The Coup
As the first Quidditch game of the season approached, the Badgers held some longer practices. Marty Remington put time in working on his shot. He had Liam and Michael be less rigid with their Bludger strokes to better emulate the chaotic style the Gryffindor Beaters played. Remington and the two other chasers took turns crossing through the midfield while dodging the Bludgers.
Liam felt it was all too little, too late. Even with the increase in focus, the Chasers weren’t flying fast enough to keep up with the Lions. The keeper, Olmstead, was too slow and lackadaisical defending shots. Moreover, Price and Snowden rarely took shots on their own. They were content to feed the ball to Remington. At a time when Liam would normally be tense with excitement and the thrill of competition, he was filled with a looming sense of dread.
Gillian did nothing to assuage his fears. As they were hanging out between O.W.L. exams a few days before the match, she took his hand and pushed a thought into his head. Don’t be mad at me when we beat you on Saturday.
You should beat us on Saturday, agreed Liam. We don’t deserve to win. We haven’t been working hard enough.
What are you going to do about it?
I’m not captain. I don’t know what else I can do but fly hard and hope for the best.
The first game of the season was between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff. It was held at one o’clock on the Saturday after the first week of O.W.L. exams. The results were predictable. The Lions flew faster than Remington, Price and Snowden had ever flown in practice. Gillian was Center Chaser, and she fired pinpoint passes to her wings, Mullen on the right and Clayton on the left.
Remington got back quickly on defence and often forced Clayton to give up the ball, but he would pass it off to Gillian who either scored herself or fired a pass to Mullen, who would fire off a shot before Olmstead could cross over and defend.
When the Badgers had the ball, Gillian harassed Alice Snowden, flying right up to her and forcing her to give up the ball sooner than she intended. Often, Gillian intercepted Alice’s pass, leading to a speedy Gryffindor counterattack. When Remington took the ball up field, Clayton stayed even with him the entire way, keeping him on the left side, blocking his passing angle and driving him right to Paul Hewson, waiting in front of the hoop.
Within 10 minutes of game play, it was 50-0 Lions. By the 21st minute, it was 120-0. The Badgers only hope was for Kilgress to quickly catch the Snitch before the game got any further out of hand. It was not to be, as by the half hour mark, a dispirited Olmstead let through the 16th goal of the match. The Lions lead was officially insurmountable.
The Lions Seekers played keep-away the rest of the match, preventing Remington and company from possessing the ball and making a belated comeback. Finally, the Seekers spotted the Snitch. Kilgress gave chase, but Alma Krauss, on a bright red Falcon, outraced her. Alma caught the Snitch and held it aloft. Madam Hooch blew her whistle, bringing the game mercifully to an end. The final score was 310-0.
Liam shook hands with each of the Lions players, and he gave Gillian a firm hug. His mood was foul, however, and she was quick to pick up on it.
You said you weren’t going to be mad at me, she said, while his arms were still around her.
I’m not mad at you, he said. But that doesn’t mean I’m not mad.
She broke the embrace but took his hand and pushed one more thought to him. I’ll see you later, okay?
The Badgers were making their way back to their locker room. Remington had his arm around Olmstead. “Don’t worry about it, buddy. You just had a bad game. It was one bad game.”
“No, I’m rubbish,” moaned Olmstead. “Someone else should be keeper next time. I was a disaster.”
“No, we’ll snap back. Next time will be better,” said Remington. The two girls nodded in agreement. They reached the door of the locker room and entered. There was a central room with two doors. Changing rooms and showers for the girls were on the right. The boys’ room was to the left.
“No, it won’t,” said Liam coldly. “It won’t be better next time. This is who we are. This is exactly how we’ve been practicing.”
“Give it a rest, Wren,” said Deena. “Everybody feels bad.”
“Yeah, we feel bad,” snapped Liam, anger bubbling up in his voice. “But what are we going to do about it? Are you going to fly faster? Is Alice going to hang on to the damn ball long enough to set up a play?”
Alice gave an offended gasp, but Liam had already turned his ire towards Remington. “Are we actually going to put the ball through the hoop?
“This is who we are,” he repeated. “If we don’t start playing harder, we won’t beat Slytherin in two weeks. We won’t even beat Ravenclaw.”
“That’s a low blow, Wren,” said Alice.
