A/N
Hello Fellow readers
So I have been MIA lately and I'm sorry. I've been travelling and the internets been crappy
It was a couple of days after Gryffindor's win when Hes finally saw the rest of the team again. And because it was getting colder, it being mid-November now, Oliver had told her to not bother coming to Morning practice-she'd just freeze. The evening practices, however, were something she could do. The days were warmer by then, and Hes didn't need to rug up as much. Although, she was still wearing the majority of her winter wardrobe. As she walked down through the castle, there were a few stray Hufflepuffs, still sore from the loss. And Nero Malfoy.
"HEY! BLOOD TRAITOR!" He yelled, as she walked past him.
"Orc" Hestia muttered, keeping her head down, trying to ignore him. It was difficult though, when he ran after her.
"I was talking to you." He said, keeping pace with the girl.
"And I'm not in the mood to talk to you." Hestia replied, turning the collar of her jacket up as she left the castle's halls.
"You're like the rest of them!" He yelled after her retreating form.
"At least I have a family to support me, MELKOR!" She yelled, now running down to the lockers. Her parcel held securely to her chest. It was a small book on the different magical creatures of Middle Earth. The fourth years were learning about the creatures of the different cultures, so it made sense, that because nearly the entire team was in their fourth year, that she give it to them. It wasn't the original, she'd copied it herself, writing in her best writing. It certainly was in no way neat, but it was better than her father's chicken scratching, and worse than her mother's neat hand. Being leftie didn't help with matters either.
As she arrived at the locker room, she pulled off her scarf, and threw it into her locker.
"Hey guys!" She smiled walking over to where the rest of her team was.
"Finally!" Fred exclaimed, as she sat down on the pile of rugs and cushions that were now in the corner. All the team, minus George and Alicia were present. But it wasn't long until the other two appeared with a couple of plates of food, mostly sweets.
"I thought we'd be training…" Hestia said, sitting next to Angelina and Fred, as she took her beanie off.
"This is the one training a year when we don't train. We party." Geroge said, sitting next to his twin and Harry.
"Sorry I'm late. Had a problem trying to wrap my present." Wood called, running in. Hes was sure that he'd already be down here, so the thought of him following her down to the pitch was surprising. And slightly funny too. "Right so, everyone bar Hestia knows how this works?" He asked, putting a parcel down next to where he was sitting. "Sod it, forgot the hat." Wood muttered. Tapping his own jacket pockets.
"Use Hestia's." Harry said, leaning across to grab Hestia's beanie.
"Oi!" The half elf yelled, as her Australian National Team beanie was pulled away from in front of her.
"Not my favourite team, but it'll have to do." Wood said, tipping a couple of note slips into the woollen knit.
"Oh god, it's not Puddlemere United colours." Angelina sassed, mocking shock as she threw her hands into the air.
"Puddlemere happens to be a very good team, Angie." Wood shot at his team mate.
"We jest, Wood." George said as he helped himself to a chocolate frog.
"Yeah, right. Just because Ireland got its arse kicked." The captain shot at the twin. "Hes, draw a name from the hat. That's who you give your present to." He explained, offering her the beanie.
"Okay…" She replied, pulling one of her twists behind her ears. While she wasn't allowed to wear the braids of the Noldor, she could wear the style in twists, and if anyone had any knowledge of elves, then they'd know she was a warrior in training. She had only recently been allowed to start wearing them, according to her grandfather, she was the youngest elleth to have ever worn them. Luthien, her mother, hadn't been much of a warrior, and so hadn't worn the braids of Rivendell.
"C'mon Hes, who'd you get?" Alicia said, eating a sweet roll.
"Katie!" Hes smiled, passing her package to the Chaser. It was small compared some of the other packages that her teammates had brought.
"Thank's Hes!" The older girl smiled, knowing how hard it was for anyone below third year to get a present. Anything small was often heartfelt. As she tore the wrapping paper, she found a small book, leather bound, written in neat, yet still legible sloping writing. It was easy to tell that it was Hestia's handiwork.
