The Broomracer Chronicles PV Lillian McMason

^{@Ellie Randensmith}
@Simon Kincaid
Lillian just remembered that she was on the waiting list for Gryffindor Broom Racer. It shouldn't be the kind of thing you forget when you have been hinting to your mother all summer that you can handle responsibility. That was the reason she didn't go to camp. Although deep down, she knew that she was too shy to enjoy herself there. There was probably way too many people who had attended. But, with all the back to school excitement, she had forgotten that her mother gave her permission to sign up.
So, Lillian needed to study broom racing stuff. Earlier, she quickly did her History of Magic homework in the Gryffindor Common Room, and didn't check the facts with the textbook. She just prayed that she knew the stuff well enough, and that she wouldn't get a bad grade.
So, here she was now at the Broom Racing section in the Library, ready to study. Lillian had brought a quill and a sheet of parchment for a few notes. She noticed a few books of that section were missing, but hopefully it wasn't a problem.
She grabbed a few to take with her to the table in the back. Lillian often sat there because she was less likely to get distracted by other students. The top scarlet-covered book that she was holding caught her eye. It said that it had something about why the Ancient Wizards started Broom Racing. She turned to the page, since she could never resist some good history, and started reading while she walked. Lillian wasn't watching where she was going too much, but it was okay since she knew her way there.
She didn't notice anyone there, because the book was too close to her face. With one hand, she sat her books, quill, and parchment on the table. Lillian sat down, and then turned to a page earlier in the book, showing how to make quick dodges.
Lillian quickly wrote on her paper:

When needed to make quick dodges help balance or unbalance your weight by leaning.

Then she picked up a second book about spells commonly used in broom races, to look for a shock absorbent charm to charm a broom with. Lillian sucked on the tip of the quill and looked hard for the answer.

Simon was in mid-paragraph in one of his books when the girl sat her things upon the table's surface, one by one, distracted by a book, before sitting down herself. He glanaced up at her and then to the remaining tables nearby, not minding at all that she was sharing the space but also a little confused as such. Being so new into the school year, most of Hogwarts was still out and about enjoying games of tag or socializing on the Grounds of the castle in their free time and would discover the Library on a chilly or rainy day that they had yet to have.

Simon's eyes read over the titles of her books and noticed that she too was looking into the sport of broom racing and he wondered if her books would get confused with his books - which was fine, but he didn't want to bring confusion to anyone. He thought about perhaps sliding his books closer to him but he didn't want to appear as though he didn't want to share the space because he truly didn't mind.

Rascal, either catching notice of the things set down on the table or sensing another's scent, sniffed the air and wriggled out of the Hufflepuff scarf that rested on the edge of the table near Simon which the small adorable rat had been using as sleeping quarters and seemed curious now at their visitor.

Simon figured he was just flipping around, taking upon yet another sleeping position, and decided to go back to his reading. He'd at least finish the page and then perhaps say something to the girl - a friendly greeting. She looked like she was focused and he didn't want to interrupt her concentration.

Meanwhile, the small gray pet rat of Simon's was now making it's way down the table leg, to the floor, over to where the girl's chair was, and found himself up into her lap. If he wouldn't be noticed yet, he would take a spot right on her book, curious to get a higher look at maybe their new friend.

^{@Ellie Randensmith}
@Simon Kincaid
The yucky taste of old feather got Lillian out of her concentration for a moment. She wrinkled her nose and swallowed a couple times. If I keep doing that I am going to have to get myself some sugar quills, she thought disapprovingly to herself. But, she wouldn't actually. Lillian would never dream of breaking rules, except for the time she got roped into going to the forbidden forest with a Ravenclaw boy. And, she was too shy, and didn't have any close friends to ask them to buy some for her.
Once Lillian was done glazing off, she glanced at her paper and realized that she hadn't put labels on it. Lillian liked things organized, so she titled and dated all of her papers, to make them easier to find later. And, maybe if her name was on it, it would have a better chance to be returned if she lost it.
The top of her paper now read:

Notes on Broom Racing

Lillian S. McMason
9/4/25

Lillian turned back to the book she was holding open with one hand, and saw a cute little gray rat! Her eyes widened in surprise, as she looked to where it might have came from. But, she was searching out of caring for the rat and its owner, not because she was scared. Quite the contrary. Lillian had held rats a few times and they were nice. Almost as nice as her rabbit.
For the first time, she saw that she wasn't alone. An older Hufflepuff boy was sitting across from her. She hadn't heard anyone come up in the last little while, so there was a possibility that he was there first. Or, Lillian could have been too focused on studying again.
Lillian had met another person, a Slytherin girl, that way, last November around the time of that Thankfulness holiday her Aunt Jenny and Uncle Ralph celebrated in America. Yes, one of her hobbies was learning about holidays. She wondered if there were any broom racing celebrations. Once she glanced back at the book, she remembered the rat and the boy.
She didn't know why she wasn't paying attention as much as usual. Probably because of strain of the first week back. Lillian took a deep breath to gather her Gryffindor courage. "Excuse me, are you missing a rat? There is a cute little gray one right here," she smiled and motioned to the now flat book and the gray rat.

"Mine's right he....." Simon went to say as his hand went to brush over the scarf that was no longer as balled up as it was, indicating to him that Rascal had had made his escape. Simon sighed and nodded. "Mine's no longer here," he said and he smiled. "Let me please apologize for him. His curiosity knows no bounds and he doesn't understand the notion of personal space. Rascal Mackenzie-Kincaid extends out his sincerest of apologies, and wishes you well on your endeavours to learn more about the most noble art of broom racing." Simon was making it jokingly formal.

He took hold of the rat, bringing it off the library book which Rascal protested in a defiant squeak! that sounded nothing like an apology at all to the girl but rather a gruff remark to his owner. "You've got to let people study and focus in the library, mate," Simon said to the rat as he held it eye level to himself. "It's why most people come to the library. We've talked about this. In fact, we talked about it just before leaving the dormitory....remember?"

He set the rat back down on the Hufflepuff scarf and Rascal immediately began turning in circles like a dog and pawed at it, getting it situated just right before lying down again. Simon pet the little rat's head, glad that he was trying to chill again and not bother his tablemate.

"So broom racing? Interest of yours?"

^{By Ellie Randensmith}
@Simon Kincaid

Lillian giggled at the boy's extremely formal apology for the little rat. "It's fine," she said in response to the apology. "I like animals." Lillian really did. She had fun looking at all of the animals at the Magical Menagerie a few weeks ago when she was buying Oreos.
Rascal. It was a good name for the rat if he sneaked off often. He probably did, considering what the boy said to him next. She giggled a second time of seeing him stare into Rascal's little eyes and warn him off of future sneaking away. Lillian found herself giggling a tiny bit odd. She was usually quite solemn. Probably more back-to-school stress.
"Yes," Lillian answered that broom racing was an interest of hers. She instantly knew how he knew it is because he must have glanced at her choice of books, so she wasn't at all unnerved. "Yes, I am on the waitlist. I figured I had better start learning about things so that I have a head start when I am actually on the team." She naturally glanced at her books when talking about them.
That is when she noticed that his books were about broom racing too! What a coincidence! Lillian thought to herself. She decided to ask him about them. It didn't take as much effort to ask a question since they were already talking. "Are you on the team too or something?" Lillian asked gesturing to the books that were nearest him.