“I can’t believe you’re putting up with this,” said Deena to Remington.
Marty held up a hand to Deena, and she fell silent. Looking to Liam, he said, “What would you do, Wren, if you were captain?”
Liam pulled in a deep breath. When he spoke, his voice was calm and steady. “For one thing, I’d hold a try-out. I want to be sure we’re putting our best seven in the air.”
Alice let out another offended gasp and Deena shouted, “We can’t hold a try-out in the middle of the season!”
“I would do it anyway,” said Liam. “Hold a tryout, pick my seven, and then we’ll work hard, getting ready for Slytherin.”
“You think you can beat Slytherin, Wren?” asked Marty.
Liam nodded. “I’ve got a plan for MacDougal. It won’t stop her completely, but it will keep her in check. All we’ll need to do then is catch the Snitch. But to do that, we need someone who can outfly Anita Soulspring.”
“Who do you have in mind?” asked Marty.
“I have someone in mind,” admitted Liam. “But a try-out will prove I’m right.”
Deena gasped in alarm as Marty began to unpin his captain’s badge. “Marty, don’t do it! Wren isn’t bluffing.”
“I’m not bluffing, either, Deena.” He held the pin out to Liam. “You think you can form a team that can beat Slytherin? Go for it.”
Liam took the pin and pinned it to his shirt. He held out his hand, and the two boys shook. “Thank you for your service to the House,” said Liam, solemnly. “I’m going to see Madam Hooch about getting some practice time. I’ll let you know when the tryout is as soon as I get it scheduled.”
“We’re not trying out!” cried Deena. “We’re already on the team.”
“I’m the captain now,” said Liam, a stern, cold glare in his eyes. “If you don’t try out, you won’t play.”
Deena and Alice stormed into the girl’s locker room. Liam walked out the main door. Michael followed him. “Did you just fire our whole team?”
“No,” said Liam. “I didn’t fire you.”
“A coup, that was,” said Michael, in awe.
The crowds were still making their way out of the stadium. A few of the teachers were supervising. Madam Hooch had a small office at the stadium where she kept the equipment. The boys found her there, filling out some paperwork.
“Hullo, Madam,” said Liam.
“Hullo, Wren. Tough game today.”
“I think we could use some more practice. When can we get back on the pitch?”
She looked up and noticed the badge on Liam’s jersey. “The captain’s badge! When did that happen?”
“Just now. I want to schedule a practice.”
“For tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll need you off the pitch by eleven so we can get ready for the next game.”
“That’s fine.”
“Shall I put you down for 10 am, then?”
“Yes, but we’ll be here at 8.”
“Very well. 8 am it is. Congratulations on becoming captain.”
“We’ll see in two weeks if I haven’t just made a giant fool of myself.”
When Liam and Michael finally emerged, showered and dressed, from the Hufflepuff locker room, Gillian and Alma were waiting for them. Gillian said, “And they say us girls take a long time to get ready!”
“The showers didn’t take us too long,” said Liam. “It was all the other stuff I had to do.”
“Liam pulled off a coup,” said Michael. “Took the captain’s badge from Remington and fired half our team.”
Gillian gave an excited cry and pulled Liam into a tight hug. “Took you long enough,” she said. “You should have been captain from the beginning.”
“Captain!” said Alma. “Congratulations!”
They started walking back towards the castle. Gillian put her arm around Liam as they walked. “Who’s going to be keeper?” she asked. “Olmstead was a wreck out there.”
“Maybe I’ll have a go.”
“Have you ever been keeper before?”
“In football, I have, but not in Quidditch.”
“It’s not exactly the same thing.”
“Someone has to do it. It may as well be me.”
They parted at the Entrance Hall with another hug. “Congrats again!” said Alma.
“See you at dinner!” said Gillian.
Liam and Michael made their way down to the Badger’s Den. There was a large crowd waiting for them, all younger students. Bell and Ben were there, as were all the First Years, plus Stacy and Stephanie. Bell gasped when she saw the captain’s badge on Liam’s cloak. She cried out in a stage whisper, “He did it!”
Stacy gave Liam a hug. Her green eyes were wide with worry. “What are we going to do? Slytherin is in two weeks, and we have no team.”
“We’re going to do what Hufflepuffs always do,” said Liam. “Work hard.”
