Quidditch season was back in full swing, and Isobel was content. Missing the end of last season had not sat well with her, but it had been worth it of course. Though enjoyable was not really a word she could use to describe her pregnancy, she was certainly overjoyed with the result of it. And playing quidditch while pregnant would not have worked so well, for many reasons.

Isobel had taken advantage of the nice weather to spend a day in Diagon Alley with her babies. Though it was early November, the weather had remained nice enough to make such a thing possible. She wondered how much longer the weather would hold out, until it became clear that winter had arrived. Probably not much longer. But she was grateful that so far, she was still able to load Shiloh and Simya into their stroller with only minimal bundling up.

After about an house of walking around, half of which had been spent asleep by both children, Isobel needed a little break. The twins were asleep enough that stopping wouldn't disturb them. So she headed toward the nearest bench to rest her feet for just a bit. When she arrived, however, there was already someone sitting on one end. That did not deter the friendly quidditch player. She simply smiled at the woman and gestured toward the empty half of the bench.

"Mind if I join you?"

Victoria had just bit into her sandwich when she heard a voice. Looking up she recognized the player right away and smiled. Being in the Quidditch department for as long as she had and the manager she knew all the players and everything that went on around the stadiums.
"Of course not Isobel, how are you doing?" She had known the woman took some time off for her pregnancy, but she hadn't heard much since.

"They are adorable, are you getting back into the swing of practice with them?" She had a one year old at home so she knew sleep was rough in the early days, but she only had one, she couldn't imagine having two and quidditch practice. The season was getting started which meant her work was picking up. Something she was always excited about.

It was not completely unsurprising for somebody to know her name. She was a professional Quidditch player after all. But something about this woman seemed familiar. "I've been well, still adjusting." Going from having zero babies to having two was a big change. One that she was grateful for, of course, but one that was overwhelming nonetheless. "Yes, I'm glad to be back practicing. My husband has taken some time off, and they're usually pretty good for the sitters." Two sitters for two babies, it made sense.

The whole time she was talking, Isobel was simultaneously trying to figure out who this woman was. She didn't think she was merely a fan, but it was possible. She felt bad asking, especially if she was supposed to know her. But she could be forgiven, recently pregnant mind of whatever. "I'm sorry, do I know you?" She tried to say it in the nicest way possible, her tone reflecting her guilt at not knowing.

"Adjustment will come, believe me, after four children that is one thing that always stayed the same." She always adjusted whether or not the babies made it easy or not. "I have twins myself. They are five now, but I remember when they were this small." It wasn't something she liked to remember, because of her own issues at the time, but her little girls were the light of her life. "That's always nice. My husband is off in the summers and it's so nice to have the extra hands." Now that Helena was out of newborn stages it was a little easier. She had just become too old in her own mind for it.

She glanced at the woman and chuckled. Had she been in the management position so long players weren't remembering her? She knew it had been a few years since the election as well, "Victoria Culloden, Manager of the Quidditch division at the ministry." The person that makes sure players got their paychecks, yes that was her.

Isobel smiled at the woman. It was only chance that she had happened to sit at that same bench instead of finding an empty one, but she was glad for her choice. This woman was a mother too, and it was nice to talk to someone who knew what she was going through. To someone who even had twins. "How old are your other children?" She asked curiously.

Was she laughing at her? Oh no. Maybe Isobel was supposed to know who she was and she had just made a fool of herself. But her voice sounded friendly enough, and not mad. Still, Isobel blushed. Though the light pink of her cheeks could probably be attributed to the cool air. Would it be best to apologize for not knowing who she was or just pretend it had never happened? She did not know the best idea, but Isobel wanted to forget the whole thing had happened as soon as she could.

"How is your work going?"

She smiled when Isobel asked about the girls, "They are five. Go to primary school where their father works." One of the best primary schools and she was so proud of her ex for being the head of such a great school. "I actually have a 17 year old, the twins are 5, and the baby is 1." What age difference, goodness it made her feel old.

She really didn't know who she was, did she? Victoria didn't mind not being known, she kind of liked staying in the shadows. It was nicer most days. "Work is great. It's busy again now that the season is almost here, but you know that." She was busy at practice and all. "Excited for the season to begin? How's the team looking?" She knew the off season was a bit quieter then normal which should make a good season starter.

