The Tryout
The morning of Quidditch tryouts arrived bright and crisp, the early autumn air carrying just the right amount of chill to wake Vi up completely the second she stepped outside. The sky stretched in an endless, cloudless blue, and the Quidditch pitch stood tall and inviting, the golden goalposts gleaming under the rising sun. It was the kind of morning that made Vi’s blood sing with excitement. Today wasn’t just another day—today was the day she was going to prove she belonged on that team.
She barely made it through breakfast. Caitlyn had insisted they eat something before heading down to the pitch, but Vi had mostly just shoved some toast into her mouth and bounced her leg under the table the entire time. Mylo and Claggor were already taking bets on how long it would take Vi to hit someone off their broom.
“Come on,” Caitlyn said, nudging Vi’s arm as they walked toward the pitch. “You’ll do better if you actually focus instead of vibrating out of existence.”
Vi grinned. “I am focused.”
Caitlyn arched an eyebrow. “You just tripped over your own feet walking down the stairs.”
Vi waved a hand dismissively. “That was on purpose .”
Caitlyn sighed. “Right.”
By the time they reached the Quidditch pitch, a decent crowd had gathered. The Gryffindor hopefuls stood in loose groups, some stretching, some nervously adjusting their gear, and a few already hovering in the air, showing off their flying skills. The rest of the team stood off to the side, watching with keen interest, along with the Gryffindor captain, Hugo McCarthy, who had his arms crossed and an assessing look on his face.
“All right, listen up!” Hugo called, his voice carrying across the field with practiced authority. The chatter died down instantly.
He took a step forward, looking at each of them. “We lost two Beaters and our Seeker last year, which means we have three spots open. That’s a big deal. Gryffindor needs a strong team this year, and I’m not looking for players who just want the title. I want people who can win . ”
Vi exchanged a glance with Caitlyn.
Hugo continued, “We’re looking for skill, awareness, and— most importantly — teamwork. I don’t care how good you think you are, if you can’t play as part of a unit, you won’t last on this team.”
Vi grinned. “You hear that? We gotta play nice.”
Caitlyn gave her a dry look. “That’s never been your strong suit.”
Before Vi could respond, Hugo clapped his hands. “All right, Beaters first. Grab a bat, get in the air. Show me what you’ve got.”
Vi strode over to the equipment crate, rolling her shoulders. The second she wrapped her fingers around the handle of the bat, something inside her clicked. The weight felt perfect in her grip—solid, balanced, made for her. She spun it experimentally, testing its feel before mounting her school broom.
“This is gonna be fun ,” she muttered to herself before kicking off.
The moment she was airborne, all her nerves vanished. There was nothing like flying, nothing like the feeling of complete freedom as the ground fell away beneath her. She grinned as she hovered, watching the other Beater hopefuls rise into the air alongside her. Some looked confident, others nervous, but Vi only had one thing on her mind— winning.
Hugo’s whistle cut through the air. “Bludgers are coming out! Try not to die.”
Vi barely had time to react before the first Bludger was released with a sharp snap, shooting upward like a bullet. The other Beaters scrambled to get in position, but Vi was already moving.
She saw the Bludger veering toward another player and lunged forward, swinging her bat in a sharp, controlled arc. The crack of impact sent a rush through her veins as the Bludger shot away in the opposite direction.
Hugo nodded approvingly. “Nice form, Lanes.”
Vi grinned, turning to Caitlyn, who was watching from a distance. Caitlyn raised an eyebrow as if to say, Don’t get cocky yet.
Another Bludger came barreling toward her from the side. Vi turned, adjusted her position mid-air, and swung hard. It was a perfect hit, sending the ball curving in the direction Hugo had marked as their target.
The other Beater hopefuls were still fumbling with their bats, either missing their swings entirely or struggling to direct the Bludgers where they wanted them. But Vi?
Vi was in her element.
She wasn’t just hitting Bludgers—she was controlling them.
