Breakfast with the Puffs. [CLOSED]

[Mackenzie Stone]

Mackenzie entered the Great Hall and quietly as he could, he tried to not be seen as much as he could. If he did then he would have to worry less about talking to people he doesnt want to, which happened to be a lot.

Instead of going to the Ravenclaw table like he normally would, he decided to go and sit with is friend, Jake, over at the hufflepuff table. There was an open seat right next to him. He clapped his hand on Jakes back as he sat down. He looked up and Mack gave him a small smile.

He set his books down as he started piling food on his plate, he was surprised by how hungry he was. Normally he didnt eat much in the morning, always preoccupied with whstever homework wasnt done or whatever book he was reading. Today, he didnt have any homework and he had just finished a muggle book his mom sent him.

"Morning, Jake. Hope you don't mind if I join you. The Claws were getting boring" Mack joked with jake, a smirk on his face.

[aero]

"So you decided to steal our food then," Jake said, looking amused, "You've got about half of our food on your plate right there. Leave us some please." Mack's plate was piled high with various foods. He always seemed to eat more than the average person. Yet, none of the other Hufflepuff's seemed to notice or care. The platters always refilled themselves automatically and it was normal for Mack to visit the table and steal their food.

Jake looked around the hall, carefully watching the people file in as he drank some of his pumpkin juice and ate a bit of toast. "I wonder what homework the Potions master will give us today," he commented, talking about pretty much the only subject he was good at discussing. He knew it sometimes annoyed Mack to continuously talk about school work but it just seemed like the easiest thing to talk about.

[Mackenzie Stone]

Mack chuckled with a mouth full of food. "Well, you know what they say. The puff's food is always better than the Claws. I'm just testing it out. But I've got to try one of everything for the test to be accurate, you know."

Mackenzie heard something about potions, but couldn't be bothered with what was really sad. He hated talking about schoolwork when he wasn't in class or doing homework which, incidentally, happened to be most of his time.

"Dude, it's breakfast. Why on Earth would you want to talk about school work? Who cares what happens in potions until we get to potions." Mack rolled his eyes. It was soooo like him to talk about potions, he was like obsessed with the subject. Mack really should suggest him looking into a career with potions involved. He was good, and he enjoyed it. That had to count for something. Mack was best at Potions out of any other subject, but he didn't necessarily like it. He loved Defense Against the Dark Arts.

Mack just shook his head and turned back to the food that was on his plate, smiling to himself and Jake as he did so.

[aero]

Jake blinked. "School work....it keeps the conversation going. Makes things more interesting than just watching a blonde haired idiot like you gobble food." He cracked a hint of a smile and quickly turned to the newspaper that had just arrived from his aunt.

"Look, there's an article about the Quidditch teams of Hogwarts," Jake said, reading the script intently. He loved Qudditch but he could not stand getting on one of those brooms. He had acrophobia- the fear of heights. Sure, he hung out with Mack on the Quidditch pitch and studied the different broomsticks and techniques in several books but that didn't mean he would ever think about getting on a broom. He had tried it once and all he had achieved was a flying a few feet before he had asked Mack to help him down.

"Mack, you're listed as a potential professional Quidditch player. Nice job man." He clapped Mack on the back. He knew Mack's skill and that he could no doubt go professional but he also knew Mack's temper on the pitch would could hurt his chances.

[Mackenzie Stone]

"Hey!" Mack said with even more food stuffed in his mouth and hidden in his cheeks. "You know you love watching me eat!" He joked. "Definitely better than talking about classes."

At the mention of Quidditch Mack's head snapped away from the food and on one of his best friends. He loved Quidditch and anything about it. Loved talking strategies and flying techniques. Even though Jake won't actually fly with him, as he's too afraid of heights, but he will still talk to him about it.

"Potential professional? No way!" Mack couldn't believe it. He had always wanted to go pro once he left Hogwarts, but didn't think he could. Not that he didn't have the skill, because he definitely did, but because most didn't like his temper on the field. He liked to yell at the reff and his teammates for not doing things right. It drove everyone nuts, but he always made it on the team because he was always so good. So he couldn't complain. But potential pro? That meant something....

[aero]

Jake laughed a bit. "Yes, potential. You know you're good enough. I'm surprised you've never considered going professional." He took a bite out of his toast and looked at a few of the other good Quidditch players at Hogwarts, carefully recounting their past performances. "Yeah, there's not much competition for you. Most of them have one problem or another," he said trying to support his friend.

"You might want to stop yelling at the referees and other players though. That's what usually will end a career." He said it lightly and as jokingly as possible because he meant no offense but he wanted to help his friend as best as he could and that meant telling the truth. Jake was sure Mack knew he had a bad temper but sometimes he had to remind him because out on the pitch it was obvious that the only thing important to Mack was winning.

"Anyways, some officials are going to come watch you at the next game it says."

[Mackenzie Stone]

Sure, Mack had thought of going professional before, but being put on the potential professional list was a whole different story. It actually meant something, and gave his dream some reality.

"Sure, I've thought about it. And I know I have the skill. But, idk," Macks cockiness showed a little, but was masked by his confusion with how to take this.

"Wait... Someone is coming to watch me?" Mack said the words like he was terrified, and truthfully, he was. He didn't know if he could act like everything was fine and play the best he could with someone there watching him. Someone that could determine whether or not he would be able to go pro after Hogwarts or not. It would make him freak out before the game, and he didn't know if he could give his team a pep talk before it when he himself was freaking.

Not to mention the next game was against Gryffindor, and they had the best team in the school. They always had a good team. Especially since that Potter kid was on the team. He seemed to have taken after his dad.

