Thinking...

[Hilary Grace]

Hilary came out onto the Quidditch pitch after breakfast on Saturday morning. It was about a week before the Yule Ball and although she had already chosen a dress the last time she had been in town, she had yet to ask someone to the ball. It was almost time for exams and her brain was about ready to explode for the amount of information she had absorbed for her full set of classes. She needed to blow off some steam and thought that this was the perfect place to do that. She pulled out her scarlet streak from her backpack of space and dropping her bag on the grass she hopped onto it. She flew up and felt the wind against her face. In one motion she pulled her ponytail off of her hair and felt it blow around in the wind. It was almost strange how comfortable a girl who only four years ago had been scared of hights could feel flying high and fast above the pitch. Her thoughts returned to one of the last times she had been on the pitch, during the first task, surrounded by dangerous creatures. At this point she almost would prefer to face that part of her past again rather than treading forwards into the unknown. But this was inevitable, the future would happen and so for now she just kept flying.

 

[Bruin Dumbledez]

Bruin was at lose ends and didn't like it. In past years, he would have been busy reviewing for first term exams and looking forward to returning home to spend the holidays with friends and family. However, with OWL examinations not being sat until the end of the year Bruin found himself with nothing to do and didn't want to be bugging all of the younger students as they prepared for their exams. He grabbed his Scarlet Streak and Beater's Bat, having thought of a new striking move that he wanted to practice in private just in case it didn't work and the bludger ended up knocking him on his backside.

As Bruin approached the pitch he noticed that he was not alone. It appeared that Hilary was getting in some extra flying as well. He wondered how she was enjoying the TriWizard Tournament and all of the extra pressure that it entailed. So far, as far as he could tell anyways, she appeared to be handling the challenges like the champion that he knew her to be. Bruin was still a little disappointed about not having the opportunity to test himself in the challenges, but he had come to the realization that none of that disappointment should be taken out on his Seeker and long-time friend.

Bruin tossed his Beater's Bat aside, mounted his Scarlet Streak, and jettisoned himself into the sky. He enjoyed pure speed at times and did his best to pick an angle that would allow him to cut Hilary off, at least if she kept on her current trajectory. Bruin yelled as he got within earshot of his fellow Gryffindor.

"Hey Hilary! What's up? Other than us, I guess..." Bruin opened with a genuine smile.

 

[Hilary Grace]

As Hilary circled the pitch her mind was spinning with everything that would and had been happening. It was crazy having them write exams in the middle of the tournament! There was just so much to think about what with exams, the tournament, the Yule Ball and just normal student life. Her mind bounced from Bubotuber, to constellations, to dresses and finally to Bruin?

Woah, what's he doing in my head! Hilary asked herself randomly and realized that it was because he actually was there! Right infront of her! She jumped a little on her broom as she sort of half listened to his joke still shaking from the shock she had received. "BRUIN DUMBLEDEZ! YOU SCARED THE BIJJIEBIES OUT OF ME!!" she cried out, not out of anger but more out of laughing off humiliation, to her captain who was now grinning at her. She broke into a bit of a frightened laugh and then turned back to face her fellow Gryffindor. "Actually, not a lot just needed to take a break from the books.... my head was going to explode!" she smiled, "So what about you? Why are you not huddled in a corner somewhere with a text book and some butterbeer, cramming for Owls?" She was now flying beside the 5th year as they headed for the end of the pitch.

 

[Bruin Dumbledez]

Bruin couldn't help but laugh at Hilary's surprised reaction to his sudden appearance. He considered looking around frantically to help Hilary locate her loose bijjiebies, but decided to simply fly along and talk instead. "Actually, we don't have to sit our exams until the end of the year, so I think I'll save my cramming until then." He replied.

"They're making the champions write their exams?" Bruin asked incredulously. "I would've thought they'd cut you some slack and given you an exemption. Anything I can help with?" Bruin asked helpfully, knowing full well that he'd have written every exam that Hilary was currently preparing for.

 

[Hilary Grace]

Hilary laughed a little with Bruin once she saw that he also saw it as funny when he surprised her. Hilary found it interesting when she heard that the fifth years didn't have to write exams until the end of the year. "Really that's just crazy? So you don't have to write a mid term or something? That would be hard doing them all at once." She sounded genuinely concerned.

"And yeah, we've still got to write them I guess.... like I'd heard somewhere that usually they don't make the champions, but no such luck" Hilary said with a smile. "Actually I think I've pretty much got the info down but I don't really know much about Divination...." She trailed off slightly feeling that she was talking a little too much.

 

[Bruin Dumbledez]

"Nope, looks like we just get to worry about OWL's for another half a year and then get crunched all at once. Oh well, I suppose it only happens once so we'll just have to deal with it I guess." Bruin replied, shrugging his shoulders.

Bruin slowed his broom to a crawl, almost hovering in place as he considered Divination. "I liked Divination, but it was a little weird being Professor Ana's only student and I couldn't talk to anyone else about it so I dropped it this year. The Tarot Card stuff was cool though!" Bruin stated matter-of-factly. "So, what are the cards telling you? What's in your future?" He added, curious to see if Divination had helped give Hilary any inkling about how the year would turn out for her.

