The Slytherin Mudblood: Book 1

Chapter 8

QUIDDITCH PRACTISE AND A NEW BROOM

I awoke, practically forgetting that last night I fought a troll. I jumped out of bed realising I was late for breakfast so I dashed upstairs and burst into the Great Hall. Everyone was staring at me, I looked down and my robes were covered in cabinet dust and troll blood because I forgot to change my robes. I sat down next to Daphne and awaited the breakfast feast. As soon as I sat down, Professor McGonagall tapped her glass to signal the attention of everyone, and they quieted down. 

Dumbledore stood up and announced, "I have a few things to say to everyone and some house points to award. Firstly, the trolls that lurked in the dungeons have been taken care of. I would like to congratulate three first years for taking down the trolls!" Everyone clapped for us and he continued, "The first two students I would like to congratulate are Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley of Gryffindor, for taking down the first troll in the girls lavatory to save Hermione Granger, using a levitation spell. Five points for Gryffindor!"

Everyone clapped for them but specifically Gryffindor students. Dumbledore begain again, "The third student I would like to congratulate is Victoria Haynes from Slytherin. Five points for single-handedly taking down the troll and five extra points for creative use of sleeping draught and quidditch skills to defeat the troll. Miss Haynes, if you would please, report to Slytherin Quidditch Captain: Marcus Flint.  With the perfect aim of your arm, you would be an excellent Chaser on the Slytherin Quidditch Team. Please give a round of applause for Victoria Haynes."

Everyone clapped, even more so Slytherin, and cheered for me. It felt magical. I would be the youngest Chaser in quidditch history! All because of stupidly searching for a troll! Daphne cheered, "Oh-Em-Gee, Victoria! Congrats! You took down a troll and now you're a Chaser. Wait, what happened to your robes?"

"Oh, that's dust and troll blood from the fight last night and I forgot to change. Who is this 'Marcus Flint?'" I questioned her.

"It's the kid over there with the black hair and messed up teeth. I think he's scowling at you," Daphne answered and pointed to him.

I noticed him right away and he was indeed scowling at me so I waved to him. I knew that he didn't like me. The whole Slytherin lot didn't like me because I was a muggle-born. Literally, ALL of them called me a mudblood. So to be safe, I asked Daphne to accompany with me and she agreed. I noticed Draco also scowling at me, probably because he longed so much to be on a Quidditch team and I got on before him. 

Once we finished with breakfast, I changed into some jeans and a green jumper. Daphne and I skipped class and headed outside to the flying grounds. Marcus was already there with a large box and two brooms. He already had a wicked grin on his face, "Why is she here?" referring to Daphne.

"She's here because I know you don't like me. I'm a so-called 'mudblood,'" I reminded him.

He let the sass slide and introduced me to the quidditch equipment, "This big red ball is a quaffle, your job as a chaser is to catch the ball and throw it into the three hoops scoring us ten points. 

These feisty, smaller, brown balls are bludgers. They tend to have a mind of their own. Their job is to be hit by beaters towards the other team to knock people off their brooms, so don't get hit by one. 

This last ball is the golden snitch." Marcus held a golf-sized ball with golden wings. "The seeker will try to catch this Baby to earn us one-hundred fifty points, and catching it ends the game.

There is also a keeper. They block the quaffle from going through the hoops. At the start of the game the ball is thrown into the air and caught by a chaser to score goals. Chasers must be fast and agile, have good aim, and can intercept the ball from the other team. Got it?" Marcus explained.

"All of it," I said proudly. I made sure to take mental notes on everything he said, it was important to remember everything to better my chances at playing.

We practised for all of the first period by having Marcus throw me the quaffle, having me "score," and improve my dodging skills for the bludgers. He blocked a few goals, but I was really good! Marcus even said so! 

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Our first game is today, we will play against Gryffindor. They have a new seeker, Harry Potter, but I don't have to worry. My position doesn't really associate with the seekers. After practice was done, we went to study in the Great Hall. I was zoned out with a quidditch book from the library called Quidditch Through the Ages because I had to learn as many tips and tricks and rules as possible in the little time I had. 

The messenger owls came through the open window in the ceiling, each carrying two long parcels. The first, white, one dropped behind me on the Gryffindor table, and the second, black one, dropped right in front of me. It scared Daphne, me, and Draco, since we were all studying together.

"Did any of you guys expect something this big?" I was confused as to why it dropped in front of us three.

"No, but let's open it! It's obviously for one of us," Daphne replied, already reaching for the ties.

All three of us unwrapped the mysteriously long gift and revealed it to be a broom! Draco was so surprised, his bright gray eyes widening, "Victoria, you got a Nimbus Two Thousand Broom! That's the current fastest broom ever made! It costs, like, five hundred galleons!"

Hermione looked at us joyfully, "You guys got one too? So did Harry!"

"Shut up, Granger," Draco said to her.

"Now, now Draco," I glared at him.

"Yes, but she likes to hang around Pottah and Weaselbee," he responded with a disgusted look.

"Well, will you stop for now? Do it for me at least, I already have to play him today," I requested, trying to compromise with him.

Draco looked away, which hopefully meant he understood. I shook hands with Harry as a good luck in today's game. I smiled at Draco and he grinned back, wished me good luck, and I headed to the locker rooms to change and get ready for the game.