#truth keeper

Yay! Thanks for playing. I only picked my top 5 WIP.

Her Name was Vera (180k)used the word “breath” 64 times

First occurrence: She blew a slow breath over the page to dry it and then set about putting her things away.

Truth Keeper (151k)used the word “breath” 41 times

First occurrence: He clamped his teeth together and caught his breath, not giving away the fact that no sound would come out of his mouth if he tried to speak.

Ascension, Concentric series (25k)used the word “breath” 18 times

First occurrence: Hermione’s other hand came up to help cover her face as her giggles gained intensity until she was gasping for breath and rocking side-to-side in her chair with mirth.

Strange Bedfellows (105k)used the word “breath” 39 times

First occurrence: “Read it out loud, Sirius,” Hermione said after she finally caught her breath.

War Bride (106k)used the word “breath” 47 times

No one was at the pitch when Vera arrived so she didn't have to look around in awe or confusion, instead she simply headed to the stairs that lead up to the Slytherin section of stands and made herself comfortable. Vera sat their flicking her wand creating small showers of colorful sparks while she waited. First red and gold, then black and yellow. Blue and bronze, and then green and silver. Soon she was making the sparks change color in sequence. Hogwarts House colors, then in a ever changing rainbow. She was so focused on her sparks that she didn't notice the seven figures decked out in green quidditch uniforms until she heard them whooping and hollering as they mounted their brooms.

Vera dismissed her rainbow sparks and tucked her wand away. She leaned back against the seat behind her and watched the players. She didn't see Regulus at first but soon spotted him higher than the other players. Every so often he'd take a nose dive on his broom, or flip under and back up. He seemed completely oblivious to his teammates as he zoomed from one set of goal posts to the other and back, turning sharply and spiraling down. It was completely obvious that he was just playing around and having fun rather than being a part of training. But soon, after his forth dive and spiral he pulled back up but more in line with the other players. That's when he spotted Vera leaning back watching him with half closed lids.

He flew over to the stands and hovered in front of her. "Like what you see?" He asked, panting.

Vera grinned at him and rolled her eyes. "So are you going to practice or just play?"

"Had to get rid of some of the excess energy. It feels so great to be back on a broomstick," he said.

Vera snorted as her mind brought up naughty thoughts, but she didn't voice them.

He smirked at her and Vera was struck by how similar it was to his brother's mischievous, flirty little smile, "Want to take a ride with me after practice?"

"I don't know, you'll probably be all sweaty and stinky," Vera teased.

"Sweaty maybe, but Blacks don't stink," he countered, looking almost offended. Almost, the smile that returned to his features gave him away. One of his teammates called his last name and he glanced back at them and nodded, "I'll ask again after practice." And then he turned sharply and flew back to the team where he did in fact practice for the next hour.

His hair was limp and damp, plastered to his neck and face, but he was still smiling broadly when he flew back to Vera who was still watching the practice with a content expression on her face. The sun had moved behind some clouds and Vera had pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders, but otherwise had been happy to just sit there and watch the seven players--that she had identified as all boys--fly and practice.

"Ready for that ride now?" His smile was again a carbon copy of his brother's.

"Aren't you ready to come down yet?"

"Never! I was born to fly!" He laughed, "Meet me on the pitch?"

Vera nodded and stood. When she reached the pitch she stopped and used a gentle sticking charm to hang her shawl against the base of the stands and walked to where Regulus had landed. He still had the broom between his legs, ready to kick off and tuck his feet and fly away again. Vera got close but didn't immediately mount the broom behind him. "I don't think this is going to work," she told him.

"Why not?"

"I'm wearing a dress," she said plainly.

"Well, I'm sure they make side-saddle brooms out there somewhere," he answered, rolling his eyes at her, "but you'd probably fall right off if you tried it on mine. You'll be sitting behind me and we'll be way up in the sky, no one'll see anything."

"I've never sat on a broom with someone else."

"You have to get closer, you know. I don't bite," he teased.

"No, but you might smell."

"Blacks don't smell!" he argued and reached out and grabbed her upper arm. "Come on, if you don't like it, we don't have to do it again."

"You're being very sweet to me," she said softly as she stepped over the back end of the broom and got settled closed to him. She tucked her skirt between the broom and her legs to try and keep from flashing anyone and gently put her hands on his waist.

"Hold tighter, Montcastle, it's a racing broom," he told her.

She gripped his waist a bit tighter as he kicked off and they started rising. "You're being awful flirty today," she said in his ear as she settled closer to him than she had originally gotten. She wrapped her arms around his waist as he started to fly, spiraling in wide circles like a bird catching thermals.