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Post by Frank Longbottom on Sept 7, 2008 14:30:40 GMT -5
Frank swallowed hard when she said that she put her name in the Goblet of Fire. He was proud of her for doing so, but then he also became extremely worried. What if something happened to her? He knew that he would go crazy. This was insane for him to be thinking about these things already. Alice had a good head on her shoulders, and she was also one of the best students he knew. She was going to great, and Frank knew that he was going to have to show his support now, and if she was chosen.
"Well, we'll practice you your non-verbals to make sure that you can concentrate with things going on around you. I'm sure that won't be a problem." Frank gave her a smile. "And congratulations on putting your name in the cup! We'll practice hard enough to make sure that you know everything you need to know and are excellent at it, although I have no doubt that you will."
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Post by Alice Prewett on Sept 7, 2008 14:42:18 GMT -5
Alice blushed at the compliments and support he gave. She knew it was going to be hard work and a real challenge if she even was selected. And if not then no harm was wasted in placing her name in the goblet. She definitely needed to practice the things she was weakest in as well as make sure she stayed strong in those she was well versed. Luckily she had over six years of school learning to back her up one way or another, and of course she knew she could rely on Frank to support her... as long as he was actually around more than he had been.
"Thanks, I am really nervous about it though. If I get picked that is, I know it's really going to be dangerous and probably as hard or harder than any of my NEWTs combined. I have to work on casting under pressure and thinking on my feet. I think learning protection spells will be good for both of us though, after all we still have to think about our classes." She hadn't noticed him in class much but probably because he'd been at the back of the room lately and the first one out the door. She hoped from now on he'd sit near her again, they had always worked well together.
"Which should we start with first? Or... should we go outside to practice better? I'm tired of studying theory from books to be honest." She said it with an inquiring look and waited for him to decide, and realized she really had missed talking to him. She tried not to let her mind wander back to the kiss though and her thigh was feeling warm next to his but she tried to ignore its effects but still enjoyed testing the waters of being near him.
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Post by Frank Longbottom on Sept 7, 2008 14:58:49 GMT -5
Giving a chuckle Frank tilted his head sideways as he looked at her. "I guess we could go outside and practice. But I won't go easy on you." He gave her a playful wink, just like he used to. Frank liked the feeling her sitting this close to him. He wouldn't mind her closer meaning his arms around her, but he knew that it would be sort of awkward. Frank still was unsure if she felt as strongly about him as he did her.
He 'accidentally' bumped his leg against hers again before letting it rest against hers once again. Frank didn't show any reaction to it, other than trying to hide a smile that threatened to spread on his face.
"Come on. We'll go on outside. It's nice out, well judging from what I saw out the window on my way here." Frank slowly and regrettably stood up from sitting down beside Alice.
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Post by Alice Prewett on Sept 8, 2008 8:01:00 GMT -5
Alice acutely felt his leg move against hers before resettling against hers again. She felt like someone had set off an electricity charm racing through her body and she inwardly groaned. It was one thing to tease, it was something totally different when she was the recepient even if she wasn't aware of it.
When he decided to go outside she smiled. The library was nice and all if you were say.. a Ravenclaw and liked stuffy old libraries with a bunch of musty old books. But Alice preferred to be outside where she could get some fresh air, sit under a tree or in the sunlight and just relax. Not that they would be relaxing, she knew, especially with a challenge like he'd issued on not being easy. But then again she liked a challenge.
Alice remembered the last time they had been paired up in dueling classes last year and she had managed to beat him. He'd always been a great dueler, often times one step ahead of her though she always managed to sneak in a few surprises now and then to give him a good run. But their last duel he'd gotten distracted by something, though she still never was able to figure out what and won that match when he'd ended up dangling upside down before she'd transfigured him into a toad like his beloved pet. She tried not to giggle at the memory that snuck up on her. She didn't beat him often and she'd enjoyed the moment immensely.
But she knew that even in practice he was a formidable and compitant caster for his age, and if he was not being easy on her than she'd have a good challenge and she thrilled. It was one of the things she really enjoyed about their friendship, that he didn't treat her differently because she was a girl or his friend. He treated her as an equal as they really were truely a match in power for one another. It had become a game between them over the years of who could manage to outdo the other. And yet they had always supported each other and been happy when the other had triumphed at anything.
"You know me, if it's nice out I'm gonna enjoy it. Even if it is at your expense." She teased him laughing a the challenge in her voice for him knowing he'd not be easy on her. She liked that about him. What she didn't realize is how her voice turned almost husky as she said, "Besides if I beat you, you're going to get to be my pet again." She had meant it as a joke referring to their last duel with him as a toad... but as she spoke she was thinking of something else entirely, the least of which was kissing him back into a prince, and then the thought of kissing him flooded back to her. Not that she would, she wasn't about to make that mistake of akwardness again, but the idea crossed her mind at that moment and she grinned mischievously at him. She had enjoyed that kiss. She saw him look a bit flustered though he was obviously trying to hide it at her words as she stood up beside him and then picked up her book.
