The Quidditch Captain
On Sunday, January 10th, Liam and Patrick, along with their mother, rode the Great Northern train to London’s King’s Cross station. They arrived at Platform Six and walked to Platform 9. There, they gave their mother a kiss goodbye before passing through the barrier onto Platform 9 ¾.
It was quarter to eleven, and the platform was already full of students. Steam billowed from the great scarlet engine. The two boys made their way along the concrete platform. The first family that they came upon was the Tooks. A large contingent had come to London to see the twins off. Besides the twins’ parents, there was a grandmother, and aunt and uncle, and some cousins.
Ben broke away from his family to greet Patrick. The two shook hands. Bell followed, beaming. “Hello!” she said to the Wren brothers. “Happy New Year!”
Each twin held a broomstick. “Are those new?” asked Liam.
Bell nodded eagerly. “Yes! I’ve wanted my own broom for so long. It’s so much fun! I had to fly, even when it was snowing.”
“What brand are they?”
“They’re Falcons! The new line from Cleansweep.”
“Excellent! Fancy trying out for Quidditch this year?” asked Liam.
Bell’s grin grew even wider. “Yes! I want to be a Chaser. Someday, I want to fly as fast as MacDougal!”
Liam set his hand on the young girl’s shoulder. “We’ll get you out there with us and teach you to fly fast.” Turning to Ben, he asked, “So, what position are you trying out for?”
“I’ve always dreamed of being a Seeker,” said Ben. “I’d love to be the one to win the game for the team.”
“You’ll get your chance.”
Bell asked, “Are you captain this year?”
Liam shook his head. “Remington is Captain this year. He’s a Seventh Year.”
“Oh! He’s very good. Maybe next year you’ll be Captain!”
“That’s the spirit, kid,” said Liam. He turned his attention to Patrick. “You know what I’m going to tell you, don’t you?”
“Yes! You want me to stay out of trouble. Don’t make more work for you.”
“That’s right. I’ll see you later.”
Philip spotted Pauline as soon as she came through the barrier and onto the platform. She was quickly surrounded by her girlfriends. He made his way to the edge of the circle. Rhiannon spotted him first, reached out and pulled him into a quick hug. As she released him, she positioned him next to Pauline, who offered him a hug as well.
“Thanks for the letter! It was great that everybody kept in touch with me this year.” She drew closer and said, conspiratorially, “I heard Morwena got a bag of cookies from Liam Wren.”
“Yes, he gave them out to all the prefects this year, along with some of his other friends, like me.”
“How fun! Wennie said they were really good, too.”
“They are. Wren has a knack for cooking as well as potions. He says they’re related disciplines.”
He hadn’t meant what he said to be a clever joke, but she laughed anyway. As she turned her attention back to Tess, Philip’s stomach sank. I’m a fool. I should have sent her a present.
While this was going on, Freya was mingling with her friends. It was a flurry of hugs, excited chatter and high-pitched squeals. After the quiet solitude of her post-Christmas days, Freya found the clatter and bustle disorienting. There was simply too much to look at and listen to all at once.
“Oh my gosh, Bell! That hat his so cute!”
“Look! Ava has new earrings. Are those real diamonds?”
“No, but they look real!”
“Meriko, I love your pendant!” Meriko, wore a black and white houndstooth wool dress. At her collar was a pendant the shape of a heart.
Freya eased up to Meriko and whispered, “Is that from ….” Meriko nodded. There was a family in Japan, longtime friends of the Furukawas, who had a son Meriko’s age. It was expected that the two would someday marry. This was something Meriko had shared with Freya and Alyssa one late Saturday night in the dorms. The other girls knew nothing of this. Meriko kept it quiet to avoid awkward questions.
It was time to board the train. The girls formed a long queue up the stairs into one of the train cars. Nearby, Patrick Wren was gathering up his troop, including Benedict. Ben had eyes and a smile for Alyssa but not for anyone else. He didn’t look Freya’s way at all.
Freya got into the compartment her friends had chosen and squeezed into a spot by the window. As the train pulled away from the station, she brooded silently.
