It was the Friday of their second week of third year, and frankly Evie'd had enough by then. Enough of class, enough of Slytherins, enough of Sirius not being able to keep his hormones in check whenever anything in a skirt walked by. But those were constant demons that she would not be shaking any time soon. So there she sat on the common room couch, tired and cranky, her day not yet over as Quidditch tryouts were in just four hours.

"You look like shit," sighed Tilly as she plopped down next to her friend.

"Thank you, Captain Obvious," Evie muttered back.

"Ooh. It's been a while since you used that one."

"Don't listen to her, Evie. You look just fine," said Marlene as she sat down in the nearest armchair, Lily sitting across from her.

"Maybe you could use a nap or something before tryouts?" suggested Lily.

"But didn't you hear what Mar said? I look just fine," grinned Evie, "Anyways, what kept you? Defense ended forty minutes ago."

"Oh. Well we were held up a bit, weren't we, Til?" giggled Marlene.

"Shut up," She whispered fiercely. Looking at her, Evie was a bit stunned. Was Tilly blushing?

"Go on, Til, nothing to be ashamed of," smirked Lily.

"Did I miss something in my mad pilgrimage to the common room?" asked Evie looking between her three friends.

"Well if by something, you mean Tilly getting asked out on a date for the first Hogsmeade weekend, then yes. You missed something," grinned Marlene at Tilly's deepening blush.

"No way! Who asked you?" gasped Evie, suddenly reenergized.

"Well don't sound so surprised," said Tilly with what Evie recognized as her fake-glare.

"I'm not surprised. I've been telling you for years how much of a babe you are, Til. So…who's the lucky bloke?"

"…Davy Gudgeon."

"Davy Gudgeon! Wow. Aside from the fact that he's got a P in potions and a slag for a twin sister he's pretty much the whole package, isn't he?" laughed Evie.

"Yes well, I wasn't the only one that was asked. Lily was as well," she said thrusting an accusatory finger.

"Goodness, with your attitude towards dating it's a wonder how Davy walked away without a scratch," giggled Mar.

"When were you asked?" demanded Evie.

"Last night. The day went by so quickly and you're not in arithmancy with me so I didn't find the time to tell you. And I didn't want to say anything in front of Potter. Knowing him, he'd use Bertram for target practice."

"Bertram Aubrey? He's not so bad to look at either. Both of you are dating Hufflepuffs. Goodness, the traitorous behavior," smirked Evie.

"Who's dating Hufflepuffs?" called a voice she recognized as James's. She turned around to see him, Sirius, Remus, and Peter walking into the commonroom.

"None of your business, Potter," snapped Lily.

"Well, Evans, obviously," laughed Sirius. James's face visibly paled.

"You're going out with a Hufflepuff? Who?"

"None of your business."

"Well it is my business."

"Really? How do you figure?"

"Because I was going to ask you."

"Ha!" laughed Lily making us all jump at the sudden volume, "Like I would go out with an arrogant prat like you."

"He's not so arrogant or prat-like once you get to know him, Lil," defended Evie as James gave her, what he thought, was his most winning smile. She turned back to the boys, "Speaking of arrogant prats, we've been back two weeks and have yet to put anyone in their place. This is disappointing and making me quite uptight."

"I could help loosen you up, love," said Sirius with a wink.

"As charming an offer as that is, what I mean to say is that we've lulled the Slytherins into a sense of security long enough, don't you think? One week's respite seems acceptable. Two is just irresponsible, and I'm dying to wipe the nasty smirk off ol' Pussball's face."

James rubbed his chin thoughtfully at this, not at all feigning deep thought as they all took their missions quite seriously, "I see what you mean. This needs to be good. Very good."

"Something they won't be anticipating," added Sirius.

"Perhaps something we haven't done before," suggested Remus.

Peter's eyes widened, "Maybe we should-"

"SH!" the four of us shushed.

"Not here, Pete. Evans would tip off Snivelly," said James loudly.

