AN: If you haven't figured it out, I don't own Harry Potter or anything in it, this is a complete work of fiction. I had some fun with this chapter because I love Quidditch, and I hope you guys enjoy reading this chapter as much as I did writing it. R&R. Cheers.
Chapter 4: Quidditch Tryouts
"I'm so glad that it's Saturday and I no longer have to worry about that bogus Yarrow paper. Now I can focus on Quidditch and product testing. We've been falling behind, mate." George and Fred turned into the Great Hall for breakfast.
"I know, bro, I'm getting worried about it too. I mean its been, what, a week or so since we pulled our last stunt, and someone else has been pulling'em and we haven't done anything to find out who it is or try to top'em? You don't suppose we're maturing do you?" Fred was actually genuinely concerned.
"Nah, mate, we're Weasley men, we never fully mature."
"What about Percy?" Fred looked at his brother.
"He's got mum's genes in that department. Ah, decisions, decisions. Ygraine sitting by her beautiful self over here, and Harry, team captain, sitting over there, and today being Quidditch tryouts. Who to sit with?" George started his eany-meany-miny-moes with his finger. Fred hit his hand down as both Harry and Ygraine looked over at him.
"I'm pretty much guaranteed the spot on the team, I think I'll go work my charm with Ygraine instead." George proceeded to walk over to Ygraine who was eating a bowl of porridge with milk and brown sugar.
"Morning George. You're up early. I pictured you being the sleeping-in kind." George took his seat across from her.
"I normally am, but it's Quidditch tryouts today, so I got up early to get some food into my system. How 'bout you, are you normally up this early?" George filled his mug with tea and drank it back.
"Yeah, I pretty much wake up early everyday. Do homework in the morning so I have the rest of the day to do things. But this morning I got up for the same reason as you. I'm trying out for the Quidditch team." She smiled across at him.
"Really? You play? What position are you going for? Chaser?"
"Beater, actually. I've always enjoyed that position, so I figured I'd try out for it." George was taken back. This girl sitting across from him wanted to be one of the Gryffindor Beaters, but Fred and himself pretty much had the positions in the bag; he didn't want to be the reason she didn't make the team.
"You sure you want to got for Beater? I mean, it's a pretty dangerous position. Wouldn't you rather be a Chaser? Bask in all the glory from scoring all the points?"
Ygraine just looked at him. "Nah, I think I'll try my luck with Beater, thanks for your concern though. I'll see you at the pitch; I'm going for a jog before tryouts to get rid of my nerves. Cheers." She got up and walked out of the Hall. George went to join his brother and Harry.
"She's trying for Beater!" He flopped down into his seat, filling his cup up with more tea. "I tried to convince her to go for Chaser, but she said she'll try her luck with Beater. She's gonna end up hurting herself and then I'll feel bad." George grabbed a scone, spread some strawberry jam on it and shoved it in his mouth.
"I'm sure everything will be fine." Harry almost laughed at his friend who had just smeared jam on his face.
"What, are you sure you're not afraid she'll be better than you?" Fred poked his twin.
"No. I'm scared she'll be better than your slow ass!" George replied and poked him back. Next thing Harry saw was a mess of Weasley boys scraping on the floor.
"Boys!" McGonagall came walking down the Hall. "Don't go getting yourself hurt or in detention before the tryouts. Harry, you have the pitch from 10am until 2 pm, then the Slytherins have it. Good luck boys, and try not to fight so much, you're adults now, you should be setting a better example. Good day." And she headed out of the Hall.
Ron could be heard laughing as he walked up to them, Hermione at his side. "Yes, you should set a better example," Ron said in his best McGonagall voice. "Mmm, bacon." And he sat down.
"Morning, boys. All ready for tryouts today?" Hermione helped herself to a cup of coffee. "Harry, are you nervous about your first day as team Captain?
"Not so nervous now that I'm awake. I am however worried about having these two on my team." Harry pointed at the twins with his thumb.
"I thought Ygraine was trying out for Beater?" Ron asked.
"You knew?" asked George.
"Yeah. Contrary to popular belief, I do talk to girls other than Hermione." His cheeks flushed as he looked at Hermione. "So how are you so sure that they'll both be on the team?" Ron scooped some scrambled eggs onto his plate.
