high hopes | alfie

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light up your wildest dreams

February 2026
alfie edward o'callaghan

Archie sat down with his full weight in the chairs they had brought to the grounds in front of the Castle. It helped that it was night, so they wouldn't be noticed as they watched students scurrying across the dark grounds toward the Pitch. It had been a tradition when Archie had played for the Ravenclaw house team, and it was still a tradition to this day. It had somehow not occurred to the current generation of Quidditch players that some of their Professors had also been students at one point. Though he wouldn’t put it past them to comment on what century that might have occurred in. ”No surprise Svendsen was first.” Archie commented. Many of the students had come through his classroom at some point, but it didn’t stop him from knowing who passed him in the hall. The staff was aware of the date and time of this event, and a few would volunteer to watch but not interfere—sometimes, kids just needed to have fun and blow off some steam.

It was the second semester, and many of the current players were seventh years preparing for their NEWTs. They didn’t need the stress of detention on them if it wasn’t needed. Archie glanced back to the castle entrance and saw a few more students scurrying toward the Pitch, some expected and some not. ”Wasn’t expecting that one…” Archie mumbled to himself. If he wasn’t mistaken, it was Slater. While breaking the rules wasn’t part of her reputation, he supposed it wasn’t unexpected, considering she was a Captain now. ”Which house do you think will have the most representation?” Archie turned to Alfie. They had become fast friends when he’d joined the staff. Maybe it was both of their easygoing personalities. Each year was different, and the previous year had a large showing from the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff teams. This year it looked like Gryffindor again but maybe Slytherin.

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[alfie edward o'callaghan]

Alfie’s body was sunken in a chair, blending against the wall of the castle in dark clothing. It was funny to think the students were in perfect sight for them and they probably couldn’t see them. The Professor hadn’t stayed at the castle overnight since his first year teaching at Hogwarts since he got a flat in Hogsmeade. He preferred his freedom after school hours, and it was a given when he learned that Hogsmeade was within walking distance of the school. Only, he currently wasn’t on talking terms with his flatmate, Esther, since they ruined their friendship by sleeping together. So, he was happy to have any reason not to go home.

Archie pointed out the first couple of students to make it out to the pitch and Alfie nodded in agreement. He chuckled and slapped his knee when Archie said ‘didn’t expect that one’, ”No shit. Is that Addilyn Slater?” he asked in disbelief, squinting his eyes a bit. Alfie nodded his head in confirmation, ”She’ll be able to help keep those hooligans in order. I think we can leave now.” he ended with obvious sarcasm.

Turning to his friend when the kids started to crack and pass around glow sticks, ”Alriiight, now we’re talking…” Alfie chuckled, ”They’re busting out the glow sticks.” he whispered excitedly, bouncing in his chair. ”We’ve got a quidditch rave party goin’ down. This is going to be interesting.” Alfie rubbed his hands together, watching with interest. One of Alfie’s greatest pleasures was people watching. He hoped they wouldn’t have any reason to interfere because he liked to be known as a “cool” Professor. Archie asked who he thought would have a better turn out and he shrugged lazily, ”I thought maybe Gryffindor…but I’m seeing a lot of green over there.” he answered his question. ”Does this happen every year? We didn’t have anything like this at Ilvermorny while attending or teaching.”

octavian archimedes vector jr.

[octavian archimedes vector jr.]

rewrite your history

light up your wildest dreams

February 2026
alfie edward o'callaghan

Archie chuckled. The current seventh-year class had a small handful of students that had no issues with rules or deadlines. The staff was grateful for them and their dependability. Addilyn Slater was one of them, but other staff had mentioned how her sister was much the same. Even her brother had kept out of trouble and performed well academically. ”I don’t know. She is out after hours. She might just be excellent at hiding her mischief, unlike some of her friends.” She and the Gryffindor she was always with were both in his class, though Brigh was the excitable sort—like a child that had too much sugar.

It was dark, and small lights appeared by the group of kids. Archie wasn’t sure if they were conjuring the lights with their wands, but then Alfie spoke, and he figured it was some muggle thing. ”Rave?” Glow sticks were pretty self-explanatory. Sticks that glowed, hence the lights they were seeing. It was a smart idea, would help with visibility at this time of night. But he’d never heard of a rave. Perhaps it was an American thing. Alfie was correct. Slytherin had a significant representation. Zabini would likely have not approved of his students being out after dark, but also, there was some house pride attached to this victory.

