An Unknown World
Chapter Four
"I can't believe you're siding with her. You only just met her an hour ago!"
"Ginny, keep your voice down. We're in a library. And what did you expect? You know how I feel about quidditch."
"You didn't object to me playing in the future."
"First off, watch what you say around here. Secondly, you didn't see me jumping for joy either. Besides, I didn't think you'd actually make the tryout."
"Thanks!"
Hermione laughed, "Oh come off it Gin. Do you honestly think Harry picked you solely on your amazing skills with a broom?"
"I resent that."
Hermione, Lily, and Ginny stood just inside the entrance of the library facing a bulletin board of announcements. Pinned in the center of the board was an announcement to the captains of each house quidditch team declaring tryouts to be held sometime within the next two weeks. Students were to contact James Potter, Amos Diggory, Andrew Summerby, or Robert Entwhistle if they were interested.
"Oh Gin, you know I'm joking, though I'm sure it helped that he fancied you."
"Who's Harry?" Lily asked.
Hermione and Ginny glanced up at each other. "Um. He's… uh…"
"He's my boyfriend!"
'Nice save Ginny.'
"Oh. You have a boyfriend? I'm so jealous. The closest thing I've got to a boy liking me is that dumbass Potter asking me out every sodding second under the sun."
"Ha!" Ginny burst out before she could stop herself.
"Why is that funny?"
"It's just that Harry is James' son." Ginny spit out again.
"Ginny!" Hermione yelled earning herself a loud clearing of the throat from Madam Pince. "Sorry." She turned back to Ginny with glaring eyes.
"What?" Ginny returned.
"Yeah what?" Lily echoed.
"Nothing. It's just that – well Dumbledore advised us to be discrete that's all."
"Oh. Well you have nothing to worry about. I'm not about to go blabbing anything about Potter's illegitimate children."
"Harry's not illegitimate!"
"Girls this is your last warning."
"Sorry Madam Pince," they replied in unison.
"Harry is not illegitimate!" Ginny whispered again.
"Really? So Potter actually settled down? What a trip! Who is it? Do I know her? No wait don't tell me. Is it Alicia Bennet - or how about Lacy Spinner?" Hermione and Ginny looked at her with confused faces. "Do you even know those girls?"
"No, but I'm sure we'll get to know them."
"Hmph. Your funeral. Anyways, who is it then?"
Once again glancing at each other Hermione and Ginny knew they couldn't tell Lily just yet.
"Well I've never met her. Ginny?" Hermione smiled, happy to rid herself of the burden.
'Thanks Hermione.' "Well come to think of it, I've never met her either. I was supposed to, but I got sick. Remember? That was the week I got vanishing sickness."
"Oh right. We weren't allowed anywhere near you."
"Well do you know her name at least?"
"Sorry."
"I've always referred to her as Harry's mum, or Mrs. Potter. Sorry."
"It's okay. It would only go to my head if I knew. I keep telling myself the only way to beat Potter is to not become him. Making fun of his future wife wouldn't do any good towards that."
"How mature of you Lily," Hermione said laughing.
"What? Hypocrisy is not something to be proud of."
"Which is why I'm trying out for the quidditch team."
"What on earth does that have anything to do with hypocrisy?"
"It doesn't. I'm just saying." Ginny said smiling her devilish smile.
"Ha! Ginny, sometimes you remind me so much of Black."
"What? You've known me all of three days and you're already making accusations."
The three decided the library probably wasn't the best place to be at that moment – that and Madam Pince was beginning to become royally peeved with the trio – and decided to walk about the castle and chat instead.
"So what's you're boyfriend like?"
"Harry?"
"Yeah. Is he anything like his prat of a father?"
Ginny smirked, "actually he's the spitting image, though I don't think he's as – how do you say? Bold?"
"So you're saying he doesn't insist on making your life hell by asking you out every five minutes?"
"Nope, once was enough for me. Well twice, but that's because we broke up."
