Post by Karlynne on Feb 18, 2005 3:54:14 GMT -5
Challenge 21 Response
Chance Meeting
The noise in the quidditch stadium was deafening now that play could resume and Albus Dumbledore was quick to pull out his wand and cast a muffling charm to his ears. He would still be able to hear but at a greatly reduced volume. Another time out had ended which had been sorely needed as his neck was beginning to feel the strain from looking up.
It had been over fifty years since Scotland had a chance to go to the quidditch world championship match. The fact that they would go if they could defeat Ireland’s team had packed the stadium with witches and wizards from both countries. Albus was disappointed that England failed to play better but since he now taught at Hogwarts he felt a deeper affinity with Scotland.
Currently the crowd was cheering on Minerva McGonagall. She was Scotland’s star chaser, team captain for the team, and the only female playing. She had already scored one hundred and ten points to the dismay of the Irish team that had only scored thirty. If Scotland’s seeker could just grab the snitch then it would clinch a solid victory for them and send a message to Austria, the other team going to the championship. Austria had beaten Germany last weekend and people still spoke about the narrow victory.
Albus’ eyes gleamed in appreciation at the trim form of Minerva weaving in and out of formation. She handled her Nimbus 250 with ease and grace. He spent the next thirty minutes just following her with his eyes. Her long braid hung down her back and there was a small tartan ribbon on the end in the shape of a bow.
He had heard many things about Minerva McGonagall as he sat in the Scottish section. She was extremely talented in Transfigurations and wanted a career teaching. She loved quidditch and planned to play one more year before retiring to begin her training in education. She was only twenty-two and already an animagus. She had received an impressive twelve OWLs and ten NEWTs. He wished he had taught at Hogwarts while she was a student but he was only in his second year of teaching there. Of course, he heard many things about her from his students. Many of them still remembered her and since he was Head of Gryffindor House and she had been housed there, her quidditch posters were plastered on many dorm room walls.
The crowd of people jumping to their feet caught his attention and he stood to watch Scotland’s seeker go into a nosedive after the snitch. Two minutes later it was secured in the seeker’s hand and Albus felt the ground beneath him shake as people stamped their feet and cheered for Scotland.
Albus let the stands empty before slowly leaving and heading for the equipment shed. Byron Pierce, equipment manager for the Scotland team, was in need of another pair of hands and Albus wanted to suggest a newly graduated student for the job. The young man had struggled for nine years to get through Hogwarts but he had finally done it and now needed employment.
An hour later Albus clapped Byron on the back and the two men headed for his office. Byron would send an owl immediately to offer the young man a position. The recommendation of Albus was enough for him.
“There, done. I hope to hear from him by morning.” Byron tied the letter to the leg of an owl and watched him fly away. “Next year I will be in need of another groundskeeper if you have someone you might suggest to me. Good dependable workers are hard to come by.”
Byron showed Albus the new brooms that had been purchased for the team along with some of the newest designs in quidditch gloves. He was about to give Albus a tour of the locker room when they were interrupted.
Byron was called away to make urgent preparations for the transportation of the team robes and supplies for the championship match. It would have to be handled with utmost secrecy to prevent sabotage like what had happened to the Wales team six years ago. He urged Albus to look inside the locker room and assured him that it had been cleared out already.
Albus strode over to the door marked men and entered. Gleaming lockers and shower stalls were in straight lines on opposite sides of the room. He marveled at the spotless rooms. He was used to the mess in the locker rooms at Hogwarts. Professional teams could afford the best and Scotland spared no expense for their team. There were massage tables partitioned from the rest of the room as well as several whirlpools. He examined them before heading for the door at the end of the room.
He found himself inside another locker room. This was identical to the other one and for a moment he was puzzled before it slowly dawned on him. This was the women’s locker room. Embarrassed although he was alone he decided to leave.
The sound of the door opening awoke Minerva. She had fallen asleep on the massage table again. The game had been brutal and she had given it her all and her muscles had protested before the game had even ended. She rose from the table and wrapped her towel around her. One thing about being the only female on the team, she didn’t have to wait on a shower or to stand in front of the mirror.
Silently padding to her locker she saw a man with long auburn hair heading towards the men’s locker room.
“What are you doing in here?”
Albus turned around suddenly at the sound of her voice. He knew her voice would be melodious.
“B-B-Byron was giving me a tour and got called away. He told me to go on but I’ve made a wrong turn and thought I should return the way I came,” he tripped over his words and tried not to stare at the body parts not covered by her towel.
“Are you Albus Dumbledore?” She cocked her head thoughtfully. She had just written to him that very morning trying to sound him out for an apprenticeship.
“I am he. You are Miss McGonagall?” He couldn’t stop the blush that rose but was grateful his beard covered most of it. “I am a huge fan.”
“I am one of yours so we are even,” she replied. “I sent you an owl this morning. Perhaps we can discuss it once you’ve read it?”
“Why not now?” He blushed again. “I…er…mean after you’ve dressed we could discuss it over dinner?”
“I would like to dine with you. In half an hour?”
Albus nodded. “Yes, that is agreeable.” He stood there watching her. He appreciated her direct manner.
Minerva waited a moment for him to excuse himself and raised an eyebrow when he remained.
“My apologies. I’ve grown accustomed to dressing alone this season.” She smiled at him and chuckled at the deep crimson that colored his face. He mumbled an apology and quickly turned and left. He would wait for her at the entrance instead of outside the locker room entrance.
Minerva waited until the door closed before beginning to dress. A victory and now dinner with Albus Dumbledore, her idol for many years, this was definitely a very good day.
