Chapter 21: The Trials
When James stepped out onto the pitch that day he knew he wouldn't leave without a fight. Everyone was taller, older, more gruff looking than him, but James Potter wasn't one to give up. His father had taught him that and he full intended to leave with a cup of victory today.
"Oh stop looking at them, James." Marlene chastised as she fiddled with his cape that was slightly larger than James was. "Besides being so much hotter than you- they're basically the same." James looked at her as she finished looking pointedly at him. "All egotistical, messy haired, attention seeking hogs."
"Thanks Marlene." James said. He clenched his broom tightly around the handle and tried to believe everything Marlene had said was true. James wanted so badly to win this- it had been his dream ever since he had learned to ride a broom and if he didn't make the cut he wouldn't know what do with himself.
There would be nothing to look forward to at Hogwarts for James Potter.
"James," Marlene looked him straight in the eye. "You know you're my best friend right- and you'll still be that even after whatever happens alright?"
James was about to tell Marlene she was being overly gushy and motherly for a tiny trial when he caught sight of the green and blue robed players making their way onto the pitch. Colton too,having noticed held up his hand quieting the crowd, and making his way over towards them. Curious, James inched closer.
"-I told him the same thing. It's not good for any of us." The lanky Ravenclaw captain was saying. "It's better to keep this between us."
"The only way this wold work is if Hillbard agrees. You know she's going to be the one that really rats us out." This person James recognized. Emma Vanity was ever as stunning as she stood tall and proud with her new Streak 3000 as well.
"Why would she even stay quiet?" Colton asked looking between his fellow captains. "She's the one who gets the least out of this."
"We just have to convince her." The Ravenclaw captain insisted. "We don't have any other choice."
"You." Emma Vanity had suddenly turned onto him. James stood up tall in the shadow of the three tall captains.
"Is he trying out Colton?" Emma asked the Gryffindor captain who nodded. Emma laughed. "Remember what I told you last year kid? Right now it's going to be real handy." She laughed lightly while Colton looked between them curiously.
"You've met before?"
"Eh, last year," James shrugged.
Perhaps if he had the Slytherin captains favor he would get in..no. James shook his head. If he won, he would win on his accord and not anyone else's.
"Thank you. But I think I've got this."
The Ravenclaw captain smirked at James as did Emma before they both nodded to Colton and bid him goodbye.
"JAMES!" someone was shouting his name from the stands waving flags and..James smiled because he recognized his face on the little signs lifted James spirit and the thought comforted him. He'd have to hand it to Peter who went all out and was the loudest of the Gryffindor in the stand.
James looked around to where Sirius was talking to the few older boys who were also trying out. Marlene noticed him looking. "He's not a good person you know James. You never used to be like this until you met him."
James turned to her. "He's my friend, Marlene. You don't know him like I do."
Marlene's eyes flashed dangerously as she handed James his broom. "He's a Black, James. Always remember that. To him you and I are nothing but blood traitors."
Blood traitors. That was what he was. He thought about Sirius who had befriended him despite that-granted he too didn't believe in what his family believed in but did that make him a blood traitor too because he had befriended a Potter?
Sirius bounced up to them suddenly. "James." He spun around showing James his robes, grinning. When he noticed Marlene standing next to James he greeted her with a wiggle it his eyebrows and a wink "Blondie."
Marlene studied him before responding with. "Be careful, James. Good luck."
Sirius raised his brow as Marlene walked away. "What's up with her?"
"I don't know." James lied. His stomach was twisting into little knots at this point. "You ready?"
Sirius grinned suddenly. "What would you say if I told you Lily Evans was going to come watch the trials today?"
James had nearly forgotten that he had revealed his newfound 'crush' on Lily Evans to Sirius. "I'd say you're crazy."
"Am I really?" Sirius took James shoulder and turned him towards the stand pointing to where Lily was indeed sitting with the others. James stomach was twisting even more now. If Sirius said anything to her he wouldn't have any way out of it. Denying it would make it look like he really did like her, accepting it would be death, and despite that when he watched Sirius grin-he knew it was still the only thing that would made Sirius forget about Regulus.
"Come on everyone's waiting." James said finally pulling Sirius with him.
Colton Breckbridge looked up as James approached him. "You're still here." He looked impressed "The other players didn't scare you enough?" He eyed Sirius "and I see you've brought a friend."