Mack had to force the thought of the official coming to watch him and focus his attention back at Jake.

"So, I guess I'll have to practice, eh?"

[aero]

"I suppose so," Jake said. He noticed Mack's pensive expression. "Are you actually worried? I'd help you practice but..." he trailed off not mentioning his obvious phobia of heights. He looked around the Great Hall where several people were also noticing the article. He could help get some people together to practice with Mack but that would take quite a bit of time and persuasion since most people didn't like to compete with Mack on the pitch. He still had an ancient rooms essay due that he'd meant to do yesterday except he'd fallen asleep. Mack looked genuinely worried though and he had always been there for him when he needed help with academics or the sort so the least he could do was to get a few people to practice Quidditch with Mack.

"We could get some people to practice with," Jake suggested, "I'm sure there are plenty of people who want to practice for the games anyways." He resisted his natural urge to mention the homework and smiled, supporting his friend.

[Mackenzie Stone]

Mack was sort of zoning out. He really couldn't believe this was happening. He faintly heard Jake ask him if he was worried and it snapped him out of whatever trance he was put into.

"Worried? Me? No way. You know me. I'll be fine." Mack tried to play it off as if it was nothing. But in fact he was worried... which was strange because it normally didn't happen.

"No. I'm fine, I'll just pull my team together for more practices than normal. They need to be ready for Gryffindor anyways." Mack said, the trance eyes still showing.

"So. Did you do that Charms homework? Everyone said it was hard, but I finished it in like 10 minutes." Mack didn't know what to say, so he said the first thing that came to his mind, not even thinking about the fact he had just told Jake that it was stupid to talk about school out of class and out of doing homework. Macks brain seemed to be fried at the moment.

[aero]

Jake noticed Mack's facial expression change into a sort of trance. Mack was worried. Mack didn't get worried often but when he did, it became obvious....especially when he tried to play things off as "not a big deal" when it obviously was to him. But Jake didn't like to pry and he certainly didn't like to discuss feelings so he pretended to not see it.

"Well if you need any help gathering the team, let me know..." Jake said. He paused to finish his Pumpkin Juice and then he answered Mack's homework-related question. "It was definitely challenging...I think you may have done it wrong. See, when you first look at the prompt, you think of the easiest way out but the professor didn't want that. He clearly stated in the instructions...." Jake trailed off testing if Mack was even listening. Mack never asked about homework so chances were good that he wasn't listening

[Mackenzie Stone]

One thing Mack liked about Jake was the fact he didn't really push him to talk about things. It was what pissed Mack off and made him not like people. Some people think Mack should be in Slytherin because of his attitude, but the people that knew him didn't think that. Mack was kind to those he was friends with. Which just happened to be very little people.

"I'll just have that little first year claw that likes to follow me around all the time hunt them all down. No need to waste your time, Jake. But thanks, Bro." Mack told him. Hoping to be done with the subject so he could panic in silence.

Mack wasn't really paying attention to Jake. But he knew it was one way to get him to ramble on about something and to change the subject completely. He faintly heard him say something about it being challenging, but Mack wasn't interested. He knew he did it right and it only took him 10 minutes to do. Mack mumbled "Mhmm's" and "Yeahs" occasionally. Just to make it seem like he was paying attention when in reality he had no clue what Jake was saying.

Mack was thinking about all the things he had to do to get ready for this official to come see him. He would have to practice a few really cool chaser moves and score as many goals as he possibly could. Maybe he'd order a Quidditch Magazine for Chasers that gave some good techniques for him to practice. Anything would be helpful at this point.

Mack really wanted to be able to go pro. This might be his only chance to do so. He had to do everything right.

[aero]

Mack was definitely not paying attention. He kept nodding and murmering "yeah" and "okay"'s even after Jake had stopped talking. Jake looked around and realized half of the Great Hall was empty and there weren't as many people left. He snapped his fingers in front of Mack's face.

"Hey, wake up bro. Let's go put you on the pitch so you can put all of your deep thoughts into action," Jake said. He got up and picked up his books. While waiting for Mack to finish breakfast quickly, he checked the time. There was plenty of time to write the Runes essay. Jake considered his options and figured it would probably be best to write the essay while at Mack's practice. He didn't normally stay for Mack's practices because it seemed odd to other people (and even to himself a little bit) but it might help if he just stayed this one. Mack would be too focused on playing his best that he wouldn't notice that Jake wasn't really paying attention. Plus, chances were good that some spiteful player would be mad at Mack's publicity (as most people didn't think he deserved it) and Jake would probably have to shut the player up.

Jake didn't mind this. Mack did a lot for him too and it was clear to everyone that this wasn't a one-sided friendship with Mack taking advantage of Jake's loyalty. Mack was only nice to the people he liked and was actually close to and there weren't many of those people. It was kind of an honor in the eues to some of the girl fans that admired Mack's Quidditch abilities. Jake laughed a bit at the thought and waited for Mack.

[Mackenzie Stone]

When Jake said the word Quidditch Pitch it snapped Mack out of his own thoughts and back to what he was saying. He wanted to go practice right now. Mack could do that. He needed to. Maybe getting up in the air on a broomstick would knock his out of this trance he was in. It was worth a shot. After all, it was what he was worried about. Not being good enough at Quidditch.

Hell. Who was he kidding. He knew he was good enough. He was just afraid of messing up completely because of his nerves.

Mack sighed heavily before picking up his books and standing. He looked around the Great Hall to see that basically everyone had left and it was a couple slytherins and them now. No other puff was at the table anymore. Mack shook his head in awe as he wondered how he didn't notice that everyone left and walked out the Great Hall doors, with Jake behind him, and to the Quidditch Pitch.