substitution | luna

[addilyn elara slater]

whether full or empty

it's all the same

March 4, 2028
LUNA LACHESIS TRELAWNEY

Addy still felt odd here. As the team began to fly down and dismount before heading to the locker rooms, a few came over to speak to Addy or compliment her. She stood out with her old Slytherin Quidditch jersey, the number 3 still visible on the front though worn after many years. Addy had caught her breath by then but still leaned against the wall where she’d placed her broom to gather her thoughts. While she wanted to say that never in her wildest dreams did she imagine running drills or scrimmages with a professional quidditch team but that would’ve been a lie. The daydream had definitely existed when she was far younger and before the reality of her parent’s plans had sunk in.

And who knew how long this would last? At some point, they had to focus and practice for their upcoming matches, which didn’t involve Addy. By now, Addy was used to stuffing down her feelings next to long-lost dreams, so she didn’t feel all that bad about it. A few girls stayed on the pitch, chatting away and laughing. Addy admired how well they all got on, it was important for a team’s success, and she recalled her time as Captain and those weak links that had existed on her team. If only she’d had the chance to replace them or properly grab them by the shoulders to shake some sense into them. A couple of the girls aside from Luna were also familiar faces from other House teams that Addy had competed against, but their former houses didn’t matter out here. As she relaxed and began to take off her gear, already feeling how sore she’d be the next day, she heard Luna approach.

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[LUNA LACHESIS TRELAWNEY]

Luna had had to work hard for everything she had in her life. She'd had to differentiate herself from her sisters to become the woman she was today. Successful, athletic, and in love. Luna couldn't imagine a better life for herself, except maybe if Simon came back from Sweden full time. Their weekend rendez-vous worked for the time being, but it wouldn't long term. So Luna threw herself into her training, and to spending time with her teammates to make an unbreakable team.

When the captain asked Luna if she had anyone in mind to potentially shore up their sub numbers, the first person who came to mind was Addy Slater. The girl who had it all, or so Luna had once thought. They hadn't spoken much since Luna left Hogwarts to chase her Quidditch career, but they'd seen each other a few months ago when Luna had given Addy some tickets to one of her matches. They'd struck up a civil, if rather uninteresting relationship. Luna had once been so terribly jealous of Addy, who had captained their Quidditch team to success. But Luna was the professional Quidditch player, and Addy was an intern at the ministry.

Addy had donned her old Slytherin Quidditch jersey, which had made Luna cringe. They weren't participating in the house cup anymore. These were the big leagues. You left your school loyalties at the door. But Addy's attire didn't change the way that she flew. She was still incredible, still worthy of that captain's badge that had once been pinned to that very jersey. The captain had wanted to see how Addy flew with the rest of the team, and Luna was proud to see that her suggestion had flown seamlessly. As training drew to a close, most of the team retreated into the locker rooms, but Luna approached Addy. "Slick flying, Slater," said Luna by way of greeting. "Glad to see you haven't gotten rusty. How did that feel?" asked Luna, cocking her head as she surveyed Addy.

addilyn elara slater

[addilyn elara slater]

whether full or empty

it's all the same

March 4, 2028
LUNA LACHESIS TRELAWNEY

Addy grinned in response. After all those years on the team, it had felt odd to receive orders and direction from Luna. Addy had always been one of the senior members, and these things always held a symbolic hierarchy. Much to Addy’s surprise earlier that year, she quickly got back into the swing of things. Almost like she’d never stopped playing, although her muscles would argue otherwise, considering she wasn’t exactly in the same shape as before. But now that Addy had something to focus on that wasn’t work-related, some fire had relit her ambitious side. Skating along the previous year or so had felt awful because Addy knew what she could do, yet nothing could pull her out of that mode. At least this year, things felt different.

”Good. Almost feels like I never stopped.” Addy admitted. It would take a bit more time, but soon Addy was sure she could get back to where she’d been as Captain physically. These invitations and the T’s weren’t the big leagues, which Addy could accept, but she needed to focus on completing her internship as a priority. ”Millie is remarkable.” Addy commented on the Harpie’s Captain. Watching her and the team fly from the stands was one thing, but up close was different. Everybody was unquestioning of her command, but her presence and status on the team were clearly earned. It made Addy miss those old days even more. Ministry intern lacked any status, which only fueled Addy to complete it to move up.

