Weasley Twins - A Fate You Can't Escape

Chapter 9 - Hustlepuff

After our last classes, Mia and I make our way down to the Quidditch Pitch.  Probably about a quarter of Hufflepuff is there either watching or trying out.  We get in the lineup to try out and Alex waves down at us from his potion by the goals.  Mia blushes and I nudge her with my elbow as we wave back.

A few more stragglers enter the stands as the team finishes warming up.  Laila sits at the side, looking rather upset.  I don't blame her.  Although imagine if it had been McGonagall instead of Umbridge she swore at...  Who knows if she'd even still be here.  No one would dare disrespect McGonagall like that though.

"Alright my fellow Hufflepuffs."  Alex guides his broom down and hovers in front of the line.  As team captain, he'll be leading tryouts.  "As you have heard, we are down a beater.  Now the position of beater can be a bit of a rough one, requiring strength, agility, balance, and of course, speed."  I glance down the line to see most of the others nodding very seriously.  I quickly follow suit.

"You'll each be working with Edwin, to assess your skills and teamwork.  You two will need to be pretty in sync."  At the mention of his name, Edwin gives a small wave.  "Those of you who have your own brooms, feel free to use them.  If not, you can grab one from the storage shed behind you."

Mia and I as well as a few others go fetch brooms.  I'm an alright flyer I suppose.  I used to fly a lot with my mom when I was younger, but less so now.  With everything going on, there always seems to be something more important to do.  

Edwin then steps forward and explains the best ways to hold the bat, how to get a good amount of power without falling off your broom, and a bit about aiming.  Perhaps the trig course I took last year will be useful after all.  After he finishes, the tryouts begin.  Mia and I are eighth and ninth in line so it takes a bit to get to us.  The candidates are okay, but not near the caliber that Laila was.  I can tell Alex is getting nervous as number seven hops on his broom.  

He is better than the previous and would do in a pinch.  His wrists are a bit weaker than preferable though.  Good follow through with the shoulder at least.  Then, Mia's turn.  She flashes me a nervous smile and kicks off of the ground.  Edwin sends the ball her way, and she misses the first time.  She does manage to hit it on the way back.  She sends it flying towards one of the targets, and it misses by just a few inches.

"Let's go Mia!"  I yell, excited for her.

The next one Edwin sends her way, she hits solidly.  It grazes her target and the Hufflepuffs cheer for her.  She seems boosted by the support of her house and manages to hit the next three.  I can't believe how well she's doing!

"Last one!"  Edwin calls, sending a bludger flying straight towards her.  It looks like it's going to hit her if she doesn't move.

"Mia!  Move!"  I scream, but she misjudges the angle, swinging just to the right of it.  With a not very pleasant thud, it hits her in the chest.  She immediately topples off of her broom, plummeting to the ground.  I am screaming, but there's no way I could get to her in time.  Thankfully, there is someone who can.  Alex, swoops down, expertly catching her and carrying her safely to the ground.

I run over to them, worried for my best friend.

"Mia!  Are you okay?"  I grab her hands, terrified.

"Yeah."  She coughs.  "I just got the breath knocked out of me pretty good."

Her voice is weak and she's still gasping for air.

"Thank goodness you're okay!"  I want to hug her, but refrain.  I don't want to squish her any more.

"Before you took that bludger, you were doing great."  Alex grins at her.  "For sure in the running to be on the team."

"Oh!"  Mia blinks a couple of times, processing.  "Actually, I think I've changed my mind.  I'd rather not go through that again."

"That's a shame really.  You got some talent."  Alex shakes her hand, and she blushes at his compliment.

"Thanks."  She squeaks out.

"Come on, Mia.  Let's get you back.  You could probably use some rest."  I tell her as Alex takes off again to talk to Edwin.

"No!"  She stops me, digging her heals in.  "You have to try out."

"Still?"  I gulp, nervous.

"Yeah.  I'm fine.  I want you to try out.  Like we agreed."  She gives me a slight pout and I cave once again.

"Alright.  Only because I said I would."  I mutter, going back over to pick up the broom I dropped.  "If I make it on the team, you have to come to every single practice."  I joke, climbing on.

"Deal!"  She calls back as she sits down.

Edwin hands me a bat and I wipe my hands on my pants before taking it.  The leather grip fits nicely in my hands and I give it a few test swings.  Alright.  Here goes nothing.  Following the other beater, I kick off into the sky.

We hover in the air, facing each other.  Down on the ground, Zach unleashes the bludger.  Edwin quickly flies to it and hit it to me.  I take a deep breath and tighten my grip on the bat.  I can do this.  I take into account the speed and angle it's coming at me and shift enough on my broom to get a good swing.  Despite it having been awhile since I've flown, it feels natural.  I swing with all my might, hitting it with a loud crack, praying it hits the desired target.  I watch at it shoots straight to it, hitting the edge so hard a chip breaks off.

"Great hit, Hazel!"  Edwin calls out, but I'm focused down below where another bludger is about to come.  The second one is released, and flies closer to me than Edwin.  I don't wait for him to hit it to me, I fly to it.  Zooming through the air, I wizz by it, using my speed for extra power.  It hits another one of the targets and the Hufflepuffs in the crowd cheer.  Am I actually doing okay?

The third and the fourth come in rapid succession.  Edwin flies to the side to see me do some solo work.  The fourth one grazes my leg, most likely leaving a bruise.  I do my best to ignore it and swing.  

"Alright Hazel!"  Edwin shouts to me.  "Hit the next one to me."

I nod, and watch for the next shot.  I have to duck to avoid it hitting my face, but manage to avoid it, turning and hitting to Edwin.  He swiftly hits it back to me and I smack it in the direction of the targets, cleaning nailing the middle one.

I return my focus down at the ground waiting for Zach to send the next one, but he's locking up the box.

"Alright Hazel."  Edwin flies over, stopping next to me.  "That was a great job.  You should be proud."

"Thanks."  I say, suddenly very self conscious.  For some reason it feels wrong for him to say that.

We head back to the ground and Mia immediately wraps me in a hug.  "I didn't know you could play quidditch!"  She screams in my ears, making them hurt a bit.  "Why didn't you tell me?  I would have made you try out sooner!"

That's exactly why I didn't tell her.

"Sorry."  I try to smile at her, but it feels fake.

"That was fantastic!"  Alex jogs over to me, clapping me on the shoulder.  "Now I can't make any offers until we discuss it at a team.  But, expect me to come talk to you at dinner."  He winks and heads over to the rest of the team and Laila.

"Hazel!"  Mia hugs me again, jumping up and down.  "You're on the team!"

"What?  No."  I take a step back, untangling myself from her arms.  "He said he was going to talk about it with the team.  Honestly, they should make Gavin the new beater.  Did you see how well he did?"

"No.  You were way better!"  Mia insists, and I feel a wave of panic wash over me.

"No.  No!  I was just doing it because you asked me to."  

"But you were amazing!"  She starts, but I interupt.

"Look, we can talk about it later.  I've got a lot of homework."  I take off, leaving her at the quidditch pitch.

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