"Potter has a new an improved way to ask me each time. I swear it's like he pulls them one by one out of his ass. If the boy didn't have me to taunt, his life would be a dark abyss – nothing."
Hermione laughed at her comment. "Lily? Did it ever occur to you that he might just like you?"
"You're joking. James Potter? Like me? In his dreams."
"Well it's a possibility."
"No it's not. Besides it doesn't even matter, because he's getting married to Harry's mum, and that can't possibly be me." She looked at the girls with a stern face and when they stood there blatantly trying to hide their guilty faces, Lily went pale. "Wait, you're trying to tell me –"
"Well look what we have here." Cut off in mid-sentence, Lily turned to find James Potter and two of his best friends on either side of him.
"Ugh, what now Potter? Come to torment me some more?"
"You flatter yourself Evans. Are we not allowed to roam the hallways like you?" When she didn't respond, he continued to look her straight in the eye and smile – or was it smirk? "So what are you lovely ladies chatting about?"
"Actually I was just telling the girls how I wanted to try out for the quidditch team."
"And we were strongly trying to talk her out of it."
"Oh shut it Lily," This earning her a round of 'oohs' from the three boys. "I hear you're looking for a chaser."
James stopped laughing and cleared his throat. "You're serious?"
Before Sirius had the chance to take his cue, Ginny answered harshly, "Yes I am, is there a problem with me trying out for the team?"
"No, no problem. It's just – well you're a girl."
"Well we can all see why you were made Head Boy. Top of his class they say. Uh knock knock – of course I'm a girl! I wasn't aware boys had these – " She practically shouted as she grabbed her chest. There was a look of fear in the boys eyes. She was serious, and by no means letting up. "Now why does the fact that I'm a girl complicate the situation?"
"Uh – well you see…"
"What James is trying to say is that girls just aren't as good as boys." It came plain and simple out of Sirius' mouth and was immediately returned with a slap in the gut from James. "Ouchy! What was that for?"
"Oh just you wait Sirius Black. You'll see! I'll fly circles around you. Nowhere in the rules does it say I can't play. I'll see you on the day of tryouts!" And she stormed off.
"Well then!" Sirius stood with his hands on his hips, and he started teetering back and forth on his toes and heels. "How about that!" He began to nervously laugh, and when the rest of them just stood there looking at him he closed in on James. "Uh, Prongs? She doesn't actually believe she'll make the team does she?"
"Actually mate," James said as he slapped his mate on the shoulder, "I think she just made it loud and clear that that was exactly what she planned on doing." Then he too started walking away with Remus, Lily and Hermione following suit.
"But – but what'll we do if she's actually good? We can't have a girl on the team! It'll be like having Evans on the team only worse! PMS to the extreme!"
"Oh shut up Black, if she's on the team you'll have much more than PMS and the likes of me to deal with." Then turning the corner they left Sirius in the presence of his own shadow, whimpering like the sick puppy he was.
About a week later James was seen posting a red piece of parchment on the house bulletin board. Excited boys flocked the scene, but were soon pushed out of the way by an even more eager Ginny. A huge smile was plastered on her face to Lily and Hermione's dismay. This would be what made the year pass for her. She didn't have Harry, no mother to nag in her ear through howlers, and the war had barely begun where she resided now. Overall it would be completely boring. The smile, however, soon vanished when she saw the footnote at the bottom of the page.
By Order of Sirius Black, best friend of James Potter – Captain, NO GIRLS ARE PERMITTED TO TRY OUT!
"What?" She ripped the paper off the board and when the room filled with moans and groans from the underclass boys, she only replied with, "Oh shut it!" She pushed her way out of the crowd and found Hermione and Lily sitting by the fire pit. "Have you seen this?"
"What is it?"
"An outrage, that's what! I swear when I see that boy Black I'm string him limb from limb!"
"Well you've got my permission," Lily laughed. "What's he done this time?"