One came hurtling toward a second-year who barely dodged in time. Vi saw it and moved instantly, intercepting the Bludger and sending it flying toward one of the floating targets.
Caitlyn, watching from above, finally called down to her, “All right, I’ll admit it—you might actually be good at this.”
Vi beamed. “You just now figured that out?”
Another whistle blast signaled the end of Beater tryouts. Vi landed with a smug expression, twirling her bat once before tossing it back into the crate.
"All right, Seekers, you’re up next!" Hugo called.
Caitlyn took a deep breath and mounted her broom. Vi gave her a nudge before she kicked off. “Just pretend it’s one of our races.”
Caitlyn smirked. “I plan to win this one, too.”
Vi laughed as she watched Caitlyn ascend with the other hopefuls.
Hugo released the Snitch, and it shot up high into the air, glinting gold before disappearing into the sky. The moment it vanished from view, Caitlyn’s entire demeanor shifted.
She wasn’t just flying anymore—she was hunting.
Vi had seen her fly before, had raced her through the air, but this was different. Caitlyn wasn’t just good—she was unnervingly precise.
She cut through the sky like a knife, dipping between the other Seekers with effortless control, her braid flying behind her. Her eyes flicked across the field, scanning, calculating.
Then, without warning, she dived.
Vi barely had time to process the movement before Caitlyn was hurtling toward the ground, her broom slicing through the air at an angle that made Vi’s stomach drop.
Gasps rippled through the crowd as the other Seekers tried to follow, but Caitlyn was too fast, too calculated.
At the last possible second, she jerked upward, leveling out just inches above the grass—
And snatched the Snitch out of the air.
For a second, the entire pitch was silent.
Then Hugo’s whistle blew. “Well done, Kiramman!”
Vi whooped, pumping her fist in the air. “That’s my girl!”
Caitlyn landed smoothly, the Snitch still twitching slightly in her grip before she let it go again. She turned to Vi, breath slightly uneven but triumphant.
Vi grinned at her. "Hey! You’re a pretty good flier!."
Caitlyn smirked, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m an excellent flier.”
Hugo gathered the group. “We’ll post the final roster tomorrow morning, but I think it’s safe to say we’ve got some strong contenders.”
Vi exchanged a knowing glance with Caitlyn.
They had this in the bag.
As they walked off the pitch, Mylo and Claggor rushed up to meet them, already talking a mile a minute.
"Vi, you were terrifying," Mylo said. "I’d hate to be a Chaser with you on the field."
Claggor clapped Caitlyn on the back. "And Caitlyn— Merlin can you fly!”
Caitlyn gave a modest shrug, but Vi elbowed her playfully. "Oh, she knows. "
***
That night, Vi tossed and turned in her bed. The excitement from the tryouts had barely settled, leaving her with a gnawing tension in her stomach that wouldn't go away. Every time she closed her eyes, she replayed the tryouts in her head: the crack of the Bludgers, the way the bat felt in her hand, the rush of adrenaline that had made everything feel almost effortless. It was a feeling she craved, a feeling of belonging.
She finally gave up on sleep after an hour of staring at the ceiling, her mind buzzing with the possibility of winning a spot on the team. Quietly, she slipped out of bed and made her way down to the common room, careful not to wake Caitlyn, and her other roommates, who were already sound asleep. The flickering light from the fire cast long shadows across the room, and Vi settled into one of the armchairs by the hearth, wrapping her arms around her knees.
She tried to focus on something else, but the roster hung over her like an invisible weight. What if she hadn’t done enough? What if Caitlyn got in and she didn’t? Her grip tightened on her knees, and she squeezed her eyes shut. It was always this way, wasn’t it? Always that question— what if?
A soft thud from the entrance to the common room caught her attention. She glanced over to see Mylo and Claggor quietly entering, both looking as restless as she felt.
“Why’re you two still up?” Vi asked, her voice barely a whisper.
