Just Tried to Hard ((Closed))

[Luke Dallan H7]

((This post is set during Winter Break. Please no on post to this as it is closed.))

Thud…Thud…Thud…Thud…

Luke listened to the sound of his footsteps upon the gravel road. The tiny stones flew around the world with each step. It sounded almost therapeutic…holding a familiarity in its grasp that Luke could fall in step with. All at once Luke’s whole body fell into a succinct movement. It was an indescribable feeling, similar to holding the world in the palms on your hands. You could control anything you wanted that way. It was a feeling that Luke needed in his life. He was content with everything which was occurring in the present, but the past wasn’t as desirable. Luke missed his mother. He couldn’t even remember what she looked like, or how she presented herself. Everything about her was just a faint, blurry memory, but for their father, it felt just like yesterday. Luke could recall that exact moment when they had gotten an owl saying that she had died. The look in his face held so much that Luke didn’t even know the body could allow it. Every line in his father’s face held the pain of the world; the pain of losing someone that you never expected to be parted from you so early. It wasn’t fair. His father deserved so much more in his life for all that good that he has done. Then again, who ever said that life was fair? It threw almost anything possible in you path testing whether you were strong enough to get through it. It resembled an obstacle course. There was the fun good parts, and the hard challenging areas. Even if someone just wished for only the pleasant aspects of life, they will come across the horrible. Luke had pondered this exact equilibrium in the world every time he ran across the blacktop. Some called it Karma, but Luke believed that there was certain in everyone lives, and when good was brought in, bad will soon follow. It certainly was a strange way to look upon the world, but it was what Luke believed in. No on knew this mainly because Luke kept his pondering thoughts to him self. It should stay on the gravel road denting the ground with each step her ran.

Nearing the ending destination, Luke slowed his pace down to a walk as he set his hand on top of the white picket fence. “Out of shape, Luke?” he heard a voice call from the frozen garden. Breathing hard, Luke coughed, his lungs burning from the cold air. With each breath he took in, pain jeered in his chest. “I’m – F- Fine,” Luke hoarsely spoke out, gulping to soothe his dry throat. Glancing up, Luke’s blue eyes fell upon his father who salted the end of the sidewalk with his wand. Julien Dallan just smiled at his youngest son shaking his head. Luke didn’t resemble their father’s physical features one bit. He had dirty blonde hair just like their mother, and also inherited her crystal clear eyes. Julien had almost black choppy hair, his eyes a light brown color that held so much wisdom in the world that it was scary. “Ryder won’t be too happy with that,” Julien chuckled under his breath running his fingers tiredly through his short hair. Luke watched his father feeling a sharp pain run up his right side. Wincing, he stretched his arms into the air, leaning off to the side. “Don’t worry I’ll keep it a secret, but your brother will find out quite soon.” Luke raised his eyebrows at his father’s words. What did he mean by that? Ryder had been extremely busy lately with the Appleby Arrows, preparing his team for their second match of the season. It was against the Falmouth Flacons. What a coincidence there? If his team lost, Luke wouldn’t hear the end of it from Bryce. Grinning at the thought of his best friend, Luke made a mental note to write him a letter later on in the week. Bryce wasn’t in the best of spirits after he had told Ashley he kissed Weetzie. Well, of course Ashley was going to be angry about that, but Luke knew it wasn’t going to be for too long. She was a forgiving person from what he had heard from the other girls.

“Get inside before you turn into a human Popsicle, son.” Luke nodded, following behind his father as they entered the small cottage. A blast of warm air greeted Luke’s numb face, causing his nose to run slightly. Wiping the end of his nose with his sleeve, Luke entered the kitchen heading over toward the cupboards. Pulling out a pack of hot chocolate, Luke set the wrapper on the table before taking out a mug from one of the cabinets. Taking his wand from his pocket, he recited a simple aqua charm, hot water now filling the mug to the edge. Smiling, Luke ripped open the wrapper pouring the chocolate mocha substance inside. With a simple movement of his wrist, a spoon appeared stirring within his boundaries of the cup, clanking against the edges. Leaning his arms on the counter, Luke watched his father sit down at the table opening the paper open to the first page. “What time do you have to work today?” Luke asked glancing back down at his hot chocolate as it was still stirring. “Around two. I don’t have to be until late today.” With that said, Luke heard the sound of the page turn before other footsteps entered the kitchen. Ryder stood at the edge of the kitchen and the entrance hall, his brown eyes gazing at the latest update on the front of their father’s newspaper. “I saw you left early to run, Luke.” Luke nodded taking hold of the spoon and setting it into the sink. Grabbing the warm mug, Luke brought it to his face, the steam causing a shiver to crawl up his spine.