Alex sighed softly as she moved gracefully down the street, her grey eyes spotted a bench and she picked up her pace, her pink heels clacking alone the cobblestones as she gained the bench and with a sigh, she sat down.

She groaned a little as she slipped one of her feet out of her heels and stretched it out..

Why in Merlin's name had she decided to wear her new heels on her shopping day? She had barely gotten twenty feet before they had started to hurt!

She patted her white blonde hair, making sure the length was still tucked into it's bun. She opened up her bag and sighed softly as she pulled out a nut bar and started to snack on it as she stretched out her aching feet!

As much as Talullah loved winter she was so very happy that it was almost over but then again it was her own fault for wearing what she was wearing right now. The sweater was a great choice but the skirt and her bright pink heals, not so much. She had worn heels more than one hundred times in the winter but she thought as she got older that she would get wiser with the choice of shoes that she had worn in the winter. The blonde's hands were full of bags and she needed a break from carrying them. Talullah looked around for a bench and spotted one. There was also some sitting at it, she walked up the woman and smiled. "Would it be alright if I sit here?"

Alex was still eating her nut bar and stretching her feet slightly as another woman walked up to her bench, her arms laden with packages.

"Oh, sure.. Have a seat." Alex said with a warm smile as she slipped her aching feet back into her ridiculous heels and she scooted over on the bench so the other woman would have plenty of room.

"I'm Alex." She said as she turned her head and again a warm smile came from her lips.

"Thank you." Talullah said as she set her bags on the side of the bench. Just a nice little break and then she could go and finish her shopping spree/trip.

The blonde took a seat next to the girl. "I'm Talullah Whitehall." She smiled. The Irishman woman had to remember that she didn't have to greet people by her full name anymore unless it was for the Ministry of Magic assignments that her department sent her on. She still had to get her head out of the world of her being a pro-Qudditch player though she was still going to know who some of the people that she was going to talk to anyway since she faced most of the teams and became friends with the people.

Kevin would have been entering his final year at Hogwarts if he hadn't been expelled in his fourth year. It had been difficult at first, he had been grounded for many months, finding tutors and the worst thing, he couldn't spend time with his best friend except by using the two-way mirror they each had. But he had managed somehow. His OWL grades had been good, especially potions which he had gotten an Outstanding for and he was even busy applying for a Potions university. But that was difficult as well. As the Headmistress had made sure that other schools knew about his reputation. And it wasn't as if anyone would write something good about him, no matter how much he had changed over the years.

But that was going to change soon. In a few minutes he had agreed to meet his best friend in Diagon Alley. Zander had been a Head Boy AND he knew his other side, perhaps he could nudge him in the right direction. He also had so many things to say to him, many of them telling Zander how STUPID he was being for the things they had talked about through the magical mirror . The graduated Head Boy wouldn't be THAT stupid right? With that idea of his? Merlin's Beard he had sounded so sure of himself a few months ago and the only thing Kevin could think of was that it was bad.

So he sat down on one of the benches and for the first time ever, Kevin Hirase was here ,trying to keep Zander Adair from doing something incredibly stupid instead of the other way around.

Diagon Alley.

Except, he didn't have a supply list in hand... He wasn't here to actually buy anything. No new quills, no more scrolls of parchment, no more ink, no more school. It was a foreign concept. After having gone to school every year of his life up until this very moment. Of course, he wouldn't be in school right now anyways as it was summer time. But still. He wouldn't be going back. That was weird. Really, really weird.

Which is why he took his time as he walked down the street, looking from side to side. Watching what could only be eager first years dragging their parents from store to store, seeing kids jump up and down as they reunited beyond the castle walls, parents spending time with their kids before having to send them off again for another term. Weird. It was all very weird.

He didn't feel like a graduate yet.

Stuffing his hands into his pockets which still remained home for the ring Kevin had gotten, since Zander didn't have the heart to put it anywhere else, he continued along knowing quite well that if he showed up late Kevin would grow impatient. And Zander Adair was already expecting a lecture or two from his best mate, so best keep reasons to yell at a minimum. Yeah?

Seeing the familiar figure of his friend a little further down sat on a bench, Zander called out with a huge grin, "HEY, HIRASE!" Definitely forgetting that Kevin was most likely going to slap him on account of Adair's sheer stupidity.