"I can still hear you!" snapped Lily.

"Much as it gives me pleasure that you make a conscious effort to listen in on my conversations, Lilyflower, we should be moving on to a more private venue. Lads! And Evie," he added at seeing her glare, "To the bat cave!" Evie laughed as Remus and Sirius gawked at him. Peter, his dad being a Muggle, laughed fervently, even Lily fought back a smile.

"Don't wet yourself, Pete. He means your dorm, gents," said Evie standing and gathering her bag and robes.

"But you're not allowed in their rooms!" gasped Lily.

"And we're not allowed to sneak into the prefects toilets, but to each his own," laughed Marlene.

After copious attempts at formulating the perfect opening prank of the year, they finally had it. Rather than just one prank against the Slytherins it would be a series of pranks over the course of a week. One per day, and nobody was safe. As they'd need to sneak into Hogsmeade to acquire some of the necessary items there was nothing they could do at the present. And as it were, James, Sirius, and Evie had tryouts. The three of them marched down to the pitch, brooms in hand, to find less people than they'd initially expected. Evie could spot Lily, Mar, Til, Remus, Peter, and to her surprise her cousins, Alaric, Myron, and Scarlett in the stands among other onlookers. The team's captain, a seventh year beater named Robert Johnson, stood at the middle of the pitch. With him were Gideon and Fabian, along with Lane Jones, the team's seeker.

"Alright, thanks to everyone for coming out for the tryouts. My name's Robert Johnson, I'm a beater and this year's team captain. These two here are Fabian and Gideon Prewett, two of our chasers. And the bloke on my right is Lane Jones, team seeker. After losing Hestia Jones, Kendall Wood, and Edgar Bones we've found ourselves with spots open for one chaser, one beater, and one keeper. There are twenty of you here. Only three of you will be chosen. So, first things first. Let's have you sorted into groups. I want chasers over with Gideon and Fabian, beaters over here with me, and keepers over by the goal posts."

"Good luck," Evie mumbled to James and Sirius before they were separated. She didn't really recognize anyone who was also trying out for keeper. There were only five of them: 2 being second year boys, one she assumed a fifth year girl, and another boy she'd have placed as a sixth year. Lane Jones, the slight looking seeker came over to them as the other groups assembled.

"Right, hi. Erm, Captain says he wants to see how you fly first. So he'll have you doing laps after he sorts out the beaters and chasers first. Tryouts are also to fill spots for some reserve players. So we'll be looking for a regular keeper as well as a substitute," he said before looking over at Johnson who gave him a nod, "Alright, that'd be the signal. Since there are only five of you you'll all be flying at once. Three times, counter clockwise around the pitch. Now."

Evie kicked off from the ground, a moment later her Nimbus 500 was speeding diagonally into the air. The feeling of flight sent her into a state of complete and utter bliss as the air hit her at top speed. She was pushing herself faster and faster, outflying her competition who were trailing behind her. Her senses were alert as she rounded on the second lap when she heard the first bludger headed towards them. It was sly of them, Evie had to admit, sending them into the air without any warning. She could hear the whiz of the bludger as it made its way closer to the group of fliers. Throwing a glance over her left shoulder she saw as it completely derailed one of the second years, knocking him into the other one. The three of them that were left made the third lap and were called down by Johnson. Evie landed ahead of the other two, only slightly out of breath.

"Good flying. I'd like to see you three for the next round. Sit tight while we go through the chasers and beaters, yeah? Again, good flying," he said before turning back to the beaters- one of them being a tall dark-haired gray-eyed boy who threw Evie a wink. She laughed as James came over to stand beside her.

"Nice job, Evie. You might just make the team," he laughed as he ruffled her hair.

"Yeah well, you're bound to do a bit better than me. You'll be expecting them to throw bludgers at you or something. They just lost themselves the element of surprise," she replied as she hovered slightly on her broom.

