Light Reserve

Your Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson wound up being extremely awkward. None of the girls sat near you and Professor Quirrell was really playing up his nerves from lunch as he, no doubt, tried to throw off any suspicion toward him. In your opinion, his fake stutter almost seemed to be over the top but everyone else bought it like usual. He suggested the calm activity of silently reading chapters from The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection then slumped back in his desk chair and nearly fainted again.

The rest of the forty-five minute lesson was spent in awkward silence.

And after that was History of Magic which was even worse. The ghost professor made his usual entrance by floating in through the chalkboard and then started lecturing in his normal boring monotone. Business as usual. He gave no sign that he was even aware that a student had nearly been killed two hours ago and didn’t even say anything to any of you before he started his lecture. But then again, he never had any kind of interaction with the students. He might as well have been lecturing to an empty room.

That was an amusing thought. You wondered if your least favorite professor - and that was a low bar considering one publicly accused you of attempted **** and another attempted to commit public **** - would even notice if you all walked out and left him alone to lecture an empty classroom.

Crabbe and Goyle were at least paying attention to Binns’ boring droning so you were grateful that you would have notes in the case that the ghost actually said something of worth.

Normally, you’d try to take a nap but after what happened at lunch combined with the lingering implications of what it might mean for the Quidditch match on Saturday… you couldn’t relax your mind enough to even try to sleep. You pulled out your Defense Against the Dark Arts textbook again and continued reading where you left off in Professor Quirrell’s class.

You glanced around the room and saw that most of the other Slytherins were in the same boat. A few of them copied your example. Unfortunately, since History of Magic was usually considered ‘nap time’ no one had packed anything more interesting to read.

And so you spent another forty-five minute class reading with the only noise being Binn’s boring droning.

That’s why it was actually a relief when you found Marcus Flint lurking inside the door to the common room when you returned from classes.

“Gaunt… come with me.”

The over six foot tall sixth year pushed his way through your fellow first years and out the common room door before it could fully close. You handed your school bag off to Goyle who was the tallest of the first years but was still over three inches shorter than Flint. “Could you follow Draco to our room and put that away for me, please?” He nodded and you left your fellow first years behind as you turned to follow Flint out of the common room.

It didn’t take you long to realise your Quidditch Captain was leading you toward the Potions classroom… which was where your Head of House’s office was.

“Pomfrey’s not gonna clear Bletchley to play on Saturday,” Flint stated. “She won’t release him ‘til the poison’s fully outta his system. That means you’re gonna be playing Keeper on Saturday. So we’ve gotta talk to Snape about getting you a decent broom.”

“I have a decent broom,” you informed him. Flint stopped in his tracks and gave you a hard stare so you hastily explained. “I impulsively purchased a Nimbus Two Thousand during the summer when I was doing my school shopping in Diagon Alley. I couldn’t help myself. I told myself I’d figure out a way around the rule that bars first years from having their own brooms when I got to school. The broom has been sitting in the store for months, already paid for, and they’re just waiting for an owl from me to have it delivered.”

“And you’re just telling me now?” Flint demanded.

“You’re the one who told me and Draco back at tryouts in September that Professor Snape wasn’t willing to break the first year rule like Professor McGonagall did with Potter. I decided to use this as an opportunity to show that I could be a decent Keeper without a fancy broomstick. I’m telling you now because now I’m actually going to be playing. And if there was ever going to be a chance that Professor Snape might change his mind… it would be now. Because he wouldn’t want to see Slytherin embarrassed by having me compete on a Shooting Star.”

Flint’s eyes narrowed. Even he must’ve realised how suspicious it was for you to have a quality broom already waiting. “I’m gonna ask you this once… and you’d better tell me the truth… did you put Bletchley in the Hospital Wing?”

“No!” you exclaimed. “I was on the other side of the room! I don’t even know how they did it!”

“DON’T BULLSHIT ME!” Flint roared. “I don’t care if Potter, Malfoy, McGonagall, Snape, and even bloody Dumbledore himself announced to the whole school that you didn’t do it! YOU’RE still my top suspect! I didn’t ask if you poisoned him! I asked if you put him there! You coulda bribed someone else to do it so you could keep your hands clean!”

