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| Virtual Hogwarts .net > Quidditch Pitch > Borrow George? |
| Posted by: Alexandria Davis Dec 8 2003, 01:31 AM |
| Alex had been walking around the Hogwarts grounds for quite awhile. She really wanted to find out what she needed to do to borrow one of the school brooms for a bit. She had inquired inside for Professor Wood's whereabouts and was pointed to the grounds, though which part they weren't sure. 'Think Alex, think... tried where we met last year for flying... tired the broom shed.... oh! duh! Where do you look for an off duty Quidditch player turned flying professor? The Pitch, of course. Would have saved myself a lot of trouble if I had just gone there first....' She thinks to herself as she leaves the broom shed and heads in the direction of the pitch. Arriving at the pitch, she looks around for the professor. Not seeing him at first, she begins to get a bit frustrated at herself. 'I thought for sure he'd.... oh! There he is!' She thinks to herself as she sees the professor sitting in the set of stands above her as she had been walking around. Climbing up the stands, she smiles at the professor. "Do you have a sec, Professor Wood?" |
| Posted by: Oliver Wood Dec 8 2003, 01:41 AM |
| Oliver had been flying for hours. As was fairly usual on days off, Oliver had found himself at the quidditch pitch and on a broom for most of the day. He'd become quite good at bewitching quaffles to fly at him and the practice never hurt anyone. Flying always made him feel so free and zooming around the goal posts for no reason other than to fly was Oliver's favorite thing to do. When the sun had began to lower in the sky, Oliver had decided that it was time to stop practicing and had flown himself down to the bleachers to sit and think, his mind always seemed the clearest after he'd been flying. Sitting in the stands, Oliver let his mind wander over the lessons he was planning, and the techniques he was going to teach in his class. Inavoidably his mind drifted to strategies he could put into effect during Puddlemere's next game against Winbourne. Oliver was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't notice a student climbing into the stands, and was therefore not warned when a voice rang out very close to him, "Do you have a sec, Professor Wood?" Jumping nearly out of his skin, Oliver found himself standing and facing Alexandria Davis. Taking a deep breath and scrubbing a hand through his hair Oliver nodded, "Of course, what can I help you with?" |
| Posted by: Alexandria Davis Dec 8 2003, 02:16 AM |
| Seeing the professor jump up quickly, Alex blushes a bit. She obviously had disturbed him. "Sorry..." She mutters quietly, and looks down at her feet for a second. Looking back up, she decides she should just ask really quickly and wait for the answer she had a feeling she would get. Then again, it might not be that answer. Just because she never saw anyone but first years using the school brooms, didn't mean she would be told no. It could be that no one had ever asked before. "Umm... I just wanted to know if I could... borrow one of the school brooms? You see... I don't have my own, and well... I haven't been on a broom since class last year. So, I don't want to forget how to fly just because I can't get a broom yet...." Trailing off, she realises her simple question had turned into her typical long winded babbling. |
| Posted by: Oliver Wood Dec 8 2003, 02:23 AM |
| Oliver listened while Alex asked him her question and then nodded, a puzzled expression on his face. Nobody had asked to borrow a broom before. Doing quick mental calculations, Oliver realized that there were enough brooms, but then wondered what would happen if he allowed one student to borrow one. Would all of the students decide that they needed to borrow them instead of buying them. That was the problem, Oliver knew that Alexandria was trustworth and responsible, but others might not be. Suddenly a solution presented itself and Oliver smiled, "Of course you can borrow a broom Miss Davis, but at a price of course." he said, nodding his head. |
| Posted by: Alexandria Davis Dec 8 2003, 02:30 AM |
| Alex grinned as Professor Wood said she could borrow a broom, but then the rest of what he said dawned on her. A price? What sort of price? Probably wouldn't be anything too difficult. She was trying to think of what the Professor could possibly need or would charge. Maybe the brooms had to be rented? Renting it would be much cheaper then buying one, though somehow, she didn't think that was what he was referring. Maybe he needed her help with something? "Thank you so much, Professor Wood... but... a price?" She asks raising an eyebrow. "What would the price be?" |
| Posted by: Oliver Wood Dec 8 2003, 02:34 AM |
| Oliver laughed as Alexandria spoke, "Don't worry, I'm not going to ask you to pay for it or anything. I've got alot of students this term and I can't help but admit that I could use a hand in my flying classes. If I remember right you did quite well in class, and I could loan you a broom so that you could practice for the lessons. This way I don't have to deal with everyone and their brother begging me to borrow brooms. Does that work for you?" |
| Posted by: Alexandria Davis Dec 8 2003, 02:44 AM |
| Alex laughed a little as she realised the professor had read what she was thinking. Helping out with the firsties was much better than having to pay rent on the broom. "Yeah.... I could hold my own on a broom... at least in class.... not so sure now... but, its like riding a bicycle, right?" Alex says thinking of a muggle phrase that seemed to fit perfectly. "What would you like me to do? As long as my own studies aren't affected, I'll be glad to help out." Alex says, then realises that she just slipped into a Ravenclaw stereotype. Shaking her head slightly at her own Ravenclawish statement, she smiles and continues, "Thank so much." |
| Posted by: Oliver Wood Dec 8 2003, 02:48 AM |
| Oliver frowned a little bit and said, "Don't worry, I don't think any other classes are scheduled at the same time as flying, and I wouldn't make you miss anything to fly. I just need some help with the students, this class doesn't like me very much for some reason and I'm having a bit of trouble reigning them in." Oliver frowned some more as he though about the class, "Did you enjoy the flying class? I mean, I know that nobody likes using the school brooms...but I just want everyone to be on the same level...and one of the students called me arrogant to my face. I wonder why they instantly decided to dislike me this term." he said shaking his head and half talking to himself. |
| Posted by: Alexandria Davis Dec 8 2003, 03:07 AM |
