A/N: ONE review???? :-( well, thanx to lita.... sorry about making Sirius
scared of heights, but I never wanted him to be on the Quidditch team... he
is perfect in every other way! And knows it... lol... and btw I am sure
Eihwaz loves your review, cos u do her O.o thing...
Disclaimer: I forgot in Chap 5, but do you think we could do without these
from now on?! I mean, surely you all know that I know that I don't own the
rights to Harry Potter etc... tell me if you have a problem with that.
EVERYBODY, R&R!!!!
Chapter 6
It was hard to know what to do, matched with an experienced Seeker, despite the training we'd had. I considered tailing him, but I wasn't sure how innovative a tactic that was. I took instead to circling the pitch, with one eye on Gary Lambert to see what he was doing. It took me by surprise when he started tailing me instead, but suddenly I knew what to do. I dived towards the ground, lying flat out on my broom, and heard the satisfying whoosh of him coming after me. At the last moment, I pulled my broom up and swerved round. He narrowly avoided hitting the ground - in the time it took him to regain his balance, I caught sight of the snitch. Paying little heed to the bludger coming my way, I hurtled towards it. I stretched out my hand and grinned as my fingers closed round the fluttering wings. A whistle went and I shot downwards again. As I landed, Frank Morton thudded down beside me. "You beat our seeker!" he bellowed. "Gary, what do you make of that! Taken in by a twelve year old's Wronski Feint and beaten, all in the space of two minutes. That was amazing, James."
Gary Lambert shook my hand, trying not to laugh. "It's years since I've been taken in by one of them. Where did you learn to Feint, Potter? We didn't teach you that here."
"I didn't learn," I said. "I just... it seemed logical."
He looked stunned. "Well. That's very impressive. Nice work," he said to the rest of the two teams as they landed beside us. "That was a good whole team manoeuvre with the Quaffle, good effort from the beaters there too. Well done."
"I told you it would be you that won," Maria teased that evening.
"They haven't announced the winner yet," I protested.
"No, OK, but they will tomorrow and it's obvious it'll be you. Who beat Gary Lambert, the England seeker? Who did a Wronski Feint because it seemed logical? Who's been amazing in all of the skills training? You!"
I waved it away. Everything she had said was true, but I still found it hard to believe that they could really choose me. Well, we'd find out soon enough in the morning.
"Many of you must be aware that the prize for coming top in this assessment, or winning the competition, however you prefer to view it, is the opportunity to fly with the Junior England squad for a trial period of six months, and possibly secure a permanent contract," Charlie Braxton said at breakfast the next morning. "This is a great honour, as I know - it was by flying with the Juniors that I got into the England team, after all, and that is the sort of future a Junior player can look forward to, with enough effort. Of course, it is difficult for some to train enough, what with school, but training with school teams does help, and most matches are held in summer when training is feasible."
I saw Frank Morton nudge him and mutter something.
"Yes... well, anyway, so that's the prize in its entirety. It was very difficult to choose a winner - all of you are competent players and I must say, I'm sure I was never so impressive at your age. However, we had to choose a winner, and so the prize goes to one whose skill and innovation really swept us away - James Potter, come and collect your medal!"
I was flabbergasted, despite the number of times I had considered winning. And then I thought what Snape would say, and my face broke into a grin.
"Go, James!" whispered Maria.
I had not expected my achievement to be considered by anyone except me, my friends and Mum and Dad - for that reason, when Frank Morton leaned forward amidst the cheers and said 'James - the Daily Prophet wants a word' I was completely bemused. Still, it was quite cool really; I was to be headline news as the latest rising star in Quidditch, with my photograph and interview on the front page. What would Sirius think, I wondered. Or Lily Evans. But then I pushed that thought away. I had something to say to Maria.
"Maria, I was wondering..."
Her eyes lit up. "Yes?"
"Can I - that is, would you mind if I... you know... owled you once we go home?"
She smiled. "Of course you can. Do you have an owl?"
"Yes..."
"Then you'll be able to from school as well?"
I nodded and grinned. "That'd be great!"
If only she went to Hogwarts, though, I thought later. So Snape could see.
Dad didn't even complain about the portal when he came to collect me. He'd seen the newspaper before he'd left home, and he was in a state of elation. Even Mum was delighted - apparently, the bit about my future as an England star had thrilled her.
"I think she always wished I'd been a famous player, to be honest," Dad laughed. "But now you can be instead. I just couldn't believe it when I saw your face in the Daily Prophet. My own son! Imagine that!"
I got three letters of congratulation only that afternoon - one from Sirius, one from Remus and one from Madam Hooch, with a note at the bottom from Professor Dumbledore, which surprised me. The next day brought an owl from Maria, too, which made me smile. Forget Lily Evans, the stuck-up little... She wasn't even that pretty.
'Do you want to meet me in Hogsmeade sometime?' I suggested in my reply to Maria.
