Alohamora [thedookienut/Mimosa - potterverse]

[Mimosa]

"It's a shame Gryffindor didn't beat them a little better " Maks commented. "We'd have had the definite strategic advantage against them."

Across from him, his sister counted off in hushed German, three, two, and then a package fell in her lap. "Huh. I'm getting better at predicting his patterns." A fresh box of guilt trip from Father and a letter in German. She passed the letter to Maks. "Here, brother. Brush up on your German." Then she popped open the box. "Chocolates, anyone?"

[thedookienut]

"We would, but it would be nice to beat them at Quidditch as well as Duelling this year." He smiled at Maks and jumped slightly as the owl dropped it's burden into Liesel's lap. He knew not to ask what it was. Instead, he stayed quiet. He nodded lightly and took a chocolate from the box. He was half suspicious of the items, though knew it was just paranoia and a complete hate for his friends' father. He simply popped the chocolate into his mouth and washed it down with another gulp of pumpkin juice.

[Mimosa]

"As if we haven't got dueling in the bag already, between the two of us," said Liesel. If she had any sense of self-preservation, she'd steer clear of dueling. It was, after all, what had killed her mum. But, from what she'd heard, she was a more intelligent duelist than her mother had been. Ariadne had pursued the fight for the fight's sake, throwing caution to the wind as if she had a death wish. Liesel, on the other hand, had clear goals: retain the upperhand, make the opponent beg for his own destruction, and destroy them.

A perfectly sound philosophy.

And speaking of self-preservation...

A small fact about Liesel that no one has yet called her out on
Whenever her father sends her sweets, she offers them around before taking any herself, just to make sure they're safe. She used to never have a problem with using her friends like this, but recently something has changed.

[thedookienut]

George smirked once more. "So long as last year's Hufflepuff isn't player again. He had Hamilton in the Hospital Wing for at least a week." He soon pushed his cup into the middle and relaxed. He was ready to go whenever everyone else was. He sighed and looked over at Maks. "Anything interesting in the letter?"

[Mimosa]

"Ah, Hamilton, that poor Saukerl. One Impedimenta too late and suddenly, BAM, right in the kneecap."

Maksim, meanwhile, was reading over the letter analytically. "My dearest little girl--"

"Don't read it out loud, Saukerl!" Liesel snapped. "If I'd wanted to know what was in it, I'd have opened it myself."

"Right. Okay." He scanned the letter and smirked slightly. "He misspelled Beinbruch."

"The stupid Arschloch." Liesel couldn't help but smile as well. "As in Hals und Beinbruch? And what exactly is he wishing me luck on?"

"Your induction."

"Ha!" She turned jubilant. "Doesn't he know he's digging his own grave? You Know Who will protect me, and if he ever tries to lay a hand on me again, it'll be bam, right in the kneecap!"

Her joy soon spread to her brother, but Kiera was less than convinced. "Maybe he knows something you don't?"

"Don't say that! You don't know anything, Saumensch!" Quick as she'd become spirited, Liesel turned livid, and Kiera backed down, fearing a smack in the head or worse. "Well, I'm ready for a good match. What about you guys?"

Kiera and Maks murmured their agreement.

[thedookienut]

George frowned and raised an eyebrow. He glanced at Kiera and attempted to understand what she was getting at; not that he could without invading her head. The sudden change of topic was a welcome one. He nodded quickly and thought about standing up. "Should we head outside now?" Anything just to avoid returning to the previous conversation.

[Mimosa]

All Kiera had meant to say was, don't count your chickens before they hatch; if it's too good to be true, it just might be; et cetera, et cetera, but Liesel obviously didn't want to hear it. She wasn't going to let Kiera rain on her parade, even if she had to resort to nastiness, and Kiera quickly took the hint and the subject was dead. Soon equilibrium was reestablished.

I guess she just wouldn't be Lise if we weren't afraid of her sometimes.

"Off we go then," she agreed, standing. Maks folded his father's letter and pocketed it, intent on destroying it thoroughly later, along with the man who'd written it, though that might be quite a bit later.

It was Liesel who led the way outside, hoping to avoid any conversation that wasn't directly about Quidditch or some other safe topic. It was getting warmer out, which was comforting.

They passed the Ravenclaw captain on the way, and Liesel nudged Kiera, grinning. "Tell him Hals und Beinbruch," she suggested, and Kiera did it. Liesel laughed. She nudged George and said, "Did you know the German phrase for good luck translates literally to break your neck and leg in English?"

[thedookienut]

George followed, walking quietly and cautiously as they headed towards the pitch. He was thankful that the familiar blonde haired girl he'd previously been so infatuated with was nowhere to be seen. Yet the instant the blue-clad captain walked past, he felt the all-too familiar sensation on his back. He dropped back a bit, making sure there was a bit of distance between himself and his three friends. "What do you want?" He whispered, knowing that speaking too loudly would encourage his friends to turn around.

Charly smiled, flashing her teeth at him. "Just wanted to know if you were okay. You'll always be my big strong boy really." George rolled his eyes and looked off towards the lake. "What do you want?" He asked again, pulling away from the hand that was wondering in circles along his shoulders. She took a moment to speak once more and moved close to his ear. "Just thought I'd let you know what a real man is like." She pulled back and disappeared into the crowd behind him.

With a groan, he pocketed his hands and walked quickly to catch up with the rest of his friends.

[Mimosa]

"You pronounced it wrong, but that wasn't terrible," said Liesel as she and Kiera made their way to the pitch. "Your German's improving."

"Hey, where'd George get off to?" asked Maks, noticing that the four were now three.

"I don't know," said Kiera, "but is it just me, or does the air suddenly reek of competition?" She looked up in thought as if gauging some sixth sense.

"What do you mean?" asked Maks.

"You're crazy," Liesel snorted.

"You guys wouldn't love me if I wasn't."

"Actually, I despise you," said Maks with a challenging smirk.

"And I barely tolerate you," added Liesel.

"And I," said Kiera, "am sick and tired of having to buy cigarettes for all three of us," as she unpocketed her pack and lit one up, offering one to each of the Dolohovs, who both accepted her offer.

About then, George caught up. "Took you long enough. What was that about?" asked Maks, while Liesel offered,

"Cigarette?"

Kiera shot her a fake glare. "Excuse me, have we forgotten who's providing here?" she snapped, before turning her attention to George. "Another smoke for the road?"

[thedookienut]

He shook his head and shrugged. "Nothing really. Something about homework. Apparently there was an essay I haven't done." He turned down the cigarette and looked down at the ground. He'd never been to found of lying straight through his teeth but sometimes it was necessary. "Thanks though." He mumbled, soon looking straight up at the sky as if something would distract him. Eventually he found something to speak about. "What time are we going to Hogsmeade?"