"Yes," she said, looking at a pile of letters in her desk.
                              
"Ministry bugging you?"
                              
"No... well yes, but most of these are from students pleading about starting Quidditch up. I've been putting them off, with how bad they've been behaving. I can't imagine that it will get better once competition is involved."
                              
"It'll give them another arena to vent their feelings."
                              
"Exactly. The matches against Slytherin will be overly aggressive, even if Mr. Malfoy doesn't play. There's also the issue that our eighth-year students are eighteen and nineteen years old. I can hardly let them play with second and third years. And there's nearly a whole another year of eligible players... I'll be limiting the number of students that are capable of joining, but can't play with the stronger and more experienced eighth years in contention."
                              
"So? Take them out of contention. They're too old to play in the House cup."
                              
"And for those students that wish to pursue careers in Quidditch? Deny them a whole year to practice? Get seen by scouts?"
                              
William bowed his head. He had never been a Quidditch player in his years, but understood the allure. He brought his hand up to his cheek and rubbed the short red stumble of a beard on his face. "Well... how about just form extra teams? Junior and senior teams?"
                              
"There won't be enough students for eight teams."
                              
"Two from the eighth year, then? Or mixed seventh and eighth years?" he offered.
                              
"Hmm... I'll consider it. But I still can't have them competing in for the cup."
                              
"Strictly intramural for the senior teams. Maybe even have some exhibition games with the house teams."
                              
"It's an idea. Thank you, William."
                              
"Do you think Draco would compete?"
                              
"I doubt it. He was an exceptional seeker. He caught the snitch every game except the three times when he went up against Harry. But I doubt any team would have him even if he wanted to play."
                              
William nodded understandingly. "And Harry?"
                              
"The best seeker I've seen in years. He's better than your brother. I did make him captain, but I'm not sure his heart is in it anymore. He hasn't voiced his opinion on the matter."
                              
"He's worried about Draco."
                              
"Perhaps... it also was a point of contention between the two. Their last match ended in violence and Draco had nearly beat him. Harry's broom is what won that game, more than his skill."
                              
Bill looked somewhat intrigued by this information. "I'll ask Harry about it."
                              
"Good. I need to ask... Mr. Harper was in your class tonight, wasn't he?"
                              
"Yeah, he was."
                              
Minerva sighed and said, "Apparently, Harper and the other Slytherins hexed Draco enough to land him in the hospital wing just after lunch. Was there anything amiss?"
                              
"No... nothing. Draco didn't seem to worry about him at all. He eyed Dean a few times, though. Dean did look uncomfortable, too."
                              
"I'll bet. He was hexed last week by one of Draco's friends. Poppy wanted to know if she should try to remove it and I told her no."
                              
"Really?" William smiled.
                              
"I can't do much. Draco won't accuse them directly, at the least they get some punishment. But if the Slytherins are getting involved, now...."
                              
"They won't," said a painting to her right.
                              
McGonagall frowned. Mostly the portraits stayed silent when she was with someone. "Severus, we have been over this... I can't just ignore...."