"How thoughtful of you, Ron." Hermione squeezed his arm. He smiled back, blushed and shoveled some bacon into his mouth.
"Because we're bloody pros at the sport. We made the team our second year, and it took Ron until his fifth. That's why he's so sure we'll make the team." said the twins.
Harry looked at them, a smirk spreading across his face. "Okay, I'll rephrase my sentence. I'm worried about the possibility of having these two on my team." Both of the twins could be heard groaning.
"Much better. Where's Ginny anyways? Shouldn't she be up?" Ron looked around for his sister.
"Oh, she already ate with Seamus earlier this morning. She was up at sometime around six. I saw her and Seamus leaving the common room." Hermione said spreading some honey on her toast.
"With Seamus?"
"Oh, Harry, don't be jealous. She was going to help him with some moves on being a Chaser. He's trying out today as well. I don't think you have anything to worry about."
"I'm not worried… I was just… wondering what she was doing up so early, that's all. Seamus is never up that early, so I could only wonder what he was up to too." Harry looked down at his hands.
"Whatever, Harry. It's obvious you like our little sister." Everyone turned to look at Harry.
"No I don't. I mean - I like her, but I don't like her like that. I just don't think she should be with Seamus." They all rolled their eyes at him. "Mione, you coming to watch tryouts?" Harry asked, changing the subject the only way he knew how.
"Yeah, I think I'll come out, but I'm going to bring my books if that's okay with you guys?" She took a sip of her coffee.
"No problem." Ron said back.
* * *
It was a warm sunny morning. The sky was almost clear with only a few clouds scattered throughout. The Quidditch pitch was perfectly groomed, the grass had been trimmed, and the sand was raked. Ygraine stepped onto the field and breathed in the smell. "Mmm… I'm home." She said to the air and began to do laps around the field. She could fell her heart racing, the heat from the flush on her cheeks and the crunch of the grass as her feet passed over it. Wherever she had traveled, Quidditch fields would always take her home.
After a few laps she grabbed her broom and brought it with her to the centre of the field where she laid down in the grass to look up at the sky. There was not a worry in the world; she was free out there. She closed her eyes and soaked in the sun.
"You won't get much of a workout lying on the grass Ygraine." She opened her eyes and smiled up at George who was looking down at her. "I see you have a Golden Falcon. Nice broom. Need help getting up?" He offered his hand and helped her up off the grass.
"Thanks, George. You ready for tryouts? Harry and Ron here yet?" Ygraine looked around the field that had slowly started to fill with Gryffindor students; the bleachers also had some students sitting in them, talking amongst themselves.
"Sure am, and the boys are just over there. You still sure you want to try for the Beater position?" They both walked towards Harry who was talking to some younger students. "Yup, still wanting to try for Beater. I'm pretty sure I can handle my own, thanks." She smiled at him and ran ahead to go talk with Ron and Harry. "Morning guys… When do we start?"
The boys looked over, Harry patted her on the back. "So, you want to try for Beater, eh? Pretty daring woman if you ask me." The three of them went to go join Ginny and Seamus in the field.
"That girl will not give up." George said to Fred, he just rolled his eyes at him. "Don't worry mate, I'm sure she'll understand. Who knows, maybe she actually knows how to play."
"Okay everyone, gather round." Harry called out to the students, there looked to be about ten of whom were actually trying for the team. "Now, before we start, for those of you who do not know who I am, I'm Harry Potter, team captain. Today we will need to fill four positions, two Chasers and two Beaters. If you do not make the team I will still keep your name because accidents do happen and I will still need a scrimmage team for practices. First I will introduce you to the other players. This guy to my left is Ron Weasley, our Keeper, and to my right is his sister Ginny who is one of the Chasers.
"I expect you all already know how to play Quidditch, if not, I can tell you now, you will not make the team, but I will gladly teach you at a later date."
The twins looked over at Ygraine, she still stood there, holding her broom proudly, her smile gleaming through the sun shinning in her face.
"Now, I'll ask all those trying for Chaser to stand to my right and those for Beater to my left." Ygraine, Fred and George moved to the left as all the other students went to the other side, except for one small first year, who took one look at the three of them standing tall, and decided to try his luck with the Chasers.. Ygraine smiled at the twins as they stood on either side of her.
