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(Mark) Trials
Author: Isolde
Date: 12-07-12 17:22
Mark had set out early for the Quidditch Pitch, but had quickly discovered he hadn't been the only one with the idea. Students, new and old, flooded the stadium in anticipation of the Quidditch trials. Most had intentions of trying out for their respective house teams, but a fare amount had come just to watch.
Mark had gone to bed rather late last night and did not feel well-rested at all. It didn't help that he'd checked his watch often in the morning hours to make sure he wouldn't oversleep. He hoped the lack of a full night's sleep wouldn't hinder his chances at making the Slytherin Quidditch team. Like in previous years, Mark was trying out for beater.
After milling about a bit, chatting with Gus who was going up for keeper again, Mark found himself in the group led by Spiridon Haynes. Haynes had his group begin warming up by doing stretches on the turf, followed by running back and forth along a portion of the Pitch. The exercising certainly helped wake up Mark. By the time Haynes had the group mount broomsticks, Mark felt an ache in his legs and a bit winded.
Flying warm-ups consisted of executing sprints. The wind in his face made Mark feel even more awake, though the occasional yawn still gave himself away. Maybe he'd take a nap later.
After endless sprinting, Mark participated in the first of several drills. As a beater, he was most interest in the activities involved a bat and the bludgers and performed his best during those exercises. During target practice, he hit 8 out of 10, which wasn't a personal best for him except to say that he had hit all 8 with exact precision.
When the scrimmages began, Mark found himself on the ground for quite a while, which almost made him feel a bit uneasy. He knew he wasn't playing 100%, if only because of the lack of sleep, but he didn't think he was doing all that badly considering the circumstances. He actually thought he was doing pretty okay.
But then Coach Krum called him up to play in the next scrimmage. Mark clutched his bat and soared high into the air, ready to show everybody what he could do. His co-beater happened to be Alastor Jenkins, who in years past had been the enemy. Mark could be a team-player when he wanted to be, and right now Alastor was on his team. Being experienced beaters already, they anticipated each others' actions and even assisted each other whenever the situation warranted it.
On one occasion, Mark whacked one of the bludgers towards Alastor, knowing he had a better angle at messing with the opposing chaser currently in possession of the quaffle. Alastor intercepted the perfectly directed bludger and used it to great success, striking the chaser in the shoulder and causing her to lose possession of the red ball.
After that scrimmage ended, Mark sat out for a few more rounds. There were a great many students trying out this year, so he tried not to worry that he wasn't getting enough gameplay or that everybody was out-performing him. The fact of the matter was, the majority of students trying out didn't have the experience he and some of the other returning players had, not that none of them had a chance of taking his former position away from him. Mark wasn't so egotistic to think that he was guaranteed a spot on the team. He would be surprised if he didn't earn one, though.
At last, Krum called his name again. Mark played in two back-to-back scrimmages, both times as beater. In the first match, he was paired up with a first year girl with pigtails from Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw, he wasn't sure. Every time she tried to hit a bludger, it yanked the bat straight out of her hand. Mark tried not to laugh out loud, especially since the girl wore a look of such determination and didn't seem perturbed by her immanent failure.
In the next match, Mark's co-beater was Caerwyn Valentine of Hufflepuff. Like with Alastor, Mark played well with Caerwyn, as if they had played together before and knew exactly how to react to one another. Mark's crowning achievement during that match happened when he nailed a second year girl in the nose with a bludger. Blood spurted everywhere and she burst into tears. It was a valid hit, so Mark wasn't faulted for his part in her injury. Still, he tried to look apologetic. He didn't want to look the model of poor sportsmanship.
The scrimmages ceased for few minutes while the girl was seen off to the Hospital Wing. Mark touched down again, feeling more awake than ever, at least for the moment.
The Mickle Sisters Try Out for Chaser
Author: Griet
Date: 12-07-12 18:21
Sadie pulled her hair into a ponytail and then swept it up into a bun, tucking the end through the rubber band in her hair. She wished she would have thought to pin it up while still in her dormitory room, but the makeshift 'do would have to suffice for the time-being.
