The Mark of Courage

The Mark of Courage

Chapter Seven

Neville and Harry managed to get a sizeable portion of their Potions essay written before lunch. In fact, Neville was more than willing to stay behind and continue working; but Harry, Ron, and Hermione insisted he accompany them to the Great Hall. With a sigh, he reluctantly set down his quill and followed them.

The talk at the Gryffindor table focused almost exclusively on the Quidditch tryouts taking place just after lunch. Ginny, Neville noticed, barely ate more than a couple of bites before pushing her plate away. She wasn't the only student picking at their food. Neville could discern who was trying out for either the team or the commentator position simply by observing how much they ate. His own plate was littered with crumbs from the roll he'd shredded.

Sighing, Neville pushed his own plate away. Everyone around him seemed so excited about what was to come, but he couldn't bring himself to share in it. Even Hermione, probably the one Gryffindor who didn't live and breathe Quidditch, excitedly spoke with Ron detailing why Ginny would be the perfect choice for Chaser.

Desperate for distraction, he looked around the Great Hall. Even the other tables couldn't seem to stop talking about Quidditch. The Slytherins were discussing who had possibly made their team, since their tryouts had already occurred earlier that day. Neville was somewhat disappointed at that; he had hoped to overhear something about the fate of Crabbe and Goyle.

The Ravenclaw students were discussing Quidditch as well; their House's tryouts had been Friday afternoon. The Hufflepuffs didn't have tryouts, as all of their players were returning from the previous year. It didn't stop them from wondering what kind of impact any new members would have on the other House teams. Neville was almost positive that if he could hear the conversation at the staff table, it would be about Quidditch. He knew that Professor McGonagall loved the game with almost unseemly enthusiasm.

It was almost enough to turn one completely off from Wizard sports.

Ron, whose appetite was voracious enough to make up for everyone else's, took a final swig from his goblet. "Well, Harry, we'd better go get our brooms. Katie will have our hides if we're late." He bent down and gave Hermione a little kiss on the cheek. She blushed, looked around furtively to see if anyone was watching and quickly kissed him back. "I'll meet you at the pitch."

Ginny's mouth set in a tight line of determination as she rose from the table. Neville managed to catch her eye. "Good luck," he said. "I know you'll do well."

Her expression softened. "Thanks," she replied. "I'm going to need all the luck I can get!"

So am I, Neville thought.

While Harry, Ron, and Ginny went to retrieve their brooms, Neville slipped out of the Great Hall and made his way outdoors. He could see the Quidditch pitch in the near distance, the pennons circling the playing area moving sluggishly in the light breeze. The scoring hoops at either end gleamed with mellow golden light in the afternoon sun. Shoving his hands into the pockets of his robes, he set off.

Several Gryffindor students passed him along the way. So did a small group of Hufflepuffs, which Neville found odd until he remembered that the Hufflepuff house team didn't have tryouts this year. This group must be auditioning for the same position he was. He fell into step behind them as they made their way to one of the sixteen towers surrounding the pitch. Fifteen of the towers contained box seats at the top for local Wizarding residents, as well as the families of sons and daughters playing for House teams. The top of the sixteenth tower was for faculty and staff members and the commentator.

They were met at the base of the tower by Professor McGonagall and Professor Sprout. As the heads of Gryffindor and Hufflepuff respectively, they would be the judges of the audition.

Neville was one of three Gryffindors trying out. The others were Euan Abercrombie, a second-year student with ridiculously prominent ears; and Natalie McDonald, a sturdy fourth-year with medium brown hair and a shy smile. There were four Hufflepuff students: Susan Bones and Ernie Macmillan from Neville's year; and two younger students, Kevin Whitby and Rose Zeller.

