NOTE: So here we are again. I'm going to try and get chapters posted more often. I really hope I'll be able to do that. I want Valentine's story to move forward. Well, at least we're about to start the third year. Remember, any feedback is greatly appreciated. Enjoy!
%$%$%$%$%$
Valentine spent the first half of the summer hanging around the house, going to Quidditch matches to see her favorite team, the Holyhead Harpies, and Percy's favorite team, the Falmouth Falcons. The second half of the summer was once again spent at her Aunt Cheryl's house. Of course, Valentine had been on her broom as often as she could. That had been difficult to do at home without arousing the suspicion of her Muggle neighbors, but without flying too early or too high, she was able to get in some flying time over the course of her summer before she went to Aunt Cheryl's place.
Lois decided to go shopping in Diagon Alley just with Angela and Chip, which considerably sped up the process. They got back in time for lunch, which had been simmering in the oven for the last hour or so.
Valentine spent the rest of the week reading the books for her new subjects- Arithmancy and Ancient Runes. Those two, along with Transfiguration and Defense looked the most interesting from the get-go. But she'd need to wait and find out in September.
Upon further inspection of her school letter, Valentine discovered something extra that she hadn't noticed during her first perusal of her letter- a permission form for Hogsmeade visits. Valentine smiled. She'd been looking forward to these for a while.
%$%$%$%$%$
The train ride was uneventful. That is, until they stopped much earlier than it should have. The rain continued to pound against the windows, and the lights flickered once until they went out. Everyone inside Valentine's compartment, Terry, Padma, Michael Corner, Anthony Goldstein and Lisa Turpin, froze.
"Why've we stopped?" asked Michael.
"We can't be there yet." said Anthony.
The lights flickered again, and went out. Terry turned towards the window. "The rain! It's freezing!"
"Well of course it's cold," said Padma, rolling her eyes.
"I'm not joking! Look at the window." At Terry's word, everyone looked over. The rain on the window was indeed freezing.
Valentine got out of her seat. As she stood up, the train jolted. "I think something's coming aboard!" The train jolted again. Valentine opened the door and was shocked to find mist in the corridors. She poked her head out and at the end of the corridor, she saw a huge figure in a cloak, gliding into the compartment next to theirs. Valentine hurriedly got back into her seat, leaving the door open.
From the compartment next door, they heard a firm male voice, clearly an adult, state, "None of us is hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks."
They next heard a thud and Valentine gasped, hands over her mouth in shock. They saw a bright white light and the figure left the train without coming into their compartment. A few minutes later, the train started moving and Valentine was startled to feel tears running down her face. Terry leaned over and hugged her protectively. Valentine wiped her eyes on her sleeve and sat up, smiling gratefully at Terry, who smiled back.
%$%$%$%$%$
The Sorting was fairly quick this year, the Hat apparently not spending much time with any of the students, sorting them almost as soon as the Hat touched their heads. Professor Dumbledore got to his feet for his proper speech. The chatter in the Hall stopped almost instantly.
"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts!" Dumbledore paused for a moment. "I have a few things to say to you all. One of them is very serious, and I think it important to say it now, before you become befuddled by our excellent feast." He cleared his throat.
"As you are all aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, Hogwarts will be playing host to the Dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business. They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds, so I must emphasize the importance of not leaving the grounds without permission, as Dementors are not fooled by disguises or tricks- not even Invisibility Cloaks. It is not in the nature of a Dementor to understand pleading excuses. Therefore, I warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to our new Head Boy and Girl, and our prefects, to make sure that no student runs afoul of them." He paused again.
"On a lighter note, I am pleased to introduce two new teachers this year- Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher." There was a bit of applause. Valentine looked up at the High Table, specifically at Snape. Usually, when a new Defense teacher was introduced, Snape looked neutral, or at the most, annoyed. But right now, he looked livid, as if he absolutely despised this Professor Lupin. The applause died down.
"As for our new appointment, I am sorry to tell you that our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, Professor Kettleburn, has decided to retire in order to spend some time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that his place will be taken by our own Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on the position in addition to his Gamekeeping duties." He paused as applause exploded in the Hall, particularly from the Gryffindor table.
