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After watching her cousin's upset following the last game, Ella knew something had to be done. While she tried to set up a meet-up over winter holidays, it was just so busy! And now there was even more stuff to try and schedule, plus including Sebastian's schedule. She had, however, been able to bring home pictures from the Halloween party so she could show off her pretty outfit to her family. Other than that, it had been lots to do. Between church, cooking days, and just trying to have a moment to breathe, there wasn't much time for anything else.

However, she figured up a plan. There was a Hogsmeade weekend just before Gryffindor was set to play their second game. Ella, who had never really had been able to provide more than quiet support, figured she'd call in the expert. Sending a letter home to Linsey, she set up plans to make a meeting. The morning before the school would wander out, she dressed in a warm sweater dress, plus warm tights and small boots. Taking Finn and Sebastian by their hands, the smallest of the three guided the boys into the pub. "Linsey! Oh, and Serghei too. Good. I brought the boys." Ella nodded, finally releasing her hands. She was pulled into a small hug by her brother, then she took the second to hug her big sister.

"Hey Linz! It's been real weird with you all graduated and gone. But it's good to see ya! Even if Ella did kinda surprise us by bringing us...." Seb waved, offering up a bright, if toothy smile. His messy purple hair had little flecks of snow still sparkling as they melted. Ella nodded a bit, her wide brown eyes looking over the two boys. She then turned her chin up, looking up at Linsey since she was the one with the words. "I... I knew she'd be better to talk to than me..." she explained in her normal soft tones.

Seb had been planning on going to Hogsmeade with friends, but he'd been a little confused when he was grabbed by Ella, who also had a hold of Finn. Green eyes looked between them, and with as amused smile back toward Alice, he followed along. Eventually, she led them into the Three Broomsticks, where her sister and brother were waiting on them. After doing some greetings, Linsey said it'd been an adjustment not seeing them anymore.

"Change is real hard sometimes. But I do hope that being a grown up is fun for ya too." Sure, the one who struggled most with change was probably him. Linsey always seemed really cool on the surface. Maybe she really was fine? He was pulled into a hug, which he happily reciprocated. Linsey was always really good at hugs. After Ella said Linsey was an expert, she said no, but Serghei was. "You're the best at making people feel better, though." Ella added with a little smile. And Seb had to agree. There were a few people in school that were really good at it, but Linsey had a unique talent for it.

When she spoke about Finn's problems, Linsey seemed to already know... but then she asked him. Seb's expression fell, but he tried to pull his smile back on. "It's... um... well.." What was he supposed to say? He ran a hand through his hair, shuffling a bit. "I... I'm really good in practice, but I just... can't seem to do it when we're playing real games. Mama even came to this one, she got me a new broom and everything, but...." He hesitated, letting out a sigh.

"I really think maybe I shouldn't have even tried out this year."

When Linsey commented on change, Seb looked a bit confused. He'd always struggled with change, especially big changes. Maybe it was just him that was weird, then. But eventually, he'd get comfortable with changes... eventually. Though, he was glad that Linsey seemed to be having a good time after graduation so far. Ella nodded along, probably because she knew more about Linsey than he did. "Milan and Vera are quite nice." Ella added softly. "It's good that you've got good friends at work! And I'm glad you're happy doing good stuff." Of course, the dreams coming true, he figured, had to do with Ella's fancy princess dress. He'd been the one to take photos of Ella, after all.

Ella grinned up when Linsey said she'd had good teachers to help with her skill at making people feel better. The smallest of the group stepped a bit closer to her sister, who had always been something of a safety to her. Honestly, it made Seb a little jealous of other kids with big families. Not that he'd ever change his own. He had the best mama in the whole world!

When he tried to explain his feelings, Linsey offered a hand. Seb accepted it as she offered some kind words. Did he honestly believe he shouldn't have tried out... yes, most of the time. He loved playing so, so much, but the looks of disappointment, or worse, the pity, from his teammates was hard to bear. Linsey asked if he could really walk away from the sport and Seb shrugged his shoulders a bit. She even said that Nic knew what he was doing... but so had Nare, and he ruined her whole entire time as captain!

She also added that his Mama believed in him, and she wouldn't do that if she didn't have reason. At that, Seb's green eyes dropped to the ground. "I think... she was waiting to see if I would try again. I... I almost didn't. I got to the gates and went to leave, but Alice was there and she told me to try too. But... but I feel like I'm just making things worse for my friends who wanna have fun, but also to win. Even once! But I can't even get that much." He sighed heavily, shaking his head. Though he hadn't been expecting to hear a different voice offer advice.

