Soon enough November faded into December and the Fall air became frigid and cold. The grounds were blanketed in soft untouched snow and the Black Lake had a thin layer of silver ice atop it only to be broken by the giant squid now and then.

Inside the castle, classes had become increasingly difficult for the fifth and seventh years to prepare them for their exams-- O.W.Ls and N.E.W.Ts. The proffesors did not forget to mention how much the exams would effect their future career options each and every class. In fact, Proffesor Brindyhook explained to them that he would be personally discussing their career choices with them at some point before the test.

Classes weren't the only thing getting tough. Quidditch had been just as tiring for the Hufflepuff team as the masses of school work that were piling up. Early sundown, wind, snow, and the frigid cold were not exactly ideal conditions for practice. But Lyon insisted they practice every day of the week before the big match against Slytherin.

That match had been the talk of the two houses for a while now. Hufflepuffs sported their black and gold scarves while Slytherins sported their green and silver ones. They rivalry between the houses was fierce even though they usually got along fine.

Teddy walked into the Great Hall for breakfast the day of the game, feeling half nervous and half excited. He plopped down by Meggie and Rowel who were wearing identical grins and their scarves around their necks.

"There you are, Teddy!" Meggie exclaimed. "Check it out!" She pulled a group of badges from the pocket of her robe. They each showed a player on the Hufflepuff team racing through the air in motion. "It took me ages to figure out the potion but I did it! I'm selling them for a seven sickles each!"

Rowel glared at her. "You're selling them?"

"That's what I just said, Rowel. Pay attention." Meggie said.

"I know that's what you said and it's not okay! That's an illegal market. In other words, not allowed at Hogwarts!" Rowel snapped. "Give them out for free or I'll report you to Brindyhook."

Meggie raised an eyebrow and looked as though she was about to retort but just as she opened her mouth she was interrupted by Abigal. "Hey guys!" She sat down beside Teddy.

Teddy was glad that she had stopped the two from really bickering. Not to mention their time spent together at Hogsmeade hadn't gone too poorly. They had enjoyed a nice trip to The Three Broomsticks and Honeyduke's together but Teddy was still confused. She hadn't called it a date but wasn't it? He didn't think of like that when he went to Hogsmeade with Meggie. He shruddered at the thought. Since the "get together" Abigal had been hanging around them and Rowel and Meggie were less than happy about it.

"I don't mind her." Meggie had said. "I just really, really don't like her, that's all."

Something told Teddy she was jealous but he didn't dare say it to her face. If he had, well, he might have been jinxed into next year!

"Ready for the game?" Abigal asked cheerfully as she grabbed a scone from the basket.

"Ready as I'll ever be." He said glancing out the window. The grounds were still covered in blankets of snow but it looked relatively clear out.

"I think the team is calling you guys," Rowel said casually. He pointed to where the rest of the Hufflepuff Quidditch team sat. They weren't even looking at Teddy or Abigal.

"See you, then." Abigal said and bounced up. She grabbed Teddy's hand.

Teddy was shocked. He pulled his hand away at once. Abigal's jaw dropped but she quickly closed it looking dissapointed. "I'll-I'll catch up with you," Teddy said awkardly.

Abigal spun and stormed away. Teddy sighed. What was he supposed to do? You don't just spring up on someone and hold their hand!

"Smart move," Rowel said.

"What? I didn't know what to do? I was just suprised that's all!" He retorted.

"Well, I'm just glad you got rid of her." Rowel said.

"Oh, shut up." Teddy snapped. "Look, we need to talk. I've been thinking a lot lately about avenging my parents and I don't think I should do it. It's not right."

"Well we can't force you but-- TEDDY, ARE YOU CRAZY? YOU HAVE TO DO IT!" Meggie shouted causing students to glance in their direction.

"It's not right. I can't kill someone. I just can't." Teddy sighed. "I don't even know who did it. I don't even know where to start."

"I wanted to talk about that too." Rowel said. "I've come up with something brilliant. Over Christmas Break you can talk to Harry about the battle. I'm sure he knows who did it."

"I don't know, Rowel. It's kind of a sore subject with Harry." Teddy said. "Even if I was going to do  it that's not how I would go about it. I would talk to Hermione. Harry said she had a Time Turner and knows all about them. If I can get one--"

"You can save your parents!" screamed Rowel and Meggie in unison.

Someone clapped Teddy on the shoulder. It was Lyon standing in front of the team. "We're heading down to the locker room."

Teddy nodded and stood up. As he followed the team he threw Meggie and Rowel a look. They both nodded understanding they would talk about the matter later.

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"Here they come folks-- your Hufflepuff Badgers!"

Teddy raced out of the locker room his broomstick clasped in his hand as they pounded onto the field before the roaring crowds. Teddy's heart pounded fast with excitment and fear alike.

"And now--the team we all know is going to win the House Cup this year-- the Slytherin Serpents!"

A team of seven players wearing silver and dark green raced from their locker room across the pitch with their hands in the air. Teddy shot a glare at the commentator Scarlett Robert of Slytherin [See Author's Note] . She had auburn hair and was wrapped in silver and green robes with the rest of her housemates. The Hufflepuff fans screamed in disagreement.

"And here's Tony Hansel, our refree for today's game!" The Quidditch Refree sprinted onto the pitch. "As always we want a clean game. If you don't know the rules of Quidditch are, well--that's stupid just ask the kid next to you so I don't have to waste my time."