"Well, I think that's everything of importance. Let the Feast begin!"
%$%$%$%$%$
Valentine and her friends were in the common room the Saturday after the first week of classes and lunch. Valentine, Terry and Padma were working on an Arithmancy number chart for Professor Vector. This one was devilishly tricky, but it was a challenge that they embraced.
"Well," said Valentine, "we might as well start on that Animagus essay for McGonagall."
Roger Davies, the Ravenclaw Quidditch Captain, came through the door to Valentine and Terry. "Hey you two. We have try outs tonight."
"When?" asked Valentine eagerly.
"What positions do we need to fill?" asked Terry.
"We need a Chaser and a Keeper," said Roger. "Shouldn't be too difficult. I only got three prospective Keepers and two Chasers." He brandished a list. "Flitwick gave it to me. Want a look?"
Valentine and Terry nodded, and looked at the piece of parchment that Roger placed between them on the table.
Prospective New Players for the Ravenclaw Quidditch Team
Keeper:
Phoebe Downing
Gibson Anders
Thomas Clarke
Chaser:
Paul Laurie
Charles Hyde
Needless to say, the second prospective Chaser's name caught Valentine's attention immediately. "Chip?"
"Why, do you know him?" asked Roger.
"Yeah, he's my cousin."
"Is he any good?"
"I think so," said Valentine, "but you'll have to wait until the try outs to find out."
Thirty minutes later, Valentine and Terry went upstairs to get their Quidditch gear, and they came back downstairs. Annabeth and Chip were in the Common Room and looked up as Valentine and Terry came down.
"So Chip, you're trying out for the team?" asked Valentine.
He nodded nervously.
"Don't worry about it. You'll do great!" Valentine smiled encouragingly. "Now go upstairs and get your broom. Terry and I'll go down with you."
Chip nodded again, went upstairs and was back with them in a matter of a minute and a half. "A-Annabeth, are you coming?"
"If you want me to," she said, rising from her spot on the couch.
They got to the Pitch with about five minutes to go. Roger stood on the field in front of the prospective Chasers and Keepers and looked up as they approached. "Hey, you two. Good, you've brought your gear and your brooms."
"Hey. Where do we sit?" asked Terry, nodding.
"Over there with Julian and Erin," Roger replied, gesturing behind him. "As soon as we have our new team members, we'll start practice. Lynn, you can sit in the bleachers," he added to Annabeth as an afterthought. She nodded and sat in the front row.
Valentine and Terry sat with the team's Beaters.
"So how was your summer?" asked Erin.
"Oh, it was all right," said Valentine. "Trained as much as I could, read my new books."
"Oh, for what subjects?" asked Julian.
"I'm starting Arithmancy, Ancient Runes and Care of Magical Creatures," said Valentine. "Terry too."
"The same ones?"
"Yep," said Terry.
Meanwhile, all five prospective players had arrived and Roger had just called them over to explain the trials.
"Since we have four Chasers total right now, me being one of them, the Chasers," said Roger, gesturing at the prospective Chasers and Terry, "will take shots at the Keepers. I'll be in the air observing each of the trials. Understand?" The Chasers and Keepers nodded. Roger consulted his list. "Anders, you'll Keep first."
Gibson Anders was a fourth year, only a year above Valentine. He grasped his broom, one of the awful school brooms, and flew up to the goal posts. From where she stood, Valentine leaned over to Erin and whispered, "I thought Quidditch players had to have their own brooms."
"It's highly encouraged, but not mandatory," said Erin, wincing. Anders had just let in a goal by Terry.
They paused. "He's not doing so well, is he?" asked Valentine as Anders let in another two goals by Paul Laurie, a prospective Chaser, and Chip.
Roger blew his whistle. "Get the Quaffle, Anders. The Chasers will have one more go at you each."
