Disclaimer: Anyone you recognize doesnÕt belong to me. They belong to J. K. R., as you should know if youÕre bothering reading this. However, Betsy Statser, Kiara Gretu, and some other people who might appear later belong to me!
Part II: Possible Progress
***
It was the night after the abysmal first practice. The same Gryffindor girls were once again gathered on the Quidditch field. A good nightÕs sleep seemed to have done Lavender a bit of good. Tonight, satisfied that her ÒstudentsÓ at least knew what they were supposed to be doing --- the GO, GO GRYFFINDOR cheer --- she moved among them, correcting their positions and giving suggestions. Hermione got her arm-lifting problem sorted out, and so did many others. While Parvati wasnÕt exactly perfect, she at least wasnÕt attempting advanced gymnastics anymore.
However, Lavender looked about ready to pull a large quantity of her hair out when she came to Betsy Statser (as noted by Ginny, who was entertaing herself by watching the others since she had already perfected the cheer herself). Betsy was hopeless at cheerleading, but she hadnÕt been put in Gryffindor for nothing. She kept on trying --- even if it was to no avail. After multiple tutorials, she still accidentally gave Daphne a bloody nose (Hermione applied a quick Healing Charm, and it vanished) when she tried to punch the air. However, Lavender seemed to reach the conclusion that that was about as far as she would get, and moved on to a slightly harder cheer.
ÒRight, weÕre going to say, DUMBLEDORE LIKES POTATOES!Ó Lavender raised her eyebrows expectantly at the crowd, who looked at each other, nonplussed.
ÒOh, come on, guys, I was joking! I mean, IÕm glad you worked to get better, but I was trying to lighten things up!Ó At this, several girls started snickering. Lavender looked annoyed, yet at the same time flustered. ÒEr....ok, then. The REAL cheer is: G-R-Y-F-F-I-N-D-O-R! WHATÕS THAT SPELL? GRYFFINDOR!Ó As she spoke, Lavender drew the letters in midair with her wand. ÒEverybody, just yell that.Ó
ÒG-R-Y-F-F-I-N-D-O-R! WHATÕS THAT SPELL? GRYFFINDOR!Ó shouted the congregated girls. To be fair, it was better than one would expect from the group, had they seen them the night before. There was definitely room for improvement, though, and many of the girls would probably have been quite pleased if Lavender had left it at that. But she pressed on, and taught them the motions. They were supposed to make each letter with their arms as they said it, cup their hand to their ear when they asked what it spelled, and then jump up. Nobody had a problem with the last two parts, but the letters were an entirely different story --- especially with Betsy Statser.
But what Betsy didn't know was that at that very moment, Lavender was forming a plan to help Betsy improve, a plan that would only work on a Gryffindor.
Part II: Possible Progress
***
It was the night after the abysmal first practice. The same Gryffindor girls were once again gathered on the Quidditch field. A good nightÕs sleep seemed to have done Lavender a bit of good. Tonight, satisfied that her ÒstudentsÓ at least knew what they were supposed to be doing --- the GO, GO GRYFFINDOR cheer --- she moved among them, correcting their positions and giving suggestions. Hermione got her arm-lifting problem sorted out, and so did many others. While Parvati wasnÕt exactly perfect, she at least wasnÕt attempting advanced gymnastics anymore.
However, Lavender looked about ready to pull a large quantity of her hair out when she came to Betsy Statser (as noted by Ginny, who was entertaing herself by watching the others since she had already perfected the cheer herself). Betsy was hopeless at cheerleading, but she hadnÕt been put in Gryffindor for nothing. She kept on trying --- even if it was to no avail. After multiple tutorials, she still accidentally gave Daphne a bloody nose (Hermione applied a quick Healing Charm, and it vanished) when she tried to punch the air. However, Lavender seemed to reach the conclusion that that was about as far as she would get, and moved on to a slightly harder cheer.
ÒRight, weÕre going to say, DUMBLEDORE LIKES POTATOES!Ó Lavender raised her eyebrows expectantly at the crowd, who looked at each other, nonplussed.
ÒOh, come on, guys, I was joking! I mean, IÕm glad you worked to get better, but I was trying to lighten things up!Ó At this, several girls started snickering. Lavender looked annoyed, yet at the same time flustered. ÒEr....ok, then. The REAL cheer is: G-R-Y-F-F-I-N-D-O-R! WHATÕS THAT SPELL? GRYFFINDOR!Ó As she spoke, Lavender drew the letters in midair with her wand. ÒEverybody, just yell that.Ó
ÒG-R-Y-F-F-I-N-D-O-R! WHATÕS THAT SPELL? GRYFFINDOR!Ó shouted the congregated girls. To be fair, it was better than one would expect from the group, had they seen them the night before. There was definitely room for improvement, though, and many of the girls would probably have been quite pleased if Lavender had left it at that. But she pressed on, and taught them the motions. They were supposed to make each letter with their arms as they said it, cup their hand to their ear when they asked what it spelled, and then jump up. Nobody had a problem with the last two parts, but the letters were an entirely different story --- especially with Betsy Statser.
But what Betsy didn't know was that at that very moment, Lavender was forming a plan to help Betsy improve, a plan that would only work on a Gryffindor.