Emiliano gulped. He had never attempted getting into a tent, packed with students and there inside, also Quidditch players, famous...except last year, but his memory wasn't to be set back into that day.

But he did, he entered the tent and looked around. How many students could there be? Like 300? Maybe the whole school? It was confusing, and so noisy. Yet, he wanted to listen, and maybe get an autograph, from Emma Green. HEhe...

As he walked towards her way, Em bumped into someone, almost making her fall, Kiri!!! "Whoa, whoa...I'm sorry, Kiri..." He whispered, as he catched her by holding one of her hands. Okay, this is when he hated to be in crowded places, you could easly make someone fall and that person could be squished by more people; accidents could happen.

So much pushing and shoving! Even when standing on tiptoe Kiri could hardly see any of the Quidditch players. They were surrounded by students, most of whom were taller than her. She quickly stuffed the parchment she wanted to use to collect the players' autographs into her robes. Otherwise, it would be too easy to lose it.

As if to prove this point, a second later someone bumped into her from behind with considerable force, sending Kiri into the person standing in front of her. "Mmmpf!" she protested loudly, her complaint somewhat muffled by the fact that her face was buried in the other person's robes. Before she could unearth it again, someone - the someone behind her - had already grabbed her hand and pulled her backwards. That seemed a little odd, but then Kiri turned around to see who it was.

"Emiliano! Don't worry! I'm fine," she burbled delightedly. "How are you? Here to meet the players?" She smiled hugely and hugged him. They were both wearing heavy winter clothes, so Kiri had to squeeze Emiliano quite tightly. It felt good to see him again.

Emiliano smiled wider to Kiri, glad to see her again. It had been quite a while since he last saw her, even almost a year. He felt bad for not looking around the school to talk to her, knowing and feeling that Kiri was one of his best friends. He hugged her back, kissing her forehead, her being like, what...a foot smaller than her? "You've grown a few inches, my lady...or am I shrinking" He commented as a small joke with a chuckle.

"I've been good, studying for this year. It's getting quite stressing..." Em shivered at the thought of his last year, his NEWT's year and that day when he'd have to graduate. Em still didn't want to leave Hogwarts, he still wanted to see those smiles that made him feel complete, like Kiri's.

"How about you?" He asked her, taking her through the pushing people towards a small clear area where he guessed they could talk.

Emiliano's kiss on Kiri's forehead scrambled her thoughts for a while. "Was standing on tiptoe," she mumbled when she could focus again. She pressed against him one last time, then let go and stepped back.
Well, as far back as was possible in the packed tent.

She had to resist the urge to glance around and see if Raiden was there. A little voice told her not to be silly, but another one equally insistently wondered what she would think if she had seen Celandine give Raiden a kiss. She shook her head irritably. She should focus on Emiliano, he was the one in front of her right now!

And Kiri realised that she really should focus in him - it was his last year! That was why he was always holed up in the library or, presumably, the Ravenclaw common room. That made her feel decidedly less cheerful. Emiliano was one of her best friends... What would she do without him?
Pondering the depressing fact of a Hogwarts without Emiliano, she was only vaguely aware that he'd taken her hand and was pushing through the crowd. It gave her a little time to think, though.
Their destination was a corner a little out of the way of the main stream of people inside the tent, a place where it was possible to possess more personal space than one's physical size plus whatever air molecules that could pass through.

"I'm okay," she told him with a firm nod. "The year's been a bit... strange. I'm really busy." Fighting against werewolves in the school, she added to herself. "How, er, is your studying going?"

Aaron smiled as Quinn went off to sign other people's things, and shrugged when Alasiter seemed to not hear him. He stood there with his note book star struck as he didn't know who to go to next. He just turned to Iris who seemed to be watching all of this and tried to say something, but it didn't come out right. "Um...I...er...Uh..."

Kizzie couldn't help but laugh just a little when at the poor boy's reaction. Serves him right...not being a Harpies fan and all. Perhaps if he'd asked for one for himself and one for the friend, she'd have given him a more favorable response. She really ought to feel bad, though. The boy was telling her that he was a fan but really only wanted to surprise his friend. Such a nice young man.

