Venom & Virtue

chapter 11

After breakfast on Sunday morning, we made our way down to the quidditch pitch, excited about the prospect of witnessing the Slytherin tryouts.

Adrian had barely eaten anything himself, too nervous about getting on the team to worry about toast preferences.

We'd collectively reassured him that he would be fine, that he was shoo-in for the position of chaser.

Meanwhile, I was extremely curious about watching it all first-hand.

I'd never observed a quidditch game, let alone a tryout; it hadn't interested Kingsley in the slightest, so we'd never bothered to attended one, but I knew the rules well enough.

I pulled my scarf tighter as we reached the stadium, murmuring a quick warming charm to combat the cold.

The cosy heat quickly masked itself over my body, saving me from frostbite.

Terence let out a low whistle once we reached the top of the spectator steps, "quite the turnout."

I glanced over the oval field, taking in the sizeable crowd standing on the grass down below.

There were at least 25 people waiting around, brooms in their hands.

Some of them appeared a lot younger and more nervous than others, and I guessed that it was the first tryout they'd been old enough for.

I looked over at Adrian, who'd grown significantly paler as he saw all the people he'd be going up against.

There was only a slight pink tint remaining in his cheeks, probably spawned from the biting temperature more than anything.

I stepped closer, snapping my fingers in front of his face to draw his attention.

He turned to face me, blinking as if he were in a daze.

"You okay?"

"Yeah... I'll be fine," he replied, a hint of doubt clear in his voice.

"Good luck mate," Terence clapped him on the back, heading towards the seats where a lot of other students were sat.

Violetta offered Adrian an encouraging smile, and I wished him a good tryout too as we went to join Terence.

I glanced around once we'd sat down in the stands, noting how the crowd mostly consisted of girls, whispering excitedly to one another through their scarves.

I leaned over to Violetta indicating the groups behind us, "where are all the guys?"

"They don't usually care so much about tryouts, unless they're in them. But the girls come for... other reasons."

Terence moved over to us from her other side, "what she means to say is, they come to check out her hot brother."

The witch swatted their arm, unamused, "please stop... I mean I know that's the reason, but still."

"You act like they don't approach you just to ask about him," Terence teased, pulling out a miniature packet of popcorn from their coat.

"They do?" I interjected, surprised a fraction by the information.

I hadn't realised Draco was so lusted after around the school, especially when he seemed to be consistently attached to Pansy.

Violetta opened her mouth to speak but Terrence beat her to it, "oh all the time."

"Why?"

"To find out if she thinks they're his type, or if he's broken up with Parkinson yet."

I looked at Violetta for confirmation.