Clubs! -Harry Potter Hogwarts Mystery

The First Challenge

The club contest seemed to be all anyone would talk about the following week. Rowan was right about the competition being fierce. The Sphinxes and Dragons had developed an intense rivalry, and shouting matches had already broken out in the corridors.

"What about the Hippogriffs?" said Penny angrily, as the passed another fight between the Dragons and Sphinxes. "We have just as much chance of winning as everybody else."

The worst pressure was on the rare student who was in more than one club. For the contest, they were having to choose a side. This usually meant outrage and shunning from the club that hadn't been picked. They were also pressured into spying on the other clubs.

The teachers were getting sick of it. After telling Charlie off again for wearing his Dragon badge in class, McGonagall burst out, "Really, this is getting out of hand. The purpose of the clubs is for exceptional students to be recognized for their prowess, not for them to become a pack of thundering trolls. These groups are still in a trial run, and I am certain they will be disbanded if this appalling behavior continues."

This calmed things down a bit. Still, there was a tense atmosphere in the great hall at breakfast on the morning of the contest. "Why did they have to set the contest on a Hogsmeade weekend?" said Charlie, watching hoards of students putting on hats and coats in preparation for the walk to the village.

"I expect so the students who aren't in clubs have something to do," said Rowan. "This way, they don't feel left out."

Once the plates and goblets vanished and only club members were in the hall, Professor McGonagall stood at the podium.

"The first club trial is about to start. If the Dragons would sit here"—she gestured to the Ravenclaw table—"the Hippogriffs here"—she pointed to the Ravenclaw table—"and the Sphinxes here"—she pointed to the Slytherin table.

Everyone hurried to their new seats, eager to begin. "Now," said McGonagall, "the first task will test your problem solving skills, as well as speed and agility. For this task each club will select one member to participate."

"Well, that's gotta be me then, doesn't it?" said Skye.

"How do we know speed and agility means flying?" asked a sixth year Ravenclaw.

"Course it means flying, when have you ever seen a wizard running anywhere?" Skye told her.

"I could go," said Andre. "I'm a good flyer too. And I'd probably be a better problem solver."

"Sure, Egwu. Come see me when you're on the cover of the Daily Prophet," she said.

Sarah though privately that the article she was talking about had been mostly about her, but decided not to say anything.

"Alright, we'll let you do it then," said Hall.

Skye stepped forward, next to a seventh year Hufflepuff chaser called Perkins. To her delight, Barnaby had been chosen as the flyer for the Hippogriffs. Once they'd all been selected, McGonagall waved her wand. Three envelopes appeared and hovered in front of the three players.

"Inside these envelopes is a clue that will lead you to another envelope with another clue. Once you have found three envelopes, return to the great hall. On the count of three, you may take these envelopes to your clubs and work out what your clue means. Then, you may grab a broom," she waved her wand again, and three brooms appeared, "and set off. Understood? Very well. One, two, three."

Skye grabbed her envelope, ripping it open as she ran back to their table. She read the clue aloud:

I can be found where many fly,

Above the noise of many cries,

Up above the tallest peak,

Lies the clue that you seek.

"Quidditch pitch," said Skye, mounting her broom.

"Hang on," said Hall, "Let's think of a couple possibilities in case you're wrong."

"If it's not there, then I'll get to the next place before anyone else," said Skye. She kicked off and zoomed out of the hall to great among cheering from the Dragons.

Andre looked upset. "I don't think it's at the quidditch pitch," he said.

"Then where?" asked Sarah.

"No point in saying now," he said. "Don't want the other clubs to hear."

The sound of cheering brought Sarah's attention to the Sphinx table. The Hufflepuff had shot off as well. A few seconds later, Barnaby sped off after her.

"While we wait," said McGonagall, "I'll let you know that the next task will be a relay. Decide on a representative for each of the following: Charms, Transfiguration, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Dueling, and Potions."

There was a lot of chattering as everyone debated who would be best at what. Half an hour later, the Sphinx table erupted in applause. The Hufflepuff was back, all three envelopes clutched in her hand.

"Come on, Skye, come on!" said Hall, fists clenched.

Sarah wanted to Skye to hurry up, but she also hoped the other clues weren't giving Barnaby too much to trouble. These questions and the added pressure were exactly the kinds of things that tripped him up in classes.

She received a couple of nasty looks when she cheered along with the Hippogriffs at his return, but Charlie cheered along with her.

Skye returned a few minutes later, red in the face. "What happened?" asked Hall.

"Wasted too much time on the first clue," she said angrily. "It wasn't at the pitch, it was at the owlery. I looked all over the pitch. Didn't realize it wasn't there until I saw Lee flying away from the owlery."

"Knew it," muttered Andre.

"Silence, please," said McGonagall. "Well done to all our players. As they arrived back first, the Sphinx club is the winner of the first challenge." She paused to give the Sphinxes a minute to celebrate. "Now, if you will all follow me to the lake, we will have our next challenge."

Everyone filed out of the great hall and followed McGonagall outside. Kettleburn and Vector, as the Hippogriff and Sphinx sponsors respectively, accompanied them. Flitwick and Sprout had also volunteered to help.

"We've got to do better on this next challenge Dragons," said Hall. "I want to win it!"