That sounded like something Malfoy would do.

“No!” you insisted, “I want to play Keeper but not enough to poison someone to get the position!”

“Hmph, too bad,” Flint grunted with a shrug.

“Wait… WHAT!?”

“Anyone underhanded enough to have someone poisoned so they could make the starting lineup is someone I want on my side,” he said. “Because if that’s what they do to a teammate that’s in their way… I wanna see what they do to the other teams.”

You stared up at Flint in wide-eyed, open-mouthed shock. You knew he was underhanded… but he would’ve preferred if you orchestrated a housemate’s near-****?

That was Slytherin Quidditch for you.

“Well… good news then…” you said, “MY top suspect… is the same person who jinxed Potter’s broom back in November. If they can cast a Hurling Jinx on a brand new Nimbus Two Thousand from down in the stands… then I figure they could’ve also magicked the Hellebore into a goblet from across the Great Hall. The first **** attempt nearly killed the Gryfindor Seeker… and the second one gave you the opportunity to play a better Keeper on Sat…”

“Who says you’re a better Keeper than Bletchley?” Flint interrupted as he glowered down at you.

“THEY DID!” you blurted out. “They approached me before the first match in November. Made a comment about how they knew I was a better Keeper than Bletchley and said… ‘Let us hope that everyone playing today remains healthy.’ And then I watched through my Omnioculars as they tried to personally endanger Potter’s health! Bletchley was also playing that day! So in their eyes… BOTH of the **** attempts benefit the Slytherin Quidditch team… which means they’re ALREADY on your side.”

Flint blinked… and then blinked again as he slowly processed what you just revealed.

“So you DO know who did it,” he realised.

“Just because I know who did it, doesn’t mean I had anything to do with it!” you frantically replied. “This person’s going around trying to **** teenaged Quidditch players IN VERY PUBLIC SETTINGS! I’m trying to avoid being NEXT! I don’t want to tempt Fate by spilling their secrets because then you might find yourself playing with NO KEEPER on Saturday!”

“It seems we have a deadly benefactor then,” your bloody-thirsty Quidditch Captain resolved with an ugly twisted smile. You were surprised he knew the word ‘benefactor’. But you admittedly didn’t know much of anything about his or his family’s business dealings to guess where he might’ve learned it. “Let’s see if Snape is willing to change his mind about that broom.”

It turned out… he wasn’t.

“Absolutely not,” your Head of House refused.

“Sir… he can’t play the match on a school broom!” Flint argued.

“I told you… just as I told Professor McGonagall back in September that I will not stoop to her level and break the first year broom rule. I will not show that kind of favoritism in my house.”

“Oh, sure, now you choose not to play favorites!” Flint complained. “The runt’s got a Nimbus Two Thousand just waiting to be delivered!”

Suddenly, the dark tunnel-like eyes were locked on yours. If Flint noticed how suspicious it was that you had a top quality broomstick conveniently waiting for you to use this Saturday then, of course, the shrewd Potions professor would catch onto that too. You knew from all the way back in September, when Professor Snape caught you and Draco coming back from your late night duels with Potter and his gang, that your Head of House could read minds. Professor Snape likely hadn’t suspected you until Flint mentioned the broom but now he was looking to confirm it.

You quickly thought back to the incident from lunch and focused on your shock from when you heard that someone was poisoned, the relief from when you felt the bezoar in your pocket, and the wave of horror that struck you when you discovered WHO was poisoned.

And then, because you knew Professor Snape was already actively working against Quirrell from when he was trying to save Potter’s life during the match, you quickly reflected on the chilling conversation you had with the two-faced Defense Against the Dark Arts professor leading into the match.

“E-excited for the m-match, Mr. G-Ga-Gaunt?”

“Yes, professor, I bought these Omnioculars in order to do some scouting.”

“Ah, y-yes, I ha-heard that you were R-reserve K-keeper for the S-Slytherin t-team. In fact… I also heard th-that you are a g-gr-great deal b-better than Mr. B-Bletchley.”

