Wasted Potential
Breathing, breathing was important. Alice inhaled as she rested into warrior pose and blew out when she extended her arms skyward. She needed to just focus on breathing. This wasn't even her Quidditch tryout. She was on the team already, she didn't need to be nervous.
She felt a twitch in her calf and upper ankle. She was tensing.
She released her pose and returned to mountain pressing her hands to her chest. She opened her eyes looking directly into the sun. It was slightly blinding.
"You finished there?" Josie asked.
Alice nodded and relaxed her legs, "Yes, I'm finished."
"Ok good, I'll warm them up while you run a drill or two, intimidate any onlookers." Josie said before strapping on her glove with her teeth.
Alice's eyes drifted up to the stands, she could see there was already a crowd growing. She smiled seeing her sister wearing her bright red Gryffindor sweater. Cas seated himself beside her, a notebook in hand. He smiled at Minnie with a real genuine vibrance and Minnie smiled back.
"And as much as we'd both like to wipe that smug grin off his face, I don't just mean Warrington." Josie whispered, "Kersey is up in the stands, it's his first year, but I watched his try out, he's got skill, not like you, but he's going to make a fine seeker."
Alice noticed Mug easily. He was dressed in black from head to toe. He waved at her.
"Are you two acquainted?" Josie asked looking back at her.
Minnie nodded, "We're in Herbology class together. We've never discussed Quidditch before."
"Ok good, keep friends close, enemies closer." Josie chuckled.
Alice wanted to say that was why she still affiliated with Josie.
"Ravenclaw's got some new chasers." Josie rubbed her neck before saying slightly louder, "Everyone's going to have a target on your back, but unlike last year, we're prepared for it, show them what happened didn't break you."
Alice bent over and hit against her knees, "They only broke my knee caps. And this year I have stronger knee pads."
"That's a girl Alice." Josie said with a nod and a narrow of her eyelids.
Alice would admit to herself, as much as she'd been finding Josie to be her worst enemy lately, she liked her as a captain. She'd liked her better since Minnie had told her off, but even before that Josie had been mean, but she had been decent at strategy and commanding a team.
"I don't mean to put pressure on you Alice, but this is my last year as Captain and honestly I'd like to win it all. Can I depend on you?" Josie reached out a hand for her to shake.
"Of course." Alice took it and shook it heartily.
Her issues with Josie could be set aside for a common goal.
People began filing out onto the pitch, Alice's housemates all dressed and ready.
Alice ran a few warm up laps as Josie prepped everyone. During her warm up laps, she did as asked and performed a few of her more dangerous rolls and flips. She could hear a few gasps as she flew close to the ground and flipped backwards to grab one of the quaffles.
Once everyone was ready, Alice's main job was to block chaser wannabes from making goals. Alice wasn't sure how that was fair, considering she very rarely ever missed. She didn't miss either, not going easy on anyone.
Ozzy Wig, a boy who had previously been a chaser got close, but Alice managed to block him by kicking the Quaffel back towards the other goal. She hadn't meant to score, but it looked pretty amazing when she did.
Warrington was verbally heard clapping and shouting when she did.
"Go little terror!" Minnie cried along with him.
Ellen Hunter a fourth year, also almost scored a goal. She collaborated with Ozzy to try and perform the Porskoff Ploy. Alice was impressed, realizing Ellen had done her research.
Alice did get a break when the Beaters tried out. She floated beside Josie who was watching the potential players avoid bludgers.
Alice noticed Jonah was smiling at her more, even waving at one point. Alice waved back.
Hector rolled his eyes and didn't wave. He seemed frustrated. Alice supposed it was nerves.
Both Hector and Jonah seemed exceedingly good at working together. They both lived near each other and had obviously been practicing.
"Didn't you and Reynolds ride the train together?" Josie asked, making Alice feel like her plan was working.
Alice heard a whizzing noise, a Bludger was coming up behind her. She ducked her head before responding, "Yeah, Jonah was being nice."
Crack!
Hector and Jonah had successfully performed the dopplebeater defense.
Alice and Josie both ducked their heads lower. Alice found herself giggling before adding, "He's much better at playing Quidditch than flirting."
"So he was flirting?" Josie asked with an odd upturn of her lips. "Well, at least he and Hector seem to still be able to work as a team."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Alice asked curiously.
"Didn't you hear?" Josie asked with her lips curling into a smile, "After accidentally drinking truth potion, Hector told everyone in class he fancied you during potions on the first day."
"That explains why everyone's been laughing at him." Alice took a deep breathe, at least her plan was somewhat working, Josie had noticed Alice's desirability. "And me, but I'm used to that. I'm embarrassed for him honestly."
