Hullo there! Quidditch Trials are here at last! Next chapter will be the Quidditch Team List. I don't wanna seem biased for who wins the Quidditch Cup at the end of the story... Should I let you guys vote for who wins each game? Or should I pick House names out of a hat? Difficult questions, these are.
Anyway, I'm sure you guy have heard of Pottermore. I got in on early access, and get this, I'm a GRYFFINDOR. I would've figured I get Hufflepuff or Slytherin, but nope, I'm a Gryffindor. Guess that means I'm bold and brave. If you guys were able to get early access, ADD ME! I'm WalnutAccio117. And leave in your review your House =]
I'm just going to do Gryffindor Trials for now since each Trial is about the size of a small/medium chapter. Then Hufflepuff, then Ravenclaw, then Slytherin. Alphabetical, not biased.
PS! This story takes place 19 years after the Battle of Hogwarts. So, of course, there are newer broom models. So at this point in time, a Nimbus 2001 is the equivalent to a Comet 180 was back then and a Firebolt is the equivalent to a Cleansweep 7 was in Harry's Hogwarts days.
Newest models of Brooms:
Dragonflight 2.0-5.0
Bristlerun 45-360
Phoenixwing 1000-5000
Quidditch Pitch- Nate McClarke's POV
I glanced around the Quidditch Pitch. Various students took their place in the stands to watch the Trials. The Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw teams sat in the stands as well, waiting their turn to use the Quidditch Pitch. Coincidentally, all four of us tried to book the Pitch on this particular day.
I kicked off the ground, launching myself into the air on my Dragonflight 4.5. It felt good to have the wind in my face again. Of course I had flown most of the summer, but I haven't been able to fly high. Mum always warned me about Muggles accidently spotting me on my broom.
"Even the greatest wizards get caught in the air." She always chided. "You know, Ron Weasley and Harry Potter were caught in his flying car just when they was just 12! Caused Weasley's father a load of trouble! You wouldn't want to do that to your father!"
Never knew why she'd say that about my dad. He doesn't even work in the Ministry of Magic.
"Alright. Chasers up first!" I instructed the group of Gryffindors still planted on the ground. They followed my orders and a little less than half the group joined me in the air.
James flies by me. "Morning, Captain. I'm sure my spot on the team is secure already?"
"Just 'cause you were on the team last year doesn't mean anything." I said, but really it does. James has the unarguable natural talent for Quidditch, just like his parents. His mother was one of the most successful professional Quidditch players of all time. She had ranked with the top men players. While James's dad was one of the best Seekers Gryffindor had ever seen. One of James's uncles on his mum's side was a Seeker too. James's granddad was a great Seeker, as well. Everyone had expected James to be Gryffindor's Seeker, seeing as all the Quidditch blood he had was Seeker, but he became the star Chaser.
"Right, well, we're going to run some drills." I addressed the rest of the group. "You drop the Quaffle once, you're disqualified. We can only have the best on the team."
It felt a bit strange being in charge, but I did my best. I circled overhead, watching them pass the Quaffle back and forth. I studied the way they flew on their brooms, if they ever fumbled with the large football- sized ball.
James flew beside me again, once the Chasers finished. "So, Captain, how'd I do? I suspect I'm on the team again." James flew in lazy circles around me.
"You'll see tomorrow, Potter. Now go back to the ground. You big head is taking too much flying space." I said and James laughed on his way down.
"This year, we only need one Beater!" I yelled at the group. Three people flew up to float beside me. Each of them had a Beaters bat. One was a young boy, probably a second year, a girl, and another boy who looked around his third year.
"Locomotor!" I pointed my wand at the Bludgers case and it started to float up in the air. I flipped the top of the luggage. The Bludgers were struggling to get out of their bonds, making the case shake in the air. These Bludgers were particularly nasty. They were bewitched to follow and try to knock out one target at a time. I remembered when I had first time went up against these things in my second year. It was like trying to beat down two raging tornadoes.
