Another chapter! More Quidditch, here we go!
Before we begin though, I wanted to know if any readers play DND? I find it to be a fun way to get inspiration, and a lot of the time, if I have writers block, I'll go and write up some homebrew. Well, just a question. Leave a review if you do (if you want to leave a review of course), I'm currently working on a Hogwarts campaign setting with an adventure that takes players through classes, wizard duels, troll hunts, dragon tending, and exploring the castle itself. Places of interest include Hogwarts of course, Hogsmeade, the forbidden forest, the black lake, the chamber of secrets, etc.
So, if you think you'd enjoy something like that, let me know. Otherwise it will be locked deep in one of my basement file cabinets for eternity.
Without further ado, let's keep going.
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"WELCOME ONE AND ALL TO THE FIFTH MATCH OF THE HOGWARTS QUIDDITCH CUP! TODAYS MATCH, HUFFLEPUFF VS RAVENCLAW! RAVENCLAW US FAVORED TO WIN THE MATCH AFTER THEIR EXPERT PERFORMANCE LAST WEEK, BEATING SLYTHERIN TWO HUNDRED TO NILL! REMEMBER THOUGH, KEEP AN EYE ON THOSE HUFFLEPUFF CHASERS, ESPECIALLY-"
"BLACK WRAITH SCORTWIT!"
The Hufflepuffs roared from the stands as the quidditch teams got into starting formation. Merlot blushed and Tamsin gave her a thumbs up.
"Gotta admit, it's better than silent but deadly."
Merlot groaned as the commentator continued.
"THAT'S RIGHT! THE YOUNGEST PLAYER IF THE AGE, MERLOT SCORTWIT, WHO CARRIED THE TEAM TO VICTORY IN THEIR LAST MATCH WITH HER INCREDIBLE SKILL ON A BROOM!"
Madam Hooch blew her whistle and tossed the quaffle upwards. The game was on.
The Ravenclaw team was good. Merlot had to admit that. The frustrating thing was their strategy of guarding her. Both of their beaters targeted her while all three of their chasers stuck to the quaffle, intercepting their first pass.
It pushed Merlot to do better.
The black haired witch pulled out the hair and that kept her quidditch ponytail up and allowed her wavy black locks to fall around her shoulders. Quickly adjusting her grip, she fove down to the ground.
The two Ravenclaw beaters took aim and smacked both bludgers her way. Merlot upped her speed and soared up in front of one of ravenclaws chasers, who had just stolen the quaffle. The bludgers patched onto the Ravenclaws trail and knocked the quaffle from their hands, allowing Tamsin to swoop in and make a break for the Ravenclaw goal posts. The bludgers weren't back in the Ravenclaws zone, and the opposing chasers weren't going to catch up to her in time.
"APPLEBEE SCORES! THE SCORE IS TEN TO ZERO, HUFFLEPUFF! LOOKS LIKE SCORTWIT IS STILL A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH-"
"GO BLACK WRAITH!"
Merlot blushed as Tamsin flew over and gave her a fist bump. "Nice going."
"The name is embarrassing…"
"Come on, it's a cool name!" Tamsin grinned. "And it fits, you fly silently and quickly, people hardly notice you're there, especially with the snow falling right now.
Merlot sighed, before smirking, her cheeks still red from embarrassment. "You do have a point…"
"Then let's do it again, Black Wraith Scortwit."
The quaffle was once again in the air. Ravenclaw vied for a different strategy this time, locking Merlot in with two of their chasers while hitting bludgers at Tamsin and Malcolm.
Merlot accelerated and broke away from the other two chasers. The cold air stung her fingers as she flipped upside down and stole the ball right out from under the lead chasers nose, before braking instantly and spinning, smacking the quaffle away with the tail of her silver arrow.
Malcolm caught the ball and tossed to Tamsin, who kicked it back. The two dribbled between each other as they approached the goalposts. The Ravenclaw keeper couldn't track where they would shoot from, and so he dove left as Tamsin caught the quaffle and lobbed it straight.
