The Triumphant Entrance
The highlight of Rivalry Week was always the game between Gryffindor and Slytherin, with the Quidditch Cup hanging in the balance. This year, however, the Lions and the Serpents had both lost to Hufflepuff. There was a chance that, if the Badgers stumbled in their final game, two teams would finish 2-1. The tiebreaker would then be who had scored the most points. But this was mostly hypothetical. There was no real hope that the Eagles would score an upset against Liam Wren’s Badgers.
Though two great rivals were battling for second place, that did not diminish the passion each side brought to the match. The Chasers passes were sharp and quick. They corkscrewed through vicious Bludger strikes and darted around fierce, attacking presses.
Liam and the Hufflepuffs sat on by the right hoop of the Gryffindors goal. (That is, the right hoop if you are defending, the left hoop if you are on the attack.) When Rhiannon MacDougal streaked down the pitch with the Quaffle, Liam stood and led the Badgers in a chant, “Mac! Mac! Mac! Mac! Mac!” The Slytherins, on the other side of the bowl, took up the chant and stomped their feet in unison. Every time Rhiannon scored, the crowd roared in delight.
Gillian would not be outdone. She led a ferocious attack. The Lions were back communicating telepathically, for they realized that no one on the Serpents could hear their plays. They scored at will against the Serpents’ defence, but Rhiannon matched them, goal for goal.
The game came down to a race for the Snitch between Umberto and Alma. Umberto’s pro broom proved to be the difference. He streaked past Alma and snatched the Snitch out of the air. Slytherin had won, 210-60. Gryffindor suffered their first losing season in decades.
Before their game against the Eagles, Liam had but one concern, and he spoke to Philip about it. “No being a gentleman out there, alright? We all love Sadie, but you’ve got to get that Snitch!”
“I shall,” said Philip. “Don’t worry. We’ll make quick work of it.”
His words proved prophetic. The Eagles Chasers had no answer for the Badger’s stiff defensive pressure. Liam had little to do in front of the hoops besides shouting instructions and clapping after his team forced turnovers. On the other side of the pitch, Stephanie and Belladonna both scored goals. Philip spotted the Snitch early and grabbed it, putting an end to the contest in just under thirty minutes. The final score was 190-0.
At the end of the game, there was a ceremony. Paul Hewson had brought the Quidditch Cup from its shelf in Gryffindor tower to the game. Once Philip had caught the Snitch, Paul and Dave Evans made their way down to the center of the pitch. Madam Hooch met them there, along with Liam and the rest of the Badgers. The two captains shook hands while Dave held the trophy. Then, Dave handed the trophy to Paul, who gave it to Liam. Liam admired the silver two handed cup, engraved with the words “Hogwarts Quidditch Cup,” before hoisting it into the air. The Hufflepuffs in the audience let out a great cheer.
Monday morning during their break between classes, Liam and the other Hufflepuff Sixth Years were relaxing in some chairs in the library, quietly talking. Pauline sat next to Philip. Morwena, Tess and Rhiannon were there as well. Sadie, Alma and Gillian joined them. Sadie greeted Philip while Alma spoke to Lara. Liam rose and walked with Gillian out into the hallway.
Gillian spoke rather than use her telepathy. The cheerful tone in her voice contrasted with the sad, regretful look in her eyes. “Um, hey, congrats on winning the Quidditch Cup. You said you guys were gonna run the table, and now you’ve done it.”
“We haven’t done it yet,” said Liam. “I’ve heard plenty of stories of one house grabbing the House Cup from another at the last minute. I told everyone we’re playing straight through the final whistle. Go get points every week until the end of term. I don’t want anyone catching us.”
“I’m sorry about what I said, how I yelled at you. It wasn’t fair.” Liam nodded. He reached out his arm, and the two embraced. “I was just so mad. We’d had such a great run as a team. And then on my watch, we lose two games in a row! I felt like I let my whole family down.”
“With any winning streak,” said Liam, “there’s some luck mixed in with the skill and the hard work. When that luck turns on you, you lose a game or two. That’s how it goes.”