Sighing, Kizzie pulled another piece of parchment out of her pocket. She'd kept it on hand just for situations such as this one. "Oh, here kid," she said, scribbling something else to him.

To Cale,

You have, perhaps, one of the nicest friends ever.

Kizzie Ainsley

and, since she'd heard another kid call out his name and now knew it...

To Jack,

Keep being one of the nicest people ever...seriously.

Kizzie Ainsley

She passed the autographs to him then eyed him as he mentioned school newspaper and homework. Ahhh, kiddos. "Sure, sure," she said as she listened to his question. "I'm afraid I can't answer that particular question, as the decision isn't really up to me. However, I can provide an opinion for you. In my opinion, I don't believe males will be hired anytime in the near future. The team, you see, was formed in 1203, and it's been female only since then. I just don't foresee it happening."

"Well, well, well. Such a young...boy, yet so well-mannered at the same time. You tell your mum she's doing well in raising you," she commented. Perhaps Colin should take more lessons from this kid. Speaking of Colin, Kizzie glanced over to see that 'Hot Scot' had, of course, entered late. She thought well of the man, but really...come on. Shaking her head, she turned back to the boy she'd been talking to.

"An autograph...sure, sure," she said with a smile. Grabbing a piece or parchment and a quill, Kizzie set to work on the autograph. When it was done, she passed it over to him.

Rafe,

Remember to eat your Wheaties!

Kizzie Ainsley

"Oh, well, thank you, young man," she commented, noticing that this student looked to be a bit older than the last two she'd talked with. She nodded as he mentioned his family's history with liking quidditch. "Well you tell your mother and aunt that they have remarkable tastes when it comes to choosing favorites in quidditch. No, really, I'm flattered. Thank you, thank you."

She took the boy's beater bat and signed:

To the boy whose family has great tastes in quidditch!

Kizzie Ainsley

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaytone

Kay smiled at Rafe. She loved Quidditch to and would do anything to play. "Well bring it on my Gryffindor friend." Kay laughed. "Being competitive is the only way to be. That's the fun part. I wouldn't have it any other way." Kay said looking at the other Pro players, who were have a heated talk with the Coach. "They sure don't like their coach do they?' Kay said looking back to Rafe. "Anyway, I would love to play again you in the finals. But like I said I'm only a sub. Some one would have to be hurt or not show up for me to play this year. But I am ready." Kay said with a wicked smile on her face.

"Ah, perhaps deep down inside they do, coaches have a reputation to uphold, so they can seem a bit on the mean side," Rafe said with a smile. He had certainly seen Jack get a little upset at times, but I'm sure it would be nothing compared to one of Coach Cleaver's tantrums. "Well, it would be fun to play against you, I suppose I can secretly keep my fingers crossed for someone to get hurt...bloody hell if the whole team gets the flu and can't play I would understand as well." Rafe grinned his crooked smile. He was only joking, he would never wish ill will on the whole team.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quinn Gallagher

Ahh! "You are headed down the right path and starting out early," Quinn grinned and added. "You've also got tough skin to put up with Coach Cleaver. He's not as bad if you tune him out and dont take it personally. He's a big teddy bear inside once you get to know him. All this," he pointed towards the coach and smile, "...is just fun and games to him. He wants to show just how tough he is."

When the student told of going to the World Quidditch Cup, Quinn's smile widened. "Yes well we as a team plan on being there this year to support our country with pride."

"Well, you can't blame him," Rafe said looking around. He was actually surprised it wouldn't be more chaotic. He figured once Colin arrived the girls would be swarming around him. "I think I would much rather be practicing Quidditch for the semi-finals than sign a bunch of autographs for kids. Not that I'm complaining, I think it's fantastic that you are here, but you got to look at it from Cleaver's perspective. Once you win the World Cup, there will be plenty of time for autographs."

