It wasn't often that a Head of House found it necessary to call an emergency meeting in the common room for an hour after dinner.  Usually the students spent the time in socializing or doing homework but this time Leopold Sandusky had called a meeting and had made certain that everyone knew it was mandatory, even with the extreme short notice.  Most thought it might have had something to do with the events in the Great Hall the evening before, events that had left the normally passive house with a monstrous black eye.  Whispers stopped when Leopold entered, his face grave.

"Some of you may notice a few faces missing," he began.  "If you think about it, you may realize most of those faces belong to our Quidditch team.  They have, almost to a man, fallen ill with some odd malady that makes riding their brooms almost impossible.  I'm sure Madame Nagde will have them back in the air in no time but they will be grounded for several days.  Normally this would not be an issue but the timing could not be more inappropriate.  The day after tomorrow we have a very critical Quidditch match with Slytherin.  They have a very strong team this year and will be very hard to beat.  They will be impossible to beat if we do not put a team in the air.  Unless I can put together a team of substitutes, I am going to have to inform professor Landis that his team wins by default.  Unless we can put a team in the air by tomorrow, Hufflepuff will have to forfeit."

He looked at the faces arrayed around him, looking to him for some kind of guidance.  "I would rather eat a dung bomb," he announced with conviction.  "I am prepared to offer homework amnesty to anyone willing to get on a broom and get in the air.  I would rather lose the game by a thousand points, rather than give up without some kind of fight.  The other houses see us as the cast offs, the house where anyone not good enough for the other three ends up.  They forget that our symbol is the badger and badgers are stubborn, fierce and determined fighters.  They underestimate us at their peril.  I refuse to forfeit this match to Slytherin but I need your help.  I need to put a team together tonight.  By now everyone knows our team is flat on their backs in the hospital hut as of half an hour ago.  They will be expecting us to forfeit.  I want to see shock on every face from every house as our team takes to the air."  He paused, the passion with which he spoke making his face red.

"Who is with me?" he asked, praying that somewhere, somehow, this collection of children would understand how important this was not just to him but the themselves as well, that they would realize their own reputation was riding on this moment.  "Who will fly for Hufflepuff?" he asked, extending his hand to them, imploring.

Katy shot to her feet before she even realized she'd moved.  She was wrapped up in Professor Sandusky's speech,  hanging on his words since he mentioned that Hufflepuff's first string team was incapable of flying.  She didn't wish them ill, but with them unable to play and the house in dire need of players, now was her chance.  It was like Jean-Paul said, all those early morning practices were bound to have paid off.  The best way to get any better, surely, was to play as part of a team.  In an actual game.

"We're not going down with out a fight," Katy snapped.    The Professor was right.  The other houses discounted Hufflepuff all the time but they had integrity and they would show up and put a team on the field.  Even if they were beaten horribly, at least they could say they'd tried and given it all they could.  And they would most definitely be beaten, without a question.  It would be a gruesome and probably beyond embarrassing.  With the thought of the team's embarrassment,  came thought to her own embarrassment.  Red heat crept on to her cheeks but she wasn't sure if it was the fighting spirit, the heat of so many bodies in the common room, or the thought of falling off her broom in front of the whole school.

Everyone stared at her for a moment.  With her eye's wide but her face calm, she swallowed and said, "I can play beater."  She paused.  "That is, if there's no one else."

Katy sat down quickly and firmly, waiting for someone else to speak.

"Miss Bevans, even if there is someone else, I'd be proud to have you on my team,"  Leopold announced, his voice trembling.  He knew Katy's pain, intimately.  He too had been a beater not quite good enough to make the team.  He would have given anything for this chance.  He was overjoyed that he was the one that was able to offer this chance to those who would normally never even come close.  They would carry the house banner for what would possibly be the only time in their lives and they would do so with pride and determination and every ounce of courage and dignity that they possessed.  They were likely going to be lambs heading to the slaughter but they would do so with heads held high and every voice in the yellow seats screaming themselves hoarse with encouragement, with Leopold himself foremost among them. 

"Who will fly with Katy Bevans?" he asked.

Well this was certainly something. While not exactly thrilled with how the team had turned out, especially after Razzy's departure, Seto had to admit that they must have been getting pretty damn desperate to hold a meeting simply for Hufflepuff making a team. Still, anything was better than losing to the gals in green.

"All righ' fine," Seto said, raising his hand and waving it so people could see. "Never been one to go down withou' a figh'. If Bevans here wants ta play Beater then I'll giver a hand with i'." After all, team need good beaters to compete with Slytherin. It'd be hopeless otherwise.

It had once been a broom. Now it looked more like a small tree.

Heliotrope was a minute late to the house meeting because she had been putting the finishing touches on her broom. It required more grindylow tempered kelp than folding a whip. At last the shaft was spiraled with strands of lake greens, with several more tied to twigs in the broom to trail like green ribbons. This was the adjustment to the broom her mother had showed her. Helio's webbed hands remembered where to make each knot from the last time she had helped her mother.

As such, when she heard Professor Sandusky's speech, she was confused. "The team is sick? Do I not look for the gold snidge then?"

