Disclaimer: same as previous

Chapter 4 - Quidditch Tryouts

"You want me to what?" Snape sharply shot back at his colleague, rather annoyed as she cornered him after a class of first year dunderheads. His head ached, and just as he had expected, he was exhausted from a night of little sleep and bad dreams.

"Severus, surely you would not inhibit a student from learning," McGonagall retorted, astonished at his response.

"Minerva, certainly you would not expect me to give special treatment to an inferior student. What would the point then be of restricting my class to only the best?" he answered, adding, "if I give it to Mr. Potter, then I would have to give it to all." That was all he needed. He had just gotten rid of the thorn in his side, and now Minerva wanted him to allow Potter to hang around his classroom 'to learn'. Right, steal from his stores to cause trouble more like.

"But think of the future, Severus," the deputy headmistress continued, "you know as well as I that having Mr. Potter as an Auror would greatly benefit wizarding society. Few, after all, know the ways of… of…"

"The Dark Lord," Snape supplied flatly, frowning, his arms crossed imposingly before him in that customary manner of his.

McGonagall frowned, her thin lips even thinner than usual at his interruption and mention of the title, "yes, him, more intimately than Mr. Potter."

"Well, if he is such the asset you claim him to be, perhaps he should have been more attentive to his classwork and less concerned about his bloody Quidditch practices," Snape returned, bending forward slightly to pick up the crate of potion samples from his last class. "Who is going to tutor him, Miss Granger, I presume?" It would be just like her, he thought, the 'Little Miss Know-it-all'.

"Miss Granger, and the new Ravenclaw student, Mr. DeVere," Professor McGonagall replied.

"Mr. DeVere," Severus said quietly, his mind racing.

Mistaking his pause for unfamiliarity with the name, she supplied, "Mr. DeVere, black hair, dark eyes…"

"Yes, I know who he is, Minerva," Snape snapped, "I was just thinking a moment to myself; I believe I am entitled." He huffed at the annoying woman and contemplated this bit of information. If he allowed Potter and Miss Granger to use the room, he would be able to keep a closer eye on his son, and possibly influence him as a… mentor of sorts.

Turning a sly fathomless gaze towards Minerva McGonagall, "I will allow it, but there will be some strict rules to be followed. I will discuss them and a schedule with Miss Granger and Mr. DeVere at the end of the week."

"Thank you, Severus," McGonagall replied, and strode from the Potions room out into the hall.

The first week of school flew by for Julius. He enjoyed all of his classes so far, well, with one exception, though Professor Snape had been a bit easier on him the last few days. At least he didn't take any more points off for anything. In fact, the Potions Master seemed to pay more attention to Julius's work and often complimented his technique. He was a bit confused by this sudden change in his professor's demeanor, and Hermione seemed rather shocked as well, but he just shrugged it off, figuring maybe the professor wasn't so bad after all.

As it neared five o'clock on Friday, he met his Gryffindor friends in the main hall and they made their way together down to the Quidditch pitch for the Ravenclaw tryouts. The stadium was quite grand, Julius thought as he peered up at the tall towering stands, their banners whipping lightly in the autumn breeze.

"Looks like you'll have good weather, at least," noted Harry, as he increased his gait to come along side of Julius. "McCabe, the Keeper, likes to stray to the right, so you might have a better chance of scoring if you go for the left hoop," he offered.

"And keep your eyes out for the bludgers," Ron added, "Masters and Morgan are wickedly accurate and they'll put your lights out if you're not careful."

"Thanks guys," Julius smiled, waving to all three as he parted their company, making his way towards the small group of students milling about the base of the hoop poles.

"Good Luck, Julius!" Hermione called after him as she headed for the stairs to the stands. "You'll be great, I know it!"

As Julius stepped onto the field, a roar went up from one of the towers, and he lifted his right hand to use it as a visor to block out the glare of the sun as he peered upwards. His cheeks began to burn bright pink as he noticed a group of girls from various houses dressed in Ravenclaw colours, carrying sapphire blue banners with his name on it taking up the seats of a whole tower. His eyes widened, and he offered a very embarrassed wave to them (which only made them cheer louder), before he continued on towards the other contestants, smiling to himself.

"Ah, the King hath arrived," Bradley spoke regally as he proffered a low flamboyant bow. "The tryouts can now begin. Sorry we are all out of red carpets, Your Majesty."

