Dedications: This chapter is dedicated to Hannanora-Potter for being the 500th reviewer! Yay! Thank you so much Hannanora and to everyone who's reviewed, read and added the story to their fave's and C2 communities! THANK YOU!
Year: 1972, 2nd Year
James Jabbers:
Quote of the Day: A broomstick in hand makes a man! – I made that one up myself!
"So you're definitely going to try for Chaser then?" Sirius asked me as he gulped down his food like he hadn't eaten in over a week.
It was the first Saturday of the new term and it was the day of the Quidditch tryouts, where potential Chasers and Beaters tried out for a spot on the Gryffindor team. I had been eagerly awaiting this morning for ages. I wanted so badly to be the new Chaser. Since Jared and Dominic left there was a spot on the team for a Chaser and a Beater and these tryouts would determine who they would be. I had been training all summer for the position. Dad had even bought me a new broom – the Nimbus 1001 – which was the newest and best broom on the market. It reached up to a hundred miles per hour and was especially easy to handle. I had been practicing with it all summer.
"Sure am," I said as I took a bite of a piece of toast, "do you want to come out a bit earlier with me?" I asked.
"Yeah," Sirius answered, "what about Remus and Pete?" he asked.
"Well if they're awake they might want to come, but if they're not I'll let them sleep," I replied as I took another bite of my toast.
Remus and Peter had still been in bed when Sirius and I woke up and went down to breakfast. Typically Sirius was a late riser but today I had woken him up early because he wanted to see me try out for Chaser. He loved Quidditch almost as much as I did.
When we finished breakfast I ran up to the dormitory to fetch my Nimbus 1001 to find that Remus and Peter were indeed still asleep. Remus was quite a deep sleeper and Peter was snoring loudly as I tiptoed around the room. Once I had retrieved the broom I ran back down to the Great Hall where Sirius was waiting.
Outside it was a good clear day. A beautiful azure sky glistened over our heads and not a cloud was in sight. Perfect Quidditch conditions, I thought as I went over to the seats on the edge of the pitch with Sirius for a moment to wait for the Gryffindor team.
The only thing was, there was another person in the seats already. It was Lily Evans.
She looked up as we approached; I mussed my hair as we got closer.
If in doubt – always muss hair.
"What are you doing here?" Sirius asked as he looked down at Lily.
I stepped on Sirius' foot. Talk about tactless.
"None of your business," she said to Sirius.
"Well you must have a reason for being here," Sirius replied.
"And I have to tell you – why exactly?" Lily glowered at Sirius.
"You don't have to tell us anything at all Lily!" I said brightly, sitting down next to her.
She moved away.
"I wasn't planning to," she replied.
"Well, you know, we were just wondering what you were doing here – that's all," I replied.
"Well go wonder about someone else," Lily replied.
Before I had the chance to reply the Quidditch team came walking to the edge of the pitch.
"Right, is everybody here?" The captain and Chaser of the Gryffindor Quidditch team Caleb Mort asked. Caleb had taken over captaincy when Jared left.
We murmured in assent.
"We'll be trying out possible Chasers first, then Beaters," Caleb said to the group of potentials that had formed, "Right, Chaser's line up here." Mort pointed in front of him.
I looked around at the potential Chasers; sizing up the competition, which, I noted with satisfaction, didn't look too much of a danger to me. Alexandra, who was in our year, was standing with a broomstick in her hand. I looked to the boy on her right, I didn't know his name but he looked like he was in 6th or 7th year, he was a pretty large looking boy and would probably slow a broomstick down if anything. He wouldn't be too much of a worry.
I gazed around at the other potential Chasers in turn, none of them looked too much of a threat. I looked behind me, and to my surprise there was another potential Chaser standing about a foot or so away from me.
Lily Evans.
I widened my eyes in surprise and realization. So that's what she was doing here! I thought to myself, she was trying out for Chaser! Lily noticed me looking at her and glowered at me before turning away.
"Okay, we'll be playing a normal game to see how each of you fit into the team, I'm sure you all know the job of a Chaser, retrieve the Quaffle and put it through the hoops. When I blow a whistle and call your name you have to start playing and the potential Chaser already in the game has to stop playing. Got it?" Mort asked.
There was another murmur of assent and the Gryffindor Quidditch team mounted their brooms and kicked off the ground.
Caleb blew a whistle and yelled 'Alexandra Bennett!'
Alexandra flew up to the team and I looked up to watch the game. Alexandra wasn't very good. She totally missed the goalposts as she flung the Quaffle in the direction of the Forbidden Forest, which had to be retrieved by Olivia Richards – the 4th year Chaser.
