1.7 Quidditch
One afternoon, upon their return to their common room, the Slytherin students found a large flyer on the notice board regarding Quidditch tryouts.
"They must be kidding?" Bruno Willmot, the fourth year exclaimed. "We don't have enough to make a team, let alone anyone who knows how to play."
"We've enough to make a team. We only need seven players. I'll play, Gannon you'll play?" Jackson asked.
Gannon nodded his agreement.
"I'm not good but I'm prepared to give it a go," Bruno told them. "How many of you here are experienced with a broom stick before or played Quidditch?"
Of the twenty-eight students only five raised their hands, including Jackson, Gannon and Bruno.
"That's almost a team. Another two and we're right." Bruno told them.
One of the third year girls dropped her arm and said, "I don't want to play Quidditch. I'm not interested."
Bruno turned toward the other fourth year female student, Emma Hickbore.
"Are you interested in playing?"
Emma, small in stature with a large frame gave a shy shrug of her shoulders.
"I've played with my older brothers. They were all on the Quidditch team when they were at Hogwarts. I never thought about it but if you need players, I'll give it a go."
"That's the spirit."
"We need three players. Anyone else interested?"
There was no other show of hands.
"Come on, you don't need any skills. We can teach you what you need to know."
"You're not exactly qualified to teach," Rocco Lambert, a third year boy, told them.
His comment drove home the fact many of the great Slytherin Quidditch players had not returned to Hogwarts after the recent war.
Bruno let out a sigh; resided in the fact there would be not Slytherin Quidditch team that year. "I'll tell Headmistress McGonagall Slytherin don't have a team."
The common room remained silent. No one protested and Bruno rose and left for the common room without another word.
Lorna noted Gannon and Jackson break away from the group and make towards a table, talking together. If they had hoped to play Quidditch, this year there was now no chance of that happening.
At breakfast the following morning Madam Hooch approached Bruno at the Slytherin table, Gannon and Jackson in tow.
"I understand you need another three more players to make your Quidditch team."
"I've asked around and no one else is interested. We're going to have to drop out the tournament this year."
Bruno had indeed pleaded with many of the older Slytherin students to join the Quidditch team but all were adamant they would not allow the other houses another excuse to harass them.
"The other houses are holding trials this week for players. Might I suggest you hold trials of your own?"
"But I've already told you Madam Hooch, there's only the four of us who want to play."
"I understand Mr Wilmont. However, given the circumstances and the fact you have four students who want to play might I suggest you open your trials for any student within Hogwarts.
There was a sudden uproar from the Slytherin students in the vicinity of the conversation. Students from the table nearby all turned their way and Madam Hooch, in a loud, clear voice said over the top of them so all could hear, "Unless you can find another three students before the end of the week within your house to fill the team I will hold trials for a Slytherin team regardless if all the players are Slytherin."
Madam Hooch paused a moment to hear any complaints but when the table remained silent she departed. Gannon and Jackson sat down opposite Bruno and like all the other Slytherin's, Lorna listened to their conversation.
"We didn't think she'd suggest players from the other houses."
Bruno let out a sigh, pushed his half eaten breakfast away, and replied, "It's fine. She's only trying to help but we all know no one from the other houses will be interested in playing for the Slytherin team. Once she sees that, she'll have no choice but to pull us from the tournament.
"Unless we can convince three more Slytherin's to join the team." Bruno announced in a loud voice.
The table remained quiet. That night a notice went up, presumably in all the house common rooms, seeking players for the Slytherin Quidditch team.
The rest of the week Gannon and Jackson continued to pester Slytherin students to join the Quidditch team. However, the more they asked the more determined many Slytherin's refused. Not only that, there were students who thought it fun to torment the them for not having a Quidditch team. The remarks heard within the great hall especially were about the three teams playing and who would win now that Slytherin were out of the running. It only made those who wanted to play within Slytherin more determined to find the last three players.
Gannon sat down by Lorna one evening and stared at her.
"I'm a first year."
"So?"
"Have you seen me on a broomstick? I can't get more than four feet of the ground before losing control."
"Nothing practice can't fix."
"I understand what you're trying to do Gannon but you will not get anyone else to join the team."
Gannon's features changed from determination to defeat and he folded his arms on top of the table and slumped his chin against them.
"The trials will be a humiliation. No one from the other houses will come out."
"Is there someone you know from the other houses who you could ask for help?" Lorna asked.
Gannon gave her a look of disbelief.
"I'll take that as a no."
"Has anyone from the houses talked to you; without insulting or harassing you?"
Lorna paused for a moment.
"There is one person. A Hufflepuff first year. Maybe I could ask him?"
Gannon's head shot up, a half smile across his face.
"Would you?"
"I can try but I don't know if it will be of any good."
