Closed I Have So Much To Learn PV Koko Riddle

Date: Wednesday, 11 October 2023
Time: Presumably after classes?
Location: Library

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It was something of a third of the way into October, and Koko had spent most of her time at school so far practising for Quidditch while relishing in the fact that her OWLs were done with. She now had an entire two years to study for NEWTs ─ something she had absolutely no desire to think about, but something that kept popping up in classes.

School had never come easily to her. Even in her best academic subject, Herbology, which she had all Os in, she still had to study extensively to maintain that. Even worse were more difficult classes ─ Koko had to study even more just to get As and Es. It didn't help that Koko despised studying. She did it out of principle, out of necessity, but with the headaches that the steady drudgery of reading gave her, she needed break after break.

As such, it was with a heavy heart and dragging feet that she made her way to the library instead of spending her time doing something more enjoyable.

The Slytherin halfheartedly scanned the shelves for Transfiguration books, her nose wrinkling without her consent as she read title after title. The letters swam on their sides, and she sighed before picking one at random and heading towards the tables.

She sat and opened the book, and it wasn't long before she was furrowing her brow and chewing the inside of her cheek. She fiddled with the sleeve of her green jumper while she tried to make sense of the words, and eventually, she realised she was angrily twisting the heel of her boot into the ground. Deciding that was rather unproductive, she shut the book quietly before having a look around her.

The library had emptied out during her struggle. She didn't recognise many of the other students who were still in the library, but as she surveyed her surroundings, she noticed a slightly familiar head of pink hair. Was that... Pax Zhang, Gryffindor Quidditch captain?

Koko slowly scooted her chair away from her table and made her way towards her fellow captain, who didn't look as if they were doing too well. Even if Pax just wanted to be left alone, Koko figured it wasn't a bad idea to make sure the Gryffindor was okay.

Once she got near enough to Pax, she would say, with a low, soft voice, 'Hey, er, Pax, Mx Zhang, it's Koko... er. Koko Riddle. Slytherin Keeper. Are you okay?'

She had only just then realised that, maybe, Pax wouldn't recognise her. At least not by voice or by first name. It was the first time she had stumbled over her words like that in a long time, probably since her third year at the latest. If Pax looked up at her, they would likely notice her glancing at either the table or the ground, the tips of her ears dusted red in slight embarrassment.

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@Pax Zhang

They/She

They didn't notice approaching footsteps, but the voice from above them made them jump a little. Wow, they really needed to get better at being more aware of their surroundings, the amount of times this happened. Tilting their head, they were surprised to see an upperclassman checking in on them, especially when they properly processed and recognised the figure.

"Oh... hey Koko. There's no need to introduce yourself though, everyone who's anyone should know who you are. Especially in quidditch."

Was it a bit blunt of them to say this, especially when this was the first time they'd had a proper interaction with the Slytherin co-captain? Yes. But they were too tired to be socially aware of what could be deemed 'acceptable' or right to say by this hour, and they hoped that, if she had spotted the large number of quidditch books spread across the desk, she could sympathise with Pax's overly-competitive spirit.

Looking back at all the tomes and sheets of messily scribbled work they had written out, they pondered the question. Were they alright? In all truth, they weren't fully sure of that answer themselves anymore, so they decided to just answer honestly.

"I'm not really sure," they replied with a sincere smile, not quite matching their words. "I'd hope you're doing better than I am though."

Reducio

Word Count: 220

Mentions: @Koko Riddle

Date: October 11th 2023

Date: 11 October 2023
Time: Late-ish
Location: Hogwarts Library

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The tips of Koko's ears reddened further when she noticed the Gryffindor's slight flinch at her words. She swallowed thickly, the halfhearted studying she had abandoned now seeming almost comforting compared to the awkwardness of simple conversation, but she still stood next to Pax, her ever-present smile beginning to falter.

'...everyone who's anyone should know who you are...'

For whatever reason, that segment of Pax's greeting made her heart drop and the blood in her veins run cold. Koko's smile had finally left her face by the time Pax finished speaking. She wrung her hands in front of her. For all her ambition, all her perfectionism, she had never quite wanted that. She had been so removed from her schoolmates for quite some time that she didn't really know what they thought of her, that she had assumed no one really thought of her at all, which was a comforting thought. The idea that Pax, at least, thought otherwise was rather unwelcome.