"Scarlett!" Proffesor Ebony, the astronomy proffesor, yelled. She always supervised Scarlet's commentating.

"Just saying." Scarlet said quickly. "Anywho, the players have mounted their brooms! Wait for the whistle...wait for it... wait for it... just blow the stupid whistle already, reff! Ah, there it is."

Teddy launched into the air and sped to his goal post as Jim Broleq from Slytherin grabbed the quaffle and sped towards him. He launched a swift pass to another chaser. Just as she was about to shoot, a bludger whizzed towards her from Andrew and slammed her hard in the stomach. As she dropped the quaffle, Abigal swooped underneath and caught the quaffle and sped towards the other end.

"Oh, here Hufflepuff goes. From Bones, to Chance and--oh! Almost hit by that bludger! Back to Bones, to Burke and shot! Yes! Denied by Emmit Grabble for Slytherin." Scarlet cheered. "Here goes Drake with the quaffle. Over to Frank. He's coming in! Yes! A shot!"

Teddy swerved to his right goal post and whacked the quaffle with his out stretched hand. A Slytherin Chaser caught it and chucked it to his middle post. He raced over but it was too late. They had scored.

"Yes! Yes! And that's ten points for Slytherin right there! Beat it you dirty badgers!"

"Hey, watch it!" Proffesor Ebony warned.

Teddy shook his head to get focused. They needed to win this. He couldn't let the team down.

"We're back in action, here! Here goes Burke, to Chance to Burke again. Shot and woah! Frank of Slytherin with a clean hip check! What? What kind of call was that, reff? Son of a banchee!"

"Scarlet!"

"That was a clean play! Now, Hufflepuff with the penalty shot. Heckling his not allowed, people, no heckling, no heckling, no heckling, no heckling!"

"That's heckling, smart allec!" Teddy heard Meggie scream from somewhere in the Hufflepuff section. He watched as Lyon sped towards the left post, swerved right and launched the quaffle into the middle post.

"Goal for Hufflepuff." Scarlet groaned. "Ten to ten score."

As the game continued, Teddy didn't see much action-- the Chasers were doing such a good job keeping the quaffle in their possion that Teddy was mainly left to watch from his post. Even if the Slytherins did penetrate through their chasers Hufflepuff's beaters had a bloody good aim. Now the scoreboard read sixty to ten, Hufflepuff.

"Here they come! Frank to Chandler to Frank to Drake and shot! Blimey, that shot is hard!"

Teddy darted to the speeding quaffle and caught it. He threw it to Kiara who flew off towards the other end.

"And the seekers have spotted the snitch!"

Teddy whipped around to see McKenzie Macroy diving for the golden snitch at top speed, Henry far behind.

"Slytherin's got this in the bag! Go McKenzie! Get that snitch! Get it! He's catching up to you! Why are you slowing down? Go, go, go!"

"Come on, Henry." Teddy whispered as the snitch took a wild swerve in the other direction.

Henry was quick to whip around and speed towards it, McKenzie centimeters from his broom end. He reached out his arm, his fingers almost touching the gold ball. Teddy watched as McKenzie dove off her broomstick and reached out for the snitch.

"IS SHE CRAZY?" Scarlet screamed.

Mckenzie's hands just missed the fluttering snitch and she plummeted to the ground below, screaming. Henry closed his hands around the snitch at last. Meanwhile, McKenzie was hovering just inches from the ground held up by the refree's quick spell. He sighed with relief.

"And it's over! Hufflepuff wins!" Scarlett yelled. "And that was a dirty play by McGyver but whatever!"

No one heard that last part-- Hufflepuff was too busy screaming in hapiness.

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The Hufflepuff common room was ecstatic that night as always after a game. Banners of moving badgers and stacks of food fresh from the kitchens covered the room. The students crowded around Henry complimenting him on his amazing game. Nearly everyone in the common room wore Meggie's badges proudly.

Teddy sat by the fire with Rowel and Meggie, all of them laughing and discussing the game their mouths filled with treats.

"Happy, Rowel? I didn't make them pay for the badges." Meggie said stuffing Turkish Delight into her mouth.

"Actually, I am." Rowel replied as he served himself some rice pudding. "Just goes to show you, I can influence your bad behavior."

"Guys about the Time Turner thing." Teddy said, completly changing the subject. "Will it work? Can it work?"

"I have no clue, Teddy," Meggie said. "I mean, isn't that why you're going to see Hermione in the first place?"

"I don't want to seem stupid." He said. "I can't tell her what I may and may not do. She wouldn't be pleased if she figured it out."

"All you need is a good excuse." Meggie said, her eyes flashing with excitment. "I'm good at those. What if it's a school project where you need a magical artifact to pass? No that's too-- I don't know. Oh! You need it because your proffesor knows that Hermione has one and she needs it or--or she'll kill Hermione!"

"Um! Why don't we come up with one tomorrow. It's late. I'm gonna hit the hay," Rowel said.

"Me too," Teddy yawned. As he set off for bed he saw Abigal looking at him sadly from her place at a table with her friends. He sighed. He sure had a lot to think about tonight.

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Author's Note:

So you may have noticed the name Scarlet Robert. This name comes from my friend's story "Daughter of Darkness." She personally asked me to include her character so I've decided to add her in this chapter. Special shout out to cococupcake23!

Sorry about the short chapter!