I'm dreadfully sorry for that stupid boring, unexciting chapter, but you see… it's been a while since I've written in this, and I have no idea what is in store for our young students. All I know is I hope it gets better so that you can enjoy my story again. Well on with it, let's see what happens..
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Classes for the next two weeks were rather boring and dull. Professor Binns was being as boring as ever, Transfiguration… well McGonagall pretty much is strict with everyone. Potions was a nightmare to everyone excluding the Slytherins. Charms and DADA were alright. They were starting with their practical lessons again so it was getting fun. Herbology… well no one really paid attention in Herbology because who wants to know about plants? "It's good to know just in case you run into poison or something" was what Lily would say… typical Lily Evans to point out something like that to such an unlikable class, but the students tolerated it.
James strolled down into the common room one fine afternoon after lunch and saw a sheet of parchment nailed to the Gryffindor bulletin board. The sign read:
Attention all 2nd years and above,
Try-outs for the house quidditch team will begin today after classes between 4:30 and 6:00 pm. If you are interested in being a chaser, then you must come and try out as we are looking for a whole new set of chasers. You may also try out for other positions as well. Remember to come by with a broom in your hand, and your mind set on quidditch and QUIDDITCH ONLY!
Paul Wood – Gryffindor Quidditch Captain
James saw this sign and felt a jolt of joy inside of himself. He ran off back into his room to tell the others.
"Guys, guys… quidditch tryouts are today!!!"
Sirius dropped all of his belongings. "Are you serious?!?!"
"No you are…. wait .. wait.. we're not gonna get started with this again. Yes I'm serious!"
"Ehhhh.. wrong answer try again later!! I'm Sirius dummy. James, I thought you were my best friend, and you still don't' know who is who among us lot?"
"Shut up, Sirius. Are you two going to try out?" James said pointing to Remus and Sirius.
They nodded their heads in agreement. "It's one of the very things we've been waiting for, James." said Remus.
"Good. Let's all go down there together. Now that we are allowed to bring brooms, we can finally bring home that bloody Quidditch Cup away from those Slytherin slimeballs."
"Let's not forget… Ravenclaw's team is pretty good too. They have that one chaser, what's his name… Diggory I think?"
"Let's not worry about him.. let's just make the team first. I'm not playing with anyone else except you two guys. They're looking for all three chasers!"
"That's great! Maybe we'll get to play together after all." said Remus.
"Is Jade going to try out for beater, Sirius?" asked James.
"How should I know?"
"Well, you are pretty close with her aren't you… always looking at her and everything."
"Correction James, Sirius looks at every girl."
"Yeah!!! See… and those kinds of questions you should be asking your wife, James."
"I hope you're not talking about…"
"Miss Lily Evans, the top of our class in studies, arguably one of the most beautiful women in the school.. and your future betrothed one."
"Oh shut up Sirius. Evans is nothing but a goody two-shoes teacher's pet that is always trying to be perfect."
"Sure, James. Remember.. you were the one that was willing to help her out after that Gryffindor scandal last year. Not many people would do that for a "goody two shoes teacher's pet'." mentioned Remus.
James pouted. "I still hate her."
Sirius and Remus groaned as Peter walked into the room.
"Hey Pete!!! Are you going to be that announcer person for the quidditch matches?"
"Sure if you still want me to. It'd be pretty fun, I'd say."
"Good! Then practice this… ' Potter, passes to Black, drops it to Remus.. .fakes.. scores!!" said Remus.
"Hey why do you have to score? Why can't it be me?" said Sirius.
"Because… it was my announcement."
The boys then continued arguing who would be the one to score the point while Peter just sat there in amusement.
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Lily was in the library researching something for her Herbology essay due the next week. She wanted to get it over with so that she had nothing to do over the weekend. As she was studying, she saw someone walk in and immediately scowled. Severus Snape walked in and was searching for a place to sit down. Unfortunately for Lily, the place was packed with many students, and the only available seats were on her table. She saw Snape slowly walking towards her table.
"Finally, a Gryiffindor who cares more about their studies than some stupid pranks."
"What do you want, Snape."
"Nothing, I'm just here to finish my bloody Herbology assignment. That Sprout is giving us plenty of work this here."
