Victoire Weasley and the Four Statues

Exciting news

There was a long silence following the news, before Ted took over :

"Well, uh... Wow ! Wow, well, I mean WOOW, right ? James, that's great isn't it ?" Asked Ted as he took a seat at the table on his right. Victoire sat on the other side, and both of them ignored the meaningful looks of the Gryffindors who strongly disapproved strangers sitting at their table.

"Well... Yeah, but why ?", said James in a small voice.

Victoire tried to explain :

"You know, the last one who was recruited in a House Team on his first year was...-

"- Dad, I know.", James seemed quite bitter. Several people where still around and listening. Facing them at the table was a first year girl with brown hair in a blunt cut. She seemed to have befriended James, since she took part of the conversation without any complex :

"Well, you play don't you ?" She asked him.

As James shrugged shyly, Victoire and Ted supported him :

"Well yeah !" Exclaimed Victoire. "And he's really good !"

"Last summer, he caught the snitch almost every time... But he's especially a terrific beater !" Added Ted as they exchanged a knowing look.

"I knew it !" Exclaimed the brown-haired girl with a grin.

"Guys, stop." Said James, who seemed extremely uneasy.

This time, Ted and Victoire exchanged a frown : what was up with him ?

James looked around. Everyone had left by then, and nobody seemed interested anymore. Shamefully, James wrapped the broom in its paper as if he thought he could hide it, and said in a whisper :

"I didn't even take the tryouts. They just... Sent me a broom."

"I don't get it," said Victoire, "don't you want to be on the team ?"

"Yeah, sure, but... I wanna earn it you know..."

"Yeah, you were right Vick, I guess he's definitely not a Slytherin then !" Ted joked.

They both laughed before James said curtly : "Guys. It's not funny."

They both stopped, and frowned at him.

"Okay, wait, what's so wrong ?" Asked Ted.

"Oh, come on !!" Suddenly exclaimed the brown haired girl before them, as if she had been listening the whole time. Which, Victoire was pretty sure, she probably had. "Aren't you guys supposed to be his friends ? Don't you get it ? Worse, you're supposed to be in Ravenclaw !" she said, looking right at Victoire. "Gods, your entire house is basically based on the fact that you guys are supposed to be clever !" She said.

She seemed really confident shameless and out going, to talk to a Sixth Year and the Head Boy this way. Victoire wanted to answer that it wasn't precisely and exactly what Ravenclaw House was about strictly speaking, but she didn't get the chance. Or maybe she didn't dare to.

"Em'." Said James firmly, "Stop."

But the girl didn't stop. Instead, she rolled her eyes and sighed :