Potterlock - The Magical Deductions

Quidditch Tryouts

John Watson clutched the worn old school broom in his hands, telling himself to relax. This was his first flying lesson, and he didn't want to muck it up.

With a blow on her whistle, the coach signaled for the students to rise into the air. John thought about flying, wished to be in the air and - his broom popped underneath him into the air, rocketing straight up and stopping abruptly about six yards above the ground.

A few other students managed to kick off about three yards up, but no one matched the height John had reached. The teacher angrily blew the whistle again. "Alright, Watson, come on back down here then."

Again, John simply thought about where he wanted to go and the broom jolted in his hands, delivering him safely to the ground once more. The other children, who had fallen unceremoniously onto the grass, all glared at John. But he just stared at the broom in his hands. I flew, he thought. I really flew. 

When the whistle next blew, John took off smoothly into the air and sped forward at a dizzying pace. But the speed at which he was traveling was no concern to him - he just grinning and felt the wind in his hair and gripping the broom with both hands for dear life.

~~

After many a flying class and some more proper instruction, little second year John was ready to try out for the quidditch team. His first year flying experience had been better than some of the teams had seen in a long time, only comparing to another young boy wizard from Gryffindor. But John dismissed these and other thoughts and instead focussed on the captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team giving instructions.

John was trying out for position of Beater - he lined up with the rest of the bunch, cudgel in hand, and took off into the sky.

Throughout his entire tryout, John didn't notice the people in the stands, cheering them on. He didn't notice Sherlock, leaning against the stands, arms crossed, smirking as he watched John beat the bludgers out of the way. John performed better than any other beater on the Gryffindor team.

"Welcome to the team, kid." the captain said, shaking John's hand and ruffling his hair a bit. John grinned, holding his ratty old school broom and a quaffle. Sherlock smiled.