Snakes in the Grass // Saturday, 17th of May, 1975

[Bronwyn Nott]

Their lovely day in the sun was turning into a boy’s fest, and while Bronwyn cared for all of them, the day was supposed to be at her and Dora enjoying the sun while it lasted. They only had a month of school left, and while Bronwyn knew she would see Dora over the summer, this was supposed to be a day for them that they’d invited the boys to. “I think it’s just this lot, all four of them. Yes, that means you too Ender. You’re an instigator,” she answered Dora, giving Ender a smile so he knew that she was mostly kidding. Bronwyn wouldn’t be surprised if Ender was the brains behind some of the pranks the boys pulled. Thankfully, Evan was quick to protect her school work, something she was thankful for. She would have been livid if she had to start the essay over, she’d already put so much work into it.

Schooching closer to Evan, she rolled her eyes at his words but tucked herself into his side nonetheless. Somedays she wasn’t sure why they were dating, but she’d found that she was glad to have Evan on her side these last few months. He could be sweet, not that he would ever admit that. She watched with amusement as Regulus and Rabastan went at each other, and wondered momentarily how they dealt with each other over the summers when their families got together. Did the competition between them extend to family visits? It had interrupted their day, turning talk to Evan joining the Quidditch team. He would make a good beater, he had the aggression for it, but it would be another year before the spot was open.

“Oh shove it Ender,” she said to his remarks, looking to Dora and rolling her eyes. Ender always had something smart to say if you gave him the chance, and it was usually endearing. “But they’re right, we could train over the summer and knock Lestrange from his throne. Hey Rab, do you think you’re a keeper? Or a chaser?” she asked, giving him a grin. Rabastan could probably do either position with ease. It was easy to block a quaffle when you spent your time on a broom chasing around a bludger. "But really, are you using Regulus for target practice? Couldn't you take it out on a Gryffindor?"

[Evan Rosier II]

The gents outnumbered the ladies significantly, and it seemed at least a few of them were protective over their more fragile counterparts. Evan knew why he cared whether Bronwyn and her belongings were harassed by Regulus’ prank, but he watched cockily as Rabastan told off his cousin-in-law on Whora’s behalf. They are totally shagging. Not even subtle about it. Evan opened his mouth to ask after Lestrange’s fiancée just to stir the cauldron a bit, but the older Slytherin instead extended his beater's bat toward him and Evan leapt at the opportunity.

Releasing his gentle hold on Wyn, he rose to his feet and took the bat that was offered to him. It was heavy, but he’d been expecting that. Evan held it in his right hand, feeling the weight and balance of it, then switched to his left and did the same. Giving the bat a few practice swings – far enough from the sunbathing beauties that there was no danger to either them nor the lads, but close enough for him to still be within Wyn’s eyeline. She’d want to enjoy the show as he demonstrated his muscle, he was certain. “Bunny,” he repeated with a snort of laughter as Regulus insulted the older boy. Ender chimed in and Evan pointed the bat at him, a humored expression on his face as he scolded, “oi! Watch it, Parkinson,” before returning to swinging the bat furiously to see how controlled he could be with it.

“Nah, your position’s safe Lestrange, from me at least. I don’t fancy the earful this one’d give me if I messed with the only part of the team that does their job properly,” pausing his swings to thumb at Wyn. “No matter how old and withered you’d be by then. Slytherin’s beaters are the most effective of any of the positions on any of the teams, in my opinion. My Wyn’s gonna go pro after graduation,” Evan remarked as he took up the bat once again and parted the wind with a forceful swing. A group of fifth years made the mistake of walking past their little gang and Evan directed one of his swings in their direction, halting the massive bat before it made contact with chubbiest of the boys but close enough that he tripped over his own feet in startled retreat and let out a yelp. Evan laughed loudly, turning back to his own group to share in the enjoyment his torment had surely created.

“But if you’re looking to train me up this summer, love, how could I resist such a tempting offer? Just the two of us, all sweaty and the like.” He wiggled his eyebrows at Bronwyn, a mix of arrogance and flirtation that he believed he had perfected.

[Euphadora Parkinson]

Her knees felt weak as Rabastan defended her, demanding an apology from Reg for his childish behavior. Dora had already settled the matter in her mind, but hearing Rabby be so forceful and strong, taking charge of the situation…it did things to her. Smothering a smile, Dora turned her eyes upon the offending wizard as he followed his instructions and apologized to her. “Forgiven and forgotten, so long as there’s no more of that sort of play.” She gave Evan a sideways glance, knowing he would likely take personal offense to such demands on behalf of Regulus and make a point of doing something idiotic. She hardly had time to count to five before Evan was whipping Rabastan’s sports bat about like a lunatic. Dora rolled her eyes and shook her head, more amused than annoyed.

