Snitch-Seeking Celia

Seeker?!

         When somebody passes away, you'd think that everyone would be in mourning, and not care about certain unimportant things such as quidditch. Boy was I wrong. The Hufflepuff Quidditch team has always been underrated, and when Cedric Diggory came along they suddenly started to get a reputation again. Well, as you all know, Cedric was murdered by Lord Voldemort at the end of the last school year. It was an painful death, and the whole of Hufflepuff house was a mess, including me. Cedric had been my tutor, and throughout the years had become a really great friend. He was kind, authentic, and really grounded. He was the perfect person to be around because you could be yourself and he wouldn't judge. He was probably the only person I was comfortable with besides my three best friends. 

      As I was saying though, Hufflepuff was doomed after the death of Cedric. Not only was he a leader, but he was a fantastic seeker. I watched as my friend frantically looked through her notes, trying to find someone, anyone, who could play seeker. She had been appointed captain this year, and she had quite a bit to live up to. She looked at me, pulling her dirty blond hair up into a ponytail, "What am I supposed to do Lia? No one wants to play seeker...they are too embarassed to be on our team." She said, flopping back on her bed and crossing her arms. I sighed, we had had this conversation about ten times in just the last hour. 

"I don't know what to tell you Lizzy, not many people in Hufflepuff are hardcore quidditch players, let alone seekers." I stated, trying to be comforting but failing miserably. She glared at me. "Are you being serious right now? You think I don't know that?" She asked me, and I grinned guiltily. "Guys! I got an idea for the seeker!" Our other friend in Hufflepuff shouted as she burst into the dormitory. We both glanced at her, trying not to laugh. Her hair was sticking straight up, and her uniform was rather ruffled. "Are you okay?" Lizzy asked her, and she just shrugged.

"Why do you ask?" She questioned, looking at herself. 

"Well, you er, seem a bit disoriented..." I said, trying to be careful with what I said. Echo tended to have a rather strange temper where anything could set her off any moment. She frowned, "Well I've been searching for people who want to join the team, and I've got every position except a seeker. I couldn't find a seeker because, well...no one wants to be seeker" she explained quickly, avoiding making eye contact with Lizzy. All of a sudden she was engulfed in a strangling hug from Lizzy, someone who almost never hugged. "Thank you thank you thank you!" She said, kissing Echo's cheek and dancing around the room. Then narrowing her eyes she turned to me, "Soooo hey Lia" she said, and I immediately backed away. This didn't look good. "What do you want, Liz?" I asked hesitantly, and she just smiled. 

      "You're the new seeker for the Hufflepuff Quidditch team." She stated, crossing her arms triumphantly. I fell backwards, out of my chair and onto the floor. Glaring at her I responded, "You think clumsy old me is going to be a seeker? Yeah, no way." I responded, copying her menacing body language. She laughed, "Clumsiness can be fixed, but I've seen the way you grab things when you accidentally drop them...you could be a good seeker." She said, giving me puppy dog eyes. "I'm not a quidditch player, I mean occasionally I'll look at Quidditch Through the Ages, but other than that I'm not your guy." I said, trying to make her realize picking me would only make our reputation worse. "I'm making you, no matter what happens you are on this team. That is final." She stated, and I let out an exasperated sigh. Once Lizzy Gillard made up her mind there was no turning back. Echo looked at me amused, plopped down on her bed, and pulled out one of her muggle fantasy books. I stood up, "I'm going to the kitchens, and no Lizzy, I want to be alone for a bit." I said quietly, turning and walking out of the room, my robe laying forgotten on the floor. 

                                                                                      *   *   *

       Sitting back against the black leather couch in the kitchen, I finished off my second bowl of pineapple. It's my strange addiction, and the house elves have just come to accept that I would eat the majority of the pineapple in the kitchens. "Would you like some more Miss Celia?" A smaller house elf named Snimmy asked. I shook my head, "Thank you so much for the excellent service! How are you doing tonight?" I asked, looking at Snimmy intrigued. Her eyes widened, "I-I best b-be getting back to work Miss Celia, it was n-nice seeing you again" she sniffed, before shuffling off and taking shelter in the pantry. I chuckled to myself, maybe one day the house elves would get more accustomed to me. "What're you doing in here?" I heard someone ask, and turning around I shrugged, "Getting food, no big deal." I replied. I felt the cushion on the couch sink, and sitting next to me was Fred Weasley. "You know, you don't have to be so cold-hearted towards me." He tried, giving me a cocky grin. Glaring I stood up and moved to a different couch. "Maybe I would actually try to be nice if you hadn't played all those pranks on me the last four years." I replied, with venom practically spitting from my mouth. He winced, "I've told you a million times, that was George! I had no idea he was doing them!" He said quietly, and I chanced a glance at him. He did look sincere, but I wasn't buying it. The Weasley twins were better liars than most people. Sighing I stood up, "I'll try to be civil, at least during school." I said, trying not to hint too much at the fact that I was now a seeker for their opposing team. "What do you me-" he started to ask, but his voice was quickly shut out once the door to the kitchens closed behind me. I didn't want to continue a conversation with someone who had purposely humiliated me in front of the school.