Wyzett replayed yesterday's flying lesson in his mind. If he were to join the tryouts, he was confident he could at least make it to the second round.
The second round began with the Beater selection.
For this position, both accuracy and raw power were essential.
More than a dozen hopefuls mounted their broomsticks, each with a balloon strapped to their chest, splitting into two groups for the test.
They paired up, tasked with defending their chest balloons while fending off Bludgers that could come hurtling at them from any direction.
"Just in time!" called a familiar male voice from behind. It was Oliver Wood, whom Wyzett had met once before.
Clearly, Cho Chang recognized him as well. She looked at him, puzzled. "Why are you at the Ravenclaw tryouts, Wood?"
Wood set his clipboard aside, glancing at Wyzett with a slightly shifty look. "Just here to have a look—after all, I am a captain!"
"So you're here to spy, then!" Cho teased, grinning. "I've heard Roger mention you. He said you're a Quidditch fanatic—would sacrifice your life for the game."
Wood straightened up, pride written all over his face. "That's an honor I'll gladly accept!"
The Beater tryouts continued. Wyzett quickly realized that being a Beater came with real risks.
The Bludgers were relentless. If a candidate failed to knock one away, it would slam into their chest with brutal force.
Many were sent flying off their broomsticks, landing hard—some even breaking teeth. "Tragic" didn't begin to describe it.
After a few such accidents, quite a few candidates lost their nerve and slunk off the pitch, mumbling about needing to escort the injured to the hospital wing.
"That's Ravenclaw for you—too precious by half," Wood muttered. But when Cho shot him a look, he quickly corrected himself. "Actually, there are some gutsy ones, too… Those two lads have quick reflexes, good form… They just need more training."
The two who earned the coveted Beater spots were both third-years: Jason Samuels and Duncan Inglebee.
With the Beater selection finished, Cho Chang suddenly stood up—her movements a little stiff—and walked forward.
"Fred and George mentioned that second-year… and I think Cedric's got a thing for her…" Wood mumbled to himself, jotting notes on his clipboard. "Her flying form is top-notch… She wore a Tutshill Tornados jersey once—clearly loved Quidditch since she was a kid. Looks like Seeker is hers!"
Wyzett couldn't help but smile. "You're ridiculously thorough…"
"I just love Quidditch," Wood replied with a nod. "Nothing about the game escapes me—not even you!"
"Me?" Wyzett instinctively edged away. "Surely I'm not on your radar?"
Wood looked serious. "I saw Harry fly last night. He's brilliant, but honestly… compared to you, he's still a notch below."
"If Harry's talent is outstanding, you're someone born to fly. To get that kind of speed out of an old Shooting Star—it's unbelievable…"
He leaned in, lowering his voice. "Ever thought about transferring to Gryffindor? I'd risk my life to get Professor McGonagall's approval."
Wyzett shook his head without hesitation. "I'm really happy in Ravenclaw. I get to do what I love every day, and I just like the atmosphere here."
"Shame," Wood sighed, genuine regret in his voice. He turned his attention back to the pitch, focusing on the Seeker tryouts.
For a Seeker, speed was everything—only the fastest could hope to catch the Golden Snitch. Cho Chang's lithe frame gave her a clear edge, her broom slicing through the air faster than anyone else.
Roger tossed marbles from every angle, and she spotted and caught each one before it hit the ground.
Her sharp eyes and lightning reflexes set her apart from the rest.
Just as Wood predicted, Cho Chang was head and shoulders above the competition, securing the Seeker position with ease.
"She's got a bright future ahead," Wood remarked. "At least Ravenclaw's got a real talent for Seeker now."
Beaming from ear to ear, Cho Chang basked in the praise, her smile growing even brighter.
"That just leaves the Chasers…" Wood scribbled on his board. "Once that's sorted, I can get back to drawing up tactics."
As he muttered to himself, a voice called out nearby, "Mr. Lovegood, there you are!"
It was Professor Flitwick, Head of Ravenclaw House, with Professor McGonagall in her signature green robes at his side.
Wood's eyes flickered—he seemed to sense trouble. He let out a long sigh and muttered with a wry smile, "Professor McGonagall, you're just too fair! Couldn't you spare some of that fairness for Professor Snape?"
Professor Flitwick—small and sprightly—rushed over, his little legs a blur.
In a heartbeat, he was in front of Wyzett. "Professor McGonagall tells me you have extraordinary flying talent. Would you like to try out?"
Wyzett hesitated. "I thought the notice board said only second-years and above could join?"
"Rules can be broken," Professor Flitwick said cheerfully. "We thought new students needed time to adjust, so we added that rule. But you clearly don't have that problem. In class and out, your performance has been exceptional—everyone's noticed it."
Wyzett nodded. "If you say so, Professor, I'd love to give it a try."
Flitwick sprang into action. "Come with me—I'll let Arsenal and the others know!"
Cho Chang gave him an encouraging thumbs-up. "Go for it! You've got this!"
Anthony and Michael stood as well, eyes shining with support—though with Cho nearby, they kept their enthusiasm in check.
"Go, Wyzett!" more voices cheered from the crowd.
It was only then that Wyzett noticed the number of Hufflepuff students who'd gathered—wherever there was excitement, they were sure to be found.
Vice-captain Roger was in charge of picking the Chasers, so someone else handled the first round of cuts.
Arsenal Vinson, the team captain, was a towering seventh-year who played Keeper.
As a seventh-year, he was busy preparing for his N.E.W.T.s and had little time to spare.
This year, he'd handed most team business over to Roger, focusing on his own studies.
Barring surprises, Roger would take over as captain after Arsenal graduated.
"Seeing Wood's face turn sour just makes my day," Arsenal grinned. "Yesterday at lunch he was bragging about Gryffindor's genius player…"
He clapped Wyzett on the shoulder. "Professor Flitwick says you're quite the talent? Then hop on a broom and show me what you've got!"
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