Alexandra tried to put the Quaffle in the goal hoops several more times, each time it went off the field. One time she even threw it backwards only to hit Sturgis Podmore, the 5th Year Seeker, in the face.
I heard Caleb blow a whistle and call 'Lily Evans!' from above me. Lily mounted her broom and kicked off the ground. She flew into the air where the others were playing as Alexandra flew back down and landed on the ground.
Lily was a pretty good flyer, I must admit, as she weaved around several Bludgers and players, retrieving the Quaffle and hurling it towards the goal hoops. The Quaffle hurtled towards the hoops but was flung back out again by the 3rd year Keeper – Rhoderick McCormack. After her first miss she planted two more Quaffles through the goalposts nicely.
Caleb blew the whistle again and the large boy flew into the air as Lily landed gracefully on the ground.
"Nice flying!" I said to Lily as she put down her broomstick. She just scowled at me and turned the other way.
I was right about the large boy, I noticed as I looked up at the game above me. The broom was going pretty slow with him on it. Poor guy. He hadn't even been in the air for five minutes when a Bludger came hurtling towards him. It hit him in the face and he fell off his broom, his face covered in blood. He looked in a right state. The team landed and the large boy had to be taken up to the hospital wing escorted by Alexandra and Lily.
"Okay let's try again, there's only two people left anyway, let's go," Caleb said as the team kicked off the ground again. He blew his whistle and yelled 'Bert Kipple!' I looked over at Kipple, whom was in 3rd year. Kipple kicked off the ground and flew into the air. He retrieved the Quaffle all right but fumbled with it and dropped it a lot of times. Finally he managed to fling it through the hoops, by sheer luck more than skill I think. He retrieved the Quaffle again and dropped it for the fifth time.
Caleb blew his whistle above me and yelled 'James Potter!' I looked around nervously. It was okay when people weren't watching you but suddenly all eyes were on me.
I could hear Sirius yell 'Go James!' in the distance as I mounted my broom and flew upwards into the air.
It was the best feeling in the world. My nerves faded as I went higher into the air, just like the ground was descending away from me. I looked around. I knew what I had to do and how to do it, this was just like me playing at home with my dad, I thought to myself as I looked around to see the Quaffle being passed between Olivia and Caleb. I hurtled after the Quaffle and caught it just before it had reached the grip of Olivia. I looked down to the ground and saw everyone watching me from below. Suddenly I felt nervous and dropped the Quaffle.
Stupid. I was being stupid. This was just another game with dad, that's all, I thought to myself as I zoomed after the receding Quaffle. I caught up to it and this time didn't drop it.
I flew up to the middle hoop at the end and made out that I was about to throw it into the centre hoop, suddenly I swerved to the left and flung the Quaffle through the left hoop, tricking Rhoderick. Sirius let a loud whoop from somewhere below.
I grinned. This was going to be easy. After all, I had been practicing all summer for this position.
The Quaffle was now in possession of Olivia again, whom was hurtling towards the hoops at the other end. Caleb wasn't far behind. I plunged after Olivia and flew in between her and Caleb about a foot above. Olivia made to pass the Quaffle to Caleb but I dived and caught the Quaffle just in time. I flew to the other end of the pitch and planted the Quaffle through the goalpost again.
Suddenly both of the Bludgers came pelting towards me on either side from opposite directions. I knew what to do. I waited until they had gotten very close and at the last minute I flew swiftly upwards. There was a loud crash as the Bludgers collided and went pelting in opposite directions.
Sirius let out another loud whoop. I looked down at the miniscule figures below me and discovered that Lily and Alexandra had returned from the hospital wing. They were both watching me. I smiled in satisfaction, I had just done a great maneuver and Lily had been watching.
I looked around for the Quaffle again and saw it being passed between Caleb and Olivia. I dived at the sight of the passing Quaffle and retrieved it again, then sped to the end of the pitch to plant it in the golden hoop on the right. I let out a whoop of delight and swooped in and out of the goal posts.
"That is some great flying! You're a natural!" Caleb yelled to me as he prepared to blow his whistle.
"Thanks!" I yelled back with a grin on my face. Caleb blew the whistle a last time and the team and I descended to the ground. I landed next to Sirius who was beaming at me.
"Right we want to talk to some of you individually before we make a decision," Caleb said, "Right, Lily," Caleb called to Lily and she went over to talk to the team out of earshot.
"Alex," Caleb called as Lily came back.
I waited as the team went through and talked to Alex then Kipple.
