Luckily, James was not able to dwell on his failure with Lily for too long. Later that very afternoon Sirius approached him cheerfully with good news.

"You'll never guess what I just saw posted in the main hall!" Sirius called excitedly.

"What?" James asked gloomily.

"Quidditch updates. Gryffindor tryouts are tomorrow after lessons. We have a practice today. Just think James, before long we will both be the best two beaters this school has ever seen!" Sirius babbled happily.

"Yeah," James grinned cockily, already over his wig problem. "And I'm sure Roderick Charles is going to be on the team too. What if he likes us? Maybe he'll put in a good word for us with the International Quidditch league!"

"Do you still think he is playing for Guatemala?" Sirius mused aloud.

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Classes passed extremely slow for James. The news about Quidditch tryouts prevented him from paying any attention to his teachers, whatsoever. The fact that his first class of the day happened to be History of Magic, with the boring old Professor Binns, made concentrating on his status as a future beater even more natural.

Unlike the other teachers, Professor Binns did not even make an introduction to the second years. Instead he simply began talking.

"Today we will be covering Goblin oppression in the 12th and 13th centuries," Binns intoned dryly. "Oppression of Goblins had begun long before this but the first solid records of such inequality for their race was not evident until the later periods…"

James stopped paying attention at that point. He knew that Binns would not notice him if he began singing along with what the old man was saying. James pulled out a short piece of parchment and began sketching a crude drawing of two boys on broomsticks, hurling bludgers at another stick figure labeled Snivellus.

After carefully folding the note into a paper airplane, and bewitching it to fly over to Sirius, who was sitting four seats away from James, he went back to pretending to listen to the lecture for a bit longer.

When attempting to pay attention failed, James found another distraction… watching Lily. The fact that she had scorned his wig, his masterpiece, had James particularly irked. He had tried to apologize, but oh no, Lily could not accept it, she was too proud. The more James watched her, the angrier he got. Finally he resolved to seek revenge, ideas were already forming.

Sirius returned the letter quickly and James was pleased to find that two more stick figures were shown on his same drawing, both being pelted by bludgers. One was labeled Lucius Malfoy, and the other Bellatrix Lestrange.

It was as much as James could do to get through the rest of his classes in his impatience to begin practice. Unfortunately, James also happened to miss Professor Bin's announcement that next class an essay on examples of oppression would due on Friday, four feet of parchment total.

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James and Sirius were the first two people to arrive on the Quidditch field. Both boys had brought their brooms, as well as a case with two bludgers that James had gotten for Christmas of the previous year.

The two boys were busily engaged in the old bludgers game which had got them in so much trouble over the summer. They had not been able to practice it at Lily's, so they were both psyched to have the option of knocking each other out of the air.

The two Maruaders were so thoroughly caught up in the game that they failed to notice Roderick Charles entering the Quidditch field.

James was the first to see him, a few minutes later. When he turned his head to look he was nearly knocked off of his broom by Sirius's bludger.

Adeptly, James grasped his handle and swung himself back onto his broom in one swift motion. Ignoring Sirius, he swooped down to Roderick's height.

"Are you playing Quidditch this year?" James blathered excitedly.

Roderick grinned and nodded.

Sirius had caught on and quickly abandoned the two wildly circling bludgers to join James and Roderick on the ground.

"So, how was the Gryffindor team last year?" Roderick asked good naturedly.

Sirius and James both began talking exuberantly at the same time. Roderick looked confused for a moment, but the scene was interrupted when a bludger came zooming down towards the trio.

Before the two second years knew what was happening, Roderick leapt out in front of them and caught the bludger, wrestling it into the ground.

James and Sirius both stood gaping stupidly until, Roderick called out "Get the case!"

James retrieved it first and Roderick shoved it into the compartment and strapped it in, slamming the case shut before turning back to the two boys.

"So, are you two beaters then?" Roderick asked.

"Well.." James started.