“Well… I did better than him at the tryouts. But Flint decided that he wanted someone bigger. Plus I’m not allowed to have my own broom as a first year. So unless something happens to Miles Bletchley to prevent him from playing - I’m grounded this season. Not that I wish for anything bad to happen to him, of course.”

“Of course,” Quirrell agreed in a quiet, stutterless whisper, “Let us hope that everyone playing today remains healthy.”

You then attempted to convey the sheer TERROR you felt around the two-faced Defense Against the Dark Arts professor and your heartfelt desire to NOT be his next target.

To his immense credit, Professor Snape’s expression didn’t show if he’d seen ANY of what you just thought. He looked away for a moment and took a couple seconds to think something over then looked back at you. AT you. Not INTO you.

“Let me make myself perfectly, one hundred percent clear, Gaunt,” your Head of House resolved. “It doesn’t matter what top-of-the-line broomstick you purchased over the summer. First years are not allowed their own broom. If you’re so **** for one… ask an older student. Now leave. I’d advise you to keep a low profile… but we all know that will be next to impossible for someone of your standing… so the next time there’s an incident… I expect you to have the good sense to steer clear of it.”

You nodded and left the room with a furious Flint trudging along beside you.

“That was useless…” Flint complained.

“No, he told me exactly what I need to do,” you replied.

You’d think after five and a half years at Hogwarts with Professor Snape as his Head of House that Marcus Flint would be better at interpreting ‘Snape-speak’. Unlike Flint, you understood the hidden meaning in your Head of House’s words. He ‘told’ Professor McGonagall back in September that he wouldn’t stoop to her level… but given his blatant hatred for the first year she broke the rule for… he’d likely been rubbing her face in her misconduct all year. He couldn’t do the same thing for you without eating a ton of crow. And that was something he refused to do.

But also continuing in your Snape-speak translation… he insisted that first years could not have their own brooms… but then immediately added that could ask another student.

Everything slid into place and you understood the hidden meaning in the Slytherin Head of Houses’s words. YOU couldn’t have a Nimbus Two Thousand. But… if an older student had one… you were allowed to borrow it from them.

There was only one older student you trusted enough to hold onto an expensive top-of-the-line broomstick for you so you could use it for the match on Saturday. A wide grin spread across your face as you took off and ran the rest of the way back to the common room. When you got there, you hissed at the wall and ran inside then quickly scanned the room before eventually spotting her sitting with her friends.

“Gemma!” you called out as you threw yourself down in the surprised fifth year’s lap. “Have I ever told you that you’re my favorite prefect?”

Evanora Rowle spoke up first which was an oddity for the quietest member of the trio, “You don’t have to. You make it extremely obvious. After all, I don’t see you throwing yourself down in Perriss’s lap.”

“As a prefect… I’m not supposed to have a favorite,” Gemma remarked as her arm snaked around your waist, “But I’ve already gone on record stating that you’re my favorite first year… so that kneazle’s out of the bag.” She paused for a beat then asked, “How’re you holding up?”

“He’s looking awfully chipper for a first year who was just accused of attempted **** a few hours ago,” Lysandra Yaxley noted with a toothy grin.

“Didn’t you storm out?” you questioned. “How do you know what happened?”

The dark-haired girl rolled her eyes, “Because the most popular topics around the school are WHO poisoned Bletchley and HOW they did it.”

“The good news is…” the short blonde-haired Evanora spoke up again, “the more people ponder the how… the further they get from you being the who. Any magic that could’ve gotten the poison into Bletchley’s cup midway through the meal in front of an entire hall of witnesses is bound to be beyond the abilities of a mere first year.”

Well, that was reassuring.

Gemma gave you a pat on the back, “Since we’re on the subject… who do YOU think did it?”

“Well… I just came from Professor Snape’s office…” you recounted, “And he and Flint both seem to think that it’s the same assassin that tried to kill Potter during the first Quidditch match. If they could do a Hurling Jinx from down in the stands… in the middle of a gawking crowd… then they could’ve done the poison from across the Great Hall… also surrounded by a crowd.”