 

[Hilary Grace]

"I'm sure you'll fine with it all" Hilary said smiling at the response Bruin had given to doing Owls all at once. She wasn't exactly looking forward to that part of her future but she was sure that it would be one of those things that she could deal with much like other things that had faced her.

When Bruin slowed down Hilary matched her captains pace not wanting to miss what he had to say to her. When he said that he had liked Divination but had still dropped it this gave Hilary a bit of a glimmer at the same time as a bit of sadness. If 'Bruin the great' couldn't manage taking a full class load, then how was she supposed too? But in the same breath if he wasn't that left a bigger margin of error for getting the points trophy. But do I really need that too.... is that just arogance wanting to win everything?

She was still pondering her last thought when he asked her what the cards were telling her about the future. Quickly thinking back to her last reading she started telling him. "Well I did one a while ago, which may still some untold future in it. It fortold good news which could have been being chosen for the TriWizard but it also showed victory, success after labor, helpful friends and leadership during a journey." She pondered this a little and looked back to face her Quidditch Captain. She felt a sudden jolt inside when she mentioned helpful friends and the part about leadership during a journey. Something in her obviously felt that Bruin was part of those answers, and of course he already had been.... but maybe that hadn't quite been it, but only time would tell.

 

[Bruin Dumbledez]

"That sounds pretty cool, especially with all the TriWizard stuff going on." Bruin replied thoughtfully, trying without much success to remember how much of his own Divination work had come true over the past year. "I just hope some of that victory stuff refers to our Quidditch team too!"

Hilary seemed to be thinking about quite a few things at the moment, which wasn't surprising given her rather unique circumstances. "So, are you taking a break over the holidays and heading home or do you have to stay around the school because of the tournament?"

 

[Hilary Grace]

"Yeah I was pretty excited to hear that and then the day after when I was chosen for triwizard I was sort of surprised that it led to that." She wondered if it was likely that her Divination work would turn out correct as she wasn't exactly a seer or really versed in this Divination stuff. When Bruin mention Quidditch Hilary smiled patting her broom a bit subcontiously, "Well I sure hope it includes Quidditch too, and even if we don't have the cards on our side our team is so good I'm sure we'll do it anyways." She stuck her tongue out a little at her captain and then still sort of half flying half floating she changed direction hoping Bruin would follow so that she didn't look like a total jerk just flying away.

When Bruin asked about holidays her mind flitted momentarily to her first year holidays with Kerri. Okay, no I have too much on my mind without the step father too. She thought pushing them to the back of her mind and instead aswering Bruin's question, "Well I usually stay around anyway, but I've heard somewhere that TriWizard years they make a huge deal about the Yule Ball having us process in and start dancing or something. And as it's on my birthday this year I guess I should probably go..." She trailed off a bit without mentioning not having a partner yet. Not even connecting it in her mind she asked "So what about you Bruin, are you heading back to Canada for Christmas?"

 

[Bruin Dumbledez]

Bruin turned his broom and shadowed Hilary as she moved in a new direction, listening as she spoke about the Yule Ball and thinking about his debacle at last year's event. Bruin still couldn't believe that he had actually tackled Ford through a buffet table and ruined what otherwise could have been an enjoyable evening. He wondered if the HNZ staff would let him attend this year, particularly as they wouldn't want anything embarassing to happen with the guests from Durmstrang and Hogwarts Scotland.

Hilary's question about his plans for the break snapped him out of his little reverie though. "Oh yeah, looking forward to some time at home with my family and my dog, Ray. I might even try and sneak in a snow boarding trip or something...I don't know yet. I suppose I could leave any day now..." Bruin mused aloud. "Besides, I don't exactly have any prospects for the Yule Ball so there isn't any big point in me sticking around." He added jokingly.

 

[Hilary Grace]

As she had left quite early from the ball the year before she hadn't actually seen Bruin's spectacle but she had heard about it through her fellow school paper reporters. Sam had seemed very upset about the whole table of pies being squashed when he pitched the story to her.

She looked up at Bruin as he talked about his family and snowboarding, he obviously had a lot of stuff to go home to. When he mentioned that he might even leave earlier Hilary was a sort of backwards happy. It meant almost certainly that he didn't already have a partner for the Yule Ball. When he mentioned that the reason he was going to leave was because he didn't really have any reason to stay for the Yule Ball Hilary took that as her cue, maybe she could give him a reason.

"Well I was wondering, if you weren't doing anything, if you would like to escort me to the Yule Ball.... it's just I'm the only champion who doesn't have a partner and I don't want to look like a total idiot. Like I'm already a bit of a clutz and in a dress with shoes and stuff it'll just.." She rambled this all off speeding up as she went so that by the time her voice trailed off she was almost impossible to understand. Realizing this she attempted to give him an 'out' if he just couldn't bear going to a ball with a crazy girl who talked really fast. She added "Well that is if you can bear to be away from your dog for a few more days...." she smiled and waited for a response.

