Disclaimer: Don't own nothin'. All the Quidditch moves come from Quidditch Through The Ages.

A/N: Another day, another chapter! I'm trying to do as many chapters as I can before I go back to school. OK, this chapter is the long awaited Quidditch trials. I don't actually know how the process works so I made it up as I went along.



Chapter 9



It was Friday afternoon and the students didn't have any classes to attend so the Quidditch pitch was filled with young hopefuls perfecting their skills in preparation for the Quidditch trials the following week. The Slytherin trials were first up on Sunday then Ravenclaw on Monday and Hufflepuff on Tuesday. Gryffindor were last on Thursday.

The Gryffindor girls were throwing the Quaffle around in a circle. They were enjoying themselves until the boys approached them looking very relaxed.

Fred intercepted the Quaffle and tucked it under his arm "It's a bit late to learn how to catch now."

"I know how to catch," Angelina replied testily.

Fred threw the Quaffle at her as hard as he could. She snatched it out of the air easily. She had always had brilliant reflexes.

"Think fast, Frederick." She hurled it back at him and it bounced off his forehead.

"Nice shot," Cedric Diggory called from nearby.

Angelina smiled shyly. "Thanks."

Cedric wandered over and Angelina self-consciously stroked her hair.

"You're Angelina Johnson, aren't you?"

"Uh huh."

Alicia and Katie giggled and the boys looked on in disgust. Alicia noticed that Fred looked particularly disturbed, his face was as red as the Quaffle Angelina was holding.

"We should work together in Herbology sometime," Cedric suggested casually.

"Sure," Angelina said, flashing her most flirtatious smile.

"Hey, you want to back off, mate. Angelina is my girl," Fred stated as he put his arm around Angelina's waist.

"Sorry. I didn't realise, I'll back off." Cedric put his hands in the air and walked away looking slightly disappointed.

"FRED!" Angelina shrieked so loudly that everyone stared at them.

"Is there a problem?" Fred tightened his grip on her.

"I AM NOT YOUR GIRL!"

Angelina caught Fred off balance and shoved him to the ground and chased after Cedric. Lee helped his friend back to his feet. Fred shrugged and brushed dirt off his robes. "Must be that time of the month."

"Excuse me?" Katie raised an eyebrow.

"I was joking. You girls take yourselves way too seriously." Fred shook his head and he and Lee left, complaining about girls all the while.

"So have you changed your mind about trying out, Leesh?" George asked.

"Nope. Still not trying out. I'm here to help Katie with her co-ordination."

"I really wish you would reconsider. You'd be a real asset to the team."

Alicia lips thinned. She really wasn't used to all the praise. "Stop it! Stop flattering me!" she blurted. " I don't like it."

"If that's the way you feel," George said solemnly.

Alicia nodded firmly and he turned and followed after his brother and Lee.

"That was a little harsh," Katie said quietly.

Alicia watched his retreating back and grimaced as she recalled the look on his face. "Yeah. I should probably go apologise to him."

"Well, it can wait. Right now I still need help with my grip."

Alicia pushed her guilt aside and picked up Katie's broom. "Sure."

xxxxx

With all the Quidditch excitement Alicia forgot to apologise to George and he avoided her. The night before the Gryffindor trials, Alicia was out on the Quidditch pitch at around eleven. She had to map constellations for Astronomy homework and she preferred to do it first hand rather than out of a textbook like everyone else had done. The moon was full and gave her just enough light.

She was trying to identify Pisces when she heard approaching footsteps. She froze. It had taken her long enough to get out of the castle with Filch and Mrs. Norris on the look out. She would get in real trouble for being out of bed.

"What are you doing out here, missy?"

"Oliver! You scared me!"

"Sorry. I wasn't exactly expecting to find you out here either. What are you up to anyway?" He knelt on the dewy grass beside her.

"Doing Astronomy homework." She glanced at the broom he had placed between them. "No need to ask what you're up to."

"I like to go flying at night, it clears my head a bit."

"I expect you've being needing to do that a lot recently, Mr Quidditch captain," Alicia said, smiling as she carefully measured then dotted her parchment.

"It still hasn't sunk in to tell you the truth." Oliver shrugged as he lay down on the grass beside her.

"I'm sure it will tomorrow. You have a big job ahead of you."

"Oh, it shouldn't be too hard. I've already marked some people I like."

"Well, picking the team should be easy but I was referring to the Weasley twins. You should have fun trying to keep them under control."

"They'll be fine," Oliver waved his hand dismissively. "So what about you? George tells me you aren't trying out. According to him you're some kind of Quidditch prodigy."

