A/N: Sorry it took so long to update again! Thanks to all reading, and a special thanks to those who have reviewed!

"Sirius, look!" James called to Sirius. James was standing by the Notice Board, looking as if he would explode from excitement. He was gawking at a sheet of paper was suspended on the wall in front of him.

"I don't have x-ray vision!" Sirius yelled back.

"Come here, then!"

Sirius exaggerated a groan and wove his way through the crowded common room. When he reached the Notice Board he examined the paper James was pointing at:

Quidditch Tryouts: Saturday, November 26, 9:30 a.m. Bring your own broom!

"You dragged me all the way over here just to show me this?" Sirius whined.

"Of course! Don't you understand? We can be legendary if we make the team as first years!" James exclaimed.

"James, tryouts are tomorrow! We don't even have time to get ready. Besides, just face it, we don't have a prayer of making the team."

"Wow, you're a real kill-joy!"

"Oh, that's right! It's my fault for speaking the truth." Sirius retorted sarcastically.

"But it isn't the truth."

"I don't want to try out this year, but you go right ahead."

"Fine. I'll do it alone," James scoffed.

"Don't go moping around if you don't make the team."

"I won't mope! Not making the team is the worst that can happen."

"Good luck, then!"

"There is one problem though…" James trailed off.

"What?"

"I don't exactly have my own broom."

"You can't try out without one, idiot!"

"I used to have one!"

"Well, that doesn't help you much now."

"It wasn't my fault I wrecked my Bullet over the summer."

"That was smart!" Sirius teased.

"I have an idea! I can ask for a new broom this Christmas."

"Hello? You need one by tomorrow," Sirius reminded him.

"I'll just steal one from the broom shed."

When James woke up the next morning, the sun was hanging low in the sky. The dew-covered ground glittered in the morning light. The few clouds that streaked the sky were brilliantly colored; the day looked as though it would be perfect for quidditch.

James sat up in bed and stretched lazily. He realized that he wasa wee bit nervous for tryouts. Ignoring the nagging butterflies in his stomach, he dressed and headed down to the Great Hall. There, Sirius and Remus were already enjoying breakfast.

He sat down beside Sirius and filled his plate with scrambled eggs and buttered toast. The food looked scrumptious, but as soon as he began eating, an immediate feeling of nausea replaced his hunger. Therefore, he decided a glass of pumpkin juice would suffice.

"So, James, what position are you trying out for?" Remus asked.

"Seeker. I can fly really fast!" James replied.

"Oh, no, look at the time!" James exclaimed as he looked at his watch. "I'll be late and I still have to steal a broom!"

He jumped up and hurtled out of the room. After retrieving his invisibility cloak from the deserted dormitory, he bounded out to the grounds. A crisp wind took his breath away as he emerged from the castle. He slipped the cloak around himself and crept toward the broom shed.

He reached for the rotting door and pulled it open. A musty smell wafted out of the shed and mingled with the fresh air around him. He stopped breathing through his nose and ducked into the shed. It was dimly lit and cobwebs hug from the ceiling. He scanned the interior. There were about a dozen roughly used brooms. He began examining each of their handles, to find the best make. He decided to take the dust-covered Flash 1900, which was easily ten years old.

He hastily wiped it off and exited the shed, while pulling off his invisibility cloak.

At the entrance to the pitch, James found Sirius, Peter and Remus waiting for him.

James shoved his cloak into Peter's hand.

"Keep it safe!" he said hastily and sprinted past them.

James walked onto the pitch, were fifteen eager looking Gryffindors were standing in a line. A buff, dark-haired sixteen year-old stood before the line of Gryffindors, examining each person carefully. Pushing away the nervous feeling in his stomach, took his place confidently at the end of the line.

"Good morning. Tell me your name and which position you'll be going for. My name's George Hammond. I'm your Capitan this season, and will be playing a Chaser," the buff teenager standing before James said gruffly.

"Jessamy Finney, Keeper," the first girl in line said.

"Timothy Mattox, Chaser."

"Esther Girth, Beater."

"Marilyn Keith, Chaser."

"Bernard Fox, Beater."

"Stephan Sytes, Seeker." A short but strong looking seventh year said.

Soon, everyone except James had introduced themselves.

"James Potter, Seeker." James said.

The pitch returned to its previous silence, Hammond nodded, "Right, off we go!"

James's POV!

I mount my broom. When I push off the ground, the Flash wobbles. I can tell it's old and hasn't been used in a while. I scan the empty stands for my three friends; at last, I spot the three boys and fly closer to them. Immediately, I catch Sirius's eye, and he gives me a slight, encouraging nod. I'm several feet from the ground; I can just make out that Esther girl still trying to get her leg over the broom. I chuckle. She looks to be about 200 pounds, and has little, scrunched-up eyes. Her face resembles that of a pig. I guess if anyone can be a beater, it'd be her.