“Hmm… a repeat offender,” Yaxley remarked as she sent a toothy grin in your direction. Or was she grinning at Gemma? You couldn’t really tell. That girl still scared you.

“Nice try, kid,” Gemma said as she grabbed your chin and turned you to face her, “I wasn’t asking who they think did it. I was asking who you think did it. You’re the one who got caught in the middle of today’s incident. That gives you something of a unique perspective on it.”

“They think that… because I think that,” you clarified. “Flint actually said the words: ‘it seems we have a deadly benefactor’.” Yaxley let out a loud cackle. “I don’t know if I want to look too much further into it. If someone’s going around trying to **** Quidditch players… I’m not going to probe too far into their personal business because I’d like to avoid being NEXT. Professor Flitwick likes to say ‘third time’s the CHARM’.”

“Aww… poor, tasty little firstie…” Lysandra cooed, “Wanna come sit in my lap? I’ll protect you!”

You turned and eyed her warily. She was giving you another one of those toothy grins that told you she would EAT YOU ALIVE. You shook your head, “I think I’d be in MORE danger if I did that.”

“Speaking of sitting in laps,” Gemma commented as her arm snaked around your waist and pulled you back against her, “Any particular reason you’re in mine?”

Why did it suddenly feel like you were in the middle of a tug-of-war?

“Oh, yeah,” you remembered the reason you sought Gemma out. “I need to ask you a favor. As you’ve likely already figured out… Madam Pomfrey isn’t going to clear Bletchley for the match against Ravenclaw on Saturday. Which means… as Reserve Keeper… I’ll be the one playing on Saturday. If I show up for the match riding one of the Shooting Stars… I’ll be a laughingstock and even worse… we might lose. But first years aren’t allowed their own brooms. Professor Snape made it perfectly, one hundred percent clear that he is unwilling to break that rule on my account. BUT… what I can do is BORROW a broom from an older student.”

“You want to borrow my Cleansweep?” Gemma briefly clarified before she agreed to your unasked request. “Of course.”

“Yes and no,” you replied, “You see… I do have my own broomstick.” You quickly recounted the same story you told Professor Snape. “Before I made the Quidditch team, before I found out I was a decent flier, before I was sorted into Slytherin… I was a die hard Quidditch fan and I was determined to not only fly when I finally got to Hogwarts… but to look good doing it. So when I went into Quality Quidditch Supplies in Diagon Alley… I couldn’t help myself… and I ended up buying a Nimbus Two Thousand. I live in a muggle village and I’m basically a ward of the Ministry so I knew I was never going to be allowed to fly it at home which is why I didn’t take it from the store. I told myself I’d find a way around the first year rule once I got to school. It’s been sitting there all this time just waiting to be delivered.”

“I wish I had the money to spend on a Nimbus that I couldn’t actually fly,” Gemma grumbled. “I had to save up to buy my Cleansweep Seven when it came out four years ago.”

“Well… now you do have a Nimbus and you can fly it,” you told her. “Because I’m giving it to you. Consider it a gift for all the help and advice you’ve given me since I got here.”

Her sapphire eyes went wide in a shock and a pretty pink flush colored her cheeks.

Haha! Score one for Marvolo Gaunt!

“WHOA!” Yaxley exclaimed, “What do I have to do to become your favorite? Because if one of the side benefits is getting a free top-of-the-line broomstick… I’ll do it! I don’t even fly all that much but I’ll gladly ride your broomstick!”

The implications of the statement caught you off guard and suddenly your face went beet red.

Score one for Lysandra Yaxley…

Suddenly the scary fifth year girl practically leapt out of her seat and whirled around to face Pansy Parkinson - who you hadn’t noticed was in the corner with your yearmates.

“Call me a pedophile, Parkinson!” she challenged her. “It’s a four year age difference and I’m newly single! See what happens! I DARE YOU!”

Pansy stumbled backwards as she suddenly remembered she was terrified of Yaxley and fell against Millicent who was able to catch her roommate and keep her standing while she glowered at the vicious fifth year.

