AAARGH!!! Sorry I haven't updated for SO LONG! I guess I don't really have
any excuse...I have just not been in the writing mood, and I apologize. I
hope I won't disappoint you with this chapter. Hope you enjoy it.
The regular thanks are at the bottom.
Btw, if you feel you recognize some of the names, that might be because I
stole them off Good Charlotte's members. It was Benji and Joel's birthday
the day I wrote that part : )
Enjoy : )
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Everyone at Hogwarts knew by now that James was finally awake, much to everyone's enjoyment, except of course for the Slytherins. Especially the members of the Slytherin Quidditch team. But to their luck, Madam Pomfrey announced that James was not well enough to play in the next match.
Daniel Wood was not happy. In fact, he went quite ballistic when he found out.
"BUT HE'S OUR BEST PLAYER!"
"We'll just have to find someone to substitute him," said Elizabeth Moscel. The Gryffindor Quidditch team was sitting around the fireplace in the Gryffindor common room.
"But no one can substitute James!"
"We know, Daniel! But someone will have to!" sighed Jacob Carver. Daniel scowled.
"Fine, then. But we'll need to find the best substitute."
"Of course."
Daniel started striding around the common room. Everyone's eyes followed him.
"We'll have to have try-outs," he said, striding along, hands behind his back.
"Try-outs?!" Trinity Spott said in disbelief.
"Yes, try-outs! That's the only way we're going to find the best!"
"But Daniel, honestly...we're only looking for a substitute. No one's ever held try-outs to find a substitute," Christian Gromek said.
"Well, then we'll be the first."
James definitely wasn't happy that the team would be playing without him, either. He kept ranting on and on about it to Lily, who just turned her back and pretended not to hear.
"They don't stand a chance without me!" exclaimed James. "I mean, really! Elizabeth and Trinity are used to my tactics! They're going to have to adjust everything just to fit this one substitute in!"
"Would you rather have them play with only two chasers or WHAT?" Lily retorted, annoyed that James kept disrupting her dozing. There was a silence.
"See? Isn't' better with a substitute than only two chasers?" Lily asked reasonably, turning around to face James. He looked puzzled.
"Uhm...I guess..."
"See, I am always right," said Lily arrogantly.
"No, you're not!"
"And how would you know?"
"Well, I know you're not right! The reason you're here! That's not right!" James burst out. He had been told by Remus why Lily was occupying the hospital wing. Again, there was a silence. Longer this time.
"What do you mean, it's not right?" Lily whispered. James' confidence seemed to leak out of his body faster than it had come.
"I don't' know...I just mean that...it's not good. What you're doing to yourself, I mean," he whispered back, looking at hands.
"I'm not doing anything to myself, thank you very much!" Lily sneered and turned her back once more.
Score, James! James thought as he watched Lily's long, red hair sweep over her pillow. Great job.
Emilie wasn't too happy to hear about James inability to play in the next match, but deep inside she found that the situation had given her a bit of hope. She had always been good at riding a broomstick. She had found in the first year at Hogwarts, back when they still had had Flying as a subject. The teacher had said she had had a real talent. It had been long since she had ridden a broom. But if she could just borrow James's...
"James?" James rolled over on his back groggily.
"Yeah?" he said, his eyes still shut.
"Can I borrow your broom?"
James's eyes were shut no more.
"WHAT?!"
"Sorry," Emilie said, "but it's not like you're going to be using it for awhile, and I'd really like to try out for substitute! But I don't have my own broom..." she trailed off.
"Just hang on," James said, sitting up in his bed and trying to figure it all out. "So you wanna borrow my broom, to try out for a substitute that's substituting for me."
"Yeah, that pretty much sums it up," Em said, smiling. James looked uncertain.
"Look, I'll watch out for it and everything!" Em exclaimed very impatiently.
"Yeah, but...can you even fly? I mean, you're Muggleborn, right?"
"Yeah, I can fly. I haven't tried for the past 2 years or something, but if could just practice a few days before the try-outs with your broom, I think I could stand a chance!"