Hammond told us he's going to test the Keepers first. The girl called Jessamy is already hovering in front of the goal posts. Hammond appears out of nowhere and is streaking towards the gleaming hoops. He winds up and quickly releases the quaffle. Jessamy wasn't expecting it, but her reaction is swift. She swerved, cleanly catching the red ball. Hammond seems pleased, and calls for the next Keeper. In my opinion, none of them do as well.

"Chasers." Hammond calls next.

A petite blond girl, a lean seventh year, and a burly dark-complected boy fly towards George. Hammond has them pass the ball while moving in complicated patterns, then calls for Jessamy to guard the goal posts. I assume she is going to be our keeper. The beaters are next. Esther, Bernard and two others whose names I have forgotten are instructed to hit the bludger as far as they can. Esther, I am not surprised to see achieves twice the distance from any of the others. They show off their aim and return to the group.

"Great tryout! Everyone but Potter and Sytes are free to go. The list of the team will be posted sometime before Christmas Holiday."

After everyone disappears from view, George begins to speak, "Seekers, as you probably know, must be quick, agile and keen of the eye. First, I want you to complete three laps around the pitch."

My stomach lurches. I glance at Sights's broom. His highly polished Bullet 4 Is sleek and shiny, while mine is old, worn and painfully slow. Hammond reaches into his pocket and draws out his wand. After muttering an incantation, a golden line shoots across the pitch.

"Three, two, one!" Hammond bellows.

I lean forward. At once, the broom zooms off, and my heart is racing. I'm surprised - Sights is a few meters behind me. He must have had a late start. The wind whistles in my ears. I'm not going as fast as I'm used to, but the same exhilarating feeling rushes through my body. I'm free feeling every time I mount a broom: light as a feather, with adrenaline pumping through my veins. A shiver cascades down my spine, even though the hot sun beats down on my face. I press my nose to the rough wood, as if it will make me accelerate.

In an instant, I realize I've already made two laps. I look up and Sights is already a good length in front of me. My heart sinks. How will Hammond choose me as seeker if Sights beats me this bad? I will the broom to go faster, but to no avail.

Sights is almost to the end of our last lap. He speeds across the finish line, and skids to a halt in mid-air, taking a few seconds to stop. I give it all I have until the very end, and stop instantly after crossing the finish line.

"Nice flying, gentlemen! Now, I'm going to release the snitch. Catch it fast, I'm getting hungry!"

Hammond floats down to the ground and releases the tiny golden ball, which glints in the sunlight. I see it only for a few seconds, before it zips away. My instincts tell me the easiest way to spot it will be high. I rise up, leaving Sytes behind.

I scan the perimeter for the snitch. Finally, I catch sight of it and dive. It's flitting around one of the stands. As I dive, I carefully trace its movements. Sytes sees my sudden movement and follows me. I'm only inches away from the snitch now, but he passes me, yet again. My hand is outstretched hand, but it's too late. Out of the corner of my eye, I see him fumbling with the tiny ball gleaming between his fingertips.

"Well done!" Hammond praises. "You're free to go. Remember, the team will be posted about a week before Christmas Holiday."

Disappointed with my performance, I sink to the ground and land softly. On the ground, I feel unusually heavy. There's no way I'm going to make the team, I think in dismay as I traipse off the pitch. What was I thinking? All I did was go out there and make a fool of myself! Sirius, Peter and Remus have caught up with me, but I attempt to ignore their presence.

"You did great!" Remus says.

"You're a wicked flyer." Peter added.

"There he goes, moping, and he doesn't even know if he's made the team or not." Sirius said annoyed.

All their comments floated in one ear and out the other.

End of James's POV

The days before the Quidditch team posting went by like a blur for James. When the day of the team posting came at last, James rushed over to the Bulletin after breakfast and scanned the list:

Quidditch Team

Chasers

Marilyn Keith

Timothy Maddox

Beaters

Esther Girth

Bernard Fox

Keeper

Jessamy Finney

Seeker

Stephan Sytes

James Potter: Alternate Seeker

At first glance James felt a pang of sadness. He had not made the Quidditch team. He would not be legendary …but then he noticed very small print under Stephan Sytes's name. It said James Potter, Alternate Seeker. He felt a rush of happiness! He wasn't the first seed seeker, but at that moment, he promised himself, that he would be by the end of the season. The worries that had been weighing him down for the past few weeks suddenly lifted and James remembered that Christmas was in three days. He still had time to wright his parents and ask for a new broom.

A/N: Remember to review! I NEEEEEEEED FEEDBACK!