Wandering around the Diagon Alley in this hot summer could be a little bit tiring. Ava sat down at one of the park bench after getting some of her school supplies thingy. She already got her stationary and books and the potions supplies... What should she get next? The list was being kept by her mother so... Okay, she could get other things later. First she needed to take a little break here.

The young lioness looked around the street and perhaps she could meet her friends here. But she hadn't seen anyone yet. Maybe they're also being busy getting the supplies and other else. She grabbed her water bottle from her backpack and took a gulp of her drink. And now she wanted to have ice cream or any kind of cold drinks.

Katherine had finished shopping yesterday, and today, she was here to just wander around and observe the other students to form prejudices see how they acted. And look at her, a young girl around her age had sat down on the bench across her.

Well, time to talk and make friends.

The soon to be a first year approached to the girl with a smile. "Hello," she said, "I'm Katherine. Mind if I join you?" Become friends, eh?

Merlin, was it very sunny today or it's just her feeling? At least she had applied sunscreen to protect her skin from the sunburnt. Ava wasn't a girl who's really into cosmetic and skin care stuffs but she'd never skipped sunscreen because sunburn is HORRIBLE. And not to mention she inherited her mother's Russian pale and sensitive skin to sunlight.

Taking another gulp of water, the young lioness then noticed a young girl greeting her. "Hey." She greeted back and smiled at her. "Not at all. This is a public space and everybody is welcomed to sit here." Hehehe. And did she just mention her name? Oh, hi again!!!! "I'm Ava, going to be second year at Hogwarts and the only Gryffindor in my family." She grinned. What? Being Gryffindor was great!

Hey Hirase?

A grin formed on his lips as he turned his head in the direction where his name had been shouted from. As he saw Zander, he opened up his backpack and pulled out a bag full of candy. Chocolate frogs, ice mice, liquorice wands, bertie botts every flavour beans. They were all there. Hoisting the backpack over one shoulder, Kevin walked towards his best friend.

"Adair" he grinned the moment he was close by and without another word he pushed the bag of candy in his hands. "Congratulations on graduating" he said and a second later he poked him hard against his chest with his finger. "What was that mirror call about you wanting to marry Sophie right after graduating? That had been the most ridiculous thing you've ever said to me and i say that as a friend. ...Thanks for making me your best man by the way..." he added quickly and couldn't help grinning for a split second before he poked him again. "Well?" right to business as always.

Katherine looked elated and quickly sat down with a beeeeeaaaaaam. She was beaming because this girl was smart. She had made a good choice by sitting next to her. She knew about public places. This meant, she must be a -

Oh. But... this was better than a Gryffindor without a brain. She at least took calculated risks, obviously. Katherine would become her friend, yes. And see later if the girl was reckless or not.

"Thank you," she said nevertheless, because in practice, it had still been her bench. "Nice to meet you, Ava of Gryffindor." She grinned. "I'll be a first year in Ravenclaw. 99%." She paused. "How is it like being a Gryffindor?" Tiring? Scary? Ava was the first Gryffindor she met, y'see, so Katherine was curious.

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarShine

Katherine looked elated and quickly sat down with a beeeeeaaaaaam. She was beaming because this girl was smart. She had made a good choice by sitting next to her. She knew about public places. This meant, she must be a -

Oh. But... this was better than a Gryffindor without a brain. She at least took calculated risks, obviously. Katherine would become her friend, yes. And see later if the girl was reckless or not.

"Thank you," she said nevertheless, because in practice, it had still been her bench. "Nice to meet you, Ava of Gryffindor." She grinned. "I'll be a first year in Ravenclaw. 99%." She paused. "How is it like being a Gryffindor?" Tiring? Scary? Ava was the first Gryffindor she met, y'see, so Katherine was curious.

Maybe she sounded so mouthful mentioning herself as the only Gryffindor in Burton family. But that was real, all of the Burtons were Slytherins, including her sister, older brother and her dad... and Uncle Archer. She and Teddy were the exception. While her twin brother was a Ravenclaw, she's a Gryffindor... Like Sirius Black. Hehehe.

And being called as Ava of Gryffindor wasn't that bad. In fact, it sounded cool!

"Wow, you really want to be in Ravenclaw?" The young lioness asked. No judging, Ravenclaws were great and her twin brother was an eagle. Some of the Ravenclaws were cool like the former Head Girl, Sophie Brown. "Well, being in Gryffindor is awesome!" She beamed excitedly. "We won the house cup last year, and we have the coooolest Head of House who is a little bit weirdo, but he's a funny guy." Hehehe.

