it's late [tai]

[zara celeste o'reilly]

Zara had just finished with Quidditch practice and headed straight back to the dorms. She decided to shower there rather than in the locker room. Her team mates were not people she wanted to spend time with at the moment. The practice had not really gone well and rather than bite at anyone that made a stupid comment she removed herself from the situation.

Pulling on her shorts along with a baggy Kenmare Kestrels jersey, Zara walked down the steps and into the common room. It was pretty quiet considering it was late. She placed herself on the couch and stretched out her long legs on the sofa. The muscles ached and whined and she grimaced slightly. She would need to visit the nurse if it didn't pass by tomorrow.

Her hair lay around her shoulder still damp from the shower. The fire kept her warm. September would soon disappear and October would be here. Zara smiled to herself as she thought about the costume that Bert would pick out. Even if there wasn't a ball she was sure Bert would turn up to classes in fancy dress. To most it was odd that they had a friendship but Zee had known Bert for as long as she could remember and he was her family. No matter how embarrassing he was. She closed her eyes slowly and listened to the blood thumping in her ears as she fought off exhaustion.

[tyson owen crowshaw]

Tyson was tired out from paractise. It was one of the first few sessions of the term and the team still hadn't been finalised, yet alone a captain selected. Tyson imagined word would come down at some point from Professor Flitwick and they'd get saddled with a hard ass who brooked no nonsense. Sure Tyson would love to be captain, but he wasn't sure he'd stood out enough to warrant the promotion. He was only the keeper after all. The graduating seventh years had left gaps in the team that they needed to fill and sport line outs wasn't a fantastic place for democracy. Tyson was halfway home with his broom slung over his shoulder, he just wanted to get back to the roaring fireplace of the common room. Yet this was one minor disadvantage of being in Ravenclaw. The common room was highest of them all and he had always lost count of the number of stairs he had to climb.

After getting to the top, he took a breather by a window in the corridor. Summer was long forgotten with autumn nipping at its heels, the slight tinge of orange from the grounds below showed how little time was left before temperatures really took a dive. Tyson loved the colder seasons, although he had little choice in it. Living in Britain gave a certain hardiness to its strange climate and the fond memories of snowball fights at home and building snowmen might have played a part in his glee at an overcast sky. In truth, Tyson loved the sunshine more than anything but hated the rain. Snow at least was solid and could be brushed off, but rain seeped into your clothes and made you freezing to the bone.

He got to the common room door and answered the riddle to gain entry, it swung open with little hesitation. He had first been annoyed by the constant tests after a hard days work but it had soon become part of his routine at Hogwarts. He had already showered and changed in the changing rooms so dumped his stuff against the wall by the entrance, making his way over to the fireplace. He hadn't noticed that one of the sofa's was occupied but it was an easy mistake from behind given Zara was lounging across the whole thing. ”Good practise session today.” Tai said encouragingly as he slumped into an armchair on the other side of the fireplace.

[zara celeste o'reilly]

Sleep wanted to take over. She was tired. The first weeks of school and Quidditch practice did that to her. Once she was in the swing of things she would be fine. If she could be bothered to drag her bones back to bed she would but right now that wasn't going to happen. If she fell asleep on the sofa it wouldn't be the worst thing. Loads of students fell asleep during the exam season. She would just be kicking off the trend. The house elves would always make sure that the place was kept warm either by leaving the fire on or covering students in blankets. Zara had a big appreciation for house elves even if most people of her blood lineage didn't.

Somewhere in the back of her mind she could hear movement around her. People were shifting. Either heading out of the common room or up to bed she assumed. Then something broke through to her. The sound of someone dropping themselves in an armchair near by. At the comment Zee opened her ice blue eyes and fixed them on the form in the chair. Tyson Crowshaw. Happy go lucky chappy. You could hear him and his cheeriness if you were wandering around in the common room. He was a year older than herself and that was about all she knew of him. That and the fact that he was keeper for the team. Zara really had no interaction with Tyson apart from if there were plays involving them both which was rather rare.

