A/N: Enjoy

Disclaimer: I am not JK Rowling.. Sad face..:(

Flora and Fauna Fall in Love

Chapter 11 – Trials and Tribulations

"Alright let's go, let's go! Come on now run! Faster! Keep it up!" James roared through the wind at the group of students who had turned up for Gryffindor Quidditch trials.

There was about fourteen hopefuls milling around the pitch, James had them doing drills on the ground to help him assess fitness levels before they tried anything in the air.

James had three positions to fill on the team: Beater, Chaser, and Seeker. He also wanted to find an alternate who would be able to play decently in any position at short notice.

So far the majority of the hopefuls were fit enough; only two had dropped out already. Two third year girls whom James had thought were not even interested on being on the team. They were now sitting a little way off in the stands, giggling and batting their eyelashes at James, who was of course oblivious, his mind totally focused on the task at hand.

"Alright, so now we are going to split you into teams. We'll have a short test match to see which of you have what it takes." James nodded at Sirius and Marlene to his left and stepped to one side, "Alright when I call your name stand beside either Sirius or Marlene."

"Alex Jones, Lucy Spence, and Jack Brennan: Chasers. Joseph Morgan and Nymphadora Tonks: Beaters. And Jane Bellmen: Seeker. Please stand beside Sirius."

The collective group moved over to stand behind Sirius and he gave them all a nod, and began handing out brooms and bats.

"The rest of you," James smiled, "Are on Marlene's team." The remaining six whooped and stood beside her.

"Now," James continued, "As we aren't looking for a new Keeper this year, and we know none of you favour that position, Sirius and Marlene will play Keepers on either team. I'm going to act as ref, but I'm also going to be watching each of you to see how you fair on skills and on your abilities at working as a team. Alright then, mount your brooms and wait for my whistle."

…..

James, Sirius and Marlene trooped back up to James' common room later that evening exhausted, yet excited in the knowledge that they had found some talented new players for the team.

After a gruelling trial session they had each picked their favourites and discussed whom they thought faired best in each position. Sirius and Marlene had some valid advice and were helpful in noticing details about the players that James may have otherwise overlooked, yet in the end the decision was his.

As team captain, and in the final year of his captaincy, James was eager to do well in the house tournament. Although the team had won last year, this years team had suffered a loss with the abrupt exit of their seeker and the loss of the oldest members of the team.

James had decided not to announce the team straight away; instead he had preferred to let the decision rest for a few days, promising to post the final team selection in the common room in the next week.

Tonks had been sensational. Sirius' cousin hadn't let the side down, and was nearly as good a beater as he was. Tonks was also a disgrace to the noble house of Black, as her father was a muggleborn. She had, like Sirius angered the old pureblood family further by being named a Gryffindor three years previously. She was one of the only members of Sirius' family that he would still talk to, apart from his mad old uncle Alfred.

She seemed like an obvious choice for beater, and that Bellmen girl was definitely the best Seeker, but James was torn between two lads who had tried out for Chaser.

Pushing the thoughts of a decision from his mind for the minute James asked Marlene a question that had been plaguing him since he had returned.

"Marley, Do you know where Evans is?"

Marlene stretched her long legs out on the couch; her blonde hair was scraped back off her angular face, giving him a McGonagall like expression, she raised an eyebrow at him.

"Why, what's the matter Jim Jam? Missing your lady love?"

Sirius snorted and went over to Lily's study desk, obviously to go snooping

He ran a long finger over the books she had left out on the table until he stopped at a scrap of parchment on the desk. "I think I know where Evan's is skiving off to."

James quickly marched over to the desk and grabbed the parchment from Sirius hand.

Potter,

Dumbledore just sent an owl for me to meet him in his office,

Head Business I presume..

I'll be back later. Speak to you then.

Lily

James clutched the note tightly in his hand. She had actually written him a note to tell him where she was.. Did that mean something? Did she want him to know what she was doing? Was he supposed to meet her after? She had signed it Lily, not Evans or whatever. He felt his chest tighten. He hopped she was alright.

Sirius caught James' expression before he crossed the room and dove onto the couch beside Marlene, causing her to topple onto the floor.

"Sirius you bloody idiot!" Marlene scolded before straightening back up.

Sirius looked back over at James and smiled at his expression.

"Ahh," he sighed, "young love."

….

Lily had been sitting at her study desk, writing to her mother when Dumbledore's letter had arrived.

Ms Evans,

I'm very sorry to disturb you, but there is a matter of urgency which I feel I must speak with you about.

Please make your way to my office as soon as you can.

I hear apple sauce is particularly popular this time of year.

Regards,

Professor Dumbledore

She quickly scribbled a note to James, even though she wasn't sure if he would even see it, and ran from the common room, grabbing her wand as she did so.

…..

A/N: Review Por favour

Lots of Love,

H

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