"James," Caleb called as Kipple came back. I went over to them and waited.
"Right James, are you involved in any clubs or anything like that?" Caleb asked.
"Nope," I replied.
"Anything that might stop you from coming to practice if you were Chaser?" Caleb asked.
I thought for a moment. Well, if I had detention that would stop me, "Well… only detention," I replied. Caleb regarded me. "But I'll try not to get any detentions," I replied hastily.
"Right, good then, you can go now," Caleb said. I walked away. The team started talking in hushed voices. Caleb seemed to be having an argument with Olivia Richards about something or other.
When the team had finished talking they trudged back over to us. I looked at them in anticipation.
"Okay, we'll be trying out for Beater's now, can you line up here please?" Caleb pointed in front of him.
"But aren't you going to tell us who got Chaser?" I asked Caleb eagerly.
"We'll tell you after we pick the Beater," Caleb replied with a wink – which I took to be a very good sign.
I nodded as the potential Beaters lined up. There were only three of them. There was Eleanor Adair – a 4th year – who in my experience could scare the pants off anyone she yelled at. Next to Eleanor stood Russell Williams – a very skinny 3rd year who looked as if he wouldn't be able to hold up a bat let along hit a Bludger with it. Next in line was John Collins, a pudgy 5th year.
"Right, I'm sure you know the job of a Beater so when I yell your name and blow the whistle you have to start playing, and the potential Beater already playing has to stop playing," Caleb explained and the team took to the air for the second time.
"Eleanor Adair!" Caleb yelled and Eleanor Adair mounted her broom and sped up into the air. I watched as Connor Gallagher, the 6th Year Beater hit a Bludger to Eleanor. The Bludger came speeding at her and she swung her bat back and hit it with a yell and a force I didn't think was possible from a girl. The Bludger went pelting in the other direction and she flew towards the second Bludger and hit that one as well.
She kept hitting Bludgers for another couple of minutes until Caleb blew the whistle and yelled, "John Collins!"
The pudgy 5th year boy flew up into the air. He hit the Bludger instantly, but the second time he accidentally hit it straight at Rhodrick, who swerved just in time. After that it seemed that Collins just kept getting more nervous. He nearly dropped his bat as a Bludger came flying straight at him and had to dodge it quickly as Connor flew over and hit it out of the way.
Caleb blew his whistle, "Russell Williams!" he yelled and the skinny 3rd year flew up into the air quite quickly. He would have probably made a brilliant Seeker I thought, as I watched him fly speedily up towards the team, but not a good Beater. Most Beaters had to be strong and sturdy or be able to hit with force. Williams didn't look like he had any of those qualities. Maybe he just wanted to get into the team so he would try for any position and once he was in maybe he'd try to change positions. Some people do that.
I watched as Williams flew around the air. The Bludger came hurtling towards him and at the last minute he seemed to lose his nerve and flew swiftly out of harms way.
"You're meant to hit the Bludger, Williams!" I heard Caleb yell from the other end of the pitch.
Another Bludger came hurtling towards Williams. This time he turned to face it, his face written with determination. It hurtled closer and Williams swung his bat back and smashed it into the Bludger, which zoomed in the other direction. It was a fair hit but it looked that that would be the one and only hit Williams would be able to do as he rubbed his right arm sorely.
Caleb blew his whistle again and the Gryffindor team, along with Williams, flew down to land where we all stood.
"We need to talk to the potential Beater's separately for a moment. Right, Eleanor," Caleb said moving away with the team as Eleanor followed after them.
The team talked to Williams and Collins after Eleanor.
"Right, we're going to have a quick discussion and then we'll announce who got in," Caleb called to us as we waited eagerly.
It seemed as if we waited for ages for the team to come to a decision. The seconds seemed to drag on forever as I waited in anticipation. I really hoped that I'd get in. I loved Quidditch so much and would hate it if I wasn't able to get in.
I watched eagerly as Caleb and the team finished talking and came walking back over to us.
"Okay, we've made some decisions. Thank you everyone for trying out and if you don't make it this time there's always a next time," Caleb said, looking around at all of us. He looked at me pointedly.
My heart plummeted.
Maybe I wasn't going to get in. I didn't want to think about it.
Caleb continued, "Our new Beater is-" the three potential Beaters listened eagerly, "Eleanor!" Caleb said. Eleanor let out a whoop. The other two congratulated her but looked disappointed.
"I knew I wouldn't get it anyway," Russell Williams told Rhoderick, who was standing next to him.
"So who's the new Chaser then?" I asked Caleb.
