Chapter 9 – Teammate Was Not My Idea
Teddy's POV – Age 16 – 5th year
I was excited. I was made Quidditch captain of the team. But I was also frustrated.
I was frustrated because our whole team left except for me and Walt. I had to come up with a whole new team. How was I supposed to pull this off when Ravenclaw was our first match? Ravenclaw had won three years in a row and their team was all back from last year.
Today was try-out and people asked me constantly that they were excited to try-out and how much they have been practicing. Like I care. They are all talk. They will just have to show they're good, which I highly doubt because in my second year was when we last had a try-out, nobody was good at all. What makes this year any different?
Debbie was a Ravenclaw. She was their Seeker. Sometimes we would get in arguments on who will win the game, but it didn't last long as I wish it did. She often would say how great I was. Most guys would love to hear how great they were, but she was more of a fan than a competitor.
I made up so many excuses over the summer every time she owled me to hang out. She was just too clingy for me. It was rumored that she even had a huge poster of me hanging on her wall back at her home. What a obsessed weird girl she is, right?
I thought about breaking it off with her, but she really hasn't given me a reason to. I mean sure she seems obsessed with me, but it's an innocent little thing. We all have those, I suppose.
I mean just look at Victoire. It's almost been a year since she had her new make-over. I still can't believe she let Alana do that to her. I mean, yeah, she looks nicer now, but I feel that she is trying to impress someone right now. You don't think she has some secret boyfriend now, do you?
I sat on my broom going over things I wanted to do in try-outs today. I wondered who might show up. I knew James was bound to show his face as one of the first years. I watched and helped him through the years and he has gotten exceptionally good for a little kid like him. He wanted to be a Seeker as he told me so many times.
We'll just have to see how he does at try-outs. I know I could crush his little dreams, but it's part of my job and he should know it. It felt weird how he is now old enough to be at Hogwarts along with me and his cousin, Victoire.
I knew Tino might show up because he told me he had been practicing out in the yard with his father all summer, but I never actually seen him fly so we'll see.
I wasn't too sure about anybody else so I was bound to be surprised.
"Hey Teddy!" Walt said as he flew up. "Ready for the try-outs?"
"No." I said.
"Yeah, good luck on coaching them." He said. I nodded tightly as I saw a group of people making their way down to the grounds.
James Sirius Potter was at the front more excited than ever. I really felt nervous if I ever had to cut him or tell him he couldn't play Seeker. A lot of the people who showed up were girls. Alana and her crowd were one of them. I frowned. I didn't have a thing against girls, but I rather play along with boys instead.
Then what really surprise me was that Victoire and Evie showed up. Probably fans.
I was wrong. Evie was a fan, Victoire was trying out. If she didn't make it hard for me as it is. Well at least I know for certain that she won't get too emotional if I cut her or will she? No matter this calls for a strict Teddy. This was his team and he was here to win not to take people he felt he had to.
I blew my whistle when the time ticked the exact time and people gathered around.
"Alright, I want you all to take a few laps around the field." This was his first test. Harry had told him what he did, but he thought he'd do some things different.
He easily picked out the bad fliers from the good fliers. He marked them down. After that he had the Beaters go first since they were the easiest to pick out.
Fred Weasley (the second) was only a first year, but he remembered Harry telling him how great Geroge Weasley and his twin, Fred, was. He had to take him. He missed the Bludger a few times, but when he could he hit the Bludger hard and had decent aim. Better than the others who showed up at least. He marked him down in his book.
The other was Tino Jordan. He had good solid swings, but he needed to practice his aim more. It was him or Andrew Smickley. Andrew was kind of an idiot sometimes and he needed someone to pay attention so he went with Tino. He was happy because Tino was of course his friend too.
He did the Keepers afterwards. He didn't have any Chasers yet, but he himself aimed to get passed them. He easily took Walt as the best Keeper seeing he already had three years of being on the team.
Next he did the Seekers. He wanted to get that one out of the way as soon as possible. It really surprised him when Victoire tried out for that spot too. He gave the Seekers each some time to catch the Snitch in certain time period. A lot of them failed miserably. Only four could catch the Snitch when they needed too, but two of them didn't have style at all.
It came down between Victoire and James. Cousin against cousin. Just great. He held his decision off for now, but kept those two in mind. They both wanted to try for Chaser next.
So he went forward with the Chasers. They was a lot wider variety to choose from, but after a lot of calculations he chose who he wanted for the Chasers and the Seeker positions.