Last year, Heliotrope had nearly interrupted the Hufflepuff vs Slytherin game when she spotted the fourth shiny ball from her seat in the stands and dove off to catch it. She hadn't gotten far though with her legs hooked around the guardrail.[1] It had been significant enough to have her trained as a potential Seeker.

However, hearing that the team she had been training was sick made her think she was sick too. Although, out of all of the Hufflepuffs being attended by Madame Nadge for Flyer-Roids that plagued them waist to ankle, Heliotrope was the only one to have a boost to her immunity against skin conditions because of her unique mermish heritage.

Even if nobody knew this was the cause, herself included, or how such a defense worked in the first place.

1.	link, double link

Lorian watched on anxiously, listening to every word the head of house said with wide eyes. She felt awful that so many people had gotten sick and couldn't play the game they loved, but she also felt delighted that she might have the chance to play a proper game of Quidditch in front of a real crowd. She wanted desperately for enough people to volunteer so they wouldn't have to forfeit to Slytherin, but didn't really want to volunteer and take the oppourtunity to play away from anyone else. A feeling of longing washed over her as she felt she desperately needed and wanted to play for the Hufflepuff team. Ever since she was first introduced to flying, she has always had a soft spot for it which naturally developed into a love for Quidditch, the best sport ever. Even better than the muggle sports she grew up with. Slowly and carefully, as not to draw attention to herself, Lorian raised her hand and cleared her throat.

"Uh, I'd like to join the team, that is if I'm not taking anyone else's spot," She said hesitantly, blushing slightly from basically standing under a spotlight, "I've played a few games, so I know the rules and how to play and I'm a pretty decent flyer, so..." She trailed off, hoping they wouldn't laugh at her petty attempt to become more involved in social events. Her mother did scold her that if she didn't start joining more clubs or spending time with her friends, that Lorian would be forced to. That idea didn't really appeal to Lorian that much.

"We're not all down and out." Ayla spoke loudly and confidently as she came out from the girl's dorms fully clad in Quidditch robes with her broom in hand. Her uniform was tight and form fitting, cinched at the waist and accenting her curvaceous form. While she looked good, the alterations to the robes had been to make it easier to fly. At the beginning of the year had reservations about getting back into the air after the painful weekend she spent in the Hospital Hut regrowing her shoulder blade but in the end she realized she loved Quidditch and couldn't turn away from it.

Ayla came to stand next to their Head of House. While her insides were being eaten alive by nerves and anxiety she put on a brave face for the sake of her House and her team, currently moaning and groaning down at the Hospital Hut, whether she liked it or not she was now the only senior player left.

"You're still going to catch the Snitch Helio, you're our best chance at winning this thing, there's no way Slytherin's Seeker is as good as you." She wanted to encourage the girl, make her excited for the match but Harper had years of experience on her, she honestly didn't know how the younger girl was going to fair against him.

"Lori, you can be a Chaser, just stick with me and we'll get some goals in. Tawse is playing Keeper for the match and it's not his strong suit. He's better off as a Beater, we may be able to catch him off guard if we're lucky." She turned to Katy and Seto with a warm smile, "Katy I think you'll do great," Which was probably the most words she had actually said to the girl all year, despite being in the same year, same house, same dorm, the girl just wasn't all that sociable, "Seto you'll be awesome too, keep the bludgers away from Foley and Slant as much as possible and we'll do fine."

She looked up at Sandusky hoping he didn't mind her taking point on this one. She wasn't team Captain, she wasn't nearly as good as Razzy was shaping up to be, or even as good or inspirational as Mysti had been the year before, hell she didn't even think she was as good as Fauna, when the Senior Huffle had taken over for their last match but she was trying, "We still need another Chaser and a Keeper," She looked around for a familiar face, "Fig, you think you can come back to the team?" He hadn't been the best Seeker for them last year but she was sure he could do decent as either a Chaser or a Keeper. Anything to keep the Badgers in the air.

Figaro had been silenced that morning and it had been a long, long day.  It still stung the whole situation and he was sulking mightily.  And when there was a surprise, mandatory House Meeting, Figaro knew exactly what it was going to be about.  Wait.  Whatnow? Quidditch?

Figaro had never seen his Head of House talk like this.  He was a passionate old man, sure, but Quidditch?  And what had happened to the team?  Figaro was annoyed doublely that he didn't already know about it - he was usually so in the loop.  Today really had been a trial, but maybe things were looking up.

The whole team was grounded.  This was his chance!  One by one, his house mates volunteered to have a go at the vacant spots, and it turned out Ayla had somehow avoided the fray! When she entered, Figaro finally stood up and clapped his hands for her in solidarity.  Sure.  She was a spazzy fourth year, but she was at least on the team - a feat Figaro had yet to accomplish.

He'd tried, oh he'd tried.  But no one in their right mind would allow him on - only in the barest of emergencies.  And last year, there'd actually been such an emergency and it looked like there was another!

Unable to speak, he attempted to draw some attention to himself by patting his chest and snapping his fingers.  He quickly dug in his back, then, for the bloody chalkboard Old Dusty had provided him, and quickly scrawled:[1]

1.

