Chapter 4 - The First Practise
The first lesson of the second year was absolutely hysterical. This year the Gryffindors had Charms with the Slytherins, and they were not happy about this in the slightest. Snape was especially annoyed. Lily had already embarrassed him twice in front of practically the whole school, and she was excellent in Charms. James was sure that Snape would not be impressed that this 'Mudblood' could do every charm better than him. In potions he had been happy, the teacher favoured him, he was the best in the class and he was free to make the Gryffindor's lives hell. Professor Flitwick, the tiny little charms teacher was a lovely little man, fair and clever with a sense of humour (and as rumour has it, an excellent dueller). He was, however, seemingly oblivious to a lot of the things that went on in his class, as well as being young and a lover of mischief. This made his class the best opportunity for getting some revenge on Snape.
James started as he meant to go on. He was really angry at Snape for doing whatever it was that had made Lily angry (it must have been bad, she was normally such a nice girl) so he decided to do something simple, but effective. He remembered a rather interesting charm his dad had taught him over the holidays, the hiccough charm. Since it was Charms class, he decided this would be quite ironic, and since charms was his worst subject (well except for maybe potions) no one would suspect him, would they? He took out his wand and pointed it under the table, muttering a few well- chosen words. He watched out of the corner of his eye, and for a while nothing happened. James began to get worried that it hadn't worked and was just about to try again when Snape hiccoughed loudly. The class turned to look at him. Sirius, Remus and Peter all looked accusingly at James who tried his best to look innocent. His dark eyes flashed with mischief though, as he looked at Snape too, trying to force his features into an innocently curious expression.
The result was better than he could have hoped for. Professor Flitwick gave him a glass of water and Sirius 'helpfully' offered to hold him upside down so he could drink it. Remus equally 'helpfully' snuck up behind Snape with a balloon and a pin and popped it in his ear, making Snape let out an especially large hiccough in shock. The class laughed hysterically at Sirius and Remus' antics, Snape had gone red, whether from embarrassment, anger or a lack of oxygen James couldn't be sure. It was probably something like a mixture of the three. Flitwick sent him off to the hospital wing, a look of concern evident on his tiny face. Only last year he'd had to send him to the young Madame Pomfrey because he couldn't stop jumping up and down, scratching himself. Even better than this was that Flitwick dismissed the class twenty minutes early because he was so flustered, and he wanted to go and speak to Professor Mechante as he was very worried.
"That was excellent J." Sirius looked at him admiringly, James tried not to look too pleased with himself, "Where did you learn that charm? Would you teach me it?" Trust Remus to want to know. He wanted to know everything. "My dad taught me it during the summer." Sirius now looked jealous. "My dad wouldn't dream of doing anything like that. Your dad is so cool. Dad won't teach me anything fun, only thing that he says is, erm, useful and..." His voice trailed off and James and Remus looked at him curiously. James didn't know that much about Sirius' parents, just that they were an old wizarding family.
James settled back into castle life very quickly. In the first month, Snape got green hair, burped slugs (revenge for Sirius' body bind) and got the blame for an explosion of shrinking solution in potions. He spent a night in the Forbidden Forest in a detention with Hagrid and Fang, and he returned looking very shaken. All of these little tricks had the result of putting James in an extremely good mood; it was great to see Snape finally getting what he deserved. Snape, however was looking even more murderous.
Soon, though, something happened to put James in an even better mood, and even distract him from his campaign against Snape. The Quidditch season had begun, and he was looking forward to his first practise with plenty of excitement, but also trepidation. He was secretly worried that he wouldn't fit in with the older pupils, or that he wouldn't be good enough. He didn't discuss this fear with anyone though. He thought it was a bit unfounded, and there was no sense in being scared of a situation he wasn't sure he would find himself in. He was also scared of losing face in front of his friends.