A third year small girl, by the name of Maura Ellis, was an exceptional Chaser. She knew a few tactics, but she needed to show more backbone. She was easily distracted at every movement that was close to her.
He, of course, was one of the other Chasers. That left his decision between Victoire and James.
James became the Seeker and Victoire had become the other Chaser. Troy Waterbee was the reserve in case anything happened.
Victoire was the one who impressed him the most out of the lot. He never thought she was Quidditch material. However, she had flaws like every other person on the team. She had a really bad case of butterfingers.
That was why he had James as the Seeker because if anything, he could not bear to witness a Seeker with butterfingers during a match.
So, here lies his team and they had a very very very very long way to go in order to beat Ravenclaw.
If anything the practice schedule was pretty harsh, but it had to be so or they would never win and he badly wanted to win.
"Ok, gather round!" I yelled to the team. It was our first practice. "We've an awful long way to go because we are probably the worst team in the school, at the moment."
"Wow, way to burst our spirits up." Fred said. James laughed at Fred's remark.
"Quiet, first year." I snarled at him. Fred went red and remained silent.
"Like I said we have a long way to go until I believe we're ready for our first match, which is of course against the Ravenclaws who had won three years in a row, but this year I want to turn the tables on them." I said. I turned to Walt. "Walt, take the Beaters and James to the side and have them work on keeping the Bludger away from him as much as possible." He nodded and they flew off to practice.
"As for you two," I looked at Victoire and Maura, "You will watch what I do. I made new plays over the summer and I know this will work if you pay close attention." I said. "Now, watch." I took the Quaffle in my arms and spiraled through the air and swerved to the left and right and then did a difficult loop. I turned back to look at them to see if they got it.
Their faces were awestruck.
"Ok, Maura, you try first." She looked afraid to try, but I encouraged her to. So she went forward and tried her best to copy what I just did. She did it horribly wrong. She went in the wrong direction and bad a huge slow loop rather than a fast tilted loop I showed her.
I frowned, but didn't say anything. Not just yet.
"Victoire, you're up." I said. She went too quickly, but then she stopped like mid-way through. When it came to the spirals she went in the wrong direction.
"Wrong, wrong, wrong. " I said to them. I flew over to Maura and Victoire. "You need to find your center. You use that to direct you through the loops and spirals you make in the air. It gives you a free range of moves."
"Hey come on, quit that!" I heard Walt yell on the other side of the pitch.
"Keep here," I said to them and raced to the other side. Fred and James were rolling around the air laughing.
"Oi, come on, stop it!" Walt tried to stop Fred and James from goofing off.
"James, Fred back to your places now!" I roared at them. They did as they were told. They were just double trouble for Walt.
"You two are a pathetic. We've got a match a month away and we've got a load to do. I can't look over here and see you two goofing off. You really haven't got a clue, do you?" I barked at them.
"Teddy, come on, we were just having a little bit of fun. We're real sorry." James said.
"Well, James, I expected more out of you. I thought you were determined to be a good Seeker, but if you don't act serious enough then I might have to pull in Troy Waterbee, who is more willing than anything to take your position." James was stunned that I said and kept his mouth closed.
"So, I suppose, we can't have fun around here." I heard Fred whisper to James when he thought I couldn't hear him.
"Alright! Alright, this is getting nowhere. Practice is over for today." I yelled. I heard them all give a sigh of relief.
"Instead, I'll have to do position practices, every day!" I roared. Their faces showed shock. "Until we get it right then we will work as a team and learn plays." I saw Maura biting her nails worriedly.
"But, Teddy, how will we be better if we practice just with you? I mean the more team practices the better we'll get used to each other, right?" Walt suggested.
"I'm the captain, Walt, and I know what I'm doing. Until each player knows what they have to do then we can work it all out on the pitch. As of now, we must be as swift as an arrow casted from a centaur, we have to be fiercer than a raging fire, and we must have the strength of full-size giants," I told them, " I want everyone giving me a hundred and ten percent dedication every practice or I'll pull people in who actually want to be here." They all seemed scared of me.
"Alright, hit the showers." I said angrily. I watched them each descend to the grounds. I wiped the sweat away from my face and descended myself. How else can I get through to them? I have to make them into a good team and a good team starts with strong hearts.
Time was racing toward us quicker than anything else. We were two weeks away from the match and we had just started to work together as a team. We were getting better, but we weren't perfect.
I had trained Troy when I could as much as I could, just in case something bad happens.
They had to heed my every order or they might not get by. I never have been so bossy before, but if we won then I know this wasn't all just for nothing.
