An active, character-driven Hogwarts experience set in the early 2000s. Unique items, plots, and features. Non-canon; this isn't Harry Potter's story, it's ours.
There was shouting and someone went down. It was just enough time for Caine to pause, taking three or four snowballs to the shoulder as he made sure that the younger kid was alright. Oisin seemed concerned and yelled at Amber.
He frowned at it but kept going. Poor guy was stressing a lot but, then again, that was a rather large snowball, wasn’t it?
Once the chaos had subsided he was able to see that the kid was alright and something smacked against his side – and again. A free for all snowball fight that was aimed toward him from both his new friend and his best friend – excellent!
The grin that bloomed across his face was excited, full of the spark of challenge as he tried his best to duck and weave through the flurry that was aimed directly at him.
Side step. Jump! Duck! It was a lot of movement and he only managed to dodge a few, ending up covered in snow and ice but it was fun either way!
He giggled to himself as he dove away from them, dipping behind a barrier he’d created, packing a few more snow balls quickly before popping up to toss them at either one of the others.
Quick!
He tossed and ran, darting from one hiding place he’d made to another one.
He ducked down, trying to gather as many as he could for the next push of the battle.
By that point, Oisin realized that Amber was completely ignoring him. Fair, enough, they never interacted before but it was just plain rude.
He was standing up on the sides of the main fight between Amber and Caine, feeling a little lost.
Oisin didn't even pay attention if any snowballs came towards him, and paid for it. Two or three snowballs hit him squarely on the best.
Some icy snow escaped between his scarf and coat, wetly dripping down his torso. He cursed loudly and wiggled, trying to get as much out as possible.
In his flailing, Oisin tripped over some sticks that were lying by the sides of the training grounds. They were probably left after some spell practice or were just unfortunate debris of whatever student was bloodthirsty enough to blast a dummy to atoms.
Excited, Oisin rummaged through this find. He found a stick that was a little longer and thicker than a Beater's bat. With a triumphant call, he jumped to his feet and tested the stick out in his hands.
''Hey!'' Oisin called out to both, stroking the stick in his hands. ''Want to try some snow baseball?''
He expertly threw the stick around in his hands, from one end to another, then twirling it in his hands like a majorette baton.
''I'll even let you use magic to throw the snowballs at me,'' Oisin taunted and went into a bat position, swinging the stick around lazily as he waited for their answers.
He was going to give them one more chance. If they rather have fun with each other, well, Oisin had enough emotional intelligence to know when he wasn't wanted.
After all, the Gryffindor was pretty sure he could find other ways to entertain himself before dinner.
Caine was way quicker than accepted. While Amber had hit her friend once, he was able to scurry away from her next snowball – and was throwing tons of snowballs at both Oisin and her!
While his aim wasn’t that great that way, evading snowballs in quick succession was no easy feat. And luckily, she didn’t have to look after Oisin’s snowballs as well…
No, she was already occupied enough with Caine's, his snowballs demanding her full attention.
When Amber tried to duck for one, she just got hit by another one in her chest. Another attempt to dodge ended up in her tripping over the rest of some of Caine’s defences and she landed in the snow face forward. Perhaps she should have just accepted the snowball instead…
In the time she struggled to her feet again, Caine was out of sight. Where was he hiding?
She searched the parameters with a grin on her lips and squinted eyes, ready to toss a snowball at the mere sight of him, but her gaze stopped at Oisin instead as he presented them a thick stick.
Snow baseball?
Amber then was distracted by his little show for a moment. She stared at the moving stick, fascinated by Oisin twirling it around as if it was nothing. She wouldn't even know how to do that without dropping the stick on the first turn!
“Awesome! Where did you learn that?” She laughed and made her way to him with sparkling eyes.
But right, his question!
She grinned at him, throwing her snowball a bit up and down like earlier.
“Alright, baseball it is! Though maybe the first few without magic? But how about aiming at a target? Like the defences Caine made?” Amber proposed with a loud emphasis on 'Caine' in the direction of her friend.
Maybe that would make Caine escape his hiding spot if not the prospect of throwing snowballs at a 'bat' would already do it. And it sounded like a lot of fun! More than normally throwing one!
