James sat on the sofa scowling. It was staring at him right in the face, teasing him, waiting for him to do something about it. Everything he wanted rolled into one, passion, glory excitement. Instead he was relegated to the side-lines as other; less worthy people enjoyed it while he couldn't.
Quidditch try-outs: Tuesday, Quidditch Pitch, 5 till 8.
"It's not fair." Said James.
"Nothing ever is." Said Sirius who was sat next to him.
"Why can't first years play Quidditch?" said James bitterly, "I bet I could run rings round the chumps that are going to try out."
"Let it go James." Said Lupin as he concentrated on his homework, something James had finished in front of him. One thing anger did give him was focus. James adjusted himself on the sofa and looked at a bunch of second years excitedly talking about it. One boy bragging his comet 32 was going to sweep the field with everyone. James couldn't help but scoff, loudly enough so the group turned round and glared at him.
"Problem Potter?" one of them asked.
"Only one." said James.
"Leave it James." Said Lupin.
"You honestly think that a Comet 32 is going too fast enough to be a chaser?" said James, "Wood has a Nimbus 500 and Terry a Clatsan 430, not to mention the guy who left last year had a Nimbus too. And the other five people who are going for chaser have faster brooms."
"Big know it all for a first year." Said another second year. "Can you even mount a broom?" The group of three laughed.
"Still be able to out fly you on a school broom." Said James.
"Is that a challenge?"
"Take it as you want." Said James.
"Hey Wood!" a burly sixth year turned round and nodded his head to indicate he was listening.
"Let Potter here come to the try outs. He thinks he can outfly Calthorpe." Said one of the boys. Wood laughed.
"Sure why not." He said going back to his book.
"Good to see you again Potter." Said Wood, "Guess you'll have to use a school broom."
"Give them an advantage no?" said James. Wood laughed again.
"You know where and when." He said getting up and walking away. The second years looked at James who grinned back at them.
"What?" asked James.
"You know Michael Wood?" said one, almost in awe.
"Oh yeah." Said Sirius, "We used to play Quidditch during the summer."
"Well, better start practising on mounting my broom." Said James, "I think we have a flying lesson on Friday anyway." He smirked as the group sulked away.
"You won't get on the team." Said Lupin not looking up from his book. James scowled at him.
"You've never seen me fly." Said James.
"Well we'll find out on Friday." Said Lupin, "Tomorrow actually."
James picked a book from his bag. "Don't worry. It'll all work out."
The Marauders Proudly Present James Potter And Lily Evans In: The Marauders Year One
Chapter Thirteen
Quidditch And Capers
Written by Chambers10
Lily sat at her desk staring at the blank piece of parchment. She then looked at the floor at the other twenty or so crumpled pieces of paper. Most of them tear stained. She was determined to write it tonight, she pushed her hair back and began to write.
"Dear…Mum." She said as her quill scratched the paper.
Dear Mum and Dad
Hogwarts is Amazing. I'm really glad you let me come here, it is the most extraordinary place in the world. The lessons are amazing and really interesting, I can already turn a pencil into a needle and made a successful boil cleansing Potion. But there are some more obscure subjects like Herbology, I'm really glad you can't find of those plants in our garden.
I'm also starting to get to know my new dorm mates as well. There are seven of us over all, but thankfully we all have our own wardrobes, and I might have to update my wardrobe according to some of them. But overall we get on just fine, I'm not the only rabbit in the headlights here. There's another girl Mary who comes from the same background as me. Where both trying to find our feet here but where going ok, only got lost seven time. But the prefects are really nice and helpful to.
The boys on the other hand are a rowdy bunch, troublemakers to. But their hearts always seem to be in the right place, I mean one evening they made a cake blow up over one of the Slytherin Tables (Opposite house my house Gryffindor don't like, apparently.) But they are fun.
I'm really looking forward to having a flying lesson tomorrow, me, flying. Admittedly it's going to be on a broomstick. But I can't wait, I want to start now. So overall I'm ok and fine. I can't wait to come home and show you and Tuney exactly what I've learned, your all going to be really impressed. And it's only been two weeks. I have another eight months to go as well!
