Nice Breeze, Ain't it?; Open

[Katherine Finnigan]

Katherine nearly thought that he wasn't going to catch the fact that she'd addressed him as Minister Weasley until he paused. Again, Kat found herself giggling at him but he was probably right. She still thought that he would make a wicked good professional Quidditch player but if he wanted to be the political public servant type then she'd hope the best for him. After all, friends were supposed to be unconditional anyway. There was no exception in their friendship.

Arching her eyebrows, Kat couldn't quite believe what Weasley was suggesting. She tried to convince herself that he was just being silly and flirty but it still made her ponder. After a moment, she responded, "Wipe that smirk off your face Coop. And don't get your hopes up. I mean...well...never mind." The strangest thing about it was that Katherine had nearly opted to swear off boys completely except for keeping her friends. Oh how some boys irritated her! "Hey...I have a question," she interjected almost randomly, "Why is it that most guys string girls along and toy with them? I mean...wouldn't it be easier to tell a girl that you fancied her straight out? Or do Gryffindor guys all prefer to be players?"

As the last bits came out, Kat found that her tone had become a little harsher than she was used to. An embarrassed expression on her face, she softly apologized and looked down at the ground far below her. It was beyond her why most of the guys she knew thought it was cool to have tons of girls falling all over them just so they could play silly mind games. Kat was a seventeen year old girl and was done with little kiddie games. If a serious thing came along and it was someone whom she trusted, Kat figured she might contemplate lifting her ban on boys...but not until then.

[Cooper Weasley]

As a joke, no surprise there, Cooper sat straight up and saluted Katherine. "Yes, madam." Of course, the smirk was removed only for a quick moment. Soon, it was back on when she added don't get your hopes up. "Hey, it doesn't hurt to try," he said. Cooper gave her a nod as she had a question. He thought it would be something along the lines of quidditch. He didn't expect it to be a boy question. Still, he'd do his best to answer it.

For a second, Coop found himself confused. He hated when girls asked him questions about why boys do something. He didn't know why he did ninety percent of the things he did. Unable to come up with a good answer he said, "What's his name, I'll said him straight." He assumed that Kat must asking because she had a specific person in mind. That person must have been giving her mixed signals. "Sometimes that's easier then telling a girl straight out that you fancy them. It's not easy, not at all. There is the fifty percent chance that you'll get slapped, or rejected in some embarrassing way. Some guys' egos can't handle that sort of rejection. Then there are some of us who are just too bloody blind to realize our own feelings. Also, there are some who are just straight out players. Then, there's me. I just like to make pretty girls smile."

There, he answered to the best of his ability. Still unsure exactly why she asked. Probably because he was a guy and he should now. There were some pretty rotten ones out there that got their kicks from toying with others emotions. Cooper found that to be cruel and would never do that to a girl. He just liked making them smile. Coop nodded, agreeing with himself about his answer. He hoped it would help her in some sort of way. Otherwise, he could just beat the sense into the git.

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[Katherine Finnigan]

Kat laughed softly at Cooper. As much as she generally disliked boys lately, particularly Gryffindor boys, she had to admit that Cooper Weasly was one of the best friends she could ever ask for. He, at least, could make her laugh and smile even when she was irritated. The more she thought about it, the more Kat could see him being the next Minister of Magic. He just had a knack for being diplomatic. At least she thought so anyway...but, after all, she was pretty biased.

"No worries about setting anyone straight. I'm just about done with boys...other than showing you lot up on the pitch and maybe taking a beater bat to a particular professional if I make it on any pro teams," Kat joked, trying to lighten the mood a little more. Though she would never understand how boys worked or what went through their minds half the time, Katherine could at least appreciate the Quidditch abilities of a lot of them and the fact that she would never trade friends like Coop, Blair and Lauri for all the tea in China. Nonetheless, she still vowed to not fall for any guy ever again unless the right one came along and managed to actually sweep her off her feet...like it was supposed to be.

Flying around Cooper, she tried to come up with something else to do. She didn't much feel like showing off. After a second or two, she asked, "Care to go for a plain fly around the grounds? Wouldn't want to hurt your ego too much if I started showing off, you know. Maybe just a causal fly or something...unless you've got other things you'd rather be doing..."

[Cooper Weasley]

Cooper smiled as Kat laughed. His main mission was accomplished, well, it had been already. Apparently, she wasn't getting along with someone which caused her to question the male sex. A thought floated into Cooper's mind but, he shot it down rather quickly. Now wasn't the best time to think of any possiblites he could have with her. It might spoil the friendship but, who knows.