“Couldn’t sleep,” Mylo answered with a grin, though his eyes were wide awake. “You’re not the only one with a lot on your mind.”
Claggor nodded, flopping into a nearby chair. “You two did great today. Honestly, I think you’ve both got spots locked down.”
Vi let out a nervous chuckle. “You don’t know that. It’s not just about hitting Bludgers or catching Snitches. There’s more to being on a team than just... well, being good .”
Mylo shrugged. “True. But it’s not like they can overlook you two. Seriously, when Caitlyn caught that Snitch... I thought I was going to pass out from the sheer speed of it.”
Claggor laughed. “And Vi? If looks could kill, you’d have taken out half the Chasers today. You were terrifying.”
Vi leaned back in her chair, staring at the fire. The flickering flames reflected in her eyes, but the tension in her chest remained. “Maybe. But Hugo said teamwork was key. And I’m not sure if I’m... well, I’m not the most team-oriented player.”
Caitlyn’s voice broke through the quiet of the room as she entered, her tousled hair falling around her shoulders. She had obviously heard the conversation. “Since when are you not a team player?” She walked over, raising an eyebrow at Vi as she plopped down next to her on the couch.
Vi raised her hands in mock surrender. “I know, I know. But it’s not exactly easy for me to just... blend in , you know? It’s always been about me, not the team.”
Caitlyn nodded, understanding. “I get it. But this is different. You’ve always wanted to prove something to yourself, not just to other people. You’re already part of something—today showed that.”
Vi glanced at her, a soft smile tugging at her lips. Caitlyn always had this way of simplifying things, making everything seem possible, even when Vi was wrapped up in a web of doubt.
“I’m not worried about you, Vi,” Caitlyn added, her tone serious now. “You’ve got heart. That’s the best thing any player can have.”
Vi swallowed, feeling a little lighter. “Thanks,” she murmured, her thoughts beginning to settle.
Just then, the grandfather clock by the door chimed, signaling that it was now 1:00 in the morning. Mylo stretched, standing up. “Guess we should all get some sleep, huh? Tomorrow’s the day.”
Claggor yawned. “At least you’re not alone in this. We’ll all be sitting on the edge of our seats until we see that list.” He shot Vi a wink. “And if you don’t get in, we’ll just have to... hassle Hugo until he regrets his decision.”
***
The next morning, the Great Hall buzzed with anxious energy. Vi had barely touched her breakfast, too caught up in her nerves to stomach much more than a few bites of toast. Caitlyn was unusually quiet, her eyes darting to the clock every few seconds. Mylo and Claggor were engaged in a whispered conversation, probably about the best way to approach Hugo in case the roster didn’t go their way.
Finally, the hour came. They all made their way down to the Quidditch pitch, where a large crowd had already gathered, a mixture of excitement and apprehension hanging in the air. Hugo stood by the goalposts, holding a clipboard, his expression unreadable.
Vi’s heart pounded in her chest as she stood with Caitlyn and the rest of the hopefuls, scanning the crowd for familiar faces. The moment felt stretched, like it was hanging in the balance.
Hugo cleared his throat. “All right, here’s the list.”
He slowly unrolled the parchment, and the crowd fell silent.
Vi held her breath, staring at the captain. Hugo’s eyes scanned the list for a moment before he looked up.
"First off, I’m proud of all of you for showing such skill and determination. Gryffindor’s future looks promising.”
A collective intake of breath rippled through the crowd, but Hugo wasn’t finished. “And now, for the final roster..."
He glanced down at the paper again, and Vi couldn’t help herself—she was practically bouncing on the balls of her feet, barely able to hold it in.
“Lanes... Kiramman... you’re both on the team.”
For a split second, the world went silent , and then Vi felt her feet leave the ground as she launched herself into the air with a cheer.
“ Yes! ” She turned to Caitlyn, who was already smiling, her eyes sparkling with excitement, and threw herself against her in a bear hug. Vi picked up the shorter girl and swung her around for good measure.
They had done it .