He only wants me when he needs help with Arithmancy. He only hangs out with the three of us so that he can be near Alyssa.
I should get up right now and take Aiden Thompson up on his offer.
As soon as this thought entered her mind, she shuddered. No. I couldn’t stand being near Dennison. Who knows how long it’ll be until he gets himself killed? I don’t want to be the guinea pig for whatever evil spells he’s been practicing.
Liam enjoyed lunch with his friends. Afterwards, he was feeling restless, so he left the compartment. He had half a mind to go out and do a patrol, though no one had requested that he do so. He crossed from one car to another and wrapped his knuckles gently on one of the glass compartment doors.
The door slid open, and there was Sadie, Gillian, Alma with some other girls. “Hullo,” he said. “How was your Christmas?”
“Wonderful, thank you!” answered Sadie. “You’re welcome to come in and sit down for a while.”
“I’m tired of sitting. Thought I’d do a bit of patrolling. Anyone up for it?”
Alma and Sadie looked at one another. Before either of them could speak, Gillian piped in. “Can I go on patrol?”
“I don’t see why not,” said Liam. “I need someone who can check the girls’ loos.”
“In that case, Alma and I will sit and enjoy our last bit of break before school ramps up again,” said Sadie.
Gillian slipped past Liam into the hallway, and the two began walking down the corridor. Away from her friends, who regularly encouraged her to speak, Gillian slipped back into her telepathy.
Who is the Hufflepuff captain this year?
Remington, answered Liam.
Why aren’t you captain? Fifth Year captains are not unheard of. When someone is captain for multiple years, it’s better for the team. There’s more continuity.
Believe me, if Ward had asked me, I wouldn’t have turned her down. Remington was her star Chaser last year. Gillian responded to this with a derisive laugh. Well, he is the star, on our team at least. So, he’s captain.
I didn’t see Remington talking to the Third Year kids about their new brooms.
He’s only got one more year. He won’t be captain when those two are on the team.
That’s why you should be captain now.
Liam gazed at her with a wry grin. Are you captain this year?
No, but I didn’t start last year. I was on the second team. I want to be starting Center Chaser this year. I’ll be captain next year.
They crossed into the next car and came across a large group of young boys, including some of his own First Years. Goonah waved his arm, beckoning Liam.
“All right you louts,” said Liam. “Why don’t you all get back into your compartments?”
The young boys began to give way. At the center of the group, Teddy Lupin was facing off against Nolan Merritt. “Typical Gryffindor/Slytherin nonsense, I see,” said Liam. He gave Nolan a hard stare. “I remember you,” he said. “Don’t think that I’ve forgotten our first meeting. Just be glad Felwich isn’t with me. She’ll wear your ear out if she catches you peacocking like this. Now run along!”
Nolan backed away and led his boys into a nearby compartment. “I’m not afraid of him,” said Teddy, still gazing ahead with a pinched face.
“I know you’re not,” said Liam. “I’m here to keep you safe and keep you out of trouble.”
“We were just going to the loo,” said Teddy.
“Then go, two at a time. I’ll be right here.”
Teddy motioned to two of his friends and they went ahead to the boys’ loo. The rest waited in the hallway.
Gillian, watching the entire episode with amusement, noticed that one of the compartment doors was slightly ajar. On the other side of the door, she sensed a familiar mind. When Nolan retreated, the door clicked shut. Impulsively, she pulled it fully open. On the other side was Aiden Thompson, Reginald Dennison and the rest of that troop.
“Playing spy?” asked Gillian.
Aiden’s face flushed but he answered calmly. “Not playing.”
Liam pointed to the compartment and said to Teddy, “You see? If you had made a rash move before I got here, out come five Third Year Slytherins to thrash all of you. They would have come right at your backside. You’d have been routed. Best not to fight with Slytherins.”
“We would have held our own,” said Teddy, bravely. “Besides, you came along. You would have thrashed them!”
Liam patted the young boy on the shoulder. “You were lucky.”