"Well, that's funny… I'm working on it too."
"Listen, Evans… I must say, I truly do apologize for my behavior last year. You know who eleven year olds can be."
"Snape, you're only a year older.. it's not that much a difference."
"I know, but I still apologize for my actions."
"Why the sudden… niceness or whatever." said Lily with a little more softer tone.
"I just figured that not all Gryffindors can be all stupid and big headed and nosy and irritating like.."
"Potter?" said Lily.
"Yes… like that prat. I hate him with a passion you wouldn't even believe. I swear if I ever get my hands on him I will make sure that his face gets rearranged."
Lily looked at him with a doubtful look. Seeing as Snape was shorter and not as toned as James was, she couldn't imagine Snape beating him into a pulp. Still, it was kind of relaxing hearing someone else who hates James as well.
"Umm.. I hate him too." she said.
"Yes, I've noticed… especially with that prank you and your minions pulled last year."
Lily laughed a lil. "Yeah… so uh.. you need help with your essay? I'm almost finished and I have nothing else to do. See most of my friends are either at the Quidditch Tryouts or off wandering around aimlessly about the castle." said Lily. This surprised her. In fact, everything surprised her. Snape was actually not as bad as she thought. His appearance may seem evil, but there was a certain aura saying that he was actually quite alright.
Snape was feeling the same as Lily was. He would have never thought that she would offer her help to him. He could take care of himself, and he was sure that she would hate him thanks to their scandal, but he was just speechless by her polite gesture. All he could manage to spit out was…
"Sure."
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Paul Wood stepped forward to begin the tryouts for the team.
"Alright, everyone. Thanks for coming out. As you could tell by last year, our quidditch team was not very successful. Still, we have managed to be very competitive to all teams. Still, it's as if we need a little bit more edge than just plain competitiveness. And due to the seventh years graduating last year, we are in need of new players. So I'm going to split you into three groups. The chasers will be with me, the beaters will be with Ludo Bagman, and the seekers will be up higher into the air playing with Brian Krum over there. Please try your best. Alright, everyone split up!!"
The people that were trying out all set out to their spots. James, Sirius, and Remus all went with Paul. The lone Marauder, Peter, just watched on the stands practicing his announcements as he was watching the players fly around the pitch.
"Ok, so you three… ah yes… James Potter, Sirius Black, and Remus Lupin. You are the Marauders."
"Correction! We're three-fourths of the Marauders." piped in James as Sirius and Remus nodded in agreement.
"Whatever. By your reputations, you three are good at pranks, but let's see how good you are with this." said Wood as he pulled out the quaffle.
"Well, that's what we're here for!" said Sirius.
Wood just chuckled and tossed James the ball. "Ok.. since I am the keeper… you three have three shots each to try and score on me. Let's see what you puny little second years got." Wood expected these little second years to be unimpressive.
Well, he got what was coming to him… because James Potter was charging at him full speed.
James flew like a pro down towards the three posts. As he was flying, he noticed that Wood was leaning to his left, cheating a little. So he sped up left and faked a shot towards the left, causing Wood to bite and go left… James then swerved right and put it right in the center hoop.
Wood was astonished. It was very rare for a single chaser to score on a keeper at the center hoop. That was the center hoop after all… if anything, it was quite embarrassing being scored on like that. Lucky shot… he thought.
Well, James picked up the quaffle and sped down again. Seeing as Wood was sitting straight and stiff, he knew he could easily score on the right and left, but no… he wanted to impress Wood. He aimed straight for the center hoop bar, and shot the quaffle. The quaffle then bounced off the hoop and straight through it.
Once again, Wood was determined to stop the next one as James came flying down again. He was ready for everything. He saw James go left, but blocked the left and center. James then swerved right and Wood followed him. James tried to fake him, but Wood was not fooled this time, James was about to run into him and Wood closed his eyes……..
and opened them again to see James pass the quaffle to Sirius.
Wood was just sitting there with a confused look on his face. Nearby, he saw Ludo Bagman and the beaters that were trying out all looking in his direction with their jaws dropped open.
James flew up to Wood. "What's wrong, captain?" said James. "You look a little dazed there."
