Okay, I forgot to say at the end of the last chapter that don't worry, I haven't forgotten that Divination starts in their third year in Harry's period, but there is a reason for that, which will be explained later.
Wow! The reviews are making me smile! I love it when my readers like what I write; that's really nice to know. THANKYOU! This chapter is for you.
*~*~*~*~Chapter 5 ~ A Pretty Neat Wizard~*~*~*~*~*~
James woke the next morning, just before dawn. He sat under the large bay window and watched as the sun rose, rather magnificently, up over the mountains. The reds and oranges that surrounded him felt warm and comforting, and he smiled as he thought how the dawn might represent his life. Today was his day to shine.
By seven o'clock, he was sitting at the breakfast table, quite alone and he ate nothing, and just stared at the ceiling above, watching as the sun rose even higher in the sky.
At nine, Sirius, Remus and Peter walked in, looking curiously at James.
"You alright mate?" Sirius asked.
"Yeah, a little nervous, that's all."
"Don't worry, you'll be fine."
"Yeah..." James' mind had wandered once again. "What have we got first?"
"Double lesson of Divination. With the Ravenclaws. What fun." James noted the sarcasm in Sirius's voice.
"Mate?"
"Oh, its just Divination is a pile of-"
"Sirius," Remus said quietly, "watch out, McGonagall's on the prowl. Don't curse."
"Oh, I bet she'd agree with me. Complete waste of time. Well, I guess we'll have fun."
"Yeah..." James said again, only half-listening.
"You know that James Potter? He's a right prat, isn't he James?" Sirius said, his dark eyes glinting.
"Yeah..." James answered, and those in earshot laughed. James, looking confused, stared at Sirius.
"Huh?"
"Never mind mate, never mind."
***
Lily laughed along with the rest of the Gryffindor table. Yeah...James might be an arrogant pig, but it sure was funny when he and Sirius got together.
Lily looked at her timetable.
"Hmm...Divination..."
"Yeah," Hannah began, "...it's meant to be interesting. My great-great grandmother is a Seer."
"She is?" Lily asked, shocked.
"Yeah, walks round the house, muttering under her breath. It's scary."
Lily laughed. "Shall we go up then? It's in the North Tower, on the other side of the castle."
"Okay, let's go."
The two girls walked slowly through the castle to the north side, and then up the winding staircase, towards Divinations.
"Why is it such a long walk?" Lily moaned.
"Apparently, the Divinations teacher likes to be closer to the stars when she teaches. It gives her more clear pictures."
Lily snorted. "Closer to the stars?"
They continued their way up the staircase, until there was no more to climb. Lily sat on the floor, Hannah doing the same beside her.
"So, how're you finding the magical world?" Hannah asked.
"It's great. I can't believe that I never knew such a world existed, muggles can be so blind."
"Yeah, and it's good for us that they are. Some witches and wizards are so careless when it comes to concealing the wizarding world. That's why memory charms have to be performed."
Lily reflected how she would always be careful when it came to magic.
Just then, voices were getting closer to where Lily and Hannah were sitting. Both sets of eyes looked to where the staircase ended, wondering who would be next to arrive.
***
"But, I'm tired! Why do we have to walk this far?" Peter griped.
"Stop moaning," James answered, "it's not that far..."
Remus snorted at James' last statement.
"Awww...come on! I'll race you to the top." Sirius said, "3...2...1...GO!"
James and Sirius battled for the lead, while Peter and Remus did the same for third. Sirius tackled James so he was winning, but then James tripped up Sirius, so James upon reaching the top of the staircase, slightly out of breath, had won the race.
"HA!" He said, reaching the top stair, "I win! Never challenge me for a race Sirius, mate, I'll always win," he said, calling down he stairs.
It was then that James noticed two girls sitting on the floor staring up at me.
Lily scowled at him, before turning away.
"Oh," he said, feeling his colour rise, "Hey Lily, and err..."
"Hannah Klien," she said.
"Hannah," he smiled, "nice to meet you."
She smiled too, just as Sirius reached the top. He was bent-double, trying to catch his breath back.
"I'll beat you next time, Jamsie." He too, then noticed Lily and Hannah. "And who are these two lovely maidens you are keeping to yourself?" He started eyeing Hannah, "Lily, of course, and..."