Rafe was now officially a Quinn Gallagher Fan, that's for sure. "On a personal note, what is it like being a professional Quidditch player with all the ladies around? I bet they can be distracting." Rafe had a little taste of that. "How do you handle the fame?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kizzie Ainsley

"Well, well, well. Such a young...boy, yet so well-mannered at the same time. You tell your mum she's doing well in raising you," she commented. Perhaps Colin should take more lessons from this kid. Speaking of Colin, Kizzie glanced over to see that 'Hot Scot' had, of course, entered late. She thought well of the man, but really...come on. Shaking her head, she turned back to the boy she'd been talking to.

"An autograph...sure, sure," she said with a smile. Grabbing a piece or parchment and a quill, Kizzie set to work on the autograph. When it was done, she passed it over to him.

Rafe,

Remember to eat your Wheaties!

Kizzie Ainsley

"I most certainly will, Miss Kizzie, it's been such a pleasure to meet you!" Rafe smiled as he took his autograph. He was so excited. Rafe laughed as she glanced over at Colin. "I'm starting to understand what everyone has said about him. I think once you get to know him...well, you just want to stop there." Rafe rolled his eyes as he looked at Colin himself. He shook his head, he wasn't as much of an idol as he thought he would be. But, nothing could bring him down with Quinn, Emma and Kizzie. They were so awesome. "Thanks so much! I'll see you at the World Cup," he said confidently. He was about to leave and looked over all the players and he noticed one was missing. "Is Rhys Glyndwr out this season? It's a shame he's not here." It would be awesome to meet the whole team.

Just before approaching Kip Norwood in a dreamy haze, Rachel had tripped over her shoelace and resurfaced clean of any obsessive desire to proceed to the famous Chaser's side. At least - not THIS particular Chaser.

Looking around, the sixth year noticed that there were more Quidditch players around and got all excited again. Maybe her the Chaser she adored was here. Grinning, she drifted across the tent in search for the one and only. As she reached the same spot she had begun from with no sighting of him, she pouted. WHERE WAS HER PRECIOUS RHYS?! Why wasn't he here?! Even Colin McKenzie was here - and from what she had heard of him, the guy wasn't known for arriving early. They should be grateful that he arrived at all, in fact.

Eh - who cares about him. SHE NEEDED RHYS GLYNDWR NOW.

Ooh, wait. While she waited for him, she could go ask their coach a few questions - coaches had always interested her because they never actually played yet they were SUPER important and know ALL about the game. "Mr Cleaver, sir," she said, nodding to Dominic who was there and this other Gryffindor boy. "Why did you decide to become coach?" she asked, trying to recall the facts she knew about the guy.

... O_O The only ones that came up was that he wasn't one who tended to play by the rules. And wasn't a very gentle soul. Eeeep.

Kay laughed when Rafe said he wouldn't care if the whole team came down with the flu. She was happy that he wanted someone to get hurt so she could play. "Thanks." Kay said thinking what she shouldn't think that way. It was her team. "But if I play you better watch out. I may have to hit a bludger at you." Kay said smiling her wicked little smile. Kay listened to all the girls screaming and wanting autographes. Rafe looked like he would run out of here if he could. "Would you like to be flying instand of being here?" Kay asked. She knew she would be flying if she could.

"Oh silly Q, I made it for you. I already duplicated it, this copy is yours." Celandine kissed the picture and held it out to him.

Teehee.

It wasn't that she had forgotten Copernicus or anything like that, it was just that... LOOOK AT QUINN GALLAGHERS ARMS! Were all Irish built like that or was it just a beater thing? Siiiigh. Beaters.

"Only two years to go." She told him and winked back. "I suppose I totally need to get a quill then huh? Sign you again, keep the countdown going!"

Gigglesnort.Hairflip. Flail. Bounce. Pose.

"Really?" she raised a brow at Destiny, then turned to where Josh was, starting to laugh before turning back to Kizzie. 'Well he won't have to dig too deep to get his answer.'

