Saturday, March 20
8:00 p.m.

A note was hung in the Hufflepuff Common Room, and fliers were scattered about the dormitories. On this note was a set of simple instructions for anyone interested in playing in the upcoming quidditch match against Ravenclaw: be at the pitch after dinner. The Hufflepuff team had been… well… dreadful, and it was one young lass’s goal in life to make them less suckish. Perhaps they wouldn’t win the Quidditch Cup this year, but they could still show the other houses that the badgers were a team to be reckoned with.

It was a dreadful day for a practice. Rain fell in heavy sheets from the sky, winds were vicious, and even Elysia’s cheerful mood couldn’t help the darkness that had fallen over the pitch. Thunder rumbled overhead as Elysia Hughes stood in front of a small crowd huddled in the locker rooms. Clothed in her normal whacky style, she took a moment to tie her hair back with a rubber band.

“Right, so the weather really stinks,” She said without much enthusiasm, “But we’ll probably end up having to play in conditions like this at some point, so we might as well get used to it. We’ll keep practice rather simple tonight, I figure instead of playing mock games, we’ll simply let the bludgers fly and your job is to not get too smashed up. Beaters, leave your bats on the ground! Tonight’s lesson is in agility. There will be times when flying that a beater isn’t around to help you out, so you should stop relying on them so much,”

By the end of her small speech, her doleful demeanor had cheered drastically. If there was one thing that could raise Elysia’s spirits it was quidditch. “Any questions before we get started?”

Another match, another captain. That was the luck of the Hufflepuff team so far this year.  Okay, so they’d had the same captain for the first part of the season (which Mysti wasn’t able to play for), and now that one had been injured and now unable to play.  Bad luck just seemed to follow them this year. Aside from the captain issue, the team’s players also kept switching around. There were a couple who had stayed, one of which being Elysia, who was now the captain.  Also one of Mysti’s good friends and dorm-mates.

Mysti had rushed down to the locker room, trying not to get too wet from the falling rain.  It would have been smart to grab an umbrella, but the girl’s mind had been on quidditch and not on the weather. Besides, the umbrella would have blown away in the winds.  She was better off just running through it with her hood up.  It would be interesting to see who showed up, especially in this weather.  They may still be in need of a couple more players. Mysti lived for quidditch and wouldn’t feel right not playing.  And since she had to sit the first bit of the season out, she wasn’t likely to do so again.

She listened as Elysia gave her speech, and talked about what the practice would be like.  Agility wouldn’t be too bad.  The weather would be a bit troublesome, but it would definitely help the team, and everyone’s flying.  The new captain was correct, and they likely would be playing in weather like that outside. The year was plagued by this stormy and rainy weather so far, and it didn’t look much likely to stop.  If only Elysia’s part-veela-ness could charm the weather, that would be helpful.

“No question here, but thanks for stepping up as captain. I’m ready for Ravenclaw to eat our dust when we face them.” Mysti said, feeling Elysia’s cheer. Perhaps with the two of them together, they could keep everyone else in a good mood for hard work, and hopefully a win.

"Try not to get hit in the head like Lemon!" Figaro offered by way of advice as he grinned at Elysia.  Angie Lemon had took a bludger to the noggin at a previous practice and Hufflepuff was again left scrambling.  Luckily Elysia finally decided to take on the responsibility she was frankly born for.

Fig was bundled up tight against the wet and cold, holding broom in hand.  Even in this weather it was a pleasure to get out of the castle and in the air.  It wasn't easy to press away the discouragement, but at least they weren't Ravenclaw! He had to feel bad for Sasha though - a whole season and no snitch.  Poor man. 

He mounted his broom and pulled down his goggles to cruise by lazily around the team.  "Hey, Mysti," he said cheerfully to his good friend and sometimes crush.  "Gonna Chase next match?"