I hope your all well, and I still miss all of you. Please write soon as I want to know what's going on with everyone. And don't be scared about the owl, that's how mail gets delivered in this world. If you attach the letter to him he'll find me here. So write back soon and I really miss you all
Lots of love
Lily
She wiped the tears away and placed the letter in an envelope quickly as to avoid it getting spoilt by tears. She picked up the failed attempts dotted around her desk and stashed them in her bag. She leaned back in the chair and wiped her eyes again. She looked over at the clock and realised she was late to meet Severus in the library.
Lily had spent almost every evening in the library reading and doing her homework, plus it was good to spend some time with Severus as well. He seemed a little miffed at the fact she spent more time with the girls in her house than him, saying that they were best friends and that they should spend more time together. Lily had been taken aback from the outburst but suggested that they go to the library after dinner so they could do work and catch up.
Lily almost always finished first and spent the time reading any book she could get her hands on. Severus found this distracting as every so often Lily would gasp and go no way and scribble down some notes.
"Do you always do this?" asked Sev, not looking up from his work.
"Do what?" asked Lily placing her book down.
"Get excited by reading a book." Said Sev.
"I like reading, and these books are really interesting." Said Lily, picking the book back up with a slightly hurt look.
"All I'm saying is that you get excited over really small things."
"They maybe small to you, but to me there really interesting. Remember that I didn't come from magic." Said Lily looking back at the page. Snape went back to his work.
"Have you done Slughorn's essay?" he asked after a long silence.
"I finished it last night." Said Lily, "Potions is a lot like chemistry in a way."
"Where you any good at Chemistry."
"Top of the class." Said Lily writing down some more notes. "So it was easy to formulate the potion, the hypothesis and end result and the steps used. Plus what variations you could have used and how they affect the experiment and the alternative potions you could use."
"He only wanted the steps planned out." Said Sev.
"Did he?" said Lily, "…well I put all that in there anyway. Never know, might get extra credit or something."
"And you learned all this at Muggle School." Said Sev.
"Yeah," said Lily, still engrossed on the sentence she was reading, "School work was all I had to do since I had no real friends to speak of while I was at school."
She placed the book down, and looked around.
"How the people in your house?"
"There cool I guess." Said Sev now focusing on his essay.
"Are they friendly?" asked Lily.
"Yeah, they are." Said Sev, "There a laugh and we all seem to like the same things."
"That's nice to hear." said Lily. "Did you know Monkshood and Wolfsbane are the same thing?"
"No. I didn't." said Sev.
"And Bezoar's come from the stomach of goats?" Lily raised her eyebrow. "Could of asked me that on the spot and I wouldn't be able to tell you."
"So what do you have planned for Tomorrow?" asked Sev.
"We got a flying lesson." Said Lily excitedly closing her book. "I can't wait, Potter said-"
"Urgh, haven't you stopped talking to him yet." Said Sev heatedly.
"What, no, why wouldn't I?" said Lily.
"Not after what he and his little gang did to the cake." Said Sev.
"It was immature I know." Said Lily, a smile prying on her lips, "But to be honest if they can do that after only two weeks of magic then they must be good."
"You're defending them!"
"Sev, if they did that to any other house you'd be laughing about it as well." Said Lily a little annoyed.
"Merlin Lily, when will you see he's nothing more than an arrogant idiot." Said Sev.
"I don't deny he's arrogant." Said Lily, "But he's been friendly towards me, so I should to."
"He probably fancies you." Said Sev. Lily started to go red and looked at him angrily.
"He does not, he barely knows me." Said Lily.
"But he talks to you."
"So does every other boy in this school." Said Lily. "Does that mean they all fancy me to?"
"Well, no."
"Exactly. I can talk to however I like." Said Lily standing up, taking her book and bag with her.
"Where you going?" asked Sev.
"I remembered, I promised I'd do something with the girls." Said Lily bitterly walking away.
She stomped through the corridors, how dare Sev criticise who she hangs out with, and there she was defending him whenever she was asked why she hangs out with him. She made her way to the common room, slipping in and throwing herself onto the sofa, scowling and folding her arms, where the first years had called their own, not really caring who was there.
"Problem?" she looked up to see Potter sitting cross legged on the sofa opposite reading a book. He wasn't looking at her but just seem to sense that something was wrong. Lily huffed and looked away.
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Shouldn't keep your anger festered up." He said turning a page; he was very near the end of his book anyway.
"Sev's being an idiot." Said Lily.
"Severus Snape?" Lily nodded. Potter closed his book and placed it down on the table in between them. "If you don't mind me asking, how do you even know him?"