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Post by Frank Longbottom on Sept 8, 2008 12:00:01 GMT -5
Frank laughed. "At my expense? You mean, we'll have fun at your expense. I'm not going to let you turn me into another toad. That time you left me as a toad for the rest of the day!" He put his arm around her shoulders like he used to as they left the library. The events from earlier where still fresh in his mind, however it felt like a distant memory.
Alice didn't say anything about what happened earlier, so he didn't bother to mention it either. "I've studied twice as hard this year and I've been practicing some different things, so I hope that you'll be on your toes while we duel. And I know that you already know that you don't need to take it easy on me, but I'm just repeating what you already knew. Plus, it might be the other way around. You might be my pet this time." Frank gave her a playful grin and removed his arm from her shoulders to open the door to go outside for her.
The memories of their last duel started to form in his head. Alice could distract him when she didn't even realize it, but this time, he decided that he wasn't going to let her distract him. After all, he had to provide a challenge for her, because out of the people in the school, Alice would probably be the best challenge, other than the professors of course.
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Post by Alice Prewett on Sept 8, 2008 12:27:06 GMT -5
Alice laughed enjoying the challenge thrown back at her and enjoyed even more his arm around her, not that she was going to say anything about it or it might end. She was enjoying his company and didn't want anything to spoil the mood, besides she really enjoyed his company.
As they walked out the door she teased him about his obvious stumbling of words.. "Well I know that you know that I know that you know that I think you make a better pet than me." She laughed harder, she had almost forgotten how much she enjoyed teasing him too. But she also now missed his arm around her as the walked outside the castle and towards the lake.
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Post by Frank Longbottom on Sept 8, 2008 14:35:30 GMT -5
Frank looked at her confused for a moment and stopped walking. He scratched his head trying to make since of what she just said. "Hold on for a moment," he said once he stopped. He tried to make sense of the whole 'I know, that you know, that I know' sentence. Frank shook his head. "Never mind, I got it. I just had to repeat what you just said a couple times in my head to understand what you just said." He gave a chuckle and started walking forward again.
He took a sideways glance at Alice. For a few seconds he took in the way her hair fell around her shoulders and how it had a slight bounce to it as she walked. Frank wanted to run his hands through her hair to see if it was as soft as it looked, but he knew that it would be awkward if he just randomly reached up and touched her hair.
As they arrived at the lake, Frank pulled out his wand and counted several paces away from Alice. He gave her another boyish grin before bowing to her. "Shall we?"
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Post by Alice Prewett on Sept 8, 2008 15:12:28 GMT -5
Alice faced him and raised her own wand towards him with a twinkle in her eye, her fingers gracefully holding the oak handle with a practiced sturdy ease. She knew this was going to be difficult at the very least but she was already enjoying the chalenge she saw in his face. The sun shone on his brown hair and sunkissed skin, at that moment he looked playful and yet with a steely determination that she admired. He was Apollo himself poised for battle and she couldn't wait to bring him to his knees.
Alice took only a moment before going on the offense, trying to catch him before he expected her to react. "Avis Oppugno!" She said aloud with a firm voice as a flock of birds were conjured from her wand and went straight towards Frank to attack him. She had started with a verbal spell just to get warmed up, after all it had been since last term the last time they'd dueled one another and she wasn't ready for it to be over just yet.
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Post by Frank Longbottom on Sept 8, 2008 15:40:29 GMT -5
Frank quickly eyed the birds that were coming towards him. He thought about exploding the birds, but that would be a little to easy for Alice to attack him again. The thought of sending the birds back to her made him grin. "Protego," he said with a flick of his wand, deflecting the birds from him.
Alice was on her toes, and he admired that. This was going to be the best duel from them yet.
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Post by Alice Prewett on Sept 8, 2008 16:00:34 GMT -5
"Impedimenta!" Alice said in reaction as her wand flicked towards the birds. They froze in mid-air only a split second before being knocked back falling headlessly to the ground around the two casters. He had deflected her first attack and turned it against her using the birds as projectiles reflected from his shield.
She paused for a brief second but only long enough to cast another spell. This time she silently cast the spell 'Incarcerous!' She thought in her mind while rotating her wand in Franks direction visualizing a rope wrapping around his wrists and ankles like snakes from the ground.
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Post by Frank Longbottom on Sept 8, 2008 16:06:37 GMT -5
Damn, she was casting a nonverbal one, Frank could tell by the look on her face. He didn't have to react before he felt rope wrapping itself around him. Frank called out Protego again, causing a shield to ward off the robes. He looked to Alice and raised an eyebrow.
"Expelliarmus," Frank shouted as he concentrated aiming his spell at Alice. He knew that it would disarm her and make her fly back, or maybe if she was quick enough, she would block it. Frank hoped that she would go with the second choice, but who knew what Alice would do?"
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Post by Alice Prewett on Sept 8, 2008 16:22:49 GMT -5
Alice was thinking on her feet and the first thing that came to mind as soon as she heard Frank casting his progeto charm again was to cast a switching spell she'd recently learned from her transfiguration book to distract him by changing places with him.