"Good, good." I yelled at the team as they moved around the way I wanted them to.
"Excellent, job…"
"AAah!" A cry came out from afar. It was James and he was hurling fast toward the ground. I quickly took out my wand and broke his fall as best I could.
We all ran to him on the ground. Victoire was the first to kneel beside him. She shook him a bit and called out his name and he wouldn't move.
"He needs to go to the Hospital Wing, he's unconscious." Walt said. I nodded.
"Tino, Fred, take him to the Hospital Wing. The rest of you we practice a little more."
"What?" Screeched Victoire. "Are you insane?"
"No, I'm not. Com on let's go."
"Ok, that's it! I put up with this far too long." She yelled at me. "You have been pushing us too much, Teddy! Now, look what happened?"
"It was an accident."
"Because he was exhausted and so were Tino and Fred."
"Yeah, I'm dying up there." Fred said. I glared at him.
"Bring him to the Hospital Wing, Fred!" I yelled at him. He and Tino immediately carried James away.
"See what I mean? You suck all the fun out of Quidditch."
"No, I don't. Winning will make this fun."
"No, it isn't. I don't care if we are the worst team in the school. I joined this team hoping to have a little of fun, but I can't because I'm constantly being told I'm not doing something right!"
"Well, the more you get the better the better the play will be. We will be able to beat those snot nose nerdy Ravenclaws."
"And I say we need a break for a bit. I hardly had a decent shower in the longest time. I smell like arse!" She cried.
"Oh, well it really goes well with how you're acting now." I shot back at her.
"Excuse me?"
"Come on Victoire, you know how much I want to win this match. This is my thing. You signed up under my thing."
"Have you ever thought it could be mine too?" I snorted.
"I could be just as good as you, but with you breathing down my neck, that may be impossible."
"Get real, Victoire."
"You know what? I realized what your problem is around girls." I looked at her confused. Why was she bringing this subject up? I rolled my eyes and just let her rant on, apparently on nothing important.
"What, Victoire? What could I possibly be doing wrong?" I asked her without the slightest interest.
"Well, like I said you suck the fun out of everything."
"No, I don't. I'm a very fun person to be around."
"Funsucker!" Victoire shouted.
"Well, you're not much fun either. Have you heard yourself complain?" I shot back.
"Ok, I know how much you two love each other, but I really think we should listen to Teddy, Tor." Walt said. Victoire huffed.
"You know what? Practice is done for the day. Victoire, you're in charge. Hope you got what you wanted. I quit because I obviously don't know about fun." I shot at Victoire.
"Good." She said.
"What? No. We need you." Walt said.
"No, we don't. We know how to win thanks to Teddy." Victoire said. I stalked off and was out of sight, but I could hear them talking anyway.
"Well, jeez, Victoire, have you ever thought about what were going to do about losing a Chaser and a Seeker? I mean there is Troy, but he hasn't been practicing with us and where are we going to find another person?" Walt said. I smiled. Sucks to be you, Victoire.
"I'll figure it out." She said.
I sat by myself enjoying my free time. No complaints, no yelling, an certainly no coaching. I sipped some of my drink and leaned back. This was the life.
A shadow fell over me. Well it was the life. I opened my eyes to see who had interrupted my free time. It was of course Victoire.
"Merlin, Victoire leave me alone. I'm enjoying my peace and quiet. Don't you have a team to run? Oh wait you guys are trying to have fun. Well, why aren't you out there having fun?" I asked her.
"Have you seen James in the Hospital Wing."
"Yeah, he still hasn't awaken. I say he won't awake until two weeks from now. He got hit by that Bludger pretty hard." I said. Victoire cursed under her breath. I couldn't help, but smile.
"We need you back." Victoire said. "I'm mean, when I meant we weren't having any fun that was an understatement. We just weren't having enough fun and now I realize that winning might not be everything, but giving it a good shot is."
"I'm not sure where this is going," I said.
"Well, I did have fun learning all those stunts. I thought I could never do. It made me feel excited and pumped up for the match, but then you would come up with another and then another and then another and I didn't think I could keep up with what you wanted. Come on Teddy we need you. Your team needs you and…and so do I. Oh please, Teddy."
"I don't know," I said.
"I'm sorry, I was wrong and I realize that. Teddy, I'm sorry." She said. I looked up into her pleading bright blue eyes. She did want me back.
"Alright, alright. Get the team and get them down to the pitch in an hour." I said.
