"This yours, Yank? Looks a bit like you… Self-portrait, maybe?" James held up a sketch of a bowtruckle I had done for Care of Magical Creatures.

I snatched it from his hands. "No, actually, Potter, I was sketching you. It's a pretty accurate description, don't you think?"

"Ah, so you have been staring. I thought maybe you were off your rocker."

He dodged the book I sent flying his way, as I screamed obscenities, and soon enough we were having yet another shouting match.

This argument was typical. We barely manage to remain civil during our shared classes, which were the majority of my overall course load, and shouted at each other whenever we saw each other outside of our lessons.

Other than having Potter as a major pain in my ass, I was pretty happy at Hogwarts. Georgia, Carly, Jane and I became the best of friends, and Lily and her cousin, Rose, Hugo's brother, hung out with us as often as they could. Albus, who I later found out was a fifth year like Rose, and I always exchanged friendly words when we saw each other, and often read together. He was almost as much of a fan of books as I was, and that was saying a lot. I was also friendly with Jack and the other boy in my year, Reginald.

Still, I was getting closer and closer to my breaking point with James. The most recent argument we had had me reaching for my wand, though Jane was able to stop myself before I could cast anything. She didn't want me getting into trouble, and I was thankful she had restrained me, but I still needed an outlet for my anger. So, on the day of quidditch tryouts, I was practically floating with excitement. I was hoping the physicality of it would help release my anger.

Jane and I were eating a late dinner, Carly and Georgie having already gone up to start on homework. I hadn't told anyone my plans yet, but Jane knew something was up.

She slammed her goblet of pumpkin juice down. "Tell me what's going on or I'll get my hands on some Veritaserum and force it out of you!"

"I'm planning on trying out for quidditch tonight," I admitted as I picked apart my grilled cheese sandwich.

"Ooh, that's exciting!" Jane looked impressed as she relaxed. "What position?"

"I think I'm going to go for seeking," I decided. "I could go for beating, too, but that's harder on my back than seeking."

"I could see you doing well as a seeker." Jane nodded as she bit into her own sandwich. She swallowed the mouthful before continuing. "What type of broom do you have?"

I grinned. "A Firebolt."

She laughed. "Always a classic, though any of the Starbursts would be better. Have you played on a team before?"

"Yeah. I was actually on a community league for a couple of years. You know, nothing formal, but it was pretty cool." I shrugged.

Jane clapped my shoulder. "I have some news to break to you," she said smilingly.

"What?"

"James Potter's on the team." She flinched when I screamed.

"WHAT?" I was so loud, other Gryffindors and a few Ravenclaws stared at me.

Jane nodded. "Don't worry, I doubt he'll be much of a hassle. He's kept in line by the captain, Arabella Wood."

I racked my brains to remember. "Is she the seventh year that sits behind us in Herbology? With the really long hair always in a braid? She seemed nice." She was always friendly with Jane and I, and had even eaten lunch with us a few times.

Jane nodded again. "She's the daughter of the legendary Oliver Wood. He used to play for Puddlemere, you know."

I gasped. "THAT Wood?"

She smiled. "Yep."

We made our way down to the pitch after grabbing my broom. My Firebolt was my baby. I clutched it closer and closer to my chest as we neared the entrance to the locker rooms.

Jane noticed my nervousness. "Here, we're a little early. I'm sure Arabella's giving the current team a talk in the lockers. Why don't you have a go?"

I looked around, and, sure enough, no one was there yet. I mounted my broom and zipped up into the air. I took in a deep breath, and smiled. I did flips and turns and spirals. I whooped and Jane laughed. An idea struck me. "Hey, Janie, have you ever surfed a broom?"

"Have I WHAT?" Jane called up.

"Let me show you!" I stood on broom and crouched on it. I imagined I was back in California, surfing the waves of Newport Beach. This wasn't technically how a broom was supposed to be used, but my friends back at my old school had invented it one day when we couldn't make it to the beach.

I flipped and swayed and felt like I was actually surfing.

"YANK!"

The spell was broken and I slipped and fell. I heard Jane in the background shouting, and I froze. But before I hit the ground, I realized all I had to do was whistle. I did, and my broom came to me just in time. My old Charms teacher had taught me how to enchant my broom to do that. I was pretty proud of it.

I hovered at 10 feet about the ground, grabbing my chest. Jane ran up to me. "Oh my gosh, are you okay?"

I landed and flopped down on the ground, the adrenaline running through my veins making me want to vomit. "Yes. I was just freaked out. Who was that?"

Jane snarled. "Who else calls you Yank?"

I frowned and picked myself up. Sure enough, James was running towards me. I spun around and headed for the lockers.

"Yank! Wait up!" I could hear James panting behind me.

I spun back around and faced him. "What?"

"What was that?" He gasped as he pointed up to where I had been flying.

"It's called riding a broomstick, Potter," I growled and headed back to the lockers. I could see the people who were trying out starting to gather at the entrance to the pitch. I tried to join them.

"No, that wasn't just riding." Potter grabbed my arm. "What was it?"

I looked down to where his hand was grasping my arm and into his sweaty face. "You startled me and almost killed me. I don't have to tell you."

