❝ Quidditch, Quidditch, and Quidditch ❞

The Gryffindor Quidditch team was practicing on the Quidditch pitch. In the distance, Aquila could see some green-robed figures with broomsticks marching towards the center of the Quidditch pitch. Aquila stalked towards Harry.

"Didn't you say that Wood booked the field for Gryffindor's practice today?" she asked. Harry shrugged and turned towards Oliver who had been hissing something furiously. He shot toward the ground, landing rather harder than he meant to in his anger, staggering slightly as he dismounted. Harry, Fred, and George followed.

"Flint!" Wood bellowed at the Slytherin Captain. "This is our practice time! We got up specially! You can clear off now!"

Marcus Flint was even larger than Wood. He had a look of trollish cunning on his face as he replied, "Plenty of room for all of us, Wood."

Angelina, Alicia, and Katie had come over, too. There were no girls on the Slytherin team, who stood shoulder to shoulder, facing the Gryffindors, leering at a man.

"But I booked the field!" said Wood, positively spitting with rage. "I booked it!"

"Ah," said Flint. "But I've got a specially signed note here from Professor Snape. 'I, Professor S. Snape, give the Slytherin team permission to practice today on the Quidditch field owing to the need to train their new Seeker.'"

"You've got a new Seeker?" said Wood, distracted. "Where?" And from behind the six large figures before them came a seventh, smaller boy, smirking all over his pale, pointed face. It was Draco Malfoy.

"Aren't you Lucius Malfoy's son?" said Fred, looking at Malfoy with dislike.

"Funny you should mention Draco's father," said Flint as the whole Slytherin team smiled still more broadly. "Let me show you the generous gift he's made to the Slytherin team."

All seven of them held out their broomsticks. Seven highly polished, brand-new handles and seven sets of fine gold lettering spelling the words Nimbus Two Thousand and One gleamed under the Gryffindors' noses in the early morning sun.

"Very latest model. Only came out last month," said Flint carelessly, flicking a speck of dust from the end of his own. "I believe it outstrips the old Two Thousand series by a considerable amount. As for the old Cleansweeps" — he smiled nastily at Fred and George, who were both clutching Cleansweep Fives — "sweeps the board with them."

None of the Gryffindor team could think of anything to say for a moment. Malfoy was smirking so broadly that his cold eyes were reduced to slits.

"Oh, look," said Flint. "A field invasion."

Ron and Hermione were crossing the grass to see what was going on.

"What's happening?" Ron asked Harry. "Why aren't you playing? And what's he doing here?"

He was looking at Malfoy, taking in his Slytherin Quidditch robes.

"I'm the new Slytherin Seeker, Weasley," said Malfoy, smugly. "Everyone's just been admiring the brooms my father's bought our team."

Ron gaped, openmouthed, at the seven superb broomsticks in front of him.

"Good, aren't they?" said Malfoy smoothly. "But perhaps the Gryffindor team will be able to raise some gold and get new brooms, too. You could raffle off those Cleansweep Fives; I expect a museum would bid for them."

The Slytherin team howled with laughter.

"At least no one on the Gryffindor team had to buy their way in," said Hermione sharply. "They got in on pure talent." The smug look on Malfoy's face flickered.

"No one asked your opinion, you filthy little Mudblood," he spat.

Aquila scowled and there was an instant uproar at his words. Flint had to dive in front of Malfoy to stop Fred and George from jumping on him. Alicia shrieked, "How dare you!", and Ron plunged his hand into his robes, pulled out his wand, yelling, "You'll pay for that one, Malfoy!" and pointed it furiously under Flint's arm at Malfoy's face.

A loud bang echoed around the stadium and a jet of green light shot out of the wrong end of Ron's wand, hitting him in the stomach and sending him reeling backwards onto the grass.

"Ron! Ron! Are you all right?" squealed Hermione.

Ron opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. Instead, he gave an almighty belch and several slugs dribbled out of his mouth onto his lap.

Aquila gagged at the sight.

The Slytherin team were paralyzed with laughter. Flint was doubled up, hanging onto his new broomstick for support. Malfoy was on all fours, banging the ground with his fist. The Gryffindors were gathered around Ron, who kept belching large, glistening slugs. Nobody seemed to want to touch him.

"We'd better get him to Hagrid's, it's nearest," said Harry to Hermione, who nodded bravely, and the pair of them pulled Ron up by the arms.

Aquila turned towards Malfoy. "You have no right to call her or anyone that!" She growled.

"Says the girl who pretends to a—" Malfoy never got to finish the sentence, Aquila punched him.

"Ow! If my father hears about this—!"

"He won't," said Aquila confidently. "He won't hear that his son got punched right in his face by a girl, will he?"

