A week passed, and the memory of the pale haired kid faded from Ludwig's mind. He already had enough to deal with - practice, the finals very shortly, an upcoming match against Munich, interviews, keeping his house clean and free from dust bunnies (an ongoing war - Ludwig's magic was strong, but theirs was stronger), and whatever else their manager decided to throw their way.

Early one fine, Wednesday morning, Ludwig arrived on the training field to practice by himself for at least a few hours before the team. It helped clear his head and get him in top shape before practice. In tow was the chest of Quidditch balls and his regulation broomstick, given to everyone on his team as part of some promotion for some broom maker whom Ludwig had never cared about.

However, someone else was already occupying the space. It was that kid. Gilbert. Sitting against the goal post, with his stupid Dynamo broomstick clutched tightly in his hand.

Ludwig sighed and folded his arms across his chest when he saw Gilbert. "You should not be here," he chided. Who even allowed Gilbert inside the grounds? "And why are you even here? I told you to go home; I don't have time to train you in Quidditch."

"You haven't come early any other day," said Gilbert in response, slowly rising.

"Have you...honestly been waiting here every morning?" Ludwig asked, more than slightly disturbed by this. Dear Lord, please do not let this kid be a stalker, he thought desperately. He already had that issue one with a certain Ebony or Enoby Darkness somethingorother, and it was not one he wished to repeat.

He shrugged. "I normally hang around here. I like to see the practices and the games."

Well, that was somewhat of a relief. Somewhat. It didn't change the fact that there was a kid here on his practice field when there was supposed to be nobody here but himself. "Well, I'm here early today because I have things to do before my team arrives."

"And what are those things?" Gilbert asked with a smile.

"Practicing."

"You know it's awfully hard to practice being a Beater when you're by yourself."

"Well I make do," he replied grumpily.

"Why don't you practice with your team?"

"I do. I just sometimes like being alone." Ludwig was hoping, praying, he would get the hint.

"Can I practice with you?"

God damn it. A fleeting thought of letting this kid be his target flashed through his mind. "No. No you can't." He had already begun to crouch down and opened up the chest. The wiggling balls threatened to break free and Ludwig casually wondered if one might actually go flying and strike Gilbert between the eyes.

"So, why are you so set on that Dynamo?" he asked, trying to get Gilbert's mind off of his practicing. Maybe if he could chit-chat for a little bit, he could satisfy Gilbert enough to chase him off.

"It, uh, it was my dad's."

So, a hand-me-down. Just like roughly everything else on this kid's possession, it seemed. "Did he play?"

"No."

Huge shocker. He didn't know much about the Dynamo model, but from what he did know, even if you did know how to play, the broom still couldn't fly worth a damn. But yet, he thought back to the week before, watching Gilbert take command of that broomstick and, despite its drawbacks, use it not unlike a professional.

Okay, sort of like a professional, not quite entirely. He still didn't sit on it correctly, had a weak grasp and was still prone to falling. That day, when he blocked Ludwig's passes he would use his entire body, and not his broom, and he didn't seem to know how far his broom was in back or in front of him.

So, in short, he didn't know how to use it at all.

"Well, that's a pity. Now, I'm going to need you to get off of the field so I can practice. You've already cut into my time."

"Work on your left swing," said Gilbert. "You were a little bit weak last time against the Dukes."

Ludwig stared at Gilbert.

Gilbert decided to keep going. "You know, the home match about three weeks ago? You swept down a bit too low and it didn't allow you to get enough momentum to really give them your all."

Ludwig still stared at Gilbert.

"Perhaps if you-"

"Perhaps if you stopped talking right now, actually," Ludwig interrupted dryly. Nobody - especially not any amateur kid - critiqued Ludwig's form or technique unless it was specifically asked for. And even then, it was taken with a grain of salt.

"...Maybe you can help me with that 'left swing.'" he offered, "Go stand against that far goal post."

Gilbert's eyes brightened. "Really? I can help you?"

"Sure. We'll start on the ground. Just, uh, just go over there, or something. By the goal post. I'll practice my swing with you." Ludwig released the binding on one of the Bludgers. He secured it with one hand before it could go too far, and grabbed his bat in the other hand.

The boy followed obediently, jogging over to the goal post before turning and shouting, "Is this okay?"

"Yes," Ludwig said in return. "That's perfect." He released the Bludger and swung his club as hard as he could, sending it flying right toward Gilbert.

It took Gilbert a moment or two before he realized that there was a flying bludger coming right at him. Once he did, his red eyes grew wide and he darted off, holding his Dynamo broomstick tightly to him. "W-what are you doing?"

"Practicing my swing. I enjoy a moving target," Ludwig replied almost casually as he dashed after Gilbert, beaming the bludger at him with every opportune moment.

This continued for a while longer. Ludwig found that he was quite enjoying Gilbert run around the Quidditch field to avoid the bludgers whizzing about. There was almost a close call, when a bludger came roughly a centimeter or so away from Gilbert's skull. It came back at Ludwig, who beat it right back at him.

Finally the chase was interrupted with Ludwig's teammates shouting in the distance. It took a few shouts until finally Ludwig was able to register that someone else was on the field and he immediately stopped, turning around to look at them.

"What is going on?" his second Beater shouted.

Ludwig looked over at Gilbert, who had already fallen to his knees, panting heavily from running for so long. "I was just practicing," he explained simply, rubbing the back of his neck. "Gilbert was helping me."

They all gave him flat looks.

"He was trying to kill me!" Gilbert shouted.

"Just...let's get started," the Seeker, Johann, said, shaking his head.

Ludwig turned to glance back at Gilbert and saw him already walk away, ducking to avoid a bludger as he went. His shoulders were stooped slightly and he still clung to his broomstick. An overwhelming sense of guilt washed over him. He didn't exactly know what Gilbert's intentions were, showing up every morning on the training field. Did he live nearby? Was he there out of convenience, or comfort, or or did he indeed wait for Ludwig every day, to learn how to play Quidditch?

"Hey," he called at Gilbert, who stopped and looked at him. Ludwig was about to say something else when suddenly a bludger that he hadn't seen came out of nowhere and collided right into his stomach. With a grunt he went down, trying to get his breath back while his team huddled around him. Gilbert pushed through them, so when Ludwig was able to focus again, all he could see was Gilbert's wide-eyed and worried stare.

"Are you okay?" Gilbert asked quickly.

"Yeah," Ludwig muttered. "Not the first time I've been...hit with a bludger. Someone grab it before it goes off again."

Two sets of arms hooked around Ludwig's and hefted the blonde to his feet, while the rest of the team flounced about in a disorganized flurry, trying to secure the wayward bludgers. It wasn't until the captain had regained his footing, and ensured the bludgers were put way that Ludwig addressed Gilbert once more. "Hey, kid. Listen up."

"Yeah?" Gilbert's eyes brightened when Ludwig looked directly at him.

Ludwig slowly turned with his team to head back to the locker room. "Just... Stay off the training fields." He tried to ignore the look of disappointment and loss on Gilbert's face. "...They're dangerous."

"Right, of course..." Gilbert mumbled, and it took him a few minutes to finally move his feet and walk away.

AN: We're still trying to get Ludwig from seeing Gilbert as some creepy kid to maybe someone he will want to spend time with. That doesn't involve bludgers, of course. It'll happen in the next chapter. Drama is coming soon too! Just wait for it!