Closed Broom Racing Spectator HUFFLEPUFF vs BEAUXBATONS - SUMMER 2023

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The nervous anticipation was back. It was one thing to be facing the other Hogwarts houses, the other schools were a different matter entirely. As Avery settled down in one of the spots with the best vantage point of the course, the newly coined second year couldn't help the nervous bounce of her leg as she waited for the race to kick off. They'd trained hard in the days leading up to the summer match, but it was hard to really say what they should expect from the French team. At least the Quidditch match against Durmstrang later in the month would likely be a little bit more predictable. And unpleasant in an entirely different manner that would most likely involve the hospital wing.

That was another aspect of broom racing she was still having to come to terms with. The unpredictability of it all. The knowledge of which did nothing to help temper her anxious energy as the race finally kicked off. Avery kept a close eye on as much of the race as she could catch, wincing sympathetically with each hit or bite one of her teammates took even as the French fans around her cheered. She just as quickly found herself leaping to her feet to cheer when one of the Hufflepuff racer overtook or landed a hit on a Beauxbatons racer.

Avery remained on her feet as she watched the chaos unfold across the course as racers from both teams remained neck and neck as they neared the finish line. She had to hand it to the French, they were just as relentless as she'd come to realize Hufflepuff's racers were. If nothing else, it made for an intense matchup. Any attempt to try and take mental notes of the match for future training sessions was almost immediately set aside in favor of just keeping up with the chaos. Excitement interspersed with the nervousness as she watched.

Regardless of the outcome, the match was proving to be an exciting watch. Likely less exciting and considerably more painful on behalf of the racers, though. A concerningly common trend with wizarding sports she was quickly coming to realize.

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𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉: - | 𝑴𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈: -

8th July, 2023 Hufflepuff vs. Beauxbatons - Summer Games

Honestly, if it had not been for Simon's amazingly oversized tent and this opportunity for him to race against an international team, for bragging rights, the two of them would have much preferred spending their summer in London or Scotland. It would have gone without saying that they would have spent some of it together. Where would have been the only question.

But...

But Hufflepuff's broom racing team had had an amazing year this year. They had been undefeated this season and Simon had crossed the line first in two out of three of those wins. Team leadership had, much to AngelFyre's chagrin, upped... or downgraded depending on how you felt about it... the Hufflepuff's sportsmanship and plays to a roller derby, no holds barred level of play.

They had both blanched at what was being asked of him and his teammates, but Simon loved to fly, loved the thrill of competition, loved his team, and loved his House Hufflepuff. What he most definitely did not love was Quidditch, so he determined to be the best he could be on the team available to him and would try to influence for the good, when and where he could. Simon had been able to remain fairly true to his sense of fair play. All in all, it worked out and it was kind of hard to not admit that winning results had been effectively produced.

So, it was with a great deal of anticipation for the two that another day for her fellow to shine on his broom was now upon them. He had been practicing so hard, often taking her up with him as he soared and practiced banking his turns at speed. She had even threatened offered to accidentally fall off the broom so that he could practice his Save maneuver, but he absolutely would not budge on that notion, shutting that idea down hard and quick. He made it clear, in no uncertain terms, that he would never risk her in such a move, even with magical healing. Further, he made it clear that if she were to attempt it anyway while riding with him, he would save her keester, of course, and afterwards take her across his knees and give aforementioned keester a good spanking. She tried hard to suppress her laughter at that imagery until his next words made the thought of laughing disappear entirely.

"AngelFyre - I have to know I can trust you up there or I won't take you up with me again. It's up to you whether we ever fly tandem again or not."

She did not have to study him to know he meant it. Simon generally, when serious with her, was still able to project his laid back, easygoing self. Perhaps knowing her as well as he did he knew she was just likely to force his hand on this subject. He was right. She likely would have. But his absolutely no non-sense tone had her believe every word he said, and scaring him was not something she was willing to risk. Nor was the idea that she would not get to fly with him again. Totally unacceptable.

So she had been the good and dutiful girlfriend who spent the summer on the back of his broom and sometimes even at the wheel, so to speak. He was ready for this match. She knew it and she could tell he knew it, too, but even the best can have a bad day.

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The stands were still relatively empty when she arrived, but as she had been sitting there and thinking about their summer, she later noticed they had begun to fill up quickly. She thought Simon would like the sight of the stands from the air as it would mostly be a sea of gold - representing the Hufflepuffs - and a sea of blue, mostly representing Beauxbatons. His two favorite colors. She did not believe in omens, but if she did, that had to be a good one, right?

Right. It had been a good omen.

The game had been a close one. Maybe closer than any they had had that season, but even though there had been some incredible highs and lows... his knees had been reversed at one point... reversed! Why? How was that even a thing? He persevered, but she figured that had to hurt like crazy. Then he got tangled in Devil's Snare and she held her breath, hoping he would remember to simply relax. It was such a counter-intuitive thing to do, but it worked and he freed himself for the photo finish with one of the Beauxbatons racers for the win.

She held her breath, waiting to hear the winner's name, and jumped for joy when the moderator said his name. Simon had done it. OMG! OMG! OMG!

"Way to fly, SIMOO_ooOOOo^OooONnNN!!!"

She almost tossed her sign into the air, but remembered at the last second she still needed it. Racing to get to the clearing in front of the stands, she was acutely aware of the promise she had extracted from him before their parting that morning. As he was about to leave their tent to get ready in the locker room, she ran her fingers through his gorgeous mop and kissed him, wishing him luck. "You totally have this, Mav. I know you do, even if you may have a niggling bit of doubt. I will be in the stands, screaming your name out like the fan girl you totally know I am," and she grinned widely while raising and lowering her eyebrows at him suggestively. "Here. It is sunny out there today. Do not forget these, Top Gun," and she put his sunglasses on, missing the sight of his gorgeous brown eyes immediately.

"Now, off you go. Love you and stay safe. And hey, if you cross that FINISH line first, you keep flying around until you find me, and then you better swoop down and scoop me up so I can give you a right proper congratulatory kiss! I warn you. I may, or may not, be able to contain myself if I have to wait outside of that locker room like some pathetic little groupie, so if you do not want to risk George Henry being the unintended, and unappreciatively, ill-humored recipient of said kiss coming out that door, best you pick me up beforehand, yeah?

So racing as fast as she could to safely get past the throng of fans, AngelFyre made her way against the crowd and was finally able to reach the clearing in front of the stands. She had lost sight of Simon in her effort to get there, so she covered her eyes and scanned the skies, looking for her broom racer extraordinaire. The skies were pretty empty at that point. In fact, she only saw one broom still up there, and the racer had been rather distracted throughout the whole race. At one point, AngelFyre remembered thinking she thought the girl was eyeing Simon... and not from a competitive point of view either... which only made AngelFyre smile. That girl would not be the first nor the last. AngelFyre had long ago come to peace with that notion, but then she got distracted with his knees being turned backwards and forgot about the girl entirely.

Continuing to turn, her eyes still to the sky, AngelFyre looked for her fellow. She was now waving her sign which she had turned around. It simply said:

I LOVE YOU, SIMON

When she spotted him, she was going to hook her finger out as if looking for a ride. She knew that would make him laugh.

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Mentions @Elsa Veronica Bennett as her iNPC Celine Toussant and the threat of kissing @George Henry! Pucker up, George... just in case.