Lily smiled, and waved a "hello" at Sirius. James glared at this gesture.
"Hannah Klein," she introduced herself for the second time.
"Nice to meet you dear," he said, taking her hand and kissing it. She smiled embarrassedly.
"Now, where have Peter and Remus got to?" James asked, calling down the staircase. When there was no answer, James and Sirius made their way down the stairs, in search for the lost boys.
They had made their way down fifty or so steps, when they saw Remus and Peter, perched on the edge of a stair.
"Erm...what happened to our race?" Sirius asked.
Remus looked up at the two boys, and waved, smiling. Peter however, jumped, muttered an apology and turned bright red.
Sirius laughed at the nervousness of his friend, and made his way back up to the top, James in tow.
***
"Sir-Sirius Black spoke to me?"
"Yeah Han...big deal."
"And James Potter?"
"Yeah..."
"Wow...I wasn't dreaming then?" she smiled, and patted her hair nervously.
Lily thought about this. Talking to James Potter would more likely to be in a nightmare than in fantasy.
Just then, the pair of boys returned to view. Lily stopped herself from even glancing at James, preferring to fix her eyes on Sirius.
"So, Divinations..."
"Yeah, it's a pile of old rubbish apparently," James said. "Professor Gurgle is an old bat, who thinks she's a Seer, when really she's getting paid for lying to kids like us."
"Actually," Lily said coldly, "I like the subject, it appeals to me. It is not a pile of rubbish." This was a lie, and Lily knew it. She just wanted to make James feel uncomfortable.
"I...err...I like it too," James stammered, surprised by her reaction. Sirius looked bewilderedly at James and then spoke on his behalf.
"What James is saying, dear Lily, is that the teacher is unethical and inadequate, and true Seers, perhaps like yourself, need a more advanced teacher."
James nodded a long, not quite sure what he was agreeing to. Lily saw right through this too, and so reverted back to completely ignoring James' presence.
"So Sirius, how is school life for you?" Lily asked.
"Well, haven't really got into the swing of things yet, but wait 'til next week, then you'll see my true colours, right James?"
"Yeah..." Sirius winked in his direction, and Lily saw it, so she decreased the line that was her lips to a line so thin that it could rival Professor McGonagall's 'lips'.
Now they were joined by a group of Ravenclaws, who all seemed rather friendly, and the two houses shared a nod before continuing their dialogue.
"So are either of you lovely ladies trying out for the Quidditch team later?" Sirius asked.
"Well, I'm not," Lily answered, "but Hannah is thinking about it."
"Aww...yeah, come on Hannah!" James said, suddenly coming to life, "It'll be fun."
"Okay then...if you insist."
"I do!" James said, his eyes lighting up.
"Sure then. Wait for me in the common room before you go down?"
"Course. Me and Siri will meet you at quarter to seven, okay?"
"Deal." Hannah smiled. So did James. And Lily couldn't help but scowl...
***
A noise from above them stopped the conversation then. The four of them looked up to see a trapdoor open.
"Enter!" a voice shouted.
James called down the stairs to Remus and Peter before walking through the trapdoor.
"Rem, Pete, the professor's here!"
"Okay James," Remus called back. There was a soft sound of scuffling before Remus and Peter came into view. James smiled at them and entered the classroom.
Entering the classroom was like walking into a furnace. The heat was almost unbearable as a large open fire burning brightly, and all the windows were shut. Curtains also prevented natural light penetrating into the room, which had the effect of sweltering heat and half-darkness for the fire gave off its own light, and a lamp or two in the room also gave light.
James sighed inaudibly and made his way to a chair next to Sirius. Sirius looked at James with a slight smile, and then drew the back of his hand over his forehead.
"Geez," he said, "it's warm in here."
"I know. Wish she'd turn that fire off."
"Yeah..."
Just then, the teacher appeared in front of them. She was rather short and stocky, almost the same height as the eleven-year-old students. She had bright blue eyes, and grey frizzy hair.
"Welcome to Divinations, class," she said in a rather high-pitched voice. "I am Professor Gurgle, the teacher of Divinations."
James yawned as the professor began to drawl on.
