Strange Beginnings

Chapter II.II

The food at Hogwarts wasn't by any means inferior to home cooking, always filling the great hall with warmth and and familiar smells of favorite dishes that practically every student could enjoy. Despite the ravenous consumption, conversations echoed off the stone walls unable to escape through the mirage on the roof. It just so happened that Pansy Parkinson sat right next to Y/N and assumed they wanted to hear every trivial detail of her summer holiday. From visiting her grandparents to traveling to where the Magi of ancient Persia would practice magic of old. Y/N was everything but interested in hearing more, however, they kept that to themselves.

When the girl finally needed a breath to refill her reserve of air Alexander sitting across the table jumped in, saving those near by from a second round of run on sentences and pointless explanations.

"So Y/N, tryouts for the quidditch team is tomorrow are you going to be there?"

"Uhh..." they looked down the row of students till they found Marcus Flint, the quidditch captain for the Slytherins.

He was a larger guy, always showing off his muscles to the girls every chance he got, but the reason he could never find a date was possibly due to his facial cosmetics. Not the most good looking bloke in the house but at least his personality seemed to match. Y/N was hesitant to give a definitive answer.

"Possibly I don't know, what do you think?"

Alex leaned in closer as if a secret was about to be shared, "I think we'd win a whole lot more against Hufflepuff with you on the team." he smirked, looking over to find the dark blonde seeker amongst the yellow tied table.

Y/N hadn't thought about that before. They knew Cedric was the seeker on the Hufflepuff team and a good one at that but they hadn't considered using their knowledge of the boy's playing style to their advantage on a competitive field. The only real problem Y/N could see with trying it out was actually making it onto the team. They were in the depths of running all the pros and cons of the situation when Alex stepped in with a little more persuasion.

"Plus last year you might have gave me your word that you'd go for it if I remember correctly."

They recalled that first conversation they had with Cedric's friend and indeed they said they would try.

"I never promised but I guess you are correct." Y/N relented.

"Great! Try outs are tomorrow at seven AM."

"Seven A M?" Y/N asked, why anyone would want to be up so early they could never understand.

Instead of trying to convince themselves or Alex why they shouldn't try out they continued on with the meal, having no choice but to return to hearing Pansy babble on about all the things no one cared about.

"I can't believe they brought the Gilderoy Lockhart to be our Defense Against the Dark Art's professor. It's like a dream come true!" Pansy squealed, "Do you think he would sign all my books? What about my handkerchief right next to my embroidered initials? I bet he'd give me one on one lessons if I asked."

Y/N knew Dumbledore wasn't completely sane but hiring that wanker might be a sign that he had in fact gone mad. The perfectly manicured man had the attention of all the professors along the grand table in front. Although as Y/N looked closer at each adult's facial expressions most of them had rolling eyes, dead paned looks, or might actually be sleeping. Certainly this school year will be an interesting one.

~~~

Before the tiny hammer on the alarm clock could beat both bells Y/N's hand came smashing over it. They didn't want to hear any complaints from their dorm-mates at breakfast about disturbing their sleep. Not a sound was made as clothes were gathered and changed into, shoes laced, and hair done. When they got out into the common room they were confused to see Alexander sitting on the couch waiting.