let it snow [open]

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Hadni often found herself practicing on the pitch an hour or two before her teammates would arrive. Her coach had given her permission to access the snitches in order to practice on her own a little. It was early morning now and the air was crisp and cool. Hadni retrieved a snitch from the supply room and slipped her broom, speeding off into the pitch.

It was the beginning of February and the Quidditch season was in full swing quite. The harpies had a practice today, of course. She released the snitch into the sky it was quickly lost within the white clouds above her. Actually, the more she looked at those clouds the more she realized that snow was starting to brew within them.

She smiled, speeding up into the sky and searching for the golden glint. She spotted it about fifty yards off and sped toward it-but that was when the snow started to fall. She stopped and spun around on her broom, sticking her tongue out in order to catch the falling snow.

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Declan practically lived at the Quidditch pitches. Whenever he travelled, he found solace in the local pitch and would end up spending most of his time there. Growing up, Quidditch had been the one thing to always keep Declan grounded. It made him happy, and it was his one greatest passion in life. So on a day like this one, when he had nothing in particular to do, he figured he would head to the pitch and try to practice a little bit. If only to have the chance to fly around and relieve some of the tension that sometimes stood upon his shoulders. So the pitch it was.

When Declan got to the pitch, broom in hand, he took a look around. It began to snow as he looked around, taking it all in. He had played some great games in this very pitch. He looked up at the goal posts, which was where he always planted himself during the games. As keeper, those goal posts were his to protect but just because he was a keeper didn't mean he hadn't dabbed in the other Quidditch positions as well. As he was looking around, he could have sworn he saw a golden glint above him. That's when he noticed he was not the only person on the pitch.

An eyebrow raised, Declan mounted his broom and slowly flew up toward the person, whom he quickly identified as a woman. He watched her spinning around on her broom for a moment and then it donned on him who this young lady was. Declan halted his broom at the same level at which the woman had her own broom. "Hadni Carver," he spoke, looking on at the Seeker for the Holyhead Harpies. "Getting in some practice before the game?" He asked, a small small playing at the corner of his lips.

@hadni

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Hadni didn't even notice Declan arrive on the pitch. She was too wrapped up in the cold hair and the white floating around her. Suddenly, she heard someone saying her name and she whipped around to see the man. "Declan Fairburn!" she said. Professional Quidditch players knew of each other quite well. It was easy being a seeker, and he being a captain. They were both very well known in the Quidditch world, but both were so young. At least, Hadni was only twenty years old. Her talent carried her far. "You know, I just enjoy a little time on the pitch without coaches and whatnot, she said with a little chuckle and a gentle smile.

"What about you Mr. Chaser. What are you doing here?" she asked. It wasn't entirely crazy for him to be out on the Quidditch pith. Still, it was a little odd to be flying in the snow... but hey, she was doing it, wasn't she? She and Declan hadn't really spent much time together, but she felt comfortable around him. It was easy to converse with someone who understood what you went through every day.

Well, at least in the Quidditch aspect.

@declan

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Declan let the corners of his mouth turn up in a small grin at the Seeker. For someone so young, Hadni Carver had to be one of the best in the league. Declan always admired Seekers for their swift broomship and flying skills. Sure, he could fly around and block the goals but a lot of that took muscle, too. Hadni was small, petite. Everything a Seeker needed to be. Plus she was a very nice girl, one who didn't seem to phased by her fame. Too often Declan would come across Quidditch girls who had let the fame get a little too close to their heads. Hadni had never struck him as such, and for that he had always admired her.

"I feel ya on that," he nodded cordially to her. Declan had come to the pitch to get some one on one time himself, after all. "Actually, I am here to do the same." He said, letting out a brief sigh. Oddly enough, Declan found practicing in the light snowfall to be relaxing. Though he had to admit, having someone else around like Hadni was refreshing and a pleasant surprise. "Well, hey. How would you feel about having a practice partner?" He offered up. He was there, they might as well make the most of it.