"Are you being serious?" Zara asked coldly. "It was abysmal. If we play like that when we start matches we will be the laughing stock of the houses." Zara commented. If they wanted to win the Quidditch cup there was no way on earth the were going to play like that. She was waiting for Flitwick to announce their new captain and praying it would be someone who would whip them into shape. Not to mention the fact that they would have new players on the team ranging from second year and up. Zara pinched the bridge of her nose. Sleep had suddenly disappeared again.

[tyson owen crowshaw]

Tyson loved Quidditch, in fact he loved any form of physical activity. That being said, he wasn't some crazy fitness buff that got up every morning for an hour long run. He just preferred the outdoors to being cooped up inside all day, hunched over a desk doing work for a teacher that hardly seemed to care about him. Maybe this was why his aspirations lay within the realms of Quidditch and beyond academia? His parents were always disapproving of such talk, wanting to get a job behind a desk with some stable income, just like they had done. But their was nothing holding Tyson back from following his dream.

He had recognised Zara before Tyson took a seat, how could he not? They were team mates after all, but that seemed to be all that they were. This was unusual for Tai, he was generally a friendly guy who liked to get to know everyone. Zara on the other hand, he honestly didn't know. Was the fact that they weren't really on speaking terms off the pitch a sign that she was the opposite or was it merely a case of them not having the opportunity to sit down for a chat? She was in the year below him too, that probably had something to do with it.

It felt like Tai had caught Zara getting off the wrong side of the broom after practise. The tone of her voice sent a shiver down his spine, despite being close to such a warming fire. From an analytical perspective, yes. The team was a shambles, Tyson could see that, but this happened every year as the team worked on finding its new dynamic with new players and a new captain. ”Its to be expected I guess. Start of term, no captain, new players, even existing ones might not have been on a broom over summer!” Tai said in an uplifting tone, hoping maybe to dissuade some of Zara's negativity regarding the team's initial performance.

[zara celeste o'reilly]

Zara shifted so that her legs were curled under her. Every muscle in her body twinged and pulled and ached. Showers never did it for her. More than anything she wanted a bath. Soaked right up to the neck in bubbles and letting waves of warm water wash over her. Zara pulled a pillow off the sofa and hugged it against her middle. This was the first time she'd really spoken to Tyson and so she studied him. Zara was a people watcher. She picked up on habits quick and what they did.

Tyson was tall. He had an athletic build from playing quidditch. A mess of brown hair not just on top of his head but also on his chin to some extent. Tyson Crowshaw was handsome of that there was no doubt. She had heard many of the girls speak of him but now she came to think of it she had not seen him with anyone. This made her wonder if maybe he had more of a liking for the same sex rather than the opposite. That would certainly break a few hearts and also set many of the tongues in the castle wagging.

Zara flung a pillow in his direction. She instantly regretted it as her stomach was now cold. "Don't go making excuses for them. It was a pathetic show and it needs to get better. If it doesn't I may actually throw myself off the astronomy tower." Zara was being pretty serious. There was no way that she would let the team show her up. Quidditch played a massive part of her life. The Kenmare Kestrels had had her support since she was a baby. Matches had been attended. Players had been met. It was something she was proud of.

[tyson owen crowshaw]

Being in the warming embrace of the common room, Tyson felt his body start to shut down and crave the comfort of his own bed and pyjamas. A seat by the common room fire was more than comfortable enough, but he was starting to grow jealous of Zara's initiative to throw on something comfy before calling quits on any other form of effort for the night. Tyson felt like the armchair was sucking him in like a comfy marshmallow and he would have to fight to get free. Energy he simply did not have to spare.

This wasn't the first time Tyson had taken a look at Zara. He wasn't about to deny her attractiveness, even by the harshest of standards Zara would still class as beautiful. Tyson admitted, he found her stunning. Luscious locks of black hair on a toned figure from many hours of Quidditch training, you would be mad to think otherwise. He was rather out of touch with the school gossip so was unaware of who she had gone out with or if she was seeing anyone now. He had a hunch she had been rather inactive on the social scene otherwise rumours would have spread, as they often did with the Black family.

