#3 Get ready to Roll!

Since she was tired, Gobstones sounded like a nice relaxing way to spend some of her afternoon -- Martha just hoped she didn't accidentally fall asleep on her opponent!

Spotting a familiar-ish face, she sat down opposite Amber and smiled, "Hey, you're Joshua's friend, aren't you? I'm his older sister, Martha."

Martha was fairly certain they hadn't been introduced before and she hoped she was remembering correctly. She recognized her from the Quidditch try-puts and from seeing her with Joshua from time to time.

"You don't mind if I play you, right?" The spot at the table had been empty and it didn't seem like she was waiting for someone. If she was told otherwise, she'd move but Martha got out her Gobstones anyway.

Somehow she had won a game in the morning and she hoped she could repeat that success or had it just been a fluke?

There was only one way to find out!

The Ravelnclaw stopped rolling her Gobstones and looked up as she noticed someone approaching.

The face seemed somehow familiar… Ah, yes! Joshua popped in her mind, only a second before his sister introduced herself.

“Yes, I’m Amber! The resemblance is unmistakable,” Amber grinned. “But nice to meet you!”

That would be interesting. Amber could only remember Joshua talking about his siblings now and then, but nothing specific for now. Maybe that his sisters were in 6th year. Although, she did recognize Martha from the Hufflepuff table at which Amber sometimes sat with the boys.

“I’d be happy if you join me!” she smiled and collected her Gobstones to her side.

Although, she started with her habit to play with one of her ear studs she got from Josh out of nervousness while waiting for Martha until she settled down.

Somehow, Amber was excited to meet Martha while on the same time being a little bit on edge. Why? Because she was Joshua’s sister? Then she wouldn’t have to fear anything.

Only maybe that she wouldn’t make a good impression. Didn’t want to be seen as a disappointing friend…. Which she wasn’t!

Eagerly to show that, Amber tried to smile and said “I’m going first, then!”

Amber flicked her stone, aiming at the center of the board. Maybe this game she wouldn’t gain points only until the last rounds…

"Nice to meet you as well, Amber." Martha replied sincerely and watched as the Ravenclaw lined up her shot. She flicked and Martha let out a low whistle (or as close to a whistle as she could manage).

"That's pretty much the best shot you could make." So she was going to be a tough opponent (not that Grace hadn't been tough either but their game seemed to take longer to really get intense).

She nodded at Amber's first question, "I played against a Gryffindor girl called Grace. It was a close game too."

Martha lined up her own Gobstone and paused when Sophia was mentioned, "Yeah! She's my best friend. Isn't she great? She's got a brilliant sense of humour."

Not that Sophia needed Martha bragging about her. A minute alone with Sophia was enough for most people to like her, she was just that cool. Martha wished she could make friends as easily as her best friend.

"It's been fun sharing a dormitory with her over the years." She smiles, finally flicking her stone and hoping for a good spot. Probably not as good as Ambers but she'd be happy with getting close.

No need to knock each other's stones off right away!

Amber was dumbfounded for a moment as her stone actually did what she wanted – not like in the other game!

“Thanks! I’m actually surprised by that. In my first game the stones rolled rather … weird.”

She couldn’t quite describe it. Maybe now she was starting to get the hang of how to roll the stones.

Amber laughed as Martha mentioned Sophia because it described her quite good.

“Yes, she is very easy to talk to and quite funny. Like her hair,” Amber grinned, remembering Sophia’s one-moment-green hair. “I can guess you experienced a lot of stuff together. So, how often did you need to help to avoid trouble?”


The Ravenclaw observed Martha’s next stone move. “Nice shot!” she commented as her stone got also quite close to the middle. This game seemed to be more interesting from the start.

Amber positioned her next stone and flicked it again, trying to set a stone more to her right.

Martha nodded, "Must have been a morning thing, this game is already shaping up to be rather interesting."

Amber had three points from her first shot, while Martha had managed two. She would need to keep scoring well to keep up. Amber's second rolled close to her side of the board and she let out a soft sigh.

Amber grimaced at her own shot. That was bad. She hoped her next one was better or Martha’s wasn’t that good. But the game was fun, definitely exciting even right from at the beginning.

She smirked at Martha’s motion to her badge. “I won’t tell anyone,” she promised grinning. “And I guess we were up to a lot too. Or are,” she corrected automatically when Joshua and Caine popped into her mind.

“Ehm, I mean, we are definitely exemplary student. Absolute no mischief” she said while nodding, obviously not serious. Hearing about serious, she groaned.

“Tell me about it… As you must have endured it last year, every teacher reminds you now about OWLs… although it’s only the beginning of the term!”

She followed Martha’s rolling stone with her eyes. Another good shot. She had to keep up with her own Gobstone next!

Amber was about to flick her third stone as Martha asked about Joshua. She couldn’t help herself but grin being asked about his pranks.

“Doesn’t he tease his siblings all the time with pranks, too? He’s just the type to do that, right? But I got used to it – and pulled in often enough, too. Although, I don’t mind. Thanks to one of his pranks involving a slingshot we’re great friends now. And I wouldn’t have it otherwise.”

A warm smile appeared on Amber’s face as she talked about her friend while she looked on her Gobstone. Did Joshua still have the slingshot? It was a memorable item now, so maybe he did. It would be funny to do another prank with it…

The Gobstone in front of her sparkled in a little bit of sunlight.

Oh, yeah, she had nearly forgotten to give it a shot! Quickly she flicked to Gobstone towards the middle.

(OOC: permission regarding prank from Joshua Twiggs)

Chuckling, Martha found it easy to like Amber. It was obvious she was a nice girl but also had a good sense of humour (well, she needed that to deal with Joshua and co). She was surprised to see where her own Gobstone had landed and wondered how the rest of their game was going to shape up.

"Yeah, definitely nothing untoward happening anywhere in the Castle, at all, ever." Martha joined in, still chuckling as she spoke.

She watched as Amber lined up her next stone and worried the bracelet on her wrist.

Amber talked about Joshua and Martha found herself intrigued, "Joshua's not all bad, sure he likes a good prank but like you say, that's a Twiggs trait! But I can't believe you had to deal with him and his slingshot!"

She shook her head, thinking about any time she had to put up with her brother and his pranks, "Still, he's a great person too., the pranks are never hurtful. Besides that, he's very talented when it comes to making accessories."

Martha held out her wrist so Amber could see the bracelet she wore, the design alternating between yellow stones and black beads, "He made me this for my sixteenth birthday. Hufflepuff colours but there's a stone for each of us Twigg siblings."

She had thought it was a sweet and thoughtful gift and she hadn't removed it since the day she had been given it.

"Has he made you something as well?" She'd be surprised if Amber said no, and if that was the case then Martha would probably talked to Joshua about it!

Amber's stone rolled into place and Martha withdrew her hand to line up her own. Probably best to try and take advantage of the stones on the board and aim to knock one out (and hopefully not her own!).

[OOC: details about the bracelet gift to Martha were provided by and used with permission by Joshua Twiggs ]