Somewhere behind him, he heard a cry and a thump, but James refused to look. He knew already that the competition would be stiff; two of the current team members were Chasers, and good ones at that. Now, both of them flew easily past him, manoeuvring easily around the sharp turns. Out of the corner of his eye, just behind, he could see Sirius, bent low on his broom with his tongue sticking out.
James took the turn and glimpsed William, almost smack bang in the middle. He passed by Remus and Peter, ignoring their cheers and cries, and focused only on the task ahead. So far, he was in the front group, along with the current team and a couple of others.
Sirius grunted, yanking his broom sharply to turn left. His hand slipped, the sweat making it more difficult to grip the broomstick, and he wished he had gloves. The team got them automatically, but the others were supposed to bring their own. James had remembered; Sirius, along with a few others, had forgotten. He was just thankful he hadn't fallen like the third year boy at the last bend.
Ahead, he could see James flying like the wind, almost literally. He'd always known he wouldn't stand a chance against his best friend – James was, without a doubt, a natural flyer.
Still, he could make himself feel better by the fact that James was going for Chaser, while Sirius was battling it out to be a beater.
He flew past a couple that were starting to slow down, panting heavily as they tried to keep up with the rest. Soon, they'd done four laps around the pitch, and they were already down to twenty-three. The boy who had fallen had stumbled off to the hospital wing, and a girl had simply given up, flying down to the pitch and making her way into the stands to watch the rest.
Sirius wondered if they would try again next year.
They turned another corner and he dared to glance behind him; he was not in the last two, which made him feel slightly better. There were six people behind him, but now one of them bent low and dashed past him, speeding up and taking over a few in front of him, too. The girl had cropped blonde hair, and Sirius realised she had been saving her energy for this last lap.
James was somewhere in front of him, without a doubt in the top seven.
Sirius bent low, and focused.
He sped up, but only just.
Before he could gain anymore speed, he realised he'd finished the last lap.
With a smile, he landed beside James. The other boy turned to him, grinning as he high-fived Sirius.
"We did it," he panted, his hair sticking to his forehead. "We made it through, Sirius!"
Sirius gave him a weak smile. "Yeah, but we're still not on the team."
James glanced over towards the current team-members, congratulating each other on having completed the first five laps the fastest. One of them, a tall, sandy haired boy with a wide smile, took a step towards James and Sirius.
"Well done," he said, with a quick nod. "You two were good. Youngest to do it that quickly."
William landed, ran a hand through his hair and stepped towards them. The sandy haired boy glanced at him.
"Looks like you were the last but one," he said, glancing up as the last student – a small, thin forth year boy – also landed. Gerard, who had been hovering in the middle of the pitch, came to join them.
"Last three," he muttered, eyeing William, the small boy and a third year girl currently scowling. "Sorry, guys, better luck next year."
William's eyes landed on James. "Good luck," he said, his voice verging on bitterness as he picked up his broom and headed for the changing rooms.
Gerard looked over the remaining students. "Those trying out for chasers, stand over there." He pointed to his right. "Beaters, there." He gestured directly in front of him, and Sirius and a couple of others moved to the spot. "Seekers," to his left, "and keepers." Further to his left. Once everyone was in their place, he studied them, eyeing the mould of every student. Sirius shifted nervously between two fifth year boys who were bigger and broader than him. With them was a surly looking girl with her arms crossed and a frown set on her face. "Right, I'm going to split you into two teams. There's twenty of you left, so ten per team." He began to split them, mixing up the current team with those trying out.
Soon, James and Sirius were standing beside each other once more. With them were three other chasers, including one from the current team, one of the boys going for a beater position, three seekers and two wannabe keepers.
"Decide among yourselves who is going to go first. I'll switch you around in a bit."