 

[Bruin Dumbledez]

Bruin became a little confused as Hilary slowly began to accelerate away from him, her mouth outpacing her broom as she did so. Did I just get asked to the Yule Ball? Bruin was pretty sure that Hilary had just done so and he slowly accelerated to catch up with her as he considered his options.

"Hmmmm...." Bruin wondered aloud as he pulled alongside of Hilary and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I suppose that I could stick it out for a few more days and provide you with an escort." He added with a poker face, before a smile creeped back into its usual place on his friendly mug. "Sounds good...is there anything particular that I need to do aside from dress up and make you look good?" He asked jokingly.

 

[Hilary Grace]

Hilary was barely noticing that she was flying faster as she talked faster. As soon as she noticed she slowed down a little to be flying beside Bruin which happened quickly as he was also speeding up at the same time. The few moments of thought seemed to take forever but Hilary managed to maintain a smile trying not to get her hopes up too high.

When Bruin said that he would stay to escort her she was feeling so happy inside but saw that he didn't exactly seem happy about it. She was about to add that he didn't have to if he didn't want to when his poker face cracked and she saw the smile. A huge grin took the place of her nervous smile and she was sure that if they hadn't been flying fast and high over the Quidditch that she would have had to use much more self control to not give Bruin a big hug out of excitement. "Really, oh my gosh, thank-you!" she squeeled in a girlish style.

She thought over Bruin's question briefly before managing to control her excitement enough to answer. "Well I not sure but I read somewhere that traditionally the first dance is reserved for the champions and their partners. But other than.... you've pretty much got it" she gave a bit of a "cutesy" look to Bruin and then added, "but I'm warning you I'm not that good in heels and I'm guessing that my dorm mates will have me wearing a pair. So if I'm about to fall on my face, yeah you might to help me." she laughed a little at the thought secretly wishing that she wouldn't have to rely on that.

 

[Bruin Dumbledez]

"No need to thank me, it will be my honour to be your date." Bruin said with a smile. "I think I might even be able to handle a dance or two as well, although catching you may be a little outside of my dancing abilities." He added with a grin, knowing that he could probably maintain some sort of rhythm for at least 5 or 10 minutes, but unsure of how he might handle a little misstep by Hilary in heels.

Bruin had decided over the summer that he was going to avoid all things related to girls this year, particularly given his rather poor track record and wanting to do well on his OWL's. However, he thought that he could make an exception for Hilary and the Yule Ball. After all, it wasn't everyday that HNZ hosted such a prestigious event.

 

[Hilary Grace]

"Thanks again Bruin" Hilary said with a kind smile, she was so grateful to her friend. "Oh, I'm sure you can manage a dance or so... but don't worry about the shoes. I'll figure it out." She stuck her tongue out a little sure she'd manage. For her first few years she had been wearing heels and it was only lately that she had switched over in favour of sneakers and flats.

Hilary had seen all her friends switch and flick through guys like crazy over the past few years. The only date like thing she had had was after eating a piece of gender fudge in first year. She was happy to not have really gone through that and was glad she had a friend like Bruin that she could call on for something like this.

As she continued to fly forward she thought about maybe ironing out the details "So um... my dress is white" and then added, "but yeah that was probably too much information". SHe smiled jokingly and then added "So any other stuff you need to know."

 

[Bruin Dumbledez]

A joke flashed into Bruin's mind and he couldn't resist springing it on Hilary. "Oh, that's great that your dress is white. I was afraid that my ruffled, powder blue tuxedo would clash with your dress, but everything goes with white, right?"

Bruin winked as he considered Hilary's question for a moment. "Well, I guess we could meet in the common room and go down together. What time would you like to be there for?" Bruin asked, knowing that it would take him ages to get ready.

 

[Hilary Grace]

For the first time since she'd heard that Bruin would go with her, her smile failed a little. A ruffled, blue tuxedo.... that was just ridiculous. Then it hit her, DUH! He's Joking!! She decided to play along a little. "Yeah I guess that's just lucky." she said letting her smile return.

"That sounds fine, well the ball starts at 7 so why don't we meet in the common room at like 6:30? It would give us some time to get down there and get ready." She hoped that sounded okay. She started flying back to the ground slowly knowing that she really should get back into the books soon.

 

[Hilary Grace]

(( Okay so after we make quick closure in this one, here is the thread in the common room.... which we could probably make as fast as possible))

 

[Bruin Dumbledez]

Bruin followed Hilary towards the ground. "6:30 sounds good to me, but don't keep me waiting...I know how you girls can be some times." Bruin joked as he dismounted. "You heading back up to Gryffindor now?" He added, wondering if he should head for a nap or not.

 

[Hilary Grace]

"Yeah, I'm telling myself six.... just so I show up atleast a little closer." She smiled jokingly, "Yeah I should get back into the books, exams tommorow." She dismounted and grabbed her bag. "Are you heading up as well? I'll walk with you?"

 

[Bruin Dumbledez]

"Yeah I guess I'll head back up with you now." Bruin replied simply as he gathered up his stuff.

 

[Hilary Grace]

"Okay" Hilary smiled at her captain happy with how this had gone. She turned and walked up the grassy bank with him to the common room chatting a little.