"Lucky quidditch tryouts were open tryouts." Angelina reckoned following Tori to the Quidditch stadium behind the Weasley twins. It had been at least two weeks since they announced tryouts for Quidditch. Tori and Angelina have been practicing none stop, sometimes with the twins. "I think we'd get invitations..." Tori replied, "Charlie seemed to like our skills over the summer."

"He could have just been saying that to be nice," Angelina whispered. Tori hit her with the back of her hand gently. "Don't. You're making me nervous." Angelina chuckled, approaching the stadiums. "Oh please," Fred told Tori. "You're going to make the team."

Charlie was standing with another girl at the entrance tent to the dressing rooms. He was marking down something on a sheet of paper while the girl was talking to people who were coming in. The four of them came up to him, causing him to smile.

"Fred, George, Tori, and Angelina. Glad you guys made it, talk to Mae, she'll write down what you're trying out for. Good luck."

The four nodded, turning towards the other girl who was now free. "You guys must be Charlie's brothers, I'd recognize the hair anywhere. I'm Mae, what are you trying out for?"

"Beaters."

"Beaters. Got it. And you two girls?"

"Uh, we're both going out for chaser," Tori spoke up. Mae smiled, "Well good luck. Head inside now to get changed."

They nodded, following the twins inside the tent. There were a lot of students inside, all changing or talking. Some sat and even meditated.

Tori found the quidditch robes that were for her. Each one of them had a bright gold number that could have looked like a star. Her number was seventeen, while Angelina's was twelve. She began to get changed, overhearing some other kids.

"You worried about tryouts?" A boy asked someone. The voice next to him scoffed, "Nah. I'm getting on the team." Another voice, this time a girl's, joined in. "How can you be so sure?"

"Lia, I'm a sixth year, and I know Charlie pretty well. He's sure to pick me to play chaser. The rest of you should just pack up now." Angelina must have been listening too, cause she sent Tori an annoyed look. So what if the kid was a sixth year? That doesn't mean he's good or should be on the team...

"I'd watch yourself, Morrison. Don't think you'd want to give the wrong impression." Mae strolled into the tent, eyeing the students as she stood in the center. "Why should I listen to you? You're not the captain." Tori didn't even know what this kid looked like, but she already didn't like him.

What he said seemed to have a small effect on Mae. She looked angry, for only a second, before looking bored. "You're absolutely right. But I'm helping with tryouts since we're picking two chasers to play alongside me. Now everyone, hustle up. Second years, grab a broom."

Tori did as she was told before she put her hair up in a tight ponytail. "Alright come on. Now, Charlie is outside waiting for everyone. We are going to walk out in an orderly fashion. Charlie and I will explain how we're running things before we get started. Remember, we're walking. So don't think you're impressing anyone by flying out there as fast as you can, cause we will dismiss you so fast you won't be able to say quidditch."

Tori stood up a little straighter when Mae opened the curtain. She managed to give Fred and George a good luck smile before they were out of the tent. They marched to about the center of the field where Charlie stood, watching each and every one of them. Mae took a spot next to him, while a boy went to his left.

"Alright. I'm really happy with this turnout." Charlie began. "Today we are looking for two beaters and reserve beaters, two chasers and their reserves, plus a reserve for keeper. If you are picked as a reserve you come to only certain practices. You play when one of our team members is sick, suspended, or in the hospital wing. Though hopefully, we won't have to worry about getting suspended."

"Though if you're worried about getting hurt you might as well head out now." Mae chimed in. She scanned the crowd, almost daring someone to leave. No one did. Charlie continued, "Today we will be running drills, seeing how well you perform independently and with your teammates. Mae and I will both be working with you, seeing for ourselves how we think you fit. Oliver," He gestured to the other boy, "Will be working with tryouts for reserve keeper."

"I would also like to address something before I have Mae explain about your numbers. I am looking for talent here. I do not care if you were on the team or just a reserve last year. I do not care about your age. I will fill this entire team up with second years if I have too. Your relations to me do not matter in the slightest, Mae will explain the rest." The girl stepped forward, smiling at everyone.

"Because of some... incidents in the past, we have decided to record you as the number on your jersey. If you make the team this may not be your real number but it's what we're using today. We aren't looking at you as who you are, but by your skills and what number you are. Any relations, might it be friendship," Tori knew Mae's eyes were on that Morrison kid. "Or any other relationship does not matter here. We will be referring to you as your numbers, and that is how we are keeping it fair. Any questions?"

There was a weak chorus of no's, and even a no ma'am. Mae nodded, satisfied with the result. She and Charlie quickly began giving orders. "Beaters, come with me," Charlie commanded. "Keepers and chasers, you're with me and Wood here."

