Li entered the stadium ticket in hand. Her bright red hair was tucked away
into a cap and her green eyes covered by dark shades. She was wearing a
large jacket similar to one high school athlete's wear. All in all she
looked very inconspicuous in the crowd where half were dressed as muggles
the other half in their wizarding clothes. She walked through the crowd to
her seat. Lucius had offered to let her watch it from the box that he had
reserved before she had been kicked off the team but she had declined.
Lucius and Severus had watched everyone one of her games from that box. Now
they were both protesting. Lucius was saying how he refused to fund the
Cannons now. Li wished they would just stop; she didn't want to be on the
team just because her friend was rich. She found her seat with the other
fans. It was directly behind where the marching band was sitting.
"It's cold," complained one trumpet.
"No shit Sherlock," muttered the section leader. "How the bloody hell did I get drafted into doing this?" the trumpet complained. "Freshmen don't have to be in marching band."
"It would be fine if it wasn't so damn cold," whined a clarinet.
"At least you aren't carrying a heavy metal instrument," the trumpet reroted.
"Sargent Pepper!" called the band director. "When our team takes the foul." All the brass players stood up.
"Cheerleaders!" shouted a saxophone. The whole band waited while the cheerleaders tried to give spirit to the fans.
"If I have to hear that one more time I swear I will scream," commented a colorguard.
"I'm a self-respecting musican. I've got a place reserved for me in the Wizarding England Orchestra. Why do I have to be out here ruining my extra clarinet?" asked yet another clarinet.
"Oh hush its Quidditch, it's not that bad," scolded someone else.
"Ever since they kicked Li..." started a trombone. The conversation had moved to the low brass.
"Lily from what I hear," interrupted a French horn.
"Ok, Lily. Ever since they kicked off the team they're bad. She was their best player," the trombone continued.
"Was not, James Potter was," interrupted a different trumpet player. He turned away from the low brass and shouted at the field, "WE LOVE YOU JAMES!" The other trumpet players scooted away from him.
"I don't know you," one muttered.
"He gives brassholes a bad name," muttered someone else.
"It's cold," the first trumpet player started again.
"We get that already," an alto sax yelled.
"Just shut up already," come from someone else.
"He stole my glove!"
"Hey Ryan, give me back my hat!"
"Can you guys stop it? You almost knocked down my flip folder!"
They all continued squabbling and generally having a good time. Li had never thought about the marching band or where they came from. They simply supplied the music she heard from time to time. She had never considered what it was like to sit out here rather than be in on the action. Never again would she be able to play on this field.
"Liar!"
"She broke the contract!"
"Didn't reveal to us this information!"
"It's against that law!" started sounding through Li's mind. She remembered the day her court room appearance had started. It had begun with all of those accusations. She had broken the law, they said. She had told them that the job description never asked her gender.
In the end the court had ordered that she be taken off the team. She was never to play in the men's Quidditch League again. The judge had ordered that scouts be sent out to see if there was any interest in a girl's side. If there was Li or Miss Lily Evans, as they kept calling her, would be contacted and put on a team.
'Woop-di-do," thought Li sarcastically. A girl's side was going to be filled with sissies, girls who cared more about looking good while playing than actually playing. Any ads for the team would mention seeing cute girls.
She stood up even though it was only two minutes till half time. She couldn't stand to watch her former team. She didn't want to be on the sidelines. There was a shout and Li felt herself being knocked over. Her hat fell off her head to the ground in front of her. No one paid attention except the band, who were getting ready to leave for the half time show. Li heard someone gasp.
"Li, sorry, Lily Evans?" whispered the first trumpet player.
"Come on Andrea, you're going to get left behind," yelled the girl's section leader.
"Just a minute, I forgot the flip folder off my trumpet. I'll be there in a minute," she called back. The girl turned back to Li. "Just want to say you're a model for us all. I hope a girls' side is formed. I don't like Quidditch much, but my sister wants to play. Oh, can I have your autograph?" Li sighed.
"Sure fine," Li muttered. "Just don't tell anyone I'm here." Li flipped out a quill that had ended up in her pocket and quickly scribbled her name on a piece of music that the girl held out.
"Ok," the girl said. "Here's you hat." Li saw the blue wool being offered in front of her. "I got to go. It's one of the last shows of the season. Why did I allow my mum to talking me into being in marching band this year?" The girl picked up her trumpet and left. Li noted that the girl was the only female among the trumpets and brass as a whole.
Li shoved her hat over her head and adjusted her sun glasses. She trudged down the long steps to the bottom and exited to the apperating site.
The familiar setting of her flat came into view with a pop. She threw off her hat and glasses and headed to the kitchen. Sitting there on the window sill was Severus' owl. Two papers were attached to its leg. She untied them both and first read the one with Severus' familiar scrawl.
For some reason all your bloody mail always comes to my flat. Oh well, I get to know your big news before you do. After you read the other letter come down and we'll go out to dinner, I've got Lucius on the standby. He insists on coming too even though Narcissa told me that she won't allow him to come out to hang with his poor neglected old friends.
