It had been sheer dumb luck that Geoffrey had run into one of the prefects as he had entered the doors to the school and been able to get the new password for the Crotalus Commons. That wasn't to say that he hadn't been hoping for something like that to happen - as, indeed, he had - and actively looking for the two he knew, but it hadn't been something that was definitely going to happen. Still, he thought to himself as he leapt up the stairs, three at a time, this meant that he could have the commonroom to himself for a little while. Or, he realised as he reached a landing and checked his watch, not quite a little while. It was later than he'd realised, and the sorting and feast waited for no man.
Perhaps he'd better be faster about this. He was vaguely thinking about seeing if he could get a spot, for the feast, next to a very specific someone, and spots tended to disappear fairly quickly if one wasn't careful.
He ran the last of the distance between where he had been and the portrait of Gunther the Zombie and, feeling enormously pleased not to be out of breath by the exertion (and thinking ever so slightly spitefully of his mother as he gloried in the fact), gave the password, gaining entry by the process.
He checked his watch again, swore briefly and dashed over towards the noticeboard, pinning the parchment to it hurriedly before turning on his heel and fairly bolting back the way he had come.
The wagon ride and Feast were always tiring experiences to start a year off with, which was the only good reason that Helena could think of for neglecting to so much as look at the noticeboard on her way in to bed. Her first priorities had been getting some sleep and minimizing social contacts until she wasn't wearing a sparkly tiara on her head. They had not been the right priorities, but they'd seemed quite important at the time.
Luckily for her, no one else seemed to have glanced at the noticeboard, either. The list was still blank when she got up for breakfast, which meant she could still be a perfect Assistant Captain by being the first person to sign up. If Geoffrey hadn't beaten her to breakfast, then her faux pas could go completely unnoticed.
As she entered her specifics onto the list, it occurred to her to feel very sorry for her brother. If their shoes had been exchanged, he would have been frantic to discover the team had only one member after a night. Crotalus had flaws enough for two Houses, but it had always had a fairly good turnout for Quidditch.
Quidditch was one of those constants at Sonora. At school, Oliver learned magic, dithered around Hannah, and played Quidditch. Often against Hannah's team. She was the captain this year - that was just weird. And a bit scary. Still, it wasn't putting Oliver off. The morning he noticed the sign up sheet had arrived, Oliver hastened to add his name to the list, which was so far short and entirely predictable.
Oliver Abbott, Fifth year, Chaser
Reading the notice properly now, Oliver appreciated that returning players would be granted an advantage. Then again, he wasn't sure any of the younger students - aside from the Warrens - even cared about Quidditch. Their Seeker last year, Alexis, was one of those crazy Crotalus chicks Oliver tended to avoid. Weren't they supposed to hate Quidditch? Whatever. Seeing of Crotalus had never had a problem filling the team, Oliver doubted they would this year, either. He wandered off content, vaguely wondering whether Lutece would be signing up as Keeper.
The problem at Sonora was that Quidditch was the big thing. There wasn't even a cheerleading squad (but there so should be) for the sport that was so very popular. Okay so Charlie was dancing some with Lita, and she hoped they would be dancing a whole lot more this year, but nobody here really cared about dancing, did they? These were her rational reasons for wanting to sign up, but honestly Charlotte sort of wanted to prove - both to herself and to her brother - that she could be as good as him. It might not be at all true - Oliver had always been good at sports stuff. Anyway, being on the team meant everyone knew who you were. Oliver fancied the pants off the Teppenpaw Captain so maybe boys would like Charlie if she played?
Whatever, she didn't even have to give a reason anyway. She would play a reserve in case someone got hit by a bludger. Maybe she would change her mind and sit on the bench all game. It didn't even matter - she could sign her name up and not even show up to try-outs. So there.
Finally satisfied that she wasn't making a huge committment, Charlie took up a biro and signed her name onto the sheet, below her brother:
OOC: I am so sorry I have to do this, but I am just going to have to paraphrase. It's finals. And I'm diving in. Academic motivation is telling me to study...
Josh is quietly looking forward to being on the team again. It's his havorite thing about the year. The team over the summer had been sweet (despite Joe's new flirty interest in his sister). They had struggled in districts. Josh got a sprained wrist at some point and had to miss a crucial game, but Cristin subbed in and kicked some butt, for a third year. Josh was back in time for states and they had a come-from-behind victory. Hoping for similar success, Josh is signing up for his REAL Home Team.
Josh Warren, Fourth, Beater
Renaye is still reliving the memory of Alexis's catch last year. The attitude the Ladies had given afterwards was so satisfying... And this year they were going to rock it again! Cristin the Sub was a great teammate over the summer, but she wasn't Josh. She just wasn't putting the the "Dynamic" in "Duo." Renaye's memory was still going back to the winks Joe the Keeper had been sending her as she flew by. They had promised to meet at midterm no matter what. And Raye really wanted to make that happen. However, now it was time for the twins to pair up once more and storm the field at Sonora. With the Crotalus team. Because this was their real team, after all.
Renaye Warren, Fourth, Beater
0Josh and Renaye Warren*signing up*0Josh and Renaye Warren05
Alexis had kept to herself the first few days at Sonora. Her summer had been completely horrid. Her mother was angry with her for playing the indecent game of Quidditch; even though the sport allowed her to make real friends, unlike the ones she would have if she was still with the Ladies. Her younger sister didn’t want to go out in public with her because their parents were so ‘ashamed’, as the child put it. And her father had threatened to disown her for her behavior.
She was very glad to be back at Sonora.
A couple of days after the feast, the red head found herself eyeing the Quidditch Sign Ups. Her catch last year had been, well, amazing. It had felt really nice to be successful at something. Renaye had been happy with her, and the Ladies had totally been proven wrong. Still, after this summer, Alexis was completely unsure how wise signing up for the team would be. But no one else had signed up for Seeker yet…
Suddenly, Alexis realized she didn’t care. She could still be a proper pureblood and do what she enjoyed. Why did it matter what the Ladies think? Yes, they reported her every movement to her parents, but why did it matter what her parents thought? She was still a pureblood and still acted like one. It didn’t matter that she enjoyed flying and enjoyed the feeling of superiority when she caught the Snitch. Alexis made her way to the sign ups and signed her name.
Alexis Ashwood, Fourth year, Seeker
No, Alexis didn’t plan on being held back anymore. She would show them. She turned and left the commons, hoping to find Renaye or Josh and inform them of her decision.