Shouting Ourselves Hoarse

[Saul Forrester]

It was the first Quidditch game of the new season and Saul was pumped. Moutohora Macaws versus the Wollongong Warriors, so it was a big one, and the stadium was seething with people. The Irish born Hogwarts graduate was not a native to either team's country, but since he'd spent the last three years in New Zealand, he was decked out in red, yellow and blue with a fiery phoenix painting covering half his face. It was starting to flake off post-game but the newly graduated student couldn't have cared less. He'd hollered his way throughout the entire game and weaved through the crowds after the match to get into a good argument with the losing team.

Saul had a butterbeer in hand and was enthusiastically ribbing the Warriors for a quaffle fumble after half-time when he caught the eye of a nearby teenager. They stared at each other for a moment before Saul's face lit up with recognition.
"Hey ... Carlotta!"
The poor Warriors fan was abandoned as the Irish teen started moving his way towards his fellow Hufflepuff- she was still in school, and probably wondering how he'd remembered her name, but Saul remembered everyone's name. "Didn't recognise yeh for a second wearin' team colours. Well lookit you! How're you going?"​

 

[Carlotta Raven]

It wasn't often that Carlotta was able to see games, as her only remaining parent was convinced it was a dangerous sport, and not something a young woman should subject herself to. He was being ridiculous, of course, he just didn't like New Zealand as a whole, let alone not appreciating the kinds of injuries that could be received in Quidditch. The Hufflepuff had received an injury of her own during school Quidditch (that she hid very wisely). The match itself was great to watch, however, though she was confined to her seat at all times seeing as she was sitting beside her uncle. It was strange, really, the man hated noise and crowds, but still appreciated a Quidditch match, which attracted both.

Dressed in the colours of the Moutohora Macaws, for no reason beyond she spent more time in New Zealand than Australia, the young woman was in the middle of slipping away from her minder to buy some more memorabilia when she her eyes wandered from the stand and to the crowd instead. Her eyebrows had knitted together by time she had recognised Saul, but he had beaten her there. After quickly completing her purchase of the gift, she spun the long scarf around her arms to keep it from the ground, and wandered away from the booth and closer to the (ex) Hufflepuff. It was fortunate that she remembered his name, otherwise this would have been more awkward than otherwise. "Hello Saul," she greeted, tugging him to a marginally quieter location. "I'm well, enjoying my holiday and the game. This isn't my first choice of team," she added, tugging on the coloured scarf slightly. "But it's closer to me then the others, and there's no point in coming if you're not going to verbally spit on someone else when they lose." She chuckled quietly, "So, how have you been? Enjoying your adult life?"
​

 

[Saul Forrester]

"Ahright then," grinned Saul in response to his name. "It's not my team, either, but beggars can't be choosers. 'Caws usually do better than the Warriors in the sky- or at least they looked better, this match. One-eighty to one-ninety five, can yeh believe it?" He was rather pleased that she remembered who he was, and even more so to be greeted with friendly recognition. He was also glad she made the call to give them some privacy- Saul had been shouting so much to be heard, he was nearly voiceless.

"I've been well enough," he responded genially. "Actually trying to get into the Quidditch business, meself, but jobs are scarce. M'just pickin' up some part time jobs while I apply. What about you? Lookin' forward to going back to school?" Saul laughed. "NEWTs coming up, those things are right bastards, I tell yeh what." As they were speaking, a tall, dark-haired man was scanning above heads as though looking for someone. Saul recognised him as the man Carlotta had been standing beside before she tugged him away. "Who was that with you?" he asked curiously. Couldn't have been a boyfriend, he looked more than twice Carlotta's age. Surely not.​

 

[Carlotta Raven]

Carlotta nodded in understanding - she didn't think Saul was native to New Zealand, though she had never thought to ask where he was from. There were numerous international students at the school, with her being one of them, and it made bothering to ask where someone was from a heavily repeated question, that she just gave up. "It was a good game," she agreed. "You sound like you were enthusiastic, though. I suggest you have some honey when you get home." She giggled quietly into the scarf. He sounded as if he had been screaming the whole game - which he probably was, he certainly wouldn't have been the only fan.