As the others spoke of quidditch and how best to fit Evan Rosier into their team, Dora aimed her wand at Rabastan’s back and gave it a complicated little wave. A stream of warm air blew at his back, steam starting to rise as the wet spots evaporated. She picked a few bits of muck and tiny flecks of kelp off his shirt, then ran her hand down his back to be sure she’d gotten it all. When she was satisfied with her work, Dora trailed her fingers playfully across his shoulders and said into his ear, “all done then.”

Settling back into a more relaxed position on the blanket, she put her wand back in her garter, smoothed her skirt, and turned her attention back to the chess match with her brother. “Oh, I didn’t see that. Bugger.” Ender had taken her rook, but her spirits brightened when she noticed an opening and moved her queen into position. Clearly splitting his attention between the larger conversation and their game was giving her an advantage. “Check.” There were only a few directions he could move his king to evade her, but she had time to form a plan while her brother was distracted with talk of sports and training.

Another attack on random passersby by Evan drew her attention once again from the chessboard, but looking beyond the bully and his playthings, Dora spied some familiar – and welcomed – faces. She waved them over, raising her voice so they could hear her over Evan’s cruel laughter. “Come, join us. We desperately need more feminine energy.”

[Rabastan Lestrange]

Funny how Regulus's confidence grew the closer he got to Bronwyn's protection. To be sure, as the team's Beaters their role was protective as much as it was anything else - intimidation and offense, mainly, both of which they carried with aplomb - but the friendship between the younger players could easily be a distraction. Something to bring up, yet again, to their captain. At least he had yet the sense to follow through on direct orders, and shame enough for his pale face to flush red in embarrassment at being called out; Euphadora, for her part, took the apology well enough for Rabastan to drop that piece of the issue. But had they still been alone, the boy would have known instant regret for his next words - attempting to call out his actions as an excuse, when their Seeker sought him out - insulting his distance from captainship, a post he did not seek - and that name. It was one thing to hear "Bunny" from Bellatrix or his brother, as there was little he could do about it, and it was delivered with their family's brand of affection. But here, by this child, in this company? He glowered, and the boy was lucky for the distraction of Evan taking a position on their team, Euphadora's redirecting touch. Even as Evan laughed at the name - he took up the bat with intention, and a number of promising swings, and would hopefully know better than to repeat it.

"If you'd wanted coddling, you wouldn't have come to me," he leveled at Regulus before turning fully. He stretched his shoulders and back under Euphadora's attention and care, relaxing as well as you could with a back to such a tangled pit. You never quite knew, with their lot, which conversations were idle chatter and which would grow legs. Regulus's remarks about him being an old man by next term were, obviously, another attempt to get under his skin. What would be the purpose of removing him from a position that he had had for years, in a year that would surely be the height of his fitness and expertise? Bronwyn was teasing, she was simply teasing, the smile in her voice said enough for him to shake it off, same as Euphadora's brother. But he gave a roll of the eyes at her last. "There's not trouble in paradise, is there?" Rabastan prodded, eyeing her and their younger teammate over his shoulder. "Wouldn't that be a pity. Why he asked me and not you is between the two of you, I want no part in it."

His position secure - Evan knew what was best for him, properly complimenting their established partnership even with the egging on of the others to take his place - and Euphadora's whispers in his ear, Rabastan moved to sit beside her. He stretched his legs and settled with a hand at her opposite hip, watching with amusement as Evan enjoyed the bat. He raised a brow to Bronwyn at Evan's declaration - not in surprise at the thought, she was a bloody fine Beater and, had she been born to a lesser family, perhaps such a thing could actually happen. But the way her boyfriend spoke? It was as if it was a done deal. One that her father would never stand for. Of all those he worked with on the pitch, Rabastan had the highest hopes for her when it came to her graduation; competing professionally was a doomed endeavor, but he could see Bellatrix molding her in their work. While it would surely take convincing for the senior members of the Nott family to agree for the girl to join them in combat - it was a noble endeavor, and they needed those with skill and drive such as she possessed. "Train for Chaser for next year, get your foot in the door," he advised, squinting against the sun as he looked up at the younger boy. "Who knows? Maybe these ingrates will get their wish, I'll take a bad fall, and you can rise to the occasion anyway."

