Imagine going four years without a single victory, while the underclassmen cackle at your broom skills. Think about being a polished four-year wizard of Gryffindor, ready to take on the real world, and still losing to the first years from Slytherin. That is a storyline that this year’s seniors are hoping doesn’t land on them, and this is the 2016 Powderpuff preview.

The class of 2017 is looking to avoid being historically bad. Forget about winning the House Cup, has a team ever gone four years without winning a single Powderpuff game? Have we even had to ask this question before? Even Ms. O’Keefe—the BSM equivalent of that memory thing Dumbledore had in his office—didn’t have the answer to such a question.

It’s true, what we’re hinting at: the class of 2017 has gone three years without winning a Powderpuff game. This year poses their best chance to win at least one game with a sure matchup against the freshmen, and there’s whispers that the cloak of invisibility will make its way onto the field for a play or two. The seniors want to be remembered as the stellar witches they are, but if they lose, then the wall portal at platform nine and three-quarters will probably close on them forever.

The juniors from Ravenclaw are a talented bunch, looking to build off last year’s surprise run, ending with a loss in the championship game. It could be argued that the ladies in blue have more going for them than the seniors, and that this year, the House Cup is theirs to lose. However it would still be Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw, and I’d take Harry over…wait a second, does anyone even know a noteworthy person from Ravenclaw? Perhaps Neville Longbottom? Nope, he’s still Gryffindor.

The sophomores, forgotten in all the juicy storylines of PowderPuff (but not as forgotten as their house, Hufflepuff), are looking to make some noise this year. They’ve learned many a new spell since taking Defense Against the Dark Arts with Professor Cramer; however, they still have much to learn (just wait until potions class with Professor Baker). But what won’t be forgotten is the upset they had last year as freshmen against this year’s seniors. At least if the seniors do go winless, the sophomores can say they had a hand in it – just like everybody else! Don’t sleep on the sophomore ladies.

That brings us to the fresh meat in Slytherin house. We’ll talk directly to you, freshmen: nobody is giving you a chance this year, and it seems there’s too much golden snitch-catching talent elsewhere, but don’t let that deter you from a spot in the record books (we think). You have the rare chance to defeat the seniors, and reach the Chamber of Secrets as first years. There’s no way to Tom Riddle yourself out of this one, so do what you were made to do, Slytherin house: make life harder for everyone else!