"What are the Ravenclaws doing here?" he asked. Evie followed his gaze to the stands. He was right. Sitting in the stands several rows behind their friends were the third year Ravenclaws: Gregory Cotton, Jeremy Fawcett, Bertie Higgs, Kirley McCormack, and Jack Ogden.

"Well I don't know what Fawcett or Higgs are doing here, but Ogden and Cotton just made their team a couple of days ago. McCormack, I dunno. His mum plays professionally so who knows. Maybe he's just here to watch," she said as she observed them. Jeremy Fawcett was chatting with Lily and Marlene, every once in a while one of them pointing down at Evie, "What do you s'pose they're clucking about?"

"Couldn't tell you. He's Evans's transfiguration partner. Maybe they're talking about homework," he suggested. She didn't miss the wistful glance he gave to Lily.

"So you make it a point of knowing who her transfiguration partner is, along with knowing which hair pin she wears on Wednesdays, and the fact that she doesn't like bacon. Anything else I should be aware of, stalker-face?" she laughed as a mad blush broke across his cheeks.

"Not that it matters, but yes, maybe I observe her every now and then," he said simply as they turned to watch the beaters mount their brooms.

"Look, we're thirteen and not exactly in the biggest hurry to be pairing off or anything. Well at least I'm not. But if you like her so much maybe you simply shouldn't come on as strongly as you do. The way you express yourself to her makes her think it's all one big joke."

"Dare my Lilyflower question my affection?" he gasped indignantly placing a hand over his heart.

"Yes, the fair Lily dareth. And I can see that I'll get nowhere trying to talk sense into you so we might as well just see how Sirius does." With that they watched as the group of seven beaters sped around the pitch. Sirius, on his new Comet 245 was at the head of the pack. When the bludgers were released by their second lap they had a much better time of avoiding them as they were given bats. At one point Sirius hit a bludger over his left shoulder, which then proceeded to hit another flyer who rammed into two more.

"That'll definitely get him points with Johnson," beamed James as Sirius, smirk plastered on his handsome face, and the other beaters landed. He along with three others wer asked to remain. "I'm next. Wish me luck."

"Good luck, Jamesie" Evie smiled at him before he sped off to where the eight chasers were waiting. Sirius flew over to where she hovered a moment later.

"So how'd I do?" he asked as he hovered next to her.

"Is that a serious question?"

"The source is quite Sirius, I assure you," he smirked, earning a small whack on the shoulder.

"I told you the first time, and the second time, and the twentieth time, and the hundredth time you said that. It's not funny."

"Ah, Evie-bee. No appreciation. So really, how'd I do?" he asked hopefully.

"You were by far the most confident and entertaining."

"Great. I was going for perfection, you know, as it comes so easily, but confident and entertaining are close enough," he said with an amused grin.

"You know, Sirius. I'm sure if you shaved your ego off by a third you'd lose maybe forty pounds of unnecessary pressure to that brain of yours."

He gave a bark-like laugh as he slung his arm around her shoulder, "You're certainly in a good mood, aren't you? Goodness and I thought after we'd settled our little prank-less problem you'd be spouting sunshine and rainbows."

"The weather's doing that just fine without my help," she said sarcastically referring to the cloudy September sky.

"Yes, but no sunlight or pretty trick of the light compares to that smile of yours, Evie-bee. And at any rate, somebody's got to be cocky enough for the both of us. You only use that game face when we're messing with Slytherins, or your cousin, or on the rare occasions where you're exceptionally peeved off," he rambled

"Well now that you've effectively explained to me my own behavioral tendencies, how's about we look at James, shall we?" she snapped playfully, unaware of the light blush he got as he realized how he had divulged his observations of her.

"Whatever you say, majesty," he said as he retreated his arm from across her shoulders. Truth be told, that's what had irked Evie in the first place. The fact that he could so casually act affectionate towards her and not mean anything by it, when he'd been seen doing the exact same thing yesterday afternoon to some Ravenclaw named Rhonda Jezpeaks. She had to remind herself not to dwell on that as she watched James, ever the ham, fly through hoop after hoop, outflying and effectively avoiding the bludgers.

