He knew that he was going to get on the team, there was no question or anxiety in his mind that would ruin this for him. James stood with his back straighter than a Black throne, his eyes were colder than the stone it was made of and burning determination flushed his skin more than the stinging wind in his hair. He hid his enjoyment over the giggling older year girls watching.

"Mr. Potter, your tryout will be separate from everyone else's as you are looking to be seeker. Dorcas from the Ravenclaw team will be following you and will report back to me, presenting her memories to be viewed. I take this sport seriously Mr. Potter. If you or any of your band ruin our prospects, you will not play another game. Is that understood? Groovy. Let's fly!" Throughout the course of tryouts, James could see just how hard the team worked. Each chaser knew the others better than they knew the game, not even looking sometimes to catch the Quaffle so they wouldn't be knocked off their brooms. They were sixth years and had apparently been playing together since second year, friends for long before. The beaters were twins who looked like they played ice hockey for the fun of seeing teeth fly. They were rough, but at least they weren't cruel. There were only two positions open that year, seeker and keeper, which were extremely important. At least James thought so.

"If you keep looking at the game, you're going to miss the snitch. The faster you find the snitch, the higher the chance of your team winning by a great number of points. Snitches are also fickle things and like to hide themselves if they aren't found fast enough." Though she was right, James wanted to huff at the girl next to him to lay off.

"Who says I was focused on the…" There. He felt like was back at the Manor when he would go out every day to work on his skills, making obstacle courses and ignoring his mothers screams to stop scaring her with his silly tricks. The wind that broke away when it touches the tip of his broom, the flash of gold over a flat green, they were old friends. Older than the Chasers were, older than his own thoughts. James remembered the story of how his mother gave birth on the pitch because she didn't notice until it was too late. "Born to fly," his father said. "Born to get what he wants," his mother would roll her eyes back. His feet leveled out above the watching heads as his fingers closed around the small object, grinning with arrogant pride that he felt was well deserved. "Was that fast enough?"

"He won't work well with the team, he thinks the world of himself and he doesn't listen until he's already screwed up! Do you really want someone like that on your team?" What does she know? "I know that the twins like him and you see something I don't, it's your team but Quinn…"

The Captain was leaning against the lockers with an eyebrows raised, still in the Gryffindor uniform long after the pitch had emptied. If he knew that there were curious eyes staring at him from atop those very lockers, he didn't give anything away. "James Potter is a second year who is faster than any player I've flown with, or any I've seen at this school. He might be a right out arse, but that doesn't mean he can't play and he wouldn't get that bludged out of him soon enough. I know my team, Dorcas. I appreciate that big brain of yours that somehow knows everything about the game, more than even Hooch, but sometimes I gotta disagree."

Droopy eyes pinched themselves together for a second. "I swear to my gods and yours, I will crush you without mercy the second Hooch blows that whistle. You might have a star seeker, but you'll just be 150 points losers instead of 0."

"You wouldn't, even you aren't that good." No matter how much lean muscle he wore or how strong his jawline, Quinn crumpled like paper under the look this tiny girl was giving him. "Come on, sis. You can't be serious."

"Watch me." She spun around on her heels, almost storming out of the room. She hesitated when she reached the door, not looking back for even a second. "Actually, you're too blind to do even that. Just don't break your neck, dear brother, when I knock you off your high broom."

Her house was smart enough to have tryouts on a day when it wasn't going to make players lose a finger before they even started a game. But the one thing that they were struggling with was where to place the kids trying out for the team. They had lost one beater who graduated, another of their chasers disappeared and was later seen behind a white mask, the keeper was in the Hospital wing healing from a head injury and the seeker had quit when the Captain opened up the roster to anyone instead of just purebloods. "Who here has played before?"

Six hands raised which seemed to make the fifth year relax slightly. "If you haven't played before, go over to the right side of the pitch so I can see what you can do. Don't be surprised if you're cut, the pitch opens up for recreational use on Saturdays we don't play. You can practice and try out next year. The rest of you will be working with Marcus, make sure you don't get killed."

There was nervous laughter pettered throughout and one of the people who hadn't played before turned right around and walked off the pitch. "If you can't take it, don't play. Alright losers, who knows what position they are trying out for?" No one answered, just staring at him with raised eyebrows. "Good. You just play and we tell you where you're best at. Now get on your brooms, it's time to fly."

They went through drills for the first part, checking formations and seeing how the newbies worked together. "Catch, kiddo." The fourth year trying out wiggled his eyebrows, laughing as she dodged his bludger. "You need to be on your broom to play!"

"You need a team to win!" She growled back, sudden movement out of the corner of her eye catching her attention. She dove without thinking, weaving blindly through the first time flyers. If Venus wanted to be a dramatic show off in front of the Slytherin Captain, she sure achieved it as she was inches away from his nose with the snitch in her hand. "Sorry for the interruption, I thought the newbies would like to see talent."

"She's on the team, babe!" Marcus shouted across the green, waving at his boyfriend excitedly. "Anyone who can pull off that catch and shut Haven up is chill." Venus turned a dark color as she backed away slowly, not sure what to do.

"You're buggin' if you think I'll just let her on the team like that! She's got to play us first. I already know who I want, you just tell me who you're thinkin' about keepin'." Everyone landed, confused about what was happening but eager to be the best at what was going to happen. "If you hear your name called, you are being considered for one of our four spots on the team. If you don't, thanks for coming out and we'll see you next year."

Marcus cleared his throat as he flexed his arms in the crossed position. "Venus Williams. Ryder Corpus. Haven Broker. Jordan Walker. Gavin Walker. Leo Masson. Gabrielle Avery. If your name was called, you'll find out if you're on the team by dinner."

"Watch your head!" She hated to admit it, but through all of his bogus arrogance Haven was a strong player. He had already protected Jordan from at least two bludgers sent by Marcus, Jordan being one of the best Chasers she had ever seen. The way that girl moved. "Move it Williams or your pretty girlfriend isn't going to be so pretty anymore."

"Watch your mouth or you won't have teeth anymore." Venus had come to recognize the jab as friendly teasing instead of cruel intentions. She focused on the action again. She's been placed as a beater to see if she could take over if one of theirs was injured. "How is it possible that there is only two of you and you're still winning?"

"Years of working together, young grasshopper." Madison saluted her as he flew by with the quaffle, giving an impressed whistle as Gavin kicked his shot away with ease and straight into Jordan's waiting hands. "You sure you never played before?"

"I played football, I was keeper for that sport too. This one is just done on a broom." He shrugged easily, kicking his feet while he waited to be useful again. "There's just no grass to pull up when I'm bored now."

Venus almost fell off her broom from laughing.