@hadni

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Hadni wasn't even remotely surprised that Declan was there for the same reason she was. At the mention of a practicing partner, Hadni raised an eyebrow at him and gave a bright smile. "OOh, a little friendly competition? You better watch out, Fairburn. I did play Chaser my last two years of school," she chuckled. She had stepped down from Seeker for James Potter to take the spot. They were both very talented, but James deserved a chance to play as Seeker for a few years before graduating, she thought.

"Just a half field game, then?" she suggested. This would mean they used the same goals but had to go back to the center point before scoring. She whipped her wand out of her robes and nonverbally summoned the quaffle, which began zooming in their direction. "Ladies first," she joked, giving Declan a slight bow before speeding off toward the goal posts, allowing Declan to try for the first shot.

@declan

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Declan smirked at Hadni's comment. He knew fairly well of Hadni's talents, as he had attended a few school games before she had graduated and had seen her in action in his alumna house. "Well, Carver," he said raising an eyebrow in challenge. "We will just have to see about that."

The Keeper got a better grip of his broom. "Sounds like a plan," he nodded, and watched as she summoned the Quaffle to them. He was impressed such a young witch was gifted with nonverbal magic as well as flying skills. At Hadni's joke, Declan raised both of his eyebrows and pretended to look offended. "You're on, Harpy," Declan smirked and watched as Hadni sped off to the goal posts. It was a little odd to be in the position of Chaser after all of his years as a Keeper, but refreshing all the same.

With the Quaffle in hand, Declan put his left hand securely on his broom and sped off toward Hadni at the goal posts. He was going to fake her out. He was aiming for the goal post on his left, Hadni's right when last second he threw it toward the middle again...

@hadni

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A loud laugh echoed through the pitch as Declan accepted her declaration of war. He was fast, just as fast as she was. She was used to that, however, having been playing with professionals for a while now. Still, it got her adrenaline running which was just what she needed. As she reached the goal posts she flipped around, ready for his next move...

He made an aim for the goal post on her right and she calmly tilted her broom in that direction. She was prepared for anything at this point. As the Quaffle released his hands, however, she saw the spin off leading towards the center goal and burst toward it, catching it with both hands. Being a seeker was incredibly helpful in determining the way a ball was going once it was in the air. Declan, being a Keeper, was probably even better at it than she was, which would make her turn to score much more difficult...

"Not bad, Fairburn. My turn," her wicked grin spread across her face as she tucked the Quaffle under her arm and began to fly toward the center point. She'd have to reach it and turn back around before she would be able to score, but if he took it from her first he could make another goal himself by looping back to center...

@declan (i gotta be honest, i'm real bad at game play hahah)

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A small smile spread across Declan's lips. It was impressive how talented Hadni was. Her size was perfect for maneuvering around on a broom easily; Declan almost envied how fast she went from one post to the other in the blink of an eye. He hadn't expected that, but he should have. She was a seeker, after all. "Nice safe," he commented, giving her a nod of approval. "For a seeker, you'd make a great keeper." He smirked at the thought.

Declan smirked wider as he flew forward toward the goal posts, the urge to take her the Quaffle almost too high to ignore. But he did. He wantd to see just how well the seeker could score herself. He turned around to see her doing the same. "Well, Carver," he called out from the posts. "Go ahead and take your best shot!" He smirked at her, taunting her playfully. By now Declan knew it was better than to underestimate someone of Hadni's size and attitude. It had gotten him into trouble plenty of times in the past. He was ready and expecting more of her now...

@hadni
ooc: Me too, it's okay hahaha

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"Aw, you're too sweet!" Hadni called out as Declan complimented her keeping skills. She had been trained in every position, of course, as had Declan. It was normal for professional teams to make sure everyone new what the other were doing. Especially if they had to help or take someone position in the case of an emergency. Declan didn't try to take the Quaffle from her and proceeded to the Goal Posts, giving her the chance to show some of her real strengths: as a Chaser.

She was a Chaser for plenty of years, though not as long as she was a seeker. She rounded back on the center line, bursting back toward him with incredible speed. She would aim for the left hand goal post, and obvious and strong aim. Her skills were in going exactly where it looks like she was, but putting so much force into the ball that the keeper either went through the goal post with it or couldn't even grasp it. Declan was good, however, and she wouldn't be the least bit surprised if he managed to block it.