After that they would narrow it down by trying them at their intended positions. The first at keeping, the fifth year girl, saved six out of the ten quaffles that Fabian and Gideon threw at her. Evie, being next, had a slight advantage over the other two keepers: She'd been playing Quidditch with Fabian and Gideon for years. When they "feigned" right, she knew that they were in fact actually going to throw right. When Gideon eyed the middle goal, she knew his instinct was to throw it left. It went like this again and again and she ended up saving nine out of the ten. James and Sirius were on the ground waiting for her with matching smiles.

"I think it's safe to say you're in. But that's just my humble opinion," laughed James as he gave her a high five.

"Yeah. I mean, goodness, Bloxum. What were you thinking? Only nine out of ten? Disgraceful," said Sirius with mock disappointment.

"Very funny. For all I know this bloke could be the adonis of keeping and save ten out of ten," she said biting her bottom lip.

"Umm…I think you're safe," muttered James with a puzzled, and slightly disgusted expression on his face as he looked upwards. The boy, Laughlin was his name apparently, was awful. He somehow hit his head on the goal post while he went after an easier aimed quaffle that Fabian sent towards him.

"Is he confunded?" Evie asked concernedly.

"No…I think he's just…bad," said Sirius with a grimace as Laughlin managed to save one goal by having the quaffle hit him squarely in the face. "Wow that was painful." After his ten were up, Laughlin didn't even fly down to the team, instead opting for the castle.

"Can't say I blame him. I wouldn't show my face around the pitch for the rest of the year after that dismal display of how a troll might play Quidditch," said James before bursting into fits of laughter.

The rest of the tryouts lasted for about another hour. Johnson had Evie sit in as keeper for the chaser tryouts. Even with her trying her hardest to block James's goals, the prat still managed to score six out of ten on her- the most out of the last three chasers who only scored a grand total of four goals put together. The beater tryouts were slightly more eventful. Sirius and the other two beaters had a go at defending Johnson, Jones, and the twins around the pitch. One beater, a sixth year named Anne Li, was good but neglected to save Gideon from a blow to the shin. The other, a blonde boy who seemed too small to even be seeker, was a good flyer but an awful beater. At the end of the day, Sirius came out with his charges completely unscathed by the sadistic bludgers.

"Well, I'd say the results are relatively obvious," started Johnson as everyone gathered back onto the center of the pitch, "Our new chaser is James Potter. Our new beater is Sirius Black. And our new keeper is Eve Bloxum. Our substitutes are Gina King for keeper, Anne Li for beater, and Kenny Lyle for chaser. Thanks everyone for coming out. You three, a word," James, Sirius, and Evie didn't even try to hide the wide grins that took place on their faces as they made our way over to the rest of their team.

"You called, mon capitan?" smirked James.

"You three were good. The four of us talked it over and we like your style. Think you'll be good additions to the team. I would, however prefer that you not end up in detention as much as you do. The twins here say that you've got a bit of a reputation," said Johnson lifting a brow.

"If by reputation you are referring to us simply defending ourselves against crude and disgusting Slytherins then we won't deny it," Evie replied with a convincing smile.

"Keep it that way. We'd rather not miss our chance at the cup because half our team finds themselves writing lines on game day," added Jones.

"Aside from that, welcome to the team!" grinned the twins.

"Don't get too comfortable. Practice starts Tuesday. And be prepared to work," said Johnson before walking off with Jones back to the castle.

"Successful little tykes, weren't they, Gid?"

"Yes, Fabe, I must say I was particularly proud. They grow up so fast don't they?" replied Gideon as they feigned sobs.

"Oh shut up," snapped Evie before jumping onto Fabian's back, "Now mush, noble steed! Up to the castle because your queen is tired!"

"You better not make a habit of this," grunted Fabian.