Marlene

10- Quidditch Tryouts

"Okay, if you're here to try out for Chaser, come over here," the Gryffindor Quidditch captain, a girl named Kathryn Gordon, said to the gathered group of Gryffindors, all of whom were clutching broomsticks. "If you're trying out for Beater over here."

Marlene shuffled over to the right where the Captain had pointed for Beaters to go. In one hand she clutched a beater's bat and in the other she held her Nimbus 1001. A lot of people were staring at the broom, seeming in awe. The 1001 was the newest model. It had come out just before Marlene's birthday and she had received it as a gift from her mother as a replacement for her old Cleansweep.

"No daughter of mine will play for Gryffindor on a Cleansweep!" Sarah had told David when he asked her how much of their money she had spent on the broom.

The only positions open on the team that year were two Chaser spots and one Beater spot. There were only three other people trying out for beater. All of them were boys, and a lot larger that Marlene was.

Beaters were often well built and muscular, so these boys fitted the bill for the position better than Marlene did. But throughout her childhood, Sarah had always described her daughter as 'a bloody human Bludger!', which was quite true.

"The Chaser tryouts will be first, you'll have ten shots, the top two shooters will be on the team." Kathryn told them. She mounted her broom and soared over to the goalposts where she positioned herself as Keeper.

"First Chaser, Now!" She declared.

It was quite fun to watch the tryouts. James Potter of course made it onto the team. Despite his cocky attitude, even Marlene had to admit that he was a good Chaser. The other Chaser was to be a third year boy named Davey Gudgeon.

Then it was the Beater's turn. They simply had to whack oncoming bludgers at the members of the team to test the accuracy and how hard they could hit.

They boys were all good, but despite being so much smaller than them, Marlene was better. She had been riding a broom since she could hold her head up herself, and her mother had taught Marlene everything that she knew about Quidditch (which was quite a lot as she had played for England).

"Bravo." Kathryn smiled at Marlene when she landed, "I think it's clear who's on the team then. What's your name kid?"

"I'm Marlene McKinnon." Marlene grinned.

"Not Sarah Adams' daughter?" A fifth year boy who was the team's Seeker asked.

"Yeah," Marlene continued to grin.

"We've got an ex-England player's daughter on our team?" Davey Gudgeon asked, "wicked."

Marlene blushed a shade of scarlet. James shot her an accusing glare.

"You never told me that your mother is Sarah Adams," James accused her, "she's like my favourite Quidditch player."

"You never asked," Marlene shrugged.

"Can I get her autograph?" James demanded.

"Well she said she'd come to watch my first match, so I can introduce you then."

James' eyes filled with childish excitement, which made Marlene laugh to see his cocky grin gone, replaced with a look of wonder.