Off the Pitch

Chapter 5: Books and Potions

I woke up at 8 am on Saturday morning, got dressed, grabbed my broomstick and headed down to the Great Hall. Fred and George were already eating breakfast when I got there. 

"Don't you look terrible", Fred said happily. "Rough night?" 

I sat next to him and poured myself a cup of coffee. 

"Pour me a cup too, thanks", George said and pushed his cup closer to me. "We better not ruin Wood's mood today." He nodded into his direction. I turned my head and noticed that the team captain looked extremely happy. 

"He's always like at the start of the season", Fred explained: "The man lives and breathes Quidditch." 

I smiled. I had always been quite the Quidditch-enthusiast myself, especially in my years at Ilvermorny. 

"Shall we go?" Fred asked when we had all emptied our plates. 

We got up and walked to the Quidditch pitch. It was the first morning of September when it actually felt autumnal; the air was cold and crisp and the leaves had started changing colour. I pulled my sleeves down and rubbed my hands together to fight the cold. 

The rest of the team was already waiting in the changing room when we got there. Wood stood up immediately as we walked in, and started speaking before we had even sat down. 

"Okay, team", he started, "as you know, we've got some new members this year." He looked at me and smiled and then nodded to Angelina Johnson, who had also gotten into the team. Then he continued his speech: 

"I have high expectations for the season. I think we definitely have a chance at winning the Quidditch Cup this year." 

"Oh, I almost forgot. The no dating between team members -rule stands this year, too." 

Wood clapped his hands together: "Alright, that's it! Let's head outside." 

I grabbed my broom and walked through the door and onto the cold grass. Everyone got up on to their brooms, and Wood released the balls. We played for a good two hours; the time simply flew by as everyone was having fun. The whole team worked well together, and I must admit, it was the most fun I had ever had at a Quidditch practise. Don't get me wrong – I loved playing at Ilvermorny, but me and my teammates didn't really get along too well. 

After two hours had passed, Wood called us down to the ground and into the changing room. 

"Well done, everyone!" he said with sheer happiness on his face. "I'll see you on Monday. Same place, different time." 

"Wonderful job, Mr. Wood", George shook the captain's hand eagerly. 

"Absolutely unimaginable", Fred pushed George's hand out of the way, and then they walked out while singing "Gryffindor, Gryffindor..." 

Wood shook his head and I let out a laugh. 

He then turned to me. 

"Walk with me?"

Wood turned out to be just as passionate about Quidditch as the Weasleys had warned. He asked me about Ilvermorny's Quidditch teams and playing tactics, and was surprised by the fact that we were required to have a supervising teacher present at practise. ("No way! Imagine that – McGonagall supervising all our practises... Don't get me wrong, she's great and all, but I mean – all practises?") I laughed at his confusion. I told him about the four houses of Ilvermorny, and he listened with genuine interest. When we got into the hallway, Fred and George were already waiting for me.