"One at a time. Who wants to go first?" I asked, nodding at the Bludger case.
Branwyn Reid shouted, "I will!" over the wind. Her dark hair was in a tight ponytail and she had a look of determination on her face.
"So be it." I muttered, then louder. "Try to hit the Bludgers through the goal posts. The Bludgers will keep coming at you, so you've gotta be on your feet constantly. You have 5 minutes." The other two Beaters flew to the side to watch the spectacle.
I unlatched the Bludgers. They made the familiar buzzing sound they make when they're first let out of their case. The Bludgers zoomed around Branwyn. She managed to get 17 Bludgers through the goal posts. The second year boy got 13, which isn't bad for his first try. The third year threw in 16. Now I know our newest Beater.
I still didn't see Oliver anywhere, so I decided to keep Seeker Trials last, in case he manages to show up. Next were the Keepers. Last year, Edmund was our Keeper, and a right good one he was too. Shy guy, he was, but a good person to keep on the team.
"James! Keepers! Come up here!" I called to the Gryffindors below. Obediently, they kicked off the ground and met me in the air. I tossed James the Quaffle.
"Alright. James is gonna try and get the Quaffle in the goal posts, keep them out. Neither of you hold back." I said. I can't help but think how boring and stern I sound.
"Right on." James smirked. "Who's the first? Keyensie, show them how it's done."
A loud group of whoops came from the stands. Keyensie had fans, mainly his best friend, Patilda. But she'd kill if you called her Patilda. She prefers Patti.
"Yeah, Eddie!" Patti shouted across the stands.
Edmund grinned a small smile as took his position in front of the goal posts. He gave a slight nod to James, signalling he's ready.
James's first Quaffle flew out of nowhere at an odd angle, but Edmund had easily blocked it no problem. Our own team was too good for each other!
James kept firing Quaffles from every which way endlessly. Edmund eventually let one in and the next Keeper went up, a nervous looking third year called Nancy Hale. I couldn't blame her for being nervous. Anyone would be, trying to follow Edmund's act.
James bobbed happily on his broom, eager for another go. He grinned with that goofy side-smile as he tossed the Quaffle in the air above his head a catching it. Sometimes he was such a doofus. It was barely windy out and not at all rain weather—a beautiful day—but his Quidditch goggles were nestled in his vibrant red hair anyway. He wears them everywhere, the goggles. He reckons the girls find it attractive, I think it makes him look like a goofball.
One by one, James wheedled out the Keepers, constantly shooting Quaffles at them, testing their skill. Most, if not all, Keepers were winded by the time James was done with them. James side-grinned when there were no more Keepers left.
He flew past me while the Keepers floated lazily towards the ground and said, "If I were you, I'd keep Edmund on." And he zoomed for the ground to meet up with the rest of them.
By then a figure in billowing scarlet robes like ours came tumbling into the Pitch. His head of messy black hair was visible as he clambered on his broom and kicked off the ground, launching himself into the air.
The Slytherins in the stand snickered when Oliver stumbled on his broom.
"Don't fret! Don't worry, now! Ollie's here!" He yelled and a group of girls in the stand giggled and squealed. Oliver winked at them, but turned to me to roll his eyes.
No other Seekers? That's strange. Usually people were dying to take over the coveted Seekers position. It was just Oliver.
"Looks like it's just you." I told him. "Guess that means you're on the team. Congrats, 'Ollie'." Girls like calling him Ollie because they think it's cute. Oliver does it as a way of laughing at those girls.
"So, you're going to put up the list tomorrow?" He asked as we both touched down.
"Err, yeah, I think. Maybe later today, who knows?"
"Heavens know that I know that you know that you know." Oliver said.
"Jedi mind tricks don't work on me."
I dunno if I got this whole Quidditch Trials thing down... Oh, well. Three more chapters of Quidditch, I should be able to get a hang of it by then.
Love, hate. Review, flame. Questions and suggestions are all accepted in these parts.
-Dr. Asian -.-
