Kissed By Magic

Quidditch Try Outs

Chapter 6

Quidditch Try Outs

Tessa sashayed over to the bleachers. When Mason peered up at her, she smiled, reassuring him.

I can't blow this, Mason thought, I have to do it for both Tessa and myself...and even Lisette and that weird guy she's talking to.

After taking a deep breath, Mason walked up to Draco Malfoy.

"So, are the try outs still going on?" Mason questioned.

"Oh, hi," Draco turned around, "You want to try out?"

"Yes, please." Mason nodded, although he seemed uncertain.

"You're fourth on the waiting list. Meanwhile, I'll need to ask some questions. Don't worry...they have everything to do with Quidditch. It's not like I'm randomly making up questions on the spot..." Draco yapped on and on.

Mason stared, blankly at him.

"Okay...anyways, want me to ask or not?" Draco placed his hands on his hips.

"By all means...ask away!" Mason paced back and forth, impatiently.

"Okay..." Draco began, "First question...CAN YOU STOP MOVING!"

"Sorry." Mason froze, hesitantly.

"Good. Next question...full name?" Draco rolled his eyes.

"Mason Ledbury." Mason answered.

"Okay. What year?" Draco crossed his arms.

"Fourth year." Mason replied.

"Experience with Quidditch?" Draco peered at Mason, mysteriously.

"Uhh...well, yeah...in Flying class." Mason shrugged.

"Hah." Draco spat, "So, you're a newbie!"

"Umm...yeah, you could say that..." Mason glanced over at Tessa who—for some strange reason—didn't seem bored.

She's either really interested in Quidditch or a great actress, Mason thought.

"You love Tessa?!?!?" Draco inched closer, ready to grab Mason's collar.

"Is this question relevant to the questionnaire?" Mason asked.

"Umm..YES!" Draco smirked.

"Well, no then. I do not love Tessa." Mason stated with confidence.

"Good. Because Tessa Granger is mine!" Draco grinned, "Yep, we're dating."

"And I needed to know this, why?" Mason eyed Draco.

"Because..." Draco shrugged, "Whatever! Do you want to try out or not?"

"Yes, I do." Mason frowned.

Sounds like I'm getting married, Mason thought to himself, Well, at least I know who's not getting an invite.

"What are you laughing about?" Draco spat, uncomfortably.

"Nothing." Mason shook his head, realising he had been laughing about the thought of Draco at a wedding.

His wife must be very unlucky, Mason thought.

"Last two questions. What position would you like? And to make sure you're really a Slytherin, what's the Common Room password?" Draco peered deep into Mason's eyes.

"Beater..." Mason started, "And Pure-blood." he whispered.

"As much as I detest you, you've answered...well. Look's like you're up Masin." Draco smacked the upside of Mason's head.

"It's Mason." he fumed.

"Whatever, just get up there kid!" Draco yelled, "There's a lot of people waiting their turn."

Mason slowly paced towards his Nimbus 2000 which he had set down against the bleachers before walking to Draco. As he looked up, Tessa threw her fists in the air with her thumbs up. Mason giggled, happy that he had her support. Her motivation helped lift the pressure off his back. He threw his legs over the Nimbus 2000 and tightened his grip before flying up to the starting line.

"Okay, so your goal is to complete this course successfully by getting through at least five out of the possible seven obstacles in under thirty-five seconds.Got it, kid?" Draco literally screamed the instructions in his ear. Mason was a little surprised that he managed to understand Draco Language.

"GOT IT?" Draco screamed, just a little louder.

"GOT IT!" Mason screamed back at Draco, almost making him fall backwards.

"THREE, TWO, ONE...FLY!!!!" Draco commanded.

Mason lifted off at an amazing speed, twirling around with ease in the first obstacle. Next was a small loop, big enough for only a body and a nimbus. Suddenly, the intense pressure of screwing up rushed back into Mason. The wind blew his hair back, forcing even more pressure on him. After three seconds, he leaned as far as he could across his Nimbus 2000 and charged at the loop. Tucking his legs in, he turned briskly. Mason could feel the blood rush to his head. When he opened his eyes, he realised that he had made it out the other side. But, something was terribly wrong. He couldn't feel his right leg.

I must have hit it on the ring, he thought, worriedly.

Suddenly a gush of air ran past him and he rushed to the ground. Just before banging against the field, he jolted upwards and the Nimbus and him went flying. He had completed two obstacles successfully. Now it was time for the giant fans. After watching the pattern for less than two seconds, he narrowed his eyes and when the first fan stopped, he zoomed past it. Unexpectedly, the third one went out of pattern and left him spinning, endlessly in the air. When he finally caught balance, he rushed forward. He couldn't waste any time.

"Two success and one fail. Four more to go. Put on your game face, Mase!" he spoke to himself.

The rest of the course was basically Quidditch as a beater. Mason managed to barely succeed in all, besides one other obstacle which he failed to complete. Finally in the last few seconds, Mason sprung forward and crashed to the ground, landing solidly on two feet.

Tessa came running forward, "Welcome to the team!" she yelled, excitedly. 

"Huh?" Mason got up, puzzled.

"You made it by just four point six seconds!" Tessa squealed. 

"I did?" Mason gasped.

"You did!" Tessa threw her arms around Mason.

"How did you know?" Mason whispered in her ear, "Where you counting the seconds?"

"No, silly!" she drew back.

"Then how? Was there a big stopwatch?" Mason looked around.

"I'm the team captain!" Tessa giggled, pointing to a stopwatch in her hand.

"You are? Why didn't you tell me?" Mason's eyes widened.

"Didn't want to pressure you." she smiled.

"That was probably a smart idea." he nodded.

"Well, welcome to the team! We should celebrate." Tessa chuckled.

"Thanks, but I rather not make it a big thing." Mason shrugged.

"Hahaha okay!" Tessa scruffled up his hair.

From across the field, Mason managed to catch site of the tiny figures of Lisette and her friend clapping from the bleachers. He smiled, for today was a day he would never forget; it was the day a pathetic kid became a king.