Opening the first sports letter, Lily found it was about the tennis team. Lily read:

Ms. Potter,

We are pleased to tell you that you are on the Horned Serpent tennis team for the school year 2021-2022 as a starting player. We were very pleased with your tryout and look forward to what you can bring to the team.

Ms. Rumpke would also like to offer you a reserve spot on the school team for next year if you were so inclined to play for the school. She needs your answer before school ends for the year.

Horned Serpent Captain

Mikayla Johnson

Lily whooped for joy. She had been made a starting player in her third year! She couldn't wait to tell her friends. She had even been offered a reserve player spot for the school team. She turned to the Quidditch letter:

Ms. Potter,

We are pleased to tell you that you are selected as 1st reserve seeker for the Horned Serpent Quidditch team. This means that should our starting seeker get injured or is unable to play for any reason, you will be on the field first.

Horned Serpent Quidditch Captain

George Morrison

Lily couldn't believe it. A knock came at her room door. Lily bid the person to enter. On the other side was Andrea and Audrey.

Andrea said, "Well?"

Lily ran her hands through her hair. She said, "Starting player on the tennis team for Horned Serpent and offered a reserve place on the school team."

Andrea's mouth dropped open in shock. No third year that she knew of had been offered even a third-year spot on the school team. Audrey ran to her mentor and hugged her.

"What about the quidditch team?"

Lily commented, "First reserve seeker."

Andrea said, "Girl, your athletics just keeps showing."

Lily said, "What did you expect with who my parents are?"

Andrea nodded. Lily set the notes aside. Andrea said, "What are you going to do about the school team?"

Lily said, "I need to talk to Ms. Rumpke. I need to know how that goes."

Andrea nodded.

They headed up to breakfast. All the second years were mingling with their friends and classmates in the hall. Lily sat down with her friends and ate breakfast. They then retired to the school grounds and settled in their favorite spot. Everyone immediately looked to Lily, who then repeated what she told Andrea and Audrey that morning. Everyone was stunned.

Renee said, "Just like your father. Making school history."

Lily blushed. Everyone then turned their attention to their course letters. Renee began with opening hers. Everyone then followed suit. Each had a smile on their faces until Lily. Lily frowned as she read her letter:

Ms. Potter,

As assistant principal, I don't think you are able to handle all these classes you are requesting to take. I can only approve creature care and arithmancy.

The Assistant Principal

Lily said, "I don't understand. Mrs. Cutter said I would get my classes that I signed up for. Who is the assistant principal?"

Renee said, "Nobody knows. The title is listed but with no name. Only Mrs. Allen knows who it is. I presume it's one of upper year teachers. Why what's wrong?"

Lily shoved the letter at Renee who quickly read it. Renee frowned. The letter was passed around their friends as Lily couldn't find her voice, she was so angry.

Deidra said, "I suggest you skip Mrs. Cutter and go to Mrs. Allen about this. This may be in direct relation to how you ended up here as a student."

Lily nodded. She took the letter back. Her day had been going so well too. After lunch, her friends went to the study room, and Lily went to Mrs. Allen's office on the fourth floor. Lily knocked.

"Come in."

Lily opened the door and said, "Mrs. Allen, I received a letter today about my electives and I'm concerned. I signed up for several classes but was only approved for two."

Mrs. Allen's head snapped up. Course selections were normally approved by her and the dorm parent. She motioned Lily into a chair and went over to her filing cabinet and pulled out Lily's file. She pulled out the course selection sheet that Lily had signed.

Mrs. Allen said, "You wanted to take Latin, Alchemy, Ancient runes, arithmancy and creature care, correct?"

Lily nodded. She then handed the letter to Mrs. Allen.

Mrs. Allen took the letter and read it. She frowned. Why had her assistant principal gone and done this? Lily was a very bright student and it was known thorough out the school. Mrs. Allen pulled out another sheet from Lily's file and noted that it read also what the letter read signed by the Assistant Principal.

Mrs. Allen sighed. She said, "Lily, I do not have an excuse for this. However, I am overriding the assistant principal's decision and approving your course selections for next year. I do not know why the assistant principal decided this. Normally, I meet with your dorm mother discuss what you two talked, and your academics, and we decide from there."

