It hadn’t been long since Beth had lived in her apartment and the novelty was beginning to wear off. On her days off, it was hard to sleep past about ten, not after the street outside began to get busy and the noise of chatter began to disturb her and make it near impossible to return back to her sleeping state. Today was one of those days, though this time she’d been woken at eight by a bunch of kids running around the street outside screaming and playing loudly. Beth didn’t really have the energy to complain and instead slowly dragged herself out of bed and ate a leisurely breakfast in her pyjamas. She’d had a busy week training with the Cannons and had planned to spend as much of the morning as possible in bed, asleep. It was a good hour before the twenty year old even considered getting dressed.[1]

As was usual, even on one of her days off, quidditch was never far from Beth’s mind, upon waking up that morning, her thoughts soon turned to the battered pair of quidditch gloves that lay in her quidditch bag. It was probably time to get a new pair. In addition to this, with her birthday fast approaching, well, being just over a month away, her thoughts were also preoccupied by the idea of getting a brand new broom, it had been a while, she’d had the same broom since fourth year and it was probably time for an upgrade.

Quality Quidditch Supplies was busy as usual, and Beth wasted little time milling about before quickly examining the gloves and selecting an appropriate pair. She’d gotten through so many gloves over the years that it was almost like second nature, it was picking an appropriate broom that would be the harder task. It was her dad that had picked her last broom, Beth had never picked one alone before, still, she was still saving, and she had a good month before she’d have enough money, at least she had time to consult her parents and use their ‘expert’ broom selecting skills. She probably could have used another opinion on the brooms, but at least she had plenty of time to do her homework.

1.	Beth's outfit for the day can be found here, if you'd like a reference.

Josh had been doing some routine maintenance on his broom the day before when he noticed he had used the last of his Fleetwood's High-Finish handle polish, so today, he was in Quality Quidditch Supplies looking for a new jar. Quickly finding where they were kept, he briefly looked at the other polishes, before deciding on Fleetwoods polish. There were more expensive ones available, but those tended to be overpriced. Picking a jar up, he started heading for the till to pay, when he saw a familiar face looking at the brooms. He hadn't seen Elizabeth for 3 years now, but recognised his old Captain all the same. Elizabeth had been the one to appoint him as Gryffindor Beater, back when he was a 2nd year.

Walking over, he looked at the broom Elizabeth was looking at. "Hello Elizabeth" He said.

It wasn't that Beth was picky, or really needed a new broom, it was just it was probably time for an update. She knew what she needed, something fast and stable, not as fast as needed for a seeker, or as stable as one needed for a beater, but fast and stable all the same. Maybe she could ask George what broom he would recommend? After all, the brooms needed for chasers and keepers would have been quite similar in the qualities that they needed. She was planning on noting down a few makes and models before consulting her parents on the broom related matters anyway, so it wasn't like it would hurt to ask for her teammate's opinion. These thoughts of new brooms were quickly pushed from her mind when she was spoken to. She quickly turned her attention to where the voice was coming from. Beth hadn't really been expecting to bump into anyone today, it had taken her by surprise.

"Josh!" she exclaimed with a smile on her face "Long time no see! How are you? How's Hogwarts?" It had been a good while since she'd seen some of her former housemates, at least those that were still in school anyway. It was hard to keep up with everyone, everyone was just so busy, thank Merlin for owls, she would have lost contact with a lot more people if it hadn't have been for her useful, feathery companion.

"I'm fine. Hogwarts has been interesting since you left, though. Professor Greyfriar's left, his successor's now missing, and there's the pentawizard playoffs this year. I'm still on the team, although we're in a rough patch at the moment."Josh summarized the pertinent information. It was good to see Elizabeth again. It seems that it was only when she left that things started gong downhill. Player retention problems, performance issues, at least there would be a new Captain this year who hopefully could turn the tam around.

Beth’s wrinkled her nose “Aw, why does all the exciting stuff happen when I’m gone?” she moaned aloud to herself. Quickly she shrugged it off and turned her attention to her former team’s downfall “You lot just can’t cope without us veterans can you?” she joked, laughing slightly as she spoke “Who’s captain this year anyway?” Beth asked curiously “I feel so out of it at the moment, I’ll have to try and see if I can attend a Gryffindor match at some point, cheer you all on a bit!” Beth would have loved to go back and cheer her former house on, but it was just trying to find time. At the best of times she was busy; a lot of the Hogwarts matches seemed to clash with Beth’s other commitments, and she didn’t think the coach or captain of the Cannons would appreciate her skipping practice to go and watch Gryffindor play.

