Steam (open)

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Snow had disappeared from grounds but cold air lingered, the grass had frozen, every breath Josh breathed nipped at his lungs. Buttoning up his coat and fixing his gloves Josh leaned down to pick up him broom. Gazing up to the sky birds flew through the cold air, closing his eyes with a deep breath Josh took in the winter smell with a smile. Placing his broom in a horizontal position in front of him Josh slowly mounted it gripping it tightly. Hovering in the air slowly was a moment Josh enjoyed, the feeling was hard to describe unless one was in his seat. Moving slowly in the air Josh looked around his surroundings, when he could no one was around Josh moved an inch back in his broom to blast through the air.


While flying through the Josh had to squint because the fool had forgot his goggles so while in the air Josh looked around to where he had misplaced them. Doing another round of the pitch Josh finally saw the goggles sitting on the bench.
Gaining speed, sound of air rushing past his ears Josh flew towards his goggles, as Josh flew close to the bench he began to move down, decreasing in speed. Taking hold of the goggles, strapping them to his face adjusting them so felt comfortable, when things felt right Josh glided up into the air, gripping on to the broom taking once more moving quickly through the air.


This was it, nothing felt more right when Josh was on his boom, nothing matter when he was flying through the air, problems seemed to disappear, it was one of the things in Josh's life that made him the happiest. A deep dive Josh was inches off the ground slowly putting a hand out letting the frozen grass run through his glove fingers before taking flight into the air again shouting 'WoooWHOOO!'. As Josh flew into the air he shoot right right into the middle quidditch goal, flying out the left one. When a couple of laps were done Josh settled down on to the pitch gently to walk towards the bench for a ten minute break before flying again.

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Dom was in the mood to fly. She honestly wasn't quite sure why she wanted to fly, other than the fact that she felt so restricted this year. Quidditch was one of the things she loved most about Hogwarts and they cancelled it. For the stupid Triwizard Tournament, of all things. Okay, maybe it wasn't stupid. The stupid thing was the idea that they couldn't do the tournament and the house cup. That idea was ridiculous and Dom wished it hadn't happened. What was the point in being captain her last year if they never played? At least, if they never played a game. She made her team come out to practice because they needed to keep up their strength and stamina so they could do well next year. Ravenclaw wasn't going to lose next year because Dom didn't work them this year, that was for sure. 

She walked across the castle grounds, her broomstick slung across her back. When she reached the Pitch, it was to see someone already zipping by enthusiastically. It was a boy and he was all over the place. Actually, he had pretty good skills and Dom was pretty impressed as she watched. Was he on a Quidditch Team? Honestly, she couldn't remember if she'd played against him before, but there was a fair chance he was a new player this year. Then she definitely wouldn't recognize him. 

Eventually he landed and started walking towards a bench. Dom was leaning up against the fence, smiling over at him. "That was some pretty impressive flying you were doing over there. What's your name?" Maybe she did know him, maybe she didn't. This was the moment when Dominique Weasley was going to figure that out.

@ventrus

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"That was some pretty impressive flying you were doing over there" someone said before Josh could sit down, turning to his right scanning around the area of the voice he could see  young girl, could be his year with red hair, that hair was a big give away as to who she was. Josh said nothing until he sat down, took a gulp of water, wipe away his sweat turning to look at a the girl. "Thank you, done with classes for a bit, my classmates are studying and relaxing, me I rather fly out here, gives me a chance to clear my head". Another gulp of water, watching his broom hover above the ground. "You wouldn't happen to be a Weasley are" Josh said grinning slightly. "If you are, I know a Weasley in my year, goes by Molly people call her Anna". Maybe if she wasn't a Weasley that would make Josh seem rude or if she doesn't take it that way maybe Josh has made a new friend.

