Chapter Three
Quidditch Trials
Monday morning in the common room, people were abuzz chatting about the Dueling Competition. Terry, Dillan, and Evan met up with Chloe and they all walked out of the Ravenclaw common room on their way to the Great Hall for breakfast.
While at their table, the plates filling with scrambled eggs and pancakes, Professor McGonnagal came around passing out term schedules. Dillan snatched his eager to see what he had today.
Terry leaned over, "We have Transfiguration first today. Charms with Gryffindors this afternoon." He kept scrolling the schedule, "Alright! Quidditch tryouts are right after Charms! I can't wait! Mum and Dad bought me a Firebolt at the beginning of the year. I'm sure to make it with that!" Terry smirked proudly.
Dillan looked glum, "I don't have a broom of my own yet. Dad always said he'd get me one, but never got around to it. He's always busy with the Council of Magical Law and all."
"Don't worry," Terry reassured him, "the Ravenclaw team brooms aren't bad. Nimbus 2001's, two years out of date but still superb flying brooms." Terry snatched fried okra from a dish.
"Wonder why they moved Quidditch trials to the first week? They usually don't start till two weeks after the year starts," Evan said.
"Probably because of the Dueling Competition, I guess," said Dillan.
Chloe was sitting across from Dillan in-between Cho Chang and Evan, cleaning her plate quickly.
"Hungry, eh Chloe?" Dillan asked rhetorically. Just then a loud rush of flapping was overheard as hundreds of owls fluttered in for the morning delivery. Dillan spotted a brilliant white owl soar gracefully above the tables before settling down upon Harry Potter's shoulder over at the Gryffindor table. He looked up and watched a scruffy looking screech owl land on the table in front of Evan. It held out it's leg which bared a roll of parchment tied to it.
Evan took it, "Hmm," he wondered setting aside his fork, "Why's Mum sent this?" He unrolled it and read it to himself. His face went from nonchalant to ecstatic within seconds upon reading the letter, "Wow! Mum said we're going to the Mongolian Quidditch Playoffs this summer! She bought me tickets since she heard of me becoming a prefect! Hm, Dumbledore notifies the parents of prefects pretty fast."
"Whoa, that's really cool, Ev," Chloe congratulated, not looking up from the Daily Prophet subscription she had in her hands.
"Yeah, well, it would be a whole lot better if Dad were still alive to see it with us," Evan sighed.
"Don't hate me because I'm asking, but how did your Dad die?" Dillan asked.
"Killed on duty with the Magical Law Enforcement Squad handling a maniac criminal. The criminal cursed Dad with some Dark magic. Died instantly."
"Oh, I'm sorry, Ev"
"It's all right, he died doing what he loved I guess."
Terry piped up, "Almost time for Transfiguration, better get goin'."
Dillan looked around and noticed a lot of people had left the Great Hall or were leaving, "Alright let's go."
Dillan, Chloe, Evan, and Terry all went back to the common room and retrieved their bags then trekked to Professor McGonnagal's class. They all took a table at the back of the class. Then Professor McGonnagal strode in.
She wore her common emerald robes and grey cloak. She peered over her rectangular spectacles at the class before her, "Good morning and welcome to your first day of Transfiguration! Being sixth years, you all will begin Human Transfigurations this term, though first of all we will research the pros and cons of Human Transfiguration." She took a seat at her desk, "Who can tell me an advantage of this?"
Many hands shot forth, but Evan's was the quickest. McGonnagal nodded in his direction, "You can be able to transfigure your whole self or parts of yourself to aid you in things normal wizard couldn't do such as breathe water."
McGonnagal looked pleased, "Very good, Evan; ten points to Ravenclaw. Anyone know a consequence?"
This time, though Evan was fast, Dillan was quicker, "I know for a fact that Human Transfiguration can go terribly wrong if the wizard or witch isn't trained well enough to know what they're doing, resulting in gaining extra attachments or even being stuck in an Animagus form."
"Very thorough, Mr. Starr, take 15 points for Ravenclaw. May I ask how you came by this information?" McGonnagal asked inquisitively.
"My mum used to teach Transfiguration at Beauxbatons Academy."
"Very well." Professor McGonnagal turned to her blackboard and began writing down notes, "I suggest you take out a piece of parchment and begin copying these notes, for as your homework will be based upon them." She then turned back around to the class, "Your homework assignment is: Describe with thorough examples of why Human Transfiguration should be placed under certain regulations by the Ministry."
