September passed quickly as October finally came. It was time for the first Quidditch training and Amelia was the captain. She was holding tryouts. In the summer holiday, an owl had come to her. She opened the letter and a blue badge that had an eagle was there. There was a letter saying that she was selected as Team Captain for Ravenclaw. It was a dull Saturday morning as Amelia waited for the auditioners to come to the Quidditch pitch.

‘So everyone, I’m looking for two beaters, chasers and a keeper!’ 

Surprisingly, Isabell was there, looking nervous. Amelia looked surprised.

‘I thought you didn’t like Quidditch?’ Amelia whispered as people were talking excitedly. 

‘I wanted to try something new,’ replied Isabell.

‘Alright everyone! First, who wants to try out for Beaters?’ 

Five hands went up. 

‘Alright, follow me! The rest, I’ll ask you to wait for a moment while I see who will be the Beaters.’

Albert and Olivia were watching Amelia and Isabell. Isabell looked at them nervously. They nodded encouragingly.  

Amelia set off one bludger. It started coming to a student, who was in his third year and he actually hit it with his hands. It went a few miles away. 

‘OI! WHERE IS YOUR BAT?’ shouted Amelia. ‘STOP MESSING AROUND!’ 

Nobody listened. 

‘EVERYONE, STOP MESSING AROUND AND LISTEN TO YOUR CAPTAIN!’ a loud voice echoed. 

It was Olivia, with her voice magnified using a spell. Amelia stared at her.

‘Thank you. Now, try again,’ Amelia said.

The boy got his bat and tried again. The bludger went in his direction, and he hit it so hard that it went through one of the hoops on the other side of the pitch. 

‘Great… Now, just sit on this bench (she pointed at the one on the right) while I start other people’s tryouts.’

Another girl, who looked to be in her fifth year, tried out next. She missed three times then on her fourth try, she threw her bat instead and it landed on Albert’s head. He yelled in surprise. 

‘Sorry Albert! (Albert gave Amelia a thumbs-up as he scratched the part where the bat had hit him) Good try… sit on the bench that’s on the left side,’ said Amelia awkwardly. 

The girl muttered something and sat on the bench, continuing to mutter unclear things. 

‘Next!’

The next two people didn’t do so well. One of them didn’t hit the bludger and he gave up on the second try. The other one almost broke her leg. The last one, who was a girl and looked like she was in her fourth year, hit the bludger so well that she rushed after it and kept hitting the bludger in all directions. 

‘YOU! BOY!’ Amelia yelled as she pointed at the boy who tried first. ‘YOU’RE IN!’ 

The boy jumped and punched the air. 

‘You too!’ Amelia said as she pointed at the girl who was on her broom and hitting the bludger one last time. 

She smiled toothily as she sat on the bench that was on the right. 

‘May I know your names?’ asked Amelia as she pointed at the girl and the boy.

‘I’m Steve Bones,’ said the boy. ‘My mum works in the Ministry-’

‘My name is Kadence Almond,’ interrupted the girl, still having a toothy smile on her freckled face. She had very thick eyebrows.

‘Alright. Now, who wants to try out for Chaser?’

Many hands shot up, probably half of them. Isabell raised her hand as well, though hesitantly.

‘This will take a long time,’ sighed Amelia. ‘Right, the first one in the line can try. However, there will be a few obstacles so be careful!’

There were hurdles and walls that magically appeared. 

‘You just need to go through the obstacle without any hesitation and hit the Quaffle into either of the three hoops.’  

The first one in the line, who was a boy who looked like he was in his seventh year, tried first. He did an astounding job as he dodged bludgers (which were hit by the new Beaters) and quickly turned around whenever there was a wall or hurdle. Though he wasn’t able to throw the ball into the hoop, he was so strong that it flew over it.

‘Very good job with the obstacle course, but you didn’t score. Sit on the left bench, please.’

The boy looked like he was going to scream then attack Amelia. 

‘Bad temper he has,’ Isabell whispered to Amelia, grinning,

Amelia tried to hold her laughter and told the next person to try. It was a girl who looked like she was in her third year. She managed to dodge the bludgers and turn around when there was a wall or hurdle. She even did a stunt which made people watch in awe and surprise. She then hit the Quaffle through the hoop. 

‘Very good, sit on the right bench please.’ 

After her, there was a boy who looked like he was sixteen. He simply dodged approaching bludgers and turned around so quickly whenever there was an obstacle. 

‘Good, sit on the right bench,’ Amelia said.

Lots of people came next, some could throw the balls into the hoops and some could dodge the obstacles. Some could do anything, and some could do both. Finally, it was Isabell’s turn. She looked pale. Amelia gave her a thumbs-up but that only made it worse. 

‘I can’t do this!’ Isabell blurted out, clenching her fists.

‘Yes you can! Just focus on throwing the ball into the hoop, don’t worry about anything else,’ said Amelia, patting Isabell on the back. 

Isabell looked at Olivia and Albert, who looked slightly worried but gave a thumbs-up. 

‘Ok. Take a deep breath! Now off you go!’ 

Isabell was amazing at dodging the bludgers. She even did a handstand on her broom! She avoided hurdles and walls. She then tried to hit the Quaffle through the hoops. She threw it… It flew to the side of the hoop, missing the inside. Amelia sighed sadly. But before Amelia could say anything else, the Quaffle pivoted then for some reason turned and went into the hoop! Amelia laughed in relief.

‘YES- I mean, good job. Sit on the right bench please!’ 

Amelia high-fived Isabell. 

Isabell looked as though she was going to puke.

‘There are five people on this bench, I assume. Three of you are going to be the Chasers. You (she pointed at a boy) and you (she pointed at a girl) and you (she pointed at Isabell). But first, I’d like to know your names.’

‘I’m Isabell Bluesky,’ said Isabell as she rolled her eyes.

Amelia rolled her eyes back then grinned.

‘I’m Michael Corner,’ said the boy.

‘My name is Victoria Smith, seventh year,’ said the girl, looking proud. 

‘Finally, who wants to try out for Keeper?’ asked Amelia, her voice unsteady because the girl had the same first name as her mother.

The rest of the hands, which were three, went up.

‘Alright, you go first,’ she pointed at a boy who was in his fourth year. 

The new Chasers were assigned to hit the Quaffle through the hoops, while the boy tried to block them. He only managed to block the Quaffle three times but the other two times, he failed. 

‘Really good try. You need more agility though. Sit on the left bench.’

Next came a girl who looked to be in her second year. She could only save one out of the five.

‘I really appreciate that you tried your best. Maybe when you grow a little older you might make it into the team! Sit on the left bench please.’

Amelia looked worried because there was only one person left to try out for the game. 

The girl looked a little happier because of what she said and sat on the left bench. 

‘Right… last person.’

It was a boy, who looked like he was fifteen. Surprisingly, he managed to block all of them and even dodged bludgers! He blocked them using his head, arms, legs and the end of his broom.

‘The obvious winner!’ said Amelia, grinning at the boy. 

The boy looked proud.

‘Name, please?’

‘Liam Skywalker.’

‘Sorry for everyone who didn’t manage to be in the team. However, may I ask the prefects to award you all two points for your efforts?’ Amelia said as she looked at Madame Hooch, who was looking at the tryouts. 

Madame Hooch nodded at Olivia and Albert. 

‘Two points for everyone!’ Olivia said. 

Everyone punched the air happily and congratulated the people who ended up in the team. Isabell looked haughty and kept posing. 

Everyone laughed.