End of Sallow

I got my hands in my pockets and my head in a cloud

"Alright! Those trying out for seeker, you're the last group up. Rules are simple enough. Find the snitch, bring it to me." Peters held the golden ball in his gloved hands for all to see. Last year, Theo hadn't tried out, but this year he'd decided to. Something new to take his mind off the rubbish that Podex was making him do. He just wished Alec were here, but Grace was sitting in the bleachers, watching.

Theo's hands were trembling as he held onto his broom. He'd been a naturally good flyer, it came second nature to him. Something about being off the ground and away from everyone was a freedom he hadn't known he needed. So when he'd watched quidditch games his first year, he'd decided he'd try out the following year.

And here he was, with Captain Henri Peters releasing the snitch in front of six pairs of eyes, including Theo's.

"Bludgers will be part of the game, so keep your wits about you." Then he smirked. "No other rules."

Then he blew the whistle.

And Theo came to realize rather quickly that Peters had intended to make them fight for the position. Actually fight. Within minutes, two people were kicked off their brooms and falling quite the distance to the ground.

It made Theo's stomach churn, but his focus was finding the snitch. The quicker it was found, the quicker this was over.

He stayed clear of the other players and bludgers, keeping his eye out, when he heard a booming voice from below him.

"Oh, let's make one more obstacle, shall we?"

There were multsiple people in the stands who raised their wands and casted little rain clouds over each player, and it began to rant.

Theo swiped at the rain in his eyes, trying to see. He noticed the other players had their flying goggles on, something he hadn't thought he'd need. But after awhile, rain turned to snow, and he watched as the few other players stalled to try to take off the goggles as the lenses became to freeze up.

"Go, Theo!" He heard Grace's small voice from the stands, and he turned to see her waving both arms at him.

And that's when he saw it. It was flying right above her head.

Theo immediately lowered himself onto his broom and shot straight for it.

"Ohh, looks like the little second year has found it."

Theo clenched his teeth, knowing that any second, he would be attacked by someone. But he spurred his broom forward, reaching his arm out.

He heard the bludger a second before it slammed into his broom from underneath. It sank into his stomach, but the more pressing issue was the 'snap' of his broom breaking in half. His hand flew out, but there was nothing to catch his fall as he began to flail to the ground.

"No~" He heard Grace scream, as his mind worked in overtime. It felt like everything was in slow motion as he yanked his wand out of his pocket with his free hand. ... Free hand?

He looked and sure enough, he'd caught the snitch.

Elation. Then remembering he was still falling.

In a panic he pointed his wand at the snitch and cast "Levioso."

To his utter shock, the golden ball held him in the air as he began to lower himself. But nothing had been called to stop.

"You have to bring it to me," Peters reminded them all and Theo clenched his teeth. If he played with this team, he would be playing dirty, he realized. So he'd need to make sure the captain knew he could play. He quickly pinpointed the student closest to the ground, who was heading towards him and pointed his wand.