I hope he doesn't bring the whole death eater thing into the picture again. It's getting really annoying. I think I'll join just to shut him up.
Anyway, just come down after you've read the other one.
Severus.
Li smiled and frowned at the same time. She hoped Lucius wouldn't bring up Voldemort again and his friends' lack of joining. Truth be told she didn't really want to be apart of either side. One was old and corrupt, the other was simply too violent. She had decided long ago to make new charms and sell the exclusive contracts to the highest bidder.
In fact Li's charm work had been paying the rent recently since she had lost her job with the Cannons nearly a month ago. Since then Lucius had been hounding her to join more frequently. Oy.
Li moved to open the other letter.
Miss Lily Evans,
A team has been assembled. It will the Hogsmeade Horntails, the Women's side for the London Area. Three other teams have been formed in England, two in Ireland, one in Scotland and one in Whales.
We hope you will accept the position as Seeker and team captain on our team. Your teammates, should you accept, will be Andrea Harris, chaser, Jill Karvesian, beater, Jesse Karvesian, beater, An-mei Wong, chaser, Bridget Lewis, chaser and Liza Smith keeper.
The first practice will be next week on Saturday at two. Further practices will be decided by the team. If you reject this, please respond by owl carried within three days.
Thank you,
Katie Opelian, Assistant Head of Sports and Magical Games
Li stared at the paper for a bit wondering if this was all a grand practical joke. If it was she had nothing to lose, her reputation was already gone. She shrugged and made her way downstairs.
Hey guys, sorry, no inspo flowing recently plus my new comp deleted ALL my files including the next few chapters I had written. Hope you liked this chapter. Here's my conclusion about people's instruments and their personalities and remember, this is the TYPICAL person, not every. Based soley on people I know. Trumpets: Loud, egotistical (HAVE REALLY LARGE EGOS!!!!!!!!) Greet each other with the "Hi I'm insert name here I'm better than you are," attitude.
Flutes: very giggley. Clarinets: Chatty. I've never met a non talkative clarinet. I don't have a lot on them since I'm not friends with any currently. Drumners: don't feel comfortable unless there's a beat. Be it taping, loud music with bass turned up, fidgeting or walking, these people have trouble sitting still. Trombones: unpredictable. The three trombones I know, who I know rather well, have nothing in common other than the fact that they never laugh when I think they will and do when I think they won't. Violins: I got nothing on them, I've had two friends who play, but I'm not in orchestra, so I wouldn't know. From what I've observed they do tend to be easily distracted people. Saxophones: They're a combination of the trumpets and the clarinets cause they play a reed instrument that's made of brass. They're chatty with larger than life personalities. Oboes: tend to be more mellow people, or at least people who appear mellow. All the oboes I know (3) also have this attitude that they're a whole lot wiser than I am. They always appear to be comfortable where ever you put them except for the occasional moment.
That's all I got for now. Bye!
"It's cold," complained one trumpet.
"No shit Sherlock," muttered the section leader. "How the bloody hell did I get drafted into doing this?" the trumpet complained. "Freshmen don't have to be in marching band."
"It would be fine if it wasn't so damn cold," whined a clarinet.
"At least you aren't carrying a heavy metal instrument," the trumpet reroted.
"Sargent Pepper!" called the band director. "When our team takes the foul." All the brass players stood up.
"Cheerleaders!" shouted a saxophone. The whole band waited while the cheerleaders tried to give spirit to the fans.
"If I have to hear that one more time I swear I will scream," commented a colorguard.
"I'm a self-respecting musican. I've got a place reserved for me in the Wizarding England Orchestra. Why do I have to be out here ruining my extra clarinet?" asked yet another clarinet.
"Oh hush its Quidditch, it's not that bad," scolded someone else.
"Ever since they kicked Li..." started a trombone. The conversation had moved to the low brass.
"Lily from what I hear," interrupted a French horn.
"Ok, Lily. Ever since they kicked off the team they're bad. She was their best player," the trombone continued.
"Was not, James Potter was," interrupted a different trumpet player. He turned away from the low brass and shouted at the field, "WE LOVE YOU JAMES!" The other trumpet players scooted away from him.
"I don't know you," one muttered.
"He gives brassholes a bad name," muttered someone else.
"It's cold," the first trumpet player started again.
"We get that already," an alto sax yelled.
"Just shut up already," come from someone else.
"He stole my glove!"
"Hey Ryan, give me back my hat!"
"Can you guys stop it? You almost knocked down my flip folder!"
They all continued squabbling and generally having a good time. Li had never thought about the marching band or where they came from. They simply supplied the music she heard from time to time. She had never considered what it was like to sit out here rather than be in on the action. Never again would she be able to play on this field.
"Liar!"
"She broke the contract!"
"Didn't reveal to us this information!"
"It's against that law!" started sounding through Li's mind. She remembered the day her court room appearance had started. It had begun with all of those accusations. She had broken the law, they said. She had told them that the job description never asked her gender.