“I should have apologized right away, but I couldn’t. I was too mad. And then, I saw you with Lara. Sadie always warned me about her. She said you were just waiting for her signal that she was ready to be your girlfriend. I thought she was just being jealous, ‘cause she was angry that I was dating you, even though you and her had been over for years. I think she was sad that she never got to do the things that you and I were doing together.”
“She’ll get her chance,” said Liam. “It just won’t be with me.”
“But what about us? What about all the good times we had together? Do we blow it all up because I had one hot-headed moment?”
“No,” said Liam. “We blow it up because it’s time. It was fun. We had some great times together. But it’s over.”
“It’s over, just like that?” There were tears in her blue eyes.
“Yes. I’m sorry, but it’s over.”
She pulled away. “I guess I’m glad it’s Lara and not Morwena.” She put on a brave face, but her voice cracked as she spoke. “I’ll see you around, okay?” She walked away. He did not speak to her again until Autumn. He was glad they had reconciled, yet once again, he felt she had robbed some of the sweetness from his triumph.
Two days before the End of Term feast, Freya spotted a story in the Daily Prophet. The headline read, “Controversial Artist Passes after Long Life.” She showed it to Aiden, and they read the story together.
“Controversial artist Christian Dethlake passed away on Monday, according to a statement from his family. He was 110. Dethlake came to fame in the 1920s for his illustrations for the books Wicked Vengeance; Sorrow, Lust and Blood; and others. He lived in exile for several decades after being suspected in the death of his fiancée, Vivien Rothchild, in 1925. In 2008, he returned to England and opened a charity under Vivien’s name. In a statement, his nephew said, ‘I hope this puts to rest the nasty rumours about Uncle Christian having a horcrux. He lived a long life and died peacefully in his sleep.’
“There were unconfirmed reports, however, that a horcrux had been recently disposed of by Ministry officials after it was entered into evidence in a criminal trial unrelated to Mr. Dethlake or his family. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Magic had no comment on the matter.”
“Ministry destroyed the Horcrux,” said Freya, “and Dethlake died right afterwards, just like we thought he would!”
“The writer of the article seems to have made the same connection,” said Aiden. “They don’t want to come right out and say it because they don’t have the evidence. They don’t want the Dethlakes to sue them. At the very least, it’s a coincidence.”
“Nobody I know of believes in coincidences,” said Freya. “There’s too much magic going around for things to be just chance.” She leaned closer to Aiden and asked, “Does this help you with whatever plot you have in mind?”
“This?” he asked, pointing to the newspaper. “No, not really. What we did at trial might help. I don’t know yet. It’s too soon to tell.”
“Are you ever going to tell me what you’re up to?” she asked.
Aiden laughed. “No, probably not. I’ll just wait until you figure it out on your own.” It wasn’t much longer before she did just that.
The night of the End of Term Feast arrived. Liam sent the rest of the Hufflepuffs into the Great Hall, while he lingered out in the Entrance Hall. Then, he retreated to the Common Room and took the Quidditch cup, which had sat on the mantle above the hearth since they had won it a few weeks earlier. On his breast, next to his prefect pin, he placed the gold star signifying his status as Quidditch Captain. He brought the trophy back up to the Entrance Hall.
Michael and Philip were waiting for him by the board showing the House Points. Hufflepuff was still in the lead. “How is it in there?” asked Liam.
“Black and yellow, hanging from all the rafters,” said Philip. “No one caught us. No last-minute surprises from McGonagall. That was more of a Dumbledore thing, I think.”
“You did it, mate,” said Michael. “We ran the blooming table.”
“It wasn’t just me,” said Liam. “It was all of us.”
“It wouldn’t have happened without you leading us,” said Philip.
“That’s the God Honest truth right there,” added Michael.
“Alright,” said Liam. “Let’s go eat.”
He walked into the Great Hall with his two closest friends at his side. When they saw him, the whole of the Hufflepuff table stood and cheered. Liam held up the Quidditch cup over his head as he walked to the table. The Seventh Years gave way, and he sat down at the head of the table.