| "Sorry... I didn't mean it like it sounded... I just yeah... that was the Ravenclaw in me coming out..." Alex says smiling and trying to lighten the mood. Though, she doubted it worked. Instead, she went for just answering his questions. Arrogant? Somebody actually had the audacity to call a professor arrogant? Not the brightest crayon in the box. Alex just couldn't believe that one. "I loved your class. It had to be one of my favorites last year. And no, I'm not just saying that. If I didn't like it, I wouldn't want to borrow a broom... and I wouldn't agree to helping out. To me, the school brooms are perfectly fine. Of course... I don't know anything else, considering Geo- the broom I used last year was the only one I have used before. And whoever that was that called you arrogant... well... the little prat should probably take a look in the mirror first before they decide to call people names." Alex blushes slightly realising she just actually called someone a prat in front of a professor, though she continues on. No turning back now. "Especially people they know nothing about. I mean, really... whoever that was needs to go to school to learn to respect their professors and by the sounds of it probably other people too. Not a really hard concept." |
| Posted by: Oliver Wood Dec 10 2003, 09:49 PM |
| Oliver nodded his head, looking vaguely out of the stands over the pitch. Smiling slightly as Alex slipped and called Aiden a prat, Oliver nearly laughed, then frowned. "Yes, I suppose so, but they don't feel the need to respect me. Half of the students call me Oliver, and I'm not even a real professor...just a jock. " he said half to himself. Even the most respectful students forget that I'm a professor Oliver thought, staring out into the pitch. |
| Posted by: Alexandria Davis Dec 10 2003, 10:17 PM |
| "Professor Wood... you are not 'just a jock.' I don't know for sure what happened during the last war other than that story you told me... but I do know what I saw when you helped that girl out on the lawn. Someone who was 'just a jock' would not have been able to have done a rescue like that. The people who think that do not know what they are talking about. For what its worth, even before I saw that or heard the story you told me, I did not think you were just a jock. You have always been my professor. That may have to do with the fact that I had never even heard of quidditch before I came here, but i am sure there are others who are the same way. Either way, you are respected as a professor by the students. The ones that just stick out in your mind are the ones that don't. The bad always sticks out more than the good at first..." Alex finishes, trailing off as she realises the professor probably thinks she was rambling. "Sorry... I tend to ramble sometimes..." She says looking down, but hoping at least part of what she said made sense. |
| Posted by: Oliver Wood Dec 10 2003, 11:11 PM |
| Oliver shook his head, "You're not rambling. I appreciate that Miss Davis." Oliver said, still staring off at the pitch. "You don't want to know what happened in the last war." he said, a slightly haunted tone entering his voice. Suddenly, Oliver stood up, looking slightly panicked. "I really have to be going now. I'll let you know when the next lesson is." Oliver said standing up and grabbing his broom, then walking down the steps of the bleachers nearly tripping in his haste. |
| Posted by: Alexandria Davis Dec 10 2003, 11:27 PM |
| Alex blinked a couple times in the wake of Professor Wood's hasty exit. The tone of his vvoice also got to her. 'He must have seen some awful things... of course he did... the one story you heard told you that...' She thinks to herself. Realising that she didn't know how to go about getting the broom, the thing that had sent her on her search for the Professor in the first place, she ran down the steps of the stands to try to catch up with the professor. She also felt she should apologise to him. She didn't mean to bring up a painful subject to him, but it served to illustrate a point. She really should think more before she speaks. Catching up with the professor, she says, "Professor Wood... wait a sec please?" "I just.... I'm sorry for bringing up the war... sometimes I don't think before I talk... and yeah... I told you before I am willing to listen anytime you want to talk about it... I do want to hear about it sometime. It isn't talked about much... but... we are in the middle of it all starting again. The invasion of the castle proves that. So... we should be told about it. That is my personal feelings... I'm not asking you to talk about it now or anything... I just brought it up to put more meaning I guess in what I was saying... so yeah.... I'm sorry about that... I didn't think..." Realising she was probably rambling again, she stops talking about that and asks the other question on her mind. "Umm... how do I go about getting a broom when I want to use one? Just find you? I kind of want to get on a broom before the next lesson.... don't want to make a fool of myself, you know..." |
| Posted by: Oliver Wood Dec 11 2003, 12:01 AM |
| Oliver was sweating, actually sweating as he walked from the quidditch pitch. He'd probably scared the bejesus out of the student who was up there, but he didn't care. Oliver just had to get away, he knew it wasn't Alexandria's fault, but for some reason, thinking about the war nearly sent him into a panic attack, at least recently. The dreams had been comming back, he always saw the girl, bleeding on the floor of the dungeons, the students screaming. It always started out that way, and then it would waver and change and he would be back in the thick of the battle, the halls of the school. That had been the worst. Comming back, seeing the wreckage, and the death. Recently it had been almsot all the could think about. Even on the pitch, Oliver wondered what the point was. The war was going to start up again. Wiping the sweat from his face, and fighting down the sudden nausea that hit him, Oliver turned at the sound of a voice. "Professor Wood... wait a sec please?" Turning, Oliver saw Alexandria and nearly fled. The last thing he needed was a student to see him like this. Oliver didn't think Alexandria was a gossip but people talked, and he was already losing control of his class. Alexandria launched into a speech, she'd noticed he was uncomfortable...Merlin's beard she wanted to know more. Blinking and feeling like someone had his chest in a vice, Oliver swallowed hard and nodded to the girl. "You're right." he said, cursing himself for how weak his voice sounded, and how much he was still sweating. "You guys need to know what happened the last time around. I can't......" Oliver stopped and closed his eyes for a moment, "Just find me tomarrow for the broom. When can you be down here?" He said, breathing shallowly to try and calm himself down. |
| Posted by: Alexandria Davis Dec 11 2003, 01:40 AM |
