inside out

“I’m so excited to actually be back at the castle. I have so many great memories here.. now if I could just remember which way is which I’d be set.” The blonde let out a soft chuckle as she tucked her hair behind her ears. “I honestly have such horrible sense of direction if I’m not on a broom.” 

“Well if it isn’t my favorite seeker,” Fin laughed, grinning widely at Elise. “What brings ye back to Hogwarts? Dinnae tell me Seeker Weekly’s doing a piece on the league here - it’s hardly anythin’ special.” Falling into step beside his former classmate, Fin glanced about the Hall. “Tell me where yer off to. I’ll lead the way.”

Kai sat back in his desk after the class ending, having found himself a little more worn out than he normally would have been. He looked up to see someone hanging back in the classroom. “Can I help you? If I must please make it quick, I must be getting to the Hospital Wing today is my final check up with Walsh before she removes my stitches.”

“Aye, so I’ve heard. That’s precisely what I’ve come here to talk to ye about, mate,” Fin started, walking toward the front of the classroom, sparing grins to the last stragglers filtering out as he did. Facing Kai, he gave the man a small grin and shrugged a shoulder. “Thought we could go down to Hog’s Head and celebrate if yer up for it. Weasley’s finally lettin’ me back into the pub, so we got two things to drink to. What do ye say?”

“Listen I don’t care how great your mummy says you are kid, if you want a spot on the team you gotta try out like everybody else.”

At the sight of the dejected slytherin, Fin offered a sweet smile. “Dinnae worry, laddie, I’m sure ye’ll be brilliant. Ye come by tomorrow and we can have a one on one practice, I’ll help ye work on your skills,” he nodded at the young man, boosting his confidence as he walked away. Turning to Nick, Fin crossed his arms over his chest. “Ye dinnae need to be so tough on him. A good captain keeps up the morale for everyone, especially the ones that wanna try out. If ye wanna have a strong team, ye treat everyone with respect and kindness, ye got it? Ye never know what kind of potential he has; for all ye know he could be the next great seeker or keeper. Dinnae scare away any potential talent.” Fin knew what he was talking about. He captained the Hufflepuff team for two years and managed two house cups as captain. On top of that, he’d been with the Magpies for four years and won two league cups during that time. But the ‘puff in him hated seeing captains and older team players act so cruel toward the hopefuls. That young slytherin could have been very promising, and Nick’s lack of enthusiasm could have extinguished the fire of passion within him.

finmaddock:

Fin smiled weakly at the girl when she began calling him "Professor". He hated the title. It always felt so wrong. He wasn't a professor - he felt more like a glorified baby sitter. Teaching flying wasn't anything spectacular or life changing. It wasn't like Charms or Potions or Defense Against the Dark Arts - once people learned how to apparate, broomsticks were irrelevant. Fin knew it, hated it. "Ye can call me Fin," he said, because at the end of the day that's all he was. Fin. Just plain old Fin. "Yer welcome," he started in a small voice, eyes dropping down. "I'm sure yer tired of hearing it, I just..." He paused a moment, swallowing against the thickness growing in his own throat before giving her a smile. "I knew him. Well. He was a great man, and... Yeah, I just it dinnae feel right to not come and say somethin go ye." He sniffled a little, giving her a grin as he decided to change the topic of conversation. "How are ye liking here? Seems like a pretty fun job. What do they have ye doing here?"

“Listen, as much as I wanna make the rules. I’m just an intern who pushes the papers around.” Charlotte commented looking up from her stack of books and papers. “Now if there is actually something I can help with, i’d be happy to.”

Fin watched from the side, seeing what looked like the Chudley Cannons manager hang his head in dejection as he slowly exited the office. Whatever the bloke wanted, Fin was sure it was a ridiculous thing. But he wasn’t going to pry. He wasn’t there to talk quidditch or anything. This was more personal. Shifting awkwardly from foot to foot, he glanced over at the intern - one Charlotte Wood - with a slight frown on his face. Her father was a friend of sorts of his father, it only felt right to come and share his sympathies in person. Timidly, Fin moistened his lips before approaching the girl. “Hi,” he said softly, fingers dancing against the edge of her desk. “I uh... I just wanted to come by and say... Hello.” His cheeks turned red as he looked down, “And to offer my condolences for yer loss.”