The following morning was chill. Sleet drifted down onto the frosty grass of the quidditch pitch as Griffindors from second year to seventh lined up to wait for their chance to join the team. The assigned captain this year stood proudly on the pitch, waiting to make sure everybody was present and ready to play. He had neatly combed brown hair and dark eyes. James entered the pitch alongside Arcturus. Sirius, Remus and Peter sat in the stands, watching, along with a few other scattered students wielding slices of toast and warm clothing.
Arcturus felt slightly nervous as he traipsed towards the captain.
"Okay, is everyone here? Good." He wasted no time in addressing the Griffindors. Arcturus could see that this guy was a good choice for a captain because he came across as confident and assertive, and overall a strong leader.
"My name is Robert Green. Call me Green." The captain paused a moment. "Today i want the keepers lined up over by the goalposts, the chasers here, the beaters over there-" he gestured behind him, "- and the seekers need to go over the other side there." He explained. "Don't move yet... Now, i'm a chaser, so we only need two of you." Green stated. James elbowed Arcturus and smiled. Two. A perfect number. "We're gonna play a game, and i'm gonna fly around and watch. At the end i will call you to join me back here on the ground. I will decide who gets in. Please don't argue with me." He instructed. "Alright now move to where i asked you to." The students did as he said, and grouped in the places he indicated.
"Now chasers, i'm looking for teamwork and skill. The two people who do this best will become my chasers." He instructed, and then moved to the keepers. The chasers stood around waiting. Green talked to each group individually, and then he moved to the center of the field, where a large chest sat. The players mounted their broomsticks and hovered in the air, waiting. Green released the quaffle, throwing it up, and a third year boy caught it. He started to speed towards the goalposts. The bludgers flew out next, and then the captain released the tiny golden snitch. There was one keeper at the posts. The other prospective goal keepers were down at the base of the posts, waiting their turn.
The third year was passing the quaffle to someone else. Arcturus hovered nearby the goals, James only a stone's throw away from him.
Suddenly, there was a red blur directly in front of him, and he stuck out his hands just in time. He had caught the quaffle!
Stunned, he hesitated for a moment, and then he took off, zooming towards the scrawny, nervous looking boy who was acting as keeper. He threw the ball full pelt at the right hand hoop and it went straight through. The boy didn't even have time to react. Scattered applause could be heard from the stands, and the captain flashed a smile at him.
"Good shot, Black!" He complimented. Arcturus was grinning all over himself. James had the quaffle next, and it was passed back to half field before the chasers were racing towards the goalposts again. A rogue bludger pelted towards the chaser holding the quaffle, and he made a clever backwards pass to the girl flying behind him, who caught it deftly. The boy managed to dodge the captain, and the chaser with the quaffle proceeded towards the goalposts. She passed it off to James, who threw it towards the goalposts. It was a skillful shot, but the keeper managed to kick it away, and Green caught it as he drifted past on his broomstick. A beater fended off a bludger that had directed itself at the captain. Green glanced over his shoulder at the beater
"That was a close one." He laughed, "thanks Hunter."
"No problem." The beater smiled broadly.
"Okay, let's keep going." He smiled at them, and passed the quaffle off. Twenty more minutes of grueling quidditch tryouts later, and Green was finally satisfied. The seekers were instructed to race for the snitch, and in an impressive performance of skill and speed, one came out on top. Everybody gathered at center field again, just as they had done at the start.
"Alright people- that's enough. I'll notify you when i make my decision on who gets in. Okay?" Green smiled brightly around at them. "You all played really well, and i was pleased to see good sportsmanship from every one of you. Good game, people." The captain looked proud to be a Griffindor as he looked around at the prospective players. Slowly, the tired Griffindors sidled off to go have hot showers. James threw an arm around Arcturus' shoulders.
"We've got it in the bag, man." He grinned. Remus, Sirius and Peter came across the field to greet them.
"That looked tiring, Jamesie." Sirius teased "you sure that cocky attitude can endure that much excercise?"
"This cocky attitude can endure Evans, Sirius. It's indestructible." He joked back. Arcturus casually skimmed his eyes over the stands. A lone figure met his gaze for a second, and then turned and walked away. Her long hair, lengthy black sweater and the little shorts... Cassandra. For one impossible second, Arcturus considered going after her.
"Arcturus! You did great!" A feminine voice rang out. He turned to see Kyra bounding towards him joyously. "If you don't make the team, then that's just unfair." Kyra finally reached his side and threw her arms around his neck in a a hug. Arcturus' hands automatically settled on her waist. She smiled dazzlingly up at him through emerald eyes. He let himself get lost in their vibrant colour.
"God you're beautiful, Kyra." The husky whisper fell from his mouth without permission. Kyra's cheeks turned rosy and she grinned from ear to ear. She buried her face in his shoulder.
"Alright, alright, love birds." Sirius smirked wryly. Arcturus looked up and noticed a small blonde hanging around the edges of the group.
"What's up?" He addressed her. The girl stared at her toes bashfully and shuffled her feet.
"That's my friend Danni." Kyra gestured to the girl. "She really likes Sirius and she asked if she could come along." Kyra had no shame telling them about her friend's crush. Danni blushed and glared at Kyra.
"You like me, huh?" Sirius grinned at her. Danni couldn't even look at him. Sirius gently cupped her face in that cliché way and made her look at him, then he slung an arm around her waist and led the way off the pitch. Remus, Peter and James followed them, and Arcturus and Kyra brought up the rear, walking hand in hand.