I reached the pitch in ample time and paused to take in the scenery. Majestic green mountains and an expansive black lake sat behind the wood and cloth structure. The fresh clean air cleared my headache and I inhaled deeply before hastily changing into proper flying robes. For try-outs we were allotted a set of beautiful sapphire and bronze robes along with a striped turtle neck. My Nimbus fit so perfectly into the cubby I selected, something about my endeavor ahead just felt right. I put on one of the gawky helmets that sat in a crate and stepped onto the field. Although the field below isn't used in play it was sculpted with exquisite taste down to the lines and sand pits under the hoops. The thought of flying again was exhilarating and the blood in my veins began coursing, instigating me to swing my leg over my broom and take flight.
"Glad to see you're all punctual," Brad shout with a grin.
"How many of you have tried out before or have prior experience," Lisa inquired. I raised my arm along with a handful of older students in the group.
"You should all split up as per your position, and we'll start from there."
Three students stood behind me closer to a set of hoops. Two were third years and the other a fifth year. They were very interested in my accent and my transfer story. Our day started out with basic flying skills, dodging obstacles and etc. It was intoxicating to soar around in the open air on a real pitch for the first since last spring. The younger students took a bit longer to get acclimated pitch etiquette and other finer details of the game. I watched as the stands filled with students from other houses, curious to see how the try-outs were going. My scan turned to a glare when I saw the rowdy Gryffindor boys seated in a tower clad in scarlet and gold.
"You call yourselves Ravenclaws, you can't fly at all," they yelled jokingly at the students who had the misfortune of passing them. An hour of so passed and after the second beater was decided on, a returning player who performed brilliantly, mock situations between chasers and keepers were arranged. I always enjoyed hurtling myself towards an accelerating quaffle. The remainder of the time went swimmingly. Not one shot was missed, by some slim luck or another, and I even got to call a penalty on the chasers who were working with me. When the sun was high over head the captains called a meeting at the center of the pitch. Two returning Chasers that were sixth years were selected, along with a new third year that had quite the finesse in flight. Lisa was seeker again due to her position as Captain, but a fourth year was taken in as backup to be mentored for the years after Lisa graduated.
"It isn't difficult to place our Keeper for this season, she may be new here even as a seventh year, but she is quite talented in front of a set of three rings." I grinned and took my spot next to my teammates. Another younger student was put in my mentorship, similar to Lisa, due to the specialty of our positions on the pitch. He was a gangly third year who definitely gave me a run for my money during try-outs. Helping teach someone the ropes for the season would definitely be a great way to tune up my own skills. The team expressed its apologies for those who did not receive a position, but encouraged rabid support during matches and to keep practicing and to try out next year. The captains made us sign out our uniforms, assigned us cubbies in the locker room and gave us t-shirts as well. Enchantments on our navy fortress allotted members of the team to be able to stare straight up as if they were on the top of the astronomy tower on a clear night.
"This team space is beautiful," I told Lisa as we exit together to do Ancient Runes homework together in the library.
"Think you're off the hook Hetter?" a voice chuckled. I turned on my heels to glare at none other than James, sporting a Gryffindor turtleneck of scarlet and gold, leaning cockily on his broom.
"You're a halfway decent flyer," he admit, "This could be some great inter-house practice time."
"I'm putting my things down," Lisa whispered, "I have to watch this."
"And also some mental preparation for when Gryffindor kicks your ass next month." I lowered my brow in a glowering glance and set into the locker room again. I quickly learned the enchantments worked on the mood set by those present in the room. The ceiling clouded and simulated thunder boomed as I put on my Ravenclaw turtleneck. Back at Islewood the team would listen to pump up music through an enchanted muggle mp3 player speaker set. The room was acting as this device for me, the thunder and lightning jived perfectly with my racing heart, and once I put on my helmet I re-entered the pitch.
"I hope I don't send you home crying," I retort, adding fuel to the fire. If I felt invigorated during try-outs before, the feeling I internalized now was off the charts. Something about one-upping someone who was learning all to well how to push my buttons put me in an altered state of being.
"I solemnly swear I'm an unbiased party," James' brother Albus lectured as he held his wand to his throat.
"Quietus," he whispered, "James managed to tick me off this morning so I'm giving him no pity." He held his wand to his throat again and read off the rules of the encounter.
"Best of 15 shots at the rings, is that simple enough?" My opponent and I each nodded, then Albus tossed the Quaffle to James. Like an idiot, James preceded to fly all around the arena, especially taking the time to narrowly miss some Gryffindor girls in some sort of pathetic draw for attention. His first shot was easy to block, right at the center hoop. My strategy is to always linger at a distance below the highest and equidistant from the adjacent hoops. The next two were also simple, deviating to the lowest hoop. What happened next was unbelievable. James returned a Quaffle immediately after my toss back, before I was composed to move. My comrades wearing blue jeered at this, but there was no rule barring this. It was usually Quidditch etiquette, but I figured now all niceties were out the window. I was very impressed with James' skills as a Chaser he truly was talented. What seemed eons later, we were tied at seven each. My mind played through scenarios I had of tense Quidditch situations in the past and I decided that this was the time for the rare full body block. James hurtled towards my end of the pitch and I zeroed in the subtle movements his eyes were making. For some bizarre reason he didn't show any signs of slowing down to take a shot, this suspicious move lead me to believe he was heading for a inside shot. At the last minute he swerved up and to the left and I followed. His broom cut the side of my face and I knocked the Quaffle out of his hands, and also him off his broom. He hung from the under side of his broom and stared at me inquisitively.
"You're quite the worthy competition," he contest with a grin, "How about we save that last shot for our first match?" I smiled at the idea, shaking his hand once he was safely upon his broom again.
"Red isn't your color," he jibed, touching my face right below where his broom made a small gash. Something about the encounter made my stomach tie into knots. I blushed slightly and excused myself to clean up and make my way to the hospital wing. My team greeted me back in the locker room and cheered voraciously.
"No Keeper has put up a fight that good against James in three seasons," Brad exclaimed, giving me a clap on the back. After a few more laughs and congratulations on a well fought draw the remainder of the faded out and I changed into my previous clothes in peace. Once all my effects were gathered I made my way out of the tent only to walk straight into the prefect, Matt Edington.
"Sorry about that," he mused, "I was actually coming to inquire if you wanted an escort to the hospital wing."
"Thanks," I replied, "I figure in my condition that would probably be a good idea."
"Also," he continued after holding the cloth flap up for me to exit, "I was curious if you wanted to work on that potions assignment later this evening. I chatted with Matt as we left the pitch, but I couldn't help but think about the fleck of gold I saw in my periphery as I left the Ravenclaw tent.