Together, Charlie and Quinn walked the group of firsties to the dormatory, giving a little background of the caslte and its history as they went, as well as helpful little advice ("Watch out for the moving staircases," "That portrait will yell if you get too close," "Don't let Filch catch you walking there," Charlie added, with a mischievious little smile, "If you see a raggy old cat wandering around, kick liberally,"). Jane walked with them, everyone else having gotten a head start when they were talking to Calvin.
The three led the way into commonroom through the portrait, Quinn having said and given them all the password. Charlie told them where they were to find their bedrooms and class schedules. Quinn wished them luck and assured them that the prefects were there for them when facing any problem here at Hogwarts. The group scampered off to settle in.
Near the sofa, she noticed a fourth year, Gilbert Crane, showing off his new broomstick, undoubtably anticipating Quidditch trials. As the three walked up the stairs to their own rooms, Jane said, "So, we've got at least two chasers, a keeper, and a seeker."
"That's if I let you all back on the team this year," said Charlie, ever teasing.
"Yes."
"Wait, don't we have two beaters?" asked Quinn, thinking of the two seventh years.
"Chester and Eric said they weren't sure they'd be returning this year,"
"Why wouldn't they? They've been great,"
"I dunno, I just know Eric is planning on prepping for NEWTs every spare second this term and Chester... well I'm not sure about Chester, only that he isn't one-hundred percent guarantee,"
"I'll talk to them," said Charlie. Immediately, apparently, because he continued past the sixth year boys' dormitory up to the seventh.
Quinn and Jane were about to walk in their own room when a look between the two was exchanged. With mischievious grins they silently agreed to sneak up and listen in. Quinn tiptoed up mainly out of curiosity of what was going on with the team's much needed beaters; Jane, on the other hand, had a shameless admiration of the two as they both possessed the winning attributes of athleticism and handsome features.
They silently snuck until Charlie's voice became audible. Carefully, they placed their ears close to the barely opened door to better listen in.
"-really need you. It's your last year, don't you want to see the team win?" Charlie was saying.
"You know I do, Weasley," It was Chester Werther.
It was quiet for a moment. Then Chester spoke again, softly now:
"Alright, fine, but it doesn't leave this room," Music to an eavesdropper's ears. "The truth is, I barely scraped by last year with my marks- it was a miracle i stayed on. I'm probably going to be kicked off this year anyway, so... might as well not try out," they heard a body drop down on a creaky bed, "Save myself the embarressment,"
The girls exchanged looks of pity for the boy. Quinn now felt a tad guilty about listening now, it was sort of private. However, she could not pull herself away for want of hearing what Charlie would say.
"We can help you, man, all of us." Charlie encouraged.
"I don't know," he said. They heard a faint sigh. "I'll think about it,"
"Good. We're here for you, remember, on and off the pitch,"
"Don't make me puke, Weasley," Chester laughed. The girls exchanged relieved looks.
"Seen King around? I have to talk to him as well,"
"I think I saw him before I entered the portrait, come on," Quinn heard their footsteps approaching and she jumped up, beginning to bolt down the steps, Jane right behind her.
As could be expected, Quinn slammed into someone as she turned the spiral steps.
"-really get a work out as a seven- hey, whatch where you're- Quinn? Wait a second-" the boy was saying. But the two girls were already past him on their way down. In a moment they were in their room, laughing and gasping for breath. Quinn's heart raced.
"Naturally, Eric would be coming right up at that moment!" exclaimed Jane.
"They probably think we're sneaks now," laughed Quinn as she walked toward her bags, placed in the center of the room. As every year she selected a bed near the window. She was often very warm and enjoyed the cool breeze that flew in.
"We are sneaks," replied Jane with a grin, taking the bed beside her friend's.
"Well. At least we didn't creep in their changing room," said Quinn, and the girls burst out laughing. This was a reference to the time years ago when a very sore, exhausted (though likely most effected by the merciless stomach ache) Chester had accidentily walked into the girl's changing room. Luckily they'd all been decent (back then there were four girls, whereas the two years last it'd only been Quinn and Jane). After blundering in, he had looked at them, where he was, and then wretched on the ground. Chester had been so mortified that he couldn't look anyone on the team in the eye for a month.
Quinn began unpacking her things, throwing them here and there in her space, Jane doing the same, tossing clothes into the adjacent armoiur.
Very soon the remaining three roomates entered, Cora complaining about some rude second-years, Kimberly telling her she was making a big deal out of nothing, and Rosemary keeping to herself.
