April 1st, 1890 — Festival Fools boat party

Cee had never been on a boat before and her brief experience at Miss Blackwood's party had made her discover that she hated it. She was prone to sea-sickness and the psychedelic decoration theme of the party didn't help. It was curious that boats made her sick, considering that she did crazier acrobatics on her broomstick. Flying at a high speed, twisting mid-air, flying backwards... Being on a boat should have been a walk in the park.

She wanted to get to a higher level, so she could get some air and get away from all the colours and the circus people. This all reminded her of a time at Hogwarts, after a Herbology class, where she had accidentally touched some psychedelic plant gloveless. She had been tripping for an entire day.

She was getting progressively dizzier and her dress' corset was killing her. There was someone blocking the staircase in front of her and, in a slight panic, Cee said: "Please, get out of the way, I need to get outside!"

  

He had met Miss Blackwood at a party around the time he had been made Captain of the Canons, she had been very congratulatory and friendly but he had still be surprised to receive an invite to the party she was throwing for April fools day. Still it had seemed too fun to turn down, and besides plenty of other players he knew would be in attendance so why not!

Thus far it had been a most interesting evening! The acrobats and performers had held his attention for most of the evening! There were girls wrapped in silk cloths tumbling and spinning from the masts of the ship high above them. Jack couldn’t imagine being that high up without a broom under him. It was thirst, and a curisotiy to see what else the ship held, that drove him under the deck. On the first staircase, just feet from the fresh air of the deck he encountered Miss Gallivan.

’Miss Gallivan are you alright?’ he asked, she was looking a little pale around the gills and he did wonder if it was sea sickness or over indulgence? The latter didn’t seem likely but he doubted her brother would be thrilled with one of his players ignoring his little sister in circumstances of rather obvious distress -regardless of the circumstances. ’Do you need some assistance?’

  

It was Mr. Cardew, of the Chuddley Cannons. Cee felt so embarrassed for her previous hysterics! She hoped that he hadn't been offended by her behaviour. He had been the most helpful to her and Theodore after their father had left them.

"Yes, please, Mr. Cardew," Cecily replied. Her heart was still racing. She placed a hand on his shoulder to steady herself. Her feet felt light. "I feel sick, this ship is like a terrible nightmare."

  

Jacks eyes were full of concern, which did not elleviate when she spoke. She did not sound drunk - could she have been drugged? It didn't seem likely but then one never did know. 'Come along then Miss Gallivan' he said gently. Accepting her small hand on his shoulder to stablise herself.
He offered her his hand and proceeded to guide her up the staircase to the wide open deck of the ship.

There was still a cocophany of noise and lights on the main part of the deck, so he didn't let go of her hand until he had guided her towards the railings of the ship where the darkness of the night all but obscured the water below and there was a strapping breeze blowing across the black lake which he hoped would blow the cobwebs away. 'Do you know what brought on the faint?' he probed gently, still trying to work out if he ought to send for her brother, or if it was one of those faints some ladies were prone to that might pass with a moment and some fresh air.

  

Thank God for Jack Cardew, hadn't it been for his guidance, she would never have made it outside.

She held the railings tightly because the rocking of the ship was still making her unsteady. How could she, an ex Quidditch player and an avid flyer, get so sick from the gentle rocking of a ship?

"I think I don't like ships, Mr. Cardew," Cecily replied with a sheepish smile. "And that decor! I admire the effort behind it, but it can easily cause a headache to someone who is already feeling dizzy." She hoped that her critique wouldn't reach Miss Blackwood because she found the young woman rather nice. She really wished that it wasn't the case that the decor was making her dizzy!

"I felt trapped on that staircase."

  

She seemed to be brightening, the cool of the evening and being free from crowding of the ship seeming to do wonders. Jack wiped his wand out of his pocket and transfigured a champagne class into a stool, so she could sit if she felt the need. The night was a calm on the black lake but there was still a discernible rocking of the ship — back and forth on its axis in time with the waves across the lake.

