ch 76 Wrongful Suspicions
February 22, 1992 Saturday, Quidditch Pitch 10:57 am
-Marshall's POV-
Tracy, Daphne, and Millicent approached our group. The three glanced around and look at us puzzled. As if there was something missing in our group.
"Ah! I know what's missing! There's no food around." realized Tracy.
Showing concern, Millicent innocently asked me, "Marshall, are you sick?"
Susan and the others laughed when they heard her.
I just rolled my eyes and explained, "No. I have just been busy with the vegetable greenhouse and didn't notice that I had run out of snacks."
Actually… My warehouses are full, but if my memory serves me right, the match today will just be a quick one, and we'll be back to the castle even before lunch.
🎉 🎉 🎉
Suddenly, we heard Lee Jordan announcing the start of the, "Good day to all Quidditch lovers!!! Welcome to the first match of the year between Gryffindor vs Hufflepuff!!!"
Like before, the players enter by flying in their brooms.
Lee Jordan noticed the Hufflepuff lineup, "Oh?! Surprise... Surprise... The badgers choose to go with Timothy Hale as their seeker! How brave of them!! Will Potter's beginner's luck ends here?!"
👎😡🗯💢💢 Boo!!!!👎👎👎💔💔💔
Instantly, the crowd (mostly girls) let their disappointment and dissatisfaction heard.
"I heard from a reliable source..." Still speaking through the mike, Lee started to gossip, "...that the Hufflepuffs benched Diggory because of what happened last Valenti---- Ouch,!!!... Who?... Yes... yes.. Professor McGonagall.... Ouch!!!"
Ernie quickly reacted, "What?! Idiots!!! They benched Diggory for such thing?"
"Well, the lions don't have someone like Roger Davies who can bulldoze his way through multiple opponents…" Wayne said optimistically.
Susan added, "If things begin to look bad, they can quickly sub Cedric to get the Snitch."
I smiled when I heard her and thought, 'Well… too bad Harry's MC halo is in effect.'
Then we saw Snape, fully padded, riding a broom.
"Pfft...hahaha... Snape's look ridiculous!" laughed Justin.
Lee Jordan announced to the crowd, "Here comes, Professor Snape filling in as our referee… Can he even fly properly?... Ouch!!!!..."
There were mix reactions from the crowd when they found out Snape was the referee. The Slytherins laughed and cheered loudly.
With the players in position, the bludgers were sent loose, followed by the golden snitch... when the quaffle was released, the game begins.
When the skirmish for the quaffle was happening, a bludger caught one of the Weasley twins off guard and in his panic hit it with his bat.
The bludger then zoom toward Snape, almost hitting him.
Instantly, Snape penalized the lions and the badgers took advantage of it, and scored a goal.
Then, the other Weasley twin said a snarky remark about Snape which the Professor heard and penalized the Gryffindors again.
With another goal, Hufflepuff quickly took the lead 0-20.
Ernie frowned, "Uhm... Well, we're winning, but… I don't feel proud of it."
"Yeah..." Susan agreed, "... It's not fair. Look at the Hufflepuff team cheering, they looked happy."
Wayne points out, "Why won't they be? This way, Diggory doesn't need to play."
Nodding, I just silently agreed. My focus is actually not in the match bit where Quirrell seated.
Quirrell was sitting in between Professor Sprout and Professor Flitwick. The two professors keep talking at each other and Quirrell kept being distracted, unable to do anything.
Back in the game,
Timothy Hale kept tailing Harry when the Snitch passed in front of them. They quickly took chase with Hale leading and closing in but was attacked by a passing bludger right to his face.
Harry went quickly into a spectacular dive and, shooting within inches of Snape, pulled up with the Snitch in is hand.
"POTTER GOT THE SNITCH!!! POTTER GOT THE SNITCH!!! OH MERLIN'S BEARD! ..."
"Wait!!!... Oh?.... OH! The match ended barely five minutes since the game began!!"
Resounding cheers were heard from the Quidditch Pitch.
I was clapping while my friends were shocked at the quick turn of event.
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12:13 pm Great Hall
"Ugh… This is embarrassing…" said Ernie while he sluggishly ate his lunch.
He was not the only one feeling that way on the Hufflepuff table. Almost all the Puffs in every year had a downcast expression.
For those that seem to be taking our house defeat pretty well, they choose to just stay quiet 'less they want to incur the ire of their friends.
Me, on the other hand, don't really care much. Well… I know part of the canon, so I'm not surprised. Though, I have to admit, the 'reason' for our players' lack of teamwork is pretty silly.
