Friday arrived, with Demelza, Amy and I waking up filled with confidence. This was what we loved, and we were so ready to show how good we were. I was certain that the 3 of us would be the 3 highest performers out of all of the first years. Something interesting happened on the way down to breakfast however. Hermione approached us.

"Good morning, are you guys excited for your flying test later?" she asked in a strangely enthusiastic manner.

I raised an eyebrow.

"Yes of course, but why are you so happy about it?" I said.

"Well, I've decided that I want to start playing Quidditch myself after watching Harry last year. It looks like a lot of fun and I'm a decent flyer now after the lessons last year and having to use a broom down in the Philosopher's Stone chambers. As a second year I'll of course be trying out for the first team tomorrow, but unless I'm chosen for that, which is very unlikely, I'll be joining you on the reserve team, providing you pass your flying tests, which I'm sure you will."

"Wow, that's great Hermione!" said Demelza

"Yeah" added Amy "what position are you trying out for?"

"Chaser" said Hermione

"Angelina, Katie and Alicia are effectively immovable at the moment, they're far too good to be replaced, from what I've heard" I said. "In fact I've heard all the first team is pretty much immovable".

"I know, they are really good, so I'm only realistically hoping to make the reserve team with you guys, but we'll see what happens"

"Well, good luck anyway, and maybe we'll see you at reserve team practice!"

We headed down to breakfast together and soon after we arrived Harry and Ron joined us.

"Amy, I assume you're a beater like your uncle was?" said Hermione

"Of course" she replied. "He was always going to make sure I followed in his footsteps"

"Why do you care Hermione?" said Ron.

"I'm trying out for Chaser tomorrow"

Ron burst out laughing.

"Y-you, Chaser, you, playing Quidditch? Come on now, Ginny was one thing, sure she made me eat my words and then some, but you Hermione, you, that's a good one! Anyway the first team this year is gonna be nearly impossible to break into!"

"Ron, you know perfectly well that I've always enjoyed the sport ever since I found out about it, and that I can fly, you saw me do so last year! Can you have some faith in me for once!" she said angrily. "Anyway, even if I don't make the first team I won't be too bothered because then I can join the reserve team alongside these 3!"

We did have names, I thought, but stayed silent because I knew she didn't mean anything bad by it.

Ron bit his lip, then seemed to have an idea. "I'll try out as Keeper!" he said, his face brightening. "Of course, I won't be better than Oliver, but I can then be reserve Keeper!"

"Are you doing it because you really want to, or just so you can be equal to me?"

"Of course I want to!"

"Then why did you have to think before you said it?"

I rolled my eyes and looked over at Harry, who gave me a look that said plainly "They do this all the time"

The bell rang to signify it was time for first classes, and we split up, Ron and Hermione still bickering as they walked away.

After lunch, Amy, Demelza and I went down to the Quidditch pitch, ready for our flying tests. First years have Friday afternoons off, so that's why it was happening at that time.

We were told to sit up in the stands as soon as we got there, alongside all the other candidates for the test. There were about 50 people who showed up in total, including Avery, Mulciber and Yaxley. A small temporary platform had been constructed on the ground, and there were also a number of poles arranged in a formation on the pitch.

Madam Hooch and the 4 first team captains stepped up onto the platform.

"Welcome to the Flying Test. Here we are assessing your suitability for reserve team Quidditch. I must stress that safety is absolutely paramount here, so please, if anyone here has never flown before, or is not completely confident in doing so, leave now" said Hooch.

5 people stood up and left, sulking.

"Anyone else?"

There was no further movement.

"Right then. What we are doing here is a trial to test your speed in flight. As you can see, there are a number of poles set up here on the pitch. What will happen is you will be called down by house, and then start the trial one by one. You will fly around the poles to the other end of the pitch as fast as you can. The poles will move and attempt to hit you. The 7 fastest people from each house will make the reserve squads. If you are hit by a pole, you will automatically fail the test. Each first team captain will then assess the successful trialists for their most appropriate Quidditch position. A permanent captain for each reserve team will then be appointed, and it will be their responsibility to lead their teams in practice and matches, which as a reminder will take place right before the respective sessions of the first team squads. It would also do you good to remember that unsuccessful first team trialists from each house will also join each reserve squad. Any questions?"

