The Reckoning of Emmie MacKenzie

A Taste of Victory

Emmie stared down at her breakfast, not feeling all too hungry at that moment. The weeks had passed all too quickly and it was now the morning of Hufflepuff's first quidditch match of the year against Ravenclaw. While her stomach was currently a jumble of nerves - as it usually was before a match - she was grateful for the distraction from her current boy issues and the attacks that quidditch afforded. In the run up, Fincher had increased practice, so with that, class, homework, prefect duties, and the ensuing exhaustion it all brought on, she didn't have time to even think about anything else.

That morning, Oliver Wood, Cedric Diggory and Marcus Flint were the farthest things from her mind.

"You need to-"

"Aye, I ken," Emmie said impatiently as she picked up a fork and started on her eggs. She looked over, seeing Kara shake her head.

"You know Fincher'll just say the same thing," Kara replied as she worked at her own breakfast.

Emmie glanced over to her other side, seeing the rest of the team laughing and scarfing down food.

"Need to eat more, Mac," Fincher ordered as soon as he saw her plate.

She offered up a wobbly smile before attempting to force more food into her mouth. They were all in their yellow and black quidditch jumpers while other members of their house wished them luck. The Ravenclaw table was watching them cautiously while Gryffindor and Slytherin seemed to be eagerly chatting among themselves over who would win.

Emmie was sure they all expected Ravenclaw to come out on top. While Hufflepuff wasn't bad or horrible by any means, they hadn't made it all that difficult for the other houses to underestimate them over the years. This was only Fincher's third year as captain - but he did seem more confident in the team this year. Which helped ease some of Emmie's nerves. And she reminded herself that their last few practices had been really good with Fincher going as far to say they had a decent chance at beating Ravenclaw if they kept up the momentum.

Yes, they could pull this off, Emmie thought to herself as her appetite finally kicked in and her anxiety abated. It was sure to be a good match.

"There it is. Mac's confidence has finally made its appearance," Parks joked.

She shot a playful scowl at him as she continued to eat. She did this every match. She'd toss and turn the night before. Come into breakfast worried and unable to eat. Then sometime during breakfast she would relax, and all was right in her world.

"Gonna need it if we're to win," Nickles said, glancing towards Ravenclaw. "They're pretty good this year."

"Yea, but we're better," Parks boasted, puffing his chest out.

Emmie just chuckled as she continued shoveling food into her mouth, knowing she'd need it. Parks was always going off like that before matches.

"There you are, Mac," Fred said as he and George popped up near the Hufflepuff table.

She was slowly starting to tell them apart with all the times she had run into them that year. Seemed the Weasley twins had taken an interest in her for some reason. As it was, they both had badgers painted on their cheeks. Not hiding who they were rooting for, it seemed.

"Just wanted to wish you luck," George said.

"We'll be cheering you on," Fred added, glancing at the team.

"Ehm, thanks," Emmie said, smiling at them.

They grinned at her and walked off with the team chuckling in their wake.

"Think one or both of them fancies Mac?" Nickles asked, winking at her. Emmie just rolled her eyes.

"They're my cousins - mother's side," she said, wrinkling her nose slightly at the suggestion.