She joined the group led by Beatriz Basso, who had them do some serious exercising on the ground before being allowed to take flight. Sadie's hair survived the ground exercises but loosened strand by strand from her bun during the flying sprints. By the time she started the first of several drills, her hair was a complete ponytail again.
Sadie excelled at the first drill, which involved catching and passing quaffles in quick succession. As a former house chaser for Hufflepuff, Sadie felt in her element, though after a long summer off, she did feel a teensy bit rusty. Still, she performed so well that nobody but herself noticed that she felt a little out of practice.
The next drill involved hitting bludgers, which wasn't Sadie's forte. She hit some, but not all, and definitely wouldn't be earning a position on the Quidditch team as beater.
Eventually, Professor Krum blew his whistle, signaling an end to the drills. Sadie touched down and waited to find out if she would play in the first scrimmage. She didn't, but she did play in the second one as chaser, her preferred position.
She was the first to get her hands on the quaffle, and tucked it securely against her body as she propelled forward to reach to opposing team's hoops. She felt a bludger whoosh by her and moved a fraction to the left, just barely avoiding full contact with it. Quickly, Sadie whipped her head around to see where it had come from and what was happening behind her. Her ponytail struck her in the face, stinging her eyes for a moment.
Sadie quickly turned her head back around and used her free hand to pull the individual strands of hair from her eye. In that moment, one of the opposing chasers snatched the quaffle from her grasp. His hold wasn't very strong, however, and Sadie managed to bump it free before he could secure it. The quaffle popped out, causing a mad scramble to recover it. Luckily, one of Sadie's teammates did.
---
Ramona's stomach was growling. She had overslept and missed breakfast. Her only sustenance had been a granola bar she'd scrounged up from the bottom of her trunk. It had been rather squished, probably beneath her entire set of school textbooks during transport to Hogwarts, but it had been edible.
Unfortunately, it wasn't quite enough. She looked around and wondered if everybody else could hear her stomach's loud rumblings. It was somewhat noisy at the Quidditch Pitch, but there were moments when it wasn't so loud, and when her stomach seemed to roar with protest at not being properly fed.
She joined the group led by Morgana Flowers, who ran a tight ship and encouraged students she thought had no chance at earning a slot on their respective house teams to leave. Flowers had the remaining students in her group mount their broomsticks and fly an obstacle course to practice turns and broomstick handling and control.
The drills that followed were varied. Like her sister, Ramona fared best during those that involved catching or tossing the quaffle. She also did well shooting goals. The first half of the goal attempts involved only Ramona and the goal hoops. The second half included a keeper, which made the drill more challenging. Ramona nonetheless managed to get the quaffle past the stand-in-keeper more than half the time.
She did participate in the very first scrimmage. The ball fell into her team's hand from the very start, and she and her fellow chasers worked hard to move the quaffle down the Pitch. At the goal line, she tried to score, but the keeper blocked her attempt. After several subsequent goals, she caught a rebound that slipped past the hands of a chaser on the other team. Ramona let the quaffle fly, but before it could go anywhere, the shrill whistle sounded ending her first scrimmage match.
A Little Bored
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 12-07-12 19:23
Seating on the couch, staring at the ceiling from his reclined position Harry considers turning on the WWN and seeing if there's a program worth tuning in to hear. Coming in from the kitchen, a mug of tea in her hands, Ginny taps him on the legs. "Make room."
Harry repositions as Ginny nestles against him commenting as she does, "Why do I get the impression you are bored?"
"I was just thinking that it's times like this I wish we had a telly. I could be sitting here catching a footie match or something like rugby, maybe even a movie. Or, if we had a telly, maybe that would mean Quidditch would be televised."
"I wouldn't mind that but you know we do have a wireless and, as radical as this may sound to you, there are always books."
"Listening to something on the WWN isn't the same as seeing it. I read more than I did back in school but I'm not like you or Hermione."
"No one's like Hermione and, considering that in school you only read something if it related to Quidditch or if you absolutely had to read it for a class, if you read even one non-Quidditch book a year that could be categorized as reading more," Ginny dryly states.
