Chapter Seven: Tryouts

"So is this a norm with you two?" Lydia questioned the two twins sitting before her as they combed through their 'stock'. They hardly paid her a glance as they answered in unison.

"You surprised?"

Lydia rolled her eyes and scanned over the book before her, frowning. She was seriously doubting the safety of their latest product, especially after yesterdays episode with a rather unfortunate first year. The poor boy had gone to the infirmary with boils and blisters all over his skin. It was a good sign that he shot the four a thumbs up before McGonagall scolded them.

And slapped them with a weeks worth of detention.

Teachers.

Honestly, did they really think that the student body was out to get each other? The Slytherins maybe. But there was a general agreement throughout the houses of friendship and some manner of loyalty. Slytherin just seemed out to get everyone.

Lydia cleared her throat to get the boys attention. They raised their blue eyes to her expectantly. "It says here that tiger lily stamen should counter the boils and blister with the other ingredients that you used." She frowned slightly at the print. "Or if you want to get safer results use aloe Vera."

George nodded thoughtfully, glancing at his brother. "You think . . ?"

Fred grinned madly, "it's about time we paid the professor a visit."

Lydia narrowed her eyes. "Oh no," she muttered, knowing very well who they were talking about. "I for one do not want to cross Snape so soon in the year." She hated the man. Tall, overbearing and snide. It seemed that nothing kind ever left his mouth, and he seemed to take pride in belittling her work. Potions happened to be one of her strong subjects. But Snape just had to make it nearly unbearable.

"Scared?" Fred egged on, smirking.

"No," she sighed. "Just trying to get him to see that I'm actually good at something." It had struck a nerve in her when the professor had blatantly told her that she would never amount to anything. That along with the contemptuous sneer.

"Snape treats everyone that way," George told her seriously. "I don't think that git has ever liked anything in his life. His mother probably didn't like him."

"That's harsh," she replied with a hint of a smile.

The brothers returned to their work, while Lydia jotted down the information they needed to fix the candies that had turned out bad in the current batch. She didn't notice Hermione stalk over to their table, placing her hands on her hips with a frown. She cleared her throat.

"So you're the one putting these up," she said addressing Lydia with a glare. Lydia raised her eyes, smirking at the sheet of paper Hermione held in her hands.

"Nonsense, Hermione," she replied calmly. "I wouldn't do a thing like that."

"Rubbish," Hermione growled.

"I don't know why you're so bothered by it," Lydia said with indifference. She turned back to her book, enjoying Hermione's enraged face.

" 'We regret that all work is undertaken at applicant's own risk'," Hermione went on reading off the flier. "What if someone gets hurt?!"

"Honestly," Lydia rolled her eyes. "It's harmless, a few scares but no one gets hurt. Besides, I thought that it was a nice little addition. We are warning them."

Hermione scoffed, crossing her arms. "As a prefect I demand that you stop all this at once."

"Or what?" George asked joining in. "Deduct points?"

"I'll owl your mother."

"You wouldn't dare," Fred said angrily. He scowled at her. It was a low blow on Hermione's part.

"Oh, yes, I would," said Hermione grimly. "I can't stop you eating the stupid things yourselves, but your not giving them to anyone else." With a final threatening look she shoved the flier down on the table and stalked away, back to where Harry and Ron were seated. If possible, Ron sank lower in his chair as if willing himself to disappear.

"Blimey," George muttered under his breath. "I can't stand it when she does that."

They were eating dinner when Angelina slumped into her seat next to Lydia. She heaved a sigh and poured herself a drink before settling her eyes on them with the utmost seriousness she could muster.

"I've been made Quidditch captain, as you all know," a round of congratulations went around, though she had already been congratulated nearly a week ago. Angelina brushed it off and went on. "We need a new Keeper now that Oliver's left. Tryouts are this Friday at five o'clock and I want the whole team there, all right? Then we can see how the new person'll fit in." She brushed her long braided hair over her shoulder. "Got it?"

"Sure thing," George announced.

"Luke, you should try out," Katie suddenly said. "You mentioned that you liked Quidditch."

Luke shrugged, "I'm more of a futbol fan myself. But I do like flying."

"You're welcome to tryout, Heart," Angelina said. "You too, Lydia."

Lydia waved her hands. "Thanks, but no thanks. I don't do flying and playing a game at the same time. There's too much to concentrate on." Luke snorted.

"She would rather be with a potions kit in a dark room, than fly on a broom." Lydia growled at him, making his smirk widen. Angelina stood up suddenly when Harry entered the Great Hall, a sour look plastered over his face.

"I need to go talk to my Seeker," she went to him leaving the group to chatter about other things.

"You think we need to up the dosage with the puking pastels?" George asked Fred. "It barely affected those first years."

"I concur," Fred said.

"Don't tell me your brewing all this in your room now," said Lydia. Lee groaned.

"It's all they do."

"Seriously?"
"Where else is there?" Fred asked leaning forward. "We'd rather not leave our work in some abandoned classroom to be stolen."

"Merlin, you're paranoid," Lydia laughed.

Angelina dropped back into her seat looking disgruntled. She scowled at her plate. George leaned towards her. "Everything alright?"

"Wonderful!" She said sarcastically. "Potter has managed to get detentions with Umbridge all the way until Friday."

"So he won't be at tryouts," Lee supplied.

Luke clenched his fists and stared down at his plate without a word.

Friday came and went. Lydia sat on the bleachers as the Gryffindor team held tryouts for Keeper. She was slightly surprised when Ron showed up, never having thought him to be a Quidditch player. He was pale and nervous, that much she could tell.

Luke, on the other hand, looked indifferent. But Lydia knew better. She knew he was slowly growing more attached to the wizarding sport. Hand resting on her chin she watched silently, if not a little bored.

Luke did relatively well, missing a shot by his fingertips placing Ron ahead of him. Ron made the team, leaving Luke to kick the dirt in frustration as the players slowly left the field. Angelina approached Luke. Lydia waited in the bleachers until Luke finally joined her.

"So?" she asked. Luke wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"I can practice with them," he said with some enthusiasm. "Maybe if Weasley takes ill I may fill in his spot." There was a scheming look in his eyes.

"You want to get him sick, don't you?"

"No. Just thinking," he replied nonchalantly. Lydia laughed.

"Lu, it's obvious to me that you wanted the spot."

"I still get to practice," said Luke. "It counts for something." Lydia grinned.

"Probably because Katie fancies you, and Angelina thinks you're a looker," she snickered. Luke's mouth dropped and his cheeks flushed red.

"Lee, you're one to talk."

"Oh? Have I turned heads?"

He gave her a don't-be-daft look. Lydia shrugged. "I honestly haven't noticed," she said standing. Luke's brows shot up into the air.

"You're joking right?"

"Nope."

Luke grumbled under his breath and stood. "Lets go miss clueless," he snipped and the two left the stadium arm in arm.

I promise to get into the story more. I won't be following Harry's stuff because, well, this is more along the lines of Fred and George's story line. So I may or may not add certain things. I'll try not to butcher the story too badly. Feel free to send me a PM if I do manage to do that.

Ugh, this writers block is making writing so hard for this story. I'm working on other ones while I stew over how I'm going to write the next few chapters. Maybe I'll start posting those ones . . . better not. I have so much in store for Luke and Lydia, but I just can't write it down. :(

R&R!

~filimeala