Aiden Thompson slowly pulled the compartment door closed. He immediately regretted the flush that beautiful Gillian always brought to his face. Reginald called out, “Who was that girl? That’s not the first time I’ve seen you look at her, or her at you.”
Aiden looked crossly at Reginald. “She’s my sister’s friend.”
“She’s in Gryffindor,” said Reginald.
“I can’t help that.”
Reginald cast a warning finger at Aiden. “Just remember, she’s on the other team.”
“Not like we’re playing Quidditch against her,” fumed Aiden.
“What’s her heritage?”
Though it grieved him, Aiden answered truthfully. “Parents are wizards. Brothers all came to Hogwarts. All graduated now, I think.” Reginald sank back in his chair and moved on to another topic. The sense of unease was slow to leave Aiden, however. He stared at the compartment door and fumed.
You better keep your creepy Dark Magic away from Jill.
A few hours later, the students streamed towards the Great Hall for dinner. A new piece of artwork hung in the Entrance Hall, a huge tapestry ten feet high and twelve feet wide (approx. 3.5 m x 3m). The tapestry displayed a pastoral scene: two witches were holding bright yellow flowers. A wizard leaned against a green tree while another, who looked like a sailor, stood by a vivid blue stream.
McGonagall mentioned the tapestry during her after-dinner speech. “You may have noticed the new artwork hanging in the Entrance Hall. The tapestry is on loan from Beauxbatons. Hand woven from wool and silk, it depicts students from Hogwarts, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang meeting in an idyllic pastoral setting. The tapestry dates back to the mid-1700s and is in the Rococo style. In exchange, we have sent one of our landscapes by J.M.W. Turngrave portraying the castle and the lake.”
She also announced captains for the Quidditch teams. As expected, Martin Remington was named Captain of Hufflepuff.
Remington sat at the far end of the Hufflepuff table, surrounded by other Seventh Years. Next to him was his best friend, and across from them were two girls, Alice Snowden and Deena Price. Remington said, “Well, Greg, you want to be Keeper this year?”
“Sure,” said Greg.
“Alice, Deena? You want to be Chasers with me?” The girls nodded and smiled warmly. “Carol, another year at Seeker?” Carol Kilgress was another Seventh-Year girl. She had been Seeker the previous season. She nodded.
Remington looked down the table and Liam, who was watching this exchange with interest. “Wren and Bendrix. Beaters again?”
“Yes,” said Liam.
“Bravo! I’ll let you know when the first practice is.” Remington turned back to his friends.
Stephanie of the Fifth Year Hufflpuffs had the sharpest tongue and the quickest temper. As soon as Remington turned away, she hissed at Liam, “That’s it? We’re not even having a try-out?”
“He’s going with experienced players,” answered Liam.
“Yes,” said Stacy, “but Steph and I regularly beat Snowden and Price in two-on-two drills last year. Remington never saw any of it because he was practicing with the First Team. What does he know about the rest of the flyers in the House?”
“We should have a try-out,” pressed Stephanie. “You’re never going to know who your best seven are until you see people in the air.”
“I agree,” said Liam. “When I’m captain, we’re going to have a tryout.”
“You should be captain now,” hissed Stephanie.
“You’re not the first person to suggest that to me today,” Liam admitted. “Jen didn’t pick me.”
“But she should have!” said Stacy. “You’re the one with all the ideas. You’re the one studying Quidditch strategy day and night. We’re never going to win until you’re our captain.”
“How about this? Mike and I are old hands at being Beaters. We won’t need much practice to get back into game shape. That first practice, I’ll stay with the Second Team and help you get organized. We’ll run some flying drills, get some two-on-two games going. Maybe ol’ Wren will get in front of the hoops. I’ve been itching to try my hand at Keeper. I’ve kept goal in football, you know.”
Bell was looking forlorn. Though she knew the porters would take her things to her room, she had kept her broom with her. It hovered in the air behind her seat at the table. She gazed at Liam fervently, her eyes shining in the flickering lamp light. “Stacy and Steph are right, Liam. You shouldn’t have to wait another year. You should be captain now. You’re the captain already!”