After the enormously eventful first day I hammered the fact in my mind that I would have to be prepared for the unexpected. Of course all sorts of things happen nearly every time. 

A week or so passed in such fun filled antics and by now Snape, Lockhart and Argus Filch totally hate us. Like literally. 

Filch has threatened us about a hundred times to chain us to the ceilings and we gave him an open challenge to do everything he could think of. 

Life here is totally awesome. My favorite subject so far is Charms like I had thought but of course Transfiguration is just as good. Arithmancy is a lot like Mathematics so it bores me and History of Magic is interesting if you somehow avoid the fact that Professor Binns is actually a ghost. And by now you might have guessed that I totally loathe potions. 

Snape always splits our group and makes me work in pair with awful Slytherins and that makes tolerating him even more difficult. 

While Lockhart never teaches us anything. Like never. The only thing he does is ramble about his oh so enigmatic adventures. I would give anything to see him battle a real monster though because I know he's bound to fail and the consequences could also result in him being incapable of resuming his teaching profession here. 

For ever and ever and ever. 

How I wish that happens.

Anyhow the twins are also making me practice hard. They have made it their duty to tire me out on the pitch as they say that they really want to see me as Chaser on the school team and that it would be a disgrace for them if I don't make it. 

Expectations... Ah well guess I'll have to try my level best to bag the rank of Chaser. The tryouts are taking place and Oliver Wood, the team captain, is bound to find the most competent players for his team. Well we'll see what happens. 

Even today I ditched potions and practiced with the twins. I know its not a good thing (ditching potions I mean), but it was totally worth it. Chasing the Quaffle and avoiding bludgers is much more fun than slicing up asphodel and avoiding Snape's terrifying glare. And the tingling sensation it gives to ride a broom... Oh dear me. Absolutely spine chilling in a fun sort of way. 

The biggest improvement in my training is that by now I can aim and throw perfectly well and I'm really excited. As usual. The twins told me that they'll talk to Wood once they are perfectly sure that I'd get selected. So there. And there are so many things that happened in this first week that it would take very very long to explain so I'm just briefing up everything. 

Everything's totally fine at home even though it took a lot of effort for Mom to calm down after Ron's flying leap because it was reported in the Muggle papers and Dad got a serious "talk down" at work. The Ministry was apparently very furious as it seems from Bill's letter. 

Oh yes, Bill writes to me (whenever he gets time that is) and usually they are funny letters about goblins and Gringotts and the awful curses he has to break. Unlike Lockhart he never brags about anything and even if he did I'd totally believe him. He's this laughing joking person that people like at first sight. 

And then there's Charlie. I got a letter from him today (mind you, its the first one) and he had written a lot about dragons and Norberta; a Norwegian Ridgeback dragon which Hagrid had won in a game of chess. And yes I know that story too. How couldn't I while living with a bunch of people who all have the talent of story telling. But I'm confused on which point of view to believe so I just took Harry's into account. 

***

Today I have to send a lot of mail. Guess I'll use the School Owls. The Owlery is one of my favorite places. Silent except the occasional hooting. I chose a brown barn owl and tied my letters to its leg. It nipped my finger. Fred told me that its considered as an act of affection. 

I could have borrowed Percy's owl Hermes but nowadays it's too busy sending letters back and forth between Perce and Penny. Oh you know: Penelope Clearwater, who else? Seems like dear old Perce took my dating advice seriously even though it was pretty horrible and now he's often seen talking to Penelope. 

Though it has its side effects. 

Whenever he talks to me, it's usually all about dear Penny. Penny does this and Penny does that. God, he's totally infatuated with her. But well... Good for him. 

"Hey Kat we've been looking all over for you," I turned around to see the twins. They had wide grins plastered on their faces. 

"Okay, let me guess," I folded my arms and replied, "you are absolutely spiffed about something." 

They nodded. 

Hmmm, I see. "So... You threw Mrs Norris in the lake, right?" 

They shook their heads, "nope, guess again." 

Ah really, they didn't? Well, well. "You totally aced at tennis." No? Not even this? Then what has happened that they are so smitten with glee? "You exploded Snape's office instead of Filch's?" 

They looked at each other with even wide grins on their faces. "Not a very bad idea. In fact its great," Fred spoke. 

"Wicked. But no that's not what we have done even though we'll do that someday soon," George added. 

Ugh then what? Have they thrown Malfoy down a staircase or accidentally slipped a spider down Ron's shirt? 

"Fine I give up. You guys tell me what's so funny going on here," yes I do give up. I can never keep track of all the things they do. 

"We talked to Wood. He's agreed to give you a chance and is waiting for you at the pitch." 

Oh. Okay. The Quidditch pitch... 

Wait, what? 

They informed Wood? 

"You don't have any time to grow this pale and faint because that only happens in sloppy Muggle movies and we prefer to keep it that way," George remarked. 

"Yup wouldn't want to see it in reality," Fred spoke up. 

"But you guys didn't tell me that you were going to talk to Wood!" Yeah. Showdown. 