"He lives in my village." Said Lily, "He was the one who first said I was a witch." Potter nodded. "Do you know him?" a small smile appeared on his lips.
"Yes, I do." He said.
"How?"
"I played Quidditch against him a few times." Said Potter.
"He doesn't like you, you know." Said Lily quietly.
"Never has." Said James, "I don't lose sleep over it."
"Why?"
"He's jealous of my Quidditch ability." Said Potter, "Plus I may of punched him."
"Why did you punch him?" asked Lily.
"He made a snarky comment about one of my team mates and I punched him." said James. "I regret it now but… he still holds a grudge." Lily nodded.
"Looking forward to flying tomorrow?" he asked.
"I can't wait." Said Lily.
"I'd say you were a seeker." Said Potter now looking at her top to bottom.
"A seeker?"
"Quidditch position." Said James, "They have to catch the snitch to win the game."
"I don't really do…Quidditch." Said Lily, "But why a seeker?"
"Nimble, light weight, fast, good eye on you. Smart to, seekers have to be smart." He said.
"And you can tell that by looking at me?" She asked.
"Well I used to be a seeker, but I'm a chaser now."
"Why did you change?"
"Saw more of the game." Said Potter, "Wasn't floating around for ages not doing anything. I like to be part of the action." Lily nodded.
"I'd read up on Quidditch, you'll like It." said Potter getting up. "I'm going to get some food, you wanna come with?"
Suddenly what Sev said stuck in Lily's head about him fancying her. "Uhm…no, thank you, I have some homework to do."
"Suit yourself." He said walking away, "Sirius, Food you coming."
"Right behind you, come on Remus." Lily watched as the three boys walked out of the door. Severus seemed wrong about those three. She shrugged and got up herself and made her way to her dorm.
James was awake before anyone else. Even Lupin, but flying was one thing that James couldn't ignore. He was up changed and ready before Lupin even stirred, he even forgot he had lessons.
After breakfast and lessons they made their way down to the pitch with the Hufflepuffs. Adam Rotherman eyeing James up sceptically as he talked to the other Gryffindor's who were laughing at something he and Sirius where talking about, even Peter Pettigrew was joining in slowly with the group.
The Quidditch pitch was something James had longed looked forward to seeing. There were stands that went round in an oval shape for at least thirty stories, every 20 yards or so where these huge towers along the stands which stood another thirty stories from the ground, the lower sections where the students watched while the higher stands where reserved for teachers and parents, kind of like executive boxes. The entire construct was made of wood, but for a building that was a hundred years old there was no sign of decay or rotting.
Stood near the front was a stern looking woman. She had short, sharp grey hair with piercing yellow eyes which reminded James of a hawk that had caught sight of his prey. She stood in a ref's robe with a silver whistle dangling from her neck with hands on hips.
"Welcome first years." She said quickly and sharply.
"Welcome to your first flying lesson. My name is Madam Hooch. Now you will follow me, and no touching anything unless instructed." She turned on her heel sharply and walked towards a door which opened into the tunnel. They walked down the tunnel which was dark from the shadows of the sun outside. James noticed four doors, two either side of the tunnel. Each had the house crest on one. But they bypassed that into the main stadium.
He felt at home. The pitch was vast and had a claustrophobic element to it that James liked. It made everything seem so personal with the fans up close to the action, and with the wood coverings, even when it was empty, it looked packed.
In the middle of the pitch where the brooms, each laid out side by side. James instantly wanted to climb onto one. But against his better judgment didn't. Madam Hooch turned round sharply and everyone stopped.
"Now I will warn you." She said sternly, "I will have no mucking about in my class. Flying is very dangerous, and you can get seriously hurt if you fool about." She inspected their faces.
"Right, now I want one of you to a broom of you go." They set off towards the brooms, James stood next to Sirius and Remus the opposite side. He looked up to see Evans stood opposite him.
"Now, stand to the left of your broom and hold out your right arm." The class mimicked her. "On my command, I want you to shout, UP! Go."
"UP!" said James, the broom instantly shot up to his hand. He looked round to see if anyone else had done it. He wasn't surprised to see Sirius had done it first time as well, but almost everyone else's broom had either just rolled around, or done nothing. James looked opposite him to see Evans red in face shouting at her broom. She looked up at him.