"Divinations is a great subject, and if you are good at it, you shall reap the benefits far more than you would in any other subject..."
"I doubt that," Sirius added to James in an undertone.
James laughed quietly.
"...If we do find a true Seer among you, then I shall teach you how to you use that power to the greatest of your ability..."
Sirius raised his hand.
"Yes?"
"Um...are you a 'True Seer' professor?" Sirius asked with an innocent look.
"Me? Yes. I come from a line of great Seers, and I have inherited the power myself. Which is why I stand here today, teaching you."
"So why aren't you out there, helping the world with your powers?" he continued with a smile.
"Well...I, err...chose this way to help the world, as you put it. If there is even one of you here who is a Seer, then it will make my job a success."
James hit Sirius under the table then, as a sign to stop. Sirius obliged.
"Any more questions? No? Then we will continue. If you will all pick up the cup in front of you and fill it with tea leaves from the side. Then add hot water, carefully. And Peter, dear, clean up the spillage."
Peter looked bewilderedly at her. He picked up the kettle, and sure enough, though probably due to the fact that he wasn't looking what he was doing, the kettle fell out of his hand, and hit the desk, water spilling everywhere.
"There's a cloth over there, dear."
"Err...okay."
James looked at Sirius, who shrugged back. Lucky guess... James took a kettle from the shelf, and filled his and Sirius' cups with the hot water before sitting down again.
"Drink the tea..."
"Wouldn't be surprised if the old bat had this poisoned," Sirius said into his cup.
James choked slightly, laughing.
"…Now turn the cup three times anti-clockwise..."
James did so, carefully counting.
"Now give to your partner to read. The book in front of you may help you interpret what you can see."
James looked at Sirius' cup. All he could see were blobs of tea-leaves, but he turned to the correct page to at least try and decipher out what they were meant to represent.
"What you got?" Sirius asked.
"Well...don't have a clue."
"Me neither. Guess we can make it up. Say stuff that are sure to happen."
"What, like we become great friends and live happily ever after," James smiled.
"Yeah...but don't make it happy. She'd rather hear of death than happiness, believe me."
"Okay then." James began formulating an idea. Just then, the professor interrupted his thoughts.
"Now...who can read their cups? Someone will volunteer to read theirs out to the class?"
Sirius winked at James and put up his hand.
"Me and James here would be happy to."
"Great! Do you want to stand up?"
They did so.
"What do you see, dear?"
"Well..." Sirius began, "according to 'The Magical Eye', and my very detailed calculations..." James stifled a laugh, "James' life will not be the happiest. He will find love, no doubt, but it will be taken from him, ever so dramatically later in life." James was shocked at how real Sirius made his prediction sound. "Sorry mate," Sirius added quietly, as though he only wanted James to here, but James knew otherwise.
"Oh..." James said, making his face sombre looking. "Well, lets move onto your future...your home life has never been a happy one has it Sirius?"
Sirius nodded, surprised at how much truth there was in the random guess that James had made.
"Well...before you leave school, the pain will end, and you will be happy when you leave school for the holidays. You will be going home to a happy home for a change." James smiled. Okay, there was really much unhappiness in there, but it was the best he could do.
"Yes!" Sirius shouted, "Finally, the old bat of a mother will die!"
Half the class laughed at this, though the other half weren't too sure that Sirius was joking.
"Well..." professor Gurgle stated, "They were very excellent predictions. "You said what you saw and felt, and you didn't let the friendship you share with the person you were making a prediction for blind you. Ten points to Gryffindor."
James and Sirius couldn't believe their luck. They smiled proudly.
***
After Hannah telling her that she had relations that were Seer's, Lily couldn't wait to have her cup read.
Hannah carefully turned Lily's tea-leaves three times anti-clockwise, before beginning to decipher them. Hannah's eyes rolled slightly before she spoke.
"No, nothing."
Lily felt disappointment fall upon her, but she determined not to let Hannah see it.
"Don't worry...we'll just have to try yours..." Lily took the book from in front of her, "Let's see."
"...Me and James here would be happy to." Lily looked around to see Sirius and James stand up.
"Here they go again..." Lily said to herself.
"James' life will not be the happiest. He will find love, no doubt, but it will be taken from him, ever so dramatically later in life."
