An Applebly Arrow A Day Keeps the Doctor Away (Nikolai)

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With the start of the school year and the announcement of the tournament, things for the Quidditch world had temporarily slowed. It was just that time of year. Summer was their busiest time, and autumn was kind of the wind down time before the slow season. So Cyrus was in Diagon Alley on this off day, looking to buy some new gloves for his uniform. He was a regular at the Quidditch supply store there, and that was where he was headed.

The bell above the door let off a little 'ding' when Cyrus entered. He waved a 'hello' to the shopkeeper and began browsing around the shop. Though Cy knew he only needed gloves, he always seemed to leave the Quidditch supply store with a lot more than he bargained for. He had a feeling today would be no different.

@jill9

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@cyrus
<3

Nikolai needed new boots. Bad. He can't even remember the last time he bought a new pair. Hell, these were probably his new ones from when he first got on the team. Now they were beginning to get holes and that wasn't very safe. It was time to visit Quality Quidditch Supplies...and he'd most likely leave with more things than just boots. Let's hope Magdalena isn't upset he might be gone for a long time. Granted, Quidditch wasn't his top career choice, but he still enjoyed it and all of the things that came along with it.

The door rang above him as he walked in, a nod to the cashier. Nikolai walked up and down the aisles. He'd been here so many times, he already knew where the shoes were but he wanted to browse...oh! His eyes widened to see a teammate, and close friend, Cyrus Ellsworth. Nikolai smirked and walked over to him. "Funny seeing you here, Cyrus. How goes it?"

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Cyrus had somehow ended up on the complete opposite end of the store from gloves and in the broom section. Cyrus already had a perfectly good broom that he loved, and he had only gotten it a year ago. He was certainly not going to get a new one, but just looking around couldn't hurt, right? He began to walk down the aisle as he looked at all of the broom models, just browsing, he had to keep telling himself. That was when he heard a familiar voice.

Cy looked up to see his fellow teammate and friend, Nikolai Krum. A smile spread across Cy's face at the sight of him. "Hey, Niko," he said in greeting. "Just looking for a new pair of gloves... though, I always do end up leaving with more than I expected." He chuckled a bit. "What about you? You just browsing around as well?" Cy hadn't seen them since the beginning of their short break for the fall, where the team had taken some time off after the announcement of the tournament and such. The peak of Quidditch season was over, so they weren't as busy as they normally were in the summer.

@jill9

[Deleted]

@cyrus
<3

Nikolai laughed. "I think we all leave with more than what we expected to come here looking for." He did as well. Niko couldn't help himself. Just as much as he loved Healing, he still loved Quidditch. It just wasn't exactly what he wanted to do with his career. And although he had those feelings, new Quidditch supplies were always wonderful.

"I need a new pair of boots, actually. But yes, browsing as well. How've you been?" Nikolai tried to make it a point to speak with all of his teammates and get to know them. It made playing the game much more easier, especially if you knew the people you were dealing with and what they were like.

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Cyrus laughed along with his teammate. "Very, very true, my friend," he nodded. Ever since Cyrus could remember, he had always been spending every loose penny he could on Quidditch supplies. His parents, as traditional as they were, had insisted that he try to pay for his own broom at least by half. So, Cyrus did just that. He worked odd jobs around the house and would even go and help the neighbors with odd jobs so that he could meet his parents half way on a broom. It wasn't like they couldn't afford one, but it was the principle. And Cyrus was glad he had been raised by parents like his own.

Cy perused a pair of riding socks, it looked like, on the shelf; wondering why someone would need a specific pair of socks for playing Quidditch when Nikolai asked him how he was. "I've been great, mate," he responded happily. "Been running into a lot of old friends, actually." A smile spread across his face as he thought of Eleanor. "How 'bout you? How's your old man?"

@jill9

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@cyrus
<3

"He's great! Just, doing his thing I suppose. I haven't seen him in a few weeks, though. Been pretty busy myself with some..new friends, and old. You remember Daniel Hoh, yeah?" Nikolai questioned him. Dan had always been around, being best friend with Nikolai as well as wanting to join the team when he graduated, he had done a few shadowing appointments. Niko would enjoy it if his best friend was on the team with him, however with everything going on with Magdalena, Niko wasn't sure how much longer he'd actually be playing Quidditch. But, that was another conversation for another day.

