The Badge? It Means 'I'm Boss'. (Gryffindor Team)

[mgirl03]

To say that being promoted to Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team was a shock would be one of the biggest understatements Al had ever heard. Yes, there had been the rumors that Soren was getting recruited for Quidditch, that he wanted to end his Hogwarts schooling early, that he was interested in ditching his education for the sport he loved. Of course, rumors weren't always reliable at Hogwarts (or any other school, he imagined), but Al had figured it was true the moment he heard it. The fact that Soren was leaving the school, and thus leaving the team, wasn't what surprised Al. What surprised him was the fact that, now Soren was gone, he had been chosen at the new captain for Gryffindor. Sure, he was a pretty good chaser, almost always made it to practices, tried his hardest lately to be well behaved for the team...

Did everybody forget, though, the problems from before? Where he punched Soren, where he was banned from a game, where he almost ruined everything? Apparently none of it mattered, or what he had done lately made everyone forget. Soren had shook Al's hand with a grin, told him good luck, the badge had been handed over, and suddenly he found himself scheduling a practice for this very cold, very snowy day. Shaking his head a little, Al allowed a grin to spread over his face as he finished lacing up his trainers, standing and running his hand through his hair. He wasn't entirely sure that putting him as the captain of the team was the best move (not to mention it added a hell of a lot to his schedule), but he also knew that he wasn't going to back down from the challenge and the responsibility. If somebody thought he was capable of leading their team to victory, then he would try his hardest to do so.

Checking over his wrist guards, Albus gave a mental nod of check, before moving to his locker and opening it, pulling out a few boards that had the plays they were going over today on them. Glancing at his watch, he knew that the team would be here soon--or at least, hopefully they would. The schedule for practice started soon, but he knew that it was snowing hard outside, and it would be difficult for the team to dig their way to the changing room. At least he had a few more minutes to mentally prepare himself. He was the new captain, and he knew that it was possible that his...authority would be challenged today. His cousin Fred in particular came to mind. Not to mention, the team probably had been hoping that there wouldn't be any practice, what with the horrible weather. Al knew, though, that Soren wouldn't keep them from practicing just because of some falling frozen water, so he wouldn't either.

Closing his locker, Al moved to the front of the changing room and set the boards down on a bench, quickly checking that all of his gear was on correctly. He checked it all again, although this time it was more to calm his nerves than anything. It was his first practice as captain, after all. What if nobody wanted to listen to him? What if practice was completely horrible because of the snow? What if practice was just horrible because he wasn't as good a Quidditch player as people thought, or just wasn't cut out for being a leader? Shaking his head hard, Albus let out a long sigh, running his hand over his hair and pressing down on it in vain. No, he couldn't think like that. Practice would go fine, everything would be fine, and just because he was captain didn't mean that Gryffindor was now doomed at winning the cup.

Even with him as captain, he knew that the team was good enough to run without a captain at all. They all worked as one, thought as one, and that was why Gryffindor was still the best Quidditch team Hogwarts had. Still, if he led them astray one time... The door to the changing room suddenly opened, blowing in snow, and he looked up quickly, grateful that somebody was here now to distract him from his thoughts. Even if his heart had started pounding faster.

Time to prove yourself, Potter.

[.RORY KAY BLAKE !]

Lectures were a nuisance...sure.. If you actually absorbed the ranting being shouted at you maybe they had a purpose? ..of some sort?... What ever that purpose was it was lost on Rory. Rolling her eyes a bit as the professor before her carried on..and grew even more agitated, wagging a finger and going on about respect and paying attention.. she glanced at her watch. She was going to be late for bloody Quidditch practice at this rate! ..She wasn't daft enough to think that just because her best mate was now captain that she'd be treated any differently when it came to time on the pitch. Or at least she hoped not. Quidditch was something she took pride in, something she was honestly good at and knew that it was because of her own hard work and talent. She knew as much due to the fact that Soren had always been a rather tough captain..fair..but tough.. he didn't go easy on the team, and she perfered it that way. She loved the game and loved the teams drive to give it everything they had. If Al went easy on her just because of their friendship she'd really have to give him an ear full.. but again, she really didn't think he would, Al had a serious love for the game himself..

..and if your can't be mindful of the time and arrive at class on time 'without' having Peeves at your heels causing a ruckus, then it will be off to the headmaster for you next time.. am I 'understood' Miss Blake!? Rory's head shot up from her her wayward thoughts with a distracted "..hmm?" ..which was quickly followed by a vigorous nodding of her head and a forced expression of submission on seeing the professors exasperated and suspicious glare.." oh..paying attention!? ..err.. right..yeah, course I was.." She plastered on her hopefully most convincing stab at a grin and waited for the hammer to fall.. if she got detention on top of a lecture that made her late and missed practice, Al would have her beaters bat for it. Possibly literally.. suspension from practice... right, the thought of that made her shudder and a rather horrified expression crossed her face. An expression the professor seemed far more satisfied with that the winning grin she'd been going for. With a rather high and mighty nod the professor waved her on her way and she shot through the entrance hall, broom in hand, and out into the crisp and cold morning air.