Lily frowned at this. If what Sirius said was true...even James, the arrogant prat as he was, who thought nothing in the world was better than himself, didn't deserve that sort of pain.
Her thoughts however came to an abrupt ending when she saw James stifling a laugh.
"Well...before you leave school, the pain will end, and you will be happy when you leave school for the holidays. You will be going home to a happy home for a change."
It was just the boys messing around as usual. She angrily went back to the cup that she was meant to be deciphering, but it was without any success, for James' arrogant smile kept playing in her brain.
***
"Lunch? I'm starving." Sirius answered.
James laughed, "Lets go then."
The four Gryffindor boys made their way down to the Great Hall, all four bellies rumbling.
"So Rem? Pete? Either of you going to try out tonight?"
"Nah, I'm not. Not the greatest flier," Remus said, "Peter?"
"No way! I hate flying, and I'm kinda scared of heights."
"Well, looks like it's just me and you Sirius."
"And the lovely Hannah, remember?"
"Oh yeah."
They walked into the Great Hall then, seating themselves towards the center of the Gryffindor table.
"James Potter?"
James turned around. A second year boy, with blond hair stood before him.
"Yeah?" James answered.
"Is it true that you can change a feather into a dove already?"
"What?"
"We heard that you did so in Charms. Really?"
"Err...yeah." The boys' eyes opened wider at this.
"You are a first year right?"
"Yeah..."
"Wow! That's like stuff that we do in our third year...and you can do it already. You must be a pretty neat wizard." The boy smiled a rather wide smile. James didn't know what to say.
"Um..."
"Well...I just wanted to say, err...well done."
"Thanks."
"I gotta go now, I'm Frank by the way. Frank Longbottom."
"Nice to meet you."
"More so to you mate."
Frank wandered further down the table then, and seated himself amongst a group of second-years, probably sharing the revelation with them.
"Looks like you're the celebrity Potter." A voice said. It was cold, and calculating, and James knew to whom the voice belonged before he had even turned his head.
"Snape...what do you want?" James said, matching the cold voice that Snape had given.
Snape sneered, "Just to say...a well done."
"Yeah, sure. Now cut the crap," Sirius joined in. "What do you want?"
"Why, Black, you're such an assuming person aren't you?" he said, his gaze moving to Sirius, "Maybe I just wanted to wish my congratulations..."
"Okay, you've done that...goodbye."
Snape sneered once more before making his way over to the Slytherin table.
"I hate that boy," Sirius said, "really gets on my nerves..."
"Yeah..." James agreed. "So what lesson do we have next?"
Remus consulted his timetable, "Herbology with the Hufflepuffs. In Greenhouse One."
"Well, better be off then...let's go..."
***
Lily and Hannah reached Greenhouse One just before the bell went. They had taken their time, taking in the beautiful castle grounds. Whereas the journey would normally take just five minutes, it had taken the two girls almost half an hour.
Both girls had come to the same conclusion; The castle and it's grounds were fantastic.
When they reached the greenhouse, the professor was already inviting the students in, so Lily and Hannah had to run to get there in time.
The professor was a stout witch who they had they found out was named Professor Sprout. She was rather young looking, and had short, blond, curly locks. She was actually rather pretty.
"Welcome!" she said warmly, "I am Professor Sprout. I will be teaching you Herbology. Now, who can tell me what Herbology is?"
Lily and Hannah both raised their hands.
"Yes, dear?" she asked Hannah.
"It's the study of magical plants," Hannah said with a smile.
"In short, yes dear. Ten points for Gryffindor," Professor Sprout said. "Now, I think today we will start with the basics."
The professor spoke about the magical properties of many of the plants that they would study throughout the term. Lily listened raptly, absorbing the information she gave. Many of the other students' attentions had wandered, but Lily kept focused. After all, she was quite disadvantaged in that she was muggle born; most of the rest of the class had grown up with this information, but Lily hadn't. Lily had to learn it all.
***
James had heard it all before from his mother. His mother was practically a magical botanist, and James was often asked to help. But James didn't exactly enjoy this, and so he spent the Herbology lesson talking with Sirius about the up and coming Quidditch trials.