The school term started as usual on September 1st. It was impossible to see why I had been at all nervous last year - this time, as soon as I strolled through the barrier onto platform 9 and 3/4, I heard my name shouted from at least ten people, and then more. Remus ran up to me, followed by many of the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff boys. Even some girls were hanging round me in a circle.
"You were in the newspaper!" said a boy who I knew to be called Sam. "I didn't know you were that good."
"Of course, you'll be on the team, won't you?"
"Did you really beat Gary Lambert?"
"Yeah," I said, getting a word in at last. "Yeah, I did."
"You must be amazing," breathed one of the girls behind me.
I laughed and rumpled up my hair. Now this was seriously cool - I was a legend!
Remus grabbed my arm eventually and pulled me toward a carriage. "How are you?" he asked.
"Fine," I said. "Really good, actually. How wicked is this?"
He grinned. "Pretty wicked, I agree. You and Sirius are the height of cool, now - and me with you," he added in a whisper.
"What's he done?"
Remus began to frown. "Haven't you seen Sirius yet?"
"Ooh, yes," said a voice behind me. I turned to see Emma Bones, one of the Hufflepuff girls, leaning over my seat. "He'll be sitting with you, won't he?"
"I hope so," I said. I was beginning to get edgy. What had Sirius done? And why wouldn't Rem tell me?
"Hey, James," drawled a familiar voice. "Your entire fan club wants an autograph on the platform."
I spun in my seat. "Sirius!"
His hair was longer than it had been in June - it fell artistically into his eyes in a way that mine could never do - and he was taller, too. All in all, he was exuding an air of casual elegance, and I couldn't help but see why Emma was excited. "How are things?"
"Fine," he said. "I must say, though, I nearly fell out of my chair when your face soared into the kitchen on the newspaper. It was then I decided that I'd need to do something if I was to keep up with you."
I laughed.
"Still, well done, mate - England junior team and all that. Pretty good!"
"Yeah, well, I hope to be on the Gryffindor team as well."
"Oh, of course you will be." He grinned and flopped into the seat next to me. "Morning, Rem. Sorry I disappeared earlier. Had to see a man about a dog." He sniggered. "Thought we could have some fun terrifying Pringle's cat - what's it called? Mrs Boris? - with this." He pulled a stuffed dog out of a bag.
I eyed it. "I don't think even she'd be fooled by that."
"Not like this, no. But watch." He took out his wand and tapped it. The dog's mouth opened, baring scarily realistic fangs, and it growled menacingly. It's eyes rolled, and in front of us it metamorphosed into a passable guard dog. "Great idea or great idea?"
Remus and I exchanged amused glances. "Trust you to think of something like that. Here, doesn't Snape hate dogs too?"
"Mmm-hmm, mmm-hmm," Sirius nodded enthusiastically. "I am just too, too great. Aren't I?"
Chapter 6
It was hard to know what to do, matched with an experienced Seeker, despite the training we'd had. I considered tailing him, but I wasn't sure how innovative a tactic that was. I took instead to circling the pitch, with one eye on Gary Lambert to see what he was doing. It took me by surprise when he started tailing me instead, but suddenly I knew what to do. I dived towards the ground, lying flat out on my broom, and heard the satisfying whoosh of him coming after me. At the last moment, I pulled my broom up and swerved round. He narrowly avoided hitting the ground - in the time it took him to regain his balance, I caught sight of the snitch. Paying little heed to the bludger coming my way, I hurtled towards it. I stretched out my hand and grinned as my fingers closed round the fluttering wings. A whistle went and I shot downwards again. As I landed, Frank Morton thudded down beside me. "You beat our seeker!" he bellowed. "Gary, what do you make of that! Taken in by a twelve year old's Wronski Feint and beaten, all in the space of two minutes. That was amazing, James."
Gary Lambert shook my hand, trying not to laugh. "It's years since I've been taken in by one of them. Where did you learn to Feint, Potter? We didn't teach you that here."
"I didn't learn," I said. "I just... it seemed logical."
He looked stunned. "Well. That's very impressive. Nice work," he said to the rest of the two teams as they landed beside us. "That was a good whole team manoeuvre with the Quaffle, good effort from the beaters there too. Well done."
"I told you it would be you that won," Maria teased that evening.
"They haven't announced the winner yet," I protested.
"No, OK, but they will tomorrow and it's obvious it'll be you. Who beat Gary Lambert, the England seeker? Who did a Wronski Feint because it seemed logical? Who's been amazing in all of the skills training? You!"
I waved it away. Everything she had said was true, but I still found it hard to believe that they could really choose me. Well, we'd find out soon enough in the morning.
"Many of you must be aware that the prize for coming top in this assessment, or winning the competition, however you prefer to view it, is the opportunity to fly with the Junior England squad for a trial period of six months, and possibly secure a permanent contract," Charlie Braxton said at breakfast the next morning. "This is a great honour, as I know - it was by flying with the Juniors that I got into the England team, after all, and that is the sort of future a Junior player can look forward to, with enough effort. Of course, it is difficult for some to train enough, what with school, but training with school teams does help, and most matches are held in summer when training is feasible."