She nodded politely as he described his current job search, but her smile returned somewhat bitterly at the mention of NEWTs. "If they're anything like the OWLs, I'll survive. Not sure if I'll do much else, though." The smile turned more genuine as she joined his laughter. She could see his eyes wander and focus on something other than herself, and if Carlotta could have read Saul's mind in regards to her relationship with her guardian, she probably would have doubled over in hysteria. Not only was that her uncle, but he was perhaps one of the grumpiest men she knew. He was a decent companion for Quidditch, but otherwise she was quite sure she couldn't live with him.

"Ahh, that's my Zio," she said, looking over at him and giving him a smile. It wasn't reciprocated, and in exchange she was given a small nod and he left to find a spot to sit under in the shade. "Uncle, I mean," she added. "He doesn't appreciate strangers too much, don't mind him. He's harmless." An understatement if ever there was one, but there was no sense in telling Saul that her uncle would happily turn him into thestral food and a nice set of runes. "Are you here with anyone?"
​

 

[Saul Forrester]

Ah, she'd noticed his rough voice. Saul cleared his throat sheepishly, but he wasn't all that embarrassed. He'd been a fan of the Kenmare Kestrals since he was old enough to hold a little flag as he sat on his Da's shoulders. If his throat wasn't gritty at the end of a match, he wasn't doing his job right.
"Ah well, if I have my way, I'll be in the top box doing the commentary at all the international games, soon," he declared proudly. "It'll be fair deadly. Watch this space, Lottie, you're lookin' at a star!"

Saul didn't have the heart to tell Carlotta that her 'Zio' didn't look very harmless. He was skinny enough, but he had eyes like a hawk. Unnerved, Saul moved a little further away with his fellow Hufflepuff and ducked under an awning of a nearby drink stall. On second thoughts, he definitely had the heart.
"Harmless, my pink Irish arse. You look like yeh've dodged security." Fair play to Carlotta, she didn't look remotely bothered, and Saul carried on and answered her question. "Nah. I'd love to bring a girl to a game, but none of them I've been sweet on have been sweet on Quidditch. Automatic deal-breaker," he joked.​

 

[Carlotta Raven]

She couldn't help but laugh at his enthusiasm. It was mildly endearing, but the Hufflepuff was, at the end of the day, practical. Many people dreamed big, and unless they had the talent, money or connections, a lot of those dreams died hard. It would be a shame to have that happen to the joyful, inspired man in front of her. "I'll be sure to," she responded politely, though it wasn't as enthusiastic as she could possibly be. If he did end up making it, she'd be very impressed - and of course happy for him. But there was no point in entertaining what was essentially a fantasy right now.

"Perhaps I have." Carlotta couldn't help but take another look at her uncle, and decided that it was a subject best not broached, and allowed it to drop without further comment. She wanted to be able to go back to him and safely say he was not a topic of conversation. "There are plenty of girls that like Quidditch," she replied, laughing at his joke regardless. "But I'll agree. There's nothing worse than someone not appreciating Quidditch, it just makes me wonder what they've been doing with their lives." Quidditch was everywhere. The only ones with the excuse were muggle borns, and it was always nice to see even them embracing the sport. She shook her head. "Anyway, will you be buying any things? You looked pretty decked out, but their scarves are soft and lovely." She used the one on her arms to rub against her cheek, as if to prove her observation.
​

 

[Saul Forrester]

"Damn," muttered Saul, raising his eyebrows and waggling them to make Carlotta laugh. She knew what she'd said after he'd told her he liked Quidditch fans. Cheeky bugger, she was.
"Nah, I've got all my gear. The only merch' I'll collect is the Kestrals. Anyone else, and a bit of face paint and re-colouring my jersey'll do. But what about you, with bringing anyone? Won't your uncle let you take a mate or a boyfriend to games?" That'd suck. Carlotta was old enough not to need an escort.

