An hour and a half passed, with the field getting increasingly dark, before Oliver called a stop to practice.
"Ok. That'll do for tonight guys. We'll give these others a go now."
"Here we go," Lily said, as she stood. She looked up in surprise as Cat stood up too, and then shrugged before turning back to Ivy.
"You sure you don't want to come with?" she asked.
Ivy nodded, "Yeah"
"Ok then. They don't have co-ed showers here anyway, so…" Lily grinned, and ran down the steps after Cat, before Ivy could thump her.
By the time the two girls had reached the bottom of the stairs, the rest of the Gryffindors that were trying out, had already crowded around. Cat conjured herself a milk crate and stood on it, shouting out over the group, "Ok, everyone who's Sirius, come with me," She jumped down and started walking away, but turned back when she realised no one was following her.
"I knew it was too good to be true," she muttered as she went back to stand with Lily. Lily laughed, and was about to comment, when Oliver jumped up onto Cat's crate, and cleared his throat with a loud, "Ahem"
The nervous chattering stopped and everyone turned to the Quidditch captain. "Ok, as you know I'm trying to get seven people to train as reserves for the team this year, in case there are injuries or anything else. So let's get started. I want everyone in groups, according to what position they're trying out for. Ok, chasers over there with Katie, Ange, and Alicia. Seekers go with Harry. Beater with Fred and George and Keepers stay with me."
Lily immediately ran over to the twins, while Cat went back up to sit with Ivy.
"Wait, Cat aren't you trying out?" Lily called after her.
"Nope. Just looking for the Sirius ones," she called back over her shoulder.
Lily shrugged, and went over to flirt with George. Colin Creevey, the fifth year also came over, while Dawn and Eve Solara, twin girls, and Dennis Creevey, all fourth years, went over to the Chasers.
Raised voices made everyone turn and stare at the two redheads, obviously Weasley's, standing in the middle of the pitch, having a loud, animated, and undoubtedly spectacular row.
It was hardly rare for Ron and Ginny to be seen arguing, and it was apparent that this particular one was about Ron's dislike of Ginny trying out for the team.
"Ron, don't be stupid. Every Weasley has been on the Gryffindor Quidditch Team."
"Percy wasn't," Ron replied, mulishly.
Ginny frowned, "You know as well as I do, that Percy was always more interested in books. If we had to resort to blackmail, tricks, and magic, just to get him outside, could you imagine how impossible it would be to get him on a broomstick?"
"Yeah, but…"
"But Nothing!" she said, poking him in the chest, "Charlie, Seeker. Bill, Chaser. Fred and George, Beaters." She ticked them off on her fingers, "You're going to be a Keeper, so it's back to Seeker again. It's all good," She crossed her arms triumphantly.
"You just want to be with Harry," Ron said, instantly knowing he'd gone too far. Ginny went quiet and glared at him icily.
Sensing what could quickly turn into a blood bath, Harry and Hermione, stepped in. Both of them usually just stood back and let nature take its course.
Hermione leaned in and whispered in Ron's ear, making him turn from an angry pink, to a bright blushing red. He gaped at her in shock, while she just smiled smugly, pushed him towards Oliver, and walked back to the stands.
Harry put his hand on Ginny's shoulder, "Leave it, Gin," he told her quietly, "Its ok,"
"But Harry, he…" Before she could continue, Oliver cut her off.
"Well, it seems like we don't need tryouts after all. There are just enough players for a whole reserve team." He looked up at the darkened sky. "We wont worry about getting some lights up, so we'll come back tomorrow morning, 5am…" Everyone groaned. "Ok, so welcome to the team. You reserves can go, the rest of you hit the showers."
The trials and practice went on without a hitch, and classes followed smoothly afterwards. However, Lily, George, Ivy and Oliver were called out of the Great Hall directly after dinner, for their first night of detention. Professor McGonagall took down Ivy and Oliver to the kitchens, while Lily and George followed Hagrid outside to his hut.
"Tonigh' I wan' the two of you to get the things on this list. Professor Snape needs them." Hagrid handed a long piece of parchment to George. "Chuck 'em in these sacks, and uses these when your pickin' them," He gave them each a pair of Dragon Hide gloves, "I wan' you back at midnigh' and stay on the path," And with that, sent them into the Forbidden Forest.