| "Professor, I understand... you don't have to tell me anything... just voicing an opinion and letting you know I'm here and willing to listen... if you ever want to talk..." Alex says noticing all the signs of a panic attack. Her father tends to have them a lot, so she knows the signs well, maybe too well. Leaving it at that, she pulls her backpack around to the front of her and pulls out a box of fudge. "Want a piece? Madam Pomfrey I noticed tends to give chocolate out... muggle reasons would be the antioxidents in them... not quite sure the wizarding ones... but chocolate tends to make people feel better... but umm I can be here..." She says thinking of her schedule the next day. "How's right after lunch? I have quite a bit of time between lunch and my next class... or after classes end for the day. you wouldn't hapen to be able to give me any pointers if I am doing something wrong.... I mean... since it has been awhile since I've been on a broom. It is like riding a bicycle right?" Alex certainly hoped it was like riding a bicycle, meaning you never forget how. 'I'm probably just overthinking this like I always tend to do on everything....' |
| Posted by: Oliver Wood Dec 11 2003, 02:30 AM |
| Oliver extended a shaking hand towards the box of fudge that Alexandria was offering him. For some reason chololate sounded fantastic. It tasted fantastic too, it almost seemed like the sugar was running through his veins having the opposite effect as usual, calming him. Thoughts began to come more clearly to Oliver and he nodded his head at Alexandria, taking a deep breath and running a hand through his hair before speaking, "After classes would be fine. I teach my class right after lunch. I'm sure it's just like riding a...whatever it was you said. You were skilled enough in your first year that I'm sure you'll be flying like a pro in no time." Taking a deep breath Oliver steeled himself then said, "I'll tell you something about the war tomarrow too. I can't stand by and let people not be prepared....like last time...." mentally shaking himself, Oliver looked back to Alexandria and said, "So after classes Miss Davis? " |
| Posted by: Alexandria Davis Dec 11 2003, 02:57 AM |
| Alex was relieved when she saw that the chocolate seemed to work like it did with her father. Taking a piece herself, she closed the box and put it back in her bag. Smiling after she ate it, she says quietly, "It's not Mum's... but it's still good." "Professor Wood, I don't want you to feel you have to tell me anything... I want to know... now, after the invasion more than ever... after Aura..." She says trailing off not finishing that thought. She still hadn't fully accepted her cousin was attacked, not once, but twice by the deatheaters. She didn't know if she could ever accept it. Deciding not to finsh that thought at all, she says simply, "Yes, I'll see you after classes. Right here?" |
| Posted by: Alexandria Davis Dec 14 2003, 12:32 AM |
| ~*~*~*~ The Next Day..... ~*~*~*~ Alex strolled down to the Quidditch Pitch the next day with her bag heavy on her back. She had a full day of classes and so had a full week of homework ahead of her. Though the Ravenclaw in her liked it, the other part was grumbling on the inside. She was determined to do well in her classes this term. This term she was having the ones she had trouble in last year. How she had managed to have Potions, Herbology, and Astronomy all in the same term she did not understand. 'Interesting classes... well... Herbology I could leave... stupid dandelion' She thinks as she looks down at the little scar on her finger from where the 'viscious' plant bit her at the beginning of last year. She didn't know what it really was, but it looked like a muggle dandelion. 'I still didn't expect to take them all at the same time... oi... I'm going to do good in them though even if it kills me....' Arriving at the pitch she looks around for Professor Wood. She was supposed to meet him after classes today so she could get the broom. Secretly, she hoped it was going to be George, but she supposed they were all the same. She was kind of hoping to get on the broom today if possible, just to make sure it was really like riding a bicycle. Though she didn't know if it was allowed or not. Sighing, she climbs the stairs to the stands hoping to find the professor up in them or at least to get a bird's eye view and maybe locate him on the ground. Grinning when she got to the top of the stairs, she walked over to where she could see him sitting staring out over the pitch. Climbing up to the top section where she could see him, she puts her bag on the bench. Even if it was only a few minutes, she still wanted it off her back. "Good Afternoon, Professor Wood. How was your day?" Alex asks with a smile. |
| Posted by: Oliver Wood Dec 14 2003, 12:44 AM |
| Oliver jumped at the sound of a voice, he'd been dozing after a rather sleepless night. The dreams were getting worse and worse, and he was most definatly losing sleep over it now. Turning to find Alex speaking to him, Oliver rubbed his eyes, remembering that he'd told her to meet him at this time. "Hello Miss Davis," Oliver said through a yawn, "Here to pick up your broom?" He said, hoping he hadn't missed anything important that she'd said on approach. |
| Posted by: Alexandria Davis Dec 14 2003, 12:54 AM |
| "Yes, sir... umm.... Sorry to disturb you..." Alex adds as she realises she hadn't seen him staring out over the field. He only apeared to be doing so at a distance because he had dozed off. "I woudn't be able to maybe get on the broom today, would I?" She asks a bit shyly. She always tended to over worry about things. Getting on a broom again was no exception, eapecially if it was going to eventually be in front of a bunch of first years. |
| Posted by: Oliver Wood Dec 14 2003, 12:57 AM |
| Oliver smiled at the student in front of him, "Yes, of course you can get on your broom today, take a few laps, reaquaint yourself. We'll walk down to the shed and you can pick one of the better ones out." Oliver said, standing and stretching a bit, "It's alright, I really shoun't be up here sneaking away from everything for cat naps as it is. Now let's get down to the shed." |
| Posted by: Alexandria Davis Dec 14 2003, 05:32 AM |
| Alex grins when the Professor said she could get on the broom and take a few laps. Picking up and shouldering her bag, she follows Professor Wood down to the broom shed. She was excited. There was nothing quite like the feeling of being on a broom. It was one thing she had missed a lot about her first year. She was quite dissapointed when it had come time to pick electives and found out she couldn't take flying this year. "Are you okay, Professor Wood?" Alex asked noticing how tired the professor looked. Something had to be keeping him from sleeping. It concerned her. He may just be a professor, but she was always concerned with her professor's welfare, especially if it was one of her favorites when she took their class. She still remembers her music teacher from when she was in the muggle world. They used to talk all the time. |
| Posted by: Oliver Wood Dec 15 2003, 12:50 AM |
| Oliver stopped halfway to the shed when Alexandria asked if he was alright. Wincing with his back turned to the student Oliver said, "No, not really." deciding that honnesty was the easiest path to take. Walking on to the broom shed, Oliver opened it and said, "I'm just not sleeping well lately, bad dreams." |
| Posted by: Alexandria Davis Dec 15 2003, 01:19 AM |
