All's Fair in Love and War...Right?

Chapter 4: Quiddich Tryouts

"Jessilyn! Wake up!" James bellowed into the sleeping girl's ear. Jessilyn sat up so quickly she tumbled off the couch and hit the floor with a thud.

"Whaayaadoin?" she mumbled, squinting up at James.

"You fell asleep in the common room. That makes things easier actually. Wouldn't want Evans to see me," James explained.

"Go away." Jessilyn closed her eyes and curled up on her side.

"No can do! Quiddich tryouts today. We wouldn't want our star Seeker not making the team," James said cheerfully.

"What time is it?"

"About six, but we have to get to the pitch early so we can practice."

"You're insane. Go away," Jessilyn moaned and buried her head in her arms. Suddenly, jet of cold water hit her.

"James!" Jessilyn sputtered angrily.

"Rise and shine, love!" James grinned cheekily.

Ten minutes later Jessilyn was sitting in the Great Hall, ignoring James.

"Remus, lovely weather today, don't you think?" she pointedly asked Remus, who was looking very amused.

"Yes, great for flying!" James answered her enthusiastically. "Come on, Lyn, you can't ignore me."

"You're right. But you have to agree to never ever wake me up at six o'clock again." Jessilyn glared at him.

"Fine, fine, but you'll thank me after you make the team," James said defensively.

"I didn't need to get up this early," Jessilyn grumbled.

"You didn't need to wake me up this early either. I don't play Quiddich," Remus pointed out.

"You're here for moral support. Where's Sirius?" James said.

"Sleeping, the lucky tike." Remus yawned. "Do you mind if I go back to bed?"

"Oh...if you must," James said, dramatically disappointed. Remus grimaced and got up to leave.

"Don't leave me with him!" Jessilyn yelped desperately.

"Sorry. Good luck!" Remus practically ran out of the Great Hall. Jessilyn glared at James again.

"Wipe that smile off your face."

James's smile dropped off his face, replaced by a sincere look. Jessilyn raised an eyebrow, finally gave in, and cracked a smile.

"Alright, let's go practice."

"Excellent!"

"Stop smiling."

"Sure thing!"

"Alright, I want everyone to get in groups of the position you're playing. Chasers, over here!" Spencer Fields called to the large crowd of hopeful students.

"That's me! See you on the team." James patted Jessilyn's back and skipped over to the group of Chasers. Jessilyn joined the group of Seekers.

"Oh, you're trying out for Seeker?" said Laura Bloom, a fellow fifth year sneered.

"Yes, considering I was Seeker on the team last year," Jessilyn replied curtly. Laura had never gotten along with her.

"I shouldn't even bother trying out then. We all know Spencer fancies you." Laura glared at Jessilyn as if that was her fault.

"It's only because she hooked up with him," Jenny Hastings, Laura's best friend, whispered loudly to Laura.

"I'm not deaf, you know? And believe that if that's what makes you feel better," Jessilyn said irritably.

"Spencer wasn't captain last year and I don't think Oliver, my boyfriend, fancied her," Ciara Johnson, a seventh year and one of Jessilyn's friends, said. Jessilyn shot her a thankful look.

"That's what you think." Laura snickered. Ciara rolled her eyes.

"Just because your boyfriend fancies her, doesn't mean everyone else's boyfriend does," Ciara retorted. Laura glared, but couldn't think of anything else to say. She turned around and marched off with Jenny tailing her.

"Thanks," Jessilyn said warmly.

"My pleasure. Don't let them get to you, they're so jealous," Ciara told her.

"Okay, we'll start with Parker as Keeper and Johnson as Chaser," Spencer announced.

"What about Seeker?" a bold second year asked.

"Oh, right. Let's see...Jessilyn! Good to see you here. You're up." Spencer beamed and Jessilyn returned a half-hearted smile. She mounted her broom and kicked off. The Snitch was released and on Spencer's signal, she tore after it. She flashed like lightning, diving and weaving through the other players. James gave her an enthusiastic thumbs-up.

"Okay, I'm reading the names of the team. The ones who made it, congratulations! The ones who didn't, try again next year," Spencer said to the crowd. Tryouts took all morning and it was almost lunch.

"Chasers: Ciara Johnson and James Potter. Keeper: Ben Parker. Beaters: Sam Montgomery and Henry Lamington. And of course, Jessilyn Kale as Seeker." Spencer winked at Jessilyn after he finished. Suddenly Sirius's arms were around her.

