Disclaimer:I can only wish I owned Harry Potter. I just own my unhealthy obsession. J.K. Rowling owns it all.
"Quidditch trials are in a couple weeks." Al heard the news from his fourth-year cousin Louis, who looked very happy about it. "Most of last year's team left school already, and Seb Carter is the new captain, and..."
"You think you'll have a better chance of making the team because he's dating Dominique?" James asked in a mocking voice. He was a third-year, but Louis was barely twenty-days older than him.
"Well, no! But..." Louis didn't say a word. Fred Weasley, who had been silent the whole time, laughed. "It doesn't matter! Are you guys trying out? The team is four players short. They need a beater, a chaser a seeker and a keeper."
James and Fred looked at each other. They had been playing quidditch together for the longest time and they always thought of themselves as being better than Louis. According to them, the only one with quidditch abilities in Louis' family was Dominique, who was a sixth-year Ravenclaw and played as a Seeker.
"I am definitely trying out." James finally said. "Fred and I are the best beaters ever."
"I'm a rather good chaser." Louis said, smiling widely. "Right?"
"Well... yeah, a little." Fred smiled as he said this. Albus was sitting at the next table in the common room, supposedly working on a Potions essay with Rose, and he couldn't help but to listen carefully to the conversation his cousins and brother were having because he wanted to try out for the quidditch team as well: he knew that previous year's Seeker had left Hogwarts and the position was open, and he was thinking that maybe he could be the replacement...
"You haven't written a single word." Rose startled him.
"I got distracted." Albus mumbled and got back to his Potions essay, being careful not to listen to another word. If James knew he was doing that again, he would be completely angry at him, and he knew better than to make James angry.
"They only need one beater though... I mean, Seb is the other beater." Al stopped writing when he heard this, wondering what James and Fred would say about that.
"It doesn't matter. I can try out for Seeker too, like my dad."
Albus wasn't sure how he felt when he heard that. If James tried out for Seeker... he probably didn't stand a chance against his older brother.
...
"Okay, I'm sick of this." Rose exclaimed suddenly, putting down her quill. Albus turned to stare at her. They were both sitting at their usual table in the common room, enjoying that most of the older Gryffindors were at Hogsmeade.
"Sick of what? Your Defence Against the Dark Arts homework?"
"I'm sick of you not listening to me talking. What has gotten into you? You've been so... so... so not like you lately." She managed to sound so much like her mother that it slightly scared Al.
"I'm just distracted." Al replied, shrugging.
"Well, obviously. The question is why."
Albus stared at her cousin, not quite sure of what to say. The truth was that he had been thinking about the upcoming Quidditch trials and what was he going to do.
"I know that face. You're worried about something, aren't you?" Rose asked, completely changing the tone of her voice. Al stared at Rose, asking himself whether it'd be worth it to tell her the problem. She could be really helpful at times, but she surely wouldn't understand his problem... "You can trust me, Al. We've been best friends since... since you were born exactly two days after me."
"Do you really have to point that fact out?" Al raised an eyebrow. Rose smiled.
"In a big family as ours, it's good to have the age differences clearly stated."
"Age differences? It's just two days." Albus laughed. "I mean, I understand Louis teasing James about being twenty days older than him and being a whole year ahead of him at Hogwarts, but you?"
"It doesn't matter Al." Rose stopped smiling. "Right now that's beside the point."
Albus opened his mouth to protest, but Rose's face expression stopped him.
"What's wrong, Al?"
"It's... the Quidditch trials coming up..." he noticed that all trace of seriousness disappeared from her cousin's face as he mentioned the sport.
"Oh please Albus, how do you boys manage to do that?"
"Do what?"
"To turn every problem into Quidditch."
"You didn't let me finish."
"I'm sorry. Continue."
"I want to try out for Seeker." Al said. Rose made a hand gesture to encourage him to continue. "But James wants to do so too."
Rose looked as if she understood almost immediately.
"Oh. So this is just another James issue." She sentenced. Al nodded, slowly. He always confided Rose with his secrets and problems. The only thing he had never told he was about the time James had helped him when three Slytherins were chasing him... and he hadn't told just because he had promised James he wouldn't, and he felt like he couldn't betray his brother on the one event in their lives that made him think James cared about him. "Are you trying out?"