"I'm sure you'll be great," Sirius said.
"Yeah...but that second-year said I'd never get onto the team. The captain seems to think that we aren't good enough..."
"Yeah, I guess. What position are you trying out for anyway?"
"I was thinking Chaser, because I'm best at that. You?"
"I don't know...beater probably. That way I can pretend the Bludger's Snapes' head..."
James and Sirius both stifled a laugh.
Just then the bell rang, and the whole class made their way up towards the castle. James felt nerves building as seven o'clock drew nearer. He just had time to shower and change beforehand. He and Sirius raced up to their dormitory to save arguments about who would get in the shower first. Luckily for James, speed and agility were on his side, and he reached the bathroom first, so shut the door behind him. Five seconds later, Sirius was banging on the door.
"James! You better hurry up mate..."
James couldn't help but chuckle as he turned the shower on.
***
"Han, are you nervous?"
"A little Lil. It doesn't really mean all that much to me. I'm not as obsessed as James is or anything. He always goes to the World Cup most years, if it means that he doesn't have to go halfway across the world to see them. He even has his own broom that his parents bought for him, a Cleensweep, I think. I just want to get on the team I guess."
"Oh," Lily said, thinking about how spoilt James Potter was. "Better get up to the castle then if you want to be ready before seven."
"Yeah let's go."
***
By five to seven, both boys had showered and changed, and were heading out of the dormitory, good luck wishes from their roommates.
"Better go pick up Hannah then," James said.
"Yeah, I wonder if she's any good."
"Well, we'll soon see."
James found, as he walked, his throat became restricted, and that gave the effect of difficulty in talking. James assumed this had something to do with nerves, though Sirius did not seem to feel the same way. Sirius chattered on while James merely nodded until they came out into the common room where Hannah and Lily were waiting.
"Hey ladies," Sirius greeted. "My, Lily, have you changed your mind and decided to try out too?"
"No, I'm coming to cheer you and Hannah on," she answered, deliberately missing James out.
James looked towards his shoes, still unable to speak. Thankfully Sirius spoke for him.
"Lets go then, shall we? Don't want to be late now..."
***
They reached the pitch on time, where the captain, Steven Gorrard was waiting. He smiled stiffly as the four Gryffindors approached.
"Hi. Erm...if spectators make their way up to the stands..."
Lily smiled and wished Hannah good luck before walking up to the stands. As she seated herself in a seat as high as she could go, her found loss of breath at the sight before her eyes. The Quidditch pitch was massive, and so immense. She thought about what it would be like to sit where she was right now, when the stands were full of people. What the atmosphere would be like. And that just took her breath away.
***
On the ground, where many students had congregated, Gorrard began making his speech.
"Right, now that we are all here, I will tell you all about what positions we have open. Our beaters, both of them, left last year, meaning that there is plenty of room for anyone wishing to fill that position," James winked at Sirius, who smiled back. "We also have a chaser position open, but it will be much harder for you to gain that position, as chaser is a very prized position. Now, if you will split into two groups...Chaser tryouts here, beaters over there."
The group of students broke into two groups, Sirius going one way, waving to James and Hannah, and James and Hannah going in the other.
"Right," Gorrard continued to the group of chasers. "I see we have a couple first years trying out," he smiled, a fake, unrealistic smile. "Well, you'll have to be exceptionally good if you expect to get in to my team in your first year. Very unlikely, I'm afraid. Well, you can still tryout. Well, anyway, back to the tryouts. My team-mate, Patricia, will be taking the beater tryouts, which you don't need to worry about. I will take these ones, as I play keeper, it makes sense. All you have to do is throw the Quaffle, and try and get it past me. Simple enough, and the person I think is best will become team chaser."
The group of students nodded at this, but James suddenly realized that the captain was as biased as the second-year had told him.
Well, James thought, we'll have to sort that out.
"Right, I think we'll start wit the more experienced. Any sixth or seventh years wish to try out?"
A tall boy nodded, and raised his hand.
"Very well. What is your name?"
"Herbert, John Herbert."
"Great. Now if you will mount your broom."
Gorrard sped off towards the golden hoops on one side of the pitch. Herbert joined him, though he positioned himself ten or so metres away from the goals.
