Servitium| Theodore Nott

Chapter Nine

The first Quidditch match of the season was drawing nearer, and much to Ivory's pleasure, Umbridge had taken no time in allowing Gryffindor to re-form their Quidditch team, she knew her father had a hand in that. Angelina was so happy that she proposed Quidditch practice that very same evening. Ivory was also a little bit excited, it had been over a year since the Quidditch Cup had been held, and Gryffindor and Slytherin were due to play the first game, which added even more excitement for the ancient rivals, even the Heads of House, were determined to see victory, though they had to lead by example and hid their competitiveness under the guise of sportsmanship.

"Alright everyone listen up, I know it's not ideal weather, but there's a chance we'll be playing Slytherin in conditions like this so it's a good idea to work out how we're going to cope with them." Angelina stood in the middle of the circle addressing the team, "Harry, didn't you do something to your glasses to stop the rain from fogging them up when we played Hufflepuff in that storm?" Angelina asked.

"Hermione did it. Impervius." He tapped his wand against his glasses and everyone did the same so they could see through their own better.

"Why do we have to practice in this shitty weather?" Ivory huffed as they walked out onto the pitch. Her vision was horrible despite the spell, maybe she hadn't said it properly, her braids though in a ponytail smacked her in the face and her boots squelched in the mud.

"Alright on my whistle," Angelina commanded.

Ivory grit her teeth and squinted, she could barely see a thing as she shot up into the air, though her goggles didn't fog up the rain still warped her vision and the wind was pulling her about and somehow the weather only seemed to get worse. She couldn't see the Quaffle at all, and she could swear she saw Harry nearly knocked off his broom as he narrowly avoided a Bludger.

For nearly an hour they were practicing until Angelina admitted defeat and led them back to the changing rooms still insisting that 'practice' hadn't been a complete waste.

"Ivory thanks for stepping in to help our team," Angelina said as Ivory gathered her things, she had draped her towel around her neck, wringing water out of her braids.

"Was no biggie." Ivory shrugged.

"Your dad's an absolute gem, send him my thanks," Angelina smiled and Ivory snorted, they had no idea the type of person her father was.

"I can't come to Friday practice, but I can come on Saturday, I'll try fit in an extra hour by myself on Thursday or something, so see you then."

"Yeah sure," Angelina nodded. "I'll tell you everything we do on Friday. See you later," she said as Ivory left the changing rooms, heading back to the castle in the heavy rain.

"Hey, haven't spoken to you in ages," Soren called as Ivory walked through the Bell Tower Courtyard, her boots squelching with every step she took.

"Oh hey," she said lazily.

"Just finished practice then?" he chuckled, "Father mentioned you wrote to him about that, I take it he spoke with Umbridge."

"Most likely," she muttered, looking at his bare arms, the sleeves of his jumper were rolled up and there was no Dark Mark, Ivory ignored the dark feeling festering in her stomach, soon that wouldn't be the case. "Slytherin got to reform the team with no problem, I don't see why the case should be different for Gryffindor."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Soren rolled his eyes.

"Well if you don't mind I wanna get to my common room and take a shower," Ivory announced leaving him staring after her.

"Hey," Hermione said as Ivory walked through the portrait hole, the way the girl had perked up, seemed like she'd been waiting on Ivory for a while.

"Hi," Ivory responded uncertainly.