Lily said, "Thank you, Mrs. Allen. I also wonder if this has anything to do with the reason why I was put on the list of being approved to come to Ilvermorny."

Mrs. Allen said, "It will be investigated. Here is a knew letter."

Lily thanked Mrs. Allen and left the office. After Lily left Mrs. Allen's office, Mrs. Allen got on her runic phone to her assistant principal and told them to come immediately to her office. The person arrived ten minutes later.

Mrs. Allen had Lily's file open in front of her along with the letter that Lily had received about her course selections. She ordered her assistant to sit down.

The person said, "Ma'am, is something wrong?"

Mrs. Allen said, "You can say that. I had Ms. Potter in here right before I called you in here. Apparently, she was denied taking most of her course selections. I would like to know why. You are the one who addressed the letter to her and denied the offerings. You know full well that you have no authority over this decision. Ms. Potter is in the top 5 of her class in academics."

The person said, "You were out of the office that day her's came through ma'am. Mrs. Cutter was busy, and I reviewed her file. I saw that she was accepted as a starting player for the Horned Serpent tennis team, a spot as a reserve player on the school tennis team, and 1st reserve on the Quidditch team as a seeker. I didn't want her to be overwhelmed."

Mrs. Allen was very angry. She said, "I am aware of the selections of the sporting teams. I was watching her tryouts. The house tennis team and quidditch team both were fighting over her as a starting player. Mrs. Rumpke had to step in and say that Ms. Potter didn't really want to follow in her parent's footsteps and who can blame her. Then she dropped the bombshell that she was interested in having Ms. Potter on the school tennis team as a reserve player. I have overruled your decision. I'm pretty sure that if Ms. Potter's studies starts to be affected by the sports, she might drop one or both. Ms. Potter is not a sports fanatic like some people. She is more academically inclined. If you do something like this again, I will be doing a more thorough investigation into the reasons why, and your position as assistant principal and teacher at this school will be on the line. Dismissed."

After leaving Mrs. Allen's office, Lily went in search of Mrs. Rumpke. She wasn't in her office. She found her near the sports equipment.

Mrs. Rumpke smiled and said, "Ah, Ms. Potter. How are you doing today?"

Lily said, "I'm good, Mrs. Rumpke. I've got a question about your invite to the school tennis team."

Mrs. Rumpke said, "Aww. I was wondering if you were going to ask about that."

Lily said, "I'm presume the makeup of the team is the same. You probably have one girl team and one boys' team. I'm just wondering what the requirements, and such are."
Mrs. Rumpke said, "You are correct in that we have gender-based teams as the local schools do not do co-ed. The educational requirements are the same. You must maintain at least a C average in all your classes which I don't see you having an issue with. In August, we will meet and train. The tennis season for the school team does not start until March, but we need to make sure the team works well together before winter sets in. As a reserve player, you won't be required to play each match, but must be on hand in case of illness and or injury. Personally, I wouldn't put you in until last resort as you will only be a third year, but you have talent. Putting you on the team as a reserve, allows you to see the makeup of the team and how things go. Since the non-magicals can't see Ilvermorny, all our matches are away. Sometimes overnight stays which the school picks up."

Lily nodded. She asked, "When do you need an answer by?"

Mrs. Rumpke said, "I do not need an immediate answer from you, Ms. Potter. Your position on the team will not affect anyone else."

Lily said, "I need to talk to a few more people including my family. My parents should be on board with it, but I'd rather talk to them first. I was not expecting this."

Mrs. Rumpke smiled and replied, "You are a talented individual, Ms. Potter. Academically and athletics. I am not shocked by your sorting last year. Here is my email address. Just email me when you reach your decision."

Lily took the card. She said, "Once I head back home to Britain, I do not have access to the internet."

Mrs. Rumpke laughed. She said, "With magic, you don't need access to internet services my dear. We just utilize it here due to the ambient magic in the air needs to be used by the house-elves and the wards."

Lily nodded. She went in search of her friends and found them in their study room in the library.