"Me too." Josie said callously. "I mean to admit that in front of everyone. And about you of all people, I mean that's embarrassing on its own."
Alice remembered why she disliked Josie.
"I suppose you may have been embarrassed too, considering you two were sort of an item last year." Alice said, happily rubbing salt in a wound. "I mean if you call snogging together in the common room for most of the year being an item. I honestly wouldn't know, I've never snogged anyone, or ever even been in a couple. But I've never, and I mean ever, blown off a guy I was casually seeing for a friend's twin brother who was in a relationship."
Josie said nothing else, just turned green and blew a whistle before telling everyone she'd seen enough of the Beaters.
"I've just got Seekers to go." Josie said, "You can go enjoy the rest of your Saturday if you'd like."
Alice nodded back to her, she could go and get Dusty from Hagrid and maybe spend the rest of the day with Beatrice. They'd been meaning to spend time together outside of class, but hadn't found a moment.
Alice lowered her broomstick to the ground. She started making her way off of the Quidditch pitch. Her boot's laces felt tight as she started to walk. She knelt down to fix it and she could smell the cool grass.
"Alice, hey Alice." Jonah's voice greeted, causing her to look up.
"Hello Jonah." Alice smiled up at him. "You did wonderful at tryouts."
Jonah startled her with the words to exit his mouth, "Are you going to the Hogsmead visit next Saturday?"
"Yeah, well, I'm staying at my home in town but that doesn't mean I won't be going to the visit like everyone else." Alice said as she fixed the lace out of her boot. "Our house is right outside town."
"I could pick you up from your house, if you'd like, if you don't have any plans." Jonah said moving closer to her.
"I don't have any other plans." Alice stood, thinking about Josie's earlier admission about both Hector and Jonah. She remembered she'd told herself she'd go with whoever asked first, "I would like that actually very much."
"Excellent." Jonah took her hand in one swift motion, his gloves felt wet from sweating "It's a date then."
"Oh." Alice found herself responding. "I've never been on a date before, is that a bad thing to admit?"
"No." Jonah said his face covered in pink. "I'll do my best to make it a fine one."
"I'm very excited then." Alice said honestly.
"Until then, may I sit with you at dinner?" Jonah asked.
Alice excitedly jumped, but mostly because Josie would see her sitting with him. "Of course."
"Excellent." Jonah excitedly exclaimed.
Alice supposed she meant to say something else, but she noticed an odd man watching from the sidelines of the game. It was someone she'd never seen before. He had blonde hair and dressed head to toe in black, gloves included.
"That's Draco Malfoy." Jonah looked in the same direction before nervously asking, "Didn't he use to bully your father?"
"Yep. Made his daily life a torture for years. Called him ugly, fat, dumb,-" Alice shrugged, "He made Brenna's taunting of my sister seem like sissy stuff. Dad said he cried a lot, which had a lot to do with Draco Malfoy I suppose."
"I can't imagine your dad crying."
Alice laughed louder than she should have, "Oh, he cries. Trust me, I've seen it."
"Why's Mr. Malfoy here do you suppose?" Jonah asked.
Alice shrugged. "I may ask. He is kinder to my parents now, I've never met him personally but my mum speaks decently of him."
"Sounds like a plan." Jonah nodded before letting go of her hand, "I'll see you at dinner then."
Alice slowly made her way over to the edge of the pitch.
"Excuse me sir."
The man jumped in alarm at her words. He placed a hand to his heart.
"Child, don't you know better than to-" He paused his words as he looked her over, "You are Longbottom and Fyre's youngest aren't you?"
"Yes sir." Alice pulled off her glove before reaching a hand to shake, "Alice Longbottom at your service."
"Draco Malfoy." He shook her hand back, not removing his gloves. "I was watching your tryout, fine goal you made."
"Thank you, it was a happy accident." Alice giggled, "I was trying to intimidate the other teams."
"Smart play."
"Sir, were you here just to watch the Tryouts, it's normally not open to visitors." Alice explained.
"I actually have business with your mother." Mr. Malfoy said with a small smile to her. "I just felt a curiosity to the teams, I am very excited to attend the games this year."
"Are you here about about mum's condition?" Alice asked, she could feel her throat tighten. If he was here, it surely meant her mother wasn't actually better.
Mr. Malfoy nodded, "Why would you guess that?"
"Mum and dad mentioned you had suggested her treatment center she attended two summers ago." Alice shrugged, "And Minnie told me about your wife having a similar condition to my mum's. I assume it wasn't exactly like mum's, but it must've been horrible."
Mr. Malfoy gripped his fist before his eyes dropped.
