The Price of Fairness

By the time Gavin knocked on Professor McGonagall's office door, he had finished his meat bun.

He popped the last bite into his mouth, then pushed the door open and walked in.

Four Seekers stood inside the office.

Harry, Cedric, Cho Chang, and Cordelia.

They stood in a row, each wearing a different expression.

Cedric was studying the grain of the floorboards. Cordelia leaned against the window; when she saw Gavin enter, the corner of her mouth lifted slightly before she quickly suppressed the smile. Harry looked as if he still had no idea why he was there, while Cho Chang appeared the calmest of all.

"Professor." Gavin stopped in the doorway.

Professor McGonagall looked at him over her glasses. "Mr. Gu, you're later than I expected."

"I was doing some magic practice. You know how it is."

Professor McGonagall nodded.

She knew Gavin was learning to become an Animagus. That required plenty of Transfiguration practice to get a feel for it.

It made sense, so she did not ask any further questions.

"Mr. Gu," Professor McGonagall said, "three of the Seekers told me you taught them their methods for pursuing the Golden Snitch. Is that true?"

Gavin frowned. "Sorry, Professor. I need to understand what happened first."

He turned to Cedric, curious.

"How did you lose? Did you go easy on them?"

Cedric looked a little embarrassed.

"That's hard to explain."

Gavin had not expected that answer.

So he turned to Cho. "I heard you caught the Golden Snitch in under ten minutes?"

Cho nodded.

"Good luck?"

Cho smiled. "Of course not."

"Then Cedric taught you?"

"I did not!" Cedric denied at once.

Gavin turned back to him. "Then how did she do it?"

Cedric took a deep breath and began explaining everything.

By the end, his voice had