"APPLEBEE SCORES! ANOTHER TEN POINTS TO HUFFLEPUFF!"
Merlot smiled as Malcolm and Tamsin flitted over and mussed her hair. "Great work!"
"Awesome flying!"
Merlot giggled a bit as her hair bounced, barely hearing the whistle blow as the quaffle was back in Ravenclaws hands.
Suddenly, a shout caused Merlot to look up. Cedric's broom was erratic, jerking left and right, up and down, while he himself was trying his best to stay mounted upon it. Merlot quickly pulled up as Cedric was thrown from the broomstick. He was now only hanging on by a single hand.
From the sounds of it, people in the stands were beginning to notice. The Hufflepuff gallery was shouting, pointing at Cedric as he struggled to maintain his grip. Merlot grit her teeth as she flew higher, higher.
The crowd screamed as Cedric was nailed by a bludger, throwing him from his broom and into a steep fall.
"NO!"
Merlot watched as Cedric fell by, almost in slow motion. Their eyes met for a moment, and in the young man's eyes she saw fear.
In a desperate maneuver, Merlot flipped backwards and dove down, Approaching her top speed as Cedric continued to fall. The wind whistled in her ears as her hair flailed behind her. Merlot reached out a hand as Cedric did the same.
They were approaching the ground rapidly. Merlot found purchase on Cedric's palm and grabbed it.
Twenty meters, fifteen meters.
"HOLD ON TIGHT!"
Merlot slowly pulled up as they approached the ground, being careful not to snap Cedric's arm off with a full stop at two hundred kilometers per hour.
Ten meters, five meters.
The black wraith straightened her broom and began to slow, swinging Cedric up and behind her.
"You okay?"
Cedric nodded, his eyes a bit unfocused before he shook his head.
"You saved me…"
"Yeah, you'd do the same for me. Now come on!"
Merlot ducked down close to her broom, accelerating quickly and stealing the quaffle from the ravenclaws, who hadn't scored thanks to their beaters.
"I'm going to keep playing chaser. I need you to keep a lookout for the snitch."
Cedric nodded and began looking, before yelping as Merlot quickly dodged a bludger, jerking them around at a ninety degree swerve, before shooting forward and receiving a pass from Tamsin.
"Sorry for the pace. It gets a bit hectic down here. Duck!"
Cedric flailed his arms and arched his back, holding back a yelp as a bludger streaked by his nose.
"What are you even- give me your hands."
Cedric blushed as the first year took his hands and wrapped them around her waist. "Now hold on tight."
The two were off like a rocket, soaring through the air, weaving between players and bludgers. It was during this time that Cedric realized just how good Merlot actually was.
The young witch's reads on players and incoming projectiles was second to none. She was constantly shifting left and right, preparing herself for a sharp turn if the need arose, or drifting up higher when she predicted something coming in from below.
It was as if he was watching an animal in its natural habitat, perfectly attuned to its surroundings. It was this skill of hers that made her so undetectable, even in her bright yellow quidditch robes. Merlot flew so silently, so confidently, she was almost one with the air.
"SCORTWIT SCORES AGAIN! IT SEEMS THAT HAVING A PASSENGER ON BOARD ISN'T SLOWING HER DOWN IN THE SLIGHTEST! SEVENTY TO NOTHING- HUFFLEPUFF!"
Merlot rose upwards a bit higher than the other chasers, tapping the back of Cedric's hands.
"Have you seen the snitch yet?"
Cedric blinked, realizing that in his observations of Merlot, he hadn't done his job as seeker. The young man began looking about the quidditch pitch as the game began again.
Merlot veered out of the way of a bludger before diving down and stealing the quaffle. As they approached the Ravenclaw goalposts, Cedric caught a flint of gold.
"There," he pointed. "It's circling the professors box."