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Cyrus nodded and smiled hearing that Nikolai's father was doing well. It was nice to be able to catch up with friends, which Cyrus had been lucky enough to be doing a lot of lately. Cyrus was relieved to hear he hadn't been the only one busy with others lately, either, when Nikolai asked him if he remembered Daniel Hoh. Cyrus thought for a moment, but then he was able to place a face to the name. "Yeah, I think so. He's been to practices a few times, yeah?" He asked. "What's he up to these days? I hear he must be at Hogwarts for the Tournament..."

@jill9

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@cyrus
<3

Nikolai nodded his head, chuckling. Having Dan at practices was fun, but it was also amusing at the same time. There were only a few times in which Dan had actually flown around with the other players and himself, but Nikolai noticed he spent most of his time just watching them. Which was never a bad thing, if anything it was good for him to get some mental notes in. "Yes, he is at Hogwarts right now for the tournament. He put his name in, but the Greyback boy got chosen. He's ah...not up to much, other than dating my sister." Nikolai shook his head, laughing.

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Cyrus had been expecting Nikolai to possibly elaborate more on Dan's stay at Hogwarts, or maybe discuss his trying out for the team. Instead, the words that left his mouth caused Cyrus's eyes to widen and his brow to raise in both amusement and surprise. "You're joking," he said through the smile that was slowly forming across his face. "Your sister?" It was a little amusing, really. Though, Cyrus doubted he would be laughing if it were one of his best friends dating his little sister. "Which poor sister has to deal with that ol' lad?" He asked, chuckling lightly.

@jill9

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@cyrus
<3

"I wish I was joking." Nikolai shook his head at Cyrus and laughed along. It had been awhile since the whole thing came about to Nikolai. It had taken him awhile to even become okay with it, or start to be okay with it at least. It was still slightly uncomfortable to see, his sister and his best friend kissing. Especially having grown up together. But he was beginning to get used to it. "Irina, the oldest girl. She's a seventh year at Hogwarts, Gryffindor." Nikolai wasn't sure if Cyrus would remember her, but he obviously remembered Niko only had sisters, so who knew.

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Being an older brother himself, Cyrus could understand how Nikolai would be a little weirded out if his best friend started dating his sister. Cyrus knew, for certain, that he would probably throw his best mate a good right hook if he were ever in the same position. "You're a better man than I am, mate," he said, shaking his head. "Man would have been out cold if he told me I was dating my little sister." As serious as Cyrus was, though, he still couldn't help but chuckle at it all. But, again, if it were him... he doubted he would be chuckling.

@jill9

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@cyrus
<3

Nikolai shook his head at Cyrus, smiling. "I don't really think I'm a better man, trust me. I tried to get to him. Unfortunately my sister jumped in the way. If she wasn't trying to yell at me, I'd probably have gotten to him." Niko laughed. Dan was a great guy, probably the only person Niko would ever actually feel comfortable with one of his sisters. But it was just...weird, and it was hard to get used to. "I'd never think anyone would be good enough for my sisters, any of them. But, I know Dan will love and care for her."

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Cyrus chuckled at Nikolai's confession. "Well, I would have done the same thing, mate," he agreed. "I would want the same thing for Clai." He smiled fondly at the thought of his younger sister. "Though, it would be hard to see somelike like, say you, with my sister." He let out a laugh at the thought. Though, he supposed that was a close enough comparison. "Well, then. What about you, mate? Been seein' anyone?" It had been a while since they had been able to talk as friends and not just as teammates, so Cy just couldn't help but wonder how his friend was in his personal life.

@jill9

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@cyrus
<3

Nikolai laughed. "Good, I'm glad you don't think I'm crazy, because Irina does." He always wondered if he had overreacted, but Niko honestly didn't think so. He was being an older brother, and seeing his best friend of many years just jump off after his sister was a bit traumatizing. "I could imagine! But no worries, I'm not after your sister, Cy." Nikolai chuckled, and nodded his head at Cyrus' next question. "I am, yeah. Magdalena Ollivander, you've got to know the name of course."

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Cyrus chuckled when Nikolai mentioned that his sister thought he was crazy. "Clai would probably think the same of me. They just don't understand what it's like to be an older brother." The burden was a rough one, but Cyrus wouldn't trade it for anything. Cy loved his younger sister to pieces, just as he was sure Nikolai loved his. That was, after all, why they were so protective of them. The last name of the girl Nikolai mentioned clicked almost immediately in Cyrus's mind. "Ollivander, you say?" He raised his eyebrows. "She's got an older brother, yeah?" If Cyrus could remember correctly, he had always heard that the Ollivander's had an older son but he had never heard of a daughter.

@jill9