Quidditch Tryouts
Dany stops elegantly alongside where the boys were sitting. They all stare at her in awe, puzzled with awaiting, dumbstruck expressions.
Gendry leans over to look at Arya behind her, flashing her a shit eating grin. "Can we... help you boys with something?"
Dany chuckles unimpressed, "Yes actually, we were looking to see if Jon Snow was going to try out for Quidditch this year?"
Tormund coughs out, violently choking on his gelatin pudding.
She glances at Jon smartly. "We heard you played at Durmstrang, if I'm not mistaken?" His eyes widen faintly, side looking to Gendry.
Meanwhile, she silently observes all of the dagger-like stares coming from whispering onlookers. She dared to speak to Jon in public and so she straightens her posture, feeling empowered.
The boys all pan at Jon expectantly, as he fidgets nervously with his fork for a moment. He quietly clears his throat, "Ah yeah, I played there.”
He seems nervous. Murderers aren’t nervous?
”Okay, great. Would you like to tryout?”
“Maybe, uhm... When is it?" He looks to Gendry again.
Gendry shrugs, eyeing him an expressed mix of confusion and worry. Tormund joins, subtly shaking his head at Jon in warning, but then freezes in fear, as Dany catches him.
She turns to face him. "I know you didn't make the team last year Giantsbane, but you could still try out again this year?"
The boys attempt to all hide their laughter quietly, but that doesn't go very well.
Tormund barks out an embarrassed gruff towards them. He swallows thick, barely glancing at her, rudely responding, "Uhm maybe?"
She smiles back at him with poise, "Good." Then squares back to Jon, "We have a meeting tomorrow night in the common room at 7:30. We will be doing interviews and you can meet the team." Arya simultaneously side glances at her with a half-confused expression, then widens her eyes skeptically back at Gendry.
"Okay thank you. I'll... be there, I think," Jon promises. Then he pauses, "Sorry, what did you say your name was?"
Gendry holds back a tiny gasp, wincing at him.
Wait, what?
Dany squints down at him, "You... don't know who I am?"
Jon looks over at the boys and then eyes her back somewhat cheekily, "No, I'm sorry... I didn't catch it, did you mention it?"
He has to know who she is?
How could he not? She thinks, but then smiles back responsibly, "No," she shakes her head, "You're right, I didn't."
She holds out her hand, "I'm Daenerys, I'm the Team Captain."
Jon arches his brows, reaching out, "Okay, Daenerys." He shakes her hand, just barely long enough— then pulls it away with a gentle expression, "Nice to meet you."
Taken aback by his intensity, she looks away— and then smirks back with regained composure, "Right."
Correction— he was not shy.
She goes to walk away, but then turns around, remembering, "And, we were also wondering if you played any particular position? You know, because we are looking for a new Beater?"
He inhales sharply in disappointment, "Oh uh, I'm actually a Seeker."
Arya huffs in delighted surprise, right as Gendry and Tormund start laughing.
“Oh?” Dany’s brows thread together neatly, “Great,” she nods, bearing a cold smile.
Clearly he does not know his place yet.
Reclaiming her authority, she explains to him, "I'm actually, the Gryffindor Seeker, but you can try out for Beater. Or any other position." She stands up a little bit straighter.
He arches his brows, his eyes questioning her stubbornly, but they’re definitely not mean.
He’s actually looking at her rather innocently, she decides. He’s not being malicious.
He’s... he’s... well, she didn’t know what he was yet, but it was definitely not was she expected—
“Uh, alright. Well, I'll probably see you tomorrow, then..." He side glances away at Gendry awkwardly, as Gendry ducks his face into his arm resting on the table, muffling his snickers.
She was standing there too long. Shit.
Her body stood there a moment longer, glaring back at him with warming cheeks, and then she motions to Arya to leave. Her face now felt hot, so she pushes Arya, moving her to follow behind her, gracefully storming away.