Merlot nodded and tossed the quaffle to Tamsin before breaking away and shooting towards the teachers box. As she drew closer she saw what Cedric was talking about. The golden snitch was buzzing around the top of the professor's seats. She quickly locked on and sped up.
"WHAT IS SCORTWIT DOING? HAS SHE LOST CONTROL IF HER BROOM LIKE DIGGORY?"
"I'm going to need you to give me some instructions, my goggles don't have the same enchantments as yours, I can only see so far so if I lose it-"
"I've got you." Cedric nodded, leaning over her shoulder. "Let's get this pesky walnut."
Merlot grinned and sped towards the ball. The flurries of snow in the air sting at her cheeks as she went faster, faster. She pushed her broom yet again as the snitch flew away.
The snitch was on.
Cedric gave instructions as best he could, normally when he saw the snitch pick up speed and veer in a new direction, which Merlot didn't pick up on.
"Left… in dipped down… up now, right."
They were slowly gaining on the golden ball. Cedric could tell that Merlot was improving just by flying after it. She was now dodging bludgers on instinct, pulling stunts that would be difficult, even at his level. Merlot was no longer hiding either, she was dynamic. Her movements were sharp and fast, not outside of the view of others. Cedric even heard gasps as they whizzed by the professors viewing area, close enough for him to brush a finger against Headmaster Dumbledores nose.
Where he had once seen the black wraith of Hufflepuff, riding about swiftly, stealing the quaffle silently and shaking bludgers as if it was what she was born to do, now he saw a completely new side of Merlot.
She ducked, dodged, and weaved. Whenever there was a chance she would interrupt the Ravenclaw chasers and steal the quaffle back for Tamsin and Malcolm.
She was the apex predator.
"SCORTWIT COMING OUT AND DOMINATING WITH A RIDER ON BOARD! IS DIGGORY HELPING? OR IS AHE SIMPLY SHOWING OFF?"
A few mutters could be heard from the announcer, and Dean came back shouting.
"I'VE JUST BEEN INFORMED THAT SCORTWIT, ON TOP OF BEING A CHASER, IS HUFFLEPUFFS RESERVE SEEKER. ARE WE WITNESSING THE COMING OF THE YOUNGEST SEEKER OF THE AGE? THE BLACK WRAITH IS NOWHERE TO BE SEEN, SHE'S LIKE A TORNADO!"
Merlot felt the tingle that she always felt while flying. As she pursued the snitch, the tingle found its way into her entire body. Her heart burned- in a good way. It felt as though liquid gold was coursing through her veins, lighting up her every movement with cheers.
It was like she ruled over the earth from the sky, her broom carrying her to victory as she dove in to aid her fellow badgers.
Merlot couldn't help it, watching the other quidditch players zip up and down the pitch feebly, all of them were experienced, well learned, and yet they were nothing more than flies to her current skill, as new as she was, she laughed.
It was a high pitched, shrill sound. It sent shivers down the backs of those who heard it, especially Cedric, who swore he saw the girls eyes flash red.
In the back of her mind, the horcrux smiled, pushing emotion into the girls soul without her noticing just how cruel she was.
Merlot watched as the snitch dove down, and she rapidly pursued it. Her speed climbed higher than she had ever gone before as she dove, pulling up as the snitch veered again, and again.
With each attempt to shake her, Merlot gained in the Snitch. She followed it around and around the quidditch pitch, Cedric hanging on for dear life as they moved faster than he had ever dreamed.
He could see the flint of gold closer than ever now, through the blur of Merlots black hair in his eyes. He saw her reach out, her fingers brushing the metal-
She had it.
Merlot swooped up, raising her fist in triumph. The snitch beat it's wings slowly, futilely attempting to escape the girls grip.
"MERLOT SCORTWIT HAS CAPTURED THE SNITCH! THE GAME IS OVER, HUFFLEPUFF WIND A CRUSHING VICTORY OF TWO HUNDTED AND SEVENTY POINTS TO NOTHING! WHAT A MATCH! WHAT A TEAM! WHAT A PLAYER!"