Tori waved goodbye to her friends as she followed Angelina. Mae took them over to the furthest end of the field. "Alright. Being a chaser means you do have to be in shape. So while Wood starts giving pointers to the keepers, you guys are going to be running to the meeting line, and back here. You will stop when you do ten laps here and back. Pace yourselves. Ready, set, go!"

Tori took off, starting at an easy pace. She knew the kids who were sprinting it would tire out easily first. Tori glanced back to see Mae shaking her head at them. Something clicked, Tori grabbed Angelina's arm when she tried to speed up. "... Don't." She huffed. Angelina looked at her oddly, "We're going to be the last!"

"Mae never said anything about being first. I think she wants to see who's pacing themselves and has the most energy by the end of this." Tori touched the line with her foot, turning around. She and Angelina did this nine more times, almost being in perfect synch. They were tired once the finished, but at least they weren't on the ground gasping for air.

"Seems like being first isn't always the best." Mae glanced at one of the kids clutching their gut. "What did that have to do with anything?" The kid asked rudely. Yeah, that was definitely Morrison. "Well... number nine if you're so concerned about it, why don't you leave? Or are you going to shut your trap and let me do the coaching here?"

Morrison said nothing so Mae took that as a yes. "Alright. Excellent job seventeen, twelve, and twenty-three. Now, each of you take a quaffle." She pulled a trunk over towards the group, opening it to reveal worn down quaffles. "Since some of you are so concerned with the tryout, we're going straight into it. You will be flying through the field, trying to keep a grip on your quaffle. I will be selecting two at a time. The rest of you wait here until we're done. Is that understood? Good."

Mae mounted her broom quickly, she had a quaffle in her hand and was tossing it to herself. "Seventeen, twelve, you first." Tori was a little bit startled to be chosen first, but she did what she was told. She was in the air in a matter of seconds with Angelina.

"I'll lead, you follow." Mae directed, watching the two of them nod. She took off, the quaffle tucked in her hand. Tori found a comfortable position, catching up to Mae. Angelia seemed to be having the time of her life as she raced up to them. The three were neck and neck as they circled around the hoops. "Nice job. Now can you keep hold of it when I do this?"

She bumped into both of their sides, shaking them a bit. Tori dropped the quaffle but managed to swoop down and grab ahold of it once more. She couldn't read Mae's face, but she had a sinking feeling in her stomach. They performed another circle around the stadium before they ended. "Nice you two. Very impressive. Twenty-three and nine. You're up now."

✧ ✦ ✧

They had done a couple more drills, Tori being with multiple other people. They did a couple of shooting drills, a couple of tactic drills, a speed drill, and now they were working on something for everyone.

"Okay, we're playing a friendly match." Oliver Wood spoke up this time while Mae was whispering to Charlie. "We will be calling up a couple of people we would like to see in action. If you're not called up, we've seen everything we wanted from you. You may head black to school. The list should be up on... Sunday." He looked to Charlie for guidance. Charlie quickly nodded, "Yes Sunday. Here are the people who are staying. Just because you're not called doesn't mean you didn't make the team."

"Uh," Mae read off the paper she had been whispering about to Charlie. "Beaters who are staying are five, six, twenty-one, and eleven. Thank you all for coming out." A good chunk of the beater crowd began to leave. Tori saw Fred and George stay put, Tori felt super excited for them.

"Keepers are... two, twenty-nine, and sixteen. Thanks for coming, and for chasers. Nine, Twenty Three, Twelve..." Tori squeezed Angelina's hand out of excitement. "Thirteen, and seventeen. Thank you all." Tori and Angelina both squeezed each other's hands trying not to squeal. There were a couple grumbles and Charlie stepped forward, looking defensive. Mae put her hand out to stop him and rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, say what you want." She mumbled, picking up her broom.

"Alright," Charlie announced, picking up his broom as well. "We will be splitting you into two teams. You will be playing each other and mixing it up to get a feel. You'll be playing with different people and even sit out sometimes. Okay. Playing first on team A is two, five, and twenty-one, nine, thirteen, and Mae.

"Team B is sixteen, six, and eleven, twelve, seventeen, and twenty-three." Charlie put his paper down when nine spoke up. "So how do we know who won?" Charlie looked at him funny. "There's no 'winning.' We're just trying to see how well some of you perform."

Nine looked annoyed but solemnly picked up his broom. Tori smiled at George as he made his way over to Tori and Angelina. "How are you feeling?" He asked Tori, who was squirming a bit.

"Like I'm going to pass out. I'm so nervous." George chuckled. "Tell me about it, I almost got hit like four times."

"Okay. We have decided we're playing with fake bludgers so we don't have any accidental injuries..." Mae announced as she went in the air. "Come on. Let's start this thing."

so i had to cut this chapter in half since it's like over two thousand words...
so next chapter will be the rap up of tryouts and possibly the results!

also spot my cameo. i put it in here since im a chaser on hogwarts mystery. i love that game lol.