It's short. It's funny. It's really…weird.
It's chapter four, coming soon (as in NOW) to a computer screen near you!
(oh, yeah, and we forgot to mention the author doesn't own any of the canon characters- sorry about that.)
Quidditch tryouts approached faster than Harry had expected, and September 5th was a brilliant day, with a few lazy wisps of cloud and no chance of rain (or detentions, thought Harry with a grim smile) in sight.
Alicia was in the middle of talking to the remnants of last year's team and this years hopefuls when she looked up from the huddle and called across the field.
"Good Evening, Professor!" The huddle's heads swiveled to look at whoever was coming towards them; it was Professor Malfoy.
Her hair was tied back in a ponytail, and she was wearing a pair of vintage Quidditch robes-no doubt from her own playing days. In her hand was a broom like Harry had never seen before.
"I thought I would come and watch. And maybe fly a little myself, after you are all done, of course." She said with a winning smile
"Of course, professor! Please, sit." Alicia conjured up several armchairs, looking out of place in the pitch, and the Professor sat down. Alicia flipped through the notes on the clipboard, and began addressing the small crowd again.
--
After two hours of running drills and then playing a fraction of a game, Alicia called down the aspiring Griffindors, thanked them for trying out, and assured them she'd have results posted by tomorrow. After they began trudging back to their dorms Alicia called the remaining team members in for a meeting.
"So, any suggestions, remarks, comments?" Alicia asked.
"Nora Baines has a good arm on her-I know she tried for chaser, but the way she throws the ball…" Ginny put in. Professor Malfoy nodded sagely.
"So does Cadon Gorbis-Put them both down for beaters. They had confidence, strength, and they seem to know each other well enough." The blonde counseled; Alicia immediately wrote down their names.
"So… keeper, seeker, beaters, and two chasers…that leaves one spot left…any of you notice anyone?"
"Erm…Alan What's-his-name….Bogsgarden? He seemed to play well with the rest of the team." Ron said, stifling a yawn.
"But he didn't play extraordinarily well." Alicia pointed out.
"Perhaps you could pick two for the spot, and one can be an alternate, in case things don't work out?" Gabrielin suggested. Alicia lit up, and she scribbled it down on her clipboard.
"Well then, that's it. I'll be putting it up tomorrow. You can go now, if you like." Alicia said, gathering up her things after a final note on her clip board.
"If it's all the same to you, Alicia, we were hoping we could stick around for a little game…" Ginny looked at the Professor. "Would you care to join us, Professor?"
Gabrielin smiled. "I'd be honored, Miss Weasley." She grabbed the broomstick at her side and mounted up.
"Say, Professor, what model broom is that?" Ron called from his keeper post with curiosity.
"It's custom built, Mr. Weasley." Gabrielin said with a smile. "Quicksilver infused ashwood handle and aerodynamically honed tail twigs. The combination of mercury and the warding runes in the handle makes for a good finish and an especially fast broom. There's a company up in Scotland that makes them to suit, if you're interested." She offered diplomatically. Ron's face fell, and he shook his head.
"No, thanks, Professor." He said sullenly, looking back at the tarnished handle of his Cleansweep.
The entire team was given a brushing of the speed of Gabrielin's broom, and her Quidditch skills-she flew like nothing Harry had ever seen before, as if she were one with her broom, part bird and part dragon, playing with a fiery fury. On one amazing occasion, the professor had actually jumped off her broom to catch the speeding quaffle, flipped over and swung back on one handed with amazing agility. Ron had been so dumbstruck he'd missed blocking the inevitable goal, and stared after the Defense professor with a newfound respect.
"And then did you see the perfect reverse pass she got on me?" Ron said exuberantly, the red faced Griffindors heading back to the dormitories after bidding the professor goodnight and leaving her on the pitch. For all the goals he'd let her score, Ron seemed amazingly happy.
"Erm…Ron? You do know she scored about a dozen times on you, right?" Harry asked, wondering if Ron had gotten hit in the head with a bludger and had not noticed.
Ron nodded enthusiastically. "But she's good, Harry! I can't believe I actually played a game with Gabrielin Malfoy!" he began skipping off down the hallway, and Harry stared after his best friend. Seriously considering the possibility of that bludger, Harry shook his head and trudged after him.
I hereby give you permission to shoot me first for such a bad chapter and ask questions later.