The remainder of the period consisted of more note taking (two rolls of parchment) and finally ended with the sound of the bell. Dillan, Chloe, Evan, and Terry all walked together from the class along with the other Ravenclaws.
Evan waved as he had to go to a prefect get-together and left Chloe, Terry, and Dillan, who all went back to the common room.
Settling down at a table near a window, Dillan sprawled out his Transfiguration homework, trying to finish for he was nearly complete having known all the Transfiguration stuff in the first place.
"I still don't think it's fair. It's almost like cheating, having a Transfiguration teacher for a mum," Terry complained as he only had two sentences written on his homework.
"I can't help it!" Dillan said innocently, "It's not like a swiped her to cheat with! She just happened to tell me about this stuff."
Chloe brandished her wand from her bag. It glistened in the light as she moved it about.
"Hey Chloe, why's that so shiny?" Dillan asked, rolling up his homework, finished.
"Riggly's All-Purpose Wand Polish, it gives it an extra shine. I care for my wand and don't want to see it wear out, so I polish it every other day. It's Oak wood, very easy to splinter," she stated.
Dillan took out his wand as well, pointing it to a bookshelf by the far wall, "Accio 'A Book of Empowering Charms: How to Gain Extra Abilities'," he called. A thin, black book slid itself from the shelf and floated over to him. He took it and flipped through a few pages, "I really want to learn Empowering Charms. Aren't we supposed to start those this year, Chloe?" Dillan asked still reading from the pages.
Chloe was scribbling with her quill on her parchment, "I think so, might be seventh years only because Empowering Charms are unpredictable and dangerous if someone were to just play round with them."
Terry looked confused, his eyebrow arched, "What are Empowering Charms?"
Dillan looked up from his book, "You know, it's when you cast a spell on yourself to give yourself extra powers like gaining the strength of twenty wizards."
"Oh, yeah I want to learn those too." Terry smiled at the thought.
"We have Herbology next," Dillan informed them, looking at his schedule, "We better get going. We have ten minutes left and we do have to travel all the way to the greenhouses."
Chloe and Terry packed up their Transfiguration homework and they all walked out of the common room and out of the castle. On the castle's grounds they could see Hagrid's small wooden hut near the edge of the Forbidden Forest and then the lake not too far from that. On the opposite end of the grounds was the Quidditch field where all Quidditch tryouts and season games were held, although none were taking place yet.
Chloe, Terry, and Dillan all strode out to the greenhouses in the field where Professor Sprout and the other Ravenclaw sixth years stood waiting for them.
The plump witch with flyaway grey hair said, "Now that we're all here we'll begin in Greenhouse Four today." She walked over to the greenhouse, everyone followed behind her. She unlocked it and motioned everyone in. "Please four to a table. Set up your supplies. I will be back shortly." Then she strolled out shutting the door behind her. The door reopened just as fast as it shut. Evan walked in. Chloe motioned him over to her, Terry, and Dillan's table.
"Just in time, Evan, Professor Sprout has gone to get us some exotic and poisonous plants to prune!" Terry grinned.
"She did not say that, Terry!" Chloe frowned at him. "She didn't say where she was going."
"Well, I do hope she brings back something worthwhile," his grin faded.
Moments later Professor Sprout reentered, her white apron covered in grass stains and soil. In front of her, she pushed along two trays on wheels. On these trays were several pots each containing plants whose leaves were a vivid orange flecked with black spots. She distributed two pots per table.
"I insist on you to apply gentle pressure when pulling these plants from their pots. You absolutely do not want their bulbs to burst upon you." She sat the empty trays over to a corner.
Terry raised his hand all of a sudden.
"Yes, Mr. Boot?"
"Professor, what exactly do these plants do?"
"Ah, I'm glad you asked. These plants are known as Searing Pods. The fluid inside their bulbs is one ingredient used in Pepper-up Potions. Though the fluid itself will cause burns to manifest within seconds upon contact to skin or clothing and it can even burn through bone. So I suggest you place on your dragon hide gloves before beginning."
Terry looked sideways at the drooping leaves in his and Dillan's pot then he looked to Dillan, "You take it out."
Dillan gulped and slide his dragon hide gloves on his hands then firmly grasped the plant's leaves and slowly yanked it out of the potting soil. The bulb that emerged was thin and translucent. It swayed with the fluid inside it, which could clearly be seen as a charcoal black. He held it there, examining it closely.
Professor Sprout spoke again, "I am now passing each of you a miniature iron cauldron. Iron is the only material the Searing Pod fluid cannot burn through, due to the chemicals within the metal. Place the plant in it gently."
