Chapter 9: Quidditch Tryouts
Despite the mysterious attack on Severus and Rebecca, life at Hogwarts didn't change that much. Quidditch tryouts were held during the second week of classes, all four houses gaining new Quidditch players. Rebecca didn't try out, since Slytherin tryouts were held before the first years could learn to fly yet, but she watched them anyway, curious to be able to join the team someday. Serena also watched, along with Bianca, who shouted cheers for everyone, even Andromeda.
"Do you think I would be a good Quidditch player? I wish there could be a Hogwarts cheerleading team and I could be part of that, but flying around and playing the game looks like fun too," Bianca asked Serena.
"I didn't notice you having any big problems in Flying class last year. If you really want to, then it's your decision to join the team. You'll have to hurry, though, Cupcake might let you try out if you run down to the field and ask her right now," Serena answered with a shrug. She wasn't interested in playing the game itself, though she did like flying. Not only did Serena lack an interest in joining a team sport, she also wasn't sure what would happen if there was a game during the full moon and she transformed into a werewolf in mid-air. She supposed she wouldn't be able to hold onto the broom anymore, and that she would go crashing to the ground and have to be taken to Madame Pomfrey, which was something she would obviously want to avoid. It was enough for Serena to have fun flying on her own and to watch the other students play the game.
"I think Andromeda's going to be the new Seeker," Bianca commented, "She caught the Snitch before Moondust did."
"Why did Cupcake even let her compete?! Isn't she afraid Andromeda's just going to get in a fight with Louis Weasley and steal his broom again? Although it might be funny to see if she takes orders from someone who she calls a 'blood traitor,' whatever that means. I know it has something to do with that 'blood purity' stuff Andromeda and her sister believe in, but it sounds like she wants revenge on Cupcake for stealing her blood or something," Serena laughed derisively.
"Do you want to see the other houses' tryouts too, if we're allowed? Aren't your friends Rose and Galaxy trying out for their teams too?" Bianca asked, changing the subject slightly.
"If we're allowed, maybe. But I'm sure I can meet with them in the new Recreation Room and talk there," Serena answered. Bianca suddenly shrieked, having felt something touch her legs, and then Serena felt it too. It felt a lot like a person's hair! Serena looked down and saw a little brown-haired girl in dirty robes crawling through the stands.
"What are you doing down there, Sparkle? Don't you want to sit on the bench with us and watch the tryouts?" Bianca asked, remembering having seen her get sorted into Gryffindor a few weeks ago.
"How weird of you to be friendly to me. Are you sure you aren't going to be a sneaky Slytherin and trick me?" Sparkle asked warily, popping up to look at Serena and Bianca.
"Well, if we WERE going to trick you, it wouldn't be very sneaky of us to say so. You're the one crawling through the stands like a spy in an action movie," Serena pointed out.
"Action movie? I didn't think you snooty Slytherins ever watched movies, unless you have magic ones too," Sparkle said, surprised.
"I've never heard of any magic movies. I've only watched movies made by what wizards call muggle technology," Serena replied, confused as to why Sparkle assumed she wouldn't have watched any regular movies. Was she assuming that there were no muggleborns in Slytherin at all?
"You can't be...you've got to have at least one magical parent! I thought people like me weren't allowed in Slytherin!" Sparkle exclaimed, staring at Serena in disbelief.
"No, it's true. I'm what wizards call 'muggleborn.' There may have been a rule that didn't allow muggleborn wizards and witches in Slytherin in the past, but obviously that rule has been changed, otherwise I would be in a different house. I'm not the only Slytherin like that either, there's a girl in your year who also doesn't have any magical ancestors. Have you met Rebecca Dursley yet?" Serena asked, thinking that Sparkle must have had Potions with Rebecca so far.
"I did, but I thought they let her in because she's related to Harry Potter, since she's always bragging about that," Sparkle answered.
"So do you want to watch the tryouts with us? If you don't know about Quidditch yet, we could tell you about it," Bianca offered.