She hummed a quiet acknowledgement of their words. She was frowning slightly, her brow furrowed as if she were a bit distracted, her amber eyes narrowed a noticeable amount – but nothing in her expression was malicious. She just had to think.

Instead of looking at Pax, she let her gaze drift to the table at which they sat. Some of the books littered across the table were rather familiar – titles Koko herself had skimmed at least once or twice while learning theory and strategy for Quidditch. She hadn't looked at theory in quite some time, instead focusing on physical training even when it was unsafe for her to continue doing so. But one could push oneself too much in any sort of study. Judging from the sheer number of books and notes across the table, she wondered if Pax was in the same boat as she was – stuck in an endless struggle of trying to get better, of trying to be the best, of perhaps trying a bit too hard.

Well... Pax was probably smarter than that, Koko reckoned.

Her smile did not return to meet Pax's. She did, however, glance back at them, her gaze likely unreadable. What was she meant to say? 'I hope you feel better'? 'I hope I can help'? After years of avoiding people, she didn't think she would be very helpful.

'Well... NEWT studying hasn't gone well.' Her shoulders rose slightly in a halfhearted shrug, a lazy smile returning to her lips before it was gone almost as quickly as it had appeared. 'And I'm definitely worried about our game against Ravenclaw. But... it's fine.' She folded her hands neatly in front of her.

She almost turned around to begin to put away her Transfiguration books, but instead, she kept her toes on the ground. 'That's a lot of Quidditch reading you've got.' Never the most perceptive, Koko resorted to stating the obvious. 'Would you, maybe, want to talk over some Quidditch things? We're not going against each other for our next game, so maybe I could at least be some sort of sounding board.'

She shut her mouth almost as quickly as she had opened it. As rare as it was that she talked to people about real things like this, she wished she hadn't said anything. But... Quidditch was a lot easier than Transfiguration, and if Pax talked about their game, Koko wouldn't have to think about hers.

'Or I can just leave you to it, that's fine, too,' she said hurriedly. If she were Pax, that would be what she would prefer. Her face once again red, she drummed her fingers against each other as she regretted speaking once again.

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@Pax Zhang

They/She
Apologies for the wait!

Pax had been so caught up in their own problems for so long that the fact that there were students out there with (arguably larger) problems aside from themselves sent a pang of guilt into the pit of their stomach. OWLs and NEWTs had never been on their mind - of course, they'd never had to be recently - but for Koko, this was something prevalent and upcoming.

"Oh. I... I'm sorry to hear that," they managed to say somewhat quietly. They hoped it didn't come across as if they didn't care, more that they were embarrassed to not have realise it earlier.

Expecting her to have lost interest, Pax was pleasantly surprised to hear her continue speaking, and especially pleased to hear her offer her advice for Gryffindor's upcoming game against Hufflepuff. They'd never ever admit it (frankly, they'd deny ever having this thought cross their mind), but to be able to have an external perspective on what they were thinking would offer some clarity and clear their convoluted thoughts.

"If you don't have anything better to do with your time, then I actually would really appreciate that. And, if you'd like, I can try to help with your upcoming game as well. I mean, we're going to have to play Ravenclaw eventually."

Their smile seemed a lot more genuine now, as their previously tense exterior had relaxed and allowed the way for some humour to slip through. They nodded towards an empty chair, offering Koko a seat before sliding across a notebook. "These are some of the ideas I had initially, plus a list of some of Hufflepuff's biggest threats. Let me know what you think, and feel free to be honest. Basically, if it's absolute rubbish, don't hold back."

Reducio

Word Count: 290

Mentions: @Koko Riddle

Date: October 11th 2023

Date: 11 October 2023
Time: Late-ish
Location: Hogwarts Library

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The Slytherin nodded slowly at Pax's acknowledgement of her NEWTs before simply shrugging as she had done before. She didn't have much going for her other than Quidditch; she didn't need a NEWT in anything other than Flying if she were going to pursue Quidditch. That did not mean that studying was not an unwelcome chore, but it did mean that at least Koko wasn't so worried about passing or failing.