"Anything is better than nothing. So long as it's not a Gryffindor, I don't think I could play with a Gryffindor on our team."
"I'll ask."
"Thank you, Lorna."
Gannon rose and left Lorna to herself once more. The prospect of asking Jasper about helping the Slytherin Quidditch team seemed daunting and Lorna wasn't sure she had the courage but she should at least try. The only alternative was to join herself so those who wanted to play had the opportunity but she would only make it worse if someone with her skill was to join the team.
The effort to talk to Jasper during the week proved difficult. Unable to approach him in the great hall during meals given his friend's dislike of the Slytherin's, made it impossible. Lorna thought after class she might have a chance but it seemed word had reach the other students about her talking with Jasper. Although she had not been the one to approach him, most other first year students, especially the female students seemed to believe Lorna was the one to initiate the contact.
As the weekend approached and the pending trials, Lorna had still not found the opportunity to speak to Jasper. It was by chance Jasper met Lorna on the marble stairs as they passed each other between classes.
He was alone and Lorna took the opportunity.
"Hello Jasper."
Lorna stood, a step higher, looking down at Jasper. He looked flushed and Lorna wondered where and what he'd been doing but as he greeted her, he answered her questioning thought.
"Hello Lorna. Had broomstick practice with Madam Hooch. It was awesome."
"Then it sounds like you're doing better than me."
"Come on. It's easy once you get the hang of it."
"I fell off my broom three times my last lesson. Gave everyone something to laugh at."
Jasper beamed. Had he realised the laughter Lorna got was hurtful he'd not have looked at her as he did. Lorna said nothing.
"Listen, while we're talking about brooms. Have you heard we need three players for our Quidditch team or we won't be playing this year?"
"Yeah, I did. Madam Hooch said something in class today."
"I don't suppose you could ask the Hufflepuff student's if any are interest?"
Jasper's brows creased, his face serious.
"I could try. It would seem too weird to be playing for a house other than your own."
"I understand. But it's either that or no Slytherin team. I'm sure the other houses would be more than happy not to have us play this year."
"It would be a shame not to have a Slytherin team. I can ask?"
"Would you, that would be great. I'd try out myself but I think I'd likely spend more time in the hospital wing than I would on the field."
Jasper laughed, "Are you really that bad."
"The worst."
Lorna couldn't help but smile when in Jasper's company but that smile quickly faded at the voices of students approaching.
"I need to get to class. I'll talk to you later."
Lorna shot past Jasper as the students reached the bottom of the stairs. Hopeful, they had not seen her talking with Jasper. Lorna was not in luck when Jasper turned and yelled, "Talk to you later, Lorna."
Lorna cringed as the Hufflepuff students she passed all glared at her. Without turning she lifted a hand in acknowledgment; fearful of the repercussions by those who witnessed the exchange.
The afternoon of the trials, Lorna with several other third and fourth year Slytherin's, sat in the stands overlook the Quidditch pitch. The sight of the four Slytherin players, brooms in hand, standing alone in the centre of the pitch was pitiful. What made it worse was Gannon's prediction had come true. Many students from the other houses had also come to watch. There was the odd insult yelled down at the Slytherin players but it stopped when Madam Hooch crossed the ground three other students trailing behind.
The shock of seeing three students crossing the grounds to join the four already there brought everyone to silence.
"Who are they?" Hilda Bandish, who sat near Lorna, asked.
"Sixth years by the looks of it. Hufflepuff's, I think." Hazel Percilli, her friend replied.
Hope filled Lorna and looking around the stands she searched out Jasper. Had he convinced the Hufflepuff players to join the Slytherin team?
The stands remained silent as Madam Hooch joined the group of Slytherin's. The talk among them could not be heard but after several minutes Madam Hooch left the field, leaving behind the three players. Within minutes all seven were up in the air and Bruno Wilmot, as Captain, was directing the players into positions.
Emma Hickbore was sent towards the goal, given the position of keeper. Jackson took the position of seeker and Gannon and Bruno, chasers. The three new plays took the other positions.
Lorna glanced over the Hufflepuff students once more unable to see Jasper in the crowd. As the practice continued students from the other houses left. The handful who remained, a combination of the three houses, showed no malice towards the Slytherin's when they glanced their way.
"What do you make of this?" Roger Rakhorn asked Hilda.
"I don't know. I never expected another house player to join the Slytherin's team. I guess we'll find out in the common room after."
Lorna remained to watch until the end of practice with the other Slytherin's.
"It's going to be an interesting season." Hilda commented as they left the Quidditch pitch.
Lorna walked several paces behind. As the only female first year to watch the trials, the need to support the team early on would be important. If there were Hufflepuff students willing to help, perhaps showing her support might help reduce the harassment she was continually getting.
.
.
Useless end note: Jasper's name was often spelled Kasper because I type terribly.