Tyson failed to dodge the oncoming pillow, thrown from such a close proximity. It hit him square in the face and flumped down onto his lap. It wasn't a painful, in fact the pillow was rather warm so he wrapped his arms around it with a new found source of comfort. ”Well for your sake, I hope we get our act together soon!” Tyson said with a hint of panic but all in good fun. But he mused on what had gotten Zara so worked up. ”I want this to be a good year of Quidditch. End on a high and all.” Tyson offered, hoping she would take that he was determined to perform.

[zara celeste o'reilly]

She watched as he hugged her pillow and a frown came to her face. The frown soon turned to a pout before she stuck out her arms, opening and closing her hands. "Give it back. It's mine." For someone who had a sibling Zee could often behave as if she was an only child. It was hers. Her wasn't meant to take her projectile and find comfort in it. She'd have loved to see him do that with one of her bludgers.

"So do I." Zara said with a yawn. "So don't screw up an let the others score." Everything sounded a little slow. This probably made her sound even less understandable. A thick accent and slurred words were not the best for people understanding her. Bert was used to it. I mean he was just as bad as her when it came down to it. She dread to think what people thought when they had them both together. "I mean after all don't you need to be focusing on your exams more than the Quidditch pitch." Zara suggested.

She leaned forward and stretched out her back looking very much like a cat before curling herself back up and resting her head on the arm of the sofa. Nope. There was no way that she would be able to make it back up to her bed tonight and that was more than okay with her. She kept her eyes glued to Tyson to see what he would do. This was probably not the best time to people watch considering she was half asleep and not entirely sure if the things she was seeing were true or just her addled brain.

[tyson owen crowshaw]

Tyson chuckled a bit upon seeing Zara’s reaction to his new ownership of the pillow. He imagined that she too was clued in to cosy benefits of the fire-warmed cushion. ”No please?” He asked as a brief tease before gently throwing the pillow back around Zara’s midsection. He wasn’t at much of a loss having given up another source of warmth. The confinement of the armchair was doing a fantastic job of incubating him beside the fire. He was already musing when his next break in studies would be so he could spend a day by the fire with the Daily Prophet and a warm cup of hot chocolate. Unfortunately he guessed that would have to wait until half term.

The jib from Zara at the need for Tyson to keep the hoops covered wasn’t a surprise, she usually spoke her mind in a straight forward manor at team tactics sessions. ”With a tone like that, they’ll make you captain!” Tai said with a coy grin, not sure of Zara wanted the position or not. Tyson was fully invested in Quidditch, following a variety of teams and joining in with his mother’s occasional good natured bets on big games. His dad admitably was more removed from the magical sport, which was understandable given he was a muggle. Tyson was brought up playing football in the back garden but had to admit it didn’t hold a candle to Quidditch! ”You’d think so, but I’ve gota stay on top form if I want to stay on my broom after Hogwarts.” Tyson said with a stretch of his arms. He wanted a job in the industry after he left school. Regardless of what that turned out to be, Tai imagined he’d have to have a strong affiliation with the sport and be rather skilled at it too if he wanted to play professionally.

Tyson watched Zara stretching on the sofa, indeed showing off a hint of her flexibility. It was all a reminded to Tyson that it had been a long day, too long for his liking. That being said, Tyson was a lazy Ravenclaw. If it wasn’t for Quidditch, he would still be in bed for the early afternoon. This was how many of his Sundays turned out if he didn’t have work to catch up on! He let out a sigh of relief and relaxation as he gazed at the fire. ”This is the most comfortable I’ve been all day.” He said, closing his eyes slight in a doze.

[zara celeste o'reilly]

Zara narrowed her eyes when he mentioned the fact that she hadn't said please. But before she could give him a sharp response he had tossed the pillow back at her. A ghost of a smile crossed her face before she plumped up the pillow and nestled her head down on it. By now her hair was dry and looked like a tangle of waves and curls rather than its normal controlled self. She was not self conscious about it as she wasn't trying to impress Tyson. And she highly doubted that this boy was about to run off and tell everyone just how much of a mess she was. Laying back down made sleep want to take over her body again.