"To start, if you all look up you'll notice that there is an obstacle course. This is to determine how well you handle yourself on your broom, as well as your speed. You will be timed, so try and do your best. If you will all follow me to the opposite side of the field. Ginny, Ron, you'll be at the other end timing." Harry mounted his broom.
Everyone followed. Fred and George were amazed at how graceful Ygraine was taking off. George also took note of how sexy she looked mounting her broom and winked at his brother who just shook his head at him.
Ginny and Ron headed to the other side. "Hey Ron, there's Hermione." Ginny waved at Hermione who had taken a seat up high in the bleachers all by herself, her books pilled up high beside her.
"Hey Mione!" Ron yelled out to her as he just missed hitting one of the marker flags for the obstacle course. He immediately turned red as he saw Hermione cover her mouth, forcing herself not to laugh out loud. He joined his sister, at the goal posts, who was laughing hysterically.
The time trials went by smoothly with only a few hits and bumps from some of the students. Harry was surprised to see that Ygraine was one of the fastest ones out there, and didn't want to tell the twins that she had beaten both of their times, but knew that he could trust their two siblings to rub it in for him.
He has the students trying for Chaser practice some give and goes down the pitch and allowed the three Beaters a break, because he didn't want to take the Bludgers out until the Chasers were out of the air.
Once the Chasers were out the air and back on the ground Harry had them set up fake goal posts on the ground to practice their aim. The goal posts had been fixed so that they would keep track of how many Quaffles had made it into the individuals hoop. Harry took the three Beaters up into the air.
"Kay guys, I really hate to do this but each of you will take a turn on the field. I'll release the two Bludgers, and you'll have to protect and hit the flying dummies that I've set up. The reds you protect and the green ones you hit. I'll be testing you on your speed, accuracy, skill and how well you protect the red dummies." The three of them looked around and saw a bunch of potatoes sacks tied to broom sticks that were flying around. They all laughed at Harry's homemade dummies.
"Better stop laughing at my dummies or you all wont make the team! Fred, you can go first, then George, then Ygraine you can go last."
"Good Luck guys." Ygraine said to both of the twins, smiling but not mocking them.
Harry released the Bludgers, and Fred took off to protect the potato sacks, as the three others moved to the side. He hit a majority of the fake Slytherins, and only allowed one red sack to be hit. George had done just about the same but had let the Bludger hit two red sacks.
"Phewf – that was tiring eh Fred? Good luck Ygraine. We may have made it look easy, but it really isn't." He smiled at her, and then they all watched as she took off. She moved swiftly and gracefully between the dummies, hitting two Slytherins with one whack of a Bludger. Her dives for Bludgers and hitting them on target as she moved downwards was shocking to the three guys. Even Ron and Ginny who were down on the ground were watching as Ygraine bolted from one end of the field to the other to deflect her own shot. She was an amazing Beater. Harry looked at the twins and began to worry. Ygraine had returned from the trial protecting all of the red sacks and almost destroying all of the green ones.
"Wow." Is all the twins could say ash she came back, the sweat on her face making the few loose strands of hair from her ponytail stick, her huge smile was also glowing through.
"What a rush!" Ygraine twirled her broom upside down and flew around for a few seconds dangling beneath her broom before she brought herself up right again.
"Okay, you guys can take a break. I'm going to go check on the Chasers." Harry took off for the ground. Fuck, she's really good, was all that Harry could think about as he landed.
* * *
It was one o'clock and Hermione had about seen enough of Quidditch practice, and was glad to notice that there was only an hour left of it.
"I guess Potter has found his secret weapon after all." Draco came and sat himself beside Hermione and looked at all of her books. "You just can't escape the library for one afternoon, can you?" Hermione looked over at him in amazement.
"What do you mean Harry has finally found his secret weapon?." Hermione asked studying Draco's profile as he looked out towards the Quidditch pitch. She noticed how his profile was perfectly shaped, and that his left ear had a piercing at the top of it, a silver band with a Celtic knot on it rounded the rim of his ear, his blond waves passing behind it. Hermione watched his lips as he responded; he did not take his eyes off of Ygraine as he spoke.
