Aria Black and the Prisoner of Azkaban *Re-Write*

Shoddiest Chaser Ever to Fly the Pitch

My brows furrow at Oliver's news. "What?"

Katie quit the team? I thought there was some hope of her redemption, but she will forever be under McLaggen's spell I guess.

"Who are we going to find on such short notice?" I cry. "Our next match is in two days! How can we-"

Oliver clears his throat. "That's what we're going to talk about. Do we know anyone who can fly, let's start with that?"

We all exchange looks. No one looks sure of themselves.

"Can we take someone from another house?" Alicia asks. "Your friend Jeremy plays Chaser for Ravenclaw, doesn't he?"

Oliver shakes his head. "I already asked McGonagall. She vetoed that idea."

"What about playing with only two chasers?" Angelina says. "Alicia and I can do it."

Fred nods his approval. "Yeah, then it would be easier for George and I to protect everyone. You know how the Slytherins like to attack our people."

Oliver groans. "She vetoed that one too. McGonagall also said that we couldn't host tryouts, because there wouldn't be enough time. And we aren't even playing Slytherin. Flint's just been to see me. We're playing Hufflepuff instead."

"Why?"

"Flint's excuse is that their Seeker's arm's still injured." Oliver huffs. "But it's obvious why they're doing it. Don't want to play in this weather. Think it'll damage their chances...." Oliver says sadly, head in his hands. "We've been practicing all those moves assuming we're playing Slytherin, and instead it's Hufflepuff, and their style's quite different. They've got a new Captain and Seeker, Cedric Diggory."

Alicia giggles. "Cedric Diggory is their new Captain?"

Oliver frowns. "Yeah, so?"

"Isn't he the tall, good-looking one?" Angelina asks. "Strong and silent?" Alicia nods happily.

Fred rolls his eyes. "He's only silent because he's too thick to string two words together. 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?"

Oliver is livid. His hands massage his temples with enough force to knock them into his brain. "We were playing in completely different conditions!" He yells.

I go over to him and grab his hands softly. Oliver pushes me aside. Disappointed, I step away.

"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 cries, stepping forward with his hands gesturing wildly. "And we must find a new Chaser!"

George nods, looking worried about his friend. "We're taking it seriously mate." He says calmly. "Really we are."

The team is quiet for a moment. The wind howls around us, storms blowing closer. Saturday's match will not be pretty.

"Is there any hope of getting Katie back?" Harry asks, breaking the silence.

Oliver shakes his head. "She told me that she would never join this team again."