Y32 Gryffindor Quidditch Try-Outs

[Lizzie Parker-Taylor]

After the pain of being overlooked last year, Lizzie had thought her dreams of being captain were done for. It felt a little surreal to be standing here now, on the pitch with a list of names and the weight of a whole team on her shoulders. With only one year left at school, Lizzie was going to make sure Gryffindor was the absolute cream of the crop this year. The best of the best. She wanted her last year at Hogwarts to be the Gryffindor team's best year yet, and she was going to work tirelessly to make sure they gave it their all. Next year Lizzie hoped to be playing professionally, and this year she wanted to give the absolute best showing she could to really make a name for herself.

"Alright, welcome to tryouts!" Lizzie called out, once it looked like the group in front of her wasn't going to get any bigger. "If you don't know me, I'm Lizzie, and I'll be your captain for this year, assuming you make the team. In Gryffindor we work hard, we support each other, and that's why we're the best team in the school. In joining us you're committing to all of that. Working hard. Supporting your teammates. At the end of the year, win or lose, we'll know we gave everything we had to give, with people we can count on no matter what, and that's something we can be proud of. If that sounds like the kind of team you want to be part of, get ready to go. When I point to you tell me your name, year, and what position you want to try out for, then show me what you've got." Gesturing to her current teammates who had joined them for tryouts, Lizzie smiled. "You guys head up there now, and put 'em through their paces." Glancing at her list one last time, Lizzie pointed to the first person ready to try out.

Current Team​

Positions	Players
Seeker	Tomas Wode
Keeper	Merrill Piper
Beater	Lizzie Taylor
Beater	Jacob Kingsley
Chaser	Open
Chaser	Frankie Tillington
Chaser	Gabriel Rosenberg
Alternates	Open

Out of Character:

Returning players are guaranteed their spots as long as they post attendance in this thread before tryouts are over. Returning alternates must try out again.

First years must PM me if they want to try out. No first years will be allowed to try out unless there are not enough older students.

 

[Marcos Morales]

Marcos loved playing quiddtch, he would spend all of the hours in the day playing quidditch if he could. Being on the gryffindor team was something he enjoyed thoroughly, even if he was still just an alternate. He could see that other might frustrated but Marcos just liked taking part, so as always he arrived at the quidditch pitch broom in hand and ready to get started. He was smiling softly to himself as the new captain, Lizzie Taylor who had been on the team way long and someone he respected easily began speaking. He listened to her introduction and nodded, it was not unlike any of the other speeches he had heard over the years. However, it came to an end and Marcos stepped forward, "Hi, Marcos, trying for Keeper again," he knew that she likely knew who he was enough that he didn't do that much of a real introduction, but of course Marcos would follow the layout of this try-out. ​

​

Marcos got on his broom and shot up to one of the sets of hoops. He'd played in real games recently, and he had certainly improved since the prior try-out. As Marcos always intended to do. he wanted to improve and get better at it. He wanted to be a good quidditch player and so he was always training hard. The teen took a few minutes as others got set up to stretch and focus himself. He played hard, as he always did, keeping a close eye on the ball as it was passed between people. he caught the ball as it went to the hoops and he managed to catch a good number of them before they went through. Some he managed to knock out of the way and others were way too fast for him to be able to do. He worked up a good sweat and felt like he was well representing himself. Eventually the try-out for him came to an end and he flew back down to the ground and thanked Lizzie. He wanted to be back on the team, even as an alternate, he liked just being a part of it, and filling in when necessary. ​

 

[Willow Cullen]

