While Ronald Longbottom and James Potter had become somewhat friends in their first year, there was a rivalry between them as the two best students in their year. Ronald had inherited his father's knowledge and love for Herbology, while Defense Against the Dark Arts was James'favourite and best subject. Yet they were neck and neck in the academic rankings.
When Ron took the spot on the quidditch team in first year, James had been mad, why hadn't he been asked to replace Blade Malfoy? Was he not good enough? Was Ron a better player? Did James simply go unnoticed? How was it that Ron had scored a place on that team, without trying out? These questions had circled his brain and driven a wedge between the two boys. They boys who had so much in common were so much at odds with each other that they spent most of their first year competing against each other.
This year, James was determined to not only have a shot at becoming Gryffindor's new seeker, but to completely blow everyone else out of the water at tryouts, especially Ron. He didn't count on Ron's twin younger sisters trying out, and even James admitted, they were good.
He watched the two girls on the quidditch pitch each releasing the golden snitch and timing the other to catch it. The way they darted and weaved on those brooms it was hard to believe they were only first years.
James recalled his first flying lesson, when he had trouble commanding the broom to even levitate and lift into his hand. Each time he shouted "UP!" and each time the standard school issue Nimbus 2000 would remain lifeless on the grass, almost mocking him. While the others were levitating on their broom, James had finally managed to summon his broom and grasp it in his hands. Eventually he learned to fly on his broom and at first very shakily, not at all like his father's quick mastery of a broom. That summer he practiced on his Firebolt 500 until he was flying no worse than Blade Malfoy.
The girls that were practicing in front of him looked as though they had been flying since they were tots. Tess darted off after the snitch, while Alice waited on the ground for her sister's return. The snitch shot through the hoop and was careening towards McGonagall's window and Tess was inches behind it. Just as it was about to hit, Tess extended her arm and grasped it between her fingers and shot towards the ground with it in hand.
"Beat that!" She challenged her sister as she flew into landing and handed the snitch over.
"Watch me," Alice said as she took off after the snitch. It remained low to the ground and hovering inches off of the ground, Alice followed closely behind it. Then suddenly it darted straight up, and still Alice remain hot in its pursuit. Just as it had darted straight up, it dropped down and Alice Zoomed after it until she was but inches from smashing into the ground then the snitch darted to the right. Still Alice was inching closer to it. It darted inches higher and Alice climbed onto her broom to reach it. She extended her arm and finally she caught the snitch.
"Impressed?" she asked her sister when she dismounted.
"Suitably," Tess answered. "Hey we have an audience!"
Alice looked where Tess was pointing straight at James. James blushed when he saw he'd been caught. "Hi James," they said in unison. He waved.
The girls packed the snitch away and strode towards James. "That was some pretty good flying," he said.
"Thanks," they both said.
"Have you been doing that long?" he asked them.
"A little bit over summer," answered Tess.
"We nicked our brother and sister's broom and played around in the yard," added Alice.
They chattered all the way back to the common room, where Lily and Molly were seated on the love seat. "Were they holding hands?" thought James, but then shook the thought away. "Ridiculous!" he muttered, then said goodbye to the Longbottom twins.
The twins had seen their sister and her best friend holding hands as well. Tess leaned over and whispered, "Are you seeing what I'm seeing?" in Alice's ear.
Alice giggled, "yes!"
They both giggled again causing the lovebirds to take notice of their audience. Instantly they withdrew their hands from each other, both blushing.
"You two were just holding hands!" Alice said boldly, but then Tess whacked her for being so bold. "OW!" She glared at her sister.
"Its nothing," Molly said, scowling.
"Yeah, she was just telling me a secret," Lily said, gesturing to Molly.
"Whatever," the twins said and walked to their dorm in a huff.
"First years…" Molly muttered." Then she took Lily's hand in hers again. "Hey I'll tell you a secret," Molly leaned in close to Lily.
"What?" Lily asked, as she could feel Molly's lips brush her ear.
"Oh, nothing, I just wanted to give you one of these." Then molly's lips met Lily's cheek and Lily giggled.
"They're adjusting quite well for first years, aren't they, Molly," Lily suggested gesturing towards the Twin's dorm.
"They're okay," Molly agreed. "They they're lucky. They have each other."
"That's true." Lily thought back to her own first weeks at Hogwarts.
The memory of daunting lessons in enormous classrooms and terrifying teachers, but there was one teacher they both loved. Hagrid taught them Care of Magical Creatures, right up until the beginning of fourth year. Then without explanation, he shut himself away in his hut and died. Not since the death of Albus Dumbledore, had Hogwarts exuded such an air of sadness which swept over all of the students and staff alike.
Lily remembered that first week as they shared tea with the long time family friend, and Hagrid had so many stories to share with them about each of their parents' school years. Without Hagrid and without each other, Lily doubted they would have made it through first year unscathed. In spite of the rivalry between the two sets of parents, the girls' friendship had been the bond that kept them from wanting to give up and return home when things got tough. When Hagrid died, the girls had leaned on each other and held on to the memories they shared of him. With the heavy emotion from Hagrid's death and Blade Malfoy getting signed with the Cannons, and a game only days away, there was no time left for tryouts, so Ron, who was the only one anyone could think of who was good enough, had joined the team.
Lily didn't know what she would have done if she didn't have Molly and Molly felt the same about Lily. Molly knew the twins were lucky because everything they went through they experienced together and could help each other through it. The only problem was there was only one seeker the Gryffindor team was looking for and with James and Ron also trying out, disappointment was unavoidable.
The following week, they held the tryouts and besides the Longbottoms and James Potter, there were two more hopefuls, both of which were complete klutzes who could barely stay on their brooms let alone chase and catch a snitch without nearly killing themselves.
The only way to separate the girls, James and Ron was to put them through drills until only one was standing. Eventually only Ron and Tess were left battling it out for a spot on the team. The others watched as Brother and sister tried everything to outwit, out run, out fly and outdo each other overall. But finally after Ron almost collapsed off of his broom, just missing the snitch, it was decided that Tess would be Gryffindor's newest seeker, much to the disgust of Ron, who anticipated the flack he would get from his peers for coming second to a girl, much less his sister. Proud of her sister Alice cheered Tess on as the dived for the snitch and caught it with one hand.
Ron muttered a quick goodbye and disappeared in a huff, witch James following closely behind. Lily felt bad for him, being so close, especially when he'd played so well the year before, but this year, they knew they would be unstoppable with a good seeker as Tess was turning out to be.