In the end the court had ordered that she be taken off the team. She was never to play in the men's Quidditch League again. The judge had ordered that scouts be sent out to see if there was any interest in a girl's side. If there was Li or Miss Lily Evans, as they kept calling her, would be contacted and put on a team.
'Woop-di-do," thought Li sarcastically. A girl's side was going to be filled with sissies, girls who cared more about looking good while playing than actually playing. Any ads for the team would mention seeing cute girls.
She stood up even though it was only two minutes till half time. She couldn't stand to watch her former team. She didn't want to be on the sidelines. There was a shout and Li felt herself being knocked over. Her hat fell off her head to the ground in front of her. No one paid attention except the band, who were getting ready to leave for the half time show. Li heard someone gasp.
"Li, sorry, Lily Evans?" whispered the first trumpet player.
"Come on Andrea, you're going to get left behind," yelled the girl's section leader.
"Just a minute, I forgot the flip folder off my trumpet. I'll be there in a minute," she called back. The girl turned back to Li. "Just want to say you're a model for us all. I hope a girls' side is formed. I don't like Quidditch much, but my sister wants to play. Oh, can I have your autograph?" Li sighed.
"Sure fine," Li muttered. "Just don't tell anyone I'm here." Li flipped out a quill that had ended up in her pocket and quickly scribbled her name on a piece of music that the girl held out.
"Ok," the girl said. "Here's you hat." Li saw the blue wool being offered in front of her. "I got to go. It's one of the last shows of the season. Why did I allow my mum to talking me into being in marching band this year?" The girl picked up her trumpet and left. Li noted that the girl was the only female among the trumpets and brass as a whole.
Li shoved her hat over her head and adjusted her sun glasses. She trudged down the long steps to the bottom and exited to the apperating site.
The familiar setting of her flat came into view with a pop. She threw off her hat and glasses and headed to the kitchen. Sitting there on the window sill was Severus' owl. Two papers were attached to its leg. She untied them both and first read the one with Severus' familiar scrawl.
For some reason all your bloody mail always comes to my flat. Oh well, I get to know your big news before you do. After you read the other letter come down and we'll go out to dinner, I've got Lucius on the standby. He insists on coming too even though Narcissa told me that she won't allow him to come out to hang with his poor neglected old friends.
I hope he doesn't bring the whole death eater thing into the picture again. It's getting really annoying. I think I'll join just to shut him up.
Anyway, just come down after you've read the other one.
Severus.
Li smiled and frowned at the same time. She hoped Lucius wouldn't bring up Voldemort again and his friends' lack of joining. Truth be told she didn't really want to be apart of either side. One was old and corrupt, the other was simply too violent. She had decided long ago to make new charms and sell the exclusive contracts to the highest bidder.
In fact Li's charm work had been paying the rent recently since she had lost her job with the Cannons nearly a month ago. Since then Lucius had been hounding her to join more frequently. Oy.
Li moved to open the other letter.
Miss Lily Evans,
A team has been assembled. It will the Hogsmeade Horntails, the Women's side for the London Area. Three other teams have been formed in England, two in Ireland, one in Scotland and one in Whales.
We hope you will accept the position as Seeker and team captain on our team. Your teammates, should you accept, will be Andrea Harris, chaser, Jill Karvesian, beater, Jesse Karvesian, beater, An-mei Wong, chaser, Bridget Lewis, chaser and Liza Smith keeper.
The first practice will be next week on Saturday at two. Further practices will be decided by the team. If you reject this, please respond by owl carried within three days.
Thank you,
Katie Opelian, Assistant Head of Sports and Magical Games
Li stared at the paper for a bit wondering if this was all a grand practical joke. If it was she had nothing to lose, her reputation was already gone. She shrugged and made her way downstairs.
Hey guys, sorry, no inspo flowing recently plus my new comp deleted ALL my files including the next few chapters I had written. Hope you liked this chapter. Here's my conclusion about people's instruments and their personalities and remember, this is the TYPICAL person, not every. Based soley on people I know. Trumpets: Loud, egotistical (HAVE REALLY LARGE EGOS!!!!!!!!) Greet each other with the "Hi I'm insert name here I'm better than you are," attitude.
Flutes: very giggley. Clarinets: Chatty. I've never met a non talkative clarinet. I don't have a lot on them since I'm not friends with any currently. Drumners: don't feel comfortable unless there's a beat. Be it taping, loud music with bass turned up, fidgeting or walking, these people have trouble sitting still. Trombones: unpredictable. The three trombones I know, who I know rather well, have nothing in common other than the fact that they never laugh when I think they will and do when I think they won't. Violins: I got nothing on them, I've had two friends who play, but I'm not in orchestra, so I wouldn't know. From what I've observed they do tend to be easily distracted people. Saxophones: They're a combination of the trumpets and the clarinets cause they play a reed instrument that's made of brass. They're chatty with larger than life personalities. Oboes: tend to be more mellow people, or at least people who appear mellow. All the oboes I know (3) also have this attitude that they're a whole lot wiser than I am. They always appear to be comfortable where ever you put them except for the occasional moment.
That's all I got for now. Bye!