"He's exaggerating. I am certainly not a 'Quidditch prodigy'. I enjoy playing but I just don't like being the centre of attention," Alicia said a little desperately. Why wouldn't anyone believe she didn't want to play? "Great, I'm missing a constellation somewhere."

"Have you got Lupus?" Oliver stretched out and gazed up at the starry sky.

"Lupus is only visible in the southern sky."

"Right, I should probably know that. I really should pay attention in class. My parchment always ends up covered in Quidditch plays. They aren't really useful when I need to study though."

"So there's no chance of you becoming Head Boy then?"

"Definitely not."

"That's a pity. I think you'd make an interesting Head Boy."

Oliver couldn't resist a little chuckle. "Interesting? That's putting it nicely."

"Got it! Left out Ursa Minor." Alicia placed some more dots on her parchment then rolled it up.

"Well, I'm finished now so I better get back inside."

Oliver jumped up and offered his hand to her. "May I escort you back?"

"I thought you had to clear your head?"

"Oh, it's pretty clear at the moment. I should walk you back, you never know what nasty things are lurking in the dark."

"Nasty things, eh? And the big strong Quidditch captain is going to protect me from them?" Alicia took his hand and allowed herself to be pulled to her feet.

"Well, when you say it like that it doesn't sound very good but, yes, I'll protect you."

"I don't need protecting," she said as she gathered up her parchment, quill and ink.

"Yeah, George mentioned you were the independent type."

"Do you and George sit down and have conversations about me all the time?"

"At least once a day." Oliver smiled, shouldered his broom, and began to walk off.

Alicia sighed but followed him back towards the castle anyway. Last year she would have longed for Oliver to talk to her but now she no longer got nervous and jittery around him. He was merely a friend…who happened to be good-looking.

xxxxx

The next day, the Gryffindors struggled through their classes. Not much work was done at all. Everyone was too nervous. Even Fred and George admitted to being a little anxious but they still maintained that they were going to be the new Gryffindor Beaters.

Katie was mumbling to herself a lot and Angelina was being very subdued. Alicia and Lee were the only ones who weren't near hysteria when the trials began at five.

"I wouldn't try anything with Katie today, she's likely to curse you," Alicia advised Lee as she sat down in the stands with him.

"I won't try anything with her ever again. I can't stand girls who are high maintenance," Lee eyed Alicia thoughtfully. "You're kinda cute."

"Don't even bother, Lee Jordan."

Out in the middle of the field, Angelina and Katie were exchanging last second tips.

"Remember to keep one hand on your broom, you don't want to lose control," Angelina whispered.

Fred winked as he and George joined the girls. "We'll make sure we send some Bludgers your way."

"There's quite a few people trying out for the Beater spots," Katie observed.

"But none of them compare to us," George said confidently.

"Hey, Angie, want a good luck kiss?" Fred offered kindly.

"Hell no. I'd rather kiss Professor Snape."

"We could probably arrange that," George offered.

"You could use a good kiss," Fred agreed.

"Get lost! You're ruining my concentration!" Angelina yelled angrily.

"Fine. We'll see you after the tryouts and we'll see who made it and who didn't."

"Yeah, we'll see."

"Ok! Can I have everyone's attention please?" Oliver called out over the twenty or so students. Everyone shut up immediately. "Thank you. Now the spots that are available today are Seeker, two Chasers and two Beaters. Can all students wishing to try for Chaser please go to the southern end of the pitch with Mitchell. The Beaters will go to the northern end with Matt and the Seekers are here with me."

The student's split into groups quickly. Angelina was very happy to have Fred at the opposite end of the pitch. She was tightly clutching her Cleansweep as she and Katie and another six students followed Mitchell across the pitch.

Mitchell was the only other remaining member from last year's team. He was the Head Boy and didn't want the added pressure of Quidditch captain. The captaincy then fell to Oliver who was very happy to accept it.

"Ok, guys and girls, we'll start off with some basic catching and throwing exercises," Mitchell tossed the Quaffle towards a nearby third year girl who managed to miss the ball by a least a foot.

She giggled and went to retrieve the ball. "I'm getting closer!"

"One down, seven to go," Mitchell muttered to himself.

At the other end of the pitch Matt was having trouble explaining his drill to the seven Gryffindors.

"Ok, it's simple, just stand there with your bat and I'll throw this ball towards you," Matt held up a Muggle tennis ball. "It's just like baseball."

"What-ball?" Fred asked.

"Baseball. Oh, jeez, don't tell me you've never heard of baseball," Matt groaned.

"Is that like football?" George asked.

"No."

"So it's like rugby league? Alicia says that's the best Muggle sport in the world," Fred said as if he was an expert on the subject.