“Ready?”
Amber positioned herself to have a better throwing angle towards Oisin, waiting until he seemed ready, then tossed her snowball with all her might towards the Gryffindor, hoping he would get along with her plan or choose at least another target – and she was curious to see if Oisin really was as good at hitting the snowballs as he bragged.
Last Edit: Apr 3, 2024 15:07:32 GMT 10 by Amber Lloyd
Post by Caine Hawke on Apr 5, 2024 23:31:40 GMT 10
He was trying here. Trying to include all of them and yet it didn’t seem to be working – or that’s what he gathered when he heard Oisin call out.
Snow baseball?
He’d never heard of snow baseball before but remained hiding in case it was a trick to get himself out of his hiding place. He wouldn’t be lured so easily!
But Amber was giggling so Caine peeked out from behind the snow heap to see the twirling stick and smirked.
”Magic wouldn’t be a good way to go yet, I don’t think…” he called. He knew it could be done, he’d done it with rocks but the idea was still a little more difficult with snow, right? Wouldn’t they burst when the bat hit them?
He stood, dusting himself off as Amber tossed the first snowball and he watched from afar, waiting to see what happened.
He just wanted to see how it worked. The idea was interesting but he tried to think of a way to harden the snow - then again that'd hurt if it hit someone, right?
He'd have to ask a professor about it eventually. That way he could know for the future. Maybe in the next few days when Josh was back!
He looked forward to that.
Caine missed his best friend. As he watched Amber and Oisin he felt it more keenly than ever. He couldn't wait for him to get back so he could tell him all about what had happened while he was away and, hopefully, hear about his adventure.
Oisin lifted his eyebrows when Amber seemed to be impressed by his little display. Her behaviour turned around really quickly. What was up with that?
“My ma insisted that we take part in the community,” he explained and did a loop with the stick around his hand. Pretty basic stuff though he did it better with a coin since he could make it travel on the back of his knuckles. It was kind of neat.
“I learned it when I was part of the marching band. I don’t really have an ear for music, so any instruments were out,” he threw the stick into the air and caught it behind his back.
“But, I’ve got an eye for things and I’m pretty good with my hands, so it was decided I join the majorettes,” Oisin wondered whether Amber knew what that was. “Kind of like cheerleaders, but for parades.”
He was starting to talk more again, a good sign his bad mood was improving.
“You know what? That target is perfect, thank you Amber,” Oisin grinned at the Ravenclaw and said the last few words a little louder.
When Amber said ready, Oisin went into a batting position, one foot forward, and focused on her hands. His tongue peeked from the corner of his mouth while he was concentrating, his eyes zeroing in on that white ball.
SPLAT!
The ball splattered against the stick, showering Oisin in white fluff. The Gryffindor laughed, his annoyance with Amber seemingly forgotten.
“That. Was. Awesome,’’ he gushed and showed Amber the stick where the ball hit. Dead center. Very good, and if Oisin were a braggart, he would not have shut up about this.
“Good throw,” the Gryffindor grinned at Amber and looked towards where Caine was still hiding just as the Hufflepuff piped something about magic.
“What, you can’t use a Levitating Charm to try and hit me, Hawke?” Oisin teased the Hufflepuff and waggled his eyebrows in a challenge. They needed to wriggle the slippery badger out somehow.
Wingardium Leviosa wasn’t a throwing charm, per se, but surely there was something that could be used to send the snowballs magically at him, right? Amber probably knew it, the Ravenclaw that she was.
“Come oooon, throw something, it’s fun, I promise!” Oisin wheedled him, twirling the stick around again.
It was less graceful than before since the Gryffindor was watching Caine’s hidey place, and nearly bonked himself on the head. Oisin recovered after fumbling the stick (luckily, he didn't drop it), and as soon as he had it firmly in his hand again, he straightened up, blushing.
‘Very smooth, Gowan,’ he thought to himself and slicked back his hair with his free hand.
“Or do you want to be the Beater?” Oisin wondered aloud. Maybe that was the problem? It was a very nice stick, after all.