Liam waited until dinner, when all the Hufflepuffs were at the table together, to make his announcement. Once everyone was eating, he stood and called out, “Badgers, listen up a minute.” The table quieted. Most all eyes were on him. Marty and the other players kept their eyes on their food, but at least they did not talk among themselves.
“I’m holding a Quidditch tryout and practice at 8 am tomorrow morning. That means, we leave the Common Room at 7:50, and we start practice at 8. The tryout is open to anyone with a broom. If you have any desire to play against Slytherin, you will be there.”
There were few people in the Great Hall for 7 am breakfast on a Sunday morning. Liam noted that Sadie was there, reading a book while eating her scrambled eggs. She was the only Ravenclaw. No Slytherins or Gryffindors had yet ventured out. At the Hufflepuff table, however, there was a large contingent. All the First Years were present, even though none of them owned their own brooms, so they could not participate in the practice. The Second and Third Years were all present, as were most of the Fourth Years. All of the Fifth Years had come in support of Liam. Of the older students, there was only Carol Kilgress.
Carol sat in between Liam and Philip. “I completely support what you are trying to do,” she told him. “If you want me to stay on as Seeker, I will, but we both know that Hark has the faster broom. If you pick him over me, I’ll still help with the training.”
“Thank you,” said Liam. “You don’t know how much this means to me.”
After breakfast, they returned to the Badgers Den to get their brooms and gear. True to his word, at 7:50 exactly, Liam led his troops out. The sky above was grey, but on the horizon, the sun was gleaming. The air was cool and damp.
“Fine morning for a practice,” he said eagerly. When they reached the pitch, Liam called out, “Alright, listen up! We’re going to make 2 laps of the pitch. I want everyone to go as fast as you’re able.” Turning to Philip, he added, “You had better win this race.”
The group launched into the air. Liam jumped out to an early lead but was soon overtaken by Bell and Philip. Liam knew Philip had the fastest broom of the group, and yet he was too modest and sporting to stretch out a big lead. He made sure Bell stayed at his heels all the way around the track.
After the laps, Philip and Carol went off by themselves to train, except it was Carol who was tossing orange golf balls to Philip. Liam organized what had been his Second Team and matched them against three of the best Fourth Year flyers. He taught them all the Berlin Wall and the way he wanted them to defend against Slytherin – play close but don’t foul. Michael went with Fortney to practice with the Bludger.
The one thing Liam hadn’t yet done was take practice shots as Keeper. He wanted to get his Chasers playing the way he envisioned when he was reading up on Quidditch defense. They had been at it an hour when he realized he had an audience. Paul, Dave and Gillian were watching from the stands. With them was a man Liam didn’t immediately recognize.
Liam called for a break, then flew over with Mike and Fortney to greet the visitors. When he got close, he recognized the fourth Gryffindor: Gillian’s older brother Brian, who had been a keeper for the Lions in his day.
Liam greeted the Gryffindors, and there was a round of handshakes between the boys. Gillian gave Liam a hug and said, “You’re doing great. Your practice is really going well. I think you’ll give the Serpents all they can handle.”
“I hear you plan to be the keeper,” said Brian. “I was hoping to see you take some shots.”
“Haven’t gotten around to it yet,” said Liam. “We can have the pitch until 11.”
“Done much keeping?” asked Brian.
“I’ve kept goal in football plenty of times.”
“So, you know the basics,” said Brian. “But you haven’t done it on a broomstick yet, have you?”
“No.”
“Care for a pointer or two?”
“I’d appreciate it.”
“Come on then.”
The group walked down to the grassy pitch. Stacy and Stepanie walked over, and there was another round of handshakes. “Toss me that Quaffle, will you?” asked Brian, to Stacy.
“Alright, Wren. MacDougal is flying down the pitch as fast as she dares. She’s gonna take a shot. Which goal do you cover?”
“The one she’s gonna throw at,” said Liam.
Brian laughed. To Gillian, he said, “I like this guy. That’s right, Wren, the one she’s gonna throw at. And which one will that be?”
“Well, she’s Left Wing, so she’s coming to my right. She’ll either throw at the right hoop or the center hoop.”
