a/n: this chapter is dedicated to DarkGarnetRose, cinnamonstarbarks, xXMizz Alec VolturiXx, and Guest, because they wrote such great reviews! they mean a lot.

I'm not thrilled with this chapter. if you happen to like it (or even if you don't) I would love to hear some feedback in the REVIEWS! I know they're annoying to write, but it's helpful for me as a writer and will motivate me to update faster!

I wake up to the sound of Amelia snoring.

I roll over and check the clock on my bedside table – it's 5:43 in the morning. Since I woke up two minutes before my alarm is supposed to ring, I go ahead and hit the "Alarm Off" button and get out of bed.

I pull on a sports bra, running shorts, and my Quidditch jersey. (My actual Quidditch robes are in the changing rooms down on the pitch, but I only wear those for matches.) I yank my hair into a ponytail, put on my trainers, and head for the pitch.

When I arrive, I notice with satisfaction that I'm the first one there. Take that, Potter. Being early is a lovely feeling.

Remembering Dad's advice on stamina, I start jogging around the pitch. I used to go running quite frequently during Sixth Year, but I slacked off during summer holiday. So it feels great to start running again.

I'm on my third lap when I see a certain tall, dark-haired boy walk onto the pitch.

Potter.

I wave cheekily at him as I finish my lap and run up next to him. "Hi there." I say. "Decided to go for a quick run while I waited for you to arrive."
Potter looks frustrated, but doesn't say anything as he walks into the Gryffindor locker rooms and sits down on a bench.

I sit down across from him and stretch my arms over my head. "So what are your plans for the trials?" I ask.

Potter just stares at me blankly.

"What's wrong with you? Giving me the silent treatment, are you?" I ask, wrinkling my nose. Suddenly I remember the events of last night, and I freeze.

"I was staring at his captain's badge.! I'm jealous that he's Quidditch captain! That's why I've been picking those fights with him – I'm mad that he's captain and I'm not! Okay? Everyone happy?"

Well, damn.

Potter shakes his head in an annoyed way, like he's trying to get water out of his ears. "No, no. It's just, um – never mind. What was your question again?"

I give him a look. "What. Are. Your. Plans. For. The. Trials?" I ask again, speaking slowly as if I'm talking to a child.

"We need a new Chaser to replace Callahan, and a new Beater to replace McDonald." Potter says, giving me an irritated look.

I nod. Alia Callahan was the Gryffindor captain last year, but she graduated and works at St. Mungo's now. And Evan McDonald, who was a Beater, graduated to play on the reserves for the Chudley Cannons. Rubbish team, if you ask me, but I'm sort of biased because my family lives for Puddlemere.

I'm trying to decide whether or not I should apologize for last night when one of our Beaters, Ananya Patil, bursts into the locker rooms. "Hello, you two!" she says, grinning. "Hope I'm not interrupting anything important."

I frown. "Yeah, I don't think so." I say, standing up to give her a hug. "It's so good to see you!"

Ananya hugs me back. "I can't believe we're actually Seventh Years! We're going to have so much fun together this year!"

Potter coughs. "Hello to you, too." he says, sounding slightly ticked off.
Ha.

Ananya stops hugging me and ruffles Potter's hair affectionately. "Hiya, Jimmy. Good to see you."

"Jimmy?" Potter splutters indignantly as I start laughing. "You better not call me that, ever again."

Ananya grins. "Why ever not? It's a nickname for James." she says, ruffling his hair again.

"I'm your captain." Potter says, glaring at the two of us, who are giggling. "Besides, Jimmy is a dumb name."

"Oi! I resent that." Brian Hoffman, Gryffindor's Keeper, says as he enters the locker room. "My dad's name is Jimmy."

This sends Ananya and me into another round of full-blown laughter.

"Poor him, then." Potter mutters, ears red, and even Brian can't help but laugh.

The three of us are still laughing when Ricky, our only Beater at the moment and my very own little brother, walks into the locker room.

He looks confused. "What are you all cackling about, then?"

We start laughing again. We're such a crazy bunch. Well, except for Potter, who looks ticked.

"Nothing, nothing." I say, fighting for breath. "Captain Jimmy over here was just about to go over the schedule for today. Weren't you, Cap?"

Ananya falls to the ground laughing. Brian slumps against the lockers and wipes away tears of laughter.

Potter glares.

I hold up my hands, smiling. "Sorry, sorry." I'm totally not sorry.

Potter stands up, looking annoyed. "Okay, everyone. As you all know, Callahan and McDonald have graduated, leaving a Chaser position and a Beater position open. Trials will be held in about an hour, but first I want to go over the procedure."