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[LUNA LACHESIS TRELAWNEY]

Luna greeted Addy amicably, which was a rarity in any case for the middle Trelawney triplet. She complimented her continued skill, even though Luna knew that Addy had never been quite as Quidditch obsessed as she was. Luna had lived and breathed Quidditch, making it more her personality than anything else. She knew she'd been lined up for captaincy for her seventh year after Slater, but then the Purifiers had gone and destroyed the school, and her chances. But thankfully, she'd been scouted by the Bats after their abysmal finish in the previous year's league, so in the end it all worked out.

"Good to hear," said Luna with an approving nod. "When Millie first asked for suggestions from us instead of going to the scouts, you were the first one I thought of," said Luna with a grin. "Always knew you wouldn't be able to say no," she added after a moment. Millie Dawes, the captain and keeper, was like the matriarch of their team. They followed her advice and instruction and flew seamlessly as a result - the girls felt more like a family than anything else. "She's fantastic, isn't she?" said Luna, glancing over at the changing rooms where they'd all disappeared. "And it's really rewarding, flying on an all female team. And knowing we're still destroying many of the mixed teams," she added smugly. "Ever think about doing it more regularly? Flying?"

addilyn elara slater

[addilyn elara slater]

whether full or empty

it's all the same

March 4, 2028
LUNA LACHESIS TRELAWNEY

Addy was still surprised she was where she was. Luna had always played well on the house team, so Addy never had a reason not to like her. They were hardly friends, but they got along well enough. She supposed two years wasn’t enough to forget your house team, even as a professional. But Luna had a point. Despite Addy’s responsibilities at the Ministry and otherwise, that pull to Quidditch was strong. She excelled at the sport, there wasn’t a doubt about that, but it probably made her a better player because she genuinely enjoyed the game. Addy quickly grinned as if to admit she couldn’t argue with the fact.

”Those last couple of matches—the Tornadoes and Arrows didn’t stand a chance.” It was painfully aware from the stands that the Harpies were not just defeating them but positively running them into the ground. No mercy, just winning. And yet the team was structurally sound. Addy didn’t get the sense there was any significant discord, nor would Millie have allowed it. And she was a captain who trusted her team, or Addy would likely not have flown today. Before answering, Addy momentarily stopped to think. It wasn’t a very specific question, and Addy flew with the T’s on the weekend. ”I fly with a neighborhood league.” She responded, it wasn’t exactly an answer, but it wasn’t like Addy would store her broom after this. ”Would Millie mind if I flew with the team again?” Addy certainly wouldn’t mind. It was a great experience and practice as well. She hadn’t realized how much she used to rely on Quidditch to release some of her pent-up energy, and it was more fun than sitting at a desk. In the air and on that broom, Addy almost felt like herself again.

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[LUNA LACHESIS TRELAWNEY]

Despite Luna's stony exterior - and equally poisonous interior, come to think of it - she could recognise talent and concede a loss to a worthy adversary. When Addy had been named captain instead of her, it had made sense, and Luna couldn't get upset about it. Now, having Addy play with her again, it was almost like being on the house team again. But this time, the roles were reversed. Even so, there was a certain level of nostalgia that Luna had missed, playing with people she'd known pretty much her whole life. She and Addy had never been outright rude to one another, though Luna did think that Addy could have chosen her friends better. She always hung out with that Hufflepuff boy and that excruciatingly annoying Gryffindor.

Bemused, Luna arched a brow. "A neighbourhood league?" asked Luna. "Well. You'll just have to make more time for a real league," she added dismissively, as if a neighbourhood league was beneath her notice. In reality, it was good for Addy to be flying at all, but Luna had no such time for frivolities. She appraised Addy with a cool gaze, considering her question. "I think that's up to you, Slater," said Luna at last, tugging out the plait in her hair that had kept it away from her face as she'd flown before ruffling it out. "It would require a certain level of commitment from you," she added by way of explanation. "More so than a neighbourhood league."