'Very understandable Miss Cardew' he acknowledged with what he hoped a gracious and understanding smile. She wouldn't be the first quid ditch player with a quirk like that. Jack turned his back on the railings and the dark water below, 'there was a lad in Hogwarts with me who couldn't be up in the owlry tower because it made him sick to be that high,' he quirked his head and gave he an understanding look, 'but he was the best damn beater our team ever had.' he explained.

He realised he had just sworn in front of a young lady, 'I'm so sorry miss, excuse my rougher manners.' Quid ditch players received some allowances for rough behaviour, but he was the captain, and she was the sponsors sister — there were higher expectations.

  

Cee took the offered seat, though she didn't leave her hold of the railing. She needed to feel stability on that ship.

She didn't even notice when he swore, so she let out a small laugh at his apologies. "It is alright, Mr. Cardew, I have no doubts about your manners!" She considered him a family friend, just like many of the older Chuddley players. She also knew that Quidditch players weren't known for their elegant and polite language. She had used her fair share of swear words on the pitch herself. Finishing school was needed for her to stop using words like 'damn' with such ease.

"What an interesting story! I expected you'd tell me that he became a sailor." After all, it was rare for Quidditch players to be afraid of heights. He was likely one of those people who were afraid of being close to an edge, rather than the height itself. "Does he still play Quidditch?"

  

Jack ran a hand through his hair self conciously, it might be true but he appreciated her letting him off the hook and aswaging his conscience in words. He wasn't ordinarily an anxious sort but there was something unsettling about swearing like a sailor in front of a girl he had known since her childhood, even though she was a grown society lady now. That was added to the fact she was the bosses sister.

'No' he admitted, 'He's one of those sensible ministry men now, probably has more good sense than those of us who still fling ourselves around the pitch for a living.' he gave a wry laugh. His own mother had great anxieties about his work, she saw her and their father dead and buried and Jack dead or crippeled and the whole family tumbling into ruination with quidditch as the cause. He did his best to reassure her, but nothing short of his retirement from playing the sport would satisfy her, and although the shelf life for a quidditch player was not forever Jack was determined to play as much, for as long as he possibly could. Prewett who had been captain before him hadn't done badly for himself despite playing for as long as was possible without a slump.

'Do you miss it?' he asked, daring a slightly more personal question, 'I mean it must be hard going from playing regularly to never being really allowed on a broom? he put air quotes around allowed, since there was no law, but it would certainly be socially frowned upon for a Roses alum to sail above Hogsmeade on a broom stick.

  

Cecily herself believed that Quidditch was the sort of career for gentlemen who had other sources of income, like investors or heirs. It wasn't the most practical profession for those who didn't have money to fall to if the worst happened, especially if they weren't Quidditch prodigies. Someone from the lower classes, with great talent, could make a name for himself and then be a sought after coach.

If she had been born a man, she would have probably played Quidditch for a couple of years and then joined her brother in the sponsorship of the Cannons.

"I miss playing at Hogwarts," Cecily replied. "I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much if I was doing it for a living. At Hogwarts, though, it's so innocent. You don't have corrupted referees, players betraying their teams for money and the like."

  

He couldn't imagine it - giving up his broom. Flying had been a part of his life longer even than magic, or so it felt. After all he got his first broom at 8, and his wand at 11. If someone asked him right now which he would rather do without he would probably have chosen his wand. Perhaps that would change in a few years, maybe when he had a wife, or children to care for the propsect would seem less appealing. He couldn't imagine it but then he never would have guessed Prewett would have gone from carousing Canons Captain to a proper ministry man. Although Jack was a first born, his fathers heir he could be very comfortable on the resources his family could provide and need only a career for his own vanity and self fulfillment. Quidditch was perfect in that regards.

