As Alex had predicted, the fifth year's free periods were not the hours of blissful relaxation Morgan had anticipated, but times in which to attempt to keep up with the vast amount of homework they were being set. Not only were they studying as though they had their OWLs the very next day, but the lessons themselves had become more demanding that ever before.
Isabella alone was able to keep up with Professor McGonagall (who had immediately agreed to give her the authority to give and take house points from her first years during their lessons). Even Alex had to ask Professor Vector to repeat instructions once or twice.
"Quidditch tryouts this morning!" Isabella groaned on Sunday at breakfast. "And I've got that lesson with McGonagall!"
"Don't forget that we're supposed to be revising our Summoning Charm and we've got an essay on Inferi for Snape," Morgan sighed, putting her head on the table and awkwardly attempting to butter her toast from this angle.
"Everyone knows Inferi come alive if you electrocute them and then they eat your brains," Luna said. Alex looked like she was about to gag on her bacon and Morgan turned her face away from the scramble eggs wit a groan.
"I wouldn't put that in your essay, Luna," Isabella advised.
"And they're made from parts of dead bodies," Luna continued, unperturbed.
"Are they really?" Alex asked, with a sort of horrified fascination.
"Yes, Voldemort collects all the people he's killed and cuts them apart," Luna told them all, her large eyes bulging slightly. "Then he sews them back together." Isabella could not picture Voldemort sitting with a needle and thread and sewing an arm onto a body.
"Isn't that Frankenstien?" Alex asked, looking a little confused.
"No, it's an inferi," Luna insisted. Isabella looked at Alex and mouthed, "Drop it." Her roommate wisely did, but none of them could bring themselves to eat bacon for the rest of breakfast. Which, Isabella reflected on her way to the pitch, probably wasn't the best thing right before Quidditch.
She walked down through the cool, misty drizzle, pulling her black sweater tighter around her body. When she entered the pitch, she saw about ten new faces in addition to last year's team. Roger Davies, their captain last year, had graduated and Cho Chang was the new captain. Nick Hewgley, short and broad, was trying out for Beater again this year. He was the only other seventh year besides Cho on the team.
Cory Johnston, last year's Keeper, had also graduated, leaving that slot open. But Peter Chambers, Chaser, and Jason Samuels, Beater, were still there this year.
"Trying out for the same?" Isabella asked, going over to the two boys.
"Yeah," Peter agreed, but Jason shook his head.
"I think I'll go out for Keeper," he told Isabella. "I've always fancied myself one, but never had the chance with Cory here."
Cho called everyone to order and they fell silent. Isabella shivered slightly in a chilling wind as she waited for Cho's instructions.
"Right, now, I want everyone to divide into groups of four and fly a few laps around the pitch," Cho announced. Everyone fell into murmuring as they divided themselves.
"Stick together?" Isabella asked Peter and Jason. They nodded in agreement.
"Oi! Nick, get over here!" Peter called to the other boy, who grinned at them and, shouldering he Comet Two Sixty, pushed his way through the crowd to join them.
After the standard test of flying laps, Cho released the Bludgers and gave the prospective Chasers the Quaffle. She watched them play for a while and then called a halt.
"Isabella, you're definitely one, so I need you to stop," she smiled slightly. "You keep getting the Quaffle for yourself so no one can score any goals." Isabella smiled sheepishly. It was true that in a normal game she would work with her teammates rather than against them, but she wanted to look her absolute best in the tryouts. The Italian retired to the stands to watch the rest of the tryouts.
Cho soon found herself two other Chasers: Peter, who had an excellent trial and whom Isabella was particularly happy to see returning, and a new find named Germanicus Bradley ("Call me German, everyone else does," he told Isabella with a weary shrug). Eventually Cho settled on Nick Hewgley and a very disappointed Jason Samuels as her Beaters. This was because she had found such an outstanding goalkeeper in Anthony Goldstien. The new Chasers had thrown everything they had at him, but he had managed to block four our of five goals.
"Well done," Isabella told him as they touched down. She was sweating a little and had even managed to shed her sweater. Anthony looked extremely pleased as he grinned at the team. Even Jason managed to force a smile as he cordially accepted his old position.
After fixing the time of their first full practice for the following Friday, the new Ravenclaw Quidditch team left the pitch and headed off toward the castle for lunch.
"Do you want to eat together?" Isabella asked Peter, Jason, and Anthony. She was secretly hoping that Jason and Anthony would get to know each other a somehow resolve the fact that Anthony had gotten the slot Jason really wanted.
"Can't," Peter sighed. "I promised Padma I'd meet her."
"Are you two going out?" Isabella asked teasingly.
"Yeah," Peter blushed a little.
"I've got some homework I should have gotten done yesterday," Jason said, but Isabella had a sinking feeling that this was a lie.
"I'm free," Anthony offered immediately. Isabella gave a short laugh and shrugged. She had eaten with Anthony a few times last year, because he was Terry's friend.
"Okay," she smiled. The two of them sat down at one end of the Ravenclaw table. Isabella reached for the steak and kidney pie then stopped abruptly because she remembered Luna's theories about Inferi being made of old body parts.
"Something wrong?" Anthony asked innocently. Isabella shook her head and changed course for the beef stew. She poured herself some and then grabbed a few rolls. Anthony was watching her steadily filling plate admiringly.
"You sure can eat, can't you?" he asked.
"Yes," Isabella smiled. "It comes from being in a large family. You eat whatever you can get your hands on."
"I've got two older brothers," Anthony laughed. "I know the feeling." They chatted about their families a little as they ate and shared a few funny stories. Finally Anthony reached for the last piece of apple strudel.
"Oh," Isabella said, disappointedly. "I kind of wanted that." Anthony chivalrously offered it to her.
"Why don't we share?" she suggested. He nodded and began to eat his side. Isabella had just picked up the fork when someone came in through the doors of the Great Hall.
Terry stopped in his tracks and stared at the two of them sharing a dessert. When Isabella caught his eye, he blushed and hurried past them, his head ducked down. Isabella watched him go with a little bit of surprise. What had he expected? That she would become celibate when they broke up? Isabella hadn't had the opportunity to go out with anyone over the summer but now that she was back...? Terry had always been jealous of Fred and George, even when Isabella had assured him that she wasn't dating either of the twins. Why couldn't she have another boyfriend after him? And why couldn't that boy be Anthony?