"Yes! Thanks Teddy, thanks!" She squealed in delight and jumped in the chair where I sat and hugged me. I was taken aback it and there was this sweet smell that filled my nostrils. It was the smell of a victory nor the smell of honor. It was the smell of Victoire. And I liked it and that was what freaked me out.
"Alright, alright, we've got a team to shape up." I said pushing her away. She hurried to get the team and I made my way down to the pitch to set things up.
The match was going to start in less than five minutes. I already shook hands and we all mounted our brooms.
I had made Victoire the Seeker for the game, Troy the Keeper, and Walt the Chaser. Troy was better at Keeper than any other position we could find and Walt was a decent enough Chaser. I spent so much time and energy and the result of this game will truly show if it was enough.
"The Quaffle is released!" Boomed Edgar Bones' voice. I ignored his commentary as I grabbed the Quaffle in my arms. I threw it to Walt and to Maura for a first play. Maura spun like she practiced to dodge the approaching Ravenclaw. So far so good. She faked the throw to Walt and threw the Quaffle in the air and I came from behind and flew straight at the Quaffle. Did a spin and wacked it with my broom and watch it soared past the Ravenclaw Keeper.
"10 points to Gryffindor!" Roared Edgar.
The game continued and we were still winning by thirty points. I watched Victoire and Debbie for moment to see how they were doing.
Then I saw Debbie dive for the snitch that was fluttering near the Slytherin stands. She was sure to get it before Victoire. I wanted to whack myself for forgetting the most important part of the Seeker position. She was far too late now.
This game was over for sure. I wanted to close my eyes and wait for the worst thing to happen, but I strained myself to watch.
"And it's going to be…" Edgar started to say.
"GRYFFINDOR WINS!" He cried through the megaphone. It was unbelievable. Victoire came out of nowhere. She had grabbed the Snitch right in front of Debbie's eye.
He was the first to reach her. He was so happy. He flew right up to her and gave her the biggest hug yet. He almost had tears in his eyes he was so bloody happy. Soon he felt more bodies collide with them as they came in for a group hug.
We had a chance. We had a chance for the Cup this year and nobody can take this moment away not even if it lasted a lifetime.
After the match, the team raced off to the Common Rooms to get the party started. I was the last one to leave as always.
I proceeded out and Debbie stood there smiling like an idiot. She wasn't even a bit angry she lost.
"Teddy bear!" She squealed and ran to me. She kissed me on the cheek and was about to kiss me on the lips, but I swerved out of the way.
"Great game." I said to her.
"Oh, I know. You did absolutely amazing." Now was she in the fans or did she play at all? Seriously.
She leaned up quickly and kissed me on the lips. I didn't return it at the moment. I just really wanted to go to the party. She was ruining my moment of fame. I pushed her away and held her back just in case she jumped up at me again.
"Hey, Debbie, I've got to get going to the party. How about we talk later?"
"I'll sneak out if you want me to?"
"That won't be necessary. Some other time, ok?"
"Ok, Teddy bear." She leaned up again and I dodged her. I turned around to see Victoire not too far and raced up to pretend to talk to her in order to get away from Debbie.
"Hey Victoire, wait up." I called to her. She looked behind her and kept walking. I caught up to her. She looked kind of down even though she won us the game.
"Some game, huh?"
"Yeah, aren't you glad now that you moved me to Seeker?" She teased. I chuckled.
"I guess." She smirked at me.
"Debbie, didn't seem at all disappointed." She said. Ugh, not another Debbie topic. "Especially after the game. What you do? Hypnotize her to hate her House or something for the game?"
"Funny, Victoire."
"Sorry if that offended you. I know she's your girlfriend…"
"No, really, none taken." I said. I really didn't want to talk about Debbie in front of any girl at the moment. I felt a little guilty because Victoire saw us, well her kissing me.
"So, great catch by the way. It was spectacular."
"You always doubt me."
"Not always. You just surprise me. I think I might have made a man out of you."
"Don't get too overconfident. We've got Slytherin next and they may not be as spectacular as Ravencalw, but they're as brutal as can be. Manny and his coonies are on the team."
"We'll show them." I said.
"I'm sure we will." As we walked off together toward the Gryffindor Common Room to celebrate a job well done.
A/N: So the first part when Teddy is taking charge of his team comes from the song "I'll make a man out of you," from the movie, Mulan. I'm really not that childish as you may think I am, I just love Disney movies (just so you know ; ). ) Ok, the next chapter is big so don't go anywhere and kick back w/ the popcorn. Also, I'm always open for suggestions. Actually in any fanfic I'm open for suggestions. Thanks everyone for the reviews, it means a lot!!