"Merry Christmas!" The first year smiled, as more gifts were passed around. Fred had managed to pull George's name out of the beanie. Alicia was protesting loudly as to the fact that the next year, the twins shouldn't be allowed to draw each other's name from the hat.
"Who'd you giving that to Wood?" Angelina asked, handing their captain a packet of muggle nutrition packs. Apparently, according to her father, the muggles used them to put on weight quickly.
"Angie, what in Merlin's beard are these?" He asked, holding one of the silver packets up.
"Nutrition packs. You can bulk up on them really quickly." Angie replied, smiling at her friend, who was now giving her a dirty.
"You saying something about my sodding weight, Johnson?" He said in mock shock.
"Not at all Wood." She smiled back, knowing that he would be making good use of the gifts throughout the year.
"I'm giving this to Hes." He muttered, seeing Hestia explaining the small gift to Kaitie. Apparently she had copied the original elfish text, and translated it to English so that it they would be able to read it. "Oi HES!" He yelled, holding up his poorly wrapped parcel.
"Yeah Wood?" She called back, pausing her conversation with Kaitie.
"Merry Christmas or whatever you lot call it in Australia." He smiled, handing her the package. He'd spent about an hour trying to wrap it, but in the end had given up, and as a result, the paper was sticking out at bizarre angles. He'd had to sneak out of the castle late yesterday, and really leg it down to Hogsmedae to pick up the package at the quality quidditch supplies outlet in the village. He worked at the main store in Diagon Alley during the summer holidays, and therefore got a discount on any purchase he made. This time, he'd payed the same price, and they'd dropped the postage cost. In all, he still payed a lot for this.
"We still call it Christmas, my granda calls it Yule though." Hes said, setting the package down in front of her. Wood obviously didn't know how to wrap, which was funny to think about. The great Gryffindor Quidditch captain lacked simple skills. Tearing the package open, she was surprised to see a bundle of jumpers. They looked thin, but well woven. There was an earthy green one, a couple of blues, but the majority were in Gold and Scarlet. Gryffindor colours. And a pair of thick socks.
"Wow, Wood." She started, unsure what to say. She had jumpers like this.
"Oh my god!" Katie exclaimed, seeing the brand on the back of one of the jumpers. "These are amazing." She added, holding one up, while Alicia discreetly removed the receipt, bewitching the paper not to show the prices, sending Wood a disgusted look.
"I don't understand…" Hestia said, looking confused at the surprise the team was showing, and Wood blushing slightly.
"Hes, that's top of the line Quidditch gear." Fred said, looking at her. He'd never be able to afford something like this, ever.
"You are never going to be cold again." George added, finishing his brother's thought.
"Eru… Thankyou Oliver!" She yelled, running over to hug him. When she got to him, she wrapped her arms around him. The entire team was surprised when Wood hugged the small red head back. The quidditch captain hardly showed emotions, especially when it had something to do with the team.
"You're welcome Hestia." He smiled, as the team called a dog pile on the captain. Fred barely managing to remove his younger cousin as they ran at the Scotsman.
Looking at Harry, who was pouting away from the group, Hestia tried to seem nice. "Shall we join?" She asked, eyebrow raising slightly as she pointed to the pile.
"Fine." Harry said, jumping on George while Hestia flopped down on Angelina.
Hestia pulled out the quidditch clothes that Wood had given her. She'd gotten in late last night, Angelina, Alicia and Katie refusing to let her go to bed until she'd come off the sugar induced high. It had taken them until 3:00 to get her sleepy, and the boys had taken her for a run, before they even got back up to the castle. The Gold and Scarlet top that she grabbed was warm when she put it on, despite being left on the back of her chair, all night.
"Well, they were right…" Hestia muttered, as she grabbed her beanie and house scarf, before heading out to the pitch. This was the last official training that the team held before the Christmas holidays. The receipt was still with them, in case something didn't fit. Although, the jumper she'd worn on the impromptu run last night fitted like a glove. And although she couldn't go home for Christmas, her dad had offered answers to her theory, via Gwaihir. Coded… But in that code he'd sent her a potion that he thought would be useful for her situation. Jogging down the stairs from her dorm, she ran through the common room, past Percy, who was just coming in from his morning rounds.