“Time to go!” Gemma quickly announced. “It’s cold outside. Get your cloak. I’ll go with you to the Owlery so you can send off the request to have that broomstick delivered.”

You slipped off of Gemma’s lap and rushed back to your room where you quickly retrieved your winter cloak then hurried back to the common room. Gemma and her two friends were no longer in their seats, she’d likely gone to retrieve her own cloak and hopefully warn her crazy friend away from you. You decided to update your yearmates while you waited for your escort to return.

“So… I can’t have a broom as a first year… but I can borrow one from an older student,” you explained, “And if said older student is suddenly gifted with the new Nimbus model… and they’re willing to let me borrow it… then I’m allowed to use that broom.”

Draco looked like he was contemplating exploiting that same loophole.

You continued with the drawback of your loophole, “The issue is finding an older Slytherin student you trust enough to hold onto a quality broomstick and still let you use it. As opposed to keeping it for themself so they can get a spot on the Quidditch team.” Trust was a hard commodity to come by when you lived in the snake pit. “Gemma was already willing to let me borrow her broom… so I trust her to hold onto the Nimbus for me.”

“Enough about brooms!” Pansy snapped. “What was that with Yaxley?” Blaise was shooting you an annoyed look too. What? Was he jealous or something?

“You’re asking me?” you asked. “That girl disturbs me. Congratulations Parkinson… there’s actually someone I want to date less than you. If I tried… I’d probably be missing some pieces before the year is out.” Blaise seemed mollified by that and Parkinson started to smirk as she no doubt saw your remark as encouragement. You quickly sought to dash that notion. “But don’t get ahead of yourself. You’re still nowhere close to the top of my list. Millicent is head and shoulders above both of you on account that I actually like her.”

Millie practically preened while Pansy glowered at you. Which told you your follow up comment hit its mark. Your best friend could use the boost in confidence and Parkinson could probably stand to lose some.

“Oh, and where do I fall on this list?” Your face immediately flushed when you felt a familiar pair of hands clasp the top of your shoulders while an equally familiar bust pressed into your back.

“Judging from his face… I’d say you still have the top spot,” Daphne noted with a smirk.

“Good to know,” Gemma remarked, “Come on then. If we get your letter sent off soon, your owl will have a better chance of making it to London before the shop closes.”

You nodded and followed the prefect to the door.

“Later, tasty!” a voice called after you.

You froze and looked back to see Lysandra Yaxley leaning against the edge of the girls’ hallway. The scary, dark-haired fifth year gave you a wave and another toothy grin.

You shuddered and Gemma scowled at her friend before she gave you a push out the entrance.

“I warned you to be careful around Lysandra,” Gemma reminded you as the two of you began your trek up to the entrance hall. “Now you’ve caught her interest.”

“You mean she wasn’t joking?” you asked.

“Only half-joking,” Gemma informed you. “She’s going to be testing you from now on and trying to gauge your interest. I previously placed you ‘off limits’ but I lost a bet recently and had to revoke that… and now Sandra’s caught your scent. She’s been eying you for a couple weeks now.” You thought back two weeks to your encounter with a bathrobe-clad Yaxley in the girls’ hallway on your way to your tutoring session with Gemma on the Colour-Change Charm. “In fact, she was the one who noticed you staring at the Jones girl during mealtimes. Made a snarky comment about how ‘my firstie’ was starting to stray.”

“What do you mean by ‘off limits’?” you inquired.

“Girls do it to keep their friends from dating a boy they like,” Gemma explained. “The rule is that you’re only allowed to apply it to one boy at a time. I’m pretty sure Parkinson swapped hers from Malfoy to you at some point last term… which is why Greengrass and Davis aren’t likely to go anywhere near you. Bulstrode, on the other hand, looks like she’s exploiting her best friend status to see how much she can get away with. The fact that you just said you’d date her before Parkinson will only encourage her.”

The Millicent thing was a surprise but you were still caught on the fact that Gemma marked you off limits. “And you marked me off limits with your friends?”

Did that mean she liked you?