His serious expression melts away, and he grins. "I want the best team possible this year. We're going to win that Quidditch Cup if it kills us."

-line-

"Sodding hell." I breathe, staring at the cluster of Gryffindors in the middle of the Quidditch pitch. "Do they all want to join the team?"

Ananya pulls a disgusted face. "Nah. Half the girls are prob'ly all here to ogle at our friend Jimmy over here." she says, gesturing to where Potter is standing, discussing the trials with Brian.

"Blech." I agree. Why would anyone prefer Potter over being on the Quidditch team? I mean, he's fit, but Quidditch is just so much more… amazing.

Potter suddenly claps his hands together and yells loudly. "All right! I would like everyone who is not here to play Quidditch to leave the pitch!"

Ananya was right – half the girls standing in the crowd of hopefuls depart slowly, with longing looks at Potter and lots of giggling.

Ugh.

"Great." Potter says, rubbing his hands together eagerly. "Everyone who actually wants to try out, please fly five laps around the pitch."

There's a quick pause, and then a mad rush as all twenty-or-so people try to mount their brooms and kick off at once. I notice that Potter's sister, Lily, is the first to get up in the air and start flying.

I glance over and see a look of pride on Potter's face. Smiling a little, I turn back to watch the fliers.

Lily's very good, for a Fifth Year. She flies ahead of the rest, her turns are clean and precise, and her posture on the broom is impeccable. A Sixth Year – I think her name is Kate? – is also very good. She's almost caught up with Lily.

After everyone finishes their laps, Potter kindly but firmly tells five girls and two boys – the slow fliers – that they can leave. Fifteen people are left.

Potter claps his hands together again. "Okay. Everyone who wants to be a Chaser, go with Hoffman and Patil." he says, and seven people join Brian and Ananya at the left side of the pitch. Lily is included in that group, I notice.

Potter looks at the eight people remaining. "Everyone who is left is trying out for Beater, yeah?"

One girl, a bratty Fifth Year named Hannah, pipes up. "I didn't come here to be a bloody Beater. I want to be a Seeker."

Honestly, that girl should have been a Slytherin.

Potter looks at me, and I step forwards. "Sorry, love," I say, giving Hannah a fake smile. "But we don't need a Seeker. That's what I'm here for."

She sniffs. "Please. We all know the real reason you're on the team is because you and James Potter are shagging."

My jaw drops. "Excuse me?"

Hannah smirks. "Oh, come on. Like it's not true."

"It's not." I say angrily, stepping closer to her with what I hope is a threatening look on my face. "Get off the pitch. Now."

Without saying another word, Hannah tosses her brown hair and flounces off the pitch, dragging her broom behind her.

I turn abruptly to look at Potter, who looks shocked and angry. Face flaming with anger, I manage to spit out, "I'll be back in a minute."

Potter nods wordlessly, and I storm over to the locker rooms.

"Stupid bint." I growl to no one, peeling off my sweaty kit and slumping onto a bench. I can't believe people are so convinced that Potter and I are – what? An item? I've hated Potter since Fourth Year when he told me I didn't deserve to be Seeker. He's a bloody bastard, and he can't take a joke at his own expense, and I just hate him!

I'm swiping furiously at the tears of frustration leaking out of my eyes when the door to the locker room opens and Potter enters.
He nods in greeting, and I nod back, uncomfortably aware that I'm only wearing running shorts and a sports bra. "Potter."

"Wood." he replies. "Could you come back outside? I need you to be an obstacle for the Beaters."

Stupid unsympathetic git. "What? No apology for making me deal with that bitch?" I snap, grabbing my jersey and pulling back over my head. "You're the captain - you deal with the prats."

"I thought you wanted to be captain." Potter sneers. "At least, that's what you said last night."

"I was tired and angry, okay?" I reply, standing up angrily. "Can we just forget it?"

Potter folds his arms, face turning red with frustration. "You seem to forget that I wanted to be captain as much as you! I earned this, and all you can do is mope about it and tell everyone how much you hate me!"

"Because I do hate you!" I yell.

Potter freezes, his face stricken. I clap my hand over my mouth. That was not a good thing to say to my captain.

"I…. look, I'm really–" I start to apologize, but Potter waves a hand at me.

"Just… go out there and work with the Beaters, okay?" he asks quietly, sounding resigned.

"Okay." I reply, voice small.

As I walk past him to exit the locker room, I stare at the ground in shock.

What have I done?