"Oh, all right," James sighed, "But on one condition!"
"Which is?"
"Tell Lily that she doesn't need to be so bitchy all the time. I'm actually quite nice." Em laughed.
"Ok, James! I'll do that for you. By the way, where do you keep your broom?"
"Up in my dormitory, under my bed. It's the one to the right of the window."
"Thanks so much!" Em said and clapped her hands, leaning down to kiss James on the cheek. Then she bounded out of the hospital wings, still clapping her hands. James started to worry he had borrowed his most priced possession out to someone who was not mentally well.
The whole week, Em practiced flying after school hours. She didn't have authorization to borrow a Quaffle, so she had to be satisfied with just flying.. She was glad she had started with that. When she first got on the broom and took off, she could quite distinctly feel that it had been a long time since she had tried anything of the sort. But after the second night, her talent started to show through, and she was pelting through the goal hoops and flying so low that the grass tickled her feet. Finally, the day of the try-outs came. Em was really nervous.
"Ok, line up everybody!" Daniel Woods ordered at 5 o'clock that evening on the Quidditch pitch, making all the hopeful soon-to-be-discovered talents (or so most of them hoped) line up alphabetically.
Em looked around. There was Benjamin Levi, she would be before him. And there was Joel Reuben; she would also be in front of him. She finally settled herself as the 4th in line, between Benjamin Levi and another girl named Linzi Harrison.
At least, Em though, she knew Elizabeth Moscel slightly. It was always nice to have an acquaintance around when one was nervous. She cast a nervous glance at Elizabeth, who smiled and winked back. Emilie felt the tension in her stomach unclench a bit. "And you must be...Emilie Jensen?" Daniel Wood was walking along the line with a clipboard, checking people off.
"Uhm, yes, that's me," Emilie said nervously. Daniel Wood smiled shortly, checked off her name, and went along to Benjamin. When he was done, he put the clipboard on the ground and marched forward so that he was facing the lineup.
"Ok now," he said, crossing his arm and looking skeptical, "this try-out, as you probably know, is to find the substitute for the injured Chaser, James Potter. As you all must know, James is fantastic with a broomstick, and I'm sure none of you will be able to live up to his performance" –nervous looks were cast around by the newly arrived, while the original Gryffindor Quidditch team just rolled their eyes and smiled apologetically at the lineup-"but you will have to try your best. We're looking for the best, and we're going to get the best. If you feel uncertain that you will not be able to make it to every single practice, you can leave. Now." No one moved.
"Alright, then! Let's start! William Dean, you're first!"
A scrawny, black-haired boy in the 4th year stepped forward, broom in hand. He looked nervous and awkward, but Daniel Wood paid no attention.
"You're going to be flying together with Elizabeth and Trinity here," –he pointed to the two girls- "and you're going to try to get that Quaffle through the hoops as many times as you can in 5 minutes. As I am to examine your abilities, I will not be up guarding the hoops like usual, but down here to watch you. Christian will replace me for this purpose." Daniel pointed at Christian. William Dean nodded.
"Ok then, go!"
William Dean was off together with the other three. He was quite alright. He flew well and could easily catch the ball. Em wondered if she stood a chance against him, and decided that she did. Maybe a bit untruthful, but comforting just the same. When Daniel blew the whistle, William had scored 3 goals. That was good, compared to who the goalkeeper was.
"Ok, next." Quite a big girl stepped forward with a menacing expression on her face. She did the same as William, except that she was more aggressive and only got 1 goal in, because she kept throwing hard and not aiming. One more came up, but Em didn't notice how he did. She was too nervous. Finally, it was her turn.
"Emilie Jensen."
Oh God, what have I gotten myself into?! Em thought as she stepped forward, heart pounding. But then she caught a glimpse of Elizabeth, who gave her the thumbs up, and she realized it wasn't going to be that bad.
"Go!"