"I don't know why it's got interesting. I guess someone got an old Chinese curse placed on them."Josh replied. "Hey! we can cope, ti's just the team's been in turmoil. I've lost count of the number of people who've partnered with me, then quit, and the other positions are little better. The other House teams are in juts as bad shape, and I don't think any currently have a stable full team. anyway, the Captain whop replaced you left, so i don't know who's going to be the new Captain. It's probably Kingside, since we've got equal experience and I'm a prefect." Josh said, he hoped, whichever of the two of them got the job, that they would be able to get a stable team. without that,  they couldn't really win games, unless the players were truly exceptional.

“George?” She asked when Josh mentioned the captain who’d replaced her “Yeah, I know, he plays for the Cannons with me now...” she smiled, “It’s nice to have some familiar faces on the team if I’m honest.” Beth was really happy to see one or two former schoolmates on the team, it really was nice, it made her feel a bit better. It had been hard coming into a team, where people had been playing with each other for a long time, as the newbie, so having people around that she already knew definitely cheered her up, it was nice being able to play with a former teammates again. “Congratulations on becoming a prefect though!” she exclaimed “It’ll be hard, do you think you’re up for it?” Beth couldn't help but laugh slightly at her own question.

"must feel good having people you know on the team." Josh commented, keeping his opinion of the Cannons to himself, being an Arrows fan himself. "I've been up for it so far, but the Gryffindor 5th year Female Prefect posiitons'been so changeable it beggars belief. Three so far, although Almsay should be able to stick it out, I don't know though. It almost seems like the old DADA teacher's curse has transferred to nayone that works with me!" Josh said jokingly.

Beth shook her head “Oh dear,” she mumbled, wrinkling her nose slightly “Clearly they aren’t committed enough to be a prefect.” sighing, she began to wave her finger teasingly at Josh “Now, if I find out you have given up being a prefect because it’s too much work I won’t be happy.” she laughed “And don’t joke about that, I don’t want to think that Gryffindor’s quidditch team is now going through Beater’s like no-ones business.” No, Beth didn’t like to think that her previous team wasn’t doing very well, not at all.

"I wont give up.'It's frustrating sometimes, but hopefully third time's the charm. Still, you can get used to just about anything. Including having to patrol alone as a Prefect." Josh said, smiling at Elizabeth's reaction t his joke. "It's all positions, actually. the only good thing is that all the House teams have had the same problem." Josh admitted sheepishly. "Still, enough but me. how've things been for you?" Josh asked, eager to hear of what had happened to his old Captain.

“I’m sure you’ll be fine, Gryffindor’s make the best prefects, we all know that.” Beth laughed and flicked her hair out of her eyes “We are the best house after all.” Despite the fact it had been a good while since Beth had worn Gryffindor colours, Beth still couldn’t quite shake the house loyalty. She shrugged at Josh’s question “Well, the usual really.” she said, wrinkling her nose slightly “The Cannons aren’t doing brilliantly but I’m definitely enjoying being a professional.” she paused to think before grinning widely “And I’ve moved out of my parents' house, started renting my own place.”

"of course we make the best prefects." Josh replied, laughing along with Beth. Once a Gryffindor, always a Gryffindor. "Yeah, Ive kept track of the Cannons since I heard you signed for them, even if I'm still an Arrows supporter. Still, with you and George on the team, they'll do better next year." Josh said, his tone making clear it was meant as a compliment to Beth, not (quite) an insult to the rest of the team. "Good to hear you're enjoying yourself though. And congratulations on getting your own place." Josh said, smiling.

Beth nodded “Of course, George and I make that team!” she grinned, she didn’t mind people not supporting the team, she knew that her own parents didn’t support the Cannons, even if she was on the team; they supported their own previous teams. She’d never taken offense to it, it was just the family dynamic, that’s how they worked. She shrugged when he congratulated her on her own place “Thanks,” she said “The novelty’s wearing off now though, it’s getting a bit boring...” she smiled, maybe she’d eventually consider getting someone else in to live with her, but at the moment, she wasn’t really considering that as an option.