“Not so I could date you,” she said, “But more to keep them off your back. They didn’t really bat an eye when I placed you off limits last term. Saw it as a wasted claim. But now they’ve likely caught on to why you’re my favorite. In a house meant for ambitious students… you’ve set yourself apart from your yearmates as the most ambitious of the lot. Your extracurricular studies and all the points you earned last term show that you’ve got a ton of potential. And that’s not even including your bloodline which can be traced back all the way to Salazar Slytherin. Something that’s extra enticing to a Slytherin pureblood from a ‘Sacred’ family.”

The pretty prefect frowned, “But… like I said… I had to revoke it. Now you’ll be swimming with a very dangerous kelpie. You know what those are, right? Shapeshifters... but most of the time they look like green water-horses. Kelpies lure unsuspecting people onto their back then ride with them out into the water... and then devour them. Notorious man-eaters. That’s the exact thing I was trying to protect you from. You can handle girls your age alright… but you’re not ready for the games that older girls play.”

“What was the bet?” you questioned.

She didn’t answer right away. You reached the entrance hall and exited the castle. A wall of cold greeted you when you stepped outside. Thankfully, you were both wearing your winter cloaks.

“It was a recent bet that revolved around you,” she eventually replied once you’d gone through the Clocktower Courtyard and began making your way across the grounds to the Owlery. There was a hint of annoyance sprinkled into her tone. She was likely still sore about losing the bet. Or, more than likely, since the bet apparently revolved around you then you’d done something that caused her to lose it. “I had to make a vow not to tell you what the bet was before, during, or after. I can mention the terms though… if I won… Sandra agreed to back off and you likely would’ve never had to worry about her. She probably would’ve settled for making jokes about me riding your broomstick.”

The innuendo caused your face to heat up in spite of the cold. “I’m not interested in your friend. She kind of scares me. But you already know you’re at the top of my list… you riding my broomstick would be a dream come true.”

“A part of me actually does want to take you up on that,” she confessed. “You’re already brimming with potential… and with your raw talent combined with some extra guidance… you could become one of the most influential wizards in our age. I’d be curious to see where I end up if I hitched my wagon to yours early on.”

That sounded like she was actually considering dating you! She REALLY DID like you! But you knew there was a crucial ‘but’ coming so you did your best not to get your hopes too high.

“But…” Gemma added after letting out a long sigh, “A fifth year dating a first year here in Hogwarts would be akin to social suicide. You’re fourteen. I turn eighteen at the end of May. Right now we’re only three years apart… but while we’re in school those three years might as well be three decades. You heard Parkinson back at the Quidditch match. You and I dating would draw a ton of derision and comments about me robbing the cradle. You’re not the only one who wants to make a name for themself. I can’t have all that extra scrutiny hanging on me if I want to have a successful career in the Ministry. You and I can’t be a thing while we’re here in school.”

Truthfully, a part of you had already realised that Gemma was never going to happen… that’s why you started looking for a more age-appropriate girl to date and had been pleased to discover Megan Jones at the Hufflepuff Table. But you were relieved that she hadn’t outright rejected you.

“Sandra… is another story,” the fifth year continued, “The Yaxley’s are one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight. That’s the kind of family that would actually encourage her to date a younger boy with your bloodline. Her father, Corban Yaxley, was one of those alleged **** Eaters who allegedly fought for the Dark Lord and avoided Azkaban with the Imperius Curse defense. He’d likely be thrilled to tie his family name to yours. I’d advise you to be extra careful around Sandra and give her no signs that you’re actually interested… because if her father catches wind that you’re a potential match for his daughter… you could find yourself staring down at a betrothal contract. People would look the other way regarding the age difference if you had one of those. But then you’d be spending your time at Hogwarts as ‘Property of Lysandra Yaxley’... and she’d probably bite you to mark her territory. You definitely wouldn’t make it through school in one piece.”

There she was looking out for you again. You thought back to Draco’s warning from after the Quidditch match after Parkinson made the ‘pedophile’ comment and Gemma sicced Yaxley on her (and him).

“All I’m saying is, for the sake of deciding your own future… be careful before you propose to that girl. There’s a strong chance that she’ll say ‘yes’ and you need to be prepared for all the consequences that entails.”