"A picture?" Evelyn repeated Destiny, confused for a moment before realizing what that meant. "Oh...umm...yea a picture too. But only if you want to that is. I mean, you don't have to of course." Aaaand she was rambling. 'Maybe I should just give her the picture and run for it. Yea, that would be a good idea...No! Bad idea. Nevermind.'

"Eeny, meeny, miny, moe, catch a quidditch player by the toe. If he hollers, let him go, eeny, meeny, miny, moe," LouAnn mumbled, her finger pointing to a different all-star each time she said a word. "Ah! Kip Norwood it is!" With a little shrug, LouAnn Purple sat down just outside the tent and began composing a poem and creating a little drawing to go along with it. When she was done, she strolled back into the tent and marched right up to Norwood, tapping him lightly on the shoulder as she did so.

"Excuse me...hi. I'm LouAnn Purple, and I made this for you," she said, holding the picture out for him to take. "I also have a small little poem I'd like to recite to you." She pulled a crumpled piece of parchment from her pockets and cleared her throat, preparing herself for a nice little recitation of her poem. She glanced up at Kip, smiled, then began...

"Ahem!"

Once the whistle blows, we can see you dashing across the sky,
Look! It's a bird! It's a plane! Nah, it's just that Kip Norwood guy.

With a raise of a gray and white Falcons flag and a squint in my eye,
I cheer you on loudly, while on and on...and on and on and on you fly.

With such speed and determination, you carry that quaffle with pride,
It's no wonder you're so fast, for it's on a Numbus 2071 you do ride.

Now you are an all-star, and you're on a team with the best of the best.
It's too bad Hogwarts once beat you and put you to the ultimate test.

Just remember that you're special and unique, just hold your head high,
And if my school beats you again, then you can always just pretend not and lie.

Keeley skipped down to the next quidditch lesson, pretty excited about the lesson, even though she didn't know any of the players. Her hair was bright purple today, with lots of tiny braids with matching eyes. She was wearing a sash headscarf and big gold hoop earrings, just to stand out. She walked into the tent, emmideatly walking up to the blond girl- what was her name? "Erm, hi! I uh, drew you this. It took me about three days, I hope you like it." she stammered, handing her the detailed sketch.
(OCC: thnx for lovegoodbroadway for making my drawing )

Emiliano shook his head in disbelief, yet glanced at Kiri's feet standing on tiptoes. "Nope, I say you've grown a few inches, anyways..." He said, giving her a grin. He hugged her back and took whatever glance was available inside that pushing crowd. What an interesting place to see friends it was.

That small shaking of Kiri, made Em just wonder what was crossing through her mind. He had to admit; he was going to miss her a lot. She was like a little sister to him, what he and Annie supposed be if there wasn't too much rivalry between them. At that minute, he realized...the two girls, Kiri and Annie would be meeting next term.

That small area seemed perfect by then. If the tent ever cleared a bit, Em thought, he would be able to go back into line and ask for his autograph, wouldn't he? Or wouldn't them? He asked himself as he glanced at Kiri's other hand and saw the parchment she was holding. "Who are you expecting an autograph from?" He curiously asked her with a grin, shifty smile.

Odd, surely the year had been. Though Emiliano still wondered why strange occurrances were happening around school, deaths...disapperances, he didn't know...he was a bit too self-centered to focus...

"Err...It's going a bit scheduled now, cycling... I can't believe the much we have to do this year..." He shrugged and tried to smile.

Just then, a girl...was she LouAnn?? started reading a poem outloud to one of the Quidditch Players, Kip Norwood was his name as catching the ode of the piece of art. Wow...she was inspired.

" Thank you for signing my old beaters bat" Jason said to Kizzie. " I would love to take a couple of pictures of you or of you with me" Jason told Kizzie. " My grandmother Hermoine and mother Orindda Evans would love a picture of you or you with me" he explained to Kizzie. Then would you please sign the photos?" Jason asked Kizzie. " I am going over to my Mom's house for her birthday and this would make a lovely present for her and grandmother would adore the picture of you" Jason continued talking. " One more thing, you are cute, too" Jason lowered his head for saying something that could have embarssed Kizzy.