Post by Caine Hawke on Apr 6, 2024 23:49:23 GMT 10
They were playing and seemed to be having a good time, even as he hid. He could hear what Oisin had told Amber about his activities. That was good!
Caine had heard some of what Oisin did at home but learning without trying to was good, too. He liked that the Gryffindor was open about what he did and, while Caine didn’t fully understand, he appreciated it.
He did music. That was his outside of school activities when he lived a mostly muggle lifestyle with his mama but he knew what the other boy was talking about. He’d seen them before!
The play continued a bit as the listened to them get along. He understood that sometimes removing himself from a situation helped others get along – he could be a lot and he knew it.
So he listened and waited, hearing the smack of snow against a stick and praise thrown at Amber. Excellent! They were getting on!
Caine had no doubt that they would, he figured most people could get along if they tried, so he didn’t say a word.
Finally… there was a challenge issued to him! Caine’s eyes widened slightly as he peeked over at them, leaning back so he wasn’t an easy target falling to Oisin who was telling him to try to hit him.
Fine.
He could do that.
Without a second thought, the Hufflepuff rose to the occasion, tugging his want from his coat and quickly trying to remember the spell. He gave a few experimental swishes and flicks before he stood quickly.
"Wingardium Leviosa!” He called toward one of his remaining premade snowballs he’d managed to squirrel away while waiting.
It lifted into the air and flung forward with the direction of his wand toward Oisin and his stick bat. Maybe it’d hit the Gryffindor, maybe it’d hit the stick. Either way, he’d done what he was told, right?
No one could get mad at that.
"SWING!" He called with a laugh, waiting to see if his snowball did what it was supposed to do.
Oisin blinked in surprise as Caine sprung into action, brandishing his wand. He watched with a mix of amusement and skepticism, wondering if the Hufflepuff would use Wingardium Leviosa or something else.
He got his answer soon enough, when the incantation rang out, followed by one of the snowballs. Oisin couldn't help but stifle a chuckle at the sight, wondering if the spell would work with enough oomph to send it toward him.
It would be so rad if it worked, though.
To his excited astonishment, the snowball lifted into the air, propelled forward by the force of the spell. Oisin tensed, lifting the stick, going back to that familiar batting position.
The snowball did indeed move forward, but slower than if one threw it. Oisin had to run a few steps forward to get to the optimal position for a swing.
In tandem with Caine’s yell, Oisin swung the stick, making contact with the snowball just as it started to fall towards the ground.
The impact sent the snow up in the air again, dispersing it into a million pieces.
Oisin couldn't help but grin at the absurdity of the situation. It was chaotic, it was ridiculous, and yet somehow, it was undeniably fun. "Nice try, mate!" Oisin called out to Caine, a hint of laughter in his voice. “But I know you can do it faster!”
With a playful glint in his eye, Oisin readied himself for the next round, eager to see what Caine or Amber had in them.
Unless they wanted to switch, of course. He’d be happy to bombard them with snowballs too.
Amber cocked her head in response to Oisin's lifted eyebrow, though still with a laugh on her lips.
What? Had she been staring too much? But it had been an awesome display! And he even made it sound easy, like it was nothing!
She listened to him, though her eyes followed the stick Oisin threw around.
Majorettes? This was a word, Amber hadn’t heard before. Huh, cheerleaders for parades? She wondered, how that would look like.
In her mind, girls in short skirts and pompons in their hands made acrobatic tricks throughout a street. But were was music then involved, the one the Gryffindor had mentioned earlier? Did other people make it then?
Amber tried to imagine it, but it was hard as she had only heard about cities having parades, though she’d never been to one. And the Muggle village near her family farm didn’t have one for sure, merely a few farm festivals.
“Sounds like fun! Would love to see some one day!” Amber smiled. Perhaps she should ask her parents to make a trip with her…
After throwing her snowball, she watched with wide eyes how Oisin prepared himself for a swing, then perfectly hit her snowball. It exploded into a cloud of snow, obscuring her vision on him for a second, and making her feel a tiny bit disappointed.
Of course she knew the snowball was too soft to really be able to hit away with a stick, but having heard ‘baseball’, she somehow had still hoped…
Well, it looked and felt awesome nevertheless!
