Forever... Always

Year 2 - Halloween Feast/Lessons

The last few weeks have been relaxing for me and Cedric, I can't say the same for Fred and George though. Our professors were giving a decent amount of homework, which for Cedric and I wasn't a problem because we either did it together or with our other friends. For Fred and George however, they procrastinated to the bitter end because they were practicing for quidditch tryouts and planning pranks. I tried to invite them to join my study group I was part of with Draguar, Danica, Bryony, Chester and Starling. Percy even joined us every once in a while because Starling would invite him, but the twins told me if Percy was there, they could be nowhere near. Cedric and I spent the last few weekends practicing in the quidditch friendlies that took place for the 'rookies' as we were called. We were put on different teams quite a bit so that we would play Seeker against each other. I often let up a little when the captain of the Hufflepuff team watched our games so Cedric would have a better chance of becoming Seeker.
    Adrenaline was coursing through our veins as we headed for dinner today for three reasons. One, we just had an incredible match, George and I somehow made it on one team and Fred and Cedric were on the other, to say the least, we played hard. Two, today was Halloween, meaning tomorrow was tryouts. Finally three, we weren't heading to any dinner, it was the Halloween feast, not only that, but the twins had a prank that was set to go off as dessert would clear from the tables. Before we could go to the feast, we'd have to get changed, we didn't want to be all sweaty at the feast. I was heading towards the girls dorms when someone called Cedric and I.
    "Diggory, Dutchman, might I have a word quick?" The low gravelly voice said. We both turned to see none other than Marvolo Draper, the Hufflepuff captain.
    "Uh, yeah of course." Cedric said awkwardly.
    "I just wanted to make sure you two are coming to tryouts tomorrow. If it was completely up to me you'd already be on the team, but nonetheless, I want to see you two there. Assure me you're trying out please."
    "Yes we are going to be, why wouldn't we?" I said, hoping to sound more confident in front of him.
    "Good. I'll see you there then. Also, you better hurry, the feast is starting soon." Draper said as he left the common room.
    I gave Cedric a panicked excited look before disappearing into my dorm to change. I changed into a clean robe, put a bat beret in my hair and almost forgot my shoes as I basically ran out of the common room. Our encounter with Draper was all Cedric and I could talk about on our way to the Great Hall. Once at the feast, Amber almost jumped in joy when I sat beside her in the seat she saved me.
    "Look at the Hall, it's so spooky and festive, I absolutely adore it." She blurted out right before Dumbledore gave us a small speech.
    "A reminder that tomorrow are quidditch tryouts, may everyone have fun. Now, let us eat!" Dumbledore stated to the lot of us.
    "Oh Rayne, I forgot to ask, you are trying out, right?" Amber asked me.
    "Of course I am, speaking of which, you will not believe what happened before I got here." I said eagerly in between bites of dinner.
    "Well, tell me then!"
    "Draper told me and Cedric that he hopes to see us at tryouts, not only that, but he told us that if the decision was completely up to him, we would already be on the team! Isn't this amazing?!"
    "Draper like Marvolo Draper? The Hufflepuff captain? He told you that?! Rayne, you're basically already on the team!"
    "It's mad isn't it?!"
    "Yes. Also, why'd you call him Draper and not Marvolo?"
    "It's standard for quidditch, everyone's addressed by their last names."
    "Interesting. Oh look! Pumpkin pastries! They're my favourite."
    "No way, they're mine too!" I said, completely forgetting about the twins prank that would soon reveal itself.
    Just as Fred and George assured us it would, their prank revealed itself at the same moment the tables cleared. A wizard version of silly string was being sprayed everywhere from the ceiling and there was confetti in the shape of bats, wolves and so many other spooky creatures that fell from the ceiling as well. Most thought it was rather funny, but of course there were some who were uptight about it, Professor Snape and Sage Cassowary being two examples. Sage made a rather big scene about it, she threatened whoever did it and stormed out of the Hall. Snape however, just kept his cold glare on the twins as they celebrated the success of it all.
    "So, what do you think of that?" Georgie asked as he approached me.
    "Hm, rather dull compared to some of our pranks." I joked.
    "Rather dull huh? Maybe you'll have to help us next time." He teased back.
    "Oh dear, when will I ever find time? I, after all, am the only one trying to not let my grades slip."
    "Ok ok, you got me. I'll start doing my homework." He said while rolling his eyes. "On one condition, you make time for me."
    "Your education shouldn't be conditionary, but I'll make the exception this time and this time only. You got that?"
    "Heard you loud and clear." His eyes suddenly changed from excited to soft and a bit concerned. He reached for a chunk of my hair and said, "You should try to get this out before it gets stuck."
    "You should too." I responded with a chuckle. "Let me help you."
    "But where? It's too late to go to the fountain in the courtyard and we're not allowed in each other's common rooms."
"Just follow me."
Georgie somewhat reluctantly followed me as I led him to the second floor and towards Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.
"Here?! First off, this is Moaning Myrtle's bathroom and second, it's a girls bathroom, I'm not supposed to be in here." He told me as if I didn't know.
"That's why it's perfect, Myrtle isn't here right now and no one wants to come here. Since when are you afraid of breaking rules? You bend and snap them all the time Georgie, don't be scared."
We helped each other wash our hair in the sink and ended up having a small water fight. We splashed each other until we were more wet than the bathroom floor. We were having so much fun until I checked the time.
"Georgie, we have to go! We have five minutes to get to our common rooms before curfew! C'mon, I don't want to get in trouble the night before I try out for the quidditch team!"
"So you're willing to get me in trouble, but you won't get in trouble for me?"
"No, I didn't mean it like that. I'm just really nervous and I want to make a good impression on Draper and the rest of the team."
"I was only teasing, goodnight Rayne." Georgie said as he turned down the hallway to head towards Gryffindor tower.
I basically ran downstairs to the basement and got in the common room at exactly 10pm. I forgot I was soaking wet from mine and Georgie's water fight until some mentioned that I was dripping water everywhere. I apologized, cleaned it up and then disappeared to my dorm to change into pajamas.
"Where have you been?" Amber asked curiously, noticing I was back later than usual and I was drenched.
"Uh, you want the real answer or the one I'll tell everyone else tomorrow when they ask?"
"So you or someone broke a school rule huh? I'd like the real answer please."
"We met around two months ago and you can already read me like an open book. Well, after the twins' prank happened, I got talking with George and we maybe got a little carried away."
"How so?" She said sitting up as I sat on the edge of my bed.
"We both had tons of stuff in our hair so I took him to Myrtle's bathroom to wash it out together and we ended up getting in a water fight."
"That explains the puddles in our dorm." She teased.
"I'll clean those up then I'm off to bed. I need my rest before tryouts tomorrow."
After I cleaned up the puddles and crawled into bed, I said goodnight to Amber and fell asleep with a smile plastered on my face because of mine and Georgie's evening together and the excitement that was to come tomorrow.