Chapter Nine: Practice and Then Some
It would be seven hours later at practice before Leo would see George again. And Leo knew practice was not going to be a social occasion with Wood as a coach.
"What do you call that? Sloppy, I tell you what! Now, let's do that one more time, without Fred almost killing our OWN Seeker with the Bludger!" Wood yelled furiously at his team.
"Tut, tut, old chap. Just was an accident. Don't get your knickers in a twist," Fred called from the air nonchalantly, but you could tell he was taking to heart what his coach told him. As the play commenced, Angelina Johnson grabbed the Quaffle and took off straight into the air. But this was only a feint, as she and Alicia Spinnet pulled the Porskoff Ploy. Alicia, now in possession of the Quaffle, headed straight for Leo at the goal who was lying in wait for her. George and Fred shot practice Bludgers, which were softer than the regular ones so you couldn't injure your own team, in hopes to slow down her advances and to give the practice a more "game-feel" to it, but to no avail. Alicia cocked back her arm and let the Quaffle fly as hard as she could towards the lower right goal. However,
"Nice block, Leo! Now then, the Porskoff, just smashing. I think we got it," Wood told the team. "Practice's over. Hit the showers team!"
"Oh, thank the lord!" groaned George they got off their brooms and started heading for the locker rooms. "To think, this was fairly short going by Wood's standards."
"Three hours short? Not in my universe," Leo said disbelieving, wiping the sweat off her brow.
"I didn't think it to be so bad," Harry commented.
"That's because all you had to do was catch golf balls Wood threw at you," Katie Bell pointed out. "If you had to work on maneuvers and throwing techniques while Ol' Battle Ax was breathing down your back, you'd wouldn't be as perky as you are now."
"Wood didn't seem THAT bad," Leo defended. "He was just doing his job."
"Easy for you to say," Fred said. "You're his favorite."
"What?"
"Oh come off it, you can't tell me that you can't tell," snorted Fred. "He never yelled at you once, and did you see the way he was looking at you! Makes me want to puke!"
"Whoa now, are you sure? I don't believe you."
"It's true. I saw that too. And trust me, he was looking at you. I had to get his attention more than once just so I could get my practice in," confirmed Harry.
"Ok, whatever," Leo said. "You guys are all psycho." She walked away from the group, shaking her head. She didn't see George, who at that moment was looking more than unhappy.
*****
One practice turned into two, two turned into two weeks, and after five weeks of practicing, it was opening day, with Gryffindor playing Ravenclaw. The team was all up bright and early that morning, and not because they had to. All of them were had nerves about this first game, especially Leo. What if they lost by a goal and it was all her fault and they kick her off the team and never speak to her again?
"Oh, come off it Lawson," she muttered to herself, sounding a bit like Fred. "That's not going to happen."
"Oi, Leo!" George shouted from the portrait of the Fat Lady, shaking her out of her pre-game thoughts. "We're all going down to breakfast! Wanna come?"
"Sure, but I don't think I'll eat anything," Leo got up from the armchair and went and joined the rest of the team.
"The point of breakfast isn't to eat," George said, dramatically rolling his eyes, causing Leo to snicker. "Wood's going to run some new stuff by us that came to him while he was pacing last night and we're going to act like we care Then we swallow some toast to humor him and be on our merry way."
"Ah, I see. But we shouldn't just act like we care. We should take his plays seriously."
"Oh don't go all dedicated on me now. It's not like we don't listen to what he says, it's just, well, he says the same stuff every week. Once you figure this out, you'll only act like you care too."
"We'll see, we'll see." Leo said as they entered the Great Hall. The ceiling was a bright cerulean blue and there wasn't a cloud to be seen. Great Quidditch weather.
As the team approached the Gryffindor table, Wood was already there, deep in thought, bent over a mini model of the Quidditch pitch and poking the little players with his wand.
"Good morning to you, Wood," Fred said heartily, smacking him on the back. "How's the old plays coming along?"
"Fine, fine," muttered Wood, mad that Fred pulled him out of his state-of-mind. He looked up and smiled, "Oh, good morning Leo."
"Um, good morning," she replied, looking malevolently at Alicia, Angelina and Katie, who started giggling. "So, what do you have in store for us today?"
"Well, I've been analyzing the Ravenclaw offense and unfortunately for those who like a challenge, you won't be getting one. With Roger Davies gone, they have a huge hole in their line-up. Their Beaters are notoriously good however."
"Blimey isn't that so? Almost broke my arm once," Angelina interrupted.
".so be on the lookout for Bludgers. Especially you, Harry. We can't have you falling out of the sky all over the place."