And Oisin seemed to feel the same way. She somehow felt relieved and her heart warmep up at the sight of him finally laughing and having fun, his bad mood now fully gone. Amber was sure now, he had only been rude to her in the beginning because something had rubbed him the wrong way, who knew what. But she forgave him, she just hoped they could continue to have fun now!
“Good hit!” Amber grinned in response and gave him a thumbs up.
Then the Gryffindor tried to get Caine out of his hiding spot. She would help!
“Yeah, Caine, do it!” she cheered her best friend on, and he actually appeared!
He even levitated a snowball and send it towards Oisin, though the boy had to run forward to still hit the snowball with his stick – but he did! Close, but he did!
Amber jumped up and down on her spot and cheered for him, almost like it really was in a game of baseball.
“Nice hit! You’re thinking about trying out for Quidditch as Beater? For my sake, I hope not!” Amber joked around, but really thought he would make a good addition. Too bad he wasn’t a Ravenclaw...
She then collected another snowball, pulled out her wand from her jacket, then gave Oisin a challenging smirk.
“So, you’re ready for another one? Wingardium leviosa!“
Amber pointed at the snowball in her hand, and after a flick and a swish with her wand the snowball lifted upwards, hovering right in front of her. She took a moment to estimate the distance between herself and Oisin, took aim and flung her wand with a rapid movement and a bit of force towards the Gryffindor.
Her snowball zoomed through the air in the general direction of Oisin, with a lot of speed. A bit more than Amber had actually aimed for. Ups. Though was her aim kinda off or was it just her imagination? She wasn’t sure…
Last Edit: Apr 7, 2024 6:03:47 GMT 10 by Amber Lloyd
Oisin felt a warm flush creep up his neck as Amber's cheers rang out. He shifted uncomfortably, unused to being the center of attention, especially when it came to something as mundane as hitting a snowball with a stick.
"Uh, thanks," he muttered awkwardly, scratching the back of his head as he tried to suppress the blush that stained his cheeks.
The idea of trying out for the Gryffindor Quidditch team as a Beater had crossed his mind once or twice, but he had always dismissed it as wishful thinking. Sure, he enjoyed the occasional flying competition with his friends, but competing at the inter-house level was a whole different ballgame.
"Who knows?" he replied, his voice tinged with shyness. "Maybe I'll give it a shot."
Oisin nodded when Amber asked him whether, he was ready, getting into position. He even wiggled for some good luck.
Oisin's eyes widened in surprise as he watched Amber perform her wandwork with what looked like practiced ease. He couldn't help but be impressed as she commanded the snowball to rise into the air with a graceful motion.
For a moment, he found himself holding his breath, wondering what she had in store. It didn’t look like he’d have it as easy as before when she just threw it.
As the snowball hovered ominously in front of her, Oisin couldn't help but feel a twinge of apprehension as he realized it was about to happen. He held his breath, tensed, as he waited, electrified, like a second before a lightning strikes.
Before Oisin could react, Amber's wand flashed so quickly he could barely see it. It sent the snowball hurtling through the air with surprising speed. Oisin's eyes widened in alarm as he attempted to track its trajectory, his heart pounding in his chest.
With a panicked squawk, Oisin swung his stick in a desperate attempt to deflect the oncoming snowball. But alas, his aim was woefully off, and the snowball sailed past and a little over him with alarming velocity, missing his bat (and his face) by mere inches.
"Whoa!" Oisin exclaimed, stumbling forward onto the snowy ground with the force of his swing.
He heard the snowball splattered against the ground behind him with a forceful impact. Oisin was at that moment more concerned with the snow already squelching through his clothes.
Still, he couldn't help but marvel at the sheer power behind Amber's throw, even if it did leave him feeling a tad rattled. And wet.
"Well played, Amber," he conceded, offering her a good-natured nod of respect. "You've got quite the arm on you."
“Or well, wand,” Oisin waved his hand towards her wand arm. Speaking of…
Oisin quickly took out his wand and aimed it towards his wet trousers. He wasn’t about to spend more time in icky clothes just cause he fell into the snow. Magic was so handy.