@declan

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Declan had always known Hadni Carver to be fast. He was almost kind of glad that their teams had never faced off against one another because with such a fast Seeker on their side, he was certain the Harpies would have it in the bag. This thought didn't change when he saw Hadni position herself with the Quaffle in hand and come at him with an incredible speed. Declan's eyes couldn't help but widen as he kept an eye on where she was headed, which looked to be the left goal post but it had all happened so fast that the Quaffle had gone through the hoop before Declan even reached it.

The Keeper raised an eyebrow at Hadni, impressed. "Now I really see why you're a Seeker," he commented, nodding his head. "You're one of the fastest I've ever met." Declan smiled at the brunette, then it slowly turned to a friendly smirk. "I'd love to see who would win in a real match," he said, referring to their own respective teams. The Harpies and Puddlemere both had some of the largest fan bases, that if the two teams were to have some sort of mock Quidditch game, it would surely bring in hundreds of people. Declan even dared believe it would be one of the biggest games of the last few years. "Now that would be a sight, eh?"

@hadni

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Her cheeks reddened at his compliment on her speed. She had heard it a lot of times, and knew that it was true, but it was still flattering when someone pointed it out. At his suggestion about playing a match, her eyes brightened. "Hey! You're the captain! We should put something together. Just for fun. Oh! OH!" she flew up next to him, "it could be a charity event of some kind, a fundraiser, but we could have an area sectioned off for people who can't afford tickets to the regular games. Okay, okay, I'm not kidding this is one hundred percent happening!" She giggled gleefully for a moment before her smile dropped and she raised an eyebrow at him. "That is, if you really think it could be a good idea?"

@declan

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Declan had not expected such an enthusiastic response out of the small brunette but it put a smile on his face nonetheless. He raised an eyebrow as she explained further an idea for such a scenario. It took Declan a moment to think it over but then he smiled again. "That's actually a great idea," he said. "And I don't think it would be an issue at all for us, as professional players, to rent out a stadium ourselves for the day." He added. "I think this could work. It wouldn't be hard to convince the guys. How 'bout your end?"

@hadni
ooc: I see a brother/sister relationship forming. (◡ ‿ ◡ ✿)

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"Oh, the girls would be one hundred percent in. If I let them know it's a chance to crush you," she chuckled, moving closer to nudge him with her elbow. "Maybe we should do it right after Hogwarts Graduation kind of as a little tribute to the school. Heaven knows they could use a little pick me up, right?" she had experienced a fairly uneventful time at Hogwarts death and destruction wise, for which she was grateful.


@declan

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Declan raised his eyebrows, still smiling. "Crush us, eh?" He asked, doubtfully. "Well I guess we will actually have to see about that." Suddenly the promise of making the small Seeker eat her words sounded all too fun, even if it was for charity. "That's an even better idea," he said, pointing at her for emphasis. "I know we could definitely get a few sponsors up for a cause like that too." This was a great idea! In fact, Declan was sure no other idea had ever been so brilliant. "So I guess that's that. We get to work on setting this up and June'll be here before you know it. I know we could get it in the press easily," he said enthusiastically. The Prophet was always jumping at the chance for stuff like this and with an event like that in honor of Hogwarts... it was practically media gold.

@hadni

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She glared as he clearly accepted the challenge. The girls were going to love this idea. Then he said that he agreed with her and went into the logistics of press and sponsors. Hadni clapped her hands together in excitement, using her legs to support her on the broom. "I bet Mrs. Potter would come back to work to cover this one," she muttered, knowing that Ginny Potter was the Prophets head Quidditch go-to gal. She turned back to Declan and smiled brightly at him, then she held a hand out to him, "All right then, Captain Fairburn. You orchestrate on your end and I'll orchestrate on mine!"

@declan (we can stop here or go on XD you're choice but this match is awesome haha it should happen even if we can't really play a game since there's only one Harpie...)