Her breath puffed out in a visible cloud and she smiled gazing into the distance at the pitch just visible through the fog of snow flurries. In total disagreement with her contentment her stomach gave a vicious growl and she scowled down at it. " Shut it you.. I've some licorice wands I'll give you yeah? that'll have to do till after practice..I am NOT going to be late. " Eying the vast layer of likely knee deep snow stretched out on the grounds between herself and the pitch, as well and the dusting of fluffy ice falling heavily from the sky she contemplated the distance. Sharp, bone chilling, broom battering winds beat at her face occasionally stiring her red hair into a tangled current and promising a rather challenging practice session. Might as well bring down two dragons with one spell right? ..She could insure she wouldn't be late and get an early feel for flying in the weather all at once. Of course a little rule breaking might be involved..

Glancing around she mounted her broom on the steps and shot up into the air, set on reaching a high where roaming professor, student, and team mate in route to practice alike would fail to bother even looking up to notice the dark splotch..bird? ..whatever.. streaking over them towards the pitch. Zipping over the wall of the stadium she swooped down to land softly on the turf and headed for the changing room, cheeks red and flush from the altitude and face a glow with the happiness flight always brought her.

Banging into the room non to subtlety she blew at and fussed with her renegade hair, leaning her broom against the wall and trying to sort the mass of flyaway red from her face as the snow from outside swirled about and helped itself in through the door behind her. Giving up momentarily on the chaotic strands she slammed her bare hands into her jacket pockets and began rummaging, muttering to herself rather than the captain she had yet to realize was already in the room, she'd made good time flying to the pitch and thought she might be the first to arrive.. " 'Got' to have a a hair tie here somewhere yeah? ...with all these daft pockets and such.."

[.Fred Miles Weasley !]

“Balderdash,” Fred’s voice could be heard echoing off the walls of the fifth floor corridor. He was having a conversation with a burly, Slytherin, in his last year as well. The conversation was steadily leaning towards a fight. The Slytherin had made sure that Fred had heard the conversation he was having with some fifth year girl of one or another house, probably trying to impress her. He had been going on about how he had recently purchased quite a supply of goods from Zonko's Joke Shop, down in Hogsmeade, and that their quality of goods were much better than that of Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes, of which Fred’s father was the owner.

Having been running down the corridor in an attempt to make sure he wasn’t all that late for Albus’ new reign as quidditch team captain of the Gryffindor quidditch team, a team of which Fred happened to have a position in. Fred had come to a screeching halt, and turned to face the Slytherin, a playful smirk in place. He wasn’t much for fighting, even though he was an official member of the Order of the Phoenix, having joined once his best mate had decided that was what he wanted to do. His best mate who just happened to be his cousin, who also just happened to be in the same year and house as him, James Potter, Harry and Ginny Potter’s eldest child.

Fred had then walked up to the Slytherin, winking at the girl that his ill-informed school colleague had been trying to impress, and laughed, briefly, but laughed nonetheless. Then he went off at lightning speed informing the Slytherin how he was certain that the sales made at Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes had surpassed that of Zonko’s Joke Shop, several years ago and that the owner of Zonko’s Joke Shop had approached Fred’s father and had asked if he could purchase a few items from him and sell it in his shop. Fred’s father had of course agreed it was a good business arrangement. Since there had been a time when Zonko's was closed and his father and his now deceased brother had thought of putting up another Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. So there were many items sold at Zonko’s that were actually Weasley Wizard Wheezes items.

There was much back and forth arguing going on, and as time ticked by Fred slowly started becoming agitated by the Slytherin who refused to listen to anything he was saying and just kept on repeating, on and on, about how Zonko’s was better. Agitated, and annoyed, not to mention now fairly late for the team practice, Fred pulled his wand from his pocket, catching the Slytherin off guard, who suddenly got very silent and used the summoning charm. Seconds later something moved in the pocket of the Slytherin and then flew into Fred’s hand. It was a joke item, that the Slytherin had purchased and turning it around he through it back at the Slytherin who caught it in surprise and looked down, his face turning a tinge of red. Knowing exactly what he was reading Fred smirked and started off down the corridor at full speed once more.

While he ran he thought how lucky he had been that the idiot had kept one of the items he had purchased in his pocket, otherwise things would have been much different. Deciding it didn’t really matter he kept his eye on the prize determined not to be side tracked now and not get caught by a professor or prefect while he was running down the corridor. Something he knew all to well was not allowed. Eventually though, with much luck, he managed to make it to the entrance hall unnoticed and was running down the lawns to the quidditch pitch using his wand to clear a path through the snow. It wasn’t long before he was there and clutching at his chest from having run so fast so far. With faltered breathing, he made his way to the changing rooms, walking now, for his body was not up to running any further.

It was only when he pushed on the door of the changing room that he noticed no one was flying yet and that he had just run through a downfall of snow. He was amazed how unaware of that he had been while running. Now however he could feel the cold wind against his wind and the snow falling, as his teeth started to chatter. Quickly he made his way into the room closing the door behind him, still breathing heavily and now shaking from cold as well. When he looked around he noticed only two people in the changing room. His cousin and new captain, Albus Potter and Albus’ best mate Rory Blake, who also happened to be the one who helped Fred bash bludgers at opposing teams. “Now you don’t really expect me to fly in that do ya? Fred smirked at his cousin.