"Say it like you're not scared of It." said James.
"UP!" the broom snapped to her hand. She smiled triumphantly and mouthed thank you at James who just winked back. He could swear her cheeks went a little rosy. Once everyone had summoned there brooms (Pettigrew having to pick his up after numerous failed attempts.) they now had to mount them. The lesson was taking longer than James had anticipated, but mainly because so few people had ever flown before, before he knew it they were all ready to hover.
"Now I want you to kick off the ground, hard." Said Hooch walking up and down the centre. "You won't go very high, maybe a couple of feet, you'll stay there for a few seconds before gently touching back down. On my whistle."
She peeped the whistle, James kicked off and they hovered. He looked round at Sirius who was thinking the same thing. They both wanted to shoot off into the sunset.
"Bet you can't do It." said James.
"Sorry?"
"Go higher." Said James.
"Mate, now's not really the best."
"Chicken."
"No."
Bah, bu, bu, bu, Bah."
"Sod you." Said Sirius through gritted teeth.
"Ok, if you can't do it." With that Sirius rose higher, his look almost daring James to do the same. James grinned and did the same, Madam Hooch was further down the line helping someone else up.
James rose higher again. Then Sirius rose higher again, James then went higher again.
"Potter!" James looked down to see Evans glaring back at him. "Get down, or you'll lose us points." She hissed.
"Catch me first Evans." Said James rising higher. She flushed again as the two boys went steadily higher and higher.
"YOU TWO!" James sighed and smiled and looked down to see Madam Hooch looking up at them.
"Get down this instant!" James shrugged at Sirius who then followed him down onto the ground.
"What on earth are you doing?" she said.
"Kicked off to hard." Said James with a grin.
"Doesn't look like it from here." She said, "Five points from Gryffindor, for each of you, for your idiocy." She walked off. James looked over At Evans who wasn't looking at them.
"Thanks for that you little snitch." Said Sirius. She looked up at James who just shook his head dismissively.
The lesson after that was pretty boring to be honest, it was everything James already knew anyway. But everyone else saw it as the best thing to happen at Hogwarts so far. If this was the best it had to offer then James was going to have to find something to make it more interesting.
"What do you reckons in there?" asked James. As they walked past the forest, the boys stopped and peered deep into the woods.
"Something dangerous." Said Lupin uneasily.
"Adventure." Said James. "Where gonna have to explore it one day."
"Didn't they say to stay out of there." Said Lupin.
"They say not have seconds yet Sirius still does." Said James. He shuffled his bag onto his shoulder.
"So long as Evans doesn't catch whiff we'll be just fine." Said James.
"Can't believe that little cow told on us."
"Guess that's what muggles do." Said James. "Come on let's go have another crack at that willow."
They laughed all the way up to the willow where some other first years where hanging out. More to the point, the Slytherin's. They too had formed their own little gang, thankfully for James, it was a list of people he hated.
Hershel Gibbs, a pureblood like James, but unlike him was up his own arse with his status, always using mum and dad to get what he wanted. He was part of the higher social circle to but he and James stayed away from one another. Mainly because they were fierce rivals at Quidditch, James's team Eastbourne Eagles had beaten his Kroba team quite badly in the past. By his own admission James had rubbed it in his face quite a lot, and Gibbs was someone who didn't like being taken down a peg or two.
Next where the terrible twosome as Isabel liked to call them, Michael Avery and Jack Mulciber. They two were part of the Circle, but had a weird fascination with dark magic, one James or the rest of them refused to take part in. They were loners and had that look about them. They were big and dumb but James could still put them in their places.
The last Person. Severus Snape, one person James hated with a passion. He played for a Quidditch team to, the Cambridge Comets. When James had played against them the last time Snape had made a snide remark about one of his team mates blood status. Something James took to heart and punched him there and then. He was cold and manipulative in his eyes. More to the point why did Evans hang about with an idiot like him anyway. From what James could gather he didn't have real friends to speak off. That's why everyone thought he was a bit odd. But he stayed out of the social circles a lot, which His Mum had always said was odd because his mother had been quite a socialite.
But they were there in a gang of four by the tree with other first years. James walked up to tree with Sirius and Remus, he could feel their eyes on him as they approached.
"Hey Potter. I heard you had points taken off you for dangerous flying." Smirked Gibbs.
"You know those points are worthless." Said James, "Unlike Quidditch points of course, you need all the ones you can get."