Willow had not attended quidditch tryouts last year. the reasons had been that she had wanted to spite her mother who had basically conditioning her to join the Quidditch team since she was old enough to sit on a broomstick. unfortunately for willow, she did enjoy a good game of Quidditch and she had been sitting in the stands watching the scarlet team play pride intact but longing to be part of the action. this year she was going to try out. she had been encouraged one morning when she was playing on her own on the pitch and had run into the former captain Marisol woods. she made her way to the pitch her broom in hand with a bit of time to spare. she wanted on the team.
she was happy to see that Lizzy was the captain this year. she hardly knew the girl but she knew that she was a great beater and passionate about the team. she listened as the seventh year introduced the tryouts and how they would run. when Lizzie pointed to her she smiled giving the impression of being more confident than she was. "Hey Lizzie, I am Willow Cullen, a third year. I want to try out as a seeker. but my mum has also trained me on how to be a chaser and I can play that if you need me to" she said. she wasn't expecting Lizzy to know who her mum was. when she had played at the school and professionally it had been under the name of Rowan, not her current name Rowan-Cullen. but she wasn't looking for preferential treatment she just wanted Lizzie to know where she stood on the team.
willow then took her new broom and kicked off to the sky doing a lap to begin with to get a feel for the conditions. she looked around trying to catch a glimpse of one of the small golden balls that were flying around to try and capture it slowly as she flew the air became full of people. she swerved a couple of times to avoid getting in someone else's way and had to duck and roll as a bludger came shooting towards her. after a good few minutes of flying, she saw a glint of gold. laying low on her broom to add to the speed she aimed towards it her arm outstretching as she got close. she was a little bit off target and had to reach out to the side slightly but felt the satisfying flump of the small brass walnut hitting her palm. she did a lap before releasing it and releasing again. this time after a few minutes of searching she saw a scarlet ball coming towards her thrown by one of the keepers. she swerved to catch it started a chase up the pitch ducking a couple of times to avoid colliding with others. she saw a keeper at the goals a fifth year if she remembered right called Marco or something like that. she threw the ball hard towards one of the loops that he was no in front of before turning around her attention caught by a spark of gold. not looking to see if she scored she flew off after the next snitch.

 

[Fleur van Houten]

Fleur tied her red hair back in a ponytail as she stood on the pitch and listened to the captain talk about the try outs. Three times, she had considered trying out before, and three times she had decided it wasn’t worth the hassle. The Gryffindor team had never seemed in need of someone like her, and she had never really felt like going just to be rejected. But after seeing Frankie on the team for a few years and talking to other Quidditch players like Ethan, Fleur had decided to give it a go this time. The worst that could happen would be that she wasn’t allowed on the team, which she could survive. She listened to the inspirational speech of the captain, feeling more emboldened about trying out because of the clear willpower in the girl’s voice. Fleur grinned at her, then looked around at the other people trying out. She recognized Willow and gave her a quick wave before waiting quietly for her turn. When Lizzie pointed at her, Fleur held up a hand in greeting. “Fleur van Houten, trying out for chaser.” She said before getting onto her broom.

She had practiced a lot during the summer, even coaxing her younger siblings into playing with her. Fleur liked to fly a little more than she liked to play Quidditch, but she did enjoy the sport as well. She flew around for a bit in search of the quaffle, and grinned as it was passed to her. She flew lower, ducking underneath a few other players to avoid their attempts to get the quaffle back from her. A bludger zoomed past her, and Fleur steered a little to the left to avoid it, even though it would have missed her regardless. The quaffle was still tucked under her arm, and she flew quickly in the direction of the hoops, her ponytail fluttering behind her. When she slowed down to attempt to score, she fumbled the ball for a moment but managed not to drop it. The girl flew to the left, but aimed her shot at the right hoop. This seemed to do the trick, and Fleur beamed as the quaffle flew through the hoop. She followed the other player who got their hands on it, waiting for another opportunity to score. Eventually, she managed to score three times out of four attempts. The girl was happy with this outcome, and decided that she wouldn’t mind not getting the spot, as she had enjoyed getting to try out.

 

[Jemma Potter]

Jemma was extremely nervous for the big Quidditch tryouts today. Last year she had been placed as an alternate, and she had even managed to play in a game as a chaser. However, this year Jemma hoped that she would finally earn herself a permanent spot on the Quidditch team like her best friend and cousin, Jacob. She had spent as much time as possible over the break preparing for the tryouts. Quidditch ran in her blood. Her mother and sister had both been chasers for Gryffindor before going on to become professional players, and her father and brother both played professionally as seekers. Link and Lyra had both spent what time they could with her over the break practicing the seeker and chaser positions. Jemma preferred seeker, and she was better at it than being chaser, but she knew the seeker position wasn't open, but there was a chaser position open. Either way, the redhead loved Quidditch and she desperately wanted to be part of the team.