CHASER

For a moment, the old man was speechless.  He had hoped that something like this would happen.  It took him two attempts to speak and when he finally did, his voice was shaking.  "You have no idea how proud I am of you at this moment,"  he said.  "Miss Collins, as the eldest of the two still functional members of the team, I am going to ask you to take on the great responsibility of being acting captain.  I'll appoint Miss Edevane as your assistant.  Miss LeJean, you are most decidedly still on the team.  You are still looking for the golden snidge."  He smiled and his entire face lit up.  "Find it for us if you can."

He looked at the others, so eager and at the same time, so polite, putting their names forward 'only if it wouldn't inconvenience anyone else' and secretly hoping that no one else would step forward.  "Miss Bevans, Mr Spalding, you will be our beaters.  Miss Edevane and yes, you too, Mr Sellaphix will join Miss Collins as our chasers.  All we need now is a keeper and Hufflepuff will be putting a full team in the air.  There will be no forfeit to Slytherin.  Hufflepuff will rise to their challenge and by the time the game is over, they will know that we are not a house to be trifled with."  His voice broke at that moment and joyful tears streamed down his face.  How could he have come to love them all so much in such a short time?

Suddenly, a small voice spoke up. "I'd be willing to be a Keeper." Alice stepped forward, her face red. "I'm not very good on a broom, but I feel like it's my duty. I mean, I love this house. With all my heart. And if that means risking falling off my broom, well, I am all for it!" Alice said proudly, a smile on her face.

"That is, of course that I can participate. I mean, I am terrible in Quittich, well, to be fair, I've never really played, but I figure that I should try something new. I mean, if you want me." She added.

Leopold looked at Alice and dabbed at the tears running down his face with a tissue.  "There are rules against first year students playing," Leopold said.  "But there has been precedent for putting a first year student on a broom and allowing them to play.  Harry Potter was seeker for Gryffindor in his first year.  Have no fear, Miss Hunter, I will see if the headmaster will allow it.  No doubt Madame Hooch will have a word or two on the subject and I suspect it will be she that has the final say.  If you are willing to take this risk, I am willing to do what I can to see that you will be able to play your part safely so your offer is not in vain.  I'm sure Madame Hooch will also have a few suggestions as to how to keep you safe."

With a flick of his wand, he summoned a house elf.  "Quill and parchment if you please," he asked, and when the elf returned he quickly penned two letters.  "One for the headmaster and one for Madame Hooch," he said, handing the elf the letters.  "You needn't wait for a reply unless they ask you to."

Ayla's normally golden skin paled and her eyes widened to the point of almost falling out. He was making her acting captain?! Her?! She stared up at her head of house in complete disbelief. How could he possibly think that was a good idea? Sure she had played on the team last year but it had taken Mysti a lot of begging just to get her on the team and she hadn't really gotten any good until their final game and even then she had gotten hit by a bludger so bad she had spent three days in the hospital hut regrowing her shoulder blade and he wanted her to be Captain?!

With her skin still paled her eyes shrank back to a mostly normal size and she looked out at her fellow housemates. She took a deep breath and straightened her back trying to look more confident than she felt. Personally she thought Sandusky was losing his marbles but if the team had any chance of standing up to Slytherin she was going to have to do this right, "Right well, so long as Hooch approves, it looks like we've got a team."

"Now we only have two more days until the match. We may not be the best practised team but strong and resilient and we'll give it our best shot. At this point Slytherin's expecting us to forfeit, we just have to show them that Hufflepuffs never give up." Even if we have the worst team ever, she sighed.

Figaro clapped his hands and high-fived with his housemates.  Everyone knew it, and perhaps the only thing that said it was the slight look on Ayla Collins' face: the team was terrible.  But at least they weren't going to forfeit.  If anything, Hufflepuff showed up. 

Figaro for his part, was just too damn stoked now that he was actually going to get to play.  Past captains had done the right thing and kept the distracted, rules-irreverent, super-fan in the stands.  But desperate times called for desperate measures and Figaro was going to play.  Figaro was going to play!

He was on his feet and at Ayla's side.  He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and jostled her in a kind of hug, even offering her her an exaggerated salute.  Collins was a good player.  Poor dear.

It wasn't long before the elf returned with a reply.  Leopold smiled and read the note aloud.

"Leopold,

You know my objections against First Years on the pitch, but they have been allowed to play from time to time.  I don't know what Reid will say, but since Alice Hunter's in good standing in her Flying Class I'll permit her to play in this match.   Anything else and we'll have to talk.

Glad to hear Hufflepuff won't forfeit, but be ready for Slytherin.

Hooch"

He grinned.  "Hurdle number one passed.  All we need now is the headmaster's permission and we will have a team.  I suggest you begin practicing as soon as you can, without waiting to hear from the headmaster.  If it turns out we will have to play without a keeper, then so be it.  I don't see that happening, however.  With Madame Hooch's approval, I don't see why the headmaster would object.  We'll show those Slytherin that the can't just take this game from us.  They'll have to EARN a victory against Hufflepuff!"

The old man seemed positively delighted.  "They'll be expecting a forfeit to be announced at breakfast but by Merlin, what they'll get is the introduction of our new team!"