Unrequited

10

Today was the day for Quidditch try outs. Each house was going at a separate time, and of course the Hufflepuffs were last. They'd probably get in the Dining Hall when dinner almost ended.

She already knew who was playing for the Gryffindor's team. They wouldn't stop blabbing about it once their tryouts had ended early in the morning. James had made it and Asphodel was nowhere near surprised. Sirius also joined him as a Beater. Asphodel didn't like the roles Beaters played; she didn't think it was fair. And it was quite dangerous like her mother had stated, but since her father was a vicious one for the Hufflepuffs, it didn't bother him.

The Slytherins' tryouts would be next, and all the Gryffindors gathered around to watch them and ultimately jeer at them.

"Asphodel, you're so much better than them." James said as they walked onto the field.

"You can't just say that because they're your rivals." Asphodel answered. "I'm sure they have to have some skill to tryout."

"I'm serious," James replied and nudged Asphodel with his shoulder, "that one guy can't even get up properly on his broom."

"They're just nervous. I'm sure you were feeling the same way." Asphodel didn't like choosing which house was best (even though it was probably hers) because it made unnecessary and sometimes uncivil rivalry.

James laughed at Asphodel's statement. "Nervous? Please. I knew I made the team long before I stepped onto the field. I thought you would have known that about me." James said.

"I knew you would make it. I guess you've become more confident than I had remembered." Asphodel replied.

"What's that supposed to mean?" James exclaimed.

"Nothing I guess." Asphodel replied. It had meant something, to her at least. She remembered that she was the more confident and outgoing one when they were little. It must have spread to James too.

James shrugged his shoulders and took a seat in the stands as he waited for the Slytherin Quidditch tryouts to start. Sirius came up soon afterwards with a strange contraption in his hand. "Sabotage," He said simply and tossed the dung bomb back and forth in between his hands.

"I don't think we should be taking part in this." Asphodel said when the Slytherin tryouts had been a quarter til done. Sirius had already let go of the dung bomb, leaving the Slytherin prefect to inspect the matter as the small portion of the Gryffindors erupted in laughter. They booed and jeered and tried to throw funny dancing spells onto them, but it soon ended when one Gryffindor landed with a bludger in his face.

"That's not the spirit!" Sirius pouted.

"Well, this is not a good spirited thing to do either." Asphodel stood up and started to gather the minimal things she had brought with her when James touched her hand abruptly.

"You will stay, won't you?" He pleaded, almost whimpering like a dog.

Asphodel gave a half-hearted smile as her face began to grow shades brighter the longer James's hand was resting on hers. "You can't let out all your rivalry when it's only the tryouts. Leave it all for a real game."

"I guess you're right." James said reluctantly, but Sirius thought otherwise. He insisted James should stay with him, for he had more dung bombs up his sleeve. Quite literally.

"Just make sure you come and watch me tryout." Asphodel said and shoved her hands violently into her jacket pockets.

"You know I wouldn't miss it for the world." James said and winked, leaving Asphodel's face burning, feeling like melting into a puddle on the floor.