"Best damn Seeker out there!" he shouted as he hugged her tightly, almost lifting her off the ground. Jessilyn giggled.

"Good job mate. That was no surprise." Sirius thumped an ecstatic James on the back.

"I almost thought I wasn't going to make it. Saying Ciara's name first, what was he playing at?" James shook his head.

"Just trying to scare you," Spencer laughed, coming up from behind them. "Great job, Jessilyn."

"You're lucky to have her on your team." Sirius slung his arm around her and grinned widely.

"Yeah, I am." Spencer's eyes flickered from Sirius to Jessilyn.

"I'm starving," Jessilyn said loudly.

"Jessilyn!" Lily squealed sprinting down from the stands. She ignored Sirius and James, carefully avoiding looking at them. The two girls hugged. "I knew you would make it." Brittney was right behind Lily, walking with Remus and looking quite flustered.

'Err, I'll see you later," Spencer mumbled and shuffled away. James and Sirius exchanged glances while Jessilyn waved.

"Congrats," Remus said, smiling.

"I see you caught up on your 'sleep'," James commented. He waggled his eyebrows suggestively, looking at Brittney. Remus and Brittney blushed.

"So you left me with Mr. Overdone Cheering Charm to have a conversation?" Jessilyn demanded.

"Well, I slept a little first..." Remus said sheepishly.

"Ah...a little sleep," Sirius noted, starting to smirk. Their faces reddened.

"Oh, sod off, Black," Lily said hotly.

"Touchy are we, Evans? Could it be because of a little midnight meeting with our dear Snivellus?"

"Don't call him that," Jessilyn snapped before Lily could.

"I don't know what you see in him." Sirius complained. They all started walking towards the castle.

"You've never taken the time to actually talk to him," Jessilyn interjected.

"Snivellus and I talk loads," Sirius said sarcastically.

"James! Sirius! "

Peter was running towards them, his face turning slightly pink during the process.

"Peter, it's nice of you to join us. You'll be eating lunch we us, right?" Lily asked sweetly.

"H--hello, Li--Lily," Peter stuttered, turning red and a bead of sweat appeared at his temple. James narrowed his eyes.

"What are you doing here, Peter," he said, bluntly.

"I--I --thought--you said to meet you for lunch," Peter answered timidly.

"You could have waited for us in the Great Hall," James said, ignoring Remus's quizzical stare, Sirius knowing look, and Jessilyn's disapproving face.

"I--I'm sorry," Peter mumbled, looking away.

"You're despicable," Lily said fiercely.

"What?" James said dumbly.

"Beating Peter up just because he came to find you? I didn't think you could sink lower to bullying your friends."

"I..." James's explanation trailed off.

"Let's go, Jessilyn." Lily turned her heel and started to march away. Jessilyn gave James a rueful look and started after her.

"Dunno what that uptight prefect's going on about," James muttered darkly, kicking at a few leaves on the ground. Remus sighed while Sirius looked concerned. Poor Peter was confused and a bit scared.

Lily sat cross-legged on her bed, biting her thumbnail. Brittney was chewing a piece of her light brown hair while Helena's eyebrows mashed together as she concentrated on painting her nails. Jessilyn was lying across from Lily, still deep in thought.

"So?" Lily finally demanded impatiently.

"I don't know." Helena shrugged.

"Maybe we could mess with their wardrobe," Brittney suggested wildly.

"Well, I suppose so," Lily said, although looking very doubtful.

"What do you think, Jessilyn? You're the expert on pranking." Helena painted another red streak on her pinky nail and held her hand up to examine it.

"Yeah, something must rub off from them," Lily remarked, scowling lightly at the thought of them.

"I've got it!"

Jessilyn scrambled into a sitting position and smiled widely.

"What?" Lily said, a little suspicious.

"We can't break any of the rules," Brittney reminded her. Helena started painting her other hand but nodded in encouragement.

"Here's what we're going to do..."

Soon, all four girls were grinning wickedly.

"What are we going to do?" Peter asked.

"I'm thinking," James reassured him. Sirius nodded his agreement and closed his eyes again. Peter watched them both eagerly. After what seemed like a long time, Sirius's eyes popped open.

"I've got it!" he exclaimed. James sat up and Peter's eyes lit up. Remus turned his attention from his very interesting book to Sirius.

"I was thinking we should..."

In a while, the identical wicked grins were stretched on their faces.