The team huddled together and, immediately, the current chaser took on the role of captain. He glanced over James and Sirius. "You two are automatically in first," he said, gesturing to Sirius and the other beater. He frowned, eyeing the rest. "Okay, so if we take you up first," he nodded to James, "plus you as a chaser," the girl beamed, "then that leaves us with you five." He folded his arms, eyes darting over the seekers and keepers. "You and you." He seemed to pick the two at random. They gave curt nods before the extra players peeled away from the group and positioned themselves near the stand.
The remaining members of each team grabbed their brooms, climbed on and kicked off.
Gerard released the balls.
The full extent of how much competition they had hit James instantly. Almost literally, as the moment he had his hands on the ball a bludger came flying his way. He ducked his head and, a moment later, saw Sirius bat it back at the opposing team. The boy winked at James before flying off, and James flew forward, swerving to avoid the other team's chaser.
He yanked his broom up, flew until he was above everyone else, and glanced down.
One of the beaters was rushing towards a bludger. The current chaser on James' team was hovering over the other side of the pitch, not too far from the goals. James threw the ball, grinning as it skimmed the hands of the opposing team's chaser. He resisted letting out a whoop as his team's chaser grabbed the ball and made his way forward, ducking and swerving to avoid bludgers, beaters and other chasers.
He realised that, instead of watching his team mate, he should have been focused on moving forward. He bent low against the broom, gripping it tightly and heading down, avoiding the main group of people trying to focus on getting the ball. James rose near the posts, just in time to see his current team mate throw towards one of the goals.
The keeper caught it, fumbled and the ball smacked against his hand, heading back out towards the players. James flew forward, ducked an incoming bludger, and grabbed the ball. Before the keeper had time to recover, he'd thrown it.
The ball sailed through the right hoop, and he heard a cheer coming from somewhere behind him. Sirius. James' face broke into a smile.
The current Gryffindor chaser glanced at him, nodding. Gerard blew the whistle around his neck.
"Nice work," he called. "You," he pointed at the third chaser on James' team. "Swap out." He did the same for the others, swapping the teams around, and James wondered if it was a good thing that he had been left in.
Eventually, the other team had scored two goals, while James and the other chasers, between them, managed to get four in all. He couldn't help but notice he was only one of two not on the current team who had scored.
Gerard called them down.
"Great work," he said, glancing around them, looking mildly impressed. "Seems we have some upcoming talent. Right, go get changed and head back to the castle. I'll have the team sheet posted on the notice board in the next couple of days."
X X X
Remus couldn't help but notice how quiet Sirius was on the way back to the castle. Personally, he thought his friend had done well, although he couldn't quite be sure. James, on the other hand, was eager and energetic, commenting on his performance as well as the performances of other players.
"Do you think you got in?" Peter asked, as they climbed the steps to the entrance of the castle.
"Maybe," James mused. "There were some really good people trying out though. Could at least get on the reserves." James and Peter moved ahead, still discussing the other Gryffindor try-outs.
Sirius lagged behind, and Remus slowed his pace.
"Hey," Remus began. Sirius glanced up, before flashing his friend a small smile.
"Hey."
"You okay?"
"Yeah."
Remus frowned, studying his friend. "Okay, I know that's a lie."
"I'm an excellent liar!" Sirius replied, running a hand through his hair before his gaze fell on James. "I really do think James has got in, you know."
"And you think you haven't?"
Sirius shrugged. "Tough competition. I never really expected to get in, though."
Remus stopped walking, a sudden thought occurring to him. Quickly, he slid in front of Sirius, blocking his path. "You're scared that we won't have enough time together as a group if James gets in, aren't you?"
Sirius' face flushed red. "No, of course not."
Remus crossed his arms, frowning at his friend. "Sirius..." He paused, as William and Michael came in from the huge doors. Michael waved, a friendly gesture, but William, who looked annoyed, ducked his head and hurried past them. Once they were out of earshot, Remus continued. "If James does get on the team, he's not going to leave us behind. He's as loyal as a Hufflepuff."
Sirius rolled his eyes. "You should have heard Gerard, Remus. And we've seen them practicing; they train all the time. Plus Gerard makes them exercise all the time. Runs around the castle, that sort of thing. He won't have time for us."