Merlot grinned as she turned to Cedric. "We got it."
"Yeah…" Cedric nodded, before his face split into a shaky grin. "You got it!"
Merlot smiled as Cedric took her arm and raised it up again.
"BLACK WRAITH SCORTWIT!"
The reply was thunderous. The entire Hufflepuff stands roared as a few parts of the other houses joined in.
"BLACK WRAITH SCORTWIT!"
Merlots face flushed red and she slowly landed. The Ravenclaw captain shook her hand before walking over to Alden Summers.
"Mighty fine player you found yourself."
Summers smiled. "She's gifted, that's for sure."
"The youngest seeker of the age." Cedric spoke. "With that performance, I might have to back out of the team."
"I only did that well because you directed me." Merlot patted him on the back. "Speaking of which, do you know what happened to your broom?"
Cedric shook his head. "All of the sudden, it just started jerking and bucking. Something was influencing it other than me, although I'm not sure what, or who could do it."
Tamsin walked over, holding the remains of a broom.
"After you fell off, it dipped down and dove, full speed, into the ground. Snapped the handle in half… I'm sorry Cedric."
"It's okay, we've got an awesome reserve seeker who can do with some games." Cedric patted Merlot on the back.
"No, you've got years left and I'm not going to take your position." Merlot pointed at him. "When is our next game?"
"Not until Spring." Alden answered. Merlot smiled.
"Then we do a fundraiser. I'm sure the other teams would pitch in as well, seeing as they probably don't want me seeking after that."
Cedric looked around and spotted the other houses team captains staring at Merlot. Marcus Flint in particular was gripping the railing of the Slytherin stands so hard that his knuckles were white.
"Okay… then how do we do it?"
Merlot looked at Alden. "Sir, can we raise funds to get Cedric a new broom?"
The captain's eyes sparkled. "After a show like that, what team would want to face you as seeker? We could probably raise enough to get new uniforms too, seeing as-"
Merlot watched as he raised the edge of his robes, showing the tattered hem and fading decoration.
"Yeah! So who should we go to?"
"Professor Sprout handles all house events. A fundraiser would be one of them, I'll talk to her about it."
Merlot nodded. "I have a few ideas, but we can wait until we clear it with her."
"Alright then!" Malcolm swooped in with the two beaters. "Enough chit chat, let's go celebrate!"
A mighty cheer announced the fact that the entire Hufflepuff house was now standing on the snowy pitch. Merlot giggled as they hoisted her, Cedric, and Alden into the air and marched them back to the castle, all while singing a cheer.
"They tell a tale of a mighty team
Who ruled the Hogwarts sky
A troop of mighty badgers
That learned the way to fly
Among them played an archer
With a bow of gilded gold
She rode upon her silver arrows
Brave, mighty, and bold
OH HO HO SCORTWIT
THE BLACK WRAITH SCORTWIT!
She struck down a pride
With a lions mighty roar
OH HO HO SCORTWIT
THE TEMPEST, SCORTWIT
She outwitted wise ravens
And shook them to their core
OH HO HO SCORTWIT
THE BLACK WRAITH SCORTWIT
Here's to her victories
AND HERE'S TO MANY MORE!"
—0—
Albus watched as the Hufflepuffs paraded back to the castle.
"Ah, the simple joys of youth…"
Minerva was still gawking at the spectacle they had just seen. "That was astounding! Charlie Weasley could never-"
"Minerva is right Albus, she was astonishing on that broom." Flitwick squeaked. "Even I have to admit, while my house suffered a crushing defeat, a loss against an opponent like that is admirable."
"I find it exceptionally interesting how bipolar you all are in regards to Miss Scortwit." Albus twinkled. "It makes me wonder which side will win… anger towards her, or praise and worship…"
The two professors mouths snapped shut and they turned away from Albus, who merely shook his head and turned to watch the students march back to the castle.