Chance Meeting
The noise in the quidditch stadium was deafening now that play could resume and Albus Dumbledore was quick to pull out his wand and cast a muffling charm to his ears. He would still be able to hear but at a greatly reduced volume. Another time out had ended which had been sorely needed as his neck was beginning to feel the strain from looking up.
It had been over fifty years since Scotland had a chance to go to the quidditch world championship match. The fact that they would go if they could defeat Ireland’s team had packed the stadium with witches and wizards from both countries. Albus was disappointed that England failed to play better but since he now taught at Hogwarts he felt a deeper affinity with Scotland.
Currently the crowd was cheering on Minerva McGonagall. She was Scotland’s star chaser, team captain for the team, and the only female playing. She had already scored one hundred and ten points to the dismay of the Irish team that had only scored thirty. If Scotland’s seeker could just grab the snitch then it would clinch a solid victory for them and send a message to Austria, the other team going to the championship. Austria had beaten Germany last weekend and people still spoke about the narrow victory.
Albus’ eyes gleamed in appreciation at the trim form of Minerva weaving in and out of formation. She handled her Nimbus 250 with ease and grace. He spent the next thirty minutes just following her with his eyes. Her long braid hung down her back and there was a small tartan ribbon on the end in the shape of a bow.
He had heard many things about Minerva McGonagall as he sat in the Scottish section. She was extremely talented in Transfigurations and wanted a career teaching. She loved quidditch and planned to play one more year before retiring to begin her training in education. She was only twenty-two and already an animagus. She had received an impressive twelve OWLs and ten NEWTs. He wished he had taught at Hogwarts while she was a student but he was only in his second year of teaching there. Of course, he heard many things about her from his students. Many of them still remembered her and since he was Head of Gryffindor House and she had been housed there, her quidditch posters were plastered on many dorm room walls.
The crowd of people jumping to their feet caught his attention and he stood to watch Scotland’s seeker go into a nosedive after the snitch. Two minutes later it was secured in the seeker’s hand and Albus felt the ground beneath him shake as people stamped their feet and cheered for Scotland.
Albus let the stands empty before slowly leaving and heading for the equipment shed. Byron Pierce, equipment manager for the Scotland team, was in need of another pair of hands and Albus wanted to suggest a newly graduated student for the job. The young man had struggled for nine years to get through Hogwarts but he had finally done it and now needed employment.
An hour later Albus clapped Byron on the back and the two men headed for his office. Byron would send an owl immediately to offer the young man a position. The recommendation of Albus was enough for him.
“There, done. I hope to hear from him by morning.” Byron tied the letter to the leg of an owl and watched him fly away. “Next year I will be in need of another groundskeeper if you have someone you might suggest to me. Good dependable workers are hard to come by.”
Byron showed Albus the new brooms that had been purchased for the team along with some of the newest designs in quidditch gloves. He was about to give Albus a tour of the locker room when they were interrupted.
Byron was called away to make urgent preparations for the transportation of the team robes and supplies for the championship match. It would have to be handled with utmost secrecy to prevent sabotage like what had happened to the Wales team six years ago. He urged Albus to look inside the locker room and assured him that it had been cleared out already.
Albus strode over to the door marked men and entered. Gleaming lockers and shower stalls were in straight lines on opposite sides of the room. He marveled at the spotless rooms. He was used to the mess in the locker rooms at Hogwarts. Professional teams could afford the best and Scotland spared no expense for their team. There were massage tables partitioned from the rest of the room as well as several whirlpools. He examined them before heading for the door at the end of the room.
He found himself inside another locker room. This was identical to the other one and for a moment he was puzzled before it slowly dawned on him. This was the women’s locker room. Embarrassed although he was alone he decided to leave.
The sound of the door opening awoke Minerva. She had fallen asleep on the massage table again. The game had been brutal and she had given it her all and her muscles had protested before the game had even ended. She rose from the table and wrapped her towel around her. One thing about being the only female on the team, she didn’t have to wait on a shower or to stand in front of the mirror.
Silently padding to her locker she saw a man with long auburn hair heading towards the men’s locker room.
“What are you doing in here?”
Albus turned around suddenly at the sound of her voice. He knew her voice would be melodious.
“B-B-Byron was giving me a tour and got called away. He told me to go on but I’ve made a wrong turn and thought I should return the way I came,” he tripped over his words and tried not to stare at the body parts not covered by her towel.
“Are you Albus Dumbledore?” She cocked her head thoughtfully. She had just written to him that very morning trying to sound him out for an apprenticeship.
“I am he. You are Miss McGonagall?” He couldn’t stop the blush that rose but was grateful his beard covered most of it. “I am a huge fan.”
“I am one of yours so we are even,” she replied. “I sent you an owl this morning. Perhaps we can discuss it once you’ve read it?”
“Why not now?” He blushed again. “I…er…mean after you’ve dressed we could discuss it over dinner?”
“I would like to dine with you. In half an hour?”
Albus nodded. “Yes, that is agreeable.” He stood there watching her. He appreciated her direct manner.
Minerva waited a moment for him to excuse himself and raised an eyebrow when he remained.
“My apologies. I’ve grown accustomed to dressing alone this season.” She smiled at him and chuckled at the deep crimson that colored his face. He mumbled an apology and quickly turned and left. He would wait for her at the entrance instead of outside the locker room entrance.
Minerva waited until the door closed before beginning to dress. A victory and now dinner with Albus Dumbledore, her idol for many years, this was definitely a very good day.
)
Lovely challenge response! 
