Aderyn grinned as complimented her throw, but she shook her head.

"No way! I'm not good enough to make the house team. Besides, how will I ever find enough time to study with all the clubs I'm in AND quidditch practice?!"

Laughing, she zoomed in towards the others once again, rejoining the gathering of students a little more closely.

() "I am sure we can ask!" Gaia looked around to see if there was anyone to ask about the bludgers. () "You can make all things happen! Your schedule will sort of look like mine! 2 hours of sleep a night!" Gaia laughed at the idea of the busy term. She knew it would only get busier.

"Hello, Sam," Katsumi responded, waving at the girl that helped Magnus back on his broom. "And it is a lovely broom -- didn't they use those at the Quidditch Cup a couple years ago? Wow. That had to be expensive." Her own broom was an excellent model, but several years older. Prices tended to go down as each further generation was released.

"Quidditch practice can take up a lot of time, but I think it'd be worth it," she commented to Aderyn. "I'm really hoping to make the team, now that I'm a secondyear. I was practicing over break."

"Study?! Please don't remind me! I have three assignments I should be working on right now!" Sam moaned. "But I've got to get some exercise, or I'll never be able to concentrate on them anyway..., so here I am." She grinned and added. "That's my excuse anyways." "Thanks! Yep! Made in the good old U.S.of A! The US team made it to the finals on these babies, but Brazil's beaters beat ours to the punch and took out our best chaser, Gianni Fedele, early on. They trounced us pretty thoroughly."

"Worth it though, eh Sam," he said smiling. His mother made quidditch supplies and had outfitted him with his guards and stuff. She had told him she would make him a broom so for now he was on her old broom. Which in a way was good because he didn't want to steal her thunder. Gaia and Sam were talking about beaters and bludgers. Magus knew would rather be a chaser or seeker. He didn't mind being a beater for a short term but he wasn't nearly as good at it as the two girls. "Nice Aderyn, speaking of practicing. You've gotten really good." The idea of being on the team was appealing and scary at the same time. "Dunno if I'd be good enough to be on the team. Mum was a fairly famous pro after all. "

"Oh, but then I'd have to cut my bubble baths short, too, and I don't think I can deal with not having the stress relief of a nice bubble bath a few times a week!"

She giggled and beamed at Katsumi and nodded enthusiastically.

"The more you want to get involved in, the better! You'll be a model student, and you're representing Ravenclaw so well!"

Turning to Sam, she gave the girl a sympathetic expression.

"I know the feeling. Exercise is a great way to help boost your brain power, though! And if you need help with an assignment, just let me know! I'd be happy to help."

She smiled at Magnus, blushing a little.

"Thanks! You're getting better all the time, too."

"I like bubble baths and reading," the boy admitted. "Bought meself a book stand so I can prop it up on the hamper and read. Done it with school books too, though it aint as relaxin'." He nodded about getting better, "practiced during me break. Mum taught me some more moves too."

Aderyn giggled as Magnus said he liked reading in the bath.

"I used to like doing that, too... until I dropped a half dozen books in the bath over time and decided I'd rather save them to read when they're dry than sacrifice any more of them to my clumsiness."

"You know you can use your wand ta turn the pages right?" he asked. "I drop me wand in the tub a couple o' times but if ya put it on the ledge you can use it to turn the pages an' the book is nice an' safe from the water."

"Good point. I do love turning the pages, though. The tactile experience is part of the charm of reading for me. Still, I may just have to try it your way sometime!"

"Ah yes, bubble baths. I remember those..." Gaia winked and roared with laughter. "Come on! Time for a few high speed laps!" Gaia leaned forward and took off she wanted the freedom of flying to take all the stress away.

( )

( )

Paddy watched everyone fly around the Quidditch Pitch at full pelt, and debated about joining them. They hadn't noticed her standing off to the side, watching their techniques, as she tried to get the hang of flying. It would be the first time she would fly if she could actually pluck up the courage to mount her broom, but she was a little worried about looking a total fool if she fell off after only 3 seconds.

"As do I, just not in the tub," he said laughing. "OY PADDY!" Magnus yelled as he started zooming to the ground as Gaia laughed, "you gonna fly?" he said pulling up beside her, beaming. "Come on!"

Gaia joined Magnus () and for a moment. "We can help you if you like to fly. Want to hover for a bit? We already did warm-ups so we have all the time in the world... or at least till dinner!" Gaia grinned.

"Why till dinner, Gaia? Are we eating Paddy?" he said snickering, "leg of werewolf anyone?" Magnus was trying to help ease Paddy's tension. She did look rather nervious.

( )

Paddy chuckled nervously at Magnus' joke. "I've read up the theory on flying," she said in a quiet voice, "but I've never tried it out... at least not yet." Taking a deep breath, she mounted her broom, kicked the ground gently, and tried to hold her balance as the broom hovered just a metre from the ground.

Actually this isn't too bad, she thought to herself as she hovered, albeit really close to the ground. "You should know by now, that werewolf arms are more of a delicacy than legs," she replied to Magnus with a grin, feeling confident enough to joke back while still concentrating on keeping her broom level.

"we won't let you fall," he said seriously, then snickered again, "well I don't really nibble on meself contrary to popular belief. "

( ) "You two need help. Everyone know the best part of the werewolf is the tail. Gets crunchy in the rotisserie!" Gaia laughed so hard she almost fell of her broom. "We got you Paddy, you won't fall! Let's hover a little higher."

( )

Paddy shook her head and grinned, "what about the claws - I hear they're a delicacy in certain countries." Paddy urged her broom to hover a bit higher, and was surprised how successful she was in not wobbling too much. "How'd you get the broom to move forwards?" she asked her friends, "I've been watching, but I haven't figured out how to get it moving to start with."

"You kick it like a horse..." Gaia roared with laughter "Just relax and lean forward a little. If you are going to fast bring your body back a little. To stop sit upright with a firm grip with both hands on the broom." Gaia hovered on her broom watching paddy's form.