𝐈𝐈𝐈. 𝐀𝐆𝐎𝐑𝐀 | 𝐏𝐉𝐎 𝐗 𝐇𝐏

𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧, 𝗯𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵𝘀

THE WEATHER WORSENED STEADILY as the first Quidditch match drew nearer. Undaunted, the Gryffindor team was training harder than ever under the eye of Madam Hooch. Then, at their final training session before Saturday's match, Oliver Wood gave his team some unwelcome news.

"We're not playing Slytherin!" he told them, looking very angry. "Flint's just been to see me. We're playing Hufflepuff instead."

"Why?" chorused the rest of the team.

"Flint's excuse is that their Seeker's arm's still injured," said Wood, grinding his teeth furiously. "But it's obvious why they're doing it. Don't want to play in this weather. Think it'll damage their chances. . . ."

There had been strong winds and heavy rain all day, and as Wood spoke, they heard a distant rumble of thunder.

"There's nothing wrong with Malfoy's arm!" said Harry furiously. "He's faking it!"

"I know that, but we can't prove it," said Wood bitterly. "And we've been practicing all those moves assuming we're playing Slytherin, and instead it's Hufflepuff, and their style's quite differ- ent. They've got a new Captain, Cedric Diggory —"

Angelina, Alicia, and Katie suddenly giggled.

"What?" said Wood, frowning at this lighthearted behavior. "He's that tall, good-looking one, isn't he?" said Angelina. "Strong and silent," said Katie, and they started to giggle again.

"He's only silent because he's too thick to string two words together," said Fred impatiently.

"Hey!" A new voice joined them. They all turned to see Lilith standing there, arms crossed and a pout on her face.

"I don't know why you're worried, Oliver, Hufflepuff is a pushover. Last time we played them, Harry caught the Snitch in about five minutes, remember? And Lil, why are you wearing that?" George demanded.

Lilith was dressed in her Gryffindor scarf, a Gryffindor beanie, but most importantly to them-- she was wearing a Hufflepuff jersey. Cedric's jersey, to be specific. Then there was paint on both sides of her cheek, on her left side, it was Gryffindor colors, on the right side, was Hufflepuff colors.

"I'm showing my support equally!" Lilith exclaimed excitedly.

"But you're in Gryffindor!" Harry said exasperatedly, "Yeah, but Ceddy's in Hufflepuff! I've got to show my support for him somehow.. Or else he'll think I hate him!" Lilith said sadly.

Oliver was giving her the stink eye, she knew how much it meant to him to win the Quidditch Cup, yet there she was, supporting the enemy.

"Don't look at me like that, Oli!" Lilith huffed, "I've been only wearing Gryffindor for the past two years! Ceddy's also one of my closest friends, okay? You can't make fun of him!" She demanded.

"Alright, alright." Oliver grumbled, he then reached over to press a kiss on her forehead, and wiped the Hufflepuff colors from her face. "The jersey only is enough, don't you think?" He smiled cheekily as Lilith tried to slap his hands away.

He then turned to the team once more.

"We were playing in completely different conditions!" Wood shouted, his eyes bulging slightly. "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, looking slightly alarmed. "We're taking Hufflepuff very seriously. Seriously."

The winds reached howling point and the rain fell harder than ever. It was so dark inside the corridors and classrooms that extra torches and lanterns were lit. The Slytherin team was looking very smug indeed, and none more so than Malfoy.