The food arrived – fresh tamales wrapped in corn husks, bowls of tortilla chips and dishes of salsa, cheese enchiladas and a heaping bowl of spinach salad with candied walnuts, chunks of blue cheese and hunks of apples. Everyone happily tucked in.
“We’re having a party tonight,” said Liam. “I want music playing the whole time, and I don’t wanna hear the same ten songs over and over. The Winter Ball DJ is cool, but his music is all the same. I want some variety.”
“I have a bunch of Wizard Music,” said Stacy. “Hex Road and bands like that. Hark, you have some cool stuff too, don’t you?”
“Yes,” he said. “Over Christmas, I found a box of old vinyl records that belonged to my mum. I brought them all to a shop and had them digitized. I just got the files back. It’s all old R&B from the sixties and seventies.”
“Good,” said Liam. “What else do we have?”
With a nudge from Belladonna, Theo spoke up. “I have a bunch of 80’s music from my dad.”
“That’s what I’m talking about!” said Liam. “Alright. Stacy, take charge of this thing. Get all this music into one big playlist and let’s go. I want to dance all night.”
Professor Meadows had joined them. “Some of us need our beauty sleep, Wren.”
“How about dancing ‘til midnight, then?”
“Have your party from seven until ten for the younger students,” said Meadows, “seven to midnight for the older ones.”
“We’re included in the older ones, aren’t we?” asked Bell. “We’re nearly Fifth Years!”
Meadows laughed. “Yes, you’re included.”
“That’s five hours total,” said Liam. “Do we have five hours’ worth of music?”
“Easily,” said Theo.
“Alright, you three get to work. I want it all spread out. Do a little of one style and then change it up and do something else. I want the slow songs mixed in every so often. And one big love ballad for the end.”
“I have the perfect song in mind,” said Theo.
“We’ve got this, Liam,” said Stacy.
The food was swept away, replaced by chocolate chip cookies, scoops of vanilla ice cream in a frozen bowl, and slices of red velvet cake with generous amounts of cream cheese frosting. The last item had been a personal request of Liam which the kitchen elves were happy to fulfill.
Morwena, Rhiannon and Pauline came over to congratulate the Hufflepuffs. Morwena gave Liam and Lara a hug. Rhiannon and Liam shook hands vigorously. Pauline took a seat next to Philip and began helping the organizing of the playlist.
Alyssa and Meriko followed Morwena’s lead and came to sit with Bennie and Bell, while Freya stayed behind with Aiden. Elanor was the next to join the table, sitting between her best friend Ava and her boyfriend Theo.
The Seventh Years were quick to notice this, and they challenged Liam on it. Oliver asked him, “You’re letting Ravenclaws sit at our table, now?”
“You talking about Theo’s girlfriend?” asked Liam, coolly. “I had a Ravenclaw girlfriend once. Leave her be.”
“She’s not coming to the party, is she?” asked Bart, another of the Seventh Years.
“The party will be in the Den,” said Liam. “It will be Hufflepuffs only. In the meantime, Pauline and those other girls are welcome to sit here with us.”
“The King hath made his proclamation,” said Oliver. The other Seventh Years smirked and giggled. Liam let them be. They may tease him, but there was some truth to it, too. Liam was the king of their table.
He turned and looked at the Quidditch cup and the House cup, which was also silver and in the shape of a bowl. They were sitting side by side at the edge of the table, right by Liam’s elbow. Lara touched his arm and rested her head on his shoulder. “You made this happen,” she said. “You led us to this victory.”
“Now, I’ve got to figure out how to do it again,” said Liam, “so it’s not just a fluke.”
“I make no prophecies about your future,” she said, “but that is a struggle for another day. Tonight, we are celebrating.”
This brought a smile to his lips. “You dancing with me tonight?”
She laughed. “I won’t promise that I’ll be dancing for five straight hours, but yes, I will dance with you, as often as you like.”
“We’ll get the party started,” said Liam. “If we’re dancing, others will jump in. Then you can take a break and I’ll mingle, make sure everyone’s having a good time, that the music is loud enough but not too loud, that there’s enough food and drinks coming from the kitchen. But, the first slow song, I want you dancing with me.”
She beamed up at him, her brown eyes warm and glowing. “Yes.”