Jemma arrived at the pitch to see Lizzie Taylor leading practice. Jemma didn't know the older girl well, but she knew that Lizzie had helped Jake prepare for the beater position, and he had even made the team last year as a second year. Jemma smiled brightly at Lizzie as she called for introductions and positions. "Hi. I'm Jemma. I'm trying out for seeker and chaser, though I prefer seeker." she said intentionally leaving out her last name. Her family was well known and she didn't often use her last name for introductions in a large setting. It tended to give people a reason to judge her before they even got to know her. The Gryffindor girl picked up her broom that her mother had given her for her last Christmas present before she passed away.

Jemma mounted her broom proficiently in a well practiced and rehearsed manner. Really, there hadn't been much else to do on break other than fly. The Gryffindor girl flew high into the air, waiting for the snitch to be released. It was only a few moments before she spotted it down near the north hoop. She took off quickly, nearing it with an outstretched hand before it flitted off out of site. Seconds later Jemma saw the glittering gold by the Hufflepuff stands, and she took off at a top speed, her hand outstretched and reaching. The cool metal pressed up against her palm, and she rolled left to keep from crashing into the stands. Jemma grinned happily at the tiny golden ball. She released it back into the air, catching it four more times before switching to the chaser position. Jemma caught a Quaffle as it was tossed to her, turning to make her way towards a keeper at the far hoops. Her focus was so completely on the goals that she didn't notice the bludger making its way towards her until it crashed into her left arm. Thankfully, Jemma didn't drop the Quaffle. Instead, she continued on to the hoops. As she neared the hoops, she faked left before going right. The Quaffle soared through the hoop, and the Gryffindor girl cheered. She attempted five more shots, but only made two of the five bringing her to a total of four out of six.

At the end of the tryout, Jemma landed lightly on the grass. She was sweating and desperately needed a shower, but she had enjoyed herself. She smiled at Lizzie. "Thank you, Lizzie. This was fun." she said happily before retiring to the showers.

 

[Aaren Vyhnal]

Aaren Vyhnal held her broom in hand, hoping that she could be on the team this year. Her parents were both former professional Quidditch players before retiring. Her mother was a chaser and her father was a foul mouthed beater. Aaren, on the other hand, felt that she would have better luck with another position. She watched how chasers worked, so she would try out for keeper. But, she could also handle chaser as well. Seeker seemed to be out of her reach since she was not that good at catching anything smaller than a quaffle. She did not have the beater's arm like her dad. So, she would try out for keeper. She figured that it was not open but at least she could be an alternate if needed. As she approached the pitch, she saw other Gryffindors armed and primed. As soon as the captain stopped speaking, she approached her and smiled, "Aaren Vyhnal, trying out for keeper."

The Gryffindor mounted her broom and flew around the pitch a couple of laps. After she was finished, she went up to one of the goals that was not being guarded already. Aaren would try her best. That was all that mattered. Overall, Aaren protected a little less than half since she was still working on the skills. That position was a little harder than she took credit for, but at least she finished. She landed and hoped that she made the team, at least as an alternate.

 

[Jessica Cade]

Jess had gone back and forth over the holidays on whether she would even tryout for the Quidditch team. Losing her mum has been hard, but somehow she had managed to resist completely falling apart like she had when her dad died. Perhaps losing one parent had broken her so much she just couldn't feel the loss of another. Quidditch was a big thing in her family and if nothing else she felt that continuing to play was a good way to honour her fallen parents. The morning of tryouts Jess changed into her practice robes and took her broom down to breakfast. She sat alone and ate the bare minimum to stop herself feeling hungry before she headed down to the pitch. After being on the team last year as an alternate, and with the position now open following the graduation of Marisol, Jess was hopeful she would she would make the team. She just hoped she wouldn't be beaten to the position by Jemma who for some reason had subbed in as chaser the previous year, despite being a seeker.

