Quidditch Trails
Sunday, just as she had promised Dumbledore, Mora went to the dungeon to learn how to make unicorn milk supplement. Snape was a bit upset about being forced out of his classroom, where he was doing a bit of work, but, finally, did leave. Dumbledore was right; the potion was easy and she would be able to do it in the dormitory without any trouble.
When Mora got back to the Gryffindor common room, she ran into Professor McGonagall posting a piece of paper on the bulletin board.
We're Looking For Talent!
Quidditch Tryouts
Monday Night on the Pitch
Experience Appreciated
(First Years NOT
Recommended To Attend)
Professor, how much experience should I have if I want to try out?
Actually, we are looking for talent and skill in players. You don't have to have played before. We will just test you in four different positions and see which you'd do best in.
As McGonagall walked out of the portrait hole, Mora starred at the poster. She smiled. Ron, Hermione, and Harry came downstairs with their homework. They saw the poster.
Wow. I've wanted to be on the team, said Ron. Can't let Fred and George have all the fun.
I'm not sure I have time for practice, but I'll go to cheer you two on tomorrow, Hermione said to Ron and Mora.
Since Wood left, I wonder who will be the captain. We didn't get to play last year because of the Tri-Wizard Tournament, said Harry. Anyway, I know I have to be there to watch.
What position would you like to get? asked Ron.
I would love to be a Seeker, but unless I was a reserve, I know I would not get to play. We already have a phenomenal Seeker, if I understand correctly. Mora smiled at Harry. I think I would enjoy being a Keeper or Chaser. I have never actually played Quidditch, so I have no idea what I can do.
Have you ever ridden a broom before? asked Hermione.
Yes, I have.
Ron asked, shocked, Where? I thought you said you grew up almost like a Muggle
Chuckling lightly, Mora said, I did. But, during the time I was staying above the Leaky Cauldron, I saw a beautiful broom at Quality Quidditch Supplies, so I bought it and consulted the owner, Mr. Craven, I believe, how to ride.
What kind of broom? Ron's eyes were wide.
Firebolt. Mr. Craven said that, even though I knew nothing about brooms, I had chosen the best broom there was.
You and Harry have the same kind of broom, Ron said.
How long did it take you to learn to ride? asked Hermione.
Only a few minutes. Mr. Craven was shocked that, as he said, a beginner could handle a broomstick of that power.'
Everyone seemed to be shocked. Mora blushed and quickly said, I am going to write my parents. I have so much to tell them.
You can use Hedwig, if you need her. She's in the owlrey.
Thank you.
Mora went into the dormitory and sat at the window. She pulled out her letter writing kit and began to write.
iMother and Father,
So many things have happened this week. My classes are challenging, but manageable. For my Care of Magical Creatures class, Mahshi has been asked to watch over the mysors. (They look like rats with purple eyes that have some beneficial gardening purposes.) Also, she is now serving guard over another creature that adopted me this afternoon. These are my reasons for not using Mahshi, but rather, Harry's owl, Hedwig, to bring you this letter.
Another piece of new is that Quidditch tryouts for the Gryffindor house are taking place tomorrow night. I believe I have told you about this game. If not, I will explain sometime.
So I do not keep you in suspense much longer about my adopted animal, know it is a baby unicorn that the groundskeeper and Care of Magical Creatures Professor, Hagrid, discovered. I am sure you remember the legends of the unicorn choosing a maiden or man from a group to take care of it. This seems to be rooted in truth rather than fiction. She chose to trust me and now I am the one who must take care of her.
My main question now is what happened to her mother. I checked out an interesting guide to unicorns and know how many wonderful and terrible things can be made with unicorn parts. If the baby's mother died of an illness, I pray she is uninfected. Pray for this little one's health and my ability to care for her.
I love and miss you both.
Your loving daughter,
Mora/i
After sealing the letter, she went to the area overlooking the common room. Harry, could you show me the way to the owlrey?
I'll take you, Ron volunteered, quickly. I need a homework break.
You haven't gotten a proper start to it yet, said Hermione.
Well, whoever is available to take me would be welcome company. Mora came down the stairs and saw Ron waiting at the portrait hole.
They walked quickly to the owlrey in one of the towers. Once there, a small brown owl came immediately to Ron and seemed to demand attention. Pig! Go away! We're going to use Hedwig.