"Uhh… what happened Potter?"
Just then Ludo Bagman came up towards him. "Did you see that move?!?!?! Oh my goodness never in my life have I seen someone as young as you pull that off."
"What did he do Ludie?" asked Wood in frustration.
"Well, as he was about to crash into you, he somehow spun around while still swerving.. in fact he was literally drifting, and he whipped the quaffle around his head right through the center hoop!"
"Lucky shot, I guess.. " Said James while Wood cast a look at him.
"Wow… well uh… I guess just wait on the side then for the others to finish."
"Sure thing, cap ole pal!" said James. "HEY SIRIUS!! IT'S YOUR TURN!"
Sirius then came speeding down the pitch. Wood was determined. He was not going to let another quaffle in for the rest of the tryout…………………….
"Thanks for coming out… all of you." said Wood with a pout on his face. "I'll be sure to post the teams up by next month at the latest. Our first game is against Slytherin on the week of Halloween. You may go now."
He then met with Ludo Bagman and Brian Krum in the stands to discuss the try-out.
"Well, boys… how did your tryouts go?"
Bagman spoke up first. "Well, we needed a Beater with precise aim, and not afraid to get down and dirty. So at first I was watching Dennis Graham.. as he was the biggest… but as the try-outs were getting underway I saw that a girl named Chapman… Jade Chapman was remarkably accurate with the bludger. She could hit a fly if you asked her to really…
"But I don't' think she'd stand up to the Slytherins."
"I don't know… I admit she is pretty damn good. What about you, Krum-Krum?
"Well, I made my decision that Arthur Weasley should be the secondary seeker."
"Weasley?!?! But his broom…."
"It's not the speed and size of the broom that matters… it's the heart of the player that rides it Wood.. you know that." said Krum.
"Well yes… well as for chasers…."
"Longshot… Potter, Black and Lupin." said Bagman.
"I say, the others weren't so bad though!"
"Yes, but it was those three that managed to score on you every time they got a chance."
"I had a bad day."
"Did I mention they always scored on the center hoop?"
"Oh shut up…. fine fine."
They continued their discussion for what seemed like hours, mainly on the many moves that the three soon-to-be chasers pulled on Wood, while he was scowling and nodding in agreement.
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Lily went back up to the dorms from the library. She was still in surprise at what she did. She actually asked Snape for help. Well, it was a friendly gesture, and she was a very friendly person. It made sense. She walked into the common room to find Carly and Penny sitting down.
"Hey guys.. what's up?" said Lily sitting down on her favorite chair.
"Nothing… just being bored. Everyone's at the tryouts mostly." said Carly.
"Yeah.. even Jade… geez can you believe that girl?" said Penny.
"Well, Jade is pretty unpredictable… " laughed Lily. She remembered clearly the many lectures of quidditch Jade gave her whenever Lily asked about it.
"Well, what should we do in the meantime?" said Carly.
"I don't know." Lily said and they remained silent for about a minute or so.
"Where were you anyway?" said Carly breaking the silence.
"Oh, just in the library, studying."
"Typical Lily, always studying."
"Oh shut up, I don't' ALWAYS study."
"Uhhh… yes you do."
"Well, I like to have fun too."
"Really… well when's the last time you went on an adventure." said Penny.
"Umm… ummm…"
"Exactly." chorused the other two girls while Lily pouted.
"Well fine then… you know what? Let's go then."
"Where?" said Penny. She didn't know Lily was actually going to actually give in to it. Carly's eyes were open with surprise as well.
"Anywhere… you want adventure… let's go roam around."
"You mean like… like how the Marauders do it?"
"Yes!! Except we'll do it by not breaking the rules, since it's not even dinner yet."
"Whatever you say.. one thing though Lily."
"What's that Penny?"
"Why do you wanna be like James when you can just be WITH him?!?"
With this Lily started chasing after Penny out of the portrait hole with Carly giggling and following them.
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Well, I think this chapter was a loooooooot better than the previous one haha. Looks like I'm back in the game! For now anyway… I always have something come up and well… I really like this story so yeah I'll try and be more faithful to it from now on. Alright take it easy. Til the next update!