"Ygraine Marcum, daughter of Hilary Marcum, most valuable player in 1978 and '79 for British Quidditch. Played Beater for the Oldham Miners from 1971 until 1979 when she found out she was pregnant with, guess who? I often wonder why no one has figured it out yet. She's a pureblood, father was a Slytherin, mother was a Ravenclaw. I'm surprised it took them so long to get their daughter enrolled here. They haven't really been heard of much since Hilary left the Miners, they've been seen all over the world though."
Hermione was shocked at how much Draco knew, and she shook her head to make herself stop looking at him. "Malfoy, man of mystery – do you know everything about everyone or should I inform Ygraine that she has herself a stalker?" Hermione let a little giggle escape.
"I see you've removed a few pages from the book up your ass." He looked her in the eyes and she could have sworn that he was smiling at her.
"I suppose I should head down to the locker rooms, see what kind of losers I have trying out for my team. Mind you, Slytherin will take the cup this year even if Potter does have Marcum on his team." Draco got up and started to walk away.
"Why did you come up here in the first place?" Hermione asked before she could stop herself. Draco turned around and looked at her.
"Wouldn't you like to know." His grey eyes laughed at her as a smirk spread across his face and he was gone. Hermione just picked up one of her books and tried to read away the thoughts that were going through her head.
* * *
"What was he doing over there?" Ron asked as he huffed across the field towards Harry. "He can't be up to any good. Why's he talking to our Hermione?" Ron kicked some of the sand in front of him. Harry could only look at his best friend and shrug his shoulders.
"He's Head-boy, she's Head-girl. I'm sure it's just some Head-Student thing." Harry honestly had no idea what to say to Ron who wasn't really worried why Draco had been visiting Hermione; he was jealous, but Harry was not about to bring that subject up again. Harry had different worries on his mind. He already knew who his new Chasers were going to be, but he had yet to figure out his Beater situation. He had just worked with them again to see how well they worked with each other, and he still couldn't figure out who to choose.
"Ygraine, can I talk to you for a second in the change rooms please?" The twins looked at each other as Ygraine walked towards Harry and headed off to the change room. The twins followed close behind and took out their extendable ears to listen in.
"Crap, she's gonna hate us after this. Good thing I didn't get to know her to well." George said looking at his brother. "All that work I've put in and now Harry is going to flush it all down the drain. What a ball-buster!"
"Shh… I can't hear. No matter what he says, George, it's gonna suck either way for you." The twins listened in.
"Now Ygraine, this is really hard for me because I am really good friends with the twins, and they used to be on the Gryffindor team, and they worked great together…"
"He's telling her she's not on the team!"
"Shhh… I can't hear!"
"I understand Harry…"
"So, I have to ask you, man this really sucks, I mean, you're a bloody brilliant Beater, and I don't want to lose you – our team could use someone with your skills…"
"He's about to say it, she's not on the team – there goes my chance if I even had one, thanks Harry!" George said.
"Do you want to hear what he's saying or not? I'm betting she's not as a bitter person as you are – she'll understand why she didn't make the team. Now be QUIET!" They both turned back to their ears.
"Harry, it's okay, honest. It's not hard for me I barely know them. I mean, you watched them out there as much as I did. They both have skills, but it's obvious Fred is the better Beater out of the two of them, and from the practice I had with both of them, I can tell you I have more chemistry with Fred out on the field."
"Okay. You've made this easier, but it's still gonna be hard. How do you tell one of your friends that he didn't make your own team?"
"Post if on a piece of paper? Have Ron or Ginny read the list out? Or you can just go up to him, pat him on the shoulder and say, 'sorry mate, you just don't have the proper skills to play on my team.'" They both chuckled as Fred and George heard them move towards the door.
"That bitch!" George huffed off towards the field.
"George!" Fred called after his brother. Ron and Ginny looked at Harry and Ygraine as George went past them.
"What?" Harry asked as he approached the group in the centre.
"I think they were listening in, Harry." Ginny said placing her hand on his arm for support.
"Fuck. Well I guess the cat is out of the bag, might as well say who's made the team. Everyone, gather round, I have the team made up." Harry announced the names, "Ron Weasley, Keeper, myself, Seeker, Ginny Weasley, Seamus Finnegan, Liam Jones all Chasers and Fred Weasley and Ygraine Marcum are our Beaters. Thanks for coming out." Ygraine smiled at Fred and mouthed "I'm sorry" as they both watched George leave the field.