The little owl flew back to his perch and seemed to pout. Ron, if he thinks he can take this letter, let him. She felt sorry for the owl. Oh, but I mentioned Hedwig's name in the letter..., Mora whispered. Slowly, she closed her eyes and seemed to be focusing on something.
Are you okay? Ron asked, putting his arm on Mora's shoulder.
Mora opened her eyes and said, Yes, I am fine. Turning to the owl, she called his name.
The owl perked up and flew to her. Please take this to Kara or Nicolas Airs in Sharope, Mahshi. I know it is a long flight, but it is not urgent.
Pigwidgeon chirped and held out his leg for the letter. Mora tied it on and then kissed the owl on the forehead. After ruffling his feathers, Pig flew out of the window.
Ron and Mora returned to Gryffindor Hall in silence. They sat down with Harry and Hermione.
I just remembered, said Harry, looking up from Divination, I need to write Sir... er, Snuffles and tell him how I'm doing.
Do you know where he is? asked Hermione.
Harry shook his head. He's still in hiding, I guess.
Who is Snuffles, if you do not mind my asking? asked Mora.
They seemed to converse with each other with their eyes and finally told Mora the story of Harry's godfather. He had been falsely accused and convicted of a crime that he hadn't committed. Escaping from the terrible Azkaban prison, he sought out the real criminal and found him. He was an unregistered Animagus who took a rat form. His name was Peter Pettigrew, but also know as Wormtail. Peter had been living with Ron and his family for more than ten years as a pet rat known as Scabbers. He did confess to the crimes to Harry, Hermione, and Ron but had escaped before he could tell the Ministry of Magic. Sirius had barely escaped on a hippogriff and had been living in hiding ever since. He too was an unregistered Animagus (that took the form of a dog) and had been using that to survive.
His nickname when he was at Hogwarts was Padfoot, but we call him Snuffles, finished Harry.
Are you still looking for evidence to prove his innocence? asked Mora.
Of course. I don't like him in hiding any more than he does.
But unless we can catch Wormtail again, there's nothing we can do, sighed Ron.
Harry got up and announced that he was going to write his godfather before he forgot. He went up into the boys dormitory.
Is there no one who believes his story who would hide him? Mora asked.
Everyone shook their heads. Most still believe he's a murderer, said Hermione.
Wait. Is he the man that authorities are now looking for in the countryside? asked Mora.
all three asked.
Mora took a copy of the Daily Prophet off the table. The story is on page four.
They huddled together and read the paper.
Authorities are now increasing their measures to locate Sirius Black. He escaped from Azkaban over two years ago. The last known report of his whereabouts came from the countryside just north of Berlin. However, it is thought he's near London. Azkaban guards will be placed around the city and the surrounding areas to ensure his capture. If you see him, please contact the Ministry immediately.
That's him. Poor guy. I hope he's nowhere near London, said Ron.
Still, they are closing in on him. That's not good news, added Hermione. However, I think Dumbledore knows where he is and is helping him stay out of trouble.
Does Harry know about the story? asked Mora.
Hermione shook her head. Probably not. And good thing He worries about him as it is. This might make it worse.
They agreed not to tell Harry about the news report.
Harry came down after writing a message to Sirius, saying he would send a school owl the next day. It was too late to try to get to the owlrey without getting caught. They sat around and talked more about the Quidditch tryouts. Mora left to go attend to Pearl. When she got back, they all went to bed, since it had been a full weekend and classes started again tomorrow.
..........
Monday night, after Pearl's last daytime feeding, Mora stood with her Firebolt on the Quidditch field. She was slightly nervous, but Ron was next to her, Hermione was watching from the stands, and Harry was standing with the team. Professor McGonagall and Madam Hooch were with the team, too.
Welcome Gryffindors! I will be helping run this tryout, shouted Madam Hooch, so everyone could hear her. The first trial will be for back-up beaters. Next, we'll look for a starting and reserve Chasers, and stand-in Seeker. The final trial is for Keeper.
The Beater trials will involve Fred and George beating Bludgers at some empty brooms and you have to stop them before they get there. If the broom drops, it means that if a person had been sitting there, they would have been hit. Chasers will have to be able to pass balls back and forth and score as many points as possible within the time limit. Keepers and Seekers will try to block the attempts of the current team members to score by catching small balls. We will be using different sized balls during that stage.
