Year 1: Breaking Traditions

Chapter 13: Changing Paces

When Keith arrived back to the common room there was a note on his bed.

We had to take a small emergency trip for business. Will be back Monday. Behave -Shiro

Keith frowned slightly at it because what business did they have outside of Hogwarts? He knew Shiro had mostly retired and was really only supposed to be giving advice out. He wasn't supposed to be in the field as far as Keith knew.

Them being gone meant they would miss both the Quidditch match on Saturday and their tea season.

Oddly enough Keith felt a bit alone for the first time since he arrived at Hogwarts. Just not in the way he had wanted.

He stuffed the letter away and left the notes Rigby had left for McClain on McClain's bed under the pillow in hope no one else saw. She seemed to have already expected the note from Adam and had notes prepared.

He headed back down where the rest of the Gryffindors were also filtering around dinner was soon and with it officially being the end of day and with a Quidditch match in the morning there was a new feeling in the air.

Keith hadn't met who their Quidditch players were yet but judging by how a few students were being swarmed and the past few days he had an idea. He knew most of their players were older. Ready to graduate in the next year or two. It had lead to complaints from Adam about the potential team in the next few years while Hufflepuff's team was still rather green.

"More than half the team this year is made up from 3rd and 4th years," Shiro had complained

"Ours is all 6th and 7th with a few random 3rd years. We will suffer next year if the 3rd years don't step up," Adam had added

So on paper it looked great for Gryffindor however even he had heard the rumor of the Hufflepuff beaters.

There were two new Hufflepuff beaters. Best friends. Third years. No one has seen them yet but the rest of the Hufflepuffs couldn't help but be openly excited about them which led to the rumors.

"It helps when you are close to your teammates like that," Griffin had commented when the rumor first started, "Best friends or siblings already have that upper hand. They are in sync before the rest of the team is typically."

"You plan on trying out for the team next year?" One of the first year girls had asked

Griffin of course puffed his chest like a peacock, "Of course! We are going to need a new seeker after all!"

Keith didn't think Griffin fit the seeker profile but he let it go.

Griffin wasn't the only one who shared interest in joining in the future. Keith knew he would... if he could figure out the flying but more properly. There was also a 2nd year girl who didn't try this year but had plans on trying next year. Keith had watched her a few morning practicing before teams arrived. She fit the seeker title better, he thought.

Either way the roll of excitement for tomorrow's match seemed to be growing heavier. Maybe it was just due to it being their own house this round though.

But they still had another night to wait and find out what the talk was really all about

———

Professor Wright was right of course. Lance didn't have to fade back to the darkness and be alone.

But at the same time he didn't fully feel ready

So he took a tiny step.

When he entered the Great Hall for dinner he ignored the eyes of his sisters like normal but gave Matt a small smile when his eyes fixed onto him. He didn't sit next to him but the smile was fine for now.