Chapter 6: Quidditch Tryouts

Friday was a good day for Albus, James, and Rose. James was going to the Gryffindor Quidditch tryouts, and then all three of them were going to visit Hagrid. They had woken up early, because James wanted practice on the Quidditch pitch before the tryouts started. James didn't mind about riding a Shooting Star, which was the brooms that the school had, because his father had promised him a Cleansweep Seventeen if he managed to get on the team. For a quarter of an hour, James swooped in and out of the goalposts as fast as a Shooting Star could go, before—

"Hey James! What are you doing?"

It was Fred, the Gryffindor Quidditch Captain. Fred had booked the pitch for the morning.

"Needed some practice," replied James.

"Look, the others are coming!" Fred said, pointing to the other end of the pitch.

About twenty students were coming, all carrying Shooting Stars, except a bulky sixth year who had a Nimbus Two Thousand and Two. Fred did a quick head count.

"All right, witches and wizards, come forth! Nineteen, eh! Oh, and James, that's twenty. Excellent, that's all of 'em. Now, first you circle the pitch three times on your brooms in groups of five. One, two—start!"

The first group consisted of four timid second years, three of them girls, and James. James flew fastest and was the only one in the group who won. In the end, only thirteen participants remained.

"Thirteen, eh? Now, you go one by one in front of these goalposts, and last year's Beater, Louis Jonathan, will shoot a Bludger at you three times, and you'll dodge somehow to avoid it. Start now!"

In the end, only James and six other boys remained. James used the Sloth Grip Roll to dodge the last one.

"Excellent, James, that Sloth Grip Roll was brilliant! Now, we've got two Chasers and a Beater missing, leaving a gaping hole in the team, almost as large as the hole in Dad's right ear where it was removed by Dark Magic. Well, that's not the time to mention it. Beater tests first!"

The bulky sixth year who had the Nimbus Two Thousand and Two called Joshua Craig became the next Beater, and then it was time for—

"Chasers!" shouted Fred. "You will try to score against our Keeper, Alexander Jones, who will try to catch the Quaffle. Let's start with James."

James had scored four times, while another participant, Alice Thompson, scored four times, too. The others scored no more than twice.

"Not bad, James and Alice! Seeing as no one else has scored more than twice, I pronounce you the Chasers!" Albus cheered loudly from the stands and felt light with happiness. "Now, let's see who we have. James Potter, Chaser, Alice Thompson, Chaser, Fred Weasley, that's me, Chaser, Louis Jonathan, Beater, Alexander Jones, Beater, Arthur Hill, Keeper, and finally, Angela Williams for Seeker. Not bad at all! We'll have great chances to beat Slytherin on November! Well, practice is on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, now scoot!"

Albus and Rose met James outside the pitch, and Albus congratulated him. He didn't feel any jealousy towards James, because he knew he'd try next year.

"C'mon, let's go to Hagrid's," said James.

The three of them walked toward Hagrid's hut, which was on the edge of the Forbidden Forest. They knocked gently on the door to his hut, and they heard delightful barks.

"Back Fang!" came Hagrid's voice as he opened the door. "Oh, I knew I'd be seeing yeh in a while! Come in, got ter get yeh summat."

Hagrid's hut looked wonderful. There was a massive bed in a corner, unicorn hair hung from the ceiling, and four wooden chairs around a weathered table. Albus, James, Rose, and Hagrid each seated themselves, and Fang started licking James' leg happily.

"So, how was yer firs' week, Albus an' Rose?" said Hagrid, beaming as he poured some coffee for them in bucket-sized tankards and gave them three rock cakes each, which Albus hid quickly under the tablecloth.

"Not bad, Hagrid," answered Albus. "Guess what? James became Chaser today!"

"Bravo!" shouted Hagrid, clapping James on the back so hard he nearly fell off the chair. "Yeh will, too, Al, won' yeh nex' year? Yer dad was a Seeker, yeh know, and yer granddad was a Chaser, too!"

"I'll try," said Albus.

"Atta boy, Al! Let's make a toast," Hagrid said, raising his tankard, "ter the Gryffindor Quidditch team!" the others copied him.

After several more toasts, which were made to Buckbeak, Hagrid's pet Hippogriff, Aragog, his late pet Acromantula, and other things such as life, good luck, and health, James said, "I've got to be going, Hagrid. "I'll send a letter to my parents by Ellie, or Elephant, my pet owl. See you."

"See yeh ev'ryone!" said Hagrid, beaming and waving, while Fang barked loudly in farewell.