GeminiSlay
Gem was named after constellations, just like most of her family on her mother’s side. Her mother was a Black after all. Now you may think, huh Black, where did we hear that one before? Yes, she was a cousin from Impulse and Skizz, her aunt being the crazy Cassiopeia Black that killed herself for beauty. Luckily her mother got the brains in that spectrum.
Tucana Black was a highly respected member of the Ministry of Magic, acting as head of the auror department. In summary: she was a badass, and Gem wanted to be just like her.
When she got her letter from Hogwarts the first thing she did was run up to her mother, waving the letter excitingly. “Look momma, I did it! I got into Hogwarts!” And all her mother could do was smile proudly at her.
“Very good, my child, now you can see Impy and Skizzy more often huh,” her mother smiled and Gem nodded furiously. “I wanna be a Hufflepuff like them. Skizzy said that Hufflepuffs are kind hearted people and I wanna be like that!”
And her mother, despite being a Black and a Slytherin, accepted it without a hassle.
“I think you would make a very good Hufflepuff, darling,” said her father as he joined them in the kitchen and gave Gem a big hug. “You know that your grandpops was a Hufflepuff right? Poppa Christan?”
Gem was lucky to have a family like that who supported her all the way in every single thing that she did. She knew that and she could not wish for more.
When she got to Hogwarts, she indeed turned out to be a Hufflepuff. The entire Hufflepuff side yelled out excitingly, Impulse and Skizz being the loudest of all, and even some students sat at other tables, no doubt their friends.
Skizz patted the seat next to him, to which she skipped and sat down.
“Gemstone! You made it, I’m so proud of you!” He said as he gave her a bearhug. “Geeeeem!” Impulse yelled across from her, “I knew you were going to be a Hufflepuff. Only the best for the best!” Gem blushed a bit and gave them both a bright smile.
She had a new home here!
It was Skizz who had first introduced her to the school Quidditch team at the end of her first year. The elder was the keeper of their house team and already scouted by some of the professional teams, but their attempts were all futile, as Skizz wanted to be a Magizoologist (not like he told them that because they gave him extra training and money, who was to say no to that).
Gem had watched all of the games of course, wanting to support Skizz, and had been really interested in being a beater. Despite being on the smaller side of the spectrum, she had an awful lot of strength into that little frame. Which is why Skizz introduced her to the team in order for her to practise for try-outs the next school year. One of their beaters was in his seventh year and they needed a replacement.
The beater/team captain, named Kevin Bubbles (shoutout to anyone getting this reference), was really excited about her flying and her eye for strategy and on top of that, the way she handled the Bludgers.
She met up with Skizz, and sometimes Impulse who they dragged into their training sessions despite his fear of heights, and practised all the summer long till she felt confident enough to try-out at the beginning of the school year.
When the day finally came, she was a nervous wreck, despite the many attempts from Impulse and Skizz in order to cheer her up. She could not stomach any food and so she left breakfast early in order to head to the pitch already.
She warmed herself up with a few bat swing techniques she had learned from Kevin and Skizz and in no time the rest of the people were there.
She looked at the tribunes and quickly spotted Impulse, who had a large banner saying “GEM IS GREAT”, giving her a boost of newfound confidence. She could do this!
And she did, she nailed it. But was it enough?
“Okay, thank you all very much for trying out this year,” said the new team captain, a chaser named Jimmy Dugan (the entire team is just Skizz’s dog at this point), “I’ll reconvene with the rest of the team now, the results will be on the noteboard in the Common Room tomorrow. Have a nice day everyone!” Skizz gave her a thumbs up and a wink before she had to leave.
“Geeeeem!” Impulse shouted as he ran after her, “That was great man!” “Thank you!” she smiled.
“Hundred percent sure you make the team, you were easily the best out there and you have Skizz and Kevin who both like you.” He boasted with a wide grin.
“Let’s see shall we.” Gem responded.
Gem could not sleep that night, even after the reassurances from Impulse and Skizz. She kept thinking about what if’s and it was not doing any good on her morale. Even at breakfast the next morning she was feeling down, something Impulse and Skizz easily picked up on but chose not to say anything, as there was only one thing that could cheer her up.
Which is why Skizz went to Jimmy in order to ask if he could put the scheme on the board during breakfast, that way she would cheer right up.
And indeed, when Gem was walking back towards her dormitory, a few fourth years ran past her yelling something about the Quidditch scheme. She perked up and began running after them.
There it was; the player division.
Keeper: Skizz Esvee
Seeker: Malone Riffrige
Chaser: Jimmy Dugan (team captain)
Chaser: Xb Crafted
Chaser: Pause Unpause
Beater: Stress Monster
Beater: Gemini Tay
Her heart stopped… She did it! She made the team!
Skizz and Impulse, who had followed her as soon as they heard that the scheme was up, both pulled her into a big hug.
She was going to make it far!