Sirius laughed as Gibbs walked towards him. He was so close to James their noses almost touched together.
"You can't hold onto that forever Potter." Said Gibbs quietly.
"I won't, I'll just beat you again and again to make sure the message sinks in. I am better than you."
"I sincerely doubt that Potter." Said Snape silky.
"Still a better flyer than you Snivellus." Said James. "Or have you moved on from a training broom."
"I could beat you in a race any day of the week Potter." Said Snape joining Gibbs, Sirius had now joined James at his side.
"We'll see." Said James. "How about tomorrow we have a race."
"A race."
"So you're not deaf, good. Yes Snivel bee, a race." Said James.
"Where?"
"Into the forbidden Forest and back." Said James pointing to it. By now they had gathered a large crowd which had gasped when James mentioned the forbidden forest. What little colour was in Snape's face had been drained when James mentioned the forest.
"The forest." He said slowly.
"There and back." Said James. "Unless of course you're afraid?" James smiled at Snape who was backing away.
"You'll do it, won't you Severus." Said Gibbs. Snape didn't say anything. "Go Severus, you can easily take him in a race."
"Looks scared to me." Said James, "What's wrong Snivelly, can't rise to the occasion, can't say I'm surprised."
"He won't." All four turned round to see Evans now entering the fray, "Sev won't do it because it's dangerous and reckless."
"Nah, he won't do it because he's scared." Said James.
"Go Severus, just do It." said Gibbs angrily.
"Don't Sev." Said Evans, "Potter isn't worth it."
"Aw thanks." Said James, "Your girlfriend sure is bossy."
"He's not my boyfriend." Said Evans now going red. "Sev, don't be ridiculous, and don't do it." There was a long silence as Snape weighed up in his mind what to do, he looked at James, then to Evans and back to James.
"You got a race."
"Sev!"
"Alright, Severus." Gibbs patted him on the shoulder while Evans stood aghast. "Where and when."
"Here, tomorrow, at one, when the older years are down in Hogsmede." Said James. "Clearly you're not as whipped as I thought Snivel bee." James walked off as Evans started to give Snape and earful.
"You should of made a bet with him." said Sirius. "Stupid fool can't fly for shit."
"Is he bad?" asked Lupin.
"The worst." Said James. "I'm more concerned as to why Evans defended him so much?"
"Their friends." Said Lupin, both James and Sirius exchanged questioning looks at him. "What, me and her talked." Said Lupin, justifying himself to James and Sirius.
"So how you gonna get a broom?" asked Sirius.
"You're doubting me, seriously?" said James. "I'll just use a school one so Snivellus doesn't accuse me of playing him for a complete idiot."
Funny enough Evans refused to talk to James all evening, when Dorcas asked James what he'd done he told her about the race with Snape. She merely rolled her eyes at him and left him, Sirius and Lupin to their own devices. James didn't mind so much. It was kind of funny to see Evans all worked up over nothing. It was nothing really when James thought about it, Snape wasn't her boyfriend so why did she care? Why did he care what she thought? James shook his head and won the exploding snap to Lupin's grunts of frustration.
The next day he was down by the broom cupboards with Sirius, trying to break into the school stores.
"You almost in mate."
"You worry about someone catching us." Said James, "We have to find a way of making this easier."
"Picking locks?"
"No, keeping watch." Said James, as the lock broke. James grinned as he pulled the store open. He picked up two brooms and he and Sirius made their way back up towards the whomping willow. There was already a crowd there waiting for them as they walked up. James couldn't see Snape, probably throwing up in the toilets. He came closer to Gibbs, Avery and Mulciber who were standing by the foot of the forest. James walked up, throwing the two brooms on the ground.
"So, where's Snivellus?" asked James, pointing out the elephant in the room early.
"He's on his way." Said Gibbs through gritted teeth.
"Throwing up in the toilets is he?" asked Sirius, "Should of known Slytherin's would chicken out of something like this."
"He has not chickened out." Said Gibbs, "He's just…getting in the zone."
"The zone. Right." Said James rolling his eyes. "In fact, I think he's been trying to get some luck."
"What makes you think that?" asked Mulciber. James pointed to two figures making their way down to the crowd. They were evidently arguing, because the figure in front kept turning back. As they got closer the argument got clearer.
"You don't have to do this Sev."