Besides, NEWTs wouldn't matter until next year. Not really.

Her nerves faded slightly when Pax seemed to almost relax with her panicked, worried offer of assistance. They even offered their opinion on her thoughts for Slytherin versus Ravenclaw. She emphatically responded, 'Yeah, I can definitely stay here for a bit. And I would also really appreciate your thoughts, too, if that's okay.'

She took the chair Pax indicated and daintily sat in it before leaning over the table to get a better view of the notebook. Their handwriting was not too difficult for even her to read, and she nodded approvingly at some of what she saw. 'Starfish and stick is a really good option,' she said, her voice warm.

She tilted her head slightly and continued to look at their notes. 'Really, if I could suggest anything, and I am definitely biased... but putting more emphasis on the Quaffle might not be a bad idea? Especially going up against Hufflepuff.' A small laugh echoed from her throat. 'Their Quaffle game is honestly enviable.'

'Although,' she added, 'I really like what you've got here for you and Ethan, as Beaters. I think that will work out very well.' The more she looked at it, the more she could definitely see the importance of an aggressive strategy. Defence was also important, but especially when going up against Ethen, who could see the Snitch almost immediately at times... offence was good.

Although the thought of mentioning cheating came to mind, she said nothing about that. Better to keep things clean. Neither Slytherin nor Gryffindor had a reputation as cheaters, she thought, or at least, not anymore. There was something to be said for such a strong adherence to the rules of the game... She respected how Pax's strategy was rather strong while still adhering to the rules. Sometimes that was necessary.

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@Pax Zhang

They/She

As Koko scanned their ideas, Pax found their hand tapping impatiently on the wood of the table with their quill. Dealing with criticism didn't come naturally to them, but the last thing they would want to do was insult an upperclassmen. They understood respect enough for that, but the concept that all of their ideas might be utter BS was just a little too much for them to bear right now.

Consequently, they found themself letting out a short sigh of relief when Koko began with a compliment to their work. "Yeah, well, I figured that keepers rarely are the first target, so it's worth the risk. I suppose you would know, after all."

Hearing their ideas, Pax hummed in agreement, tilting their head with consideration. "That's definitely a fair shout," they admitted. "Between all the houses, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw definitely have the most powerful chasers. No offense to Slytherin, though."

They genuinely meant no offense to the Snakes' chasers or to the Lions' chasers, but the facts simple lay there. Especially as the badgers and eagles held powerhouse chasers such as Lavinia, Cecily and Howard. Going up against them was always a tough challenge.

Pax smiled as Koko touched on their beater game. That at least was one thing they could make sure was honed to perfection in preparation for the game. "Well, when you're up against such a powerful team, making sure we can take out the biggest threats is pretty important. Especially if I'm also going to go down sooner rather than later. I'm sure Slytherin must be similar, no?"

Their smile lessened slightly as they recalled the multiple times they'd been knocked down from their broom without a single hit to their name in that game. Ouch. Those stung.

"But I'll definitely take that into consideration, thanks. Did you want me to have a look through your ideas?"

Reducio

Word Count: 312

Mentions: @Koko Riddle

Date: October 11th 2023

Date: 11 October 2023
Time: Late-ish
Location: Hogwarts Library

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She held back an undignified puff of laughter when Pax suggested that, as a Keeper, she should know that Starfishing and Sticking was worth the risk. They were right, of course – she could count the number of time she'd been targeted on one hand. Nonetheless, she figured that if a Keeper were told to Starfish and Stick, they ought to be good enough at it to make the risk simply negligible.

'None taken.' Having been on the receiving end of Ravenclaw's and Hufflepuff's Chasers, Koko knew that they were objectively very strong. There was no arguing there, and it was simply fact. She could hope that things would change, but she could also know that such change was very unlikely.