"Darn," he said, snapping his fingers. "Then again, it wouldn't look good if I went off beating people up. It wouldn't help me get the Minister seat," he joked lightly. He had to smile at Kat's joke as well. Althougth he thought, Hey, that's my job! he didn't mind sharing the light. "Oh, you shouldn't have any trouble of making on pro teams. You're a bloody amazing player," he commented with sincerity. He meant it too, he thought that Katherine was one of the best players around. Better than him even, though he wouldn't admit that.

"Hm, I know of somethings I would like to do instead but, I don't think you would go for it..." he said, trailing off. He mocked thought for a second before nodding. "Yes, a casual fly is just fine with me." Hurt his ego? No, no, not really. Well, that was a lie but, Cooper always found new ways to out do himself.

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[Katherine Finnigan]

Again, Kat giggled lightly at Cooper when he snapped his fingers and made a joke. He just had this knack for making her forget all about whatever was upsetting her. Then again, that was why they were friends and had been for so long. The more she thought about it, the more she came to a realization. Cooper Weasley was honestly one of the few people who could always make her laugh and, even more, part of the more elite group that she'd never actually been angry or upset with.

"Good job boosting my ego about fifty points," Katherine laughed lightly, "So while you're Minister of Magic, I'll be off traveling Europe and playing some of the roughest teams there are. Promise to come watch me Coop?" It might have come off as entirely random but she was actually being sincere. If she actually did make a professional match, she wanted to know that her best friends would actually be there to support her. She'd be there to back Coop up if he ever needed it, that much she knew.

Katherine heard him make the same sort of insinuation that he'd done before, which only caused her to laugh again. He really was too much sometimes. With a smile, she teased, "Never know until you actually say something." Was she being a bit suggestive? One good joke deserved another. Thinking about it a little more Katherine asked, "Hey...quick question, Weasley. You know that dance thing coming up? Plan on saving me a dance?" It was a cheeky question to ask but she meant it.

[Cooper Weasley]

Cooper smiled. He wasn't exactly sure if she was being serious about the ego boost or not. Still, he'd take it. He was one of those people who hated conflict between himself and friends. He did whatever he could to cheer up his mates, not matter what the problem was. Or, if needed, he liked to be the shoulder to cry on too.

"Why thank you," Cooper replied with a bit of humour. "Of course I will! What kind of friend would I be if I didn't? I'll always push aside anything that doesn't need my immediate attention to come and watch you." Whatever it was that they chose to do after Hogwarts, Cooper still wanted to be there for his friends. Katherine was one of his best friends, and he supported whatever it was she wanted to do. If quidditch was her calling, then he would go to every on of her matches to cheer her one.

Cooper raised his brow, "Don't go giving me ideas now," he said with a laugh. She was being a bit suggestive, leaving Coop not sure if she was joking or not. It was true, he never knew unless he'd ask. No, he wouldn't there was too much to risk. "Well...I suppose I could save you one or more. I've made Lizzie promise me to go. There's something wrong with her..." he trailed off for a moment. A frown appeared on his face. He'd been worried about his sister lately. She hadn't been herself, and Coop wandered if he was the only one that had noticed. "I don't know what it is. She says she doesn't want to go to the dance, which is odd. She loves dancing and such. Is it just a girl thing that I wouldn't understand?' Cooper hadn't thought about it until just know to ask Katherine. She was after all a girl, so maybe she would know what's irking Lizzie, or if it was just a phase or something. "I mean," he began without waiting for an answer, "she's been really quite and reserved. The last time we spoke, she only said a few words and actually we had an argument. We never do that. Is this just some stage girls go through?"

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[Katherine Finnigan]

"Quite welcome, Minister Weasley," she laughed softly. Katherine couldn't help smiling broadly when he noted that he would come watch her play. There were only a few people outside of family that she really hoped would come watch her and he was one of them. Being that Cooper had probably know her the longest of everyone at Hogwarts, she considered him one of her absolute best friends and one of the only people she could actually confide in. Practically beaming, she jokingly added, "And I'll even autograph a photo for you to stick on your desk...that way you can tell all your friends you know a professional player." Giving him a wink, she tried her best not to burst out laughing at her own little joke.

It was impossible to hold back a fit of giggles, though, when the told her not to give him ideas. Through her giggles, she managed to say, "Ideas? You...you gave...yourself...the ideas...Coop." Not much of a flirt and hardly the sort of girl to go about snogging any boy who looked at her or flirted with her, Katherine didn't usually make such suggestive comments but she felt comfortable enough with Cooper to actually say it. Even if he was a tease and a flirt...and sometimes the type of guy who would pick up random girls...she knew he would never just try to get in her knickers or anything of the sort. He was, at least, a pretty repectable person and one that she could fully trust.