Once Professor Sprout handed Terry and Dillan their cauldron, Dillan placed the plant carefully into it. It wobbled like a water balloon.
The rest of that period consisted of bursting the bulb, which scolded in the cauldron, and diluting and diffusing it to study its properties.
After class, the Ravenclaw sixth years emerged gasping for fresh air for the air in the greenhouse was nothing but smoke. Chloe, Dillan, Terry, and Evan were walking back up to the castle when they noticed Hagrid out plowing his miniature garden.
They strode over, watching him. "Hi Hagrid," Chloe smiled.
Hagrid looked startled. He was really focused on what he was doing, "Oh, hullo Chloe," he said with a low, raspy voice. Hagrid looked very vicious being as large as he was. He did have a love for wrestling trolls when he was in school, but was expelled in his third year for crimes he never committed. Dillan had heard Harry Potter cleared all that up. Hagrid smiled, his shaggy beard covering much of his face, "How're yeh all doin'? Gettin' along all right?"
Terry nodded, "Yeah, we're doing great Hagrid," then his gaze fell to the upturned earth, "What're you planting Hagrid?"
Hagrid followed Terry's eyes, "Oh, that? It's nuthin' really. Just something fer my next Care of Magical Creatures class. That's all."
"You're planting creatures for your next class? But don't you have a class today? How are they going to be grown in time?" Dillan said.
"Er, well, these here are Red Petaled Viper Traps. They grow at a fast rate. Should be abou' the right size within an hour. 'Specially, since I'm peppin' them up with a little Magical Growing Solution." He winked one of his beetle black eyes.
Chole looked disappointed, "Hagrid, why are you having plants for your next class? It's Care of Magical Creatures not weeds."
"These here are considered creatures, Chole!" Hagrid boomed, "The Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures considers 'em ter be. Yeh'll see when yer class gets here."
Dillan looked crestfallen, "Aw, we don't have your class until Wednesday!"
Hagrid pulled a bag out of his pocket, "Don' yeh worry, I got plenty more seeds right here. Now run along, it's yer lunch time, isn' it?"
Terry said, "Yeah, okay. Bye Hagrid." Then they went to the castle to have lunch. By the end of the lunch, they were headed for Charms class with Professor Flitwick on the third floor.
Once they walked into the classroom, they noticed tiny Professor Flitwick behind his desk, propped up on a stack of books so he could see over the top. This class they had with Gryffindors. Hermione, Harry, and Ron were in the back of the room at their own table. Terry, Dillan, Evan, and Chloe spotted them and snagged a table beside them.
"Hey guys," Ron greeted.
Once everyone had entered, Professor Flitwick swished his wand and closed the door. "Good afternoon everyone and welcome to the first day of Charms," Flitwick squeaked. "For most of the beginning term we'll be learning about and performing charms and spells adapted for dueling since the Dueling Competition is for sixth years. First of all we'll start today with Disarming Spells which are simple enough to do. I need two volunteers, please."
Everyone shot his or her hands in the air eager to go, including Dillan. Flitwick pointed his wand at the volunteers he wanted to participate, "Miss Fundderugar if you please. And Mr. Potter." Harry strode to the front of the room along with a Ravenclaw girl Dillan had never spoken to. She was much taller than Harry, with shoulder length black hair.
Flitwick smiled at Harry, "You've mastered this spell with great achievement if I do recall," His face then became stern, "On three. . ."
They both raised their wands in the air.
"One. . . .two. . . . .THREE!"
"Expelliarmus!" they both shouted. After a millisecond flash of light, Harry's wand was knocked from his hands and soared into the air.
Flitwick snatched it with a quick said Summoning Charm, "Hm, Mr. Potter looks like you have an equal. You both make take a seat. Thank you," He said handing Harry's wand to him.
Harry's face was red as he sat back down. Dillan looked over to see Ron snickering.
"As you saw, the wizard or witch with the more focused mind can overpower the same spell as their opponent. One must always have determination," Flitwick announced. "This next charm I'm going to introduce to you is called the Pummeling Charm." He flicked his wand carelessly in the air, the closet door in the back of the room opening, and a coat rack floating out to stand beside Flitwick's desk. "I will perform on this as a demonstration."
He hopped from his stack of books, vanishing momentarily from sight then walked to the front of his desk facing the coat rack. People leaned over in their chairs to get a better view of him.
