."

"You're as bad as Wood."

She shot him a disapproving look. He shot her a grin and draped his arm over her shoulders. Avery pursed her lips and decidedly ignored him for the trip to the Quidditch pitch. Herbet Fleet, their dear Keeper and Captain, frowned at the two as they came in, but didn't scold them for being late.

"Get your gear and line up," he ordered lightly.

"Don't fall off your broom," Cedric teased Avery before disappearing into the boys' locker room.

She huffed but let it slide, opting to join Maxine, Tamsin, and Heidi in getting their gear. Maxine O'Flaherty, one of their beaters, was stomping on a piece of green fabric, causing Avery to wonder about her slightly.

"Maxine, what are you doing?"

"What does it look like I'm doin?" she snapped before actually jumping on the fabric.

"Losing your mind."

"Oi! Don't knock my pre-game ritual!"

"I'm not. I half expect you to-"

Avery trailed off as Maxine set the thing on fire and shook her head.

"Well guess I don't need to finish that sentence."

"Now let's just take a mo' to imagine this burning scrap as the Slytherin team," Maxine commanded with a bowed head.

Avery leaned in close to Tamsin Applebee, her fellow Chaser, and whispered, "She's never done this before. Is she actually losing her mind?"

"Probably," Heidi Macavoy, the team's last Chaser, replied with a smirk. "She's finally gone off the deep end."

"Oi!"

"Stop gossipping and get out here, ladies!" Herbert called from outside.

"Why does he automatically assume we're gossipping?" Heidi asked irritably as they joined their male teammates.

"Because our house usually does," Maxine growled. "Tittering ninnies."

"How did you even get sorted here?"

"Oi! Don't make me-"

"Alright let's go!" Anthony yelled as the whistle blew, signalling the two teams' entrance.

Avery snickered as they flew into position. She had a feeling Heidi was going to be dodging many Bludgers today. When Maxine got into one of her moods, whoever caused that was in a lot of trouble. And when a Beater was angry, it wasn't good news. For anyone.

"Okay, girls!" Tamsin called to her Chasers before the second whistle blew. "Remember the plan! Don't stray from the plan!"

They proceeded to glare at the opposing Keeper, Miles Bletchley, right as Madam Hooch blew her whistle. The Heidi surged forward, easily catching the Quaffle, and immediately threw it to Tamsin when the Slytherin Chasers attempted the snatch it from her. The three Hufflepuffs made their way towards the opposing team's hoops in perfect formation, as they had planned.

Tamsin and Avery tossed the Quaffle between them, Heidi flying between the two to keep away the Slytherins. She let out a mocking laugh when Flint almost fell off his broom attempting to throw Avery off. Tamsin threw the Quaffle back to Avery before barely avoiding a Bludger. Avery, in turn, smirked at Bletchley and threw it at a hoop, despite being out of the scoring area. Before he could block it, Heidi popped up and kicked it into the hoop farthest from the Keeper. The Hufflepuff crowd cheered as the three Chasers looped around with their head held high.

Flint watched them through narrowed eyes and snapped over to Pucey. They couldn't lose to Hufflepuff! He knew Graham would help him, but Pucey was too weak to do anything about it.

"Pucey! Get with it!" he barked angrily as those infernal girls scored another goal.

With a sigh, the Chaser flew up to Avery and kept with her, even as they avoided a Bludger. He really didn't want to do this.

"Avery!" he called to get her attention.

"What is it, Pucey? Go away!"

"Sorry!"

He then elbowed her hard in the ribs, resulting in her sliding off the broom. Her shriek distracted Heidi and Tasmin, allowing Flint to snatch the Quaffle and score for Slytherin. Avery hung dangerously, her grip on the broom slipping. Oh when she got ahold of Pucey, she'd kill him! Tasmin swooped in, helping Avery get seated once more.

"We going in?" she asked the younger Chaser.

"Of course we are!"

Maxine laughed gleefully, knowing exactly how she was going to help. She noticed Pucey holding the Quaffle, Avery steadily gaining on him. With a hard swing of her bat, she sent a Bludger straight at the unsuspecting Chaser. He cried out in pain, causing the Quaffle to fall from his grasp, straight into Avery's arms. She flew towards Slytherin's hoops, dodging Graham and Flint, and threw it to gain a goal as Cedric caught the Snitch.

Avery noticed Pucey cradling his arm at dinner that night.

"Serves him right," Cedric murmured in her ear.

"Yeah. Can you believe him? I'm surprised Hooch didn't give him a foul for Cobbing."

"Eh, you didn't fall, love. It's all good."

"I almost did!" she snapped.

"Yes, but as I recall, weren't you saying you've never come close to falling off a broom?"

She glowered fiercely at her best friend, ignoring his wide, idiotic grin. He threw back his head to let out a booming laugh, to which most everyone ignored.

"You are incredibly loud, insufferable, and you can't get girls!"

"Got you, haven't I?" he asked before tapping her nose.

"You wish."