#aghherald

When asked about overcoming outside negativity to become Prefect and Quidditch Captain, as well as a role model for many students, Scorpius explains that his self-motivation and internal strength plays a large part.  Not that the Seeker isn’t willing to give credit to outside sources where they are due: “I was used to being considered [‘bad’] simply because of my last name.  Then [Professor Xavier] handed me this title that in every shape, and form, echoed ‘respect’ and…I blossomed with that.  And then after that came the title of Captain, and it made me truly believe that I could wriggle out from under the weight of being born a Malfoy had created, and instead make it [once again[ mean something to be respected.”

Great ambitions for the Seventh Year: and even with his schooling coming to an end he’s not close to finished.  Admittedly self-reliant and apt to taking the lead, Scorpius—like his constellation namesake— has shown himself to be very protective of those in his care.  He remains close and caring toward those close to him.  In fact, his best friend, Albus Potter, who graduates with him this year, will be moving to Hogsmeade to share a flat.  As for Scorpius’ girlfriend Lucy Weasley?  While he admits he did not realize the St. Mungo’s-bound Seventh year was moving to the nearby village as well, he is very assertive in “I do not plan on giving [Lucy] up once we are graduated”, leaving no question to his devotion to the graduating Ravenclaw either.   As for his own career aspirations, Scorpius admits to working toward becoming an Obiviator for the Ministry. His interest stems from a desire to “protect our kind…[allowing] us to continue to exist without the Muggles messing things up.”   When asked about what he believes to be his qualifications, Scorpius mentions his status as Prefect, and his leadership strengths and marks (as well as interest) in many subjects such as Charms, DADA, and even Muggle Studies.  When asked about any correlation between his aptitude for sport and hands-on coursework (Scorpius admits some of his best subjects are Charms, Transfiguration, and Potions), the Seeker offers that while “I’ve never given much thought to it…it’s easier to absorb the knowledge of what you’re learning when it’s something you do, rather than something you read.  For me anyway… [So] I suppose it makes sense that being good with sports would come to those better with hands-on type classes.”

Unlike other fables regarding the Scorpion, however, Scorpius feels that many cliché and old-fashioned notions of his family, and the Slytherin House in general, do not suit him at all.  He is certainly far from “cunning”, he states firmly, averse to the negative and deceitful connotation of the word.  “I like to think of myself as honest—perhaps even blunt,” the Prefect affirms.  “I don’t have the desire to be deceitful, nor do I want people to think of me as such.”   He also explains that, despite the temptation, he has a strong adherence to rules and no desire to get into trouble.

However, Scorpius Malfoy was Sorted into the house of Salazar, and in many ways it still shows.  His ambition is quite apparent, from his friendly-rivalry with girlfriend Lucy for top marks to his diligence to making his family proud.  The soon-to-be graduate also is quite resourceful, explaining his interest in research and reading that stems from his mother’s “love of learning anything and everything” in his family’s impressive library (a passion that she has passed on to her son), as well as his willingness to play into people’s misconceptions to his advantage.  “Everyone already thinks I’m conceited, but I believe it’s just confidence,” Scorpius admits, explaining that he’s been sure of his capabilities from a very young age, especially with the support of his parents and aunt, Ministry employee Daphne Greengrass.   Their respect and pride is worth much to the student, and he admits that while not wishing to live with them after graduation, being close to his family, as well as his desired workplace, were key factors in his decision to inhabit the all-wizarding community.

It was the for Love of a woman that would never love him in return that one of His closest lieutenants double-crossed him for the entire course of the Second Wizarding War.  For Devotion to family and legacy that one of his own soldiers would deceive him in the end, lying about Potter’s death in order to defeat the threat and safely reunite with her son.  It was for Faith in truth and strength and solidarity that a man would continue running periodicals against the darkness in the face of an overtaken Ministry, and that a young commentator and his friend would host an ally-friendly wireless to memorialize the fallen and offer hope and support to those who remained.   For Integrity and Equality a witch and wizard would take on the task of protecting the Muggle family that could not protect itself, inspiring others to do the same.   For the sake of What Should Be, a creature that was not even given full-human rights fought alongside and for those that didn’t even regard him as an equal.

