Crescent Moons ; J.S. Potter

19. quidditch determination.

"Everybody line up according to positions!" announced Daisy loudly. This was the day of the Quidditch tryouts and the first one that she wasn't nervous at all for. She now did not have the anxiety of whether she would get in or not. "Keepers to my left, Chasers to my right, and Beaters in the middle. We're starting with you guys."

The large crowd of Gryffindors got in three separate crowds. A few people were left over.

"How about Seekers?" asked one boy who seemed to be a few years younger than Daisy. Daisy tilted her head at him. Clearly, this was his first time ever trying out.

"Er - I'm Seeker," said Daisy. "And there's only one Seeker so since I'm the Captain, I'll be the one and only Seeker this year."

She waved at the small group of aspiring Seekers as they left the pitch. Then, she handed the Beater, who was in front of the line, a Beater's Bat.

"Alright, I'll be your target," said Daisy. "Don't be discouraged if you don't hit me much; I've got a lot of experience with dodging Bludgers. After that, I'm going to be hitting Bludgers at you and it'll be nice if you dodge them so I could prevent bringing another person to the Hospital Wing."

She smiled. The aspiring Beater was a seventh-year Gryffindor whom she had seen at Gryffindor parties before. However, she did not know his name. He was tall and had a very muscular build. Daisy noticed that most of the aspiring Beaters had this look. However, she spotted one, small, brunette girl at the back of the line. It was Lily.

"Lily!" she exclaimed at the sight of her. "I'm so happy you're trying out this year!"

"Thanks, wish me luck!" said Lily. Daisy beamed at her and gave her a thumbs-up. All of a sudden, Gwen appeared from behind her and slung her arm around her shoulder. Daisy laughed.

"Gwen!" she greeted happily. "Hey! Here to keep me company, right?"

"Yup!" said Gwen. "Ooh, is that the first person trying out for Beater?"

Daisy nodded.

"Smash."

Daisy looked at her friend confusedly.

"You mean he'd smash his tryouts? I'm not sure yet, honestly ..."

"No, I meant I'd smash him."

Daisy thought for a moment, then her eyes widened. Gwen burst into laughter at the sight on her face.

"Alright, let's get started!" said Daisy, her face red. The boy looked annoyed. The two of them flew up Gwen released a Bludger up to them. Daisy flew away from him as he hit the first Bludger at her.

It was an easy dodge. His aim was sloppy and his eyes weren't focused on his target or on the ball. She grimaced as she barely had to move to dodge the two other shots he took at her.

"Alright, er, go wait over there; your tryout's over," Daisy said. He shrugged and went to sit on the Bleachers. Many other aspiring Beaters passed (Gwen remarking "Smash" about most of them), Marlee included, but other than Marlee, whom Daisy already knew of her skill, most of them did not have the perfect amount of focus and aim that Fred Weasley possessed. Daisy was starting to worry. If she did not have the perfect team, she didn't know what she would do.

It was now Lily's turn. Some of the aspiring Beaters, who had finished their tryouts, chuckled at the sight of the small girl.

"Be quiet, please," said Daisy. The two girls rose up and Lily shot her first Bludger, and Daisy was not prepared for how strong it was.

In a split second, the Bludger had made its way across the pitch and smashed Daisy square in the ribs. She yelped and flew down quickly onto the soft grass. Many of the aspiring players looked in horror at her. She had a burning pain on the left side of her ribs. James rushed over to her from the Chasers' line.