Woes of a Weasley

4: Beater Or Beaten?

"I'll release this Bludger and you're gonna hit it away, from here on the ground." Draco had the Slytherin practice balls in a case, and he set it on the ground, unbuckling it around the edges.

Everyone knows Draco bought his way on the team, but it really made Slytherin better. I do think Draco is a good seeker.... not as good as Harry Potter but I believe he'll get there.

I yawn and shake my head at the fact it is sunrise. We are in the middle of the Quidditch field and there was no one there but us.

"Look the sun isn't even awake yet." I growl, and Malfoy calmly hands me a bat not much past a foot long.

I've seen Fred and George do this a million times. Doesn't seem so hard.

WOOOOOOSH

A large Bludger flew in the air, and Draco stepped back quickly. It darted back and forth, it's movements slightly delayed.

"Here it comes." Draco told me from my left. I take the bat in my right hand. It's heading right towards me. What if I can't hit it with the bat and the Bludger kills me?

Before I can ponder the likely outcomes I desperately swing at the oncoming sphere that was heading right at me. There's a huge WACK, and I feel the vibration through the bat. The ball disappears over the stadium, but soon returns.

Malfoy enchanted it so it would chill, and he handed me a broom. It was a Firebolt.

"You can have that one." Draco said like it was no problem.

"You serious?" My mouth gapes open and Draco flicks my chin so I close it. I narrow my eyes at him, and he grabs the Bludger.

"Yeah. Father got me the latest model so I have no use for it."

"Oh. Alright then." I shrug and mount my new broom. The light orangish wood was so smooth I just loved the feeling.

I kicked off the ground and I was flying. The wind blew my long hair back and I reached out my arms to the sides (with the bat in one hand), feeling free.

"Might wanna look about Ainsley." I hear Draco's small voice from below. Startled, I scan the sky and the Bludger is after me again. Right. This is my job. Protect my team. Hit the Bludger.

I felt confident. I gave the ball a strong hit which sent it soaring to the rings where the Quaffle was supposed to go through to earn points. I held my breath, but was disappointed when the ball narrowly missed the ring on the far right. When I say narrowly I mean quite a lot.

Looking to land on the ground gracefully... yup that's what I'm gonna do. Or so I thought. I tried to get off the broom to early, so it dragged me a few meters.

"Ainsley just let go!" Malfoy shouted but his voice cracked with laughter.

"Just shut up!" I shout as I tumble and do some summersaults when I let go. I finally came to a stop and I was looking up at the sky.

"Well.... you were good until the landing." Draco says smoothly from above. He had his hand outstretched but I swatted it away.

"I'm well aware.... I was only experimenting."

"I see." He smirks and runs his fingers through his platinum blonde hair. "Well, let's go to breakfast. The tryouts are right after."

"Alright." I sigh and pick myself off the ground. Probably going to be sore later.  No biggie!

•••••••(SpongeBob Narrative Voice) 2 Hours Later••••••••

"Ains!" I turn to see Bevin jogging up to me, her dark hair bouncing. Im standing on the Quidditch field in the same place we were earlier. "Decided I'd try out too. No hard feelings, right?"

"Right." I force a smile as Bevin stands beside me, shorter by a few inches.

I look around. There are about eight or nine kids trying out for Beater. Half are really beefy upperclassmen, half are.... average girls and boys.

My heart sinks when I see my competition... there's no way.

Flint turned from talking to second in command Adrian Pucey, and started talking to us... very loudly.

"QUIDDITCH IS ABOUT WINNING, MY FRIENDS." Cheers erupted from my Slytherin mates. I couldn't help but smile at their enthusiasm. "TO BE A BEATER, YOU NEED TO BE WILLING TO GIVE IT YOUR ALL. YOU DONT ALWAYS NEED TO PLAY FAIR. INSTEAD OF PLAYING FAIR, PLAY RELENTLESSLY! NOW WHO'S READY TO PROVE THEMSELVES?"

To this, I cheered. I wanted this. Bevin hopped up and down chanting loudly:

"BREAK 'EM! BEAT 'EM! BURY 'EM! SPIT ON THEIR BOOOOOONES."

I giggled at her little song and so did a few others. Bevin was the least intimidating Slytherin out there.

"Alright! One at a time I'm gonna have you go through a series of tasks!" Flint called up the first person. He was a first year... yup good luck with that.

I am third to last in line, and by the looks of all the tryouts, no one is really outstanding.

Flint had a deep scowl on his face by the time he got to me. Bevin went right before and it was the funniest thing I've ever seen.

She flew up in the air and had no idea how to keep the broom steady. She started riding in circles pumping her fists, and shouting her chant over and over.

When Flint released the Bludger, Bevin began screaming profanities at him, zigzagging everywhere, narrowly missing the stadium and disappearing around the castle for a solid five minutes.

Yes. No hard feelings Bev.

Bevin comes back and lands roughly, still mumbling curse words under her breath glaring at Flint. I give her a pat on the head and she growls and scurries inside, acting like a rabid mongoose or something. Don't know what she drank for breakfast...

"Weasley!" Flint snapped, catching my attention. I glare at him as I walk past because of his sass. "Mount your broom and wait for my com-" Before he can finish I lift off. I look back just to see how much I annoyed him, but all he did was cross his arms and give me the next direction.

What a disappointment :[

I smacked a few Bludgers here and there, even sent a few in Flint's direction.

When I get back on the ground I don't even look at him. I feel like I nailed it. Not sure though... There ended up being some pretty solid Beater material in the tryouts, but I wouldn't be counting myself out.

Something light in the wooden stands catches my eye. I look up and see Draco sitting in the stadium, along with Crab and Goyle. His hair looked especially blonde. I start to wave but catch myself as I notice Flint walking over flanked by Adrian and this other guy I don't recognize.

He's smiling a nasty grin, and I feel goosebumps forming on my arms. No. Stop. I can't be scared of Marcus Flint.

"Ainsley Weasley. A mere tween." I started to interrupt by correcting him, but he continued talking. He stretched out his hand to shake mine "Congratulations. You made the Slytherin team."