It was all of these things that culminated in the greatest upheaval within the wizarding world, that all came to a head in the Battle of Hogwarts.  That witches, wizards, and families of magical blood would all band together to declare their choice, to make their stand.  Their strength, and sacrifice, for what drove them toward a future worth having would propel every spell and step.  And it was after this, as the light of day shone through on a unequivocally defeated Dark Lord, that the true strength of our world revealed itself, for the Houses were joined under one (albeit less-than pristine) banner: the school, the Ministry, the community reconstructed and restructured to create a new beginning that would lead all of the previous generation to the current one, to embrace heroism and strength of character in all the ways it has become part of our reality.

The Battle of Hogwarts means many things to many different people: the end of hiding; the end of shame in your past; the act of embracing who you had once been afraid to be; and the beginning of becoming who you truly are.  To not allow fear to once again drive us apart, and to take upon us all the responsibility to aid our own cause and not let the fallen die alone and nameless.

When asked what puts her ahead of the other House Captains, Gracie has a ready answer.“I obviously listen to my players, because if I’m forcing them into stuff they don’t think they can do, then I need to keep re-evaluating until we lock on something that does work…Before [Chaser Hunter Clarington passed], when Melanie replaced last year’s graduating Chaser, he and Roxy and Melanie were trying to find their rhythm. And last year, he was the fastest flyer of the three, so we were working a lot of the plays the same way we did before. He was the one to point out that [Melanie]’s actually quicker on the broom than he is, so he thought he should give up his role in the plays and rework them so he had more of an anchor position instead, and he was totally right.

Not that she doesn’t have a valuable place herself.  “In the end, I’m still the one running the show in the locker room.  Obviously when you’re actually there on the pitch, things are unpredictable…but the plays?  The ideas behind it?  Those came from me somewhere along the line…Even when we’re not at practice as a group, I’m training, or going over plays that might work with the skills that we have—you know, stuff like that.”

In fact, looking at her almost-obsessive focus on the game, one would think that Life itself was a game of Quidditch to the Gryffindor.  Though she hesitates to describe herself as a leader off of the field, it’s obvious watching the effect on her peers that she has a captivating presence that no doubt draws her into the Seeker position of the metaphorical game she’s playing.

So how does Gracie set herself?  By recruiting a proper team, of course.  “My dad would be my Keeper,” the Captain asserts confidently from atop her broom, “the one always guarding my goals and protecting me from getting scored against.”  Former House Cup Champion Wood is even the inspiration for his daughter’s own position.   “We’ve always been really close, and even though my mum played too, he was the one always out in the backyard with me until all hours, showing me how to play, helping me get better…there was never really any doubt in my mind after the first time I saw one of his games live that I wanted to be just like him.”  

However, that doesn’t detract from her mother’s importance.  One could argue Katie Bell Wood is easily Gracie’s reserve for how she encourages both father and daughter.  “My parents have been basically wonderful my whole life…Mom totally knew what she was getting into when she married Dad,” she told this interviewer with a laugh.  “I’ve never told anyone this before…but my mum picked [the name Grace] in case I don’t want to [play Dad’s team Puddlemere United], so that I’m eligible to play for the Harpies someday.  You know, since you have to be a woman whose name starts with a G to make the squad: one of their team superstitions.”

And what about her Chasers? Who’s on the Gryffindor’s team to help small term goals that really add up?  Gracie pulls out an assortment of names including fellow Gryffindor Rose Weasley and Ravenclaws Lucy Weasley, Louis Weasley, and Lydia Chang all to help her charge her adversaries.  “Chasers are like my other friends, the ones that are there and are great to have around but aren’t, you know, my rocks or my constants or anything.”  And the smaller goals that are building up Gracie Wood’s life that her Chasers help her with  Adventure, for one, it seems.  “I’m technically in dueling,” she explains, though Gracie feels her Quidditch duties keep her from being “overly involved in other clubs”.  “And I’d love to go down Knockturn Alley sometime, honestly,” Wood reveals to this journalist with a flicker of mischief in her eyes.   Another goal is Gracie’s penchant for flying itself, and her desire to make it a passion for everyone else in Hogwarts.  “I’m secretly always trying to convince more people to fly.  I’m not sure I’m the best teacher, because it’s so second nature to me…but I’ve definitely volunteered to give people lessons if they want them.” And she has no trouble admitting her ulterior motive: “Anything that gives me another excuse to be up in the air.”