"I have to."
"But you don't, just say you can't, I'm sure Potter will understand. I bet he doesn't want to this stupid race anyway."
"Oh, he does." said Severus.
"Why are you so obsessed with beating him." said Evans trying to reason with him.
"Because he needs to be beat."
"But not like this." Said Evans. "Come on Sev, just stop this."
"You don't think I can do it."
"No, it's not that."
"Yes it is." Said Snape as he joined the group, "I'll show you."
"Fine." She said flinging her arms up in the air, "Go do your silly race. I won't be here when you come back." She walked off. James looked at her walking away. She really did have a temper on her, but it was funny at the same time.
"Don't worry Snivellus, she'll come round." Said James winking. Snape began to turn red.
"Where's the race to." He said through gritted teeth. James smirked and pointed into the wood.
"I got our friend Charlie here to place a beacon in the woods when he had detention with Hagrid last night. First one to gather the beacon and bring it back is the winner." Snape nodded.
"I have no idea where's he placed it, and neither do you." Said James mounting his broom, "So…may the best man win." James shrugged of his robes as the crowd around them began to cheer for different people. James focused on the trees in front as he planned his route between the branches. He looked over at Snape, who too had abandoned his robes and was breathing deeply.
Sirius walked into the middle of them. He looked to both of them, and raised his arms.
"On your marks." James and Sirius kicked off and rose a few feet of the ground.
"Get set!" James Leaned forward, and gripped the end of the broom.
"GO!" James shot off from the start like a rocket. A few people gasped as wind blew as he went off into the woods. Snape was almost left for dust as he shot off soon after. James swerved in and out of the branches as he scanned for the beacon, his good start gave him the edge he wanted. He couldn't see Snape at all, which was a good sign. James stopped and looked around so he could get his bearings. All he could see was the wood around him, but he could just make out the start behind him.
James made his way further into the wood. He weaved in and out, his focus only disrupted by a grunt and moan, he turned his head to see Snape in behind him, except with a huge grass stain on his front. Perfectly branch shaped. James laughed and shot off again, only to hear more wind whistling as Snape tried to catch up with him. The then shot into a clearing. James leaned forward more and whipped across the plain with Snape in hot pursuit.
He had to duck under a branch as he re-entered the woods. And swopped down where there were less branches. Then he saw it, a flicker of silver, James shot forward, he dodged a branch and swiped it from the ground. A silver bag in his grasp he swung it over his shoulder and saw Snape come closer.
Snape's face dropped as James waved it in front of him.
"Better luck next time." called James as he sped off. Snape turned his broom and sped off after him. All James had to do was now find the exit. He looked back to see where Snape was. He made that mistake as he hit a branch and fell to the floor with a thud. He rolled along the floor and the bag flew in front of him. James breathed heavily and looked up.
"Shit." he picked up his broom and scrambled towards to the bag.
Only for Snape to swoop in a get it. James cursed again and jumped onto his broom and sped off again. Snape was not pulling away, not from him. James narrowed his eyes, and leaned forward again.
"Come on you useless piece of shit." Whispered James. "GO!" The broom got second wind and went off again. He weaved in and out of the branches as he got closer, and closer. James went higher so he was above Snape now. Now to be the seeker he gave up. He swooped down and plucked it off Snape's shoulder.
"What the UMPH!" Snape rode straight into a branch.
"YES!" James roared as he held up the bag. He swung it over his shoulder and the end was in sight. He flew straight out into the grounds the roars and cheering. He looked down long enough to see Gibbs with a look of defeat on his face. James punched the air victoriously, and landed on the ground to a crowd.
"That was amazing James!"
"Great flying Potter!"
"How did you do it?"
"Please." Said Sirius fighting his way through, "Give the man some air." James turned round to see Snape walking out of the wood. He had a bloody nose and was covered in mud, and with wide eyes.
"Hard Luck Snivellus." Said James, "Better luck next time." Snape glared at James, as the crowd mobbed him.
"So what you doing later? Asked a girl from Ravenclaw.
"I don't know sweet cheeks. You have plans?" Asked James flirtatiously. The girl blushed and said something about getting something to eat.
"Fine by me." Said James, the crowd set off towards the castle, leaving Gibbs, Avery, Snape and Mulciber looking on as he walked up to the castle.
"They didn't stand a chance." Said Sirius, ruffling James's hair.