Zander didn't notice the bag of treats until they were shoved towards him. What? Kevin had gotten him a gift???? WAS THIS REAL LIFE? Huh. he blinked for a moment, shocked almost. But still grinning widely. "Thanks," he chuckled, "Can't believe I made it out in one piece." Literally. Unfortunately some others weren't as lucky. #ripgregoire. Ahem. "This stuff really for me?" Kevin got him a gift?????? Still wouldn't get over it.

And then.

Ahem.

He was expecting this bit. But instead of explaining right away, he simply pulled out the ring box from his pocket. Yeah, it was still there. Always in pocket since the day the owl had arrived with it. "I didn't do it," his voice full of regret, actually. "I was going to and everything was going right... But then I got this and... I'm just really confused," he tucked the ring back into pocket, pulling out a letter this time. He hadn't told Kevin about this bit yet. Mostly because he wasn't expecting to get in, in the first place.

"I got excepted into the Portkey Pass program," but he wasn't exactly jumping up and down. "What do I do? I'm going to be gone traveling all year if I accept it. Long distance never works out, right?" And why the heck was he asking Kevin Hirase of all people? Because he trusted Kevin to tell him the truth. The cold hard truth, always. Even if it meant the truth that Zander wasn't expecting to hear.

Katherine giggled a little (but in fact her brain was on MODE: FULL PANICKING when Ravenclaw was mentioned, because what if she couldn't be one????) and shrugged. "I don't think I fit in another house." So honestly, it was either Ravenclaw or a squib life.

Speaking of, could they... withdraw a Hogwarts acceptance letter after it was sent?

Wait, Ravenclaw DIDN'T win the cup? But... how? Katherine didn't understand, but it was also completely rude to question her new friend, so she left it for later and listened to what she was saying. So the Head of House was sort of a weirdo. Katherine... didn't like weirdos, so she would beg an extra amount not to be placed in Gryffindor. Got it.

"How is the Sorting?" she asked, fearing the answer. What if it wasn't a hat anymore? What if they were expected to perform spells with random wands? Last time she did that (i.e. yesterday at Ollivander's), she had knocked out all the boxes out.

“yeah, well…i thought that , you know…” he looked everywhere but at Zander. “I mean, you don’t graduate every day right? so…oh shut it and take the candy or I will take it back” he sounded annoyed again but there was a grin forming. He wasn’t the type to give presents and he was very uncomfortable with it. Of course he bought some for Zander's birthdays cause they were friends , even if they arrived a few days later he still bought them for him… that counted for something right?

Seeing a movement out of the corner of his eyes, Kevin turned to look at him and raised an eyebrow when he pulled out the ring box he had bought for him a few months ago. Wait…he wasn’t going to… “Dude I swear if you’re going to practice giving that ring on me i swear I’ll hex yo----oh!” oops? So he wasn’t going to do it then? Marrying Sophie he meant. Oh wait now he was confused. Kevin rolled his eyes.

“Don’t marry her and take the job” or program , whatever. “It’s for your own good mate. Besides, you’re still young. You can get married next year or in five. Just” he sighed loudly. “Don’t” He didn’t care if he was going to sound like the worst best friend in the world or if people were going to say ‘but you’re his friend! You should support him!’ No. Real friends got each other out of sticky situations and let me tell you, marriage is one of those. Till death do us part? Helloooo!?

“What’s this portkey pass program even?” he asked, slightly curious but more wanting to change the subject.

A very determined Ravenclaw.

She kinda reminded her of Charlotte Kettleburn. Her dorm mate who insisted that she's a Ravenclaw despite the sorting hat had put her to Gryffindor.

"I like your confidence." That's what the first statement coming out from her mind about this girl. "Well, hopefully you can be in Ravenclaw. My twin brother is in that house too." Yay, go Katherine!!!

The sorting? "So there's a very old, saggy hat, that the Professor will put it on your head and it will read your mind... I think it knows your deep dark secret too... Sometimes I think it sounds like my mom." Yes, how the sorting hat said that she's mischievous, stubborn, reckless, troublesome.... "So... I think you just need to say that you really want to be in Ravenclaw." Well, Charlotte did that, but still the hat put her in Gryffindor. So? That sorting hat was such an unsolvable mystery.

"Do you want some gums?" Ava suddenly offered the girl a gum. Specifically her signature prank electric shock gum.