"Well, that's kind of the problem." Albus didn't get how Rose hadn't understood that... after all, she was supposed to be the smart one.
"You're a better Seeker than James, so that shouldn't be a problem." Albus was surprised that it took Rose so long to realise.
"That's not the problem. It's just that I don't want to be chosen over him... he's always wanted to be on the Quidditch team and this is his chance and..."
"It is your chance too."
"But..."
"But what? Albus, I'm sure James will understand. Maybe you should tell him that you're trying out first though... that way he won't be too surprised or... yeah." She was going to say 'too upset', but refrained to do so. The last thing Albus needed was to have another reason not to try out. "Besides, a little competition won't kill him."
Albus smiled a little.
"Maybe you're right."
Rose smiled back, and then got back to her homework. Albus thought for a second to do the same thing, but instead he daydreamed about becoming the new Seeker for Gryffindor.
...
"James, wait for me!" Albus ran after his brother when he noticed he was leaving the Great Hall after breakfast with Fred. He caught up with them quite easily. "I need to talk to you."
"Not now, Al. I can't be late for Potions." James said, not even looking at his younger brother. Fred glanced at him.
"Please James, it's important."
"Albus, stop being so annoying." James said under his breath.
"Don't worry James, I'll cover up for you with Professor Vaughn." Fred said, and winked at Albus. James simply nodded. "See you in a while."
"Sure." James and Albus stopped walking almost at the same time and watched as Fred left for the dungeons. James turned around to face the short green-eyed boy. "What is it, Al?" he finally asked, hands in pockets.
"I j-just..." Al was angry at himself for stuttering... would he ever get over that stupid little habit when he was talking to James? "I w-was w-wondering if y-you..."
"If I what?" James looked at his watch. "I'm late, Al, spill it out already."
"Wouldyomindiftryoutfortheteam?" he said that very fast. James blinked a couple times, and then looked annoyed.
"Say that again. And slowly, please." Al took a deep breath, and wondered why he felt so little when he was trying to be serious and older like James. He was only one year ten months and two days younger than he was. He took a deep breath and tried again.
"Would you mind if I try out for the Quidditch team?" he managed to say all that without stuttering and without feeling like an idiot. James stared at him.
"Why would I care? As long as you don't get all over me it'll be fine." James shrugged, and actually smiled a little. "What position are you trying out for?"
This was what Albus had feared.
"S-S-See-k-ker..." he said almost in a whisper. James stopped smiling.
"What?"
"Don't b-be angry! It's j-just that I... it's the o-only p-position..."
"It doesn't matter, Al." James said, rolling his eyes. Albus was confused. "It doesn't matter, because you don't stand a chance against me."
He turned around and left young Albus Severus standing there, all by himself, just like he would always do.
...
Dear Albus:
Don't worry about what your brother says. I'm sure you'll both be able to play on the team. After all, we all know that James is fonder of beating or chasing rather than seeking. And mum and I won't care if you don't make the team... we'll be proud that you tried out and did your best, regardless of the results.
Love,
Dad.
Albus read the letter for the tenth time that day. He was walking towards the Quidditch pitch with his broomstick under his arm, and Rose next to him, giving him all sorts of tips she had read in a book about Quidditch that her mother had recommended.
There were no other words to describe his present state of mind: he was nervous, very nervous. He thought his father's response hadn't been very comforting, for it hadn't answered his main concern... what if he made the team in the position that James wanted?
He thought over all the possibilities and was positively freaking out. He didn't want James to be angry at him... what if he never got over it? What if this made him dislike Albus even more? They had never been close to each other... since Albus had memory, it had always been about fighting over things and later about Albus meddling too much in James' life... why would this be different? He didn't want to give James another reason to hatehim.
"I'm not doing it." He said, stopping abruptly. It took Rose a couple steps to stop and turn around.
"Why not?"
"I don't want to give James another reason to hate me." He stated in a matter-of-fact way that reminded Rose of her mother.
"James doesn't hate you." She said. "It's just that..."
She seemed to be deep in thought for a while.
"It's like Hugo and me. I don't like him to get into my things, it's a little annoying. Maybe James feels that way about you."
