Hogwarts '06/7

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

Although there were disappointments, it seemed most people were content with the squad. That, at least, was the impression that he got from the students in his classes as the day wore on.

There was to be a practice after classes the following day, Friday. All 11 team members were to be there with their brooms at the Quidditch Pitch at 5:45 in the afternoon. After practice there would be a short break, followed by a team dinner in Dinas' Charms room, and then a short discussion on tactics. At 9:30, the team would be dismissed.

Dinas sighed. "Turn to page 278," he told his third years lazily.

[Scarlet Lioness]

Misty found it hard to concerntrate in her classes that day. Especially History of Magic where she sat in conversation about Quidditch to Johnathon and Terry.

Practise is going to be awesome tommorrow night she thought.

[GodrictheGriffon]

Finally, the day came. Time for practice!, Lily thought as she made her way down to the Quidditch Pitch. I just hope I don't mess up. She lifted her hand and gingerly felt her head. It didn't hurt anymore and all of the bruises had almost disappeared.
The pitch was empty. She decided to take a spin on her Nimbus 2000 before anyone else got there.

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

Dinas wandered down to the Quidditch Pitch at 5:40. Someone was already there, too high in the air for him to see their identity clearly. He waited in the stands, and slowly the other members trickled in.

[Q.Araignee]

Rowena had spent the last two days smiling at very random moments- it had caused a few whispers from classmates, but she didn't care. After a quick dinner she practically ran down to the Quidditch pitch, Firebolt in hand, eager to get started. But when she found only herself, Dinas, and Lily flying overhead she could barely restrain an impatient sigh as she waited for the rest of the team.

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

Dinas was impressed by the commitment of the two reserves from Gryffindor. He watched as MacGranstan noticed and waved to Rowena. There were some noises approaching; the Slytherins had arrived in a large group, All six of them carrying their brooms over their shoulders and wearing their Slytherin Quidditch training robes. The two Ravenclaw Chasers were just behind them.

Dinas called Lily down, and the group assembled in the middle of the ground, waiting for their final member to arrive.

[GodrictheGriffon]

Lily landed gracefully beside Rowena. She had never been this much in form."Where's Misty?"she murmered to the Gryffindor Seeker."I thought that you two were going to come down early also to get a ittle practice in?"

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

"It's nice to see you're all ready to go," Dinas said. 'As you know, there'll be a dinner after practice. I hope a few of you might form some friendships from this team , although"-- he glanced at the Slytherins and Gryffindors -- "I recognise that that may be slightly wishful thinking.

"While we're waiting for Miss Burns, you can do 5 laps around the stands, please. Off you go."

[Q.Araignee]

As she mounted her broom, Rowena shrugged at Lily.
"She wasn't at dinner...to be honest, I haven't seen her all day."
That realisation sent a brief shiver down her spine, but Dinas' impatient look soon had her joining the rest of the team for the laps.

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

Misty still hadn't appeared after the laps.

"Does anyone have any idea where Miss Burns could be?" he asked the group.

They all seemed to shake their heads. Worrying, Dinas thought.

[GodrictheGriffon]

"Do you think we should send someone to go looking for her?"Lily asked the group at large after they had landed."She's never late for anything."She looked at Rowena for back up.

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

"Perhaps we should, yes," agreed Dinas. "Are you volunteering, MacGranstan?"

"Well-"

"I'll look for her myself," said Dinas. "You all need to get practising. Take out all the balls. Mortin, can you control some drills for the team to run through?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good. I'll be back soon enough, hopefully." He wandered away silently.

[Q.Araignee]

Although she had offered a nod at Lily's suggestion, and despite the fact Dinas had gone off to look for her, Rowena still had a distinct feeling of unease as she worked through the drills.

After a half hour, the Professor still hadn't come back and Misty still hadn't showed. The team had stopped the drills- instead muttering unhappily amongst themselves. She sidled over to Lily.
"Do you think we should go too?" she asked nervously.

[GodrictheGriffon]

"I don't know. It might be a good idea. I'm starting to get really worried."Lily looked around at the rest of the team."I think we should."
Then to the rest of the team she said."Rowena and I are starting to get really worried. Is it okay with the rest of you if we go help look for Misty?" The Ravenclaw's nodded their head. Most of the Slytherin's ignored her. A predictable reaction. They didn't seem to care what had happened to Misty. Even if she was on the first team. Mortin gave a shrug of his shoulders which Lily took to mean "Whatever. Go ahead"
She grabbed Rowena's arm and set down her broomstick against the nearest set of stands. "Come on."

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

Dinas wandered down the corridor of classrooms, and found Misty exactly where he had left her - doing a detention - setting up the table for the evening's dinner, without the use of magic.

"How is it coming along?" he asked her.

"Almost... done!" she looked pleased with herself. "Is the team practising well?"

"Quite well, yes... yes," he said absent-mindedly, rearranging an awkwardly placed bowl on the table.

"So... can I got now?" Misty asked.

"What? Oh, yes yes, off you go, don't mind me."

She looked at Dinas strangely but walked, back facing him, toward the door of the room. "Are you coming?" she asked, and turned around.

Dinas twirled his wand with his fingers. He seemed to be battling some internal struggle.

"No, Miss Burns. Unfortunately, I think practice will be cancelled tonight.

"Stupefy!" Dinas cast coldly, and Misty slumped to the floor. "Yes. Definitely cancelled."

He ran the body upstairs and hid it in the Room of Requirement. He noted grimly at the few occupants that had permanent residence in the 'room where I want to keep a body'.

From there, he visited the Gryffindor head of house, Professor Prewett. He notified her as to Miss Burn's absence from training, which was uncharacteristic, and how nobody seemed to know where she was. Argoyle Prewett would investigate the matter, it seemed. When Dinas went down to the Quidditch Pitch to call the practice off, he was surprised to run into MacGranstan and the reserve Seeker in the Entrance Hall.

"Why aren't you down at the Pitch?" he asked, accusingly.