Herbert, James noticed, wasn't exactly a good flier, and definitely not a fast one. It took him rather a long time to reach the other end of the pitch, though Gorrard didn't seem to notice. Gorrard smiled and blew his whistle.
Gorrard passed the Quaffle out to Herbert, and Herbert fumbled it slightly before throwing it straight into Gorrard's hands.
"Unlucky," Gorrard shouted, "Here. Try again."
Gorrard passed the ball out again, and on his second attempt, Herbert managed to get the ball passed Gorrard, but only because Gorrard was looking in the other direction at that particular time.
"WELL DONE Herbert!" Gorrard said, making his way back to the other tryouts. "Right, who's next? Fifth years?"
James watched as player after player continually either missed, or threw the Quaffle through on of the hoops due to Gorrard's lack of concentration. He wondered why there was such lack of skill in the upper half of the school. He noticed, too, that as the age of the students dropped, their play seemed to improve. It made him wonder why.
"Right, well, I guess that we've gotta let the first-years have a try. Umm...you can borrow one of the school's brooms. Let the man go first then...name?"
James breathed, "James Potter."
"Right, well...mount the broom there."
It was common knowledge that the school brooms were very outdated and temperamental when it came to flying. They were very old, and awkward to fly.
James however, did as he was instructed, and mounted the broom with considerable flair for one mounting such a difficult broom.
Gorrard flew off towards the goal for the thirteenth time that day, and James followed behind, feeling the wind flow through his hair, and the feeling of flight gracing his thoughts once more. How he loved to fly, to soar through the sky effortlessly. And from a spectator's point of view, he was great to watch. It seemed as though he was falling through the air, but with control and perfect balance. He looped twice before reaching his desired destination in mid air. Cheers from the ground made James smile, as Gorrard passed out the Quaffle, James catching it squarely in his hand.
***
Lily watched from her seat as different people tried, and many failing, to get the Quaffle into one of the hoops. She wondered if they were all going to be that bad, and if that was the state in which the Gryffindor team was in, then how could they ever expect to win the Quidditch Cup?
Lily watched as James Potter mounted his broom. She could tell, before his feet had even left the ground, that he was a great flier. The way he positioned himself on his broom, and the way he pushed his feet against the ground; the whole way his body moved, yes, she knew he'd be good.
She watched as he flew through the air, his hair pushed back behind him. He smiled as the captain threw out the Quaffle, and she smiled when James caught the ball. She watched his face move only slightly in concentration as he soared to the left, somehow releasing the ball, making it fly around Gorrard, and straight through the right-hand hoop. Cheers from the ground showed he was popular with the crowds. Lily herself couldn't help jumping in the air, before realising what she was doing, and sat down.
"Lucky, aren't we?" Lily heard from Gorrard. Lucky? That was pure skill! James seemed to be thinking along the same lines as his face contorted with fury. He managed to keep his composure, however, and smiled.
The captain threw the ball out again, this time rather forcefully and to the left, which meant that James had to dive to catch it. He did so, again to a few cheers, and when he placed the Quaffle through the central hoop, the pitch erupted with cheers, Lily included.
***
James flew to the ground, a smile covering his whole face, and he dismounted, and hugged Hannah who was cheering all the same.
"Well done James!" she said.
"Yeah, well, you go out there and do the same, and I'll be happy."
Hannah was in the air before James knew it, and he saw that she too, was a good flier. Perhaps not as good as him, but that was something he would never say, not even to himself. He watched her move, almost as effortlessly through the air. She had been the best tryout that he had seen all day, and if he wasn't better than her, then she deserved the position herself.
***
Lily felt that it was down to either James or Hannah. If she was completely honest, she was say James was the better flier, but if she was being loyal, then she couldn't decide between the to first-years. But the position surely belonged to one of the pair. It was just a question of which.
***
James waited anxiously for the results. He wouldn't mind so much if Hannah became the new chaser. After all, he couldn't be exactly sure that he had been any better than her...but if it went to one of the older students...one of the ones that had failed to catch the Quaffle, or didn't score at all, then he felt he might just have something to say about that.
When Gorrard dismounted his broom, the crowd of would-be chasers closed in around him.