Josh studied her, her stance, how she leans on the fence, she wouldn't be a quidditch player. With a bit of luck Josh would be able to play with someone. A small breeze rolled in through the pitch giving josh a chill that slowly crept up on Josh's feet, fingers and noes, he had to keep moving or else he would be a popsicle and that would make him useless. A small flock of bird flew over there heads giving out a small squawk.

@dominique

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The boy started explaining why he was on the pitch and Dom found herself nodding. His reasons were very similar to hers, except she probably had deeper ones that she just didn't want to think about. Reasons that might have something to do with a particularly ghost who happened to appear at the castle recently, but she wasn't thinking about that right now. Flying was going to be her way of letting off steam. Maybe if he was up for it she'd ask if he wanted to fly or play a game of one-on-one or something. Flying was often much more fun when you had someone with you. 

However, instead of answering her question about his name, he asked if she was a Weasley and then continued on and on talking about her cousin Anna. Dom smirked at him and rolled her eyes. "Of course I'm a Weasley. Dominique Serena Weasley, in fact, but everyone calls me Dom. Can't you tell by my good looks and natural charm," she teased, flipping a lock of curled hair behind her shoulder. She was teasing, of course, but she wasn't sure if he would know that. After all, not everyone knew how much of a prankster Dom could be. That was a surprise to her, but eh. Made it easier to get the people who didn't know, which she appreciated. "And Anna and I are pretty close. We go way back," she laughed at her own joke. Of course they went way back; they were cousins!

She shivered a little at the breeze that hit her then. She had the required Quidditch cloak on because she didn't want to be told to get off the pitch, but Dom detested cloaks and coats of all kinds. As a general rule she went without. This was an exception. Either way, she still got cold. Dom rubbed her hands together. "It's a bit chilly today. You want to fly together? We could play a game or something ..." she trailed off, giving the un-named boy a chance to decide. Hey! That reminded her. "By the way, what is your name?" Maybe being blunt about it and mentioning it last would get it out of him.

@ventrus

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The way she flipped her hair behind her shoulders, what was it about the girls in the Weasley family that made him feel odd, Josh couldn't tell if it was his body heating up because of the cold or this girl was making hi blush, Dominique Weasley or as she likes to be called Dom. The way she stands that is were Josh remembers her from, one of the best in beaters in Ravenclaw, better than that the whole school. Her red hair, the speed she does on the a broom its like fire. Josh a thing for girls in quidditch gear, never told a soul and was happy keeping it to himself. A Captain and a Beater, if Josh had not been wearing his gear and Dom had showed up, teachers would be involved with angry letters being sent out.

Was Dom making a joke or testing him, A game, one on one with a captain who is a beater. Would Dom let him think it over, with this weather he would have seconds, the game would last seconds for that matter. All Josh wanted was to be Gryffindor seeker, To stick on gear and fly through the air seeking out that golden ball. Each year Josh ether misses tryouts or plans come up, they were all good reasons but thinking back on it, maybe he should have tried out, just once. "Sure,  how about we race around the pitch for warm ups, the person who comes first on the third lap, gets to pick the next game." giving Dom a wink, getting up grabbing his broom. This filled Josh with excitement and joy. Rotating his neck as Josh does when hes ready for something big.

Holding on to the front of the broom with the other hand held behind gripping tightly, slowly leaning back to get a feel for his surroundings, trying to calm down his excitement. Josh knew all her moves, he studied her at every match he saw when the Ravenclaw's played but Dom had no idea what Josh could do or how he moved. Josh felt that this was a sure way of winning, yes it was for fun but at this school Josh took three things seriously, quidditch, duelling and people close to him. No order just those three things. "By the way, what is your name?", Josh heard Dom say, moving his goggles up to his forehead and stretch out him arm Josh said "My name is Joshua Andrew Carter, but people call me Josh".