When she mentioned the referees he tried not to smile, she was so passionate on their behalf in defence of her team, but he didn't disagree with her. More than one sponsor had offered Jack more money to move when he had made first string, and even more when he had made Captain. There was nothing like the morale upset to a team when a developed, or developing player was poached just when they had been promoted and grabbing a new captain - well that was a Coup d'état. 'I hope I never let you down in that way Miss Gallivan' he said with a broad smile, most people knew Jack had only ever had eyes for the Canons when it came to his team. 'I mean, that I would never think of jumping the ship.' he gave a chuckle and a shrug of his shoulders 'no pun intended.'

  

"I have no doubt of your loyalty, Mr. Cardew," Cee replied with a small laugh. "If you were to betray the Cannons, you would have done it already." Her father's "death" would have been the perfect opportunity for Mr. Cardew to change teams. Switch to a team with a more experienced sponsor. Of course, the sponsor was only as good as were his players, but a poor sponsor could bring unease to his team. Mr. Cardew had stayed with the Cannons and even helped the Gallivan siblings a lot.

"I would be very happy to see you play for our National Team, though."

  

'I'm glad of that Miss Gallivan' he said proudly, 'The Canons deserve better than lightly players disinclined towards loyalty. I just wish people felt the same loyalty towards their professional teams as they did their house teams, that way players would be loyal and there would less ill feeling - just competition' he added and turned back to the railing overlooking the sea. 'After all I don't hold it against you that you played for Ravenclaw he added with a cocky smile. It had been rather a sight at times, when he had been second string and so not actually on the pitch to see this petite ravenclaw in her fine dresses and house scarf with a Canons penant flag shouting advice to the players on the pitch - some of whom would have been better off to listen.


The waves seemed to be tossing with a little more vigor now. The ship was clearly under some sort of charm to keep it stable but the water was looking rougher than it had when he had come aboard. He glanced at it, and then at Miss Gallivan. 'Are you felling any more restored?' he asked, wondering if he should suggest she leave the party, but not wanting to be a party pooper.

  

Cee shared Jack Cardew's beliefs, that Quidditch players ought to be loyal to their teams. It was understandable, however, that some weren't. If someone's sole source of income was Quidditch, it would make sense that they would switch to a team that offered them a larger salary. Similarly, if someone had played on the second string of one team for too long, it would make sense that they'd take up another's team first string position. Professional Quidditch had a business side of it, unlike Hogwarts'.

At his next question, Cee was presented with the opportunity to leave the party. She had been enjoying her conversation with Jack Cardew, so she forgot how unpleasant this party had been. However, she couldn't spend the entire party with a Quidditch player. Her scene before would already likely have people talking, she didn't need to feed more coal to that fire.

"Yes, I feel better Mr. Cardew, thank you. However, could you please locate my brother, or my step-mother, Mrs. Gallivan for me?" She couldn't leave the party on her own and she didn't feel like looking for Theo or Veronica on that ship!

  

Jack didn't necerrsily want to end this tete a tete with Miss Cardew, but part of his feeling of obligation to her father, and now her brother, was ensuring that she was safe and well. Now that she seemed less inclined towards fainting it seemed he must give up the pleasure of her conversation. There must a be a great deal many more pleasant and diverting conversations to be had than with her brothers friend, a man she had known since she was a child. It seemed to be confirmed to him when she requested that he find he brother or step mother.

He tried to hide his disapointment, turning to the sea to hide his face, before turning back, he called over one of the stewards, 'Find mister Gallivan' he instructed, having thought twice about going himself to Theo. He didn't think it was appropriate to leave her alone. 'If you like Miss Gallivan I could escourt you to shore and you could wait for your brother and step mother there?'

  

Cecily would like to leave the ship sooner than later but she didn't think it prudent to accept Jack Cardew's suggestion. It would raise many eyebrows to see her leave the party with a man who wasn't her relative, even if that person technically worked for her brother.

"Oh no it's alright, Mr. Cardew," Cecily replied. "I can wait for them here."

Soon, the steward arrived with her relatives and Cee returned home.

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