For a Slytherin, Gemma was always fairly honest about what she wanted from you. She was being realistic about your future prospects while warning you of someone who WOULD dish out consequences if you accidentally proposed to her. That’s why you trusted her. She’d been looking out for you since day one. Well, that was her job as a prefect. But she started actually paying special attention to you since month one.

“Dating is an essential part of the Hogwarts experience,” Gemma told you as you made your way up the steps to the Owlery. “I’ve done it… ‘Sandra’s done it… and I wouldn’t want you to be deprived of your chance to do it yourself.” She gave you a pointed grin, “The Jones girl you’ve been making eyes at was certainly quick to run over and reassure you that she didn’t think you were a murderer. How’d that happen, by the way?”

“Professor Sprout presented me with the opportunity to tutor one of the first year Hufflepuffs who was struggling with Potions,” you explained. “She offered me House Points if I could help him improve. She’s the only Head of House I haven’t earned points from so I took her up on it. The first session went well but we realised it was going to take more than one meeting to help him improve… so I joined the Hufflepuffs at their table last Saturday to arrange a follow up session. One made a comment about my Irish National Team Quidditch robes and then I simultaneously offended all of them by saying Ireland was my pick for the next World Cup. Megan threatened to set her cousin Gwen on me and gave me a new perspective to look at Quidditch from. And I got her to agree to tryout for the Hufflepuff Quidditch team next year.”

“YOU DID WHAT!?”

You jumped at the volume of her shout and saw that she’d stopped in her tracks on the step ahead of you, “Er… encouraged her to tryout? Her friends all insisted she was the best flier in her class. But I think she was holding herself back because her cousin’s a professional Quidditch player who casts a huge shadow.”

“You do realise that you could’ve just handed Hufflepuff a valuable weapon to use against you?”

“Yes, and I appreciate the competition and the challenge,” you told her, “It’s the same reason why I compare my academic marks to Granger’s. Her being good means I’ll have to be better in order to beat her. Jones has a ton of potential and I’d hate to see it wasted.”

Gemma shook her head and grumbled as she started stomping the rest of the way up the steps, “Where were you three and a half years ago?”

“What?” you asked as you hurried along after her.

“I said… where the hell were you three and a half years ago…” Gemma repeated with an edge of bitterness in her voice, “When I tried to tryout for the Slytherin team?”

“Er… I was likely in a shack… dreaming of one day being here,” you answered. You remembered Gemma’s story from the day she stuck Graham Montague upside-down to the back of the broomshed about how the previous Quidditch Captain Selwyn wouldn’t allow girls on the team. “I’m sorry they didn’t let you tryout. That’s not fair.”

“Just do me one favor… okay?” she requested, “I’m happy to help you get around the broom rule… because that means your foot’s in the door. With your work ethic, natural talent, and cunning mind for strategy… it’s an inevitably that you’ll eventually become Quidditch Captain.”

Wow. You hadn’t even played your first Quidditch match but from her sheer faith in you she already saw you as a potential future Quidditch Captain.

“So when that day finally comes… and you have to hold tryouts to fill the empty spots on your team… and a plucky second year girl with dreams of one day playing professional Quidditch shows up and wants to tryout… you think of me and you pay it forward and you let her.”

Once again, Gemma was making it blatantly clear what she wanted from you in exchange for her help. It was in a Slytherin’s cunning and ambitious nature to expect something in return for helping someone. And in this case… her ‘price’ was something you were happy to give.

“Of course,” you agreed. “You already know that my favorite Quidditch player is a woman. You gave me that Blythe Parkin poster for Christmas. And it’s not lost on me that some of the best Quidditch players in school are girls. I’m not stupid enough to waste talent.”

“Good,” Gemma said with a relieved nod, “And if that plucky second year proves she’s the best of the lot… you’ll give her the open spot on the team?”

“I wouldn’t give her anything,” you insisted, “If she proves she’s the best of the lot… then she’ll have EARNED that spot. If someone else is better… they’ll get the spot. Either way, I promise that - when I’m Captain - everyone will get their fair shot at trying out for my team.”