Em kicked off with the rest. Trinity was starting with the Quaffle, but she immediately passed it to Em. Em, who was still trying to push her nervousness aside, wasn't ready for it, but she caught it with the tips of her fingers. She passed it back to Trinity, and flew up ahead to the hoops. Trinity passed it to Elizabeth, who then passed it to Em. But Christian was in the way, so Em pelted it to Elizabeth, and flew behind the hoops, soaring just above one of them. Christian was keeping his eyes on her and Elizabeth at the same time. Elizabeth passed it to Trinity, who was way to the right, and Christian swerved to meet her. But Trinity threw it to Em, still hovering above the hoops. Em grabbed it and threw herself forwards. She looked down, and pelted the Quaffle underhanded into the left hoop. Shouts of approval were heard from the rest of the team below, and Elizabeth and Trinity clapped their hands. Em wiped her forehead with her sleeve. Well, this wasn't too bad. It continued like that, until Daniel blew the whistle. Em soared down, feeling immensely satisfied with herself. She had scored 7 goals! The chemistry between her, Elizabeth, and Trinity was excellent, which improved the communication between them. They could basically read each others next move. Nearly.
Em returned happily to the Gryffindor dormitory. She would get to know the results tomorrow. But now, a good nights sleep would do well.
**************************************************************** THANKS TO (HPff.com): Dung (I miss you, miss you, miss you!!! But you know what??? Im coming to visit next next weekend!!! YAY!!!),
Ginny P (Sry it took so LONG for me to continue writing :*( )
HP's #1 fan: Im glad you liked, and Im so sorry I didnt update soon!
Tam: Yes...again, my update intervals are far from frequent and I apologize over and over again : ) But I hope you enjoyed this chappie : )
Boe: Lol, no, I will NOT stop writing this story until I finished it! Well, the thought had been cursing through my mind, because my life was/is so screwed up, so I didnt think I would want to write more...but suddenly my muses got the better of me : )
Christian: I'll be seing you soon! I hope : ) For Easter, I guess.
THANKS TO (ff.net): I forgot who I thanked last time so I will just thank ya'll once more : )
ZzSheilahzZ TweEdLeDumMm (interesting name) Demeter'sAdvocate Damia- Queen of the Gypsi's theantisocial1 Lil'AnGel1011 mystic fire demon Jewels5 Raining Dreams
************************************************************************
Everyone at Hogwarts knew by now that James was finally awake, much to everyone's enjoyment, except of course for the Slytherins. Especially the members of the Slytherin Quidditch team. But to their luck, Madam Pomfrey announced that James was not well enough to play in the next match.
Daniel Wood was not happy. In fact, he went quite ballistic when he found out.
"BUT HE'S OUR BEST PLAYER!"
"We'll just have to find someone to substitute him," said Elizabeth Moscel. The Gryffindor Quidditch team was sitting around the fireplace in the Gryffindor common room.
"But no one can substitute James!"
"We know, Daniel! But someone will have to!" sighed Jacob Carver. Daniel scowled.
"Fine, then. But we'll need to find the best substitute."
"Of course."
Daniel started striding around the common room. Everyone's eyes followed him.
"We'll have to have try-outs," he said, striding along, hands behind his back.
"Try-outs?!" Trinity Spott said in disbelief.
"Yes, try-outs! That's the only way we're going to find the best!"
"But Daniel, honestly...we're only looking for a substitute. No one's ever held try-outs to find a substitute," Christian Gromek said.
"Well, then we'll be the first."
James definitely wasn't happy that the team would be playing without him, either. He kept ranting on and on about it to Lily, who just turned her back and pretended not to hear.
"They don't stand a chance without me!" exclaimed James. "I mean, really! Elizabeth and Trinity are used to my tactics! They're going to have to adjust everything just to fit this one substitute in!"
"Would you rather have them play with only two chasers or WHAT?" Lily retorted, annoyed that James kept disrupting her dozing. There was a silence.
"See? Isn't' better with a substitute than only two chasers?" Lily asked reasonably, turning around to face James. He looked puzzled.
"Uhm...I guess..."
"See, I am always right," said Lily arrogantly.