“Tergeo!” he watched as damp patches around his knees started to recede. It wasn’t perfect, but better than shivering in the cold. He planned on changing his clothes before dinner anyway.
“Do you two want to try…” Oisin paused for effect and lifted the stick in the air as a trophy. “...The Stick?”
He said the last two words with such a dramatic effect one could imagine the capital letters in the atmosphere around him.
“I’m also fine with just being your living training dummy for magic,” the Gryffindor quickly added and twirled the stick around again.
He would enjoy both parts. Either he got to hit things with a stick or would hit the stick with things. A win-win situation for him, to be honest.
“Naw, I think Gryffindor would be glad to have you! Though in my opinion, they also have enough players already,” Amber chuckled. Why did they have so much more players compared to the rest of the houses? Because they were the bold ones? Well, that would fit…
Amber’s eyes followed her whizzing snowball. It was so fast, it took only mere seconds until it reached Oisin. She hold her breath - and it missed him and his bat by a heartbeat.
That was close!
The snowball hit the ground with a thud, and Oisin lost his balance.
“Gosh, I’m so sorry!”
Amber was on her way to him, but before she could even help the Gryffindor up, he already stood again, cleaning himself up, even complementing her.
“Thanks, but I…eh… hadn’t planned to get it that fast…”
And she wouldn’t tell him that her aim had actually been totally off, as she had aimed more for his torso… She tugged with her free hand on one of her pigtails out of embarrassment.
Upon getting the stick offered like a holy item, Amber grinned. While she got closer to the boy, she tucked away her wand again and made a slight bow in the direction of Oisin.
“It would be my honour!”
She took the stick from him after he ended his little twirling show and slightly swung it a few times around, not even nearly as elegant as Oisin. It wasn’t as heavy as a Beater bat, though also not as balanced.
Hm, would she be able to hit a snowball with it? She had offered to be a Beater as a second choice at the tryouts, though she had ended up with Seeker. And she was glad she did. Amber wasn’t quite sure if Beater really was something for her… Hitting a moving object was quite different compared to simply a stationary one…
But she had to try! It wasn't in her nature to simply give up.
“Well, I guess I’ll be your training dummy for now!” Amber shrugged while grinning and slapped the stick into the palm of her other hand a few times, then looked at Caine with a smirk.
“Caine, wanna give it another try? With a bit more fling!”
She regretted proposing that as soon as she did. Didn’t she want to get used to hitting a snowball first? Well, she would see how it would go. She at least was determined not to fail.
Last Edit: Apr 7, 2024 15:23:49 GMT 10 by Amber Lloyd
Everyone was getting along! Just how he’d wanted! And they looked like they were having fun, too, which Caine couldn’t be happier about.
This was the kind of stuff he lived for!
Even if he was cold, slightly wet and feeling some type of way. Proud. Was that the word for it?
Because he was making friends! And his friends were making friends with one another – or… well that’s what it looked like anyway.
He watched as Amber tossed a snowball with magic. She was more forceful than he was which was fair. She was good at magic, more so than he was, so he’d give her the credit where it was due.
He watched from the sidelines as Oisin gathered himself and stood, using magic to clean himself off. He should probably do that but he knew it was getting to be time to head inside. Maybe even get changed.
But they could spare a few more rounds out in the snow, surely.
Caine leaned against his snow wall and braced both of his arms atop it, cradling his head against his arms as he watched.
”No, I’m good at watching you get showered with snow.” he responded with a grin. And he was. Amber was a stronger thrower than he was – he was a Seeker, not a chaser, so there wasn’t need to improve his arm…
Then again it was all fun and games, right?
So, with that he hoisted himself up, sitting atop the snow fortress to watch them. It wasn’t a tree to hang out in but it was good enough. Even if snow seeped into his clothes and he ended up cold – it was all fun and games at any rate.
”We should wrap it up soon… dinner.” Always one for a meal, Caine nodded toward the sky where the sun would be setting soon as if that would prove a point.
But he'd been offered to throw the magic snowball again- this time at Amber. Caine glanced toward the few he had left and shrugged.
