Badger Gymnastics

[Pandora Winterdowne]

“…twenty-nine, thirty!” the second year called out before awkwardly lowering Pandora from her headstand. After getting a wee bit dizzy during the previous quidditch season, she had begun ‘training’ herself out of it, and to that end had enlisted the aid of… (well, she never was good with names) someone to make sure her skirts did not pool inappropriately around her waist and expose her drawers for the whole house to see.

Today’s efforts had drawn a small crowd to the common room and, red-faced from her efforts, Dora returned to a more traditional standing position, absently readjusting the heinous cuff they were now forced to wear as she thanked the younger student for his assistance.

“Quidditch is fun,” she offered brightly to the small group, “but it is also serious business—you need dedication like this if you want to truly excel! Now let’s see one of you try,” the fifth year egged on the other badgers.

This thread is open to 2-5 Hufflepuffs of any age!

  

[Delight Urquart]

Rather predictably, Delight was one of the fellow badgers stood around not even bothering to disguise her occasional giggle at the sight of an older girl stood on her head in the common room. She was rather impressed, truth to be told, for Miss Winterdowne was older and probably contending with corsets, not just the stays Delight herself had been introduced to (rather grumpily) after she’d become a teenager. Frankly, they were the devil’s work.

When the girl had righted herself and explained that it was all in aid of Quidditch, she broke into a broad grin. She’d be trying out, of course, and was determined to get the spot. And if it took standing on her head in the middle of the common room, so be it! It wasn’t like she’d never done one before (she’d frankly lost track of how many times she’d been told off for doing handstands against her wardrobe at home) and she didn’t exactly have a confidence issue.

Delight found a first year willing to hold her skirts and kicked up into a headstand in the space with only a minor wobble. “What does this actually help with?” She asked as an afterthought, still upside-down. Probably might have been an idea to ask that first, thinking about it.

  

[Luitpold Striebel]

Poldi had never been one to get involved in the pastimes of his female peers, particularly when they were as close to the verge of being inappropriate for male eyes as something like gymnastics. All it would take would be one slip of a skirt and he and every other man in the room could become privy to parts of their forms which he could never force himself for setting eyes upon. Granted, he had seen far more of Anke during the Summer, but that was entirely different. They were practically siblings. Despite sewing some of them daily for the past several years, these girls were virtual strangers and normally, he would have vacated the common room as soon as he realized what they were up to rather than risk even the suggestion of impropriety, but one thought held him back. This year, he was supposed to be more social. Vati had all but ordered it of him earlier in the summer (before he had been kicked out for his poor marks in astronomy) and Mutti had backed him up, as had Sophie Luisa and Felix when the topic of his school friends (more specifically, the fact that he had none) had come up while he was staying with them. He had to spend tome interacting with people and he had to make at least one friend by the end of the year, something which he wasn't going to be able to do if he fled whenever he was uncomfortable in a situation. He was always uncomfortable. He had been uncomfortable since the moment he stepped off the boat six years ago.

Still, he wasn't about to take up Miss Winterdowne's offer to try a handstand. That would only succeed in making them equally as uncomfortable as he was (and that was saying something). However, he thought, glancing over at his ever-present accordion, some music might add an even greater sense of music to the girls' fun without actually imposing his presence upon it. That was still a form of social interaction, was it not? He would be contributing to their experience, something which only he could contribute, without having to say a word.  Besides, if he focused on the notes that he was playing, he wouldn't have to spend as much time actually looking at them, which minimized the risk that he might see something improper - a benefit for both of them. He was certain that this wasn't quite what his family had in mind, but it was a good start for the first day of term. He would tackle more difficult interactions later on, once he'd had a chance to settle in. Unusually pleased with his own ingenuity, he picked his accordion up from the side of the staircase, where he was sitting, set it on his knee and, After a moment's pause, he began to play an upbeat tune of his own invention, fitting for his housemate's antics.

(OOC: for anyone who wants to actually hear the song he's playing. It's the second song, "Max's Traum", on the page that's linked to the words"upbeat tune". For those who don't, just ignore the link ;). Oh, and, as not to impose upon any copyrights, Poldi didn't write this song and neither did I. It belongs to Ben Jeger and is from Der Verdingbub, the movie from which I got Poldi's pb.)

  

[Pandora Winterdowne]

Dora was initially startled when someone began to play the accordion, but, ever the positive youngster, she quickly shrugged it off, deciding it was festive enough to simply add to the fun. This was, after all, Hogwarts; peculiar things happened on the regular, and one needed to simply learn to roll with them.

“Balance, Miss Urquart!” the fifth year offered wisely. Having decided that any young lady happy to perform thusly in the common room would be an excellent addition to the team, Pandora resolved then to mentor the Minister’s daughter. Besides, Miss Urquart had a level of enthusiasm that the Hufflepuff saw in herself. “Also,” she added, “if you’re used to being upside down generally you’ll not be as nauseous if you need to do a barrel roll midair.”

  

[Delight Urquart]

Delight tried to nod, but immediately regretted it when she gave a rather alarming wobble, though thankfully she managed to catch herself before her foot collided with the floor or she gave someone concussion. But it was obviously a necessary evil if one wanted to be a good quidditch player, which Delight most definitely did!

“I suppose it’s a bit easier in quidditch robes?” She asked the older girl- corsets and petticoats were quite obviously not designed for such a function. “How long do you have to keep this up exactly?”

  

[Luitpold Striebel]

Poldi continued to play and avert his eyes from the girls' antics until the song was done. He hadn't really caught enough of what they had been saying to know if they had enjoyed the music or been annoyed by it. He glanced up at them to check, but saw Miss Urquart currently upside down and averted them again. While it would be extremely unfortunate to see too much of Miss Winterdowne as well, if he saw something he oughtn't of the minister's daughter, he would really be in a predicament again. he didn't think he would ever be able to pick up the Daily Prophet again without the fear of seeing her surname mentioned and bringing up improper memories. He figured that he could simply wait until he hears the thump of her feet hitting the floor or until one of them said something about the lack of music.