Sighing, Luna placed her hands on her hips. "Addy, Millie was really impressed with what she saw from you. Hardly anyone gets more than one goal past her, and you got three. Maybe it's because she's not familiar with your form, or maybe you're just bloody amazing. But if you want to fly with the Harpies, you're going to need to commit. No wishy washy bullshit. You want to play, you play. You play, and you train, and you become part of the family. Are you ready to make that choice?"

addilyn elara slater

[addilyn elara slater]

whether full or empty

it's all the same

March 4, 2028
LUNA LACHESIS TRELAWNEY

As she stood with Luna, Addy had to remind herself she wasn’t Captain anymore. This wasn’t a conversation they would have had in their seventh year. Addy’s team produced many talented players, and that strength came from consistency, trust, and leadership. And she supposed watching Millie interact with the rest of the Harpies made it all that more nostalgic, which increased the pang of regret in the pit of her stomach for letting such an opportunity quite literally fly by. Addy knew that had she let an opportunity such as an invitation to Auror training fly by, her parents would have reacted much differently. Not that Addy had mentioned the Quidditch scouts to them, there hadn’t been a point. In fact, had Brígh and Cheese not been standing right there when one approached, she might have told them either if she was honest with herself.

Addy’s eyebrow went up questioningly toward Luna as she continued to speak. Commitment? Well, such a thing had never been an issue for the youngest Slater. She did what she put her mind to (at least outside of personal relationships). Had Addy not known Luna for all these years, she might have thought this was some joke on her part. The girl had been Addy’s only real rival for Captain, though Addy had the advantage of being a year ahead. And in one of those rare moments, Addy’s brain froze. As far as she knew, there weren’t any open spots on the team. Nobody out with an injury or planning on retiring. Which left the only logical available spot as a reserve player.

That part stung more than she cared to admit. Former star Slytherin Quidditch Captain was now a second-string player for a professional team. But externally, Addy kept her composure as she always did. "You know, more than most, what I’m capable of." There was no question that success in this career required discipline and commitment, so what Luna asked was no small thing. A lot would have to shift and change quickly. "And how seriously I take my commitments." Addy paused, looking away to think a moment. "When would you need an answer?" There were things to consider, mainly her job at the Ministry. Internally, everything seized up with anxiety as she only saw her mother’s eyes glaring at her. Still, her mind and heart prevented her from declining the offer. Mentally she was already drafting a message to Brígh. Hopefully, she had reception on her mobile.

If she let herself daydream, her heart could almost flutter at the thought of playing professionally. But that clashed with so much else internally. To avoid adding to the guilt of before, Addy knew she had to consider the offer, especially since Luna vouched for her. She knew what Brígh, Cheese and even Jack would say. Addy needed to think.

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[LUNA LACHESIS TRELAWNEY]

It was frustrating for Luna to watch Addy, who had once been such a promising talent, war over her decision. To Luna, it was simple. This had always been her dream. She'd played and trained and worked her ass off throughout school, made tough decisions and surged towards this goal. Her ambition had been matched by Addy's when she'd rightfully been given the captaincy but Luna had been shocked when she passed over the scouts offers to join a team. Then, Luna would have considered giving it to Addy straight. But now, she had no such qualms holding her back.

"Yeah, I do. Which was why I was able to convince Millie to let you fly with us," said Luna sharply. "I may have been on the team here only a year, but that sort of bond comes with earned trust. And you and I both know that you deserve a place in this league. I have no clue why you didn't take the opportunity before when it presented itself to you. Was it your weirdo friends? Or a sense of duty? It was honestly so stupid. But that's in the past, and we're here now," said Luna with a huff, hands on hips. "Nobody is going to look twice at someone playing in a neighbourhood league, Addy." Luna pressed her lips together in a thin line, surveying her former captain critically.

Touching two fingers to her forehead, Luna exhaled sharply. Addy was, as ever, stubborn as a mule. What Luna wanted to hear was that Addy had made a mistake when she'd passed up this opportunity. She hoped that she wouldn't to the same again. "You'll know when. But I wouldn't dawdle, Slater. The trade window opportunity is closing shortly, and the Harpies have dozens of hopefuls. People who are really willing to commit rather than just think about it," Luna said acerbically. She glanced back at the locker rooms, where her teammates were emerging, freshly showered and chattering away casually. "Let Millie know what you decide. If she's still willing to take you on by the time you're done considering, that is." With that stinging remark, Luna turned and retired to the changing room, her head spinning and heart thundering with just how much she'd put at risk suggesting Addy.

addilyn elara slater
[think that's luna done lol]