"I'll toss you one, ok?" He didn't care how long Oisin and Amber played, however, but he knew he couldn't come back to the Great Hall a whole mess. It was Christmas and he wondered if he could talk to Rivera alone again to see if she'd at least watch him in the music room.
He didn't want to join the choir because he couldn't sing... but if they needed a player for their music... well he could do that.
"Ready?" After waiting just a moment, Caine pointed his wand at the group of snowballs.
"Wingardium Leviosa!” he called, lifting the snowball with magic before he flung it toward the Ravenclaw with a stick.
Last Edit: Apr 8, 2024 2:45:31 GMT 10 by Caine Hawke
“Don’t worry, it was fun!” Oisin exclaimed and gave her an enthusiastic high five. “I was lucky it didn’t hit my noggin’ or something.”
Oisin bowed back to Amber and whistled appreciatively when she swung the stick on her own. It was quite impressive, that strength. That was probably why she was on the Quidditch team.
While the Ravenclaw was getting ready, Oisin prepared a few snowballs. He packed them with snow as tight as possible, so they wouldn’t disperse as easily from the hit.
Still, it was snow, after all, and unless they worked with something gummier or sturdier, they’d be all out of luck. Even ice would probably break, but that was way too dangerous material to use.
His papa would be furious if he got hurt, or hurt others, because of his stupidity. Not to mention it’d probably merit a visit to the healer or even a doctor.
Slightly shuddering in fear, Oisin picked one of his snowballs and tried to round it to as near-perfect spherical shape as possible.
He waited to see if Caine would want to then since it was mostly Oisin and Amber who were playing. It seemed that the Hufflepuff was quite content in a burrow of the snow wall that he made, though.
Oisin thought that was a little weird, usually, you couldn’t separate couples from each other. But whatever, maybe it was different for them. Not that Oisin had any experience being a couple with the opposite sex.
He gave Caine a thumbs up when the other boy mentioned wrapping it up soon. It was looking to get a little darker than before and some younger years were already gone, with only a few people remaining on the training grounds.
They could still get a few rounds in before Oisin had to go and change his clothes. It wouldn’t do to come messy for the one dinner during the school year where the staff deigned to eat with their students.
He wondered where he could take his seat this year. Hagrid was always a hoot and Professor Hathmore was one of his favorites (mostly due to the class he was teaching), if not a little scary. Shrugging, Oisin agreed with himself on coming to the Great Hall and deciding on the spot.
Oisin took out his wand again, twirling it on the palm of his hand as one would a compass. It wasn’t nearly as elegant as the stick and it wasn’t meant to be. Just something to pass the time until it was his turn.
Suddenly, the Gryffindor got an idea. A dastardly, evil idea. Worthy of a Slytherin if he said so himself. As Caine said though, all’s fair in snowball fights.
Without giving an indication, Oisin took the opportunity of Caine being distracted by casting snowballs at Amber. Hopefully, the badger would notice it too late.
“Wingardium Leviosa!” he cast, lifting the snowball in midair and with a flick, sending it hurling towards Caine. It wasn’t precise or fast, but with some luck, it would do the job.
Amber grinned while returning the high five, and was glad Oisin didn’t hold it against her, though seemed instead impressed.
“Naw, come one, Caine, there is still time for fun!” Amber exclaimed and almost pouted at him. She wouldn’t had thought that he would rob her of having fun!
Why was he today the one to reason? That was normally her!
If Josh would be here, he definitely wouldn't have stopped so soon. Though she had to admit, it was getting darker and cold… The snow had seeped through her gloves, making her fingers feel icy and wet. But her mood had finally improved after the cursed room, and that was the main reason she didn’t want things to end yet.
She also would have expected of Caine to love yeeting a snowball at her. But she almost had to beg him to do it? Grahh, was he already tired? Him? Never!
But he did levitate one for her after all!
Amber bent her knees a bit, lifting her stick slightly beside her, ready to beat the crap out of that snowball.
However, as she waited for Caine to fling the snowball at her, she heard another person cast the same spell. With wide eyes she watched Oisin levitating a snowball as well.