“But, which one? That’s the question, isn’t it?” asked Brian. “Time for a lesson. We’ll stay on the ground for now. Wren, you stay here, but get your broom between your legs as if you’re flying. Bendrix, you stand over there. Fortney, you stand on that side. Back up a bit more. That’s it.”
He handed the Quaffle to Liam. “Alright. Throw the Quaffle as hard as you can to Bendrix.” Liam took the ball in his left hand and heaved it hard at Michael. “There you go! Now, freeze! Look down.”
The tip of Liam’s broomstick pointed straight at Michael.
“That’s how they teach the Chasers in Primary League,” said Brian. “Keep your broomstick pointed at the target of your throw. If your broomstick is on target, your throw will be on target, too.”
Liam nodded. “For the keeper, that’s the tell.”
“Exactly. Toss the ball back here, will you?” Michael tossed the ball to Brian, who gave it to Liam. “Now, point your broomstick towards Bendrix, but throw the ball to Fortney.” It was an awkward angle, but Liam managed to throw it sidearm to Fortney. “You managed it. That’s good! But you didn’t have as much on that one.”
“If Mac feigns one way and then throws sidearm, I could recover and maybe get the save,” said Liam.
Brian nodded. “Or your defense, playing as tight as they are, could make an interception. Now, let’s try this again, in the air.” To Bell, he said, “You’re spunky like my sister. You could have been a Gryff. Do you think you can play the role of MacDougal for us?”
Bell blushed to have the attention on herself. “I’m right-handed, not left-handed.”
“That’s alright. We’ll make do. We want some shots straight on and some sidearm. And don’t pull your punches! This is as much for you as it is for him.”
The Slytherins’ vaunted information gathering systems were intended to keep them abreast of conflicts and changes happening on campus, so that they were never caught flat-footed. Yet, this was exactly how they felt when they arrived for breakfast Sunday morning and saw only Sixth and Seventh Years at the Hufflepuff table.
“Where are all the Hufflepuffs?” cried Morwena.
She and Umberto immediately turned to Q. “Stacy said there’s been some tension between Marty Remington and Liam Wren, and that after the game it all blew up,” she reported. “That’s all I know.”
Gordon, with keen, magically-enhanced eyesight, gazed across the Hall to the Hufflepuff table. “Remington is not wearing his captain’s badge.”
“Would he have forgotten to put it on?” asked Morwena.
“Or, has there been a change of leadership on the Hufflepuff team?” suggested Umberto.
Rhiannon usually did not offer opinions at caucuses like this unless pressed. This time, however, she said, “Wren has been chomping at the bit to be Hufflepuff captain. If I were him, and I were now captain, I’d be holding a practice.”
The Slytherins ate a quick breakfast. Morwena then went off to see if she could find Sadie or Alma to see if they knew anything about the schism between the Hufflepuffs. Rhiannon, Gordon, and Umberto went down to the Quidditch pitch.
“You guessed correctly, my friend,” said Umberto. “Wren is indeed holding a practice.”
“Who’s that guy they’re working with?” asked Gordon.
Rhiannon peered ahead at the practice, then checked to see who else was watching the proceedings. “That’s one of the Roycester brothers. Brian, I think. He was keeper for the Lions for several years.”
“That makes sense,” said Gordon.
“Gryffindor would love to see the Badgers beat us,” said Umberto.
Rhiannon said nothing. She sat down on the bench to watch the practice. Wren was in goal, and the Chasers were taking turns at him in ones and twos, while Brian Roycester gave instructions and encouragement. Wren’s inexperience was clear. “Too bad we didn’t see the beginning of the session,” she mused aloud. “I wonder if he’s improved since they started.”
A half hour later, Garrick Cole, Slytherin Captain that year, came and joined them. “So,” said Cole, “Remington’s been sacked as Captain of the Badgers, and the new captain fired the whole team. They’re starting from scratch.”
“Wren’s had his own team training for a few months now,” said Rhiannon.
“Which one is he?”
“The Keeper.”
Cole stared critically at Liam for a moment. “Has he ever kept in Quidditch before?”
Rhiannon shook her head. “I don’t believe so. He’s Muggle-born, so he really hasn’t had much opportunity to play Quidditch.”
“He should be easy picking then,” said Cole. “As easy as Olmstead would have been.”
Rhiannon and Umberto spoke in unison. “Don’t underestimate Liam Wren.”