"Not in hell." Said James, "They talk the talk. But they don't deliver."
"You shouldn't get to big headed James." Warned Remus.
"Come Remus." Said Sirius, "He just basically creamed a Slytherin at racing, we can celebrate." Remus sighed in defeat and carried on with the celebrations.
Lily stood by the trees watching Potter and the crowd walk up towards the castle. She sighed and turned round to see the rest of her friends.
"Boys are idiots." She said shaking her head.
"True to that." Said Dorcas, "Can't believe Isabel indulged them as well."
"What about Jess?"
"Everything Isabel does she does to." Said Marlene. "So it's not really surprising."
The girls were sitting down on the grass. They had seen the whole thing, Lily wasn't impressed. She couldn't believe Severus had agreed to that stupid race. She knew Potter turned his screw, so why did he let him.
Probably down to what Potter said about him being jealous of him she couldn't see why, probably just Potter being big headed again. She had to stop thinking about the two of them.
"You ok Lily."
"Yeah," she sighed forcing a smile.
"Just, you know."
"Thinking how much of an idiot Snape is?"
"Yeah." Said Lily, "And Potter."
"My advice, don't think about them." said Dorcas writing out some homework, "It'll only infuriate you more." Lily nodded and went back to her own Transfiguration work which was quite difficult.
She found Sev later in the library. He seemed surprised to see Lily there, she ignored his questioning look and sat down next to him and got out her work.
"So how did your race go?" asked Lily. He didn't answer, Lily really didn't expect him to answer. Male pride, stupid thing. She started on her work, waiting for a response.
"I'm sorry." He said finally. "It was a mistake."
"Thank you." Said Lily, she smiled and went back to her work. She didn't know why he apologised but took it anyway.
She made it back just before curfew, she opened the portrait hole. Potter was sat with Black and Lupin on the sofa playing chess. Well, Sirius was looking bored while Potter and Lupin where intent on their game.
Lily went to make it pass them without being noticed.
"Not even going to say high Evans. How rude." Said Black.
"Oh hi." Said Lily, "Goodnight."
"I think she's upset about you whipping her boyfriend's arse earlier." Said Black to Potter, the idiot merely grinned.
"I didn't spank him harder than you do if that's any conciliation." Said Potter.
"Urgh, grow up." Said Lily walking away from Potter and Blacks laughter. She walked up to her dorm. All the girls where in there and getting ready for bed Lily joined them and started to read in bed. But as always when the curtains were drawn, she shed her tears for home. She just hoped they would reply to her letter soon.
James made his way down to the Quidditch pitch along with the other hopefuls for the Quidditch team. They were all talking tactics and what they were supposed to do, James was just happy to be there. He was able to train and show them what they were missing, heck if her was good enough he just might be able to blag his way onto the team. But the odds weren't in his favour. Chasers were normally fourth years or higher because they were more physically developed, beaters the same with Keepers usually third year or higher. Seekers where usually the youngest, because they had to be smaller and nimbler. James could pass as a seeker, but he wanted to be a chaser. His heart was set on it.
The sky was grey and overcast with a light drizzle in the air. The pitch was set up with an assortment of drills and practices. Michael Wood was stood on the pitch with his trust Lieutenant Pat O'Riely, a fifth year who was a chaser as well. James lined up alongside his counterparts.
"Right guys, after last year's disappointing show in the cup were going to be really pushing you guys to the limit." He began, "Which is why I will push you to your physical and mental limits." A few people gulped while James looked on.
"So without further a due, we'll begin with some simple plays. Any questions?"
"Yeah one." said one girl. "Why is a first year here." She pointed at James.
"Potter's here at my request." Said Wood, "You just concentrate on your own Game Jenny and don't worry about him." She cast a dark look at James before they were separated to different groups.
James mounted the broom he'd raced Snape with. "Come on, let's show them what we got." He kicked off the ground and took his position with the other chaser try outs. They took it in turns to throw the ball to one another. It was easy stuff, but a few people threw James the quaffle short to try and throw him of balance. James knew they were doing it deliberately, but he tried his hardest to make it all work.
After that came some tactical plays. They started of small before steadily progressing to more difficult more complicated plays. They got to the middle difficult play, James got it really easily. But others, not so much.
"URGH, for fucks sake." Wood flew over, "Can't you see how easy this is? All you have to do is follow your fucking pass. How difficult is that?"