“Good, because tomorrow you have your first practice with the team.” Luke nearly dropped the cup in his hands as he stared at his older brother. This early? Luke knew he was going to be practicing with them over winter break, but it wasn’t even close to Christmas yet.

[Luke Dallan H7]

“Luke! Hurry up!” Ryder yelled from downstairs annoyance clearly ringing in his tone. Luke groggily rubbed his eyes as he let out a loud yawn. It was only five in the morning! His brain didn’t work too early in the morning, which was exactly why he fell asleep in all his morning classes. It was a good thing Bryce was there to keep him entertained, or else he wouldn’t be able to stay awake. His friend felt the same way, which made it a good healthy friendship. Grabbing his black cap from the top of the mahogany dresser, Luke pulled it down over his head, covering his ears. He was about to head downstairs when he looked down realizing he still hadn’t put on his pants. Oh. It was way to early in the morning. Grabbing the pair of grey sweatpants that hung over the edge of his master bed, Luke pulled them on, tying the string so it stayed secure against it waist. It wouldn’t be the first time that his pants had almost fallen off while playing Quidditch. Luckily that was only with his brother since he wasn’t on the Hufflepuff house team. Ryder wanted his younger brother to try out, but Luke didn’t feel the need too. He loved playing Quidditch, it was his life, but Luke felt like he didn’t have to show that to everyone that attended Hogwarts. Well, everyone already knew that Luke was the most obsessed about the sport more than the average wizard. He even went to the Winter Ball as his favorite player along with Zara who went as his wife. Zara was just as overly addicted to the game just as he was. Luke smiled at the thought of the girl. He hadn’t talked to her since the train ride home, but their relationship seemed to be going fine. She was really the first girl after Caitlin that Luke took an interest in. Caitlin had hurt him when they broken up, which was the reason he found Quidditch as a way to escape the urging pain from deep inside of him. Luke still missed her, and wished they were friends, but she didn’t seem to want that. If she did, then she wouldn’t take the opportunity to ignore him every time they crossed paths, expect at the Winter Ball. It was like their relationship started all over again! Caitlin avoided Luke when they first met, but he still pursued her. With Zara, it was different. They just incidentally collided with one of another.

“LUKE!” Ryder shrieked once again, more urgency in his voice than before. Luke shook his head from his trance as he grabbed his duffle bag from on the floor. Taking his coat off the hanger, Luke held it in his arms as he bounded down the stairs. Stopping at the last step, he took a step back at Ryder’s gapped open mouth. His brother shook his head sighing. “Were going to be late if we waited any longer.” Luke nodded as he gazed at the clock that stood above the fireplace mantle. They only have ten minutes to head toward the practice pitch where the Appleby Arrows practiced. “Let’s get going then,” Luke responded nodding his head as he took out his wand the same time his brother had. Imagining the pitch, Luke was there within seconds leaving behind a loud pop as he went. Standing in the middle of the frost bitten grass, Luke grinned as he looked around the pitch. It looked almost exactly like the one at Hogwarts, but instead of all the house banners covering the stands, there were Appleby Arrow’s logo with an archer pulling back a bow an arrow. Looking up he noticed Ryder had already started walking toward the large group of men that were putting on their last pieces of gear. Luke caught up with him joining the group as he set his bag down on the ground. The men looked at the new comer with curious expressions. They knew he was their coach’s brother, but they hadn’t met Luke before. “This is my brother, Luke, as you guys already know,” Ryder introduced as Luke began quickly pulling on his second boat, lacing the laces tightly. “Luke this is Will, Rodger, and Jason. They’re the starting chasers,” Ryder introduced pointing to each of the men. Luke nodded toward them pulling on the last piece of his gear.

“Then there’s Quincy and Ryan who are the beaters. Michael over there is the team’s keeper, and finally Vigo our seeker.” Luke watched his brother’s pointed finger as he pointed to each of the names. Luke couldn’t remember their names after they were spoken, but with time he will most definitely well. “Luke will be practicing with us for his winter holiday before he tries out in a few months,” Ryder shouted looking behind him as he noticed the rest of the coaches coming in from the locker rooms. Luke watched them carefully as he grabbed on tightly to his broom. “Well..don’t stand around like a bunch of lumps. Take two laps around the pitch running, then six on your brooms!” Before the men could even protest, Luke heard a loud whistle and followed the others in a swift jog around the pitch. Ryder just wasn’t his personal trainer at home…he was going to be everywhere now!