| "Bad dreams..." Alex says quietly to herself. She knew all to well about the things that can haunt your dreams. Shaking her head to keep from thinking about her own nightmares she has had, she says simply and quietly, "There seems to be a lot of that going around..." |
| Posted by: Oliver Wood Dec 15 2003, 01:23 AM |
| Oliver nodded and pulled the doors of the broom shed open, "You can pick out whichever you like." he said, waving his hand in front of his face at the dust that flew aroudn when the doors were opened, "You'd think I'd clean the place once in a while." he laughed, choking slightly on the dust. |
| Posted by: Alexandria Davis Dec 15 2003, 01:53 AM |
| Alex smiles and laughed a little bit. She still had her dream from last night on her mind since the professor had brought up bad dreams and so her laugh didn't some out as much as it normally would have. "Could always make a project of it... clean the broom shed day..." Alex says as she was staring admiringly at the brooms. She really didn't care if they were school brooms. She was excited to be getting back in the air. Though, she did have to admit she was looking for a specific broom. Running her hands over the brooms, she was looking for the one that had the little line nicked into the handle. It was the only one with this particular squiggle line on it. Grinning when she found it, she whispered quietly, "George..." |
| Posted by: Oliver Wood Dec 15 2003, 01:58 AM |
| Oliver smiled as he watched Alexandria enter the broomshed and happily examined the brooms inside. Why could all the students just appreciate having brooms like this? Oliver heard Alex whisper something inside the shed and she emerged holding a broom. Rubbing his eyes with the backs of his hands to try and clear them a bit more, Oliver said, "If you want to take a couple laps I'll watch and see if you've still got the technique right, not that there is a whole lot to it." |
| Posted by: Alexandria Davis Dec 20 2003, 09:29 PM |
| Alex grinned as Professor Wood said she could take a few laps and he would watch to see if she still had it right. Putting her bag down by the shed, she walked nervously away from the shed with her favorite broom from last year, known to her as 'George.' Why she had done named the broom she did not know, but she had done it since almost the very beginning. It just sort of popped out one day when she was looking at the little squiggle shaped nick in it. Deciding to start from the beginning, the best place to start, she placed the broom on the ground. Pulling out a hair tie, she puts her hair back into a long braid to keep it out of her face. She then stood to the side of it and put her hand over the broom. "Up!" Grinning broadly as the broom shot immediately up to her hand, she mounts the broom the way she had remembered so many times in class last year. Alex gave the brromstick a little pat. "Hello, George... it's been awhile... now... be good..." She whispered as she kicked off from the ground. Instantly feeling the rush that only came when one was in the air, she grinned, if even possible, wider. There was nothing like having the wind in your hair or the feeling of nothing below you. Pulling the broom up, she flew outwards and upwards towards the quidditch field. Idly, she thought about her backpack she left on the ground, but figured it would be fine. After that, she didn't think about much of anything other than flying. She didn't think about her nightmares, she didn't think about tons of homework, she didn't even think about her cousin's abilities she just found out about. And all those were things that have been constantly on her mind for sometime now. Being on the broom once again was like having a freedom granted. A freedom from worrying, a freedom from fright, not that she would ever admit to feeling them. It was a grand release for her. Arriving to the middle of the closest Quidditch rings, she decides to fly striaght up in the air, go as high as she could untill she felt high enough. Reaching the tops of the rings, she flies a bit higher and hovers there, looking around at the Quidditch Pitch. She could see the Professor nearby, watching her take her laps. That made her remember she was supposed to be taking laps, not hovering in the air looking around. Pointing her broom down towards the ground, she zooms back halfway down to the ground and circles the pitch a few times, making a few turns, zigs, and zags. Finally, on her third time around, she flies over to where Professor Wood was waiting. Pushing her broom towards the ground, she touches down on the ground. Her hair felt windswept, evern though it was in a braid and her face felt flushed from the exhilaration being in the air always brought. "It is like riding a bicycle... thank you so much, Professor Wood. Any pointers or... did I do anything I shouldn't have?" Alex asked still grinning broadly. |
| Posted by: Oliver Wood Dec 23 2003, 12:01 AM |
| Oliver watched in silence as Alexandria mounted what appeared to be her favorite broom and shot off into the air. Watching the girl take a few laps around the pitch brought back memories of his own days in school, when he'd been so eager to get to the pitch after the days classes that some days it was nearly too much. For not having been on a broom since classes had ended, Alexandria was doing extremely well, Oliver wondered idly if she was a member of her houses quidditch team as the girl floated down and dismounted from the broom. "It is like riding a bicycle... thank you so much, Professor Wood. Any pointers or... did I do anything I shouldn't have?" Oliver shook his head and smiled at the girl in front of him, "You did very well Miss Davis. I couldn't see anything to critique you on. Your form looked fantastic, at least from my vantage point. I think I made a good decision in my teaching assistant." |
| Posted by: Alexandria Davis Dec 23 2003, 12:20 AM |
| Alex blushed as the professor said he did not have anything to critique on. She was thankful that her face was already flushed and hoped that he did not notice. She always tended to blush when complimented, no matter who it was. It was much easier for her to accept constructive critisism then it was a compliment. Still, she smiled up at Professor Wood. "Thank you, Sir. I appreciate it. It was so much fun being up there again... there isn't anything like it in the world. You can lose yourself... though I am sure you know that already. When do you want me to start? And what shall I be doing?" |
| Posted by: Oliver Wood Dec 25 2003, 09:26 PM |
| "I'd like you to start as soon as you can. Next lesson if that works for you. I always have a very difficult time with the next lesson in my cirriculum and I could really use some help. In fact, if you're not expected anywhere we could practice right now." Oliver said with sudden inspiration, "It's the lesson on controlling a dive." |
| Posted by: Alexandria Davis Dec 25 2003, 11:43 PM |