She listened to Pax mentioning that it was a good idea to take out the biggest threats, and she nodded. 'That's true...' She paused. Pax was right. She hadn't really thought about it nearly as much as she perhaps ought to, but Beaters were often the first targets. For good reason, as one swing from a bat could change the trajectory of an entire game, but... perhaps it was unfair. She almost wanted to ask what it was like, having to deal with that reality, but instead she simply addressed Pax's assumption about Slytherin. 'At times. Although I do think our Beaters are our greatest assets, and we sometimes take liberties.' In a year, that point would be moot with Erin's graduation. But Erin and Cash were powerhouses, and Koko would be damned if she were to say otherwise.

She did understand what Pax was getting at. She was silent for another moment before she said, quietly, 'What's it like being so vital on the field? As in, being targeted so quickly? I can't imagine it's very fun.'

When Pax asked if she'd like them to look through her ideas, her posture straightened in her chair, and any hint of a smile on her lips dissolved as she tried to avoid seeming surprised, or worse than that, bothered. She'd been trying to avoid thinking about the game, and she had hardly anything written down. Any semblance of an idea was still in her head, waiting to turn into something more tangible. 'I don't have anything concrete, and it's not very innovative or anything, let alone written down,' she admitted, 'but, ah, I think it would be best to play mostly on the defensive. Using bludger defending instead of having both Beaters bludger offensively. Starfish and stick, of course. Having someone on save duty. You know. The usual.'

She shrugged awkwardly, gaze momentarily darting around the library before it refocused on her hands, folded on the table in front of her. 'Again, nothing new. But I'd like to keep most of us conscious this time.'

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@Pax Zhang

They/She

Koko had raised a very good point, but a point that did also somewhat strike a nerve. Pax hated always being the first once down, but yet they often were. Either they were too weak, or the opposing beaters too strong. Regardless, it sucked. They were the captain, for Merlin's sake, but what good were they really when they were a crumpled heap on the ground for most of the game? Useless, would be the truthful answer to Koko's question. However, of course, this wasn't something they were going to say, not to Koko. They weren't really sure she'd get it. She was seemingly so good at her job, after all.

"It's not fun, no," they responded slowly, trying to seem light-hearted about it. "I guess I just try to see the positive side - you know, they see me as a big threat. Someone to KOB quickly.

But keepers are still very important," they followed up quickly, adding a slightly more upbeat tone, quickly changing the topic. "I mean, they can be so versatile, you know? Beaters just stick to what they're good at."

Seeing Koko's expression shift, Pax realised they may have also struck a nerve. "Hey, it's perfectly fine to not have it written down or anything," they chuckled slightly. "And a defensive strategy sounds like a good move if you can afford that. Keeping players conscious is always preferred.

But seriously. You don't need to be worried - Slytherin's a really strong team, and you guys work hard. So I'm sure you'll do great."

Reducio

Word Count: 256

Mentions: @Koko Riddle

Date: October 11th 2023

Date: 11 October 2023
Time: Late-ish
Location: Hogwarts Library

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Koko nodded when Pax admitted it wasn't fun to be targeted so soon, and she wondered for a moment if her question had been too insensitive. 'I mean, yeah. Although I like being a Keeper, wouldn't trade it for the world, I wouldn't be good at anything else, really... we're really just auxiliary compared to the rest of you. I mean, "versatile", sure, we can play the field, but...' She chuckled and sighed. 'I mean, the sheer number of times I just sit idly at the goals. It's not really boring, but it does make you realise you're not all that necessary.'

Well, they were being honest. Or something like that.

They validated her lack of actually having anything written down, which she appreciated, but she couldn't help but feel like she shouldn't have been needing anything validated. She was a sixth year, supposed to be good at this by now, even if she'd not been a captain for as long as some of the others. 'Thanks, I guess. I do prefer to keep everyone conscious when I can; although it's been a while, I can certainly empathise with the pain you get from a bludger. Yeah. Not fun.'

They were a strong team, but that didn't mean the other teams weren't just as strong. Koko cracked a small, still not fully reassured half-smile. 'I guess you're right.' A bit more assuredly, she added, 'As will you — I always like seeing what Gryffindor has to bring to games, as long as they're not against us.' A soft, well-meaning laugh. 'Well, I can leave you to it, unless there's anything else? I'll be around if you want me to look over anything more.'

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@Pax Zhang