@dominique

 

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It seemed to take the boy a few seconds to decide if he wanted to play with her or not, but Dom waited patiently. She even turned her gaze to the pitch, not wanting to make him feel uncomfortable by her staring him down. She was about to tell him that they didn't have to play together when he answered, agreeing to play but suggesting a race first. Dom grinned. She loved races and challenges and basically anything competitive. Mostly, she just wanted to have fun flying and she was glad that he seemed interested as well. She shrugged, as if she wasn't worried at all. Well, she wasn't. Dom was a good flier. She knew it. "Sounds great to me," she agreed easily, mounting her broom to show she was ready right away. Three laps sounded good. She was ready.

Finally he gave her a name and Dom nodded at his answer. "Well Josh, prepare to get creamed," she teased lightly, laughing as she pushed off the ground and flew up into the air. She waited for him to join her and then looked at him curiously. "What is our signal to start?" she asked, fully aware that one way to start a race like this was to have both of them push off the ground at the same time. Oops. Apparently she messed that up, but she didn't mind at all. If he didn't have any ideas, she could definitely come up with something.

@ventrus

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Leaning off the fence and agreeing to a race, it like a burst of fire hit his chest, filling it slowly. Josh watched as Dom mounted her broom with excitement on her face. This girl to Josh felt confident enough to beat him and Josh couldn't wait for it to happen. Hovering in the air Dom waited for Josh to do the same thing. The girl was a high nerve, if Josh said go Dom would be circling the pitch in seconds. What was it with these Weasley's and their game, they seem all mad to Josh, what his father said about the Weasley's was true, they are all mad but bloody brilliant. Worst of all is what his father said the Weasley girls are a force to be reckoned with, attractive but never piss off one.

That seemed to be something that stuck with Josh, it may be the reason Josh was attracted to Molly, but Molly wasn't someone he wanted on his mind, as great as it feels, focus is what is needed right now. Strapping his goggles on his face, adjusting his gloves Josh moved beside Dom taking hold of his broom and mounting it, how that feeling never left him as he hovered in the air, that fire in his chest burst. This was going to be a day he would never forget, may even make a great friend as well. Could get close to Molly and there it was Molly on his mind again. Shaking his head Josh looked in front of him with such focus he almost had tunnel vision. "Alright, I will take out my wand to shoot a blue spark a few feet in front of us. When the spark bangs turning green then that's when we race".

Heat began to creep up on Josh's body with nerves included, was no time to be nervous it was just a friendly game no one was winning anything. "Hold up" Josh said leaning up on his broom, "Before we start what do we win if one of us wins". A quidditch match didn't seem like enough of a effort to win. Sure it would be great but he could just as Dom for a match, he wanted more, something worth winning for. Moving his goggles to the top of his head Josh waited for Dom answer.

@dominique

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Josh mounted his broom, joining her in the air and suggesting that he could shoot some sparks and once they changed color they could be off. Dom shrugged and nodded, "Sounds good to me," she commented easily. Really, she was ready to go right now, but it wouldn't matter. In a few seconds they'd be racing around the pitch and she was excited to feel the rush that flying always brought to her. 

Her grip was tight on her broom, her gaze straight ahead as she waited for him to shoot out the sparks. Then, he basically paused the whole thing. Dom turned her attention to him curiously, though she kept her hands in position so she'd be ready to fly if he was trying to trick her or something so he could get a head start. Her eyebrows lifted in surprise when he asked what they were going to do for the winner. She tipped her head to the side curiously, "Didn't we just say that they'd get to choose our next activity?" she asked with a shrug. Maybe he wanted them to come up with some other sort of a prize, but Dom wasn't entirely sure if that was what he wanted, especially since for her, just being able to Lord the fact that she won over the other person (all in good fun, of course) was plenty of motivation. She bit her lip for a moment as she thought. "Ummmm ... we could bet on it? Or the loser could do the winner's homework," she paused a moment. "No, scratch that idea." She had no intention of letting a Gryffindor try to do her homework for her, Dom took too much pride in her work for that. "Or owe the winner something? I don't really know." She paused, not really sure what else to say.

@ventrus