"I read more than that."
"Case files don't count."
"Sure they do."
"Keep telling yourself that, Potter."
"Maybe I wouldn't feel bored now if Kingsley were letting me work the case." There's no need for Harry to elaborate on what case.
"You have plenty of other cases to work. In fact, I seem to recall you getting home rather late, or should I say extremely early, because of a case."
"But it's THE case. I should be on it. Enough time has passed that I could ask again."
"Kingsley vowed to lock you in a cell at Azakaban if you bring it up to him again. Here's some added incentive for you. If you do ask and he keeps his word, you will not be getting any conjugal visits."
"That's cold."
"If it keeps you here at home until Adriana's caught then don't doubt for a second I'd follow through on that threat."
"You are a hard woman, Ginevra."
"And yet you love me still."
"Has anyone ever mentioned you are also a brat?"
"Only all six of my brothers."
At the saccharinely sweet smile Ginny's giving him now, Harry can't help but chuckle. After a moment he asks, "Okay, no asking about being put on the hunt for Adriana. What if I ask to talk with Pettigrew instead?"
"What would that accomplish?"
"No idea, but he was running from something and kept swearing that something very very bad was out there."
"You think he meant Adriana?"
"I think it's a possibility and I also think that it's likely he didn't know who or what he was referring to. He was always so vague about it but he was also very scared. I think if he had any details he'd have used them to help ensure he gained sanctuary. I also probably wouldn't have ended up in the doghouse for harboring him because I would have had something to take to Kingsley."
Ginny mulls over what Harry has said before giving a very minute nod of her head. "You may ask about talking with him again but when you do, tell Kingsley I am reminding him through you that he did not threaten to lock you away if you asked bout Pettigrew again and if he does, he'll have to face me."
Ginny smiles that smile at him again. "Only all six of my brothers."
"Anyone ever tell you that you can be very scary?"
Rylee the Athlete?
Author: Rylee
Date: 12-08-12 04:55
Rylee Marks, Slytherin, Seeker
I'd gotten up early enough and done some stretches, and had decided some time ago that I would at least try out for the house Quidditch team. It was part of the new, improved, less bratty Rylee (though truth be told the bratty side could be there as well). I'd spent some of the summer practicing with Gideon, and felt pretty confident on a broom and working with some of the balls that were part of a quidditch match.
When the trials started, I had Gideon up in the stands for moral support because so far he's proven to be like my only friend here. Looking up at him after I'd been place in a group being led by former Hogwarts Graduate, Oliver Wood, who I must say is rather cute, I caught his smile of encouragement, knowing full well that this was well above and beyond my comfort zone, and it told me that I was doing well.
We ran drills and exercises on the ground before taking to the air. I had a little issue at first, but not enough to be told that I wouldn't do well further along. There were drills that involved passing the quaffle, attempting to score goals with or without a Keeper, hitting bludgers none of which I truly excelled at, but Chaser may be a decent secondary position - only because I was better at it than hitting bludgers.
When the whistle was blown, I waited to see if I would be in the first scrimmage match, and I was. There were several faces I knew, many who were on the quidditch teams before, but there were some lower years that had managed to make the cut through the drills and were either in this scrimmage or going to be in another.
I was given the position of Seeker for this scrimmage match and quickly began scouting the air for the glimmering snitch. I knew we only had a small amount of time, and I knew I would do well enough if I merely caught a glimpse of the golden ball before the time was done.
Shifting slightly on my broom, I was mindful of the action going on around and beneath me as I was up a little bit. I knew I could never replace Cornelia Vanderbilt, but hopefully I would find my place and do Slytherin proud if I made the team. I'd been briefly distracted by thoughts of doubt when the glimmering ball materialized right in front of me.
It hovered there for a moment and then when it realized I'd seen it tried to dart away. However, somehow, some stroke of luck had made me a touch faster in that moment and my hand closed around the winged ball.
I hadn't realized that time was nearly up, and Ramona one of her teammates in this scrimmage had just thrown the ball, and the whistle had been blown, and I still had the snitch in my hand.