His next few statements caught her a bit off guard but still made the Hufflepuff smile. It was incredibly cute that he thought about his little sister and her well-being so much. After he was finished talking, she opened her mouth to speak but closed it again a moment before saying, "Coop...m'boy...it might just be a girl thing. We're a little more complex, you see. She's...what...fifteen or sixteen now? You know, if you'd like me to talk to her, I can always have a go at it. After all, there are some things a girl doesn't really want to tell her big, overprotective brother." At this, Katherine started to fly toward the ground to land.

[Cooper Weasley]

Cooper grinned as Kat had called him Minister Weasley again. The name was starting to sound better and better each time she said it. "Really?!" He said, sounding excited, "That would be really awesome. I would so put it on my desk. Course, if neither of us are married by then, I might go take an extra step and tell everyone that you're my girlfriend to boot." He smirked and chuckled, joking of course. Coop knew in the back of his mind that there was no way he could date one of his best friends. Even if he wanted to, it would be weird to say the least. Still, he always pondered the possibility of it.

Cooper grinned widely as Katherine giggled. It was an effect he had on all the girls, whether he said anything or not. Sometimes all he had to do was walk past a group of them, grin at them, and it would send them all in a fit of giggles and quite whispers. He didn't get way girls giggle at boys or at him. That was a girl thing he probably would never figure out. "Well, I can't help it if I give myself ideas," he said with a slight pout.

Cooper nodded at what Katherine had said. Although, he and his sister had always been able to talk to each other about anything and everything. They had talked before and he got the same result, Lizzie was quiet and didn't really say much. He made her assure him that she was alright, and she did. Of course, he didn't believe and thought she just said it to shut him up. Cooper just hated the idea that something was wrong with his dear sister and that there was absolutely nothing he could do about it.

Cooper flew down the ground a few moments after Katherine had. "Would you really talk to her? I mean, that is if you find her. I think she's been hiding out from me, so I don't have a clue where she is anymore other than her common room." Cooper would be extremely thankful and in Katherine's debt if she did find Lizzie and talked to her. Maybe Lizzie just needed a girl to girl talk. Those never went well with her mum so, maybe another lady could help. However, Coop wasn't sure if Lizzie would open up to Katherine or not. Cooper landed, and dismounted his broom, feeling absolutely helpless in the situation. He absolutely hated that feeling.

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[Katherine Finnigan]

It was almost as though Cooper was over doing it with just how excited he was coming off. Then again, who wouldn't be excited to have an autographed photo of a professional Quidditch player on their desk? The next thing out of his mouth nearly made Katherine laugh but she managed, just barely, to keep her composure. A grin spreading across her lips, Kat replied, "I don't know just how long the much sought after future Minister can manage to stay unmarried but, if that's the case, you know it works both ways, right?" She was, of course, jokingly insinuating that she'd have no issues with him bragging about having a certain Quidditch player for a girlfriend. The thought of it all was still amusing to her considering Katherine knew Coop would probably be married almost right after school...if his perfect girl came along, of course...which she still thought was an adorable notion.

"Cooper Andrew Weasley," she said in a mock scolding tone, "You right well better be able to help it if you're giving yourself naughty ideas." Eyeing him suspiciously, she tried to hold back a laugh. It was incredibly harder done than thought though. A few little snickers slipped through her lips before she shook her head as though in disappointment but it was really to keep herself from bursting out in full laughter.

Holding her broom upright in her right hand, Kat waited patiently for Coop to land as well. A bright smile on her face, she responded, "Of course I'd really talk to her. Trust me, it's not always easy to tell guys what's going through our heads mostly because you gits are too daft to understand." At this, she smirked. She had only meant it in a teasing sort of manner anyway. With a nod, she went on, "I mean, I don't know whether she'd want to talk to me, of course, seeing as we haven't become too close of friends yet but it's always nice to have another girl that's closer to your age to talk to. That's what I keep you around for Weasley." Giving him a pat on the arm and a slight wink, she found herself laughing again.

Although the matter at hand was a little more serious, there was no harm in trying to lighten the mood. Kat hated to see Cooper feeling so...well...she wasn't sure exactly what he was feeling but she didn't like to see him like this. If she could actually find his elusive little sister, she'd do her best to help sort things out. After all, it was what friends were for. Besides that, Kat knew all about being a girl for the most part. Even though she was the 'rough and tumble' sort of girl, she still had to go through a lot of the same teenage drama and problems as other females. It was a bit of both worlds really. After a quick moment of thought, she finished on a more sincere note. "Really, though, I'll help out however I can. I know you'd do the same for me in any scenario."