Ingrid had hoped to get some kind of scrum match going by the end of the year, but the school’s ruling on Quidditch for the year had been pretty clear - they could train (with supervision) but no risking a combination of infected players and the heat of competition. Following the news that people couldn’t catch the illness again, those who had already been sick could have got together for a match, but that didn’t include her, so it was still no help.
She had tried to have the team train regularly. Pecari was the most complete side, and she had faith in them being able to field a team in the future. A little of the impetus had been removed by the lack of competition, but she tried not to let rainy days or piles of homework be reasons to give people a pass on training.
In lieu of being able to send them off with a game, she had decided to have a party instead, although all she’d told the team was that their final training session would take place in the sports room instead of out on the pitch. She had got the elves to provide Quidditch themed cookies, and a few other nibbles and drinks. The room was decorated with a large ‘Go Wild Boars’ banner (the two potential interpretations of the phrase had always amused her), and had the equipment for them to play various games. As the team members arrived, she encouraged them to help themselves to drinks and snacks.
“For our last session, I thought we’d do something a little different,” she explained, once everyone was there, even though that much was probably obvious by now. “I know we haven’t been able to play matches this year, which has really sucked. But I’ve still had fun being your captain and I’m really proud of you as a team. Ben’s going to do a great job leading you, so here’s to you getting a whole host of new players next year, and wiping the floor with everyone else, the way it should be. Go Wild Boars,” she toasted, lifting her glass.
“Now, what shall we play?” she asked. They had done various games throughout their training - Pepper Up, where a line of players threw to one person with a bat who had to hit it back for them to catch, or Focus, where everyone had a ball in their hands, except the starter who had two, and if they threw to you, you had to pass your ball before catching theirs, setting off a chain reaction of other players having to do the same… They could race, they could do agility courses. She just wanted them all to have fun.
13Ingrid WolseithcraftePecari Quidditch Party (tag the team)322Ingrid Wolseithcrafte15
It was unfortunate that they weren’t able to play Quidditch yet again with full teams, but Lily enjoyed the regular trainings Ingrid kept. She was able to stay in shape and still practise. That was all she could’ve asked for, really, after everything that had happened this year. It’d been mad with the illness going around and CATS to study for, which she thought she’d done rather well on considering her academic history. Only time would tell to see if her feeling about it was true. Otherwise, she was proud of herself for working so hard this year. Her marks had improved significantly with the help of friends and extra studying time in the library. Now that she had her future to think of, it was important for her to do well. Recently, she’d started imagining becoming an Auror someday, and it motivated her to keep on with her studies. Ingrid, on the other hand, motivated her to keep fit.
Lily was sorry to see Ingrid graduate. She was the first captain who’d also been her friend, and she was going to miss her. When she became captain, Lily wanted to implement much of what Ingrid had done. She still had two more years till the captaincy was hers, but Lily imagined she would owl her older friend for advice even then. She wasn’t sure how Ingrid was able to do it all, with her Head Girl duties on top of her already busy timetable. Lily respected her very much for how she’d balanced her time, something she herself still needed to learn how to do better.
Dressed in her usual exercise clothes, Lily went to MARS, wondering why they needed to switch locations for practise now that it was near summer. She would’ve liked to train outdoors with the sun warming her. She pushed the door open and was surprised to see a party instead. Thinking she’d stepped into the wrong room, she looked briefly to see if Ingrid was in here. She was, so Lily entered, greeted her friends and helped herself to a drink.
Ingrid made her speech, and Lily raised her cup to the toast. “Go Wild Boars,” she said enthusiastically before taking a sip. She kept her nostalgic tears at bay, but Lily knew officially saying goodbye to her on the last day would be very difficult. She hated how things had to change like this. Still, Ingrid had worked hard all year and had put this party together, so Lily was going to enjoy it.
“Let’s play Focus,” she replied immediately to Ingrid's query. It was one of her favourites because they got to throw balls at each other and this game required quick reflexes. Ever since she’d learnt about it, she often suggested this game to play during group activities, so it was no secret that it was her favourite.
Parker had been more than a bit disheartened all year that they wouldn't actually be playing any Quidditch games. Though the letters from his mom seemed to indicate that she thought it was excellent. Parker though had tried to get bigger all year so he could take the bludgers when the time came to play again. He had not met with an amazing amount of success.
Parker realized, after blowing up one of the MARS rooms while he was sick, that his ability to exercise had increased. He could go for longer periods of time. That was great for exercising, but when flying on a broom, he didn't really need endurance.
He wanted bulk. Not fat, but bulk. Something that wouldn't get him knocked off a broom when hit with a giant metal ball. Hopefully something he could also use if he needed to protect himself from any other accidents that might befall him when he was with his friends, specifically one who might make him do stupid things at some point.
Parker still practiced with his borrowed broom as well, and he was getting better. After two years of flying it, he felt much more comfortable, and not as focused on what was necessary to move the broom. Still, he didn't know if that was because he'd gotten used to his team mates, and knew how they flew, and could work with and against that.
As Parker walked towards MARS he could feel his stomach. Not in a good way. Jouza hadn't told anyone about the exploding room, and neither had Cleo or the healer, but Parker worried that someone might call him out for it, and had dreaded a bit every time he had gone to MARS, especially the exercise room.
So as Parker opened the door to reveal a party with banners and cookies, a big smile spread across his face. Ingrid had been great last year, and again this year, and he'd been so wrapped up in his own head he hadn't thought about the fact that it was her last year. He felt a momentary pang of regret until she began to speak and Parker went over to get a cookie that looked like boar on a broom.
"Go wild boars!" Parker cheered along with his team mates after Ingrid had finished her speech. He put the rest of the cookie in his mouth to make his hands free at the mention of a game.
"Ah phah zhat," Parker said in response to Lily's suggestion, meaning to say I'll play that. but having his mouth full of cookies. Focus was one of the games he knew. In part because Lily had been suggesting it a lot at events, but also because he'd found he like how it allowed him to shut out ever other thought and focus on the game. It was relaxing to him, so he'd also started to play it a lot.
Parker swallowed the rest of his cookie, "Sorry. Got a little excited. Who should start first?"