September passed and October had begun its second week when the Quidditch tryouts were listed, they were to take place on the Wednesday night, which to the delight of Amanda was not one of her detention nights.
The two weeks had been tough she had sat her detentions with the Charms professor who was still mad with her about the trouble she had caused. She had yet to speak to the boys and a clear divide had been set up between the two groups of friends.
At six o'clock Amanda stood in the Quidditch field with Frank, Ted and Thomas Christian, who was the captain of the Quidditch team. A small group had turned up not many to try out for the team. As was custom there were no first years there.
The only second years were Amanda, Sirius and James. The third years made up a few of the numbers, Frank himself was already on the team but they had been joined by Kerry Bowen, Philip John, Ashley MacLean, Joseph Wild and Tabitha Price.
Standing to one side was Fred Young a fourth year and with him a single sixth year student named Sean Lewis. Standing next to Christian was his fellow fifth year Kathy White.
"Okay well everyone is here who signed up for the tryouts, so here's what we need, we have our Seeker in the form of Frank here and as you all know I'm a beater, so that leaves us this year without a keeper, one beater and all three chasers. Now if you'll wait a moment we'll sort this out."
"I want all those who wish to play keeper to go and stand next to Frank, and the beaters next to me. If you want to be a Chaser go stand by Amanda over there. Okay well get moving."
Sirius moved over to stand next to Frank and he smiled at the older boy, he was joined by Tabitha Price, Fred Young and Philip John. Next to Christian moved Ted followed by Kerry Bowen and Sean Lewis.
Amanda smiled as Kathy stood next to her and noticed that as well as James joining them there were Ashley MacLean and Joseph Wild. She was surprised by the lack of people trying out. They all stood in a group and Christian looked around.
"Okay that isn't too bad, now you've all brought your brooms I see. So here's what we'll do, we'll start with a warm up. I want everybody to fly five laps around the pitch and then land back where you've started. Okay on my whistle."
The sound rang through the air and Amanda kicked off the ground. She felt free in the air and at ease with herself, she knew she was a good flier and she managed to keep to the front of the group with Ted closely followed by Kathy White.
The five laps were quickly taken and she landed back on the ground and stood smiling, she could feel the warmth in her cheeks as her face broke into a smile, something she hadn't done much of this school year.
"Okay here's what we'll do we'll split into groups and practice your chosen position. So lets see we have four keepers and three beaters, then there's lets see five chasers. Oh lets see how can we do this, umm… give me a minute."
"Okay here's what we'll do we'll have four groups. In group one we'll have Tabitha as keeper, Sean you'll be the beater and then Kathy and Ashley will play as Chasers. Our second team will be Fred, Ted, Amanda and James. Our third team shall be Sirius, Kerry, Joseph and Frank will play chaser."
"What about me?"
"Okay Philip your in group four."
"On my own?"
"No of course not, we'll have Ashley and James play chasers and Sean will be the beater on your team. Okay can team one please go up and take your positions."
Amanda sat in the stands with the rest of her team. She sat next to Ted and smiled as they watched Kathy get the Quaffle through the hoop for the third time in as many minutes, while Ashley couldn't get any passed Tabitha. Sean was doing a good job with keeping the Bludger away.
The whistle sounded and they landed. Amanda smiled as their team went up into the air, on the signal they started to play. Ted was doing a brilliant job at keeping the Bludger away from them all and it was being shot all over the field away from the other three.
Amanda caught the Quaffle and faked a throw to the left hoop scoring. Smiling she watched as the Quaffle came back and she moved forward faking the throw at the hoops she side passed it to James who scored.
They worked as a pair passing the ball between themselves faking moves that threw Fred off and made him miss every ball they threw. To most it looked like they had been working together for years not that this was the first time they played together. Sirius was impressed that their unstated pack not to interact had been broken through such a simple act.
The whistle sounded and they landed each smiling as they took their seats. Sirius took his broom and kicked in the air, he watched the movements of Joseph and Frank and stopped their attempts of goal, he allowed two attempts to sail through and then the whistle signalled the end.
The last group entered the air Philip stood his ground but couldn't stop James' attempts on goals. Sirius watched his movement however it wasn't like when he had been playing with Amanda, he didn't have the same rhyme with Ashley no matter how many times he passed the ball to her, she wasn't getting the idea, their minds didn't work on the same wave length.
The whistle sounded again and they landed and everyone sat in the stands waiting for what Christian would say next.
"Okay well its getting late and the light will be gone in a bit so we'll call it a night, the list will be up on Saturday in the common room naming those who made the team, thank you all for trying out, now go hit the showers."
Amanda looked around as they all began to leave and waited for Frank to walk up to the common room with.
"Hey Frank, you were good at being a chaser."
"No I wasn't don't lie."
"No you were if anybody else had been the keeper you'd have gotten them in."
"Well you were good yourself. I bet Christian will put you on the team."
"Yeah, that would be if he's allowed."
"What do you mean?"
"Well I'm still being punished for putting the silencing charm on Flitwick, I'm not allowed to any Quidditch matches or the Halloween feast."
"But if you're not allowed to the Quidditch matches how come you tried out?"
"McGonagall and Dumbledore said that I could."
They reached the portrait hole just as it shut, Joseph Wild came up behind them and tapped Frank on the back.
"You getting yourself a little girlfriend Frankie, mind she aint bad on the eyes, and give her another year and she'll be a true hottie."
Amanda and Frank exchanged a look and laughed.
"Merlin you're as bad as Lestrange, at least he only whistles."
"Are you going to say the password or are you staying out here tonight?"
"Oh sorry, Phoenix."
The portrait hole swung open and they entered. Amanda joined the girls to wait for their Astronomy lesson, which would start at the fun hour of midnight.