"Quite an astounding performance, however. I do agree with you on that, Minerva."
The headmaster smiled and began walking down from the professors box, eager to watch the memory of the match. Merlots flying instinct was giving him an idea, but he needed to see it again for a bit more inspiration.
—0—
"SCORTWIT
THE BLACK WRAITH SCORTWIT
Here's to her victories
AND HERE'S TO MANY MORE!"
Merlot laughed as she sat with the quidditch team beside the fireplace of the Hufflepuffs common room. "You're all too much."
The celebration made it hard to hear, so Cedric leaned over while passing her another butter beer. "Slytherin has dominated the house cup and quidditch cup for the last seven years. Thanks to you, we're in the running for first in both cases. Let them have their fun."
Merlot took a swig of butter beer. "Yes, well. I just don't want a repeat of the last Hufflepuff celebration."
A loud squeak got her attention and she watched as Despereaux performed a cannonball into a tankard of butterbeer.
"Damn, not again."
"DES-PIR-OOOOOO!"
Alden grinned as he saw the girl's familiar. "He's perfect…"
Merlot blinked as Alden stood up. "Does anyone in here own one of those muggle picture taking things? A camatoosit?"
"A camera?" One of the third years giggled. "They're really expensive."
"I have one, but it only takes regular pictures, not moving ones."
Cedric blinked. "Wait! Alden, you're in professor Snapes NEWT class. He covers the animation potion!"
The hufflepuff grinned and nodded, before walking over into his room. A few minutes later, he returned with a small bottle of pitch black liquid. "Just one drop per photo. So does anyone have a- what is it? A camera?"
One student shakily raised a hand. "My parents always thought that Hogwarts was a joke, so… I've been giving them pictures that show I'm really a witch."
Alden Grinned. "Do you want to be fifty galleons richer?"
The entire room went silent. "Fifty Galleons? That's-"
"Alden, that's like five hundred pounds in muggle money." Another hufflepuff spoke. "That's… that's a lot!"
Alden shook his head. "We're gonna use it for our fundraiser. You, can you help us take the picture?"
The hufflepuff witch blinked, before nodding. "Just as long as I get a copy of this moving picture."
Alden grinned and turned to Merlot. "You, come with me. Grab your rat."
Merlot nodded and fished Despereaux out of the tankard of butterbeer. "I thought you said you had to clear the fundraiser with professor Sprout?"
"Already done. That was all smoke and mirrors for the other teams. I've been working on a little funds for new uniforms for a while. I got up to about a hundred galleons in the last six years."
"Woah… slow pickings." Merlot blinked.
"Yeah." Alden smirked. "But now, I think we can raise enough to get Cedrics broom, and new uniforms, by the next match! Here, clean him up, I'll be right back with everything."
Merlot looked at Despereaux, who gave a squeak and stuck up a paw in a sort of 'high five' position.
"I can't with you." Merlot rolled her eyes, before giggling and tapping the rats palm with her index finger. "Nice cannonball."
"Des-pir-ooooo!"
"Yeah, but we need to wash you so… Aguamenti!"
A bowl on her bedside table was suddenly filled with water. Merlot went about cleaning Despereaux, scrubbing his fur, under his legs, and behind his ears, before rinsing him off and dropping him in a fluffy towel. The rat poked out of the towel, his fur fluffy and dry, as a knock came from the door.
"It's Alden, I've got everything."
Merlot picked Despereaux up and opened the door to see Alden standing, holding a folded up black cloth, wearing a black tri-corner hat.
"Please tell me that hat goes along with this." Merlot smiled.
"As a matter of fact, it does. This is the prototype uniform. And I also have one for Despereaux!"
The rat scrambled out of Merlot's hands and up to her shoulder, twitching his nose as he looked at Alden. The quidditch captain chuckled and put a tiny tri corner hat upon Despereaux's head. "Do you like it?"