"Bad games... bad seasons, they come and go. You cannot find a single player out there that hasn't had one, two... more. Even on the professional level, Seekers still have a... luptă..." "A struggle," Ella added helpfully. "Da, struggle. I have seen some of the best Seekers, both in România and in the UK circuit have seasons where they simply could not win. Do they give up? Nein."

Seb glanced up at Serghei, who looked quite serious about his words. "They keep practicing, keep working, and eventually, their ill luck breaks. You are still in schule, so the scores... do not matter too much. Play because you want to play, not for any laude." Seb nodded a bit, but he couldn't help the guilt he continued to felt. Arguably, it was worse now that his Mama had spent a bunch of money... and Ella had seemingly gone through all this effort too. She didn't even play! "I keep trying, but I always feel bad that the whole team is like... no one thinks anyone's any good, all because I'm not very good." He knew the team was frequently underestimated. No one on the other teams thought Gryffindor would, or even could win. And it was all on his shoulders!

Seb watched Ella grin back up at her big sister, so glad that she had someone like Linsey to take care of her. Linsey explained that they were good friends and that work didn't feel like work. "I want a job like that someday. Something that's fun to do. I just... don't know what it'll be!" Of course, when he first started playing quidditch, he'd had dreams of someday doing that for work.... but it was looking less and less possible. Maybe he'd find something else, otherwise he'd just work in a shop like Mum did.

After explaining his thoughts on Mama having waited for him to decide about playing, Linsey gently corrected him. Apparently, she believed that Mama had done what she did because it was Seb's dream. That... sure was something Mama would do. Even back when he was little, she would scrape together every penny and pence to make things special for him when she could. "...but winning isn’t everything," Linsey said. Of course, Seb had heard those words spoken to him before, earning a nod. She said the team mattered, not the winning. "But it's hard to feel like I'm even a worthwhile part of the team sometimes...." His words trailed off a bit as the teen fidgeted with his hands.

The next to speak was Finn, causing Seb to look over at him. He said... something that sounded poetic, but Seb wasn't exactly sure of the source. It sounded pretty cool, though. Thankfully, Either Linsey noticed that Seb was uncertain of the words... or maybe she just liked to explain, and she kindly said it was from something called 'Henry V'. He'd have to ask Alice more about it sometime. She'd probably know what that meant. All he knew about Henry V was that he was a king like 600ish years ago and he was pretty good at war.

Seb let out a soft exhale as Linsey spoke again. This time she mentioned Brianna having recruiting Csuri, and that Csuri hadn't done too good her first season. Of course, the year after, Csuri was unbeatable, which didn't help. "Things have clicked, I think! I'm like... I'm really, really good in practice. But then I try my best in games and I just can't get there. I've gotten close in just about every game, but somehow I just can't catch the snitch." He sighed softly, shaking his head. "I've even practiced against the other Seekers, and last summer, Lewis was super nice and had his cousin, like... a real, pro seeker try to help too. But then the game came up and I just... couldn't do it."

As much as he'd like to say it was unfair, he knew it was most likely just because his opponents were all super good at their jobs. But then he mentioned that he figured that people assumed the whole team wasn't good, to which Linsey had a differing opinion. She said that anyone who didn't take Gryffindor seriously was foolish, which did help Seb feel a little better. "Da, I think honestly that once you do win, and I hope that is soon, your încredere," "Your confidence, Sebastian." "Da, confidence. Your confidence will go up. Once you get a win, you will surge and you will be able to win against all. What is best to do, here, is to believe you have already won. Half of confidence is just... pretending to be confident. If you say you are going to win, then your mind will allow you to shake the walls it has made. This is how I play each of my games. I believe I am going to win, and then I make it happen. You must do the same."

Serghei added, looking a bit... smug? Or was that what confidence looked like? Either way, Seb nodded along. The words from both Linsey and Serghei seemed... good. He just had to add some confidence into his practice now too... or well, pretend confidence. "And the same is for you, Finn. If you believe you will stop the ball, then so shall it go. Practice, yes, but you must also be confident in your abilitate." Serghei looked over at Finn, offering a grin. "I will also make sure to practice against you this summer, da?"