Zara let out a small laugh. "I don't think so somehow." Zara had enough on her plate. "Studying towards NEWTs and taking on the Duelling club. I think I'm happy with the amount of responsibility I have at the moment." And it was true. As much as she loved Quidditch, if she even considered adding a captaincy, she wasn't sure she'd be able to handle it. "Plus if I had it my way, you'd all be running suicide drills until you could play better. And by the looks of it that might take some time." Zara had now closed her eyes and was waving her hands as she spoke. She was a rather animated person and often used her arms to express a point. It usually led to things being knocked over or people getting hurt but she never felt the need to calm it down.

"So you want to carry on with Quidditch after school?" Zara asked him. She probably sounded more keen than she would have liked. She didn't really know how seriously Tyson took Quidditch but apparently it was a lot. This made him rank a little higher in her interest. Opening one eye to look at him Zara offered half a smile. "Same and I don't intend to move anytime soon." She rolled over to her side so that she was facing the fire.

[tyson owen crowshaw]

Tyson saw the hint of a smile creep across Zara’s face upon returning the pillow to her. She nestled down again on the double sofa, resting her head on the pillow with a tangle of hair sprawled out to just below her shoulders. Tyson nuzzled himself into the arm chair a little, getting himself more comfortable for a longer conversation. He was surprised it had taken him so long to just chat with Zara, but he had a sneaking suspicion that she wasn’t too fond of talking to new people and her fatigue was causing a lapse in whatever boundaries existed. Any previous attempts to chat to Zara either in the corridor or on the way back from practise had fallen mute.

Duelling club? Tyson wasn’t particularly enthused by the idea of throwing spells at other people, if he was running for his life then sure, but as a club? He already had life threatening heights and bludgers to worry about, so he would pass on deflecting aggressive spells. ”That is a lot of plates to keep spinning…” Tyson mused in somewhat absent thought. He hadn’t appreciated that Zara had such a heavy involvement in other extracurricular activities and indeed her recently starting her NEWTs, Tyson remembered feeling equally weighed down by textbooks. ”Well I’m happy to hear that we won’t be pushed to within an inch of our lives any time soon!” Tyson said with a light chuckle. Quidditch practise was tiring enough already, as evidence by the pair too tired to budge from in front of the fire.

”Erm, yeah.” Tyson started, surprised by her interest in him. ”Either playing professionally or maybe working off the pitch at the ministry or something.” Tyson added as an elaboration, but he left out his third hope of maybe opening up a Quidditch supply store in Diagon Ally. It was a little more unlikely than his other plans but it was a comforting thought of a posiblity. ”What about you?” He asked openly, either about Quidditch or her future plans, Tyson was interested in both. He yawned and nodded in agreement as he looked around the common room. It was slowly emptying as people chose to head up to bed, the best seats in the house had been nabbed by two very tired Quidditch players!

[zara celeste o'reilly]

Zara nodded sleepily. "A lot. But I love it." Zara wouldn't swap the hectic lifestyle for anything. And although to most it may have looked like over achieving or just Zara trying to force herself to shine she had another reason. Zara liked to keep busy because it meant less of a chance of her seeing something. Sleep sometimes was not a welcome pass time for her because she could see things others couldn't. The inner eye is what they called it. A pain in the arse if what Zee liked to refer to it as. To start with it had been small things. Scores. Weather. Now as she got older and as she began to learn how to use her sight things were getting a little less fun and happy and a lot more serious.

"Bert said it's good for anger issues or something." Zara went on to explain. "I just like throwing spells around. I'm pretty quick to draw." She was pretty proud of that fact. With a small laugh Zara said, "Oh don't worry. I wouldn't want the job so your balls are far from being busted." She would fall into line when they had a new captain and would be looking forward to seeing if they would be on top of them like she expected them to be.

