It was meant to be a disaster from the start. When Rahelda Rashaw, the Head Girl for this year, came in and announced a new Quidditch season, Irene could smell disaster. Big. Immense. Thunderous. Disaster.

"—and Headmistress agreed that it's a breath of fresh air. So besides playing in Houses, there would be two additional teams, which are, Girls team and Boys team. These teams will be formed by mixed Houses, from third years to fifth years for this period—"

"And if this season is won by one of those mixed teams, how'll the reward points go?" a girl with scarf interrupts. Irene studies the scarf wrapped around her neck and mentally lists the girl's House; Gryffindor.

"—patience, Sampson. I was about to explain it," Rashaw huffs. "Oh well. The reward points will be divided evenly into four Houses, which means there's no help from Quidditch Cup to boost a House points. It will be looked into again later, when the additional teams actually work."

"Question," a Ravenclaw prefect says. At Rashaw's nod, she continues, "I'm well aware that those present in this room are prefects and Head Girl... except for one. Why?"

Irene nods sagely. She doesn't know why she's in the room either. Except for the fact that she was the Slytherin's Quidditch Captain last year, but Rashaw has stated that the ones aimed for the additional teams are third years to fifth years...

Rashaw grins. "Oh it's the Headmistress choice. The Girls' Team first coach, everyone, self-appointed by our Headmistress—I present to you Irene Bae Joohyun, seventh year Slytherin."

Only years of thorough control of her mind and expression can help Irene to keep her eyeballs intact. Welp, what? Irene glares at the Head Girl, who happily ignores her and starts answering the prefects upcoming questions instead.

"Why her?"

Yeah, why me?

"Slytherin is cunning, remember. We need our coach to be a great strategist if we want to have a chance. Bae has demonstrated great leadership last year, although Slytherin was beaten by Gryffindor..."

Irene slightly shudders. She still hates when someone calls her by her surname; Bae, just because. She has to insist to everyone she knows to call her by her name. Of course, she can't protest when a Professor calls her as Miss Bae; that's just how the protocol between a Professor and a student is. Sigh.

"If we want a clever strategist, why not a Ravenclaw? Seo Joohyun, maybe?"

True, it doesn't have to be me, what about my NEWTs project?

"Seo is too nice. To lead a squad you need iron hands... not that Bae's hands are made by irons, but."

Another slight shudder. Irene wishes this meeting would end. Quickly.

"So how and when will the recruitment happen?"

Rashaw looks at her and smirks, "That's up to our new coach, right, Bae?"

"Right," Irene bites off. She knows a dead end when she sees one, because if Headmistress McGonagall advises for her name to be picked, she can't run. "So can we end this meeting because I'm sure I've heard several growling sounds."

Several people duck their head down, and Rashaw laughs out loud. "See, bossy. Just what we need. Okay, this meeting will end here, but spread the words to the girls in the years required, yeah? Further information will be given in the next meeting. You guys are dismissed."

Irene groans to herself, slumping on her chair as the prefects rise from their chairs. Rashaw glances at her and jokes,

"What, giving up already?"

"I've just agreed to take part in a big disaster. The earliest I give up, the least I'm going to regret."

"Don't be too sure," Rashaw sing-songs. "Changing the Quidditch dynamic once in a while is good for competition, you know."

Irene is certain that the people registering for the additional teams would mostly be those who don't pass their House' trial. That, or everyone is. Logically speaking, the additional teams will just be the weaker teams added solely for the purpose of prolonging the season.

Then maybe if they aim to just play for fun...

"Oh, I don't know," Irene says, wringing her hands tiredly. "Let's hold any hopes off until the first try out two weeks from now."

"Your wish is my command, Miss Bae."

"And stop calling me Bae, you sly chipmunk!"