Once on the pitch Jess made her way over to the new captain, Lizzie, and introduced herself to the girl who already knew her. "Jessica Cade, trying out for chaser," She said firmly before mounting her broom and rising into the air. Jess watched as one of the other chasers completed their tryout and passed her the quaffle. Jess took it and fly closer to the hoops where the keeper was waiting. She paused while she decided her first move. Jess leaned forward and made her way toward the hoops, she weaved in an attempt to put the keeper off balance which seemed to work as when she looked up she saw the keeper away from the hoop so Jess launched the quaffle at the middle hoop and scored the first goal. Picking the quaffle back up Jess did a lap of the pitch to pick up momentum and headed back to the keeper, she leaned left and watched as the keeper flew over to meet her, this made her grin as she pulled back and threw the quaffle across the keepers body to the right side hoop and punched the air as it went in. Jess went onto score her next too goals but on her final attempt her over confidence got the better of her and he ended up throwing the quaffle right into the keepers hands. Despite scoring four out of five attempts Jess came back to the ground disappointed she hadn't been able to make every shot. She didn't want to give Lizzie any excuse to pick someone else. "Thanks," She mumbled to Lizzie as she walked past her to head to the changing rooms.

 

[Syrus Stilinski]

Last year, Syrus had done fairly well stepping in for Tomas when things got out of control in one of their first quidditch matches. Syrus a fifth year than, and now a sixth year had won the game and ever since then he been anxious to be really be apart of his house team. Of course, Syrus wasn't the only one gearing up for these tryouts. Gryffindor house, the popular house out of all of them expect that many were eager to do the same. Syrus came around either way, sauntering with his personally modified broomstick. He walked with confident in his stride like he already claimed his title and greeted Lizzie. Syrus congratulated the girl for making captain, from what he observe last year it was fairly earned. "Nice pep talk, coach," Syrus clapped. If his dad were alive, he imagined his dad would've said something similar to his former teams back home. His mother did said he loved coaching and being apart of those kids life were his best years.

Enough with buttering up the coach and hope that he can impress Lizzie with his skills, Syrus mounted his broom to do just that. Syrus flew up, getting a lap or two to refresh those skills and techniques of flying. Syrus came around the third time and hover before Lizzie. "I can do seeker or chaser, since you've already know how I am as seeker," Syrus attempted on chaser. A quaffle was thrown in his direction, and Syrus caught it easily with one hand. Already off to a good start, Syrus flew ahead and try his hand at aiming while flying. It was tricky at first. Syrus toss the quaffle through one high pole ring and it deflected sideways. Syrus swooped under quickly to retrieve the quaffle before it fell towards the ground. Catching it, Syrus flew and aimed at another angle, this time getting the quaffle through. It went along in that pattern, Syrus never showing any sign of discouragement. If he learn anything from last year, is to keep himself cool and leveled ahead. He was a different person in some ways out in the pitch. Syrus concluded his tryout, flying down when he was done. "Thanks Liz!"

 

[Jacob Kingsley]

Jacob was really, really happy that Lizzie was captain. She had deserved it last year in his opinion, so now he felt like they'd gotten things right. It was just really hard to look happy these days. Every time Jacob almost felt happy, he would think about the fact that he was still at stupid Hogwarts New Zealand and that when he went home his whole life would be extremely different. He'd overheard his mom talking to his aunt about maybe even moving to England to be closer to them, and he hated that idea. Jacob had about a million questions, none of which had been answered by his parents because he hadn't asked any of them. He was too mad at both of them.

But today was about quidditch and he shook off those thoughts in time to hear Lizzie talking about teamwork. Jacob was glad he had his position already. He'd been the youngest starter of all the teams last year, and it did feel a little odd to watch some of his house mates who were his age try out, but he was there to cheer them on. As soon as he could, Jacob took to the sky, happy to hit some bludgers and watch his cousin and Willow out of the corner of his eye. They seemed to be doing well but he kept on hitting bludgers, happy to get some aggression out until Lizzie called time.