"Of course we are!" Sirius interrupted haughtily. "We are the best two beaters this school has ever seen. In fact, I bet we are the two best beaters in the history of this school; maybe even in the history of the sport!"

Roderick raised an eyebrow and looked at Sirius, and then at James.



"Er… right." James added, showing off his quick wit and mentally shunning Sirius for his outrageous claims. "I hear you are a pretty good keeper, yourself," James added quickly to take the focus away from himself.

Roderick shrugged. "Aye, it's been said. This year I am playing for Britain. They lost a couple of players last year, so they bought us out. Oh, well, it's a change of pace I guess."

James swallowed and looked somewhere off to the left, trying to fight back the memories that thoughts of the Britain Boggarts evoked.

Indifferent to his friend's reaction, Sirius continued. "How do you think the team is going to be this year?"

"Who, the Boggarts?" Roderick asked animatedly. "Well, it all depends on how we learn to work together. They have a brand new seeker, Frank Longbottom, he is supposed to be awesome. All around the team is already great. Last year they would have made the finals for sure if it wasn't for the death of last year's seeker."

At this, Sirius's smile faded and he glanced at James.

Looking away from the others, James hopped up on his broom and flew away without a word, hovering off in the distance. He watched from afar as Sirius made an explanation for James's behavior, and even from the sky James could see the surprised look on Roderick's face. James knew that he could not blame Roderick for John's death, but it had just caught him off guard.

Roderick looked like he was about to hop on his broom and join James, but Sirius was shaking his head and pointing to several small figures approaching the green.

After James felt he had effectively restrained himself from an emotional display, he soared downwards and greeted Professor Reclarus and several of the returning players, including the two third year beaters from last year, Tad Wolf and Hans Zukenhower. To Tad and Hans, James was sure to shoot a dirty look.

Eagerly, Professor Reclarus shook Roderick's hand and insisted on clapping him repeatedly on the back saying, "Good to see you old chap, good to see you!"

Roderick waited patiently until the Professor was done with his hand and the rest of the boys had said their pieces before jumping on his broom and circling impatiently. James and Sirius followed suit, waiting for the rest of the potential Quidditch players to arrive.

The players continued to warm up until Professor Reclarus blew his whistle sharply and everyone flocked toward him.

"Listen up everybody," Reclarus called. "Since last year's captain has appointed Chaser Louis Armand captain for the new year, it would normally be up to him to hold tryouts…"

Louis Armand, a bulky sixth year stepped forward cockily. "As this year's Gryffindor Quidditch captain I am pleased to announce…"

Reclarus pushed him aside. "I wasn't finished boy! As I was saying, Louis would normally be in charge of the team, but due to unusual circumstances," Reclarus motioned towards Roderick, "I am reassigning the role of captain to Keeper Roderick Charles. Roderick, we are all glad to have you on the team. You will be in charge of tryouts!"

Clapping Roderick on the back cheerfully, the professor did not even give Louis a chance to speak before heading back to the castle.

Louis looked indignant and downright angry at Roderick. The famous Quidditch player himself, looked shocked and a bit flustered. "Well, this is certainly a surprise. I really had no intention of taking the post away from you, Louis. I am afraid that if it is your wish, Louis, I will resign from the captain position, as it was not rightfully mine to begin with."

"No!" Sirius shouted instantly, along with several others.

Louis looked around sourly. He had never been the best player, but had inherited the title of captain by default, as there was truly no one on the team who could replace Frank Longbottom. "I don't mind… you can have it Roderick. I don't want to be captain when everybody obviously prefers you."

Slightly stricken, Roderick continued. "Right then. So, Reclarus told me that this team is looking to fill three positions. One, the keeper, shall most likely be filled by me. Well, I guess if I am the captain I should probably have the spot, but no matter. We need a new chaser and a new seeker as well. You all will be on equal footing today. Louis and I are available, along with all of the other returning players, to teach you any skills you don't know or that you feel need perfecting."

James and Sirius looked at each other and rolled their eyes.