"Right, the new Chaser is…" I could feel my heart thumping in my chest, if I didn't get it… "James Potter!" Caleb announced.
I let out a loud whoop of delight as Sirius and the team members congratulated me.
"I knew you'd get it!" Sirius chortled and slapped me on the back.
"There wasn't any competition! Oh, except for Lily maybe," Mort whispered in my ear. I beamed at him. I couldn't believe it!
I was the new Gryffindor Chaser!
I looked around at the others who had tried for Chaser, all of whom looked extremely put out. Especially Lily. I noticed her whispering in Alexandra's ear, Alexandra was clearly not listening; she was looking at Sirius. Sirius didn't seem to notice.
"This calls for a celebration!" Sirius announced as we walked back up to the castle with the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Which, I can proudly say, I was now part of.
"It definitely does," I replied happily.
Once we had arrived back at the Gryffindor common room the news spread that I was the new Chaser and Eleanor was the new Beater and people came to congratulate us and tell us that we had better be good.
"I knew you'd get in James!" Peter said as he took a sip of pumpkin juice. Sirius and Peter had gone down to the kitchens to get some food and drink to celebrate.
"Thanks Peter!" I replied as I looked around the common room. There was a definite relaxed atmosphere and many of the students joined in the celebrating, drinking, eating and laughing.
"Maybe this year Gryffindor will win the Quidditch Cup," Remus said as he took a bite of a cherry tart.
"I hope so," I said as I saw Caleb walking towards me.
"How you feeling James?" Caleb asked, holding a glass of drink.
"Great," I beamed.
"Good. Listen, practice is three nights a week; our first game is at the start of November, against Slytherin." he told me.
"Okay," I replied.
"If you can play as well as you did today we'll be sure to win," Caleb said.
I grinned, "I'll try!"
"Cheers," Caleb said before walking away.
We spent the rest of the day celebrating my acceptance into the Gryffindor Quidditch team by eating, drinking, laughing and talking about Quidditch and various tactics I would be sure to use.
That night I went to bed with a very full stomach and a general feeling of great happiness washed over me. I had been chosen as the new Gryffindor Chaser!
I was going to try my hardest to win the Quidditch Cup and make everyone proud of me – especially the team, my parents and my friends.
And I would have the opportunity of wiping those stupid smirks off of the Slytherins' ugly mugs.
Which is always a bonus.
7 7 7
Author's Notes: Thank you again to everyone who has been reading, reviewing and appreciating 'Memoirs' I really do appreciate it and I love you all and without you there would be no story. Thank you also to everyone who has added the story to C2 communities and favourites, I really was overwhelmed and just so happy to see how many of you did, so thank you SO MUCH!
French-Chipmunk: Thanks a lot! Yes I like to expand on the characters lives when writing the story, otherwise there wouldn't be a story to begin with!
ThehpgangThanks for the corrections! Yes Slade should be fed to Blast ended skrewts, and yes, there's a reason why Crevan isn't there. He's having an extended vacation. ;-)
Miss Penny: Thanks very much! Yes they are awesome!
brennQTThanks so much! Glad you like Sirius, he's the best! Yes the potions teacher is nasty, but he wont be there for long so don't worry! Thanks again!
AnaraneWow! Thanks very much! Glad you loved the star thing, Sirius is the brightest star in the sk-yyy! Yay! Heh
xMissxUnderstoodxThank you very much! I'm glad the characterisation is how you imagined them, I'm really glad!
LupinLover99: Thanks! Yes you have ta love Sirius, even if he's annoying, which makes me love him even more:D
LupinaeThanks so much! I'm glad you like the way I describe Remus, and the dialogue and the characterisation! Hm, well I do try to update at least once a month, twice if your lucky! Heh. Thank you very much for taking the time to review!
Marry me: Thanks so much:-D
InsanewelshangelAw thanks so much for the long review and helping with the 500 review thing! Yay! Sirius is my fave as well! Glad you liked the R/J bonding time! Thanks for the cookie:-D And so glad you like the pranks! I love writing pranks though sometimes it feels as if they get boring cause some of them are kinda the same. Glad Sirius' birthday was one of your fave chaps, its one of mine as well! Once again thank you so much for all your thoughts and comments on the story, I do really appreciate them!
