AND THEY WERE WIZARDS. (Oh my god they were wizards)

From Rain

    (A poetic title that doesn't make me sound like a crackhead? Didn't know I could do that!)

    "Flint's just been to see me, we're playing Hufflepuff instead!"

    Roman's jaw dropped as the rest of the Gryffindor quidditch team questioned their leader. "Flint's excuse is that their seeker's arm's still injured," Wood fumed, "but it's obvious why they're doing it; don't want to play in this weather! Think it'll damage their chances."

Roman peered out the changing room window as a low rumble of thunder sounded outside. The weather had been getting steadily worse for weeks. It was bound to be dreadful when the day of the match came. Still, he would never have so cowardly lied his team out of playing.

    For it was indeed a lie, as Harry mentioned a second later. "There's nothing wrong with Malfoy's arm! He's faking it!"

    "I know that, but we can't prove it!" Said Wood. "We've been practicing all those moves assuming we're playing Slytherin, and instead, it's Hufflepuff. And their style's quite different." This reminded Roman that they did have a slight edge; he and Virgil had practiced together a few times, and often watched each other's practices. True, he'd been giving the Hufflepuff keeper insight on how he scored, but he'd also gained insight on how Virgil blocked. He wondered if he should mention this to Wood, so that they could strategize better. Would that be fair? Would Wood be angry? But the captain went on before Roman could decide, "they've got a new seeker and captain. Cedric Diggory."

    On either side of him, Katie and Angelina giggled. Roman smirked slightly as well, knowing what they meant by it.
"What?" Said Wood.

    "He's that tall, good looking one, isn't he?" Said Angelina.

    "Strong and silent," added Katie.
    Roman laughed with them, though for different reasons. His feelings on Cedric Diggory were mixed. On the one hand, he very much respected him as a team captain who valued his teammates, including Virgil. On the other hand, his good looks coupled with his kindness, plus his popularity and skills on the quidditch pitch, and topped off with the consistent time he spent around Roman's boyfriend, all added up to make Diggory rather threatening. Threatening... but still good looking. So his laugh was more of amused discomfort than anything.

    "He's only silent because he's too thick to string two words together." Said Fred. "I don't know why you're worrying, Oliver. Hufflepuff's a pushover. Last time we played them, Harry caught the snitch in about five minutes, remember?"

    "We were playing in completely different conditions! Diggory's put a very strong side together. He's an excellent Seeker. I was afraid you'd take it like this— we mustn't relax. We must keep our focus. Slytherin is trying to wrong-foot us. We must win."

    "Oliver, calm down." Said Fred, "we're taking Hufflepuff very seriously. Seriously."

    Roman, for one, absolutely was. He found it hard to say whether Virgil or Oliver were harder to get the quaffle past, and he'd be playing against him along with the rest of his team. He might have been looking forward to it, but the weather on the pitch as the Gryffindor team practiced dampened his hopes almost as much as it did his clothes. As soon as their practice ended, Roman set off to the castle to find Virgil, who would surely know about the rearrangements by now. Though he'd only just changed back into his school robes, they were as wet as his quidditch robes by the time he reached the entrance back into the castle. He found Virgil down the next corridor, clearly having come to see him as well. When they were face to face, they said simultaneously, "fuck Slytherin!"

    A Slytherin first year walking past turned to them looking indignant. "Not you," Virgil pointed her way without looking at her, "your quidditch team." He and Roman made for the other direction, towards no real destination.