#6 [Slytherin] Private Tryouts

After Potions class was over, Sinead hurried down to the qudditch pitch. There was no way she was missing tryouts, not this time. Honestly the girl had no idea if she was any good at quidditch or not as her parents never let her play at home and normally avoided anything to do with it and it was usually her grandfather that sent Sinead any quidditch related stuff. Eventually arriving at the pitch, the brunette spotted Amara and approached her, stopping a safe distance away. "Afternoon Miss Seabrooke." Sinead said politely but rather warily.

'Oh good, they showed up,' Amara muttered quietly to herself.

She had an annoyed retort ready to go, but both their polite or eager greetings were unexpected. Sinead showed proper respect, while the boy looked about as excited as he said he was. Well, she supposed a more civil approach was fine. Amara did want them on the team for them to succeed. 

'Before we begin, I need to know two things. What position are trying out for?' Amara asked Sinead first, then eyed the weirdly-cheerful boy. 'And you, what's your name?' It occurred to her then that she'd never asked. He wasn't important enough to her at the time for her to be bothered with it, but she should probably learn what it was to save embarrassment later. Besides, names were useful.

Amara considered her options. The first year hadn't showed up and probably didn't intend to, which was fine but it did leave her with the question of how to run these tryouts. Testing a potential Seeker worked best when someone competed. Did she have to chase after a snitch to make this work? Merlin, she hoped not. Seeker and Keeper were not positions she's done much training for herself. 

'We almost have a full team, and I only accept the best or those with the most potential,' Amara gave each of them a warning look. 'So you better not screw this up.'

Though she didn't know what Sinead was going for, she doubted it was Beater. Or rather, she hoped not. Amara was confident she was enough for the whole team, and they did need another Chaser. But she needed a plan. She didn't like her chances of simply observing them without getting involved herself though. 

It was lucky though that she'd formed a bit of a back-up plan on her way to the pitch, having taken a note to the Owlery. She hated wording it so respectfully, considering it was going to a 4th year who both annoyed Amara and who wasn't an especially remarkable Slytherin. But their team had to come before that, so she'd done what was necessary. At least if these tryouts didn't go well, she'd have someone else to blame. 

--

Note for Hanna Grey:
I am holding a private tryout session for some of your classmates who weren't able to make it to the first one. 

I understand that you're probably busy and have other things to do, but I require a Keeper's participation. It would be worth your time and beneficial to our team if you were to come to the pitch at first opportunity. I've no intention of wasting my own time either, so I promise we'll get this done as quickly as possible. If that's not motivation enough, remember that the experience will be good for your training also.

If you truly want to prove yourself to others - this will help you in that goal.
- Amara Seabrook

Hanna's feet dragged across the grass as she made her way towards the pitch, she was annoyed to say the least and after having to walk all the way from the duellist chamber she was definitely tired.

Once she got to the pitch she noticed her housemates were already there "I hope I'm actually needed and didn't just walk all the way down here for no reason" her tone was joking but it had an almost serious edge to it as she came to a stop next to Sinead; waiting for Amara to enlighten her.

Amara eyed Tom's hand. Her fancy upbringing and social training prompted her to do the polite thing - so she shook his hand, though briefly. 'Yes, I know that bit.' She rolled her eyes when he once again stated he wanted to be the Seeker. How many more times was he going to say it? At least it showed he was adamant on it though, which was a good sign.

His surname didn't sound familiar though. She'd have to look into it later.

Then Hanna arrived and Amara visibly showed how relieved she was to have the extra player in the mix. And Sinead was indeed trying out for Chaser, so it was perfect. So far, Amara refused to fully accept that it meant she'd have to face the horrible ordeal of embarrassing herself in playing as Seeker to test Tom for the position.

'Would I have called you down here otherwise?' Amara answered Hanna, though without the snark. It was more of a reassurance that she was indeed needed, and Amara did appreciate the assistance. It wasn't often she showed any form of gratitude, but in this case she was just so glad to have Hanna there she didn't care too much for appearances.

She wasn't evil, like people thought. She had feelings and could appreciate good things. It was just that Amara often found herself surrounded by idiots who did nothing than annoy her. Sometimes, they had to be put in their place. It wasn't her fault that people had an issue with her methods.

'All right - everyone grab a broom.' Amara scornfully indicated to the school brooms. Oh how she dreaded using one of those again. Maybe she should have summoned Lindsey as well? Too late now. 'Grey - head over to those goalposts. Be prepared to defend them. Blackwood, try and get some goals in.'

She removed the Quaffle from the Quidditch box, then roughly tossed it to Sinead - who'd have to act fast to catch it or else get smacked in the face. It was a test in itself (of reflexes) but also Amara just liked throwing things at people.

'Blackwood has possession of the Quaffle,' she said, as it would be stated in a match. 'Go.'

With reluctance, she then retrieved the Snitch. Amara glared at the ball, then grabbed the school broom she'd reserved for herself. It looked to be in the best condition. 'So.' She eyed Tom. 'We're going to chase this. I... Ugh, I've not trained as a Seeker so you don't just need to be better than me at this but twice as good. You got it? All right, let's get up there.'

Honesty was the best option there. She couldn't claim to be good as a Seeker then make a fool of herself. It ruined her credibility.

Amara mounted the broom and flew to the middle of the pitch, hovering hands-free to show off her talents a bit. She was actually quite gifted on a broom, and as their captain she wanted to showcase it a bit more to help instill confidence in them. She might need it soon; she really, really wasn't good as a Seeker. She just didn't see the appeal in diving fast towards a planet and certain death for the sake of one little ball. 

She waited for Tom to join her, keeping grip on the Snitch so it didn't escape. Though glanced over at the goalposts, knowing it was going to be a battle of multitasking to keep track of both events going on. Normally she'd do one at a time, but everyone had places to be and she'd given her word that they won't be wasting any time this afternoon.

Though Hanna and Sinead were still getting in position around the goalpost area, Amara sighed in dread and stared at the snitch in her hand. She wanted to get this part over with.

She opened her hand, watching with a keen gaze as the snitch was released. At least they didn't have to wait around to spot it, like one would during a real game. Amara short Tom a look to let him know they'd started, then she learned forward with prices control of her broom. Even if it was a shoddy school one.

Amara set after the snitch, glaring at it in concentration. She couldn't shake how irritated she was to have to play the role of Seeker, but also dreaded how that was going to go. For once in her life, she actually wanted someone to go ahead and be much better than her.

She wasn't going to make it easy for Tom (it was a test, after all) but she certainly hoped he would succeed well and quickly.

Sinead nodded to Amara when she told her to try and score some goals before lobbing the quaffle in her direction. Sinead shot to one side and managed to catch the ball in her hands, demonstrating some very fast reflexes much to her great inner delight. She turn and grinned to Hanna too, nodding when her dormmate told her she would see her at the goal posts.

The brunette picked up one of the brooms and getting on, she flew down to where Hanna was, hovering in front of her a short distance away with the quaffle tucked under her arm, ready to begin.

Sinead kept hovering a short distance from the goalposts with the quaffle tucked under her arm, keeping a tight hold on it as she balanced on her broom. She thought for quite some minutes about what she was going to do, a look of intense concentration on her face. Suddenly she had made up her mind it seems and shot straight for the goal posts. At first she looked as though she was going to try the far right one, then right at the very last second, she actually aimed and threw it towards the left one, hoping to get it through.