Chapter 16

Not This Year

Days passed by and with them came the wrath of second year. I thought first year was hard, never mind second. Things were getting more complex every day. In transfiguration for example, we had begun transfigurating living things. And in Herbology, we had begun learning about healing plants such as Mandrakes which were probably the most revolting things I had ever seen.

However, the worst class of all had to be Defense Against the Dark Arts. Professor Umbridge was on everyone's nerves. This entire week has been a discussion of 'What is the Dark Arts?' Seriously. We covered that on the first day of first year! She's acting as if we have no knowledge of the subject at all!

Seamus and I still weren't speaking. I made no effort to make amends. Why should I bother? He was a pompous, self-centered git. I told Iris that.

"You know he's being an effing arse!" I told her, "Like, you don't do that! You don't just go ahead and take out your anger on everyone else!"

"You're telling me," she said, "he won't talk to me either,"

"Why, what did you do?"

"Absolutely nothing," Iris answered, "I guess since he know your views on the entire situation, he assumes that I think of it the same way. Which is true,"

"He's so ridiculous!" I exclaimed, "He was there when the Death Eaters attacked at the Cup! How is that not proof of what is going on?"

"I don't know," Iris sighed, "but you can't do anything about it,"

I tried to push Seamus from my mind. It was a lot better that way. I had more important things to worry about. School. And not to mention, Quidditch tryouts.

Quidditch tryouts. It was probably the scariest thing I had ever done. My entire life, I've drempt of becoming a beater on the Ravenclaw team. Now, that dream was so close, I could taste it. If I made it past these trials, then I would be set.

"ready to go?" Cheryl, Cheyenne and I were about to head down to the pitch to try out. Cheryl was trying out for chaser, just like Cheyenne. Allegra and Vanna were coming with us to watch.

"Yep," I picked up my Cleansweep and we made our way down to the pitch.

"Whoa, Cheryl," Cheyenne suddenly exclaimed, "You've got a Firebolt?"

I took a look at her broom as Cheryl blushed.

"Yeah. It was a birthday present from my dad," she shrugged.

"Holy man, and it's the newest edition too!" Cheyenne examined it closely.

"Yeah,"

"You'll definitely make the team!"

"They don't put people on because they have Firebolts,"

"Yea, but you'll be able to outfly everyone for sure! It travels ten times faster then the Cleansweep!"

Cheryl shrugged, "we'll see how it goes,"

As we reached the pitch, my stomach began to churn in knots. What if I messed up? I mean, I know there's always next year, but that's the point; it's next year. And I had pretty much been dreaming about this my entire life. It was my moment; my chance to make those dreams become reality. I was going to give this tryout everything I could.

Cho Chang, the Quidditch Captain, was waiting in the middle of the pitch along with a cluster of Ravenclaws waiting to try out. Allegra and Vanna bid us good luck and headed up into the stands as we joined the crowd around Cho. Cho greeted us and wished us best of luck and with that the tryouts commenced.

Firstly was the tryout for Keeper, followed by Chaser tryouts where Cheryl, as Cheyenne predicted, completely killed. Every shot she took on the goal hoop went in easily and she was able to successfully steal the Quaffle away from those opposing her. Cheyenne did alright, however, a couple of her passes had interceptions.

"Ah well," she shrugged when she came back down, "maybe next year,"

"You could still get on, you know,"

"Probably not though with the way that Sean McIvor and Cheryl outplayed me,"

"You did great," I reassured her, "now I hope that I can do just as good,"

I mounted my broom and followed Cho to where a whole bunch of beater targets were set up. The task was simple; see how many accurate hits you could get out of ten. I hoped I would do well.

The two girls before me were ok. One got 7/10 hits while the other got 8/10. I was slowly getting nervous. I had to do better then them!

Finally, it was my turn and I focused all my energy on being aware of the presence of bludgers. I felt one zoom past and quickly swooped down after it and turned to get in its pathway. With one sharp flick, I sent it flying into the first target. It was a bit off center, hitting the top rather than a perfect bulls eye, but it still counted as a hit. I vowed to make the next shots better.

The second shot hit the target a bit lower then where I was aiming, while the third hit the side of the target. Focus, I chided myself. The fourth one hit right on. Yes, now this is what I am talking about, along with the fifth and sixth. Number 7 was the worst though. I missed completely and sent the bludger spiraling into a goal post. Crap, I thought. I had three hits left to go. These have to work out perfectly! The eighth shot hit the target as well as the ninth and tenth, which finished with a perfect bulls eye. Even so though, there was that one shot that I missed.

"That was so good!" Cheyenne exclaimed when I dismounted from my broomstick.

"No that wasn't, That one shot completely hit a goal post! And over half of them weren't even on target!"

"You did amazing, Kat. Way better then the two before you,"

I shrugged. It just felt bad. I felt like I could have done better.

"I probably didn't make it," I said, "plus, there's all thouse fourth years left to go. Not to mention Kennedy Streton. And you know the Streton's. Jeremy was a chaser for six years. She's been on the team for the last two. There's no way that I'll get her spot,"

And as predicted, Kennedy got through all ten targets in record time, each hit consecutive and right on target. I couldn't compete.

The tryouts ended and Cho announced who had been chosen.

"I've come to a decision," she announced, "the position of Keeper is Grant Page. Chasers are Cheryl Crawford, Sean McIvor and Astrid Sanchez. Beaters are Kennedy Streton and Duncan Inglebee," My heart sank. I had blown it. This one moment, the one I had been dreaming of since forever, was gone. I failed.

"I want to thank you all for trying out," Cho said, "keep training and please do come back next year,"

I sighed. I guess I still had five years of school left ahead of me. But still, I wanted it so badly. And I didn't get it.

"You okay?" Cheyenne asked.

"I guess," I mumbled. Everything was going downhill lately. From classes with Umbridge, to Seamus, to Quidditch, second year was not off to a great start.

"It'll get better. Come on, there's always next year,"

"I guess. It's just that I wanted it so badly. I wanted to be like Mum. It sounds kinda stupid of I wanted to sort of 'uphold her legacy'. You know, follow in her footsteps. Make everyone proud,"

"Everyone is very proud of you Katerina,"

"Yeah I know. But still, I just wanted something to go right, you know?" Cuz after Seamus said what he said and with all that's going on, I just don't know anymore,"

"Don't listen to Seamus. He's being a git and you know it,"

"Yes. But that doesn't stop how I feel about him,"

"I know. But you can't let him bring you down!"

" But he hates me!"

"Of course he doesn't hate you. God, you know that sometime he is going to have to come around right,"

I nodded weakly, "I just don't know what to do anymore,"

"Just stop worrying about him," Cheyenne said, "promise?"

"I'll try," I said.

I really hoped I could keep that promise.