"Definitely not. Ok, just stand there, I throw the ball and you hit it with the bat. Simple enough?"

"I guess so but what exactly is the point of it?" Fred questioned.

"To sharpen your aim. Now stop yappin' and start swingin'."

Fred stood poised with his bat ready. Matt pitched and Fred swung. The ball soared through the air.

"Nice shot," Matt whistled.

Everyone made similar comments and a skinny third year boy whimpered and ran off. The rest of the group suddenly became very worried. This Weasley bloke was going to be hard to top.

Meanwhile, Angelina and Katie were performing impeccable formations. Mitchell was immediately impressed by their ability to work together. They had very strong arms and superb aim. The rest of the boys and girls tried hard but they didn't have the all-round skills of Angelina and Katie. Mitchell placed a large tick next to each of their names and called them all back down.

"Thanks for turning up, everyone. You can just wait over by the goalposts while I go talk to Oliver, I shouldn't be too long," Mitchell informed them, smiled curtly, and headed off to confer with his captain.

"I hope I did all right," Katie said anxiously.

"You did great! I just hope he didn't notice that time the Quaffle slipped as I was throwing it."

Back with the boys, Matt was having no trouble picking the best two. The Weasley twins were outstanding. They seemed to know what the other was thinking without verbal communication. They had perfect aim and were capable of reading the game in a second.

Matt had never seen a pair of Beaters that worked together so well. They were perfect and that meant he could still keep his position as reserve Beater. Matt circled their names and called the group over.

"Thanks for your time. I'm just going to check with Oliver but I'm pretty sure we've found our new Beaters."

"Did you see the way he glanced at us just then?" George whispered to Fred as Matt walked off.

"Yeah. I reckon we made it."

In the middle of the field Oliver, Matt and Mitchell were going over their lists.

"Even though they're younger than the others I think Angelina Johnson and Katie Bell are the best option."

"I don't see a problem with that," Oliver nodded. "What about Beaters?"

"Well it has to be Fred and George Weasley. They're very reminiscent of Kevin and Karl Broadmoor. There really isn't any doubt."

"You're not just saying that so you can still be the reserve?" Oliver eyed his friend suspiciously.

"Of course not, Olly. I'd never do such a thing."

"Really? You did it last year."

"Well, this time I'm serious. They're heaps better than I am. Honestly."

"Luckily I happen to agree with you." Oliver added their names to the official team list as Beaters.

"So what about Seeker?" Mitchell asked anxiously.

"You mean what about your girlfriend."

"Well, yeah, what about Rachel?"

"I don't like the idea of having a couple in the team but Rachel is our best option. Our only option, actually. Are you sure she wants to do it though? She didn't seem very enthusiastic."

"She's very excited, on the inside."

"Well it doesn't matter, we have no choice." Oliver added Rachel into the blank Seeker position.

"No snogging during training though!" Matt turned to the Head Boy who simply rolled his eyes in response.

"This is it, boys! The new Gryffindor Quidditch Team!" Oliver waved the parchment extravagantly.

"Let's hope we do better this year."

All the Gryffindors were called back into the middle of the pitch. They stood in a nervous huddle. Alicia and Lee came running down onto the pitch to hear what was going on.

"Firstly, I'd like to thank you all for coming. Secondly, I'd just like to point out that if you don't get selected it is nothing personal, you just weren't right for the position."

"In other words, you sucked," Fred said loudly and everyone laughed tensely.

"Thanks for that, Weasley. Ok, I'll run through the positions. The new Seeker is Rachel Marsh."

Mitchell clapped loudly and a tall girl with dark brown hair suddenly became very pale and put her hands over her mouth. She didn't look really happy about it at all.

"The two new Beaters are Fred and George Weasley and the two Chasers to join Mitch are Angelina Johnson and Katie Bell."

Angelina, Katie and Alicia squealed loudly and the twins high-fived each other fervently. Everyone else groaned and began to leave the pitch.

"The reserve Chaser will be notified tomorrow!" Oliver called after them.

"We did it!" Angelina squealed again and hugged Katie. The pair jumped up and down and giggled.

Alicia was feeling kind of left out. George quickly noticed this and went to talk to her.

"You know, Leesh, there's still a reserve spot open," he said quietly.

"That's no use. I didn't even try out; one of the others will get it. I should have listened to you in the first place." Alicia shrugged and went to celebrate with the girls. At least she could be happy for them.

George didn't want her to be unhappy. He had to think of something.

"Congratulations, Fred," Oliver came over and clapped him on the shoulder.

"Thanks, but I'm George."

"I should probably learn how to tell you apart properly since we'll be team mates."

