Hey everyone... here's a new chapter... the long awaited Quidditch tryouts...
Chapter 29:
The next few days seemed to pass quickly. Mary and Remus had been excused from classes for the rest of the week. James and Lily had taken it upon themselves to duplicate their notes for their friends. James and the other marauders wrote to Remus about all the trivial things they were doing as he had gone home to help his mother plan his father's funeral. The girls, however, were spending a lot of time in the hospital wing visiting Mary. Mary had distracted herself by trying to help Nancy, who was so completely overwhelmed by her looming decision. Mary sat and listened as the older girl made pros and cons lists in her head about whether or not she should leave Hogwarts to care for her siblings. Nancy's little brother had barely said two words since he had been told the news. Nancy kept looking at him, her eyes full of concern. The hospital wing was not its normal quiet self; there was a constant sound of noses being blown and the occasional sob.
James and Sirius' time was taken up by quidditch. When they weren't in class or doing homework, they were outside on the pitch practicing for the weekend's tryouts. They both felt pretty confident – especially with their new brooms – they felt pretty sure that they would make it onto the team. James had started waking Sirius when he went for his morning fly.
On Friday evening James received a letter from Remus;
Dear Marauders,
Thank you for your letters. They seem to be arriving every ten minutes and thank you very much James for the notes. They are really great. Mum and I have spent the last few days planning the funeral. I know you guys never met my dad but I'd really appreciate it if you came to the funeral. It's on Monday afternoon at 2pm. Professor McGonagall is coming as well and she says that she will escort you there. You just need to meet her at her office at 1:30pm. Please write back to let me know if you can come.
Remus.
James quickly turned the page over, without even asking the other two boys he began to formulate a response;
Remus,
Of course we will come to your father's funeral. Even if you hadn't invited us, we'd be there. See you Monday.
The other three Marauders.
James sighed as he tied the piece of paper to the owl's leg. The boys sat together by the fire – each of them heavily aware that someone important was missing. Peter frowned, "James, c-could I borrow the cloak? Only, I want to check on Mary in the Hospital."
"Sure thing," James replied, his eyes were closed as he was deep in thought, "it's in my school bag."
Peter made his way up the stairs to retrieve the cloak and Sirius sighed, "That boys got it bad."
James laughed gently, "Can you believe we haven't even been here two weeks and everything is already falling apart?"
"Yep," Sirius frowned.
"Kind of sucks, if you ask me," James said quietly.
Saturday was spent doing homework in the library. Rachel had tried to talk James into spending time with her but he had explained that he needed to do all his homework because he had tryouts tomorrow and the funeral the day after. Rachel had stormed off, leaving James angry. "I don't get it!"
"You don't get what mate?" Sirius asked.
"Girls!"
"Ah that's because they just don't make any sense," Sirius joked.
"I just don't get why she wants to spend time with me all the time," James said exasperatedly.
"To be fair James," Peter said, "when you were with Kate and Emmie you did spend a lot of time with them."
"That was different," James started.
"How?" Sirius asked.
"Well…" James was stumped, he had no answer.
"Because you actually liked them?" Sirius offered.
"Yeah… I need to end it don't I?" James sighed loudly.
"I think so," Sirius said, pounding him on the back.
The next day James and Sirius got up early and made their way to breakfast. They barely ate because they were so nervous. "What if I'm not good enough?" Sirius said quietly to James. He didn't mind if James knew that he was nervous. They were brothers after all.
"Sirius you are more than good enough to get on the team," James encouraged him.
"I hope you're right," Sirius sighed.
After they had eaten what little breakfast they could stomach, they made their way down to the Quidditch pitch. Astrix Alixate was waiting on the centre of the pitch. There were several people who had decided to try out. James really wanted to play seeker – it was his best position – but Astrix played seeker and so James was planning on trying out as a chaser. "Right everyone, listen up!" Astrix called, "I'm Astrix Alixate, the captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Before we even begin I want you to know that this is not going to be easy. Even if you make it onto the team today after a gruelling tryout it will not get easier. You will probably hate me by the end of the year – that is until you have the Quidditch cup in your hands. Practices will be scheduled for twice a week except in the run up to a match. Then we will practice at least three times a week. You will have to keep good grades if you plan on being on this team – I don't want old McGonagall coming to tell me that one of my team is failing charms or potions. If you aren't willing to put in the effort, you might as well leave now…"
When no one left, he quickly continued, "ok well we'll start with a basic pick up – just to check you can all do the basics. Brooms on the floor… you know the drill." James laid his broom at his feet and stretched out his hand. He didn't have to say a word for his broom to shoot up and into his hand. Sirius and James both held their brooms and waited for some of the others who were slightly slower. Astrix's assistant made a couple of notes on her clipboard – she was a sixth year student, a chaser on the team. There were several spots open; two chaser spots and one beater position. The rest of the team were sat in the stands watching. The beater was a broad shouldered sixth year boy called Robert Calloway. The keeper was a lanky girl who could have been a muggle catwalk model with her long legs and long flowing blonde hair. She was in seventh year and there were rumours that Astrix and her were an item. Although neither Astrix or Etta had confirmed the rumour. Etta Nixon was an incredibly pretty girl, James couldn't help but think. Then there was the assistant, the girl with the clipboard. Her name was Cynthia Keeney and was an amazing flyer. She had dark red hair and a big smile. James couldn't wait to join the team.
this is only the beginning of the tryouts as you can tell...
Next chapter...
Tryouts continue...
Nancy makes a decision...
The first funeral...
