#8 A Summoned Bird

Amber took a deep breath before she entered upon his call.

“Good morning, Headmaster Rickard!” She greeted him politely and made her way towards him.

While doing so, she couldn’t help herself but to curiously take a quick look around his office, spotting the fancy seals on some letters at her desk. Wow, that was quite something!

A short thought about the Academy came to her mind, but she dismissed it in the next moment as the Headmaster beckoned her to have a seat.

Amber sat down, folding her hands in her lap and watched Rickard for a moment before she spoke.

“I received your letter this morning?”

Because she still was unsure of the reason for it, her sentence was phrased more like a question than a statement. Well, he had sent that letter for a purpose, a purpose of which Amber still had no clue.

And his expression didn’t let anything on either.

She thought hard, tried to come up with something, but her head was empty regarding this, like it had before. Amber guessed she had to see and wait, with a racing heart, her stomach tightening again.

Amber felt like being on tenterhooks while she waited for a response from the Headmaster, as a simple nod was of course not a sufficient answer. She tensed up even more as he started to explain.

Originally, Professor Rivera would have talked to her about it?

A bit of relief sprouted in her because it meant that the whole thing was less heavy of a topic than she had thought of. Still…

As he retrieved a beautiful chest to show her, though, Amber just got even more confused. Why would Rickard show her something so important? However, her tension slowly subsided, being replaced by pure curiosity.

Wait, something inside of it was for her?

Amber had no time to think, her hand moved on its own as she reached for the lid of the chest with the permission to open it, her heart pounded loud, almost seeming to burst out of her chest.

When she opened it, blue velvet cushioning greeted her. However, what was attracting her attention was the shining jewel in the middle of it. A Captain’s Badge.

Amber just stared at it, captivated by it. Then dared to touch it for a moment before she heard Headmaster Rickards words.

Her finger stayed on the brooch while his words slowly sank in.

On the outside, she seemed calm because she tried very hard to appear so. Only her finger twitched a bit, her eyes blinked several times. But inwardly, she just freaked out.

She? A Quidditch Captain? Why?!

She had just started playing on the house team, they had only one game so far! Someone else would surely be more appropriate, right?

…

Alright, there wasn’t really another team member old enough besides her to be presented with the badge. But Amber also knew that one would not just get offered the position simply because of lack of members.

Rickard had just told her that Rivera had been impressed by her skill and teamwork.

Well, Amber herself hadn’t. Perhaps in her skill, yes, but not her teamwork. For her, it was something one would simply need to play Quidditch. The sport was only fun while playing in a team after all, right?

However, according to the Headmaster, he and Rivera believed she, Amber Lloyd, had earned the right to lead the team. Maybe she should start believing in herself more, like her friends tell her often enough. And she had to confess, it felt great to be recognised by her Head of House and the Headmaster.

But Team Captain? That was a huge responsibility on her tiny shoulders. Could she bear that?

Being in charge of her team, prepare practises, positions, incorporating new members into her team, planning new strategies…

Wait a second, planning? Team building? That were actually things she could do, she might even be great at them!

Surely, there would be stuff she needed to learn how to do over time, however, this was fantastic as well. The whole role would be something like a new adventure for her!

And it would be a good way to help her team win the House Cup, right?

With that, Amber had finally made a decision.

She didn’t know how long she had just sat there, staring at the badge, pondering over her new life choice, her heart still beating like crazy, her stomach in tumult. Though now, she sat straight up in her chair, taking back her hand, looking up to Headmaster Rickard with a determined expression, though a bright smile appeared on her face as well.

“I’d be honoured to!” Amber answered in a firm voice, no doubt whatsoever.

There, she had said it. Amber felt even more relief and excitement at the same time.

Though, what now? Should she just take the badge? Or was there something like a ceremony going to happen? Amber looked at the Headmaster inquiring.