CHAPTER SIXTEEN: THE TRY-OUTS
Buffy, Hermione and many others were standing on the Quidditch Pitch, broomsticks in hand as they milled nervously before they were called to try-out for the Gryffindor Team.
Harry and Ron were decked out in their Quidditch uniforms, trying to judge who the better fliers were. Harry had a clipboard in one hand as he watched from his viewpoint on his broom, as the people trying out tried to score goals against Ron. The first order of business was to find three new chasers.
Ginny Weasley, in the footsteps of all of her older siblings (with the obvious exception of Percy of course) had tried out for a Chaser position, and Buffy was fairly certain that Harry would give the position to the Fifth Year girl. She was a good flier, obviously having been taught to fly by one of her older brothers.
Due to the fact that they had five positions to fill, Harry had grouped the students into sixes so that they could have a mock game of three chasers against three chasers with Ron acting as Keeper, and again only using half the Pitch. They would hold try-outs for Beaters after deciding on their new Chasers.
Buffy was grouped with Hermione and Seamus, and the three of them were playing against Dean, Neville and a Seventh Year student Randall Price. When their group was called to take positions in the air, the six students mounted their brooms and ascended onto the playing field.
"Nervous?" Hermione asked shakily.
"Only in the sense that I think I'm gonna wet my pants. You?" Buffy replied.
"Ron really wasn't kidding when he told us to go before we came."
Buffy grinned and readjusted the grip on her broomstick. She'd borrowed Draco's broom for the try-outs after swearing that she wouldn't crash it. (Her slight accident had gone throughout Hogwarts when Ron had had conniptions when he'd heard about what had happened.)
Harry gave Buffy a reassuring smile, which she returned with a very nervous grin. Harry, acting as referee, threw the Quaffle into the air, and the moment it began its downward descent, play began.
Surprisingly, it was Neville who caught the ball first. Unfortunately for him, it was quickly taken from him by Seamus, who raced back to the halfway mark and then threw the Quaffle with precision to Buffy. She caught it easily, having been taught over the years who to catch a flying projectile. She hadn't been game enough to try catching a dagger aimed at her head, but she was fairly confident that she could still do it if her life depended on it.
Buffy weaved in and out of Neville, Randall and Dean, only barely managing to miss Dean's outstretched arm. She brought her broom level to the goal, faked left, confusing Ron completely and scored through the centre hoop. Ron caught it on the other side of the ring and threw it back into the mass of potential Chasers.
Randall caught it and manoeuvred his way back to the halfway point before passing to Dean. Dean swerved past Hermione and shot at the left goal, but Ron was faster, catching the Quaffle before Dean could score. The Keeper threw the Quaffle back to the Chasers.
Play continued for thirty minutes more, Buffy, Seamus and Hermione's team scoring another four goals, whilst Dean, Neville and Randall only scored two.
The four goals were one from Seamus, one from Hermione (though it was questionable considering Ron really wanted his girlfriend on the team) and two from Buffy as well as her one from earlier. On the other team it had been Randall who had scored both goals.
An hour and two groups later, Harry and Ron were busy conferring with each other over what they had just seen. They were out of earshot from the competitors, and their faces were giving nothing away.
They finally turned and walked back towards the group who had grown tired of standing, and had sat in the soft grass. They looked up at the Keeper and Seeker.
"Well, we just want to say thank you all for coming to try outs, and that-"
"Get on with it!" someone rudely interrupted the Captain.
Harry flushed and glared in the direction the comment had come from.
"Alright, fine. The three new Gryffindor Chasers are Ginny Weasley, Randall Price and Buffy Summers," he announced.
There was a burst of applause, whilst some others groaned in disappointment. Hermione gave Buffy a quick hug, and Buffy just grinned widely. She and Ginny shared excited looks, before everyone turned their attention back to Harry and Ron.
"As you know, we'll be sorting out who will be our two new Beaters in just a moment. We've narrowed down the field a little, and we've eliminated a few of you. So, if the people on this list would like to stand up: Seamus Finnigan, Dean Thomas, Dennis Creevey, Natalie McDonald, Andrew Kirk and Jack Sloper. The rest of you…we're sorry."
Most of the crowd dispersed, leaving only the six people on the list, as well as the three new Chasers and Hermione.
After another set of try-outs, the two new Beaters were announced. Seamus and Jack had been chosen, much to the others disappointment.
The Seven members of the Gryffindor Quidditch team (plus Hermione) made their way back up to the Castle, all of them talking excitedly about when their first practice would be. They would be fitted with uniforms the following weekend, and would began having practice as soon as the uniforms were done.
Ron stepped up beside Hermione and looked at her worriedly.
"You're not upset with me and Harry, are you?" Ron asked nervously.
Hermione looked at him curiously, her eyes conveying her complete confusion.
"Upset about what?" she asked.
"Y'know. About not placing you on the team," he clarified.
Hermione's eyes widened with sudden comprehension. She smiled and shook her head, stopping in place and tugging Ron's wrist to get him to stop as well. Harry and Buffy paused to see if they would be needed, but when they saw Hermione place her hand on Ron's cheek, they just grinned at each other and kept walking up towards Hogwarts.
"I'm not upset," she replied honestly. "Truly, I didn't even want to be on the team in the first place."
Ron sighed with relief, reading the sincerity in his girlfriend's eyes. He realised the intimate position they were in, and, deciding to keep the mood rather than back away in embarrassment, he ducked his head down to meet hers, his lips gently brushing Hermione's.
He brought a hand up to touch a lock of Hermione's hair, lovingly touching her face as he did so.
"I dunno what I'd do without you Hermione," he whispered softly.
She smiled up at him shyly, a faint blush rising on her cheeks. "Let's not find out."
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Awww…mush. *sniff* Many thanks for your reviews!!
Toodles.
K.