My thoughts were interrupted when Wayne asked me, "Marshall, can't you play for the remaining matches?"
?!
"Sorry, mate. I'm pretty busy and will have more on my plate next month…" I quickly denied the idea and added, "... And to be frank, I don't want to commit my time to something that's I don't enjoy. So, I might not even try out for the team in the future."
"Why not?! You know you'll be great with it." Wayne frowned at me. The others also look at me with expectation.
'Hahaha… Are they using peer pressure on me? That's so Hufflepuff.'
When they show me such an attitude, I can't help smile as I'm reminded that they are just kids. I patiently reason with him, "Being good at something is different from enjoying it."
"... Look at the things I've been doing in and around the castle, like improving the menu and building the greenhouse. They are actually tedious tasks that no one asked me to do, but I'm doing it anyway because I enjoy it…"
Wayne just kept quiet hearing me and the others did the same.
I'm not sure if they understand my point, but as I said to Harry back on the train, 'Whatever other people's expectation of you is their problem, not yours.'
While we ate our lunch quietly, a bird swooped in above us and dropped a purple letter that headed toward me.
*Screech!
When I caught it, I saw the silver wax seal that shows a European dragon on top of a triskele symbol.
Instead of leaving, the bird landed on my shoulder and I recognized it as Ayden, Merlin's silver wing falcon.
"Hi Ayden…" I gave the bird a piece of meat.
When I unsealed the envelope, the wax evaporated into a smoke that took a shape of a dragon that let out a roar.
*ROAR
At this point, many eyes are on me.
"Oh great!" I just let out a sigh and proceeded to read the letter that said the announcement will be on the second Monday of March. And for convenience, I don't need to be present as letters will be sent to the Ministriesand Media outlets.
Uncle Merlin just wanted to ask if the second Monday of March is fine with me.
After reading the content, the letter just bursts with bright purple flame. Though I'm holding it, the flame doesn't feel hot, and I wasn't hurt at all.
Caressing Ayden's feather, I said, "Tell Uncle that I don't have any problem with his arrangement. Thanks and be careful on your travel back."
The falcon bobbed his neck and flaps its wings, then took off from my shoulder.
After wiping my hand with a napkin, I proceeded to eat my food and act like nothing happened.
Dying of curiosity, Ernie quickly asked, "What was that?! That falcon has silver wings and can deliver letters like owls??!"
"Oh? It's a familiar of a family friend…" I shrugged my shoulder and said.
Susan remembered my connection to the Flamels, so she asked, "Is it the 'family friend' that my aunt asked you about back in our house?"
With a smile, I shook my head and replied, "No. This is a different 'family friend', but your aunt also knows him."
With surprised eyes, Susan pondered for a bit before asking, "Is this new uncle at the same 'level' as the previous 'family friend'?"
With a laugh, I honestly said, "No… This new Uncle is on another level…"
Susan tried to guess who it could be, while the others wondered what we're talking about.
The commotion made by Ayden and the dragon smoke already left an impression on those in the hall.
The teachers at the faculty table also got curious, especially Dumbledore, who had a troubled expression.
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1:30 pm, Hogwarts Vegetable patch
"Master Witcherly, we have picked all the vegetables in the patch and uprooted all the plants," said Wigby, the head house elf.
I nodded and walked to the center of the patch and instructed the elves, "Everyone, clear the area. I'll level the ground."
After they move out of the way, I point my wand to the ground and yelled, "Terra Formae!"
*RUMBLE~
The ground started to tremble and flatten as per my will. The rocks and old roots ,still in the soil, started to be push to the sides, forming the perimeter of 100 square meter (10 m x 10 m).
The elves then snapped their fingers and all the unwanted rocks, plant maters and dust disappeared.
I then told the elves, "Thanks. You guys can return. I'll call if I need your assistance."
When they left, I walked towards the several oak logs Hagrid laid at the side and proceeded to process them.
But I was interrupted when a friend walked towards me. I turned around and asked, "What are you doing here, Cedric? I'm surprised you're alone… for once."
Cedric complained, "I just needed somewhere to think alone…. and found myself here. Marshall, our Quidditch team is a mess…"
"Hahaha… A mess? More like a wreck, … Like Hale's face. His face sure was a magnet for bludgers," I simply joked.
He also laughed at my joke and said, "You're friends told me that you're excellent at flying, but don't---"
I quickly interrupted him, "I'll stop you right there, Ced. I'm not joining the team for the remaining match with Slytherin and even for next year."