When I was down on solid ground again I couldn't help but blink. I'd actually done it. I'd caught the snitch...I joined the others on the sidelines and waited to see the next scrimmage being played.
Penalties (Ravenscrofte Rare and Antiquarian Books, Knockturn Alley)
Author: Cassandra Catesby
Date: 12-08-12 05:16
Kirley headed for Cassandra's shop, having left the office at lunch time to spend a few hours reminding Rita Skeeter why it wasn't wise to anger a Mockridge. The meeting had gone rather well, so he was whistling as he opened the door. "Cassandra?" he called out, knowing that after she'd so unwillingly trusted them with her secret, she'd never be 'Catesby' to him again.
She appeared around the end of one of the tall shelves, a careful expression on her face. The last few days spent in her own territory - the shop and the flat above - had allowed her to regain her composure. However, the exposure of her secret had left her feeling raw, as if a layer of the protection she kept between herself and the world had been stripped away.
"Kirley," she said, following his cue. "You'll be here for Nephele's book. I have it behind the counter."
She turned and headed in that direction.
"I am, but I don't want to think about what potions I might be facing if I don't ask how you're doing?" he asked as though it wasn't something he wanted to know himself. He studied her carefully, keeping his distance so he wouldn't make her more uncomfortable.
"I'm fine," she said shortly.
Rounding the counter, she bent and said, "Now let's see. Ah, yes." She straightened and placed an old leather-bound volume on the counter. "'The Subtle Art: Potions for the Potion Master' by Viridian Blake. I believe this is the volume your sister was looking for."
"It is," he agreed. "And you're not fine. You're still shaky that anyone else knows, but I meant what I said, Cassandra. If you'd rather have guarantees that we won't betray you, we'll give them. It's not an offer either of us would make lightly, but my sister values your friendship too much for me not to. And you know how few she calls friend," he said in a much quieter voice. He didn't want to risk anyone overhearing.
Her gaze shot to his. She drew in a breath. "Yes, I know," she said equally softly; Nephele Mockridge was not one to offer her trust to just anyone. "But I would never ask the Unbreakable Vow of anyone. Not even for this."
"I understand, and being one of those, can't say I don't appreciate it. I'm sure you're still feeling somewhat exposed, and I get that, I do, I just can't completely reign in my over-protective nature," Kirley said, for once without humor or mischief in his eyes.
Surprise flickered through her eyes for a second, then understanding dawned. "I'm not your sister, Kirley," she said. "I appreciate the sentiment, but there's absolutely no need to feel protective of me. I can take care of myself."
"No, you are definitely not my sister, Cassandra," he agreed, a hint of something slipping into his voice that was normally so well controlled. "But you are someone she trusts. That's a rarity. But her asking came after I was already feeling protective. It's certainly not that I disagree with your ability to protect yourself, I know that you can, but I still feel a need to ensure your safety." Putting it into words was harder than he expected.
She tapped her fingers on the counter. "Exactly what form is this ensuring my safety likely to take?" she asked warily, suspecting Kirley Mockridge was the sort of man who could ride roughshod over someone's life if given the opportunity.
"More than likely, I'll just pop in to check on you a bit more often," Kirley said with a shrug. "And I might insist you spend the full moon nights with us, and maybe some stronger wards on the shop? The ones you had were too easy to walk through."
She cast him a smile of deceptive sweetness. "I shall make sure that the new ones carry a knock-out charge, not just a warning shot across the bows," she said. A spark of irritation flashed in her midnight-blue eyes. "As for the rest..." She placed her palms flat on the counter, "I feel I should remind you that are in no position to insist upon anything."
"No, I'm not. But I am a friend who is concerned for your safety, Cassandra. Especially with the Ministry hunting for your sister. I can deflect some, but not as much as I might like, and if the Aurors decide to question you during a full moon? I'd much rather know you're somewhere safer than your shop," he said.
Her lips tightened. "Low blow, Mockridge," she bit out. That he was right did nothing to improve her temper.
