HP:Next Generation 4

"God, homework from Professor Bins on the first day back! Can you believe it?"

Rose Weasley gave a shrug as she awaited one of the moving staircases, leading to the Gryffindor common room.

"It's not like we didn't expect it," Rose sighed, "He's always given us heaps of homework. Bet it's to ruin our social life because he doesn't have one,"

The other girl had a small laugh, nodding her head in approval. "Yeah, but I bet you're going to do it right now, aren't you,"

Rose gave her friend a sarcastic look before stepping out onto the staircase. "Very funny but I actually have plans tonight. I have quiditch trials, remember?"

The girl stared at her with a puzzled look. "But I thought you weren't trying out for the team this year," she said as they made their way toward the portrait of the fat lady.

Rose had been on the Gryffindor quiditch team last year, though not in first year. She'd been persuaded by her father, Ron to try out for chaser. She hadn't been too keen on the idea at first and so was in a state of shock when told she'd made the team. However after playing for a few months alongside her cousins, James and Molly, it began to grow on her. The adrenaline she felt when tearing through the sky on her broom beat being cooped up in the common room, studying divination any day. It was he mother which made her reluctant to try out this year. She knew she'd never been fully supportive of her love for the game. She wished her to be more involved with the academics, like herself.

"Look, Rose," her friend interrupted her thoughts, "It's obvious you love quiditch. I mean, you're always first there and last of the pitch. Who cares what your mum thinks. You said she was a bookworm at school anyway. Don't let her drag you down that road."

Rose couldn't help but laugh at the comment about her mother. And she was right- she wasn't her mother, not entirely anyway. And so, thirty minutes later she stood in the centre of the large, oval-shaped pitch, dressed fully in her heavy quiditch overalls and with her trusty cleansweep by her side. She was surrounded by familiar faces from last year's team- James Potter, Molly Weasley, Christopher Jordan and Sally Thomas. There were also many other eager Gryffindor there, however Rose couldn't identify them amongst the immense cluster of people.

There was a sudden gust of wind and the sound of a broom whooshed above them. Rose snapped her head up to see Fred Weasley hovering beside the three hoops. He flashed her a quick grin, which she gladly returned.

"And now," Fred boomed, addressing the swarm of people, "introducing your new Gryffindor quiditch captain!"

Every single person wheeled around, searching the sky for their new captain. Rose beamed, as she'd already guessed who it was. And sure enough, she wasn't disappointed when Fred was thwacked over the head with a beater's stick by none other than Dominique Weasley.

The entire pitch erupted in applause and laughter as Dominique landed swiftly to the ground. She thanked everyone and took a bow, caught off guard when Fred came zooming in front of her. She almost toppled over her broom, but only laughed at Fred's attempt to get her back.
"We even now?" Fred asked as he came to a halt beside her.

"We're never even," Dominique told him, still recovering, "I'm the top prankster around here."

Fred shook his head in disagreement. Dominique and he were inseperable, like Molly and Roxanne and Albus and Scorpius. However there was nothing romantic between them, not in the slightest. They were cousins after all. It was simply because they were both in their 7th year at Hogwarts, had a strong love for quiditch and of course pranking anyone they came into contact with.

Once the majority of people had settled down, Dominique cleared her throat. Everyone's attention instantly focused on her- not a very difficult thing, seeing as she was part Veela.

"Right so this is how it's going to work," she started, leaning against her brand new, spotless broomstick. It looked like a foreign make. She most likely bought it while visiting her grandparents in France over the summer.

"Most of you know that I play the position of beater, so that leaves only one other spot open in that area,"

A group of 5th year boys began mumbling to each other, over this news. It was clear every last one of them was determined to win the chance of playing alongside the red haired beauty. Dominique took no notice of them, as she was busy conferring something with Fred. She nodded once before facing the crowd again.

"Change of plan!" she called across the pitch, "Both positions have been filled."

"But we haven't even started trials yet! Who is it anyway?" It had been one of the 5th year boys who'd spoken, expressing his anger.

Dominique signalled toward Fred with an expression to say it was obvious. "The guy with the beater's stick is beater, duh!"

A group of girls, including Rose, giggled at the boy's embarrassment. Dominique had a long sigh. "Enough with all the chit-chat. Let's get started."

It took far longer than expected to organize everyone into categories but eventually Dominique was faced with the dozens of hopeful chasers, seekers and keepers. All of the boys wishing to fill the position of beater had already left reluctantly. Fred assisted Dominique in judging the players chances of making the team. They both eyes each player vigilantly, careful to catch every skilful pass, catch, block and goal. The many minor slip-ups also didn't fail to catch their eye. Dominique would admit it- she was a harsh judge. But that was why she was captain. She knew what she was looking for, maybe even long before she stepped onto the pitch.

Rose was trembling with fear as she watched each chaser pass by. Not one person had slipped up yet. She'd had a terrible feeling that trials would be tuff this year, but never this tuff. Anxiety flooded through her as Sally Thomas signalled it was her turn. Rose took a deep breath and warily mounted her broom. She caught sight of Molly and James sitting in the bleachers, both finished their trial. Everyone had. She was the last one. They gave her a reassuring smile and Molly mouthed the words, 'You'll be fine'.

Before she had the chance to prepare herself someone was throwing a quaffel at her and she was racing in the direction of the hoops. Christopher Jordan hovered there, hands at the ready to block her throw. Rose just hoped he'd go easy on her. She was wrong. Throw after throw, he blocked every one of her attempts. Rose's heart sunk as the last ball failed to pass through any of the three hoops. She'd completely messed it up. All she could hope for now was that she hadn't embarrassed herself too much.

"Hey!" Rose recognized the voice to be Dominique's.

She swerved her broom around to face her, head hung in shame.

"What was that?" Dominique asked, though it wasn't in the slightest bit offensive.

Rose shrugged her shoulders. "I was off my game today," she admitted bleakly.

Dominique eyed her closely, considering something.

"I'll just go back to the common room now if you don't mind. I have history homework to get on with."

Rose turned to leave but Dominique blocked her successfully.

"Tell Bins to stuff his homework," She cut herself off, remembering Rose was only 13 years old. She saw nothing wrong with it, but if Hermione ever found out... "Look, you weren't at your best today, so what? I've seen you at your best and god, you can fly. Fastest damn thing I've seen since my uncle Charlie visited from Romania. Anyway point is, the odds were against you today. Over half the people here tried out for chaser, not including those 5th year pigs. You know how many seekers I got? Three. And believe me, they're just about as useful as my mum on a broom."

"What are you saying?" Rose had to ask, though she was catching on.

"I want you on my team, Rose. I'm just afraid it will have to be as seeker. It's not that bad. You get all the glory most of the time, though don't be forgetting who's captain,"

Before she could get in another word, Rose had her arms wrapped tightly around her. Dominique laughed, giving her a light pat on the back.

"You better win this for us again, or else you'll wake up in the morning with troll hair."