Rules Can Be Broken

Vizet recalled yesterday's Flying lesson. He felt that if he had taken part in the tryouts, he could at least have made it to the second round.

The second round of tryouts began, with the Beaters being selected first.

This position required a certain degree of both accuracy and strength.

More than ten participants mounted their Flying Broomsticks, balloons hanging from their chests, and split into two groups for the test.

They paired up, protecting the balloons on their chests while striking Bludgers that could appear at any moment.

"Just made it!" A male voice came from behind them. It was Oliver Wood, whom Vizet had met once before.

Cho Chang clearly knew Wood. She asked in confusion, "Why are you here at Ravenclaw's tryouts?"

Wood set down his writing board and glanced at Vizet, his gaze slightly shifty as he said, "Just here to take a look. I am a captain, after all!"

"So you're here to scout for information!" Cho Chang smiled. "I heard Roger mention you. He said you're a Quidditch fanatic who'd give his life for Quidditch."

Wood held his head high, looking proud. "That would be my honor!"

The Beater tryouts continued, and Vizet realized that becoming a Beater seemed to involve taking risks.

The Bludgers were extremely aggressive. If the candidates failed to bat them away, the Bludgers would slam viciously into their chests.

They were knocked off their Flying Broomsticks, smashing their mouths against the ground and even breaking teeth. The word "miserable" was nowhere near enough to describe it.

Such accidents frightened off quite a few people. Using the excuse of taking the injured to the Hospital Wing, they slunk away from the pitch.

"That's why Ravenclaws are too delicate," Wood muttered. Noticing Cho Chang turn to look at him, he immediately tried to patch things up.

"Though there are brave ones too... These two lads aren't bad either. Quick reactions, decent agility... They just need more training."

The two who earned the spots were both third-years, Jansen Samuels and Duncan Inglebee.

Once the Beater tryouts were over, Cho Chang suddenly rose to her feet with a swish and walked forward, her body a little stiff.

"Fred told me she's a second-year... Apparently Cedric has a thing for her..." Wood muttered quietly as he wrote something on his board.

"Her flying posture is very professional... She wore a Tutshill Tornados uniform before, so she must have loved Quidditch since she was little. She'll probably be the Beater!"

Vizet was briefly at a loss for words. "You're pretty professional..."

"I'm just interested in Quidditch," Wood said with a nod. "Nothing related to Quidditch escapes my eyes... including you!"

"Me?" Vizet instinctively edged away. "That has nothing to do with me, does it?"

Wood said earnestly, "I saw Harry's flying ability last night. Honestly... while it was outstanding enough, it was still a little worse than yours."

"If his flying talent is exceptional, then you're like someone born knowing how to fly! You actually got astonishing speed out of an antique like the Shooting Star. Incredible..."

He lowered his voice and asked Vizet, "Interested in transferring to Gryffindor? I can risk my life petitioning Professor McGonagall."

Vizet shook his head without hesitation. "I'm very happy in Ravenclaw. Every day, I get to do what I like, and I really like the atmosphere here too."

"What a shame!" Wood's voice carried a trace of regret. He said no more and turned his attention to the pitch, evaluating the Seeker candidates.

A Seeker's most important quality was flying speed, so they could keep up with the Golden Snitch. Cho Chang was slender, and she was several notches faster in flight than the others, giving her a clear advantage.

Roger threw marbles from various angles, yet she noticed them quickly and caught them before they hit the ground.

Being able to do this so easily showed that her observation skills and reactions were both excellent.

Just as Wood had said, Cho Chang was far above the others. She won the Seeker position with ease.

"What a promising future!" Wood exclaimed. "At least at Seeker, Ravenclaw has found a fine prospect."

Cho Chang, who had earned the Seeker position, was beaming. Hearing Wood's remarks made her smile even more brightly.

"Only the Chasers are left..." Wood scribbled on his board. "Then I can go back and work out tactics."

While he was muttering to himself, a voice came from beside him. "Mr. Lovegood, so you were here!"

It was Ravenclaw's Head of House, Professor Flitwick, with Professor McGonagall in green robes beside him.

"Could it be..." Wood's eyes flickered, as though he had thought of something unpleasant.

He sighed deeply, then muttered with a bitter smile, "Professor McGonagall, you really are too fair! Could you spare some of that overflowing fairness for Professor Snape?"

Professor Flitwick was rather diminutive, but his two short legs moved incredibly fast.

In the blink of an eye, he was in front of Vizet. "Professor McGonagall told me you have a great talent for flying. Would you like to take part in the tryouts?"

Vizet asked, "Didn't the Bulletin Board say that only second-years could take part in the tryouts?"

"Rules can be broken," Professor Flitwick said cheerfully. "We added that rule because we thought New Students needed time to adjust after joining Hogwarts."

"But you have no such problem at all. Whether in class or with your homework afterward, you've performed exceptionally well! Everyone has seen it."

Vizet nodded. "Since Professor Flitwick has said so, of course I'm willing to give it a try."

Professor Flitwick immediately sprang into action. "Then come with me. I'll go talk to Arsenal and the others!"

Cho Chang smiled and made an encouraging gesture. "Good luck! You'll definitely be fine!"

Anthony and Michael stood up as well, doing their utmost to show their support with their eyes. However, with Cho Chang standing beside them, their movements were relatively restrained.

"Vizet! Good luck!" Several more people cheered him on.

Only then did Vizet notice that quite a few Hufflepuff students had come here as well.

They seemed to show up wherever there was excitement to watch, always eager for gossip.

Vice-Captain Roger was in charge of selecting the Chasers, while the first round of screening had to be left to others.

Arsenal Vincent was the team captain, tall and powerfully built. He played Keeper and was also a seventh-year student.

As a seventh-year, he had to prepare for the N.E.W.T. Exam, so he did not have much time to spare.

Since the start of this academic year, he had handed most team affairs over to Roger while he studied and reviewed on the sidelines.

Barring any surprises, Roger would successfully take over as captain after Arsenal graduated.

"Seeing Wood looking so miserable makes me happy." Arsenal smiled. "He came over at noon yesterday just to show off, going on about how Gryffindor had some genius player..."

He patted Vizet on the shoulder. "Professor Flitwick said your talent is pretty good too? Then get on a Flying Broomstick and let me see what you can do!"