VisualpurpleOh really? – Sirius is the brightest star only from earth? Hmph. That's interesting! I never knew that! I might just have to slip that in in Remus' dialogue somewhere, it could be funny! (I'd credit you of course, if I use it!) Hrm, my favourite HP character besides MWPP? That's a hard one. Its Mrs. Figg… Hahahah, just joking (not that there's anything wrong with her)… erm, seriously, I don't know! I like Harry… and and Gred and Forge, and Bill. Bill's cool. I don't know, I don't really have a fave HP character besides MWPP! (That sound bad!). Yes I know the story is moving really slow, (especially since I take ages to update! Sorry), but well, at least its moving! ;-D Hahaha. Thanks so much again for your review I really appreciate it and you may not be the 500th reviewer but your just as awesome:D
Unforgettable: Thanks very much! Glad you liked that lolly line!
Writer of Fantasy: Hi! Thanks for the review:-D Yes on to second year finally! Glad you liked Petes encounter with the Slytherins! Thanks again!
Siriusroks73: Thanks so much:-D
SparklingDiamond007: Hi! Thank you very much for your awesome words & comments I really appreciate them! Glad you like the characterisation! Yay! Thank you so much again!
JanetLilyYes Sirius will rattle on forever about the star, if he remembers! Heh. Crevan is on an extended vacation ;-). The fireworks went off by themselves I think, too many nervous first years without magic training was enough to set them off! Glad you liked the chapter, thanks so much!
Alianna Campbell: Heh, yes Sirius found out sooner that he was named after a star! And now he aint gonna shut up about it! Heh. Ooooh, Remus' secret is very close to being revealed!
Erica: No I can never have too much praise! And you didn't post for that chapter so its okay! Slade… well, he's just a casual teacher until Crevan comes back, and Crevan's on an extended vacation, as James suggests. ;-). Hehehee – I absolutely loved that 'but not the brightest guy in class' thing, maybe I will put that in there next time Sirius claims he's the brightest star in the sky! (Will credit you of course!) Glad you loved it! Thanks a lot!
ShalarenAw. Yes songs do have that effect, don't they? Kind of gives more mood to a piece, that's why I always listen to music when I write. I haven't decided how to end this yet though, I was going to end it after 7 years but I don't know now! It depends. Thanks again!
Hannanora-Potter: Hi! You're the 500th REVIEWER! YAY! (As you're aware! Hehe) And I dedicated this chapter to you cause, well, cause you're the 500th reviewer and even though you said I didn't need to I wanted to anyway because well, you're the 500th reviewer! WOOHOO!
Hehe, you felt indignant on Pippy's behalf, well that's nice, perhaps you could start a campaign against the marauders on their abuse towards house elves. Eheh. I am serious! Yes the irony in 'they'll abandon you' was intentional. (Not.) hehe. I just thought of it as something Narcissa would say because she's evil. Chapter 21 was first year. I'm glad you like Professor Bones! I do too, he's a cool teacher. Yes I will be making the story all seven years. Thank you so much again for reviewing and hitting the 500 mark, I really appreciate it and just THANK YOU!
Elvenwolf123321: Thanks for the review! Heh, Sirius was the only star on the screen in that presentation thing? Well that's cool! Thanks again! Ooh, you missed out on being 500 by just one review I think, but still, you're awesome as well because you review! YAY!
T.A Lovely: Thank you so much for the long review! I'm really glad your starting to like Peter. Hehe, blaming Filch for the fireworks, now that's a great idea! Crevan is merely having an extended vacation ;-). Slade, well I don't know about a connection to Slytherin… but all will be revealed! Astronomy is cool, I would love to have a mother like yours too! She sounds like Philomena! OMG about Remus' birthday! WOAH! That is crazy! Your not serious are you! Wow. We both must be psychic! I wasn't even really thinking about star signs when I did that either! Well I'm glad you're considering writing your own version of MWPP! I hope you do! So you actually watched PoA? That's good:) I agree with just about everything you said. And Snape and Sybil married! Aaaaaahhhh! That'd be a match made in hell! Haha. They're the complete opposite of one another. Thanks very much again for your review!
Lavender sykes: Thanks very much! I'm glad you love R/S arguing with each other! I LOVE writing it! Seriously, its probably one of my fave things to write! Ah I love them so. Thanks again!
CaptainwaldoThanks very much for reviewing! I understand about the love/hate relationships about MWPP stories, me too! But actually that's why I started this story in the first place, so I could write about them all being together and be immersed in their world when they were together and having fun instead of later when they all… well… when they go and Remus is alone.
DelanoThank you SO much! Glad you like it! Wow! And once again, you may not be the 500th reviewer but your awesome for reviewing just the same:-D Thanks so much again!
PixiedustThank you very much! I'm really glad you reviewed, and the chapter your thinking of is coming very very soon!
LegosgurlThank you very mucho:-D