"No, you're not!"
"And how would you know?"
"Well, I know you're not right! The reason you're here! That's not right!" James burst out. He had been told by Remus why Lily was occupying the hospital wing. Again, there was a silence. Longer this time.
"What do you mean, it's not right?" Lily whispered. James' confidence seemed to leak out of his body faster than it had come.
"I don't' know...I just mean that...it's not good. What you're doing to yourself, I mean," he whispered back, looking at hands.
"I'm not doing anything to myself, thank you very much!" Lily sneered and turned her back once more.
Score, James! James thought as he watched Lily's long, red hair sweep over her pillow. Great job.
Emilie wasn't too happy to hear about James inability to play in the next match, but deep inside she found that the situation had given her a bit of hope. She had always been good at riding a broomstick. She had found in the first year at Hogwarts, back when they still had had Flying as a subject. The teacher had said she had had a real talent. It had been long since she had ridden a broom. But if she could just borrow James's...
"James?" James rolled over on his back groggily.
"Yeah?" he said, his eyes still shut.
"Can I borrow your broom?"
James's eyes were shut no more.
"WHAT?!"
"Sorry," Emilie said, "but it's not like you're going to be using it for awhile, and I'd really like to try out for substitute! But I don't have my own broom..." she trailed off.
"Just hang on," James said, sitting up in his bed and trying to figure it all out. "So you wanna borrow my broom, to try out for a substitute that's substituting for me."
"Yeah, that pretty much sums it up," Em said, smiling. James looked uncertain.
"Look, I'll watch out for it and everything!" Em exclaimed very impatiently.
"Yeah, but...can you even fly? I mean, you're Muggleborn, right?"
"Yeah, I can fly. I haven't tried for the past 2 years or something, but if could just practice a few days before the try-outs with your broom, I think I could stand a chance!"
"Oh, all right," James sighed, "But on one condition!"
"Which is?"
"Tell Lily that she doesn't need to be so bitchy all the time. I'm actually quite nice." Em laughed.
"Ok, James! I'll do that for you. By the way, where do you keep your broom?"
"Up in my dormitory, under my bed. It's the one to the right of the window."
"Thanks so much!" Em said and clapped her hands, leaning down to kiss James on the cheek. Then she bounded out of the hospital wings, still clapping her hands. James started to worry he had borrowed his most priced possession out to someone who was not mentally well.
The whole week, Em practiced flying after school hours. She didn't have authorization to borrow a Quaffle, so she had to be satisfied with just flying.. She was glad she had started with that. When she first got on the broom and took off, she could quite distinctly feel that it had been a long time since she had tried anything of the sort. But after the second night, her talent started to show through, and she was pelting through the goal hoops and flying so low that the grass tickled her feet. Finally, the day of the try-outs came. Em was really nervous.
"Ok, line up everybody!" Daniel Woods ordered at 5 o'clock that evening on the Quidditch pitch, making all the hopeful soon-to-be-discovered talents (or so most of them hoped) line up alphabetically.
Em looked around. There was Benjamin Levi, she would be before him. And there was Joel Reuben; she would also be in front of him. She finally settled herself as the 4th in line, between Benjamin Levi and another girl named Linzi Harrison.
At least, Em though, she knew Elizabeth Moscel slightly. It was always nice to have an acquaintance around when one was nervous. She cast a nervous glance at Elizabeth, who smiled and winked back. Emilie felt the tension in her stomach unclench a bit. "And you must be...Emilie Jensen?" Daniel Wood was walking along the line with a clipboard, checking people off.
"Uhm, yes, that's me," Emilie said nervously. Daniel Wood smiled shortly, checked off her name, and went along to Benjamin. When he was done, he put the clipboard on the ground and marched forward so that he was facing the lineup.