Naturally, because these days that was all his mind gravitated to, Saul couldn't help but consider the idea of him being the one to bring her to games. Carlotta, or 'Lottie' as he'd taken to calling her in his mind, was fit as hell, and a damn good seeker to boot. If he could take her home to meet his Mam, he'd be a proud Hufflepuff.​

 

[Carlotta Raven]

His waggling eyebrows did garner a more genuine laugh from the Hufflepuff, who used her uncle's freshly bought scarf (something she was sure would have his hair stand on end) to hide her grin from the ex-Hufflepuff. It was sweet, really. He was sweet. She swatted him with the scarf in retaliation. It wasn't long, however, until he was treated to another laugh, though, one that she couldn't quite hide as it was an outburst of puzzled amusement as she considered what he was saying. Snort-laugh aside, she could see the merit in his question - and its utter failure. It wasn't even about being overprotective this time, but more that her uncle was a recluse, and she was surprised he wasn't vanishing himself a five mile wide area between him and everyone else.

"Because my zi-uncle looks like a man that would tolerate anyone else tagging along," she commented sarcastically, giving her uncle another look as she mentioned him. Stoic as always, her uncle was indeed watching her, but giving absolutely no glimpses as to how he was feeling, if anything at all. "He barely tolerates me hanging off his arm, let alone another gaggling girl, or worse yet, a boy." She giggled into the scarf. "I don't have much in the way of a 'mate' or a boyfriend, anyway. And if I did..." She crept closer, as if uncle were right behind her. "I'd never subject someone I liked to him." She then backed away a little and gave a knowing nod, her smile settling on her face.
​

 

[Saul Forrester]

Saul had always thought of Carlotta as an impassive sort of girl, but in fact she was quite witty and very playful. He laughed and dodged out the way of her scarf, laughing again when she leaned in conspiratorially.
"I'm shattered," he teased her. "Aren't I being 'subjected' to him right now? Or is this your zi-uncle-," Saul winked, "-Being hands off? Merlin's knickers, you'd think your family'd leave you alone if they don't like babysitting duty."

Saul joked, but he did understand. His Ma was always on him to watch out for Daphne and Erasmus, no matter that one was in Durmstrang and the other took great pains to avoid him. He told Carlotta so, and did a theatrical impression of his plump, scolding Ma and his laid back, jovial Da. He wriggled his hips about and pretended to wave a rolling pin at Carlotta with a squeaky Irish brogue, and when he turned into his father, he just grinned and said 'Aye' and 'Nah' a lot, keeping himself lanky and long.
They might have been mucking about, but inside he was mildly disquieted by the restrictive life she was living. He knew she was the age of majority, now, which was when girls like to go to do's and bring home a nice lad to show off. Perhaps the life she was living was what she wanted for herself, too, but it was hard to imagine when she was so cheeky with him. She looked like she wanted to get out and see the world.

"So what are you plans for after school?" Saul asked her when they'd finally stopped laughing. "I hope you won't walk out and into something really busy- I'd like to hang out again."​

 

[Carlotta Raven]

The Hufflepuff watched his impersonation dutifully, trying to remain polite in the face of some rather outrageous recreations. It was soon rather apparent, however, that she was probably expected to laugh - especially when an imaginary rolling pin got involved, and she allowed herself to chuckle quietly into her palm (further degrading the scarf - she had decided perhaps she would gift it to one of her other uncles instead). Unfortunately, the reality of his statement was the same - this was her uncle being 'hands off', and she was rather sure her face told him how spot on he was. Whilst the temptation to recreate her own family dynamic, knowing that one with eyes of an eagle was currently observing, she wisely decided to not go about making fun of them.

"It'll depend on my NEWTs scores," she told him, after taking a moment to re-consider her options. "So far I'm narrowing down four plausible decisions I could make, and they'll basically be picked for me once I have my scores all done up." Obviously she was expecting to receive at least decent NEWTs grades - she'd never failed anything in her entire life. She wasn't sure how to respond to what sounded like an invitation, however. Truth be told, Saul wasn't hard to talk to, and the Hufflepuff had no fear in letting him know that much, but she also knew that (like many in her family), she had a tendency to bite off more than she could chew, and she could rather easily see herself swallowed in work rather quickly and without much concern.

"Well, I'll have to eat sometime." Yes, it was asking him out, and with just enough ambiguity for him to politely laugh it off with a shallow 'will do' and no one getting too invested or put out in the process.
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