"Look!" She pushed the paper in her face angrily. "No girls! Who does that? Seriously, he must have some inferiority complex to think I actually might beat him at something."
"Well that's Black for you. The thing is, he's not really good at anything."
"LILY!" Hermione scolded with a laugh.
"Well it's true. He doesn't apply himself in anything. I think he'd be naturally good at tons of things if he'd just accept the fact that he isn't number one just by being Sirius Black. I think he's afraid that you might take the one thing he's good at away from him."
"Why would I do that?"
"Because you want to try out for Chaser. That's what he is. If Potter picks this amazing chaser who is nonetheless a girl, what do you think is going to go through Black's mind?"
"Oh… I see. Well that's ridiculous! I'm not trying to steal James, that's your job."
"Exactly!" Hermione and Ginny burst into laughter. "I mean. Of course you're not stealing Potter. Nobody is. Who would want to?"
Hermione and Ginny looked at each other, and then at Lily. "You!"
"I don't know what you're talking about!" She began to pick her stuff up.
"Oh come on Lily! You know you love him!"
"Love who?" The voice from behind caused Lily to step in her bag's strap and trip. Thankfully someone caught her. "Whoa there Evens. Been drinking too much butterbeer again, have you?"
Lily stiffly pulled herself away from James and retorted, "No! Go away Potter, it's none of your business."
"But I just saved your life!"
"Hardly."
"Well I could have! What if you would've fallen into the fire?"
"It's not even lit, you div!"
"Well what if it had been?" He smirked. "You would have burned to death."
"Forgive me. How could I ever thank you enough?" It was pure sarcasm, and James knew that, which is why he chose to use it to his advantage – James Potter style.
"Go out with me."
"Sod off."
"Now, now Lily. You just said yourself you didn't know how to thank me. Well –"
"Come off it Potter! You and I both know I don't have the time for your stupid games. Now if you'll please get out of my way."
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because. You hurt my feelings."
"Oh pish-posh. You'll live. I think I just saw Alicia Bennet walk out of the room."
"So?"
"So go ask her out!" She was continuously trying to maneuver her way around him, but he just wouldn't shift.
"I don't want to ask her out! Why do you think I asked you?"
"Potter, you know why you asked me. You know how you can get under my skin –"
"Oooh." He smirked.
"And you know I can't stand you… so if you'd kindly move so I can go to my common room I'd appreciate it."
James looked sincerely hurt, though to Lily that just meant he deserved the gold in acting. "Fine," and he moved to the side. Lily, extremely flustered, rushed to the exit of the common room. "The statue's over there Evans!"
Without looking back she screamed, "I'll take the long way!" The door slammed shut, and the common room was silent.
"Stupid girl."
James turned around and found Hermione and Ginny sitting there. "Oh hi girls."
"What was that about?" Ginny asked.
"Oh nothing. She'll cave one of these days. I'm not giving up."
"How resolute of you," Hermione said with a smile. "You really like her don't you?"
"Does it show?"
"Ha! Yes." Ginny laughed.
James sat himself down next to Hermione. "I'm running out of ideas. She's not letting up, and although I say she's going to cave one day, I'm beginning to think she never will."
"Don't worry James," Hermione said, "she will. We'll work on her."
"That's okay guys. I don't want it to happen because her friends told her to. I don't know, it just doesn't seem genuine. It has to be her idea."
"It's okay, we understand."
"The problem is, how do I get her to listen to me?"
"Well you could start by beating her to the common room," Hermione suggested.
James slapped his knee. "Merlin you're a genius! I could kiss you!"
Hermione put her hand up to block him, "Save it for Lily."
James laughed, "Right. See ya!"
He ran to the corner of the room where the lion's head stood and disappeared into the stairwell.
"Where's he off to?" Sirius asked.
"To claim his fair maiden." Hermione said with a happy face.
"What do you want?" Ginny asked harshly.
"I just wanted to chat with you guys."