"No pressure, eh DeVere," Harold Morgan grinned, punching his housemate in the shoulder.

"Should I set up the autograph table for after the tryouts?" added Simon Allen, one of the team Chasers, chuckling to himself as he watched the ruckus from above. "Never seen anything like it."

Julius just blushed, he expected a few of the giggling bunch from the start of term feast, but this was unbelievable. He smiled abashedly towards the others who were there to try out for the house team, feeling like he just wanted to crawl into a corner.

"You got a broom there, DeVere?" Bradley questioned.

"No, I always just used a school broom back home." he replied, shrugging.

Ron, Harry and Hermione were sitting in the lower stands, giggling to themselves about the girls in the tower when Hermione stopped short with a sharp intake of breath. "Look!" she exclaimed, pointing to the stairwell as Snape appeared at the bottom of the platform, taking a seat several rows beneath them.

"What's he doing here?" Ron inquired, shocked to see the Potions professor at the pitch. "I've never seen him show up for tryouts before."

"Neither have I," added Harry, curious.

Snape found a seat on the lowest level of the stands and sat quietly, wrapping his flowing robes about him as his dark eyes travelled over towards the students preparing for their tryout. They were queuing up against the wall behind the hoop posts, and it appeared that Julius would be the last to go.

First up was a second-year, Ethan Van Hollen who mounted his broom and took off into the air. The Ravenclaw team was already airborn and had divided itself into two groups. The two Chasers and the prospective third would try to score against the Ravenclaw Keeper and Beaters. Bradley, the team captain, began with the ball and passed it to Allen, who expertly dodged a bludger, twirling horizontally on his broom and passing to Van Hollen, who missed.

Snape smirked slightly, and watched as they tried the setup again only to have Van Hollen fumble it in his fingers before dropping it once more. The next setups didn't work well either, and soon Caitlyn Meadows, another second-year flew in to take Van Hollen's place.

She was alright, he supposed, she made all of her catches, and even scored once, but there was nothing spectacular about her style or ability. One after another the prospective Chasers turn their turn. All in all, he was not impressed with any of them, but now it was Julius's turn, and Snape unconsciously straightened in his seat, watching intently.

As Julius took off into the air, the tower above him roared to life in a flurry of cheering and banner waving. Snape turned, casting his eyes up toward the commotion above him, both of his eyebrows raised, quite shocked at the response, and as his eyes trailed downward once more he noted the three Gryffindors behind him, offering them a menacing scowl before turning back to the field.

"I didn't expect to see you here, Severus," the voice of Albus Dumbledore said from his left, obvious amusement shining in his eyes. Apparently the old man had attained the platform as Snape's attention was elsewhere.

"Headmaster," Snape nodded in greeting, turning his attention back to the pitch. "I am just here to evaluate the Slytherin competition this year."

"Ah, I see," said Dumbledore wryly, a knowing smile upon his lips. "Then why aren't you with your own team?" gesturing towards the rowdy bunch of students in the next tower over who were jeering the Ravenclaw players.

Snape glared at him, mumbling something incoherent under his breath, and Dumbledore sat beside him, chuckling to himself.

Julius, even though using a school broom (which wasn't very good) easily completed each of the tasks, scoring two out of three times, the Banner Brigade (as the three Gryffindors were beginning to call them) cheering loudly with each goal.

"He's pretty good," Ron said to his friends, watching Julius dodge a bludger as well as anyone else on the team.

"He is very good," Harry admitted, knowing full well that if Julius made the tryout, which Harry was sure he would, he would have to play against him. It was not something he was looking forward to after this performance.

Later that night as the four friends met in the courtyard after dinner, Harry, Hermione and Ron congratulated the newest member of the Ravenclaw team and celebrated with a few bottles of butterbeer Ron had pilfered from the kitchen.

"I couldn't have done it without you two," Julius said to Harry and Ron. "Thanks for the advice beforehand, I am sure it made all the difference."

"Don't be thick, Julius," Hermione returned before taking another swig of butterbeer. "You outclassed all the competition with your flying alone."

He blushed at her praise, and awarded her with a dashing smile, "Thanks, 'Mione."

They were interrupted a moment later as Professor McGonagall walked towards them from the castle, concern evident upon her features. "Mr. DeVere," she called to the tall dark-haired boy, "would you please accompany me. The Headmaster wishes to have a word."

A/N: Big update today. What can I say, I was in a Harry Potter mood, and the weather stunk.