"We were that age once, too. Give them a break." said Kimberly.
Cora continued her rant, though muttering quietly now.
Rosemary claimed the other bed beside Quinn, which came as a relief to her. The quiet, reserved girl was the easiest to get along with out of her remaining roomates. Cora complained when awake and spoke in her sleep, despite any claim she made other wise ("I do not. Why does everyone always think I try to get on their nerves? They're the ones getting on mine, usually, and don't get me started on..." ect.). Quinn's general mess irritated Kimberly, but instead of complaining, last year she had tried to clean it herself- much to Quinn's irritation. Both complained when she arrived in the room after late-night prefect duty; Rose never griped about anything. She was just the sort of girl who had a simply sweet disposition.
"Hey, Rose. How was Italy, then?" asked Quinn, dumping some things out of her cases.
Rose smiled her shy smile and replied, "It was a lot of fun, the beaches are beautiful."
Quinn told her she was lucky she had gotten to go and briefly told her what she had been up to over the summer.
From there the conversation continued and expanded to include all the girls, each sharing their own summer experiences.
Quinn was finally finishing unpacking when she pulled the last item from her bag- Charlie's Transfiguration Six textbook. She told her roomates that she was going to do it at a table in the commonroom.
With a quill, ink, and the book she set off down the steps to her usual table, near the currently empty fireplace. As she tried to work, her thoughts drifted toward her brother, wondering what he was doing and who he was meeting just now. She leaned on her left elbow and swished her quill around, thinking. Was he in his own commonroom now? What was the Slytherin commonroom like, anyway?
"You look deep in thought," said a voice.
She looked up at him. Chester walked around and sat in a chair across from her. The seventh year had a beachy look: untamed blonde hair and soft blue eyes. Like his beater counter-part and friend, Eric, he had wide shoulders, thick arms and chest, and a phyique that translated brute strength. The two could have been twins but for their hair and eyes.
"Oh, I was just thinking about my brother."
"Yeah?"
"I just hoped... I thought that he'd be here with me. He was put in Slytherin. Know anything about their dormatory?"
"Nothing except that it's in the dungeon," he admitted. "Sorry,"
She shrugged, looking back down at her work. He sat there for a minute or two before speaking.
"Okay, we're friends, you and me... so I've got something to ask you,"
She looked up. He was going to ask about her eavesdropping. She didn't really hear anything, she and Jane had seen Charlie walking up and had to ask him somthing-
"I know you're really bright...would you help me in History of Magic some this year? It's my toughest subject and it would help me-"
"Yeah, of course! It wouldn't be a problem," she cut in happily.
"Thanks... I think you already know why," he gave her a knowing look, leaning toward her across the table.
Quinn felt her cheeks grow hot and she wouldn't meet his eyes. Still, she noticed a smile creeping onto his face.
"Sorry," she said meekly.
"Whatever, you are my teammate; you have a right to know I guess. Fair warning, though- I wont be happy if i catch you doing it again and I'm not above throwing mud,"
He meant this in the most literal sense- he had, in the past, flown down, gathered a handful of thick mud, and chucked it at her during practice once. Of course, they were joking around that day. It was times like that when Quinn almost felt as though she had a big brother.
Chester stood and was about to walk away.
Quinn added with a mischievious smile, "Alright... you won't catch me,"
He turned around, messed her hair, and said, "Better hope I don't."
She laughed and pushed his hand away. He chuckled, saying before he left, "Catch you later, Quinny,"
Quinn rolled her eyes and proceeded to complete McGonagall's assignments. Around midnight she finally finished; she wasn't terribly tired (except of reading) and wasn't concerned about her getting to bed late because her body was not yet adjusted from staying up late in the summer anyway.
Right now the commonroom was empty as she stood to leave. Hogwarts could be pretty eerie at night, even Quinn, who often patrolled the dark halls alone, had to admit. She chose to leave a few candles lit before she made her way back up to her room.
Dropping the book and things on the floor before sliding into bed, Quinn was glad to have some quiet time to just relax, to think. This day was hectic, as it always is. Her mind went back to what Abigail had said; on top of studies and Quidditch she once again would have prefect duties and now tutoring, students she was assigned as well as Chester. And, even though she kept telling herself she was worrying too much, she still couldn't help but be concerned about Calvin, now fast asleep in the dungeon, in a Slytherin bedroom of all places. The more she thought about it, the more Quinn suspected the rest of the year would follow in a similar manner of today.