"Ok now," he said, crossing his arm and looking skeptical, "this try-out, as you probably know, is to find the substitute for the injured Chaser, James Potter. As you all must know, James is fantastic with a broomstick, and I'm sure none of you will be able to live up to his performance" –nervous looks were cast around by the newly arrived, while the original Gryffindor Quidditch team just rolled their eyes and smiled apologetically at the lineup-"but you will have to try your best. We're looking for the best, and we're going to get the best. If you feel uncertain that you will not be able to make it to every single practice, you can leave. Now." No one moved.
"Alright, then! Let's start! William Dean, you're first!"
A scrawny, black-haired boy in the 4th year stepped forward, broom in hand. He looked nervous and awkward, but Daniel Wood paid no attention.
"You're going to be flying together with Elizabeth and Trinity here," –he pointed to the two girls- "and you're going to try to get that Quaffle through the hoops as many times as you can in 5 minutes. As I am to examine your abilities, I will not be up guarding the hoops like usual, but down here to watch you. Christian will replace me for this purpose." Daniel pointed at Christian. William Dean nodded.
"Ok then, go!"
William Dean was off together with the other three. He was quite alright. He flew well and could easily catch the ball. Em wondered if she stood a chance against him, and decided that she did. Maybe a bit untruthful, but comforting just the same. When Daniel blew the whistle, William had scored 3 goals. That was good, compared to who the goalkeeper was.
"Ok, next." Quite a big girl stepped forward with a menacing expression on her face. She did the same as William, except that she was more aggressive and only got 1 goal in, because she kept throwing hard and not aiming. One more came up, but Em didn't notice how he did. She was too nervous. Finally, it was her turn.
"Emilie Jensen."
Oh God, what have I gotten myself into?! Em thought as she stepped forward, heart pounding. But then she caught a glimpse of Elizabeth, who gave her the thumbs up, and she realized it wasn't going to be that bad.
"Go!"
Em kicked off with the rest. Trinity was starting with the Quaffle, but she immediately passed it to Em. Em, who was still trying to push her nervousness aside, wasn't ready for it, but she caught it with the tips of her fingers. She passed it back to Trinity, and flew up ahead to the hoops. Trinity passed it to Elizabeth, who then passed it to Em. But Christian was in the way, so Em pelted it to Elizabeth, and flew behind the hoops, soaring just above one of them. Christian was keeping his eyes on her and Elizabeth at the same time. Elizabeth passed it to Trinity, who was way to the right, and Christian swerved to meet her. But Trinity threw it to Em, still hovering above the hoops. Em grabbed it and threw herself forwards. She looked down, and pelted the Quaffle underhanded into the left hoop. Shouts of approval were heard from the rest of the team below, and Elizabeth and Trinity clapped their hands. Em wiped her forehead with her sleeve. Well, this wasn't too bad. It continued like that, until Daniel blew the whistle. Em soared down, feeling immensely satisfied with herself. She had scored 7 goals! The chemistry between her, Elizabeth, and Trinity was excellent, which improved the communication between them. They could basically read each others next move. Nearly.
Em returned happily to the Gryffindor dormitory. She would get to know the results tomorrow. But now, a good nights sleep would do well.
**************************************************************** THANKS TO (HPff.com): Dung (I miss you, miss you, miss you!!! But you know what??? Im coming to visit next next weekend!!! YAY!!!),
Ginny P (Sry it took so LONG for me to continue writing :*( )
HP's #1 fan: Im glad you liked, and Im so sorry I didnt update soon!
Tam: Yes...again, my update intervals are far from frequent and I apologize over and over again : ) But I hope you enjoyed this chappie : )
Boe: Lol, no, I will NOT stop writing this story until I finished it! Well, the thought had been cursing through my mind, because my life was/is so screwed up, so I didnt think I would want to write more...but suddenly my muses got the better of me : )
Christian: I'll be seing you soon! I hope : ) For Easter, I guess.
THANKS TO (ff.net): I forgot who I thanked last time so I will just thank ya'll once more : )
ZzSheilahzZ TweEdLeDumMm (interesting name) Demeter'sAdvocate Damia- Queen of the Gypsi's theantisocial1 Lil'AnGel1011 mystic fire demon Jewels5 Raining Dreams