DANCING QUEEN ᵐᵃʳᵃᵘᵈᵉʳˢ ᵉʳᵃ

4 - military training has nothing against quidditch drills

"LISTEN UP," SHE HAD BARELY spoken louder than her usual tone, but the crowd immediately fell silent. "I am Cassiopeia Black and I'm your Quidditch captain this year. Before we begin tryouts, I would like to warn you that you're not signing up for some fun flying club. The Slytherin team has been consistently fighting with Hufflepuff for the first-rank position, and this year I plan to secure it."

"And we're expected to let a girl boss us around?" Someone called from the crowd. Regulus frowned.

"Yes, Derek, just like your girlfriend does to you when you fold her socks wrong." The crowd 'ooo'ed and the boy put his hands up in retreat. A proud smirk tugged at Regulus' lips. "Now then. We'll start with a physical, and then I'll organize a practice match and run some drills, so you don't need a broom at the moment."

They all set their brooms aside into a pile, and the newcomers started excitedly talking amongst themselves in anticipation as they waited. The actual members of the team that Cassy forced to retake tryouts rolled their eyes. Fools. They had no idea of the torture awaiting them.

The members of the team began stretching, used to the physicals Cassy put them through. She was a ruthless Captain, but the physicals had helped them get the upper hand against the other teams, and Regulus would be lying if he said he hadn't improved thanks to them.

"Alright, let's start easy. Two laps around the field."

Regulus raised his eyebrows and the team members exchanged looks. She was going easy. What was she planning?

The run began and all the team members started in a light jog, but the newcomers jumped into sprints. Regulus had learned many years ago that it was best to jog the laps. Cassy wasn't testing their speed, (who would need that on a broom?) she was testing their endurance.

The laps were done fast, although the newcomers all fell behind, out of breath from their sprints. They would learn. He and the rest of the team stretched while waiting, and the few newcomers who didn't finish late followed their lead. Once they were all done, Cassy gave them a moment to catch their breath.

The worst part about these drills was that you couldn't fight back with the classic 'why don't you do it' because Cassy always joined them without prompting. Even when she was sick to her stomach, the practice wasn't cancelled, and she ran a 10k in the rain.

Cassy was the strongest player on their team, not because of her strength or skill — some people on their own team bested her at that — but because she was resilient. Regulus didn't blame their old Captain for giving Cassy his role when she was only in her 4th year. 

It wasn't even just the resilient bit, she had a way with the team — she was a natural-born leader and it showed. The team's spirits shifted when she talked, and she never had to yell to get attention.

For the rest of the tryouts, she pushed them through their usual drills, although everything was in smaller, easier margins. Still, the newcomers had trouble keeping up, and a 3rd year ended up puking, which was technically an improvement from last year but still not a good start to the season.

When she announced that they would be going on their brooms, everyone was relieved. However, she put them through some more, considerably harder drills. At last, came the moment everyone was waiting for. The practice match.

"How does everyone feel about a little newcomers vs. the old team?" Tired cheers came from the crowd. "Alright, let's get organized." 

She filled the gap in their team with a 4th year. Regulus remembered her as one of the few who had the common sense to jog the laps and not sprint them. Cassy may not look it, but she knew what she was doing.