 

[Gwen Owens-Lee]

After her failure last year, Gwen was more determined than ever to show the Gryffindor Quidditch Captain that she had potential. The third year had been practising as much as she could in hopes that she would get better. It was hard work to play Quidditch and Gwen just hoped she had enough this time around so she could be apart of the team. The Gryffindor made her way to the Quidditch pitch and eyed everyone else who was there to try out. They all definitely seemed confident and Gwen was confident too. She listened as a new captain spoke. Gwen was happy that it was a new captain this time around, as she didn't particularly like the one from last year and could start a first impression all over again. When instructed, Gwen lined up with the others to put her name down.

"Hey, I'm Gwen. Trying out for seeker." she told the captain. She then proceeded to mount her broom, lifting herself up carefully from the ground so she could begin her tryout. She kept a keen eye out for the snitch, flying around slowly first before she saw it so as to preserve her energy for when she actually needed it. She was fooled a couple of times by a prefect badge out of the corner of her eye, but when she finally saw it in all its glory, she beamed before heading towards it, building up momentum. It began flying away in the opposite direction once it realised what she was doing and Gwen had to use her strength and concentration to stop and quickly turn back around to continue chasing it. She was flying fast at this point with her right hand out in front of her, pushing on as hard as she could to collect the tiny ball. Eventually, the girl caught up and touched it lightly with her fingertips before finally being able to push hard enough to wrap her whole hand around the ball. As she had done this, she stopped and fumbled slightly as she caught her breath. She had done it during the tryouts and looked down at the ground to see if the captain was looking before she let go of it so she could catch it again.

When the practice had ended, Gwen gave a slight smile to the captain in hopes that she would pick her. Gwen wanted nothing more than to contribute to the team and she hoped that the captain could see this through her determination and her eagerness to push on.

 

[Vader Hume]

Vader hadn’t improved much in quidditch to maybe merit the fact that he was looking to try-out for the quidditch team, but he did like the feeling and it wouldn’t hurt to be rejected, he’d been rejected from plenty of things in the past, and he knew that while not good enough now he might be in the future. The short quick session he’d had with the older girl who’d essentially helped him with the basics had helped give him the confidence to try. If he failed he’d fail but that would be okay. He thought the only way to really get better properly was to challenge himself, no matter how nervous he was Vader found himself stood on the pitch with a school issued broom in hand and a determined expression on his face. He had also decided after spending time with the girl that he wanted to play the same position as her, a beater. He had played cricket and rounders in muggle school, and he hadn’t been terrible at them so while not the same sport, he figured that was where his sports knowledge lay. That seemed like something he could be capable of. Capable enough that he found himself at the try-outs. The quidditch captain’s speech was enough to get the boy a little bit excited by what might come. He didn’t think he’d get on to the team, but he would regret not trying this year and probably every year until he was good enough. As he watched others take to the air with an ease Vader certainly didn’t have, he was nervous, he definitely didn’t fly as well as half of those people. He sighed nervously, maybe he should’ve just waited? Vader decided he had to try, he would gave this his fair effort and if he didn’t make it, work harder and maybe next year he would. The boy stepped forward eventually and with a nervous tone said, ”Vader Hume, trying out for beater,” the boy was a little quiet in his first name, but didn’t particularly linger upon it but his voice grew in confidence as he finished the sentence.​