When it comes to Beaters, Gracie acknowledges that she’s strict with her positioning.  Designated by the girl as part of a “Ride or Die” Squad, the Captain puts her faith in her best friends Gryffindors Roxanne Weasley and Clara McLaggen, even elaborating on the former “She’s been one of my best friends since we were little, since our parents all played Quidditch together.” Also taking up a spot batting off Bludgers?  Hufflepuff Hugo Weasley.  “He’s my best friend first and foremost,” Gracie affirms, also choosing to assign the fellow Sixth Year as Team Manager.  “He lets me go off and do things my own way,” the independent Captain explains, “but he’s there to give me advice and always like try to help me do what’s best.”

Bludgers in Gracie Wood’s life are many, though she insists she’s game to take them on.  One of the biggest?  The classroom, no doubt.  “Oh Merlin, school’s so not my thing.  It would be nice to be good at everything and kick people’s asses at stuff no matter what it is, but some things are just losing battles, and me paying attention to class and getting perfect scores on homework?  That’s one of them.”  Gracie does admit that she works hard to stay academically eligible for Quidditch, however, though she spends more time focusing “on winning the stuff I actually really care about”.

School isn’t all a chore for the Gryffindor, however.  Gracie admits that she takes to classes a lot more when the courses are more hands-on. “[Care of Magical Creatures] used to be one of my favorite classes back when we learned about stuff like hippogriffs and unicorns and dragons,” she lists.  “[Defense Against the Dark Arts] especially, but Charms and Transfiguration can be cool sometimes too.  Herbology’s not terrible either.”

Another Bludger in Wood’s path?  Romantic relationships.  While not in a relationship currently, Gracie points out how rumors come up from time to time.  What does she look for?  “I’m not all mushy and romantic…[So he’d] be nice to me, even when I’m kind of abrasive…To me he’s just himself, and that’s the best person he can be.  And he makes me laugh when I take myself too seriously, or he remembers stuff about me and makes me feel comfortable saying stuff I wouldn’t say to a lot of people.”   One thing Gracie’s coupling wouldn’t do? Treat each other like a prize.  

“It’s not like a boyfriend’s a trophy,” the competitive Keeper discloses, exposing another way her ambitious nature only extends so far.  “[I don’t think] trying to get somebody to like you is a competition: either they do or they don’t.  I don’t get girls who sit around being all fake and acting like someone they’re not to ‘win’ a guy’s heart…what good is one that you don’t get on well with?

“I mean, it’s one thing to try and collect trophies for accomplishments and beating other people at stuff, but getting a boyfriend for status is like collecting a person or something.  It’s just weird to me.”

And how does that correspond with her potential relationshpis?  “I mean, yeah, I know I’m a prize,” she jokes at the question, “but I wouldn’t want him going around telling people he won me [either].”

Which leaves the Snitch. The pressures that are truly for Gracie Wood alone, the big points that will take her toward her passion.  “As a Captain and a Keeper, I’m kind of used to having a lot of pressure on.  I doubt catching the Snitch of Life would be a whole lot different: I’m sure I can handle it.”

So what is Gracie Wood’s Snitch of Life, exactly?  Do you really have to ask?

“[I was bound for] Puddlemere like the second I crawled out of the womb,” the Keeper reveals to the surprise of only those who don’t attend the school.  In preparation for her aspiration, Gracie casually considers she still needs to overcome “NEWTs next year, getting signed to a pro team—I guess normal people call that figuring out what to do after Hogwarts—the same things anybody our year’s worried about.”  When asked about the importance of her marks, she clarifies, “Dad has the same outlook as me, and mom’s okay as long as I’m passing…I know she wishes I were a little brighter, but...it’s my life, not hers.”  And to become a professional?  “I think a certain amount of natural skill’s gotta be involved,” she adds beyond her extensive training and studying of strategy.  “Like, body type can make a difference; weight, natural coordination…Plus you have to really want it.”