"This is Sirius." James introduced Sirius. "We're both trying out for Chasers."
Colton nodded and pointed to the group on the right. "Over there you go then."
James and Sirius nodded and headed towards the small group of wannabe chasers. Unlike James and Sirius they were older- the youngest besides them was a 4th year. She grinned at them while her friend next to her smirked at Sirius. Sirius gave her his most smug look before turning to James and pointing again to Lily Evans who was looking around the pitch hopefully.
"She's looking for you James. Wave."
James reluctantly waved. Lily unfortunately noticed this and immediately turned the other way. James turned his attention back to the captain, feeling slightly embarrassed.
"Alright team- we're going to have you do a few drills before the trials. On my count grab your brooms..."
James looked over at Sirius who nodded encouragingly. With a rush of confidence, James kicked his broom as the captain released the Quaffle. The players immediately all tried to fly towards and grab it at once. The girl from before was the quickest out of them and managed to grab it first. She passed it to her friend who continued passing it back between themselves, back and forth.
"Make sure everyone get's a turn!" Colton yelled blowing his whistle from down below. "I want a clean fair trial."
James waved his hands trying to get their attention but no one passed the Quaffle to him or Sirius. James turned to Sirius frustrated. "They're not passing it to us mate."
Sirius concentrated hard before flying forward determinedly. "Cover me."
James watched Sirius do a flip in mid air and grab the quaffle just as Anita Korbokva threw it in the air. Sirius grinned and passed it to James who caught it and swooped down deeply. He loved the feeling of the quaffle in his hand, and the wind rushing past his air. He grinned cockily at the players that watched him. He was going to show all of them how much of a great player he was. He swerved past another player who tried to grab it from him and narrowly swept past the Forbidden forest.
"Be careful of the forest, there's an old wives tale that the forest is home to a ghost that haunts terrible Quidditch players." the captain added as the players whispered amongst themselves. James rolled his eyes. He didn't care about the ghost of the Forbidden Forest- for in his mind he was a great player and they would never meet.
"What did you get?" James asked leaning his back against Marlene's. It was a lazy afternoon and Marlene and James had decided, rather to die of boredom the would re-create those nights where their 6 year old selves would each gather a pile of chocolate frogs to eat, until they had built a circle of chocolate frog cards around them.
"And how long does this last?" Frank asked. He had gotten bored of doing his homework and was watching them stuff themselves endlessly. "Not that it needs to. It's amusing to see you two stuff yourselves like pigs."
"Shuwgk." came a muffled response from Marlene. She swallowed hard. "Shut up Longbottom. Don't you have more homework to be doing?"
"I just finished Kettleburns' essay." He said showing her his two feet of finished Care of Magical Creatures essay that he had been attempting all morning.
"Well don't you have third year friends to hang out with?" Marlene asked finally. "James and I need to be able to stuff chocolate in our face without anyone glaring at us."
"I'm looking at the cards-not you." Frank explained. He peered over. "And until now I used to think Circe was just a imaginary card."
"No way," James stood up abruptly. "You got Circe!"
"James!" Marlene fell on her back as James moved away. "You ruined our circle!"
James scrambled to grab the Circe card and show it to Frank who nodded in awe. "It is real!"
"What's real?" Peter asked, he was attempting to move his piece back while Coppin wasn't looking.
"Not so fast Peter, I saw that." Dawn Shallow smirked "Your move Cop."
"I wish the time wasn't real." Frank looked down at his watch. "Holy Merlin time is going so slow-why can't it be dinner already?"
"Coppin Peck rolled his eyes and moved his piece causing Peter to slump back and re-evaluate his move once more. "Wait until 5th year- you'll wish you had time."
"Or 6th year." Dawn Shallow added. "I barely had time to eat between practice and N.E.W.T.S and internship."
"You make it sound awful to be a prefect." Marlene pointed out. "I thought they got special privileges and special treatment or something."
Coppin nodded. "That's true. But then I've got practice and I've got to keep my girlfriend happy..."
Marlene rolled her eyes and muttered boys. She turned to James. "I'll trade you Circe for Moar de Luna- James?"
James was hyperventilating. "I bloody forgot! The teams get announced today!"
He turned away and ran towards the notice board where Colton had listed the final standings for the Gryffindor Quidditch team that morning excluding Seekers that were to be tried separately the following evening. Marlene followed him knowing what was next.