I saw Frank Morton nudge him and mutter something.
"Yes... well, anyway, so that's the prize in its entirety. It was very difficult to choose a winner - all of you are competent players and I must say, I'm sure I was never so impressive at your age. However, we had to choose a winner, and so the prize goes to one whose skill and innovation really swept us away - James Potter, come and collect your medal!"
I was flabbergasted, despite the number of times I had considered winning. And then I thought what Snape would say, and my face broke into a grin.
"Go, James!" whispered Maria.
I had not expected my achievement to be considered by anyone except me, my friends and Mum and Dad - for that reason, when Frank Morton leaned forward amidst the cheers and said 'James - the Daily Prophet wants a word' I was completely bemused. Still, it was quite cool really; I was to be headline news as the latest rising star in Quidditch, with my photograph and interview on the front page. What would Sirius think, I wondered. Or Lily Evans. But then I pushed that thought away. I had something to say to Maria.
"Maria, I was wondering..."
Her eyes lit up. "Yes?"
"Can I - that is, would you mind if I... you know... owled you once we go home?"
She smiled. "Of course you can. Do you have an owl?"
"Yes..."
"Then you'll be able to from school as well?"
I nodded and grinned. "That'd be great!"
If only she went to Hogwarts, though, I thought later. So Snape could see.
Dad didn't even complain about the portal when he came to collect me. He'd seen the newspaper before he'd left home, and he was in a state of elation. Even Mum was delighted - apparently, the bit about my future as an England star had thrilled her.
"I think she always wished I'd been a famous player, to be honest," Dad laughed. "But now you can be instead. I just couldn't believe it when I saw your face in the Daily Prophet. My own son! Imagine that!"
I got three letters of congratulation only that afternoon - one from Sirius, one from Remus and one from Madam Hooch, with a note at the bottom from Professor Dumbledore, which surprised me. The next day brought an owl from Maria, too, which made me smile. Forget Lily Evans, the stuck-up little... She wasn't even that pretty.
'Do you want to meet me in Hogsmeade sometime?' I suggested in my reply to Maria.
The school term started as usual on September 1st. It was impossible to see why I had been at all nervous last year - this time, as soon as I strolled through the barrier onto platform 9 and 3/4, I heard my name shouted from at least ten people, and then more. Remus ran up to me, followed by many of the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff boys. Even some girls were hanging round me in a circle.
"You were in the newspaper!" said a boy who I knew to be called Sam. "I didn't know you were that good."
"Of course, you'll be on the team, won't you?"
"Did you really beat Gary Lambert?"
"Yeah," I said, getting a word in at last. "Yeah, I did."
"You must be amazing," breathed one of the girls behind me.
I laughed and rumpled up my hair. Now this was seriously cool - I was a legend!
Remus grabbed my arm eventually and pulled me toward a carriage. "How are you?" he asked.
"Fine," I said. "Really good, actually. How wicked is this?"
He grinned. "Pretty wicked, I agree. You and Sirius are the height of cool, now - and me with you," he added in a whisper.
"What's he done?"
Remus began to frown. "Haven't you seen Sirius yet?"
"Ooh, yes," said a voice behind me. I turned to see Emma Bones, one of the Hufflepuff girls, leaning over my seat. "He'll be sitting with you, won't he?"
"I hope so," I said. I was beginning to get edgy. What had Sirius done? And why wouldn't Rem tell me?
"Hey, James," drawled a familiar voice. "Your entire fan club wants an autograph on the platform."
I spun in my seat. "Sirius!"
His hair was longer than it had been in June - it fell artistically into his eyes in a way that mine could never do - and he was taller, too. All in all, he was exuding an air of casual elegance, and I couldn't help but see why Emma was excited. "How are things?"
"Fine," he said. "I must say, though, I nearly fell out of my chair when your face soared into the kitchen on the newspaper. It was then I decided that I'd need to do something if I was to keep up with you."
I laughed.
"Still, well done, mate - England junior team and all that. Pretty good!"
"Yeah, well, I hope to be on the Gryffindor team as well."
"Oh, of course you will be." He grinned and flopped into the seat next to me. "Morning, Rem. Sorry I disappeared earlier. Had to see a man about a dog." He sniggered. "Thought we could have some fun terrifying Pringle's cat - what's it called? Mrs Boris? - with this." He pulled a stuffed dog out of a bag.
I eyed it. "I don't think even she'd be fooled by that."
"Not like this, no. But watch." He took out his wand and tapped it. The dog's mouth opened, baring scarily realistic fangs, and it growled menacingly. It's eyes rolled, and in front of us it metamorphosed into a passable guard dog. "Great idea or great idea?"
Remus and I exchanged amused glances. "Trust you to think of something like that. Here, doesn't Snape hate dogs too?"
"Mmm-hmm, mmm-hmm," Sirius nodded enthusiastically. "I am just too, too great. Aren't I?"