Chapter 11
The
following day was a Saturday, and Buffy rose early, exulting in the feeling
that everything that had been pressing on her mind was finally loosening its
grip a little. Quidditch trials were that day she realised with a jolt, and
began to feel nervous. She pulled on her robes before the others awoke, and
went down to the common room. It was deserted and so she left and went to her
training room. After an hours pounding on the punch bag, she felt slightly less
nervous and went down to breakfast.
"Morning," she greeted the others as she
sat down and helped herself to toast.
"Morning," Ron mumbled through a
mouthful of his won toast. "You nervous?" Buffy grinned.
"A little." She answered. "Took it out
on my punch bag." They finished quickly, and then headed down to the Quidditch
pitch, where they were met by a large group of eager Gryffindors. Hermione
noted their names in her notebook and then took her place in the stands, where
she was going to take notes for Harry to refer to later. They rose into the
air, Buffy gripping her school broom nervously with white knuckles. They flew
in formation first of all; all in a line after Harry, to warm up, but soon
arranged themselves in a game. Buffy was playing chaser at first which was the
position she wanted, but she also played beater for a while. After a hard
practice, Buffy, Ron and Katie, along with Hermione and her notes, retired to a
corner of the common room where they discussed who had performed well enough to
merit a place on the team.
Buffy in the meantime headed up to her training room. She, unlike the others,
did not get homework, so she had nothing to do. She planned to work out for an
hour or so, still exhilarated from her flying, but when she arrived she found a
letter waiting for her. Eagerly she tore it open.
Dear Buffy,
I can't deny that I'm glad to hear from you, I was very worried, and I am glad to know that you are doing well. I don't want to talk too much through letters; Mr Giles has informed me that you are coming to Sunnydale next weekend, so I look forward to seeing you then
Love,
Mom
Buffy frowned as she re read the letter. She wasn't quite happy with the tone her mother had taken, as if there was still something she was blaming her for. Buffy bit her lip anxiously; she so badly wanted to be on good terms with her mom, despite the secret she had kept from her. For the next hour, Buffy took out this frustration on her punch bag.
The next morning, Buffy awoke early, desperate to see the Quidditch team members list. The night before, she had bugged Hermione profusely, but Hermione kept quiet, insisting that 'it wasn't fair to the others.' Buffy pulled on her school robes, quietly so as not to wake the others and ran downstairs. She approached the notice board apprehensively, glad that only a few others were up, and scanned the list. It read:
Harry Potter (captain)…….Seeker
Ron Weasley…….Keeper
Katie Bell…….Chaser
Ginny Weasley…….Chaser
Buffy Summers…….Chaser
Jack Sloper…….Beater
Seamus Finnigan……Beater
Andrew Kirke……reserve Beater
Dean Thomas……reserve Chaser
Lavender Thomas……reserve Chaser
The entire team is expected for practices. Thanks to everyone who tried out.
Buffy squealed with delight, making the few people who were up jump.
"I made it!" she chanted quietly to herself. Hermione came down the stairs and saw Buffy. She grinned broadly.
"Well
done!" she exclaimed. "I wanted to tell you but I couldn't, Harry forbade me.
Buffy hugged her, which surprised Hermione, but she joined in her jubilations with
delight. One by one, the new members of the team came down and congratulated
one another on their success. Ginny, Katie and Buffy made plans to have extra
practices so they could work better as a team.
After the excitement of getting a place on the Quidditch team, a fact that
earned her more popularity Buffy noticed, the week passed painfully slowly for
Buffy. The weekend loomed and thinking about the return to Sunnydale made Buffy
feel a million different feelings, both of joy and sadness and fear. But
finally Saturday morning, seven o clock came and Buffy nervously gathered up
some clothes in her duffel bag, a mixture of robes and muggle clothes, for her
stay in Sunnydale. She packed her wand too, and put a stake in her pocket. She
met Harry, Ron and Hermione in the common room, they had got up early
specially, and, after saying their goodbyes, Buffy cast Harry an uneasy smile
and they left to go to Dumbledore's office, Harry carrying a bag also.
Dumbledore was waiting for them when they arrived, a pink hat on his desk. Buffy stared at it bemusedly, and Dumbledore smiled.
"It is a portkey," he explained. "It will take
us to Sunnydale almost instantaneously. Just make sure you are touching a part
of it." Buffy obligingly took hold of the hat along with Dumbledore and Harry.
Almost instantaneously, she felt a jerk from behind her navel, and her feet
lifted off of the floor, the office disappearing in a whirl of colour. It felt
like a long time, though in actuality it was only about three minutes, before
Buffy, Harry and Dumbledore hit the pavement in an alleyway. Buffy and Harry
fell over, Dumbledore only just managing to stay upright having had more
portkey experience. Buffy climbed up, careful not to step on Harry, who was
also clambering up, marvelling at the night sky as it was 11 o clock at night
in Sunnydale, and was immediately knocked off of her feet. She looked up dazed
and saw a man, about mid-twenties standing above her.
"God, I've missed you guys," Buffy said
cheerfully as she hopped up. The vampire had lunged for Harry who jumped back
instinctively, but Buffy caught its arm, turned in and punched it hard. It hit
the fence at the back of the alley, and Buffy ran forward pulling out her
stake. It kicked, but Buffy blocked it, punched it again, and then staked it in
quick succession. She sighed and put away her stake, dusting off her hands.
"Welcome to Sunnydale," she announced.