"Wouldn't imagine it," Harry said, a serious look on his face.
"Ok then, that's about it. Oh, and Leo?"
"Yes?" she turned and faced Wood.
"Don't let them score. At all."
"Yeah, but no pressure," George cut in, causing laughter from the group.
"All right, you got it, Wood."
"Great. Now, you all eat some breakfast so you're ready for the game. See you in a few hours." The team waved Wood off as the served themselves up some toast and bacon. This was in vain as they didn't touch any of it.
"Oh, I can't stand waiting for a game! My hands are shaking!" Leo put down her fork in a huff.
"Don't be nervous. This is just like playing in America, I bet," Katie comforted her.
"Yes, but what if I do let them score? Wood would probably cut my head off!"
"Don't you worry your pretty little head about Ol' Battle-Ax," George said. "If he does try it, we'll jump him, all right?"
"Thanks, I think," laughed Leo.
"Besides, he likes you too much to kill you," Harry piped up. He ducked hastily under the table, narrowly missing the piece of toast aimed at his head.
"Shut up you! There is nothing there, all right?"
"Whatever you say, Leo," Harry said underneath the table.
"It's not like you don't have eyes for a certain someone," George told him. Harry promptly stuck his head back into view. "What do you mean?"
"'Oh, Jazz, let me carry your books for you. Oh Jazz, do you need help with your homework? Oh Jazz, oh Jazz, oh Jazz'" George said this in a falsetto, making Harry turn bright red. "Seems that you'll be announcing your engagement soon."
"What? You like my sister!" Leo burst, barely containing her laughter.
"No! I mean, well." Harry mumbled, thoroughly embarrassed.
"Oh, just leave the poor, lovesick boy alone," Angelina stood up for him. "It's not like we have never had crushes."
"True, true. Oh, drat, look at the time. Come on, companions of mine, there's class to be had!" Fred announced and he and everyone excluding Leo and George rushed out of the Great Hall. The other two lingered for just a second.
"George, I have to say thanks for saving me back there. I'm sick and tired of them bugging me about Wood."
"No problem. Just doing my gentlemanly duty," he smiled.
"To class then?"
"Let's get cracking! Although I don't think I'm going to be able to put up with Snape this morning. Might have to turn him into a badger."
"I won't stop you. Now come on! Chop chop! We've only got five minutes!"
It would be seven hours later at practice before Leo would see George again. And Leo knew practice was not going to be a social occasion with Wood as a coach.
"What do you call that? Sloppy, I tell you what! Now, let's do that one more time, without Fred almost killing our OWN Seeker with the Bludger!" Wood yelled furiously at his team.
"Tut, tut, old chap. Just was an accident. Don't get your knickers in a twist," Fred called from the air nonchalantly, but you could tell he was taking to heart what his coach told him. As the play commenced, Angelina Johnson grabbed the Quaffle and took off straight into the air. But this was only a feint, as she and Alicia Spinnet pulled the Porskoff Ploy. Alicia, now in possession of the Quaffle, headed straight for Leo at the goal who was lying in wait for her. George and Fred shot practice Bludgers, which were softer than the regular ones so you couldn't injure your own team, in hopes to slow down her advances and to give the practice a more "game-feel" to it, but to no avail. Alicia cocked back her arm and let the Quaffle fly as hard as she could towards the lower right goal. However,
"Nice block, Leo! Now then, the Porskoff, just smashing. I think we got it," Wood told the team. "Practice's over. Hit the showers team!"
"Oh, thank the lord!" groaned George they got off their brooms and started heading for the locker rooms. "To think, this was fairly short going by Wood's standards."
"Three hours short? Not in my universe," Leo said disbelieving, wiping the sweat off her brow.
"I didn't think it to be so bad," Harry commented.
"That's because all you had to do was catch golf balls Wood threw at you," Katie Bell pointed out. "If you had to work on maneuvers and throwing techniques while Ol' Battle Ax was breathing down your back, you'd wouldn't be as perky as you are now."
"Wood didn't seem THAT bad," Leo defended. "He was just doing his job."
"Easy for you to say," Fred said. "You're his favorite."
"What?"
"Oh come off it, you can't tell me that you can't tell," snorted Fred. "He never yelled at you once, and did you see the way he was looking at you! Makes me want to puke!"
"Whoa now, are you sure? I don't believe you."
"It's true. I saw that too. And trust me, he was looking at you. I had to get his attention more than once just so I could get my practice in," confirmed Harry.
"Ok, whatever," Leo said. "You guys are all psycho." She walked away from the group, shaking her head. She didn't see George, who at that moment was looking more than unhappy.