Suddenly the two of the duelers swapped places with the just as Frank released his Expelliarmus spell which was now headed in the direction of where Frank now stood instead of Alice. She looked confused realizing what had happened managing to distract herself as her own spell glitched just a moment and she was facing backwards away from him.
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Post by Frank Longbottom on Sept 8, 2008 16:36:07 GMT -5
Frank didn't realize what Alice had done until he was hit with his own spell. He put too much power in the spell because it knocked him backwards. He landed with an 'oof' sound as he landed on his back. For a second, the wind was knocked out of him, but he stood up and shook it off. Alice wasn't going to get away that easily. She was going to pull non-verbals, then so could he. This had started to become a well played game.
He quickly concentrated and flicked his wand. Impedimenta!
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Post by Alice Prewett on Sept 8, 2008 17:59:06 GMT -5
Alice tried to turn around to face her opponent but as she took a step towards him he had come to his feet quickly and cast a silent spell. Alice was suddenly knocked back to the ground. She hadn't expected him to recover so quickly and had let her moment of weakness to go to his aid and instead ended up flat on the ground herself. Her head hit the ground with force and although not seriously injured she was stunned and unmoving on the ground. Her wand fallen nearby and her eyes closed, the wind had been knocked out of her and her breathing was ragged. She looked unconscious laying there on the ground her brown hair spread around her like a dark halo spilling in a puddle.
The clouds in the sky had been building during the duel and now threatened to pour down rain as she laid there motionless on the ground.
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Post by Frank Longbottom on Sept 8, 2008 18:53:23 GMT -5
Frank watched as Alice fell. He knew that she normally got right back up, however this time she didn't. She wasn't moving and Frank immediately felt horrible. Most of the time he didn't realize how much power he put behind his spells, and this was one of those times. He moved quickly and nearly tripped himself running over to her.
He slid across the grass on his knees as he reached her. Frank didn't even notice the skies darkening, he was to concerned about Alice. "Alice," he said worriedly. He noticed that she was still breathing but it was like the wind got knocked out of her. Slowly, Frank reached down and brushed his hand over her face. "Alice."
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Post by Alice Prewett on Sept 8, 2008 19:21:36 GMT -5
Alice kept her eyes closed as she became more aware of what was going on again and just tried to breathe. She realized that Frank was there now and his hand was brushing over her face and saying her name. She didn't respond though her head was still whirling a bit but not necessarily from the fall. Her breathing was still rough as she tried to catch her breathing but him touching her was distracting... He'd won the duel but she had to get him back somehow she though mischievously but her face never showed it. She still looked as if she was lying there cold to the world. She might as well get some enjoyment from her own discomfort even if he had had won fair and square. It began to rain then....  |
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Post by Frank Longbottom on Sept 8, 2008 19:39:33 GMT -5
Frank frowned as Alice didn't respond. He knew that she was OK because she was still breathing. Maybe she was just laying there to catch her breath or something. If she didn't wake up in a few moments, he would pick her up and rush her to the Hospital Wing.
He touched her hair as he brushed it off her forehead. "Alice," he said again. Frank shook her gently. "Alice."
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Post by Alice Prewett on Sept 8, 2008 19:49:24 GMT -5
The rain began to pour but Alice ignored it. She was going to enjoy catching him off guard like he had her only without spells this time. Alice tried not to show any emotion on her face. Frank was starting to sound really worried as he brushed the hair from her head saying her name urgently.
In the blink of an eye she quickly reached up grabbing his wrists and tried to tackle him to the ground with his hands above their head. As she did her eyes opened and she began to laugh at his initial startlement being caught off guard as he easily fell to the ground at first...
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Post by Frank Longbottom on Sept 8, 2008 20:01:37 GMT -5
Frank wasn't expecting what was about to happen next. Before he knew it, he found himself on his back, with his hands pinned above his head. He raised his eyebrow. "Alice," he exclaimed. He should have been mad at her for causing him to worry, but he couldn't bring himself to be mad at her. He attempted to give her a stern look, but it turned into a look of slight amusement.
He quickly flipped her over and began to tickle her. Frank loved to her her laughter. Alice wasn't going to freak him out and get away with it. Oh no. Who would be if he just let her get away with it? "You're really mean, you know that?" Frank felt like he used to around her. He was comfortable and not awkward feeling.
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Post by Alice Prewett on Sept 8, 2008 20:25:15 GMT -5
Alice giggled and squirmed under him laughing as he began to tickle her. Dang him to pieces, he knew she was so ticklish too! She tried to escape but to no avail he was physically stronger than her and could hold her there like a kitten without her wand no matter how hard she struggled to escape. Not that she really minded she conceded to herself. She could feel the length of his body on top of hers and he was straddling her to hold her down as his fingers tickled along her lower sides and hips where he knew she was most ticklish.
In between gasps of laughter, she tried to get out the words "ha.. I... haha... know... hehehe... but you... ahahah... deserved... hehahaheee.... it!!" She giggled her eyes wide with laughter and her body writhing beneath his hips as he tickled.
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