"But an effective one, Catesby. Let us help, please," Kirley said, hating that he felt reduced to pleading. "Besides, it'll give you a chance to prowl through the ancestral libraries, if you want. I need to go through anyway, Valeria's requesting some extra books. Apparently, her Transfiguration professor is speaking above nearly everyone's comprehension, and she said History of Magic is a bit of a joke, they're focusing on the founders of Hogwarts, which has Petula, her best friend, our cousin Arsenius Parkinson's daughter, just livid."
There was one sure-fire way to distract Cassandra and he had, intentionally or not, just found it. "Extra books?" she said. "Which ones?"
"She's left that to our discretion. She has asked for Nephele's and my old school texts, as well as anything else useful. There's talk of a few of them setting up their own small library in Slytherin House," Kirley said with a grin.
A reluctant smile tugged at her lips. She didn't particularly want to be charmed, but there was something about that grin when he wasn't trying to be smug and annoying. "That brings back memories," she said. She, Callandra and Nephele had had their own extensive collection of books that they passed around between them.
"I remember you three were always trading books about," Kirley said, leaning against the counter in the shop. "I would welcome your help choosing books for her, I know Transfiguration was a particular favorite of yours, I won't dare touch Potions texts, Nephele would kill me, but I'm sure between the three of us, as well as the Parkinsons and the Averys, since Valeria mentioned their son was part of the discussion, would be able to build a rather extensive collection."
She considered for a second, then nodded. "Alright," she said. "I'd be happy to help pick out books for Valeria." She met his gaze, "and whilst I'm there, I'll tell you and Nephele what I know about my... issue." And when she had done so, hopefully they would both see that there was nothing they could do to help and drop the subject.
"That sounds like an excellent idea," Kirley said with a nod. "Because you know Nephele, once she latches onto an idea, she won't let go of it. She'll insist on trying everything she can think of."
"I know," she said. "But..." She sighed and shook her head. "Never mind, I'll explain and then we shall see."
"But you wish she wouldn't bother?" Kirley asked knowingly. "She means well, and she usually can find solutions that are overlooked by others, or make them, but, trust me, I understand how difficult my twin can be."
"She does mean well," Cass acknowledged, "but generations of my family have tried and failed. I honestly do not know if there is anything that can be done."
"True enough, but have generations of your family had a potions-mad Mockridge to help?" he asked, a hint of a teasing smile on his face. Not a smirk, not for a friend, but a real hint of a smile.
Despite herself, she found herself smiling back a little. "No," she conceded. "They haven't."
"Then it might not hurt to look again," he said. "Shall we go now or do you have other things you need to do?"
She looked about. "I'm basically done," she said. She'd replied to Xiomara Serano's owl, updating her on the progress made. After speaking to Omar in Cairo, she had visited several other specialists in Egypt and had managed to identify one or two former owners of the Book - all unfortunately now deceased - but she believed she was on the track of the current owner. She also repeated Omar's warning and asked Xiomara whether she wished her to continue. She did not think Xiomara would be deterred by a dubious reputation but, should anything untoward happen, the Seranos could not later claim that they were not warned.
"Do you want to walk or should we apparate? The main difference would be if you want my mother to hear about me walking down the street with a suitable female," he asked, only partly teasing. Cloris definitely wanted her children to settle down and continue the family line. Word that Kirley was seen with one of the Catesby twins would give her hope.
"Afraid to be seen in public with me?" she said, arching a brow.
"Not in the slightest. Ready for my mother to start treating you like a possible bride?" he asked.
Cassandra gave a delicate snort. "Cloris Mockridge can dream all she likes, she won't manipulate me into doing anything I don't want to do," she said.
"So does that mean you've thought about it?" he teased. He enjoyed winding her up far too much.
"Marriage?" Cassandra said mildly. She walked around the counter. "Yes, of course. What young girl hasn't? I decided against the whole institution several years ago."
"Because of the curse?" he asked. "Because you really should talk to Nephele on that count, she's been talking about a modified contraceptive potion, one that would allow a gender choice for families desperate for an heir or who badly wanted a girl but were notorious for boys."
