In the wake of the paused World Cup Match, Sloane's birthday had been a rather... subdued affair and that was alright with her. They'd had her favorite dinner and cake of course, but then she'd descended into teenage drama over the course of the following week and then everything culminated in a blow up with Cam yesterday and then they'd gotten through it somehow. Next time she was just writing to Alice first, her friend was the only one who could really talk her off the ledge sometimes, being so level-headed. Meanwhile Rufus had played in the continued match yesterday and they'd unfortunately lost to Morocco, it was a huge mess. Sloane was so ready to head back to the simplicity of school. Friends, class and quidditch, that was all she needed.

Thankfully she'd also had Ned's book to devour and she was actually impressed with the amount of useful and practical things it contained. It made a lot of sense, clearly written by someone who knew the ins and outs of what a meta could do. It had kept her busy over the course of the week, a good distraction at certain points when she'd needed it. Thank Merlin for Ned and his never-ending ability to be a steadying force in life. He'd be so impressed when she showed him she could now change her hair color on purpose!

Somehow she was back on the High Street with Fussy, on their way to the quidditch store to get a new broom care kit for the school year. She'd promised no funny business, plus Rufus was the strictest of chaperons. Sloane never knew what to ask for when her birthday rolled around, but with Fussy it was easy, it was always quidditch related. She was sporting Cam's bracelet and bolstered by her new meta successes, and Alice's letters- in a good mood for the first time in a week. She didn't want to seem too excited though, because of course Britain losing the cup was bad, and so she tried to keep the buoyancy to a minimum. "How's the knee feeling?" She asked just as they reached the door.