*****
One practice turned into two, two turned into two weeks, and after five weeks of practicing, it was opening day, with Gryffindor playing Ravenclaw. The team was all up bright and early that morning, and not because they had to. All of them were had nerves about this first game, especially Leo. What if they lost by a goal and it was all her fault and they kick her off the team and never speak to her again?
"Oh, come off it Lawson," she muttered to herself, sounding a bit like Fred. "That's not going to happen."
"Oi, Leo!" George shouted from the portrait of the Fat Lady, shaking her out of her pre-game thoughts. "We're all going down to breakfast! Wanna come?"
"Sure, but I don't think I'll eat anything," Leo got up from the armchair and went and joined the rest of the team.
"The point of breakfast isn't to eat," George said, dramatically rolling his eyes, causing Leo to snicker. "Wood's going to run some new stuff by us that came to him while he was pacing last night and we're going to act like we care Then we swallow some toast to humor him and be on our merry way."
"Ah, I see. But we shouldn't just act like we care. We should take his plays seriously."
"Oh don't go all dedicated on me now. It's not like we don't listen to what he says, it's just, well, he says the same stuff every week. Once you figure this out, you'll only act like you care too."
"We'll see, we'll see." Leo said as they entered the Great Hall. The ceiling was a bright cerulean blue and there wasn't a cloud to be seen. Great Quidditch weather.
As the team approached the Gryffindor table, Wood was already there, deep in thought, bent over a mini model of the Quidditch pitch and poking the little players with his wand.
"Good morning to you, Wood," Fred said heartily, smacking him on the back. "How's the old plays coming along?"
"Fine, fine," muttered Wood, mad that Fred pulled him out of his state-of-mind. He looked up and smiled, "Oh, good morning Leo."
"Um, good morning," she replied, looking malevolently at Alicia, Angelina and Katie, who started giggling. "So, what do you have in store for us today?"
"Well, I've been analyzing the Ravenclaw offense and unfortunately for those who like a challenge, you won't be getting one. With Roger Davies gone, they have a huge hole in their line-up. Their Beaters are notoriously good however."
"Blimey isn't that so? Almost broke my arm once," Angelina interrupted.
".so be on the lookout for Bludgers. Especially you, Harry. We can't have you falling out of the sky all over the place."
"Wouldn't imagine it," Harry said, a serious look on his face.
"Ok then, that's about it. Oh, and Leo?"
"Yes?" she turned and faced Wood.
"Don't let them score. At all."
"Yeah, but no pressure," George cut in, causing laughter from the group.
"All right, you got it, Wood."
"Great. Now, you all eat some breakfast so you're ready for the game. See you in a few hours." The team waved Wood off as the served themselves up some toast and bacon. This was in vain as they didn't touch any of it.
"Oh, I can't stand waiting for a game! My hands are shaking!" Leo put down her fork in a huff.
"Don't be nervous. This is just like playing in America, I bet," Katie comforted her.
"Yes, but what if I do let them score? Wood would probably cut my head off!"
"Don't you worry your pretty little head about Ol' Battle-Ax," George said. "If he does try it, we'll jump him, all right?"
"Thanks, I think," laughed Leo.
"Besides, he likes you too much to kill you," Harry piped up. He ducked hastily under the table, narrowly missing the piece of toast aimed at his head.
"Shut up you! There is nothing there, all right?"
"Whatever you say, Leo," Harry said underneath the table.
"It's not like you don't have eyes for a certain someone," George told him. Harry promptly stuck his head back into view. "What do you mean?"
"'Oh, Jazz, let me carry your books for you. Oh Jazz, do you need help with your homework? Oh Jazz, oh Jazz, oh Jazz'" George said this in a falsetto, making Harry turn bright red. "Seems that you'll be announcing your engagement soon."
"What? You like my sister!" Leo burst, barely containing her laughter.
"No! I mean, well." Harry mumbled, thoroughly embarrassed.
"Oh, just leave the poor, lovesick boy alone," Angelina stood up for him. "It's not like we have never had crushes."
"True, true. Oh, drat, look at the time. Come on, companions of mine, there's class to be had!" Fred announced and he and everyone excluding Leo and George rushed out of the Great Hall. The other two lingered for just a second.
"George, I have to say thanks for saving me back there. I'm sick and tired of them bugging me about Wood."
"No problem. Just doing my gentlemanly duty," he smiled.
"To class then?"
"Let's get cracking! Although I don't think I'm going to be able to put up with Snape this morning. Might have to turn him into a badger."
"I won't stop you. Now come on! Chop chop! We've only got five minutes!"