Despereaux stood up on his hind legs and drew his sword. "Des-pir-oo like!"
"Did he just-"
"Hannah's been teaching him more words. It's a slow process."
"I see." Alden blinked. "Well, that's certainly impressive. Here, change into this, I'll get the girl with the camera."
Merlot closed the door and changed into the quidditch robes. She had to admit, they were quite comfortable. The black cloak would definitely fit her moniker of 'the black wraith.'
A few Minutes later, Merlot stepped out of her room to greet the quidditch team, who were all starstruck by the outfit.
While it was mainly black, the back was emblazoned with The Hufflepuff insignia in yellow and gold. The cuffs of the cloak were edged in yellow, as was the hem of the robe. It was dark enough to look dashing, and bright enough to stick out.
"Is that what you want the uniforms to look like?"
"We are yellow and black." Alden smiled. "I figure it looks better, especially since Slytherin and Ravenclaw blend in with their dark colors. Now, Merlot, Stand here, facing the fireplace. Have your rat on your shoulder, and turn your head to look right and up."
Merlot hid as she was told and heard a click, accompanied by a flash.
"Brilliant, now face us."
Merlot turned around to see the hufflepuff house, headed by Alden and the student with the camera.
"Cedric, can you cast a gusting charm?"
"Got it."
Cedric cast the charm, causing a localized gust of wind to toss merlot's cloak about. A flash from the camera blinded her a bit, and Alden nodded. "Here, let's go develop these pictures."
"You know about developing film, but not what a camera is called?" The witch raised an eyebrow.
"Had to learn about development to make this." Alden held up the bottle of animating potion. "Now come on. We'll be right back."
Merlot changed out of the uniform and into normal school clothes. The celebration resumed within the common room, with Merlot making sure that Despereaux didn't take anymore butterbeer dives.
After an hour of cheers, snacks, drinks, and more cheers, Alden came back with the other hufflepuff witch, each holding a stack of papers.
"So? How do they look?"
The entire house turned to look at the poster he held up. Everyone was silent.
Hannah stepped forward and took the poster. "How much?"
"I'm going to hang a few up around the castle, but the rest will be sold for six sickles each."
"I'll give you a galleon. We could also make badges and-"
"Shirts!" A young man spoke up. "In the muggle world we have tee shirts. We can make some that don't move, but have her flying name on them."
Alden blinked. "You think that people would buy something like that?"
"Muggleborn students would, and they'd probably get complimented on them too. We could sell the shirts based on what they're made of."
Merlot's eyes lit up as an idea came to mind. "And I know the perfect person to make them! We can give her half of the proceeds for making the shirts, I'm sure she'd be happy with doing it!"
"You know someone who makes clothes?" Hannah blinked, turning to her.
"I certainly do, and I also know that she happens to have the hots for a certain dragon keeper."
"All who think Merlot can handle getting the shirt orders?" Alden asked.
The entire house let out a cheer. Alden smiled. "Then I'm going to have you," he pointed to the young man who had the shirt idea. "Be head of the design team. Think you can handle it?"
"Yes! YES! I'll make a sign up sheet and take names for the next week. We can get a design to you by christmas."
"And until then, we'll sell the posters." Alden nodded. "And if you could make pins, that'd be great."
Hannah nodded and raised her bottle of butterbeer. "To the black wraith, Scortwit!"
"SCORTWIT!"
"OH HO HO SCORTWIT
THE BLACK WRAITH SCORTWIT!
HERE'S TO YOUR VICTORIES
AND HERE'S TO MANY MORE!"
—0—
And there's the next chapter. Sorry for the wait.
I'm thinking we'll have a few more chapters, one or two, before christmas. That'll have the mirror of erised fall on chapter forty or forty one, which should be perfect. The end of this first book should be within 50-60 ish chapters. Then we'll be on to the next book!
As always, leave a review, and until next time,
Adios.