Belladonna

The Rogue Bludger

Belladonna 12

The Rogue Bludger

7 November 1992

"I want a good clean match. That goes for everyone."

Madame Hooch said her words were meant for everyone, but her eyes lingered on Marcus and the Slytherin beaters. Ana stood on the front line next to Adrian and Draco, but her eyes were on Fred. She admired the way he never backed down. Marcus and Wood shook hands, and Madame Hooch blew her whistle.

Ana was the first in the air, and she rose above everyone else to grab the quaffle. She raced towards the Gryffindor goal posts, swerved to dodge a bludger—curtesy of Fred—and passed the quaffle to Adrian. From there it was a fast paced game of "catch-me-if-you-can." On their new brooms the Slytherins were a blur of green. They had thirty points in before Ana realized that something was off.

Ana hadn't seen or heard Fred and George since the beginning of the match, and only one bludger was being targeted at the Gryffindor team. Ana looked around to find the twins circling Harry and continuously knocking away an unusually persistent bludger. The Slytherins got in three more goals before Wood called for a timeout. Ana landed on the ground beside Adrian.

"Those two dunder-heads can't see us enough to knock the bludger our way," Bole said smugly.

"That's not what's going on," Ana defended before she could stop herself.

"What would you know of it?"

"A bit more than you."

"Ana's right," Adrian said. "They're focused on trying to keep the other bludger from Potter. I think they're looking for a quick win."

"Well that's their mistake," Marcus said. "We'll draw it out; make it long and agonizing."

"We should call for an inquiry." Ana's suggestion was met with a cold silence.

"You're mad," Draco said at last.

"Calling for an inquiry would mean forfeiting the match," Marcus said.

"Yes, but as the inquiring team we'd set the date for the rematch," Ana said. "That bludger has clearly been tampered with."

"This match would still go down as a loss."

"It would be a draw only until the rematch is played."

"Even I think that's a bit mad, Ana," Adrian said.

"Call for an inquiry, Marcus. We can get this bludger sorted out, have a rematch next Saturday, and then slaughter them. Wouldn't you rather win without any outside interference?"

"A win is a win," Bole said. Then he turned to Marcus. "She's mental, Marcus. Don't listen to her."

"She's always been at bit barmy," Draco added.

"Oh! I'm sorry. I forgot. Prince Draco needs a little extra help to catch the snitch before Potter does."

Draco narrowed his beady eyes at Ana and stepped towards her menacingly.

"Please. You'll have to do better than that, Draco, if you wish to frighten the Wicked Witch."

Marcus stepped between the two, a toothy snarl on his face. "You need to learn your place, Evans, or do you need a further lesson in that matter. I'm the captain, and we're not calling for an inquiry."

There was a tense silence between all those present, until Adrian broke it. "Better mount up; looks like they're ready to play again."

Ana hitched a leg over her broom and left the others in her dust. She was furious with them, all of them really. She wanted to win as much as they did, but she didn't want for there to be any doubt in anyone's mind that they were the best. A rouge bludger was reason to doubt.