"I apologize, I have a way of speaking before I think." Alice admitted. "I just assumed maybe I could offer condolences-"
"I appreciate the sentiment Miss Longbottom." Mr. Malfoy said back, cracking a smile, "You and your family understand greater than those in my closer friendships the pain my son and I endured before her passing. I hope your family never endures the pain we had when we lost her."
"Mum should be at Hagrid's. You may walk with me Mr. Malfoy."
"Thank you Miss Longbottom." Mr. Malfoy said as the two began their journey. "What business does your mother have with Hagrid?"
Alice explained the dragons.
"I think you will be pleased, mum is hoping once we breed them, their babies could become companions for those with conditions like mum." Alice revealed, "She and Hagrid were working with our dragons while I was at Quidditch tryouts."
"I do expect you are on the team." Mr. Malfoy chuckled.
"Of course, Josie, she's the captain-"
"Weasley's girl?"
"Yes sir." Alice nodded along, "She had me helping."
"You are planning to pursue Quidditch as a career I hope." Mr. Malfoy asked as he continued down the path with her past the greenhouses.
"Oh no, I'm going to be a Dragonologist." Alice said back.
Mr. Malfoy stopped abruptly before stammering out, "But you have talent. Real talent."
"Yes, and it will help me wrangle Dragons in Romania someday." Alice said stopping with him, "Mum and dad already have it all set up."
"Please tell me you are joking." Mr. Malfoy's face was turning an odd shade of green. "You could be the best Quidditch player of this generation."
"I wouldn't say that." Alice laughed. "Maybe the best at Hogwarts."
"I would say it." Mr. Malfoy said as they cleared the hill and Hagrid's hut came into view. "I would say that your potential will be wasted as a Dragonologist."
Alice could see her mother and Hagrid standing outside the hut, both without dragons.
"I don't think so." Alice insisted.
Her mother turned around before waving to them. She began to use her cane to climb the hill.
"Is your mother still dependent upon the cane?" Mr. Malfoy asked as his eyes strained towards her.
"Unfortunately."
Alice and Mr. Malfoy both ran to her mother so she wouldn't have to walk the whole way. As Alice came closer she could hear crashes and bangs coming from inside the hut.
Alice explained Mr. Malfoy's appearance before her mother explained what she and Hagrid were doing.
"We thought it would be best to give them time alone." Her mother revealed.
The crashes sounding from the hut gave Alice a pretty clear indication how things were going.
"That bad?" Alice asked.
Her mother nodded.
"Maybe, I should just get her out now." Alice said as she walked her Mother over to Mr. Malfoy.
"That may be smart, before they burn Hagrid's place down." Her mother laughed, "Duke won't blow fire, but Dusty seems quite on edge. Send him out to me please."
Alice did as she was told, leaving her mother and Mr. Malfoy. When she emerged from the hut with Hagrid, she saw her mother and Mr. Malfoy locked in a very deep discussion.
Alice wondered if maybe her father had written to Mr. Malfoy, which would explain the look of annoyance plaguing her mother's face.
Alice put it from her mind as she climbed Gryffindor tower.
The Common room was a buzz with excitement. The team had been selected officially. It had been tradition to verbally tell each recruit personally. However, Josie had always taken a more hands off approach, she preferred to put up a list.
Alice looked at the list proudly with little Jeanie at her side. Jeanie was beaming with pride.
Gryffindor Quidditch Team 2032-2033
Chasers:
Josie Weasley-Captain
Ellen Hunter
Oliver "Ozzy" Wig
Beaters:
Hector Owens
Jonah Reynolds
Seeker:
Jeanie Hime
Keeper:
Alice Longbottom
"I can't believe I made it." Jeanie said with an exhale.
"Congratulations Jeanie." Alice whispered to Jeanie.
"But who will write for Gryffindor matches?" Jeanie asked.
Alice shrugged, "I guess we will all figure it out at the next meeting."
"Sounds like a plan." Jeanie continued her smile. "I'm really excited though, I'm going to write my mum about it, but she doesn't know what Quidditch is."
"I'll bet she'll still be proud." Alice responded before patting Jeanie on the back.
"She will be." Jeanie said before skipping to the stairs.
Alice seated herself down beside Beatrice who was in a deep process of knitting on one of the sofas.
"What's that?" Alice asked looking over the purple and green yarn.
"Oh, it's for Dusty." Beatrice said with a tiny chuckle holding it up more. "A blanket."
"You are so smart Beatrice!" Alice giggled before reaching into her pocket to check on Dusty. "Dragons lose warmth so easily."
Beatrice smiled timidly back, "I know, you've told me."
"So Jonah asked me to go to Hogsmead with him next week." Alice revealed, happy to tell someone.
"Like a date?" Beatrice asked.
"Of course like a date." Alice said as Jonah waved at her after looking over the list himself. "A date with Jonah Reynolds."