Practice Makes Perfect [Open]

[Derek Ritcher]

Derek landed on the ground hard and reached up one hand to catch the Quaffle before it touched the snow-dusted grass beneath his shows. With a grunt, he rolled the shoulder of his free arm forward and then back. He felt the restriction in the tendons there and muttered about it throwing him off balance as he shouldered his broom and started off for the equipment shed to lock up the practice ball. Shaking his head back to keep the snow out of his eyes, the Slytherin Quidditch Captain surveyed the lawns of Hogwarts, including the Quidditch Pitch almost as if they were his kingdom. And in a way, he supposed in the back of his mind, they were. That was where he performed the best, and always had been, the physical aspects.

He shook his head and resolved to write home to his mother and father about the improvements his Potions score had been having since he'd bit the bullet and asked the Head Girl to tutor him. Derek wasn't sure what he'd have to do in exchange for Heather yet but he had promised her that whatever she asked of him later on, he would do. He ran his hands through his hair in slight exasperation about Rory's reaction when she'd been in the Three Broomsticks with him and the rest of the team. She hadn't talked to him since. Had he been acting weird that day? He wasn't sure, he'd just been trying really hard to live up to the new expectations the Head of Slytherin had been asking of him.

Grunting, Derek hauled open the large door and stepped into the entry way of the castle, shaking snow out of his hair again and kicking it off his boots. Once he was cleaned off enough to keep himself from being accosted by the Caretaker, Derek strode off down the stairs, intending to sneak into the kitchens to get something to eat and then hole up in the Common Room for a little while.
    

[Heather Dawson]

Heather came walking down the grand staircase and spotted a familar figure causing snow to fly around the large door. Carrying a few books in her arms, she found herself staring after Derek for longer than she would have normally done. Ever since the conversation in the Three Broomsticks she felt closer to him. However, she didn't know if it was out of worry for the state he got himself into or perhaps something else. Heather looked down at her watch and thought Derek must have finished early at Quidditch practice on the lawns. After their arguement the other day she wanted to make amends and was originally on her way down to see what all this fuss was about the sport.

Looking up Heather noticed Derek had gone, noticing the passage down the stairs Derek took Heather cleared her throat loudly. "I don't believe students should be entering the kitchens Mr Ritcher."

[Derek Ritcher]

Derek started and turned back, looking behind himself and smiling when he recognized the person shouting at him. "We all have snuck into the kitchens at one point or another, Miss Dawson. Even you at one point, first year, which you refuse to talk about, even though I was with you." He teased her, leaning his broom against the wall and casting a quick shrinking charm over it so he could stow it away in his pocket until he got it back to his dorm room. "Shall I invite you to join me for a snack? Growing boys need them after all."

[Heather Dawson]

"I don't know what you are talking about Mr Ritcher and I would like to remind you of the danger from rumours." Heather attempted to say with a straight face crossing her arms in front of her chest still clutching her books. She brushed a strand of her curly blonde hair now failing at holding back a smile. "Well I originally came down to take you up on your offer... to watch you play Quidditch, you know see what all the fuss is about." Heather looked away, this was ridiculous. She has known Derek since the first train journey to Hogwarts where they connected. Connected in a love/hate relationship that continues to this day.

[Derek Ritcher]

Derek approached the blonde girl and gently relieved her of more than half her books. "Well, I'm afraid you took a little longer than necessary to get down to the Pitch; I've finished training for the night and it's a bit too cold to go back out. But if you want, another day, I'll take your for a broom ride." He offered, waving a hand to indicate 'ladies first'.

[Heather Dawson]

Heather muttered a thanks to the slytherin for helping her with her collection of books. She smiled and laughed at his offer, "sounds lovely but you know how I feel about flying. It was the only classes you mocked me for not being good at. Anyway I didn't know how long practices last, I forget about the time but thought I could have caught you." She trailed off not wanting to sound pathetic, she knew it was a stupid idea to have comind down there. She would have been so out of place therem that's why she never attended matches. Heather smiled warmly at Derek and moved forward to head down to the dungeons.

[Derek Ritcher]

"Hey don't be silly. I think with the right guiding hand, you can learn to handle a broomstick like a pro." He winked at her at the double-entendre and pulled her into a one armed hug as he walked with her towards the kitchens. "And don't yell at me but I am starving. Join me for a bit and don't dock me points? Please?" Derek pleaded with her half-joking as he reached up and tickled the pear in the bowl.

[Heather Dawson]

Heather couldn't help but laugh at Derek's comment, "oh yes as I'm sure you handle one very well." Heather snaked her hand around his lower back when he hugged her and looked up at him attempting to look serious. "Hmm are you trying to bribe the head girl? You could be placed into detention for that." She moved off ahead of him leading the way down the opened frame flashing a smile at him.

[Derek Ritcher]

"Yeah, I suppose I am trying to bribe you. But the House Elves make the best chocolate eclairs I've ever hand... except my Mum's, but she won't send them to me. Says she doesn't want me getting spoiled and big headed... and using them to seduce girls and give her grandchildren too early." He laughed quietly to himself as he rubbed the back of his neck and snagged a sandwich from one of the platters being carried to another part of the kitchen and followed the blonde girl wherever she led him. "Can you get my friend some of those really tasty eclairs, please? I think she'll like them." He asked one of the squeaky voiced elves.

[Heather Dawson]

Heather laughed "too late, you already have the biggest head in the castle. Anyway since when do you not charm and attempt to seduce girls? At least your mother has sense to not fal for your boyish charms." She accepted a large delicious looking eclair from a small house who made a little bow to her, thanking the elf she took a bite. "Mmm you're right they are very tasty," Heather politely responded feeling self conscious as a squirt of cream stuck to the side of her lip. She moved forward and offered Derek a bit, wondering if she could tempt him.

[Derek Ritcher]

"Since... well I don't charm and attempt to seduce you... you and I are good friends though, right? I mean, I know you're far too smart to fall for my usual charms with girls." He said, elbowing her lightly as he watched her bite into the eclair. He looked down at the rest of the eclair she was offering him and leaned down to like the cream stuck to her lip. "Mmm, yes, tasty." Derek answered with a playful wink.