Confident?????? Katherine was con-fi-DENT?! Katherine BEAMED at the girl. Being CONFIDENT was the best thing a person could be. She loved Ava, she did.

"Thank you," she said happily - both at the confidence and her best wishes. "What's his name?" She would meet him, no doubt. And then she would impress him by already knowing his sister.

She listened to her closely, and was relaxed. She had tried her best not to show it, but this was the best news she had ever got. It sounded so simple. She didn't have any secrets anyway. She just wanted Ravenclaw. No tests, no tricks. Just a single hat like her dad said. Now she could enjoy the summer!

Gums? Err... Katherine hesitated. She didn't like gums, but it would be rude to reject her now, but she wouldn't be confident if she accepted something she didn't like... so...

"I'll pass, thank you." Sorry? Err... she didn't have anything to offer back...

Zander's grin was growing wider and wider by the second. The more Kevin spoke, the goofier it got. It was good to have him back. Or was it Zander who was back? Either way, it was good to finally reunite after the lengthy year at school. "Thanks, Kevin," he said genuinely. Though he asked, he knew there wasn't really any explanations necessary. Best mates, y'know?

LOL.

Kevin's reaction was priceless, but for the first time in his life Zander Adair was trying to be serious ok? But he did give a good-natured smile, though it faltered when the boy heard what his friend had to say next. "I'm..." he mussed his hair. Unsure. "I think I'm taking it, yeah." The internship. He mussed his hair. "What if we can't handle the distance!? I mean, I'm going to be all over and she's going to be in uni!" He paced around a little bit, "Do I break it off? Do I see if we can do it? Do I tell her I was going to ask her to marry me????" And also what in the name of Merlin was he meant to do with this ring?!? And why did any of this matter?

There were just a lot of questions. Zander Adair was very nervous. Ahem. If that much wasn't already obvious.

But aheeeem. Anyways.

"Portkey Pass, it's a... An internship type thing? Flamsteed recommended it for me, you take portkeys and travel all around the world... And you spend a few weeks in each place doing different things... Getting hands on experience?" Honestly he hadn't done too much research into it because apparently Zander Adair didn't do research on things. "But it'll be for a year at least, but I could probably ask to stay longer if I want... I'm just not really sure yet." He nodded. "What about you though? Have you still got to do one more year of homeschooling before applying to uni?" Because that was the plan, right? Uni, still? Could he apply early?

SPOILER!!: Katherine <33

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarShine

Confident?????? Katherine was con-fi-DENT?! Katherine BEAMED at the girl. Being CONFIDENT was the best thing a person could be. She loved Ava, she did.

"Thank you," she said happily - both at the confidence and her best wishes. "What's his name?" She would meet him, no doubt. And then she would impress him by already knowing his sister.

She listened to her closely, and was relaxed. She had tried her best not to show it, but this was the best news she had ever got. It sounded so simple. She didn't have any secrets anyway. She just wanted Ravenclaw. No tests, no tricks. Just a single hat like her dad said. Now she could enjoy the summer!

Gums? Err... Katherine hesitated. She didn't like gums, but it would be rude to reject her now, but she wouldn't be confident if she accepted something she didn't like... so...

"I'll pass, thank you." Sorry? Err... she didn't have anything to offer back...

Thank you for? Oh, never mind. Ava just nodded and smiled at this girl. But what if this girl didn't end up in Ravenclaw? Maybe she'd ended up like Charlotte Kettleburn... Hehehe, Charlotte 2.0.

"His name is Teddy Burton." The young lioness answered. "But he's not... Well, I'm not saying he's not friendly though... He is... shy. Like from the scale one to shy he is veeeeery... shy. And doesn't talk very much to stranger. And very moody." Yes, he was. Until now Teddy didn't want to talk with her since the incident at the apothecary. She just didn't understand about what's going on in his head. Maybe it was a Ravenclaw thing?

Did this girl just refuse HER GUMS? WHAT? WHATWASGOINGON??? DID SHE ALREADY KNOW THAT IT WAS A PRANK???

Ava tried not to feel offended when his new friend (new friend? Yeah.) refused the gum. "It's okay." She smiled and put the gum back on her pocket. Maybe she needed a new way to prank people. Yeah, electric shock gum was so so..... last year. "Are you currently waiting for someone?" Suddenly she asked.