He straightened. "Fine. You know, maybe I was going to apologize."

I raised an eyebrow. "I'm listening."

He shrugged, and brushed past me. "Changed my mind."

I was about to start yelling at him when I heard a whistle sound. I silently cursed in my head the whole way to the middle of the pitch where everyone now was.

"Right, you lot." Arabella cleared her throat. "We're looking for a beater, a chaser, and a seeker. Anyone here for keeping can leave. That's my job."

Everyone knew this and no one left. I shifted from one foot to the other. She took another look at all of us and cleared her throat. "Right. Beaters first."

By the time they got down to the seekers, it was me and five other people. I clutched the handle of my broom nervously. Arabella regarded us carefully. "Fastest catch of the snitch gets it. One at a time. You," she pointed to a very green looking fourth year, "go."

All in all, I felt more confident. There was one boy who caught it in five minutes, and that worried me. Too soon was it my turn. I gulped and pushed off the ground. I lazily circled, looking for a glint of gold. Time stretched on, and my palms started sweating.

Finally, finally, I saw it, and took off like a shot. The snitch bolted up, and I followed it, inching forward on my broom until I was barely on it. One false move, and I'd plummet towards the ground again. But it was worth it, because I caught it. I fist pumped the air and made my was back down to earth.

Arabella looked impressed. "Three minutes flat. You're almost as good as Potter."

I furrowed my brow, but soon realized she was talking about James's dad, Harry. I blushed. That was quite the compliment.

"We're going to run a few drills as a team now," Arabella continued, "y'know, to see if we mesh together well." She raised an eyebrow at me. "Can you be civil with Potter on the pitch?"

I turned red. "Yes, if he can."

She nodded. "I'll see he does. Good to have you on the team." She winked as she clapped me on the shoulder.

I flew the drills and ignored Potter, who looked furious I was on the team. But, he didn't say anything in front of Arabella. After a while, I began to relax. I felt so much better in the air. I didn't care that I was sweaty and probably smelled like dirty socks. I was happy.

Afterwards, I took a short shower and met up with Jane outside the pitch. She and I started squealing and jumping up and down like little girls.

As we made our way to the Gryffindor tower, however, something stopped me short. I heard shouting coming from McGonagall's office, and my name.

"Linny, come on," Jane whined, tugging on my arm. "I'll get Jack to nick some butterbeer from the kitchens to celebrate!"

I shooed her on. "Go ahead. I think they're shouting about me."

As I got closer, I could hear what they were saying. "She's not fit? Are you bloody mad? She caught the snitch in three minutes, Professor! Only Harry Potter's ever caught it quicker!"

"But she's technically a first year, isn't she? Technically, as in –"

"Stop it, both of you." I recognized McGonagall's voice. Everything quieted down.

I looked at the gargoyle. "Devil's Snare?" I whispered.

He silently let me through, and I stood silently in front of the door, able to hear every word.

"Let me get this Potter," McGonagall sounded furious, "you don't want her on the team because she's a distraction, she's not good enough, and she's a first year?"

"Sounds about right." I could just see Potter's head nodding up and down arrogantly. "She doesn't deserve to be anywhere near a pitch. We don't need an American. We've got good English blood, miss."

"Potter, detention." McGonagall now just sounded tired. "Arabella, congratulations on finding a seeker. Now, out."

"But Professor!" I could hear James start to argue. I felt tears in my eyes. Did he hate me that much.

The door swung open. Arabella saw my face. "Oh, dear."

James and McGonagall peered over her to see what she saw, which was a disheveled mess. Arabella just tucked me under one arm and walked away. I heard James get another detention, and heard the door slam.

Tears were leaking out as Arabella led me into the common room. She pulled me to my friends, and grabbed us a couple of butterbeers.

Jane and Georgie immediately jumped up. "What happened?" Jane wiped my tears away.

Arabella just took a swig of butterbeer. "Potter."

Carly got up, too, but Arabella shoved her down. "Sorry, Hicks, but can't have anyone else getting detention. Potter's got two."

Jane pulled me into her lap. "I quit," I told Arabella. "He was there first."

She just looked at me for a moment, and then shoved a butterbeer into my hands. "The day you quit my team, Benedetto, is the day I stop playing."

I laughed, and drank some butterbeer. "Alright." I paused for a moment, and made the decision to tell them. "It's just it's my birthday, and I really hoped I'd have a good day."

Jane, Georgie and Carly exchanged glances. "That can still happen," Georgie pointed out.

I shrugged and turned when Rose put a hand on my shoulder and said, in a solemn voice, "We knew, you know."

I gasped. "What?"

Jane reached over and slapped me on the back. "Your parents marked it on your calendar, dolt. Here," she said as she handed me my present, as did the rest of my friends. Even the guys, minus James, chipped in and bought me a bag of stuff from a candy shop called Honeyduke's.

I laughed and hugged everyone as I opened my presents. Arabella looked a little awkward, but I just patted her on the shoulder. "Don't worry about it! You didn't know. Plus, you let me on the team. That's the only present I need!"

She smiled, and soon seemed more at ease. The rest of the night was spent playing Exploding Snap.