what glitters isn't always gold

“True. I wouldn’t mind breaking Ludo Bagman and Caradoc Dearborn before the next match, honestly. Ravenclaw loss, peace for my ears… it’d be a win-win. Except then the castle might be filled with wails, which I doubt is an improvement.”

“No matter what we have to hear something about these boys, whether it be negative or positive which is beyond irritating. Though, I’m not sure who else I’d rather be forced to hear about.”

“But are they people in relationships? I’ve gotten my fair share of valentines but honestly there’s nothing remotely attractive to me about some stalker confessing their love for me. Any other day of the year like sure, flatter me, but don’t do it because you’re forced to. Although I’m not surprised, I’m sure you have to be selective with which Valentines you accept.”

“No, not usually. No one is forced to send anything, usually they’re sent because it’s the one day they can muster the courage to do it. Or it’s considered less creepy on Valentine’s Day.”

     “mooncalf,” silvanus corrected, “and the date is never hot, that’ll be wildly inappropriate.”

“Oh a mooncalf. That makes a lot more sense, huh?” Isla hummed, “You know when it wouldn’t be inappropriate? On a real date. With a human.”

“Ain’t that the truth.” Dorcas swore, before downing her own drink – placing the glass down on the table.

Isla followed the other girl’s lead, downing the liquid in the glass before setting it down. “Woo! Okay, that was good.”

Conjuring a glass, she poured a helping of the Pumpkin juice-vodka concoction in her flask out for Isla. “Bottoms up.”

“To it never being too early to drink!” Isla cheered and sipped the drink.

   “Hit me with your best shot.“ he smiled, taking a small pile of snow and making a snowball. “But I am not holding back.“

“Good, I wouldn’t want you to!” Isla beamed before throwing her snowball his way, watching it smack him in his arm before she ran for cover and to pack another snowball.

“By the snowball or the question of your moral character?” 

“Both! Snowball fights make you sassy.”

“Goldstein! You’re right, as always. Vodka pumpkin juice is the greatest,” Dorcas grinned, running a hand through her hair.

“It is, now are we going to have a spot of it or keep talking about it?”

“Is it too early for vodka pumpkin juice? Or is it Gigglewater o'clock?” Dorcas questioned with a gentle smile, as she swung herself into the spot beside whom she was talking to. The smile she offered said ‘it’s never too early for vodka pumpkin juice.’

"What a preposterous question, there is never an improper time for vodka pumpkin juice,” Isla grinned widely. 

“I’m not sure I trust you,” he called back, trying to buy himself a few more seconds to build another snowball. With one hidden behind his back he stepped back into sight cautiously.

Isla dramatically gasped, “Remus, I’m greatly offended.”

“True,” he allowed, “but better with a bat doesn’t mean bad without.” He matched her smirk with one of his own, a challenging tilt to it. “I mean, if you want a Chaser, I can call over McKinnon or Doc—make myself an army of Quidditch players, and all. I reckon I can hold my own, though.” Right as he finished his sentence, he was aware of her answer and the snow whizzing towards him. Dodging slightly, the snowball still made mostly full contact with the side of his chest, but he paid that no mind, ducking down to scoop some snow into his hand and forming a compact ball. The grin on his face was involuntary—he was having fun, and it showed. “Oh, Islaaaaaa,” he sing-songed, weaving his way through trees for cover as he approached her bush.

The sound of Ludo’s feet crunching in the snow and his voice were a dead giveaway of his approach. She quickly reached down and gathered another ball of snow in her hands as she took cautious, quiet steps backward to put more distance between herself and the Ravenclaw boy. She popped out from the opposite side and threw the snowball at him, “Ludo!” Isla replied with a grin, laughing happily as she ran towards some trees for protection.

“Depends,” Ludo said, throwing her a grin. “Are you prepared for retaliation? Because I will have you know that I am excellent at throwing a snowball. Beater, you know,” he said with a shrug. “Aim’s kind of a pre-requisite.” He rolled his shoulder back, throwing her a mischievous look. “But I’m always up for some friendly competition.”

“Pretty sure your aim would be better with a bat in hand. Now if you were a chaser, I’d be more impressed,” Isla smirked before lightly tossing the snowball once in her own hand. “Friendly competition it is then,” she grinned and threw the snowball right at the boy’s chest before ducking behind a bush for cover.

                    “though it will get you a trip to the hospital wing,”                      she said with a slight grin. “probably under                      suspicion of ingesting some sort of potion gone                      wrong.” poppy let herself laugh a bit at the joke.                      “i’d love some, actually. great hall?”

“The Great Hall it is,” Isla grinned with a nod, waiting for Madame Pomfrey to gather her items so they could head back into the castle. “Have you had many frost bitten visitors to the hospital wing?”

“Not angry per se,” he dragged the words out slightly as he picked up to grab a snowball of his own. “More disappointed,” he nodded decidedly before tossing the snowball at Isla and dodging behind a nearby tree. “That you’ve yet to learn the art of surprise snowball attacks.” 

Isla gasped as she attempted to jump out of the snowball's path, but it still managed to graze her arm. "Remus!" She laughed before pursing her lips and building another snowball. The second one she hid behind her back, and the first she tossed at the tree he was hidden behind. "Come out from behind that tree already!"