"Sorry. No boys allowed!" Ginny stood up and turned to Hermione. "Are you coming?"
"Uh…" She looked at Sirius who had the most pitiful face a boy could own. "No, I think I'm going to stay and talk to Sirius."
"Hermione!"
"What?"
"Ugh, fine. Traitor," and she stalked off angrily towards the girls dorms.
Sirius sat on the sofa with a sigh. "So, you can't resist my good looks eh?"
"Actually I was going to say I felt bad for you, but whatever makes your broom fly."
"Well if your only staying on pity, go with Ginny. I don't need it."
"Oh come on. Did you honestly think I was staying because I have a crush on you? Get real! I actually wanted to reprimand you."
"If that's what you call it these days, by all means reprimand me!" He opened his arms up for his punishment.
She slapped his leg. "You're sick."
"Love sick for you baby," he smirked.
"You're just like him, you know that?"
"Who?"
"James."
"Prongs? I resent that!"
"I thought he was your best friend?"
"He is, but I don't need to stoop as low as to chasing the same girl for over six years. They come running to me, and you're a perfect example. It always starts with them ditching their mates."
"For your information, you are like James, and I didn't ditch Ginny so you could flirt with me. I did it so I could tell you what a prat you are. You don't go writing things like that on public announcements!"
"Well it's true. Girls shouldn't be allowed to play quidditch!"
"Why not?"
"They just shouldn't!"
"What if I tried out?"
"You of all people shouldn't!"
"Ha! You're just scared."
"Yea, scared that a bludger will knock you to death!" He was genuinely yelling now, so much that it shocked Hermione.
"What?"
"You heard me! It's brutal out there! Do you know how I'd feel if I watched one of you get hit?" Hermione smiled. "What?"
"Nothing."
"What have I done now?"
"Sirius Black, you're a gentleman."
"What? No I'm not!"
She stood up, closed in to about three centimeters away from his face and said, "buck up Black it's just a compliment."
She went to find Ginny, leaving Sirius to sit there in complete awe. It was a strange sensation. Could he be that gentleman she was talking about?
'Gentleman? Me? Hahaha! Nah! I have an image to keep!'
"Alright let's do this!" James clapped his hands together as he walked into the circle of boys who wanted to try out, and of course Ginny. "We need a chaser and a beater, so I want to see ten laps around the field – timed. On the whistle." Everyone moseyed their way to their feet, except for Ginny who was already standing with her broom ready. The whistle blew and she was in the air before anyone had mounted their brooms.
James walked over to Sirius. "Well… looks like she wasn't joking. She's flying circles round all of them." Sirius just stood there in awe.
Ginny was done about two minutes before the rest of the group and landed gracefully in Sirius' face. "Oh sorry Black, I didn't see you there," and she walked over to the sideline.
Sirius rushed to James, "Did you see that!"
"Yeah, I did. She's amazing! Three minutes and two seconds. That beats your time mate!"
"No I'm talking about how she just pulled one of the biggest bitch moves on the field!"
"Oh grow up Pads! She's just busting you up. You're giving in way too easily!" He then walked over to congratulate Ginny on her great time. About a minute later most of the team had finished. "Alright! Now we're gonna switch it up a bit. I want those trying out for beater over there with Remus, and those who want chaser over there with Sirius. Good. Now I'm going to be in goal. Remus and a player of his choice will be playing beaters. Sirius and a player of his choice will be stationed at one of the field with the quaffle. Sirius will start out with the ball, and then it's up to you to show us your skills. You can play it back and forth, hint I do need to see your passing skills. Remus and his player will be trying to knock you off course. I'll be in goal, if you can get it in… well we'll just see if you can get it in."
"Don't worry guys, he's only a seeker… he couldn't block a quaff if his life depended on it." Sirius joked.
"Alright. Remus, Sirius… pick your players. Don't worry everyone will get a chance, and everyone will be watching, so… no pressure."