Rolling up his sleeves and pointing his wand at the rack he yelled, "Lancarium!" As if Hagrid had come over and punched it, the coat rack was thrust backwards and flew back into the closet where it came from.
Gasps overtook the class as Flitwick clambered back upon his perch of books behind his desk. "Now, would anyone like to volunteer to test this out?" Flitwick wondered.
Hands filled the air before the sentence was finished. Flitwick gestured with his wand once again, "Um, Mr. Starr come and try along with. . . .," his gaze wandered around the room, "Ah, Mr. Longbottom."
From over in a corner table, a small, round-faced boy walked to the front of the room. He looked as if he were shaking. Dillan walked to the front and faced the boy.
"All right, Neville?" Flitwick asked.
The boy nodded, "Y-yes Professor."
"Right then, on three. One . . ."
Dillan and Neville raised their wands.
"Two . . . THREE!"
"Lancarium!" Dillan shouted. Neville was pushed back, though only slightly, and fell on his rear.
"Very good. With more practice you will become better and will actually be able to thrust someone back." Flitwick said. Neville stood back up and he and Dillan walked back to their seats.
"Good work," Terry whispered.
Flitwick turned around upon his books and faced the blackboard with his wand pointed, "Take out some parchment so you can write down these five spells and page numbers then you can consult your 'Standard Book of Spells, Grade 6' and begin reading about them." He then began twisting his wand like a piece of chalk and words appeared on the board. Soon the bell rang and the class dismissed.
"Whoa, we have to read about the Hand-Twisting Curse," Terry began while his nose was pressed in his spell book as they walked, "And it says here that once you have placed the Hand-Twisting Curse upon someone, all you need to do is twirl your wand around and you can tie their hands in all sorts of ways. It says one wizard by the name of Rictor Gorvic used it to try and tie his shoelaces and ended up tying his own arms in a knot."
Dillan, Chloe, and Evan laughed. They entered the Ravenclaw Common Room, which was buzzing with people chatting all around, tossed their bags onto a table, and sat down.
"I wonder where Marshmallow is," Chloe scanned the common room floor trying to spot her little Diricawl. She then whistled sharply and the next moment a cloud of feathers burst onto the table and the sky blue bird appeared. "There you are!" Chloe scooped Marshmallow into her arms. "Come along now, its time to feed you. I'll talk to you guys later." Chloe grabbed her bag and strode up the stairs to the Girls' Dormitories.
"Well, I'm off to the library. I'm going to start researching these spells further," Evan stated, standing up with his bag over his shoulder.
"All right, Ev. Dillan and me have to get to the Quidditch field for tryouts in a while anyway. Bye," said Terry.
Evan walked out of the common room and Dillan could hear the statue of Merlin sliding back into place over the gritting of stone as Evan left.
"We better be off to the field, it does take a considerable amount of time to walk down to the field," Terry insisted.
"Okay," Dillan agreed and they both left the crowded common room and out of the castle. Terry then stopped at the foot of the castle steps.
"Oh no! I forgot my broom!" he took out his wand, "Accio Firebolt!" They waited a minute then out of an open window on the second floor a broom flew out then into Terry's hand, "Ok, we can go now." He grinned.
They walked a ways on the grounds down to the Quidditch field, which was, as they saw once they entered the gates, surrounded all around with bleachers. On each end of the field stood three fifty foot high goal posts with hoops on the ends. They were used to shoot the Quaffle through, a bright red ball, and score points. In the center of the field stood a few Ravenclaws, though not many as Dillan was expecting.
"Good for you to come. Are you the last?" a tall seventh year boy walked forth and asked. "I'm Roger Davies, the Ravenclaw team captain. Dillan scanned around seeing a few of the current Quidditch team members, including Cho Chang. Dillan smiled.
"All right, brought your own broom, have you, Terry?" Roger said, spotting Terry's Firebolt. "Excellent." He turned back around to the group, which looked to be no more than ten, "Grab a broom from that pile there and we'll begin."
Everybody walked to get a broom, including Dillan. When he took one he noticed the handle to be wonderfully smooth with gold letters glittering on it's handle reading 'Nimbus 2001'.
Roger went on, "I'll watch you one by one tryout and the current team and I will decide at the end. You," He pointed to a fourth year boy with light brown hair, "You're up first, Kyle."
Roger walked over to a large, wooden trunk, which was wobbling slightly. He unlocked it and Dillan peered, standing on his toes to see what was inside. Four balls were strapped down inside with leather straps, all straining, as it looked, to get free. Roger bent over and unstrapped the large red ball, which took off into the air.