[Luke Dallan H7]

Christmas was only a couple days away, but the Appleby Arrows Quidditch team had practices four times a week. Luke Dallan was beyond exhausted lately. Getting up every morning around five, and getting home at three in the afternoon. Most of Luke’s afternoons were spent sleeping and then waking back up to start his day over again. Even though his body was physically tired, Luke was still mentally prepared for the game of Quidditch. He already knew all his team mates names and had become friends with them. Most of the Appleby Arrow team members were at least five years older than Luke, but they all had one thing in common; the love for the game. “You hanging in there, Luke?” Jason asked as he took a seat down on the bench next to the younger boy. Luke took a small sip of his water shaking his head. “Just tired that’s all.” Jason just nodded, his blonde hair flipping aside at the gesture. “The first week is the worse, but after a while your body gets too used to it.” Luke chuckled as he leaned his back against the back of the bench, his blue eyes watching the group of beaters hitting bludgers in all different directions. During the first part of practice the team worked on building their strength then divided up into groups based on which position they played. Luke played a different one each day, but his best was Chaser. He made a fairly good beater, but a poor keeper. Anyway, Luke was more of an offensive player, though he still needed some work on scoring goals. Taking another long sip of his water, Luke jumped as he heard the wall next to him crash as a bludger blew it way through the hard wood. Luke stared at the gigantic hole with awe as he looked up at the beater who sighed at his in accuracy at his shot. “It’s alright, Ryan!” Luke shouted giving his friend a thumb up with a lopsided grin. Ryan just nodded as he chased off after another bludger nearby.

“Wow that was close,” Jason said staring over at the hole with the same awe stuck face as Luke. “Ryan isn’t all the accurate when it comes to hitting bludger, but he sure has one power arm.” Luke nodded fearing ever getting hit by Jason in a match. He had been hit before by a bludger, but nothing to leave a lasting pain. There were occasional bruises, but those went away within days. “Quincy on the other hand is our attacker beater. He has precise vision and can hit a bludger anywhere on a player.” Luke nodded as he watched the brown haired man swing hard at a bludger as it zoomed its way toward Ryan who sent it right back at the other beater. Hearing that familiar whistle, Luke looked up as he noticed Ryder coming out from the locker room with the other coaches behind him. “Alright. Mock practice guys then we can end it there for the day.” Grinning, Luke grabbed his broom mounting it as he flew up into the air. Michael was already at the one end of the goal posts and another reserve at the other end. Luke grinned over at Jason who returned the same wicked smile. It was always fun to play a mock practice, but he couldn’t wait until an actual real Quidditch game. Ryder walked out onto the center of the pitch holding the familiar red quaffle. He counted to three slowly before throwing the ball up into the air. Zooming down toward it, Luke snatched it into his arms before the other team could. Holding it securely under his arm, he zoomed forward tossing it over to Jason who was open on the far left. Jason then passed it to Rodger who threw it to the farthest left goal hoop. Michael had caught it though throwing it to another one of his team mates.

“Over here!” Luke shouted loudly as he went to an open spot. As the quaffle was thrown his direction, Luke held out his hands the rubber ball falling into his grasps. Grinning, Luke zoomed forward toward the goal post. The other chaser flew up beside him bumping into Luke almost causing him to bump hard against the wall of the stands. Luke glared as he kept concentrated toward the goal hoop. Luke bit the side of his cheek as he kept a strong hold of the quaffle. Hearing the familiar sickening noise of the bludger, Luke’s eyes grew wide as he saw it within centimeters of his face. Before he could even swerve out of the wall, the iron steel collided with Luke’s head with such force it threw him harder against the wooden wall breaking through the sturdy wood. Luke dropped the quaffle as he slowly slipped off his broom. His eyes closed in paid as his body dropped from high into the air down to the ground. Luke could feel the boards that held up the stand break with the force of his body as he finally reached the ground a sickening crack breaking through the silent air. Luke fell unconscious barely breathing, but lucky he couldn’t feel the pain.

“LUKE!”