"So what? We're telling you now," both of them grabbed me by my arms and steered me out if the Owlery. 

Oh God help me. I don't know what I'm gonna do. Like literally. If I don't make it to the team, Fred and George will feel really bad about it. And I don't want them to. Definitely not.

We reached the pitch. I saw Wood standing there as if waiting. 

"Hey Wood!" The twins yelled. 

He turned to us, "oh there you are. Took you long enough." 

Fred spoke, "yes, yes but it's totally worth it." 

He nodded, "we'll see about that soon." 

Then he turned to me, "Oliver Wood." 

I shook his offered hand, "Katerina Weasley." 

After the vague introductions he told me that he'd be Keeper and guard the poles and I'd have to do my level best to score. "

And we'll be Beaters of course," the twins piped up, "you must dodge the bludgers, got it? Though if you get hit..." 

No I'm not getting hit, thank you very much. 

"Mount your brooms," Wood ordered, "and on your mark... Go!" 

Right. Right. I can do this. A black form came swishing past me and I dodged. Bludger, what else? Oh there's the Quaffle. Come on Kat ace it. I caught the Quaffle and whizzed past each pole trying to confuse Wood. Okay... He's an awesome Keeper, don't know how I'm gonna get past this. I aimed and threw the Quaffle but he caught it. 

"Nice move," he yelled, "had some difficulty catching it there." 

Come on, you can do better Katerina Weasley. Then I saw Fred and George were circling a pole so Wood wasn't keeping there. My chance. It would be difficult to throw with both of them circling on their brooms but worth a shot at least. Aim. Throw. 

"Goal! Fantastic!" Wood yelled. 

Oh really? It crossed? Both the twins were gaping at me, "never thought you were that good." Okay... Confidence boost. 

After a lot of throws and catches and dodges Wood finally called it off. When we were back on the ground he spoke, "you're a natural, you know. Better than I thought. It was getting difficult finding the right Chaser since our previous one just graduated. But I think we have just found the one." 

Seriously...? I'm not dreaming, am I? "Are you serious?" I couldn't help but ask. 

He laughed, "of course I am. Welcome to the team, Katerina." 

Whoa... This is happening. Really happening. 

The twins gave me a high five each. 

"So that means you are Quaffled as Chaser," Fred grinned. 

Quaffled, excuse me? 

"He means qualified," George remarked, "but of course its pretty much the same thing." 

Wood spoke up, "I can't wait for the first match. Gotta show those Slytherins our awesome team." 

Yeah, sure. 

"And you know what that means?"

 I looked at the twins for an explanation. 

"Celebration, of course," they cheered.

***

Throughout the way to the common room the twins kept giving themselves credit for my selection and kept discussing about writing to Mom and Dad so I could get my own broom. 

When we reached the Fat Lady, as usual she asked, "password?" 

The twins announced, "we found our team a Chaser and you seriously won't let us in after that?" 

She shook her head, "definitely not boys. Give me the password." 

I spoke, "but you know we are Gryffindors and you're familiar with us now so why the bother..." 

She interrupted me, "ah dear I know I know. Who doesn't know you?  Yesterday you scared away the Dangling Knights from their portrait, didn't you? Heard an awful lot about it. But then these are safety measures which have to be followed." 

Oh that. Dangling Knights? Yes we did. But trust me it was an accident. We surely didn't expect that Mrs Norris would screech so loudly when we simply used a harmless Wingardium Leviosa spell on her. Like it's absolutely not our fault that we were trying to prevent her from stepping on dungbombs. And the knights tumbled head over heals due to that freakish cat. 

Anyways what was the password? 

"Dungeons Suck," George suggested. 

"No, that's not the password," the Fat Lady refused. 

"Oh I know," Fred piped up, "it's Gaunt Tremblo!" 

She nodded, "indeed." 

And with that she swung aside revealing the entrance. 

Soon as we stepped in the twins yelled, "fellow Gryffindors! Meet our new Chaser! Katerina Weasley!" 

The whole common room erupted with cheers and applause. I felt really honored, of course who wouldn't? Angelina and Katie were glad and so was Harry. Great thing I qualified. 

"Now get ready, this Quidditch season we are absolutely going to kick fat Slytherin as-" 

But I shut them up, "language Fred George. There are children present." 

Another round of laughter. And then for the celebration. The twins had nicked a lot of food and drinks from the school kitchens (beats me how they know and remember all these secret paths and hidden routes) and as the house elves were quite acquainted with them it was not a great problem. 

The whole night we partied and went off to bed only when a flustered looking Professor McGonagall in nightdress called it off and threatened to expel us. And of course we had to pack up then. Even Percy joined in the fun despite the fact that I hadn't expected him to. 

So much the better. At first he had been a bit sour but after a whole bottle of Firewhiskey (don't blame me for that! Ask the twins) he loosened up a hell of a lot and well that's that. Another memorable event to tick off at my checklist. And I can't wait to see what the next day has to offer.

***