The Chasers nodded, and put in another goal, Anders having saved two shots. Anders landed, blushing furiously. Thomas Clarke, another fourth year, took Anders' place at the goal posts. He saved four shots out of six. The last Keeper, Phoebe Downing, a fifth year, took her place at the goal posts and saved all six. "Downing, stay there for the Chaser trials." She nodded. "All right, Hyde and Laurie, you'll each get six shots to put past Downing. Samuels and Walker, I'm going to release one Bludger. Cause some mayhem." They nodded. "Boot, you can sit down." He nodded. "Laurie, you're up first. Hyde, over here."
Paul Laurie was another fourth year who had just started playing Quidditch last year. He had also tried out for the team last year, and had taken second place to Terry. He tried again, and scored five goals. He landed, Roger nodding in approval, Chip gulping apprehensively. "Hyde, your turn."
Chip took a deep breath and flew up in front of the goal posts. Valentine held her breath, repressing the urge to cheer for him. He scored one...two...three...four...five. On the ground, Paul's smirk left his face. He crossed his arms. Downing threw the Quaffle back to Chip, who caught it handily. He studied Downing's movements for a couple of seconds and started for the right goal post. Downing grinned. Howcouldhebesoobvious?
Chip grinned and threw hard to the left. He scored. Roger blew his whistle, and said, "That's it! Trials are over! My new Chaser- Chip Hyde! My new Keeper- Phoebe Downing! Team, practice. Everyone else can stay if they would like," he said to Anders, Clarke, Laurie and Annabeth. It'snotlikewe'regoingtodomuchtodayanyway.
The team gathered around Roger, who pulled two sets of robes out of his bag. He handed the smaller of the two to Chip and the other to Phoebe. "Turn them around."
Chip flipped his to find the name "Stritten" on the back. Phoebe found the name "Paige" on the back of hers. Roger waved his wand and the names "Hyde" and "Downing" appeared on Chip and Phoebe's robes, respectively.
"Put them on then; all of you. And Phoebe and Charles-" began Roger.
"Chip, please," said Chip meekly.
"Chip, then. You and Phoebe come with me. I have some old Quidditch gloves for you both and a helmet for you, Phoebe," said Roger.
The team all went into the locker room to change into their robes and they emerged onto the field just after three, the sun still shining brightly overhead.
"All right, let's do some warm up laps around the field," said Roger. "On my whistle, three, two, one." Whistle.
The team all rose into the air in unison, all following Roger as he weaved, did corkscrews, loops and all sorts of different maneuvers. He blew his whistle again, and the team slowed again and stopped mid air in the middle of the field.
"All right, let's pass the Quaffle back and forth. Be right back," said Roger. He dived down towards the ball chest, grabbed the Quaffle and zoomed back into position. "Spread out!" There was now about ten or fifteen feet between each player. "Think fast!" He threw it to Phoebe, who threw to Terry, who threw to Valentine, who threw to Erin, who threw to Chip, who threw to Julian, who threw it back to Roger. The team continued to pass it along to random teammates for a while. Then Roger said, "All right, I'm going to release one Bludger and the Snitch. Val, Erin, Julian, you know what to do. Be right back."
Roger threw the ball to Chip, who missed it by an inch. He dived to go get it and when he got back up to playing height, he was as red as a Gryffindor player's robes. Erin and Julian dived with Roger and grabbed their bats. Roger released the promised Bludger and Snitch.
"Hey Erin, I was at a Quidditch match and I want to try something..."
His voice trailed off as Valentine took off after the Snitch. She caught it after a minute, released, gave it a thirty second head start and chased after it again. Valentine was so glad to be back on the Hogwarts Pitch that it seemed she could do no wrong. Giving the Snitch longer and longer head starts each time, she went after it, and caught it fairly quickly each time.
The Chasers, meanwhile, were practicing moving as a unit, Terry and Chip behind Roger slightly in a triangle formation as they passed the Quaffle back and forth. They took turns being at the head of the formation, so it could be carried out no matter who was in front.
The Ravenclaw team left the Pitch about an hour and a half after that. Despite their exhaustion, they were having a great time and were confident that they would do well this year.
%$%$%$%$%$
NOTE: So how was practice? XD Juuuuuust kidding. You saw how it went.