"Yeah. Say…can I ask you a favour, captain?"

"Sure."

While George was working out his plan Alicia was congratulating the girls. Katie hugged her forcefully. "I'm glad you didn't tryout. If you had I wouldn't have got in."

"You're welcome, I guess."

"Oh, Katie, this is going to be so much fun!" Angelina bounced up and down. She quickly stopped when Fred joined them.

"You made it," was all he said.

"Apparently you did as well," Angelina said icily.

"Then it appears we're team mates. Congratulations," Fred said, bravely presenting his hand for her to shake.

Angelina raised a suspicious eyebrow. She was too happy to be angry. She smiled and clasped his hand.

"Congratulations to you, too."

Katie glanced at Alicia and giggled.

"Cedric and Fred? Talk about options," Katie whispered.

"She better make a decision though," Alicia said seriously.

"She will," Katie assured her.

"Ok, team! Dinner is in half an hour. Feel free to have a fly now though."

"Want to fly around for a while?" Angelina asked Katie.

"Sure!"

The pair mounted their brooms and took off, leaving Alicia on the ground. Fred quickly took off after them. Matt, Mitchell and Rachel left in a hurry. Rachel was still looking very pale

"I'm going back inside with George and Lee, you can use my broom if you like," Oliver offered his Nimbus One Thousand to Alicia.

"Thanks," she said gratefully.

Oliver, George and Lee walked away as she joined her friends in the darkening sky.

"Let's hide behind here," George said.

The three boys ducked behind one of the stands. They had a perfect view of the girls and Fred.

"You know, I'm not sure if Alicia is ready for the team anyway. She seems to lack confidence and that's essential for Quidditch," Oliver said from his crouched position.

"That's why being the reserve will be good for her. It will give her the extra confidence she needs and she doesn't have to play. Just watch her, she's got skill," George assured him.

Up in the air Angelina was racing Fred and Katie was asking Alicia about the Chaser move called the Woollongong Shimmy.

"It's easy," Alicia insisted. "You just zig-zag really quickly between the players. You have to be careful of Bludgers as well."

"Can you show me how to do it?"

"Sure."

Alicia flew back to the middle of the pitch and prepared herself. She hadn't done this for a while. Fred and Angelina stopped to watch her. Alicia flattened herself on the broomstick. She took off and began to zig- zag from right to left. She easily dodged Fred and Angelina then looped Katie and rolled in mid-air to avoid an imaginary Bludger. The whole thing left Alicia a little dizzy but strangely exhilarated.

"That was so wicked!" Katie gasped. "You have to teach me how to do that!"

"Sure. It's not terribly complicated."

"I taught her how to do that," Fred said pompously.

"You did not," Angelina laughed.

"Yeah, I didn't. I used to try and push her off her broom though."

Back behind the stands Oliver's mouth was hanging open. George was smiling knowingly and even Lee was astounded at her flying ability.

"She's a natural in the air. Not too bad with the Quaffle either. A little more ball work and she'll be up to scratch," George said matter-of-factly.

"You weren't exaggerating about her being good," Oliver said.

"So?"

"So, I think we've found our reserve Chaser."

The boys came out of their hiding spot and stood on the sideline. The girls and Fred spotted them and flew down.

"I thought you went back into the castle," Alicia said as she handed Oliver his broom.

"We decided to stick around," Lee said with a casual shrug.

"I saw you flying just now. You're really good," Oliver said to Alicia.

She blushed and slowly realised what was going on.

"You never planned to leave did you?"

"No. We hid behind the stands over there. Lucky for me or I wouldn't have found our new reserve Chaser," Oliver said.

"Me?" Alicia squeaked.

Oliver shook her hand. "Welcome to the team."

She had made the team! Maybe she was only a reserve but she was still on the team. She had managed to do it without having to tryout, which is what she didn't want to do. Even though she probably wouldn't get to play a game she'd still get to go to training with Angelina and Katie.

"Thank you so much." Alicia threw her arms around Oliver.

"That's ok, but George is the one you need to thank. He arranged the whole thing. He knew you wouldn't like the idea of formally trying out."

Alicia let go of Oliver and turned to George. "So it was you?"

"Yeah."

"Even after I was so horrible to you?"

"Yeah," he repeated.

Alicia blushed guiltily as she remembered her recent behaviour. She hugged him tentatively. "Well, thank you." "Uh, that's ok."

Then, for the first time in his life, he hugged her back.
A/N: So how was that? I'm getting back into the long chapters. Don't go getting the wrong idea though. Alicia and George are just friends for the moment. For the moment. And the Cedric/Angelina/Fred love triangle should become interesting.