"Talking about is not perfected and no form of contraception is ever one hundred percent effective," Cassandra said. "Accidents happen. That is a risk I have not received sufficient incentive to take."
"Yes, accidents happen, but have you ever seen one of Nephele's potions not work? I haven't, they usually work too well. As for the other, is it really so horrible? Besides, you never know, your sister could have a daughter who inherits the curse, leaving any children of your own in the clear," he suggested, offering his arm as manners dictated. He'd not missed the challenge in her words, and was already formulating a plan to see if he could change her mind. He enjoyed her company far more than any other female he knew, short of his mother, sister and niece, and she was suitable by Cloris' standards, Nephele would approve, so there was really no impediment.
Placing her fingertips lightly on his arm, she looked up at him, dark brow arching. "You think it being my niece rather than my daughter would be an improvement?" she said. "I assure you, it would not be. Would you have wished something on Valeria and thought that at least it wasn't your child that had it?"
"Wished it? No. Accepted that it's going to happen to someone and therefore taught the child as best I could to cope with it should the problem arise? Yes, that I would do," Kirley said with a shrug. "As it is, I've had to send my niece off to Hogwarts knowing there are those who will torture her because of Alistair's choices. She wound up in a duel with some Second-Year Gryffindors her first night in the castle. Luckily, it was Snape who happened on the group, she was with Petula and Anton Avery, and while he had to dock them all points, he quietly gave Valeria and her friends points after. But I would never wish that on her, yet I had to let it happen. I had no choice because I can't wrap her in silks and satins and protect her."
She considered, then shook her head. "Not the point I was trying to make, I think," she said. "I feel sorry for Valeria. You are right, she is being penalised for someone else's choices and that is always unfair. But it is not a case of because she's being penalised, no-one else is. Your previous statement implied that I should have children and just keep my fingers crossed that it's Callandra's daughter who is penalised and not mine. I'm not prepared to do that. As it happens, neither is my sister. We discussed the matter years ago."
"That wasn't my intention," Kirley said. "I was merely trying to illustrate that neither of you know it will be one of your children. It could be another member of the line. That's the thing about curses like these, you never quite know where it will strike." He held the door for her. "My point was more that life cannot be lived worrying about the what-ifs, and we cannot always protect those we love from things, no matter how much we try."
"No," she said. "We can't. But I can restrict the possibilities." It was clear from the stubborn tilt of her chin that she was not prepared to discuss the matter further.
The Carters at Trials
Author: Cai Pembroke Carter
Date: 12-08-12 05:34
Cai, unlike Isma, was more than willing to juggle Quidditch and her OWLs this year. She'd done something similar in Japan and it worked out well. She was used to a stringent schedule for getting things done and so had a feeling she'd have little to no problem navigating her course work and practices as well as matches throughout the year.
Hair pinned up in a bun to keep it out of her face an secured with a couple of pins and clips to ensure that she didn't end up with stray strands of blonde clouding her vision while she was going through drills and the scrimmage matches she'd gotten to the pitch a little early and it had quickly filled up. She'd been put in a group run by Kody Reese-Emerson who had graduated from Hogwarts and had been a member of the British National Team, and whose autograph currently filled a poster she had on her wall of the National team from the World cup.
He ran them through warm-ups on the ground and then warm-ups in the air before the drills began in earnest. Trying out for seeker under the watchful eye of one of the best seekers in the world was a bit of a thrill. I'd failed miserably at the drills for Chaser, my hand eye coordination on a broom is not the best so I missed catching the ball thrown at me more than I caught it. Drills for beater, went a bit better than those for chaser - I could at least hit the bludger more often than I missed it, so maybe beater would be a good fall back (with a bit more practice).
I wasn't called for the first scrimmage, but I did get placed in the second, in my chosen position. It kinda made me glad that Isma wasn't trying out, because she was really, really good and I knew I wouldn't stand a chance of beating her to get on the team. Either way, my attention turned to the glimmering ball and soon enough, I was attempting to find it in the short time that the scrimmage match was allowed.