​

Vader took one of the beater bats and then got upon the broom, his actions were slower and more purposeful than the other people, but remembering what she had told him, he pushed up and glided into the air with far more ease. His free hand was grasping the broom pretty tightly, he had to do well and though he certainly felt more confident and sure of how to fly, he was gripping tightly just in case. Vader flew up more easily, gaining height at a good pace and flying with some ease, he wasn’t nearly as smooth as others, but it was definitely an improvement upon last time. He came to a hover when he reached a good height and glanced about the field, spotting all of the players and what they were doing. He leaned forward like he’d learned to and urged the broom on fast. He used some of his knowledge from skateboarding to help glide easily through the sky. He was keeping an eye out what the role his position was, and the ball that came along with it. It was tricky, to keep all the different things he had to do in his head, but he hadn’t fallen yet and hadn’t dropped the bat yet, so little victories! Eventually in his flying, a little slower than most of the others, he spotted a bludger heading towards one of the other players. He urged the broom faster, a little surprised at the speed it took off at and he was able to get to where he needed to be. The bludger that came towards him was fast and he knew from the little reading he did that it was heavy too, but in a motion that nearly sent Vader off the broom, he stopped and swung the bat as hard as he could manage. Vader felt the hit against the bat before he seemed to see it, it flew off in the other direction, and made Vader very unbalanced. He had to stop the broom entirely and just hover for a minute to get his balance and breath back. His hand hurt a little and the reverberations he could also feel up his arm, but it had been cool. Maybe he couldn’t fly as well as others, but he could say that he wasn’t terrible at hitting the bludger, though perhaps that had just been a stroke of luck. ​

Much of the following try-out happened just like that, Vader would occasionally manage to hit the ball and when he did it tended to be relatively good, sometimes he would miss, duck out of the way or on a few occasions, be unaware of how fast he was going and where the ball was heading that he’d miss it entirely. Arguably, Vader could say he had given his best, and if he didn’t get on to the team he could take with him the knowledge that he’d tried his best and hadn’t fallen off the broom once. He wasn’t the fastest and he wasn’t the smoothest flier but he knew he could get better and he’d work for it, whether on the team or not. The try-out came to an end and Vader landed back on the ground, his legs and body shaking more than he’d thought they were, but he was smiling and he thanked the captain for the opportunity. No matter the outcome Vader felt like quidditch was definitely something he wanted to give an honest shot at.​

 

[Gabriel Rosenberg]

Gabriel was all ready for the new season. They had lost last year and this year it will be their year again. And now with Lizzie as their captain that was going to happen. Gabriel liked Lizzie a lot and jumped into the air when she was titled as their captain. When he made his way to the pitch he was wondering which people already have left and what would still be open. He had no idea, but what he knew was that Lizzie was gonna leave the team after this year, so they needed to win!! Gabriel smiled as he joined the team. '' Congrats Lizzie. You deserve it.'' He said friendly to the girl and waved over to his old teammates. He also noticed some new faces and was curious what they were gonna show. He noticed Jessica and hoped that she was gonna join them. Jessica was nice and next to the fact that James was her brother she seemed a good chaser. He wouldn't mind working together with her. Some people seemed familliar from being alternates before. Gabriel watched them as they tried out and enjoyed the game. He jumped on his broom later to help some chasers out and tried to score with the keepers trying out.

 

[Lizzie Parker-Taylor]

Out of Character:

Tryouts will be closing tomorrow, this is your last chance to try out for this year!

 

[Lizzie Parker-Taylor]

As the tryouts wound down, Lizzie called all the players down to the ground again, impressed with the effort she had seen. "Alright, everyone, that's it for us today. Thank you all so much for all of your hard work, I'm really impressed with all the hard work and commitment I've seen today. Whether you make the team or not, you've got a lot to be proud of. And if anyone wants extra coaching to make sure they ace tryouts next year, you all know where to find me." She smiled, hoping to encourage even those who hadn't made the list. It was going to be difficult to narrow things down, for sure. "I'll post the team lineup on the house bulletin board tomorrow morning. Thanks again for your time this morning, enjoy the rest of your day!"

Y32 Team​

Positions	Players
Seeker	Syrus Stilinski
Keeper	Marcos Morales
Beater	Lizzie Taylor
Beater	Jacob Kingsley
Chaser	Gabriel Rosenberg
Chaser	Jessica Cade
Chaser	Jemma Potter
Alternates	Willow Cullen, Fleur van Houten, Aaren Vyhnal, Gwen Owens-Lee