| Alex nodded when the Professor said he would like her to start at the next lesson. "Sure thing, Professor Wood. You want to practice now?" She asks after he said he wanted to start now if she was able, glancing down at her watch, she saw they still had plenty of time to practice before dinner. "Sure why not. Controlling a dive?" She said smiling and trying to recall that lesson. A second later, she realised what the profesosr meant. "You mean... the cursed broom... pulling out of it? Ummm... sure... why not." She said a bit hesitantly. She may have found out flying was just like riding a bicycle, but that didn't make her any less hesitant about her broom going in a downward spiral towards the ground. Though, that didn't mean she wouldn't do it. Mounting her broom again, she kicks off and flies in the air a bit. "How high should I go?" She called down. She wasn't very far off the ground, so she knew the professor good hear her easily. |
| Posted by: Oliver Wood Dec 26 2003, 01:23 AM |
| "Just a bit higher." Oliver yelled, wondering if this was such a good idea, especially since Alexandria had just gotten on a broom for the first time since she'd been in his class. She looked confident enough up in the air, and from what Oliver had seen earlier, she didn't look like she was out of practice to a degree that would put her in danger. "Now, what you're going to do is simply break and pull up at the same time, breaking is going to get the broom back under your control because no matter who's controling the broom, it won't move if the mechanisms are locked, pulilng up is going to keep you from flying off the front of the broom once you stop since you'll likely be pointing down." Happy with his explanation, Oliver moved several feet away from where the student was up in the air and watched as she moved upwards to an appropriate height. Waiting for some sign that she was ready to go, Oliver looked to the sky and waited. |
| Posted by: Alexandria Davis Dec 26 2003, 02:21 AM |
| Alex nodded as she listened to his instructions. 'Break and pull up.... break and pull up... you won't kill yourself if you break and pull up...' She was repeating this to herself as she flew higher. Thinking she was at a good height to not only give her room to fall, but room to pull out of it also, she flew back and forth a couple times, taking a few deep breaths to calm her nerves. She couldn't believe she was willingly going to allow her broom to be cursed. Her mum and cousin would have a fit if they knew. 'Guess they won't know... no... that's not true... I wouldn't want to not tell them... then again... I think I can safely leave this out when I tell mum...' Alex thought inwardly as she looked down towards the Professor. 'If nothing else... if anything happens.... the best flyer in the school is right there...' Deciding that she was as ready as she would ever be, she signals the Professor she was ready by giving him a thumbs up. "Break and pull up.... break and pull up... break..." |
| Posted by: Oliver Wood Dec 30 2003, 04:14 PM |
| Just the slightest big apprehensive about what he was getting ready to do, Oliver pointed his wand at the girl flying 25 feet above his head and said in a clear, loud, voice, "Accio Broom!" Instantly, the broom gave a shudder and then plummeted towards the ground. |
| Posted by: Alexandria Davis Dec 31 2003, 12:08 AM |
| Alex was flying back forth above the professor as she did so, she hadn't realised she had been flying a little higher on each turn. That must have been subconsciously. She glanced down and it came to her full force how much higher she had gone without realising it... just in time for George to lunge forward toward the ground. Seeing the ground coming towards her quickly, she let out a small squeal. She did not like this, she did not like this at all. Clutching to the broom white knuckled, she tried to remember what the professor had told her. "Think Alex think.... he told you this... you can do this... you can do it... What in the name of Merlin did he say to do???" Compared to now, she was fine before. Now, she was really beginning to panic. She was already passed the level where the Profesor had originally said to start from. "Not good... not good... crud... what was it he said??!!! Calm down... breath Alex... you are panicing... calm..." She told herself. She had realised that she needed to calm down or she would never remember. If that heppened, she did not even want to picture what she would look like after crashing into the ground head first. The ground still rushing forward towards her, Alex suddenly shouted, "BREAK AND PULL UP!!! OF COURSE!!!" She immediately began to do that. With all her might, she tried to pull the front of the broom up and make it stop at the same time. "Good lord... work!" She said beginning to panic again. It wasn't working. She was still heading for the ground. It was official. If she didn't get severly hurt from this, she knew her cousin would. She had taken back to the air so easily, she felt over confident and jumped in when she should have practiced normal flying first. The entire time she was having these thoughts, she was still breaking and pulling up on the front of the broom, the ground still rushing towards her. Seieng the ground mere meters in front of her, she closed her eyes and pulled up on the front of her broom as hard as she could manage and breaked. Opening her eyes when she felt a small jerk on her broom like she had hit something, she looked up in time to see she was level with Professor Wood's head. She hadn't hit the ground, not that the jerk she felt was strong enough to have been her crashing. She wasn't so sure she even wanted to think about how close she had been to actually hitting the ground. Instead, she smiled broadly at the Professor Wood. The important thing she had done it. Next time for certain, she would not allow herself to get as close to the ground as she knew she had concidering her broom was level with the professor's head when she had opened her eyes. Landing on the ground next to the Professor, she dismounts the broom. She tried her best to smile a real smile. She didn't want to let the panic she had felt while in the air show. She only wanted show that she was happy she had did it... eventually. She knew she would need to practice that again if she was to master it. Oddly enough, that thought only made her cringe inwardly a little. |
| Posted by: Oliver Wood Dec 31 2003, 12:29 AM |
| Oliver watched as the broom holding his new teaching assistant plummeted towards the ground, and as he watched he waited for her to pull up. He waited, and waited, and waited some more. Oliver shifted his feet, wondering if he should do somethign to stop the fall. As the broom came closer and closer, Oliver did his best to let the student work things out for herself, she had to be able to complete the demonstartion in order to help with the class. She was around 6' from the ground when she was finally able to control the broom, and she did so very well. Asumming that his sudden casting of the spell had merely thrown her off a bit, Oliver looked at the smiling student and said, "Well that was definatly positive. Next time you may want to pull up a little quicker, you cut it a little close there." |