Once it became apparent that no one else was coming, Professor McGonagall said, "I wish to thank you all for coming out today. The role of Quidditch commentator is one of great importance, requiring a thorough knowledge of the game, as well as a keen eye for the activities taking place on the field." She pulled out a scroll of parchment and unrolled it. "The rules for the audition are as follows. Each contestant will have one opportunity to call the plays, each lasting ten minutes. At the end of the audition, one person from each House will be chosen for a second round of auditions, and from those four finalists, one person will be chosen as the winner." She rolled up the parchment and tucked it away. "Professor Sprout will take you upstairs while I inform Miss Bell that practice can commence. Good luck to all of you." Her stern gaze met momentarily with each contestant's. Neville wasn't certain, but he thought he saw an almost Dumbledore-like twinkle in the headmistress' eyes as they came to rest on him.

The Quidditch team members and those hoping to join the team were already in the air by the time Neville and the other commentator hopefuls emerged from the stairwell at the top of the faculty tower. He caught his breath as he looked out over the pitch. The view was magnificent. He had never seen the playing field from this height before; every match until now had been viewed from the student stands directly across the pitch from where he stood. The top row of those stands didn't even come halfway to the tops of the visitor and faculty towers.

He could easily see each player as they swooped and circled and dived on their broomsticks as they warmed up. When Harry flew by, followed shortly thereafter by Ron, Neville couldn't suppress a chuckle. Their expressions upon seeing him with the rest of the applicants were too amusing for him to feel insulted. Ron actually flew past twice, as if to make sure he wasn't seeing things.

Professor Sprout turned to them. "I'm assuming you all know the Sonorus Charm," she said. "As soon as Professor McGonagall arrives, we'll get started. Miss Bones, you'll go first, followed by Mr. Abercrombie, Mr. Macmillan, Mr. Longbottom, Mr. Whitby, Miss McDonald, and Miss Zeller."

There was little more to say after that, and the group fell into a nervous silence. Susan Bones took a few deep, steadying breaths, her hands clenched at her sides. Neville had partnered her a few times last year in the DA; he knew her to be calm, reliable, and encouraging. He had no doubts that she would do well.

On the field, Katie Bell and the rest of the Gryffindor house team had completed their warm-up flights. Ron took his place in front of the scoring hoops, while Harry drifted higher up in the air, the usual starting spot for a team's Seeker. The ball crate sat open in the middle of the field.

Professor McGonagall arrived a few minutes later, flushed and slightly out of breath from hurrying up so many stairs. "It's days such as now when I wish I could simply Apparate about on school grounds," she muttered. "Very well, who is going first? Miss Bones, isn't it?"

"Yes, Professor."

"Are you familiar with the players' names, or do you need assistance? I realize that you and your fellow housemates are at a slight disadvantage in this situation." McGonagall gave the girl an encouraging smile. "I will be happy to identify anyone you don't recognize."

Susan looked over the field for a moment. "I know everyone already on the house team, ma'am," she said at last. "I'm afraid I don't know any of the players trying out, though. Not by name."

Professor McGonagall nodded. "Very well, then. The two by Katie Bell are Duncan Abernathy, a third year student; and the young lady next to him is Lucy Wyndham, a fifth year. They are trying out as Chasers. The young man next to Andrew Kirke is Sebastian Innes, also a fifth year. He is competing for the remaining Beater position. Are you ready?"

Susan nodded, pulled out her wand, and pointed it at her throat. "Sonorus."

McGonagall pulled out her own wand and pointed it into the air, sending out a shower of red and gold sparks. Apparently, this was the signal, because on the field Katie blew her whistle. The balls were released from their crate, and the tryouts began.

"It's Katie Bell with the Quaffle, she passes it to Wyndham, who passes it back to Bell...ohh, close call with that Bludger! Bell passes to Abernathy, who drops the Quaffle...." She paused while the scarlet ball was brought back, and resumed her commentary. "All right, the Quaffle is back in play. Abernathy passes to Wyndham...she's heading for the scoring hoop and makes the throw....YES! It's a beautiful save made by Ronald 'The King' Weasley!"

All too soon, the ten minutes were up. Susan ended the Sonorus Charm and stepped back, her cheeks flushed with nervous excitement. Euan Abercrombie, the second year Gryffindor, took her place. On the field, Katie called out the names of three more students vying for a spot on the house team. Once they were in place, Professor McGonagall sent out another shower of red and gold sparks from her wand, and play resumed, with Abercrombie calling out the commentary.