----
While Broderick didn't have major exams this year, he was still swamped with classes and still he'd opted to add Quidditch to his list of things to do this year. He'd not played the year prior because he'd only been here for a quarter of the school year, but he had played in Japan and had loved it, and had Japan had an IQT team he probably would have been on it as would Cai, but they hadn't participated for some reason.
Either way, that was then and this is now. He'd come down to the pitch with Cai, a bit early, and gotten some workout in, and if he made the team he'd have to have his parents send his broom (which he'd left at home like a stupid git).
His attention was immediately drawn to the professional player that was running his group for drills, Imelda Weatherstorm who plays for the Brisbane Bandicoots. She ran her group about as tight as Morgan Flowers did, encouraging those who had potential and those who didn't, but in a different fashion. Warm-ups on the ground, warm-ups in the air and then the drills began for the different positions.
Tossing the quaffle back and forth was easy, bludgers not so much as he tended to miss more often than he hit them. He, however, did well at blocking the shots when he was put in position as keeper, letting only about a quarter of the shots through during the drill.
When the first scrimmage had been called his name had been selected amongst several others and he was currently playing keeper. It was a fast paced scrimmage and he'd nearly blocked about every goal that had come toward him. Only a small handful of goals had been scored by the opposing team's chasers, including a girl named Ramona Mickle (who was really, really good in his opinion), however, that last shot would be left in the air as the whistle blew ending the scrimmage match.
I'd still not believed that a second year girl, from Slytherin, who had been quite the topic of discussion in many of the houses had tried out and done quite well. To the point that I'd even gone over to talk to her after. "Really well played, Rylee, is it?"
She nodded. "Thanks, first time doing this. Am more nervous than anything."
"You did well. Later."
I headed over to sit down next to Cai, who hadn't been playing in this scrimmage. "I have missed playing." I said and she nodded.
"Me too."
Before she could say more she was called for the second scrimmage.
---
Butterflies danced in Aderyn's stomach as she'd gone from the castle to the pitch this morning. She hadn't told anyone that she was considering trying out for the Hufflepuff team this year, and it would probably shock my brother and sister who were currently at the trials as well, both trying out for places on the Gryffindor team.
I'd secured my hair up, knowing that not doing so would result in it ending up in my face more often than not as I was flying around the pitch. I would have to use a school broom, since as a first year, I wasn't allowed to bring the one that I'd gotten when we'd gone supply shopping this summer.
I'd been put in a group run by Stan Stanislaus, who had been a former teammate of Coach Krum, and was quite happy with this fact as he ensured that all of us were kept on our toes, and did proper warm ups for the drills. He watched us with a keen eye and those that showed promise were praised, those that did not while, they received praise and added encouragement that maybe some more practice time would do them well and perhaps next year they should try out.
I'd done decent enough in the drills for Chaser, but I didn't entirely feel right with the quaffle in my hands, so that meant chaser or keeper were out for me. However, the moment I got a bat in my hand, and went through the bludger drills it felt like home. Shifting slightly on my broom I managed to hit the targets set up to aim the bludgers at, I managed to hit more than miss when I aimed for the bludger.
I knew that there were others trying out for the position, and if I didn't make it I had several more years to try and make the house team. Drills completed, and once everyone was down on the ground we were divided up for scrimmage matches. I'd gone over and sat next to Cai and watched Broderick during the first scrimmage, he was a pretty good keeper. Cai and I had talked as we watched, offering our opinions on the others trying out.
Finally, we were both called for the second scrimmage. She for seeker, and me for beater on opposing teams. We grinned at each other and took to the air at the beginning of the match. If I'd thought the drills were difficult, being in a full fledged match (even a scrimmage) took more concentration than the drills did.
At least the bludgers were somewhat easy to catch sight of so that I could hit them in the direction I wanted them to go in, but I couldn't even begin to fathom how difficult it would be to find the snitch amid all this activity.
The scrimmage ended sooner than I thought it would and ultimately, there had been no bludger related injuries during the scrimmage. I did however, have a couple of bruises on my bat hand's knuckles, because I'd hit the bludger too low on the bat and nicked myself in the process.