"All right, Kyle, go ahead."
Kyle mounted his Nimbus 2001 and kicked off into the air. He swerved trying to snatch the Quaffle. Once he did, he flew swiftly around the goal posts tossing the Quaffle through and swooping down to catch it. He came back around and skidded to a halt.
"Stand over there," Roger pointed, "Amy you're next."
Amy did the same with the Quaffle. So did the next few people. Then it was Dillan's turn.
"Come on, Dillan is it? You're up."
Dillan kicked off with his broom taking flight. He felt carefree as he soared effortlessly in the air. Then he focused on the Quaffle, which was hovering in place above him. He threw his weight into the broom, flying up rapidly and grasping the Quaffle under him arm. Arching around back towards the goals, he remained at a high speed. As he neared the goal, he slowed his pace only a little then tossed the Quaffle up in the air. Roger and the other people looked at him with curiosity. As the ball floated back down, Dillan landed a good blow to it sending it spiraling through the loop of the goal post amazingly fast. He then flew around, catching the ball, and landed to the ground.
"Outstanding!" Roger exclaimed taking the Quaffle, "Terry you're next."
Terry smiled taking the ball and launching it in the now navy blue sky and then flew up after it. With astonishing speed, Terry caught the ball, zig zagged through the goal posts, and socked the ball through the loop. He landed and handed the ball back to Roger.
The remaining people had their tryouts and one guy fell off his broom before he made it 10 feet into the air. Dillan knew he was definitely not on the team.
"Now we'll decide who'll get which ranks." Roger then turned to the remaining three team members. They all nodded, muttering among themselves.
"Did I do good? Huh? Do you think so, Dill?" Terry asked energetically.
"Yeah, Terry, you were great!"
"Thanks mate. I hope I made it." Terry crossed his fingers.
Roger and the others finally turned around after minutes of discussion.
"Terry, you're the new Chaser," Roger informed.
"YES!" Terry roared with energy and excitement.
A hefty, fifth year boy named Chad made a Beater position.
"And . . . K . . Huh?" Cho Chang had shaken her head, then whispered in Roger's ear, "Oh, uh, Dillan you're the last Beater."
Dillan laughed with excitement, though not as wildly as Terry.
The ones who didn't make it went back to the castle sulkily. The new Ravenclaw Quidditch stayed in the field and practiced all the way into the night. By 10 o' clock they were ready to go in.
"That was great!" Terry said happily.
"Yeah, sure was. I am so sore," Dillan said, wiping his robes, which were now covered with mud- and grass-stains having been knocked from his broom a few times by a Bludger.
Making their way up the stone steps into the castle, and then ascending the marble staircase, Dillan and Terry made it into the common room. There were very few people still awake. Chloe and Even were sitting there waiting for them.
"Why'd you miss supper?" Chloe asked, petting a sleeping Marshmallow in her lap.
In all the excitement and Quidditch training, Dillan and Terry had forgotten to come back to the castle for supper, yet they obviously didn't seem hungry so neither of them complained.
Dillan shrugged, "We were training."
Chloe smiled, "You two made the team?!"
Terry nodded, "Yeah, I'm the new Chaser and Dillan's a new Beater."
"Beater? You're not built for it," Evan said flatly.
Dillan threw him a daring glance. "I don't have to be massively over weight before I can be a Beater, Evan. You ought to read more Quidditch books. Then you'd know even a very thin person could become an effective Beater."
Evan looked thunderstruck for a moment then his eyes drooped sleepily, "Well, I am tired so I'm off to bed." Then he went up to the dormitory.
"Me too," Chloe yawned, "See you in the morning, guys." She took Marshmallow and went to bed.
Terry and Dillan went up to their dormitory; two new boys were sitting on one of the previously empty beds, chatting. Dillan looked over to see Evan's curtains closed on his bed, obviously asleep from the loud snoring heard.
Terry said, "Hi, I'm Terry Boot. Who are you?"
"Hey, I'm Zane Quinton," said the spikey haired boy with very tan skin. He stood and shook Terry's hand. He was very tall.
The other one, a black boy with very short cut hair, stood up, "I'm Jermaine Thorne."
"I'm Dillan Starr," said Dillan, smiling. "Where were you guys last night?"
Zane said, "Oh, just exploring the castle, meeting new people."
"Cool. Well I'm off to bed. Buenas noches," Dillan said.
"Ok," Jermaine and Zane said together.
Dillan slid into his bed after changing into his pajamas and closed the curtains. He fell asleep almost instantly.