| Posted by: Alexandria Davis Dec 31 2003, 01:14 AM |
| Alex raised an eyebrow. 'A little quicker? He said to pull up a little quicker?' There was no way that he could not have noticed that she had been trying to pull up once she regained her focus. It just wasn't working the way it was supposed to. Alex had been expecting to be told that there was no way she would be able to be his assistant if she wasn't able to pull out of a dive any sooner than she had. Instead she was surprised by what he said. He didn't scold her or anything. Then again, that shouldn't really have surprised her. It was only her worry that was expecting soemthing that really would not have happened. "Professor Wood, I will keep that in mind." She said laughing a bit. "Pull up quicker next time. Got it... between you and me though... something tells me it was a little more than close, Professor Wood... I umm... closed my eyes at the end though... didn't open them until I felt a jerk... and then I saw I was at your head level... I really don't want to cut it close like that again. If it didn't hurt me... I know Squirt would..." "Do you think I am ready to demonstrate it? Or try again?" |
| Posted by: Oliver Wood Dec 31 2003, 01:21 AM |
| "I think that if you weren't paying attention till you were that close to the ground and were still able to pull out of the fall then you will be good to go." Oliver said, a bit wearily, rubbing his eyes, behind which a terrible headache was beginning to form. Suddenly, a dizzy spell hit the flying instructor, and before he knew what was happening, Oliver had sat down none to gently on the ground. |
| Posted by: Alexandria Davis Jan 2 2004, 01:25 AM |
| "Thank you, Professor Wood... I was paying attention though... it just wasn't cooperating as I was panic- Professor? You okay?" Alex asked as he suddenly didn't look so good and he sat down. She didn't really care anymore about whether she did good in the air or not. The Professor said she did and she was going to leave it at that. Especially now that he seemed unwell. Squating down with the broom in her hand still, she lays it down. "Professor Wood? What's wrong.... can I do something?" Alex asked concerned. She knew from talking to him that he wasnt getting much sleep. She was thinking that it probably had to do with that. Though, she wasn't positive. |
| Posted by: Oliver Wood Jan 2 2004, 11:19 PM |
| Oliver's head was spinning, he was seeing double, and he could hardly hear the sound of the girl's voice because of the rushing noise in his ears. This is not good...not good at all... Oliver heard his inner monologue comment. Gradually, the blurred figure in front of him slid into focus and Oliver could hear her voice, "Professor Wood? What's wrong.... can I do something?" Shaking his head a little to try and clear it completely, Oliver tried to push up from his sitting possition on the ground and after a couple of shakey moments, decided against that action and sat back down. "I think that I just need to sit here for a few moments...I've just not been getting enough sleep recently is all...." Oliver trailed off, wiping the sweat off his forehead with the sleeve of his robe. This was starting to get rediculus. |
| Posted by: Alexandria Davis Jan 2 2004, 11:35 PM |
| "You sure that is all, Professor? Just sleep.... maybe you need a bit of something with sugar in it.... I don't know... I'm no mediwitch... but... I do know it is a muggle thing when the world spins on you a bit... it is from your blood sugar... At least that is what Mum says in her studio. If one of the students gets dizzy she tells them to sit down and have a piece of candy cause it will help them... that and cool them off. Who knows.... I still have that fudge back in my bag... or... I have some every flavor beans.... though... who knows what flavors there are in it... I'm kind of iffy on that particular candy..." Alex said as she sat down on the ground in front of the professor. "Like I said... I'm not a mediwitch of course... though... I can go get her if you need me to..." Alex said and watched the professor. She was getting worried about him. Something was keeping him up and it had to be pretty bad. She thought she knew what it was, but wasn't sure if mentioning it would make things worse for the professor or not. Deciding to take a chance, she whispered, "It's those dreams you mentioned right? They are keeping you up.... the war..." Glancing away, she hoped she was not correct in her assumption. If dreams could do this to you, that worried her a great deal. She knew from expirience what having nightmares night after night were like. She herself had had them since the first attacks. Though she had a feeling that his were worse, because they were most likely actual memories he was reliving in his nightmares. Unlike hers, which were based on the reality she witnessed and then manifested to be more terrifying. |
| Posted by: Oliver Wood Jan 3 2004, 12:00 AM |
| Oliver's head jerked up as the student now sitting in front of him hit the nail right on the head. "Am I that transparent." he said, frowning slightly. "The recent events just seem to be triggering things that I thought I had forgotten. That I wish I had forgotten. " Oliver shook his head and regared the girl in front of him with a mixture of respect, for her figureing out what was wrong with him, and consternation for the same reason. Although things had improved considerably in his class the last thing he needed were students thinking that he was losing his mind. Sighing, Oliver said, "Every time I go to sleep I see the same things happen, over and over." |
| Posted by: Alexandria Davis Jan 3 2004, 12:34 AM |
| "No, Professor.... you aren't transparent... I just... relate..." Alex said whispering the last word. "I tend to be observant.... I just kind of put two and two together based on how you are acting and what you have told me. If the things you expirienced before is like the story you told me about Jade.... well... it's no wonder you are haunted while you sleep. They would haunt anyone... but... for what it's worth... I doubt anyone noticed...unless they came upon you when you showed signs of no sleep..." "I offered before to liten if you needed me too... the offer still stands... it may help... who knows..." Alex says giving a small shrug of her shoulders. She wasn't sure what to do for the Professor other than giving him someone to talk to if he needed it. |
| Posted by: Oliver Wood Jan 3 2004, 12:40 AM |
| "I'm not sure talking will help. I just see all of the bad things put together...from things that happened the last time around, to things that happened just recently. That little girl, the one who was bleeding in the dungeons. I know that she's fine now, but I always see her. It's not....Jade." Oliver said, almost forcing the name out, "I mean, sometimes I dream about her, but I have since...then. It's the kids, Holly's best friend, even slytherins, it's just beyond me. Things are safe now, but I just can't get it out of my head. I must be losing it." |
| Posted by: Alexandria Davis Jan 3 2004, 11:41 PM |
