Stuck on the Sidelines - Book 3

An End and a Beginning

The rest of the year was rather boring as I spent more time with Remus or 'Lups' as I liked to call him. Sirius had found out about the set-up and we called a truce. He was slightly less than the egotistical jerk he was before - only slightly. My summer consisted of being holed up in the castle; sadly but it was fun. I found creative ways to get past the portraits into any house I wanted. I also managed to find that passageway Fred and George had mentioned being blocked up. It had lead to Hogsmeade near the end of the street and it was a huge passageway not as big as the Room of Requirement but big enough. Interestingly, I thought about what Fred had said about the cave-in. I wondered what had caused it! This was a great place for a secret den...

By the time everyone returned from the holidays, I had celebrated with the house-elves, danced in the Astronomy Tower and even had a go on a school broom which was actually a bit fun. Quidditch wasn't my thing, I had too much to keep track of already. I sat in the Great Hall waiting for everyone from the train. "Rose" She shouted, then face-palmed herself. "I forgot your roses." Lily shouted again for the audience. "Don't worry! It's not my birthday for two weeks yet." I gritted my teeth remembering we had a crowd. "But mum got them for you!" She replied, coming up to hug me. "Sorry." She whispered as she continued to hug me. I shook her off, shooing her away to her table.

I watched as Regulus made his way over to greet me. "Marisa, how are you?" He grinned. I furrowed my eyebrows waiting for it. "Did you hear - Lucinda made Captain?" I smiled happily. "Lucinda - congrats!" I shouted down the table. She waved in reply. "Why are you grinning?" I questioned, unsure why Regulus was grinning so much. "Hey guys." A voice called from behind me. I jumped in my seat - not funny. Regulus was still laughing as Lucinda sat down. "Quidditch tryouts are next week. Marisa - I hope you're there. Someone let slip you've been practicing over the summer. Bye!" She ran off further down the table to spread the news.

"Well are you going to do it?" Reg exclaimed. "No" I replied, quite sure with my decision. "Why not? You've been practicing!" Reg pushed. I rolled my eyes. "Doesn't mean I'm any good!" I commented, annoyed at myself for getting into this mess in the first place. How did she find out I had been practicing? I mean - all the students were gone which left the teachers. But who? My eyes strayed over the staff's table. Albus had caught my eye with a twinkle behind his glasses. He wouldn't dare! I watched stunned as he smiled at me. It was as if he was laughing at my expense. "Ok Reg. I'll make you a deal!" He looked interested. Good! "If I go for Quidditch tryouts this year, you have to go to tryouts next year. Deal?" I held out my hand. He smiled and shook it. "What broom are you going to use then?" Regulus asked.

I thought about that as a new batch of first years were being sorted. A faint voice called "Lockhart, Gilderoy." My hand slipped from under my chin as my head went straight down intended for the table. Lucky, I caught myself in time. He was here! Regulus just looked at me weirdly before turning back to the front. 'I really hope he is different to what I know.'

I raced back to the Common Room after the feast to do some research. Sadly, I had to perform my tryout on one of the school's brooms. I had the privilege of selecting either the Comet 140 or the Cleansweep Three which wasn't a great choice. I went with the Comet 140. Reg was sitting in the stands a week later - waiting for tryouts to start.

Everyone had a try at all the different positions apart from Keeper as Lucinda rotated us around. By the time the tryouts had finished, I was tired. Reg had been cheering us all on as we whizzed by. "Thank you all for trying out. The list will be posted at lunch." All of us started to scatter as I went to put the Comet 140 away. Reg was waiting for me. "Hey, hurry up! We've got double potions together." He grabbed my hand and dragged me back to the castle in a rush. "Wait, what?" I looked at him, confused. "Yeah, we have classes together for once." He panted as we raced down the corridors.

We burst into the classroom late for a change. "Sorry, Professor." Reg mumbled as we headed for my usual seat. "Don't let it happen again. As I was saying love potions are incredibly dangerous..." I ignored the rest of the speech as I saw Severus glaring at Reg. "Reg, do you know why Severus is staring?" I whispered, quietly. "I have no idea." He whispered in my ear as he slung his arm around me while sending a wink to Severus. I was confused! The lesson past by in a daze until Professor Slughorn suggested groups of three. I was content with it just being me and Regulus. Someone sat down at our table. I should've known! Evan Rosier, Wilkes, Avery paired up. Mulciber stole a seat next to two girls. I lifted my gaze to find Severus staring at me. "What?" I finally burst, unable to hold out any longer. "You can do much better!" He encouraged me. "With what?" I wondered, entirely uncertain about what has been going on.

Lucius and a few others had graduated the last couple of years. Sad to say I missed Luc - watching his face go beet red when I shouted his nickname down the corridor.

"You can do better" He repeated quietly, glancing at Regulus worriedly about being overheard. "Haha, you don't mean... Reg he thinks we're dating!" I choked with laughter as Reg wiped tears from his eyes. "Me and Marisa are just good friends - that's it!" Reg summed up quickly. I watched as Severus relaxed into his chair.

"Who even gave you that idea, Snape?" He physically flinched as I used his last name. "Just something someone said as a joke." He glared back at his friends - no indication of who was the deceiver. "So have you heard that our Marisa here took part in Quidditch trials?" Reg revealed to Severus. I hit his arm in retaliation. "No I didn't think you were interested in Quidditch trials?" He stated, slightly unsure. "Someone happened to let Lucinda know that I had been practicing over the summer. I've only been on a broom about eleven times ever." I declared outright, not sure if I wanted to acquire a position on the Slytherin team. "Well, you'll find out at lunch." Regulus told me. "Uh-huh!" I blanked, wondering if I got in or not.

"Here - Marisa. Stir twelve clockwise, add the powdered moonstone, stir anti-clockwise eight." I did what Severus had instructed. As I stirred the potion in the cauldron, my breathing evened out and I relaxed watching the spirals of smoke wafting itself into the air. Once I had pulled my head from the clouds, I saw Severus and Regulus chatting away. That wasn't a good sign! "Reg, the potion's done!" I smiled at him. He nodded to me before corking some of the potion into a vial and proceeding to go and place it on Slughorn's desk with the other group's work. "Right Snape. You can go back to your friends now!" I tried to get him to leave but he wasn't budging.

By the time class ended, I was pissed. Severus had basically ignored me for the rest of the lesson and focused on Regulus. I hadn't realised where Reg was dragging me until it was too late. The Common Room was jam-packed of people looking at the board in anticipation. Lucinda turned up a moment later, pinning up the list and dashing out before she fell victim to a stampede. I stood still, nervousness churning away in my stomach as I swallowed dryly. I finally trotted to the board as the crowd thinned. I drew my finger down the list before hitting my name. "Marisa Grey - Reserve. Well that's interesting." Reg noted behind me. I nodded, not sure whether to be happy I made the team. A few congratulations were still being thrown around. I needed to see Lily!