"Just take a quick and tell me what position I play." James told her. "Do it fast- okay?" He opened his shut eye. "You can tell me now Mars."
Marlene turned to him. "James."
"Go on." James nodded. "I'm listening. Hell I'll even play seeker- or beater if I have too-Mars!?"
Marlene looked at him reproachfully. James shook his head. He wasn't going to fall for that face now. "Mars I'm being serious. Don't do that thing you did when we were little. Just tell me what I play. If it's seeker I'll still do the trials but if worse comes to worse I'm okay with Keeper too. Mars?"
He walked forwards so he could see the list himself. If Marlene wouldn't tell him he would find out himself.
"JAMESS!" Sirius grinned, Peter and Micheal following him carrying large boxes full or rattling things. "Did you see the teams? Colton just told me he posted it this morning!"
"I would-" James turned back to Marlene who was standing in front of the list-not letting him see what position he had gotten. "Mars seriously I'll play anything. Will you move please-"
Sirius stepped up and looked Marlene in the eye. She looked at him and to James's surprise she moved to the side. Sirius took a look at the list and turned back to James. Marlene folded her arms and looked at James with those eyes again.
"What?" James asked looking between Sirius and Marlene. He was going to go mad not knowing. "Will anyone tell me what position I got?"
"You didn't get in." Sirius said finally.
James didn't register the words at first, until Marlene wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered. "I'm sorry, James."
"No." James said. He was James Potter. He had the newest broom in the market- he was supposed to get on the team.
"What about you?" He asked Sirius quietly. "Did you get in?"
Sirius looked up wordlessly at him and for a moment James imagined watching Sirius winning the cup from the stands, waving posters and flags like Peter was. Then Sirius shook his head. "No."
Marlene pulled away and looked up at Sirius. Peter looked towards Sirius confused "But-"
"But we are still having a party!" Sirius finished tearing the list in half much to everyone's dismay.
"Sirius!" James protested. He at least we wanted to see who had made the team. But Sirius made it very clear that wasn't going to happen and shoved the list into his mouth, swallowing hard.
Marlene gagged and Michael Duke looked at Sirius with a nervous expression. "You didn't have to go that far mate."
"No list no worries. Now even though we didn't make the team we are still going to celebrate! Who's with me?"
Micheal's hand was the first one to shoot up in the air. "I always love a good party."
"That's the spirit!" Sirius grinned. "Well come on then. Peter grab the WWN, Michael and I grabbed some firecrackers on our way here and blondie," He looked at Marlene with a smug expression. "make yourself useful."
Marlene narrowed her eyes and ignored him.
"Hey if it's a party you want," Frank called out hearing the commotion. "somebody ought to get Fabian Prewett, he knows where the best stuff is..."
Sirius punched James in the arm who blinked. "Where are you lost mate? We've got a party to get too."
"I've got an idea." James said suddenly "For a prank on the Quidditch team. Pay back for not getting selected on the team."
"I'm all ears." Sirius grinned. "Anything with a prank and I'm in."
"James?" Gideon Prewett-or maybe it was Fabian tapped James on the soldier. "I heard you're the party boy."
"That would be me." Sirius grinned looking towards the older boy . "You got the drinks?"
"Slow down kid." Fabian-or Gideon. "My brothers got it covered. Until then," he pulled out a package. "This came for a James."
James looked at the package and immediately recognized the handwriting.
"Who's it from?" Sirius asked once Fabian or Gideon had left.
"Sirius where do I put these?" Peter asked carrying the large radio Sirius has brought from home.
"Anywhere." Sirius told him impatiently. James tore the wrapping to reveal a silvery robe. He touched the silvery fabric and gasped as his hand disappeared underneath it.
"No way," Sirius breathed. "That's a-"
"Invisibility cloak." James finished. "I though he was joking all those years but he was saying the truth!"
"Your dad sent you an invisibility cloak!" Sirius said reading the small card, not quite believing it.
"My dad sent me a invisibility cloak!" James agreed.
"I believe are prank options just increased ten fold." Sirius said finally.
"Why wait until then?" James looked up at Sirius "Imagine all the things we could do with this right now."
Sirius's eyes widened and he nodded. "Why don't we pay our friendly captain a visit?"