"How do I know you won't lie and tell me something stupid?" Sparkle asked warily.
"You don't. But that goes for anything anyone tells you, not just Slytherins. Why are you even talking to us if you think everything we say is a lie?" Serena challenged her.
"Because you talked to me first! Your sneaky blond friend tried to trick me into sitting with her, and then she's probably going to push me off the stands or tell me fake things about Quidditch to make me look stupid in Flying class tomorrow! I know how Slytherins are because I read about it in a book, and it was written by one of our teachers so it's gotta be true!" Sparkle ranted before turning away and climbing out of the stands, hurrying back to the castle.
"One of our teachers wrote a book that made her scared of Slytherins?" Bianca asked confusedly, "Why didn't she tell us what the book was, or who wrote it?"
"The bigger question is why she was sneaking around in the stands in the first place if she hates Slytherin so much. Why would she want to see our tryouts? Does she think she's being a spy or something?" Serena grumbled.
"I don't know. But if a teacher wrote the book, then you can't blame her for believing it," Bianca shrugged.
A few days later, after all four houses had their Quidditch tryouts, Serena, Rose and Galaxy met in the Hogwarts Recreation Room.
"I got on the team! I'm the new Chaser!" Galaxy squealed excitedly when she arrived in the room and spotted Rose and Serena waiting for her, "What about you, Rose?"
"I'm the new Beater," Rose replied shyly, yet proudly, "Daisy Puff also got on the team, she's the Seeker. I heard Andromeda bragging about being on the Slytherin team, too. Is that true, Serena?"
"Unfortunately, yes. I saw the tryouts and it did look like she did well at it, but I don't think she's going to be able to get along with the other team members. She always fights with Cupcake, too, and she's the captain," Serena said, "But Diana Goyle is our Keeper, and she's usually good at keeping Andromeda in line."
"Maybe playing Quidditch will help Andromeda learn to be nice to people and work on a team better," Galaxy suggested optimistically.
"Who's the Gryffindor Seeker?" Serena asked, curious since Galaxy hadn't mentioned it, "I thought you might try out for that position since you're short."
"David Longbottom. He's always causing trouble too, like Andromeda. Either Quidditch will help him too or else he might just be even more annoying," Galaxy said. She then noticed Melissa Blips come into the Recreation Room, carrying a scroll with her.
"You're from Slytherin, right? Do you want to read the story I wrote? It's about Severus Snape, and he used to be in your house," Melissa offered, addressing Serena.
"So? I can guess what it's going to be about. I heard you talking about it in Transfiguration, and I'm not interested in reading a made-up love story between you and a guy who died a long time ago. Why did you fall in love with a dead guy, anyway?" Serena asked scornfully, "You never even met him outside of talking to that portrait."
"People can admire and even fall in love with people they've never met before, especially if they're famous celebrities," Rose pointed out, thinking about how her Aunt Ginny first fell in love with Uncle Harry from just hearing about how he was the "Boy Who Lived."
"You understand! You understand how I feel about Sevvie-poo!" Melissa squealed, dropping her scroll and grabbing Rose in a big hug, "Everyone's always mean and says things like that Slytherin girl did but you understand me!" Rose was shocked and she blushed slightly, unsure if she should just let herself be hugged or push Melissa away. Serena rolled her eyes but stayed silent, still wondering how someone could have so much affection for someone they had never met before.
"Can I read your story?" Galaxy asked, and without waiting for a response, she picked up the scroll and began reading. Melissa watched her expectantly for awhile, Serena and Rose also curious what Galaxy's response would be.
"The story's okay, but it's kind of weird to read about Snape being in love with someone named Melanie Bleeper. I always heard he was in love with Lily, who was Harry Potter's mum," she commented.
"I wish he was in love with me, though. That's why I wrote a story about it," Melissa sighed wistfully, "I'm going to share it with his portrait, and then maybe Melanie's story can become reality for me." She then left for the Great Hall, her head filled with romantic thoughts about the famous snarky Potions Master.
