Up to No Good// James Potter

Chapter 4

Vanessa stood in the middle of the quidditch pitch. Classes had just ended for the day and she had wasted no time rushing up to the common room and changing before making her way outside. The girl wore her dark hair up messily in a ponytail and a bright expression on her face. Although she was a little bit anxious about tryouts, she was bursting with excitement. Vanessa had always been one to get easily excited, her friends often told her she was like a little kid.

There was still around half an hour before tryouts were set to start, but Vanessa had wanted to be there earlier. She had spent the past couple of days planning on how she would run tryouts. Although they were often over looked, tryouts were probably the most important part of the season. It didn't matter how much effort they put in if they didn't have a good team, that meant not only skilled players but also players that could create a dynamic between them.

Looking down at the clipboard she carried, Vanessa scanned the list of names of those who had signed up to tryout. The Gryffindor bit her lip as she thought of all the things she knew about her housemates. The Prewett twins were brilliant beaters and Vanessa doubted she would have a pair that worked better than them. James Potter was probably the best player they had and she was sure that he would not get beat out of a spot. That left her with finding one more chaser, their seeker, and their keeper. Last year's seeker, Benjamin Smith, would not be trying out. The lanky fifth year had spoken with Vanessa a few days earlier to let her know that after the nasty quidditch accident from last year that left him in the hospital wing for almost two weeks, his parents would no longer allow him to play. They had gone as far as sending Professor McGonagall a letter so he wouldn't tryout behind their backs which was exactly what he had intended to do.

"Miss Captain!" An excited voice called behind her.

Vanessa turned to see the former seeker running up to her with opened arms. She laughed at the boy and gave him a quick embrace before she frowned slightly. "Benny, as much as I hate it, you're not supposed to be here. Minnie McGee pulled me into her office and threatened me not to let you tryout."

"She pulled me into her office to threaten me not to try to bribe you into letting me tryout." The boy nodded stuffing his hands into his pockets. "I'm not here to tryout though, don't worry. I've just come to support my friend who I knew would become captain this year."

The girl shook her head with a smile. "Yeah, I guess I do owe you a butterbeer."

"I'm holding you to that next Hogsmeade visit." Benny grinned in front of her, bouncing on the balls of his feet. He nodded towards her clipboard, "So, made any decisions yet?"

"No, I want to see everyone play individually and in teams before I choose anyone. But I think I know who our beaters and one of our chaser will be."

"Prewett twins and Potter?"

The girl nodded, "Unless someone got really good over the summer or we got a couple of prodigy second years."

Benny looked deep in thought for a moment. Looking way more serious than he ever did. "What about a transfer?"

"We don't have a transfer this year, Benny."

"I know," he said letting out a hearty laugh. "Just gotta keep you on your toes, Madame Captain."

While the two friends had been talking, the Gryffindors trying out for the team had begun to come onto the pitch. They settled a few feet away from where Vanessa stood as they began to stretch and warm up. It was a promising bunch this year, and while that would make picking the team harder, it made Vanessa smile.

The quidditch captain grabbed the former seekers's wrist and brought it up to her face, squinting at his watch. She paused for a moment, seeming to consider something. Just as Benny opened his mouth to say something, the girl stepped forward.