"Tryouts, as you all know, will be held tomorrow, same place and time. As the captain, I will be judging based on skill, technique and attitude. Tryouts for each position will be grouped by time, and you will be performing the necessary skills for that particular spot. Potential chasers will be placed on opposite teams and will try to score as many times as possible. Seekers will be tested on reflexes and agility by completing an obstacle course set up by me. If anyone wants to challenge my place as a keeper I would be more than happy to set that up. Any questions?"

Sirius quickly asked his, "What about beater tryouts? What do we do for that."

Roderick looked confused. "Well, actually, Reclarus told me that we already have two beaters on the team, so there will be no need for tryouts."

"But they aren't any good. If we can challenge you for the keeper position, it is only fair that we can challenge the current beaters for their position!" Sirius argued.

Tad and Hans both looked a bit nervous. "We earned our positions fairly!" Hans shouted indignantly.

"Yes, well, that was before we were old enough to compete against you. This year is a new year, and isn't the team more important than the individual. We should have a chance to try out, at least, that is unless Hans and Tad are too chicken!" James taunted.

Roderick shrugged, "Well, it seems they have a fair argument." He turned to Hans and Tad. "What do you say boys? Are you up for a little competition?"

Hans glowered and Tad shuffled his feet.

"Fine," Tad finally conceded miserably. Hans nodded in reluctant agreement.

Running a hand through his messy hair, James grinned, clutching his broom tightly, "let the games begin!"

Sirius laughed, "and may the best men win!"

Hans stepped forward stupidly, his fists clenched in a menacing manner, but Roderick intervened.

"Well, what are you all standing about for? To the skies!" The new captain called gleefully.

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James went to bed that night feeling very confident. Sirius and he had done much better than either of the two returning beaters, and James was sure that they both would get the spots they wanted. After the first day, he felt he possessed a good idea of who would be placed on the team. There was an outstanding chaser named Molly Ridgen and he was sure she would be a shoe in for that place. Roderick was already assured keeper and he and Sirius were beating the crap out of Tad and Hans. The only position that had no obvious person to fill it was seeker. There were four people out for this position, and all of them were wretched.



It was not until the morning that James began to think of his other problem. Lily had snubbed him and made fun of his gift. James no longer felt he owed her anything, well anything besides revenge. He already had a good idea of how he could revenge himself upon her. However, he was waiting until after his tryout to tell the other Marauders about it.

During breakfast James and Sirius boasted confidently to Peter and Remus about their prospects of making the Gryffindor team.

"I could never do Quidditch, I am fine on the ground but I have no coordination in the air," Remus admitted.

Peter grinned, "I am most horribly afraid of heights, Quidditch is not my thing."

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Obviously."

Peter looked embarrassed but James cut in, tactfully changing the subject. "So anyways… you know how Lily shunned my gift, well I have an idea to put her in her place…"

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Classes had seemed to take an eternity for both James and Sirius, although neither claimed to be nervous. They arrived at the pitch early, as usual, and were forced to wait through chaser and seeker tryouts before they were announced.

"I thought," Roderick spoke with authority, "since the beater positions are technically already filled, we will conduct this tryout a bit differently. We are going to try a little drill that is quite common among the professionals, though it is a bit dangerous. I am sure that two clear winners will emerge."

The game was actually very similar to the one patented by James and Sirius. Except that in this one, there was only one bludger, and four people. The first to miss a hit or to fall off their broom lost. The two remaining on broom won the position.

Tad started with the bludger and beat it first at Sirius, who dodged the heavy object easily before hitting it back towards Tad with a vengeance. Tad slipped and fell straight downwards at an alarming pace. Lazily, Roderick flicked his wand and Tad landed gently on the grass.

Hans got a wild look in his eyes and began to circle wildly. James retrieved the bludger and sent it towards him hard. Hans managed to hit it away from himself, although the bludger simply careened off into the air in a random direction. James quickly intercepted it. Within a few minutes Hans had lost his balance on his broom as well and was disqualified.

That was how James and Sirius usurped the positions of Gryffindor beaters.