For a moment, she thought he would send it her way as well, but Oisin instead send it towards Caine. Relief washed over her – until she saw something white flying right towards her.
Right, Caine’s snowball!
There would have been enough time to swing the bat, though Amber’s instincts took over: Instead of swinging the stick, Amber let it fall to the ground and made a roll forward to dodge the snowball. It flew right past her and hit the ground somewhere behind her. Meanwhile, Amber landed on her knees, back and head now fully covered in snow.
He was enjoying the time they were out here. He couldn’t help it! But the fun made him miss his best friend, think that they had to replicate this event with Josh when he got back.
He could see it now: waiting to fling snowballs at him the second he showed up. The first glimpse of all the Twiggs family members and it would be on!
They’d all have fun, he was sure of it – save for Pierce but hey, he only knew what Josh told him. The kid might have had a blast! You kind of had to with that many little ones, right? He didn’t know for sure but he could imagine one would have to have thick skin for it.
He could test the theory anyway. And he’d talk to Amber about it too! And Oisin! What better greeting than a snowball barrage by your friends?!
He beamed at the idea.
And watched the snowballs fly.
He was focused on the one he sent at Amber – so focused tat when he looked over at Oisin and saw a snowball flying toward him he didn’t have time to cast a defense! Instead the snowball smacked into his chest. With a backward jolt from the surprise he windmilled his arms as he fell backward into the snow with a totally brave squeak.
He lay there for a second, staring up at the sky. It hadn’t hurt. Snow catching him had slightly winded him but once the breath hit his lungs again he couldn’t help but to erupt into laughter.
Untangling his legs from the ledge he was able to roll to his side and peek around the wall.
Turn abouts fair play, he figured as he spotted the last of the snowballs he’d made. Three. He smirked as he surged upward with a grace earned in his tree climbing and other physical works.
Wingardium Leviosa! he called toward the first snowball, flinging it before casting the spell a second time.
Three times he levitated the snowballs and flung them toward Oisin in quick succession hoping to hit him with at least two of them.
He kept his side shielded by his little cover to hopefully deter Amber from retaliation.
Okay, now he was officially impressed. Oisin’s eyebrows rose when Amber, instead of doing the really fun thing, dropped the holy stick and rolled.
The reflexes were on point, though, he couldn’t fault her for that. Put everyone else to shame, she did.
Oisin doubted he could be like that if he joined the Gryffindor Quidditch team, though his eye and hand coordination were quite amazing if he allowed himself a little praise.
He wanted to help Amber back up when Oisin’s heart nearly stopped when he noticed Caine flailing and falling backward. The Gryffindor really hoped he didn’t hurt him.
Oisin was in a momentary panic, undecided whether to help Amber or Caine. He twitched, before making a split-second decision and started jogging towards Caine.
Wincing to himself, he knew his ma would be ashamed of him, for not helping out a girl first. Especially because of the reason he decided to help Caine instead of Amber.
“Caine!” the Gryffindor moved forward. “Are you o-?”
Quick as lightning, Oisin saw Caine jump to his feet, and before he knew…
Splat! Splat! Splat!
Oisin stared in disbelief when three snowballs hit him in quick succession. Chest, leg, and shoulder. That little…honey badger. He was just as tricky and vicious as the real animal.
“Oh, you’re so lucky you’re cute,” Oisin muttered to himself, trying to pat down the snow from his clothes.
He winced again, those were bad thoughts, especially about someone who was taken. He should get that out of his head immediately. Oisin didn’t want a repeat of the summer holidays.
Glaring at the other boy, Oisin had half a mind to tackle Caine in retaliation. It was starting to get really cold and if he did that, they might have put a stop to their excursion sooner rather than later. So, he let the Hufflepuff be. For now.
Turning back to Amber, Oisin called out to her.
“Want to try hitting the ball?” he giggled, hoping it didn’t come across as cruel. He didn’t intend it like that. More of an opportunity to switch if she had wanted.
“Wingardium Leviosa!” Oisin lifted the snowball and sent it towards her with a wide flick. It should go in a wider upward arch, slowing it, rather than have it be fast like a thrown ball.
02 | 
18 | 
20
January