He needn't have worried at all, though. The other members of the team were very pleasant, and Harold Lider; the rather tall, and wide chaser and team captain was especially nice, and a very good captain. It turned out that the existing team always met before tryouts to discuss possible new members. This year the team would need a new chaser, beater and seeker. The new seeker seemed to be causing Lider a lot of problems; he looked quite desperate as he pleaded with the team for suggestions. James racked his brains to think of anyone he knew that might make a good seeker. His mind fell on Lily. He remembered the last Quidditch match of the season last year. He watched in his mind as Lily stretched out her hand and pointed to the tiny golden snitch, even though James could barely see it, even with his binoculars. She had incredible eyesight and a knack for spotting things other people didn't. He cleared his throat, he felt a little shy speaking up in front of the team, and after all he'd only been on the team for about ten minutes.
"Well, there's this girl in my year, I don't know how well she flies, but she could spot the snitch with her naked eye when I had difficulty with binoculars. I was, er, watching her during the match against Ravenclaw." Fortunately Lider seemed too preoccupied to notice the embarrassed flush sneaking up James throat and face. For some reason, he hadn't liked admitting he'd been watching her. Lider seemed fascinated by the possibility, however and started bombarding James with questions. James didn't know anything about Lily except that she had good eyesight and a horrible sister, was good and charms and was muggle born. This didn't seem to pacify Harold much, as he wanted to know what kind of broom she flew and whether she'd played Quidditch before. James told him several times that he didn't know, but Harold didn't seem to believe him. Obviously the idea that someone's life didn't revolve around Quidditch was new to him. In the end, James agreed to convince her to try out for the team so Harold could see her for himself.
It took a while for the conversation about prospective players to taper away. James was pleased to hear that Sirius was being seriously considered for the beaters position. He knew it was important to him. Finally though, they got into the air. James felt incredibly happy to be up there, he felt like he belonged, like this was what he was meant to do. His new broomstick was excellent; it steered easily and accelerated well. He was happy when he had the Quaffle in his hands, and it seemed the most natural thing in the world to throw it through the centre of the hoops. Lider was very satisfied with his team so far, and was wearing a huge grin. James was so happy that he didn't notice the pair of sparkling green eyes watching him from the back of the stands.
The first lesson of the second year was absolutely hysterical. This year the Gryffindors had Charms with the Slytherins, and they were not happy about this in the slightest. Snape was especially annoyed. Lily had already embarrassed him twice in front of practically the whole school, and she was excellent in Charms. James was sure that Snape would not be impressed that this 'Mudblood' could do every charm better than him. In potions he had been happy, the teacher favoured him, he was the best in the class and he was free to make the Gryffindor's lives hell. Professor Flitwick, the tiny little charms teacher was a lovely little man, fair and clever with a sense of humour (and as rumour has it, an excellent dueller). He was, however, seemingly oblivious to a lot of the things that went on in his class, as well as being young and a lover of mischief. This made his class the best opportunity for getting some revenge on Snape.
James started as he meant to go on. He was really angry at Snape for doing whatever it was that had made Lily angry (it must have been bad, she was normally such a nice girl) so he decided to do something simple, but effective. He remembered a rather interesting charm his dad had taught him over the holidays, the hiccough charm. Since it was Charms class, he decided this would be quite ironic, and since charms was his worst subject (well except for maybe potions) no one would suspect him, would they? He took out his wand and pointed it under the table, muttering a few well- chosen words. He watched out of the corner of his eye, and for a while nothing happened. James began to get worried that it hadn't worked and was just about to try again when Snape hiccoughed loudly. The class turned to look at him. Sirius, Remus and Peter all looked accusingly at James who tried his best to look innocent. His dark eyes flashed with mischief though, as he looked at Snape too, trying to force his features into an innocently curious expression.
The result was better than he could have hoped for. Professor Flitwick gave him a glass of water and Sirius 'helpfully' offered to hold him upside down so he could drink it. Remus equally 'helpfully' snuck up behind Snape with a balloon and a pin and popped it in his ear, making Snape let out an especially large hiccough in shock. The class laughed hysterically at Sirius and Remus' antics, Snape had gone red, whether from embarrassment, anger or a lack of oxygen James couldn't be sure. It was probably something like a mixture of the three. Flitwick sent him off to the hospital wing, a look of concern evident on his tiny face. Only last year he'd had to send him to the young Madame Pomfrey because he couldn't stop jumping up and down, scratching himself. Even better than this was that Flitwick dismissed the class twenty minutes early because he was so flustered, and he wanted to go and speak to Professor Mechante as he was very worried.
