Chapter 15 – Tryouts

There were two things Lizzie got up early for: quidditch practice and feeding dragons in Romania. On this particular occasion, there was a group waiting in the common room when she came down the steps of the dormitory, she looked around and noticed there wasn't a single one of her actual intended team members among them, and winced when the questions started flying.

"Are all positions open?"

"Are you taking first years considering you were one?"

"Do we need our own broom?"

"How often are practices?"

"Hey!" Lizzie yelled to silence everyone. This is when she noticed not a single person was beyond their third year.

"I know none of you know me personally, but on the off chance you do make the team, you should know that nobody should bother talking to me before I've had at least one pot of coffee. Alright? Meet on the pitch, I will explain everything there, and yes you need you your own broom. You also need to know how to fly, in case you missed the memo," she said a little more reproachfully than intended, and everyone backed off.

Downstairs at breakfast she saw the faces she wanted on the team and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Any good chaser prospects I should keep my eye on?" Lizzie asked Ginny quietly.

"Demelza Robbins, she's a second year, but I hear from Katie she's good," Ginny whispered.

"Beaters?" She asked.

"That's open season. I don't know," Ginny shrugged.

"Ron is the only one going out for keeper, right?" Lizzie asked.

"No, Cormac is, he said he doesn't want to be a beater this year," Ginny said.

"Is he even any good? I don't like him," Lizzie said dismissively.

"I don't know. He's too full of it for his own good," Ginny said. "In terms of people you do like, Dean is going out for chaser, I'm not sure you personally know anyone else though," Ginny explained. Lizzie nodded and they headed out to the pitch after breakfast.

"Listen!" Lizzie shouted, but the pitch was filled with faces she didn't think she'd ever seen before. "Hey!" She shouted again when the commotion didn't subside.

"SHUT IT!" Ginny snapped, and Lizzie smiled back at her devilishly.

"Alright! First - everyone here has flown before, yes? If you haven't, please leave," Lizzie demanded and several people left embarrassed.

"Second - you've all got a shot, I'll be selecting alternates this year too. We'll do beaters first. This is my one and only announcement that bludgers bloody hurt, so if you don't have a pain tolerance, please leave," she demanded and a few others left. The group had thinned out to something manageable.

After twelve rounds, some close bludgers to skulls, bloody noses, and painful squeals, Richard Coote and Jimmy Peakes were two fourth year boys Lizzie thought had the most potential for beaters. Katie and Ginny both agreed.

"For the rest, don't pick friends, Lizzie, unless they're the best. Got it?" Katie insisted.

"Wouldn't dream of it," Lizzie frowned, knowing she was right, but worrying about Ron.

"Chasers next!" Lizzie shouted and smiled back at several people trying out.

Ginny scored seventeen goals in a row and Lizzie gave her a fist that she was in. Katie scored twelve but was pure perfection at passing after all the years on the team. Lizzie didn't consider not keeping a spot for Katie and Ginny. The third position was filled by Demelza, more goals than any of the others still in the running, and wicked fast at dodging bludgers. Lizzie was wildly impressed. Dean would be alternate, eight goals, he was not a bad chaser at all, but Demelza was something special.

"Keepers!" Lizzie announced, but it was just Ron and Cormac. The tall, brawny, blonde boy winked at Lizzie and she winced. She also saw him gesture to Hermione in the stands while saying something to Ron and immediately decided she hated him.

Katie looked over at Lizzie intently with warning not to pick Ron if Cormac was better. Lizzie clenched her jaw and blew the whistle.

Cormac went first and appeared to be on track to block every goal. With the final whistle blown and final shot thrown, he suddenly darted several yards in the opposite direction. Lizzie looked at him confused, and then narrowed her eyes on Hermione who looked uncommonly pleased and noticeably refused make eye contact with Lizzie.

Ron went next and narrowly managed to block every goal. He slipped off his broom at one point when the nerves got the better of him, but kicked the quaffle in the process, making it appear almost intentional. Lizzie then blew the whistle to close tryouts.

"Alright! I will make my roster and post it by Monday. Thanks so much for coming out everyone," she said, and they gathered their things.

"To those I do pick, I expect all wins this year, nothing less, or I will not hesitate to stab you in the throat," Lizzie added. Everyone who knew her choked on a laugh, but everyone else stared back horrified.

"That's a joke!" Ginny roared while Katie was still laughing under her breath.

"You'll get used to it," Lizzie chuckled. "I have a bit of a different spin on Oliver's win or die trying," she clarified, smirking at the scared faces while she peeled off her gloves. "Get lost then! Good luck!" Lizzie waved them off with a grin, and sat down in the grass from exhaustion, happily soaking up the familiar smell of the quidditch pitch.

Lizzie posted her roster late Sunday night in the empty common room so it would be seen first thing.

Seeker - Lizzie Potter (Captain)
Chaser - Katie Bell
Chaser - Ginny Weasley
Chaser - Demelza Robbins
Keeper - Ronald Weasley
Beater - Richard Coote
Beater - Jimmy Peakes

Alternates:
Seeker - Ginny Weasley
Chaser - Dean Thomas
Keeper - Cormac McLaggen
Beater - Jack Sloper

Ron grabbed Lizzie the next morning as she came down to the common room and kissed her cheek enthusiastically. Dean smiled politely but she could tell he was disappointed. Katie clapped Lizzie on the back and squeezed her shoulder approvingly. Cormac McLaggen however, was more than disappointed.

"Alternate, Lizzie? You're serious?" He asked indignantly. Several people had stopped talking to listen.

"Yep, Ron is a keeper for Keeper," she said cutely, pulling over her cardigan.

"Lizzie, I know he's your friend, but you have to think about the team," he said with a smile.

"I am thinking about the team, McLaggen, he blocked more goals than you," Lizzie said assertively.

"Come on... I mean there is something to be said about style too you know? Recruiters are going to be at the first game, you wouldn't want them thinking you-" he started to ramble.

"Think I what? Chose the better player? God forbid... it's my team Cormac, six years on this team earned me the ability to choose my roster..."

"Four years," he corrected with a self righteous tone.

"Pardon?" She asked with raised eyebrows.

"Well you were banned last year. Then the tournament..." he explained.

"You mean the tournament I played in and technically won? That one?" She asked sarcastically. He nodded carefully noticing her hostility.

"And the ban implemented after the game I won that put us far enough ahead in points to still win the cup? The ban put in place by the woman I'm sending to prison for trying to kill me?" She asked. He nodded again more carefully.

"Right, so six years, what were you saying?" Lizzie asked. He didn't say anything.

"You're a good keeper, Cormac, but you're alternate, better luck next time," she said harshly and stopped him before he could retort.

"Dean, it's not personal, promise... Demelza was..." she explained quietly to Dean but he stopped her.

"The better player, I'm not blind. Just kicking myself. We got a good line up, if you need me, holler," he said with a smile, and Lizzie nodded, bumping his fist encouragingly.