Letters from Lupin

From the Hufflepuffs news about the first-year permission to try for the teams was spread to Gryffindor and somehow Slytherin also caught up. When those houses' members asked their heads of houses why they weren't given the chance, they got different answers.

Professor McGonagall told them that if any talented first-years were in the class, Madam Hooch always informed their heads of house and then they decided to give them a chance. But on the school brooms there hadn't been any first-year to make the team in over a hundred years, because the older students just were physically stronger or more talented.

Professor Sprout told her house something similar. It took a good amount of work to be on the house team and she had found that in their first year students were busy enough with other things. If somebody really stood out, Madam Hooch would inform her.

Professor Snape simply told his house that the demanding style Slytherin played was too much to bear for a first year and as a consequence, if he let first-years on the team their performance in class would suffer, which he wouldn't tolerate.

.....

Friday morning Harry got mail. He didn't expect any mail, so he was curious who would write him. He looked at the sender and found the name Remus Lupin. He smiled. He had written Lupin just before he came to Hogwarts to see if he wanted to build up contact. Harry was interested in this only real link to his past. Lupin wrote he would love to keep in contact with Harry and tell him more about his parents. He also expressed how sorry he was for keeping out of his life for the past ten years, but Professor Dumbledore had informed him that to not endanger Harry's location, he should keep his distance. Harry had written him that he didn't care about his 'furry little problem' once a month and that that shouldn't be a reason to keep away. He was glad that he now had somebody to send letters to. Hedwig had also become a bit bored. She liked flying a good distance to stretch her wings from time to time.

....

On Saturday morning, the try-outs had been placed on the weekend where no muggle classes were held, Harry and Lisa went down to the Quidditch pitch at ten for the tryout. There were about twenty others that also wanted to get one of the five open positions in the team.

"Okay, welcome to the Ravenclaw try-outs. I'm Daniel Barkaim, the captain for those that didn't already know. I play seeker for the team. This is Pomarel Oustabler, he plays keeper. We will test you for the three open chaser spots, the two open beater spots and the keeper spot as Pomarel won't play the last game of the season because he takes his NEWTs this year and the last game preparation would collide with his studying for the NEWTs. We here in Ravenclaw work by the philosophy, always prepared.

"I won't lie to you, a new team always is at a disadvantage compared to one that either has already played together for a year or only has to incorporate one or two new players. This season we will be the underdogs for the cup, but never say never. Our main competition will be the teams of Gryffindor and Slytherin. Hufflepuff has three new players to train, so they are in a similar situation to us. Now I want you to separate into groups for the position you would like to play at. Chasers left, next beaters, then keepers. If anybody wants to try out for seeker, next to that, I'll see if you are good enough to be a reserve for me in case I can't play." Daniel organized them.

Harry moved to the chaser group, Lisa to the keeper group. Unknown to Daniel Harry had asked Madam Hooch if he could get one of the school brooms and work on making it fit for the tryout. He had shown the finished result to Madam Hooch the previous evening, he had used the spells in the book Hagrid had given him for his birthday, and she had declared the broom safe to use. Harry had clipped the twigs, exchanged a few twigs that were too damaged to correct and had renewed the hover charm. More he couldn't do yet, but he guessed he had done his best to get a better broom. The hover charm was a second year charm, but after four tries, Harry had got it right.

Daniel let the group of chasers fly three laps around the field first, then the beaters did the same, followed by the keepers and the one reserve seeker aspirant. He made short notes on every person on a clipboard. Then he let the beaters show their skill with one of the bludgers. There were six people trying out for beater. They were tasked to smack the bludgers back and forth between them. After Daniel had sorted out two second years, the remaining four had to aim bludgers at targets Daniel shouted on a whim. In the end he had Steven Remmons, a fourth year, and Tod Gellan, a third year as his new beaters.

Next were the chasers. Each of them got five shoots on the hoops which were protected by Pomarel. First up was Roger Davies, a fourth year. He got two of his shots in. Pomarel was a really good keeper. Next was Millia Weatherstone, a fifth year. She had one goal. It continued. Harry was last of the ten to try out for chaser. When it was his turn, only one fourth year, Quentana Pollianore had managed to get three goals in. Roger Davies was still second best. Harry flew up with the quaffle. He shot towards the goal and treated this like a penalty shooting in football only with three choices for goal. He slightly shifted his body to the left, seeing that Pomarel had taken the bait he threw the quaffle through the right hoop. First goal. His next try he knew Pomarel would be more aware of his possible fainting attempt, so he would get out another trick.

He raised his hand to throw the quaffle to the centre hoop, Pomarel reacted appropriately and was in position, but the ball got a spin from Harry's hand, which let it go through the left hoop. Second goal. He again started his attack on the hoops. He could see Pomarel was annoyed now that a first-year had already got two goals in against him, a seventh-year. Harry now decided to use speed position changing. Pomarel was forced to always change position. Harry shot. The throw looked like it would miss the hoop and go through the space between the centre and the right hoop, but the last moment, the quaffle turned and hit the metal ring, not going through the hoop, but falling down, where Pomarel caught it.

....

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