Gemma smiled, “Fantastic. Then I can rest easy knowing that the cycle of brainless meatheads will eventually be broken. The Slytherin Quidditch team will finally be in good hands.”

You entered the Owlery together and were pleased to find it devoid of students. Romeo glided down from the rafters and landed on your shoulder.

“Hey there,” you greeted your pet and likely stroked the barred owl’s ashen feathers, “I’ve got a very important mission for you. I haven’t written the letter yet but I need you to bring it to Quality Quidditch Supplies in Diagon Alley as fast as you can. I bought a broom there and need it to be delivered as soon as possible. Tomorrow if possible.”

Gemma handed you a quill and parchment and you went over to a perch and used it as a flat surface to write out a note requesting the delivery of your Nimbus Two Thousand and included specific instructions to have the broom delivered in the Great Hall at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry… to trusted and responsible fifth year prefect Gemma Farley.

A moment later, the two of you were watching as Romeo flew south toward London.

“This’ll be a test of your owl’s speed,” Gemma mused, “If he gets there before the shop closes tonight… then they’ll send the broom out as an overnight delivery and it will be delivered with the owl post at breakfast tomorrow. But… if he doesn’t make it in time… then it’ll be sent out first thing in the morning as a day delivery. A team of owls carrying a broom together is going to be a fair bit slower than a lone owl with no package so you’ll be lucky if it arrives in time for dinner.”

“Friday practice is after dinner,” you stated, “So either way I get to break in a new broom ahead of the match.” You looked over at the prefect standing beside you, “Thanks for doing this, Gemma.”

“Of course, kid,” she assured you as she threw her arm over your shoulders. “This is your big chance… and I’m sure you’ll do great.”

“You really think so?” you asked, “I haven’t played in front of a crowd before.”

“You’re going to have Artemis as the Ravenclaw Keeper,” Gemma pointed out, “All you have to do is NOT be completely incompetent and you’ll automatically look better by comparison.”

“I’m still worried about Mateo,” you admitted. “I should be able to handle Davies and Stretton since they’re still new. But Mateo’s a veteran Chaser with a fast Comet Two-Sixty and an effective signature maneuver.”

“Then at practice tomorrow ask Flint to help you defend against it,” she advised. “On Saturday, it’s not a matter of IF she’ll do it. It’s a question of how many times. Even Flint will realise that it’s important to have a proper defense. Of your Chasers… I’d say Pucey has the best chance of pulling it off. I know he’s fond of that Silver Arrow he flies… but if he’s having trouble you could try swapping brooms. The newer Nimbus is a lot faster than a classic Silver Arrow so it should give him the extra speed he needs for the maneuver.”

Gemma had a sound mind for Quidditch strategy. the kind that came from being a true fan of the game.

“It really is a travesty that you never got a chance to tryout for the team,” you reflect, “I would love to have a teammate like you. And I promise… if I’m ever Quidditch Captain… that will be the first thing I change.”

“Good to hear,” Gemma replied as she slipped her arm down to your waist and pulled you against her. “Until then… I’ll just have to live vicariously through you. And hey… if you put on a good showing on Saturday… and Flint pulls his head out of his arse now that we’ve solved your broom problem and agrees to start you against Hufflepuff… and you’re not dating a Puff or betrothed to Yaxley… we can discuss the terms of our friendly wager where I offered to snog you if you shutout Tammy Apples.”

Gemma let out a melodious laugh at the sight of your resulting blush. And this time Pansy wasn’t there to ruin the moment for you.

“You sure you want to make another wager after you lost another bet recently?” you countered.

“It’s more meant as an incentive as opposed to an actual bet,” she replied. “But in that case… that’s a bet I’d be happy to lose.”

Somehow your blush got even brighter and you rode the high that came from the prospect of shutting out one of the best Chasers in the school and getting a reward snog from the Perfect Prefect all the way back to the common room.

Marvolo Gaunt House Point Ledger

Current Total: +90

Points awarded by: SS, RH, QQ, MM, FF, + AD