Katie was smart enough to keep most of the game plays basic ones, mixing them up just enough so that the students taking their turns doing commentary called out different events and turnouts. Ron made two more saves during Susan's commentary. Harry caught the Golden Snitch during Abercrombie's turn, an event that reduced the young Gryffindor to incoherent squeals of excitement.

Ernie Macmillan's turn was marked by a delivery that was nearly stentorian in style, as if he was giving a speech at the Ministry of Magic rather than doing commentary of a Quidditch match; save for a brief, terrifying moment when a third year student trying out for Chaser was almost unseated from his broom by a Bludger. Fortunately, the player was uninjured, though a bit shaken from the close call. The relief in Ernie's voice then had been unmistakable.

Neville, in an attempt to quell his own rising anxiety, watched the players on the field, silently noting names and positions and forming his own opinions on those trying out for the open spots on the team as Susan, Euan, and Ernie took their turns at commentary. The third year student who had nearly fallen from his broom didn't stand a chance; but the fourth year playing Beater during Euan's turn showed surprising agility and speed for a position noted for brute strength; and he had liked Lucy Wyndham's quickness and soft hands during her previous turn at Chaser. She made catching the Quaffle look easy, while showing good scoring potential. Ron had almost missed his last save because of her.

Ernie's turn came to an end and he stepped aside for Neville. Neville closed his eyes, praying to every deity who'd ever existed, begging for some small shred of evidence that coming here today hadn't been a colossal mistake in judgment. Looking like a man going to the gallows, he took his place and pulled out his wand.

"Okay, I want Weasley and Wyndham at Chaser!" Katie called out. "I want O'Riordan at Beater! Places, everyone; we haven't got all afternoon!"

Neville froze. Oh, Merlin, it was just his luck that Ginny Weasley's name would be called just when his own turn arrived. He'd been hoping for, and dreading, this exact scenario.

"Mr. Longbottom, everyone is waiting on you." Professor McGonagall's voice broke in before his thoughts could become even more panicky. The words were kindly spoken, with only a thread of her usual acerbity leaking through.

"I know. I'm ready." Before he completely lost his nerve, he pointed his wand at his throat. "Sonorus!" He saw the glitter of red and gold from the corner of his eye as McGonagall gave the signal to begin, and the longest ten minutes of Neville's life commenced.

"Bell with the Quaffle...she passes it to Ginny Weasley, who passes it to Wyndham. Wyndham with the ball, now streaking towards the hoops; but Ron Weasley won't give her the opening she wants....reverse pass to Ginny Weasley, nicely done! Weasley ducks a Bludger, but O'Riordan is there to bat it away.....Ginny moves in....watch out, Ron! Ron Weasley makes the save! Okay, Quaffle back in play, Bell to Wyndham to Bell..."

Neville slowly began to find his rhythm as the minutes ticked by. Every ounce of concentration he possessed was exerted on the action taking place in the pitch. "...Wyndham dodges another Bludger, she's speeding towards the hoops...another Weasley save! Bell catches the Quaffle...Kirke sends a Bludger at her, but she dodges this one...pass to Weasley, pass to Wyndham, reverse pass to Weasley, they're zigzagging down the field....Weasley has the ball, they make it look so easy! Ron guards the hoops...Ginny throws, Ron dives...SCORE! Gryffindors score! Ten points to Gryffindor, courtesy of Ginny Weasley!"

After what seemed an eternity of passes, dodges, and one missed Snitch, Katie finally blew her whistle to end the ten minutes of play. Neville swiped an arm across his forehead, brushing away the beads of perspiration that had formed there, and stepped back to make way for Kevin Whitby. Pointing his wand at his throat once more, he said, "Finite," and joined Susan Bones, Euan Abercrombie, and Ernie Macmillan. He sat down next to Susan and shared a grin of relief with all of them.

"Nice job," Susan whispered to him. "You sounded like a natural."

"Thanks," Neville replied, inwardly shocked at the praise. "You sounded good, too."

"Quiet, you two," Professor Sprout said. "You can discuss what you did right or wrong after everyone else has had their turn."