Each trial will last five minutes per person. Madam Hooch mounted her broom and kicked up into the air. Those who want to try out for Beater positions, step forward.
Mora stepped forward, along with Michael Crow, a third year, Heather Mackie, a forth year, Neville Longbottom, and two others whose names she couldn't remember.
Madam Hooch pointed to a boy at the end of the line. He mounted the school broom and rose into the sky. Fred and George followed. Madam Hooch blew her whistle and four empty brooms rose above the field and floated around. Fred and George started hitting the Bludgers. The boy let a few by in the beginning, which made a few brooms fall. The brooms would pop back up after a few seconds.
Time seemed to fly as she watched him. The whistle was blown and the boy landed. Madam Hooch pointed to Mora.
She mounted her Firebolt and flew up to the level of the empty brooms. The whistle sounded again. Everything went by in a flash. She chased, hit, dove for, hit, and chased the Bludgers all over the field. When the whistle blew again, she knew she had only let three brooms fall.
Mora then went to sit on the sidelines, her eyes closed as though she was meditating. She didn't pay attention to anyone else, but when Neville's name was called last, she opened her eyes to watch. He just didn't seem to be coordinated. He got hit by the Bludgers more often than the empty brooms. It wasn't that he wasn't trying. Neville just didn't get the hang of it. When he landed again, Mora quietly congratulated him as he passed her to go sit on the bench.
When Chasers were called, she opened her eyes and waited in line with everyone else. Again, she didn't have to wait too long before she was in the air. Mora received, passed, and tossed the Quaffle around. During her five minutes, she dropped the ball once, but was able to retrieve it before it hit the ground. Her total was a hundred and fifty points.
Mora dropped back to the ground. She went back into her trancelike state.
You all right? asked Ron.
Yes. Good luck during your trial, she said, without opening her eyes.
Madam Hooch then motioned that it was Ron's turn. He looked at Mora before flying above the field. Once the whistle blew, Mora did open her eyes to watch how Ron did.
She could tell he was nervous by how unsteady he was on his broom. He almost dropped the Quaffle at least six times, but never actually let it fall. She smiled, because he was able to still score a hundred and eighty points. She shut her eyes again and waited for the Keeper trials.
Mora was the next to last one to try out for Keeper. Since the Seeker and Keeper have to employ some of the same skills of catching, different sized balls were thrown at the goals. What was expected was that the ball must be caught, not just deflected away.
Madam Hooch blew the whistle and Mora saw Harry, Fred, George, and Angelina flying at her. They began throwing balls at the hoops. She zoomed back and forth between the hoops, catching and throwing the balls back at the other students. She never slowed and never panicked when a ball got a little too close. And no ball got by her.
When she touched down, Ron ran over to her. That was amazing! You're so calm about it up there. I hope you're on the team.
Mora blushed. Thank you. You seem to be a good Chaser.
I think you did better.
Well, I hope you get a spot on the team. However, I must say goodnight and attend to..., she dropped off into a whisper,
Okay. I'll see you later and tell you who was chosen.
Thank you. She began walking away.
Ron turned to look at Hermione, who was waving down at them. Wait, I think Hermione wants to talk to us. He turned back to Mora.
But she was gone. He ran to the nearest exit and looked around. No Mora. Boy, she's fast.
Later that night, when she got back to Gryffindor Hall, Mora was met by her three friends.
You're our new Keeper! said Harry.
Am I really?
Mora turned to Ron. Did you get a spot, too?
Yup. I'm a Chaser, Ron beamed.
That is wonderful! Mora reached out and hugged Ron. Thank you, Harry, she said as she hugged him, too.
And now, I have to come to all the games to cheer you guys on, said Hermione.
I can't wait to tell my parents, said Ron. Mom'll be kind of worried but dad'll be happy.
I am sorry I am using Pigwidgeon so you cannot write them right away, said Mora.
Not to worry. I can wait a few days or just use a school owl.
They stayed up and talked for a while till Hermione pointed out it was late and they need to go to sleep. They went upstairs and got in bed. Mora fell asleep with a smile on her face.