When he mentioned playing professionally Zara said, "So should I expect to be hanging a poster of you above my bed?" Professional quidditch was a difficult thing to get into however hats off to him if he could do it. "What do you want to do in the ministry?" That's where Zara's heart was. Not that she had admitted that to Jason. Her brother would rather see himself burn than join the ministry. "Me? I'm thinking of joining the ministry. Or making cakes. Whatever's easier." If he told her cakes were easier she would need to throw a pillow at him again. Baking was a stressful event.

[tyson owen crowshaw]

Shuffling a bit in his seat, Tyson shuddered at her response. He wouldn’t suit the hectic lifestyle with a million things a week to worry about, he preferred what he saw as his life at the moment. Lazy morning starts with laid back subjects and the privilege of being able to fly for his team, Tyson had it pretty good. He admired Zara’s hard working attitude and commended her for still being able to turn up to a physically demanding Quidditch session and have the energy to make it home in one piece! ”I tip my hat to you!” Tyson said with a chuckle as he did the action with an imaginary hat. He imagined Zara wasn’t the type of person who looked for recognition in her work but he was to give credit where it was due!

Tyson nodded in agreement, he could see how lashing spells at people would serve as a form of stress relief, especially if you had a bone to pick with a fellow member! ”I’ll keep that in mind if I ever spill your pumpkin juice!” Tyson said in slight alarm. He wasn’t surprised by Zara’s skills but that didn’t mean he wasn’t afraid of her! Tyson reclused a bit at her mentioning, he was happy to know that his gentleman’s area was safe from any harm. ”So it seems like I’ll still be able to get out of bed the morning after? That’s a shame!” Tyson said with a grin in reference to his poor aching muscles.

Tai blushed rather noticeably at Zara’s comment. That was the plan, to get posters of him made when he finally joined a team. Not so much the part about him looming over her bed. ”Possibly.” It was about all Tyson managed to say, it had definitely caught him off guard. ”Department of Magical Sports and Games. They must have something for me to do there!” Tyson said with an enthusiastic grin. Not for the paperwork, but for the sort of things he’d get to do on the job. His eyebrows shot up with interest at Zara’s dilemma. ”Well with the rigorous interview process for the Ministry, cupcakes win. But my mum often struggles to get a good bake so both could prove equally tricky!” Tyson offered as food for thought, but the mere mention of baking had set his mouth salivating for some home cooked treats!

[zara celeste o'reilly]

Zara listened as he said he tipped his hat to her. She didn't want any recognition. That was the reason she didn't walk around announcing her schedule to everyone. She did the things because she loved them not because she wanted to be known. To her there was nothing to be gained from blowing your own trumpet.

Her thoughts were slowly beginning to melt into each other. With her eyes closed she knew she had no strength or willing to be able to open them again. "I don't like pumpkins." Zara murmured. And that was the last thing she could really remember Tyson saying. The low roar of the fire and the comfiness of the sofa had cradled her to the point that she had fallen asleep and though it may have seemed rude to do so in the middle of a conversation she had not done it in person. At least for now her muscles were not aching.

[tyson owen crowshaw]

Tyson watched as Zara began to nod off rather noticeably, evidently the days activities had gotten the better of her. The random murmuring of pumpkins definitely sealed the deal, she was was lost to him in a sea of dreams. He couldn't blame her, he was equally tired and probably not too far from nodding off himself. He would have joined her by the fire if he didn't have things that needed taking to his room. He knew his bed would have been warmed by the house elves, he appreciated all their hard work and made sure to drop by the kitchen occasionally to thank them. Unfortunately he felt guilty afterwards as from their hospitality he always seemed to leave with extra pies, pasties and deserts. He got up and looked around for a blanket but couldn't find one. It didn't really matter, the fire was large enough to keep her warm. He gathered his things from beside the front door and made his way up to the boys dormitories. He had enjoyed the little chat he had just had, he now saw Zara in a new light.

OOC: HE'S GONA CRY NEXT TIME THEY MEET!!! xD