"Okay, okay," he laughed, "the results. Well, if we start with the two new beaters... Patricia?"
Patricia was a tall, blonde girl who was at least in her sixth year. Figures, James thought.
The girl passed over her notes and clipboard to Gorrard, and he stared at it for a few seconds.
"Right, our two new beaters are..." he paused for emphasis, "Arthur Weasley, sixth year, and Jason George, Seventh year. Well done guys, and for everyone else, there's always next year. Right, now onto our new chaser. Very hard choice, and I'm sorry to those who didn't make it, but, again, there's always next year. Right, the new chaser...John Herbert. He showed particular skill and..."
James couldn't bear to listen to any more. He had seen that...that prat trying to fly, he was awful! Had that captain switched off once they reached the first year tryouts or something? It was wrong, and so prejudiced. Hannah seemed to be feeling the same; she looked like she was about to cry at the news, and James really did know how she felt. Then there was Lily, too, she had come down from the stands to hear the results, and she looked positively outraged. In fact, only thee people on the pitch were happy with the decision. John Herbert, that Patricia girl, and the stupid captain.
***
Lily was angry. No, more than angry. Outraged and livid would better describe how she felt. It was scandalous that they would pick a student for the Quidditch team purely on age. Lily was ready to slap the captain. She was too shocked to speak rationally at that moment, and decided that she would wait until later, when she was calmer to launch her attack. The only thing she felt she could do was hug Hannah, which she did, and then, even though she felt he was an arrogant prat him normally, she hugged James. It was so unjust for the team captain to do that to two exceptional players.
Lily took Hannah by the arm, and the pair of them marched off towards the castle, both with faces full of fury.
***
James and Lily embraced together for the first time. No matter how she felt towards him normally, the injustice of it all meant that she no longer cared for trivial arguments, well, at least for the moment.
And James felt happiness in this. He managed to smile, despite all the disappointment and frustration he felt. He smiled in Lily's direction as she and Hannah took off for the school.
When James turned back to the captain, Sirius was shouting like a maniac.
"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING, YOU IDIOT? JAMES WAS BY FAR THE BEST OUT THERE, AND YOU CHOOSE SOME LOUSY SIXTH YEAR OVER HIM? WHY EXACTLY? I BET HE'S YOUR BEST FRIEND OR SOMETHING...HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO JAMES...IT'S A DISGRACE!"
Sirius continued in this manner for a while, until James saw fit to stop him. The captain seemed too flabbergasted at Sirius' outburst to even consider replying. He just let Sirius rant on for almost a full five minutes until James put his hand over Sirius' mouth.
"Okay mate, I think he got the picture," James said quietly.
"You sure James? I could keep going on and on all night if you want me too. It's such a scandal--"
"SIRIUS! I'm sure. Let's go back up to the castle...there's always next year..."
"How can you be so rational, I don't know..."
The pair of them left the captain then, and made their way up towards the school.
***
When Lily reached the castle, she remembered that she still hadn't written to her parents. So, after leaving Hannah on one of the chairs in front of the fire, she took a quill and some parchment from her bag and set off towards the Owlery to borrow one of the school owls. Thanks to directions from Nearly Headless Nick, the Gryffindor ghost, Lily found herself there rather quickly. She pushed the door open to find a circular room, full of feathery creatures. She smiled, as she looked around at all the beady eyes, and looked at the floor, full of owl-droppings, and small bones, presumably belonging to mice that the owls had had for dinner.
She leaned against the wall to write her letter. It wasn't the most comfortable position, but it would do. She paused for a second, and then began to write.
"Dear Mum and Dad,
How are you? Life here is great! I've made the best of friends, Hannah, Stacey and Bethany, and I also share a room with them. Lessons are great, Charms is my favourite I think. The teachers are lovely, well, most of them, and most of the students are just as friendly. Must be off now, got to comfort a friend because she didn't get through the Quidditch trials.
All my love,
Lily x
Lily smiled, yes, that was fine. She found a large tawny owl and tied the letter to its leg. She petted it lightly before it set off, the darkening sky already a midnight blue.
~*~
Okay, the end of another Chapter. Please keep reviewing guys...I'll honestly end up writing more often then. Okay, I'm off now to start the next one. See you soon, Carrie x