No one moved.

"Ok, we will go in house order, starting with Slytherin. Can I please have all Slytherin trialists down on the pitch!"

All the Slytherins went down, and their trials got started. To my frustration, Avery and Mulciber both passed the test very easily, so they made the Slytherin reserve squad. Yaxley did very well until the penultimate pole, but was then hit and disqualified from the test, which made me feel somewhat better. At least Demelza, Amy and I now had the chance to better the results of the dark trio. After Slytherin had their seven players, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff held their trials, and eventually after over an hour and a half, it was finally Gryffindor's turn.

Amy was the first to go, and it was no surprise at all that she set the fastest time of the entire contest so far, more than 4 seconds clear of anyone else!

Oliver Wood fist bumped her as she went to stand with him.

"Nice one, you truly are Ludo's niece!" he said

"Cheers!" she replied.

After a few more passes and fails, it was Demelza's turn, and she too made the squad, though not as fast as Amy. She was almost hit by the final pole, but dodged it expertly at the very last second, leading to applause from everyone else watching.

"What a dodge on that last one, I reckon you'll be great at avoiding bludgers, a key skill for any budding Chaser!" Wood told her.

Finally, and last of all, I was up. I mounted the broom, took a deep breath, and blew everyone out of the water! Madam Hooch had barely blown her whistle when I was on the other side! Everyone stared at me, shocked! To them, I must have looked like nothing more than a red and gold blur!

Finally Hooch spoke, as I landed back next to everyone else.

"Well, you've passed Miss Weasley, and you've just made Miss Bagman's time look slow! You're 6 seconds faster than her, and none of the poles got anywhere near you! You are not only on the reserve squad, but with speed and agility like that you could be a shout to replace Miss Spinnet in the first team sooner rather than later! Would you agree, Wood?"

"I would Professor! We have a generational talent on our hands here! Only Harry Potter has ever come close to impressing me as much!"

"I daresay Mr Potter might just have been surpassed. Weasley, what position do you think you play best?" asked Hooch

"Chaser"

"Mr Potter is lucky he doesn't have competition for his spot yet then"

"Oh but I can play seeker if needed" I said "that's my second best position".

"Versatility is an excellent attribute for any player" said Wood. "Well, that's seven of the Gryffindor reserves sorted, and we'll see tomorrow if any more will be joining too!

Each of the houses then took it in turn to assess each player's positional suitability. Gryffindor went first, and it only took a few practice shots for me to be named as Chaser right away, as I got all of them past Wood with no trouble. I was also named reserve team captain. Demelza would line up directly alongside me, and Amy obviously became beater, alongside a tough looking boy named Andrew Godden. The third chaser was our dormmate Mary Davison, though I secretly hoped Hermione would be replacing her. Sloper Vince was the seeker, and the keeper was a girl called Tina Redmond, although again I hoped that Ron would end up taking her spot.

Wood informed us that all our positions would technically be subject to a second quick trial of the failed first team candidates, but I wasn't worried, I knew that none of them would be anywhere near my level, especially after Oliver called me generational. We then watched the other houses sort out their teams.

I saw that Avery would be my direct opposite number, as she was named as Chaser and captain of Slytherin's reserve team. Mulciber became their seeker. Bring it on, I thought, I couldn't wait to show them up!

All the members of the house first teams had been specially allowed to miss classes to watch, and I saw Alicia looking rather uncomfortable after we were dismissed. She did congratulate me, though clearly reluctantly. Harry was ecstatic.

"Ginny you are honestly amazing, you're gonna become one of Hogwarts greatest ever players, I'm sure of it! You'll be playing alongside me in no time!"

"Thanks, Harry, I really hope you're right, I feel really confident in myself!"

"Amy, you are great too, Ludo would have been proud of that display! And Demelza, you're getting better every time, keep it up!"

"So what's the tactics then, captain?" asked Andrew. I laughed.

"Mate, I'll tell everyone that tomorrow"