Quidditch

A very small, very timid second year Ravenclaw student crept carefully through the darkened halls of Hogwarts. It was an hour after curfew but Astoria knew that this was her best chance. Try outs for the Ravenclaw team were in just over a week and she needed the practice. All of the lessons last year were cancelled or moved as the pitch was turned into a giant maze.

Now this was the moment of truth.

The whole of Astoria's family were Slytherins, purebloods, she was the black sheep of the herd and whilst her mother and father had taken the news surprisingly well she knew that the colour of her school tie disappointed them. She was going to get on to the Quidditch team and make them proud.

But to do that she needed to practice.

She quickly skittered down the stairs in the great hall and dashed across the wide open space. The only light came from the high windows that bathed the hall in a pale light but Astoria was terrified that a teacher or a prefect was lurking in the shadows ready to give her a detention.

She pressed herself back against the cold stone of the wall, clutching her broom to her chest with both hands. After a few minutes she convinced herself that nothing and no one was there waiting to jump out of the shadows at her and so she started moving again.

The big front door was heavy, and Astroia was shocked to find that it was only held by a latch, but she ignored this questionable security and stole out into the dark September night. And it was cold, oh so very cold. Astoria couldn't believe that she had forgotten a coat, but she had come this far and she was determined to go to the very end.

Wrapping her arms round herself she lowered her head and battled her way down to the Quidditch pitch, shivering violently. She walked out into the centre of the pitch, mounted her broom and prepared to kick off.

"Oh come on kid, what are you doing?"

Astoria jumped and shrieked, managing to fall over herself and falling rather hard on her bottom. She groaned but it came out as more of a squeak as she looked into the shadows around her searching for the source of the voice.

A tall, pretty Gryffindor 7th year emerged from the shadows. Astoria recognised her as one of the Gryffindor team, her name was Angelina Johnson.

"Seriously, what are you a Ravenclaw? You can't be more than second year honestly what are you doing out here?"

Astoria gaped, her mouth opening and closing like a fish as this older student towered over her, hands on hips, posture intimidating.

"I-I-I"

"Do you want me to give you a detention?"

"T-training!" she stammered scooting backwards slightly. "I want to m-make the t-team."

Astoria watched as the older girl relaxed her stance, hands dropping from her hips. She stayed nervous however as Angelina proceeded to examine her closely.

Astoria must have been shivering noticeably as Angelina pulled out her wand and cast a warming charm around the younger student. She reached down a hand and pulled Astoria up.

"You were holding your broom all wrong, your hands need to be spaced further apart. You'll never make the team if you fall straight off."

"Like this?" Astoria asked, clambering back on to the broom and moving her hands further apart, she already felt steadier.

"A little further, perfect. Now rise onto the balls of your feet, good, and gently bounce. Perfect. Look you're hovering."

Astoria grinned as she pulled her feet away from the ground to discover that she was actually hovering. She had never really ridden a broom before and even these few inches off the ground were exhilarating.

"Okay stay here, I'm going to get my broom and we'll do a few laps. Oh and tomorrow night, remember your coat."