Quidditch
"I'm gonna do it, guys!" Guendolen said cheerfully. "I'm gonna try out for Seeker!" Guendolen, Kimberly, and Aileen were standing on the edge of the Quidditch field, watching the team practice. It was only the second day of term. The previous Seeker had graduated, leaving the team one short. Guendolen had been waiting for this chance since she was a First Year, even though she had been too young to play then.
"Yup, I'm gonna do it," Guendolen said again.
"Then go and do it!" Kimberly said impatiently. Aileen giggled and put an encouraging hand on Guendolen's shoulder. Guendolen took a deep breath and walked out to the center of the field. The captain noticed her immediately and landed in front of her. His name was Derek Cromwell.
"Can I help you?" he said in a heavy American accent.
"Um, I'd like to try out for Seeker," she replied nervously. Derek nodded.
"Do you have your own broom?" he asked. Guendolen nodded, then ran back to the stands and got her Firebolt 3000 from Aileen. She ran back over to Derek and showed it to him.
"That's a nice broom you've got there. Now, I'm gonna release the Snitch. You have to give it a head start, so don't go until I say so. All you have to do is catch it as fast as you can." Guendolen nodded and mounted her broom as Derek opened a heavy wooden case. Inside the Snitch was struggling against its straps. Derek unfastened them and grabbed the Snitch, holding it tightly in his fist. He let it go, and it took off into the air. The rest of the team noticed and landed to watch. Guendolen closed her eyes and took a big breath. Wish me luck, Dog, she thought.
"Go!" Derek shouted. Guendolen's eyes snapped open and she kicked off. The air rushed around her as she rose, higher and higher, until everyone had become little specks of color against the green expanse of grass. She could dimly hear Aileen and Kimberly cheering her on, but she put that into the back of her mind, as well as anything else that didn't have anything to do with Quidditch. She scanned the air above and below her, looking for the tell-tale glint of gold. At first she didn't see anything, but a second scan revealed the Snitch's position. It was below her, hovering near one of the goal posts. Guendolen locked her eyes on it and sped towards it. I can do this I can do this I can do this, she thought, over and over. Suddenly the Snitch shot away, straight up into the air. Guendolen quickly shifted directions and shot after it. Nerves made her palms sweaty, and keeping a good grip on the broom was hard. She was going so fast the wind whistled in her ears. The tiny winged orb hovered just above her. She stretched out her hand, leaning as far forward as she could.
"Almost there..." she muttered to herself, her voice lost on the wind. Guendolen's fingers brushed the Snitch and excitement shot through her, leaving a fluttering feeling in her stomach. She thrust her broom forward and closed her hands on the golden ball. Her broom rolled forward in the air, almost sending her flying to the ground, but thankfully she had a good grip on it and soon got it back in control. Guendolen smiled triumphantly as the Snitch beat its feathery wings against the prison of her hand. She flew to the ground and landed, greeted by the applause and cheers of her friends.
"I think we've found our new Seeker," Derek said with a smile, gently taking the Snitch out of Guendolen's slightly shaking hand.