"Sure he will," Remus said, trying to reassure his friend as he patted his arm. "You'll see."
X X X
It seemed that the adrenaline of the try-outs wore off by the following morning. At breakfast, James was as quiet as Sirius, picking at his food. When Gerard entered with a couple of the current team members, James glanced up, looking as if he hoped to catch the older boy's eye.
He didn't.
They sat at the other end of the table, chatting happily as the four boys continued to eat. Peter, between mouthfuls, was asking Remus various questions as he tried to complete his Potions homework.
Once breakfast was finished, they headed down to the dungeons, Peter hastily stuffing his parchment into his bag as they went. When they arrived, the class was almost half full. Slughorn smiled at them as they entered, before beginning the lesson.
At the end, he collected their homework, and the Gryffindors headed back upstairs for Transfiguration. Once that was over with, they moved outside for Herbology with the Hufflepuffs. Neither Sirius nor James had messed around in class, and both were silent as they crossed the grounds.
"Will one of you make a quip or something, already?" Remus said, nudging Sirius.
"Yeah, you're starting to scare me," Peter added, nodding his head as they arrived at the greenhouses. Sirius just glanced away, staring at the Quidditch Pitch, while James let out an exasperated sigh.
"What if I don't make the team?"
"Then you'll try again next year," Remus replied, as they waited for their professor to arrive. "Both of you."
James nodded, biting his bottom lip before crossing his arms. "I managed to score that goal, but it was a fluke. I wouldn't have had a chance if the keeper hadn't fumbled the ball..."
"But that's part of it," Sirius said, turning around and staring at James. "You spotted an opportunity, you took it. That's a good thing in a player."
"You were pretty good, Sirius," Peter chirped up. "You managed to keep the bludger away from the team..."
"For the most part," he groaned. "Merlin, one almost hit Luke Smith because I missed it."
"It happens." James glanced at the Hufflepuffs, before turning back to the others. "Do you think the other teams have had their try-outs yet?"
"The Ravenclaws have," Remus told him. "I heard them talking about it. But all the teams are being really strict about who's allowed to watch the try-outs, apparently. Some Slytherin students tried to sneak into the Ravenclaw try-outs and ended up being hexed. They're in the hospital wing, now."
"When in Merlin's name did you hear all that?" James asked, blinking at Remus as if he'd seen a god.
Remus grinned. "I was in the library this morning before you three got up. Wanted some more books about Defence."
"You're mental," Sirius said. "I can't believe you'd get up early for that."
"I was awake already." It was the truth; the full-moon was coming up and for around a week before it, Remus found it difficult to sleep. He would end up awake most of the night, and only sleep for a few hours.
"Well, at least we know," James muttered, as the professor appeared from a greenhouse further down and made her way towards them.
X X X
After Herbology, the pair remained subdued. Remus was starting to miss the energy they usually had, and just prayed they would return to normal after the list was posted. Once they'd eaten lunch, they headed to the common room and Remus began work on their latest Transfiguration assignment. They had a free period afterwards, which was supposed to be filled by Defence Against the Dark Arts.
Every time Gerard came in, James would almost flinch. He'd glance up, watching as the older boy moved past the notice board, and sink back down.
The rest of the day passed too slowly for Remus' liking. Eventually, after they'd finished the lessons for the day, had eaten dinner and passed the time in the common room, it was time for bed. He was more than grateful; Sirius' and James' lack of energy was starting to drain him.
They said their goodnights and climbed into bed, Remus wishing that Gerard would post up the list sooner rather than later.
A/N: I can't say this enough, but a huge thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed, simply read, added this to their favourites/alerts or added me to their favourites/alerts. I've tried writing a MWPP story in the past, but always stopped it as I had no motivation. Now, thanks to my lovely readers, not only have I done one but I'm doing a sequel! And enjoying every minute of it. Hope you are too.
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