"You're quite talented, you are," Kip said, looking at the picture the young lady was offering him. "What did you say your name was, LouAnn?" He examined the picture carefully. "I like this very much, I do. I shall keep it with me always." Kip thought this girl, LouAnn, was going to be a real heartbreaker in a few years. She was certainly pretty enough but on top of that, she had spirit. "Yes, I think you deserve a really high grade for this, the best, I would say!"

Kip listened to the poem and smiled widely. "That's bloody beautiful, that is," he said appreciately. "Again, I would give you the highest grade you could get for your work. You really appreciate the game of quidditch, don't you? I want to keep this with me always, too."

' Here is a little poem for you Emma" Jason told her. " I hope you like it Jason said to her. "Anything for my favorite play on my favorite team" Jason told Emma.
"The Chudley Cannons are my favorite team
You are my favorite player, Emma Greene.
You re the seeker, you never miss a snitch
You are truly an awesome witch.

When the game is over and the Cannons have won
You know that Emma Greene is truly the one."

" Thanks for listening to me" Jason remarked to Emma.

Marie had been sitting there watching all that was going on. During this time she had taken out a piece of parchment and wrote a poem. Trying out all the players names she decided to write one for Quinn Gallagher.
Walking over to him she said "Excuse me Mr. Gallagher, I just wrote a poem for you and would like to read it to you. I hope you like it."
Unfolding her parchment and clearing her throat she read to him.

Quidditch is the game, Quinn is the name
United you fly all through the sky
Insistent to beat the first bluddger you meet
Never letting it near your seeker so dear
No one can beat you, the greatest beater of all.

Now that she had read it out loud Marie thought is sounded a little silly. 'Oh well, I am only eleven, it's not like I am an experienced writer here' she thought as she looked at Mr. Gallagher really hoping he liked what she wrote. She really needed a good grade in this class and she wanted to help keep her house in first place in points.

Fyo spotted her, and his breath seemed... sorta stuck in his throat. THE FEAR! Not of her, but of Lissy. She was going to KILL him, if she found out he had been within sight of Kizzie Ainsley, again.

His arm was STILL signed.

With a shake of his head, he reached the pretty Quidditch player. "Hello, Miss Ainsley," he said, after a moment's pause. "I don't think you remember me, but you gave me an autograph, last year."

Well, she had.

"Autograph? Oh, er... not sure, really," Kiri said, shuffling aside to let more students through. The air was starting to feel a little... second-hand now, the tent was that full of people. "I thought I just sort of looked around to see if there was anyone willing to give me one," she continued with a shrug. "Last year I got an autograph from Emma Greene. As a present for someone." Maybe now that she herself had played Quidditch properly (if accidentally and only once), she'd enjoy having autographs for herself. Maybe.

"How about you?" she added, but only perfunctorily. Now that she'd remembered that this was Emiliano's last year, she was much more interested in talking to him about that. He'd only be here for four more months!

She opened her mouth to ask him about the exams, but at that moment, someone close to them began reading what turned out to be a poem praising the Quidditch players. Emiliano turned to listen, and Kiri followed suit. Paying a little more attention to the scene, she realised that quite a few people appeared to be doing that. Others were handling handmade pictures of the stars.
Whoops. She'd completely forgot about the note Professor Vindictus had added to the notice board about that. The only thing she had was the empty parchment for the players' autographs.

LouAnn blinked a few times, thinking that maybe she'd just misunderstood the Norwood guy. Had he just told her that she was quite talented and deserved a really high mark on her drawing and poem? LouAnn? High marks?!?!

"Merlin Me!!!" she yelled out, probably loud enough for the people across the tent to hear. Apparently, she'd chosen just the right all-star to give a drawing and a poem to. "Why, thank you, Kip! I can call you Kip, right? I mean, it is your name," she told him. "...and yes, I'm LouAnn. LouAnn Lavender Purple. Thanks for the comments on my picture and poem."

