Chapter Four – Tryouts and Fallouts
By the end of the week, everyone was back into the usual routine around Hogwarts. At night, the common room was filled with people doing homework, playing exploding snap, and signing up for the trip to Hogsmeade. Classes were beginning to pick up, and no one was surprised to hear that Rose was already studying for exams. James still knew that something was up with Fred, and Lucy didn't drop her suspicions about Victoire, but those matters were kept quiet. Anyway, something else was abuzz among the Gryffindors – Quidditch tryouts.
"I've got a lead on a Chaser," Fred said, loosening his tie and throwing himself beside James on the sofa. "Gwen Darce."
"Oh yeah?" James looked up from his Defense Against the Dark Arts textbook. "How'd you hear about her?"
"Asked around. She's in my year."
"Any good?"
Fred smiled. "I hear she's quick, small, and played with her brothers all summer."
"Brothers?"
"They're graduated – I asked. But she seems to be pretty good. I invited her to try out this weekend," he added casually.
"Did you?" James raised an eyebrow, a gesture which Fred pointedly ignored. "You talked to her?"
"I did. Strictly Quidditch business, of course."
"Of course."
"Just looking out for the team."
"You saint."
"Do you want a new Chaser or not?" Fred said, elbowing James roughly in the ribs.
"Oi, Al," James called to the sofa opposite him. "Reckon I'll see you at tryouts this weekend?"
"Yeah, and I reckon I'll see you knitting Mum a sweater tomorrow."
As Fred rolled over chortling, James snuck a glance at Lily, who was reading Quidditch Through the Ages next to Al. Her eyes flicked up at him, and she looked away quickly, hoping he wouldn't notice.
Quidditch tryouts, James thought, were, in a word, stressful. He knew that being captain would be a lot of work; he'd heard plenty of stories from Uncle Charlie, Teddy, and his dad. He was prepared to train the team and help them get better. He wasn't prepared to deal with the biggest lot of dunderheaded breezeblocks for four hours.
Among the circus of irritants was a knit of first years (many of whom couldn't even fly), a band of giggling girls that didn't even bother to try out, they were "just looking for Al" (James made a note to tease him about that later), and a confused (and quite possibly over-butterbeered) Ravenclaw. Some people could actually play, but they were few and far between, including a third year named Alfie with a good arm, and fifth year called Felix who could have made a fair Chaser except that he flew slightly lopsided. Gwen Darce, who turned out to be a petite brunette with fiery eyes and infinite cheek, was actually as good as Fred had said which was thankful, because if one more person asked James "which one the Quaffle was again," he was sure the veins in his neck would start spewing slug ooze. At the beginning of the event, he asked Fred, Roxanne, and Dominique to wait till the end, and he was thanking Merlin he had. He half-paid attention to them flying around as he rubbed his temples and cursed himself for taking on such an excruciating job.
By the time everyone was done, the sun was setting. His stomach growled ferociously and he wondered whether this was worth missing dinner.
"Hey!" he yelled over the crowd. "Hey! Right. Thanks for taking the time to come out today –" The gaggle of girls chirped meanwhile the Ravenclaw tipped over on his side. "Er – anyway – the results will be posted in the common room later. Even if you don't make the team, come out and support us anyway. Here's to a great year!"
The group cheered half-heartedly before fizzling out, leaving a completely exhausted James, his cousins, and the questionable Ravenclaw.
"We'd better take him back to the Ravenclaw tower," Dominique said.
"Yeah, maybe you'll see Stephen up there," Fred mocked, sticking out his tongue.
Dominique rolled her eyes as she and Roxanne helped the Ravenclaw to his feet and carried him away.
"I'm gonna run to the Great Hall and see if I can grab something to eat," Fred said, already getting a head start. "Coming?"
"No, I think I might be sick if I go near another large group of people for a while. I'll meet you later."
"Suit yourself."
James was actually starving, but during the entire audition, he couldn't shake one thing from his head, so he went to the common room in pursuit of the only person he wanted to talk to right then. Sure enough, as he crawled through the portrait hole, he spotted Lily curled on the sofa.
"Hey," he said gently, taking a seat beside her.
"Hey," she echoed quietly.
"You're not eating?"
"Not hungry."
"Me either."
An uncomfortable silence filled the air, something that didn't happen often between them. James and Lily had always been close, ever since she was born. James couldn't stand this – this awkwardness, this secretive feeling, this sneaking around. He didn't even know how to handle the situation, which was stupid. And he'd never admit it, to Lily, to anyone, but he almost felt like a bad older brother. He was supposed to be the one to fix things like this, and she was obviously too scared to talk to him, but he found it hard to do it himself, and he didn't know why.
Lily bit her lip. "How were tryouts?"
"Awful," James said, cracking a grin. "Hardly anyone could play."
Lily laughed lightly.
"Look," James said, turning to face her. "Lily, I-"
"Oi! James!" Fred bounded loudly through the entrance, toting bags that were bursting at the brim. "I've got dinner!"
James groaned. Couldn't he catch a break!? He couldn't even talk to someone for more than five minutes around here!
"Not hungry," he muttered, turning away and trudging up the staircase to his dorm.
Fred stopped in his tracks, arms hanging heavily with the weight of the bags.
"Did I interrupt something?"
After spending the rest of the night in his dorm, James had time to write up the Quidditch roster (which wasn't difficult, considering what he had to work with). He kept Seeker, of course, Fred and Roxanne stayed Beaters, and he'd signed Dominique, Gwen, and Alfie as Chasers and chose a sixth year named Bertie Brumfle as Keeper. He considered waiting till tomorrow to post the results on the notice board, but then worked out that he probably didn't want to be mobbed by students first thing in the morning. He decided to wait until midnight to be sure the common room was clear before creeping down to post the list. Halfway down the staircase, however, James learned the common room wasn't empty, as raised voices carried from around the bend. He nearly turned round, until he recognized one of the voices.
"If you would just tell me!"
It was Louis.
James scrambled as quietly as he could around the corner, revealing Louis and Victoire standing in front of the fireplace. Louis's back was to James as the crackling flames threw shadows across Victoire's pained face.
"Louis, please, you don't understand."
"Why do you keep sneaking about? Who do you keep sending owls to?"
"Louis-"
"Why is it that I've hardly seen you? Not even during the summer? You know, V, you're my sister. Believe it or not, I miss you, and believe it or not, whatever you're hiding, I want to hear it. Because we're family."
Louis waited as if expecting an answer, but Victoire just stood there, dumbfounded, her mouth in a small "o" and her eyebrows crunched slightly. James thought that, more than anything, she looked hurt.
Impatient, Louis exhaled sharply and stomped up the stairs. James barely had time to shuffle around a corner before they nearly collided. Luckily, Louis was too busy fuming to notice James. After Victoire left (James wasn't sure he heard her crying or not), he finally adhered the roster to the board with spello-tape. But for some reason, he didn't seem to care much about Quidditch right then.
Phew! That was pretty intense. If you're feeling bad for the characters, don't worry, they'll get their break soon.
So, what do you think the deal is between James and Lily? And what on earth in Victoire hiding? Keep the reviews coming!