| Alex noticed it took a moment for the Professor to say Jade's name. She instantly regretted bringing that up, especially since it really had nothing to do with her. Looking down for a moment, she looked back up when she heard him say he must be losing it. "Professor Wood... that isn't it. If it is, then there are probably many people who are 'losing it.' When we have been attacked... we survive. With all of you Professors here, we survive. Us... kids... we can surprise you. We may not be fully trained witches and wizards yet, but the majority of us are pretty resourceful. Yes, there are those of us attacked and severely injured... but overall... we will survive. The wizarding world won once against those that support the dark arts. We can do it again. We have to believe that, because if you stop believing... they will already have won. They will have won because they would have taken one of the most important things.... our hope." Alex said and hoped maybe it made sense. It had sounded better in her head then she thought she voiced it. |
| Posted by: Oliver Wood Jan 5 2004, 10:31 PM |
| Oliver nodded his head, he'd forgotten how sometimes people with the least experiance in a matter can make it seem the most clear. Alex's words came through crystal clear and stangely Oliver felt better. He felt better until he mused over hope for a few more minutes. Before he knew he was saying it, Oliver said, "Hope is a strange thing. She's still alive you know. She's been in there nearly ten years now, they don't know how she's still alive. They've asked her before, how she does it, she always answers, 'hope.' " |
| Posted by: Alexandria Davis Jan 5 2004, 11:28 PM |
| "She?" Alex whispered, barely outloud. She was trying to think what it was the professor meant by that. She had mentioned Jafe before, but had been wrong about her being the cause. Perhaps she wasn't that wrong after all. Professor Wood just said too many things that pointed that way. It was logical that he actually was talking about her this time. Not knowing for sure what to say, Alex bit her lower lip and thought for a moment. Should she just not mention it? Or should she just say that she understood who he was talking about? Then again, she could be way wrong and have brought her up twice in one conversation when he was not talking about her at all. Not being one to not speak her mind ordinarily, she whispered, "Jade? Her hope keeps her alive? Hope is a very powerful thing... especially depending on what the person is hoping for..." |
| Posted by: Oliver Wood Jan 5 2004, 11:40 PM |
| "Hope for revenge." Oliver said, not even worried about saying too much anymore. "She knows it was me who turned her in. It's driving her to stay alive. Merlin help me if she ever escapes." Oliver said, shaking his heade. |
| Posted by: Alexandria Davis Jan 6 2004, 02:27 AM |
| "Revenge? Merlin..." Alex said astonished, her eyes widening as she realised what it would mean if that woman ever got free. "Well.... Azkaban is the most secure prison for wizards right? No way she can get out... no one can escape. Right?" Alex asked hoping that what she said was true. She didn't like the idea of anyone that had earned a right to a cell in Azkaban being able to escape. |
| Posted by: Oliver Wood Jan 7 2004, 10:39 PM |
| "Sirius Black got out." Oliver said, "and if the dark lord is really in possession of a dagger that can even bring the dead back to life, there's no telling what could happen. It doesn't matter... I just need to get some sleep. It's not good to practice and teach on so little sleep." Finishing his thought, Oliver attempted standing again and succeeded this time. |
| Posted by: Alexandria Davis Jan 12 2004, 01:12 AM |
| "Sirius Black? As in Livy's uncle, Sirius Black?" Alex questioned. She had no idea that Sirius had been in Azkaban. Only thing she really knew about the mad was what Livy had shared with them out of his journal. 'Penitus Persona' for example. It was one of many things that made Alex think he was a prank genious. Or at least apart of a group that was built of prank geniuses. She had yet to discover exactly who it was aprt of it other than Sirius. He only used their nicknames when writing about their activities. "Sirius was in Azkaban? And he escaped?" Alex said standing up. She could not believe her own ears. She didn't know if Livy was keeping that from them or if perhaps she just didn't know. Realising she left 'George' on the ground, she idly put her hand over the broom and said firmly. "Up!" When the broom flew up in her hand, she turned back to the professor, hoping he would go further. |
| Posted by: Oliver Wood Jan 14 2004, 12:44 AM |
| Oliver nodded idly, "Yeah...he escaped." he said, shaking his head. Obnoxiously happy with himself for being able to stand on his own for the amount of time which he had been standing Oliver sighed, "I deserve whatever I get though. I betrayed her in the deepest way possible." he said, his eyes shadowed. |
| Posted by: Alexandria Davis Jan 14 2004, 12:52 AM |
| Frowning slightly when all he said was that he escaped, she again thought that she was going to have t have a chat with Livy. 'Oh yeah... that'll sound good... oh, Hiya Mastermind... beautiful day.. by the way why was your uncle in Azkaban?... yeah that would go over well...' She thought to herself and then heard the professor continue speaking. For a moment a slight smile returned to her face, but then it faltered when she heard what it was he said. seeing the shadowed and haunted look, she sighs inwardly. He was in a position that no one should ever have been in. "Professor.... you did the right thing. If she actually did what she was put in there for... the sorts of things people do to earn a sentence in Azkaban..... well... think of what could have happened...." She said quietly and wondering to herself what Livy's uncle, prank genius, could have done to earn a sentence in the wizard prison. |
| Posted by: Oliver Wood Jan 14 2004, 12:58 AM |
| "Oh. I think about it Alexandria. I think about it every time I need to justify what I did. I think about it every time I see her in my thoughts, screaming as they drug her out the door. Every time I see the hearing, where I had to testify, and every time I see the look in her eyes the last time I saw her. I think about it." Oliver said angrily, perhaps taking out a slight bit of frustration on the teaching assistant that she hadn't earned. |
| Posted by: Alexandria Davis Jan 14 2004, 01:17 AM |
| Alex instinctively took a step back as the professor let out his frustrations. She had never seen the professor angry before, other than when she saw him blast that part of a tree away during the last attacks. Though, that wouldn't really be considered angry either. Gripping the handle of 'George' tighter, she looked down at her feet for a moment. She couldn't believe that she had caused the professor to respond like that. Looking up again slowly, she whispered, "I... I know... I...I'm sorry... I didn't mean...." She tried to apologise, but her shock and confusion at his reaction made it come out very quiet and stuttered a bit. |