"But why?! You're clearly athletic and great with a broom." Diggory yelled and frowned at me.
I sighed and took one of my golden bracelet off and punched a hole in an oak log.
*PPACKK!🤜❗❗
Retracting my fist in the log, I showed Cedric the deep hole and my unharmed fist and nonchalantly said, "Because, with Me, it will be unfair to everyone who put so much effort in practicing to play Quidditch. And besides, I really don't like flying with brooms that keep hitting my balls at every sharp turn I make."
Diggory was shocked by my show of strength and imagine himself being hit by my punch during a match.
He downed a gulp of saliva and wryly chuckled, "Okay. Point taken. Dad always warned me not to get on your bad side. Now I know why…"
After a while composing himself, Ced then scratched the back of his head and asked, "Well can you at least suggest something to fix the team?"
As I wear back the bracelet, I pondered for a bit and said, "For the current team, it's already a lost cost. They already know you're a better seeker than Hale, but still benched you…"
"... If they themselves let their emotion impair their judgment, then it is too late now. Especially with Slytherin as your next opponents. Good luck!…"
"... For next year, though, If you're up for it, challenge the status quo and be the team captain. If they oppose, take it to Professor Sprout and let her be the judge via a match…"
".... Create a new team. If needed, include the first and second year in the tryouts. I'll help you train the new team… it will be my side project next school year…bwahahahha…"
I was lost in thoughts of training regime ideas that I let out a maniacal laugh.
Diggory agreed to my suggestion about forming a new team next year and him being a captain, but shudders at the idea of me training them.
He looked at the hole at the log and just reluctantly agreed. Whether it's the right thing to do, my suggestions are still better than playing in a lousy team.
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3:45 pm, Reception Hall Hogwarts Castle
-Hermione's POV-
"Where's Harry?" I asked Ron, who was standing at the entrance to the Great Hall.
Ron replied, "McGonagall made him return his broom to the shed. He'll probably be back any minute now."
Coincidentally, Harry appeared running towards us. He has sweat dripping down his face and breathing heavily.
"Good..haa... You two are here. I..haa.. just caught Snape threatening... haa.. Quirrell about helping him get The Stone...ha..." said Harry in between deep breath.
I frowned, "Are you sure?"
He rolled his eyes at me, "Yes, I saw and heard them. Snape was even grabbing Quirrell's collar."
"Come on, Harry!" Ron complained, "You just set a record for fastest capture of the Snitch. Everyone is waiting for you in the common roam… Can't you take a time out regarding Snape at least for today?"
Hearing Ron, I could hear his frustration and annoyance.
If you think about it. For someone who likes to have fun like Ron, Harry's constant paranoia about Snape and the Philosopher's stone can be stressful.
Even I just want to focus on studying. But for some reason, I've been pulled into this wild goose chase. I mean, 'We're kids. Chasing someone who is a potential criminal is dangerous. Can't we just tell the teacher?'
Before this turn into a fight, I sighed and suggested, "We can check if Fluffy is still in that room onthe 3rd floor. If it's still there, then the stone is safe."
Harry got frustrated, "But Quirrell might.."
"Hey there, you three! Have you seen my group?" Marshall came into the hall with a disheveled look and dirt on his close. As he comes closer, I smell a scent of oil coming from him.
Ron smiled when he saw Witcherly and asked, "Marshall, where have you been? Why so dirty, mate?"
*Sniff..
Marshall smells his clothes and explained, "I've been building the greenhouse. The smell is from creosote I infused with the wood. The foundation and all the frames are done. Next is the glass panels... I'll do that tomorrow."
He playfully nudges and congratulate Harry, "Nice dive earlier, Harry."
"Thanks..." Harry awkwardly became silent.
It seems, he still doesn't want to tell Marshall about the Stone in fear that Witcherly will get full MOM mode and reprimand him.
Witcherly however caught Harry's awkwardness and asked, "What? You don't seem that happy?"
Harry quickly gave a fake smile and said, "No..no... Of course, I'm happy. In fact, we're just about to go back to our common room to celebrate with the rest of the team. See you, Marshall…"
Turning around, Harry yanked Ron and gave me a pleading look to follow him.
With a sighed, I just nod at Marshall and walk behind the two idiots.
I turned around a bit and caught Marshall frowning, shaking his head with his hands on his waist. For a moment, I saw a hint of sadness and frustration in his eyes as he walks into the Great Hall.
~end chapter ~
Sorry again guys... next chapter is on April 8....
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