"That was excellent J." Sirius looked at him admiringly, James tried not to look too pleased with himself, "Where did you learn that charm? Would you teach me it?" Trust Remus to want to know. He wanted to know everything. "My dad taught me it during the summer." Sirius now looked jealous. "My dad wouldn't dream of doing anything like that. Your dad is so cool. Dad won't teach me anything fun, only thing that he says is, erm, useful and..." His voice trailed off and James and Remus looked at him curiously. James didn't know that much about Sirius' parents, just that they were an old wizarding family.
James settled back into castle life very quickly. In the first month, Snape got green hair, burped slugs (revenge for Sirius' body bind) and got the blame for an explosion of shrinking solution in potions. He spent a night in the Forbidden Forest in a detention with Hagrid and Fang, and he returned looking very shaken. All of these little tricks had the result of putting James in an extremely good mood; it was great to see Snape finally getting what he deserved. Snape, however was looking even more murderous.
Soon, though, something happened to put James in an even better mood, and even distract him from his campaign against Snape. The Quidditch season had begun, and he was looking forward to his first practise with plenty of excitement, but also trepidation. He was secretly worried that he wouldn't fit in with the older pupils, or that he wouldn't be good enough. He didn't discuss this fear with anyone though. He thought it was a bit unfounded, and there was no sense in being scared of a situation he wasn't sure he would find himself in. He was also scared of losing face in front of his friends.
He needn't have worried at all, though. The other members of the team were very pleasant, and Harold Lider; the rather tall, and wide chaser and team captain was especially nice, and a very good captain. It turned out that the existing team always met before tryouts to discuss possible new members. This year the team would need a new chaser, beater and seeker. The new seeker seemed to be causing Lider a lot of problems; he looked quite desperate as he pleaded with the team for suggestions. James racked his brains to think of anyone he knew that might make a good seeker. His mind fell on Lily. He remembered the last Quidditch match of the season last year. He watched in his mind as Lily stretched out her hand and pointed to the tiny golden snitch, even though James could barely see it, even with his binoculars. She had incredible eyesight and a knack for spotting things other people didn't. He cleared his throat, he felt a little shy speaking up in front of the team, and after all he'd only been on the team for about ten minutes.
"Well, there's this girl in my year, I don't know how well she flies, but she could spot the snitch with her naked eye when I had difficulty with binoculars. I was, er, watching her during the match against Ravenclaw." Fortunately Lider seemed too preoccupied to notice the embarrassed flush sneaking up James throat and face. For some reason, he hadn't liked admitting he'd been watching her. Lider seemed fascinated by the possibility, however and started bombarding James with questions. James didn't know anything about Lily except that she had good eyesight and a horrible sister, was good and charms and was muggle born. This didn't seem to pacify Harold much, as he wanted to know what kind of broom she flew and whether she'd played Quidditch before. James told him several times that he didn't know, but Harold didn't seem to believe him. Obviously the idea that someone's life didn't revolve around Quidditch was new to him. In the end, James agreed to convince her to try out for the team so Harold could see her for himself.
It took a while for the conversation about prospective players to taper away. James was pleased to hear that Sirius was being seriously considered for the beaters position. He knew it was important to him. Finally though, they got into the air. James felt incredibly happy to be up there, he felt like he belonged, like this was what he was meant to do. His new broomstick was excellent; it steered easily and accelerated well. He was happy when he had the Quaffle in his hands, and it seemed the most natural thing in the world to throw it through the centre of the hoops. Lider was very satisfied with his team so far, and was wearing a huge grin. James was so happy that he didn't notice the pair of sparkling green eyes watching him from the back of the stands.