"HESTIA WEASLEY!" He yelled, face turning a similar shade of red to his hair, "SLOW DOWN!"
"Can't, I'm late!" She yelled back, skidding around the corner, out the portrait hole and down the stairs to the pitch. Wood had given her a locker down in the change room, she had the only safe spot on the first year team, being the seeker.
"You warm?" Wood asked, seeing the girl run down to the pitch in a beanie and scarf.
"YES!" She huffed, out of breath from the run from the top of the castle, "Where can I get the socks in grey?" Hes added, pointing at her feet.
"The main shop, Quality Quidditch supplies, is in Diagon Alley, but they have a small outlet up here in Hogsmeade." Wood said, handing her a Cleansweep.
"So send a shopping list in with the twins?" She asked, kicking off.
"Safer with me." Oliver said, "I have a part time job there over the summer. Employees discount."
"Cool, I'll owl you if in need something." She said, smiling before adding, "I still banned from jumping off my broom?"
"Yes." Wood replied, giving the child a hard glare. "You took about 10 years off my life when you did that. You going to the Burrow for the holidays?" He asked, hoping to get some training in with the other Weasley's on the team. He didn't live too far from the house, and Molly had considered him a child since Charlie had put him on the Gryffindor team.
"No, apparently my aunt and uncle are going to Egypt to visit one of my cousins. Bill I think… Mum and Dad are still in Australia. So it looks like I'll be here." Hestia replied, flying upside down as she talked to the captain.
Laughing at her antics, particularly how her hair fell down in the plait she was currently wearing, Wood set her upright, before saying. "That's good. You can come and join us for the Christmas training sessions."
"I thought this was the last one for this year…" Hestia said, swinging her leg across so that she was flying like the muggle representation of witches.
"Officially yes. We train whoever stays over the holidays." Wood smiled, before adding, "And if you're going to wear that badge, we better go over some plays."
"What badge?" Hes asked, looking confused. Katie Bell was flying close by and began throwing the quaffle towards Wood. He caught it and through it back to her. She tucked it under one arm and her two braids flying behind her as a gust of wind picked up.
As Katie swooped in, again throwing the quaffle in Woods direction, she pointed at the badge on Hestia's jumper. "That badge, captain." The older girl smiled, sending a small smile at Wood, knowing that it was one of his old ones.
"What?" Hestia exclaimed, almost falling off her broom. "I'm a quidditch captain!"
"Yeah." Wood said, before adding, "And the second Weasley seeker/captain combination that we've had in a couple of years." Smiling, he beaconed Harry and the other chasers over. "That's enough for now!" He yelled, as they moved back up to the castle.
Arriving, Hestia was surprised to hear the shutters of a camera go off, but didn't see white as she usually would.
"I turned the flash off." Colin said, holding up the bulb from the camera.
"It was amazing to see." Ginny added, hugging her cousin, "He just unwound it, and it no longer flashes. Tried it out on Daisy too." She explained, whispering in her ear, "How does it feel to be the youngest quidditch captain in history?"
"Amazing…" Hestia answered, just as quiet, although she couldn't shake the sound of something going through the pipes. And it wasn't the normal noises that water made. "Can you hear something in the pipes?" She asked, hoping to get an answer.
"No. I can't hear anything." Ginny said, pulling away and answering far too quickly for Hestia not to be suspicious.
LINEBREAK
It was just Ginny and Hestia in the dorm over Christmas and as Hestia's parents were still in Australia and her Aunt Molly and Uncle Arthur were in Egypt visiting one of Ginny's older brothers Bill so the girls couldn't go to the Burrow for Christmas. Hestia had been looking forward to seeing the Burrow. Ginny had described it so well. When Hestia told her she'd been looking forward to seeing it Ginny gave her a funny look.
"Its falling apart at the seams. It's a dump. You'd prefer there over here." Ginny exclaimed "Its home but I mean we live in a castle here. A magical castle Hes. With moving staircases."
"I know but I mean seriously Ginny it sounds amazing. You live with gnomes and you have a quidditch field in the backyard." Hestia replied. Ginny opened her mouth to speak "Yes it's not entirely proper but you still play quidditch on it." Hestia finished before Ginny could speak.