”As long as I’ve been around. I was on the Ravenclaw team when I went to school here.” Archie remembered the small injuries and mischief of this night. Fortunately, his Captain had been able to fix his nose after a nasty collision. ”Last year, someone flew their broom into the stands and told the nurse they fell down the moving staircase.” He gave an amused look. As if the nurse didn’t know what Quidditch injuries looked like.

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[alfie edward o'callaghan]

"You're right, dude. The jokes on me. She's probably the leader of these kooks." he agreed, more jokingly to play along. At this point, Alfie didn't know what to believe. He knew teenagers were sneaky because he used to be one. 

Alfie's sank into the chair, shoving his hands into his coat pockets. "Ah, that's right...raves must be an American Muggle thing..." he chuckled thoughtfully. Alfie's face twisted into a more thoughtful expression. He wasn't sure how to explain what a rave was without making it sound like a bunch of kids on drugs listening to music. The Professor shrugged, "It's basically like a giant dance party where people wear skimpy outfits and costumes and participate in other illicit activities. So, I probably shouldn't be joking about that..." Alfie laughed to himself. Ah, to be a kid again.

"You guys take quidditch seriously here." The Professor commented with an easy going laugh, turning to face the unsuspecting students again, who appeared to be organizing teams. The thought of a student lying about quidditch injuries to a nurse made him chuckle again. "Wow, I would have loved to see the look on that nurses face." he said shaking his head with an amused smile, cocking his head to the side with a chuckle. "So, do we not interfere at all? Not gonna lie, there's a fucked up part of me that wants to scare them." Alfie said in a comical dark tone and evil laugh. Only not too loud. He didn't want the kids to hear him.

octavian archimedes vector jr.

[octavian archimedes vector jr.]

rewrite your history

light up your wildest dreams

February 2026
alfie edward o'callaghan

Archie raised an eyebrow and nodded. There was a good chance. Had it been his first year of teaching, he might have disagreed, but five years was enough time to almost see it all. ”I’d bet galleons on that.” Plus, Potter wasn’t on a house team during her repeat year. She wasn’t out there to encourage the mischief. Archie certainly remembered when the eldest James did very little to be subtle about this clandestine activity during his time. Alfie began to explain what this ‘rave’ was, and Archie listened intently. Maybe it was an American thing? Or perhaps even specific to the magical community in the States. But from what was described, he hoped that the students were not doing that, not that the Professors could do much to stop teenagers from being teenagers.

”It’s about the competition.” Among other things. It was one of those careers that had a certain amount of glory tied to it, he figured as much as being Minister of Magic or an Auror. Archie shook his head. ”The Nurses knew, of course, but I think it helps the students’ morale.” Let them have this little victory against the rules to encourage them and in the healthy spirit of competition. ”Plus, it forces them to work with one another.” Archie paused as he saw a straggler sprint toward the Pitch. ”Ah, another Weekly—Slytherin. If there aren’t more students from the other houses, Slytherin will have to team up—that’ll be interesting.” Slytherins were typically very proud—it would be interesting if they had to collaborate with the equally proud Ravenclaws or Gryffindors. Alfie asked about interference, and Archie lightly shrugged. ”Hm—an idea for Halloween?” It would be easy to plant a suggestion to a student for that time of year, in which case they could interfere. But for this match, they would only if it was necessary.

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[alfie edward o'callaghan]

Alfie tried to remember a time back at Ilvermorny when he had played Quodpot, Quidditch, and he sadly couldn't recollect one. Maybe he could remind some students to bring that one back when Ilvermorny opened again. He didn't like to think about Ilvermorny much these days because it made him miss his greenhouses and life back home. Life in the UK had been messy for him as of late.

Shoving his hands into his coat pockets, nodded along with Archie. "Seems like a good idea to me...I'd be for some official night matches." he commented easily, a quidditch fan himself. His eyes watched the students carefully as Archie spoke. He mentioned the possibility of Slytherin starting a team. That didn't sound like a bad idea when Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw were lacking players. "Have you ever seen that happen before?" he asked curiously, cocking his head to the side and sinking back into his rickety chair. When he mentioned scaring them on Halloween, that sounded like a better idea than interfering with morale bonding. "Dude, Halloween-time next year if I'm not back at Ilvermorny..let's do it. We can make them think they're all in trouble and pretend to cancel quidditch." he chuckled, offering him a fist bump to solidify the deal. "I can't wait to see what happens with tonights game. Damn, we should have snuck some beers in true teenage debachery fashion." he chuckled, feeling like they were tailgating in their lawn chairs. Alfie was typically professional at work but ever since he had moved to Hogsmeade and no longer lived at the castle, he was more willing to bend the rules. It wasn't like they'd get smashed off of a couple of beers.

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