"I'm not as annoying as Hugo is!" Al said, completely hurt by the comparison. Hugo was Rose's nightmare with red hair and freckles.
"I know you aren't, but maybe that's what James thinks. I'm sure that deep inside he loves you... you're his brother, after all."
Albus thought those last words over and over again as Rose dragged him to the Quidditch Stadium.
"It's worth trying out." Rose said as they got closer to the group of about ten people willing to be on the team. He immediately recognized three of the people there: a blonde, a red-haired and a black-haired, all standing together and talking to each other: Louis, Fred and James.
Some meters away from the crowd stood Seb Carter, a tall sixth-year who looked rather charming and nice.
Albus wondered if that guy's decision would affect his already weak relationship with his older brother.
...
"I've taken my decision." Seb announced as he paced slowly. Albus gulped, wondering what he would say. He was completely positive that he had done his best as a Seeker, and he was having an internal struggle between his wish to be on the team and his wish to not have James angry. "Our keeper will be Daniel Wood."
The big fourth year beamed at the news and Albus heard him something like 'can't wait until I tell dad'. Albus started shifting his weight from foot to foot, uncomfortable with the situation.
"As a beater, we'll have Fred Weasley. Potter did pretty well, but I'm sure Fred will be as good as they say his father was." Fred smiled widely at that, and Albus knew he must be really proud to make the same position his dad and the uncle he was named after had played for five years. James looked happy for his cousin as well. "Our seeker will definitely be Albus Potter. You were quite fast boy, but I guess it's because it's in your blood as well."
He felt like his stomach was suddenly filled with heavy cement. He turned to look at his brother, trying to see his reaction to the news, but James' face was expressionless.
"The chaser was hard to choose... so many talented players." Seb looked thoughtful for a while. "I finally decided that we'll go for Weasley."
Albus felt even worse than before. His brother didn't change his expression or lack of thereof.
"Ah... and I almost forget. Tim Houck won't be able to play on a couple games this year, so I chose a substitute chaser for those games. That'll be you, Potter. You were quite impressive as well."
James simply nodded. Seb said a couple more things and then dismissed them. Al really wanted to talk to his brother, who seemed rather unimpressed, like he didn't care at all about the results. Fred and Louis noticed this and left him alone: they both knew it wasn't good to deal with James when he was trying to cope with his frustration that way.
Albus walked right behind him, and was glad when he noticed Rose didn't approach him.
"James..." he called. James stopped, but didn't turn around. "Are you okay?"
"Sure, why not?" he turned around, and shrugged. "It's not that bad."
Al was surprised to hear that James didn't sound upset at all. In fact, he was sporting a weak smile.
"Everyone knows he chose Louis over me because he's dating Dominique. Well, let's just hope Tim Houck can't make it to any of the games."
"Aren't you angry at me?" Al couldn't stop himself from asking that. James looked quite thoughtful for a while, but then simply shook his head. "Are you serious?"
"You're more of a seeker than me, dad always says it. You're more... well, more likeyou and dad. I guess I'm more of a chaser." He added, not sounding really convinced. Al opened his mouth to say something but James made a gesture with his hand that stopped him. "Seriously Al. I'm proud you made the team. And we'll be playing together very soon... or at least as soon as Carter realises that Louis is a complete mess."
Albus laughed at that, and felt as if a heavy weight had just been lifted off his back.
"Thanks James."
"Don't mention it." James said, not smiling anymore. And Albus knew he was serious: he didn't want anyone to hear about this. "If people ask me, I'll say I let you have the position... that's just how good I am. It might even catch the girls' attention, who knows."
He shrugged and left without saying another word. Albus walked a few steps behind, not wanting to get into his brother's personal space. Rose joined him soon afterwards.
"I told you it'd be alright." She said. Al nodded.
"Yeah, I guess you were right..."
"...as always."
This second chapter turned out longer than what I expected, but I actually liked it rather a lot. This is dedicated to two good friends of mine, who happen to not only be brothers but to be also identical twins, and their relationship is so much like James and Al's it's even a little funny.
Thanks to RedCloakedMaiden and sarahpotter42 for reviewing... it always makes my day to receive feedback, so don't be shy! A simple 'it was nice' will do the trick! :)
-Phankam.