He looked to the game of chess between the Parkinsons, grinning as she started backing the other into a corner. He settled in, looking across to Ender in playful challenge, certainly not above lending advice to the girl should his king make an escape. She had her eye on everything, Euphadora did, and he looked to her wave to see Charles and Lydia on their way over. He gave a wave of greeting to his adversary on the pitch, it wasn't his fault he was shackled to the silly girl, no more than it was for himself and Annette. The difference, however, seemed to be Lydia's want to actually follow through with whatever arrangement their parents made. It would be easy enough for Charles down the line, at least - this one would be placated by sparkling wine and pretty things, if ever a girl could be. "Hardly, we're just getting started," he jested. "You'd better start preparing your team, Selwyn, we've got a new recruit."

[Regulus Black]

Coddling? When had he ever asked to be coddled? Just because he'd been born with a silver spoon in his mouth    And Rabastan had nothing to stand on, Dora was fixing him up as if he'd thrown the other boy into the lake! The lad's face soured and he pressed the cold stone to his face. There was little to gain against him when Rab was in a mood, and perhaps he should've just kept walking when the other had diverted, neither of them yet cooled off from their bout on the pitch. But at least here, there were friends. Ender and Wyn knew what was what, and the grins from the pair of them, along with the coolness of the stone, helped Reg settle in among them. He laughed along with Ender's jokes - the best kind had more than a bit of truth to them, didn't they? - and couldn't stop grinning, glad his elderly relative was hearing as such from others, not just him. Evan looked right at home, the club whistling through the air, and while it'd started as something of a joke - they really were onto something, eh?

He sent Wyn a grateful smile as she came to his defense, however short-lived it was. What was Bunny on about? There was nothing wrong - either of their team's Beaters should have been able to be trusted today, and clearly, he'd made the wrong call. But to insinuate that something was amiss between him and one of his closest friends? Just because he'd figured Rab would be free, and Wyn might not be? Wyn had a boyfriend, and friends. Rab...well, Rab had himself. Euphadora too, by the looks of things. And a betrothed who lived a life of her own, all for the better, away from his relative's stench. "He's talking out of his arse, as usual," Reg tried not to sputter, rock dropping as he turned to her. "I won't make the same mistake twice, trust me."

Evan resolved to not take Rab's spot from under him, although now that the idea was planted, Reg would be tending it as much as he could. Evan would make a grand Beater, and even if he had to hear my Wyn from him day in and out, something that raised the hair on his neck just a tad - it'd be worth it. He laughed along with the bloke as he nearly took out another student, and gave a halfhearted wave to the newcomers, preferring to prod Ender's leg with the toe of his trainer. "Taryn coming around?" His mate's on-and-off girlfriend was an old friend who, while having wound up in an unfortunate House, spent enough time with Ender that he could sometimes forget they weren't housemates. And it was only fair for her to partner with Ender for the chess match, if Euphadora now had an assist.

[Lydia Avery]

"...just one more and I'll put it away, Charlie, let's see...charm for dancing feet* - incantation and origin?" Lydia pressed the open book to her chest, looking up to her beau as they walked the grounds. She'd finagled a few bits of helpful charmwork on her bag to lighten the extra books she kept on her these days, but it still hit against her leg at each step. Charlie's O.W.L.s were almost upon them, two whole weeks of testing that she did not envy, and while she'd prefer for their time together to be spent more pleasurably - she had to do everything she could to help him excel, as he most certainly was going to! There was such pressure put upon the O.W.L.s, and even more would come for them when it was time for N.E.W.T.s, and no matter how innately gifted a wizard or witch was - the pressure! It was her duty to help him on his way to success, and if the extra studying now helped her next year as well? No harm in that, I should think.

With all of the extra quizzing, Lydia wouldn't be surprised to find out later that he'd thought of her during his exams, and she hoped that would only enhance his efforts. They were perceived as a unit now, the successes and embarrassments of one shading the other, and for her part, Lydia couldn't be more proud. She rarely needed to muster enthusiasm for a deluge of information on dragon-rearing, and while he wouldn't shy away from defending her, an out-of-the-blue brawl like the one last term was - hopefully - a thing of the past. For all the problem solving that he could do with his fists and his wand, Charlie could do just as much with his mind, and she didn't want anyone to forget that he belonged in his House.

She turned from him at the call of a familiar voice, and beamed at Euphadora's wave and welcome. And what a...merry, interesting group she was with! Euphadora, with the younger Lestrange at her elbow, across from dear Ender, a sparse chess board between them. Winnie with parchment and books, Regulus with a purple eye. Evan...with a Beater's bat. Merlin save us. Exchanging an amused look with Charlie, feet diverted towards the lot, and she gave the boy at her side a kiss on the cheek before tucking her skirt under her and nestling in beside Euphadora, books packed away.

"What would you have me do, darling?" Lydia laughed, gesturing towards the sparse wildflowers by the lake's edge and looking between Winnie and Dora with glee. "Weave crowns for these boys to tame them?"