Well I started wondering just how many of the next-gen would be on the Quidditch team, and then remembered there's only seven players...and somehow this happened. Oh, and fifty chapters now, and almost 550 reviews...I'm truly amazed, so big thanks to everyone who's r&r-ed, and especially those who've stuck with this from the beginning. Hopefully I'll start updating more frequently.

50. Team Colours

"James, you know you can't have a team made up of your entire family."

"It's not my entire family, Wood. You're on it." James Potter replied to his friend, as they walked towards the Quidditch pitch.

"Uh-huh. And tell me, James, who else is on this team of ours?"

"My brother. My sister. Couple of cousins."

"Couple? Couple, James? Even ignoring the fact that your brother is our fellow chaser, and your sister is our seeker, you've got Hugo as Keeper, and Rose and Lucy as beaters!"

"That's only three cousins."

"There's only seven people on the team!" Anxiously, Wood ran a hand through his hair.

"Oh come on, Wood. My family have the best talent."

"The rest of the school won't let it go."

"They'll get over it once we win. Lighten up, will you? What do you want me to do, re-do the try-outs?" James replied. By now, they'd reached the changing rooms.

"You were obviously biased."

"No I wasn't. Not really. Besides, Lucy's been on the team nearly as long as I have. Al and Rose have been on since their third year, and Hugo and Lily were the best at try-outs."

"You barely watched the others! You'd already decided they were going to fill in the spaces, hadn't you?"

"So? They're still the best. I helped train the both of them myself. Now, get changed, OK? The rest'll be down here soon."

Wood complied; ten minutes later the entire team was on the pitch. James watched them all carefully, wondering if maybe Wood was right. Maybe his family loyalties would cost them the cup. Maybe...

"Got the snitch." His little sister yelled, waving it around. James blinked, then sent a smirk at Wood.

"Well done. Catch it that fast during the match and we're sorted." He told her. "Pass it here – I'll let it go again in a minute..."

By the end of practice, James was grinning.

"Told you." He said to Wood as they both landed. "Best team I've ever had."

"Yeah, well..." Wood muttered, causing James to grin wider.

--

By the first match of the season, Gryffindor house was extremely apprehensive, and a little disgruntled. A team made up almost entirely of one family?

"I tell you, we're gonna win." James said, the morning of the match. "This is the best team Hogwarts has ever seen. Tell them, Wood."

"Yeah...Uh...Great team..."

The people around them began to mutter, obviously not convinced by his doubtful assurance.

James narrowed his eyes, leaned forwards. "Wood, we've been friends for a lot of years now. I've always been good to you -"

"Yeah, great, like the time you talked me into skipping Transfiguration and got us both detention for a month. Or the time you convinced me that stray dog was a Grim only I could see -"

"That was funny." James smirked.

"Or the time you pushed me into the lake -"

"That was an accident! And I pulled you out."

"After laughing yourself stupid. And all times you forgot my birthday, when I've never once forgot yours -"

"Mines easy, its Halloween! Besides, I'd always remember after a week or so. Anyway, back to the point. I've always been good to you. All I'm asking for here is a little faith, OK?"

Wood snorted.

"OK, you leave me no choice." He leaned closer, lowered his voice. "If you don't start backing me up here, I'll start calling you by your first name."

"No – you wouldn't -"

"You know me well enough to know I will. I hate to blackmail you, but if that's what it takes..."

"Best team we've ever had!" Wood cried suddenly. "Really – no chance of losing – family or not, James made the right choice there -"

Satisfied, James sat back and helped himself to more toast. Really, Wood was over-sensitive about his first name.

--

Of course it would rain. They hadn't had a single chance to practice in the rain – but here they were, the first match, drenched.

Not that it was stopping them scoring. And while James couldn't help but worry that the weather may cost them, he was still pretty confident in his team's ability. After all, he'd been playing Quidditch with the family since he got his first toy broomstick. Those who weren't knew to the team were well rehearsed, were used to the tactics and the style. Lily and Hugo were quick learners, good players.

They were thirty points up. Could do with a bigger lead, James thought, looking through the players for the Quaffle, then speeding towards it. He spotted his sister, realised this was the eighth time he'd checked on her so far, and told himself he'd have to stop, soon, because otherwise he'd be too distracted to play well. She was a good flier, he reminded himself. A good player.

But if she fell, he may just have to remove his entire family from the team, otherwise he'd spend every match worrying. And removing them from the team would –

"And it looks like – YES! Lily Potter has the snitch – Gryffindor have the Snitch, Gryffindor win -" The comentator's voice yelled over the screams and cheers of the crowd.

He spun his broom round, saw his little sister waving her arm around, her face shining, as the team surrounded her. Laughing, flew towards her, too, and they landed in a tangle.

"See Wood?" James said happily. "Best match we've ever played. Best team we've ever had."

"Never doubted it." Wood replied, smirking as he turned away.

"Yeah, that's just the impression I got."