Hmm...did she appreciate quidditch, though? Maybe. Maybe not, too, though. What she really appreciated what a nice Cockroach Cluster, but seeing at this man probably didn't have any to offer, she'd just stick to quidditch for now. "Yup! You know me! I'm that girl in the stands yelling 'til her face turns purple! No pun intended or anything, ya know."

Em listened to Kiri and remembered some comments about her, that she had been playing Quidditch. "So. I heard you were on a broom, playing against Hufflepuff..." He shifted his smile and wondered how it felt, that rush of adrenaline, and having such experience of playing Quidditch. "How was it?" He asked, excitedly as he felt his own breath was becoming hard to catch. Claustrophobia?...xD...probably. Too many people in that small tent.

"You'd be surprised, I'm getting an autograph from Emma Greene..." He winked. "Last year...I can't even remember who I got it from, though it was a gift for Diana." He chuckled at just the reminder of Diana screaming the Quidditch player's name.

Kip laughed. "Haha, I got it. Your last name is Purple, and you're yelling till your face is purple. Very clever!" He paused for a moment before asking the next question. "I'm glad to have you as a fan, I am," he said sincerely. "Tell me, LouAnn are the Falcons your favorite team?" Kip was hoping that the answer was yes. He rather enjoyed the banter with LouAnn. "We have such a great uniform, you know. Most fans rather like our falcon emblem, if I do say so myself."

"Ooh." Kiri's eyes lit up. Recounting the experience of playing in a Quidditch match made her forget about Emiliano's looming departure. "It was amazing! I mean, everyone was shouting and cheering, and flying past them with the Quaffle around and..." She gesticulated wildly as she tried to put her feelings into words. "I don't think I've ever felt so excited before. The whole atmosphere was just, you know, full of enthusiasm. And," she nearly bounced on the spot, "I scored two goals! I hadn't been on a broom since... Er, since the second year or so. When I went to the flying lessons."

She grinned. "I think it was only that much fun because none of the Bludgers hit me, though. I doubt I'd have enjoyed myself that much with a broken arm. And we nearly won. Raiden did a very good job," she added, almost to herself, nodding.

Trying to remember whether Emiliano had ever played Quidditch himself, Kiri stood on tiptoe and scanned the tent for Emma Greene. "Diana..." she mused. "She's your sister, right? She's a Quidditch fan?"

Colin then set the gloves that Rafe had given to him on the table, far enough away from Alistair in case he got any ideas. He was just about to ask the little boy if he had wanted his autograph, but the young child was out of sight … almost. In the corner of his eye he saw the boy talking with Gallagher. GALLAGHER?! What was so magnificent about him? Honestly, not a whole lot compared to him. Was Gallagher getting an autobiography published soon? Was he the captain of the team? No, he was just a beater that was jealous of how his captain was more popular than he was!

Rolling his eyes, he looked back at the other lad that had decided to stick around. When he had said that he would be more than happy to sign the paper for him, the boy’s response was just shocking. Did this boy know that his autograph was worth millions of galleons? Oh boy, oh boy. This school certainly wasn’t teaching the right stuff to them! “True, it may not mean that we ‘love’ you, but wouldn’t be nice to have a piece of today to remember your experience with me by a nice autograph? Hmm?” he asked, taking the paper from the boy and glancing through it.

After taking the few minutes or so to answer Joshua’s questions, he quickly scratched his signature (whether the boy wanted it or not) with the self-inking peacock-feather quill that he had hidden in an inside pocket of his robes. After reading over his answers as fast as he could (the fans were waiting!), he handed over the piece of paper to the boy. “Here you go. I hope that’s satisfactory enough.” How could it not be?

He couldn’t help put grin when he noticed the next two people in line. Both were girls, but one was, honest to Merlin, flabbergasted. The other looked like she wanted him all to herself – oh yes, he saw that evil glare she gave earlier. “Well hello, ladies!” Colin exclaimed. “What can I do for you both today?” He looked over to the girl that hadn’t finished her sentence and noticed that she had a piece of parchment in her hands. He chuckled and added, “Perhaps give you two gals an autograph?”