(no subject)

[alotofgood]

It's a Sunday back home, a day after James held Quidditch try-outs for a new Beater and Keeper.

Trying to find a quiet place to ruminate on his choices has proven to be nearly impossible. From just about every corner of Hogwarts, James found himself bumping into someone who wanted to know whether they made it on the team, and if he wasn't considering them, could they please, please give it another try, because they'd been feeling a bit under the weather yesterday, or they had a quick essay they had to finish and weren't putting in their all?

James figured the library might be a good alternative, too, but Gryffindors can be an audacious bunch sometimes — and he was a little surprised to find Odette Dearborn (Keeper) trailing after him, with her brother, Oscar (Beater), close behind. They had no intention of leaving him alone.

So, James was absolutely relieved to find a door to Milliways. He can currently be found sitting at a table, looking a little less like his usual relaxed, 'I've got nothing to do' self.

There's a piece of parchment spread out in front of him, the majority of which is covered in struck out names.

Once in a while, he sits back, frowns, lets out a sigh, then returns to his parchment.

Quidditch is serious business.

Comments

[lilium_evansiae]

"Hello, Potter."

She sets a plate of chocolate biscuits on the table in front of him.

He looks like he can use a chocolate biscuit.

Or six.

[alotofgood]

James' eyes go to the plate of chocolate biscuits.

Almost immediately, his expression (and vague frustration at his indecision) lightens.

It's a very nice gesture.

"Thanks, Evans."

He plucks one off the top and takes a bite.

[lilium_evansiae]

"You're welcome.

"How is it going? Am I allowed to ask?"

[alotofgood]

He's about halfway through his first biscuit, before he nods.

"It's —"

James shakes his head.

"Honestly, who knew filling in two Quidditch positions would be more work than NEWT-level classes?"

[lilium_evansiae]

"For you?" she asks, faintly amused.

"I probably could have guessed that."

[alotofgood]

James smiles a little.

"Did you get to see all of the tryouts? Or only just some of it?"

Admittedly, he only saw her the one time in the stands. And that was relatively early on.

[lilium_evansiae]

"Just part of it," she says.

"I walked down with Cliona.

"And I've heard a fair bit about them from her, too."

[alotofgood]

James nods.

"Well, it really was a mixed bag out there yesterday. I've got the tryouts list down to about ten decent people. Only ... trying to get rid of eight more is bloody difficult."

[lilium_evansiae]

"Is it anything I can help with?" Lily asks.

"I mean, would it help to talk through it?"

[alotofgood]

"You know, maybe it would help," James says slowly.

He sits up a bit straighter.

It's nice of her to offer.

"I've been going back and forth on this myself all day, but it'd be good to get someone else's opinion."

And in a no-pressure setting.

[lilium_evansiae]

"All right."

Lily takes the chair across from his.

And one of the biscuits.

"So, what have you got?"

[alotofgood]

"Right."

James refers to his parchment, reading off the top name of the list, the first person he decided to keep.

"Daniel Bungard," James says. "Bit short and all, but he's really quick. Honestly, I think he'd be a better Seeker than Keeper, but that's not what he's trying out for."

[lilium_evansiae]

"But you've got a Seeker, and one who's not going to graduate any time soon."

And she cannot say it surprises her at all that Potter didn't make last year's players tryout to keep their spots.

It's not his style.

"Who else is in the running?"

[theresnodoor]

As has been noted in the past, there is being attached to someone and there is being surgically attached. As such, about a week after returning from the Labyrinth, Rachel is surprised to glance up at Tobias' perch and find him asleep.

Another part of her is more than surprised: it's relieved.

She's trying not to think about that much.

Which is simple enough, since the second she leaves the room, she's very aware that she has only a limited amount of time before he wakes up and notices she's gone.



It's not running away. It's a break. And she'll bring him back something from Bar. It'll be fine.


And wouldn't you know it? Someone she knows, who she hasn't seen in a while, who is unlikely to spend hours staring at her in eerie, broken silence.



"Hi James," Rachel says with more cheerfulness than usual, sliding into a chair at his table.

[alotofgood]

James glances up from his parchment.

He starts to smile, all expression of serious thought disappearing from his face.

Well, there's no point being utterly serious about things in company.

"All right, Rachel?" he greets. "Haven't seen you in — well, what feels like ages."

[theresnodoor]

"Same."

It really feels like ages.

"What's got you so worried?" she asks, nodding to the paper. Because distractions topics are awesome.

[alotofgood]

James lets out a breath.

"Quidditch try-outs," he replies.

But his tone of voice takes a very definite upturn as he adds, "I've been made Captain of the team, and with the new year starting — well, that means filling in a couple of positions. Two of our players graduated."

[theresnodoor]

"Ohhhhhh," Rachel says, nodding slowly and with great gravity. "For your broom game."




She has way too much fun with this.

[alotofgood]

Even though James knows Rachel's merely pulling his leg about Quidditch, it still gets him.

Every time.

It's Quidditch, after all!

And Quidditch is ... well, Quidditch!

"Yes," he says evenly. "My ... broom game.

"It's brilliant. Even you can't argue that it isn't. You've seen a bit of it."

[theresnodoor]

He's so easy.

"Yeah, yeah, brilliant and cool," Rachel laughs, relaxing back into her seat. "Even as a cake. Is it really that hard to pick new people?"

[alotofgood]

Only when it comes to Quidditch.

"Like you wouldn't believe," James says, also relaxing a little. "You've got to pick someone who's good, of course, but also someone who gets along with the rest of the team. You can't play well with each other if you're not on the same wavelength, you know?"

[theresnodoor]

Yes. Yes, she does know.

And with the sudden rush of understanding, is really starting to curse her inability to just have a conversation with someone.

"Yeah, that makes sense," Rachel agrees slowly, and smiles. "I take it back, then, this must be hell for you."

[alotofgood]

James smiles too.

"Well, there could be worse hells," he says amiably. "Like having to finish a NEWTs-level Potions essay by tomorrow or something."

[theresnodoor]

"I have nightmares about that constantly."

[alotofgood]

James laughs.

"You would," he says. "NEWT-level is basically taking advanced level classes in everything. And you must know what writing essays is like. It's torture, isn't it."