"Okay, let's see. I'll take Watson first."
"Bats are over there Jonathan." James pointed to behind the bench. "Sirius?"
Sirius looked among the five boys and Ginny, and smirked when he saw her sitting there eagerly. "Get up here Mills." Smiling at Ginny as Ryan Mills walked over to him, she only returned his emotion with a hateful glare.
After the third chaser had tried out, Ginny realized what Sirius was doing. She would be last.
'Fine, if he wants to show me up, he's gonna get the performance of a lifetime.'
Ginny was finally up. "Sure you still want to do this?"
"Why? Frightened are you?"
"Not in the least."
"We'll see about that." It was then that Sirius was reminded of his conversation with Hermione, and he grabbed Ginny by the wrist. "Get off me Black. You can't stop me from trying out."
"I was just going to say be careful."
Ginny looked at him incredulously. He looked genuine, but then again this was Sirius Black. 'Focus! He's just trying to spaz you. You can do this.' She scowled as she snatched her arm from his. "Try and keep up," and she disappeared into the air.
"What's wrong Sirius!" James yelled from the goal. "Get in the air!"
Sirius' broom rose into the air, and when he was positioned with the quaffle James blew the whistle. Sirius flew towards the goal and Ginny waited for him to throw the ball her way. They were almost halfway down the pitch when it came her way. She had already dodged two bludgers. Catching the ball swiftly, she quickly dove beneath him and to his other side without him noticing.
"How did you get over there?" He yelled.
"Just catch the ball!" And she threw it back to him.
She flew ahead and circled the goals twice before she caught the ball once more, and by catching James off guard she scored. She flew back over to the bench and landed where a group of boys sat in awe.
"That was amazing!"
"Where did you learn to do that?"
"Who are you?"
"Ginny Weasley! That's who," said James as he swooped into a landing. "Alright guys, err and Ginny, the two lucky players who made it will be posted tomorrow. Good luck to all, and go and take a shower… you lot smell worse than Sirius on a good day."
"Oi!"
"Just kidding mate."
James finished packing the box of balls while Ginny took her shoes off. "So have you changed your mind yet?"
"Me?" Sirius asked with attitude.
"No, the piece of wood you're sitting on. Yes you!"
"Well that was pretty smooth of you, and you dodged those bludgers really well, so I guess. As long as you stay conscious the whole time!"
"What?"
"Err – um… I mean, you have to play nicely."
"Nicely?"
"Yeah, none of this bitchiness you've been pulling all day."
"Then again Pads. I'm not so sure that would be a bad idea. Might scare the other teams away."
"I was talking about me!"
"Really? What a shocker!" Ginny laughed.
"Hey!"
"Oh come off it Black. Besides, nobody likes a nice girl."
The list was posted the next day at lunchtime, and to nobody's surprise Ginny was chosen as chaser along with a boy named Will Haverdax as beater. The first practice would be on the first Thursday of October.
Ginny sat at lunch with a smile on her face. "Well I'm glad that's over."
"What is?" Lily asked.
"The wait. I didn't get any sleep last night."
"Oh come on Ginny, you knew you would get it. You saw the faces of all those boys when you landed. They knew they had no chance. Face it. You're amazing and you kno it."
"Don't flatter her." Sirius barked.
"Awe! Does wittle Siwius feel fwetened?" Hermione cooed.
"No! I'm just saying you don't want all this flattery to go to her head. She might not play as well."
"Yea, yea, we get it. You're jealous." James said seriously.
"Prongs!"
"What?" James looked at him with a playful smile. "Learn to joke Pads… you used to be good at it."
So I hope you liked it! I know James is actually a chaser, but for some reason I just didn't like that. So he's seeker, deal with it. Um… I didn't send this to my beta for the sole reason that I've kept you guys waiting sooo long… so I'm sorry for errors, and I promise to get started on the next chapter right now! Please review!!!!!!! Dominique (HPObsessor)