Malfoy's eyes narrowed. "Let's see what Ravenclaw has to offer in the upcoming match."

~~~~

The day of the Quidditch match came Ravenclaw versus Slytherin. This being his first match didn't make things any better.

"Well? Is everything alright?" Asked Flitwick. The Ravenclaw Quidditch team was in damp spirits, a fight between themselves. Roger tried to solve it, but Adrien Turner, the seeker, wouldn't bulge to anything and suggested that Elliot Lofte, the lead chaser of the team, should be replaced only because they both had different views on game strategy.

Elliot wasn't the best person, for starters, he was a pureblood, and pride was woven into his soul. He wasn't exactly the smartest Ravenclaw, more like a sluggish person. Moreover, his judgment and thinking were plain blundering, secretly everyone wished Elliot to quit the team.

"Yes, professor," Roger said briskly. Flitwick nodded and left the Ravenclaw table.

"You sure about that Roger?" Asked Aquila, glancing at Adrien, and then at Elliot, who was seated at the opposite end of the table. Roger sighed and shook his head.

"If Elliot was replaced, can I fill in for him?" Alan asked.

"Of course, even someone with little to no knowledge of Quidditch will do better than him." The reply from Adrien came rather quickly.

"Can't you keep your mouth shut, Alan?" Aquila remarked.

"I find nothing wrong in what he proposed," said Adrien.

"Shut up, you too, Adrien."

"I don't think we have a chance of winning if we go down this track," Roger muttered.

"No doubt about that." Chipped in Kiara, another chaser.

After the breakfast full of disagreements and tense staring at each other in silence, Aquila and Alan had secured their seats in the front row. Adrien and Elliot had been standing in opposite directions, as much as far as they could to each other.

The game began and to everyone's surprise, everything went smoothly. The Slytherins, same as ever, tried to cheat and trick, but the Ravenclaws were precautions as they've always been.

Midway through the match, mishaps started happening and it was not pleasant to watch. Elliot wasn't much of a help, as he purposely missed the quaffle, his carelessness made a profound impact on the match. Noticing the team's weakness a beater of the Slytherin threw the Bludger right towards Elliot. Before anyone could warn him (not that anyone wanted to warn him though) the Bludger came at immense speed and hit him right in his abdomen. He crashed into the ground, clutching his mutilation.

Distracted, the Ravenclaw Quidditch team had stopped playing, and using this as an advantage Malfoy somehow caught the snitch.

The Quidditch referee, Ronada Hooch, blew her whistle. "Slytherin wins!"

Slytherin's victory was loathed by the rest of the houses. Roger was stressing himself about the poor cooperation the team had this time. Some Ravenclaw including Aquila and Alan gathered at the hospital wing.

"Will he be able to continue, Madam Pomfrey?" Asked Roger.

She turned towards him with an indifferent expression on her face. "Maybe, but he needs time for healing."

"How much time?"

"A month, but I won't suggest playing Quidditch for a few months." It seemed as if Madam Pomfrey said that she wouldn't allow him to play rather than suggesting. Roger nodded glumly.

"Now, out everyone!"

While walking back to the changing room. "I think fate itself doesn't want Elliot in the team," Adrien said.

"Now's not the time." Muttered Roger.

"We still need a new chaser though," Kiara said.

"Me! Me!" Squealed Alan.

"Yeah, I vote for that boy," said Adrien, Alan's face lit up. "I've seen him fly, it's impressive."

"Besides I was the first!" Stated Alan.

Roger turned around to face them, he had an irritated expression on his face.

"Slow down, will you? The official tryouts will be held on this weekend," he said. "I'm sure there's a lot of students who are just as talented as you are, prove yourself there."

"He has a point," said Aquila. "You can't expect to get a position in the Quidditch team just like that."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione were passing by in another hallway. Alan pouted at them and then at Aquila.

"Unless you are Harry Potter." He muttered pouting.

"Unless you're Harry Potter indeed." Agreed, Aquila.

On the day of tryouts, Alan, Aquila, and Lisa went down to the field. Roger told them to give their names of who wanted to participate, a few Ravenclaws did.

"Why don't you try?" Alan asked Aquila.

"Nah, I can't even fly properly," she said. "Besides, I have a fear of heights."

"Give it a try, even though it's me who's going to be the new chaser," said Alan gleefully.

Aquila rolled her eyes. "Elliot just got his ribs broken, do you want to get your head split open?" She asked.

Alan turned his head towards Aquila with a faint snap. "Not all players are unlucky, are they?"

"You are not unlucky," she said, Alan's face brightened a little. "You are dumb, you will surely get your head split in two."

He cast an annoyed look at Aquila and grabbed his broom, she smirked.

"Wait," Aquila said. "On second thought, I better engage at least."

"Why?"

She shrugged casually. "I need a valid excuse to break Malfoy's nose."

"Alright then, let's get into the game."

The tryouts began and a few enthusiastic Ravenclaw's filled into the quidditch field. Aquila and Alan knew they had to offer immense talent if they wanted the chaser position.

"Good luck," said Alan to Aquila, she wished him luck and they got on their brooms.

Aquila swore that she would end up on the ground soon, but she was determined to win. The game went on and most of the students were out and the ones who were left were, Aquila and John Walter, a third-year boy. Neither of them was any less than the other, both were doing exceptionally.

The tryouts took longer than expected, Roger, who had other work to do stopped the match and selected the chaser himself.

"I doubt we will be able to continue the tryouts, We all have assignments and other work, let's not delay this any longer. Who votes for John?" He asked.

Two boys, friends of John raised their hands.

"And for Aquila?" Alan, Lisa, and another few Ravenclaws raised their hands.

"Majority votes to Aquila," Roger said. "Our new chaser!"