| Posted by: Oliver Wood Jan 14 2004, 01:46 AM |
| Oliver sighed in frustration and ran his hands through his dark coffee colored hair, bringing them back down and covering his face as he heard Alexandria's response to his emotional outburst. "I know Alexandria...I know." He said through his hands. Taking a few moments to gather his thoughts, Oliver dropped his hands and regarded the girl in front of him with a grim expression on his face, candidly he said, " I loved her beyond anything and the decision between what was right and what was easy was nearly impossible to make." Oliver said, frowning at the ground in consternation at the emotion chocking his voice, "She made the choices she made in the hopes of protecting me and her from our enemies once they had taken over, which it looked like they were going to do at the time. I gave up my life that night, what I have left is quidditch, Holly, and this school. I forget sometimes the course I set myself on ten years ago, I'm sorry for my outburst at you. The anger was not intended." |
| Posted by: Alexandria Davis Jan 14 2004, 02:05 AM |
| "She did what she thought she had to do.... and you did what you had to do. Had you not.... I think you would regret it and have more guilt then you do now..." Alex said reaching out and touching his arm lightly. She wasn't sure if it was okay to do that since he was her professor, but it was instinctive cause he seemed to need the comfort. "What is right is always the route to go... no matter how hard it was. You had to have been very strong to have been able to do what needed to be done...." "Well... to be honest I don't know all that much about quidditch.... I can just now follow a game... but Holly.... and this school...." She says and removes her hand indicating the grounds surrounding them. "....are part of a life. Your life." "And... It's okay, Professor.... your... outburst. It's fine. Honestly. I was just a bit taken aback by it. Not something I am used to seeing... at least from you." Alex said hoping to ease his conscience. |
| Posted by: Oliver Wood Jan 14 2004, 02:24 AM |
| "I know Alexandria, and eventually I'll be able to realize that in reality." Oliver said, hoping with every fiber of his being that he was telling the truth. "Holly is the one who's good at losing her temper." Oliver said, shaking his head and grinning slighty at the thought of his younger sister. "Juliana was a bad influence on her." he said, trying with difficulty to get away from the thougths plagueing him. |
| Posted by: Alexandria Davis Jan 14 2004, 02:33 AM |
| Alex nodded hoping that he would believe what he just said. It seemed that he had been holding onto this guilt for too many years. Then again, Alex didn't know how she would take it if she sent someone she loved to Azkaban. She wanted to think she would be able to keep it pulled together as much as he has had to over the years. For that matter, she hoped she never had to be put in that situation. Life happens though. "I've never seen Holly lose her temper. I've only been around her a few times." She said and then grinned when she heard what else he had said. "Jul? A bad influence? Nah.... Not Jul." |
| Posted by: Oliver Wood Jan 14 2004, 05:14 PM |
| "Juliana Wood is as much a bad influence as she is a good one. I know the girl well, almost too well." Oliver said, laughing dryly. "That girl doesn't have an ounce of respect for anyone she deems unworthy." Thinking for a moment and getting lost in some thoughts of a simpler time in the not so distant past, Oliver rubbed his jaw, almost groaning outloud when he relaized he hadn't rememberd to shave again, he was really letting himself get run down. This would never do, his melancholy and disturbance was going to start influincing the rest of his life more than it had already if he didn't shape up. Letting his thoughts drift back to his sister and her friends Oliver looked off across the grounds where students were gathered and said finally, "Juliana doesn't respect anyone she deems unworthy, and usually she's right I also don't doubt that she is loyal to a fault to those she does respect." Shaking his head and pulling himself from his thoughts, both vocal and unvoiced, Oliver looked at Alexandria and said, "So, are you still interested in helping the somewhat derranged Flying Instructor teach his class, or have I scared you out of the idea?" |
| Posted by: Alexandria Davis Jan 14 2004, 10:14 PM |
| "Scared me off? I don't scare so easily, Professor." Alex said matter-of-factly. If she scared off so easily, she would have turned tail and left the wizarding world during her first year. A little thing like a conversation with one of the professor's was not going to scare her away from doing something that could turn out to be a great expirience. "You're right about, Jul. I've seen it first hand. She does not give people respect they don't deserve. Always rather interesting when one of those that don't deserve it, decide to interupt our peacefulness." Alex said grinning slightly. Professor Wood obviously did know Juli quite well. Then again, she was his kid sister's best friend. |
| Posted by: Oliver Wood Jan 16 2004, 01:30 PM |
| "Interesting is an undersatement Alexandria and you know it." Oliver said chuckling and shaking his head. "You should try to talk to her. She's going to get herself into more trouble than she can handle one of these days." Oliver said frowning, "Her heart is in the right place though. So, you're taking the job then?" he said, nodding and already thinking about how to integrate Alexandria into his lesson plans. |
| Posted by: Alexandria Davis Jan 17 2004, 01:09 AM |
| 'She's already got herself in a good bit of trouble...' Alex automatically thought. As soon as he had said that, she remembered that night in the forest with Ignacio. That was a good bit of trouble right there. "You're right, Professor. It is and understatement." She said, smiling a bit, trying to cover up for the look that had to have crossed her face from that thought. "Of course I'm taking the job. What could be better. I can't wait to tell Mum." |
| Posted by: Oliver Wood Jan 18 2004, 04:26 PM |
| Oliver nodded, "Glad to hear it, I really do need the help. Speaking of which I've got alot of grading to do." Pausing for a minute, Oliver frowned, unsure what to say, "Thanks Alexandria." he said finally, turning and walking towards the castle before she had a chance to answer. |
| Posted by: Alexandria Davis Jan 18 2004, 05:28 PM |
| Alex smiled at the professor's retreating back. He had left before she could say, 'No problem, Professor' or something along that line. Though, Alex knew that he knew she would have said that, so there was no need. Grinning to herself, she glanced at the broom in her hand. She couldn't believe that she was going to be the flying teaching assistant. Maybe this year was going to have some good points in it after all. Putting the broom up on her shoulder, rifle style, Alex follwed behind the professor heading towards the castle herself. She had homework to do and pranks to plan.  |