Hestia looked around the almost empty dorm. Everyone had gone home for Christmas and it was just Ginny and her in their dorm. Hestia took this opportunity to warm up a bit.
Daisy and Elanor both had both had hot water bottles which mysteriously every night were filled up and placed in their beds before they got there. They'd both been left on each of the girls beds and Hestia had taken the opportunity of an empty dorm to put them to good use. Daisy and Elanor wouldn't have minded.
So on Christmas Eve Hestia crawled into bed with three hot water bottles. She'd had her mum send her over one and she was still cold. She missed her mum, her dad too. It was Christmas when they'd go to New Zealand to visit her Mums family or when her dad would teach Hestia about all the things he'd learnt and about new muggle items he'd discovered. With three hot water bottles her bed got very cosy and she fell asleep fairly quickly.
LINEBREAK
"Hes," a tap on the shoulder. "Hes, wake up its Christmas." Ginny pushed her cousin's arm.
"Don't wanna get up its….warm, go…. Away." Hestia mumbled sleepily. Ginny tugged at the quilt on Hestia's bed. She yanked it hard, pulling it all the way off the bed sending it onto a crumbling heap on the floor. Ginny then yanked Hestia's sheets off to find her cousin surrounded by three very large hot water bottles.
"Oh God Hes. You can't be that cold. Get up its Christmas. Everyone's waiting for us." Ginny said as she pried Hestia's finger off the hot water bottles and dragged her out of bed.
"Christmas should be summer- NOT WINTER." Hestia exclaimed clambering down the stairs to the common room.
"Hestia you finally made it." Fred said as she walked into the room. Harry, Ron, Percy and George were sitting on armchairs passing presents to each other. "We've got presents for you."
"You got me presents? You didn't have to get me presents." Hestia gushed sitting down between Percy and George.
"The boys didn't get you a present Hes. Mum sent you something. Probably a jumper. Food if you're lucky." Ginny replied smacking Fred on the back of his head playfully. She picked up the presents from her brothers hands and tossed them to Hestia. "There's some from your parents too."
"Thanks Ginny." Hes said ripping open the paper of her Aunt Molly. There was a woollen sweater inside in an amazing blue colour. Hestia pulled it on over her head. It was huge. The arms were really big and it hung down near her knees.
"Um. I somehow don't think this is mine." Hestia said laughing.
"RON! What happened to my sweater?" Harry ran down the stairs wearing a bright green sweater with a gold kangaroo on it. It was way too small- the sleeves were halfway up his arms. It was almost identical to the Australian national quidditch team's jersey- Hestia's favourite team.
Ron burst out laughing. "Bloody hell. I haven't done anything I swear." Harry looked over to the twins.
"No us sorry mate." Fred said trying not to contain his laughter. "We can't wrap to save ourselves."
"Or knit!" George put in.
"God Boys no body did any thing to anyone. Mum must've just got the wrapping mixed up that's all. Remember when she messed up George and me in the twins first year. That was a nightmare. You guys had stayed here for Christmas and you had to send the sweater all the way home." Ginny said laughing at the boys. "Poor mum felt awful. You two just swap and we'll go eat."
Hestia and Harry pulled off their sweaters and tossed them to each other. "They're really nice jumpers." Hestia said feeling the beautiful wool.
"Hes that's a sweater not a jumper. A jumper's one of those dress things. You know that thing that goes over blouses." Percy said walking past Hestia towards the fat lady portrait. "Now excuse me I have important things to do." With that he walked out the door.
"Well in Australia jumpers are sweaters Mr I'm so important." Hestia called out to Percy "Christmas is family time isn't it? Percy being a git by just walking out on us. Is he always like that?"
"Yep every holidays- usually its worse though. Mostly just hides on his room." Ginny replied grabbing Hestia's arm. "Lets go eat." Ginny's hand was cold to touch and Hestia felt a chill go down her spine.
Something dark was coming. Hestia knew it. The writing on the wall, the petrified cat, Ginny being here one minute gone the next. Hestia had to find out what was going on and soon.