《Harry Potter: My Life as Hermione》Chapter 36: Quidditch Tryouts

Quidditch—a sport born in the 11th century and now nearly a millennium old—stands unrivaled as the most influential athletic pursuit in the wizarding world.

At Hogwarts, students and staff alike are swept up in Quidditch fever, none more so than Professor McGonagall herself. She's a lifelong fan—famously giving Professor Snape the cold shoulder for three weeks after Gryffindor lost to Slytherin, and then beaming for days after a single victory.

Her talent-spotting skills are legendary. For the sake of Gryffindor's team, she's poured heart and soul into scouting fresh talent, and under her watchful eye, the team has become one of the school's true powerhouses.

So, for today's all-important tryouts, it's no surprise that Professor McGonagall is front and center.

As soon as Qin Yu arrived at the pitch, he spotted her seated in the teachers' stand, her expression serious as she surveyed the field.

"I'm so nervous!"

"With this many people watching, what if I fall off my broom? That'd be mortifying," George and Fred muttered anxiously beside him.

Even as they fretted, their eyes kept flicking toward the cluster of Gryffindor girls waiting to try out.

Qin Yu knew exactly who had caught their attention: the strikingly pretty Angelina Johnson, here to compete for the Chaser position.

Catching their gaze, Angelina offered a polite nod.

"Whoa, did she just wave at me?" Fred whispered, excitement bubbling in his voice.

"Could've been me, you know!" George shot back.

"You're both dreaming—she was clearly greeting me!" Qin Yu teased, grinning at the twins' antics.

"As if! She doesn't even know you," Fred scoffed.

"Yeah, that little girl next to her is probably waving at you," George added.

Qin Yu glanced over. Sure enough, standing beside Angelina was a familiar first-year Gryffindor—Katie Bell. He waved to her, and she waved back, a shy smile on her face.

The three boys chatted for a while, and the tension in the air eased considerably.

Truth be told, George and Fred were never the timid sort. If they were, they wouldn't have earned their reputation as Hogwarts' twin terrors.

…

Quidditch teams are made up of Keepers, Chasers, Beaters, and Seekers, and the tryouts were organized accordingly.

The methods varied from year to year, but the core skills tested remained the same.

Keepers had to defend the hoops midair.

Chasers were tested on their ability to chase the Quaffle, make shots, and dodge Bludgers.

Beaters—Qin Yu's target position—had to demonstrate aerial prowess and accuracy, smashing Bludgers at designated targets.

Seekers, of course, were all about speed—because the Golden Snitch is infamously swift and elusive. If you can't keep up, you'll never catch it.

The heartthrob from Hufflepuff, Cedric Diggory, was vying for Seeker.

Cedric was the very picture of a perfect wizard: tall, handsome, and radiantly confident. When he took to the skies on his broom, the Hufflepuff girls erupted in cheers—some even shrieked, "Cedric, I love you!" Students from other houses joined in too; his popularity was undeniable.

A senior Hufflepuff Quidditch player presided over the Seeker tryouts. He opened a box, withdrew a Golden Snitch, gave the candidates a brisk rundown, and then tossed the Snitch high into the air. Its wings snapped open with a metallic flutter and—whoosh!—it vanished in a blur before anyone could blink.

"Blimey, that thing's fast…"

"Sigh, I guess I'm not cut out to be a Seeker," George and Fred muttered, shaking their heads.

No sooner had they finished speaking than Cedric and the others gripped their broomsticks, leaned low, and shot off after the Snitch.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Cedric surged ahead, and the stands erupted in applause.

"He's seriously impressive," Qin Yu admitted, genuinely awed.

He had to concede: Cedric's speed was a cut above the rest. None of the other candidates even came close.

Sure enough, just a few minutes later, Cedric returned triumphant, holding the special tryout Snitch aloft for all to see.

The girls in the stands went wild, showering him with applause and cheers.

"Pfft, so what if he's good-looking and fast," Fred grumbled.

"It's just a tryout. In a real match, he'd have to get past Charlie!" George insisted, ever loyal to his big brother.

"Shame Charlie's graduating next year," Qin Yu said, lips pursed in mock disappointment.

"Yeah, our team still needs a Seeker, and I didn't see anyone trying out this year," Fred said, sounding genuinely worried.

"So what now? We should've done something to make sure Cedric didn't pass!" George groaned.

"Exactly! I know at least seven or eight spells that could've thrown him off. Too late now—he's already made the team," Fred lamented.

"Oh, come on, you two. Can't you think of a non-sabotage solution for once?" Qin Yu rolled his eyes, then added with a sly smile, "Besides, who knows? Maybe next year's first-years will surprise us and fill Charlie's shoes."

"First-years? Please. Just thinking about Ron makes me worry for the whole next batch!" George snorted, picturing his brother's awkward, anxious face.

"I mean, I agree, but it's not exactly fair to Ron," Fred replied, trying to sound serious.

Ah, brotherly love, Qin Yu thought, feeling a pang of sympathy for little Ron.

…

The Seeker tryouts wrapped up quickly—hardly anyone qualified. Only Cedric stood out. The other houses' selections were lackluster at best. Gryffindor managed to recruit a single passable candidate as a backup, but Qin Yu was pretty sure that if he really put his mind to it, he could outfly the guy himself.

Next up were the Keeper and Chaser tryouts.

When Angelina Johnson took to the sky, Fred and George cheered so loudly they nearly burst a vein. If Sonorus weren't banned, Merlin knows how much noise they'd have made.

It had to be said: Angelina wasn't just pretty—her flying was top-notch. She pulled off a series of difficult maneuvers, caught the Quaffle, and scored with ease.

Naturally, she made the team.

With the Chasers decided, it was time for the Beaters.

Qin Yu gripped his broom, nerves fluttering in his stomach.

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