"Wood you need to explain."
"No , I already explained it. You just don't do what you think you should do. You do what I tell you to do. Even Potter gets it and he's a first year for fucks sake." James wished he hadn't said that as all eyes moved on him.
"Just watch him do it and you'll see it being done right. AGAIN!" They repeated the play again, James noticing all eyes on him again to get it right. After the plays, they went onto passing range. Basically they set up hoops on different areas of the pitch with scores in the middle. The harder and more difficult the shot the more points could be scored. James scored almost 500 points from his five throws, and by the end he was the highest point scorer.
Next was the shooting practice. Wood would launch the quaffle in, all they had to do was catch and score past the try out keepers.
James stepped out of the showers and began to change, everyone else had gone back to the castle. James had to wait his turn for the shower, a few disgruntled older years that didn't like being stood up by a first year. As he walked out the only person left was Wood who was sitting on one of the benches.
"Potter, come here to me." James trudged over to Wood after finishing his shower, was he in trouble? No he couldn't be, he played really well. Maybe he was going to be asked back. I hoped he was.
"We're going to see McGonagall." He said walking out of the changing rooms and off towards the castle.
"What for?" asked James.
"We're going to ask her for a favour." Said Wood as they walked into the castle, they made some twist and turns till they came to an office. Wood wrapped on the door.
"Enter." Wood opened the door and ushered James in.
"Potter? What have you done? What has he done Wood?"
"Nothing Professor." Said James.
"Really, he hasn't." said Wood. "He's not in trouble, I came here to ask you a favour actually." McGonagall raised her eyebrow.
"I've just finished the try-outs for the Quidditch team." Said Wood, "And quite frankly they were hopeless." McGonagall sighed.
"This is why I'm here." Said Wood placing a hand on James's shoulder. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but he's the best chaser we have."
"Potter?"
"Yeah," said Wood, "I was hoping you'd be able to bend the first year rule so Potter can join this year." There was silence in the room.
"Why was he even taking part in the first place?" asked McGonagall.
"I invited him. I know he's good I thought he could do with the experience. But he's better than any other person who turned up today." He took some papers out of his bag and placed them on the table.
"Look, on the passing drill he scored over a hundred points more than the nearest competitor. That's throwing a quaffle over half a length of the pitch, for a first year that's impressive. And his shooting practice, he was twenty out of twenty. The best after that is twelve."
"And it was done on a school broom." Said Wood, "Get him on his broom and the cup is ours for sure." McGonagall pinched the bridge of her nose.
"I'm sorry Wood, but no." she said looking up, both James and Woods faces dropped.
"What. Why?" he demanded.
"…because he's a first year." Said McGonagall. "And we made this rule up so,"
"That's stupid." Said Wood, "We have a good player here and we can't play him for some outdated law."
"Wood, I've already had Tyrone Flint on at Professor Slughorn to let Herschel Gibbs play for them."
"Gibbs is crap though." Said Wood, "Potter will run rings round anyone."
"It's not up for discussion, Wood." Said McGonagall, "Potter cannot join."
"But"
"But nothing." Said McGonagall sternly. "If I allow Potter to join then I'll have every other house wanting the same thing. Something I cannot allow." James bit his lip to avoid shouting at her.
"You're really going to jeopardise our chances in the cup for a stupid rule?"
"It's only a game, Wood." Said McGonagall standing from her desk, "This outburst shows you have passion which is why I gave you the job. But you have to understand that I will not budge on this. Potter cannot play this year, no matter how could you think he is." Wood breathed deeply and nodded.
"Ok, fine, but he's going to train with us. And I won't budge on that." Said Wood leaning across the table.
"Deal." Said McGonagall.
"WHAT?" both turned to James who had been quiet until this point.
"Why can't I play, if I'm the best, then surely I should be allowed."
"You have no say in this Potter." Said McGonagall, "Just be grateful I'm not docking points for you going to practice in the first place."
"But?"
"Enough, it's late." Said McGonagall walking towards the door. She opened it and gestured them out.
"And I'll hear no more of this. Goodnight." James followed Wood, scowling at McGonagall as he walked out. The door slammed shut.
"I tried mate, sorry." Said Wood. James sighed and shook his head.
"Bitch." Wood smirked.
"Come on, let's get back." James followed Wood dejectedly through the corridors.