Forty-five minutes later, Rose Zeller completed her allotted time, during which Ginny once again scored against her brother. Professor McGonagall and Professor Sprout faced them, their expressions inscrutable.

"The announcement of who made the House teams will be posted on Monday," Professor Sprout said. "At that time we will also post the announcement of who will move on to the second round of tryouts for commentator. Remember, there will be one contestant from each House; so whoever among you wins today, be sure to lend them your support in the next round." She looked over to the headmistress. "Is there anything you want to add, Minerva? Or do you think we've covered everything that needs covering?"

"I believe that's everything," the other professor replied, "so I will bid you all a good afternoon. If the Gryffindors wish to observe the rest of their team's tryouts, you may go down to the stands to watch. Otherwise, you are all henceforth dismissed."

Susan turned to him again once the small group reached the bottom of the tower stairs. "I suppose you're going to stay and watch the rest of the tryouts?" she asked.

Neville nodded. "I promised I would, even though I have a ton of homework to get done before Monday morning."

"Snape's Polyjuice essay?"

"Right in one." Neville sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "That, and my Advanced Charms homework."

"I'll leave you to your friends, then. Good luck."

"Good luck to you, too."

He watched her walk away, back towards the castle, feeling that there had been some kind of embedded message in his conversation with Susan; and that he had missed it. He shook his head. It must be the leftover adrenaline in his blood giving him such strange ideas.

He saw Dean and Seamus in the stands and went over to join them. Seamus reached over and gave him a hearty clout on the shoulder. "You sounded like a pro, mate," he said. "Better than Ludo Bagman at the Quidditch World Cup a couple of years ago. Didn't know you had it in you."

"I didn't, either," Neville said. "I don't remember a single thing I said, except for that one goal Ginny scored. I remember that was the first time anyone got the Quaffle past Ron since the tryouts started." He looked over to Dean. "I really think she's going to make Chaser. Her and Wyndham both."

"I think so, too," Dean agreed. "That Wyndham girl...her technique was smooth!" Hearing what might be construed as too much interest, he cleared his throat and said, "Of course, Ginny was good, too; but we all expected it. She comes from a family of Quidditch players, after all."

Hermione came over to join them. Sitting down beside Neville, she exclaimed, "Why didn't you tell any of us you were planning to try out? I swear, I think Ron almost fell off his broom when he saw you up there with the others. When did you decide to do it?"

"Ginny suggested it," he answered carefully, painfully aware of the fact that Dean was only a few feet away. He wasn't about to admit that the only reason he was here was to impress Dean's girlfriend. "After that it was just a matter of working up the nerve to go through with it. I was sure I'd be a disaster. I didn't want a huge audience in case I made a mess of it."

"You sounded wonderful," Hermione assured him. "I think it's safe to say that you'll be representing Gryffindor in the next round. Who do you think will win for Hufflepuff?"

"Susan Bones," Neville said instantly.

Seamus grinned slyly. "I saw her talking to you. I think she likes you, Neville."

"Susan?" Neville shook his head. "We're just friends. We usually work together in Herbology; and we partnered a few times in the DA. She's never shown the slightest interest in me. I'm Neville Longbottom, remember?" he said self-deprecatingly. "Girls don't exactly fall over themselves over me."

"You'd be surprised," Hermione said mysteriously. "Oh, look, they're heading back to the changing room. I'd better go and meet up with Ron." She got to her feet and looked down at Neville. "You really did do a terrific job today."

"Thanks," Neville said. All this praise was beginning to embarrass him; but the reason he'd even shown up today had yet to say a word.

"I'm going to go on up to the castle," Seamus said. "You want to come along, Neville?"

"Sure," he replied. "I still have to finish that Potions essay. Tell Ginny she did a great job, all right?" he asked Dean.

Dean nodded and followed Hermione to the Gryffindor changing room.

"Have you heard any more about what happened to Crabbe and Goyle?" he asked Seamus as they started back towards Hogwarts.

"No. What happened?"

"They vandalized the library while I was in there this morning. You should have seen the look on Madam Pince's face...."